The Philippines
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The Philippines

The Philippines
The Philippines
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on the Philippines, covering politics, economy, society, and Manila’s relationships with China and its Southeast Asian neighbours.
A German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet performs at an airshow in Qawra, Malta, in September. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

Will Philippines favour Eurofighter Typhoon for its military upgrade?

The Eurofighter, which is estimated to cost US$117 million each, has drawn buying interest from Bangladesh and other countries.

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Japan

‘Didn’t know where to go’: tourists struggle in Japan quake evacuation

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Malaysia

Southeast Asia’s rich buy sky garages while the middle class lose their homes

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Rodrigo Duterte

New corruption complaint against Philippine VP Duterte heightens political drama

The filing comes as a corruption crisis grows, setting up a tough legal fight that could threaten Duterte’s potential 2028 presidential bid.

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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte delivers a speech at the 90th anniversary celebration of the vice-president’s office in Manila last month. Photo: AP
South China Sea

New South China Sea clashes erupt as Beijing pushes for better Philippine ties

Incidents near the disputed Scarborough and Sabina shoals threaten to undermine recent efforts to put relations on a ‘healthier’ footing.

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South China Sea

Why are South China Sea disputes hard to settle? Expert cites power asymmetry

Chinese analysts say Beijing supports Asean’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ too, so long as sovereignty claims are resolved bilaterally.

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Animals

Brutal dog killing in Philippines sparks outrage, calls for tougher protections

Viral footage of Axle the dog’s shocking death has galvanised the country’s animal activists to demand harsh legal repercussions.

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A photo of Axle circulating on social media (left) and a screenshot from the viral video showing the moments before the dog was fatally beaten in Sadanga, Mountain Province. Photos: Handout

Video | Watch woman save dogs before escaping flames herself during fire in Philippines

Viral images show woman tossing animals to safety during fire.

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Crime

Philippines denies ex-mayor Alice Guo has received special treatment in prison

Officials refuted reports that Guo, who recently began serving a life sentence, possessed a phone and had received unauthorised visitors.

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Asean

‘Credible mediation’: Asean urged to help halt deadly Thailand-Cambodia clashes

Analysts urge Asean to take ‘urgent, coordinated action’ if it hopes to mediate an end to the Thailand-Cambodia conflict.

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A Thai villager inspects his house damaged during clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops, at a village in Surin province, Thailand, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
South China Sea

Beijing seeks ‘fair and just maritime order’ in South China Sea

Vice-minister Sun Weidong says China rejects 2016 arbitration ruling on disputed waters because it breaches fundamentals in international law.

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A Chinese coastguard vessel (right) fires its water cannon at the Philippine’s BRP Datu Pagbuaya in the South China Sea on October 12. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP
Indonesia

‘She loved us so much’: Indonesian family mourns mother killed in Hong Kong fire

Siti Khotimah was working to fund her children’s education when she died in the Tai Po fire. Her husband wants to see that wish fulfilled.

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Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

‘They’ll go to jail’: Philippines to tear down ‘syndicate’ siphoning billions

A cabinet official has pledged to reform the Department of Public Works and Highways by ‘injecting new blood, removing the bad eggs’.

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United States

‘Death sentence’ averted as sick Filipino man removed from US deportation flight

Advocates warned that deporting Greggy Sorio, who lost a toe and 10kg while held in US immigration custody, would be a ‘death sentence’.

Greggy Valerio Sorio, also known as “Kuya G”. Photo: Tanggol Migrante
Corruption in Asia

Philippines ‘flood control queen’ faces arrest over corruption scandal

Prosecutors accuse Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya of pocketing millions for a government-funded flood control project that was never built.

Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya (right) appears at a Senate committee hearing with her husband Pacifico in September. Photo: AP
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Exclusive | Indonesian team aims to get bodies of helpers killed in Hong Kong fire home soon

Filipino envoy in city also says Manila can move ‘quickly’ once Hong Kong has processed the necessary papers for worker killed in blaze.

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SCMP Highlights

Singaporean Chinese ‘least attractive’, Philippines cyclones: 7 Asia highlights

From a viral image prompting a beauty debate to Chinese marriage brokers eyeing Nepal, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

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Rodrigo Duterte

Could ICC warrants against Duterte allies alter Philippines’ balance of power?

A former Duterte spokesman claims more of the ex-president’s allies will soon be arrested as part of a plot to ‘destroy the opposition’.

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte during a senate inquiry on the so-called war on drugs during his administration at the Philippine Senate in Manila in October 2024. Duterte is currently detained in the Netherlands. Photo: AP
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

In Philippines, Marcos’ ratings sink as anti-corruption drive ‘backfires’

A new survey shows Marcos’ satisfaction ratings at only 21 per cent – his lowest since taking office in 2022.

South China Sea

China sends seasoned ‘America hand’ to serve as top envoy to Philippines

New ambassador arrives in Manila as South China Sea tensions flare and the Philippines draws closer to Washington on defence.

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Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Probe links Philippines flood corruption to Pogo crypto schemes

Cybercrime officials have uncovered a ‘definite link’ between the massive graft scandal and laundering rings run by banned gaming operators.

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Protesters hold signs during an anti-corruption rally in Manila, the Philippines, on November 30. Photo: EPA
Extreme weather

6 cyclones, 5 weeks: Philippines can’t escape its endless cycle of disaster

Corruption, complacency and climate chaos conspire to turn the Philippines’ natural hazards into man-made tragedies.

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Satellite imagery shows Super Typhoon Fung-wong as it approaches the Philippines on November 9. Photo: NOAA/EPA
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Is the Philippines vulnerable to another military-triggered political crisis?

Analysts said an alleged plot by retired generals to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr appears inspired by 2001’s EDSA Dos uprising.

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Consumers

Anger boils in Philippines over official’s US$8.50 Christmas feast budget

Critics call the Philippine trade chief’s 500-peso Noche Buena price guide for a family of four a ‘fantasy’ that insults the poor.

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Editorial | Domestic helpers deserve praise for heroism in Tai Po fire

Hong Kong’s domestic helpers should get equal attention for their recent heroism and daily efforts that help hold the community together.

People gathered on November 30 to pay tribute to the victims of the Wang Fuk Court fire. More than 200 foreign workers were employed and living with families in the housing estate before it became an inferno on November 26. Photo: Karma Lo
South China Sea

China ramps up surveillance equipment at Spratly Islands bases: US think tank

Satellites detect new radars and electronic warfare gear at South China Sea outposts, CSIS says.

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New satellite images reveal upgrades at Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea, according to Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. Photo: CSIS/AMTI
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Filipino helper on her second day of work when Tai Po fire hit; escapes with baby

Rhodora Alcaraz, who is still in intensive care, has been hailed as a hero among Filipino workers in Hong Kong and by her own country.

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Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

Philippines’ first family says financial scrutiny welcome amid graft allegations

A spokesperson for the president said his family was open to lifestyle checks after questions emerged over funds sent to his son’s district.

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