Philippines

MANILA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has imposed travel restrictions on travelers from South Africa, Botswana, and their neighboring countries "effective immediately" due to concerns over a new COVID-19 variant, a government official said on Friday.

Cabinet Secretary and presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the imposition of the "heightened border control measures" is to prevent the entry of the variant known as B.1.1.529, which is believed to have many mutations.

MANILA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Relatives of people killed in the Philippines' war on drugs have accused the government of attempting to evade accountability by asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to defer its investigation.

The ICC, which in September approved an investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs in which thousands of people have died, on Saturday temporarily suspended the probe at Manila's request.

MANILA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Thursday condemned "in strongest terms" the actions of three Chinese coast guard vessels that it said blocked and used water cannon on resupply boats headed towards a Philippine-occupied atoll in the South China Sea.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said no one was hurt during Tuesday's incident at the Second Thomas Shoal but the Philippines boats, which were transporting food to military personnel based there, had to abort their mission.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Chinese coast guard ships blocked and sprayed a powerful stream of water at two Philippine boats carrying supplies to troops at a disputed South China Sea shoal, prompting Manila to order Beijing’s ships to back off and warn that its supply vessels are covered by a mutual defense treaty with the United States, Manila’s top diplomat said Thursday.

MANILA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter will be running mate of Ferdinand Marcos Jr in next year's presidential election, the two candidates said on Tuesday, confirming weeks of speculation of an alliance between two powerful families.

Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, who is seeking the vice-presidency announced in a video message her intent to run on the same ticket as Marcos, the latest twist in the Philippines' political drama that has gripped the country.

MANILA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday filed his certificate of candidacy for senator in the May 2022 elections.

Duterte, 76, sent his lawyer to the Commission on Elections to register on Monday, the last day for making candidate substitutions. He will run under political party Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), rather than his ruling party PDP-Laban.

Last month, Duterte said that he was retiring from politics and will not run in the next elections "in obedience to the will of the people."

MANILA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's longtime aide-turned-senator Christopher Go on Saturday turned to run for president in the 2022 elections.

Go, 47, filed last month his certificate of candidacy for vice president at the Commission on Elections office under the ruling PDP-Laban.

But on Saturday, he went back to the poll body in Manila with Duterte to change his application, submitting his certificate of candidacy for president as the standard-bearer of Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party.

MANILA, Oct 31 (NNN-PNA) – A Philippine ranking army general said, troops had killed an alleged “topmost wanted” rebel leader in a clash yesterday, in southern Bukidnon province.

Major General Romeo Brawner, commander of the army’s 4th infantry division, said, New People’s Army (NPA) commander, George Madlos, also known as Ka Oris, was killed, after a 30-minute firefight in Impasugong town, around 11:30 a.m. local time yesterday.

MANILA, Oct 29 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) reported 4,043 new COVID-19 infections today, pushing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 2,779,943.

The DOH also reported that 44 more people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the country’s death toll to 42,621.

The DOH continues to report a dip in new COVID-19 cases, after emerging from the third wave of infections that peaked in Sept. The country reported its highest ever daily tally on Sept 11, with 26,303 cases.

MANILA, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday he took full responsibility for the bloody war on drugs that has killed thousands of people, but maintained he will never be tried by an international court.

"If there is any person who is going to prison, it would be me," Duterte said in a speech during an event held by the government's counter-insurgency task force.

"I assume full responsibility," he added.