Jun 18 Philippine ferry catches fire at sea, coast guard rescues all 120 people aboard By Associated Press All 120 passengers and crew members aboard a Philippine ferry that caught fire at sea on Sunday were rescued safely and the fire was extinguished, the coast guard said. Continue reading
Jun 11 Mount Mayon, the Philippines’ most active volcano, spews lava as locals evacuate By Jim Gomez, Aaron Favila, Associated Press The Philippines' most active volcano has begun spewing lava in a gentle eruption, putting thousands of people on heightened alert for the possibility of a violent explosion that would force them to suddenly evacuate from their homes, authorities said Monday. Continue reading
May 29 Thousands evacuated as Philippines warns of approaching Typhoon Mawar By Jim Gomez, Associated Press The typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 96 mph and gusts of up to 118 mph but is forecast to spare the mountainous region a direct hit. Continue reading
May 01 WATCH: Biden says U.S. and Philippines are ‘ironclad’ partners amid China tension By Aamer Madhani, Jim Gomez, Associated Press President Joe Biden reiterated U.S. commitment to the Philippines' security and noted the "deep friendship" of the two nations as he welcomed Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for White House talks. Continue reading
Apr 27 Chinese coast guard ship blocks Philippine patrol vessel in new stand-off By Jim Gomez, Associated Press A Chinese coast guard ship blocked a Philippine patrol vessel steaming into a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, causing a frightening near-collision in the latest act of Beijing's aggression in the strategic waterway. Continue reading
Apr 21 WATCH: White House announces Biden meeting with Phillippine’s Marcos for next month By Associated Press President Joe Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for talks at the White House next month as the two countries look to continue to tighten relations. Continue reading
Apr 12 China warns against deepening security alliance as U.S., Philippines stage combat drills By Jim Gomez, Associated Press China has warned that a deepening security alliance between the United States and the Philippines should not harm its security and territorial interests and interfere in long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Continue reading
Apr 11 WATCH: Blinken and Austin hold briefing after meeting with Filipino counterparts By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin held a news briefing as American and Filipino forces on Tuesday launched their largest combat exercises in decades in the Philippines and its waters across the disputed South China Sea. Continue reading
Feb 18 Philippine President Marcos says China laser not enough to activate U.S. defense pact By Jim Gomez, Associated Press The Philippine president said Saturday the Chinese coast guard’s use of military-grade laser that briefly blinded some of the crew aboard a Philippine patrol vessel in the disputed South China Sea was not enough for him to invoke a mutual defense… Continue reading
Feb 08 U.S. armed forces returning to Philippines to counter China threats By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Washington has been reinforcing an arc of military alliances in Asia in a starkly different post-Cold War era in which the perceived new regional threat is an increasingly belligerent China. Continue reading