Oct 20 Duterte says he accepts responsibility for killings in drug crackdown By Jim Gomez, Associated Press The Philippine president has said he accepts responsibility for the thousands of killings committed during police operations in his crackdown on drugs, adding that he was even ready to go to jail. Continue reading
Sep 07 Philippine leader pardons U.S. Marine in transgender killing By Jim Gomez, Associated Press The Philippine president has pardoned a U.S. Marine in a surprise move that will free him from imprisonment in the 2014 killing of a transgender Filipino woman that sparked anger in the former American colony. Continue reading
Jun 22 Watch 6:08 Journalist Maria Ressa on an ‘ominous’ global pattern of threats against news media On June 15th, a court in the Philippines convicted one of the country’s most prominent journalists, Maria Ressa, of cyberlibel. Advocates for press freedom quickly called the trial unfair, arguing it is part of a larger crackdown by Filipino President… Continue watching
Jun 15 Philippine journalist convicted of libel and sentenced to 6 years By Jim Gomez, Aaron Favila, Associated Press An award-winning journalist critical of the Philippine president was convicted of libel and sentenced to jail Monday in a decision called a major blow to press freedom in an Asian bastion of democracy. Continue reading
Jun 10 Filipina journalist braces for verdict in ‘cyber libel’ case By Associated Press An award-winning Filipina journalist who has aggressively covered President Rodrigo Duterte's administration is bracing for a verdict next week in a libel case and says she sees the upcoming decision as "an existential moment" for democracy in the Philippines. Continue reading
Jun 04 Philippine anti-terror bill worrying, says U.N. rights official By Jim Gomez, Associated Press A U.N. human rights official says new anti-terrorism legislation passed by the Philippine Congress that allows extended detention of suspects without warrants and relaxes human rights safeguards is "very worrying."… Continue reading
Jun 02 Philippines suspends termination of key defense pact with U.S. By Jim Gomez, Associated Press The Philippine president is suspending his decision to terminate a key defense pact with the United States, at least temporarily avoiding a major blow to one of America's oldest alliances in Asia. Continue reading
May 05 Leading TV network goes off air under Philippine government order By Jim Gomez, Associated Press The leading broadcast network in the Philippines is off the air under a government order. ABS-CBN is one of the country's oldest and most influential networks. Continue reading
Feb 11 Philippines intends to end major security pact with the U.S. By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Locsin signed the notice on the order of Duterte, who has often criticized U.S. security policies while praising those of China and Russia despite the Philippine military's close historic ties with its American counterpart. Continue reading
Jul 18 Thousands of Philippine police punished for their role in deadly drug raids By Jim Gomez, Associated Press A total of 2,367 police officers have been fired, 4,100 suspended while the rest were reprimanded, demoted, had their salaries forfeited or deprived of certain privileges. Continue reading