After U.S. President Donald Trump’s historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month, could a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte be next? United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim this week said the U.S. government is set on facilitating Duterte’s visit to Washington. “As you know, President Trump has already invited…
TWO Philippine mayors were killed in separate back-to-back shootings within two days, fueling more fears in the country as it deals with the publicized problem of extrajudicial killings stemming from the administration’s war on drugs. One of the mayors was previously said to be linked to illegal drugs. Mayor Ferdinand Bote, 57, of northern General…
President Rodrigo Duterte’s first two years in office have been “generally fruitful,” according to Malacañang. It cited the administration’s reported successes in its war on drugs, the economy, and the improvement of government services as some of the promises that Duterte fulfilled. Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement on Sunday, July 1,…
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, July 3, highlighted the importance of investing in strategies and technologies in order to allow government forces to perform their duties effectively. The President graced the founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City and congratulated them for their 71 years…
President Rodrigo Duterte, on Monday, June 25, remained resolute in his belief that God is “stupid” but clarified that he was insulting the God of his critics. “Your God is not my God because your God is stupid,” Duterte said during oath-taking ceremonies for village officials in Cagayan de Oro City. “Mine has a lot…
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, on Monday, June 25, said there is no way President Rodrigo Duterte will change his policy on the West Philippine Sea or apologize for it. He also blamed the previous Aquino administration for triggering the militarization of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. “When we had a confrontation with the Chinese, they drove us…
Malacañang on Thursday, June 21 said that the Philippines may not be ready yet for same-sex marriage despite the start of oral arguments before the Supreme Court (SC) for a petition to legalize it in the country. In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque believed that “there is a right time for these kind[s]…
President Rodrigo Duterte slammed Senator Leila de Lima for criticizing his gesture of kissing a married overseas Filipino worker (OFW) during his recent visit to Seoul, South Korea. De Lima called it “sickening” — to which Duterte responded by threatening to release her alleged sex video. “There’s a lady nakakulong, sabi niya na bastos daw…
ILOILO CITY—President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, June 20, assured that funds for public projects are equally distributed across the nation under his administration. The President also assured that he is continuing the projects started by his predecessors. “In the scheme of things now, if you are just worried about the distribution of the wealth…
President Rodrigo Duterte, on Tuesday, June 19, insisted that peace talks should be in the Philippines despite exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison saying that talks would be doomed if they would be held in Manila. “Why should I talk outside? I’m talking about our country, my country, their…
President Rodrigo Duterte’s “anti-tambay” order will not lead to a declaration of nationwide martial law, Malacañang assured on Tuesday, June 19. At a press briefing in Cotabato City, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said, “the president’s statement [was] very clear that ‘martial law in the entire Philippines [would] become very complicated.’” Roque also added that “He…
DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Saturday, June 16, joined the Filipino Muslims in celebrating Eid’l Fitr or the end of Ramadan, as he vowed anew for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the need to shift to a federal type of government. In his speech during the celebration of the 2018…
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, June 13, vowed to further empower the youth by making quality education affordable and accessible to everyone, especially the poor. President Duterte made this commitment as he witnessed the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the 112 State Universities…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, June 12, joined the nation in celebrating the country’s 120th anniversary of its independence, calling on Filipinos to emulate our heroes to bring “meaningful and lasting change” in the society. In his Independence Day message, Duterte said Filipinos should value the sacrifices of our heroes, saying “this historic day forms…
Kawit — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, June 12, joined his countrymen in honoring the patriots who have given their lives for the Philippines’ liberty, urging Filipinos to be worthy of the “great sacrifice.” President Duterte led the flag raising ceremony at the Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo as he graced the celebration of the…
Spokesman said kiss was ‘accepted in culture of Filipinos’ SHORTLY after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte publicly kissed a married overseas foreign worker (OFW) in Seoul, South Korea, consequently drawing both cheers and disgust — he returned to the Philippines to defend his kiss and said he’d resign as president if enough women wanted him to….
Responding to the backlash he received over the controversial kiss he shared with a Filipina in South Korea, President Rodrigo Duterte said those who are making an issue out of it are jealous. He brushed aside the huge flak he got and said kissing women has been his style since his days as mayor of…
LAPU-LAPU CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte led the inauguration of the newly constructed Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Terminal 2 here on Thursday, June 7. In his speech, President Duterte expressed his excitement to present the new airport to the public describing the project as the “most beautiful airport in the country today.” “It is…
LAPU-LAPU CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte swore in newly elected barangay captains in the Central Visayas rallying their support as his government confronts the scourge of illegal drugs, corruption and criminality. In his address, President Duterte congratulated the newly elected barangay leaders noting it is an honor for him to administer their oath of office….
President Rodrigo Duterte is still angry at Canada over the botched $233-million helicopter deal, months after a Canadian company cancelled on him. Before the Filipino community in South Korea on Sunday, June 3, Duterte said in a speech how “stupid” Canada was for raising concerns that the helicopters would be used against rebels. “We ordered Bell…
President Rodrigo Duterte reported a fruitful three-day trip to South Korea Tuesday that further strengthened relations between the two countries particularly in areas of security, economy as well as trade and investment. “My Official Visit to Seoul was meaningful and productive. We are now writing a new chapter of cooperation in the shared history between…
PAGBILAO, Quezon — President Rodrigo Duterte led the inauguration Thursday of the newly completed 420-megawatt Pagbilao Unit 3 project coal-fired power plant here that is expected to stabilize energy supply in Luzon as well as boost the economy. In his speech, President Duterte expressed his gratitude to the Department of Energy and Aboitiz Power Corp….
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, May 16, denied any involvement in the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by the Supreme Court (SC). Voting 8 to 6, the SC granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno due to her supposed failure to submit all her Statements of Assets,…
The Philippines is not giving up its sovereignty rights in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday, May 15. “We are not giving up our rights in the West Philippine Sea. As a matter of fact, we are still insisting until now,” he said on board BRP Davao del Sur in Casiguran…
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday, May 9, presented to President Rodrigo Duterte the new generation currency (NGC) banknotes and coins, with the Chief Executive encouraging the public to use the new currency wisely and responsibly for national development. The BSP Monetary Board led by Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr. presented the NGC enhanced…
President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Benham Rise from May 15 to 16 and lead the commemoration of its renaming to Philippine Rise, Malacañang confirmed on on Tuesday, May 8. “The president will be commemorating the renaming of Benham Rise to Philippine Rise by visiting the Philippine Rise itself; and this is on May 15 to…
Philippine and U.S. military forces began on Monday, May 7, their annual military exercises — the first and largest since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte entered office. The annual Balikatan exercises — now in its 34th year — launched in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City with around 8,000 soldiers from the two countries. Nearly 3,000 soldiers from…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, May 5, thanked the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its key role in supporting projects in the country, especially in Mindanao, as he renewed his commitment to improve the plight of ordinary Filipinos through massive infrastructure development with assistance from major financial institutions and investors. In his keynote speech during…
‘Strongmen era’ is here Known for his tough rhetoric, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been named among the world’s “strongmen” in an upcoming cover of TIME Magazine’s international edition, which will be released on May 14. Alongside Duterte on the magazine’s cover are Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Russian…
