Philippines

South Korean man's plot to escape prison by strapping self to drone foiled

South Korean man convicted of killing three people allegedly planned to flee a Philippine prison by being carried over its walls by a heavy-duty drone

Philippines ferry fire: 5 dead, 87 missing as rescue operation continues

A fire broke out on a passenger ferry in waters off western Philippines, leaving dozens of people missing, the coast guard said on Thursday. At least five people were killed. So far, 42 people have been rescued and efforts are ongoing, so the count of 87 people missing may change, coast guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said in a radio interview. The ferry, MV June Aster, had sailed from Manila and was near Coron in Palawan province when the fire started on Wednesday. Cayabyab said 134 people were on board, 117 passengers and 17 crew.

Philippines defence chief rebukes China over South China Sea note in Seoul

Gilberto Teodoro questioned China's rejection of the 2016 Hague ruling after a note defending Beijing's position on the South China Sea interrupted his speech in Seoul

Two dead as student opens fire at Philippine school, attacker kills self

A high school student carrying two firearms shot to death a fellow student before killing himself Tuesday in a high school in a university campus in the southern Philippines, an official and police said. Zamboanga city Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said the suspect apparently wore a body camera to livestream the attack at the high school on the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in his city. Two other people were injured, he said. The suspect initially fired at a teacher but it was not clear if the teacher was hit. He then shot a fellow student, who died, before shooting himself, Olaso told DZBB radio network. The shooting in the Philippines occurred less than two weeks after a school shooting in Thailand. Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul took steps to restrict guns in the Southeast Asian country after a 14-year-old boy killed his grandparents, five school staff members and a 12-year-old girl in Nonthaburi province outside Bangkok. Thailand's high rate of gun ownership

Thailand, Philippines and Argentina primed as supply chain 'rising stars'

A new analysis says several Southeast Asian and Latin American economies are well positioned to attract investment as companies seek more resilient supply chains

School shooting in Philippines kills three students, injures five

Two persons opened fire in a high school in the central Philippines on Monday, killing three students and wounding another five, police officials said. Two suspects have been taken into custody, police said, one of whom is a student at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, where the shooting happened, according to police. Both are male. Police investigators were still trying to determine what sparked the shooting in the school, while police deployed forces to beef up security.

Strong quake in Philippines: How strong earthquakes can trigger tsunamis

Unlike regular wind-generated sea waves, which usually have wavelengths of about 300 to 600 feet, tsunami waves can have wavelengths of about 300 to 600 miles in the deep ocean

19 killed, over 200 injured after 7.8-magnitude earthquake hits Philippines

Numerous aftershocks followed the 7:37 am Monday quake, which was felt in nearby Malaysia. Tsunami waves were also detected in Indonesia and Malaysia

Japan woos visiting Philippine President with arms sales, China in mind

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is receiving an exceptional level of hospitality in a four-day state visit to Japan that culminates Thursday. There is a palace banquet, a prestigious national award and a clear message that Tokyo is keen to upgrade ties with a nation it sees as a key defence partner - and major arms customer - at a time of fears over China's military activity in Asia. Marcos' visit ending with his departure Friday has included a greeting by Emperor Naruhito, who gave him the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. On Thursday, Marcos will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which are expected to result in statements further strengthening defence and weapons cooperation. Speaking Wednesday to Japanese lawmakers, Marcos said the emphasis on raising ties to a higher level reflects an "exceptional level of trust" between the nations. Both nations have China firmly in mind as they tighten a military relationship that the Uni

Philippines to be involved in any Taiwan conflict due to proximity: Marcos

Philippines, which has a territorial dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, is increasing its engagement with China to help maintain peace, Marcos said

War turmoil drains Asian reserves with India, Philippines among hardest hit

Philippines has led losses with its stockpile sinking 8.1 per cent since the conflict started to $104 billion, while India's dropped 5.2 per cent to $691 billion

India inks terms of reference with Philippines, Maldives for trade talks

India has inked terms of reference with the Philippines and the Maldives to start negotiations for free trade agreements (FTAs), the Commerce Ministry said on Monday. The terms of reference (ToR) outline the scope and modalities of a proposed trade pact. With the Philippines, a Southeast Asian nation, negotiations will begin for a preferential trade agreement (PTA), while with the Maldives, it will be for a free trade agreement (FTA), the ministry said. In a PTA, two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on a specific number of goods traded between them. On the other hand in an FTA, two trading nations either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, besides easing norms to promote trade in services and investments. India's exports to the Philippines rose 3.11 per cent to USD 2.16 billion in 2024-25, while imports dipped 17.8 per cent to USD 1.17 billion. The Philippines is a part of the ASEAN

From school closures to WFH: How Asia is tackling oil supply crunch

Countries across Asia are imposing fuel curbs, remote work and price caps as oil supply disruptions from the West Asia conflict trigger price volatility and threaten energy security

Philippines mulls shorter work week, less air conditioning to save energy

The Southeast Asian nation imports nearly all of its oil requirements, and the war in Iran could spur inflation that already hit a 13-month high in February

Philippines finds new gas reserve in waters near South China Sea

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the discovery of a new natural gas deposit near an existing gas field in waters facing the disputed South China Sea, which could shield his country from a potential power crisis. The discovery of the gas reservoir northwest off Palawan province was significant and could eventually supply power to more than 5.7 million households annually, Marcos said Monday. The undersea reservoir is estimated to contain about 98 billion cubic feet (2.7 billion cubic metres) of gas. Initial tests showed 60 million cubic feet (1.6 million cubic metres) of gas could be extracted each day from the well, Marcos said without providing other details including when commercial production could start. This helps Malampaya's contribution and strengthens our domestic gas supply for many years to come, Marcos said. Aside from the natural gas, the discovery also includes condensate, which is a high-value liquid fuel. The new gas deposit, called Malampaya East

Japan, Philippines sign new defence pact as they face China aggression

Japan and the Philippines signed a defense pact on Thursday that would allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food and other necessities when their forces stage joint training to boost deterrence against China's growing aggression in the region and to bolster their preparation for natural disasters. Japan has faced increasing political, trade and security tensions with China, which was angered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remark that potential Chinese action against Taiwan could spark Japanese intervention. Japan and the Philippines have also had separate territorial conflicts with Beijing in the East China Sea and South China Sea that have continued to flare and threaten to draw in the United States, a treaty ally of the two Asian nations. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement with Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro in Manila. During the ceremony, Japan also announced new security and economic ...

One dead, 27 people missing after garbage heap collapses in Philippines

A huge mound of garbage collapsed in a waste segregation facility in a central Philippine city, killing one person and leaving at least 27 others missing, police said on Friday. Police, firefighters and disaster-mitigation personnel retrieved eight people, including workers at the facility, who were trapped on Thursday afternoon in the avalanche of garbage and debris in the village of Binaliw in Cebu city, police said. One of those rescued, a female worker at the landfill, died while being brought to a hospital, regional police director Brig. Gen. Roderick Maranan told The Associated Press. Search and rescue efforts were continuing for at least 27 other people, who were reportedly trapped in the huge heap of garbage in the landfill.

Philippines evacuates 3,000 villagers after volcano activity raises alarm

A series of mild eruptions at the most active volcano in the Philippines has prompted the evacuation of nearly 3,000 villagers in a permanent danger zone on its foothills, officials said Wednesday. Authorities raised the 5-step alert around Mayon Volcano in the northeastern province of Albay to level 3 on Tuesday after detecting intermittent rockfalls, some as big as cars, from its peak crater in recent days along with deadly pyroclastic flows a fast-moving avalanche of super-hot rock fragments, ash and gas. Alert level 5 would indicate a major explosive eruption, often with violent ejections of ash and debris and widespread ashfall, is underway. This is already an eruption, a quiet one, with lava accumulating up the peak and swelling the dome, which cracked in some parts and resulted in rockfalls, some as big as cars, Teresito Bacolcol, the country's chief volcanologist, told The Associated Press. He said it is too early to tell if Mayon's restiveness would worsen and lead to a .

3 fishermen injured by Chinese coast guard's water cannons: Philippines

Chinese coast guard ships used powerful water cannons and blocking manoeuvres against 20 Philippine fishing boats off a disputed South China Sea shoal, injuring three Filipinos and damaging two of their boats in a life-threatening assault, the Philippine coast guard said on Saturday. Chinese coast guard personnel aboard smaller rubber boats later deliberately cut the anchor lines of several of the Philippine boats on Friday afternoon off Sabina Shoal, endangering the vessels and their crews amid strong currents and high waves, the coast guard said. Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the latest reported flare-up of the long-unresolved territorial disputes in the South China Sea, but they have vowed to defend their claimed territories at all costs. The South China Sea, a key global trade route, is claimed virtually in its entirety by China despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that declared Beijing's expansive claim invalid based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the

China fired flares toward patrol plane in South China Sea: Philippines

Chinese forces fired three flares from an island toward a Philippine plane undertaking a routine patrol Saturday in the disputed South China Sea, but the incident did not cause any problem and the aircraft proceeded with its surveillance mission, the Philippine coast guard said. It was not immediately clear how far the flares that Filipino officials said were fired from the Chinese-occupied Subi Reef were from the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft of the Philippine fisheries bureau. Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the incident, Beijing has claimed virtually the entire South China Sea, a key global trade route, and has vowed to staunchly defend its sovereignty. Chinese forces has fired flares from its occupied islands and from its aircraft as a warning for foreign planes to move away from what it calls its airspace in the disputed waters. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources aircraft recorded video footage of three flares fired from the reef toward the aircraft