Terrible twos? Toddler placed on list of Maute terror group suspects
A toddler has been included in a government list of people suspected of helping the Maute terror group attack Marawi City. There are 18 names in the “lookout report”, including …
What about your father? Duterte’s foul-mouthed retort to Chelsea Clinton
President Duterte has issued a foul-mouthed retort to Chelsea Clinton after she criticised him for his recent rape “joke”. The remark came during a speech on Friday aimed at reassuring soldiers …
Government news agency slammed for “fake news”
The government-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) vowed to tighten up procedures after a photo from the Vietnam war was used to illustrate an article about the Marawi City crisis. In …
Kidnapped Marawi priest says 240 civilians held hostage by terrorists
https://www.facebook.com/Isoytv/videos/1972885652946851/ Maute terrorists released a video today (Tuesday, May 30) showing kidnapped priest Father Teresito Soganub relaying his captors’ demand that government forces withdraw from Marawi City. In the five-minute …
Travel ban on Australian sex offenders to protect Southeast Asian kids
Australia is planning a travel ban on convicted child abusers in a bid to protect vulnerable children across Southeast Asia. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said today (Tuesday, May 30) that …
China helps Philippines seize huge haul of shabu worth about $130,000,000
A haul of more than 600kg of shabu seized in Valenzuela City is the largest bust since China and the Philippines launched a cross-border crackdown on drug smuggling. China is …
Centuries of bloodshed: The history of Islamist insurgency in the Philippines
While it’s easy to think that the current era of Islamist insurgency emerged from nowhere over the past few decades, in the southern Philippines the problem goes back hundreds of …
Peace talks with communists halted after vow to resist martial law
The latest round of peace talks with communist rebels has been called off after they ordered their fighters to step up attacks in response to martial law. Speaking after nearly …
Army says it has “complete control” of Marawi (except where it doesn’t)
An army spokesman has said that government troops are in “complete control” of Marawi city after clashes with Islamic State-affiliated terrorists — except in “certain areas”. Speaking today (Monday, May …
Award scheme will honour dedicated household workers
Nominations are open for an award scheme to honour the unsung heroes of the Philippines — domestic workers. Ten inspirational household workers will each receive a trophy, 50,000 pesos in …
Duterte (wrongly) tells soldiers they can arrest without warrants
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has disputed President Duterte’s assertion that the military can arrest people without warrants under martial law. Speaking to troops on Friday, the president said they …
Mother forced 10-year-old daughter to perform online sex shows
A mother has been arrested after forcing her teenage daughters to perform online sex shows from the age of just 10 years old. Police caught the 54-year-old woman in Mandaue …
Cirque de Soleil show inspired by Avatar coming to Manila
Cirque du Soleil is bringing a new show inspired by James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar to Manila. Toruk — The First Flight is narrated by a “Na’vi Storyteller” and set thousands …
Chinese fighter jets make another ‘unprofessional’ intercept of US plane
Two Chinese fighter jets have conducted another “unprofessional intercept” of a US Navy surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea, the Pentagon has said. A defence official said one of the Chinese J-10 …
Jim Allen: Do we really need martial law? I doubt it…
President Duterte has announced that Mindanao needs this very strict control of the population — with corresponding reduced civil liberties — because of the violence in Marawi City. Hmmm… This …
Duterte jokes that soldiers can rape up to three women
President Duterte joked that soldiers could rape up to three women, as he reassured them of his support in enforcing martial law in Mindanao. The president made the comments during …
After years of increasing freedom, is Southeast Asia now going backwards?
A lot of column inches have been written about the rise of populist politicians in the west, it seems a profound shift towards authoritarianism in Southeast Asia has been largely …
“I’m fine” says police chief who Duterte claimed had been beheaded
The police chief that President Duterte claimed had been beheaded at a terrorist checkpoint in Marawi city is alive and well. Speaking on Wednesday as he announced martial law throughout …
Some 250 “persons of interest” held without charge in Davao
Authorities rounded up about 250 people yesterday (Thursday, May 25) after receiving tip-offs about the presence of “suspicious-looking persons”. Joint forces of the Task Force Davao and the Davao City Police …
US Navy veteran pleads not guilty after being caught with underage girls
A 40-year-old US Navy veteran pleaded not guilty to human trafficking and child abuse charges after being caught with two underage girls at a beach resort on Bantayan Island, Cebu. …
Foreign jihadis confirmed among killed Marawi terrorists
Foreign jihadists have been identified among the Islamist militants killed in Marawi over the past days, officials say. Six terrorists, including Indonesians and Malaysians, were killed as the army continued …
Man with disfiguring skin disease shunned as “ghost” by neighbours
A Filipino man with a rare and painful skin condition rarely leaves his house after being relentlessly bullied by locals who consider him to be a ‘cursed’ ghost man. Antonio Reloj, …
Read in full: Leaked transcript of Trump-Duterte telephone conversation
A leaked transcript of last month’s telephone conversation between President Trump and President Duterte has begun to circulate online. The transcript, which was marked “confidential”, contains the words of the …
Nine Christians bound and shot by rampaging Maute terrorists
Local media has reported that Maute terrorists captured nine Christians, tied their hands and shot them dead as chaos continues to engulf Marawi City. An unverified photograph appears to show …
Cebu Pacific follows PAL by suspending international flight services
Cebu Pacific is following the lead of Philippines Airlines (PAL) by suspending flight services to the Middle East. The budget airline announced today that services to Kuwait, Riyadh and Doha …
Duterte considers extending martial law across the Philippines
President Duterte has said he would consider extending martial law to other parts of the Philippines “in order to protect the people”. He said: “If I think that ISIS has …