Embattled senator calls Duterte a “murderer and sociopathic serial killer”
President Duterte is a “sociopathic serial killer” who should be forced out of office, Leila de Lima said today (Tuesday, February 21) — as she herself faces arrest on drug …
Suspected Abu Sayyaf pirates attack Vietnamese ship, kill one, kidnap seven
Abu Sayyaf are the prime suspects after gunmen attacked a Vietnamese ship, killing one crew member and abducting seven. Coastguard and marines rescued 17 Vietnamese crew members from the MV …
Death squad leader killed his brothers and bombed mosques on Duterte’s orders
A retired policeman has admitted to murdering two of his own brothers “out of loyalty” to then Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Arthur Lascañas said he led the Davao Death Squad (DDS) …
At least 14 dead in student bus crash tragedy
At least 14 people, mostly students, were killed when a bus taking them on a camping trip was involved in a horrific crash. It is believed the brakes failed on …
Messenger from the deep: Is beached fish a warning of coming earthquake?
A fish, whose appearance on land is said to be a sign of impending major earthquakes, has washed up in Cagayan de Oro. The 15-foot-long oarfish was found on the …
US Navy aircraft carrier strike group enters the South China Sea
A US Navy aircraft carrier strike group has begun patrols in the South China Sea. The move comes amid growing tensions over the contested waters, and fears the resource-rich shipping …
Koh Rong, so right: Island paradise is great place to party or simply relax
Avid traveller and tour guide Benjamin Johnson has seen pretty much every “paradise beach” in Southeast Asia. Here he describes his favourite, a Cambodian island that he says has everything …
Opinion: The problem with the Philippines (and can it be solved?)
In a country like the Philippines where one in four people are below the poverty line it’s no surprise that there are a lot of social problems. According to the …
Opinion: “Porn block” was biggest piece of fake news I’ve ever come across
It has now been a month or so since the Duterte administration announced a plan block access to video porn sites. The sites targeted included Pornhub and Xvideos, both of …
Fresh questions about Trump business partner’s role as special envoy to US
Fresh questions are being asked about President Duterte’s appointment of the tycoon behind Manila’s Trump Tower as special envoy to the USA. Jose E B Antonio, the chairman of Century …
We can make it to the moon… so why can’t we predict earthquakes?
Can earthquakes ever be accurately predicted? This question is timely after Surigao was shaken by a quake last week. (For more on the Surigao quake, see here and here.) If the authorities had …
Second partner-in-crime of vile child abuser Peter Scully behind bars
A second female accomplice of Australian child abuser Peter Scully — who played a role in filming young girls being tortured and killed — has been arrested. Ma. Dorothea Chi y …
Manila: Prepare for The Big One says top Philippine earthquake expert
Earthquake experts have warned the people of Metro Manila to prepare for The Big One amid fears that a massive 7.2 quake could be imminent. Following the devastation caused by …
Special forces in race against time to rescue German from terror group
The Philippine Army is in a race against time in a bid to rescue kidnapped German sailor Jurgen Kantner from the clutches of Abu Sayyaf. The Islamic State-affiliated group released …
Psychiatrist: Henpecked cops can’t blame greedy wives for turning to crime
A psychiatrist has hit back after police chief Ronald dela Rosa blamed “materialistic” wives of corrupt cops for encouraging them to be extortionists, kidnappers and murderers. Dr Jessy Ang has …
How to find that taste of home, even in the provinces…
One thing about life as an expat in the Philippines is that one can often find oneself craving things from abroad. Things that can be extremely difficult to come by …
Duterte on drugs: Fentanyl made me feel like I was ‘on cloud nine’
The question of President Duterte’s use of powerful opiate painkillers has arisen again, after he said fentanyl made him feel “on cloud nine”. The remark was made as the president …
Thank heavens: Ambitious plan for ‘multi-airport system’ to serve Manila
Plans have been announced for a huge expansion of the nation’s airport capacity to help unclog Manila’s NAIA airport. Transport Undersecretary Roberto Lim has outlined a vision for a “multi-airport …
Court ruling paves way for sale of Imelda Marcos jewellery “worth billions”
Imelda Marcos has failed in a bid to reclaim jewellery confiscated when her husband was toppled, after the Supreme Court ruled she acquired them illegally. The items, believed to be …
Half brother of Kim Jong Un killed by female assassins at Malaysian airport
The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been murdered in Malaysia, reportedly by two unidentified female assassins using poisoned needles or spray. Kim Jong Nam, the older …
Fracking technique could be harnessed to help predict major earthquakes
An experiment has shed light on how controversial human activities such as fracking can cause small earthquakes. This may enable better controls of hazardous techniques. But it could have even …
Reformed smoker: Manila mayor quits… then orders city-wide crackdown
They often say reformed smokers are the worst culprits when it comes to nagging those who still enjoy tobacco. Now, just days after announcing he had quit himself, Manila Mayor …
Wolf whistling or cat-calling in the Philippines could see you jailed
Wolf whistling and cat-calling could soon land you in jail. A bill proposed by Senator Risa Hontiveros seeks to penalise street “harassment” while also cracking down on homophobic and transphobic …
Kidnapped German begs for his life in sick new Abu Sayyaf video
A German prisoner of the Abu Sayyaf Group has been forced to beg for his life in a disturbing new video. Jurgen Kantner, aged 70, tells the camera that he …
Please share: Desperate plea to find father missing in the Philippines
A worried Oregon woman has appealed for help to track down her father, who is apparently missing somewhere in the Philippines. Shannon Williams said on Facebook: “Ok people I need …
Man plotting to have Filipina wife murdered accidentally texted plan to ex-boss
A man plotting to have his Filipina wife and daughter murdered for cash accidentally sent messages about the plan to his former boss. American Jeff Lytle, of Monroe, Washington, thought …