The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested to reopen an investigation into killings and suspected human rights abuses committed under Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” campaign. The ICC probe was suspended in November last year after the Philippine government requested a deferral and pledged to undertake its own investigations into…

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday has pulled out of the 2022 senate race to ensure “orderly and peaceful elections,” Duterte’s acting spokesman said, following his preferred successor’s official withdrawal from the presidential race. Duterte, 76, is barred by the Philippines constitution to seek reelection as president. He announced his retirement from politics in October,…

A Filipino journalist, who contributed to the Reuters’ Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation on President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war in 2018, was shot dead by a gunman while watching television at his family’s store in Calbayog City, Samar province, on Wednesday. Jesus “Jess” Malabanan, 58, a correspondent for the Manila Standard who had also worked for Reuters…

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has temporarily suspended its investigation into suspected human rights abuses committed under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” campaign, following a deferral request filed by Manila, documents released on Nov. 19 revealed. The Hague-based court in September authorized an official probe into Duterte’s anti-drug campaign that has left thousands…

MANILA—Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday he took full responsibility for the bloody war on drugs that has killed thousands of people, but maintained he will never be tried by an international court. “If there is any person who is going to prison, it would be me,” Duterte said in a speech during an…

MANILA—Nine people have been killed in the Philippines and 11 were missing on Tuesday due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rain from tropical cyclone Kompasu, the national disaster agency said. Kompasu, with maximum sustained winds of 62 miles per hour, had absorbed remnants of an earlier cyclone before making landfall in the Philippines…

MANILA, Philippines—Newly retired boxing star Manny Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy for the Philippine presidency Friday as registration opened for candidates seeking to lead a Southeast Asian nation that has been hit hard by the pandemic and deep political conflicts. Elections officials placed heavy restrictions to prevent the Oct. 1–8 registration period from drawing…

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte unabashedly renewed his threat to kill drug dealers in his final state of the nation speech on Monday, while defending his non-confrontational approach in the country’s territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea. Duterte, 76, who won a six-year presidential term in 2016, is winding down his often-tumultuous…

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday the Philippines would not waver in defense of its interests in the South China Sea, even though he had barred his ministers from talking about the situation there in public. China’s maritime conduct has been a constant problem for Duterte but he has refrained from criticizing Beijing and instead…