Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Sara Duterte, continue to insist that she will not run in next year’s presidential election. However campaigns in support of her potential candidacy are growing and the president may have already chosen his daughter as his favorite candidate for the top post.
Despite its noble intentions, a community pantry relief initiative in the Philippines is not exempt from the harsh realities of domestic politics. Yet it continues to be a national symbol of compassion and solidarity, bringing out the best of Filipinos during the pandemic.
Pakistan has made major gains in its fight against terrorism and the Philippines has indicated that it hopes to learn from Islamabad’s experiences and capabilities.
The Philippines has announced it will end a nine-year ban on new mining projects in a bid to expand the role of mining in the national economy and raise state revenues.
The Duterte administration is expected to thoroughly review its military cooperation agreement with the US and to negotiate for more equitable terms.
With the Philippines refusing to accept the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction, it is unlikely that the court will be able to hold Duterte’s government to account.
Duterte’s threat to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US appears to be an attempt to negotiate a better defense partnership. The tenuous situation is likely to persist until the two sides reach an agreement.
With the US election finally over and President-elect Joseph Biden set to enter the oval office, leaders across Southeast Asia have turned to what the next four years may hold for relations with the embattled superpower.
The banned Filipino communist party has ordered its armed wing to attack Chinese firms in the country, saying Beijing’s infrastructure projects are displacing thousands and harming natural resources. The party’s actions could complicate Manila’s relationships with Beijing.
The Philippines’ decision not to end its Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US hints at Duterte’s uncertainty over relations with the US and China.