Filipino troops, gunships fight militants in southern city

Philippine troops backed by armored vehicles and rocket-firing helicopters fought to re-take control of a city that has been under attack by gunmen linked to the Islamic State group since a raid earlier this week failed to capture one of Asia's most-wanted militants. Rebels have torn through the streets of Marawi since Tuesday night, torching buildings, taking a priest and his worshippers hostage and sealing off much of the city.

The latest: Army trucks roll deeper into Philippine city

This undated image provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows a wanted poster for Isnilon Hapilon, who was purportedly designated leader of the Islamic State group's Southeast Asia branch in 2016 but has long ties to local extremist movements. Hapilon gained notoriety beyond the Philippines when he allegedly helped Abu Sayyaf kidnap 20 hostages from a Filipino resort in 2001.

Martial law declared in Philippines’ south after militant siege

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the country's south for 60 days after an attack by Muslim extremists allied with the Islamic State group. Mr Duterte has cut short his trip to Moscow - where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin - to return home and deal with the developing situation.

Cagayan de Oro City fiscals have new officer-in-charge

THE Department of Justice designated a new officer-in-charge of the Cagayan de Oro City Prosecutor's Office . Prosecutor Merlynn Uy, erstwhile OIC of the CPO, has been reassigned to the Regional Prosecutors' Office beginning Monday, May 8. Replacing Uy is Prosecutor Abraham Ramos, who was previously assigned as provincial prosecutor of Pangasinan while Uy will report back to RPO as senior assistant regional prosecutor.

DOF chief: Mighty lawyers blocking efforts to find out tax deficiencies

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has accused the lawyers of cigarette manufacturing firm, Mighty Corporation, of "obstructing" government efforts to look into company's business activities. President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier ordered the Department of Finance and the Bureaus of Internal Revenue and Customs to determine the correct amount that Mighty should pay in deficiency taxes after it allegedly used fake stamps.

DA Food Skyway program offers new market for Zambo Peninsula fisher folks

Fishermen in Zamboanga Peninsula will soon have a larger market for their fish catch, especially during this month's peak season, as the Department of Agriculture will launch the so-called Philippine Food Skyway program later this month, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources . BFAR Regional Director Isidro Velayo Jr. on Thursday said that they are currently preparing the mechanisms to collect the surplus catch that cannot be absorbed by the local market and the fish processing industries in the region.

The Loudest Critic of Duterte’s War on Drugs Is Preparing For Arrest

Philippine Senator Leila de Lima delivers a privilege speech at the Senate in Pasay city, Metro Manila, Philippines September 20, 2016. " has been Senator Leila de Lima, a former Secretary of Justice who has used her political platform to denounce the epidemic of extrajudicial murders that have left more than 6,000 dead in the ostensible name of eradicating drug use.

Alleged child abuser Peter Scully ‘may still be masterminding porn network’

Philippine authorities suspect accused Australian child sex predator Peter Scully is still masterminding a "dark web" pornography and child torture operation from his jail cell in the southern Philippines. Investigators discovered that Scully, a former Melbourne businessman, exchanged telephone calls and text messages with his former live-in partner and co-accused Liezyl Margallo before she was arrested last week.

Rodrigo Duterte gives green light for bombing of kidnappers – and their captives

Controversial Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his security forces to bomb kidnap-for-ransom groups operating in the country's southern islands, even if hostages are killed. "Even if they are kidnappers and they are trying to escape, blow them up," Mr Duterte told businessmen in his home city of Davao.

Jack Lam sued for dubious Fort Ilocandia ownership

Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam and four others are facing charges filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption for violating the anti-dummy law. The four others charged before the Department of Justice are former executives of the Fort Ilocandia resort hotel in Laoag, Ilocos Norte: The VACC accused Lam and others of using dummy companies to circumvent the 40-percent ownership requirement for foreigners in the Philippines in relation to the operations of the Fort Ilocandia, the casino operations of which was recently shut down upon government orders.

Philippines’ Duterte to US over aid issue: ‘Bye-bye America’

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday threatened to terminate a pact that allows U.S. troops to visit the Philippines, saying "bye-bye America" as he reacted with rage to what he thought was a U.S. decision to scrap a major aid package over human rights concerns.

Go Duterte Go

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is back from Peru after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting. This latest foreign trip makes President Duterte the most traveled Philippine president in the first year of a six-year term, having visited earlier Laos , Indonesia him as giving the go signal for the execution of alleged Filipino drug mule Mary Jane Veloso), China , Japan , Thailand , Brunei , and New Zealand .