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.

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.

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.

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 .

Philippine president says he won’t sever ties with US

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he did not mean he would cut off ties with the United States when he said in China that he was separating from the U.S., adding it's in his country's best interest to stay with America. Despite the clarification, the tough-talking president kept up on his tirades against the U.S., saying in a late-night speech in his southern hometown of Davao city that he would never travel to America "in this lifetime."

Philippine president’s China trip puts US ties to the test

After lashing out at longtime ally America, the new Philippine president is making a state visit to China in a charm offensive that will help define how far he wants to shift allegiance from treaty ally the U.S. to an Asian superpower locked in a territorial standoff with his small, impoverished country. While he recalibrates Philippine relations with the world's big powers, his country's 65-year alliance with the United States - a key pillar of President Barack Obama's rebalance to Asia - hangs in the balance.

Duterte to visit China amid strained Philippine ties with US

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will visit China next week, China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday, as the Southeast Asian leader's relationship with its traditional ally the United States frays. President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a meeting with banana production businessmen in Davao city, in southern Philippines, October 7, 2016.

Political rancor doesn’t filter down to US-Philippines exercise

Political acrimony at the top didn't trickle down to the troops in the field as the U.S. and the Philippines held what could be their final joint exercise. With new President Rodrigo Duterte again taking swipes at U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, handshakes and smiles reflected the goodwill between U.S. and Philippines marines after they stormed a beach on Friday as part of the PHIPLEX exercise.

Spokesman tries to clarify Duterte’s Hitler remarks

The spokesman for Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte sought to clarify the leader's controversial comparison of his war against suspected drug offenders to Adolf Hitler's extermination of Jews during World War II. "The president recognizes the deep significance of the Jewish experience especially their tragic and painful history," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said a statement.

Duterte Spokesman Tries to Clarify Philippines Leadera s Hitler Remarks

The spokesman for Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte sought to clarify the leader's controversial comparison of his war against suspected drug offenders to Adolf Hitler's extermination of Jews during World War II. "The President recognizes the deep significance of the Jewish experience especially their tragic and painful history," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said a statement.

Philippine president’s Hitler remarks ‘deeply troubling’: Pentagon chief

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter criticized the "deeply troubling" remarks by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in which he likened his deadly war on crime to Hitler's efforts to exterminate Jews. Carter's comments came during a regional security summit with Southeast Asian ally nations, where he sought to reassure counterparts that America's ongoing commitment to its Asia "rebalance" would continue into the next US administration.

Philippines’ Duterte gives middle finger to EU

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has launched a profanity-filled tirade against the European Union, in his latest riposte to international criticism of the rising death toll in his brutal crackdown on crime. Duterte punctuated his insults with a rude sign -- raising his middle finger -- after the European Parliament condemned "the current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings in the Philippines".

Rockstar President returns home satisfied after first international trip

President Duterte returned home from his productive two-nation swing in Asia, saying he has become a "peaceful man" after his first international journey. Upon arrival in Davao City airport early Saturday morning, the President said he deserves a "few applauses" after pushing for the country's interests abroad, from a peaceful settlement of the maritime dispute to an independent foreign policy.

Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte to Abu Sayyaf: ‘I will eat you alive’

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte used some explicit language in a vow to revenge a bombing that left 15 people dead, threatening to eat those responsible alive. The outspoken leader, in Vientiane, Laos, to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit conference, spoke about the terrorist bombing in Davao City, where he was mayor for 22 years before becoming president.