Philippines - The African Mirror

Feb

2024

U.N. expert tells Philippines to act on media killings, abolish anti-communist task force

A United Nations expert urged the Philippines to do more to curb the killings of journalists and supported abolishing an anti-communism task force whose actions suppress the freedom of expression of activists. Irene Khan, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, spent almost two weeks in the Philippines to assess the state of free speech and media rights. She described the murder of journalists as the "most egregious form of censorship". "The Philippines remains a dangerous country for journalists," Khan said, adding "Much more needs to be done to attack impunity". Citing data provided by the United…

Dec

2023

By KAREN LEMA and NEIL JEROME MORALES

Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Philippine bombing

WORLD

ISLAMIC State militants claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing at a Catholic Mass in the Philippines that killed at least four people and injured 50 others. The attack was carried out in a university gymnasium in Marawi, a city in the south of the country besieged by Islamist militants for five months in 2017. The Islamic State group, which wields influence in the country's south, said on Telegram its members had detonated the bomb. Earlier on Sunday, before Islamic State's claim, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned "the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists". Police and the…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Earthquake of 7.5 strikes Philippines, tsunami expected in Philippines and Japan

WORLD

AN earthquake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck Mindanao in the southern Philippines late on Saturday, triggering evacuation orders for some areas and southwestern Japanese coasts because of warnings of tsunami waves of a metre (3 feet) or more. The Philippine Seismology Agency Phivolcs said the waves could hit the Philippines by midnight (1600 GMT) and continue for hours. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said there could be waves of up to 3 metres above the tide level along some Philippine coasts. "Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised," Phivolcs said,…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Women sports leaders celebrated

SPORT

LORI EWING FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura has applauded the eight nations who are debuting at the Women's World Cup, urging the players to take pride in their ability to inspire. Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia will debut at the global women's soccer showcase that runs from July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand. "Seeing you ladies who are mothers, sisters, students and athletes. Women they identify with, excelling on the pitch," Samoura said in a statement. "This will encourage a generation of young girls and women to aim high, to aim big. To advocate…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

Philippines rescuers race to find survivors after storm wreaks havoc

WORLD

RESCUE teams in the Philippines faced a race against time in the search for 28 people missing and feared dead, after tropical storm Megi unleashed heavy rains and deadly landslides in southern and eastern areas of the country. National and local disaster agencies reported five more deaths in central and southern Philippines on Tuesday, taking the toll to 30 since the storm struck at the weekend. Megi, the first storm to hit the typhoon-prone archipelago this year, made landfall on Sunday with sustained winds of up to 65 kilometres (40 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Kin of Philippines ‘drug war victims’ hope for justice as ICC approves probe

WORLD

ADRIAN PORTUGAL FAMILIES of people killed in the Philippines' war on drugs are hopeful that a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity approved by judges from the International Criminal Court earlier this week will result in justice for the victims. Rights groups say Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte incited deadly violence and accuse police of murdering unarmed suspects on a massive scale as part of the anti-narcotics campaign launched in 2016. "I am grateful that our situation and the killing of my brother are being paid attention to," Mary Jane Gerangco, 40, told Reuters in Manila. "Our hope is that…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

Philippines’ Duterte says presidency no job for a woman

WORLD

KAREN LEMA PHILIPPINE leader Rodrigo Duterte has declared that the presidency was no job for a woman because of their emotional differences to men, and dismissed speculation that his daughter would succeed him next year. "My daughter is not running. I have told Inday not to run because I pity (her) knowing she will have to go through what I am going through," Duterte said at the launch of a highway project, referring to his daughter Sara by her nickname. "This is not for women. You know, the emotional set-up of a woman and a man is totally different. You…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Philippines’ typhoon deaths rise as worst floods in 45 years hit north

WORLD

THE death toll from the deadliest cyclone to hit the Philippines this year has climbed to 67, while many areas remained submerged in a northern region hit by the worst flooding in more than four decades, officials said on Sunday. President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Tuguegarao province to assess the situation in Cagayan Valley region, which was heavily flooded after Typhoon Vamco dumped rain over swathes of the main Luzon island, including the capital, metropolitan Manila. Twenty-two fatalities were recorded in Cagayan, 17 in southern Luzon, eight in Metro Manila, and 20 in two other regions, said Mark Timbal, the…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Ten dead, three missing as 2020’s strongest typhoon slams Philippines

WORLD

ENRICO DELA CRUZ AT least 10 people died and three others were missing after Typhoon Goni, the world's strongest typhoon this year, barrelled through the south of the Philippines' main island of Luzon, an initial government report showed. More than 300 houses were buried under volcanic rocks and mud flows from Mayon Volcano in severely hit Albay province in the Bicol region, a lawmaker said. Storm surges hit some coastal towns, while rivers overflowed and dikes were destroyed, submerging several villages in Bicol. The dead and missing were all in Bicol, including nine in Albay, the Office of Civil Defence…