Philippines News

49 Philippine police killed after clash with rebels

Manila - Forty-nine Philippine police commandos were killed when they clashed with Muslim rebels in the south, police said Monday, a bloodbath which tested a peace accord signed last March.

Op-Ed: Philippine commando attack on rebels kills more than 30 commandos

Manila - A local official claimed that over 30 Philippine National Police Special Action Force(SAF) commandos were killed when they clashed with fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as they were attempting to arrest a bombing suspect.

Beggars taken off the streets for Philippines papal visit

Manila - The Philippines government came under fire Friday after admitting that hundreds of homeless people were taken off Manila's streets and put into luxury accommodation during Pope Francis's recent visit, when he preached compassion for the poor.

Pope ends record-setting Asia tour

Manila - Masses of cheering believers in the Philippines turned out to bid farewell to Pope Francis on Monday, a fitting end to a week in Asia that saw him draw record crowds and campaign relentlessly for the poor.

Pope attracts world-record crowd in wet Philippines

Manila - Pope Francis drew a record six million people as he celebrated mass in the rain-swept Philippine capital Sunday, a triumphant finale to an Asian tour in which he championed the plight of the poor.

Pope celebrates mass with millions in wet Philippines

Manila - Pope Francis celebrated mass with millions of singing and cheering Catholics in the Philippine capital on Sunday, in one of the world's biggest outpourings of papal devotion.

Pope flees Philippine storm, cuts short typhoon mercy trip

Tacloban - Pope Francis was forced Saturday to flee a fierce storm in the Philippines that killed a papal volunteer, cutting short a mercy mission to weeping survivors of a catastrophic super typhoon.

Pope demands Philippine leaders end graft, fight poverty

Manila - Pope Francis on Friday demanded leaders in the Philippines end "scandalous social inequalities", hitting out at corruption in a nation where tens of millions of Catholics endure brutal poverty.

Pope top billing in Philippines from cathedral to arena

Manila - Pope Francis will celebrate mass at a centuries-old cathedral and later meet worshippers in a stadium setting more familiar to rock stars as his trip to the Philippines gets into full swing on Friday.

Security 'nightmare' for Philippine papal visit

Manila - Philippine troops are facing a security "nightmare" during Pope Francis's visit starting on Thursday, with potential stampedes, Islamic militants and lone-wolf assailants all concerns.

Millions to welcome Pope on Asia trip

Manila - Pope Francis will immerse himself in some of Asia's most fervent Catholicism during a trip to the Philippines and Sri Lanka starting Tuesday, with millions of devotees set to turn out.

5.5 million in Philippines parade ahead of papal visit

Manila - More than five million barefoot devotees paraded a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ through Manila Friday in a loud, heaving paroxysm of religious fervour ahead of Pope Francis's visit to Asia's bastion of Christianity.

Filipino traffic enforcers to wear diapers during papal visit

Manila - Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Philippines next week from January 15 to the 19th. The visit is expected to cause massive traffic jams in Manila, a city where traffic jams are the norm.

Deadly Libya strike on tanker draws Greek condemnation

Darnah - Libya's internationally recognised government said Monday that its aircraft bombed an oil tanker off the Islamist-held port of Derna, killing two crewmen and drawing condemnation from Greece.

Eight missing as ship sinks off Scotland

London - An overturned cargo ship sank Sunday off the coast of Scotland as the search continued for the missing eight-member crew.

Soldier killed, 3 hurt in rebel raids in Philippines

Malang - A soldier was killed and three others wounded when Muslim rebels simultaneously attacked military detachments in two southern Philippine provinces on Saturday, a military spokeswoman said.

Prison sex assault of girl, 8, fuels anger in Philippines

Manila - An eight-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in a toilet at a notorious Philippine prison, officials said Saturday, fuelling a national uproar over revelations that its inmates were "living like kings" with stripper bars and jacuzzis.

Tropical storm leaves 54 dead as it exits Philippines

Manila - Tropical storm Jiangmi exited the Philippines Thursday, leaving at least 54 dead and 13 missing from floods and landslides as officials admitted that more extensive warnings could have saved more lives.

Philippine storm death toll jumps to 30

Manila - At least 30 people were killed in landslides and flash floods as tropical storm Jangmi slowly crossed the southern and central Philippines, dumping heavy rain for a second day on Tuesday, officials said.

Philippine communist rebels say peace talks may resume soon

Manila - The Philippine government and communist rebels said Friday that formal negotiations to end a lengthy insurgency could restart shortly, though the rebels' armed wing announced it was beefing up its guerilla campaign.

Philippines orders crackdown on privileged jailbirds

Manila - Philippine authorities have given privileged inmates in the country's main prison until Christmas Eve to turn over their hidden guns, drugs and other contraband or the notorious facility will face a major shakedown.

U.S. Marine accused of Philippine murder appears in court

A U.S. Marine accused of murdering a transgender woman in the Philippines appeared in court on Friday for the first time since her death more than two months ago.

Prison sex, drugs and bribery scandal shocks Philippines

Manila - A sex, drugs and bribery scandal at the Philippines' main prison, where a raid uncovered drug lords "living like kings" in luxury cells with stripper bars and jacuzzis, has shocked a country inured to tales of official corruption.

Philippine prosecutors charge US Marine with murder

Manila - Philippine prosecutors on Monday charged a US Marine with murder over the death of a Filipino transgender woman, in a case that has fanned anti-American sentiment and tested close military ties.

Philippine prosecutors charge U.S. Marine with murder

Manila - Philippine prosecutors on Monday filed murder charges against a U.S. Marine accused of killing a Filipino transgender woman, in a case that has fanned anti-American sentiment.

Philippine politician injured, 4 aides killed in ambush

Manila - A member of the Philippines parliament was wounded in an ambush Thursday that left four of his aides dead, he said in a television interview.Vicente Belmonte Jr.

Philippines bus bombing 'kills 11'

Davao - Eleven people including many high school students were killed when a bomb exploded aboard a bus in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, military spokesmen said.

Philippines bus bombing 'kills 11'

Davao - Eleven people including many high school students were killed when a bomb exploded aboard a bus in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, military spokesmen said.

Philippine storm kills 27, spares Manila

Ando - A giant storm left the Philippines Tuesday after killing at least 27 people and devastating remote coastal towns, but the government won praise for unprecedented preparations that were credited for saving lives.

Storm churns towards Philippine capital after killing 23

Manila - Millions of people in the Philippine capital hunkered down on Monday as a major storm churned towards the megacity, after claiming at least 23 lives while ripping apart homes in remote island communities.