Philippines News

Philippine communist attack leaves 23 dead: officials

AFP - Saturday, November 14

LANUZA, Philippines (AFP) - - Twenty-three people died in the southern Philippines as communist guerrillas and security forces engaged in one of their most deadly battles in years, officials said Friday. More »

  • Philippine president signs anti-torture law

    AP - Saturday, November 14

    MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine president signed a bill criminalizing all forms of torture and prohibiting state authorities from using secret detention centers, her spokesman announced Friday.

  • Communist rebel attack kills 12 in Philippines

    AP - Saturday, November 14

    MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels killed 12 security forces when they responded to an attack on a logging company in the southern Philippines, the military said Friday.

  • Clinton applauded predicting Pacquiao boxing win

    AP - Friday, November 13

    MANILA, Philippines - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton drew loud applause at a town hall meeting with students Friday in the Philippines by giving the right answer to the most pressing question.

  • Kidnapped Irish priest released in Philippines

    AFP - Friday, November 13

    ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - - Kidnapped Irish priest Michael Sinnott emerged from a month in the jungles of the south Philippines Thursday, declaring himself in good health and eager to continue his missionary work.

  • Clinton pledges strong alliance with Philippines

    Clinton pledges strong alliance with Philippines

    AFP - Friday, November 13

    MANILA (AFP) - - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed Thursday to maintain a strong alliance with the Philippines as it fights Islamist militants who officials say are now using Iraq-style tactics.

  • This video grab taken somewhere in Lanao province and released October 31 shows kidnapped Irish priest Father Michael Sinnott holding a copy of a local newspaper dated October 22. Michael Sinnott was handed over to the Philippine government early Thursday, a month after he was abducted, the top military official in this southern region said.

    Kidnapped Irish priest free, in good health: military

    AFP - Thursday, November 12

    ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - - Muslim rebels handed elderly Irish priest Michael Sinnott over to Philippine authorities in good health on Thursday, just over a month after he was abducted, authorities said.

  • Irish priest freed in Philippines after a month

    AP - Thursday, November 12

    DUBLIN - A 79-year-old Irish Roman Catholic priest abducted in the Philippines a month ago was freed early Thursday and neither country paid any of the kidnappers' $2 million ransom demand, Irish and Filipino authorities said.

  • Kidnapped Irish priest freed: military

    Kidnapped Irish priest freed: military

    AFP - Thursday, November 12

    ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - - Kidnapped Irish priest Michael Sinnott was handed over to the Philippine government early Thursday, a month after he was abducted, the top military official in this southern region said.

  • Philippine volcano spews ash, 'could erupt'

    Philippine volcano spews ash, 'could erupt'

    AFP - Thursday, November 12

    MANILA (AFP) - - One of the Philippines' most active volcanoes shot plumes of ash into the air early Wednesday, officials said, warning local residents they would have to evacuate in case of an eruption.

  • Clinton urged to query Philippine human rights

    AP - Tuesday, November 10

    MANILA, Philippines - A human rights watchdog on Tuesday urged U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to press the Philippine president to prosecute soldiers allegedly responsible for political killings.

  • Philippines enraged as Islamists behead hostage

    Philippines enraged as Islamists behead hostage

    AFP - Tuesday, November 10

    ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - - The Philippine government on Monday vowed to take revenge against Al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants after they dumped the severed head of a kidnapped school principal at a petrol station.

  • Militants behead school principal in Philippines

    Reuters - Tuesday, November 10

    MANILA (Reuters) - Muslim militants beheaded a school principal on a remote southern island in the Philippines after holding him for ransom for three weeks, a marine general said on Monday.

  • Accused Philippine rebel kidnapper to remain hidden: MILF

    Accused Philippine rebel kidnapper to remain hidden: MILF

    AFP - Friday, November 6

    COTABATO, Philippines (AFP) - - Philippine Muslim rebel leaders on Thursday refused a government demand to force one of their members accused of kidnapping an Irish priest to come out and personally deny the allegation.