Filipino Muslim rebels take tentative steps towards governance

IRIN - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

MILF-backed candidates release doves on the campaign trail to symbolize peace MANILA, 21 May 2013 (IRIN) - The oppressive summer heat bore down on this impoverished southern Philippine town on Mindanao Island as thousands gathered to hear a "proxy candidate" of the country's largest Muslim rebel force address the crowd on the eve of recently concluded mid-term elections. In the ...

Taipei releases satellite record rejecting Manila’s claim

Inquirer Global Nation - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

TAIPEI -- Taiwan on Tuesday released a satellite record of the route of a fishing boat fired on by Philippine coastguards, flatly rejecting Manila’s allegations that the boat intruded into Philippine waters. The killing of crew member Hung Shih-cheng, 65, sparked outrage in Taiwan, which has announced a series of economic sanctions against the Philippines. Taiwan’s Fisheries Agency ...

Philippines protests Chinese warship’s presence

Inquirer Global Nation - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Members of the Philippine Navy SEALS display their gear during a ceremony celebrating the 115th anniversary of the Philippine navy at Fort San Felipe, Cavite city southwest of Manila, Philippines Tuesday, May 21, 2013. The Philippine government is planning to spend $1.8 billion dollars to modernize the Philippine navy with acquisition of additional ships and anti-submarine helicopters. AP ...

Catholic Church takes on reproductive rights in Philippines risks further alienation

Global Post - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

And for the 1.2 billion adherents to the faith worldwide, it is a decisive moment. The faithful are looking to a new pope to bring a time of healing - and better governance - to a church tarnished by scandal and deeply ...

Philippines protests Chinese ships in Ayungin Shoal

ABS-CBN News - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin confirms the sighting of Chinese fishing vessels in the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal. Gazmin says the Chinese fishing boats were escorted by a Chinese naval ship. ...

No Filipino injuries deaths reported in Oklahoma tornado

Inquirer Global Nation - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

A truck lays damaged in a field near the Moore Medical Center, background, after a tornado moves through Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. AP MANILA, Philippines — No Filipino was reported hurt so far in the deadly tornado that ripped through the US Midwest, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday. "The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago reported that so ...

Philippines boosts military by $A1.8bn

The Courier Mail - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

PHILIPPINE President Benigno Aquino has announced a $A1.84 billion military upgrade to help defend his country's maritime territory against "bullies", amid an ever-worsening dispute with China. The announcement came on the same day that the Philippines filed a protest with China over the "illegal and provocative" presence of a Chinese warship and two other vessels at a ...

Philippine Navy awaits delivery of 5 helicopters

Inquirer - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

CAVITE CITY, Philippines– The Philippine Navy is looking forward to the delivery of five Navy helicopters, three of which are due to arrive in December. ';We arealso [waiting for] the acquisition of naval helicopters. The initial batch will be arriving by December of this year,'; Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Louis Alano told reporters in an ambush interview at the ...

Volvo Philippines launches luxury 5-door 5-seater hatchback

Inquirer Business - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

The All-New Volvo V40, a modern expressive car, with characteristics from larger Volvos wrapped in a sleek, compact package, is now in the Philippines. This 5-door, 5-seater luxury hatchback combines trendsetting design with class-leading driving ...

Philippines boosts military to resist bullies amid China dispute

The Straits Times - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III addresses the media shortly after leading the 115th Philippine Navy anniversary celebration at Fort San Felipe, Cavite city, south-west of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Mr Aquino on Tuesday announced a US$1.8 billion (S$2.26 billion) military upgrade to help defend his country's maritime territory against "bullies", amid an ...

Comelec eyes Internet voting for Filipino voters abroad

Inquirer - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines – Internet voting could be the solution to the low voter turnout of overseas absentee voting (OAV) in the recently concluded May 2013 elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Tuesday. Senator Franklin Drilon said in a statement that there was ...

Philippines to acquire warfare equipment for Navy

Global Times - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III disclosed Tuesday the warfare equipment to be purchased by his administration that will help boost the capability of the Navy.The country's second class cutter, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, which came from the United States, is expected to arrive in Manila in August."We are planning to buy three multi-purpose attack craft, eight amphibious assault ...

PNoy rallies Philippine Navy

ABS-CBN News - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

President Aquino, accompanied by Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano (left), attends the 115th anniversary of the Philippine Navy at the Commodore Posadas Wharf, Fort San Felipe, Cavite City on Tuesday. Aquino vowed to strengthen the navy's capability to defend the country from external ...

Taipei puts Manila on the spot with boat satellite data

The Standard - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

(26 mins ago) Taiwan has released a satellite record of the route of a fishing boat fired on by Philippine coastguard, flatly rejecting Manila's claims that the vessel intruded into Philippine waters. The killing of Hung Shih-cheng, 65, sparked outrage in Taiwan, which has announced a series of economic sanctions against Manila, including a travel alert. Taiwan's Fisheries Agency ...

Philippines protests China warships presence

Tampa Bay Online - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

CAVITE, Philippines (AP) -- The Philippines has protested the presence of a Chinese warship and other vessels off a Filipino military-occupied shoal in the disputed Spratly ...

Philippine president creates task force to improve business competitiveness

Global Times - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III has created an inter-agency task force that will help investors do business in the country.Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said Tuesday that Aquino signed Administrative Order No. 38, creating the Task Force on Ease of Doing Business (EODB Task Force) that will improve the country's global ranking in business competitiveness.The task force ...

Taiwan tourists cancel Philippines plans

China Daily - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

/enpproperty--> BORACAY, Philippines - Taiwan tourists to Boracay, a world-renowned resort in central Philippines, have started canceling hotel reservations since Taiwan issued an advisory against traveling to the country after Philippine Coast Guards killed a Taiwan fisherman. Percy Malonesio, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to Kalibo International Airport ...

Philippine pivot in the South China Sea

Asia Times - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

By Richard Javad Heydarian MANILA - After three years of inconclusive bilateral negotiations with China and a year of precarious diplomatic brinkmanship under Cambodia's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines has sought new ways to resolve its territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Despite earlier hopes that China's leadership ...

Coin tossing breaks tie in Philippine mayoral race

Gadsden Times - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Marvic Feraren and Boyet Py both received 3,236 votes for mayor of San Teodoro town in Mindoro Oriental province in Monday's elections.The Elections Commissions suggested the two men flip a coin five times each, which is allowed under the country's Election Code to break a tie.Feraren won Tuesday, but not before a second round of coin flipping.They tied in the first round ...

US concerned over Philippines killing of Taiwanese fisherman

SINA - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

WASHINGTON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday expressed concern about the increasing tensions between the Philippines and China's Taiwan following last week's fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard. At a news briefing, the State Department's acting deputy spokesman Patric Ventrell also urged the two sides to take "all ...

Philippine Lower House to push charter change

Asia News Network - Monday 20th May, 2013

With a firmer grip on Congress, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is expected to push for changes in foreign equity restrictions to attract more capital in order to create more jobs and reduce poverty incidence. But his political leaders are divided on how to initiate the changes.On one hand, Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who is expected to retain the speakership, prefers ...

Barclays ups Philippines growth estimates

Asia News Network - Monday 20th May, 2013

Barclays has raised its 2013 growth forecast for the Philippines as it expects the economy to post one of the fastest growth rates among emerging markets in Asia. In one of its latest reports, Barclays said the Philippines was now seen to grow by 6.2 per cent this year and 6.3 per cent in 2014. The international financial services firm earlier projected that the Philippine economy would grow ...