Smoking ban

Duterte issues snap ban on public smoking in Philippines

The president has followed through on his promise for a nationwide ban on public smoking, with a call for public enforcement that has some worried it may fan the flames of violent vigilantism
By Euan Black • May 19, 2017

Duterte sacks interior minister as corruption crackdown continues

Ismael Sueno, the Philippines’ interior minister, has been fired for using government money to build a hotel and buy new trucks for his rice business – among other things
By Logan Connor • Apr 04, 2017

Duterte continues Asean tour with trips to Thailand and Myanmar

The Philippine president’s trip will include meetings with Aung San Suu Kyi and Prayuth Chan-Ocha, and might include discussions of the South China Sea situation
By Logan Connor • Mar 16, 2017

Why the Philippine public is getting behind Duterte's death penalty bid

The Philippines is one step closer to reinstating the death penalty, the latest development in Duterte’s unyielding – yet widely supported – campaign to stamp out drug crime
By Logan Connor • Mar 03, 2017

Outspoken Duterte critic Leila de Lima arrested on ‘trumped-up’ drug charges

Senator De Lima and her party have decried the charges, which allege that De Lima took bribes from imprisoned drug traffickers, as false and politically motivated
By Logan Connor • Feb 24, 2017

Duterte’s vicious battle with the church continues

During the Philippines’ recent Sunday Catholic services, priests across the country decried President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war as a “reign of terror”. But experts say its criticisms are unlikely to affect Duterte’s popularity
By Euan Black • Feb 07, 2017

Philippine drug war involves possible ‘crimes against humanity’, says Amnesty International

A report released today describes rampant corruption surrounding Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’, with Philippine police being accused of paying officers to kill suspected criminals
By Logan Connor • Feb 01, 2017

Drug war

Duterte halts ‘war on drugs’ to clean up police unit

The drug war is on hold as the Philippine police force seeks to rid itself of corrupt “scalawags” – but the president has vowed to continue his deadly campaign through 2022
By Logan Connor • Jan 31, 2017