Philippines government
Supporters light candles as they offer prayers for former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Friday, June 25, 2021 in Quezon city, Philippines. Aquino, the son of pro-democracy icons who helped topple dictator Ferdinand Marcos and had troublesome ties with China, died Thursday, a cousin and public officials said. He was 61. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Aquino, Philippine ex-leader who challenged China, is buried

By Jim Gomez And Aaron Favila Jun. 26, 2021 02:46 AM EDT

A general view of the public viewing of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III's wake at the Church of Gesu, Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines, Friday, June 25, 2021. Aquino, the son of pro-democracy icons who helped topple dictator Ferdinand Marcos and had troublesome ties with China, died Thursday, a cousin and public officials said. He was 61. (Mark Cristino/Pool Photo via AP)
Late Philippine leader hailed for integrity, guts vs China

By Joeal Calupitan And Aaron Favila Jun. 25, 2021 04:04 AM EDT

Honor guards stand next to the urn of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig, Philippines on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Aquino, the son of pro-democracy icons who helped topple dictator Ferdinand Marcos and had troublesome ties with China, died Thursday, a cousin and public officials said. He was 61. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippine democracy scion, ex-leader Benigno Aquino dies

By Jim Gomez Jun. 24, 2021 10:49 AM EDT

A pedicab driver is inoculated with China's Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine president has threatened to order the arrest of Filipinos who refuse the COVID-19 vaccination and told them to leave the country for hard-hit countries like India and the United States if they would not cooperate with massive efforts to end the pandemic. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Duterte threatens to arrest Filipinos who refuse vaccination

Jun. 22, 2021 03:52 AM EDT

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his speech during the 123rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Philippine independence rites on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at the Provincial Capitol of Bulacan province, Philippines. The Philippines commemorates the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898 every June 12. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Duterte again delays abrogation of key security pact with US

By Jim Gomez Jun. 14, 2021 12:34 PM EDT

A sign requiring masks is displayed as travelers move about at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
The Latest: Philippines officials warned to enforce lockdown

By The Associated Press May. 26, 2021 03:17 AM EDT

Kiara Herzer, of Albuquerque, stands with University of New Mexico mascot "Lucy Lobo" as she tells how she got her second vaccine shot in her right arm as she was the 100,000th COVID-19 vaccine shot administered at the UNM Health vaccination clinic at the Pit, Wednesday, April, 28 , 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M.(Jim Thompson/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
The Latest: Philippine president eases lockdown in capital

By The Associated Press May. 13, 2021 04:40 AM EDT

People wait for a bus to take them to their home villages at the Kalideres bus terminal in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. The mass exodus out of major cities in the world's most populous Muslim country is underway despite travel restrictions imposed by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus outbreak, as people are heading home to their villages to celebrate Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on May 13. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Asia Today: Fiji sequesters hospital staff after COVID death

May. 05, 2021 10:25 PM EDT

People sit among physical distancing markers as they wait for buses to go back to their home villages, at the Kalideres bus terminal in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. The mass exodus out of major cities in the world's most populous Muslim country is underway despite travel restrictions are imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, as people are heading home to their villages to celebrate Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
The Latest: Fiji locks down hospital over coronavirus death

By The Associated Press May. 05, 2021 01:05 AM EDT

A man rides his pedicab with a slogan to remind people to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Manila, Philippines on Monday, April 26, 2021. COVID-19 infections in the Philippines surged past 1 million Monday in the latest grim milestone as officials assessed whether to extend a monthlong lockdown in Manila and outlying provinces amid a deadly spike or relax it to fight recession, joblessness and hunger. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The Latest: Philippines extends virus lockdown to mid-May

By The Associated Press Apr. 28, 2021 03:02 AM EDT

A man rides his pedicab with a slogan to remind people to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Manila, Philippines on Monday, April 26, 2021. COVID-19 infections in the Philippines surged past 1 million Monday in the latest grim milestone as officials assessed whether to extend a monthlong lockdown in Manila and outlying provinces amid a deadly spike or relax it to fight recession, joblessness and hunger. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Philippines weighs extending lockdown as COVID cases top 1M

By Jim Gomez And Aaron Favila Apr. 26, 2021 06:31 AM EDT

US, Philippine forces stage scaled down drills amid pandemic

Apr. 12, 2021 10:23 AM EDT
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — American and Philippines forces on Monday opened one of their most scaled down annual combat exercises in decades due to the...

A photo of Britain's Prince Philip is among flowers left by the public outside the gates of Windsor Castle, a day after the death of Britain's Prince Philip, in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 10, 2021. Britain's Prince Philip, the irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II who spent more than seven decades supporting his wife in a role that mostly defined his life, died on Friday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Latest: Tweet recalls queen's loving anniversary speech

By The Associated Press Apr. 10, 2021 03:59 AM EDT

Flags fly at half-staff on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney as a tribute to Prince Philip, Saturday, April 10, 2021. Buckingham Palace officials say Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died. He was 99. Philip spent a month in hospital earlier this year before being released on March 16 to return to Windsor Castle. (AP Photo/Mark Baker))
The Latest: Australia mourns Prince Philip

By The Associated Press Apr. 09, 2021 03:30 PM EDT

FILE - This June 12, 2019, file photo shows former Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada during wreath-laying ceremonies to mark the 121st anniversary of Philippine independence at Manila's Rizal Park, Philippines. Former Philippine President Estrada has been put on a ventilator in a hospital to help him breath after being infected by the coronavirus, his son said Tuesday, April 6. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
Ex-Philippine President Estrada on ventilator with COVID-19

Apr. 06, 2021 10:36 AM EDT

A child plays music for money backdropped by the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) in Istanbul, Saturday, April 3, 2021. The streets of Istanbul, reflect a weekend curfew resumed as the number of COVID-19 cases hit record levels, and with renewed restrictions announced for the Islamic month of Ramadan which begins on April 13. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
The Latest: Lockdown extended for metro Manila, surroundings

By The Associated Press Apr. 04, 2021 07:29 AM EDT

European Council President Charles Michel, second left, talks to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, right on a screen, during a video conference ahead of a EU summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (Stephanie Lecocq, Photo Pool via AP)
The Latest: Philippine leader orders mayors investigated

By The Associated Press Mar. 24, 2021 07:03 AM EDT

In this photo provided on Sunday, March 21, 2021, by the Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea, some of the 220 Chinese vessels are seen moored at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea on March 7, 2021. The Philippine government expressed concern after spotting more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels it believed were crewed by militias at a reef claimed by both countries in the South China Sea, but it did not immediately lodge a protest. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea via AP)
US backs Philippines in standoff over South China Sea reef

By Jim Gomez Mar. 23, 2021 03:41 AM EDT

In this photo provided Sunday, March 21, 2021, by the Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea, some of the 220 Chinese vessels are seen moored at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea on March 7, 2021. The Philippine government expressed concern after spotting more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels it believed were crewed by militias at a reef claimed by both countries in the South China Sea, but it did not immediately lodge a protest. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea via AP)
Philippine defense chief asks Chinese flotilla to leave reef

By Jim Gomez Mar. 20, 2021 09:37 PM EDT

In this photo provided by the Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, third from left, poses with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, second from left, as they stand in front of a Chinese military plane carrying Sinovac vaccines from China at the Villamor Air Base in Manila, Philippines on Sunday Feb. 28, 2021. The Philippines received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccine Sunday, among the last in Southeast Asia to secure the critical doses despite having the second-highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the hard-hit region. (Toto Lozano/ Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP)
Philippines launches virus vaccinations amid supply problems

By Jim Gomez Mar. 01, 2021 12:15 AM EST