Foreign Affairs

North East Londoner • 22nd September 2025

British Filipino community divided on former President Rodrigo Duterte's ICC detention

The British Filipino community is divided about former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s continued detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC).Duterte, 80, was extradited to ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, back in March and is charged with crimes against humanity. Duterte has contested his extradition.ICC prosecutors allege that Duterte, whilst president between 2016 and 2022, pursued an anti-drugs policy which directed a systematic attack against a civilian population, resulting in...

The Diplomat • 24th June 2025

Philippine Senator’s Deepfake Post Raises Fresh Disinformation Concerns

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the former chief of the Philippine National Police and a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, set off a national debate in the Philippines last week after he shared an AI-generated “deepfake” video in support of beleaguered Vice President Sara Duterte.

Dela Rosa was responsible for executing the bloody anti-narcotics campaign waged by Rodrigo Duterte during his 2016-22 presidency. Now with Duterte isolated in The Hague and his daughter Sara facing imp...

The Diplomat • 26th May 2025

US-Philippines Relations Take Center Stage After Midterm Elections

Following an underwhelming electoral return, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is likely to lean all the more heavily on his relationship with Washington.

Awaiting trial from within the confines of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte could only watch on as he was once again elected mayor of his hometown of Davao City, one of more than 18,000 positions up for grabs in last week’s midterm elections. Despite being situated thousands of mile...

The Diplomat • 18th March 2025

Tensions Rising in the Philippines After Former President Duterte’s ICC Arrest

The ex-leader may finally face justice for his bloody “war on drugs”, but the country he leaves behind is increasingly divided.

Last week, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by Philippine police at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in connection with their investigation into his bloody “war on drugs.” The anti-narcotics campaign, which spanned across his Davao mayorship and 2016-2022 presidency, saw thousands killed without trial for their alleged crim...

The Diplomat • 29th January 2025

Philippine Sex Education Bill Is ‘Woke and Abhorrent,’ President Says

The proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act has come under fire from President Marcos, despite the country’s alarming teenage pregnancy rates.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. takes part in a video call with outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru at the Malacañang Palace in Manila, Philippines, January 13, 2025.

Last week, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. made an impassioned critique of Senate Bill No. 1979, blasting some...

The Diplomat • 25th October 2024

With Public Tirade, Philippine Vice President Further Widens Rift With Marcos Clan

The relationship between Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr hit a new low last week, after Duterte launched a scathing attack on the president in a two-hour-long press conference on October 18.

In the extraordinary outburst, Duterte threatened to dig up the remains of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the former Philippine dictator and father of the current president. “One of these days, I will go there. I will get the body of your father and throw it in the...

The Diplomat • 14th October 2024

Former Philippine President Duterte Makes Political Comeback Amid Usual Controversy

The ex-leader’s return coincides with the eroding relationship between his family and the Marcos clan, as well as the arrest of his close ally, televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.

On October 8, the final day of the weeklong registration period for next year’s midterm elections, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte submitted his candidacy for mayor of Davao City. It is a position that the 79-year-old held for more than two decades prior to his election as president in 2016.

It is from the Dav...

SunStar Publishing Inc. • 29th April 2024

Saving Philippine Eagle is in Our Hands (Part 2)

The reason they’re here (in rescue centers) is because they have nowhere else to go. It all comes back to preventing habitat loss.”After their period of monitoring and quarantine at Vandenbroeck’s clinic, the eagles will transfer to the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao.The Center, overseen by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), offers hope for the Philippine Eagle and other endangered species of indigenous birds and animals. They have a successful breeding program, with 29 eaglets raised over...

SunStar Publishing Inc. • 22nd April 2024

Saving Philippine Eagle is in Our Hands

Vandenbroeck battled over the loud metal clang of the eagles banging against the cage door to detail that the birds are feeding well, which is good news for their recovery. However, this may also indicate that the eagles have been in captivity for some time.“It seems from their behaviour, we are thinking they could have been caught for awhile, because they are not as aggressive. They would be a lot more aggressive if they were freshly caught from the wild, that banging would be non-stop,” Vanden...