Category Archives: News

Marcos: Death of PH serviceman from foreign attack triggers defense treaty with US

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino serviceman’s death in an attack by a foreign power would invoke the Philippines’ Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday, April 15. Marcos said this in a media forum with foreign correspondents based in Manila, when asked what “conditions” would invoke the […]

Marcos has no plans to grant US access to more bases

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has no plans to grant the United States access to more military bases, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Monday, April 15, after nearly doubling the number last year under a joint defense pact. Beijing has previously accused the Philippines of “stoking the fire” when it increased the number […]

Marcos on getting to the bottom of Duterte-China ‘secret deal’: ‘Maraming palusot’

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed frustration over conflicting information regarding the “secret deal” struck between his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte and China on the West Philippine Sea years ago. Beijing has been raising this gentleman’s agreement between the two countries, now that Manila has adopted a stronger stance on defending the Philippines’ […]

View from Manila: Will the real gentleman – or agreement – please stand up? 

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Last week, the Philippines began a “new trilateral chapter” with the United States and Japan – two countries which, once upon a time, were its colonizers. The White House was host to the first-ever trilateral leaders summit between US President Joe Biden, Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and Philippine President Ferdinand […]

Marcos to Duterte: What did you compromise in ‘secret agreement’ with China?

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has several questions for former president Rodrigo Duterte on his “gentleman’s agreement” with China on Ayungin Shoal, among them, why he kept it a secret to the Filipino people and what the deal entailed. “Para sa akin maliwanag na may tinago – may usapan sila na tinago […]

US, Japan, Philippines trilateral deal to change dynamic in South China Sea, Marcos says

SUMMARY WASHINGTON/MANILA – A cooperation agreement by the Philippines, the United States, and Japan will change the dynamic in the South China Sea and the region, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday, April 12, while seeking to assure China it was not a target. “I think the trilateral agreement is extremely important,” Marcos […]

Marcos defends Sara Duterte’s silence on China aggression in West PH Sea

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has defended Vice President Sara Duterte from criticism about her silence over China’s aggression against Philippine government vessels and fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos said in an interview with Philippine media in Washington, where he had attended a trilateral summit with US President Joe Biden […]