SUMMARY More than three centuries before China fired water cannons on Filipino ships, historic battles between two naval forces erupted in Philippine waters. In 1646, the Protestant Dutch sought to invade the Philippines, which had been a colony of Catholic Spain for eight decades at that time. (The Philippines would be a Spanish colony for more […]
SUMMARY In an interview, former president Ferdinand Marcos once described his children this way: Imee was his “intellectual twin” and Irene was “everybody’s sweetheart.” When it came to Bongbong, Ferdinand Jr., journalist Paulynn Sicam recalls that the dictator paused and said, “He has, um, good muscle coordination.” He then added that “like his mother,” Bongbong liked to […]
SUMMARY In an interview, former president Ferdinand Marcos once described his children this way: Imee was his “intellectual twin” and Irene was “everybody’s sweetheart.” When it came to Bongbong, Ferdinand Jr., journalist Paulynn Sicam recalls that the dictator paused and said, “He has, um, good muscle coordination.” He then added that “like his mother,” Bongbong liked to […]
SUMMARY Claim: China has threatened war on the Philippines amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video bearing the claim, posted on June 25, has gained 65,563 views, 2,300 likes, and 1,757 comments as of writing. The video’s title reads: “Last warning ng China! PBBM pinag bantaan na! […]
SUMMARY US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell raised concerns about China’s “destabilizing actions in the South China Sea” with the country’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu during a call on Thursday, June 27, the State Department said. “The Deputy Secretary also reiterated that US commitments to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty remain […]
SUMMARY US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell raised concerns about China’s “destabilizing actions in the South China Sea” with the country’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu during a call on Thursday, June 27, the State Department said. “The Deputy Secretary also reiterated that US commitments to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty remain […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – In a rare move, Chinese-Filipino business groups and civic organizations have issued a collective statement calling for a “de-escalation” of bilateral tensions between the Philippines and China more than a week after a Philippine soldier lost his thumb in another clash between the two countries in the West Philippine Sea. In […]
SUMMARY Almost without fail, whenever I am away or I go on a break, breaking news happens. This recent short vacation, which ended today, June 27, was no exception. Former senator and justice secretary Leila de Lima was cleared of all drug charges, Vice President Sara Duterte quit as education secretary and deputy of the […]
SUMMARY Almost without fail, whenever I am away or I go on a break, breaking news happens. This recent short vacation, which ended today, June 27, was no exception. Former senator and justice secretary Leila de Lima was cleared of all drug charges, Vice President Sara Duterte quit as education secretary and deputy of the […]
SUMMARY Claim: A social media post shows the Philippine Navy air-dropping packages onto the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin Shoal. Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post containing the claim was posted on June 23 by a page with 54,000 followers, and has 2,300 shares, 7,000 comments, and 53,000 reactions as of writing. The […]