Lawyers

• PH Supreme Court Issues TRO to Prevent Grace Poe’s Disqualification

  Presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe was granted a TRO by the Supreme Court to prevent the Comelec in cancelling her certificate of candicacy. Poe’s petition is set for oral arguments on Jan. 19th.

• Tokyo, Manila to agree framework for Japanese military aid: sources

  The Japanese and Philippine leaders will agree this week on a deal paving the way for Tokyo to supply Manila with used military equipment, possibly including aircraft that could be deployed to patrol the disputed South China Sea, sources said.

• Japan demands China halt oil exploration in part of East China Sea

  Japan called on China on Tuesday to halt construction of oil-and-gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea close to waters claimed by both nations, concerned that Chinese drills could tap reservoirs that extend into Japanese territory.

• Japan interested in joining NATO missile consortium

  Japan is interested in joining a NATO missile building consortium that would give Tokyo its first taste of a multinational defense project, a move the U.S. Navy is encouraging because it could pave the way for Japan to lead similar partnerships in Asia, sources said.

• Philippine's Aquino revives comparison between China and Nazi Germany

  Philippine President Benigno Aquino made a veiled comparison on Wednesday between China's activities in the South China Sea and Nazi Germany's expansionism before World War Two, echoing similar remarks he made last year that outraged Beijing.

• Philippines seeks stronger commitment from U.S. in South China Sea dispute

  The Philippines is seeking a "stronger commitment" from the United States to help its ally, the defense minister said on Monday, as China asserts its sovereignty over disputed areas of the South China Sea.

• Japan considering joint U.S. air patrols in South China Sea - sources

  Japan's military is considering joining the United States in maritime air patrols in the South China Sea in response to China's increasingly assertive pursuit of territorial claims, a Japanese and a U.S. source familiar with the discussions said.

• China 'extremely concerned' by ASEAN statement on disputed sea

  China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it was "extremely concerned" after leaders of Southeast Asian countries expressed worry about land reclamation and navigational freedom in the disputed South China Sea.

• Philippines calls on ASEAN to urge China to halt land reclamation

  The Philippines called on its Southeast Asian neighbors to unite in urging China to halt reclamation of land in the South China Sea, but the call failed to raise widespread support ahead of a regional summit.

• China maritime tensions dominate Southeast Asia summit

  Southeast Asian leaders edged closer to open criticism of China's land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea at a regional summit on Monday, as the Philippines drew the ire of Beijing which called its objections to the work "unreasonable".

• Philippines accuses China of turning water cannon on its fishing boats

  Filipino activists denounced China's coast guard on Tuesday for turning water cannon on Philippine fishing boats in disputed waters, near where hundreds of Filipino and American Marines landed on a beach in a mock assault.

• Philippines seeks Southeast Asian unity denouncing China reclamation

  Philippine President Benigno Aquino will ask Southeast Asian leaders to issue a collective statement denouncing China's reclamation in disputed waters, an official said on Monday, as the army expressed concern over expanding building works.

• Philippines says South China Sea dispute a global problem

  Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on Friday the territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea was of concern for the world because global trade will be hit by China's reclamation.

• Philippine leader vows justice for police but warns on anger

  Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Friday promised justice for 44 policemen killed in a clash with Muslim rebels but, underscoring his calls for the violence not to derail peace efforts, warned against an angry response to the violence.

• Pope says Mass for huge Manila crowd, appeals for suffering children

  Pope Francis said a huge open-air Mass for a rain-drenched crowd of millions in the Philippine capital on Sunday, after appealing to the world to "learn how to cry" over the plight of poor, hungry, homeless and abused children.

• Hard diplomacy ahead despite China showing its softer side

  From a military rules-of-the-road agreement with Washington to $20 billion in loans for Southeast Asia, Beijing has set aside the tensions of recent years to present a softer side to the world in the last week.

• ASEAN to pressure China to stick to diplomacy on maritime disputes

  Southeast Asian leaders will welcome China's Prime Minister Le Keqiang with fanfare on Wednesday but behind closed doors will push their giant neighbor to take a less bellicose approach to overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

• One year after devastating super typhoon, Philippines approves rebuilding plan

  Almost a year after a super typhoon devastated wide areas of the central Philippines killing thousands, President Benigno Aquino only this week approved a $3.74 billion master plan to rebuild housing, social services and public infrastructure.