The three-day visit to the archipelago included an unprecedented visit to Palawan, an island close to the South China Sea dispute, and promises of military aid to the Marcos administration

Salvador Romano, a human rights defender, was fatally shot on July 7 on the island of Negros in Philippines. Peasant leaders, activists, and trade unionists in Negros are facing constant attacks and violence from the state authorities

On January 30, Randy Felix Malayao, a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF), was shot dead by unknown assassins. He was involved in negotiations between the NDF and the Rodrigo Duterte government