The annual US-Philippines military exercise has nearly doubled in size, with close to 18,000 troops participating in the exercise, of which over 12,000 are from the US alone.

The Philippines president suggested that he is open to arm pro-government vigilantes as “power multipliers,” which was received with widespread condemnation from activists, opposition and even allies

In southern Philippines, three indigenous people including a 12-year-old girl were killed in indiscriminate firing by the army at a group of farmers claimed to be communist insurgents

As many as 56 leaders and members of various trade unions, progressive political parties and human rights groups were arrested in a series of raids in the city of Bacolod in the Negros Island