Coast Guard beefs up security for Holy Week
Passengers going to the provinces by boat for the annual Holy Week break should be at seaports at least three hours before their departure, the Coast Guard has said.

Candidates warned vs using sirens
The Philippine National Police has warned candidates running in the May 10 elections against using sirens and blinkers in their campaigns.

RP scored for killings, state abuses in US gov"t report
Killings of civilians and journalists amid an atmosphere of impunity and corruption, and abuses by state forces, gave a dark color to the human rights situation in the Philippines in 2009, according to a report of the State Department of the US government.

CBCP head reminds clergy to stay away from politics
The head of the Catholic Bishops" Conference of the Philippines has reminded members of the clergy and even Church associations to stay clear of politics, a week after six bishops expressed their support for Ang Kapatiran presidential candidate JC delos Reyes.

De Castro"s net satisfaction ratings continue to drop - SWS poll
Vice President Noli de Castro"s net satisfaction rating has continued to drop three months before he ends his term, a survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) late last year showed.

Bishops warn voters vs overspending candidates
(Updated 10:15 p.m.) Sixteen members of the Catholic prelate led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales called on voters on Saturday to beware of overspending candidates, saying that lavish campaign expenses in the past did not prove beneficial to the country.

CMFR: Party-list coverage by media is dismal, but Palace-backed groups enjoy edge
Party-list groups are getting "dismal coverage" by major television news programs, even as a handful of party-list groups linked to the administration are getting the most of this measly coverage anyway, the journalist watchdog group Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) said.

Local, int'l groups wary over Comelec's lack of contingency plan
Less than two months before the May elections, local and international observer groups voiced concerns on Saturday over alleged delays in the Commission on Elections" (Comelec) pre-election preparations and the absence of a contingency plan should automation fail.

Cops launch manhunt vs ambush-robbery suspects in Marikina
Police have launched a manhunt for unidentified armed men who robbed and killed a municipal employee of San Mateo town in Rizal province and seriously wounded her driver in an ambush in Marikina City Friday afternoon.

Palace: No hanky-panky in using calamity funds
Malacañang on Saturday sought to allay fears that it may exploit the state of calamity in Mindanao to divert funds meant for power generation to its candidates" campaign kitties.

Namfrel gives up bid to be Comelec"s citizen arm
The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has given up its bid for accreditation as the citizen arm of the Commission on Elections in the May 10 elections, but not before taking potshots at the poll body.

Rains could not help parched crops, says DA chief
The rains that fell on parts of the country and provided a brief relief from the scorching heat may not be enough to revive crops affected by the El Niño phenomenon, an Agriculture official admitted on Saturday.

DOH warns public vs summer coolers with magic sugar
Here's another reason to be wary of halo-halo and other summer coolers: magic sugar and artificial sweeteners that may cause health risks.

Jueteng whistleblower Cam gives cops leads on Mayor"s killing
Police investigation into the Feb. 28 killing of jueteng whistleblower Wilfredo "Boy" Mayor got a boost on Friday after the victim"s fellow witness Sandra Cam showed up to provide them added leads.

Prelate to politicos: Stop using children in political ads
Saying the practice is tantamount to child abuse, a Catholic bishop urged candidates running in the May elections to stop using children in their ads.

BFP starts monitoring fire hydrants
Wary of finding fire hydrants empty just when the need arises, the Bureau of Fire Protection has started keeping tabs on fire hydrants in Metro Manila.

CMFR: Erap most covered by TV
Journalist watchdog group Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) said on Friday that candidates with the most political machinery are also the ones most covered by television news programs in the country, citing former president Joseph Estrada as the most covered presidential candidate.

Gordon hits Villar for "fooling the poor"
Bagumbayan standard-bearer Richard Gordon on Friday chided fellow presidential candidate Manuel Villar Jr. for "fooling the poor" with his campaign advertisements, saying the Nacionalista Party (NP) bet has done nothing to alleviate poverty while in office.

105 countries to send reps to interfaith meet in Manila
At least 105 countries will be represented in the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting (SNAMMM) on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development in Manila March 16 to 18.

Group 'enraged' by brutality shown in video of bloodied youth
A child advocacy group on Friday said it was "enraged" by the brutality displayed in a video circulating on the Internet, saying the incident was proof of the "culture of impunity" in the country.

Forwarders liable should poll machines fail to reach locations on time
Companies in charge of transporting voting machines across the Philippines will still be held liable should the equipment fail to reach their locations on time, the Commission on Elections said on Friday.

Doc examines Jason Ivler, finds him logged on Facebook
The family of road rage suspect Jason Ivler has repeatedly insisted he should remain confined in a Quezon City hospital because he has yet to fully recover from gunshot wounds he sustained when he was arrested last January.

Presidential bets warn vs use of calamity funds for polls
Following the declaration of a state of calamity over Mindanao due to the power shortage there, two presidential aspirants on Friday warned against the possible use of disaster funds for election purposes.

Teachers protest 'sudden' deactivation in voters' lists, troop to Comelec
A group of public school teachers on Friday trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to complain about the "sudden" deactivation of many teachers from the voters' list for the May polls.

Binay defends family members holding elective posts
Vice presidential bet Jejomar Binay on Friday said he sees nothing wrong if other members of his family are currently holding elective posts in Makati City.

Election gun ban violators reach more than 1,000
Election gun ban violators have reached more than a thousand, more than two months after the nationwide prohibition was put in place, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

Another 'mistah' of Bangit to assume vital AFP post
Another member of the Philippine Military Academy "Makatarungan" Class of 1978 is set to occupy a vital position in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Survey: More than a third of voters prefer bets who support RH bill
More Filipinos are likely to vote for candidates in the upcoming May elections who support the Reproductive Health Bill than those who oppose it, a survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) said.

Gibo brushes aside cousin's remarks, welcomes approval from Villar's wife
Administration party standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday brushed aside comments made by cousin Lisa Cojuangco-Cruz, who accused him of being ungrateful to his father, business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr.

25 cops in Parañaque shootout charged with murder
Prosecutors have filed murder charges against 25 policemen who allegedly pumped 80 bullets into a van carrying a man and his 7-year-old daughter while chasing suspected robbers two years ago, officials said Friday.

Showbiz personality Plinky Recto hurt in road mishap near UP
Showbiz personality Plinky Recto on Friday was hurt after the vehicle she was driving was hit by a ten-wheel truck near the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

No commitment of support from Danding despite Aquino camp's attempts
Despite attempts to get his support, business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. has not made any commitment to back the presidential bid of his nephew Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino.

Binay gives hints Villar is Arroyo's secret bet
Add vice presidential bet Jejomar Binay to the list of candidates who have taken a swipe at Senator Manuel Villar Jr. for allegedly being President Arroyo's secret candidate. Villar's camp, meanwhile, dismissed the same as pure malice.

Metro Manila bishops urge voters to choose candidates well
Be wary of moneyed candidates. This was the advice of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and several other bishops in a pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful who are contemplating their choices for the May 10 elections.

24,000 detainees expected to vote in May
For the first time since elections have been held in the country, detainees will be allowed to exercise their right to vote in the May balloting.

Gov’t told to stop blaming El Niño for power, water shortages
A day after a state of calamity was declared in Mindanao due to long brownouts in the region, environmentalists said the Arroyo government should not blame El Niño, a periodically recurrent phenomenon, for causing the power and water shortages.

Bangit dared to help stop election violence
Amid growing fears that the May 10 polls could be the most violent yet in the country, the Nacionalista Party on Saturday challenged newly installed Armed Forces Chief of Staff Delfin Bangit to help the police stem the tide of pre-election killings, which have already claimed the lives of 90 civilians.

Mindanao power situation to normalize only in December—Dureza
The chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority said Saturday that the power situation in Mindanao would return to normal by December this year if rains come in June.

Smartmatic: Techies won’t try to influence voters
Smartmatic TIM Corp. said the technicians it hired to help election officers in the May 10 polls will not influence voters as they will only enter a precinct if a voting machine needs to be fixed or replaced.

Mindanao won’t tolerate misuse of calamity funds - Dureza
The people of Mindanao won't just sit by and let the government mess around with billions of pesos in calamity funds needed to address the power outages and the ill effects of drought on the island.

Aquino meets with Quiboloy and obtains absolution
Senator Benigno Aquino III took time off from his campaign on Friday to meet religious group leader Apollo Quiboloy, who quickly absolved the candidate for a slight he committed by not showing up at a recent presidential candidates’ forum arranged by the preacher who styles himself "the son of God."

Villar campaigns in Maasin, a day later than expected
Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar arrived here on Saturday for the second day of his slate's barnstorming in Eastern Visayas.

Foreign observers say RP vote lacks transparency
(UPDATE) Western election observers on Saturday criticized the Philippine government for "insufficient" openness as the country prepares to choose its next president with a new automated voting system.

Earth Hour targets 15M Filipinos
On March 27, Earth Hour aims to have 15 million Filipinos turn off their lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. as an expression of support for Earth’s long-term survival.

Namfrel withdraws bid for Comelec accreditation
The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has withdrawn its application for accreditation as a citizen arm of the Commission on Elections.

Despite disasters, Filipinos upbeat, survey shows
On the streets of Manila, flight attendant Lesly succinctly sums up her view on life: "Being positive and optimistic -- it's the only way. If you think too deeply about all the problems here, it'll only get you down and stop you from doing anything -- or make you want to leave."

Fourth typhoon in month hits Philippines
The fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines in a month came ashore east of the capital, Manila, on Saturday morning, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and washing away shanty houses near the coast.

Shame the nations where journalists are killed
The Afghan war claimed the lives of two more international news correspondents in the past two weeks.

Philippines mayor pleads not guilty to murder
A member of a politically powerful family in the southern Philippines pleaded not guilty to dozens of murder charges filled against him in connection with a November massacre in Maguindanao province, Philippine news outlets reported.

27 missing after boats collide in Philippines
More than two dozen people were missing after a ferry collided with a fishing boat off the coast of the Philippines on Thursday, according to the nation's coast guard.

Volcano spews lava as eruption looms
Fountains of red-hot lava shot up from the intensifying Mayon volcano as the Philippines awaited an imminent eruption, the country's national news agency reported Tuesday.

Philippines' Mayon Volcano to explode 'within days'
Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as scientists warn the towering Mayon volcano is about to explode in the Philippines, the country's national news agency reported Monday.

Philippines volcano eruption likely soon
Philippine authorities on Sunday raised the alert status of the country's most active volcano to level 4 and established an extended danger zone around it, saying an eruption is imminent.

Residents flee as Philippines volcano threatens to erupt
Philippines authorities Tuesday started evacuating about 50,000 people living around the island nation's most active volcano after it oozed fiery lava and belched clouds of ash.

Remaining 45 Philippines hostages released
Gunmen in southern Philippines have released the remaining 45 hostages, ending a three-day crisis that began when the kidnappers raided a school in a small village late last week.

Arrests made under martial law in Philippines
Troops in the southern Philippines early Sunday took advantage of martial law to hunt down those believed responsible for last week's killings there.

Murder charges filed in Philippines
Philippine authorities charged a mayor and a group of unidentified suspects with 25 counts of murder Tuesday in the slaying of dozens of unarmed people, a court spokesman said.

100 suspects sought for Philippines massacre
One hundred more suspects -- including police officers -- could face arrest over a massacre in the Philippines, a government official said Friday after authorities charged the alleged architect of the killings.

Politician charged over Philippines massacre
Authorities have filed murder charges against a politician over the massacre of 57 unarmed civilians in the Philippines, state-run media reported Thursday.

Philippines politician to be questioned
The son of a Philippines provincial governor is voluntarily turning himself in for questioning in the massacre of at least 57 unarmed civilians, a CNN affiliate reported Thursday.

Group: Philippines most dangerous country for journalists
The Philippines this year has been the world's most dangerous country for journalists, an official of the advocacy group the Committee to Protect Journalists told CNN's "Amanpour" program Wednesday.

Death toll rises in Philippines massacre
Bodies lie scattered in a rural field in the southern Philippines, some unearthed from a shallow grave hastily dug by the gunmen who seized the group of men and women just a day earlier.

Philippines region on alert after massacre
The Philippines government has increased security in the southern region of Maguindanao after gunmen kidnapped and killed at least 22 people, according to military officials and the country's national news agency.

Irish priest kidnapped in Philippines freed
An Irish priest kidnapped last month in the southern Philippines was freed Thursday.

At least 14 dead after Typhoon Mirinae lashes Philippines
At least 14 people were dead and four missing in the Philippines a day after Typhoon Mirinae roared through the heart of the country, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Sunday.

Typhoon strengthens as it nears the Philippines
As the Philippines tried to recover from the one-two punch of deadly storms, another typhoon strengthened as it rushed toward it Tuesday.

Typhoon nears Philippines as toll rises
A powerful typhoon lumbered toward the storm-battered Philippines on Monday, as the death toll from two devastating storms in the last month climbed to 858.

Irish priest kidnapped during 'evening stroll' in Philippines
An Irish priest was kidnapped Sunday in the southern Philippines, his missionary society said.

Days of flooding, landslides kill 186 in Philippines
Flooding and landslides from tropical depression Parma have killed 186 people in the Philippines, authorities said Saturday.

15 dead as Typhoon Parma whips Philippines
Typhoon Parma crossed the northern tip of the already storm-battered Philippines over the weekend, triggering landslides that killed at least 12 people, local media reported Sunday.

Typhoon Parma slams into Philippines; 3 reported dead
Typhoon Parma crossed the northern tip of the already storm-battered Philippines Saturday afternoon and early Sunday, killing three people, according to local media.

Thousands evacuated in Philippines as typhoon nears
Thousands of Filipinos who live near coastlines and mountainous areas were evacuated Friday as the storm-battered country braced for Typhoon Parma, which is expected to make landfall Saturday.

2 U.S. soldiers killed in Philippines bomb blast
Two U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers were killed by a homemade bomb while supporting anti-terror operations on an island in the southern Philippines, Army officials said Thursday.

Filipinos preparing for worst, 'praying' for best from Parma
Arturo Fidelino couldn't sleep.

Storm-weary Philippines braces for Typhoon Parma
Thousands of Filipinos who live near coastlines and mountainous areas were evacuated Friday as the storm-battered country braced for Typhoon Parma, which is expected to make landfall Saturday.

Scores killed in Philippines floods
The death toll from flooding in the Philippines climbed to 140 Monday as a tropical depression in the Pacific sparked new fears of flooding.

Two U.S. service members killed in the Philippines
Two U.S. service members were killed in the Philippines when their vehicle rolled over a landmine Tuesday morning, military officials said.

Dozens dead in Philippines from tropical storm flooding
At least 51 people have died and at least 21 others are missing after torrential rains and subsequent flooding pummeled the Philippines on Saturday, the government said.

Brilliante Mendoza: Philippines' celebrated and divisive director
Feted by Sean Penn and applauded by Quentin Tarantino at Cannes, Filipino filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza appears to finally live up to his name.

Nearly 1,000 rescued in Philippines ferry accident
Nine people were killed and 957 rescued when a ferry capsized Sunday in the Philippines, leaving crews scouring the waters for survivors, officials said.

Philippines pays reward in militant's arrest
Police in the Philippines have paid an informant in the arrest of a militant tied to the kidnapping of four Americans and dozens of Filipinos.

Bomb blast kills 3 in Philippines
Three people were killed and 37 injured after a bomb exploded Sunday morning in Cotabato City, Philippines, the military said.

Storm kills 8 in Philippines
Eight people were killed and 11 were left missing after tropical depression Nangka triggered flooding, a tornado and a landslide in the Philippines, according to disaster officials.

Philippines landslide kills 26
A landslide slammed into a village in southern Philippines on Monday, killing 26 people, emergency services personnel said.

Philippines debates government promotion of contraception
A debate is stirring in the predominantly Roman Catholic country of the Philippines: should the government provide contraceptives to the public?

Brother of Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.ap Is Murdered
The younger brother of the hip-hop singer was shot in his native Philippines

Red Cross workers kidnapped in Philippines
Men on motorcycles with machine-guns abducted three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the southern Philippines Thursday morning, officials said.

Philippines: Rebels bomb electricity tower, official says
Separatist rebels bombed an electricity transmission tower in the southern Philippines on Saturday, according to military spokesperson Lt. Stefani Cacho.

Strong earthquake jolts southern Philippines
A strong earthquake jolted the southern Philippines on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Ferry capsizes off Philippines, killing 23
A ferry capsized off the coast of the northern Philippines near the town of Aparri, killing 23 people and leaving 29 others missing, authorities said.

Philippines Bomb Blast Hits South
A deadly bomb blast in the southern Philippines' raises the question of how much the nation's splintered insurgencies might be working together

Typhoon toll in Philippines could pass 1,000
The official toll from last weekend's typhoon in the Philippines has risen to more than 500 people killed and could go much higher, according to the latest figures from the country's National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Storm hits China after lashing Philippines
Tropical storm Fengshen surged toward Taiwan and southeast China on Wednesday after leaving a path of destruction in the Philippines where the search for more survivors from a capsized ferry has proved fruitless.

Divers yet to find ferry survivors
Philippine divers found bodies but so far no survivors inside the hull of a ferry that capsized in a typhoon, a Philippine Coast Guard official said Tuesday.

Rescuers hold out hope for ferry survivors
Rescuers in the Philippines have refused to give up hope of rescuing some of the more than 800 people missing after a ferry capsized in a typhoon despite rough seas stalling efforts to get inside the vessel.

33 survivors rescued from Philippines ferry
Rescuers have found at least 33 survivors and at least six dead among the nearly 750 aboard a ferry that capsized in a typhoon that battered the southern Philippines, a Red Cross official said Monday.

Earthquake hits Philippines
A magnitude-6.4 earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean off the northern Philippines Sunday morning and was felt as far as southeastern Taiwan, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Treatable Ailments Kill 10M Children
More than 200 million children worldwide under age 5 do not get basic health care, leading to nearly 10 million deaths annually from treatable ailments

Philippines: No Kidneys for Foreigners
Foreigners will be permanently banned from receiving kidneys for transplant in the Philippines to prevent the country from becoming a major black market Asian center

Easter penitents warned: Whip at your own peril
Exercise caution while you practice devotion.

26 Chinese rescued from sinking vessel
Emergency crews have rescued 26 Chinese crew members whose boat began taking on water off the northern Philippines Sunday night, the state-run Chinese news agency reported.

Typhoons near Vietnam, Philippines
The Philippines and Vietnam stepped up the evacuations of tens of thousands ahead of the landfalls of two separate typhoons expected on Saturday.

Arroyo, Imelda aid mudslide effort
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived Wednesday at the site of the mudslide which is thought to have killed 1,000 people, many of them children.

Your e-mails: Asia
CNN.com asked its readers to share their views on the death of Pope John Paul II, who died Saturday. Here is a sampling from thousands of responses, some of which have been edited:

Terror alert out for Philippines
Australian and American citizens have been warned to postpone all but essential travel to the Philippines because of fears of terrorist attacks.

Survivors rescued after 10 days
As the confirmed death toll from devastating storms in the Philippines rises to more than 840, rescuers have pulled at least four survivors from a building that collapsed in mudslides 10 days ago.

Typhoon hampers Philippines rescue
High winds and heavy rain from the approaching Typhoon Namandol are hampering rescue efforts in the northeastern Philippines where emergency services are struggling with the aftermath of two earlier storms.

Deadly flooding, landslides hit Philippines
Amid fallen trees and coconut leaves, the dead are piled onto a muddy roadside. Surrounding them are survivors, signaling for help.

Philippines forces in Iraq to handover duties
Remaining members of the Philippines forces in Iraq will leave the country after handing over their duties to Polish troops Monday morning, according to Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert.

Officials 'won't bow to militants'
Bulgaria and the Philippines say they will not bow to demands by suspected insurgents who kidnapped and threatened to kill their citizens in Iraq.

Philippines gym blast kills 12
A bomb has exploded near a gymnasium in the southern Philippines, killing 12 people and wounding several others -- including the town's mayor -- according to a national police spokesman.

Suspect’s Death Leads to Questions on Indonesia’s Border Security
A fugitive Islamic militant killed by Indonesian security forces traveled to Indonesia from the Philippines within the last few months, police officals said.

Philippines Expects Record Highs in Extortion
Communist guerrillas are expected to extort more money from politicians in the run-up to elections scheduled in May, the Philippine military said Sunday.

Philippine Rebels Kill 11 Soldiers
The battle in Oriental Mindoro Province was the deadliest encounter the military has had with the Communist insurgency so far this year.

Power Cuts From Drought Will Hit Manila
Utilities officials said the city of Manila and several neighboring provinces will experience blackouts in the coming days as the country’s energy crisis worsens.

Filipino Politicians Wield Private Armies, Despite Ban
As the Philippines prepares for elections, politicians are likely to use militias to safeguard their interests, intimidate rivals, rig votes and perpetuate dynasties.

Military Brings 43 Alleged Rebels to Court in Manila
The Philippine military brought to court on Monday the 43 health workers it arrested 10 days ago, insisting they were members of a communist group.

Philippine Clan Patriarch Charged in November Killings
Prosecutors in the Philippine capital on Tuesday indicted the patriarch of a powerful political clan and 196 others in the November massacre of 57 people.

Detained Health Workers Denounce Philippine Government
The families and colleagues of 43 health workers detained over the weekend denounced the Philippine government on Sunday and accused the police and military of framing the suspects.

Sinatra Song Often Strikes Deadly Chord
The murders of people warbling “My Way” in karaoke bars have spawned urban legends about the song and left Filipinos groping for answers.

State of the Union, in Dutch
A comparison of how six world leaders use a yearly address to lay out their agendas.

Court Is Told Mayor Aided in Massacre of Filipinos
A witness to the massacre of 57 people in the southern Philippines testified Wednesday that the principal suspect in the case, a town mayor, shot several of the victims himself.

Philippines Gun Ban Starts Ahead of Vote
A nationwide gun ban took effect to stave off any increase in political violence as elections draw closer, officials said.

Not Guilty Plea in Philippines Massacre
The mayor of a town in the southern Philippines who is accused in the November massacre of dozens of people pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 41 murder charges.

3 Dead and 22 Missing as Ferry Sinks in Philippines
The accident came two days after the collision of a ferry and a fishing boat near the mouth of Manila Bay killed as many as 27 people.

At Least 27 Missing After Collision in Manila Bay
Forty-six or more of the 73 people on a Philippine passenger ferry that collided with a fishing boat were rescued, the coast guard said.