Barnaby Lo

Manila, Philippines – One moment, Luzviminda Siapo had been chatting with his teenage son, Raymart. Hours later, relatives were sending her messages of condolence. Raymart had been found dead in a semi-abandoned part of their Manila neighbourhood, covered in blood, with a gun and a packet of methamphetamine near his body, she was told. “I told my relatives I want to see proof. So, the morgue sent me a photo of Raymart with blood that looked like it was still dripping.

Manila, Philippines – Monsoon rains may have forced schools to shut down and suspended government services in the Philippine capital last week, but applicants at shipping companies and employment agencies still formed long lines that snaked around street corners. The rain was the least of their worries. They were taking the first step on a journey that would take them to increasingly treacherous waters – and they say they are fully aware of the risks.

Journalist fights weaponization of social media in Philippines Journalist and CEO of Rappler fights weaponization of social media in Philippines 06:22 Manila – Veteran Philippine journalist and Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa has been dealt another blow in her years-long legal battles. On Friday, the country's Court of Appeals upheld an earlier decision by a Manila court convicting Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr., a former writer at Ressa's news service Rappler, of cyber libel.