COTABATO, Philippines – Security forces were placed on full alert in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao following a deadly suicide bomb blast in Basilan province that killed 10 people.

MANILIA, Philippines – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned the public during his third State of the Nation address July 23 that his two-year war on drugs would become even "more chilling" in the coming days.

MANILA, Philippines – A teary-eyed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila lamented the deaths of innocent people killed since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office.

MANILA, Philippines -- Outspoken Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is to curb his tirades against the Catholic Church after agreeing to a moratorium on statements deriding priests and bishops.

MANILA, Philippines -- Catholic bishops in the Philippines, concerned about an increase in violence and police reaction to crime, announced a day of prayer and penance July 16 and three days of fasting, prayer and penance, July 17-19.

MANILA, Philippines – After calling God “stupid,” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that he will seek to have a dialogue with the country’s bishops’ conference in an effort to repair relationships.

MANILA, Philippines – Father Richmond Villaflor Nilo of Cabanatuan Diocese was gunned down inside a chapel in Zaragoza June 10 as he was about to celebrate Mass, reported ucanews.com.

MANILA, Philippines – A Catholic priest who once served as chaplain of the Philippine National Police was wounded after a gun attack June 6 in Calamba City, about 25 miles from Manila.

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine authorities have arrested, detained and intend to deport a 71-year-old Australian nun for allegedly engaging in illegal political activities.

MANILA, Philippines – There will be no Holy Week observance this year in Marawi almost a year after extremist gunmen occupied the southern Philippine city.

VANCOUVER – A standing ovation from 2,700 people reverberated inside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre even before the smiling Cardinal of Manila spoke into the microphone.

MANILA, Philippines – Several Philippine Catholic leaders criticized President Rodrigo Duterte's decision that he was withdrawing the country from the International Criminal Court, which is investigating his international war on drugs.

UNITED NATIONS – Mely Lenario quietly described her harrowing journey from ambitious, naive rural girl trafficked to hopeless, drug-fueled urban prostitute, through slow rehabilitation to a new life as an outreach worker.

MANILA, Philippines – Catholics came out strongly against what they described as "threats to life" in rallies held in major cities across the Philippines Feb. 24.

MANILA, Philippines – A senior Philippine priest taken hostage by Islamic State-inspired militants in the southern city of Marawi has been freed after almost four months of captivity.