Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the latter’s home country on Friday to discuss strategic enhancements to geopolitical security against China's aggression and to protect universal navigation rights in the South China Sea for all countries.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to a defence treaty with the Philippines on Friday and pledged to deploy advanced capabilities to its partner to strengthen a deterrence against threats,

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Trump administration will work with allies to ramp up deterrence against threats across the world, including China’s aggression in the South China Sea.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is marking his 80th birthday in detention in the Netherlands after the International Criminal Court ordered his arrest

Thousands of Filipinos held rallies across the country on Friday demanding the release of former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to local media. Duterte, arrested on March 11, is in the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, facing a trial for alleged crimes against humanity during his war on drugs.

Tens of thousands of supporters of arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte flooded the streets of Davao City on his 80th birthday on Friday, calling for his return to the Philippines from International Criminal Court custody.