Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte Ally

US prosecutors on Thursday announced sex-trafficking charges alleging that girls and young women were coerced to have sex with the founder of a Philippines-based church who is a friend and adviser to Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Philippine Supreme Court chief justice vowed to fight "bullying" and save judicial independence as President Rodrigo Duterte's congressional allies launched an impeachment process Thursday to remove her from office.

The leader of the Philippine lower house of Congress and a staunch ally of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he was studying whether there was cause to impeach the vice president for her criticism of Duterte's bloody war on drugs.

The Russian Navy said Tuesday it was planning to hold war games with the Philippines, as two of its ships made a rare stop in Manila following Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot from the United States.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday he wants US troops out of his country in the next two years and is willing to scrap defence pacts with longtime ally Washington if necessary.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sought to assure Japan on Tuesday that his high-profile visit to rival China last week was only about economics, but had more harsh words for long-time ally Washington, saying he might abrogate defence treaties.

Firebrand Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte heads to China next week seeking billions of dollars in investments and buckets of respect, as he pivots angrily away from traditional ally the United States.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte flies to China next week as he actively courts the Asian giant while ties with traditional ally the United States have come under strain.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he would soon visit China and hoped to also travel to Russia, as he again criticised longtime ally the United States for "arrogance".

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Thursday said America's alliance with the Philippines remains "ironclad" even though the Asian ally's leader has vowed to end joint military exercises.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, saying he was "not a fan" of the United States, vowed Saturday to steer an independent course for the key Asian ally and refrain from confronting territorial rival China.

President Barack Obama threatened on Monday to call off a planned meeting with new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, seeking distance from a US ally's leader during a diplomatic tour that's put Obama in close quarters with a cast of contentious world figures.

US President Barack Obama spoke by telephone on Tuesday with Rodrigo Duterte, the incoming president of the Philippines, a key treaty ally of the United States in Asia, a US official said.

US prosecutors on Thursday announced sex-trafficking charges alleging that girls and young women were coerced to have sex with the founder of a Philippines-based church who is a friend and adviser to Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Philippine Supreme Court chief justice vowed to fight "bullying" and save judicial independence as President Rodrigo Duterte's congressional allies launched an impeachment process Thursday to remove her from office.

The leader of the Philippine lower house of Congress and a staunch ally of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he was studying whether there was cause to impeach the vice president for her criticism of Duterte's bloody war on drugs.

The Russian Navy said Tuesday it was planning to hold war games with the Philippines, as two of its ships made a rare stop in Manila following Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot from the United States.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday he wants US troops out of his country in the next two years and is willing to scrap defence pacts with longtime ally Washington if necessary.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sought to assure Japan on Tuesday that his high-profile visit to rival China last week was only about economics, but had more harsh words for long-time ally Washington, saying he might abrogate defence treaties.

Firebrand Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte heads to China next week seeking billions of dollars in investments and buckets of respect, as he pivots angrily away from traditional ally the United States.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte flies to China next week as he actively courts the Asian giant while ties with traditional ally the United States have come under strain.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he would soon visit China and hoped to also travel to Russia, as he again criticised longtime ally the United States for "arrogance".

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Thursday said America's alliance with the Philippines remains "ironclad" even though the Asian ally's leader has vowed to end joint military exercises.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, saying he was "not a fan" of the United States, vowed Saturday to steer an independent course for the key Asian ally and refrain from confronting territorial rival China.

President Barack Obama threatened on Monday to call off a planned meeting with new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, seeking distance from a US ally's leader during a diplomatic tour that's put Obama in close quarters with a cast of contentious world figures.

US President Barack Obama spoke by telephone on Tuesday with Rodrigo Duterte, the incoming president of the Philippines, a key treaty ally of the United States in Asia, a US official said.