Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has pledged to end political violence that has claimed more than 800 lives since she took office in 2001. She spoke after a commission she created to probe the bloodshed reported that members of the military were behind most of the killings. Critics say Mrs. Arroyo has pledged to bring political violence to an end before, and nothing has happened.

Karen Hughes, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, has praised the Philippines for pursuing terrorist groups in the country but says economic development is equally important in creating conditions that can sustain peace. Referring to her earlier stops on an Asian tour, Hughes also called for greater openness in China. Douglas Bakshian reports from Manila.

The Philippine military has confirmed Khaddafy Janjalani - the leader of the country's most violent Muslim militant group, Abu Sayyaf - is dead. Douglas Bakshian reports for VOA News from Manila.

Palm, Inc. and Globe Telecom today introduced the Palm(R) Treo 680 smartphone, a GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad-band world phone, in the Philippines

Philippine military officials say troops have killed a top leader of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, which is linked to a number of bloody attacks in the country. Douglas Bakshian reports from Manila.

The Chinese premier is wrapping up a 24-hour visit to the Manila during which his country signed agreements to fund billions of dollars in development projects for the Philippines. Douglas Bakshian reports from Manila that the visit underscores the growing Chinese influence in the Philippines and the region.

Southeast Asian governments attending an annual meeting in the Philippines are pushing for faster economic growth in the less-developed countries of the region. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from Cebu, where Asian leaders are gathering for a regional summit.

Philippine officials played down three deadly bombings that came as Asian delegates gathered in the country for two regional summits. As VOA's Heda Bayron reports from Cebu, officials say the summits will go ahead despite the violence.

Philippine officials are confident that two Asian summits that were abruptly postponed last month will go ahead safely and successfully starting this week. They say neither rain nor threats of terrorism will stop the meetings. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from Cebu.

A month late, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, will hold its annual summit next week in the Philippines. The meeting, from January 10 to 15th, was postponed in December, when a typhoon threatened to strike the summit city. Douglas Bakshian has more from Manila.

A fire blamed on illegally sold firecrackers swept through a department store in the central Philippines on Christmas Day, killing 24 people who tried to escape in a restroom, police said Tuesday.

Filipino Rene Sornito Catalan took home his country's first-ever wushu sanshou gold medal, defeating Vietnam's Phan Quoc Vinh in two rounds of combat on Thursday 14 December.