The labour minister said the spread of the coronavirus was slowing down in the country and conditions were improving, so the government could afford to let its health-care workers leave.

Nearly 6,000 killings of drug suspects have been reported by police but rights watchdogs suspect the death toll is far larger.

On Monday, Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte granted an "absolute and unconditional pardon'' to Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton in a move that caught many by surprise.

With the Philippines' economy in tatters, even those who've lost their jobs in Canada are often still sending money abroad.

Testing will be ramped up significantly, officials said, while President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to arrest anyone not wearing a mask.

The report said that some statements from the highest levels of government had "risen to the level of incitement to violence" and "vilification of dissent is being increasingly institutionalized."

President Duterte repeatedly threatened the broadcaster after it refused to air his campaign ads.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said last May it was "grossly unfair" for countries like Canada to offload their garbage on others.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he will never be tried by an international court for mass killings in his war on drugs.

The first-ever resolution on the Philippines, led by Iceland, was adopted by a vote of 18 countries in favour and 14 against, including China, with 15 abstentions, including Japan.