President Benigno Aquino said Sunday that negotiations were the only way to resolve a Philippine sultanate's claim to Sabah as he criticised an armed incursion into the Malaysian state. Aquino also lashed out at unidentified conspirators whom he accused of sending the sultanate's followers to Sabah last month, saying they had endangered some 800,000 Filipinos living and working in the area.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Thursday hailed the election of the first Latin American pope, saying he brings "boundless promise" and the hope of unifying all people around the world. Aquino also welcomed the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio for becoming the first Jesuit pope, while expressing hope the 76-year-old Argentinian will be able to rebuild confidence in the Catholic Church and other institutions. mm/kma/jw

Philippine President Benigno Aquino warned a sultan on Tuesday he would face the "full force of the law" unless he withdrew his gunmen from Malaysia, but the elderly ruler remained defiant. Dozens of followers of the little-known Sultan of Sulu have been facing off with Malaysian security forces for two weeks, after they sailed from their remote southern Philippine island homes to stake a territorial claim.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino signed a landmark law on Monday compensating human rights victims of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, 27 years after a bloodless "People Power" revolution ended his reign. Ten billion pesos ($244 million) will be distributed to potentially thousands of people who were tortured, raped or detained, as well as relatives of those who were killed, by Marcos's security forces during his 20-year rule. Speaking at a ceremony in Manila to mark the anniversary, Aquino said the law was part of his government's efforts to "right the wrongs of the past".