[7] Philip served as the Solomon Islands' Foreign Minister for two tenures, from 1995 to 1996 and again from July 2000 to June 2001.

[8] Philip and his supporters, who constituted the so-called "Pacific Casino camp,"[9] narrowly defeated Steve Abana, the leader of the Solomon Islands Democratic Party, by just three votes: Philip received 26 votes while Abana garnered 23.

In a victory speech following the Prime Minister election, Philip stated that his first priority would be to form a new government.

[10] On 11 November 2011, after the defection of five ministers and seven backbenchers to the Opposition, Philip resigned rather than face a motion of no confidence.

[11][12] Gordon Darcy Lilo, a member of Philip's National Coalition for Reform and Advancement, was elected as his successor on 16 November.