Mong Palatino

Blogging about the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific since 2004

About

@mongster is a Manila-based activist, former Philippine legislator, and blogger/analyst of Asia-Pacific affairs.

Written for The Diplomat

A major volcanic eruption, massive flooding in several regions, surging COVID-19 cases, and a worsening human rights situation are among the disasters that made the lives of Filipinos more miserable in 2020.

Guilty or not for exacerbating the suffering of Filipinos in 2020, Duterte is facing a potentially tougher challenge in 2021 as the economic crisis continues to unravel while political parties compete for the support of voters ahead of the 2022 presidential elections. Opposition forces are expected to be more vigorous in pushing for accountability after the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor declared this month that they have found “reasonable basis to believe” that Duterte’s war on drugs is responsible for crimes against humanity.

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How Duterte’s Anti-Terror Law Unleashed Public Outrage Against His Leadership

Written for The Diplomat

Widespread opposition to the recently signed anti-terror law in the Philippines reflects deeper public dissatisfaction over the government of President Rodrigo Duterte

The voting in Congress mirrored the divided opinion in the country as dozens in the so-called “super majority” either abstained or voted against the bill. Around 20 legislators changed their affirmative votes due to the public backlash.

On July 27, Duterte will deliver his fifth state of the nation address. His speech will probably highlight how his government responded to the COVID-19 crisis. But will he also talk about the anti-terror law and how its passage unleashed an unprecedented opposition that could pose a serious threat to his presidency?

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