Author Archives: admin

IFEX Asia-Pacific brief: May, June, July 2020

By admin | June 10, 2021

May 2020: A month of mayhem: Security law, tracing apps, and media shutdowns in Asia-Pacific The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop various governments in the region from imposing new laws and orders that further weakened democracy and human rights. China’s security law threatens Hong Kong’s freedom, a major broadcaster in the Philippines was forced to […]

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On Manila’s ‘hard lockdown’

By admin | June 4, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila After imposing a ‘hard lockdown’ in Sampaloc, the Manila local government is set to adopt the same measure in Tondo. The ‘hard lockdown’ is worse than the national government’s ‘enhanced community quarantine’ since it imposes absolute restrictions on individuals while deploying a bigger number of police and military forces in […]

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Deaths caused by repressive lockdown restrictions

By admin | May 31, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila Cpl. Winston Ragos was shot dead by the police at a barangay checkpoint. His case, however, was not listed as a COVID-19 death because he was not infected with the disease. As of 25 April, the Philippines has almost 500 COVID-19-related fatalities. But the case of Ragos is a reminder […]

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Rodrigo Duterte: The Weak Strongman of the Philippines

By admin | May 22, 2021

Published by The Diplomat After Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo announced his resignation due to poor health last month, many Filipinos wondered aloud if Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte would soon arrive at the same decision, considering his recent revelation that his medical condition was “nearing stage one cancer.” Duterte earlier disclosed that he suffers from […]

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Politics and resistance under a lockdown regime

By admin | May 12, 2021

Published by Bulatlat The pandemic is forcing us to be more critical of the repressive state even as we reexamine our methods and ideas about doing politics under the so-called new normal. Citizens started to wear protective face masks at almost the same time when the state’s authoritarian identity is laid bare with little or […]

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Duterte’s Pasaway Gang

By admin | April 24, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila Contrary to the self-serving government spin which blames citizens for the continued spread of COVID-19 infections, the notorious cabal of pasaways are to be found in Malacanang Palace. They are responsible for the bungled response to the public health crisis. Rodrigo Duterte Leading the gang is Rodrigo Duterte, the chief […]

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Tokhang approach in handling the pandemic

By admin | April 21, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila The police which enforced Tokhang and terrorized our communities want us to feel safe and cheer ‘arrests without warning’, intensified troop deployment, and repressive lockdown restrictions.General Archie Gamboa warned the public that police are now ordered to arrest quarantine ‘violators’ without warning as part of the government’s campaign to flatten […]

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Walang Ambag: Duterte’s late night speeches dangerous to public health and democracy

By admin | April 18, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila The confirmation by military and police authorities that state forces are preparing for a Martial-Law type of lockdown is proof that President Rodrigo Duterte’s late night speeches pose a great danger not only to public health but also to our democracy. Police and military officials told media that they initiated […]

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The COVID-19 pandemic exposes bankruptcy of neoliberal political economy

By admin | April 15, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila After decades of privatizing health care, millions are left untreated despite the rapid spread of COVID-19. Hospitals and other public health facilities are managed to raise profits which undermined access to health services. Government subsidies to health and education are slashed. Universal health insurance is oriented to serve the interest […]

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LGU response to COVID-19

By admin | April 8, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila We support pro-active LGU response to COVID-19 amid the slow roll-out of mass testing and inadequate delivery of aid by the national government We support the initiative of several Local Government Units to proceed with localized mass testing as an emergency but essential measure to contain the community transmission of […]

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