Author Archives: admin

Deaths caused by repressive lockdown restrictions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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What Is Bogging Down the Philippines’ COVID-19 Response?

Published by The Diplomat More than a month after imposing a lockdown in mainland Luzon, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the order to stay at home will be extended for another two weeks to contain COVID-19. But as more cases of infection continue to be reported, the authorities have hinted at the possibility of a […]

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Pedagogy of the digitally oppressed

Published by Bulatlat Under the ‘new normal’ of internet-based learning, those at the margins of society could find themselves struggling against further exclusion. The concept of access needs further exploration beyond the popular understanding that it is mainly about the installation of broadband networks and distribution of gadgets to the community. More than the means […]

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