Author Archives: admin

Looking ahead: Censorship, AI, disinformation, and repression undermining elections

By admin | November 30, 2024

Written for IFEX Internet restrictions, AI-driven disinformation, and mass arrests have intensified ahead of major elections across Asia. These attacks undermine freedom of expression at a time when elections are supposed to restore or strengthen democratic rule and counter authoritarianism in the region. A key takeaway from Asia’s election experience is the need to revisit […]

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Duterte Leads ‘Prayer Rallies’ Against Charter Change

By admin | November 22, 2024

Written for The Diplomat Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been attending “prayer rallies” in opposition to the charter change (ChaCha) planned by the government of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. On January 28, Duterte and his family joined a “prayer rally” in Davao. He attended a similar event in Cebu on February 25 and […]

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Environment­alists Under Attack in the Philippines

By admin | November 18, 2024

Written for The Diplomat A report by British advocacy group Global Witness highlighted the continuing attacks against environmental defenders in the Philippines. Its latest report documented 16 killings in Asia in 2022, 11 of which took place in the Philippines. Since 2012, the Philippines has been listed by the group as the worst place in […]

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What’s in the Philippines’ Luzon Corridor?

By admin | November 14, 2024

Written for The Diplomat The recently concluded Trilateral Summit of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines saw the unveiling of the Luzon Corridor, an economic scheme that is intended to spur economic partnerships among the three countries. Located south of Taiwan, Luzon is the Philippines’ biggest island with five regions including Metro Manila, the […]

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IFEX Asia brief: October and November 2023

By admin | October 31, 2024

October 2023: Elusive justice: Combatting election disinformation and impunity; journalists freed in China and Afghanistan. As the world prepares to mark another International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, on 2 November, the fight against impunity continues in the Philippines and Pakistan. Cheng Lei returns home to Australia, Mortaza Behboudi walks free in […]

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A Proposed Law Seeks to Ban Political Dynasties in the Philippines

By admin | October 22, 2024

Written for The Diplomat The clamor against the power of political clans in the Philippines has been revived, after the Supreme Court uploaded a copy of the petition seeking an order to compel Congress to pass a law banning political dynasties. In the meantime, Philippine politics remains largely under the sway of political dynasties who […]

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The deadly Duterte variant is the biggest threat facing Filipinos today

By admin | October 7, 2024

Published by Bayan Metro Manila The deadly Duterte variant is the biggest threat facing Filipinos today Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque blamed the new coronavirus variant for the surge in COVID-19 cases when it is clear that our alarming situation today should be attributed to the government’s bungled pandemic response. Duterte stubbornly enforced lockdown measures which […]

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Duterte’s Ironic Free Speech Advocacy in the Philippines

By admin | September 29, 2024

Written for The Diplomat Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned against the deterioration of freedom of expression under the government of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. After a planned rally was canceled in Tacloban City on May 25, Duterte issued a public statement blaming “the forces of darkness that threaten not only our rights to […]

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Are the Dutertes the New Opposition in the Philippines?

By admin | September 13, 2024

Written for The Diplomat The quick answer to the question posed in the title of this article is no. They are criticizing members of Congress and even Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., but their party is still part of the ruling coalition. If the split becomes irreconcilable, the Dutertes are expected to mobilize their […]

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Philippine Legislators Mull ‘Economic Charter Change’

By admin | September 1, 2024

Written for The Diplomat The plan to amend certain economic provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution is proceeding, with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announcing his preference to hold a plebiscite during the 2025 midterm local election. Both Houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, are already conducting public hearings about the […]

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