Category Archives: election

Midterm Election Results Reflected the Country’s Political Polarization

By admin | February 28, 2026

Written for The Diplomat The results of the recently concluded midterm national and local elections reflected the increasing polarization in Philippine politics. This was evident in the Senate, where no single party or bloc dominated the competition. The coalition led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte won five candidates […]

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Guns, goons, and gold? Now it’s dynasty, disinformation, and substitution

By admin | December 21, 2025

Published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer Despite the clamor for reforms, our electoral system is still plagued by violence and corruption which we often refer to as the use of “guns, goons, and gold” by traditional politicians or “trapos.” Since 2016, we saw the emergence of a new disturbing trend that features the following: brazen […]

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What’s Old and New in the Midterm Philippine Elections?

By admin | May 16, 2025

Written for The Diplomat The Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) says that that it has received 43,033 applications for the midterm elections scheduled for May 2025. Each voter will select 12 senators, a district representative, a partylist representative, and local officials in each province, city, and municipality. A total of 18,280 elective posts will be […]

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The Philippines in 2022: Elections, Omicron, and a Delayed Recovery

By admin | September 26, 2022

Written for The Diplomat The year 2021 ended tragically for the Philippines as Typhoon Rai (known locally as Odette) battered the southern part of the country, including prime tourism destinations. Recovery had barely begun when the Omicron variant once again plunged the country into panic, in addition to triggering a new set of mobility restrictions. […]

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Political Dynasties Dominate Philippines Election — Again

By admin | August 15, 2022

Written for The Diplomat The election victory of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in this month’s Philippine presidential election reflected the continuing dominance of political dynasties in the country’s political life. The return of the Marcoses has reminded many about the dangers of a single family monopolizing political power. The social problems engendered by the dominance of […]

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Introducing the Colors of the Philippine Election

By admin | July 7, 2022

Written for The Diplomat Candidates in the ongoing Philippine presidential campaign have relied on certain colors as part of their political branding. By choosing a particular color, candidates aim to unify supporters and mobilize them to reach out to more voters. Their success or popularity in the campaign trail is made more visible through the […]

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Three Decades of Election Protests in the Philippines

By admin | April 9, 2022

Written for The Diplomat Election protests have shaped Philippine politics for the past three decades and there are signs that the upcoming 2022 presidential elections will be similarly divisive. In 1986, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was accused of rigging a snap presidential election. A protest walkout by election computer programmers drew sympathy from the […]

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Why the Fight for the Philippines Vice Presidency Matters

By admin | February 20, 2022

Written for The Diplomat All eyes are on the presidential candidates who will compete in the 2022 Philippine elections, one of whom will succeed President Rodrigo Duterte and lead a government battered by pandemic and economic woes. Also important is the battle for the vice presidency, a position elected separately from the president: the winner […]

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Can a United Opposition Defeat Duterte at the 2022 Philippine Elections?

By admin | January 4, 2022

Written for The Diplomat Opposition groups in the Philippines have joined forces in a bid to defeat the party or anointed successor of President Rodrigo Duterte. The country’s presidential election is scheduled for May 9, 2022. Duterte is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, but some of his supporters are urging him to run […]

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Myanmar’s Coup: The View from Manila

By admin | August 30, 2021

Written for The Diplomat News about last month’s coup d’etat in Myanmar prompted solidarity actions in Manila, which became more frequent after the Philippine government dissociated itself from the United Nations Human Rights Council statement expressing concern over the actions of the Tatmadaw. The embarrassing actions of the Philippine government have been repudiated by democracy-loving […]

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