Category Archives: nation

Duterte’s deadly legacy

By admin | July 30, 2022

Published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer The specter of unabated killings is the brutal legacy of the Duterte administration. President Duterte waged a bloody war on drugs that led to thousands of killings. Most of the victims are suspected petty drug users, peddlers, and barangay bystanders. The police went on a deadly “tokhang” rampage but […]

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Duterte, Duque, and the IATF generals

By admin | June 18, 2022

Published by Bayan Metro Manila As health workers press for a two-week timeout, we assert that it’s time to go for Duque, IATF generals, and even President Rodrigo Duterte. We share the observation that the government’s COVID-19 response has been largely ineffective in containing the spread of the virus. We blame the inept leadership of […]

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The Philippine Government’s Distrust of Fact-Checkers

By admin | June 7, 2022

Published by The Diplomat The Philippines’ Office of the Solicitor General has threatened to file a case in the court if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) does not unilaterally revoke its Memorandum of Agreement with news website Rappler on pursuing voter awareness and fact-checking campaigns ahead of the national and local elections scheduled for May […]

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Congress complicit in enabling Duterte’s terror regime

By admin | April 12, 2022

Published by Bayan Metro Manila After passing the Terror Bill which President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed into law, Congress voted to reject the franchise application of ABS-CBN. Duterte is the chief executioner spreading hate, fear, divisiveness, and misery in the country; but Congress proved to be a willing partner in legitimizing the suppression of civil […]

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The Philippines in 2021: Duterte’s Flip-Flops and Women Holding the Line

By admin | March 15, 2022

Published by The Diplomat The year 2021 saw Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte make a series of dramatic political flip-flops that characterize his final year in office. Meanwhile, several women have earned national and international recognition for their advocacy and achievements amid the pandemic and rising authoritarianism. Read more Why are Schools Still Closed in the […]

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A message to Metro Manila LGU leaders: Reject the Terror Bill

By admin | December 29, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila A message to Metro Manila LGU leaders: Reject the Terror Bill, stand up for people’s rights We ask our Metro Manila LGU leaders to make a stand on the Anti-Terror Bill legislation amid reports that a list of local officials in favor of the bill has been submitted to President […]

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The Nobel Peace Prize and Free Speech in the Philippines

By admin | December 19, 2021

Written for The Diplomat The awarding of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov highlighted the role of independent media outlets in challenging authoritarian governments around the world. In the case of the Philippines, it put a spotlight on how truth-seekers like Ressa have stood their ground in the face […]

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Duterte’s Forgotten Federalism Agenda is Dead

By admin | November 26, 2021

Published by The Diplomat The Philippine Congress adjourned its sessions this month without tackling bills on federalism, a key legislative proposal of President Rodrigo Duterte since his campaign for president in 2016. It is Duterte’s prerogative to name the priorities of his government as he enters his last year in office. Today, he can afford […]

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A Brief History of Charter Change Attempts in the Philippines

By admin | October 4, 2021

Written for The Diplomat Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has reportedly instructed allies in Congress to begin proceedings aimed at amending the country’s constitution, fueling immediate speculation that he is aiming to extend his term beyond 2022. Unlike in Myanmar and Thailand, where proposals to amend the constitution are often aimed at eroding the power of […]

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On the proposed extension of emergency powers

By admin | September 14, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila Instead of deliberating the extension of the BAHO Law, Congress should spend its last session week by conducting an emergency probe on the bungled COVID-19 response of the government. Congress should not simply accept the weekly reports of Malacanang without questioning its content. But even if these reports are used […]

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