Tag Archives: duterte

Bayan Metro Manila assails first week of Luzon lockdown

By admin | April 4, 2020

Published on Bayan Metro Manila Facebook page The first week of quarantine did little to assure the people that the government is on top of the situation and that it can handle the COVID-19 pandemic. While majority of Luzon residents were quick to stay home under quarantine, the government remained slow in addressing the basic […]

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Rising Anxiety About China’s ‘Debt Trap’ in the Philippines

By admin | February 13, 2020

Over the past few months, rising scrutiny on Chinese investments in countries ranging from the Maldives to Malaysia has intensified an ongoing conversation in the Philippines about the risks of a Chinese “debt trap” in the country as the government of President Rodrigo Duterte pursues increased engagement with Beijing. This discussion has become more pronounced, […]

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The Philippines’ (Too) Quiet Opposition

By admin | December 31, 2019

After the Philippine midterm elections, some members of the opposition party decided to join the majority coalition in Congress. This despite the aggressive campaigning of opposition candidates against the human rights abuses under the government of President Rodrigo Duterte. That opposition politicians would quickly affiliate themselves with the ruling party reflects not only the quality […]

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2018: Exposing the Bully and Resisting the Tyrant in Malacanang

By admin | December 12, 2019

Here are the highlights of the people’s struggles in Metro Manila in 2018. Labor Unrest The labor sector initiated breakthrough actions in 2018. Taking cue from government pronouncements rejecting contractualization, labor groups stepped up its organizing among contractuals. It led to workers asserting their right to unionize in response to the duplicitous move of capitalists to outsource their responsibility […]

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The War Against the Philippine Press

By admin | October 2, 2019

If the aim of the media attacks is to distract and mute the opposition, so far it is not succeeding. But it sends a dangerous message about how far this government is capable of doing to stretch the limits of the law to run after its critics. Written for The Diplomat Magazine Why Philippine Politics […]

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What the Neverending Imelda Marcos Case Means for Philippine Politics

By admin | August 17, 2019

Published by The Diplomat The consequences of Imelda’s conviction continue to spark the realignment of political forces and it could end up in a duel between a Duterte-backed alliance of pro-Marcos groups against an opposition coalition supported by a battle-tested anti-Marcos movement. That is further testament to a broader trend in Philippine politics, where the past […]

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Philippine Midterm Elections: Is Duterte’s Win Democracy’s Loss?

By admin | July 13, 2019

Candidates belonging to the coalition endorsed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte won in the senate amid reports of widespread vote tampering and other irregularities documented on election day. Election monitoring groups said there were more cases of faulty vote counting machines this year compared to the 2016 election. Local poll officials solved the issue by […]

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Will Duterte Finish His Term in the Philippines?

By admin | May 28, 2019

Speculation is running rampant in the Philippines regarding Duterte’s health, not to mention political forces aiming to see him removed. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year single term is scheduled to end in 2022, but there has been speculation about his capability to finish his mandate. In the past 30 years, two of five Philippine presidents […]

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From Portland to the Philippines: A call to ‘stop the killings’

By admin | April 22, 2019

Published by Pinoy Weekly, 12 May 2018 The ‘Stop the Killings’ caravan organized by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines – United States chapter conducted a rally in Portland on May 5, 2018. Speakers of the rally included community leaders, human rights, activist, a representative of Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and […]

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Tokhang, trolls and Arroyo generals

By admin | January 22, 2019

Published by Bulatlat The UP Third World Studies Center organized a research workshop on ‘Violence, Human Rights and Democracy in the Philippines.’ I submitted a short essay in response to the workshop question: “Based on your knowledge of and experience in your locality, do you think that the Duterte administration is violent?” President Rodrigo Duterte […]

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