The nation celebrates and commemorates this week the 40th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution, a seminal event in Philippine history. But the hope and expectation that the main forces and their allies that worked to dismantle Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship would march shoulder to shoulder on the now-world-famous avenue to mark the historic...
Category: News
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Senators Go and Dela Rosa named among Duterte’s ‘co-perpetrators’
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has named Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as well as other former ranking government officials as co-perpetrators of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs.” Go ranked first and Dela Rosa third in the midterm senatorial elections last year. As chief of the Philippine National Police...
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Gen Z and activism: Fighting for their own future
Second of two parts Gen Z Filipinos are not as active in street protests against corruption in public works projects as they are online. They spent their earlier years indoors due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which partly explains the unwillingness of most of them to leave home and participate in current outdoor protests. They feel...
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More than a year later, no word from Marcos on ex-OFW Veloso’s renewed plea for clemency
The plea for clemency aired by former overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso upon returning to the Philippines more than a year ago remains unanswered, even as she renewed her appeal in a handwritten open letter early this week. “Unfortunately, no word yet on clemency. No word from Malacañang at all,” Josalee Deinla, one of...
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Gen Z and activism: Fighting against corruption
First of two parts The call to jail the crooks in the flood-control corruption scandal thundered above all others in a setting intended to highlight athletic excellence and school pride, not political defiance: “Ikulong na ’yan, mga kurakot!” It was halftime during the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) basketball match between the University...
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‘Jurassic’ Senate prez recounts how the coup attempt went down
Was the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III truly in peril last Feb. 4, when rumors swirled that the 9-member minority had gathered more than the so-called “Magic 13” votes to unseat him? As the 3 p.m. session of the Senate began that Wednesday, Sotto presided over the calendar of business which included honoring the achievements...
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‘Dysfunctional leadership’ reflected in impeachment complaints against Marcos and Duterte
The filing of impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte reflects “dysfunctional” leadership at the highest level of government, according to Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima. The filings—two each for the two leaders—are also testing the Constitution, rattling investor confidence, and once again turning Congress into an arena for...
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Indigenous folk say no to gold mining firm’s expansion in Benguet town
ITOGON, Benguet—Indigenous residents are resisting plans by Itogon-Suyoc Resources Inc. (ISRI), a big gold mining company, to expand its operations to more than six times its concession area in their town, warning of possible harmful effects on the environment. On Tuesday, Jan. 27, more than a hundred protesters and their supporters gathered outside the Itogon...
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Victims of Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ see his trial as their last chance to be heard
With former president Rodrigo Duterte now deemed fit to stand trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and the confirmation of charges set next month, the families of those killed in his “war on drugs” are looking to the proceedings as their last real chance to be heard. “This ICC trial is...
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Alleged photo thief accuses actress, 2 beauty queens of acts of violence against him
That ubiquitous symbol of prosperity, the red envelope known as “ang pao” which is used for monetary gifts, has caused torment and misery to a driver, by his account. The driver, tagged as “alias Totoy,” has lodged a complaint of illegal detention and torture at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against actress Rhian Ramos...