Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Raffy Tulfo were statistically tied in a recent survey showing Filipinos’ preference for a presidential candidate, but neither can claim to be the candidate to beat in the 2028 presidential election. “I don’t think anyone here can safely say he or she is going to be the president because...
Category: News
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Edcel Lagman sees smooth sailing of divorce bill in 19th Congress
The prime mover of the divorce bill in Congress is making a bold prediction: The predominantly Catholic Philippines will soon and finally join the rest of the world in making divorce possible for troubled married couples. “I’m confident that as the sun rises tomorrow this bill will be enacted into law,” said Albay Rep. Edcel...
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Only Supreme Court can resolve ‘Achilles’ heel’ of Charter change resolutions, legal luminaries say
Only the Supreme Court can resolve the issue of whether Congress should meet jointly and vote separately in the current contentious effort to amend the Constitution, legal luminaries said at a forum held at the University of the Philippines on March 14. “We can save much time and effort if this is resolved once and...
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Case of filmmaker, friends shows need for public awareness of warrantless arrest
The practice of warrantless arrest and the necessity of public awareness of its workings was highlighted in the recent release of filmmaker Jade Castro and his three friends from a jail facility in Catanauan, Quezon. Castro, sales manager Ernesto Orcine, and civil engineers Noel Mariano and Dominic Ramos were freed at 7.30 p.m. on March...
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Project Gunita et al.: ‘The truth will outshine the lies’
The academic organization Project Gunita and dozens of groups and individuals, including victims of rights violations during martial law, are taking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to task for distorting facts about the dictatorial rule of his father and namesake in a March 4 interview with ABC News Australia. “President Marcos has yet again tried to...
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1987 Charter ‘imperfect’ but carries safeguards vs instability, framer says
When politicians tried to have their way in the crafting of the 1973 Constitution, they were met with street protests in the tumultuous early years of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s regime. The writing on the wall was very clear. Filipinos “didn’t want politicians to be involved in the drafting of the Constitution,” human rights activist Edmundo...
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Advocates assail ‘fear-mongering’ on use of cannabis to treat ailments
Groups advocating the use of cannabis to treat various illnesses have criticized the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) for “conflating” its medical and recreational uses and exaggerating its supposed harmful effects in blocking a proposed law that will allow Filipinos to legally acquire the drug. A measure at the House of Representatives, consolidated from 10 bills,...
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‘Buhay ang Edsa’ Campaign Network marks 38th year of People Power Revolt
The historic 1986 Edsa People Power Revolt was commemorated yesterday, Feb. 25, by the BuhayAngEdsa Campaign Network with three distinct events celebrating democracy and solidarity. ‘Edsa Freedom Ride’ In the early morning, over 100 cyclists, skaters, and joggers converged on Ayala Avenue in Makati City for an “Edsa Freedom Ride.” The event was organized by...
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Leila de Lima, free on bail, continues to tell her stories
It’s almost as if where there’s lawyer Leila de Lima—former senator, justice secretary, human rights commissioner and, until late last year, the Philippines’ most prominent detainee—one could expect blistering commentary on any of the day’s hot-button issues, such as Charter change or the imminent move of the International Criminal Court against her chief jailor’s scandalous...
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Proponents urge ‘a little compassion’ in legalizing medical cannabis
When her daughter Joy’s doctor told Gay matter-of-factly that she could lose her anytime to epilepsy, she was stunned and realized she had to look for other medicines to stop the seizures which started when her child was a baby. After years of trying up to 11 different medicines to quell Joy’s seizures, Gay was...