This commentary was originally run in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Opinion section on July 4, 2021, and is being republished here with its permission. President Benigno Aquino III passed on June 24, 2021.—Ed. An explosion of yearning triggered by the death of Benigno Aquino III is searing many Filipinos. Ten days later the flood of...
Tag: Malacañang
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Trouble down south: What happened to the government-MILF peace accord?
In March 2014, just two days before the government’s chief peace negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer signed the landmark agreement to end decades of Moro separatist rebellion, she described the effort as a journey that had reached a crucial destination. “There is no turning back. Only moving decisively forward. The peace train is on track. Its...
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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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Political crossroads: Reform, stability, and the limits of street pressure
Being away from the Philippines, even briefly, offers a vantage point that is both clarifying and sobering. From afar, the recent rallies that swept parts of Metro Manila appeared to me loud, impassioned, and unmistakably public in their demand for accountability. They have forced Malacañang to act swiftly—reshuffling sensitive positions, firing officials, and making high-profile...