Rappler's latest stories on Rodrigo Duterte
Bilibid returnees die in Duterte administration blunders
Part 1: Massive errors in record-keeping and ill-prepared facilities keep thousands in jail for months, and kill at least 4 convict returnees. They regret heeding the President's call.

Duterte appoints Misuari economic envoy to Organization of Islamic Cooperation
The government and Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front agree to implement remaining items from the 1996 Final Peace Agreement, after the former rebel leader complained of being left out of the Bangsamoro peace process

No need for Duterte to release his 2018 SALN – Panelo
But it was the Office of the Ombudsman which told media groups to ask Malacañang for a copy of the President's Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth

Acosta asks Duterte to veto provision defunding PAO lab in 2020 budget
Chief Public Attorney Persida Acosta claims the PAO forensic lab was defunded to 'jeopardize its operations' but lawmakers have said that the lab just duplicated the work of other agencies
[OPINION] ABS-CBN and its struggle to obtain its franchise
While the law remains unchanged, what now will become of the country’s biggest television network?

Lacson urges Duterte to veto questionable P16B in bicam-approved 2020 budget
Senator Panfilo Lacson hopes the President would once again veto questionable items in the proposed 2020 budget, just as he did with this year's fiscal plan

[PODCAST] Ang mga isyung hinarap ni Duterte sa 2019
Paano tinugunan ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte ang mga kontrobersiyang hinarap ng kanyang administrasyon nitong nakaraang taon? Pakinggan sa podcast na ito nila Rappler reporter Pia Ranada at researcher-writer Jodesz Gavilan.

Duterte, Joma Sison can’t agree on venue for peace talks
‘Ano siya, sinusuwerte?’ says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on communist party leader Jose Maria Sison’s insistence on a foreign venue for negotiations

Legally yes, realistically no: Duterte's powers to take over water operations
Guevarra reveals it is the DOJ that recommended revoking the extension of Maynilad and Manila Water
Duterte's 2018 SALN still secret 7 months after deadline – PCIJ report
Despite President Rodrigo Duterte's promises of transparency, the public is yet to see his most recent Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth

Global slowdown spoils Duterte's 8% GDP growth dream
President Rodrigo Duterte's economic team lowers the Philippines' growth target to the 6.5% to 7.5% range for 2020 to 2022

In Duterte-land, U2’s Bono touches on the taboo
’You don’t compromise on human rights,’ he wants to tell the President

154 attacks, threats vs journalists since Duterte took office – media groups
The Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network says at least 15 journalists have been killed under the Duterte administration

Carlos Yulo to receive P3.2 million as Duterte gives SEA Games 2019 bonus
(UPDATED) Gymnastics star Carlos Yulo emerges as the Philippines' most bemedalled athlete in the 2019 SEA Games

2019: Year of rough seas for PH in the face of belligerent China
Often undetected, Chinese vessels and warships cross deeper into the Philippines' territorial seas and closer to home

2019: Lawlessness in the Philippines under Duterte
Newsbreak, Rappler's investigative and research section, tracks stories that depict lawlessness in the Philippines, aided by policies and orders that veer toward authoritarianism

Duterte threatens Manila Water, Maynilad with expropriation
President Rodrigo Duterte threatens to 'take everything' from the two firms if he is not satisfied with how they explain 'onerous' provisions in their concession agreements

U2's Bono to Duterte: 'You can't compromise on human rights'
'The safety of journalists is very important, and I think a democracy requires a free press,' says U2 lead singer Bono

No extension of martial law in Mindanao, says Malacañang
(UPDATED) Martial law in Mindanao ends on December 31, 2019

Actress Gabby Padilla on Duterte: 'Didn’t he promise you safer streets?'
The actress tweets after a video of a kidnapping in Makati City – along a commercial road – goes viral on social media

Look back: Duterte's tussles with big business
Going from threats to defying an international court order, President Duterte proves more and more that he will use every presidential power to pressure some of the country's biggest firms

Panelo downplays critics' 'fervent wish' of Duterte 'arrest' in ICC case
Meanwhile, detained Senator Leila de Lima welcomes the International Criminal Court's report on the status of the complaint against Duterte over his administration's war on drugs

Malacañang: Morales, Del Rosario tapped 'ineffective process' for propaganda value
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says the ICC Prosecutor's conclusion that it has no jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in the West Philippine Sea by China is in line with the Duterte government's stand

Duterte wants CPP-NPA peace talks in PH – Esperon
The President also wants communist guerrillas to take it seriously when a ceasefire is declared, or else current efforts to stamp out the insurgency will continue, says the National Security Adviser

Int'l Criminal Court's next step in Duterte drug war to come in 2020
ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is coming closer to determining whether she will seek authority to open an investigation, a phase where the Court can issue arrest orders
Defying court, Duterte refuses to pay Manila Water
'Pakainin ko 'yung pera sa kanila,' says the Philippine leader, in defiance of an arbitration court's decision on what the government owes the Ayala-led water concessionaire

Did Malacañang say the press is free?
President Duterte’s threat to ABS-CBN contradicts his claim

'Last card': Duterte sending Bello to talk to Sison
President Rodrigo Duterte once again expresses openness to peace talks with communists

Duterte to visit Bicol as Typhoon Tisoy leaves agriculture, housing damage
The damage to fisheries and livestock in Sorsogon province alone is estimated at nearly P700 million

ABS-CBN stocks fall after Duterte’s threats of not renewing franchise
While the non-renewal of the franchise will hit ABS-CBN hard, a business expert says the company is likely to survive due to its diversified revenue stream

Duterte orders crafting of new water concession agreements
President Duterte also orders the filing of charges against 'all those involved' in the concession agreements with Manila Water and Maynilad, claiming the deals are studded with provisions that harm Filipinos

House won't tackle ABS-CBN franchise renewal bill in 2019 anymore
(UPDATED) 'We have more than enough time...to tackle it in January, February, dahil March pa naman 'yung expiration ng [ABS-CBN] franchise,' says House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano

[OPINION] The lawless Duterte presidency
The Philippines has been transformed into a wilderness soaked in blood

Duterte to ABS-CBN: Sorry, don't expect franchise renewal
‘I will see to it that you're out,' says President Rodrigo Duterte, claiming he is still angry at ABS-CBN for supposedly not airing his political ads in 2016

Duterte threatens Ayalas, Pangilinan after Manila Water arbitration win
Manila Water's win against the government refuels President Rodrigo Duterte's determination to scrap the concession agreement of the Ayala-led company as well as that of Manny Pangilinan's Maynilad

Duterte signs Go's Malasakit Center law in Malacañang ceremony
The Palace rolls out the red carpet for the signing into law of a pet measure of President Rodrigo Duterte's closest aide, Senator Bong Go

Veteran prosecutor is new Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon
Deputy Special Prosecutor Cornelio Somido has handled high-stakes cases such as the NBN-ZTE deal and the PCSO intelligence fund scam case against former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
As land use act stalls, Duterte to issue executive order instead
President Rodrigo Duterte again pushes for a national land use law during a December 2 Cabinet meeting where he is shown the National Economic and Development Authority's draft bill

Duterte fills up 2 more SC vacancies with Bedan, USC justices
Justice Edgardo delos Santos – the 'habal-habal' justice of Visayas – and Bedan Justice Mario Lopez, both of the Court of Appeals, make it to the High Court
Government offensive: Info operations attack media to manage SEA Games PR crisis
From #Seagames2019fail to #Seagamesnotafailure – Rappler maps how the conversations on the SEA Games pan out on social media

Sharon Cuneta on 'Tatay' Duterte's claims: 'All is fine with my family'
The President, in a Bonifacio Day speech, had claimed the 'Megastar' wanted to kick her husband, a senator, out of their home

Robredo: Releasing drug war report better than it staying unread by Duterte
Vice President Leni Robredo says her 3rd report on the anti-drug campaign includes recommendations to improve the government's efforts

Frankie Pangilinan throws shade at Duterte over comments on her parents
'Imagine being more concerned with 'ruining' a perfectly happy family instead of being a good leader,' Frankie Pangilinan says

Duterte, Pacquiao open SEA Games 2019 as typhoon nears
In a spectacle filled with Philippine tradition and stardom, the nation welcomes thousands of competitors from around the region for 11 days of games

Duterte jives to 'Manila' in SEA Games 2019 opening ceremonies
President Rodrigo Duterte gets jiggy with it to Hotdog's OPM classic 'Manila'

Duterte to PH Navy: Kill pirates, 'blow them until kingdom come'
The president mentions working with Indonesia and Malaysia to protect the seas from pirates, amid warming ties with China which is occupying the West PH Sea
For the first time, Duterte attends Bonifacio Day rites
After his speech in Caloocan, the President goes straight to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan for the SEA Games 2019 Opening Ceremonies
Duterte attending SEA Games 2019 opening ceremony
Many of the details remain a secret, although the show's director, Filipino writer Floy Quintos, shares a photo on Facebook of hundreds of performers in colorful costumes on stage

Duterte on Bonifacio Day: Push for a strong, progressive PH
The President calls on Filipinos to emulate Bonifacio's love for country, while Vice President Leni Robredo urges the people, especially government leaders, to be as 'courageous and determined' as Bonifacio in protecting Philippine sovereignty
No traffic improvement by end of 2019? Blame Congress, says Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte asks Congress to pass the 2020 national budget in December to avoid another delay that could impact government projects
