[ANALYSIS] Trillanes amnesty and lessons from Argentina
The late Raul Alfonsin's revocation of amnesty in Argentina was made within the context of the 'dirty war' that resulted in human rights atrocities
[OPINION] The silence of the shepherds
There are priests who support these killings or turn a blind eye. They think it is acceptable for the common good.
[OPINION | NEWSPOINT] A sputtering conspiracy
Rodrigo Duterte is clearly losing it; Antonio Trillanes, on the other hand, is in the ascendant
[ANALYSIS] Viral misconceptions about inflation, how to debunk them
You don’t really need to crunch the numbers to know there’s a problem with inflation. Just go to the nearest palengke or grocery to see prices have skyrocketed.
[OPINION] From Russia with love
The Philippines needs to think carefully how it intends to pursue its developing security relationship with Russia
[OPINYON] Malayo sa bituka
May parang kung anong manipulasyon para makalimutan natin ang napipinto nating pagkagutom
[OPINION] Urgently needed: Department for disaster resilience and climate change
We have been calling for the new department for 5 years now, even before the 2013 Yolanda disaster. It would be fitting that we finally get this done on the fifth anniversary of that terrible event.
[ANALYSIS] Don't mess with the military
To drag your armed forces into this political game is to spook it. And the consequences of that will come in painful increments.
[OPINION] 5 years after Yolanda, imperatives for addressing disasters
Right now, our efforts have been marred by bureaucratic squabbling and largely isolated activities
[OPINION] Duterte’s vendetta against Senator Trillanes
Relishing in their recent success against Sereno, Duterte and Calida with the active support of Justice Secretary Guevarra, are emboldened to do more by replicating their dirty trick against Senator Trillanes
[OPINION] Marites Vitug and Mr Duterte’s mad wife
'Rock Solid' has placed Malacañang in the uncomfortable position of having to explain why it treats a historic win for the country like a mad wife
[ANALYSIS] Why is Philippine inflation now the highest in ASEAN?
Inflation expectations matter because they change how people behave. It’s in government’s interest to manage these expectations from time to time.
[OPINYON] Dapat bang kainin ang bigas na may bukbok?
Bumababa ang pagtingin ng mga Pilipino sa sarili kapag kumakain tayo ng mabaho, ginamot, o pinesteng bigas. Hindi ba ito ang ginagawa ng gobyerno sa kanilang solusyon sa krisis ng bigas?
[ANALYSIS] Voiding Trillanes' amnesty: Illegal, unwise, immoral
We seem to be inexorably sliding towards an extraconstitutional regime
[ANALYSIS] Unjust to De Lima, unjust to all
This is the strong arm of the state at play. And in cases where the highest official of the land has a personal stake, even courts become a part of this strong arm, wittingly or unwittingly.
[OPINION] Duterte and Israel: Why visit a rogue state?
The Israeli government of Netanyahu is one of the worst human rights violators in the world. I suppose one could cynically call Duterte's visit a gathering of human rights violators.
[OPINION] Solving our 'unli' rice crisis
If only half of the energy and focus given to the drug war were given to agriculture and rice production, we would already be better off
[OPINION] Historical rejection of political dynasties
What is only clear from the compelling lessons of history is that political dynasty is rejected in bloodshed and should not recur and continue
[OPINION | NEWSPOINT] From incapacity to absurdity
Compulsively carrying on this way, he succeeded only in burying himself deeper in the hole of his regime’s own digging
[OPINION | DASH of SAS] Humanizing abortion laws
It’s time we have a more open discussion of abortion and the need to relax our laws to allow women access to safe medical abortions
[ANALYSIS] Mere hiccups? Let’s be more honest about the economy
The truth is, we’re living in a sad combo of slowing growth and accelerating prices. Worse, indicators point to harder times ahead.
[ANALYSIS] The Philippines' cryptocurrency opportunity
Financial technology innovations that could well benefit the 'unbanked' and others who would benefit from greater access to capital could well be stymied by well-intended regulations in the Philippines
[ANALYSIS] Filipinos don’t deserve fumigated nor weevil-infested rice
(UPDATED) Why this burgeoning rice crisis? I argue that government is wholly to blame.
[OPINION] Do dictators tell jokes?
If President Rodrigo Duterte is a sovereign trickster, there have been others who came before him. Humor...can, in fact, be used to reinforce power relations, or to establish patterns favorable to a person seeking power.
[OPINION] What is missing in Duterte’s war on drugs?
The main elements of the methamphetamine pass through unguarded seas. The Philippine Coast Guard should be in action as much as the PNP and PDEA.
[OPINION] Beacon in dark times: Why we need the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Populist-nationalists have our democracies in their sights and they have already fired an opening salvo
[OPINION] Political independence
Our political party system has been in an abject state of infantile stagnation
[OPINYON] Buwan ng Wika: Hindi bawal umingles, basta ayusin mo
Hayaan munang tuklasin ng bata ang mundo niya; ang matuto gamit ang wikang sinasalita niya sa panaginip, sa paghalughog sa kaluluwa. Filipino language man ito or otherwise.
[ANALYSIS] Weaker peso boosts exports? Not necessarily
Why are exports weakening despite a weaker peso? If we take the word of the economic managers, isn’t this puzzling?
[OPINION] Tax carbon emitters, use new revenue for health care
Will our lawmakers seize this golden opportunity or will they resign us to a future of unintended consequences?
[OPINION] Finding a way forward for Cambodia after sham elections
The Prime Minister is treating Cambodia as a personal fiefdom that can one day be handed over to one of his sons
[OPINION] A prophetic oracle against murderers
Woe to you who call yourselves 'Christians' but do not care an iota about the victims of extrajudicial killings
[OPINION | NEWSPOINT] How long can Duterte wait?
In any case, waiting in the wings are Bongbong and next to him the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara, now undergoing crash grooming for national office – ultimately for the presidency
[OPINION] Lawyers of the Philippines, unite!
Prof. Desierto is right about JV, Lenie, and RB: 'They could be you. They could be me. Today it's them. Just look in the mirror. Tomorrow it can be any of us.'
[ANALYSIS] Why Duterte’s federalism endangers government’s finances
Unless we first fix existing regional economic disparities, Bayanihan Federalism will only leave more poor regions behind
[OPINION] In defense of mothers and others
Don't be fooled. Benevolent sexism lives on in silence and maintains the harm.
[OPINION] NutriAsia skirts the law to oppress workers, hide its greed
NutriAsia, Inc maintains that the strikers are not their contractual employees but are regular and permanent employees of their contractors. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
[OPINION] The South China Sea precedent: Rising instability amidst revisionist tendencies
Asia's Post-World War II order is on the verge of a terminal decline. What can the region do in response?
[OPINION] Con-Com draft constitution sets Comelec in the right direction
Under current laws, the Commission on Elections is both an administrator and a quasi-court. Its split personality presents a lot of complications.
[OPINION] Bangsamoro sub-state, not federalism
This political nonsense about 'federalism' should be stopped as an exercise in political witchcraft
[OPINION] Pacquiao’s Christianity and death penalty
Pacquiao’s defense of the death penalty necessarily makes a distinction between redeemable sinners and hopeless human beings. People of faith must push back.
[OPINION] We are a maritime nation but...
This fact has yet to sink into our country’s consciousness
[OPINYON] Interbiyu sa ‘ekspeperto’
Ano’ng opinyon ng ‘ekspeperto’ sa Palasyo tungkol sa Train Law, national ID, at ‘pepederalismo’?
[OPINION] Can government deliver us from runaway inflation?
Half of the recent inflation can be explained by food prices alone. This is crucial since the poor spend a larger share of their incomes on food.
[OPINION] Life without bullies? Why Senate must pass anti-discrimination bill
I make this appeal for the sake of science, for the sake of morality and for the sake of the nation’s well-being
Draft charter downgrades Supreme Court
Creating mini supreme courts has never been advanced as solutions because it is contrary to the idea of One Supreme Court
[OPINION | NEWSPOINT] Arroyo's the feature, Duterte’s just the trailer
Any residual doubts about Arroyo’s special place in the hierarchy of power in the Duterte regime should be dispelled by her accession to the Speakership
[OPINION] Loose lips sink ships
Following the Battle of Marawi, the Armed Forces had enjoyed an immense level of support from the public. A year later, things rapidly went downhill because of the Duterte administration's position on the West Philippine Sea.
Basagan ng Trip with Leloy Claudio: What does history tell us about Gloria Arroyo?
Walk down memory lane with Leloy Claudio and Barry Gutierrez on the rise and fall – and rise – of GMA
[OPINION] Is it downhill for Duterte?
Popularity is important for winning elections and for keeping opponents at bay, but to govern, to implement policies and programs, you need organized support
