“The challenge to both traditional and progressive political groups is to return to an ethics-based politics…always doing the right thing the right way to achieve the right outcome” There we go again. Trapo (traditional and transactional) politics on display. The worst of Philippine politics. There is no policy issue being debated, no vision of society …
Category Archives: Politics
Break the pattern of enforced disappearances
TONY LA VIÑA, BERNARDINE DE BELEN ‘Surface Dexter and Bazoo. Surface all the desaparecidos!’ Cases of enforced disappearances in the Philippines are not at all new. In fact, we have been dealing with the same experience, the same tale for decades now. The term “desaparecidos” is Spanish for “disappeared.” It was eventually used in Latin …
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The road to vindication
“Conspiracy must be established not by conjecture but by positive and conclusive evidence” In a 39-page decision released on May 12, the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204 cleared former senator Leila De Lima and Ronnie Dayan in Criminal Case Number 17-165 for conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading – the first case filed …
Here we go again with charter change
TONY LA VIÑA, KALOI ZARATE, JAYVY GAMBOA ‘Do we really need to change the Constitution for economic reasons? No.’ Last March 6, the House of Representatives approved on third reading Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 calling for a constitutional convention, or ConCon, as a mode of charter change. RBH No. 6 states that …
Celebrating EDSA
“Given the present-day realities, is EDSA still worth celebrating?” In February 1986, the Filipinos booted out of power the dictatorship of Marcos by staging a bloodless revolt. The revolt effectively ended the 20-year dictatorial rule by the Marcos regime characterized by excesses, suppression of human rights, and plunder of the economy. (Editor’s Note: Marcos, was …
The poet as agitator for social justice
“Artists love deeply, and so when they find themselves amongst the masses, the masses inevitably become their muse” November 30, the birthday of revolutionary Andres Bonifacio, has always been a day of both celebration and grievance. It is joyful as we commemorate the meaning of resistance, and angry as we still struggle against oppression. This …
Mad about fake news
“MAD released a statement in support of Nobel laureates Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov’s 10- point plan to address the information crisis in the country.” In the latest Pulse Asia Survey, conducted September 17 to 21, 90 percent of Filipinos are exposed to fake political news while 86 percent believe false or fake news is …
De Lima’s safety is Marcos’ responsibility
“The least the government can do now is to take steps to ensure her safety, conduct a thorough investigation on the matter, and expedite the resolution of the remaining cases.” Filipinos got a big scare yesterday when news came out that former senator Leila de Lima was held hostage inside her detention cell at camp …
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Fighting Badoy’s contempt of the judiciary
“Red-tagging equates to a very dangerous threat. And so, it is only right to take it seriously and respond accordingly” Lorraine Badoy, former spokesperson for NTF-ELCAC, will face the court after red-tagging Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar. Badoy is notorious, together with NTF-ELCAC, for continuously and loudly red-tagging progressives, marginalized groups, as well as ordinary citizens. In …
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Children of Mindanao’s endless wars
“Development aggression pertains to development projects that exclude and oppress the indigenous peoples and other marginalized sectors even further.” Last Friday, I spoke at the Youth for Climate Justice for Mindanao’s (YCJM) webinar, “ML @ 50: The Impact of Martial Law on the Environment and the People in Mindanao.” YCJM is convened and led by …
Tony La Viña 