“The Masungi Georeserve is not just one of the international leaders in sustainable tourism and home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna, it has also been fundamental in ensuring the reforestation of the southern Sierra Madre range…“ “This is how the DENR should do it.” Then Environment Secretary Gina Lopez declared these words …
Tag Archives: Manila Standard
Never again a dictatorship
“That Juan Ponce Enrile is now suggesting going back to the martial law provisions of the 1935 Constitution/1973 Constitution is to forget and deny the atrocities and abuses of the Marcos regime” In my column last Saturday, I detailed how the Philippines became what emerged as the US-Marcos dictatorship. Unfortunately, the United States supported Marcos …
How to become a dictator
“One week after the official issuance of Proclamation 1081, the whole legal and extralegal structure to totally control the whole country was almost complete.” Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile floated the idea of reverting to the Philippines’ 1935 Constitution, which, according to him, has a broader provision for declaring martial rule. So, we are …
A day we must never forget
“To remember is to memorialize those who sacrificed their safety and personal desires so that future generations would not suffer what they did” This week, we remember the declaration of martial law 50 years ago. There is some debate on when martial law was declared, as esteemed historian Ambeth Ocampo has written recently. Was it …
The wisdom of Senator Loren Legarda
“The way to go…is to restart the peace process with the Communist rebels, to encourage and entice them to return to the fold of the law, throw away their arms and become partners with the civil government and the society at large in addressing social inequality and social injustice” In a privilege speech a week …
The Marcos corruption cases
“With the son of Marcos Sr occupying the presidency, we are now at a crossroads. Whether or not the BBM administration will respect the mandate of the PCGG or emasculate it, only time will tell.” As early as 2003, the Supreme Court in Republic v. Sandiganbayan ruled that over 25 billion pesos worth of Marcos …
Constitutional anomalies in time of Marcos Sr.
The Ratification Cases is a series of petitions challenging the imposition of martial law imposed on September 21, 1972, when President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation 1081. The Ratification cases culminated with the Supreme Court rendering a decision on March 31, 1973, in Javellana vs. Executive Secretary, which validated the 1973 Constitution. With the entire country …
Continue reading “Constitutional anomalies in time of Marcos Sr.”
Three brave women and the state
“A new layer of cruelty is added when we look at three women activists who were arrested recently despite their old age and illnesses.”
Heroes through the centuries until today
We normally associate National Heroes Day to commemorate the extraordinary virtues of Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Antonio Luna, and scores of revolutionaries who gave up their lives or made extraordinary contributions to the struggle against Spain and liberate our people from the yoke of foreign oppressors. But in all phases of our national existence, whenever …
De Lima, a continuing injustice
Last August 17, 2022 marked 2000 days in detention of former Senator Leila De Lima at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. She was arrested five years ago when the Duterte Department of Justice filed trumped up criminal complaints—one conspiracy and two related to drugs—against her after she took steps, as Chair …
Tony La Viña 