Behind his macho posture and ashen face, Duterte is afraid to the core. He is fighting against the prospect of him being made to account for all his crimes. He is doing everything to stop us, the Filipino people, from exercising our right to have better governance and better society.
Badoy echoes a national policy that espouses state-instigated violence against civilians. Portraying activists and journalists as “enemies of the state” justifies human rights abuses perpetrated by state agents. Badoy’s line is as dangerous as Duterte’s marching order to “kill, kill, kill.”
Painting a conspiracy among the media groups and lawyers — all perceived as enemies by Duterte — might be used to justify further draconian measures and blatant attacks.
On Monday, Dec. 3, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. publicly tagged Bayan Muna former representative Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers’ Partylist Rep. France Castro an “active members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).” In a news report, Galvez claimed that Ocampo and Castro, who…
The recent incident of rape involving a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is enraging. But what is even more infuriating is the admission of PO1 Eduardo Valencia when he was presented to PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde. To quote, “Sir, may pamilya po ako. Sir, hindi na po bago sa’ting mga operatiba…
As human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares said during the gathering of supporters and families of the Makabayan 4 last July, this regime does not tolerate dissent. He said that the issue is beyond the arrest of the Makabayan 4, it is about the people whose democratic rights are being trampled upon for voicing out their grievances against the government.
People have been saying this all along; the Duterte administration could not solve the illegal drug problem with the use of uncontrolled violence and shortcuts that disregard human rights. And they were right. The Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs has not made a dent on the illegal drug trade despite more than 12,000 extrajudicial,…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective Thirty-two years since the first EDSA People Power and the celebrations continue to lose its spirit, and the crowds that attend it. I am referring, of course, to the official government celebrations. It is natural for the collective memory of the Filipino people about EDSA People Power to start fading.…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective During his presidential campaign, Rodrigo Duterte vowed that if he becomes president, he would solve the illegal drug problem in six months, adding that the drug war would be bloody. He also promised to stamp out corruption. Well, barely after a year in office, in August 2017, President Duterte conceded…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective What do the public know about the current initiative in Congress to amend the 1987 Constitution? First, the Duterte administration is proposing a shift to a Federal form of government. And second, there have been disagreements between the Lower House and the Senate on how to amend the 1987 Constitution.…
Resolving the drug problem; curbing corruption; peace talks; an independent foreign policy; and concern for the plight of the poor and the ordinary masa fired up the imagination and hope of the electorate.
But now, in what direction does the wind blow?