First time in Sandatahang Dahas monitoring: body dumps of state agents
For the first time in its one year of monthly monitoring of state-related violence, Sandatahang Dahas recorded body dumps of state agents.
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Butuyan warns of return of Duterte impunity if ICC won’t confirm charges
Joel Butuyan: Truth is the antidote to the virus of impunity, Your Honors. The victims dread a future where charges are not confirmed. It will mean that the virus of impunity will continue to spread and infect many more.
The Duterte drama at The Hague: Too weak to stand, but strong enough to snub
Is Duterte too frail to remember, or simply too defiant to face the music? Even his own prosecutor has described him as an “unreliable historian” of his health. He adjusts the story as needed. The “sickly” act is a shield , one that spares him the gaze of mothers and children who lost loved ones in the drug war, some of whom have traveled to The Hague seeking justice. By remaining in his cell, he preserves the tough-guy image for supporters back home.
Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court Information Sheet
Suspected of the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder, allegedly committed in the Republic of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019. Surrendered to the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 12 March 2025. Confirmation of charges hearing to open on 23 February 2026
Carpio’s contradictions
In styling himself an international law expert, retired Justice Antonio Carpio has only managed to tie himself up in contradictions. His recent attempt to defend his ponencia in Magallona v Ermita (2011) only tightens the knot he now struggles to untangle. The landmark case had sought to declare Republic Act No. 9522 (2009) or the Archipelagic Baselines Law unconstitutional.
BirdTalk 2026: PH needs not only good governance but also good economics
Ibon’s Rosario Guzman: The nation’s structure is collapsing because of political instability and a fragile economy due to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ‘blunders.’ The first was adopting an anti-corruption stance in announcing the anomalous flood control projects while remaining silent on the pork barrel issue.
ICC prosecutor opposes Duterte waiver not to appear in court for Feb. 23 hearing
Niang added that Duterte’s complaints that he is “old, tired, and frail” are irrelevant, again citing the experts’ unanimous conclusion that he “is an unreliable historian in regard to assessment of his health and mental fitness.”
269 dead in 2025 in Marcos ‘bloodless’ drug war
As the Marcos administration continues to flaunt their relative achievements in a “bloodless” drug war—multiple arrests, tons of confiscated illegal drugs—repeatedly left out of these narratives are the still unmitigated violence that is increasingly perpetrated by criminal elements said to be outside the reach of state forces. And again, state agents continue to kill. The “bloodless” drug war continues, and more so, and as before, spills over to innocent civilians. Their increasing death count cannot simply be dismissed as insignificant casualties.
Confirmation hearings to proceed even without Duterte in court, ICC experts say
Update Feb. 20, 2026: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 allows Duterte to skip confirmation hearings next week.“The Chamber, while acknowledging the objections of the Prosecution and the CLRV, considers that, in the present circumstances of the case, it is appropriate to proceed with the hearing on the confirmation of charges in the absence of Mr Duterte.”
Why Unprogrammed Appropriations undermine checks and balances
Unprogrammed Appropriations is defended in the name of efficiency. But efficiency without accountability is not reform—it is risk.UA weakens the separation of powers It tempts the Executive to complete Congress’ work. It encourages the invention of fiscal triggers. And it facilitates opacity and pork.
