EDSA spirit soars at 40
Forty years have passed. There were times when the EDSA spirit seemed to have waned. But the celebration on Wednesday showed the desire for freedom and democracy is deep and strong among us.
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The compelling poetry of Joel Butuyan’s ICC presentation
By the time Butuyan concluded, there were not a few dry eyes in the gallery. He had articulated to a T the general public sentiment of the Duterte case in the ICC. We in the gallery were momentarily suspended in a state of disbelief.
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.
Day 2 of confirmation of charges hearing: Prosecution details killings, victims warn of ‘plague of impunity’
Prosecutors played video clips and cited transcripts of Duterte’s speeches in which he issued his “kill, kill” orders, promised to shield police from prosecution and assured them they would not go to jail for actions taken in the drug war.
Day 1 of confirmation of charges hearing: 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.
‘Duterte Panagutin’
‘Yan ang sigaw ng mga kamag-anak ng mga biktima ng extrajudicial killings noong ipinatupad ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang kanyang madugong war on drugs o giyera laban sa droga, habang hinihintay nila ang confirmation hearings sa International Criminal Court sa The Hague, Netherlands.
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.
ICC judge to Duterte’s counsel: Focus on substance, not theatrics
Presiding Judge Iulia Antonella Motoc to Nicholas Kaufman: The Chamber, therefore, urges the Defence to place substance over stylistic and theatrical formulation.
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
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.
