Archive - Commentary

President Rodrigo Duterte has come under heavy criticism for keeping Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Morales despite serious doubts on their competence amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

The disclosure of the new Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Gilbert Gapay, about his plan to include the use of social media in the implementation of the Anti-Terror Act (ATA) is a grave warning on the danger of this law.

President Duterte was a pathetic figure last Sunday during his televised response to the appeal of health workers for a “time out” to assess the government’s strategy in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis which they said was “failing miserably.”

President Rodrigo Duterte scored a point with the medical community by agreeing, although grudgingly, to revert to stricter quarantine, but he quickly lost more by ranting against health workers.

The health workers’ appeal for a “time out” to assess the government’s response to the Covid-19 crisis was a stinging indictment of its failure to competently address the problem even with a severe four -month lockdown.

President Duterte said he is ïnutil” when it comes to dealing with China.

Doubts that were raised in reaction to news reports about the death of nine high-profile inmates of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa due to Covid-19 reflect on the zero credibility of the agency that has been embroiled in a number of scandals, the most recent of which was the “freedom for sale” scheme.

From the outset, the administration gave signals that we shouldn’t raise our expectations. That July 15, 2016 memorandum from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea is highly observed not only within the executive department,but also in the legislature and judiciary.

It is heartening to see members media in the country come together raising their voices (and their fists, I imagine) against the assault to press freedom and democracy by 70 members of the House of Representatives who voted to deny the broadcast giant ABS-CBN of a new franchise

Sayang, that the Social Weather Stations released its survey on the sentiments of adult Filipinos on the ABS-CBN franchise the day after 70 members the House committee on legislative franchises voted to deny it. Only 11 showed clear thinking and voted against the despicable resolution.

Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla said ABS-CBN “played up” his blunder during the July 1 hearing on the media giant’s bid for another 25-year franchise where TV cameras caught him writing a note while the Philippine National Anthem was being played.

During the last two and a half decades, I have been travelling to the Palais des Nations in Geneva to participate in human rights sessions, deliver interventions, and lobby states on human rights concerns.I would never have believed that I should see the UN session hall almost empty as it was during the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which opened on 30th June 2020.Participation was online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.