Archive - Commentary

It was probably the only airport in the world tied to a dictator’s name, but only anecdotally. Often informally referred to as Hitler’s Airport, its official name was actually the Berlin Tempelhof Airport.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte once described him as a "weak leader" and a "spoiled brat." But as Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. began his six-year term as the country's 17th president, he made several promises and vowed to get things done.

Sara Duterte has indeed served notice that she is now a national power to reckon with – and that she has a fragile ego.

Will the next six years be better or worse for the Filipinos and the Philippines?

Amidst the preparations for the June 30 inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr as the 17th president of the Philippines, I’m still dreadfully in awe of the thoroughness of the brainwashing operations that the Marcos family undertook to achieve their rehabilitation in less than four decades.

On the eve of her ceremonial oath-taking as the country's 15th vice president, outgoing Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the "singular legacy" she wants to leave behind after six years is a permanent residence for future vice presidents.

That is a dangerous question to ask. Given the tyranny of trolls, second-guessing the results of the May 9 elections is like acquiescing to the venom of bashing and hate-language attacks.

The initial list of appointments to the Cabinet of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is a mix of old and new names and faces. Many of them have previously served in the bureaucracy in various capacities with good public service records; a few were tainted by personal scandals.

The office of incoming President Ferdinand " Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced that he is thinking of attending the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September in New York.

Thank God it was recorded on someone’s mobile video. The victim, Christian Joseph Floralde, was seen lying on the road apparently grimacing in pain after a white Toyota RAV4 with plate number NCO3781 had hit him. The SUV stopped, of course, because any driver can feel such an impact from inside the vehicle. But with part of Floralde’s body still underneath the vehicle, the driver proceeded to run over him – and then, vanished.

Imee Marcos trolled. ANC anchor Karen Davila was never ever heard to have said on record that she would leave the Philippines if a Marcos becomes president. Openly and without hesitancy before a national television audience, Imee was purveyor of fake news.

In his insightful piece in Time Magazine on the election as president of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the ousted dictator, scholar Jonathan Ong said: “To fight back, progressive leaders should advance their own counter-narrative and persuasive vision. But first, they must acknowledge their failure to listen.”

More than four months have passed since Congress ratified in haste the proposed "Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act" or the vape bill, but the measure's final copy has yet to reach Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte to either sign or veto it, or to let it lapse into law after 30 days from submission.

It is a first in our election history.

Threats to the practice of journalism will always be around. The best weapon against these threats is ethical and diligent practice of the profession.

Former PCGG Commissioner Ruben Carranza ties Marcos Sr.'s Australian connection with Swiss bank accounts.

The British Broadcasting Corporation, in a 2014 reportage, said that a group of artworks were seized from Imelda Marcos by order of the court. Among these was a painting that art experts and connoisseurs worldwide recognize as Pablo Picasso’s Femme Couchée VI (Reclining Woman).

When he assumes the presidency, Marcos Jr. and his spokesperson cannot simply turn away or completely ignore questions that demand transparency and accountability.