Archive - Commentary

She had a humble beginning that is the stuff of star-success tales.

In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte said, "I assure you, this will be a clean government... You know, ako makagarantiya (I can guarantee), 101% it will be clean."

That was the marvel of social media. Tomas “Buddy” Gomez III and I never had the pleasure of meeting, but we communicated fairly often to exchange views on the state of our country. Albeit separated by the Atlantic, we agreed to embark on what he had thought was a small but momentous mission of unfinished history.

It is an irony when Dumaguete city lands on the national consciousness, but for the wrong reasons.

It was a devastation that happened forty-seven years ago that today hardly flickers in the memories of many Filipinos. But as always, there are carriers of memories who are sustained by time despite the pain and the agony of remembering.

The bitter power struggle within the top leadership of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) should serve as a warning to voters about potential candidates who do not deserve to get elected.

Apart from unmasking the existence of the Davao Death Squad, self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato had also introduced the name of Arturo Lascañas. In the private interview he gave after Rodrigo Duterte had won the presidency in 2016, when he was no longer in the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program, Matobato described the dominance that Lascañas had enjoyed in the DDS hierarchy.

The Supreme Court has affirmed the life term meted out on employers Anna Liza and Reynold Marzan who had physically abused Bonita Baran, a housemaid from Catanduanes.

One faction in the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) claims there is a “huge clamor” for President Rodrigo Duterte to run for vice president in next year’s elections in order “to continue (his) agenda of change” and his administration’s 10-point economic program.

Former foreign secretary Roberto R. Romulo is supposed to take things easy for health reasons.

There was an element of surprise in the June 14 announcement of former International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. In her request for authorization for an investigation on Rodrigo Duterte, a scope was added. It had been understood that this was a complaint for crimes against humanity of murder committed in the context of the war on drugs, therefore beginning with the Duterte presidency on July 1, 2016.

The verbal tussle between President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao is not bad at all. They should be encouraged to go on with the exchange in order that we would know them better.

Boxing champ and Sen. Manny Pacquiao and President Rodrigo Duterte used to be allies.

I read with amusement and disappointment retired Justice Antonio Carpio’s 1 July 2021 piece in the Inquirer. Let me take this opportunity to point out falsehoods and inaccuracies in his story, and tell the nation a few facts about this interesting case.

While campaigning, or even during official public events, Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III did not kiss the Philippine flag to show his respect and love for the country. He raised it with dignity by his actions to earn the respect of the international community.

Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao wants to run for president in the 2022 elections. But based on his stated plans for the country, he seemingly has the illusion of becoming a superhero instead.

After a 10-year hiatus, Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. is trying to make a political comeback by offering himself up as a vice-presidential running mate to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, one of the administration's potential contenders for president in next year's elections.

Last Friday afternoon, June 11, I got a call from an unidentified number while I was attending a VERA Files activity. The caller introduced himself as “Bishop Ted Bacani.”