When former House Speaker Gloria Arroyo announced her retirement from politics before the 2019 elections, no one anticipated how big a power vacuum she
The Philippines
The Facebook crackdown all but confirms the Duterte regime’s direct involvement in spreading fake news
Facebook recently announced the removal of almost 200 fake accounts for violating its so-called ‘coordinated inauthentic behaviour’ (CIB) policy. This rule cracks down on
Why the Duterte Regime could be much worse than the Marcos era
It has been 48 years since President Ferdinand Marcos placed the entire Philippines under martial law in 1972. The decade that followed saw a
Pemberton’s release shows Duterte’s “anti-Americanism” is all rhetoric, no substance
A cornerstone of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is his so-called “independent foreign policy“. As a former American colony, the Philippines’ relationship with the United
Philippines: Remembering the ‘Desaparecidos’
August 30th is remembered each year as the International Day of the Disappeared. This day draws attention to the countless examples of forced disappearances
Philippines: Duterte’s borrowing spree hasn’t alleviated the impacts of COVID-19
The Duterte administration is on a borrowing spree as it aims to cushion the blow of the COVID-19 pandemic. National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon
Philippines: Under the Duterte government, being red-tagged is a death sentence
Not long after the assassination of peace consultant Randy Echanis on August 10th, another activist is killed under the Duterte Regime. Zara Alvarez, a
Philippines: Heightening fascism is slowly unraveling, weeks after the passage of the Anti-Terror Law
Only a few weeks after the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Law, the expected crackdown on anti-government activists has stepped up. The draconian legislation would
Philippines: PhilHealth is ailing with a virus called ‘corruption’ and it is facing near demise
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic afflicting tens of thousands of Filipinos, the officials of national insurance company – PhilHealth – are showing symptoms of a
![Protesters march on the streets of the capital city, Manila, to express opposition against the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill. [Photo from PAMALAKAYA Web]](https://thedefiant.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/104216495_747982836004215_7166561714749197461_o-715x400.jpg)
Philippines: Even before the Anti-Terrorism Bill is signed into law, the online crackdown of activists has already begun
“Attack of the Clones” isn’t just the title of the 2002 release of the Star Wars franchise, it has also become the reality for