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  • Banner collage photo of the Sep 21 Trillion Peso March protests in the Philippines (Photo: Lisa Marie David/Reuters) and a stock image of the Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines

    What the new Ombudsman needs to do to regain the public’s trust

    Despite earlier cautions raised by this blog, Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has been appointed as the new ombudsman. The appointment comes as no surprise,
    Read More
    The Philippines 
  • Banner collage photo of the Mabinay 6 activists Myles Albasin, Carlo Ybañez, Ajomar Indico, Randel Hermino, Joel Baylosis, and Bernard Guillen

    Seven years imprisoned despite innocent: The prosecution (and persecution) of the Mabinay 6

    After seven long years, the so-called “Mabinay 6” are free. The six student activists – Myles Albasin, Randel Hermino, Carlo Ybañes, Joemar Indico, Joey
    Read More
    The Philippines 
  • Banner collage photo of Senator Rodante Marcoleta and Pacifico Curlee Discaya and Sarah Discaya attending a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

    What the Discayas are saying should disqualify them from becoming state witnesses

    Why is Senator Rodante Marcoleta in such a hurry to admit the couple at the center of the Flood Control Scam, Curlee and Sarah
    Read More
    The Philippines 
  • Banner collage photo of Senator Chiz Escudero and Senator Rodante Marcoleta and new Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III.

    The latest Senate coup is good news for those seeking truth in the Flood Control Scam saga

    While all eyes were on the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the Flood Control Scam scandal, a shake-up happened in Congress’ so-called upper
    Read More
    The Philippines 
  • Banner collage photo of the Department of Public Works and Highways building and a flood in Metro Manila Philippines

    Rather than flood control, we need to be worried about “greed control” instead

    When a barrage of typhoons battered the Philippines in July, Filipinos braced for the inevitable flooding. What they did not expect however, was that
    Read More
    The Philippines 
What the new Ombudsman needs to do to regain the public’s trustSeven years imprisoned despite innocent: The prosecution (and persecution) of the Mabinay 6What the Discayas are saying should disqualify them from becoming state witnessesThe latest Senate coup is good news for those seeking truth in the Flood Control Scam sagaRather than flood control, we need to be worried about “greed control” instead

Philippine StoriesView All

Banner collage photo of the Sep 21 Trillion Peso March protests in the Philippines (Photo: Lisa Marie David/Reuters) and a stock image of the Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines

What the new Ombudsman needs to do to regain the public’s trust

October 11, 2025 Louie Encabo Comments Off on What the new Ombudsman needs to do to regain the public’s trust
Banner collage photo of the Mabinay 6 activists Myles Albasin, Carlo Ybañez, Ajomar Indico, Randel Hermino, Joel Baylosis, and Bernard Guillen

Seven years imprisoned despite innocent: The prosecution (and persecution) of the Mabinay 6

September 29, 2025 Louie Encabo Comments Off on Seven years imprisoned despite innocent: The prosecution (and persecution) of the Mabinay 6
Banner collage photo of Senator Rodante Marcoleta and Pacifico Curlee Discaya and Sarah Discaya attending a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

What the Discayas are saying should disqualify them from becoming state witnesses

September 17, 2025 Louie Encabo Comments Off on What the Discayas are saying should disqualify them from becoming state witnesses

Investigate DuterteView All

Banner collage photo of protesters at a candlelight vigil for victims of extrajudicial killings and former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Investigate Duterte The Philippines 

Rodrigo Duterte was afforded something his victims were not — due process

March 15, 2025 Louie Encabo Comments Off on Rodrigo Duterte was afforded something his victims were not — due process
Banner collage photo of the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands and a photo of former president Rodrigo Duterte
Investigate Duterte The Philippines 

Why Rodrigo Duterte needs to face justice

March 10, 2025 Louie Encabo Comments Off on Why Rodrigo Duterte needs to face justice
Banner collage photo Inday Sara Duterte and Rodrigo Duterte and a stock image of the Philippine Army headquarters.
Investigate Duterte The Philippines 

The Duterte crime family and their supporters must be arrested for inciting to sedition

November 27, 2024 Louie Encabo Comments Off on The Duterte crime family and their supporters must be arrested for inciting to sedition
Banner collage photo of Department of Justice Philippines building and former president Rodrigo Duterte at the QuadComm hearing.
Investigate Duterte The Philippines 

Enough with the Congressional hearings, it’s time to bring Rodrigo Duterte to the Dept of Justice

November 16, 2024 Louie Encabo Comments Off on Enough with the Congressional hearings, it’s time to bring Rodrigo Duterte to the Dept of Justice

New Zealand StoriesView All

Banner collage photo of Shane Jones and Kermadec Islands New Zealand

The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary meant relinquishing our own marine resources, now the Government has scrapped it

March 28, 2024 Eric Lomas Comments Off on The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary meant relinquishing our own marine resources, now the Government has scrapped it
John Tamihere Māori Television Whakaata Māori Te Pāti Māori Shane Taurima Winston Peters Royal Commission of Inquiry into Media Bias

Māori Television controversy proves Winston Peters is right about media bias

December 9, 2023 Eric Lomas Comments Off on Māori Television controversy proves Winston Peters is right about media bias
New Zealand Election 2023 post-mortem collage photo stock photo ballot box and The Beehive with NZ flag and Tino Rangatiratanga flag in the foreground.

Election 2023: A referendum on co-governance and law and order

October 19, 2023 Louie Encabo Comments Off on Election 2023: A referendum on co-governance and law and order

International SolidarityView All

The key points from Al Jazeera’s documentary on Chinese spy She Zhijiang and CCP espionage in Southeast Asia

The key points from Al Jazeera’s documentary on Chinese spy She Zhijiang and CCP espionage in Southeast Asia

September 30, 2024 Louie Encabo Comments Off on The key points from Al Jazeera’s documentary on Chinese spy She Zhijiang and CCP espionage in Southeast Asia
Banner photo collage of Karapatan Philippines protest against aerial bombings and Lumad bakwit evacuees.

International Humanitarian Law: Why even wars have rules

May 19, 2024 Louie Encabo Comments Off on International Humanitarian Law: Why even wars have rules
Labour union movement International Workers Day workers rights

Today, we thank the unions

May 1, 2023 Louie Encabo 1
Cynthia Villar, Rodrigo Duterte and Alan Peter Cayetano
The Philippines 
May 28, 2019

With the Liberals nearly wiped out, will the Nacionalista Party be the next big hurdle for the Duterte administration?

Posted By: Louie Encabo 2691 Views alan peter cayetano, cynthia villar, featured, Liberal Party of the Philippines, nacionalista party, rodrigo duterte

Coming off a resounding victory in the May 2019 elections, the Duterte administration has now found itself short of recognized enemies in Philippine politics.

Read more
Elliot Ikilei, Brian Tamaki and Alfred Ngaro
New Zealand 
May 24, 2019May 24, 2019

Will the “Christian conservative” strategy work?

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1842 Views alfred ngaro, brian tamaki, destiny church, elliot ikilei, featured, new conservative party, new zealand national party

Sensing opportunity in the 2020 general elections, “Bishop” Brian Tamaki of the controversial Destiny Church has announced the creation of his new political vehicle

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Sara Duterte raising the hand of Bong Revilla
The Philippines 
May 21, 2019May 21, 2019

Frustrated by Bong Revilla’s (likely) success? Blame those who endorsed him

Posted By: Louie Encabo 2771 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, Bong Revilla, featured, hugpong ng pagbabago, pork barrel scam, sara duterte

(At the time of writing, Bong Revilla holds the 11th position but with many votes yet to be counted.) Many were in disbelief, a

Read more
Rodrigo Duterte close-up
The Philippines 
May 16, 2019May 18, 2019

What the outcome of the 2019 Senate elections mean for the Philippines

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1776 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, featured, rodrigo duterte

Before the 2019 Philippine mid-term elections, political analyst Richard Heydarian predicted that the upcoming polls would be a “referendum on the Duterte presidency”. By

Read more
Mar Roxas, Nancy Binay and Bam Aquino collage
Editor's Notes The Philippines 
April 25, 2019April 25, 2019

Why I am reluctantly voting for 4 “TraPos”

Posted By: Louie Encabo 2398 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, bam aquino, featured, Mar Roxas, nancy binay, serge osmena

Any patriotic Filipino voter would be greatly disappointed by the results of the recent May 2019 election surveys, which if brought into fruition would

Read more
China artificial islands in Spratlys and Philippine giant clams
The Philippines 
April 24, 2019

Why I’m Voting (part 4): We need to preserve our natural resources

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1614 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, featured

This is part 4 of an eight-part series covering the issues that will help me decide who I’m voting for in the May 2019

Read more
Sal Panelo and Bikoy Matrix
The Philippines 
April 23, 2019

Can we trust the Government’s intelligence reports?

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1750 Views Association Matrix Between BIKOY and ELLEN TORDESILLAS, destabilization plot, featured, intelligence gathering, rodrigo duterte

After threatening to release intelligence reports that will implicate his political rivals for an alleged black propaganda against him, allies of President Rodrigo Duterte’s

Read more
Drug war casualty and Imelda Marcos
The Philippines 
April 22, 2019April 24, 2019

Why I’m Voting (part 3): The rich and powerful are avoiding the justice system

Posted By: Louie Encabo 2293 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, Bong Revilla, featured, imelda marcos, jinggoy estrada, pork barrel scam

This is part 3 of an eight-part series covering the issues that will help me decide who I’m voting for in the May 2019

Read more
Stop killing farmers protest photo
The Philippines 
April 21, 2019April 21, 2019

Why I’m Voting (part 2): Our farmers deserve better

Posted By: Louie Encabo 2411 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, agriculture in the philippines, featured, rice tariffication law, war on farmers

This is part 2 of an eight-part series covering the issues that will help me decide who I’m voting for in the May 2019

Read more
Plastic waste pollution in the Philippines
The Philippines 
April 20, 2019

Why I’m Voting (part 1): The Philippines has a plastic waste problem

Posted By: Louie Encabo 2110 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, environment, featured, marine pollution, plastic waste problem

This is part 1 of an eight-part series covering the issues that will help me decide who I’m voting for in the May 2019

Read more

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  • Golf on The latest Senate coup is good news for those seeking truth in the Flood Control Scam saga
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  • George LaFleur on The case of Alice Guo: How raiding a human trafficking ring uncovered a possible Chinese “sleeper agent” in the Philippines
  • Dee Soto on No intelligence: The many problems with Sara Duterte’s confidential funds
  • Capt Jack on Today, we thank the unions
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