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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
The Philippines 
July 16, 2018July 28, 2018

We Need to Talk About Bong Go’s Ubiquitous Displays of Ambition

Posted By: Louie Encabo 2599 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, bong go, featured, rodrigo duterte

Before becoming the ill-famed, controversial head-of-state he is known globally today, there was a time when President Rodrigo Duterte almost decided not to contest

Read more
The Philippines 
June 19, 2018

The Selling-Out of Harry Roque

Posted By: Louie Encabo 4434 Views featured, harry roque, rodrigo duterte

During a press briefing with members of the Malacanang Press Corps (MPC) on the 18th of June, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was asked by

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New Zealand Sports, Culture, and Religion 
June 17, 2018August 28, 2019

Is it time for a World Cup Down Under?

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1710 Views Australia, featured, fifa world cup, new zealand

As announced before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup last Friday, the 2026 edition of the prestigious sporting event will be hosted

Read more
The Philippines 
June 13, 2018

Three Brilliant Minds We Need at the Senate

Posted By: Louie Encabo 3644 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, chel diokno, featured, florin hilbay, katrina legarda

One theory for the continuing social ills in the Philippines is the ill-informed voting habits that Filipinos succumb to. It is evident that during

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The Philippines 
June 12, 2018June 12, 2018

We celebrate Independence Day, why don’t we strive to preserve it also?

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1679 Views featured, independence day philippines, rodrigo duterte

This year’s Independence Day celebrations is its 120th edition, a milestone year since an independent Philippines was formally declared on the balcony of General

Read more
The Philippines 
June 11, 2018

It’s Time to Elect Candidates on Merit, Rather than Name Recognition

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1363 Views 2019 philippine senatorial elections, featured, philippine senatorial elections

The scenes we witness election after election is always the same: political advertisements dominate television airtime, the radio waves constantly play catchy campaign jingles

Read more
New Zealand 
June 5, 2018June 7, 2018

It’s time we #ProtectTheProtectors

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1436 Views darroch ball, featured, new zealand first

It’s an understatement to say that first responders have their work cut out for them.

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Editor's Notes 
June 2, 2018June 7, 2018

Kiwipinos Converge for the Annual Philippine Festival

Posted By: Louie Encabo 2474 Views featured, Filipinos in New Zealand, Kiwipino

It’s a daunting task to leave the comforts of your own country of origin to migrate to a foreign country, whose culture is entirely

Read more
The Philippines 
June 1, 2018June 7, 2018

Perhaps it is time to #BringBackMIA

Posted By: Louie Encabo 1670 Views featured, larry gadon, manila international airport, ninoy aquino, ninoy aquino international airport

Buoyed by his success in removing former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno from her post, lawyer and staunch ally of President Duterte, Larry Gadon,

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The Philippines 
June 1, 2018June 7, 2018

Meet Larry Gadon and Ferdie Topacio: the two lawyers behind Duterte’s power grab

Posted By: Louie Encabo 5949 Views featured, ferdie topacio, larry gadon, maria lourdes sereno, rodrigo duterte, volunteers against crime and corruption

President Duterte’s dictatorial ambitions were finally realized on Friday, the 11th of May, after his allies successfully ousted the Chief Justice of the Supreme

Read more

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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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