2019.

The Ampatuans were Arroyo’s anointed lieutenants in ARMM, their alliance built largely on largesse. But the cash bonanza that Maguindanao secured from Arroyo failed dismally to…

Nearly nine years ago, the trial for multiple murder of about 200 accused in the Ampatuan Massacre began. Of the 91 arrested suspects, only 81 had been arraigned by 2013, and as…

Until they were charged with the murder of 58 persons on Nov. 23, 2009, the Ampatuans lived in mansions, traveled with a retinue of armed escorts in a convoy of black SUVs, flew…

On Nov. 23, 2009, 58 persons were killed in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province. The victims included 32 journalists and media workers, two lawyers, six motorists passing the same…

Two days after the Ampatuan Massacre occurred on Nov. 23, 2009, a team of journalists, lawyers, and a forensic expert flew to the site to extend immediate humanitarian assistance…

Live coverage would allow families unable to travel to Manila to immediately hear the decision on the 58 counts of murder of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes presiding Judge, Branch 221…

On May 13, 2019, three in every four or 46.9 million of the nation’s total registered voters of 61.8 million cast their ballot. This means, however, that nearly a quarter, or one…

EVERY three years, Filipinos go to the polls to elect local government officials in all the 1,634 cities and municipalities of the 81 provinces of the Philippines. On May 13, 2019…

Whoever steps down among “the Gods of Padre Faura” – and all judges and justices in the Philippines, in fact – gets to take home a stash of cash and a bagful of fancy tokens. But…

One has been chosen but who is the fairest, fittest of them all? Three associate justices of the Supreme Court were nominated to the chief justice’s post. What vision, judicial…

FORMER Maguindanao Governor Andal Salibo Ampatuan Sr. is, as far as his statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) are concerned, a simple farmer. His son Zaldy…

At least one in five victims of drug-related killings in Metro Manila in 2016 and 2017 were beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), our field and database…

PHILIPPINESABRAAGUSAN DEL NORTEAGUSAN DEL SURAKLANALBAYANTIQUEAPAYAOAURORABASILANBATAANBATANESBATANGASBENGUETBILIRANBOHOLBUKIDNONBULACANCAGAYANCAMARINES NORTECAMARINES…

By mid-August this year, the government has already recorded about 230,000 cases of dengue, including 958 fatalities, across the nation. By the numbers of doctors and beds in…

PORK, BEEF, or chicken? If you’re a Filipino, chances are you often have a hard time choosing among the three. Indeed, in the last several decades, Filipinos have become more and…

IN APRIL 2018, the Sangguniang Bayan of the small town of Majayjay in Laguna took action against indiscriminate dumping of waste into its rivers. This formed part of its moves to…

THREE years ago, Maida de los Santos (not her real name) got the shock of her life. The hog-raiser was told she could no longer afford to get feeds on credit. This was because her…

President Duterte has appointed a new election chairman and three commissioners — all of them from Mindanao. By 2022, Comelec will be run entirely by Duterte’s appointees. Mostly…

The procurement woes of the Comelec in the May 2019 elections had a backstory in an audit report the year prior. It continues to pay monthly rental for warehouse services without a…

Problems with procurement, logistics, supply chain management, tight implementation schedules, and bad — really bad — project management. A series of unfortunate events turned the…

Across the Philippines’ 81 provinces, from 30 to over 50 percent of voters failed to vote for party-list groups in May 2019. Many voters missed the names of party-list groups…