Latest
A massacre 15 years on: PCIJ archive videos uncover murder, millions, mansions, and the Ampatuans
The Ampatuans and their associates had 597 bank accounts, 500 hectares of real property assets, 130 motor vehicles, 420 firearms, and a private army many hundreds strong. Their…
By Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism Pcij·November 23, 2024
Bangsamoro
The arguments for and against the postponement of the BARMM polls
A Supreme Court clarification stating that its Sulu ruling cannot be used as a basis to postpone the BARMM elections has not deterred Congress from continuing deliberations on the…
By Guinevere Latoza·November 19, 2024
Bangsamoro
Q&A with Iqbal: ‘It’s more advantageous for us if elections are held in 2025’
MILF's Mohagher Iqbal sits down for an interview with PCIJ executive director Carmela Fonbuena in Cotabato City on November 6. The filing of nominees and candidacies for the May…
By Carmela Fonbuena·November 10, 2024
Bangsamoro
Proposals to delay BARMM polls also seek to change makeup of BTA interim gov’t before May 2025
The proposal has strong backers within the government but also faces many vocal critics. Bangsamoro stakeholders and observers told the Philippine Center for Investigative…
By Carmela Fonbuena·November 10, 2024
BARMM polls
LIST: Nominees of BARMM political parties for the May 2025 parliamentary polls
COTABATO CITY. The candidacy filing for the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) opened on Monday, November 4. At least eight…
By Carmela Fonbuena·November 9, 2024
Bangsamoro
Amid jostling for power in BARMM, a new breed of leaders steps forward. Will they get their chance?
BARMM opens the candidacy filing period for the region’s first regular elections amid calls to postpone the elections in the autonomous region next year. The Bangsamoro Electoral…
By Carmela Fonbuena·November 7, 2024
Bangsamoro
All systems go for BARMM polls despite postponement calls — in photos
It’s all systems go for the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The six-day filing of certificates of candidacy (CoCs) and…
By Guinevere Latoza·November 7, 2024
BARMM polls
Separate BARMM polls estimated to cost between P1B and P3B
Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia said separating the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will cost the government…
By Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism·November 7, 2024
Bangsamoro
LIST: BARMM regional parties accredited for the May 2025 parliamentary elections
(UPDATED) Eight Bangsamoro regional parties have received accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to participate in the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro…
By Guinevere Latoza·November 5, 2024
Bangsamoro
Sulu’s exit shakes up Bangsamoro: 5 scenarios for the 2025 polls
Will the Bangsamoro people finally have the chance to choose their leaders? Here are five scenarios for the 2025 polls, according to stakeholders and experts interviewed by the…
By Guinevere Latoza·November 4, 2024
Data
Political Dynasty Word Hunt
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism’s (PCIJ) own count shows there are at least two dozens of political dynasties seeking to occupy at least five seats each after…
By Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism·October 28, 2024
Congress
5 ways Philippine dynasties are able to stay in power
In the current 19th Congress, 142 district representatives are reelectionists belonging to political dynasties, PCIJ's own count shows. At least 67 others are seeking higher…
By Guinevere Latoza·October 27, 2024
Congress
8 in every 10 district reps belong to dynasties. More than half are reelectionists in 2025
Can Congress be expected to enforce the constitutional prohibition against political dynasties?
By Guinevere Latoza·October 26, 2024
Data
Meet the ‘obese’ political dynasties of the Philippines
At least two dozen political dynasties are aiming for five to 11 seats after May 2025.
By Carmela Fonbuena·October 25, 2024
Bangsamoro
Satellite images show continued displacement in Marawi 7 years after the siege
Images obtained by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) show the disappearance of dense residential and commercial areas along the banks of Lake Lanao.
By Carmela Fonbuena·October 17, 2024
Elections
‘We’re very much worried.’ Concerns raised over poll automation deal with Miru Joint Venture
The Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition (R2KRN) on October 9, 2024 filed a demand letter asking the Miru Joint Venture to disclose its capability to comply with the terms of the…
By Tjburgonio·October 16, 2024
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Spending of 3 Villar senators over 2 decades underscores rising cost of Philippine elections
Former Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. claimed he spent P38.5 million during his first bid for a Senate seat in 2001. Two decades later, his son Mark reported spending more than…
By Elafonbuena·October 16, 2024
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Camille Villar ramps up FB ad spending before COC filing, catches up with Wilbert Lee
The top ad spenders on Facebook are outside the ‘Magic 12’ of the September 2024 Pulse Asia senatorial survey.
By Elafonbuena·October 15, 2024
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
‘There is no premature campaigning in the Philippines’ — in photos
How much have aspiring 2025 candidates and their supporters spent this early? A lot. But they are not under any obligation to report these expenditures yet.
By Edwin Bacasmas For The Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism·October 2, 2024
Bangsamoro
Q&A: ‘Are the people of Sulu winners in SC decision? This remains to be seen.’
The Supreme Court delivered yet another plot twist in a peace process marked by disruptions and surprises. Voting unanimously, the high court’s 15 magistrates excluded Sulu…
By Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism·October 2, 2024
JAC
JAC Statement on the arrest of Cambodian investigative journalist Mech Dara
The Journalists Against Corruption (JAC) expresses alarm and concern over the arrest of our colleague, Cambodian independent journalist Mech Dara. Mech Dara is a crusading…
By Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism·October 1, 2024