THEY have been criticized for sometimes losing their old bite, but there’s no stopping various election watchdog organizations from being part of the upcoming May polls. With the planned automation of the 2010 elections, though, the role of the poll...

ronie perante jr. weeps at the grave of his father, ronie sr. by Justine Espina Letargo THE prosecution considers his testimony crucial to its case against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who stands accused in the November 23 mass murder of 57...

CIVIL-society organizations come in all shapes and sizes, but perhaps the most important attribute to distinguish them from each other is partisanship. While it is a given that these organizations are politically active, they could choose to be...

SHOULD we just stick to watching basketball and boxing instead of going to the polls this May? After all, according to former health undersecretary Mario Taguiwalo, the electoral process in the Philippines is “a game with immature players and weak...

by Justine Espina-Letargo From Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, to the lawyers of both the prosecution and the defense panels, down to the relatives of the victims of the November 23 massacre, all appeared resolute on the first day of what is expected to be...

by Ed Lingao JUST a few weeks after the Maguindanao massacre, thin and frail-looking Margie Pusanso came knocking on the door of Freddie Solinap, publisher of the Koronadal-based weekly Periodico Ini, to ask for her old job back. Margie had worked...

WITH just nine session days to go before the 14th Congress adjourns for the May 2010 elections, leaders of over 100 media and nongovernment organizations urged lawmakers to pass with dispatch the Freedom of Information Act, as a first step to enabling the...