by Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
WITH STILL no new government as of early May 2019, free speech in Thailand continues to be restricted by special laws imposed by the military junta, officially known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which seized power from an elected civilian government in May 2014.Specifically cited by the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) […]
BY ALL indications, President Rodrigo R. Duterte has no love lost for independent and critical media.In about two dozen times in his 34 months in office, he has openly expressed his displeasure and disaffection, and in rancorous prose called journalists names and foisted threats both veiled and naked against certain media agencies.In his own words, […]
IN the last 34 months under President Rodrigo R. Duterte, cases and incidents of attacks and threats on the Philippine media continue relentlessly, with hardly any major efforts at investigation or solution by responsible state agencies.To mark World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday, May 3, the “Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network” released its […]
by Sheila S. Coronel
Bobi Tiglao used to understand that. And used to think it was a good thing.A long time ago, when we were young and foolish, Malou Mangahas and I were booted out of The Manila Chronicle for standing up for Bobi Tiglao.We had wanted Bobi to succeed Amando Doronila as editor of the newspaper. We thought […]
By Floreen Simon and Malou Mangahas IN THE May 2019 elections, not just two but all three children of President Rodrigo R. Duterte by estranged spouse Elizabeth A. Zimmerman are running. But unlike those of many other candidates, their clan coffers won’t be running empty. In fact, these are probably going to end up largely […]
Statement of Journalists and Media Organizations on the Duterte Administration’s List of Alleged “Narco Politicians” WE, JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, express grave concern about the likely breach of professional ethics and adverse legal implications of the publication and broadcast of the Duterte Administration’s list of public officials allegedly involved in the illegal-drugs trade.The list reportedly enrolls […]
Money and the May 2019 Elections
by The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
A “PROMOTIONAL TOUCHPOINT.” That, in advertising and PR parlance, is what social media apparently looks like to candidates for senator in the May 2019 elections, and they have been using it as such even ahead of the official 90-day campaign period, which started last Tuesday.Because the use — and even abuse — of social media […]
Money and the May 2019 Elections
by Malou Mangahas
TO THE last, they have pledged to fight poverty and corruption, promote health and education, protect the environment, and serve the poor who make up a majority of over 60 million registered voters.Yet while politics may divide them, money, apparent access to state funds and facilities, and donations from private pockets and public coffers that […]
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| Posted Wednesday, February 13th, 2019
Money and the May 2019 Elections
UNDER ELECTION laws, they were not yet officially considered to be candidates, and therefore not yet incurring campaign expenditures, until after the official campaign period had started.But under anti-graft and anti-corruption laws, several candidates in the May 2019 elections may be unable to escape legal liability for incurring millions of pesos of pre-campaign ads.Indeed, incumbents, […]
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| Posted Wednesday, February 13th, 2019
by Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition
WE LOOK BACK to two years ago when hopes were high –- for order, for rule of law, for discipline, for transparency, for accountable governance. With the rise of the President who held sway over our legislators and even had as one of his first official issuances an executive order that operationalized accessing information held […]