A billionaire businessman and political fundraiser linked to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has wrested control of the broadcast frequencies used by the country’s largest television network ABS-CBN before the government forced it to close, raising concern about a further erosion of media freedom.The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said in a statement on Tuesday that it had granted Manuel Villar’s company, Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) a “provisional authority” t

Filipino citizens were once again let down with disheartening news. On 30 December 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the funding of a Human Rights Institute in the Philippines.

The Philippine government has banned unvaccinated residents of the capital Manila and surrounding districts from public transport amid a new surge of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.In an order published on Wednesday, the country’s transport secretary, Arthur Tugade, said the “no vaccination, no ride” policy covers all domestic public transport to, from and within Metro Manila.Operators of public transport, including land, air and sea, “shall allow access or issue tickets only to fu

Last week, while many were welcoming 2021 and bidding farewell to the dreaded 2020, a tragedy occurred in a grand hotel in Makati City in the Philippines.Christine Angelica Dacera checked in at the City Garden, a four-star hotel to celebrate New Year’s Eve with her friends.However, on 1 January, 2021, the 23-year-old flight attendant at Philippines Airlines was found unconscious in the bathtub of a hotel room.According to media reports, one of her friends, Rommel Galido woke up around 10:00 a

Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, this year's co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, on Wednesday urged fellow reporters to defend their rights in order not to lose them to "authoritarian-style leaders and budding dictators.""It has become incredibly hard and far more dangerous for every one of us," Ressa told reporters awaiting her arrival at Oslo's airport ahead of Friday's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, where she will be honoured alongside Dmitry Muratov of Ru

Google will stop carrying election ads in the Philippines ahead of the May 2022 presidential vote, the internet giant said Wednesday, similar to action it has taken in the United States (US).Alarm has been raised in recent years by governments and election watchdogs over the use of targeted political advertising, especially disinformation campaigns to sway voters.The updated policy goes into effect on 8 February, covering ads on Google, YouTube and its other platforms including shopping.&quot

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has suspended its investigation into suspected rights abuses committed under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" following a request from Manila.The Hague-based court in September authorised a probe of the campaign that has left thousands of people dead, saying it resembled an illegitimate and systematic attack on civilians.Duterte was elected in 2016 on a campaign promise to get rid of the Philippines' drug problem,

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday filed to contest the Senate elections next year, seeking a way to remain in politics while facing an international probe into his deadly drug war.Duterte, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second six-year term, submitted his candidacy at the Commission on Elections office, minutes before a deadline to join the race. A lawyer submitted the paperwork on behalf of the president, according to documents seen by AFP, quelling spec

Philippines "First Daughter" Sara Duterte joined a new political party Thursday, fuelling speculation she will make a late entry into the presidential race in a bid to succeed her father.Supporters of the Davao city mayor have been clamouring for her to run for the country's highest office, but she has insisted that she was not interested in replacing President Rodrigo Duterte.But her sudden withdrawal Tuesday from the 2022 mayoral contest suggested she had changed her mind.On

A great deal of media attention both locally and internationally has been paid not only to President Rodrigo Duterte’s colourful, blunt, and impassioned statements but to his controversial “war on illegal drugs”. However, despite Duterte’s baffling and bamboozling personality, he no doubt has successfully won the hearts and minds of Filipinos, not necessarily because his presidency has been near perfect, but because Filipinos have faith that he possesses critical leadership and authe