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Continue reading →: Gordon’s Crusade: The Hunt for the ‘Big Fish’ in the Pharmally CaseBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C Biraogo — September 1, 2024 IMAGINE you’re trying to clean up a mess, but you only manage to catch the little bits of debris while the big, messy stuff remains untouched. That’s the situation in the Philippines, where the Pharmally case, a scandal involving the government’s…
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Continue reading →: “Shimenet”: The Term That Broke the Internet and the BudgetHAVE you heard of “Shimenet”? No, it’s not a secret government program, a new flavor of ice cream, or a hidden island paradise. It’s the latest meme sensation sweeping the Philippines, thanks to an unexpected gaffe by Vice President Sara Duterte during a budget hearing. Turns out, even the hallowed…
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Continue reading →: Bargaining with Power: Quiboloy’s Demand and the Rule of LawBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — August 31, 2024 HOW can a nation grappling with the complexities of faith, power, and justice reconcile the image of a revered spiritual leader with accusations of heinous crimes? This is the question at the heart of the case against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, once…
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Continue reading →: Sara Duterte’s Confidential Fund Controversy: Is Impeachment on the Horizon?By Louis ‘Barok’ C Biraogo — August 31, 2024 CAN a Vice President spend millions of pesos in secret, without facing consequences? That’s the question at the heart of the brewing storm in the House of Representatives, where Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. France Castro has accused Vice President Sara…
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Continue reading →: The Lifeline Teachers Desperately Need: Will House Bill 10270 Deliver?By Louis ‘Barok‘ C Biraogo — August 30, 2024 PICTURE a teacher, standing before a sea of eager faces, their passion for education burning bright. But behind that passion, there’s a growing sense of frustration, a gnawing feeling of being undervalued and underpaid. This is the reality for many public…
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Continue reading →: The Complex Case Against Duque and Lao: Analyzing the P41-Billion COVID-19 Procurement ControversyBy Louis ‘Barok’ C Biraogo — August 30, 2024 CAN billions of pesos meant for pandemic relief disappear without a trace? That’s the question at the heart of the graft charges against former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and former Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher…
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Continue reading →: The ICC Warrant Debate: A Legal Tug-of-War Between Remulla and GuevarraBy Louis ‘Barok’ C Biraogo — August 30, 2024 CAN the International Criminal Court (ICC) really hold the Philippines accountable for alleged crimes against humanity? That’s the question at the heart of the ongoing legal debate surrounding the ICC’s authority to issue and enforce arrest warrants in the Philippines. At…
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Continue reading →: The Greatest Show in Manila: The Budget Circus of 2025By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — August 29, 2024 PREPARE to be dazzled! The Philippine Budget Circus is back, and this year, it’s bigger, bolder, and more outrageous than ever before. The executive branch is pulling out all the stops, showering our esteemed lawmakers with money like confetti, and using…
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Continue reading →: The Department of Agriculture’s Coconut Comeback Plan: Planting Dreams, Harvesting DelusionsBy Louis ‘Barok’ C Biraogo — August 29, 2024 HAS THE Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) finally discovered a way to make coconuts grow faster than political promises? The DA, with its usual flair for bold proclamations and elusive results, is vowing to restore the Philippines to its former coconut…
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Continue reading →: No Escape: Teves’ Legal Gambit Fails as Timor-Leste Upholds Extradition to the PhilippinesBy Louis ‘Barok’ C Biraogo — August 29, 2024 CAN A politician accused of murder outrun justice? That’s the question at the heart of the ongoing legal saga involving former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo Teves, who is facing multiple counts of murder and frustrated murder, including the high-profile…






