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Continue reading →: Herbosa and the DOH: A Multi-Pronged Offensive to Curb the Dengue OutbreakBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo IN THE face of the escalating dengue crisis, Secretary Teodoro Herbosa of the Department of Health (DOH) stands at the forefront, poised to declare what many already sense—a national outbreak. The numbers tell a grim tale: from January 1 to August 3, dengue cases surged…
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Continue reading →: Lawyer’s Houdini Act: Did Alice Guo Really Vanish, or Just Get the Ultimate “Notarization Magic Trick”?By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo IN THE latest episode of “As the Gavel Turns,” we’ve got ourselves a real courtroom thriller starring a lawyer, a fugitive mayor, and a notarization that could make David Copperfield jealous. Elmer Galicia, the intrepid attorney who swears he met the elusive and dismissed Bamban…
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Continue reading →: Divina’s Divine Plan: Bribery on the Beach, Ethics on the RocksBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo IT’S A tale as old as time: a group of prestigious lawyers, who, after years of studying ethics, codes, and the law, suddenly discover that maybe—just maybe—bribing their way to positions of power isn’t in line with the integrity they once swore to uphold. Enter…
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Continue reading →: From Bamban to Bali: How to Slip Past Immigration Like a ProBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo IN A world where the most thrilling escapes typically involve high-stakes heists or dramatic jailbreaks, Alice Guo, the erstwhile Bamban Mayor, has shown us that sometimes, all it takes is a few well-placed favors, a dash of bureaucratic incompetence, and perhaps, just a sprinkle of…
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Continue reading →: The Battle Over a Book: Duterte and Hontiveros Clash in Budget ShowdownBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo IN THE annals of Philippine politics, few figures have generated as much controversy and polarized opinion as Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Risa Hontiveros. Their recent clash over a seemingly innocuous children’s book during the budget hearing of the Office of the Vice President…
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Continue reading →: Duterte vs. Nograles: The High-Stakes Clash Over Mandatory Drug TestingBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo THE arena of Philippine politics is no stranger to power plays and personal rivalries. House Bill No. 10744, proposed by Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, has ignited a controversy that reflects the deep-seated entanglements of power, law, and legacy. The bill, which…
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Continue reading →: The Philippines as Asia’s Ukraine? Unmasking the Geopolitical SpinBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo THE recent surge of narratives positioning the Philippines as “Asia’s Ukraine” is a tale spun by self-styled experts and dubious think tanks, one that teeters precariously between alarming exaggeration and deliberate misinformation. As the report by Internews highlights, these narratives have gained traction following President…
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Continue reading →: South China Sea Collision: A Dangerous Dance in Disputed WatersBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo IN THE early hours of a humid August morning, the waters of the South China Sea—the world’s most contested maritime region—became a theater of perilous maneuvers, as vessels from the Philippines and China collided near the contested Sabina Shoal. The immediate accusations were as predictable…
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Continue reading →: The Muhlach Controversy: A Legal and Ethical Analysis of the GMA Contractors’ Alleged TransgressionsBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo THE recent filing of a rape complaint by actor Sandro Muhlach against GMA Network contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz has brought into sharp focus the murky waters of the Philippine show business industry—a domain that has long been tainted by allegations of sexploitation and…
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Continue reading →: Political Maneuvering or Genuine Graft? The Legal Perils Facing Vico SottoBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo PASIG City Mayor Vico Sotto, a popular figure often hailed for his progressive governance, finds himself once again embroiled in legal battles. The latest complaint, filed on July 30, 2024, accuses Sotto and three other Pasig City officials of graft and violating the Government Procurement…






