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Continue reading →: The Taxman Always Wins: Supreme Court Reiterates Civil Liability Despite Criminal AcquittalBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — February 3, 2025 YOU might think that being acquitted of tax evasion means you’re off the hook. Think again. In a recent Supreme Court ruling, a company found not guilty of criminal tax charges still faced hefty penalties for unpaid taxes. The case, People…
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Continue reading →: Digital Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: Unmasking the Philippines’ Online Scam CrisisBy Louis ‘Barok’ C Biraogo — February 3, 2025 THE scene was straight out of a dystopian thriller: assault rifles drawn, agents from the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) stormed into a sleek office in Manila’s Makati financial district. Inside, rows of young Filipinos sat at computers, their screens glowing…
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Continue reading →: A New Standard: How the Supreme Court is Changing the Fight Against Child TraffickingBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — February 2, 2025 WHEN is exploitation not exploitation? The Philippine Supreme Court’s landmark decision in People v. Villaria and Maghirang (G.R. No. 259133, December 4, 2023) shatters any ambiguity: recruiting children for sexual exploitation is human trafficking, regardless of threats or coercion. This ruling…
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Continue reading →: Protecting Filipinos Online: A Legal and Social Analysis of the Anti-Financial Scamming BillBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo – February 2, 2025 THE proposed Anti-Financial Scamming Act, introduced by Senator Mark Villar, aims to combat the rising threat of online financial fraud in the Philippines. While the bill is a commendable effort to modernize the legal framework, it raises significant legal and social…
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Continue reading →: Marcos vs. Rodriguez: The Battle of the StrandsBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — February 2, 2025 JUST when you thought Philippine politics had reached peak absurdity, senatorial candidate Victor Rodriguez has introduced a new plot twist: forensic hairstyling. His latest demand? A hair follicle drug test for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Because apparently, the best way to…
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Continue reading →: Shutdown or Showdown? The High-Stakes Fight Over the 2025 National BudgetBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — February 1, 2025 THE 2025 General Appropriations Act isn’t just another budget bill—it’s a legal and political battlefield that could shake the very foundations of Philippine governance. With allegations of constitutional violations, accusations of backroom dealings, and the looming threat of a government shutdown,…
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Continue reading →: How a US Sanctions Bill Could Shield Duterte and Undermine Global JusticeBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — January 31, 2025 IN THE slums of Manila, thousands of families still mourn loved ones lost to Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal drug war. Now, a controversial US sanctions bill threatens to silence the last hope for justice—not just for Filipinos, but for victims of atrocities…
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Continue reading →: Without Principals, Without Hope: The Dire Shortage of Principals in Philippine Public SchoolsBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — January 31, 2925 HALF of the Philippines’ public schools are missing something crucial: a leader. With no principal to guide them, thousands of schools run on autopilot, forcing overworked teachers to take on duties far beyond their role. In a classroom of 50 students,…
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Continue reading →: A Surge of Hope or a House of Cards? The Philippines’ Record-Breaking Investment Pledges and the Challenges AheadBy Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — January 31, 2025 THE Philippines has just shattered expectations. A mind-blowing P30.156 billion in investment pledges flooded into the country in January 2025—a staggering 1,263% surge from last year. At the center of this economic whirlwind is Tereso O. Panga, the relentless force behind…
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Continue reading →: A Prescription for Change: Can the Philippines Overhaul Its Healthcare System?By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — February 1, 2025 IN THE crowded corridors of Manila’s public hospitals, patients wait for hours—sometimes days—for a bed, a diagnosis, or a lifesaving treatment. For millions of Filipinos, healthcare is not a right but a privilege, accessible only to those who can afford it.…






