Philippines

A Duterte dynasty?
A Duterte dynasty?
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year term is drawing to a close in 2022, and under the current constitution, he isn’t eligible for re-election. Incumbent leaders have…
In the Philippines, a label can take your life
In the Philippines, a label can take your life
A civil war has been going on in the Philippines for over 50 years, waged by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) with the armed guerrillas of the New People’s Army (NPA)…
Reading between the lines: Duterte’s careful South China Sea speech
Reading between the lines: Duterte’s careful South China Sea speech
Since coming to office, President Rodrigo Duterte has largely ignored the 2016 arbitration award made in favour of the Philippines under the United Nations Convention on the Law…
If Duterte likes his human rights record, he can let others look
If Duterte likes his human rights record, he can let others look
President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines addressed the United Nations General Assembly last month, the first time he has done so since he assumed office in 2016…
Duterte’s vaccine promise is a political placebo
Duterte’s vaccine promise is a political placebo
As early as April, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte set a P50 million (A$1.45 million) reward for anyone who comes up with a vaccine for Covid-19. Since then, Duterte has…
The killings in the Philippines grow more brazen
The killings in the Philippines grow more brazen
Earlier this month, days after Manila went back into a hard lockdown due to a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections, unidentified assailants slipped past the Philippine capital’s…
The myth of Rodrigo Duterte’s “independent” foreign policy
The myth of Rodrigo Duterte’s “independent” foreign policy
Rodrigo Duterte assumed the Philippines presidency in 2016 with a promise to promote an “independent” foreign policy. Yet as he detaches the Philippines from the United States,…
In the Philippines, a political dance around constitutional change
In the Philippines, a political dance around constitutional change
The Philippine House of Representatives opened the second regular session of congress last month, with some legislators looking to kick-start the controversial process of amending…
Get behind Southeast Asia with clear policy against China bullies
Commentary
Get behind Southeast Asia with clear policy against China bullies
Originally published in The Australian.
Philippines government driving jeepneys off the road
Philippines government driving jeepneys off the road
After almost four months of lockdown measures due to Covid-19, the Philippines government in June eased restrictions for the majority of the country. But even as public transport…