In Context Archives

Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial: Delayed by design

THE IMPEACHMENT of Vice President Sara Duterte is the first in Philippine history. The House of Representatives impeached the second highest official of the land on the grounds of “betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption and other high crimes.”

Shabu at sea: Rising pattern calls for media attention and scrutiny

IN RECENT weeks, The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other law government agencies have picked up large quantities of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) from coastal waters and beaches in several provinces, raising serious concerns about a maritime-based drug trafficking network operating in the country.

Voice of the people on VP’s impeachment: No to dismissal, no to delays

CONCERNS CONTINUE to grow over the Senate’s prolonged inaction on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. More than four months have passed since the House of Representatives transmitted the articles of impeachment, but the Senate has yet to begin the trial, building up frustration among a leading...

Violence on the vote: Can there be democracy at gunpoint?

THE 2025 MIDTERM elections in the Philippines were generally hailed as a triumph of democratic participation. News outlets noted the “orderly” polls in urban centers, the visible enthusiasm of young voters, and a renewed sense of civic engagement.

Campaign jingles and the sound of misogyny

CAMPAIGN JINGLES add to the fun of elections in the Philippines, with some staying fixed in the mind long after election day. Not having a catchy tune or clever lyrics sets back the candidate, who must draw on other factors to keep their name in voters’ minds.

THE STATE OF MEDIA FREEDOM IN THE PHILIPPINES 2025

THE STATE of media freedom in the Philippines presents the continuing paradox of a libertarian legal framework that protects freedom of expression and press freedom amid forces hostile to the objectives of journalism to create a truly informed community. Historic disruptions have affected the growth of the press in...

Sexism on the campaign trail: Can COMELEC’s rules rein in misogynistic candidates?

SEXISM AND outright misogynism have shown up the lack of reform in the campaign discourse for May 2025 elections, prompting urgent calls to check the trend and to hold politicians accountable.

Blood on the Ballots: Political violence and the Philippine Vote

ELECTION-RELATED violence continues to haunt the democratic exercise in the country, a reality that authorities expect to worsen with the official start of the local campaign period on March 28, 2025. Historically, conflict-prone areas have been noted as “hotspots,” undermining the prospect of free and fair elections.

Election-Related Killings receive scant media attention

VIOLENCE CONTINUES to hound Philippine elections raising questions about the integrity of this fundamental exercise. Since the filing of certificates of candidacies (COCs) in October 2024 until February 17, CMFR counted 29 attacks reported in the media, with seven cases in October, four in November, four in December, 8...

Unpacking SWS’ self-rated poverty, official poverty stats

THE FINDINGS of public opinion polls are newsworthy. These are consistently given prominent time and space by the media, as the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey findings on self-rated poverty (SRP) received in recent coverage. Released on January 8, these revealed 63 percent, or 17.4 million Filipino families,...