How the anti-disinformation bill poses a danger to press freedom

On June 3, 2026, the House of Representatives approved House Bill 9465, also known as the Digital Media Anti-False Information Act, with a vote of 286-3. Principally authored by House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, the president’s eldest son, the bill was designated as a top priority for the administration....

The meaning of “forthwith” in impeachment cases

THE SUPREME Court released its ruling to define a key term in the Constitutional provision on impeachment, interpreting the word “forthwith” to mean “within a reasonable time, which may be longer or shorter, depending on the circumstances of each case.”

Philippine Women Journalists in Numbers

A review of the Cabral case: What the news revealed, what remains unknown

MARIA CATALINA “Cathy” Cabral, Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary had become a familiar face in the media coverage of the alleged anomalies connected to flood control infrastructure in September 2025. Media coverage identified Cabral as a crucial figure in the investigations, presenting the singular role...

Update on Free TV News and Current Affairs Channels in the Philippines

THE FREE-TV news landscape in the Philippines remains dynamic, constituting a mix of long-standing commercial networks, state broadcasters, religious-owned channels, and a growing number of blocktimed programs and digital entrants. The continuing shift to digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB) has given more Filipinos access to a richer diversity of...

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...

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...