In Context Archives | Page 4 of 12

A week of cases: Legal actions cast more doubt on ‘dangerous’ anti-terror law

THE ANTI-TERRORISM Act (ATA) is one of the most contested laws in Philippine history. Since it was signed into law in 2020, the ATA has been repeatedly challenged before the Supreme Court. This week, the law continued to hog the headlines of some of the media.

Media Ignore the Pattern of Political Violence

WHEN THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) released a statement on September 12 raising concerns about the spate of attacks against officials in the run-up to the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30, it barely scratched the surface of the increasing violence.

A week of ‘isolated cases’: Teenager’s killing fits pattern of police misconduct

THE NAVOTAS City police, in an apparent attempt to mollify public outcry over the killing of another teenager, described the killing of Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar on August 2 as an “isolated case.”

2024 bad-get? Media spotlight questionable funds

THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) submitted on August 2 the first full-year budget of the Marcos administration valued at PHP5.768 trillion. The 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to the House of Representatives showed an increase of 9.5 percent from the 2023 national budget.

He said, they said: The ‘state of the nation’ according to Marcos, media

“IN MY heart, I know that the state of the nation is sound and is improving. Dumating na po ang bagong Pilipinas (The new Philippines has arrived.)”

Duterte’s ‘strange and unprecedented’ China visit: Media and public in the dark

DAYS AFTER the controversial July 17 visit of former president Rodrigo Duterte to China, many details remain unclear. Made known to the public through Chinese media coverage, even the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was caught off-guard, telling reporters it did “not have official information on the visit of...

Media’s notable coverage of Mayon unrest

AUTHORITIES RAISED Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 3 on June 8 after it showed an increased likelihood of hazardous eruption and potential explosion within weeks or even days.

The perniciousness of political violence

POLITICALLY MOTIVATED killings easily grab headlines. In the Philippines, these have been disturbingly frequent. The assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo – so far one of the biggest stories in 2023 -- proves this.

The peace talks, then and now

ANOTHER CHAPTER looms in the on-again off-again peace talks between the government and communist insurgents. Given the long history of peace negotiations, journalists should provide background and context to reports of current developments.

People’s feedback on De Lima’s acquittal

THE ACQUITTAL of Leila de Lima on May 12 was met with public approval, promptly expressed by Filipinos coming from such diverse backgrounds as to mirror the public mood as well as the current state of Philippine politics. It would be foolish for the government not to listen to...