Journalism Review Archives

Duterte in the ICC: Much more than a legal case

CHEERS TO Rappler and Bulatlat for doing more than just cite statements of official sources in their coverage of the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Earthquake in Cebu: Coverage includes scientific information about the nature of the quake

A 6.9 MAGNITUDE strong earthquake shook the northern parts of Cebu province on the evening of Tuesday, September 30, its epicenter in Bogo City. The record of damage and loss so far includes 74 fatalities, 559 injuries, and 209,972 affected families reeling in the aftermath. Media reports estimated damage...

Philippine flood-control scandal: Official neglect of people’s lives

IT WAS only in September 2025 that the fraudulent use of flood control funds became public knowledge. The scandal overshadowed other concerns, with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee providing explosive televised testimony of the fraudulent diversion of funds for flood control infrastructure into private pockets of politicians and DPWH...

Media probes Nicolas Torre III’s removal from PNP chief office

CHEERS TO Rappler, Inquirer.net, and News5 for explaining the significance of Nicolas Torre III’s abrupt removal from the highest Philippine National Police (PNP) rank.

Daily Tribune calls Gaza’s food scarcity a ‘fake famine’

JEERS TO Daily Tribune for claiming a “fake famine” in Gaza, contradicting confirmation by the United Nations and food security experts that people are suffering from food deprivation in the Palestinian area.

Investigative journalism drives Discaya probe beyond Senate hearings

BILLIONS OF pesos have flowed into flood-control projects over the past decade to favor a small circle of contractors. Many projects exist only on paper, the actual construction proceeding as “ghost” activities. Some have collapsed within months after completion, showing flaws in construction. As floods continue to batter communities...

Policy debate on online gambling and social values

FROM MARCH to August 2025, debates in the Upper and Lower houses intensified on the question of whether or not online gambling should be completely banned or regulated, reflecting the range of views held by lawmakers and the general public. In early July, bills had already been filed accordingly.

2026 National budget: Headlines hit the big numbers

THE SUBMISSION of the MARCOS administration’s PHP6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) on August 7 grabbed headlines, its historic size duly highlighted, a budget consistent with constitutional requirements and “ready to execute.” From PHP6.352 trillion in 2025, the increase once again placed education at the top of allocations, with...

The people have a right to know about the VP and her activities

CHEERS TO several media outlets who reported Vice President Sara Duterte’s conspicuous absence and the clueless response of her office when asked about her whereabouts.

A safe SONA, a cautious press

PRESIDENT FERDINAND Marcos Jr. delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, 2025, filling an hour and 11 minutes with feel-good updates on rice subsidies, infrastructure buildup, and the increased use of digitalization for governance. It seemed clear he did not wish to reckon with...