WHAT A READ. Thanks, David French. "Truth is more beautiful when it dispels a lie, and love is at its most potent when it confronts hate." Opinion | Charlie Kirk, Jimmy Kimmel and the Future of Free Speech in America - The New York Times www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...

All this happened while Duterte distracted Filipinos with his brutal "drug war" that killed thousands. Misdirection at its bloodiest. Dutertes’ longtime friend is Davao's top contractor for flood control projects www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in...

On 8-15 Sept 2025, 7 died in Marcos’s drug war. More than half were cases in Cebu, still this year's top hotspot. 2 are w/ no known drug ties: a mistaken identity case in Cebu and a victim caught up w/ an offender in Bukidnon. Sources: dahas.upd.edu.ph/sources-2025/

A wolf in... What is Benjamin Magalong really fighting for? - VERA Files verafiles.org/articles/wha...

This is on top of the travel tax collected from passengers: Php1,620 ($28) for economy class travelers, Php2,700 ($47) for first class. (Yes, you are taxed for LEAVING this hopelessly corrupt country run by the family of the most corrupt Philippine president EVER.) #PrivatizationPaMore

Good. So what are the other multilateral donors doing to address the same concerns over massive corruption in the Philippines? Are they ignoring what's happening because their loans and ODAs to Manila are, theoretically, unaffected? www.rappler.com/philippines/...

THIS IS BIG, AS DUTERTE'S I.C.C. TRIAL NEARS. Royina Garma was a trusted ally of President Duterte. She was a police official and lottery chief under Duterte. She earlier testified that Duterte had asked her to look for an enforcer of his "drug war." newsinfo.inquirer.net/2106368/garm...

Bucking a recent trend of almost zero participation in drug-related killings, state agents came roaring back, killing 13 of 30 fatalities recorded in August. The "drug war" under Marcos is far from over. x.com/DahasPH/stat...

An alternative to Instagram that promises fair algorithm, no shadowbanning, etc. #upscrolled

Filipino rights defender priest among ‘Asian Nobel Prize’ winners The honor for Villanueva "is one of the most important recognitions not just of the priest but also of human rights advocacy in general,” rights activist Carlos Conde told UCA News. www.ucanews.com/news/filipin...

A newspaper in the Philippines spews horrid Israel propaganda — Gaza starvation “is a lie”; Gaza’s “fake famine” — after Israeli embassy in Manila apparently sent the paper’s journalist and others on a junket. www.facebook.com/share/1ZVdJw...

Lest we forget, Bongbong Marcos is the Philippines’ OG nepobaby. The billions his family stole have not been fully recovered. They still owe govt billions in taxes. And he roared back to power in 2022 on the back of massive disinfo coupled with Duterte’s support. #NeverForget

When accountability fails, the social media mob -- and I use that word in its good sense -- takes matter into their own hands. #TikTokVigilantes in the Philippines are doing what the government should have been doing -- to hold corrupt officials to account.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT OF NICOLAS TORRE'S FIRING AS PHILIPPINE POLICE CHIEF youtu.be/luupQlZiaU0

A SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT. I wonder what's the gameplan here by the Marcos administration. Is this a power play in preparation for the 2028 elections? Marcos sacks PNP chief Nicolas Torre III www.rappler.com/philippines/...

Happy to see the documentary "Alipato at Muog" win the top honors at Famas, the Philippine version of the Oscars. This is such an important win because enforced disappearances remain a scourge in the Philippines. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNY8...

The well-reported, well-documented, well-debated, and livestreamed genocide in Gaza - tens of 1000s killed, including 246 journalists - should compel journos to take a firmer moral & professional stand. - AN OPEN LETTER TO FILIPINO JOURNALISTS: DO NOT WHITEWASH GENOCIDE facebook.com/philippinesp...

In tourist areas in the Philippines, IDF soldiers on R&R are not shy about declaring themselves IDF. And in at least one case, on Siargao island, their presence has rubbed locals the wrong way. So, yeah, a bit tricky, innit? (as the Brits would say).

An abomination, if ever there was one.

YOU WANT TO COVER UP A CRIME, YOU ELIMINATE THE WITNESS. Israel’s killing of Gaza journalists is a plan to silence and expel Palestinians: Analysis - YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8o8...

HOW MARCOS & HIS CRONIES LOOTED THE PHILIPPINES It involves kickbacks from infrastructure projects overseen by a crony -- the very same corruption the dictator's son, Marcos Jr, hinted at when he bared that only 15 firms got govt contracts worth Php100 B learn.martiallawmuseum.ph/magaral/it-t...

LONG OVERDUE * Norway sovereign fund divests from 11 Israeli firms * Stops use of external asset managers in Israel * Decision follows review linked to Gaza, WestBank Norway wealth fund terminates Israel asset management contracts www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Not unique to the Philippines, of course, but our politicians have normalized conflicts of interest like this. And 🇵🇭 accountability systems are so broken idea of checks and balance is a joke. Legacy of corruption,political patronage that go all the way back to dictator Marcos Sr. t.co/t1tjh9rE36

My first post-HRW quote. -- Why the Philippine Senate shelved the impeachment complaint vs Vice President Sara Duterte -- The New York Times carlosconde.substack.com/p/why-the-ph...

“This is once again the Dutertes flexing their muscles and showing they still have the people and the resources to win in 2028,” said Carlos Conde, a human rights researcher and political analyst Philippine Senate Shelves Impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/w...

MY QUICK, INITIAL TAKE ON THE PHILIPPINE SENATE’S MOVE TO QUASH IMPEACHMENT CASE VS. VICE PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE What drives all this is 1) fear of a Sara Duterte presidency in 2028 and 2) the 19 senators’ need to be on her good side as the 2028 election looms. 1/2

Turning over a new leaf. Parang life lang. 😂❤️ #plantito #monsteradeliciosa

I have left Human Rights Watch after nearly 14 years as its researcher on the Philippines. I had the honor and the privilege to work with an organization whose mission I deeply care about, and alongside fellow human rights defenders whose passion and dedication will always inspire me. 1/2

“Ali Macalintal's murder is a brutal reminder that engaging in any kind of activism in the Philippines carries grave risks.” The authorities should leave no stone unturned in finding out why she was killed and who was responsible.” www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

June 10, 2025: Philippines human rights news 🚩 #DrugWar: Philippine police still not helping rights probe 🚩New top cop makes historic visit to CHR 🚩Senate sets in motion impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte 🚩ChatGPT widely used for disinfo in PH humanrightsnews.substack.com/p/drugwar-ph...

June 9, 2025: Philippines human rights news 🚩 Marcos' 'drug war' no different from Duterte's -- group 🚩 Police to CHR: We will respect rights 🚩 More evidence vs Duterte at ICC 🚩 Alarming HIV surge in PH 🚩 Protests set for Sara Duterte impeach trial humanrightsnews.substack.com/p/marcos-dru...

This is sad. Despite the many rights issues the US itself faces globally, its annual country reports on #humanrights are seen by many as credible. The Philippines is among 20 countries whose reports "must be flagged for special review" by a Trump political appointee. www.npr.org/2025/04/18/n...

The Filipino mother whose 4 sons were murdered one after the other by Duterte's Davao Death Squad is facing online abuse for continuing to speak out. The int'l community should support her. @euambph.bsky.social @unhumanrights.bsky.social carlosconde.substack.com/p/clarita-al...

My oped on Duterte's arrest, now on @thehill.com. - The case against Duterte is a stark reminder of the importance of the ICC as a court of last resort. But it is precisely because the court is pursuing its global mandate that it is currently under attack. thehill.com/opinion/5244...

My colleague John Sifton, HRW's Asia advocacy director, says "Hi!" from The Hague. 😜 #Duterte #drugwar #ICC #DutertePanagutin

Next to Duterte, you probably did the worst damage to the cause of human rights in the Philippines. You ought to be disbarred. And countries should think twice about granting you asylum. You're a disgrace, Harry Roque. 🖕

For some serious laugh during the break, check out this hilarious (though clearly unofficial) Philippines version of @TheOnion. 🤣 "Balat sibuyas" is Tagalog for "onion-skinned." x.com/onionskinned www.facebook.com/balat.sibuya... www.instagram.com/balatsibuyas... www.tiktok.com/@onionskinned

“What we found in the Philippines isn’t just disinformation spike — it’s digital warfare.” This is scary. -- Fake accounts drove praise of Rodrigo Duterte and now target Philippine election www.rappler.com/philippines/...

Former Miss Universe bet has abandoned the party of a 🇵🇭Congress candidate who earlier joked that "solo mothers who are still menstruating" could sleep with him. Brave move, Ms. Shamcey! This will empower Philippine voters to reject sexist, misogynist politicians. www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstor...

WHY WAS FORMER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT DUTERTE ARRESTED BY THE ICC? Because his regime extrajudicially killed thousands of Filipinos. LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE KILLINGS THROUGH THESE LINKS AND QR CODES. #FightFakeNews #Philippines

THE DRUG WAR VIOLENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES IS FAR FROM OVER.

Good of him to take this position. Other countries should do the same, to emphasize the role the ICC can play to uphold human rights. youtu.be/tbl3radsCL8

They don’t care that Duterte killed thousands — why should they care about the extra N? #duterte #ICC #drugwar

The introduction to the Rolling Stone Philippines interview I did with Maria Ressa, which was the cover story in the maiden issue of the iconic magazine. rollingstonephilippines.com/state-of-aff...

Overseas Filipinos who idolize Duterte flex their remittance muscle. 😡 This flexing contributed to the rise of Duterte and enabled the killing of thousands in his “drug war.”Shame. Palace urges calm as Duterte supporters eye ‘zero remittance week’ globalnation.inquirer.net/269887/palac...