1.

200K TUITION OF SEAFARERS

2. ALICE GUO RUNNING FOR BAMBAN
3. DEO BALBUENA RUNNING FOR A PARTY LISY
4. RODRIGO DUTERTE RUNNING FOR MAYOR AND HIS SON BASTE FOR VICE
MAYOR
5. RUNNING OF ARTISTS
6. PASTOR QUIBOLOY, ARREST AND ALLEGATIONS
7. DOC WILLIE ONG : MARTYR OR FINAL STRUGGLE?
8.

POSSIBLE TOPICS:

1. WHY SHOULDN'T YOU VOTE FOR INCOMPETENT OR NO PROPER PLATFORMS

(I.E DIWATA PARES, RASTA MAN,ARTISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES)
2. SHOULD ALIEN/FOREIGNERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO RUN AGAIN FOR A
GOVERMENT POSITION (IE MAYOR, PARTYLISTS)
3. SHOULD THE PHILIPPINES BE LENIENT TOWARDS POLITICAL DYNASTIES? IE
MAYOR RODRIGO AND BASTE RUNNING FOR MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR
4. "The Future of Political Alliances: Examining the Marcos-Duterte Rift
and Its Implications"
Discuss the growing political tensions between the Marcos and Duterte camps, the
possible outcomes of the rift, and its impact on national governance and stability.
5. "Midterm Elections 2025: A Critical Turning Point for Philippine
Politics"
Analyze how the upcoming midterm elections will shape the political landscape of the
Philippines and the significance of the shifting alliances ahead of 2025.
6. "Fund Mismanagement in Public Offices: Addressing Accountability in the Duterte
Administration"
Address the alleged budget mismanagement in various government offices, with a focus
on Vice President Duterte’s involvement and the broader need for fiscal transparency.
7. "Navigating Diplomatic Waters: The Philippines’ South China Sea Dilemma"
Explore the challenges the Philippines faces in its territorial dispute with China over the
South China Sea and how this impacts national security and foreign relations.
8. "Political Factionalism in the Philippines: Can the Nation Thrive Amidst Division?"
Examine how the rivalry between powerful political families affects policy-making and
governance, and whether this factionalism strengthens or weakens democratic
institutions.
9. "The Lingering Shadows of Human Rights Violations: The Philippines’ Search for
Justice"
 Delve into the continued push for accountability for extrajudicial killings during the
Duterte administration’s war on drugs, and its political and social implications.
10. "Corruption in the Philippines: Are Current Reforms Enough to Curb Graft?"
Evaluate the ongoing corruption issues in the country, the effectiveness of existing
anti-corruption measures, and the public’s growing demand for transparency.
11. "Political Dynasties and Democracy: The Influence of Elite Families in the
Philippines"
Discuss the dominance of political dynasties in Philippine politics and the implications for
democratic representation, political competition, and governance.
12. "Constitutional Reform in the Philippines: Should the Country Pursue
Federalism?"
Debate the merits and risks of potential constitutional reforms, including the push for
federalism or changes to the presidency, and how these could reshape governance.
13.

9. 200K TUITION OF SEAFARERS

Magna Carta going against labor laws

Labor rights advocates agreed with Maza on the issue of the Magna Carta going against
labor laws. They said that during deliberations that led to its finalization, the proponents of
the new law ignored the recommendation of the labor department on the exclusion of
labor dispute resolution provisions, particularly involving the execution bond.

Earlier in March, labor secretary Bienvenido Laguesma called the draft of the Magna
Carta “anti-worker, impractical and inconsistent with the protection to labor clause.” He
wrote this in a letter to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin as a comment on the draft
bicameral report.

Laguesma also took issue with the execution bond provision, and said it was inconsistent
with the equal protection clause under the Philippine Constitution, creating a divide
among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) which include seafarers.

He explained that while the Supreme Court has ruled that OFWs constituted a distinct
class needing special protection, the validity of the distinction has been founded on the
nature of their employment and the peculiar circumstances that they faced while working
abroad.

Currently, there are no recognized valid basis for distinction in terms of how cases arising
from the employment of OFWs are processed by local courts. The Magna Carta now not
only makes a distinction between OFWs and local workers, it also effectively makes a
distinction between sea-based and land-based OFWs.

“This can raise a “suspect classification” as it is doubtful if simply being an overseas

seafarer—or a domestic seafarer for that matter—can be a substantive and valid basis to
justify a differentiated treatment in the resolution and processing of cases, particularly at
the execution stage,” Laguesma said.
In a press conference, PAMI, which is composed of 73 schools, said the provisions under Chapter
XVIII on Shipboard Training of Cadets may lead to higher tuition, closure of manning agencies,
and reduction of crew members.

For PAMI, the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers should not cover students but only professional
seafarers. It also lamented the demanding requirements for schools such as training ships.

“Our students are sons and daughters of farmers, construction workers, tricycle drivers, tindero
po sa palengke. To put this as a requirement, wala po kaming pagkukunan, kundi itaas ang
tuition fee,” PAMI president Sabino Czar Manglicmot II said.

(Our students are sons and daughters of farmers, construction workers, tricycle drivers, and
market vendors. To put this as a requirement, we have no resources but to increase the tuition fee.)

Association of Technical Schools in Manila president Glenn Mark Blasquez said the other possible
effect of these provisions is the closure of manning agencies.

“Ang pangalawa na option is to close the program. Kung mag-close ang program, magkakaroon
tayo ng domino effect,” he said.

(The second option is to close the program. If the program is closed, we will have a domino effect.)

“Ang effects po niyan it's either iyong mga manning agencies, magsarado at humanap ng ibang
countries na pagkukunan ng supply ng mga seafarer. Mga clinics at training centers ay
magsasarado,” he added.

(The effects are either manning agencies will close or they will look for other countries for the
supply of seafarers. The clinic and training centers will close.)

For PAMI, Chapter XVIII of MCFS should be removed.

The Senate and House of Representatives ratified in December last year the bicameral conference
committee version of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

To recall, the European Union previously warned that Filipino maritime workers may be banned
from its vessels following the Philippines’ repeated failures to hurdle the European Maritime
Safety Agency's (EMSA) evaluation for the past 16 years.

In March 2022, however, the regional bloc announced it would continue to recognize Philippine-
issued certificates for seafarers, citing the country's "serious efforts to comply with the
requirements, in particular in key areas like the monitoring, supervision and evaluation of
training and assessment."
ALICE GUO RUNNING FOR BAMBAN
Guo says will no longer seek reelection as Bamban mayor
Rowegie Abanto, ABS-CBN News
Published Oct 08, 2024 03:24 PM PHT
|
Updated Oct 09, 2024 12:55 PM PHT

MANILA — Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo said Tuesday she would no longer seek
reelection in the 2025 polls.

Her lawyer Stephen David had said that Guo would file her candidacy this week through a
representative, insisting that his client could still seek reelection unless she was barred by a court.

But Guo told senators during the resumption of the Senate hearing into her and illegal gaming
hubs that she was dropping her reelection bid and would first face the accusations against her.

"Linisin ko po muna 'yung sarili ko po at para maging fair din po para sa mga constituents ko,"
she said.

Guo is facing graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion charges
related to her alleged involvement in illegal gambling hubs.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for next year's midterm polls ends Tuesday.

The Ombudsman in August dismissed Guo for grave misconduct and banned her from reentering
government service.

David had said that Guo could still run for reelection unless a court says otherwise.

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Monday that it could disqualify
candidates previously dismissed from duty by the Office of the Ombudsman.

But Guo told senators during the resumption of the Senate hearing into her and illegal gaming
hubs that she was dropping her reelection bid and would first face the accusations against her.

"Linisin ko po muna 'yung sarili ko po at para maging fair din po para sa mga constituents ko,"
she said.

Guo is facing graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion charges
related to her alleged involvement in illegal gambling hubs.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for next year's midterm polls ends Tuesday.

The Ombudsman in August dismissed Guo for grave misconduct and banned her from reentering
government service.

David had said that Guo could still run for reelection unless a court says otherwise.
Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Monday that it could disqualify
candidates previously dismissed from duty by the Office of the Ombudsman.
READ: Alice Guo may be disqualified from Bamban mayoral race: Comelec

COMELEC ORDERS RAPS VS GUO

On Tuesday, the poll body's en banc approved its law department's recommendation to charge
Guo before the proper Regional Trial Court for allegedly violating Section 74, in relation to
Section 262, of the Omnibus Election Code.
Section 74 orders candidates running for office to be truthful in filing their certificates of
candidacy, including their nationality, among other things.
The National Bureau of Investigation earlier said Guo's fingerprints match those of Chinese
national Guo Hua Ping.
The Comelec previously said that its own fingerprint analysis of Guo gave them a basis to file a
material misrepresentation complaint against her.
READ: Guo a confirmed spy whose campaign was supported by China's state security — video
Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal on Tuesday argued that the poll body's power to cancel a
certificate of candidacy was "limited to final conviction in criminal cases with the accessory
penalty of perpetual disqualification and was never applied to administrative cases decided by
the Ombudsman while pending appeal."
"While decisions of the Ombudsman may be executory, the accessory penalty of perpetual
disqualification is not yet final when the dismissed public official appeals the Ombudsman
decision to the Court of Appeals," he said.
"In other words, pending appeal, the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification is not yet
imposable and could not yet be enforced."

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Winston Casio welcomed Guo’s

decision.

Casio said Guo should instead face her cases arising from her supposed involvement in POGOs.

“Hayaan naming umusad ang kaso, harapin niya yung mga kaso, kami naman, yung effort lang
namin, magpresenta ng maayos sa kaso. Pero as far as we are concerned we are happy for the fact
that she did not file because at least hindi na ulit magbababoy yung proseso natin,” Casio said.

“Kasi kami, we are 101 percent sure that she is not a Filipino and no foreign national must be
allowed to take part in our electoral process,” Casio said.

— With reports from Sherrie Ann Torres and Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News
Ex-Philippine President Duterte to run as mayor despite drug killings legacy

Story by the Associated Press

3 minute read
Published 10:33 PM EDT, Mon October 7, 2024
Manila, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines’s former President Rodrigo Duterte registered
Monday to run for mayor of his southern home city despite his notorious legacy over his brutal
anti-drugs crackdown that the International Criminal Court is investigating as a possible
crime against humanity.

Duterte, 79, filed his papers before the Election Commission in Davao city, where he had served
as mayor for about two decades before winning the presidency in 2016. His son –
incumbent Davao city Mayor Sebastian Duterte – would run as his vice-mayor in next year’s mid-
term elections, officials said.

More than 6,000 people, mostly poor drug suspects, were killed under a massive police-
enforced crackdown against illegal drugs that Duterte oversaw when he was president,
according to government pronouncements. But human rights groups say the death toll is
considerably higher and should include many unsolved killings by motorcycle-riding gunmen, who
may have been deployed by police.

Duterte has denied condoning extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, although he has openly
threatened suspects with death and has ordered police to shoot suspects who dangerously
resist arrest.

Despite his administration’s massive crackdown against illegal drugs, Duterte acknowledged that
drugs remained a major problem. During his presidential campaign, he vowed to eradicate the
drug problem in three to six months but said after winning the presidency that he underestimated
the enormity of the problem.

Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, in a move critics said was an attempt to
evade accountability. The ICC prosecutor said the court still has jurisdiction over alleged crimes,
while the Philippines was still a member of the court.

When Duterte’s turbulent presidential term ended in 2022, he said he would retire from
politics, but he has walked back on his public pronouncements multiple times.

His daughter, current Vice President Sara Duterte, said in June that her father and two brothers
were planning to run for seats in the 24-member Senate. But the former president told reporters in
Davao city on Saturday that his frail health could not withstand the rigors of a campaign for any
national position.

Duterte has remained popular after stepping down from the presidency, but human rights groups
and his political opponents would likely campaign hard to block his return to politics. He and his
family have also been at odds with his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom he has
publicly reviled as a weak leader and a drug addict.
 Marcos has laughed off Duterte’s allegations and shot back at Duterte as a user of fentanyl, a
powerful opioid.

Sara Duterte resigned from her posts of education secretary and head of an anti-insurgency body
under the Marcos administration in July. It was the latest sign her alliance with Marcos has
floundered over key differences, including the Marcos administration’s high-profile pushback
against China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea.

Marcos has strengthened his country’s treaty alliance with the U.S. as his country’s territorial
disputes with China flared alarmingly since last year.

During his presidency, Duterte nurtured cozy ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian
leader Vladimir Putin while lambasting the security policies of the United States and other
Western governments.

Can influencers translate

clicks, views to votes?
AC Coloma, ABS-CBN News
Published Oct 05, 2024 10:56 AM PHT

MANILA — With many influencers filing certificates of candidacies for the 2025 midterm
elections, the question now is whether or not they can translate this popularity into votes.

Political analyst Dennis Coronacion floated this question, amid the "growing" number of
influencers and celebrities vying for public office.

“Hindi ko rin maipaliwanag kung bakit parang napakarami nila (social media influencers)
ngayon. Ang katanungan diyan ay gusto ba nilang subukan kung yung kanilang
popularidad sa social media ay pwedeng mag translate into votes sa darating na 2025
midterm elections,” he said in an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo.

'Unli-rice' at Batasan? Pares sensation Diwata seeks congressional seat

(I can’t explain why there seems to be so many of them now. The question here is, do they
want to test if their popularity on social media can translate into votes in the upcoming
2025 midterm elections?)
Viral sensations such as entrepreneur Rosmar Tan, and pares eatery owner Diwata are
setting their sights on public seats.

Honey vs Isko? Manila Mayor Lacuna's supporters shout 'walang magbabalik!' as she
files COC

Ilang artista naghain ng kandidatura sa unang araw ng COC filing para sa Halalan 2025

While this will be Rosmar Tan's second attempt at a councilor seat in Manila, this will be
Diwata's first time running for public office although only as fourth nominee for Vendors
Party-list.

A party-list can get a maximum of three seats, depending on the number of votes. That
means Diwata will only get a seat in case a nominees pulls out or is disqualified.

Notably, actor-host Luis Manzano also filed for candidacy in Batangas as vice governor,
paired with his mother, Vilma Santos-Recto.

Coronacion noted there are more social media influencers aspiring for public office than
before.

"We see the same familiar faces, yung mga reeletionist and then yung mga returnees. If
there's anything different yung filing ngayon is that merong maraming mga social media
personalities ang nakita natin nag-file... compared to COC filing last time," Coronacion
remarked.

(We see the same familiar faces, the reelectionists and returnees. If there’s anything
different in the filing this time, it’s that we’ve seen a lot of social media personalities file...
compared to the previous COC filing.")

He added that many of these influencers are linked to prominent political families, with
some coming from well-known showbiz backgrounds.

"Andiyan yung mga I think most of them are members of political dynasties meron
ngang isa na medyo nag-viral yung pamilya, buong pamilya, nandun na nagpa-photo op
during the filing of the certificate of candidacy and then nag comment ang mga tao bakit
di niyo pa sinama yung mga kasambahay niyo," Coronacion said.

(Many of them, I think, are members of political dynasties. One family, in particular,
went viral for a photo op during the filing of the certificate of candidacy, and people
commented, 'you might as well include your kasambahays in the picture')
Influencer, Vloggers and Artist
are running for 2025 Philippine
Elections
As the Philippines opens the filing of Certificates of Candidacy for 2025 election, in the

past few weeks, my social media has been quite loud lately. It is because celebrities and

famous personalities are filing candidacy for the upcoming election and hoping to
win a seat in the government.

I was thinking, “What? More personalities are getting involved in Politics?

I know everyone has the right to file their candidacy and be voted upon. But how can actors

and influencers effectively contribute to the government of the Philippines, when even a

Politicians who has a law degree in prestigious Colleges and Universities in the Senate are

struggling to address the issues of the country?

If those with experience who dedicated their lives in studying how Government and
Economics works are having a hard time implementing legislative powers and creating

changes in the Philippines. What can we expect from these individuals whose backgrounds

are in entertainment and social media rather than an individual who know how economics

work and can understand and execute even the smallest details of the law.

Influencers and artists may have good intentions or strong personal experiences that

motivate them to enter politics to help the Filipino people, and lot can relate to them

because they have faced the same struggles in this society. They encourage these famous

personalities to run for the government positions so that they can represent people who
has the same struggles like them. These famous personalities may also respond and

promise to help those people.

These famous personalities may possess strong communication skills to represent the

concerns of Filipinos through their social media platforms, especially TikTok Facebook

and Instagram, which are popular in the Philippines right now. Their social media

exposure and platforms make it simple for them to express what sector they represent,

how they will implement the policies and other government related work in millions of

Filipino people especially to Millennials, Gen-Z and Gen-A, who are more active on social
media

If you are planning to “VOTE” these people for these reasons, then you need

to change your decision!

Their intentions and capabilities are questionable when it comes to how they will lead the

Philippines because of their lack of experience, there is a high chance that they could come

up with a simple solution to the issues of our country, which might result in policies that

don’t work well. Their decisions might be based more on what is trending needs of the

people, rather than on the actual and for the long-term needs of our community.

It’s also likely that they will use their positions for personal intentions!

Think about this, if those with degrees in the senate can be blinded by the money of the

country, how much more for those who already earn a lot as artists and influencers, and

then decide to enter politics?

Probably, their reason for entering politics is they want to help the poor Filipinos. BUT

NO!!!
 That’s not a valid enough reason for us to believe them! PHILIPPINES NEED

MORE THAN JUST HELP!!

We should not support these kinds of political images because they are Lowering the

standard of the politics in the Philippines and the worse is the country may become even

poorer because of them. Even though they are running for a position to represent a specific

sector of Filipino. Based on what I’ve seen from the artists and influencers who have

already won political positions they often come across as a joke and seem out of touch in

the senate.

Politician should be someone who really understand and studied the law

and having the credentials and experiences to be fully qualified for political

roles.

How can someone who’s running for a government position can create and enforce

effective laws if he hasn’t studied them? I mean, everyone can learn about the law, but

nobody is as efficient as someone who has studied law and can make a long-term solution

for the country.

Lawyer and social worker are more eligible to run the politics. These people have dedicated

their lives to studied the law and the economy. They have the deepest understanding on

how our community’s work which help them recognize the needs of the people/sector they

represent.“Wake up, Philippines!”

Being a celebrity is a blessing, but jumping into politics and public service
is another story,”
“Politics is not an experiment. It isn’t a place for experimentation or self-
promotion. It requires leaders with expertise and understanding to make
tough decisions, not those who see it as a stepping stone or personal
ground,”

Vice Ganda reveals he refused offer to run in politics: ‘Ano, ipapahamak ko ang Pilipinas?’
By: Anne Pasajol
INQUIRER.net / 11:20 AM January 23, 2022

Vice Ganda stressed that he is not planning on getting into politics for now, while revealing that
he refused an offer to run for public office.
The comedian talked about this along with his other sentiments about politics in an interview
with Dr. Vicki Belo, as seen on the celebrity doctor’s YouTube channel last Thursday, Jan. 20. Vice
Ganda was asked about various topics by fellow celebrities, one being actor Derek Ramsay, who
asked about his thoughts on being in public service.

“Politics — sa ngayon ha? Syempre I cannot sabihin never, baka lamunin — hindi ko alam, pero
sa ngayon, no,” Vice Ganda said.
(Politics — for now? Of course I cannot say never, I might end up eating my words — I don’t
know, but for now, no.)
Though he did not mention the specifics, Vice Ganda disclosed that he was offered to run for a
high position, to which he admitted having no expertise on. He then explained that though
having supporters might help him win the position, that is not enough justification to run.

“Pwede akong manalo, feeling ko pwede akong manalo kasi marami akong followers, marami
akong fans — baka maraming bumoto sa ‘kin, maraming natutuwa sa akin. Pero ako, sa sarili ko,
ngayon, hindi ako magaling doon,” he stressed. “So bakit ako pupunta doon? Ano, ipapahamak
ko ang Pilipinas? Not because you can win, you will run.”

(I can win, I feel like I can win because I have many followers and fans — many might vote for
me, many find me funny. But for me, at his point, I’m not good at that [politics]. So why should I
go there? What, to put the Philippines at risk? Not because you can win, you will run.)

'WE ARE SEEING A DISTURBING PATTERN OF MISUSE OR MISMANAGEMENT OF

GOVERNMENT FUNDS'

Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun urged Vice President Sara Duterte to stop avoiding
scrutiny and directly address the Filipino people by providing a clear explanation of her office's
handling of confidential funds.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP), under Duterte, spent its P500 million in confidential and
intelligence funds (CIF) within seven months. The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged nearly
half of this amount—over P237 million—for questionable use.

Khonghun pointed out that the P73 million disallowed by COA is just the beginning of what
seems to be a broader issue of fund mismanagement, with an additional P164 million flagged in
audit observation memorandums (AOMs). #BantayBudget2025

Philippine Vice President Threatened With Impeachment Over Fund Misuse

Sara Duterte’s refusal to answer queries from legislators over her office’s budget has some raising
the prospect of an impeachment vote.
For the first time in Philippine history, the budget of the office of the vice president was deferred
twice by a committee of the House of Representatives. Vice President Sara Duterte’s refusal to
answer queries from legislators led to the deferral of her proposed budget for 2025. When she
skipped the rescheduled hearing, her budget was again not approved and transmitted to the
plenary with a substantial reduction.

If she continues to evade questions from Congress, she could face impeachment.

Legislators initially wanted to determine Duterte’s use of confidential funds in 2022. Later, audit
reports revealed more irregularities concerning the distribution of aid by her office and
questionable expenses of her satellite offices. Government auditors flagged numerous issues such
as “undistributed food items nearing expiration, missing food items, and improper storage
conditions in unventilated shipping containers and food trucks, multiple deficiencies in the
distribution of welfare goods which include missing distribution lists, unverified beneficiary data,
and delayed financial reports.”

Duterte could have explained these anomalies but she didn’t attend the budget hearing of her
office and even accused the House leadership of manipulating the people’s money.
She claimed her office had already provided necessary documentation about the concerns raised
by auditors, but chose to ignore Congress. Legislators interpreted her stonewalling not just as an
insult to the institution but also as an “attempt to mislead the public.”

An opposition lawmaker pointed out that there’s now enough basis to file an impeachment
complaint against the vice president. Asked about this, Duterte said she has recorded
conversations of House members discussing her impeachment.

Her supporters warned Congress against impeaching an elected official who got more than 30
million votes in 2022. Senator Imee Marcos, the elder sister of President Ferdinand “Bongbong”
Marcos Jr, echoed this line and described the impeachment threat as a dangerous action that
would undermine democracy.

“These steps are an insult to the people’s decision and election results; an affront to the people’s
voice and right to choose their leader,” Imee Marcos said in a statement. “Are you looking for
trouble to divide the country which has so many problems these days?” she added.

But opposition legislator France Castro reminded Marcos that impeachment is a constitutional
mechanism to pursue accountability. She said in a statement: “Threatening those who wish to
exercise their right to hold officials accountable is a direct attack on democracy. It is imperative
that we uphold the people’s right to seek redress against abuses of power.”

After Duterte’s non-appearance in Congress, legislators realigned a substantial amount of her

proposed budget to government agencies whose mandate is to provide social services. But she
should prepare for the worst scenario, which involves House members endorsing an
impeachment complaint against her. If one-third of the total members of the House of
Representatives signed an impeachment complaint against Duterte, she will face impeachment
proceedings in the Senate. She will be barred from holding an elected position if she is impeached.

The notion of impeaching Duterte was unthinkable a year ago, given her solid standing in the
unity government headed by Marcos Jr. But over the past year, the rift between the Marcos and
Duterte political dynasties has worsened and led to the resignation of the vice president from the
Cabinet. Duterte’s family members and supporters have even called for the resignation of Marcos
Jr., whom they accused of being drug dependent.

The squabble among erstwhile allies in the ruling coalition has exposed the corruption and abuses
committed by those in power. The ongoing investigation into the human rights violations of the
previous government – former President Rodrigo Duterte is Sara Duterte’s father – could only
take place when the two powerful clans started to clash and maneuver for power. Vice President
Duterte’s controversial spending is now under scrutiny, but citizen watchdogs and anti-
corruption stakeholders can exert the same vigilance and demand Congress to also look into the
pork barrel funds of the president.

Duterte can only appeal to her loyal supporters to thwart audit investigations and impeachment
initiatives. She cannot mobilize and lead opposition forces, which have been
demanding accountability not just about her spending but also her role in the notorious “war on
drugs” enforced by her father.

In the past two decades, legislators in the Philippines have endorsed impeachment petitions
against presidents and Supreme Court chief justices. As Duterte continues to dismiss demands for
transparency and accountability, she could soon become the first vice president to face an
impeachment trial.

The Philippines’ Dilemma: How to Manage Tensions in the

South China Sea
The maritime dispute between China and the Philippines is simmering against the backdrop of
strategic competition between Beijing and Washington. To keep tensions below boiling point,
Manila should push for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as well as greater regional
cooperation.

What is the main issue of conflict in South China Sea?

territorial disputes in the South China Sea, series of conflicts arising from the overlapping
territorial claims of several countries that border the South China Sea. In recent decades China has
been widely seen as the conflicts' primary driver.

What is the dispute between China and the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal?
In 2012, China seized Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines following a two-month standoff,
and in recent years, Chinese coastguard and maritime militia vessels have attempted to block
boats supplying food and water to troops garrisoned on a Filipino ship deliberately grounded on
Second Thomas Shoal in 1999.

What is the controversy concerning the rights to the South China Sea who are the countries
involved?
Territorial disputes in the South China Sea - Wikipedia
Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve conflicting island and maritime claims in the
South China Sea made by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the People's Republic of
China (PRC), Taiwan (Republic of China/ROC), and Vietnam.
What is the economic impact of the South China Sea dispute?
More specifically to the region, a 2021 study published by the US National Bureau of Economic
Research found that conflict in the region would cause severe losses of 10 to 33% of GDP to
Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia

What is the disputed island between China and the Philippines?

Spratly Islands dispute - Wikipedia
the Spratly Islands
However, the PRC still claims all of the Spratly Islands as part of China. The PRC is a party to the
UNCLOS, signing the agreement on 29 July 1994. The Republic of China (ROC), which ruled
Mainland China before 1949 and has been confined to Taiwan since 1949, also claims all of the
Spratly Islands.

What are the negative effects of political dynasty?

Negative. According to Ludigil Garces, Karl Jandoc, and Mary Grace Lu, political dynasties limit
political competition, exacerbating corruption, poverty, and abuse of power.

Political dynasties are explicitly prohibited by the 1987 Constitution,[1] and there has been a lot of
debate regarding the effects political dynasties have on the political and economic status of
Philippine society. Despite the negative reaction of the populace towards political dynasties and
the association between dynastic activities and corruption,[2] it is only prohibited in the members
of the youth-oriented Sangguniang Kabataan. Notable Philippine political dynasties include the
Marcos and Aquino.

What is the meaning of political dynasty?

Political Dynasty Defined, - As used in this Act, a political. dynasty is a SITUATION RESULTING
IN the concentration, consolidation or perpetuation of political power by persons related to one
another, as defined in this Act BY HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE.

What are the advantages of political dynasty in the Philippines?

Results show that representatives from political dynasties account for 70 percent of the
jurisdiction-based legislators in Congress. On average, they possess higher net worth and win in
elections by larger margins of victory compared to non-dynastic representatives.

What are the effects of poor governance in the Philippines?

Lack of economic opportunity prompts Filipinos to migrate, weak enforcement allows free
movement and operation of traffickers, corruption hinders prosecution, and judicial inefficiencies
and a lack of victim aftercare impedes justice.