The Generals’ Gambit: The Military and Democratic Erosion in Duterte’s Philippines Published: 18 February 2021 Opinion From its bloody war on drugs to its fight against terrorism and the lingering communist insurgency, the Duterte administration has exhibited a steadfast resolve to address the Philippines’ security challenges. One striking observation is its heavy dependence on the armed forces to accomplish its security goals, albeit at great cost to the nation’s democracy. By Aries Arugay
With the Conviction of Maria Ressa, Filipino Journalists Are Extra Watchful Published: 6 July 2020 Article The recent conviction of Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. of cyber-libel by a Manila court, did not surprise the Philippine media, which have remained on the crosshairs of Rodrigo Duterte’s wrath ever since he became the country’s president in 2016. By Ma. Diosa Labiste
ABS-CBN Struggles to Stay as 'Kapamilya Forever' Published: 23 May 2020 Article The recent shutdown of broadcast giant ABS-CBN is but one of the pieces of mounting evidence—arguably the most damning—of how fragile the state of media freedom in the Philippines has become under President Rodrigo Duterte. By Yvonne T. Chua
The 2019 Philippine Elections: Consolidating Power in an Eroding Democracy Published: 21 June 2019 Article The outcome of the 2019 midterm elections in the Philippines displayed the domineering political influence of President Rodrigo Duterte, a crowded-out opposition, and the limits of his promise for genuine and meaningful socio-political change. By Aries Arugay
Human Rights Against Populism: A Progressive Response to the Politics of Duterte and Mahathir Published: 28 December 2018 Article As the world celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 2018–2019, the region of Southeast Asia highlights two compelling political phenomena: the emergent ‘authoritarian populism’ of Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines and the return to the ‘Asian Values’ of Mahathir Mohamad in Malaysia. By Bonn Juego
Eroding Institutions and Exploiting Resentments: Populism in the Philippines and Southeast Asia Published: 7 May 2018 In recent years, voters have increasingly chosen populist leaders from the left and from the right. An increasing number of elected populist leaders can be found in countries with long democratic traditions and history. It might be less surprising to find populist leaders in countries that are purportedly democratic but without necessarily having strong liberal democratic traditions. By Cleo Calimbahin
Duterte's Rise to Power in the Philippines: Domestic and Regional Implications Published: 26 September 2016 President Duterte is the most controversial figure in the Philippines today, and arguably in the ASEAN region. He is now President of the Philippines, which chairs ASEAN in 2017. What is in store for the Philippines and for the chairmanship of ASEAN? By Segundo J. E. Romero Jr.
