Chairman Leila de Lima of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) warned of atrocities committed as a result of the ongoing battle between the joint forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf rebels against the military and the police.
This warning is, of course, well taken in the face of dastardly [...]

Sometime this month, the peace negotiation between the National Democratic Front (NDF) of Jose Maria Sison and the Philippine government will restart. In fact, former priest Luis Jalandoni, together with his “wife,” an ex-nun, have already arrived in the country to head the NDF delegation.
It must be remembered that these talks have been going on [...]

THE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) stood its ground regarding the list of Supreme Court candidates that Malacañang returned for want of more options. It appears that the Palace blinked when the JBC insisted on its original nominees submitted to Malacañang.
Perhaps in deference to the illustrious members of the JBC, Malacañang did not insist on [...]

As promised, here’s more on the imbroglio on the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). It is timely that I received this letter from “Concerned Lawyers” which I am reproducing in full for the information of the public and especially for members of the Bar:
“On April 17, 2009, the IBP Board of Governors held its [...]

THE whole country is in a state of national bereavement on the passing away of former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. Despite the fact that Cory’s death should have been expected because of her long battle with colon cancer stage 4, still, the sense of national loss appears unbearable.
Indeed, Cory had become the iconic symbol of [...]

More on the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP): History seems to repeat itself when this time, the IBP was hijacked on the high road by the Roxas cabal of the Sigma Rhoans for election purposes.
An outgoing IBP governor told me at lunch last week that after the Sigma Rhoans failed in their illegal attempts [...]

PAMPANGA Gov. Ed Panlilio is obviously torn between priesthood and the more glamorous role of a politician. Several of his superiors have asked him to make his final choice whether to remain a priest, or remove his habit and formally indulge in partisan politics. From what I have read lately, Father Panlilio is still in [...]

As we observed earlier, President Arroyo was especially handpicked by Egypt President Hosni Mubarak to be one of the main speakers in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference, which is clearly a singular honor for our country.
All the criticisms of GMA detractors notwithstanding, I can’t help but ask whether the Philippines is truly nonaligned in a [...]

We congratulate Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar on his election as the new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the very powerful and prestigious gathering of church leaders in the country.
Everybody knows that in a Catholic country like the Philippines, the bishops, and even ordinary parish priests, wield great influence among [...]

PRESIDENT Arroyo declared July 27, 2009, and every July 27 thereafter as Iglesia ni Cristo Day. We join her in giving due recognition and honor to the INC for the religiosity and exemplary discipline of its members. I believe that discipline is at the root of the success and cohesiveness of the INC flock which, [...]