Category: Government

Yellowtard brand of free-for-all “democracy” no longer an election-winning platform

August 2, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 4 Comments

Joel Ruiz Butuyan asks a question in his Inquirer piece “Two worlds at war” to which he already knows the answer. He just doesn’t want to admit it. Butuyan writes about “the existence of two different worlds in our midst” that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly “exposed”. Interestingly though, he highlights an important…

Government, Politics

Reform of the Ph’s corrupt bureaucracy only possible if 1987 Charter is JUNKED

July 25, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 1 Comment

In his Inquirer piece “Behind the durability of institutions”, Randy David speaks of public institutions which withstand the revolving door of leaders who come and go every Presidential election cycle. These are the constitutional offices with a fixed term, regardless of whoever is in power or the highest career bureaucrat in any department or agency…

Government, Politics

It’s time to think outside our 500sqm homes about Covid_19

July 24, 2021July 26, 2021 Ilda No Comments

Viruses mutate. We need to learn to live with Covid_19 and its variants. Going in and out of lockdown every time someone gets infected by the virus is not the only solution. Aiming for zero cases is impossible. Even if everyone wants to get vaccinated, there is not enough vaccines at the moment. Likewise, while…

Government, Society

In these times of pandemic Filipinos need a UNIFYING Opposition rather than a divisive one

July 24, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 3 Comments

The Delta variant just dashed the hope that a global economic recovery would begin two years into the pandemic. While most of the opinions expressed have been about pandemic response, both good and bad, the no one has dared to point out the elephant in the room that is the only clear path to putting…

Economy, Government, Politics

Communists like @TonyoCruz and their fronts like @IBONFoundation push AYUDA nga-nga culture

July 24, 2021July 24, 2021 Ramon Ortoll No Comments

Where is the substance in the drivel Ka Tonyo Cruz writes? Numbers he cited in his Manila Bulletin piece “P10,000 aid for all is needed — and possible” comes from none other than his comrade IBON Foundation Executive Director Sonny Africa. That biased “source” makes everything he writes suspect from the very beginning. Predictably he…

Culture, Government, Society

Long-overdue campaign financing laws and system change needed to make democracy work FOR Filipinos

July 23, 2021 Ramon Ortoll 1 Comment

Former Ambassador and Manila Times columnist writes in his piece “For the funds of it” today about “one of the main reasons – other than megalomania – why so many seem to want to run for Philippine electoral posts, even for national posts.” For the most part, Tiglao points out, “It’s an income-generating project.” The…

Government, Politics

The last State of the Nation Address of a most unorthodox president: Mr. Duterte, take a bow!

July 23, 2021 Ramon Ortoll No Comments

The President will deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26. Various news outlets have began taking the public sentiment on what they want to hear from Rodrigo Duterte when he delivers his valedictory address before Congress. Duterte would’ve “graduated” with honors if not for the pandemic rudely interrupting his term. Pandemic…

Government

President Rodrigo Duterte as Vice President in 2022? Only Filipinos hold the RIGHT to decide!

July 18, 2021 Benedict Exconde 5 Comments

Early this year, I was one of the first to float the idea of a Duterte-Duterte tandem in the 2022 elections, with Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday Sara” Duterte-Carpio as candidate for president and her father, incumbent President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte, as candidate for vice president. My reason for doing so is for continuity in…

Government, Politics