An online press conference in the middle of the night at an unlikely venue—a dimly-lit congressman’s office in the House of Representatives several weeks ago became the reason for Vice President Sara Duterte’s presence at Boying Remulla’s turf, the Department of Justice (DOJ) last week.


Sara: a firm believer in due process

The resurgence of kidnapping for ransom and other money-making crimes such as illegal or “guerilla” POGO operations during this election campaign point to the very real possibility that dirty money has already reared its ugly head in Philippine politics.

Dirty money and local politics

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno will hit the ground running in trying to solve the mountains and hills of the urban jungle—the uncollected garbage mounds that the Ate who seldom smiles left in many parts of the city.  I call this Honey’s revenge.

Aragones, San Luis on water problem

After weeks of gallivanting abroad or vacationing in Boracay, the senators are back in the Senate to face a full schedule of legislative and other activities.

Testing our credulity 

Being born poor and wanting to genuinely help in  boosting family income, Senator Lito Lapid struggled at a young age to find employment in rural Porac, Pampanga, his hometown.  He found odd work as camera caretaker and stuntman in the movies where his uncle, the late Jess Lapid, was able to make a name and thus open up opportunities for the Lapid clan to also try showbiz.

Lito Lapid and science education

When United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of expression Irene Khan was doing the rounds of the country in January 2024, she visited the so-called Tacloban 5 led by Frenchie Mae Castro Cumpio at the Tacloban City Jail.

Tacloban’s Frenchie Mae Cumpio revisited 

I was born in 1952 and that makes me generationally included in the showbiz batch of Nora Aunor,  Vilma Santos, Tirso Cruz III, Rudy Fernandez and Jay Ilagan.  We belong to the lower rung of the baby boomers.

The etymology of ’Bobo’ as stupid

Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, speaker of the House of Representatives and congressman of the first district of Leyte, delivered a recent speech at the US-sponsored Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) held in Madrid, Spain, the 29th of the series.

Martin an embarrassment in Madrid

Since the Marcos administration announced its program to sell rice at P20 per kilo and only in the Visayas, the whole nation has been abuzz with nothing but the issue of affordable rice.

Cheap rice and the elections

In a meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan on June 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping commented on the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, saying:  “Military does not provide a solution.  All parties should work to deescalate the conflict as soon as possible.”

US predisposed to war; China wants peace

VIEW FROM CALUMPANG Column Diego Cagahastian and Raffy Sarnate

VIEW FROM CALUMPANG

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