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Peacebuilding and the Joy of the Yes: A Gift Freely Given

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Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera, whose life’s work turns the hope of peace into a living reality. In a world often overshadowed by division and despair, the pursuit of peace can seem elusive—an ideal glimpsed but rarely grasped. Yet for those who dedicate their lives to reconciliation, peace is not merely an end goal; it is, above all, a gift. A friend and mentor once shared a conviction that continues to shape my own understanding: “Peace is a gift that should be given fairly.” This deceptively simple truth reshapes our imagination of peacebuilding. It moves us away from viewing peace as a negotiation or a prize for compliance, and instead toward seeing it as an act of grace—a commitment to mutual recognition, compassion, and justice. Peace as a Gift To see peace as a gift is to acknowledge its sacredness. It cannot be demanded, purchased, or coerced. It can only be offered—freely, with dignity, and with fairness. Such a vision changes how we approach conflict resolution. Peace should never ...
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Deconstructing the False Dilemma of Vice President Sara Duterte’s Impeachment (Part 2)

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  By Francis Jeus Ibañez  Justice as Ethical Governance, Not Political Theater Justice in the Philippines must be more than a punitive reaction—it must be a sustained ethical and political commitment. And in this light, Vice President Duterte represents something often absent in today’s polarized leadership landscape: constitutional restraint coupled with administrative discipline. Her track record is not mere political decoration: A legal education that informs her approach to governance Executive experience as Davao City mayor marked by firm, lawful administration A leadership style that favors rule-based action over populist theatrics This is not to say she is beyond scrutiny. No public official is. But to turn her into the central villain in a moral drama robs the public of more pressing institutional reforms and buries the real questions about how to rebuild trust in governance. If justice is to have any lasting impact, it must be seen not only in the removal of perceived...
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Deconstructing the False Dilemma of Vice President Sara Duterte’s Impeachment (Part I)

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  By Francis Jeus Ibañez Why Justice in the Philippines Demands More Than Political Spectacle In recent months, a wave of calls for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte has swept through political conversations, media reports, and social platforms. With each trending hashtag and televised interview, the public is increasingly being presented with a deceptive choice: either impeach Sara Duterte or accept the death of justice in the Philippines. But this binary framing is not only misleading—it is intellectually dishonest, democratically immature, and constitutionally dangerous. What we are witnessing is not a movement for justice, but a political spectacle wrapped in the rhetoric of accountability. It is time to deconstruct this false dilemma, expose the pitfalls of such reductionist thinking, and reclaim the broader, deeper pursuit of ethical governance.  Beyond Binary Thinking: The Myth of “Impeach or Perish” Philippine society has long been vulnerable to binary nar...
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Naturalism and Positivism: The Turmoil of the South on the Unconstitutionality of Sara’s Impeachment

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  By Givheart Carmelo Dano  Politics as usual. The phrase says it all about what is happening in the country today. The South is in turmoil over the Supreme Court’s decision surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case. The final arbiter unanimously decided on the unconstitutionality of the charges in favor of VP Sara. Indeed  her critics are not happy.  However, Mr. Richard Heydarian, a fierce critic, again fell short in his analysis. UP people and retired justices argued that the SC is wrong in its unanimous decision. Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña labeled the SC as the “Supreme Coddler.” Coddler, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, means a person who protects someone too much or treats them too kindly. But the decision of the SC is none of the descriptions of what some critics are barking about. What the SC did was founded on the principles of natural and positive law. First, natural law emphasizes that law is grounded in universal principl...
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The Rule of Law

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  By Francis Jeus Ibañez  The rule of law must be both respected and feared, for only through its uncompromising authority can justice prevail and truth emerge with clarity. Those who seek to tamper with its sanctity must reckon with inevitable accountability, as the time approaches when the Supreme Court—our ultimate arbiter—must act to restrain, if not eliminate, those who manipulate the legal order. Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc explains: "In the Upanishads, it is stated that the law is the king of kings, which means that it is higher than the king. The concept of the rule of law means that "no one is above the law" or that "all are equal before the law". This was clearly stated in the Magna Carta, written in the 12th century. In fact, the concept, which is the spirit behind every constitutional democracy, is a reaction to the divine rights theory.  The rule of law hence defines the essence of a democratic government. Maboloc adds that for Plato, if the law i...
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WAR

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  By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD  US President Donald Trump ordered his B2 Stealth bombers to drop 30k lbs GBU57 bunker busters in three Iranian nuclear facilities - Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan. No person was happier than Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Trump mentioned in his speech, "Peace through strength," Netanyahu said. The US President was telling Iran to surrender, or in short, abandon its nuclear enrichment program, warning the regime of the risk of more action. Iran was quick in its retort, saying there's no damage to its nuclear ambitions because much of the materials have already been evacuated. Analysts say that the action of the US will not stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. In fact, Trump is giving Iran more reasons to find the means to arm itself with the most destructive weapon known to man, asserting its right to protect itself against all forms of aggression in the future. If anything, this will only cause a pause in its nuclear program. In ...
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From Silencing to Struggle

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by Evan Larona  The Senate just sent the impeachment case against VP Sara Duterte back to the House. Some see it as procedural, but make no mistake, this was a political defeat for those trying to erase her from the ballot in the 2028 Presidential elections. The frustration is clear in the face of Senator Risa Hontiveros and rightly so.  Let’s be real, this wasn’t about justice but power. While big issues like the GAA anomalies, PhilHealth mess, the ayuda lifestyle, and even the questionable detention of former President Rodrigo Duterte remain untouched, the system tried to punish one political figure who stood in the way. But this move backfired. Now that the impeachment drama is over, will we see the same moral urgency from civil society, institutions, and “rule of law” defenders when it comes to these real national concerns? Or do moral arguments only apply when it’s politically convenient? However you look at it, the cause of the progressive liberals appears defeated....
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