Philippine Democracy Online

  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 ...

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....

  By Evan Larona  When corruption stares us in the face. From GAA insertions, the Ayuda lifestyle, to the PhilHealth mess, where was the outrage? Why is it that the cry for the “rule of law” becomes loud only when it’s politically convenient? Justice is not a weapon. It is a principle. And when we invoke it only when it serves our biases, we don’t uphold the law.. we are mocking it. As Carl Schmitt rightly pointed out, the political arises from the friend-enemy distinction, and that is exactly what we’re witnessing. What we’re seeing isn’t just a legal process; it’s a clash of identities, power, and long-standing regional exclusion. We need to stop pretending that political struggles are merely legal disputes, They are not. They are clashes of identity. They are contests of power. They are rooted in the historical exclusion of Mindanao and the Bisaya from the circles of national decision-making. This isn't just about constitutional duties, it's about who gets to shape the nati...