Philippine Democracy Online

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 ...

  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...

  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...