Month: April 2016

The man or woman who would be president

The highlight of the May 9, 2016 national and local elections is arguably the election for president. The Comelec is supposedly helping voters to choose by co-sponsoring with media conglomerates three Presidential Debates. But because of time constraints, and perhaps weaknesses in the format, the five candidates for president hardly had the time to elaborate on their respective programs of government. Television viewers were merely treated to colorful mudslinging and vapid motherhood statements.

The coverage of the media on the candidates, on the other hand, has focused more on what has been happening during the campaign sorties of the candidates.

To do its share in helping the public in making an informed choice, The following are Bulatlat’s short articles on each of the five presidential candidates, focusing on their track record. After all, as they say, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” A cliche but nevertheless true.

Under EDCA, Balikatan drills become slippery slope

Judging by this year’s version of the US-Philippine joint military exercises, Balikatan 2016 has taken a new direction, courtesy of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. From the declared purpose, since 2002, of “enhancing interoperability” between the two allied armed forces, Balikatan is now being placed by the American side squarely within the “context of existing…