“The contradictions will sharpen as pro-US factions of the ruling elite maneuver and resist President Duterte’s assertions of sovereignty. … The people should remain vigilant and should struggle even harder for fundamental reforms and social change.”
“The struggle for meaningful and thoroughgoing change continues, as we continue to uphold and assert people’s rights.”
“The main purpose of the peace negotiations is to address the roots of the armed conflict which, among others, includes poverty, landlessness, joblessness, hunger, and inequality. Placing the outcome ahead in an outline of an agreement on social and economic reforms is like putting the cart before the horse.”
Marking his 100th day in office today with a “very good” 64% net satisfaction rating (per the Sept. 24-27 SWS nationwide survey), President Duterte can justifiably feel emboldened to pursue more resolutely his key initiatives towards instituting changes in the untenable status quo. One key initiative is the resumption of the long-stalled GRP-NDFP peace talks,…
With his — so far — high approval rating, President Rodrigo Duterte has the political capital and unprecedented opportunity to raise the knowledge and awareness of large numbers of Filipinos on those issues that for 70 years and through 11 administrations since the restoration of Philippine independence in 1946 have bedeviled this country. They include…
“The Philippine government can follow Cuba’s example of resisting privatization and establishing an integrated national health system that is strongly public and shouldered by government through our taxes.”