Month: February 2026
How Duterte’s War On Drugs Shaped A False Sense Of Security For The Middle Class
Fear was the currency of the campaign when Rodrigo Duterte launched his war on drugs in 2016.ย Fear of crime. Fear of addicts lurking in neighborhoods. Fear that the state had grown weak. Duterte offered something simple and seductive: order through force. The early years of the drug war felt like a restoration of control at
MOH-BARMM Launches 30-Day Ramadan Meal Plan To Promote Healthy Fasting
COTABATO CITY, Philippines โ The Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) has launched a 30-day Ramadan Meal Plan to promote healthier eating habits among Muslims observing the holy month. Health officials said the guide aims to help the Islamic faithful maintain balanced nutrition while fasting from dawn to sunset
When The Crown Of Caesar Replaces The Crown Of Thorns
There are seasons in a nationโs life when the church must ask whether it is still following the Crucified One โ or kneeling before Caesar. Let me cite two cases to make my point clear. Many church leaders enthusiastically supported the Moral Recovery Program. They presented it as a spiritual antidote to national decay. Prayer
From โNanlabanโ To The Hague: How A Liloy Killing Reached The International Criminal Court
I remember the first time I heard about the killing of three youngsters in Barangay Overview, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte in 2016. It was described to me in the familiar language of the drug war โ nanlaban. They fought back, the police said. Case closed. But something about it refused to rest. In those years
From Martyr to Modern Romance: The Origins of Valentineโs Day
Every February 14, couples exchange flowers, chocolates, and handwritten notes in celebration of Valentineโs Day. But the day had roots in martyrdom, medieval poetry, and possibly even ancient Roman fertility rites long before it became a billion-dollar industry built around red roses and heart-shaped boxes. A feast for a martyr Valentineโs Day began as a
ICC Clears Way For Duterte Trial As Families Of Slain Drug War Victims Await Justice
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines โ The family of 19-year-old Anwar Sawadjaan, who was killed alongside friends Noel Rey Bacalso (22) and Angelo Hofer (20) in 2016, is among the drug war victims hoping for justice as the International Criminal Court (ICC) clears the way for the confirmation of charges hearing against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
11 High-Powered Firearms Seized After Moro Group Clashes In Bangsamoro Town
COTABATO CITY, Philippines โ Police and soldiers seized 11 military-grade firearms, including an M60 machine gun, from members of two rival Moro groups following clashes in a newly created Bangsamoro town in Cotabato province, authorities said Friday, as efforts continue to peacefully settle the dispute. Officials of the Police Regional OfficeโBangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) and
5 BIFF Members, Including 2 Bomb Makers, Surrender In Maguindanao del Norte
COTABATO CITY, Philippines โ Five members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), including two bomb-making experts, surrendered to authorities in Maguindanao del Norte on Friday, February 13. The former rebels formally renounced their ties with the BIFF during a ceremony held at the municipal hall of Sultan Kudarat town, attended by Mayor Shameem Mastura
โGreen Cometโ C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoล) Nears Earth, May Be Flung Into Interstellar Space
A bright โgreen cometโ roughly the size of a small city is set to make its closest approach to Earth next week.ย Scientists say it may eventually be ejected from the solar system โ never to return. The comet, officially designated C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoล), was discovered in March 2024 by Polish astronomer Kacper Wierzchoล using
SpaceX Pivots To The Moon: Why Musk Now Sees Lunar โCityโ As Smarter Step Before Mars
SpaceX, the private aerospace company founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, is dramatically reorienting its long-held interplanetary ambitions. It is shifting its near-term focus from building a human settlement on Mars to establishing what Musk calls a โself-growing cityโ on the Moon. This strategic pivot marks a notable break from Muskโs previous stance, when he dismissed
Bangsamoro Govโt Equips 25 Lanao del Sur Barangays With Medical, Emergency Response Gear
MARAWI CITY, Philippines โ The Bangsamoro Governmentโs Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) on Tuesday, February 10, distributed medical and emergency response equipment to 25 barangay local government units (BLGUs) in Lanao del Sur to strengthen frontline health services. The assistance is part of the Bangsamoro Integrated Rehabilitation and Development Program funded through
EXPLAINER: Poverty Down, Jobs Steady, But Inflation Bites In Zamboanga Sibugay
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY โ The latest QuickSTAT from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) paints a mixed picture of the provinceโs economy. Poverty incidence is falling, employment is stable, but inflation is eating into household budgets. What does this mean for ordinary Sibugaynons?
