By Sonny Angara During the public hearing on the budgets of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies, the Senate was updated on the alarming congestion rate of our jails and penal institutions. For one, the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), our national penitentiary, has a congestion rate of 344 percent. In exact figures, …
OPINION
The mercies of God
By Fr. Roy Cimagala That lamentation of Christ because some people did not ask for forgiveness for their sins in spite of the many blessings given to them (cfr. Matthew 11:20-24) should strongly remind us that no matter how sinful and helplessly wretched we feel we are, God is always eager to forgive us if …
Motherhood: A journey of roses and thorns
By NEUS BERNABEU, United Nations Population Fund’s representative in the Philippines In the Philippines, mothers hold a place of deep honor. They are often seen as the heart of the home — the quiet strength behind families, the steady hands that nurture, provide and hold everything together. Across generations, Filipino mothers have shaped not only …
A stronger Ombudsman
By Ade S. Fajardo The Supreme Court, writing through Justice Filomena Singh, has upheld the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman by confirming that the president does not have the power to remove a deputy ombudsman. To recall, despite prevailing case law that he could not do so, former President Rodrigo Duterte entertained a …
The flying laptop
By Herman M. Lagon The jokes arrived faster than software updates. Within hours, social media had already turned the country’s latest “laptop issue” into a national comedy festival. There were memes of flying gadgets, edited movie posters and sarcastic comments asking whether the poor device needed witness protection. Pinoys can turn almost anything into comedy. …
US, Iran not closer to ending war
Relative calm prevailed around the Strait of Hormuz yesterday (Philippine time) after days of sporadic flare-ups, as the United States waited for Iran’s response to its latest proposals to end more than two months of fighting and begin peace talks. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, May 8, that Washington expected a …
FOI and the public’s right to see
By Herman M. Lagon There are moments in policy-making when something long delayed finally feels within reach. The Senate’s 22-0 vote recently approving the proposed People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act on third and final reading is one of those. It is not loud or dramatic. No grand celebrations, no overwhelming noise online. But for …
God and our mundane affairs
By Fr. Roy Cimagala With Christ telling his disciples not to give what is holy to dogs, or throw one’s pearls before swine, (cfr. Matthew 7:6) we are somehow reminded that in our worldly affairs, no matter how technical they are or physically straining and dirty, we should never forget that God is always there, …
The plight of the fisherfolks
By Emmanuel Canto After a hiatus, I got a green light from Watchmen Daily Journal HR officer Ms. Iryn Humadas that I can revive my column In-Depth. As an opinion writer, this will be again my avenue to blend my personal perspective and research to influence, provoke thought and add nuance to public discourse. Again, …
Accountability vs. confidentiality: The Sara Duterte impeachment vote
By Ignacio R. Bunye Today, the House of Representatives faces a defining moment as it prepares to vote on whether to transmit the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate. The justice committee has already found probable cause, citing allegations that range from the misuse of confidential funds to unexplained wealth flagged …