Ang Kritiko

 The case against Senator De Lima should be dropped without prejudice.  Looking back at the Marcos era and post EDSA era, many trumped up charges against the opposition have been filed to silence criticism. Make no mistake that this case is not similar to those in the past. Sen. Benigno Aquino was sentenced to die due to alleged possession of illegal weapons. Sen. Panfilo Lacson was implicated in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case. Both charges were found to be fabricated. The two are known critics of past administrations. Globally, authoritarian practices are seen using the judiciary to wreak havoc. Suharto of Indonesia and Najib of Malaysia are known to send their critics to prison.  So the case of Sen. De Lima is an old fashioned, capricious extension of government muscle. Atty. Tony Lavina examined the demurrer of Sen. De Lima. He found out that (1) the prosecution failed to establish the conspiracy between Sen. De Lima and certain Jad Dera for the purpose of drug t...

Former mayor of Davao City and the sixteen president of the Philippine republic is often considered by many scholars as the face of neo-authoritarianism in the Philippines. Spectators around the world left shocked as the Philippines turned autocratic shortly after the series of liberal- democratic reforms headed by Asia’s darling of democracy, Benigno Aquino III. Question : Is there really a new emergence of authoritarian ideals in the country? Or is this just a cycle being repeated in the course of history? Authoritarianism in the region.  Collective Authoritarianism  Singapore lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, an island-state known for its economic prosperity. But as prosperous the economy there is, political freedom in the country is yet to mature. People Action’s Party rules the country for over 50 years without sturdy opposition. Efforts from the opposition wing were seemingly fruitful based on the result of 2011 elections, but easily diminished in 2015 when the ruli...