‘The government should prepare a political and security contingency plan if something happens to Duterte while he is standing trial for crimes against humanity at the ICC.’
FORMER President Duterte has reportedly grown weak and has stopped taking his medicines. According to his ex-wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, who recently visited him, Duterte has not been eating well and is now “skin and bones” and has difficulty walking.
Many of his supporters fear that if not given immediate medical attention, his condition may worsen. He has probably realized that an interim release would not be possible for inmates like him facing heinous charges, such as crimes against humanity.
The government should prepare a political and security contingency plan if something happens to Duterte while he is standing trial for crimes against humanity at the ICC. Millions of his followers will certainly denounce the current administration if something happens to him. There is little doubt that possible social unrest may spread and may turn volatile and chaotic.
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Despite the damaging claims that she left the city of Manila with a huge P10.2 billion in debt, former Mayor Honey Lacuna has not issued any public statement to dispute or deny any of the allegations made by re-elected Mayor Isko Moreno.
The latter has presented documented evidence on the irregular and enormous cash advances by some city hall officials two months before the May 2025 elections. We’ve heard the camp of Lacuna has been consulting with lawyers and a PR agency on how to respond.
Meanwhile, Moreno has again transformed the Recto, Divisoria, Quiapo and R10 districts into more livable areas. They were forsaken and neglected by the past administration. How in the world could Lacuna and most councilors stand the tons of garbage piled up on most street corners of the city?
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In her commencement speech at UP, multi-awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho urged the 2025 college graduates to “always ask the hard questions” to confront the problems of our country. She also challenged them to live down the proud UP mantra with “Eh, ano kung UP ka” which has done little to manifest genuine service, compassion and kindness to countless marginalized communities in the country,
Soho came from the College of Mass Communication, but unlike her UP colleagues in the same profession, she had the distinction of facing real dangers and risks in broadcast news coverages, probably like no other in broadcast journalism in the country.
She emphasized that honor and service should come first before excellence in their fields and careers, reiterating a strong similar message by former UP Economics Professor and NEDA Chief Solita Monsod. In her last lecture to UP students some years ago, Monsod expressed her disgust over UP graduates, all government scholars, of course, who chose to leave abroad to pursue “excellence” in their reputed professional achievements while ignoring their calling to make a difference in their own country.
Soho reminded the graduates that lowly and ordinary people should indeed matter more and should be part of their self-fulfilling plans and ambitions. Soho mentioned a touching story in her college life about a certain Aling Suming Agapito, a very helpful and loving office staff member in the admin office for many years.
