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Outgoing President Duterte will leave a safe Philippines that has lower crime rates than before, Malacañang said Thursday, May 19. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar issued the statement after an expanded report from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) stated that Duterte will leave a government that has “failed in its obligations to protect human rights” and “encouraged a culture of impunity” by preventing investigations from independent bodies as well as bringing to trial police officers implicated in crimes committed during his six-year war against drugs. “In contrast to what a handful of critiques would want the international community to hear and read about our country, the Duterte Administration leaves a legacy of a safe and secure Philippines,” Andanar said. Andanar also said that the latest CHR report was only “a rehash of old issues,” to which the government has already responded. Nevertheless, Andanar said the Palace is “pleased that this body has independently exercised its mandate,” which is “a testament to how the Duterte Administration has allowed our democratic civic space to be enriched under his term.” “Foreigners who come to the country as tourists are seeing how safe our streets and communities are,” he said. Andanar said this only affirms “the more than half drop in the crime rate since President Rodrigo Roa Duterte took office in 2016, and validated by his high satisfaction, performance, approval and trust ratings at the end of his presidency.” The acting presidential spokesman then asked the body to coordinate with the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat “so that its recommendations may be discussed with all the government offices it has put to task.” In many of his speeches, Duterte would repeatedly hit CHR for conducting investigation on his bloody war on drugs by saying the latter should also investigate the victims of illegal drugs.

The Lady Spikers, who finished the second round at No. 2, face an enormous task of taking on the top-ranked and unbeaten squad in the Lady Bulldogs in their 5 p.m. encounter. De La Salle is fresh from a sweep of Ateneo in the second stage of the stepladder and didn’t need to use its twice-to-beat perk for an extension. But the Lady Bulldogs are more than ready ahead of the Finals after getting eight days of rest, perhaps the longest downtime a team can get given the league’s grueling schedule thanks to their 14-0 sweep in the eliminations. Lady Spikers assistant coach Benson Bocboc, however, shrugged off the Lady Bulldogs being undefeated and considered the match as a crucial race of wins. This match is going to be tough between the lady bulldogs and lady spikers.

hen Philippine President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. takes office on June 30, he will be faced with more tumultuous external conditions than those faced by his predecessors. The systemic attributes of the world today are entering deeper into multi-polarity with most of the emerging great powers such as China, India, and (to a lesser extent) Japan situated in Asia. The resurgence of Russia’s power, coupled with its assertive maneuvers in Eastern Europe, also add to the complexity of structural shifts. Additionally, the decline of the West’s material capabilities due to demographic issues (among other things) has fueled their desire to engage more in the East. Therefore, the Philippines will be engaging throughout the Asian landscape at a time when the continent has cemented its position at the center stage of global geopolitics. Commitments to voters have been vague, promising lower prices of basic goods, building infrastructure and steering the Philippines out of a pandemic-induced economic slowdown. His ducking of presidential debates and interviews has frustrated opponents and some business and academic groups have complained voters had no chance to hear him argue his vision. His avoidance of scrutiny and dominance of social media proved a winning strategy. Conventional wisdom suggests an autocratic approach would be a mistake given his late father's dictatorial legacy, but Filipinos have shown desire for a strongman-type ruler.