It is with pleasure that we share with you our November occasional paper, written by Senior Research Associate, Mark Davis M. Pablo. Entitled, “Frontline: Marawi”, the paper explores the constellation of enabling factors, which culminated in the militant takeover of Marawi. Domestically, the politics of rido or clan feud set a chain of events which… Read More

November 21, 2017 Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute The Philippines has just successfully concluded its hosting of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit and Related Summits, and some observers argue that the accession of ASEAN and China to kickstart negotiations on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute In the past days President Duterte told Filipinos of his plan to be frank with China in bringing up Philippine and Asean concerns during their meeting at Apec in Vietnam. Specifically, he said he would press the urgency of Asean and China coming up with a Code… Read More

When ASEAN’s Leaders and partners descend on Manila for the ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit this November, the association will once again have cause to highlight itself as a model of regionalism and to reflect upon its purpose as a global player. In view of ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary and the dramatic changes that… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute  Could Southeast Asia be turning the page on its inter-state disputes to focus on its internal ones? This is one theme that emerged from the recently concluded meeting of defense chiefs from all over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The meetings, held last week in… Read More

Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute  The Mining Industry Coordinating Council, cochaired by the finance and environment secretaries, recently voted to overturn the ban on open-pit mining through Department Administrative Order No. 2017-10. The order, which specifically stopped open-pit mining only for copper, gold, silver and complex ores, had been issued by then… Read More