Dindo Manhit, President of the Stratbase-Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi) for Strategic and International Studies Image Source: The Philippine Star The Philippine electoral landscape—once notoriously marred by slow manual counting, rotational blackouts, vote rigging, and gun violence—has drastically improved. The continued adoption of the automated polling system, particularly the Vote Counting Machine or VCM (formerly… Read More

The complexities of the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea disputes encompass not only the legal and geopolitical challenges faced by the Philippines and China, but also they extend to the environmental damage wrought by destructive fishing and construction practices in the contested areas. Yet, despite the importance of the preserving the health of… Read More

August 16, 2016 Sen. Panfilo Lacson said allegations that quarrying and smuggling in Zambales are part of China’s reclamation activities in the South China Sea should be investigated. Armed Forces Philippine soil used for South China Sea reclamation?  MANILA, Philippines – The Senate blue ribbon committee will conduct an inquiry into Chinese mining operations and illegal excavations… Read More

By Patricia Lourdes Viray FILE – In this May 11, 2015, file photo, an aerial photo taken through a glass window of a military plane shows China’s alleged on-going reclamation of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Ritchie B. Tongo/Pool Photo via AP, File MANILA, Philippines — Environmental advocates recently called for… Read More

By Pia Lee-Brago and Louise Maureen Simeon MANILA, Philippines – Former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario believes that the Philippines can engage in a friendly dialogue with China but a multilateral approach must be made with countries that supported the legal track to bring the South China Sea dispute before the Arbitral Tribunal. He… Read More

Japan’s Coast Guard said a record 14 Chinese government vessels, some with weapons mounted on them, entered a contiguous zone surrounding Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea at one point on Monday. Kyodo News via AP, File MANILA, Philippines – Japan has updated the Philippines on developments in the East… Read More

By Pia Lee-Brag The Philippines submitted evidence to the United Nations tribunal and raised six major issues, accusing China of causing severe harm to the marine environment in building its artificial islands within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Spratlys. Google Earth MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines can file a new case against China before… Read More