DOES THE BUDGET FOLLOW NEED OR POLITICAL POWER?
A district should not have to elect the president’s son or cousin to get the roads, bridges and flood protection it needs. People pay taxes regardless of whom their congressman knows.
Commentary · October 28, 2026
THERE’S A BUDGET INSERTION IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT IT?
Someone told me in the comments, “Your guess is as good as mine.”
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Latest stories
View all →HOW THE NEXT CHIEF JUSTICE IS CHOSEN
The Judicial and Bar Council has finished interviewing candidates to succeed Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who is due to retire on November 6. GMA News reported the completed interviews on October 27. The interviews are one stage of a process that gives the President a…
ABOUT HOW A VACANCY IN THE VICE PRESIDENCY WOULD BE FILLED
Senators are debating whether they should promise to turn down the vice presidency if Sara Duterte is removed from office. Alan Peter Cayetano renewed that appeal on October 27; Malacañang said talk of replacing her was premature. Here are five questions behind the discussion.
Commentary
View all →PHILIP LUSTRE AND THE COST OF DEFENDING A POST
Philip Lustre Jr. went to a media forum in Quezon City on Saturday, October 24. Shortly afterward, police arrested him on a cyberlibel warrant from a Davao City court. He said he did not even know someone had filed a criminal complaint against him.
WHY DID MARCOS MOVE VINCE DIZON OUT OF DPWH?
I see documented progress in administration and enforcement, alongside delays and unfinished work.
THE PAGES BEHIND THE LAUGHING EMOJIS
I want to know who’s running these pages, how they’re connected, and whether they’re making money from political content that gives readers only part of the information.
Explainers
View all →ABOUT THE PAUSE ON BIR’S ONLINE REGISTRATION SEAL REQUIREMENT
Online sellers and content creators no longer have to meet the October 31 deadline to display the BIR Registration Seal Badge. The Bureau of Internal Revenue suspended mandatory display on October 26, but that does not mean tax registration and other tax duties have been…
ABOUT WHAT THE BUDGET RULING MEANS FOR GOVERNMENT SPENDING
A court ruling against budget provisions raises an immediate question: does government spending stop? The answer depends on which funds we mean. The Budget department's October 25 explanation helps separate the restrictions from spending that can continue.
ABOUT THE PROPOSED PORK IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
The government is considering higher pork tariffs and a temporary limit on imports to help local hog raisers. For families buying meat, the question is what has actually changed—and what remains a proposal.
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