The Diplomat | Author
Mong Palatino
Mong Palatino served for two terms in the House of Representatives in the Philippines representing the youth sector.
He is a regular blogger and Global Voices regional editor for Southeast Asia and Oceania.
July 29, 2021
Olympic Champion Hidilyn Diaz Deserves an Apology From the Philippine Government
By Mong Palatino
The Philippines’ first-ever gold medalist had an earlier claim to fame: being accused of conspiring against the Duterte administration.
July 07, 2021
Why are Former Philippine Presidents Running for Lower-Level Posts?
By Mong Palatino
President Duterte's mooted vice presidential run would follow in the footsteps of other recent ex-leaders.
June 08, 2021
Duterte’s Forgotten Federalism Agenda is Dead
By Mong Palatino
Duterte's promise to introduce a federal system joins a long list of unfulfilled campaign promises.
May 17, 2021
Can a United Opposition Defeat Duterte at the 2022 Philippine Elections?
By Mong Palatino
In attempting to bring together a scattered opposition, the recently launched 1Sambayan movement faces a host of challenges.
March 26, 2021
A Philippine Plebiscite That Rebuked President Duterte and China
By Mong Palatino
Voters' rejection of a plan to subdivide the island of Palawan into three provinces has been hailed as a victory against oligarchy and foreign encroachment.
March 09, 2021
Myanmar’s Coup: The View from Manila
By Mong Palatino
The Philippines government has condemned the military coup, but does not want any similar scrutiny of its own human rights record.
February 02, 2021
A Brief History of Charter Change Attempts in the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
Successive Filipino leaders have sought to amend the country's constitution. Will Rodrigo Duterte succeed where his predecessors have failed?
December 28, 2020
A Deadly and Disastrous 2020 for the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
Guilty or not for exacerbating the suffering of Filipinos in 2020, Duterte is facing potentially tougher challenges in 2021.
October 21, 2020
Why Is Rodrigo Duterte Still Popular in the Philippines?
By Mong Palatino
Despite allegations of corruption and his ineptitude in handling the COVID-19 crisis, the Philippine leader's popularity continues to climb.
September 21, 2020
Rodrigo Duterte: The Weak Strongman of the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
Mounting concerns about the Philippine President's health threaten to play into elections due in 2022.
August 19, 2020
Are Schools in the Philippines Ready to Open in a Pandemic?
By Mong Palatino
The start of the school year in the Philippines has been delayed, again. Can the Duterte government gets its act together?
July 13, 2020
How Duterte’s Anti-Terror Law Unleashed Public Outrage Against His Leadership
By Mong Palatino
With an ongoing pandemic and economic turmoil, many in the Philippines were enraged that the government prioritized passing an anti-terror law.
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