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.
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April 26, 2022
Why Did Duterte Veto the Philippine SIM Card Registration Act?
By Mong Palatino
The bill was criticized by civil liberties groups and citizens. But President Rodrigo Duterte is hardly known for his emphasis on freedoms.
April 04, 2022
How Long Will Rodrigo Duterte Remain Neutral in the Philippine Election?
By Mong Palatino
So far the Philippine leader has refrained from anointing a successor. But he could just be waiting for the right moment.
March 21, 2022
Introducing the Colors of the Philippine Election
By Mong Palatino
As campaigning heats up, Leni Robredo's "pink wave" is facing off against the red-green tandem of the Marcos-Duterte ticket.
March 07, 2022
The Philippine Government’s Distrust of Fact-Checkers
By Mong Palatino
Fact-checkers are a vital bulwark against the wave of election-related misinformation. But such efforts are coming under attack.
February 25, 2022
Philippines’s Mandatory SIM Card Registration Threatens Privacy and Free Speech
By Mong Palatino
Opponents claim that the new law could become "a potent tool for mass surveillance and authoritarianism."
February 07, 2022
Presidential Election Campaign Kicks Off in the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
On May 9, 65.7 million Filipinos will go to the polls to choose who will succeed President Rodrigo Duterte.
January 20, 2022
The Philippines in 2022: Elections, Omicron, and a Delayed Recovery
By Mong Palatino
The nation faces a tough year, but the upcoming presidential election heralds winds of change.
December 30, 2021
The Philippines in 2021: Duterte’s Flip-Flops and Women Holding the Line
By Mong Palatino
The past year has reflected the tendencies and eccentricities that marked Rodrigo Duterte's first five years in power.
December 17, 2021
Three Decades of Election Protests in the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
Even compared to past Philippine elections, the upcoming presidential polls are shaping up as unusually divisive.
December 03, 2021
Why the Fight for the Philippines Vice Presidency Matters
By Mong Palatino
Whoever wins the number two slot could end up playing a significant political role in the next administration.
November 01, 2021
Rodrigo Duterte: From Philippine President to Senator?
By Mong Palatino
Duterte is not acting like a leader ready to give up power and secure his legacy, but a frantic politician negotiating for political survival.
October 20, 2021
The Nobel Peace Prize and Free Speech in the Philippines
By Mong Palatino
The awarding of the prize to pioneering journalist Maria Ressa points to the deterioration in press freedom under President Duterte.