2006

AGRARIAN REFORM Mable, Jing A. Five years more. {With new lands to acquire and distribute, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program looks beyond 2008.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 17 14

ANTIPOLO AND ANGELITO GATLABAYAN Mable, Jing A. Local power. {On Mayor Angelito Gatlabayan’s watch, Antipolo shows other municipal governments how to handle local problems.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 22 14

ARAGONCILLO, LEANDRO AND SPIONAGE Torre, Ricky S. The spy who put his friends out in the cold. {As Leandro Aragoncillo pleads guilty to spying, the people to whom he leaked classified information face the specter of official harassment.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 20 2

ARROYO AND CONSTITUTION Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Apocalypse now. {In its desire to change the constitution, the Arroyo administration is brewing a war with its enemies. Will the Philippines survive this conflict?} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 16 2

ARROYO AND CONSTITUTION Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Stopping a runaway train. {Civic and Catholic lay organizations join forces with the political opposition in the campaign against President Arroyo’s attempt to force the amendment of the constitution.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 13 8

ARROYO AND ELECTORAL FRAUD Vigilia, Wendell. Switcheroo. {Just as the Palace thinks the Arroyo tapes scandal is over, new evidence turn up to bolster the charge of electoral fraud against the President.}
Philippines Free Press 2006 March 25 8

ARROYO AND THAKSIN Vigilia, Wendell. It can’t happen to her? {President Arroyo knows something Thaksin Shinawatra does not know: how to control the military.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 7 6

ARROYO’S ADMINISTRATION AND MARINE CORPS Torre, Ricky S. Day of reckoning. {The military brass cannot repress its restive officers long enough in President Arroyo’s favor, warns Sen. Rodolfo Biazon.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 2

ARROYO TAPES Vigilia, Wendell. Obstruction and failure. {The report on the House inquiry into the Arroyo tapes.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 14

ARROYO’S TAPES AND MUTINEERS Vigilia, Wendell. What is their crime? {The ‘plotters’ wanted to withdraw support for Mrs. Arroyo. The government says that’s a coup.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 22 6



BICOL AND JOEY SARTE SALCEDA My people are paramount. Philippines Free Press 2006 November 11 17

BILLBOARDS AND DPWH Torre, Ricky S. Tearing them down. {Public works secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. launches a campaign against killer billboards.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 4 14

BILLBOARDS AND DISASTERS Outdoor hazards. {Those giant billboards are good for business, but they kill.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 14 6

BINAY, JEJOMAR AND MAKATI Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. I never ran from a fight. {Malacanang tries to remove Mayor Jejomar Binat from Makati. Rambotito fights back.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 28 2

BUDGET AND JOEY SALCEDA Defender of the faith. {For Rep. Joey Salceda, approving the budget is fulfilling a contract with the people.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 11 14

BUDGET AND NATIONAL SPENDING BILL Vigilia, Wendell. Deadlock on the budget. {Congress ends its business without passing the national spending bill for 2006.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 17 6

BUDGET AND PORK BARREL Why not just slaughter the pig? {A budget controversy leads to fresh suggestions to abolish the pork barrel.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 9 12

BUDGET AND RATIONALIZATION PLAN Alvarez, Ramiro C. No layoffs, please. {To save their jobs, state employees are resisting a so-called rationalization plan.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 22 26

BUDGET (SUPPLEMENTAL) Vitamin for the locals. {The Palace goes for a P46-billion supplemental budget. Will this one pass?} Philippines Free Press 2006 August 12 12

BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND TERRORISM Serrano, Butch. The border guard. {The Bureau of Immigration cleans up and expands its role in the war against terrorism.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 30 14

CHARTER CHANGE Still fighting for freedom. {More than a century after freeing themselves from foreign rule, the Filipinos remain in the grip of unwanted leaders.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 24 2





CHARTER CHANGE AND CHARACTER CHANGE Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Still in character. {In the wake of a prayer rally led by the Catholic Church calling for character change, President Arroyo revives her plans to overhaul the constitution.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 30 4

CHARTER CHANGE AND EDGARDO J. ANGARA Two steps forward. {Cha-cha need not be full of twists and turns. All it takes are two steps.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 17 10

CIVIL SERVICE AND CORRUPTION Alvarez, Ramiro C. Tough hides. {The Philippines slips in the fight against corruption. Most poorly paid civil servants couldn’t care less.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 21 22

COMELEC; CONSTITUTION; PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. They just won’t stop. {A government initiative is going to the Supreme Court after a setback in the Comelec.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 9 2

COMELEC REFORMS Vigilia, Wendell. What are they counting on? {The administration is cocksure it will prevail. A glimpse into the unfair situation.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 22 6

COMMUNIST INSURGENCY Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Blast from the past. {President Arroyo risks her political survival by making a sudden policy shift toward all-out war against the communist insurgency--- the menace that has proved to be in history’s favor.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 1 2

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY Torre, Ricky. The final push. {With President Arroyo’s go-ahead, the House majority prepares for a constituent assembly- and to drag the Senate into a showdown in the Supreme Court.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 9 4

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Constitutional holes. {The House majority begins to stir up a storm with its legal skirting to force a constituent assembly.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 16 10

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY; CONSTITUTION AND PEOPLE POWER Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. People Power lives. {Led by religious groups, the Filipinos stop the House do-it-yourself constituent assembly. But its perpetrators refuse to give up.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 23 4

CONSTITUTION Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Spoiling the party. {The campaign to force the revision of the Constitution may be aborted, thanks to its own instigators.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 18 4

CONSTITUTION Vigilia, Wendell. There’s still time. The House believes the Constitution can be revised before the end of the year.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 2 10

CONSTITUTION (1987) Abueva, Jose V. Toward constitutional and governance reforms. Philippines Free Press 2006 December 9 24

CONSTITUTION AND ADVOCACY; CHARTER CHANGE Mable, Jing A. Advocates of change. {The advocacy commission takes the proposal to amend the Constitution on to the people.} Philippines Free Press 2006 14

CONSTITUTION AND CHARTER CHANGE Mable, Jing A. Gift of change. {A new constitution may be ready by Christmas.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 9 20

CONSTITUTION AND HOUSE Vigilia, Wendell. Breaking up is hard to do. {Can the house revise the constitution without the Senate?} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 11 8

CONSTITUTION AND HOUSE Vigilia, Wendell. A slow kind of rush. {What do you mean by that? Finding out is a waste of time, so don’t try, period.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 10 8

CONSTITUTION AND LABAN Mable, Jing A. Change or perish. {Sen. Egardo Angara and his party, Laban, join the Arroyo administration in the drive for constitutional reforms.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 10 14

CONSTITUTION AND PARLIAMENTARY Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Setting the stage. {President Arroyo and her allies want the Supreme Court to change its mind and allow the revision of the Constitution. They also have other options to force a shift to a parliamentary government.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 7 2


CONSTITUTION AND PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE Vigilia, Wendell. Grand deception. {The Supreme Court rejects the revision of the Constitution by people’s initiatives.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 4 2

CONSTITUTION AND PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE Vigilia, Wendell. This can’t be the people’s voice. {The Supreme Court receives evidence of fraud in the supposed people’s initiative, which turn out to be financed by the government.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 21 6

CONSTITUTION AND SENATE Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Democracy in action. {The Senate is now willing to discuss constitutional amendments, or so President Arroyo and her allies have been led to believe. That’s all folks.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 3 2

CONSTITUTION AND SIGAW Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Never say die. (The political offensive to change the Constitution suffers another setback. But its instigators refuse to give up.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 2 4

CONSTITUTION AND WOMEN Mable, Jing A. Women for change. {An advocacy Commission led by women presses for the proposed amendments to the Constitution.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 25 12

CONSTITUTION; CHARTER CHANGE Torre, Ricky S. and Wendel Vigilia. Charter express. {President Arroyo shows her hand in the campaign to force the amendment of the Constitution. But what is she really after?} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 15 2

CULTURAL LITERACY; FILIPINOS AND CANADA Nuguid, Nati. Of spoons and pigs. {The ill treatment of a Filipino boy in a Canadian school blows up into a cultural controversy.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 27 16

DEATH PENALTY Vigilia, Wendell. Death penalty: no quarrel here. {The opposition backs President Arroyo’s proposal to abolish capital punishment.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 6 14

DEATH PENALTY AND JUDICIAL ERROR Hitting back. {Crime watchdogs want the Supremes out for judicial error.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 8 12

DEATH PENALTY AND LEO ECHEGARAY How much is human life? {Not a few thousand pesos but nobody should profit from somebody’s death.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 1 16

DEATH PENALTY AND LEO ECHEGARAY ‘Judicial error’. {The chief justice reiterates an old opinion, setting off a fresh controversy.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 24 10

DEATH PENALY AND SENTENCES Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. An easter offensive. {President Arroyo commutes all death sentences-and kicks up a political controversy with the Catholic Church.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 29 2

DEFENSE AND AVELINO CRUZ Farewell, civilian. {Defense secretary Avelino Cruz resigns, causing a tremor in the shaky cabinet and making way for the possible appointment of a successor from the military.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 18 8

DENGUE CONTROL Alvraez, Ramiro C. Biting criticisms. {The program for dengue control and prevention is a failure. Officials offer a lot of excuses.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 7 14

DEPED Another politician. {Rep. Jesli Lapus is the new education secretary.) Philippines Free Press 2006 July 29 10

DEPED AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Jesli A. Lapus: entrepreneurship in the secondary level. Philippines Free Press 2006 November 25 28

DISASTERS Alvarez, Ramiro C. Quakes, volcanoes and killer waves. {The Philippine government has no plan for immediate rebuilding after a great disaster.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 1 14

DPWH Enhancing Philippines’ natural super regions through road development. Philippines Free Press 2006 November 4 17

DRUGS AND THE PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY Alvarez, Ramiro C. Scoundrels and scalawags. {A flaw in the law has led to shame for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 4 12

ECONOMY Mable, Jing A. Beating the odds. Philippines Free Press 2006 July 29 16

ECONOMY Mable, Jing A. Total Change. {Bucking her enemies, President Arroyo forges ahead with her great plans for the economy.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 29 12

EDUCATION Torre, Ricky S. Just coping. {It’s that time of the year when the government tackles education, using a formula that only compounds its gritty realities.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 17 2

EDUCATION AND CHILDREN Alvarez, Ramiro C. These are bad times for kids. {Children suffer from neglect, abuse, poor education and the worst in their environment.} Philippines Free Press 2006 28

EDUCATION AND MALNUTRITION; SCHOOL FEEDING Feed the school children. {Rep. Hermino Teves finds a way to solve malnutrition and keep children in school.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 21 18


ELECTION (2004) AND CHEATING Serrano, Butch. Sure, there was cheating. {Senate investigators hear new testimony about the rigging of the 2004 election.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 15 10

ELECTIONS AND AUTOMATION Automating the vote. {Congress rushes a law that would partially automate next year’s midterm elections.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 4 6

ELECTIONS AND AUTOMATION Hard insurance. {The administration supports proposals for use of flawed vote-counting machines.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 8

ELECTIONS AND AUTOMATION If there’s a will, there’s a way. {After another defeat in the Supreme Court, Malacanang is considering the use of flawed vote-counting machines by legislation. Philippines Free Press 2006 September 9 6

ELECTIONS AND AUTOMATION Megadisaster. {The ombudsman finds against a Comelec official in an irregular automation deal.}. Philippines Free Press 2006 July 15 6

ELECTIONS AND AUTOMATION Serrano, Butch. Untrustworthy watchdog. {Senator Gordon wants electoral reforms before the revision of the constitution.} Philippines Free Press 2006 12

ELECTIONS AND AUTOMATION Torre, Ricky S. A match for the supremes? {Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez makes a finding that could bring her into a direct collision with the Supreme Court.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 21 2

ELECTIONS AND AUTOMATION Vigilia, Wendell. The Ombudsman’s ‘earthquake’. {The ombudsman “reverses’ the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Comelec’s deal with Mega Pacific.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 14 8

ELECTIONS AND CONSTITUTION Vigilia, Wendell. Now you see it, now you don’t. {The House’s draft has no final version but it has a better, rival proposal. Which one will prevail in the fight for the members’ support?} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 23 8

ELECTIONS AND LAKAS Vigilia, Wendell. It’s getting late. {The midterms are fast approaching, but Lakas remains stuck with a dead dream.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 25 6

ELECTORAL FRAUD Vigilia, Wendell. Connecting the dots. {How can a fake passport prove electoral fraud?} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 8 6

ELECTRICITY; ENERGY Abuse of market power. {A government trader is found guilty of manipulating prices on the electricity spot market.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 9 16

ELECTRICITY; ENERGY Vigilia, Wendell. Short-circuiting the market. {Investigators look into price manipulation on the electricity spot market. Philippines Free Press 2006 October 28 18

ENERGY; MASINLOC POWERPLANT Mable, Jing A. Who’s the culprit?. {The sale of a profitable power plant goes sour. Blame it on a flawed energy law.} Philippines Free Press 2006 August 12 16


EO 464; EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE Quezon, Manuel L., III. Limits of power. {The Supreme Court dishes out something for everyone. But will everyone always be happy?} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 6 10

EO 464; EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE Nuguid, Nati. This can’t be happening. {Malacañang will appeal the Supreme Court rulings that clip President Arroyo’s powers.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 20 10

EO 464; EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE Torre, Ricky S., Butch Serrano and Wendell Vigilia. Bitter defeat. {Malacanang loses the battle over EO 464 in the Supreme Court, but it continues to be guided by that highly contentions directive.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 6 2

EO 464; EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE (DECISION) Full disclosure. {With EO 464’s defeat, the military cannot keep the findings of its electoral fraud probe secret.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 29 8

EO 464 ; EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE; PROTEST ACTIONS Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. ‘Darkness that shrouds freedom’. {In another setback for President Arroyo, the Supreme Court invalidates her “calibrated preemptive response” to protest rallies. So, is the parliament of the streets now free? Let’s see.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 6 8

ESTRADA, JOSEPH Nuguid, Nati. Turning the tables. {Testifying in court, Joseph Estrada accuses his accuser of lying and corruption.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 8 10

FARM SUBSIDIES Alvarez, Ramiro C. No new beginning. {Arthur Yap returns as agriculture chief and abolishes farm subsidies.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 18 24

FERTILIZER SCAM Serrano, Butch. Could it be true? {President Arroyo remains silent on the charges that she benefited the most from the fertilizer scam.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 18 16

FERTILIZER SCAM Serrano, Butch. How will they get out of this mess? {The administration operators behind the fertilizer scam are in deep trouble} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 22 8

FERTILIZER SCAM AND JOCELYN BOLANTE They will fall one by one. {It’s confirmed: the fertilizer scam is the reason for Bolante’s arrest in the United States. Mrs. Arroyo’s House allies should not go there.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 23 14

FERTILIZER SCAM AND JOCELYN BOLANTE Vigilia, Wendell. What’s going on? {Jocelyn Bolante turns up in the United States and lands in jail.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 29 6

FERTILIZER SCAM AND MARCOS WEALTH Serrano, Butch. How they did it. {The COA confirms use of recovered Marcos wealth in the fertilizer scam.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 8 8

FLAG Respect the flag. {The author of the flag law laments the wrong handling of the tricolor. Philippines Free Press 2006 June 24 6

FREE TRADE; PHILIPPINES AND UNITED STATES Alvarez, Ramiro C. A train to catch. {A free-trade deal with the United States is still possible for the Philippines, offering some hope for a hungry nation.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 2 12

GAMBLING AND CHARLIE ANG An insignificant witness. {Charlie Ang is back. Should anybody be worried?} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 25 8

GAMBLING AND CHARLIE ANG The Gambler loses. {Joseph Estrada’s gambling consultant is coming home---in chains.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 30 10

GUIMARAS ISLAND; DISASTER Paradise oiled. {A leaking vessel and the errors by its skipper bring an environmental and economic nightmare to beautiful Guimaras island.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 9 8

GUIMARAS OIL SPILL Island in the black stream. {The struggle of Guimaras to recover from a major oil spill could take up to 25 years.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 16 10

GUIMARAS RESTORATION Alvarez, Ramiro C. Can we restore Guimaras? {The Philippines does not have the expertise for a job that can take up to 100 years.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 7 22

HONASAN, GREGORIO The old runner stumbles. {Fugitive Gregorio Honasan makes a mistake and gets captured.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 25 4

HONASAN, GEGORIO Protesters or plotters? {An old coupmaker and military activists are called to account for their adventures.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 2 8

HOUSE AND MANNY VILLAR Vigilia, Wendell. They may be wrong. {The House and the Palace see improved relations with Villar’s senate.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 1 12

HUMAN RIGHTS AND JOVITO PALPARAN Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. He won’t fade away. {Amid the growing international concern over the political killings in the Philippines, the Arroyo administration tries to find a new job to suit the “talents’ of its favorite, now retired general. Jovito Palparan Jr.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 23 2

HUMAN RIGHTS AND POLITICAL KILLINGS Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Blaming the accusers. {Is the stage being set for pinning the spate of political killings on the embattled left? Foreign organizations pressuring the Arroyo government to solve the murders will soon find out.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 30 2

ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH; MARCOSES New tale of hidden wealth. {A US banker says he has discovered $950 billion in Marcos Swiss bank accounts.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 9 14

ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH; MARCOSES Nuguid, Nati. Let’s just fight in court. {Just as negotiations for a settlement appears set to go forward, Imelda Marcos balks.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 3 6

ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH; MARCOSES Nuguid, Nati. Let’s make a deal. {The government is now willing to open compromise talks with Imelda Marcos.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 22 12

ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH; MARCOSES Nuguid, Nati. No, you can’t make a deal. {The PCGG’s settlement talks with Imelda Marcos draw objections.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 13 18

IMMIGRATION LAWS AND UNITED STATES Alvarez, Ramiro C. Losing the promised land. {A revision of US immigration laws threatens to lead to the expulsion of millions of illegal migrants, including 1.5 million Filipinos.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 27 18

IMPEACHMENT Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Setting the date. {The slew of complaints that President Arroyo’s enemies have brought against her may yet be foiled by one technicality--- the period covering the ban on impeachment, to be determined by the House majority.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 15 2

IMPEACHMENT Vigilia, Wendell. It’s impeachment time again. {More than 300 complaints are bringing a new, stronger case against President Arroyo. Will it pass?} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 1 8

IMPEACHMENT Vigilia, Wendell. Waiting for July. {The House minority is warming up for the next impeachment tussle.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 20 12

IMPEACHMENT AND ARTISTS Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Not the usual suspects. {Artists, professionals and other non-political types flock to Congress to file a slew of impeachment complaints against President Arroyo.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 8 2

IMPEACHMENT AND BISHOPS Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Black Sabbath, {The opposition may be working hard to impeach President Arroyo, but witness whose efforts are being recognized by malacañang---the bishops.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 29 8

IMPEACHMENT AND BISHOPS Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. How to seek out the truth. {The Catholic bishops stop short of supporting President Arroyo’s impeachment, in accordance with a papal encyclical that offers better ideas about dealing with politics.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 22 2

IMPEACHMENT AND COMPLAINTS Vigilia, Wendell. Short work. {Eight impeachment complaints against President Arroyo: seven down, the last goes in a few days.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 6

IMPEACHMENT AND COUP PLOTTING Torre, Ricky S. Suspicious sectors. {Big businessmen and even some church leaders are part of a concerned effort to overthrow President Arroyo---or so her officials strenuously claim.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 29 2

IMPEACHMENT AND FILIPINO-AMERICANS Vigilia, Wendell. They can’t get away. {President Arroyo’s allies may become targets in the international drive against corruption.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 2 6
IMPEACHMENT AND HOUSE Vigilia, Wendell. Ignoring the people. {More than half of the population want President Arroyo to be impeached, but the majority in the House couldn’t care less. Philippines Free Press 2006 August 12 6

IMPEACHMENT AND JOSEPH E. ESTRADA Convicted in the streets. {After nearly six years since his arrest, Joseph Estrada finally faces his accusers in court.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 18

IMPEACHMENT AND PROCLAMATION 1017 Nuguid, Nati. The people’s voice. After proclamation 1017, more Filipinos want President Arroyo out of power. But who will take her place?} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 8

IMPEACHMENT AND SENATORS Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. The Senators’ initiative. {A group of senators launches a timely road tour to force President Arroyo’s resignation, as other influential sectors begin to speak out against her rule.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 22 2

IMPEACHMENT; CHURCH AND STATE Torre, Ricky S. Holy smoke. Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez’s impeachment complaint against President Arroyo stirs up the usual controversy over the constitutional principle of separation of church and state.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 15 4

IMPEACHMENT; COUNSELS FOR THE DEFENSE OF LIBERTIES (CODAL); UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Vigilia, Wendell. Against our rights. {With the cards stacked against the opposition here, civil libertarians take the Arroyo administration to the United Nations, a move that the palace has dismissed as ‘absurd’ and ‘propaganda’.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 10

JUETENG AND OSCAR CRUZ Target. {A crusading prelate who has pricked the corrupt in the government is marked for arrest.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 18 12

LA NINA Alvarez, Ramiro. A soaking summer. {Weather experts say La Nina will bring heavy rains only to some parts of the country. But how disastrous will that be?} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 18 22

LABAN NG DEMOKRATIKONG PILIPINO Mable, Jing A. LABAN takes up a new fight. Philippines Free Press 2006 June 10 17

LANAO DEL SUR AND REPRESENTATIVE FAYSAH RPM DUMARPA; ISLAM; MUSLIMS Tubianosa, Diony. ‘We are not terrorists’ {Not all Muslims are terrorists and Islam is not a religion of terror. Lanao del Sur Rep. Faysah RPM Dumarpa wants the world to understand that.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 20 14

LEFTIST LEGISLATORS AND REBELLION Vigilia, Wendell. Out for justice. {Free again, five leftist legislators are going after the justice secretary’s scalp.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 20 6

LIBERAL PARTY Serrano, Butch. Divide and rule. {Malacanang’s hand shows in the leadership dispute in the Liberal party.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 18 14

LIBERAL PARTY Torre, Ricky S. Testing the Liberals. {This long-standing party has found new relevance in modern Philippine politics, but is disrupted once again by division.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 24 12

LITO LAPID Serrano, Butch. Going to the movies. {President Arroyo wants Lito Lapid to be her mayor in Makati.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 13 16

MAKATI AND JEJOMAR BINAY Serrano, Butch. The last hard man. {A former movie action-hero wants to take Makati for the Arroyo administration. Can he get past the city’s tough mayor, Jejomar Binay?} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 3 12

MAKATI AND JEJOMAR BINAY (SUSPENSION) More ahead for hizzoner. {Makati’s Jejomar Binay, whose suspension has suddenly made him a presidential possibility, expects additional publicity from his enemies.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 4 8

MANILA AND DANILO LACUNA Torre, Ricky S. Mr. Manila. {Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna has observed a critical collaboration with the city’s present administration. Now he believes he is ready for the top post.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 25 14

MANILA AND LITO ATIENZA Ika-435 Araw ng Maynila. Philippines Free Press 2006 June 24 15

MARIKINA AND FERNANDOS Fabros, Dann. Pursuit of excellence. {whether for Marikina or Metro Manila, Bayani and Marides Fernando aim high.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 2 14

MELO COMMISSION The assassins ride again. {The political killings resume. Foreign businesses warn the Arroyo administration.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 25 10

MIGRANTS’ FUND; OWWA FUNDS Policy of concealment. {Malacañang resists a Senate inquiry into the migrants’fund, raising the possibility of another confrontation in the Supreme Court.} Philippines Free Press 2006 August 19 2

MIGRANTS—LEBANON; OWWA FUNDS Torre, Ricky S. Slow trip out of hell. Philippines Free Press 2006 August 12 2

MILENYO AND WEATHER OFFICIALS Alvarez, Ramiro C. Don’t blame the weatherman. {Officials knew Milenyo was coming. But they didn’t do anything.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 21 14

MILENYO (TYPHOON) Torre, Ricky S. Heart of darkness. {Typhoon milenyo wreaks unprecedented havoc on Luzon island, shutting down Metro Manila and hampering the economy.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 14 2

MILITARY Dissent and discipline. {The soldiers have problems, but these cannot be solved with arms.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 25 6

MILITARY AND COUP PLOTTING Problems in the military. {Unless President Arroyo deals with the soldiers’ complaints, they will not stop plotting against her.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 18 8


NUEVA ECIJA AND GOVERNOR TOMAS JOSON III Mable, Jing A. Flexing local muscle. {Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III shows what local autonomy can do for the countryside.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 2 14

NURSING AND PRC Bad turn for the regulator. {Now it’s the Professional Regulation Commission that is under investigation.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 4 10

NURSING EDUCATION Conflict of interest. {Professionals have warned about the dangers of the commercialization of the nursing education. The leakage in the licensure exam shows they are right.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 2 12

NURSING EXAM Cleaning up the mess. {A court ruling on the controversy over a compromised nursing board exam leads to more problems.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 28 10

NURSING EXAM No vacancy. {Unless they pass a new exam, this year’s nursing graduates face a bleak future--- here, the country they plan to abandon.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 9 12

NURSING EXAM Retake it or leave it. {Despite complications, the government will surely order a new nursing board exam.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 14 12

NURSING REVIEW Nursing a scandal. {Cheating in the licensure exam worsens the nursing mess.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 29 10

NURSING SCHOOLS Incredible. {For trying to maintain high standards of training, established nursing schools are threatened with evaluation and closure.} Philippines Free Press 2006 August 12 14

NURSING SCHOOLS The nursing mess. {The proliferation of nursing schools impairs the quality of training, resulting in thousands of graduates who are unqualified to become nurses.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 22 12

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO AND MA. AMELITA CALIMBAS-VILLAROSA I will not fail my people. {Occidental Mindoro has a woman running its business in the House.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 15 14

PANGASINAN AND REPRESENTATIVE GENEROSO TULAGAN Amurao. George T. From father to son. {Rep. Generoso Tulagan is not building a political dynasty. He just wants his son to continue his work for the Third District of Pangasinan.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 22 14

PARANAQUE CITY AND FLORENCIO BERNABE Mable, Jing A. Out of the PIT. {Mayor Florencio Bernabe helps Paranaque back to its feet and leads the city on its return to development.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 8 14

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM AND HOUSE Vigilia, Wendell. Interim parliament. {Speaker Jose de Venecia sees this happening by July but the House minority says he’s hallucinating.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 15 6

PASAY CITY AND GARBAGE CONTRACTS Mayor Peewee Trinidad gets canned for illegal garbage contracts. Philippines Free Press 2006 September 16 6

PCGG Power to investigate. {The Supreme Court rules: PCGG officials have no immunity from congressional investigation.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 28 6

PCGG AND SENATE Immunity Test. {The clash of wills between the Ssenate and the PCGG leads to a face-off in the Supreme Court.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 30 6

PCGG, SENATE AND SABIO Coming to a head. {The standoff between the senate and the PCGG leads to a confrontation in the Supreme Court.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 23 12

PCSO AND STL Torre, Ricky S. Diversifying the game. {The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office continues to innovate to make its product meet the loftier objective of expanding public service.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 16 12

PEACE DEVELOPMENT AND MINDANAO Mable, Jing A. The pursuit of peace. {Despite distractions, the Arroyo administration presses its search for peace in Mindanao.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 9 14

PEACE DEVELOPMENT AND SULU The partners. {Sulu Rep. Munir M. Arbison and his father, Luuk Mayor Abdurahman K. Arbison, ame the pursuit of peace and development a joint venture. Philippines Free Press 2006 July 15 14

PEOPLE’S INITIATIVES AND CONSTITUTION Torre, Ricky S., Butch Serrano and Wendell Vigilia. Government initiative. {Defying a Supreme Court ruling, the administrative sets into motion the people’s initiative provision to force the amendment of the Cosntitution.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 8 2

PEOPLE’S INITIATIVES AND OPPOSITION Vigilia, Wendell. Brawl in the courts. {The opposition may be forced to challenged the legality of the government-backed people’s initiatives.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 29 6

PEOPLE’S INITIATIVES AND SUPREME COURT Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. The aftermath: recriminations, scapegoats. {The Supreme Court’s decision on the people’s initiative campaign stirs up a storm among the president’s men.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 11 4

POLITICAL KILLINGS Torre, Ricky S. Ultimate responsibility. {President Arroyo forms a commission to investigate the spate of political killings. Her critics belittle that move, saying the problem is her government.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 2 2

POLITICAL KILLINGS Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Return of the executioners. {Torture assassination, infringement on press freedom-the sins of the discredited past are once again here, in President Arroyo’s era.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 10 2

POLITICAL KILLINGS AND HUMAN RIGHTS Passing the blame. {President Arroyo pins the linking of the military to political killings on her enemies.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 16 8

POLITICAL KILLINGS AND JOURNALISTS Alvarez, Ramiro C. A shiner for the Filipinos. {The US Senate investigates the unsolved journalist killings in the Philippines.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 3 8

POLITICAL KILLINGS AND LEFTISTS Torre, Ricky S. Blood on the ground. {Another throwback to the Marcos years-leftists being killed in President Arroyo’s era.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 27 2

POLITICAL KILLINGS; LEFTISTS; JOURNALISTS In the pressure cooker. {Suddenly President Arroyo orders the solution of the killings of leftists and journalists.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 10

POPULATION GROWTH Nuguid, Nati. Intellectual dishonesty. {Suddenly the Philippine population growth rate falls to 1.95 percent. Is this possible?} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 27 8

POVERTY Economy of dependence. {The poverty of most Filipinos is not only the government’s fault but also their own.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 7 16

POVERTY; HUNGER Hunger stalks the land. {Nearly three million Filipino families suffer from extreme hunger.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 18 16

PRISON Alvarez, Ramiro C. Mission: free the jailbirds. {A religious group is helping the government to decongest the country’s overcrowded jails.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 6 23

PROCLAMATION 1017 AND SUPREME COURT Legal decree, illegal acts. {The Supreme Court rules: Proclamation 1017 is constitutional, but not the suppression of dissent and the intimidation of the press.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 13 12

PROCLAMATION 1017; EMERGENCY POWERS Torre, Ricky S. The last resort. {Critics of the proclamation declaring a state of national emergency take their case to the final arena, the Supreme Court.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 18 6

PROCLAMATION 1017; EMERGENCY POWERS Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. 1017 What did she achieve? {President Arroyo lifts the state of National emergency, saying order has been restored. Or has she established a new order?} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 18 2

PROCLAMATION 1017; EMERGENCY POWERS Torre, Ricky S., Butch Serrano and Wendell Vigilia. Checking the queen. {The senate investigates government acts under Proclamation No.1017 and finds those actions not allowed even under martial law.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 25 2

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OVERPOPULATION Alvarez, Ramiro C. The root of the problem. {Overpopulation causes the shortages in public schools, but the government refuses to deal with it.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 15 12

QUEZON CITY AND FELICIANO BELMONTE Serrano, Butch. Investing in the future. {“I am working to make hope happen,” Quzon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte says, “I want the ensuing reality to endure for many years.”} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 14 16

REBELLION AND JAMBY MADRIGAL One-woman mission. {Sen. Jamby Madrigal tries her hand at mediation and draws flak for it.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 22 10

REBELLION AND NPA Can you kill an insurgency. {President Arroyo wants to crush the NPA in two years. She doesn’t know the real enemy.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 8 8

REBELLION AND REBELS Vigilia, Wendell. Now for their prosecution. {The government files rebellion charges against the enemies of President Arroyo, including military and communist rebels.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 6 12

REMING Alvarez, Ramiro C. After Reming. {It’s time to ponder the increasing harshness of nature.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 16 4

REVIEW CENTERS Medication time. {Review center owners face charges for the nursing exam leakage. Is that all?} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 21 8

REVIEW CENTERS Should all be punished? {Independent review centers protest regulations that would kill them.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 25 12

REVIEW CENTERS AND PRC Time for accounting. {The Professional Regulation Commission is in trouble, review centers face abolition.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 11 10

SCOUTING Coeducational scouting. {Girls as boy scouts? The girl scouts won’t even consider the idea.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 18 12

SENATE Vigilia, Wendell. Doomsday is near. {Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago predicts the demise of the Senate by July.} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 27 12

SENATE PRESIDENCY Vigilia, Wendell. Changing of the guard. {The Senate is getting a new leader. Does this mean easier time for the administration? Philippines Free Press 2006 June 24 8

SENATORIAL RACE Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Angry pulse of the nation. {The senatorial race is widely understood to be a virtual referendum on the Arroyo administration-whose candidates would lose miserably if the elections were held today.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 9 8

SEX EDUCATION Beyond the birds and the bees. {The church makes a big fuss about the introduction of sex education in high school.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 15 10

SMALL-TOWN LOTTERY; STL; GAMBLING; LOTTERY; JUETENG Nuguid, Nati. Shall we play STL? {Here’s another government attempt to stamp out the illegal lottery jueteng.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 15 12

SMITH’S CUSTODY Winter of our disagreement. {A dispute over custody of a convict could lead to a chill in US-Philippine relations.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 30 12

SNAP ELECTION Nuguid, Nati. What if they call a snap election? {The people can take the initiative and amend the Constitution for a new presidential election. But the opposition should not be too confident. Who’s their candidate? Who will finance balloting?} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 6 16

SUBIC RAPE; NICOLE’S CASE AND VFA The end won’t matter much. {Nicole’s case is not only about rape but also about the Visiting Forces Agreement.} Philippines Free Press 2006 October 7 12

SUBIC RAPE CASE AND FOREIGN RELATIONS Not quite finished. {Justice is served, but the Subic rape case is not yet really over.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 16 16

SUPER REGIONS ; FARMERS; FERTILIZERS; ELECTIONS Vigilia, Wendell. Country Insurance. {The administration will woo provincial voters with billions of pesos worth of projects and loans.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 23 10

SUPREME COURT AND MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO Madam chief justice? {Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago gets nominated for the highest judicial office in the land.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 18 10

TEACHER ABUSE Nuguid, Nati. Intolerance cruelty. {Cases of teacher abuse prompt call for review of screening system.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 8 28

TERRORISM AND SAMSON MACARIOLA The specialist. {An airport security review turns into a he says, she says.} Philippines Free Press 2006 September 30 12

TERRORISM BILL Setting the record straight. {Lanao del Sur Rep. Faysah RPM Dumarpa rejects a terrorism bill that does not guarantee the protection of innocent citizens.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 3 10

TERORRISM BILL Vigilia, Wendell. Terrifying bill. {The House passes the terrorism bill, “sowing a state of danger” among the critics of President Arroyo.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 22 10

ULTRA STAMPEDE Nuguid, Nati. Must the show go on? {The Ultra stampede: 17 found liable, but the show that caused the tragedy is back.} Philippines Free Press 2006 March 25 10

VETERANS Mable, Jing A. The veterans’ legacy. {The Filipino veterans of World War II are still fighting. Their enemy: distortions in the history of that war.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 8 12

VFA What’s this deal? {The Philippines and the United States have a new defense agreement.} Philippines Free Press 2006 June 10 6

WAGE INCREASE Give us our due. {Metro Manila workers are unhappy with the P25 wage increase.} Philippines Free Press 2006 July 8 10

WAGE INCREASE Vigilia, Wendell. Give us better lives. {Filipino workers cry for a living wage. But who hears them?} Philippines Free Press 2006 May 13 2

WASTE AND SENATE; JAPAN AND PHILIPPINES Unacceptable deal. {The Senate looks into a controversial trade accord between Japan and the Philippines.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 18 14

WASTE (JAPAN) This deal could poison us. {An all-trade agreement with Japan might include hazardous waste.} Philippines Free Press 2006 November 11 12

WATER Alvarez, Ramiro C. Promise of a big dry. {Metro Manila goes dry. And El Nino is not yet here.} Philippines Free Press 2006 December 9 18

WOMEN Alvarez, Ramiro C. The privileged sex. {Filipino women, the freest of their sex in Asia, contribute little to their country’s economy.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 24

YUCHENGCO, ALFONSO Torre, Ricky S. The venturer. {In an era of crisis, Alfonso Yuchengco and his enterprise continue to render service to the country he calls home.} Philippines Free Press 2006 April 1 12

2005

AETAS; ANCESTRAL LAND; LAND REFORM; MOUNT PINATUBO Mable, Jing A. Return to Pinatubo. {The Aetas are back on their ancestral land and the Department of Land Reform works to make sure they will stay.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 9 12

AGRICULTURE AND ECONOMY Alvarez, Ramiro C. Battered by politics. {The economic managers paint a rosy picture, but agriculture does not agree with them.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 8 12

ARROYO ADMINISTRATION Torre, Ricky S. Standard assurance. {President Arroyo sounds a note of optimism in the wake of a very difficult year.} Philippines Free Press 2005 January 15 2

ARROYO AND CHURCH Sorry, wrong number. {The church explains its misinterpreted statement on President Arroyo’s crisis.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 30 14

ARROYO AND CHURCH Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Defining their positions. {The Catholic church advises restraint as President Arroyo’s most trusted allies turn against her.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 23 2

ARROYO AND CONGRESS Serrano, Butch and Wendell Vigilia. Breaking the break. {President Arroyo calls Congress to a special session. The legislators come and argue about what to do.} Philippines Free Press 2005 January 15 8

ARROYO AND DE CASTRO Out with you too. {The Veep plays it safe and gets thrown together with President Arroyo as target for people’s action.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 17 8

ARROYO AND ECONOMY Nuguid, nati. In the deepest valley. {Filipinos give President Arroyo the poorest grade for her tough economic decisions.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 18 10

ARROYO AND HOUSE OF CONGRESS Vigilia, Wendell. For the next fight. {the House minority discovers Mrs. Arroyo war chest for next year.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 8 10

ARROYO AND OPPOSITION Numbers game. {The opposition is finding it hard to force President Arroyo from power in the streets and in Congress.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 30 8

ARROYO AND OPPOSITION Torre, Ricky S. Hobbling along. {Despite her increasing unpopularity, President Arroyo is likely to stay in power—thanks to the shortcomings of her own enemies.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 13 3

ARROYO AND PLOTTERS Serrano, Butch and Wendell Vigilia. Plotters? Who, we? {Drilon and Mrs. Aquino are accused of planning to kill Mrs. Arroyo. Philippines Free Press 2005 October 15 4

ARROYO AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Alvarez, Ramiro C. Hard to sell. {President Arroyo has a pR problem, but she’s getting no help from the amateurs and infighters on the Palace communication staff.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 13 28

ARROYO AND RALLIES Cruising dissent. {President Arroyo’s mailed-fist policy on protests against her rule erupts into violence in a place sacred to fighters for democracy bringing back images of the Filipinos’ struggle against a dictatorship. Philippines Free Press 2005 October 29 2

ARROYO AND RALLIES Serrano, Butch, Ricky Torre and Wendell Vigilia. So the people will not know. {Besides a mailed-fist policy against the protest movement, President Arroyo has issued a gag order on her officials. Is the Philippines really headed toward a new order?} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 15 2

ARROYO AND RALLIES Torre, Ricky S. Hobbling along. {despite her increasing unpopularity, President Arroyo is likely to stay in power-thanks to the shortcomings of her own enemies.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 13 3

ARROYO AND RAMOS Nuguid, Nati. Why can’t he retired? {Fidel Ramos saves President Arroyo by trotting out his constitutional amendment project again, distracting Filipinos from their effort at removing her from office and worsening divisions in a country that wonders why he refuses to fade away.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 13 10

ARROYO AND SENATE Bullying the Senate. {President Arroyo wants the senators to accept that she’s the boss.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 29 6

ARROYO; ESTRADA; OPPOSITION Nuguid, Nati. Failure at first deal. {The administration tries reconciliation, but the opposition drives a hard bargain.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 3 6

ARROYO TAPES I’m that general. {A military official spills all at a Senate inquiry into the Arroyo tapes.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 8 6

ARROYO TAPES Nuguid, Nati and Wendell Vigilia. The Arroyo tapes. {A Palace official’s mistake blows up in the face of the administration sweeping the President into a corner from where there may be no getting out.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 25 2

ARROYO TAPES Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Convergence of forces. {The scandal of the Arroyo tapes brings the Philippines back to the last days of the Estrada presidency. How will it end this time for President Macapagal-Arroyo?} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 16 2

ARROYO TAPES Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Down memory lane. {Old songs are being revived in the scandal over the Arroyo tapes, including digital manipulation and destabilization. Philippines Free Press 2005 August 27 4

ARROYO TAPES Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Probing the Arroyo tapes. {The scandal worsens, but presidential silence and congressional filibustering have so far tempered its impact.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 2 2

ARROYO TAPES Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Sorry is not enough. {President Arroyo admits a lapse in judgment, fanning instead of easing public anger over an alleged electoral ripoff.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 9 2

ARROYO TAPES AND CONGRESSMEN Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Outstanding congressmen. {The chairmen of five congressional committees wrestle with cover-up artists, liars, double dealers and bunglers to discover the truth about the Arroyo tapes.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 30 2

ARROYO TAPES AND OPPOSITION Vigilia, Wendell. Preemption. {The Palace discloses the bugging of the President’s telephone and blames it on the opposition, only to get embroiled in another controversy.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 18 8

BIRD FLU AND AGRICULTURE Alvarez, Ramiro C. Bird flu scare. {Three ducks in Bulacan get sick, sending jitters across the poultry industry. But there’s no danger yet to public health. Philippines Free Press 2005 August 6 28

BIRD FLU PANDEMIC Nuguid, Nati. Now it’s drug grab. {What do you think of breaking the law to fight a bird flu pandemic?} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 29 8

CAGAYAN DE ORO AND CONSTANTINO G. JARAULA Consistency and tenacity in constitutional amendment. Philippines Free Press 2005 October 15 16

CHARTER CHANGE Vigilia, Wendell. The big rush. {De Venecia wants a vote on the constitutional-amendments proposal next week.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 3 14

CHURCH AND STATE What separation? {The church’s hand shows in the crises pushing President Arroyo to the brink.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 2 10

CHURCH AND STATE Nuguid, Nati. Wanted: fighting shepherd. {Who will replace Cardinal Sin as leader of the church in battles against the state?} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 9 10


COCO LEVY FUND Alvarez, Ramiro C. Coconut juice. {The disclosure of coco levy fund misuse leads to investigations and official exits.} Philippines Free Press 2005 May 28 8

CONSTITUTION AND FOREIGN RELATIONS Amurao, George T. For Filipinos only. {Amending the Constitution is a strictly domestic affair. Filipinos should never allow foreign intervention.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 15 12

CONSTITUTION AND UNITED STATES Serrano, Butch. Changes made in the USA. {The government hires a US consultant for amending the Constitution. Wow!} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 24 10

DE CASTRO, NOLI AND PRESIDENCY Nuguid, Nati. Can he govern. {The vice president says he is ready to become president. Many Filipinos doubt it.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 23 6

DENGUE EPIDEMIC Alvarez, Ramiro C. Deadly wait. {The Health Department waits for 16,000 people to fall ill before it alerts the nation to a dengue epidemic.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 3 10

DENGUE OTBREAK Nuguid, Nati. It’s working. {President Arroyo’s ratings are improving, though still in the negative.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 20 8

DISASTERS How nature changes history. {If the past is any guide, the response to the December 26 shock will loom larger in history than the wave itself. Philippines Free Press 2005 January 15 22

CONGRESS AND JOSE DE VENECIA Vigilia, Wendell. Called to account. {Unhappy congressmen have an issue against Speaker de venecia: money.} Philippines Free Press 2005 November 26 10

ENERGY; OIL Nuguid, Nati. The coming oil crunch. {Soaring oil prices are threatening the Philippine economy, but all that Filipinos can think of is politics.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 27 2

ENERGY; OIL Oil’s not well. {A threatening energy crunch brings out good and bad ideas for survival.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 3 4

ENERGY; OIL Satre, Gary L. The crisis hidden in plain view. {The world is not running out of oil. The age of cheap oil, however, is ending.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 3 2

ENVIRONMENT Alvarez, Ramiro C. Natural disharmony. {The dispute at environment shows the trouble with overstretching in the centralized system.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 4 30

ENVIRONMENT Alvarez, Ramiro C. Your job first. {The environment’s protector must choose between politics and his job.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 15 30

FAMILY PLANNING; POPULATION You don’t speak for us. {A group launches a campaign to educate President Arroyo in family planning and development.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 17 16

FAMILY PLANNING; POPULATION; POVERTY Rosario, Rico R. Too many people, too much poverty. {Not waiting for the government to stop listening to the church, a legislator goes to the slums and teaches the poor about the link between poverty and overpopulation.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 16 14


FERTILIZER SCAM Alvarez, Ramiro C. Never so bad. {The Agriculture Department’s fertilizer program hardly benefits small farmers. And now here’s this scam.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 3 10

FERTILIZER SCAM Serrano, Butch and Wendell Vigilia. Explosive fertilizer. {The fertilizer scam investigation is getting dangerous, especially to the lead investigator.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 3 8

FERTILIZER SCAM Serrano, Butch and Wendell Vigilia. Really myserious. {The program for which P728 million in fertilizer fund was released is nonexistent.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 17 10

GAMBLING AND EMPLOYMENT Alvarez, Ramiro C. A way out. {If the government is serious about eradicating jueteng, it must give jobs to the workers in the illegal lottery. But it only has programs.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 2 14

GARCIALLANO, GARCI Nuguid, nati. Hello, Garci. {Where are you? A lot of people want to talk to you-even on the phone.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 2 8

GARCILLIANO, VIRGILIO Torre, Ricky S. and Wendell Vigilia. Well, hello, Garci. {Virgilio Garcillano is back. Would he tell the truth about last year’s presidential election? Philippines Free Press 2005 December 3 2

GARCILLIANO, VIRGILIO Torre, Ricky, Butch Serrano and Wendell Vigilia. The man of the tapes. {Virgilio Garcialliano finally talks to congressional investigators, but tells them nothing.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 17 2

GIRL SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES Ruaya, Pat. 65 years of serving God and country: Girl Scouts of the Philippines. Philippines Free Press 2005 May 28 28

GLOBAL WARMING Alvarez, Ramiro C. Killer gases. {Unresolved issues continu to bog down world efforts to stop global warming.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 30 24

GONZALES, RAUL Nuguid, Nati. Shut up. {The Justice secretary takes a beating for saying the wrong things.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 30 16

GSIS Mable, Jign A. Doing it right. {Fresh from its success in a boardroom fight, the Government Service Insurance System proceeds to build up its strength.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 20 14

HACIENDA LUSITA Nuguid, Nati Bitter harvest. {Is politics behind the government decision to dissolve the stock option at Hacienda Luisita.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 15 8

HOUSING Satre, Gary L. Building homes, building lives. {By assisting those who need help getting decent and affordable housing, NHA may actually be reducing the potential for terrorism.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 29 10

ILIGAN CITY Vergara, Ricky B. Getting up. {With a new leader, Iligan regains its spirit and rises to restore itself to being the industrial city of the South.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 18 14

IMPEACHMENT Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Accounting time. {Suspicion over both sides of the House in the wake of the vote that saved President Arroyo from impeachment.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 24 2

IMPEACHMENT Vigilia, Wendell. Taking no chances. {Presidential phone calls and releases of funds to congressmen invite suspicions that Mrs. Arroyo is not fighting fairly.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 3 8

IMPEACHMENT AND HOUSE Vigilia, Wendel. Anything for survival. (The House allows the impeachment complaint to go up, but don’t expect a fair fight.) Philippines Free Press 2005 August 6 8

IMPEACHMENT AND HOUSE Vigilia, Wendell. Dangerous game. {The House majority gets warned against making a mockery of the impeachment process.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 13 8

IMPEACHMENT AND HOUSE Vigilia, Wendell. Striking anew. {Choosing to fight weak charges, President Arroyo asks the House to dismiss the opposition’s impeachment complaint.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 20 6

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Serious business: the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. Philippines Free Press 2005 July 9 22

SIN, JAIME Imperfect liberator: Cardinal Jaime Sin, 1928-2005. Philippines Free Press 2005 July 2 18


JOURNALISTS Nuguid, Nati. Lamentation of the home chief. {Angelo Reyes draws fire for bewailing journalists’ cry for justice.} Philippines Free Press 2005 May 28 12

JUETENG AND MICHELANGELO ZUCE Serrano, Butch. Big man, BIG TROUBLE. {A new witness comes forward with damaging testimony against President Arroyo.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 13 6

JUETENG Torre, Ricky S. and Butch Serrano. The perils of jueteng. {Congressional investigations threaten to expose officials who accept payoffs from operators of the illegal game.} Philippines Free Press 2005 May 28 2

JUETENG AND SENATE Torre, Ricky S. and Butch Serrano. First draw. {The opening hearing of a Senate inquiry into jueteng rattles the President’s family, the police and Congress.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 11 2

JUETENG CORRUPTION Serrano, Butch. Put out the fire: {With witnesses coming out to link President Arroyo to jueteng corruption, her allies in the Senate come to her rescue by pushing for the termination of the investigation. Philippines Free Press 2005 July 9 6

JUETENG INVESTIGATION Serrano, Butch. Operation: witnesses. {The jueteng investigation loses steam as witnesses withdraw under government pressure.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 16 8

JUETENG SCANDAL Serrano, Butch and Wendell Vigilia. Crackdown. {President Arroyo declares war against jueteng. Her justice chief threatens legal action against charges without evidence.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 4 2

JUETENG SCANDAL Serrano, Butch and Wendell Vigilia. Worse disclosures: the jueteng scandal becomes more explosive, but the Senate inquiry suddenly goes on recess. Philippines Free Press 2005 June 25 6

JUETENG SCANDAL Torre, Ricky S. and Butch Serrano. Witness prevention program. {The turnaround of two key witnesses in the jueteng scandal is a blow on the opposition’s case. But this episode is not yet over for the Arroyo administration.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 20 2

JUETENG SCANDAL Torre, Ricky S., Butch Serrano and Wendell Vigilia. We have seen this before. {The administration insists on blaming the opposition for the jueteng scandal, refusing to see the real hand that drives it.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 18 2

LAND REFORM Alvarez, Ramiro C. Still fighting for land. {After 17 years of agararian reform, farmers are still fighting even for land that has already been given to them.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 2 24

LAND REFORM Mable, Jign A. Consolidating forces and resources: Department of Land Reform after 17 years. Philippines Free Press 2005 July 9 16

LEADERSHIP CRISIS Descent into apathy. {Religious groups lament the Filipinos’ seeming lack of interest to resolve the leadership crisis. Philippines Free Press 2005 November 26 8

LEADERSHIP CRISIS AND CHURCH Nuguid, Nati. This is about morality. {Church leaders tell President Arroyo’s defenders the real issue in the leadership crisis.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 24 6

LEADERSHIP CRISIS AND RALLIES Torre, Ricky S. Winners and losers. {Which ones are they really in the long-playing leadership crisis in the Philippines.} Philippines Free Press 2005 November 26 2



MAKATI CITY AND JEJOMAR BINAY Showing them. {For Mayor Jejomar Binay, there is no better place for him to demonstrate good government than the Republic of Makati.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 4 12

MANILA CITY AND LITO ATINEZA Champion of local autonomy. {Manila Mayor Lito Atienza has a road map to progress. Care for a ride?} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 25 12

MARTIAL LAW AND ARROYO Alvarez, Ramiro C. Will she call out the military? {No martial law, says Mrs. Arroyo, but Filipinos have begun to feel repression.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 16 10

MARTIAL LAW AND ARROYO Torre, Ricky and Wendell Vigilia. Moving toward martial law. {President Arroyo throws out maximum tolerance in favor of a policy that her critics say is designed to repress democratic rights.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 8 2

MILITARY CORRUPTION AND CARLOS F. GARCIA Nuguid, Nati. Guilty. {A court-martial sends a former military official to prison for undeclared wealth.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 17 14

MINING Death on the mountain. {Despite regulation, mining remains a highly dangerous business in the Philippines.} Philippines Free Press 2005 November 26 16

MNLF CANDIDATES Breach of alliance. {The government dumps MNLF candidates, endangering the peace agreement with the former separatists rebels.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 20 10

NLRC AND ROY SENERES Nuguid, Nati. The last holdover. {Roy Seneres storms out of the Arroyo’s government. Is he really a plotter or just a target of intrigue?} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 11 12

PCSO Mable, Jing A. Good gaming. {The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office shows the good side of gambling.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 23 12

PEACE PROGRAMS Mable, Jign A. Making peace. {The National Peace Program looks beyond negotiations and plans for development and social transformation.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 8 14


POVERTY Nuguid, nati. It’s incredible. {The United Nations, too, doubts the Arroyo government’s rosy report of decreasing poverty.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 4 10

PUP Mable, Jing A. Power game. {Can a bungled job solve PUP’s leadership problem?} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 16 28

QUEZON AND RAFAEL P. NANTES Blueprint for progress. {Liberal Party Rep. Rafael P. Nantes approaches the economic development of Quezon province with the mind of a builder and an entrepreneur.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 6 14

REVOLUTION; NUEVA CACERES Obias, Jose Fernando. The liberation of Nueva Caceres. Philippines Free Press 2005 September 24 14

ROCO, RAUL S. Torre, Ricky S. The angry reformer: Raul Roco, 1941-2005. Philippines Free Press 2005 August 20 12

SENATE AND FRANKLIN DRILON Serrano, Butch. Breakaway. {Franklin Drilon’s withdrawal could cost President Arroyo the Senate.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 23 10

SENATE AND FRANKLIN DRILON Serrano, Butch. It’s cold up there. {Franklin Drilon keeps the Senate presidency, but not for long.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 6 12

SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM Vergara, Ricky B. Is social security in danger? {Yes, four years ago. Today, with its resources and investments better managed, reforms under way, and plans drawn for more strength, the fund is on its way to real longevity.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 24 16

SONA 2005 Torre, Ricky S. A nation in turmoil. {President Arroyo delivers her state of the nation address without touching on the crisis of leadership that, for many, defines the true state of the nation. Philippines Free Press 2005 August 6 2

SUBIC RAPE CASE; VFA Serrano, Butch. Plugging the holes. {Disturbing developments in the Subic rape case spur a senator to take the first steps toward a review of the VFA.} Philippines Free Press 2005 December 3 16

SURVEYS Abcede, Rick M. Reading surveys with a raised eyebrow. Philippines Free Press 2005 December 3 22

TSUNAMI Race against time. {The world moves to save as many as 5 million people left homeless and destitute by one of the history’s worst calamities.} Philippines Free Press 2005 January 15 18

TSUNAMI Unheeded signs. {At obscure scientific conferences and expert conclaves over the last decade, researchers had urged government officials to establish warning systems. But among the many problems that plague South Asia-poverty, disease, civil wars-rare but deadly waves seemed a low priority. They were, until the 9.0 quake hit.} Philippines Free Press 2005 January 15 16

TSUNAMI AND INDONESIA Asian tragedy. {From the heart of the region’s tsunami disaster; a cry for help rises. The world hears and responds.} Philippines Free Press 2005 January 15 12

TUITION FEES The curse of tuition. {School fee increase impoverish parents, force bankcruptcies, and drive students to drop out.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 4 32

URBAN POOR There ought to be a law: the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor. Philippines Free Press 2005 July 9 24

URBAN POOR Rosario, Rico R. & Ed Galvez. Urban poor’s true alagad: Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta. Philippines Free Press 2005 July 16 18

VAT Going for the VAT. {The new finance chief must save the value-added tax or else.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 30 18

VAT Nuguid, Nati. A coming vattery. {Value-added tax begins to push power rates up. Things will get worse next year.} Philippines Free Press 2005 November 26 12

VAT Nuguid, Nati. The vattle begins. { The opposition takes the VAT to court. The government fights back.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 16 12

VAT BILL Vigilia, Wendell. Third chamber. {Did the conferees violate the Constitution in approving the VAT bill?} Philippines Free Press 2005 May 28 16

VAT; FOOD; PRICES Alvarez, Ramiro C. Taming prices. {The VAT is here, but the price stabilization program is hardly off the planning board.} Philippines Free Press 2005 July 9 30

VENABLE CONTRACT AND NORBERTO GONZALES Serrano, Butch. Crisis in the making. {The stonewalling on the Venable contract could lead to a confrontation between the Palace and the Senate.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 8 8

VIRGIN COCONUT OIL Alvarez, Ramiro C. Healing oil. {Virgin coconut oil can heal not only illnesses but also the coconut industry.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 11 24

WAGE INCREASE Minimal wage. {As expected, the wage boards issue orders for pitiful raises in the minimum wage.} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 11 16

WAGE INCREASE Amurao, George T. For a living wage. {Rep. Roseller Barinaga refuses to give up the fight for a legislated increase for workers.} Philippines Free Press 2005 August 13 14

WAGE INCREASE Vigilia, Wendell. Alms for the poor. {Workers will get a wage increase, but not what they are asking for?} Philippines Free Press 2005 June 4 8

YORAC, HAYDEE Model of honesty: Haydee Yorac, 1941-2005. Philippines Free Press 2005 September 24 12

YUCHENGCO, ALFONSO Torre, Ricky S. His country’s son. {Alfonso Yuchengco-businessman, diplomat, philanthropist and political activist-regards himself as a Filipino before anything else. He has demonstrated this pride in his wide field.} Philippines Free Press 2005 September 3 12

ZAMBOANGA CITY AND CELSO LOBREGAT Southern change. {Having left a successful career in the national political arena, Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat now helps direct a hard-working city that defies its inaccurate image.} Philippines Free Press 2005 October 29 14

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE AND ROSELLER L. BARINAGA In the interest of the workingman. Philippines Free Press 2005 August 13 17

2004

ABU SAYYAF AND US Moving on pressure. {A warning from the United States sends the Philippines cracking down on the bandit group Abu Sayyaf.} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 24 8

AGRARIAN REFORM AND CARP Mable, Jing A. Full speed ahead. {The Department of Agrarian Reform plans to hurdle all legal obstacles and use all its powers to carry out its program.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 12 12

AGRARIAN REFORM AND ROBERTO M. PAGDANGANAN Mable, Jing A. Beyond the goal. {On the watch of Secretary Roberto M. Pagdanganan, the Department of Agararian Reform, surpasses its target, and now looks forward to bringing the land reform program to its conclusion.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 17 12

AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES Alvarez, Ramiro C. The modernization program that never was. {The five years for the development of agriculture and fisheries came and went but the two sectors remain backward.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 5 19

AIR POLLUTION; AIR QUALITY Death in the air. {Two years after the launching of a campaign against atmospheric pollution, the government has done little to improve the country’s air quality.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 24

AQUINO, BENIGNO Nuguid, Nati. Who’s the mastermind? {A convict and a witness say they know the brains behind the murder of Benigno Aquino Jr.} Philippines Free Press 2004 September 4 10

ARMM AND PAROUL HUSSIN Mable, Jing A. Unfinished struggle. {Parouk Hussin takes the next step toward the political, social and economic development of Muslim Mindanao.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 14 12

ARROYO AND DE CASTRO Mable, Jing A. The team to beat. {Combining experience and popularity; the team of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Sen. Noli de Castro is the blockbuster in the May 10 election.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 24 12

ARROYO AND ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. Twilight time. {Night falls on President Arroyo’s opponents as her star continues to rise.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 1 2

ARROYO AND PLUNDER Torre, Ricky S. Still fighting. President Arroyo is once again charged with plunder; courtesy of Francisco Chavez and two peasant groups.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 12 8

ARROYO AND FPJ Torre, Ricky S. And now, osmosis. {Turncoatism blurs the line between the camps of the President and Da King.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 17 2

ARROYO AND MEDIUM-TERM PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN Nuguid, Nati. Is it workable? {President Arroyo will take her plans for the next six years to congress.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 16
ARROYO AND PRESIDENTIABLES Torre, Ricky S. On the hustings. {President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the five other candidates vying for her job take their messages to the voters.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 21 2

ARROYO’S CABINET Torre, Ricky S. Lady’s choices. {As expected, the latest presidential appointments have invited controversy.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 17 14

ARROYO’S PRESIDENCY Mable, Jing A. What lies ahead. {The Republic disintegrating? Forget these doomsday scenarios, says the President, who promises a bright future if given a mandate of her own.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 1 12

ARROYO’S PRESIDENCY AND CATHOLIC CHURCH Torre, Ricky S. The Bishops’ move. {President Arroyo is not the elected leader? The Catholic Church, of all sectors briefly ponders that question.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 14

BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME Nuguid, Nati. Landmark decision. {The Supreme Court accepts battered woman syndrome as defense and frees a death convict.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 7 6

BIOTECHNOLOGY; BT CORN Alvarez, Ramiro C. Poison on the cob. {Opponents of genetically modified crops press the fight against Bt corn.
Philippines Free Press 2004 July 17 24

BIRD FLUE New outbreak. {Asian countries are culling millions of chickens to stop a strain of bird flu that is proving to be deadly to humans. Can the Philippines keep the virus out?} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 7 12

BIRD FLUE VIRUS Racing against time. {Human-to-human transmission of the bird flu virus is possible. It may have already started. Can a pandemic be prevented.?} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 14 10

BRIDGE PROGRAM A bridge too far. {The Department of Education backs down on a five-year high school plan.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 19 12

BRIDGE PROGRAM Don’t cross the bridge. {A party-list group wants to stop the Education Department’s bridge program.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 1 10

BRIDGE PROGRAM Magalit, Pedro B. Jr. Mere stopgap. {The Education Department’s bridge program for high school is not the solution to the educational crisis.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 26

BRIDGE PROGRAM Nuguid, Nati. Bridging the gap. {The presecondary school program begins this year.} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 17 14

BUDGET Nuguid, Nati. Budget politics. {Wrangle over electoral advantage leads to reenactment of last year’s budget.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 14 8

BURNHAM, GRACIA AND ABU SAYYAF Torre, Ricky S. Guessing the unsaid. {Gracia Burnham’s testimony revives the question of collusion between the military and the Abu Sayyaf.} Philippines Free Press 2004 August 14 14

CAMARINES SUR AND VILLAFUERTES Amurao, George T. Father and son. {If things go as planned, Luis Villafuerte will move on to Congress and his son Luis Villafuerte, Jr. will succeed him at the provincial capitol to keep Camarines Sur on the road to progress.} Philippines Free Press 2004 March 20 14

CATANDUANES AND ARACELI TABUZO BERNARDINO-WONG Quinto, Ros. Catanduanes. {The country’s leader in the nontraditional marine export industry takes on the business of legislation-for her love of Catanduanes.} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 24 28

COCONUT INDUSTRY Albarez, Ramiro C. Never-ending problems. {Driven to despair by the unresolved coco levy controversy and low prices, the coconut industry faces possible extinction with the rampant legal and illegal cutting of coconut trees. Philippines Free Press 2004 May 1 30

COMELEC Slow Watchdog. {The Comelec insists it is ready for the election. But how many voters are there really? Where is the new voter roll? Where are the new voter IDs?} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 1 6

CONGRESS AND JOSE DE VENECIA Acosta, Jojo. Man with the plan. {Speaker Jose de Venecia harnesses his office to President Arroyo’s program of government and to the proposed shift to the parliamentary system.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 31 12


CONGRESSIONAL COUNT Nuguid, Nati. Numerical tyranny. {The supporters of President Arroyo prevail, packing a congressional committee that will count the presidential and vice-presidential votes. The outnumbered opposition fights back.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 12 2

CONGRESSIONAL COUNT Nuguid, Nati. Pushing it. {Again the opposition challenges the legality of the congressional count.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 26 2

CONGRESSIONAL COUNT Torre, Ricky S. Digs. {The performance of Congress, which will still counting the votes for president and vice president, can be summed up by this feisty congressman.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 12 6

CONSTITUTION Nuguid, Nati. Give it a rest. {Plans to amend the constitution give way to legislative work supportive of the President’s government program.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 18

CONSTITUTION AND PARLIAMENTARY Nuguid, Nati. It’s now or never. {With President Arroyo leading the initiative, the Constitution will surely be amended for a shift to the parliamentary system.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 17 8

CONSTITUTION AND SENATE Serrano, Butch. Not now. {Can Senate President Franklin Drilon stop the constitutional amendment train this time?} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 17 12

DE CASTRO’S VICE-PRESIDENCY Noli Kabayan de castro for vice president. Philippines Free Press 2004 May 1 23

DEATH PENALTY AND ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. A date with death. {It is up to the Supreme Court now to stop the President’s decision to carry out capital punishment this election campaign season.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 31 10

DRUGS Illegal drugs: a continuing menace.Philippines Free Press 2004 January 10 24

EARTHQUAKE AND IRAN ‘This is the Apocalypse’. {A massive earthquake destroys Iran’s ancient city of Bam. The Islamic state welcomes aid from all countries, except Israel.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 10 2

EL SHADDAI Torre, Ricky S. The gatherer. {As the nation sinks deeper in crisis, El Shaddai leader Mariano Mike Velarde reaffirms the relevance of his charismatic movement.} Philippines Free Press 2004 September 4 15

ELECTION AND COUNTING Nuguid, Nati. We will vote, but… {The election will be held as scheduled and as usual-the votes will be counted by hand.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 31 2

ELECTIONS Nuguid, Nati. Celan elections? Not this year? {The Comelec cannot cleanse the voter rolls so expect the worst in May.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 21 10

ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. Dangerous games. {Charges and countercharges, controversial proposals, warnings of civil war, military adventurism--- it’s really election time in the Philippines.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 7 2

ELECTIONS AND ARROYO Nuguid, Nati. Gloria forever? {Mrs. Arroyo is headed for a six-year term—and maybe another and another.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 5 12

ELECTIONS AND ARROYO Torre, Ricky S. The day after tomorrow. {What will happen when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wins the presidential election? The answer lies in today’s developments} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 5 8

ELECTIONS AND AUTOMATION Nuguid, Nati. What a mess. {The Supreme Court voids the Comelec’s contract for automated elections. Whose head must roll?} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 24 2

ELECTIONS AND CHURCH Nuguid, Nati. Interferers. {The Catholic Church issues election guidelines that deride the poor as weak and irresponsible.} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 24 6

ELECTIONS AND CONGRESSIONAL COUNT Nuguid, Nati. The slowest show on earth. {The Supreme Court rules for President Arroyo’s supporters. Congress proceeds with the turtle-paced count only to run into another constitutional question.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 19 2

ELECTIONS AND CONGRESSIONAL COUNT Nuguid, Nati. When will all this come to an end? {The congressional count of the presidential and vice-presidential votes is mired in controversy, charges of fraud, and threats against public protests.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 5 2

ELECTIONS AND CONGRESSIONAL COUNT Quezon, Manuel L. III Demystifying congress. {The public keeps a tight watch as the two chambers canvass the votes.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 5 6

ELECTIONS AND FAMILY PLANNING Nuguid, Nati. Ignoring the church. {A Pulse Asia poll shows voters will choose candidates who favor family planning.} Philippines Free Press 2004 March 20 10

ELECTIONS AND LEFTTIST PARTY-LIST Redbaiting. {The national security adviser wants leftist party-list groups disqualified from the May 10 election.} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 17 8

ELECTIONS; ARROYO AND POE Torre, Ricky S. Two-way race. {Can President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo survive the challenge of Fernando Poe Jr?} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 17 2

ELECTRIC POWER RATES AND MERALCO The government finds its spine. {President Arroyo puts Meralco on notice: she will not allow runaway electric power rates. The Supreme Court voids a rate increase. Philippines Free Press 2004 June 26 8

ENVIRONMENT Signs of danger. {Logging, mining, overfishing, even development, threaten the Philippine environment.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 1 32

ESTRADA AND HOUSE ARREST Nuguid, Nati. The wind turns. {Sandiganbayan changes its stand and allows house arrest for ousted president Joseph Estrada.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 31 10

ESTRADA AND TRAVELS Nuguid, Nati. ‘I’ll be back’. {Joseph Estrada gets court permission to travel to the United States. Opponents of the decision see a deal with Malacañang.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 10 10

FAMILY PLANNING Flash in the pan. {Lack of real interest on the part of the government leads to failure of birth-control-programs.} Philippines Free Press 2004 September 11 14

FISCAL CRISIS Nuguid, Nati. Is the Philippines going bankrupt? {No, but the country will really go bust unless the government shores up its finances.} Philippines Free Press 2004 September 4 2


FISCAL CRISIS Nuguid, Nati. Looking for fixes. {The government of President Arroyo scrambles to find solutions to the fiscal crisis.} Philippines Free Press 2004 September 11 2

FLOOD AND DISASTER Alvarez, Ramiro C. Waterworld. {After years of suffering abuse, nature lashes back at the people of Central Luzon and Metro Manila.} Philippines Free Press 2004 September 11 8

FPJ AND CITIZENSHIP Torre, Ricky S. Elimination process. Filipino, Spanish or American? Da King faces a challenge to his citizemship.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 24 6

FPJ AND CITIZENSHIP Torre, Ricky S. Playing with fire. {The controversy over Fernando Po Jr.’s citizenship rages on, with the director of the National Archives steeping in and getting burned as a result.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 31 6

FPJ AND ELECTIONS Nuguid, Nati. Crying Fraud. {The ‘King’ and other losing candidates blame their defeat on administration sham.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 29 2

FPJ AND ELECTIONS Quezon, Manuel L. III The demise of the king. {Great disparity between Poe the legend and Poe the raw politician disillusions voters.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 29 8

GIRL SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES Statement of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines objecting to Senate Bill No. 2692. Philippines Free Press 2004 January 24 41

HOG INDUSTRY; CARABAO MEAT Alvarez, Ramiro C. Disaster at the trough. {The hog industry falters. Is the importation of carabao meat to blame?} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 7 28

HOUSING AND MICHAEL DEFENSOR Alberto, Rick. The campaign spokesman. {Housing Secretary Michael Defensor is the voice of President Arroyo’s campaign for six more years in Malacañang.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 10 12

ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH Nuguid, Nati. Now, get the money. {The Supreme Court orders the transfer of Marcos’s Swiss loot to the government.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 31 8

IRAQ AND BUSH Getting out the message. {In a risky TV interview, Bush concedes the prewar Iraq assessment was wrong but justifies his decisions and marks the battle lines on which he intends to fight the coming election campaign.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 21 24

IRAQ AND FILIPINO SOLDIERS De Guzman, Guiller. To save a life. {Faced with a hostage crisis, President Arroyo withdraws Philippine troops from Iraq, showing Filipinos she cares for them more than the country’s world standing.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 2

IRAQ AND FILIPINO SOLDIERS Nuguid, Nati. Now, the backlash. {The hostage is free, but the Philippines comes under severe criticisms for withdrawing its troops from Iraq. Has it seriously damaged its relations with the United States?} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 31 2

IRAQ AND FILIPINO SOLDIERS Should the Philippines quit Iraq? {The government weighs the risks of the country’s involvement. And the answer comes to the President quickly.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 1 8

IRAQ AND IYAD ALLAWI ‘We will fight you’. {A tough guy tries to tame Iraq.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 12

IRAQ AND SADDAM HUSSEIN Shrunk to size. {Saddam Hussein and his henchman face their reckoning.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 17 17

IRAQ AND US Wrong war. {The CIA exaggerated the danger of Saddam Hussein’s illegal weapons.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 10

MAKATI AND JEJOMAR BINAY Torre, Ricky S. High marks. {Having won a new mandate, Mayor Jejomar Binay is now ready to plan bigger for Makati.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 29 12

MANILA AND LITO ATIENZA Atienza’s era. {Now serving his last term, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza sets out to define his administration as a period of development.} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 26 16

MARTIAL LAW VICTIMS AND COMPENSATION Nuguid, Nati. A long way to go. {It will not be easy for victims of martial law to claim compensation.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 21 14

MIGRANTS (IRAQ) Nuguid, Nati. Staying alive. {Some Filipinos leave Iraq because of the danger. Most stay to survive.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 29 10

MILITARY AND ARROYO Nuguid, Nati. Military disorder. {Junior officers play politics and land themselves in trouble together with one of the President’s critics.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 14 6

OPPOSITION AND PRESIDENCY Quezon, Manuel L., III. Picking up the pieces. Philippines Free Press 2004 July 17 2

PASIG CITY AND VICENTE EUSEBIO Amurao, George T. Another round. {Vicente Eusebio returns for another shot at the mayoralty in Pasig City.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 7 14

PNP De Jesus, Totel. Year of the police. {There were embarrassing lapses, but, the Philippine National Police scored quite well in 2003.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 31 12

POPULATION Nuguid, Nati. A ticking time bomb. {At the current growth rate, the Philippine’s population will reach 170 million in 30 years.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 17

POPULATION Nuguid, Nati. The fewer, the merrier? {A congressional proposal that would encourage couples to limit the number of their children to two sparks a controversy.} Philippines Free Press 2004 August 14 2

POPULATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH A ticking time bomb. {The Philippines’ population, now 82.6 million grows at 2.36 percent a year and, unless the growth is checked, will hit 160 million by 2038.} Philippines Free Press 2004 August 14 6

POWER CRISIS AND LOPEZ COMPANY Nuguid, Nati. Threatening darkness. {A Lopez company says a crippling power crisis could hit the Philippines three years from now.} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 17 10

POWER RATES; ELECTRICITY Nuguid, Nati. Telling off the court. {The Palace is picking a fight with the judiciary over power rates.} Philippines Free Press 2004 August 14 26

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. Here we are. {The battle lines have been drawn in what may turn out to be the most catalytic chapter of Philippine history: the 2004 presidential election.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 10 6

PRISON ABUSE The investigator. {US Army general has Filipinos lauding the rise of a native son.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 29 32

REAGAN, RONALD WILSON The great communicator: Ronald Wilson Reagan 1911-2004. Philippines Free Press 2004 June 19 20

REBELLION Torre, Ricky S. Shelved again. {Citing their listing by Washington as terrorists, communist rebels suspend peace talks with the government.} Philippines Free Press 2004 September 4 6

RICE PRODUCTION AND RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE Mable, Jing A. Great harvests. {A new program brings the Philippines closer to rice self-sufficiency.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 8 12

ROCO AND ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. Beyond the ballot box. {As they fight for the undecided votes, the candidates start daydreaming about their desired postelection scenarios.} Philippines Free Press 2004 March 20 2

ROCO AND ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. The revivals. {Amid speculations about this health, Raul Roco returns to Manila to join his other rivals in revitalizing their campaign for the presidency.} Philippines Free Press 2004 May 8 2

ROCO AND ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. What, me withdraw? {Inspired by the latest polls, Malacanang turns up the heat on Raul Roco.} Philippines Free Press 2004 February 14 2

ROCO AND MEDICAL TREATMENT Torre, Ricky S. Sudden absence. {Raul Roco suddenly flies to the United States for medical treatment, reconfiguring the presidential contest.} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 24 2

SENATE AND FRANKLIN DRILON The next race? {Can Franklin Drilon survive a challenge to his leadership in the Senate?} Philippines Free Press 2004 June 5 14

SENATE PRESIDENCY Serrano, Butch. No fighting here. {Franklin Drilon and Manuel Villar decide to share the senate presidency.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 24 23

SENATE PRESIDENCY Serrano, Butch. Not so fast. {Choosing the Senate president is the job of the majority, not of just two men.} Philippines Free Press 2004 July 31 8
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT Serrano, Butch. Rewarding failure. {Smokey Mountain developer to get paid for unfinished project?} Philippines Free Press 2004 September 4 8

SUGAR INDUSTRY Alvarez, Ramiro C. Requiem for sugar. {High production costs, low market prices, and cheap imports are killing the Philippine sugar industry.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 10 30

TAX PROPOSALS AND ARROYO Serrano, Butch. Faucet economics. {President Arroyo’s tax proposals are headed for the shelves in the Senate.} Philippines Free Press 2004 August 14 18

TERRORISM AND ARROYO Mable, Jing A. Against terror. {President Arroyo creates a new task force to fight terrorism.} Philippines Free Press 2004 April 24 10

WAR Steiner, Hans. Life and death during the occupation. Philippines Free Press 2004 February 21 20

WATER Alvarez, Ramiro C. Going dry again. {Manila faces another water shortage and all the government can do is urge conservation.} Philippines Free Press 2004 January 24 38

2003

AGRICULTURE Mable, Jing A. Changing the farmers’ lot. {On Luis P. Lorenzo Jr’s watch , the Department of Agriculture prepares farmers to become entrepreneurs.} Philippines Free Press 2003 October 25 16

AL-GHOZI AND TERRORISM Torre, Ricky S. Flat-footed response. {The National Police tries to cope with the disgrace of al-Ghozi’s strolling away from its clutches.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 2 2

ARROYO AND ELECTIONS Saspa, James Payawal. Decide now. {Lakas faces the prospect of implosion as President Arroyo delays her decision to run in next year’s election. The opposition is in no better shape.} Philippines Free Press 2003 July 19 2

ARROYO AND ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. The clamor game. {Despite her repeated denials and occasional show of temper, President Arroyo’s supporters continue to promote her as the ruling party’s standard-bearer in next year’s election.}
Philippines Free Press 2003 June 28 2

ARROYO AND ELECTIONS Torre, Ricky S. What’s the word? {Despite her Rizal Day decision, President Arroyo is still widely anticipated to break her promise sooner or later.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 21 8

BATAAN AND LEONARDO ROMAN Saspa, James P. Model and leader. {From war memorials to awards for governance, environmental protection, and development programs, Bataan and its governor Leonardo Roman are showing the way for local government here and abroad.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 19 12

BT CORN Alvarez, Ramiro C. BT Corn: why the fuss? {While it is now commercially grown in many developed countries, Bt corn remains unacceptable to many Filipino farmers.} Philippines Free Press 2003 July 19 28

BURMA AND AUNG SAN SUU KYI The general strike. {Burma’s ruling junta uses the iron fist, dashing hopes for democracy and detaining again Aung San Suu Kyi.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 21 30

BUSH, GEORGE W. AND FOREIGN RELATIONS Torre, Ricky S. American fiesta. {In sharp contrast to the worldwide skepticism toward the US president, George W. Bush arrives in Manila and gets an exceedingly warm reception from Filipino officialdom.} Philippines Free Press 2003 November 1 2

CAMACHO, JOSE ISIDRO Nuguid, Nati. Goodbye to all that. {President arroyo’s finance secretary quits.} Philippines Free Press 2003 December 6 6

CAMARINES, SUR AND ROLANDO ANDAYA, JR. Saspa, James Payawal. Keeper of the purse. {House appropriations committee chairman Rolando Andaya Jr. presses for reforms to save the government from bankruptcy.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 17 16

CAMARINES SUR AND RUBEN MEDROSO Mable, Jing A. Taking care of business. {Mayor Ruben Medroso turns Calabanga into a town of small businessmen.} Philippines Free Press 2003 November 1 14

COCONUT LEVY FUND Alvarez, Ramiro C. Tree of despair. {The coconut farmers have always known that the coconut levy fund belongs to them. But when will they get it?} Philippines Free Press 2003 September 13 30

COMELEC AND IMPEACHMENT Nuguid, Nati. It’s not over yet. {The house throws out an impeachment complaint against a Comelec official, but the case may reach the Supreme Court.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 15 9

CONSTITUTION Nuguid, Nati. How shall we do it? {The Constitution will be amended. That’s for sure. But Congress cannot agree on the mode} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 15 6

CONSTITUTION AND ARROYO Torre, Ricky S. Point of no return. {President Arroyo gives in to the clamor for constitutional amendments, as the debate on how the Constitution should be amended becomes messier.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 1 2

DAVAO AND TERRORISM Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Out of control. {The President declares Davao to be in a “state of lawless violence” and calls in the Marines and the Special Forces to help the police restore order after the spate of terrorist attacks in the city.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 19 8

DRUG TRAFFICKING AND NPA Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Drug-dealing guerillas? {President Arroyo accuses the NPA of drug-trafficking; the rebels say she’s just making an excuse to avoid peace talks with them.} Philippines Free Press 2003 July 19 6

EDUCATION Mable, Jing A. Building a strong republic through education. Philippines Free Press 2003 October 25 32

ELECTIONS AND OFWS Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Vote anywhere. {Overseas Filipinos now have a good chance of being able to vote in national elections back home.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 8 8

ENGLISH Your English is showing. {Alarmed at Filipinos’ worsening language incompetence, President Arroyo orders a return to English in schools.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 15 22

ESTRADA AND TRIAL One for Ripley. {Joseph Estrada’s new lawyer wants the Sandiganbayan to rule against the Supreme Court.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 28 10

ESTRADA AND TRIAL Nuguid, Nati. More drama. {Joseph Estrada now wants to put the President and the Supreme Court justices in the witness stand.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 21 10

FAMILY AND CATHOLIC CHURCH Nuguid, Nati. Under siege. {The Fourth World Meeting of Families comes to Manila at a time when the Filipino family is reeling from poverty and all sorts of pressures--- including dictation from the Roman Catholic Church.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 8 10

FERNANDEZ, DOREEN Chua, Jonathan. Dining with Doreen. {She described food vividly, and if the food was good she wrote about it. It was alaways a pleasure dining with Doreen Fernandez.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 21 34

FOREIGN RELATIONS AND US Torre, Ricky S. Going too far. {President Arroyo’s pro-Americanism is again put on the spot by a controversial bilateral agreement that Manila signed with Washington.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 21 6

GUINGONA, TEOFISTO The Nationalist. {As vice president, Teofisto Guingona is not taking it easy and keeping quiet. Instead, he keeps fighting for the national interest.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 3 12

ILIGAN AND ALIPIO CIRILO BADELLES Mable, Jing A. For the greater good. {In fighting for the industries of Iligan, NPC Rep. Alipio Cirilo Badelles is also fighting for the whole nation.} Philippines Free Press 2003 September 13 12

ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. The real score. {The Philippine government will follow the Supreme Court’s ruling on the $680-million Marcos loot and ignore that of Judge Real.} Philippines Free Press 2003 September 20 10

ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH Nuguid, Nati. Dispute over the loot. {Lawmakers bicker about the use of the forfeited Marcos Swiss deposits.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 2 6

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND MANGYANS Mable, Jing A. Saving the ‘vanishing’ mangyans. {The indigenous people’s rights gives the Mangyans of Mindoro the legal title to their ancestral domain, but they need help to assert that right.} Philippines Free Press 2003 December 6 12

IRAQ AND US Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Going with Bush. {President Arroyo picks the sure winner in the war against Iraq.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 15 2

IRAQ AND US Step down or else. {The United States has set a new standard for avoiding war: Saddam must not only disarm, he also must go into exile.} Philippines Free Press 2003 March 15 24

IRAQ AND US Torre, Ricky S. Now comes reconstruction. {The United States begins to focus on administrative matters, even if the situation in Iraq continues to be a military concern.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 3 8

IRAQ AND US Torre, Ricky S. Taking Baghdad. {American forces liberate the Iraqi capital. But the war is far from over, and Saddam Hussein is nowhere to be found.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 19 2

IRAQ AND US Torre, Ricky S. The road to Baghdad. {The US-led coalition marche on the Iraqi capital, encountering fierce resistance along the way.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 5 2

IRAQ AND US PEACE One tough job. {After easily beating Iraq in war, the United States is challenged to reform it in peace.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 17 30

IRAQ, PHILIPPINES AND US Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. A share of the spoils. {The destruction of Iraq is good for the Philippine economy. This, in effect, is what Malacañang is saying to justify its support of the US-led war on that country.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 5 8

JIMENEZ AND PEREZ Nuguid, Nati. Mark’s echo. {Mark Jimenez’s extortion charge against Hernando Perez rings back---from Switzerland.} Philippines Free Press 2003 September 20 6

KIDNAPPING AND CHINESE Living in fear. {the Chinese in Manila cower in their homes as kidnappers defy the government’s campaign against crime.} Philippines Free Press 2003 December 6 8

LACSON AND PRESIDENCY Amurao, George T. Bankrupting Lacson. {Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s enemies are trying their darnedest to stop him from running for president.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 8 23

LACSON AND PRESIDENCY Nuguid, Nati. So much trouble. {Panfilo Lacson’s legal problems threaten his presidential plans.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 19 10

MAIDS’ SALARIES Nuguid, Nati. Unkind cut. Hong Kong slashes maids’ salaries, but it will not send Filipino women rushing back home.} Philippines Free Press 2003 March 15 14

MEAT; LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY Alvarez, Ramiro C. Agonizing over meat. {Disputes between the government and private livestock raisers over foreign trade put the economy at the losing end.} Philippines Free Press 2003 March 15 27

MERALCO Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Just pay up. {Meralco loses its bid to reduce the P28-billion refund to its customers.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 3 6

MINDORO AND LEVISTE Mable, Jing A. The face of Development. Philippines Free Press 2003 December 6 17

MANILA AND LITO ATIENZA Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Resurrecting Manila. {Mayor Lito Atienza, believing that development is contagious, gives his city an aesthetic facelift through an ambitious urban-renewal program.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 3 28

MANILA AND LITO ATIENZA Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Working for Manila’s rebirth. {Mayor Lito Atienza strives to rescue Manila from urban decay and turn it into a livable world-class city.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 28 12

MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Another mess. {One more onerous, multibillion-peso business contract carried over from the Estrada era plagues the Arroyo administration.} Philippines Free Press 2003 November 1 10

MILF AND PEACE NEGOTIATIONS Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Terror in Siocon. {A bloody attack by MILF fighters on a Zamboanga town prompts Malacañang to call off peace talks with the rebel group and threaten it with a “terrorist organization” tag.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 17 14

MILF AND PEACE NEGOTIATIONS Mable, Jing A. Change of guards. {The MILF’s Salamat dies. The peace negotiations will continue.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 16 10

MILF AND PEACE NEGOTIATIONS Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. On with the war. {A halt in military operations against the MILF and a government invitation to resume peace talks with the rebels are met with a series of bombing attacks in various part of Central Mindanao.} Philippines Free Press 2003 March 15 4

MILITARY CRISIS Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Rumors and intrigues. {The rumor mill is in overdrive, grinding out new anti-administration gossip every day, keeping Malacañang busy issuing denials.} Philippines Free Press 2003 September 13 6

MMDA AND BAYANI FERNANDO Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. The Metro chef. {After bringing sanity to the streets of Metro Manila, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fedrnando sets his eyes on the vice-presidency.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 16 12

MONEY LAUNDERING Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Laundering the law. {Congress has until February 12 to fix the ineffective money-laundering law before the world’s banking community lowers the boom on Philippine financial transactions.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 8 6

MONEY LAUNDERING Nuguid, Nati. Relaundered law. {After clarifying things with a foreign mission, Congress amends the dirty-money law. Will the revised version make the mark?} Philippines Free Press 2003 March 15 11

NAIA AND PIATCO Torre, Ricky S. Illegal deals. {Piatco is out of the airport project, says the Supreme Court. But this controversy is far from over.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 17 2

NOAH’S STORY There was no deluge? {A new study challenges a finding that Noah’s epic story is based on a real flood.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 8 29

NPA AND INSURGENCY Torre, Ricky S. Revolutionary justice. {The past catches up with former New People’s Army leader Romulo Kintanar.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 8 2

OAKWOOD MUTINY Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. A failed power grab. {Investigators say the July 27 mutiny is not a “spontaneous expression of grievances” but a “planned takeover of the government.”} Philippines Free Press 2003 November 1 12

OAKWOOD MUTINY Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Unsettling the queen. {President Arroyo faces down a mutiny. Or is it the return of military adventurism?} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 9 2

OAKWOOD MUTINY AND ARROYO Nuguid, Nati. ‘I did it by myself’. {President Arroyo chastises business for its lack of support during the mutiny.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 16 6

OAKWOOD MUTINY; MILITARY MUTINY Torre, Ricky S. Conspiracy theory. {The investigation begins, with the government insisting that the July 27 mutiny was a failed power grab.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 16 2

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AND MILF Mable, Jing A. Clearing the way for peace. {The government and the MILF inch toward the resumption of peace negotiations.} Philippines Free Press 2003 July 19 12

PENTAGON PLAN AND US Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. What really happened. {How a pentagon plan to send US troops to Sulu to fight the bandit group Abu Sayyaf ended up an embarrassing reversal because of miscues between Washington and Manila.} Philippines Free Press 2003 March 15 2

PIDAL, JOSE Torre, Ricky S. Private show. {The self-confessed Jose Pidal discloses everything and nothing in a frustrating appearance at the Senate.} Philippines Free Press 2003 September 20 2

PIDAL, JOSE Torre, Ricky S. A quieter bomb. {The third installment of his Jose Pidal expose lacks the sensational impact that Sen. Panfilo Lacson may have desired.} Philippines Free Press 2003 October 25 2

PIDAL, JOSE AND LACSON Torre, Ricky S. Senate soap. {In the second episode of his expose on corruption in the Arroyo government, Sen Panfilo Lacson takes a harder look at Jose Miguel Arroyo’s heart and purse.} Philippines Free Press 2003 September 13 2

PNP AND TECHNOLOGY Saspa, James Payawal. The police go high-tech. {Use your cell phone or computer and get police action-fast.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 1 12

POE AND PRESIDENCY Torre, Ricky S. The Revelation. {“Da King” throws his hat in the ring, as the other players gear up for what may be the most consequential event in Philippine history if it proceeds on schedule---the 2004 presidential election.} Philippines Free Press 2003 December 6 2

POLITICAL STABILITY Nuguid, Nati. In search of stability. {With elections just nine months away, could a political summit solve the problems besetting President Arroyo’s government?} Philippines Free Press 2003 September 13 10

POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING Nuguid, Nati. Bad rhythm. {With the government following the church line on family planning, expect the population program to go awry.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 1 28

POVERTY Alvarez, Ramiro C. Vomit of society. {Excuses for failures and wrong approaches to problems of poverty keep many Filipinos dismally poor.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 15 14

PRIESTS AND SCANDAL Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Wrong bishop move. {He calls it an “inappropriate expression of affection” but the woman calls it sexual harassment. The scandal has thrown the press into a feeding frenzy.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 21 2

PRIESTS AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT Nuguid, Nati. Sins of the fathers. {Church leaders close ranks to defend a bishop accused of sexual harassment, even as another scandal involving a resigned prelate threatens to reach the courts.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 28 6

PUERTO PRINCESA AND HAGEDORN Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. The take-charge guy. {Once again, Mayor Hagedorn is making Puerto Princesa a byword in eco-tourism and a favorite destination of local and foreign visitors.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 16 26

PUERTO PRINCESA AND Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. The take-charge guy. {Once again, Mayor Hagedorn is making Puerto Princesa a byword in eco-tourism and a favorite destination of local and foreign visitors.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 2 12

PYRAMIDING SCHEME Nuguid, Nati. Curse of the pyramid. {A get-rich-quick operator’s luck runs out.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 5 30

REBELS AND PEACE NEGOTIATIONS Saspa, James Payawal. Fools. {The Arroyo administration offers the communist rebels a “final” peace agreement that requires surrender.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 15 10

RIZAL DAY 2000 BOMBINGS; TERRORISM Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Bombers down. {Confessions of captured MILF operatives solve one of the worst terrorist attacks in the country, the Rizal Day 2000 bombings.} Philippines Free Press 2003 July 19 8

ROCO AND PRESIDENCY Torre, Ricky S. Early Leader. {Raul Roco may be the alternative that the Philippines needs in these crucial times.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 15 16

SADDAM, HUSSEIN Two aces down. {With Saddam’s heirs gone, hope rises for an end to attacks on US troops-and for the capture of the ousted dictator.} Philippines Free Press 2003 August 2 30

SAN MIGUEL CORPORATION Nuguid, Nati. Suspicions of a deal. {The Sandiganbayan voids the sequestration of Eduardo Cojuangco’s San Miguel shares. What happened?} Philippines Free Press 2003 October 25 12

SARS Killer virus. An Asian health crisis spreads, bringing global consequences.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 19 31

SARS Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. A nation on edge. {The country’s airports remain under tight watch, with quarantine measures for incoming travelers, to keep out the mysterious killer disease SARS.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 19 30

SARS McNeil, Donald G., Jr. and Lawrence K. Altman. Hunting the bug. {As the SARS outbreak began to take shape, the World Health Organization took action.} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 17 10

SARS Nuguid, Nati. Invisible threat. {The government and Congress fight back as the Phiippine SARS caseload increases. Could the country duplicate Vietnam’s feat?} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 17 6

SARS Nuguid, Nati. SARS: is it here? {The new virus may have caused two recent deaths in the Philippines} Philippines Free Press 2003 May 3 2

SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK AND AL-QAEDA The brain. {The mastermind behind the September 11 attacks falls, dealing a severe blow to al-Qaeda.} Philippines Free Press 2003 March 15 6

SPACE Again. {For the second time in 17 years, tragedy has cast a shadow over the US space program, and its future has been put on hold.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 15 24

TANAUAN, BATANGAS AND ALFREDO CORONA Saspa, James Payawal. Building a city, {Mayor Alfredo Corona transforms Tanauan from a rural town to a busting commercial and industrial city.} Philippines Free Press 2003 June 21 12

SARS Stopping the bug. {The world contains SARS, though troublesome mysteries remain.} Philippines Free Press 2003 July 19 30

SONA AND OAKWOOD MUTINY Nuguid, Nati. We remain at war. {President Arroyo is not yet through fighting.}
Philippines Free Press 2003 August 9 8

TERRORISM AND AL-GHOZI Cagurangan, Mar-Vic. Dead men tell no tales. {Al-Ghozi, the country’s most wanted fugitive, has fallen, but the circumstances of his death are as mysterious as his earlier escape from jail three months ago.} Philippines Free Press 2003 October 25 8

VELARDE, MIKE AND ELECTIONS Wake up, Filipino. {The launching of motley movement raises suspicions that it will pave the way for Velarde’s foray into politics or persuade the President to reconsider her decision not to run in 2004.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 8 14

VETERANS Manlangit, Ros. Caring for heroes. {The government looks for more imaginative ways to recognize the sacrifices of war veterans.} Philippines Free Press 2003 April 5 12

VILLAR, MANUEL AND SENATE Saspa, James Payawal. The crisis manager. {Sen. Manuel Villar, a battle-tested manager, analyzes the country’s leadership problem.} Philippines Free Press 2003 February 8 16

YUCHENGCO, ALFONSO Torre, Ricky S. Taipan. {As a diplomat, political activist and businessman, Alfonso Yuchengco has consistently regarded his own country as his foremost interest.} Philippines Free Press 2003 March 15 16