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