The party-list system was meant to challenge elite politics. But it has instead become a bastion of families and contractors. This report provides the numbers: half of the 64 party-list representatives in the 20th Congress are members of active political
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 28 February) — In some stories, they make it across and no one hears from them again. In others, girls — between 13 and 23 — are intercepted and rescued before they even reach the water.
Trafficked through Mindanao’s maritime backdoors to Sabah, a woman has lived in Sandakan for 20 years without a passport from either country. SANDAKAN, Sabah, Malaysia (MindaNews / 30 January) — Forty-eight-year old Maguing (not her real name), keeps the door
Last of 2 parts | Read the 1st part KITCHARAO, Agusan del Norte (MindaNews / 7 December) — Another pressing threat to pijanga comes from catching the saguyon — the youngest, immature pijanga — which is considered illegal, according to
1st of 2 parts KITCHARAO, Agusan del Norte (MindaNews / 6 December) — Along the stretch of the Pan-Philippine Highway connecting Butuan City and Surigao City, motorists catch sight of Lake Mainit, its deep blue waters stretching beside the road
Last of 2 parts | (Read Part 1) Jobs, billions of pesos at stake MACAMBOL, CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental (MindaNews / 30 November) — Responding to the calls of the government, Hallmark Mining Corporation (HMC) said in a statement
1st of two parts MACAMBOL, CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental (MindaNews / 29 November) — On a cloudy afternoon Antonio Engaston, 35, prepares his boat to sail out to sea in hopes to bring fish back home to his family
In this report, we unlock the mystery of “allocable” funds, the secret formula no one understands, and the machinations behind the supposedly non-allocable items in the national budget. By Guinevere Latoza Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism The Department of Public
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 18 November) — Even with fever and common colds, Melinda Estandarte, 49, continues to sort out garbage and dissect alloys from discarded electronic products at the city’s garbage dump site in New Carmen in Tugbok District
Last of 2 parts | Read the 1st part TUBAJON, Dinagat Islands (MindaNews / 13 November) — A key component of the Dinagat Communities for Conservation (C4C) project is engaging local communities not just in conservation but also in livelihood
1st of 2 parts TUBAJON, Dinagat Island (MindaNews / 13 November) — Fenie Temario was born between the sea and the mountains. At 62, she still lives with her family in the small sitio of Babangnan in Barangay Imelda, Tubajon,
Unprogrammed appropriations were a magnet for corruption, a source of billions in kickbacks for legislators and other officials. By Guinevere Latoza Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism The term “unprogrammed appropriations,” known as UAs, sounds innocent enough. But to politicians, public
Last of 2 parts | Read the first part here CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental (MindaNews / 23 Oct) — For Romeo Trono, former country director of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and former director of Conservation International, the
1st of 2 parts CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental (MindaNews / 22 Oct) — Just before dawn on a Saturday, Winston Plaza brings out his flashlight and patrols the shoreline of Barangay Dahican in a slow zigzag manner hoping to
(Guinevere Latoza of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism looked into the campaign expenditures of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte and found that the former UniTeam tandem received millions of pesos in campaign contributions from public
by Malou Mangahas and Mornie Mamorno Right to Know Right Now (R2KRN) Coalition THE PLOT THICKENS, DEEPENS, and SICKENS That is the story of the massive corruption in flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025, according to https://www
In Villanueva, Misamis Oriental — where two coal-fired power plants dominate the skyline — residents live with health worries they’ve grown almost accustomed to. Many have accepted the trade-off, valuing the jobs and outreach programs the power companies bring. But
The government’s move to retire its last coal plant is expected to send a strong signal to private coal plant owners that the reign of fossil fuels is ending. Following the buyout of a huge power conglomerate, officials are stalling
Franck Dick Rosete of bulatlat.com / Patricio P. Diaz Fellow CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 08 September) — Rhea, mother of two, waits for her turn to fetch water from a communal faucet on a streetside a few meters from her
Cong B. Corrales of Mindanao Gold Star Daily / Patricio P. Diaz FellowCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 07 September) — A proposed 600-megawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, once poised to be a
Jun N. Aguirrre of Boracay Island News Network / Patricio P. Diaz Fellow BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan (MindaNews / 01 September) — At the heart of Boracay, one of the best beaches in the world, lies a community of Muslims who,
Chris V. Panganiban, Sr. of MindNews / Patricio P. Diaz Fellow SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 31 August) — What used to be a critically endangered mountain with only 54 percent forest cover almost three decades ago is now
Clarence May F. De Guzman of Unlinews / Patricio P. Diaz Fellow BULACAN (MindaNews / 30 August) — “I hope that’s my brother, I hope that’s him, so at least we can finally put him to rest, and then, still
Jazmin Bonifacio of Leyte Samar Daily Express / Patricio P. Diaz Fellow SAMAR (MindaNews / 29 August ) — Alma Gabin decided to leave the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its New People’s Army (NPA) in early 2020,
Ricky J. Bautista of Samar Chronicle / Patricio P. Diaz Fellow CATBALOGAN CITY (MindaNews / 28 August) — In the steep, forested slopes of San Jose de Buan, Samar, there was a time when no one dared to speak too
BAGUIO CITY (MindaNews / 27 August) — For a region still searching for its identity, Cordillera celebrates two Cordillera Days. July 15 is a special non-working holiday in the Cordillera. A week before, a specially-made Cordillera gong or gangsa is ceremoniously beaten
Joel B. Escovilla of Mindanao Times / Patricio P. Diaz Fellow DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 26 August) – While Davao City is not a stranger to violence, the sheer damage of the 2003 bombs that tore through 39 bodies at
Aireen Jaymalin of BicoldotPH / Patricio P. Diaz Fellow TABACO CITY (MindaNews / 25 August) — In a world where diversity can often divide, Muslims in the Bicol Region have long sought solace and belonging. While they, too, have experienced
Video courtesy of Jamela Aisha Alindogan “Your room is on the 11th floor, and the air raid shelter is on basement four. Welcome to Kyiv.” The receptionist handed me the key cards with a polite smile. I wheeled my
A cyborg operation—part-human, part-machine—made up of hyper-partisan influencers, trolls, and true believers is mounting a long-running political influence campaign to defend Sara Duterte and her father and consolidate support ahead of the 2028 elections. By Regine Cabato and Gian LibotPhilippine
Last of 2 Parts | Read first part here DEL CARMEN, Surigao del Norte (MindaNews / 1 June) — The intervention of the local government of Del Carmen, in partnership with SIKAT and other various organizations and the private sector,
1st of 2 parts DEL CARMEN, Surigao del Norte (MindaNews / 31 May) — When sunset falls over this town, Junrey Longos, 44, prepares his gear and boards a boat bound for a watchtower, where he will spend the night
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 07 May) – Davao City has been declared “insurgency-free” and “terrorist-free” as early as March 2022, a feat celebrated every year, but the biggest chunk of its 14 billion-peso budget for 2025 is still for Peace
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 6 May) — Earlier this year, the DOH Davao Region raised concerns over rabies-related deaths, which increased by 50%—from 24 deaths in 2023 to 36 in 2024. Davao del Norte recorded 13 deaths, an increase of
Part 1 of 2 MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur (MindaNews / 5 May) — In Barangay Blocon of this municipality, far from urban centers where medical services are readily available, the decades-old practice of “tandok” persists. Practitioners believe that tandok can
STO. NIÑO, South Cotabato (MindaNews / 31 March) — Prescila Gomez checks her rice field in Barangay San Vicente on a Wednesday afternoon after a long day from work, dreading the rain that is about to fall from the skies.
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte (MindaNews / 30 March) — Mosquitoes have been leaving an itch—literally and figuratively—to Tagumenyos for more than a year now. Tagum has yet to consistently contain the mosquito-borne dengue since November 27, 2023, when the
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 29 March) — When Rogelio Timbal tends his one-hectare rice field in Barangay Caimpugan in this municipality, the thick, knee-deep mud makes every step a struggle. His boots, meant to protect him, only
TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato (MindaNews /23 Feb) – “Wala na kaayo mag mais sa taga-tribu kay mag banlas na lang (Most of the Blaans don’t like to go into corn farming anymore because they earn more from sluice mining). Julito, a long-time Blaan
POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato (02 February) – A largely plant-based diet and routinary farm labor that flexes the muscles to perspire and burn fats have been the secret ingredients for longevity of the Blaan, the indigenous peoples living at the foothills of Mt.
IT IS A WONDER Edgar Matobato is still alive. A confessed assassin for the Davao Death Squad, he was the first to go public about the killings allegedly ordered by former President Rodrigo Duterte. Since 2014, when he was detained
ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL, Davao del Norte (MindaNews / 16 December) — The construction of the P23 billion bridge linking the Island Garden City of Samal and Davao City is threatening the lifeblood of Paradise Reef and fisherfolk who fear
Often, it is a political dynasty that dislodges another political dynasty. However, rare political events and shifts in voter preferences can elevate leaders outside of political families to highly competitive positions. By Angela Ballerda, Gab Yanzon and Carmela Fonbuena /
By Aaron John Baluis, Leanne Louise Isip and Carmela Fonbuena / Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism While Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and his wife Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado seek reelection next year, their son Bryan Revilla aims to keep
Often, it is a political dynasty that dislodges another political dynasty. However, rare political events and shifts in voter preferences can elevate leaders outside of political families to highly competitive positions. By Angela Ballerda, Gab Yanzon and Carmela Fonbuena /
ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL, Davao del Norte (MindaNews / 10 November) – “Nindot kaayo (so amazing),’’ an awestruck private grade school teacher said as he popped out of the water after snorkeling with his students in the shallow waters
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 15 October) – The Duterte political dynasty is transforming from “fat” to “obese” as three generations of Dutertes filed certificates of candidacy on October 7 for five key positions in the May 2025 elections. The now
MAITUM, Sarangani (MindaNews / 13 October) — After doing the dishes, Eda pulled out a plastic sheet to cover the plates and utensils “aron dili maabugan og karbon (So as not to gather carbon dust).” The 43-year old Maguindanao housewife who asked
By Rommel F. Lopez / PressOne Coloring books, encyclopedias, stuffed toys, a refrigerator, and computers float on murky waters after torrential rains submerged Tuganay Elementary School in Carmen, Davao del Norte in January. Lorelei Sesaldo, the new school principal, could
