Democracy Watch Philippines

04/09/2026

A central accountability question in the VP’s impeachment trial is whether DepEd’s confidential funds were lawfully spent, and whether military certifications were used to substantiate expenses that the Armed Forces neither received nor independently verified.

03/09/2026

STATEMENT OF DEMOCRACY WATCH PHILIPPINES
On the Ongoing Impeachment Trial: The Filipino People Deserve the Truth

As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte enters a critical stage, the Filipino people deserve the truth. What is at stake is not partisan politics, but the strength of our democracy and the accountability of those entrusted with public office.

Recent testimonies have raised questions about the use and documentation of confidential funds entrusted to the Vice President, including claims that the military did not receive funds reportedly attributed to its activities. These matters must be examined fairly and critically by the Senate as part of its constitutional duty.

The impeachment process reminds us that democracy works when evidence is presented, witnesses are heard, claims are challenged, and the truth is determined through due process and the rule of law.

We call on the senators, prosecution, defense, and witnesses to act with integrity, impartiality, and fidelity to the Filipino people.

We also call on Filipinos to remain engaged and question what must be questioned. Democracy does not end with elections. It requires citizens who demand transparency and accountability from those in power.

The strength of our Republic does not depend solely on those who sit in the halls of power. It depends on Filipinos courageous enough to demand better from their leaders.

Let the evidence speak.

Let the law prevail.

Let the Senate do its constitutional duty.

And let the Filipino people demand accountability.

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

The 1987 Constitution directs the state to “prohibit political dynasties.” But nearly four decades later, no enabling legislation has been enacted to set limits on the concentration of political power within families.

As a result, political families continue to wield significant influence across national and local politics in the Philippines. The same family names repeatedly appear on ballots and, after elections, on the lists of officials taking their oaths of office.

Why do political dynasties endure in the Philippines? Rappler looks at the families behind them and the forces that have allowed their influence to last for generations.

27/08/2026

"The use of an alias for operational security is fundamentally different from inventing a person to make an unsupported expenditure appear legitimate. The first may protect an operation; the second may hide the absence of a real transaction."

Dr. Francisco Magno
Founding Director
La Salle Institute of Governance

23/08/2026

Public office is a public trust, not a personal vault.

When a government office liquidates ₱125 million in just 11 days using receipts signed by “Mary Grace Piattos” and “Jay Kamote,” that isn’t national security—it is a systematic bypass of public accountability.

Confidential funds may require secrecy in their operations. They do not confer immunity from accountability. Public office is a public trust. Even secret funds must ultimately answer to the public.

Under our audit laws, if you cannot account for secret funds upon demand, the law presumes they were used for personal purposes. The burden of proof has shifted, and silence is no longer a legal defense.

-Dr Julio Teehankee

21/08/2026

Reform Must Fix the Party-List System—Not Preserve Its Distortions

The LEDAC-backed HB 9906, or the proposed New Party-List System Act, introduces important safeguards—including a second-degree anti-dynasty prohibition, a ban on government contractors, and stronger financial transparency. But it retains the three-seat cap.

And therein lies the problem. Reform should not close some loopholes while leaving fundamental distortions untouched.

We should not settle for reform in name only. If Congress is serious about fixing the party-list system, it must address both sides of the problem: who gets represented and whether citizens' votes are fairly translated into seats.

Otherwise, we may end up reforming the Party-List System only to preserve the very distortions that have allowed it to stray so far from its original democratic purpose.

Dr. Julio Teehankee
Professor, Department of Political Science, De La Salle University

19/08/2026

The 2028 election may become a referendum on political character. The survey shows that Filipinos are not merely unhappy with individual officials – they are losing faith in the political establishment itself.

The candidate that represents decency without weakness, reform without vindictiveness and competence without dishing out freebies will have the advantage.

Mr. Andrew Masigan
Political and Economic Columnist

Political surveys are snapshots of public sentiment. When properly analyzed, they reveal the direction of political outcomes.

19/08/2026

Dr. Francisco Magno stresses that public agencies must be assessed through the lens of accountability—especially when handling public funds.

The withdrawal and disbursement of confidential funds must be backed by legal authority, proper fiscal responsibility, complete documentation, and strict Commission on Audit supervision.

When public money is involved, transparency and accountability are not optional—they are obligations.

16/08/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐧 𝐒. 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨

August 15, 2026

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) strongly condemns the attack on the convoy of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua in Brgy. Bitu, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on Saturday.

We are relieved that Chief Minister Macacua and members of his delegation are safe. We call on everyone to remain calm, refrain from speculation or assigning responsibility, and allow the proper authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. Those responsible must be held accountable in accordance with the law.

The Bangsamoro peace process has been built over decades on the aspiration for genuine autonomy, dignity, and lasting peace. The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Bangsamoro Organic Law have provided the framework for pursuing these aspirations through peaceful and democratic means.

As the Bangsamoro approaches an important political exercise, all stakeholders share a responsibility to help ensure an environment where all political parties, candidates, supporters, and voters can participate freely and safely. A peaceful, credible, and democratic election will strengthen confidence in Bangsamoro institutions, consolidate the gains of the peace process, and contribute to greater stability and economic opportunity.

We urge everyone to exercise restraint and respect the rule of law. No individual or group should take the law into their own hands or allow political differences, anger, or unverified information to create further tension or violence. The investigation must be allowed to establish the facts independently and objectively.

As directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we call on all sectors to support the COMELEC in ensuring peaceful, orderly, and credible elections and our security forces in safeguarding communities, candidates, and voters. We likewise appeal to all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to respect democratic processes and institutions.

OPAPRU remains committed to working with all stakeholders, without political distinction, to protect the gains of the peace process and preserve democratic space in the Bangsamoro.

We have come too far in our journey toward peace to allow violence to undermine what has been achieved through decades of dialogue, sacrifice, and peacebuilding. Let us remain focused on our shared aspiration: a peaceful, democratic, and progressive Bangsamoro contributing to a stronger Philippines.

Let us choose peace. Let the law take its course. Let democracy work.