Second of 3 partsLAST week's column cited three crimes involving powerful people: former president Rodrigo Duterte, former congressman and deputy speaker Arnulfo Teves Jr., and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. These high-profile criminal cases have international implications, but they don't matter. Their…

First of 3 partsTHREE high-profile cases with international implications are the backdrop for this series on Philippine politics and jurisprudence. These are not run-of-the-mill types, as they involve powerful persons. However, they are not only cautionary tales but also reflections…

Last of 3 partsPRIOR to Spain's arrival, our islands were populated by indigenous settlements and villages called barangay, headed by local chieftains, a datu, assisted by a council of elders — maginoo, or local nobility — who helped in decision-making…

Second of 3 partsIn this malevolent triumvirate version of the Philippine Deep State, the oligarchy and the political dynasty (Olipolidyn) acquire certain permanency and continuity that supersede the third component, those who are constitutionally term-limited, like the president/patron, although the…