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POLITICS3d agoMarcos’ impeachment plot backfiresPRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. undertook the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte to block the shoo-in for the presidency in 2028, so he could get somebody to his liking. If that was the strategy, the latest evidence suggests it has backfired — not because Sara has been untouched by controversy, but because the proceedings have transformed her from an embattled vice president into the country’s most visible opposition figure. The persecution against her has only strengthened her charisma. That fits with philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous aphorism: “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” The more the administration has tried to claim Sara Duterte’s guilt, on trial, the more the public has placed Marcos Jr. and his government on trial. The impeachment was intended to test Sara’s fitness for office. Instead, it has intensified doubts about the administration’s motives, performance and morality. Indeed, Marcos’ minions have become so desperate as to even accuse Sara, as Philippine Star columnist and former Estrada go-fer Ronaldo Llamas did, of being a “traitor” for being linked to a company that was exporting products to China. Does this idiot think that tycoons like Lucio Tan, the Sys of SM, Ramon Ang of San Miguel, the Gokongweis and Carlos Chan, who all have operations in China, as well as the 1,200 local companies that exported to China last year the equivalent of 11 percent of the country’s total exports, are traitors? The other day, the prosecution presented a witness who claimed Sara had billions in unexplained wealth. His basis — “documents” that the prosecution supplied him that he pored over in only three weeks, without even trying to get Sara and her husband’s explanation — crucial in one-topic documents like tax returns and AMLC reports. While he claims to be a forensic accountant, he is not: he is not certified by the Philippine Institute of Certified Forensic Accountants. He is an anti-Sara Yellow activist, having been with groups that have been demanding her impeachment since last year, and had even met with Leni Robredo late last year, for reasons he did not disclose. The strongest evidence that Marcos’ impeachment project has backfired is the latest Pulse Asia presidential preference survey conducted from Sept. 17 to 24, 2026. Sara leads every hypothetical presidential contest presented. She receives 52 percent in a three-way race against former vice president Leni Robredo and Sen. Raffy Tulfo, 57 percent against Sen. Erwin Tulfo and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, 57 percent against Erwin Tulfo and Sen. Bam Aquino, 54 percent against Robredo in a two-way race, and 60 percent against Hontiveros. Message The survey results offer a clear political message: The impeachment has not produced the collapse in Sara’s support that the Marcos camp wanted. The most politically significant result is the 52 percent-30 percent-14 percent in a three-way contest involving Sara, Robredo and Raffy Tulfo. Sara leads Robredo by 22 percentage points and Tulfo by 38 points. More important, however, is the consistency of her advantage. Sara does not lead in only one favorable matchup. She remains ahead when the names are changed, when the field expands and when she faces a rival one-on-one. In the two-way contest against Robredo, Sara leads 54 percent to 40 percent. Against Hontiveros, she leads 60 percent to 23 percent. That consistency points to a durable political base that has survived the impeachment campaign and has even been strengthened by it. Contrast The latest presidential preference figures also become more meaningful when placed beside earlier 2026 data. A Pulse Asia survey conducted from Feb. 27 to March 2 presented Sara in a six-way field and gave her 43 percent, followed by Leni Robredo at 27 percent and Raffy Tulfo at 19 percent. In separate head-to-head matchups, Sara led Robredo 51 percent to 43 percent, while she and Tulfo were tied at 46 percent each. The more recent September survey the shows Sara at 52 percent in the three-way Duterte-Robredo-Tulfo contest, compared with 43 percent in the earlier six-way field. That represents a nine-point increase. The political direction is striking. In March, Sara was either slightly leading or tied with her principal potential rivals. By September, she was leading decisively in every candidate set shown. Lead Her lead over Robredo also widened. In the February-March survey, Sara led Robredo by eight points, 51 percent to 43 percent. In the September two-way contest, her advantage was 14 points, 54 percent to 40 percent. These figures show that the impeachment has not damaged Sara’s presidential prospects. Her position has even become more secure. Sara’s Mindanao base is the foundation of her national lead. A 94-percent preference rating in the region is not merely a favorable result; it is an extraordinary territorial base. She also performed strongly among all socioeconomic groups, receiving 47 percent among Class ABC respondents, 50 percent among Class D and 70 percent among Class E. It is her huge Mindanao base, and her corps of articulate believers in social media, which makes implausible the scenario claimed by Marcos minions that, as in the case of candidate Jojo Binay in 2016, the constant barrage of black propaganda will reduce her votes by election day. But Binay never had a solid base of support as Sara does with her Mindanao and social media followers. As important is the fact that Binay’s support eroded not just because of the Yellows’ black propaganda: it was because a charismatic figure, Rodrigo Duterte, emerged to claim his base. The Marcos minions’ strategy was to bribe senator-judges enough so that there would be the required votes to convict Sara. This indeed worked in late chief justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial, with President Benigno Aquino III giving the senator judges P100 to P150 million each in pork-barrel funding through the so-called Disbursement Acceleration Plan, getting 20 senators to vote Corona guilty. But Marcos has run out of time for this strategy because the first impeachment move was delayed for a year as the case that there cannot be more than one such move per year was brought before the Supreme Court. Hence, the Marcos minions had to wait a year to file another impeachment case. Penultimate As a result, the Marcos-controlled House of Representatives got to undertake the impeachment process only this year, which is the penultimate year for Marcos’ presidency. This is in contrast to Corona’s impeachment which was undertaken at the middle of the Aquino presidency in 2012, and when his popularity was at its height. This means that senators hoping to profit from Marcos’ largesse if they convict Sara will have only a very limited time, one fiscal year, to do so. Worse for them, the administration has been hit by the worst scandal ever in our history, the ghost flood control corruption scandal, which has, with a more vigilant citizenry, made pork-barrel type of bribes difficult. Because of that scandal, senators who would have been easily bribed during Marcos’ first years would be hesitant to follow his orders: Why should they when he is now a lame duck? The Marcos minions also made a huge mistake in calling Sara’s brother Sebastian “Baste” to the witness stand. Baste proved to have such gravitas that he could replace Sara if she is found guilty and banned from running for the presidency in 2028. The winning Duterte brand could be easily be transferred to Baste. Think about it this way: If Sara accompanies Baste in each and every rally, and if his campaign materials all show his sister raising his hand, voters would not hesitate to check the “Duterte” box in the ballot. Filipinos after all did not vote Benigno Aquino III because they believed that he was qualified just because he carried the Aquino brand. It will be the same phenomenon if it is Baste who runs for the presidency. Marcos and his minions certainly deserve such karmic twist: They spent billions of pesos and expended so much energy to block Sara from being president, yet in the end, it is her brother who will run and win the presidency. Marcos’ minions have actually been on a very wrong tack. About a year and a half to the May 2028 elections, Robredo is still stuck in Naga City in political limbo. No way for Erwin to be anything but senator in 2028. With the elections on the horizon, they find themselves with no viable candidate. Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao X: @bobitiglao Website: www.rigobertotiglao.commanilatimes · philippines
POLITICS3d agoIs this the best time for US strategists to push for abandoning ambiguity on Taiwan?For nearly five decades, the United States’ Taiwan policy has centred on strategic ambiguity by not declaring whether it would intervene militarily in a potential Taiwan conflict. This policy – designed to deter Beijing from using force while preventing Taipei from formally declaring independence – is being challenged by realist US strategists amid a broader debate over America’s role in the world, growing constraints on US military might and a shifting regional balance of power driven by...South China Morning Post
POLITICS3d agoTaiwanese finance minister plans to join Apec meeting in Hong KongTaiwanese Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun plans to attend the Apec meeting in Hong Kong, where the Chinese finance chief is due to deliver the opening speech. Chuang’s ministry told Reuters on Tuesday she would attend the meeting “as is customary”. Hong Kong is hosting the Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting on October 20 and 21, while the Economic Leaders’ Summit will take place in Shenzhen next month. China is the summit host for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this year. In response...South China Morning Post
POLITICS3d agoHong Kong renews TV station licences with push for ‘telling good stories’Hong Kong authorities have renewed the free-to-air licences of the city’s television broadcasters with conditions to boost local production of English-language national education shows and programmes aimed at “telling good stories” of the city. The Executive Council, the city’s top decision-making body, approved the renewal on Tuesday, extending 12-year licences to all three broadcasters. These licences will run until 2039 for HK Television Entertainment (HKTVE) and TVB, and until 2040 for...South China Morning Post
POLITICS3d agoMEA reaffirms Ladakh is an integral part of India, says China’s denial cannot change factsSpat comes 10 days after the Survey of India announced the standardisation of the names of specific relief features in Ladakh, including 11 peaks, five mountains, six land areas, two glaciers, two passes, one valley, one river, one lake, and one other water bodyThe Hindu
POLITICS3d agoUniversity of Tokyo presidential selection: 'Explanation' requested on handling of internal faculty vote, etc. by volunteer faculty and staffVolunteer faculty and staff at the University of Tokyo have requested an explanation regarding the handling of an internal faculty vote related to the presidential selection. This indicates scrutiny over the university's governance and selection processes.Asahi Shimbun
POLITICS4d agoChina opposes India’s move to name 28 strategic locations in Ladakh“China has never recognised the so-called ‘Union Territory of Ladakh’ unilaterally and illegally established by India,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing in BeijingThe Hindu
POLITICS4d agoFormer Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan under investigation for corruptionHuang Qifan, former mayor of Chongqing and a survivor of multiple regional graft scandals, is under investigation for corruption, according to state media. State news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday that the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was investigating Huang for alleged serious violations of discipline and law, a euphemism for corruption. Huang, 74, was mayor of the southwestern municipality from 2010 to 2016, overseeing an economic boom while navigating...South China Morning Post
POLITICS4d agoTrump says does not believe China, Russia helping IranTrump said in July that he did not believe China and Russia were selling weapons to Iran, warning that "it would be very bad for them" if they did. The post Trump says does not believe China, Russia helping Iran appeared first on Vanguard News.Vanguard Nigeria
POLITICS4d agoPostmen denied permanent contracts offered priority for other civil service rolesHundreds of Hong Kong postmen denied permanent contracts will get priority for other civil service jobs and easier entry requirements for clerical posts, as the postal service grapples with financial strain. The Civil Service Bureau outlined the concessionary measures in a closed-door briefing with union representatives and lawmakers on Tuesday, in a bid to support the postal staff affected by Hongkong Post’s unprecedented cost-saving move following its report of a record deficit. The government...South China Morning Post
POLITICS4d agoEthiopian Airlines flight denied landing in Israel over Indonesian pilotAn Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Tel Aviv was forced to turn around mid-air because one of its pilots was Indonesian, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported on Monday.Africanews [en]
POLITICS4d agoPrincess Aiko "It was very informative" -- Listening to presentations on marine research by elementary school studentsPrincess Aiko attended presentations on marine research given by elementary school students, finding the experience informative. This highlights her engagement with educational and scientific topics.Asahi Shimbun
POLITICS4d agoPrincess Aiko, the eldest daughter of Their Majesties, attended her first fencing match, saying, 'It's an intense match.'Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the reigning monarchs, attended her first fencing match and described it as an intense event. This marks a public appearance and engagement with sports for the princess.Asahi Shimbun
POLITICS4d agoPhilippines drops 3 impeachment charges against Sara Duterte despite evidenceThe Philippine Senate, sitting as an impeachment ⁠court, approved the ⁠prosecution’s withdrawal of most of ⁠the charges against Vice-President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, in a trial that could kill her hopes to run for president in 2028. Prosecutors have been presenting evidence against ‌Duterte since July on charges that she betrayed public trust, amassed unexplained wealth, violated the constitution and committed corruption, bribery and other high crimes. Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro told the...South China Morning Post
POLITICS4d agoHow Taiwan Activates Beijing’s Chosen FearThe standard explanations for why Taiwan is so important to the Chinese Communist Party are familiar: territorial integrity, credibility of deterrence commitments, great power competition with the United States, the strategic value of the first island chain, and the semiconductor industry concentrated in TSMC’s fabrication facilities. These explanations work, but they don’t tell the whole story. Rational strategic calculation does not produce a posture in which a nuclear-armed state with the world’s second-largest economy treats a democratic island of 23 million people as a pWar on the Rocks
POLITICS4d agoMarcos on South China Sea row; anger in Thailand over iron cage beds: 7 Asia highlightsWe have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Marcos says Philippines ‘resigned’ to managing South China Sea dispute The Philippines is “resigned” to managing its long-standing dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea and avoiding dangerous escalations, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said. 2. ‘A show of...South China Morning Post
POLITICS4d agoRemote analysis of unregistered smartphones, National Police Agency Commissioner: 'Considering submission of revised bill to Diet'The National Police Agency Commissioner is considering submitting a revised bill to the Diet for the remote analysis of unregistered smartphones. This indicates potential new legislation affecting digital privacy and law enforcement capabilities.Asahi Shimbun
POLITICS4d agoChina, Russia deepen maritime and Arctic logistics ties to secure energy supplyBeijing and Moscow vowed deeper maritime and logistical cooperation to protect shipping lanes and energy supplies, as China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Nikolai Patrushev, chairman of the Russian Maritime Board in the Chinese capital on Monday. “China stands ready to work with Russia to align maritime strategies and leverage their complementary strengths to protect each other’s legitimate maritime interests,” Wang said, according to a foreign ministry statement released late on Monday. The two...South China Morning Post
POLITICS4d agoNavigating China-US power play at Shenzhen ApecThe article discusses the navigation of geopolitical power dynamics between China and the US at the APEC meeting in Shenzhen. This highlights ongoing international relations and economic competition.South China Morning Post
POLITICS4d agoOsaka Station Front "Exclusion Art" Controversy - A Political Scientist's Thoughts on the Nature of Public SpaceA controversy regarding "Exclusion Art" in front of Osaka Station is discussed by a political scientist, prompting thoughts on the nature of public space. This issue highlights debates over urban design and accessibility in public areas.Asahi Shimbun
POLITICS4d agoExclusionary art" or safety measure? The block debate in front of Osaka Station questions public space.A debate is ongoing in front of Osaka Station concerning whether a block installation is "exclusionary art" or a safety measure, raising questions about the nature of public space. This highlights discussions on urban planning and accessibility in public areas.Asahi Shimbun
POLITICS4d agoWhy doesn't the United States appoint career diplomats as ambassadors, as Japan and many other countries do?Japan Today
POLITICS4d agoWolf Warriors in Sheep’s Clothing: China’s New Subnational Diplomacy in AustraliaBeijing’s diplomatic officials are adopting the language of the Albanese government to press their demands upon local governments and communities.The Diplomat
POLITICS4d agoHong Kong can boost regional prosperity through ‘soft connectivity’, adviser saysHong Kong’s institutional advantages and close ties with mainland China and the wider world can contribute to the Asia-Pacific region’s prosperity, a key adviser to the city’s leader has told a conference. Stephen Wong Yuen-shan, head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, said on Monday that Hong Kong was transforming itself into the region’s institutional “harbour” – where trade from regional markets could converge and take advantage of the city’s “soft connectivity” advantages. He said such...South China Morning Post
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