SPECIAL TOPIC REVIEWER

I. Government Response in COVID 19 Pandemic

What makes it a special topic? It has to do with its wide range of influence locally,
internationally, and globally in terms of health, economic, socio cultural, and political.
Health and Vaccine concerns, access to health care during the pandemic remained
consistent, though a main challenge was the lack of medical supplies and PPEs
especially in the early phase. Vaccine hesitancy was hampering the rollout of the
vaccines in the country. In terms of economic, due to mandatory quarantine and panic
among citizens which caused negative impacts in many industries such as (1) Lack of
income opportunities and reduction of pay than worsened significantly because of the
pandemic. (2) During the pandemic, communities reported continued insufficient food
supply and health, sanitation, and nutrition issues. (3) Jon losses in the construction
sector and public transportation, cumulative job losses among informal workers,
informal retail, and agriculture. (4) Internationally, there were small businesses such as
retailers and big companies that operated for a long time that filed for bankruptcy. In
Socio cultural influence, peace and order problems such as theft, crime, arguments,
and COVID-related discrimination especially when races are involved like the hate
crime in U.S. In political, the use of military power and disappearance of tensions
between Iran and the United States, Brexit, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, Syria,
Afghanistan, Iraq, not to mention North Korean nuclear proliferation.

What are the solutions and responses of the government? Implementation of

Enhanced community quarantine regulations, including strict curfew, police military
checkpoints and pass system, cancellation of public transport, and closure of most
industries and government services. On 25 March, the Philippine Congress passed the
Republic Act 11469 also known as “Bayanihan (United Force) to Heal as One Act”. Php
50.8 billion peso small business wage subsidy program for displaced MSMEs. Social
Amelioration Program and Department of Trade launched its Livelihood Seeding
Program-Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay.

Evaluation (Inclusiveness-Everyone gets the opportunity to voice their opinions and

share ideas) (Effectiveness-the degree to which something is successful in producing a
desired result0 (Dynamic-gather information by directly interacting with the problem
before solving it.)
II. EJK, PDU30 AND ICC

What makes it as special topic? First, are you in favor of killing the drug pushers?
Some of us will say no, what is the use of Justice System if we will kill those people
without making then undergo rehabilitation. However, it contradicts to those individuals
and families that were directly affected by drug pushers and users.

When did death penalty removed in law? Philippines was the first Asian country to
abolish the death penalty under the 1987 Constitution. It was re-imposed during the
administration of President Fidel Ramos to address the riding crime rate in 1993, only to
be abolished again in 2006, after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic
Act 9346 which abolished capital punishment.

Personalities and Circumtances; (1) President Rodrigo Roa Duterte; (2) Senator
Bato Dela Rosa (Ex-PNP Chief); (3) Davao Death Squad; (4) Philippine National Police-
implemented oplan tokhang

(5)Tokhang *Nanlaban *Narco list- The narco list came to light in the second month of
2016 as President of the Philippines, who climbed to power on a campaign platform of
ridding the country of criminality and illegal drugs within three to six months from what
started as a list supposedly with over 150 names, but the PDEA says the number has
overstuffed to about 7,000 individuals.

(6) ICC- Duterte stated in one of the speeches in 2019 that the country would withdraw
from the International Criminal Court “effective immediately in response to the
International Agency move in February to launch an opening examination of the
administration “War on Drugs” who killed a thousand of suspected drug addicts to
determine whether to open a full-blown investigation

Solution; The war on drugs is a phrase used to refer to a government-led initiative that
aims to stop illegal drug use, distribution, and trade by dramatically increasing prison
sentences for both drug dealers and users. The long term solution to addiction is
behavioral modification through the creation of a “therapeutic community” combined
with clinical interventions to address the user’s dependence on drugs and other harmful
substances and behavior.

Proposal for innovation; POINT PROGRAM FOR THE PREVENTION OF EXTRA

JUSDICIAL KILLINGS; Official Condemnation (Unequivocal opposition of EJK
especially to all members of police, military, and other security forces) Chain-of-
command-control (Officials with chain-of-command authority should be held criminally
liable for Extrajudicial executions carried out by those under their command) Restraints
on use of force (use for force unless necessary) Action against death squads (
Private armies, criminal groups, should be outlawed and disband) Protection against
death threats, No secret detention, Access to prisoners (after being taken into
custody, all inmates should be brought before a judicial body as soon as possible)
Prohibition in law, Individual responsibility, Investigation, Prosecution,
Compensation, Ratification of Human rights treaties and implementation of
international standards (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the
first Optional Protocol which includes a mechanism for person grievances)
International responsibility ( government should use all available channels to lobby
governments in countries where extrajudicial executions have been reported.

III. Forces of the Left- CPP – NPA – NDF

The Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) seeks to

overthrow the Philippine government in favor of a new state led by the working
class and to expel U.S. influence from the Philippines.

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) formed in 1968 (Jose Maria Sison-Mao
Zedong) sought to establish people’s army to wage a protracted people’s war against
the Philippine Government.

New People’s Army (NPA) was founded in 1969 as the armed wing of CPP. To carry
out guerrilla warfare in rural areas and build a revolutionary movement that would
eventually take over the country.

National Democratic Front formed in 1973. It sought to build a broad-based alliance of

progressive forces to support the CPP-NPA’s revolutionary struggle.

Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (the first left wing organization in 1930) is to establish a
socialist state in the Philippines through armed revolution.

Who is the most accommodating President of the Philippines to the left-wing

organization?

It was assumed to be Former President Corazon Aquino.

What are the solutions? (1) Localized peace talks will help uplift lives of CPP-NPA
members (2) Government urged to end communist armed conflict.
IV. Barangay Elections: Institution and Relativity

When was the first election held? It was September 16, 1935, under the Commonwealth
of the Philippines. Can women vote during that time? No they cannot, not until April 20,
1937.

Qualifications of barangay officials; Filipino citizens the election, Registered in barangay

for at least 6 months before the election, Registered voter in the barangay, Must be able
to read and write in Filipino or in another dialect, at least 21 years old on election day.

Qualifications of SK barangay officials; Filipino citizens the election, Registered in

barangay for at least 1 year before the election, Registered voter in the barangay, Must
be able to read and write in Filipino or in another dialect, at least 18 years old and not
more than 30 years old on election day.

Why is it a special topic? Unlike national election which is mandated, barangay election
cane be held as “they see fit” thus it can be postponed anytime.

V. WPS and the UNCLOS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea categorically held that, “under
international law, the West Philippine Sea, including Reed Bank, exclusively belongs to
Filipinos, and no one else.” Stated by former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario.

Under International law, China has zero claims on the west Philippine Sea, but Beijing
continues to claim it by law and by force of arms.

The Hague-based decision, constituted under the UNCLOS, ruled that the claim of
historic rights to resources in areas falling within this invisible demarcation “had no basis
in law and is without legal effect”. It also upheld the Philippine’s sovereign rights and
jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone.
VI. Election Campaign Strategies

Campaign Strategies;

1. ADS is a set of advertisements that revolve around a single message and are
intended to achieve a particular goal.

2. Campaign Slogans (Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay lahat)

3. Campaign Posters with call-to-action words to attract more people to your activities
and follow in your footsteps.

4. Jingles since 1950’s (Ramon Magsaysay) which used mambo beat. Modern jingles
uses pop, hip-hop, and rap elements.

5. Political films (1969 Cannes Film Festival in France), in 2022 director Daryl Yap
created a short film “Kape chronicles” and “LEN-LEN” to take dow the supporters of
Leni Robredo.

6. Demonstrations (People’s power revolution in Feb 22 to 25 1968)

7. March for Isko Moreno Domagoso in 2022.

8. Comic Strips and Cartoon Caricarture

9. Mural Paintings

10. Social Media