PCIJ's On the Record

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News, conversations and investigations by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

  1. 12 dynasties lose gubernatorial races, but 71 of 82 provinces still led by political clans

    MAY 22

    12 dynasties lose gubernatorial races, but 71 of 82 provinces still led by political clans

    It’s the same number as before the May 12 elections. But despite the outcomes, the clans did not always win gubernatorial races with ease. A deeper study of the electoral contests revealed continuing resistance to dynastic rule, with some successes even if few.

    8 min
  2. The obese dynasties of the Philippines are crowned again, but reform hopes rise for 2028

    MAY 20

    The obese dynasties of the Philippines are crowned again, but reform hopes rise for 2028

    At least 18 political dynasties won between five and 19 seats in the May 2025 elections, but reform advocates also saw encouraging signs. A few challengers secured victories, while others came close. Some dynasties suffered a downfall while others shrank in number.

    11 min
  3. Duterte's ICC arrest is the first domino

    APR 20

    Duterte's ICC arrest is the first domino

    Can new leaders rise in the power struggle ahead?

    28 min
  4. The Making of Edgar Matobato

    JAN 17

    The Making of Edgar Matobato

    A confessed assassin for the Davao Death Squad, Edgar Matobato was the first to go public about the killings allegedly ordered by former President Rodrigo Duterte. Since 2014, when he was detained and brutally tortured by his former comrades, Matobato has been on the run. For ten years, an unlikely network kept him alive: Catholic clergy who believed in his redemption, former military mutineers who shielded him, and, at one point, the security detail of an outgoing president. Together, they helped him evade the powerful forces intent on silencing him. Today, Matobato is out of the country, having fled in the company of two priests, a journalist, and a photographer from The New York Times. With his wife at his side, he assumed a new identity, slipped through airports under cover, and landed in an unnamed country. It is an indefinite stop on his way to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where Duterte may one day stand trial for crimes against humanity. His journey, from a recruit into a brutal profession, to whistleblower, to fugitive, is a remarkable tale that mirrors the country’s complex relationship with violence, power—and redemption.

    26 min
  5. Are candidates funding their own campaigns? Camille Villar, Imee Marcos ads breach P1B

    JAN 16

    Are candidates funding their own campaigns? Camille Villar, Imee Marcos ads breach P1B

    Scions of political clans ramp up spending in a Senate race packed by media celebrities.

    8 min
  6. 2025 candidates air P4-B worth of TV, radio ads before October 2024 candidacy filing

    JAN 16

    2025 candidates air P4-B worth of TV, radio ads before October 2024 candidacy filing

    Senatorial candidates Rep. Camille Villar and Sen. Imee Marcos account for half of the total advertisements aired from January to September 2024. Meanwhile, Camarines Sur gubernatorial candidate LRay Villafuerte has a bigger advertising budget than many national candidates.

    11 min
  7. PCIJ roundtable with election watchdogs as 3 elections loom in the Philippines

    10/01/2023

    PCIJ roundtable with election watchdogs as 3 elections loom in the Philippines

    The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) sits down with election watchdogs to identify urgent tasks before the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, 2025 national elections, and the 2025 BARMM elections.

    1h 10m
  8. The Philippines is finally going after plastic producers, but some companies are not cooperating

    09/10/2023

    The Philippines is finally going after plastic producers, but some companies are not cooperating

    Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga pleaded with the enterprises to register their plastic recovery programs with the government given the relatively low number of registrants.

    8 min
See All (32)

About

News, conversations and investigations by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Information

  • Creator
    PCIJ
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © PCIJ
  • Show Website
    PCIJ's On the Record