Archives of articles for Gotcha, Sapol, and Sapol Radio
Gotcha
(English articles)
Free eye clinic gives hope for the blind
I give way to this article by Jamaica Mae Digo of Tzu Chi Medical Foundation PH. Excerpted: Keyo Liwanag’s surname denotes brightness. “Liwanag” or “light” also signifies mental clarity or hope. Ironically these were the least Keyo had in the past year. At 33, Keyo...
Robin is comic relief amid harsh times
Senator-judge Robin Padilla provided comic relief Wednesday. Most welcome after NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s boring two-day testimony which disappointed Harry Roque, “Akala ko fireworks, kwitis lang pala.” Recorded for posterity: Padilla: “Ang nasasakdal po kasi dito...
BBM condoning those in flood works scandal
Bongbong Marcos claims to have brought to light the P1.7-trillion flood works scam. Yet he keeps being linked to it. That’s because among the implicated are his Cabinet men and Congress supermajority allies. None of them have been jailed. BBM has even promoted or...
Cayetano: You’re guilty if death threats alarm you
For Senator-Judge Alan Cayetano, if a death threat alarms you, then you must be guilty. That was in his interjection July 14 of NBI officer Jeremy Lotoc: Cayetano: “Sabi mo, President Bongbong Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez felt threatened.” Lotoc: “Base sa...
Proposal to impeach COA bigwig on hold
Plans to impeach Audit commissioner Mario Lipana are shelved. Lipana, 66, was implicated last year in P1.4-billion “allocables,” or overpriced DPWH contracts. State witnesses ex-Usec. Roberto Bernardo and Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara swore in Senate...
How senators waste our money, time
The Senate spends P25 million a day. Sherwin Gatchalian estimated the cost on June 2, amid the Senate’s 28-day leadership standoff. He lamented as erstwhile finance committee chairman: “Every day ang Senate gumagastos ng P25 million sa kuryente, sa utilities, sa...
What if 11 senator-judges are jailed during trial?
The arrest Monday of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta for nonbailable plunder opens a likelihood. More senator-judges being investigated for serious offenses can also be jailed. That raises a question: what if 11 of them are unable to finish the trial, how will the 13 remnants...
Mike Defensor’s many controversies, 2006-2026
Mike Defensor’s first controversy was in July 2006. As president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s chief of staff, he co-signed the award to ZTE Int’l Corp. of goldmining rights in Mt. Diwalwal, Davao. Aliens are banned from mining. ZTE Int’l was a newly formed adjunct of...
Marcoleta’s P75-M plunder rap arose from media admission
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta admitted to not disclosing campaign contributions for the May 2025 election. He was unstoppable in a Nov. 8, 2025 interview on Net25 (translated from Filipino): “Friends did contribute to me. They had only one request: ‘Accept our donation.’ I...
Why 15-year-old was charged with murder
The Revised Penal Code defines murder via certain elements: “Article 248. Murder. Any person who … shall kill another, shall be guilty of murder and shall be punished by reclusion temporal in its maximum period to death, if committed with any of the following...
Escudero ‘worst choice’ as impeachment presider
Senator Chiz Escudero is being touted as presiding officer of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. Meaning, he, instead of Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, is to chair the proceedings. But Escudero has been weighed and found wanting in that role. He gained...
Veto Sandro’s sham bill, anti-dynasts urge BBM
Business, professional and civic groups banded together this week against the fake anti-political dynasty bill of the House of Reps. House Bill 8389, approved on third and final reading June 3, actually legalizes instead of prohibits dynasties. The illustrious...
Sapol
(Babasahing Pilipino)
Mga elitistang Senado
ELITISMO ang namamayani sa mga Senado ng iba’t ibang bansa.
Epekto ng nanay at lola sa bata at lipunan
ISA’T KALAHATING bilyon ang nanay sa mundo ngayon, tripleng dami ng 500 milyon nu’ng dekada-1960.
Malimit mahigitan ng babae ang lalaki
Walang duda mas malakas ang lalaki kaysa babae. Dahil ito sa bulas at masel. Bukod du’n hindi nagbubuntis ang lalaki.
Piliin mo ang alingawngaw
NAMASYAL ang mag-ama sa gubat.
Mga kakulangan ng gobyerno pilit pinapupunuan sa atin
Dumadagsa ang hinaing ng mga babaing hinihipuan sa jeepneys.
Ospital, barangay kapos sa nurses
MAHIGIT 951,000 ang Pilipino registered nurses. Pero 509,000 lang ang nangasa-ospital at clinics.
Pati masamang ugali bitbit sa ibang bansa
SAMPUNG milyon ang overseas Filipino workers.
Walang palusot sa pagiging marumi, magulo, maingay
Kaayusan at kalinisan. ‘Yan ang kinaiinggitan ko sa pamamasyal sa ibang bansa.
‘Nanay’ na itinakwil ni Vladimir Putin
NAMATAY nu’ng May 31 si Vera Nikolaevna Putina, 97, na 24 taon naggiit na siya ang tunay na ina ni Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kasabwat na scammer bibiktimahin ka rin
NASABAT ng pulis ang 7,000 SIM cards sa isang Taiwanese at ka-live-in na Pilipina sa San Jose del Monte, Bulacan nu’ng Hunyo.
Nuisance candidates ba o dynasts ang problema?
Heto na naman ang political dynasts sa Kongreso. Patitindihin nila ang parusa sa nuisance candidates sa halalan.
Ninenerbiyos baka lalagpak sa exam
MALIMIT tayo makapanood ng tv interview ng board exam topnotchers.
Sapol Radio
(AM radio)
Dec. 5, 2020 – Part 1 Dr. Jaime Montoya
In this radio interview, Dr. Jaime Montoya, Exec.Dir. of DOST-PCHRD talks about the evaluation of and volunteers for imported Covid vaccines.
Nov. 28, 2020 – Part 3 Dr. Benjamin Co
In this radio interview, Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Benjamin Co discusses COVID and the vaccines being developed.
Nov. 28, 2020 – Part 2 Atty. Asis Perez
In this radio interview, Atty. Asis Perez discusses helping Typhoons Rolly & Ulysses fishermen-victims thru Tanggol Kalikasan Inc’s Mini Ahon Initiative
Nov. 28, 2020 – Part 1 Sen. Franklin Drilon
In this radio interview, Sen. Franklin Drilon discusses P33.3B parked funds with Phil. International Trading Corp. “Nakabinbin ang pera ng pamahalaan sa PITC.”
Nov. 21, 2020 – Part 3 U.P. V.P. Elena Pernia
In this radio interview, UP VP for Public Affairs Elena Pernia discusses Pres. Duterte saying “UP recruits communists.”
Nov 21, 2020 – Part 2 DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones
In this radio interview, DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones discusses how the typhoons affected learners in Northern and Southern Luzon and DepEd’s response to it.
Nov 21, 2020 – Part 1 Arch. Felino ‘Jun’ Palafox
In this radio interview, Arch. Felino ‘Jun’ Palafox discusses his recommendations for urban planning against flooding and disaster preparedness
Nov 14, 2020 – Part 4 Meralco VP Joe Zaldarriaga
In this radio interview, Meralco spokesman and VP Joe Zaldarriaga discusses the effect of typhoon Ulysses on Metro Manila electricity.
Nov 14, 2020 – Part 3 Dr. Augusto de Viana
In this radio interview, Dr Augusto de Viana, author & historian discusses collaborators during the war: economic, political, cultural, military, 75 years after the end of WWII
Nov. 14, 2020 – Part 2 Exec. Dir. Lorrybel Nachor
In this radio interview, Exec Dir. Lorrybel Nachor of the Coalition for Bicol Dev’t Inc. discusses how we can help Bicolanos after Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses
Nov 14, 2020 – Part 1 Sec. Carlito Galvez
In this radio interview, vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez discusses preparations for mass vaccination against COVID
Nov 7, 2020 – Part 3 Prof. Renato de Castro
In this radio interview, DLSU International Studies Dept. Prof Renato de Castro discusses the effects of a Biden presidency on RP-US relations
Jarius Bondoc is a multi-awarded journalist of 41 years. He writes two thrice-weekly columns, “Gotcha” for The Philippine Star and “Sapol” for Pilipino Star Ngayon. He also hosts a current affairs radio program, Sapol (Saturdays, 8-10 a.m.) on DWIZ 882-AM. Read more about him in this link.