Prof. Francois Houtart, champion of people's rights internationally and a long time friend of the Filipino people in their struggle for national and social liberation died of illness at the age 91 under the loving care of his Ecuadorian comrades. We convey our most heartfelt condolences to his family and relatives, his colleagues and numerous friends all over the world.

Bishop Bolocon's name easily comes to mind when we speak of church people who have consistently stood up and fought for human rights, for peace based on justice, and for putting an end to social systems of corruption, oppression and exploitation.

As he is about to finish the first year of his 6-year term of office in June, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is being assessed and evaluated by a broad spectrum of commentators in terms of performance and fulfillment of promises. His trust rating in poll surveys is still relatively high but this has begun to erode noticeably from the 80 percent peak of his popularity upon his election by a plurality vote of 38 per cent or 16 million of the electorate in May last year.

The Filipino people are not laughing at GRP President Duterte's supposed joke about forming or letting a military junta take over government after having appointed more ex-military generals to key posts in his cabinet.