Facts First with Christian Esguerra - podcast cover

Facts First with Christian Esguerra

Christian Esguerrafactsfirstpodcast.com
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, veteran Philippine journalist Christian Esguerra brings you the relevant facts and explains burning issues on politics and governance — because democracy dies in disinformation.
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Episodes

Ep. 62: #NoHoldingBack interview with film director Joey Reyes

Veteran film director Jose Javier Reyes explains why many Filipino movies don't fare well in the box office, the challenge from online streaming and Hollywood films, and why Filipino viewing habit will never the same again, especially after two years of pandemic lockdowns.

Jan 13, 20231 hr 1 minSeason 2Ep. 62

Ep. 61: Marcos Jr. and the military

Christian Esguerra speaks with the people behind a "bayanihan" effort to help farmers in the face of the ridiculously high price of onions in the Philippines. Veteran journalist Manny Mogato also provides a historical perspective on military adventurism in the past.

Jan 11, 20231 hr 20 minSeason 2Ep. 61

Ep. 60: Should Marcos Jr. watch his back?

Military and security analyst Jose Antonio Custodio weighs in on the sudden change in command in the Philippine military and whether there are efforts to destabilize the Marcos Jr. administration.

Jan 09, 20231 hr 22 minSeason 2Ep. 60

Ep. 59: Son of PH justice minister acquitted in drug case

This episode talks about the acquittal of the son of Philippine justice secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla in a drug case following trial that was extraordinarily swift by the country's standards.

Jan 06, 20231 hr 2 minSeason 2Ep. 59

Ep. 53: Tanong ni congressman -- pwede bang butasan ang bulkan?

We spoke with a volcanologist on some interesting questions raised by congressmen during the confirmation hearing of President Marcos Jr.'s science and technology secretary. More importantly, what should be the priorities of the department?

Dec 13, 202239 minSeason 2Ep. 53

Ep. 48: Deepfakes, the ugly face of disinformation

Two experts join Christian Esguerra to explain how deepfakes are now being used to spread disinformation. Percy Lapid's brother, Roy Mabasa, joins the program in the second half to talk about resuming the slain broadcaster's hard-hitting radio and online program, "Lapid Fire."

Dec 02, 20221 hr 19 minSeason 2Ep. 48

Ep. 47: Marcos Jr. tweaks Duterte's bloody drug war

A priest who runs a support group for relatives of victims of Duterte's drug war, and a human rights campaigner join Christian Esguerra for a discussion on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s new approach to the drug problem in the Philippines. But will it be any different from Duterte's?

Nov 30, 20221 hr 13 minSeason 2Ep. 47

Ep. 46: Should Leni do more for the political opposition?

Christian Esguerra sits down with two Leni Robredo supporters on what they think the role of the former Philippine vice president should be for the political opposition under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Nov 28, 202258 minSeason 2Ep. 46

Ep. 45: More than 31 million COVID-19 vaccines wasted in PH

This episode explains why such a huge number of COVID-19 vaccine doses went to waste. The second part of the interview talks about the seeming change in approach to the drug problem of Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who was once the main implementor of Rodrigo Duterte's brutal drug war.

Nov 24, 20221 hr 1 minSeason 2Ep. 45

Ep. 43: How to reform the Philippine prison system

Christian Esguerra sits down with Prof. Raymund Narag, a former detainee wrongly accused and later exonerated and who has since devoted his work to reforming the Philippine prison system. He now teaches criminology and criminal justice at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Nov 20, 20221 hr 13 minSeason 2Ep. 43

Ep. 42: Are you ok with 'Netflix' tax?

Tax expert Mon Abrea joins Christian Esguerra for a discussion on a proposed law imposing tax on digital service providers such as Netflix and Spotify.

Nov 20, 202219 minSeason 2Ep. 42

Ep. 40: Can Philippine prisons still be reformed?

Join our discussion with Dr. Raymund Narag, a former detainee wrongly accused of a crime and who has since been advocating for prison reforms. He explains why Philippine prisons are unique, for better or for worse, and why "galugad" (periodic sweep and confiscation of contraband) won't be enough to address the deeply rooted problems in the country's prison system.

Nov 18, 20221 hr 6 minSeason 2Ep. 40

Ep. 39: The evidence against Bantag

Does the Department of Justice have a strong case against the suspended Philippine Bureau of Corrections chief, who was tagged as mastermind of broadcaster Percy Lapid's murder?

Nov 12, 202238 minSeason 2Ep. 39

Ep. 38: Trabaho ba ng journo magpaganda ng imahe?

This episode tackles Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri insistence that media should help project a good image of the Philippines abroad. But does it mean that journalists should downplay thousands of unresolved killings under Duterte?

Nov 10, 20221 hr 7 minSeason 2Ep. 38

Ep. 37: Were the May presidential election results manipulated?

A group is claiming that the results of the recent Philippine presidential election may have been manipulated. Do they have solid evidence? Listen to this discussion with a former Department of Information and Communications Technology official and a Leni Robredo election lawyer.

Nov 07, 20221 hr 24 minSeason 2Ep. 37

Ep. 36: How Percy Lapid's murder was hatched

Veteran journalist Roy Mabasa talks about the ongoing investigation into the killing of his brother, hard-hitting broadcaster Percy Lapid.

Nov 04, 202232 minSeason 2Ep. 36

Ep. 35: How much does Marcos Jr. understand about climate change?

Three environmentalists weigh in on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s understanding of the climate change problem in the Philippines, based on his recent comments about the need for tree planting and the reality of climate change in the aftermath of tropical storm "Paeng."

Nov 02, 20221 hr 21 minSeason 2Ep. 35

Ep. 34: 'Middleman' in Percy Lapid case murdered in jail?

Dr. Raquel Fortun, a forensic pathologist, talks about the independent autopsy she did on the body of the supposed middleman, who was suddenly found dead at the New Bilibid Prison, just hours after he was identified by the confessed gunman.

Oct 31, 20221 hr 30 minSeason 2Ep. 33
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