UP Department of Political Science

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

‘THE HONORABLE THING TO DO IS RESIGN’

Political analyst Jean Franco said Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano no longer has control of the chamber following recent developments and would be better off stepping down from his post.

Franco made the remark amid changes in Senate leadership roles on Wednesday, June 3. | via Hiroshi Suto, INQUIRER.net trainee

Watch the live stream here: https://inqnews.net/Senaterecap

03/06/2026

“The majority is not always right. It is not always on the side of justice.”

— Prof. Aries A. Arugay

Sa gitna ng mga usaping pulitikal at institusyonal, mahalagang tandaan na ang tunay na demokrasya ay hindi lamang nasusukat sa dami ng boto o bilang ng kaalyado. Nakasalalay rin ito sa kakayahang manindigan para sa tama, kahit hindi ito popular.

Panoorin ang buong panayam: https://youtu.be/e_86xiw2ZXA

02/06/2026

“If they continue to behave as they see fit, then it becomes a violation of the fiduciary trust entrusted to them by the voters—to work and fulfill the functions they swore an oath to uphold.”

— Prof. Aries A. Arugay on the ongoing turmoil in the Senate during an interview on Dateline Philippines.

Kasunod ng hindi pagdalo ng ilang majority senators sa sesyon ng Senado, binigyang-diin ni Prof. Arugay na ang kapangyarihan ng mga halal na opisyal ay nagmumula sa mamamayan at kaakibat nito ang pananagutang tuparin ang kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin.

Aniya, ang usapin ay hindi lamang tungkol sa bangayang pulitikal kundi tungkol sa pananagutan, institusyonal na integridad, at pagpapanatili ng tiwala ng publiko sa demokratikong institusyon ng bansa.

Panoorin ang buong panayam: https://youtu.be/1CQ1SdCr-LM

02/06/2026

The UP Department of Political Science joins the UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy and the wider UP community in mourning the passing of Prof. Emeritus Zosimo E. Lee, PhD of the Department of Philosophy.

A respected scholar, former Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, and steadfast advocate of interdisciplinary engagement, Prof. Lee dedicated his life to intellectual inquiry, principled leadership, and public service. His contributions to the academic community and his commitment to nurturing critical thought and democratic values will continue to inspire generations of scholars and students.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, students, and loved ones.

Maraming salamat po, Prof. Lee. Rest in peace.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Prof. Zosimo E. Lee, PhD of the Department of Philosophy. He was 73 years old.

He was the Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy from 2004 to 2010, serving two (2) consecutive terms. A champion of interdisciplinary research and a proponent of John Rawl’s justice as fairness, he was a steadfast supporter of student-led movements and activities.

His towering physique hides a kind and gentle voice that speaks of the value of balance, reason, and introspection. He strolled through the corridors of Palma Hall with an almost solemn pensiveness that earned him the nickname, “Walking Dean”. He will be dearly missed.

His wake will be held at Room 308, St. Peter Chapels, Quezon Avenue from June 6-8, 2026.

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Photo by Mr. Eddie Concepcion

29/05/2026

“Ang pagiging bahagi ng political dynasty ay maaari ring magdulot ng kakulangan sa pagbuo ng mas makabago at progresibong mga polisiya. Sa ilang lugar na matagal nang pinamumunuan ng iisang pamilya, nananatiling limitado ang pag-unlad at pagbabago sa pamamahala.”

— Asst. Prof. Maria Elize Mendoza, UP Department of Political Science, sa kaniyang panayam sa DZUP ukol sa epekto ng political dynasties sa Pilipinas.

Binigyang-diin ni Prof. Mendoza na ang matagal na pananatili ng iilang pamilya sa kapangyarihan ay maaaring makaapekto hindi lamang sa demokratikong kompetisyon kundi maging sa pag-usbong ng mga bagong ideya, liderato, at polisiyang tunay na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mamamayan.

Panoorin ang buong panayam: https://www.facebook.com/reel/948100127825260

29/05/2026

“We need a working Senate. We need a legitimate Senate. We need a more stable Senate. We owe it to the public, given the mayhem that transpired over the past few weeks.”

— Prof. Jean S. Encinas-Franco

Binigyang-diin ni Prof. Encinas-Franco na ang Senado ay dapat maging simbolo ng katatagan at pananagutan—hindi sentro ng walang katapusang bangayang pulitikal.

Ang isang gumaganang demokrasya ay nangangailangan ng mga institusyong may kredibilidad at kakayahang unahin ang kapakanan ng mamamayan.

Panoorin ang buong panayam: https://youtu.be/Yzi7PxNJsR4

29/05/2026

“Our senators need to think of the bigger picture, not to protect their own colleagues or not to think about their partisan interests, but to think of the national welfare and the reputation that it is sending across the world.”

— Prof. Aries A. Arugay sa kaniyang panayam sa ANC Headstart ukol sa nagpapatuloy na political drama sa Senado.

Sa gitna ng tumitinding tensyong pulitikal, binigyang-diin ni Prof. Arugay ang kahalagahan ng pananagutan, maayos na pamumuno, at isang Senado na inuuna ang kapakanan ng bayan higit sa pansariling interes.

Panoorin ang buong panayam: https://youtu.be/Zj5owx6EUsU

28/05/2026

"Sa pulitika kasi ang totoong makapangyarihan, 'yung kayang kontrolin 'yung kapangyarihan na meron siya at gagamitin lang 'yun kapag kinakailangan at for the public good." — Prof. Aries A. Arugay, UP Diliman Department of Political Science.

Amid the rising tensions and shifting rules inside the Senate, Dr. Aries Arugay delivers a sharp reminder of what true political power is supposed to look like. Power isn't about exploiting numbers or changing rules for personal or factional gain—it’s about restraint, accountability, and serving the public interest.

Democracy is more than just a numbers game. When institutions begin to feel less like check-and-balance systems and more like protection rackets, it's the citizens who lose.

Let's call for real accountability and governance that genuinely puts the Filipino people first. 🇵🇭

🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/3rirRHuetdw

28/05/2026

UP Diliman Department of Political Science Professor Alicor L. Panao and Assistant Professor Ranjit S. Rye have published a new study challenging a common assumption in international politics—that people either support or oppose powerful countries in a straightforward manner. Their work introduces the concept of "instrumental ambivalence," which captures the more layered and nuanced ways ordinary citizens think about foreign powers.

Using evidence from the Philippines, the study identifies a striking pattern in public opinion toward China. The findings show that when Filipinos are more satisfied with how the government handles maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea, they tend to view China as less reliable in the short term. This reflects greater confidence in domestic leadership and in the government’s ability to manage tensions effectively.

At the same time, however, these same individuals become more open to long-term cooperation with China. Rather than producing simple approval or rejection, confidence in government appears to separate immediate security concerns from future strategic possibilities. This allows citizens to remain cautious about present risks while still recognizing potential gains from future engagement.

The broader implication of the study is that public opinion in foreign policy is more flexible and complex than often assumed. Citizens are not simply pro- or anti-China; instead, they can simultaneously hold caution and openness depending on how they evaluate their government’s performance.

The study is published in the Australian Journal of International Affairs, a leading peer-reviewed journal in international relations and foreign policy indexed in the Web of Science Social Sciences Citation Index, with an impact factor of 2.7.

Access the article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10357718.2026.2674171