Opening remarks
His Excellency Steven J. Robinson AO is Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. Over his extensive career, he has developed and expanded Australia’s relationships with a broad range of countries, with a particular focus on the South East Asian region. He has served in Australia’s embassies in Jakarta, Yangon and Bangkok and has held a range of senior positions in Canberra across operational and corporate areas. In 2009, Mr Robinson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) “for service to Australia’s international interests through a significant and sustained contribution”.
This event will be recorded. All opinions expressed are the panelists’ own and do not represent those of The Australian National University or the Australian Government.
Speakers
Marites Dañguilan Vitug
Marites is one of the Philippines’ most accomplished journalists and authors. Vitug – a Nieman fellow – edited Newsbreak magazine, a trailblazer in Philippine investigative journalism. She is among the authors who contributed to a 2021 book, Maritime Issues and Regional Order in the Indo-Pacific, published by Palgrave/Macmillan.
Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Holmes
Ronnie is Professor of Political Science and Development Studies and Fellow of the Southeast Asia Research Center at De La Salle University. Since 2008, Ronnie has also been president of Pulse Asia Research Inc. In addition to three terms as president of the Philippine Political Science Association, Ronnie has chaired the board of the Philippine Social Science Council.
Attorney Ona Caritos
Ona is Executive Director of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE). She received her B.A. in Political Science and Government from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2004, and a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from the Ateneo in 2008.
Professor Paul D. Hutchcroft
Paul is Professor of Political and Social Change at the ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs (of which he was founding director, 2009-2013).
This forum examines the dynamics of the upcoming national election in the Philippines. Will Leni Robredo be able to overcome Bongbong Marcos’s decisive lead in the surveys? What are the interests of external actors in the election? How well prepared is the Commission on Elections to oversee the polls?