Facts First with Christian Esguerra

Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Tony Carpio explains why China is bent on turning Sandy Cay, which is within the Philippines' territorial sea, into an artificial island.

Rep. Bebot Alvarez, a Duterte ally, is facing an ethics complaint. This episode talks about the case amid the ongoing rift within the "Uniteam."

What do showbiz personalities have to offer if they get elected to public office? Christian Esguerra sits down with campaign strategist Alan German.

In this double-header, Christian Esguerra speaks with political scientist Jean Franco and economist Cielo Magno.

What would it take to stop China's harassment of Philippine vessels within the Philippine exclusive economic zone?

Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Tony Carpio talks about the legal options available to the Philippines in the face of China's increasing aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Christian Esguerra sits down with lawyer Jenny Domino, who is part of the Facebook Oversight Board, about ways to combat AI-generated disinformation.

Former senator Sonny Trillanes, who was among the first to alert the International Criminal Court about Duterte's alleged "crimes against humanity," says an arrest warrant is expected to be issued this year.

Is Vice President Sara Duterte competent to head the Department of Education? Economics professor Cielo Magno joins Christian Esguerra in this episode.

Christian Esguerra sits down with political and campaign strategist Alan German as they break down the calculated messaging in the bad blood between First Lady Liza Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.

First Lady Liza Marcos has broken her silence on her reported rift with Vice President Sara Duterte. This episode goes deep into the dysfunction within the "Uniteam."

Security analyst Chester Cabalza joins Christian Esguerra for a discussion on concerns that China's spies may be trying to infiltrate the Philippines by posing as students.

Did Rep. Bebot Alvarez commit a seditious act by calling on the military to withdraw support for President Marcos Jr.?

President Marcos says he won't surrender Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court if it issues an arrest warrant against his predecessor.

Prof. Jay Batongbacal of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea joins Christian Esguerra.

Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio weighs in on Rodrigo Duterte's handshake deal with China.

What will the Philippines get out of the trilateral summit with the US and Japan in Washington?

Why does it seem that Sen. Imee Marcos' position on China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea runs counter to her brother's approach?

What caused the drop in President Marcos Jr.'s approval and trust ratings in the latest Pulse Asia survey?

Christian Esguerra sits down with Felipe Salvosa, editor of fact-checking website PressOnePH, and Aricel Saludo-Garcia of the Foreign Correspondents' Association of the Philippines.

Does Sen. Raffy Tulfo pose a threat to Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2028 presidential election?

In this two-part episode, Christian Esguerra sat down with a Redemptorist priest on the issue of "super evil" politicians. Then a favorite guest suddenly appears later in the show.

China has protested the Philippines' resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, which is located within our exclusive economic zone. What gives?

Christian Esguerra speaks with Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general at the National Security Council, on China's increasing aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Vergel Santos and Caloy Conde join Christian Esguerra in this episode.

Christian Esguerra speaks with lawyer Rico Domingo, who is part of a group that filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to compel Congress to, once and for all, pass a law defining and prohibiting political dynasties.

The Senate has issued an arrest warrant on Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a Duterte ally facing serious criminal accusations here and in the U.S. Will he finally show up in a Senate inquiry?

Journalist Roy Mabasa, brother of slain broadcaster Percy Lapid, talks about the death of key suspect Ricardo Zulueta.

Listen to this wide-ranging interview with former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Tony Carpio.

What's next for the legit political opposition and why did former Sen. Francis Pangilinan sue a YouTuber?

Catch this wide-ranging discussion with former Sen. Antonio Trillanes.

Why is the Philippine vice president defending self-proclaimed 'appointed son of god' Apollo Quiboloy, who's facing serious criminal charges?

Is there a demolition job against Vice President Sara Duterte?

Ronald Llamas joins Christian Esguerra in this episode.

Christian Esguerra sits down with Human Rights Watch's Caloy Conde on the controversial interview by Sara Ferguson, who confronted Marcos Jr. on his family's ill-gotten and human rights violations during his father's regime.

Christian Esguerra interviews Atty. Rico Domingo, chairman of the Movement Against Disinformation, about the Supreme Court ruling convicting Lorraine Badoy of indirect contempt.

Christian Esguerra sits down with constitutional law expert Michael Henry Yusingco.

What was Rodrigo Duterte really up to with his Davao "prayer rally"?

Let's try to make sense of the recent surveys showing more Filipinos now have better knowledge of the International Criminal Court's investigation into the Duterte drug war, and that they want the Marcos administration to cooperate with the ICC.

Christian Esguerra sits down with political scientist Aries Arugay on the 2023 Democracy Index where the Philippines was regarded as a "flawed democracy."

Labor organizer and human rights lawyer Luke Espiritu warns against tinkering with the economic provisions of the 1987 constitution in this interview with Christian Esguerra.

Listen to this exclusive one-on-one interview with Arturo Lascañas, a self-confessed former Davao Death Squad hitman who now is a "star witness" against Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court.

What legacy will Juan Ponce Enrile leave behind?

Why do more Filipinos now favor the International Criminal Court investigation into the killings under Rodrigo Duterte's drug war?

Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay weighs in on the latest push to amend or revise the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Does the Duterte camp's fear of an ICC arrest warrant have a solid basis? Christian Esguerra speaks with Dr. Aurora Parong, co-chair of the Philippine Coalition for the ICC.

Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte rebuffs Sen. Imee Marcos for telling media that he had apologized to her.

Ronald Llamas is this episode's guest -- again!

Christian Esguerra sits down with former Magdalo congressman Gary Alejano.

Listen to our discussion with retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

A must-listen episode with professor Pancho Lara Jr., author of "Out of the shadows: Violent conflict and the real economy of Mindanao."

Listen to this discussion with lawyer Barry Gutierrez about the idea that Filipinos are left with picking either the Dutertes or the Marcoses.

This episode looks into the clash of two political giants and what it means to ordinary Filipinos.

Catch this one-on-one interview with former Sen. Sonny Trillanes, one of the first to file a case against Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court.

Guest si Ronald Llamas.

Christian Esguerra speaks with Zy-za Suzara on the alleged P51 billion worth of projects allocated for the district of Rep. Paolo Duterte in Davao City.

Christian Esguerra and lawyer Michael Henry Yusingco talk about the trust issues involved in the push to amend or revise the constitution.

Beijing told Marcos Jr. to "read more" after congratulating the new Taiwan president on his recent victory.

Where does President Marcos Jr. stand in this signature drive to amend the 1987 Constitution?

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio joins Christian Esguerra in this episode on current moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Lawyer Barry Gutierrez joins Christian Esguerra in this episode on why revising the 1987 Constitution might work against the Dutertes' political interests.

Economics professor Cielo Magno, a former finance undersecretary, joins Christian Esguerra.

Lawyer Christian Monsod, a member of the 1987 Constitutional Commission, defends the current constitution against groups blaming it for many of today's problems in the Philippines.

Christian Esguerra sits down with lawyer Edwin Lacierda about the current push to amend the 1987 Constitution.

This episode talks about the trust issues between members of the triumphant "UniTeam" during the 2022 elections.

Lawyer Kristina Conti joins Christian Esguerra in this episode on how a possible case against former President Rodrigo Duterte is shaping before the International Criminal Court.

This episode breaks down the results of a recent survey showing preferred senatorial candidates in 2025. Christian Esguerra speaks with veteran campaign strategist Alan German.

Former senator Sonny Trillanes joins Christian Esguerra in this episode on the likelihood that the ICC will issue an arrest warrant against ex-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Veteran defense reporter Manny Mogato joins Christian Esguerra in this episode.

Where is China getting the temerity to blame the Philippines for the rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea? Christian Esguerra speaks with retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio.

Comelec chairman George Garcia explains why the poll body opted to disqualify Smartmatic Inc. from any election-related bidding.

What other options are available to the Philippines in dealing with China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea?

Activist and former Bayan Muna party-list congressman Teddy Casiño explains why he filed a civil suit against SMNI hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz.

This episode breaks down Sen. Robin Padilla's proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution's political provisions

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Babe Romualdez explains how serious the escalating tensions are in the West Philippine Sea.

This episode looks into the possible motives behind Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez's push to amend the 1987 Constitution by next year.

Rep. France Castro talks about the franchise violations of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's SMNI.

Christian Esguerra speaks with retired Navy Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong about the Ayungin and Scarborough incidents where the China Coast Guard attacked Philippine vessels using water cannons.

Christian Esguerra speaks with Dr. Allan Bernardo in this wide-ranging discussion on the Philippine education crisis.

Can the "uniteam" of President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte still be salvaged?

Veteran journalists Vergel Santos and Ipe Salvosa join Christian Esguerra in this episode about the congressional inquiry into SMNI's operations.

Catch our episode with former senator Sonny Trillanes, who was among the first to file a complaint against Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court.

Are there efforts to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte?

Listen to this comprehensive interview with former senator Leila De Lima, who was finally allowed to post bail after 6 years in jail over drug cases allegedly cooked up by the Duterte administration.

Christian Esguerra speaks with the lead counsel of Rep. France Castro, who was the subject of a supposed death threat by former President Rodrigo Duterte

2023 Ramon Magsaysay awardee Miriam Coronel Ferrer explains the Israeli-Palestine conflict and the raging crisis in Gaza.

What should former Sen. Leila De Lima do next after being detained for more than six years by the Duterte administration?

A retired Navy official explains why China is bent on seizing Ayungin Shoal.

Former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno joins Christian Esguerra for a discussion on extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses by senators and House members.

Did congressmen remove Vice President Sara Duterte's confidential funds for 2024 simply because it was the right thing to do? Think again.

This episode talks about the implications of removing Rep. Gloria Arroyo as deputy speaker in the context of the rift between Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the Dutertes.

Lawyer Barry Gutierrez explains why he and 10 other petitioners want the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional the transfer of P125 million in confidential funds from the Office of the President to the Office of the Vice President in 2022.

The Philippines' top military official warned against destabilization efforts against President Marcos Jr. only to claim afterward that he was "misquoted," which he was not. But are there really groups seeking to destabilize the current administration?

Guest na naman si Ronald Llamas. Pag-tiyagaan n'yo na lang.

Listen to this one-on-one interview with former DILG secretary Raffy Aluna on China.

Former Supreme Court Justice Tony Carpio explains why China's territorial claim, aside from its previously debunked maritime claims, is weak.

Why did the Philippines abstain in the UN resolution seeking a humanitarian ceasefire on the Gaza Strip?

Is former President Rodrigo Duterte positioning himself as the opposition to the Marcos Jr. administration?

Rep. France Castro explains why she decided to file criminal charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte for allegedly threatening to kill her in a TV program.