ASOG Senior Research Fellow Mike Yusingco discusses key governance issues in Japan and engages university students on constitutional reform

Atty Michael Henry LL Yusingco, Senior Research Fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center, recently delivered two impactful lectures in Japan, addressing critical issues in Philippine governance.

On 30 September, Atty Yusingco presented at a brown bag seminar organized by the Institute for Global Governance Research, where he explored the dangers of hyper-presidentialism in the Philippines and its implications for national security. His talk sparked vibrant discussions, with participants raising concerns about the concentration of presidential power and its potential to bypass constitutional safeguards. He emphasized that the Philippine presidential system is inherently designed to centralize executive authority, which poses significant risks to checks and balances. He also warned that such centralization fosters autocratic tendencies, allowing impulsive decision-making without proper consultation. To mitigate these risks, Atty. Yusingco highlighted the importance of establishing robust institutional guardrails to prevent executive overreach.

In another event at the Graduate School of Law of Hitotsubashi University, Atty Yusingco engaged university students in a thought-provoking discussion on fat political dynasties and disinformation in the Philippines. He explained how the dominance of political dynasties undermines democracy and leads to its decay. To address this, he advocated for regular community-level engagement through collaborations between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Barangay Assembly. He also emphasized the need for a balanced approach to combat disinformation, one that respects free speech and media independence. A draconian or militaristic response, he noted, would only fuel disinformation. Instead, fostering a free speech environment would help weaken the influence of false information in society.

Atty Yusingco’s engagements in Japan underscored the importance of addressing concentrated political power and strengthening democratic institutions to ensure a more accountable and transparent governance system.