2 Addressing Inequality During the Pandemic as a result of policy decisions of the present administration. On the other hand, there are noticeable developments on the part of both State and non-State actors to be more active in their performance as check and balance mechanisms in the Philippines. Consequently, both factors are seen as having important implications for the human rights situation in the country. 2 Several developments can be considered as key indicators of the continued relevance of the authoritarian populist project in the Philippines. The Commission on Human Rights has rung the alarm bells on the shrinking of civic spaces. The shrinking of such spaces has been precipitated by unilateral actions of State authorities. From the arbitrary operationalization of the highly controversial Anti-Terror Law of 2020 to the red-tagging of not only human rights defenders but anyone who might have expressed contrary views to the policies of the current administration. These have not only contributed to the reduction of opportunities for meaningful engagement; moreover, such policies may have fomented acts of violence against activists and ordinary citizens alike. 3 Limiting civil and political rights is also part of the playbook of any authoritarian populist regime. Efforts utilizing “lawfare” to marginalize civil-society organizations are fully underway with the issuance of memorandum circulars by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. In a vacuum, accreditation and institutionalization of people’s councils would be considered as positive developments towards ensuring greater citizen participation in governance that should augur well for our democratic consolidation project. However, given the prevailing political environment where red-tagging is not only tolerated but encouraged and done even at the highest echelons of government, the fear that such mechanisms would be used to weaken, deny or even target critical voices are certainly not without basis. 4 The latter half of the year have shown indications that authoritarian populism may have reached its peak. One of the key trends that support this assertion is the erosion of the current administration’s political support base. Consecutive quarterly surveys show diminishing support for the President as well as those identified to be possible candidates of the administration in the 2022 elections. Quite significant is the recent survey result which confirms that an overwhelming majority believe the inappropriateness of a possible vice-presidential run for President Duterte in the upcoming elections as this is construed to be a circumvention of the 1987 Constitution. 5 The lingering and devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have begun to take its toll on the popularity of President Duterte. Allegations of corruption have also been looming in the public consciousness as a result of the senate hearings on the government’s pandemic response as part of its oversight function. Timely reports from the Commission on Audit have also contributed to the public’s knowledge about the apparent deficiencies related to the government’s COVID response. 6 The prospects of a full-blown investigation and eventual trial for crimes against humanity against members and allies of the Duterte administration have also raised hopes that justice can finally be rendered for the thousands that have been killed during the bloody “War on Drugs”. Lately as a result of increasing external pressures, there have been efforts on the part of the State through the Department of Justice to properly investigate a fraction of the killings that have occurred during anti-drug operations by the police and anti-narcotics agents.