On the latest episode of ABS-CBN’s youth-oriented public affairs show YSpeak, veteran political journalist Christian Esguerra spoke about journalism, social issues, and the role of young Filipinos in shaping the country’s future.

Asked about neutrality in the profession, Esguerra argued that journalists should not stay in the middle when confronted with clear abuses of power.

“Let’s say you see a government killing its own people, or a government that’s stealing from the government coffers, gigitna ka ba as journalist? Kasi kapag gumitna ka, that’s just an excuse for you dahil takot ka na ma-offend ‘yung nasa kapangyarihan. But journalism exists basically to offend those in power as a consequence of you speaking truth to power,” he said.

Esguerra has, since 2022, been running his own popular digital program Facts First, where he discusses current events and political issues in the country. In the program, he often dissects national issues and political developments, with frequent guests like political pundit Ronald Llamas and political campaign strategist Allan German.

Asked how he handles death threats given his style and hard-hitting commentaries, Esguerra said: “Pag sa akin kasi pag gusto ka patayin, papatayin ka e. May paraan para mapatay ka. Because I have existing death threats ngayon sa social media, may mga nagpapadala. Some of them I take seriously, some of them I ignore.”

On journalists who turn a blind eye to social issues, Esguerra said the idea itself runs contrary to the profession. “You cannot be a journalist kung nagbubulag-bulagan ka sa social issues because that’s a given di ba,” he remarked.

Esguerra said fear in the profession is understandable but noted that self-censorship remains a concern.

“Ang sa akin naman I don’t take it against them kung duwag noh kasi talaga namang nakakatakot ‘yung profession in many respects. Pero a big part of this has to do with our culture. Medyo timid ‘yung culture natin sa Pilipinas. ‘Yung masyado tayong mahiyain. We really want to impress people. We want to look nice pero nagsasaksakan tayo sa likod. Diba ‘yan ang problema sa kultura natin minsan e. Minsan nadadala natin ‘yan sa journalism,” he said.

Esguerra, who is also a journalism faculty member at the University of Santo Tomas, also shared advice for aspiring journalists, saying character and competence should go hand in hand in pursuing the profession.

“Dapat alam mo ‘yung mindset mo na tama. Alam mo ‘yung issues na dapat tinututukan mo pero at the same time you have to be competent, that means respecting your craft. Hindi pwedeng puro ka tapang, puro ka pabibo pero hindi mo alam papano magbalita, hindi mo alam paano maghanap ng balita, magsalansan ng impormasyon at gumawa ng conclusion base sa facts,” he said.

Later in the program, Esguerra participated in YSpeak’s word association game.

Among those shown was Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto whom he described as “promising.”

Senator Rodante Marcoleta, meanwhile, was described as a “tsinador.” Marcoleta has faced criticism over positions and remarks perceived as favorable toward China-related issues, particularly on matters involving the West Philippine Sea.

Esguerra also had strong reactions to Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Robin Padilla, questioning: “Bakit at papaano naging senador ‘to?” The remark elicited laughter from the audience.

Esguerra reserved perhaps his strongest description for Vice President Sara Duterte, whom he described in one word: “evil.”

Watch the video below:

Senator Robin Padilla is being viewed as a person of interest following the escape of fellow Duterte ally Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Thursday.

Dela Rosa slipped out of the Senate building Thursday morning amid a possible arrest after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant against him in connection with his role in the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

Earlier reports said Dela Rosa left the Senate premises together with Padilla, a detail later confirmed by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Senate security chief Mao Aplasca.

Appearing on three of the primetime newscasts Monday, Padilla declined to comment on whether he played a role in Dela Rosa’s disappearance, saying an NBI probe is ongoing and that he would rather address the matter in the proper forum.

“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin po sa inyo na hindi ko po ‘yan masasagot sapagkat ito po ay naging opisyal nang imbestigasyon. Kaya ang pinakamaganda po dito ay ako po’y makapaghayag muna kung sinuman po ang aatasan ng gobyerno na mag-imbestiga,” Padilla said during a split-screen interview with TV Patrol anchor Karen Davila.

Davila then raised the issue of whether Padilla considers Dela Rosa a fugitive and whether he helped him escape.

“Pero Senator, bakit di niyo po ito masagot? Itinuturing niyo po bang pugante si Dela Rosa? Tumulong po ba kayo sa pugante?” she asked.

“Hindi po ‘yan ang posisyon ng mayorya. Ang posisyon po namin ay hindi po namin tinatanggap ang warrant of arrest galing sa ICC. Ang inaantay po namin ay ‘yung warrant of arrest ng local court po,” he said.

Padilla also appeared on 24 Oras, where anchor Mel Tiangco repeatedly pressed him on the same issue.

The senator avoided giving a direct answer several times, prompting Tiangco to bring up a video footage captured by GMA News showing an SUV reportedly owned by Padilla on the morning Dela Rosa left the Senate premises.

“Nakasakay po ba dyan si Senator Bato Dela Rosa nung nakunan ‘yan?” Tiangco asked, drawing a surprised reaction and laughter from the senator, who appeared taken aback by her persistence.

“Antayin na lang po natin, Tita Mel, ‘yung imbestigasyon. Pero akin po ‘yan. Alam po ng lahat ng tao dito na kotse ko po ‘yan,” Padilla said.

“Eh kayo ba ang nakasakay doon, Sir?” Tiangco quickly followed up.

“Antayin na lang po natin imbestigasyon,” Padilla answered before Tiangco cut in: “Pati kayo hindi pwedeng itanong?”

The senator also faced similar questions during an interview with Korina Sanchez on Agenda, who was broadcasting live from the Senate.

“Inutos po ba, ito po ay tanong ng bayan, ng partido na ipuslit si Senador Bato Dela Rosa?” Sanchez asked.

“Ay wala pong nangyaring puslit. Ako po ay handang humarap sa imbestigasyon. Katunayan gustong-gusto ko na din pong magkwento sa mga tao pero dahil in-official po nila na magkakaroon ng imbestigasyon kaya mas maganda po na doon na lang ako magpapahatig sa kanila at maglalahad kung ano po ‘yung alam ko,” Padilla answered.

In another testy exchange between ANC anchor Karmina Constantino and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the senator openly admitted that he went into hiding amid fears of a possible arrest by the International Criminal Court or ICC.

The interview came just two days after Dela Rosa’s surprising return to the Senate, during which a dramatic shakeup took place in the leadership of the upper chamber, where Duterte-allied senators voted to install Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate president, replacing Senator Tito Sotto.

Constantino began the interview by recalling a previous conversation she had with Dela Rosa, where the senator denied that he went into hiding right after the authorities nabbed former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Senator, ’nung huli ho tayong nag-usap, tinanong ko kayo kung nagtatago kayo. Ang sabi niyo po hindi. And then what followed was months on end of you not appearing before the Senate. Can you confirm to us that you were indeed hiding all these six months?” she asked.

Dela Rosa responded, “Kung hindi niyo ako nakikita, so nagtatago ako. Kung nakikita niyo ako, hindi ako nagtatago, diba? So six months na hindi niyo ako nakita, six months ago na nagtatago.”

The Dateline Philippines anchor then asked him directly why he chose to hide, to which the senator said it was “because my liberty is under threat.”

The ICC confirmed on Monday that an arrest warrant has already been issued in connection with Dela Rosa’s involvement in the Duterte administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign. In a statement, the ICC said it is now up to Philippine authorities “to arrest and surrender” the senator to the tribunal.

The interview grew more confrontational when Constantino pointed out that the issue could end if Dela Rosa chose to surrender voluntarily, echoing calls made by some of his colleagues in the Senate, as well as his critics.

“Senator, all this will end if you just choose to surrender voluntarily. Why isn’t that an option for you?” Constantino asked.

Dela Rosa maintained that he still intends to pursue all available legal remedies before considering surrender.

“Karmina, meron pa tayong mga available na legal remedies. Huwag kang masyadong atat na atat. Hintayin mo muna na matapos ko itong lahat na legal remedies at pagkatapos niyan, tingnan natin,” he said.

Constantino then questioned whether he planned to continue exhausting those remedies while remaining inside the Senate complex under so-called “protective custody.”

Dela Rosa rejected the characterization that he was hiding inside the Senate.

“Oh bakit ba ako nagtatago ba dito sa Senado? I’m under custody, protective custody ng Senado. Anong sinasabi mong nagtatago? Kung nagtatago ako hindi mo ako maiinterview ngayon,” he said.

Watch the video below: