Friar lands issue: a matter of law and public policy

President Rodrigo Duterte made a surprise announcement earlier this week in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, that during the second half of his presidential term, he would be stepping up the distribution of public lands to landless citizens.

It was more than another applause line in his speeches in the countryside. This time, he spoke to a highly controversial issue at the heart of church and state relations in the country.