With Bato dela Rosa leaving his position as head of the PNP this is the last edition of Retards in the Government which will feature him in that capacity. But never fear! He is only moving to a new government post as warden of New Bilibid Prison. We haven't heard the last of him yet!
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday apologized to Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi for calling the Rohingya crisis a “genocide.”
In a speech April 5, Duterte, expressing pity to Rohingya Muslims, offered them a refuge in the Philippines.
His description drew a public rebuke from government spokesperson Zaw Htay, who said that Duterte does not know anything about Myanmar and has a propensity to “speak without restraint.”
In a press briefing early Friday morning, Duterte said his comment on Myanmar’s Rohingya problem was “sarcastic.”
“I will apologize to you but if you have noticed my statement was almost a satire,” he said, addressing Suu Kyi.
The chief executive said he made the remark after he was informed of rights violations in Myanmar.
“I was just adapting their findings that there are lot of violations in your country. I am not ready to intervene in your --- I was just using because I said, if you are willing, you guys stay in Europe to receive, provide sanctuary or in the meantime allow the... Rohingyas to stay with your country, I will also do it,” Duterte said.I read his statement last week about accepting refugees and none of that came off as satire because it wasn't satire nor was it almost satire. But if indeed it originally really was intended as satire then Duterte is a sick man to treat this matter of genocide as a joke. If this is an apology it is weak and issued only because someone basically said, "Duterte is stupid and does not know what he is talking about."
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982082/duterte-scorns-sereno-anew-shes-ignorant-dumb |
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| https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2018/04/13/1805599/police-grapple-response-cybercrimes |
The Philippine National Police does not have widespread know-how to investigate cybercrimes owing to lack of equipment and manpower, according to a police official.
Superintendent Jay Guillermo, spokesperson of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, admitted that they are handicapped in dealing with cybercrimes and cyberthreats.
This is interesting because in 2012 the Office of Cybercrime within the DOJ was created. You can't expect the country in Asia with the slowest internet to be up to date win the lasted cybercrime fighting techniques.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/13/1805633/tech-sector-can-make-philippines-developed-country-data-scientist-says |
She shared that one big challenge that they faced in introducing data science to the local market was cultural and convincing individuals and decision-makers about the idea that they should base their decisions on scientific information.
Sy said that they had formal and informal partnerships with educational institutions in the Philippines to help hone the skills of students in data science.
She added that they also were working with the civic sector and some government departments to create systems that could help them make good policy decisions.
When asked if they were open to working with politicians, she answered, “Politics is a whole new ballgame entirely. We really stayed away from that. We believe that we can best serve the people by creating the system for good decision-making no matter who’s elected.”
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/13/1805629/duterte-icc-prosecutor-i-will-arrest-you |
Duterte insisted that Bensouda does not have jurisdiction over him and that the Philippines was never a member of the ICC.
"There is no basis at all because we were never—the Philippines was not ever, ever a member of that ICC for the reason that there was no publication," Duterte said.
The Duterte administration had been claiming that the Rome Statute was not enforceable in the country as it was not published in the Official Gazette.
Duterte's story keeps changing. Previously the story was that the Rome Stature had unconstitutional provisions. Now it turns out the Philippines was never even a member of the ICC because the treaty was never published in the Official Gazette. That's kind of like saying a marriage is invalid because it was never announced in the local newspaper! If "the Philippines was not ever, ever a member of that ICC" then there was no need to make a formal announcement of withdrawal.
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| http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/649929/ex-sulu-gov-tan-convicted-for-non-filing-of-salns-ordered-to-pay-p25-000/story/ |
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| http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/14/18/70-of-cops-ordered-dismissed-still-in-service-pnp-ias |
PNP-IAS inventory showed that from 2015 to 2017, only 721 out of 2,431 cases have been successfully implemented. This means only 30% were acted upon, leaving 1,1710 or 70% of the cases not implemented.
Data also showed that 567 recommendations for dismissal from the service were made.
Only 159 were implemented. 408 were not implemented.
Once the policeman receives the dismissal order, he or she is given 10 days to file a motion for reconsideration. In 30 days, the PNP chief or any disciplinary authority will review the motion and give a final decision.
The PNP-IAS wants to find out what went wrong in the implementation.Does Bato know about this? So much for being hard on corrupt cops.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/14/1805772/release-barangay-narco-list-duterte-sleeping-it |
The Philippine National Police said the President already has the narco list of the barangay officials but that it still has to be released.
“I will sleep on that issue. I’ll give it a thought. I’ll sleep on it maybe sometime,” the President said.
The elections on May 14 will cover barangay captains and members of the Sangguniang Barangay, or barangay council, in 42,028 barangays nationwide.
Duterte has often lamented the involvement of barangay officials in the illegal drug trade.
“So I have to think about this crucial issue. I have to make sure that it does not affect the freedom of the people to elect their own leaders because this is democracy,” the President said upon arrival at the Davao International Airport here before dawn yesterday from his trip to China and Hong Kong.
The President said it is actually the choice of the people but then again letting them know that they might just elect the wrong guy.
Duterte is withholding this list of alleged narco-politicians in the name of democracy because it is the people's choice whether or not to elect to office someone involved in the drug trade and releasing this list would taint the elections.
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| https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/04/13/gun-ban-in-effect-as-election-period-starts/ |
The Comelec said during the election period which will end on May 21, “no person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, even if licensed to carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Commission.”In the Philippines politicians are regularly murdered. Often by motorcycle duos who speed off into the night never to be heard from again. If someone is hell bent on assassinating a politician a gun ban won't stop him.
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| http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/04/14/naia-10-years-airport.html |
"NAIA will not last forever because it is presently situated in a place which is overly congested, and technology and airline travel have improved," Tugade said during the Philippine Economic Briefing held in Pampanga.
"My fear, it would be 8 to 9 years, at most, 10 years. That’s the lifespan of NAIA," he added.
Tugade said new airports should be developed to keep up with new advancements in aviation technology.
The government is eyeing the possibility of turning NAIA into an economic hub similar to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, he said.
And to think only a few weeks ago people were praising the Duterte administration because the NAIA made it to number 10 on the list of most improved airports!
Looks like this survey was wrong!
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| http://www.manilatimes.net/naia-on-top-10-of-most-improved-airports-survey/387789/ |
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/04/14/1805912/ex-cebu-mayor-charged-graft-malversation |
Former Daanbantayan, Cebu mayor Maria Luisa Loot, was formally charged by the Office of the Ombudsman over the questionable implementation of a livelihood project in 2007 worth P500,000.
The charge sheets were prepared by assistant special prosecutor Jorge Espinal on Dec. 27, 2017 and were approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Jan. 5, 2018.
The cases, however, were formally filed at the Sandiganbayan only last April 6.
It was in March 2017 when the ombudsman issued a decision finding probable cause to charge Loot and Moralde in court.
A former mayor charged with graft and her surname is Loot! How ironic! Funny how this case did not even come about until after a whole decade.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982403/5-cops-nabbed-for-extortion-try |
Police and the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday night arrested four Manila policemen who allegedly tried to extort P50,000 from an Egyptian in exchange for dropping a drug charge against him.
The policemen were arrested in an entrapment operation after they agreed to cash a P50,000 check that the Egyptian had issued.
Arrested were SPO3 Ranny Dionisio, PO3 Richard Bernal, PO1 Elequiel Fernandez and PO1 Arjay Lasap, all of the intelligence section of the Manila Police District Malate station.
Not only are these cops corrupt but they are stupid to boot! Who accepts a check in an extortion scam? The check would easily trace back to them! CASH ONLY when dealing in illegal activities. These men were in the intelligence section?
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982580/new-doj-chief-to-look-into-reports-aguirre-shredded-documents |
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| http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/650167/doj-is-corroded-within-justice-chief-guevarra/story/ |
“Now I hate to say that our department, as well as most agencies attached to it, is suffering from a huge image problem. The imposing building remains the same but it’s somehow corroded inside. It looks solid but it’s structural integrity is suspect, both literally and metaphorically,” he said.
“So it is my personal mission to restore the DOJ’s dignified and respectable image to make it a cornerstone and not a mere pillar of our Justice system,” he said.
Guevarra, a former senior deputy executive secretary, appealed to DOJ employees to begin an “inner revolution” of their values to achieve an attitude that prioritizes public interest, particularly that of the “underprivileged and the oppressed ... “over and above our individual self-interests.”
The new DOJ Secretary has a lot of work to do.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982561/9-new-graft-charges-filed-vs-ex-caloocan-city-mayor |
The new charges filed on April 6 involved the alleged misuse of P37.72 million for various infrastructure projects without prior authorization or a specific appropriation from the city council.
The filing of the new charges brought to P235.65 million the total amount of funds Echiverri was accused of misusing.
More charges for an already overcharged corrupt politician. Will there be more to come?
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982578/73-barangay-execs-face-raps |
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is filing charges against officials of 73 villages all over the country before the Ombudsman this week for failure to organize their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Badac), a DILG official said.
“Vote for barangay officials who are not only good, but who are [also] not afraid to fight against the proliferation of illegal drugs, and to name the drug lords and pushers in their areas,” he urged.At least it's not plunder. How can the people be sure to vote for barangay officials who aren't involved in drugs if Duterte does not release his list of barangay officials involved in drugs?
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982754/dot-to-screen-reporters-planning-to-cover-boracay-closure |
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has announced that journalists planning to go to the island to cover and report on the six-month closure need vetting and accreditation from the DOT before they will be issued a special pass.
But they are only allowed to stay on the island only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are required to go back to the mainland of Malay town, according to DOT Assistant Secretary Frederick Alegre.
“They will have to go back to the Caticlan like everyone else. They can return the next day,” Alegre told the INQUIRER.
Journalists would only be allowed access in designated areas and would be required to ask permission and be escorted to go to other areas. These measures were similar to those imposed in high-risk situations and areas like war zones.I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. The government just wants to reduce the impact of people on the island and clean it up real good. That's it. Any other speculations are black propaganda and a conspiracy to destabilise the nation and overthrow Duterte.
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| https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/200319-benjamin-lusad-plunder-funds-malversation-pnp-saf-troops-allowance |
Every 3 months, personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Special Action Force (SAF) look forward to a special allowance – officially called the Daily Additional Subsistence Allowance – to augment the salaries they receive.
It isn’t much.
Across the board, personnel of all ranks, from Police Officer 1 (PO1s) to the 2-star police general who heads the unit – get P30 a day, translating to an allowance of roughly P900 monthly.
While Daily Additional Subsistence Allowance is its official name, troopers typically refer to it as the “ASA.” Since Police Director Benjamin Lusad took over the elite PNP unit, the “ASA” has referred not only to its official meaning but a more colloquial one, taking off from its English translation: hope.
They continue to hope it would come despite its unlikelihood. Because for over two years, thousands of PNP SAF troopers apparently failed to get a bulk of their monthly allowances, even if the unit’s finance department officially received it.
But by hook or by crook, SAF personnel have come to expect roughly P900 monthly from the ASA. While the amount doesn’t seem much, an additional P900 spells a world of a difference for troopers who struggle to make ends meet or those deployed in tough areas in the provinces. It’s the monthly P900 that many SAF troopers pool for their daily meals and other necessities.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982706/plunder-raps-vs-ex-saf-officials-anger-dela-rosa |
This situation is disgusting. The members of the SAF, the elite unite of the PNP, are struggling to make ends meet so badly that they NEED a measly 900 extra pesos per month just to make it?? What happened to the pay raise at the beginning of the year that they are still struggling? Why is the elite unit forced to struggle with low pay in the first place? And why is Bato not angry at the officials who withheld this pay? Instead he is angry at those who field the case!
He has also declared January 23rd as First Philippine Republic Day, September 21 as National Day of Protest, January 25th as National Day of Remembrance for the SAF 44, December 8th as a National non-working holiday because of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, as well as various working and non-working holidays in different cities through the country. There are so many holidays and specially themed days in the Philippine calendar it is mind boggling. Every non-working holiday is a loss of revenue especially if government employees receive holiday pay. Doesn't the president have more important things to do than to continually declare holidays and specially themed days?
None of these 105 people filed their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures which ensures transparency in the financial portion of the election process. Here is the full list: https://www.scribd.com/document/376657224/List-of-candidates-perpetually-disqualified-to-hold-public-office
It is very aesthetic and even cinematic.
The moment this innocent picture was posted to twitter the Filipino social media world lit up. Condemnations came in from every quarter about how insensitive this photo was because you don't smile at a holocaust memorial. Above we have Presidential spokesman Harry Roque throwing in his two bits. He says he was shocked! "Didn't they understand the place they were in?"
Let me tell you about the place they were in. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is "a 19,000 m2 (4.7-acre) site covered with 2,711 concreteslabs or "stelae", arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field." "The concrete blocks offer no detail or reference to the Holocaust. The title of the monument does not include the words “Holocaust” or “Shoah”. Critics have raised questions about the memorial’s lack of information. “It doesn’t say anything about who did the murdering or why—there’s nothing along the lines of “by Germany under Hitler’s regime,” and the vagueness is disturbing”."
That information is from the Wikipedia article about this memorial: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_to_the_Murdered_Jews_of_Europe.
What we have here is a manufactured scandal and fake outrage over a picture taken at a nominal (that means in name only) holocaust memorial which does not even reference the holocaust all the while Duterte goes about his usual business of being Duterte and everyone excusing his behaviour. So what if Leni and her group posed for a picture at a memorial site? That is what people do. They visit a place, take a picture of themselves at said place, and they smile for the camera. If people were required to be sad at memorial sites then the whole world would be sad because there is hardly a spot on Earth where innocent blood has not been shed or atrocities committed and which should not be a memorial.
I suspect that if she had frowned or cried the Filipino social media scene would be full of accusations of "Fake tears, Fake VP!"
You cannot win with the retards in the Philippines and that includes government officials and netizens.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982864/duterte-oks-deputation-of-police-military-for-polls |
The Constitution empowers the Comelec to deputize the law enforcers and the Armed Forces, with the concurrence of the President, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.Only in the Philippines do you need to use the police and army to enforce the people's democratic right to vote. Elsewhere people simply line up and vote with no problem.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/982782/ramiscal-gets-another-123-years-over-afp-retirement-fund-land-scam |
The Sandiganbayan has again convicted retired Brig. Gen. Jose Ramiscal Jr. of irregularities that marred the real estate deals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Retirement and Separation Benefits System (AFP-RSBS) in the late 1990s.This case is so massive and so full of graft and fraud that it has taken several verdicts and two decades to untangle it all. What hope then can anyone have that those involved in the pork barrel scam will see any convictions before the year 2034??
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| http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/food/650300/duterte-declares-month-of-april-as-filipino-food-month/story/ |
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| http://business.inquirer.net/249365/govt-promises-graft-free-fast-build-build-build |
“Under the leadership of President Duterte, we have managed to reduce corruption to the barest minimum in all government efforts. We have started the projects already,” he said in an interview at the sidelines of the Asean Finance Ministers’ and Central Governors’ Meeting held in Singapore on April 5 to 6.He admits that corruption has only been reduced and not eliminated. I am not holding my breath over this promise. The fact that he felt the need to make this promise says so much about the problems in this country.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/18/1807015/shame-you-duterte-fires-more-execs-labor-usec-out |
True to his promise of ridding government of corruption, President Duterte has fired a new set of officials over allegations of graft.
“You know, I’m very sad to inform you that as of last week I fired another set of officials,” the President said during the mass oath-taking of newly appointed officials at Malacañang yesterday afternoon.
The President did not name the officials but said they were among his longtime supporters.
The President said he thought those who were convincing him to run were after the betterment of the country and would not commit any corruption.
“Ayaw ko kasi mawalaan ang aking kapwa tao ko (I don’t want to lose people I trust). I don’t want to nurture something that I would be suspicious of anybody in front of me. Ayaw ko sana ‘yung mawalaan ako ng bilib sa kaibigan o kakilala (I don’t want to lose confidence in friends). I hate it because I know you – they meant well,” he added.
“But along the way, may papasok talaga na kalokohan (they commit wrongdoing) ang p***,” he said.If government officials have been committing crimes then they need to be charged and not simply let go. Duterte has several times let people go while accusing them of illegal activities but bringing no charges. Under Duterte there is no accountability for corruption. Or alleged corruption.
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| http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/650441/list-of-candidates-perpetually-disqualified-to-hold-public-office/story/ |
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| http://business.inquirer.net/249300/police-nab-corporate-treasurer-involved-large-scale-investment-scam |
According to Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario, director of the Southern Police District, Wahana had victimized 105 people and extorted millions from investors, including policemen and teachers.
Wahana, which lends money to casino players, allegedly promised a high return on investment of 12- percent weekly interest (or 48 percent monthly) to investors.
It also allegedly used the names of top generals in the Philippine National Police, including Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Director Oscar Albayalde, as among the company’s investors. The two officials have denied involvement in the company.I include this little article because of the involvement of PNP officers in the scam. These men believed they would get a 48% return EVERY MONTH!! You have to be pretty stupid to believe such an obvious lie. The inclusion of Bato and Albayalde as bait to lure investors without these fish investigating the claims hammers home the stupidity of these officers. These men are not victims of the scammer, they are victims of their own idiocy. And these are the men who are supposed to be serving and protecting the people!
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| https://www.rappler.com/nation/200520-amlc-2017-audit-report-iphone-coa |
AMLC was able to have its budget approved for 24 Android smartphones at P25,000 each to be “used in the conduct of bank inquiry, surveillance and data gatherings by existing and additional number of financial investigators.”
However, AMLC ended up buying the more expensive iPhone 7 at P37,388 each. Because they had a budget of only P600,000, they bought only 16 iPhone 7s for P598,222.
This means that 8 investigators ended up with no new phones.
AMLC management said that they didn’t take into consideration during planning that they needed the more secure IOS of Apple, instead of the Android OS they planned to buy.A little ironic. The Anti-Money Laundering Council set a budget for 24 Android phones but ended up buying 16 iPhones leaving 8 investigators with no new phones. Why do they need these new phones? Unless they are using clamshells from ten years ago it would seem to be a waste of money. Goodness knows what shenanigans these employees will get up to with these expensive phones. Regardless of security features they still went out of budget and will have to face the consequences.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/19/1807386/duterte-i-ordered-australian-nuns-probe |
Duterte said he was taking full responsibility for the arrest, but clarified that his original order was only to investigate Fox.
“It is not the military who arrested the nun. It was upon my orders implemented by the Bureau of Immigration (BI),” he said.
“I ordered her to be investigated – not deported at once, not arrested – for disorderly conduct,” he said. “I take full responsibility, legal and otherwise, for this incident.”
But he warned he would not hesitate to order the nun’s arrest if she speaks out against his administration in rallies. “I assure you: if you begin to malign, defame government in any of those rallies there, I will order your arrest,” he said.
“The only reason why she was released was she was not caught in flagrante delicto. Meaning to say she was not caught during her berating the government,” he said.
Fox was picked up on Monday at her house in Quezon City and brought to the BI office in Intramuros. She is the superior of the Notre Dame de Sion Philippine Province.
After his admission, Duterte unleashed a broadside at the Australian nun.
He said Fox has a “foul mouth” and that she has no right to criticize him.
“You come here and insult us, you trample with our sovereignty. That will never happen,” he said.
Duterte also threatened to put behind bars any member of the left who would invite foreign counterparts.
“Beginning today, I will decide who gets in, who gets out. You want to question that, you go to court and I will follow,” he said. “But until then, you do not mess with the sovereignty of this country. You treat it with disrespect, you come here with – you stick and you try to defame government,” he said.If Duterte had only said he ordered her investigated and left it at that....well that wouldn't be very characteristic of him now would it? He says the only reason Fox was not detained was because she was not caught in the act. That means she really is violating Philippine laws or he thinks she is anyway. Which means she shouldn't have been released. Since when does someone need to be caught in the act to be charged with a crime? His bombast about sovereignty rings empty when China continues to trample all over Philippine sovereignty.
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| http://globalnation.inquirer.net/165824/china-military-planes-land-ph-reef |
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| https://www.rappler.com/nation/200516-alan-cayetano-philippines-eyeing-protest-china-military-planes-mischief-reef |
"We're taking the diplomatic action," Cayetano said on Wednesday, reacting to the banner story of the Philippine Daily Inquirer about two Chinese military planes photographed on Panganiban Reef.
When asked if the diplomatic avenues include filing a diplomatic protest, Cayetano answered, "Yes, it may include that. It depends where and how."Sure you are. If the UN ruling is unenforceable and China is ignoring it what do you think they will do with any diplomatic protest the Philippines files?
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| https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/200576-freddie-aguilar-senator-pdp-laban-2019 |
In a little over two years, veteran singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar has come a long way – from being President Rodrigo Duterte’s supporter, theme song composer and singer, to possible senator in 2019.
No less than Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, president of the ruling party PDP-Laban, said that they are considering Aguilar as among the administration’s candidates in 2019.
Pimentel, however, said nothing is final yet due to the "overflow" of candidates.
“Yes, because he is a party member,” Pimentel said when asked on Thursday, April 19.
“Go over the qualifications for senator. He has all of them. And for sure he has ideas on how legislation can solve some of our problems," he added.
The 1987 Constitution says no person shall be a senator unless he is a natural-born Filipino citizen, at least 35 years old on election day, able to read and write, a registered voter, and a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the day of the election.Just what the Philippines needs! Another entertainer in the Senate. According to Pimentel the only qualifications necessary to be a Senator are the bare minimums listed in the constitution. Who cares about education or experience! Just be a party member with a pulse. "How legislation can solve some of our problems"??? What a howler! More legislation no one will enforce or which will create more red tape is not going to solve anyone's problems.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/18/1807135/duterte-defender-roque-shocked-robredo-holocaust-memorial-photo |
A photo of Vice President Leni Robredo and other Liberal Party officials smiling at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin was too much even for presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who regularly defends the president's oft-controversial words and actions.
The memorial honors and remembers up to six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of Jews by Nazi Germany, which believed that German "Aryans" were racially superior.
Roque said that he could not understand Robredo and Liberal Party members Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte (Quezon City, 6th District), Rep. Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao), Rep. Miro Quimbo (Marikina), Rep. Jorge Banal (Quezon City, 3rd District), Rep. Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands) and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
“I was shocked when she apologized. Although she has already apologized, I can’t understand what they were thinking (when they did that),” Roque said in an interview on government Radyo ng Pilipinas.
“I thought: ‘Didn’t they understand the place they were in?’” he said.
Duterte’s spokesman also said that there is a code of conduct for public officials to make sure that the actions of public officials are beyond reproach.This right here is the Philippine political scandal of the week. Maybe that should be a new sub-category within this series? Leni Robredo and friends visit Berlin. While in Berlin they visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. During their visit they strike a pose and smile for the camera with the end result being a cross between the album covers for Houses of the Holy and Learning to Crawl.
It is very aesthetic and even cinematic.
The moment this innocent picture was posted to twitter the Filipino social media world lit up. Condemnations came in from every quarter about how insensitive this photo was because you don't smile at a holocaust memorial. Above we have Presidential spokesman Harry Roque throwing in his two bits. He says he was shocked! "Didn't they understand the place they were in?"
Let me tell you about the place they were in. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is "a 19,000 m2 (4.7-acre) site covered with 2,711 concreteslabs or "stelae", arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field." "The concrete blocks offer no detail or reference to the Holocaust. The title of the monument does not include the words “Holocaust” or “Shoah”. Critics have raised questions about the memorial’s lack of information. “It doesn’t say anything about who did the murdering or why—there’s nothing along the lines of “by Germany under Hitler’s regime,” and the vagueness is disturbing”."
That information is from the Wikipedia article about this memorial: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_to_the_Murdered_Jews_of_Europe.
What we have here is a manufactured scandal and fake outrage over a picture taken at a nominal (that means in name only) holocaust memorial which does not even reference the holocaust all the while Duterte goes about his usual business of being Duterte and everyone excusing his behaviour. So what if Leni and her group posed for a picture at a memorial site? That is what people do. They visit a place, take a picture of themselves at said place, and they smile for the camera. If people were required to be sad at memorial sites then the whole world would be sad because there is hardly a spot on Earth where innocent blood has not been shed or atrocities committed and which should not be a memorial.
I suspect that if she had frowned or cried the Filipino social media scene would be full of accusations of "Fake tears, Fake VP!"
You cannot win with the retards in the Philippines and that includes government officials and netizens.
