Martial Law: Resentment Growing

Two years on from the beginning of the Marawi Siege and the imposition of martial law across Mindanao and what is the result? How have the people of Marawi and Mindanao fared? 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1122748/marawi-2-years-later-tears-still-flowing-resentment-growing

Marawi remains in ruins and experts are warning that the stalled reconstruction efforts are bolstering the appeal of extremist groups in the country’s south. 

The delays have left about 100,000 residents in squalid relocation camps or sharing homes with relatives, feeding simmering anger among the displaced and providing a recruiting tool for extremists. 

“The narratives (to join IS) used to be about the Middle East and the plight of Muslims around the world,” said Mouhammad Sharief, who cofounded a support group for Marawi’s youth. 

“Now it’s closer to our hearts because the narrative is Marawi,” said 32-year-old Sharief, who was himself displaced by the fighting.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/05/23/1920262/shattered-marawi-tool-jihadist-recruitment

Two years after the Philippine city of Marawi was overrun by jihadists it remains in ruins, with experts warning that stalled reconstruction efforts are bolstering the appeal of extremist groups in the volatile region. 

Marawi is symbolically important because it is the Muslim capital of the nation's south, which has been locked in a cycle of poverty and extremism as separatist insurgencies have raged for decades.

"The government needs to be concerned about the threats of ISIS attracting young (locals) because of the ongoing resentment from the failure to rebuild and general anger over the destruction," analyst Sidney Jones told AFP. 

The clearing of debris, the first step before the actual construction, also hit a snag due to legal problems and the government hopes it will finally be finished in November. 

"This will be used as an example again of government discrimination against Muslims and the government neglect for the responsibility of rebuilding Marawi," said Francisco Lara, an adviser with peace group International Alert.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/231328-frustrated-marawi-evacuees-still-cannot-go-home-two-years-since-siege

On Thursday, May 23, it will be two years since the bloody siege that killed more than a thousand civilians and troops. About 75% of Marawi residents have since returned to their homes, but at least 50,000 who lived in the main battleground remain displaced. 

“The rehabilitation has been very slow,” said Drieza Lininding, chairperson of the Bangsamoro Consensus Group.  

Residents have long begged the government to let them return and rebuild their homes themselves. But the military has yet to clear the area from unexploded ordnance, including 500-pound bombers dropped by the FA-50 fighter trainer jets of the Philippine Air Force. 

Many displaced residents were provided temporary shelters, but others still live in tents.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation chief Martin Thalmann said displaced residents are now “tired and frustrated” despite “numerous aid efforts that have truly helped those in need over the two years.”  

While the government claims to be doing its best, time is taking its toll on Marawi residents. 

“They want to stand on their own feet again and stop depending on assistance,” Thalmann said.

The people of Marawi have not fared well. Many are still living in tents and are frustrated over the government's inability to rebuild the city. The ruins beckon to would-be jihadis as proof that the government is not to be trusted and that the struggle must continue. Warnings about the destroyed city of Marawi being a tool for ISIS recruitment have long been circulating amongst analysts but they have apparently gone unheeded or else the government would not be taking their sweet time to rebuild.

From excluding Maranos in planning the new city and bringing in the Chinese to do it to the impossibly slow process of cleaning up debris and unexploded ordnance to Duterte calling Marawi a drug den and saying he doesn't think he should spend a lot of money to rebuild it the government has not been inspiring at all. The Duterte administration has been the exact opposite especially with excluding Maranos from any part in planning the rebuilding of the city. However let's not forget the fact that the Maranos admitted to Presidential Peace Adviser Dureza that they knew about the stockpiling of weapons but told no one because they thought as Muslims they would be spared. Now they are crying in anguish and it's really themselves they have to blame.

As for the rest of Mindanao, well the AFP thinks everything is peachy.

http://mindanaotimes.com.ph/2019/05/23/army-hails-martial-law-as-it-enters-3rd-year-today/

Martial Law in Mindanao will enter its third year today and a 10th Infantry Division officer credited the heightened security for the reported dwindling force of the New People’s Army. 

Capt. Jerry Lamosao, the Public Affairs Office chief of the 10th ID, told reporters in yesterday’s AFP-PNP press conference held at Royal Mandaya Hotel, that they recorded no abuses committed by state forces while under martial rule. 

“If there are some who will contest that then please submit your interviews and evidence,” he said, although he acknowledged that “maybe some are just afraid” to report. 

Nevertheless, he said Martial Law was implemented mainly to prevent a repeat of the Marawi siege and to go against terrorist groups in Mindanao. 

However, the military is adopting the same security playbook to address other threats, such as the NPA. 

“With the two years now of the implementation, we have seen that it helped in preventing the terroristic plan of the CPP-NPA-NDF,” he added.

Overlooking the grossly erroneous headline, it has only been 2 not 3 years, we learn that martial law has been effective in weakening the NPA. Of course combatting the NPA is not at all the reason martial law was imposed but who cares? In fact there is nothing in this article about marital law stopping ISIS or any of the various Islamic terror groups. The focus is on defeating the NPA. From that I would surmise martial law will be extended through 2020 and beyond until the NPA as well as the other groups are all defeated.  One wonders why martial law was not imposed until 2017 if it is such a great and appropriate tool in defeating the insurgency. If the current conditions in Mindanao, which are effectively the same as before the siege, render martial law constitutional then why was it not declared beforehand?

Despite the information I posted last week about ISIS remaining a threat, even citing US military reports and reports of foreigners making their way to Mindanao to fight, the AFP continues to downplay the situation. Even more AFP top brass are misrepresenting the threat to the public.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/231374-isis-threat-marawi-now-low-military-keeps-eye-remnants

“The threat posed by Maute-ISIS has gone very low after the death of Abu Dar, the last remaining leader of the group,” said Colonel Romeo Brawner, commander of the Marawi-based 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.  

Brawner said 160 former Maute Group fighters have surrendered with their firearms. 

But the military is keeping its eye on a small band of remnants. There’s less than 30, according to Brawner.  

“Continuous vigilance should be maintained to preempt possible retaliatory attacks by the remnants or supporters of the group,” said Dela Vega.  

Dela Vega said martial law and sustained military operations have allowed the military to “contain” the threats. 

“Likewise with the establishment of the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), other possible source of threat was greatly reduced as most of the PAG (private armed groups) adheres to the peace process,” Dela Vega said.

Less than 30?  Is that only Maute remnants he is counting? It has to be because the US military has very different figures. Figures which come from AFP sources. Let's take a look at the latest report from Operation Eagle. This will cover the first quarter of 2019 January - March.

Here is an overview of the total report:

https://media.defense.gov/2019/May/22/2002134756/-1/-1/1/LIG_OFS_OVERVIEW.PDF

The full report can be read here. What follows is form the section about ISIS.

USINDOPACOM reported that as of this quarter, ISIS-Core has not recognized an “emir” of the Philippines since Isnilon Hapilon was killed by the AFP in October 2017. Since then, the group has been without a single leader and remained fragmented among approximately five major factions: the ASG, the Maute Group, Ansar al Khalifa, and two factions of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. 

USINDOPACOM estimated ISIS-P’s total numbers at approximately 300 to 550, the same as last quarter. This was roughly consistent with an assessment released by the AFP this quarter that estimated ISIS-P’s strength at 574 members. According to USINDOPACOM, ISIS-P factions continued to operate in their same historic areas of in uence with no significant territory gained or lost this quarter. USINDOPACOM stated that the ASG faction of ISIS-P in the Sulu Archipelago remained the strongest, as evidenced by the cathedral bombing. USINDOPACOM added that clan and family members continued to support ISIS-P factions, regardless of whether or not they genuinely support ISIS ideology. 

USINDOPACOM reported that it had no information by which to assess the success or extent of ISIS-P’s recruitment efforts this quarter, although it believed the group was actively trying to recruit new members. USINDOPACOM stated that one indicator of recruitment success would be larger numbers of ghters engaged in clashes with the PSF, and this quarter’s encounters involved relatively small groups of terrorists. However, the lack of change in the estimates of ISIS-P membership from quarter to quarter suggested that recruitment was at least keeping pace with deaths and surrenders. USINDOPACOM reported no changes in ISIS-P’s capabilities this quarter and did not expect ISIS-P to evolve into a more capable organization in the near future. Additionally, there were no change sreported in ISIS-P’s tactics. The most significant attack of the quarter on the cathedral was consistent with Philippine jihadist activity in the recent past. 

Let's read that bolded section again:

USINDOPACOM estimated ISIS-P’s total numbers at approximately 300 to 550, the same as last quarter. This was roughly consistent with an assessment released by the AFP this quarter that estimated ISIS-P’s strength at 574 members.

Now let's compare that with the statement of Col Brawner.

“The threat posed by Maute-ISIS has gone very low after the death of Abu Dar, the last remaining leader of the group,” said Colonel Romeo Brawner, commander of the Marawi-based 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.  

Brawner said 160 former Maute Group fighters have surrendered with their firearms. 

But the military is keeping its eye on a small band of remnants. There’s less than 30, according to Brawner.  

Why is Col. Brawner wilfully misrepresenting the strength of ISIS in the Philippines? The report from OPE-P cites the AFP as estimating ISIS members at 574. Why would he only focus on Maute and neglect the overall picture and AFP stats? Did he forget that the original emir of ISIS Philippines was Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon? Why would Brawner act as if the other groups do not matter? As the report says there are five major factions of ISIS allied factions.

The report goes on to say that ISIS-P numbers remain static. There is also no single leader or officially recognised emir. USINDOPACOM assess that ISIS-P remains weakened for the foreseeable future and also lacks the type of financing they once had. Foreign fighters are present but they number less than 10. Basically ISIS-P is in a holding pattern trying to regain strength but that does not mean the threat is diminished.

Two years on from the Marwai siege not a lot has changed. The city of Marawi is still in ruins, people are still displaced, ISIS ideology has not broken its hold over segments of the population, and the terrorist threat remains high. The bombing of the cathedral in Jolo as well as the continual skirmishes are evidence enough of the threat. And of course aside from the Islamic threat the NPA is still in business.

What will Mindanao look like in two more years?

Malling is More Fun in the Philippines

So this is what it has come down to. This is the level to which the Department of Tourism has sunk to promote the country to foreign tourists and which the taxpayer is paying for.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/05/19/1919055/malling-more-fun-philippines

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is positioning the country as a shopping destination as it partners with SM Supermalls to launch the “Malling is More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. 

“This nationwide campaign invites locals and tourists to experience why shopping, leisure and entertainment in the Philippines is truly more enjoyable,” the DOT said. 

Based on DOT data in 2017, shopping was the number one activity of tourists visiting the country, with 51.60 percent of visitors hitting the stores. 

Shopping is also where tourists spend money, amounting to $20.90 of the 2017 average daily expenditure per capita of $125.65. 

The DOT maintained that building up shopping tourism in the country would also spur economic growth, create millions of jobs, livelihood and enterprises. 

SM Supermalls said it continues to serve as a venue for meaningful family bonding moments where everyone can indulge in extraordinary malling experiences with its 70 malls nationwide. 

“Malls have become the modern day plaza and safe community spaces for families and friends to share moments together through shopping, dining and fun experiences,” SM Supermalls chief operating officer Steven Tan said. 

“SM’s partnership with the (DOT) celebrates the best of the Philippines through a range of fun fairs and fiestas,” Tan added. 

As part of the “Malling is More Fun” campaign, mall goers are invited to participate in special activities in SM Supermalls all over the country. 

These activities include culinary demos, regional food fairs, exclusive dining deals and the SM Supermarket Chefs Showdown.

This is not a joke. It's all very real. The DOT and SM are partnering up to promote the Philippines' most untapped resource of all: the mall. What about Ayala and Robinson? Why are they being left out  of the picture? 

One would think the DOT would focus on promoting the Philippines meaning the land with all its natural beauty and special places to see and experience but alas that is not the case.  

To achieve the projected growth in tourist numbers and expenditures over the next decade. the Central Philippines will have to move to an investment-driven strategy. Outside of Cebu and Boracay, little investment has taken place in recent years in the Super Region’s tourism sector. The result is that the tourism industry is totally reliant on its natural attractions as the motivation for tourists to visit. But the natural attractions, though unique in many ways, are not sufficiently strong in themselves to attract the numbers required to support a significant tourism sector. This is a primary factor driven strategy and characterized by infrastructure inadequacies, limited investment in product, insufficient accommodation, medium to low quality product and inadequate airlift.

http://www.tourism.gov.ph/tourism_policy.aspx

Can you believe it? The DOT on their very own website admits that the natural attractions of the Philippines "are not sufficiently strong" enough to attract visitors! If the problem is lack of infrastructure which limits access then you would think the DOT would lobby for more roads to be constructed. Rather they have accepted defeat and have now turned to promoting the malls of the Philippines as tourist attractions.

If they are going to promote the Philippines' malls to foreigners as tourist attractions then they need to implement a few very important changes at every mall.

1. Toilet paper

The malls need to put toilet paper in every stall.

Imagine being a first time newbie tourist from the West and you are at the mall enjoying fine Filipino food like McDonald's or Seattle's Best and all of a sudden you need to go. Surprise! There is no toilet paper and now you are in a right mess. What a nightmare. Foreigners, especially westerners, are going to expect toilet paper to be in the bathroom stall and it should be there.

Welcome to the Philippines. Be sure to carry a roll of TP at all times. Just in case.

2. Escalator etiquette

Filipinos do not know how to use the escalator and they need drastic education. Signs are not enough. There has to be a whole campaign. Stand on the right, walk on the left. It is annoying as anything to get stuck behind several people leaning on the rails when all you want to do is head on to your destination. Foreigners are not going to expect undisciplined use of the escalator because everywhere else the universal rule of stand on the right and walk on the left is followed.

Totally unacceptable

3. Noise

This is less of a problem but still a problem. Sometimes there will be a sale in the courtyard or centre area of the mall and loud speakers blasting atrocious techno, rap, or rock and pop will be rocking and you cannot even talk to the person you are with.  There is no need for this especially inside. Turn it down. Why can't they have one small speaker that is giving information about the sale rather than blaring loud and pointless music from a huge stack?

Unnecessary!

4. Scammers

I don't know what SM's policy is on kiosks. How do they evaluate sellers who want to rent one for a short time? Some of these people are scammers. I should know I got pulled into one when I was told I would be given a stove for free.  This led to a sit down and conversation and more free stuff being offered and a telephone call and then being told I have to pay P7000, the price of one item, to get all the other junk for free. What a waste of my time. What a waste of anyone's time.


5. Credit Cards

Believe it or not not every store at the mall accepts credit cards! This applies mostly to restaurants and kiosks. Do foreigners carry around a lot of cash? They might. They might not. But foreigners are going to be used to the ease of using a card without having to carry around a lot of bills. It is safer for them too. No one wants to be robbed. The malls should make sure all stores are equipped with credit card machines and those who are not should have signs reading, "Cash Only."


If this new DOT campaign is sustained Bacolod City could get an influx of tourists in the coming years.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/05/25/1920603/megaworld-putting-p12-b-lifestyle-mall-bacolod

The mall will showcase a blend of neo-classical and art deco architecture, reminiscent of New York City’s Upper East Side cityscape. 

“We are curating an architectural masterpiece that depicts the cosmopolitan vibe of our Bacolod township. This is just the first mall that we are building in this township because there is still more room for future expansion,” Tan said. 

Thus, the mall’s design will be highlighted by a 48-meter high iconic clock tower that illuminates even at night, making it a major landmark along the six-lane main avenue of the township that stretches from Lopez Jaena St. to Circumferential Road.

Hopefully this "lifestyle mall" with an iconic clock tower and modelled after NYC's Upper East Side has toilet paper in the stalls! I doubt it. The special twist of the Philippines is that they will build something so modern and expensive but the toilets won't even have the modern luxury of toilet paper!

Shopping can be a fun way to pick up a cool souvenir. I bought a magic carpet at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. There is good food to be had at the night markets in Taipei. I bought my favourite hat at a market in Cusco. However a market is considerably different from the mall. They have a character that is all their own and the products sold are unique and locally made. The mall is corporate conformity offering products foreigners can find back home.

What the DOT is actually doing by promoting malls as tourist destinations is reinforcing a worldwide, homogenous monoculture that has absolutely nothing to do with the Philippines and in fact contributes to the erosion of Filipino culture by assimilating it into the Borg of global consumerism.

It's too bad the DOT is not promoting the markets in the Philippines. Are there any worth promoting to tourists?

Retards in the Government Special Edition: Duterte Magick

Contrary to the narrative that no opposition candidates won because of Duterte Magick and that voters were too wise to fall for the black propaganda against Duterte's twelve apostles the truth is that Filipinos voted out of sheer stupidity for the candidates they loved the most. Everyone knows the Philippine political system is a popularity contest. This does not mean the candidates with the most votes win.  It means the candidates with the most name recognition get the most votes.

Did voters vote in favour of the drug war? Did voters vote in favour of federalism? Did voters vote in favour of martial law? Was the vote a referendum that affirmed all of Duterte's policies? How can anyone be so dumb as to actually think that?  Take a look at the 12 winners and tell me with a straight face that Bong Revilla was voted into office because of his hard stance on drugs and his desire to split the Philippines into a federal system and not because of his dancing commercial. What a joke. 

Let's take a look at each of the winners and see why they really won.

1. Cynthia Villar

In 2013 Villar squeaked by in 10th place. Six years later she is sitting at the top. The Queen of the Senate. For three years she sat in her office while Aquino was president. But at the end of three years of Duterte she is at the top. Is it because she supports the drug war and martial law and all of Duterte's programs? No it's because as the wife of a billionaire she had the resources to travel all over the country and meet people on the ground. She had the resources to get her name into the public and spread her advocacies of agrarian reform and lifting people out of poverty. Her star has been on the rise for a long time and it began to shine greatly when last March she topped two early surveys, SWS and Pulse Asia. You can read all about her story here. If anyone owes their political success to anyone it is Duterte who has to thank the Villars and not the other way round.

Bottom line: People voted for her because her billionaire husband's extensive resources including money and network supports allowed her to build up her name.

2. Grace Poe

This lady has also been perennially popular. Did people vote for her because she is all for Duterte's policies? Doubtful. Poe was number one when she was elected in 2013. She was number one for the longest until Villar knocked her off the throne. As the adopted daughter of famous actor Ferdinand Poe Jr her name resonated with voters. She has also not been 100% behind the drug war saying, “And the sad thing is, I think that the war on drugs is being used as a smokescreen for political killings.”

Bottom line: Poe has always been popular without Duterte's help.

3. Bong Go

How could the people not vote for this man? His face has been everywhere. He started campaigning last June sticking up banners and huge billboards all over the place. Did he get 20 million votes because of his polices? Or because of name recognition? It could not possibly be due to his policies as he has never been a politician and only ran because Duterte told him to do so. Does he support everything Duterte supports? Undoubtedly. Why would anyone be so stupid as to believe otherwise?

Bottom line: Bong Go's ubiquitous face compelled the masses to vote for him despite being a complete unknown policy-wise. Duterte's support definitely propelled him to the top.

4. Pia Cayetano

Pia is a Cayetano. A daughter of a very powerful political clan. Having been a Senator from 2004 - 2016 she knows how it works and the people know her. After a stint in the Senate she won a seat in the House. She is not an unknown. She claims she supports Duterte's vision but not necessarily his specific polices and will not be his yes-woman. 

Bottom line: Voters picked a woman who is not unknown and has been serving in the national government for 15 years.

5. Bato Dela Rosa

Bato Dela Rosa is the architect of the war on drugs. Clearly and unequivocally Bato supports the drug war, martial law, and more of Duterte's policies. But is this why people voted for him? Or did they vote for him because he is very well-known and the President thinks he is just great? He didn't espouse any policies and he admits he does not even know what a Senator does. He also claims he will not be a rubber stamp for Duterte. 

Bottom line: Bato is a popular man who has Duterte's backing and, like Bong Go, that support certainly helped him.

6. Sonny Angara

Another long term politician who has been in office since 2004 starting with the House and since 2013 in the Senate. He placed 6th both times! Clearly he is not an unknown. As for the drug war he is for it but against all the killings even calling for a Senate investigation. And isn't that what everyone is against? Who is against the drug war in principle? It's the bloodshed that is the problem.

Bottom line: Sonny is a professional politician the people have known since 2004 at least and as an incumbent he has the advantage.

7. Lito Lapid

A former Senator and actor the following headline says it all:

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/05/14/1917759/lito-lapid-about-get-another-senate-term-partly-thanks-ang-probinsyano

“When I go around the palengke (market) area, the people keep on shouting, ‘Si Cardo, si Cardo!’ looking for Coco (as the cop Cardo). Then, they asked, ‘Bakit namatay ka sa Probinsyano (Why did you die on Ang Probinsyano)?’ The show is helping me a lot,” he said.

Bottom line: Lito Lapid was voted into office because he is a beloved actor everyone knows.


8. Imee Marcos

Just how did Imee Marcos get elected? She has lied about her educational attainments, she has been charged with graft by the Ombudsman, her family stole billions from the nation and refuses to admit this or return the money, and she has no policies to speak of. How did this airhead get elected? Because she supports Duterte's drug war? No doubt Duterte's endorsement helped but her brother Bong Bong was a Senator before her and many believe he is the rightful Vice President. It has to be the name recognition and the current trend of romanticising the Marcos years that put her in 8th place.

Bottom line: Imee Marcos is well-known and has name-brand recognition.


9.  Francis Tolentino

This man was advisor to Duterte. He had Duterte's full backing. He had also run for Senator in 2016 but was beat out of 12th spot by Leila Delima who he claimed sabotaged his campaign. The man is not an unknown face. Maybe less known than others. Did the voters pick him as an affirmation of Duterte's drug war? Did Duterte Magick help him out?

Bottom line: Duterte's backing gave him prominence but he was not an unknown before.


10. Koko Pimentel

Koko is a longtime politician. He is a Duterte ally. He was President of the Senate. He was also endorsed by Duterte but is that why he was elected? A man the whole country knows is running for the Senate. Will they choose him because he backs the drug war or because he is a safe bet? He also called for a Senate investigation into all the killings!

Bottom line: Pimentel is an incumbent and has the advantage.


11.  Bong Revilla Jr.

Bong was dropped by Duterte from his Magic 12 slate which means he absolutely did not benefit from any Duterte magic. Fact is he is a very famous actor and former Senator. The people love him even if he is a crook.

Bottom line: Bong Revilla is a famous actor that everyone knows and his campaign featured dancing and not anything about policy.

12. Nancy Binay

Another incumbent from a political dynasty. Did the voters choose her because she is all for the drug war? Or because Duterte backed her? No. She placed 5th in 2013 showing her popularity as a Binay and she has voiced concerns about the killings in the drug war and she has backed comprehensive drug education and prevention which is not the approach the Duterte administration has chosen to take.

Bottom line: As an incumbent and as a Binay she had the advantage over newcomers and relative nobodies such as Samira Gutoc and General Pederalismo.

Out of these 12 five are incumbents, three are former Senators, two are professional politicans, and only two are newcomers with zero political experience. Let's take a look at a fuller list which includes a few of the losers.

Numbers 13 and 14, Ejercito and Aquino, are not that far from the mark losing only by a few hundred thousand votes. If we were to remove Bato and Bong Go, the only two men who were actually helped by Duterte's support (they both admitted they only ran for office because Duterte told them to do so), then Ejercito and Aquino would be moved into the winners circle. Clearly those two mean are not unpopular though the narrative would have you believe otherwise. JV Ejercito was even endorsed by Duterte! Where is the Duterte magick now?

Being that there are still opposition members in the Senate and being that the winners have promised an independent Senate and being that the winners are not exactly gung-ho for the bloody drug war or even federalism it is not at all possible to say Election 2019 was a referendum on Duterte's policies. The drug war will continue. In fact it has never stopped. The Dangerous Drug Board was created in 1971 to deal with illegal drugs. The only difference with Duterte is that he has stood in front of the nation and has said over and over that he will kill users and dealers and the result has been that thousands have died. There is no one in the House or Senate is opposed to the drug war per se. What they are opposed to are all the killings. That is a huge distinction that seems to have been lost on the Palace and the public.

I don't believe in Duterte Magick and neither should you. If he has any magick it is the reverse midas touch where everything he touches turns to dirt. We see this in his handling of China, in his flip-flopping in dealing with the communists, in the weak peso, in the weak GDP, unilaterally removing the Philippines from the ICC which was the resultant hard work and effort of many, in his constant lying and joking thereby making it impossible to believe anything he says thus denigrating the Office of the President, and in the worsening drug problem despite all the killing.

If you think I am wrong then read these two articles and know I am not alone in my thoughts.  I only came across these articles after I began my own.

http://www.interaksyon.com/trends-spotlights/2019/05/16/148959/locsin-referendum-drug-war-midterm-election/

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/05/15/1918023/duterte-and-drug-war-won-midterm-polls-locsin-tweets

Postscript:  Duterte isn't the only one who received a mandate on election night. The Makabayan Bloc of Bayan Muna Partylist did as well.

Voters re-elected and gave a fresh mandate to the Makabayan Bloc of Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT Teachers, and Kabataan partylist representatives in the last election. 

Bayan Muna won the maximum three seats a partylist could win in any election. Veteran public sector unionist Ferdinand Gaite and Lumad leader Bai Eufemia Cullamat are set to join Rep. Carlos Zarate as Bayan Muna congresspersons.

On the day the Comelec proclaimed the senatorial and partylist winners, the people groaned their disappointment over the newly proclaimed, mostly pro-Duterte senators. But they gleefully greeted the partylist victories of Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT Teachers, and Kabataan. 

The 2019 re-election of progressive lawmakers is a repudiation of the regime’s objective to wipe them out of Congress through unlawful electioneering, illegal campaigning, misuse of public offices and funds for partisan ends, and other acts prohibited by law.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/25/hard-fought-hard-won-mandate/

Retards in the Government 103

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption and murder in Philippine politics.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/05/17/1918421/lanao-norte-mayor-gets-10-years-grave-coercion

Mayor Rommel Arnado of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for evicting members of a family from their homes in 2013. 

In a 34-page decision promulgated on April 26 and obtained by reporters on Wednesday, the Sandiganbayan’s First Division said Arnado was found guilty of three counts of grave coercion under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code. 

The anti-graft court said the Office of the Ombudsman’s prosecution team established that Arnado prevented the aggrieved parties from staying in their property even though they showed a certificate of land title. 

The eviction was carried out without a court order and through threat or intimidation, it added.

The Sambuat family was claiming ownership of the land where their houses were built amid an ownership claim by business partners Henry Dy, Voltaire Rovira and Sotero Trinidad.

The ombudsman said that aside from forcibly driving away the Sambuats from their land, Camanian, Diputado and their cohorts demolished the houses of the complainants and took their material possessions.

He kicked these people out of their home, destroyed it, and sold their possessions all because of a rival claim from a two business partners. Ten years is a long time and there must be more to this story.

https://www.panaynews.net/brgy-execs-tanods-warned-over-illegal-gun-possession/

“Barangay captains, barangay councilmen and tanod members are not authorized to carry firearms, especially homemade guns. We will arrest them for illegal possession of firearms and for [violation of the] election gun ban,” Bulalacao said. 

The PRO-6 chief fielded the warning after 12 tanods were caught carrying unregistered guns in Barangay Jayobo, Lambunao, Iloilo last May 12, right before the conduct of the 2019 midterm polls. 

Barangay Jayobo captain Milky Lira – who managed to flee the arresting officers – was also an illegal gun possession suspect.

The law never stopped anyone before.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/05/18/1918925/palace-sandra-cam-can-resign-if-she-cant-stand-alleged-corruption-pcso

“Duterte is beholden to no one. He will not spare even his close friends and long-time allies in his drive to weed out corruption in the bureaucracy. We repeat: There are no sacred cows in this administration,” Panelo said. 

“We thus urge the likes of Ms. Cam to come forward and expose government sheenanigans and malfeasance if she knows any. We assure her and other whistleblowers that they have [Duterte’s] ears in this regard,” he added. 

“As to Ms. Cam's request to relieve her in her present post, she does not have to wait for her relief by the President. She can tender her resignation if she cannot stand the alleged corruption within the PCSO,” he continued.

Sandra Cam has continually made allegations of corruptions in the PCSO. Was has Duterte done about that? Now they say she can quit if she cant stand the corruption. So much for being hardlined against corruption!

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/17/dole-mulls-deployment-ban-to-kuwait-as-another-filipina-is-killed/

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is studying the possibility of reimposing a deployment ban of household service workers (HSW) in Kuwait.  

This after as a 47-year-old Filipina worker in Kuwait, identified as Constancia Lago Dayag, died from the hands of her employer.  

“It’s an option,” said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III when asked if his department will reimpose the deployment ban in the Gulf state.  

Earlier, the labor chief vowed to seek justice for the death of Dayag.  

“I am taking the Kuwaiti government to task for the gruesome death of yet another Filipino worker in the hands of her employer in Kuwait,” said Bello.  

“Aside from apparent violation of the agreement on the protection of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) between our government and Kuwait, there appears to have been a breach of the employment contract by the foreign employer,” he added.  

To note, the Philippine government imposed a deployment ban in Kuwait last year amid reported deaths and abuses of OFWs in the Gulf state. The ban was eventually lifted after both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that further strengthen the protection of Filipino workers in Kuwait.

How many more workers have to die before the government acknowledges that Kuwait is not a safe place for Pinoys to work?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1120893/nbi-charges-21-cops-in-killing-of-glenn-chongs-aide

The National Bureau of Investigation has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to charge 21 police officers with two counts of murder for the ambush of the aide of former Biliran representative and senatorial candidate Glenn Chong and his companion last Dec. 9 in Cainta, Rizal. 

The NBI also asked the DOJ to prosecute the chiefs of the Philippine National Police in Calabarzon, Rizal and Cainta for covering up the murder of Richard Santillan, who was Chong’s aide, and Gessamyn Casing. 

Contrary to the police claim that there was a shootout, the victims were unarmed, said the NBI. 

It said the police officers should be charged with murder because there was treachery in the killing. 

The 21 police officers were also liable for “planting” evidence, according to the NBI. 

The NBI also said Calabarzon police regional director Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza, Rizal police provincial director Col. Lou Evangelista and Cainta police chief Lt. Col. Pablito Naganag should be charged with obstruction of justice.

Shooting to death an unarmed suspect, planting evidence, and covering the whole thing up. Sounds like all in a days work for the PNP.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1120913/ex-town-traffic-chief-slain-in-laguna-buy-bust

A former traffic chief of Siniloan was killed in a buy-bust operation in Pagsanjan town in Laguna province on Sunday evening. 

In a text message, Col. Eleazar Matta, chief of the Laguna Police Provincial Office, identified the slain suspect as Leodigario Recide, alias Odec. 

He said Recide was previously arrested for a drug case but was released on probation after entering into a plea bargain. 

Matta said undercover police officers went to Recide’s apartment in Barangay Sampaloc around 6 p.m. for the buy-bust. 

On realizing he was dealing with the police, the suspect drew and fired a gun, forcing the authorities to shoot him down. 

Recide died on the spot. 

Matta said Recide, a native of Siniloan, was the town’s former chief of traffic operations.

I wonder what the traffic situation in that town is like.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1121022/cebu-mayor-found-guilty-of-graft-over-honorarium

A mayor in Cebu may spend six to eight years in prison for receiving an honorarium to which he was not entitled to. 

The Sandiganbayan found Mayor Lionel Bacaltos of Sibonga town guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. 

Bacaltos, who won in last week’s election, was also barred from holding any position in government and ordered to indemnify the municipality of Sibonga the amount of P17,512.50.

This is exactly why people with cases against them should be disqualified from the Comelec from running for office. Now who will take over? A guy voters did not choose!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1121404/27-narcopols-back-in-office-pnp

At a press briefing on Monday in Camp Crame, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police chief, said that of the 47 officials on the government’s narcolist, 37 ran for reelection and 27 won. 

Now that these officials are back in office, Albayalde said: “Our investigation … will continue, as the [DILG secretary] has said that if we find evidence … we will file both criminal and administrative cases against them.” 

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said election results showed the level of maturity of voters who chose to support suspected narcopoliticians. 

“Our voters seemed not mature enough, but then the public has spoken, the people have spoken … It is now my job to ensure that these government officials will do their jobs in accordance to the mandate of the Local Government Code,” Año told the Inquirer on Monday.

Looks like releasing that list did no good at all. Why are they on the list if there is no evidence they are guilty? If there is evidence why have charges not been brought. It is absolutely ridiculous for the DILG secretary to blame voters for electing these people when they likely had no access to the list and when the PNP should have removed these men from the streets if they are indeed narcopoliticians.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1121475/pia-cayetano-dishonesty-claims-vs-imee-marcos-must-be-resolved

Presumptive Senator Pia Cayetano believes that the questions raised over the educational background of another incoming senator, Imee Marcos, must be resolved, and dealt with sincerely and candidly. 

Cateyano and Marcos both ran under Hugpong ng Pagbabago in the just concluded May 13 elections. The two are also part of the Nacionalista Party (NP)

This issue again surfaced when Cayetano was asked over ABS-CBN News Channel on Tuesday how she feels about the dishonesty allegations hounding Marcos. 

“In my case kasi, you know naman how strong I feel at academics. I’ve been a champion of education and I feel that should be dealt with sincerely as possible,” she said. 

“Because here we are, talking to the youth about the importance of education and we do have issues pa rin yung ano yun, yung nabibili sa Recto.” 

“So I do feel that that issue should  be resolved and dealt with candidly and not brush aside,”  Cayetano added. 

Asked if she had discussed this issue with Marcos while they were campaigning together, Cayetano answered no.

Funny that both these women ran under the banner of Sara Duterte who, when this issue was raised during the campaign, claimed that honesty does not matter. Funny that Pia didn't speak to Marcos privately or say anything publicly. Now Pia does a turnabout and says honesty matters! Clown world!

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/20/19/a-clear-attack-of-my-character-ex-fda-chief-awaits-palace-explanation-on-sacking

FDA Director General Nela Charade Puno's termination was announced by Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday, citing "the President's continuing mandate to eradicate graft and corruption" as the grounds for her removal. 

However, Puno said she has not been charged in any case and is not facing any official investigation.  

She said she sought clarification from Panelo, who told her that "he was just asked to read... my termination."  

"I respect the President. It's just that if they wanted me out, they could have just talked to me because this is a clear attack of my character. I have asked them. There's no response," she told ANC.  

Before her dismissal, Puno said Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo urged her to voluntarily step down from her post, supposedly saying "you need to resign because you will not like what may happen to you if you don't."  

Puno said she refused to resign "because I didn't do anything [wrong]." 

If she is committing graft and is corrupt then there should be an investigation and charges and she should be informed of them as well. But there probably isn't any corruption happening. Puno is not the first official to be fired for corruption with no explanation as to what corruption or any charges being brought. She will likely not get the answers she seeks.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/175400/ex-ombudsman-morales-barred-entry-to-hk-for-being-security-threat

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales was barred Tuesday from entering Hong Kong for being a “security threat.” 

This was confirmed by lawyer Anne Marie Corominas in a telephone interview with INQUIRER.net: “She was held in a separate room, separated from her family and she was told she was a security threat.” 

“Former Ombudswoman Carpio-Morales has over 50 years of unblemished record in government service. I don’t know what the security threat (is) unless President [Xi Jinping] is afraid of her,” Corominas said. 

“We’re just asking how can a 78-year old former anti-corruption Ombudswoman be a security threat to China,” she added. 

Corominas said Morales, who along with former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario filed a case against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court over “atrocious actions of Chinese officials in the South China Sea and within Philippine territory,” will be deported by Hong Kong authorities.

There is the reason. She filed a case against Duterte's best bud Xi for trampling on Philippine sovereignty in the WPS. What will Malcañang's spin be? That every country has a right to disallow entry to who they choose? The ban was lifted a few hours later but she decided to return home anyway.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1121637/retired-cop-woman-shot-dead-in-isabela

Police on Tuesday said love triangle or a personal grudge could be the motive behind the killing of a retired police officer and a woman believed to be his girlfriend on Monday. 

The victims were identified as Edralino Domingo, 63, a retired senior police officer in Aurora town, and Jane Dagman-Tul-o, 45, a jewelry re-seller from Soliven town.

This is not the first PNP officer who has been killed over a love affair.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/21/19/coa-flags-solgens-p14-million-spending-on-plane-tickets-supplies-hotels

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged expenses of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on foreign travel, office supplies and equipment as well as trainings and meetings done in hotels and restaurants, which it said violated government audit and procurement rules. 

In its 2018 audit report on the OSG, the state audit agency said a total of P7.128 million was spent on plane tickets for foreign travel without complete documents such as three quotations from travel agencies or its equivalent, contrary to provisions of the Audit Code of the Philippines.  

“In addition, some itinerants were allowed to reimburse their airplane ticket without the price quotation and abstract of quotations attached to the claim,” the COA report said.
The report also noted that P5.510 million was spent on ordinary office supplies and equipment through the alternative mode of procurement without the necessary postings in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) website, inconsistent with Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. 

A total amount of P1.270 million was also spent for local trainings in hotels and restaurants “not usually used for government-sponsored international conventions,” the audit agency said.  

Honoraria of resource persons amounting to P442,704 was also flagged by government auditors as well as P337,233 terminal benefits of a retiree, but the OSG subsequently submitted the required documents. 

Auditors also noted the excess daily subsistence allowance of OSG staff amounting to P79,249. Justifications were made and excess amounts were returned, COA said. 

What this article says is that the OSG has a lot of financial anomalies but Calida said sorry, showed documents, and everything is just peachy. What a world of difference from others who have been given the bum's rush by Duterte for nothing.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1122084/retired-cop-gunned-down-by-motorcycle-riding-men-in-navotas

A retired police officer was shot dead by unidentified men riding a motorcycle in Navotas on Tuesday night. 

Members of Navotas City police station identified the victim as Benjamin Ramos, 54. He was formerly assigned at the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), police said.

Another retired cop killed for unknown reasons.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/05/22/1919992/upset-duterte-willing-spend-shipping-back-canada-trash

After Canada missed its deadline of taking back containers of garbage from the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered concerned government agencies to act on the matter. 

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced that the president has instructed the "appropriate office" to look for a private shipping company that would return the trash to the North American country. 

Panelo stressed that Duterte's position on the issue is "principled as it is uncompromising." 

"If Canada will not accept the trash, we will leave the same within the territorial waters or 12 nautical miles out to from the baseline of any of their country's shores," Panelo said. 

Panelo issued this statement a day after he confirmed that a private shipping company has already been hired to ship back the waste.

First he sad it's war, then he said he can wait a week or two, now he says he will use taxpayer money to ship back the trash and leave it floating 12 miles out if they won't accept it. If he does that he will make the Philippines even more of a laughingstock. But I doubt he will actually cause such an international incident.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/695362/7-8-gdp-growth-target-not-achievable-in-duterte-s-term-neda-chief/story/

The country's economic growth dipped to 5.6% in the first quarter of 2019, the slowest in four years, based on the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier this month. 

This figure is lower than the 6.5% in the first quarter of 2018, and the 6.3% in the fourth quarter last year.

Much of that slow growth is because of Congress' inability to pass a budget as well as Duterte's overall economic platform with Build x 3 and importing more than exporting.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/23/ex-npdc-official-pleads-guilty-to-lesser-offense/

Former National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC) Acting Executive Director Salome Tiongco Habal pleaded guilty to a lesser offense instead of graft before the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division and was sentenced to pay a fine of P10,000. 

Habal was initially charged for violating two counts of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for paying Variance, a security agency, a total of P11,751,588.81 in exchange for security services back on July 16, 2009 to February 16, 2010. 

She did so even though Variance was not legally entitled to the transaction, considering that public bidding and other procurement activities required under R.A. 9184 or the Government Procurement Law was not observed.

Too many people fall because they do not follow that law. No public bidding means jail time if you pay out.

And Now for the Philippine Political Scandal of the Week.  

Actually this is more like the scandal of the past few weeks but it's now all coming to a head. I am talking about the Bikoy videos tagging Duterte and his family as drug dealers. A few weeks ago Bikoy came out of the shadows to ask for legal help from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. He claimed all his information was for real and true and he had all the proofs. Now that the election is over he has surrendered to the PNP and done a complete 180 denying his story is true and alleging that the LP put him up to the task.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1122369/project-sodoma-bikoy-says-opposition-wanted-duterte-ousted

According to Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims he was “Bikoy,” senators and key officials of the Liberal Party (LP) employed him to do “Project Sodoma,” which supposedly entailed installing Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as vice president once Robredo ascended the presidency. 

“Ilang beses kaming nagpupulong, nagpaplano, upang isakatuparan ang Project Sodoma.  Ang Project Sodoma ay isang proyekto para pabagsakin si Presidente Duterte at ang maka-upo sa posisyon si Vice President Leni Robredo,” Advincula said in a press briefing at Camp Crame. 

("We met several times, planning, to carry out Project Sodoma. Project Sodoma is a project to break President Duterte and sit in Vice President Leni Robredo's position, "Advincula said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.) 

“Dahil kapag napabagsak si Presidente Duterte, ang uupo, duly constitutionalized, Her Excellency Leni Robredo, and (she) will appoint from the Senate or the House, to be the vice president.  Sonny will be in line to become the vice president,” he added.

("Because when President Duterte drops, the sitting, duly constitutionalized, Her Excellency Leni Robredo, and (she) will appoint from the Senate or the House, to be the vice president. Sonny will be in line to become the vice president, "he added.)

I need not post all the articles where Robredo, Hontiveros, Trillanes, and all the rest who have been newly tagged reject these allegations as false. Obviously they would not admit it if it were true and the allegations are likely not true in the first place. Project Sodom? What a ridiculous name for an ouster plot. Now not only has Rappler, the PCIJ, and the NUJP been tagged as ouster plotters but so has the Vice President and the entire Liberal Party.

It's all so ridiculous and the best part is that the end is not in sight. The PNP refrained from investigating any of Bikoy's original claims but now they say they will investigate these new claims. Why? The man has flipped the script! He has changed his story and he is obviously a liar who cannot be trusted. What is this man's game? Who benefits the most from Bikoy? Duterte. So it is not out of the question that Duterte himself or his allies fabricated this whole scenario to make sure no opposition candidates won and to smear the VP and her party.

What a rollercoaster ride.