Philippine Congressman Angry About Travel Advisory While Ignoring Crime Concerns

The Untied States has issued another travel warning for the Philippines which has raised the ire of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. He says the warning is unfair. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2063491/rufus-rodriguez-riled-by-us-travel-advisory

A Mindanao lawmaker on Sunday called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon the United States envoy to Manila to explain a travel advisory that warned Americans visiting the Philippines of supposedly increased risk to their safety.

Reelected Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also urged President Marcos to ask the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and the Department of Tourism what they have done since the US State Department issued the travel advisory on May 8.

According to Rodriguez: “This is an unfair, shotgun warning. There are certainly many places in our country that are safe to tourists. The United States should review this advisory. We do not deserve this unfair treatment from our No. 1 ally.”

The senior lawmaker asserted that the warning places the country in a bad light before the international community, saying, “it discourages not only Americans but other foreign tourists as well from visiting the Philippines. It will surely hurt our tourism sector.”

“It is likewise particularly biased against our beloved island, Mindanao,” he stressed.

The May 8 US State Department travel advisory places the Philippines under “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” and advises, “exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.”

It states: “Do not travel to the Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest.”

The advisory further said, “reconsider travel to other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.”

While the entire Philippines was categorized under Level 2, Mindanao (except Davao City, Davao del Norte, Siargao Island, and Dinagat Islands) was placed under Level 3, which meant “Reconsider Travel.”

Marawi City and Sulu, including the Sulu Sea, were under Level 4 or “Do Not Travel” as Americans were warned: “The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in these areas.”

The May 8 issuance also advised US government employees working in the Philippines to “obtain special authorization to travel to certain areas of the country” in Mindanao, particularly in the Sulu archipelago and the Sulu sea, as well as in Marawi City, due to the risks.

It said, “Terrorist and armed groups in the Sulu archipelago and the Sulu Sea have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom on land and at sea, in addition to bombings and other attacks. These incidents often target foreign nationals, including US citizens, local government entities, and security personnel.”

For Marawi City, the US State Department issued a statement: “Civilians face the risk of death or injury from ongoing clashes between terrorist group remnants and Philippine security forces.”

It's interesting that he says, "There are certainly many places in our country that are safe to tourists." That is to miss the point entirely which is to warn about areas with increased risks of danger.. Let's take a look at the warning. 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/philippines-travel-advisory.html

Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. 

Exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.  Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Do Not Travel to:

• The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
• Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest.

Reconsider Travel to:

• Other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.

Country Summary: Terrorists and armed groups have carried out kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting public areas like tourist sites, markets, and local government facilities in the Philippines.  Violent crimes are also common in the Philippines such as robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults.  Protests happen in the Philippines and could turn violent and/or result in traffic jams and road closures with limited capacity of the local government to respond. 

Note that this warning was reissued after a review with only minor edits. That means this is the same travel advisory that has been issued for years. This warning does not imply the entire nation is unsafe and many such warnings are issued for other countries to which Americans regularly travel. The focus is, as ever, on Mindanao which is certainly a hot bed of violence even for locals. Last year American Elliot Eastman was kidnapped and murdered in Zamboanga del Norte. His body has still not been found. 

It is not only the USA which has issued travel advisories for their citizens. South Korea has raised security concerns about the Philippines. 

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/23/south-korean-embassy-raises-security-concerns-for-citizens-in-ph-1902

Crimes against Korean nationals are a cause of concern for the Korean Embassy, which has cautioned its nationals in the Philippines to limit outdoor activities.   

Top officials of Philippine National Police, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and Department of Tourism met with embassy officials at Camp Crame on Thursday to address security concerns.

According to embassy data, there have been more 200 criminal incidents involving Korean nationals this year—these include two homicide cases, three kidnappings for ransom, and eleven armed robberies.

PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said security concerns have already led to a “huge decrease" — around 18 percent — in tourists from South Korea.

"Ang concern po nila ay nagiging biktima sila ng snatching, nagiging biktima sila ng robbery hold-up, at nagiging biktima ng scam. Kaya ang gusto nila ay agad na aksyon mula sa pulis," he said.

(Their concern is that their nationals are victims of snatching, robberies, and scams. So they want quick action by the police)

Taguig police have already increased security and added more checkpoints in the BGC commercial district after two Korean nationals were robbed on May 17.  

Suspects have also been identified and charged, police said.

The PNP committed to strengthening protective measures for Korean nationals and other foreigners.

These include expanding tourist police services and training officers in foreign languages to better assist non-Filipino complainants.

Crime, including homicide, against foreigners is most certainly a problem which needs to be dealt with and not swept under the rug with objections of outrage by offended officials. 

Despite the crime and violence wrecking havoc in Mindanao daily, the Department of Tourism has come to Mindanao's defense. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1250922

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday defended Mindanao as a safe destination.

The statement comes after reelected Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez called out a United States advisory on the country, criticizing it as “particularly biased” against Mindanao.

The State Department, in its May 8 travel advisory, places the entire Philippines under level 2 where Americans are advised to “exercise increased caution” due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.

The same advisory placed Mindanao (except Davao City, Davao del Norte Province, Siargao Island and Dinagat Islands) under level 3 where Americans are urged to reconsider travel.

The DOT said Rodriguez’s stance, particularly on highlighting safety in Mindanao, “echoes the sentiment of countless tourism stakeholders and advocates.”

“The DOT stands united with Congressman Rodriguez and all those who advocate for the dignity and reputation of our country,” it said.

“His support strengthens our resolve to promote a more balanced and truthful narrative of the Philippines -- one rooted in warmth, resilience and the unmatched hospitality of the Filipino people.”

The DOT said it continues to ensure that travel for foreigners is “secure and seamless” through its Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) program, and support for the establishment of tourist courts.

The TOPCOP helps enhance police visibility in key tourism areas while the tourist courts provide expedited legal support and protection for visitors encountering challenges during their stay.

The DOT said it sustains the Philippine Experience Program (PEP), which is meant to highlight the cultural richness and hospitality of Philippine regions through curated heritage, culinary and community-based tourism experiences.

“The program has been launched with the active participation of the members of the diplomatic corps in the Philippines, not only to showcase the diversity of our tourism offerings but also to underscore the peace and security that prevail across many parts of the country,” it said.

What exactly is the "more balanced and truthful narrative of the Philippines?" That Filipinos are hospitable, resident, and warm? The hospitality and warmth of Filipinos did not protect Elliot Eastman. He was warned by locals to leave. In fact, when that story broke many Filipinos said that area of Mindanao was a no-go zone even for them.  

Filipinos are friendly but some are also unfriendly. The high levels of crime in this nation attest to that fact. Indignation will not keep people safe. There have been 200 criminal incidents involving South Koreans this year. Combatting crime and warning others to stay away from high crime areas while always staying alert will increase safety. 

Kidnapped American Vlogger Elliot Onil Eastman Has Been Confirmed Dead

Well, it's finally over for American vlogger Elliot Eastman. Actually it was over right after it started. If you recall Eastman was shot in the leg as he resisted his captors. Turns out he bled to death and on the getaway boat he was cast overboard.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/5/eastman-shot-dead-by-abductors-police

American kidnap victim Elliot Eastman was killed by his abductors, a statement released by the Police Regional Office-9 here said on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The PRO-9 said Eastman’s death on the night he was abducted was based on information provided by witnesses.

Witnesses said that Eastman sustained two bullet wounds when he tried to resist his captors.  

He reportedly died on board the motor banca used by the kidnappers to escape and his body was thrown overboard by his captors when they realized that he had died.

Eastman’s body remains missing, the PRO-9 said.

The Critical Incident Management Task Group-Eastman filed complaints for kidnapping and serious illegal detention last Oct. 29 against his four kidnappers.

Authorities arrested one of the suspects on Nov. 18 while two remain on the run.

Investigation is still ongoing for the resolution of the case, PRO-9 said.

He was probably shot in the femoral artery. Why did they even shoot him? They could have hit him or something. Did they not realize he was worthless dead? Did they try to render aid? Was killing him the goal? Lots of unanswered questions here and also there is no body.

If you also recall not only did Eastman mention several times in his vlogs that there were threats to kidnap him but the PNP also warned him to leave the area because it was dangerous.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/601457/missing-us-vlogger-he-was-repeatedly-warned-to-avoid-zamboanga-area

Elliot Onil had been cautioned due to reports of abductions in the municipality of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte and nearby towns, said Lt. Col. Helen Galvez, Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Police Office spokesperson.

“Perhaps, first of all, what we observed is his vulnerability. Because despite warnings from our local police that he should not stay in the area, he still insisted on staying. That area is very near the sea,” Galvez said over radio dwPM.

Galvez said Eastman’s vlogging made him vulnerable from abductors.

“According to our local police, they repeatedly warned him but he really wanted to stay, he kept on going back to the area while vlogging the locality where he was in,” Galvez said.

May this be a lesson to all foreigners to stay far away from Mindanao. It has been declared a no-go zone by several countries for a reason. Stop listening to the AFP, PNP, and Becoming Filipino about how safe Mindanao is. 

American Kidnapped in Zamboanga del Norte

An American man living in Zamboanga del Norte was recently kidnapped by an unknown group of armed men posing as police officers. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/18/2393511/american-national-kidnapped-zamboanga-del-norte

Authorities are in hot pursuit of kidnappers who abducted an American national in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, police said on Friday, October 18.

In the "Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon" public briefing, P/Lt. Col. Helen Galvez of the Regional Public Information Office, Police Regional Office IX, said they are still tracking down the 26-year-old American national, who was kidnapped from their home on Thursday night.

The victim, Elliot Onil Eastman, who is married to a local, had been staying in the country for five months. According to a statement from local police, assailants broke into the home of the spouse’s parents and abducted Eastman.

The victim initially resisted and was shot by the assailants, who then took the American onto a boat and escaped via the sea.

“Our hot pursuit operations are ongoing, focusing on the last known route of the boat carrying the victim. We are also coordinating with our counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist in the possible rescue of the abducted victim,” Galvez said.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) ordered all of its units in Basilan and Sulu to guard against the possible entry of the kidnappers and their American captive.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, director of PRO-BAR, told reporters on Friday afternoon that they have received reports indicating that Eastman was taken away from Sitio Tungawan in Barangay Poblacion, Sibuco, by his abductors using a watercraft that sailed towards Sulu.

"We have alerted our units in Basilan and Sulu about that, and our personnel are guarding the beachfronts there very tightly," Macapaz said.

The assailants have not yet made any ransom demands, Galvez said.

“This is an isolated case in the area of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, and it does not affect the general peace and order of the entire region,” she said.

Despite this, Galvez mentioned that Region IX is on heightened alert.

The kidnappers were seen speeding away towards Sulu which means they are likely remnants of Abu Sayyaf. Note that P/Lt. Col. Helen Galvez says this is an isolated case that "does not affect the general peace and order of the entire region."

What a joke. 

While this may be the first kidnapping case in a number of years it is surely indicative of the volatile nature of the region. Take from Elliot Onil Eastman himself. He has posted several videos admitting he is the only foreigner living in one of the most dangerous areas in the Philippines. 

https://www.youtube.com/@ElliotBeastman

Hello everyone I’m Elliot Eastman, I am 26 years old and I came to the Philippines about a year and half ago where I met the love of my life deep in the mountains of the red zone of the Philippines. Zamboanga del Norte is a recently developed area of the Philippines that was once only accessible by boat. I will be showing you my day to day life as the first and only foreigner to have ever lived here in sibuco for a long period of time. I am from the USA! 💪 

You can send me a donation at PayPal of Venmo where I receive 100% of donations or on YouTube super chats and Buy Me A Coffee where I will receive 66%. Thank you so much

Living in the Philippines most dangerous area as an American.

53:10 No, no tourists ever come here. I've never seen one except maybe from Arabia or Saudi Arabia or something. Yeah. No one has ever visited this area. I'm like the first one who ever, well, I think there's been people who have visited but they only stay like a day. They only stay for a quick minute to visit and then they move on. But me, I've been living here for months this trip and in the past I've lived here six total. I've probably lived here like a whole year in total in my life. I've never seen any other Foreigner here cuz it's dangerous. It's a dangerous area.

1:03:45 if I have my license here I can drive but my license just expired from the US uh I don't know if my license was good from the US I could probably be still driving but it just barely expired so kind of sucks can't really drive right now I'm finished yes my business business um yeah expired in the US it expired in the US so I think if it was still good I could probably drive here but it's already expired so yeah I need that for if I was going to go back to the states to do that I'd have to get my life I'd have to renew renew my license maybe I'm going to go to the stat soon yeah yeah it's very possible maybe yeah but not only just for that just to like I don't even know there's a lot of reasons why I could go I would want to go back there's a lot of reasons to stay here but there's also a lot of reasons to go back so it's ah I don't know TR try to think about for Christmas maybe yeah oh my go cute the beach yep certainly I'll miss the beach but yeah I don't know obviously this place isn't the most safe place for like somebody like me

I opened a store in the most dangerous part of the Philippines for foreigners to live

18:17 Yeah, it's kind of scary like sometimes at night times, but you know yeah is what it is. Some people, like, you hear, like, all they're planning to come kidnap me or what not. Like people sometimes maybe are trying to make a plan to kidnap me or whatever trying to get me for ransom or whatever trying to make some money out of me or whatever. But I don't know. It is what it is. Right now I feel pretty safe. But you never really know. This is going to like a scary little bit. 

That last video was posted on August 28th, 2024. A mere month and a half before he was ultimately shot and kidnapped. An event he said he had heard people discussing. 

And the PNP call this an isolated incident which "does not affect the general peace and order of the entire region." How ridiculous. 

This is, of course, a developing story so there will be more to come as events unfold.

Australian Shames Filipino Politicians By Cleaning Up Dirty Pateros River

It is a shame that the Philippines rivers are so full of garbage. There should be dedicated teams to collecting all the garbage. Instead the Philippines gets dedicated foreigners to clean up their mess. Recently Australian Mike Smith led a ten day clean up and collected 100,000 kilograms of trash.

https://pop.inquirer.net/359187/saving-ph-waters-aussie-citizen-attempts-to-revive-dying-pateros-river

Some of the world’s biggest problems, like trash-filled water bodies, have been a major problem faced by the Philippines. Among the 19 polluted rivers in the country is the infamous Pateros.

A recent viral post on Instagram captured many Filipinos’ attention as an Australian man led the Pateros River cleaning mission.

The cleaning project in the country started a few months back. Headed by Mike Smith, founder of ZeroCo—an Australian company that advocates and markets zero-waste cleaning and personal care products—along with ZeroCo Philippines’ cleanup crew, the initiative aims to save the Philippine rivers before the trash flows into the ocean, living up their mission to ‘untrash the ocean.’

The Pateros is not the only river they cleaned as they already visited several Philippine rivers like the Tanza Marine Tree Park.

Many were amazed and grateful for Smith and urged the Filipino community to support the latter’s content and account, while others expressed that it should be a shame for the locals as they were not able to do the same.

Smith’s company is on a mission to stop single-use plastic and sells zero-waste products. With over 24 million bottles collected in the waters to date, which they turn into refillable ‘forever bottles,’ every single penny they earn goes toward funding large-scale ocean cleanups worldwide.

This is certainly laudable and it is a shame that foreigners have to the jobs Filipinos should be doing. Maybe that is why the Mayor of Pateros, instead of praising Mike Smith and his team, called him irresponsible.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/29/pateros-mayor-says-dirtiest-river-cleaned-up-by-aussie-activist-located-in-taguig

Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III clarified that the “dirtiest river” cleaned up by an Australian environmental activist and entrepreneur is located in Taguig City and not in the municipality. 

Australian Mike Smith, founder of Zero Co., led the cleanup for 10 days of what he said was a river located in Pateros. 

“The Pateros in Manila (Philippines) is the dirtiest river I’ve ever seen. Over the last week together with @zeroco.com.au and @thehiddenseawine we removed every single piece of rubbish,” he said in a Facebook post. 

He said he and more than 240 Filipino volunteers removed more than 100,000 kilos of trash  from the river. 

Ponce said the river is located in Barangay Rizal, which is now under Taguig and formerly under the supervision of Makati. In a decision which became final last year, the Supreme Court transferred 10 barangays including Rizal from Makati to Taguig. 

“Actually there is nothing like that in Pateros,” Ponce told Manila Bulletin, adding that this is the reason why the Pateros municipal government posted a clarification on its official Facebook page. 

He added, “You will not see a river like that in Pateros. Now I’m wondering why this Australian Mike Smith said it was Pateros river. This is in the boundary.” 

"The truth is, what they cleaned up was an area in Barangay Rizal which was formerly part of Makati and now under Taguig,” Ponce clarified. 

The mayor said Smith was with Taguig volunteers for the cleanup and Pateros was never contacted about this even the barangay nearest to the river. 

Ponce said what was interviewed were residents of Barangay Rizal, Taguig. 

He said the river that Smith cleaned up was the “Taguig-Pateros river but never Pateros river.”

“I hope these irresponsible statements should be verified first. The problem is when territory is being discussed, takeover and income, it’s about Taguig or Makati. But when waste is being discussed, they throw it at Pateros. This is not right, isn’t it?,” said Ponce. 

Now, this is ridiculous, petty, and blatantly false. Mike Smith did not say he was in Pateros he said the Pateros River was the dirtiest he had ever seen. And there IS a Pateros River. It is not the same as the Taguig River.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rivers_and_estuaries_in_Metro_Manila

While the Taguig River joins the Pateros River there is no Taguig-Pateros River. Even if the area he cleaned up was close to where the two rivers join this is just a ridiculous quibbling over words

And to make it even more shameful this Australian is hiring local Filipinos to clean up the rivers. 

https://www.instagram.com/mikesmithprojects/reel/C2ZbqptPxQh/

Over the past few months we’ve been quietly scaling our cleanup operation in The Philippines. We now employ 12 locals on the ground to do cleanups and we’re collecting over 4 MILLION water bottles worth of ocean and river waste every month. Our goal for 2024? 50 MILLION WATER BOTTLES OF OCEAN WATE COLLECTED

Why aren't LGUs doing this? Why aren't they doing more to clean up their own nation? Instead they would rather hoist large banners so no one can see the dirty water ways. It's more than just a shame. It is a dereliction of duty.

Another Foreigner Having More Fun in the Philippines

 Oh, look it's another foreigner having more fun in the Philippines. 

This man's name is not Rupert and he is not from London but he is living on the streets of the Philippines. Why is this? How is that a foreigner is living on the streets of the Philippines sustained by the handouts of generous passers-by? Because he gave all his money to a woman who lied about being single and now he is stuck here. 

When it came time to fly home it turned out his flight had been rescheduled without his notice and so the ticket was cancelled. Eventually he ran out of what little money he had left and now lives on the streets. There is no one he can call to send him money or buy a ticket home for him. He is all alone in this cruel world. The streets are now his home.

Oddly enough a judge ruled that he must stay in the Philippines until 2025 because he was convicted of pulling a knife during a confrontation in which he was attempting to defend himself. Does that make any sense at all? But that's his claim and not mine. 

The Bureau of Immigration is aware he has been overstaying yet they have not made any moves to deport him because he owes them money and the longer he overstays the more he will owe and they aim to collect that bill. That's what not-Rupert says anyway. 

I admit this is a truncated story with lots of gaps. It is an outline of a Shakespearean tragedy on the scale of As You Like It. I cannot fill those gaps or broaden the outline. All I can do is show you a picture of another foreigner having more fun in the Philippines. 

BTW: This man's real name is Bradley Vincent, he is Australian, and his Facebook page can be accessed here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072656580991

An Open Letter to Malcolm Conlan In Response to His Open Letter to DJ Mo Twister

British national Malcolm Conlan is a foreign gadfly on Philippine politics. This man is all over social media and the DDS crowd, now the BBM crowd, love him dearly. They share his posts mocking Robredo and extolling the virtues of Duterte. He is a white man who shares their opinions which in turns makes their opinions legitimate. If you hang around Filipino Twitter long enough you are bound to come across this man. 

One of his most recent viral forays was an open letter to DJ Mo Twister who called the 31 million voters of Bongbong Marcos stupid.

https://www.philnews.xyz/2022/05/malcolm-conlan-open-letter-mo-twister-insults-31m-filipinos.html

A British national with a Filipino family and heart, Malcolm Conlan wrote and open letter addressed to controversial DJ Mo Twister who allegedly insulted the 31 million Filipinos who were voting for presumptive President Bongbong Marcos. 

During the past few days, DJ Mo Twister called out the 31 million Filipino voters supporting BBM as he called out unpleasant names that went viral on social media. 

Due to the latest statement released by DJ Mo, Malcolm Conlan was apparently indignant that a Filipino-American DJ would insult the 31 million Filipinos. 

In response to your open letter I have decided to write my own open letter to you.

Dear Malcolm Conlan,

I don't know you or interact with you much online but I know your presence is large in the Filipino social media sphere. You have written several "open letters" which have gone viral amongst the DDS crowd of which you practically form a foreign branch all your own.

It recently came to my attention that you wrote an open letter to DJ Mo Twister for calling the 31 million people who voted for convicted felon and scion of the Marcos crime family Bongbong Marcos stupid.

Whoever you are, How DARE you insult 31 million Filipinos who took part in an entirely fair and internationally recognised and acknowledged democratic process to elect a new president in the Philippines. From what I understand you are a Fil-Am right? 

Why have you got any right to insult a large proportion of the Philippine electorate?

Are you really going to bring up the issue of DJ Mo Twister being a Fil-Am? YOU! Of all people! So now he cannot comment on Philippine politics because he lives in Las Vegas?? If that is the case then please delete all your social media accounts or immediately cease and desist from writing about the Philippines. You claim to be a Filipino at heart while this man has actual Filipino blood coursing through his veins.

That you have the audacity to write such poppycock and balderdash is astounding. Have you not been in the trenches lampooning and excoriating Leni Robredo for these past six years? Have you not denied her, and thus those who voted for her, the legitimacy she earned by winning the 2016 VP election by alleging that she committed fraud and cheated?  Yes, you have. 

This makes your words and tirade about respecting the choice of the electorate hypocritical and self-serving and betrays just how ignorant you are. 

And of what concern is the 2022 Philippine election to you? You are half a world away in the UK very cozy eating your fish and chips and beans on toast and mushy peas enjoying a life of relative ease going to Jollibees once in awhile reminiscing about that time you went on vacation in the Philippines while too many people in this nation are suffering at the hands of the very people they elect. Did you know that thousands of people die in this nation every year from diarrhea because they lack clean water? That problem could easily be solved by the government but they decline to do a single thing. This is a problem you do not have in the United Kingdom. How exactly does it concern you who wins the Philippine election? It's not like the American elections which impact the entire global order. 

If you actually lived in the Philippines like many foreign nationals do then I would take less umbrage at you and your project of commenting on internal political matters which ultimately do not concern you because living here they would concern you. There are many foreigners who come to this nation and do the work the government declines to do. But you? You are just a shitposter! Yes that is the technical term if you are unaware. You offer no solutions to what is happening here but simply bandy about your opinions as if they matter more than a fart in the wind. As if voting for a certain candidate would change the status quo in the first place!

And what did Mo Twister say that got your knickers in a twist that you just had to type up an open letter?

Tell me, Malcom, and be honest. Would you vote for or advocate someone vote for a candidate who is a convicted felon who did not pay his taxes, who continues to lie about graduating from Oxford, who declined to attend any of the public debates, and who continues to deny the past crimes of his family? Or for a candidate whose running mate declared honesty does not matter?

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/06/19/sara-duterte-honesty-should-not-be-an-election-issue

If honesty does not matter then it does not matter if Robredo cheated as you allege!

It does not matter if academics or anyone high IQ voted for Marcos as you say many did.

No sir, these citizens of the Republic of the Philippines are not stupid at all, I have met so many people who voted for BBM, many come from academic backgrounds, university educated with a strong sense of responsibility and sense of duty. They are Filipinos who are proud of their country and spent so much time considering who would be best to lead the country moving forward. 

It's not that they didn't vote for Leni that makes their choice stupid. The fact is despite being educated these people voted for a man who should never have been allowed to run in the first place. Their vote does not change who Bongbong Marcos is or what he has done in the past. They voted for a man who represents the worst about the Philippines. That is indeed stupid. 

It's incredible that you have the nerve to say those who voted for Bongbong aren't stupid because they are educated and have a strong sense of responsibility when you acknowledged that many of those who voted in the Brexit referendum cast their ballot based on lies.

How much more so in the 2022 Philippine elections where so many lies about the Marcos family have been thrown at the public for the past few decades in an effort to cover up their crimes? Lies which you yourself continue to spew forth!

Dear Malcolm Conlan for goodness sake read a book! Read about the exploits of the Marcos Crime Family. Hey maybe start with reading about that time Ferdinand Marcos sought to raise an army so he could invade the Philippines, kidnap Cory Aquino, and retake the presidency.

The Marcos Tapes: Ferdinand Marcos' Plan to Invade the Philippines

Then go read about the court cases and the ill-gotten wealth which was recovered. From paintings to condos to gold and cash stuffed away in secret Swiss accounts much has been recovered. When you say all legal cases against the Marcos family have been dismissed you are lying and are thus a liar!

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/imelda-marcos-convicted-graft-sentenced-prison-n934356

The main thrust of your open letter is that we must respect freedom of choice. Ok great. Good idea. In fact you even retweeted Elon Musk who is a free speech absolutist.

Why retweet this when apparently you do not believe it at all. You do not believe that DJ Mo Twister has a right to call people stupid for voting a convicted felon into office but you do believe you have the right to call Robredo a cheater and a fraud. Those accusations come close to libel and not mere free speech. No, I don't believe you actually believe in free speech or free choice. Of course a large part of that certainly has to do with you living in a country where you can be arrested for sending a tweet someone finds offensive.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/7/22912054/uk-grossly-offensive-tweet-prosecution-section-127-2003-communications-act

Look at mousy Malcolm getting flustered over being called stupid by a complete stranger on the internet. Oh noes better report them!

Being a British man I understand that you, like the fish who has no idea what water is, will not be able to discern how these tweets show a complete disdain for freedom of speech. Freedom of speech entails the right to say things you don't want to hear. Malcolm my dear you do not believe in freedom of speech.

But I do. I believe you have the right to say the most offensive malarky you want. You have the right to say whatever you want about Philippine politics and history. I respect your right to pen the most outrageous and egregious lies about the Philippines though I may not necessarily respect what it is you have written. I agree 100% with Voltaire even if he did not actually say this:

All the same you had better respect my right, and the rights of others including DJ Mo Twister, to confront you with the truth.

You know, Malcolm, I don't want you to shut up. I want you to keep going. I want you to continue voicing your  paralogical British opinions with every ounce of your purblind Filipino heart. But the fact is there are those who voted for BBM who continue to disrespect the choice of those who voted for Leni Robredo including yourself. Why, here you are mocking the duly elected Vice President of the Philippines two weeks after the election.

Never forget that in the midst of your calling for people to respect other people's decisions you are a massive hypocrite. 

Based on this Tweet alone you can take your open letter to DJ Mo Twister about respecting the choice of the electorate and shove it.

Sincerely,

Me