Friday, November 30, 2018

Retards in the Government 78

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



https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/11/22/house-panel-starts-discussion-on-bill-granting-authority-to-solemnize-marriage/
The panel tackled House Bill 5699, authored by Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas. 
“We know for a fact that mayors have the authority to solemnize marriage, the incumbent members of the judiciary within their jurisdiction and any priest or rabbi are also authorized to solemnize marriage,” Primicias-Agabas said. 
She noted those who are allowed to solemnize marriage are ship captain or airplane chief in certain instances, as well as military commanders in some instances, and the consul general or vice consul. 
Primicias-Agabas noted the growing number of common law relationships or “live-ins” in the country. 
“There are also a number of instances of common law relationships, even when the couple does not have any impediment to contract marriage,” she said. 
Primicias-Agabas said among the reasons that make it difficult for the parties to contract marriage are financial challenges, monetary difficulty, remoteness of the place of the couple or the difference in the religious beliefs. 
“The proposal to add House members and provincial governors to the list of persons authorized to solemnize marriage will give couples more options to choose their solemnizing officer and it is hoped to encourage couples to legalize their unions,” she said.
What is the point of this bill? If a couple is too poor or too far away from society to contact the authorities in order to contract marriage how in the heck would giving the power to solemnise marriages to members of the House enable them to contract marriage any easier? It would be easier to get a priest or judge to do it then it would be a member of the House.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1775288
Both Duterte and Panelo did not elaborate on Millar's supposed involvement in corruption. 
Millar, who was sworn into office in September 2017, was the head of the Task Force Bangon Marawi Secretariat. The task force leads the rehabilitation effforts in war-torn Marawi. 
Panelo assured the the public that the delivery of public services would not be disrupted, especially in rehabilitating Marawi City and other affected areas. 
The Palace official added that the HUDDC official's termination of service merely proved that Duterte would not allow even just a "whiff of corruption" during his watch. 
"There are no sacred cows in the administration, especially in its drive against corruption. As the President said, he will not tolerate even a whiff of corruption in the Executive Branch of Government," he said. 
Shortly after the announcement, Millar said his termination from office was an "obvious demolition job." 
"It is an obvious demolition job, in protecting the interest of the government, I have annoyed some personalities, I filed my resignation this morning," he said in a statement sent to Palace reporters.
Accusations of corruption but no concrete details. This man was heading the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi.  He says he "annoyed some personalities" in attempting to protect the government's interests. Could it be that corruption is already happening in the Marawi rehabilitation program? Could it be that he voiced his unease with what he saw and Duterte was told and fired him based made up allegations? Panel is wrong about Duterte not tolerating a whiff of corruption since he still has Lapeña and Faeldon in his cabinet.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/11/24/1871186/las-pias-police-chief-36-anti-drug-cops-axed
The chief of the Las Piñas City police was relieved from his post yesterday after some of his men were accused of extortion and kidnapping. 
Aside from Senior Superintendent Marion Balonglong, 36 members of the station’s drug enforcement unit, including SDEU head Senior Inspector Edgardo Tigbao, were sacked by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1056668/metro-briefs-november-24-2018
Authorities on Friday launched a manhunt for a policeman assigned in Caloocan City who reportedly killed a couple and their 10-year-old son at Barangay Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City. Relatives of victims Romeo Ado, 54; Christine Ado, 50 and their son Romeo Ado, 10, accused the unidentified police officer of shooting the family at close range while they were sleeping inside their house at Madrigal St., Sitio San Roque shortly after midnight.  They said the policeman had previously threatened the Ado family and pointed a gun at them after they filed a complaint against him for tagging them in illegal drug activities.
So many bad eggs?  Or PNP business as usual?

Barangay chairman with unlicensed firearms arrested!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/23/1871083/lorenzana-bares-dutertes-order-not-overly-celebrate-hague-ruling
"When the arbitral ruling was about to be announced, we were all in Malacañang so when it came out, we had this meeting with the president... He said we should not be overly, what they call overly celebrating because we might offend China so that's what happened," Lorenzana said. 
The defense chief added that he was planning to ask the Philippine Navy to send a small force to Scarborough Shoal prior to the ruling. 
"Maybe we can drive away the Chinese there and maybe we can move forward to Scarborough Shoal," he added. 
The defense chief further recalled that then US Defense Secretary Ash Carter called him a week before the arbitral ruling came out. 
According to Lorenzana, the Pentagon chief advised him to "exercise restraint" ahead of the ruling, adding that Carter's call was "very significant" as he was already planning to send the navy over the traditional fishing ground among Chinese, Filipino and Vietnamese fishermen. 
"What he (Carter) said was the ruling will come out soon and we think it is in your favor and he said please exercise restraint... Don't do anything in the South China Sea that will provoke some trouble there and I was thinking to myself, what does he mean by that?" Lorenzana said.
There never was any intention to enforce this ruling.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1056970/police-officer-held-for-illegal-possession-of-explosives
Magalso is assigned at the 1st provincial mobile force company, Davao del Norte provincial police office. 
Morales said Magalso was allegedly asking P270,000 for the sale of various components of explosives, including 15 sacks nitrate, 500 blasting caps, 1 box detonating cord and 96 meters additional detonating cord.
A PNP officer selling explosives in Davao. Now how in Davao would be the most likely to buy such an item? Another isolated incident of a bad egg making the PNP look bad.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/676082/faeldon-formally-assumes-bucor-post-vows-to-curb-bilibid-drug-trade/story/
Newly-installed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Nicanor Faeldon on Monday vowed to curb illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary as well as address the issue on jail congestion. 
The former Marine captain also served as chief of the Bureau of Customs (BOC). It was under his watch when billions of pesos worth of shabu were smuggled into the country.
The irony of this statement! It was during his tenure at the BOC that billions of pesos of drugs slipping to the country! If Bato didn't keep his promise to clean up Bilibid then it is doubtful Faeldon will do any better.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1057402/duterte-threatens-to-cut-off-bishops-head
But the President did not name the bishop he was referring to, even as he renewed hitting the Catholic Church, accusing bishops of corruption and asking cars and other favors from the government. 
“Bishop, kapag magpabili ka ng droga paputulan kita ng ulo,” the President said, without naming the bishop he was addressing. 
[Bishop, if you are selling drugs, I’ll have your head cut off.] 
Earlier, in his speech, however, he had lashed out at a certain “Bishop David,” for believing in an “archai” faith and engaging in the corrupt practice of asking cars or favors from the government, among others. 
The Catholic Church and Bishop David is clinging to a belief 3,000 years ago,” the President said. “How can people 3,000 years ago predict what is happening today?” 
The President made these remarks in a speech he delivered said during the construction kick-off ceremony of a bulk water supply project in Barangay Gumalang, Baguio District here.
Nice.  Off topic too. How did he even get on this topic in the first place?

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/171692/china-wont-recognize-ph-arbitral-victory-over-wps-locsin
The remark came when Locsin was asked, in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel, whether China would respect the United Nations’ (UN) Arbitral Tribunal’s decision in relation to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for oil and gas development cooperation with the Philippines. 
“No, [China] won’t respect it. They said we did not take part in that agreement and who am I — who are we — to impose that upon them? The point is it is now a part of international law,” Locsin said. 
“The arbitral ruling is not so much against China, is not so much in favor of the Philippines, as it was in favor of international law. There was confusion in what are maritime features and they [UN] clarified it,” Locsin said. 
“Perhaps, one day, China, too, has maritime features and they will use that. It’s not a question of one won the other laws, and that’s it. It’s now part of international law,” he added.
It sounds like what he is saying is that China does not recognise international law so there is no sense in bringing up the ruling. What Locsin means by the ruling was not in favour of the Philippines but in favour of international law doesn't make any sense since the Philippines and China are both parties to the UN. Bottom line is the Duterte administration is not going to enforce this ruling.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1057382/ex-village-chair-in-pasay-wounded-by-motorcycle-riding-gunman
Investigators were still trying to determine the motive for the slay attempt on the former chair who was married to late Pasay City Supt. Oscar Catalan. 
Gina Catalan is the fourth former or current village chair in Pasay City to be targeted since the start of the year. 
The first three — Jovie Decena of Barangay 28, Abdul Munap Akok of Barangay 14, and Teresita Biscocho of Barangay 1 — all died after being shot by men on motorcycles.
“Until the succeeding season of ‘Ang Probinsyano,’ we hope to put all the animosity and clashing opinions behind us, and introduce to our countrymen the true-to-life Filipino police officers imbued with the finest tradition of valor, service and sacrifice for God, country and people,” PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde told reporters in a briefing.
Define truthful. The PNP does not want a truthful portrayal, they want a whitewashed portrayal. That's the whole point of the show anyway. To make the PNP look good. Imagine if they really did show true PNP stories on this show.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/676214/dfa-s-locsin-not-keen-on-protesting-harassment-of-reporter-s-notebook-team-in-panatag/story/
"Well, in the United Nations, there were diplomatic protests filed by [former DFA secretary Alan Peter] Cayetano. There were seven I think... I have a different view. My view is that a diplomatic protest is like throwing paper against a brick wall," he said. 
Locsin said filing a diplomatic protest would only give the impression to the international community that China is "immovable" and the Philippines is "weak." 
"What does that prove? That proves that they possess... what is happening is every time you try it and there's no reaction, the impression is created in the world na immovable talaga ang China at ang Philippines weak talaga," he said.
Would filing a protest really prove that the Philippines is weak or that China is simply not one to play nice and within the rules? What's amazing here is that Teddy Boy says Cayetano only filed SEVEN diplomatic protests.  SEVEN!!?? Remember when he said this:

"We have been filing a diplomatic protest. But the critics want us to announce it loudly and to confront China each and every time to the media. That is not conducive through the ongoing talks," he said. 
"Several dozens [of it]. Maybe 50, 100. I have to count it over the past two years," he added.
Locsin just proved what everyone knew all along, Cayetano is a liar.

At a hearing of the Senate labor committee, Sen. Joel Villanueva expressed alarm and indignation after immigration and labor authorities admitted that more than 119,000 “tourists,” most of them from mainland China, were able to skirt labor regulations to gain temporary employment in the country. 
These tourist visa holders technically remain tourists even during the three-to-six-month duration of their work assignment in the country. 
Thus, their employers need not prove that the jobs cannot otherwise be performed by locals, which is the usual policy for alien workers. 
Dole figures show that since 2015, close to 116,000 foreigners have been issued an alien employment permit (AEP), which allows them to work legally in the Philippines. 
An AEP will be issued by Dole only if there is no Filipino willing or competent enough to do the job being offered to a foreigner. 
The permit is one of the major requirements for the issuance of a work visa for aliens, but officials acknowledge that virtually all AEP holders have been able to get work visas. Chinese nationals account for the bulk of foreign workers holding AEPs, numbering almost 52,000, or about 45 percent of the total, mostly working in manufacturing, information and communications, and administrative and support services. 
But Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III told the Senate committee that there was another way the Chinese had been able to gain employment even without an AEP by obtaining special work permits from the Bureau of Immigration. 
This is beyond AEP … because it is intended for short-term assignments for six months … or three months extendible by another three months,” he said. 
Lagunzad explained that the status of these permit holders remained tourists. “Is this covered by an AEP? The answer is no,” he said. 
He said there were more than 119,000 of such permits issued by the immigration bureau from 2017 to 2018. But the actual number could be bigger, considering some 1.6 million tourist visas were issued to Chinese citizens in 2018 alone by the Department of Foreign Affairs, and only 18 preemployment visas.
Basically the Chinese have been posing as tourists and taking jobs that Filipinos could be doing and the DFA and the BOI have been complicit!  Obviously something bigger here is at play. How deep does this scandal go? Does it go all the way to the President's office?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1057809/duterte-ph-should-deport-illegal-chinese-workers-but
“They should be deported,” he told reporters in Bohol. “But in the same manner, you should be careful because when you point to the Chinese you also point to yourself, at us.” 
“There’s so many thousands of Filipinos working there,” he added. “Remember: It’s not just exploiting the story about the Chinese here, we’re doing the same thing. In Malaysia, a lot of our women are there, in Indonesia, in China, in Korea.” 
Duterte also cautioned of getting “rough” on the issue as there was a possibility that our OFWs might be put to peril. 
“If you think that you’re at the disadvantage because there are so many Chinese nationals here, remember that we have the equal amount of Filipinos working in China,” he said.
It very well could.  Why else would Duterte urge caution with this situation and compare illegal workers to legal OFWs? The man is a lawyer surely he knows the difference.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1057609/pnpa-plebe-previously-arrested-for-alleged-rape-attempt
Mark Vincent Segay was arrested on Nov. 5 for an attempted rape that allegedly happened before he entered the academy, Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP) told INQUIRER.net Tuesday. 
Durana said the incident showed a weakness in the vetting process of future police officers by the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), since it was not able to track the alleged crime before Segay was admitted to the academy.
Even though he was caught before he entered the academy how many low-lifes and criminals have been able to sneak in?
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1057509/dad-of-slain-pasay-intel-chief-asks-pnp-to-check-possible-foul-play
The father of Senior Inspector Manuel Tatayon Jr., who was slain in an operation last Sunday, asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership to investigate a possible foul play after autopsy reports found that the officer was shot in the back. 
Manuel Tatayon Sr. said on Tuesday that his son, who was the chief of the Pasay Police Intelligence Department, relayed prior to his death qualms about an “old” officer who refused to join him in operations. 
Ironically, the same officer was allegedly present on the fateful day the officer was killed. Earlier, PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Director Guillermo Eleazar visited the relatives of Sr. Insp. Tatayon. 
Both explained to the family that according to PNP Crime Laboratory Office (CLO), the two fatal wounds at the back of the law enforcer was inflicted by the man who was the target of the operation. 
An authority from the PNP Crime Laboratory noted that the slug found inside the slain officer’s body belonged to Delemios’ gun. 
However. Tatayon still asked for substantial evidence, especially after it was revealed that there are still two bullets inside his son’s body, yet to be recovered because it would supposedly disfigure the body.  The CLO official said that there is no point in retrieving the bullets because it did not lead to his death. 
But if the family will ask for it, the PNP crime lab personnel will retrieve the remaining bullets.
Why would the PNP not do a through investigation which would include retrieving and testing every bullet in the man's body? Very suspicious.  This man is right to not trust the PNP's conclusions.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/11/27/Imelda-Marcos-graft-conviction-Supreme-Court-appeal.html
Marcos earlier asked for a "leave of court" to allow her to pursue post-conviction remedies, including posting bail while she appeals the conviction. 
She was granted temporary bail in the amount of P150,000 while the court decides on her motion for leave of court. 
But it seems the 89-year-old Marcos can no longer wait for that decision. 
"To date, Motion for Leave filed by the Accused has not yet been resolved. With due respect, the Accused submits that the decision convicting her is contrary to facts, law and jurisprudence," her latest motion reads. 
The Fifth Division, however, said Marcos’ motion is premature. In a statement, the division said it cannot act on the said motion. 
“The Notice of Appeal filed by Marcos is premature as the Court has not yet resolved her Motion for Leave to avail of post conviction remedies. Therefore the Court cannot take action on the same.”
Of course she wants to get this over with as soon as possible. She must be having sleepless nights.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/27/1872066/age-fails-save-retired-cop-71-prison
In a resolution promulgated on Nov. 19, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division found as “unmeritorious” the “urgent petition” of retired Sr. Supt. Salvador Duran Sr. that he be placed under house or hospital arrest and that his jail sentence be reduced from 10 years to just six months to six years, citing old age and deteriorating health condition. 
“Significantly, there exists no law or rule which authorizes the service of sentence of imprisonment of a convict by final judgement by hospital/house confinement, more popularly referred to as ‘hospital arrest’ or ‘house arrest,’” the ruling penned by division chairman Associate Justice Rafael Lagos read.
An interesting case in many ways.  First of all the timeline.  Crime, graft, committed in 1992. Conviction 17 years later in 2009. An affirmation of the verdict by the SC in 2011 with the decision becoming "final and executory" in 2015. Duran arrested on October 15th, 2018.  What a long road for justice to travel. Second of all is that this guy has been denied any chance to avoid prison based on humane considerations. Several officials accused of plunder are out on bail due to humane considerations. Why not this guy? Maybe he does not have enough clout or money. But he can still appeal to the SC. Imelda Marcos or her lawyer is surely watching this case.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/28/1872380/jesus-dureza-resigns-2-opapp-execs-fired
The sacking of Undersecretary for support services Ronald Flores and Assistant Secretary Yeshter Donn Baccay, both of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, is believed to have prompted Jesus Dureza to resign as OPAPP head yesterday. 
Flores is also the manager of the PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan development program, which is in charge of infrastructure and other projects that OPAPP implements in conflict-affected areas. 
PAMANA is considered a complementary track to peace negotiations. The program is anchored on the Aquino administration’s strategy of forging strategic partnerships with national agencies in promoting the delivery of goods and services and addressing regional development challenges in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas. 
Duterte described Flores and Baccat as “malikot (frisky)” as sources said the two were fired for reported corruption charges against them.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1057854/persistent-but-unconfirmed-reports-on-pamana-fund-misuse-lacson
“Although the implementation of projects under the program is with the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and other partner agencies, it is in the choice of the LGU (local government units) beneficiaries that the project officer may exercise his discretion,” Lacson said in a text message. 
“This is where cuts or commissions were being required from the LGU beneficiaries as reported,” he added. 
Lacson said some local officials might have also reported these alleged corruption to President Rodrigo Duterte which resulted in the dismissal of two officials from the OPAPP.
Two more officials fired for alleged corruption. What if, when someone was accused of being corrupt, evidence was gathered and then charges filed instead of shuffling men guilty of corruption off to the side? Firing people for alleged corruption is not going after corruption. Prosecuting and jailing them is.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/18/catbalogan-mayor-local-officials-suspended-as-ombudsman-investigates-land-purchase-case
The land purchase case stemmed from the complaint of city council legislative staff officer Bernard Jake Ramos who alleged that the respondents purchased agricultural land owned by Alvin Cesar Laohoo and Lorenzo Laohoo Jr. at an “exorbitant price” of P120.225 million when it only had a market value of P155,497.84 in 2016. 
Also ordered suspended were Vice Mayor Sherwin Gabon, Councilors Coefredo Uy, Jeffry Uy, Maximo Pescos, Edward Uy, Christine Joy Escobar, Beethoven Bermejo, and Nanette Jasmin, City Assessor Romero Tuazon, Assistant City Assessor Arthur Macabare, and Office of the City Assessor employee Rizal Ignacio. 
“The documents presented, which are indicative of strong evidence of guilt against respondents, at this stage, compel this office to grant the preventive suspension prayed for,” the Office of the Ombudsman said in the order. 
In a separate order, Tan, Coefredo, Macabare, Aquino, Pescos, Bermejo, Uy and Jasmin were also preventively suspended for 6 months for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
Local officials involved in shady land deals. Nothing new here. Inflate the price and pocket the difference. It's the Filipino way.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1058238/bersamin-not-most-senior-in-sc-named-25th-chief-justice
On the Supreme Court, seniority is based on when magistrates took their seats, not on when they joined the judiciary. 
President Rodrigo Duterte had said he would choose the most senior magistrate on the Supreme Court when he appointed a new Chief Justice to replace Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, who retired on Oct. 8. 
But on Monday, he did not choose acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, who had been serving on the highest court since Oct. 26, 2001. 
He appointed Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin as the country’s 25th Chief Justice. 
Bersamin was appointed to the Supreme Court on April 3, 2009, by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
There are two ways to look at this. Bersamin has been in the judiciary longer than Carpio which gives him seniority in time but Carpio has been on the Supreme Court longer than Bersamin which would give him seniority on the court. When Duterte promised seniority would be a factor in his decision on who to appoint as CJ most people thought he meant seniority within the SC. That is the most common sense view. But he has played his hand using a technicality and now a judge after his own heart is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Duterte would also go on to say, "Si Carpio, ingon siya adto na dili siya mudawat [he said he would not accept], so [I chose the] next in rank," which is not true at all.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/11/28/suarez-befuddled-that-foreigners-are-beating-filipino-workers-to-jobs-in-ph/
“We are befuddled that AEPs are being awarded to foreigners for construction work. Construction work is no doubt within the abilities of any Filipino,” Suarez, Quezon’s 3rd district representative, said during the Minority Bloc’s weekly press conference at the House of Representatives.
Is this guy serious?  Is he not paying attention?  Does he  not read the news? From June 29, 2017:

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/29/17/dutertenomics-to-create-2-million-jobs-annually-budget-chief
“I don’t mind if we import labor just to finish the projects. We can even import labor from Pakistan, India. We have 75 major projects, there’s no way of stopping that. We won’t stop,” he said.
From April 30th, 2018:

“We need 3.9 skilled labor force which we cannot supply. The Philippines is considering of importing skilled labor force in China and Burma. We are facing labor constraints as the growing demand for laborers like welders, carpentry, masonry and related skilled work construction could not be provided due to lack of training,” the Albay lawmaker said.
Absolutely no one should be surprised there is an influx of Chinese workers both legal and illegal doing jobs of all kinds even construction. They have been telling us it is going to happen. And now Congress is surprised when they find out it has happened?  What a joke!

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/basketball/676453/senate-suspends-session-as-solons-watch-historic-up-win-over-adamson/story/
The post showed Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Zubiri, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Richard Gordon watching the game on TV. 
"Senate suspends session as the leadership from the Senate President to the Minority and Majority floor leaders and several U.P. Senators watching the super exciting game!!" Zubiri said in his post.
The Philippine Senate hard at not working.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/11/29/Kian-delos-Santos-murder-Caloocan-police-guilty.html
Kian, a Grade 11 student, was found dead lying in a fetal position with gunshots to his head after a so-called "one-time, big-time" anti-illegal drugs operation by the Caloocan City police on August 16, 2017 — while Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was still the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
This must be the fastest resolution of a case in the history of the Philippines!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1058216/ex-nlrc-exec-gets-11-years-for-taking-goodwill-money
The Sandiganbayan has convicted former National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) Commissioner Angelo Ang Palaña for soliciting a P100,000 loan from a lawyer in exchange for decisions in favor of the latter’s client. 
The court’s Fifth Division found Palaña guilty of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Section 7(d) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. 
It also ordered him to pay labor lawyer Rebene Carrera the P100,000 loan he received on Dec. 21, 2011, and had yet to pay back. 
According to Carrera’s testimony, Palaña insinuated that the loan would be considered “goodwill money” for the favorable resolution of his client’s cases. 
The court noted that this allegation was “corroborated” by the fact that several labor cases were decided in favor of the lawyer’s clients.
A bribe was paid to get favourable legal decisions. Will these decisions be revised and overturned? Not likely.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/28/1872538/duterte-says-he-will-wipe-out-parojinog-clan-ozamiz-city
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday threatened to "wipe out from the earth" the Parojinog family, a political clan in Ozamiz allegedly linked to illegal drugs trade. 
Duterte warned mayors he would not hesitate to kill them if they are involved in illegal drugs. He then singled out the Parojinogs, whom he said had ordered the killing of police officers who had resisted their illegal activities.    
"If you are an evil mayor or councilor and you think of disgusting things, or even ten times more disgusting than that, I can do it better 50 times than you can. Do not intimidate me. I will strangle you if I lose my patience, you son of a b****," the president said during the groundbreaking of an airport modernization project in Ozamiz.  
"To the Parojinogs, I will wipe you from the face of the earth," he added.  
The Ozamiz raid was plotted by Police Superintendent Jovie Espenido, who was also the police chief of Albuera, Letye when its mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was nabbed and subsequently killed inside his jail cell in November 2016. 
Espenido was recently assigned to the Eastern Visayas but Duterte on Wednesday decided to send him back to Ozamiz City to obliterate the Parojinog clan. 
Kill them Duterte. Kill them all.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

The Strangest Beautification Program is Happening in Town

Someone has kidnapped a few Minions, sliced their heads open, replaced their brains with plants, and arranged them in various spots around town!










It's an interesting concept.  I wonder how long they will stay in place before being withered and destroyed by neglect.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Asian Representation in the Media and Identity Politics

I finally saw the movie Rich Crazy Asians recently.


After all the hype it turns out this movie is just a typical rom-com with an all Asian cast which is the big selling point of the film. "Come watch a film set in contemporary times with an all Asian cast." This movie has been compared to Black Panther which had a mostly all-black cast and crew and was also sold to the public as an empowering shot at accurate and full representation in Hollywood after years of marginalisation.

The author of the book on which this film is based also wrote the novel with the same goal in mind, representation.
Kwan stated that his intention in writing the novel was to "introduce a contemporary Asia to a North American audience"
Set in Singapore all the characters are supposed to be ethnic Chinese but not all the actors cast are ethnic Chinese prompting many to proclaim this film as not being Asian enough.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/world/asia/crazy-rich-asians-cast-singapore.html
A primary worry is that the Warner Bros. film focuses on Singapore’s Chinese, the dominant ethnic majority, at the expense of Malays, Indians and other ethnic minorities who collectively account for about a quarter of Singapore’s 5.6 million people. 
“Part of the way that this movie is being sold to everyone is as this big win for diversity, as this representative juggernaut, as this great Asian hope,” said Sangeetha Thanapal, a Singaporean Indian writer and activist who is researching a doctoral dissertation on the concept of Chinese privilege in Singapore. 
“I think that’s really problematic because if you’re going to sell yourself as that, then you bloody better actually have actual representation” of Singaporean minorities, she said.
You can't please everybody especially when you are trying to do just that. One of the actresses in this film is Filipina celebrity Kris Aquino. What is her role?
  • Kris Aquino as Princess Intan, a Malay princess
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Rich_Asians_(film)
Kris Aquino, a Filipina, plays the role of a Malaysian princess! How ironic in a movie that is touted as a "big win for diversity" and representation. Why not cast an actual Malaysian in that role instead of a Filipina?

There is much that could be said about this film and its sociological implications regarding identity politics but that is not the purpose of this blog or this post. Instead I want to callback to a previous blog post about the two Fil-Ams who "pranked" McDonald's by hanging a photo of themselves inside the store.
“If you haven’t noticed, there isn’t a lot of Asians represented in media,” Maravilla said in a YouTube video titled, “How to Become McDonalds Poster Models.” 
“And hopefully one day I could see someone like me on the big screen,” he added, alongside another Photoshopped picture of himself on the movie poster of the latest blockbuster hit “Crazy Rich Asians.” 
https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2018/09/fil-ams-give-free-publicity-to.html
Both of these men were invited on Ellen where they told their story.
"We looked around and we saw these other posters on there and we saw that there's different ethnicities and we saw they were all these people having fun so we decided to, like, represent ourselves as Asians to be up there as well." 
"Crazy Rich Asians was a really big influence on me it really pushed me over cus I watched the movie three times it's insane." 
"So we wanted to be like Crazy Middle-Class Asians." 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctw_8596i38 
So you see this movie was a motivator for them. For Jevh Maravilla anyway who saw the movie three times. It's funny he says they wanted to represent themselves as Asians and not specifically as Filipinos since Kris Aquino, who is Asian, did not play a Filipina role but a Malaysian role. I assume any Asian will do when it comes to Hollywood.

Now here's the thing. These two Fil-Ams live in the USA and are wishing there was more Asian representation in the media. But the USA is not a majority Asian country so why the heck would there be a lot of Asian representation in media in the USA? However in Asia one would expect to see a lot of Asians represented in the media. Is Jevh and his friend familiar with the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean film industries, not to mention Bollywood. Worldwide Asians are hardly underrepresented on the big screen or in the media. His assertions about lack of Asian representation are based on his limited perspective.

To prove how ridiculous this whole notion of a need for accurate cultural and ethnic representation is I decided to do an experiment. Actually I decided to take pictures of what I knew to be the truth: there is not a lot of Asian, Filipino, representation in the models plastered all over the walls of the mall. I wanted to take pics at McDonald's but sadly there are no pictures of families or anyone else hanging on the walls inside any of the local McDonald's so taking a few pictures of models in the mall was the only other option. These pictures were taken at random and in a hurry. Security does not take kindly to people snapping photos in the mall. And for good reason.










That is just a tiny sampling of the type of models and manikins seen at the mall here in the Philippines. Note that practically none of them are Filipinos or Asians of any kind. Or maybe they are but they are certainly not a dark-skinned and distinctly Filipino or even Asian looking type. They are light skinned and almost hapa looking. That is not to say there are no Filipino or Asian models. There are but they are few and far between and most of them are TV celebrities who are plastered on large billboards hawking canned tuna and corned beef.

Has anyone noticed this? Are there outcries about this lack of Filipino representation in mall advertisements? Where are the outraged and the protestors if such a thing as representation matters? Duterte seems to be fine posing with a faceless white manikin in Hong Kong.


What does this mean about representation and identity politics?

It means identity politics is a particularly Western idea that has not found a home in the Philippines. This toxic ideology lends itself to a completely bankrupt worldview and philosophy which causes people to focus on differences to such a degree that has only served to further bifurcate or socially balkanise the West, especially the USA. Instead of seeing themselves as social beings who are part of the larger picture of society, people begin to see themselves as pure individuals identified solely by their sexual preferences or ethnicity or some other trait. Groups of like minded individuals band together and exclude those who are unlike them. When these groups to look the media and do not see themselves looking back cries of racism and oppression are raised. It is a twisted mishmash of neo-marxist Critical Theory straight out of the Frankfurt School and post-modern thought all rolled into one.
When groups feel threatened, they retreat into tribalism. When groups feel mistreated and disrespected, they close ranks and become more insular, more defensive, more punitive, more us-versus-them.
In America today, every group feels this way to some extent. Whites and blacks, Latinos and Asians, men and women, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, straight people and gay people, liberals and conservatives – all feel their groups are being attacked, bullied, persecuted, discriminated against. 
Of course, one group’s claims to feeling threatened and voiceless are often met by another group’s derision because it discounts their own feelings of persecution – but such is political tribalism.

But in recent years, whether because of growing strength or growing frustration with the lack of progress, the Left has upped the ante. A shift in tone, rhetoric, and logic has moved identity politics away from inclusion – which had always been the Left’s watchword – toward exclusion and division. As a result, many on the left have turned against universalist rhetoric (for example, All Lives Matter), viewing it as an attempt to erase the specificity of the experience and oppression of historically marginalized minorities. 
The new exclusivity is partly epistemological, claiming that out-group members cannot share in the knowledge possessed by in-group members (“You can’t understand X because you are white”; “You can’t understand Y because you’re not a woman”; “You can’t speak about Z because you’re not queer”). The idea of “cultural appropriation” insists, among other things, “These are our group’s symbols, traditions, patrimony, and out-group members have no right to them.”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/01/how-americas-identity-politics-went-from-inclusion-to-division
Jevh Maravilla and his friend have drunk the kool-aid of this ahistorical and isolating modern leftist ideology.

In the Philippines there is none of that nonsense. There is however a more pernicious sort of identity politics and political tribalism which is what has lead to the corrupt political dynasties of the Binays, Aquinos, Estradas, and Marcoses.

In many ways this kind identity politics is more destructive.
The tradition of political corruption and cronyism, the extremes of wealth and poverty, the tribal fragmentation, the local elite’s willingness to make a separate profitable peace with colonial powers—all reflect a feeble sense of nationalism and a contempt for the public good. 
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1987/11/a-damaged-culture/505178/
When one reads about the antics of the politicians in the paper, all the us-versus-them shenanigans and all the corruption and graft and killing and raping by those who are supposed to protect the people (the PNP), one cannot help but agree that there is a "contempt for the public good."

But at least people aren't worried about whose face is staring back at them on the big screen.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Martial Law: Irrelevant

Two weeks ago when discussing extending martial law once more and the reasons given for such an extension I concluded with the following observation:
What is the solution? 
Duterte has already given the solution when in September 2016 he declared the entire nation in a state of lawlessness. That means a heavy military presence and checkpoints without the suspension of habeas corpus. It's martial law lite one could say. 
Did everyone forget about that?
https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2018/11/martial-law-extreme-measure.html
Duterte has not forgotten. First with using the state of lawlessness which he declared in 2016 as a reason to place the military in charge of the Bureau of Customs.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/21/1870419/600-afp-pcg-personnel-going-customs
About 600 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) would be augmenting the Bureau of Customs (BOC) workforce in the next six months in a bid to put a stop to smuggling activities. 
And now this week by using the declaration to justify sending more troops to hotspots in the Visayas.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/24/1871309/more-troops-sent-vs-lawless-violence-palace-says-no-nationwide-martial-law
President Duterte has ordered the reinforcement of police and military forces to suppress “lawless violence” and acts of terror in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental and in the Bicol region – areas where the communist New People’s Army is known to operate. 
Contained in Memorandum Order 32 issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Thursday, Malacañang stressed that it “views with concern the growing number of sporadic acts of violence that have recently occurred” in those areas, which were reportedly done by lawless elements. 
He added that the AFP supports the order and that it is waiting for the official order to move troops to Bicol and the Visayas. In issuing MO 32, Medialdea cited as among the bases the killing of nine farmers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Oct. 20 and – in Samar Island – the ambush of soldiers providing relief to victims of a typhoon in Northern Samar; armed attack at the police station in Lapinig, ambush attack against the 63rd Infantry Battalion in Matuguinao and the assault on the former mayor of San Jose de Buan town. 
“We have also witnessed acts of lawlessness in the province of Negros Oriental such as, but not limited to, torching of heavy equipment in Manjuyod, strafing of the house of the barangay chairman, attack of police detachments and the killing of a police chief in separate occasions in Guihulngan,” said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo. 
He also noted that Bicol has suffered from a series of instances of lawless violence, including the ambush of the convoy of Food and Drug Administration director-general Nela Charade Puno in Camarines Sur, firefights in Lagonoy and clash in Bato, among others.  
Members of the PNP SAF will be joining the AFP in each of these locations.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/26/1871791/pnp-deploy-saf-vs-lawless-violence
The elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deployed in the regions identified by President Duterte as areas where “lawless violence” is rampant. 
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde directed the deployment of one company or about 100 police commandos to each area mentioned under Memorandum Order No. 32.
Albayalde said the PNP commando group would form part of the government security forces deployed in areas of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and the Bicol region. 
The three Visayas provinces and Bicol are areas heavily infested by communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
The CPP-NPA has been waging its insurgency for 50 years that is estimated to have claimed the lives of over 50,000 people. 
The AFP has estimated the NPA’s strength at over 11,000 fighters.
What this proves is that the country can be protected without the need for full-fledged martial law. Will these regions now see an economic boom and an increase in tourism?  Only time will tell. It may seem kind of strange that Duterte would wait so long to send troops to these areas since the events cited occurred a month ago and the NPA has long maintained a presence in those regions. But in light of what is happening with the government's stance toward the CPP-NPA it is not all that surprising.

Just last week the CPP was welcoming an attempt at renewed peace talks.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1054731/informal-meeting-with-ndfp-leaders-is-a-go-dureza
“President [Rodrigo] Duterte has tasked me and Secretary Salvador Panelo to meet with them in an informal chat,” Dureza said in a statement.
As quickly as such a meeting materialised it all went up in smoke.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1055118/dutertes-meeting-with-ndfp-leaders-canceled
Agcaoili explained that the government panel did not mention any threats of arrests, but the problem is the lack of a new perspective for the meeting
“Wala namang sinabing threat of arrest o anything, kundi kinansela na daw ang set appointment with the President on 23 Nov. At mahirap daw mag-usap kung walang new perspective,” Agcaoili said. 
(No one has said anything about threats of arrest, but the appointment with the President on Nov. 23 was canceled because it is hard to talk without a new perspective.
Whether there were threats of arrest or lack of a new perspective, a new attempt at peace talks is over. What is there to talk about anyway?  I have documented in this series the unrealistic and unrealisable demands of the CPP. They want all kinds of legislation passed within 3 months time of signing the CASER agreement which is very unreasonable. And why should the government kowtow to their demands? Sure they gave a huge chunk of Mindanao to the terrorist organisation MILF.  In fact the head of MILF was able to waltz into AFP Camp Aguinaldo and make many new friends.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1055170/i-came-i-saw-i-found-friends-i-made-peace
Veni, vidi, vici,” Murad declared at a press conference with AFP chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., before adding to the Latin victory statement attributed to Julius Caesar in English, “I came, I saw, I found friends and I made peace.” 
Murad recalled that ever since he joined the Bangsamoro’s fight some 40 years ago, he had avoided military camps and had thought only of destroying them. 
“I never imagined during those dark days, that I will one day step inside a military camp and be feted with this exceptional honor by what used to be our adversary,” the MILF chair said.


We have never considered the AFP or any soldier of the republic our enemy. What we have always considered the enemy is oppression and injustice,” he said. 
Murad admitted that in the MILF’s struggle for self-determination, the group viewed the AFP as an instrument of injustice, particularly during the administration of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
"Veni, vidi, vici."  I came, I saw, I conquered.  A phrase made famous by Julius Ceaser after he won a battle.

Murad is the military leader of the MILF and he is announcing that the AFP has been defeated. Not intangible concepts like oppression and injustice, but the AFP. Of course the AFP has always been the enemy. Why else would Murad want to destroy military camps? The significance of the phrase is undoubtedly lost on the AFP leadership or if it isn't they are not bold enough to protest.

But back to the CPP-NPA. Why should the government kowtow to their demands? It's been a 50 year long revolution. They've come this far they might as well wait for Sison and the other leaders to die which will lead to infighting and invariably weaken and likely destroy the organisation.

And why send troops now to areas where the NPA has attacked? I have speculated that the peace talks were fake all along and that violence by the NPA would be the catalyst for imposing nationwide marital law. It would go something like this:
  1. Duterte declared his presidency would be a dictatorship.
  2. To bring about this dictatorship he would need to implement martial law.
  3. Duterte initiates phoney peace talks doomed to fail and to prove that he "did all he can" as a  cover for eventually declaring martial law after a serious terror attack.
  4. ISIS captures Marawi City and Duterte uses this event to declare martial law all on his own.
  5. This is just the beginning as Duterte has said he will extend martial law nationwide if he so chooses and the continuing existence of NPA, MNLF, MILF and other terror groups will justify martial law.
https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2017/06/martial-law-was-always-dutertes-plan.html
It's not always clear what Duterte is up to since he does not have a single policy he sticks with but goes with wherever the moment takes him. Lorenzana however is very adamant that there should be no peace talks with the NDFP.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1056385/dnd-chief-to-fight-ndfp-bid-to-resume-talks
In a statement on Thursday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria Sison’s claim that threats had been made against NDFP negotiators Fidel Agcaoili, Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma by President Duterte’s “armed minions,” which resulted in the cancellation of their trip to the Philippines, was insulting. 
“Mr. Sison is trying his damnedest best to have his subalterns meet with the President and yet, at the same time, throws an insulting remark,” Lorenzana said. 
“This shows his lack of respect for the President,” he added. 
Lorenzana said that Sison insulted not only the Armed Forces of the Philippines  and the Philippine National Police when he called them the President’s armed minions, but also Mr. Duterte. 
The defense secretary explained, “Minion is a term of contempt. It means a servile, fawning and an unimportant person who is at the beck and call of a powerful person.”
He has also made it clear that martial law in Mindanao is an imperative.  It is essential.

"The situation currently being dealt with by State security forces goes beyond Marawi City. President Duterte’s imposition of Martial Law aims to put an end to the long running rebellion in various provinces in the south, as evidenced by the incidents that happened in Zamboanga, Davao, Bohol, Lanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Maguindanao," Lorenzana said in a statement.
While such a reason might be debatable it's a heck of a lot more sound than the reasons everyone else is giving these days. 

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/11/22/compostela-governor-bats-for-ml-extension/
Compostela Valley Governor Jayvee Tryron Uy is urging the government to extend martial law in Mindanao claiming that his province greatly benefitted from it. 
Uy said his province was able to reduce its crime rate, encourage the surrender of many rebels, and create a climate conducive for business and investments. 
Under martial law, his province was recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry as the second most competitive province in the Davao Region. Uy said there is a need to sustain their gains and keep peace.
Yeah! Let's keep martial law for all those sweet economic gains. Who cares if such a reason is unconstitutional and correlation does not equal causation. Need it be said that if a country requires the military to be called in to reduce crime and make the area safe or business then that country is a failed state?

So is the movement of troops to NPA hotspots a prelude to or an indiction of a de facto nationwide marital law?
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/24/18/more-troops-may-be-deployed-in-npa-controlled-areas-ahead-of-2019-polls-lorenzana
"Ito iyong mga kino-kontrol ng mga NPA (New People's Army) para hindi maka-campaign iyong mga kandidato kung hindi magbayad sa kanila," Lorenzana told reporters on the sidelines of a veterans' event in Quezon City.  
(These are areas controlled by the NPA to stop candidates from campaigning unless they pay the rebels.) 
"Either kontrolin nila iyong mga movement ng mga kandidato or they will campaign in favor of candidates, so hindi na pantay iyong laban," he said. 
(The rebels would either control a candidate's movement or campaign in favor of other candidates, so it will be an unfair fight.) 
The military is still assessing the situation in other areas but is looking at the possibility that communist rebels might meddle in the conduct of the 2019 midterm elections, the defense chief said.
Perhaps a better question would be, "How did it get like this?"  How does the NPA control areas to the extent that politicians are forced to pay a revolutionary tax and some politicians even adjure the people to pay the tax?
http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/new-peoples-army/npa-taxation-a-reality-just-pay-them-says-duterte/
City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had this advice to agri-business players who might be asked for ‘revolutionary taxes’ by the New People’s Army: just pay them. 
The mayor raised this point, along with other concerns on peace and order, in his address during the opening day of the Davao Trade Expo 2013 last Thursday at the SMX Convention Center. 
“It’s a fundamental question for business: is it good to do business in the mountains? Do we give in to them?” the mayor asked. 
He said as mayor of a city in Mindanao dealing with “revolutionary” and “ideological” groups such as the Communist Party of the Philippines and Moro revolutionary groups, the way to deal with them is to talk to them. 
“It’s a matter others want to avoid. But it’s a reality that has to be talked openly, since the NPA is more active now in Region 11, notwithstanding the statements from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” Duterte said. 
December last year, Duterte drew flak when his pronouncement during a visit at the Communist Party of the Philippines quoted him as saying that he pays revolutionary tax. A youtube video later circulated accusing him of giving P125 million as annual revolutionary taxes. 
As to the NPAs asking taxes he said “I cannot put it to a stop. So factor that in your investments. If you pay to the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue), you prepare also for the NPA.” Some participants giggled and smiled on this remark.
Why was this man not arrested for treason after uttering those remarks? He literally told people to give money to a violent terrorist organisation bent on overthrowing the government. But five years later he said the exact opposite.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/01/28/1782150/rody-warns-firms-vs-paying-revolutionary-tax-npa
“I will be frank with you. If you are caught giving to the NPA I will give you a hell of a time. More particularly on the mining sector, I’ll just cancel your permits,” he said. 
Duterte said he will direct Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to look into the mining firms who are paying the rebels. 
“I’ll tell Secretary Cimatu to cancel it. You are funding an organization which is bent on destroying my country, our country,” he said.
That is what is called cognitive dissonance. But despite this warning the AFP reports that the NPA collected P1.4 billion just last year from only four regions in Eastern Mindanao!

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2018/01/military-businesses-in-eastern-mindanao-lost-p2-48b-to-npa-attacks-extortion/
Madrigal told reporters at the sidelines of the Mindanao Business Briefing at Seda Hotel here that the NPA got P1.48 billion from mining and agricultural companies in Eastern Mindanao, covering Regions 11 and 13 and parts of Regions 10 and 12. 
He said that with P1.48 billion the NPA could buy 23,333 AK47 rifles or 31.1 million rounds of ammunition. 
For the same period, rebel attacks caused P1 billion in damages to businesses the bulk of which was sustained by the box plant of the Lorenzo family-owned Lapanday Foods Corporation in Mandug, Davao City which the NPA burned on 29 April 2017, he said.
Apparently it is too hard to stop these payments or trace the money.
He said aside from the small and large-scale mining operators, the New People’s Army also collects from lowly sari-sari (variety store) owners, who pay as low as P2 per day and from big banana plantations in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte provinces as well as politicians during election time. 
Lt. Col. Esteven Ducusin, commander of the 46th Infantry Battalion based in Pantukan, said they found it difficult to follow the trail of the big amount of money that went into the NPA’s hands because of the “intricate mode of payment,” involved.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/952237/military-says-npa-collects-p460m-yearly-as-revolutionary-taxes

The "intricate mode of payment" makes it too difficult to follow the money trail? What a ridiculous excuse.

Take note of where Duterte, as mayor, contradicted statements of the AFP that NPA activity was under control and on the wan.
“It’s a matter others want to avoid. But it’s a reality that has to be talked openly, since the NPA is more active now in Region 11, notwithstanding the statements from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” Duterte said. 
Region 11 is also on the list of regions where the NPA has collected enormous amounts of revolutionary taxes.

One can speculate all day long about the possibility of nationwide martial law. Will there be? Is this a prelude?  Who knows!? I don't think even Duterte knows. What we do know is that the AFP is an inept organisation. They cancelled urban warfare training because they don't use that skill and were subsequently caught with their pants down in Marawi. They have been publicly called conquered by the head of the MILF while he walked around freely inside their camp. They have been fighting a 50 year war with the communists with no end in sight. Or with an end always in sight but never quite within reach.

2011
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/119555/afp-we-liberated-23-provinces-from-npa
In a somewhat startling declaration Thursday, the Armed Forces claimed to have “liberated” 23 provinces from the four-decades-old communist insurgency, which it said lost more than 300 guerrillas in 2011. 
“The AFP through the IPSP Bayanihan liberated 23 provinces from the CPP-NPA-NDF influence, with their internal security operations turned over to their respective local government units,” the military said. 
The provinces are Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Biliran, Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Cavite, Marinduque, Romblon, Guimaras, Siquijor and Leyte and Southern Leyte. 
AFP public affairs chief  Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the presence of NPA guerrillas in these provinces had become so insignificant that the military had turned over the job of maintaining security in these areas to the local government  units. 
“These are indicators that there is now unhampered progress in these provinces without major incidents of violence and extortion by the NPA rebels,” he said in a phone interview. 
“We can’t say there’s zero presence but we can say that it is no longer significant,” Burgos said. 
Only “less than 5,000” NPA rebels remain in the countryside waging their decadeslong revolution, he said.
Not a complete eradication but enough so that the threat is no longer significant. Less than 5,000 NPA rebels. Fast forward seven years and troops are being deployed to some of the areas declared to have been "liberated" from NPA influence while the AFP estimates there are now 11,000 NPA rebels.  How did this happen? Because the AFP did not do a thorough job of getting rid of the NPA in those areas  and then handed security maintenance over to LGUs as if it wasn't their concern anymore.

2013
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/341689/incoming-afp-chief-aims-to-make-npa-irrelevant
“That is our goal, for the NPA (New People’s Army) to be irrelevant, for the armed struggle to be irrelevant,” Bautista said when asked if communist insurgents would be weaker or inconsequential at the end of his term.
His term has long since ended and the NPA is still alive and kicking. 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/33523-philippine-military-end-insurgency
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen Emmanuel Bautista reminded commanders of their goal to end the insurgency by 2016, saying it's time for the military to focus on external defense and other tasks. 
Under the IPSP (Internal Peace and Security Plan) Bayanihan, the AFP aims to “conclude” by 2016 internal security threats from the CPP-NPA-NDF (CNN), Abu Sayyaf Group, rogue MNLF elements, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF). 
"We should have reduced the capabilities of internal security threats," Bautista said. He maintained they are on track in meeting the 2016 deadline. 
Even if talks with the NDF are stalled, what the government aims to do is “to make the armed struggle irrelevant" and "for them to abandon the armed struggle," Bautista said.
2016 has come and gone and internal security threats have only increasedHow did this happen? Because of the stated goals in the IPSP. Quoting from the IPSP:
Under the Plan, the AFP’s desired end state is that ―capabilities of internal armed threats are reduced to a level that they can no longer threaten the stability of the state and civil authorities can ensure the safety and well-being of the Filipino people.

The AFP’s internal peace and security end-state against the communist insurgency is to render their armed component, the New People’s Army (NPA), irrelevant and show the group the futility of their armed strugglethis is intended to convince them to abandon the armed struggle and instead engage in peace negotiations with the government.
http://www.afp.mil.ph/images/pdf/ipsp_bayanihan.pdf
Rather than completely decimate the NPA and other armed groups and capture all rebel fighters the AFP merely wants to reduce the threat to where it is sustainable or non-threatening. That is insanity. It's like having a surgeon remove only 99% of a cancerous tumour instead of the whole thing. The NPA is not giving up. They continue to fight after 50 years. Perhaps a different strategy is needed instead of hoping to prove to them that their cause is irrelevant and futile. Obviously they are not of that mind.

2014
https://www.rappler.com/nation/54154-new-peoples-army-45th-anniversary
“After 5 years, they will be irrelevantHindi aabutin ng 5 years. (They won’t last another 5 years),” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Emmanuel Bautista told reporters on Friday.
In 2014 Bautista moved the goal to make the NPA irrelevant to 2019! He must have seen the writing on the wall and discerned that the insurgency was not going to end by 2016.

2018
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/647262/lorenzana-to-npa-rebels-lay-down-your-arms-your-cause-has-become-irrelevant/story/
"Your cause has become irrelevant. Do not be the spoilers of peace, progress and development. If you could not win [in] 49 years, what made you think you could salvage victory in the next 50?" Lorenzana said in a statement.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/200559-afp-chief-carlito-galvez-speech-turnover-ceremony
Together, we shall render the CPP-NPA-NDF irrelevant; for insurgency thrives only where there is discord.
Maybe if the AFP's top brass form a circle and hold hands and repeatedly shout the word "irrelevant" at the top of their lungs, just maybe the NPA will finally become irrelevant.

What we see here is the same old song and dance time after time. The AFP has not changed its approach or its rhetoric and now the insurgency has been injected with new vigour so much so that troops are being deployed to areas once declared "liberated" from NPA influence but which are now "heavily infested" with the NPA according to the PNP. With the billions in revolutionary taxes being extorted from businesses and politicians the NPA will not be running out of weapons anytime soon. Truly the NPA is far from "irrelevant."

Will sending more AFP troops and PNP personnel to these hotspots stop the violence? Will the NPA really be defeated by sometime next year? If things continue the way they are such a victory is doubtful.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Motorcycle Madness 5

Vroom a zoom zoom!  No helmets.  No shoes.  No headlights at night. Welcome to the wild world of motorcycle riding in the Philippines. In this edition we see there are quite a few small children riding.  Up front. Squished in between mom and dad. These little buggers probably just need to get to school. What safer way to get them there than to let them ride on dad's motorcycle? And why not let mom come along too? She can carry the yougin's book bag. Hang on tight buckaroo!