The Philippines Just Bought a Warship for $100

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8R1CtdmqOwS-gcHyO_9ky_FXl_m3HUSJpelmr9fDybedXDIYQGs2d7FIR7gqryheTcaSWhrQWZUzJDDkThY8eYddIVsfoNRcAmz41Vu0Jpm6BVRCLYZ7bvjM0iUS1NM3YMPqKMC_uLoE/s1600/Screenshot_219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8R1CtdmqOwS-gcHyO_9ky_FXl_m3HUSJpelmr9fDybedXDIYQGs2d7FIR7gqryheTcaSWhrQWZUzJDDkThY8eYddIVsfoNRcAmz41Vu0Jpm6BVRCLYZ7bvjM0iUS1NM3YMPqKMC_uLoE/s640/Screenshot_219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;">Kyle Mizokami) </span><span style="background-color: #f8f6f4; color: #333333; font-size: 17px;">The Republic of the Philippines is getting a real bargain. In this age of $1.3 billion guided missile destroyers, the island nation is "buying" a used warship from South Korea for the bargain-basement price of just $100. While that sounds like a screaming deal, exactly what is it getting for its money?</span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f6f4; color: #333333; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Philippines is in the midst of a defense buildup. The island country has been locked in a political face-off with China over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. With no end in sight, the concern is the political dispute will escalate to a military one, a hypothetical conflict the Philippines would be woefully unready for. The country has been fighting an insurgency against various internal groups, including the Al Qaeda-aligned Abu Sayyaf guerrilla force, funding its army at the expense of its navy and air force.</span></div> <div class="ad-gpt-breaker-container" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-size: 17px;"> </div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The country has been on a low-grade shopping binge, purchasing a dozen F/A-50 fighters from South Korea and accepting donated Coast Guard cutters from the United States. Now, according to <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Jakarta Post</em>, it is about to get a <a class="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pohang-class_corvette" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #367f9a; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out;"><em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pohang</em><u data-redactor-tag="u" style="box-sizing: inherit;">-class corvette</u></a> from South Korea <a class="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" href="http://jakartaglobe.id/international/south-korea-gives-anti-submarine-warship-to-philippines-for-100/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #367f9a; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out;"><u data-redactor-tag="u" style="box-sizing: inherit;">for the fantastic sum of $100</u></a>. The ship, ROK <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chungju</em>, was decommissioned from the Republic of Korea Navy in December 2016. The "purchase" is actually a transfer, and the $100 is largely symbolic.</span></div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKPBj63InaxtF7XzrtGL_M8ltThZa_B1BTZbi1HkkXjMeOzgKKp0qQFH66B4CpAOBMCrhgKqdtnjkIQwyF7aoD2MiPQpJqcWdI7kkvbwaN4iD_JV41alj2idvWEIpur0FlGVCXLGSMUiO/s1600/Screenshot_220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKPBj63InaxtF7XzrtGL_M8ltThZa_B1BTZbi1HkkXjMeOzgKKp0qQFH66B4CpAOBMCrhgKqdtnjkIQwyF7aoD2MiPQpJqcWdI7kkvbwaN4iD_JV41alj2idvWEIpur0FlGVCXLGSMUiO/s640/Screenshot_220.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> The <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pohang</em>-class corvettes were some of the first large warships built by South Korean shipyards. Twenty-four corvettes were built during the mid 1980s and early 1990s between 1984 and 1993. Each weighed 1,200 tons fully loaded and had a maximum speed of 32 knots, armed with a pair of Italian-made 76-millimeter deck guns, four Harpoon anti-ship missiles, two 40-millimeter cannons, and anti-submarine torpedoes as well as depth charges. The <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pohang</em>-class ships were built mainly to patrol South Korean coastal waters and square off against North Korea's fleet of small gunboats and coastal submarines.</div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> While the ex-<em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chungju</em> is essentially free, the Philippines has also committed to paying to bring the ship back into service. One Philippine former naval officer-turned-blogger <a class="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" href="http://maxdefense.blogspot.com/2017/04/finally-philippine-navy-is-set-to.html" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #367f9a; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out;"><u data-redactor-tag="u" style="box-sizing: inherit;">describes the necessary work as</u></a> "repair, minor refurbishing works, replacement of obsolete systems required for safe use of the ship, crew billeting and training, and other expenses." That will cost an estimated 200 million Philippine pesos, or the equivalent of $4 million dollars.</div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> The ship will also not transfer with all of its weaponry. The Harpoon missiles are not part of the sale—the missiles are still useful to South Korea and Seoul would have to get permission from the United States to sell them, a process that could take years. The ship might also lose its American-made Mk. 46 anti-submarine torpedoes.</div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWg0HHzyfuGg9m7VW_Z7w66g34a2Ds3hbu-KnKFz0DFKDwctskghUiqYd_8s1B-jEvcRbRnrGytecju7PJ9lX1WieNCIRIK4qZUmewOA7sc2EFl7OjjkjtzKRzextlkiQefAL7xU6Gmh_/s1600/Screenshot_221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWg0HHzyfuGg9m7VW_Z7w66g34a2Ds3hbu-KnKFz0DFKDwctskghUiqYd_8s1B-jEvcRbRnrGytecju7PJ9lX1WieNCIRIK4qZUmewOA7sc2EFl7OjjkjtzKRzextlkiQefAL7xU6Gmh_/s640/Screenshot_221.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> There's also the question of what kind of condition the ship is in. In 2014 the Philippine Navy looked at another <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pohang</em>-class ship, <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mokpo</em>, and found it in "very poor condition" and not worth refurbishing. <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chungju</em> is two years younger and presumably inspectors found it in slightly better condition. Another <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pohang</em>-class corvette, ROKS <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cheonan</em>, was sunk by a North Korean torpedo in its 21st year of service. At the time of the sinking, one news report quoted the mother of a crewmember as saying her son thought the ship was in poor condition and complained about serving on it. Still, given that some of the ships in the Philippine Navy were built during World War II, even a worn-out thirty year old ship is better than a seventy year old one.</div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> Even if the ex-<em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chungju</em> is stripped of its weapons, South Korea is well positioned to re-equip it for the Philipines, at a price. Harpoon missiles can be replaced with Korean <a class="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSM-700K_Haeseong" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #367f9a; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out;"><em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Haeseong</em><u data-redactor-tag="u" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> missiles</u></a> and Mk. 46 anti-submarine torpedoes can be replaced with <a class="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chung_Sang_Eo" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #367f9a; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out;"><u data-redactor-tag="u" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blue Shark torpedoes</u></a>. This is not a coincidence, as South Korea is pushing to develop its own arms export industry. Think of <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chungju</em> as a free ice cream cone—it's the ice cream that's going to cost real money.</div> <div class="body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="background-color: #f8f6f4; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-left: 43.8438px; text-align: justify;"> The Philippines' "new" warship will end up costing a lot more than a hundred dollar bill, but it's still likely a welcome upgrade. While it's still not on equal terms with a brand-new <a class="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_056_corvette" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #367f9a; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out;"><u data-redactor-tag="u" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Type 056 corvette</u></a>, the <em data-redactor-tag="em" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chungju</em>'s second career will give the People's Liberation Army Navy something to think about.</div> </div>

Armed Forces Bargain Government Military War Ship The Philippines Just Bought a Warship for $100

( Kyle Mizokami)  The Republic of the Philippines is getting a real bargain. In this age of $1.3 billion guided missile destroyers, ...

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House committee approves national ID system amid security concerns

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #777777; font-family: cnn-roman, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 14.944px;"><br /></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRAkVOzYXY9GqsJiJQavjc-MVwH-3Y4dRKLI0MH9DSuiQjG_lodT1cpEq_l4JSqiAJKN6VWPw_EkHmZjXXADGSJSpN_NCs4g_wo9LsYE2fyrjHr-a7Lok2ffGakVM0_jVkpjFihLEN65G/s1600/Screenshot_216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRAkVOzYXY9GqsJiJQavjc-MVwH-3Y4dRKLI0MH9DSuiQjG_lodT1cpEq_l4JSqiAJKN6VWPw_EkHmZjXXADGSJSpN_NCs4g_wo9LsYE2fyrjHr-a7Lok2ffGakVM0_jVkpjFihLEN65G/s1600/Screenshot_216.jpg" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #777777; font-family: cnn-roman, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 14.944px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #777777; font-family: cnn-roman, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 14.944px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #777777; font-family: cnn-roman, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 14.944px;">( </span>Joyce Ilas) <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-medium, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; font-weight: 700;">Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 11) —</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px;">The House Committee on Population approved on May 10 the bill pushing for a national identification (ID) system, despite a lawmaker's reservations with regard to privacy and national security.</span><br /> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The bill states the national ID system, called Filipino Identification System or FilSys, will provide for a single card sufficient for all transactions requiring proof of identification with both the government and the private sector, and will "lower costs, streamline transactions, and provide ease and convenience."</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The bill requires all Filipinos, whether living here or abroad, to register their personal information in the system.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> They are to declare the name, photograph, birth date, gender, signature, blood type, and an individual serial number - also known as the Common Reference Number (CRN) - to be issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The supposed tamper-proof ID will also have a smart chip that will contain the person's biometrics, iris scan, facial image reception code, and other distinguishing features.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Other government-issued numbers, such as those in the passport, social security, PAGIBIG, voter's ID, Philhealth and tax identification papers, will also be accessible through the CRN.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> "<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sa pamamagitan nito, isa na lang ang kailangan nating ID at nag-i</em>dentify <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">tayo na magagamit ito sa iba't-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno</em>," Population Committee Chair Sol Aragones said.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> [Translation: The ID system will streamline the information, which can be used in different government agencies.]</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The ID will be issued for free upon first release.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Those who will falsify information and use the card in unlawful ways face sanctions, ranging from six months to two years imprisonment, and a fine of P50,000 to P500,000, the Committee head said.</div> <h2 style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-roman, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px;"> Security concerns</h2> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Aragones said only the PSA should have access to the information in the IDs.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> "<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sakaling ire-</em>request<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> ng ibang</em> agency <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">ay may </em>approval <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">na kinakailangan talaga. Alam ko naman agam-agam ng iba na baka gamitin ito sa maling impormasyon, may mga</em> safeguard <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">tayo dito</em>," she added.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> [Translation: There should be approval in case other agencies will request the information. I know there are a lot of apprehensions when it comes to security. We have safeguards here.]</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The bill states that data in FilSys cannot be disclosed without the ID holder's consent except:</div> <ul style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-roman, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 1em;">In cases of accidents or disasters, where the ID holder's medical history is needed by medical workers</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 1em;">When the interest of public health or safety requires the data</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 1em;">A court orders the data to be divulged </li> </ul> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The bill also said that the PSA, together with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Privacy Commission, must implment measures to protect the data.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> However, Gabriela Party-List Rep. Arlene Brosas said in a May 11 press briefing that the data in FilSys could be used for State surveillance or sold to corporations, especially those in the U.S.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> "<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Napaka-</em>powerful <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">ng binibigay mo,</em> personal information ang nilalagay kaya marami ang may interest diyan hindi lang militarily, bureaucracy, lahat," she said.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> [Translation: You are giving something very powerful, personal information is being put in there so many would be interested not just the military and the bureaucracy.]</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> "<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Baka magkaroon ng</em> third-party data leaks <u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">at magamit din sa</em></u> militarization <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">dahil napakarami nga sa</em> bureaucracy <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">natin ngayon ang</em> military <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">ang nakaupo na hindi naman magbubunga ng ganansya para sa mga maliliit nating mamamayan</em>," she added.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> [Translation: There could be third-party data leaks and the data could be used for militarizaiton because many in the bureaucracy now are from the military, which will not be encouraging for the masses.]</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> A national ID system was proposed in 1996 when former President Fidel Ramos issued Administrative Order 308, which created the National Computerized Identification Reference System.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> However, the Supreme Court struck down the order on the grounds that the policy should have gone through Congress and that the public's privacy would not be compromised.</div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">CNN Philippines Digital Producer VJ Bacungan contributed to this report.</em></div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7385px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></em></div> <div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: border-box; color: #171717; font-family: cnn-light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/05/11/house-approves-national-ID.html">Source: CNNPhil</a></span></em></div> </div>

Government National House committee approves national ID system amid security concerns

(  Joyce Ilas)  Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 11) —   The House Committee on Population approved on May 10 the bill pushing for a...

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'After pork scam denial, how can Napoles be a state witness?'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h5 class="author-details" style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="editor" style="color: #eb1e23;"><br /></span></span></h5> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBgzlCT5O9W33i-nshoDn4NA0coP4LkpzqAIxMwBrKvhrWdS3iZL_ys9UUj0HKWVmkA1eQjH-0BwTuBHiK4-J6veGjBUhImEeRM5BYMSpOQZFIMLGdC2PG7ieEjvSH3ga9VUKplwl06JR/s1600/Screenshot_211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBgzlCT5O9W33i-nshoDn4NA0coP4LkpzqAIxMwBrKvhrWdS3iZL_ys9UUj0HKWVmkA1eQjH-0BwTuBHiK4-J6veGjBUhImEeRM5BYMSpOQZFIMLGdC2PG7ieEjvSH3ga9VUKplwl06JR/s1600/Screenshot_211.jpg" /></a></div> <h5 class="author-details" style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="editor" style="color: #eb1e23;"><br /></span></span></h5> <h5 class="author-details" style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="editor" style="color: #eb1e23;"><br /></span></span></h5> <h5 class="author-details" style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="editor" style="color: #eb1e23;"><br /></span></span></h5> <h5 class="author-details" style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="editor" style="color: #eb1e23;"><br /></span></span></h5> <h5 class="author-details" style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="editor" style="color: #eb1e23;">(Jamaine Punzalan) </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">MANILA - How can businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, the face of the previous administration's anti-corruption drive, serve as state witness in the P10-billion pork barrel scam when she had previously denied any hand in the controversy?</span></span></h5> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">This was the question raised by a member of the academe on Thursday after the justice department floated the idea of turning Napoles into a state witness.</span></div> <div class="teadsAd" style="color: #252525; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Napoles testified several times before the Senate. Throughout these hearings, she consistently denied that she handed sums of money to legislators or that they participated in a scam," San Beda Graduate School of Law Dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino said in an interview with radio DZMM. </span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">A state witness, Aquino said, should have information vital to the prosecution and should be the least guilty party in a crime.</span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">The law dean added that Napoles would open herself to perjury and wrongful testimony charges if she reverses her previous Senate testimony in order to affirm the involvement of officials in the pork barrel scam.</span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aquino also cast doubt on the need to get Napoles as state witness, noting that prosecutors had already said their case was strong -- the same reason that former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla were jailed over the scandal.</span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Why is it that all of a sudden, the prosecution now says that they need a state witness?" he asked.</span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aquino also pointed out that the Office of the Ombudsman, not the Department of Justice, is the scandal's lead prosecutor and it has yet to issue a statement on Napoles.</span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Last Monday, the Court of Appeals found “reasonable doubt” to acquit Napoles for the crime of serious illegal detention in connection with the alleged abduction and detention of her former aide and relative, Benhur Luy.</span></div> <ul class="op-related-articles" style="color: #252525; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none outside none; padding: 0px;"> <li style="line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/11/17/after-pork-scam-denial-how-can-napoles-be-a-state-witness"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source: ABSCBN</span></a></li> </ul> </div>

Government 'After pork scam denial, how can Napoles be a state witness?'

(Jamaine Punzalan)  MANILA - How can businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, the face of the previous administration's anti-corru...

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De Lima slams claims she got campaign funds from drug lords

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9Z1bKmvW-M8/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Z1bKmvW-M8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> MANILA -- Senator Leila de Lima on Monday cried foul over accusations that convicted drug kingpins raised millions in cash to fund her poll campaign last May.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> At the same time, de Lima accused the Duterte administration of blackmailing and bribing inmates at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) to fabricate testimonies against her at a congressional inquiry this week.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> The senator insisted that she never received “even a single cent” from convict Jaybee Sebastian, who allegedly ordered gangs in the NBP to contribute P16 million to de Lima’s campaign kitty by selling narcotics.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> “Puro po kasinungalingan ang lalabas diyan. Hindi po ako coddler, hindi po ako protector ng mga drug convicts or drug lords. Lalong lalo na, wala po akong tinatanggap kahit singko kaninuman -- convict man o hindi,” de Lima told radio DZMM.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> (Everything that will be revealed there are lies. I am not a coddler, I am not a protector of drug convicts or drug lords. I never accepted even a cent from anyone –- convict or not. )</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> An inmate who will face the inquiry of the House of Representatives claims that Sebastian, who was convicted of carjacking and kidnapping, organized the “fundraising” for de Lima sometime in 2014, the Philippine Star reported Sunday.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> One inmate said Jad de Vera, an alleged nephew of De Lima, would collect the money twice a week.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Those who defied the order were allegedly transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) jail in Manila and suffered an end to their <strong>VIP perks</strong>.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <strong>‘PERJURED, COERCED’ WITNESSES</strong></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> But De Lima claimed that the witnesses were either offered paroles or blackmailed into giving false testimonies.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> “Ang mga so-called witnesses na iyan can only be false, perjured or coerced. Magsisinungaling o nagsisinungaling po lahat iyan. It's either tinakot sila o may mga ipinangako sa kanila," she said.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> (These so-called witnesses can only be false, perjured or coerced. All of them will lie or are already lying. It’s either they were threatened or were promised something.)</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> The high-profile convicts, she said, also loathe her as she ordered a series of raids on their luxurious “kubols” and transferred them to the NBI facility and later to a <strong>high-security facility</strong> at NBP.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> "Lalo na kung kasama iyan sa mga Bilibid 19, siyempre mga galit po sa akin iyan dahil doon po sa pag-raid ko sa kanila noon at paglipat NBI at paglipat ulit sa [NBP] Builbing 14,” de Lima said.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> (Especially the members of Bilibibd 19, they are mad at me because I raided them and transferred them to the NBI and again to the NBP Building 14.)</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Reacting to the reported drug ties of her alleged nephew, de Lima also scoffed: “Hindi ko po iyan kilala, sino iyan?” (I don't know him, who is that?)</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <strong>PATCHWORK OF LIES</strong></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Among the high-value inmates testifying at the House probe are Herbert Colangco and Noel Martinez, who have been transferred to the custody of a military facility due to security concerns.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Colangco has claimed that de Lima also collected a monthly payola of P3 million for protecting their illegal activities inside the NBP.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> He further alleged that Sebastian, whom de Lima favored, monopolized the NBP narcotics trade when he and other inmates were moved to the NBI.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said a <strong>high-ranking government official</strong> will also testify on how he delivered at least P5 million in drug payoffs per visit to de Lima’s house in Parañaque.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> De Lima, for her part, fired back at the administration over inconsistent accusations against her.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> “Napaka-kumplikado na ng istorya nila. Kasi sa kakaimbento nila ng istorya, hindi sila nakakabuo ng tunay na kapani-paniwalang istorya,” she snapped.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> (Their story is already very complicated. They keep fabricating stories so they cannot form a truly believable narrative.)</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> “Ano man pong testigo, ano mang ebidensya ang ilalabas nila -- inmates, former officials ng DOJ, NBI o anuman -- wala pong katotohanan iyan.”</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> (Any witness, any evidence they will release -- inmates, former officials of DOJ, NBI or whatever -– there will be no truth to it.)</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> In the right time, the senator also promised to explain the “operational strategy” on why Sebastian was left at the NBP when other high-value inmates were transferred to NBI.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> De Lima is not attending the “sham inquiry” which starts Tuesday.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> The senator has earned President Duterte’s ire by leading a Senate investigation into the hundreds of deaths in the vicious war on drugs.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Last week, she presented as witness Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed hitman who accused Duterte of ordering the killings of suspected criminals and political opponents in Davao City during his term as mayor.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/19/16/de-lima-slams-claims-she-got-campaign-funds-from-drug-lords">Source: AbsCbn News</a></span></div> </div>

DeLima Drug Duterte Government Politics Video Videos De Lima slams claims she got campaign funds from drug lords

MANILA -- Senator Leila de Lima on Monday cried foul over accusations that convicted drug kingpins raised millions in cash to fund h...

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P88-M worth of shabu seized from 'narco-mayor's' house

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hyndpD8Roj8/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hyndpD8Roj8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Police confiscated an estimated P88-million worth of shabu from the house of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Ronald Espinosa, Sr. on Wednesday.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Armed with a search warrant, authorities swooped down on Espino's home in Sitio Tinago, Barangay Binolho in Albuera town at around 6 a.m.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Operatives found 11 kilograms of narcotics there. The raid also yielded 12 camouflage uniforms and various materials for homemade bombs.<br /><br />Police also combed through Espinosa's house on Tuesday and found several high-powered firearms.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> President Duterte named the mayor as a drug coddler on August 1.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Espinosa surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) the following day and later admitted that his son, Ronald "Kerwin" Espinosa, is a top drug trafficker in Visayas.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> On August 3, six suspected hitmen from "Espinosa Group" were killed in an encounter with policemen in the mayor's residential compound.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> The Espinosa patriarch was rushed Saturday to an undisclosed hospital after suffering hypertension. His son remains a fugitive.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjZ-atonaBBuT0VYLX7TQuLjYAQwqxKooMazVTpOkyYrjmzfD5qZ7Ag0ewBIYXJy48q5jPFKExWrFeo5UjmPx9m1k47fL2hdRyg0UCnBRPNOn7BdonLd5qjtHfG-pv5rrxWHKBmGOzn_n/s1600/Screenshot_56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjZ-atonaBBuT0VYLX7TQuLjYAQwqxKooMazVTpOkyYrjmzfD5qZ7Ag0ewBIYXJy48q5jPFKExWrFeo5UjmPx9m1k47fL2hdRyg0UCnBRPNOn7BdonLd5qjtHfG-pv5rrxWHKBmGOzn_n/s320/Screenshot_56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <br /></div> <h2 style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/10/16/p88-m-worth-of-shabu-seized-from-narco-mayors-house"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source:ABSCBN</span></a></h2> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <br /></div> <br /></div>

Crime Drugs Government Local News Video Videos P88-M worth of shabu seized from 'narco-mayor's' house

Police confiscated an estimated P88-million worth of shabu from the house of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Ronald Espinosa, Sr. on Wednesday. ...

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Pacquiao says death penalty 'moral and lawful'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFspJUfftYvFhxSlF0-_OyxUT6niuaIWf52ka9ZUZzawlV_gW9cjJe7SoQZLQGC20eWwIi0b30oYj8H1hfRfMfefp3q9wqCJuZYLSd-lEud8zCXIY195VxkveXIhQjVocT9eO4sEbZI-yO/s1600/Screenshot_51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFspJUfftYvFhxSlF0-_OyxUT6niuaIWf52ka9ZUZzawlV_gW9cjJe7SoQZLQGC20eWwIi0b30oYj8H1hfRfMfefp3q9wqCJuZYLSd-lEud8zCXIY195VxkveXIhQjVocT9eO4sEbZI-yO/s1600/Screenshot_51.jpg" /></a></div> <h3 style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> DEVOUT CHRISTIAN WANTS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AGAINST CRIMINALS</h3> <hr style="box-sizing: content-box; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; height: 0px;" /> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> – Neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday defended anew his support for the reinstatement of death penalty, saying it is ''lawful and moral.''</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Pacquiao's statement backs President Rodrigo Duterte's push to revive the death penalty in the Philippines, which was suspended by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and was also opposed by her successor, Benigno Aquino III.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> In his first privilege speech, Pacquiao, a born-again Christian, cited no less than the bible as his basis for saying that death penalty is justifiable.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> ''Death penalty is a lawful, moral, and a sanctioned governmental action,'' he said.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> ''Having read the bible on a regular basis, I'm convinced that God is not just a God of mercy, but he is also a God of justice," he said. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Pacquiao said the drug menace is destroying the country, with many families getting broken and many innocent civilians falling prey to drug-dependent criminals.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> ''Walang pinipiling mabibiktima ang ilegal na droga. Even innocent civilians can be an unwitting victim once an addict goes out and wreak havoc,'' he said.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> ''God is allowing the death penalty, [yet] we are opposing the death penalty. Are we greater than God?"</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Pacquiao said he has yet to make up his mind about which form of execution would be best.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> ''Nananaig po ang hanging o firing squad. Sisipain lang po ang upuan eh,'' Pacquiao said when pressed for his choice by Senator Vicente Sotto III.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Pacquiao said he has so far filed Senate Bill 185 which seeks to impose death penalty and increased penalties on certain heinous crimes involving dangerous drugs.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <strong>INTERPELLATION</strong></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Duterte was interpellated by several senators, including Liberal Party members Leila de Lima and Joel Villanueva.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> De Lima, who has long opposed death penalty, said there are more effective ways of ''minimizing'' crimes triggered by the use of illegal drugs other than death penalty.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> ''Death penalty may inhibit, but other penalties may also inhibit, like the proper service of reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment,'' she said.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> ''Palakasin natin ang correctional system. Baguhin ang mga naging masamang sistema sa bilibid."</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Villanueva, for his part, said impoverished Filipinos must be given opportunities so they would not turn to selling illegal drugs.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> ''Kaisa ako ng People's Champ para isulong ang mga makabuluhang progama na magbigay ng mga oportunidad na magkaroon ng magandang buhay,'' Villanueva said.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Senator Risa Hontiveros also called out Pacquaio for expressing support and even visiting drug convict Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Veloso, supposedly innocent and was merely duped by an illegal drug syndicate, was saved from the death penalty after a last minute reprieve. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Hontiveros also asked Pacquiao whether he agrees with the opinion that death penalty is an anti-poor policy.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Pacquiao responded by saying that under Duterte, everyone will be treated equally.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Pacquiao has declared himself to be an ally of fellow Mindanaoan Duterte, who has waged a bloody war on drugs.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Duterte has made it a vow to reinstate the death penalty and pair it with his crusade to rid the country of the ills brought about by the illegal drug trade.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> The Catholic Church strongly opposes the death penalty. Anti-death penalty advocates, meantime, often cite studies showing that death penalty has not been a successful crime deterrent.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Addressing the argument that the current trend worldwide is towards the abolition of death penalty, Duterte said the capital punishment is not a deterrent but a means of ''retribution."</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/08/16/pacquiao-says-death-penalty-moral-and-lawful"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source:ABSCBN</span></a></div> <br /></div>

Crime Drugs Duterte Government Politics Trending Pacquiao says death penalty 'moral and lawful'

DEVOUT CHRISTIAN WANTS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AGAINST CRIMINALS MANILA  (UPDATE)  – Neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday defended an...

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Basay town mayor takes drug test, denies drug allegations

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> NEGROS ORIENTAL - Basay town mayor Beda Cañamaque went to the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) to clear his name after he was included in President Rodrigo Duterte's list of suspected "narco-politicians."</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9xMvbQqk-sjdWyHg2DYfycQbahFkLYouWoM-ZOjfN40ZU_T0URnhb2PLFnc4XE4XToFyqPPkGmD4SW7-KUvLAYQPAn3dK0O5dS-cg9GAtn7FN9lwQW9XEUlZVbcZG39-R3gaxZ-Behb1/s1600/Screenshot_48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9xMvbQqk-sjdWyHg2DYfycQbahFkLYouWoM-ZOjfN40ZU_T0URnhb2PLFnc4XE4XToFyqPPkGmD4SW7-KUvLAYQPAn3dK0O5dS-cg9GAtn7FN9lwQW9XEUlZVbcZG39-R3gaxZ-Behb1/s640/Screenshot_48.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="line-height: 1.5;">Cañamaque presented himself to NOPPO Director Police Senior Supt. Nestor Tiempo Sunday afternoon to clear his name, adding that the allegations thrown at him are not true and are politically motivated.</span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> He also said he was shocked when he heard the news. To prove his innocence, Cañamaque took a drug test.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Tiempo, for his part, said they will still verify Cañamaque's alleged involvement in illegal drugs.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Duterte on Sunday revealed the names of sitting and retired local government officials, policemen and lawmen who are allegedly involved in the drug trade. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/07/16/basay-town-mayor-takes-drug-test-denies-drug-allegations">source:abscbn</a></span></div> </div>

Crime Drugs Du30 Duterte Government Local News Basay town mayor takes drug test, denies drug allegations

NEGROS ORIENTAL - Basay town mayor Beda Cañamaque went to the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) to clear his name after he ...

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DUTERTE'S LIST: 'Narco' politicos, lawmen, judges

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday revealed the names</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlHuebDat-sJ_hqmtGeJSrpzYkrv3VcVJCBYjibX2jXAqLHVwmUsP7nS1FL20H7p3WUmfp32xW6s5357CthEh2gF036FZm7cC096aFjNkEP16GClVG2jWkOz3p9HhYnolYhD5bOhJ2sqC/s1600/duterte-narco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlHuebDat-sJ_hqmtGeJSrpzYkrv3VcVJCBYjibX2jXAqLHVwmUsP7nS1FL20H7p3WUmfp32xW6s5357CthEh2gF036FZm7cC096aFjNkEP16GClVG2jWkOz3p9HhYnolYhD5bOhJ2sqC/s640/duterte-narco.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>  of sitting and retired local government officials, policemen and lawmen who are allegedly involved in the drug trade.<br /> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Here is the list of drug-tainted officials bared by the President:</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <strong>COURT MAGISTRATES </strong></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Judge Mupas of Dasmariñas City, Cavite<br />Judge Reyes, Baguio City<br />Judge Savilo, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13, Iloilo City<br />Judge Casiple, Kalibo, Aklan<br />Judge Rene Gonzales, Municipal Trial Court (MTC)</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Judge Navidad, RTC-Calbayog City<br />Judge Ezekiel Dagala MTC<br />Judge Dapa, Siargao</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <strong>INCUMBENT AND FORMER LOCAL EXECS, LAWMAKERS </strong></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Mayor Reynaldo Flores - Naguilian, La Union<br />Mayor Dante Garcia - Tubao, La Union<br />Mayor Martin De Guzman - Bauang, La Union<br />Mayor Marjorie Apel Salazar - Lasam, Cagayan<br />Mayor Goto Violago - San Rafael, Bulacan</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Mayor Marino Morales - Mabalacat, Pampanga<br />Mayor Felix Castillo - Langiden, Abra<br />Ex Mayor Eufronio Erigel - Agoo, La Union<br />Mayor Jesus Celeste, Alyas Boying - Bolinao, Pangasinan<br />Mayor Jose "Pepe" Miranda - Santiago City, Isabela</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Mayor Vicente Amante - San Pablo City, Laguna<br />Mayor Ryan Dolor - Bauan, Batangas<br />Vice Mayor Edgardo Trinidad - El Nido, Palawan<br />Mayor Alex Centena - Calinog, Iloilo<br />Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador - Hamtic, Antique</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Mayor Jed Mabilog - Iloilo City<br />Mayor Sigfredo Betita - Carles, Iloilo<br />Marciano Malones--Maasin, Iloilo<br />Ex-Mayor Michael Rama - Cebu City<br />Mayor Hector Ong - Laoang, Northern Samar</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Mayor Rolando Espinosa - Albuera, Samar<br />Mayor Beda Canamaque - Basay, Negros Oriental<br />Ex-Mayor Madeline Ong - Laoang, Northern Samar<br />Vice Mayor Francis Ansing Amboy - Maasin, Iloilo<br />Fralz Sabalones - San Fernando Cebu </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Antonio Pesina - Iloilo City<br />Erwin "Tongtong" Plagata - Iloilo City<br />Buddy Aingan -- Kulambungan, Davao Del Norte<br />Former board member Ricardo Parojinog - Misamis<br />Mayor Fahad Salic - Marawi City </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Congressman Guillermo Romarate, Jr. - 2nd District, Surigao del Norte<br />Jessie Aguilera - Alegria, Surigao del Norte<br />Mayor Mohammad Ali Abenal - Marantao, Lanao del Sur<br />Jamal Dadayan - Buadiposo-Buntong, Lanao del Sur<br />Rasmiyah Macabago - Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Muslim Alen Macadato -- Lobatan, Lanao Del Sur<br />Rasul Santi Datu Zaldy Ampatuan - Maguindanao<br />Montaser Zabal - Talitay, Maguindanao<br />Vicman Montawal - Datu Montawal, Maguindanao<br />Samsudin Dimaukom -- Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Norodin Salasal -- Datu Salibo, Maguindanao<br />Ex-Mayor Benahar Tulawie - Talipao, Sulu<br />Nova Princess Parojinog Echavez<br />Omar Solitario Ali - Marawi City<br />Abdul Wahid Sabal - Vice Mayor, Talitay, Maguindanao</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Otto Montawal - Datu Montawal, Maguindanao<br />Nida Dimagcon - Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao<br />Arafat Salik - Marawi City<br />Rasmia Macabagu - Siguran, Lanao Del Sur </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Ex-Mayor Abubakar Abdukarim Afdal - Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur<br />Mayor Gamar Ahay Janihim - Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte<br />David Navarro - Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur<br />Bobby Alingan - Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte<br />Yusofa Monder Bugong Ramin - Iligan City, Lanao del Norte<br />Ex-Congressman JC Rahman Nava - Guimaras </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Party-list Rep. Jeffrey Celis - Panay </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <strong>ACTIVE AND RETIRED LAWMEN </strong></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Police Inspector Rolando Batolayan<br />Ret. Supt. Maristelo Manalo, CIDG<br />Roberto Palisoc - Station 7 MPD<br />Ret. Supt. Siceron Ada<br />Chief Insp. Eric Bunaventura - Navotas</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> PO2 Geraldine Bautista Manuel - Health Service<br />SPO3 Ronald Calap - Isabela<br />PO3 Rodel Samoledo - Lalio<br />PO3 Cecilio Domingo - CIDG<br />PO2 Ryan Mendoza - Tarlac Pstation</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Jeffrey Serafica - Butuan<br />PO1 Norman Adarlo - Puerto Galera<br />Mark Canete RSRPSV Mimaropa<br />PO1 Mark Christian Catalina - Camarines Norte<br />PO2 Allan Carpio - Pasay City</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> PO3 Eric Lazo - QCPD<br />PO3 Alexander Macabeo - Parañaque City<br />PO3 Johnny Mahilom - QCPD<br />PO2 Cielito Minendrez - Binangonan<br />Ret. General Vicente Loot </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Ret. General Valerio - Iloilo<br />General Bernando Diaz - Region 6<br />General Idio - Calbayog City<br />Ret. Supt. Floro Antique<br />Supt. Kashmir Dimangcup - former Iloilo Base Commander</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Supt. Delia Paz - RDIDM<br />Supt. Genepa Riu - Intelligence<br />Supt. Ifel Duenas<br />Supt. Kaundag<br />Supt. Eugenio Malik, Maritime Group, former chief of Antique Anti-Drug Group </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Supt. Gumboc<br />Supt. Leven<br />Chief Insp. Rio Maymay<br />Senior Insp. Kenneth Militar, Iloilo<br />Senior Insp. Donasco</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Insp. De Jose - Region 6<br />Insp. Duarte - Arevalo, Iloilo<br />Chief Insp. Vicente Vicente - Banate<br />Supt. Romeo Santander - Cebu<br />PO2 Michael Cortez - Barili </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> SPO1 Jen Dela Victoria - Cebu<br />SPO1 Onel Nabua - Barili<br />PO2 Jomar Ibanez - Lapu Lapu<br />PO3 Ryan Martusciamco - Cebu<br />PCI Ibrahim Jabiran- Zamboanga </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> PCI Senior Insp. Perfecto Abrazaldo Awi, Jr.-- Misamis Oriental<br />Insp. Roy Sinuhales Montes - Iligan Pro<br />Supt. Ricardo Gando Pulot - Quezon, Bukidnon Insp. Martin Plaza<br />PO1 Pierre Dizo - Zamboanga Del Sur<br />PO3 Omar Kwani - Zamboanga City </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Romel Mansol - PRO9<br />PO3 Daryl Pagi - Labasan<br />SPO1 Totong Jay Valdez<br />SPO1 Rodrigo Ramos - Bukidnon Pro<br />SPO1 Renaldo Dela Victoria - Cagayan De Oro </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> SPO3 Emilio Mendoza Lusaria - Iligan<br />Marlo Espinosa -- Bukidnon<br />SPO3 Mat -- CIDG Mati, Davao Oriental<br />SPO3 Rosel Eleviera - CIDG Tagum, Davao Del Norte<br />PO3 Jesse Balabag - Region 11</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> PO3 Filimino Soronya - Digos<br />Insp. Juan Glen Alicarte - PRO 12<br />PO1 Philip Pantarolia - Tacurong City<br />SPO1 Jerry Dela Rosa - SCP PIO<br />PO3 Bebot Ruiz - GSC-PIO</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> PO3 Estelito Solanio - Saranggani<br />PO1 Jerebel Oxio<br />SPO1 Bilyones Ernesto - NCR<br />Montemayor Lito - Roxas District, Jail Aparri Dist<br />PO1 Vicente Renaldo Celis - NCR </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Sait Dexel - Mimaropa<br />SPO1 Tubil Felix - Region 3<br />SPO3 Angeles Nicolas Ponce - Region 3<br />SPO2 Mercene Rod - Marinduque BFP<br />FO1 Reynaldo Valencia - Claveria </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Sgt. Vic Dela Cruz - Mimaropa<br />Brig. Genera.l Leonzo Daniega - NCR<br />Spo3 Gerry Mendoza - NCR<br />Reomante Daitu - Region5<br />Reymar Daitu - Region 5</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Zamora Reynato Gumaro - Region6<br />JO1 Allan Coca Manatad - Region7<br />SPO3 Cristy Cielo Tinag - Region 7<br />Arsad Kasimiro Castro - ARMM<br />PFC Arsad Phillip Miro - ARMM </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Corporal Kosina Lopez Giamad Loy - 52nd Brigade Armm<br />PFC Mamadali Ifad -- ARMM<br />Yasin Abulgalit Bobong<br />JO1 Cobacho Alfredo Galis<br />FO1 Aplaca Nicolas Ponce - ARMM </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> FO3 Ibanez Ricardo Villariz - Region 9<br />Marine Corporal Alfrenz Burias Abedin-- Western Mindanao,<br />Jimmy Manlangit - Region 12 </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> The President stripped the government officials of their police escorts. The policemen on the list, on the on the other hand, were immediately relieved from their posts.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> They will also be investigated for criminal and administrative charges, he said.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> He said the names were validated by the police and the military. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> "I ordered the validation. I am the one reading it and I am the sole person responsible for this one," he said. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Before this, the President also named five police generals and several other local executives as alleged protectors of drug rings. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Duterte's crackdown on drug suspects has killed some 852 individuals from May 10 up to 3 p.m. of August 5, according to an independent tally by the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group. <span style="line-height: 1.5;">-- With a report from Elric Ayop, ABS-CBN News </span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/07/16/dutertes-list-narco-politicos-lawmen-judges">source: ABSCBN</a></span></span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <br /></div> </div>

Crime Drugs Du30 Duterte Government Local News National Politics Viral DUTERTE'S LIST: 'Narco' politicos, lawmen, judges

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday revealed the names  of sitting and retired local government officials, policemen and lawme...

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'Narco mayor' admits meeting with 'drug lord'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseR3IYytckW2DfrjYEY4Bmw8myq9rqYpYvJ4Z65QHF0hzWBDfwQlBDyEYXLxO1arR4giEGYMQOISxqVaH79oihtkO14YUDr721iuYmn0JRpAm_YOXoDixznlpRWD10MT2isfjg5FyunSg/s1600/Screenshot_43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseR3IYytckW2DfrjYEY4Bmw8myq9rqYpYvJ4Z65QHF0hzWBDfwQlBDyEYXLxO1arR4giEGYMQOISxqVaH79oihtkO14YUDr721iuYmn0JRpAm_YOXoDixznlpRWD10MT2isfjg5FyunSg/s640/Screenshot_43.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> MANILA - A town mayor linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade admitted Sunday that he once met with an alleged drug lord in 2013. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Calinog Mayor Alex Centena of Iloilo province said suspected drug lord Melvin "Boyet" Odicta, Sr. talked to him about plans of opening a restaurant in his city. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Centena, who was among over 150 individuals named as drug coddlers by Duterte, added that Odicta also wanted to buy a deer he owned. The mayor did not sell the animal, but eventually swapped his "baboy ramo" (wild boar) for Odicta's Siberian husky. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> He said the 2013 meeting was his only encounter with Odicta. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Centena said his political rivals may have given Duterte false information on his alleged drug ties. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Reiterating his support for Duterte's bid to abolish drug rings, he also presented a certification of his contribution to the anti-drug campaign. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> The certification was issued by the Sangguniang Bayan, Department of Education-Calinog, former chiefs of police of the town and other organizations.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxNrK3b4ToJQ_o0PSRsgA40fOWBNLs0M1ZsYHCDlS92fTIA9U1CJxJdOouMS2_Z0HHGpqlW6NMvb3B3X1xZDkuHUpWEcQQuYdSLVMpaLZ7XF-uAMNjVkjd_ith62uy5SUyQRlLSWmUcUb/s1600/Screenshot_44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxNrK3b4ToJQ_o0PSRsgA40fOWBNLs0M1ZsYHCDlS92fTIA9U1CJxJdOouMS2_Z0HHGpqlW6NMvb3B3X1xZDkuHUpWEcQQuYdSLVMpaLZ7XF-uAMNjVkjd_ith62uy5SUyQRlLSWmUcUb/s640/Screenshot_44.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Meanwhile, Mayor Mariano Malones of Maasin, Iloilo also insisted there is no truth to allegations that he is a "narco-politician". </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Malones said the claim is politically motivated, noting his opponent in the last election was a supporter of Duterte. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> e also pointed out that there is no police record dragging his name in the narcotics trade. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Malones added that he also voted for Duterte in the May 9 elections, because he had stayed for 11 years in Davao City, where Duterte had served as a long-time mayor. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Aside from Malones and Calinog, several other incumbent and former officials of Iloilo province were included in Duterte's list of alleged drug protectors. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Among them were Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog and Carles Mayor Sigfredo Betita, who have both denied any involvement in the underground trade. </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: 16px;">Duterte has dubbed Iloilo as the most "shabulized" province in the country, given the extent of methamphetamine use there. -- </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">With reports from Joyce Ann Clavecillas, ABS-CBN News </span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/07/16/narco-mayor-admits-meeting-with-drug-lord">Source: ABSCBN</a></span></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <br /></div> <br /></div>

Drugs Du30 Government Local News 'Narco mayor' admits meeting with 'drug lord'

MANILA - A town mayor linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade admitted Sunday that he once met with an alleged dru...

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Coup plan vs Duterte? No such thing, says AFP

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXNtBAcAWV8vGq31kIrW-cJ8mC68gqN4rjH_BQDP69zwAmgWYC-jdqDATP6oiv-24lgOE8ZY3Y3Pfsyx5ILlDgIqF4dVTpSxPZ4G-Lfwy7Xj4xcupWqfakXr-zlymMtqP02nWGRp0OzXM/s1600/Screenshot_40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXNtBAcAWV8vGq31kIrW-cJ8mC68gqN4rjH_BQDP69zwAmgWYC-jdqDATP6oiv-24lgOE8ZY3Y3Pfsyx5ILlDgIqF4dVTpSxPZ4G-Lfwy7Xj4xcupWqfakXr-zlymMtqP02nWGRp0OzXM/s640/Screenshot_40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday denied rumors that it is planning a coup d’etat to remove President Duterte from office.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> In a text message to DZMM, AFP spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said these false rumors may have been "lifted out of context from the Presidents coup joke to our troops during his recent visit to military installations."</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Padilla said Duterte quipped about coup attempts to "lighten up the mood" of soldiers during his visit to military troops at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City on Tuesday.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Padilla also emphasized that soldiers take inspiration from the President and his frequent visits to military camps and wounded soldiers.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> "We are a professional armed force dedicated to live by and fulfill our constitutional mandate. That's our guarantee and commitment to God, country and our people," he added.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Duterte joked about coup attempts on Tuesday when he said that he expects to get in the way of some officials' personal interests while performing his duty.      </div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> "I promise you a clean government. It will be a clean government. Ganun na lang, marami akong masagasaan along the way. Sana naman huwag kayong magalit kung tama 'yung ginagawa natin," he said.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> "Eh baka mag-coup d'etat kayo because nawalan ako ng trabaho. Anong coup d'etat? Tawagan mo lang ako sa Malacañang, 'Hoy, Duterte, umalis ka diyan, mag-takeover kami.'"</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/02/16/what-duterte-told-hospitalized-soldiers" style="color: #eb1e23; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;"><strong>What Duterte told hospitalized soldiers</strong></a></div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> Among Duterte's promises to the AFP are additional hospital buildings for soldiers, improved release of their pensions and education stipend for their children.</div> <div style="font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; padding: 10px 0px;"> <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/04/16/coup-plan-vs-duterte-no-such-thing-says-afp">source: abscbn</a></div> <br /></div>

Drugs Du30 Duterte Government National Coup plan vs Duterte? No such thing, says AFP

MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday denied rumors that it is planning a coup d’etat to remove President Du...

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Four weeks in office: Duterte report card

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Manila: Nearly four weeks into his presidency, tough-talking Rodrigo Duterte has made clear the direction his administration intends to take and what could be expected from his administration.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Duterte completes his first month in office on July 31. Riding on his experience and reputation as the top executive of Davao City for more than two decades, the 72-year-old overwhelmingly bested the other candidates for the presidency including Vice-President Jejomar Binay and administration candidate Mar Roxas.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> But, after his election victory, it’s time for him to deliver on his promises.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Here are some of the promises he made and the action taken on those in the short time he has been in office.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">Law and order</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1ebfzQHRU7G8BWE5zUleWfV4TFTbCXjXVe2c6ldke4cTvXoL1fkK40EzIRSeMNgqBLqOZMT5ioDCd9xbz3fRaVikmFplZrnCZ27x7AV8IXFmhHkjJW6_Cc6QfYidGWc8hiUpUV2EW_rG/s1600/Screenshot_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1ebfzQHRU7G8BWE5zUleWfV4TFTbCXjXVe2c6ldke4cTvXoL1fkK40EzIRSeMNgqBLqOZMT5ioDCd9xbz3fRaVikmFplZrnCZ27x7AV8IXFmhHkjJW6_Cc6QfYidGWc8hiUpUV2EW_rG/s400/Screenshot_35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> In the run-up to the elections and until he formally assumed office on June 30, Duterte had warned of a massive government drive to root out drug addiction, which he described as “tearing the fabric of the Philippine society and destroying families”.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> In a short span of time, government efforts are already bearing fruit. Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said that from a high of 52,950 crime incidents in January 2016, the crime volume dipped 13 per cent through the first and second quarters of the years to 46,060 incidents recorded in June.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> From July 1, a total of 120,038 voluntarily yielded to authorities, among them, 112,902 drug users and, 7,107 pushers, according to official PNP records.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “This was the result of the Duterte effect” columnists and news reports said as it described the fear brought upon by Duterte’s crackdown on drugs.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> But while some may agree on Duterte’s anti drugs campaign, there are those who have mixed feelings about it.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “I do not agree to a nationwide killing rampage but I understand it is necessary in Mindanao where I grew up,” Lilibeth Sia, who is in her early 50s and who runs an event management firm in Metro Manila, said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> According to figures provided by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Philippine Centre for Investigative Journalim (PCIJ) said that so far, “at least 33 incidents related to the campaign that will be investigated on the commission’s own initiative,”</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> CHR Commissioner Leah Armamento says: “Actually, our investigators are now almost working 24/7. They cannot finish their reports quickly because there’s so much to do.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> As Duterte’s war on drugs unfolded, questions arose on whether the suspects had been given due process as bodies not just turn up on the streets at night, but are assassinated in broad daylight in front of people.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Lorela Sandoval, a businesswoman in La Union in northern Philippines said that while she agrees with the positive aspects of the so-called ‘Duterte Effect’ suspects still need to be proven guilty.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “What if they are innocent then that would be injustice to them isn’t it,” she said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> But for Hector Mercado, an air conditioning technician and a father of five who lives in the predominantly urban poor Gulayan district in Malabon City, he said he can only say positive about the current government’s drive against criminality.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “Now, I am not afraid to walk the streets at night and I can work longer hours. I am less fearful of somebody sneaking behind me in the dark and telling me to give up all my earnings for the day,” he told Gulf News, adding: “For me that is what matters the most.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">Internal conflict</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_gn8NxYvexoj0AalJ1vnygjYPwywfQ1BfwRyyfMktvnUYdxuVICZ6oJJwPp3TmuBoOwWUWMz7AgG96LM2vMsg6XTaI_pOGRpG0iyxwFcvtrrt23PmRBdnezxd4awUfz7hqHQDG5W8oW3/s1600/Screenshot_36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_gn8NxYvexoj0AalJ1vnygjYPwywfQ1BfwRyyfMktvnUYdxuVICZ6oJJwPp3TmuBoOwWUWMz7AgG96LM2vMsg6XTaI_pOGRpG0iyxwFcvtrrt23PmRBdnezxd4awUfz7hqHQDG5W8oW3/s400/Screenshot_36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> When Duterte was declared President in May, one of the first things that he would do was to announce a ceasefire with the communist umbrella group which had been fighting the government for 47 years, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New Peoples’ Army (NPA).</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> On Monday, he did just that. On his first State of the Nation Address, he declared a unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “No one wants peace more than the soldiers themselves who do the fighting,” an Army sergeant, who refuses to have his name published told Gulf News in an earlier interview inside Camp Capinpin in Rizal province, east of Manila.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “Declaring a ceasefire, although unilateral, is a positive gesture. Hopefully a ceasefire agreement will be signed so we can focus on other important concerns,” he said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> The peace process with communist rebels was initiated during the administration of president Fidel Ramos during the initial years of the 1990s. During the previous administration under Benigno Aquino, the talks hardly progressed as both sides had been wary of the peace negotiations being used for political propaganda. Under the Duterte administration, the leader made an unprecedented move of declaring a ceasefire without any condition in exchange.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Duterte also said during the Sona that he wants to put closure on the so-called ‘Bangsamoro Question,’ that has resulted in at least three decades of strife in Southern Philippines.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Reacting to the President’s statement Muslimin Sema chair of the MNLF council of 15 said: “There is a possibility that he (Duterte) would be the last president we are to negotiate with. We are inspired by his being positive on the peace process and for that we will reciprocate with honour and vigour.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Sema’s group is the largest among the four factions of the MNLF and was the only one that signed a unified declaration with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “It is easier to solve the Mindanao problem now while the moderate, older Moro leaders are still alive. The next generation of Moro leaders will surely be radical and dealing with them might be tediously difficult,” Sema said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Decades of insurgency and separatist strife had locked parts of the Philippines in a vicious cycle of conflict. In most cases, combatants who were born into the conflict has known no other life but that being engaged in fighting.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> During a speech he gave to soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division, based in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija on July 26, Duterte said: “I am a President that seeks peace with everyone. My job as president is not to look for conflict. My job is to make sure that there will be no conflict in the Philippines and that the military will be there ever ready to guard the integrity of the republic to protect the people.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> As for the Abu Sayyaf, he said that although he believes that the conflict is rooted on their desire for self-determination, the group – notorious for kidnap for ransom and beheading of captives – has to make a choice. “Are they willing to talk or fight it out,” he said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">Anti-corruption drive</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyjOdwiqwIPJq8DpBZsbAGEA-uvhV3IC33Q41BCbBYltI4idQp1ugaJ90Z-ZSGvg4dXEc4-Sz6xtEJSprex2B3VP5SA5x7jeVkpGKezRVNJap2IG_bpWRONLawfrfTaT4K2Q7WcSPF-Jz/s1600/2793067073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyjOdwiqwIPJq8DpBZsbAGEA-uvhV3IC33Q41BCbBYltI4idQp1ugaJ90Z-ZSGvg4dXEc4-Sz6xtEJSprex2B3VP5SA5x7jeVkpGKezRVNJap2IG_bpWRONLawfrfTaT4K2Q7WcSPF-Jz/s400/2793067073.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> With regards to this particular campaign promise of the President, this is possibly the one of the most crucial and difficult to gauge. With very little in the way of metrics to judge the achievements of the administration, government has no concrete means to determine whether a certain agency is corrupt until actual cases are filed in court and prospered against officials.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> One of the first items in the reform agenda of the government was to replace officials of the Bureau of Customs, but other corrupt agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue are relatively untouched.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “We really have yet to see something drastic and spectacular to say that government is serious in its reform agenda concerning certain government agencies,” said an anti-corruption advocate who requested anonymity.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> While Duterte boasts that there have been achievements in the faster processing of government documents, the practice of so-called public servants from asking for grease money remain prevalent and there are no indications that this would change.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> In most cases, corruption is an embedded thing at the grassroots level.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> As much as that in the grassroots, corruption also ails other branches of government including the judiciary.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> According to the 2016 Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Report, the Philippines ranks 7th among the 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> It said the Philippines had achieved gains during the Aquino administration in ridding corruption. This however, these gains could be reversed if there is no follow through to this momentum.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Nevertheless, Filipinos, such as Carmela Huelar, a journalist covering the transport and shipping sector is not losing hope.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “I am very positive that Duterte will make an impact with regards to the anti-corruption drive.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> I think he has the willpower to effect change and that is what is important,” she said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “He is not scared of anyone because he does not owe anybody a debt of gratitude,” she added.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">Human trafficking</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> With regards to this particular campaign promise of the President, this is possibly the one of the most crucial and difficult to gauge. With very little in the way of metrics to judge the achievements of the administration, government has no concrete means to determine whether a certain agency is corrupt until actual cases are filed in court and prospered against officials.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> One of the first items in the reform agenda of the government was to replace officials of the Bureau of Customs, but other corrupt agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue are relatively untouched.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “We really have yet to see something drastic and spectacular to say that government is serious in its reform agenda concerning certain government agencies,” said an anti-corruption advocate who requested anonymity.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> While Duterte boasts that there have been achievements in the faster processing of government documents, the practice of so-called public servants from asking for grease money remain prevalent and there are no indications that this would change.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> In most cases, corruption is an embedded thing at the grassroots level.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> As much as that in the grassroots, corruption also ails other branches of government including the judiciary.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> According to the 2016 Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Report, the Philippines ranks 7th among the 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> It said the Philippines had achieved gains during the Aquino administration in ridding corruption. This however, these gains could be reversed if there is no follow through to this momentum.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Nevertheless, Filipinos, such as Carmela Huelar, a journalist covering the transport and shipping sector is not losing hope.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “I am very positive that Duterte will make an impact with regards to the anti-corruption drive.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> I think he has the willpower to effect change and that is what is important,” she said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “He is not scared of anyone because he does not owe anybody a debt of gratitude,” she added.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;">Human trafficking</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUxArKs_w031aTo2vYIOuW2l-oI4UHyUnieUDFBZAZ8bTyJhoK_T3ZSioh07CGWtAKQSSrD49229VQf8bg3d8EG8OUY1FcO9MMEOTFiHfmzG8DP8bVA2vrfE1gBUONZm14GlrcXuwMoOK/s1600/721971029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUxArKs_w031aTo2vYIOuW2l-oI4UHyUnieUDFBZAZ8bTyJhoK_T3ZSioh07CGWtAKQSSrD49229VQf8bg3d8EG8OUY1FcO9MMEOTFiHfmzG8DP8bVA2vrfE1gBUONZm14GlrcXuwMoOK/s400/721971029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Also during the Sona, Duterte also declared a no-let up drive against human traffickers and making the processing of documents for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) easier.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> “I place this issue in parity in importance with the anti-drug campaign,” the President said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Policy Centre on labour migration said the overseas Filipino workers sector “is also happy to hear that he will be true to his campaign promise to create a separate department for our OFWs and a hi-tech one-stop shop to address their needs.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Sona given by past Presidents, such as Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino did not dwell much on the issues involving OFWs.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> Likewise, the President said he will work for lengthening the validity of passports from current five years to ten years. He also promised to end long qeueus for passport applications and release. He said his heart breaks every time he sees Filipinos wanting to go overseas having a difficult time in getting their travel documents. OFWs contribute a large part to the country’s economy and have played a role in saving the Philippine economy during difficult times.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> As Duterte himself had said, in the end, it is not as much as what the President says or do but what the people responds to the need to act.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <a href="http://gulfnews.com/news/asia/philippines/four-weeks-in-office-duterte-report-card-1.1869880">source:Gulfnews</a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 30px;"> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Du30 Duterte Government National Politics Four weeks in office: Duterte report card

Manila: Nearly four weeks into his presidency, tough-talking Rodrigo Duterte has made clear the direction his administration intends to ta...

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