Inside Philippine politics & beyond

US spied on Binay and Roxas last year, says French newspaper Le Monde

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By Raïssa Robles

Le MondePhilippine Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Interior and Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas were spied on last year by the United States National Security Agency (NSA), according to the prestigious French newspaper Le Monde. The spying lasted for a month but Le Monde did not say which month.

Le Monde said it contacted both Binay and Roxas for comment but neither responded to the newspaper’s questions. I’d like to thank “Observer”, one of the commenters on this site, for alerting me to Le Monde’s May 8, 2014 piece entitled Révélations sur les écoutes sous-marines de la NSA. The newspaper is among the publications doing an extensive coverage of the leaks from former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

The article states that the “addresses” of both officials appeared in an NSA list. It is not clear whether the addresses pertained to their e-mail IP (Internet Protocol) addresses or whether these pertained to mobile metadata.

Interestingly, the article describes Binay as a “cacique“. In French, it means a very important person. In Spanish, it means a local political boss. In the Philippines, it means a rich oppressive hacendero.

As for Roxas, Le Monde made this observation: “As a senator he distinguished himself by his militant attitude against the signing of government procurement contracts with Chinese partners, especially in telecommunications.”

Le Monde writers Jacques Follorou and Martin Untersinger wondered why the two politicians had been targeted for spying. Their piece pointed out: “Nothing in the careers of these two men, who have not responded to questions from Le Monde, seems to threaten Washington. On the contrary, they seem to defend institutions built on a model that is very close to that of their former colonizer.”

Le Monde was perhaps not aware that both Binay and Roxas share a common ambition – to become president in 2016.

It is understandable that the US, which was then negotiating a long-term agreement on troops and equipment, would be curious to know more about the two presidential contenders. But to go to the extent of secretly monitoring them is not what one expects from a treaty ally.

That is also what German Prime Minister Angela Merkel thought when she found out that she was being spied upon, on orders of the US President Barack Obama.

Besides, all along the US has told the world that such spying is in aid of America’s war against terrorism.

I would like to thank a French-speaking Filipino who kindly translated for me what Le Monde published about Binay and Roxas. Below is the French text followed by his translation:

Les adresses de deux personnalités philippines figurent sur la liste de la NSA. Jejomar Binay, vice-président philippin, et Manuel Roxas, ministre de l’intérieur, ne sont pas connus pour leurs positions anti-américaines. Elu en 2010, dans la foulée de l’élection de Benigno Aquino à la tête du pays, Jejomar Binay occupe une place notable dans le paysage politique. Ce cacique, longtemps maire de Makati, quartier d’affaires de Manille, est une figure de la sphère économique. Manuel Roxas a été sénateur avant d’occuper plusieurs postes ministériels, dont ceux des transports et des communications. Ex-banquier d’affaires, fils de sénateur et petit-fils d’un ex-président philippin, il s’est illustré, comme sénateur, par son militantisme contre la signature de contrats publics avec des partenaires chinois, notamment dans les télécommunications. Il a été battu par Jejomar Binay dans la course à l’investiture pour la vice-présidence, en 2010.

The addresses of two Philippine personalities appear on the NSA list. Jejomar Binay, Vice President of the Philippines and Manuel Roxas, Secretary of the Interior, are not well known for their anti-American positions. Elected in 2010 in the wake of the election of the Benigno Aquino as the head of the country, Jejomar Binay occupies an important place in the political landscape. This cacique who was for a long time Mayor of Makati, Manila’s business district, is a figure in the economic sphere. Manuel Roxas was a senator before occupying several posts as secretary including those of transportation and communication. He’s a former investment banker, the son of a senator and the grandson of a former Philippine president. As a senator he distinguished himself by his militant attitude against the signing of government procurement contracts with Chinese partners, especially in telecommunications. He was defeated by Jejomar Binay in the race for the Office of Vice-President in 2010.

Rien, dans le parcours des deux hommes, qui n’ont pas donné suite aux questions du Monde, ne semble menacer Washington. Ils paraissent, au contraire, défendre des institutions construites sur un modèle très proche de celui de leur ex-colonisateur. Les deux pays sont liés par un accord de défense conclu en 1951. Le déplacement, mi-avril, à Manille, du président américain, Barack Obama, a permis de reformuler cette alliance politique et militaire. La République des Philippines est un relais régional important pour les Etats-Unis, un allié non négligeable que Washington s’efforce de garder dans son giron face à la puissance chinoise.

Nothing in the careers of these two men, who have not responded to questions from Le Monde, seems to threaten Washington. On the contrary, they seem to defend institutions built on a model that is very close to that of their former colonizer. The two countries are bound by a defense agreement concluded in 1951. The trip in April to Manila of the American President Barack Obama is possible to reformulate this political and military alliance. The Republic of the Philippines is an important regional relay for the United States , a non-negligible ally that Washington is trying to keep in its sphere in the face of Chinese power.

Here is the link to the Le Monde article.

Last year, when Le Monde broke the news that the US NSA had been intercepting French phone traffic on “a massive scale”, the US Ambassador to Paris was summoned by the “shocked” French Prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, according to the British publication, The Guardian.

When Binay and Roxas dined with US President Barack Obama at the state dinner last month, it is reasonable to assume that they knew of the NSA intercepts of their most private phone calls or correspondences. Did they ask Obama about it?

Most probably not. but I’m curious to hear their side.

Plus, I would not mind if someone gave me the data that the NSA mined from their their “addresses.”

wonder

Related Story:

Spy inside Philippine telecom firm has been feeding United States our text and call records

Comments

  3. We the ‘PUBLIC’ all know that we are by right and on demand, entitled to know more than MERE DENIALS by the lawmakers and other public officials implicated in the LISTAHANS, both by BenHur Luy’s and others.

    Where is this concept found? Public office is a public trust. (Art. XI SEC. 1 ’87 Constitution)

    ‘Public trust’ in public office. Meaning: public concept and public judgment. Cleanliness and goodness explained to the public.

    But what the implicated public officials are doing now are issuing DENIALS in the concept properly belonging to the courts of law…JUDICIAL TRUST. SEC. 1 is not of that concept.

    DENIALS made now are not of judicial trust ideas but to the PUBLIC as worded in Section 1.

    Therefore, DENIALS must be supported likewise by PROOFS or evidence revealed to the PUBLIC at large. It is not complying with Section 1 by saying: “We need proofs. Evidence is absent.’ Etc.

    No. The public officials are duty bound to PROVE themselves the PROOFS of the public trust entrusted to them. It is the OTHER WAY AROUND.

    Instead of demanding for ‘judicial trust’ requiring court-like PROOFS or evidence, the concerned public officials must MUST prove the public trust THEMSELVES…such proofs which could later be used BY THEM in the courts of law if they desire or want.

    Section 1 further says: Public officers and employees MUST AT ALL TIMES, be accountable to the people xxx.

    ‘At all Times’…includes periods BEFORE EVEN BEING CHARGED for any wrong doing but has been implicated by allegations at that. ‘At all times’ means ANY TIME!

    Section 1 of Art. XI is the REVERSE of the concept: No person shall be denied the due process of law.’ This general INCLUSION CLAUSE including private individuals. But Section 1 of Art. XI is a PARTICULAR CLAUSE for public officials TO BE COMPLIED…for public trust.

    Thus, ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS must explain, prove and deliver THEIR PROOFS ahead of any formal criminal charges that may be filed against them.

    Without doing so to this OBLIGATION or duty, they are wrong. They are misleading the PUBLIC. They are NOT TRUE to their public office with public trust.

    Public trust means THE PUBLIC JUDGMENT or people’s variable opinions of them.

    In short, you…PUBLIC OFFICIALS…being servants of the people…are DUTY BOUND to reveal to the public YOUR ACTS, conducts and performances in connection with YOUR PUBLIC OFFICE.

    Do not chicken out on this. Duty, Honor and Country …more than that of a soldier.

    Present YOURSELVES accountable in complete form TO THE PUBLIC at large in compliance to Section 1 Art. XI of the Constitution.

    To escape from this DUTY, by merely DENYING everything, you are mis-barking at the wrong LAW. Do not be kicking the POOR dog or dogs. Stop the BLAME scheme of play.

    We, the public AWAITS this from all public officials, now and always hereafter.

    • Who are denying or not even denying:

      Tanda
      Pogi
      Sexy

      Koko
      P. Cayeteno
      Sec. Abad

      Dahon
      BigBoy
      Bonget

      Kahoy
      Bato
      Tin-ga

      Please add more who are only denying or not denying etc.

      • ‘ EVIDENCE, please – “Coloma said the administration agrees with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III in asking for evidence against those allegedly involved in the scam so the guilty could be brought before the bar of justice.

        President Aquino has repeatedly made known his stand to “let the evidence point to the direction of the inquiry,” Coloma said.”

        http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/06/01/1329614/dont-direct-outrage-over-pdaf-palace

        Before ‘asking for evidence, please’…contrary to public trust explanation given above which I believe is a wrong…WRONG…belief, the gov’t must require every public officials to comply Section 1 Art. XI…at all times to reveal proofs that each is clean and good to the public.

        Denials are getting boring. I am bored. Just don’t say “We respect your boredom.”

        Reveal and come out WITH PROOFS ahead of anything etc. at all times!

        • …even Sen. Trillanes is already “Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV expressed concern that the institution has become ineffective.”

          …now is the time to start ‘bleeding’ MESSRS. PUBLIC OFFICIALS!

          Denials are bleeding each institution. Pour more blood by YOUR OWN PROOFS ahead of anything.

          Prove the MISSING SAROs, if any; PRESENT YOUR OWN DOCUMENTS, if any; present documentary evidence, if any, etc.

          All these AHEAD of everybody else. Public trust on your public offices.

          “the public could sort out the truth from the lies.Sen. Escudero says.” No Sir. We demand you sort out the alleged lies ahead. [same link above]

          ‘Face-off’ says Sen. Cayetano. No Sir. You face it ‘on’ ahead now. Put away the ‘off.’

          Mayor Erap says for his loved ones ““I leave it to the court. They can defend themselves.” [same link above]

          No Sir. It is not about ‘judicial trust’…this is much later. Public trust Sir! [Estrada recalled that he was forced to leave Malacañang in 2001 amid allegations of corruption and a special court in the Sandiganbayan was created to try his case.]

          Yes, that was the public judgment in action…much ahead of the SC decision.

    • tama ka, leona. denials will just be denials. you can deny until you’re blue in the face, wala pa ring mangyayari. they should follow magsaysay’s (the original, not the female usurper ng surname) example: he was earlier implicated but he came out with all the documentary evidence to say otherwise. d ba natahimik agad? can’t make it stick eh, and he knew what he was talking about.

      • @filipino_mom, since you brought up “The Guy” Magsaysay, our dear 3rd president of this country, may I post some stories about him I find fascinating.

        Some of us might enjoy it in many ways:

        1.) When RM.s family left Malacañang a week after his death, all that was
        left of his paycheck was P650. When asked why so little was left of RM.s pay,
        Mrs. Magsaysay explained that this was the average (sometimes P1,000) that she
        received from the President.s monthly salary because all their family expenses
        were deducted from it from the very !rst day he assumed the presidency.

        2.) On March 15, two days before his tragic death one of RM.s cousins,
        newsman Vicente del Fierro, came to the President.s bedroom and asked him
        to donate a band for the district !esta of Project 4 (Quezon City). The President
        asked if it was necessary to donate a band. His cousin replied that Sen. Claro M.
        Recto who was eyeing the presidency that year had already donated one. The
        President laughed saying .Never mind. If the election was to be decided by a
        band, let Recto win.. Del Fierro left the bedroom without getting anything.

        The FAMOUS QUESTION:
        3.) The famous question .Can we defend this dealing in Plaza Miranda?.
        came from one of the major speeches of Magsaysay during the campaign for
        the presidency. RM said: .Whenever I have any doubt about (any) important
        matter affecting the nation that is brought to my attention, I ask the question:
        .Can we defend this deal in Plaza Miranda?. it showed RM.s concern about the
        accountability of ones. of!cial acts before the people who should be served with
        the highest integrity.

        [the PLAZA maybe now a PIZZA. Or relacated at EDSA]

        Time no Txt or iPad iPhone No PCs:
        4.) He wrote instructions to government of!cials on scratch paper and upon
        the back of the man next to him or on the hood of a parked vehicle. No formalities
        were observed as long as he acted on a request with dispatch.

        The Artesan Wells story:
        5) RM was always ready with his sense of humor. During a Gridiron Night
        sponsored by the members of the press where they roasted the President. RM
        was lampooned for building so many artesian wells but there was no water in
        them. The artesian wells were built to provide safe drinking water for the people.
        He told the crowd .I have promised the wells, but not the water.. There was water
        all right in his wells.

        The last:
        6) Even when he was Secretary of Defense he dismissed outright military personnel who were remiss in their duties. In one of his midnight inspection trips he personally
        surprised a sleepy sergeant guarding an ammunition dump in Central Luzon and
        outrightly dismissed the commanding of!cer. As President he !red people whom
        he perceived as corrupt. He never hesitated to punish the guilty public of!cial,
        no matter if he was a relative or a friend. He was also tough on his relatives and
        supporters did not want the people to think that their closeness to him would give
        them favors.

        One can go to all the stories in this LINK http://nhcp.gov.ph/stories-about-magsaysay/

        Thanks to the original sources on this De Jesus -up-to Zabala, Noynoy, Et. Al.

        • …So sooorrry! the format is messsy…I don’t mind if Moderator delete this…thanks.

  4. Nakapagtatakang wala ang mag-asawang Binay sa listahan…hindi kaya meron silang sariling NGO??

    • robin hood has sherwood forest all to himself, and he stole and stole and stole and still stealing. why work with napoles and give her a cut of the commissions and percentages when the binays can work on their own? independently. makati is their own turf, walang kacompetensya, and they milk it for all its worth. they pretended to be responsible for what makati has now become when it is the businessmen themselves who have worked hard to make makati a progressive business district, and yet, they rarely get a mention. it was always binay this and binay that.

      the binays have a good grip of makati and been so for years, they buy supplies worth millions for makati’s government and public buildings kaso lang, overpriced masyado yong supplies at paminsan walang supplies na dumating kahit liquidated na yong pera.

      and to stop people complaining, they were fed cakes leftover from bakeries, day old cakes na hindi nabili, they were also given flowers, could be the same flowers gracing government offices that instead of being thrown away for they have reached their use by date, they were revived and freshened and given away, the bills again charged to the city of makati, charging makati 2x in a row, the prices overpriced na naman.

      ay, rolly, the binays dont need napoles.

      • …both of you @ rolly … tama! NGO…= Never Give Ours!,

        …and @moonie….cakes and cakes! Plus free movies to seniors, free sickness for medications/hospitalizations atbpa!

        …with anti-dynasty law…no politicians can own a locality with excessive greediness! Dynasours one cause of unthinkable poverty and extensive corruption.

        Remove dynasties by passing the LAW against it! Otherwise, we’ll be feeding our bones already to these corruptors!

        • Now, I am curious – some FILES DELETED!

          Why? Who deleted the files? How, When, What,Where?

          BenHur Luy will explain the CD or Janet Napoles? Why create A FILE on the PDAF mess and DELETE the files without any remark or remarks for the deletions.

          We already have ‘a LECHON’ …now we have ‘a PAKSIW of the lechon’!

          Bona pa-IT!

        • I am not anticipating BenHur Luy will be the one this time making DENIALS! …

          …’I deny making any deletions on the CD’ !

          …’Do not look at me!’

          …’That is a lie I made deletions!’

          …”Why accuse only me?’

          …’I never met those deletions!’

          …’The deletions are incredible!’

          …’Unbelievable!’

          …’I’m bleeding on this!’

          …” ’tis a hard drive on my motorcycle with these deletions!”

          God help me! Nabuko!

        • …now read this!

          …”MANILA – Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa is allegedly included in the deleted files of pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. But Malacanang is standing by the so-called “little President.”

          Ochoa was evasive on Friday when the media kept asking him about his possible involvement In the multibillion-peso scam.

          He refused to comment on the deleted files of Luy, which included one named “200 M Sexy Ochoa.”

          Confirmed! If the request was ‘not granted’ …why DELETE this particular FILE?

          Or an explanation or remark for the deletion? None! And ‘No comment’ further… why?

          As I mentioned earlier…we have now a PAKSIW for the lechon…maybe!

        • See these pieces of very expensive JEWELRY of Janet Napoles –

          http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/363464/news/ex-aide-gives-glimpse-of-napoles-jewelry-collection

          …Now, Do Not Buy These!

          …any rich or super rich buyer cannot make a run of his/her money on this.

          …as that could be being An ACCESSORY after the fact…profiting of the effects of the crimes of PORK BARREL plunder.

          Now, the AIDE is singing and publishing the pics of these jewelry.

          Who are the 2 friends of Janet keeping these items? Better surrender the jewelry – the heat is so hot.

          Napolesific also on jewelry!

        • How many bank accounts and how much by Janet Napoles? Check the answer –

          http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/05/31/janet-scooped-up-37-bank-accounts/

          From the HD of BenHur Luy. Are banks obligated to ‘ask’ bank clients to support the huge amounts of deposits? Did Janet comply on this?

          If not, any liability on the banks?

          More ‘lists’ on these bank accounts of names etc., amounts and dates etc. Senate will collate all this with Janet’s Affidavit…extracting what is true and deleting what is false.

          Delete also the denials!

        • …speaking of ‘denials’ what is a ‘denial?’

          … a statement in the defendant’s answer to a complaint in a lawsuit that an allegation (claim of fact) is not true. If a defendant denies all allegations it is called a general denial. In answering the defendant is limited to admitting, denying, or denying on the basis he/she/it has no information to affirm or deny. The defendant may also state affirmative defenses.

          …other words: abjuration, abnegation, abridgment, challenge, confutation, contradiction, contrary assertion, contravention, deprivement, disaffirmation, disallowance, disavowal, disclaimer, disclamation, disentitlement, dissent, divestment, gainsaying, negation, negative answer, nonacceptance, nonconsent, objection, privation, prohibition, protest, protestation, rebuttal, recantation, refutation, rejection, relinquishment, renouncement, repudiatio, repudiation, retraction, revocation, spurning, swearing off.

          Foreign phrases:
          ” Per rerum naturam, factum negantis nulla probatio est.It is the nature of things that a person who denies a fact is not bound to give proof.”

          “Justitia non est neganda, non differenda. Justice is neither to be denied nor delayed. Qui non negat fatetur. He who does not deny, admits. ”

          “Posito uno oppositorum negatur alterum. One of two opposite positions being established, the other is denied. Semper praesumitur pro negante. A presumption is always in favor of the person who denies.”

          Now, this country is into the season of denials! One after the another, those included or mentioned in the LISTAHANS are fast tracking their denials.

          Like saying: ‘I was not at the scene of the crime.’ Or ‘It was impossible for me to have been at the scene of the crime.’

          If one was only about 1 Km from the scene of the crime, from 1 house to the house where the crime was done, easy to walk back and forth. Not impossible then.

          Documentary evidence – Documents as evidence consist of writing or any material containing letters, words, numbers, figures, symbols or other modes of written expression offered as proof of their contents.

          How does one deny documentary evidence in this Pork Barrel scam?

          Maybe by: 1.) saying – incredulity: A disbelief! I’m amazed! My distrust! A disbelief! It’s dubious! I have no faith in that! Many more.

          Or 2.) suspiciousness: bad faith; bad repute; doubt; suspicion.

          Denials in public, what is the effect or consequence?

          Some answers: Plausible deniability. In some organizations, legal doctrines such as command responsibility exist to hold major parties responsible for the actions of subordinates involved in heinous acts and nullify any legal protection that their denial of involvement would carry.

          Or, in politics, deniability refers to the ability of a “powerful player” or intelligence agency to “pass the buck” and avoid “blowback” by secretly arranging for an action to be taken on their behalf by a third party ostensibly unconnected with the major player.

          If an opponent lacks incontrovertible proof (evidence) of their allegation, one can “plausibly deny” the allegation even though it may be true.

          Blame shifting. Blaming others can lead to a “kick-the-dog effect” where individuals in a hierarchy blame their immediate subordinate, and this propagates down a hierarchy until the lowest rung (the “dog”). A 2009 experimental study has shown that blaming can be contagious even for uninvolved onlookers.

          Many are kicking the dogs! Blame is utilized as a social-control technique.

          But blame flowing downwards, from management to staff, or laterally between professionals, indicate organizational failure. In a blame culture, problem-solving is replaced by blame-avoidance.

          It emphasizes that blame coming from the top generates “fear, malaise, errors, accidents, and passive-aggressive responses from the bottom”, with those at the bottom feeling powerless and lacking emotional safety.

          I admit all of the above is taken from somewhere. Not mine.

          So, having finished the HIT LISTS, let us start counting the denials and the numbers of denials BY WHOM.

          Watch, look and listen to their DENIALS.

        • Like!

          Kinakain na’ng lahat puwera lang ang buto, pero malapit-lapit nang ngatngatin pati buto!