By Raïssa Robles
Personally, I have always wanted a Philippine president:
- who would place the welfare of the poor and the middle class in all his policy decisions;
- who would tell mining corporations to give much more to the Philippine government and to the host-communities, as well as crack down on practices that destroy the environment;
- who would be critical of American support and demand more for allowing Americans limited access to Philippine territory;
- who would seriously take steps to end the decades-long communist and Muslim insurgencies;
- who would encourage couples to space the births of their children, teach them various ways of family planning and leave them to make a choice;
- who would tell the Catholic Church it’s high time for the institution to clean up its act;
- and who would be tough on crime and criminals.
Here’s why I hesitate to say that President is Rodrigo Duterte.
First, he wants to amend the present form of government into a parliamentary-federal set up without imposing a ban on political dynasties. That would lead to warlordism in the country and entrench the present political families even more.
Second, as a journalist I have always been skeptical and critical of the promises made by presidential candidates in order to win.
I believe the first task of a journalist is to monitor how those promises are being fulfilled starting from DAY ONE.
Those older than I say it is traditional for journalists to give a new President a “honeymoon period” of 100 days, or roughly three months. I remember that in 2010 when ABS-CBN invited me to a panel discussion on the incoming presidency of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the anchor Tina Monzon Palma asked the question whether I would be giving Aquino a honeymoon period. (If I recall, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda was beside me.)
I replied then – and this is my reply now – that as far as I knew, I wasn’t married to President-elect Aquino and therefore the concept of a honeymoon period was not applicable to a journalist covering a new President.
I suppose, looking back, that sounded a bit impertinent. But Tina Monzon Palma asked me that question and I had to reply frankly.
Where on earth did I get such an attitude?
I would trace it to Business Day, the first newspaper I worked for.
I recall that on the night the Marcoses fled Malacañang Palace in 1986, the editor Ronnie Romero gathered all of us reporters and told us that now that President Corazon Aquino was in place, “iba na ito“.
He meant that we should be as tough covering her as we were covering Marcos.
It must have shocked Mrs. Aquino to find the same reporters, who had been gentle with her before she occupied Malacañang, become as tough as nails with her overnight.
The only way I can explain the change is this way: the relationship between a President and the media changes dramatically once that person steps into office.
Members of the media have to fulfill their constitutional role of being a “free press” in a democracy. Many times, many of us do fail in that role. But we try to fulfill the role given to us by Section 4 of Article III or the Bill of Rights. It states that “no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
Duterte and his people have loudly indicated that the new administration will move swiftly on at least three things:
- The “eradication”, later changed to “reduction” of crime especially those involving drugs and other heinous crimes in six months;
- The burial of the corpse of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery);
- The drastic amendment of the 1987 Constitution to change the form of government and even maybe most of it;
It is therefore the responsibility of media to write about these. Let me tackle them one by one:
The reduction of crime
The Duterte administration has to lay down from Day One how the public would know if crimes have been reduced. What are the benchmarks the public can use for this? Is it the number of dead bodies resulting from operations?
In other words, how do we measure success? Neither President Duterte nor his incoming police chief has explained this part. Nor have they explained how the current rules of procedure and engagement set by the Philippine National Police are changed by Duterte’s “take no prisoners” policy.
Do policemen have to obtain warrants of arrest from judges before carrying out such arrests and/or killings during arrest?
Or will Duterte’s directive be interpreted by the police as a blanket go-signal to arrest suspected drug pushers and dealers, search their homes and seize objects from them even without the issuance of something similar to the ASSO (Arrest, Search and Seizure Order) of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos during Martial Law?
Why is it important for the Duterte administration to clarify such things and to give very clear guidelines? Because such powers can be abused, as they were abused during Martial Law. Retired Colonel Eduardo Matillano told me last year that those using ASSOs during Martial Law were inserting names of their own choosing to the ever-growing list of suspects to be arrested. Senator Panfilo Lacson told me in a separate interview that ASSOs were being used for extortion by some Philippine Constabulary officers. These are chronicled in my recently published book, Marcos Martial Law: Never Again.
The illegal drug trade in the Philippines was described in 2009 as a US$8.4 billion sunrise industry. I wrote about this for South China Morning Post (HK). Here’s the link.
From these figures, we can surmise that those involved in illegal drugs must be stupendously wealthy from buying and selling. And yet, all the video footage of buy-bust operations of “suspected drug lords” show them to be living in such miserable houses or looking very poor.
There is not one video footage of a residence in Forbes Park, Bonifcio Global City or Alabang being raided by the police and its occupants being gunned down and lying bloodied on the floor. Although there is one drug dealer in the Visayas who was gunned down in his plush seaside home.
President Duterte has repeatedly said he is “angry” at criminals. He has even encouraged private citizens to commit DIY (Do-it-yourself) killings against suspected drug dealers or drug lords.
He said:
“If he fights, and he fights to the death, you can kill him.”
“Please feel free to call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun … you have my support.”
“Shoot him [the drug dealer] and I’ll give you a medal.”
For citizens who find their children taking drugs, would it be OK to bring a gun without a mission order outside one’s home, barge into the drug pusher’s residence and shoot him dead then and there? Duterte and his chief PNP have to clarify this.
What I find disturbing is that while he is speaks harshly against such criminals and those who commit street crimes, his government seems to be soft on suspected “white collar” criminals.
During a businessman’s forum last week his incoming Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez was well applauded when he told businessmen that the Duterte government would suspend “Letters of Authority” already issued by the previous tax chief Kim Henares.
This means, all investigations for suspected tax evasion will stop.
Contrast that to his being tough on street crime and illegal drugs.
Some of his supporters would probably say that the tax evasion list is tainted. I would say the same goes for the suspected drug lords and dealers’ list, which would come from sitting barangay captains (village chiefs) and police officials.
There is also a disconnect between his war on crime and corruption in government and his close friendship with former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. Both are defendants in an ongoing P200 billion civil forfeiture case filed by the government against the Marcos family members. The case had earlier been thrown out, but was ordered reinstated by Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in 2012. You can read Sereno’s ruling here.
Rem Ramirez explained the ruling in his blog.
Ramirez wrote:
“The Supreme Court has reinstated the children of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos and former first lady Imelda R. Marcos siblings – Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos-Manotoc, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., and Irene R. Marcos-Araneta – as defendants in the ill-gotten wealth case in connection with the Marcoses’ accumulation of at least P200 billion and use of the media networks IBC-13, BBC-2, and RPN-9 for the family’s personal benefit, among others, now pending before the Sandiganbayan. This even as it found wanting the conduct of the prosecution of the case by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).”
The Philippine Daily Inquirer also reported the story here.
Will President Duterte have the political will to tell Bongbong and Imee to drop all their efforts to block contested assets from going to the government? Or perhaps Duterte does not believe that Ferdinand Marcos stole from the government.
Marcos’ burial at Heroes’ Cemetery
I have written extensively on this matter.
The bottom line is that Imelda Marcos promised President Fidel V. Ramos that in exchange for allowing the body to return to the country, Marcos would be buried promptly in Ilocos.
Here below are the links to all my stories on burying Marcos as a hero. Duterte supporters can counter-check what I wrote since one of my primary sources is Rafael Alunan, whose candidacy for senator was personally endorsed by Duterte.
Marcoses broke promise to bury FM’s body at once in Ilocos – Fidel Ramos
Fidel Ramos phoned me to shed light on his role in Ferdinand Marcos’ non-burial
Part 2: PH gov’t bestowed Marcos’ body military honors in 1993 – Rafael Alunan
Part 3: Ferdinand Marcos’ magic tomb
VP Jojo Binay told PNoy – Marcos burial issue is a “partisan conflict” needing win-win solution
Noynoy Aquino rejected a hero’s burial for Marcos during his pres’l campaign
Part 1 – Eminent Filipino war historian slams Marcos burial as a “hero”
Part 2 – Marcos’ Medal of Valor ‘highly suspicious’, says Filipino war historian
Marcos’ proof for his war medals was a book on goldfish and plants
Why Marcos may be our next President
Bongbong Marcos replies to me: The Presidency? “Thanks, but no thanks.”
I will make a separate post on Duterte’s plan to amend the 1987 Constitution.
I will wait for him to take office before writing more about his fight against illegal drugs.
Lee Yu says
History repeats itself…. “Power corrupts; Absolute power corrupts absolutely” . ” It is never right to say: ” The end justifies the means”… especially if self-centered people or those who think they are infallible, take out one’s life or lives as if they are God, himself… I see a darkening horizon ahead and I shiver in fear for my kids… Sana mali ako…
Tikasan6 says
I think bongbong should not be responsible to his fathers deed. I think its wrong to crucify the son for his fathers actions… I think bongbong would be a good president one day because he will be there with a chip on his shoulder to be a great leader… otherwise why would he be in pokitics after their ezile
raissa says
Hello.
Bongbong wants to INHERIT the wealth stolen by his father from the Filipino people.
And he never paid any taxes when he was the vice-governor and governor of Ilocos Norte.
A number of extra-judicial killings also took place in Ilocos Norte when he was the governor there. He admitted that to me during a Rotary Club meeting just before the May elections.
Tikasan6 says
I take back what i said… he should pay taxes….
Eva Caro-Munsayac says
why would he be in politics after their exile?
to protect their wealth at magpayaman pang lalo!!!
vander says
“I think bongbong should not be responsible to his fathers deed.”
bbm inherited his father’s greed.
bbm will be a great safekeeper.
he is in politics to preserve the loot.
Eva Caro-Munsayac says
when during the inaugural speech of President Duterte, he introduced his guests, saying Pres. Ramos,Pres. J.Estrada and BBM..something run slowly into my spine..kinilabutan ako..i know this feeling of mine..masamang pangitain..especially when i closely look at Duterte’s facial expressions all through out his speech.Sana this time mali itong naramdaman ko…But my instinct never fails me.
Eva Caro-Munsayac says
sorry not BBM.
Totong says
Grabe ang balita 300 drug pusher sumuko sa pulisya bandang hapon pinalaya na at nagsiuwian na. Walanghiya ang galeng…akala ko ba sabi ni Duterte patay lahat ito o kaya ay kulong? FRAUD iyan…Aba eh lahat ng sumuko ay naka tsinelas, mga naka tri-cycle siguro yung iba naglakad para makarating sa istasyon ng pulisya. Gago at tanga ang maniniwala sa mga pautot na ito. eto ang isa napatay nanlaban daw at nang agaw ng armas. KALOKOHAN NA NAMAN… scam pa rin. Billion billion ang pera ng illegal drugs tapos nang aagaw ng baril… Pweh Gunggong lang ang maniniwala sa style na ito. Sa Mexico ang balita ay big time Escobar mga naka helicopter ang mga dealer na napapatay. si Duterte ay sinungaling bakit ko nasabi ito… dahil si Duterte pag naghamon ang ihaharap ay yung Attorney nya. at isa pa galit- na galit sa 3 heneral daw pero wala namang ginagawa. Puro daldal at kayabangan lang. Para maniwala ako. andyan sabi nya ang mga Drug dealer sa bilibid at nag ooperate pa rin bakit di pa nya ipatira pwede naman ding sabihin na lumaban’ di na nga sila maghihirap maghanap. di ba sabi nya nag ooperate pa rin ang mga druglords na ito kahit nakakulong. bakit ayaw pang tepokin…Ibig sabihin pautot lang ang mga iyon…. Pustahan tayo Kay Duterte puro amba at pampaganda sa tunog sa tenga.ang sinasabi pero wala yang mapapatay na big time. ang napapatay sa ngayon ay yung magtuturo sa mga Dealer ng Drugs, mga mag iisqueal at yung mga sumusuko mga naghahanapbuhay yan mga walang alam, mga addict.mamya magtutulak na naman iyan… 6 months daw malilinis Pweh di TOTOO YAN!!!
Tikasan6 says
You obviously dont know anything about duterte… wait july 1 manghuhula ka pala
Totong says
Wag na sa July1 baka mapahiya ka hintayin natin ang 6 month. isa pa lahat ng sinabi ko ay nangyari na at sana nga makapatay at makahuli sila /s’ya ng Druglords para hindi masabing bola lang iyong sinasabi nya noong eleksyon. Swerte ka Tikasan6 kilala at marami kang alam tungkol kay Duterte taga Davao ka siguro ako taga Laguna at lahat ng alam ko nagmula sa bibig nya at saka ang daming video nya sa youtube na napanood ko. sana nga gawin nya yung pangako n’ya Pero yung suko-suko, huli-huli ng mga sisiw para yang moro-moro.
moonie says
duterte is great procrastinator and will wait for tomorrow what he can do today. already, hindi siya sumipot sa inauguration niya, hindi rin nagpakita sa independence day celebration, duterte is fast becoming invisible man. by july 1st, duterte’s bad habits will be set in concrete. his good habits are rare as hen’s teeth.
curfew sa kabataan, pero hindi kaya ni duterte na mag-impose ng curfew sa buong mindanao upang masugpo ang midnight activities ng mga kidnappers at mga mamumugot ng ulo.
Tikasan6 says
He is just a mayor of Davao City….. its just a small part of mindanao he has jurisdiction….
moonie says
by 1st of july, I expect duterte to put all of Mindanao on curfew with all night time activities restricted except medical emergencies, fire and those on night patrol like police. curfew imposed on places and haunts of abu sayyaf, specially sulu and jolu.
leona says
Totong. . . baka matagal ka na ‘di umuutot! Paki tanong kay Duzt paano umuutot. . .
. . . Umutot ang 16 milyones TOTONG! Tama ka pautot nga.
ha ha ha
Totong says
Leona, ang salitang pautot salitang kalye sa Southern Tagalog, pag may nagkukuwento at masyadong mayabang na may kasamang pambobola. sasabihin ng mga kausap di totoo iyan tigilan mo na ang mga pautot mo. medyo hindi magandang pakinggan pero hindi gaanong masakit sa tenga.kalokohan ng mga barkada.iyong nagpapautot di naman sumasama ang loob pag nasabihan..Sport lang. Pero si Duterte mas grabe ang mga salita, sana noong election lamang iyon, ngayon Presidente na siya baka sakaling magbago. Bihira sa matatanda ang sport parang walang pag-asa na magbago ang tulad nya dahil hindi sya nanalo sa bicol ay balewala sa kanya ang vice president bakit ganoon? Anong asal yun? Nasaan ang sportsmanship? Parang di sya happy sa tagumpay. Pakisagot ang mga tanong ko sino man dyan
leona says
Ako muna may tanong: Sabi MO – ‘Bihira sa matatanda ang sport parang walang pag-asa na magbago . . .
Sa SAMPU na matanda ilan ang hindi SPORT pag sinabihan mo ‘Lola! Kwento mo pautot!’
Bakit matanda hindi SPORT at Bata ay SPORT? May sagot ka kaya nito?
Anong mangyayari sa MATANDA na hindi SPORT? Ma pi-pikon ba? Anong kausa kaya?
Alam ko salitang kalye yun ‘pautot’. Sa aming probinsya tawag namin ay ‘Utot mo!’
May pag kaiba ba yun sa Southern Tagalog probinsya?
Paki sagot mo kasi ikaw nandyan.
he he he
moonie says
maawan naman kayo kay duterte, mukhang buntis na nga, pinapautot pa, he, he, he.
iba yata ang bisyo ni duterte, gusto smelly v-g-na, manimhot. sa bagay, malapit yan sa daanan ng utot.
kalahari says
nice one @moonie. napa-utot ko sa katatawa kauban igit hi hi hi
Totong says
Leona sa Pulitika ang ibig kong sabihin at saka yung pautot at sportsmanship magkaiba ng gamit.Sa pulitika magkakalaban pagtapos ng election nagkakamayan, at yung nanalo dapat bumuo ng pagkakaisa para sa bayan. Si Duterte ay wala noon di naman mga corrupt si Roxas si Leni Robredo at isa pa mas mahalaga sa kanya ang mga Marcos nagmula iyan sa kanyang bibig at marami pang iba. tungkol naman sa mga lolo at lola hindi ko naman nakasalamuha sila at di sila ang aking tinutukoy, sa aking karanasan at opinion ko na rin ang matanda na baliktad ang utak hindi na magbabago dahil wala na silang time para magbago tatahimik nalang sila pag di na nakakilos. lumalawak ang ating pag-uusap tungkol dito at baka humaba pa ng husto… stop na ako Leona suko na ako sa iyo hehehe
vander says
@totong,
tama ka sa definition mo ng ‘pautot’,
back to dutz, hindi nya talaga intensyong manalo.
kaya nga napaiyak siya sa puntod ng ina.
naging trivial tuloy sa akin ang sinagot ni Dolphy noong siya ay inaakit na tumakbo sa isang mataas na posisyon..
ang sagot niya: “paano kung manalo ako?”
Reyemy Manuel says
Totong,,tama lahat ang mga sinabi mo.👍
Amy says
Kung d ka nniniwala mayaman ka cguro kc kung alam mo ang sitwasyon noon ang illegal drugs sa mga slam areas ay almost legal n d n tinatago as in tinidinda n sa bilao as in pumunta lang ang mga pulis para mang hulidap or mangotong yan ang totoo ngaun lhat ng pusher umalis n sa lugar nmin at natatakot n. Kc wla kang alam…
Summer S. says
tong,
sana tiga Davao ka. since di ka tiga Davao, there’s no sense of telling you how we enjoy our lives in Davao under the leadership of digong.
bong r cura says
It’s not Dictator-Wannabe Duterte’s (DWD) campaign against crime. It’s all about how he pursues his drive. It’s all about how DWD assumes the roles of policeman, prosecutor, judge and executioner. It’s all about how DWD takes over the role of God by the act of deciding who should live and who should die. It’s all about how DWD shamelessly calls people who criticize him as “idiots”. Finally it’s is all about how DWD the demagogue drives decent people into a blood lust and finally into a killing frenzy.
Everyday the people are bombarded by a daily dose of “papatayin…” from DWD and his subalterns. One day soon, we, the people will be so used to killings as a way of life and we will learn to accept it matter-of-factly. But it is the children who in the end will be the victims of this culture of death that DWD preaches.
DWD’s victims immediately are the poor people. They are the ones more prone to crime because of poverty. Unfortunately DWD has left it to his economic managers to address poverty. These are the same economic managers who proved to be failures in the past administrations. Poverty is the main problem. Address this problem and you address criminaliy at its roots.
moonie says
the poor, papatayin, and now, duterte is going to starve them. babawiin ang cct. that’s enough reason to commit crime, again.
sabi, the poor should be given jobs and livelihood and not be dependent on welfare. pero, karanasan, yong trabaho’t livelihood ay napupunta sa mga kakilala ng politicos, the good jobs are given to kamag-anak ng mga politicos. very few jobs are left for the poor at pag-aagawan pa yan, pag-aawayan at paminsan, pagpapatayan.
let the poor have their cct. it’s not money down the drain, dahil cct helps keep local businesses afloat. the poor used the money to buy local products and support local economy, the money is spent and stays in the community. not like rich people that go shopping overseas and spend money there, depriving our local community of money.
Johnny Lin says
Disney Ride coming to the Philippines
Latest News!
“Duterte and incoming DOTC secretary plan to install cable cars as mode of transport to ease traffic in Metromanila”
Each Cable car capacity depends on how humans are packed, like sardines, it could fill up to hundred people one car. Stops to fill up and unload each cable car needs regular intervals. Stopping points determine the frequency of stops. The more stations, the frequent the stops. Many cable cars are needed to transport thousands in an hour along EDSA. Currently MRT and LRT trains transport thousand with few running trains. Despite small number of trains, Frequency of broken trains during transport is common occurrence.
Check this mathematical probability, few trains frequent break downs, frequent delays. Applying this problem to many cable cars probably 10x needed more than current trains in service- what are the chances that more broken trips will occur? This probability has a better chance to happen in one day than winning the Jueteng in one year.
Add the effect of frequent heavy rains, strong winds, rusting steel cables due to frequent heavy water damage common among steel structures in the Philippines. How will these factors affect daily travel?
According to rumor, the idea of this kind of transport was in the mind of Duterte and Tugade when they visited Disneyland together many fun decades ago. They imagined this transport idea from their Disney rides.
According to Duterte cable cars complement his fight on crime. Holdup pets preying on commuters in jeepneys and buses are deterred because the cable cars are enclosed up in the air, hi hi hi.
Soothing rumor is that the music “It’s a small world” will be played constantly on cable rides.
New Disneyland just opened in Shanghai, so, why not in the Philippines at the same time solve the traffic problem in Metro?
He he he!
netty says
Such lofty plans, wishes to ideas. I wonder how he and his geriatric men can do all the works. It’s much easier for them to talk than to implement grand designs to hold the attention of the wishful followers.Cable-cars? They are taking you all for a ride, yes for a ride, figuratively speaking. Disneyland is a fantasy land. It ‘s all fantasy, how can you believed these are going to materialized, look up and see the hanging traffic lights, street signs and the politicians and celebrities billboards hanging somewhere overhead secured very unsafe, when the wind blows they just drop off to to anywhere,whatever they strike. Ah yes, good things to come, jaws# ko po INDAY.
I do believe he so much admired the Chinese leadership to copy in mind what he finds fascinating stuff in that country. Hey, whatever ails the country can’t be cured by same prescription from another sick country. His mind is like a child, kung ano lang ang maisipan. Then, verbally planning about it, no feasible and modern technical studies if things would work work in a country like the PH.
Yes, killing could work , because it is the culture, a culture run by private armies and settling of grudges by direct bullet, never mind responsibility and judicial accountability. The judicial system and judges are decades not saintly either.
Look, even the” pambansang kamao” is replacing the national ballgame heroes and even gained a seat in the Senate..
Another note,,how can one esp. the journalists give a honeymoon period to Duterte when he is not even communicating properly with them? If honeymoon is the giving of a comfort zone or a break for bonding of sweethearts together, then this president is doing it the wrong way. He already laid out his fantastic plans even before, that’s why he hooked the millions of disgruntled voters holding on for a quick fix . It is just about fair to explain and carry out eventually even on the first day since he was the one who promised a visible change in 6 months time. Big Baloney
Giving him a break this soon would impede his timeline. Aside from that, he already kicked out the bride and the bridal entourage away from his cozy bed so no more tenderness and pleasure:) no honey, no money, hahhah
Would all his promises in 3-6 months be sweet or sweet and sour?
I am thinking of his welcoming platform of unlimited foreign access to the country’s resources and granting of owning properties and businesses to the disadvantage of the local public and private owners might be alarming.Those business men who were joyous of his plans are those that would be benefited more and their wealth doubled and I could just imagine more difficulties economically for the regular paycheck employees and the poor as he goes along.
Hear what’s happening in Vancouver, Canada due to indiscriminate buying and selling of properties, real state and corporations, abandoned duet to bankruptcy and those who just sells for high dollar incomes. Those scenic views , beautiful green hilltops and mountain views are gone now, replaced by tall ghoulish infrastructures, affordably expensive, crowded and is now affecting even the middle-class renters and real estate buyers as well for the going crazy prices of housing and offices either converted to offices for rent , condos or apartments eventually spilling over to food and basic consumption. The standard of living became so high that the locals are having difficulties to cope not like before.
They buy properties left and right in cash and they abandon them including their kids and families to go back and work in their country while renting out the newly constructed properties.
The local residents are just watching helplessly these developments because they can’t do nothing, the govt leaders are allowing these things to happen.
I am imagining I would see the country exactly in the lyrics and words in the song Asin, if you aren’t watching.
Asin
Hindi nga masama ang pag-unlad
At malayu-layo na rin ang ating narating
Ngunit masdan mo ang tubig sa dagat
Dati’y kulay asul, ngayo’y naging itim.
Ang mga batang ngayon lang isinilang
May hangin pa kayang matitikman
May mga puno pa kaya silang aakyatin
May mga ilog pa kayang lalanguyan.
REFRAIN 3
Bakit ‘di natin pag-isipan
Ang nangyayari sa ating kapaligiran
Hindi nga masama ang pag-unlad
Kung hindi nakakasira ng kalikasan.
Darating ang panahon, mga ibong gala
Ay wala nang madadapuan
Masdan mo ang mga punong dati ay kay tatag
Ngayon’y namamatay dahil sa ating kalokohan.
If the words strike your nerves, blow your horn when the time comes, enuff is enuff!
For the clowns, you belong to the Disneyland!
netty says
Mostly, Chinese businessmen are the culprits.
dodie says
haha made my day….natawa talaga ako….great idea cable car, from the man of steel. Welcome to Disney Philippines!
Kabayan says
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
yvonne says
VERY DISTURBING !
There are uncanny similarities in the way Duterte and Marcos camps use or exploit the mainstream and social media to respond to certain issues as if their actions are orchestrated by the unseen hands of a master puppeteer. Consider these:
– The elections are over, the votes are counted, and the winners are proclaimed, yet there are conscious efforts to portray Duterte and Marcos in the most positive way, and portray the Aquinos (Cory and Pnoy) in the most negative way, as if the elections are still on-going.
– There are obvious efforts in the Duterte camp to marginalize the position of Vice-president and to snub Leni Robredo. On the Marcos camp there are continuing efforts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the elections of Leni as Vice-president, and to portray Bongbong Marcos as having been cheated of the Vice-presidency.
– There is an orchestrated move on both the Duterte and Marcos camps to have the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Part of a concerted effort to sanitize and rehabilitate the Marcos image.
– There seems to be coordinated efforts at conditioning the minds of the Filipino people that the deprivation of their basic human rights is a small price to pay to fight crime and criminality.
– There seems to be coordinated efforts at conditioning the minds of the Filipino people that martial law, or a one-man rule, and extra-judicial killings are fair exchange for perceived peace, order, and stability. Looks like the history of Marcos martial law repeating itself.
– The Duterte camp has been floating the idea of Charter change and possible abolition of Congress in the pretext of getting things done. Looks like the favorite smokescreen of a dictator.
– An army of social media posters ready to punch and gang-up on any article or news that are considered critical to Marcos and Duterte, complete with their own retort of misinformation or disinformation. (One Marcos supporter I talked to confessed to having their immediate family members being required to join in the social media fray in support of Marcos and in demolishing his perceived opponents.)
– Raissa’s blog site is getting under assault whenever an article critical of either Marcos or Duterte is posted. Curiously, it happens only with Marcos and Duterte – did not happen if the posts were critical of Poe, Binay, Roxas, or other political personalities.
Disturbing indeed.
Rae_E says
The signs are very disturbing indeed. I’m from Davao but I can’t in good conscience tolerate what’s he’s been doing/saying since winning the election. Foremost is the special treatment he’s extending to the Marcoses – FM’s planned burial at LNB & blatantly ignoring VP Leni so as not to hurt BBM’s feelings. It seems to me that Plan B was actually intended by Duterte for his friend – Marcos. But ever since Leni started to lead in surveys, BBM’s camp did some twisting & mind conditioning to undermine Leni’s probable win by accusing Leni’s party of “Plan B”. Now that Leni won & spoiled their plans, they’ve re-calibrated as shown by Duterte’s not acknowledging VP Leni’s win – by not giving her a post, by not allowing her to join the inauguration & by refusing to see her. On BBM’s part, he’s promised to file an election protest. With Duterte expected to appoint 12 SC Justices during his term, anything very sinister can happen. No wonder BBM boasted he’s gonna take the seat that’s “being kept warm for him” (in the same manner he gloated to Cayetano that he’s Duterte’s chosen one).
kalahari says
Du30 is ill-advised in not giving a post to Leni as it may give her ample time to pray that she be given a chance to govern the country soon.
“I feel the presence of a higher power. I believe that what you give is what you get. It’s universal law. I believe in the power of prayer and of words. I’ve learned that when you predict that negative things will happen, they do” (Alicia Keys)
Kabayan says
That Leni Robredo was ignored during the inaguration and shall be further alienated by the Duterte Administration in the years to come is a blessing. She will have more focus on the marginalized (laylayan) sector of the society. Her physical presence will bring her at arm’s length of the poor. And knowing the Filipino penchant for the underdogs (api), Leni Robredo’s political mileage will be at its peak come next national elections. The stage is set for the next president.
Tikasan6 says
YOU KNOW WHAT IS DISTURBING? THAT OUR SOCIETY IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT IN THE WORLD… ISNT THE NATIONAL PRISON A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR EVERY DESCENT FILIPINO… LAHAT NA LANG PERA PERA WALANG DIGNIDAD NA NATIRA SA GOBYERNO…. ITS BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE THE MARTIAL LAW ENDED AND THE PROMISES OF FREEDOM MADE OF THE ANTI MARCOS AT THAT TIME IS VERY DISTURBING. WHEN BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO HOST MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, NOW WE ARE RANK WORST IN A LOT OF CATEGORIES….. PEOPLE HAD ENOUGH
raissa says
sus.
Tikasan6 says
It is true. The activists 30 years ago are now poloticians…. THEY NOT ONLY WANT THE POWER FROM MARCOS, THEY HAVE NOT DELIVERED REALLY ON THE PROMISE…. WE STILL HAVE REBELS DUH
raissa says
Yeah, like Pimentel.
Tikasan6 says
Raissa you will like duterte as a president before his term is over…. BUT IT WILL BE BLOODY
raissa says
so why should I like his term?
Tikasan6 says
Dont ypu think its too early to hate Duterte as president…. YOU WOULD LIKE HIM AS A PRESIDENT BEFORE HIS TERM ENDS…. I HOPE YOU WILL ADMIT WHEN THAT DAY COMES
raissa says
I don’t hate him.
I’m just skeptical.
Tikasan6 says
Its your job i guess raissa. He often says that to the media in davao being unopposed the past few elections that “you guys are responsible for keeping the politicians in check”…
Kabayan says
@tikasan6. Read the books, study history. If there is one legacy Marcos did leave the Filipinos, its is AN ERA CORRUPTION to the highest level. And that era still lingers. The corruption of the military and the rest did not stop when FM was ousted. You do not rid of the system of these garbage by kicking its author. After all, the people behind FM was still around. Take a look at his cabinet before and you will find out who they are/were now and who their influences and under study now. You will be amazed, promise! bwahahahaha
Ms Babes says
The same observation here!!! All you have said are true!!! Election is over, and supposedly, campaigning should stop! But this is not happening! Rather, the campaigns continue!!! They must really have a program why they are doing this!!! It is really scary!!!
moonie says
there is push for federalism, campaign for federalism, the for and against are hard at work, undermining each other.
more representation for Mindanao is needed kuno, but if we will only have people like pacman na bihirang pumasok sa trabaho, at president na hanggay ala una ng hapon ang tulog at panay absent sa mga inagurasyon, Mindanao if well and truly pucked.
Tikasan6 says
Federalism gives more power to local government or regions. Lgu keeps 70% of taxes and revenues and contributes 30% to federal/national government…. WHY WOULD NATIONAL GOVERNMENT COLLECT 100% ANG LGU WAIT FOR THEIR 19% to be sent back to them….
UNITARY GOVERNMEMT WAS STARTED BY THE SPANIARDS. INSTEAD OF SENDING TO THE KING OF SPAIN THE STOLEN RESOURCES, NOW THE PRESIDENT SENATOR AND CONGRESS and national goveremt ARE PUTTING IT IN THEIR POCKETS
Tikasan6 says
THE UNITARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT FAILED OUR COUNTRY……. REGIONS SHOULD KEEP 70% OF TAXES AND REVENUES AND ONLY CONTRIBUTE 30% to NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FOR DEFENCE, CENTRAL BANK, AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS……. TOO MUCH POWER FOR PRESIDENT… PALAKASAN AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE VERY SLOW NOW….
Kabayan says
Meaning..there is someone watching us and it is not GOD. Beware! All your fears (and ours) are well founded.
TatayDinong says
If you have the opportunity, please ask Pres. Duterte this: Does he think Bongbong Marcos would be an effective Commissioner of the PCGG? Will he be willing to appoint BBM as Commissioner of the PCGG? Why or why not? I surely would want to hear his answer to this question.
raissa says
I’ll keep that in mind.
Johnny Lin says
Comment goes on moderation everytime
dannyG says
Pwede po ba, wait muna tayo na maka-upo ang Duterte Administration at magtrabaho officially, bago tayo manghusga ? Tama, pag Duterte na ang lider ng bansa, inaasahan natin na ang mga ipinangako niya ay maisakatuparan. Tulad ng :
1. Pagsawata sa paglubha ng problema sa illigal na droga sa bansa.
Hintay tayo simula July 1 kung isa-isang magbabagsakan ang mga big-time drug lords at pushers.
2. Na magiging standard na sa boung bansa ang pagpapatupad ng “curfew” sa mga minors, ban na sa
selling ng mga liquors at wine after 12:00 mdnight, bawal na ang malakas na pagpapatugtog ng
Karaoke machine after 10 pm.
3. Re-imposition ng Death penalty hindi lamang bilang deterrent kundi bilang retribution o kabayaran
sa isinagawang karumal-dumal na krimen.
4. Pagsupil sa talamak na graft & corruption sa pamahalaan at parusahan ang mga magnanakaw sa
kaban ng bayan.
5. Pagsasa-ayos ng sistema ng transportasyon na lubhang pinabayaan sa mahabang panahon at
pinagkitaan ng malaki ng mga namahala dito.
6. Pagmomonitor at pagsasa-ayos sa mga existing at paglilimita at restriktong paggagawad ng mga
bagong mining concessions para sa “responsible” na pagmimina.
7. Ang pagsisimula ng bagong usaping pang-kapayapahan sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at mga
CPP/NDF, sa mga MILF/MNLF.
8. At marami pang usapin tulad ng DSWD, Agrarian Reform, Education, Taxes, Contractualization at
higit sa lahat ang isyu ng Federalism.
Bigyan muna natin ng espasyo at benefit of the doubt si incoming-President Duterte. After all, siya ang inahalal ng malaking bilang ng botante sa bansa bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas. Kung siya ay magtatagumpay na mapaasenso ang bayan, tayong lahat din ang makikinabang. Ang hinihintay lang ng bayan ay isang bansang matiwasay at mapayapa na makakapamuhay. Ang ekonomiya ay iikot tumgo sa pag-unlad. Hindi na matatakot ang mamamayan sa pagpunta sa malalayong lugar. Ang mga mamamayan ay hindi na matatakot na baka siya ay maholdap at makidnap. Lalakas ang takbo ng negosyo. Napakalawak ng ating mga shoreline, kabundukan at kagubatan na hinog na para mapaunlad para sa turismo, para sa ekonomiya.
At kung sakali man na biguhin tayo ni Digong sa kanyang mga ipinangako, nariyan ang tunay na lakas ng mamamayan upang siya ay labanan at igupo, sa tama at kagya’t na panahon . At hindi naman tayong parang tanga na tutunganga lamang kung mali at saliwa na ang kanyang pinagagawa.
Johnny Lin says
@Danny
Wala yata yung gusto niyang paglibing kay Marcos sa mga inulat mo
Mukhang hindi ka sangayon din dun dahil di mo binanggit hi hi hi.
Ibig sabihin may kabiguhan ka na sa desisyun niya, dapat kahit papano may kaunti ka ng dismaya sa pagkatao niya.
Sabi ni Du30 3-6 months supil ang drugs at crime.
Dapat 3 months marami ng bunga pangako niya.
Ilan buwan palugit ang ibigay mo kay Duterte bago mo siya husgahin?
Kapag lampas ng 3 months ibigay mo, D30tard ka rin nun!
He he he
Mark says
Ang paglibing kay Marcos ay hindi ganun kalaking isyu para pag tuunan nang pansin, maraming priority kaysa jan. Patay na yan, anu pa? Ibaling nalng ang attention sa mga buhay.
Bakit mo pa tinatanong kung kelan husgahan? dba nakasabi naman na 3-6months? hindi pa nga nakaupo eh, excited much?
Johnny Lin says
@ Mark- naintindihan mu ba ang sinulat mo. Yung mga statements mo kinontra mo Mismo, parang kagaguhan ang dating hi hi hi.
First paragraph:
Yung paglibing kay Marcos bakit gawin isyu…..patay na yun. —–Patay na nga at nakapirming tahimik na sa Ilokos, Bakit Ginawang isyu ni Duterte na controversial sa mga Pilipino, pareho ng controversial isyu ng solution nya sa Krimen. Binanggit ang krimen ni @Danny sa comment, dapat banggitin din ni @Danny ang patay
Second paragraph:
Bakit mo pa tinatanong kung kelan husgahan dba nakasabi naman 3-6 months. ——-Si Du30 nagsabi nun. Meron bang sinabi si @DannyG tungkol sa 3-6 months? Basahin mo ulit comment nya! Ang sinabi niya hintayin muna makaupo at mag trabaho bago husgahan Si Du30. Eh ang trabaho ni Du30 aabot ng 6 YEARS. natural itanong kay Danny kung kailan nya husgahan!
Sino excited ngayun, defender ng wakong idolo o ang idolo?
He he he
Mark says
lol. ikaw ang nag iinsist na banggitin ni dannyG ang gusto ni Duterte na ipalibing si Marcos sa Libingan, at ang sabi ko kilangan ba talaga banggitan yan ni dannyG? Mahahanay mo ba yan sa mga isyu na binanggit nya tulad nang crimes, drugs, insurgency, environment concerns, etc? Kelangan ba talaga panggitin ni dannyG lahat lahat nang sinabi ni Duterte? Baka sabihin mo din na hindi binanggit ni dannyG na papatayin ni Duterte si De Lima?
Ikaw ang nag sabi nang 3-6 months, haha, tapus sabi mo ulit kelan pa daw husgahan si Duterte kapag lampas na nang 3 months? Eh dapat lang after 3 months kasi yun ang sabi ni Duterte at yun din ang sabi mo.
Sabi mo “ang sinabi niya hintayin muna makaupo at mag trabaho bago husgahan Si Du30. Eh ang trabaho ni Du30 aabot ng 6 YEARS. natural itanong kay Danny kung kailan nya husgahan.” Bakit mo pa itatanong kay dannyG kung kelan husgahan? Dba sinabi nya na “hintayin muna makaupo at makapagtrabaho?” Para kang sirang plaka, lol.
Masama pa mag defend sa tingin mo naman ay tama?
kalahari says
Relative to No. 4 – i sincerely hope it is retroactive to include the marcoses
moonie says
uhm, bakante yata ang position ng 1st lady, I think, imelda is prob’ly eyeing it. last hurrah niya before she goes swimming nude in the river styx. woe is she: her son failed to make it, her wax is not likely to get a pass in libingan, her daughter imee failed to get higher govt job offer despite personally visiting duterte in davao, so, in essence, imelda might as well ipagtanngol ang honor ng mga marcoses and become 1st lady once more. be famous once more, party once more.
Mark says
acquitted na yata si Imelda. meron pa bang mga kaso ang mga marcoses na pending? at ang P400+ milyon na award para sa mga human rights victim asan na? na release na yun sa Pilipinas 2 years ago, ang tanong asan na?
raissa says
marami pa. It’s in chapter 7 of my book – how Imelda Marcos evaded jail with the help of the Ramos government.
Mark says
Where is the 400+M awarded to the victims?
raissa says
frankly, I don’t know what you are talking about.
are you drunk?
Mark says
Ay mali, 400M+ USD pala ung award, 200M+ USD released na sa Pilipinas, mga 10B+ pag converted sa Peso. Reparation award to pra sa Human Rights victims. Asan na ngayun tong 10B+?
raissa says
I dont know. I think the Human Rights Compensation Board is still verifying each victim’s claims.
Mark says
Unsolicited advise: Its better to include in your book how much and wheres the recovered wealth.
Tikasan6 says
Maybe you can wait after three months before being negative….. OR IS THE AQUINO ADMIN SET YOUR STANDARDS SO HIGH? HEHEHEHE
Kabayan says
Sus JL willing akong magantay ng 6 months kasi yun yung pangako nya time frame. Dutertard na ba ako? Isa pa, hindi naman ako nagpopost ng oneliner na mura at insulto without posting my reasons sa facebook. Meaning, hindi pa rin ako swak sa descrip[tion ng Dutertards. hahahaha.
Robust says
Sa huli ang katotohanan ang mananaig.katotohanan na tayong mga pinoy ay mapagamahal sa kalayaan at demokrasya.