Exclusive
By Raïssa Robles
Transport Secretary Art Tugade has vehemently denied going to China in June this year, as departing US Ambassador Philip Goldberg alleged, in order to pave the way for the signing of billions of dollars worth of investments in China.
Tugade, now in Japan with President Rodrigo Duterte, sent the following text to Rappler and to Nic Gabunada:
I was curious to find out if Goldberg had indeed made a serious mistake when he told ANC:
“I actually wasn’t all that surprised [about the huge deals sealed in China]. I do know that the Chinese Ambassador and others in the Chinese business community were visiting [then] President-elect Duterte quite often in the month of June,” Goldberg said.
“I also know, and I don’t think this has been revealed publicly, but I know, that Senator Cayetano, President Duterte’s running mate, made an unpublicized trip to China in June along with Secretary Tugade. All of this actually were in train, I think. There were already discussions going on.”
“I don’t think Senator Cayetano’s role was fully known publicly but he was actually starting this process way back June.”
Cayetano has since acknowledged that he did go to China, but not with Tugade.
But Tugade has denied it.
Could the US Embassy with its vast resources have committed such a terrible faux pas?
So I googled it.
At first, nothing came out. But after a time, reports from two well-known pro-Duterte sites came out. Both trendtitan.com and philnews.ph reported exactly the same quote from Duterte:
“Art Tugade has to go to China, not to talk about war, not to talk about irritations there, but to talk about peace.”
You can read the entire report by clicking here.
A foreign news website – msn.com – carried the same news:
In the same event, Duterte said incoming Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade will head to China to discuss the railway projects.
“Art Tugade has to go to China not to talk about war, not to talk about relations there, but to talk about peace and how they can help us,” he said.
Duterte also said China has pledged to support the Manila-Bicol and Manila-Batangas railways.
“They have not asked for anything because at that time I was not comfortable to discuss,” he said.
You can read the entire report by clicking here.
ABS-CBN had also tweeted on Twitter:
The website of local radio station bomboradyo also posted the same on its website:
Tugade biyaheng China para sa PH railways
By Bombo Reymund Tinaza
Posted in Top Stories Wednesday, 22 June 2016 07:37
Nakatakdang ipapadala umano ni incoming President Rodrigo Duterte si presumptive Transportation Sec. Art Tugade sa China sa lalong madaling panahon.
Sinabi ni Duterte na biyaheng China si Tugade para hindi makipag-away o pag-usapan ang West Philippine Sea kundi para pag-usapan ang kapayapaan at pangakong railways system ng China sa Pilipinas.
Ayon kay Duterte, kabilang sa pangako ng Chinese ambassador sa kanya ay pagtatayo ng railways mula Manila papuntang Clark at Tutuban papuntang Bicol region.
Malaya naman daw ang mga kaharap na negosyante na sumali sa bidding pero kung hindi kayang tapatan ang nasabing offer, ibibigay nito ang kontrata sa China.
You can read the entire report by clicking here.
So did tribune.net.ph –
DU30’s transport chief bound for China for pledged railway project
Written by Tribune Wires Thursday, 23 June 2016
By Joyce Ann L. RocamoraIncoming Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Secretary Arthur “Art” Tugade is bound for China to discuss agreements on the railway project that has been promised by China to the next President Rodrigo Duterte.
This stated agreement between China and the Philippines apparently had already been promised by China, but which neither Duterte nor Tugade, nor even the presidential spokesman nor the Presidential Communications Office chief, Martin Andanar, bared to the media which appears to belie the Duterte claim of a transparent government.
As of now no detailed information on this reported project is available but the railway projects are reported to be built within routes of Manila-Bicol and Manila-Batangas.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through a text message said they can’t confirm anything yet, saying they “are not privy to the meeting with the Chinese Ambassador so (they) can’t comment on it.”
In a business forum in Davao Tuesday, Duterte also said that China has not yet stated its demands, “they have not asked for anything because at that time I was not comfortable to discuss the issue,” he said.
You can read the entire report by clicking here.
Mayor Duterte, please disclose what you told Chinese officials about the South China Sea →
So, did Tugade actually go to China?
Perhaps Tugade’s China trip did not push through in June, as Duterte had announced.
Perhaps it pushed through a bit later.
To my mind, the news reports from the month of June actually have some interesting implications.
This means, Duterte was already entertaining China’s overtures even before the decision of the Arbitral Court on the South China Sea dispute had come out. The Court decision came out on July 12.
In June, Duterte had already been proclaimed the winner of the presidency but had not yet been sworn into office.
Even at that time, Duterte was keenly aware that he had to navigate a dangerous path. If the Philippines won the arbitration suit, China might vent its anger on Manila. If the Philippines lost, China might pounce on more Philippine-owned features in the West Philippine Sea.
But why is Tugade denying the trip to China? Why not just say he went later, but not in June? Or he sent someone else.
And THAT needs further explanation, why suddenly, the Duterte government is so defensive about this.
Rolly says
Smells fish.
DAVAO CITY—Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to Beijing, his son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte traveled to Shanghai to explore partnerships with and investments from businessmen from the Chinese city.
Duterte along with five city councilors and local officials met with Shanghai Vice Mayor Chen Yin and Chinese business groups especially those who import banana from the Philippines.
Mabuti na lang pinayagan akong makapagtanim kahit kamatis ng kapitbahay sa sarili naming lupa na sinakop mismo niya.
More at:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/148282/paolo-duterte-seeks-partnerships-investments-in-shanghai
Rolly says
Mabuti na lang pinayagan akong makapagtanim kahit kamatis ng kapitbahay sa sarili naming lupa na sinakop mismo niya.
The quote above, hindi kasama sa balita. Sorry guys………..
wbar says
Pakopya Rolly…ma i-share sa FB…
kalakala says
did you know that GMA news online has just introduced the #HindiTama project
To start, we’ve published these articles to begin the series:
1. Hindi Tama: Former President Ramos tests positive for drugs, dies in hospital
2. Hindi Tama: Video shows how to make a wireless smartphone charger at home
3. Hindi Tama: Photo purports to show relief operations for Typhoon Lawin
4. Hindi Tama: Graphic compares Supertyphoon Lawin with Supertyphoon Yolanda
Users can also help the project by submitting fake news or memes by messaging us on Facebook and Twitter. —JST, GMA News
kalakala says
published article no. 3 #HINDITAMA
Viral photo purports to show relief operations for Typhoon Lawin
caught my attention dito sa babaeng naka red dress parang ulo ng baby iyong nakalabas sa sako na nasa kamay ng nanay at fetus position ang baby.
please post how you describe the lady in red. thank you
moonie says
hindi tama: seen in abs-cbnnews online, photo of fishing boats that look like leisure paraws for tourists to rent, may caption na fishermen came back from fishing in shoal with tons of fishes kuno. pero, pic was of boys swimming in shallow water, no pic of the supposedly tons of fishes caught. maybe, the fishes were invisible.
Jamaica says
Digong should know that the devil also can talk, what if it’s Satan who’s talking to him? It makes sense, the voice never spoke about the EJK, the extra marital affairs, sleeping with godless communist chinese, etc. He questioned the existence of God, but quick to believe that it was God’s voice he heard?? Either Agot is right that he is indeed a psycho, or Lucifer found a new ambassador in Digong, or and this is my bet, it was Ferdie talking to him, after all, his family was his main contributor in the election, they are associated in this life and the next.
netty says
God or the Divine doesn’t have to talk to him about the plane, so his schizophrenic side has been actively on the front side lately.
To save trouble, God can take him right out smiling peacefully on his sleep.
The devil wears barong and a denim… ready to go.
On the other hand, is he inciting people for rebellion? T o make Pinoys get tired of his drama and revolt for him to proclaim instability , then MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS START TO FIGHT?
Be wary of the deceitful s.
netty says
I am curious on the nature of their conversation, lol
Let us imagine the scenario:
God: – Stop with the f#*%!ng cursing and shut the f#*% up already, you @*%#-sucker piece of $#!*, otherwise I’ll take this f#*%!ng plane down and kill the living $#!* out of you*^ (c/P)
D030: P.. INA , naman GOD, 30,000 more on the Narcolist, May artista pa. pUSLA, PUSILA. Let me do it.
Jamaica says
Serial killers said they heard voices before they go for their kill, so as cult leaders before leading their flocks to death, Psycho dudes hear voices at all times, all of them combine, pales in comparison to a President who pick unprovoked fights with world leaders while pretending to be the change that will bring pinoys in the promise land. We can’t change Digong, pinoys must collectively change and do what Philippines needs, remove Digong now. Let Digong hear the voices inside his malicious, ignorant, self-centered, sex-fantasy filled mnd of him, but let the real voice of the freedom, God fearing and Country loving people be heard across the globe, tama na, sobra na, palitan na.
Maxima says
Howling. Very funny.
lydia says
Off topic. FRIGHTENING
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/27/16/duterte-on-drug-related-deaths-expect-20000-or-30000-more
beachbum says
Duterte now has a hotline to God!
Predictable. Drug addicts are normal in comparison, and a lot less dangerous.
Duterte wants to cut out the church as the ‘middle man’ and will soon regard himself as the saviour of the world, and for people to no longer listen to the church, since duterte is all knowing.
Maybe he should start by confessing his sins, taking a vow of silence, and going into the desert for 40 years!
He is a 3rd rate, 3rd world plonker.
Hearing voices suggests the need for a long holiday – complete with padded room, serviced by people in white coats.
aberato says
hahaha..senility setting in this poor man…..pathetic.
Sup says
So finally he did meet the father of Quiboloy.
:-)
Maxima says
Not surprising at all. Too much hanging out with Quiboloy.
when you talk to God = prayer
when God talks to you = schizophrenia
kalakala says
naluko na. sa habang panahon na kinakausap nya ang kanyang mga daliri ayon sinagot na sya…mukhang malapit na magiging totoo if not totoo na talaga ang sinabi ni agot.
Maxima says
You are a riot. Very funny.
Sup says
Now it is Rappler…who’s next? Raissa?
It;s about being pro Aquino and anti Duterte? I was thinking that a lot of Duterte hardcore fans during electiion time were on Rappler.
http://www.manilatimes.net/media-firm-rappler-scorns-constitution-getting-foreign-money/293543/
Marmee Cruz says
Bobi Tiglao is trying mighty hard to be relevant again. Poor sob, I knew him well when he was, well, a more balanced, sober and sincere guy.
Days long past. Wattalife!
moonie says
palagay ko’y si tiglao (writer of linked article) has always been sourpuss. pano kasi, nabuking ang banned chinese firm supposed to be doing feasibility study as part of digong’s pinagmalaking 24billion soft loan kuno. kaya, may buwelta.
di sinabi ni tiglao na baka mga ofws o fil-ams ang siyang owner ng said foreign money invested in rappler.
Arlene says
Our dear leader’s incoherent foreign policy confuses even the New York Times.
“There are, however, signs that Mr. Duterte really has no clear idea of what he wants. His recent pronouncements about the United States have been threatening one moment, conciliatory the next. Last week, for instance, he announced his intended “separation” from Washington while currying favor with Chinese leaders. Once back in his hometown, Davao, he softened, insisting he did not want to cut economic and military ties with America.”
“Last month, he asserted that he would seek “open alliances” with China and Russia, implying some kind of security arrangement. He later explained he was talking only about economic cooperation. Adding to the confusion, Filipino officials have followed up Mr. Duterte’s aggressive statements about the United States with reassurances that while there may be some adjustments in the relationship, the bilateral alliance remains intact.”
“It is not unusual for national leaders to want to set their own paths; Mr. Duterte’s views reflect resentments among some Filipinos that America has not always treated their country with respect. Still, his approach is counterproductive. He may believe that by criticizing the United States he will inspire China to invest more heavily in his country’s struggling economy. But that posture generates deep concern in Washington and among Asian leaders who believe close ties with the United States are necessary to deter China from exerting hegemony over the South China Sea and its disputed islands, fishing beds and deposits of oil and gas.”
“Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan is among those leaders. He reportedly warned Mr. Duterte that whatever his disagreements with the United States, China is no substitute ally. He’s right: The only Philippine security treaty is with the United States, the two militaries are deeply entwined and millions of Filipino-Americans live in the United States.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/28/opinion/president-dutertes-confusing-behavior.html?_r=0
Luzviminda Balagtas says
FVR was not going to China because it has been decided that Tugade will set everything up with the Chinese. He was shut out with all these deals happening that’s why initially he was supposed to go then he wasn’t. After several months he writes a big criticism of DU30 admin. FVR didn’t get any % unlike MRT3, Fort Bonifacio , Amari ,that’s why he is sour graping…
rOSARIO says
well, i’ll be!
not one cuss word! not even his favorite PI!
he said anyway that he had promised God that he will stop cussing and saying bad words.
and he did, for this arrival anyway. clap, clap, clap.
will see how long he can he keep it up, the promise to God, i mean.
1.85B$ from Japan!
moonie says
digong also promised that 20, 000 – 30, 000 more will be killed on his fight against drugs.
moonie says
plenty more dead bodies on the streets, soon there will be plenty more dead bodies unclaimed sa funeral homes, ending with funeral homes refusing to accept ejk related dead bodies.
let the kapolisan and digong deal with plenty more ejk dead bodies. pollute our seas with dead bodies! digong style.
vandr says
inuusig na ng konsensya.
iyan ang nababasa ko.
hidi ang pagpapakita ng dios sa kanya.
bakit, siya ba si kibolol?
rOSARIO says
digong back!
yada yada yada!
him comparing to a dog on leash, a very short leash, who is hungry that cannot reach the bread, in his case the drug users/pushers to be killed, by the US and UN against EJK. that it will need trillions of pesos to rehabilatate the 3Million who are hooked/pushing on drugs. that aid and help will be stopped. he said that he cannot do it alone, cannot make it alone. then he said to us, un, ihr, to come to the phil and help him do this or give him advise how to do it. hindi ko kaya, kailangan ko ng tulong, punta kayo dito (ihr international) human rights tulungan niyo ako or kayo ang gumawa kung ano dapat, or bigyan nyo ako advise.
moonie says
sorry po, digong has long been advised but did not like the advise given and that is – stop the killings of drug suspects! the advice of observe the rule of law! ayaw rin niyang pakinggan, gusto short cut at pinatay kaagad yong suspects. gusto state of lawlessness.
I dont think, it’s advice digong needs, but a pat on the back ,also blind approval of the nation and the world that what he is doing is unquestionably – correct. that it’s okay to kill people who are of no use to him, the drug users, and drug addicts mostly. the corrupts, he likes them, he’ll even have one buried in libingang ng mga bayani.
ayaw rin ni digong makinig sa advice to legalize illegal drugs. once illegal drugs are made legal, it’s likely they’ll lose appeal, and people no longer need to patago-tago to buy shabu. the price of shabu can be standardize, not overpriced and without the bulk of the money going to drug lords. drug lords would then have to pay tax, the proceeds can be used to rehab drug addicts.
for a poor country like ours, the trillions of pesos used to rehab addicts is not money well spent. drugs is not the problem, poverty is. digong should use the trillion of pesos to create decent jobs, decent housing for the poor, education for all, health for all, etc.
concentrating trillion of pesos in rehab is not sound economy to me. 3million addicts lang ang makikinabang while the rest of the 100 million or so of the population are wanting, needing food, education, and roof over their heads. they might as well become drugs addicts, lest they got fed in rehab centers, free accommodation, free electricity, and with company of fellow addicts, they wont be lonely and may even get educated on the drug trade bilang alterntive hanapbuhay, pwedeng napagkikitaan.
but, if digong really needs advise, he ought to specify what sort of advice is needed. hwag blanket statement. and if he needs advice on how to boot yasay out, but dont know how to proceed, I say, send yasay a head of a dead horse!, he, he, he, and digong can tell aquirre his wig sucks big time. there is no shame in being less of hair. look at bruce willis, still guapo kahit kalbo. wig cannot make aquirre any smarter. instead of listening to what aquirre is saying, people are looking at his wig and how patiently it sits on head head. how often is the wig washed? does he used bottle evian water?
moonie says
uhm, digong cannot make it alone? why not? didn’t he said he is son of god?
rOSARIO says
Ewan ko sa impakto na yon. Sobrang yabang kaya.
Samantalang kung pakakaisipin at kung totoong wala siyang kinakatakutan, pakialam nya ba sa kung anong marieinig nya. Pero halatado namang sya mismo takot ring mamatay. Ayon o sinabi na rin nya ng pinagsabigan sya ng Diyos na pababagsakin ang eroplanong kanyang sinasakyan kung hindi nya tutigilam ang pagmumura. Sana sinabihan din sya ng Diyos na tigil tigilan na rin nya ang pag uutos at pagsasalita ng patayin ko kayo or sila (pobreng user/pusher).
Pagdating naman sa mga mangungurakot daw ‘i will be harsh”.
Ano yong harsh? Anong parusa ibibigay nya sa mga mangungurakot ng kaban ng bayan? Ang ilibing sa lnmb? Or ang palayain nya sa pagkakakulong.
How can you trust someone saying diferrently to what they are doing? Up to now, meron na bang nagsubmit ng SALN sa mga kabinete nya at sinabmit na rin ba nya SALN nya? Hindi pa nga nya pinapakita ang account nya sa BPI Vargas na kinukwestyon ni Sen Trillanes.
Utot nila! Kaya kaagad agad emergency powers ng traffic daw para mabilisang proseso kuno ng procurements, then mababasa mo mga dispalinghadong kumpanya ng tsina ang mga kausap. Bugok! Pinagloloko lang nila mga tao. At PINAGTATAKOT lang nila, patayan dito patayan doon. Banta dito, banta doon!
Mel says
PNoy was still the President of the Republic on their travel dates.
Did Senator Cayetano and Art Tugade commit an unlawful act? Was that treasonous?
Seems the plenary vocal senator is silent since it came to light. No tweets, no privilege speeches.
It may not have been disclosed then, what’s happening is revealing.
Mayor Duterte, please disclose what you told Chinese officials about the South China Sea
https://www.raissarobles.com/2016/05/08/mayor-duterte-please-disclose-what-you-told-chinese-officials-about-the-south-china-sea/
Robin says
The Big bluff or A Sock puppet? – or both?
The perceived need for denial of previous visits to China is in fact very interesting. What is there to deny or hide?
No intergovernmental agreements are ever made up on the spot or during a delegation visit and certainly not in the amount of 24B$. Such visits serve mainly as media events for public announcement, some further discussions and networking. Contracts and agreements are always negotiated and prepared well in advance, and it takes especially long in China due to the many hierarchy levels and translation issues. Even signing a simple MOU on research with a Chinese University takes several weeks if not months of preparation and refinement.
What comes to mind is that Duterte has been hesitant for a long time to run for office, claiming that the position would be out of scope for him (one of his best judgements so far) but finally (very late) got convinced somehow and managed to arrange a formidable campaign budget within a very short period of time.
Also, the position towards US and the west underwent a radical change comparing the statements made before and after the election. Announcements during the campaign were, aside from the legendary “Jet-ski” promise, that Duterte suggests to lease half of Palawan (the side facing WPS/SCS) to US so they would directly front with China and be able to protect Philippine interests. This is even documented in DDS campaign websites until today.
“If I am the one to decide, I will cut Palawan lengthwise into two. The inner half will remain with us. The outer half I will lease to the United States,”
https://duterte2016.blogspot.com/2015/04/if-i-become-president-duterte-tells.html
Shortly after the election an increasingly hostile attitude was stepped up towards US and EU, western companies and even regular citizens.
There are two scenarios that seem plausible:
“The big bluff” – In this scenario a concerted strategy would have been enacted to win the election with popular statements concerning the national sovereignty while at the same time having a hidden agenda to realize exactly the opposite once in power. That is not only plain deception of voters but it would also require a considerable talent in acting and stagecraft.
Would Duterte be able to hold on to a script relatively consistently which is not in line with his actual “believe” or has this believe been manipulated and transformed by something or someone?
That leads to the “Sock puppet” scenario. In this second scenario Duterte would have been identified as the ideal front man who can entertain the masses and at the same time be easily manipulated. He was lured into running for office and then gradually manipulated by tapping on his personal obsessions and utilizing his personality issues without him even fully realizing what he is actually doing/causing.
What both scenarios have in common is the need for a mastermind and/or a (hidden) steering committee.
beachbum says
I agree with the ‘sock puppet’ theory.
Duterte exhibits a split personality – reading from scripts on key strategic issues which elicits no emotion or enthusiasm from him, to the point of being bored, and also displaying no subject knowledge, but then immediately fired up when he goes off script and onto his obsessive personal interests, which are not worthy of the total time of a president and his daily rants, and which in the scheme of things are operational detail.
His comment about being bored as a congressman is revealing since it shows that helping the country is not his main interest, because it meant work, and with insufficient scope to inflate his ego so he ran back to davao where the little man could try and act tough.
He is a country bumpkin with delusions of grandeur. Period.
An intellectual pygmy, and certainly not worldy wise, but somebody is, and are happy to indulge duterte and his ego as a ‘stalking horse’. He serves a bigger purpose for others, who know that his time is limited. He is step 1.
I dread to think what step 2 entails.
Robin says
To shed some light on this mystery it might be worth investigating a bit deeper into what exactly was the trigger point for Duterte to change his mind and decide to run. What and who has convinced him would certainly help anticipating step 2, plus of course where did the money come from, apparently not all was officially declared in his SOCE.
Mel says
Perfecto Yasay Jr. – Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippines Ambassador to the United Nations Teodoro Locsin Jr. were bypassed by the CA.
caliphman says
Yasay’s appointment is unconstitutional and should not be confirmed by the CA. He is a US greencard holder, if not a US citizen, works as a partner in a law firm and a professor in Hawaii.
Ancient Mariner says
So, now the VACC has filed charges against Senator de Lima. There is definitely more to this than meets the eye. Assuming Sen. de Lima is inmocent one has to ask the obvious question, “Who are those who are guilty?”
Who is masterinding this elaborate cover up? Why is the wigged one so hell bent on finding de Lima guilty to the point that his obsession is blatantly obvious.
If she does go to trial will it be more of the same? Pro Duterte judges, pull in the phoney witnesses, accept what they say – guilty as charged.
The drugs will continue to flow, the drug kings will flourish and the truth will never be known.
IF IT WAS NOT DE LIMA – WHO WAS IT?????
moonie says
could it be that the wigged one is utterly envious of de lima’s abundance of natural hair? hala bira, holds no barred is the wigged one until she who is blessed with abundance of good natural hair on her precious head is bereft of hair. loses her hair due to sobrang pangunsume, stressed at pressured.
not gonna happen though. she who is blessed with abundance of natural hair on her head is made to strong stuff, endowed with good genes too. all hair! de lima.
moonie says
de lima has the genes, righteous and humanitarian, digong can only wear jeans, aquirre can only wear wig, cayetano can only tell lies, tugade as well. and the highest of them all is he who is aka mister 75 per cent.
drill down says
if it wasnt delima, why she herself didnt try to find out?
BonaV says
Guys take note of Tugade’s reply to Rappler. Ang lutong ng “gago” niya. Nahawa na rin sa amo niya. Iyan na ang new normal sa PI courtesy of our dear leader. He that should not be named brings out the worse in us Filipinos.