Duterte ally steps up criticisms on federalism
MANILA: A close ally of President Rodrigo 'Rody' Duterte who also heads his economic team, stepped up his criticisms on the proposed controversial shift to a federal form of government, w.....»»
Duterte: Alvarez can have multiple wives if he wishes
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez can have multiple wives if he wishes, President Duterte said in defending his ally from criticisms for allegedly having extramarital relations. Duterte: Alvarez can have multiple wives if he wishes House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez can have multiple wives if he wishes, President Duterte said in defending his ally from criticisms for… link: Duterte: Alvarez can have multiple wives if he wishes.....»»
Goodbye BBL, Hello Federalism
COTABATO CITY – For the third time around, majority Christian lawmakers in the House of Representatives are expected to reject the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL being pushed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014. Instead of BBL, lawmakers are now pushing for a federal form of government and President Rodrigo Duterte is also strongly advocating the shift to federalism, an advocacy he made even before when he was the mayor of Davao City. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque also said Duterte’s priority now is to change the form of current government and this can only be achieved through amendments in the Constitution which lawmakers are currently working on. There was also a proposal to hold a plebiscite next year in time for the mid-term elections for Filipinos to decide whether to accept or reject federalism. But there are also many lawmakers who wanted to cling to power and extend their term of office until 2022 when voters would have to choose their leaders in national elections. BBL Duterte has previously backed the BBL and expressed optimism that the draft law will pass the scrutiny of Congress that previously opposed it – during Arroyo and Aquino’s presidency. But Duterte himself has been campaigning for BBL and federalism even before he won the presidency in 2016. And his political allies in Congress are supporting the proposed shift from the current presidential system to federalism, and not the BBL. The MILF, whose ageing leaders, called for the passage of BBL may be overridden by Duterte’s plans to grant regions autonomy through federalism. It said the administration of Duterte should immediately work for the passage of the BBL where the Aquino government left off. It stressed that the negotiation is completed following the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the MILF and government peace panels. Politicians questioning the BBL said the provisions in the draft law remain the same. Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat, who was one of those who opposed the BBL during the Aquino administration citing unconstitutional provisions in the draft law, is again raising the same issue. Unconstitutional In a previous statement, Lobregat made it clear, he will be vigilant and consistent with his stand with regards to the BBL. “I am for peace, I am not anti-peace, but we need a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is just, that is fair, that is acceptable, feasible and more importantly, it should not be contrary to the Constitution and existing laws,” he said. He said the BBL which the Bangsamoro Transition Commission submitted to Duterte still contains the same and even more contentious and questionable provisions. “Among the contentious provisions in the present version of the BBL is that there will be six plebiscites – one for ratification of the law, and second the periodic plebiscite every 5 years for a period of 25 years in the cities, municipalities and other geographic areas outside the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which did not join the Bangsamoro after the ratification of the BBL,” Lobregat said. Lobregat, who was also former mayor of Zamboanga City, said Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) was the predecessor of the old BBL filed during the previous 16th Congress. The MOA-AD was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2008 describing the process that led to its crafting as “whimsical, capricious, oppressive, arbitrary and despotic.” He said the MOA-AD and the BBL have similar provisions, with some unconstitutional and controversial provisions. “Instead of promoting peace, there will be a constant tug of war on the political boundaries that will promote instability. The Bangsamoro will try to expand its area of jurisdiction and in turn, the local government adjacent, surrounding or neighboring the Bangsamoro will also fight tooth and nail in order to retain their territory,” Lobregat said. Lobregat said he will again be active and vigilant in the committee deliberations, plenary debates and caucuses to ensure that the interest of Zamboanga City and the rest of Mindanao are protected. Davao del Norte Representative and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Duterte’s ally in the lower chamber, said the country’s push for federalism has almost the same concept of the BBL. “The BBL will be absorbed by the federal form of government, because that’s the same. The concept of BBL is the same in federal form of government,” he said, suggesting an amendment in the Constitution. “How can you implement the provisions of the BBL without amending the Constitution? You cannot do it because there are provisions in the BBL that run contrary to the provisions of the Constitution,” said Alvarez. MILF’s rival group, the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari, has strongly opposed the government peace talks with the MILF, citing a 1996 peace accord with Manila. And Misuari, who eventually became government of the Muslim autonomous region, is now facing rebellion charges for deadly attacks in Sulu’s Jolo town and in Zamboanga City in 2001; and another raid in 2013 in retaliation to government’s failure to fully comply with the peace agreement. Under the accord, Manila would have provided a mini-marshal plan in the restive region and livelihood and housing facilities for thousands of MNLF rebels. Misuari, a close friend and political ally of Duterte, also wanted to become a perpetual regional governor. He is also […].....»»
Federalism shift pushed
THE Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) has called on Congress to immediately adopt steps to shift from a Unitary System of Government to a Federal System of Government “in order to address the issues of poverty, insurgency, corruption, criminality and drugs.” The movement averred there is a….....»»
Nation: Halal, culture, drugs in Duterte-Bolkiah meeting
AMID MOUNTING criticisms at home and abroad for his bloody drug war, President Rodrigo R. Duterte might have found an ally in Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, who visited the Philippines on Thursday......»»
Duterte firms up trip to China amid sea row
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte has firmed up his plan to visit China this month on the heels of criticisms from long-time ally the United States.....»»
Ronald Cardema backtracks on statement vs ‘anti-government scholars’
Following backlash from his earlier proposal, Ronald Cardema of the National Youth Commission backtracked and said that only those who are members of the New People’s Army should be stripped of their scholarships. Cardema previously asked President Rodrigo Duterte that “all anti-government” scholars should be removed from state-provided programs. It later earned widespread criticisms and […] The post Ronald Cardema backtracks on statement vs ‘anti-government scholars’ appeared first on Interaksyon......»»
No end to drug war: Duterte says ‘You can call God and intervene’
LAUR, Nueva Ecija --- "You can call God and intervene," President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday, noting that his brutal war on drugs would be unrelenting nevertheless. Duterte said he doesn't mind criticisms even from the human rights group. "If you destroy my country, I will kill you. Human rights? Fine. You can shout to the heavens. You can call God and intervene, but if you continue to sell shabu, cocaine and the drugs that are toxic and cause death to the Filipino, I will kill you," he said in a speech during the inauguration of a drug and alcohol treatment facility here. /ee...Keep on reading: No end to drug war: Duterte says ‘You can call God and intervene’.....»»
Alejano s unlikely ally: Duterte supports renaming Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – Opposition senatorial bet Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano and President Rodrigo Duterte have the same views on at least one issue: changing the name of the Philippines. Duterte, on Monday, February 11, said he agrees that the country's name has to be changed as it is a vestige ........»»
Duterte steps out of Cabinet meeting after outburst on land use conversion
Such was President Rodrigo Duterte's outrage about the slow process in land use conversion that he had to step out of the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February 6, after an "outburst." "Dati na siya galit kahapon dahil sa frustration niya sa requirements na kung ano-ano. In fact, he ........»»
Stronger Israel-PH ties seen
Israel reaffirmed its commitment to being a strong ally of the Philippines Friday as President Duterte met with Ambassador Radael Harpaz in Malacanang to discuss greater cooperation between the two countries. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, in a statement, said the envoy extended his country’s sympathy and condolences to the families of those who died in […].....»»
[ANALYSIS] Despite Duterte rhetoric, US military gains forward base in PH
The United States has gained a forward base for its Pacific Air Force in the Philippines despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s rhetoric against the country’s oldest security ally and former colonial master and his pivot to China. In mid-January, US Air Force F-16 “Fighting Falcon” fighter planes deployed ........»»
Duterte still behind push for federalism& mdash;Palace
Duterte still behind push for federalism& mdash;Palace.....»»
Duterte not giving up on federalism
President Duterte is not abandoning his bid to change the form of government from presidential to federal, although he is open to the possibility that only some economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution might be amended, Malacañang said yesterday......»»
Don’t take Duterte seriously – bishop
BACOLOD City – Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos City said on Jan 17, 2019 that people should not take President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades against the Catholic Church seriously. Alminaza said they have been getting used to Duterte’s criticisms and the president’s spokesperson had already stated time and time again that it […] The post Don’t take Duterte seriously – bishop appeared first on The Daily Guardian......»»
Filipinos still trust United States despite Duterte’s tirades and foreign policy shift
The United States emerged as the most trusted country among Filipinos for the past two years despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy shift towards China and tirades against longtime defense ally. Pulse Asia’s study revealed that 84 percent of Filipinos trust the country’s ally, an increase from the previous 79 percent received by the United States on […] The post Filipinos still trust United States despite Duterte’s tirades and foreign policy shift appeared first on Interaksyon......»»
2 Chinese firms eye Hanjin | Inquirer Business
Two Chinese shipbuilding firms are interested to take over the Philippine business of the Hanjin Group of South Korea, a government official said, as the Duterte administration steps in to help save t.....»»
A ‘sham and a shame’
One of the main reasons why Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) was elected President last 2016 was his advocacy of a federal form of government. Majority of Filipinos really believe that federalism will be more appropriate and advantageous to our country primarily because of the topography or the surface features of our country which has numerous islands......»»
Duterte urges barangay officials to remain dedicated to service
PASAY CITY, Jan. 9 (PIA)-President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday urged barangay officials to remain dedicated to their service and promised that he will continue to be their ally in building strong com.....»»
Declare ‘revolutionary’ government, Duterte ally urges President
SULU – An influential Muslim politician has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to establish a “revolutionary government” which the Filipino leader […].....»»
Declare ‘revolutionary government, Duterte ally urges President
SULU – An influential Muslim politician has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to establish a “revolutionary government” which the Filipino leader […].....»»