‘Small donors’ backed Robredo presidential campaign
Big donors who gave P10 million to P20 million accounted for only 19% of Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign funds for the May 2022 presidential elections. The rest came from a long list of relatively small donors......»»
US says anti-Iran strikes in Syria hit ammunition depots
The United States said Friday it sought to degrade ammunition supplies of Iranian-linked militias with strikes in Syria but insisted it did not want to widen the Middle East conflict. The Pentagon on Thursday announced air strikes on two sites in eastern Syria it said were used by Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after a string of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. "The purpose for those two sites that we targeted was to have a significant impact on future IRGC and Iran-backed militia group operations," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday. "It went right at storage facilities and ammo depots that we know will be used to support the work of these militia groups, particularly in Syria." "The main goal was to disrupt that ability and also to deter -- to prevent -- future attacks," he said. The White House earlier said that President Joe Biden had relayed a direct warning to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against militias' strikes on US troops in Syria and Iraq, where US forces are stationed as part of efforts against the Islamic State group, which also has clashed with Shiite Iran. There have been at least 14 attacks on US and allied forces in Iraq and six in Syria since October 17, a period in which 21 American military personnel suffered minor injuries and one contractor died from a cardiac incident, according to the Pentagon. The US strikes on Thursday were the first on Iranian interests since March, breaking a stretch of calm after the Biden administration opened quiet diplomacy with the US arch-enemy that led to a prisoner swap and conversations on Iran's disputed nuclear program. The October 7 assault by Hamas and Israel's retaliatory strikes have inflamed the region. Iran's clerical leaders back Hamas, while the United States is the foremost ally of Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement Thursday, said that the strikes were "narrowly tailored" to protect US personnel. "They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict," Austin said. The Pentagon said Friday evening that its current assessment is the strikes did not cause casualties. 'Finger on the trigger' In new pressure, the United States -- which already considers Hamas and the Revolutionary Guards to be terrorist organizations -- said it was imposing sanctions on a Hamas official based in Iran and members of the IRGC. The Biden administration has vowed to target the finances of Hamas, which holds hundreds of millions of dollars in global assets, according to US Treasury Department estimates. Iran also has a close relationship with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia and political movement that has repeatedly fired at Israel but has so far stopped short of opening a full second front. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Friday that he has spoken with Lebanese and Palestinian militants and they "have their finger on the trigger" if Israel expands its ground operation into Gaza. Speaking to US National Public Radio from the United Nations, Amir-Abdollahian said the militants' actions would be "much more powerful and deeper than what you’ve witnessed." "Therefore I believe that if this situation continues and women and children and civilians are still killed in Gaza and the West Bank, anything will be possible," he said. Amir-Abdollahian insisted, however, that militants would decide their own actions, saying, "We don't really want this conflict to spread out." Addressing the General Assembly on Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian said that the Palestinians "as a nation under occupation" have the "legitimate right to resist the occupation using all available methods, including armed struggle." Hamas militants on October 7 stormed out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, including children, the elderly and revelers at a music festival, and took more than 220 hostages in the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Israel has struck back with a relentless bombing campaign which Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says has killed 7,326 people, mostly civilians, among them 3,038 children. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, meeting Friday with Amir-Abdollahian, urged Iran to work toward the "unconditional and immediate release of hostages held in Gaza." The post US says anti-Iran strikes in Syria hit ammunition depots appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden warned Iran leader against attacks — White House
President Joe Biden sent a message to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning against strikes on US troops amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the White House said on Thursday. "There was a direct message relayed. That's as far as I'm going to go," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, declining to say how it was delivered. Later Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said US forces conducted precision strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Pentagon says US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 16 times this month as tensions rise in the Middle East. It blamed "Iranian-backed militia groups." Biden told a press conference on Wednesday that he had warned Khamenei of a response if the attacks continue. "My warning to the Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel," he said alongside visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Iran meanwhile warned Washington at the United Nations General Assembly over Israel's campaign of air strikes and artillery against Gaza following the 7 October Hamas attacks. "I say frankly to the American statesmen and military forces who are now managing the genocide in Palestine, that we do not welcome the expansion and scope of the war in the region," Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said. "But I warn if the genocide in Gaza continues, they will not be spared from this fire." The United States has moved two aircraft carrier groups near Israel since the Hamas attacks in what it says is a bid to deter Iran and its allies from broadening the conflict. On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also ordered the activation of air defense systems in the region and notified additional forces that they may be deployed soon. There are roughly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group, which once held significant territory in both countries but was pushed back by local ground forces backed by international air strikes in a bloody multi-year conflict. The post Biden warned Iran leader against attacks — White House appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel is readying a ground war in Gaza, pressing ahead with plans that have troubled allies and threaten to worsen an already cascading humanitarian crisis. Facing ever-louder international calls to temper Israel's ferocious 19-day bombing campaign in the Hamas-controlled territory, Netanyahu delivered a nationally televised address. He told fellow Israelis still grieving and angry after Hamas's bloody attacks: "We are in the midst of a campaign for our existence," while insisting Israel will decide how the war is prosecuted. On 7 October, throngs of Hamas gunmen poured from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 222 more, according to official tallies. US President Joe Biden is among the foreign leaders stepping up public calls for Israel to "protect innocent civilians" and to follow the "laws of war" as it pursues Hamas targets. Thousands of Gazans are already believed to have died in Israel's aerial assault, with the toll expected to rise substantially if tens of thousands of Israeli troops massed around Gaza move in. Biden on Wednesday said he had privately suggested Israel should get hostages out if possible before any ground invasion. "It's their decision, but I did not demand it", Biden said, as he called on Congress to allocate more money for Israeli defense. Speaking in Cairo, French President Emmanuel Macron warned: "A massive intervention that would put civilian lives at risk would be an error." But boasting of "raining down hellfire on Hamas" and killing "thousands of terrorists", Netanyahu said his war cabinet and the military would determine the timing of a "ground offensive" to "eliminate Hamas" and "bring our captives home." "I will not detail when, how, or how many," he said. 'It's a massacre' Gaza's Hamas-controlled health ministry puts the number of Palestinian deaths at 6,500, including many children and 700 people killed in a single 24-hour window this week. AFP could not independently verify the ministry's claims, and US President Biden has stated he has "no confidence" in the Hamas ministry figures. While the exact toll from the war in Gaza is unclear, the depth of the suffering is not in question. Entire neighborhoods have been razed, overflowing hospitals carry out procedures without anesthetic, and residents have been forced to use ice cream trucks as makeshift morgues. "They're not waging war on Hamas, they're waging war on children," raged Abu Ali Zaarab, after his family home was bombed in the southern town of Rafah. "It's a massacre." About 1.4 million people -- more than half the population -- have been displaced, according to the United Nations. The UN says 12 of the territory's 35 hospitals have closed due to damage or insufficient fuel, and a key UN aid agency serving almost 600,000 Palestinians "began to significantly reduce its operations." Israel has cut off Gaza's normal supply corridors for water, food, and other necessities, and fewer than 70 relief trucks have entered the impoverished territory since the war began. None contained fuel, which Israel fears Hamas will use for rockets and explosives. Aid agencies have warned that more people will die if medical equipment, water desalination plants, and ambulances stop operating because of a lack of fuel. Once the generators stop, hospitals will "turn into morgues", the Red Cross has warned. Hospitals are also struggling with a shortage of medicines and equipment. "There's not enough anesthetic," said Ahmad Abdul Hadi, an orthopedic surgeon working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. "The wounded are in severe pain but we can't wait for the procedure, so we're forced to do the operation. We performed a number of surgeries without anesthetic. It's tough and painful, but with the lack of resources, what can we do?" A regional 'explosion' The war has sparked fears of a regional conflagration if it draws in more of Israel's enemies. Since October 7, Israel has launched thousands of reprisal strikes in Gaza, but it has also hit targets in Lebanon and Syria. Late Wednesday, Lebanon-based Hezbollah fired what Israel said was a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli drone. Israel's military said it had intercepted the missile and "struck the source of the launch" in retaliation. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria's government are backed by Iran, which denies Israel's right to exist. Tehran's top diplomat on Wednesday accused Israel of carrying out "genocide" in Gaza. Jordan's King Abdullah became the latest leader to warn that ongoing violence could "lead to an explosion" in the region. His wife Queen Rania accused Western leaders of a "glaring double standard" for not condemning Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians in its bombardment of Gaza. Violence has also risen sharply in the occupied West Bank, where health officials said more than 100 Palestinians had been killed, mostly in raids by Israeli troops or in clashes with Israeli settlers. The post Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russian strike on Ukraine mail depot kills six
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) — At least six postal workers were killed while 17 were wounded after Russian missile strikes hit a mail depot in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, officials said. The strike in the northeastern Kharkiv region on Saturday came as Kyiv declared its positions in the embattled city of Avdiivka were “protected” despite Russian attacks, while Moscow said it had downed Ukrainian missiles targeting the Crimean Peninsula. The six killed in the depot attack were all workers at the Ukrainian postal operator Nova Poshta in Korotych, a village on the outskirts of Kharkiv city, regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said. “The victims, aged between 19 and 42, received shrapnel wounds and blast injuries,” he said. Of the injured being treated in hospital, seven were in a serious condition, according to Sinegubov, who said “doctors are fighting for their lives.” The regional prosecutor’s office later updated the number of injured to 17. President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video on social media of what appeared to be a heavily damaged warehouse surrounded by rubble and a container with the Nova Poshta logo. Sergiy Nozhka, who works for Nova Poshta, described the condition of some his colleagues as “mild to moderate severity,” adding that “there are some people in a very serious condition.” He said that a rocket “flew into the neighboring depot, but at ours too — the windows and shutters flew out. This is not the first time.” According to the prosecutor’s office, Russian forces in the Belgorod region north of Kharkiv fired S-300 missiles, two of which hit the warehouse. “Debris analysis continues at the site in order to establish the exact number of injured and dead,” office spokesperson Dmytro Chubenko told Ukraine’s state broadcaster Suspilne. Separate Russian attacks on villages near the war-battered Ukrainian city of Bakhmut killed at least two people on Sunday, officials said. Both Kyiv and Moscow are preparing for a grueling winter ahead, as Ukraine warns of renewed strikes on its energy infrastructure and Russia contends with a Ukrainian counteroffensive to regain territory. In the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine’s positions around the frontline city of Avdiivka were “protected”, Zelensky said in his evening address Sunday. The city has been the center of intense fighting in recent weeks as each side struggles to make advances. Ukraine’s general staff said on Friday that Russia had stepped up its military assault on Avdiivka in an ongoing bid to encircle and capture it. “The Avdiivka and Maryinka directions are particularly tough”, Zelensky said. “Numerous attacks by Russians. But our positions are protected.” Avdiivka has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014, after it briefly fell to Russian-backed separatists. It lies just 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the Moscow-held city of Donetsk, capital of the Donetsk region that Russia said last September it was annexing. Ukrainian soldiers had been bracing for a new assault after a failed Russian offensive earlier this month using columns of armored vehicles and tanks from three sides. Built around a huge coke plant, Avdiivka had a pre-war population of around 30,000 people. Around 1,600 remain, according to local authorities, living in basements converted into bomb shelters. The city center has been all but destroyed through daily Russian artillery shelling and a months-long aerial bombing campaign. Also on Sunday Russian forces shot down three missiles targeting the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, a Russian official said. The peninsula is crucial to Russia’s offensive, both for supplying troops in southern Ukraine and for carrying out missile strikes from the sea. The post Russian strike on Ukraine mail depot kills six appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ukraine’s positions at Avdiivka still ‘protected’: Zelensky
Ukraine's positions around the frontline city of Avdiivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, are "protected", President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address Sunday. The city has been the center of intense fighting in recent weeks as each side struggles to advance along the frontlines. Ukraine's general staff said on Friday that Russia had stepped up its military assault on Avdiivka in an ongoing bid to encircle and capture it. "The Avdiivka and Maryinka directions are particularly tough," Zelensky said. "Numerous attacks by Russians. But our positions are protected." Avdiivka has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014 after it briefly fell to Russian-backed separatists. It lies just 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the Moscow-held city of Donetsk, the capital of the Donetsk region that Russia said last September it was annexing. Ukrainian soldiers had been bracing for a new assault after a failed Russian offensive earlier this month using columns of armored vehicles and tanks from three sides. Built around a huge coke plant, Avdiivka had a pre-war population of around 30,000 people. Around 1,600 remain, according to local authorities, living in basements converted into bomb shelters. The city center has been all but destroyed through daily Russian artillery shelling and a months-long aerial bombing campaign. The post Ukraine’s positions at Avdiivka still ‘protected’: Zelensky appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pentagon amps up posture in Mideast in response to ‘escalations’
The United States warned against any "escalation" in the Middle East in the wake of Israel's war with Hamas, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday, hours after the Pentagon moved to step up military readiness in the region. The United States has seen a "prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops" in the region, Austin said Sunday, adding that the US military was preparing for "the ability to respond." "If any group or any country is looking to widen this conflict and take advantage of this very unfortunate situation that we see, our advice is: don't," he told ABC News. "We maintain the right to defend ourselves and we won't hesitate to take the appropriate action," he added. His comments came hours after the Pentagon said it was upping readiness in the region in response to "recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces." Austin ordered the activation of air defense systems and notified additional forces that they may be deployed soon. Austin did not say how many US troops would be added to those already in the region. The Pentagon's moves came after what Austin had earlier described in a statement as "detailed discussions" with President Joe Biden. "These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for US forces in the region, and assist in the defense of Israel," Austin said. The steps continued the Biden administration's response since Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip stormed Israel on October 7, taking more than 200 hostages and killing at least 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials. tensions rising Israel has since vowed to destroy Hamas, and says around 1,500 of the group's fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area initially under attack. Austin said he had activated deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional Patriot battalions "throughout the region." "Finally, I have placed an additional number of forces on prepare-to-deploy orders as part of prudent contingency planning, to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required," Austin said. Tensions are rising along Israel's northern border with Lebanon after the Israeli army traded fire with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as Israel battles Hamas. In south Lebanon on Saturday, Hezbollah said four of its fighters were killed. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said one of its fighters was also killed. Armed factions close to Iran have threatened to attack US interests in Iraq over Washington's support for Israel. Multiple Iraqi bases used by US-led coalition troops have been targeted in several attacks in recent days. Israel's military said Saturday it would intensify strikes on Hamas-controlled Gaza ahead of a planned ground invasion. The military has pounded Gaza with relentless strikes in response to Hamas's 7 October attack. The bombing campaign has killed more than 4,650 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and reduced swaths of the densely populated territory to ruins. A first trickle of aid entered the Palestinian enclave from Egypt on Saturday, but the 20 trucks permitted to cross have been described as a "drop in the ocean" given the needs of 2.4 million residents. The post Pentagon amps up posture in Mideast in response to ‘escalations’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solon wants Comelec to look into AI-enhanced campaign materials
Election candidates trying to impress voters by using artificial intelligence could be a form of dishonest campaigning, Senator Francis Tolentino stressed on Saturday. The senator lamented, “The issue of using artificial intelligence in the election campaign and propaganda materials and requested further study for future policy formulation as apps that change facial impressions of individuals proliferate that may violate the principle of truthfulness.” Tolentino believes that using AI in campaign paraphernalia should be covered by the Commission on Elections. He said he looks forward to Comelec policy "regarding the use of AI in producing campaign and software materials for the elections, especially on the question of what picture must be allowed: the candidate looks at present or the looks the voters wanted to see.” The senator then cited the Department of National Defense memorandum, which was made public on Friday, prohibiting its employees and military personnel from using AI image generator applications. In his order, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr warned that AI-powered applications seemed “harmless and amusing” but could be “maliciously used” to create fake profiles that can lead to identity theft, social media engineering, phishing attacks, and other erring activities which compromise someone’s personal data. Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay backed Tolentino’s suggestion, but he noted that the green light to impose the AI restrictions in the coverage of campaign materials will still be up to the consensus of the poll body’s chairperson and other commissioners. Bulay added that those guidelines and policies on the use of AI in producing election materials, whether printed or digital in form, could be put in place for the 2025 mid-term elections. He emphasized that AI usage might fall under the election guidelines on "misrepresentation" but also stressed that he doesn't "want to preempt my chairman and fellow commissioners.” “Pero napakaganda po ng iyong sinabi Pwede pong humabol yon sa 2025 (It can be timed in 2025),” Bulay told Tolentino. “The concept of misrepresentation is also included in the principle of truth in advertising…something along this line,” he added. The post Solon wants Comelec to look into AI-enhanced campaign materials appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG backing Comelec’s no-proc plan
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Friday backed a plan of the Commission on Elections to suspend the proclamation of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, or BSKE, candidates who will win in the upcoming elections due to campaign violations. Abalos made the statement in response to reports that candidates were knowingly engaging in illegal campaigning, vote-buying, using oversized campaign posters outside of designated common poster areas, using online fund transfers, and offering various forms of assistance to voters. “The Comelec has previously warned that even if a candidate wins by a large margin, he may not be declared the winner until the complaint lodged against him has been adjudicated,” Abalos said. The post DILG backing Comelec’s no-proc plan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bill Richardson, globe-trotting US diplomat, dead at 75
Bill Richardson, a veteran Democratic politician and former US ambassador to the United Nations who later spent decades negotiating the release of Americans detained around the world, has died at age 75, his associates said Saturday. Richardson, who also served as governor of New Mexico and the US energy secretary, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday night, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement said in a statement. Richardson was one of the highest-profile Latinos in the US political world. He made his name as the "Indiana Jones" of US diplomacy and was famed for daring head-to-head encounters with strongmen leaders on the US pariah list, including Iraq's late president Saddam Hussein, Cuba's late leader Fidel Castro, and Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. More recently he was involved in efforts that led to the release of US basketball star Brittney Griner in December from a Russian prison after she was convicted of a drug offense. The statement from the Richardson Center said, "He lived his entire life in the service of others -– including both his time in government and his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad." 'A titan' Gabe Vasquez, a Democratic member of Congress from New Mexico, was among those paying tribute to their late colleague and mentor. "Governor Bill Richardson was a titan in New Mexico and abroad... one of the most powerful Hispanics in politics that this nation has seen," Vasquez said on the platform now called X. In private, US officials more than once suggested they were frustrated by Richardson's freelance activism, and expressed concern that it could undermine official efforts. But as the Richardson Center said in its statement: "There was no person that Governor Richardson would not speak with if it held the promise of returning a person to freedom." Diplomatic gunslinger Born on November 15, 1947, Richardson -- son of a Mexican mother and American father -- showed an early flair for baseball, and was drafted as a pitcher by the Kansas City Royals. When a professional career in sports did not pan out, Richardson earned a Master's degree at Tufts University's prestigious Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Richardson was the first Latino to run for the US presidency, with a fleeting bid in the Democratic primaries in 2007 -- a process that eventually yielded Barack Obama as the party's candidate. Richardson backed Obama, but ended up withdrawing his name from consideration to be his commerce secretary when a federal investigation over campaign finance derailed his nomination in 2009. Over the years, Richardson developed a reputation as a diplomatic gunslinger. He had several notable successes in freeing hostages or prisoners held abroad, but also a few setbacks. His work with authoritarian figures sometimes elicited criticism from rights activists who accused him of offering legitimacy to unsavory regimes. "I don't legitimize governments," Richardson once told AFP. "I'm just one person that is trying to make a difference." The post Bill Richardson, globe-trotting US diplomat, dead at 75 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner backs NTF-ELCAC, says no let-up in anti-insurgency campaign
The Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue its efforts to achieve total annihilation of the insurgency problem in the country. This was the commitment of Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. during the Commission on Appointments panel’s deliberation of his promotion as the AFP chief of staff with the rank of four-star general and other AFP officers on Wednesday. During the deliberations, Rep. Johnny Pimentel, CA assistant Minority floor leader, backed Brawner’s endeavor to continue supporting the program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, lamenting that the insurgency has been halting community development in the country. “Gen. Brawner, the biggest challenge that you will be facing is not the problem on the West Philippine Sea, but rather how to end the communist insurgency which has been with us for more than 50 years, I believe,” he said. Pimentel said the insurgency problem may not be felt in Metro Manila but “insurgency problems in rural areas are real.” He then asked about Brawner’s plans to end insurgency in the country. “I’ve always been saying that the best thing to our counter-insurgency efforts is the NTF-ELCAC,” said Brawner, noting that the whole-of-nation approach was able to address not just the armed component but also the root causes of the problem.” Brawner also recognized the local government chief executives and barangay officials who have been playing a “big role” in the pursuit of the anti-insurgency convergence under the ambit of Executive Order 70 or NTF-ELCAC. “So ipagpapatuloy po natin iyon. Dahil po dun sa NTF-ELCAC natutugunan natin 'yung basic needs nung ating mga kababayan especially in geographic isolated areas, at habang ginagawa po natin iyan with the local government leading and andun po 'yung government agencies also supporting, ‘yung inyong armed forces are capable now of focusing on the armed element,” he said. Brawner said the inter-agency efforts through NTF-ELCAC are making the AFP’s efforts “very effective” in reducing the number of the armed component of the CPP-NPA-NDF. “We have so many accomplishments on these because of our better relations with communities; they are the ones leading us to the armed groups,” he added. Brawner said the AFP has been successful in inviting rebels to come down and surrender through the NTF-ELCAC’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. “So we will continue all of this. We gave our units an ultimatum again, but it looks like very achievable, and right now we don’t monitor any active guerilla front,” he said. “What we have is a weakened guerilla front and we also have a few vertical units—a group of remnants gathered together. Wala no ho silang halos suporta mula sa komunidad and the only ones supporting them, right now, are their relatives,” he added. “That is why we are reaching out to their relatives to convince their family members to go down.” Meanwhile, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri cited the AFP for a “job well done” in improving the security situation in Budkidnon province. “They did not totally eradicate the communist insurgency there but brought it down drastically,” he said. The post Brawner backs NTF-ELCAC, says no let-up in anti-insurgency campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Calls for federalism backed anew
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Alliance of Advocates of Federalism in the Philippines Inc. announced on Sunday that it has received a positive response from the people in central Mindanao after learning the advantages of the federal form of government. This, as AAFP president Atty. Nazir Ynawat recently conducted a forum in Digos City in Davao del Sur province, explaining to them the advantages when the country decides to shift its form from Presidential to Federal form. Under the presidential form of government, the power is equally divided among its three branches of government — executive, legislative and judicial — while in Federalism mode of government, it combines a general government with regional governments in a single political system.” Ynawat said he received a positive response from officials and the academe, adding that a similar reception was also demonstrated by the town grassroot sector and officials of academe in the towns of Goma, Tuban, Padada, Sinawilan, Malinao, Tacub, Sulop and the adjacent towns of Digos City. “I find the audience to the forum very receptive to my explanation about the federal form of government,” Ynawat said. During the forums he conducted in central Mindanao, about 90 percent of those who attended signed a membership form attesting their desire to join the AAFP and a total of 9,875 people coming from all sectors of the community have signed a membership form. He also disclosed that some local government officials of towns and cities in central Mindanao are discreetly supporting the AAFP movement, claiming that it is time for Filipinos to adopt a new form of government system to advance the nation and the region. In other developments, the Moro National Liberation Front on Sunday branded the recent statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he is gearing towards a federal form of government as “mere propaganda.” MNLF political director Gafur Hajirul told DAILY TRIBUNE in a telephone interview that Marcos allegedly only floated the federalism issue to gain support for administration candidates in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this October. Harijul stressed that if the President is really serious about federalism, he should have included it among his prioritized legislative agenda, adding that Marcos can also use emergency powers to declare shift of form of government. The MNLF had earlier back tracked on its earlier move to seek independence of Mindanao to campaign support to the shift from Unitary to Federal system which coincided with the group political objective of self-rule. With Perseus Echeminada The post Calls for federalism backed anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Crackdown vs ‘e-sabong’ intensified
The Police Regional Office in Mimaropa region has ordered its police commanders to intensify its war against operators of online cockfighting or e-sabong. PRO-4B director Brig. Gen. Joel Doria stressed on Sunday that the agency has an unwavering commitment to eradicate this illicit activity across the region as they respond to the call of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. The PRO-4B earlier solidified its stance against e-sabong, leaving no stones unturned in its pursuit of a region free of online cockfighting. “We stand united with SILG, resolute in our determination to crush the existence of e-sabong within our beloved nation,” Doria said. Building on their previous efforts, Doria said that the PRO-4B has employed a rigorous one-strike policy that holds unit commanders fully accountable for eradicating e-sabong in their respective jurisdictions. “We will not tolerate commanders who fail to prevent or address e-sabong activities within their jurisdictions. Immediate and decisive action will be taken, leaving no room for compromise or leniency,” Doria said. “Our objective is not simply to suppress e-sabong, but to completely eradicate it. The one-strike policy serves as a powerful reminder of the duty our unit commanders bear. Under their watch, there will be no tolerance for those who allow this illegal activity to thrive,” he added. Previously, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they also continue to work with various government agencies, especially those whose mandate is concerned with information and communications technology, in running after online cockfighting operators. Acorda has ordered an “intensified crackdown” against illegal gambling, backed by the one-strike and no-take policy. Police, regional, provincial and district directors; chiefs of police stations and community precinct commanders; and other leaders of units who will be found inefficient or wanting in their efforts to eradicate and stop illegal gambling in their respective areas of jurisdiction shall be relieved of their post. They will also be charged administratively under the doctrine of command responsibility. Acorda’s latest directive comes after the PNP and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office forged an alliance to intensify the national campaign against all forms of illegal gambling. The specialized units will employ their expertise in gathering intelligence, conducting thorough investigations, and executing strategic interventions, fortifying the nation’s fight against illegal gambling. The post Crackdown vs ‘e-sabong’ intensified appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia’s Anwar thwarts opposition challenge in state polls
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's ruling coalition thwarted a challenge by an opposition alliance in state elections, official results showed Sunday, with analysts saying the win would buy him time to consolidate power in the largely Islamic Southeast Asian nation. Saturday's vote in six states had been the toughest political challenge yet to Anwar, who was appointed prime minister in November last year to head a unity government after an indecisive general election. The election of state assembly members does not affect Anwar's current two-thirds majority in parliament. It was, however, widely seen as a barometer of support for Anwar, including his push for a more inclusive society in which minority ethnicities could be allowed greater participation in the largely Malay Muslim nation, which also has large Chinese and Indian populations. Results released by the Election Commission showed that Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition retained three states: Selangor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan. The opposition alliance Perikatan Nasional -- whose key member the PAS party aims to create a theocratic state in Malaysia -- kept its hold on Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan. Retaining Selangor, which hosts the country’s biggest port, and Penang, home to Malaysia’s thriving semiconductor industry, are prized wins for Anwar, analysts said. The ruling coalition, however, lost its two-thirds majority in Selangor, as the opposition made strong inroads. Perikatan is backed by the Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, whose strong performance in last year’s general elections had sparked ruling party concerns it could spring a surprise and flip one or two states to the opposition. "This is a decision of the people. We have to respect this decision," Anwar said of the results at a late-night press conference as he also appealed for unity after a divisive campaign. "The federal government remains strong after this poll and we will continue to promote a prosperous Malaysia," he added. Oh Ei Sun of the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia think tank said "it was a nail-biting win for Anwar after he thwarted the challenge from the powerful Islamic party PAS". Bridget Welsh, a Malaysia expert from the University of Nottingham, said retaining the three states was a "victory for Anwar" as "he had gone into this campaign defensively". "It was in many ways a stress reliever for Anwar not to be confronted with any major political shifts that could alter the status quo," said Mustafa Izzuddin, a political analyst with consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore. But the outcome was also a disappointment in that "his coalition did not make much significant inroads" at the polls, he told AFP. Anwar "has more than enough time" before the 2027 general elections "to shore up support including the complex political bargaining that may need to happen within the coalition", according to Mustafa. No guarantee James Chin, a Malaysia expert at the University of Tasmania in Australia, had warned earlier Saturday of "dire" consequences if Anwar lost even a single state, including shifting allegiances that could have threatened his future as prime minister. Anwar became prime minister last November after a long struggle as an opposition leader. His party had won the most seats in the general election but fell short of the outright majority needed to form a government. That forced him into an alliance with former foes in the United Malays National Organisation to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority and approval from Malaysia's king to form a "unity government". The coalition has so far held together in a country that had seen three leadership turnovers in as many years after scandal-tainted Najib Razak was voted out as prime minister in 2018 over massive corruption at state fund 1MDB. But Oh, the analyst, said Anwar "must remain vigilant" even as he pushes for reforms. "There is no guarantee that his government will stay until the next general elections," he said. The post Malaysia’s Anwar thwarts opposition challenge in state polls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Let Filipinos be the judge of the impact of drug war, says Go
Sen. Bong Go reiterated his strong stance against the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into the alleged crimes committed during former president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. He stressed that the ICC has no jurisdiction to interfere in internal matters of the country which has a strong and independent judicial system. "Probes into the war on drugs are presently being conducted by competent authorities. Ibig sabihin, may tiwala naman po ako sa ating local judicial system at ang mga Pilipino should be judged by fellow Filipinos before Philippine courts operating under Philippine laws," Go said in an interview on July 24. He likewise expressed the view that Filipinos are the ones best placed to assess whether they feel safer now than before the campaign against illegal drugs started. "Alam n'yo, ang Pilipino po ang dapat humusga kung mas nagiging ligtas ba sila kumpara noong hindi nasimulan ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga,” Go pointed out. “Sila po ang nakakaalam kung nakakalakad ba sila, 'yung mga anak nila nang ligtas at hindi nababastos at nasasaktan,” he added. Go further emphasized that the era when the country had to be dictated by foreigners on how to govern itself has long been over. "At tapos na po 'yung panahon na kailangan pa tayong diktahan ng mga banyaga kung paano natin pamamahalaan ang ating mga sarili,” stressed Go. Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said that his administration would terminate further interaction with the ICC. This comes after the court dismissed the government's appeal to halt the investigation into the alleged human rights abuses during Duterte's “war on drugs”. "That’s it. We have no appeals pending. We have no more actions being taken. So, I suppose that puts an end to our dealings with the ICC,” Marcos said. “We’re done talking with the ICC. Like what we have been saying from the beginning, we will not cooperate with them in any way, shape, or form,” he added. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla backed Marcos’ decision, and said that no Philippine representative would attend the international tribunal's proceedings. Remulla criticized the ICC for disrespecting Philippine sovereignty. Go expressed gratitude to Marcos for his decision, saying, "Nagpapasalamat rin po ako sa ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos… sa sinabi niya po na his administration would end further engagement with the International Criminal Court after it rejected the Philippine government's appeal.” He also pointed out that the country had already withdrawn from the Rome Statute during the term of Duterte. "So, kumbaga nag-withdraw naman tayo sa ICC noon pang panahon ni Pangulong Duterte. So, para po sa akin, ang Pilipino po ang dapat humusga sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” he said. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, back in March 2018, following the ICC prosecutor's launch of a preliminary examination into the drug war. The withdrawal took effect the following year. The Philippine government argued that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the country and maintained that the alleged crimes should be investigated by local authorities, invoking the principle of complementarity. The post Let Filipinos be the judge of the impact of drug war, says Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos says Philippines is ‘done talking’ with ICC
The Philippines will no longer deal with the International Criminal Court, President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday, after The Hague-based tribunal rejected Manila's appeal to stop a probe into a deadly drug war. Thousands of people have been killed in the anti-narcotics campaign started by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 and continued under Marcos. "We're done talking with the ICC," Marcos told reporters during a visit to the southern island of Mindanao, according to an official transcript. "The alleged crimes are here in the Philippines, the victims are Filipino, so why go to The Hague? It should be here," he said. The ICC launched a formal inquiry into Duterte's crackdown in September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan later asked to reopen the inquiry in June 2022, and pre-trial judges at the court gave the green light in late January -- a decision that Manila appealed shortly afterwards. A five-judge bench on Tuesday dismissed Manila's objection that the court had no jurisdiction because the Philippines pulled out of the ICC in 2019, some three years before the inquiry was resumed. Marcos said Friday the government would take "no more actions" regarding the ICC ruling, but would "continue to defend the sovereignty of the Philippines and continue to question the jurisdiction of the ICC in their investigations". Thousands killed More than 6,000 people were killed in police anti-drug operations during Duterte's term, official government figures show, but ICC prosecutors estimate the death toll at between 12,000 and 30,000. The drug war has continued under Marcos even though he has pushed for more focus on prevention and rehabilitation. More than 350 drug-related killings have been recorded since Marcos took office last June, according to figures compiled by Dahas, a University of the Philippines-backed research project that keeps count of such killings. Opened in 2002, the ICC is the world's only permanent court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and aims to prosecute the worst abuses when national courts are unable or unwilling. Manila argues it has a fully functioning judicial system, and as such, its courts and law enforcement should handle the investigation into alleged rights abuses during the drug war -- not the ICC. Only four police officers have been convicted for killing drug suspects in two separate cases since the start of the crackdown in 2016. Rights groups allege the killings were carried out as part of a state policy, and that Duterte had publicly encouraged them with incendiary rhetoric during his public comments. During his presidency, Duterte openly encouraged law enforcers to shoot suspects in anti-drug operations if the lawmen felt their own lives were in danger. The post Marcos says Philippines is ‘done talking’ with ICC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thai reformist Pita’s PM bid crashes on establishment opposition
Thai reformist leader Pita Limjaroenrat's bid to become prime minister ended Wednesday, despite his party winning the most votes in May elections, after the military and pro-royalist establishment blocked his bid for power. Pita's Move Forward Party (MFP) has ridden high on the support of young and urban Thais frustrated by nearly a decade of army-backed rule, but its efforts to form a government have stumbled. The 42-year-old was dramatically suspended from parliament while seated in the chamber for discussions on his candidacy, which came to an end when lawmakers voted to refuse considering him for a second ballot. "I would like to say goodbye until we meet again," he said, raising his fist as he left the assembly floor to the cheers of party allies. Pita's suspension came when Thailand's Constitutional Court said it would proceed with a case that could see the leader disqualified from parliament altogether for owning shares in a media company. Lawmakers are forbidden from doing so under Thailand's constitution, though the television station in question has not broadcast since 2007. Pita, Harvard-educated and wealthy from a family-run agrifood business, has said the shares were inherited from his father. He has 15 days to respond to the case. After he left the parliament, lawmakers voted by a large margin to rule that he could not be considered for the post a second time. "Pita can't be nominated twice in this parliamentary session," speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said, over howls of protest from within the chamber, immediately before the day's proceedings were called to an end. Dozens of supporters cried and shouted abuse at a large riot police cordon guarding the gates of parliament after news of Pita's suspension broke. "Why even ask people to go to the polls?" one protester, who did not give his name, told AFP. Protesters began gathering in the evening for a public rally near Bangkok's Democracy Monument and police said they were prepared for any unrest. "No matter what their opinions are, they need to follow rules and orders set by the police," said Archayon Kraithong, a spokesman for the Royal Thai Police. Roadblocks Pita's first tilt at the premiership failed when he fell dozens of votes short of the required support in a joint parliamentary sitting. Thailand's senate is stacked with military appointees, with only 13 of 249 serving senators voting for Pita last week. Other roadblocks have been thrown in front of his Pita's candidacy. The court has also agreed to hear a case alleging that MFP's campaign promise to amend Thailand's royal defamation law is tantamount to a plan to "overthrow" the constitutional monarchy. Pita's party has refused to compromise on its pledge to revise the law, which can allow convicted critics of the monarchy to be jailed for up to 15 years. The MFP's reformist platform also poses a threat to family-owned business monopolies that play an outsized role in the kingdom's economy. The Constitutional Court has intervened in Thai politics before. The billionaire leader of MFP's predecessor party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, was disqualified as an MP in 2019 after falling afoul of the same shareholding rule. Compromise candidate Pita has vowed to step aside to make way for another party to form a government if his second attempt fails. The coalition backing him is expected to fall in line behind property tycoon Srettha Thavisin, potentially relegating MFP to serve in opposition. Srettha's Pheu Thai party is seen as a vehicle for the Shinawatra political clan, whose members include two former prime ministers ousted by military coups in 2006 and 2014. But as a successful entrepreneur liked by fellow business leaders, the 60-year-old is seen as a potential compromise acceptable to the Thai elite. Prawit Wongsuwan, 77, a former Thai army chief who served as number two in the junta that took power in 2014, has also been floated as a candidate by parliament's military bloc. Thai voters roundly rejected army-backed parties in May's election. Political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak told AFP the prospect of a military presence in the next government could spark a backlash in a country that is no stranger to political unrest. The post Thai reformist Pita’s PM bid crashes on establishment opposition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thai PM bet faces suspension
Thailand’s frontrunning candidate for prime minister found himself facing disqualification and possible charges Wednesday as the Election Commission alleged he violated campaign rules for parliamentarians. The EC recommended Wednesday to the Constitutional Commission Pita Limjaroenrat’s suspension as a member of parliament after its investigation determined he owns a defunct broadcast company which is not allowed for MPs. “The Election Commission has considered the issue... and perceives that the status of Pita Limcharoenrat is considered to be voided, according to the Thai Constitution,” EC said in a statement Wednesday, adding that it had concluded its probe. Move Forward Party’s Pita accused the EC of “abuse of power.” “The decision to submit a case to the court saying there was enough evidence, without informing him of any charges and not allowing him a chance to explain as under the regulations set by the EC... is an abuse of power under the criminal code,” MFP said in a statement. Chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong confirmed to Agence France-Presse the body’s recommendation. The EC stated that Pita is the holder of iTV shares during the election registration date. If found guilty in court, he could be barred from politics while facing up to 10 years in prison. Pita says he inherited the shares in the television station, which has not broadcast since 2007, from his father. The decision throws yet another hurdle ahead of Pita’s path to the premiership. Although backed by an eight-party coalition, he is still 64 votes short of the absolute majority required to surpass the junta-appointed senators. Many oppose Pita and his party because of their determination to amend Thailand’s tough royal defamation laws that protect King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family. The post Thai PM bet faces suspension appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoT firing of DDB backed
Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Tuesday said the Department of Tourism’s termination of its advertising contract with DDB Philippines was the “correct” move. In a Viber message to reporters, Revilla lamented that DDB Philippines’ shortcomings in the launch of the new tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines,” had brought humiliation to the country. “The Department of Tourism is more than justified in terminating its agreement with DDB Philippines. DDB’s admitted ‘oversight’ has caused the country embarrassment,” he said. “We are one with the Filipino people in the indignation expressed towards the shortcomings of DDB.” The DoT canceled DDB Philippines’ contract said to be worth P49 million — or P250 million according to other reports — after it was discovered it had used stock videos shot in other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Switzerland that were made to appear that these were Philippine scenes. DDB apologized Sunday for the blunder it blamed on an “oversight.” Senator Nancy Binay said Tuesday the country should have learned from its previous mistakes on the originality of its logo, slogan, design and video clips. “We are supposed to show authenticity. These kinds of promotional anomalies directly affect travelers’ decisions and, at the same time, portray a negative image of how we promote our destinations,” Binay said. “The paramount task is to ensure that there will be no pause in promoting our destinations despite the snag. Maybe we can bring back ‘Fun’ because ‘Love’ seems to have a problem now,” she added, referring to the DoT’s previous “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” drive. Amid the criticism over the “Love the Philippines” campaign, One Cebu lawmakers, city and municipal mayors, and councilors expressed “full and unwavering” support for the DoT and its chief, Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco. The post DoT firing of DDB backed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl Supreme Court disbars Marcos adviser over ‘misogynistic’ outburst
The Philippines Supreme Court said Wednesday it has stripped a new adviser to President Ferdinand Marcos of the right to practice law over a "misogynistic" outburst against a journalist. Marcos appointed lawyer Lorenzo Gadon as his adviser on poverty alleviation on Monday, highlighting his "legal expertise and extensive experience in various industries". The Supreme Court voted unanimously the next day to disbar Gadon over his "misogynistic, sexist, abusive and repeated intemperate language", the court's public information office said in a statement Wednesday. However, Marcos's top aide, Lucas Bersamin, said Gadon would remain in his position and the president "believes he will do a good job". The court cited a viral video in which Gadon "repeatedly cursed and uttered profane remarks" against a woman journalist before last year's election, which it described as "indisputably scandalous". "The Court pointed out that Gadon unfortunately failed to realize that lawyers are expected to avoid scandalous behavior, whether in their public or private life," the public information office said. Gadon, who backed Marcos's bid for the presidency but failed in his own attempt to win a Senate seat, was previously convicted and suspended from practicing law for three months for using "offensive and intemperate language", and faced 10 other administrative cases, the statement said. "Although these cases have yet to be decided, the volume of administrative complaints filed against Atty. Gadon indubitably speaks of his character," it said. Gadon said in a statement posted on Facebook he would appeal against the decision because the penalty was "too harsh". He claimed the reporter had been "blatantly spreading lies" against Marcos during the 2022 election campaign. The left-wing Akbayan Party described Gadon as a "buffoon" and called on Marcos to rescind his appointment. The post Phl Supreme Court disbars Marcos adviser over ‘misogynistic’ outburst appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Resign en masse, Rody tells cops
Former president Rodrigo Duterte demanded yesterday the resignation of the entire Philippine National Police force, saying that many of its members had become the “gatekeepers” for the nation’s illicit drug trade. “We have a fractured police force in this country,” Duterte said on his weekly program over the SMNI channel. Duterte expressed dismay over the Senate’s recent investigation into the alleged cover-up by police officials of the P6.7-billion shabu bust where the drugs were allegedly seized from a police sergeant. He lamented that some police officers were not just protecting drug dealers, “but are into drug dealing themselves.” “The volume is one too many. How many police personnel are involved? There are many; it goes up to the generals,” he said. If he were still president, Duterte said he would order all members of the PNP, from the lowest-ranked patrolman to its chief (General Benjamin Acorda Jr.) to surrender all the firearms issued to them. He said he would then order the Armed Forces of the Philippines to take over police duties following the dismantling of the PNP. “The army would be happy to take over. And I suppose that is what should happen,” Duterte said, adding that he trusted the military more than the police. “The AFP knows what is right and wrong, and what is right for the country,” he said, slamming the “built-in arrogance” of rogue cops, especially those involved in the drug trade. Generals accused of coverup In October 2022, PNP officers seized 990 kilograms of shabu, worth P6.7 billion, from an office in Tondo, Manila. Several PNP generals were accused of trying to cover up the arrest of an alleged drug dealer, dismissed police sergeant Rodolfo Mayo, even as kilos of the drugs were found to have been pilfered. Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, who oversees the PNP, assured Duterte and the public that the PNP was not hopeless as an organization. Abalos said criminal complaints had been filed against about 50 PNP members, including two generals. Abalos said a plan is afoot to place the PNP Internal Affairs Service under the supervision of the Office of the President or the DILG to make it totally independent of the PNP. Go welcomes raps Meanwhile, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go backed the filing of charges against the police generals and policemen tagged in the coverup in the P6.7-billion drug bust. “I welcome that. That’s the right thing to do. The truth must always come out, and those found guilty should be held accountable and prosecuted,” Go told reporters Thursday. “We, along with [former] President Duterte, fully supported the PNP. That’s why we worked to double their salaries to work against the illegal drug trade so they would not engage in those activities,” he said. ‘PNP functioning well’ For his part, PNP public information chief P/Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said the PNP continues to function well, citing a 10-percent decline in so-called index crimes, from 18,270 from 1 January to 9 June last year to 16,492 crimes for the same period this year. In the campaign against illegal drugs, Maranan said the PNP conducted 19,464 operations, arrested 25,641 persons, and confiscated P6.2 billion worth of illegal drugs for the period cited this year. A total of 836 PNP personnel were dismissed and 1,703 were suspended as of 7 June, Maranan added. “This is a manifestation of the PNP’s well-functioning disciplinary mechanism to weed out those who are unfit to be in the organization,” Maranan said. He said the PNP recently achieved an 80-percent trust and performance rating. The post Resign en masse, Rody tells cops appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»