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DFA launches e-Apostille service; first in Asean region
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs Office of Consular Affairs (DFA – OCA) announced that it launched an e-Apostille service for civil registry documents. DFA said the system will allow the public to apply online for e-documents and e-Apostilles from the Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) without having to appear in both offices. Foreign Affairs.....»»
Killua
News on the brutal killing of Killua, the Golden Retriever from Bato, Camarines Sur, has ignited a wave of public outcry, particularly among animal-loving Filipinos......»»
88% of Pinoys oppose Cha-cha – Pulse Asia
Public opinion on Charter change, which last year was roughly divided among Filipinos, is now largely skewed toward those opposed to changing the country’s Constitution, a survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed......»»
Newscast: Behind the headlines of GDC, a cautious sense of hope
The gaming industry faced its fair share of challenges in the past 18 months, and these were the hot topics of discussion at the recently.....»»
Golden Haven launches international campaign for OFWs
Golden Haven, the country’s leading memorial park developer, has launched its GO! International campaign, a groundbreaking initiative that aims to help overseas Filipino workers secure their financial future......»»
DFA: No Pinoys hurt in Russia terror attack
No Filipinos were hurt in the terror attack at the Crocus Hall in Moscow on March 22 that resulted in the deaths of about 115 people, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday......»»
BIR attempts ‘friendly’ tack
February is not just the love month, it also marks the start of a yearlong campaign for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to encourage the public to pay their tax obligations. After all, collecting P3.05 trillion is no easy task......»»
LTFRB issues over 1,000 special permits to PUVs ahead of Holy Week
To ensure the smooth travel of Filipinos during Lenten season, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced the approval of special permits to 1,021 public utility vehicles (PUVs)......»»
Hong Kong, Philippines work to enhance relations
Filipinos are slowly beginning to travel back to Hong Kong following continued efforts by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to woo tourists from the Philippines, as well as renew and improve trade and economic ties between the two nations following the COVID-19 pandemic......»»
DOH launches intensified campaign vs measles
A renewed and intensified vaccination campaign against measles has been launched by the Department of Health......»»
VP Sara ready to face ICC charges only before a Filipino court
Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her readiness to confront any allegations against her but insisted that she would only do so in front of a Filipino judge and within the jurisdiction of a Filipino court. In a statement on her Facebook page, she emphasized her refusal to participate in any process that could tarnish the reputation and integrity of the Philippine judiciary system. Duterte adamantly opposed the involvement of foreign entities in the country's legal affairs, citing it as a dishonor to the sacrifices made by Filipino heroes for the nation's freedom. Duterte, who previously served as vice mayor and mayor of Davao City, vehemently denied any involvement in the Davao Death Squad during her terms in office. She expressed dismay over the sudden appearance of a witness against her in the International Criminal Court (ICC) after assuming the vice presidency. Duterte dismissed the accusations and questioned the motives behind the allegations, asserting her capability to accomplish tasks without resorting to unlawful means. In a related development, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. voiced his refusal to acknowledge the ICC's jurisdiction in the Philippines, considering it a threat to the country's sovereignty. He issued a directive for all government agencies to refrain from cooperating with the ICC, emphasizing the nation's non-recognition of the court's authority. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that ICC investigators had gathered substantial evidence against former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding his administration's war on drugs. He anticipated an imminent issuance of an arrest warrant against the former president. Former President Rodrigo Duterte condemned the ICC's decision to initiate a preliminary investigation into the war on drugs, labeling it an insult to the Philippines and challenging the court's jurisdiction within the country. During his presidency, he initiated the withdrawal of the Philippines' membership from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The ICC appeals chamber recently granted a request to resume the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity related to the Philippines' controversial drug campaign, spanning from November 2011 to March 2019. The developments surrounding the ICC's probe into the Philippines' internal affairs have sparked a contentious debate, with key political figures and rights groups expressing divergent views on the matter. The ongoing tensions between the Philippines and the ICC underscore the complex intersection of international law, national sovereignty, and human rights issues......»»
‘Palestinian children should be killed’
No, that heartless advice did not come from a mentally deranged man or an ordinary man on the street. It came from a top Filipino diplomat who has worn many hats in government. He is in fact a lawyer, journalist, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador to the United Nations, Press Secretary, Congressman, and presently Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s (United Kingdom) and concurrently Special Envoy to China for special concerns. In my book, those bona fides could easily qualify him as a revered Filipino statesman — but for his indiscretion, uncouth words, and disrespect for the feelings of others. I refer, dear readers, to Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr. I have to emphasize the descriptive word “Jr.” because, from accounts I have read, he is far different from his namesake, Teodoro Locsin Sr., who fought the Japanese and the dictatorial regime of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., a fearless publisher of the news magazine Philippines Free Press for which he was imprisoned during the Marcos martial law regime. Did the “apple fall far from the tree?” In his Twitter account, Locsin Jr. said: “That’s why Palestinian children should be killed: they might grow up to become as gullible as innocent Palestinians letting Hamas launch rockets at Israel ...They are Muslims...” In the diplomatic community, we call that a faux pas. Perhaps realizing the callousness of his gaffe, he immediately deleted the tweet with the following lame expression of mea culpa: “I immediately deleted my sarcastic response to a tweet as I realized it could be misconstrued ...My apologies to those who did misconstrue my sentiments and did, in fact, get triggered...” That statement did not wash away the disastrous effect of his slip. If one reads between the lines, they were subtle words to camouflage the booboo, not a real entreaty for clemency. His admission of his mistake, though, may work to mitigate the imprudence. Remarkably, the Department of Foreign Affairs, anticipating its far-reaching negative effect, disassociated itself from the statement, saying it was made in Locsin’s “personal capacity.” I wanted to distance this column from the ensuing uproar. But being the de facto medium for Filipino Muslims’ concerns and sentiments on political and social issues, it cannot default from its moral responsibility. I was afraid that repeating the obnoxious remark might gain traction — and psychologists warn about the “repetition-induced truth effect.” I did not want to dignify it. After all, he had shown remorse and apologized for the impropriety of his words, and, as a sage says, “There is no need to beat a dead horse.” But the storm of controversy has spread like wildfire in Morolandia that I have to add my voice of indignation. Silence amid the din of protest is a sin. I have not seen in a long time such a display of revulsion and rage from the Moros, reminiscent of the time foreign invaders came to their shores and, for 300 years, the Moros dug in, resisted, and repelled the hegemonistic colonization campaign. Muslim netizens promptly denounced the statement as xenophobic, insensitive, and unbecoming of a diplomat. Their protest and outcry reverberated from the halls of the Houses of Congress, the Regional Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the cramped temporary shanties of the Marawi war evacuees and the shores of the Sulu seas. For a single moment in their lives, the tribes of Morolandia set aside their tribal identities. They spoke in one thunderous voice, calling for a sanction for what they perceived was the misconduct of a diplomat who, to preserve his honor, must perform a Japanese seppuku or self-sacrifice by resigning from his post. Articulating the collective position of the Deputies of the BARMM interim Regional Parliament, Speaker Pangalian Balindong issued a public statement rich in a poignant message condemning the “insensitive and irresponsible social media post ...for its Islamophobic, racist, and anti-Semitic undertones.” (To be continued) amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post ‘Palestinian children should be killed’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Police warn against speculation in US synagogue leader’s murder
The politically active leader of a US synagogue was found dead with stab wounds outside her home on Saturday, as police cautioned against speculation over the motive for the murder. Police requested FBI assistance in investigating the murder of Samantha Woll, 40, who presided over the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, which serves metropolitan Detroit. Police Chief James White urged "that everyone remain patient" while the investigation is underway despite "many unanswered questions." "It is important that no conclusions be drawn until all of the available facts are reviewed," White said in a statement. "An update ... will be forthcoming tomorrow." The murder came amid escalating tensions in Jewish and Muslim communities across the United States over the Israel-Hamas conflict that has taken thousands of lives this month. Emergency personnel found Woll dead "with multiple stab wounds to her body," police said. A trail of blood led officers to Woll's nearby home, "which is where the crime is believed to have occurred." The motive in the killing "is unknown," a police statement added. The Detroit office of the FBI told AFP in an email that it "will assist the Detroit Police Department as requested." "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our Board President," the synagogue posted on its Facebook page. "At this point, we do not have more information." Woll, who led the synagogue since 2022, was also active in Democratic Party affairs, working for US congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and on the campaign of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the Detroit Free Press said. "I am shocked, saddened, and horrified to learn of Sam's brutal murder. Sam was as kind a person as I've ever known," Nessel posted on X, formerly Twitter. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said he was "devastated" to learn of Woll's death. "Just weeks ago, I shared a day of joy with Sam at the dedication of the newly renovated Downtown Synagogue," Duggan posted on X. "It was a project she successfully led with great pride and enthusiasm." Slotkin, who served as a CIA officer before entering Congress, said Woll sought to build "understanding across faiths, bringing light in the face of darkness." The Free Press said Woll had been active in a grassroots organization aimed at building ties between young Muslims and Jews. The post Police warn against speculation in US synagogue leader’s murder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russia hand seen in poll victory of pro-Kremlin Slovak party
The foreign ministry of Slovakia on Monday accused Moscow of interfering in the just concluded parliamentary election won by a pro-Kremlin political party. “We consider such deliberately disseminated misinformation to be inadmissible interference by the Russian Federation in the electoral process in the Slovak Republic,” the ministry’s statement said. The ministry was referning to pre-election remarks by Moscow’s foreign intelligence service director claiming Slovakia’s pro-Ukraine centrist party were United States proxies. That party, Progressive Slovakia, finished second with 18 percent of the vote. Former prime minister Robert Fico’s Smer-SD topped the polls with 23 percent of votes to take 42 seats in the 150-member parliament. During the election campaign, the 59-year-old Fico vowed that North Atlantic Treaty Organization member Slovakia would not send “a single round of ammunition” to Ukraine and called for better ties with Russia. The foreign ministry on Monday summoned a Russian embassy official and called on Moscow to “stop disinformation activities aimed at Slovakia.” Moscow rejected the accusations of meddling, saying “we do not interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries and we do not engage in regime change.” The election meddling accusation comes as Slovakia’s liberal president Zuzana Caputova tasked Fico with forming a new government. WITH AFP The post Russia hand seen in poll victory of pro-Kremlin Slovak party appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DFA confirms Azurin’s awry Canada issues
The Department of Foreign Affairs shed light on reports that retired Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. had encountered issues with Canadian immigration. During the House 2024 budget deliberations Wednesday, House Minority Leader Rep. Marcelino Libanan asked Nueva Ecija Rep. Joseph Violago, DFA budget sponsor, if the reports were accurate. Violago confirmed that Azurin encountered issues but added that the Canadian government regretted the “misunderstanding and miscommunication.” Azurin voluntarily returned to the country after traveling to Canada. The DFA was unable to assist him since it was a personal trip. Due to confidentiality issues, the Canadian government has yet to submit an official report to the Philippine government on the incident. “This incident happened a few days ago. General Azurin voluntarily went to Canada and he suddenly returned to the country,” Violago said during the budget debates. Azurin denied he was deported and blamed his former colleague, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, P/Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia for spreading disinformation. In a statement Tuesday, he said Sermonia was the source of the disinformation. “Sermonia had been spreading lies about my alleged deportation. Maybe he knows something that everyone in our country does not know. Maybe it was him who tipped off Canadian Immigration by concocting half-truths and many lies and was hoping that I would be deported. He had been sending messages about my deportation,” Azurin said. He said the truth will come out in due time. He urged current PNP chief, Gen. Benjamin Acorda, to investigate Sermonia’s alleged participation in the defamation campaign. Sermonia’s denial Meanwhile, Sermonia denied Azurin’s claim. In a press briefing at Camp Crame Wednesday, Sermonia said he had no idea why his name was being dragged into the controversy regarding the supposed deportation of Azurin. “Former Chief PNP Azurin may have been fed false stories again to drag my name into the unverified reports of his alleged deportation. There is no reason for me to do what I am being accused of,” said Sermonia, whose wife is the sister of Azurin’s wife. He added: “I’d rather not dignify the accusations with a reply that may be construed negatively. My advice is to directly ask the Canadian Embassy what the reason for the questioning was, which made Azurin decide to return to the country as he stated, and not deported.” He said Canada has its own rules and regulations on border control. “So, it is best to secure the report from them. The truth will speak for me,” he added. Sermonia said he plans to discuss the issue with their entire family. Azurin and Sermonia are members of Philippine Military Academy Class 1989. The post DFA confirms Azurin’s awry Canada issues appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Spins, deceptions, barrage
Chinese propaganda was in full force yesterday as the country’s state media again referred to the Philippines’ removal of the floating barrier as done to further the interest of the Americans. The narrative that China wants the world to follow is that the actions of the Philippines are all being dictated by the United States, to which the country has a long history of subservience. Thus, the Philippines’ sovereign interests are really at stake in the challenges to China’s aggressive assertions. Beijing’s propaganda mill has been busy since the expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement increased from five to nine the number of Philippine military bases US forces have access to. It initially raised the bogey of the broader military pact being the launch pad for an American defense of Taiwan if China attacked, which is farthest from the truth since it presumes that Filipinos would be stupid enough to risk their country for another’s interest. The latest volley from China was related to removing the floating barrier that cordoned off Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc to Filipino fishermen. The Philippine Coast Guard should check the contraption to determine where it was manufactured. Recall the suspicion that the rocks and other materials used for China’s reclamation of Philippine islands had come from Zambales with the collusion of local government officials. Wang Wenbin, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, said the Philippine statement was just what it wanted to believe itself. “China’s resolve in safeguarding its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) is unwavering. We call on the Philippines not to make provocations or stir up trouble,” Wang said. Moreover, China parrots the line that opening four additional military bases was a move “to win US support for its claims in the South China Sea.” The US then wants to exploit the Philippines so that “it can intervene in the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue from a closer range.” The US is using the Philippines as a pawn in its campaign to “contain China,” according to the propaganda minions. EDCA was an offshoot of the Mutual Defense Treaty, a post-World War II pact in which the Philippines and the United States committed to come to each other’s aid in case of attack. Based on the hype generated in Beijing, the Philippines has made several “failed” attempts to deliver building materials to reinforce the “grounded warship” on China’s Ren’ai Jiao, also known as Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal, since August. Indeed, attempts to reinforce the BRP Sierra Madre ended in a cat-and-mouse chase that succeeded, revealing that China is out of touch with reality. Also, the Sierra Madre is not a warship but a landing craft. It is an LST 542-class tank landing ship, previously known as the USS Harnett County, built for the United States Navy during World War II. The paid hacks and lapdogs of the Chinese government want to create an image that the venture between the Philippines and the US is meant to contain Beijing. The fundamental issue, however, remains the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, that has under it the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, or ITLOS. The Permanent Court of Arbitration, or PCA, issued the 2016 ruling favoring the Philippines was formed under ITLOS. Thus, UNCLOS invalidated China’s historical claims and upheld the exclusive economic zone from which the Philippines can derive economic benefits. Any argument that strays from the guiding principle must be treated with a grain of salt, if not doused with cold water. The post Spins, deceptions, barrage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Padilla files bill to push stronger CHR functions
Senator Robinhood Padilla filed a bill that will effectively expand the structural, organizational, and functional independence of the Commission on Human Rights. On Wednesday, Padilla pushed the Senate Bill 2440 that guarantees full fiscal autonomy to the CHR "to ensure prompt, immediate, and unrestricted discharge of its functions.” “Regarded as a toothless tiger, the Commission has endured its limitations in rightfully carrying out its mandate within its jurisdiction,” Padilla said. He emphasized the need to further strengthen the CHR’s mandates, powers, and functions that are imperative to its “cardinal role in cultivating a culture of human rights culture in the country.” "A just and democratic country cannot be attained without a truly independent national human rights institution, said Padilla. “Today, more than ever, we need a more active CHR, one that is not strapped to the task of investigation or cannot recognize violations of human rights other than those involving civil and political rights.” SB 2440 provides the CHR with full authority to act on a complaint or motu proprio, in all cases of human rights violations; and vests it with the power to issue injunctive reliefs and legal measures. Padilla said the CHR’s independence “shall be respected and upheld, even as appropriations for it shall not be reduced and shall be automatically and regularly released.” “We need a CHR that can address the challenge of protecting and promoting the human rights of all, especially the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, and the marginalized sectors of society," he added. The measure will make CHR to be regarded as a national human rights institution, in accordance with the Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions (Paris Principles) and other United Nations resolutions and instruments. Padilla said the SB 2440 will allow CHR to provide safety to witnesses and human rights defenders under threat as well as to implement and manage a witness protection service. Further, the CHR shall develop and implement a human rights information campaign program for the public; and establish a Human Rights Institute for the promotion and education of human rights and related fields. The HRI shall serve as a training institute for investigators, prosecutors, justices, judges, lawyers, and other human rights workers. Meanwhile, CHR is tasked to maintain a legal assistance program for underprivileged victims of human rights violations and prepare and make public an annual report on the findings of its monitoring activities. It shall also undertake measures for the protection and promotion of the human rights of Filipinos abroad, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Migrant Workers, or deputized Philippine embassy or consulate officers. The post Padilla files bill to push stronger CHR functions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Singapore accuses British journalist of foreign interference
Singapore accused a veteran British journalist of interfering in domestic politics on Friday, issuing him a warning after he publicly endorsed a local independent media outlet. Singapore's media sector is dominated by pro-government outlets and critics frequently accuse the tightly regulated city-state of curbing press freedoms, saying authorities use heavy-handed tactics to silence dissent. The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) said it had issued a warning to Dominic Ziegler, the Singapore bureau chief of The Economist magazine. Ziegler, a British national, participated in an unpaid ad campaign for Jom, a weekly digital magazine launched last year that reports on local politics and culture. In a post published last month by Jom, Ziegler said the magazine "touches deeper truths about the way Singapore is run and about the culture that runs through all Singaporeans than you will ever find in the state-supported press". He wrote in the endorsement that "in illiberal states around the world independent media need supporters". Ziegler told AFP he was not paid for the endorsement. His actions "clearly crossed the line from reporting on Singapore to participating in Singapore's domestic affairs", MCI said in a statement. "Ziegler has exploited his status in Singapore as a journalist in a prestigious international publication," it added. MCI said it expected Ziegler not to repeat his actions. The city-state has in the past sued, fined or restricted the publication of international news outlets including taking action against The Economist itself, Time magazine, The Wall Street Journal and the now-closed Far Eastern Economic Review. Singapore passed a law in 2021 aimed at preventing foreign interference in domestic politics, which opposition figures and activists have criticised as a tool to crush dissent. Authorities had said the law, which took effect in July last year, would not apply to foreigners reporting or commenting on Singaporean politics in an open and transparent way, even if their comments were critical of the government. But violators risk prison terms and hefty fines on conviction. The Economist did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The city-state ranks 129th out of 180 countries and territories in Reporters Without Borders' 2023 World Press Freedom Index. The post Singapore accuses British journalist of foreign interference appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Police hauls 1,245 e-sabong suspects
The Philippine National Police on Tuesday announced that 1,245 suspects have been apprehended in a comprehensive anti-illegal gambling operation focused on the rampant issue of e-sabong. The operation, which spanned from 1 July 2022, to 15 August 2023, saw the collaborative efforts of various police regional offices and national support units across the country, PNP public affairs office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said in a statement. Data from the PNP Crime Incident Reporting and Analysis System as of 17 August 2023, reveals a significant stride in the campaign against e-sabong activities. Among the apprehended suspects, 437 cases have been referred to prosecutors, while 808 cases have been directed to courts for further legal action. The same case records culled through CIRAS revealed 322 cases resulting in the conviction of the accused. Based on the report submitted by Police Regional Office 7, 348 suspects had already been taken into custody. Among these cases, 123 have been referred to prosecutors, and 225 cases have been forwarded to the courts for prosecution. Following closely behind, Police Regional Office 3 recorded 328 arrests. Of these cases, 170 were referred to prosecutors, and 158 are undergoing trial before the Courts. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group played an instrumental role in this operation, apprehending 200 suspects. Out of these cases, 27 have been referred to prosecutors for further legal proceedings, while 187 cases are poised for court action. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. commended the dedication of the police operatives and the profound impact of their actions. The post Police hauls 1,245 e-sabong suspects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hypocrites humbled
The Ombudsman’s decision to throw out the complaint of New York-based Filipino-Americans who keep stirring controversy in the country led by billionaire Loida Nicolas-Lewis exposes a deeper agenda in the effort. Lewis is known to be the heavy gun behind the Liberal Party who provided the bulk of the funding for the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo’s lost pink cause in the 2022 polls. The long-distance meddling had been repeatedly disclosed in the past with no less than former President Rodrigo Duterte pointing to a rich Filipino-American, who was obviously Nicolas-Lewis, as leading the effort to destabilize the government. In one of his abrasive speeches, Duterte foretold the international offensive against him emanating from the group of Nicolas-Lewis. “For all I care, I do not have any illusions, do not give me a reason to leave because you might get your wish,” he had said. “A certain financier, a rich woman who married a black (American) and is now a millionaire, she is planning to do protests,” he added. The plot was confirmed by then Communications Secretary Martin Andanar who recalled rumors in the Filipino-American community about plans to oust Duterte because of his alleged human rights violations and continuous attacks against the US. Duterte then mockingly told Nicolas-Lewis he’d follow her advice and even provide staff for her. “If you think that you can help, tell me because I will appoint a group of presidential advisers and (I will give you) a Cabinet position without a portfolio but with Cabinet rank. And I will follow your instructions to a tee,” he said. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said of the plot. He said the recordings included one in which Lewis told another person, “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Being referred was the International Criminal Court case that was a successful campaign considering the recent decision of the tribunal to proceed with an investigation into the war on drugs of Mr. Duterte. Nicolas-Lewis had led a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprised of executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration on 1 June 2016. The top-notch mission included tycoons, retired American diplomats, executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis’s sister was former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas who was part of the “Hyatt 10” — members of the Cabinet who turned on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members were recruited to key posts in the succeeding administration of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was appointed head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Duterte is being targeted for investigation for the complaint of crimes against humanity as a result of the methods undertaken in the anti-drug campaign. The late plaintiff Jude Sabio admitted using manufactured numbers that at one point reached 20,000 so-called extrajudicial killings, which a Senate investigation found dubious since it came from Philippine National Police figures that tallied all forms of deaths investigated, including those unrelated to police operations since Duterte assumed office. Veteran lawyer Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said that from the start, he was against the proceedings at the ICC. “We’re an independent sovereign country and they want to unduly interfere in our internal affairs,” Enrile said. He pointed out the drug war was a policy to rid the country of its narcotics problem and involved law enforcement. “Who are they to tell us what is good for our society?” Enrile asked. “In the case of the insurgency, the government conducts operations. Are we going to answer to the ICC on the way that we defend ourselves from an internal threat?” Enrile demanded. The persistence of the ICC was discovered to have a sinister origin, based on information that Duterte had gathered. It all started with the designs of meddling Filipinos living overseas who wanted to impose their brand of hypocrisy on the hapless nation but were effectively foiled. The post Hypocrites humbled appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»