US wants Duterte’s ‘separation’ pledge clarified
U.S. Embassy press attaché Molly Koscina said in an email to Manila Bulletin that they have yet to hear from the Philippine government what Duterte’s remarks on “separation†might mean, adding that “it is creating unnecessary u.....»»
PRRD thanks China for COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, other cooperation
QUEZON CITY, Nov. 12 (PIA) -- As country coordinator for the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed ASEAN's appreciation to China for its pledge to contribute to th.....»»
PRRD thanks China for COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, other cooperation
QUEZON CITY, Nov. 12 (PIA) -- As country coordinator for the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed ASEAN's appreciation to China for its pledge to contribute to th.....»»
Duterte says RevGov talks should be done publicly
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared that proposals to establish a revolutionary government in the country should be discussed in open. Malacanang, however, clarified that the Chief Executive remains firm in his stance that the Philippines does not need a different form of government at the present as it continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. […] The post Duterte says RevGov talks should be done publicly appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gierran: PhilHealth RVPs won’t be removed…
Appointed Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President and CEO Dante Gierran on Tuesday clarified that he could not simply fire the agency’s regional vice presidents as what President Rodrigo Duterte wanted him to do. Gierran said RVPs would not be removed from their positions but reshuffled, noting that they cannot just be fired especially when […] The post Gierran: PhilHealth RVPs won’t be removed… appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Moderating oligarchs’ greed
Last July 13, President Rodrigo Duterte spoke before soldiers in Jolo, Sulu and triumphantly declared he “dismantled the oligarchy that controlled the country’s economy without the need to declare martial law.” This came a few days after a committee in the House of Representatives rejected ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal bill. During his penultimate State of the Nation Address on July 27, Duterte took another swipe at the oligarchs whose great wealth has enabled them “to influence public policy to their advantage.” He cited as an example the Lopezes “who used their media outlets in their battles with political figures” including himself during the 2016 elections. People seem to forget that Duterte’s avowed mission to put oligarchs in their proper place was part of his 2016 campaign promise to stamp out corruption. At that time, he said the corruption in the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue was “small change in comparison to the high-level corruption that runs in the billions among the economic elite.” Oligarchy means the rule of the few, but its meaning has evolved to refer to powerful individuals or groups outside of government who are able to benefit from political connections to amass vast amounts of wealth and gain control of major industries. The term “oligarch” started popping up recently in mainstream and social media but its context in relation to what is happening in our society has become warped and obfuscated. To be fair, the President has given credit where credit is due, even to the so-called oligarchs when they helped the government in this COVID-19 crisis, but he said it is their abuses that he abhors. On several occasions, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano pointed out how oligarchs use their wealth to gain power, while the political elite used their power to amass wealth. He expressed full support to Duterte’s advocacy in changing the current system where he believes the people “willingly consent to being held back by the few who control the economy and through that, the running of the nation.” According to Cayetano, the real threat to the stability of our socio-political and economic systems are those backroom deals that make exploitation legal – “the quiet acquiescing to a system that naturally favors the ultra-rich and very powerful.” He believes that not all oligarchs are bad, saying in a media interview: “Just like every entrepreneur wanting to expand their business, these would-be oligarchs might very well have started off with the most benign or even benevolent intentions. But the malignant DNA of unabated, uncontrolled capitalism, especially corporate capitalism, eventually comes to play, leading to people and systems being abused and exploited.” Cayetano clarified, though, that capitalism and democracy work as we have seen in other economies. He thinks the situation in the Philippines is not hopeless, and we can begin to change this corrupt system by acknowledging there is a problem and we are part of it. “This is a battle between those who are willing to fight their self-interest and change with the system, versus those who deny that there is anything wrong with the status quo, specifically as it relates to themselves, and instead simply choose to blame the politicians and officials in government,” he said. This brings to mind the statement attributed to a Cabinet member of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who advised another top official to “moderate your greed.” Another cautionary tale is found in the recently re-launched book of Ricardo Manapat, who served as National Archives Director during the Arroyo and Ramos administrations. Manapat’s book is titled “Some Are Smarter Than Others: The History of Marcos’ Crony Capitalism” which is a classic work on anti-cronyism exposing the ill-gotten wealth of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Oligarchs may not be totally wiped out in the Philippines, since developed economies even have to contend with their presence. But Duterte’s relentless campaign against them could very well result in moderating their greed and freeing the country from their tight grip. nextgenmedia@gmail.com.....»»
Face-to-face classes to resume January 2021, Duterte clarifies
MANILA, Philippines — Face-to-face classes will be allowed in January 2021 and not earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte clarified Monday. Last week, the President approved the proposal of the education sector to conduct limited face-to-face classes in areas that are low-risk of the coronavirus transmission. “I cannot and I will not put at risk the lives of our […] The post Face-to-face classes to resume January 2021, Duterte clarifies appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Duterte firm on VFA termination
President Duterte has not changed his mind about terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement, Malacañang said yesterday, as it clarified that only the termination process of the treaty has been suspended......»»
Go warns public of med supply scammers
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Saturday warned the public against scammers using his name and President Rodrigo Duterte to buy and sell medical supplies amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In a social media post, the senator clarified that his office does not purchase or sell medical supplies as there are government agencies […] The post Go warns public of med supply scammers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EDITORIAL - Ready for enrollment?
No vaccine, no classes, according to President Duterte. His spokesman later clarified that the President was referring mainly to face-to-face classes when there is still no vaccine or cure for the coronavirus disease 2019......»»
Rody’s men test positive
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) on Tuesday clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte remains safe from and free of the new coronavirus despite the positive PCR test on one of its personnel and the 160 more, including their dependents, who submitted themselves to rapid testing. The Chief Executive on Saturday flew home to Davao City — […] The post Rody’s men test positive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palace: Duterte in Davao to visit home, check on Mindanao
Roque clarified that leisure travel, including visiting one's relatives, is still not allowed......»»
I Never Said I Will Declare Martial Law: PRRD
President Rodrigo Duterte has clarified that he never made a pronouncement that he would declare a martial law amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. “I never said ‘I will declare martial law’ kasi ‘yung martial law ho para lang ‘yan sa mga rebelde, para sa mga komunista (I never said ‘I will declare a […].....»»
Phl funds sufficient to address Covid crisis
Two senators clarified that the Philippine government has enough funds for its anti-coronavirus disease measures even after President Rodrigo Duterte said that the P275 billion budget is not enough to address the health crisis. Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson maintained that the government has enough money in the coffer under the […] The post Phl funds sufficient to address Covid crisis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bad, badder; nice, nicer
At the Feb. 24 joint hearing of the Senate committees on Public Services, Economic Affairs, and Finance on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Senator Bong Go clarified and reiterated President Rodrigo Duterte’s attitude toward the Lopez-owned media monolith......»»
& rsquo;Kill the rich& rsquo; remark clarified
The Palace on Sunday downplayed the threat of President Rodrigo Duterte to kill all “crazy” and “rich” people, saying “graphic” language was merely part of his leadership style......»»
‘Kill crazy rich’ just Duterte graphic language — Palace
President Duterte was just emphasizing his resolve to prevent the wealthy from stealing money from taxpayers when he talked about killing “crazy rich†people, Malacañang clarified yesterday......»»
Drug war not a failure – Sotto
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday clarified that the Duterte administration’s war on drugs was not a failure, stressing that the government still continues to fight illegal drugs in the country. “No. Failure is only when you stop fighting,†said Sotto in a statement. “The war vs. drugs fails only when you stop fighting. […] The post Drug war not a failure – Sotto appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rody ‘lost trust’ in Robredo – Go
Following the sacking of Vice President Leni Robredo as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong†Go on Monday clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte made the move simply because he has lost his trust with the Vice President. In a statement, Go explained that Robredo had been working against […] The post Rody ‘lost trust’ in Robredo – Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOTr won’t drop bid to modernize jeepneys
The Department of Transportation is not dropping the Duterte administration’s public utility vehicle modernization program despite delaying its plan to phase out 170,000 old jeepneys, an official clarified yesterday......»»
Robredo camp denies Duterte s claim of inviting prosecutor for drug war
The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo clarified that the new anti-drug czar did not invite foreign prosecutors to investigate the government's campaign against illegal drugs......»»