MANILA Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte still gets good ratings in poll surveys. But, as I’ve surmised in more than one column, I doubt that the survey results reflect a true picture of the situation on the ground. Filipinos like to play things safe. We are a generally timid people, noisy only in neighborhood drinking sessions or small gatherings… Read More »
One thing that has stood out since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency in July last year is the fact that this former mayor of Davao City cannot handle criticism. And unable to handle criticism, he easily explodes and threatens just about anybody who dares oppose him. Just last week, Duterte exploded and berated the president of… Read More »
After five months of seemingly endless battles and bombings, the Philippine military finally was able to declare an end to the hostilities in Marawi, the bloodiest and costliest military operation against terrorists or secessionists ever, even dwarfing the Battle of Jolo in 1974. The Battle of Jolo, which started when militant forces from the Moro National Liberation… Read More »
On October 24, I received news that one of my most respected colleagues in the newswire profession has passed — silently and unknown to many of those he worked with back in the day — at his hometown in Digos, Davao del Sur on December 9, 2016. In another month, his wife Anita and his family will… Read More »
Hours after a lone gunman killed at least 59 people and injured 527 others in Las Vegas Sunday night, President Donald Trump called the attack “an act of pure evil,” adding that in moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one. He expressed grief and shock over the deadliest mass shooting in US history, praised… Read More »
MANILA Now the police here want to rehabilitate drug users in their “war” on drugs. That’s what they should have done in the first place. Here’s what the police did to start their war: They started rounding up drug users and pushers, killing thousands of them in the process. The international community was outraged, unbelieving that in this… Read More »
It was a pathetic sight, to say the least. Shameless would be a more appropriate word to describe the photo showing the administration congressmen posing with the clenched fists associated with President Duterte to celebrate an even more revolting and shameless move to reduce the budget of the Commission on Human Rights to a mere P1,000. It was… Read More »
MANILA The so-called war on drugs here is finally showing everyone its futility and wrongness from the start. Society is finally being scandalized by the drug war’s brutality and ruthlessness. Citizens are finally realizing that it’s an unwinnable war with deplorable consequences. Giving the police carte blanche in pursuing the so-called war emboldened them so much, they don’t… Read More »
Good friend Ricky unilaterally declared the advent of Autumn, as soon as Labour Day (September 4) passed. I unilaterally approved his declaration. Early September, I have begun to feel lower joint pains when the mercury fell below seasonal. With several more days before summer officially ends (September 21) and before my wife even thinks of imposing marital law… Read More »
MANILA Positive survey findings in favor of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte continue to baffle observers. Who can blame those who can’t believe the news of Duterte getting high marks from people surveyed? With all the controversies swirling around him, the common observer can only scratch his head in confusion. I’ve written before that there’s a possible explanation for… Read More »