Opinion: Duterte goes soft on vote-buying…

With regard to vote buying, you cannot control that because it involves the distribution of envelopes. But if you terrorize, you send goons, that’s a different story. We will clash. Whether you belong to my party or not, you know, behave” (…) ”Do not terrorize the people, the elections must be free and it must be credible” – President Rodrigo Duterte (19.04.2022).

Now that the term is soon over and the successor is soon elected in a few days. The Filipino President Duterte in the a recent rally went very soft on a common trick. The trick is that the richest campaigns and such is going around with envelopes and buying voters. They are coming with a few thousands pesos, if not lesser depending on the region and what office, which is at stake. The various of campaign teams has couriers who are walking around in the Barangay’s and ensuring the voters get paid.

However, the Omnibus Election Code of 1985 is very clear. Even if it is a “common” practice, which is why even I know about it from people I know in Mindanao. How it just occur and is a feature of any election. Where there is even talks of the amounts and which side that possibly gives the most to the electorate. Therefore, for a man who wanted to rule with “rule of law” and with “justice” as his program. It is sad to see that his defeatist to the code and not wanting to stop the election offense and practice, which is harming “free and fair elections”. Hard to be credible and to justify it when candidates are trying to out perform each other with pesos, instead of policy and political programs…

Just read the law here!

Sec. 261. Prohibited Acts. – The following shall be guilty of an election offense:

Vote-buying and vote-selling.

1. Any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value, gives or promises any office or employment, franchise or grant, public or private, or makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or cause an expenditure to be made to any person, association, corporation, entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election, or to vote for or against any aspirant for the nomination or choice of a candidate in a convention or similar selection process of a political party.

2. Any person, association, corporation, group or community who solicits or receives, directly or indirectly, any expenditure or promise of any office or employment, public or private, for any of the foregoing considerations.

b) Conspiracy to bribe voters. – Two or more persons, whether candidates or not, who come to an agreement concerning the commission of any violation of paragraph (a) of this section and decide to commit it” (Omnibus Election Code, 1985).

Its really striking that Duterte isn’t going hard on that. The man who worked so hard against the “pork barrels” and against “hidden budgets” for representatives and government officials. To ensure there was less bribes and streamline government entities. That has been done in his term.

So, it is sad to see him go out like this. Go so soft and mellow. Maybe his tired and looks forward to retirement. Nevertheless, it wasn’t as expected. Because, he goes hard on election violence and such. He won’t have any of that or intimidation of voters. However, his cool and doesn’t see a big problem with the spending, buying and indirectly bribing the electorate. Since the money cannot be traced and whatnot. By saying that… there is no real oversight over the campaigns, the donations or the transactions made by them. That is really weak and shows there is a need to put strings on that, if this election offense was to ever cease to exist.

Duterte going mellow. Who knew? That wasn’t anticipated… but it has happened. It is tragic, but life goes on. I expected more of him, but that’s maybe to much to ask. He rather take a step back and let bygones be bygones. Peace.

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Opinion: Russia waged the war [but warns everyone about the possible affects it has]

It is like Kremlin, Duma and the Russian Federation is living in such a vacuum and closed quarters of the world. That the ones working with diplomatic measures or incentives forgets that the rest of world can think for themselves as well. Because, the Russian-Belorussian invasion of Ukraine has effects all across the globe and in the near proximity of the Russian borders.

That is all natural that the West and European Union reacts when the Russian Federation violates, destroys and occupies Ukrainian territory. The Russians are directly invading and attacking a sovereign nation. This is why the alliances and the governing bodies of Europe is changing. They will not naively believe in goodwill from a nation who brought war to it’s borders.

The war of Ukraine is close to the Baltic nations, its close to Moldova, Bulgaria and Poland. Heck, the Ukrainian war is even involving the waters of Turkey. Therefore, this war is European and the European neighbours are acting accordingly.

The Russians are warning everyone about the sanctions. They are screaming out loud and mocking them. The Russian government are coming with counter-measures against the “unfriendly” countries. The latest was to banish diplomatic people “non-grata” in Moscow. Just like the European nations has done to the diplomatic corps across the continent.

Alas, here is the issue. We know early on in the war. That President Vladimir Putin warned Finland and Sweden of joining the defence alliance of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Just like it warned and wanted Kyiv not to do the same. These are all nations with borders to the Russian Federation.

Ukraine has as well pushed for closer relations with the European Union (EU) and showing it’s Eurocentric means at heart. As they are distancing themselves from the ones who is waging war, looting, destroying and massacring their citizens. The Ukrainian has all the rights to pick their alliances and create diplomatic ties as it see fit. However, we know Kremlin and Moscow thinks otherwise.

We also know that Moldova and Georgia have both applied for membership in the EU after the war started. As that is happening, the Russians are occupies vast amount of territories in both of these nations. Which is implicating them both and their sovereignty as is. Therefore, they seek stronger ties to Brussels and Europe to help them. Because, they see what the Russians do and there is no hope for redeeming factors in the regime in Moscow.

That’s why Russia is now warning Stockholm and Helsinki. They are doing this by the voices of Kremlin. Using RIA Novosti and Komsomolskaja Pravda is now busy printing pieces of damaging sort. Where they are further warning and speaking of the implications of joining NATO. However, the damage was already done when the Russians decided to wage war in Ukraine.

What did they expect everyone else to turn a blind eye and look the other way? Hoping that the Reds of Moscow wouldn’t come their way. Alas, the Swedish and Finish decides this, because they fear and alarmed by what the Russians are currently doing. The way of the warfare and how it is handled. Isn’t giving much credit or goodwill for a respectful or an honest neighbour in the East. No, Russians has made this bed and they got to sleep in it.

It seems like the Russians expected the world not to see the hurt and damage. They expected that an attack in it’s backyard wouldn’t have any consequences. However, it does and sovereign nations change their ways. When they see a similar nation and a bordering one being invaded. They don’t want to be violated or destroyed by Russia either. These just wants alliances and defence mechanisms that can possibly counter the Russian army. Because, there is no trust that Russians wouldn’t use their armies and violate them in the future.

When the Russians can try to invade and annex the whole Ukraine. What stops them from going further? Heck, it wasn’t long ago Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev wrote in March “About Poland” and had romantic ideas about Warsaw. While glossing over how the Soviet and Russians terrorized and killed the Poles. That just shows what sort of mediocrity of propaganda the Russian are producing of late. When he can direct and pin Poland. Where else can the Russians plan to go next?

Because, the Russians thought this would be a quick blitzkrieg and takeover Kyiv within 48 hour or 3 days. However, we are at 50 something days and they are now trying to tear apart the Donbas regions, which they have already “liberated” and promised “freedom” as the “Special Operation” was announced by the mighty President a while ago.

With that all in mind. The Russians cannot think warning the Swedish and Finnish now. They waged war and they are reacting within reason. It is only reasonable for them to do something. We the world can easily assess that the Kremlin, Duma and Moscow isn’t to be trusted. They can easily speak of military training exercises on the borders for months and with a blink of an eye decide to invade a sovereign nation. When the Russians could do that to Ukraine. They can do that to everyone else too and the neighbours should find ways of defending themselves.

So, the Russians cannot use NATO as an excuse either or the EU membership of former USSR republics. That ship is sinking like the Naval Ship “Moscow” did the other day. If not it is burning on the open sea and struggling with the damages made. The Russians should consider for a moment that their actions creates a reaction. However, the imperial powers thinks they can act and it will not have any sort of reaction. This is not new, by Russians or Americans who cause havoc and hurt. While thinking it doesn’t carry any costs or ramifications. Nevertheless, it does and the neighbours does what they see fit.

In Europe and the neighbours of Russia should consider their stances and what sort of alliances they want to have. For their own safety and the values of their states. Some might consider close ties to Moscow and others wants to distance themselves. That is all natural and how things evolves. Now, the Russians have to live with it and warning others isn’t the way to go.

Kremlin can warn everyone… but it doesn’t help their cause. Only weakens it, because they cannot bully everyone into submission. Everyone isn’t Putin’s bitch like Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Minsk will answer every call and memo from Russia. That’s for one simple reason, the Belorussian President wouldn’t stay in power without help from Moscow. He knows that and the world does too. It is sad, but someone has to be the side-piece of an imperial power. It just happens to be Lukashenko and we know Putin wants more puppets in office.

That’s why the Russians are bitter and coming with warnings. Their power and intimidations aren’t helping. The Kremlin might think this is a power-play, but it is not. It is a pity-party and a sausage-fest. This is a kitty funeral and an honourable priest will not make a farewell-ceremony for that. However, Putin is asking for that… and think the world will cry out loud for his dead cat. Peace.

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