Philippines: National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) – NAMFREL releases update on its observations on the conduct of the 2023 Marawi Plebiscites (18.03.2023)

Philippines: Department of Justice – Press Statement (07.03.2023)

Philippines: Senator Robinhood Padilla – Resolution in Defense of Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines, against the Investigation or Prosecution by the International Criminal Court (20.02.2023)

Opinion: It’s time for Marcos Jr. to peel the onion…

“Last week, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (Pcafi) warned of a looming garlic shortage. In an interview, the chamber’s president, Danilo Fausto, told the Manila Times that Filipinos consume at least 100,000 metric tons of garlic yearly, but local farmers can supply only 10 percent of demand. He blamed years of government neglect and policies that shifted every time there was a change in leadership. He urged the Marcos government to act now before garlic prices shoot up. Late interventions were partly to blame for the price of onion soaring to P700 per kilogram recently” (The Manilla Times – ‘More trouble ahead for agriculture sector’ 13.02.2023).

It is striking that in the department that the President has his portfolio the prices are running rampant. In the field and the office, which he resides in addition to being the Head of State is where the inflation and the sky-rocketing prices are happening. This doesn’t seem like a coincident, but instead as a reflection of his reign.

Some might say “Bong Bong” isn’t handling it well or if his even considering the implications of it. The arrogance and entitlement are obvious. While the citizens are having the plight, the concern and the misfortune of the rising costs of basic commodities. His living lavish and enjoying the perks of the high office. He is even spending time on Formula One races and other foreign trips on the dole of the state. So, he should reconsider his stances and his methods. Because it stinks and it’s filled with rotten food.

He has already had a huge scandal rocking his office with sugar, in addition the onion and now garlic. It is like everything you need for adobo just must get expensive. Soon, the vinegar and the soya-sauce will cost a fortune too.

We are just supposed to look the other way. While he is making adjustments to the PCO and Offices in Manilla. However, the ones going to the markets, the ones buying in the supermarkets and just doing the daily routine will feel the pinch.

You got to be careful what you wish for… a President like Marcos Junior is certainly not wise or brilliant. He should give the Department of Agriculture to someone else. Since, whatever his doing… is doing no good. It is only more dire and more concerning.

At this point… I’m just awaiting a rice-scandal of epic proportions. Since he has already had the sugar, the onion and garlic on the horizon. Three is just a need for a bigger and larger fallout. Where the Department and the Imports has been on overdrive and caught with imports destroying the local production of Rice. Since, Bong Bong has made agreements with Vietnam or elsewhere to benefit his own purse… well… who would be shocked by that now?

It is time to peel the onion. The tears are already here, and the lack of self-reflection or due diligence is obvious. The President could have been better, but that’s just too much to ask… He couldn’t manage the sugar or the onion. So, we just know he will mess up another thing as time goes by. Peace.

Philippines: House of Representatives, Stella Luz a. Quimbo – Resolution – Directing the House Commitees on Economic Affairs and Trade and Industry to Conduct an Inquiry, in aid of legislation, on alleged Anti-Competitive practices and Cartel in the Onion Industry and Sufficiency of the Interventions of the Philippine Competition Commission on the matter (09.01.2023)

Philippines: Kagawarn Ng Katarungan – Department of Justice – Press Briefer (04.01.2023)

Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. – Message (30.12.2022)

Opinion: Marcos Jr. postpones the Barangay and SK elections just like Duterte

“Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 4) — President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Monday a law postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections for the second time. “The President has signed into law the resetting of the barangay and SK elections,” House Majority Floor Leader Rudy Farinas said on Wednesday. Republic Act No. 10952 set the local elections to May 2018, with incumbent local officials ordered to remain in office” (VJ Bacungan – ‘Duterte signs law moving barangay, SK polls to May 2018’, 04.10.2017).

Today it’s official that the scheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections for December 2022 are postponed to the 31^st October 2023. Just like during the predecessor time in office, the Barangay captains and other elected representatives in the previous election are getting more time in office. The postponement means they are longer in office and prolonging their terms before new campaigning.

We know that Duterte did it with the reason of the drug-war and “narco-list” of dozens of barangay officials. Who wasn’t supposed to be eligible to stand or be candidates in the up-coming elections. Duterte postponed the Barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections twice. He moved it from 31^st October 2016 to 23^rd October 2017 and finally moving it to May 2018.

Today it’s official that President Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. are following where Duterte left off. What is striking there is no official reason or argument for the postponement. Yes, on the 10^th October 2022 Marcos Jr. signed the Republican Act. 11935 and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) just have to follow this order. Though there is no valid reason for it or probable cause for doing so.

Why are Marcos Jr. postponing it? Is he to busy travelling leisure trips or not finding sources for cheap sugar? What is the reason for it? That’s what’s bugging me.

At least Duterte could acknowledge certain reasons for doing so. He could muster up arguments that could make sense. Though you could disagree and wonder if it was true. Duterte still mustered up something and cooked up an edible dish.

What are we served up today?

I don’t know if it is soup, adobo or if he we have to run to Jolibee. Because, there is no meat to the bone. Only a new date in one year time and scheduled in October in 2023. There is no justification or saying that are uttered. We are about one month away from the supposed polls of December 2022 elections.

We can just await more information to come, but this isn’t a good look. Marcos Jr. isn’t doing anything new. Duterte did it already before him. His just following where he left off on this particular manner. However, one vast difference.

Duterte had a reason for the postponements. From Marcos Jr. it is radio-silence and no blinking lights leading us in any direction. Time will tell…. Peace.

Philippines: The Nucleus – Official Statement on Recent Killings of Journalists (12.10.2022)

Opinion: Was it a very critical function for President Marcos to watch the Formula 1 race in Singapore?

“Did President Marcos use a G280 Gulfstream Command and Control aircraft for his Singapore trip to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix? PAF spokesperson Col. Ma Consuelo Castillo: The PAF, through the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing is mandated to provide safe and secure air transport to the President for all his movements as directed by higher office. Castillo: It is the raison d’etre or reason for being of the 250th PAW, thus, all its air assets are dedicated for the use of the President and the First Family. Castillo: The G280 aircraft, being a command and control aircraft, allows the President to perform his very critical function as Commander in Chief, AFP, while airborne, wherever he is around the globe; whether on state functions or otherwise. The 250th PAW is one of the units of the nation’s air force that is attached and assigned with the Presidential Security Group” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 05.10.2022).

Apparently, Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Junior cannot catch a break. Not even when he takes a brief brake and watches a Formula One Grand Prix Race in Singapore. The President just left everything hanging and he knew there was even Palace intrigue. Nothing mattered more for the man than watching the Formula One Race.

It is questionable activity at best. That the President just takes off after the Super Typhoon “Karding” and didn’t even look into that. He still has the monies and the manpower to travel to Singapore. There was no scheduled meetings, partake in any sort of diplomatic enterprise or anything of that nature. He was just travelling for leisure and fun to another nation.

We cannot anticipate a joint communique from Singapore-Philippines in the near future about the future trading agreements, bilateral work or proof of diplomatic vision between the nations. It doesn’t make it any better that he used it for a leisure.

It doesn’t make the case better, when this is reported as well: “Gulfstream G280 was bought in 2019 as an “airborne command post” for senior leaders and commanders during emergencies, said Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong. The purchase of a P2 billion jet earned flak as critics found it an extravagant purchase” (James Patrick Cruz – ‘Spotted: Philippine Air Force’s Gulfstream G280 flew to Singapore during F1 weekend’ 03.10.2022, Interaksyon – Philstar.com).

So, the Airborne Command Post bought for emergencies was used for a leisure trip to a Formula One race in Singapore. You cannot make these things up, but the President surely needs to address the emergency and why he needed the Airborne Command Post to watch a Formula One Race. That’s really amazing wastage of not only time, money and security agents surrounding the President.

I wonder, if the watching of Formula One was even a critical function, because it cannot be assessed to be an emergency. Everyone knows that this wasn’t a state function or anything in connection to the Office of the President. No, this was just a private trip and could be considered to be a vacation.

I have a hard time seeing the need or the necessity of Bong Bong Marcos Jr. to be in Singapore for the Formula One Race. He could have travelled on a chartered flight or paid with the massive wealth is family has to rent a private plane even. Alas, he chose to use a government aircraft, use his office to spend taxpayers money on a security detail as well. It is natural that he has this and needs it. However, it was still a public waste of funds on a totally unnecessary event, which the President could have avoid.

Nevertheless, Bong Bong Marcos Jr. prioritize it… and he didn’t care. Peace.