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Tuesday, September 29, 2015

What the clamor for a Duterte run tells about us Filipinos

Permission to post: Veronica Uy, InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 For the upcoming elections, I will not be overwhelmed by disappointment and frustration.

 Instead, this attitude:

No one and nothing’s perfect.

Not the candidates, not the Philippine political and electoral system, and least of all, not us, the citizenry, the voters.

So the 60-minute Happy Hour with Mayor Duterte was a feeble attempt to get to know the man, his motivations, and his flaws.

How do his failings as a person balance with his ambitions for the nation?

I asked him how many people he has killed because I wanted to satisfy a curiosity about people with that capability.

When I was a police reporter many years ago, I encountered two such men shortly after they’d done the deed.
Duterte

First was the triggerman in the killing of alleged big-time drug lord Don Pepe Oyson.

No other reporter was in the newsroom so I was told to go get details of the story.

The men were seated alongside the walls of the anteroom to the office of then NBI chief Alfredo Lim.

I was breathless because I had come from the Western Police District headquarters, where editors wrongfully instructed me to go interview the lawmen responsible for gunning down an allegedly escaping Oyson.

I politely asked which one shot and killed Oyson. I went to him and asked him how he did it and why.

He gave me his version of what happened -- in a voice that uncontrollably shook.

It felt like it was his initiation into the elite fraternity of men who kill. Second was during a hostage-taking in Dasmarinas Village in Makati.

It was past our 3 p.m. deadline, and we were all simply shooting the breeze in the Makati Press Office when somebody got a call about a developing crime story.

The photographers crammed into the jeep of a radio reporter.

I went with the rest of the other reporters in a cab.

We ran from a gate of the posh village.

The presence of police and village security vehicles pointed us to the crime site.

 I rushed to the passenger side of a white AUV parked outside the mansion of the man who was being held hostage.

One man was slumped dead in the front seat, blood oozing out of his head.

I did not know that the hostage-taking incident had concluded.

The sight of the body and smell of fresh blood shocked me.

I retreated to the vehicle behind the AUV. Three village security guards in blue overalls were in front of their vehicle, with one of them -- a hulkish man -- vomiting.

Turns out he was the one who shot dead one of the hostage-takers.

 That’s why I suppose it’s not easy to kill. One of the Ten Commandments, this prohibition against taking another’s life, is where I have always drawn the line, primarily because resurrection has not yet been successfully replicated in big enough numbers outside high-tech labs so as not to be considered a miracle.

At the height of the plunder accusations against former President GMA, I would tell rabidly anti-GMA friends,

“Stolen funds can be returned, unlike snuffed lives.” Although now I know: Stealing, especially obscenely huge amounts intended to feed, clothe, shelter, educate les miserables, does kill -- just as stupidity, indifference, and greed (definitely) kills.

 Duterte was not coy. His response felt like he was inside a confessional bragging. It was surreal. “I counted to three and that was it,” he said of the kidnappers that took a “Chinese girl” when she was released.

“Babarilin ko ang dalawang bayag niya(I will shoot both his testicles),” he said of the cigarette-smoking tourist in tobacco-free Davao City.

And unrelated to the question of whether or not he’s running for the presidency, Papatayin kita pag pumunta ka sa Davao (I will kill you if you go to Davao).”

Talking about the interview with a friend, we agreed that the bluster might be a case of myth-making.

And you can’t argue with Duterte about how the justice system is nowhere near being just.

A former prosecutor, he enumerated the pillars of the Philippine judicial system and their failures. Of the rehabilitation pillar:

“What can they do? Jail me? In jail, one can have so many women, have or trade in drugs, get a Patek Philippe watch.

” For me, this is the story: A lot of Filipinos like the swagger.

His rage, directed mainly at the continuing lording over of illegal drug traffickers, resonated with many.

Our amateur social psychological conclusion: People cheer Duterte on because he projects the “Justice League” persona.

He is katarungan personified. People bear the weight of social injustice every day.

He is a superhero.

They know that might and money are the only law.

Not right.

 And who has not felt homicidal over the homeless babies on the streets being used as pity capital in exchange for our guilt-filled coins?

The corruption that exacerbate this inhumanity of poverty?

The floods?

The traffic?

Every putang ina, babarilin ko ang bayag or papatayin kita is meant more than to shock, but to echo everyman’s and everywoman’s indignation and to shake off some of their frustration.

They agree that Duterte’s motivation -- to make his city safe for his constituents -- justifies his means.

 Unlike FPJ, Duterte has captured the imagination of Mindanaoans (and quite a number of people elsewhere) with real-life toughness of talk and action.

He has accepted that politics and governance can be so dirty he developed a capacity for the killing that it sometimes requires.

People’s reaction to him is similar to former policemen Alfredo Lim and Panfilo Lacson.

 While Duterte’s strongman’s governance style leaves me a little terrorized, four positive things in a Duterte presidency came out of the interview:

  1. He is from Mindanao -- and everything that stems from that fact. Duterte asserts that Mindanao is his home, and because it is home, he won’t let it continue being “the country’s battleground.
” Even as he recognizes that he is a migrant to the island, he is pro-Moro, and not only because a relative is married to one.
According to him, his going around the country promoting federalism -- in place of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in the likelihood that it doesn't pass Congress -- is what people interpreted as his pre-election campaign.

  2. He knows his history. The first part of the interview was mostly about history -- as viewed from Mindanao: how the island has always fought against colonizers and for self-determination.

He claims to understand the island’s and its unconquered peoples’ “idiosyncracies.”

  3. His concern for patrimony. He argues: China may have all the billions to buy parts of our land, but we cannot agree to sell them because where else would Filipinos go?

This is our land. He is also anti-mining.

  4. He gets things done. Tobacco is a big enemy. And Duterte took it on, and seems to be winning that war -- in his cowboy style.
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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Supporters pledge P1Billion for Duterte, No Strings Attached

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—They are not expecting anything in return, not even publicity.

All they want is a crime-free, drug-free, corruption-free and rebellion-free Philippines.

“They” are a group of Filipino businessmen who believe Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s policies are good for business and have pledged P1 billion to bankroll his presidential candidacy, according to Duterte’s aides.


The businessmen, who call themselves the Anonymous Patriots for Peaceful and Progressive Philippines, or AP4, believe that “by helping Duterte win the presidency, they would be showing their patriotism,” said former North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, a Duterte friend and supporter.



No strings attached

“There will be no strings attached. They will not even allow their names to be published,” said Piñol, quoting businessman Benigno Gopez, who speaks for the group.

Peter Laviña, Duterte’s spokesperson, told the Inquirer he could confirm Piñol’s claim.

“Yes, I can confirm. Many well-meaning Filipinos rich and not rich are willing to financially support Duterte,” Laviña said.

He said it had always been volunteerism that had fueled the campaign to convince Duterte to run for President.

“In fact, the federalism campaign [that Duterte has been running] the past year was largely funded by volunteerism,” Laviña said.


His own man


According to Piñol, what has drawn the businessmen to Duterte is his firm stand that no politician should become beholden to interest groups.

That’s why, he said, the businessmen are not asking for anything in return for the money they would be contributing to the Duterte campaign—should the mayor finally decide to run.

“Do we want a President who is not beholden to anybody but only to the Filipino people? AP4 believes we should do our part,” he quoted Gopez as saying.

According to Piñol, Gopez had told him that “many more are willing to contribute to Rody Duterte’s campaign kitty.”

These businessmen, he said, did not even have business transactions with any government agency.
Piñol said AP4 was also hopeful that the seed campaign fund would grow with the participation of patriotic Filipinos.

“While the estimated cost of running a presidential campaign is pegged at between P6 billion to P8 billion, Duterte’s campaign is not expected to cost that much because most of his local political leaders are not dependent on the traditional party funding,” he said.


Election spenders

In August, Duterte disclosed having been called to a meeting by five big businessmen known to be election spenders, who said they wanted to bankroll his presidential campaign.

One of them, he said, owns a large television network, another a communications company, and still another owns and runs a stevedoring company. There were two others who own various big businesses.

But Duterte said he had turned down their offer because he was not running.
In subsequent interviews, he explained that he did not want to be obligated to any election contributor.

“I have been mayor of Davao City for many years now and no one can say I asked or received money from them during the campaign periods,” he said.

Not losing hope


Piñol and Laviña are among the avid Duterte supporters who continue to hope that the mayor will change his mind in the face of his repeated statements that he is definitely not running.

“It’s still several weeks away before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy,” Piñol said.

Laviña said there were many others who continued to pledge financial donations and other assistance even after the mayor’s rejection of the calls for him to run.

Last week, Duterte urged his supporters not to go to the Luneta on Monday (today) where his supporters are holding a rally aimed at convincing him to run.

A similar rally was also staged at the Rizal Park in Davao City on Sunday, where about 500 people were seen to have already converged as of 4 p.m.


On Laviña’s Facebook page, he appeared to be in contact with organizers of the Luneta rally, posting updates and photos. People could be seen putting up tents for the rally.

Duterte has not issued any statement on the P1-billion campaign pledge and his supporters’ insistence about holding the rally.

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Thursday, September 24, 2015

The 50 richest people in the Philippines in 2013

MANILA, Philippines - Who is the richest man in the Philippines? Forbes magazine has released its list of top 50 richest people in the Philippines. On top for the sixth straight year is mall tycoon Henry Sy, with a $12 billion net worth - a $2.9 billion increase from a year ago.

Here's the Forbes list of the richest people with their estimated net worth:

1. Henry Sy (SM group) - $12 billion
Henry Sy
2. Lucio Tan (LT group) - $7.5 billion
3. Andrew Tan (Megaworld) - $4.6 billion
4. Enrique Razon (ICTSI) - $4.5 billion
5. John Gokongwei Jr. (JG Summit) - $3.4 billion
6. Jaime Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Corp.) - $3.1 billion
7. Aboitiz family (AEV) - $3 billion
8. David Consunji (DMCI) - $2.7 billion
9. George Ty (Metrobank) - $2.6 billion
10. Lucio & Susan Co (Puregold) - $1.9 billion
11. Tony Tan Caktiong (Jollibee) - $1.7 billion
12. Robert Coyiuto Jr. - $1.5 billion
13. Emilio Yap (Philtrust Bank) - $1.35 billion
14. Roberto Ongpin - $1.3 billion
15. Inigo & Mercedes Zobel - $1.2 billion
16. Manuel Villar (Vista Land) $1.05 billion
17. Andrew Gotianun (Filinvest) $1 billion
18. Beatrice Campos (Unilab) $900 million
19. Vivian Que Azcona (Mercury Drug) $840 million
20. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. (San Miguel) $825 million
21. Alfonso Yuchengco - (Yuchengco group) $705 million
22. Oscar Lopez (Lopez Holdings) $675 million
23. Betty Ang (Monde Nissin) $600 million
24. Jorge Araneta (Araneta group) $505 million
25. Carlos Chan (Liwayway) $500 million
26. Michael Romero (Global Port 900) $490 million
27. Eric Recto $485 million
28. Mariano Tan Jr. (Unilab) $435 million
29. Frederick Dy (Security Bank) $290 million
30. Walter Brown (Atok-Big Wedge) $270 million
31. Ramon Ang (San Miguel) $260 million
32. Jose Antonio (Century Properties) $255 million
33. Wilfred Uytengsu Jr. $250 million
34. Manuel Zamora Jr. (Nickel Asia) $240 million
35. Jacinto Ng Sr. (Asia United Bank) $230 million
36. Alfredo Ramos (National Book Store) $225 million
37. Gilberto Duavit (GMA Network) $224 million
38. Menardo Jimenez (GMA Network) $223 million
39. Edgar Sia II (Mang Inasal founder) $210 million
40. Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. (Rustan's) $205 million
41. Felipe Gozon (GMA) $200 million
42. Alfredo Yao (Zest-O) $180 million
43. Michael Cosiquien (Megawide Construction) $175 million
44. Edgar Saavedra (Megawide Construction) $170 million
45. Juliette Romualdez (Benguet Mining) $165 million
46. Tomas Alcantara (Alsons Consolidated) $160 million
47. Lourdes Montinola (FEU) $155 million
48. Luis Virata (Nickel Asia) $120 million
49. Philip Ang (Nickel Asia) $115 million
50. Manuel Pangilinan (PLDT, First Pacific) $105 million

 This is taken from ABS-CBN.com
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