Philippine Politics

“Asia’s development experience shows us that it is futile to simply mimic the West. We have to find our own way through the challenges of the age. We will focus on policies that befit the Asian mind. We will focus on the so many things and challenges that are unique in our time,” he added.

“The rapid [progress of] information technologies will drastically alter the way our economies are organized. We must prepare to harness them to improve our economy and government institutions,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Duterte also thanked the country’s international partners for the assistance that they have been giving the Philippines, especially for the rehabilitation of the war-torn Marawi City.

“Our effort to achieve a higher growth rate benefits from strong support extended by friends in the regions. Official development assistance grew to unprecedented levels. The rebuilding of Marawi illustrated this. The rehabilitation of Marawi has become an international effort. We are grateful for all of the support offered and given,” he said.

Duterte said that the Philippines has much to offer but agreed that the country first have to clean house. He assured that he will be relentless in his fight against the ills of the country.

He pointed out that the Philippines is beautiful and rich country, and the dedication and resiliency of the Filipino is world-renowned.

“This is no braggadocio. But to realize our potentials, we have to extract the wealth from the earth’s bosom. Thus, we shall continue to rely on the Asian Development Bank for financial assistance, be it in the form of loans or grants,” he said.

“But first we have to put our house in order. We need to fix our transportation system. We have to stop corruption. We shall continue our campaign against illegal drugs within the limits [that] the law allows. And, of course, as always and has been, the fight will be relentless. It’s a fair warning,” he added.

The President also assured that the government will not let these assistance and investments go to waste.

“These investments shall be accompanied by intensive efforts and reforms in governance,” Duterte said.

Duterte said that there should be order first so the country’s progress can be assured.

“My government will not compromise in the maintenance of civil order. We will not buckle in the face of threats from militants and terrorists. We are fully aware that when the civil order weakens, progress will no longer be possible,” he said.

“A nation’s progress can only be the result of strong institutions of leadership and governance. Our institutions are threatened not only by terrorism but also by drug syndicates and corrupt public servants. We will be unyielding but to me personally, I would be harsh on all fronts,” he added.

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The author of the first biography of Rodrigo Duterte says the maverick Philippine president was gravitating toward China partly because of a personal animosity toward the United States and its criticisms of his human rights record.

Jonathan Miller, Asia correspondent for Britain's Channel 4 News, spent more than a year interviewing Duterte's family, Cabinet members, supporters and critics to compile a biography largely in the words of Filipinos. It's called "Duterte Harry," a nickname Duterte earned during 22 years as the gun-toting mayor of southern Davao city. It's also a play on the Clinton Eastward movie title "Dirty Harry."

The British journalist said Duterte would like the Philippines to be part of new sphere that included China and Russia and abandon the old alliances including with the United States, the country's former colonial power.

China's greatest appeal to the 72-year-old Philippine leader for a realigned relationship was money, Miller said.

"The Chinese have actually promised a lot of investment and although Duterte in the past has not been known for his infrastructure work, there are few countries in Southeast Asia that are in more need of investment and infrastructure than the Philippines — they need rail and road transport desperately," Miller told The Associated Press in Canberra during a book signing.

"He's looking for a lot of Chinese money in that, but he's also doing it to punish the U.S. and he's got a personal chip on his shoulder over the United States, which has criticized him for his human rights abuses," Miller said.

"He values China because they don't criticize his human rights stuff," he added.

Many Filipinos are unsettled by Duterte moving away from the United States and closer to China, which aggressively contests the Philippines' territorial claims in the South China Sea.

"The move toward China alarms a lot of Filipinos who love America more than any other country in the world," Miller said.

Duterte's gripes with the United States include being refused a visa, apparently because of State Department alarm at death squads that operated in Davao when he was mayor, Miller said.

The International Criminal Court is conducting a preliminary probe into extrajudicial killings during Duterte's signature war-on-drugs policy despite the president withdrawing his country from the court's jurisdiction. A Filipino lawyer has complained that the anti-drugs campaign could amount to crimes against humanity.

Miller suspects the slayings of suspected drug users and pushers "represents the largest loss of life in Southeast Asia since Pol Pot," the leader of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime that killed millions in Cambodia in the late 1970s.

More than 4,000 mostly urban poor suspects have been killed by police — a staggering death toll officials blame on the suspects fighting back. Human rights watchdogs have cited much higher numbers of fatalities, which the government disputes.

Duterte denies condoning summary killings and has lashed out at critics, including former President Barack Obama, Western governments and U.N. human rights officials who have raised alarm over the killings.

Miller's book notes that Duterte has publicly derided Obama, Pope Francis and the author with a favored "son of a whore" insult, while declaring his approval for President Donald Trump.

In Canberra, Miller described Duterte as an admitted liar, thin-skinned, narcissistic, vengeful, angry and deeply misogynistic.

The book cites a 1998 psychologist's report used by Duterte's former wife in a marriage annulment court application that described Duterte as having a narcissistic personality disorder with aggressive features.

The diagnosis was drawn from the wife's testimony. His daughter Sara Deturter-Carpio told the author that her father had been chivalrous in not contesting the report and allowing the marriage to end in a country does not recognize divorce.

Miller approached Duterte to be interviewed for the biography. Duterte referred Miller to staff to set an appointment, but staff never did.

Duterte's top aide summoned the U.S. ambassador in February to discuss a global threat assessment by American intelligence agencies that mentioned the Philippine leader along with dangers facing democracy in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.

The U.S. report said "autocratic tendencies" are expected to deepen in some governments in Southeast Asia and mentioned that Duterte has suggested he could suspend the constitution, declare a "revolutionary government" and impose nationwide martial law.

Duterte's foreign policy critics argue his administration has not done enough to defend his country's sovereignty in the South China Sea and argue it has been far too soft on China.

The Russian navy has visited Manila three times since Duterte vowed to diversify the country's ties away from the United States and toward China and Russia. Duterte supports Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PASAY CITY, Philippines – The historic Balangiga bells have finally returned to the Philippines on Tuesday (December 11).

On board the US Air Force C-130 plane, the three bells were transported from the U.S. Air Base in Okinawa, Japan and arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at 10:35 a.m.

“The United States reunited all three Balangiga Bells on December 7, 2018 at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan,” the U.S. Embassy posted on its Facebook account.

The return of the Balangiga bells after 117 years marks an important milestone in the Philippines-US relations, according to Malacañang.

President Rodrigo Duterte did not attend the handover ceremony on Tuesday.

However, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana assures that the Chief Executive will be at Balangiga town in Samar in time for the reinstallation of the bells in Balangiga church on December 15. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Lea Ylagan)

The European Union said Saturday it would investigate allegations that its aid funds were being funnelled to Philippine communist guerrillas waging a decades-old insurgency that has killed thousands.

The Philippine government demanded the probe, alleging that aid supplied to a local non-profit by the EU was being diverted to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its New People's Army (NPA), the bloc's office in Manila said.

"Should the allegations be established, the EU immediately would take full legal action," it said in a statement, adding that a financial audit by an external company would be conducted next month.

The statement said Manila had raised the claims with the EU in January, but that an initial audit "has so far not been able to verify the allegations".

Philippine military spokesman Brigadier-General Edgard Arevalo said Saturday Manila had supplied "voluminous documents" in support of the allegation.

Arevalo said "millions of pesos" (tens of thousands of dollars) in foreign aid had been funnelled to the NPA for many years using its "front organisations", but did not elaborate further.

"We are confident that we will succeed in proving our case," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte cancelled peace talks with the rebels in 2017 after they refused to sign a ceasefire and stop imposing a "revolutionary tax" on businesses in areas where the guerrillas operate.

The NPA launched its rebellion to create a Maoist state in 1969, emerging out the global communist movement and finding fertile soil in the impoverished country.

Its main stronghold is in the south, but the movement also boasts a scattered presence in the central Philippines and a few areas in the north.

According to the military, the insurgency has claimed 40,000 lives.