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Tit for tat to defend Ayungin against China

Tit for tat to defend Ayungin against China

by | Apr 12, 2023 | Gotcha

PNA photo of China Coast Guard ship

GOTCHA

written on November 26, 2021

 

Match China with water cannon. Get US military air cover. Renew joint patrols with other allies. Call international attention to China’s escalating harassment. Those are among many creative ways to defend resupply missions to Philippine Marines in Ayungin Shoal.

“The Philippines can resort to nonlethal means” against China’s water-cannoning of civilian wooden boats, retired general Edilberto Adan said Tuesday. “Japan did it. They were hosed by the China Coast Guard and they fired back using water cannons as well. No shots were fired (in the Senkaku Isles). That is what we should do.”

The CCG’s water-cannoning of two Filipino boats Nov. 16 is graduated aggression. Breaking one boat’s outrigger calculatedly aborted the delivery of water, food and medicines to eight Marines in the beached BRP Sierra Madre. Delayed by a week, the reprovisioning was completed under a new Chinese condition of no Philippine Coast Guard escorts.

“The mere act of allowing but under conditions shows that China is still assertive over the area,” noted Adan, a trustee of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations. “China is showing it is still in control; it will probably do it again (water cannon).”

The foreign office immediately protested the Chinese bullying, and President Duterte a week late called it “abhorrent”. Only 100 nautical miles from Palawan, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal is within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone, well outside China’s own EEZ. Twenty miles farther China grabbed Panganiban (Mischief) Reef in 1995 and concreted it into an island-fortress. From there the CCG intimidates Filipino fishermen and oil surveyors in the Recto (Reed) Bank and nearby Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.

As China used nonlethal water cannons, “the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty cannot be implemented. It is short of an armed attack but it is not an armed attack,” Adan said.

China’s “cabbage strategy” includes wearing down Philippine resistance. “Its objective is to starve our Marines into leaving Ayungin,” international maritime lawyer Jay Batongbacal, PhD, told Sapol-dwIZ Saturday.

As counter-measure, Batongbacal suggested replicating supply runs protected by US aircraft. In 2013 CCG combat helicopters repeatedly splashed seawater into Filipino rubber and wooden boats approaching Ayungin. Airdrops were attempted. When provocations persisted the following year, the Philippines dispatched sailboats – with a US Navy P-8 surveillance plane circling overhead.

Batongbacal said steel vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard or the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources should escort the civilian outriggers. “Steel craft can better withstand water cannon.” Chinese bullying must be video-ed and presented to international bodies, including the United Nations.

Former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario proposed direct talks with the US. “The matter of Ayungin Shoal as a proper subject of the MDT should be seriously considered – including the necessity of joint patrol.”

The 1951 MDT will activate in case of armed attack against Philippine or US public vessels or territory. Washington reiterated this in warning Beijing against bellicosity in Ayungin. It reminded that the 2016 international arbitral ruling upheld Philippine sovereign rights in its EEZ in the West Philippine Sea.

Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and the European Union also denounced Beijing’s harassment of a humanitarian resupply mission. Like America, Britain conducts naval drills and patrols in the WPS and the rest of the South China Sea.

Del Rosario criticized the Duterte administration limiting itself to bilateral diplomacy with China, “neglecting the other tools in our box which [can] enable us to move the tribunal’s ruling to the next level.”

Talking solely with Beijing does not keep it at bay. “After more than several years, the Philippine approach of focusing solely on bilateral diplomacy to the exclusion of other policy tools, including internationalization and multilateral diplomacy, has failed to convince China to abandon its expansionism.”

Former Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio has been seeking revival of joint patrols with the US, UK, Japan, Australia and other allies. Duterte had withdrawn Philippine forces from joint air and naval exercises in the WPS.

“No country will enter into a mutual defense treaty with another that does not take its self-defense seriously,” Carpio wrote. “For a non-nuclear armed state like the Philippines facing aggression by nuclear-armed China, the only recourse to deter China in the WPS is to maintain an MDT with nuclear-armed United States. Maintenance of such MDT requires taking our self-defense capability seriously.”

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

* * *

Catch “Sapol” radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM)

            “Gotcha: An Exposé on the Philippine Government” is available as e-book and paperback. Get a free copy of “Chapter 1: Beijing’s Bullying and Duplicity”. Simply subscribe to my newsletter HERE. Book orders also accepted there.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

So what if BBM lawyer has just been hired?

So what if BBM lawyer has just been hired?

by | Apr 12, 2023 | Gotcha

PNA photo of Bongbong Marcos

GOTCHA

written on November 24, 2021

 

 

 

“Unbelievable.” “Unprecedented.” “A mockery of election rules.” So remarked election lawyers when the Comelec extended for Bongbong Marcos its strictly “non-extendible” period to rebut his disqualification. Oldtimers recalled how the Comelec in the 1970s-1980s bowed to BBM’s dictator-father Ferdinand Marcos.

BBM’s absolute deadline to reply to the DQ petition was supposed to be the other Tuesday, Nov. 16. That’s based on long-standing Comelec Rule 23, Section 4 (6): “Within a non-extendible period of five (5) days from receipt of summons, the respondent shall personally or through authorized representative file his verified answer.”

The aim is to avoid delay in disposition of cases. The Comelec must expedite decisions for the voters’ sake: “Failure of the respondent to file his verified answer within the reglementary period shall bar him from submitting controverting evidence or filing his memorandum.”

A petition to debar BBM as presidental candidate was filed Nov. 2. He allegedly is unqualified, being a three-time tax-evasion convict. Such conviction is “moral turpitude,” a ground for exclusion. His certificate of candidacy is invalid since he perjured in denying any previous criminal conviction. He received the Comelec Second Division summons on Nov. 11.

Enter Estelito Mendoza on Nov. 16 as BBM lawyer. Instead of filing an answer he sought extension of BBM’s non-extendible deadline. Supposedly he had just been hired the previous day. Due to his “current workload” he needed “time to review the petition and prepare an adequate response.”

That defied jurisprudence. Countless times in various cases the Supreme Court has ruled and reminded that a lawyer cannot alibi workload to delay legal proceedings. For decades, the appellate and lower courts have reiterated that. Longtime lawyer and former solicitor general Mendoza must know it.

BBM spokesman had bragged that “around 500 lawyers volunteered their service for us.” That BBM dawdled is his fault. Under its rules, the Comelec must act with speed and efficiency.

And yet, on Nov. 18, 2nd division Commissioners Socorro Inting and Antonio Kho extended by a week BBM’s non-extendible time limit.

Atty. Theodore Te, lead counsel for the DQ petitioners, had lost no time in opposing the Nov. 17 request for extension. He filed a “motion to bar” the very next day Nov. 18. And when the division persisted with the extension later that day, Te swiftly moved for reconsideration on Nov. 19.

“This is not a matter of hyper-technicality or over-insistence on rules over substance,” Te stated. “It goes to the very nature of fairness, or the perception of fairness. The Commission cannot, without flouting its own rules and the very basic tenets of fairness, grant a new period of time to respondent – without basis pleaded and without authority from its own rules. That, with due respect, is grave abuse of discretion.”

Te also took exception to the BBM spokesman’s “undue, intimate, insider familiarity with the Commission.” That spokesman is not a BBM “counsel on record, therefore an outsider.” Yet he announced in the morning of Nov. 18 that they had been granted an extension the previous day, Nov. 17. The Second Division acted only in the afternoon of Nov. 18.

Te asked the Division to make the spokesman explain. “That preternatural ability to dictate the Second Division’s decision a day before the Commission even deliberated the matter… cast a long shadow (of doubt) over the Commission’s credibility,” he said.

The SC has time and again admonished the Comelec against abuse of discretion. Justices reminded that arbitrariness, especially in bending its own rules, can lead to corruption or suspicions of it.

Under the Marcos dictatorship the poll body often was criticized for ‘Comelecting.” Political allies of Marcos were “Comelected,” that is, put in office not by the people’s will but by Comelec manipulation and bias.

Accommodating BBM can taint the Comelec anew. Conviction for tax evasion is a case for DQ; and lying in the COC, for cancellation. It makes people think twice about paying taxes when a favored “presidentiable” is a tax evader.

The DQ case was filed by Marcos martial law torture victims: Fr. Christian Buenafe, Fides Lim, Ma. Edeliza Hernandez, Celia Sevilla, Roland Vibal and Josephine Lascano.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

* * *

Catch “Sapol” radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM)

            “Gotcha: An Exposé on the Philippine Government” is available as e-book and paperback. Get a free copy of “Chapter 1: Beijing’s Bullying and Duplicity”. Simply subscribe to my newsletter HERE. Book orders also accepted there.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

2 SC rulings forewarn ‘alalays’ in corruption

2 SC rulings forewarn ‘alalays’ in corruption

by | Apr 12, 2023 | Gotcha

PNA photo of Romulo Neri

GOTCHA

written on November 19, 2021

 

 

 

Romulo Neri, former National Economic and Development Authority director general, has lost all leave credits and retirement benefits from the government. He is now barred from public service.

The Supreme Court recently upheld the Ombudsman’s findings of sleaze in the 2007 national broadband network project with China’s ZTE Corp. Neri’s “grave misconduct” was affirmed, and the Court of Appeals verdict of “simple misconduct” reversed.

“The elements of corruption and clear intent to violate the law are quite patent,” the SC Third Division ruled. “(Neri) actively brokered for ZTE’s bid by using his public position despite knowing the corruption involved in the project. There is no cogent reason to justify the lowering of liability to simple misconduct.”

“Petitioner Neri is dismissed from service,” wrote Justice Marvic Leonen, division chairman. “(This) includes the necessary penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of leave credits and retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service.”

The verdict dated July 5 was publicized last week. Justices Ramon Paul Hernando, Henri Jean Inting, Ricardo Rosario and Jhosep Lopez concurred.

Neri had introduced whistle-blower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. to then-Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos. The CA found Abalos “highly interested in pursuing a telecommunications project with the government” under then-president  Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Lozada prepared the NBN-ZTE technicals. Neri next processed the approval amid allegations of a P200-million bribe offer from Abalos. Finding misconduct, the Ombudsman in 2009 suspended Neri for six months without pay. While Neri did not solely approve the deal, he “was deemed to have mediated – through the NEDA – between Abalos and ZTE.” Deemed improper were Neri’s attendance in conferences and golf games hosted by ZTE execs and Abalos.

Abalos and Arroyo were indicted for graft at the Sandiganbayan. They were acquitted in May and September 2016, respectively. Dismissed were testimonies of P10-billion kickback in the P17-billion project, and in Abalos and Arroyo’s lunches and golfing at ZTE’s Shenzhen headquarters while the deal was being processed. Arroyo was NEDA chairman and Neri the vice.

Before joining the Arroyo Cabinet Neri was head of the powerful Congressional Planning and Budget Office under three successive House Speakers.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council has been ordered to divulge bank transactions related to the 2009 sale of used, overpriced helicopters as brand-new to the Philippine National Police. The AMLC records are pertinent to the Sandiganbayan case that former first gentleman Mike Arroyo owned the aircraft.

The AMLC had twice refused the Sandiganbayan order to open its files, and ran to the SC. The Third Division dismissed the agency’s petition, seeing no abuse of discretion by the Sandiganbayan.

“Instead of avoiding compliance with the subpoena, [AMLC] must firmly perform its mandate as an investigatory body and independent financial intelligence unit,” Justice Leonen ruled. Justices Hernando, Inting, Edgardo delos Santos and Lopez agreed with the February verdict released last week.

On trial at the Sandiganbayan are Arroyo and several police generals. Lionair president Archibald Po testified that Arroyo purchased five choppers from him in 2003-2004. He was instructed in 2009 to transfer two units to Manila Aerospace Trading Products, he swore. From records, Maptra then offered the second-hand choppers to the police. Arroyo denied any part.

Po said Arroyo deposited partial payment to Lionair’s account with Union Bank. To verify these, the Office of the Special Prosecutor presented a bank official. The latter said that since the account was closed in 2006 and the files discarded, the Sandiganbayan can seek recourse with the Bangko Sentral or AMLC. On the OSP’s request, the Sandiganbayan ordered AMLC Executive Director Julia Bacay-Abad to open the records. Po waived the right to secrecy of Lionair’s account under the Foreign Currency Deposit Act.

The AMLC twice moved to quash the subpoena. The Sandiganbayan rejected the motions, prompting AMLC to go to the SC.

The AMLC argued that “it is prohibited by law to disclose the relevant bank records of Lionair … (because) confidential.” Cited was Section 9(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, that “Financial institutions and their officers be prohibited from disclosing covered and suspicious transaction reports, or ‘tipping-off’ that a case is being filed.”

The SC found the claim untenable, saying the AMLC is not among the institutions covered by the ban. AMLC is “not merely a repository of reports and information.”

“It would be antithetical to its own functions if (AMLC) were to refuse to participate in prosecuting anti-money laundering offenses by taking shelter in the confidentiality provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act,” the SC added. More so since Lionair submitted a written permission to open its accounts.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

* * *

Catch “Sapol” radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM)

            “Gotcha: An Exposé on the Philippine Government” is available as e-book and paperback. Get a free copy of “Chapter 1: Beijing’s Bullying and Duplicity”. Simply subscribe to my newsletter HERE. Book orders also accepted there.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

Manchurian candidates targeting four highest posts

Manchurian candidates targeting four highest posts

by | Apr 11, 2023 | Gotcha

PNA photo of President Duterte (left) and Bongbong Marcos (right)

GOTCHA

written on November 17, 2021

 

 

 

China’s communist rulers must be pleased. Manchurian candidates are gunning for the Philippines’ four highest positions. The collaborators squabble, usual in clan politics. If elected, they will do Beijing’s bidding – surrender Filipino resources. A united Opposition can thwart China agents.

Successor wannabe Bongbong Marcos hails President Duterte’s China appeasement as “the right way.” He will disarm the Navy and Air Force. Supposedly futile is to buy sea and aircraft because China can crush those in a week’s war. Defeatist, he will deprive sailors and airmen the means to patrol Philippine waters and airspace – the easier for China to steal fish, reefs, oil and gas.

Treason is in the Marcos blood. Guerrillas executed his grandfather for colluding with Japanese invaders. After fighting in Bataan, his father sold scrap metal to the enemy, and after Liberation tried to collect war reparations from America. Marcos Sr.’s war medals are bogus, wangled from President Diosdado Macapagal as political quid pro quo. (“Endless Journey: A Memoir,” Jose T. Almonte as told to Marites D. Vitug, Cleverheads) No records exist of Marcos’ “heroism” in the annals of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East.

Bongbong has special ties to the Chinese embassy. He was the only presidential candidate invited to its recent photo exhibit. He hosted in a home luncheon a huge delegation of the Chinese Communist Party. Fujian-based troll farms propagandize his election campaign online.

Bong Go is Duterte’s clone. He will only continue his boss’ “verbal pact” with Xi Jinping for Chinese to poach in the West Philippine Sea, unlimited extent, duration and tonnage.

The fruit does not fall far from the tree. Sara Duterte was mesmerized by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to slide down to VP. Blood will rebond Daughterte with the father who needs protecting from the ICC hangman’s noose for “mass murder.”

Duterte’s trillion-peso resources as President can win a Senate seat. As Senate president, he not only can retain crony deals but also facilitate treaty ratifications for China.

GMA is the original China stooge as president in 2001-2010. She broke the Constitution five ways for the 2004 Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking with Beijing. Then she took dirty Chinese loans for the North Rail and NBN-ZTE (exposed in Gotcha in 2007). One-sixth of the seabed survey was in the Palawan territorial sea; the rest in the exclusive economic zone. She conceded those as “disputed waters.” With the JMSU findings, Beijing in 2009 filed a claim with the United Nations over the entire South China Sea. Manila never got a copy of the report despite its $5-million contribution.

Lusting to retake the House speakership, GMA can revive sleaze. The ZTE scam contained a P10-billion kickback, higher than the P7-billion national broadband network. In exchange, GMA unconstitutionally granted shell ZTE Intl Corp. gold mining rights in Mount Diwalwal and North Davao. (Her environment secretary then is now the Manchurian candidate for Quezon City mayor, with a wealthy Manchurian candidate for congresswoman, the wife of a Chinese online gambling operator.)

Wrangling is normal among collaborators. During the Japanese Occupation, they fought each other for General Yamashita’s favors.

In the first post-War Philippine election, repackaged puppets did not intend to lift the country from the ashes. Two moneyed presidential-senatorial tickets of traitors slugged it out for the blessings of the returned General MacArthur. Marginalized were guerrillas who sought national and local offices. (“Kulaboretor! The Issue of Political Collaboration During World War II,” Prof. Augusto V. de Viana, UST Publishing)

No different was the indio factionalism for gobernadorcillo (town mayor) in the last two decades of Spanish rule. (“A Past Recovered,” Glenn Anthony May, New Day) As well, the shifting loyalties of mestizo lackeys from Spain to the Katipunan then to America, 1896-1902.

Today, Beijing’s commissars brag to have influenced the 2016 Philippine election, former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario quotes a New York Times source. He says: “Another six years of our country run by candidates under the thumb of China would be catastrophic. These Manchurian Candidates will deploy full power and money for the 2022 elections. If elected, they will rot the soul of our nation and undermine its pilars.”

As patriotic duty, Opposition candidates must discard personal ambition and unite to avert that.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

* * *

Catch “Sapol” radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM)

            “Gotcha: An Exposé on the Philippine Government” is available as e-book and paperback. Get a free copy of “Chapter 1: Beijing’s Bullying and Duplicity”. Simply subscribe to my newsletter HERE. Book orders also accepted there.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

Malampaya deal: China entry in gas field feared

Malampaya deal: China entry in gas field feared

by | Apr 11, 2023 | Gotcha

PNA photo of Malampaya gas field

GOTCHA

written on November 12, 2021

 

“With Dennis Uy now in Malampaya gas field, can China be far behind?” That remark by Filipino-American lawyer Rodel Rodis illustrates the bully neighbor’s threats to Philippine energy security.

Malampaya in offshore Palawan supplies one-fourth of Luzon’s electricity. The Davao City tycoon recently bought 90 percent of its operations via two shell companies. Both are greenhorns in exploration and extraction. Rodis with two others have charged Uy, his Udenna Corp., Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and fellow officials with graft in the alleged “sweetheart deal.” Impleaded as well are oil giants Chevron and Shell for selling to Uy without government’s prior consent. Udenna denies any wrongdoing.

Underlying the criminal complaint is the fear that Uy will bring in a partner worrisome to Filipinos: China National Offshore Oil Corp.

CNOOC earlier partnered with Uy for a liquified natural gas terminal. It is lusting for the Recto Bank gas field less than a hundred kilometers from Malampaya.

Lying within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone, Recto Bank is believed to contain thrice more gas than Malampaya. China gunboats illegally surround the Bank. But CNOOC cannot just barge in to siphon off the gas. That would fire up Philippine and international outrage, like the resistance to CNOOC’s 2014 attempt to plant a giant oil rig in Vietnam’s Paracel Isles.

Malampaya, in particular its 500-kilometer gas pipeline to mainland Luzon, “is inextricably linked” to extraction from Recto or Reed Bank, says former Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio. “Whoever owns the Malampaya gas pipeline has a leg up in the commercialization of the Recto Bank gas since the same pipeline will be used to deliver gas to Batangas.”

Manila’s contracted Recto Bank operator is Forum Energy. It has been unable to mine. In the past decade Chinese gunboats have rammed, machine-gunned and chased away Filipino survey vessels. Beijing illegally claims the entire South China Sea contrary to a 2016 international arbitral ruling.

In last month’s hearing of the Dept. of Energy’s 2022 budget, senators pointed up China’s play for Malampaya. Citing threat to national patrimony, Risa Hontiveros said the DOE must thoroughly review Udenna’s capabilities. Sherwin Gatchalian cautioned Cusi against a “midnight deal” of automatically extending the Malampaya service contract beyond expiration in December 2024. Despite Udenna’s entry, new public bidding must be held for service contractors to siphon remaining gas and oil beneath it, and “explore near-wells,” he explained Saturday in Sapol-dwIZ.

Petroleum geologist Eduardo Mañalac expects Udenna to partially sell to a company like CNOOC. “Taking over the rig personnel is not enough,” says the former president of Philippine National Oil Company and energy undersecretary. “Without any management expertise or industry contacts, it will need an expert partner.” Mañalac testified against Udenna’s buyout of Shell and Chevron before Gatchalian’s Senate energy committee.

Yesterday eight business groups called for continuing legislative inquiries in light of threats to energy and national security. Without naming Udenna, they said the “acquirer” would likely get operating partners since it “lacks expertise” and capital. “Government should scrutinize the buyer’s financial and technical capabilities and interests, and reserve, enforce and exercise its rights to block and invalidate transfers of shares and control disadvantageous to the Filipino people.” That was by Energy Lawyers Association, Financial Executives Institute, Filipina CEO Circle, Integrity Initiative Inc., Investment Houses Association, Makati Business Club, Philippine Women’s Economic Network and Women’s Business Council.

Business advisor Accuretti Systems analyzed in October 2020: “Dito Not Only a Telco Play but May also be a Beneficiary of South China Sea Exploration Resumption.” It referred to Uy’s entry into telecoms via Dito Telecommunity with state-owned China Telecom Corp. The newbie’s privilege to set up cell sites inside military camps has spurred fears of cyber-spying and sabotage. “China is not keen on giving up Recto Bank without participation in the exploration,” Accuretti said. “To solve the Chinese dilemma, it was proposed that Chinese state-owned companies be brought on board as partner in the Recto Bank exploration… Dennis Uy has been successful in bringing in the Chinese, particularly CNOOC.” In May 2019 CNOOC, PNOC and Uy’s Phoenix Petroleum agreed to engage in LNG and “future energy projects.”

China coastguards escort maritime militia trawlers to poach fish in the West Philippine Sea. Fearful of being shot and rammed, Filipino fishers are forced to shorelines, resulting in dwindled catch and high retail prices. Consumers buy imported galunggong, mackerel and sardines from China stolen from Philippine waters. CNOOC’s looming entry in Malampaya and Recto Bank has been likened to that irony. China will mine and sell Philippine gas to Filipinos at high rates.

*      *      *

Udenna says:

“No law requir(es) approval of transfer of shares of companies that have interest in Malampaya. Therefore, no party has the legal ability to rescind the Chevron and Shell transactions… (which) underwent strict bidding processes. The share sales were aboveboard and legal and pass[ed] thorough scrutiny by Philippine regulators, international lenders and the said private multinationals involved.”

Cusi says:

“The actions taken by the government in relation to the private transaction between Chevron, a multinational corporation, and Udenna are proper, legal and in furtherance of the best interests of the government. The decision taken regarding the exercise of the right to match should be taken against the backdrop of the restrictions imposed by various regulations on PNOC-EC as a government-owned and -controlled corporation, such as RA 9184 (Procurement Law) and RA 10149 (the GOCC Governance Law). In addition, the pandemic’s strain on government resources and allowed period under the Joint Operating Agreement (to exercise the right to match) were significant factors that limited the options, and ultimately prevented it from exercising its right to match.”

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

* * *

Catch “Sapol” radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM)

            “Gotcha: An Exposé on the Philippine Government” is available as e-book and paperback. Get a free copy of “Chapter 1: Beijing’s Bullying and Duplicity”. Simply subscribe to my newsletter HERE. Book orders also accepted there.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

If united, Opposition can gun for 51% majority

If united, Opposition can gun for 51% majority

by | Apr 11, 2023 | Gotcha

Wikipedia photos of Ping Lacson, Isko Moreno, Leni Robredo, and Manny Pacquiao (left-right)

GOTCHA

written on November 10, 2021

 

Their own voter-preference surveys show it. The combined ratings of Ping Lacson, Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquiao and Leni Robredo is about 42 percent.

Most voters have made up their minds for president in May 2022. Less than 18 percent remains undecided, but weighing two candidates.

The highest rater of the four has 20 percent, at best. In the unlikely chance that one of the four gets all the undecided votes, s/he would still lose. The three others will split the votes of the Opposition. None of them will make it. The administration frontrunner will win by wide plurality.

The only way for an Opposition victory is to unite. And the time for that is now, when they still have options. By next week the door will close. By next month, they would be too far gone to give way to one among them. They would have recruited campaigners on the ground and in social media, firmed up support from local leaders and spent much personal savings and early contributions.

Official campaign period starts February. At that point spending momentum will drive the candidates. More than half of campaign spending is on media and outdoor advertising; transportation, food, billeting for barnstorming and staff salaries. The balance goes to precinct poll watching, anti-cheating and legal services on Election Day.

By then, the four would have gone their separate ways to sure defeat. They will be remembered in history as the Fantasizing Four.

But if the four unite and convince at least half of the undecided, then the Opposition can win. And that would be by at least 51-percent majority. Their statisticians can factor in the trends of turnouts, no-shows due to vote buying and terrorism, command votes and early absentee ballots.

The country needs a majority president. We have not had one since the 1986 snap presidential election.

Election 2022 has been likened to the first presidential balloting after the war. Last year’s pandemic lockdowns shrank the GDP to minus 9.5 percent. Twenty-seven million lost their livelihoods. Three-and-a-half million families still suffer hunger. And as the invader 80 years ago plundered the country’s food and resources for the War machinery, today’s Filipino collaborators are surrendering the nation’s wealth to a new foreign aggressor. The people need a leader to rise from the ashes.

A majority president will have the political capital for major reforms. Philippine patrimonial assets handed over to cronies need to be recovered. Plunderers must be prosecuted. Vigilante murders must be stopped. Partisans inserted in the judiciary and constitutional commissions need neutralizing. Thieving political dynasties must be disbanded. Pandemic response should shift from brute force and vitriol to science-based solutions and mass communication. The Constitution can be improved.

Separate internal focused-group discussions of the four Opposition parties elicit similar responses. Voters want a president who is matalino, malinis and kaisa natin. The highest leader must have vision, courage to shun temptation and fire the corrupt around him/her and be one with the people.

Ping, Isko, Manny and Leni possess those traits. Certain urgent programs can be their bases of unity. Higher budgets for nutrition and education will physically and mentally strengthen the youth – no more revision of history. Restoration of decency will revitalize society – no more cussing of God, which only brings misfortune and calamities. Non-negotiable is the defense of Philippine territory and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. Whoever emerges as the common choice, the three can monitor for compliance.

Unifying requires sacrifice. Salvador “Doy“ Laurel gave up his presidential ambition and hoisted Cory Aquino for president against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. He heeded the counsel of Jaime Cardinal Sin and Doña Aurora Aquino, mother of slain democracy icon Ninoy Aquino. It wasn’t an easy decision for sure; his core group was livid yet he bore it. Doy is now etched in history as the fulcrum who made Cory rise and Marcos fall.

There may be no one to counsel Ping, Isko, Manny and Leni today. All we can depend on is their conscience and love of country.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

* * *

Catch “Sapol” radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM)

            “Gotcha: An Exposé on the Philippine Government” is available as e-book and paperback. Get a free copy of “Chapter 1: Beijing’s Bullying and Duplicity”. Simply subscribe to my newsletter HERE. Book orders also accepted there.

Sinovac safety efficacy and price still need clarifying

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Safeguarding and Securing the Data

jariusbondoc.com is committed to securing your data and keeping it confidential. jariusbondoc.com has done all in its power to prevent data theft, unauthorized access, and disclosure by implementing the latest technologies and software, which help us safeguard all the information we collect online.

 

Our Cookie Policy

Once you agree to allow our website to use cookies, you also agree to use the data it collects regarding your online behavior (analyze web traffic, web pages you spend the most time on, and websites you visit).

The data we collect by using cookies is used to customize our website to your needs. After we use the data for statistical analysis, the data is completely removed from our systems.

Please note that cookies don’t allow us to gain control of your computer in any way. They are strictly used to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not so that we can provide a better experience for you.

If you want to disable cookies, you can do it by accessing the settings of your internet browser.

 

Links to Other Websites

Our website contains links that lead to other websites. If you click on these links jariusbondoc.com is not held responsible for your data and privacy protection. Visiting those websites is not governed by this privacy policy agreement. Make sure to read the privacy policy documentation of the website you go to from our website.

 

Restricting the Collection of your Personal Data

At some point, you might wish to restrict the use and collection of your personal data. You can achieve this by doing the following:

 

  • When you are filling the forms on the website, make sure to check if there is a box which you can leave unchecked, if you don’t want to disclose your personal information.
  • If you have already agreed to share your information with us, feel free to contact us via email and we will be more than happy to change this for you.

 

jariusbondoc.com will not lease, sell or distribute your personal information to any third parties, unless we have your permission. We might do so if the law forces us. Your personal information will be used when we need to send you promotional materials if you agree to this privacy policy.

 

II. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All materials contained on this site are protected by the Republic of the Phlippines copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of jariusbondoc.com or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.

However, you may download material from jariusbondoc.com on the Web (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal, noncommercial use only.

If you wish to use jariusbondoc.com content for commercial purposes, such as for content syndication etc., please contact us at jariusbondoconline@gmail.com.

Links to Websites other than those owned by jariusbondoc.com are offered as a service to readers. The editorial staff of jariusbondoc.com was not involved in their production and is not responsible for their content.

 

III. TERMS OF SERVICE

 

  1. GENERAL RULES AND DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 If you choose to use the jariusbondoc.com service (the “Service”), you will be agreeing to abide by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement between you and jariusbondoc.com (“jariusbondoc.com “).

 

1.2 jariusbondoc.com may change, add or remove portions of this Agreement at any time, but if it does so, it will post such changes on the Service, or send them to you via e-mail. It is your responsibility to review this Agreement prior to each use of the Site and by continuing to use this Site, you agree to any changes.

 

1.3 If any of these rules or any future changes are unacceptable to you, you may cancel your membership by sending e-mail to jariusbondoconline.com (see section 10.1 regarding termination of service). Your continued use of the service now, or following the posting of notice of any changes in these operating rules, will indicate acceptance by you of such rules, changes, or modifications.

 

1.4 jariusbondoc.com may change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the Service at any time, including the availability of any Service feature, database, or content. jariusbondoc.com may also impose limits on certain features and services or restrict your access to parts or all of the Service without notice or liability.

 

  1. JARIUSBONDOC.COM CONTENT AND MEMBER SUBMISSIONS

 

2.1 The contents of the jariusbondoc.com are intended for your personal, noncommercial use. All materials published on jariusbondoc.com (including, but not limited to news articles, photographs, images, illustrations, audio clips and video clips, also known as the “Content”) are protected by copyright, and owned or controlled by jariusbondoc.com or the party credited as the provider of the Content. You shall abide by all additional copyright notices, information, or restrictions contained in any Content accessed through the Service.

 

2.2 The Service and its Contents are protected by copyright pursuant to the Republic of the Philippines and international copyright laws. You may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, reproduce (except as provided in Section 2.3 of this Agreement), create new works from, distribute, perform, display, or in any way exploit, any of the Content or the Service (including software) in whole or in part.

 

2.3 You may download or copy the Content and other downloadable items displayed on the Service for personal use only, provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein. Copying or storing of any Content for other than personal use is expressly prohibited without prior written permission from jariusbondoc.com or the copyright holder identified in the copyright notice contained in the Content.

 

  1. FORUMS, DISCUSSIONS AND USER GENERATED CONTENT

 

3.1 You shall not upload to, or distribute or otherwise publish on the message boards (the “Feedback Section”) any libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, abusive, or otherwise illegal material.

 

3.2 (a)Be courteous. You agree that you will not threaten or verbally abuse jariusbondoc.com columnists and other jariusbondoc.com community Members, use defamatory language, or deliberately disrupt discussions with repetitive messages, meaningless messages or “spam.”

 

3.2 (b) Use respectful language. Like any community, the Feedback Sections will flourish only when our Members feel welcome and safe. You agree not to use language that abuses or discriminates on the basis of race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual preference, age, region, disability, etc. Hate speech of any kind is grounds for immediate and permanent suspension of access to all or part of the Service.

 

3.2 (c) Debate, but don’t attack. In a community full of opinions and preferences, people always disagree. jariusbondoc.com encourages active discussions and welcomes heated debate in our Feedback Sections. But personal attacks are a direct violation of this Agreement and are grounds for immediate and permanent suspension of access to all or part of the Service.

 

3.3 The Feedback Sections shall be used only in a noncommercial manner. You shall not, without the express approval of jariusbondoc.com, distribute or otherwise publish any material containing any solicitation of funds, advertising or solicitation for goods or services.

 

3.4 You are solely responsible for the content of your messages. However, while jariusbondoc.com does not and cannot review every message posted by you on the Forums and is not responsible for the content of these messages, jariusbondoc.com reserves the right to delete, move, or edit messages that it, in its sole discretion, deems abusive, defamatory, obscene, in violation of copyright or trademark laws, or otherwise unacceptable.

 

3.5 You acknowledge that any submissions you make to the Service (i.e., user-generated content including but not limited to: text, video, audio and photographs) (each, a “Submission”) may be edited, removed, modified, published, transmitted, and displayed by jariusbondoc.com and you waive any moral rights you may have in having the material altered or changed in a manner not agreeable to you. You grant jariusbondoc.com a perpetual, nonexclusive, world-wide, royalty free, sub-licensable license to the Submissions, which includes without limitation the right for jariusbondoc.com or any third party it designates, to use, copy, transmit, excerpt, publish, distribute, publicly display, publicly perform, create derivative works of, host, index, cache, tag, encode, modify and adapt (including without limitation the right to adapt to streaming, downloading, broadcast, mobile, digital, thumbnail, scanning or other technologies) in any form or media now known or hereinafter developed, any Submission posted by you on or to jariusbondoc.com or any other website owned by it, including any Submission posted on jariusbondoc.com through a third party.

 

3.6 By submitting an entry to jariusbondoc.com’s Readers’ Corner, you are consenting to its display on the site and for related online and offline promotional uses.

 

  1. ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE AND LINKS

 

4.1 jariusbondoc.com contains links to other related World Wide Web Internet sites, resources, and sponsors of jariusbondoc.com. Since jariusbondoc.com is not responsible for the availability of these outside resources, or their contents, you should direct any concerns regarding any external link to the site administrator or Webmaster of such site.

 

  1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

5.1 You represent, warrant and covenant (a) that no materials of any kind submitted through your account will (i) violate, plagiarize, or infringe upon the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy or other personal or proprietary rights; or (ii) contain libelous or otherwise unlawful material; and (b) that you are at least thirteen years old. You hereby indemnify, defend and hold harmless jariusbondoc.com, and all officers, directors, owners, agents, information providers, affiliates, licensors and licensees (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all liability and costs, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection with any claim arising out of any breach by you or any user of your account of this Agreement or the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants. You shall cooperate as fully as reasonably required in the defense of any such claim. jariusbondoc.com reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you.

 

5.2 jariusbondoc.com does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement, or other information displayed, uploaded, or distributed through the Service by any user, information provider or any other person or entity. You acknowledge that any reliance upon any such opinion, advice, statement, memorandum, or information shall be at your sole risk. THE SERVICE AND ALL DOWNLOADABLE SOFTWARE ARE DISTRIBUTED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. YOU HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT USE OF THE SERVICE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

 

  1. COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN JARIUSBONDOC.COM AND MEMBERS

 

6.1 If you indicate on your registration form that you want to receive such information, jariusbondoc.com, its owners and assigns, will allow certain third party vendors to provide you with information about products and services.

 

6.2 jariusbondoc.com reserves the right to send electronic mail to you for the purpose of informing you of changes or additions to the Service.

 

6.3 jariusbondoc.com reserves the right to disclose information about your usage and demographics, provided that it will not reveal your personal identity in connection with the disclosure of such information. Advertisers and/or Licensees on our Web site may collect and share information about you only if you indicate your acceptance. For more information please read the Privacy Policy of jariusbondoc.com.

 

6.4 jariusbondoc.com may contact you via e-mail regarding your participation in user surveys, asking for feedback on the Website and existing or prospective products and services. This information will be used to improve our Website and better understand our users, and any information we obtain in such surveys will not be shared with third parties, except in aggregate form.

 

  1. TERMINATION

 

 

7.1 jariusbondoc.com may, in its sole discretion, terminate or suspend your access to all or part of the Service for any reason, including, without limitation, breach or assignment of this Agreement.

 

  1. MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1 This Agreement has been made in and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the Republic of the Philippines law. Any action to enforce this agreement shall be brought in the courts located in Manila, Philippines.

 

8.2 Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Terms of Service will serve to preempt the promises made in jariusbondoc.com Privacy Policy.

 

8.3 Correspondence should be sent to jariusbondoconline.com.

 

8.4 You agree to report any copyright violations of the Terms of Service to jariusbondoc.com as soon as you become aware of them. In the event you have a claim of copyright infringement with respect to material that is contained in the jariusbondoc.com service, please notify jariusbondoconline.com. This Terms of Service was last updated on November 7, 2020.