Select Page
Rigged? 2022 polls illegally used private internet address – Rio

Rigged? 2022 polls illegally used private internet address – Rio

by | Jul 26, 2023 | Gotcha

Watch video presentation of Rio

GOTCHA

Bulk of Metro Manila and two provinces’ precinct results of the 2022 presidential election “illegally” came from one private IP address.

“That’s proof of election rigging,” says former information-communication technology secretary Eliseo Rio. His team of computer forensic examiners has discovered that:

• 98.8 percent of Metro Manila precinct results were received from only one private IP (internet protocol) address, 192.168.0.2.

• 95.5 percent of Cavite results came from the same 192.168.0.2.

• 81 percent of Batangas results still came from 192.168.0.2.

• Remnant Metro Manila, Cavite and Batangas results came from different private IP addresses starting with “10.”

• 192.168.0.2 was used in all other provinces that “mysteriously” sent results within an hour of balloting’s end at 7 p.m.

“It is now clear why Comelec cannot show the telcos’ Transmission Logs as Chairman George Garcia promised on Oct. 18, 2022,” Rio says.

“[Transmission logs] will show that most election returns received by the Transparency Server in the first hour of counting did not pass the networks of the telcos, but were preloaded by a secret man-in-the-middle gateway, a gatekeeper, with private IP address 192.168.0.2.

“Whoever manipulated the Transparency Server results already knew the outcome of the 2022 election even before votes were counted.”

Rio summarizes his findings in 22 slides, “Uncovering the Biggest Scam in our Electoral History.” He presented it Sunday, July 23, to Global Transparency and Transformation Advocates Network. (Watch video version: https://tinyurl.com/Jarius-Bondoc)

Comelec has yet to respond to public calls for explanations on Rio’s exposé. Appointed commissioner in March 2022, Garcia was former election lawyer of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who made him chairman four months later in July.

An ex-general, Rio headed the AFP Research and Development Center and Communication-Electronics Group. First trained in electricals, he finished college as an electronics-communication engineer. As DICT secretary, he chaired the Comelec Advisory Committee for the 2019 congressional-local election.

Rio’s team scrutinized “raw files” uploaded March 23 on the Comelec website. Also in the website are reception logs of the Comelec Transparency Server in the May 9, 2022 election. Garcia “mislabeled” the reception logs as “transmission logs” that Rio has been asking for.

The “raw files,” in Word format, contain precinct identification numbers and private IP addresses of the transmitting vote counting machines. It would take two reams of bond paper to print them, Rio says.

For security reasons Rio withheld identities of his examiners, except for US-based retired specialist Oscar Santos, “a patriot.”

Using Excel and other software, they crosschecked the raw files with time-stamped Transparency Server reception logs. Discoveries:

• Of Metro Manila’s 8,753 VCMs, 8,644 had the same IP address 192.168.0.2. One hundred nine VCMs had other private IP addresses starting with “10,” sent either in batches or singly. IP addresses of the remaining 1,709 are still being reviewed.

Of the 8,644 VCMs, 5,913 sent results within one hour of precinct closing. “An impossibility,” Rio says, because precinct inspectors had first to perform nine time-consuming tasks, including printing of eight copies of election returns, before transmitting.

• Of Cavite’s 3,371 VCMs, 3,219 had IP address 192.168.0.2. One hundred fifty-two VCMs sent via other IP addresses beginning with “10,” also singly or in batches.

Of the 3,219 VCMs, 2,403 transmitted within the first hour.

• Of Batangas’ 2,858 VCMs, 2,316 sent via IP address 192.168.0.2. Five hundred thirty-five VCMs had other IP addresses starting with “10.” IP addresses of seven are still being determined.

A man-in-the-middle or intervening router/server is illegal, Rio says (see slides 16-17). In 2019 Rio’s CAC specifically banned any such “meet-me room or router.”

Comelec broke the 2008 Automated Election Systems Law and consequent general instructions, Rio adds. “To think that it contracted Smartmatic for P1.053 billion for secure electronic transmission services.”

The raw files are still on Comelec’s website. “They can’t take it down; it would be more suspicious,” Rio says. “Whoever uploaded it is a whistle-blower who wanted info-technologists to dissect the anomalies.”

* * *

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.

Corruption, not soldiers’ pensions will cause Diokno’s ‘fiscal collapse’

Corruption, not soldiers’ pensions will cause Diokno’s ‘fiscal collapse’

by | Jul 21, 2023 | Gotcha

PNP file photo

GOTCHA

Finance Secretary Ben Diokno demonizes retirement pensions of military and other uniformed personnel (MUP). But he ignores the vilest government plague: corruption.

He derides the pensions as a “fiscal cliff” into which the country is falling. He babbles “fiscal collapse,” as if pensions are destructive. He says it’s “ballooning,” as if about to burst. Sidekick Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman adds that the amount can be better used for social projects, implying that veterans are depriving the poor.

Then he bloats the numbers. He lets Pangandaman claim that MUP pensions total P230 billion this year. In the same breath she says it’s P273 billion, including retirement gratuity and leave credits. Yet companies and agencies normally pay gratuities and leaves, after which retirees begin to collect from GSIS or SSS.

Diokno’s Department of Finance has different MUP pension records: P102 billion in 2019, P105 billion in 2020, P160 billion in 2021, P164 billion in 2022, P214 billion in 2023.

Three differing “official” figures are unreliable. Credible is P128.7 billion that Retired Admiral Ariston delos Reyes culled from the 2023 General Appropriations Act. A mathematician, delos Reyes respects numbers as an exact science. PMA 1971 classmates, ex-senators Ping Lacson and Greg Honasan, helped his research.

The P128.7 billion is only 2.3 percent of the P5.2-trillion national budget for 2023, delos Reyes computes. Since MUPs have no mutual provident fund like SSS or GSIS, the national government appropriates yearly pensions for the 138,000 retirees. MUPs are soldiers, policemen, coastguards, firemen, mappers, prison guards.

Diokno calls MUP pensions “the elephant in the room.” Yet officials play blind to the burgeoning national debt, former Malacañang political adviser Ronald Llamas points up.

That debt is P14.1 trillion as of June 30. Government is spending more than it collects and thus borrows. Yet for what do high officials spend? Corruption and ineptitude eat up one-fifth of the multitrillion annual budget, the World Bank says.

That one-fifth this year alone is more than P1 trillion. Over the next five years it can reach P6 trillion. That, not MUP pensions, will collapse the economy. Examples:

(1) National and local officials take 42-percent kickback from infrastructure works. That’s P428.4 billion of this year’s P1.02 trillion for roads, ports, telecoms – three-and-a-half years’ MUP pensions.

(2) Not content with kickbacks, those politicians also act as contractors and suppliers, Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong laments. The crooks take another 15-percent contractors’/suppliers’ markup, or P153 billion of P1.02 trillion. More than the MUP pensions this year.

(3) With Diokno among economic managers, the past admin borrowed P49.5 billion ($900 million) from World Bank and Asian Development Bank to combat Covid-19. It frittered away P42 billion on pricey but faulty pandemic supplies. P12.5 billion went to Pharmally of a Chinese presidential adviser.

Involved were three presidential lawyer-pals whom Diokno appointed to the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management. P42 billion could’ve funded three months of MUP pensions.

(4) Flood controls are the favorite pork barrels of political dynasts in Congress. This 2023 it’s P183 billion; slightly lower in previous years. They pocket those in full since rivers/lake dredging is unmeasured. P183 billion can pay 15 months’ MUP pensions.

In 2019 House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya accused then-budget chief Diokno of inserting P332-billion flood controls in three years’ national budgets. P385 million went to a Bicol town that, state engineers swore, doesn’t even flood. That town’s mayor is stepfather of Diokno’s son-in-law.

Diokno disavowed knowledge of the stepfather-mayor and dared Andaya (now deceased) to file charges. That P332 billion could’ve funded three years of MUP pensions.

(5) The “government-sponsored cartel” that Sen. Risa Hontiveros exposed, profiteered P19.8 billion. They bought 440,000 tons of Thai sugar for P11 billion then sold at P30.8 billion. P19.8 billion could’ve paid two months’ MUP pensions.

(6) The past admin borrowed P12.2 billion to build a 72-meter-high dam in Quezon mountains. It displaces 6,000 Dumagat tribe-folk and threatens to flood three towns below. All 110 million Filipinos will repay that loan.

Yet a seven-meter-high weir by a Japanese constructor would’ve cost four times less, to be charged to Greater Manila water consumers. That wasted P12.2 billion could’ve paid two months’ MUP pensions.

(7) Worst is in Customs. Every year crooks allow contraband in 1.58 million 40-foot and 790,000 20-foot cargo containers. Average grease money per container is P100,000, or P237 billion total per year. DOF insiders know that the highest officials partake of the loot.

Government loses five times more in taxes and duties: P1.185 trillion. Collected in 2023 alone, that P1.185 trillion can fund the next nine years’ MUP pensions.

The economy will soon snap from plunder. The country will be unable to repay loans. Credit will shrink. Businesses will shut down. Workers will be laid off. Poverty and hunger will spread. Civil unrest will ensue.

On whom will the political elite rely to quell possible rebellion if not the very MUPs whom they begrudge of pensions?

* * *

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.

Chat GPT’s triumphant ‘report’ on Marcoses’ court victories

Chat GPT’s triumphant ‘report’ on Marcoses’ court victories

by | Jul 19, 2023 | Gotcha

BBM Media Team photo: Rep. Sandro, FL Imelda, President Bong Bong Marcos

GOTCHA

The million Filipinos who thronged to EDSA ’86 must have been disheartened weeks ago. Same with millions more elsewhere who cheered them on. On June 23 and 27, the Marcos-Romualdez clan that they ousted by People Power scored two court victories.

The Sandiganbayan dismissed the forfeiture case against the late Alfredo Romualdez, brother of ex-first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos. Reason: slow justice. Alfredo’s heirs are to keep 42 parcels of land that government previously sequestered.

Also trashed was the forfeiture of P581.3 million from Imelda and children Imee, Bongbong, Irene. Reason: weak evidence and testimony from the Office of the Solicitor General and Presidential Commission on Good Government. The Marcoses can keep the alleged ill-gotten wealth.

That the cases took this long to resolve blares loud against Philippine justice. “Justice delayed, justice denied, cuts both ways.” It can afflict the accused or the accuser. Thirty-six years since their fall, the Marcoses-Romualdezes have regained power. Bongbong as President got to name the new OSG and PCGG chiefs.

I asked Chat GPT to report triumphantly on the Marcos win. Here it goes, with apologies to The STAR reporters and editors who prepared the original balanced, impartial report:

“‘Another Major Victory as Sandiganbayan Dismisses Ill-Gotten Wealth Case Against Marcos Family’

“In a stunning triumph for the Marcos family, the Sandiganbayan has once again dismissed a forfeiture case seeking the recovery of P581.3 million worth of alleged ill-gotten properties and assets acquired during the martial law regime of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

“In a decisive 45-page decision, the anti-graft court’s Second Division declared that the Presidential Commission on Good Government, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General, failed to present substantial evidence of ill-gotten wealth. The court emphatically stated that without sufficient evidence to prove the nature of the properties, it could not order their return to the national treasury.

“Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio authored the decision, concurred by Associate Justices Oscar Herrera Jr. and Edgardo Caldona.

“The civil suit, filed by the PCGG in 1987 and docketed as Civil Case 0014, aimed to forfeit P581.304 million worth of properties and shares of stocks allegedly acquired through unlawful means by Marcos Sr., his wife Imelda Marcos and their supposed associates and dummies.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with sisters, Sen. Imee Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta, were included as defendants in their capacity as heirs of Marcos Sr., while Imelda was among original defendants.

“The case centered around the alleged acquisition of corporations and properties by the Marcoses through their associates. The PCGG claimed that the Panlilio and Enriquez couples acted as dummies for the Marcoses in acquiring ownership or control of 11 corporations, including Ternate Development Corp., Monte Sol Development Corp., Olas del Mar Development Corp., Philroad Construction Corp., Ocean Villas Condominium Corp., Fantasia Filipina Resort Inc., Sulo Dobbs Food Services Inc., Philippine Village Hotel Inc., Puerto Azul Beach and Country Club Inc., Silahis International Hotel Inc., Hotel Properties Inc.

“The PCGG further alleged that unreasonable loans and financial assistance were extended to the Panlilio and Enriquez couples, with terms disadvantageous to the government.

“However, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division found the sole witness presented by the PCGG, Maria Lourdes Magno, the records custodian, lacking personal knowledge regarding the authenticity and veracity of the documentary evidence. The court deemed her testimony and the PCGG’s documentary exhibits as hearsay evidence.

“The court noted that majority of the documents presented by the PCGG were mere photocopies, many barely legible. The PCGG failed to prove the existence or execution of the original documents.

“The court emphasized that none of the documents presented showed any interest or control of the subject corporations by the Marcos spouses. There was no evidence to support claim that the corporations or the funds used to acquire their stocks came from the government or were acquired illegally through their relationship with the Marcoses.

“This victory adds to the series of dismissals of wealth forfeiture cases against the Marcos family and their associates due to insufficient evidence and lack of credible witnesses. The Sandiganbayan has already dismissed several cases seeking to recover ill-gotten wealth amounting to billions of pesos.

“Since 1987, the PCGG filed a total of 43 civil forfeiture cases against the Marcos family and their cronies, with over 20 cases already dismissed. Although some cases remain pending, the government has secured victories in three cases, including those involving coco levy assets, jewelry collections, artworks and shares of stocks.

“The latest dismissal reinforces the Marcos family’s steadfast position that they have been unjustly accused and targeted for their alleged ill-gotten wealth. With each case’s dismissal, their vindication grows stronger, further solidifying their reputation and legacy.” (Minutes: 1:16)

* * *

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.

Improper for Diokno’s LBP to gobble up DBP

Improper for Diokno’s LBP to gobble up DBP

by | Jul 14, 2023 | Gotcha

GOTCHA

All it’ll take is an executive order, Finance Sec. Ben Diokno brags. Having drafted it, he’ll make President Bongbong Marcos sign. Instantly Land Bank of the Philippines will subsume Development Bank of the Philippines.

Multiple conflicts of interest taint Diokno’s plan. DBP chairman Dante Tinga, former law dean, congressman, Supreme Court justice, sums them up:

One, Diokno rejected in September 2016 such LBP-DBP merger. It’ll muddle the two state banks’ objectives, he said. LBP is to develop agriculture; DBP, industry.

Two, Diokno was then two months as budget secretary, plucked by president Rody Duterte from 15-year retirement. Duterte disliked predecessor Noynoy Aquino’s February 2016 merger EO to the Governance Commission for GOCCs. The five-man GCG, with ex-officio members Diokno and finance chief Sonny Dominguez, promptly nixed the merger.

Three, still ex-officio today, Diokno says GCG can merge GOCCs. But it’s self-serving for him to define GCG’s powers.

Four, legal bodies like the Office of the Solicitor General and Office of the Government Corporate Counsel should instead be asked to interpret GCG’s coverage. The Constitution and Administrative Code denote such OSG and OGCC authority.

Five, Malacañang recently reiterated OGCC’s ascendancy over GCG. It was after GCG’s meeting with Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin, once Chief Justice, and Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile. A memo enjoins OGCC to no longer require its prior approval of GOCC contracts. But it must still scrutinize those “that the Office of the ES, GOCCs, and other government agencies shall refer.”

Six, Congress chartered LBP and DBP. Only it can thus abolish or merge them. Not GCG, another Congress creation. Not Diokno whom Congress’ Commission on Appointments merely confirmed. OGCC head Rogelio Quevedo, Court of Appeals ex-justice, has so stated.

Seven, GCG scrapped the merger in 2019 via formal resolution. It’ll take another resolution, not Diokno’s press release, to revive it.

Eight, GCG chief Alex Quiroz, Sandigan ex-justice, announced that they have yet to re-study the basis for new resolution. Whereupon, Diokno rustled up his own study and EO.

Nine, Diokno as concurrent LBP chairman stands to benefit from merger. LBP will be the surviving entity; DBP, abolished.

Ten, in his 2019 State of the Nation, Duterte declared LBP a failure for focusing on commercial, not agricultural, lending. Could Diokno, by then four months as Bangko Sentral governor and Monetary Board chairman, have fed Duterte derogatory info on LBP?

Eleven, as finance secretary, Diokno had chaired LBP eight months when he sprang the merger surprise in March 2023. He couldn’t have turned around LBP in such short time from decades of “failure”.

Twelve, Diokno boasts that LBP’s board favors merger. But of course; he chairs it.

Thirteen, when presented the merger plan, Marcos suggested in-depth studies with Congress on legalities and economic impact. Impatient Diokno announced that the President will sign his EO by April. That didn’t happen; Diokno said it’ll be by May. Now he says November: “What are we waiting for?”

Diokno prematurely details his moves. He’ll retain LBP’s 752 branches and 22 of DBP’s 147 “for wider network.” But 752 + 22 = 774, a mere three percent bleb from LBP’s present reach.

He’ll displace 3,650 DBP employees, 2,700 of them rank-and-file. He’ll also shuffle LBP staff. Both banks’ labor unions are up in arms.

Upon gobbling up DBP, LBP’s assets will become P4 trillion, making it the Philippines’ largest. “A best regional practice,” Diokno claims. Only Singapore has a state bank as biggest. ASEAN neighbors prefer various state lenders for agriculture, exports, small businesses, etc. Malaysia has seven; Thailand, six; Indonesia and Vietnam, four each.

After merger Diokno will be more conflicted:

Fourteen, LBP and DBP granted behest loans to a Duterte admin crony, uncollateralized P18 billion and P8 billion, respectively. How did that get past BSP and Monetary Board? Now the combined P26 billion will look miniscule, merely 0.65 percent of P4 trillion – easy to write off.

Is Diokno used to such conflicts? His daughter became Asian Development Bank alternate director starting last year. Annual salary: $221,728. Plus housing and educational subsidy; worldwide medical, life and disability insurance; pension and home leave.

The ADB Board of Governors, of which Diokno is vice chairman, picks the directors and alternates. As finance secretary he is governor for the Philippines. ADB directorship is not a government post; the daughter holds a PhD degree. Still the President nominates candidates for director on endorsement of the finance secretary.

* * *

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.

Has corruption become the norm? – Magalong

Has corruption become the norm? – Magalong

by | Jul 12, 2023 | Gotcha

GOTCHA

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong worries about the P14.1- trillion national debt. Did the borrowings benefit us Filipinos, he asks, since we, even newborns, are now each in hock for P113,000?

It’s unclear where the Marcos Jr. admin spent P1.3-trillion new debt in just one year. That’s on top of the Duterte admin’s P6.9 trillion, 2016-2022. Of that latter amount, P42 billion was wasted on pricey but faulty pandemic supplies. P12.5 billion went to Pharmally of Chinese national Michael Yang, Duterte special adviser.

Before them the country’s debt was P5.9 trillion under 11 presidents: Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos Sr., C. Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Macapagal-Arroyo, B.S. Aquino, 1946-2016.

Today’s P14.1-trillion debt has breached the threshold of 60 percent of GDP, Magalong warns. Can Filipinos still repay?

Leakages, money lost to corruption and incompetence, worsen the burden. Experts say it’s P1 trillion a year, one-fifth the national budget.

Effects of non-payment are dire. Two-thirds of today’s population were yet unborn when it happened twice before:

• Lenders shut the fund faucet on unearthing in 1984 the Central Bank’s bloating of dollar reserves and understating of losses.

Records reveal why. The CB was hiding Marcos Sr.’s kickbacks from loaned projects like the Westinghouse nuclear plant and behest loans to cronies by PNB, DBP, GSIS, Veteran’s Bank. Also the first lady’s shopping sprees and the children’s extravagance abroad.

Philippine credit standing melted. To keep power plants and transport going, officials paid suitcases of cash to petroleum producers. Buses, jitneys, cars lined up for expensive gas rations. The economy shrank, businesses collapsed, workers lost jobs.

• C. Aquino honored but couldn’t repay Marcos Sr.’s dirty debts. Lenders like the International Monetary Fund imposed austerity.

Government couldn’t expand electric facilities. Blackouts halted industries and employment. Civil unrest persisted.

Graduating from PMA in 1982, Magalong was then a young Constabulary officer. Like Lieutenants Fidel Ramos and Jose Almonte three decades prior, he must have asked himself and “mistahs” the roots of communist insurgency and Moro separatism that they were fighting.

The present admin threatens fiscal collapse. Ballooning veteran retirement pensions, P56 billion for 138,000 this year, supposedly have become untenable. Supermajority lawmakers will thus slash pensions and even deduct from salaries of active-duty soldiers, policemen, coastguards, jail guards.

“We’re willing to sacrifice,” Magalong says of fellow MUPs, military and other uniformed personnel. “We’re used to sacrificing life and limb.”

But then he wonders why no legislator – with multibillion-peso pork barrels – has offered to sacrifice as well. DPWH engineers confide to him the rackets. Lawmakers not only take 40-percent cuts from public works, but also act as contractors-suppliers.

Congress enacts yearly flood controls, unmeasured dredging of rivers and lakes. Ex-senator and PNP chief Panfilo Lacson said dredgers run only for photo-ops. Lawmakers divvy up the fund, P183 billion this 2023, more than triple the P56 billion for MUP pensions.

Whenever Magalong shares experiences, mayors are all agog. When he shifts to good governance and anti-graft, they zone out and stare at mobiles.

“Is corruption now the norm in government?” Magalong asks. “Shouldn’t Filipinos demand accountability from their officials?”

But how, when those officials – political dynasts all – shut them out of the Executive and Legislature, national and local positions? Members of the political elite protect only each other’s interests:

• For pork allotments, legislators grant the Executive, even the politician-education secretary, multibillion, no-audit confidential/intelligence funds.

• They ignore cries against government-sponsored cartels in sugar, transport, utilities.

• In the wake of the “Love the Philippines” fiasco, 62 lawmakers and related local officials purported that the politician-tourism secretary was sabotaged.

European teens are rioting against cruel, opportunistic officials, mostly social/liberal democrats who have moved to the conservative right. The Philippine opposition has joined Congress’ supermajority; only 16 of 312 congressmen and two of 24 senators remain minority.

Instead of rioting, disgruntled Filipino youths emigrate. Left-behinds can get impatient with slow change.

Best to heed Magalong’s alerts. Proven in depth and integrity, he headed the investigation of the 2015 Mamasapano massacre of 44 police commandos. He was pandemic contact-tracing chief, and review panelist of 954 PNP generals and colonels.

Baguio wisely elected Benjamin Bañez Magalong, the good BBM.

Read also: https://tinyurl.com/plunders-vs-soldiers-pensions

* * *

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.

Frasco courts more trouble in retaining ‘Love the Phl’

Frasco courts more trouble in retaining ‘Love the Phl’

by | Jul 7, 2023 | Gotcha

PCOO photo of President Marcos Jr., Frasco and another official, at DOT’s 50th anniversary fete

GOTCHA

Only Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco knows if it’s faith or face-saving. But her retention of “Love the Philippines” as slogan, despite the international scandal its video brought, presents three complications.

First, effectiveness. Will the slogan still entice foreign tourists? Second, disrepute. Can Philippine tourism afford a fourth complaint of plagiarized promos? Third, legal-financial. How can the Department of Tourism terminate without pay the ad agency that created the slogan and controversial video?

The tourism forum that Frasco graced Wednesday, July 5, featured the “Love the Philippines” logo onscreen. Asked if she’ll keep the slogan, she pointed to the stage, saying, “it’s evident.”

The video that launched “Love the Philippines” intended to promote local attractions but used foreign stock footages: Indonesian rice terraces, a Thai fisherman, Dubai sand dunes, Brazil beaches and a Lufthansa jet landing in Zurich.

It keynoted DOT’s 50th anniversary fete last June 27. By weekend world media reported the inappropriate scenes. Netizens and travelogues scoffed at it.

Perplexed, for one, was Indonesia’s tourism minister on viewing the 105-second video. The Philippine affiliate of multinational ad agency Doyle, Dane & Bernbach apologized Sunday, July 2. Next day DOT announced DDB’s termination and forfeiture of performance bond.

Before the fiasco, DDB’s slogan “enjoyed a positive sentiment of 77 percent on social media,” PRWeek quoted media analyst Charles Cheung of Carma. “As a result of the incident, the brand sentiment has become 34.7 percent negative and only 3.7 percent positive.” PRWeek is a global journal of the public relations industry; Carma is a top media-intelligence provider.

Insisting on the slogan makes it doubly difficult for Frasco to sell the Philippines. Despite Filipinos’ vaunted hospitality and the country’s attractions, infrastructure and accessibility pale in comparison to Southeast Asian neighbors. A tainted trademark will further pull down the Philippines’ tourism standing.

Besides, DOT seems confused about its target audience. “Love the Philippines” supposedly is to promote the country abroad. Thus, the shortlisting of DDB and one other global agency in the consultancy contract bidding. But Frasco also directed the slogan to local tourists.

She enthused: “‘Love the Philippines’ is not a mere branding campaign, but a call to action to every Filipino citizen to remember the beauty of our country, to honor our past and to look forward to the future armed with the virtues, values of being a Filipino.”

But “Love the Philippines” is criticized as a copy of two recent promos, “Love Cyprus” and “Love Barbados.” PRWeek recounted three other “plagiarized” Philippine brands.

The logo of “Pilipinas Kay Ganda,” 2010, allegedly aped that of Poland’s. “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” 2012, rehashed the 1951 “It’s more fun in Switzerland.” “Experience the Philippines,” 2017, mimicked aspects of the 2016 “Meet South Africa” featuring blind travelers.

Incidentally, a former Dinagat Island provincial information officer tweeted Tuesday about the unattributed use of her photo in a localized version of “Love the Philippines.” The Dinagat Island’s tourism office quickly apologized and took down the sunset picture at San Jose town.

In 2012-2019 DOT attracted 33.4 million travelers with “It’s More Fun,” compounded annual growth rate of 8.6 percent. “Wow Philippines,” 2002-2010, drew in 20.84 million, 5.8 percent.

Experts attribute the slight increases not so much to the slogans than the slow upgrade of facilities and transport. Bad airports and sanitation, and too few rides, rest stops and emergency clinics continue to turn off tourists.

Frasco has yet to clarify money matters. DDB and DOT claim that no public money was spent for the awkward video. But she said June 27 that the “Love the Philippines” rebranding cost P49 million.

Three components comprise the campaign, DOT’s website shows: branding, P50 million; production of five video ads, P250 million; overseas media placements, P250 million.

DDB’s cancelled contract and forfeited performance security was apparently what Frasco valued at P49 million. As of June 9 it was shortlisted for the two bigger deals.

In apologizing, DDB said it produced on its own “a mood video to excite internal stakeholders.” Impliedly, not for public viewing. Whoever authorized its unveiling last June 27 and posting on DOT’s website has remained unidentified. The ad agency can contest its abrupt firing without remuneration and what DOT calls “any other engagement.”

* * *

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.

Site Terms & Conditions (scroll down for the buttons)

This site, jariusbondoc.com, is free for your use.

However, we do have some terms and conditions which you can find below. By continuing to use or to read from this site, that means you understand and agree to comply with the terms and conditions.

I. PRIVACY POLICY

This privacy policy (“policy”) will help you understand how jariusbondoc.com uses and protects the data you provide to us when you visit and use https://jariusbondoc.com/ (“website”, “service”).

We reserve the right to change this policy at any given time. If you want to make sure that you are up to date with the latest changes, we advise you to frequently visit this page.

 

What User Data We Collect

When you visit the website, we may collect the following data:

  • Your IP address
  • Your contact information and email address
  • Other information such as interests and preferences
  • Data profile regarding your online behavior on our website

 

Why We Collect Your Data

We are collecting your data for several reasons:

  • To better understand your needs
  • To improve our services and products
  • To send you promotional emails containing the information we think you will find interesting
  • To contact you to fill out surveys and participate in other types of market research
  • To customize our website according to your online behavior and personal preferences

 

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.