Bank account ni Duterte by Rep. Gary C. Alejano

BANK ACCOUNT NI DUTERTE

Paano ba nagsimula ang issue ng bank account/s ni Duterte na umano ay bilyon ang laman? Ganito lang natin i-breakdown ang issue ng bank account niya sa pamagitan ng paglahad ng isang sequence:

1. Kampanya. NANGAKO si Duterte kasama ni Cayetano na dapat lahat na tumatakbo magsign ng bank waiver. Ibig sabihin i-waive mo ang rights mo sa ilalim ng Bank Secrecy Law. Diyan makikita ang lahat pati transaction history ng isang bank account.

2. Trillanes. Nilabas niya sa publiko na may BILYON si Duterte sa kanyang mga accounts taliwas sa kampanya ni Duterte na siya ay MAHIRAP na tao lang. In fact, sinabi pa niya na walang pang gamot ang nanay niya nang ito ay na ospital. Pinakita ni Trillanes ang photocopied bank records ni Duterte sa publiko.

3. DENIAL. Hindi raw totoo ang sinabi ni Trillanes. Non-existent daw ang bank account according sa spokesperson ni Duterte na si Peter La Viña.

4. UNANG HAMON. Pag hindi totoo ang sinasabi ni Trillanes siya ay magresign sa Senado at mag withdraw sa Vice Presidential race.

5. DEPOSIT. Some people deposited to the account presented by Trillanes and it was successful. So, that means totoo ang account.

6. ADMISSION. Napilitang umamin si Duterte na totoo nga na kanyang account yung pinakita ni Trillanes. Pero ang sabi niya na konti na lang ang laman dahil pinang-hapihapi niya.

7. PANGALAWANG HAMON. Si Duterte buksan ang bank account through a waiver at Trillanes sabihin kung saan niya nakuha ang impormasyon niya. Magkita sila sa BPI branch Ortigas.

8. RESULTA. Trillanes dumating dala ang affidavit niya. Duterte? Nada, awan, wala. Si Panelo ang sumipot. Ano ang dala? SPA o Special Power of Attorney at HINDI WAIVER. The SPA authorized Panelo by Duterte to ask two things from the bank; a) Balance of his account and b) certification from the bank that no point in time the account has contained P 211M (this means pag may piso lampas o kulang sa P 211M hindi mag certify ang bangko).

9. WHAT HAPPEND AFTER? Trillanes gave the affidavit to Panelo. Panelo gave the SPA to the bank. Trillanes requested for a copy, ayaw bigyan ni Panelo dahil di naman siya party to the SPA. Now, according to Panelo he could not give Trillanes the result of the request because he has to go back to his principal and it is up to his principal whether he would give Trillanes a copy or not. Again, nada, wala, awan ti copy. By the way, ang WAIVER ay hindi kapareha ng SPA.

10. CASE. Trillanes filed a plunder case against Duterte before the Ombudsman.

11. PANGATLONG HAMON. Presidente na si Duterte nang hinamon ulit ni Trillanes patungkol sa kanyang bank account. Ang sabi ni Trillanes na pag napatunayan na mali siya, siya ay agarang magresign sa Senado at mag walk-in sa piling kulungan ni Duterte.

12. ANG SAGOT? Denial lang si Duterte at yawyaw lang at iwas sa isyu ng waiver. Pagkakataon na sana ni Duterte na mawala si Trillanes sa landas niya bilang kritiko niya sa pamagitan ng pagpatunay na sinungaling si Trillanes. Waiver lang katapat. Awan pa rin si Duterte. Bakit kaya umiiwas? Nagtatago ba?

13. COUNTER MOVE. Ang ginawa na counter move ni Duterte ay nag imbento ng mga offshore bank accounts ni Trillanes para linlangin ang taumbayan na walang karapatan si Trillanes na magparatang na may bilyon siya at magdemand ng waiver sa kanya dahil si Trillanes ay meron ding mga tagong offshore bank accounts.

14. BOOMERANG. Bumalik kay Duterte ang kanyang taktika dahil agarang nag issue ng waivers si Trillanes sa lahat na accounts na kanyang nilabas. Si Trillanes ay pumunta pa sa Singapore kasama ang ilang media upang personal na i-verify ang nasabing account.

15. DBS ACCOUNT. Awan ti account! Halos di atupagin ng empleyado ng DBS si Trillanes dahil siya ay HINDI KLIYENTE. Ganun pa man, tinanong ni Trillanes ang teller ng bangko kung meron silang nakapangalan kay a) Antonio Trillanes o b) Antonio Trillanes IV whether SINGLE, JOINT, CLOSED OR CURRENT. Wala gyud ni isa nigawas sa computer ng teller.

16. NAPILITAN. Dahil dito napilitan si Duterte na aminin sa publiko na gawa gawa niya lang ang mga accounts ni Trillanes para hulihin niya ito. Tsk tsk. Di ko makita ano ang logic nito.

17. NAGSINUNGALING ULIT. Di na nadala sa pagkasunog dahil sa offshore bank accounts ni Trillanes, nagsinungaling ulit sa pagsabi na sinara ni Trillanes ang bank account niya bago pumunta Singapore. Yan daw ang dahilan bakit wala na siyang account sa DBS. Ang tanong, paano mo isara ang inimbento mo lang na account. Tsk tsk. Kahit isanlibo pa na accounts yan wala pa rin yan dahil hindi nga kliyente si Trillanes ng DBS.

18. FAKE NEWS PA MORE. By this time alam na ni Duterte na peke ang mga accounts mula sa impormante na kanilang binilhan ng impormasyon ngunit pilit pa ring sinabi sa publiko na totoo at nagpakita pa ng matrix ng deposits at withdrawals. Ano pa ba ang paniwalaan mo sa sinasabi ng pangulo kung ganito na ang estado ng kanyang pag-iisip?

19. MORE WAIVERS. Ang sabi ni Trillanes kahit ilang accounts pa ang ilabas ni Duterte ay isyuhan niya ito ng waivers para buksan ng AMLC para makalkal nila kung totoo o hindi. Si Duterte? Todo iwas sa sign pen. Ayaw humawak ng pen. Takot pumirma ng anumang waiver sa kanyang bank accounts.

20. OMBUDSMAN. Natanong ng media kamakailan lang ang Ombudsman patungkol sa kaso ni Duterte. Ang sabi ay ang hawak nilang bank transaction records ni Duterte ay "more or less" kapareha ang contents sa hawak ni Trillanes. The BANK TRANSACTION RECORDS were TRANSMITTED by AMLC to OMBUDSMAN.

21. AMLC. Ang sinabi nito ay hindi pa ito nagsumite ng REPORT sa Ombudsman. Tama naman ito dahil ang kanilang sinumite sa Ombudsman ay BANK TRANSACTION RECORDS at HINDI REPORT.

22. ANG TUGON NI DUTERTE? Nagwala!Tinakot ang ombudsman na paaresto kung di dadalo sa komisyon na kanyang itatayo. Fabricated daw ang hawak ng ombudsman. Sige pa Dong, magsinungaling ka pa sa publiko. Hinay hinay ka lang sa bulyaw mo sa publiko at nahahalata ka nang nasa angry panic mode ka na.

Mining some poverty statistics

Often local, issues on mining include its destructive nature to local assets such as land and water, divisive feature to local communities, and contribution to local development. But GIna Lopez has made these local issues national. People now talk about environment as essential part of national patrimony. Locals travel to Manila to protest or support mining projects. Citizens question the contributions of mining to development. Worse, they even claim that mining contributes to poverty.  

How could that be when mining has catalyzed economic activities through jobs, infrastructure works and businesses in economically stagnating localities? For these reasons, government officials and business people tend to favor and endorse mining projects in their localities.

Based on the data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in 2010, there were PhP13.41 billions of pesos in taxes, fees and royalties and 197,000 employed personnel in mining operations. Given these data, it is justified to think that mining areas would be economically better-off than non-mining areas. However, this is not supported by poverty statistics. In a 2011 paper by Balisacan, What has really happened to poverty in the Philippines: New measures, evidence, and policy implications, which presents various economic sectors and their contributions, the highest contributor to poverty incidence among economic sectors in 2009 was mining at 48.7 percent. In Balisacan paper, from 1988 to 2009, mining was the only sector of the economy that had an increasing contribution to poverty incidence from 27.8 to 48.7 percent. To illustrate this at a regional level using 2009 poverty data from the National Statistical Coordination Board and citing Christian Monsod’s Mining a social justice issue, regions with large mining areas had high poverty incidences, such as the Caraga region (47.5 percent), Bicol region (44.9 percent) and Zamboanga Peninsula region (42.7 percent), higher than the national average of 26 percent. In provincial levels, poverty incidences in mining areas, such as Masbate (54.2 percent) in Bicol region, Agusan del Sur (58.1 percent) in Caraga region, Zamboanga Sibugay (49.8 percent) on Zamboanga Peninsula, were higher than their regional averages.

Poverty statistics in these areas may not show a causal relationship between poverty and mining, but it does point to a correlation that challenges claims that mining reduces poverty and improves standards of living. An international report in 2001 by Oxfam-America found a strong correlation between extractive sectors (including mining) and poverty. In a local study in Rapu-Rapu Island by Emerlina Regis in 2004, mining was seen as the cause of poverty in Rapu-Rapu which remained to be one of the poorest municipality in Albay in spite of hosting a large polymetallic mining project.

While capital and technology in mining sector and their multipliers may have poverty-alleviating effects, issues of equity along with associated social and environmental costs may offset these effects. This creates two divides: the pro-mining side highlighting the advantages, such as revenue generation and development projects, whereas the anti-mining side pointing out environmental damages and a wide-range of issues related to governance, corruption, health and safety, thus contributing to poverty.  

A 1983 study, The impact of corporate mining on local Philippine communities, by John McAndrew in Toledo City in Cebu described the positive impacts of mining that brought “enclaves of development within predominantly backward and stagnant areas,” as if two separate economies had co-existed in the city. In my own fieldwork in Rapu-Rapu, Albay in 2004-2005, barangays covered by mining operations exhibited considerable improvements in infrastructures and quality of life compared to other barangays. However, within those “improved” barangays, mining benefits were unevenly distributed to locals. This inequality sparked division within communities between those who earned their living directly or indirectly from mining and those who were displaced from their traditional livelihoods.

Lack of job opportunities and unstable income from traditional livelihoods characterize the prevailing conditions of local communities that host mining projects. Undermined by poverty, locals pin their hopes on mining which has its own rent-seeking intention. 

Now is the time to know the man in Malacanang

In over eight months, so many things have happened in the Philippines. Good and bad, depending on the news you read, fake or real. I'd say, generally bad. This view is supported by reports by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, US Department of State and resolution by the European Union Parliament. The negative views on the Philippines are attributed to the policies and pronouncements of the man in Malacanang who assumed office on June 30, 2016.

Who is this man in Malacanang? What do we know about him?

He used to be a mayor of Davao City for decades. Since the Philippines has term limits for government elected officials, what the man in Malacanang did was typical of dynastic political clans in the Philippines - to alternate with family members. He put his daughter as his replacement as mayor, and then he returned to the City Hall to begin another three-term stint. In 2016, the mayor of the city is her daughter and the vice-mayor is his son. That's how dynastic his hold to power in the city is. In short, he owns the city.

In his long stay as mayor, there were COA reports that indicated irregularities and anomalies in the way the city had used its money. The latest anomaly was the hiring of approximately 11,000 ghost employees costing the city hall 720 million pesos in losses. If the city lost this much, then the money must be somewhere. In the days leading to the May election last year, a joint bank account was discovered containing billions of pesos in transactions. This led to the filing of plunder case against the man in Malacanang. A senator challenged the man in Malacanang to divulge the said bank account in Julia Vargas branch of the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) if he is indeed clean of corruption. Unexplained wealth is prima facie presumed to be proceeds from corrupt practices, specifically if the amount is beyond the proportion of his legitimate income. Up until now, the man in Malacanang who brandishes his courageous exploits suddenly has metaphorically put his tail between his legs. He used to exhort that his life is open and he has nothing to hide. All of this has backfired when he refuses to open his individual and joint bank accounts containing billions of pesos in transactions.

During his rule in Davao City, there were hundreds of unsolved incidents of killings. Police officers were suspended for their unexplained inutility and ineptitude towards stopping these killings in their jurisdiction. Political critics were also killed to tighten his grip on the city.

One police officer, now retired, Arturo Lascanas publicly confessed his involvement in over 200 killings in Davao City on orders of then the mayor, now the man in Malacanang. Another hitman, Edgar Matobato, earlier pointed to the man in Malacanang as the brain of the killings in Davao City. Both used to be a member of the dreaded Davao Death Squad (DDS). Both men needed more than two decades to break their loyalty to the man in Malacanang.

In fairness to the man, I considered him in the early campaign to be a good candidate. But when it became apparent that his lack of preparation for the job and his utterly simplistic solutions (e.g. riding a jetski to the shoal to establish sovereignty) to complex problems, I became unconvinced that he is the person fit to hold office in Malacanang for six years. When he won handily, I was one of the 90 percent of Filipinos who trusted him in the beginning of his term. Then, I only needed two months to see the egotistic tendencies for violence of the man in Malacanang. Often, the man would preach the necessity of killing to establish national order. He used words, such as kill and slaughter, to rouse his supporters. When thousands were killed without due process and without due diligence of the police to investigate, I saw a reign of terror of vigilante groups and some police. In horror, I see the DDS turning into a national death squad. The patterns of DDS are obviously adopted by the vigilante groups. With so many killings, funeral parlors even complained that they could not cope with the numbers of dead bodies being brought to them.

Here is the man who made his most vocal critic, a woman, the top drug lord of the country without reliable shreds of evidence. Before he assumed office, the woman did not figure in any drug list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and police. Only to this man's eyes and his ardent supporters', the woman is the top drug lord of the country.

I know that eight months may be premature for others to know this man in Malacanang. It took two decades for Lascanas and Matobato. It took me two months. But the lies, deception, and violence being perpetuated by the man in Malacanang are grossly intolerable that his supporters will soon see what Matobato, Lascanas, and I saw in the man in Malacanang. May God bless the Philippines if these supporters refuse to see how the man in Malacanang is mainstreaming violence, cursing, corrupt practices, patronage politics, political persecution, and incompetence in public office! Five years and three months more under this man if we fail to get to know this man in Malacanang now.

Facts: Duterte facing plunder, murder, and kidnapping cases at the Ombudsman

Unlike the Leaks filled with innuendos, let me give you two facts that truly exist:
1) Plunder case against the sitting president due to hiring of ghost employees costing Davao PhP 708 million in losses. Where did the money go? There is a BPI account that has transactions of billions of pesos. Until now, the sitting president refuses to open the account.

2) Murder and kidnapping cases due to hundreds of killings and disappearances in Davao between 1988 and 2013. Sadly, what he did in Davao has now gone nationwide with over 8,000 killings in 8 months. He even stresses that there will be more killings as long as he is in power.

Both cases are tied because the latest witness, a former police in Davao, has revealed that the Mayor would then give 20k or 50k or 100k or even a million pesos to kill.
There will be more factual information on Monday, 6 March, when this witness will give his testimony in the Senate.

I don't want this country to be run by a plunderer and killer. That's why I demand the sitting president to sign a bank waiver. As for the killings, he even takes pride in doing the killings himself. Who am I to say he is not a killer if he himself is admitting it?

These are the two facts that the sitting president are currently facing at the Ombudsman.

Neither "Dutertards" nor "Yellowtards," but Filipinos

In the 2016 Philippine election, there were 15.9 million Filipino voters (36.7%) who were neither "Dutertards" (16.6 million who voted for Duterte) nor "Yellowtards" (9.9 million who voted for Roxas). The election was not only between these two camps. However, the post election discussions of national issues in social media were framed into binary, either pro- and anti-government. The anti-government discussions are labeled as coming from "Yellowtards." Those who staunchly protect and support the government are called "Dutertards."

The election is over, yet the fever associated with election has stayed. It is even more intense and brutal. The country is getting more and more deeply divided. It is easy to be swayed by information that is agreeable to one's preconceived idea. To deepen the divide, many fake news sites (mainly pro-Duterte) emerge to inflame negative sentiments towards those on the other side (mainly Liberal Party members). Worse, many people believe and share in social media stories from these fake news sites.

How can we get out of this spiraling fever that is self-inflicted?

I have no answer to this question. But we can attempt to step back and refuse to dwell on the temptation of mudslinging that we do not anymore recognize the persons on the other side. The biggest challenge is to belong to certain parties or ideologies or camps, but without dehumanizing those not with us.

In all of us, we are neither Dutertards nor Yellowtards; but all Filipinos, inclusive and compassionate. Let us not allow the 2016 election fever turn into an epidemic. Let us get a national relief from this feverish divide. Let us start talking again as persons with differences. Let us just talk and listen to each other. Come on, let's do this.

Facts on Drug Use in the Philippines: Releasing some air of the inflated problem

President Rodrigo Duterte won the Philippine presidency in a campaign focused on suppressing illegal drugs and crimes in six months. Since he assumed office on July 1, there have been unabated cases of extra-judicial killings concurrent with the government's war on drugs. Based on the testimony of Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald de la Rosa, in almost two months in his office (as of August 15), there are 1,564 suspects who got killed . Of these, 665 suspects were killed in police operations, and 899 cases were possibly done by vigilante groups. These figures came out during the Senate's probe on extra-judicial killings.

Each day there have been 34 Filipinos suspected of drug use and dealing being killed since Duterte came to power. One of the victims is Jefferson Bunuan, a criminology student who wanted to become a policeman, was shot by the police while asleep. Another victim is Rowena Tiamson, a graduating honor student, was found dead with her hands tied and a cardboard sign near her lifeless body: Huwag tularan, pusher (Don't emulate, drug pusher).

https://medium.com/@sampaguitanation/justice-for-rowena-reaping-what-we-sow-from-the-philippine-war-on-drugs-4560d3128837#.nd50fe5bf

President Duterte has claimed that drugs are destroying his country. His war on drugs is his way of showing his love and commitment to his country.

We can ask then, to what extent drugs are destroying Duterte's country (our country too)? Let's look at the statistics and the 2016 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).

In 2012, the Office of the President's Dangerous Drugs Board put the estimated numbers of drug users in the Philippines to 1.3 million. (In 2012, the Philippine population was 96.71 million; so the prevalence of drug use among the population was 1.3 percent). This figure is higher than the 600,000 drug users who "surrendered to authorities" since the launch of war on drugs.

Is this figure high enough to merit a war that is killing 34 people a day? Let's compare the Philippine data with other countries.

The Philippines is not ranked in the top 10 among the "most drug addicted countries in the world." Based on the 2012 UNDOC World Drug Report and Global Drug Survey, the top ten countries, from bottom to top, are Mexico with 3.9% prevalence, Brazil (4.3%), United States (6.2%), Canada (6.4%), Afghanistan (6.9%), Russia (7.1%), Slovakia (13.01%), France (13.02%), United Kingdom (13.65%), and the top, Iran (14.32%). With 1.3 % drug use prevalence among the population, the Philippines may not even be in top 30 countries with massive drug use.

In the latest World Drug Report (2016) by UNODC, the Philippines is mentioned seven (7 times). In those instances, the country is in no way worse than other countries. For example, in the map showing the trafficking flows of cocaine, the Philippines is not cited as the source or hub in the region. In the region, the report indicates that the often mentioned origin, departure, and transit of cocaine is Thailand, followed by Malaysia.

I recognize that drug use is a problem. But should this problem be solved by killing 34 Filipinos a day? Or are we creating a monstrous problem here?

As Filipinos, we can all be potential victims of these state-sanctioned killings in the name of war on drugs. Let the killings be stopped; let the rule of law be followed. Let humanity reign.

POE is my president (2)

When I wrote POE on the ballot, I held to these good things about her and her campaign.

1) She is running independent. This is unprecedented in the national campaign for a leading candidate to run without a political party. She said that her political party is the people. However, major (e.g. NPC) and minor (e.g. Aksyon Democratico) political parties have endorsed her, but she has remained an independent candidate. She is also not from a political dynasty.

2) She has gone back home and offered herself to the people. Most OFWs and those who have been away for quite some time from their homeland could only wish they could do the same. She has the courage and patriotism to leap into the den of "dirty" politics in her desire to help change and improve the system by elevating the political discourse to real issues and alternatives, and not personalities and negative campaigning.

3) She is young and energetic. She exudes good and creative vibes. I would always go for new and innovative ideas from young people, rather stick to old and traditional ways of doing things in government. The country needs a fresh air to clear its dirty lungs and bureaucratic nerves of governance. This is not simply change, but meaningful change for the country.

4) She is inexperienced in the style of governance that does not deliver and is not accountable to the people. That's why her campaign is centered on having a government with heart (Gobyernong may puso).

5) She is a woman and a mother. She represents women who have yet to enjoy full and equal rights with men. This is also my vision for our country to have equal rights for everyone. Working hard is a natural trait of any mother. I've seen my mother in her.

6) She knows well and is articulate about national issues. In the presidential debates, she used statistics and data to show her grasp of realities facing our country. Any sound executive decisions must be based on evidences to avoid egoistic, whimsical and capricious decisions.

7) She is a unifying leader. She gets support from every sector of the population. Coming from one of those sectors, OFWs, I support POE for president.

POE is my president (1)

When I voted yesterday at the embassy, the last position that I filled in was president. Eventually, I wrote POE.

What made me pause to write POE on the ballot for President was the presence of pressing issues hounding her candidacy. I would tell you how I was able to settle those issues.

1) Her loyalty and her being a Filipino are being questioned for renouncing her Filipino citizenship to become a US citizen. Their question is valid. However, the main reason why she became US citizen was due to her family. How could anyone be more Filipino than doing anything for one's family? Loyalty to one's country is not measured by simply staying in the country and being Filipino on paper. As an example, OFWs who have been separated from the Philippines, I observe, are the most passionate about the country. Their identification with their country becomes more pronounced because of the disconnect of their foreign surrounding with their identity. I personally experienced this in the past 8 years where I lived abroad for studies and now for work. I would say, the patriotic fervor of OFWs and people who experienced being away from their homeland is further amplified. Because of their exposure to foreign cultures, they even become more optimistic and hopeful of their country's future. Having lived abroad, POE has returned to her homeland with greater patriotic zeal offering her service to Filipinos. Besides, the Supreme Court decided in her favor regarding her being a natural-born Filipino because of R.A. 9225 or Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.

2) Her inexperience in public service is underscored. For me, this means that she is an outsider of a broken and malfunctioning political system that we have. New and innovative ideas are what she brings to her leadership, rather than old and traditional ways and means of seasoned politicians.

3) Her alleged connection with Danding Cojuangco because of NPC's endorsement and use of SMC's helicopter for a discounted price (not free) is a mole in the face of her campaign. For me, this is an overblown, overhyped, over-extended and hypocritical issue. I recall that all presidential candidates wooed NPC's support. When POE got it, then some people made an issue out of it. On the use of SMC's helicopter, SMC itself issued a statement saying that there are also candidates who use its helicopters. Her husband working in SMC is a non-issue for me. There are news reports saying that she defended Danding about coco levy fund. She did not defend Danding on coco levy fund. What she said what that Danding has no more control of the fund because it is now with the government. If it sounds in defense of Danding, I do not see it that way.

These are some major issues that I considered and settled in voting for POE as president.

The next post will be an enumeration of strong points why POE is my president.

My vote

I write this not to influence your vote, but to encourage you to consider enumerating what you value and what you want to see in our incoming government. I value transparency and good governance; a government that leads an example of transparency, fights corruption and delivers efficient public service. I value compassion; a government that understands and acts on our problems and issues. I value non-violence; a government that does not use violence to achieve peace and order and that upholds human rights. I want to see reconciliation in and healing of our fragmented country after this polarizing election.

Kaya, an voto ko PoeRo!

Early today, I voted at the embassy in Den Haag. It was a good and sunny day, a rarity in the Netherlands.

I voted for two mothers. Imagine two mothers taking care and looking after the welfare and interests of their children.Imagine how they do their best to protect and stand for their children. Imagine how they prudently spend our money. Imagine how they are willing to sacrifice for the sake of their children. Imagine how they attach their future with their children's. Imagine how they own and share the dreams, joys and struggles of their children. Imagine. These are natural to them. For six years, we will have twice the power, genuine love and service of a mother in our government.

I voted for good governance and against political dynasty. I believe PoeRo is a tandem that will serve the country without a view and tendency of clinging to power. No family members of PoeRo are simultaneously running for elective positions.

I voted for the future. This election has evoked so much indignation, frustration, deception and fear. I believe PoeRo will ease these negative feelings and sentiments that are prevailing in the hearts of many of us. I believe PoeRo will replace these negativities with hope, compassion, sincerity and genuine openness to listen to the people. They have been exemplary in positive campaigning. After this election, I believe their government can be unifying.

I voted Poe for President and Robredo for Vice-President!

I pray that your vote is grounded on your values and vision for the country, at least for the coming six years.

Some views on the Philippine Election 2016

If I claim to be incorruptible and if someone says that I have huge amount of money in a specific bank, I will stand by my claim. I will not simply dismiss the accusation and say that the account is non-existent, but I will show that it is indeed non-existent. I will not approximate its amount, because it is my money, so I know how much it is and where it comes from. I will not call a lawyer because I know my rights. It will not take me few days just to show how incorruptible I am. It will take only few minutes to clear my name on this issue. If I am unable to do this, believe me, I am not what I claim to be. I am not who I say I am.


As a Bicolano, I take offense at this generalizing remark from a man who barely has an idea who we are as a people (not a race). Yes, we are honorable. That's why we are known to pursue vigorously what we believe in against all odds and popular sentiments. We stand by our words, and not take them back whimsically. Now, Mayor you will see what honorable truly means with or against a Bicolano. Yan an oragon! (Actually, you sought the legal help of another Bicolano to face against a fellow Bicolano on Monday, May 2 because probably you seem to be not honorable enough to man up your words when you yourself is a lawyer.) 


Just asking. How do you envision his presidency? Based on his words: He will kill those involved in drugs and crimes in a bloody war. That means a lot of violence. He will return to manual system of governmental transactions. That means backlogs, inefficiencies and susceptibility to corruption. He will abolish Congress if threatened impeachment. That means he will concentrate executive and legislative powers into his hands. He will establish a revolutionary government. That means he has more powers and less accountability, if any. He will sever ties to countries that say something against him. That means Philippines is likely to be isolated in international arena. Indeed, this is change. Do you envision it differently? 



Mayor, I understand if you want to make it difficult for Sen. Trillanes. But the issue is not only between you and Sen. Trillanes. You aspire to be my president. I want my president to be transparent, decisive and inspiring. I still believe you are. So please, do not disappoint me on Monday, May 2. I want to know and I deserve to know what you had, and currently have in your BPI bank accounts. Please. I believe that history is on our side. But I don't want to be on the wrong side. On May 2, Monday, I want to see you speak the truth, not your lawyer, because my president is transparent, decisive and inspiring. Thank you, Mayor. Do not let me down! I am waiting for my president to come out clean on this issue!


What kind of change are we expecting from a man who uses old tactics to keep his unexplained wealth away from the public that he vows to serve? Still more days to reflect on a candidate who vows to stop corruption, but refuses to be transparent. How can we who hate corruption help him stop corruption if he himself is not leading a clean and good example. Let us remember that one of the things that makes us love him is when he declares: "hindi ko pakikialaman ang pera nyo." We cheered! Few more days... few more day... let us see whether he is the man we used to know, whether he is the man we want to lead our country.


A specific amount in a particular bank branch with certain dates!!! It must be a joke! And I laughed when I read Sen. Cayetano's statement which is very similar to the statements of the spokesperson and lawyers of Binay during the Senate's investigation of Binay's alleged ill-gotten wealth. 


"It is possible for a Filipino to be separated from the Philippines, but not the Philippines from a Filipino." As an OFW, I hear you Poe!


Finally, after two emails and a phone call to the embassy, I can now exercise suffrage (right to vote). I am still undecided; that's why I truly need this 3rd Presidential Debate to help me discern who deserves my sacred vote. So far, I am down to two candidates who, in the past debates, showed their grasp of what's going on by citing statistics and data on sectoral issues. To me, if a candidate does not know what's going on, s/he can't make a sound decision for the national interest. If s/he does not know what's going on, her/his decisions may be to satisfy one's ego or driven by impulsive whims or capricious humor. So far, it's between Poe and Roxas for my sacred vote. After this debate, I will break down my decision why I will vote for either Poe or Roxas.