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Fishery accords during Duterte China visit way forward in SCS dispute

Published by Ellen on October 19, 2016

By CHARMAINE DEOGRACIAS
VERA Files

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomes Pres. Duterte to Beijing.

WHETHER Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk about Scarborough Shoal in their first meeting in Beijing, the specter of the triangular-shaped coral reef 124 nautical miles west of Zambales looms large in this landmark visit that signals the rekindling of relations between the two Asian countries severely strained with the filing of the suit before the Hague tribunal by the previous administration of Benigno Aquino III.

A Malacañang source said Duterte will take up the South China Sea issue, “if raised” in his four-eyes meeting with Xi on Oct. 20. He will not initiate to raise the issue of the arbitral ruling but will respond if mentioned. However, his key message on the matter of Scraborough shoal will be asserting the fishing rights of Filipinos there, but while this is his wish “he will listen and will not make any imposition on the Chinese side.”

China visit will surely be ‘fruitful’

Published by Ellen on October 16, 2016

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua gives a briefing of Pres. Duterte's China visit Oct. 14. With him is Philstar columnist Wilson Flores, owner of Kamuning Bakery where presscon was held. — Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua gives a briefing of Pres. Duterte’s China visit Oct. 14. With him is Philstar columnist Wilson Flores, owner of Kamuning Bakery where presscon was held.

An upbeat Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told members of media last Friday that they expect President Duterte’s four-day state visit to China to be “fruitful.”

He said at least a dozen Memoranda of Understanding are being worked out to be signed during the Oct. 18 to 21 visit and one of them will be on increased importation of bananas, pineapples and dragon fruits.

In a press conference at Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City,four days before Duterte’s much-awaited state visit to China, Zhao said, “President Duterte has told me repeatedly that he is concerned about Filipino farmers particularly those farmers who are growing bananas or other tropical fruits. In response to this concern, the Chinese side has decided to increase the imports of tropical fruits, such as bananas, pineapples. As a matter of fact, among all ASEAN countries PH banana and pineapple have already constituted a very large percentage in the Chinese market. If I recall correctly, bananas constitute about 82 percent and pineapples constitute over 70 percent but still we would like to import more. “

FVR has earned the right to critique Duterte

Published by Ellen on October 12, 2016

The critique of former President Fidel V. Ramos of President Duterte’s first 100 days should be a warning to the latter that he cannot go on with his “Kill, Kill” mantra with five years and nine months more to go in his presidency.

FVR burst the bubble of Malacañang’s euphoria over the President’s 76 percent satisfaction rating (Social Weather Stations September 24-27, 2016 survey) with a commentary in the Oct. 9 issue of the Manila Bulletin that “..we find our team Philippines losing in the first 100 days of DU30’s administration – and losing badly. This is a huge disappointment and let-down to many of us.

“Team Philippines” refers to the 101 million Filipinos.

Wow, Agot Isidro!

Published by Ellen on October 9, 2016

I have always liked Agot Isidro – her lovely face, her intelligent acting and the dignified manner she conducts herself in showbusiness.

Her Facebook post last Friday – the 100th day of the Duterte presidency- made me admire her more.
This post by Agot has gone viral liked by 24,000 and shared by 7,836:

“ Unang-una, walang umaaway sa iyo. As a matter of fact, ikaw ang nang-aaway.

“Pangalawa, yung bansa Kung saan ka inuluklok ng 16 million out of 100+ million people ay Third World. Kung makapagsalita ka parang superpower and pilipinas eh. At excuse me, ayaw namin magutom. Mag-isa ka na Lang. wag kang mandamay. Hindi na nga nakakain ang nakararami, gugutumin mo pa lalo.

“ Pangatlo, may kilala akong psychiatrist. Patingin ka. Hindi ka bipolar. You are a psychopath. “

Threatening reporters, not journalism, is a crime

Published by Ellen on October 4, 2016

Once again, warped thinking was on full display when a Yolly Reyes Junto posted on Facebook her rant against Reuters reporters Manny Mogato and Karen Lerma over the story of President Duterte comparing himself with Adolf Hitler.

Junto’s Oct. 1 post started with a purported disclaimer: “I am no Duterte fanatic. I criticize him more scathingly than anyone when his mouth is out of line. But this time, Duterte really didn’t say anything wrong. ‘

Must read: Bobi Tiglao’s ‘Colossal Deception’

Published by Ellen on October 2, 2016

Get yourself a copy of Rigoberto Tiglao’s book, “Colossal Deception- How foreigners control our telecoms sector.”

The book, as its front cover states, is “a case study of corruption, cronyism and regulatory capture in the Philippines.”

The book benefits from Tiglao’s experience as journalist (Business Day and Far Eastern Economic Review) as he pierced through the corporate layers to see who is really behind what we think is Manuel V. Pangilinan’s expanding empire.

Tiglao said, his book, “ tells how an Indonesian magnate built up a new business empire outside his country in just 18 years – dwarfing others owned by Filipino magnates – and why a foreigner has been allowed to do so by Philippine authorities despite the clear constitutional restrictions on foreign control.”

The Indonesian is Anthoni Salim – a name that most Filipinos have not heard of.

Tiglao said Salim “ has never been seen in public here, if ever he had stepped on Philippine soil.”

“ Yet his conglomerate in the country consists of public utility enterprises in which the Constitution bars foreigners from controlling,” the author said.

161 names for 31 ambassadorial positions

Published by Ellen on October 1, 2016

The Department of Foreign Affairs is at a loss how to accommodate the 161 names they have received from Malacañang for ambassadorial positions.

The list, sources say, includes names of retired military officers.

There are only 60 Philippines embassies all over the world, four permanent missions and 20 consulates general.

The 1991 Foreign Service Act provides that “the President shall be guided, as much as possible, by the principle that a majority of diplomatic and permanent missions shall be headed by career ambassadors.”

The four Permanent Philippine missions are to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations headquarters based in Jakarta which is currently headed by Elizabeth P. Buensuceso; to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland headed by Cecilia B. Rebong; to the United Nations in New York headed by Lourdes O. Yparraguirre, and to the World Trade Organization, also based in Geneva and headed by Ryan Francis D. Gener.

By simple mathematics, 60 embassies and four permanent mission equals 64. Simple majority of 64 is 33. That leaves 31 posts for retired military officers, campaign contributors and friends whom Duterte may want to reward with an ambassadorial post.

Duterte to visit China Oct 20 -21

Published by Ellen on September 29, 2016

By Charmaine Deogracias Vera Files Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Beijing on Oct. 20 and 21, in what reliable diplomatic sources say is a…

My question to God: why did you give us President Duterte?

Published by Ellen on September 27, 2016

President Duterte asks if there is God at the oathtaking of Malacanang media.

President Duterte finally hit the highest target: God.

After taking on the holiest of the living figures – Pope Francis; the president of the world’s superpower – U.S. President Barack Obama; and the Secretary General of the United Nations – Ban Ki Moon, he had ran out of adversaries.

The leader voted by “the National Aeronautic and Space Administration as the best president in the solar system”- a title Duterte fanatics applauded and shared in social media, went beyond earthly realm and questioned the existence of God.

The Filipino people will survive Duterte

Published by Ellen on September 27, 2016

Duterte threatens to declare martial law before troops in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro.

In the traditional first 100 days assessment of a President’s performance one does not really expect concrete results knowing the complexities of governance but within the first three months, the public should have an idea the direction that the president is leading the country to.

Duterte has made clear what the public can expect in the coming months: there will be more killings.

The numbers vary and are difficult to ascertain but the figure being mentioned in news reports of illegal drugs related deaths under Duterte’s rule range from 1,500 to 300,000. The numbers continue to increase every day.

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