Enrile’s Mamasapano hearing an ‘epic fail’
Senator Enrile out on bail from plunder charge on the basis of Supreme Court “compassion” [Photo credit: Inquirer]
Senator Enrile was in full prosecuting attorney mode as he spoke in large terms and explosive words to try President Aquino in the courtroom of public opinion. We waited anxiously for the new information Enrile promised he would bring to the table. And waited . . . and waited some more. Two hours we waited . . . through a pedantic repetition of details covered in the original hearings.
The new information? Senator Enrile’s spin. His interpretation. His bitter railing against the President of the Philippines to try to do what could not be done. Prove that the President had run this operation and was responsible for 44 deaths.
It was an “epic fail” by Senator Enrile.
The testimony proved that the President was NOT operationally engaged in Mamasapano. We learned that the President’s “compartmentalized” approach to holding information in confidence was not a bad and manipulative thing, as Enrile charged, but a common and essential way to keep a high priority, secret project confidential. We learned that the President had very little information through the course of January 25 as to how the operation was going, and what did come to him was incomplete and very generalized. We learned that, without a doubt, the President DID NOT issue any order to “stand down”. We learned that the President was more than concerned about the mission and the safety of the troops, directing that an additional 100 troops be deployed, directing that SAF coordinate with AFP (disobeyed), and directing full support by the AFP before he climbed on the plane to Zamboanga at 9:00 in the morning.
We learned that it is Senator Enrile who has no compassion, who would require the families to once again live through their pain for the Senator’s personal bitterness toward the President of the Philippines. We would see Enrile reduced to laughing at the wording of the texts that the President sent during the morning of the 25th, as if his laughter would make us believe the President was not compassionate.
No.
No.
It seems to this observer – my opinion only – that Senator Enrile is the one lacking compassion, and integrity, and honesty. He is the one who said he was only interested in the facts, then proceeded to re-interpret them. With words and laughter and accusations that rang thinner and thinner as his harangue droned on.
As the counter-testimony came flowing out, Senator Enrile changed his tactic. He forgot about his accusation that the President had hands on control of the outcome and was directly responsible for the deaths. He charged that President Aquino was negligent because he had NOT taken a hands on approach . . . and was therefore directly responsible for the deaths. From Enrile’s view, the President would be damned if he did or damned if he didn’t. The goal of Senator Enrile was not facts. But damning President Aquino.
Enrile was reduced to badgering former PNP Chief Purisima by suggesting he was lying and stupid. Enrile was trolling the Senate. Senator Enrile even taxed Senator Poe’s patience when he tried to say that President Aquino had ordered that Roxas and Espina be excluded from the operation when testimony clearly had shown that General Purisima had made that decision himself. And he verified it in the hearing.
Senator Enrile miscalculated.
Facts are facts and they showed Enrile to be wrong.
He also failed to anticipate that there were objective senators fully ready to act as defense attorney against the bitter rhetoric of Senator Enrile.
Senators Guingona, Angara, Drilon, and Aquino made clear that the operation was an SAF proposal, and SAF executed. It was not initiated by the President and the President was not at all engaged during the day of the operation, other than at a high and presidential level. They showed that the problems were in the field, with late “time on target advice from SAF to the AFP, poor coordination of troops in the field, and AFP’s inability (failure?) to provide artillery support.
Anyone who argues this was the President’s operation and charges him with direct culpability is pursuing personal or political aims over the well-being of the nation.
We’ll see how the media play it . . . and get a reading as well as to their ability to be journalistic and factual. Versus political and sensationalist.
We also need to ask the Supreme Court:
“Tell us again why Senator Enrile is not in jail?”
I’m also sorry to report, I think the questions must also be asked of the Senators:
“Are you really aware of what it takes to fight a war, or even a battle? Are you tough enough?”
Because I think way too many of them have no idea. No idea about a President’s heavy burden of command responsibility. No understanding about intelligence or the chaos of battle. No concept that some battles are lost. No ability to look at the facts, outside of political expedience.
They help with the blame and the scapegoating and . . . for the failure to grasp what the battleground is like . . . they help amplify and extend the suffering of the families of those who were brave, but did not come home.
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The Society of Honor by Joe America 
http://jofbotor.com/2015/02/02/stop-blaming-pnoy-for-the-fallen-44-pnp-saf/
I would say that the (political) conclusions of the first Mamasapano hearing . . . when it could have sought healing . . . instead went in the direction of blaming and division (listen to SAF and AFP today, still at each others’ throats). That was a joint effort headed by Senators Poe and Escudero. They seemed obsessed with laying blame on the President when it was tactical failures all along. The lessons could have been learned behind the scenes rather in public for the Chinese and every other enemy to observe.
No new laws have been recommended as a result of the hearings, I believe.
Enrile has lost his groove… he is now a VIP, a Very Impotent Person in the Singaporean accent…
The Importance of Being Earnest (and honest) is winning over The Importance of Being Enrile.
The devil is no longer afraid of Enrile usurping his position.. the last obstacle to Enrile dying.
Early morning(28th,Jan.), local radio was blazing with the lithany of Enrile. How the media focused on his side only triggered my 150/90 BP! To make my handful workers to listen to me instead I talked in a very low voice. Someone put off the radio.
Yes, small voices will be heard if we only persevere.
Wow, I find myself not siding with the anti-admin movement (a rare occasion and somewhat refreshing, I must admit).
This is a good thing in my book, Enrile is showing his inadequacies to the public and is leaving himself very little wiggle room to escape/excuse himself should things turn against his favor. This just reinforces the fact he is no longer (ifever he was) fit for office. It also shows his pettiness and this hopefully precipitates public outrage for us to re-question the courts decision to set him free.
At least I am hoping this turns out to be day one of him digging his own grave.
Good bye and good riddance!
Now, I wonder if he would be so kind as to take Sotto with him in his fall. Ah, I dare to dream!
Really I should have waited until today to make the comment I made yesterday t about Senator Ponce Enrile..
So to gather all the evidence in the one place here it is again :
Some people have commented about Ponce Enrile still active in Philippines politics as a Philippines senator.
I am ( still ) reading a book called “In Our own Image : America’s Empire in the Philippines” by Stanley Karnow published in 1989. He talks about Enrile and Marcos’ declaration of martial law. It seems that Byroade the USA ambassador in 1972, tried to persuade Marcos not to declare martial law.
So….”Marcos delayed – and Enrile proceeded to trigger the coup…….
…….Late on the afternoon of September the 22, Enrile headed home from his Manila office in his blue Ford sedan trailed as usual by his security escort.The convoy was approaching Harvard st behind the Wack Wack golf course, when assailants shooting from another automobile riddled his Ford.As Enrile related the attack at the time :’my driver slammed on the brakes and jumped out firing at the car which sped away’. He owed his providential escape, he revealed to a last minute decision to ride with his guards.Years later after he had turned against Marcos, he admitted to me that the ambush had been a sham.He was nowhere near the scene but had simply ordered his own gunmen to shoot up his empty Ford”…page 359.
Is this statement about Enrile publicly known ? If so how come Enrile is still a senator ?
Enrile wanted Marcos’ declaration of Martial law…And benefited from it..And when he was not benefiting any more, changed sides and helped force Marcos into exile on Hawaii.
He is a political animal, with no allegiance to any principle, morality or person other than himself. I don’t know of anyone who can claim they trust him, although they may admire him for this deed or that, when it corresponds to their own favor.
Political baboon? Face and Power?
He has lost face this time.
I’m glad it turned out to be a fangless job!
no need to drive a stake through his heart anymore.
This Enrile-move harks me back to the “halcyon days” of my youth, when the bad seed of politicians and others would surface in the petty violence perpetrated in and outside social circles. The names are etched in memory.
http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1940/oct1940/gr_l-47388_1940.html – Nalundasan? OK that was a few years before you were born, but I guess it was typical “after the prewar” also:
On December 7, 1938. or more than three years after the death of Nalundasan, Mariano Marcos, Pio Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos and Quirino Lizardo were prosecuted for the crime of murder in the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte under the following information:
Que en o hacia la noche del 20 de septimbre de 1935, en el Municipio de Batac, Provincia de Ilocos Norte, Filipinas, y dentrio de la jurisdiccion de este Honorable Juzgado, los acusados arriba nombrados, armados con armas de fuego, puestos de acuerdo y conspirandose entre si, voluntaria, elegal y criminalmente, con alevosia y premeditacion conocida y con intencion de matar, dispararon contra Julio Nalundasan, entonces electo Diputado por el Segundo Distrito de Ilocos Norte, tocandole en su costado derecho habiendo la bala interesado organos vitales internos, lesionandolos, las cuales lesiones causaron la muerte instantinea de dicho Julio Nalundasan.
Hecho cometido con infraccion de la ley y con las circunstancias agravantes de nocturnidad y de haberse cometido el delito en la morada del occiso.
On June 10, 1939, before the conclusion of the trial, Mariano Marcos, Pio Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos and Quirino Lizardo filed eight separate complaints before the justice of the peace of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, charging Calixto Aguinaldo, the principal witness for the prosecution, who was still under cross-examination in the trial against Lizardo, with the offense of false testimony allegedly committed in the preliminary investigation of December 7, 1938, and during the trial. The defense had not yet completed the presentation of its evidence, and the prosecution was preparing its rebuttal testimony. Upon motion of the provincial fiscal of Ilocos Norte, the trial court ordered the provincial dismissal of the complaints. Fiscal Higinio Macadaeg also moved said court to find the Marcoses and Lizardo guilty of contempt of court, by virtue of which the latter were ordered to show cause why the motion should not be granted. After the conclusion of the trial, the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte rendered judgment the dispositive parts of which read as follows:
En su virtud, el Juzgado halla a los acusados Quirino S. Lizardo y Ferdinand E. Marcos culpables, fuera de toda duda recional, del delito de asesinato, con agravante de morada, pero compensada por la atenuante de provocacion en el caso de Quirino S. Lizardo, y por la circunstancia adicional de minoria de edad en el caso de Ferdinand E. Marcos, y condena al primero a la pena de resolucion perpectua, a las accesorias de ley, y al pago de una cuarta parte de las costas procesales; y al segundo, a la pena indeterminada de diez anos como minima a diecisiete anos y cuatro meses como maxima, a las accesorias de ley, y al pago de una cuarta parte de las costas procasales; y ambos a indemnizar mancomunada y solidtriameiite a los herederos del occiso en la cantidad de mil pesos (P1,000), pero sin prision subsidiaria en caso de Insolvencia; y se absuelve a los acusados Mariano R. Marcos y Pio Marcos, con la mitad de las costas procesales de oficio, y con la cancelacion de la fianza que han prestado para su libertad provisional.
Por lo expuesto, el Juzgado declara a los acusados en el incidente reos de desacato, y les condena a cada uno a pagar una multa de P200, o a sufrir la prision subsidiaria correspondiente en caso de insolvencia o falta de pago.
It is not only the courts that used Spanish much in those days, but obviously the politicians did a lot too… OK I recently read an old comment of Edgar about how the old folks used the phrase “sin verguenza” instead of “walang hiya” often so I guess the days aren’t so long ago:
The prosecution has pictured Quirino Lizardo as a person more interested and enthusiastic than his brother-in-law, Mariano Marcos, in seeing the latter win in the elections of September 17, 1935, against Julio Nalundasan at all costs. Thus it is represented that when Pio Marcos informed Lizardo prior to the elections about the imminent defeat of Mariano Marcos, Lizardo is alleged to have impulsively exclaimed ” Eso no puede ser! !Si vamos a perder la eleccion ganaremos en otra cosa, y es . . . matar a Nalundasan! Con una bala voy a terminar la politica en Ilocos!” In this connection it is well to recall that after marriage of Quirino Lizardo to Maria Marcos, sister of Mariano and Pio Marcos, animosity and ill feeling arose between the Marcoses and Lizardo as a result of family questions, which culminated in the filing in court of a criminal complaint against Lizardo for attempted homicide in which the offended party was the mother of the Marcoses. In the light of this circumstance, we cannot align ourselves with the theory that Lizardo could thereafter have shown such interest in the candidacy of Mariano Marcos as to take the initiative not only of suggesting but of participating in the murder of Julio Nalundasan, even granting that previous family differences had been patched up.
What is also amazing is the role of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Jose Laurel in exonerating Ferdinand Marcos, who already had been sentenced. Laurel became President… the patterns that Joe has traced in today’s Philippines (impunity, courts even the Supreme Court being so often an instrument of politics) were alive and kicking even during the time of the Philippine Commonwealth, inspite of American supervision then… even the sophistry was already there, although I would say that the line of thinking was clearer than it is today.
If we can tame media to stop looking for sensational angles, this stuff might stop. So far, the Inquirer is more interested in Marwan’s finger and an AFP picture of Napenas smiling while the attack was underway. Nothing about the big picture, or the motives and methods of Enrile. I presume columnists will deal with this, if they are not paid stooges. But coverage is a severe disappointment.
I think blogging and an organized, responsible social media (not chat room and trolls) may have to start moving into the mainstream of media, filling the vacuum of honesty and insight the tabloid press leave unfilled.
Only Pedro Paterno beats Enrile for worst turncoat in Philippine history.
I have got news for you, Bill. The characters the Philippines elects to high public office is drastically different from the kinds voted in at the land of Oz and Dixie. Marcos, Estrada and Arroyo to name a few at the very top and probably soon to be followed by either Binay or Duterte. Enrile is living testament to this penchant for voting in these characters from a rogues gallery, prison yard, movie backlot, or offspring thereof whose only qualifications is they bear the same last name. If I sound just as a tad cynical, its because this country used to be called the world’s showcase of American nurtured democracy, this my native land. It’s great that an Ozzie like you is new and still not numbed to it is around to remind us how really unacceptable this all is for our children and our children’s children. The same and more goes to Joe of course because I can occasionally rant at his site that while this is bad, its preventing a disastrous Binay presidency we should all be concerned about.
This is a typical line-up of Filipino political candidates. Most famous quotation from that movie: “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. ”
Ahhh Benicio del Toro…he of Sicara fame and my favorite bad guy.
Bill, just a comment – how many concerned Filipinos have access to a book like Mr Karnow’s and take the investigative journalist’s findings to heart and call out the senator at the opportune time. When the book came out, the facilities of the internet was not even a twinkle in the good person’s mind’s eye.
🙂 You may dream . . .
About Enrile—–has the innermost intelligence sector of the version of Phil. CIA ever attempted to focus the spying lenses over the hideouts of Enrile in Cagayan?
I got this gutsy feeling that it was the place where Ping Lacson did his disappearing Houdini acts?
And won’t be surprised if Limlingan and Baloloy are there now hiding. Sorry if I am wrong. I am just borrowing one of Enrile’s tactics—-fishing in the forests.
it matters not how Enrile tries to spin the events now. It was a clusterfuck from the word “go”. 44 dead. This should be the end of the story. It should have been the end after the investigation last year. But it’s not. Because this is how the country conducts its business. Privilege and puffery. Excuse my rant…
I think there should have been an objective inquiry behind the scenes, not on the public stage. There were clearly flaws, some in people, some in operations (no radios), some in coordination (jealousy between SAF and AFP). All the rest is political intrusion into the affairs of Executive.
> jealousy between SAF and AFP
Shades of Blackhawk Down.
They were still arguing bitterly yesterday, and one of the failings of the mission seems to be that that has not been ended. The generals should be ashamed.
exactly, the best analysis of that is this old blog of Joe: https://joeam.com/2012/10/03/face-and-power-as-currency-in-the-philippines/
Hehe, Joe was right, I am like the NBI… nothing escapes me… in the long run.
Or to quote an East German friend of mine: your politicians sound like baboons fighting about who has higher rank, and the datus and rajas sound like baboons to me as well.
JPE’s last hurrah. Now SC, may we now see the return of the geriatric senator in jail please.
Embalm JPE alive, and put him beside Marcos.
Then free Jinggoy and move him to Manila zoo.
One can only hope . . . .
WHEN THE ONLY LEGACY LEFT IS A CAN OF CORNED BEEF
That would have been my title for this piece, Joe, but you beat me to it. Explanation at the bottom of this rant.
Observations:
1. Enrile’s berating of the generals for prioritizing the chain of command over the SAF troopers is a false choice or false dichotomy. If they had done what Enrile was expecting them to do, and deaths still resulted (specially coming from friendly fire) , they would have been in more trouble.
2. Napenas’ insistence on his invented “time on target” strategy and then blaming the President’s silence for it (which he interpreted as approval) as the cause for the deaths is soooo stupid.
What was he expecting? A civilian with no actual combat experience will overrule a police commander on this? If he had done so and deaths still resulted, can you imagine how much more controversy would have erupted for micromanaging?
There is no such thing as “time on target” strategy. I have researched on this and he wrongly applied a term in artillery to his diskarte on informing other units only when his group were on-site.
3. Who’s going to believe Enrile is doing this out of the goodness of his heart when his chief of staff and himself are embroiled in the PDAF scam? We remember everything he did from Martial Law to EDSA to his revision of history with his memoirs, to the PDAF scam. We remember!
Enrile’s lasting legacy to the Filipino nation? Delimondo corned beef made under his JAKA conglomerate. Tastiest corned beef I have ever tasted. That’s the only legacy I am thankful for.
Napenas, who wants to become senator, blames everyone except himself.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/120469-napenas-oplan-exodus-senate-probe-mamasapano
Dang, sorry I didn’t consult with you on that title. Yours is better. And you elaborate well on the nonsense that the Ancient Senator was trying to sell.
> Delimondo corned beef made under his JAKA conglomerate.
About the only thing positive, yes.
Same sentiments on what had happened in the hearing today. However, it is a good thing it happened. Now, we know the truth. Now, the families left behind learned that everything is just politics. Now, we are one step closer to justice. Now, Enrile and his ilks should make more blunders so that we would know the other truths that has been covered up by politicking officials. Challenge to all lawmakers. Make laws that should promote the truth not politics. Make laws that will penalize officials harshly(double than those of ordinary citizens) when their mistakes are made intentionally or due to carelessness. Public officials intentionally entered their post to serve the public and the state. If they betrayed their post, the state or the public, they should be dealt with more severe penalties than a lawless criminal.
*******
I like your perspective.
I decided to watch the Australian Open Tennis competition quarterfinals over the Mamasapano hearing. Given the accounts here, I don’t for a moment regret my decision.
Worst news of the day: One of my favorites, Azarenka, lost to Kerber.
Best news: Enrile’s epic failure.
Conclusion: You win some, you lose some. And the win today was greater than the loss.
*****
Yes, there is an upside, if the tabloid media don’t turn it inside out.
Like what Aquino said: The truth shall set us free.
I’m sure they have been scratching their heads wondering what this new information is that Enrile has promised. Now they are probably restrained to try to keep straight faces.
Enrile,the player,the manipulator,the revisionist.Til his last breath he is trying to be relevant.
Honasan,his long time trusted and loyal lieutenant is running as the vp of binay.While he raised the hand of BBM who is also running as VP.
As I was not able to watch the live coverage of this Senate hearing, and not knowing Joe will come up with this article, I was at raissa’s blog.
Alas, what parekoy provided was totally unsatisfying with him referring to the senators and guests as pig, rat, goat, etc. and with sex jokes, as usual. His dig on Pnoy when he wrote that one of the blatant lies in the reopened Mamasapano probe is that Aquino did not give the stand down order made me raise my eyebrow. Am not sure I understand what he meant. Sir NH and Andrew made sensible posts that clarified things better.
Reading this made me feel better. Thanks, Joe.
I think Senator Poe probably regrets having done that pig of a hearing. What an embarrassing waste of time.
Their purpose is to bring themselves in the headline news in aid of election.
Mrs. Llamanzares has always been showing her poor judgement, not just in re-opening the Mamasapano hearing.
– Believing in the tale that Mr. Edgardo Militar was his father, thus the DNA testing.
– Believing the tale that she was born in Guimaras, even if it contradicted the narration of Susan a year ago: “may pusod pa yan noong natagpuan sa Jaro.”
And now this hearing, even if the teaser was already unbelievable: a digital recording sent by an unknown between two unidentified people.
I’d say a waste of PEOPLE’s money !!!!!!
Mabuhay! May naniniwala pa ba kay Johnny?
Enrile’s father is my grandmother’s first cousin… My grandmother was the daughter of Dr. Mariano Ponce… I am the direct descendant not him… Believe me when I say that his bark is worse than his bite…
I believe you, but I’d rather have his bark worse in my ears than his bite on my skin.
Oh, Enrile
Oh, Enrile, Johnny Ponce Enrile,
look what you have done,
who would have thought,
the whole nation was on tenterhooks,
from all political stripes,
would this be the day the President
would be exposed as lacking in sympathy,
no battle savvy, shouldn’t be President,
but what’s this, Enrile’s sand castle
comes crashing all around him,
he wanted to look like the nation’s
savior, the I Told You So guy,
the go-to guy for wisdom and smarts,
aah, May Diyos Naman,
you thumb your nose at
the beloved country’s institutions,
dissing everyone including the dog
urinating at the corner by the garbage,
sparing no one with your poison,
fruits from a polluted source,
we can now rest well,
the beloved country is in safe hands,
the villain of villains has found his mark,
the mark of Cain, it’s on his back,
it’s circles on circles, what a bull’s eye.
Will
January 27, 2016
I love it!
nice!
Pa share po ah! TIA!
Share away! Always welcome!
The basic question is: why the SAF 44 who were engaged from 5.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. ( time they were presumed all dead ) were never reinforced, supplied with ammunitions, never supported with artillery fire inspite of their persistent request? Why these things not acted upon with priority and who were responsible? Who ordered the ” stand down ” of operation and why? Artillery Forward Observer (FO) can take a Helicopter and direct fire from above as easy as that, why failed on this support mission, just because of the ” stand down “? If artillery fire were shots earlier, enemy will disperse and lives should have been saved! There must be people who should be held accountable for these failures, why until now nobody still not held accountable? Thanks.
Ummm…read three or four lengthy inquiry reports from the PNP, AFP. MILF, and the Senate hearings summary by Poe to get your answer. Oh yeah and watch the 4 hour video of the last hearing. The short answer is Napenas, Purisima, Aquino, the SAF companies who idled on the highway while their comrades were being massacred, the MILF who massacred them, no one or everyone on the list. Pick one 🙂
The Peace negotiators asked for the stand down (they did not order it) so they could get between the fighting forces.
You ask good questions, most of which have been answered, and some punishments have been levied. Court cases take time. There are different kinds of accountability. President Aquino has accepted accountability for the mission, as he must. Napenas has accepted accountability for the way the operation went. Those seeking accountability now are wanting the impossible, for someone to go to jail, or for the 44 to be brought back to life. There were many mistakes made, from the President to the decisions in the fighting field and every place in between, AFP, peace keepers, SAF . . . just about every body. To try to find one to hang the deaths on is impossible, and unfair. Which is why you are unlikely to ever find satisfaction.
The critical question is, were lessons learned, and I’d guess from yesterdays continued accusations flying between SAF and AFP, some lessons have NOT been learned, because that inter-service rivalry should have ended by now.
Earlier, in the previous blog, I wrote of not needing to state the gainers and losers of the Mamasapano Investigation II, it being too obvious to state.
But you did not miss it with your eagle’s eye. One of the losers here is the Supreme Court — deciding to let out poor old frail Johnny on bail for that very reason when even his counsel did not use that as the reason.
Joe America says:
We also need to ask the Supreme Court: “Tell us again why Senator Enrile is not in jail?”
Poor old me — not frail and sick though; I DID NOT GET THAT ONE. Thanks for the timely blog. You can’t help it, huh? Can’t wait for tomorrow’s tabloid version of what happened.
One more reason for me still not to go back to the Philippines at the moment.
I could be charged for contempt of court, and I might even admit to that contempt.
Enough people have an excuse to violate laws – that are mocked by their own keepers.
I’m not sure if this is related to the case at hand, but some anti-Muslim bigots and warmongers are actually happy at the impending destruction of the BBL (partly affected by legislators’ attention diverted to the elections, and partly because of the Mamasapano controversy, which only heightened negative perception against Muslims and thus questioning the BBL).
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/759383/house-leader-gives-up-hope-on-bbl-passage-we-failed-next-generation
The best thing the MILF can do at this point is to continue to live the ceasefire and wait.
In fact they have everything to win if they are able to build trust among Christian Filipinos.
Who don’t trust one another either, rido among Muslims, but political rido among Christians.
BS Aquino is the epic failure. The opposite of leadership and the picture of blaming others.
The problem goes to BS Aquino’s executive management or lack there of. He has never been responsible for any of his administrations problems. It is sad that anyone defends his failed reign of ineptitude.
http://balita.ph/2012/10/09/oct-10-1977-patikul-massacre-recalled-feature/ – this happened on Enrile’s beat as Minister of Defense during Marcos days. Death toll: 35 including one general and four colonels. Now who was inept then – Enrile or Marcos, if one is to go by your standards?
Irineo..I read this with interest as I did not know about this at all..But the article you linked to does not establish any real link to Ponce Enrile as the defence secretary at the time..The impression given by the article is that the AFP general and his men went into this trap almost without Marcos government involvement…The dots arn’t really well linked..Do you know any other reports from that time which do establish Marcos & Enrile political responsibility ?
Only way to confirm further is to peruse news clippings or microdot archives, but even then during those times Marcos still had complete control of the press. Only way left is to see if there were any actual and archived field reports and/or mission debriefings within AFP GHQ.
Thanks for visiting the blog, Tom. I admire those with satirical wit and a good sense of humor.
“This morning, the colonel who holds the all-time world record in number of failed coup attempts and his mentor, the man who is out on bail because of old age and ill-health, spent hours berating professional soldiers on what they, the Laurel and Hardy of Warfare, thought was true soldiering.”
http://www.uniffors.com/?p=9573
off-topic good news:
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=german-manufacturer-opens-p2.4-b-facility&id=121804
GERMAN power tool maker Stihl Holding Group on Wednesday inaugurated its P2.5-billion carburetor manufacturing plant in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, which is expected to account for more than 50% of the company’s total production this year.
Stihl officials yesterday said the plant, which is under its subsidiary Zama Corp., will have 10 assembly lines producing a total of 8 million units of carburetors annually. These will be exported to customers in China, Europe, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico.
Located at the First Philippine Industrial Park, the 60,000-square-meter facility is expected to run full operations by April this year. Stihl said the Batangas plant is their second biggest facility in Asia for Zama.
Zama, the world’s largest manufacturer of diaphragm carburetors, operates plants in Japan, Hong Kong, United States and China, where their largest manufacturing facility is located but will be transferred from Shenzhen to another county.
The Philippine plant currently employs 183, but is expected to increase its staff to more than 600 by end-2016 and 950 by end-2017. Zama employs 2,400 workers worldwide.
And this is only one of many industrial plants that have opened in the past few years, not only from Germany. The negativists don’t seem to see what progress is there and what a big chance they are blowing. One more good administration, hopefully a bit better than this one because one should always try to improve, and there will be a lot to go around I think even at SSS. One bad administration can sink everything, with investors going to Indonesia or Vietnam instead. You will find less English speakers there, but more German speakers for sure. Possibly less Westernized attitudes, but predictability in dealing with governments. And many are leaving China right now.
This is truly good news for the Philippines Irineo..Broadening the industrial manufacturing bases of employment is important for building a normal society. I was for years an organic farmer here in Oz. I relied on the Stihl petrol driven chain saws and brush cutters as great deal.In fact I still have one of each even now. Reliable and long lived tools !
But I wonder about China.. Zama’s ” largest manufacturing facility is located but will be transferred from Shenzhen to another county.” Unemployment is increasing rapidly there and manufacturing plants are closing…While the apartment tower ‘bubble’ seems on the verge of imploding…Trying times are coming for China..And maybe the communist party government will seek to distract the people by setting conflicts with nearby overseas countries like Japan, Viet Nam, Philippines, and even Taiwan when the new president government assumes office.
Hey, inspite of it all and the colossal waste of time and money including my viewing hours….can anything be so bad when the biggest winner is Pinoy and the worst loser is Enrile?
I should have entitled the article “An epic backfire” because I believe President Aquino came out stronger . . . not that tabloidian or purchased media will allow that conclusion, or treat this “sordid affair” any way but sordidly.
I wasn’t able to finish parekoy’s take on this. aaarrgghh! I need to take my bp meds maintenance.
I glanced at it but only got a few lines in and figured it is some kind of concoction to show how bright and witty and profound his assessment can be, but it flew past my rather mundane and simple mind. I did also see the little spat between Irineo and Rene that followed, and hope they can patch that up with due reflection.
I think his unreliable source (his word, not mine) is out to undermine PNOY’s remaining months in office and beyond. Dangerous in the global war on terror.
I share your take on some who profess to be for Mar or for the country but so fond of nitpicking. Or those supporters so keen on attacking supporters of the other side instead of rebutting the issues at hand. With sharp words and sarcastic remarks that truly aim to hurt. Purposely hurt. Truly mean.
This is the question. who would then stand for justice in this case. can you. people of the Philippines? let us not be judgemental in the first place it is part of the investigation to resort every possible query to bring out who among them is the most responsible in this case.
“Most responsible” is an impossibility, as there were many mistakes made. Putting them all on one person would be unfair. The only person who can accept overall responsibility is the President, but he was not the reason 67 people died that day. Those who claim he must bear the burden of the mistakes of others are for sure not ready to fight any battles to protect Philippines security and sovereignty. No democratic nation assigns battlefield deaths to the civilian president. He has generals who are supposed to be experts in battle, but they sometimes lose.
There are some positives to this hearing. The epic failure of Enrile pushing hard his political agenda to damage the admin proved he is a troll. Him and binay (the bigger troll) make up the brotherhood of thieves and liars. Satan must be proud, or shaking in fear of his throne.
I saw the sharp, no nonsense, quick and focused mind of senator angara.
Had a glimpse of one senator bam, maybe presidential for 2022.
Poe to her credit, was composed and fair. Stay there.
Mar comes out strong, balanced. No shade of hand washing. Avoided the blame game. Our next president maturing in media.
This old man, he’s called Juan
He made nakaw, now he’s damned
With a knick knack paddy whack
Give this dog a bone
This old man should go drop dead.
Hahaha, how do you REALLY feel about him, cha?
I think the world has changed, and Enrile no longer has the adoration of people. When he tries to be a “player” as he did in this hearing, he comes across rather as a caricature, or cartoon figure. Somehow detached from what is REALLY going on.
Sad, if you twist your head and squint your eyes right . . .
It’s all here :
https://joeam.com/2012/11/05/johnny-and-the-drama-triangle/
Little Johnny needs to get whipped. Again.
Ah, my, cha, thanks for pulling that masterpiece from the dusty archives. You were spot on. I hope you will write some more for us one of these days. Circulation is up, and you can make a big difference.
Hey Manong Joe! How do we “pressure”? cha to write in your blog again? 😊 She needs to be heard !
I think you ask her sweetly. Then hope she has the time and inclination.
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I hear flowers, chocolate and poetry work.
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Hey Doc, are you the Anonymous commenter there who sign off with Doctor B?
err I mrasn DocB
@MaryGrace, nope. He’s not me.
Oh my, thank you guys for the encouragement. Was actually thinking that, while re-reading the piece this morning, that maybe I should be writing again. So no need for roses and chocolates. Though poetry can definitely inspire. 😊
The morning dew
glistens gaily
on any day
when cha is near
the sunshine
sparkles with
care and light
whenever cha is near
Now, now cha, dear
You are sorely missed here
Poetry is not my forte
But just to tempt ye
I dared post just one
Your article is what we want.
Just come back, Cha, and comment again even before your article is finished. The campaign season is upon us, I’m outnumbered here…help! hahaha!
Hopefully Chit, Yvonne, Vicara and JP will, too. Now that would be the day.
Ok guys, you got me. Please check your mail Joeam.
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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I will, with great pleasure and anticipation.
Hahaha Johhny threw an air ball and he wants us to believe he made a three!!!
Hahaha, someone is staying in jail!
Just goes to prove that you can never put a good man down.
The number of fictions arising from the crooks and political opponents, as to what this hearing did, are astounding.
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1. The epic fail of Enrile is clear to see. What is not being discerned is the failure of Senator Poe in agreeing to the reopening of the Mamasapano hearing.
2. Her failure reinforces the impression that the Senator does not have a basic understanding of the broad political issues in play. It reinforces the impression that she is a mere puppet of forces that have co-opted her popularity.
3. She is quoted as saying, “Ginawa natin ang ating trabaho dati. Ngayong may lumilitaw na posibleng bagong impormasyon, hindi tayo maaaring magbubulag-bulagan o magkunwari na wala nang maaaring gawin pa ang Senado (We did our work before. Now that possibly new information has surfaced, we cannot play blind or pretend there is nothing more the Senate can do).”
4. This is an admission of her incompetence in two respects:
4.1. Contrary to her claim, she did not complete, she did not do her work before. In a word, she did not exercise due diligence.
4.2. She should have ascertained, as chair of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, that the “new information” had elements of credibility and reliability.
5. As it is, she allowed herself to be used. Nagpagamit kay Enrile.
6. This sordid spectable did not just blow-up in Enrile’s face. It has increasingly besmirched the Senator’s once pristine image as the last hope against Binay. Sayang.
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Yes, that’s true. A few people are citing that (on my twitter feed, at least). I have to give Poe those “minuses” and two “pluses”. The pluses were that she called Enrile on his attempt to say the President excluded Roxas and Espina from the operation, when it was Purisima who had failed to do as the President directed. Plus, after the hearing, she was much more circumspect about the President’s role, not trying to attach him to the deaths, but just to overall responsibility. The minuses are as you have stated.
Another minus was that Enrile took control of the hearing and “showed up” Poe, with exuberant help from Senator Marcos. Only lunch saved Poe.
Sad day. I still belief that here is politics and politics, the effort to organize society in the best possible way and the egoistic self-serving politics. But not for the Filipinos around me who commented yesterday’s spectacle in the senate, they were strongly confirmed in their belief that there is only one type of politics. The same old politics, the cockfights with reelection to the most profitable profession as the major price. Not a single senator was interested in the lessons that could be learned, no one who really cared about ordinary little police men, let alone the betterment of the country. Sad and Enrile with all his wisdom and experience carries a heavy responsibility in this.
I don’t think it is that grim, actually. I do believe some of the younger senators (Angara, Aquino) are searching for a path that is straighter, honest and productive, but they are trapped in a swirling eddy and it is filled with flotsam and plastic. No way was Senator Aquino, yesterday, going to let Enrile hold the floor without him (Aquino) having his say. Even Poe struggled for a responsible neutral view, but she is too new and green to know how to deal forcefully with someone like Enrile. She might grow into it if she allows herself to learn.
I agree, but that’s not what I did hear from the Filipinos around me yesterday. (and I know that this sample is too small for any generalization….)
Yes, well, you must stand up and shout to them the whole truth of the matter. 🙂
I expect your readout is accurate across the nation, and today’s headlines continue to promote the wrong idea of what really happened. The Inquirer, for instance, was more interested in reporting Enrile’s confrontation with the President. Not that it failed to produce any new information at all. Shitty journalism is a big part of the reason people broadly think badly hereabouts.
Enrile’s idea of what Command Responsibility and Chain of Command is really dated. He still lives in the past and his frame of reference is a time when he could command both Police and Military through fear at a snap of his fingers. Sorry, Senator we have evolved beyond that already. It was good to see that several Senators stepped up to try and set the record straight. All he managed to achieve here, apart from showing to all his true intentions, was to shed light on possibly the true failure of Napenas, both as a planner and leader. It’s amazing how he declares that he did everything yet refuses to take responsibility for anything. Yes even the most ideal plans cannot account for everything and there will always be setbacks but “Man up Dude!” at least out of respect for the 44.
It seemed to me that Enrile forgot there would be people answering differently than he had calculated in his mind. Purisima was scoring points one after another, just stating the facts. One of the sharper scores was explaining that the Police are a civilian organization and had no “chain of command”. The President is Chief Executive and can do as he wishes. Enrile ignored the comment because it contradicted what he was trying to do with his whole “chain of command” argument. He was trying to fool the viewing public. Thanks for raising that point, PJ.
I don’t know about that,call it chain of command or line of authority.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/672876/afp-chain-of-command-vs-pnp-line-of-authority
There is still command responsibility.
http://www.gov.ph/1995/02/17/executive-order-no-226-s-1995/
The biggest mistake committed by everyone involved, particularly the PNP,was their insistence on entering enemy territory without backup from the nation that wanted the fugitive be captured dead or alive.
A single bomb from a drone could have solved the problem the easiest way imaginable without having to engage an enemy who knows the territory as if he was looking at the palms of his hands.
Geng
True. In the earlier hearings, Napenas reported that he had asked for permission to drop a smart bomb through the roof, but the request was denied. Why, we don’t know. Perhaps because evidence of Marwan’s death would be obliterated, perhaps because it would require a US operating engagement, and that is not allowed.
The Filipino authorities would have said… drones are under DOTC authority and supervision.
The Americans would have answered, oh no, we can’t let Abaya and his folks fly them.
I understand the importance of laws, shaped by the political process which may or may not be any kind of best practices in mind, or even the well-being of the common folk. But the Philippines is a fly caught in a spider web of laws that prevent sense. Sense is, “Hey, America, we’ve found that killer bomber Marwan. You have our permission to take him out quickly and cleanly and can scrape up any body parts you need for your labs.”
Filipinos would be more secure, the world would be safer, and who cares if Senators Recto or Santiago have insecurities about it. They are mostly busy weaving spider webs with their protests as far as I can tell. And the only reason we care about leftist nonsense is because the tabloids like turmoil. The sooner everyone tunes out their nonsense, the sooner the fly would be able to fly free. Maybe it would become an eagle some day.
key words: could have and imaginable.
Now,that made me search for De Lima’s comments on American presence.
“Asked for comment, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said it’s no big deal. “So long as the Philippine government allows it and retains absolute control, foreign forces can be directly involved in any local military or law enforcement operation,” De Lima argued.
She said there are only three constitutional and legal limits to the extent of foreign military activity in the country: the prohibition against permanent military bases, freedom from nuclear weapons, and “the general principle of an independent foreign policy and non-intervention” in sovereign affairs.”
Therefore the possible American presence in Mamasapano or Zamboanga is a non-issue…
What Parekoy is writing may or may not be true with many possible variations in between. The thing is that war is never that cut and dried simple. That was the point I was trying to make in my spontaneous posting which mentioned Kundus airstrike – the first major German encounter with a lot of casualties after World War 2. The funny thing is the usual anti-American German papers did NOT relish Americans making mistakes in Iraq and elsewhere after that. Maybe Aquino made a mistake, but the issue is: the way the Philippines and its leadership are now, China could overrun them in 12 hours, if the USA were not there. Finding a scapegoat – even if he showed a weakness – to cover up everybody’s kapalpakan does not make more prepared.
The big picture perspective is a generally a rarity but most clearly lacking among politicians. Perhaps I am stating an obvious oxymoron here — to say that politicians have big picture perspective.
There are two Kunduz air strikes in wikipedia…2009 and 2015
As if the former was supposed to give lessons in civilian casualties.
The numbers were lessened,and that is it.
> A single bomb from a drone could have solved the problem the easiest way imaginable without having to engage an enemy who knows the territory as if he was looking at the palms of his hands.
It could, but then considering that not all drone attacks are very successful in Afghanistan (and later portrayed in Good Kill), it made more sense for the troopers to deal with the enemy by surgical means, and to make a confirmed kill, even if it means certain death from all corners afterwards.
It’s hard to find a safe, sanitary way to do fighting when one party is intent upon waging it by purposefully putting civilians into the battlefield and the other is trying to fight with no extraneous casualties. I’d have opted for a smart bomb (not drone) through the roof, but the legal (political) barriers I believe did not allow that.
Enrile Will you rest in peace, magnanakaw sa panahon ni marcos… I
You were a about to say I…..?
not to put words in your mouth so I will say Enrile,I hate you…..
I = Isama mo na si Binay?
What is there to expect from Enrile? Is he not the famous liar from thw veey start? He has the axe to grind against the president
Yes, and it was clear yesterday that he has been sitting in his jail cell for months dreaming about using that axe. Alas, it was rusty and lacked a handle.
Just the Facts Department. “Oh, look, see President Aquino’s ‘sordid’ investment in Philippine well-being:”
…and if you could correct the figures for “leakages” during GMA’s reign, the picture would even be more dramatic.
http://www.gov.ph/2016/01/28/statement-sec-purisima-q4-and-full-year-2015-gdp-growth/
The economy grew by 6.3% in the last quarter of 2015 and 5.8% for the full year, the fastest among the ASEAN-5. In a year marked by strong external headwinds, the Philippines has kept its quarterly average growth rate of 6.0% for the duration of the Aquino administration, pushing the six-year moving average of real GDP growth at 6.2% as of 2015—the highest since 1978.
I also like how these people analyzed the reopened hearing (as posted in PDI)
Bernie Villorente •
Juan Ponce Enrile’s quest to put the President in a bad light ended in humiliating defeat. The “8 Issues vs. Aquino” were debunked as pure myth, a mere product of the old man’s dementiated mind. Instead of heaping blame on the President, Enrile’s attack dog, Napenas, was key in refuting Enrile’s allegations. No matter how Enrile manipulated the events, it always ended up highlighting Napenas’ incompetence. Instead of undermining the AFP and SAF, it was them who destroyed Enrile in brutal fashion.
The alliance of Grace Poe and Juan Ponce Enrile has been defeated. Their plan to exploit the SAF-44 to discredit the President was a failure in epic proportion. Vanquished, they now hung their heads in shame. Instead of crucifying the President on the cross of public opinion, Poe, Enrile and Napeñas ended up nailed on the cross. Aquino turned the tables on them even without trying. In the battle between good versus evil, good won. The takeaway here is that, you can never put a good man down.
Rainer Princepe •
Dapat Ex Senator Enrile ka na. Mag resign ka na. Irrelevant ka na sa present time. During the rule of KBL sabi mo sa mga kalaban nyo noon mga POLITICAL LEFT OVERS NA KAYO, MAG PAHINGA NA KAYO. Ngayon ibalik ng mamayan yang salita mong iyon, MAG PAHINGA KA NA SEN ENRILE, POLITICAL LEFT OVER KA NA, PANIS, ULYANIN. Wala kang SILBI sa Bayan mula pa nuon hanggang ngayon, panay sarili mo lang ang binubusog mo. Akala mo mahahatak mo si PNOY sa iyong pagka insignificant, hindi, kasi PNOY is GOOD and you are EVIL. MABAHO KA, MABANGO si PNOY. SALBAHI KA, PNOY is HONEST.
Darius Estrada •
University of Pangasinan, Dagupan City
Mga kamag-anak ng SAF 44 kuyugin nyo na si Napenas…sinubaybayin ko hearing kahapon sa CNN, lumilitaw na si Napenas ang may sala. Kahit pilit idiin ni Enrile na si Pnoy ang ultimately responsible hindi niya napatunayan. Akala ko meron syang pasabog na ebidensya gaya ng sabi niya bago ang hearing. Malinaw na si Napenas ang nag compartmentalise ng operation.
Off off topic
THERE GOES ANOTHER ONE
One after another, computer programs have been developed to beat the best of human players at their favorite pastimes: chess, jeopardy, poker, etc. But although programs have been developed to beat amateur level GO players — a simple-rule board game, but very difficult to master game of supposed Chinese origin of 2500 years ago — the Holy Grail of game programmers have been to use AI to beat the best human GO players. No group of programmers have succeeded earlier. But in a new program AlphaGO, using a new approach to AI programming, the best EU GO player has been defeated, with development still on going to beat the best GO players who are mostly in China and Korea.
This is another triumph of the synergy of mind and science/technology. (This is what the old man Enrile and his kind is up against.)
The link:
http://www.livescience.com/53497-ai-defeats-human-go-player.html?
At some point in the near future humans will not be needed even to play games..AI & robots will do it all but for whom ? Others A I’s perhaps.? … Or to amuse the truly rich who can order the A I ‘s around..
Is this what ‘science’ is really for ?
We will grow big heads to house improved brains with diminutive other parts of the body — thereby saving on energy; no muscle-bound body to feed; no Enrile/Duterte-sexual-appetites or deviant behaviors to consume energy; hahaha. Probably no need to type on keyboards — brain wave communication.
Stephen Hawking fully-developed his physics theory when he can hardly do anything, but saved by the magic of a wheelchair and computer system to communicate his thoughts and do his best works.
I have attempted to read his book and failed to finish or understand..I have heard this is quite common with his readers..Ummm
The weaving machines are in service for quite some time, maybe you protest comes a little late?
(Also the invention of the wheel was not well received, they tell an remember the dangers of fire)
And it is not only AI, also the bionic man is coming, artificial limbs, new eyes, brain connections…. and the “intelligent design”, tinkering with DNA, improving species, combining species, designer babies…
Yep, according to Hawking and others, AI is a huge threat to humans. http://observer.com/2015/08/stephen-hawking-elon-musk-and-bill-gates-warn-about-artificial-intelligence/
Yes, it sound scary as sci-fi stories show. In fact that’s what the AlphaGO developer did — used AI in a deep-learning mode to see how humans play and embed this in its play. The robotics and the learning AI should be viewed with some concern, I agree. Although the technology promises some good things, the un-intended consequence is a problem. The un-intended consequence of nuclear power with its promise of unlimited energy, especially the fusion-type with unlimited fuel from deuterium of the seas. Our death in the hands of that uncontrollable madman near China.
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If the principles and logic of “morality” can be discovered, it will then be possible to develop the algorithm of morality. This algorithm can then be fed into computers, which execute at speeds far beyond the capacity of humans. Computers can analyze the possible permutations of a given problem (as in chess and go), predict the consequences of each permutation, and arrive at the maximal strategy… without the subjectivity of human biases.
We can then have benevolent AI
rulersadvisors to human rulers.The danger of AI may be unfounded. Computers can be programmed with Asimov’s three Law of Robotics which would prevent the threats that Hawking, Gates and Musk contemplate.
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
*****
Okay, you are going scary on me, Edgar. Programmed morality rules out the idea that morality changes with knowledge and experience and the computer would freeze us as porcelain transistors in the machine’s world.
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The AI output would be in the form of an advice — not immediately executable and merely be recommendatory. Human wisdom — as in a veto power — would still be able to override the computer’s recommendation.
The AI computer would evaluate scenarios, not according to inflexible moral rules, but according to certain foundational moral principles. It will be programmed heuristically. It will be able to learn on its own, like the common law model, as it builds a vast database of principles and decisions.
The maximal strategy I mentioned may well be the utilitarian Pareto efficiency (or optimality).
*****
I vote for inefficiency.
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He he. Which is precisely our present situation — nauseating at times but rich, interesting and challenging.
*****
Or a tweaked genetic sequence that creates a virus that infests brains and makes us all look and think like Donald Trump.
Nice edgar. I do hope that when AI comes to its full bloom, these Asimov three constraints will do the work. But any computer virus developed not by humans but by AI-robot itself ruining the works?
Say, can the Judiciary with its tons of laws sometimes or often conflicting be aided by AI — so Sereno, Carpio, del Castillo, Leonen et all can stop Poblador in his tracks or aid him in his tracks. Whichever. He he.
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I would say so, yes. Right now, computers help perform medical diagnosis. If the whole of civil and common law could be captured in a database, AI would definitely help jurists in finding the relevant precedents and assist them in the arrival of decisions.
One will note in the Poe case that the applicability of international laws is a major issue with respect to signatory countries and effectivity dates. This major issue could be resolved very quickly.
Sereno’s suggestions that Filipino law is rich in precedent could also be quickly verified.
If Poe’s legal counsel had been able to consult such a database in the first place, she may not have filed a CoC at all… and saved the country all this angst.
*****
🙂
Edgar, another way of thinking will take over, a trial and error type. Apple, Google, Facebook, constantly testing little changes to improve products. This can be done semi-automatic, very focused and fast. No rules, just testing what you, consumer, like most. Nature survival of the fittest on mega-steroids (mega being an understatement.) Forget rational, forget ethical points of view.
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That approach is very pragmatic… but depends on subjectivity.
Some good products fail, some succeed. Google glass failed. The tablet, I believe, was first introduced by Microsoft some years before Apple worked on it. The product was before its time. There is a ripening process, a maturation process… and an obsolescence process. BlackBerry was top of the line some few years ago. Now, arguably, it is in decline.
*****
Re Artificial Intelligence – I have watched a short segment of AI in Japan. They have developed robots that look almost human, and can replicate one that is almost the duplicate of anyone the buyers would want. I wonder if many of the Japanese will buy them, maybe not many since their PM Abe has announced in one of the APEC sidelights that they will welcome DH to Japan this year.
While most countries are worried about inflation, they are concerned about deflation.
I’ve programmed Common Lisp(It is a programmable programming language) for five years and it changed me, it is really an eye-opener, a kind of spiritual revelation, a must-have experience, a delightful joke in your head, a Heinlein-an grokking of suffusion of blue.
The moment you practiced and learned it, you will never be the same again. Almost many things you’ll know about the world will be seen as constructs and macros.
Imagine never having to wait for a function because you can write it all yourself, imagine every bug is evaluated before, during and after run time. Every new programming language today takes on Lisp’s ideas, which came from 1950’s.
AI is not a new concept though it experienced an event called “AI Winter”, the lost interest and funding of all Lisp Machines in favor of Vonn Neumann ones.
The only thing now that a computer can’t do is perceiving an image woman named “Baby” and never mistake it as a man. Or other NP complete problems
I’d like to borrow Larry Wall’s quote: “The possibility of greater good comes with the possibility of greater evil.”
So the remake of the bionic man would be entitled. “Six million Yen Man”,the deflationary effect on the Six million dollar man.
” The tablet, I believe, was first introduced by Microsoft some years before Apple worked on it. ”
Hehe, the first tablet was the “Simplon” by a Munich start-up firm in 2000, my brother was in it.
The thing kept crashing, it was huge and pen-based, the times were simply not ready for it.
There of course was the Apple Newton in the late 1990s which was a pen-based PDA.
It was made famous by Doonesbury which made fun of its handwriting recognition.
Oh, how I miss my Osborne portable.
” If the whole of civil and common law could be captured in a database,” The Philippines already has Chan-Robles with all kinds of cases dating back even to the 1930s…
In Romania you can search a person’s name – they usually have 2-3 first names that are quite distinct and a last name – and find if that person has pending court cases or been sentenced.
In a country where you are dealing with a lot of potential crooks, this kind of public FOI was and is very helpful in ascertaining whether you are dealing with a bonafide person or a swindler.
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Irineo, thanks.
The Chan-Robles virtual library is a rich resource no doubt. I have used it from time to time. It has Philippine Supreme Court decisions since the fin-de-siecle and US Supreme Court decisions going back to 1791. Impressive.
It does not have international law.
I did a search on “cases relating to foundlings” and it came up with 5 pages of results. There were actually only 3 pages. One of the entries was the Constitution of Papua New Guinea.
The power of a database, assuming completeness of data, is the power to form complex queries.
When I changed my search terms to “what principles govern the citizenship of foundlings,” it returned one page of 5 entries… including the Papua New Guinea Constitution and Nigeria’s. The other 3 were RA 8552, the Civil Code and the Omnibus Election Code.
The search is powered by Google.
When I searched for (“citizenship” “principles” “foundlings”) I obtained no results.
For (“citizenship” “foundlings”) I just got the Family Code.
*****
Looks like the asymptote to any human endeavor is the Sisyphean conundrum.
because of inflation,they could not do a remake of “The Six Million Dollar Man”.
beyond terminator…there are robots,that feel,think,and….
it seems that we are in the world economic forum.
http://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2016/sessions/the-state-of-artificial-intelligence
Karl, thanks for that Davos WEF portion on AI. When you posted it, I took note of the video length — 55 min — and reminded myself to read it later.
I just viewed it. There is really not a lot we have missed in the content — ability to peruse docs at speed and do some synthesizing according to user needs; driverless cars; personal assistant for the busy housewife, etc, but it is very nice to have knowledgeable speakers/ experts articulate their thoughts. ESPECIALLY WHERE WE ARE IN THE AI FIELD NOW. There seems to be a consensus that 2015 is some turning point in the AI journey.
Recommended viewing for those who have extra time to spare.
You are most welcome,NHerrera!
No protest. Just meditating on the mind — the real frontier and all that, egged on by the note on the GO program of which I am an amateur player.
Just like google, these tools extend the mind. Someone with a good brain can use google to look for information, but the task of sifting out gold from the dirt still requires discernment. Looking for good sources is for example Karl’s specialty, mine is summarizing their content.
Probably AI will be able to PARTLY replace both Karl and me, but it will probably be just as good or as bad as YAHOO (remember that search engine) was in the beginning, google was a major leap, they employ a lot of people with Ph.Ds, because the semantics of content are important. And I remember how at Bonn University, the KI professors and students were looked down upon by the “serious” informaticians. Much like Catholics looking at Hare Krishna folks. But now who knows, I just ask a question and get a quick summary – like a research assistant.
Why thank you Irineo…..next time read credibility as synonymous to parekoy’s “unreliable sources”,so it would be less nakakapikon.
Ahh but Josephivo, I am not a Luddite ! Quite a few machines are very usfull to us humans..Even the I Mac I am using to write this comment is useful..It serves my very human limited purpose
Mankind always adjusted quite well to new inventions, even with Luddites over and over again. Why would AI be an exception? Might our intelligence be too limited for “intelligent design”?
Off topic but relevant to the MRT discussion..
Jakarta is building an 18 kilometer underground metro line..It was stated in 2013 and is now half finished..
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-28/jakarta-subway-on-track-to-ease-traffic-woes/7119322
Key points on the article – Jakarta’s first subway on track to ease city’s notorious traffic woes:
Jakarta’s congestion is among the worst in the world and costs the country billions every year
The system is being built with Japanese technology and loans
The concrete train tunnels float in clay rather than anchored to bedrock
The first trains should begin rolling on the city’s north-south by 2018
Photo: The first 16km of Jakarta’s underground MRT is due to be completed in 2018
http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/208-infrastructure/96456-mega-manila-subway-edsa-masterplan-2015-deadline
http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/208-infrastructure/111711-makati-pasay-taguig-subway-bid-next-administration
We are a nation of plans.
Yes, but that is better than having none, and some are in fact coming to fruition, as the list of approved infrastructure projects gets bigger. A subway seems like a big bite to chew on for a poor country, when the streets are such a jumble and could be simplified and made to carry a lot more people with Irineo’s BRT idea.
Yes, having plans are much better than band-aid solutions.
I agree that a subway seems too costly.irineo showed me a link about a road train,tested by the DOST in Clark,the roads there are well maintained,so it could work,there.
And we discussed further on BRT.
I think one will be set up from Quezon Avenue to Manila City Hall.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines lashed out against former Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas at the reopening of the investigation of the Mamasapano debacle on Wednesday, something that seemed they had long wanted to do but were only holding back.
“Last year we were holding our punches because Napeñas was still with the PNP. Ayaw namin ma-misinterpret na sinisisi namin ang PNP [Philippine National Police] for the debacle,” former AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang told INQUIRER.net on Thursday.
Napeñas headed the elite police unit when 44 of his men were killed in a botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January last year. He was immediately sacked as the SAF chief after the incident and retired from service last July.
Catapang, who was then AFP chief at the time of the incident, said they did not want to be misinterpreted for blaming the PNP as a whole, so they pulled their punches.
“Now that he is retired and out of the service, we can now zero in on all his tactical lapses without seriously affecting the image of the PNP,” he said.
The AFP’s presentation at the Senate hearing essentially blamed Napeñas for the fiasco.
“He is the kind of man who blames everyone but himself. He blamed the AFP. He even blamed the President. This mindset is the root of the problem that led to the debacle suffered by the SAF 44,” the former military operations chief, Maj. Gen. Angelito de Leon, said in the briefing.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/759669/afp-got-fed-up-of-napenas-lies-military-general
Edgar, I’m not talking about new products. Currently they constantly make minor changes to existing products and test them in a small sample. If the effect is positive it will be incorporated in the foreseen niche or flat out in the next version. This testing is getting more and more automatic, even the design part. Just as nature makes mistakes and test them over generations, the virtual world is doing the same but in seconds.
Trial and error will get the new way, not rational thinking. The new product Homo Sapiens was not developed in a rational way, but just by trial and error over millions of years. Apple’s new revolutionary product too will be discovered in a goldmine of faster and faster trial and errors. Data-mining requires data generation, both will be done automatically. Tetra- is becoming a small number, for us kilo- still sound a lot.
e.g. One day they will test out popcorn shaped dots instead of boring round ones, if you like using them it will become the default dot for al popcorn lovers. These popcorn crunchers they already know via comments in this blog.
They know not only via your comments, but also your Google searches for new popcorn tastes, the above average seconds you spent on (porn?)pictures with popcorn, your purchasing pattern…
*******
LOL!
*****
*******
Ah, I grok.
*****
http://themaharlikan.info/world/filipino-students-emerged-as-champions-on-world-debate-championship-in-greece/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork – Filipinos good at debate… that is for sure…
Now I have a crazy BPO idea… if anyone in any country needs a person to argue the most absurd cause for them… better call Saul… no call a Filipino company… with former Senators in it.
There is a GRP article by benign0 comparing the Cologne attacks on women on New Year’s Eve with Mamasapano. I made a comment there. The gist: since yesterday a DRAFT LAW is out by the three major parties to make it easier to deport refugees and migrants that commit crimes. Yes there is emotion, there are discussions, but the focus is on solutions not culprits, and the postings of my German FB friends are more rational than those of my Filipino FB friends on Mamasapano.
And I shared my comments on FB FGLC page as well and to friends and groups, with the comment that the draft law will probably be passed into law this year – unlike the foot-dragging in the Philippine Congress and Senate. And yes, even a former Federal cop who came out with a critical FB post and was interviewed on radio was very calm. He was part of the Cologne train station group before. He knows they are understaffed. He knows that fighting rowdies is worse than his hobby – MMA fighting – because they can be unpredictable, it can be like civil war. He even refused to judge the situation that night – he said I was not there, it would be unprofessional.
The Cologne chief of police was put on indefinite leave… meaning preventive suspension until the investigation is concluded. Seems the dispatchers rejected reinforcements from another town. Must have been fog of war because the cops in the station requested them. But nobody serious just jumps to conclusions. Sure the tabloids do, but educated people read other papers here. In fact Trump’s voice about that stuff is heard louder over the Atlantic here in Germany than all German voices put together was my comment to GRP. I say now: we had loud voices before…
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/28/1547266/eu-philippines-improving-implementation-intl-conventions – some good news posted by the Philippine Embassy in Berlin this evening!
This is Nick Hein… the reports about his FB posting were on January 10… the draft law to improve deportation which he criticized was finished yesterday… now that is a responsive democracy… and I heard the entire interview with Nick Hein on the radio he was very calm.
No blame games towards the state police who work the area outside the station – federal cops are responsible for train stations, airports and border checks… no blaming the interior ministry.
he just wanted to point that Aquino was really the one calling the shots. you can not blame it on Purisima because he was suspended thus has no authority. and since Roxas and Espina were not informed, the line of authority was from Aquino directly to Napenas.
of course you can not make a case out of incompetence. a hara kiri is in order but the people involved are not Japanese and they are not Reyes either
That is a legalistic view that denies what actually happened. The civilian president asked someone with peculiar knowledge about the operation (another civilian) to coordinate a few matters pertaining to the approved operations plan presented by SAF. Purisima did acts and deeds, or did not do them (he did not coordinate with AFP) as asked, and is singly and entirely responsible for his acts and deeds. They really did happen. He really was responsible for them. They don’t go away because other people did their own acts and deeds.
the mystery is why the back up force didn’t help at all?
They are shameless incompetents. They will never accept responsibility and Aquino is the biggest fraud.
Background check, Tom. That is a pretty hard view, not supported by any argument or information. Please let us know your nationality, location and interest in the Philippines so that I don’t conclude you are simply trolling the blog. I would encourage you to elaborate, as this is a discussion thread, not a chat room for flaming people.
Thank you.
I am from the US and married to a filipina for 30 years. I have spent a lot of time in the Philippines over the past 10 years and have been observing the politics there for a very long time. It is my opinion that the Aquinos have been the biggest crooks or incompetents in the governing of the Philippines. I believe Pnoy was selected by the oligarchy after they couldn’t get the ChaCha change made to keep Macapagal-Arroyo in position. Based on Pnoys record, they chose the weakest person so they could continue their abuse of the country.
In Pnoy’s reign, there have been many crisis going back to the chinese bus hostage resolution. I don’t see Pnoy holding anyone accountable and his actions during the crisis including Yolanda have shown he has been a failure.
Just my observation of the situation there and I care because I know many people living there.
Tom
Okay, Tom. Good of you to visit the blog. Your views are so out of whack with my observations, experience and readings that I don’t know where to begin. The Philippines is regarded as the rising star of Asia for a reason, and cherry-picking incidents, mis-interpreting them or the President’s role in them, will always lead to a wrong conclusion. Aquino was voted into office by the people, on their demand. Not oligarchs. Yolanda was a storm, the world’s largest, and was not caused by Aquino. The Mayor of Tacloban has put down his political axe and thanked the National Government for all their assistance, and other communities that have been re-built are equally thankful. I lived through that storm and know the effort put in to get electricity back, for instance. So I can assure you that you need better sources for your information.
Good that you care for the people here. You’d do a better job of acting on that care if you got your facts straight.
Tom,
Please read this.
”
I attended the 2016 SWS Survey Review at the AIM last Wednesday, which covered nine surveys for this year plus comparisons with other administrations (Social Weather Stations is, after all, 30 years old). The presentation, by Mahar Mangahas, was an eye-opener.
Why? First, it provided a whole new perspective on the Aquino administration that I never got from the print or broadcast media. For example, does the Reader know that Filipinos’ satisfaction with life is at a peak since 2002? In that year, on the average (three surveys), 19 percent were very satisfied, 44 percent were fairly satisfied, 29 percent were not very satisfied, and 8 percent were not at all satisfied. Contrast that with 2015 (two surveys), in which 37 percent (or almost double) were very satisfied, 49 percent were fairly satisfied, 12 percent were not very satisfied, and 2 percent were not at all satisfied. Those differences are statistically significant.
Also, the Aquino administration’s survey ratings (net satisfaction) for the entire period (2010-2015) averaged +39, which is considered good. From eyeballing the graph, it is clear that P-Noy’s ratings are the highest among the five post-Marcos presidents.
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With regard to 2015, the report card of the national administration has grades ranging from Good to Neutral. There was no issue in which the administration was given a Poor or Bad mark. And there was only one issue (resolving the Maguindanao massacre case with justice) where the administration got a Very Bad mark.
Comparing the Aquino administration with those of the other presidents, P-Noy certainly comes out favorably. On such matters as the quality of children’s education, providing enough electricity, helping victims of disasters, helping the poor, promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, protecting the environment, foreign relations, promoting human rights, transparency in government activities, preparing for climate change, giving justice, deciding quickly on important problems, the graphs show that he has done better as far as the people’s net satisfaction ratings are concerned. The only graph where his mother beats him is in telling the truth to the people. But he still beats all the others.
With respect to traffic management by area, the P-Noy administration doesn’t do very well—in fact it compares very badly against Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo when it comes to traffic management in Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. But Estrada got a -33, and Arroyo got a -44 net satisfaction rating for the National Capital Region, and P-Noy got a -5. For us Metro Manilans, it seems he still did better than the two others.
He has performed much better than his predecessors in areas like eradicating graft and corruption and fighting inflation. At least, the people’s net satisfaction rating on the average is higher with him.
And businessmen’s reports of corruption in government continue to drop. In comparing with the past (down to 2005) the SWS reports a new low of 32 percent in 2014 and 2015 with respect to personal knowledge of public-sector corruption in the last three months. In 2005, that was 41 percent. A statistically significant difference.
Additionally, 39 percent of businessmen in 2014-2015 reported that most companies in their line of business give bribes to win public-sector contracts. That is a “new low.” In 2000 that figure was 55 percent. In 2009 it was 48 percent.
In short, P-Noy has done relatively well, compared to his predecessors. And more, he seems to have done a good job.
However, when it came to elections, the latest survey results show that the administration’s candidate was only No. 3. Isn’t that a disconnect? If the administration has done a good job, after all, doesn’t that mean that its candidate has a good chance?
But that’s just it. The administration’s achievements don’t seem to get reported in the media. Could that be the reason for the disconnect? And why should that be? I asked Vergel Santos, a panelist in the forum, who has 50 years of journalism under his belt (I take my hat off to him—he has integrity written all over him) to shed light on this.
His answer, as far as I recall, is that we have a growing problem: media ownership and control by business and political leaders who may have conflicts of interest (and guess who is going to win). We also have the problem of corruption in the media. We will all have to be watchful.
* * *
The second eye-opener in Mangahas’ Survey Review is what I learned about the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the people’s reaction to it. For example: The survey shows that Catholics know the least about the proposed law—only 13 percent have either extensive or partial but sufficient knowledge of it. This, compared to 19 percent of other Christians, 27 percent of Iglesia ni Cristo, and, not surprisingly, 58 percent of Muslims.
Moreover, approval of the BBL is related to knowledge about it. Among those who have extensive knowledge, the approval rating is 64 percent. With partial but sufficient knowledge, the approval drops to 41 percent. For those with little knowledge, the approval drops further to 24 percent, and for those with almost none, the approval rating is only 11 percent.
Finally, Mangahas ended on what happened in the 2010 elections: In November 2009, Benigno Aquino III had about 47 percent of the vote, and Manuel Villar had 20 percent. By February, that 27 percent gap had closed to 2-3 percent. And by election time, it had increased to 28 percent.
For vice president: In November, the Mar Roxas-Jojo Binay gap was about 32 percent. In February, Roxas had peaked at almost 50 percent to Binay’s 15 percent (around a 35 percent gap). But by May, the gap had not only closed, it had reversed: Binay 43 percent, Roxas 39 percent.
Message: It’s anybody’s ballgame at this point.
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/92459/eye-openers-at-sws-survey-review#ixzz3ygQrlLuH
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Enrile had little to nothing to lose here (except looking like a fool) and a lot to gain. It was a wise move for his part, if this was a game of chess. Sadly, this was also a blow to BBL, which was pronounced virtually “dead” just recently. With the growth of ISIS in Mindanao, I’m afraid these series of events can dangerously lead to frustration and radicalization.
We should put this “sick” man back to jail.
Yes, Angel, such acts do have consequences, and I think allowing him to railroad the Senate and nation into a big boondoggle reflects on the power of power, rather than principle, in the Senate and nation. Enrile still has power. When principle becomes the driver of deeds, the nation will be a lot healthier and productive.
My conspiracy theory ,BBM is getting the heat for killing BBL so he talked to Enrile to reopen this Mamasapano incident.He even told the public he talked to Enrile by giving a spoiler that nothing explosive will come out of it.
http://politics.com.ph/may-lilinawin-lang-bongbong-says-jpe-has-no-bombs-for-mamasapano-hearing/
The article was published BEFORE the hearing. So that raises the question of exactly why in the world did Senator Poe agree to the hearing? Was Enrile too powerful for her? Did Escudero (with his “secret” Binay attachment) insist on it?
The conspiracy may have other shadings.
Yes, they are taking us for fools.All of the above.
Enrile has no regard for his long trusted loyal Honasan.
http://politics.com.ph/marcos-pa-rin-enrile-prefers-binay-bongbong-tandem/
The ugly party of connivers, power-mongering and entitlement. Gadzooks. So many people can’t SEE that? I am constantly amazed. Is that a large share of the nation, or what???
Well, Honasan may have some principles, some scruples, still. Enrile prefers the tandem that will most surely let him and Gigi go free.
Yes,that means he plans to live past 100.Gadzooks!
It’s so obvious, since he raised BBM’s hand when he declared his VP candidacy.
Joe, just a theory. Enrile may have eyed the Mamasapano re-hearing as a bargaining chip against the Administration for what maybe spilled over Gigi Reyes trial. Unfortunately, it did not work. Epic fail, as you put it.
Could be. Certainly it was not as he said, getting to the facts for the people. Hahahaha Which makes him a scheming dirty rat, it would seem.
My other take on the matter is that, PNOY has the proven and steady support of people as evidenced by his high satisfaction rate. They could be threatened by this satisfaction, it could be positive to its anointed candidate and so the better strategy would be to discredit PNOY so that it would also discredit the party’s candidate. What else could it be, when clearly the re-hearing was political right at the very start.
sometimes the Inquirer gets it right. Spot on with their editorial yesterday.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/92435/enriles-dud
Thanks for the link Doc.
Good News: The Supreme Court may have found the elixir of life by its decision to let Enrile out of jail. Hooray, a milestone in Philippine medical science history.
****************************************
INQUIRER.NET hEADLINE, 1/30/2016—“Scientist studying ailing PH senator’s miraculous recovery”
“BIMINI, The Bahamas—Medical specialists based here are conducting extensive research and experiments on the case of an ailing Philippine senator who apparently sprang back to good health after being sprung from jail by that country’s Supreme Court.
Scientists at the Lilly & Putt Laboratories are amazed at the quick recovery of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who bounded from his sickbed in a detention center right into the Senate halls with no apparent difficulty.
Enrile was in jail facing corruption charges until a Supreme Court ruling freed him on bail on account of illness and old age.
“It seems to be a rare case of the even rarer Lazarus Syndrome of which medical science has yet to find a credible explanation,” stated Dr. Bill U. Leiter, director of research at Lilly & Putt.
Not only did Enrile make a grand entrance as a sprightly octogenarian, he even launched a highly publicized investigation into last year’s massacre of 44 police commandos, promising to unveil explosive “new evidence” of official culpability on the part of the current administration.
Although the evidence turned out to be a dud, scientists were left wondering whether supreme courts may now have an important though previously undetected curative role in the delivery of medical care.
“The syndrome is vaguely related to parthenogenesis, or the asexual reproduction in some animal forms,” observed Dr. Leiter. “In layman’s terms, pregnancy and birth with no sex involved.”
In Enrile’s case, he recovered quickly with no medication, surgery, physical therapy or rehab involved.
“Mr. Enrile’s system seems to have generated new cells to replace aging ones, making him instantly younger,” exclaimed Dr. Fay Handenfoote, a visiting geneticist from Amsterdam.
Dr. Handenfoote noticed that Enrile even lawyered in a Senate hearing for presidential candidate Jojo Binay, who is also facing corruption charges.
“If Vice President Binay becomes president and rewards him for his help by releasing him from jail with a presidential pardon, Senator Enrile may just find the fountain of youth—making him even healthier and younger. So young he may no longer need Viagra,” Dr. Handenfoote declared.
The Lilly & Putt’s research findings will be published in the Journal of Offshore Science and Medicine, N.A.”
Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/135856/135856#ixzz3yh3NGeC9
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook”
HaHahA!
😄🙄😎😃😜🤔😋🤑😛😝😌🤓😳😄
He ‘s on an anti-aging program..They do exist…One involves taking lots of supplements & hormones..Another involves fasting for 4-5 days regularly.
But he does not need to be out on bail now as he has recovered..So surely the Supreme Court can revoke his bail..Will somebody request that this matter be reheard ?
I’m on an anti-aging regimen, too. I nap 10 hours per day because using one’s muscles and joints wears them out.
Let him nap in jail !
Sorry, Bill, but a Supreme Court reversal of its ruling will reverse the effect of the elixir of life and will have a deleterious effect on Enrile’s health and so I think, for humanitarian reason, the Supreme Court will not do what you’re suggesting.
Tongue in cheek, Bert?
Mary, I’m an avid fan of scientists, having been addicted to reading science fiction novels for a long time already, and so reading the article posted above gave me the impression that that Dr. Handenfoote, a scientist, of Lilly & Putt Laboratories has found something very important to science and to mankind, specially to our dear and favorite Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
Epic fail?
You and Ireneo must be smoking some really strong weed to be this out of touch, Joe America.
Cucks.
And what your master needs? Total war?
Care to discuss it, or are you just one of those quick hit, cheap shot, immature trolls?
Joe, it just got me thinking. Could this likely get through Mar camp? A modification in the campaign ad along this line…”Hindi ako ipinanganak na mahirap, hindi ako mahirap. Pero ang mga batas na naipasa ko ay para sa mahirap.” (I was not born poor. I am not poor. But the laws I passed were for the poor). The back it up with Cheap Medicines Act, for example and the rest of similar-themed laws.
If they read here, they may pick it up. I’ve had people write me behind the scenes and ask me to forward such ideas to the Roxas camp, but I don’t have that kind of connection there, nor would I do so if I did. He has a good campaign team, and a clear plan with good feedback from different sources. My official position is to fall back to not having a political advocacy, but if I were a Roxas supporter, I would have more confidence in “my man”, and simply extol his virtues to others in every way available to me.
It is amusing, you do not see Binay supporters advising or criticizing their man, or Duterte supporters, or Poe supporters. But Roxas supporters are always suggesting “he is not doing it right”, and one person at Riassa Roble’s site insisted on calling him a “wimp”. A supporter! A supporter?
I’d argue that Roxas supporters should actually provide some support rather than headwind and drag.
The cartoonist of Cebu Daily News says it all with this…
Somewhat on-topic:
http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/02/03/16/why-gordon-romualdez-think-pnoy-should-face-raps-for-mamasapano
Why speak now and parrot Enrile?