Who polices the police? Is NAPOLCOM doing its job?
President Duterte makes Dela Rosa chief [Photo source: Sunstar]
I want to work on gaining a very basic understanding of the disciplinary structure and the laws pertaining to police use of force. I’m sharing with you what I learn and look forward to your own observations in this arena. I suspect we will find it a work in progress rather than a conclusive study.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) effectively police themselves for routine operational matters, but, on occasion, violations of national laws governing employees or criminal acts (fraud) are taken up by the Ombudsman.
We learned during the Mamasapano hearings that the PNP is not a military organization, so their is no military chain of command leading to the President. The chain of command stops with the Chief of Police. The PNP is a civilian organization managed in a day-to-day way by the Chief of Police, and administratively as to policies, new recruits, promotions, and disciplinary acts by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM). NAPOLCOM is chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Practically speaking, the Chief is appointed by the President and takes direct orders from the President as to the priorities and execution of his duties. The Chief of Police also reports sideways to the head of the Department of Interior and Local Government because police are assigned to work with local governments. But it is not a direct boss/subordinate relationship.
Let’s look first at the mandate and composition of NAPOLCOM, then consider it’s appellate function, draw off some lessons from the Mamasapano case, check a few laws on the matter of excessive force, and then wrap it up with some conclusions.
NAPOLCOM Mandate
The web site for NAPOLCOM provides this mandate:
The National Police Commission is the agency mandated by the 1987 Constitution and the Major Police Reform Laws, Republic Act Nos. 6975 and 8551 to administer and control the Philippine National Police. Under R.A. 8551, otherwise known as the “PNP REFORM AND ORGANIZATION ACT OF 1998” the Commission’s authority over the PNP were strengthened and expanded to include administration of police entrance examinations, the conduct of pre-charge investigation of police anomalies and irregularities, and summary dismissal of erring police officers.
So the two main functions of NAPOLCOM are: (1) administer and control the police force, and (2) handle investigations of irregularities to include the punishment or dismissal of erring police officers. Entrance and promotional exams seem to be a main focus of the body.
The Secretary of DILG chairs the Commission. This was established to place PNP units directly with their local governments while holding on to their national charter.
The Executive Branch of government provides the operating mandate of the PNP and its daily work supervision.
The Chief of Police is a powerful intermediary position between the “troops” and the President.
NAPOLCOM makes sure incoming police are qualified and the back office work of personnel management and discipline get done. It was NAPOLCOM that approved the promotion of PNP Chief Dela Rosa to 4-star general after President Duterte appointed him to head the PNP. NAPOLCOM approved President Duterte’s picks for chief and several other general positions.
The President recently identified five generals as being involved in protecting or engaging in the distribution of drugs. Those generals were relieved of duty and are now under NAPOLCOM’s auspices to investigate and finalize any required punishments. This incident, plus the speed with which the President’s appointments were approved by NAPOLCOM, illustrates the power of the President in managing the PNP and giving direction to NAPOLCOM.
Commissioners
NAPOLCOM has the following membership: one ex-officio chairman (Secretary DILG), four regular commissioners (one is vice-chair), and one ex-officio commissioner (PNP Chief).
A NAPOLCOM press release on April 10, 2016, announced the appointment of four new NAPOLCOM commissioners by President Aquino. Each commissioner has a term of six years expiring in 2022. The following excerpt from the press release provides a brief bio on each new member.
- Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio T. Casurao was on his second term as City Councilor of Calbayog City, Samar prior to his appointment to the Commission. He was the Chairman of the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) of Calbayog City and the General Legal Counsel of the Philippine Councilors League since 2013. He also served as Vice-President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Samar Chapter.
- Commissioner Felizardo M. Serapio, Jr. was the Undersecretary and Head of the Law Enforcement and Security Integration Office under the Office of the Executive Secretary. He also served as Executive Director of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, Head of the Interpol National Central Bureau Secretariat, Officer-in-Charge of the ASEAN Senior Official on Transnational Crime-Philippines, and Head of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, ASEAN Senior Official on Transnational Crime.
- Commissioner Job M. Mangente was the Presiding Judge of Branch 54 of the Metropolitan Trial Court, Navotas City. Before he was appointed as MTC Judge, he had a decade long stint as Assistant City Prosecutor of Quezon City. He also served as Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of Albay after nine years of providing free legal service to indigent Filipinos as a Public Attorney at the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) under the Department of Justice.
- Commissioner Zenonida F. Brosas was the Deputy Director-General of the National Security Council under the Office of the President and the Executive Director of the Presidential Situation Room. She was responsible for handling the preparation of daily information and intelligence requirements of the President and the National Security Adviser, and for providing the President situational awareness on national security 24/7. She also served as resource person of the Commission on the evaluation of the Integrated Area/Community Public Safety Plans of the local government units all over the country.
The chairmanship of NAPOLCOM is the Secretary of the Department of Interior and local Government. Under President Duterte, that is former South Cotabato Governor Ismael “Mike” Sueño. The ex-officio member of the Commission is the PNP Chief Dela Rosa.
The Board is not light of weight, as the commissioners each has a wealth of experience in legal or police work, but it is also clearly an agency of the Executive branch. It is not independent, as are the Ombudsman or Commission on Audit.
How will NAPOLCOM deal with the current rash of police killings? Will the laws be interpreted and applied through NAPOLCOM’S appellate function in a way that supports the unusually authoritative approach of the Duterte Administration, or if it will be a body bound by the letter of the law. We have heard absolutely nothing from NAPOLCOM in the face of this killing storm.
NAPOLCOM Appellate function
NAPOLCOM has a system of national and regional Appellate Boards to deal with disciplinary actions arising from their respective jurisdictions. Their functions are:
- Affirm, reverse or modify, through the National Appellate Board, personnel disciplinary actions involving demotion or dismissal from the service imposed upon members of the Philippine National Police by the Chief of the Philippine National Police;
- Exercise appellate jurisdiction through the Regional Appellate Boards, over administrative cases against policemen and over decisions on claims for police benefits;
So the National Board handles (confirms) acts of the Chief, and the Regional Boards handle charges against policemen and claims for benefits. The National Board handled the cases of the Mamasapano leaders (Generals Purisima and Napenas). It must also deal with the 5 accused generals. If a citizen filed a complaint of “excessive force” pertaining to a specific incident, it appears that would be handled by one of the Regional Boards.
We would have to research further if there have been such complaints and whether or not they are adjudicated in a consistent manner across the regions.
Mamasapano
Mamasapano instructs us as to how the Ombudsman can engage to bring cases against law-breaking police members.
We learned courtesy of Representative Gatchalian (now Senator) that the Police have procedures to investigate and punish police officers. Gatchalian had called for summary dismissal proceedings (SDP) against Generals Purisima nd Napeñas.
Gatchalian pointed out that SDP are conducted against erring police officers whenever there is a complaint against them from civilians or as a result of an official PNP investigation like the one conducted by the BOI headed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or CIDG Director Benjamin Magalong. [PNP urged to initiate dismissal proceedings vs Purisima, Napeñas]
But we learn further that it takes the President’s approval to execute the dismissal:
Gatchalian pointed out that since Purisima is a presidential appointee, he can only be subjected to a summary hearing after clearance for such purpose is obtained from the Office of the President. . . .Under Rule 2, Section 6 of the PNP Disciplinary Rules Procedure, the report of investigation together with the complete original records of the case (of a presidential appointee) shall be submitted to the Office of the President through the National Police Commission, which is chaired by the DILG secretary on a concurrent capacity. [ibid]
The dismissal did not occur under the President’s order. Rather, the Ombudsman took up the charge and eventually indicted the two generals and ordered them dismissed. [Ombudsman indicts Purisima, Napeñas over Mamasapano]
This incident is instructional because it suggests that, although NAPOLCOM and the Chief of Police take their marching orders from the President, they are not outside the Ombudsman’s purview. The President is protected against indictment while sitting, but General Dela Rosa has no such protection. I suspect NAPOLCOM commissioners might also fall within the Ombudsman’s purview if were determined that they committed . . . say . . . gross neglect of duty.
Are NAPOLCOM commissioners potentially liable in allowing the rampant killings to occur if it were determined that they allowed the police officers to undertake repeated incidents of excessive use of force? We need an attorney on our staff. I just note this because I believe there ARE procedural checks and balances against the spate of killings if they are outside the law. The issue is, is anyone going to press charges, either individually, or against the Chief or Board for gross neglect of duty, or some similar charge.
The Excessive use of force
We are laymen, so a good starting point might be the document “Know your rights” (pdf) prepared by the Chief of Police in 2008. It says:
Police officers are prohibited from firing at moving vehicles, excessive use of force and use of deadly weapons unless the suspect poses imminent danger of causing death or serious physical injury to other persons or the police officers. Our police force is trained on the rules of the use of force and/or reasonable force and in determining imminent danger during operations in accordance with the Police Operational Procedures and provisions of the Rules of Criminal Procedures
I suppose the flaw in this statement is that the definition of “reasonable” is not clear, and President Duterte appears to apply a different definition than did his predecessors.
Each case, in a court, would likely dissolve into a case of “he said, she said” as victims and police paint different pictures of the same set of facts.
But it is important to note that the whole point of the booklet is to assure citizens that they have rights, and those rights will be respected. It is a “service oriented” piece of literature.
Houses, rooms, or other premises shall not be searched except in the presence of their lawful occupants or any member of the occupants’ family or, in the absence of the latter, in the presence of two (2) witnesses of sufficient age and discretion residing in the same locality.
Given these and other guidelines, what in the world is going on in the Philippines that the SPIRIT of prior guidelines – protective of citizen rights – have been thrown out?
Does not that booklet represent a set of promises, a contract, between the police and citizens?
Let’s turn to the actual Philippine National Police Handbook (pdf) (Revised Philippine National Police Operational Procedures) 2013. Here is all-important Rule 7 in its entirety:
RULE 7. USE OF FORCE DURING POLICE OPERATIONS
7.1 Use of Excessive Force Prohibited The excessive use of force during police operation is prohibited. However, in the lawful performance of duty, a police officer may use necessary force to accomplish his mandated tasks of enforcing the law and maintaining peace and order.
7.2 Issuance of Verbal Warning The police officer must first issue a verbal warning before he could use force against an offender. As far as practicable, the verbal warning shall be in the dialect that is known to the offender or in the national language. Basically the verbal warning shall consist of the following: the police offi cer identifying himself; his intention; and what he wants the offender to do. If the offender is a foreigner, the verbal warning shall be done in the English language followed by a demonstrative act of the police offi cer’s intent. The verbal warning shall be done in a loud and clear manner.
7.3 Non-Issuance of Verbal Warning When Excusable The failure to issue a verbal warning is excusable in cases where threat to life or property is already imminent, PNPM-DO-DS-3-2-13 6 OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES Chapter 2 and there is no other option but to use force to subdue the offender.
7.4 Use of Non-Lethal Weapon When suspect is violent or threatening, and that less physical measures have been tried and deemed inappropriate, a more extreme, but non-deadly measure can be used such as baton/truncheon, pepper spray, stun gun and other nonlethal weapon to bring the suspect under control, or effect an arrest.
7.5 Application of Necessary and Reasonable Force During confrontation with an armed offender, only such necessary and reasonable force should be applied as would be sufficient to overcome the resistance put up by the offender; subdue the clear and imminent danger posed by him; or to justify the force/act under the principles of self defense, defense of relative, or defense of stranger.
7.6 Factors to Consider in the Reasonableness of the Force Employed A police offi cer, however, is not required to afford offender/s attacking him the opportunity for a fair or equal struggle. The reasonableness of the force employed will depend upon the number of aggressors, nature and characteristic of the weapon used, physical condition, size and other circumstances to include the place and occasion of the assault. The police officer is given the sound discretion to consider these factors in employing reasonable force.
7.7 Responsibility of the Police Officer in Charge of the Operation The police officer who is in charge of the operation shall, at all times, exercise control over all police personnel in the area of operation, and shall exhaust all possible means to apply the necessary and reasonable force to protect lives and properties during armed confrontation.
Rule 8 elaborates on the use of fire-arms. Here are a couple of pertinent sections:
8.1 Use of Firearm When Justified The use of firearm is justified if the offender poses imminent danger of causing death or injury to the police officer or other persons. The use of fi rearm is also justified under the doctrines of self-defense, defense of a relative, and defense PNPM-DO-DS-3-2-13 Chapter 2 OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES 7 of a stranger. However, one who resorts to self-defense must face a real threat on his life, and the peril sought to be avoided must be actual, imminent and real. Unlawful aggression should be present for self-defense to be considered as a justifying circumstance.
8.4 Filing of an Incident Report After the Use of Firearm A police officer who fires his service firearm or weapon during a confrontation with an offender or offenders must submit an incident report outlining the circumstances necessitating the use of his firearm.
Conclusions
Very clearly, the ground has shifted under citizens. The old rules have been thrown out and new ones, not yet codified, have come into play. Is the President authorized, on his say-so, to throw out the old citizen-friendly rules and replace them with authoritative, police-centric rules? Is “service” gone from the police charter, now replaced by “obey!”?
I’d guess not if there were a legitimate citizen-services defense function able to take law cases to the Supreme Court to immediately stop the deployment of these new undocumented guidelines on police use of force.
During my readings, I came across Amnesty International’s public statement on use of force against demonstrators earlier this year at Kidapawan City. Two protesters were killed during that protest.
My, we didn’t listen very well, did we?
For sure, there seems to be no urgency from the Legislature, civic interest groups or private attorneys to stop the killings. That seems to represent tacit endorsement, and leaves observers such as Joe America aghast at the “new rules” on citizen protections.
Or rather new rules . . . unwritten . . . that eliminate the protections.
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
I was also wondering about it. And they now have a mascot (who else but the PNP chief) 🙂 To be honest I am more afraid now to go out or even see a man in uniform. I know it’s “praning”.
Same feeling Arlene. Those 700 deaths are a macabre reminder that we live in a dangerous country.
We are all for peace, we are all for the eradication of dangerous drugs that have somehow destroyed the lives of thousands (the president said it is around 4M) but I really don’t understand the manner in which it is being done. I always think of those innocent lives lost because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Look at 1,000 years of history and see if you can ‘destroy’ drugs.
Goose bumps….
“Thou shalt not eat from this tree. And, while we’re at it, see that weed over there?”
What is happening now is clearly sending a message: this is the new order — obey or else.
There will come a time when people would just be complacent and indifferent to what is happening around, seems like this is the new “normal” counting dead bodies every day. Nakakaiyak bansa natin. Eventually, mag-aalisan ang mga investors then what will happen to our economy?
If this “normal” pushes too far, it could possibly foment unrest and discontent, especially with a very long list of promises that he might not be able to meet.
Investors want stability and security, PD works to bring his brand of stability that he claims to be a necessary prerequisite to a favorable environment, but what is happening isn’t the kind of stability and security they are expecting, especially as the “Pieta” picture has gone worldwide, the dead man’s life story of abject poverty becoming public knowledge.
He wants stability and prosperity? He wants to end drug pushing? Provide worthwhile job and educational opportunities to the poor, the investors will want to solve the unemployment problem with new industries.
That’s what I am afraid of. I heard him say in one of his previews speeches that he knows nothing about how the the economy works so let’s leave that to the experts. He would concentrate on what he is good at and your guess is as good as mine. Maybe he sometimes forgets that he is the leader of the whole nation and not just a city. He didn’t mention about education and his economic plans in his SONA. Where does that leave us?
His single-minded quest is so much of paramount importance, destroying drugs the only religion and catechism that matters grandly for him, that anything else — including solutions that should benefit anyone long-term — does not seem to matter at all.
Sorry for the typo error, that should read previous, not previews. Do you think it would be over in six months?
Currently there’s 700+ dead since May. By January it would be between 2,000-3,000 to die, maybe much worse — since PD now made it clear he’ll not stop until the end of his term, but in that same timeframe, the heads of the snakes would be out of the country, their money in offshore banks.
Sinabi mo, ngayon pa nga lang baka nag alsa balutan na sila. Is bloodbath necessary? Was that successful in other countries? Maybe those drug cartels think that we are weak when it comes to drug control and everything, PD though is showing them that he means business but I pity those poor souls who were innocent and had nothing to do with drugs at all.
Amen to that.
Notice the brownouts this week ?
I’d resist the inclination to politicize brownouts. They are a function of policies and investments, or lack thereof, going back decades.
Long nightly brown outs were normal during the Martial Law. During summer when we spend our vacation in my mother’s hometown, folks would say that the bodies of dead soldiers who fought in Mindanao were being transported back to their families or dissidents were being arrested and rounded up by the militaries. Brown outs have this negative connotation to our collective memory about an authoritarian rule.
Ah, and here I thought it was because they were working on the lines or keeping under their allotted wattage. Those tales give me the heebie jeebies, especially once when the locals whacked through the jungle on my property to show me, from a respectful distance, the gnarly rooted tree in which the white lady lived. It was indeed a creepy tree, and the surroundings were thick with snakes, mud crabs and huge monitor lizards. I’m not particularly superstitious, but I stayed away from that place.
Mysteries and miseries hid in the dark.
Darkness and madness reality in stark!
Write on, Shakespeare. Nailed it. It is the most surreal living environment I’ve been in, outside one other little lunacy called the Viet Nam war.
Yes. Especially yesterday. Which is why it’s very important to have an uninterruptible power supply — so that I can save my work and shut down.
“If this normal pushes too far it could possibly foment unrest and discontent.” It reminds me of what Bill Maher said in his show today. He had 2 Catholics as guests, and he himself being raised a Catholic said, Catholics are wired and used to being martyrs. Laughter all around.
Or sending a message: “we do not trust the judiciary at all”, the only justice Filipinos understand comes out of the barrel of a gun.
So in a way: Change now or else?
To the outsider, it’s obvious the country is sliding into dictatorship.
The president threatened to shoot businessmen yesterday who did not follow his orders.
Do you have a link to that, as a resource. I’d like to see the context and try to discern if that is policy or his sometimes tone-deaf humor . . . or what. Thanks. (I’m resisting the spreading of easy truths that may not be true, as restated here. A lot of that was done to President Aquino and Mar Roxas, and I don’t think we need put the shoe on the other foot without checking.)
Hello Joe. My insomnia hasn’t passed yet so I searched YouTube. There are other instances of his threat in his other speeches after this when he talks about destroying the oligarchs. If you notice he says the same brouhaha over and over again and adds a topic to his spiel. This oligarch, I will shoot you thingy is now part of his repertoire. They’re all on YouTube.
This is the first speech he threatens to shoot businessmen. He singled out businessman Roberto Ongpin 36 minutes into his 55 minute speech. The speech was in Taglish. This is a translation. “If you make a mistake, no tolerance, I will close your business. I will order the secretary, look into the records close it. If we don’t have the power to close, %*&@intelligible, I will shoot him, and it will be over. Your business will be closed. A moment of silence. Ahh, that’s just hyperbole. I owe no one.” then he rambles on about business, why hw won again, blah, blah
Published on Aug 3, 2016
Duterte has vowed to “destroy” oligarchs in the country as he singled out business tycoon Roberto Ongpin as an example. “Ang plano [ko] talaga is [to] destroy the oligarchs that are embedded in government,” Duterte said in a speech before members of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in Malacañang on Wednesday.
The new norm: guilt by denunciation.
Woowhh. Sorry I didn’t see that. I didn’t know the video would attach itself to my reply. I was just creating a link.
That’s good, actually. Not a problem.
Here’s another link to the kill threats to businessmen. Here Duterte made the kill sign, the hand across the neck and the word patay 2 minutes into his speech.
President Duterte to Oligarch – Titirahin ko talaga kayo
Pinoy Epic Viral | PHILIPPINES
Pinoy Epic Viral | PHILIPPINEShttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O3nepjSf7E&ab_channel=PinoyEpicViral|PHILIPPINES
If Duterte actually goes after those “embedded oligarchs” he will have done the country a lot of good.
Roberto Ongpin is one. There are of course others. How about Enrile? Or Angara. And the crony capitalists. Danding Cojuangco. Manuel Pangilinan. Lucio Tan etc.
Heck, he will have endeared himself more to the public if he instead wages war against these overly greedy sociopaths.
I hope he does.
And on top of that, insulting the American Ambassador.
(At one point before winning, he posed with FVR, wore the old man’s beret; he looked like a spitting image of Hugo Chavez.)
I believe he also insulted the 16 million who voted for him. He is an equal opportunity insulter . . . except for those who roll over and do his bidding, you know, Mocha Uson and the SOJ who just declared that criminals aren’t humanity.
Philosophers, these people. Great thinkers along the lines of Larry, Moe and Curly.
I play GO sometimes in between checking the internet and this blog. I did that today. Here I will credit PRD for knowing how to play the game, as in Go.
He is relatively nice on Kerry — a nice “placement” of a Go “stone” for greater “value” as against placing the stone the Ambassador’s way considered of minor value. Straight out of the Go game playbook.
(Sorry for the metaphor on the Go game; some will ask rightly, what the heck is this writer saying?)
Had to reread. I thought you meant pokemon go
Right. Its the 3000 or so year-old Go game not the recent digital vintage of Pokémon Go which is Greek to me except its intro description
An elaboration. Playing the macho thing for the troops at the expense of the Amb but taking care to put nice words re US via Kerry.
Othello is Go simplified.
Yes. In a way. Also, the grid in Othello is 64; in Go it is 361 — the intersection of 19×19 lines and considered “points” in Go. (Sorry, Joe, got carried away.)
That’s okay, I’m still laughing at giancarlo’s Pokemon Go comment . . .
That fragile flower we called justice has been plucked and lain to wilt and wither on the parched altar of order. The high priest blesses the offering, and the believers chant, lift their eyes to heaven, and throw themselves into a frenzy.
Well, let me put it this way; People used to be afraid that they will be vicimized by bad police; Now that the police are going after those crooked folks not the good ones (not you of course) whereas; you are afraid. Hmmm I have a problem with that because I look at them differently, I kinda have a respect of some sort, but difinitely not afraid.
Ask someone who wasn’t a druggie but had the unfortunate sleepover where he was gunned down while sleeping with a couple other friends who were unfortunately tagged as drug suspects.
Unfortunately, the unfortunate non-druggie, before I could ask him anything, unfortunately died. In his sleep. Fortunately.
“Now that the police are going after those crooked folks” a hugely dangerous presumption there methinks, which is the crux of the problem. The presumption of guilt without trial.
And who, mind you, has been conferred the absolute authority to identify, and subsequently execute, “those crooked few?”
God forbid that a man with a gun — soldier, policeman, or self-declared assassin — looks at you with an evil eye.
My oh my, JoeAm… your articles keep me mesmerized for their breadth and astounding (almost) completeness because of your research capabilities! I wonder how many millions are able to access them regularly as of this writing. They’re very relevant, informational, if not a must-read for everyone, because the signs of the times are obviously here, but the loud minority seems to remain blind, deaf, even paralyzed to the reality of life we’re facing in the next 6 years and maybe more. I wish your blog could be transformed into a general mass media circulation/publication – a la Remate, etc. where the common masses can learn directly the truth as to why a much safer country (we used to enjoy prior to mid-May 2016) promised by the sitting Prexy (elected kuno by 16M Filipinos) is just but a figment of their imaginations since the opposite seems to be happening daily (with the entire world gaping aghast in horror as to how rapidly our adopted homeland is becoming its murder capital). Thank you, thank you once again for your timely, eye-opening analysis!
Gadzooks, Barrington. You turned this rainy day downright sunny, thanks. I’m glad you liked the article.
we have the institutions, we have the guidelines and the laws, we have learned men to preside over them. I am sure these institutions can and will perform its delegated duties as sure as reports of transgressions and excesses are forthcoming……….(very long pause)
ooops, sorry about that joe, was not meant as a reply to your reply…clumsy mouse finger…..
🙂 I read everything and comment all over the place. Editor’s prerogative. I have more confidence in the Senate than the House, and the SC if it is not dealing with personality political matters.
This is precisely why a lot of our countrymen admire Sen. DE Lima who seems to be the only Senator with “balls” so to speak and is taking the bull by the horn. Conversely, I wonder what happened to Sen. Cayetano who was our champion during the Binay hearings.
another irony, the only two voices in the senate, those two who have the balls to state their views…are women!
who needs all these highfalutin Western-style institutions?
The Philippines now has its native God-King. Sarcasm warning.
Can CHR finally have its dental appointment for it to have its teeth sharpened?
Sure Napolcom is doing it’s job,but I guess anything that has to do with rights must be handled by CHR.
The vast majority of our people either welcome or care nothing about this horrid, ungodly depravity for the simple reason that despite appearances, they detest being governed. They prefer to be ruled. So ruled they shall remain.
But… how long until they realize what is wrong, something may soon shock the people out of their torpor.
You can’t awaken the Filipino. Or shock him back into consciousness. Because he’s neither lethargic nor asleep. He’s in a virtually permanent, surreal, escapist, and self-induced coma. From which, I honestly believe, he can be roused only when our streets become rivers of blood.
The time may come soon when I can no longer become a critic but a doer. Not all Filipinos are that stupid and take this regime lying down.
Seems so.
My quick take-summary on Joe’s current blog:
*****
There are well-stated rules and boundaries on the actions of the Police — though one can debate certain words such as “reasonable force” in the rules; and the relationships among the persons representing the President, NAPOLCOM, the Police and the Head of DILG. The Ombudsman stands apart from the cozy relationships of the others. And in the words of Joe:
The old rules have been thrown out and new ones, not yet codified, have come into play … For sure, there seems to be no urgency from the Legislature, civic interest groups or private attorneys to stop the killings. That seems to represent tacit endorsement …
*****
I myself have not researched the matter (lazy me; but may do so — soft promise) and will be reading eagerly additional information/ data on the subject from the comments. As usual Joe has put together relevant items to discuss his topic. Again, my thanks. Greatly appreciate the roll of blog topics very relevant to the times. Considering this and your replies to comments, including keeping a close eye on the trolls, I have to ask: Joe, do you sleep at all? 🙂
*******
Old men don’t sleep. Us young’uns need our sleep. Heh heh.
*****
Therein lies the big difference. The oldies and us young ones who need our beauty sleep. And I am not making a double-speak, there are enough hereabouts. Hahaha. 🙂
🙂 “Youth challenged”, NOT “old”, thanks.
He himself seem to be giving the police carte blanche, full endorsement:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/803274/duterte-palace-defend-shoot-to-kill-order
Yes, that endorsement should nicely be tacked on to Joe’s blog.
In addition, this must be translated and disseminated:
https://subselfie.com/2016/08/05/nanlaban/
Thank you for citing our group’s article. You may also find the article that preceded ‘Nanlaban’ useful and it is written in English. “Their Last Moments on Earth” http://subselfie.com/2016/07/22/their-last-moments-on-earth/
Hard reading, but thanks.
Hahahaha, less and less, it seems. Sleep is a horrible waste of time. 🙂
That’s one way of looking at it. If not for some negative health effect — the doctors say — it effectively increases one’s waking days by a third, for doing something for good or bad (?). Take care of the health Joe; your wife and son needs you. And you may yet get invited again to another Presidential thank you lunch. It may be even PRD’s for showing him “the way.”
Your sense of humor is rip roarin’ today, NH.
Normally, I get enough sleep.
The police, if they wish to remain in this God-King’s good graces — and they have every reason to — will run in whatever direction he points. And if he says, “Jump!” they’ll answer not with “Why?”, but rather with “How high?” Without a doubt. Which means his every wish, declared or insinuated, overt or covert, they’ll take as their solemn command. Every single time. So the question, obviously rhetorical as we speak, is who will police this maniacal bloodthirsty deity? More pointedly, have we a David willing to duel with this ogre?
A challenger may soon come out of nowhere.
Both morality and its first-born, legality, aside, if Duterte succeeds in ridding the country of every single doper, peddler, dealer, or lord [although I remain clueless as to how exactly how one actually becomes a lord – build a castle with a drawbridge and a moat, maybe?] that will not even begin to address graft and corruption, insurgency/banditry/piracy, actual and technical smuggling, deforestation, substandard infrastructure, the haves getting richer and the have nots getting poorer, prostitution, human trafficking, child pornography, kidnapping and other crimes of violence, malnutrition, pollution, plunder, the dumbing-down of society, by and large, and approximately 2 gadzillion other potentially lethal challenges. The only good thing to possibly come out of this madness is curbing, at least to some extent, our runaway population growth.
His single-minded pursuit of that goal, while not addressing the very cause of inequity that prevents the poor — including those who actually voted for him and placed their bets on making them prosperous in a very short period of time — may soon create rifts of discontent in his otherwise bulletproof image of an Old Testament prophet: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.
“His single-minded pursuit of that goal, while not addressing the very cause of inequity that prevents the poor…”
What frightens me–in the “are my principles even right” sense–is what if he does deliver on structural reform in society? What if he does lift many out of poverty and enact policies favorable to less well-off–while still pursuing his bloody drug war? For one who is a democrat–the most troubling prospect is not North Korea but China; who needs “accountability to the people” when you can deliver food on the table and safe surroundings?
To promote democracy in these strange times is not just to speak of her moral virtue but of more practical questions. Can she deliver better economic growth than an authoritarian regime? Can she deliver more lasting safety? What are the practical benefits of democracy?
In a debate–it is not enough to prove that the other side is wrong, for it also key to prove that even the best-case scenario of the other side is inferior to the best-case scenario of your side.
Is the best-case scenario of the Duterte administration better than the best case scenario of a truly Liberal and Republican Democracy in the Philippines? That is the burning question…
Addenda:
The President is rough–but that roughness is only a shell that hides miles and miles of nuance…
Nuance is key. He’s no mere strongman, no sir….
It is only his acolytes and fanatical followers who take action into their own hands, so reinforcing his image.
No amount of nuance, intended or accidental, can disguise or excuse this maniac’s frontal assault on, above all else, the sanctity of human life. As rights go, is there anything more sacred than that to life itself? If you had the misfortune of having a user-sister or a peddler-brother, actual or merely suspected, would you honestly believe that a bullet in their heads fired by those empowered to “cleanse society of evil” without benefit of due process can ever be justified? Would more order in the streets or more bread on the table suffice?Would you actually go to a soldier or policeman or self-anointed assassin and ask that your evil sibling be slain? Be honest, now. Because that’s what this is all about. The presumption of innocence. And the value of life.
Extraordinarily powerful statement. I hope you don’t mind if I place it in my Facebook timeline.
The bread vs. freedom and similar debates, as engaging as they’ve always been, are always transcended by whether the means justifies the end. If one believes mass murder is necessary to ensure or advance the public good, let him support Duterte. I, for one, stand with those who say nay. It’s really that simple.
The “eye for an eye” rule was a spiritual/social norm that governed punishment meted out by special courts. They were not exacted by assassins acting as unofficial liquidation squads.
Capital punishment in rabbinic law, or indeed any other punishment, must not be inflicted, except by the verdict of a regularly constituted court (Lesser Sanh.) of three-and-twenty qualified members (Sanh. i. 1; Sifre, Num. 160), and except on the most trustworthy and convincing testimony of at least two qualified eyewitnesses to the crime (Deut. xvii. 6, xix. 15; Soṭah vi. 3; Sifre, Num. 161; ib. Deut. 150, 188; Sanh. 30a) who must also depose that the culprit had been forewarned as to the criminality and the consequences of his project (Sanh. v. 1, 40b et seq.; see Hatraah).
The best way to arm up is to manufacture a crisis and arm up. “They made me do it” for your benefit.
You can’t hate the man. Read his speeches—and how earthy this man is. No pretentions anyhow. A puppet? More like a puppet with a mind of its own—capable of defying all the supposed backers behind him: the GMA people, the Marcos people, the Joma people—so on and so forth; look at how he tips them all off-balance—that cunning man. Now he hunts mayors—the fish getting bigger and bigger.
And besides he is old. What ambition does he have left?
I mean no offense. I am only distraught by how my principles and beliefs are being challenged by the sincere and authentic air surrounding this man. It is hard to hate or even dislike a man with good intentions.
Any “real” big fish caught/killed?! Or are they allowed to surrender and given protection and /or released? Data pls!
Breaking News: A Malacanang internal memo leaked to the press reveals that the escalating summary executions of suspects is merely a cover. Its real purpose, executive memo says, “is to help slow down runaway population growth.”
Please provide a link to the resource. That is a serious charge and requires documentation. I don’t want this discussion thread to join the facebook level of memes and unsubstantiated accusations.
Thanks.
Sorry. That was a sorry attempt to be funny.
Good you clarified that. If someone did float that rumor, then a quick keying-in at the calculator provides this:
At 103 Million and still growing at the current 1.8 percent per year, that translates to 5079 per day.
The updated 20 drug-related killed per day by bullets would then be very inefficient. It should be done by good old Hitler’s Eichmann way, a credit to German efficiency — concentration camps and gas chambers.
NHerrera, it seems that they will be using AFP camps as concentration camps, uh, I mean rehabilitation centers.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/140863-military-camp-rehab-duterte
Concentration for rehab purposes for the users/addict then. Good. (No provision for pushers and drug lords there? I suppose they get the special treatment — dispatch them to Kingdom Come.)
I notice that all this nonsense is driving a lot of people to satire and sarcasm or outright ridicule. Mostly smart people. We ought to form a club, as it is fairly hilarious, although the topic is not. I have not heard the expression “Kingdom Come” for decades, and I am still laughing at your refined usage . . .
(Keep up the good work, that way I can know you still possess your sanity.)
Hate has nothing to do with anything. Nor intent. No one through the bloody years of the French Resolution was more virtuous and well-intentioned as Maximilen Robespierre, “l’Incorruptisble.’ No one. A principled, indefatigable champion of the poor, he nevertheless presided over some of the unspeakably murderous years of the Reign of Terror, guided by the desire to “purify” the soul of France.
That is the most closest in terms of personality: driven by lofty ideals, even if it meant removing the “undesirables”.
-Now he hunts mayors—the fish getting bigger and bigger. –
That’s called dictatorship.
And he loves power, not money, which makes him all the more dangerous.
He is after one mayor, and his son, evidently for good reason. That is his job.
Your harsh judgments cause me to want to defend him. You are ascribing motive to him that you cannot possibly know. You may cite it fairly as opinion, but not fact.
> What ambition does he have left?
He made it clear in his speech I listened to yesterday. Indeed, he was folksy as he could get, making soldiers laugh as they warm to his words. It was unfiltered, raw, as though he’s taking to you in the same way you and him have each a glass of cheap brandy over ice.
But he sees himself a warrior-king than boring bureaucrat, he loves the people who share his vision, and his only ambition is… no surprises, a nation without drugs, and destroying drugs and its peddlers is his only religion — he is the entire package: sultan, Ayatollah, Inquisition, judge, jury, and executioner if needed be with a .38 revolver.
Very well said, Inday.
Francis, you have stated your “beliefs” regarding Duterte.
But what exactly are those “principles” of yours that you say are being challenged?
Man is here to create and find meaning. Democracy is the form of government best suited for a society that caters to that purpose of man. To follow order for order’s sake is–in my mind–strange. For what then separates us from ants? To be human is precisely to live in an ambiguous (yet colorful) world–and democracy is the form of government and society that best reflects that; of course–with rights to ensure that your search for meaning doesn’t trample on someone else’s.
Life must be meaningful. All views must be respected and understood. All people must be understood as human with human motivations–even the dirtiest of politicians; Simoun was Crisostomo once.
That’s what I believe. Those are my–for lack of a better word–principles; I am still young and uncertain of what principles I may hold, but I suppose the above is the closest that I have to principles.
These principles of mine is challenged by the sheer fervor that people have thrown behind Duterte and by extension, his means. My principles call for me to respect these views and to understand them as arising from very human motivations. Yet, I can’t help but think as I listen to them, “What is democracy if there’s no demos in it? What are rights, if people don’t believe they have rights?”
Thank you for the blunt question. It was sobering.
I realized that I was being too detached and too much oriented towards the “big picture” while ignoring the little but many incidents of bloodiness on the ground. Perhaps it is a combination of having the luxury of being relatively well-off (and not personally being connected or aware with the EJKs) and a cynicism that one gets when observing things everywhere–how the refugee situation in Europe, for instance, is not as simple as black and white, is not as simple as letting them in; I can’t help but think of the film Lincoln and that one scene where Lincoln talks to this abolitionist advocate and mentions something along the lines of, “The best way north is not the straightest path through the jungles” or something like that.
In retrospect, am I still a democrat more because I sincerely believe or more because there is something tribal about it–I was born and raised into it like my religion, after all? Now, I don’t know.
Yet, whether you are undecided or firmly against this President and his policies–my statement of viewing him with nuance was not an apologetic defense of the man. That, I know for certain.
It is a warning to not fit him into convenient molds like that of “thuggish strongman” brute. Pardon for being bluntly pragmatic, but fitting him into convenient molds only appeases the base but turns off the rest, the undecideds and the fanatics. The detached majority. Duterte is Duterte; a politician of what might be first rank skill. Can you imagine a man who play-fights with the NPA, only to throw broadsides at an “oligarch” after? Unpredictable.
It is not enough to say that a beautiful butterfly is poisonous. It is necessary to inform others and say that the beautiful butterfly’s beautiful colors are a way to mask the poison. That is what I mean by understanding his nuances.
What is frightening (and should be frightening to all those sincerely concerned about republican and democratic principles) is how he pushes everything to limits the public can take–but knows the limits of the public and doesn’t dare go beyond them. He kills the little fish that the public has no sympathy for. He proves that he can kill big fish by publishing lists of judges and mayors. Yet, no blatant excesses yet. No innocent big fish, yet. Yet.
It’s why I am now adverse to reading the news.
Fear not the petty tyrant in Kim Jong Il. Fear not the petty demagogic pretend-tyrant in Trump. Fear the cunning demagogue with layers and layers of nuance.
“Simoun was Crisostomo once.”
Poetic, yet so fitting.
I guess you’ve also pondered of what if Isagani hadn’t thrown the lamp into the river, no? But I agree that what may happen afterwards is indeed frightening . However, IMO, it is probably frightening *not* because the action could just make things worse, but rather, it is because of the distinct possibility that the action could actually make things better. This means that the thing that we’ve denied and deemed wrong throughout the country’s history wasn’t actually wrong, yet, we had always threw it out into the depths of the river. And here we are, trying to do the same again.
It is indeed frightening because we are now uncertain of our actions as we cannot seem to identify what is really gonna happen. And this uncertainty is indeed very unsettling.
“And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.”
I agree that there is a chance the frightening action could make things better. I do hope that I, my family, and those I hold near and dear, which is a lot of people in the Philippines by now, survive the experience. Also, it is painful just dealing with the photos and reports that apparently don’t bother those putting us through this fine action at all.
Unfortunately the niceties of legal protocol is easily ignored when you have a 16M strong fanatic base baying for the blood of perceived enemies.
I was thinking that there are basically two responses to a strong man, as it pertains to patriotism. One group goes quiet and hopes it changes, or start planning an escape. The other joins with the strongman and feels the elation of power, too. The “tweeners” . . . well, we speak to ourselves.
There used to be a third: those who choose to resist.
Maybe the “tweeners” would evolve into the “resisters”?
The answers to Joe’s blog questions are obvious if not acceptable to many. This is Digong’s drug war and the PNP are his soldiers. Collateral damage which are the innocent casualties of this war he views as unavoidable in trying to win this war. Yes, the old ground rules and institutional safeguards are no longer in play here. But nothing here should be a surprise. As he was in Davao, and as he declared in his campaign, this is how Presidente Digong is and will continue to be. The country elected him fair and square knowing all this. According to its best polls, the nation still completely trusts him. Which is not to say we should stop the outcry against trampling the laws, lives, and liberties public officials are supposed to uphold. It is still early in his administration, and perhaps there are other winnable wars Digong can wage successfully for the benefit of the country due to his forcefulness but tempered with more heed for the calls to respect the constitution and its principles.
caliphman,
As I’m waking up this morning, CNN’s reporting some black kid shot by Chicago PD and local news is covering a funeral of a San Diego PD cop.
I can’t help but think there is something similar to what’s going on over here and in the Philippines.
Difference is that over here local police departments are all very different, so the only constants over here is the media’s TMZ-like coverage of police shootings, compared to how they cover accidental shootings, suicide, criminal vs criminal/or victim shootings , etc.
So motivations and/or grand strategies aside, ie. Digong’s drug war, #BlackLivesMatter, etc.
Let’s examine how all this translates on the ground. Instead of lumping all shootings (and killings) and playing dragnet, what exactly is the case by case scenario and how are each neighborhood or barangays responding (I hope jolly cruz still writes that article 🙂 )
First off,
there’s an important distinction to be made between police brutality and force used to effect arrest against a resisting suspect.
In the old days a simple rule of thumb is police brutality was the beating you took AFTER the cops got the cuffs on. These days it’s been expanded to landing on someone who is not resisting. I mention this because if you are not familiar with violence and of the opinion that cops are violent abusive tools of the oppressors, it ALL looks like brutality.
So I’m not covering police brutality here per se re Joe’s above article (beyond our scope), but want to focus more on illegal Uses of Force being excused, and also legal (cases being reported or documented otherwise).
There are two ‘bad’ uses of force. One is excessive force. The other is unnecessary force. Keep an eye on when the cops stop using force in relationship to when the person stops resisting is one important measure of whether or not the force was excessive.
There are three categories at play here, which can be further broken down:
1. Police brutality
2. Unnecessary Use of Force (Lethal Force)
3. Excessive Use of Force (Lethal Force)
The problem over here is there doesn’t seem to be a national effort to collect police on civilian shootings, though there are details nationwide when it comes to crime, violent or otherwise.
So question,
is there a recording of these police involved killings in the Philippines? Those are the ones you can study on a case by case basis, then match the results of those killings to the ground 😉 , if the deaths are seen as balance positive, then you’ll have a hard time prosecuting DU30…
but if you have more innocent or collateral deaths, you just might be able to make a case for the criminality of DU30’s policies re crime.
I would further emphasize that 1, 2 and 3 without independent witnesses will be hard to determine, and simply relying on police reports isn’t enough.
So get jolly cruz to write that article so we get some sense of how citizens who actually know the “criminals” being targeted, how they are rationalizing their deaths— then see if his sentiments resonates nationwide.
On a lighter note, I just saw this video (call it American foreign policy in the Philippines 😉 )
I’m no PR guy, but if I was thinking in terms of Philippine/ 3rd World in general, I’d be using Philippine game shows to humanize the main actors at play here.
So if I were the media, I’d ask instead for a panel of police Use of Force experts to examine and educate the public in how these Use of Force scenarios plays out,
simply copy and pasting them, like Joe’s done above, doesn’t really do justice to how cops (military 😉 ) use force.
I’m calling for something similar over here, if ESPN can spend hours on end talking about stats and how each individual player is playing in one game or a span of seasons, why can’t CNN get similar police experts to comment on each of these shootings or Use of Force?
Get maps and schematics of homes and neighborhoods and have the PNP explain how such and such killings were justified, how was Force applied in each case, etc. etc.
Lance, I am here stateside like you but my gut tells me that your suggestions would be more apropos in a situation where a third world police force is aiming to follow best practices and principles used by cops in the first world. I am not saying the Philippines is a banana republic or headed that way but when the policy coming from the top is shoot first ask questions later and drug suspects are guilty unless proven innocent, restraint is at the bottom of the cop must do list. But others may have different views and can share with us the info you seek, but I have a feeling PNP Chief de la Rosa and Duterte are to the right of Genghis Khan when it comes to caring about rights of the accused.
Just a simple honest play by play of how these Use of Force decision trees as used by police or soldiers, caliphman.
For example, CNN all day’s been airing the shootings in Chicago.
Yet I’ve not heard from actual police experts (still working) explaining what went down,
1. Two cops shot at a moving vehicle, I’m sure attempting to stop (kill) the suspect who was recklessly driving around a Chicago neighborhood with clear disregard for life. When a suspect uses a car so, lethal force is warranted, BUT
Shooting at a moving vehicle comes with it tactical considerations, ie. if you shoot and kill the driver, the out of control car might endanger more lives, then theres ricochet, then there’s cross fire due to tunnel vision (which happened when two cops shot at a moving car, in this example!).
2. The suspect runs and goes into a residence, the justification for lethal force while the suspect was recklessly driving then expires, and another set of circumstances is now at play,
namely the suspect, who’s exhibited clear disregard for life, might go inside a home and endanger other lives, so to protect others and to prevent a crime that may place others in harms way is the justification for lethal force.
The context surrounding this suspect is all that’s needed, no need for police to actually see a gun, his attempt to go inside a house is enough justification. You don’t have to see a gun!!!
Why the news outlets over here, can’t explain these shootings simply, is beyond me! 😦
lol the PNP is light years away from algorithm as used by Bratton in NY and LA where the use of software predicts where the next crime is to be committed and this is where they deploy police forces to prevent its happening or catch immediately the criminal.
policing in the Philippines is about law enforcement. its not about science. cops know by heart the penal code and special laws but the science of effective policing is not taught. its just an offshoot of the military with its search and destroy mentality.
forensics is not given so much importance. but human intel is preferred.
one thing I like about the PNP is its officers corps. they could give the cops in the states a run for their money if only they are used properly.
@ caliphman, re “but when the policy coming from the top is shoot first ask questions later and drug suspects are guilty unless proven innocent” ,
I’m gonna extend DU30 the benefit of the doubt here, and say that though the police are by-passing due process, that there is some sort of threshold being met, ie. via citizen complaints, known problem houses, known problem persons… so my bet is although due process in the legal sense is being skirted, there is a level of consensus being applied to these decisions… hence, more people are happy than not.
@ DAgimas, I’m NOT really talking about algorithm here, though that is an interesting subject to cover. But I agree the PNP is still light years from such network, ie. GPS, computers, logistics, etc. Also I have my doubts on the Uber-ization of policing in general, at the end of the day,
it is still about knowing your beat and proportional Use of Force, all of which relates to the idea of force multiplier, the whole point is to have more eyes and ears 😉 and you don’t do that thru abuse of power, whether in the 3rd world, 1st world, or 1880s in Arizona ,
with or w/out the Rule of Law there is still a very important balancing act , that needs to be minded.
By the way, that SDPD officer I mentioned above was Filipino,
> is there a recording of these police involved killings in the Philippines?
There is one already. Brace yourself, it’ll be slightly graphic.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/576078/news/metro/hpg-cops-involved-in-killing-of-motorcyclist-may-face-murder-raps
An idle thought lying dusty in my mind:
Why can’t the news shows on TV and radio have a 15-min to 20-min statistically-driven segment dedicated to crime/peace & order. Allotment of “in-depth” (segment focusing on one particular crime) report: only three (one per area: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) of the most gruesome/distinct/nationally-relevant crimes. But, everyday—a 15-20 min segment showing the numbers behind the crimes.
How many crimes in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao respectively? In major cities? Per province and region? What crimes are on top, statistically speaking? What modus operandi are most popular and where, statistically speaking? And then, per week and per month–comparing last week’s data to this week’s, last month’s to this month’s.
Frankly speaking– cut through the bullshit. I don’t want to know tabloid-fodder sensational crimes somewhere (leave that to local news, gossip and social media)–I want to know whether these sensational crimes are a statistical outlier or a norm.
Statistical outlier or statistical norm? That’s the only question that counts, me thinks.
Can you imagine ALL THE TIME the NEWS STATIONS will have if they do something like that? They can have time for a fair number of ASEAN news. They can actually have time to stringently watch and monitor government policies. Ah, I dream…
Francis,
Over here because of public outcry the FBI and local police are finally compiling some national statistics of police shootings on civilians… so far (I can’t find the stats off hand) turns out the white have suffered more deaths at the hands of police than minorities. Go figure!
But of course. For every black in America there are 7 whites. What did you expect?
David,
It ‘d be great if it was as simple as that. I’m not the resident stats expert here, so I hope NHerrera chimes in.
There’s still a lot of missing data, hence the public outcry.
But from the preliminary numbers, those whites killed tend to be lone wolves, whereas the the black teens killed are shot in the course of committing an actual crime, and largely associated with gangs.
So this whole thing is kinda related to the question posed by many black comedians why there are more white serial killers, than blacks (I think it was Chris Rock that predicted the DC snipers were blacks because they were taking weekends off, LOL!)
But my point, aside from the ratio you’ve rightly 😉 pointed out, is that #BlackLivesMatter is painting a picture that assumes some sort of epidemic, when in fact it seems statistics-wise, at least with the preliminary numbers out, the numbers jibe with the population—- that’s the point.
So this police shooting blacks “epidemic” is manufactured. But since the media legitimized this notion, it all becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy— an unintended consequence people should’ve seen coming.
Again, I hope NHerrera can chime in, and add his thoughts on how to “read” these numbers. 😉
Before cell phones with cameras became ubiquitous, few non-blacks believed that on a pro-rated basis, way too many more blacks were shot and killed by the police than were whites. I’ve lived in a predominantly black community since 1976. My friends and neighbors continue to be stopped, frisked, cuffed, and — yes, shot and killed — at the slightest excuse. Black lives? They don’t need numbers or data to tell them what they endure every single day.
I don’t deny that blacks since slavery have had it hard, David. My point is more on the decline of homicide since the early 90s (there’s some spike in Chicago, LA and I think in TX, since Katrina, etc.) but that decline is ongoing.
“I’ve lived in a predominantly black community since 1976. My friends and neighbors continue to be stopped, frisked, cuffed, and — yes, shot and killed — at the slightest excuse.”
Perfect, David… so let’s use your neighborhood as example then, in the hopes of eliciting a trend…
so, since 1976, how many of your black friends and neighbors have been shot/killed at the hands of police? List years with coinciding figures.
*******
There is contention between reading raw data — yes, there are more white deaths than black ones by “sheer numbers” — and context — yes, there are more black deaths than white ones by “proportional population ratio.”
http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/12/fact-check-more-whites-shot-by-police-in-2015-than-minorities/
*****
edgar,
I’m looking for a decade or more stats, since 2015 would fall within the self-fulfilling prophesy phenomenon I’m talking about… ie. #BlackLivesMatter and media coverage + more blacks incited = more deaths due to more belligerence
Sadly,
the FBI and local police never compiled this number, so most number on this are recent. But if you account for the lowered violent crimes and homicide in the 1990s onward, my feeling is a downward trend, not upward… so media coverage, and social media is generating its own spike.
(that’s my hunch)
Senator De Lima’s proposed hearing into the killings will be a test of President Duterte’s ability to respect those who don’t do as he says. I don’t think he is used to that, people not doing as he says.
Nice calm-minded summary of the situation.
Are dirty cops being hunted as well under DU30— and publicized? If this is taking place, then DU30 (IMHO) is not yet at the point of no return… but as witch hunts go, they tend to have lives of their own and run away from their original intents,
so I guess as long as DU30 is in control, it’s not as bad yet, but like wild fires, where firemen simply wanted to do a control burn, playing with fire is dangerous 😉 I hope you can do a part II after the De Lima hearing, Joe… but isn’t De Lima also in DU30’s shit list
for allowing prison karaoke, saunas and discos?
Also, Joe… why not follow the #BlackLivesMatter social media movement , Filipinos love twitter and fb, and meet-ups, etc.
#FilipinoLivesMatter
Those kinds of movements are a dime a dozen on social media and have little impact.
#BlackLivesMatter is taking America by storm, Joe. Legitimized by the DNC to boot!
The Philippines is not America.
Joe,
What propelled #BlackLivesMatter was media (on top of social media) coverage, there was a legitimizing process.
Thought the Philippines is not America 😉 , we have similar media outlets, the question is how a social media movement becomes an actual movement, and the media has a lot to do with it… so will the media over there anoint such movement?
Or is public opinion actually the opposite of what everyone’s espousing on here?
If public opinion is the opposite, then focus should be in examining why that’s so, which brings us back to my original posting 😉 .
A lot was made of five generals with supposed ties to drugs, but no proof was offered and there was a question of political ties to the prior administration. The DOJ’s role in Bilibid prison has been discussed here. Cleaning up the prison is an objective of the Duteerte Admin. I don’t believe it is being held against Senator De Lima, now that the campaign is over. The matter started well before De Lima entered the picture and was a function of overcrowding and prison culture. I’m not aware of any arrests of police officers other than the five generals. Lots of warnings though.
@caliphman,
You put briefly and clearly what I had in mind when I posted the note A DIVERGENT THOUGHT towards the end of the previous blog — RIP, noble aspiration. That the path PRD is taking has one of its subpaths, the initial path really, the ugly killings that in charity I can say he does not relish but meant as an effective (?) avenue towards the rest of the path. Mind you, I am still watching but I wanted to convey that thought there and this thought here stimulated by your comment.
Just a suggestion Joe, it would be awesome if the links on the website open in a different window or tab.
I love this blog. More power!
Mouse click right side ”open link in new tab” 🙂
Thank you for your response, Sup.
It’s just a U/X design suggestion, that will be handy for the not-so-techie Joeam Blog visitors. This is a WordPress website with jQuery, there’s a WordPress plugin or a jQuery line that may help.
BTW… CTRL+Click is more efficient than “Mouse click right side ‘open link in new tab’ if you really want to go that way..
Have a nice day everyone.
And if one is using a tablet such as an iPad, touch and hold the link until one sees ”open link in new tab.”
Thank you, sir.
the PNP doesn’t bow to the NAPOLCOM. in theory, the latter should supervise the PNP but the big shots are in the PNP so they are just “palamuti”. they are just there because the law says it. what they do is to qualify police candidates thru exams and investigate erring cops.
have seen officers who came straight from the NAPOLCOM and joined the PNP as junior officers and they don’t get respect from the ranks
not even the S, DILG has so much power over the PNP. its the Prez who makes appointment and the S, DILG just makes recommendations so the big shots in the PNP are only accountable to the Prez which appoints them.
Good summary. That was my take as well.
police veterans (before Marcos/martial law) like the old system whereby the mayor appoints the cops. if the cops don’t perform, the mayor wont win in the next elections.
and the citizens have more choices to lodge their complaints. they could go to the PC (the national police) or the NBI
now its between the PNP and NBI. somehow i blame the PMAers for this mess. in their desire to get revenge on Marcos policies of appointing not their classmates as generals, they “engineered” a national police that is just like the AFP to be controlled by them. notice how all the chiefs in the AFP and PNP are all members of the PMAAA? if you ask me, that’s the most powerful union in the Philippines. DU30 should watch his back
It must be on his mind, which is why he asked the AFP the other day not to do a coup. He did it in his usual charming way.
I do give Francis credit, though, in giving President Duterte proper acknowledgment. For a guy presiding over a slaughter, the President is a charming guy. For a guy who would not be caught dead in a business suit, he does have style.
Duterte to China, adjudged guilty of stealing and occupying our islands, reefs and shoals: “Please abide by the law. Let’s both uphold its sanctity.”
Duterte to the dealer / user, merely suspected of distributing / consuming prohibited drugs: “Fuck the law. Prepare to meet your God.”
And the public applauds.
I’m not sure the Philippines has spoken that directly to China.
With regard to the killings, there are several different categories: (1) Police, legitimate use of force. (2) Police, excessive use of force. (3) Vigilante. I suspect that (1) is a small share and (2) and (3) are incited by President Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. The problem is that (2) and (3) contradict his anti-crime pledge.
I would note that Senator Lacson has warned police that if they kill without proper justification, they are committing murder. So three senators are pushing back now, De Lima, Hontiveros and Lacson.
Not all of the public is applauding. I’d imagine that is actually a small share, with Duterte supporters being the most vocal. Most Filipinos are watching, I think, in different stages of awe. Some are complaining.
Oh yes, watching. With the same kind of awe while Great Britain gave Sabah to Malaysia. And while China continues to steal our islands, reefs and coves with arrogant impunity. I have to admit it. We’re good at watching. In awe.
If anyone has to “remind” the police that summary execution is murder, what does that say about us? Well, obviously, that we’re in deep shit. Very deep shit.
Duterte supposedly given BBM the go signal to bury FM at the Libingan ng Bayani on September 18, 2016 :
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/08/06/1610556/fm-buried-libingan-september-18
Excuse me, I need to throw a fit and it could get really ugly.
Filing of crime against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Duterte is being floated by human rights groups:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/803509/aguirre-intl-rights-suit-vs-duterte-no-way-criminals-are-not-humanity
Yes, this is the way to go.
Don’t puke yet, JP. In PDI today, supposedly Malacanang has nothing set yet on the Marcos Libingan burial. FVR is against it and the hundred thousands of Marcos human rights victims, n human rights groups. I won’t be surprised if he disappoints BBM. Remember Duterte had noted: his friendships end when his service to country begins. Or something like this. Hint: he is critical of JOMA Sison now.
Latest on Marcos burial. Duterte left the date of burial presumably at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to BBM.DZMM TV, this pm, today.
Thank you, LG. I involuntarily emptied my stomach many times for the past 3 months already. 🙂
“A screaming song is good to know in case you need to scream.” – Unknown
Well, JP, it looks like you need to take an anti vomiting med now. The die is cast. Hope to see a million folks barricade before the Heroes cemetery when the burial day comes.
I’m reading here that Duterte is threatening to impose martial law. If true, then the arid land cries out, once more, for the blood of patriots and tyrants. This time, our oppressor is a narcissistic, deluded mass murderer. Which, by the way, we all knew from the start.
What! Martial Law this early? Precipitating factor must be the SC insisting on search warrants for their RTC colleagues…
However, even if he tries there are required steps according to the 1987 Constitution. Ergo, he can’t simply declare.
Oh yes, he can, Inday. Marcos didn’t bother with legal niceties. And Marcos, to his credit, was no unhinged, bloodthirsty megalomaniac. If Duterte can justify mass murder, there’s not much that can stop him from doing as he pleases. Our military and police ate of the tree of political power for the first time in our history between 1972 and 1986. They went giddy. Duterte is masterfully whetting their appetite, and they hunger for it again. Read the signs of the times. And abandon all hope.
One is inclined to sit up straight in one’s chair when reading this. As if to prepare to run for one’s life . . .
Glad… some of you out there have a good grasp of our political history.
Duterte does look like he has the kind of moral fiber (or lack if it to do) as he pleases. He seems to lord it over all broken branches of government, to date. He could well be worst than the dead Marcos on the human rights issue. His threats to go after oligarchs, tax evaders,the corrupt seem to rub off on the guilty.
Looks like I’d be watching gradual departures for ‘treatment abroad’ n indefinite vacation or business ventures abroad by oligarch and guilty suspects.
Or bloggers, journalists, educators, businessmen, retirees . . .
Humor amid storm n thunder is therapeutic. ☺️
There will be growing resistance from out of fear and uncertainty. To leave this country to fate otherwise is to betray everything I stood for.
For the nonguilty, just leave quietly and come back/home when the sun has risen, federated Philippines or not.
OT http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36972207
Social Media fickle ness.
Singapore PMs wife scorned then praised.
At the same Singapore PM visit to the white house there was a meet the press session. Obama had a moment of mental block and he mis-called the name of Lee Kuan Yew, and the world’s media carried that one single momentary name recall failure on front pages.
The microscope trained on the top man. A thought: if the leader wants to help a friend in a starting food business, he can eat something and praise that. Then the friend picks that up and say this is da leader’s favorite and made so you ordinary mortals can taste it too!
Leaders always are trendsetters. Why is the lowest button of a suit never closed? Because one of the King Georges of England was so fat he never closed that button..
Why do Filipino politicians wear barongs? Magsaysay started it, before all wore suits…
Again, a nugget from your history library. Good to know.
Extremely, personally instructive, Joe. Thank you for writing it.
I’m glad you value the info. I learned a lot myself, dredging through those regs.
Senator Gordon has made a posting on the Internet, to the effect that there should be reports and Internal Affairs investigations of every fatal shooting by police. Even traditional law-and-order people believe in checks and balances to keep the use of violence by the state under control.
That’s good to know, Irineo. That makes four senators speaking out for due process.
Four in 24, that is 17% of the Senate numbers with probably more of that number calculatingly silent.
We could look at it politically, maybe as if we were Senator De Lima, and we were going to target new laws as an outcome of her hearings. One might be a law aimed at making NAPOLCOM less an in-house, captured body to make it more independent and aggressive in keeping the police function up to par with international standards. We would need to look for signatories on the paper summarizing our findings.
De Lima, Hontiveros, Lacson, Gordon and and and Aquino, Poe, Drilon, Trillanes, Recto, Angara? . . . getting close to 13. That’s the idea.
That seems like a good mind reading of De Lima. Crafting something to strengthen NAPOLCOM. Wean it away from the cozy relationships with the other organizations — not a direct hit on The President or PNP but very useful and defensible. Enough to hopefully get signatures of the current silent ones who still have their hearts in the right place.
Hearts in the right place or political calculations whichever is stronger — probably a mix. After all these younger Turks will survive the current older ones.
Poor people without work become addicted to drugs to find temporary relief from the daily horrors created by corrupt politicians who become addicted to power, and riches without working.
One seeks escapism and has a health problem, the other wants money and is a criminal problem.
One is the effect, the other is the cause.
One needs help, it is the other which merits shooting.
A war on drugs will not work – will duterte resign when he fails! No chance. The little man is starting to get a napoleon complex.
The underlying problem of the country is dynasties, cronyism, and patronage, and a culture which breeds followers and stifles individuality.
Duterte, as head of a local dynasty of thugs and a trapo who epitomises old thinking and parochial attitudes – so last century, like davao itself.
Duterte is the binay of the south with his foreign bank accounts, undeclared properties, and a revolving door at townhall for dimwit family members. The monarch of the clan.
An autocratic and uncouth bully who hides behind a ‘badge’, and is a wannabe rebel from behind a desk.
And when his shrill voice comes out so does his inner drama queen.
The mayor is out of his depth and his hypocritical repetitive rants are getting boring.
The presidency demands breadth and depth of thought, and gravitas.
Instead the philippines chooses a back vagina bandit with more chips on his shoulder than in a branch of mcdonalds.
So be it, the idiots have spoke.
Power from bullets eventually backfires.
Maybe when donald trump loses the election he could indulge his wall building fantasy by putting one around davao and give Duterte the isolationism, independence and secession he craves.
A duo of destructive narcissistic fantasists made for each other, and for the psychiatrists couch.
Destroy – kill – divide – rule. A climate of intimidation and negativity.
No chance of, make – create – innovate – conytribute and an environment of innovation and positivity.
I notice your use of the handle Alanon. The name “Alanon” is traditionally associated with the 12 Step program for families of alcoholics. and is a partner program with AA = Alcoholics Anonymous.
Alanon does not have political opinions, nor does it advocate for political views in any country of the world. I’m sure that Alanon members in the Philippines and elsewhere would appreciate it you expressed your political opinions using another handle.
And no this is not a comment on your views as such.
Re Note from the Editor:
The inconvenient side of the Internet Service — frustrating to those of us trying to do good (hahaha: self-patting).
The good side of the current Internet Service — keeps the bad guys frustrated too.
Not only he is targeting businessmen considered to be “undesirable” but also… as expected, political enemies.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/08/06/1610564/ongpin-daughter-quits-rody-tags-mar-backer
Here’s what former US CIA Chief Michael Morell wrote about presidential candidate Donald Trump in the NY Times as he announced he would vote for Hillary Clinton:
“Even more important, the character traits he has exhibited during the primary season suggest he would be a poor, even dangerous, commander in chief,” Morell said, naming Trump’s “obvious need for self-aggrandizement, his overreaction to perceived slights, his tendency to make decisions based on intuition, his refusal to change his views based on new information, his routine carelessness with the facts, his unwillingness to listen to others and his lack of respect for the rule of law. The dangers that flow from Mr. Trump’s character are not just risks that would emerge if he became president. It is already damaging our national security.”
Now the CIA does not carry a high reputation abroad, but the organization is vital to US security and CIA top people know a lot about threats.
The lesson for the Philippines? The nation does not really do much critical thinking about threats to its very existence.
=========================================
Joe,
Just to add some nuance to this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Morell#Career
Most spies, soldiers, diplomats stay clear out of politics. Those who’ve retired will dabble, but very few will actually dive in. Morell’s basically diving in here, which tells me he’s made a deal with Hillary, maybe for some spot in her administration.
I’m donning my apolitical hat now (though I think the above quote from Morrell describes Trump) but if you re-read that quote , it could apply to Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, Obama, Hillary… maybe some aspects apply more than others, ie. Rule of Law and Obama’s drone program (if Trump becomes President, he’ll have Obama’s drone program all packaged up with no oversight, Joe).
But that’s how generic that quote is, in my estimate.
Political hat (pro-Trump) on again, though Morrell is coy with his political affiliation, I’m sure he’s a Democrat. Now there are hard-core conservatives and Republicans in the CIA, top people too, basically everyone Bush I and II promoted up (remember it was Bill Clinton that gutted the CIA in his 8 yrs). Now those are the right guys to ask for opinion about Trump, not Morrell (you’ll not get an honest answer from a Democrat, now playing politics 😉 )
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430187/william-f-buckley-donald-trump-demagoguery-cigar-aficionado
If you can find the March/April 2000 Cigar Aficionado interview with William Buckley Jr. that’s a good starting point, he talked about Trump, back when he contemplated (out loud) a run for the 2000 race. Also interestingly, in that same interview Buckley Jr. said his favourite cigars were from the Philippines 😉
So finally to my point here, which are the best cigars from the Philippines?
Getting into a discussion with you is like climbing into one of those large dryers down at the laundromat, and why would I want to do that? Your reasonings go in circles, avoiding the point, shifting the discussion, casting your opinions as truths when they are really amoral moralisms bent to suit your purpose, which as near as I can tell is either (1) winning the argument, or (2) showing off (all the jpgs), and occasionally strives for genuine understanding or education (your articles). Indeed, the nonsense got so thick in your claim that the description of Trump could be applied to other presidents that I have decided to designate you the Society of Honor title “Chief Troll”, much as Karl is Librarian and Military Liaison. Your techniques are superb and ought to be acknowledged as such.
Normally, I ban trolls from operating here, but, to be truthful, I miss the entertainment since the Chinese troll brigade decided they could not make progress here, and left, plus, I think Edgar is amused by your gyrations.
Joe, Ditto to your reply to the LC whose logic appears to image his presidential idol’s.
That happens when both the ends and means can be changed to avoid agreeing with a point of fact.
That is a gem Joe. It’s a keepsake for me.
Ah, I’m happy about that. On occasion I have to do real work here.
“Trump could be applied to other presidents that I have decided to designate you the Society of Honor title “Chief Troll”, much as Karl is Librarian and Military Liaison. Your techniques are superb and ought to be acknowledged as such.”
Joe,
Do I have a say in this, ie. can I request “Chief Dissenter”; or “Chief Devil’s Advocate”… or even the “Mad Hatter”, who ‘s able to don many hats to argue a variety of positions? If not, then “Chief Troll” will have to do, just don’t pile on more titles , as I’ll not be able to carry as much weight as karl.
“the nonsense got so thick in your claim that the description of Trump could be applied to other presidents”
Not nonsense, Joe, it does work, try it.
The only President I cannot make work is Pres. Carter (like forcing a square into a circle 😉 ), works for Nixon too… I am not as familiar with past presidents, so you’ll have to test if it works for them.
Like I said, degrees will vary, but every president you’ll notice will get a ding! 😉 (that’s if you’re honest in your assessment—- no politics, remember I’ve said it fits Trump 😉 ).
Words can be bent everywhich way, so yes, they can be applied. But the idea that any of those people are anything like Donald Trump, who seems to be flaming out like no other candidate before him, is a huge, huge twist of those words and ideas. It is not accurate.
The purpose of this blog is to work on the well-being of the Philippines, and our own knowledge, in a respectful way. That generally means the expectation is that dialogue will be earnest and honest, and not manipulative. A person who continuously takes the position of “devil’s advocate” is not exactly earnest and honest. From time to time it can be instructional. As a regular technique, it is trolling with a sophisticated name.
LCpl_X: sorta blowing cool air here. But please, LCpl_X, don’t post a jpg in response. Hahaha.”
LOL! the videos and jpgs I actually learned from Ireneo, and emotional appeals from Wil, NHerrera! But no jpgs, as ordered! LOL!
climbing into or climbing out of one of those big laundromat dryers? In my nightmare climbing into is bad enough, but climbing out? Oh brother.
Joe, LCpl_X: sorta blowing cool air here. But please, LCpl_X, don’t post a jpg in response. Hahaha. 🙂
Entering is what you do when you start the conversation, out is where you are dumped after it is over. ahahaha
As follow-up to this discussion, I note that Morell is not the only security person who thinks Donald Trump is not qualified to be president. 50 REPUBLICAN security experts have done a letter saying he is not qualified.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/08/politics/republican-national-security-letter-donald-trump-election-2016/
And now, a GOP-backed third candidate is in the running. That makes the 2016 US elections with 5 presidential candidates all together.
On another topic about Joe Am’s Notes from the Editor on what former CIA Chief Michael Morell wrote about Trump. Substitute Duterte for Trum and the description fits Duterte perfectly. The damage to the Philippines is already this early being felt. Tourism is going down, who wants to go to a country where people are killed left and right. Rappler has just published that Customs revenues has gone down by 13 billion for the month of July.
Nate, would you have a link to that Rappler story? Customs isn’t usually associated with tourism, are these two separate stories? I’m thinking, it’s more the Zika scare than DU30, hence my interest. People outside the Philippines don’t even know who DU30 is, nor what’s going on… so I have my doubts, but am open to it.
Sorry, the tourism opinion is not on Rappler although it was mentioned by Raissa Robles https://www.raissarobles.com/2016/08/05/thank-you-richard-branson-for-caring-about-the-extra-judicial-killings-in-the-philippines/
The effect on tourism is my assessment based on what people I know and comments I read abroad say on social media and foreign news on the Philippines which is increasingly becoming negative. People in 1st world countries are probably not used to these many killings that happen anywhere. They don’t want to be caught in a crossfire, be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Me, I’m used to it since I’ve lived in Davao my whole life, and the park near our subdivision is a favorite dumping ground.
In case you don’t know yet, Duterte and the Police have announced that they are now going to start raiding the high end bars and clubs where they say the wealthy pushers and users are. So these places are soon going be dangerous.
The Richard Branson statement on his Virgin website https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/dutertes-war-drugs-not-answer,
New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/opinion/the-presidents-killing-spree-in-the-philippines.html?_r=0the 300 and more NGOs who have petitioned the UN and other organizations to urge a stop to the killings.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/world/asia/philippines-duterte-drug-killing.html
The Rappler report is on the Customs revenue for July. http://www.rappler.com/nation/142161-boc-records-revenue-deficit-july
Three links puts a comment in moderation, gubavoces. It eventually gets out, but the delay is contingent upon Globe’s spotty internet connection and my schedule of naps and . . . lately . . . drinking binges. 🙂
No problem. I just wanted to answer LCpl_X’s question to me about the decline in tourism, Customs revenue and his claim that people outside the Phil don’t know Duterte or what’s going on which I find hard to believe. I didn’t know he’s a troll until now. Hopefully some of the links I sent him will answer his question. With my insomnia, my nap schedule is haywire, and my diabetes has forced me to stop the drinking binges, even the occasional ones.
Well, I appreciate the info you provided, and I actually don’t drink, either. I occasionally use literary license.
Ohh! Didn’t see that.hee..hee…
“I didn’t know he’s a troll until now. “
Not just a troll, Nate… Chief Troll!
Thanks for the links.
“People in 1st world countries are probably not used to these many killings that happen anywhere. “
Tourists go where they perceive fun , culture, excitement, a great bargain, etc. The only times I think most tourists don’t go somewhere is if they see on CNN or MSNBC, PBS News Hour (FOX News fans don’t tend to travel 😉 ) some sort of war, like Mexico or Afghanistan or Iraq/Syria.
In all honesty, with maybe a mention in John Oliver’s or Bill Maher’s show, or the Daily Show, DU30’s largely an unknown over here— that’s a fact.
So take for example Brazil and India, crime’s pretty bad in both countries, there’s some sort of “drug war” going on in both, there are religious riots and similar issues that’s on going in India; favelas (ghettoes) in Brazil, yet plenty of tourists still go.
The notion of tourists not going to the Philippines because of DU30’s drug war (not covered by media here , at all 😦 ) is dubious to me , hence my queries for more info.
Although the links you’ve provided talk about DU30, I was hoping there was an actual connection to tourism decline with peace and order trends—- it’ll be hard to make that connection solid, Nate.
Now the Zika scare, American love swine flu’s , avian flu, all sorts of epidemics, that’s IMHO something you can attribute to lower number of tourists going to tropical areas (not sure how Zika’s being covered in EU or Australia), but over here, pregnant women are in panic mode— there’s not a day that goes by where you see a small-headed baby on TV!
So Joe ‘s spurting his coffee is immaterial, the fact is, that Zika is going on over-drive over here. But no one’s heard nor do people care who DU30 is.
to be cont’d … let me read this custom article. Thanks. fyi, Chief Trolls say thanks upon receipt of good info 😉 .
“Zika scare” caused me to spurt my coffee. The notorious Philippine president has been getting unkind publicity around the world, and to deny his impact on investments and tourism would only come from the ignorant or agenda-bound, such as his army of supporters who are off in some lala land of rationalizations and denials (in my opinion). As far as whether or not you are “open to it” . . . that’s up to you. People here need not cater to your probings, some of which I find interesting, and a whole lot I consider showmanship. Once in a while I learn something.
LCpl_X, some facts on your comments about Michael Morell. I just watched Real time with Bill Maher where they talked about his opposition to Trump. Sen. Santorum insisted he is a Democrat who served a democrat. It turns out Morell served under 3 Republicans, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. bush, and 2 Democrats, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. was discussed He managed the daily briefings for George W. Bush and was Bush briefer on 911. He is not a registered Republican nor a Democrat.
I just can’t help it, can’t resist. I will now substitute the word Duterte in place of Trump. The fit is just perfect. JoeAm is right on the money again
Here’s what former US CIA Chief Michael Morell wrote about Pres. Duterte in the NY Times as he announced he would vote for Hillary Clinton:
“Even more important, the character traits he has exhibited during the primary season suggest he would be a poor, even dangerous, commander in chief,” Morell said, naming Pres. Duterte’s “obvious need for self-aggrandizement, his overreaction to perceived slights, his tendency to make decisions based on intuition, his refusal to change his views based on new information (wala akong pakialam), his routine carelessness with the facts, his unwillingness to listen to others (I don’t care) and his lack of respect for the rule of law (I will kill you). The dangers that flow from Pres. Duterte’s character are not just risks that would emerge (now that he is president) if he became president. It is already damaging our national security.”
Now the CIA does not carry a high reputation abroad, but the organization is vital to US security and CIA top people know a lot about threats.
The lesson for the Philippines? The nation does not really do much critical thinking about threats to its very existence.
“Even more important, the character traits he has exhibited during the primary season suggest she would be a poor, even dangerous, commander in chief,” Morell said, naming Hillary Clinton “obvious need for self-aggrandizement (Goldman-Sachs per Bernie), her overreaction to perceived slights (Bill’s lovers), her tendency to make decisions based on intuition (Arab Spring), her refusal to change her views based on new information (fracking), her routine carelessness with the facts (emails), her unwillingness to listen to others (gay rights) and her lack of respect for the rule of law (Whitewater). The dangers that flow from Hillary’s character are not just risks that would emerge if she became president. It is already damaging our national security (how do you think ISIS spread?).”
Again, it’s a generic template which can be used for anyone (‘cept maybe some righteous souls in politics 😉 ). But you can continue this with Obama, Bush II, Clinton I, Bush I, Reagan, though not Carter. 😉
You nailed it Lance. That Morell spook has no idea whereof he speak.
I have nothing against him, and i’m sure he’s a good manager , even an analyst, but that template is just so generic, it doesn’t even hold water.
It’s only been a month and the decline has begun. This is the latest news from RAPPLER
BOC records P13B revenue deficit for July
The revenue shortfall is an all-time high for the Bureau of Customs which had targeted P43 billion for July.
Worst performers were the Ports of Manila (highest deficit of P2.73 billion), Batangas (P2.61 billion revenue shortfall), Manila International Container Port (P2.56 billion), and Limay (P1.97 billion).The Ninoy Aquino International Airport also reported a revenue deficit, collecting only P2.9 billion as against its P3.84-billion target.
Other ports that also recorded deficits were: Subic, P581.7 million; Cagayan De Oro, P312.8 million; San Fernando, P144.3 million; Davao, P128.8 million; Iloilo, P57.7 million; Aparri, P44.8 million; Clark, P19.8 million; Legaspi, P17.9 million; Tacloban, P15.1 million; Zamboanga, P10.9 million; and Surigao, P600,000. – Rappler.com
On an off topic post on Yahoo. Trump, in fierce new broadside, says immigrants pose hidden threat. AFP•August 5, 2016
Trump has now included the Philippines as a terrorist supporter, “We’re dealing with animals,” he seethed. He then listed several immigrants, mostly from Muslim majority countries — Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen — who were arrested for conducting or threatening to carry out violent attacks, teaching bomb-making to recruits, and otherwise supporting terror groups.
The only group not offended to this point by Trump are Hawaiians and middle-aged whites living in Hoboken, New Jersey. Maybe he has family in Hoboken, I dunno.
(His comments have become so wild and ridiculous to have me wonder as to his sanity.)
Wonder not, for he awes himself as overflows all decent bounds.
To the extent sanity is defined by norms of behavior, you have indeed proved he is not sane. He has crossed the line, so many ways, so many times, at the expense of so many.
Yes, a senator ( I think he is), who is white, from Hawaii has denounced Trump.
Oh, right. Maybe it is Alaska he has not yet offended, in commiseration with his soul-mate Sarah Palin. The
AlaskanHawaiian senator protested on behalf of Filipinos, evidently having taken up where the late Senator Daniel Inouye left off, being the nation’s foremost advocate for the well-being of Filipinos.Hawaii and the Philippines are joined in many historical respects.
If one is mentally ill with psychosis, s/he can’t possibly distinguish reality from what is not, what is decent and what is not. Trump’s exhibited behaviors, so far, meets the criteria of at least 2 types of diagnosable mental illness, as set by the American Psychiatric Association. A key person at MSNBC had already called out his need for psychiatric treatment, some others had hinted. But of course, he likely won’t; personality disorders, especially narcissists and antisocials, don’t generally acknowledge their psychiatric illness, much less their need for help. His delusions are truly scary, win or lose, points to delusional disorder. Even if he withdraws, he poses risk.
I am not sure if they plan to file another version.
http://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=14&q=SBN-2269
14th Congress
Senate Bill No. 2269
NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION REORGANIZATION ACT OF 2008
Filed on May 12, 2008 by Defensor Santiago, Miriam
Overview | Committee Referral | Leg. History | All Information
Download PDF icon
SBN-2269 (as filed)
5/13/2008 366.5KB
Long title
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION
Scope
National
Legislative status
Pending in the Committee (5/13/2008)
Subject(s)
Reorganization
National Police Commission (Napolcom)
Primary committee
Public Order and Illegal Drugs
Secondary committee
Civil Service and Government Reorganization
Finance
Legislative History
Entitled:
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION
[ FIRST REGULAR SESSION, 14TH CONGRESS ]
[ 2008 ]
5/12/2008 Introduced by Senator MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO;
5/13/2008 Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committee(s) on PUBLIC ORDER AND ILLEGAL DRUGS; CIVIL SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION and FINANCE;
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Most interesting. 2008. Senator Santiago. Good for her. Perhaps Senator De Lima will start with that and amend based on her hearings.
Hope so too.
SCMP reveals about the telltale Guardians mark on El Presidente’s right hand (hence him the most powerful Guardians member at this moment):
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/1999695/revealed-secret-meaning-behind-tiny-tattoo-presidents-hand
Also, El Presidente reveals full list of what he sees as enemies of the state:
http://www.bomboradyo.com/news/latest-news/item/161083-narco-politicians-cops-ibinunyag-na-ni-duterte
His moves toward dictatorship are obvious now. Political opponents are named as Narcos. Businessmen who oppose him are threatened with murder.
I can be ambivalent towards Dutete’s rule on narcopoliticians, can’t I?
A known serial election cheater, the Mayor of Mabalacat,Pampanga, unsurprisingly, is on the list of narcopols. Happy to see him named😀. Mabalacat deserves a replacement.
That’s an interesting topic, for sure. If they are indeed involved in drugs, evidence should put them in jail rather than in the headlines. Or both. But the headlines, without proof? Libel, to me. But the President can’t be indicted for anything whereas the rest of us could for saying such. Evidently all the named pols supported someone other than Duterte for President, which is peculiar.
I first reacted with a “bravo”, was lectured in a tweet that this is tyranny, and agreed. It is not good form, for a person of laws.
Mark your calendars. This is the first day of the Duterte Dictatorship.
“I first reacted with a “bravo”,
That initial reaction is worthy of a blog, Joe… if nothing else, to understand why DU30 supporters are celebrating DU30.
FWIW, Saddam Hussein also came up with an infamous list (not drugs, but loyalty or treason) and he called them out in an auditorium, had them stand for all to see, and then were led out by soldiers, then w/out fanfare Saddam continued with the meeting,
those who stood up were never heard of or seen again.
Supposedly he was a big fan of the Godfather movies.
I will find out who the named Mabalacat Mayor endorsed as president.
Yeah, LG.
DU30 was said to have stated that his friends were on that list, or those who supported him, but I’ve yet to see the list of those who supported or friends of DU30 who were named. What gives?
I was told the named Mabalacat mayor supported Mar for President. So did the unopposed Pampanga governor, who is married to the Jueteng Lord of Pampanga. Supposedly illegal gambling which includes Jueteng is next. Can you believe trike drivers who play small time street gambling, like dama, I think, are being arrested now? It’s insane.
Very Trumplike. It was crazy funny in a macabre sort of way, the way Duterte said Sison’s saliva dribbles out of his mouth and splatters on the PC screen when he was talking to him, and the NPA, who are they? They’re nothing, they can’t even hold a Barangay, they have to hide in the mountains, good only for ambush ambush. Apologies for the crude translation.
Is this the NPAs answer to Pres. Duterte’s diatribe and personal insults to Jose Ma. Sison? they now also have a word war. I’m confused with the flip flops on both sides. I hope the NPAs don’t retaliate by bringing back the killing fields in Davao, not that it ever left.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 06, 2016.
6 KILLED IN COMPOSTELA VALLEY CLASHES
FOUR soldiers and two suspected communist rebels were killed in a series of encounters in compostela Valley province on Thursday and Friday.Twelve other soldiers were wounded and three rebels were arrested in the same incidents.
The first encounter took place on Km. 65 in Barangay Rizal in Monkayo town at around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, when the Philippine Army’s 25th Infantry Battalion were in pursuit operation against the rebels. Army’s 10th Infantry Division spokesperson Captain Rhyan Batchar said troops were looking for the rebels who were believed to have suffered several casualties during an earlier encounter in the area. Batchar said two soldiers were wounded during the firefight that lasted for about 15 minutes. He added that the two were immediately lifted at Camp Panacan Station Hospital, Davao City after the encounter.
Meanwhile, three soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded in another encounter with at least 60 rebels in the same town at around 7:50 a.m. Friday. The firefight lasted for about 45 minutes.
Batchar said the rebels took the rifles and personal belongings of the three dead soldiers then fled to far flung areas, while three rebels were arrested and an unidentified dead female rebel was recovered. “The three NPA (New People’s Army) members arrested after the encounter were then turned over to the members of the PNP (Philippine National Police) in Monkayo for proper disposition,” Batchar said.
Another encounter took place in Barangay Parasanon in Maragusan town at 1 p.m. wherein the Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion encountered about 30 NPA rebels. One soldier and one rebel were then died. Batchar said the 1001st Infantry Brigade, which has the operational control over the 25th Infantry Battalion and 71st Infantry Battalion ordered the conduct of pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels.
10th Infantry Division commander Major General Rafael Valencia, Batchar said, in behalf of the members of the 10th ID, expressed his condolence to the families of the dead soldiers.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 06, 2016.
I frankly find Sison more irritating than President Duterte. He’s never accomplished anything but destruction as far as I can tell, and his negotiating position is not to find a solution, but to demand one . . . on his terms. Forgeddabout it. The fighting will continue until the economy is strong enough to give people jobs and a better prospect than rebellion.
Ya I agree. A real steak commando comfortably ensconed in the netherlands. Still spouting jurassic communist rhetoric.
Ohh BTW, sorry, except for that first speech, I couldn’t find any more links to the kill threats to businessmen. I think he toned it down, Now he just wants to destroy the monster oligarchs.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/802996/duterte-to-destroy-monster-oligarchs#ixzz4GMIumjuf
What part of the dance is choreographed, what part is spontaneous?
What part has to do with ego’s, what part with principles?
The old men last stand? Or never dying Enrile’s in the make?
Dying rebels, civilians and soldiers are just disposables on this chessboard of “principled” men.
Welcome to facsist philippines and dictator duterte.
The 14 signs of facsism – dr lawrence britt + ( comments)
“1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism – Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia.
( clenched fist, duterte branding, logos, bato branding – mascot!, smartphone games, viber stickers, ‘anthem’)
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights – Because of fear of enemies and the need for
security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
( release of communists, “i don’t care what UN, world says”, silence from lawmakers, bloodthirsty enjoyment from the telenovela crowd)
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause – The people are rallied into a
unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial ,
ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, drugs users etc.
(Drip drip of public kill lists to build up/keep frenzy going)
4. Supremacy of the Military – Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
(Double pay, constant visits to army/police camps, enrol 10,000 more police – fanatics/red shirt army)
5. Rampant Sexism – The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-
dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid.
( sexism and gay slurs – even US ambassador. Women in support/minor roles)
6. Controlled Mass Media – Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but
in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic
media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
(No communication from adanar etc, record/transcripts of speeches being amended, media villified/controlled through intimidation/exclusion, direct govt channel, internet army/trolls)
7. Obsession with National Security – Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
(Manufacture/exaggerate threats – ISIS, narco-politics)
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined – Governments in fascist nations tend to use the
most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric
and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.
( atheists, but talk of god, give life for country blah, blah, blah)
9. Corporate Power is Protected – The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation
often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial
business/government relationship and power elite.
(Single out ongpin – already under investigation, but avoid the big fish)
10. Labor Power is Suppressed – Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat
to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely
suppressed.
(No unions to worry about)
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts – Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open
hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
(Anti-intellectuals praised & promoted – mocha uson, jim parades, r jacinto!)
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment – Under fascist regimes, the police are given
almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
( self explanatory – the main weapon & abuses will get worse, especially since few complain, and if they do then they are targetted, e.g de lima)
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption – Fascist regimes almost always are governed by
groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use
governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not
uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or
even outright stolen by government leaders.
(All cabinet are fellow old age pensioners from school etc. Dumbed down cronyism. Close friend/supporters include marcos, singson)
14. Fraudulent Elections – Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other
times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.”
(Federalism is the control mechanism. Little fiefdoms will have no co-ordinated/national power. That will reside in the president which will be a condition of federalism, and he will retain direct control of armed forces/police.
The appointment of enough new judges will cement unassailable power)
Plus
– no interest in economy. Spending on arms, armed forces, police
– weak/compliant legislators, and no opposition/party system
– plus a crazy narcissist running the show, and a subservient culture/electorate who are born followers, gullible, and do not question.
Result – death, conflict, and destruction. Economic suicide and international isolation/sanctions.
There will still be plenty of people for target practice. The philippines and duterte would win a gold medal in barbarism.
Duterte is the addict – and needs psychiatric help, as with all dictators. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)
‘You get the government you deserve’
Yes, I agree with the gist of your analysis, and thank you for the parenthetical examples. I think the whole drug/crime campaign is a manufactured crisis, as I will say in a blog to be published later today. I don’t agree with the last line. I believe there are victims in the Philippines, a whole lot of them. Some are long-term victims (Marcos/poverty) and others are victims of unscrupulous mayors, governors and national politicians who are not interested in the national good as much as their own. Now the educated people of power . . . I agree, they get the government they deserve. Manila gets a hater of Manila because residents of the fine city voted emotionally, and needily, instead of thoughtfully.
Sadly, narcissists do not lend themselves to any form of psychiatric help, for that matter, anybody’s help. Yes, as much as only 16M voted for Duterte, he is now president for all Filipino citizens, here and abroad. He wants to die a “hero’s death”, if necessary, he had noted. Kaya no paki with CHR, ICC. Jet ski alone to SCS. All consistent with narcissism.
Since it’s next to impossible — for me at least — to determine with any precision the day the very first summary execution ordered or inspired by this new, diabolical regime was perpetrated, I’ll have to settle for the day he divulged his list of “big fish” suspects as Day One. We can quibble about that, but make no mistake: the Terror has begun.
It is a statement, for sure. I imagine the people on that list are terrified.
In connection with this post’s subject matter, comes a General Bato mobile game:
http://www.philstar.com/gadgets/2016/08/08/1611360/game-app-featuring-pnp-chief-bato-dela-rosa-launched#st_refDomain=t.co&st_refQuery=/v2I8CFLU0g
The Philippines’ Deadly Drug Crackdown
According to Al Jazeera
“For $200, we’re hired by cops to kill criminals!”
Who’s the interviewer?