Philippines : News and Discussion

asianobserve

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
12,846
Likes
8,556
Country flag
6 AH-64E versus 6 AH-1Z competition in Philippines brews with US sale approval

The US will always be the Philippines' closest ang strongest ally no matter what traitor Duterte do.
 

sorcerer

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2013
Messages
26,920
Likes
98,472
Country flag

asianobserve

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
12,846
Likes
8,556
Country flag
Philippines keeps Visiting Forces Agreement with US


Chinese agent Duterte cannot stand popular ordinary Filipinos, Philippine military and US government pressure to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), allowing US Forces to operate from Philippine military bases all over the Philippines.
 

LaIllahaSigmar

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Messages
1,291
Likes
8,978
Country flag
Philippines keeps Visiting Forces Agreement with US


Chinese agent Duterte cannot stand popular ordinary Filipinos, Philippine military and US government pressure to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), allowing US Forces to operate from Philippine military bases all over the Philippines.
This is something I find confusing about duterte and his popularity.

Some call him right wing demagogue but he calls himself socialist or leftist.

His policies canbe described as populist but the Philippine people are averse to Chinese hegemony ehuc didn't reflect in his foreign policy for a few years

So what is he really?

Is he some anti American pro china nationalist?
Or did he just flirt with china to see how far he can go?
 

asianobserve

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
12,846
Likes
8,556
Country flag
This is something I find confusing about duterte and his popularity.

Some call him right wing demagogue but he calls himself socialist or leftist.

His policies canbe described as populist but the Philippine people are averse to Chinese hegemony ehuc didn't reflect in his foreign policy for a few years

So what is he really?

Is he some anti American pro china nationalist?
Or did he just flirt with china to see how far he can go?

He's not complicated, he's very simple. He has no ideology. All he does, the populist policies he champions and his foreign policy (I have never seen a Philippine President more incompetent on foreign affairs) is dictated by 1 consideration - staying in power.

He is pro-China because China made his Presidency possible via cash, intelligence and sophisticated disinformation campaign of the CCP.
 

LaIllahaSigmar

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Messages
1,291
Likes
8,978
Country flag
He's not complicated, he's very simple. He has no ideology. All he does, the populist policies he champions and his foreign policy (I have never seen a Philippine President more incompetent on foreign affairs) is dictated by 1 consideration - staying in power.

He is pro-China because China made his Presidency possible via cash, intelligence and sophisticated disinformation campaign of the CCP.
And what according to you, made him go back to US camp?

Anti china sentiment among Philippine people or American lobbying?
 

asianobserve

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
12,846
Likes
8,556
Country flag
And what according to you, made him go back to US camp?

Anti china sentiment among Philippine people or American lobbying?

Because of fear of or need for potential favor from the 2 parties pressuring him against China, namely:

1. Philippine military - which is staunchly anti-China, like the rest of the country. In fact, the Philippine military has defied Duterte's position in SCS many times by sending warships to patrol the disputed areas despite Duterte's absurd pro-China pronouncements that the Philippine government has already lost possession of these disputed territories to China (an obvious effort to provide legal cover to China's claims that the UNCLOS tribunal has effectively dismissed in favor of the Philippines); and,

2. US government - he is likely asking for protection from possible post-presidency prosecution/arrest by the ICC, because the Philippine Constitution only allows the President 1 term and after his term Duterte will lose immunity. He has even asked his daughter to run for President after his term expires as a continuing leverage on the US.
 

KurtisBrian

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2021
Messages
1,255
Likes
1,769
Country flag
Wow, potentially going from Duterte to a return of the Marcos clan.

The Counterrevolution: Marcos Jr.’s Bid for Philippine Presidency

Three decades after returning from exile in Hawaii, the Marcos clan is on the brink of recapturing the presidential palace.


Quite the change in a very short time. Authoritarianism is certainly back. Things going back to what they were or perhaps worse, much much worse. "You don't know what you have until he is gone."
 

asianobserve

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
12,846
Likes
8,556
Country flag
Wow, potentially going from Duterte to a return of the Marcos clan.

The Counterrevolution: Marcos Jr.’s Bid for Philippine Presidency

Three decades after returning from exile in Hawaii, the Marcos clan is on the brink of recapturing the presidential palace.


Quite the change in a very short time. Authoritarianism is certainly back. Things going back to what they were or perhaps worse, much much worse. "You don't know what you have until he is gone."

I'm rooting for her, VP Leni Robrido, a lawyer and economist, the incumbent Vice-President...

images (10).jpeg


But she's a distant second in the surveys... So her chance of winning is not rosy. But I will still vote for her.

Yes, worldwide there has been a resurgence of authoritarian leaning leaders who take advantage of democratic institutions. But Bongbong, unlike his father and Duterte, is a weak person and has no authoritarian streak or dreams.

But the Marcoses are partly from our province. Imelda Marcos, the wife of Ferdinand Marcos and mother of current Candidate, is a very close family friend (high school classmate and best friend of my late Aunt). My siblings are rooting for BongBong Marcos.

So in terms of (selfish) connections, whoever wins will be okay with me.

The only thing I fear from Bongbong Presidency is the idea of federal government which, I believe will be our ultimate national destruction. I just hope it's a cunning political ploy to get the Muslim votes (Muslims and Ditette are pushing for federalism). But Ferdinand Marcos was a supporter of centralized governmeny and ruthlessly crushed the Muslim insurgency.
 
Last edited:

KurtisBrian

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2021
Messages
1,255
Likes
1,769
Country flag
I'm rooting for her, VP Leni Robrido, a lawyer and economist, the incumbent Vice-President...

View attachment 136192

But she's a distant second in the surveys... So her chance of winning is not rosy. But I will still vote for her.

Yes, worldwide there has been a resurgence of authoritarian leaning leaders who take advantage of democratic institutions. But Bongbong, unlike his father and Duterte, is a weak person and has no authoritarian streak or dreams.

But the Marcoses are partly from our province. Imelda Marcos, the wife of Ferdinand Marcos and mother of current Candidate, is a very close family friend (high school classmate and best friend of my late Aunt). My siblings are rooting for BongBong Marcos.

So in terms of (selfish) connections, whoever wins will be okay with me.

The only thing I fear from Bongbong Presidency is the idea of federal government which, I believe will be our ultimate national destruction. I just hope it's a cunning political ploy to get the Muslim votes (Muslims and Ditette are pushing for federalism). But Ferdinand Marcos was a supporter of centralized governmeny and ruthlessly crushed the Muslim insurgency.
Interesting.
Family is family friends of the Marcoses.
No surprise you would be making comments that are pro USA.

"National destruction"? Maybe change? What would replace the current Philippines? Anarchy? A fascist SE Asian alliance? A Greater Sino Chinese Co-prosperity sphere? Muslim Indonesia? Whatever happens, should be one heck of a wealth transfer.
 

KurtisBrian

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2021
Messages
1,255
Likes
1,769
Country flag
Seems Marcos will win the Philippine Presidential election.

Marcos set for landslide win in Philippine presidential election
Dictator's son poised to complete family comeback 36 years after People Power



".... Marcos has presented himself as the candidate who would continue Duterte's key policies. These include the controversial war on drugs, albeit with a focus on big fish instead of petty peddlers, and the "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure drive. Marcos is expected to maintain Duterte's pro-China stance, while recognizing the alliance with U.S. that Duterte tried to undermine. ....."

Guess People Power petered out.
 

KurtisBrian

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2021
Messages
1,255
Likes
1,769
Country flag
Philippines’ Marcos will likely seek closer ties with Beijing: analysts


" ..... Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the late Filipino dictator and presumed winner of this week’s Philippine presidential election in a landslide, will likely seek to turn the country to an ally of China, despite lingering anti-Beijing sentiment, analysts said. ..." (bold is mine)

If Marcos is seeking alliance with China that that will undoubted put a big damper on any future weapon purchases from India.
 

KurtisBrian

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2021
Messages
1,255
Likes
1,769
Country flag
Onions have become very expensive in the Philippines.
according to the article the price of a kg of onions is now (or was) = to the price of a kg of beef or chicken.


Wonder if any of the nations; China, India, USA, Japan, Australia competing for influence in the Philippines will be sending an aid package?
Might be an opportunity to earn significant good will.

I don't know if the onions will have to be vaccinated or not before being sold in the Philippines. Think the Philippines has a rule that one must be vaccinated to enter banks and stores or something like that. Non vaccinated onions might not be allowed to enter a store.
 

Overlord

Regular Member
Joined
May 22, 2022
Messages
357
Likes
1,700
Country flag
Terrorist bombing in Marawi city, Philippines against Catholics in a university.
Killed 4, wounded 50.

In 2017 battle was fought against ISIS in the same city.

 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top