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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte  (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) RELATIONS between the Philippines and the United States have been historically stormy but close, but the arrival of a roughneck in Malacañang who says he is no fan of the Americans has brought a “new normal” to those ties and Washington is not unlikely to keep Manila at a distance in the next six years. While China’s increasing aggressiveness in the South China Sea keeps US-Philippine security relations “indispensable,” according to Richard Heydarian, a political science professor at De La Salle University, it is clear that under the administration of President Duterte, “the United States can no longer expect the same level of strategic deference and diplomatic support” from the Philippines. “This is the new normal in Philippine-US relations,” Heydarian wrote in a commentary published by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. Mr. Duterte’s declaration that he is adopting an independent foreign policy for the Philippines, Heydarian said, is a “brazen and audacious policy pronouncement in a profoundly pro-American society, where much of the intelligentsia and security forces feel deep affinity with the United States.” Falling out with Obama Mr. Duterte, who has made it clear to his supporters and opponents from the get-go that he is no ordinary politician—uncouth, brutally frank and even murderous at times—declared an independent course for the Philippines on Saturday after a spectacular falling out with US President Barack Obama that became the buzz at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Laos last week. It was Read More …

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia — Three fishermen have been abducted by gunmen in Sabah waters near the tourist resort of Pulau Pom Pom off Semporna. The suspected seven-member Filipino armed group is believed to have taken the victims across the border towards the southern Philippines island chain of Tawi Tawi province. Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Abdul Khalid confirmed that they received a report from the owners of the fishing trawler at 1:59 a.m. Sunday. “I can only confirm. Sabah police commissioner (Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun) will release the details later,” he said when contacted. The owner of the fishing boat confirmed that the gunmen kidnapped the skipper and two crew members at about 10:20 p.m. on Saturday. It is believed that the three fishermen said to be Filipino Badjaos were among a crew of 11 on the trawler when seven kidnappers confronted them at gunpoint. The kidnappers only took three crewmen and fled in a green-colored fast boat towards southern Philippines. The rest of the crew steered the trawler back to the Semporna jetty. The incident came hardly two days after Esscom conducted an intensive operations against cross border smugglers in the five districts in the east coast. Esscom has said that security forces were on high alert along the border as the Philippine military had launched a massive all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo./rga READ: PH, Indonesia team up vs piracy, kidnappings Latest Last pieces of 9/11 rubble reach memorials 6 high-powered guns, Read More …

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, shake hands with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo during their meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. AP JAKARTA—The Philippines and Indonesia on Friday agreed to join forces in combating crime on the high seas, after a surge of kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf bandits in waters between the two countries. President Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed to joint coast guard operations to chase and destroy pirates fleeing into Philippine territory in the south. At least 25 Indonesian sailors and a handful of Malaysians have been kidnapped this year by Abu Sayyaf bandits while traveling in the Sulu Sea between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The Abu Sayyaf, notorious for beheading captives whose governments fail to pay ransom, take their victims to strongholds in southern Philippines. Increased cooperation In a speech after his meeting with Widodo at Istana Merkada in Jakarta, Mr. Duterte said he and the Indonesian leader agreed to increase cooperation to fight piracy and kidnapping in the Sulu Sea. “We agreed to encourage the earliest and effective implementation of cooperative frameworks to address security issues in maritime areas of common concern,” he said. “We expressed commitment to take all necessary measures to ensure security in the Sulu Sea and maritime areas of common concern,” he said. Mr. Duterte said he was sorry that piracy in the Sulu Sea was hampering commerce between Indonesia and the Philippines. “I am very sorry, Mr. President (Widodo), that sometimes the shipments Read More …

DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said his administration will pursue an “independent foreign policy” and will reject any attempts at meddling by foreign governments. This meant that the government will adopt and implement policies that would safeguard its national interests and to achieve goals within its international relations environment. The 1987 Constitution states that “The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest and the right to self-determination.” “We will observe and I must insist – I repeat, I must insist – on the time honored principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes to best serve our people and protect the interests of our country,” Duterte said in his arrival speech at the Davao International Airport here. The President – accompanied by Cabinet secretaries and other officials – arrived in Davao from Jakarta aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines plane around 12:50 a.m., where he was afforded foyer honors by the Tactical Operation Group 11. Former senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani wrote in an article in 2015 that the pursuit of an independent foreign policy was “not a ‘go-it-alone’ foreign policy. Neither does it mean the absence of any alliances.” “Rather, it means a long-term, deliberate government policy sustained and adjusted by several administrations aimed at making the government and its people responsible for containing and responding to internal and external threats to ensure the nation’s security,” Shahani Read More …

JAKARTA—President Duterte took up the case of convicted Filipino drug mule Mary Jane Veloso in his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on Friday, but the details, he said, were “not for public consumption.” The President was expected to appeal Veloso’s death sentence, which was scheduled for May 2015, but she was saved by a last-minute reprieve after an appeal by then President Benigno Aquino III. Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said both governments felt no urgency to take action in the Veloso case as she had been taken off the execution schedule indefinitely. “This is not an urgent issue as of now, let’s finish the process,” Yasay said. “Her scheduled execution had been deferred because she would be testifying in the deposition case against her illegal recruiter. After prosecuting the illegal recruiter who (is one of) the main principals here, and if it turns out in the trial in the Philippines that Mary Jane (was) a victim,  then at that point we can ask for clemency soon,” he added. Pressed to comment on whether he exchanged notes on antidrug measures with Widodo, Mr. Duterte said, “No, I said that we will continue to respect each others’ judicial processes. The rule of law is what matters; (it) gives order to the community.” Yasay said he was hopeful that the case against the illegal recruiter of Veloso, who was caught with 2.5 kilograms of cocaine inside the lining of her luggage at the Indonesian airport in 2010, would be Read More …