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THE ADMINISTRATION needs to clearly spell out the “independent foreign policy” being adopted by President Duterte for the international community to understand the path the Philippines would be taking in the next six years, a security analyst said. “The President must clearly define what he means by an independent foreign policy in order for the international community to know our intents and values,” Chester Cabalza of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) told the Inquirer. “Our independent foreign policy should regard the importance of present alliances notwithstanding the long-term goal of self-reliance in its defense posture to safeguard its people and territory,” Cabalza said. Mr. Duterte emphasized the Philippines’ independent foreign policy during a speech in Davao—before his unusual debut on the world stage at the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit—where he directed obscenity-laced remarks at US President Barack Obama. As a result, the White House canceled a scheduled bilateral meeting between the two leaders. Mr. Duterte fumed at Obama’s intent to discuss human rights issues with him, but later regretted spewing an expletive. He, however, continued with his tirade against the United States when he showed the brutality of American troops against Filipinos in World War II in a speech before heads of state at the Asean summit. No fan of longtime ally Mr. Duterte also said he was no fan of the United States, a long-time ally and strategic partner of the Philippines. “Interpreting the Constitution, the government can and may forge Read More …

MASSACRE OF MOROS President Duterte shows photos of the Bud Dajo Massacre of Moro people, which involved American soldiers on a counterinsurgency mission in Jolo in 1906, in questioning US criticisms of his current campaign against illegal drugs, especially extrajudicial killings. He spoke after his new appointees took their oaths of office. JOAN BONDOC PRESIDENT Duterte said on Monday he wanted U.S. forces out of his country’s south and blamed America for the restiveness of Muslim militants in the region, marking the first time he publicly opposed the presence of American troops in the country. Duterte has had an uneasy relationship with the U.S. since becoming president in June and has been openly critical of American security policies. As a candidate, he declared he would chart a foreign policy that would not depend on America, his country’s treaty ally. The U.S. military in 2002 deployed troops to train, advise and provide intelligence and weapons to Filipino troops battling the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines. When the American forces withdrew in February last year, U.S. officials said a smaller contingent of U.S. military advisers would stay. Details of the current U.S. military presence in the south were not immediately available. Duterte did not mention any deadline or say how he intends to pursue his wishes. The U.S. Embassy did not immediately issue any reaction. In opposing the U.S. military presence in the southern Mindanao region, Duterte cited the killings of Muslim Filipinos during a U.S. pacification campaign in Read More …

In this March 27, 2016, photo, Vietnamese fishermen fix nets on their boat as while docked at Tho Quang port, Danang, Vietnam, after a fishing trip in the South China Sea. AP SUAL, Pangasinan – As much as 5,000 kilos of fish poached by three Vietnamese fishing vessels last week are being distributed to hospitals and charitable institutions in the Ilocos region, according to Nestor Domenden, Ilocos director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The Vietnamese boats were caught off Ilocos Sur waters on Sept. 7 and have been docked at the Philippine Ports Authority port here pending charges to be filed on Tuesday (Sept. 13) in Vigan City, he said. The vessels were hauling yellow fin tuna harvested from Philippine waters. Domenden said 17 Vietnamese fishermen were restricted to their vessels, which are guarded by members of the Philippine Navy. They would be turned over to the Bureau of Immigration. The vessels have no registration papers nor local licenses to fish. Latest Journo in Indonesia backs Veloso report: ‘We have Widodo audio’ Senators weigh in on ‘go-signal’ to Veloso execution Gilas drops to 0-3 after losing to China Yasay: No ‘green light’ by Duterte on Veloso execution Recommended Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with our editorial standards. FULL DISCLAIMER View Comments For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso AFP PHOTO / SURYO WIBOWO A journalist in Indonesia on Monday stood by reports that President Rodrigo Duterte gave the go-signal for the execution of Filipino drug convict Mary Jane Veloso, sharing the audio clip of Indonesian President Joko Widodo making the claim. Adam Harvey, ABC correspondent in Indonesia, told INQUIRER.net Widodo shared his version of his conversation with Duterte in a public forum, which was covered and reported by other Indonesian media. “He (Widodo) was speaking to the media outside the grand mosque in Serang, Banten (for the Eid’l Adha),” Harvey said to this reporter on Facebook. Harvey posted a raw audio clip of Widodo’s statement in Indonesian on Facebook, which he translated as: “I told him that she carried 2.6 kilogram heroin and I told him about the reasons for the delay of her execution. President Duterte then said ‘Please go ahead’ if you want to execute her.” Based on the audio, a journalist asked “how about the legal process” on Veloso’s execution, to which Widodo replied: “Attorney general will handle it, but that’s what President Duterte said.” But the Philippine presidential palace maintained that Duterte only told Widodo to “follow your own law” and “I will not interfere.” READ: Palace: Duterte told Widodo to ‘follow own law’ in Veloso case Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay also claimed that Duterte only said that “he respects their judicial processes and will accept whatever the final decision they will arrive at regarding her case.” Harvey took Read More …