Maniolas

Foreign Affairs Secretary ,Perfecto Yasay Jr. , President Rodrigo Duterte ,joint military exercises , treaty ally, United States, Philippines , warship , territorial waters,exclusive economic zone , Philippine Airlift Wing , “war games” , Filipino community ,Mutual Defense Act of 1951, Visiting Forces Agreement ,National Security Adviser ,Hermogenes Esperon BEIJING, Oct 20 (Mabuhay) – President Rodrigo Duterte said the idea of implementing the “dead or alive” reward system was from the Americans. During a meeting with the Filipino community at a hotel on Wangfujing Street in China’s capital, Duterte once again lashed out at the critics of his war on drugs and his manner of speaking, which they believe incite violence and encourage extrajudicial killings. The President defended the law enforcement procedures implemented amid his war on drugs, which resulted in deaths of over 1,000 drug suspects. He said the police know the rules of engagement. But he underscored that some of the law enforcement practices were taken from western influences. “Iyang reward, dead or alive. It is not even ours. It is not a language of the Filipinos. Sinong nagturo niyan? The Americans? Where? Iyong mga cowboy nila. Billy the Kid, dead or alive, oh 50 dollars,” Duterte claimed as he criticized the United States once again. “Ang problema nitong Amerikano, kung sila ang gumamit niyan, persons of interest which are actually you are being hunted and if you offer a resistance just like the bomber, they will kill you. And when we use it because we’re not Americans Read More …

CA APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF MEDIALDEA AND LORENZANA: Senate President and Commission on Appointments (CA) Chairperson Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (3rd from left) and San Juan Representative and CA Vice-Chairman Ronaldo Zamora (left) joins Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (2nd from left) and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right) whose ad interim appointments were confirmed during plenary session, Wednesday, October 19, 2016.(MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 19 (Mabuhay) — The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the ad interim appointments of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Medialdea breezed through the CA plenary, just a few hours after his appointment was approved at the committee level in less than two minutes, with no questions from panel members. Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon, a former Executive Secretary himself during the administration of the late former President Corazon Aquino, described the post as a “snake pit.” “Luckily, because of the size of Secretary Medialdea, it is not easy to be devoured. Hindi siya lalamunin, talagang magaling ‘yan,” Drilon said. Drilon said Medialdea possessed the qualities of competence and integrity, which his job required. Senator Ralph Recto, who also supported the confirmation of Medialdea, said he has known the Executive Secretary for 35 years, and that apart from his discipline to deliver on what is expected from him, he also has down-to-earth humility and disarming humor. “[The ES should be able] to do heavy but unheralded labor; to endlessly chase papers but never publicity; to run a tight ship, including whipping the Read More …

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brian Johnson discusses helicopter insert and extract procedures with Philippine soldiers as they prepare for Balikatan 2014 on Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 29, 2014. This is the 30th year of the exercise, which provides U.S.-Philippine military training and humanitarian assistance. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Pete Thibodeau BEIJING, Oct 20 (Mabuhay) – Do not expect the Philippines to enter into new military alliances, said President Rodrigo Duterte during his four-day state visit in China. Speaking before members of the Filipino media at a hotel on Wednesday, the President pointed out that he does not intend to break old ones. “There will be no military alliances entered into. There will be no military alliances broken. What I am just saying is that we are not interested in adding fuel to what is already a volatile world,” he answered, after he was asked about a possible military alliance with Beijing. “When I said that there is no such thing as allowing the missiles there or missiles there, I would not allow it.  And I have repeatedly said, anybody who wants to think about or talk about Third World war and even a conflict on a regional level, low intensity thing, it would not promote anything. I am not into that,” the President said. Duterte also warned of consequences should conflicts among countries with nuclear weapon intensify. “And if you talk about America, Russia, vis-à-vis China, Great Britain, France, Iran, Pakistan, India, there is a conflict going Read More …