#THEPHILIPPINES: Marcos-Duterte Ticket Unites Rival Families

[world politics news]

 

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's eldest daughter will be the running mate of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in next year's presidential election, the two candidates said on Tuesday, confirming weeks of speculation of an alliance between two powerful families.

Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, who is seeking the vice-presidency, announced in a video message her intent to run on the same ticket as Marcos, the latest twist in the Philippines' political drama that has gripped the country.

For his part, Pres. Duterte has insinuated that the younger Marcos is a user of cocaine. The Marcos camp has denied the accusation. The president says he will not support Marco's and his daughter in their bid for the presidency, and will instead focus on a run for the Federal Senate when his term ends next year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: US Travel Ban Against Top Officials Sees Duterte Retaliate By Banning US Senators Behind It

[world politics news]

A proposed United States travel ban against top Philippine officials, including members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s inner circle accused of rights abuses, threatens to torpedo bilateral strategic ties in 2020.

The targeted sanction, included as a provision in the US’ Fiscal Year 2020 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, was signed into law in December by Trump and will come into force later this year.

The proposed sanctions are the initiative of several senior Democratic senators, including Edward Markey (Massachusetts) Patrick Leahy (Vermont) and Richard Durbin (Illinois), who have openly criticized human rights abuses related to Duterte’s lethal drug war and assaults on democratic institutions during his three-year-old tenure.

In retaliation, the three Democratic Senators have been banned from travelling to the Philippines.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Calls For The Murder Of "Useless" Catholic Bishops Because Of Their Opposition To Drug War Killings

[world politics news]

Philippine Pres. Rodrigo Duterte said his country's Catholic bishops are "useless fools" and should be "killed" as the controversial leader stepped up his attacks on the Catholic Church, which has opposed his deadly war on drugs in the Southeast Asian nation. In a speech at the presidential palace Wednesday, Duterte was quoted as saying in a mix of Filipino and English: "These bishops that you guys have, kill them. They are useless fools. All they do is criticize." He earlier stoked the anger of the Church by calling the Catholic God "stupid."

His war on drugs has included speeches in which Duterte called for the murder of those accused of drug smuggling or selling illicit drugs has resulted in the extra-judicial deaths of thousands, and has been condemned by human rights groups, religious groups, and world leaders alike.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Says Nation's Re-Election To UN Human Rights Council Vindicates Controversial Drug War

[world politics news]

Granting the Philippines another three-year term on the UN. Human Rights Council has vindicated President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on drugs and shown his detractors to be "morally corrupt," senior officials said. Human rights activists say Duterte's "war" on drugs after taking office in June 2016 – since when the police have killed more than 4,800 people – made his government unfit for a seat at the body. But the Philippines was re-elected to the 47-seat council by secret ballot at the UN. General Assembly last Friday, winning 165 out of 193 votes, with one abstention.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Warns Of Possible Coup By Opposition, Maoists, And Military Officers; "Tipped Off" By "Foreign Power"

[world politics news]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday revealed what he said was a plot to unseat him hatched by the opposition, Maoist rebels and a group of former soldiers who had mounted failed coups in the past. In a conversation with his lawyer, shown on national television, Duterte said he had asked the military to “declassify” information about the plot which he said was gathered by a third country he did not identify.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Withdraws From Int'l Criminal Court After It Stars Extrajudicial Killings Investigation

[world politics news]

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte moved to quit the International Criminal Court on Wednesday after it began investigating his brutal war on drug dealers. Duterte announced he is withdrawing the Philippines from the Rome Statute which gives the Hague-based ICC the authority to investigate crimes on its soil.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Suggests Shooting Rebel Women In the Genitalia

[world politics news]

Human rights organizations are blasting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's latest comments, in which he suggests his troops shoot female rebels in the vagina to render them "useless."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Duterte Warns Diplomats Could Be Expelled In 24 Hrs If They Oppose Drug War

[world politics news]

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has warned the EU and UN that he could throw out their ambassadors within 24 hours if they continue to “interfere” in his brutal and controversial war against drugs. "You think that we are a bunch of morons here... The ambassadors of those countries learn a lesson now. Because we can have the diplomatic channels cut tomorrow, you leave my country in 24 hours, all of you,” he said during an expletive-filled tirade against colonialism in the capital, Manila.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Duterte Says He'll Have Son Killed If In Drug Trade

[world politics news]

Philippine Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has said he will have his son killed if drug trafficking allegations against the younger politician are true, and that the police who carry out the hit will be protected from prosecution.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Puts Out "Dead Or Alive" Bounties On Police Officers

[world politics news]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday announced "dead-or-alive" bounties worth $40,000 each for policemen he accused of helping an accused narco-politician, and said he preferred they be killed.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Former Police Official Says Pres. Duterte Paid Money For Assassinations As Mayor

[world politics news]

Police carried out killings in the Philippine city of Davao under the instruction of then mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the current president, according to a former policeman who said he was part of a “Davao death squad” tasked with eliminating criminals. Arturo Lascanas, a retired Davao policeman, said on Monday he had previously killed a radio host critical of Duterte at the behest of a driver and close aide of the mayor, and that Duterte had paid money to police for carrying out assassinations. Duterte has repeatedly denied involvement in vigilantism.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Unloads On Catholic Church, Accuses Priests Of Corruption, Homosexuality

[world politics news]

Despite a recent blessing from Pope Francis, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has launched an angry attack on priests and bishops critical of his drug war, accusing them of homosexuality, corruption and child abuse. Furious over concerns by the Catholic Church of alleged extra-judicial killings during his crackdown, Duterte attacked clergymen for denouncing him instead of using their influence to get people off drugs. He challenged the church to a "showdown" and threatened to expose priests and bishops for a litany of abuses. "You expose me, fine. I expose you. Why? Your mistake is just all right, but ours is not? Bullshit. That is a big joke," he said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: VP/Housing Sec. Robredo Told Not To Attend Cabinet Mtgs.; Resigns Housing Post

[world politics news]

Vice President Leni Robredo is stepping down as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, a position she was appointed to, and held in addition to her position as vice president. She cited "irreconcilable differences" with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, and resigned after receiving a text message saying Duterte wanted her to "desist from attending all Cabinet meetings starting Monday, December 5." She said she fears an effort to "steal" the vice presidency from her. She's opposed extra-judicial killings of suspected drug dealers that Duterte has encouraged, and his approval of the re-burial of former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in a special cemetery.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Foreign Sec. Says Nation May "Break Up" With USA, Turn To China, Russia

[world politics news]

Amping up increasingly anti-American rhetoric from the Philippines, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. says America has "failed" the Philippines. Yasay’s statement was posted on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs as Pres. Rodrigo Duterte said he might soon "break up" with the US over its criticism of his bloody anti-drug war and instead turn to China and Russia. In July, Duterte said of his foreign minister, "Yasay speaks for me. Everything that he says... comes from my guidance."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Senate Investigates 1,700 Killings Of Drug Dealer Suspects Since Duterte Becomes Pres.

[world politics news]

Killings have soar in the Philippines amid Pres. Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drugs crackdown. More than 1,700 Filipinos have been killed in seven weeks since Duterte pledged to wipe-out his country's illegal drugs trade. Some are blaming his campaign rhetoric that he would "kill" all suepected drug dealers personally.  Duterte threatened to withdraw from the United Nations after UN human rights experts expressed concerns about the killings.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Protests Over Pres. Duterte's Plan To Give Hero's Funeral For Marcos

[world politics news]

Hundreds have protested a plan of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to use Manila cemetery to give a hero's burial to the dictator, who died in 1986. Police said about 1,500 protesters carrying a large streamer that read "Marcos not a hero" braved the rains, wind and mud at the seaside Rizal park, in Manila, on Sunday to call on Duterte to reconsider his decision.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. #Duterte Uses Slurs To Insult Gay US Ambassador

[world politics news]

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has sparked a fresh diplomatic incident after making a homophobic slur against the US ambassador in comments that prompted Washington to summon Manila’s envoy to complain. In the latest of a series of tirades, Duterte used a local Tagalog language homophobic slur to express his displeasure with the US ambassador, Philip Goldberg, in televised comments made on Friday.  "As you know, I’m fighting with (US Secretary of State John) Kerry's ambassador. His gay ambassador, the son of a whore. He pissed me off," Duterte said.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Incoming Pres. Duterte Suggests "Three-Child Policy" To Decrease Population Boom

[world politics news]

To have an effective family planning program under his administration, incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, who will take office June 23, has expressed interest in implementing a three-child policy in the Philippines. A similar policy has been in place for decades in China. Family planning has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Controversial, Trump-Like Rodrigo Duterte Wins Presidential Election

[world politics news]

Tough-talking Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has courted controversy various times for his profanity-laden speeches and bold statements won Monday's presidential election. He attributed his victory to God, saying he was a "believer in destiny." He took over 7 million votes, while Senator Grace Poe came in a distant second with 4 million, followed by administration-endorsed Mar Roxas with 3.8 million votes. Vice President Jejomar Binay placed fourth with close to 2.8 million votes while Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago got 744,707 votes.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Former Dictator Marcos' Son Running Strong In VP Race; Hopes To Revive Family Name

[world politics news]

Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the former Philippine dictator of the same name, is running a close second place in the vice presidential race. A victory on May 9 would be a revival of a name synonymous with martial law, torture and billions of dollars of plundered wealth. He's just two points behind Congresswoman Leni Robredo, favorite of outgoing Pres. Benigno Aquino.