#THEPHILIPPINES: Son Of Former Dictator Elected President

[world politics news]

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, the son of a former Philippines' dictator, has asked to be judged on his actions not his ancestors after dominating the country's presidential election.

With more than 98% of an initial count completed, the 64-year-old senator has a seemingly unassailable lead with double the votes of his nearest rival.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Orders Arrest Of Unvaxxed If They Break Quarantine

[world politics news]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on has ordered the arrest of unvaccinated people who violate stay-at-home orders aimed at curbing "galloping" coronavirus infections driven by the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Unvaccinated people among the capital city of Manila's 13 million people were ordered to stay home, after infection numbers tripled in two days.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Backs out Of Debate With Former Supreme Court Judge

[world politics news]

After challenging retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio to a debate on the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte has backed out and tapped his spokesman to debate with the magistrate instead after cabinet members raised concerns.

There was a sense from the Cabinet that Duterte might make irreversible policy declarations, posing big consequences to government initiatives.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque was slated to attend the Friday debate instead.

"Everything the President will say in that debate will affect the policies of government. He can't take back what he says in that debate apart from the fact that there is what we call executive privilege," said Roque in Filipino.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Won't End Patrols In China-Claimed Waters

[World Politics News]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will not withdraw navy and coastguard vessels patrolling the disputed South China Sea, insisting the country’s sovereignty over the waters is not negotiable. 

Tensions over the sea – which China claims almost entirely – have spiked as Beijing refuses to pull out vessels from the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and Manila steps up maritime patrols. Duterte is under growing domestic pressure to take a harder line.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Duterte Terminates Military Agreement With US

[world politics news]

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will end the Visiting Forces Agreement that underpins U.S. military training exercises with the country's troops.

That choice is another blow to the relationship between the United States and the Philippines, which has suffered for years from disputes over Duterte’s human rights record.

He announced the plan terminate the deal, which provides legal protection to U.S. troops who visit the island for military drills, after the State Department reportedly canceled the visa of a political ally and former police chief who is suspected of involvement in extrajudicial killings, connected  with his War on drugs

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Mayor, Protesters Turn Cruise Ship From China Away Amid Coronavirus Fears

[world politics news]

A cruise ship from China has been prevented  from docking in Subic Bay after pressure from citizen's organizations and a local mayor.

They asked the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to temporarily ban the arrival of cruise ships in Subic Bay amid the coronavirus scare.

The cruise ship from China arrived in Manila on Tuesday, January 28, and its 778 passengers were "authorized to travel" by the Bureau of Quarantine.

Scheduled to arrive in Subic on Wednesday, January 29, the ship instead decided to cancel its arrival and head back to Hong Kong.

In a January 28 letter, Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino, Jr. urged SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma to "temporarily stop accepting cruise ships until the [coronavirus] thrrat has been controlled."

[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: UN Human Rights Commission To Probe Duterte's Controversial Drug War

[world politics news]

The United Nations Human Rights Council approved a resolution seeking action into Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" that critics say has killed over 27,000 over the last three years and say has turned police and citizens into vigilantes. The resolution calls for a "comprehensive report on the human rights situation" in the Philippines by June 2020, and asks Duterte to cooperate.

Speaking shortly before the resolution was approved, Duterte called the resolution “crazy” but said he would consider allowing UN staff into the country. "Let them state their purpose and I will review it," he said.

The Philippines' UN delegation called the resolution "ill-advised" and "politically motivated" and therefore it "can never be balanced." Members of the Council voted 18 in favor of, and 14 against, the resolution, which was submitted by Iceland and 27 other European countries on July 4. Fifteen other nations abstained from voting.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Threatens To "Sail To Canada" With Dumped Trash Barges In Pollution Dispute

[world politics news]

Philippine Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has berated Canada in a long-running dispute over waste exported to the Southeast Asia nation, the colorful leader threatening to physically sail it back to Canada. “For Canada’s garbage, I want a boat prepared,” Duterte told officials, saying he did not care if his stance on the issue turned the two countries into enemies.

Manila has filed several diplomatic protests with Canada over tons of waste shipped to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014. Canada has said the shipment was a commercial transaction and was not backed by its government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Threatens "Suicide Missions" Against Chinese Troops Over Disputed Island

[world politics news]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told China to “lay off” an island occupied by his country in the disputed South China Sea and said he would deploy his soldiers there on a "suicide mission" if China touches it.

Duterte’s remarks, which he said was not a warning but rather a word of advice to a friend, follow a statement made by the foreign affairs ministry calling the presence of more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu Island illegal.

[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: President Challenges Catholics: Will Resign If You Show Me A "Selfie With God"

[world politics news]

The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has offered to resign if anyone can take a selfie with God to prove he exists. His comments came just days after he called God "stupid". "If any one can go to heaven, talk to God, and take a selfie – I will resign." The latest outburst shows Duterte, aged 73, increasingly at odds with the Catholic Church, in which he was raised and to which most Filipinos belong.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Catholic Bishop "Dares" Pres. Duterte To Reveal Why Priests Were Killed

[world politics news]

A Catholic bishop has dared Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to make good on a threat and reveal alleged sex scandals committed by priests, saying it would not ruin the church. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said church leaders would even thank the president if what he revealed was the truth. Pabillo said the president's threats will not stop priests and bishops from criticizing his wrongdoings. Duterte had warned that he would reveal the reasons behind a recent spate of priest killings if church leaders continued to criticize him.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#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: Pres. Duterte: Police May Shoot "Idiots" Resisting Arrest

[world politics news]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told police on Monday they were free to kill 'idiots' who violently resist arrest, two days after the funeral of a boy who was gunned down and left next to a pigsty by anti-drugs officers.

[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: Bill Would Punish Those Who Refuse To Sing National Anthem With Gusto

[world politics news]

Filipino citizens could be fined or jailed for refusing to sing their national anthem with appropriate gusto under a new bill proposed by the country’s parliament. The law, approved by the House of Representatives, requires that singing along when the anthem, the Lupang Hinirang, is played a public gatherings "shall be mandatory and must be done with fervor."

[FULL STORY HERE]