Marcos gains in foreign policy lauded

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made meaningful gains in terms of directing the government’s foreign policy, carrying out important government programs and ensuring media freedom, a political analyst observed.

University of Santo Tomas political science professor Froilan Calilung made the assessment as the president capped his first year in office.

“I can say that one of the president’s strongest suits, politically speaking, was the fact that he was able to come up with a very definite, very clear and specific direction when it comes to his foreign policy,” Calilung, who is also the director of the Local Government Development Institute, said in a briefing over the weekend.

“Politically speaking, this is one thing that I think will really put further, you know, the president in a very good position because as we can see, the movement of our foreign policy was different under then-President [Rodrigo] Duterte,” he said.

In terms of passing key legislative measures, Calilung pointed out the need for the president to be more assertive in pushing his agenda given that his allies make up the supermajority in Congress.

But he added: “What’s lacking in legislation, as I see it, is being filled up with programs. There are individual programs that are actually being put in place such as the Kadiwa rolling stores and eGov PH. So, I think they are somewhat being sustained.” Calilung also lauded the administration’s unceasing efforts to uphold the rule of law amid some challenges.

This is particularly crucial, he stressed, since it will help entice foreign investors to the country which would not happen if there is a perceived breakdown in the peace and order situation, he said.

Calilung, likewise, underscored Marcos’ ability to build good relations with the press.

Administrative and Financial Services Office Group heads that reimbursement would be the best option to address the immediate need,” they added.

The OVP in 2022 launched satellite offices in several regions to expand the delivery of its services, particularly its medical, hospitalization and burial assistance.

These satellite offices were launched July 1, 2022 — the first day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s term. The OVP also said in the audit report that it would comply with the provisions of the Procurement Act in its future purchases. (Philstar.com) n

Ex-President Duterte cleared of misconduct

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been acquitted by the Supreme Court (SC) in a simple misconduct case involving the demolition of a canal project in Davao City when he was mayor in 2010.

The project was initiated in 2006 by then Davao City first district representative Prospero Nograles, who filed the case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a decision issued on Friday, June 30, the SC affirmed the 2011 ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA), which overturned the ombudsman’s order suspending Duterte, then city administrator Wendel Avisado, engineer Jose Gestuveo Jr. and legal officers Elmer Rano and Melchor Quitain as well as the chief of the city’s drainage and maintenance unit, Yusop Jimlani, for six months.

The SC denied the petition filed by the ombudsman and Nograles, who sought to overturn the CA’s decision.

The SC said Duterte and the officials did not commit misconduct when they ordered the demolition of the project, which caused floods that “did not affect the safety of the community.”

Nograles sought the opinion of then justice secretary Raul Gonzales, who said “the erection, construction, alteration, repair or demolition of structure requires a permit from the building official of the place where the structure is located.”

In denying Nograles and the ombudsman’s appeal, the SC said that while the project was not a nuisance, it noted several provisions of the revised National Building Code’s implementing rules and regulations that “could

Under Marcos’ watch, the Philippines is pivoting toward the United States, attesting to his decisiveness to pave his own path when it comes to foreign relations, Calilung said.

“I think this is something that the president is also very keen on attaining — not to mention also, politically, he also charted a good path in terms of the relationship between the president and the media,” he said.

“Unlike in the past administration where we felt the animosity, right now the media is a lot freer,” he added. n