Manila Standard - 2016 October 07 - Friday

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‘DFA lacks foreign policy’

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

EVEN 100 days after Rodrigo Duterte was elected President, the new government has no roadmap for its plan to pursue an independent foreign policy, a Foreign Affairs insider told the Manila Standard. In an interview, the source who spoke

on condition of anonymity said Duterte has not articulated any policy agenda, not only on foreign policy, but also on the economy, poverty reduction, peace, employment and job creation, defense modernization, and even the President’s bloody war on drugs. “As to the independent foreign policy, Next page

VOL. XXX • NO. 237 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Yasay: US has failed PH Du30’s reason to break ‘shackles of dependency’ By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and John Paolo Bencito

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OREIGN Affairs chief Perfecto Yasay declared Thursday that the country would break the “shackles of dependency” on the United States, which has failed the Philippines, and said the Duterte administration would no longer bend to the carrot-and-stick approach used by America or any other country, including China. “This is at the core of the message of President Rodrigo Duterte to the American people and the world,” Yasay said in a statement. “This has compelled him to realign our foreign policy towards an independent track in pursuing the overriding national interest and in upholding and protecting our sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Although the Philippines is “forever grateful to America,” Yasay said, the country’s “shackles” of dependency on the US over the last 70 years have made Filipinos incapable of defending their national interest against internal and external threats, in-

cluding the country’s ongoing territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea. “Breaking away from the shackling dependency of the Philippines to effectively address both internal and external security threats has become imperative in putting an end to our nation’s subservience to United States’ interests,” Yasay said. Seventy years ago, Yasay said, America acknowledged the hard fought independence of its only colony in Asia, after it snatched victory from Filipinos in their struggle for freedom from 400 years of Spanish domination. Next page

HIGH POINT. Members of Eco-Challenge present during a news conference Thursday in Quezon City a ‘gold medal’ to President Rodrigo Duterte

on completion of his 100 days as chief executive for unflinchingly addressing foreign militarism and policy pronouncements on Philippine-US military exercises they say have caused hazardous wastes and other forms of environmental ruin over the years. Manny Palmero

Rody son sparks furor Shock and awe: Du30’s big, brash 100 days over ‘druggie’ senator PRESIDENTIAL son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said Wednesday night he knew a senator who was using cocaine, prompting Senators Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV to challenge him to name names on Thursday. Lacson said the vice mayor should name the senator because he had just put all 24 senators under suspicion. Before he made his statement, the young Duterte got mad after militiaman Edgar Matobato, who claims to be a former member of the Davao Death Squad, accused him of ordering the killing of Cebu-based businessman Richard King who had been accused of smuggling rice and using illegal drugs. He then pressed Matobato for evidence. “Avoid talking too much and instead show me evidence, because if it’s my turn to accuse,

RODRIGO Duterte’s promise of radical change helped win him power in one of Asia’s oldest democracies. Since taking office in the Philippines, he’s certainly shaken things up. But while his profanity-littered tirades capture headlines, alongside a war on drugs that has seen more than 3,000 people killed, what about his key campaign pledges? “He is like a stereo. On one channel, he is shock and awe

-- a lot of pronouncements, a lot of revelations,” said Segundo Romero, a professorial lecturer in development studies at the Ateneo de Manila University. “When you look at the actual management in government work, which is planning what to do, making decisions and making things happen, that has really not moved so much.” The former Davao mayor, 71, inherited one of Asia’s strongest economies with growth around seven percent. But his challenges

are complex and long-running, ranging from terrible traffic jams in the capital to creaking infrastructure to high crime rates. And while Duterte’s popularity is high (a poll released Thursday put his net satisfaction rating at “very good” three months in), he needs to deliver on the economy to reassure investors who have pulled money out of local markets in recent weeks. “The older you get the more impatient you become,” Socioeco-

nomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said at a recent briefing. “That’s the hallmark of the President. He’s very impatient. That means we’re going to get things done faster.” Nearly 100 days in, here’s where Duterte stands: Drugs and Crime Duterte has repeatedly vowed to make ordinary Filipinos feel safer by tackling illegal drugs and crime. “I have long warned them to stop using drugs. Now, they still Next page

Business buoyant over prospects of deeper reforms Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte

then I know a senator who uses cocaine. I can expose that,”’ Paolo said. He said he obtained his information from his and the senator’s common friend in Manila. He said he used to hang out with his friend who told him about the senator’s links to illegal drugs. Next page

THE last six months of the Aquino administration recorded a 7.0-percent economic expansion as a result of the Philippines’ strong fundamentals. The new administration took office on June 30 promising to continue the macroeconomic policies of the previous administration, but the official numbers have yet to tell whether the economy

has continued moving up significantly. Today, Oct. 7 marks the 100th day in office of President Rodrigo Duterte, 71, the seven-time mayor of Davao City. But Bank of the Philippine Islands associate economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa says it’s still too early to gauge how the economy performed during Duterte’s first

100 days. “The GDP [gross domestic product] numbers are yet to be reported, but preliminary data show that imports continue to outpace exports as corporates gear for more expansionary activity,” Mapa said in an e-mail to Manila Standard. “We’ve seen, however, a slowdown in remittances and a slight

uptick in inflation, which could slow our consumption juggernaut to some extent,” Mapa said. “However, all other indicators still look buoyant with domestic liquidity growing and bank lending up.” Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the inflation rate in the third quarter Next page

NDF rigodon clears way for new panel chairman

HEAT CONTINUES. Presidential Security Group member Joenel Sanchez (far right), former close-in security of Senator Leila de Lima, discloses

details about the rumored liaison between her and her former driver, Ronnie Dayan, during a hearing Thursday of the House Committee on Justice at the resumption of a congressional inquiry into the illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prison. Others who appeared before the body were Engelberto Durano, Joel Capones, Nonilo Arile, and S/Supt. Jerry Valeroso. Ey Acasio

Drug lord raised funds for De Lima, witness claims By Maricel V. Cruz INMATE Jaybee Sebastian used his connection with former Justice secretary Leila de Lima to wield power inside the New Bilibid Prison, a witness told the House

committee on justice, which is investigating the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary. Nonito Arile, a former police officer, said Sebastian was known to be “untouchable” and powerful twitter.com/ MlaStandard

at the NBP. “This is because he [Sebastian] gives a huge amount of money on a regular basis to former Justice secretary Leila de Lima… and Director [Franklin] Bucayu ng Bureau of Corrections,” the inmate

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

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Arile said in his sworn statement, which he read before the House panel. Arile said he knew that Sebastian was raising money for De Lima when he talked to him about it. Next page

thestandard.com.ph

LUIS Jalandoni, the long-time chairman of the National Democratic Fronts’ peace negotiating panel, has resigned and been replaced by Fidel Agcaoili, the rebel organization announced on the eve of the start of the second round of formal talks with the government. The NDF also announced the appointment of recently released consultant Benito Tiamzon as a member of the peace panel “in order to further strengthen” the body.

“The national leadership of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines has granted the longstanding request of Comrade Luis G. Jalandoni to resign as the chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Panel,” the NDF said in a statement. The group made its statement even as the farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said Filipino farmers will benefit the most from the ongoing peace Next page

Manila, Moscow near deal on $12-m choppers By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

THE Philippines is set to acquire two helicopters—each worth between $12 million and $17 million—as its initial purchase under a Russian-Philippine military acquisition program. An insider ad Foreign Affairs

Department told the Manila Standard that the Philippines is looking to purchase either two of MI17 or MI24 to improve the country’s capability against possible internal and external threats. “We are looking of purchasing two to four MI17 or MI24. This is in line with President Rodrigo Next page

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