Interesting read. President Rodrigo Duterte’s death squads didn’t kill corruption in Philippines last year. But they killed freedom and democracy, and will kill the country’s economic growth and equity market. http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmo...ippines-is-getting-more-corrupt/#78e307d86602
Can`t believe I bothered to read that..and learned absolutely nothing! What is it with the "press" these days? No wonder Trump has relegated them to the somewhere near at the back!! Lol.
I couldn't live in the Philippines...fair play to those that do (I mean ex-pat) but when your head of state is a murderer who directs others to murder I would be getting outta Dodge.
his rating amongst Filipinos stands at 85% rightly or wrongly the Filipino people as a majority want him in place. Many will say that the country is a safer place, the rights and wrongs of maintaining that safety are I guess far reaching,complex and emotive.
I accept and understand the reasons why mainly poor, relatively uneducated Filipinos voted for someone who promised change and a better life. Unfortunately their hopes are being dashed. I haven't studied the politics of the Philippines sufficiently to comment authoritatively but I should imagine there were other candidates who represented the powerful elites - corrupt to their back teeth. I wonder if there was a left of centre / democratic socialist type candidate who would have got my vote? I'll need to Google at some point. G
A pal of mine there on the ground in the Philippines tells me he gets Filipino passports and visas from a connection in the DFA. Presumably the corruption is still there?
It will be from the same place your mate allegedly gets them from only UK. Clearly you didn't pick up the sarcasim in my previous post.
He got his from the DFA. A genuine issue. I did spot the sarcasm. Yes. But we are talking corruption from within, not forgery from outside. Nudge nudge wink wink say no more!
I noticed the OP article touched on the political flip-flops with the Chinese over the South China Sea. It looks like the Chinese are lining the maritime region up for some serious fire ice development. He has already stuck two fingers up at the USA. Should be interesting.
My own personal opinion is that it is certainly better compared to when i went home to ph last june 2016. I worked dubai for 8 yrs before i moved to the uk. And every time i went home, some sharks from the immigration or customs are lurking in the halls of the airport looking for weak and vulnerable. My husband and i went home 2 weeks ago and saw none of that. Immigration and customs officials were very courteous and smiling even if i was walking with a 'foreigner'. No taxi driver has asked us for a bundle fee, all metered fees as well. The latest view from pinoys at home is that the media (both local and international) is out to get duterte since they cant control him to advance their personal interest. Most media companies in ph are owned by mining firms, casino/gambling lords, and latest rumors suggest drug lords. My dad has a firsthand knowledge on how corrupt media are (they would ask money in exchange of positive news otherwise its a negative news, all for a fee of 1k£ Per news article essentially a blackmail). Ph has a long way to go to improve on a lot of stuff mainly on corruption but you can feel the optimism of people on the ground, that finally everyone has a fair shot to becoming someone. My opinion may be a minority here on the forum but seriously ask your ph wife/partner's opinion about the pres without any discrimination or repercussion of being 'rebuked for having 3rd world mentality' and i would bet they approve of the pres as well. I have firsthand knowledge of how he operates and the benefits you reap under his administration. Please don't write him off or hate his policy because he doesnt have the finesse or charm of Tony Blair (as what majority if the ph elite are saying - ie he talks like a commoner or a street kid). Travel to ph and let me know your experience now that duterte is in power vs pre-july 2016 and that might improve your opinion of him.