Duterte's Philippines Is Getting More Corrupt

You're right, but truth is even people who can afford to verify news don't bother, esp if their strongly-held beliefs are threatened.

“The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them. Whoever can supply them with illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy their illusions is always their victim.” (Gustave Le Bon)

Good point. And I think it's not just that a lot of foreigners refuse to comment on Philippine politics. Even I (and many Filipinos I know) try to avoid engaging in arguments about Duterte as they're often futile. Most resort to sarcasm, name-calling and appeal to ignorance that it's impossible to have a proper discourse. It's a shame as Philippine politics (inc its history) is so fun to discuss.

Duterte promised change - a diversion from the endemic corruption, poverty and sense of hopelessness that blights so many Filipino lives. It's really as simple as that.

While he still enjoys the support of the bulk of the masses his record on the national stage - and critically his methods - is coming under greater scrutiny.

If I were living in the Philippines - and particularly if the lives of the poor does not begin to incrementally improve - I would be concerned that Duterte will resort to more extreme measures to bolster his position / reputation. Invariably this will be anti-democrat and autocratic.

His "anti-corruption campaign is succeeding so brilliantly that the Department of Tourism has just spent US$13M on an advertisement - the figure for the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" campaign was P 13.4M and the DoT have just spent P650M on a TV advert which was plagiarised from South Africa.

Yeah, right.

Let's call that a million bucks for the advert and twelve million for the kick back - same old, same old...

As I said, he's barely started his anti-corruption campaign.

Or his plan for federalism, or much else at all in fact..

Could not be bothered to attend the Independence Day parade, and has not been seen in public since the 12th...

Why are my friends in the Philippines speaking of Norwegian Blue parrots?

http://politics.com.ph/sotto-stays-...s-mia-act-since-june-12-nagre-relax-lang-yun/

They've just discovered Monty Python torrents?

I wouldn't be surprised anymore. Duterte consistently pushes buttons, it's like he's really testing the waters for something bigger.

This parrot cannot say "God Dag!"; all this one can manage is "Martial Law! Drugs! Martial Law! Drugs! Martial Law! Drugs!"

And many people have an idea of what that might be: he is ill and getting more feeble and his Plan is to hand over to BongBong Marcos, not to Leni Robredo, so he is looking for a way to declare Martial Law...

We do all know that Quezon thought about declaring Martial Law when the Japanese invaded, but he decided not to, as the circumstances did not warrant it... - don't we?

It's odd that he was happy to declare Martial Law in Mindanao, and he rushed home from Moscow having done so, but he was not aware of the American assistance to the AFP in Marawi.

The only way in which this makes sense is that he seized any excuse to declare Martial Law, but was not actually interested in what was going on in Marawi.

Adding to the article I shared earlier. It's long, but plough on, it's worth the read.

https://news.vice.com/story/rodrigo...mass-murder-but-most-filipinos-still-love-him

Yes, good article, on the whole, but some very careless editing. See here:

Duterte is also an advocate for the environment, and he recently pushed through legislation that would change mining practices to curtail water contamination affecting the rural poor, whose needs are easy to ignore. In the past, mining profited a select few as the result of corrupt deals and old alliances, so reforming the sector fits with Duterte’s disregard for the old establishment. Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez said in March that she was “deeply and profoundly touched by the support of the president. He is the real thing. He is not plastic at all. He deeply cares for our people and he deeply cares for the country.”

Gina Lopez is no longer DENR Secretary; her appointment was not confirmed and Duterte did nothing to assist her. It is assumed that he threw her under the bus at the behest of the Chinese mining interests who are allied with Duterte.

Being aware didnt stop you from denial that he is a murdering vigilante(even after he admitted it) but perhaps your amnesia and memory loss explains that

You can make all the allegations you like about him but until such time as he is arrested, tried and convicted for that offence he is NOT a murdering vigilante. Oh and ad hominem attacks to score cheap points shows desperation.

If it quacks like a duck

Ad Hominem? oh you mean this sort of thing

And we wonder why!

@Methersgate Nice find. I assumed the article was published before her appointment rejection, but I was wrong. And for this:

Gina Lopez is no longer DENR Secretary; her appointment was not confirmed and Duterte did nothing to assist her. It is assumed that he threw her under the bus at the behest of the Chinese mining interests who are allied with Duterte.

Well... he's barely started his anti-corruption campaign. Meanwhile the "Yellowtards" actually voted for Gina's confirmation.

Now we have the Incredible Vanishing President.

Hasn't been seen for days and when Bong Go offered a still photo of him at his desk someone compared it with a snap taken and posted on FB some days ago by the Official Mistress, showing a bottle of water in the same place on the desk...

Some wits have pointed out that he is omnipresent, as he is apparently holding a meeting in the Malacanang whilst he is in Davao; from this they conclude that he must already be a Saint.

Some people that are not Filipino or do not live here in this country, refuse to respect the democratic will of the Filipino people..
They look for nothing but negatives about the country or it`s President and wish ill and non progress throughout the Philippines and for the Filipino people.
They do this to deflect their failing snowflake leftist political agenda, which in recent years not only failed us miserably here, but has led for many years,nothing but turmoil,lies and protection of the corrupt institutions that support them.
Disgusting, politically motivated creatures IMO.
YUK.