Seems Duterte means business.

Here's a thoughtful article in the Manila Bulletin, by the man best qualified to judge:

http://www.mb.com.ph/du30s-first-100-days-team-philippines-losing/#WOw2CLQqdx0Ulslh.01

I shared the same article on a Philippines Facebook Group and got laid into by 2 or 3 posters who are clearly du30 haters.

Thing is, FVR supported Du30. He made the same sort of guarded comments about Marcos' murder of Ninoy Aquino, two years before he changed sides and rescued JP Enrile from his botched coup attempt, turning it into the bloodless People Power Revolution.

He famously expressed reservations about Erap... and Erap went..

I can translate this: MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN.

De Lima, 7 others charged with drug trafficking

NEW DILEMMA. Embattled former Justice secretary and now Senator Leila De Lima faces another challenge for her alleged involvement in the proliferation of the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

This time, De Lima is thrust into a legal battle as she and seven others were slapped Tuesday with a complaint for illegal drug trading and trafficking, violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Complainant Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), through its president Dante Jimenez, filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a complaint for the "sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals," punishable under section 5 of the law; and "attempt or conspiracy in the "sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical," punishable under section 26.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/11/16/de-lima-7-others-charged-with-drug-trafficking

This is a bit awkward:

http://www.mb.com.ph/2-pnp-officials-unmasked-as-riding-in-tandem-killers/

I just hope its a mistake otherwise she faces a very long difficult time

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/17/16/venezuelan-woman-nabbed-at-naia-for-cocaine-smuggling

What the Thais think:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1119341/duterte-fails-credibility-test

The Commission on Elections' preliminary report on Duterte's campaign finances.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/10/25/16/comelec-probes-dutertes-campaign-finance

Note that His Excellency the Ambassador of the Philippine Republic to the Court of St James features...

" Duterte's biggest donor is Antonio Floirendo Jr., who contributed a total of P100 million to Duterte’s campaign—P75 million to Duterte and P25 million to the PDP-Laban. Floirendo was among the prime movers of the Alyansa ng mga Duterte at Bongbong (ALDUB), a group that campaigned for a Duterte-Bongbong Marcos tandem.

Floirendo’s father Antonio Sr. had faced allegations of being a Marcos crony. His family controls the Philippines’ biggest banana-exporting business and some real estate holdings.

Floirendo Jr.’s brother-in-law, Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo, is the new ambassador to the United Kingdom."

The Chinese nickname for Duterte is "香蕉业务员" - "Xiangjiao yewu yuan" - "The banana salesman".

Given Mark'a spirited denunciations of Trillanes for his "back channel" trip to China I look forward to his comments on Cayetano's visit to China in June.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/150275-us-ambassador-goldberg-cayetano-unpublicized-trip-china

It's perfectly normal for there to be visits by senior officials and representatives of the visiting government ahead of a State Visit.

Wow.

You denounced Trillanes as a "traitor" for giving nothing away but it is "perfectly normal" for Cayetano to set up a visit in which your manok gives away the whole of the South China Sea.

Wow.

More fun...

Who needs due diligence? Who needs the Commission on Audit?

Contracts dished out to notoriously "bent" Chinese companies, but who cares as long as some of that lovely cash, which Juan de la Cruz will spend decades repaying, falls into the pockets of Dirty and his cronies?

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/25/16/tainted-chinese-firms-eye-new-projects-in-philippines

More fun...

Who needs due diligence? Who needs the Commission on Audit?

Contracts dished out to notoriously "bent" Chinese companies, but who cares as long as some of that lovely cash, which Juan de la Cruz will spend decades repaying, falls into the pockets of Dirty and his cronies?

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/25/16/tainted-chinese-firms-eye-new-projects-in-philippines

Let's see Mark defend this:

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/26/16/firm-that-built-chinas-fake-islands-gets-davao-city-deal

I am not going to - I am not his spokesman. Simples

That is a relief.

Incidentally, talking of his spokesmen, did you know that Yasay is a U.S. Citizen, and that his family live in the States?

I suggest that being Secretary of Foreign Affairs - which position Yasay holds - is an ever so slightly more important job than being Duterte's mouthpiece! I'd not be surprised to learn that, in common with more than a few of his fellow countrymen, he owns property in the United States. He is a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Sounds like a highly intelligent man to me and the Philippines needs such people in positions of great responsibility.

He appears to have no control whatsoever over his old college mate. All he does is try to sweep up some of the mess. But then, he was a miserable failure in his last Government post...