2nd Batch VIDEO & Name List: President Duterte names 150 Philippine lawmakers, Judges, Police Officers linked to drugs trade within 24 hours or ..

SOLELY RESPONSIBLE. President Rodrigo Duterte takes full responsibility for the listing and revalidation of the list of personalities linked to illegal drugs. Screenshot from PTV4

Rama, other officials in PH named 'drug protectors'

President Rodrigo Duterte named former Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama as one of the drug protectors during his speech at the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) Multi-Purpose Covered Court in Camp Panacan, Davao.

In his Facebook post around 4 a.m., Rama said "the news that my name was mentioned by President Duterte is saddening."

"Even how untrue this accusation is, should this be the way and the necessary step to win the war against drugs, I will fully cooperate with the authorities to immediately clear my name and we trust that we will be given the opportunity to present our side and prove our innocence. My unwavering support for President Duterte's campaign will continue. My family and I have always been law-abiding citizens and have been very clear about our stand against drugs. May justice prevail and the truth set us free. God bless Cebu and God bless the Philippines," he added.

Also named was former Cebu Intelligence Branch chief Superintendent Romeo Santander, among other police officials in the country.

Also included in the list read by Duterte was Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot, who earlier denied involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Loot retired from the Philippine National Police last July 2015 after 37 years of service, and was elected mayor of Daanbantayan last May 9 by a margin of seven votes.

"These names have been validated and re-validated." Duterte said.

"If there is a rule, a law, either you enforce it or none at all. If di ko basahin dahil kaibigan ko kayo, ang pinakamabuti kong magawa is mag resign," he added.

Listed below are the current and former officials named by Duterte:

See video

SOLELY RESPONSIBLE. President Rodrigo Duterte takes full responsibility for the listing and revalidation of the list of personalities linked to illegal drugs. Video from PTV4 and CNN Philippines

LUZON (North Philippines) 17 [4 Judges, 13 Mayor and Ex-Mayor, 0 Congressmen/ Board member]

JUDGES

1.    Judge Mupas of Dasmarinas Cavite

2.    Judge Reyes (only known) - Baguio City

3.    Judge Rene Gonzales – MTC (Metropolitan Trial Court – Manila)

4.    Judge Exequiel Dagala – MTC (Metropolitan Trial Court – Manila)

MAYORS, VICE-MAYORS

1.    Mayor Reynaldo Flores - Naguilian, La Union

2.    Mayor Dante Garcia - Tubao, La Union

3.    Mayor Martin De Guzman - Bauang, La Union

4.    Mayor Marjorie Apel Salazar - Lasam, Cagayan

5.    Mayor Goto Violago - San Rafael, Bulacan

6.    Mayor Marino Morales - Mabalacat, Pampanga

7.    Mayor Felix Castillo - Langiden, Abra

8.    Ex-Mayor Eufranio Eriguel - Agoo, La Union

9.    Mayor Jesus Celeste "Alias Boying" - Bolinao, Pangasinan

10. Mayor Jose "Pepe" Miranda - Santiago City, Isabela

11. Mayor Vicente Amante - San Pablo City, Laguna

12. Mayor Ryan Dolor - Bauan, Batangas

13. Vice Mayor Edgardo Trinidad - El Nido, Palawan

VISAYAS (Central Philippines) 19 [3 Judges, 14 Mayor and Ex-Mayor, 2 Congressmen/ Board member]

JUDGES

1.    Judge Savilo - RTC branch 13 Iloilo City

2.    Judge Casiple - Kalibo, Aklan (Western Visayas)

3.    Judge Navidad - RTC Calbayog City (Eastern Visayas)

MAYORS, VICE-MAYORS

1.    Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador - Hamtic, Antique (Western Visayas)

2.    Mayor Jed Mabilog - Iloilo City

3.    Mayor Sigfredo Betita - Carles, Iloilo

4.    Mayor Mariano Malones - Maasin, Iloilo

5.    Ex-Mayor Michael Rama - Cebu City

6.    Mayor Hector Ong - Laoang, Northern Samar

7.    Mayor Rolando Espinosa - Albuera, Samar

8.    Mayor Beda Canamaque - Basay, Negros Oriental

9.    Ex-Mayor Madeline Ong - Laoang, Northern Samar

10. Vice Mayor Francis Ansing Amboy - Maasin, Iloilo

11. Fralz Sabalones - San Fernando Cebu

12. Antonio Pesina - Iloilo City

13. Erwin "Tongtong" Plagata - Iloilo City

14. Mayor Alex Centena - Calinog, Iloilo

CONGRESSMEN, BOARD MEMBER

1.    Ex-Congressman JC Rahman Nava – Guimaras (Western Visayas)

2.    Party-list Rep. Jeffrey Celis (Panay Island, Western Visayas)

MINDANAO (South Philippines) 29 [1 Judges, 26 Mayor and Ex-Mayor, 2 Congressmen/ Board member]

JUDGES

1.    Judge Dapa – Siargao  (Northeastern Mindanao)

MAYORS, VICE-MAYORS

2.    Ex-Mayor Abubakar Abdukarim Afdal - Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur

3.    Mayor Gamar Ahay Janihim - Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte

4.    David Navarro - Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur

5.    Bobby Alingan - Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte

6.    Yusofa Monder Bugong Ramin - Iligan City, Lanao del Norte

7.    Jessie Aguilera - Alegria, Surigao del Norte

8.    Mayor Fahad Salic - Marawi City

9.    Mayor Mohammad Ali Abenal - Marantao, Lanao del Sur

10. Jamal Dadayan - Buadiposo-Buntong, Lanao del Sur

11. Sabdullah Macabago - Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur

12. Muslim Aline Macadatu - Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur

13. Rasul Sangki - Ampatuan, Maguindanao

14. Montaser Sabal - Talitay, Maguindanao

15. Vicman Montawal - Datu Montawal, Maguindanao

16. Samsudin Dimaukom - Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao

17. Norodin Salasal - Datu Salibo, Maguindanao

18. Ex-Mayor Benahar Tulawie - Talipao, Sulu

19. Reynaldo Parojinog - Ozamiz City

20. Nova Princess Parojinog Echavez - Ozamiz City

21. Mayor Omar Solitario Ali - Marawi City

22. Vice Mayor Abdul Wahab Sabal - Talitay, Magundanao

23. Otto Montawal - Datu Montawal, Maguindanao

24. Nida Dimagkon - Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao

25. Arafat Salic - Marawi City

26. Rasmiyah Macabago - Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur

CONGRESSMEN, BOARD MEMBER

1.    Congressman Guillermo Romarate Jr. - 2nd District, Surigao del Norte

2.    Former board member Ricardo Parojinog - Misamis

LAW ENFORCERS 95 [95 Generals, Senior Police Officers & Police Officers]

1.    P/Insp. Rolando Batulayan (ret.)

2.    P/Supt. Maristelo Manalo - PNP-CIDG

3.    PCI Roberto Palisoc - Station 7 MPD

4.    P/Supt. Ciceron Ada (ret.)

5.    PCI Eric Buenaventura - Navotas

6.    PO2 Geraldine Bautista Manuel - PNP PRO2

7.    SPO3 Ronald Calap - Isabela PPO

8.    POC Rodel Samoledo - Lalio Police Station

9.    PO3 Cecilio Domingo - Nueva Ecija CIDT

10. PO2 Ryan Mendoza - Tarlac Police Station

11. Jeffrey Serafica - Butuan PPO

12. PO1 Norman Adarlo - Puerto Galera NPS

13. Mark Canete - RSRPSB MIMAROPA

14. PO1 Mark Christian Catalina - PNP Camarines Norte

15. PO2 Alan Carpio PCP - 8 Pasay City

16. PO3 Eric Lazo - QCPD Station 6

17. PO3 Alexander Macabeo - PCP 3 Paranaque City

18. PO3 Johnny Mahilum - QCPD Station 6 Batasan

19. PO2 Celito Melendrez - Binangonan Police Station

20. Gen. Vicente Loot (ret.)

21. Gen. Valerio (ret.) - Santa Barbara, Iloilo

22. Gen. Bernardo Diaz - Region 6

23. Gen. Idio - RTC of Calbayog City

24. P/Supt. Floro (ret.) - Antique City PNP

25. P/Supt. Kashmir Disomangcop - COP of Iloilo Base Commander

26. P/Supt. Delia Paz - Chief RDIDM

27. P/Supt. Genepa - RIU Intelligence

28. P/Supt. Ipil Duenas

29. P/Supt. Condag

30. P/Supt. Eugenio Malic - PNP Maritime Group

31. Lamsis - former chief Antique anti-drug

32. P/Supt. Gomboc

33. P/Supt. Lebin

34. PCI Maymay

35. PSI Kenneth Militar - Iloilo

36. PSI Donasco

37. P/Insp. De Jose - SOG PNP Region 6

38. P/Insp. Duarte - former PCOP of Arevalo, Iloilo

39. P/Insp. Vicente Vicente - COP Banate

40. P/Insp. Romeo Santander - Former chief intel Cebu

41. PO2 Michael Cortez - Barile Police Station

42. SPO1 Jen dela Victoria - PS5 Cebu CPO

43. SPO1 Onel Nabua - Barile Police Station

44. PO2 Jomar Ibanez - Lapu-Lapu Police Station

45. PO3 Ryan Martus Kiamco - Cebu Provincial Office

46. PCI Ibrahim Jabiran - Zamboanga CPO

47. PCI Perfecto Abrasaldo Awi Jr. - Misamis Oriental

48. P/Insp. Roy Montes - Iligan PRO

49. P/Supt. Ricardo Gando Pulot - COP Quezon Bukidnon

50. P/Insp. Martin Plaza - former Panabo chief intel

51. PO1 Pierre Dizo - Zamboanga del Sur

52. PO3 Omar Juani - Zamboanga City Public Safety

53. Rommel Mansul - PRO9

54. PO3 Daryl Page - Tabasan Municipal Station

55. SPO1 Totong Joe Valdez - 9th RNG

56. SPO4 Rodrigo Ramos - Bukidnon PRO

57. SPO1 Reynaldo dela Victoria - CDO

58. SPO3 Emilio Mendoza - Lozaria PP5 Iligan City

59. Marlo Espinosa - Bukidnon

60. SPO3 Richie Mat - CIDG Mati Davao Oriental

61. SPO3 Rosell Iliviera - CIDG Tagum Davao del Norte

62. PO3 Jessie Balabag - Region 11

63. PO3 Filomeno Toronia - Digos Police Station

64. PO1 Glenn Alicarte - PRO 12

65. PO1 Philip Pantarolia - Tacurong City Police Office

66. SPO1 Gerry dela Rosa - SCPPO

67. PO3 Bebot Ruiz - GSCPO

68. PO3 Estelito Solanio - Malongon MPS Sarangani

69. PO1 Jerebel Ocsio - PRO RMN

70. SPO1 Ernesto Billones - NCR

71. JS1 Lito Montemayor - Roxas District Jail Aparri

72. PO1 Vicente Reynaldo Celis - NCR

73. PG Drexel Saet - MIMAROPA

74. SPO1 Felix Tubil - Region 3

75. SPO3 Nicolas Ponce Angeles - Region 3

76. SPO2 Rod Erseni - Marinduque BFP

77. FO1 Reynaldo Valencia - Claveria Police Station

78. SSgt. Vic dela Cruz - MIMAROPA

79. B/Gen. Leoncio Daniega - NCR

80. SPO3 Gerry Mendoza - NCR

81. Reymante Dayto - Region 5

82. Reymar Dayto - Region 5

83. Renato Zamora - Region 6

84. J1 Alan Manatad - Region 7

85. SPO3 Christie Cielo Tingad - Region 7

86. RSAD Casimiro Castro - CAFGU 38IB 6ID ARMM

87. RSAD Pfc. Philip Miro - 40IB 6ID ARMM

88. Cpl. Cusinan Lopez - 52IB ARMM

89. Pfc. Mamadali Ipad - 64IB 6ID

90. Yasin Abolgalib

91. JO1 Alfredo Ogacho

92. FO1 Nicolas Ponce Ablaca

93. FO1 Ricardo Ibanez

94. Marine Cpl. Alfrenz Gurias Abedin

95. Jimmy Manlangit - Region 12

After naming some of the officials, Duterte said, "All policemen, PNP personnel assigned as security guards, security personnel ng mayor I have mentioned, you are hereby relieved of your duty and immediately report to your mother unit. Tatanggalin ko na ang operational authority over them."

He also ordered the cancellation of any and all of their firearms licenses and permits effective Sunday, August 7.

He said that he could be wrong, but stressed that he is ready to face the consequences. He said he has to tell the public about what is happening in the country according to his mandate.

"I take full responsibility. Any mistake of the military and police, ako yung responsable. I ordered them to do the listing," Duterte said, reiterating that he is putting at stake his honor, life and even the presidency.

"Hindi ko kayo kalaban. Wala kayong atraso sa akin, pero galit na ako ngayon," he added.

Duterte ordered the executive officials he named to report directly to him, while those police officials should report to Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, and the justices to the Supreme Court within 24 hours.

"If you will not report within 24 hours, I will order the entire police and military to hunt you," said Duterte.

He mentioned about 100 names of politicians, policemen, soldiers and judges in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as drug protectors. He said he will name next the prosecutors allegedly involved.

"The other names are ongoing re-validation," he said.

Duterte said there are currently 600,000 drugs users and pushers who surrendered.

"Bakit tayo umaabot sa ganitong magnitude? Because the government personnel were into drugs," the President said.

He also told police and military personnel in his list that they are "administratively dead" and that they must report to their mother units within 24 hours.

Former mayor Rama underwent a drug test in October last year and results yielded negative. In 2014, Rama refused to undergo a surprise drug test at City Hall after he was accused of using illegal drugs. (Sunnex)

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Donald Trump branded FILIPINOS as TERRORISTS - Should be Blocked from Entering Americas

Donald Trump branded FILIPINOS as TERRORISTS – Should be blocked from Entering Americas. Photo: The Washington Times

Schatz Slams Trump On Philippines

The GOP presidential nominee says immigration should be restricted from the Philippines and other countries. Not so fast, says Schatz.

Campaigning in Maine on Thursday, Donald Trump called for restrictions on immigrants from the Philippines and other countries with high rates of terrorism — and earned a rebuke from Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz in the process.

“Hillary Clinton wants to have them come in by the hundreds of thousands — just remember,” Trump was reported as saying by the Washington Post. “This has nothing to do with politics, folks. This is a whole different level. This has to do with pure, raw stupidity. OK?”

The comments did not get past Schatz, perhaps in part because the largest single ethnic group in Hawaii is Filipino, comprising more than one-fourth of the state population. He fired back with a statement decrying Trump’s “reckless rhetoric,” which he said “further proves he is unfit to lead our country.”

“For generations, Filipinos have made the United States their home,” said Schatz. “It is their vibrant culture, hard work and strong values that have enriched our communities and made this country great, not the ignorant, racist bigotry of Donald Trump.”

The Philippines are a major trading partner for Hawaii, and Filipino-Americans have long been among the Aloha State’s most visible citizens, among them former Gov. Ben Cayetano and singer Bruno Mars.

The Philippines weren’t the only country that came under criticism from Trump on Thursday. He also called out Iraq, Morocco, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Uzbekistan.

Trump’s erratic, often outrageous remarks on multiple topics over the past week, coming on the heels of what has been widely rated as a strong Democratic National Convention, have led to sizable and expanding polling leads for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

National polls released Thursday by NBC/Wall Street Journal and McClatchy/Marist put her in the lead by nine and 15 points, respectively, while polls from the battleground states of Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan gave her similarly large leads.- CIVIL BEAT

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₱1.1-M contraband seized: Priests, DOJ promotes Prostitution to Bilibid DRUG LORDS and among the Protectors

PNP-Special Action Force troopers have taken over security posts at the New Bilibid Prison while its personnel undergo prison management training. photo: PhilSTAR

Ex-DOJ execs, religious workers being probed for links in illegal activities at NBP

Former officials of the Department of Justice and religious workers stationed at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa are being investigated over their alleged involvement in illegal activities at the national penitentiary.

In a media briefing on Friday, DOJ Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II said he is also mulling forming a fact-finding group to probe the two DOJ officials reportedly receiving money from drug lords at the NBP in exchange for "protection."

He also received reports of religious personnel helping in sneaking in contraband and prostitutes at the national penitentiary.

Aguirre said he thinks it is illegal to let inmates run a "community" inside the penitentiary, adding that the DOJ would be "contemplating" on removing these communities.

Aguirre said he would consider his leadership "a failure" if they would not be able to rid the NBP of illegal activities.

SAF takeover: ₱1.1-M contraband seized at Bilibid

The Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) personnel have confiscated a total of P1.1 million worth of prohibited items at the New Bilibid Prison since taking over its security posts, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Friday.

From July 20 to July 26, the SAF personnel have seized P612,999 in cash, 80 bladed weapons, 12 ice picks, a caliber 38 pistol, six improvised shotguns, 152 mobile phones, 62 phone charges, six sachets of suspected shabu, one plastic of suspected marijuana and 48 television sets in its search operations at the NBP.

Aguirre said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is now studying the possible liabilities of the persons responsible for the proliferation of prohibited items inside the prison.

"Once we have determined their violations, you have our word that we will pursue them, to borrow the words of President (Rodrigo) Duterte, relentlessly. The hammer shall fall and it shall fall mightily. There will be no sacred cows. This is just the first barrage of our war on drugs," Aguirre said at a televised press briefing.

Aguirre noted that the prohibited items might have come from visitors of the inmates who have been allowed to go inside prison cells.

The SAF troopers have been strictly implementing the rules of the prison which temporarily stopped the bringing of prohibited items inside the prison, according to Aguirre.

However, some inmates have been discrediting the SAF, claiming the troopers have been abusing the inmates by physically hurting them, which Aguirre declared as "misinformation."

The Justice secretary stressed that the agency will pursue the president's mandate of waging a war on drugs, criminality and corruption.

"We shall marshal all the powers and the resources at our disposal to eradicate these problems. We will give no quarters nor chance for these evils to find a place to grow. It is high time that we take the fight to them," Aguirre said.

Meanwhile, the personnel of the NBP are undergoing prison management to enhance their competence, Aquirre said.

The DOJ aims to reorient personnel of the NBP as part of its program to eradicate drug-related activities inside the prison.

"Our foremost objective is not only to curb but to totally eradicate all drug-related activities at the National Bilibid Prison. If we succeed, we will strike a major blow in the drug trade in the country and that is indeed a big leap in our war on drugs," the Justice chief said. – Sources: —KG, GMA News / philSTAR

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FREE 911 Service Philippines; Globe telecom would Charge ₱12.50 per minute

911 emergency hotline available to public starting August 1

In times of emergencies, most people are unaware of what number to call for help.  But come August 1, 911 will officially be the national emergency hotline.

This is one of President Rodrigo Duterte's measures to fight crime and corruption in three to six months.

Officials said the implementation of the new hotline was derived from Davao City's Central 911. The city's emergency hotline provides medical, fire, rescue, police assistance as well as K-9 units.

"By August within a month, the Cebu 911 center will be made operational. I think there are other LGUs (local government units) that will be putting up their own command center[s]," National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said.

According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the 911 nationwide hotline will connect the caller to emergency, rescue, police, or fire services.

All calls to 911 will also be rerouted to the existing Patrol 117 program.

Talks are underway as to what else will be added.

"Later on kasama na dito yung mga CCTV na magmomonitor ng mga public places," DILG Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo Jr. said. [CCTVs which can monitor public places will be included later on.]

Hinlo added, one does not have to dial an area code and 911 will be implemented for the entire country. But changes will be implemented gradually.

"May transition phase po. Pag nagdial po kayo ng 117… papasok pa din po sa emergency [hotline]." [There's a transition phase. If you dial 117, the call will still enter the emergency hotline.]

Senator Richard Gordon, who is also the Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, said it takes about eight minutes to arrive on the scene, depending on how far they are.

According to Gordon, the organization receives two to four calls per day from 117.

Davao City medical responders said they should be deployed to the site of the emergency in less than 59 seconds.

Authorities admit, with the new hotline comes some challenges like traffic and prank callers. Gordon said legislators would review if there's a need to pass a bill to impose penalties on prank callers.

Officials, meantime, are appealing to the public not to make prank calls as this would deprive others who are really in need of immediate attention.

Telecommunications and digital services provider PLDT, together with subsidiaries Smart and ePLDT, said they shall fully cooperate with the government for a nationwide emergency hotline, 911.

While Globe Telecom said they would charge  regular rate of ₱7.50 per minute plus ₱5 per call to the hotline.

Telecommunications companies, however, are asking for patience as they put "more improvements" within the year.

They also requested the President to issue a new Executive Order transferring the authority of the current Patrol "117" Commission to a new legal entity to handle the "911" system. – CNN Philippines

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President Duterte got 91% HIGHEST TRUST RATING in Country Leader's history - 8% Undecided

RECORD-HIGH TRUST RATING. President Rodrigo Duterte is trusted by nearly all Filipinos as he begins his term. Photo by King Rodriguez/PPD

Duterte enjoys record-high 91% trust rating – Pulse Asia

MANILA, Philippines: Nearly all Filipinos trust President Rodrigo Duterte as he embarked on his term, according to the results of a Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated survey released on Wednesday, July 20.

The results of the nationwide survey conducted among 1,200 Filipinos from July 2 to 8, showed that 91% of Filipinos trust Duterte, while less than half a percent distrust him, and 8% are undecided on whether or not to trust him.

“President Rodrigo R. Duterte begins his stint as the country’s 16th president with an overwhelming majority of his constituents expressing trust in him (91%) and practically no one distrusting him (0.2%). The rest of Filipinos (8%) cannot say if they trust or distrust President Duterte,” Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said.

Former president Benigno Aquino III used to hold the record of the highest level of public trust in the Pulse Asia trust survey first conducted in 1999. In a survey held during a similar period in Aquino's term – July 1 to 11, 2010 – Aquino had a trust rating of 85%.

Data from Pulse Asia Research, Inc

Among geographical locations, Duterte earned the highest trust rating in his bailiwick, Mindanao (97%). Among socioeconomic classes, trust for Duterte is highest among Class D and the poorest Class D, both at 92%.

In a statement, Palace Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte’s 91%-trust rating during his first week in office “is a humbling reminder that the genuine and meaningful change that our people aspire for is now being felt.”

“This expression of confidence, therefore, shall serve as an inspiration to the Duterte administration to continuously make a real difference and make our people’s lives better, safer, and healthier,” Andanar said.

A Pulse Asia survey conducted in early July also shows that a 'sizeable majority' of Filipinos trust Vice President Leni Robredo

SIZEABLE MAJORITY TRUST. Vice President Leni Robredo enjoys a 62% trust rating in the July 2016 Pulse Asia survey. RAPPLER.com

The survey results also showed that 62% of Filipinos – a “sizeable majority,” according to Holmes – trust the Vice President, while 11% distrust her, and 27% are undecided on whether or not to trust her.

“Most Filipinos – regardless of geographic location and socioeconomic status – say they trust Vice-President Robredo (58% to 72% and 53% to 64%, respectively),” Holmes said.

Among geographical areas, Robredo got her highest trust rating from the Visayas (72%), and among socioeconomic classes, from Class D (64%). Indecision on whether to trust the Vice President is highest in Mindanao (32%) and among the well-off class ABC (35%).

Robredo thanked her countrymen for the overwhelming "vote of confidence."

"We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our fellow Filipinos. From 1% in the pre-election surveys to 35.1% – and now, a trust rating of 62%," she said in a statement.

The survey showed that the primary sentiment toward the Chief Justice is one of indecision, as 42% of Filipinos are undecided on whether or not to trust her. But there are more Filipinos who trust Sereno than distrust her (35% vs 19%).

“Big plurality indecision figures are posted by the Supreme Court Chief Justice in the Visayas (43%) and Class E (46%). On the other hand, the latter receives practically the same trust and indecision ratings in Metro Manila (40% versus 37%), the rest of Luzon (36% versus 46%), Mindanao (38% versus 36%), Class ABC (37% versus 50%), and Class D (38% versus 39%),” Holmes said.

During and immediately before the survey period, among the major news were the oath-taking of Duterte and Robredo, Cabinet appointments including Robredo as housing chief, cases filed against Aquino in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program and the Mamasapano clash, and the spate of drug-related killings in the country and calls to probe these.

Around this time, Duterte also expressed his willingness to have bilateral talks and joint exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Holmes said.

The nationwide survey has a ± 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level; subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a ± 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level.

The July survey also polled the respondents on their expectations of the new administration. (READ: Inflation, jobs edge out crime as Filipinos' top worries – poll) – Rappler.com

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Philippines flips the pig nickel finger at China

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned that he will cancel mining projects that are causing environmental harm. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

We are now seeing the first repercussions of the fact that the disputes between China and the Philippines extend beyond the South China Sea — the nickel price is on the rise following nickel mine shutdowns ordered by the Philippine government.

Last night, nickel edged up to a one-year peak of $US4.81 a pound. While last night’s price is a far cry from the heady days when nickel was above $US10 a pound, it still represents a rise of almost 15 per cent from the $US4.20-a-pound level where nickel traded just a month ago.

While the outlook for all the base metals is improving, the shut down of key nickel mines in the Philippines has given a real boost to the nickel market at the expense of China.

The fact that the Philippine government’s shut down orders came a few days before the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of the Philippines over China in their South China Sea dispute is not lost on the nickel market, although, naturally, everyone may deny a connection.

Nevertheless, this is the first of many trade issues that will arise in the South China Sea, which, we should not forget, is the main route used by Japan to gain supplies.

To understand the importance of the Philippine government’s crackdown on nickel ore production we need to go back into the history of the development of pig nickel, which I outlined earlier this year when explaining the source of the woes hitting Clive Palmer’s Townsville nickel refinery (Townsville’s problem is pig nickel not Clive Palmer, April 20).

Nickel was once a boom metal but the Chinese stopped the nickel boom via a product called pig nickel. Pig nickel contains cobalt, zinc, copper etc. but it is good enough to make the stainless steel used in a lot of buildings and handrails plus low-grade kitchen and bathroom equipment.

However, pig nickel is not an acceptable substitute for the stainless steel used in chemical plants, oil refineries and nuclear power plants.

China initially produced pig nickel from nickel ore imported from Indonesia. So, although the production process was cheap and dirty, when the nickel price increased, the Chinese cranked up their pig nickel blast furnaces.

But in 2014, Indonesia stopped exporting nickel lateritic ore, demanding instead that its nickel be turned into metal in Indonesia. The price of nickel boomed as pig nickel plants in China were forced to slash production due to insufficient ore supply.

But then China began sourcing its nickel ore from the Philippines and the nickel price slumped once more as pig nickel hit the market again.

In May, voters in the Philippines elected Rodrigo Duterte President. Duterte went on to appoint Regina Lopez, a staunch environmentalist, as mining minister.

Earlier this month, she ordered the suspension of operations at two nickel ore mines for environmental violations and halted the issuance of exploration permits while she undertook a review of all existing mines as part of a nationwide crackdown on bad mining practices.

The two nickel mines that were suspended were operated by BenguetCorp Nickel Mines Inc and Zambales Diversified Metals Corp,.

Of around 40 metals mines operating in the Philippines, Minister Lopez told Reuters she didn’t “even know of one” that practised responsible mining, strictly adhered to environmental standards or took full care of the local communities where they operated.

And, to back her up, President Rodrigo Duterte warned that he would cancel mining projects that were causing environmental harm.

Take that China.

The Philippines is the biggest nickel ore supplier to China and have the fifth-largest nickel reserves in the world.

Given that the Philippines mining crackdown and the South China Sea ruling all happened within one week in July, it’s still too early to determine how trade will be affected.

Leaving aside the timing of the Philippines crackdown on nickel production, the global nickel industry needs a nickel price approaching $US10 a pound in order to make worthwhile returns.

And given the bad mining practices in the Philippines, it will take a much higher nickel price to justify the extra outlays required to alter approaches to mining. China is in the front line of the countries to be affected. – The Australian

 ROBERT GOTTLIEBSEN - Business Spectator columnist Melbourne @BGottliebsen

 

 

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FORBES: China SENT H-6K NUCLEAR BOMBER to Panatag Scarborough Shoal . can attack any target in the entire territory of the Philippines.- PLA Website Said"

A Chinese H-6K bomber flies over Scarborough Shoal, which the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on Tuesday belongs to the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) released the photo on their Weibo social media account two days after the ruling. PLAAF.

Chinese Bomber Buzzes Philippines' Scarborough Shoal In Latest Salvo Of U.S.-China Signalling War

China released a photo Thursday of a nuclear-capable Chinese bomber flying south near Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal). This is the latest salvo in a signalling war between the U.S. and China over Philippine territory.

In April 2016, the U.S. sent A-10 Thunderbird attack planes over Scarborough. These heavily-armored “Warthogs” are not nuclear-capable planes, but rather designed for close-air support to ground troops. According to the U.S. Air Force, the A-10 missions over Scarborough promoted “transparency and safety of movement in international waters and airspace, representing the U.S. commitment to ally and partner nations and to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region’s continued stability now and for generations to come.” The Chinese H-6K nuclear bomber is a significant escalation in what has become a signalling war over the South China Sea.

The effect of the release on the Weibo social media account belonging to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) should be interpreted as an attempt to signal to the Philippines and the U.S. that China is serious about its South China Sea claim, as delineated by the 9-dash line. The claim includes Scarborough Shoal, far to the north of most of the occupied islands of the Spratlys and Paracels.

According to retired Captain James Fanell, former Director of Intelligence and Information Operations for U.S. Pacific Fleet,  “My cut is that this flight is indeed a direct and intentional strategic signal that is in keeping with China’s post-PCA [Permanent Court of Arbitration] ruling statements that they neither acknowledge nor accept the court’s verdict.”

The photo release followed quickly after Tuesday’s ruling in the Hague by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The PCA ruled the 9-dash line illegal according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China immediately responded to the ruling on Tuesday by calling it “illegal” and “null and void”, and attempted to discredit the Court.

According to Mr. Fannell, “while it may not be unprecedented for a PLAAF H-6K bomber to fly from its bases on the Chinese mainland out towards Scarborough, it is unprecedented to have such a flight advertised by PRC press and to specifically orchestrate the pictures and public message over Scarborough.”

The H-6K bomber (tail number 11097) depicted in the photo is capable of delivering a nuclear-armed cruise missile to all major U.S. military bases in Asia, including Singapore, Guam, and Okinawa. The H-6K is based on the Russian Badger bomber and has a combat range of up to 3,500 km. It can carry six CJ-20 cruise missiles under its wings, plus additional missiles internally. The CJ-20 cruise missiles can travel an additional 1,500 to 2,000 km beyond the H-6K’s combat radius. When fully loaded with ordnance, the bomber’s range decreases slightly.

Mr. Fanell said that the H-6K flight near Scarborough “should be taken as another reminder of the military threat to our U.S. Seventh Fleet and the naval assets of our allies in the region.” The U.S. Seventh Fleet has been based in Singapore, since losing its lease for Subic Bay from the Philippines in late 1991. The Fleet left the Philippines for Singapore in 1992.

Given China’s threats and occupation of islands within Philippines’ EEZ, the Philippines allowed a rotation of “temporary” U.S. forces into Subic Bay in 2015. Scarborough Shoal is only 162 miles from Subic Bay, and so a Chinese air strip at Scarborough would be a major strategic threat to U.S. forces stationed there, and the utility of Subic Bay as a naval base. Chinese maritime and military experts said that China plans to build an airstrip on the shoal in 2016.

The U.S. could reply to the Chinese H-6K flight over Scarborough by executing and publicizing its own nuclear-capable flight over the South China Sea in the near future. The U.S. similarly signalled after China declared an air defense identification zone over the East China Sea in 2013 by flying two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers through the ADIZ. This was widely seen as an invalidation of the ADIZ since the U.S. and Japanese militaries do not officially recognize its existence.

Failure to publicly respond to China’s H-6K flight could be seen by Chinese military planners as backing down on the Scarborough issue, and giving China a subtle green light to start building a military airstrip. Military flights provide strategic signalling that is seen as an escalation over diplomatic statements. Military moves such as the H-6K flight over Scarborough demonstrate resolve on an issue.

Military theory, such as that promulgated by Harvard Professor and Nobel Laureate Thomas Schelling, predicts that the less powerful competitor (in this case China) will back down first when two potential combatants climb a “ladder” of escalation. Dr. Schelling’s theory is known as “escalation dominance”.

But China has not reached that point yet, and is still escalating. The CCG augmented the number of ships at Scarborough since June 12, when two CCG cutters, a medium-sized CCG ship, and two speedboats maneuvered dangerously close to Philippine activists and fishermen who raised a Philippine flag at the shoal. I was an eye-witness on that day.

Thursday, four Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) boats denied Filipino fishermen access to Scarborough, which is 139 miles from the Philippine coastline and within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Scarborough Shoal is 539 miles from Hainan Island, the closest point in China.

On Monday last week, a CCG cutter and speed boat warned and turned back two New York Times reporters who had chartered a yacht to Scarborough. It is likely that the other CCG boats at the shoal did not make themselves visible. The reporters met a fishing boat on the way home that confirmed that the CCG was not allowing them to fish at the shoal — and as a result their normal $1000 catch was reduced to a few hundred. China’s blocking of Philippine fishermen from access to the shoal is in direct violation of the PCA ruling on Tuesday.

Not all analysts saw the PLAAF’s Scarborough flight as necessarily indicative of a threat. “Things are still fresh since the arbitral decision and reading hostile or proactive intent into the flight of [a] single Badger would be pure speculation, especially since flights like this have occurred prior to the decision,” said Michael Listner. Mr. Listner is a Principal at Space Law & Policy Solutions. “That isn’t to say the Badger flight isn’t significant and may have internal propaganda value, but it has to be taken in the context of the totality of other actions China may take. Analysts should be watching and take this flight into consideration, but they should not jump to conclusions about China’s intent towards the disputed territory and their response to the arbitral decision solely on this one flight.”

The H-6K was not visibly carrying cruise missiles beneath its wings. The photos released did not show it accompanied by other bombers, fighter jets, or airborne early warning and control planes. Without these critical complements for an actual tactical flight, the purpose of the H-6K flight could be interpreted as for domestic Chinese propaganda only, rather than strategic signalling to the U.S. The flight was not published in the major English-language Chinese papers, such as China Daily, Xinhua, or People’s Daily.

However, the PLAAF Weibo site did release other photos of military planes in the same post with the H-6K flying over Scarborough. These included another H-6K (tail number 10190) and a Sukhoi SU-27UBK fighter jet.

A Chinese-language news site covering the flights over Scarborough noted that “After the South China Sea arbitration case, the [PLA] Air Force quietly made a big move!” The news site also wrote that “The H-6K over Huangyan Island [Scarborough] … can attack any target in the entire territory of the Philippines.” - FORBES

Anders Corr

CONTRIBUTOR

I worked in military intelligence for five years, including on nuclear weapons, terrorism, cyber-security, border security, and counter-insurgency. I covered and visited Asia and Europe, and worked in Afghanistan for one and a half years. I have a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University, and a B.A. and M.A. in international relations from Yale University (Summa cum laude). My company, Corr Analytics, provides political risk analysis to commercial, non-profit, and media clients, and publishes the Journal of Political Risk. I am editing a series on the South China Sea conflict, and have covered and visited Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

I cover international politics, security and political risk.

Follow me on Twitter @anderscorr. If you have any additional information related to this article, contact me at corr@canalyt.com.

 

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Pidcock backs Philippines to emerge as EM power player

Jason Picdcock. Photo: citywire.co.uk

The Philippines is one of the best and fastest-growing countries in the emerging market universe, according to Asian income specialist Jason Pidcock.

Writing in an investor update, the manager of the Jupiter Asian Income fund said, despite having low GDP per capital, the country was growing sustainably at around 6%.

Pidcock said the Philippines is moving towards developed-market norms, such as smaller families, which is, in turn, increasing their spending.

‘The young Philippine middle class is already growing rapidly. Annual disposable incomes are up 14% annualised over the last three years, and the portion of the workforce earning more than US$5,000 has surged from 6% in 2005 to 21% in 2013. I expect these trends to continue as the country’s economy continues to move up the value chain,’ Pidcock said.

He added that the country was benefitting from Chinese tourism, while foreign direct investment had increased due to the population’s English language skills.

The comments on Philippines come in the same week as tensions in South East Asia. This has seen the Philippines state China should abide by an international tribunal’s ruling that is has no rightful claim to the South China Sea.

Adding exposure

Pidcock has allocated 6.9% of the fund, which was launched in March of this year, to the Philippines and said, while it is still developing, it produces lower dividend yields and the choice of other developed markets.

‘The macro attractions of the Philippines are hard to deny. But as an equity investor the fundamental question is whether there are attractive, well managed companies for me to invest in. The answer is that while this maturing market doesn’t have the depth of some of its more developed peers, I see a number that do fulfil my investment criteria,’ he said.

In terms of holdings, Pidcock has around 2.7% in shopping centre operator SM Prime, which he said will benefit from a rise in domestic consumption. He also holds food producer Universal Robina (2%) and the diversified conglomerate GT Capita (2.4%)

Persuasive politics

Pidcock added the political environment is stable in the Philippines and this will support the economy over the long term. He expects growth in the Philippines to overtake growth in Thailand within the next 15-20 years.

‘Politics are always a risk in emerging markets. On balance, the political situation in the Philippines looks favourable and it seems likely that politics will be a positive factor. President Duterte talks freely – occasionally too freely – but I think he will be good for the economy and therefore the stock market,' he said.

‘He wants to cut down corruption, has some slightly unorthodox ways of going about that, but the objective is a good one – there’s an upbeat feel in the country, generally Filipinos are optimistic. And the fact that he won his election clearly is a good thing – there was also no dispute with the result, which is good.’

In the three months since launch to the end of June 2016, the Jupiter Asian Income fund returned 1.7% in US dollar terms, which compares to a return of 0.89% by the average manager in the Equity – Asia Pacific Ex Japan sector over the same period. – CITY WIRE - WEALTH MANAGER

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