RP NEWS
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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY March 16 - 31, 2019
RP News and More...
Duterte gives self ‘5 or 6’ passing mark
PRESIDENT Duterte has given
himself a passing mark of “five or six”
for his performance in the first three
years of his term.
“I will be through in three years.
Para sa akin, I am --- if I rate myself
now, I’m about five or six,” the
President said during the PDP-Laban
campaign rally in Koronadal City on
Tuesday night.
He recalled that during the
campaign for the May 2016 elections,
he made only a few promises which
included solving the illegal drugs
problem within six months of his term,
addressing criminality, and ridding
government of corruption.
Duterte
reaffirmed
his
commitment to sustain the campaign
against drugs, crimes, and corruption
for the remainder of his term.
“I remember I said, if elected
president, and I emphasized this during
the presidential debates na (that) I will
deal with corruption and I will deal with
law and order, particularly crimes,” he
said adding that the country would not
attain progress unless these problems
are addressed.
The President has admitted he
could not end the drug problem within
his targeted time frame. He has also
said the last three years of his term
would be the most dangerous time
for those who are involved in the drug
trade.
Duterte said illegal drugs remain
to be the “biggest threat” and not only
in the Philippines but in the world.
In another event Tuesday in
Koronadal City, the President said
he would try his best to bring down
corruption and announced he would
fire more government officials “next
week.”
He did not give details as he
said he is waiting for reports to be
submitted to him.
Duterte last week gave the
board members of the Metropolitan
Waterworks and Sewerage System
until April 10 to submit a report about
the water situation and actions that
have been taken.
He said he would then decide if he
would fire officials.
Duterte
spoke
during
the
distribution of P13.2 million worth
of livelihood grants and financial
assistance to beneficiaries of the
Department of Social Welfare and
Development’s
poverty-alleviation
program in Koronadal City.
Duterte to sleep on his birthday
He is turning 74, but President
Duterte is not holding any party for
his birthday today, saying he would
rather sleep the day away.
“Historically, ayaw ko talagang
mag-celebrate ng birthday. Gusto ko
sa bahay lang matulog ako (I don’t
really want to celebrate my birthday.
I just want to stay home and sleep).
And if there’s somebody that is really
welcome to me, ‘yung mga anak ko,
pati ‘yung apo ko (that will be my
children and my grandchildren),” the
President said during the campaign
rally of the Partido ng Demokratikong
Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban)
in Koronadal, South Cotabato the
other night.
The President has also shunned
holding any activity at Malacañang or
anywhere in Luzon and the Visayas,
and opted to spend the week here
to attend to several engagements in
some areas in Mindanao.
“Every time mag-birthday ako,
para bang nagtampo ako sa panahon.
That’s the word. Parang nagtampo
ako sa kahirapan namin na I took it
against the time na hindi ako maka-
celebrate ng birthday ko,” he said.
Until now, he still feels bad about it
and that’s why he refuses to celebrate
his birthday.
“Because that was also what my
father was doing. He really hated
‘yung mga… ako ayaw ko rin eh,” the
President said.
Duterte said this has always been
his sentiment and that he takes it
personally.
“Corny nga but it’s a little bit weird
na hindi talaga ako nag-party (that I
don’t like parties). I do not like it. And
the better that it’s just left unsaid …
’yan ang nakaugalian ko eh (that’s
what I’ve been used to),” he said.
“But it’s no longer mine. It’s
no longer the appropriate time for
me. I’m 74, I expect to more or less
pagbaba ko, 76, 77. After that I want
to…” Duterte said.
The President said there is
nothing more he could ask for from
God, given his age and status in life.
( J. Montemayor, Malaya/ E. Regalado
PS)
6 senators in Top 12 of Catholic voters’ list
SIX re-electionist senators made it
to the Top 12 candidates preferred by
Catholic voters, a survey conducted
by the Church-run Radio Veritas
showed.
According to results of the “Veritas
Truth Survey,” Sen. Grace Poe topped
the survey followed by Juan Edgardo
Angara (second), Cynthia Villar (third),
Nancy Binay (seventh), Paolo Benigno
Aquino IV (eighth), Aquilino Pimentel
III (9th to 11th tied with former special
presidential assistant Christopher
“Bong” Go and former party-list
congressman Neri Colmenares).
In fourth to sixth places are Rep.
Pia Cayetano, cardiologist Willie Ong,
and former PNP chief Ronald dela
Rosa. In the 12th spot was former
MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.
In 13th place is former broadcast
journalist Jiggy Manicad followed by
lawyer Chel Diokno. Former senators
Sergio Osmeña, Manuel Roxas II, and
Lito Lapid are tied at 15th to 17th
spots.
According Radio Veritas, the
survey was conducted from February
to March involving 1,200 respondents
nationwide.
The results were gathered from
Catholic voters from different parishes
nationwide.
Poe, all eight candidates of the
opposition “Otso Diretso” slate,
and former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri
Colmenares were the 10 bets chosen
by the People’s Choice Movement,
a group of Christian leaders from
Catholic, evangelical, and Protestant
organizations.
Aside from Aquino and Roxas,
the Otso bets are Rep. Gary Alejano,
lawyers Chel Diokno and Romulo
Macalintal, former solicitor general
Florin Hilbay, former Rep. Erin Tañada,
and civic leader Samira Gutoc.
The People’s Choice Movement
formally endorsed the 10 yesterday in
an event in San Juan City.
(GERARD NAVAL, Malaya)
Rappler execs face anti-dummy raps anew
Officials of the holding firm of
online news outfit Rappler have been
charged before a Pasig court for
violation of the anti-dummy law, in
connection with the issuance of its
shares to United States-based lobby
group Omidyar Network Fund, which
is a violation of the Constitution.
Named in the criminal information
dated March 20 were officers and
members of Rappler Holdings Corp.
— Manuel I. Ayala, Nico Jose Nolledo,
Maria Angelita Ressa, Glenda Gloria,
James C. Bintanga, Felicia Atienza,
and James Velasquez.
The case, filed by the National
Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime
Division, would be heard by the Pasig
Regional Trial Court Branch 265,
which recommended a PHP90,000-
bail for each of the respondents.
The charge was signed by Senior
Assistant City Prosecutor Randy
Esteban and approved by Senior
Assistant City Prosecutor Camilo B.
Dumlao II.
The charges arose over moves
made by the firm’s owners, sometime
in Oct. 2, 2015, to issue 7,217,257
Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDR)
to investor Omidyar.
The charge described the investor
“as a foreign corporation not allowed/
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM
proscribed by the Constitution or the
laws of the Philippines to acquire or use
the same, thereby allowing, or giving
the right to Omidyar Network Fund
LLC, to intervene in the management,
operation, administration and control
of Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings
Corporation in violation of the of the
anti-dummy law.”(PN/mb.com)