Duterte tells Comelec: Deputize me for 2019 polls

Deputize me.

This was what President Rodrigo Duterte told the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday to help ensure a clean conduct of the 2019 midterm elections.

Duterte added that he will impose the “Alunan” doctrine, which limits the number of armed guards of politicians.

“I commit to the Filipino people that this will be a clean election. Sabihin ko sa Comelec na i-deputize personally ako [I’m telling the Comelec to deputize me personally],” Duterte said in a speech before a political gathering in Davao City.

“In the next few months, I will impose the Alunan doctrine. You cannot bring long firearms during the election,” the Chief Executive said.

Likewise, Duterte chastised the communist rebels, telling them not to terrorize the public during the local and national polls.

“Itong mga NPA, huwag kayong makialam kasi election to [These NPA rebels, do not meddle because this is an election]. Do not terrorize. I will tell the Armed Forces and the police not to interfere if you are not deputized,” he said. /jpv

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1022498/duterte-tells-comelec-deputize-me-for-2019-polls

Duterte not a quitter – Panelo

By Genalyn Kabiling

President Duterte is not a quitter, and will continue to serve the nation despite recently expressing readiness to relinquish his post to a military junta or a competent successor, according to a Palace official.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the President will not be resigning anytime soon, believing the Chief Executive was merely exasperated by the lingering corruption in government.

“The intention is precisely to tell the people that he is disgusted, exasperated, he wants to resign but he will not do it,” Panelo said in a television interview. “He’s so pissed off but knowing him, he is not a quitter,” he said.

Panelo, however, said the President was not the kind of public servant, who would cling on to power.

“If he sees and feels that the situation is ripe for him to step down, he will. But not now, I don’t think so,” he added.
Asked if Duterte will finish his term, Panelo said: “I think so.”

President Duterte recently said he was mulling on resignation amid difficulties in resolving the problems of corruption and illegal drugs within his term. Duterte, however, was reluctant to quit since a constitutional succession means being replaced by Vice President Leni Robredo, whom he said was not competent for the job.

Instead, Duterte said he might step down only if political allies like Senator Francis Escudero and former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or a military junta would take his place.

Duterte’s term will end on June 30, 2022.

Panelo, meantime, said the President is expected to fire more high ranking government officials for alleged involvement in corruption.

“He didn‘t expect that the magnitude of corruption is this much. So he has to make double time in firing officials… until corruption has dwindled to the minimum,” he said.

Panelo said the anti-corruption campaign would also be intensified by the government. “He has been saying that the illicit drug trade is still there, then there must be more actions against these people in the coming days,” he said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/08/17/duterte-not-a-quitter-panelo/

PNP to follow Constitution after Duterte floats junta scenario

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday it will only support a constitutional succession in the event of a vacancy in the Office of the President even as it expressed satisfaction with the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte on Tuesday expressed frustration at how difficult it is to rid the government of corruption, prompting him to float again the possibility of cutting short his six-year term that ends in 2022.

The President said he prefers a military junta or the likes of Senator Francis Escudero and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to replace him instead of Vice President Leni Robredo, his constitutional successor whom he deemed incompetent to take on the job.

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr, however, said the police organization was cool to the idea.

"As far as the Philippine National Police is concerned, I think that’s also made clear by Armed Forces of the Philippines, we will follow what’s written in the Constitution," Durana said at a press briefing in Malacañang.

Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año has also said he does not see any possibility for a military junta to prosper.

A former military chief, Año said the AFP and PNP are happy with the leadership of Duterte, who put premium on the welfare of the military and police by doubling their salaries and enhancing their capabilities.

Durana added Duterte "has given almost a free hand" to the PNP leadership to do its job unlike in the past where there were "a lot of political influences."

"In my 30 years in the service, we’re just being given lip service by the previous administration – not this time. So this government has taken good, real good care of our uniform services now," the PNP official said.

He also cited continued public support — as reflected in the surveys — for the war on drugs, the centerpiece campaign of the Duterte administration which has drawn criticism here and abroad for supposed extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.

"The President was spot on all along that’s why he built the capacity of the Philippine National Police in dealing with our campaign against illegal drugs and our campaign against criminality because if you have a very good peace and order in our country, you know, it will create an enabling environment for peace and progress to thrive in this country," Durana said.

"And probably later on, this economic progress and development can trickle down to the rest of 90 percent of the Filipinos." — MDM, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/664512/pnp-to-follow-constitution-after-duterte-floats-junta-scenario/story/

PNP: No reason to grab power from Duterte

The Philippine National Police on Friday said there is no reason for the police or military to grab power from President Rodrigo Duterte, as the country’s law enforcement agencies are happy with how the chief executive is running things.

Duterte has said the PNP or the Armed Forces are free to oust him in a coup if they feel that he is no longer capable as a leader.

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bong Durana, however, said the 170,000-strong PNP is very satisfied with the President’s leadership.

“As far as the PNP is concerned, we will follow what’s written in the constitution,” Durana said in a Palace press briefing.

“In my 30-plus years in service, it is only now that the PNP leadership is empowered, unlike before there are a lot of political influences. The president has given almost a free hand to the PNP to do their job," he added.

Duterte has said he is not afraid of being overthrown in a coup, and has in fact expressed preference to it instead of relinquishing his post to Vice President Leni Robredo.

Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año, a former military chief, said “there is no existing condition” that would call for a coup or junta. He said the military is satisfied with Duterte’s leadership.

Duterte earlier this week said he was “tired” and thinking of stepping down, as he expressed frustration over the rampant corruption in government and persistence of the illegal drug trade.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/17/18/pnp-no-reason-to-grab-power-from-duterte

Robredo lawyer to Duterte: VP Leni qualified to be president

Vice President Leni Robredo is qualified to be President and should be given a chance to prove so, her lawyer asserted Friday.

Addressing President Rodrigo Duterte, lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Robredo is just as fit for the presidency as the 73-year-old chief executive under qualifications required by the charter.

"Yes, Idol President, VP Leni is qualified to be President because her qualifications are just the same qualifications you possess as required of a president under the constitution," Macalintal said in a statement.

Macalintal's comments came after Duterte aired his doubts over Robredo's competence, saying he would rather have the military or the likes of former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Sen. Francis Escudero to lead the country.

Macalintal explained that the presence of illegal drugs in the country cannot be a basis for Robredo's alleged incompetence, the same way it does not disqualify Duterte as president.

"Hence, VP Robredo deserves the right to prove her qualifications and abilities to be president in her own style and approach on current problems of the country while you take a break and take that much-needed rest," he said.

"So, idol President, why can’t you give VP Robredo a chance to prove her qualifications? As a lawyer, you know she is entitled to due process or right to be heard before she could be accused of not being qualified to perform the functions of the presidency [to] which under the constitution she is the rightful successor," he added.

The veteran election lawyer added that the President, who earlier revealed mulling to step down, can take a break with confidence that Robredo can lead the country.

"Yes idol President, if you feel like taking a break, then do it the constitutional way by allowing the constitutionally mandated VP Leni to take the realm of the presidency while you are having your much-needed rest days," Macalintal said.

"You really need a good break Mr. idol President and when you come back you can rest assured that the country has been that good, if not better, in the hands of the qualified VP Robredo," he added.

Robredo is facing a poll protest from Marcos, who has asked the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to invalidate her victory in the 2016 elections. A recount is ongoing.

Malacañang on Thursday said Duterte might make good on his promise to step down if Marcos wins his poll protest.

Duterte had said he would like to relinquish his post as he expressed frustration over rampant corruption in government and the persistence of the illegal drug trade.

But the President said he is not amenable to following the constitutional line of succession.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/17/18/robredo-lawyer-to-duterte-vp-leni-qualified-to-be-president

Duterte: 'I am ready to step down'

(2nd UPDATE) – President Rodrigo Duterte declared he is ready to leave the presidency should the military and police "find" the right successor.

"At this time, I am telling you, I am ready to step down and retire," he said on Tuesday, August 14, during the Pilipinas Angat Lahat launch in Malacañang.

He supposedly also told this to security officials during a recent joint military and police command conference.

"Sinabi ko sa mga sundalo at pulis (I told the soldiers and police), 'Guys, I want you to know that I am thinking of stepping down,'" he said, explaining that he was "tired" and frustrated by corruption in government.

"I am exasperated because however I try – I was dealing with the problem of Nayong Pilipino," he said, referring to the supposedly "flawed" lease contract between Nayong Pilipino Foundation and Landing Entertainment, a Chinese casino operator.

"Graft is so embedded, it is endemic, and it is always part of the territory of a transaction especially by government.... I do not think I can fulfill my promise to the people," he said.

It's not clear how serious Duterte is since he has made similar pronouncements before. He has spoken of resigning or not completing his term, but usually takes a light-hearted tone. (READ: Duterte's constant musings on death, resignation)

The President also started and ended his speech with his idea of resigning. At the beginning of his speech, he even said he was "embarrassed" to talk about it in the presence of House Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as it would "cheapen" the presidency.

No to Robredo as president

Duterte expounded on a scenario of his possible "resignation," even sharing his thoughts on who should succeed him.

He said he would resign if security officials "find" the right leader.

"If you say, 'President, sir, we find you not at par or not in parity with the expectations,' and you say, 'We have found a leader,' I will step down," he said.

Duterte, however, rejects Vice President Leni Robredo as his successor, even if the 1987 Constitution states the vice president takes over upon the president's resignation.

"I am hesitant to suggest a constitutional succession. I have nothing against Robredo. She's a lawyer, you have heard her talk, but I do not think she can improve on anything here," he said.

Duterte even claimed Naga City, where Robredo is from, is a "hotbed" for illegal drugs.

Why entrust the choice of the next president to the police and military?

"They are the only organizations that can control [the situation] when everything breaks loose," said Duterte.

VP camp: 'Just follow the Constitution'

The Vice President’s camp brushed aside the value of Duterte’s “endorsement,” citing his measure of competence, based on the performance of some of his appointees.

“Mga ‘competent’ ayon sa Pangulo: Tourism Sec na walang ginawa kundi mangurakot, NDRRMC head na nawawala kapag baha, NFA chief na naubusan ng bigas. Kanya na ‘yung endorsement niya, sumunod na lang tayo sa Konstitusyon,” Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said in a statement on Wednesday, August 15.

(‘Competent’ people, according to the President: a tourism secretary who is always on the take. An NDRRMC head who goes missing when there’s flooding, an NFA chief who ran out of rice. He can have his endorsement, let’s just follow the Constitution.)

Gutierrez was referrring to former tourism secretary Wanda Teo, who resigned following public outrage over the multimillion-peso Department of Tourism ad placement in the TV show of her brother.

Earlier this year, senators blamed National Food Authority chief Jason Aquino for the price increase in NFA rice as they probed the dwindling rice stocks in the country. Duterte later removed Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr – who had policy differences on rice importation with Aquino – as head and member of the NFA Council.

GMA H1 income down 21% to P1.22B

Media giant GMA Network Inc. saw its profit decline in the first semester of 2018 as its main television and radio advertising revenues dropped.

GMA said in a stock exchange filing that net income from January to June this year hit P1.22 billion, down 21 percent versus the same period in 2017.

This came amid a 6-percent decline in revenue to P7.25 billion.

Television and radio airtime sales accounted for 88 percent of total revenues in the first half of the year. The segment dropped 7 percent to P6.4 billion during the period.

“This year saw a notable contraction in television placements from advertisers, which was felt across the broadcasting industry,” GMA said in its filing.

GMA noted that other revenues, including its international operations, rose 3 percent to P856 million. Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ended the firs half at P2.46 billion, down 17 percent.

“In spite of challenging market conditions, GMA Network was still able to breach the one billion-peso mark in terms of net income for the first half of 2018. We look forward to seeing the rest of the year with better results for our company,” GMA Network chair and CEO Felipe Gozon said in a separate statement.

For the second quarter alone, GMA saw profit grow 13 percent to P805.7 million. Total revenues during this period were up 1 percent to P3.98 billion.

GMA noted that expenses were stable as operating costs rose 0.5 percent to P5.57 billion.

It said general and administrative expenses rose 6 percent to P2.64 billion. This included personnel costs, which increased 8 percent as the company implemented annual salary adjustments and provisioning for retirement.

The increase was offset by the 4-percent drop in production costs to P2.93 billion.

During the company’s annual meeting in May, Gozon said GMA still expected to post a growth in profit for the whole of 2018.

Its net income in 2017 dropped 30 percent to P2.54 billion, mainly on the absence of political ad spending that propped up earnings the previous year. Gozon said the company was also focused on the rollout of its digital television platform across the Philippines within the year.

http://business.inquirer.net/255736/gma-h1-income-21-p1-22b/amp?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&__twitter_impression=true

“LET IT PASS” SAYS PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE ON HIS RIFT WITH ABS-CBN

• President Rodrigo Duterte may just dismiss his rift against ABS-CBN pass.
• He spoke and admitted he was hurt with what had happened in the past.
• The rift started when ABS-CBN aired a controversial political advertisement against him.

During the May 2016 elections, ABS-CBN did not air President Rodrigo Duterte‘s political advertisements. The Network, however, aired a controversial political advertisement against him which was paid by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

This caused a beef between him and the corporation that became a frequent target of the President’s rants.

“Let it pass.”

During a dinner he hosted on August 14, Tuesday in Malacañang for the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, he spoke and admitted he was hurt by what ABS-CBN did to him, but the President, however, is ready to move on and let it pass.

“That was really hurting. Kaya minsan I blurt it out but I have learned to live with it actually. Kung minsan mag-init lang ang ulo ko… But let’s just understand each other, and let it pass. I said because let no man with no sin cast the first stone.”

Not that long ago, the President repeatedly threatened to block the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which is set to expire in 2020. During a speech he made on August 3, Friday, President Rodrigo brought up his grievances against the said corporation.

Leni Robredo to Duterte: 'Let’s just work'

The country has so many problems, let’s just work.

That was Vice President Leni Robredo’s response to the statements made by President Duterte against her.

Speaking to reporters in Naga City yesterday, Robredo brushed aside Duterte’s claim that her hometown is a hotbed of illegal drugs.

She also dismissed remarks by the President saying she is not capable of running the country should she succeed him as Chief Executive.

“Personally, I don’t want to react. I don’t want to respond to those statements because they do not help,” she said in Filipino.

“Our country has a lot of problems. Let us just try to fix it and avoid politics,” she added.

Robredo said she and Duterte were both elected to serve until 2022, maintaining that they have an obligation to serve the public until the end of their terms.

“We are obligated to do our best for the country because that is our mandate,” she said.

“Instead of wasting time on things that are not true, we should just work,” added the Vice President.

Duterte earlier said Robredo would not be able to solve the country’s problems should she become president.

He said he would rather have a military junta or the likes of Sen. Francis Escudero III and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lead the country.

Malacañang yesterday said Duterte might resign if Marcos wins in his electoral protest against Robredo.

Robredo’s lead counsel Romulo Macalintal said Duterte may have to finish his term as Marcos will not win in his election protest.

Macalintal expressed confidence that they will not lose in the ongoing case.

“Insofar as we are concerned, President Duterte’s resignation will never happen because Mr. Marcos will never win his electoral protest,” he said.

Marcos filed an election protest in 2016 after losing to Robredo in the vice presidential race with a slim margin of 263,473 votes.

He has contested the results in various cities and municipalities and sought the nullification of votes in some provinces where he alleged that massive fraud occurred.

The recount for Marcos’ selected pilot provinces is ongoing.

The camp of Robredo has repeatedly maintained that no fraud happened and that she won squarely in the vice presidential race.

The Vice President urged residents of Naga to unite amid the attacks. – With Rhodina Villanueva

Read more at https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/17/1843367/leni-robredo-duterte-lets-just-work#8uhS5q5iZTICdsgc.99

Duterte not resigning for now

Despite his frustrations over endemic corruption in government, President Duterte will not step down from office for now, a Malacañang official said yesterday.

Duterte might resign if former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wins his electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr.

“The President has said that former senator Bongbong Marcos is one of the qualified leaders to succeed him. If he wins the poll protest and he becomes vice president, perhaps the President will make good on his promise to resign,” Roque said.

Marcos’ poll protest against Robredo remains pending before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Duterte earlier said he is not amenable to following the Constitution when it comes to succession.

“The President is worried that his successor may not be qualified,” Roque said, referring to Robredo.

In a statement, Marcos said he is grateful to the President for trusting him.

“I thank the President for his faith in my abilities. But I urge him not to resign as the Filipino people still need him for  the betterment of the country,” Marcos said.

More heads to roll

Since the President is not yet resigning, Roque said the public should expect more heads to roll in the government if corruption would continue to persist.

“I guess more corrupt government officials will be sacked. So wait for further announcements,” Roque said

He asked the Malacañang Press Corps to announce the names of those who will be fired for corruption.

“We will be the anti-graft dissemination corps,” Roque said.

As for the recommendation for Duterte to take a break from work, Roque said, “He should probably file officially a leave and designate the Executive Secretary in an acting capacity.”

Duterte’s readiness to step down from office is an indication that he would not hang on to power, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

Cayetano said the President remains a strong leader and enjoys the people’s support.

“So let’s continue to pray for him and support him, let’s do our part. Let’s not wait that he gets to a point that he will step down,” he said.

Erap: Philippines needs Duterte

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada asked President Duterte not to resign, saying the country needs him at this “crucial time.”

Estrada said he advised the President not to resign when they met at an event on Wednesday night.

Estrada said the administration’s war on drugs should continue without letup. –  With Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/17/1843399/duterte-not-resigning-now

Pimentel bares shortlist of senatorial bets

By VANNE ELAINE TERRAZOLA

SENATOR Aquilino “Koko” Pi­mentel III has formally asked President Duterte to look into the possible candidates of the Partido Demokratiko ng Bayan-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the 2019 senatorial elections.

In a letter dated Aug. 15, 2018, Pimentel, PDP-Laban president, sought President Duterte’s opinion on the shortlist of 24 names for their senatorial slate in the May, 2019 midterm polls.

The letter mentioned personali­ties known to be allies of the Chief Executive, including Pimentel, who will be seeking his third term, and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go; former MMDA chairman and Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino; Representative Karlo Nograles; Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu; Rep. Geraldine Roman; Rep. Monsour del Rosario; Rep. Alfredo Benitez; Rep. Dakila Cua; musician Freddie Aguilar, and journalist Jiggy Mani­cad.

Pimentel also cited non-PDP-La­ban members, whom he described as “friends of the party.” They were Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio; Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque; Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano; former senator Lito Lapid, former Interior and Local Government secretary Rafael Alunan, former police chief and Bureau of Corrections chief Gen. Ronald dela Rosa; broadcaster Ramon Tulfo, actor Robin Padilla.

The PDP-Laban leader, on Thurs­day, urged Duterte-Carpio to run for a Senate seat in 2019, despite repeated denial from the presiden­tial daughter that she will run as senator and to seek re-election as Davao City Mayor.

Pimentel also endorsed to the President the five reelectionist senators in the Senate’s majority bloc, namely: Sens. Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejer­cito, Grace Poe, and Cynthia Villar.

He told Duterte that the sena­tors were “generally supportive of your administration.”

Pimentel, in his letter, also asked the President for a meeting on the matter “at the earliest possible time” to prepare for the elections.

http://tempo.com.ph/2018/08/17/pimentel-bares-shortlist-of-senatorial-bets/

Sen. Ejercito lauds Rep. Sato for ‘tirelessly working’ to pass the bill creating PUP branch in Occidental Mindoro

Senator JV Ejercito has lauded Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato for “tirelessly” pushing for a the passage of a bill that seeks to establish a Polytechinic University of the Philippines campus in her province.

Rep. Sato was the principal author of the Republic Act 11056, or an act establishing PUP branch in Sablayan. The law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last Aug. 9.

Senator Ejercito, meanwhile, was Rep. Sato’s counterpart in the upper chamber.

“As a principal author and my counterpart in the House of Representatives, I thank you for tirelessly working for the passage of this bill. I am happy to see our efforts will usher better tertiary education in the province,” Senator Ejercito said in a letter to Rep. Sato.

For her part, Rep. Sato also thanked the Senator for his support to the bill and to the education of the youth in Occidental Mindoro.

“Maraming Salamat Sen. JV Ejercito sa pagpapahalaga sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan ng OkSi para sa mabuting edukasyon!,” said Sato.

“Salamat din po sa pagkilalang binigay ninyo sa ating pagtutulungan upang isa-batas ang “PUP-Sablayan Campus Act” (R.A. 11056). Dahil dito, magkakaroon na ng sapat na taunang pondo upang itaas ang kalidad ng pagtuturo at dagdagan ang mga kursong aangkop sa pangangailangan ng OkSi at mga karatig-probinsya,” she added.