South Korean President Moon praises Duterte: "I take my hats off to President Duterte’s leadership..."

As South Korean President Moon Jae-In takes his “hats off” to President Rodrigo Duterte, so does the Philippine President commend Moon on his successes between South and North Korea. The two shared diplomatic relations that promises better future ties between the neighboring Asian countries. Moon viewed Duterte’s leadership as “outstanding” which has eventually won the support and trust of many Filipinos. “I take my hats off to President Duterte’s leadership which has enabled rapid economic growth and social stability, drawing great support from the people of the Philippines in the process,” Moon said. “The Philippines is currently working to realize national Vision 2040 under President Duterte’s outstanding leadership,” he added.

As for Duterte, he commended Moon’s efforts in bridging the gap between South and North Korea and bringing peace to the Korean peninsula.

“I commended President Moon for his vision of bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to the Korean peninsula. His selfless dedication is demonstrated by the historic Inter-Korean Summit (in April), which resulted in the (signing of the declaration),'” Duterte said.

“The Philippines is hopeful that positive developments over the past several months will continue and contribute positively toward the goal of the denuclearization in [the] Korean peninsula,” he added.

Image credit to Eagle News

Image credit to The Korea Herald

Better international ties between the two countries has resulted to South Korea offering $1 billion worth of official development assistance (ODA) to the Philippines.

Moon is positive that the Philippines’ warm support towards its recent peace agreement with North Korea will allay the ties between the two countries.

“His support will be of great help to us on our journey to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. Our two countries will further strengthen our cooperation and that goes beyond the Peninsula to uphold peace in the region,” Moon said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and South Korean President Moon Jae-in take a drink after their toast during the dinner at the Blue House on June 4/ Image credit to ABS-CBN News

PHOTOS: Bagong Mactan-Cebu International Airport T2 magiging “World’s Friendliest Resort Airport”

Who’s excited? Here’s a sneak peek into the the new Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Terminal 2 that will be inaugurated tomorrow, 07 June 2018. Envisioned to be the “World’s Friendliest Resort Airport,” the MCIA’s new passenger terminal building will increase the airport’s annual passenger capacity from 4.5 million to 12 million. MCIA will be utilizing energy-efficient and environment-friendly facilities to reduce the terminal’s impact to the environment. #DOTrPH 🇵🇭 #BUILDBUILDBUILD #AviationAndAirportsSectorWorks SOURCE By DOTr Who’s excited?

Trillanes: Despite low attendance, I’m most productive senator

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Wednesday he is doing his job even if he is not present at the session hall. At a press conference, Trillanes claimed that he is one of the most productive senator in terms of bills filed and sponsored. “Ang hindi narereport is number one ako bilang most productive senator dito sa Congress na ito. So, ‘di ba yun ang mas importante kaysa naka-attend ka nga diyan, araw-araw kang uma-attend pero wala ka namang ginagawa,” he told reporters when asked on the matter. “I’m the most productive in terms of the numbers of bills filed. I’m in the top five at least sa pinakamaraming sponsored na bills. So, ginagawa ko ‘yung trabaho ko,” he added. Senate records showed that Trillanes was able to attend only 52 of the 79 sessions, the lowest among senators. He was on official mission 23 times, of which 20 were out of the country and the others local. He also has four absences. Those who registered perfect attendance were Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, and Senator Panfilo Lacson. Trillanes said on the days he is not at the session hall, he is on official mission and still doing his duty as a senator. “Meron akong official business when I was out so covered ‘yan by a travel authority. So technically, that is not counted as an absence. But, at the end of the day ginagawa ko yung trabaho ko,” he said. “Given the opportunity na imbestigahan ‘yung mga kalabisan nitong administrasyon na ito, ginagawa ko. Sa ganitong klaseng administrasyon na baluktot, ‘yun ang importanteng trabaho ng Senado [ma] apparently hindi na namin ginagawa,” Trillanes added. — RSJ, GMA News

Goodnews! 154 NPA Sumuko na sa Militar sa Agusan Del Sur

On controversial kiss, Duterte says, ‘Ask my daughter Inday Sara’

President Rodrigo Duterte downplayed the various reactions to the controversial kiss with a former overseas Filipino worker in South Korea. "The logical answer is to ask my daughter if she was hurt," he said in a press conference early Wednesday morning. He explained that during his campaign for mayor of Davao City, he would kiss women "lips to lips." "Style ko 'yan e, maghanap kayo ng ibang style ninyo. There is nothing wrong (points to his lips)," referring to his critics. "Inggit lang 'yan sila... smack. A simple kiss, you cause an uproar. Inggit lang yan sila. Sabihin mo sa kanila, palitan ang pustiso nila," he added. Duterte also said that his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, was around during his campaign. "'Yung anak ko, Inday and yung isang anak ko, talagang selosa yun. Baka she'll put me to task, kaya ayoko munang umuwi," he said, referring to his daughter with common law partner Honeylet Avaceña, Veronica "Kitty" Duterte. "Alam mo di ako makipagaway sa anak na babae. Lalo na si Inday, hindi ko talaga kaya, pa cool off muna ako dito ilang araw sa Manila," he added. He said there was no malice in the kiss. "We enjoyed it," he added. Duterte also said, "I do not do it in public if there is malice" and that "I can only generate an emotion if I kiss a woman I love." Duterte further explained that he would also embrace even those who are sick. "Embrace ako, lalo na may sakit, I always assure them government is there for you nandun ako sa baba, kasi galing ako doon. (Kahit) may mga infection na lumalabas na sa damit," he added. — BAP, GMA News

Si Duterte? 'Wala pa yan sa Kalingkingan Ni Pnoy' -Kit Tadtad

Fatou Bensouda : No Evidence warranting Duterte`s ICC prosecution

He curses like it's his mother tongue. He threatens criminals like it's the most natural thing in the world. He lashes out against powerful international leaders without batting an eye. And he makes no apology for initiating a drug war that may have sparked an alarming wave of extra-judicial killings in the Philippines. Now, he is saying martial law may be the solution to the country's crime problem. But are these enough to warrant an international investigation against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte? Since he was elected into office on May 10, 2016, there have been at least 2,236 drug-related deaths in the country. Of this number, 1,287 were killed in police operations while 788 were pulled off by unidentified assailants, based on monitoring by the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group. READ: MAP, CHARTS: The Death Toll of the War on Drugs These figures and the daily reportage of drug pushers and addicts being killed in raids have fueled suspicions of human rights violations under the administration of Duterte. Though there has been no definitive proof yet, critics have attacked the President for it--from lawmakers, Church officials to even members of the international community. ICC JURISDICTION The noise has been so loud that it has reached the ears of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the global body that tries genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and most recently, crimes of aggression. "The failure of the government to address this situation currently prevailing of unexplained extra-judicial killings and providing remedies in terms of prosecution of perpetrators could result in the possibility of the ICC exercising jurisdiction over those matters if we fail to do so," Commission on Human Rights chair Chito Gascon said during a Senate inquiry in August. Created in 1998 through the United Nations treaty called the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over 124 of its members, including the Philippines, which became a signatory 16 years ago. POTENTIALLY LIABLE And ICC's chief prosecutor seems to think there is basis to look into what's happening in the country. Despite not mentioning Duterte, Fatou Bensouda said she was "deeply concerned" about the the fact that Philippine officials seem to condone the alleged extra-judicial killings, even encouraging the use of lethal force against the targets. "Let me be clear: any person in the Philippines who incites or engages in acts of mass violence including by ordering, requesting, encouraging or contributing, in any other manner, to the commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC is potentially liable to prosecution before the Court," she said in a statement last October. Since the Philippines is a state party to the ICC, it has had jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed by Filipino nationals since 2011, when the country became a signatory, she added. "My office, in accordance with its mandate under the Rome Statute, will be closely following developments in the Philippines in the weeks to come and record any instance of incitement or resort to violence with a view to assessing whether a preliminary examination into the situation of the Philippines needs to be opened," she said. PRIMARY JURISDICTION But Kabayan Party-list Rep. Harry Roque, the only ICC-accredited lawyer in the Philippines, said this is not up to Bensouda because she still has to get authorization from the court. "That's one of the peculiarities of the ICC," Roque told ABS-CBN News. The prosecutor also has to prove that the Philippines is "unable or unwilling to investigate" because the state party still has primary jurisdiction over the alleged crimes, he explained. And even if she does get authorization to launch a full-blown investigation, Bensouda still has to prove that the crimes were committed as "part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population." Amado Valdez, former dean of the University of East's College of Law, said this seems unlikely because police are just following protocol during their raids. "Wala naman akong nakikitang systematic na pagpatay kundi ang system na ginagawa nila is to make an investigation. May mga record naman yung iba so this is not systematic," he said. (I don't see any systematic killings but a system of investigating. There are records of these so this is not systematic.) PREMATURE It's also not clear what elements Bensouda wants to investigate, whether she wants to try Duterte for direct involvement or for command responsibility, said Roque. More importantly, he said the President has only been in office for more than three months so it's too early to prove anything. "Talagang premature pa to say the President that he will be tried," he said. Plus, the ICC has its own share of controversies, the most potent of which is its alleged bias against African countries. Just recently, Gambia and South Africa announced their withdrawal from the international tribunal. SIMILAR OUTCOME Roque predicts a similar outcome for the country in case Duterte does go on trial, especially since the Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country to ratify the Rome Statute. "There's a problem sa cooperation when it comes to sitting presidents," he said, although noting it was only obvious for the ICC to focus on African countries because of the atrocities happening in the region. The ICC Office of the Prosecutor is currently conducting preliminary examinations regarding situations in Afghanistan, Burundi, the registered vessels of Comoros, Greece and Cambodia, Colombia, Gabon, Guinea, Iraq/UK, Palestine, Nigeria and Ukraine. Share Facebook Share on Twitter GPlus LinkedIn Read More: international criminal court ICC rodrigo duterte war on drugs extra-judicial killings crimes against humanity

Sen Poe and Sen Kiko Tandem in 2022 Presidential Election? Source Say`s

No Joke: Matobato Campares Himself To John Wick before International Media

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he personally killed suspected criminals to set an example for police.

Duterte made the comments in a speech late on Monday night to businessmen as he discussed his campaign to eradicate illegal drugs, which has seen police and unknown assailants kill thousands of people since he became president on June 30.

'I used to do it personally,' he said, 'Just to show to the guys (police) that if I can do it why can't you,' Duterte said in his speech at the presidential palace.

'And I'd go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around, and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble also. I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill.'

After speaking about police killing suspects during the current crime war, Duterte said he led similar efforts when he was mayor of Davao, the major southern city that he ruled for most of the previous 20 years.

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Duterte, 71, also responded to criticism from human rights groups and US President Barack Obama about his anti-crime tactics, vowing he would not be intimidated by their criticism into stopping

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Rights groups have previously accused Duterte of running vigilante death squads in Davao that killed more than 1,000 suspected criminals, including children accused of petty crimes.

Duterte has variously denied and acknowledged involvement in the death squads.

But he easily won presidential elections in May after promising to roll-out his Davao law-and-order policies across the nation.

He pledged that 100,000 people would die in the crackdown and that so many bodies would be dumped in Manila Bay that fish there would grow fat from feeding on them.

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Since taking office in late June, police have reported killing 2,086 people in anti-drug operations. More than 3,000 others have been killed in unexplained circumstances, according to official figures

Since taking office in late June, police have reported killing 2,086 people in anti-drug operations. More than 3,000 others have been killed in unexplained circumstances, according to official figures.

Often masked assailants break into shanty homes and kill people who have been tagged as drug traffickers or drug users. Rights groups have warned of a breakdown in the rule of law with police and hired assassins operating with complete impunity.

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In October, Duterte compared himself to Adolf Hitler and said he would be 'happy to slaughter' three million drug addicts

Duterte has insisted that police are only killing in self-defence and gangsters are murdering the other victims.

But he has also said he will not allow any police to go to jail if they are found guilty of murder in prosecuting his crime war.

Surveys show a majority of Filipinos continue to support the charismatic Duterte and his crime policies, accepting his argument that drastic action is required to stop the Philippines from becoming a narco-state.

In October, Duterte compared himself to Adolf Hitler and said he would be 'happy to slaughter' three million drug addicts.

He later apologised for the Hitler reference but said he was 'emphatic' about wanting to kill the millions of addicts.

In September, a self-confessed Davao death squad member told a Senate hearing into the drug war that then-mayor Duterte personally gunned down a justice department agent and ordered the murders of opponents.

The confessed hitman, Edgar Matobato, said one of the victims was fed to a crocodile.

Duterte's aides denied the claims, sought to discredit Matobato and orchestrated the removal of the president's chief political opponent as chair of the Senate hearing.

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'Si Calida, kailan?' Trillanes asks after Duterte axes PhilHealth chief

Si (Solicitor General Jose) Calida kailan?"
This was the question raised by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV when sought for comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to replace Celestina Ma. Jude Dela Serna as interim chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
The senator said the President was quick to remove officials not close to him.
"Kapag hindi dikit sa kanya, tanggal agad. Si Calida na mas malaki ang halaga ng corruption, ayaw niya tanggalin kasi maraming alam na sikreto,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.
Senator Francis Pangilinan earlier called for the resignation of the Solicitor General insisting that there is conflict of interest when Calida-family owned Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc. (VISAI) secured contracts worth over P150 million with the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) between 2015 and 2018.
Senator Risa Hontiveros has also challenged the President to fire the government's top lawyer and file appropriate cases against him.
Calida said he would not quit his post as he can handle the accusations thrown at him.
President Duterte has repeatedly defended Calida.
"'Yung kay Calida naman bakit ko siya i-fire, out na long before he became a SolGen, 'yun ang negosyo niya, 'yun ang negosyo ng tatay niya. Actually inherited ni Calida ‘yan," he said in his speech before the Filipino community in South Korea.
"Basta may bidding lahat, anything in government basta may bidding ka, walang problema, okay 'yan. Kung siya ang nanalo, eh di siya... sabihin, putulin mo hanapbuhay ng tao, why? Are you sure you will be there for all times?" Duterte added.
Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said he has been requesting that the President appoint a financial expert with actuarial knowledge to the PhilHealth post.
“PhilHealth means management of funds. With PhilHealth's current situation, and not to undermine capabilities of doctors, we really need a financial wiz to fix all its troubles,” he said in a message to reporters.

“I am very much concerned with PhilHealth's financial standing at the moment. Really disturbing,” he added.
Ejercito expressed hope that the Office of the President and Office of Executive Secretary would continue search for a permanent PhilHealth President and CEO with financial and actuarial expertise.
He added charges should be filed not only against Dela Serna, but against past officials like former Health Secretary Janet Garin and former PhilHealth president Alexander Padilla who were allegedly responsible for mismanaging the funds resulting in its current financial state.
Duterte removed Dela Serna amid a Palace investigation into her alleged excessive travels. Earlier, the Commission on Audit released its report finding that Dela Serna spent P627,293.04 to cover her travel expenses to and from her home province of Bohol to Manila.
Appointed to replace her is Dr. Roy Ferrer, who has served as PhilHealth board member. —JST, GMA News

300 Left Kadamay to Form New Rally-for-Hire Group

Fed up of being used and manipulated, around 300 Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay members have called it quits, bringing into the open alleged corrupt practices of the pro-urban poor organization.

In a fit of anger, the former members, who occupy a government housing project in Pandi, Bulacan, threw their Kadamay identification cards to the ground, stomping them while chanting President Duterte’s name.

“Nagkakaisa po kami rito dahil sa mga panloloko ng mga Kadamay na yan,” said Bueno Cayman, one of the leaders of the group that broke away from Kadamay.

The splinter group said they have had enough of being forced to join protest actions which were mostly aimed at Duterte.

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But the worst part, they claimed, Kadamay had turned them into milking cows.

“Yung sinisingil po kami ng 150, 200, 300, makapag rally lang po. Hindi libre, kami pa po ang nagbabayad nun,” Jeffrey Ariz told GMA News.




Ariz, who also leads the breakaway faction, alleged that shelling out money for what they call as “lakbayin” or rally wasn’t voluntary. It’s either you cough up or face the specter of threats and harassment from Kadamay officials and their henchmen, he said.

Some were told to just simply pay up. “Minsan sinasabi ‘wag na kayo sumali sa rally magbigay na lang kayo ng 300,” said Julieta Dela Cruz.

A former Kadamay member, who requested anonymity, divulged that he got the unit he now occupies after giving in to the monetary demand of a Kadamay official whose name he didn’t mention.
At the onset of Kadamay’s takeover in Pandi, Bulacan in May 2017, he was asked to produce P15,000 in exchange for a guaranteed slot in a vacant housing project. After bargaining, it was reduced to P10,000. A final deal was made, he would pay P7,000 and settle the P3,000 balance later.
“Ang palabas nyan, sir, bayad para sa “lakbayin” pero hindi totally “lakbayin,” binibenta po sa amin yun,sir, he said.

Charlene Andesa couldn’t hold back her tears as she spoke to GMA News. She was also promised a housing unit. But up to now that remains just that.

“Nagbigay po ako ng isang buong baboy po. Hangggang ngayon wala pa po akong bahay. Pinapangakuan lang po ako,” she said crying.

But the Kadamay Pandi, Bulacan Chapter has shrugged off the apparent exodus, denying the
corruption allegations.

“Voluntary po ang paghingi ng suporta para sa mga “lakbayin,” said Pat Tupas, chairperson of Kadamay Pandi, Bulacan.

He turned the tables on one of the leaders of the breakaway group, claiming that Ariz was first stripped of authority as Kadamay official after he was caught acting as an “agent” in the illegal sale of vacant housing units in Pandi.

Tupas said “hindi tinotolerate ng organisasyong Kadamay ang ganitong mga taong nagtitiwalag at nilalabag ang batas.”

Ariz belied the allegation, promising to expose other wrongdoings being perpetrated by Kadamay.
The breakaway group said they will re-organize and form a new group to continue their goal.

“Bubuo po kami ng sarili naming group. Alam nap o naming kung papano magpatakbo ng ganitong klaseng grupo at ang goal naming ngayon ay lahat ng members dapat ang makikinabang, hindi yong mga lider lang,” Ariz said.

Cheers, disgust as Duterte kisses OFW in South Korea -Jim Paredes

Cheers, disgust as Duterte kisses OFW in South Korea https://t.co/jI9NIQi6yI via @rapplerdotcom

— Jim (@Jimparedes) June 3, 2018

Stephen Sackur: Filipinos should elect more intelligent senators next time

Journalist Stephen Sackur shows the rest of the world’s “journalists” how it’s done on his BBC talk show HARDtalk where he put Philippine “senator” Antonio Trillanes IV through the wringer. Trillanes is one of the harshest critics of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and, by far, the most rabid — like a dog with a bone in his resolve to cut down Duterte’s government midway through its term.
Sackur did not mince words. He first got Trillanes to confirm that he is an avowed democrat then proceeded to grill him on the matter further citing the inconsistency of this vow to uphold democratic rule with his track record of launching coup d’etats (notably described by Sackur as “pathetic” in the way they lasted for no more than a day or two) against a duly-elected president, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through the 2000s.

 On that single point, Sackur built a consistently-themed conversation with Trillanes. He kept referring to the simple fact that Duterte had, during his campaign for the presidency, been fully up front about what he envisions his rule will be like, laying on the table every gory detail of the way he plans to make good on his promises to run roughshod over every obstacle — even over “human rights” — to fulfill his mandate to clean up his country. That he won the presidential election with all those ideas laid out before the public to digest is, as Sackur points out more than a few times during the interview, democracy at work. Today, “the majority of Filipinos seem to like his iron fist,” Sackur observes. From there, more pointed questions were fielded by Sackur in rapid succession. One of his most difficult questions to Trillanes was, around whether or not his efforts to take down the Duterte administration were in tune with ordinary Filipinos’ sentiments. Sackur even went as far as describing Trillanes’s comments on the Philippine government as “constantly negative” in that light. Trillanes could only stammer out a response that merely

Duterte rejects Robredo`s intent to be DOTR CHIEF

President Rodrigo Duterte shot down the possibility of having Vice President Leni Robredo take over the position of Social Welfare secretary after it was vacated with the recent rejection of Judy Taguiwalo by the powerful Commission on Appointments.
Asked by reporters on the possibility of having Robredo, the former housing secretary, to take over the Social Welfare portfolio, the President on Monday night responded with a resounding “no” on the suggestion. He did not clarify.
Duterte, however, said that he had asked an incumbent senator once if “she” could be the next DSWD chief.

The President likewise offered in jest the position of DSWD secretary to popular ABS-CBN broadcaster Doris Bigornia—who were among the reporters present during the roundtable held at Malacañang Park, a few steps from his Bahay Pagbabago home at the Pasig riverbanks.
The President said he will replace Taguiwalo with someone who will “avoid corruption” and “work sincerely” for the post.
Robredo’s name floated as one of the possible contenders for DSWD chief after one of his die-hard supporters, the former sex guru now Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson included her in an online poll, which the Vice President topped.
Uson later on accused the Vice President of employing trolls to win the online poll.
Duterte and Robredo had a falling out after the Vice President was disallowed to attend Cabinet meetings, following her criticisms over the Presidnet’s bloody drug war.
In the same media interview, the President said that he intends to work around the “legally-feasible” limits of the law to have the current military chief, General Eduardo Año within his turf.
While Año cannot assume a post yet due to one-year appointment ban, Duterte said that he can make him his senior aide at the Office of the President or even an undersecretary at the Interior Department, if this is possible.
“I need his services. Año would be under me. I would make him a senior aide of the Office of the President or whatever. Or undersecretary if that is legally feasible. Ilagay ko lang siya undersecretary but he performs as officer-in-charge,” Duterte said.
“It’s Año. But he has a mission. Sabi ko, “Tapusin mo muna ‘yung Marawi then I want you to go to the DILG,” he added.
Current Interior Officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy will remain in his post as DILG chief, until Ano’s one year restriction would be over, the President said.

U.S Ambassador Nikki 'We Must Give President Duterte to run Hist Nation'Stop Criticizing For Every of His Mistake'

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley has called upon human rights groups to be impartial and not to take political inclination while dispensing their duties in any particular nation.

Nikki urged right groups in Philippines to engage in consultations with president Duterte government and shun from taking political stances which may lead to a lose of relevance and credibility in the country.

“We must give President Duterte the space to run his nation. We must respect their independence … It is not in our purview to decide his administrative issues for the Philippines.” She said

“That is the job of the president,” she added during this year’s United Nation General Assembly in New York.

The Philippines Government has been accusing human rights groups and regional blocs of not supporting his administration and colluding with opposition politicians to sabotage his war on drugs.

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CHR’s Gascon calls for resistance to worldwide ‘democratic recession’

Philippine Commission on Human Rights chairperson Chito Gascon is urging people across the world to stand up against "democratic recession" plaguing all continents due to the rise of strongmen.
In an article published in TIME magazine on Wednesday, Gascon wrote that "democracy and human rights are in retreat today, and not only in the Philippines, but across all continents."
He said that the appeal of strongmen is not new, but that they present a "false and even dystopian dichotomy" that leads to their rise to power.
He added that the strongman's appealing proposition is a "false choice," and "an alternative of greater safety, security, and stability, in exchange for diminished freedoms."
"We can and we must direct a righteous rage towards this trend, in a manner that is both purposive and strategic," Gascon said.
He called for non-violent strategies in parliaments, courts, cyberspaces, and streets, while urging to build solidarity.
"Let us be emboldened by an unrelenting will to stand up for justice, and an undying faith in humanity’s capacity for good. If we do not struggle, we will not overcome. We must push back," he said.

Broken promise
Gascon lamented the broken promise that was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which is celebrating its 70th anniversary later this year.
Adopted in 1948, the UDHR is a historic document that signifies a milestone in the history of human rights. It sets out a standard that was meant to be adopted by all nations.
"Since its creation, the world has painstakingly constructed an entire edifice of human rights norms, establishing domestic and international protection mechanisms to ensure the fulfillment of the UDHR’s promise. But that promise has been broken around the world," he said.
He highlighted President Rodrigo Duterte's relentless war on drugs in the Philippines, and his continued calls to ignore international outrage over the thousands killed in the bloody campaign.
Gascon said that the world must continue upholding human rights, and that there is no battle that is more important than that.
"We need more democracy and not less of it, and we must uphold human rights for there is no battle more important today. Democracy and human rights are important enablers of human development that will create conditions for people to reach their full potential. As long as persons in any part of the world remain deprived of their fundamental rights and freedom, we are all diminished," he said.
"If we are unable to ensure the respect, protection, and fulfillment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of all—especially the poorest and the most marginalized—then the universal human rights project will indeed mean nothing," he added. —Jessica Bartolome/LBG,

Hontiveros Admits Signing of Documents to Release ₱10.6-B Fund to Garin, But….

Former PhilHealth executive and now Senator Risa Hontiveros admits signing of documents related to the diversion of ₱10.6 billion PhilHealth fund intended for senior citizens but denied she benefited from doing so.

Hontiveros aired her side following a viral fake news that claims she proliferated the calling for the resignation of Solicitor general Jose Calida.

The Commission on Audit (COA) earlier said that the ₱10.6 billion fund intended for senior citizens was diverted to the Department of Health (DOH), by then secretary Janet Garin. Hontiveros was the head of PhilHealth that time.

“The records will bear me out. Although I signed the documents, I never benefited from it. Everything was a normal process and based on the agency’s protocols,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“That’s why I’m calling on our health officials to get their act together and explain to the public the records, course of activities and the overall paper trail of the government’s big-ticket health programs,” she added.


Hontiveros also criticized Calida anew, who she accused of benefiting from the government contracts that his security agency’s bagged.

“Hindi po tayo kagaya ni Mr. Calida na milyon-milyon ang naibulsang pera ng kanyang negosyo mula sa mga kontrata sa gobyerno,” the lawmaker said.