Volume XXXIV No. 10 October 2016 www.filipinostar.org Montreal, QC Canada Philippine President Duterte’s ally backtracks on call for ‘separation’ from U.S. Duterte's trade minister Ramon Lopez tried to finesse the word, the latest in damage control efforts surrounding the president. By EMILY RAUHALA The Washington Post country’s global outlook. “(Duterte) has Fri., Oct. 21, 2016 decided to strengthen further and rekindle the ties with China and the That was quick. ASEAN region,” Lopez said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian On Thursday night in Beijing, President Nations. Rodrigo Duterte called for a military and economic “separation” from the United The spin-doctoring comes less than 24 States. From now on, he told a crowd, hours after Duterte met with Chinese it’s the Philippines, Russia and China President Xi Jinping, agreed to resume “against the world.” bilateral talks on maritime disputes in the South China Sea, then effectively Or not. On Friday, Duterte’s own trade asked the United States for a divorce. minister, Ramon Lopez, sought to “Your honours, in this venue I announce “clarify” the comment. “The president my separation from the United States ... did not talk about separation,” he told both in military and economics also,” CNN Philippines — apparently trying to Duterte said. finesse the word used by Duterte. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte “In terms of economic [ties], we are not interacts with reporters during a news stopping trade, investment with conference upon his arrival from a four- America,” he said. day state visit in China. From now on, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte interacts with reporters during a he said Thursday, it’s the Philippines, But he did not attempt further news conference upon his arrival from a four-day state visit in China. Russia and China “against the world.” interpretation of Duterte’s remarks and From now on, he said Thursday, it’s the Philippines, Russia and China “against the world.” (LEAN DAVAL JR / REUTERS) See Page 4 President Duterte the apparent pro-China shift in the US Presidential polls: Clinton team warns on complacency as Trump camp admits “We’re behind” Hillary Clinton’s increasingly confident presidential candidate Tim Kaine said campaign has warned against data from early voting states suggested complacency, as new poll numbers Clinton was headed toward a “very big suggested Donald Trump may drag and historic win” on 8 November. Republicans into a rout in just over two weeks time. However, Clinton campaign aides insisted they had not discounted the In the final days after their televised risk that Trump could benefit from an debates, the candidates have adopted unpredictable 2016 electorate, starkly different tactics to reach the especially in swing states like Ohio more than 200 million Americans who where polling remains tight. have registered to vote in the election. “These battleground states are called While Trump has doubled down with that for a reason,” her campaign raucous swing state rallies that some manager, Robby Mook, told CNN on have compared to a rock music tour, Sunday. “They are going to be Clinton is spending heavily on TV incredibly close. We don’t want to get advertising and local organising, with ahead of our skis here. We are just as an eye toward states in once safely focused on Ohio, Iowa, Florida as we Republican territory. have ever been.” Hillary Rodham Clinton Donald Trump The strategy could take the candidate Trump advisers acknowledge they are just in the month of September. She points in some of these swing states well past the 270 electoral college facing an uphill battle, but maintain the has a former president, happens to be that Mitt Romney lost to President votes needed to win the White House, country’s anti-establishment mood will her husband, campaigning for her, and Obama,” she said, “is that Donald and marks a turn to helping other work in their favour in the final few she’s seen as the incumbent.” Trump is just going to continue to take Democrats win back control of days. the case directly to the people. Congress. Conway argued that the electoral map, “We are behind,” campaign manager reshaped by Trump, would benefit the “He doesn’t expect to be able to cut Speaking at a rally in Orlando, Florida Kellyanne Conway told NBC. “She has businessman. “Our advantage going in on Sunday night, Democratic vice- some advantages, like $66m in ad buys when we’re behind one, three, four See Page 4 US Presidential Polls October 2016 2 The North American Filipino Star Digong was the Manchurian candidate all along! Do we haEve DgrouInTds fOor cRoncIerAns aLbout the administration of President Duterte? President Rodrigo Duterte has widespread condemnations when he been in office since June 30, 2016 - compared it to the Holocaust under barely four months ago - and he has Hitler. A rough estimate puts the death already uttered many remarks that are toll at about 3,600, including more than both controversial and shocking to most 1,300 suspects killed in gun battles with people. Perhaps, it is his radical style police — an average of 36 killings a day that we are not used to that makes us since he took office on June 30. wonder if the people made the correct The scale of the crackdown has decision of electing him as the 16th been unprecedented, with the police president of the Philippines. launching more than 23,500 raids so far Although he has remained and arresting 22,500 suspected drug popular among the people, it is not clear dealers and addicts. More than 1.6 how much longer will it take before the million houses of drug suspects have people understand the consequences of been visited by police to invite them to his actions, and his seemingly erratic surrender and stop using drugs or behavior on the international stage. disengage from the drug trade. About Who will have faith in his government if 732,000 addicts and dealers have he continues to behave in such a surrendered, apparently for fear of manner that no one can be sure if he is being killed, overwhelming Duterte and Then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte meets with Chinese Consul General Song Ronghua joking or if he is serious about sudden the national police and prompting them (left) and his party during their courtesy call at Marco Polo Hotel during the policy changes? Or are they really to scramble for land and money to build presidential campaign. (Credit: Bing Gonzales) policies or just statements he does not rehabilitation centers.” n Philippine elections, presidential which was sealed with the blood of really mean? These staggering statistics I candidates are labeled according to their Filipino and American soldiers who Many news reports cite the pose a question - are they all declared fought side by side during World II, has increasing number of extra-judicial guilty before proving their innocence? perceived political persuasion or ideological beliefs. However, political endured to this day. Indeed, a Social killings since Duterte came into power Are the leaders of the drug syndicates persuasion doesn’t really matter in Weather Stations (SWS) survey taken which have alarmed other world included in these massive operations? Philippine politics because Filipino recently showed that Filipinos trust leaders. His reaction is typical of his President Duterte has proven politicians change their political America more than China. It’s a character - instead of justifying what he to be a fearless man who speaks his affiliations to suit their personal testament to the strong ties between the is doing, he swears and uses mind without much thought, and makes objectives. There are the “Amboys” two countries. expletives. Consequently, President people believe that he really loves his (American Boys). There are the Obama cancelled his one-to-one country and that he really wants to “balimbings” (political turncoats and It is in this regard that pro-American meeting with him. serve the people. But there are known opportunists). And there are the candidates win in elections. To be There are two opposing views examples of leaders who did not use “Manchurian Candidates” (secretly perceived as anti-American would be a of President Duterte’s administration, such violent methods to establish law aligned with China). “kiss of death.” Take the case of then according to editorial writers - “The and order in a province or municipality. Vice President Jejomar Binay who was adoration of his supporters is matched Secretary of the Department of Interior The Philippines, which is considered accused of being a “Manchurian only by the revulsion of his critics. To and Local Government (DILG) Jesse pro-American in every meaning of the Candidate,” which might have been a them, he is a threat to democracy, a Manalastas Robredo who died in a word, has always been allied with the major factor in his defeat. sexist punk, a man for whom nothing is plane crash was recognized for good U.S., politically, economically, militarily, holy. He is the cold-blooded murderer governance in Naga City where he was and culturally (there are five million Extra-judicial killings whose respect for human rights is a the mayor for 18 years. Filipinos living in the U.S.) since she self-admitted cop-out. He is a symbol, President Duterte’s unorthodox gained independence from Mother duterte-assault-rifle-1Indeed, Duterte not so much of hope, as of despair, the ways of governing the country seem to America in 1946. But “independence” might have been the perfect vote of people so jaded they can no be getting out of hand. Latest reports from America hasn’t really been deeply “Manchurian Candidate.” The fact that longer tell good change from bad.” indicate that the economy is being rooted because of the interdependence he belonged to a minor – hardly heard of In his campaign platform, he affected by his unpredictable behavior.