Category: Politics

‘Silent Majority’ signals a return of the Yellow camp to ‘Opposition’ mode

May 2, 2016 benign0 16 Comments

The notion of the “Silent Majority”, which the camp of incumbent President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III and his ill-fated would-be successors Mar Roxas and sidekick Leni Robredo have recently retreated to, is a sign. It is a sign that the Yellow camp has reverted back to its “Opposition” mode of operations reminiscent of the…

Politics, Society

Senatorial candidate and former DILG Sec Rafael Alunan: Why I Support Duterte for President

April 30, 2016 Rafael Alunan III 22 Comments

I was interviewed by a foreign journalist yesterday. She asked why I was supporting Rodrigo Duterte (Du30) despite all the negative press about him. First, I said that he and I had the opportunity to work together for peace and order during my time as Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)….

Government, Politics

CJ Corona’s death: selective justice under the Aquino govt explains why Duterte’s vigilante style is popular

April 29, 2016April 30, 2016 Ilda 102 Comments

The death of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona is a reminder to Filipinos that there is no justice in the Philippines — unless of course you take matters into your own hands or proactively seek it by using your connections in the Justice Department and law enforcement agencies. Because patronage politics is rife…

Government, Politics, Society

Filipinos need to face a Duterte presidency LIKE MEN rather than be all girly about it

April 29, 2016 benign0 30 Comments

A tweet issued yesterday by Inquirer columnist Dax Lucas resonated loudly across the Philippines’ Netizens: The country’s so-called enlightened class in near panic over the prospects of a Duterte presidency. What a fascinating sight to behold. Indeed, the elegant simplicity of this tweet hit me hard too and, finally, how I really feel about these…

Culture, Politics, Society

Philippine Elections 2016 is not a vote for Duterte but a vote AGAINST Aquino

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016 benign0 52 Comments

Indeed, everybody is shocked — just shocked! — by where this year’s presidential elections are headed. Rodrigo Duterte the crass, irreverent, and possibly murderous candidate who came out of left field from the Philippines’ deep south is leading the polls, handily beating the elegant Grace Poe, the debonaire Jejomar Binay, the prayerful Mar Roxas, and…

Culture, Media, Politics, Society

Voting For President Is Pointless If You Forget the Legislative Branch

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016 MidwayHaven 10 Comments

Have you decided on who you’ll vote for congressman of your district yet? Have you tried looking beyond the hype of the executive, and instead analyzed the people who could be senators soon? Or have you been too caught up in the nationwide fanaticism that surrounds the 2016 presidential elections, you’ve probably forgotten that there are…

Government, Politics, Uncategorized

Why NOT Mar Roxas?

April 27, 2016April 27, 2016 benign0 27 Comments

The question of whether or not one should vote Mar Roxas President of the Philippines can be answered quite simply: DO NOT. Why? Because he fails to live up to his own platform of governance. According to a meme being distributed by his supporters, Roxas and his side-kick Leni Robredo supposedly live by a simple…

Scholarly study reveals Ateneans are the real ‘bobotantes’ of the Philippine electorate

April 26, 2016April 26, 2016 benign0 106 Comments

A study conducted by the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) on the bobotante (stupid voter) phenomenon that plagues Philippine politics sought to test a hypothesis commonly-held amongst the Philippines’ “thinking classes” — that it is primarily impoverished voters (the majority of Filipinos) that are inclined to vote stupid. The results published in an Inquirer report…

Education, Politics