Tag: Davao City

The resignation of Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte proves he has “delicadeza”

December 26, 2017 benign0 14 Comments

Back in the time of former President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III, no amount of calls to resign even following astounding displays of incompetence — often resulting in fatal outcomes — could move any government official to relinquish their posts for the sake of delicadeza. Despite mind-boggling pork barrel thievery with money trails leading back…

Civics, Politics

Davao City Terrorism: This is NOT the time to be a Martial Law Crybaby!

September 5, 2016September 5, 2016 benign0 63 Comments

It seems critics of President Rodrigo Duterte would like him to fight terrorists with one hand tied behind his back. Despite Duterte’s declaration of a “state of lawlessness” being perfectly legal under the current constitution, various social media “activists”, mostly staunchly loyal to the previous administration of former President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III, have,…

Crime, Politics

Defining Filipinos through their reactions to the Davao incident

September 4, 2016 FallenAngel 47 Comments

It was as if the mayor never really left. Following the explosion that occurred in Davao city, last Friday night, September 2, which left more than a dozen dead and many injured, President Rodrigo Duterte was on the ground only after a few hours. Duterte went along when the crime scene was surveyed, visited the…

Crime, Media, Politics, The South

Filipinos need to respond in solidarity with Davao City following the Night Market Bombing

September 3, 2016 benign0 25 Comments

It is in times of national tragedy that the character of a people and the society they form become most evident. Last night, a bomb detonated in the midst of a crowded night market in Davao City that reportedly killed 14 people and injured 67. Whilst there was general solidarity expressed across the country in…

Crime, Media, Politics, The South

Trump and Duterte: The rise of hugely-popular demagogues in America and its Philippine colony

December 10, 2015December 10, 2015 benign0 25 Comments

It is hardly surprising that demagogues have come to dominate national Americana politics on both sides of the globe. Funny enough, two such popular demagogues happen to be making waves on the East and West both in bastions of American values — in the United States itself where anti-immigrant Republican candidate Donald Trump is ruling…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Development, Economy, Environment, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Provocateur: Doing it the Duterte way

December 3, 2015 rsurtida 9 Comments

The thing about polarizing characters like Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is that they often conjure passionate emotions from people. Often in the most extreme, opposite ends of the spectrum. It’s either passionate disgust or fanatical adoration. But never dismissive indifference. Black or white, no gray areas. But as with most polarizing topics, it is…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Development, Government, Media, Politics, Society, The South

Will Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s brand of ‘justice’ work on a national scale?

November 28, 2015November 28, 2015 Ilda 52 Comments

Former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales thinks Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a Presidential candidate for the 2016 Presidential elections, has the makings of a dictator. She is basing her opinion on Duterte’s “alleged vigilante-style approach against suspected criminals in his city”. Here are some of the things she had to say…

Crime, Government, Politics, Society

Saving Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign from his own balasubas supporters

November 25, 2015November 25, 2015 benign0 61 Comments

Well, what would one expect of a character like Rodrigo Duterte? A man with his character would, indeed, reflect the character of his constituents. Mga balasubas. My colleague Paul Farol earlier wrote about the plight of a certain Jack Labang who had the “audacity” to post a disapproving comment about Duterte’s recent announcement of his…

Civics, Crime, Culture, Politics, Society