General Info

[GoodEnough]

I understand AV's point, and don't disagree, as I'm a strong civil libertarian. However, the practice of civil liberties and functional government institutions presupposes, I think, the existence of a functional democracy, which is far from the reality here. This is, above all else, a feudal society and "strong men" (and in some cases women) rule with impunity throughout the country. Perhaps benevolent tyrants are the best that can be hoped for here. Many foreigners who live here, myself included, think first of their own safety, and worry less as time goes by, about the absolute failure of this country to develop functional democratic institutions, which I believe will never emerge. I would also argue that economic development in other, more prosperous ASEAN countries has proceeded under the aegis of more or less benevolent strong men. I'm thinking here of Singapore and to an extent, Malaysia, both of which outstrip the Philipines by several orders of magnitude, came have developed under virtual one party rule.

So, in a pragmatic world, in which the ideal development path is closed, a Duterte is, I think, about the best that this place can do. In the ten plus years that I've been here, there's been no visible progress in the emergence of true democracy, and the country has slipped ever further behind its neighbors. Perhaps I'm the victim of the cynicism that accompanies growing older, but I don't believe that the basic nature of this place will ever change.

GE.

[Questor55]

Hard to believe, but this is a particularly bad month to be Swiss in Mindanao. Report in today's Manila Times that a 23 year old Swiss, Forian Mayer, was killed in Surigao City. Robbery apparently not the motive. That makes three Swiss nationals murdered in Mindanao this week alone!

[X Man]

Have you met AV? I've never met anyone who has met him.

I am with AV all the way on this. Very eloquent expression of my views too.

[X Man]

That seems a bit steep. If you just order a drink and wander around, is that okay? Are there free seats on the perimeter? That is my preferred modus operandi if I don't have a date. Thanks for the update.

Just a PSA: Republiq at Resorts World is now closed. A new club named "Universe" launches tonight next door. Open to the public this weekend. Door is p500. Table rates will be from p4k to p20k, will vary by night of week.

[Wicked Roger]

This kind of populism is very understandable. Those of us who make this place home are just as frustrated with the situation as the locals. Unfortunately benevolent dictators don't _stay_ benevolent once in power. Marcos is still well thought of by many here, he did good things in his early presidency before the power / money got to him. The place has rampant corruption already. God know's how much worse it would be under Davao's mayor using his iron fist policies. But who is to say that every extra judicial killing carried out by him is justified. How many innocents have been slaughtered along the way? How soon into his hypothetical presidency before HE does a Gloria and starts bumping off political rivals. Nah, I'll look for a better solution thanks.

Hopefully the economic bubble lasts long enough to raise living standards / education / expectations sufficiently for a grass roots change in their society here..

I would agree, but I speak to a lot of people here including air crew (am always on a plane to and form Manila) about heir own country. One said her parents wish Marcos was back. I expressed horror but her logic was "HE was very bad, HE stole but we has good schools, hospital etc. Now there are thousands of Marcos type people all stealing and we have nothing and we are never going to get better". They loom at Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia etc with envy and ask how can it be that the Philippines has slipped so low.

That logic is understandable IMHO.

All the things you say are correct (and RK is also right) I am just saying what hear. And change from the status quo could easily be a drastic shift to something that could in the end be far worse but we all know, when things are not great at the moment people look for 'deliverance' and hope for the immediate term, whoever it may be (eg look at Hitler. Complete nut head, evil bastard but everyone loved him as HE was a drastic change from the then status quo and promised a better life).

I hope things get better for the everyday pinoy and the grass roots will improve and change everyone's lot but I also don't hold my breathe.

Am just stating facts and what I am told by many I speak and socialize with who see the gun totting Davao mayor as (currently) this country's best choice for change / salvation from the current mess (whether we like it or not).

[Hutsori]

Just a PSA: Republiq at Resorts World is now closed. A new club named "Universe" launches tonight next door. Open to the public this weekend. Door is p500. Table rates will be from p4k to p20k, will vary by night of week.

[Red Kilt]

Sorry to butt in here WR. This kind of populism is very understandable. Those of us who make this place home are just as frustrated with the situation as the locals. Unfortunately benevolent dictators don't _stay_ benevolent once in power. Marcos is still well thought of by many here, he did good things in his early presidency before the power / money got to him. The place has rampant corruption already. God know's how much worse it would be under Davao's mayor using his iron fist policies. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to know that when I visit Davao, the local mayor kicks criminal ass big time. But who is to say that every extra judicial killing carried out by him is justified. How many innocents have been slaughtered along the way? How soon into his hypothetical presidency before HE does a Gloria and starts bumping off political rivals. Nah, I'll look for a better solution thanks.

Hopefully the economic bubble lasts long enough to raise living standards / education / expectations sufficiently for a grass roots change in their society here. I'm not holding my breathe on that but I remain optimistic that some day this crazy little archipelago will haul itself up by its boot straps.

I am with AV all the way on this. Very eloquent expression of my views too.

[Amavida]

Forgot to mention Mog.

In this country it can take 10+ years for justice so the cops etc know this and don't care as until they get to court they won't stand down and continue to extort, kill etc As another poster said, the massacre victims in 2009 (Google it) still wait a trial. And no one seems able to say to the 54 families when it will happen.

One case of plunder was thrown out after 10 years as the useless judiciary system had not prepared / presented the case to the courts so the alleged guilty walked free. Another person (mayor) has 2 plunder charges against her for bank fraud (huge fraud) but is still mayor.

So when the Davao mayor says he will kill them (such as rice smugglers while in a senate hearing) people like him. Odd for you and many others (including me who hails from a 'democratic' country where people tend to do the right thing) but as I said sometimes your style won't work so wild west is best LOL.

Sorry to butt in here WR. This kind of populism is very understandable. Those of us who make this place home are just as frustrated with the situation as the locals. Unfortunately benevolent dictators don't _stay_ benevolent once in power. Marcos is still well thought of by many here, he did good things in his early presidency before the power / money got to him. The place has rampant corruption already. God know's how much worse it would be under Davao's mayor using his iron fist policies. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to know that when I visit Davao, the local mayor kicks criminal ass big time. But who is to say that every extra judicial killing carried out by him is justified. How many innocents have been slaughtered along the way? How soon into his hypothetical presidency before HE does a Gloria and starts bumping off political rivals. Nah, I'll look for a better solution thanks.

Hopefully the economic bubble lasts long enough to raise living standards / education / expectations sufficiently for a grass roots change in their society here. I'm not holding my breathe on that but I remain optimistic that some day this crazy little archipelago will haul itself up by its boot straps.

Let's see.

AV.

[Slippery]

Also I think some have now moved to the USA to study forever LOL.

The judge said the CCTV was not strong enough evidence which kind of shocked a lot of people (prosecution especially as this was the key evidence. Look on You Tube and decide yourself). And one of the accused daddies was complaining to PNoy (and the media) that his on was in a cell with bad and dangerous men (of course he should be treated like a princess instead LOL).

As you said Slippery. Rich kids so different laws.

Roger, you know as well as I do that Obama would never permit a murder to just walk into the United States. They wade in.

[Wicked Roger]

It works for me. When the justice system of authority breaks down, it will be picked up in some other way. Vigilante-ism, regional military, etc. The best hope is for a benevolent dictator (Davao's mayor maybe). Davao's mayor is better than the alternative broken CJ system (IMHO).

Forgot to mention Mog.

In this country it can take 10+ years for justice so the cops etc know this and don't care as until they get to court they won't stand down and continue to extort, kill etc As another poster said, the massacre victims in 2009 (Google it) still wait a trial. And no one seems able to say to the 54 families when it will happen.

One case of plunder was thrown out after 10 years as the useless judiciary system had not prepared / presented the case to the courts so the alleged guilty walked free. Another person (mayor) has 2 plunder charges against her for bank fraud (huge fraud) but is still mayor.

So when the Davao mayor says he will kill them (such as rice smugglers while in a senate hearing) people like him. Odd for you and many others (including me who hails from a 'democratic' country where people tend to do the right thing) but as I said sometimes your style won't work so wild west is best LOL.

[WestCoast1]

Works for you? Really? You call that justice? Scary...

It works for me. When the justice system of authority breaks down, it will be picked up in some other way. Vigilante-ism, regional military, etc. The best hope is for a benevolent dictator (Davao's mayor maybe). Davao's mayor is better than the alternative broken CJ system (IMHO).

[Wicked Roger]

Yesterday, I showed up at the Davao airport for my weekly trip to my least favorite city, Manila. As is usual for me, the Cebu Pacifc flight boarded and left on time, and about 90 minutes later we were over Manila, which is when the fun began. Remember that the Manila airport can only use one runway at a time, and has ground equipment that's so old replacement parts are no longer available, so under the best of circumstances, it can't manage more than a single take-off or landing in less than about 10 minutes--as compared to a take-off or landing every 15 seconds or so common in modern airports. More fun in the Philippines.

GE

This is why I now only take morning flights to Manila less chance of a screw up. I took an evening flight, to Cebu, was told it was cancelled and no seat left on any other flight that night so "you need find hotel but we can't pay sir".

Manila again in the worlds worst airports and the government keeps saying be patient we are getting better. But is run by idiots.

GE. You see PNoy appointed his cousin to Clark airport board. Commentary in press was it was not nepotism despite him being young and having no airline / airport experience. Ces't la vie GE.

[Wicked Roger]

They bonded out about 6 months ago. It doesn't matter if it was recorded on CCTV. They got dissed by a foreigner. Privileged little a $$holes daddys are paying big time. He was the husband of a USA Embassy official. She's getting about as much help from Obama as Chris Smith did in Benghazi.

Also I think some have now moved to the USA to study forever LOL.

The judge said the CCTV was not strong enough evidence which kind of shocked a lot of people (prosecution especially as this was the key evidence. Look on You Tube and decide yourself). And one of the accused daddies was complaining to PNoy (and the media) that his on was in a cell with bad and dangerous men (of course he should be treated like a princess instead LOL).

As you said Slippery. Rich kids so different laws.

[Wicked Roger]

Works for you? Really? You call that justice? Scary...

Mogawi,

Come and live her and it may help you better understand GE's response.

For example, apart from the 8 cops who held up a car on EDSA to steal cash, we have 12 cops in Cebu who have administrative cases against them for a number of years (extortion, use of firearms) - but not yet dismissed still working, 3 cops involved in murders in Visayas, 7 cops involved in another alleged murder of a well know lawyer, a cop behind the alleged murder of a prominent businessman (the Davao Mayor ordered that policeman to stand down. Unlike many other in a such a position).

I could go on and on but I won't. Life is cheap here (see the FR about the daylight murder of 2 Swiss nationals in CDO).

The mayor is regarded as the best bet for 2016 as he is tough. No one I know here has a bad word for him, all applaud the fact HE does something and wish he stands for election as they would vote for him.

So far 6 million people have signed a petition to ask him to reconsider his comment HE would never stand. But in a recent interview HE gave a hypothetical view of life in the Philippine under his Presidency. It would scare many of ruling elite / families but was welcomed by those who heard it and the comments in the press from readers were very supportive.

Sometimes western democracy as we understand it does not work. A benevolent tyrant is better (look at the Middle East now without Saddam, Ghaddafi, Asad (to a degree)) and hat was then Yugoslavia.

So I fully understand GE's viewpoint on this. Well said GE.

[Nightrider1]

Works for you? Really? You call that justice? Scary...

Well if you lived in Phil as long as Good Enough has and seen all the things HE has seen in his tenure there you would understand where HE is coming from. Of course Mayor Duente is out of line but 20 years ago Davao was a VERY unsafe city and now from all the visits I have taken there since 2004 it is one of the cleanest safest cities in Phil. The justice system in that country is abominable, just look at the case of all the journalist killed in Catabato about 4 years ago. It is still not resolved with any prison terms for the guilty parties.