General Info

[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.

[Mogwai]

The fact is, there's no real criminal justice system here and everyone knows it. This is why the residents of Davao applaud the Mayor's approach to self-administered justice. That is, HE finds the crooks and then kills them. Works for me. GE.

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

[Slippery]

What ever happened to those four wealthy lads charged with murdering the husband, a USMC officer I recall, of a US embassy employee in Bel Air, Makati about 2 years ago? The entire murder was captured on CCTV and broadcast to the nation. They still walking free?

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.

[Hutsori]

But the process of crime investigation and justice is slow in the Philippines.

What ever happened to those four wealthy lads charged with murdering the husband, a USMC officer I recall, of a US embassy employee in Bel Air, Makati about 2 years ago? The entire murder was captured on CCTV and broadcast to the nation. They still walking free?

[Dg8787]

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. So, as usual, we began to circle. After about 10 minutes, the Captain announced that we were number 20 for landing and he had no idea how long it would take to get on the ground. About 10 minutes later, he got back on the PA and announced , in the interest of passenger safety, he would divert to Clark, refuel there, and then try again for Manila.

So we landed at Clark about two and a half hours after taking off from Davao, and were then told by the crew that severe thunderstorms over Manila had turned airline schedules into a shambles. I asked approximately how long the Captain thought it would take us to refuel, fly to Manila and then actually land. He had no idea, though was quite pleasant about it. I then asked if we could debark at Clark and make our own way to Manila. He responded that so long as we had no checked bags he had no problem with it, and so about 23 of us to decided to take that option. However, we were held on the plane for another 30 minutes or so, while CP arranged for a bus to take us to the terminal. Getting onto the bus was when the real fun started as evidently the crew thought there should be one more person on the bus than actually showed up. They spent another 30 minutes trying to find the person.

Eventually, we were taken to the terminal and left to our own devices. I wound up getting the last apartment at Fields Plaza, which is owned by ABC, and all of the hotel rooms were taken. This morning I had to hire a car and driver to take me to Makati, where I arrived approximately 24 hours after having left Davao. More fun in the Philippines.

GE.

With all due respect I am trying to understand the point of your story.

If you changed Manila to Houston; Clark to Austin; Cebu Pacific to United Airlines, then I have been on the same flight.