SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2016

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aittimes.net

02 04Hope and fear as

combative president

takes over Philippines

Drug pusher deaths

jump as Philippine

leader takes office

MANILA: A Philippine military official says troopshave dug up what they believe is the body ofCanadian hostage Robert Hall, who was beheadedby Abu Sayyaf extremists more than two weeksago in the south after a ransom deadline lapsed.

Regional military spokesman Maj. Filemon Tansays villagers led the troops to a hinterland nearKamuntayan village in Sulu province’s Talipaotown where the militants buried Hall’s body afterkilling him on June 13. Hall’s head had been foundoutside a Roman Catholic cathedral.

Hall was kidnapped with fellow Canadian JohnRidsdel, Norwegian Kjartan Sikkengstad andFilipino Marites Flor last year in a marina in thesouth and taken to Sulu. Ridsdel had also beenbeheaded, Sikkengstad remains in Abu Sayyaf cus-tody and Flor has been freed.—AP

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterteon Friday urged communist rebels to start killingdrug traffickers, adding another layer to a contro-versial war on crime in which he has warnedthousands will die. Duterte won May’s election ina landslide after a campaign dominated by hispledge to end crime within six months, promis-ing to do so by unleashing security forces withshoot-to-kill orders. In his inauguration speechon Thursday, Duterte insisted his adherence tothe rule of law was “uncompromising”, apparent-ly seeking to assuage concerns from humanrights groups that he planned to orchestratemass extrajudicial killings.

But on Friday, Duterte called on communistrebels waging one of Asia’s longest insurgenciesto hold their own guerrilla court hearings andthen carry out executions.

“Drugs have reached the hinterlands... what ifyou use your kangaroo courts to kill them tospeed up the solution to our problem,” Duterte, alawyer and former city prosecutor, said in aspeech before the military’s top brass in Manila.

The communists’ armed wing, the 4,000-strong New People’s Army, is known for assassi-nating civilians deemed to have committed so-called crimes against the people.

However its courts and summary executionsare illegal. In a late-night speech on Thursday to aslum community in Manila attended by only afew journalists, Duterte called on ordinaryFilipinos to kill drug addicts, which is also illegal.

“If you know of any addicts, go ahead and killthem yourself,” Duterte told a crowd of about 500people.

Duterte also vowed to kill drug traffickers,

using foul language he promised in recent weeksto “tone down” as president.

“These sons of whores are destroying our chil-dren. I warn you, don’t go into that, even if you’rea policeman, because I will really kill you,” saidDuterte, 71.

Before dawn on Friday a bullet-riddled bodywas found in a Manila slum with a sign on it say-ing: “I am a Chinese drug lord”, local police said.

The murder bore all the hallmarks of an extra-judicial killing, which would make it the first ofDuterte’s presidency.

Manila police district deputy director foroperations Marcelino Pedroso told AFP thedeath was being considered a summary execu-tion because the victim was apparently killeddue to alleged involvement in drugs. He saidthere were no suspects. —AFP

Sensitive Philippine

comments on sea feud

aired partly on TV

MANILA: The new Philippine foreign secretarymade sensitive remarks Thursday about territorialdisputes in the South China Sea that were broadcastlive by the state-run TV network before it abruptlycut away from its coverage of the new president’sfirst Cabinet meeting. Foreign Secretary PerfectoYasay’s remarks during the meeting touched on howthe government should respond to a much-antici-pated international arbitration ruling on July 12.

The Philippines brought its long-simmering dis-putes with China in the South China Sea to interna-tional arbitration in January 2013 after Beijing tookcontrol of disputed Scarborough Shoal following astandoff. After Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in as pres-ident Thursday, he called his first Cabinet meeting,where he expressed the need for the Philippines tofully study the impact of the ruling, whether favor-able or not. Yasay spoke about an apparent wish bysome foreign governments for Manila to issue astronger statement about the dispute if the tribunalrules favorably. “I am adverse to that idea,” he toldDuterte and fellow Cabinet members, echoing thepresident’s remarks on the need for the governmentto further study the ruling’s repercussions.

Continued on Page 3

Beheaded Canadian’s

body dug up in

southern Philippines

PH Duterte urges communists to kill criminals

Philippine Amateur Basketball League in Kuwait tournament continuesPage 5

MANILA: The First Family-Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is seated here with his family members after the swearing-in ceremony.

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2016 2MANILA: Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in Thursdayas president of the Philippines, with many hopinghis maverick style will energize the country but oth-ers fearing he could undercut one of Asia’s liveliestdemocracies amid his threats to kill criminals enmasse.

The 71-year-old former prosecutor and long-time mayor of southern Davao city won a resound-ing victory in May’s elections in his first foray intonational politics. He has described himself as thecountry’s first leftist president and said his foreignpolicy will not be dependent on the United States, alongtime ally.

The frugal noontime ceremony at Malacanan,the Spanish colonial- era presidential palace byManila’s murky Pasig River, was a break from tradi-tion sought by Duterte to press the need for austeri-ty amid the country’s grinding poverty. In the past,the oath-taking has mostly been held at a grand-stand in a historic park by Manila Bay, followed by agrand reception.

Vice President Leni Robredo, a human rightslawyer who comes from a rival political party, wassworn in earlier in a separate ceremony in her officecompound. Vice presidents are separately electedin the Philippines, and in a sign of Duterte’s go-it-alone style, he has not met her since the May 9 vote.

Duterte, who began a six-year term, capturedattention with promises to cleanse his poorSoutheast Asian nation of criminals and govern-ment crooks within six months - an audaciouspledge that was welcomed by many crime-wearyFilipinos but alarmed human rights watchdogs andthe dominant Roman Catholic Church.

Continued on Page 3

MANILA: New Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, takes his oath before Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice BienvenidoReyes during inauguration ceremony in Malacanang Palace Thursday. Duterte was sworn in as president of the Philippines, with manyhoping his maverick style will energize the country but others fearing he could undercut one of Asia’s liveliest democracies amid histhreats to kill criminals en masse. Holding the bible is President Duterte’s daughter Veronica. Others in photo are Duterte’s children,from right, Paolo Duterte, Sarah Duterte and Sebastian Duterte. —(AP via News and Information Bureau, Malacanang Palace)

Sensitive ...

Continued from Page 1“There are lots of nuances that we do not

know as yet,” Yasay said.“But the bottom-line question is what will hap-

pen if the decision is in our favor,” Yasay said,adding that China could potentially “dig in andput us to a test.” If that happens, he said, “there isno point for us to yell.”

Journalists covering the president asked hisspokesman why the delicate discussion was con-

ducted on nationwide television, and if it was amistake, but there was no immediate govern-ment explanation.

Analyst Richard Heydarian of Manila’s De LaSalle University said the Philippines “is in the mid-dle of a geopolitical chessboard, therefore, wehave to exercise maximum discretion in dis-cussing strategic options in the South China Sea,especially after the arbitration case is concluded.”

Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, hassaid the United States brokered a deal for Chinaand the Philippines to simultaneously withdrawtheir ships from the fishing region around

Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines complied butChina reneged on the agreement and its shipscontinue to guard the shoal, Philippine officials say.

In its arbitration complaint, the Philippinesquestioned the validity of China’s vast territorialclaims under the 1982 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea. It also asked the arbitrationtribunal in The Hague to classify whether severaldisputed areas were islands or low-tide coral out-crops to determine the stretch of territorial watersthey project.

China has argued against the tribunal’s author-ity to hear the Philippine complaint, but the tribu-

nal ruled last year that it has jurisdiction and willrule on the case. The United States, a treaty ally ofthe Philippines, and several other Western andAsian governments have called on China to com-ply with any decision.

During the administration of former PresidentGloria Arroyo, a crisis meeting called to discussstrategies to resolve the abduction of a Filipinohostage abroad was accidentally televised by thegovernment network, but was cut off air after themistake became apparent. Arroyo angrily repri-manded the network personnel who wereinvolved, her officials said.—-AP

Hope and fear as combative president takes over Philippines

MANILA: Women guests take a selfie with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, right, after the “Assumption of Command” ceremonies of new Police Chief, Director GeneralRonald Dela Rosa at Camp Crame, Philippine National Police headquarters, in suburban Quezon city, Manila, Philippines on Friday. (Right) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte,right, salutes beside Police Chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa. —AP

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2016 3Hope and ...

Continued from Page 2

Duterte’s inauguration address, before a crowd of more than 600 rela-tives, officials and diplomats, was markedly bereft of the profanities, sexjokes and curses that were a trademark of his campaign speeches. Therewere no menacing death threats against criminals, but he pressed theurgency of battling crime and graft, promised to stay within the boundsof the law and appealed to Congress and the Commission on HumanRights “to mind your work and I will mind mine.”

“There are those who do not approve of my methods of fighting crimi-nality, the sale and use of illegal drugs and corruption. They say that mymethods are unorthodox and verge on the illegal,” Duterte said.

He added: “The fight will be relentless and it will be sustained.”“As a lawyer and a former prosecutor, I know the limits of the power

and authority of the president. I know what is legal and what is not. Myadherence to the due process and the rule of law is uncompromising,” hesaid to loud applause.

Appearing Thursday night at a Manila slum to thank his poor voters,Duterte was soon back to his old form, calling on parents to kill the chil-dren of other families if they’re drug addicts “so it wouldn’t be thatpainful.” He thanked the crowd and gave a livelihood tip in line with hisanti-crime campaign.

“I’ll tell you in the coming days, if you have a funeral parlor, you willearn a lot,” he said, sparking laughter.

Shortly after Duterte’s election victory, police launched an anti-drugcrackdown under his name, leaving dozens of mostly poor drug-dealingsuspects dead in gunfights or in mysterious circumstances. The killingsprovided a fearsome backdrop to Duterte’s rise.

After his resounding victory, he promised to mellow down on the vul-garity and promised Filipinos will witness a “metamorphosis” once hebecomes president. Days before his swearing in, however, he was stillwarning “If you destroy my country, I will kill you,” in a speech this week.

In a country long ruled by wealthy political clans, Duterte rose frommiddle-class roots. His brash style has been likened to that of presump-tive U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, although hedetests the comparison and says the American billionaire is a bigot andhe’s not.

Duterte is also the first president to come from the country’s volatilesouth, scene of a decades-long separatist insurgency by minorityMuslims. He has said he would direct security forces to refocus on fightingMuslim and Maoist insurgents - a reversal from his predecessor, BenignoAquino III, who shifted the military to take charge of territorial defensewhile police handle the insurgencies.

Duterte’s initial foreign policy pronouncements point to potentialproblems for Washington at a crucial time for the region. An arbitrationtribunal in The Hague is scheduled to rule July 12 on a case in which thePhilippine government questioned the validity of China’s vast territorialclaims in the South China Sea. China has refused to join the arbitration.

Duterte has suggested he will keep the U.S. at arm’s length and hasshown readiness to mend frosty ties with China. Those potential shiftshave raised the specter of another difficult phase in more than a centuryof a love-hate relationship between the Philippines and its formerAmerican colonizer.

In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby said the U.S.looks forward to working closely with the Duterte administration. He saidthe Philippines is a U.S. ally and partner but has every right to pursue rela-tions with China.

“To the degree there’s avenues for dialogue and discussion and con-structive movement forward in the region, that’s healthy and we wouldwant to see that,” Kirby told reporters.

A senior Philippine diplomat said American and Australian officials arecurious how the new president will handle relations with their govern-ments, which have enjoyed strong ties with Aquino, who bolstered secu-rity relations as a way to counter China’s assertiveness in disputed SouthChina Sea territories.

The Chinese ambassador, on the other hand, has worked hard torepair damaged relations with Manila. He told Filipino diplomats Beijingwould extend an invitation to the new president to visit China within thenext six months, according to the Philippine diplomat who spoke to TheAssociated Press on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to dis-cuss such topic with reporters.

“Definitely if the Philippines backs away somewhat from supportingthe U.S. in the South China Sea, this would be a problem for the U.S.,” saidMalcolm Cook, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian StudiesYusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

“China likes to present the U.S. as a destabilizing outsider in the SouthChina Sea and in Asia more generally,” he said. “The fewer Asian states thatpublicly counter this Chinese depiction, the more isolated the U.S.”—AP

MANILA : Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (C) accompanied by acting military chief Glorioso Miranda reviewshonour guards during a military parade at the military headquarters in Manila on Friday. Duterte was sworn in asthe Philippines’ president June 30 — and quickly launched a foul-mouthed vow to wipe out drug traffickers andeven urged ordinary Filipinos to kill addicts. —AFP

MANILA: Philippine military personnel march during a parade in honour of President Rodrigo Duterte at the militaryheadquarters in Manila on Friday. Duterte was sworn in as the Philippines’ president June 30 — and quickly launched afoul-mouthed vow to wipe out drug traffickers and even urged ordinary Filipinos to kill addicts. (Right) Duterte meetingwith the leftist groups inside Malacanang Palace after inauguration. —AFP

MANILA: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers his speech during a military parade at themilitary headquarters in Manila on Friday. (Right) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (R) talks to vice-presidentLeni Robredo after the military parade at the military headquarters in Manila on Friday. —AFP

MANILA: Dahil sa kawalan ng immunity, sinam-pahan kahapon ng kaso sa Office of theOmbudsman si dating Pangulong BenignoAquino III dahil sa pagkamatay ng 44 operatibang Special Action Force (SAF) sa Mamasapano,Maguindano ng nakalipas na taon.

Bukod kay Aquino, nahaharap sa 44 counts ngreckless imprudence resulting to multiple homi-cide sina dating PNP Chief Alan Purisima at datingSAF Director Getulio Nape?as matapos na isampang dalawang kaanak ng napaslang na SAF com-mandos at ng Volunteers Against Crime andCorruption (VACC) si Aquino.

Nais ng mga kaanak ng mga napaslang naSAF men na imbestigahan ng Ombudsman ang

pananagutan ng tatlo sa pagkamatay ng 44 SAFtroopers.

Ang mga nagsampa ng kaso ay sina ErlinaAliaga, ina ni PO3 Robert Dommolog Aliaga;Warlito Mejia, ama ni PO2 Ephraim Mejia; at VACC

sa pangunguna nina Dante Jimenez at ArsenioEvangelista.

Ang batayan ng pagsasampa ng reklamo ay sanaging resulta ng Senate investigation at ulat ngPNP Board of Inquiry tungkol sa Mamasapanoincident. Ayon naman kay Aquino ang akusasyonsa kanya ay walang katotohanan at bagongkasong isinampa ay muling mananariwa at mag-dudulot ng sakit sa alaala ng mga pamilya ngnasawing Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.

Magugunita na mahigit 60 katao ang nasawikabilang ang 44 SAF troopers na ang operation aypara arestuhin ang international terrorists na siMarwan at Basit Usman sa Mamasapano,Maguindanao noong Enero 25, 2015. —PSN

Noy kinasuhan sa Mamasapano massacre

Aquino

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2016 4

MANILA: The bodies of dozens of suspecteddrug peddlers have turned up in the Philippinesin recent weeks, providing an eerie backdrop tothe swearing-in on Thursday of Rodrigo Duterte,who has warned of a bloody presidency in hisbid to eradicate crime.

Some of the dead were killed in gunfightswith police; others mysteriously turned up on thestreet. One was dumped with sign: “Don’t followme or you’ll die next.” The numbers of bodieshave spiked since Duterte swept the May 9 elec-tions on promises to wipe out crime and corrup-tion within six months. That bold pledge wonhim huge support but also sparked concernsabout vigilante justice and a lack of due process.Nicknamed “Duterte Harry” after a ClintEastwood character with little regard for rules, hesays he plans to fulfill his promise despite criti-cism from human rights advocates and churchofficials and dares his critics to impeach him.

“If I couldn’t convince you, I’ll have you killed.Just imagine if I kill 10 persons a day for the nextsix years,” he was quoted as saying by CebuDaily News in his native Visayan language, refer-ring to drug suspects. “If you’re into drugs, I’msorry. I’ll have to apologize to your familybecause you’ll surely get killed.”

So far, the threats seem to be working tosome extent: Hundreds of drug pushers andaddicts have surrendered to police in recentdays, signing pledges to reform.

National police data show 39 mostly drugpeddler suspects were killed since the start ofthe year until the election. But since then, 72killed have been killed, bringing the yearly totalso far to 111 deaths.

Outgoing national police chief Ricardo

Marquez dismissed speculation that the spike indeaths was timed to the beginning of Duterte’spresidency, saying he already promised anintensified anti-drug campaign when he tookover last year.

“There is no truth to what is being said that itis only now that the police have stepped up thefight against drugs,” he said. So far this year,183 have been killed in clashes between policeand clandestine drug lab workers, dealers and

users, he added. The reason for the discrepancyin the totals wasn’t immediately clear.

In one television report, a mother wailed asshe saw the body of her son sprawled on a road-side in eastern Camarines Sur province, appar-ently shot with four wounds and a slash on hisneck. “What they have done is too much,” shesaid, sobbing on the shoulder of anotherwoman. Nearly 5,000 suspects have been arrest-ed in anti-drug operations after the election,

bringing the number of arrests in a nationwidedrive to nearly 19,000 since January, accordingto police records.

“We are alarmed about the rate of almosteveryday killings of suspected criminals andmembers of drug syndicates,” said WilnorMontilla Papa, a human rights campaigner forAmnesty International in the Philippines. “Ourconcern is on the lack of due process, the seem-ingly abusive stance” of authorities. —AP

Drug pusher deaths jump as Philippine leader takes office

MANILA : (Graphic content) The dead body of a suspected drug dealer lies on the ground with a placard reading “Chinese DrugLord” in Manila on Friday. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on July 1 urged communist rebels to start killing drug traffickers,adding another layer to a controversial war on crime in which he has warned thousands will die. (Right) Philippine policemenqueue up during a surprise mandatory drug test at a police station in Manila on Friday. Philippines’ new police chief on July 1ordered officers linked to narcotics trafficking to surrender in 48 hours or be killed as he began to fight President RodrigoDuterte’s anti-drug war. —AFP

MANILA: Philippine policemen queue up during a surprise mandatory drug test at a police station in Manila. Philippines’ new police chief on July 1 ordered officers linked tonarcotics trafficking to surrender in 48 hours or be killed as he began to fight President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug war. —AFP

FPSC-K holds practical, precession competition

KUWAIT: The Filipino Practical Shooting Club Kuwait (FPSC-K) organized ‘2016 Practical & Precession Shooting Competition’ at Mayadeen Shooting Range Hunting andEquestrian Club. The event was held in two categories; Professional Shooters & Beginners.

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2016 5

Philippine Amateur Basketball League in Kuwait tournament continues

MANILA: The Philippine Amateur Basketball League in Kuwait tournament continues at Reggai Bilingual School every Friday. Last Friday, Team BEACHERS won against TeamUSF. Congratulations and sustain the momentum till the end of the tournament.

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2016 6

KUWAIT: To show their unwavering support to the newlysworn-in Philippine President, the OFW Aguila Movement saKuwait, an active organization of Kuwait-based Duterte sup-porters, has organized a get-together and distribution of cer-tificate of appreciation to participants/members who were all

very supportive to its previous social activities and charitableprograms they organized including ‘Bigas hindi Bala-DonationDrive’ (for Kidapawan Farmers) and the recent ‘Feeding andMedical Mission’ held in Hateen, Philippine Embassy, (intendedfor runaway housemaids). The event was held last Thursday at

one of its members’ residence in Salwa-the group once againpledged their adherence to Duterte’s PDP-Laban Party and itsunconditional support and cooperation to Duterte’s pro-grams/goals for the country especially eradicating drugs, crim-inality and corruption.

‘OFW Aguila Movement sa Kuwait’ distributes certification, appreciations

DAVAO CITY: Before President RodrigoDuterte was mayor of Davao City, he had thelowest job in the city’s prosecution office.

In the command conference at the policeheadquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City,Duterte made a little trip to memory lane ashe shared in his speech his life before he wasa politician.

When he became a lawyer in 1972, whichaccording to him was a crucial time as it wasthe same year when Martial Law wasdeclared, he said, “Times were hard backthen,” adding that he needed to support a

family of three.“The salary was not that good so I applied

for a position at the prosecutor’s office inDavao City,” he continued.

He became the special counsel of the officewhich he referred to as the lowest rank there.If it is compared to the military, he will be thatof a lieutenant and an inspector in police.

Duterte recalled that it was also a time inDavao City when no fiscals in the city willaccept the task of prosecuting military offend-ers, police offenders and rebellion leaders.

“I was pushed to that task and I took it as

part of the job, you know how I handled yourcases, you know how I helped the govern-ment to discipline you,” he added.

He exercised the law and punished thosewho deserve to be punished.

Duterte also shared a time when he wasalready mayor of Davao City when membersof New People’s Army (NPA) engaged in a fire-fight against the Armed Forces of thePhilippines (AFP).

“The soldiers sought refuge in a house andall members of that family died,” he recalled.

The president added that a public outcrybroke out after that incident and people werecondemning the actions of the military. Eventhe secretary of the Department of Justice atthat time arrived in the city to investigate onthe matter.

“I was the investigating fiscal and I said itwas part of the territory, it was a collateraldamage,” this was his brow-raising answer tothe court.

He then proceeded to saying that, “if youhave any other theory or if you want to over-throw my ruling, I will accept it but also,accept my resignation as city mayor.”

Duterte stood by his previous statementsthat he will stand for the military and thepolice.

“It is a matter of principle that I will standby them (law enforcers) when war came andwhen war will come at the country. But I willbe the first one to crack them if they are intocrime,” he clarified.

Duterte said in his speech, he will not toler-ate abuses committed by law enforcementagencies.

“Just do not do shit with me, I will die foryou. Do your duty and if in the process you kill1,000 persons because you were doing yourduty, I will protect you,” he ended.

—The Philippine Star

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2016 7

Happy Happy Birthday to Ms. JulieAnn Agsalud. May you have moreBlessed Birthdays to come. Stay hap-py and Pretty Always.... We LoveYou!!! From Agsalud Family

Greetings

Duterte recalls long road to presidency

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2016

Pages 6-7

‘OFW Aguila

Movement sa

Kuwait’ distributes

certification,

appreciations

KUWAIT: Intense winning moveswere seen among all the participantsduring the FBC’s 72nd Eid tourneyweek 2 elimination rounds held lastFriday. All teams played with an

attacking interest and overpoweringenergy from the start off as they ral-lied to the finals next Friday. A raffleof grocery items sponsored by ananonymous donor is something to

look forward to by all the partici-pants of this tourney during thefinals. Coupled with the exhilaratinggames is the traditional monthly cel-ebration for the June birthday cele-

brants namely: Vladimir Mercado andAlma Ibno.

FBC is inviting all badminton fanaticsto register in their regular tournamentsfrom 8 am to 1 pm and adults/kids bad-

minton coaching/tutorial and courtrental from 1 pm to 5 pm. For inquiriesplease call FBC hotline 66420529 or per-sonally come at the Kuwait DisabledSports Club in Hawally.

FBC 72nd Eid tourney second week elims continue