Editorial 5/6/16 (Philippines, money laundering, elections, president, character, public service, Duterte, politics)

Philippine Star "Give them back their money"

“We don’t have too much money,” Ambassador John Gomes said, as he pointed out that $81 million “is a huge amount of money for a country like Bangladesh.” The envoy made the comment as he expressed hope that the $81 million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh central bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and laundered through Philippine casinos and the banking system would be returned to his country before the end of President Aquino’s term. That looks like a tall order for the chronically inefficient Philippine judiciary, which must first conclude with finality the forfeiture proceedings initiated by the Anti-Money Laundering Council or AMLC to recover the amount. Gomes has noted that the casinos have already profited from the stolen funds. Returning the money to its rightful owner, unfortunately for Bangladesh, is not as simple as it appears in the Philippines. [full text]

Sun.Star Cebu "Orderly transition? That may depend on who, how we elect the next president"

CONCERN of Filipinos about orderly transfer of power routinely comes with the election of a new president. There is always post-election restiveness, especially in a tight race: whether results will be accepted by the people and how smoothly and speedily fresh leaders can go about their business of starting a new administration. But in the last two weeks in the run-up to voting day, more than the usual anxiety has prevailed. In no other election had the leader of the pack been feared as a threat to the country’s institutions and values and more vigorously opposed than in this race. Rhetoric from supporters of Rodrigo Duterte, front-runner in surveys among the presidentiables, threatens “to stage a revolution” if their candidate would lose. Mostly in social media, hostility and anger have spilled out to confrontations in rallies and campaign sorties between “Dutertans” and those who disagree with them, campaign volunteers of his close rivals, Mar Roxas and Grace Poe. [full text]

Mindanao Times "The final lap"

TOMMORROW is the last day of the national elections. On the last stretch, we have seen the desperate machinations of candidates who, to win the votes from the undecided sector, resort to more muck raking and mudslinging. But this is nothing new.  Majority of the voters have already decided who they think will be the best leader of the country in the next six years. What is now important is vigilance in ensuring that the elections is honest and peaceful. [full text]

Manila Bulletin "Elect only the fittest candidate"

The most puzzling development in the political scene is having Mayor Rodrigo Duterte leading in the presidential surveys. From a reluctant and casually mentioned candidate, he has caught the fascination of many. His handlers and backers are confident he will win the election. But the new issues raised against him could whittle down his lead. His close friendship with Joema Sison and his dalliance with the New People’s Army could cast 
doubt on his loyalty to his country. This could be viewed as an disavowal of democratic principles. What makes his closeness with the dissident groups even more disturbing is that he has announced that if elected president, he will set up a revolutionary government, throw away the Constitution, and make himself a virtual dictator. What could stop Sison and the Communist Party from deposing him and taking over the reins of government? [full text]

Inquirer "Death squad culture"

ITS TONE of calibrated caution and its carefully reasoned argument must have resonated with many voters worried about next week’s elections, because “A vote for our future,” Ramon del Rosario Jr.’s commentary of May 3, was not only read hundreds of thousands of times online, but was shared—less than 48 hours after it was published—over 124,000 times on Facebook.
“As we consider our final choices, my appeal is that we pause to fully appreciate the implications of our vote. Whatever others may say, the choice of our next president does matter, very much.” Del Rosario, the chair of the Makati Business Club, began with a reference to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s speech at a recent joint meeting of the MBC and the Management Association of the Philippines. He did NOT describe the controversy that the mayor’s rambling, lewd, and jokey remarks ignited, but he did ask voters to consider the import of Duterte’s own words, said on other occasions. [full page]