Monthly Archives: September 2016

Government, International, Politics

Philippine President Duterte A Rock Star In Japan

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image.jpegTOKYO, Japan (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – When Shinzo Abe met Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Laos, the first thing that the Japanese prime minister told the Philippine president was, “You’re famous in Japan!“. He wasn’t kidding.

Duterte is considered a rock star in Japan. His unconventional ways and tough talk have gained the admiration of the Japanese — both young and old.

One famous concert venue in Tokyo advertised that it would freature the Filipino leader in a satellite feed from his hometown of Davao City where he just arrived from a state visit to Indonesia.

The drug-free concert sold out just hours after the show’s organizers announced Duterte’s video appearance.

As soon as Duterte came on the satellite feed, the concert crowd cheered and lit glow sticks, bringing the packed hall into a state of pandemonium.

In his video message, Duterte encouraged the concert crowd to stay away from illegal drugs.

Other concert venues and dance clubs throughout Japan are planning to hold similar events featuring Duterte’s live message from the Philippines.

Many Japanese are looking forward to Duterte’s state visit to their country after learning that the Filipino leader has accepted the invitation from Abe.

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Government, International, Law Enforcement, Politics

Filipinos Lay Blame On President Duterte

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imageMANILA. Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Philippine peso fell to its weakest in one-and-a-half months against the U.S. dollar, closing at P47.16 to the dollar last Friday, its worst finish since July 27.

Many are blaming it on the spat between President Rodrigo R. Duterte and US President Barack Obama, leading up to the ASEAN Summit in Laos last week.

Filipinos here and abroad are also blaming Duterte for the recent downward trend in stock investments in the country.

But that is not all. Majority of Filipinos are also laying blame on their president for these recent developments:

  • More than 600,000 drug users have voluntarily surrendered under Duterte’s war on drugs
  • Drug lords from among the ranks of politicians, law enforcement officers, judges and  influential people have been identified and will soon be prosecuted
  • The ‘laglag bala’ extortion scheme that has made the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) infamous has been totally eliminated
  • Passenger queues and overcrowding  at NAIA have been significantly reduced; passengers are even treated to clean bathrooms
  • Lower-cost regular metered taxis are now available for arriving NAIA passengers
  • A 911 emergency system and an 8888 citizen complaints line have been set up nationwide
  • Unemployment rate is down to 5%, the lowest since 2005.
  • One-stop Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) document  processing centers have been set up
  • Stranded OFWs abroad have been brought back to the country
  • Processing time for passports, licenses, government IDs and many other official transactions has been reduced to hours or just days instead of weeks
  • Public roads, sidewalks and overpasses have been cleaned and cleared of illegally-parked vehicles and vendors
  • Existing curfew and alcohol regulations in many cities are now being enforced and followed, even at 7-Eleven stores
  • China has pledged to help in the drug war and rehabilitation of drug users
  • Japan is donating planes and ships to help boost the Philippine military
  • Indonesia is cooperating with the Philippines to fight terrorism and extremism in the region
  • President Barack Obama shook hands with Duterte, contrary to reports by local news media

Duterte must be very unpopular right now among Filipinos. So his 91% approval rating must be a made-up number?

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