Category Archives: Government

Economy, Government, International, Politics, Travel

RUSSIA’S PUTIN AND INDONESIA’S WIDODO WILL SKIP APEC SUMMIT IN MANILA

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) –  Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indonesian President Joko Widodo will not attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ meeting in Manila next week.

According to the Russian news agency RBC, Putin suddenly refused to participate in the APEC summit in the Philippines but will send Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instead.

Meanwhile, during the press briefing at the International Media Center on Thursday afternoon, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario confirmed Widodo’s absence from APEC.

“I just got a verbal message that there are things in Jakarta that need the attention of Pres. Widodo,” Del Rosario said, citing domestic concerns as reason for Widodo’s sudden non-attendance.

Widodo will be represented by Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong.

Although the Russian and Indonesian govenments did not give specific reasons for their heads of state’s decision to skip the Manila summit, many are speculating that Putin and Widodo are scared of being victimized by the laglag bala extortion scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

President Aquino expressed frustration especially over Putin’s decision since the Manila government even set aside an exclusive lane for the Russian leader along EDSA (Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare) so that he does not encounter any traffic to and from the meeting site.

Government, International, Media, Tourism, Travel

LAGLAG BALA: TOURISM SECRETARY TELLS FILIPINOS, MEDIA TO SHUT UP

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Hush!  Philippine Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. urged Filipinos and the media to STFU (shut up) because it is hurting the country’s tourism industry.

Jimenez was referring to the laglag bala  or tanim bala scheme at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in which airport personnel allegedly “plant” bullets in bags of unsuspecting airline passengers in order to extort money.

Speaking at a weekly forum at the Luneta Hotel, Jimenez said reports on the tanim bala demonstrate the media’s tendency to discuss issues “to death until it actually injures our own interest.”

“I am very concerned on both ends of it — not only because it is a symptom of corruption that we have yet to uproot, it is also a symptom that sometimes as a country we don’t know when to stop talking about something,” he said.

Jimenez went as far as recommending to President Aquino to change the administration’s anti-corruption mantra from Daang Matuwid (straight path) to Daang Matahimik (quiet path).

 

 

Government, Law Enforcement, Politics, Race Relations

TEXAS TO BUILD IMMIGRATION WALL AROUND ITS ENTIRE PERIMETER

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Texas soon to be
Texas soon to be “The Walled State”

LAREDO, Texas (The Adobo Chronicles) – Emboldened by the recent ruling of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court which upheld a lower court decision blocking the implementation of a series of President Obama’s executive orders on immigration, Texas today announced that it will build a wall around the state’s entire perimeter.

A three-judge panel ruled against the Obama administration on a 2-1 vote in Texas v. United States, upholding a lower court’s injunction against two programs. Obama created one of the programs, called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, or DAPA, and expanded another, called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA in a unilateral effort to reshape the U.S. immigration system after the 2014 midterm elections.

Governor Greg Abbott said that the “great wall” will not only prevent Mexicans from illegally crossing the border but also keep undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. out of the Lone Star state. “This will mean millions of dollars in savings on the part of the state government which otherwise would be spent on providing services to undocumented immigrants, including health insurance, food stamps and and housing,” Abbott said.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says he fully supports the Texas move and promised to donate $1 Billion of his own money to help in the building of the great wall. He says all he wants in return are giant billboards along the wall with the message: “Built through the generosity of Donald Trump.”

Meanwhile, the Obama administration says it will appeal the Circuit Court’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.