President Duterte declares Martial Law in Mindanao

Duterte declares Martial Law in Mindanao due to ISIS threat

President Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao while he is in Russia on May 23, 2017.

President Duterte put the whole island of Mindanao under martial law as of 10 pm of May 23, following violent clashes between government troops and members of the Maute group in Marawi.

The martial law declaration for the island lasts for 60 days, according to presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

"The hardest thing to deal with would be the arrival of ISIS in our country and it has come to pass, that there is really war going on," Duterte said in a press briefing upon his arrival from Russia, where he had an official trip.

"Government must put an end to this. I cannot gamble with ISIS because they are everywhere and you know what is happening or you must be very aware of what is happening in the Middle East," he added.

Deputy Executive Sec. Menardo Guevarra has clarified that this is possible on the grounds of existence of rebellion because of what is happening in Mindanao based on Article 7, Section 18 of the Constitution. This is good for 60 days,” said Abella.

Duterte on Wednesday morning said he will be "harsh" in implementing martial law, which he said "will not be any different" from the military rule under dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The President had earlier warned about martial law in Mindanao. The last time he raised this prospect was on May 19, or 4 days before he declared martial law in the southern Philippines.

His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will be postponed, but a phone call before Mr. Duterte and Putin is being planned, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the whole island of Mindanao was put under martial law even if the clashes were only in Marawi because there are also problems in other parts of the island.

Clashes in Marawi City began on Tuesday afternoon after the Philippine military launched a surgical strike against "high-value targets" belonging to the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Maute Group. Clashes with the Maute Group killed at least one policeman as of 8 pm.

Three government troops (2 soldiers and a police) were killed while 12 others were wounded in clashes with members of the IS-linked Abu Sayyaf and the Maute terror groups in Marawi City that started on Tuesday afternoon.

In a televised press briefing from Russia, Defense Secretary Lorenzana said they will send more troops from Manila and Zamboanga to Marawi City on Wednesday.

Jordan Clarkson play for Gilas Pilipinas

Jordan Clarkson still waiting clearance from FIBA to play for Gilas Pilipinas

The 24-year-old Clarkson has a Filipino passport which the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) claims he acquired during his pre-teen years, thus making him eligible to play for Gilas.

Until now Los Angeles Lakers star and Filipino-American player Jordan Clarkson still seeks clearance to play under the flag of the Philippines.

Clarkson said on CBS Los Angeles' Rahul Lai, hopes will someday he will play for Gilas Pilipinas. The Lakers would not easily release Clarkson because he is one of their best player of the team and further grow his contract amounting to US $50 million over four years.

Is Jordan Clarkson's patience wearing thin while waiting for Fiba clearance to finally don the Gilas Pilipinas jersey? When? He's READY!," added Jordan's father.

The father of the Los Angeles Lakers stalwart posted an Instagram message addressed to Fiba asking when his son can finally be given the clearance to play for the Philippines in international basketball.

The message came just after Gilas Pilipinas earned a berth in the Fiba World Cup qualifiers this November by topping the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) Championship held in Manila last week. Without the Fiba clearance, the most Clarkson could do to play for the national team is to apply for naturalization. Former NBA stalwart Andray Blatche is the current naturalized player for Gilas. 

Fiba has yet to give the green light for Clarkson to play for the country of his mother as there are still supporting papers the world governing body for the sport has been asking with regards to the NBA players' birth certificate and those of his Filipina mother Annette, a native of Angeles, Pampanga.

President Duterte open to military alliance - RUSSIA and CHINA

President Duterte open to military alliance with ‘reliable’ China, Russia

President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed openness to forging new military alliances with China and Russia if the security situation worldwide deterioriates.

In an interview with Russian media in Davao City before flying to Moscow Monday (May 22), Duterte lauded China and Russia for being “reliable” while slamming the United States for its “double talk.”

“If the situation in all over the world [gets worse], I will not be forced, but I will be open to defense alliance. Because it is only Russia and China who can be reliable,” the Russian media outfit Sputnik quoted the President as saying.

“The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. So there will always be a problem, there will always be misconceptions and probably a dislike, if not hatred for one another,” Duterte said of the US. 

The President has made shifted away from pursuing the country’s traditional alliance with the US since assuming office, choosing instead to seek closer ties with China and Russia.

Duterte is set to have a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 25 while he is in Russia for an official visit. 

Duterte:Turned down invitation to attend Trump’s inauguration for Russia

Duterte says he turned down invitation to attend Trump’s inauguration for Russia

Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte had been invited to attend the inauguration of United States President Donald Trump last January but he turned it down because he wanted to visit Russia first.

In an interview with Russian media in Davao City ahead of his flight to Moscow Monday (May 22), Duterte gave a different version of the story on why he skipped Trump’s inauguration.

“I have not been there. I have been invited to attend the swearing-in of Trump, but I said ‘not yet because I have to go to Russia’,” the Russian news outfit Sputnik quoted Duterte as saying.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told the media in January that Duterte will not be at Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C. because it was “not customary for heads of states” to be there as it was a “domestic event.”

“Customarily, the head of mission or the ambassador is the representative of our country. Because this is totally a domestic event, Americans will be there to celebrate the inauguration,” he said. 

Representing the Philippines at Trump’s inauguration were Andanar and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.

Duterte will be in Russia from May 23 to 26. During his visit, he is set to have bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has described as his “idol,” and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. 

President Duterte Today, wants missiles and Nuclear energy

President Duterte will ask for precision guided missiles and discuss nuclear energy, when he visits Russia!

photo credit: Malacañang

President Rodrigo Duterte will ask for precision guided missiles and discuss nuclear energy, among others, when he visits Russia this week.

“I am going to Russia on Tuesday…same purpose…if they can spare us some precision guided [missiles]. We have so many smart bombs, but not as accurate as the ones guided by lasers or by the satellites,” Duterte said in a speech over the weekend.

“We are really trying not to use bombs that can hit anybody because it will cause so many collateral damages,” he added.

Duterte is also expected to sign deals with Russia concerning security, legal assistance, trade, investments, as well as peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier announced that Manila and Moscow will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to entice Russian businesses to invest in the Philippines.

“The main task is to increase awareness on the Philippines, the businesses and opportunities here. Also to sign two MOUs for trade and investment promotion and industry development,” Lopez told reporters. “That’s why we set a business forum [in Russia], will be presenting [how to do]business in the Philippines, also the Dutertenomics,” he added. 

Duterte was invited to Russia by Putin when they met on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru in November last year.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Cleofe Natividad said the visit is expected to boost ties between the two countries. 

“We believe it will mark a new chapter in Philippines-Russia relations. We also see this visit as an indication of our strong common desire to enhance and strengthen bilateral relations,” Natividad said. “We consider this visit as a landmark that will send a strong message of the Philippines’ commitment to seek new partnerships and strengthen relations with non- traditional partners such as Russia.”

Early this week, Duterte visited China were he secured $24 billion worth of loans and investments.