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Timor-Leste grants Ph request for Teves extradition

By Nidz Godino

“We have won…we look forward to  arrival of Mr. Teves so that he may finally face charges against him in our local courts,” Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman Mico Clavano said Court of Appeals of Timor-Leste has granted  extradition request of  Philippine government against former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr.

DOJ announced this on June 27, citing information from  attorney-general of Timor-Leste.

Clavano did not immediately say when Teves is expected back in the Philippines.

Philippine government sought  extradition of Teves for him to face multiple murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges in Manila for  March 4, 2023 assassination of then Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

Teves, who has been out of the country since last year, was recently released from house arrest in Timor-Leste, but his movement was still restricted and subject to close monitoring.

The former lawmaker was arrested last March 21 by local law enforcers after  International Criminal Police or Interpol issued  red notice against him.

Manila trial court has issued arrest order against Teves as well as cancellation of his Philippine passport.

Aside from Degamo’s murder, Teves and others have also been charged with  deaths of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

He has also been designated as  “terrorist” last year after he was expelled from  House of Representatives for disorderly conduct and continued absence despite  expired travel authority.

Murder  trial of Teves before  Manila court has likewise started, where government prosecutors presented evidence and  first witness.

Teves’ co-accused Marvin Miranda was arraigned. He did not enter  plea, prompting  court to enter not guilty plea.

Other defendants Angelo and Jay Ann Palagtiw pleaded not guilty.

Teves’ camp has yet to issue  statement on grant of  government’s extradition request.

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FMJ on Dutertes’ Senate bid, it’s  free country

By Nidz Godino

“It’s  free country…they’re allowed to do what it is that they want… I really have no reaction to it,” , President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said  former president Rodrigo Duterte and his children are free to seek any electoral post in the coming elections, but the “real situation” will emerge only after  filing of certificates of candidacy in October.

Vice President Sara Duterte, announced her resignation from  Cabinet on June 19, revealed last Tuesday that her father and her brothers Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte would run for  Senate in next year’s midterm elections.

The Vice President, who quit as Marcos’ education chief, said Sebastian may seek  presidency in 2028. She stressed that her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, had asked her to run for mayor of Davao City again.

Asked to react to  Dutertes’ political plans, Marcos replied “besides, it’s still early…we really won’t know any of these things…we’re talking about 2028…a lot will happen between now and 2028.”

Marcos noted that the “only real situation” would become clear during filing of certificates of candidacy in October.

“Then we will see really who will run…who will they align with…what are  parties involved…which parties are in alliance with which…we will see that in October…so, all of these announcements, well, let’s see if they will push through come October,” the President said.

Marcos also claimed that nothing has changed in  UniTeam, the coalition that carried him and Duterte during  2022 polls, despite Vice President’s resignation from  Cabinet.

The President noted that Duterte came to  UniTeam as  candidate of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, but eventually left  party. However,  parties that were aligned with UniTeam in 2022 are still with  coalition, he added.

“That’s why I’m saying, it depends on who Duterte will side with… will determine whether or not  that will be  biggest change in  UniTeam if Inday Sara leaves UniTeam. …that would be  biggest change if ever, but the party has not changed… we’re already in alliance with Lakas…we’re soon to be with NPC ,Nationalist People’s Coalition… we are soon to be in alliance with NUP ,National Unity Party…we are soon to be in alliance with  Nacionalista, basically the same list as what we had during  ‘22 elections ..so, UniTeam is still there…if you look at the structure of  parties that ran together in the last election, that really hasn’t changed,” Marcos said.

In 2021, Duterte announced  she would seek  vice presidency and filed as  substitute candidate for Lakas. Last year, Duterte resigned from  party after her ally, former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was demoted from senior deputy speaker to deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

Earlier this month, Sara said  UniTeam had already served its purpose.

“UniTeam was  tandem during  2022 elections… elections are over, we won and we are grateful to those who supported us, we are not candidates anymore,” she told reporters in Davao City on June 12.

For Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte is not one to joke about three Dutertes gunning for national positions in 2025.

“I know VP Sara… I believed her statement…she will not make  joke when it comes to her brothers…let us wait for filing of candidacy,” Dela Rosa said at  Kapihan sa Senado forum.

Dutertes would no longer make  mockery of  filing of candidacies, similar to what  elder Duterte did in  2016 elections, said Dela Rosa, who himself was  placeholder when he filed and then withdrew his bid for president in 2022.

Dela Rosa,  reelectionist, is looking forward to joining  campaign of three Dutertes and Sen. Bong Go, who is also seeking  second term. “It would make  campaign happier,” Dela Rosa said.

Asked if it was “too much” for Duterte family to field three members in  Senate race, Dela Rosa said  national politics has always been  family affair.

“What’s new?” Dela Rosa said, referring to  proliferation of political dynasties both in  House of Representatives and  Senate.

“If others can do it, why not the Dutertes…why should it be too much for the Dutertes to run for Senate, but not for  Cayetanos, Villars,  Estradas?” he stressed.

Dela Rosa said  brewing alliance between  Marcos administration and  “Yellow” or “Pink” forces from  Liberal Party  as revealed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV – is proof that two camps are threatened by Duterte’s popularity.

“Anybody can form  ticket against  Dutertes…they can talk if they want, nothing can stop them,” Dela Rosa said.

“Liberal Party will then make itself administration if it unites with Malacañang… seems they want  Dutertes to be opposition,” he said.

Meanwhile, militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said President Marcos should do his best to prevent his predecessor from returning to power if he is genuinely concerned about  country’s welfare.

In a statement, KMP chairman Danilo Arao also said Marcos should renew  Philippines’ membership in  International Criminal Court  investigating  killings and other alleged human rights abuses perpetrated by the Duterte administration in his so-called war on drugs.

“This development should be  wake-up call to  Marcos administration to end  Dutertes once and for all…for  Filipino people, this is  challenge to strive for genuine social change,” Arao said.

Arao also said  country had suffered enough during Duterte’s presidency, adding  former chief executive and his children should not be allowed to occupy national positions.

“We do not want him in any government office now and forever, period,” he said.

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Ph should do more than protests vs China – FMJ

By Nidz Godino

“We have over  hundred protests already…we have already made  similar number of demarche…so we have to do more than just that,”  President Ferdinand Marcos Je.said.

 Philippines should go beyond filing diplomatic protests against China, as  Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed sending  note verbale to Beijing over  latest incident in Ayungin Shoal where Chinese coast guard forcibly stopped  resupply mission to  BRP Sierra Madre.

Speaking to reporters on sidelines of  National Employment Summit in Manila, Marcos noted that Philippines had already filed so many protests against China’s actions.

He did not specify what doing more might entail.

Asked if he had summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to discuss  latest incident in  Ayungin Shoal, Marcos replied: “we have called him many, many times…well,  DFA will have to decide to formalize  discussion with the ambassador, but we are actually constantly in touch with him…we have already made our position very clear…we have made our objections to some of  actions that were undertaken by  maritime forces of PLA ,People’s Liberation Army…also, our objection to that, we have also made it very clear, not only to the ambassador but also to Beijing.”.

On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo told reporters they had already sent  note verbale to China.

“So, it will really depend on how formal we want to make this complaint,” Marcos said without elaborating.

Marcos echoed  view of Philippine security officials that  Chinese coast guard’s actions during  June 17 incident did not constitute armed attack, but emphasized they were deliberate.

Under  1951 Mutual Defense Treaty,  Philippines and  US may jointly develop their capabilities to counter  external armed aggression. US officials have repeatedly said  armed attack on Filipino armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, including  South China Sea, would invoke Washington’s treaty commitments.

“It’s not armed. Walang pumutok, they did not point guns at us…but it was  deliberate action to stop our people…and in the process of that, kinuhanan tayo ,they boarded  Philippine vessel, and took  equipment from that Philippine vessel…so, although there were no arms involved, nonetheless, it is still  deliberate action and it is essentially  illegal action that was taken by Chinese forces,” Marcos said.

Marcos also clarified  previous statement of National Maritime Council chairman and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that  incident was possibly  “misunderstanding” or  “accident.”

“Initially, we were looking at data…maybe it was just  mistake…but since I visited WESCOM ,Western Command and talked to Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr. and  seamen, I said, ‘what really happened clearly, it was not  misunderstanding…they really went there to block our resupply,” the President said.

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Palace propose P6.352 T 2025 budget

By Nidz Godino

“Social sector will definitely, again, get  big chunk of  budget that’s education, health and social protection,” Budget Secretary and Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) chair Amenah Pangandaman said Marcos administration is proposing another record budget of P6.352 trillion for 2025 as  government moves to finance its priority programs and achieve its macroeconomic targets.

At  briefing following  188th Cabinet-level DBCC  Pangandaman said  proposed National Expenditure Program for 2025 is P6.352 trillion.

Record  budget level proposed for next year is 10.1 percent above this year’s allocation of P5.768 trillion.

“Agriculture will also remain to be  top priority as we increase our investments for food security…we also have infrastructure development and digitalization as well as climate projects,” she said.

P6.352 trillion is 2.45 percent higher than  previous proposal of P6.2 trillion last April. Next year’s budget is equivalent to 22 percent of the economy.

Pangandaman explained  increase has taken into consideration  higher budget allocation for local government units (LGUs) up by almost 20 percent to P1.03 trillion.

National  tax allotment (NTA) for LGUs for 2025 will be up 18.7 percent to P1.03 trillion from this year’s level of P871.38 billion.

LGUs will get  higher share as  NTA is based on 2022 revenue collection, which improved as  economy significantly bounced back from  two-year slump at the height of  COVID pandemic.

“Next year is also  election year so we have to fund that, we increased  allowance for those who will help in the election,” Pangandaman said.

She stressed that there is also  expansion in  conditional cash transfer program of the government, as well as higher allowance of P10,000 for teachers.

She noted  economic team is set to present  NEP to  Cabinet on July 2 and submit it to Congress on July 29, a week after the President’s State of the Nation Address.  Process  will be significantly ahead of schedule as  constitutional deadline for  submission of budget is 30 days after  SONA.

Furthermore, Pangandaman emphasized  budget will build on gains from  first two years of  Marcos administration and continue to usher in economic and social transformation for  prosperous, inclusive and resilient society.

In line with  Philippine Development Plan,  proposed budget also aims to protect capabilities of individuals and families and transform production sectors to generate more quality jobs and produce competitive products.

It also targets to foster enabling environment encompassing institutions, physical and natural environments.

In evaluating agencies’ budget proposals for 2025, Pangandaman said  Department of Budget and Management considered several factors such as  availability of fiscal space, implementation-readiness of programs and projects, agency absorptive capacity, and alignment with expenditure directions.

Administration’s economic team, meanwhile, was less optimistic on inflation trend in the country, hiking its assumption to three percent to four percent range from  previous target of two to four percent in April. Inflation quickened to  six-month high of 3.9 percent in May, bringing  five-month average to 3.5 percent.

Trend is not expected to significantly impact overall growth, however, according to the economic team.

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‘Gifted Child’ Cj De Silva-Ong, 36

By Cynthia Montojo

“Most of you would remember her as Promil Gifted Child in those commercials in the Nineties, but from  many people who visited hospital or sent in  message or two, I learned that Cj was  gift herself to the people who came to know her,” Cj De Silva-Ong husband Wincy Ong said in  heartfelt message, Cj who rose to fame as  Promil Gifted Child in the 1990s, passed away on June 18, 2024.

Painter, creative director, and podcaster had no prior known illnesses. She was rushed to  hospital on June 4 due to aneurysm, and had to undergo  coiling surgery. While in  Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, CJ suffered two strokes. 

In commemorating her 36 years, Wincy honored Cj as  “loving wife,  loving cat-mom to their cats Andres and Max, and  loving daughter to her parents and uncle.

“She always told me she’d wanted  funeral that was fun and not so serious…let’s celebrate her 36 amazing years here on this planet by filling it with things that made her happy,music, conversations, coffee, and good food,” Wincy stressed.

Meanwhile, Shaira Luna,  former Promil Gifted Child commercial model and now  photographer, posted  heartfelt message for Cj. Sharing  post of Wincy, Shaira reiterated  CJ remains in her memory “forever as  exceptional little one.”

“Whenever people would mistake us for each other in the industry, I always say how funny it is that we actually have yet to meet again, or work together as adults… I’m sure we would have had plenty of things to talk about especially as former Promil kids, ” Shaira shared.

Cj  graduated Magna Cum Laude from  University of the Philippines Diliman and worked in TBWA-Santiago Mangada Puno. Aneurysm is  bulge or ballooning in the wall of  blood vessel, most often an artery. This condition can occur in various parts of the body, but the most common and concerning locations are  brain (cerebral aneurysm) and  main artery from the heart (aortic aneurysm).

Aneurysms are particularly dangerous because they often show no symptoms until they rupture, leading to life-threatening complications.

CJ De Silva-Ong’s death mirrors  tragic fates of Isabel Granada and Jovit Baldivino, both of whom also succumbed to aneurysms.

Isabel,  well-known actress and singer, passed away in 2017 after collapsing due to brain aneurysm while in Qatar. Similarly, Jovit Baldivino,  first winner of “Pilipinas Got Talent,” died in 2022 after suffering  ruptured aneurysm. 

Aneurysms can develop due to various factors, including high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, genetic predispositions, and trauma, according to the World Health Organization. 

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HEADLINES

Fingerprints showed Guo Hua Ping is Mayor Guo

By J.Lo

“Indeed,  NBI has confirmed  fingerprints of Mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping match… means these are  fingerprints of one and the same person,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said  fingerprints of suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping are identical, establishing that they are the same person, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) declared in its dactyloscopy report.

Report  was released after  comparative examination and analysis by  NBI Organized and Transnational Crime Division.

According to  NBI,  examination was conducted between June 25 to 27 at NBI Dactyloscopy Division in Quezon City.

Specimens used were those of Guo Hua Ping, affixed on Alien Fingerprint Card retrieved from  NBI master files, dated March 28, 2006 and fingerprints of Guo, affixed on biometric printout from  NBI Information and Communication Technology Division, with  transaction date of March 10, 2021.

Report  concluded  fingerprints of Guo Hua Ping y Lin and Alice Leal Guo were affixed by the same person, confirming that Alice Leal Guo and Guo Hua Ping are one and the same.

Hontiveros had requested  fingerprint examination from  NBI.

“This confirms what I have suspected all along. ‘Mayor Alice’ or should I say, Guo Hua Ping  is  fake Filipino. She is  Chinese national masquerading as  Filipino citizen to facilitate crimes being committed by POGO,  biggest evidence we can have to oust ‘Mayor Alice’ from her position,” she stressed.

Hontiveros thanked new NBI Director Jaime Santiago for their quick action in comparing the two fingerprints, as she called on Office of the Solicitor General to expedite  filing of  quo warranto case against the mayor.

Senators earlier revealed that Guo may have stolen  Filipino person’s identity after another person under  name Alice Leal Guo with  same birthday and birthplace was registered in  NBI clearance system.

Documents presented by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian indicated that Guo entered  Philippines as  teenager using  passport under the name Guo Hua Ping, identifying her nationality as Chinese.

Guo wrote in her certificate of candidacy  submitted before  Commission on Elections when she ran as mayor  that she was born July 12, 1986 in Tarlac. She also wrote the same details in her NBI clearance.

But according to Guo Hua Ping’s Chinese passport, she was born in Fujian on Aug. 31, 1990. Documents also showed that Guo’s mother is not  Filipino named Amelia Leal, but  Chinese national, Lin Wenyi.

Mayor Guo allegedly faked her incorporators in Hongsheng Gaming Technology by stealing identities of vendors at public market in Tarlac, Senate probe found out.

During resumption of Senate investigation on illegal offshore gaming activities, Tarlac resident Merly Joy Castro  approached  office of Hontiveros upon hearing news that she was included in Guo’s human trafficking complaint before  Department of Justice (DOJ).

She denied  signature and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) under her name in Hongsheng’s incorporation papers were hers. Hongsheng was  POGO that Guo represented before she was elected mayor in Bamban.

“I do not know anything about making  corporation because I have no means to make one. I only go to work and back home,” Castro,  BPO worker said.

When she heard about  complaint against Guo, Castro  found familiar  following alleged incorporator names beside hers  Rowena Evangelista, Thelma Laranan and Rita Yturralde.

Castro recognized them from  public market , Evangelista has  stall where she buys her vegetables, Laranan sells breakfast food in the market, while Yturralde sells grilled meat.

Bureau of Internal Revenue lawyer Ralbert Tibayan confirmed during  hearing  Castro’s real TIN did not match that of her alleged TIN as Hongsheng incorporator.

DOJ Undersecretary Felix Nicholas Ty,  also in charge of  Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, said Castro and other market vendors can coordinate with authorities to testify about their stolen identities.

Hontiveros warned Guo that she would be cited in contempt if she snubs next hearing. Guo skipped  Wednesday hearing saying she was too “stressed” and that she was “prejudged” guilty by the committee.

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Kuwait ban on entry, worker visas for OFWs lifted

By Nidz Godino

“We thank His Excellency Fahad and the Kuwait government for opening their doors to Filipinos to be able to work in Kuwait,” Rep. Ron Salo, vice chairman of  House of Representatives’ committee on overseas workers affairs said Kuwait government has lifted its year-long ban on  issuance of entry visas and worker visas for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), signaling  significant development in  labor relations of both countries.

Commitment  to lift  OFW ban was made last June 13 by Kuwait’s Deputy First Prime Minister and Interior Minister Fahad Youssef Saud al-Sabah to  Philippine delegation led by Salo.

“Such protection will ensure that our OFWs’ overseas journey will become worthwhile,”  Kabayan party-list congressman stressed, as he also thanked Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac and Philippine embassy officials in Kuwait for ensuring OFWs’ protection.

Joint  technical working group composed of competent authorities from  Philippines and Kuwait was also established.

Committee  will periodically meet to address employment-related issues that may arise in the future.

Data from  Philippine embassy in Kuwait reveal that there are now around 245,000 Filipino workers in Kuwait, from around 268,000 Filipino workers prior to  ban. Moreover, 50 percent of total domestic labor force in Kuwait is composed of Filipinos.

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Mindanao secession issue to warn of ‘civil war’ in Ph   

By Nidz Godino

“Few days ago, I read somewhere about statement of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, he cautioned us about  rising tensions in that part of the sea…and I agree with him…we cannot afford to go to war with China and be  battleground for what is to come… I can only imagine  lopsided battle where after all these tensions Philippines is in  losing end, wala tayong panalo dito .” former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said several anonymous accounts on Chinese social media were quick to seize on  Filipino politician’s proposal to secede Mindanao from  Philippines to fuel speculation of  brewing “civil war” in the country, with several attributing  alleged unrest to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “pro-United States” stance. 

Coordinated  campaign to spread rumors of impending conflict in the Philippines took off days after Alvarez (Davao del Norte, 1st District) issued  statement in November 2023 calling to make Mindanao independent due to Marcos’ policies in  West Philippine Sea. Within days, over 60 posts and articles about Mindanao independence campaign were published on Chinese platforms. 

Besides anonymous accounts,  campaign was also amplified by one prominent Chinese media entity that is known to be  active distributor of  Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda.

Monitoring by Philippine media in collaboration with  Taiwan-based Doublethink Lab from November 2023 to February 2024 showed  Chinese social media users already actively produced content alleging an imminent conflict in the Philippines even before former President Rodrigo Duterte publicly called to secede Mindanao in January 2024.

Several articles  reported Alvarez’s remarks implied through their headlines and text that Beijing was important enough to compel Mindanao to protest  government’s, and hence, Marcos’ handling of Chinese vessels in  West Philippine Sea,  they claimed to be “provocative” and “dangerous.” 

These posts echo another similar months-long campaign to paint  Philippines as  unlawful and aggressive country in the tense waterways.

Coordinated  spread of this narrative, among others, has some of the markings of an influence operation media is tracking across all social media platforms, groups and spaces on internet.

Whether posts were about Alvarez’s remarks or of Duterte’s, most used  same keywords and were also often authored by accounts that do not use their real name.  Keywords  for Marcos alleged he was “being hostile to China” and “moving in  dangerous direction,” while  Mindanao independence campaign was described as  “trigger for political in-fighting” or “possible civil war.” 

Alvarez has advocated for Mindanao’s independence as early as 2005, according to a July 9, 2005 published article of a daily  detailed then-Davao City mayor Duterte’s calls to secede Mindanao in  context of  country’s rising discontent against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

The former House speaker revived this call in 2023 as an apparent reaction to Marcos’ “bickering” with China that he said could trigger  war. 

An excerpt of  statement that his office sent to reporters on November 20, 2023 reads:

The veteran lawmaker,  true-blooded Mindanawon, even suggested  better  Mindanao separates itself from Philippines if Imperial Manila insists on dragging  entire nation towards  prospect of war.

At least 60 posts and or articles based on Alvarez’s remarks were uploaded on Chinese platforms from Nov. 21 to 30, 2023, based on Doublethink Lab’s monitoring. Most articles and posts were uploaded on Chinese social media platforms Weibo, Baijahao and NetEase.  Latter  is  Chinese website where users can “self-publish” news articles. 

Majority  of Chinese users’ articles about  Mindanao secession campaign shared same argument that Marcos’ favorable policies toward  United States were causing Mindanao to consider separating from the country. This, some alleged, was an indication of  brewing civil war. 

A month later on Dec. 27, 2023, online media portal Guancha released  video that combines  contents of four different articles published in November 2023.  Video ,  used  computer-generated voiceover, alleged that Marcos has been “stirring up anti-China sentiment at home” upon  orders of  US government. 

Guancha video said  “some regions … have stood up in resistance to prevent  entire country from being dragged down by Marcos.” It also said  Alvarez’s call to secede Mindanao came after Marcos attempted to draw Vietnam and Malaysia “into confrontation with China.” 

Guancha has been flagged by Doublethink Lab for its role in spreading disinformation and messages that echo China’s “new nationalist” and anti-Western sentiment under  guise of independent commentary.

This conclusion was drawn from tracing Guancha’s historical evolution, close ties with Chinese state institutions and state-connected influencers, and its involvement in information operations, such as false claims during Typhoon Jebi in Japan,  misled Taiwanese media and thus fueled protests against then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Months later, on January 30, Duterte made  same call as Alvarez, saying in  press conference that Mindanao should consider seceding from Philippines through  process based on gathering signatures.

This time,  Philippine government responded directly to proposal, with National Security Adviser Eduardo Año saying on February 4 that any attempt to secede any part of the Philippines “will be met by the government with resolute force.” He added that  government “will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop any and all attempts to dismember the Republic.” 

At least 11 posts or articles were published the week after Duterte’s statement. One of the articles, translated with open-source translation tool, said that the Philippine government would “attack with force.” Meanwhile,  post of one anonymous account outright claims that the Philippines “is on  brink of civil war.”