TA Painting by Gerilya Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 36" Abakada art exhibit at J Studio HQ, Las Pinas 2023

#SalamatPRRD for Bankrupting the "Business"

#SalamatPRRD for Bankrupting the “Business”

Around a couple of years ago, a friend and I were discussing PRRD’s accomplishments when he told me of what he heard from among those he knew, particularly the ones in the business sector saying that old man PRRD is bad for the business. While I am not into business and never was an expert in economics, I can pretty much say that they were correct about the man, albeit not exactly what they…

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same shit keeps fucking happening all the time ever

On October 11, 2014, Jennifer Laude, a Filipino trans woman, was killed by US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, whose presence in Zambales was made possible by the Visiting Forces Agreement. 

In September 2020, then President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his misogyny and whose regime was marked by extrajudicial killings from his drug war and anti-communist crusade, granted Pemberton absolute pardon, cutting short his time served by four years. Months prior in the same year, during the height of the pandemic, the Congress railroaded the passing of the anti-terrorism bill amidst rampant red-tagging of activists and dissidents; LGBTQIA+ protesters were arrested, detained, and harassed by police. 

Under the current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the largest Balikatan Exercise took place in 2023, a military exercise that was bolstered by counterterrorism training since the War on Terror campaign by the US. His father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., serving as the blueprint of violence and repression for Duterte, formalized the export of Filipino labor through the 1974 Labor Code in an attempt to stimulate the struggling economy, resulting in the human trafficking of Filipinos to this day.

This is the political milieu that informs the narrative of “Balikbayan. Through the protagonist Stella, a trans woman, whose motivation is to find her missing sister Katrina, supposedly teaching in Texas but ended up as a victim of tokhang in the Philippines eleven years later, the play tackles the entanglements of the US War on Drugs and Terror, neoliberalism, and extrajudicial killings under the Duterte regime, and how women, both trans and cis, are subjugated and dehumanized by the same system.

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April 13, 2024, 7 PM @ IGB Gallery, UP Diliman 

#Balikbayan #Balikbayan2024

The police said that after their inventory with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) the actual weight of their seized drugs on April 15 was 1,424.253 kilos, and not 1.8 tons. This means that the estimated value should be P9.8 billion, and not P13.3 billion, as earlier reported.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, who oversees the PNP, was quick to explain and held a press conference to clear the air. Abalos said the initial value was only based on their estimation.

One can argue that the mistake can simply be attributed to human error; an honest mistake. But the PNP manual is clear: for warrantless seizures of drugs such as in buy busts, the integrity of the seized items must be preserved.

Marcos was mighty proud of the Monday drug operation. In fact, Marcos himself went to Batangas to inspect the confiscated shabu. The operation came in handy for him to highlight his “different approach” against illegal drugs.

(This is the biggest shipment of shabu that we’ve seized, but not one person died. No one died, no one was shot, no one was hurt. All we did was to operate carefully, because that should be the approach.) [Marcos said.]

Human rights group iDEFEND pointed out the government’s continuing war on drugs policy. So far, Marcos has yet to repeal or retract former Rodrigo Duterte’s memorandum that operationalized Oplan Tokhang, where police officers were told they can “neutralize” resisting suspects.

“This should be the norm, not the exception. Ph (Philippine) drug war continues to kill with impunity. Without repealing national policy on Tokhang, without prosecution of EJKs (extrajudicial killings), it remains lethal to Filipinos,” the group said.

There have been 621 drug-related killings under the Marcos administration, as of April 15, based on the monitoring of Dahas Project. The initiative is led by the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies center and aims to monitor and record drug-related killings in the country.

2024 Apr. 19

James Taylor’s Got A Friend In Bongbong And Liza Marcos

After almost 8 years since music legend James Taylor cancelled a scheduled concert in the Philippines, he’s back as a friend to Filipinos and to Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos.   The cancelled concert was a political statement about former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, specifically over alleged extra-judicial killings.  But “tokhang” is no more and so Taylor treated…

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The operation would be called Project Double Barrel. “One touch of the barrel, two triggers will be set off,” Police Chief dela Rosa was happy to inform the media. “There’s a barrel that will target from above, the high-value targets. And there’s a barrel that will target from below, the street level.” The first of the metaphorical two barrels was directed toward what the government called high-value targets: the drug syndicates and financiers known colloquially as drug lords. The second barrel would target street dealing and daily drug use. The operation had its own name: Tokhang. Tokhang did not exist in any of the local languages. It was a portmanteau designed especially for the drug war, derived from the Visayan words toktok and hangyo—“knock” and “plead.” Tokhang meant “house-to-house visitations, led by the police, to persuade suspected illegal drug personalities to stop their illegal drug activities.” Those on the drug lists were invited to surrender at village halls and police stations and to admit their crimes. Tens of thousands swore oaths, turned in their own pot-smoking friends, and were sent home with the admonition to sin no more.

from Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country, by Patricia Evangelista

The operation would be called Project Double Barrel. “One touch of the barrel, two triggers will be set off,” Police Chief dela Rosa was happy to inform the media. “There’s a barrel that will target from above, the high-value targets. And there’s a barrel that will target from below, the street level.” The first of the metaphorical two barrels was directed toward what the government called high-value targets: the drug syndicates and financiers known colloquially as drug lords. The second barrel would target street dealing and daily drug use. The operation had its own name: Tokhang. Tokhang did not exist in any of the local languages. It was a portmanteau designed especially for the drug war, derived from the Visayan words toktok and hangyo—“knock” and “plead.” Tokhang meant “house-to-house visitations, led by the police, to persuade suspected illegal drug personalities to stop their illegal drug activities.” Those on the drug lists were invited to surrender at village halls and police stations and to admit their crimes. Tens of thousands swore oaths, turned in their own pot-smoking friends, and were sent home with the admonition to sin no more.

from Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country, by Patricia Evangelista

To Investigate or Not To Investigate?

The International Criminal Court wants to Investigate and Persecute Former President Rodrigo Duterte of “War Agasinst Humanity” for the alleged Human rights violation and extrajudicial killings, lack of due process, and targeting of individuals without proper evidence. Human rights organizations, as well as some governments and the United Nations, expressed concern about the methods employed and the impact on the rule of law. The ICC wants to investigate Him form 2016 until 2019 on when he was president and before the Philippines drop out of the ICC.

The Duterte Admistration argued that the campaign was necessary to address the drug problem in the country and that it aimed to protect the Filipino people from the harms of illegal drugs. The President and his supporters maintained that the tough stance on drugs was essential for public safety and national security. There were calls for independent investigations into the reported human rights violations, both domestically and internationally. Some critics argued that the campaign disproportionately targeted marginalized communities and raised questions about the effectiveness of such a heavy-handed approach in addressing the root causes of drug-related issues. Also They said the The ICC is not under Philippines Jurisdiction and thus violating the Philippine Sovereignty.  

As a Political Science Student I should disseminate wither Rodrigo Duterte should be Investigated or not. Firstly I agree with the Duterte Administration that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, but the ICC counter says that they would only like to investigate with the help of the Commission of Human rights. Second the Drug war really was bloody with many Extra Judicial Killings with Drug lords and addict both innocent and Guilty without legal process called the Tokhang and Duterte’s Shoot to call policy said to the police. This can be interpreted as a crime against humanity because it was Systematic. Lastly the only way for the ICC to be fully used in when the country is lawless and stateless in order for the country to have a judicial system to prosecute persons, but in the case of the Philippine neither it is stateless and lawless and it also has a working judicial system. With this I can say that Former President Duterte should be investigated Firstly in the Philippines because it has a working judicial system even if the Supreme court doesn’t want to investigate the country is not lawless and stateless, so the Answer is to be not investigated. If he was guilty in court but the state doesn’t want to prosecute and put him to jail, then the ICC can help because the state became lawless in terms of its judicial system. So therefore if this was the Situation then yes he should be Investigated and prosecuted.

Thoughts to Ponder #6

Unraveling Atrocities: Probing the Defiant

In perhaps still one of the most debated contentions not only among the institutions of the Philippines but also among ordinary citizens, the International Criminal Court remains hopeless in its pursuit to bring an infamous powerhouse of Philippine politics to the court. The defiant himself is an enigma who prides himself and his cronies on resorting to extrajudicial methods of attempting to remove a withered root in Filipino society—the War on Drugs. Unraveling the atrocities committed is daunting in the face of defiance and hardheadedness, but the battle is far from over. The probe is worth investigating to uphold justice and examine the context and influences of the controversies.

The history of the Rome Statute and the Philippines goes all the way back. The Philippines became the 117th state party to the statute by its ratification in 2011. In effect, the legal frameworks of international support to develop national laws and prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are utilized by state members of the statute. It is a sound investment within contemporary society and persisting globalization that connects societies and states across the globe. Yet, these sweet-sounding premises and benefits fell deaf on the ears of the past Duterte administration, who trampled on the budding connection to the doors of justice for the powerless by severing its ties and becoming the actor of the atrocities himself. To probe a defiant force whose power reigns supreme in his territory is a challenge that the International Criminal Court has had to battle for years, up until now. And so the question begs: do we probe or step back?

I dare say that by all legal standings and reasons, the International Criminal Court has every right to investigate. Despite the proud “let bygones be bygones” mindset of the cronies of the past administration when the withdrawal from the Rome Statute took effect, the irony is that the ICC itself can still exercise its judicial right to probe and investigate the crimes against humanity by murder during the War on Drugs of the previous administration. The former ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda began the preliminary investigation of the Drug War in the Philippines on February 8, 2018 (a year before the withdrawal took effect). Even so, this period showed that the Philippines was still a state party to the Rome Statute while the preliminary investigations were still ongoing (from November 2011 to March 2019), which meant that any attempts to disregard ICC's jurisdiction, the legal provisions, say otherwise. Second, there is a need to identify the requisites that satisfy the warrant of the ICC by its elements: a) it’s systematic due to the involvement and enforcement of police power, b) it is an attack directed at the civilian population (the drug dependents of the poor population), c) it is rooted in the state or organizational power (oplan tokhang), and lastly d) it doesn’t require any armed conflict.. From all these requisites, the War on Drugs operation of the previous administration satisfies its elements and is, therefore, a crime against humanity.

The unfolding narrative of the contentions between the Philippines and the International Criminal Court remains to be an unending defiance of the perpetrators and the persistence of the ICC to bring justice to the victims of the crimes committed against them. Whether to continue to investigate or push back lies in the commitment to bring justice and accountability and safeguard everyone's human rights. Hence, it is believed that the investigation is not an act of overriding nor an insult to the justice system; in fact, it is a moral imperative and responsibility of any living human being.

do you ever just want to bomb a police station just because how many who were killed in Oplan Tokhang were basically just random unlucky people along a street that the cops gunned down and planted packets of meth crystals in

Cheater

Wow he admitted he cheated twice between the last two weeks.

But he has little to no concept of what's real and what's not, do it's possible that it's not true. Idk

His brother is here and asked keenly about what really happened and it's clear now.

I don't need anyone.

9Oct23

1am (10.10) his cousin updated me that they landed to her husband's brothers family and will get medical help asap and also asked me about drugs Cassies been taking and he also said I took weed 🙄 I said that was before I'm pregnant and that I use it for my migraine with aura.

I'm just relieved that he isn't here anymore and he's no longer my responsibility.

She also said that cheating may not be true kasi IBA iba na yung kinkwento nya.

8am. Spoke to Mandeep bout possible cheating and he said di talaga Yun yung goal nila Pag lumalabas sila and never sold him anything other than tiny and never looked for other drugs and said he's never seen him as an addict or cheat. But just really insisting about going out every night, drinking a bottle of tequila which he declined kasi mag drive pa sya and naawa daw sya Kay Cassie kasi parang sobrang broken daw and after mAg bill out sa order aalis kasi bastos daw yung waiter which is napansin ko din like yung instance na may dumura sa court feeling nya it's towards him and nabastusan sya. I don't like the way he said na problema daw sya sakin? Fuck you Mandeep pa tokhang kita eh. He suggested drug test para ma narrow down yung tinake Sana before rehab. I mentioned this Kay ate jing and kuya von but they dismissed it and mention about doing drugs na they found sa phone ni Cassie which is tiny and may recent LSD purchase daw na didn't know about. I told kuya von na those wear out kaya feeling ko di Yun Yun might be cocaine and he refuses to do drug test kasi confirmed daw na nagda drugs but what other kind yung point ko and sAbi nya both him and i are no experts about the matter so hayaan na lang yung specialist mag decide. I just realized na Pag nas facility si Cassie di na nila kelangan I monitor 24/7. Which is true kaso yung facility is andun mga worse pa sa sitwasyon nya eh pano sya gagaling dun????

10Oct23

Docuseries Watch

Been watching much of foreign documentaries lately then I stumbled on these docuseries based on my country which is titled "Happy Jail" Available to watch via Netflix (not sure if visible international) and was available for streaming since 2019 Honestly wasn't aware of this dancing prisoners trend way back then because of my age even the news of controversy behind until I watched this but the related issues like the "operation tokhang" and War on drug is known national and the treatment in different parts of the country is different but mainly fear. After watching, my hearts go to the inmates and this actually opens the eyes to the justice system in the country compared to other countries as much as I know they are really provided with attorney by the court but here you must find your own or otherwise detain for long. Seeing more that they are aware of what they did wrong and abide always to the laws but they seem to forgot that they have rights and investigations are likely not prioritised and are delayed until requested or in demand (not shown in the series but based on the interviews and actions) And the funny thing here is uhm well honestly I have encountered this before, the morals over laws? not sure of the common statement but whereas the humane way of treating people versus the technicals of the law or rules. This happens all the time it might not be obvious but it happens especially under government works. The treatment of doing it for the sake of good moral and humanity but it doesn't stand right with the rules or law. You often hear this on a statement like "I am sorry as much as I wanted to the law says blah blah blah" "That is a good proposal but it conflicts with code of ethic blah blah blah" even to the smallest gesture especially to the "COVID 19 protocols" not saying they are bad rules or laws just sometimes restrictions are inhumane to the point that it'll turn a person upside down. From different perspectives and objectives they might sound inhumane but most of everyone is just doing their jobs.

DS 123 (2nd)

1. ‘tarung’ 2. ‘kapwa tumubo’ 3. kapwa 4. posthumanism 5. tokhang, militarization 6. empowerment 7. likas-kaya 8. ‘coalitional justice’ 9. aerial spraying 10. sachet economy a. chronic poisoning b. Alyssa Paredes c. katwiran d. pagsasakapangyarihan e. sustainable f. anthropogenic disaster g. shared space, share identity h. human + nonhuman + more than human i. katutubo j. an issue related to sustainable packaging and sustainable procurement 

Initially an exercise on writing mostly dialogue, as chismis, and under 3k words, I completed the first draft of "Balikbayan" in 2021 while ruminating about the connection between funerarias and police under Duterte.

It was my friend Sigrid Gayangos, one of the first readers, who envisioned it as a play in a tweet. My playwright friend May Cardoso saw the tweet and volunteered to adapt it. During the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, my panelist and co-fellows, all Americans, told me there is more to the story. It turns out they were right, because when I finally let go of the limitations I set for myself (chismis, under 3k words), it grew into its current form (chismis and beki, more than 7k words). Stella and Katrina as sisters and foils were developed further in the final draft.

Until last year, May and I had only vague plans for the adaptation. Somehow everything fell into place when "Balikbayan"'s publication timeline fit May's MFA Exit Program timeline. Before "Balikbayan" was even out, May and I were already working together—my first venture into theatre as a dramaturg. I sent her my writing notes and references to aid her adaptation and discussed the context and my narrative decisions.

When I was revising "Balikbayan", I played with time. There are two time settings, the linear present and the past unfolding in reverse. In the present, backstories are also embedded, which make the transition from page to stage a bit complicated. May's adaptation is nothing short of ingenuity. She utilizes things onstage in ways I can never think of, without sacrificing affect and gravitas. I think my favorite might have been relaying Stella's memory of how her cousins treated her. I've been keeping the script secret even from our closest friends for the full experience of watching it come to life.

I conceived "Balikbayan" to be decisively feminist and anti-imperialist, written years after the death of Jennifer Laude at the hands of US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was granted absolute pardon by Duterte. Before this, his charge was already lowered to homicide due to his use of trans panic as defense. Under the same system and regime, tokhang victims, most often the poor, are vilified as NPA, prostitute, or drug addict to justify their death. It was necessary for me to trust a playwright who fully understands the politics embedded in the story. I'm so happy to have trusted May with "Balikbayan".

Like our page and save the date! April 13, 2024, 7 PM @ IGB Gallery, UP Diliman 

#Balikbayan #Balikbayan2024

This was revealed by retired Davao Senior Police Officer Arturo Lascañas, a key informant on the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.

His new information on Sara Duterte, detailed in Vera Files and also in a Zoom media interview on Wednesday, said Sara approved Oplan Tokhang with Davao City Police Director Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa in 2012.

Lascañas said dela Rosa informed him of the new operation which was approved by Sara and he said was different from the DDS operations that involved gunning down suspects on the streets.

“[Then]Colonel Dela Rosa told me that he will impose another police operation about drugs, not through DDS but through abduction, and use the Laud Quarry as mass graves. And it was approved by Sara Duterte when we talked personally – me, Sara Duterte, and (police officer) Sonny Buenaventura. Sara Duterte said: ‘Karaan na man nâ inyohang style kanang pusil. Kidnapa na lang nâ inyong target unya ilubong’ (Your style of shooting targets is passé. Just kidnap your target and then bury them),” Lascañas was quoted by Vera Files.

The retired police chief said that Sara opted for this method to reduce media scrutiny on death squad killings.

Sara Duterte responded to Lascañas’ claims with a statement released on Thursday, saying this is a “new script” from the police officer, and questioned its timing as news is circulating that the ICC is firming up its investigation on her father which may lead to his possible arrest to face trial.

One of the lawyers representing the drug war victims, Kristina Conti, posted a reply on her social media account: “The best solution to the Dutertes’ dilemma and desperation actually is to cooperate with the ICC investigation – and formally register their denials in the court. To allow the truth be properly ventilated, to pay genuine respect to the victims of the gravest indignities during their time in power.”

2024 Feb. 6