Category: Foreign Affairs

ASEAN 2017 bid rules skewed to favor one company?

Published by Ellen on January 2, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte accepts the gavel to symbolize Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN 2017 meetings from Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos on September 8. Malacanang photo

By CHARMAINE C. DEOGRACIAS and ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS
VERA Files

Conclusion
WHEN the government bidded out the P2.8 billion events management contract for the 50th anniversary of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations to be held in the Philippines this year, it tailor-made the criteria so that a favored company would bag the deal, a company excluded from the bidding said.
In fact, sources say, when the bidding was held Dec. 1 at the DBM-PS office on Cristobal Street in Paco, Manila, only one company showed up: StageCraft International.

With a bid of P1 billion, StageCraft, headed by Francisco Zabala, logically got the gargantuan contract, the biggest in Philippine history of events management.

But Events Organizer Network Inc (EON), a company which took part in the initial process, wrote the executive director of the DBM-PS and asked her “to reject the sole bid of submitted, declare a failure of bidding, or not to award the contract to the sole bidder.”

DBM shortcuts bid process for P2.8 billion ASEAN hosting deal

Published by Ellen on January 2, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte accepts the gavel to symbolize the handing over of the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Philippines from Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos on September 8. Malacanang photo.

By CHARMAINE C. DEOGRACIAS and ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS
VERA Files
First of two parts

THE Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) has allegedly violated the government procurement law when it bidded out the gargantuan P2.8 billion events management contract for the hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations conferences this year, a company excluded from the bidding said.

The contract is supposedly the biggest of its kind and involves the management of 48 international conferences from January to December 2017, the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN’s founding and the year the Philippines is ASEAN chair.

The sole bidder and apparent winner is Stagecraft International which offered P1 billion at the bidding held Dec. 1, 45 days before the commemorative launching of the Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN on Jan. 15, 2017 in Davao city.

But Events Organizer Network Inc. (EON), a company that participated in the initial procurement process, alleges that the DBM-PS bidded out the contract as “goods” instead of “services,” in violation of the government procurement law Republic Act 9184.

Who is protecting PH national interest in South China Sea?

Published by Ellen on December 18, 2016

An Unmanned Underwater Vehicle. U.S. Navy photo.

A tense situation transpired 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in Zambales last Thursday when China seized the underwater drone installed by the United States Navy. Philippine top officials were unconcerned about it.

The Duterte government’s nonchalant attitude towards China’s seizure of the United States’ underwater drone in Philippine territory reflects its hazy understanding of sovereignty.

Sovereignty is the supreme right of the state to command obedience within its territory.

Defense chief: No US freedom of navigation patrols from PH shores

Published by Ellen on December 10, 2016

Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana at Sulong Pilipinas conference.

By CHARMAINE DEOGRACIAS, VERA Files

In a departure from the previous administration’s support of the United States freedom- of-navigation activities in the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Thursday. the Philippines for will not allow the use of former American military bases – Clark and Subic -for FON patrols of the United States Armed Forces.

Lorenzana said President Duterte is not in favor of U.S. vessels venturing into disputed waters in the South China in the name of freedom of navigation.

“As he said we will avoid any provocative actions to de-escalate tension in the South China Sea. So I think it is unlikely (that Philippines will support US FON operations),” Lorenzana said in doorstop interview at the Pilipinas Conference held at the Peninsula Hotel.

Asked further to explain the Philippines’ turn-around, Lorenzana said, “We are just trying to avoid tensions because one of the things that we see there is, to the Chinese, we allow our land as base for the American’s incursion towards their area, so we will avoid that.”

Yasay as BSP governor?

Published by Ellen on December 8, 2016

• Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr is being considered to be governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

• Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is being eyed to be foreign secretary but she really wants to be speaker of the House of Representatives.

• Businessman and Philippine Star columnist Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez will be the Philippine ambassador to the United States.

Good rapport.Pres. Duterte and Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr.

These are impending movements in the Duterte administration being talked about which on the surface seem far removed from President Duterte’s brutal and bloody anti-illegal drug campaign. They are actually related especially the plan to put Yasay as BSP governor.

The term of BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr., who has held that position since July 2005, ends in July 2017. The spokesperson of the Finance Department, Paola Alvarez, said on Nov. 22 that President Duterte has authorized Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to ask Tetangco to stay for another term.

There’s a hitch, however. The charter of the BSP allows only two terms for the governor. Congress has to amend the charter for Tetangco to serve another term.

The invitation to the White House that never was

Published by Ellen on December 4, 2016

Pres. Duterte talks to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump through a phone call at Legaspi Suites in Davao City on Dec. 3. Malacanang photo by Toto Lozano.

President Duterte must be euphoric after the seven-minute phone conversation with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump Friday night, he thought the latter invited him to visit the United States.

The Presidential Communication Office released the following notes by the President of his conversation with Trump:

“The President-elect Trump wishes the, to extend his warmest regards to the Filipino people. And in just a few minutes, we were talking a lot of things.

“He was quite sensitive also to our worry about drugs. And he wishes me well to, in my campaign and he said that… well we are doing it as a sovereign nation, the right way.

“And he wishes us well.

Continue readingThe invitation to the White House that never was

Trump, Duterte share stance on key US-Asia issues

Published by Ellen on November 14, 2016

Duterte to Trump: Pareho tayo nagmumura. Mabuhay ka!

By CHARMAINE DEOGRACIAS
VERA Files

IF newly elected US President Donald Trump makes good his campaign threat to pull the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), he might also pull the plug on the its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines.

Trump has called the international security alliance “obsolete,” saying it “is costing US a fortune.” He said as much about America’s other alliances in Asia.

These observations were contained in a pre-election research by the East West Center in Washington, D.C. that examined Trump’s pronouncements before the Nov. 8 election, focusing on key Asian issues as part of the “Asia Matters for America and America Matters for Asia” project.

Retired envoys take up cudgels for demoralized active foreign service officers

Published by Ellen on November 6, 2016

Retired ambassador Jaime J. Yambao wrote in his column in Manila Times that the Board of Governors the Philippine Ambassadors Foundation Inc. (PAFI) at its last meeting agreed to “express its alarm and concern over the demoralization in the ranks of career ambassadors caused by the announced and probable appointment of political ambassadors to the country’s diplomatic and consular posts abroad.”

One cannot expect the active foreign service officers to come out about their misgivings with the way things are in foreign service so their “elders”, the retired ambassadors are taking up the cudgels for them because they are all “committed to promoting and upholding the professionalization of the (foreign) service for the effective pursuit of the interests of the country and its people. “

Yambao said, “The board therefore deplores the appointment of non-career ambassadors on the basis of contributions the prospective appointee made to the election campaign kitty of the appointing power or powers, or upon the recommendation of campaign contributors and supporters.

“One such appointment that has not escaped the notice of the PAFI board involves yanking a career ambassador, a former undersecretary of foreign affairs for policy no less and a topnotcher of the Foreign Service Officers examination, from a post at which he is newly arrived and has just presented his credentials. This is almost unheard of, even in the Philippines. Political appointments have always been to vacant or about-to-be-vacant posts.”

Paynor’s ambassadorial assignment to the U.S. on hold

Published by Ellen on November 3, 2016

Marciano Paynor, head or the 2017 Asean Organizing Committee.Photo from ABS-CBN online.

President Duterte has decided that his choice to be ambassador to the United States, Marciano “Jun” Paynor will not go to Washington States this year.

It has nothing to do with the uncertain state of PH-US relations.

Duterte feels that Paynor is needed here for the preparations of the 2017 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) meeting which will be hosted by the Philippines. There will be two summits, one for the 10 ASEAN leaders that will be held mid- 2017 and what is called ASEAN plus –plus meeting involving leaders of other dialogue countries namely Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and United States sometime in the later part of next year.

Paynor confirmed this: “I’m making sure that all the preparations for our hosting of ASEAN 2017 from January to November next year are on stream. I serve at the pleasure of the President and wherever he thinks I can be of help, that’s where I’ll be. “

Paynor said, “That I’m not going to DC till the end of the year is sure, but, that I’ll not be going anymore remains to be seen. “

To each his own version of modus vivendi in Scarborough shoal

Published by Ellen on November 2, 2016

Fishermen back from Scarborough shoal with their catch.Photo from ABS-CBN online.

With the confirmation by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the three Chinese Coast Guard ships are still in Scarborough shoal, the statement of China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying last Monday underscored that Filipino fishermen are back in Scarborough Shoal on the benevolence of China.

Asked to confirm reports that China “okayed Philippine fishermen’s fishing near Huangyan Dao, ” Hua asserted China’s ownership and control of the area: “The Chinese side has always been exercising normal jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao. The situation there is and will remain unchanged.”

She mentioned “arrangements” made after the meeting of Duterte and Xi last Oct. 20 in Beijing.

“We have seen all-round improvement of China-Philippines relations following President Duterte’s visit to China. Under such circumstances, the Chinese side makes proper arrangements based on the friendship between China and the Philippines in response to the issue of President Duterte’s concern,”