US Senate Committee passes Resolution calling for the release of De Lima and imposition of Sanctions

The United States (US) Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved the US Senate Resolution 142 calling for the dropping of charges and immediate release of Senator Leila De Lima.

The resolution also condemned the arrest and detention of Human Rights Defenders and Political Leaders, and the harassment, arrest, unjust judicial proceedings against Media and Journalists like Rappler and Maria Ressa.

The resolution urges on US President Donald Trump to impose sanctions such as the revocation of US Visas and freezing of Assets against Philippine Officials and Security Forces responsible for Extra Judicial Killings and orchestrating the arrest and detention of De Lima.

SOURCE: US Senate Panel OKs Reso calling for De Lima's release

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US still considering Philippine request for 74k Rifles while Russia offered JV to produce similar Rifles

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said that the Philippines is requesting the purchase of 74,000 Rifles from the United States (US) and the Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Miguel Romualdez said that the US is still “considering” the request up to now.

While the US is “considering” the request, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said a couple of weeks ago that they are ready to partner for a Joint Venture to manufacture similar Rifles in the Philippines.

The big question here is, what if the US denies the request for those rifles? In that case then maybe the government might want to take up that offer from Russia, then.

AK Rifles can of course be chambered for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ammunition such as 5.56 x 45 mm or 7.62 x 51 mm caliber, but the ergonomics of AK Rifles are very different from those of the M-16 / M-4 platform that our armed forces are used to, and it has its own Pros and Cons.

Switches from different rifle types are possible, and has been done before by other armies.

For example, the Israelis used their Galil Rifles (which is based on the AK) alongside M-16 / M-4 Rifles, and then moved over to the Tavor Rifles which uses an entirely different Bullpup configuration.

The French moved from using HK G3 Rifles with a conventional layout to the FAMAS Rifles with Bullpup configuration and then are now moving back to a non-bullpup rifle in the HK 416. There are a couple more other examples such as these.

SOURCE: Sale of US Rifles to PH a 'work in progress': Envoy

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Captain Ebora intentionally went Off-Course to go Panatag Shoal

Here is a good infographic showing how much the Captain of the Green Aura, Manolo Ebora, had to intentionally go off-course just to go to Panatag Shoal.

Commercial Shipping is supposed to take the shortest, safest route to its destination, but instead Ebora unnecessarily put himself, his Ship and his Crew in harm’s way for his own personal reasons.

Normally pulling a Stunt like this will get a person fired from his job … unless of course the Owner of the Ship is in on the Stunt or agrees with it.

If Captain Ebora keeps his job, then it will make me wonder who the owner of that Ship really is.

SOURCE: IDSI Post dated 11/05/19 0858H

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Most SEA Leaders did not attend Meeting with US Officials during the ASEAN Summit

Just three out of the ten Leaders of South East Asian (SEA) Countries showed up for a meeting with United States (US) Officials during the 35th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

Only the leaders of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia attended the meeting, this after US President Donald Trump decided to skip the event.

SOURCE: SEAsia Leaders snub US Meeting after Trump skips ASEAN Summit

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Defense Secretary Lorenzana might ask exemption for the Military on the ban on Grants and Loans

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that he might ask President Duterte to exclude the military from the ban of accepting Grants and Loans from the countries that backed the United Nations (UN) Resolution to investigate the Administration’s War on Drugs.

The best scenario here would be for the President to agree and give the Military a blanket exemption so it will not have to worry about current and future transactions.

Another scenario would be that it might be on a case to case basis only, meaning only the most critical transactions will be exempted while others won’t. And also no more future transactions might be allowed.

The worst scenario is if the President does not allow any exemptions at all, hence deals like the ones with Australia and Austal for the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) will be affected.

SOURCE: Defense Chief mulls seeking exception to Foreign Aid ban

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Philippines suspends accepting Loans and Grants from Australia and other Countries

Unfortunately Australia is one of the countries that the Philippines is suspending accepting Loans and Grants from in relation to their support to the United Nation’s (UN) Resolution to investigate the extrajudicial killings under the Duterte Administration.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said that the six Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) they want the Shipbuilder Austal to build will be financed by Australia, but with the suspension of the acceptance of loans from them then this deal is now a big question mark.

France is still in play though, so any loans we might get from them for Submarines can still push thru. Maybe they can finance the OPVs also, but other factors come into play like cost, the ships may be more expensive if they build it.

There’s always Russia for Loans and Grants, but the United States (US) insists on interfering with our internal affairs thru their Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) Law to keep us under their influence. It may be possible to circumvent that law, but it won’t be easy and it will need a lot of Political Will and economic maneuverings.

There’s South Korea also, but not sure if they can match Australia’s terms for the Loan. At any rate, let’s just see what will happen next.

As a side note, the UN should acknowledge the fact that as per the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) Survey, Duterte’s Drug War remains VERY popular with the Filipino people with 82% of them approving of it. Hence they should just stop the bullsh#% of interfering with our internal affairs.

REFERENCES:
* List of Countries the Philippines is suspending Loans and Grants from (Infographic)
* Navy to acquire Patrol Vessels via Gov't-to'Gov't deal
* 82% of Pinoys satisfied with Drug War — SWS

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