International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

The Marawi Siege and the Declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao – Part IV

Raymund de Silva — 2017-07-27T10:35:42Z

Bomb! Burn! Build! This can be the briefest description one can have today in what has happened and possibly will happen to the only Islamic City of the pre-dominantly Christian country. The siege of Marawi is nearing its second month. The country's security sector has been surprised that it is taking longer time than what they had expected to wrest the control of the City from the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group.

- IV510 - July 2017 / Philippines

The Marawi Siege and the Declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao – Part III

Raymund de Silva — 2017-07-12T06:56:09Z

Veni, Vidi, Vici, a famous pre-Christ Latin (47BC) saying of Julius Caesar, which means “I came, I saw, I conquer” can still be very appropriate today when one refers to what has happened to Isnilon Hapilon the self-proclaimed ISIS Emir in Southeast Asia. But, as it has been already announced by the country's security sector that he has escaped and left Marawi, one is tempted to add to Julius Caesar's saying and that is “I vanish”.

- IV510 - July 2017 / Philippines

The Marawi Siege and the Declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao (Part 2)

Raymund de Silva — 2017-06-28T17:17:10Z

The longest and the most serious take over in a Southeast Asian country by ISIS inspired Jihadists has entered its fifth week. It has already displaced more than 70,000 families or around 350,000 individuals of the City of Marawi, the bastion of the Islamic faith in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. According to the Philippine government's Joint Task Force Marawi the latest death toll has reached 475 of which 380 from the Islamists, 69 from the AFP/PNP and 26 from the civilians. A total of 1,629 civilians were rescued or had dared to escape from the burning City. The AFP and PNP have reported to recover a total 208 high powered rifles (HPRs). [1]

- IV509 - June 2017 / Philippines, Solidarity after disasters

The Marawi Siege and Martial Law in Mindanao

Raymund de Silva — 2017-06-18T06:12:10Z

More than two weeks ago, the ISIS-inspired Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf have laid siege of the Islamic City of Marawi and currently there is no sign that the massive destruction created by these radical Islamists and the counter-siege by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is losing its steam.

- IV509 - June 2017 / Philippines

After the Philippines election

Raymund de Silva — 2016-05-17T13:41:50Z

Five days after the national and local elections in the country and the final conclusion had still to be reached. The Commission on Election (COMELEC) sitting en banc, as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) announced that they would proclaim the winning candidates on the national level on May 17 or 19 of this year. The NBOC will proclaim the 12 winning Senators and more than 50 Party List Representatives. The Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate) sitting as one body will canvass the voting results for the President and Vice-President respectively and formally proclaim the winners in the last week of this month.

- IV496 - May 2016 / Philippines

The situation as it was three days before the elections

Raymund de Silva — 2016-05-10T08:25:32Z

The most bitterly contested presidential and vice presidential elections in the country's recent history is approaching its endgame. [This article was written on 6 May, the elections were on 9 May - IVP.] The campaign period (60 days for national and 45 days for local candidates) will come to a close in two days time but there seems to be no stopping for opposing camps in the presidential and vice presidential candidates on hitting each other harder by an hour. [1]

- IV496 - May 2016 / Philippines

Brief description of the current situation before the elections - Part 2

Raymund de Silva — 2016-05-09T15:58:39Z

[This article was written on 28 April, the elections are on 9 May - IVP.] It is only ten more days before the actual election in the Philippines. More surprises, political gimmicks, and circus are daily unfolding and shown to the electorates. Social media, more than ever, has played very important role in projecting and spreading issues for and against the candidates – especially – presidentiables and the vice presidentiables. Those who have seen its importance are maximizing this modern information technology. They can put up defenses against their attackers/critics and can easily demonize and demolish their opponents and winning in the pre, actual, and post elections surveys. With more than sixty percent of the electorates having easy access with the internet, social media can easily reach them and influence their decisions to elect candidates. [1]

- IV496 - May 2016 / Philippines

Brief Description of the Current Philippine Situation Before the Elections - Part 1

Raymund de Silva — 2016-05-05T08:51:41Z

On 9 May, the Philippines will have its local and national elections. It will be the fifth presidential elections since the Marcos dictatorial regime was ousted from power.

- IV496 - May 2016 / Philippines

The current political situation

Raymund de Silva — 2015-02-28T07:35:03Z

By March 2015, the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be passed by both houses of the Philippine Congress and signed into law by the President of Republic. This will be the legal basis for the establishment of the new Bangsamoro Political Entity and it will also effectively repeal Republic Act 9054 which legally created the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The current Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) consider ARMM as failed political experiment.

- IV481 - February 2015 / Philippines