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  1. <?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977</id><updated>2024-03-12T19:51:15.197-07:00</updated><category term="Philippines"/><category term="corruption"/><category term="government"/><category term="may 2010 election"/><category term="poverty"/><category term="010 Philippine Election"/><category term="Adam Carolla American radio show American radio show host internet Manny Pacquiao Philippines podcast radios televisions and newspapers Twitter Twitter Account Youtube"/><category term="Bernard Baruch"/><category term="Commoners Assembly"/><category term="Local Government"/><category term="blog"/><category term="country"/><category term="executive"/><category term="filipino"/><category term="finland"/><category term="france"/><category term="gandhi"/><category term="gibo"/><category term="gordon"/><category term="graft and corruption"/><category term="history"/><category term="joke"/><category term="judiciary"/><category term="learned"/><category term="legislative"/><category term="lust"/><category term="mother theresa"/><category term="noynoy"/><category term="parliamentary system"/><category term="passion"/><category term="philippine election"/><category term="political campaign"/><category term="president"/><category term="presidential logan"/><category term="prime minister"/><category term="radio"/><category term="republic"/><category term="samson"/><category term="slogan"/><category term="television"/><category term="villar"/><category term="weakness"/><category term="whistle blower"/><category term="world"/><category term="writing"/><category term="‘whistle blower&#39; program"/><title type='text'>The Rondubic Code</title><subtitle type='html'>If Christians have a Bible and Muslims have Qur&#39;an. And if Plato has The Republic, Machiavelli has The Prince, I also have The Rondubic Code. I will live as a writer who keeps alive the music of the language, holds head and heart together in the words, and writes in hope and passion that one person will be better because he or she reads what I wrote.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>8</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977.post-8199789930056471304</id><published>2010-04-11T11:59:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-11T12:00:44.073-07:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Adam Carolla American radio show American radio show host internet Manny Pacquiao Philippines podcast radios televisions and newspapers Twitter Twitter Account Youtube"/><title type='text'>Adam Carolla’s &quot;pathetic bashing&quot; on Manny Pacquiao and the Philippines : A Condemnable Act</title><content type='html'>&lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;News  of an American radio show host bashing Manny Pacquiao and the  Philippines has been circulating around the internet, radios,  televisions and newspapers and is now the talk of the town. I just  listened to the podcast myself on Youtube and it breaks my heart big  time. Why on earth that there are still uncivilized, barbaric, and idiot  people exist like him? I cannot understand the way he thinks and the  way he sees life. Maybe he’s living in the world he created for himself.  Poor man!!! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;Anyway,  here are some of the comments of Carolla I transcribed from his  podcast: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;“Pacquiao  doesn’t believe, he says, he doesn’t give blood the  month of a fight or  a week before a fight because somehow it’s gonna  weaken him and what  have you.” &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;“I &lt;span&gt;gotta  tell you&lt;/span&gt;, if that  was a white fighter and probably even a black  fighter, if the black  fighter was from Atlanta or somewhere like that,  someone would go, ‘What  the f**k are you talking about? Give your drop  of blood. That’s not  gonna &lt;span&gt;make a difference&lt;/span&gt;.”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;“But because  he’s from the Philippines and because he’s prayin’  to chicken bones  and stuff like that, everyone’s kinda like, ‘Well you  gotta respect him  for his belief system.’ No you don’t. He’s a f****n’  idiot.”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;“They got  this and sex tours, that’s all they have over there.  Get your s**t  together Philippines. Jesus Christ. I mean, again, it’s  fine to be  proud of your countrymen. But that’s it? That’s all you got?”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;p id=&quot;TixyyLink&quot; style=&quot;overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;&quot; align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;Then, he went on saying:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;“He’s five  foot six, he’s a hundred and forty seven pounds, and he’s   good at  punching other guys in the head. And you’re gonna build your   entire,  eh eh eh (stutters in thought), you’re gonna build your entire   country  around this guy? And then what happens when he loses? What   happens  when Floyd Mayweather beats him? Then what? The whole country   goes  into depression? Jesus, you know you’ve got nothing going. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt; &lt;i&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;The  Philippines, don’t they have sex tours there? (And then somebody   says  “Nah, you’re thinking of Thailand.”) Ahh, same difference… See if   they  can do a sex tour over there in the Philippines too, will you book    that for me?” &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;Ohh… he’s  really getting on my nerves!!! I find his comments to be absolutely  repulsive. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;They are  racist, degrading, and discriminating at best.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;Damn, I have a  lot of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;both visceral and  intellectual reactions to this, but I won’t bother wasting my  time to  defend the Philippines, or Manny, because this poor man is sick and  ignorant. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;I believe that  what he really need right now is that Filipinos, and Asian as a whole  will boycott his  show, and for him to make a public apology, which he  already did in his Twitter Account. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;All I want is  for him to take full responsibility of his action and learn from it. &lt;/span&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/8199789930056471304/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/04/adam-carollas-pathetic-bashing-on-manny.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/8199789930056471304'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/8199789930056471304'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/04/adam-carollas-pathetic-bashing-on-manny.html' title='Adam Carolla’s &quot;pathetic bashing&quot; on Manny Pacquiao and the Philippines : A Condemnable Act'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977.post-3638474392270866570</id><published>2010-03-26T10:57:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-26T10:58:43.506-07:00</updated><title type='text'>2009 Philippine BAR EXAM Result</title><content type='html'>&lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;The very  moment that I am writing this post, I am 100% sure that  1,451 new  lawyers are celebrating their victory for the much coveted Philippine  Bar Exam. 24.58% made it, or 1,451 out of  5,903 who took it last  September 2009. However, 4,452 souls right now are in limbo, maybe in a  state of shock, crying, or maybe still absorbing the neglectful moment  of their loss. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;I was there on  Taft Avenue last 04 October 2009 waiting for the barristers from  different schools to go out the gate of La Salle. I was one of those who  flooded Taft Avenue for the “Bar Salubong”as we joyfully welcome our  barristers from San Beda who just hurdled the one-month most tedious,  and toughest examination in the country. People were shouting,  screaming, singing, dancing ala mardi gras, drum-rolling as welcome the  would-be lawyers. It was an awesome experience.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;And now, five  months later, the results are in. Philippine’s Top Law Schools or the  Big Three - San Beda, Ateneo and UP are anxious to know which of their  bets made it to the mythical Top Ten. Fortunately, San Beda got it, not  only once but twice, as Reinier Paul R. Yebra claimed the top spot with  an average of  84.80%, followed by a fellow Bedan, Charlene Mae C. Tapic  with an 84.60% grade. What a great feat for the San Beda Law, indeed!!!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;Worth  mentioning is an impressive showing of Ateneo de Manila University and  the University of the Philippines in the top ten. Ateneo has a whopping  seven barristers who made it to the Top Ten while UP has two. Here is  the complete list of those who made it to the Top Ten. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;1st Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Reinier Paul R. Yebra&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;San Beda College&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;84.80%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;2nd Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Charlene Mae C. Tapic&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;San  Beda College&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 84.60%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;3rd Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lim, John Paul T.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ateneo de  Manila University&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 84.50%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;4th Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lagos, Caroline P.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;University  of the Philippines&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 84.40%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;5th Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tan, Eric David C.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ateneo  de Manila University&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 84.05%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;6th Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Gonzalez, Yves-Randolph P.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ateneo  de Manila University&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 83.90%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;7th Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To, Joan Mae S.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ateneo de  Manila University&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 83.65%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;8th Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bagro III, Herminio C.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;University  of the Philippines&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 83.40%&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;9th Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lumauig, Timothy Joseph N.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ateneo  de Manila University&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 83.20%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10th Place&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bainto, Naealla Rose M.&lt;br /&gt;Go, Sheila Abigail O.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ateneo  de Manila University&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ateneo  de Manila University&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 83.10% &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia,palatino;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;Congratulations  to the Top Ten and to all who passed the Bar. &lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/3638474392270866570/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/03/2009-philippine-bar-exam-result.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/3638474392270866570'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/3638474392270866570'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/03/2009-philippine-bar-exam-result.html' title='2009 Philippine BAR EXAM Result'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977.post-5310599386006809114</id><published>2010-02-20T09:27:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-20T11:26:29.152-08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="010 Philippine Election"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="gibo"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="gordon"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="joke"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="may 2010 election"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="noynoy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Philippines"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="presidential logan"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="slogan"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="villar"/><title type='text'>Election Joke: Noynoy</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot;&gt;In one of the conversations I had with my friends in law school regarding the 2010 Philippine Election, one friend nonchalantly cast a joke on Presidential Slogan: &lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&quot;Kung ang &lt;span class=&quot;IL_AD&quot; id=&quot;IL_AD8&quot;&gt;slogan&lt;/span&gt; ni&lt;strong&gt; Villar&lt;/strong&gt;  ay&lt;em&gt; Sipag at Tiyaga, &lt;/em&gt;at ang kay&lt;strong&gt; Gibo&lt;/strong&gt; ay &lt;em&gt;Galing  at Talino&lt;/em&gt;, ang slogan naman daw ni &lt;strong&gt;Noynoy&lt;/strong&gt; ay… &lt;em&gt;Mommy,  Daddy at Kris.&quot;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;Yeah..., it&#39;s kinda funny. But I guess it&#39;s TRUE! I have nothing against Noynoy but there is something about him, which until now I haven&#39;t figure out yet, that will &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;prevent me from voting him come election day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I find him (Noynoy) SO WEAK to be a president and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;POWERLESS to be a leader. In short, he lacks POLITICAL WILL, which I think is the most important characteristic of an effective and efficient leader. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;Power without political will is like a shepherd leading a flock of sheep&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt; who doesn&#39;t know and doesn&#39;t have a will to direct where his flock will go but is dependent on what his master will tell him. Political Will per se has no fix definition; it&#39;s &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot;&gt;ambiguous. But its ambiguity&lt;/span&gt; leads me to personally define it. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;For me, political will is the ascendancy and competency of a person to form and unify the will of the people towards his ultimate goal of attaining the good of all. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;One must have a VISION and the WILL to carry out the former. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;In the case of NOYNOY he has a famous sister, KRIS and his PARENT&#39;s legacy to boot. Hence, I perfectly agree with Gordon when he said: &lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&quot;The Presidency is not inherited. It is earned!&quot;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot;&gt;Though it is not his fault to be the son of the two icons of democracy nor chose to be the brother of a famous celebrity&lt;/span&gt;, he should have worked hard to make a name for himself and try, though inevitable, to not be associated with Ninoy and Cory, because presidency is more than just saying &quot;this&quot; and &quot;that&quot;. &quot;This&quot; which I think he means in his t.v. ad , is the problems of the Philippines and &quot;That&quot; is &quot;Hindi ako magnanakaw!&quot; He should have laid down concrete plans or platforms. Besides, he hasn&#39;t even passed a single bill yet in the Senate being an incumbent Senator. This is very alarming!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;And by the way, on the lighter side of the story, FORGIVE me but I need, I have to say this, I cannot explain how to describe Noynoy &#39;s  look or appearance, which annoys, irritates me whenever I see him on t.v. I don&#39;t know. Hahahaha...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For weeks, I kept thinking about the word which would best describe him. But one  lucky and faithful day, it just dawned on me, the word &quot;LOSYANG&quot;. Isn&#39;t it the perfect description of him?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/5310599386006809114/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/02/election-joke-noynoy.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/5310599386006809114'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/5310599386006809114'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/02/election-joke-noynoy.html' title='Election Joke: Noynoy'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977.post-3137495774669415126</id><published>2010-02-13T09:30:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-16T09:18:45.475-08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Bernard Baruch"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="may 2010 election"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="philippine election"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="political campaign"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="radio"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="television"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="whistle blower"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="‘whistle blower&#39; program"/><title type='text'>May 2010 Election : My Suggestions for Candidates</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;The May 2010 election is gradually starting to heat up the political landscape of the Philippines. Political campaigns on television are starting to dominate the screen; political jingles are repeatedly playing on the radio; political posters are starting to invade the streets with the not-so-real pictures and promises of the candidates. Indeed, political campaign for the election has started. Speculations of who will make it or not are starting to rise up, thus, surveys become a trend to really gauge at least the possibilities of the candidates to make it come Election Day. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Political platforms of every candidate are full of promises. Most of which will not be kept or even remembered once they are in office. Bernard Baruch, an American statesman, succinctly captured the essence of it in the cynical admonition to voters by saying: &lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Vote for the man who promises the least--he&#39;ll be the least disappointing. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;So, to those politicians who promise good governance, quick economy development and corruption-free Philippines, may I suggest you the following. I believe that in order to achieve good governance, honest civil servants and evade corruption in government, the following measures should be observed:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;1) Egalitarian society - no class distinction&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;School shall be compulsory for everyone with no tuition fees for full-time students. Attendance is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 17, and free meals are served to pupils at elementary and secondary levels. The first ten years of education (elementary and secondary school) are compulsory, and the pupils go to their local school. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Strengthen universal suffrage that included the right of women not only to vote but to stand as candidates for election too. Public administration is open for everyone and a career as a civil servant is open for everyone. The welfare services should be expanded. The main elements of the welfare society are a basic old age pension for everyone over 65, free basic education, kindergarten places and higher education, and health care for everyone. The state will take care of the unemployed. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;All of the foregoing factors will reduce the urge to bribe civil servants and the temptation for civil servants to take bribes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;2) Adequate pay for civil servants &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;The career of civil servant shall be highly regarded. Salaries must not be particularly high, but good enough. Make it so attractive that losing the job is bad news.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;3) The referendary or rapporteur system&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;The referendary system is an old pillar of legalism copied on Finland administrative system. A referendary is a civil servant who researches a matter under advisement, suggests options and offers a final proposal. In this system the referendary, who is of lower rank than the decision-making politician or civil servant, can adhere to his or her opinion against the superior party. A minister can make a political decision that differs from the proposal of the referendary. If the referendary does not sign it, it nevertheless becomes legally binding. A referendary is legally responsible for the decisions he or she makes. If a minister or the government makes a decision different from that which the civil servant involved proposed in the matter, the civil servant can obviate legal responsibility by writing a response, but that is quite unusual.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;From the point of view of corruption, this system demands from the potential corrupter double work. He or she has to convince both the decision maker and the referendary of his or her interests.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;4) Non-political civil servants as heads of ministries &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Non-political, professionally skilled, permanent civil servants should be put as state secretaries since they are the best types for promoting the interests of citizens. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;5) Transparency and openness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Everything in the public administration really is public, open for criticism by other civil servants, citizens and the media. All the diaries and records kept in the public administration are open to everybody.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;6) The duty to provide public explanation of the reasons behind decisions and the duty to be proactive&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Among the most important guarantees of good governance are the right to be heard, the right to receive a reasoned decision and the right of appeal. Another important principle is that it is not enough for a civil servant not to make mistakes. A civil servant must be proactive in carrying out duties in the best interests of the citizens.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;7) The strong positions of the Chancellor of Justice and Ombudsman&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;The Chancellor of Justice works in the government – is a part of wider government - and the ombudsman is part of parliament. The president nominates both, but they are wholly independent in their work. They have all the tools and rights they need to investigate and act. They will be the highest and most highly regarded legal officers in the Philippines.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;8) Collective and collegiate decision structure &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Corruption is facilitated if a decision-making unit consists of only one person. The corrupter can focus all tactics and resources on that individual. As both parties usually benefit, there is little reason for either one to reveal their dealings and thus make themselves liable for possible punitive measures. If, however, decisions are made by a collegiate body, corruption becomes much more difficult and unsafe, but not impossible. More people have to be convinced of the advisability of deciding in favor of an interest group and there is always the possibility of one would-be corruptee blowing the whistle on any shady transaction. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;9) A system of incentives&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Make a percentage payable to the concerned department for every project that is completed on time and within budget. This money will be distributed among those in that office. (This will prevent the wrong contractor being given the job for monetary considerations) &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Give judges an incentive for each case that is settled within the allotted time &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;  &gt;10) A ‘whistle blower&#39; program has to be initiated&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Anyone reporting corruption will be rewarded and the people from that department itself will come forward since they lose a lot of incentives if one of them is corrupt. Incentives are reduced for departments where corruption has been discovered and not reported by the employees themselves.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;A mandatory five years imprisonment is compulsory for any corrupt worker (apart from seizure of all earnings since inception).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt; So if more roads are built by the Road Construction department on time and within budget- incentives will accrue to that government department.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Anonymous websites will enable &lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&#39;Whistle Blowers&#39;&lt;/span&gt; to reveal the corruption of their colleagues secretly. Anti Corruption squads (ACS’s) will jump into action to investigate. ACS’s will be rated on the number of successful cases handled per year and will be extremely high paid individuals so that their honesty is unquestionable. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Note:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt; All government officials, from the central down to the local government, may be reelected only once.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt; Families and relatives of government officials until the fourth civil degree of consanguinity and affinity are prohibited to hold or run for office. This will discourage padrino system and political dynasty in the Philippines.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt; As mentioned above, the President upon taking office must renounce any party affiliation, so that he or she may be seen as neutral in regard to party politics.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;There you have it guys. So if you are a politician or have a politician friends, and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;if you are running because you want to serve or you  want to effect change in this country, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;you may refer it here.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/3137495774669415126/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/02/may-2010-election-my-suggestions-for.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/3137495774669415126'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/3137495774669415126'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/02/may-2010-election-my-suggestions-for.html' title='May 2010 Election : My Suggestions for Candidates'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977.post-2818919780717886498</id><published>2010-02-09T10:18:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-09T11:23:24.993-08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Commoners Assembly"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="executive"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="france"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="judiciary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="legislative"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Local Government"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Philippines"/><title type='text'>The Proposed “Democratic Republic of the Philippines” Part III</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;meta equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;meta name=&quot;ProgId&quot; content=&quot;Word.Document&quot;&gt;&lt;meta name=&quot;Generator&quot; content=&quot;Microsoft Word 11&quot;&gt;&lt;meta name=&quot;Originator&quot; content=&quot;Microsoft Word 11&quot;&gt;&lt;link style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot; rel=&quot;File-List&quot; href=&quot;file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml&quot;&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot; namespaceuri=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags&quot; name=&quot;place&quot;&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot; namespaceuri=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags&quot; name=&quot;country-region&quot;&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype style=&quot;font-family: georgia;&quot; namespaceuri=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags&quot; name=&quot;address&quot;&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt; 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&lt;style&gt; st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } &lt;/style&gt; &lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;style&gt; &lt;!--  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --&gt; &lt;/style&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;style&gt;  /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} &lt;/style&gt; &lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;&quot;  &gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;&quot;  &gt;In my recent posts&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;&quot;  &gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;&quot;  &gt;I explained and laid down the principles that I am proposing. Now, I am going to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;&quot;  &gt;give you details on how each branch of the government works - from the President down to the local government.
  2. &lt;br /&gt;
  3. &lt;br /&gt;Before anything else, just to reiterate what I have said in my recent post, the information and principles that I am proposing here are not new, it&#39;s a consolidated principles and ideas I came up after an extensive  research of different structures of government from around the world, which I think are working in their jurisdiction, and hoping also to apply them in the Philippines. Thus, I do not claim credit for any information featured on this blog, unless otherwise provided.
  4. &lt;br /&gt;
  5. &lt;br /&gt;So, here it goes...&lt;/span&gt;
  6. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;meta equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;meta name=&quot;ProgId&quot; content=&quot;Word.Document&quot;&gt;&lt;meta name=&quot;Generator&quot; content=&quot;Microsoft Word 11&quot;&gt;&lt;meta name=&quot;Originator&quot; content=&quot;Microsoft Word 11&quot;&gt;&lt;link rel=&quot;File-List&quot; href=&quot;file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml&quot;&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags&quot; name=&quot;place&quot;&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags&quot; name=&quot;country-region&quot;&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags&quot; name=&quot;address&quot;&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=&quot;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags&quot; name=&quot;Street&quot;&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;  &lt;w:worddocument&gt;   &lt;w:view&gt;Normal&lt;/w:View&gt;   &lt;w:zoom&gt;0&lt;/w:Zoom&gt;   &lt;w:punctuationkerning/&gt;   &lt;w:validateagainstschemas/&gt;   &lt;w:saveifxmlinvalid&gt;false&lt;/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid&gt;   &lt;w:ignoremixedcontent&gt;false&lt;/w:IgnoreMixedContent&gt;   &lt;w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext&gt;false&lt;/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText&gt;   &lt;w:compatibility&gt;    &lt;w:breakwrappedtables/&gt;    &lt;w:snaptogridincell/&gt;    &lt;w:wraptextwithpunct/&gt;    &lt;w:useasianbreakrules/&gt;    &lt;w:dontgrowautofit/&gt;   &lt;/w:Compatibility&gt;   &lt;w:browserlevel&gt;MicrosoftInternetExplorer4&lt;/w:BrowserLevel&gt;  &lt;/w:WordDocument&gt; &lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;  &lt;w:latentstyles deflockedstate=&quot;false&quot; latentstylecount=&quot;156&quot;&gt;  &lt;/w:LatentStyles&gt; &lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;!--[if !mso]&gt;&lt;object classid=&quot;clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D&quot; id=&quot;ieooui&quot;&gt;&lt;/object&gt; 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text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Wingdings;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --&gt; &lt;/style&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;style&gt;  /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} &lt;/style&gt; &lt;![endif]--&gt;  &lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Executive: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt; is headed by a president, who is elected to a 6-year term by direct popular vote. If no candidate wins an absolute majority, the two leading candidates face each other in a runoff election. The Council of State (cabinet) is headed by the prime minister, who is selected by the parliament. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Legislature: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Philippine parliament, known as the Grand National Assembly, is unicameral and is composed of 219 members elected by direct and popular vote for a term of up to four years. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Judiciary: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Philippine judiciary includes the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, the Chancellor of Justice and administrative courts. The Chancellor of Justice and the Parliamentary Ombudsman monitor the actions of all public servants from the highest level on down. Both are independent, with authority to investigate the actions of members of Parliament, ministers and even the head of state. The efficiency and high profile of these posts also help prevent abuses.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;courts &lt;/i&gt;exercise judicial power, that is, they decide individual cases. The courts are independent: They are bound only by the law in force. No outside party can intervene in the decision-making of the courts. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;district courts &lt;/i&gt;deal with criminal and civil cases. The decision of a district court can normally be appealed in a &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;court of appeal&lt;/i&gt;. The decisions of the courts of appeal, then, can be appealed in the &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Supreme Court&lt;/i&gt;, provided that the Supreme Court grants leave to appeal.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;administrative courts&lt;/i&gt; review the decisions of the authorities. The decisions of the administrative courts can be appealed in the &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Supreme Administrative Court&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;There are also certain &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;special courts&lt;/i&gt;. These are the &lt;st1:street st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:address st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Market Court&lt;/st1:address&gt;&lt;/st1:street&gt;, the &lt;st1:street st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:address st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Labour Court&lt;/st1:address&gt;&lt;/st1:street&gt;, the &lt;st1:street st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:address st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Insurance Court&lt;/st1:address&gt;&lt;/st1:street&gt; and the High Court of Impeachment and &lt;st1:street st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:address st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Green Court&lt;/st1:address&gt;&lt;/st1:street&gt;.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin: 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Local Government&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Executive power in each &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;department&lt;/i&gt; (province) is exercised by a governor, who is appointed by the country&#39;s president. Cities and municipalities which are generally called &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;districts&lt;/i&gt; are headed by elected mayors, vice-mayors and district councils (legislative) by direct and popular vote for a term of up to four years.. &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Communes&lt;/i&gt; (barangay) which are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;the smallest local government units that can exist are headed by &lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Perfects &lt;/i&gt;and its seven-member Commoners Assembly (legislative) elected in four-year term.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;h1 style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The President of the Democratic Republic of the &lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The President of the &lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; is the Head of State of the &lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt;. Supreme executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers, which must enjoy the confidence of Parliament, but the general government of the state affairs rests with a Council of State.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The President is elected directly by the people for a six-year term and may be elected once. The President must be a native-born Filipino citizen. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The president is responsible for foreign policy in cooperation with the cabinet (the Philippine Council of State) where most executive power lies, headed by the Prime Minister. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Responsibility for forming the cabinet is granted to a person nominated by the President and approved of by the Parliament. This person also becomes Prime Minister after formal appointment by the President. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Any minister and the cabinet as a whole, however, must have continuing trust of the parliament and may be voted out, resign or be replaced.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 150%;font-family:Wingdings;font-size:13pt;&quot;  &gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 150%;font-family:Georgia;font-size:13pt;&quot;  &gt;The President upon taking office must renounce any party affiliation, so that he or she may be seen as neutral in regard to party politics.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 150%;font-family:Georgia;font-size:13pt;&quot;  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 150%;font-family:Georgia;font-size:13pt;&quot;  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Duties and powers of the President&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Ordering premature parliamentary elections&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Upon the proposal of the Prime Minister, the President may, having consulted the parliamentary groups and while Parliament is in session, order the holding of premature parliamentary election. The new Parliament is chosen for a normal four-year term. Parliament itself may decide when to end its session before the election day.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The President declares each Annual Session of Parliament open and closes the last Annual Session. This is done in a speech at each opening and closing ceremony.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Appointing and discharging ministers&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Prime Minister and other members of the government are appointed and discharged by the President. After parliamentary elections or in any other situation where the Government has resigned, the President, taking into account the result of consultations between the parliamentary groups and having heard the view of the Speaker, submits to Parliament his or her nominee for Prime Minister. If confirmed by Parliament with a majority of the votes cast, the President then proceeds to appoint the Prime Minister and other ministers designated by him or her. The President is constitutionally required to dismiss a Government or any minister as soon as they have lost the confidence of Parliament.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Appointing powers&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;The President appoints:&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Department Governors &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Chancellor of Justice and the Vice-Chancellor of Justice &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Prosecutor-General and the Vice Prosecutor-General &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Permanent Under-Secretaries of State, the highest appointed officials in each ministry &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Permanent Secretary and Under-Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the inspector of embassies, and the ambassadors (heads of embassies) &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Heads of central agencies&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;International relations&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The President conducts &lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;’ foreign policy in co-operation with the Government. The provisions of treaties and other international obligations that affect domestic legislation are implemented by acts of Parliament. Otherwise, international obligations are implemented by a Presidential decree. Decisions on war and peace are taken by the President with the assent of Parliament&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Legislation&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The President must sign and approve all acts adopted by Parliament before they become law. He or she must decide on ratification within three months of receiving the act and may request an opinion from the Supreme Court or the &lt;st1:street st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:address st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Supreme   Administrative Court&lt;/st1:address&gt;&lt;/st1:street&gt; before giving assent. Should the President refuse assent or fail to decide on the matter in time, Parliament reconsiders the act and can readopt it with a majority of votes cast. The act will then enter into force without ratification. If Parliament fails to readopt the act, it is deemed to have lapsed. Presidential vetoes are generally successful in preventing the bill becoming law&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Presidential pardon&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;In single cases, the President has the power of pardon from any imprisonment, fine, or forfeiture. General pardon requires an Act of Parliament.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Philippine Defense Forces, but may delegate this position to another Filipino citizen. Delegation of the position of Commander-in-Chief is an exception to the principle that the President cannot delegate functions to others. The President commissions officers and decides on the mobilization of the Defense Forces. If Parliament is not in session when a decision to mobilize is taken, it must be immediately convened. As Commander-in-Chief the President has the power to issue military orders concerning general guidelines for military defense, significant changes in military preparedness and the principles according to which military defense is implemented.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Decisions concerning military orders are made by the President in conjunction with the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Defense. The President decides on military appointments in conjunction with the Minister of Defense.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Emergency Powers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The President may issue a decree authorizing the Government to exercise emergency powers for up to one year at a time. The decree must be submitted to Parliament for its approval. The President may declare a state of defense by decree for a maximum of three months initially. If necessary, it can be extended for a maximum of one year at a time. A state of defense may also be declared in a region of the country. The decree must be submitted to Parliament for approval.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;h1 style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Parliament&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Grand National Assembly (parliament) consists of one chamber with two hundred nine-teen members. The members are elected for a four-year term by direct popular vote under a system of proportional representation. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Parliament elects the &lt;b&gt;Prime Minister&lt;/b&gt;, who is appointed to office by the President. Other Ministers are appointed by the President on the Prime Minister&#39;s proposal. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Wingdings;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Ø&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Prime Minister is the Head of Government of the &lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: normal;font-family:Georgia;font-size:12pt;&quot;  lang=&quot;FI&quot; &gt;Prime Minister’s Duties&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot; lang=&quot;FI&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;FI&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Prime Minister directs the work of the Government and oversees the preparation and consideration of Government business. When the Prime Minister is prevented from attending to his or her duties, these are taken over by the Minister designated as Deputy Prime Minister, or, when the Deputy Prime Minister is also prevented, by the Government&#39;s longest-serving minister.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;FI&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The &lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Deputy Prime Minister &lt;/b&gt;of the &lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; is a member of the Council of State who can take the position of acting Prime Minister when the actual Prime Minister is temporarily absent.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;h1 style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia;&quot;  lang=&quot;EN&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;h1 style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Council of State&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Council of State or the Government is &lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&#39; cabinet; it directs the Government of the &lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;. The Council of State is made up of the Prime Minister and eighteen ministers for the various departments of the central government as well as an ex-officio member, the Chancellor of Justice.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Philippine Council of State:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in;&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Prime Minister&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;         &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Finance&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Foreign Affairs&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister for Foreign Trade and Development&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Justice&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;    &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of the Interior&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;                   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Defense&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Public Administration and Local Government&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Education&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;          &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Culture and Sport&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Agriculture and Forestry&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Transport&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;          &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Communications&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;           &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Trade and Industry&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Social Affairs and Health&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;         &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Health and Social Services&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Labor&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of the Environment&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;          &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Minister of Housing&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;An &lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;independent judiciary&lt;/b&gt;, assisted by two legal officials with broad independent powers--the &lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;chancellor of justice&lt;/b&gt; and the &lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;parliamentary ombudsman&lt;/b&gt;--ensured that government institutions adhered to the law.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 150%;font-family:Georgia;font-size:13pt;&quot;  &gt;The Chancellor of Justice of the &lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;It is a Philippine government official who supervises authorities&#39; (such as cabinet ministers and other public officials) compliance with the law and advances legal protection of Filipino citizens. The Chancellor investigates complaints against authorities&#39; activities and may also start an investigation of his own initiative. The Chancellor attends cabinet meetings as a non-voting member to ensure that legal procedures and regulations are followed. The Chancellor has wide ranging oversight, investigative and prosecutorial powers.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Chancellor and his deputy are appointed by the President of the &lt;st1:place st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;&lt;st1:country-region st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;Philippines&lt;/st1:country-region&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt;. The Chancellor is appointed for life. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;Duties of the Chancellor of Justice&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;supervising the lawfulness of the official acts of the Government and the President of the Republic &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;providing the President, the Government and the Ministries with information and opinions on legal issues&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;supervising that the courts of law, other authorities and civil servants, public employees and other persons obey the law and fulfill their obligations when performing public tasks&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;monitoring the implementation of basic rights and liberties and human rights&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Symbol;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif&quot; alt=&quot;*&quot; width=&quot;13&quot; height=&quot;13&quot; /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:7pt;&quot;  &gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span dir=&quot;LTR&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;supervising the conduct of advocates with the Philippine Bar Association&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 150%;font-family:Georgia;font-size:13pt;&quot;  lang=&quot;EN&quot; &gt;Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;      &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Georgia;&quot;&gt;The Ombudsman exercises oversight to ensure that public authorities and officials observe the law and fulfil their du­ties in the discharge of their functions. In addition to authorities and officials, the scope of oversight includes also other parties performing public functions.&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;The aim is to ensure good administration and the observance of constitutional and human rights.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;
  7. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;&quot;  &gt;This structure of government is just a proposal. Because what I only want is the best for my beloved country. Hence, I am dreaming of a brand new Philippines - progressive, disciplined and free from graft and corruption (or at least minimized).
  8. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;
  9. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;&quot;  &gt;Anyone is free to react, criticize, comment and suggest in this proposed government. I will be expecting you then...
  10. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;
  11. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;
  12. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span  lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-family:Arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/2818919780717886498/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/02/proposed-democratic-republic-of_09.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/2818919780717886498'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/2818919780717886498'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/02/proposed-democratic-republic-of_09.html' title='The Proposed “Democratic Republic of the Philippines” Part III'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977.post-5085396362686888694</id><published>2010-02-07T08:34:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-16T11:02:29.832-08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="corruption"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="finland"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="government"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="graft and corruption"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="parliamentary system"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="poverty"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="president"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="prime minister"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="republic"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="world"/><title type='text'>The Proposed “Democratic Republic of the Philippines” Part II</title><content type='html'>&lt;div  style=&quot;text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” — Dom Helda Camara&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Nowadays, poverty is the state for the majority of the world’s people and nations, including of course the Philippines. Why is this? Is it enough to blame these poor people for their own predicament? Have they been lazy, made bad decisions, and been solely responsible for their plight? What about their government?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Corruption is the root cause of poverty. It is a form of criminality and part of bad governance or bad politics. It must be regulated and handled at all levels of legislation, norms and other control systems. Thus, I formulated a new form or structure of government that will minimize corruption in the government. This structure of government is not new, it is actually a consolidated form gathered from different government structures around the world, which I think will create a new, compact, comprehensive and ideal form of government for the Philippines.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;Thus, in building a new form of government the following administrative principles of good governance should be given priority in state legislation to counter or at least minimize corruption in the Philippines.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;The most important principles are the following:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;1) the principle of equality, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;2) the principle of objectivity, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;3) the principle of proportionality and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;4) the principle of focus on issues without divergence.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;For you to fully understand the new form of government that I am talking about, let me first give you the structural characteristics that define a parliamentary republic or parliamentary constitutional republic, the type of government that I am proposing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;1. It is a form of a republic which operates under a parliamentary system of government.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;2. In contrast to a presidential republic and the semi-presidential system, the head of state usually does not have broad executive powers as an executive president would, because much of those powers have been granted to a &quot;head of government&quot; (usually called a prime minister).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;3. The President may legally have executive powers granted to them to undertake the day-to-day running of government (as in Finland) but by convention they do not use these powers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;What do we expect then to achieve through the proposed parliamentary republic system?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt; With greatly improved governance in a parliamentary democracy, gradually we shall be better able to develop greater human and institutional capabilities for good governance:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;1. It is easier to pass legislation within a parliamentary system. This is because the executive branch is dependent upon the direct or indirect support of the legislative branch and often includes members of the legislature. In a presidential system, the executive is often chosen independently from the legislature. If the executive and legislature in such a system include members entirely or predominantly from different political parties, then stalemate can occur.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;2. It has attractive features for nations that are ethnically, racially, or ideologically divided. In a unipersonal presidential system, all executive power is concentrated in the president. In a parliamentary system, with a collegial executive, power is more divided.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;3. Power is more evenly spread out in the power structure of parliamentarianism. The Prime Minister seldom tends to have as high importance as a ruling president, and there tends to be a higher focus on voting for a party and its political ideas than voting for an actual person, based on their traits.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;4. It is less prone to authoritarian collapse according to scholars &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;(Juan Linz, Fred Riggs, Bruce Ackerman, and Robert Dahl)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;. These scholars point out that since World War II, two-thirds of Third World countries establishing parliamentary governments successfully transitioned to democracy. By contrast, no Third World presidential system successfully transitioned to democracy without experiencing coups and other constitutional breakdowns.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;5. In a recent World Bank study found that parliamentary systems are associated with lower corruption &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;(Lederman, Daniel, Loayza, Norman and Soares, Rodrigo R., &quot;Accountability and Corruption: Political Institutions Matter&quot; (November 2001). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 2708. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=632777).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;What are the most outstanding features of parliamentary system of government?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;1. Collective ministerial responsibility;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;2. Fusion of executive and legislative powers;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;3. Cabinet responsibility to Parliament; and&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;4. Party discipline&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;So there you have it guys. The structure has been laid down, so it&#39;s up to you then to weigh things up.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/5085396362686888694/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/02/proposed-democratic-republic-of.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/5085396362686888694'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/5085396362686888694'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/02/proposed-democratic-republic-of.html' title='The Proposed “Democratic Republic of the Philippines” Part II'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977.post-2787242487286081430</id><published>2010-01-29T11:22:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-16T11:12:38.539-08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="corruption"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="country"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="filipino"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="gandhi"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="government"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="mother theresa"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Philippines"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="poverty"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="samson"/><title type='text'>The Proposed “Democratic Republic of the Philippines” Part I</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;I am a FILIPINO and I love my country.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;I couldn&#39;t be happier and contented seeing my beloved country get up from the morass of poverty and corruption and be a great nation again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;I wish I had the strength of Samson so I can fight corruption in the government myself. I wish I had the temerity of Gandhi and the unwavering faith of Mother Theresa so can I can change the Philippines the way our forefathers wanted it to be.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;But having no voice for the authorities to heed what I&#39;ve been shouting for doesn&#39;t stop me from dreaming a better future for the Philippines. Because I believe that one who doesn&#39;t have a vision is like a bird flying in the firmament who flies for the sake of flying, who flies because he has wings, he doesn&#39;t care where his wings take him even if it takes him to danger or death. For a man without a vision is a man living a life without meaning and purpose, hence, an unhappy man.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;I have a vision. A great country where its cultural, social and national identity are preserved while maintaining a good governance of the people, for the people and by the people where poverty and graft and corruption are the things of the past and the people enjoys their freedom in a just and humane society.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;To achieve this vision, I have formulated a new structure of government that will  fast track the Philippines to progress and development. As what President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in her 2005 State of the Nation Address (SONA), &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;font-size:130%;&quot; &gt;“It is time to turn to the people, bring them into government – and change the way that government is done.&quot; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;I called my proposed government of the Philippines as the “Democratic Republic of the Philippines”. I will explain to you in my next posts how this new form or structure of government works. So for now, here&#39;s an overview.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;“The Philippines in Brief”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;Country name: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Conventional long form:&lt;/span&gt;  Democratic Republic of the Philippines&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Conventional Short Form: &lt;/span&gt; Philippines&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Local long form: &lt;/span&gt; Demokratikong Republika ng Pilipinas&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Local short form: &lt;/span&gt; Pilipinas&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;Government type:&lt;/span&gt; parliamentary constitutional republic (parliamentary republic)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;Capital:&lt;/span&gt; Manila&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;Administrative Division:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt; 17 regions (Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, Central Luzon Region, CALABARZON Region, MIMAROPA Region, Bicol Region, Western Visayas Region, Central Visayas Region, Eastern Visayas Region, Zamboanga Peninsula Region, Northern Mindanao Region, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN Region, Caraga Region, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,Cordillera Administrative Region,  and National Capital Region)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;the regions are divided into 81 departments (provinces)&lt;br /&gt; the departments are divided into districts (cities/municipalities)&lt;br /&gt; the districts are divided into communes (barangays)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;Suffrage: &lt;/span&gt;18 years of age; universal&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;Executive Branch: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Head of state:&lt;/span&gt; President&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Head of government:&lt;/span&gt; Prime Minister&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Cabinet:&lt;/span&gt; Council of State appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Elections:&lt;/span&gt;  president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;Legislative Branch: &lt;/span&gt;unicameral Parliament (219 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;Judicial Branch: &lt;/span&gt;Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/2787242487286081430/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/01/proposed-democratic-republic-of.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/2787242487286081430'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/2787242487286081430'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/01/proposed-democratic-republic-of.html' title='The Proposed “Democratic Republic of the Philippines” Part I'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160571365256189977.post-565792777168899771</id><published>2010-01-26T10:44:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-01T09:08:31.516-08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="blog"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="history"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="learned"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="lust"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="passion"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="weakness"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="writing"/><title type='text'>Introduction</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align=&quot;justify&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:georgia;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Writing has always been my passion. Passion has always been my weakness. Hence, I must say that sometimes writing is my sore point.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yeah, I know what&#39;s running on your mind right now. You&#39;re confused, right? It&#39;s &lt;span class=&quot;blsp-spelling-error&quot; id=&quot;SPELLING_ERROR_0&quot;&gt;ok&lt;/span&gt;. That is my objective - to confuse you! &lt;span class=&quot;blsp-spelling-error&quot; id=&quot;SPELLING_ERROR_1&quot;&gt;Hahaha&lt;/span&gt;...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anyway, this is already my third blog and I still don&#39;t know what topic to write, my target audience, and how to goof around here in a manner that will amaze my readers and satisfy their lust for entertainment and information.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You got it right, my main goal here is to satisfy your LUST - any kind of lust as long as I can manage. .. &lt;span class=&quot;blsp-spelling-error&quot; id=&quot;SPELLING_ERROR_2&quot;&gt;Haha&lt;/span&gt;... But make sure you&#39;re gonna repay me if you&#39;ll be satisfied, in cash or in-kind, whichever you like.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Enough for this &lt;span class=&quot;blsp-spelling-error&quot; id=&quot;SPELLING_ERROR_3&quot;&gt;pervertness&lt;/span&gt; for Pete&#39;s sake! Let&#39;s get into business. I am writing this blog because I want to add spice to your day, be the center of mockery of those who are LEARNED, laughingstock of those who are &#39;almost-LEARNED&#39;, and a playground of those who are pretending to be one.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As early as now, I just want to apologize to anyone of you who might get offended in what I will write here - my point of views, opinions and the like. Also, grammatical blunders that I might commit. I am just a HUMAN BEING.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please don&#39;t hesitate to leave your comments, suggestions, questions, violent reactions, etc. for me to improve this blog. Thank you!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So mortals, get hold of yourselves. The HISTORY has just began...&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/feeds/565792777168899771/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/01/introduction.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/565792777168899771'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1160571365256189977/posts/default/565792777168899771'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://rondubic.blogspot.com/2010/01/introduction.html' title='Introduction'/><author><name>Rondubic</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04922333497968830073</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaYN78oGJI_SddDtnmNDTJQBbjWBxLUcADYv5wdohx4YRgbbQKcRSyIysgxjbvGlndE-dAXgjOzfhOj6iB__EENfrdIXWV6clcaPINYVQ8FQtPwZKStfXldCpVqUpeQ/s220/gavel.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>

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