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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 15 May 2019

Unofficial tally shows Duterte allies winning big in polls

By JIM GOMEZ combative and sexist joke- tered politics for the first
Associated Press laden outbursts, and con- time without their own es-
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — tentious embrace of China tablished bases of support,
President Rodrigo Duterte’s have been the hallmarks of other leading administra-
allies appeared to have his presidency. tion senatorial contenders
overwhelming leads in Duterte’s three children earned votes based on
elections for the Philippine were also expected to win their own political track re-
Senate, one of the opposi- the races for mayor, vice cords.
tion’s last bulwarks against mayor and a congressio- The flipside of Duterte’s
a brash populist leader ac- nal seat representing their perceived endorsment
cused of massive human southern home region of strength was the weakness
rights violations. Davao city. The 74-year-old of the opposition ticket and
Preliminary results compris- maverick leader first carved its campaign, said Holmes,
ing 94 percent of returns a reputation as an extra- who heads Pulse Asia, an
from Monday’s midterm tough mayor, who hunted independent pollster that
elections showed at least drug addicts and criminals predicted the dominance
eight candidates endorsed on a Harley Davidson mo- of Duterte’s senatorial bets.
by Duterte were leading torcycle and carried the Another analyst, Richard
the races for 12 seats in the nickname, Duterte Harry, Heydarian, said many Fili-
24-member Senate. Official after the gunslinging Clint pinos seem more open to
Commission on Election Eastwood film character. authoritarianism due to fail-
results are expected to be “The overwhelming major- ures of past liberal leaders
declared in about a week. ity of the electorate have from long-established po-
Those leading include responded to the call of the litical clans. Such a mind-
Duterte’s former national president to support those set has helped the family
police chief Ronald dela whom he said would help of the late dictator Ferdi-
Rosa, who enforced the pass laws supportive of his nand Marcos make a po-
president’s crackdown on President Rodrigo Duterte shows his forefinger with an indelible goal to uplift the masses of litical comeback, the lat-
illegal drugs, a campaign ink to prove that he has voted for the country’s midterm elections our people and give them est through the senatorial
that’s left thousands of sus- in his hometown of Davao city in southern Philippines Monday, comfortable lives.” bid of one of his daughters,
pects dead and drawn in- May 13, 2019. Associated Press Manila-based analyst Ron- Imee Marcos, who was en-
ternational condemnation. ald Holmes, however, said dorsed by Duterte and
Monday’s vote is seen as through the single six-year constitution. His deadly that except for dela Rosa whose vote tally in the un-
a gauge of public support term Philippine presidents anti-drug crackdown, un- and Duterte’s longtime official results indicated a
for Duterte, who is midway are allowed under the orthodox leadership style, aide, Bong Go, who en- victory.q

North Korea demands return of cargo ship seized by US

Associated Press calling for a nuclear-free should send back our ves-
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Korean Peninsula and im- sel without hesitation.”
— North Korea on Tuesday proved bilateral ties, but a Before the United States
called the U.S. seizure of a second meeting between seized the cargo ship, the
North Korean cargo ship in- the leaders collapsed in 177-meter (581-foot) ves-
volved in banned coal ex- February over mismatched sel, named the Wise Hon-
ports a “robbery” and de- demands in sanctions relief est, had first been detained
manded that the vessel be and disarmament. by Indonesia in April 2018
returned immediately. The seizure of the cargo while transporting a large
The North’s official Korean ship, which was announced amount of coal. It was
Central News Agency, or last week, came at a deli- brought Saturday to Ameri-
KCNA, carried a statement cate moment in U.S.-North can Samoa, where it will
by an unnamed foreign Korean ties, with North Ko- undergo inspections.
ministry spokesman who rea resuming weapons North Korea is banned from
accused the United States tests that seem meant to This undated photo released by the U.S. Justice Dept, Thursday, exporting coal under U.N.
of betraying the spirit of force the United States to May 9, 2019, shows the North Korean cargo ship Wise Honest. sanctions toughened in
a summit agreement last ease sanctions. Associated Press 2017 to punish increasingly
June between North Kore- “The U.N. Security Coun- violent infringement of the United States should care- powerful weapons tests
an leader Kim Jong Un and cil resolutions the United sovereignty of our coun- fully consider what kind of that year. Experts believe
President Donald Trump. States mentioned as one of try and we have been en- consequences their day- coal and other mineral
Kim and Trump agreed the reasons for robbing our tirely rejecting them,” the light robbery could bring to exports help finance the
then to a vague statement trade vessel equate to a KCNA statement said. “The the political situation and North’s weapons industry.q