ISIS identified as top global threat

The latest survey from Washington-based think-tank Pew Research Center showed that the terrorist group ISIS and climate change are the top two security threats in the 38 countries where the survey was conducted.

Among the 18 countries that identified ISIS as the number one security threat is the Philippines — with 70 percent of Filipinos displaying some sort of prescience since the survey was conducted from Feb. 16 to May 8 — about two weeks before the attack against Marawi City by the ISIS-affiliated Maute terrorist group. Aside from the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia also identified ISIS as the top security threat.  

According to intelligence information, one of the Maute brothers —  Omarkhayam — met his wife in a small village in Indonesia and it was there that his radical leanings were first displayed, imposing his strict ideas among students of the school run by his father-in-law. Indonesia has since inked an agreement for joint maritime patrols with the Philippine and Malaysian navies to prevent the foreign Islamist terrorists from entering Mindanao, particularly through the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas.

Australia is also offering to train Philippine soldiers in fighting ISIS which is suspected of being behind an elaborate terrorist plot to bomb an Etihad Airways flight from Sydney last month.  Fortunately, the Australian Federal Police uncovered the plot in time and prevented a bag of explosives from getting on the plane. According to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop,  Australia — which sent two surveillance aircraft earlier — is ready to provide more assistance to the Philippines.

Much earlier, an Australian ISIS fighter by the name of “Abu Adam al-Australi” released a video urging ISIS zealots who are unable to go to Syria to instead join the fight in the Philippines. He also rallied Australian Muslims to conduct terror attacks and turn Australia into a battlefield. 

Duterte knows the people’s pulse

The latest Social Weather Stations poll indicates that the administration continues to get very good public satisfaction ratings, while a survey conducted by Publicus Asia showed that President Duterte is considered as the most decisive, caring and loving leader in the country. That’s because he knows the pulse of the people very well — visiting wounded soldiers, condoling with the bereaved and personally checking on the situation of people during calamities and disasters.

His meeting with the parents of Kian delos Santos — the 17-year-old high school student who was killed during police operations in Caloocan City —  has also touched many who see him as a genuine and sincere person who really cares for the poor. As the parents indicated, they trust the President who assured them that justice would be served, and that those responsible for the death of their son would be made accountable.

People close to the President say that his plan since day one when he occupied Malacañang has been very simple: Wipe out criminality and the problem of illegal drugs to usher in progress and prosperity in the country.  He wants Filipinos to have a comfortable life — something that can be made possible with the Dutertenomics program, the government’s massive infrastructure plans and the proposed tax reform agenda, among many others. 

While the President admits that the drug problem is so deep that he might not even be able to eradicate it in the remaining years of his term, many believe he has made an impact and has prevented the problem from spreading. While he is very supportive of the Philippine National Police, President Rody also recognizes that abuses can happen, which is why he has warned the police to observe the rule of law, reminding them that the war against drugs is not a license to break the law.

The Country Club shares soar

This is turning out to be a banner year for Enrique “Ricky” Razon Jr. — the third richest person in the Philippines with an estimated net worth of $4.3 billion, according to Forbes Asia magazine.

Ricky — who is also known by his initials EKR — is chairman of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), a leading global ports management company whose net income for the first half of 2017 surged 19 percent to $103.6 million. Bloomberry Resorts Corporation, the operator of Solaire Resort and Casino, also posted a record-high net profit of P4.11 billion for the first six months of the year or a 24-fold increase from the P174 million posted for the same period in 2016.

Not to be outdone is The Country Club (TCC) at Laguna with club shares now at P5 million — a big jump from the P1.2 million when Ricky Razon bought the majority shares from Benito Ramon “Bomboy” Araneta and Earl McCarthy several years ago. 

The 18-hole golf course is now in perfectly good shape following the complete renovation to maintain its pristine condition. There is also a completely brand new club house with the best amenities there is, with careful attention put into every detail from the façade to the interiors. No surprise there really because Ricky is known to be a stickler for perfection — and this is definitely paying off because people are just dying to buy shares and be part of one of the most exclusive clubs not only in the Philippines, but also in Asia. Certainly, this is another smart business feather in Ricky Razon’s cap!

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