"It said failure of law enforcement, as well as popular belief that "nearly everyone in the PNP is corrupt -- may also encourage more public support for elected officials, such as the mayors of Davao and Cebu, who have openly supported the use of extra-judicial killings, coordinated in concert with local police forces under their control, as a means of controlling crime."
"However, PNP corruption is exacerbated by Philippine law, which gives local officials control over the appointment and dismissal of local PNP commanders, encouraging corrupt city mayors to make common cause with dishonest police commanders," it explained."
Last time we were in the mainland city, in our hotel room I ran the tap/faucet and hot water came from it ... I exclaimed to girlfriend "Hot water from a tap/faucet, I remember that".
Less recently in the mainland city we drove past an ATM machine, I turned to girlfriend saying "An ATM machine, I remember those".
We're back in the mainland city for 2 nights from tomorrow, to hire a 10 wheeler truck to bring back 240 8' x 4' sheets of 3.5mm Hardiflex, 10 external hardwood doors, 10 PVC bathroom doors, 100+ bags of cement, 300 floor tiles (that's all the stock they have), 1,800 ceramic wall tiles, 160+ metres of skirting board, 160+ metres of ceiling cornice, 450 metres of cable etc. etc. etc.
I'm even helping out my Aussie resort owner neighbour, there's no cement to be had on this island so I'm bringing some in for him and bringing him 10 sheets of Hardiflex also whilst I hope to persuade him to lend me his labourers on Monday evening to help unload the truck.
These Filipino's are good workers, one should see them as they go up the coconut trees, no safety ropes, nothing, they're straight up the side of the trees in their bare feet. Think, if RB's family hadn't left their homeland rather than be an unemployed beancounter RB could be swinging around the trees collecting coconuts with the rest of them!
Rag - Guess you didn't read my posts correctly. Is English your primary language? All your torts are like pissing in the rain. In fact I said as such. Don't come off as some leading authority there. ;)
Anyways, this week my Ukraine consulting contract ended without renewal. I'm not really interested in any big business in Ukraine. I said I was doing an agency (maybe) in Ukraine as a favor.
I'd rather do a small travel agency (for my fiance) with some good twists, since I have travel agency experience working with some of the largest in the world.
"Leading Authority" Apal? ... Have you tried looking in the mirror recently? :)
I just pop in to this forum to have a chat/banter with some old acquaintances, long since have I dared to offer advice on travelling to/from FSU, no longer do I offer advice on FSU relationships, except to say that there's a recent plonker who claims to be in love with a woman who gets her kit off for strangers on webcam, I genuinely tried to help the guy, whilst others attacked him, and he turned on me so to hell with him ... I told him the truth, pretty much, that he's being a fucking idiot.
There's a past relationship of mine, from a previous decade, from some 5+ years ago, with little exaggeration it seems the only guy on this forum not talking about it is ME ... As far as I'm, concerned it's historic event(s), some years ago I built a website pertinent to it, I've moved on, I've now got a fantastic life, it's people like you that need feeling sorry for, I just pop in to this forum for a laugh and a chat/banter, it's people like you that take it far too seriously.
Have a nice day!
P.S. Apal, English is my primary language, is it yours?
P.P.S. I ask Apal because you repeatedly refer to your "fiance" ... Are you engaged to be married to a man Apal?
"Based on a worldwide index, the Philippines placed at the bottom in terms of doing business here. This is largely due to the bureaucratic maze that an investor has to go through before he could start his venture. He also has to deal with local officials who want to make money out of new businesses."
Arrived in the mainland city some 3.5 hours ago, went to the truck place and he tried to scam me by hiking the price up from PHP18,000.00 to (white man's price) PHP29,000.00 at which point I got up and walked out with girlfriend closely following behind.
One of my workers, a foreman/contractor, stood to earn PHP250,000.00 from me but in his first expenses claim he couldn't resist but to attempt to scam me for a litre of fuel ... he's now unemployed whilst begging to come back.
Meanwhile, the contractor electrician that started on Thursday promptly finished on Friday with, pretty much, my boot up his arse ... But it gave my labourers a chuckle, they'd seen the incompetence the first day, I stepped in and thought we had it resolved, when I went up there on Friday they were creating havoc knocking holes in walls in wrong locations etc. etc. etc. ... With girlfriend interpreting I ordered him and his sidekick from my land before I might seriously lose my temper. :)
This afternoon a third party (lady) suggested to girlfriend that we attempt to meet in the middle with this trucker but girlfriend explained that if they try it on with me I'll walk away and I simply won't entertain dishonest/dishonorable people who try to hike the price based on the colour of my skin.
Right now I'm back in the hotel whilst girlfriend + 1 are out trying to find a truck for Monday :)
Wait until the mayor gets to you. He has the authority to revoke your business license, and a whole police force behind him. Are you going to going to lose your temper with him?
You are right, Martin. I should get out more. Of the things I am saying, none might happen at all. But, you should thank me because at least you are aware of what could and probably will happen.
Well girlfriend found a 10 wheeled truck yesterday, she just spoke to a truck driver on the side of the road, we're just getting up for breakfast now and have a meeting with the trucker at 9 o'clock before we go shopping for supplies.
Popped in to the big hardware store yesterday, straight away the manager entered in to a banter with me and then chatted away with my girlfriend, they got to know each other last time, or was it the time before, we were in the store, girlfriend's a lovely girl, everybody we come across likes her and enjoys conversation with her ... as I do. :)
Yep, I'm on the ground here, daily I communicate with other expat business owners, there are plenty of them around, we network, we discuss all things pertinent to business, and some jerk thinks he's discovered the wheel by Googling from California!
The one thing I learned about Philippines, particularly this region and this island ... it's VERY difficult to learn much at all from the internet because the economy of Philippines dictates that the internet is a rarity.
Internet shopping is literally non existent here but girlfriend is learning since she's been with me, from the courier company yesterday we picked up our Toshiba 32" TV that I had bought online for circa USD100.00 less than the price in the shops.
First, it was Cornflakes boxes. Now you think the internet is my only source of information on this? How business has been done in the Philippines has been the same for decades. College graduates seek jobs outside of the country because of how business is done there. Like I said, you might escape this. Philippines might be changing or want to change as it is in the article. But, look at the date. It is still going on and it cannot change overnight.
I am a jerk for telling you how business is run in the Philippines? Remember why I did that in the first place. You mocked Apal1 for suggesting he might do business in a corrupt country when you are doing the same thing.
It's not often we get to watch, indeed see, a TV but in our hotel suite last evening girlfriend was watching her Filipino crap when, being a Bee Gees fan, I heard this 4 year old kid doing a 'Barry Gibb'.
Just watching it again it's still hilarious, not only did the 4 year old kid steal the show but he won the show also: