OPINION | Is Donald Trump bad news for the Philippines?

July 6, 2024 , 02:19 PM

By Manny Mogato

(July 6, 2024) — Joe Biden’s recent debacle on the CNN June 27 United States (US) presidential debate rattled the Democrat party, believing his wobbly performance might affect his chances of winning the elections in November.

On the other hand, the Republicans were thrilled at the prospect of regaining the White House.

The latest Reuters opinion poll showed a tight race between the incumbent Biden and the comebacking Trump.

However, some Democrats wanted Biden to abandon his re-election and give way to a much stronger, younger, and more competent candidate who could take down Donald Trump. Some Democrats have suggested replacing Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris, who could be the first Asian-American and woman president, is seen as a strong and progressive leader who could potentially unite the party and appeal to a broad range of voters. However, this move has its controversies and potential drawbacks.

When the Democrats fielded Hillary Clinton in 2016, Trump defeated her, although she got more popular votes.

In the US elections, the electoral college votes matter more than popular ones. This system has been a subject of debate and controversy and plays a crucial role in determining the election outcome.

Another opinion poll also showed that Harris may not win against Trump, although she only slightly trailed in the survey.

Whether Biden or Trump wins in November, many believed there would be very little effect on the Philippines because both the Democrats and the Republicans have solid anti-China sentiments.

Trump’s victory may be bad news for Ukraine because many believed the would-be Republican standard-bearer abhorred war.

While Trump may not be ready to go to war with China over the West Philippine Sea, he supported the Philippines’s position on the maritime dispute with China.

When Trump was in power from 2016 to 2020, his then-US secretary of State Mike Pompeo changed the US position on the South China Sea, explicitly supporting the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling that repudiated China’s nine-dash-line claim.

The Biden administration sustained and reaffirmed the US administration’s “ironclad” commitment and honored the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. Moreover, the Trump administration is the only US administration that has provided brand-new military equipment, like ScanEagle surveillance drones and cameras installed in C-130 planes patrolling the West Philippine Sea.

From 2015 to 2022, the US had already transferred about $1.4 billion worth of Vietnam War-era utility helicopters, mothballed Coast Guard cutters, drones, refurbished transport planes, armored vehicles, communications equipment, and small weapons. Under Biden’s administration, it pledged about $1 billion in foreign military sales for 2025 but offered to sell 12 F16 multi-role fighters and three C-130J Super Hercules planes.

The Biden administration has only made promises, but the Trump administration, during the time of Rodrigo Duterte, delivered equipment. Relations between Manila and Washington were at an all-time low during Duterte’s time. Yet, the US delivered many materials and equipment.

The Philippine ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, was also confident the level of security cooperation between Manila and Washington would remain high, wide, and deep. Romualdez said he was assured by a former Trump security adviser that the US would stand by its oldest ally in the region. However, the Philippines must only sometimes count on the US security umbrella and assistance.

If its interests do not align with the Philippines’ interests, it may abandon its former colony and oldest alliance partner. It had happened many times, particularly in the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff.

The Philippines also does not support US initiatives in the Middle East, and it is worried over the 12 million Filipino nationals working in Saudi Arabia and around the Gulf and northern African region.

The Philippines should only depend a little on the United States. It should pursue an independent foreign policy but continue cultivating closer relations with like-minded states.

Having the United States on the Philippines’ side is good, but it should not rely too much. It might be reassuring to hear that the United States would not change its China policy whoever wins the elections in November.

But the Philippines must be pragmatic and prepare for the worst to come. One Chinese geopolitical expert warned: “The Philippines should not lean on a crumbling wall.”

Thus, the Philippines must remain a friend to all and an enemy to one.

Privacy Statement

Our Privacy Commitment

TV5 Network Inc. values and respects your privacy. We are committed to safeguarding your personal data in compliance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its implementing rules and regulations.

We have developed a Privacy Policy that adopts and observes appropriate standards for personal data protection. While our Privacy Policy sets out the general principles governing the collection, use, and disclosure of our users’ personal information, our Privacy Commitment seeks to inform you more about TV5’s privacy practices.

Why do we collect your personal information (as applicable)?

We may collect and maintain basic information about you as site user of TV5 sites for the following purposes:

To deliver news and updates on current events, sports, esports and entertainment;
To share livestreams of news and sports events;
To understand our viewers’ needs and preferences;
To meet legal and regulatory requirements; and
To perform other processes or disclosures that are required to comply with pertinent laws, rules, or regulations.

Where do we get your personal information?

There are several ways we collect your personal information.

Information that you personally provided.

Most of the personal information we have are those that you have provided us when you:
- Register to our programs or services;
- Inquired, filed a complaint or requested for our services;
- Took part in our research and surveys; and/or
- Became our Partner, Vendor, Contractor or Supplier.

Information we collect during your engagement with us

We also collect information as you use our products and services, like:
- Viewing our websites;
- Activities that are being tracked by our website cookies;
- Calling our hotline;
- Using our apps, websites, and self-service channels and portals; and/or
- Joining our promos, prize raffles, or rewards and loyalty programs.

Information we collect from other sources

Other means of collection of information may be through:
- Our market research initiatives;
- When you visit and use our websites and mobile application; and
- Subsidiaries, affiliates, and third-party business partners to whom you have given consent to share your information to us.

When do we disclose personal information?

There may be instances when we are required to share the information you provided us. In such cases, we ensure that your personal information will be disclosed on a confidential manner, through secure channels and in compliance with the Data Privacy Act and other privacy laws.

We will never share, rent, or sell your personal information to third parties outside of TV5 except in special cases where you have given consent, and in cases described in our privacy policy.

In some instances, we may be required to disclose your personal information to our agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, business partners and other third-party agencies and service providers as part of our regular business operations and for the provision of our programs and services. This means we might share your information with our service providers, contractors, and professional advisers who help us provide our services.

How we protect your personal information

The integrity, confidentiality, and security of your information is important to us. We have implemented technical, organizational, and physical security measures that are designed to protect your information from unauthorized or fraudulent access, alteration, disclosure, misuse, and other unlawful activities.

We also put in effect the following safeguards:

We keep and protect your information using a secured server behind a firewall, encryption and security controls;
We keep your information only for as long as it is necessary for us to (a) provide the products and services that you avail from us, (b) for our legitimate business purposes, (c) to comply with pertinent laws, and (d) for special cases that will require the exercise or defense of legal claims;
We limit the access to your information only to qualified and authorized personnel who are trained to handle your information with strict confidentiality;
We undergo regular audits and rigorous testing of our infrastructure’s security protocols to ensure your data is always protected;
We promptly notify you and the National Privacy Commission when sensitive personal information that may, under the circumstances, be used to enable identity fraud are reasonably believed to have been acquired by an unauthorized person; and
We let you update your information securely to keep our records accurate.

TV5 will not collect, use, or disclose your personal information for any purpose other than the purpose that you may have given your consent for.

What are your choices?

We make sure that we have your consent to continue to collect, use, and disclose your personal information for the purposes that we have identified. We want you to know that you may object or withdraw your consent and/or edit your consent preferences at any time.

If you wish to have access to the personal information in our custody or if you think that the personal information you provided is incomplete, or otherwise inaccurate, you may get in touch with our Data Protection Officer through the contact details provided below. In some instances, we may request for supporting documents or proof before we effect requested changes.

Data Protection Officer
TV5 Network Inc.
Reliance corner Sheridan Streets
Mandaluyong City
tv5dataprivacy@tv5.com.ph

What happens when there are changes in our Policy?

From time to time, we may update our privacy policy and practices to comply with changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements, adapt to new technologies and protocols, and align with the best practices of the industry.

You will be provided notices if the changes are significant and, if we are required by law, we will obtain your updated consent.