niqueisa/fine-tune-replace

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20,"Former Laguna Governor and actor Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito has a threat against his political enemy former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III once they met personally.In an interview with PEP.ph during the premier night of a movie, Ejercito said that he was still angry to the former President that he accused of being responsible for his ouster as Laguna Governor on 2014.Ejercito said that he already trained himself in target shoot so if they paths crossed, he would shoot the former President in the head.“Kay Noynoy? Babarilin ko sa ulo,” Ejercito told PEP.ph“Kaya nga panay ang firing ko ngayon, e. Sumasali sa mga competition. Babarilin ko sa ulo si Noynoy Aquino talaga, pag makita ko siya, babarilin ko siya talaga.”he added.According to him, Aquino destroyed his reputation and even jailed his cousin Jinggoy Estrada.ER Ejercito also said that he’s already working to finish a movie dedicated to the slain SAF44.The former Laguna governor said that this movie is his gift for the former President who were accused by his critics for being responsible to the death of the 44 members of Special Action Forces in Mamasapano.“Regalo ko kay Noynoy Aquino, yung nagtanggal sa akin.” he said.Ejercito said that he can forgive Aquino for all the things that he done to him and to his family, but he would not forget his name.On 2014, the Supreme Court ruled to oust former Laguna governor ER Ejercito for allegedly spending too much in his own campaign.Ejercito was found to have paid P6 million for one television advertisement contract to further his gubernatorial campaign in 2013.Election rules, however, allowed him to spend only P4.5 million for his entire campaign. Documents showed that he spent some P23.5 million.Because of this, Ejercito said that the Aquino administration became ‘unfair’ to him just because he’s a member of the opposition during Noynoy’s term."
31,"The charges against former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo and former National Food Authority Administrator Arthur Yap in connection with the alleged lack of public bidding in the purchase of P46.45 million worth of fertilizers will head to trial.In a 13-page resolution dated Sept. 25, the Special Sixth Division of the Sandiganbayan denied the motions of Lorenzo and Yap, now the representative of Bohol’s third district, seeking the dismissal of the charges.‘Appropriate for trial’The court said the charges were valid because they “clearly and accurately” stated the allegations against Lorenzo and Yap. It said the finer details on how their actions caused undue injury to the government were matters “appropriate for trial.”Lorenzo and Yap, as well as Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. (Philphos) representative Tomas Guibani, were charged with five counts of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.According to prosecutors, Lorenzo and Yap gave unwarranted benefits to Philphos by directing the regional bids and awards committees of five regions to purchase 92,158 bags of fertilizer through negotiated procurement, instead of competitive bidding."
41,"CLEVELAND (AP)- Ang sold-out arena ay napuno ng 20,000 fans na suot ang kulay gintong mga T-shirt. Mayroong national TV audience, dalawang high-profile teams at All-Stars na nasa loob ng court."
50,"The Philippines formally rejected at least P380 million (6.1 million euros) in aid from the European Union, Ambassador Franz Jessen confirmed Wednesday, January 24. Jessen is the head of the EU Delegation to the Philippines.But what the Mainstream News Media are not reporting was that despite this rejection, President Rodrigo Duterte has offered to send a high-level expert team from the Philippines to the EU.”It’s a gift from the Filipino people to EU,” Duterte reportedly told Jessen.The expert team is composed of Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Antonio Trillanes, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Commissioner on Human Rights Chito Gaston and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.Duterte urged EU to utilize this team in whatever way it deems appropriate.Asked if Duterte set any conditions for the gift, Jessen said ‘Yes. No return, no exchange.’What a generous president we have!"
61,"Army troops and Air Force helicopter-borne teams on Monday joined civilian relief officials in rescuing hundreds of people marooned in their flood-stricken homes and on rooftops as a slow-moving Typhoon “Lando” plodded across northern Luzon.The death toll from Lando (international name: Koppu) stood at 14, according to reports gathered by the Inquirer bureaus from police and local Office of Civil Defense (OCD) officials. Three deaths each were reported in Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan, two each in Ifugao, Zambales and Quezon City and one each in Mt. Province and Benguet.The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Manila said it had counted three deaths as of Monday. “We are still receiving reports of casualties which we are still validating, it’s difficult to release information that is not verified,” said Alexander Pama, the head of the council.The typhoon smacked across Aurora province before dawn Sunday with fierce winds and heavy rains, weakening as it hit land but drenching wide areas and igniting flooding and landslides.In its 5 p.m. bulletin Monday, the weather bureau downgraded Lando to a severe tropical storm with maximum winds of 105 kilometers per hour, down from 120 kph earlier in the day, and gusts up to 135 kph, from earlier 150 kph.The NDRRMC said 58,476 families, or 283,486 people, were affected by the typhoon, mostly in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Of this figure, 15,354 families or 69,747 people were staying in 370 evacuation centers.The agency has monitored 74 incidents so far in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Metro Manila, of which 72 were flooding incidents. Initial reports put the damage to agricultural crops at P4.6 billion.Landslides and flooding rendered impassable 36 road sections and 18 bridges in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol and CAR.Power outages were still being experienced in three cities and 65 towns in northern, central and southern Luzon, while province-wide power outages remain in Pangasinan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Apayao and Kalinga.Stranded on rooftopsFour teams from the Philippine Air Force and three from the Northern Luzon Command scrambled Monday to rescue hundreds of villagers trapped in their homes, complementing local police forces in trying to reach flooded villages by boats or helicopters in Cabanatuan City and Gabaldon town in Nueva Ecija.“There were some people who needed to be rescued from the roofs of their homes,” OCD’s Nigel Lontoc said. “But our rescuers couldn’t penetrate these areas because the floodwaters were still high.”Hundreds of soldiers, police and volunteers have converged in Nueva Ecija to help villagers whose homes have been flooded, said Lontoc.Barangay chief Raymond Flores said he sent dump trucks at 4 p.m. for a preemptive rescue operation but many residents refused to leave their houses. About an hour later, rampaging flood waters submerged a large part of the village, trapping several families.“Had they heeded our plea and left their houses immediately, they would have escaped the floods,” Flores said.As of Monday morning, at least 1,700 families had sought refuge in evacuation centers in Cabanatuan.The NDRRMC has recorded 56 houses in northern and central Luzon which were damaged.Authorities warned evacuees, particularly those living near the Pampanga, Agno and Cagayan river basins, not to return to their homes in the meantime as more floods may occur once waters flow down from the mountains.“As we extend assistance and rescue those affected by Typhoon Lando, we also give out warnings to those who are in the typhoon’s path,” Pama said.Vicente Malana, acting administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administrator (Pagasa), said the waters from the mountains near these river basins would begin to flow down in the coming days.“In our Arayat station, we observed that the water is rising, so the water will be flowing down from Arayat to Pampanga river. It’s best if they don’t return to their homes in the meantime since it takes half a day for the water to flow down,” Malana said.Esperanza Cayanan of Pagasa said the typhoon was expected to exit the landmass through Cagayan or Ilocos Norte, travelling in a northeast direction.Landslides, flooding“Landslides and flash floods are to be expected in northern Luzon, especially in the western section, as the typhoon leaves the landmass on Tuesday afternoon,” Cayanan said.Pama said the NDRRMC had monitored 70 flooding incidents in northern and central Luzon, and Metro Manila. He said that although dams had been releasing water, there was no imminent danger so far.Ambuklao, Binga and Magat dams have released water in the past days, while Angat needs nine meters more of water and Pantabangan Dam, 16 more meters.The agency has recorded 31 road sections and 18 bridges rendered impassable due to landslides and floods, including the Kennon Road in Baguio City.Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin, police director in Central Luzon, said two persons drowned in General Tinio and another in Cabanatuan City. Two remain missing in Sta. Rosa town.Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali said Pedro Tuares of Barangay Pulong Matong and Mario Abesamis of Barangay Pias, both in General Tinio, drowned while trying to save their carabaos on Sunday. “This is very unfortunate that they died while trying to save their partners in living,” Umali said.The two men earlier reported to have drowned in Palayan City turned out to be alive, OCD reports said.Nueva Ecija under waterThe OCD said 22 villages in Nueva Ecija remained under 2 meters of water. These are eight villages in Gabaldon town, six in Sta. Rosa town, four in Palayan City, three in San Leonardo town and one in Carranglan town.At the height of the flooding in Jaen town, flood water reached more than a meter in 12 villages.Umali said water from the Sierra Madre mountain range caused the floods that stranded hundreds of vehicles on the national highway on Sunday night.In Zambales, Benita Famanilay, 62, died when a concrete wall of their house in Barangay Asinan Proper in Subic town collapsed Sunday, rescue officials said.A teacher in Sta. Cruz town was found dead on Monday in a farm in Barangay Gama. Relatives said Evangeline Mas, 58, a teacher at Gama Elementary School, could have drowned in the flooding.In Pangasinan, officials said Mauro Muerong, 75, died after a tree fell on his hut in Barangay Pampano in Mangatarem town Sunday. Jan Kerby Capena, 1, died after his family’s house was hit by a fallen tree Monday in Barangay Ilog-Malino in Bolinao town. His parents, Ariel, 47, and Esmeralda, 37, were injured. Regina Sabangan, 80, died after her head hit a concrete floor when she slipped inside her house in Barangay Bongato in Bayambang town on Monday.A big part of Pangasinan province was still without electricity on Monday.In the Cordillera, Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. said Reginald Basilio, a resident of Tinoc, Ifugao, died after his vehicle was hit by a landslide on Sunday night. The Tinoc relief office said Antonio Pallay, 61, also died on Monday when mudslides buried his house in Barangay Ahin. A landslide in Benguet’s Bakun town killed Fernando Lazo Gumpad, 57.In Quezon City, Esperanza Palparan, 49, died on Sunday from injuries when a tree fell on her house. Also killed in the same incident was Aaron Castillo, 14. Reports from Armand Galang, Anselmo Roque, Tonette Orejas, Allan Macatuno, Justine Dizon, Ron Lopez and Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon; Gabriel Cardinoza, Yolanda Sotelo, Vincent Cabreza and Cristina Arzadon, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Julie Aurelio, Jovic Yee, Jeannette I. Andrade, Jerry E. Esplanada and DJ Yap in Manila."
70,"Officials of the Philippine delegation to the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Singapore filed a formal protest today, contesting the zero scores the judges gave to two of its diving athletes.The Filipino divers failed to complete their rotations during their dive. One landed flat on his back and the other went into the pool, feet first.“It is a matter of pride and fairness ” the officials contended. “We aren’t asking for a medal. All we are asking is that the zero scores be reversed to at least recognize the degree of difficulty with which our young athletes performed in the competition.”The officials also said that their divers broke all existing world records with a feat no athlete has ever attempted before."
80,"Para kay Vice President Leni Robredo, kailangan na raw gumawa ng batas para ma-regulate ang mga posts sa social media. Ang paggamit daw kasi ng mga social media platforms ay naaabuso na raw. ""Kailangan talaga iyong Kongreso magpasa ng mga batas na kahit paano may control saka regualtion iyong mga post sa social media. Kasi kung anybody can post anonymously, ang daming nabibiktimang hindi naman dine-deserve na siraan. Iyon nga, sana iyong accountability na ine-expect from traditional edia, dapat ganoon din sa social media,"" sabi ni Leni. Ang panukala ni Robredo ay agad binutata ng pro-government blogger na si MJ Quiambao Reyes. Ayon kay Reyes, kung magkakaroon ng regulations sa social media, dapat mas malaki ang parusa sa mga public officials katulad ni Robredo na ilang beses na rin naglabas ng mga maling impormasyon. ""Ayos yan! But please ensure that such law also applies to mainstream media and politicians (including yourself). More so, the sanctions on fake news peddled by the mainstream & politicians (i.e. EJK bloated figures or that distorted palit-ulo scheme as presented by you) must be 1000x heavier!"" resbak ni Reyes. Ito po ang video ni Leni noong 2017 na tinutukoy ni Reyes kung saan nagbigay si Leni ng ibang interpretasyon tungkol sa palit-ulo scheme na ginagawa ng ating kapulisan. Ang mga maling interpretasyon ni Robredo tungkol sa palit-ulo scheme ay agad inalmahan ni dating Philippine National Police Chief Ronald ""Bato"" Dela Rosa noong panahong iyon.. Isa pa sa mga maling impormasyon na ikinalat ni Robredo ay tungkol sa Ilocos Norte na kabilang daw sa mga pinaka-mahirap na lalawigan sa bansa. Ang mga pinagsasabi ni Leni ay agad binutata ni Governor Imee Marcos. Source: News5 | GMA | Reyes"
90,"Isang estudyante ng De La Salle, na pamangkin ng magkapatid na pari, ang natagpuang patay at posibleng ginahasa sa kanyang apartment sa Lipa City, Batangas. Kinilala ang biktima na si Fidex Therese Dimaculangan Maranan, 21-anyos, 4th year college student ng Dela Salle Lipa. Ang hubo't hubad na bangkay ng biktima, na tinakpan ng kumot at may saksak sa leeg, ay nadiskubre ng kanyang kamag-anak na si Romulo Maranan sa loob ng kuwarto ng nirerentahang apartment sa Miracle Heights Subdivision, Barangay Antipolo Del Norte. Ayon kay Police Col. Ramon Balauag, hepe ng Lipa City Police, posibleng tatlong araw nang patay ang biktima, na pinaniniwalaang ginahasa muna bago pinaslang, batay na rin sa autopsy report. Aniya, may mga pasa sa katawan at ulo ng biktima na tila pinalo ng matigas na bagay o iniuntog sa sahig. Ang biktima ay pamangkin ni Monsignor Ruben Dimaculangan, na ngayo'y kura paroko ng St. Therese Parish sa Talisay, Lipa. Ayon naman kay Father Nonie Dolor, dating radio station manager sa lugar, sinusuportahan na lang ni Dimaculangan at ng kapatid na si Quiel, isa ring pari, ang biktima matapos itong maulila. Nag-iisa na lang din ang biktima sa lugar dahil nasa kani-kanilang destino ang magkapatid na tiyuhin nito. Samantala, inaalam na ngayon ng pulisya sa pagkakakilanlan ng suspek at sa motibo nito sa krimen kaya nagsasagawa pa sila ng masusing imbestigasyon sa kaso."
100,"which ultimately passed with a 68-32 vote — millions of undocumented immigrants changed their Facebook profile photos to a graphic that had the number 11 on it. HRC claims that the immigrants simply took the HRC logo and turned it clockwise at 90 degrees.In response to an email question from The Adobo Chronicles, a spokesperson who refused to reveal his/her sexual orientation, the HRC rep said it doesn’t matter that an estimated 267,000 LGBTs currently in the U.S. are undocumented. “The integity of the HRC logo is what’s at stake here,” the spokesperson said.Calls to the 11 million undocumented immigrants for comment on the law suit have not been returned."
111,"Nakamit ng bansa sa cycling ang nag iisa nitong gold medal sa nakaraang 17th Asian Games noong Setyembre as Incheon,South Korea as pamamagitan no Daniel Caluag na nagpaplano namanv muling sumabak sa kanyang ikalawang Olympics kasunod nv 2012 London Games sa kanyang paglahok sa UCI-qualifying races sa 2015. Nakahanay na rin ngayon sa kalendaryo ng PhilCycling ang ikalawang edisyon ng Asean MTB Cup na idaraos sa Cebu sa Pebrero 23 at 24."
121,"Considered one of the most congested schools in Metro Manila, the Batasan National High School in Quezon City will have a new four-story senior high school building with state-of-the-art laboratories when classes open in June.The new school building, consisting of 12 classrooms and six laboratories, will accommodate more than 2,000 senior high school students.The laboratories, all equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, were built to enrich the program offerings of senior high school in STEM (Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and ABM (Accounting and Business Management).Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City said the city government poured a considerable amount of money for the procurement of technical equipment for science and speech laboratories as well as IT equipment and software for computer laboratories, to ensure the city’s senior high school students will receive competitive education at par with international standards.The inauguration of the 12 new classrooms brings to 157 the total number of instructional classrooms that will be used by the students of Batasan National High School for the coming school year. The number includes those constructed by the national government.Bautista said his administration will continue to improve the city’s educational facilities and quality of education in public schools to help students from low-income families aspire and prepare for a better life."
131,"Duterte consults dermatologists to stop cheek darkeningPresident Duterte has been consulting dermatologists to address the darkening of the skin on his cheeks, which he blamed on his frequent exposure to the sun during his visits to military camps. Speaking to businessmen on Thursday, the President said the discoloration of his face was exacerbated by several skin products he used in an attempt to reverse the condition. “My face darkened. It was good I went to this dermatologist, she’s very good. I’ve been using the cream of my wife—Shiseido,” Mr. Duterte said. After washing his face, he said, he usually applies skin care products that are also used by his partner, Honeylet Avanceña. He said he was visited recently by the dermatologist, who advised him to use only two skin care products."
141,"Ayon sa grupong nanawagan din sa sambayanan na sundin ang kahilingan ni Pope Francis na iwaksi ang mga leader na nasasangkot sa pangungurakot, panahon na upang magkaroon ng leader na tulad ng mga kongresistang hindi tumanggap at nakinabang sa Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) at Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). ""Kailangan natin ang leader na may tapang na lulutas sa dalawang pangunahing problema ng ating bansa: korupsiyon ng mga nanunungkulan sa bayan at sobrang krimen o kawalan ng kapayapaan at kaayusan,"" pahayag ni 4K Vice President Ronald Mendoza."
151,"Supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Monday staged a lightning rally in Cubao, Quezon City, to mark the 48th founding anniversary of the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).At the rally, underground revolutionary organizations in Metro Manila under the banner of the CPP called on Filipinos to join the NPA.The founding anniversary of the NPA is on March 29.CPP-NPA leaders on Saturday said they were set to declare a unilateral ceasefire before March 31, ahead of the resumption of peace talks with the government next month.The CPP expects the Philippine government to declare a similar unilateral ceasefire as part of an agreement reached during back-channel talks from March 10 to 11, the group said in a statement.Negotiators from both sides agreed on March 12 to resume formal peace negotiations in The Netherlands from April 2 to 6, a month after an angry President Duterte canceled talks because the NPA ambushed soldiers and unilaterally ended a previous ceasefire.Mr. Duterte, in an interview on Saturday with reporters in Bukidnon province, said he would consult with the country’s political and security leaders “whether it would be good at this time” to resume the government’s unilateral ceasefire.“I have to consult the (House) Speaker. I have to consult the Senate President. I have to convene the National Security Council and I have to ask the generals of the Army and the police,” the President said.In the statement, the CPP urged the President to order the military to “slow down its ongoing all-out offensive military operations and aerial bombing and shelling campaigns against rural (communities), to help create a favorable atmosphere for the mutual ceasefire.”To give the peace talks a boost, the CPP said it also expected the government to release 19 elderly and sick political prisoners, as well as five detained consultants of its political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.The CPP said the NPA released on Friday two “prisoners of war” in Mati town in Davao Oriental province, as a “confidence-building” measure and would also set four more prisoners free.The conflict between the government and the communists has raged for nearly five decades and killed more than 40,000 people.Both sides in the conflict unilaterally declare ceasefires that the opposite party typically accuses the other of violating, leading to a fragile peace in the conflict zones where the rebels operate."
161,"The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is enjoining internally displaced persons (IDPs) or evacuees from this war-torn city to secure the Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card (DAFAC).“Evacuees should be registered (with DEFAC) to have access to services and resources we are providing,” ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said in a statement.Alamia added that this will ensure that only legitimate IDPs will be able to avail of assistance, while doing away with the possibility that relief goods will go only to undeserving recipients.The DSWD has, so far, announced assistance of P1,000 for each evacuee and P5,000 shelter assistance for each family.Alamia heads the ARMM’s Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART), which has established three relief distribution centers in Malabang, Lanao del Sur, in Iigan City and here, from where evacuees can secure the registration cards.In its June 22 report, ARMM-HEART reported a total of 40,753 families, or 193,952 IDPs, since the start of the attempt by the Maute Group to seize full control of this city last May 23.Alamia said the delivery of services to displaced families has become more difficult in recent days as many Marawi residents did not register with DSWD as evacuees.She said ARMM-HEART records showed that only 970 families or 4,691 individuals were sheltered in evacuation camps, while 39,783 families involving 189,261 individuals were home-based or were staying with relatives in the two Lanao provinces, or in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Davao, Gen. Santos and Cotabato, and in Misamis Oriental.Reports came out recently about the proliferation of fake IDP registration cards, quoting DSWD-Region 10 officials.Evelyn Madrio, head of the DSWD-Region 10 team, exposed in a meeting last week an alleged case of “fake IDPs” that ought to be validated, a PIA report said.The DWSD-10 statistics showed that there were 70,000 families, consisting of about 350,000 individuals, which evacuated from this city when the armed conflict broke out.The figure is far above the established 215,000 population of this city, and was different from the DSWD-ARMM statistics."
170,"Photos and videos of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration speech on June 30 have baffled many Filipinos. And we’re talking about the image of Jesus Christ that seemed to have appeared behind Duterte, against the backdrop of the Philippine flag.Now, Filipinos are starting to realize that on that same day, when a different image manifested itself again on the Philippine flag behind the president. This time it was the image of Marilyn Monroe.Is this a Divine Providence message of the new president’s dual persona? Sinner and Saint?We’ll let our readers make their own conclusions!http://pl6455346.puhtml.com/b4/5b/22/b45b22a1ee991b25893367a7b9afb12a.js"
181,"It was not a junket.A team of eight senators, who went on a three-day trip to France to visit their counterparts in the French parliament, had started listing down what some of them said were results of the trip.Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said the Philippine Senate, as a result of the trip, secured the support of French legislators for the Philippines’ fight against terrorism and climate change.“The visit was not a junket,” Ejercito said.The French lawmakers, he said, promised to back aid in terms of technology and equipment.Chance to clarifyThe Philippine senators’ trip, Ejercito said, also gave the Filipino legislators the chance to clarify to the French government several issues that had been aired by international media and had put the Philippines in a negative light.Among these issues were the Duterte administration’s aggressive campaign against illegal drugs and legislative moves to revive the death penalty, Ejercito said in a radio interview.France is a staunch advocate against the death penalty, urging governments around the world to abolish capital punishment.“The French Senate expressed concern about the reimposition of the death penalty but we also explained to them why some of us are in favor of it and this is because of the drug problem in the country,” he said.Philippine senators also explained how drug money was funding terrorist activities in Marawi City, he added.‘Very successful’Ejercito said the French Senate promised support for the Philippines’ fight against terrorism.“It was a very successful visit,” said Sen. Joel Villanueva, another senator who went to France.The other senators who visited France were Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian.Pimentel on Friday said that the visit “definitely strengthened” ties between the French and Philippine Senate."
191,"Never!Leaders of the Catholic and evangelical churches on Monday reiterated their objection to the legalization of same-sex marriage after President Duterte turned about and expressed support for gay unions.In a statement, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes maintained that the Catholic Church could never approve of same-sex marriage and called on Filipinos not to allow it, especially its legalization.“The trivialization of marriage is one of the fundamental reasons [for] the breakdown of individuals and human society,” Bastes said.The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) also voiced its objection to same-sex marriage, stressing that it was against the central teachings of Christianity and even of Islam.“Union between the same sex, for instance, directly contradicts a central teaching of Islam and Christianity—that marriage is only between a man and a woman,” the PCEC said in a statement.Rights of homosexualsIn a speech at a gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in his hometown, Davao City, on Sunday, President Duterte vowed to protect the rights of homosexuals and invited them to nominate a representative to work in his administration.“I want same-sex marriage. The problem is we’ll have to change the law. But we can change the law,” Mr. Duterte said to wide applause.He said the Family Code limited marriage to a union between a man and a woman but stressed that he didn’t have any problems “making it marrying a man, marrying a woman or whatever is the predilection of the human being.”“I am for same-sex marriage if that is the trend of modern times,” he said. “If that will add to your happiness, I am for it. Whatever makes the person happy, I will give it. Why should I hold it back?”Bastes, however, reiterated the Church’s firm stand that marriage could only be between a man and a woman, for the procreation of children and the building of a family.“[The] main great purpose is procreation of children and building a loving family, the basic unit of human society, which is also the domestic church. This is, of course, impossible [in] ‘marriage’ of the same sex,” he said.The PCEC objected to House Bill No. 4982, or the sexual orientation or gender identity or expression equality bill, and House Bill No. 6595, or the civil partnership bill, which would recognize licensed unions of LGBT couples.‘Serious errors’These bills, the PCEC said, were “serious errors that harm not only our Christian faith but also the morality and very destiny of our nation.”“We believe these bills, if imposed on Philippine society as laws, will become a source of unwelcome tension[s] in our nation. It will only marginalize religion and thus cause the very discrimination it seeks to avoid,” the group said.Mr. Duterte was previously quoted by local media as saying he was opposed to gay unions because marriage in the Philippines was only between a man and a woman.He brought up the issue in the past while attacking Western countries that allowed gay marriage, especially those that criticized his brutal war on drugs.Many countries, mostly in Europe and the Americas, have already recognized same-sex unions. Australia is the latest to legalize it.Catholic bishops in the Philippines, who also oppose Mr. Duterte’s bloody crackdown on narcotics, have voiced concern over legalizing same-sex marriage after his right-hand man in the House of Representatives, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, introduced legislation that would legalize gay unions.In his speech at the LGBT gathering in Davao on Sunday, Mr. Duterte did not specify how same-sex marriage would be legalized, but made it clear that he cared nothing for the Church’s opposition.Almost passé“Why impose a morality that is no longer working and almost passé,” he said. “So I am with you.”The President asked the LGBT community to nominate a representative whom he could appoint to a government post, saying he needed “the brightest” to replace those he had recently fired over allegations of corruption.“You nominate somebody who is honest, hardworking. I give you until the second week of January to nominate,” he said.Naomi Fontanos, executive director of Ganda Filipinas, a transgender activist group, said she welcomed Mr. Duterte’s remarks but added that “we hope it’s not just an exercise in tokenism.”“We hope that the President will really commit to the human rights and social justice for all, not just of the LGBTIQ community,” she added."
201,"An energy research institution warned consumers of higher power rates as distributors and generating firms push for approval of power supply agreements (PSA) heavily reliant on coal.The warning was made just three months after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the suspension of four Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) commissioners over allegedly anomalous coal PSAs.The suspension, however, was stopped by the Court of Appeals.Gerry Arances, executive director of the group Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, said power distributors and generating firms pushed for approval of their coal PSAs despite coal, under seven PSAs pending at ERC, costing more per kilowatt-hour.In the pending PSAs, power from coal would cost P3.65 per kWh. Wind and solar energy cost P3.50 and P2.99 per kWh."
211,"In his report to Congress on the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, President Duterte told lawmakers the Maute group which rampaged through Marawi City was bent on turning all of Mindanao into a province of the Islamic State (IS).The group, which had 263 men as of late 2016, was funded by foreign terror groups and illegal drug money, according to the report, a copy of which was leaked to Malacañang reporters on Friday.As much as 75 percent of Marawi, a predominantly Muslim City, had been infiltrated by the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf, the report said.It said the terrorists assaulted the Marawi City Jail and released at least 68 inmates, burned the Marawi Police Station and a hospital, cut power and transportation lines, ransacked a bank, took control of at least three bridges and hunted down and executed Christians.“These activities constitute not simply a display of force, but a clear attempt to establish the group’s seat of power in Marawi City for their planned establishment of a Daesh wilayat or province covering the entire Mindanao,” the report said.Daesh is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.In a news conference in Davao City, Solicitor General Jose Calida justified the martial law proclamation because of the “festering rebellion of the Maute terrorist group, which has pledged allegiance to the (Islamic State).”The group has allied with the Abu Sayyaf faction led by Isnilon Hapilon, who has also pledged allegiance to IS and was appointed head of the alliance, according to authorities. The United States has offered a $5-million reward for Hapilon’s capture.Calida said the “more dangerous” Maute group has “transmogrified” into an invasion force of foreign terrorists who were heeding the call of IS to launch attacks in the Philippines if its members could not travel to Syria to fight alongside other Islamic extremists.The Maute group has extensive networks and links to foreign armed groups, like Jemaah Islamiyah and Mujahidin Indonesia Timur, and the Abu Sayyaf, the report said.“Reports abound that foreign-based terrorist groups, the Isis (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in particular, as well as illegal drug money, provide financial and logistical support to the Maute group,” it added.“Considering the network and alliance-building activities among terrorist groups, local criminals, and lawless armed men, the siege of Marawi City is a vital cog in attaining their longstanding goal: Absolute control over the entirety of Mindanao,” the report said.The report provided a chronological account of events from Tuesday’s military operation to capture Hapilon and Maute group leaders Abdullah and Omarkhayam Maute. It said that operation “escalated into open hostility against the government.” By 10:22 p.m., 12 barangays in the city had been occupied by the militants, it said.The President’s report was received at 9:55 p.m. on Thursday by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in compliance with a constitutional requirement for Mr. Duterte to report to Congress within 48 hours of declaring martial law."
220,"Kahit kulelat sa senatorial surveys para sa 2019 mid-term senatorial elections, tia hindi nawawalan ng pag-asa si Magdalo Congressman Gary Alejano at nag-labas pa bagong video para suyuin ang mga tao na iboto siya para sa senado. Sa kanyang pinakahuling campaign advertisement, nanumpa siya kung paano niya ipaglalaban ang mga Pilipino. Mapapanood sa video na naka-damit pang-sundalo pa ang kongresista at may bandila ng Pilipinas sa likuran. Nakataas ang kanang kamay na tila nagpapanatang makabayan. ""Ako ay nanunumpa na ipagtatanggol ko ang sambayanang Pilipino. Pag Inaagaw ang ating Inang Bayan, ako ay lalaban. Pag ginugutom ang taong bayan, ako ay lalaban. Pag may inaapi, niloloko, abusado sa gobyerno, ako ay lalaban ng buong tapang at buong puso. Ako si Gary Alejano, sundalo ng Pilipino,"" sabi ni Alejano. Si Alejano ay ka-alyado ni Senador Antonio Trillanes, isa sa pinaka matinding kritiko ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Sa katunayan, magkasama sila sa grupong MAGDALO at sabay na pumunta pa sa ICC para maghain ng communication laban kay Presidente Duterte. Isa rin si Alejano sa mga taong nagsampa ng impeachment laban kay Pangulong Duterte noong 2017. Ang impeachment complaint niya laban sa Pangulo ay hindi nagtagumpay at tuluyang ibinasura sa House of Representative. Bago naging kongresista, si Alejano ay dating miyembro ng kasundaluhan pero nag-aklas noong panahon ni ex-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Matatandaang hindi nagtagumpay ang ginawa nilang pagre-rebelde sa pamahalaan ni ex-president Arroyo. Ang ginawa nilang pag-aaklas ay hindi man lang umabot ng ilang araw. Madalas din kantyawan ni Pangulong Duterte ang ginawang pag-aaklas ng MAGDALO. Maaalalang puro magagarang hotel ang pinipili pagdausan ng pag-aaklas ng mga ka-grupo ni Alejano. Si Alejano ay parte ng opposition slate na may bansag na ""Otso Diretso"". Kasama niya na tatakbo bilang senatoriables ng oposisyon ay sina Erin Tanada, Chel Diokno, Samira Gutoc, Romulo Macalintal, Mar Roxas, Bam Aquino at Florin Hilbay. Basahin ang ilang reaksyon mula sa mga netizens na nakapanood ng campaign advertisement ni Alejano. Source: Gary Alejano"
231,"A Chinese group is looking at establishing a port hub in this city.Mayor Jose Espinosa III has met with Philippine-based executives of SITC Container Co., a Shanghai-based company, a cargo shipper to major ports of Asia.“We would be very thankful to have a (possible) port hub direct from China to Iloilo soon,” Espinosa said.During the meeting, Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office chief Ritchel Gavan presented the city’s business-enabling environment.SITC is the latest group to express interest in investing in Iloilo since President Duterte’s pivot to China last year.A Chinese state-owned consultancy firm has already done a feasibility study for the proposed Iloilo-Guimaras bridge. This will be the first phase of an ambitious plan to build bridges connecting the Visayan islands.Another Chinese firm, BYD Auto Industry Co. Ltd., is eyeing a monorail system, while officials from Quanzhou City, Fujian, visited the city last month and talked about possible economic ties.Anticipating more Chinese investors interested in Iloilo, Espinosa is pushing for the establishment of a Chinese consulate in the city."
241,"NAIS humingi ng kasiguruhan ng isang solon sa gobyerno na ang ginagawang rehabilitasyon sa Manila Bay ay magreresulta sa reclamation ng Manila Bay. Ayon kay Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao suportado nito ang paglilinis sa Manila Bay subalit may nababalitaan umano siya na ginagawa ito bilang paghahanda sa gagawing reklamasyon ng 32,000 hektaryang coastal area para tayuan ng 43 infrastructure projects. ""Ano ang silbi ng rehabilitasyon mo kung magtatambak ka ng lupa.... para itayo ang mga proyekto ng Build, Build, Build?"" tanong ni Casilao. Ayon kay Casilao, gumawa ang National Reclamation Authority ng draft 2019 reclamation plan sa Manila Bay. ""Mawawalan ng saysay ang rehabilitation na ito kung itutuloy pa rin naman pala ng gobyerno ang pagtatambak ng lupa to pave the way for private projects, malalaking negosyo."""
251,"As special Action Force commandos of the Philippine National Police exchanged fire with Moro rebels in a marshy village in Maguindanao province, the military did not provide artillery support, SAF commanders said on Monday.But the military top brass justified its decision, asserting that an attack on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would have escalated into a war to the detriment of the peace process.“Had the artillery support arrived hours earlier, the number of casualties would have been less,” Director Getulio Napeñas, relieved SAF commander, told the Senate committees on public order, peace and finance.Hours into the fighting in Mamasapano town on Jan. 25, the then SAF deputy commander, Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, went to the 1st Mechanized Brigade in Shariff Aguak, also in Maguindanao, to request reinforcements.Request for artilleryTaliño broached the idea of artillery support with Col. Gener del Rosario but Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, rejected this.“I want to give you that but the division commander doesn’t want to because of the peace process,” Taliño, the now acting SAF chief, quoted Del Rosario as saying.Del Rosario, however, organized six armored vehicles to link up with the SAF advance command post, Taliño said.The Senate opened its inquiry into the debacle where 44 SAF commandos were killed when they ran into MILF rebels and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters after taking down Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan.”The SAF commanders did not inform the military, PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas until after the mission had been launched.Risk of leakageInforming the military entailed the risk of leakage to MILF contacts within the military camps, SAF commanders said.The Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, said the military was informed of the mission during the actual operation.Catapang said that before clearance for artillery fire could be given, three things needed to be clarified: The location of the enemy, the location of the friendly troops and the presence of a “forward observer.”Through the forward observer, the military would know where the shells would fall, he said.“Artillery fire could not be given because of the circumstances,” Catapang told the senators.Besides, the AFP chief of staff said, the order to the military was “to extricate the beleaguered forces, but not to engage the MILF.”Peace process“Inasmuch as we have a peace process, we don’t want to endanger these things,” Catapang said. “If we attacked the MILF, they might think that we’re back to war. We don’t want that to happen. Like fire, if it’s not contained, we might have skirmishes not only in Lanao del Sur but in the whole Central Mindanao.”Congress is racing against time to pass a draft law carving a new, autonomous Bangsamoro region by March in keeping with the administration’s timeline of getting new Bangsamoro officials elected in May 2016.Napeñas said that on the morning of the firefight, while en route to the 1st Mechanized Brigade to ask for reinforcement, he sent a text message to both Taliño and Espina, detailing the coordinates of the firefight as well as the position of the SAF forces and the rebels.He got a reply from Taliño: “Sir, as of now, they can’t give us artillery support because there could be civilians and children in the area.”Air support ruled outCatapang also ruled out air support for the SAF commandos who came under heavy fire from the Moro guerrillas following Marwan’s neutralization.“We can’t do that. First of all, there was no request for air support. If we did provide, it would inflame the situation. The important thing was to set up a ceasefire mechanism at that point in time,” he said.MILF fired upon firstRasid Ladiasan, chair of the MILF coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities, said he relayed a request for ceasefire to the MILF military unit, but this was rejected.“They claimed they were fired upon first. Two were wounded and one was killed,” he told the committees. “It was difficult because of the close encounter.”The MILF leadership sent Ladiasan to speak on its behalf.Part of Moro cultureLadiasan’s counterpart in the government, Brig. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., said the dynamics on the ground weren’t that easy as they seemed.“If there is a fierce gun battle, it’s not easy to separate them. If there are heavy casualties, it’s part of the culture of the Muslims not to leave their dead behind,” he said. “If there’s an encounter, it’s really bloody.”RELATED STORIESNapeñas: Purisima told me not to tell Roxas, Espina of SAF operationPurisima briefed Aquino on ‘Exodus’–NapeñasPoe finds Purisima testimony ‘unbelievable’"
261,"(Last of two parts)It has been five years since the kasambahay law, or Republic Act No. 10361, was enacted, but the Social Security System (SSS) still has to figure out the total number of employers in the country who have not yet registered their house help for SSS coverage, and the number of those who have been paying SSS contributions regularly.The landmark legislation, passed in 2013, requires employers to enroll their “kasambahay” for SSS membership and assume the full premium for household workers earning a monthly wage of P5,000 or less.Workers getting more than P5,000 a month must, however, share in the premium payment.Despite its best intentions, the law may have been observed in the breach, admitted SSS Assistant Vice President for Media Affairs Louie Sebastian, who cited “the agency’s lack of manpower and resources” for its many “oversights,” especially in checking compliance.“We admit it’s really difficult to go house-to-house. The mapping of household employers is really a constant challenge for us,” Sebastian said.Targeted employersWhile the law has mandated that all household workers should be given social security coverage as far back as 1993 based on Republic Act No. 7655, also known as “An Act Increasing the Minimum Wage of Househelpers,” the lack of monitoring by the SSS has not compelled household employers to follow suit.The agency’s limitation cannot be overstated.For this year, the SSS has employed only 615 account officers nationwide to cover over 977,000 registered employers in the formal work sector. Each officer is expected to visit 1,200 companies every year, but so far no one has come close to reaching that target, according to Sebastian.The rather disproportionate ratio between SSS personnel and targeted employers has meant that industrial or corporate bosses are given priority over household employers, given the huge number of workers involved in the formal sector, the SSS official said.Sebastian also noted that given their informal mode of being hired, household employees have stayed under the radar over the years.Although some house help are hired through an employment agency, most kasambahay are referred by friends, relatives or neighbors, and may also be distant or poor relatives of household employers.Despite a provision in RA 7655, very few kasambahay have a formal work contract.The lack of information and awareness campaign on RA 7655 has also stymied compliance with the law.SSS records showed that from 1993 until 2003, no household employers were registered under the state-run agency. However, after the implementation of the kasambahay law in 2013, the number swelled to 286,232, and increased by 7.8 percent over the next five years, Sebastian said.Willing to pay but …The number of registered house help has been encouraging as well. From a handful of about 5,000 in 1993, registration jumped to 180,000 in 2017, SSS records showed.But the question remains: how many of these registered employers and house help have been faithfully paying their SSS contributions?The figures are “very, very low, especially among employers. It’s less than 20 percent,” admitted Sebastian.Of 310,660 corporate employers registered, only 42,344 have remained on record. As for registered household employers, only 68,000, or about 37 percent, have been regularly paying their premiums, the SSS official said.“It’s not because employers are unwilling to pay. Most of the complaints I get"
270,"to settle their differences, especially those that are entrenched along party lines. This time, Republicans and Democrats are trying something different, weeks after negotiations continue to fail over ending the government shutdown. They are using music!At its caucus meeting this morning, the Republican Party invited Grammy Award-winner Carrie Underwood, a registered Republican, to open their session with the song “Amazing Grace.” The Republicans skipped the usual prayer invocation. A source who was present at the closed-door meeting told The Adobo Chronicles that Carrie’s rendition of this religious classic seemed to have greatly inspired the caucus members to keep on fighting to advance their anti-Obamacare agenda as the primary negotiating point in the budget battle.On the other side of the aisle, the Democrats, meeting at the Rose Garden of The White House to strategize their next move on the government shutdown, invited the Dixie Chicks to open their meeting. The Grammy Award-winning trio gained notoriety when they criticized George W. Bush during a 2003 concert in London. At the concert, they said they were “ashamed” that the President was from Texas. The trio also hails from the Lone Star State. As soon as the Dixie Chicks began their opening hit song, Democrats roared in approval and applause. The song? “Not Ready to Make Nice.”Judging from the musical strategies of either party, there seems to be no immediate end in sight for the government shutdown."
280,"July 27 marks the 100th anniverary of Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), the largest homegrown Christian church in the Philippines with ministries in 102 countries. It is the most influential of all religious groups in the country with its members voting as a block in local and national elections.In observance of this centennial milestone, President NoyNoy Aquino signed Joint Resolution no. 2, declaring 27 July 2014 as a special non-working holiday. The resolution was passed by both houses of Congress.This special day will mark the formal opening of the Philippine Arena (see photo) which is owned by Iglesia Ni Cristo. It is considered the world’s largest indoor arena.Majority of Filipinos, including members of Iglesia Ni Cristo, are not happy about the proclamation. Shopping malls and restaurants will be closed; public buses, trains and jeepneys will have very limited runs; police and other law enforcement agencies will operate on skeletal force; and museums and gated public parks will be off limits all day.July 27, of course, is a Sunday.It’s More Fun in the Philippines!"
291,"The lawyer for the family of Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve the family’s petition to reconsider the decision of a panel of investigating prosecutors to dismiss murder charges against former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, the primary suspects in the 2011 slaying of the journalist and environmental activist.In a statement, lawyer Alex Avisado urged Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to pursue proceedings on the petition for review despite her department’s pending plea for the Supreme Court to uphold the arrest warrant issued against the Reyes brothers after a second panel found probable cause to put them on trial.Earlier this week, De Lima said she could not act on the Ortega family’s petition for review because this may affect the DOJ appeal in the Supreme Court.Avisado does not agree.“By acting on the petition for review, it does not mean that she (De Lima) no longer believes in the strength and merits of the (DOJ) appeal (at the Supreme Court),” Avisado said.“It simply means that due to the exigencies of the times, pendency of the case for five years and her coming resignation, the [justice] secretary needs to act and act fast in order to prevent an impending miscarriage of justice—the dismissal of the case by the [Supreme Court] due to a technicality,” he added.De Lima is expected to step down as justice chief after she declares her candidacy for senator in the May 2016 elections.The Reyes brothers were arrested on the resort island of Phuket in Thailand on Sunday. They arrived in Manila early yesterday and Malacañang said it was “imperative” that the murder charges against them be pursued.“[The] repatriation of the Reyes brothers should lead to the forward movement in legal proceedings that would hopefully ensure that the ends of justice will be met. Applicable rules on detainees will be applied to them,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.Asked later what happens to the case after De Lima leaves the DOJ to run for a seat in the Senate, Coloma replied: “Regardless of who occupies the position of justice secretary, it is imperative that the case be pursued.”The first DOJ panel that investigated Ortega’s Jan. 24, 2011 shooting dropped murder charges against the Reyeses for insufficient evidence.De Lima later formed a second panel, which found probable cause to indict the Reyeses, leading to the filing of murder charges against the brothers in January 2012.The Court of Appeals, however, nullified the creation of the second panel, invalidating the indictment and issuance of arrest warrants for the Reyes brothers.The DOJ elevated the case to the Supreme Court to ask that the second panel resolution be upheld.The Reyeses had been tagged as masterminds of the assassination of Ortega, who criticized Palawan officials for alleged misuse of the provincial government’s earnings from the Malampaya gas field in the province.The gunman, Marlon Recamata, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013.“We believe that the higher demands of substantial justice should compel the [justice] secretary to adopt a different position in order to avoid any suspicion that she could be protecting the Reyes brothers as the former counsel of Gov. Joel Reyes,” Avisado said.Joel Reyes was a client of De Lima when she was still an election lawyer, a fact that she had divulged to the Ortega family.“With due respect, Secretary De Lima does not need to withdraw the appeal that is pending before the [Supreme Court]. If she resolves the petition for review, the appeal before the [Supreme Court] will just be rendered moot and academic,” Avisado said."
301,"Sanggunian Panlalawigan Board Member Florencio Bentrez on Friday urged small-scale miners in this province to apply for a “Minahang Bayan” permit to legalize their mining operations.In an interview, Bentrez expressed sympathy to the so-called “pocket miners”, whose operations were clamped down during the week. But he said he had urged them to secure a permit, so they could continue operating as a “Minahang Bayan” (people’s mining area).Last week, the mining operations of some 216 small-scale miners were halted in the municipality of Itogon as part of the government’s efforts to curb illegal activities.In his recent visit to Benguet province, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu ordered the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), an agency under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to stop illegal mining activities to protect the environment from degradation.Earlier, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan and Lomino Kaniteng, president of the Benguet Small Scale Miners Federation, had conducted a series of consultations with the pocket miners to urge the sector to apply for a “Minahang Bayan” permit to legalize their mining operations under the Small-Scale Mining Act.Faye Apil, regional director of MGB-Cordillera, said earlier the agency is coming up with new guidelines on the implementation of the “Minahang Bayan”, relaxing some policies to allow those in the sector to get permits more easily."
311,"Naaresto ng mga rumespondeng pulis ang suspek na si Gabby Batican, residente ng Polomolok, South Cotabato matapos ang isang oras ng hostage drama sa loob ng Campus Radio, isang affiliate radio station ng GMA network, malapit sa pamilihang bayan."
321,"A day after government and communist rebel negotiators announced the resumption of peace talks, New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas burned a bus in Mindanao and wounded five policemen in an ambush in northern Luzon.Suspected NPA members torched on Monday a Davao City-bound Yellow Bus in Makilala, North Cotabato province, police said.Another NPA group wounded five policemen in an ambush on the convoy of Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum, Abra police director, while they were on their way to visit a police station that was attacked on Sunday night in the province’s Malibcong town.Tagum was not hurt. He was accompanied by a platoon of police officers when they were ambushed at Sitio Aguibo in Barangay Poblacion.The attacks did not violate any ceasefire agreement between the government and the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), as no cessation of hostilities had yet been declared.Back-channel talksIn a joint statement issued on Saturday in Utrecht, The Netherlands, government and NDFP representatives, who held back-channel negotiations, agreed that indefinite unilateral ceasefire declarations would be issued before the fourth round of talks in the first week of April.The two sides are scheduled to meet in Oslo, Norway, on April 2-7 to resume the next round of talks, which were scuttled last month.Makilala bus burningThe rebels lifted their unilateral ceasefire on Feb. 10 after accusing the government of failing to release all political prisoners and the military of deploying troops in rebel-held areas.The Duterte administration responded by scrapping its own unilateral ceasefire and suspending the peace talks.Supt. Roneo Galgo, spokesperson of the police in Central Mindanao, said suspected NPA members flagged down the bus at Barangay San Vicente in Makilala town at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.Victor Serondo, the bus driver, said six rebels boarded the bus, introduced themselves as NPA members and directed him to drive toward Sitio Bagong Silang in Barangay San Vicente.“One of the suspects drew a pistol and told me to divert the vehicle to the secluded area toward San Vicente village,” Serondo said.“The suspects ordered us to vacate the bus and look for a safe place before they set it on fire,” the driver said. He and the passengers were unharmed.Galgo said the attackers belonged to the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 72 operating in Makilala and in Bansalan, Davao del Sur province.The attack came five days after NPA rebels killed four policemen in an ambush in Bansalan.Abra ambushIn Abra, PO2 Jessie Trinidad, PO1 Marlon dela Paz, PO1 Gerome Baldos, PO1 Kennon Sanggoy and PO1 Von Harold Layao were wounded when their vehicle hit an explosive device, followed by a burst of gunfire, according to Insp. Marcy Grace Marron, Abra police information officer.The five policemen were brought to Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued, the capital town.Marron said probers did not know if the attackers were the same rebels who raided a house that was serving as the temporary police station in Malibcong.Five Malibcong policemen engaged 30 armed men in a 10-minute gun battle at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.The firefight stopped when town elders intervened, allowing the five policemen to retreat to the house of Mayor Romando Bacuyag.The Malibcong police station is under construction so the police there have been using Bacuyag’s property as headquarters.But the rebels managed to ransack the temporary police station, and fled with police-issued weapons, Marron said.They took off with seven rifles, three pistols and three cell phones."
331,"The Department of Health (DOH) said that there are already 3,822 families or 18,473 persons currently staying at 33 evacuation centers in and around Marawi, according to a report by the agency’s Health Emergency Management Bureau.Meanwhile, 41,287 families or 196,961 persons are staying with relatives or friends.The DOH has also recorded 541 outpatient cases in at least 13 hospitals in both Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.These figures are aside from the 130 patients admitted due to injuries from the fierce fighting between government troops and the Maute Group.So far, the medical assistance to the evacuees in terms of materials and other supplies is costing the government P37.2 million, the DOH data said.The patients were examined in Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital, Adventist Medical Center, St. Mary’s Hospital, E and R Hospital, Dr. Uy Hospital, Iligan Medical Center Hospital, and Mercy Community Hospital in Iligan City.In Marawi City, the patients were assisted in the Tamparan District Hospital, Unayan Municipal Hospital, Balindog District Hospital, Tamparan Medical Foundation, and Dr. Serapio Montaner Hospital.Earlier this week, DOH assistant secretary Abdullah Dumama Jr. said that the DOH has signed a memorandum of agreement with several hospitals, such as those in Cagayan de Oro, with the health agency promising to foot the bill of injuries from the Marawi skirmishes."
340,"Former President NoyNoy Aquino took to Twitter just hours after the Supreme Court voted, 8-6, to oust Maria Lourdes Sereno from her post as Chief Justice.Aquino compared the SC ruiling to unripened manggo which he says is sour and leaves a bad taste in the mouth.PNoy’s comment angered many Filipinos who are avid fans of raw or unripened manggo, known in the vernacular as manggang hilaw.“The more sour the manggo is, the more delicious,” one raw manggo fan told The Adobo Chronicles. “Kaya nga sinasamahan ng bagoong. That makes the raw manggo even more delectable.”Other raw manggo fans took to social media to lambast Aquino. “Leave our manggang hilaw alone,” they decried."
350,"Local and foreign airlines, including private aircraft and chartered planes, lost an estimated $2 billion in revenues following the cancelation of over 1,000 flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from Nov. 16 to 20. An airline industry expert said the most affected were the budget airlines.As the APEC meeting comes to a close, experts are trying to fully assess its impact on the Philippine economy, beyond what was already reported about workers losing about a week’s worth of compensation, students missing several days of learning in class, and the widespread effect of road closures on the masses of people. It cost the Philippine government some $10 Billion to put up the show and host the meeting.Realizing what they had done to the Philippine economy, APEC leaders have unanimously approved a resolution renaming APEC to APAEC:Asia Pacific Anti-Economic Cooperation."
360,"Not since Marcos have we as a people been so polarized. As far as our hearts and minds are concerned it's like we're in the edge of a civil war. We are forced to take a hard look at ourselves and what we value.Because of this, we are fighting friends in coffee houses, on the telephone, and on Facebook. We are a people whose lives have been upended. We don't know what to do to get things done right and right away. We lash out. We insult our leaders trying to get them to do a lot more than to pose for photo ops – of giving out relief goods on a one-by-one basis. We cry desperately for demonstrable government response – we get almost next to nothing. It is increasingly apparent that local media goes hand in hand with self-servicing Malacañang press releases which are more concerned with their showbiz image than confronting, accepting and dealing with the problem. What our leaders tell us is contradicted by the reports from international commentators who are understandably more objective and growing less dispassionate as they witness the horrors around them. What our leaders tell us is also contradicted by the victims in these areas who are slowly able to give us the true picture of the realities of the situation. And the reality is that people are starving. The dead still lie on the streets even five days after the event. There are anguished souls scavenging for whatever they can to survive, as well as professional looters ambushing the helpless and relief caravans. It's a war zone out there.This disaster has affected, not only the islands in the path of Yolanda, but all of us as a nation. We have all been judged and found wanting. But more worrisome, is that we take a long hard look at our leaders and we judge and we find them wanting. It is worrisome because we have chosen them and are paying them to serve the needs of our nation and it seems that they can't deliver. I don't think that anybody, even the most criminal politician, can be that hard-hearted and close his eyes to this calamity so I can only surmise that they don't know what to do. That they are impotent and incompetent. I am 70 years old and I don't know what to do, but then again, I didn't run for office promising the voters that I would take care of national concerns.I am a private citizen and like most of my fellow citizens, have given of what I have to the relief effort. I have given to the point of hurting. I am 70 years old and have been stupid a lot of times for seven decades. I want to think that I can be a little less stupid now. This time, I want to make sure that my hard-earned money will reach its intended goal. I am sick and tired of throwing away my money; of making our politicians wealthy because of my unconcern and my inattention. I am sick and tired of my stupidity.So I very much care now where all this help is going. I read Marvin Xanth Geronimo who was there when Yolanda struck: that TV personalities and politicians like Mar Roxas and Ted Failon going to Tacloban for the photo op. They never helped; endless tracking video shots of flattened towns with people walking clutching a plastic bottle of water with no government presence whatsoever; Korina Sanchez calling Anderson Cooper ""misinformed"". Cooper was in Tacloban. Korina was not; the US landing 5 planes full of goods and not allowing any politicians to touch any of it. How much more do we need for us to realize that the enemy was not Yolanda? Yolanda was just a force of nature. The enemy is our leaders. And the leader of our leaders is the President.So what now? There's nothing I can actually do. I can only rage, rage against the dying of common decency. I can only rage against this man who claimed in a Christian Amanpour interview that he couldn't get to the disaster areas because the weather after the storm left didn't permit him to fly. This is 24 hours after the sun was shining all over the Philippines by then. I can only rage against a man who made light of the tragedy, refusing to identify it as a major disaster; who made light of a victim of looting who was shot at by telling him, ""But you did not die, right?"" I rage against a man who continually blames the LGU's on the ground for their incompetence and their inefficiency because it is beginning to dawn on me that these Visayan LGU's happen to be Romualdez people and this man is playing politics with people's lives.This is a crime. What this man does is unconscionable. I can only state it here. I can do nothing about it for now. I will wait for whatever movement develops after this fiasco and I will join it. But for now, what I can do is to declare that I am deeply offended by the people who try to stop me and others from stating the obvious. All those people who charge us for criticizing, for being negative, for Aquino bashing – I am done with these people. In a very Yellow Army way, they try to hide behind an illogical argument that we cannot help if we criticize. I don't know how good these friends are at multi-tasking, but one does not cancel out the other. We can help and we can criticize. And at this point I am convinced that we do help when we criticize; if at one point we can, as Hamlet says, ""catch the conscience of the king"". But I know that this is futile. This man is no king. He is not even a real representative. What can you expect from someone who never worked an honest day in his life. What could he possibly relate to?So my friends who accuse me of Aquino bashing: I want you to know that I'm done with your line of thinking. Either you defend this man or you defend the people that this man is ignoring. Don't believe that the people are his ""boss"". This was a piece of advertising sound byte created by showbiz experts to get the unthinking masses out there to swallow this uniquely unqualified man. This man who is totally unprepared for the most difficult job in the country. So my friends, as far as I'm concerned, you choose him or you choose the people. But if you instruct me again to stop bashing this man I am unfriending you. I will unfriend you in Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, and out in our leaderless streets.Said to have been written by iconic Filipino film maker Peque GallagaSource:https://m.facebook.com/trixie.cruzangeles/posts/10202324759741147"
370,"Beleaguered Senator Leila de Lima found herself getting friendly advice from female colleagues in the Senate as she continues to be hounded by controversies regarding her alleged links with drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison.According to the Inquirer, De Lima was recently overheard having girl talk with Senators Loren Legarda and Nancy Binay at the session floor.Legarda gave De Lima some fashion tips. She noted that De Lima, who was clad in black, looked like she had just gone to a funeral.Binay agreed. “Wear happy colors!” she told De Lima.As an example of colorful wardrobe, Legarda and Binay showed their photos of past red carpet ceremonies (before President Duterte scrapped it) during the presidential state of the nation address.“And drop that scarf,” both senators told De Lima."
381,"As President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) today, an “armored military truck” will be parked outside the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City, flanked by activists waiting to hear his report.The truck will serve as the base of a 4-meter-high effigy created by artists as the visual centerpiece for their protest action.Increasing disappointmentUnlike last year’s friendlier atmosphere, groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) are expected to express their increasing disappointment with the Duterte administration.Last year, the groups ditched the ritual effigy burning. Instead, they paraded a six-panel mural titled “Portraits of Peace,” which visualized the “people’s hope for genuine change.”Luigi Almuena, spokesperson for UgatLahi Artist Collective, said the change of tone was brought about by Mr. Duterte’s actions and inactions over the past year.“After one year, this effigy is holding him accountable for his failed promises,” he said.About 5,000 people are expected to join protest actions in Roxas City in Capiz, 3,000 in Iloilo City, 2,500 in Kalibo in Aklan and 500 in Estancia town in Iloilo, Bayan-Panay leaders announced in a press conference.Unfulfilled promisesThe rallies are aimed at decrying the extended martial law in Mindanao, extrajudicial killings and “unfulfilled promises,” said Elmer Forro, Bayan-Western Visayas secretary general.“The economic policies being implemented by the Duterte administration … will only worsen the economic situation of the majority of the people,” Forro said.He cited the planned increase in excise taxes of petroleum products, failure to end labor contractualization and massive land conversion.In Cebu City, 500 to 800 protesters from different militant groups are expected to hold protest actions in a “People’s Sona.”Their concerns will include an end to contractualization, land reform, free education and jeepney modernization."
391,"Pinalawig pa ang price freeze sa mga pangunahing bilihin sa buong bansa tulad ng mga de-latang sardinas at instant noodles hanggang Mayo 10, 2026.
Kinumpirma ni Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque na mananatili ang kasalukuyang presyo ng basic necessities at prime commodities matapos ang serye ng konsultasyon sa manufacturers at retailers.
Ang orihinal na pagtatapos ng price freeze ay nitong Abril 16.
Binigyang-diin ni Roque na ang katatagan ng mga presyo ng pagkain ay isang prayoridad para sa administrasyong Marcos, na binanggit na ang mga kamakailang pababang trend sa mga gastos sa gasolina ay gumanap ng isang kritikal na papel sa mga negosasyon.
Una nang nagpatupad ng P20 kada litro sa diesel at P4 sa gasoline na rollback nitong nakalipas na Martes.
“Of course, everything helps. Any decrease in costs is always beneficial,” paliwanag ni Roque.
Kasalukuyang minomonitor ng DTI ang 726 na variant ng mahahalagang produkto, kabilang ang de-latang sardinas, instant noodles at bottled water."
400,"D'Strafford's Company OfficersSearch term is “JM Balancar –indayvarona.com”. TP added the “-indayvarona.com” to exclude pages from IndayVarona.com, as that website uses faulty timestamps, probably due to obsolete HMTL coding.Timestamps are important because TP searched for pages published before 01 April 2016, i.e. before D’Strafford sprouted from nowhere.D'Strafford in-house consultant Ralph Fuentes (Courtesy: Sunnex)The D'Strafford WebsiteSearch term is “D’Strafford –indayvarona.com”Searching for posts published before 01 April 2016Was their site created on or before 03 December 2005?BRIEF: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers [ICANN] is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that is responsible for overseeing online domain registrations.D’Strafford on TwitterRamon Santos (@ramonsantos0629) Jeff Zombie (@jeffzombie2000) Xian Andre (@xianandrei2) Professional Hecker (@hecklerforever) Kaecee Alvarez (@kaeceealvarez) CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) Rappler (@rapplerdotcom)(1) PNoy on meeting with Iglesia Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo: Nagpasalamat ako dahil nadama natin ang suporta throughout the admin — Kaecee Alvarez (@kaeceealvarez) May 2, 2016Final NoteOn April 20, survey firm D’Strafford Inc. released a non-commissioned presidential pre-electoral survey that showed Roxas and Poe statistically tied at the top spot [ Sun.Star ]. Netizens were shocked, especially since the results do not match those of well-known survey firms Pulse Asia and SWS, where Roxas consistently ranked either 3rd or 4th among the five presidentiables.In her “ RoRo and that Funny Survey ”, veteran journalist and ABS-CBN columnist Inday Espina-Varona did a background check on survey firm D’Strafford Inc. Espina-Varona cited observed some weird things about the said survey company, such as a skeletal website and non-functioning company phone numbers.What's most disturbing, however, is Espina-Varona's discovery that there are no statisticians among the firm’s officers, etc.That's just like putting up a hospital with no doctors. It sounds absurd as it is, but for now, let's give D'Strafford the benefit of the doubt.Let's do a bit more sleuthing.In response to allegations of conducting a bogus survey, D’Strafford Executive Director JM Balancar said, “We welcome everyone for any questions and clarifications (regarding the survey) [ Sun.Star ]”.Out of curiosity, ThinkingPinoy did a quick google search on JM Balancar with the following parameters:Google returned seven pages worth of search results. A screencap of the search engine results’ first page is shown below:The first entry, from SunStar , is a dud: it was a about PNoy receiving foreign diplomats. Meanwhile, all the other entries in all the seven pages have nothing to do with a “JM Balancar”. That is, there is zero mention of JM Balancar on the web before April 2016.No survey company head worth his salt has zero online presence.SunStar Manila also mentioned D'Strafford in-house consultant Ralph Fuentes, whatever that job title means.Again, no online presence. TP will not expound on this claim anymore because he feels that the Executive Director's questionable reputation is sufficient to show lack of credibility on the part of D'Strafford's staff.D’Strafford claims to be a well-established survey company with years of experience, so TP tried to find evidence of this claim by doing another google search on D’Strafford with the following parameters:A screencap of the search engine results’ first page is shown below:The only relevant entry is the first: D’Strafford’s company website , with a time stamp of 03 December 2005. Hence, the logical question is:We can check this claim by taking a look D’Straffords official ICANN domain registration records:“Dstrafford.com” domain registration records show [ ICANN WHOIS ]:That is, Dstrafford.com’s site was first registered on 14 April 2016. Yes, just barely over two weeks ago.TP was informed that this survey firm actually has a Twitter account [ @DStraffordInc ] so TP decided to take a look. TP discovered that D’Strafford’s first-ever tweet was on 21 April 2016. Yes, D’Strafford has never tweeted anything else before that.D’Strafford’s first-ever tweet:But things get more interesting.As of 9:00 AM 03 May 2016, D’Strafford’s Twitter account follows only 17 people and it has only 30 followers.That already sounds fishy, but taking a closer look at the accounts they follow show an even more revealing story.Of the 17 people they follow, 10 of them are obviously aligned with the Liberal Party, and the first account they followed was the official twitter account of LP presidential bet Mar Roxas. D’Strafford does not follow the accounts of presidential bets Grace Poe, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Jejomar Binay, and Rodrigo Duterte.The other seven accounts that D'Strafford follows are:Shown below is the complete list of the accounts they follow. TP added labels to show which of the followed accounts are aligned with LP. Xian Andre appear to be D'Strafford's twitter bots, or accounts that are managed by a program that automatically retweets D'Strafford's tweets. Kaecee Alvarez ' twitter feed also suggests that she's LP aligned too. One of her tweets is shown below:The Professional Heckler is a political satirist, so let's just consider him neutral.The last two -- CNN and Rappler -- are news agencies, so they also count as neutral.In short, 14 of the 17 accounts that D'Strafford follows are pro-Roxas.A skeletal website, unreachable company phones and the absence of a statistician among its officers... Espina-Varona’s blog post alone was enough to convince me that D’Strafford does not only issue bogus survey results: it is a bogus company itself.And my subsequent discoveries only serve to reinforce that. An executive director who has no online history, a newly created website that pretends to be old, a twitter account that's biased in favor of Mar Roxas...But I guess some Roxas supporters are so desperate for good news, they believe spurious information as long it favors their candidate.Just look at one of former celebrity Leah Navarro's tweets:That's unfortunate. (TP)Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy.com stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
411,"More cement need to be produced or imported as the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program goes full steam, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.MGB regional head Arman Malicse said the Taiheiyo Cement plant in this town can only produce a million tons of cement, way below the more than two million tons required for the government’s infrastructure program.Taiheiyo’s local partner is the Solid Earth Development Corporation (SEDC).The massive construction effort requires the quarrying of sand and gravel, which are components in cement production, Malicse said.He said the cement could also be imported from Japan and South Korea.Romeo Gebilaguin, Taiheiyo’s environment and safety manager, said that as demand for cement grows, the plant has to double its production capacity.The plant produces 7,350 metric tons of cement a day and Gebilaguin said the company is aiming for 16,350 metric tons next year.He said P3.5 billion has been allocated for a new plant and equipment.“We will be needing additional manpower by then, hire more workers. This will give job opportunities to Cebu with 6 percent of them coming from San Fernando,” Gebilaguin said.Taiheiyo will strictly follow regulations mandated in the Philippine Mining Act, particularly those that concern the protection of the environment, he said.The company has allocated P3.63 million to upgrade the plant’s anti-pollution devices from dust collectors to filters, and “this is a remarkable contribution of the conservation of the environment,” he said.Last Friday, Taiheiyo Cement and its local partner, Solid Earth Development Corporation, led a tree-planting activity at the St. Augustine Eco-pilgrimage Park to celebrate the Philippine Environment month."
421,"Ahead of the anticipated Supreme Court decision next week, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has asked a sixth colleague to inhibit himself from deciding the “quo warranto” case that could result in her ouster.In a petition she filed on Friday, Sereno claimed that Associate Justice Samuel Martires showed his bias during the April 10 open court arguments where he insinuated that her religious belief was a sign of mental illness.“It appears that Justice Martires has formed an opinion on the competence of [Sereno] to serve as Chief Justice on some basis other than what he learned from his participation in this case. His objectivity and impartiality therefore appears to have been impaired,” said Sereno, who was forced to go on leave by her colleagues on the high court on March 1.Earlier fiveSolicitor General Jose Calida filed the quo warranto petition asking the 14 remaining Supreme Court justices to invalidate Sereno’s appointment in 2012 for her supposed failure to submit all the required statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.Sereno had earlier asked five justices to inhibit themselves from the case: Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza and Noel Tijam.The five justices had testified against Sereno during the hearings of the House committee on justice, which subsequently voted to recommend her impeachment to the plenary.On recess until May 15, the House of Representatives as a whole has yet to vote on whether to impeach Sereno.The Supreme Court, however, may vote—before the House plenary decides to impeach her—for Sereno’s removal from office.News reports quoting unidentified sources in the high court said the justices planned to hold a special full-court session on May 11 to decide on Calida’s quo warranto petition.Critics of the petition said the Solicitor General’s petition circumvented the Constitution, which provides that the Chief Justice can only be removed from office by a majority vote of senators after an impeachment trial."
430,"The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is now considered as the largest health care center in the Philippines after it was upgraded to a 1,500-bed hospital complete with additional staff and world class facilities.The new four building of SPMC was opened yesterday, December 9 and now larger than the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.The newest facilities of SPMC is the Central ICU that can accommodate 53 patients and 137 beds for general medicine cases.There is also a cancer institute building with complete facilities like diagnostic and chemotherapy.Isolation Facility can also be found in the new building to cure people with viral disease."
441,"Kasunod nito, dalawang bahay naman sa Sitio Mambog sa Bgy. Sula, San Jose, ang nilamon ng apoy. Ang mga bahay ay pag-aari nina Marlon Doctolero, 49; at Jimboy Doctolero, 22, kapwa magsasaka."
451,"After making fun of the sign language in a video which went viral on social media, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger Andrew Olivar apologized to the deaf community, Monday night.“Humingi na po ng paumanhin si Andrew Olivar sa kaniyang pagsa-sign language na may pabiro. Gayunpaman, I take full responsibility sa ginawa ng aking radio show partner at kaibigan. Kaya po sa ating mga kapatid sa deaf community nawa’y tanggapin niyo po ang aking sorry. Please forgive me,” Uson said.Meanwhile, Olivar also expressed remorse in a new video on Facebook.“Humihingi po ako ng tawad po sa deaf community,” he said.“Alam kong mali ako eh. Alam kong mali ako. Hindi ako magri-reason out. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry po. Patawarin niyo po ako. Patawarin niyo po ako sa pagiging insensitive ko, sa pagiging childish ko.”“Never akong magri-reason out dahil kapag mali ka, mali talaga. Kaya ‘wag mo nang ipagtanggol,” Olivar added.After the viral ‘pepedederalismo’ jingle, Uson and Olivar once again drew flak among users of social networking sites as they were making fun of speech-impaired people.The video has garnered 150,000 views as of this writing.READ MORE: Uson, Olivar blasted anew for ‘disrespecting’ sign language, Deaf netizen slams Uson, Olivar for offensive video"
461,"Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno must attend the impeachment proceedings against her in the House of Representatives or she will lose the right to confront her accuser and his witnesses, Rep. Reynaldo Umali said on Sunday.Umali said the House justice committee would consider Sereno’s absence from the hearing on Wednesday a waiver of her right to cross-examine the witnesses.“It’s up to her decision if she would attend or not. And, if she does not attend, it’s her own lookout because I don’t know how the allegations or charges against her can be controverted without her attendance,” Umali, the justice committee chair, said in a radio interview.“That would be a waiver of her right to confront the witnesses or the accusers,” he said, adding that if Sereno did not attend, the determination of probable cause for the House plenary to impeach her would be based on uncontroverted allegations.Umali said “our process in Congress, especially in impeachment,” required the respondent’s personal presence, unlike other legal proceedings where one can be represented by a lawyer.Stressing that impeachment proceedings are sui generis, he said “the rights to counsel are not established here,” unlike in a court trial.“Under the [Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings of the House of Representatives], the lawyer cannot speak for the respondent,” he added.Unfavorable moveUmali also brushed aside the plans of Sereno’s legal team to question any unfavorable move by the House in the Supreme Court.He hinted that Sereno “is again courting constitutional crisis” if her camp follows through on the plan, stressing that only Congress can rule on impeachment issues.“The Supreme Court is not the proper venue for that because the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over impeachment cases, because the Constitution clearly says the impeachment court is the sole judge of any issues pertaining to impeachment,” Umali said.On the other hand, he said the committee members would still discuss and vote on the motion filed by Sereno’s lawyers to allow them to represent her in the House.On Nov. 16, Sereno was sent a letter of invitation signed by acting committee secretary Rene Delorino.Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman also submitted a position paper to the justice committee on Nov. 15 stressing that Sereno should not be denied her right “to be heard by himself and counsel … to meet the witnesses face to face” under Section 14(2), Article III of the Constitution.The impeachment complainant, Lorenzo Gadon, a former lawyer for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, accused Sereno of manipulating various Supreme Court decisions and court appointments.He alleged that Sereno also bought an overpriced bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser and failed to disclose a P30-million attorney’s fee that she received for representing the government in its suit against Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc.Sereno denies all the accusations."
470,"""Isang matinding sampal sa oposisyon at mga kritiko"". Ganito inilarawan ni Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo ang muling pagkakamit ng mataas na net satisfaction rating ni Pangulong Duterte, batay sa pinakahuling ulat ng Social Weather Stations survey. Nakakuha si Pangulong Duterte ng +72 (Excellent) net satisfaction rating sa SWS First Quarter 2019 survey na inilabas nitong nakaraang Biyernes. Ayon kay Panelo, isang malaking sampal sa oposisyon at sa mga bumabatikos kay Pangulong Duterte ang nasabing mataas na rating, at sa mga nagdududa sa mga polisiyang ipinatutupad ng Presidente. Dagdag pa ng Malacanang, ito na umano ang pinakamataas na rating na natanggap ng Administrasyon nang magsimula ang SWS namagsagawa ng survey noong Pebrero, taong 1989. Patunay lamang umano ito na nagbubunga na ang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan na maaayos na mapagsilbihan ang bayan at ang mga Pilipino. Batay sa nabanggit na survey, ang Administrasyong Duterte ay nagkaroon ng malaking improvement sa iba't ibang isyu tulad ng paglaban sa terorismo (+58) at muling pagbangon sa Marawi (+58). ""Our countrymen's towering satisfaction in favor of our hardships and attainments is a hard slap on the face of the opposition and our detractors who never gave the leadership of President Duterte a chance to show them his competence in administering the nation's affairs. ""Excellent"" o +72 ang naging rating ng Pangulo sa survey sa pagtulong sa mahihirap, mula sa ""very good"" o +68 noong nakaraang quarter. Kung hihimay-himayin, ilan sa mga naging resulta ng nasabing survey ang mga sumusunod: +48 para sa pagsugpo ng krimen +45 para sa pag-reconcile sa mga komunistang rebelde +44 para sa pag-reconcile sa mga komunistang Muslim +41 para sa pagsugpo sa graft and corruption +41 para sa foreign relations, at +40 para sa pagtatanggol sa Philippine sovereignty sa West Philippine sea Ang nasabing survey ay nilahukan ng 1440 Filipino adult respondents. Walumpu't isang porsyento ang nagsabing satisfied sila sa general performance ng national government habang sampung porsyento naman ang undecided, at 9 na porsyento ang dissatisfied. Samantala, nanawagan naman si Panelo sa mga kritiko ng Pangulo na ""gumising"" ang mga ito at ""tumulong"" sa pagpapaunlad ng bansang Pilipinas. Source: ABS-CBN News"
480,"Hinikayat ng university lecturer at pro-Duterte blogger na si Sass Rogando Sasot ang common-law wife ni Pangulong Rodrigo Diterte na si Honeylet Avacena na maghain ng reklamo laban sa Google sa Estados Unidos para ibunyag kung sino ang nasa likod ng black propaganda video kung saan idinadawit si Veronica ""Kitty"" Duterte sa iligal na transaksyon sa droga. Mas mabuting magsampa na lamang ng kaso si Honeylet sa mga taong nasa likod ng mapanirang video laban sa kanyang pamilya dahil halata naman umanong puro peke ang mga inilabas na dokumento ni alyas Bikoy. BASAHIN ANG OPEN LETTER NI SASS ROGANDO SASOT KAY HONEYLET:"
491,"PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte expressed hope that Nur Misuari, the founder of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), would take part in drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).“We will try to pass the BBL. I hope Chairman Misuari can be convinced to join the talks,” Duterte said.He added that Misuari’s inputs would be vital in case some of the provisions are contested by the MNLF, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or other groups.The BBL seeks to abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and replace it with a Bangsamoro region.Duterte had repeatedly stressed the crucial role of the BBL in maintaining peace in Mindanao.“Are we ready to fight just like the Middle East? Look at Marawi. If the area will be made into a larger area of conflict, you really think we would be happy to see war in our country?” he said.“A communal war is more cruel and it would be better [to fight against] other bloods, but an internecine within is really very deadly. And that is why I said, the time for [BBL is ripe,] at the very least that’s the MILF is asking for,” Duterte added.“If we cannot reach a settlement, I am in the middle. I will have a hard time. Who will I shoot? The soldiers of the Republic of the Philippines or the soldiers of the MI(LF) and MN(LF) and the rest of the revolutionary groups here?” he said.“That is why it is very important that we get together. We will try to pass the BBL with no catch,” Duterte added.The Senate and the House of Representatives passed their respective versions of the BBL in May.The President received a copy of the draft Bangsamoro State Constitution prepared by a 19-member All Moro Convention.Michael Mastura, president of the All Moro Convention and head of the drafting team, gavethe copy during the Eid’l Fitr celebration held at the SMX Convention Center on Saturday.Another copy will be given to the Constitutional Committee that is is currently working on a federal Constitution.He also encouraged the MILF, led by its chairman, Al Haj-Murad Ebrahim, to join and observe how the government is crafting federalism.“If nothing really works out of BBL, then give us time because I do not want to fight. I do not wage a war against my own countrymen,” he stressed.Duterte urged Murad to wait for the passage of the final version of the BBL, assuring him that what is not included in the BBL can be added in the federal scheme of things.“Ilagay na natin (Let’s include it there). But it must be something like alongside the Philippine Constitution,” Duterte said.WITH PNA"
500,"Is the heaven sent a sign that Mayor Duterte is the chosen one? A post of Roland Tan has gone viral on the internet after he shared the story of his friend pastor who is really not convinced by Mayor Duterte, but everything changes when the pastor saw a sign that he believes came from God.This is the story:I have a friend who is a preacher at the JMCIM who is initially a supporter of MDS. Since MDS is not well, he preferred Mar Roxas. I really tried hard to convince him that it is not Mar Roxas that he should support but I failed. Until….. God showed him a sign that Duterte is the “Chosen One”. When he boarded a plane, he got a ticket showing “D30”. He now had a change of heart. He also talks to the Police and Military, both choices are for Duterte. He hopes that Duterte will accept the invitation he sent and the first to arrive so that the Church lay their hands to annoint and pray for him.Duterte supporters believes that the Pastor was enlightened by God to choose Duterte and they are praying that god will bless his government if he ever wins the presidency."
510,"Who needs to go to Brazil to visit the Amazon rainforest? Tourists can now have that experience in the Philippines, just by riding the MRT, Metro Manila’s light railway system.Today, MRT officials unveiled the world’s first tropical rainforest-themed train. Lucky commuters who were picked through a lottery experienced the inaugural ride from Quezon City to Makati, drenched in refreshing water that poured from the train’s ceiling.“They should have thought about this sooner, ” one commuter said, adding, “It is a great way to beat the hot and humid weather and remain fresh and cooled upon reaching your destination.”The lucky commuters were given complimentary towels with the logo of the Office of the President at the exits.During the train’s regular runs, however, commuters have to bring their own towels."
521,"President Duterte’s shoot-to-kill order, even if aimed at suspected armed rebels, is not in accordance with the Constitution, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday.“If we say we can kill just because we are accusing someone of a crime, what will happen to all of us, right?” Robredo said when asked by reporters in Caloocan City about Mr. Duterte’s order.The President on Wednesday said soldiers should shoot armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA) right away and disregard human rights.“Shoot them! They will kill you anyway. If there is an armed NPA there or terrorist holding any firearms, shoot … I’ll answer for you,” he said in a speech at Sual town in Pangasinan province.The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has been waging a rebellion for nearly 50 years.Mr. Duterte, a lawyer, said he would answer for the soldiers accused of human rights violations.He also said he would take up the cudgels for soldiers and police officers if they killed someone mistaken for an NPA member.Mistaken identityThe President noted that a “mistaken identity” was “an exempting circumstance.”His shoot-to-kill order came a day after government forces killed 15 suspected NPA members, including five women, in separate encounters in Nasugbu, Batangas. The fatalities were in a jeepney and a van.Mr. Duterte terminated peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the political arm of the CPP, last week through Proclamation No. 360. He cited the rebels’ “insincerity” in the talks, saying that they continued to attack and kill soldiers and civilians.A day after signing the proclamation, the President told soldiers to be prepared for “virulent confrontations” with the rebels.Eroding rule of lawRobredo, who is also a lawyer, said the President’s shoot-to-kill order did not seem to be stated in the Constitution and the laws.“What our laws say is, if someone erred, there is a process to know if the charges are true and there are appropriate penalties for the charges,” the Vice President told reporters in an interview, a transcript of which was e-mailed by her office.She said the rule of law would be eroded if people were allowed to take the law into their own hands. “[T]hat would lead us to a lot of mess.”Robredo was attending the Bonifacio Day celebration in Caloocan City, where Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana represented the President who skipped the event to tend to the Mindanao conflict.Malacañang defended the President’s order for soldiers to shoot and kill armed members of the NPA.Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday that communists who took up arms against the government were legitimate military targets since they were committing a crime.Crime of rebellion“The crime of rebellion is a crime of taking arms against the government,” Roque told reporters. “When you are bearing arms against the government, you are engaged in crime.”A legal consultant to the NDFP said Mr. Duterte’s shoot-to-kill order was a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (Carhrihl), which was signed by both the government and the NDFP in 1998.“There are rules of war aka international humanitarian law. One who is not in a position to fight or doing an overt hostile act should not be killed summarily,” said lawyer Edre Olalia, an NDFP consultant.Carhrihl is a 2-decade-old agreement between the Philippine government and the NDFP, signed in The Hague, that ensures that despite the armed conflict, human rights are upheld by both sides and abuses would not go unpunished.The military spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., assured the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would continue its “strict implementation” of its rules of engagement, pointing out that the communist rebels have committed more human rights violations.Focused operationsPadilla said the military was implementing focused operations “against the NPAs and their economic sabotage activities.”CPP founding chair Jose Maria Sison said human rights groups should investigate the gun battle in Batangas to determine if there was an actual firefight.Also on Tuesday, two members of a human rights group were killed and another was wounded while on a fact-finding mission in Negros Oriental."
530,"Hindi pinalagpas ni Presidential daughter at Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte ang naging patutsada sa kanya ng nakakulong na senadora na si Leila De Lima. Sa isa kasing pahayag, sinabi ni De Lima na si Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo at si Mayor Sara ay representasyon ng kung ano ang mali at maaring magpapalala sa gobyerno. Ito ay kaugnay sa sinabi ni Mayor Sara tungkol sa isyu ng pagiging tapat ng mga kumakandidato. ""Sal Panelo and Sara Duterte represent what is wrong and how things could be worse for our government. It appears that these two pro-administration mouthpieces do not consider that matter of honesty as an important election issue. Bago pag-usapan kung magaling o edukado ang kandidato, ang unang tanong dapat ng ating botante: Nagsasabi ka ba ng totoo? Naglilingkod ka ba ng tapat?,"" pahayag ni De Lima. Naligo naman ng resbak si De Lima galing kay Mayor Sara. Pinaghalo daw ang katalinuhan at kabobohan sa ulo ni De Lima dahil sa hindi man lang binasa at inintindi ng senadora ang buong pahayag niya tungkol sa isyu. ""I thought it best to write a letter since you probably do not have access to a television. If I am an example of what is wrong and what could be worse for our government, you just described yourself as well. You are the worst because you are intelligent and dumb all in one head. You are the only person from the Black Hole who said it right, dapat ang botante ang nagsasabi kung ano ang hinahanap niya sa kandidato. But you are dumb as well, for attacking me without reading the entire transcription of my statement and comprehending what I said,"" resbak ng alkalde ng Davao. Nilinaw muli ni Sara ang kanyang pahayag tungkol sa sinabi niya na hindi kuwlipikasyon ang pagiging tapat sa pagkandidato. ""Ang sabi ko, hindi ang opposition ang magsasabi kung ano dapat ang isang kandidato at hindi issue ang honesty dahil hindi yan requirement para ka maging kandidato. Therefore, Black Hole candidates, who are themselves liars, should not attack a candidate in that manner. I used the same argument on the issue of a college degree or inclusion in the narco list,"" paliwanag ni Mayor Sara. Inungkat din ni Maayor Sara ang kinasasangkutang kaso ni De Lima kaugnay sa kalakaran ng droga. ""You are a senator -- honesty about your involvment in the illegal drugs business under scrutiny by the courts -- how about you make a law adding honesty as a requirement for all Filipinos before they can run for public office. Maybe then you can save the government from yourself, Inday Sara, Leni, Digong, Panelo, Alejano, Hilbay, and the all the de Limas of the universe,"" buwelta pa ni Mayor Sara. Source: Brigada News Davao | News5 | ABS"
541,"Ito ang napag-alaman sa LTFRB makaraan ang isinampang petisyon ni Negros Congressman at dating board member ng ahensiya na si Manuel Iway na gawing P8.00 ang minimum na pasahe sa bus at P30.00 ang flag down rate ng taxi Ayon kay LTFRB Chairman Winston Gines, isasalang sa Enero 2015 ang mga petisyon ni Iway upang agad na matalakay bago dumaan sa proseso at mahingi ang posisyon ng mga operator ng bus at taxi Pangunahing basehan ni Cong Iway sa kanyang petisyon ang tuloytuloy na pagbaba sa presyo ng langis. Una nang binawasan ng LTFRB ang P8.50 minimum fare na pasahe sa jeepney at ginawa itong P7.50 dahil sa tuloy-tuloy na pagbaba ng presyo ng produktong petrolyo"
550,"David Yap and I were the very first to post in social media about the anomalous data trends in the VP race during the May 2016 elections.And the insult and trolling we got were severe and relentless. We have been caricatured and demeaned. Our academic credentials were questioned.Friends unfriended me. Colleagues laughed at me. People who knew me to be a thorough academic suddenly joined the mob. Others even questioned my sanity.Even my family was not spared. The legal problems of a relative was shamelessly outed even if he had nothing to do with my politics. My alleged plagiarism case from UPLB was resurrected and used against me. People invented lies about me having sexual harassment cases.Many believed I was a paid Marcos lackey.But while I voted for him and openly endorsed him in social media, I did not actively campaign for Senator Bongbong Marcos. His campaign manager Jonathan Dela Cruz can attest that I was never involved in his campaign.When the existence of a 4th server was revealed, I almost cried. This is it. David and I were on the right.And now that the election protest of Senator Marcos is making progress, I know deep in my heart that this is good enough.And I am waiting for the day that we will be completely vindicated."
561,"Arestado ang isang miyembro ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sa isinagawang buy-bust operation ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI, ng National Bureau of Investigation XI, at ng PCG, sa Davao City, nitong Huwebes.57Kinilala ang suspek na si alyas “Edgardo,” 33-anyos, aktibong PCG personnel, na dinakip ng mga awtoridad alas-4:00 ng hapon ng Abril 23, sa Doña Mercedes Subdivision, Barangay Sasa, Buhangin District.58Kalaboso na ang suspek na mismong nakatransaksyon ng mga nagpanggap na buyer ng shabu.59Narekober mula sa suspek ang nasa 12 gramo na nasa 5 plastic sachets na may katumbas na P81,600.60Ayon sa ulat, ilang linggong surveillance ang isinagawa ng PDEA XI at sa beripikasyon ay nakumpirma ang iligal na gawain ng suspek.61Nahaharap sa mga reklamong paglabag sa Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) ang suspek."
621,"The population of the Philippines will hit 105.75 million at the end of the year, the Population Commission (PopCom) said on Tuesday.Despite a declining growth rate, the country’s population continues to grow at an estimated two million people a year, said Lolito Tacardon, deputy executive director of PopCom.“Whether this is alarming or not depends on the government’s capacity to provide services to its people,” Tacardon told reporters during the celebration of World Population Day in Quezon City.Largest sector“The segment of our population that remained huge is still the poorer sector,” he said.Tacardon noted that women from poor communities were giving birth to an average of five children, compared to an average of two children for women from higher income brackets.Klaus Beck, country representative of the United Nations Population Fund, said teenage pregnancy also remained an urgent concern in the Philippines.Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority for 2016 showed that one in 10 women of child-bearing age was a teenager. It said 24 babies are being born every hour.One in 10 Filipino women aged 15 to 19 is already a mother or pregnant with her first child, according to the 2013National Demographic and Health Survey.This urgent concern may be dealt with “by coming together for age-appropriate sex education,” Beck said.Family planningHe noted that the Philippines was in the “best opportunity in history” for vigorous action on responsible parenthood and family planning.Despite the temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court on some provisions of the reproductive health law, Tacardon said Filipinos still had access to other family planning services at public and private health centers.In January, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 12, which intensified access to these services.In partnership with the Quezon City government, the celebration of World Population Day featured a health caravan that provided family planning services and counseling to more than 600 couples from urban poor communities.For 22-year-old Mae, the celebration came at a perfect time, as she expressed willingness to get a contraceptive implant after her third child.An implant is a matchstick-size rod placed under the skin, in the inside of the arm. It releases progesterone hormones and stops the body from releasing an egg monthly.The eldest of eight children, Mae, a resident of Payatas village, first gave birth at 18.“Family planning is really important so I would not have to give birth again so soon,” Mae said, adding that she was following the example of her own mother, Mildred, who decided to have an implant after eight children."
630,"Nangako si incoming Manila Mayor Francisco ""Isko Moreno"" Domagoso na papayagan niyang ipagpatuloy ng mga kababayan nating tindero sa bangketa at kalsada ang kanilang paghahanapbuhay sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon sa lungsod ng Maynila kapalit ang isang kondisyon: sumunod sa batas at kaayusan ang mga ito. ""Papayagan ko silang magbenta. Wala akong problema sa naghahanapbuhay. Live and let live principle but I cannot allow tyranny and anarchy in the streets of Manila,"" saad ng 44-anyos na incoming Mayor. Binigyang-diin din ni Isko ang aniya'y nararapat lang na mahigpit na pagsunod sa kaayusan at sa umiiral na batas ng bawat isa, bilang mga sibilisadong mamamayan. ""In a civilized world, civilized time, we have to be guided by law and order. Ibig sabihin, 'sabi ko dito ka lang, diyan ka lang,"" ani Domagoso. Parehong trato raw at patakaran ang susundin maging ng mga hindi lokal na taga-Maynila na nagtatrabaho rin sa lungsod. ""Kayo namang mga hindi taga-Maynila na hinikayat ng mga enterprising individual ng city hall, sumunod kayo. Nakakaawa naman na mga taga-Maynila pa 'yung nakikisama. 'Yun ang mawawalan?"" wika pa ni Isko. Samantala, tinalakay din ni Isko ang aniya'y kasalukuyang sitwasyon sa Divisoria at Recto, kung saan karamihan sa mga sidewalk vendors ay inookupa na ang buong kalsada, na nagdudulot ng buhul-buhol at masikip na daloy ng trapiko sa lugar. Ang resulta, nagka-cutting trip ang mga drayber ng pampasaherong dyip kaya't naoobliga ang mga pasahero na lumakad nang malayo patungo sa kanilang dapat na destinasyon. Muli niyang pinaalalahanan ang mga tindero, gayundin ang mga drayber kaugnay ng nasabing isyu. ""Ang nangyayari for the past six years mula Cubao papuntang Divisoria, kakanan ng Abad Santos, umiikot, nagka-cutting trip. Tapos babalik ng Recto. Oh ibig sabihin 'yung mga matatanda naman na sasakay ng Juan Luna, Tondo, maglalakad simula Abad Santos hanggang Juan Luna, Recto. Oh 'di una cutting trip na 'yung dyip,"" ani Domagoso. ""I will not allow it. I'ts either you go to your houses or you go to your city. You're not welcome in Manila if you will not follow this rule. It was given to you as a privilege, given to you by state, the franchise. You're not following it for certain reason dahil may hinihingi sa'yo ang mga taga-MTPB (Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau),"" saad pa ng newly-proclaimed Manila Mayor. Source: Manila Bulletin"
640,"Filipino-Australian Jim Paredes, Duterte critic and former member of the music group Apo Hiking Society, is missing!After that viral video tape showing him berating a group of pro-Duterte youth at the EDSA 31 commeration, he hasn’t been seen around. There are no indications that he has returned to Australia.But finally, Paredes has given a clue on his whereabouts.In a tweet posted several days ago, Paredes said:But his Twitter message generated more questions than answers. Both his fans and critics still have no clue where he is.Speculations range from Paredes having joined the New People’s Army or Abu Sayyaf to being in an anti-Duterte rally where only 40 people were in attendance. Others are saying that he could be vacationing in Brazil’s Amazon forest, where as a Filipino citizen, he doesn’t need a visa to visit.Or maybe, he has decided to be a monk?"
650,"Every single one of Facebook’s 1.11 Billion users worldwide will receive a check for $38. This was announced by Mark Zuckerberg minutes after Facebook stocks closed at slightly above $38 per share last Friday, the first time it reached a level above the initial IPO price since the company went public more than 14 months ago.Champagne flowed at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park Friday night as managers and employees celebrated this milestone.Zuckerberg, upon cajoling from his wife Priscilla , decided to share Facebook’s success with all its users. “After all, our users are technically our stockholders,” Zuckerberg said. “Without its users, Facebook is nothing,” he added. Asked whether he thinks this distribution will result in Facebook going bankrupt, Zuckerberg said he was not in the business for the money. “Besides, I am confident that each of our 1.11 Billion users will use their check to buy a share of Facebook stocks. So it will be awash.”In order to receive their $38 checks, users must post and publicly share their mailing addresses on their Facebook page on or before August 31, 2013. Alternatively, they can post and share their bank routing number and checking or savings account number in order for funds to be deposited electronically to their account."
661,"A test kit to know if someone has been infected by the dengue virus or not is being developed by a pool of Filipino experts from the National Institute of Health (NIH) of the University of the Philippines.The test kit is based on a protocol made by the University of Pittsburgh that Sanofi Pasteur used as basis for its November 29 global announcement last year.The global announcement said Dengvaxia must only be administered to patients who have known histories of dengue infections.The anti-NS1 antibody test kit being developed will allow doctors to check if a patient has a history of dengue infections or if someone inoculated with Dengvaxia but who happens to be seronegative has developed such antigens.Antigens, such as NS1, are toxins that induce the body’s natural defenses against bacterial or virus attacks.When a patient is infected by dengue, his body, reacts producing antibodies to fight the virus.Dr. Edsel Salvana, pediatric infectious disease expert from UP, said he and other concerned doctors are pooling their resources to develop the test kit, which is available only in First World countries such as Singapore.The test kit, Salvana added, will help medical workers and doctors determine immediately if a patient has no dengue virus infection or has a history of dengue.“We need to keep a close eye on the kids who got Dengvaxia. We need to quickly determine serostatus among the Dengvaxia recipients, especially those with dengue-like symptoms, [so that they would] know what to expect,” he said.Salvana added that he met with Dr. Scott Halstead, an 87-year-old American expert in dengue, who testified before the Senate blue ribbon committee recently.He said he fully agrees with Halstead’s findings that viscerotropism and neurotropism are “theoretical risks” and have never been observed in real life for dengvaxia.“He [Halstead] was more straightforward in calling it utter nonsense as the causative agent of all these so-called dengue deaths,” the NIH expert added.Halstead’s testimony destroyed allegations made by Dr. Susie Mercado, who first raised the alarm that children whose remains were exhumed died after being inoculated with Dengvaxia.While not blaming the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) for asking parents to exhume their dead child and look for traces or evidence linking Dengvaxia to their deaths, Salvana agreed with Halstead that autopsies alone cannot prove that the deaths are linked to Dengvaxia.“Autopsies alone are useless for figuring out whether someone died from Dengvaxia. For dengue, you need corroborating nucleic acid and antigen tests and tissue samples.”Despite pleas from doctors and experts, the PAO’s self-appointed forensic expert Dr. Edwin Erfe continues to conduct autopsies on dead children throughout the country.Erfe refuses to acknowledge Halstead’s admonition, causing discomfiture among various sectors in the country.The controversy linking Dengvaxia to the deaths of some children among the 830,000 kids inoculated during the DoH’s public vaccination program has caused tremendous anxiety and panic among Filipino parents.Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the surrounding controversy has affected the DoH’s vaccination program.Recently, dengue outbreaks in Cavite have alarmed health authorities, who noted the proximity of the province to Metro Manila."
670,"Ngayon araw ay isinagawa na ang kick-off program para sa Manila Bay Rehabilitation na dinaluhan nila Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Ano, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at ni Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Puyat. Kasabay ng kick-off program ay isang estabilisimiyento ang nakatikim ng malupit na hagupit mula sa Duterte government dahil ito sa paglalabas umano ng polluted waste water. Ang naturang restaurant ay ang The Aristocrat sa Manila Bay Area. Ito naman ang video mula sa PTV. Panoorin ang video mula sa kababayan natin na si Bruce Dionisio. Ito naman po ang ulat sa ginawang solidarity march para sa Manila Bay Rehabilitation Kick-off program mula sa News5. Ito po ang reaksyon ng mga tao sa parusa ipinataw ng pamahalaan sa sikat na kainan. ""Lagot ang City Health at Mayor lol. Proud #PRRD voter. Change is real. Ang dami ng naAccomplished at na Disiplina. This government his administration will go down in history as the Golden Age of Philippines ,"" sabi ni J. Tagle. ""Ngayun pantay pantay walang mayaman o mahirap imagine kungdi pa si PDU30 ang naging pangulo walang mangyyaring pagmamalasakit.Yung mga dating nakaupo kasi puro pa photo ops lang ang alam kunwari magttanim ng puno or maglilinis sa kapaligiran pero pag wala ng lente ng kamera tapos na. Saka basta kakampi nila kinukunsinti nila,"" sabi ni X. Hpesoj. ""PERFECT !! Ang tanong, sa tagal ng panahon paanong nagkaroon ng Yearly Permit ? Dapat managot din ang mga nag issue ng permit / Licence !!!,"" sabi ni J. Villarba. ""Sikat na kainan yan,,, 24hrs open dami customer,,, lakas nio kumita lakas nio rin palang dumumi sa dagat"" sabi ni B. Mashod. Source: CNN | Bruce Dionisio | PTV"
681,"The rise to the top of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the vice presidential race has alarmed those who feel that it is their duty to remind the people of martial law’s dark side, when the senator’s father and namesake was at the helm of government.On Thursday, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is launching at the University of the Philippines Visayas a caravan aimed at helping the youth better understand the abuses committed by the senator’s father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and his cronies during martial law years.In Laguna province, teachers at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) issued a statement assailing the Marcos family for what they called “an organized and willful distortion” of history.Circulated in various departments, the UPLB teachers’ statement was signed by more than 100 faculty members as of Wednesday, said Dwight Diestro of the Department of Social Sciences.In a telephone interview, Diestro said the statement was written by History teachers and was in line with a similar initiative from the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City.Earlier, teachers from the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University came up with a statement that scored the Marcoses for their denial of human rights abuses committed during martial law.The PCGG caravan is carrying the theme “Remembering the lessons of the past as we journey the path toward good governance.”It will feature historians, sociologists, martial law experts and PCGG officials who will talk to the youth about how it was like living through one of the country’s darkest eras and how the dictator, his family and cronies enriched themselves during their two-decade rule.“[The speakers] will give firsthand stories of the martial law [era] and the victims of human rights violations, the excesses of the Marcos family and their cronies, and also the efforts of the commission to recover the ill-gotten wealth amassed by the family in the two decades of Marcos’ dictatorship,” the PCGG said in a statement.For the pilot run at UP, PCGG Commissioner Vicente Gengos Jr. will lead the list of speakers.Horror storiesThe commission has also opened on the UP Visayas campus an exhibit featuring “martial law horror stories,” images of select pieces from the Marcoses’ Hawaii jewelry collection as well as of the missing paintings of world-renowned artists acquired by the Marcoses while they occupied Malacañang. The exhibit is open to the public until Friday.“[The exhibit aims] to remind the present generation of these excesses and extravagance and what these public funds could have been [otherwise] used for,” the PCGG said.Jewelry collectionCurrently, the PCGG has an ongoing virtual exhibit of the Hawaii jewelry collection on its social media accounts that indicate the government projects that could have been funded if the money used for the jewelry pieces were put to good use.The Hawaii collection is a set of around 300 pieces of jewelry seized by the US Customs when the family arrived in Hawaii following the toppling of the dictatorship in the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.The PCGG is the custodian of the collection that is kept at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas vault along with two other seized Marcos jewelry collections—the Roumelites and Malacañang collections.The commission hopes that through the caravan, which would go around different universities nationwide to educate the youth as part of its 30th anniversary activities, it will be able to fulfill one of its mandates, which is to prevent corruption in government.“The commission believes that it bears the responsibility of reminding Filipinos, especially the youth, of the real history … [as well as] the need to bring its message of good governance vis-à-vis the lessons of martial law to various academic institutions across the country,” it said.It noted that through programs like the caravan, the post-Edsa generation would be made more aware of the PCGG’s work and “the responsibility of every citizen in learning the lessons of our history, combating corruption and contributing to good governance.”Historical revisionism“[H]istorical revisionism” is nothing new to the family of the dictator, the UPLB mentors said in their statement.They cited, in particular, the dictator’s biography, authored by Hartzell Spence, which “fabricated” stories about the elder Marcos’ heroism during World War II.“The new historical revisionism that the son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos has been framed in a similar motive,” they said.“Sen. Bongbong Marcos and his camp are determined at sanitizing and distorting data, diluting context and omitting or erasing negative details of his father’s dictatorship so he can use a retouched version of history for his candidacy this year,” the statement read.Not golden ageThe teachers also slammed claims that the Marcos dictatorship marked the Philippines’ “golden age.”They said 48 major industries were cornered by Marcos’ cronies during martial law. Foreign debt ballooned to $28.3 billion but loan proceeds were spent on “nonpriority” projects, like the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.On rights abuses, the UPLB teachers said more than 70,000 critics of Marcos were detained, 1,000 arrested, 34,000 tortured and 3,240 killed.The succeeding administrations should also be held accountable for failing to prosecute the Marcoses for these atrocities, they said.“The country should not forget the real and correct version of history. Most of all, the Philippines deserves leaders who are not liars,” the statement said. Reports from Jovic Yee in Manila and Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon"
691,"Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Monday said his cousin, President Aquino, should not fall into the trap of rival politicians demanding his apology for the Mamasapano massacre.In an interview with ANC, Aquino said the President had already taken responsibility for the collateral damage in the botched “Oplan Exodus” and that demands that he take full responsibility were loaded with pitfalls meant to cripple his political influence in the 2016 elections.“We don’t live in a vacuum. Right now, a lot of the moves are really toward 2016. We are almost sure it’s a trap. We are almost sure that as soon as he says ‘sorry,’ someone is going to say, ‘Why is he smiling?’ or ‘Why doesn’t he look sincere?’ or ‘Why is his tone like that?’ I am almost sure that those who are asking [him] to say sorry are already ready with their statement after he does so,” Aquino said.The senator insisted that the President had already taken responsibility for the failed mission that resulted in the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos as early as Feb. 6, the President’s second major televised speech on the incident.“As the Commander in Chief, the responsibility rests in me. I am the father of the nation and I lost 44 children whose lives can never be returned. I will carry this [burden] until my last day. They are my responsibility, including those who survived and those who rescued them,” the President said in that address.Aquino said he was surprised why people kept on asking the next day and the following weeks thereafter why the President was not taking responsibility for the carnage.“Just this weekend, when I was in Isabela, that is still the question on people’s minds. I always say, he already said it and he admitted as much already. I think the effort to bring out the truth and be as transparent as possible is there,” Aquino said.He said the President’s acceptance of responsibility was “categorical enough” but people and the media did not pick it up.“It’s nothing new and you’ll be left wondering. Like they say, if a lie is said often enough, it becomes truth. Probably if a question is asked often enough, it becomes an answer. They just kept on asking and asking that’s why it looked like he did not answer it even if he did,” Aquino said.Instead of hammering on the President’s responsibility, Aquino said, the public should focus on going after the killers of the SAF 44, ensure their widows and families will get government care and see to it that this does not happen again.“I think the (Senate) report is quite clear that the responsibility is political in nature and not legal in that sense,” Aquino said.But other senators continue to criticize the President for evading responsibility for the incident by blaming previously fired SAF Director Getulio Napeñas and recently resigned Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima.Sen. JV Ejercito said Aquino was with the officials of the Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Zamboanga City on Jan. 25, the day of the massacre.“He should have access to information during that time,” Ejercito said. “Why count on Purisima alone?”Ejercito said: “That is still hard to accept. He is looking for an excuse but he always comes up short.”Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the President had said there was “nothing new” in his latest speech on the subject. “[The President] still says it’s everybody’s fault but his own. After this, the people will despair about ever learning the whole truth,” Marcos said.RELATED STORIESAquino seeks understanding on Mamasapano debacleAquino responsible for Mamasapano but has yet to consider apology – Malacañang"
700,"Isang istorya na naman ng pagtataksil ang inaksyunan ni News5 Host Raffy Tulfo sa kanyang programa. Dumulog kay Tulfo si Ginoong Sosimo Munoz, 42-anyos. Ayon sa kwento ni Mr. Sosimo, siya daw ay isang guwardiya at nabaril habang nagtatrabaho. Ang pagkaka-baril sa kanya ay naging sanhi ng kanyang kapansanan. Pero dahil mayroon siyang disability pension at nakapag-negosyo, naka-ipon umano siya ng kalahating milyon. Ang problemalang daw ay tinangay ng kanyang misis na si Nenita Munoz, 52-anyos, ang pera at sumama sa kalaguyo nito na si Vergel Briones, 24-anyos. Inubos daw ng misis niya ang mga naipong pera. Nang tawagan ng programa si Misis, ang agad na bungad ni Nenita ay baliw daw si Mr. Sosimo. Akusasyon pa ni Nenita, binubugbog daw siya ni Sosimo. Ang sinabi naman na ito ng ginang ay hindi pinaniwalaan ni Tulfo. Ayon kay Tulfo, paano mambubugbog kung may kapansanan si mister? Ayon naman sa kalaguyo ni misis, hindi pera ang habol niya kay babae kundi dahil mapag-alaga daw ito. Desidido naman si Mr. Sosimo na ipakulong sina Nenita at si Vergel. Inanyayahan naman ni Tulfo si Nenita na magtungo sa himpilan ng News5 para makapag-usap muna sila ni Ginoong Sosimo. ""Papakulong ko na lang po iyan kasi wala naman akong ginagawang masama diyan. Marami ang magsasabi. Sumasahod ako, dose, trese, kinsenas. Lahat na pera po (binibigay ko sa kanya),"" sabi ni Sosimo. Source: News5"
711,"The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Region 10 will dispatch buses to ferry over a thousand people who sought refuge at the Lanao del Sur capitol and Mindanao State University in Marawi City, which is under seige due to clashes between government forces and members of the Maute terror group.LTFRB 10 Regional Director Aminoden Guro said the buses are on standby here.“The advice from the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion is for us to stay put and wait for the go signal,” said LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada.Last Thursday, authorities did not allow the 10 buses to enter Marawi City due to securoty concerns, and told the LTFRB to wait until Saturday, when the clearing operation should have been completed.Lizada said evacuees must undergo a process to be allowed to board the bus.Lizada said the passengers must bring a valid identification card (ID) with them. Those without IDs will be set aside and will be referred to the barangay officials.Lizada said there will be two designated pick up points in Marawi where the buses are waiting. She did not divulge the two areas for security reason.From Marawi, the evacuees will be borough to two evacuation centers in Iligan City."
721,"Teodoro Locsin Jr.Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. hit the ground running.Right after being sworn into office on Oct. 17, he flew to Brussels, Belgium, for the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting to represent the country because President Rodrigo Duterte chose to skip the annual European Union-hosted summit for the third time.Locsin served as ambassador to the United Nations for two years.While in New York, Locsin dispatched a prodigious number of tweets on diverse topics, even replying to or engaging with other Twitter users in debates.As foreign secretary, Locsin has not slowed down on tweeting. On Oct. 19, he tweeted a policy change.“Our foreign policy is friend to our friends, enemy to our enemies,” he said.His predecessor, Alan Peter Cayetano, has often stressed that the Duterte administration’s policy was: “Friend to all, enemy to none.”Nevertheless Locsin’s appointment appears to be roundly welcomed by lawmakers and retired diplomats.Oscar RomeroNo one was ever convicted for the 1980 killing of El Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was felled by a sniper’s bullet while celebrating Mass in a hospital chapel in the capital San Salvador.But his beatification on Oct. 14 mitigated initial criticisms that the “preferential option for the poor” that he preached reeked of communism.It also liberated the Catholic Church from its inordinate fear of the theology of liberation that crept into evangelization from the 1960s through the 1980s.But Romero criticized not only the dictatorship but also the communist insurgents that plagued El Salvador in the 1980s.He only wanted a Church relevant to the faithful.As he once wrote: “We must not seek the child Jesus in the pretty figures of our Christmas cribs. We must seek him among the undernourished children who have gone to bed at night with nothing to eat, among the poor newsboys who will sleep covered with newspapers in doorways.”Ethel BoobaAn unlikely name has emerged as one of the country’s funniest political satirists on social media today: Ethel Booba.Born Ethyl Gabison, she first gained national attention as a television personality who engages in silly comedy while flaunting her bosomy body"
730,"Condemnation from RivalsPoe said, “It is distasteful and unacceptable, and reflects his disrespect for women.”Roxas said, “Rape is a serious problem… Women have rights, they should not be played with.”Binay said, “Mister Duterte, don't you have a mother? Don't you have a daughter?”A screenshot of Poe's TV adThen I saw AlDub...then I remembered that they became famous through the noontime show “Eat Bulaga!”[Inquirer]......then I remembered that TAPE Inc. produces that show [Inquirer]......then I remembered that the rapist Romeo Jalosjos owns TAPE Inc [Philstar]...Natutuwa ako sa Aldub. Nagkataon lang na sila ang naging trigger ng pagkaka-alala ko kay Jalosjos. Wala silang kasalanan dito.Convicted child rapist Romeo JalosjosWho exactly is Romeo Jalosjos?CONGRESSMAN GUILTY OF RAPING GIRL GETS 2 LIFE TERMS (AP)""...In the evening of June 14, 1996...in Room No. 1702, Ritz Towers, Makati City... [Jalosjos] did kiss, caress and fondle [the 11-year-old girl's] face, lips, neck, breasts, whole body, and vagina, suck her nipples and insert his finger and then his tongue into her vagina, place himself on top of her, then insert his penis in between her thighs until ejaculation, and other similar lascivious conduct against her will, to her damage and prejudice. [Supreme Court G.R. Nos. 132875-76. November 16, 2001]""132 years of imprisonmentFrom 132 years, Down to 11Probe Profiles: Romeo JalosjosMar Roxas and the Rapist JalosjosParang wala lang?Daang Matuwid Era: Jalosjos is “Higher than Angels”DISCOVERY CHANNEL (2013): GANG LEADERS RUN BILIBID, RUB ELBOWS WITH PNOY, DE LIMAJojo Binay and the Rapist JalosjosArroyo, supported by her then-ally Mar Roxas, effectively pardoned Jalosjos by commuting Jalosjos’ sentence. However, Roxas and Arroyo parted ways in 2010 as the nation was swept by the pro-Yellow sentiment arising from Cory Aquino’s death.However, Jalosjos’ loyalty is for Arroyo, who belongs to the opposition party United Nationalists’ Alliance (UNA). Vice-president Jejomar Binay heads UNA, and Jalosjos served as the party’s figurehead in Zamboanga [Verafiles].Jalosjos supported Binay's vice presidential bid in 2010(From L to R) Mitos Magsaysay, Ernesto Maceda, Romeo Jalosjos, and Tingting Cojuangco in a 2013 campaign sortie in Zamboanga. TP doesn't know who the man in the green shirt is.Binay never criticized the rapist Jalosjos. Ever.Condoning rape for political convenience.Jalosjos’ Zamboanga-based “Alliance of Parties for Progress”, mostly containing Jalosjos political dynasts, also pledged its support for Binay’s 2016 presidential bid [Rappler].That is, until Jalosjos jumped ship.Grace Poe and the Rapist JalosjosPoe and Escudero in the latter's VP declaration in Club Filipino.Boom! There he is.Rape Joke versus Real RapeAlright, it’s time to put things back into perspective.What Duterte said was wrong – it’s just plain wrong. However, as with any electoral decision, it’s time to ask this question:“With that unfortunate development, who is the least evil among the four candidates?”Duterte demonstrated callous language on a rape-hostage victim, but he actually risked his life to save her and her companions [MindaNews].Meanwhile, Roxas, Binay, and Poe use very politically correct language when talking about rape, but here they are, coddling an actual rapist – and a child rapist at that.I am angry at Duterte for joking about rape, but I am angrier at the other three.Why? Because Roxas', Binay's, and Poe's double standards show that they only feign sympathy for rape victims and their families, that their condemnations are but classic cases of political opportunism.Roxas, Binay, and Poe, condoned child rape for political convenience.Yes,One foul-mouthed guy who tried to save a rape victim. Three sweet-talkers who coddle a child rapist.UPDATE: Miriam supporters are complaining why I didn't mention her in this article. I didn't mention her for three reasons:She didn't claim to be on higher moral ground than Duterte. She has little to do with the Jalosjos case. She's got her own skeletons in the closet.However, after insistent public demand and allegations of bias, I decided to release an article that focuses exactly on Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, as shown below:_____Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy.com stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!My blood curdled the first time I saw that viral Duterte rape joke video. A rape joke is a bad joke. There’s no defending it, even if he said it in 1989 out of “utter anger” at the rapists [ GMA ]. The best thing Duterte could do is apologize and hope that Filipinos will forgive him.BUT...Duterte said yesterday, “I apologize to the Filipino people for my recent remarks in a rally. There was no intention of disrespecting our women and those who have been victims of this horrible crime. Sometimes my mouth can get the better of me. [ CNN ]""Alright, he did say sorry. However, the fact remains that that candid statement has opened a lot of emotional wounds among rape victims and their loved ones.But the question stands: Will this faux pas have severe ramifications on his presidential bid? Give it a week or so and we’ll see. Regardless, his three presidentiables opponents were quick to milk this incident for all it’s worth.Well, Lolo Digong, c’est la vie. That’s life. Suck it up.Three presidential candidates – Mar Roxas, Jejomar Binay, and Grace Poe – swiftly condemned Duterte’s gaffe [ Rappler ].All these three statements are right. They are philosophically indisputable. There’s no going around it. Poe even went as far as releasing a political ad to get more political mileage:“Bakit tayong mga babae binabastos, binabalewala, minamaliit, hinihiya?” Poe said in the ad [ Inquirer ].I was still sorely disappointed at Duterte. Just look at how I fumed in my previous article . To cool my head off, I decided to watch TV.I turned the TV on and saw one of those AlDub commercials for McDonald's.My blood that was already curdling instantly turned into cheese Let me tell you why.But first, let's ask...Romeo Jalosjos was accused of raping an 11-year-old girl in 1996. A year later, the Makati RTC found him guilty of two counts of statutory rape and six counts of acts of lasciviousness. He brought his case before the Supreme Court, but it affirmed his conviction in 2001 and 2002 [ GMA ].Jalosjos was sent to Bilibid to serve a life sentence (minimum of 30 years per) for each count of rape (2 counts), and reclusion temporal (minimum 12 years each) for each count of acts of lasciviousness (6 counts).30 + 30 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 132.All in all, the Supreme Court sentenced Jalosjos to a minimum ofUpon DOJ’s recommendation, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) commuted Jalosjos' sentence in 2007 to 16 years “for good behavior”. With additional sentence reductions, he was freed on 19 March 2009 after serving only 11 years in prison for raping a child TWICE and further molesting her SIX MORE TIMES. [ Philstar However, records show that while in prison, the DOJ’s Bureau of Corrections allowed Jalosjos to build various structures in the maximum security compound, such as a tennis court, a playground, a basketball court, a bakery and his own kubol (cubicle or cottage). He also put up another bakery near the gate of Katarungan Village, a private subdivision where he stayed for several months before his actual release from prison [ Inquirer ].Yes, he was one of those who turned Bilibid into a gangster’s paradise, let alone the fact that he resided OUTSIDE the penitentiary before his release.Now, you’re probably asking the question: “So what?”At this point, Malacañang’s preferential treatment for Jalosjos is undeniable. How can someone who practically turned Bilibid into a Resort and Spa be released so soon?Liberal Party Senator Kiko Pangilinan criticized Malacañang on 20 March 2009, or a day after the rapist’s release.Pangilinan said, “Lumalabas tuloy na kung sino ang mayayaman at may impluwensiya sa lipunan ang siyang mabilis na nakalalaya sa kulungan (It appears that only the society’s rich and powerful get to be released in jail fast.” [ GMA In response, then-Senator Mar Roxas said, “Lahat ng bilanggo dapat lamang na bigyan ng pagkakataon na makapag-bagong buhay. At hindi dapat pagkaitan ng hustisya kung karapat-dapat na makapagbagong-buhay.” [ GMA But something doesn’t add up. Roxas was part of the Arroyo cabinet from 2001 to 2003. He resigned as DTI Secretary only because he won a seat in the Senate, but his ties with the PGMA administration did not cease [ Philstar ].Mar Roxas knows what really happened.Mar Roxas has never criticized Jalosjos for being a rapist.Why? Because Roxas was too busy preparing for a potential 2010 presidential bid to bother clashing with the Jalosjos Political Clan of Zamboanga [ TP: Wikileaks ]. Cory Aquino was still alive at that time of Jalosjos' release (Cory died in September 2009), so Noynoy still wasn't a viable candidate at that point. That is, Roxas was still the Liberal Party's presidential contender.Condoning rape for political convenience,Roxas had 2 years in the Arroyo Cabinet while Jalosjos -- convicted in a nationally-televised, high-profile case -- was languishing in jail.He could not have known anything. Was this his rehearsal for the Mamasapano Alibi?But it gets worse.A year later in 2010, Arroyo left and “Daang Matuwid” took over Malacañang.Speaking with reporters in 2011, Romeo Jalosjos, the child rapist, defended the VIP treatment of wealthy convicts, saying the it has been practiced since “since time immemorial.”“As in any place on earth and in heaven, [prisoners] are not all the same. There are angels, and there are [those] higher than angels,” he said [ Inquirer ].To add further insult to the justice system, then-DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima said she was considering including Jalosjos in the technical working group that will discuss needed reforms at the penitentiary.Two years later in 2013, a Discovery Channel documentary showed nothing has changed, as shown below:Those who know Jalosjos' atrocities were shocked at discovering him in the audience of Chiz Escudero’s vice-presidential declaration in the posh Club Filipino on 17 September 2015. The rapist basically ditched Binay for Poe.""Since we hold majority of the elected officials in the province, we can use that clout to ensure that the tandem Grace and Chiz will definitely win in Zamboanga del Norte,"" Jalosjos said [ CNN ].Jalosjos’ support for Poe isn’t new. While he supported Binay in his 2010 VP bid, he also supported Poe and Escudero in the 2013 senatorial elections.Asked why he decided to support Poe instead of Binay, Jalosjos said, ""[Binay] was in Dipolog and I talked to him. He asked for my support and I told him I cannot [support him].”Jalosjos added, ”I cannot turn my back on Grace, her family is very close to us, the father FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.), mother Susan, and Grace herself. I will be a traitor if I turn my back on her. [ GMA ]""Has Grace criticized Jalosjos for actually raping a child? No.Condoning rape for political convenience.there is no perfect presidential candidate. At the end of the day, it's about choosing the least evil among the four.On this rape issue, we are faced with two disgusting choices:The choice is yours to make.As for ThinkingPinoy, this is what I have to say:We’ve already had too many good speakers who do evil. I believe it’s time for a bad speaker to good."
741,"Patay ang isang trabahador ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) habang nasugatan ang isa pa makaraang masangkot sa road crash incident sa Diversion Road ng Barangay Domoit sa lungsod na ito, ­kamakalawa ng tanghali.
Batay sa imbestigas­yon ng Lucena Police, nangyari ang insidente, alas-9:00 ng umaga.
Nagsasagawa ng inspeksyon sa sirang bahagi ng kalsada ang apat na tauhan ng DPWH kabilang ang nasawing biktima na si Efren at ang heavy equipment operator na si Jomel sa harap ng nakahinto nilang dump truck.
Sa kuha ng CCTV at dashcam na narekober ng mga awtoridad, makikitang bigla na lamang bumangga ang isang trailer truck sa likurang bahagi ng nakahintong dump truck ng DPWH.
Dahil sa lakas ng impact, umabante ang dump truck at diretsong inararo ang dalawang biktima at nagulungan pa si Efren.
Dead-on-arrival (DOA) sa Quezon Me­dical Center (QMC) si Efren habang si Jomel ay nagtamo ng iba’t ibang pinsala at patuloy na ginagamot.
Ayon sa driver ng trailer truck, nakatulog umano siya habang nagmamaneho na naging sanhi ng aksidente.
Nasa kustodiya na siya ng pulisya at nahaharap sa kasong reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries, at damage to pro­perty."
750,"The country celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the 1986 EDSA “Revolution” under the deception that things have become better ever since the overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship. The celebrations have become so regular, so systematic, and so ingrained that the “EDSA Spirit” has become rather dogmatic.Leading the celebrations, as expected, is President BS Aquino along with many traditional politicians who “hijacked” EDSA. Ask the common person in the street about EDSA, and they will say that it was led by Corazon Aquino, BS Aquino’s late mother. It’s the same thinking that got BS Aquino elected in the first place.Never mind that, in the first place, EDSA was ignited by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement led by (surprise, surprise) then-Minister of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile. If not for RAM, there would have been no EDSA in the first place. In fact, the plan was for RAM to install a revolutionary council that would govern the country, to be led by Enrile. RAM’s plans got mucked up after Marcos left (or was kidnapped) and headed to Hawaii.Instead of placing Enrile as head of a revolutionary council, Corazon Aquino grabbed the presidency and took her oath despite losing the controversial snap election weeks earlier. Enrile just stepped aside and allowed Aquino to assume power. Ironically, Enrile was fired nine months after he helped Aquino to take the presidency.Being the turncoat that he was, Gen. Fidel Ramos pledged loyalty to Cory Aquino immediately. The soldiers (the ones who truly initiated the uprising) were ostracized and cast aside. All the glory of EDSA went to the Aquino family and their trapo followers. It is pretty sad how history has never given these soldiers credit for what they did. As much as I did not like that EDSA happened, if I were to give anyone credit for it, I would give it to the brave soldiers who dared to stand up despite being heavily outnumbered and having a disadvantage in firepower. Likewise, President Marcos deserves credit for not ordering his tropps to fire at the crowd. Marcos’s impotence or perhaps his “good conscience” led to EDSA being “bloodless” unlike the Tiananmen Square Massacre in China which happened about three years later.The actions of the Cory regime (especially the freeing of political prisoner and Maoist rebel leader Jose Maria Sison) led to the establishment of two more underground military factions besides RAM. The Cory regime pushed some military officers to form the Young Officers Union (YOU) and the Soldiers of the Filipino People (SFP) factions, both of which helped launch coup d’etats which heavily damaged the Aquino administration. Even Cory Aquino’s vice president, Salvador Laurel, defected to the opposition and openly supported rebel forces in the 1989 coup d’etat.It took just three years for the military to realize that Cory Aquino’s administration was no better or maybe even worse than that of Ferdinand Marcos. Vice President Laurel left Cory Aquino’s administration within a year after seeing her incompetence. As early as then, the promises of EDSA were already being shattered one-by-one. Laurel saw it. Enrile saw it. Honasan saw it. Many military officers saw it.Thirty years, nine coup d’etats, and five presidents later, the dreams formed after EDSA remained just that, dreams. This is probably why the Marcos name has made waves once again with the candidacy of Senator Bongbong Marcos for the vice presidency. In the end, the only way to convince people that life was worse under martial law is for real progress to happen."
760,"We are all trying to use our logical minds, but this is one time that we might as well listen to those who think more with their emotion. Maybe, with our logicality we are not the ones that could give a good picture of what might have transpired. My driver, whom we call Onyok, said a lot of things about Mamasapano which amused me. I am trying here to recall what he has said, and you will see that emo people have better gut-feel.By way of intro, Onyok voted for P-Noy in 2010. He admired his president for not being involved in any scandal until the SC ruling on DAP when for the first time, he said: ""Ay, magnanakaw din pala."" Onyok was the one who put a yellow ribbon in my car because I could not tell him I was voting for Gibo. There was no point in explaining to him that Gibo had the best resumé and that party affiliation didn't mean a thing in PHL. If he knew I voted for Gibo, he would have deemed me unpatriotic since Gibo was associated with Gloria, who was to him the worst leader the PHL had. (I was happy with the DAP ruling because finally the yellow sticker in my car disappeared.)Here is what Onyok said re Mamasapano:1. As a reaction to the first press conference by Mar Roxas and Espina, Onyok could not believe what he was hearing. Mar Roxas and Espina were not in the loop and 44 SAF are dead. ""Bakit nag-press pa sila? Aksaya oras yan ginagawa nila. Ngayon na alam na nila, bakit hindi nila sugurin agad yun kampo para maka-ganti na Bakit may imbestigasyon pa? Kalokohan!. Duda na ako dito kay Mar. Dapat resign sya o pa-unahan nya ang pagsugod. Basta hindi pwede babakla-bakla kung gusto nya maging presidente.""2. Probably after having his normal chit-chats with other drivers in drivers' lounges, or reading tabloids, or whatever sources he gets his info, or tsismis, he offers an opinion a day or two after. ""Sir, sigurado sangkot ang presidente. May balita, pinigilan nya pala ang mga tropang sasaklolo sana para lang sa tinutulak nyang peace treaty. Wala na ata akong bilib kay P-Noy — natataranta na sya sa dapat gawin sa dami ng dapat asukasuhin. …..Kawawa naman yun Napeñas na malamang sumusunod lang ng utos ng taas.""3. ""Bakit para atang nagtatago si P-Noy? Bata pa ata talaga utak nya. Hindi marunong pag naiipit.""4. As a reaction to the first #NANA. ""Ma-utak din talaga eto si P-Noy. Iniwas nya sarili nya. Dadaanin lahat sa mga imbestigasyon, pwede naman sagutin lahat ng derechohan.""5. ""Nandun si FVR, Erap, Roxas, Binay….halos lahat (in Villamor). Disgrasya, lalu sya pagdududahan.""6. ""Bumawe, inisa-isa nya pamilya (of the SAF44). Baka sinusubukan nyang bilhin mga biyuda. …Malaking insulto kung sakali. Hindi naman lahat ng mahirap mukhang pera, hindi ba, sir?"" Okay lang yun binili nya mga senador dahil dapat lang masipa yun Corona — si Corona ang dahilan kung bakit nawalan ng trabaho pinsan ko sa PAL.""7. ""Kung yan Senado papalabasin na nag-aaway ang army at pulis, lusot si P-Noy."" (What an insight, I would say.)8. On the Senate Hearing. ""Hindi ba tama ako, sir? –lumalabas hindi nagkakaintindihan army at pulis, lusot na si P-Noy. ….Mukhang milyun kapalit, sinasalo sya ni Purisima at Napeñas. …..umandar nanaman eto si Brenda (Miriam Santiago) — salbahe talaga eto si Purisima, pinahamak nya P-Noy. ….. Ewan ko, puros kasinungaling yan mga Muslim. ….talagang may tinatago si P-Noy, nagbobo-bobohan si Roxas, Gazmin at yun tatlong heneral. ….ano ba yan, kunwari lahat sila bobo, pwede ba yun? ….sayang si Grace Poe — napaka-intelihente pa naman. Bakit sya pumayag sumama sa sabwatan na pagtakpan si P-Noy. Bihira talagang mga mayayaman na may puso — pinabaya-an nila yun 44, tapos ngayon lahat sila puros drama lang.""9. ""Bakit parang kaaway na nya yun mga biyuda. Sabi ko na nga ba, hindi sila pwedeng bilhin — nakahanap si P-Noy ng mga katapat nya. Akala ng Malacañang lahat nalang pera-pera. ….Eto si P-Noy, alam nyang makukulong sya pag lumabas ang katotohanan, kaya lahat na lang ng katarantaduhan ginagawa nila — mga gago sila. Dahil sa pera, wala silang pagmamahal sa mga Pilipino.""10. Then, he surprised me. ""Mukhang tama kayo, sir. Dapat nga si Gibo presidente natin.""*****P-Noy was voted into office by emotion. He will be undone by the same? We will see if this is true.------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/02/6-lame-excuses-used-to-protect-pnoy-from-liability-for-the-saf44-massacre/comment-page-1/#comment-1109699"
771,"Ten state prosecutors have been attacked, with nine of them killed, since President Duterte took office in mid-2016.Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Ednaco-Tanyag, who was five months pregnant, was stabbed thrice as she was getting into her car on Visayas Avenue at Barangay Vasra in Quezon City, shortly before noon on June 4. Tanyag was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center, but died minutes after.A suspect was arrested hours after what the police described as a “robbery gone wrong.”A week before Tanyag was killed, Geronimo Marabe Jr., who recently retired as Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, prosecutor, was gunned down by still unidentified assailants.Marabe handled some of the criminal cases brought against the Parojinog family of Ozamiz, whom President Duterte had tagged as drug lords.On May 11 this year, Quezon City deputy prosecutor Rogelio Velasco was shot to death inside his car by several men who intercepted his vehicle. His two daughters who were with him were unhurt.Seven other government prosecutors were killed by unknown assailants, while another survived an ambush.On Oct. 26, 2016, Mati City, Davao Oriental prosecutor Rolando Acido was shot dead as he was getting out of his car.Quezon City assistant prosecutor Noel Mingoa was gunned down outside a restaurant on Jan. 11, 2017.Almost a month later, on Feb. 6, 2017, Surigao City prosecutor Manuel Tesiorna Jr. was wounded when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire at him outside his house.On May 22, 2017, Caloocan City assistant state prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon was shot several times in the head by a man on a motorcycle as he was about to leave his house.Rizal provincial prosecutor Maria Ronatay was also gunned down by two men on a motorcycle on July 18, 2017, as she was driving on Ortigas Avenue Extension in Taytay, Rizal.Former Mandaluyong City prosecutor-turned-barangay chair Pablito Gahol was shot dead on Sept. 2, 2017.Days later, on Sept. 29, 2017, Quezon province assistant prosecutor Reymund Luna was shot dead on his way home from a court hearing."
781,"Where is the government?Vice President Jejomar Binay repeated this sentence throughout the 15-minute speech in Filipino as he delivered his sharpest words yet against the Aquino administration at the launch of his political party on Wednesday in Makati, the city that the Binay family has controlled for almost 30 years.He devoted a large part of his stinging and emotionally charged speech lambasting the government, at one point describing it as an association of “tamad, usad-pagong at teka-teka (lazy, slow and indecisive)” people.“After five years, so many are still without jobs, hungry, ill and with no one to turn to, youths who cannot go to school, rampant crime and illegal drugs in the community. Poverty is widespread,” the Vice President said.“The nation asks: ‘Where is the government?’” he said, addressing the crowd from a glowing red lectern shaped like the No. 1, resembling the digit in the logo of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).Binay noted that until now no charges had been filed against the killers of the 44 members of the police Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, on Jan. 25. (Seventeen fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and five civilians also died in the clashes.)Bungling, insensitiveBinay kept repeating the phrase “palpak at manhid (bungling and insensitive),” which he first used last week in explaining his split with the Aquino administration.“UNA is not an association of the bungling and insensitive,” he said. “It is not a group of people who are lazy, turtle-paced, and hesitant in facing the nation’s problems.”The Vice President said that should UNA make any mistakes, it would own up to them immediately. “We will not blame or accuse others. We will own up to the responsibility with humility.”Dig at Grace PoeApparently taking a dig anew at Sen. Grace Poe, who has overtaken him in recent surveys on voters’ choice for president, Binay said his party was made up of people with “experience and not newbies just studying governance and public service.”If elected President, Binay said he would advance social services, strengthen agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, BPOs, quality basic education and healthcare.He said the party would respect the Constitution and always let the law prevail.People first“Una ang bayan! Una ang tao! Una ang Pilipino (The country first! The people first! The Filipino first!)” Binay said in concluding his speech.Binay assumed the chair of the newly formed political party.Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco was formally elected UNA president; Sen. Gregorio Honasan, vice president; JV Bautista, secretary general; and former Finance Secretary Gary Teves, treasurer.Tiangco said Binay’s speech set the tone for his campaign for the presidency in 2016.“This kind of governance cannot continue. They are for continuing the legacy. What we’re saying is we should not continue this,” he said, alluding to the Aquino administration’s touted tuwid na daan (straight path) governance.Tiangco said Binay rightly pointed to the problems facing the nation, such as the troubled Metro Rail Transit system and the slow rehabilitation of the places ravaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in 2013.Manny PacquiaoIn attendance at the UNA convention were Sen. JV Ejercito, former Sen. Ernesto Maceda, former Tarlac Gov. Tingting Cojuangco, former Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and UNA lawmakers, including Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.Binay’s son, Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay, who stepped down on the strength of a suspension order by the Ombudsman, appeared minutes after the program started.He waved to the crowd and was met by cheers inside the 3,000-seat auditorium, which was filled to capacity.Loudest cheersBut the loudest cheers were reserved for UNA’s most famous member: Pacquiao. “We have a right to choose who’s in our heart,” he told reporters when asked if he was afraid of reprisal from the administration.He said he was still in the process of deciding whether to run for senator.Asked if he would campaign for Binay, Pacquiao was evasive: “That depends. We have not talked about that. I am here to support the party declarations.”Joseph Estrada absentNotably absent was former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, one of the three pillars of UNA, along with Binay and detained Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile.Binay spokesman Mon Ilagan said the former President had a prior engagement but acknowledged that the latter was “contemplating” a number of issues, such as possibly supporting Senator Poe, the daughter of the late Fernando Poe Jr., or running for President again himself.Tiangco said a city mayor had plenty of responsibilities and would not take Estrada’s absence against him. “None,” he replied when asked if he was concerned Estrada would end up supporting Senator Poe.Replying to the Inquirer, Ejercito said he went to the party launch “as a friend of Binay.”Ejercito said it would be a problem for him if Poe would run for President against Binay.Festive atmosphereThe atmosphere at Makati Coliseum was festive, a cacophony of drums and cymbals filled the air and stage lights flickered around the auditorium.Radio jocks Nicole Hyala and Chris Tsuper served as emcees, cracking jokes and engaging the audience in comic banter.Makati residents and UNA members from the provinces turned up in droves and by the busload, many wearing campaign shirts bearing Binay’s name and slogans.The emcees spent the first few hours acknowledging the politicians in attendance, along with their constituencies.Binay’s combative words came as a surprise to the media. Ilagan, a few hours before, said Binay’s speech, would be “not as fiery as before.”Surprised by speech“What you will hear now are the programs, the vision, the plans, of UNA as a political party,” he said. “The speech of the VP will have a more positive theme this time.”Tiangco said he was surprised by the content of the Vice President’s speech.“I didn’t expect it would go like that. I didn’t see the final speech. We were busy in the organization. I don’t know who wrote it,” he said.“What we should ask is: ‘Did he speak the truth?’ … No one will argue that the problems he mentioned are the problems being felt by people,” he said.Tiangco said there was no plan to incite the people’s anger against the government.He said Mayor Binay’s suspension had nothing to do with the elder Binay’s fiery words.Self-descriptionLiberal Party stalwarts scoffed at Vice President’s stabs at his former colleagues in the Aquino Cabinet.“What a beautiful self-description,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a text message.Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice brushed off Binay’s claims saying that the Aquino administration would not have achieved its glowing economic record by being lazy and indecisive.“And more importantly, you can’t hit your economic goals if the cost of your projects are overpriced like the P2.3-billion Makati [City Hall] Building II and the P1.2-billion Makati Science High School building,” Erice said.Calling Binay the “master trapo (traditional politician)”, Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas said the Vice President merely “enumerated a litany of promises but he did not explain how he will do it.”“Makati has a lot of money and a very small population thanks to the big business whose existence predates Binay. But because of corruption a considerable number of communities in Makati are still depressed,” Treñas said.–"
790,"Masked members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), while claiming that Donald Trump’s election as president is proof that whites are taking back America from blacks, immigrants, Jews and other groups, insisted that they’re not white supremacists.They also denied any connection with Filipinos who also have a history of (a different) KKK, although both organizations were founded in the 1800’s.Six Confederate veterans from Pulaski, Tennessee created the original Ku Klux Klan on December 24, 1865, during the Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. The name was formed by combining the Greek kyklos (κύκλος, circle) with clan. The group was known for a short time as the “Kuklux Clan”.The Filipino KKK, on the other hand was founded on July 7, 1892, when Andress Bonifacio became convinced that the only way the Philippines could gain independence from the Spanish colonizers was through a revolution. He then formed the “Katastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” (KKK) on July 7, 1892 in a house on Azcarraga street (now Claro M. Recto), in Tondo Manila.Now you know."
800,"[NB: Satire or truth? We invite readers of what follows to be the judges.]President Jojo Binay will be fantastic for PHL. Country has had leaders with myopic vision. He will show the world that what a 4′-9″ can see is better than what anyone else sees, since he is used to seeing the asses of the six-footers. He will have the foresight to know which priorities do matter because foresight sounds like it has something to do with four, and as already said, he had to reckon with this number since his coming of age. As a result, he will have well thought programs to support his vision. Because he will make his vision a part of him, he will be a firm leader, firmer than the permed hair of the asses he always sees. Unlike BS Aquino, he will not tolerate bungling managers who don't know their ass from their elbow; as already said, he knows an ass as he knows a hole. Unlike BS, his organization will not be a jungle of confusion. His will be lean and mean, as lean as the six-foot basketball player he always aspired to be and as mean as his son at the gate of Dasma.Binay is a boy scout and has been in many scouting hikes. He knows that what slows down a hike are the fat and the weak in the group. Thus, he will immediately address the problems of inequality and poverty. This means job creation will be a priority. Unlike BS who has neglected manufacturing and agriculture as shown by the dismal performance of these sectors during BS' watch, Binay will focus on these sectors precisely because these sectors are the biggest job generators.The Binays have already shown core expertise in piggery, orchid growing, exotic bird and race horse breeding, as well as their love for antiques. Because of this expertise, Binay can effectively teach families the know-how in these fields, spurring the unprecedented growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), To help these SMEs, the populace will be encourage to eat pork. That means also that more people will frequent hospitals, and more hospitals will be built, which will give jobs to the countless jobless nurses; hitting two exotic birds with one stone. Scientists will also have jobs for they will have to study how each specie of orchids can be made edible and delicious. Tourists will come to taste our unique pork sinigang blended with orchid; again hitting two exotic birds with one stone. With so many race horses, people will go to work without cars; thus easing traffic. And, with so much horseshit around, PHL will not need to import coal and oil for energy. With too many exotic birds being killed with one stone, more will have to be bred. Binay, thus, will be known as the one who stopped the vicious cycle of poverty, the one who started the wheel of progress. The resulting high spirit will psychologically invite curiousness from foreign direct investors. The resulting investments will create a lot of local dummies as dummy partners, but never mind, by that time, PHL will be on its way to becoming the next tiger economy.In addition, Binay is a self made man; he disdains those born with a silver spoon. The oligarchs will have to be careful; their monopolistic businesses will be reviewed as to why they take advantage of the poor and ignorant with the high prices and poor quality of their goods and services. There is a likelihood that he will attempt to break them, even destroy them. So that when these oligarchs become poor, they can just work their way up again and can also be called self-made, just like him. For sure, he will send a message to all these grandstanding politicians by just demolishing the Quirino Grandstand. He will build there the most magnificent parking building; his taste is always world class. They can all park their SUVs, Mercs and Bimmers there, but not stand up and grandstand. Luneta will be covered with orchids. The museum will be expanded to house all the antiques that could be acquired from the world. It will not just be more fun in the Philippines, it will be literally be funny, and why not?For sure, he knows every trick in the book about corruption. In his term, every politician will be caught even before they think and scheme a tongpats. The culture of corruption in government will have to change culture, and Binay will assist in the transformation. He will also do something about education for he also personally knows something about this. Just look at the fantastic training he has given Jun-jun Binay, the incumbent Mayor of Makati.Say Beep, Beep and Vote Binay for President.---------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/11/4-things-that-will-happen-when-jejomar-binay-becomes-philippine-president/comment-page-1/#comment-930081"
811,"Pinayuhan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Quezon City ang lahat ng QCitizens na lalabas ng bahay na magsuot ng face mask.
Ito ay reaksyon ng QC LGU hinggil sa pinaka-latest na Air Quality Index (AQI) na maraming bahagi ng lungsod ang “UNHEALTHY” at “VERY UNHEALTHY” ang kalidad ng hangin.
“Kung ‘di maiiwasan ang pag-alis, lalo na sa mga senior citizens, buntis, at may respiratory diseases tulad ng hika, huwag kalimutang magsuot ng face mask,” ayon sa abiso bg QCLGU.
Dulot nito patuloy na mino-monitor ng lokal na pamahalaan ang AQI para tiyaking informed at updated ang lahat ng QCitizens sa kalidad ng hangin sa lungsod.
Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa AQI, maaaring makipag-ugnayan ang publiko sa Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department (CCESD).
Para sa health concerns tulad ng hirap sa paghinga, hika, at iba pa, maaaring tumawag sa City Health Department sa Tel. No. (02) 8929-8038 o tumawag sa QC Helpline 122 para sa iba pang agarang aksyon."
820,"Senator Gordon spoke in the senate about war on drugs and extrajudicial killings on the 4th Senate Session, August 2, 2016.The Senator shares his thoughts about the speech of Sen. Cayetano and Sen. De Lima about the current administration’s action against illegal drugs.Sen. Gordon also said that Sen. De Lima is out of line for pushing a senate investigation about the alleged power abuse of the authorities.According to the Senator, the Internal Affairs Division can investigate the killings, not CHR, Congress or the Senate.He also praises President Duterte for fearlessly announcing the names of the 5 narcogenerals who are allegedly protecting drug lords.Full Version:"
831,"A lone bettor from Pasay City has bagged the P36.3-million Megalotto 6/45 jackpot of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).Alexander Balutan, PCSO general manager, said the bettor correctly guessed the six-number winning combination 06-16-09-12 -13-29 during Wednesday night’s draw.Balutan added that the winning lotto ticket was bought from an outlet at Victory Mall in Pasay City.Total sales for Wednesday’s 6/45 lotto draw reached P18,309,300.Apart from the lone jackpot winner, 62 other bettors will receive P14,760 each for getting five of the six-number combination right."
840,"Terrorists New People’s Army burned ten heavy equipment in Davao City used for government’s bypass road project, Saturday morning. Davao City Mayor Inday Sara hits the NPA for the recent attack. Below is the official statement of the lady Mayor.STATEMENT BY MAYOR INDAY SARA DUTERTE ON NPA’S RECENT ACTS OF TERRORISMWe condemn the burning of 10 construction heavy equipment by the New People’s Army in three different villages of Davao City on Saturday.The attacks were downright cowardly and indicate that the NPA is nothing but a terrorist group that deserves our collective rejection and condemnation.The NPA’s revolution is one designed to undermine our democracy and development through its brand of egregious violence and extremism.The construction of roads in Barangay Callawa in Buhangin, Barangay Fatima in Paquibato, and Barangay Dalagdag in Calinan are now temporarily stalled because of the attacks.These road projects are being done by the City Government of Davao and the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to end the condition of chronic poverty in the said areas.The road projects could make the delivery of other basic services to the people faster — including health, education, agricultural development, and livelihood.The said projects could change the lives of the people for the better.The fresh atrocities reveal that the terrorist group only truly intends for people to continue living in a condition of poverty, which they could use as a capital in their propaganda against the government and to justify their presence in the communities where their influence and significance are waning.And while at it, it is worth noting how this group’s recent attacks were also carried out as a retaliatory action to the refusal of the construction companies involved in the projects to give in to the pressure of extortion by the NPAs.The military and the police have already been tasked to conduct appropriate actions regarding this.Let me reiterate my previous appeal to the people of Davao and to our partners in the peace and development movement— let us support our soldiers and police and let us openly condemn NPA as a terrorist group.More photos below from GMA One Mindanao."
850,"The suit and tie is to America. The Barong Tagalog is to the Philippines.Since the time of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, Filipino males have always donned the Barong Tagalog for formal and special occasions. Made of local transparent fabric, this official male Filipino attire has never failed to regale fashion experts and dignitaries like U.S. President Barack Obama who absolutely looks stunning in a barong.But with the election of a new president, change is coming.President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is known to be very uncomfortable in a barong. Photo after photo of Duterte during the campaign period shows him in his favorite, red, white and black checkered polo shirt.As he prepares to take office, the country’s clothing experts are predicting that in no time at all, the barong will go out of fashion. In its place will be Duterte’s trademark checkered shirt.So Filipino men, go get yours so that you won’t be left out of the “in crowd.”Would the checkered shirt eventually replace the barong as the Philippines’ national dress for men?Also, it’s time to retire the yellow t-shirt of the PNoy administration."
861,"Jose Maria Sison, founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), on Wednesday slammed efforts to impeach Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, saying the ultimate objective is to “complete” President Rodrigo Duterte’s control of the Supreme Court.“Consider this as part of the scheme of Duterte to establish his fascist dictatorship,” Sison said in a statement.Sison has become a staunch critic of the President following the breakdown of peace talks between the government and the communist rebels.From being allies during the campaign and the first year of the administration, Mr. Duterte and Sison have exchanged bitter words.“The majority of SC already belongs to Duterte, as evidenced by the quick acquittal of GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) and giving Duterte unlimited power to proclaim martial law (ML),” Sison said. “The impeachment of CJ Sereno is aimed at completing Duterte’s control of entire SC.”He urged the people “to realize” that Mr. Duterte “is well on the way to establishing his fascist dictatorship.”Sison said the most compelling proof were the “capture of the majority in Congress and SC through corruption and blackmail, huge intelligence and the discretionary funds for the OP (Office of the President), corruption of the AFP and PNP and their conversion to Duterte’s private armies.”Sison also hit the government for using public fundsfor Kilusang Pagbabago-Masid Masa “as propaganda movement and spy network.”Sison alleged that government money was used for “relentless propaganda for mass murder against drug suspects, social activists and revolutionaries and proclamation of ML Mindanao wide in preparation for ML nationwide.”He added: “Without CJ Sereno and further weakening of the minority who uphold human rights in SC, Duterte will have a Supreme Court that is even more willing to be a rubber stamp tool for approving militarization and fascist dictatorship.”"
871,"Age doesn’t matter if you have the desire and determination to study.At the age of 30, AB Communication graduate Rey Stephen Ortiz has finished magna cum laude from STI College Global City.“After working in BPO industry for almost 7 years, I decided to go back to school to finish my education. I am 26 that time,” he said in an interview with Manila Bulletin.Ortiz stated that AB Communication was not his first choice.“Since I’m working in BPO industry, my first choice is to take up Business Management. But after seeing its curriculum, I asked the admission if they can offer me a course that ‘had a few numbers’ then they recommended AB Communication,” he said.He also took up Hotel and Restaurant Services for two years in a TESDA school at Balasan, Iloilo.Ortiz shared that he was the eldest among his classmates.“I didn’t experience any discrimination from my classmates,” he said.The fresh graduate also learned that we need to collaborate with others in order to succeed.“I came from a broken family but it didn’t stop me from achieving my dreams that someday I can finish my education.”“Always trust the process,” he stated.“You need to believe in yourself. When in doubt, pray.”"
880,"There are two things one would find in every Filipino home: a rice cooker and a karaoke machine. Either one or both could probably explain why Filipinos are some of the most musically-talented in the world.Well, Apple is cashing in on this phenomenon when it launches its iPad Water in the Philippines beginning September 9. The Cupertino-based company has chosen the Philippines as its test market for this new exciting product.Now, even the most shy but musically-talented Filipinos will have no more excuse to not showcase their talent, albeit in the shower.The new iPad Water comes with a waterproof cover and an installed karaoke app that would make singing in the shower a breeze and an absolute delight. It automatically connects to the Internet where one could easily download the latest hit songs- from Taylor Swift to Bruno Mars. The shower head automatically converts into a microphone through bluetooth technology.The new iPad Water will retail for PH 9,000 (pesos) or approximately $200."
890,"Kusang sumuko si Peter Joemel Advincula alyas Bikoy sa Philippine National Police (PNP) at humiling ng protective custody. Ayon kay PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Amador Corpus, bumalik si Advincula kasama ang kanyang abogado at nagsumite na rin ng mga ebidensya na makatutulong sa imbestigasyon para patunayan ang kanyang mga alegasyon. ""Last Monday, that is May 27, Bikoy returned. He is now under protective custody. He voluntarily surrendered himself and requested for protective custody,"" sinabi ni Corpus. Kabilang sa kanyang isinuko ay ang personal computer at cellphone na naglalaman umano ng usapan nila ni Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV na kasabwat niya sa paggawa ng mga serye ng propaganda videos laban sa pamilya Duterte. Sinabi pa ni Corpus na nasa ilalim ngayon ng protective custody ng CIDG si Advincula habang isinasailalim sa validation ang mga alegasyon nito. Sa pagsuko ni Advincula, sinabi ni PNP Police General Oscar Albayalde, na lahat ng pahayag nito, kabilang ang mga personalidad na iniugnay niya sa ouster plot laban kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ay iimbestigahan. ""All the things Bikoy said will be validated, all the names will be part of our investigation,"" saad ni Albayalde. ""Bikoy will be part of the investigation. Remember, he can also be a respondent here. We are not saying that he is already a witness or he's still a suspect. It's for the court to decide if he will become a witness or a suspect after we file a case,"" dagdag ni Albayalde. Humiling na rin ang PNP ng kopya ng closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage sa mga lugar ng pagkikita ni Advincula, ilang miyembro ng Otso Diretso, at mga kandidato sa pagkasenador ng oposisyon kaugnay sa Project Sodoma."
901,"SARANGANI Rep. Manny Pacquiao, fresh from his demolition of American Timothy Bradley, has slugged his way up in the senatorial race.The 37-year-old Pacquiao has moved up to third behind front-runners, Senators Franklin Drilon and Vicente Sotto III, according to the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.Of the 1,800 registered voters interviewed for the survey, 37 percent indicated preference for the Filipino boxing icon.The survey was conducted from April 18 to 20, more than a week after Pacquiao scored a decisive unanimous decision over Bradley after dropping him twice in their April 9 fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. After the fight, he indicated retirement to serve the people.The survey had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2 percentage points.In the previous March 30-April 2 SWS survey, Pacquiao ranked fifth to seventh with 31 percent, along with two other candidates.In the latest survey, first published in BusinessWorld, Drilon held on to the top spot with 45 percent, followed by Sotto with 42 percent. In fourth place behind Pacquiao was former Sen. Francis Pangilinan, with 36 percent.Ranked between fifth and 12th were former Sen. Panfilo Lacson (34 percent), Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri (34 percent), former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros (33 percent), former Justice Secretary Leila M. de Lima (33 percent), former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva (33 percent) Sen. Sergio Osmeña III (32 percent), former Sen. Richard Gordon (31 percent), Sen. Ralph Recto (30 percent), Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian (30 percent), and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III (27 percent).Trailing them were former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino (22 percent), former Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority COO Mark Lapid (20 percent), Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (17 percent), Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso (16 percent), former Optical Media Board Chair Edu Manzano (14 percent), Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares (12 percent) and former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla (10 percent).Those who obtained single-digit scores were Roman Romulo (8 percent), Alma Moreno Lacsamana (7 percent), Allan Montano (7 percent), Susan Ople (6 percent), Mel Chavez (6 percent), Larry Gadon (6 percent), Atty. Lorna Kapunan (6 percent), Dionisio Santiago (6 percent), Rey Langit (5 percent), Ina Ambolodto (4 percent), Romeo Maganto (4 percent), Raffy Alunan (4 percent), Getulio Napeñas (4 percent), Princess Jacel Kiram (3 percent), Shariff Albani (3 percent), Samuel Pagdilao (3 percent), Aldin Ali (3 percent), Jovito Palparan Jr. (3 percent), Mon Montaño (3 percent), Greco Belgica (3 percent), Godofredo Arquiza (3 percent), Walden Bello (2 percent), Ray Dorona (2 percent), Dante Liban (2 percent), Levito Baligod (2 percent), Sandra Cam (2 percent), Mr. Coop Paez (2 percent), Diosdado Valeroso (1 percent), and Eid Kabalu (1 percent).Results of the survey also showed that 34 percent of the voters have a complete senatorial slate. Almi Ilagan-Atienza, Inquirer Research"
910,"In a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations from December 8 to December 16 2017, only eight percent of the Filipinos nationwide believe that former President Benigno Aquino III’s whole term is better than the current term of President Rodrigo Duterte.According to the survey, 70% believe that Duterte has performed better than Aquino and 22% percent said that they’re the same.Most people who believed that President Duterte is better than Aquino came from Mindanao.Eight percent of the respondents, meanwhile, said that the performance of Aquino is better than Duterte.The SWS asked the respondents in the survey: “Kung ikukumpara ang pagganap ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kanyang tungkulin mula Hulyo 2016 sa pagkaganap ni dating Pangulong Aquino mula Hulyo 2010 hanggang Hulyo 2016, masasabi n’yo ba na PRRD is better, the same, PNoy is better?69 percent of the Filipinos also believed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s action is just appropriate for his current position, while 18 percent said that it’s inappropriate and 13 percent were undecided.The camp of former President Aquino is not yet giving any comments on the latest survey conducted by SWS."
920,"For the longest time, ex-President NoyNoy Aquino has remained silent regarding accusations of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) attributed to Duterte’s war on drugs.Today, just days after the Supreme Court ruled to keep Senator Leila De Lima in jail and just hours after the House of Representatives voted to impeach Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chair Andy Bautista, Aquino has come out for the first time to defend his successor.To anyone who cries, “EJKs,” the former president has this to say:”Buhay ka pa naman, di ba?’ (You’re still alive, aren’t you?)"
930,"As expected, the notion of ""resilience"" is again being touted as the Filipino virtue on exhibit as torrential rains pound Metro Manila and as floodwaters rise. Thus Filipinos' idea of ""coping"" with disaster is doing nothing during sunny days and being ""resilient"" during rainy days.The trouble with being assured of the goodness and blessedness of being ""resilient"" during one disaster or the next is that it lulls people into a bizarre sense of hollow superiority over an adverse situation. Under such a mentality, the adversity Filipinos face is seen to be a kind of an ""evil"" that they expect to overcome on the basis of an ill-placed sense of righteousness that entitles them to victory.Nothing to smile about. Nothing to be proud of.(Source: Twitter)Sounds baffling? That's because it is. It is no more baffling than the reality that Filipinos undergo the same preventable disasters year in and year out with hardly any change in the manner and quality of their response to it.""Resilience"" is no longer a sanctuary to distract from the reality that Filipinos have not done enough to respond intelligently to what is essentially a technical problem that can be solved using technical solutions."
941,"Aabot sa P278.8 milyong halaga ng shabu ang nasamsam ng mga tauhan ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) mula sa dalawang Chinese national sa isinagawang buy-bust operation sa Quezon City kamakalawa ng gabi.
Nakilala ang mga Chinese national na sina alyas “Aye”, 33 at alyas “Mok”, 32, na kapwa residente ng General Trias, Cavite. Ang mga suspek ay nagtrabaho sa HongKong bilang truck at ride-hailing drivers.
Batay sa ulat ng PDEA, ikinasa ng PDEA Special Enforcement Service (SES), PDEA Regional Office–National Capital Region (RO-NCR) Regional Special Enforcement Team 1 at PNP Quezon City Police District Drug Enforcement Unit ang buy-bust operation bandang alas-10:20 ng gabi sa Andrade St. sa Brgy. Balingasa.
Nasamsam ang nasa 41 kilo ng shabu na isinilid sa paper bag at kahon. Bukod sa mga iligal na droga, nakuha rin sa dalawang suspek ang isang Toyota Fortuner, Hong Kong passport, Hong Kong International Driving Permit, dalawang cellphone at marked buy-bust money na ginamit sa operasyon.
Sinabi naman ni PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R Nerez na ang pagkakasabat ng halos P300 milyon ng illegal drugs ay indikasyon na mas pina­iigting ng pamahalaan ang kampanya laban sa large-scale drug trafficking activities.
“We will not allow the Philippines to be used as a transshipment hub or market for illegal drugs. Regardless of nationality, those who engage in this criminal activity will be pursued and held fully accountable under our laws,” he added.
Sasampahan ang mga suspek ng paglabag sa Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) at Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) ng Article II of Republic Act 9165, o Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Sakaling mapatunayang guilty, kulong habambuhay ang mga suspek at pagbabayarin ng P10 milyon."
951,"Vice President Jejomar Binay’s longtime secretary Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy continues to draw her salary from the Makati City government despite disappearing six months ago, the Inquirer has learned.The Inquirer also learned that Baloloy “retired” sometime during her disappearance and received from the city government a check covering her retirement benefits on Monday, two days before Mayor Junjun Binay stepped down to obey a suspension order from the Ombudsman.Baloloy and another trusted aide of Vice President Binay, Gerardo “Gerry” Limlingan, disappeared last year after the Senate opened an investigation into allegations of corruption in Makati during Binay’s term as mayor of the city.The Senate blue ribbon committee has ordered Baloloy and Limlingan, together with 12 other people, arrested for ignoring summons to appear at the hearings that looked into charges of overpricing in the construction of Makati City Hall Building II and other alleged corrupt deals involving the Vice President.READ: In the Know: Gerry Limlingan and Eduviges ‘Ebeng’ BaloloyAn Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) report released by the Court of Appeals in May showed that Baloloy and Limlingan had billions of pesos in individual and joint bank accounts, among 242 bank accounts belonging to Binay and his family that the court ordered frozen on suspicion that the deposits came from illegal activities.Limlingan is said to be a successful businessman, but there are no records that show Baloloy has businesses of her own.Her gross monthly salary from the Makati city government is P60,000.Binay’s camp claims that the Vice President has not seen Baloloy and Limlingan for a long time, and last week Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV reported that the two had left the country.READ: NBI to track down 2 Binay close aidesThe Bureau of Immigration, however, said it had no records showing that Baloloy and Limlingan were no longer in the country.Information obtained by the Inquirer from a Makati City Hall source showed that the immigration bureau was right, at least in the case of Baloloy.Paid in cashThe source told the Inquirer that City Hall continued to pay Baloloy’s salary in cash although she was supposed to have disappeared six months ago.The source said the Makati city government paid its employees’ salaries manually and in cash.“The records show that her salary was received every payday and her retirement benefits, including terminal leaves and other benefits, were given to her and received [two days] before Mayor Junjun stepped down,” the source said.Sought for comment, Joey Salgado, spokesperson for the Vice President, confirmed that Baloloy had applied for retirement.“Yes, I was told she applied for early retirement,” Salgado said in a text message.As for the report that Baloloy continued to be paid despite disappearing, Salgado said it should be verified whether she had already claimed her leave credits.“That should explain her salaries,” Salgado said.Like Limlingan, Baloloy cannot be found. Her last known address was Arellano Street, West Rembo Village, in Makati.Baloloy had been the Vice President’s personal secretary since 1986 when President Corazon Aquino appointed him officer in charge of Makati after the Edsa People Power Revolution.KickbacksFormer Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado named Baloloy during a Senate hearing one of the people to whom he delivered millions of pesos in kickbacks for Binay when the Vice President was still mayor of Makati.Mercado said Baloloy was one of two people to whom the Vice President entrusted his share in the kickbacks from various infrastructure projects in Makati City.The other person was Limlingan, Binay’s longtime financial adviser.According to the AMLC report to the Court of Appeals, Baloloy and Limlingan began to empty their bank accounts after a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee opened hearings on the corruption charges against Binay in August last year."
961,"‘The provincial police force yesterday vowed to maintain Bataan’s drug-free status after Gov. Abet S. Garcia declared the province drug-free last month, based on the assessment of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and validation of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).Bataan police provincial director Senior Supt. Benjamin Silo Jr. said the police force is working to keep all of Bataan’s 237 barangays drug-free.It was also gathered that all 9,154 drug suspects in the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council watch list surrendered or were arrested.Silo said organizations from the barangay to the provincial level are working to curtail the resurgence of illegal drugs.In the barangay level, groups composed of sector leaders and family members of identified drug users and pushers are organized to monitor their reintegration in the community.“In the municipal level, we organized the Municipal Anti-Illegal Drug Conveners. They will lead the organizations established in barangays and make sure they are focused,” Silo said.“In the provincial level, we have created a group that will supervise the municipal organizations, the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Conveners.”According to Gov. Garcia, the police and the local government units are implementing a “very systematic” approach to ensure the eradication of illegal substances, citing the support of barangay captains."
971,"well they should be disposed of at the first instance,” he said.Duterte assured that the Philippines will be the first to speak loudly against a genocide that would stem from hatred.“I would like to say that we are one in saying that it will not happen again and my country will be the first to voice such I said a massacre of a race just because of hate,” he said.The Yad Vashem’s Hall of Names is Israel’s memorial to each and every Jew who perished at the Holocaust.Aside from his daughter, Duterte was also joined in the tour by top Cabinet officials including Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea among others.Duterte, joined by his daughter, then laid a wreath at the Children’s Memorial Hall. The venue is a tribute to the approximately 1.5 million Jewish children who were murdered during the Holocaust. The names of the children, their ages, and countries of origin can be heard in the background.The Holocaust was a state-sponsored persecution and murder of around 6 million Jews by the Nazis who came to power in Germany in January 1933. The Nazis thought that Germans were the superior race and that the Jews, whom they thought were the inferior race, were the priority danger to Germany.With Israel, the Philippines is celebrating the 81st anniversary of the Open Doors policy of the Philippines under then President Manuel L. Quezon who offered shelter to more than a thousand Jews escaping the holocaust in Europe.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his meeting with Duterte Monday morning (Israel time), said Israel remembers the Philippines’ exceptional role of accepting Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.According to Philippine Ambassador to Israel Nathaniel Imperial, the Philippine embassy and the Israeli government actually in 2009 dedicated the Open Doors monument in the city of Rishon Lezion to commemorate the humanitarian assistance extended to the around 1,300 Jewish refugees in the 1930s.Duterte’s visit came two years after he attracted criticisms when he compared himself to Hitler, saying he would be happy to kill 3 million addicts like what the Nazi leader did to Jews.“Hitler massacred 3 million Jews. There are 3 million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them,” Duterte said in a press conference in September 2016.“At least, if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have you know,” he added, referring to himself.After drawing controversy, Duterte later apologized to the Jews, saying he never intended to devalue the memory of the Holocaust victims.“Nag-react ang Jewish community all over the world (The Jewish community all over the world reacted). I would like to make it [clear] now, here and now, that there was never an intention on my part to derogate the memory of 6 million Jews murdered by the Germans,” he said in October.“They do not really want you to tinker with the memory. Alam natin ‘yan (We know that). So I apologize profoundly and deeply to the Jewish community,” he added."
980,"Of what use are your millions of dollars if you don’t have a country to call your own? Well, that’s exactly what Filipino American millionaire Loida Nicolas-Lewis is faced with right now after she publicly called for the resignation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte so that VP Leni Robredo can take over.Nicolas-Lewis is a known supporter of the candidacy of Mar Roxas who lost the election to Duterte, and Robredo.By calling for the resignation of Duterte, many elements in the Philippines are accusing her of ‘sedition,’ and have asked that she be declared a persona non grata and stripped of her Philippine citizenship.On the other hand, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump who has endorsed Duterte’s administration is in the process of revoking Nicolas-Lewis’ American citizenship for interfering in the affairs of a foreign nation (the Philippines). Trump dislikes the Filipina millionaire because she actively campaigned for Hillary Clinton and supported the Obama administration.So what’s next for Nicolas-Lewis?In a phone call with The Adobo Chronicles today, she indicated that she is planning to purchase a beachfront property in the Bahamas. Good thing she has the millions of dollars for it. From dual citizen to a millionaire refugee she will be!"
991,"Ang reklamo ay kaugnay ng kontratang pinasok ni Tupas at ng National Power Corporation (Napocor) na nagpapatakbo sa Green Core para sa supply ng kuryente sa loob ng apat na taon mula Setyembre 26, 2007 hanggang Disyembre 25, 2011. Inaasahan ang pagkakumpleto ng ipinanukalang konstruksiyon ng Iloilo Multi-Purpose Convention Center, ang supply contract ay nagbibigay ng karagdagang enerhiya mula 185,000kWh kada buwan hanggang sa 400,000kWh kada buwan. Dahil sa pagkakabalam ng konstruksiyon ng convention center noong Disyembre 2009, humiling si Tupas ng adjustment at pagbabawas ng contract energy mula 400,000kWh sa 17,000kWh kada buwan. Bilang tugon, ginawa ng Green Core ang adjustment para lamang sa panahong sakop ng Hunyo 26, 2010 hanggang Disyembre 25, 2011. Bilang resulta, nabayaran ang Green Core ng halagang kumakatawan sa contracted energy na 1,084,814.50kWh bagamat ang aktuwal na energy consumption ng Iloilo ay halos kalahati sa 515,180.50kWh. May kabuuang P5.88 milyon ang binayaran para sa higit na isang milyong kWh ng Green Core bagamat ang aktuwal na nagamit ng probinsiya ay nagkakahalaga ng P1.88 milyon lang. Sinabi ni Ombudsman Morales na ito ay nagresulta sa over payment ng halos P4 milyon para sa billing period ng Disyembre 2009 hanggang Abril 2010."
1001,"Patok hindi lamang sa mga Pinoy kundi pati sa ibang lahi ang samgyeopsal at mga skincare routine mula sa South Korea, na nagpapakita ng patuloy na paglaganap ng impluwensiya nito pagdating sa pagkain at beauty trends sa buong mundo.
Sa bahagi ng “Annyeonghaseyo, South Korea” na dokumentaryo ni John Consulta sa I-Witness, sinabing makikita ang impluwensiya ng South Korea sa Pilipinas sa mga Korean town, na ang pinakamalaki ay nasa Angeles City, Pampanga.
Naroon ang mga authentic na Korean restaurant, groceries, wellness centers, at ang paborito ng marami na Samgyupsal.
“Unang una po, dahil sa naimpluwensiyahan din sila sa mga K dramas kasi nakikita din nila 'yun. And at the same time, kaya nakilala din ang Samgyupsal dito kasi 'yung lasa, kakaiba ang mga lasa,” sabi ni Kelly Bande, General Manager ng Donenoo Korean BBQ House.
Ang Samgyupsal ay isang sikat na putahe na sumikat noong 1960s, na tipikal na ginagamitan ng three-layered meat na binubuo ng makakapal at hindi marinated na hiwa ng pork belly. Karne ng baka ang orihinal na sangkap nito, at nag-iisang klase ng karne sa Samgyupsal.
Pagkatapos ng Korean War, bumagsak ang ekonomiya ng Korea kaya naging alternatibo ang karne ng baboy dahil na rin sa mas murang presyo nito.
Sa kasalukuyan, must-eat ang Samgyupsal sa Korea, na iniihaw sa mesa at binabalot sa lettuce. Sumasalamin sa kultura ng Korea ang pagsasalo-salo at pagbubuklod sa sama-samang pagkain sa iisang rim.
Umabot na rin sa iba't ibang bansa ang pagmamahal sa lutuing Koreano. Dinadagsa ng mga dayuhan galing sa kanluran hanggang Asya ang mga cooking class para sa bibimbap, upang matutunan ang sining ng paghahalo ng kulay, lasa at tradisyon.
Isa rin ang bibimbap sa mga pagkaing praktikal na kainin matapos ang Korean War dahil sa simpleng mga sangkap nito, na nagpapakita ng diwa ng K-culture.
Pagdating sa pagpapaganda, hindi rin pahuhuli ang K-beauty.
Katunayan, kilala ang South Korea bilang plastic surgery capital ng mundo, habang lumalaganap na rin ang kanilang skincare regimen dahil sa kalidad nito.
Sa kasalukuyan, pumapangatlo ang K-beauty sa larangan ng cosmetics exporting sa buong mundo.
Sa Beauty Play sa South Korea, naka-display ang iba’t ibang beauty products na hindi kilala ang brands. Layon ng organizers na tulungang makipagsabayan sa merkado ang mga maliliit na negosyo.
“K-beauty has its roots in a long history. I believe that the good ingredients and routines that have existed all along all now being recognized globally by many people. In that sense, I feel very proud. It gives me a strong sense of pride and fulfillment,” sabi ni Bomi Ryu, team leader ng Beauty Play.
Dagdag dito, inuumpisahan na rin nila ang pag-promote ng mga Korean SMSE o Small and Medium Size Enterprises sa Pilipinas.
Kaya naman ang ilang Pinoy, tila bahagi na ng rituwal sa umaga hanggang gabi ang Korean skincare routine para makuha ang makinis na mala-glass skin look.
“‘Pag sinabi kasi in Korea, number one ‘yan na maganda 'yung mga cosmetics nila. Number one 'yung mga surgery dito sa Korea. Alam kong talagang ang quality ng brand nila ay talagang hindi tinipid sa ingredients. Talagang makikita mo agad 'yung kagandahan ‘pag nagamit mo,” sabi ni Asteria Cabonegro, CEO ng Aria K-Beauty."
1011,"Sa panayam ng ESPN Deportes, inamin ni Marquez na gusto niyang lumaban sa huling bahagi ng taong 2014 pero laging sumasakit ang kanyang mga tuhod na unang napinsala bago ang kanyang laban kay dating world light welterweight champion Mike Alvarado na tinalo niya sa puntos."
1020,"Sa kanyang talumpati sa isang campaign rally sa Davao City, pinuri ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte si dating Presidente Ferdinand Marcos. Ayon sa kasalukuyang Pangulo, si Marcos lang daw ang nag-iwan ng mga proyektong makikita natin. Ilan sa mga proyektong na nagawa noong panahon ni Presidente Marcos ayon kay Pangulong Duterte ay ang Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine International Convention Center at Manila's light rail transit system. ""Alam ninyo sa totoo lang, sa lahat ng mga naging presidente, sinong presidente ang may mga nagawa na makikita natin? Marcos lang,"" sabi ni Presdiente Duteret sa wikang Cebuano. Matapos ibida ang mga nagawa ni Marcos ay sabay banat naman si Pangulong Duterte sa ibang politiko. Hindi na pinangalanan ni Pangulong Duterte kung sino ang mga ito. ""It was only Marcos. At least in his time, Marcos had these built: the Cultural Center of the Philippines, PICC, and MRT. And the others? Wala. All they do is talk and criticize,,"" banat ng Pangulo. Source: GMA News | Presidential Communications"
1031,"“BE CAREFUL with that idiot,” leading presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday, trashing vice presidential hopeful Antonio Trillanes IV for claiming the Davao City mayor had told him he shot criminals in the head as they knelt before him.“I don’t know him. I met him only twice,” Duterte told the crowd at his campaign rally in Pandacan, Manila.Trillanes quickly responded to Duterte’s statement, calling him a liar in the mayor’s own brand of name-calling and trash talk.‘‘He’s a liar,’’ Trillanes said, warning the mayor not to ‘‘mess with me.’’In an interview on Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Thursday, Trillanes said he met with Duterte in April last year to explore the possibility of running with the Davao mayor in this year’s national elections.The senator said the meeting had been arranged by a common friend and that during their discussion Duterte told him a story about how he dealt with criminals in his city.“He told me that he made people get down on their knees and shot them in the head, splattering their brain on the ground,” Trillanes said.READ: Trillanes: Duterte told me how he did killingsTainted recordDuterte confirmed that he met with Trillanes, and that he told the senator what he thought of him.“We talked. He wanted to run for Vice President, with me as his President,” Duterte said.“I told him, ‘No way, your record is tainted. In the military, you insulted generals,’” he said.Trillanes was a lieutenant in the Philippine Navy before going into politics, parlaying the popularity he had gained from leading an uprising against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo into victory in the 2007 senatorial election.“‘You are not deserving,’ I told him. The idiot led a coup d’état, wrecked the hotel, the whole world heard about it, and now he is bragging about it,” he said, referring to the Nov. 29, 2007, occupation of the Manila Peninsula hotel by mutinous junior military officers that the military crushed.READ: Trillanes to give Duterte 6 months if they both winFor publicityDuterte said Trillanes told the story about the execution of criminals in Davao for publicity.“He wanted to be in the news, maybe thinking he could win [the vice presidential election] that way,” Duterte said.With just two weeks to go before the vote, Trillanes is still bringing up the rear in the vice presidential race, with only 5-percent voter support in the latest Social Weather Stations poll.Duterte taunted Trillanes over the failed junior military officers’ mutiny against Arroyo on July 27, 2003.“Playing hero. Why didn’t you kill yourself? Why did you surrender?” Duterte said.He mentioned how Trillanes humiliated former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes during the Senate investigation into alleged corruption in the military in 2011, driving Reyes into despondency and suicide.“That’s Trillanes,” Duterte said. “Be careful with that idiot.”Trillanes was quick to fire back.‘‘He’s a liar,’’ Trillanes said in a press statement. ‘‘Had he said that to me, I would have immediately hit him.’’He added: ‘‘We had a long and friendly talk and he even told me he admired my service to the country. Proof of that is a picture we had after the meeting. Mayor Duterte, don’t mess with me.’’"
1040,"PANGULONG DUTERTE LUMABAS NG BATASAN HUMARAP SA MGA NAG RARALLY Katulad ng inaasahan ng marami, lumabas ng ng Batasan si Pangulong Duterte matapos ito mag talumpati sa kanyan pangalawang SONA sa batasan pambansang ngayon hapon. naging mainit ang talumpati ni Pangulong Duterte kaharap ang mga rallyista"
1051,"Higher food, fuel and transport costs pushed inflation nationwide to 5.7 percent last month, the fastest rise in over five years, the government said on Tuesday.Surging inflation reduced a family’s purchasing power of P10,000 last year to only P9,430 last month.In Metro Manila, prices of basic goods and services rose further to 6.5 percent, up from 5.8 percent in June and 2.9 percent in July last year.Inflation in July nationwide marked the fifth straight month the rate has breached the central bank’s 2-4 percent target for this year and next, leading some analysts to believe policymakers would deliver a rate hike as much as 50 basis points on Thursday.The inflation rate was near the top end of the central bank’s 5.1-5.8 percent estimate for July.Amid rising consumer prices, the country’s economic managers assured the public that the government was moving to temper inflation. They said inflation would taper off toward the end of the year.Food prices surgeIn a report released on Tuesday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) attributed the increase in prices of basic goods and services to a 7.1-percent year-on-year increase in the price of food and nonalcoholic beverages.Rice prices have further gone up amid low grain inventory and depleted buffer stock of the National Food Authority.Declining rice inventory“Part of the supply problem is the country’s declining rice stock inventory—caused by weather disturbances in the country and in other rice-producing countries like Thailand and Vietnam—which is taking a toll on the prices of rice,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a joint statement.They said the 2.36 million metric tons of rice last month “declined by 8.2 percent year-on-year (from 2.57 million MT in July 2017 and dropping by 18.8 percent from the preceding month’s 2.91 million MT), with the National Food Authority’s rice buffer remaining almost depleted.”Jeepney fareAnother driver of inflation is higher transport costs. Since July 9, minimum jeepney fare has been increased to P9 from P8 because of rising pump prices of fuel.At the same time, the excise on cigarette further rose to P35 per pack starting July under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, up from P32.50 in January and P30 last year.The TRAIN law, which was implemented on Jan. 1, jacked up or imposed new excise on cigarettes, sugary drinks, oil products and vehicles, among other goods, to compensate for a higher tax-exempt personal income.At the Senate finance committee hearing on the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, Finance Secretary Dominguez said the TRAIN law contributed 0.5 percentage point to inflation.Commodity groupsThe PSA said the following commodity groups brought about the higher prices in Metro Manila:• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, up 21.9 percent year-on-year• Transport, up 8.9 percent• Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, up 8.2 percent• Food and nonalcoholic beverages, up 7.2 percent• Health, up 4.5 percent• Clothing and footwear, up 2.4 percent• Recreation and culture, up 1.1 percent• Communication, up 0.6 percent.Income lossIn the wake of the price increases, workers saw their income go down by as much as P2,700 in the first six months.Based on estimates of Ibon Foundation, roughly 60 million Filipinos suffered an income loss of around P993 to P2,715 because of the higher-than-expected inflation.The research group noted that the peso’s continued depreciation, the rising price of oil on the global market and the implementation of the TRAIN law were among the factors that drove up inflation to 5.7 percent in July.Wage hikeOn Tuesday, labor groups lamented that Ibon’s estimate showed that the recent P9 to P56 increase in the minimum wage imposed by the Department of Labor and Employment was not enough to cover at least P165 that workers lost to inflation monthly.Nagkaisa labor coalition spokesperson Rene Magtubo urged the government to fast-track its plan to flood the market with basic goods, such as rice, sugar, cooking oil at affordable prices to tame inflation.The Federation of Free Workers urged the Department of Trade and Industry to be more proactive in monitoring businesses, which may take advantage of the situation."
1061,"Nagposte si C.J. Miles ng 22 points at itinarak ni C.J. Watson ang 17 para sa Pacers (15-25), nabigo ng tatlo sa kanilang apat na mga laro. Ikinasa ni Wiggins ang put-back dunk at isinalansan ang 3-pointer upang ipagkaloob sa Timberwolves ang 93-90 lead, may 4:29 pa sa orasan. Ngunit si Williams ang halos nagpalakas sa Wolves para sa kanilang ikatlong road victory. Makaraan ang ilang 3-pointers sa kaagahan ng fourth quarter, itinabla nito ang laro sa 83 mula sa tatlong free throws, kasama na ang isa na mula sa tinawag na technical kay Ian Mahinmi sa nalalabing 7:10 sa korte. Nalagpasan ni Williams ang 46 puntos sa season na inasinta nina Carmelo Anthony at Pau Gasol, pawang nakakaangat sa NBA. Muling nabigo ang Pacers sa isa sa may pinakamasamang record sa liga, kung saan ay naibigay lamang sa Philadelphia ang ikapitong panalo noong Linggo, 93-92. Naiwasan ng Minnesota na mapalawig ang kanilang losing streak sa 16 na mga laro sa unang pagkakataon matapos ang 16-game skid noong Pebrero 24 hanggang Marso 28, 2010. Hindi umungos ang Pacers sa mahigit na 8 puntos sa unang half at angat sila sa 52-46 sa break."
1071,"Why is Sen. Grace Poe, who was unjustly abandoned at birth by her parents, being unjustly compelled to find them just to prove that she is a natural-born Filipino?Associate Justice Marvic Leonen made this point on Tuesday at the start of oral arguments in the Supreme Court while questioning Poe’s lawyer, Alexander Poblador, on a petition by the senator to set aside her disqualification in the May presidential balloting by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for alleged abuse of discretion.The Comelec has decided to nullify the certificate of candidacy of Poe, a foundling whose parents are unknown, for failing to meet the expressed constitutional requirements that candidates for high office should be natural-born citizens and should have lived for at least 10 years in the country.Leonen pointed out that Poe’s being abandoned after birth was wrong and unjust. He said the senator was “lucky” because she was adopted by movie stars Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.Recounting that he grew up without a father, Leonen said Poe surely had a “very difficult time” growing up not knowing who her real parents were.Where’s justness?He asked why a foundling like Poe would be compelled to look for her real parents or required to prove her parentage, such as through DNA testing, when ordinary Filipinos only need to show their birth certificates to prove their parentage and citizenship.Those birth certificates were prepared by somebody else, he noted.“At the end of the day, should this court ask her to look for those parents who actually left her because she had it lucky. She is now one of the candidates to become President of this country. Do you think that is a fair result? It’s clear to us what should happen in terms of justness. Can our laws actually contain that kind of a result? Is it clear enough to say that the Constitution of the Republic looks this way on foundlings? That there can never be any foundling found in a rural area of the Philippines that can ever become President?” he explained.“We are here not as legalists, we are here as justices. The root word is not ‘legal’ but it is ‘just"
1081,"A panel of experts from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) will review the circumstances behind the deaths of 14 children who were given the Dengvaxia antidengue vaccine under the government’s immunization program, Health Undersecretary Enrique Domingo said on Friday.“Reports of death or disease in these children will be referred to the PGH for review to see if there was any relationship between the fatality and the vaccine,” Domingo said.The children were aged 9 to 11 and came from Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Metro Manila, the health official said on the sidelines of a forum where Domingo and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gave updates on the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy.Less than two years after the Department of Health (DOH) launched its dengue immunization program using Dengvaxia, pharmaceutical firm Sanofi-Pasteur released an advisory saying its vaccine could cause severe dengue symptoms among those who had no previous exposure to the virus.The Food and Drug Administration ordered a pullout of the vaccine and suspended its certificate of product registration for a year. It also fined Sanofi Pasteur P100,000 for failing to comply with postmarketing authorization requirements for the vaccine.Duque had earlier said that the health department was monitoring the more than 837,000 children given the vaccine under the DOH immunization program starting March 2016.So far, the case records of 14 children who died after being administered the vaccine had been forwarded for review by a team of experts from the PGH headed by Dr. Juliet Aguilar, the chief of its department of pediatrics.Dengue was listed as the cause of death of four of the children, while the other children had heart ailments, leukemia and lupus written on their death certificates.Domingo noted that some of the children fell ill two weeks to one month after vaccination, while the others became sick six months after. The children also had different symptoms and diagnosis when admitted to hospital for treatment, he added.It took some time to create a panel whose members would have no conflict of interest in the issue, Domingo said, adding that the expenses for the morbidity and mortality review would be shouldered by the DOH and PGH alone.“(The experts) are expected to come up with a very objective appreciation of these cases. Maybe in one or two weeks they can give us the results, (but) I cannot say exactly when,” he added."
1091,"Three thousand five hundred indigent residents of Manila have been enrolled by the city government in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to give them access to quality and subsidized healthcare.The city now has enrolled 17,594 indigents with PhilHealth, bringing them close to meeting their target of 27,500 beneficiaries by the end of 2017.Of the 3,500 beneficiaries, 1,000 are from District 4; 1,500 from District 5; and 1,000 from District 6, according to Nanet Tanyag, head of the Manila Department of Social Welfare.“We have, so far, enrolled 17,594 beneficiaries in PhilHealth, and [there will be] many more in the weeks to come,” she said.As local government unit-sponsored PhilHealth members, the beneficiaries are entitled to benefits given to regular members.Aside from the PhilHealth coverage, the residents are also entitled to subsidized hospitalization, free medicine, and healthcare services in Manila’s six public hospitals.Senior citizens will also receive free maintenance medicine through the Manila Health Department.The local government last June approved the release of P200 million to cover the health insurance of targeted beneficiaries. This would cover the PhilHealth premiums and other hospitalization expenses of the beneficiaries."
1101,"Rain or shine, the Metro Manila Shake Drill will push through this week.This was announced by MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia on Tuesday during a press conference.Amid inclement weather, Garcia said the drill will continue“Rain or shine, the Shake Drill will proceed,” said Garcia.The agency said conducting the MM Shake Drill on a rainy day would give the agency and the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRC) a chance to prepare for worst-case scenarios.“We can do the drill the easiest way possible, but what if an earthquake happens on a critical time? This way we can prepare for the worst case possible,” Garcia said.The general manager said that the shake drill could cause traffic congestion in the metropolis.“We are anticipating that the drill will affect the flow of traffic in the metropolis,” he said.The MM Shake Drill will have various scenarios, executed by local government units, private institutions, schools and establishments, in different parts of the metropolis.Garcia said “[o]nce they hear the alarm, motorists who would like to participate in the drill can stop for a minute.”Inspite of the inconvenience that the activity may bring, Garcia reiterated that it seeks to promote a culture of preparedness among the public for a major earthquake.“We are doing this to prepare everyone to minimize damage that earthquake may cause. When the Big One happens, we must be prepared.”Garcia also urged the public to use the hashtag #MMShakeDrill on the day of the drill.“We are calling on the public to participate to prepare them for disasters,” said Garcia.The fourth Metro Manila Shake Drill intends to sustain and improve the public’s awareness and consciousness towards a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.“We want to do a shake drill in a more realistic environment.”Telecommunication networks will broadcast the drill through emergency cell broadcast and SMS messages to its subscribers on the actual day, he said.Also, companies, churches, schools, and institutions are urged to sound their own alerts or bells while radio stations will air an alert to signal the start of the drill."
1111,"Top government officials of the province of Lanao del Norte expressed disappointment over the stripping of their police powers by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), calling it “sweeping, baseless, discriminatory, and without due process.”Provincial officials led by Governor Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo, Representatives Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo and Abdulla Dimaporo, of the first and second districts, respectively, joined 18 of the Lanao del Norte’s 22 municipal mayors in a show of unity and press conference at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel Thursday.Napolcom, through Resolution 2017-335, provided for the withdrawal of the deputization of governors and mayors of seven provinces, six within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), on the grounds that these local government units (LGUs) did not impose measures to suppress terroristic acts and prevent lawless violence in their jurisdictions, which was inimical to national security and posed serious threat to the lives and security of their constituents, among others.“When the Maute terrorist group invaded the city of Marawi on May 23, 2017, and caused chaos in the city, I immediately called the members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) to convene and tackle measures that we can do to avoid spill over and protect our constituents,” Governor Dimaporo said.She added that “checkpoints were set up with the help of the mayors of each of the municipalities of the province; security was intensified to ensure that no lawless elements, especially Maute terrorist group members can blend with the communities in our province, putting us in a great risk and intelligence gathering and sharing was made a primordial task to each of the mayors of the 22 municipalities of the province of Lanao del Norte to thwart any attempt to invade any part of the province.”“It is unfortunate that our efforts in Lanao del Norte for more than 30 years to maintain peace and order was put to naught by the sweeping, unfounded and baseless withdrawal of our deputization over the PNP by the Napolcom,” the governor said.She likewise averred that “they do not coddle those who have the propensity to spread fear and terror among their people, like what is being insinuated by the Napolcom resolution,” and “certainly we are not protectors of illegal drug trade, (which) in their (Napolcom) assessment may have funded the Maute terrorist group activities in Marawi City.”Dimaporo pointed out that even the Lanao del Norte provincial police office had expressed dismay over the Napolcom resolution."
1121,"“Silence gives consent to China’s transgressions. Silence is subservience.”This is what opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday as she urged the Duterte administration to be transparent in its dealings with China.Hontiveros was reacting to Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) statement that it will not publicize “diplomatic actions” amid Beijing’s militarization in the disputed South China Sea.“President Duterte and his foreign affairs officials have the responsibility to assuage the people’s fears by patiently explaining to the people their foreign affairs strategy to respond to China’s militarization of the region,” Hontiveros said in a statement.The senator said she would gather the support of her colleagues for a parliamentary oversight on the government’s foreign policy.The public must be informed, she stressed, while acknowledging that some information should be kept secret.“The government’s silence and the lack of transparency on its foreign policy response to China do not encourage public confidence,” she said.Opposition senators have filed resolutions seeking a clarification on the executive’s foreign policy.Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed Senate Resolution No. 722 seeking an inquiry on China’s installation of missile systems on three outposts in the Spratly Islands while Senator Bam Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 158 urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on various foreign policy issues."
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1141,"If there’s one thing the military can claim about the gains of implementing martial law in Mindanao, it’s preventing the violence in Marawi City from spilling to other areas.With the intensified security operations, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) “was able to carry out its mission,” Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, assistant regional military commander, said in a statement.“Business remains vibrant in the region through the security arrangements and the active interagency operations of the military and the police,” said Gapay, who is also the spokesperson for the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.Marawi crisisPresident Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under military rule following the attack of Islamic State-inspired terrorists on Marawi City on May 23.The fighting for control of the city has left more than 800 people dead and displaced more than 400,000 people.Gapay said the security situation in areas under Eastmincom, particularly Davao, Caraga and parts of Northern Mindanao and Cotabato regions had remained relatively stable.“The Kadayawan Festival of Davao City, Higala-ay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City and other events held in the region were concluded peacefully,” Gapay said.He said troops under Eastmincom had conducted 50,979 checkpoint operations and carried out 36,169 security patrols “to protect areas of convergence, worship areas and other public events.”Eastmincom has the operational jurisdiction over troops under the Compostela Valley-based 10th Infantry Division and the 4th ID based in Cagayan de Oro City.Gapay said the troops had succeeded in shielding the region from terrorists while protecting human rights and observing the rule of law.Terror suspects capturedEastmincom has set up a multisectoral advisory council, drawing representatives from different sectors, to check on rights abuses by security forces, he said.Several terror suspects, including Cayamora Maute, the patriarch of the ringleaders behind the Marawi terror attack, have been captured by security forces in the region.Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, said declaration of martial law allowed the military to enhance its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless groups in the island province.He said checkpoints were set up in strategic areas, while a curfew was imposed on the entire province.“We strictly enforce the ID system here. Everyone is required to bring their ID. With these measures, we have arrested a number of Abu Sayyaf and recovered firearms. [The] crime rate also went down, that is according to [the] assessment of the police,” Sobejana said.Ruth Guerrero, who teaches at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, agrees with the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.Good for business“For me, as far as Mindanao is concerned, it has imposed the message that we are mindful of our security, and that both the military and police are also on their toes to ascertain that the strategies of these radical extremists are quelled or intercepted,” Guerrero said.Local officials have also expressed support for the implementation of martial law and its extension up to the end of the year, saying the stable peace and order is good for business.Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu said his province had “become peaceful [with the implementation of] martial law because many lawless elements were arrested, including those who have connections with [the] Maute and [the] Abu Sayyaf [groups].”Davao del Norte Gov. Antonio Rafael del Rosario said the extension of martial law “would allow the government to solve the problem of insurgency and terrorism for good.”Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said martial rule had not dampened business in the region, citing what he described as the successful holding of the Davao Investment Conference in July, with hundreds of local and foreign traders attending.While the military maintains it has ensured respect for human rights in conducting its duties, rights groups have accused security forces of committing rampant abuses against civilians.In Southern Mindanao alone, at least 46 cases of alleged summary killings perpetrated by military agents have been documented since the imposition of martial law, according to Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.These political killings, Karapatan said, have victimized peasants, activists and even lumad youth, as in the case of 18-year-old Ata-Manobo Obillo Bay-ao, who was shot dead by suspected progovernment militiamen in Talaingod town, Davao del Norte over a week ago.Militarist orderFor Mags Maglana, coconvener of antimartial law group Konsensya Dabaw, extending martial law would not solve the problem of violent extremism “but institutionalize a militarist order that would jeopardize civilian rule, affect the exercise of rights and socioeconomic activities, and encourage collusion with the political and economic elite” instead.Maglana, who also writes a column for a local daily, drew parallels between the military rule imposed by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, some 45 years ago, with Mr. Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216, with the two draconian measures using the “state of lawlessness” in the southern Philippine region as cause for the imposition.“Marcos’ martial law created the conditions that intensified human rights abuses, exploitation and underdevelopment in Mindanao. Instead of putting a stop to the conditions described in Proclamation 1081, martial law under Marcos became a self-fulfilling prophecy,” she said.Mr. Duterte’s military rule cited “violent acts” by the jihadis in Marawi City and nearby areas in Lanao del Sur as justification for the proclamation, Maglana said.“Nearly four months later, (Duterte’s martial law) has not vanquished the violent extremist fighters in Marawi. Instead, airstrikes and sustained artillery attacks have done so much damage to the city that years from now its destruction might get cited as an example of yet another historical injustice and trigger more resistance,” Maglana said.“[M]ilitary rule has managed to tap into the sense of fear of many urban Mindanaoans, convincing them that it takes no less than military supremacy to ensure stability and order,” she said.Even as the specter of a nationwide martial law looms, Maglana has joined a growing number of voices calling for the lifting of military rule in Mindanao.“It is not yet too late for President Duterte to lift martial law so that it does not meld with other factors that would make Proclamation 216 a self-fulfilling prophecy of terror, death and damage the way Proclamation 1081 ended up becoming. Violent extremism poses a complex set of challenges that cannot be met by a failed 45-year old formula,” he said."
1150,"Several reports were sent to me earlier about alleged discrepancies in the reading by the PCOS machines where votes intended for Rody Duterte were credited to Mar Roxas in the recently concluded Overseas Voting.I did not give those reports much attention. I just instructed those who sent the messages to come up with documentary evidence to prove their claims.But this story in Rappler today about a lawyer representing presidential candidate Duterte in Saranggani Province complaining that votes intended for Duterte during the final sealing and testing were credited for Roxas set off alarm bells.I have always had my misgivings about the computerised elections using the PCOS machines mainly because of my sad experience losing the last two elections for Governor of North Cotabato when I was well ahead of the pre-election surveys.I will not belabour the merits of the protests I filed in the 2010 and 2013 elections because these were all dismissed by the COMELEC. Besides, talking about them would be considered self-serving.But there are just several cases in point which I would like to raise to support my position that computerized elections are not fool proof:1. The Colombia Ballot Case – In the 2010 elections protest I filed with the COMELEC, it was discovered that in a precinct in Barangay Damalasak, Pikit, the PCOS machine churned out results of the Presidential Elections in Colombia, South America, in Spanish language.This was brought up during the Senate Hearing chaired by Senator Koko Pimentel and all that then COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brilliants say was that it was an “isolated incident.”That was the same explanation I heard from another COMELEC commissioner last week when he was confronted about reports of errors in the reading of the PCOS machines in the Overseas Voting.So, how isolated is “isolated?”2. The Angelito Sarmiento Case – Former Congressman Angelito Sarmiento ran for Mayor of his hometown in Bulacan in 2010.When he attempted to insert his ballot into the PCOS machine, it was rejected three times thus he was unable to vote. This was exploited by his political opponents who spread the word that Sarmiento was a disenfranchised voter. He lost the elections.His case reached the Court of Appeals and he was expecting a affordable decision when he suddenly succumbed to heart disease.This case is simply outrageous for how could a dumb machine prevent a Filipino from exercising his right of suffrage and in the case of Sarmiento, to vote for himself?Another highly questionable issue here is the involvement of a foreign corporation, in this case the Smartmatic which is a Venezuela, South America in the process of electing the President of the Philippines.Many other countries which employed machines in the conduct of their elections have opted to revert back to manual voting.It may take longer time to manually count but at least the watchers are able to see the counting, unlike in the computerized elections where the data are contained in a small CF card and only the computer could read.There could be ballot box snatching but heck one cannot haul 100 ballot boxes at one time unlike the computerised voting where 20 CF cards containing thousands of votes could be placed in just one pocket.The law which implemented automated elections in the country must really be reviewed or else we will always be sitting on needles and pins every time we elect our leaders because we are not sure what inside those computers.| Manny PiñolPhoto by: Manila BulletinAny thoughts? Leave your comments below!"
1160,"are based on the traditional Filipino terno, considered the national dress for women featuring the familiar butterfly sleeves.So, BPCI has sought the help of The Adobo Chronicles® and its followers to decide on the final gown for Ms. Wurtzbach.Help BPCI by voting in the poll below. Should it be the gold, blue or beige gown?"
1170,"Inilabas na sa publiko ang mugshot ng nahuling suspek na uploader ng 'Ang Totoong Narco List' propaganda videos ni alyas Bikoy. Sa press conference sa Department of Justice (DOJ), sinabi na si Rodel Jayme ang administrator ng metrobalita.net kung saan nanggaling ang mga video. Nag-isyu ang Makati Regional Trial Court ng search warrant kontra kay Jayme. Saad ni Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, kasong inciting to sedition ang kakaharapin ni Jayme, ngunit hindi pa pinabatid kung si Jayme ba si alyas 'Bikoy' habang gumugulong pa ang imbestigasyon. Dineklarang 'person of interest' si Jayme ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sa video ni Bikoy."
1180,"The world’s eyes will be focused on Manila on February 25 as the metropolis plays host to a hodge-podge of public events at various venues to celebrate an impromptu world freedom day.A few hundred people are expected to join in the commemoration of EDSA, the people’s power revolution that ousted President Ferdinand E. Marcos 31 years ago. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines is also sponsoring a “March for Life” somewhere in Luneta Park to encourage Filipino Catholics to make a stand against abortion and the reinstatement of the death penalty. Fans of AlDub will also gather in Quezon City to reclaim what seems to be the sagging popularity of their favorite noontime show love team. The Mocha Girls may also make the rounds of Metro Manila malls to greet and entertain their fans.But the biggest buzz thus far is that a internationally-famous Grammy Award-winning singer has agreed to stage a free concert at an undisclosed venue just outside of Metro Manila. This singer is known to have very close ties to the Philippines and is doing the free concert in celebration of his (or her) Filipino heritage and love for Filipino musical talent.The musical concert details will be announced on national television and on social media on the eve of February 25. The free admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis.So keep your appointment calendar open on February 25 and be on the lookout for this exciting announcement! It’s the “Next Big One” you won’t wanna miss!"
1190,"DISCLAIMER: I am not saying that this actually is LP's plan. What I am saying is that this is the model of future events that best fits my current understanding of the situation. Nothing more, nothing less.The Senate HearingsDe Lima Meltdown Phase 3: Temper Tantrum and Dramatic WalkoutThe finale of the three-part De Lima Meltdown series doesn't need a lot of intro. Dick Gordon's fierce rebuke turned Leila de Lima batsh!t crazy as Antonio ""Sonny"" Trillanes IV defends her like a coup-plotting knight in low-IQ armor. And as usual, Manny Pacquiao was furious too.ENJOY! <3Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/TheThinkingPinoy/videos/701731916640581/Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/TheThinkingPinoy/videos/701773966636376/Posted by Thinking Pinoy on Monday, October 3, 2016The Sense of Urgency2019, the Magic YearMode of OusterDuterte's deathLeni’s eligibilityA President LeniLeni vs BBMOdds stacked vs LPLPs persecution of Arroyo from 2010 to 2016 as LP filed weak case after weak case to keep her in detention [TP:PGMA Acquit]. LP’s barrage against former Chief Justice Renato Corona in retaliation to a then-impending unfavorable Hacienda Luisita decision [TP: Gascon].The PlanFirst , assassination is required because impeachment is impossible while natural death is unreliable., assassination is required because impeachment is impossible while natural death is unreliable. Second , regime change has to be before 2019 because BBM will most likely win electoral protest., regime change has to be before 2019 because BBM will most likely win electoral protest. Third, Caguioa and Sereno can work hand-in-hand to delay progress of the electoral protest to give LP time to do what needs to be done.DONT FORGET TO SHARE!RELATED POSTS:Just when I felt that Bongbong Marcos’ political relevance has started to fade away after the May 2016 loss, I suddenly realized that that the late dictator’s son has a crucial role to play in today’s Political Game of Thrones.It’s 3:00 AM of October 17th and Duterte is still in Brunei. He will be arriving here in China on the 18th, so I do not expect anything to happen today. I’m in my Beijing hotel room, restlessly trying to figure out how to pass the time. Then I remembered the Reuters’ news article featuring ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda [ Reuters ] recently, warned the newly-installed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte of possible ICC action, as she explained that ICC may have the jurisdiction to prosecute perpetrators of thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines' crackdown on drugs.The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has been hounding President Rody Duterte with allegations of extrajudicial killings since 2009 [ TP: Ooh, Ronnie ]. Seven years later in 2016, they still haven’t managed to file a case with probable cause [ TP: Wikileaks ]. Even de Lima admitted in August that they have not been able to file cases against Duterte since 2009 because of lack of evidence [ TP: Ronnie ].In a bid to resurrect the issue, Sen. Leila De Lima brought witness Edgar Matobato into the limelight, and we all know how big of a dud Matobato turned out to be. Just look at how de Lima lost her sh*t when someone blew Matobato’s cover:Matobato turned out to be a dud. And with Matobato being central to de Lima’s “case” against Duterte, the senate investigation of extrajudicial killings, corollarily, also turned out be a dud. At least, in as far as pinning the killings to the mayor-turned-president.On the last day of the senate hearing, Senator Gordon mentioned that former Liberal Party Director-General and current CHR Chairman Chito Gascon called him. The topic of the call isn’t important for this article, but a particular detail is:Gascon told Gordon he was in Amsterdam [ DZRH ], the primary port-of-entry to the Netherlands. Amsterdam and it’s just an hour’s drive away from The Hague, the city where ICC sits, the city where Bensouda is based.Yes, it appears that Gascon has internationalized the Liberal Party’s Plan B [ TP: PLeni ], despite the fact that CHR’s inability to prosecute Duterte not because of state negligence or pressure, but due to the fact that no evidence exists.Despite being in office for barely four months and despite enjoying overwhelming support from 86% of Filipinos [ Balita ], he has been facing what could probably be the most vicious minority opposition since the fall of President Marcos in 1986. And not-so-coincidentally, the minority opposition at the time was also the Liberal Party.Instead of listing down the how and the what, I will, instead, tackle the question of “the why”. Specifically, why is the opposition so vicious? What are the circumstances that made LP decide to accelerate what would otherwise have been a six-year plan? Is there something that pressured LP to go on overdrive?That’s we will attempt to answer in this article. That is, let’s ask:Late 2019 will probably the turning point of contemporary Philippine Politics.By late 2019, a majority of today’s Supreme Court justices will have reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, so that the majority of end-of-2019 justices will be Duterte appointees [ TP: SC Math ]. A new set of senators will also have replaced the senators elected in 2013. Assuming Duterte retains the same level of local popularity up to then, it’s pretty certain that anyone he endorses will almost surely win. Add the fact that Duterte enjoys the support of the Lower House, the Police, and the Military. By late 2019, if things are allowed to progress as they do, Chief Executive Duterte will enjoy support from the Legislature, the Judiciary, the PNP, and the Armed Forces. In short, Duterte will de facto become the most powerful president this country ever had. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party will become trivial, to say the least.Naturally, the Liberal Party will do everything it can to prevent this from happening.The Liberal Party fears 2019, and it wants Duterte out of Malacañang before that. There were originally three ways to go about this: impeachment, natural death, and assassination. However, I have already explained in a previous article that Villar’s DPWH appointment made impeachment impossible [ TP: Villar ] so we’re left with natural death and assassination.Duterte is already 71, and that’s already three years past the average Filipino’s life expectancy. The problem, however, is that despite the chronic ailments Duterte deals with on an everyday basis, the old man probably won’t die anytime soon. While it’s true that Duterte health may be precarious, blindly relying on natural causes is not the most reliable course of action for LP. After all, the Enrile has been around since the age of the dinosaurs yet he still breathes as of press time.Thus, we are left with one last option: assassination.Of course, you may argue that assassination need not be implemented before 2019. However, that argument makes sense only if LP still has a suitable replacement if and when that happens.What exactly am I trying to say here? It’s simple.There are two preliminary conditions necessary to ensure LP’s resurgence:The first one is obvious: as long as Daddy D breathes, he’s president, so LP needs that to stop. The second one, however, is a little more complicated.Rules of succession dictate that VP Leni Robredo should replace Duterte should the need arise.As we’ve explained, that “need” arises only if Duterte dies through assassination (or through more creative ways, such as a “plane crash”). Of course, Duterte is a walking target and LP (or the LP ally US Government) can have him assassinated right away. However, this will not work if done too soon given Duterte’s immense local popularity [ Indep ].I think it’s safe to say that Leni’s installation after a Duterte assassination will likely trigger another People Power Revolution. The LP doesn’t want that, especially since that may translate to a dela Rosa, Inday Sara, Cayetano, or Marcos presidency. LP needs an LP-aligned president, and Leni is the only one with some semblance of moral ascendancy among LP’s ranks.Now, LP can wait for Duterte’s popularity to fade. LP can just kill him off in, say, 2019 or 2020. But there’s a catch: Bongbong Marcos’ electoral protest.I have explained how BBM could have been cheated in the previous elections. First, I explained that the vote counting system hash code anomaly [ TP: Hash Code ]. Second, I explained how Comelec chose to use obsolete cheating-prone technology from Smartmatic [ TP: Obsolete ].I am not totally certain about the parameters of Bongbong Marcos’ (BBM) electoral protest, but several of high profile lawyers I have spoken to suggest that BBM’s case is quite strong. Now, LP would have simply dismissed my claim as hogwash, but their subsequent actions after the case filing suggest otherwise.Leni wanted in August to have the BBM electoral protest dismissed [ Star ], arguing that Marcos showed no evidence suggesting her direct or indirect participation in the cheating. This is a very weak argument, as it does not categorically refute the BBM’s fraud accusation against the vote counting system per se. Leni again asked the SC in September to dismiss the protest, citing basically the same reasons she gave in August, plus the accusation that BBM forged evidence [ SunStar ].Regardless of the veracity of Leni’s points, what’s clear is that both the August and September motions are dilatory tactics, something that the BBM camp itself pointed out this month [ Tribune ].Yes, Leni and LP are delaying the progress of the case.This is further emphasized by the fact that PNoy appointee and PNoy ex-classmate Caguioa handles the pol case [ ABS ] so Caguioa can choose to delay the progress of case for as long as he can. PNoy appointee Sereno, in her capacity as Chief Justice, also handles scheduling so she can choose not to include this issue in the weekly en banc sessions.This isn’t a party that’s confident in Leni’s May 2016 win.Despite its claims of being an impartial body, we all know that politics still plays a major role in the Supreme Court, so that the political alliances of each justice somehow affects his or her decisions on certain issues.The catch here is this: the affirmation of BBM’s case only requires a simply SC-PET majority, i.e. 8 votes out of 15. It’s worthy to note that in the event of abstentions, it would be so ironic if SC adopts Sereno bastardized definition of “a majority” per Grace Poe decision [TP: Poe DQ ].With this in mind, there are several things that makes BBM likelier unseat Leni. These are:Unfortunately for LP, Aquino got to appoint only six justices (Sereno, Reyes, Perlas, Leonen, Jardeleza and Caguioa), so that the other nine are Arroyo appointees. Add the fact that Reyes is Duterte’s fraternity brother, along with Arroyo appointee Mendoza [ Star ].If justices were to vote along partisan lines, this would be an easy BBM win.We all know that this is generally an anti-PNoy court, and Robredo, being a political neophyte, wouldn’t elicit political loyalty from any of the Arroyo-appointed justices. What further exacerbates the situation are:If PNoy-appointees (five without Reyes) all vote pro-Leni, and there are only two who would vote pro-BBM, BBM still has to persuade six more justices to join his cause. Given the previous point, this shouldn’t be very difficult. However, should BBM fail to muster enough support from the swing justices, he can always ask for help from Malacañang.Duterte is aware of of the entire situation so he’s also probably awre of the BBM-Leni issue with respect to his predicament. This may be why he mentioned Imee’s support for his campaign in a recent speech [ GMA ]. That is, Duterte subtly sent LP the message that if push comes to shove, he’ll do what needs to be done.If BBM, even with Duterte’s help, fails to muster enough support from the current roster, they can just wait for Duterte to appoint a few more justices to fill the gap. There are 10 justices retiring from today until 2019.That is, if voting on the BBM protest were to be done today, we will have a President Marcos.Yes, it appears that Leni is most likely unable to hold on to her post for long, so they have to act fast. But before we go further, let me give you a quick recap of the situation from LP’s point of view:The only thing that probably keeps LP from assassinating Duterte (Read: Plane Crash) is Leni’s lack of legitimacy, i.e. she’s unlikely to get local support. If Duterte dies today and Leni takes over, we can expect a People Power Revolution in just a few minutes.To remedy this issue, an international campaign to destroy Duterte’s international reputation was put in place. The most recent development – Bensouda’s statements – only serve to underline that claim.Now, if ICC’s Bensouda eventually decides to investigate Duterte, then that’s pretty much the end of Duterte’ international legitimacy. An announcement of an ICC investigation will make Duterte look like a madman in the eyes of the world, and we’re not even talking about an ICC conviction.Forget the ICC conviction: all LP needs is for Duterte to lose all international credibility, as they could settle with a Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo type president. That is, a President Leni Robredo with no local support, but with international recognition.With international recognition of her presidency, Robredo crushing a People Power Revolution like Edsa Tres, she will be seen as simply ""enforcing the law"" instead of ""acting like a tyrant"".From the LP’s upper management’s point of view, that’s a lot better than a toothless post-2019 LP, right?These series of scenarios actually fit Duterte's pronouncements during his speeches in various military camps in the past couple of months. In those speeches, Duterte told the military to take care of the drug problem should the problem ""outlive"" him, with the preface being his claim that no other presidentiable can solve the drug problem except him.Let me state this more simply.If the ICC decides to investigate Duterte, then Duterte will most likely die. Maybe through a bullet, or maybe through a plane crash. A plane crash, perhaps. Because it’s something that a certain political party tends to be historically good at.Besides, Duterte himself said [ Inq ], ""'If my plane crashes, don't worry, Leni is there to replace me"" [ TP Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
1201,"Iniakda ni Councilor Eufemio Lagumbay ang Ordinance No. SP 2348 S2014 , na nagsusog sa item II Section 39 Article 15 sa amusement activities ng Quezon City Revenue Code, pagbabawas sa tax rate ng walong porsiyento hanggang limang porsiyento."
1211,"P. Du30(The Manila Times, 24 December 2016)The mere mention by P. Du30 of the possibility of martial law last Christmas Eve before an audience of Nanay (mother) volunteers in Pampanga sent frightening shivers among hundreds of their “Kabalens” (provincemates) but also, real fear among many mothers throughout the whole country.This past week, FVR felt this emerging sense of unhappiness about a future return to Marcos-style dictatorial governance because of the many queries to him by all kinds of people, including veterans, AFP retirees, and senior citizens about P. Digong’s hints of ML, and his desire to remove the safeguards thereto in the 1987 Constitution.P. Digong has been quoted as having said “If I declare martial law because there’s an invasion now or a war, I cannot proceed on and on… I’ll have to go Congress, I’ll have to go to the Supreme Court. What if the Supreme Court says something else, Congress says ‘yes’…. Where do I position myself? So, I need to change all that….” Duterte also argued that Congressional and judicial review would defeat the purpose of declaring ML.AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR 2017, WE DO HOPE THAT OUR LEADERS – INSTEAD OF BRINGING BACK THE DARK MEMORIES OF AUTHORITARIANISM – SHOULD DEAL MORE WITH THE BRIGHTER FUTURE THE FILIPINO PEOPLE COULD ENJOY UNDER THE P. DU30 ADMINISTRATION. FOR INSTANCE, WHAT ABOUT HIS 10-POINT ECONOMIC PROGRAM IN TERMS OF ACTION TAKEN IN HIS FIRST SIX MONTHS?PERFORMING STRUCTURAL CHANGESIT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT MOST FILIPINOS EASILY FORGET CERTAIN VALUABLE LESSONS FROM OUR HISTORY OF HARDSHIP, STRUGGLE AND SACRIFICE. WE TEND TO SQUANDER OUR GOODWILL AND SOLIDARITY IN THREATENING – IN QUARRELING AND PULLING EACH OTHER DOWN, EVEN DURING GOOD TIMES.Our leaders, most especially, must PERFORM to achieve structural changes, and concurrently strive to consolidate the Philippine national team. Reflecting on the booms-and-busts, and the highs-and-lows in our collective national performance, our people seem to have repeatedly faltered. After gleaming triumphs, we tend to fall short again and again.IF WE CONTENT OURSELVES WITH FLAWED POLICIES, INCOMPETENT BUREAUCRATS AND SELF-SERVING DYNASTIES AT THIS TIME OF NEW OPPORTUNITY, EXPECTEDLY WE MAY FAIL AGAIN.NO OTHERS BUT OUR CURRENT LEADERS MUST INITIATE STRUCTURAL REFORMS TO HELP STEER US AWAY FROM THE CYCLE OF BOOM-BUST IN WHICH WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES. OUR LEADERS MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE OUR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY PERFORM ACCORDING TO THE CALL OF DUTY, TO RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP, AND TO TEAMWORK IN NATION-BUILDING.WHILE LEADERS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS ARE AWARE OF THE NEED TO IMPLEMENT CRITICAL REFORMS, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE FOOT-DRAGGING AND COMPLACENCY. MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY ADDRESSED – IF AT ALL.REFORMS DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETYTHE FOLLOWING DEATH-DEALING ISSUES REMAIN UNRESOLVED –LIKE “TICKING BOMBS” THAT THREATEN OUR BETTER FUTURE.Mass poverty due to overpopulation in urban communities, rising prices, and the deepening rich-poor gap.Environmental abuse resulting in reduced potable water, less food production, degraded natural resources, agrarian conflicts and massive flooding.Propensity for official corruption and red tape leading to higher costs.Unlevel playing field favoring dynasties, monopolists, and oligarchs.Absence of durable peace especially in Mindanao.These realities require taking actions that enhance, not diminish, our democracy; curb corruption and cronyism; undertake poverty alleviation and social reform; and insure justice is delivered without delay to the long-suffering and powerless.Good citizenship, of course, is not measured by heroic acts alone. A nation needs not only team leaders, but concerned citizens as well who pay their taxes, obey the laws, vote wisely during elections, help others in need, raise quality families and, above all, cherish our beloved Philippines.As to fighting graft and corruption, the Administration’s campaign is now beginning to score. But Government leaders admit there is much more they need to do. The few reforms that have been achieved should become the platform – a launching pad – for deeper, more basic reforms we Filipinos need to actualize our country’s capabilities, because many problems remain, and goals unattained. The most grievous of these is the lack of inclusive growth.THE PHILIPPINES IS CLASSIFIED AS A “MIDDLE-INCOME” COUNTRY. BUT BECAUSE INCOME INEQUALITY AMONG US IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT IS IN MOST OF OUR NEIGHBOR-STATES, WE HAVE MORE OF THE POOR – AS OBSERVERS MIGHT EXPECT.REFORMS WE NEED MOSTINFRASTRUCTURE. Public spending – mainly on roads – accounted for a large part of our GDP growth. But we can’t keep investments confined to just one favored sector. Other public utilities and connectivity projects also need a boost.AGRICULTURE. The keys to transforming agriculture are better irrigation, higher productivity and synergized agro-industry. And these will not happen unless we tap the full potential of the rural masses.MANUFACTURING. As is well-known, manufacturing generates quality jobs. But, historically, Philippine manufacturing has been constrained by poor infrastructure, ill-conceived protectionist policies, large-scale smuggling, bureaucratic corruption, and populist public policies.MINING. Familiar to most leaders are mining issues. The Government’s efforts to reach a compromise between environmental protection and efficiency in extracting minerals need further refinement.TOURISM. The Philippines has attracted additional foreign tourists since the Duterte Government took office. We’re sure many more travelers would want to enjoy our attractive destinations, but poor infrastructure seems the bottleneck.ANTI-SMUGGLING. Not just the cheapie goods from China, but luxury vehicles and fertilizers, rice and petroleum come into the country under suspicious circumstances – in such quantities that they represent a good part of our yearly supplies.CERTAINLY, THE WORLD WILL NOT BE STANDING STILL WHILE WE FECKLESS FILIPINOS SCRAMBLE TO IMPROVE OUR LOT. WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE IN DEALING WITH GLOBAL GAME-CHANGERS THAT COULD AFFECT OUR ECONOMY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.REAL REFORMS NEED BEST PRACTICESNATION-BUILDING WORKS BEST WHEN THE BARRIERS OF IGNORANCE, INDIFFERENCE AND HELPLESSNESS ARE REMOVED; WHEN BOTH PLANNERS AND OPERATORS ARE WELL-INFORMED; WHEN NATIONAL STRATEGIES MATCH THE CREATIVITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES; AND WHEN RESOURCES BOTH FROM PUBLIC; AND PRIVATE SECTORS ARE ALLOCATED TO THEIR BEST USE, WITH ZERO WASTE.We see the Asia-Pacific region as the hemisphere still with the greatest risk of conflict due to overlapping claims in the South China Sea/ East China/West Philippine Sea and across many land borders.It appears that the only lasting solution to resolve these perennial territorial disputes is for all our countries to be embedded in a dense network of economic, political, and security relationships – in a one Asia-Pacific mega-regional community that cooperates harmoniously and is sustainably connected for peace and development. “Community” must become the wave of our future – for Southeast Asia – for Northeast Asia – for the whole of the Asia-Pacific, and the world!!!WE REALIZE THAT THE WORK OF BUILDING PARTNERSHIP STRUCTURES MAY NOT BE COMPLETED IN ONE GENERATION. BUT – JUST AS OLD MEN WHO PLANT TREES WHOSE COOL SHADE THEY MAY NEVER SIT UNDER – SO MUST INCUMBENTS HELP STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATIONS UPON WHICH THOSE WHO SUCCEED THEM WILL ERECT SUCH COMMUNAL STRUCTURES FOR A BETTER GLOBAL FUTURE.TRUE TRANSFORMATION – WORKING FOR A BETTER FUTURESINCE WE FILIPINOS BECAME A NATION OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO LIVE IN FREEDOM, AND TO WIN FOROURSELVES SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING, MATERIAL PROSPERITY, AND A PLACE OF RESPECT IN THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS. THE VISION WE ALL SHARE IS THAT OF JOSE RIZAL’S – WHO DREAMT OF A FREE, PEACEFUL, AND PROSPEROUS PHILIPPINES.THIS VISION IS ALSO SHARED BY THE GENERATIONS OF FILIPINOS – LIVING AND DEAD – WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND DEVELOPMENT – WHETHER AS PUBLIC SERVANTS OR CIVILIANS.AS THE CAPTAIN OF OUR PHILIPPINE SHIP OF STATE, PRESIDENT DUTERTE MUST LIKEWISE BE IN THE FRONT POSITION, AIMING FOR TRUE TRANSFORMATION AND PUSHING FOR OUR COMMON VISION OF A BETTER FUTURE FOR FILIPINOS. HE MUST SET OUT A SERIES OF NATIONAL GOALS THAT WILL MOBILIZE OUR PEOPLE’S CIVIC SPIRIT. HE MUST LEAD US ALL TOWARD AN OVERRIDING NATIONAL PURPOSE – WHICH IS THE VISION OF A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR PEOPLE, AND A POSITION OF DIGNITY AND EVEN ADMIRATION IN THE FAMILY OF NATIONS.NEW YEAR’S RESOLVEIN THE NEW YEAR, MANY OPPORTUNITIES BECKON, BUT THERE IS REALLY ONLY ONE CHOICE TO BE MADE TO ASSURE A BETTER FILIPINO FUTURE – TO PERFORM, REFORM AND TRANSFORM.P. DIGONG, VP LENI, SENPRES KOKO PIMENTEL, SPKR BEBOT, CHIEF SERENO, PLUS THE CABINET, LAWMAKERS, EXECUTIVES, JUDICIARY, AFP/PNP, OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND THE ENTIRE CITIZENRY – LET’S JUST DOH IT! AS ONE COMPETITIVE PHILIPPINE TEAM!!KAYA NATIN ITO!!!Please send any comments to fvr@rpdev.org. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org."
1221,"Malacañang on Sunday urged former President Fidel V. Ramos and other critics to wait for the results of the police investigation before blaming President Aquino for the deaths of 44 police commandos in a clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, on Jan. 25.Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma also assured the public that the police and the military are on full alert amid reports of efforts by some sectors to unseat President Aquino over the Mamasapano debacle.“We respect the opinion and view of former President Ramos as a senior statesman of our country. It is better that we wait for the results of the ongoing investigation of the Philippine National Police board of inquiry and other agencies doing their own search for the truth … like the Senate and the House of Representatives to determine the full and complete narrative about what happened in Mamasapano,” Coloma told reporters.Ramos, speaking at ceremonies in Intramuros commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Manila on Saturday, said Director Getulio Napeñas, the sacked commander of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) who had taken full responsibility for the debacle, should stop blaming himself and instead throw the “real blame” at higher officials.“I said it before, there are many chains of command—military, police, civilian, nongovernment organization, the media. The military [chain of command] is a bit different from the PNP chain of command, but both have one characteristic—the President is the Commander in Chief,” Ramos said.Two former SAF officials also said that as Commander in Chief, President Aquino should take full responsibility for the disastrous ending of the SAF operation to take down international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Filipino deputy, Basit Usman.They said Aquino could have saved many of the 44 SAF commandos had he ordered the military to launch a mission to rescue the policemen, who had been pinned down in a cornfield by guerrillas from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).Aquino not informed?Aquino was in Zamboanga City on Jan. 25 supposedly visiting the victims of a car bomb explosion there on Jan. 23. He could have learned about the fighting in Mamasapano, which began early that morning, but Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, both of whom were with him in Zamboanga, did not inform him about it.Speaking at a Senate inquiry into the Mamasapano clash on Thursday, Roxas and Gazmin said they received reports of the fighting in the morning of Jan. 25, but did not tell Aquino about it because clashes were daily occurrences in Maguindanao and they did not have a complete picture of what was going on in Mamasapano.Coloma sounded irritated when asked whether Malacañang would reprimand officials who failed to inform the President about the fighting in Mamasapano.“This question is based on conclusion on what we have heard from statements to testimonies from the hearings in the Senate and the House of Representatives. In our view, it is not proper to immediately accept this conclusion while the report of investigating bodies has not yet come out. It is better and proper to wait for the full result of these probes,” Coloma said.The SAF commandos killed Marwan during the operation but got into gun battles with BIFF and MILF guerrillas as they withdrew from Mamasapano.Forty-four commandos, 18 MILF guerrillas and five civilians were killed in the 12-hour gun battle.Usman was wounded, but managed to get away.President Aquino has come under heavy criticism for not accepting responsibility for the SAF disaster.Take full responsibilityTwo former SAF officials, who asked the Inquirer to withhold their identities for fear of reprisal from their superiors in the PNP, said Aquino, being the Commander in Chief, should tell what he knew and take full responsibility for the deaths of the 44 police commandos.The first officer, who served as a tactical officer in the SAF for four years, said Aquino could have minimized the SAF casualties had he directly ordered the military to step in and rescue the beleaguered policemen.He noted that the President admitted during a brief speech to SAF members on Jan. 30 that he knew about the fighting in Mamasapano.“I was told of the results of the [police operation] to arrest Marwan in the morning. While the investigation of the Zamboanga bombing was being conducted, the report [about the Mamasapano incident] was coming in,” Aquino told the SAF troopers after condoling with the families of the slain policemen at SAF headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.“What did he do after being told about the incident? Did he instruct the military to immediately carry out a rescue mission? For me, that’s the most important question that the President should answer,” said the police officer, who now occupies a key post in the 150,000-strong police force.“I believe in the President’s advocacy of ‘tuwid na daan” (straight path). This is the most opportune time for him to prove to the Filipino nation that he can still be trusted and that he will not lie to us,” he said.An official video of the President’s talk with the SAF troopers has been posted on YouTube by the Presidential Communications Operations Office.Shielding PresidentThe police officer urged the senators and representatives looking into the Mamasapano clash to watch the video.“That video is very revealing because the President himself admitted knowing that a gun battle was [taking place] between the SAF and the [Moro rebels] in Mamasapano and yet his senior security officials claimed they did not tell the President about it,” he said.“It’s very obvious that they were lying through their teeth, possibly because they wanted to protect President Aquino. But the people, especially the families of the [slain] SAF officers, deserve to know the truth,” he said.The second police officer, who spent the early years of his career in the SAF, said the President should explain why he agreed to let Director General Alan Purisima, the suspended PNP chief, take control of the mission to arrest Marwan and Usman.Jan. 9 briefingHe said the President should also make public the discussion he had with Purisima, Napeñas and Senior Supt. Fernando Mendez, head of the PNP Intelligence Group, during their meeting on the SAF mission in Bahay Pangarap, his residence at the Malacañang compound, on Jan. 9.Aquino must also explain why he agreed to Purisima’s “advice” that Napeñas not inform Roxas and the PNP officer in charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, about the operation.“Oplan Exodus was finalized during that meeting in Bahay Pangarap. That only means the President was fully aware of the operation,” the police officer said.“Instead of trying to escape accountability, President Aquino should man up and accept the fact that he failed to do what’s necessary to save the lives of the SAF troopers,” he said.“With just one call to the military, President Aquino could have saved the lives of many of those 44 brave men,” he said.Originally posted: 9:54 PM | Sunday, February 15th, 2015"
1230,"Time is running out for Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino and his Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya. The Filipinos are eagerly awaiting the day — on January 1, 2016 — when both men will have themselves run over by a train. It was a promise made by Aquino in 2013 if, by the end of 2015, the serious problems plaguing Metro Manila’s mass transportation, particularly the MRT (light railway) are not resolved.In a desperate attempt for damage control, Aquino’s communications secretary Herminio Coloma came to the rescue today saying that none of the president’s statements should be taken literally.“He was merely joking,” Coloma said, “just like when he makes statements and claims about the accomplishments of his administration.”“When the president says something like ‘the Philippines is the New Darling of Asia,’ or ‘the Philippines will soon become a First World Country,’ we should not take him seriously.”The statement from the presidential palace comes as a disappointment to many who were gearing up for a great, televised spectacle come January 1st."
1240,"CNN was in full standby mode last weekend, with camera crews and news anchors ready to hit the airwaves at the first sign of violence on opening night of the movie, “Straight Outta Compton.”The film tells the story of the group N.W.A., a group from Compton, California that was highly influential in the early days of hip-hop, and included several members that are still famous today, including Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, who also produced the film.It turned out to be a huge disappointment for CNN as it reported on Monday that there wasn’t violence at movie theaters during the opening weekend of the film.CNN anchor Ashleigh Banfield began the news segment by saying, “Some movie theaters were worried about violence when Straight Outta Compton hit the screen. Instead, it only led to longer lines, ticket lines and some big money, too.”The film earned $56.1 million on opening weekend, a record for an R-rated film.Banfield then brought on CNN law enforcement analyst Cedric Alexander to discuss the reaction to the film and to try to make sense of the non-violence that greeted the film’s opening weekend.All week last week, CNN was reporting that movie theaters were employing extra security while local police were being deployed to quell any riots that might ensue as a result of the film.The uneventful weekend was another missed opportunity for CNN to do what it does best: sensationalized reporting and news analysis."
1251,"Maraming katanungan ang inilutang tungkol sa insidente, lahat naghahangad ng mga kasagutan na maaaring hindi maibibigay sa loob ng maraming buwan habang inoorganisa ng mga opisyal ang lahat ng uri ng imbestigasyon. Samantala, inihinto ang lahat ng pagdinig sa panukalang BBL sa Senado at sa Kamara de Representantes. Ang unang kailangang gawin ay ang alamin kung ano talaga ang nangyari. Sinabi na ipinadala ang 392 miyembro ng PNP force upang tugisin ang wanted na Malaysian na suspek sa terorismo at ang kanyang kakutsabang Pinoy sa liblib na teritoryo ng MILF nang walang abiso sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na matagal nang kumikilos sa lugar. May sinabing $5 milyong pabuya na inalok ng mga Amerikano para sa Malaysian. Sinabi ng MILF na walang koordinasyon sa PNP sa MILF mismo, bilang paglabag sa kasunduan nito sa gobyerno. Ngunit kung totoo man ito, ayon kay Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, sapat ba na dahilan iyon upang imasaker ang 44 na pulis? Isa si Cayetano sa 13 miyembro ng Senate na co-author ng hakbanging BBL sa Senado. Iniurong ngayon niya ang kanyang co-authorship. Ang PNP mismo, sa utos ni Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, ay bumuo ng isang Board of Inquiry upang suriin ang insidente. Titingnan nito kung sino ang nag-utos ng operasyon na lumilitaw na sumuway sa isang kasunduan ng gobyerno sa MILF. Kailangang tingnan din nito ang kakapusan ng paghahanda ng naturang mga pulis, na ang karamihan ay kararating lang mula Metro Manila, na nakipagsapalaran sa isang hindi kilalang teritoryo. Maraming isyu ang kailangang maresolba - ang waring kawalan ng kontrol ng MILF sa kanilang hanay na sinisisi sa pagpaslang, ang responsibilidad ng pag-uutos ng operasyon sa umpisa pa lang, pati na ang pabuyang $5 milyon. Malalaman ba ng Board of Inquiry ang lahat ng ito o may ilang katotohanang masyadong sensitibo ang hindi nila ilalagay sa liwanag?"
1260,"Netizens reacts on the attitude showed by Legendary OPM Artist Jim Paredes during the rally for the anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25.Mr. Paredes, confronted a group of youth who supported Duterte and tried to intimidate them. The artist also said that he was disrespected by the presence of the group despite of his tweet that everyone was invited in the said event.A Netizen Raffy Gutierrez, writes an open-letter to Jim Paredes after he analyzed the video of the confrontation between the Pro-Dutertes and Anti-Dutertes.Mr. Guiterrez also thanked Mr. Paredes after he showed his attitude that made the anti-dutertes more unpopular.He also asked Paredes why he didn’t criticized the problem on illegal drugs despite of the many innocent victims killed by its users and pushers.He wrote:Yung pinakitang ugali ni Jim Paredes kanina is exactly the reason why EDSA 86 failed. Kasi yang mga p——— elitista na yan lalong naging mayabang at feeling kaya nilang duru-duruin ang mas maliliit sa kanila. Akala nila sila ang may-ari ng Pilipinas.Balikan natin ng kaunti si former President Abnoynoy. Di ba walang kasing yabang din at kasuklam suklam na ugali? Sino bukod sa pinaka elitistang tukmol ang magsasabi sa mga pamilya ng mga sundalong namatay, “Namatay din magulang ko kaya patas na tayo.” Tapos nakatawa ang tukmol buong time nandun siya sa wake ng mga SAF44.Salamat Jim Paredes dahil today lalong lalakas ang puwersa ng mga taong pigang piga na sa mga tulad mong tukmol na elitista. Malakas lang loob mo kasi marami kang pera. Alisin ninyong mga elitista ang pera ninyo kahit lamok at langaw di kayo gagalangin.Galit ka sa mga namatay dahil sa drug war ni President Duterte. Pero di ka galit sa lumobong problema ng illegal na droga na naging dahilan kung bakit naging Haven of Drug Syndicate itong kawawa nating bayan. Siguro adik ka rin tulad ng marami sa inyong mga dilawin. Hindi kaya?Grabe ibang level ka brother. You could have conducted yourself in a way that would be respected by even the staunchest Pro-Dutertes like me. But you’ve shown the world what a fucking asshole you are.Salamat at lalo mong pinakita ang tunay na kulay ng uri at brand mong elitista."
1270,"which has been linked to a longer life span. Researchers tested the theory by feeding a selection of roundworms a good dose of niacin and their life lasted one-tenth longer.You can also find the vitamin in paprika, sun-dried tomatoes and peanuts. But why bother? You can find niacin in lechon, which is all that really matters. So eat up!Oh, and don’t forget the sauce. Not just any sauce, but lechon sauce by Mang Tomas!"
1281,"""Yes, I made sure of my promise of not letting Igor finish the fight,"" lahad ng Filipino-American MMA superstar sa mga mamamahayag ilang sandali makaraan ng kanyang pagkapanalo. ""But honestly, man, I tell you, out of all my fights, this is my most nerve-wracking one. I tried not to show it, but I was so nervous. Kasi, 'di ba, it's my first time to fight in the Philippines, and all I can think of was I have to do good,"" dagdag ni Vera. Agad na nagpakita ng kanyang tikas at bilis si Vera sa pagtunog pa lamang ng bell. Nagawa pang makipagsabayan ni Subora sa striking ni Vera, ngunit nakakita ng opening si Vera para sa isang takedown at hindi na niya tinantanan ang Ukranian hanggang itigil ng referee ang laban. Ani Vera, malaking bagay ang pagdalo ng kanyang pamilya, na kanyang pinag-alayan ng laban, sa kanyang pagsungkit ng impresibong panalo laban kay Subora. ""To have my family, friends, and second family - the fans, come out here to support me and cheer for me, that meant a lot. Having them here, all of you here, that's where I draw my energy and inspiration from. Thank you. Maraming salamat sa lahat,"" sinabi niya. Nang tanungin kung ano ang kanyang reaksiyon sa pagpapahayag ng ilang heavyweight fighters mula sa ibang promosyon na interesado silang makatapat si Vera sa mga hinaharap na ONE FC events, sinabi ng 37-anyos na hindi niya aatrasan ang anumang hamon."
1291,"Some 55 farmers and agricultural workers from Batangas will attend a 90-day seasonal farmers’ training program in Chuncheon City, Gangwon Province in South Korea beginning Tuesday (April 17) until July 15 this year after completing their pre-departure seminar and orientation last week.Batangas public information officer Jenelyn A. Aguilera told Philippine News Agency over the weekend that the 55 farmers constitute the first batch of Seasonal Guest Farm Workers coming from the Batangas Provincial Agriculturist’s Office and the towns of Balete, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, Rosario, San Luis, San Pascual, Sto. Tomas and Taysan and Lipa City.Aguilera said the pre-training orientation and briefings were spearheaded by the Provincial Agriculture Office and the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office at the Provincial Cooperative Training Center, Capitol Site here.She said the 1st Batch of Seasonal Guest Farm Workers bound for Chuncheon City, who completed a pre-training orientation last week, will undergo the training program as part of the collaborative partnership of the Batangas Provincial Government and the South Korean city government of Chuncheon in Gangwon Province through the initiative of Governor Hermilando Mandanas.The farmers will be trained on modern farming methods and agricultural techniques; responsible farming; proper tillage, planting, harvesting and packaging of the agricultural products.Before the send-off, Provincial Administrator Levi Dimaunahan reminded the farmer-trainees to demonstrate their dedication to work and work ethics and values throughout the training program in South Korea.During the orientation, Provincial Tourism for Cultural Affairs Officer lawyer Sylvia M. Marasigan presented the South Korea country profile and background information, especially on the culture and traditions of the South Koreans and the climate.Marasigan also reminded the Batangas farmer-trainees to observe the cordial relations and friendly ties between South Korea and the Philippines in general, and the bilateral partnership undertaking of Chuncheon City ang Batangas province.Mang Melchor Reyes, 53 year-old farmer from Malvar, Batangas who is among the participants expressed appreciation to the provincial government for giving them the great learning opportunity on modern agricultural practices in a foreign land.“This will greatly help me and my family as this great opportunity would enhance my knowledge on farming,” Reyes said.He also vowed not to miss this opportunity and learn a lot from best practices in modern agriculture in South Korea."
1300,"The original anti-Marcos movements were nothing like that of the supposedly peaceful and prayerful “millennials” that make up today’s crop of Martial Law Crybaby activists. The originals seem to have been more of terrorists and involved, among other things, Filipino-Americans allegedly engaged in activities illegal under United States law — conspiring to launch private armies against the Philippine government from US soil, transport of explosives across state lines, and trafficking these to the Philippines. In the Philippines, these explosives were allegedly used for a spate of bombing attacks that rocked Manila in 1980.No less than Ester Jimenez, mother of the Yellow Camp’s chief celebrity cheerleader Jim Paredes was reportedly a member of the Light a Fire Movement, one of the groups suspected to be involved in instigating these acts of terror. It did not take long before the law caught up with them…Later, the core group of the Light-A-Fire Movement was arrested while meeting in Quezon City. Among them were businessman Eduardo Olaguer, Asia Institute of Management professor Gaston Ortigas and the 60-year-old Ester Jimenez, mother of Jim and Ducky Paredes. They were all convicted and sentenced to die by electric chair in 1984.The bomb blasts were deadly and were clearly meant to kill people as much as destroy high profile targets. One bomb exploded in Rustan’s department store in Makati killing one American tourist. Another exploded at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) while then President Ferdinand Marcos was in the building.Indeed, in light of these acts of terrorism, the outrage expressed by today’s Martial Law Crybabies over the arrest and detention of dissidents by Marcos’s government is quite baffling. Surely there is ample reason for any government to mount an aggressive operation to round up troublemakers when bombs explode randomly all over the capital city — specially one meant to terrorise the president himself. As a nation under martial law, Philippine government agents will have naturally acted and executed their orders within the framework of the extraordinary powers afforded them by that state.The Martial Law Crybabies have to do a bit better arguing as to why rounding up dissidents during those troubled years would constitute such an outrage. More importantly, they should first take stock of the terrorist heritage of their own movements.The appalling behaviour of Yellow celebrity activist Jim Paredes during the recently-concluded commemoration of the EDSA “people power revolution” on the occasion of its 31st anniversary made waves. Many observers have long been aware of the historical motivation behind the extremist zealotry of Paredes’s anti-Marcos and pro-Aquino activism. Unlike the non-violent stance that characterises the EDSA “spirit”, Paredes’s style mirrors more the angry and violent belligerence of his mother’s movement in the 1970s and 1980s.Jim Paredes, as Ilda wrote in her piece, “ruined the spirit”. More to the point, Get Real Post author Chino wrote in his piece The Light-A-Fire Movement was not Heroic how this original anti-Marcos effort is stained in blood…People would complain about impunity and lack of responsibility and accountability among Filipinos, and that in Philippine society, the wrongdoers are rewarded instead of punished. The Light-A-Fire Movement seems to fit this. They apparently never paid for the American life they took or the people they injured.…and, with that hypocritical blood, Jim Paredes stains today’s hip anti-Marcos “millennials” and the Yellow and blue-and-whte camps (and campuses) from which many of them hail."
1310,"I was recently reading some essays by a man who lived through the very worst of the violence in Africa after those countries were ""released"" from colonialism.One day all was orderly and clean, the next there were psychopaths roaming the streets killing, raping and maiming. The people out committing violence were the exact same people who – just a few days before under Colonial rule – were fine upstanding citizens.The author's opinion was that the authorities had never made their subjects THINK. They had simply enforced a rule-driven protocol upon them which didn't actually fit with some deeply-held (and fundamentally flawed) beliefs. They natives had been treated as children – because, no doubt, they were on that mental level – and had never been pressured to grow beyond that.I see this happening right now in the Philippines today. Not only are Filipinos not trained to think, they're deliberately trained not to. The entire school curriculum is based on a toxic combination of rote-learning, cheating (which is accepted as normal), and boneheaded nationalist indoctrination.The result is an entire country full of people who have never considered moral questions very deeply. They're running on autopilot. Kept under pressure by a Duterte, they'll behave themselves. But they don't really know WHY they should, apart from the fact that they'll be shot if they don't.That's no way for adults to behave. It's time for Filipinos to grow up.---------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/08/do-filipinos-require-guns-perpetually-pointed-at-their-heads/#comment-1290718"
1321,"“No one is above the law,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday, referring to Vice President Jejomar Binay who is facing possible corruption charges for the alleged overprice in the construction of a Makati parking building.“Whether you are rich or poor, powerful or an ordinary person, if you are liable under the law, you have to face it,” Drilon said in a radio interview, adding that he disagreed with the position of lawyer and University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque who had said Binay was immune from suit because the Vice President was an impeachable official.The Senate President said such a position was difficult to accept as the country was a democracy where everyone was equal under the law.Neither is Binay immune from investigations, according to Sen. Francis Escudero, including that of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which recently filed a petition to freeze the Vice President’s assets.It’s not a suitEscudero, himself a lawyer, disputed Roque’s contention that the AMLC petition to freeze Binay’s assets violated the Vice President’s immunity from suit, and that it was only a matter of time before the Supreme Court declared the freeze “unconstitutional.”The senator said the AMLC’s petition and the Court of Appeals’ freeze order were only part of the council’s investigation and could not be considered a case or suit against the Vice President.When the freeze order expires in six months, the AMLC may or may not file a case against Binay and his associates, depending on the results of its investigation, he added.No case necessary“[The] freeze order is not a case against (Binay). In fact, no hearing is necessary, no case is necessary, to freeze an account under the [Anti-Money Laundering Act],” Escudero said in an ambush interview.“It’s not a case against them. If it were, they should’ve been given due process… The point of this whole thing is to investigate,” he said.The senator added that the Constitution “doesn’t say anywhere that anyone is immune from investigation.”Escudero said even President Aquino was investigated, in a way, when the Senate looked into the Mamasapano incident. “Even if the President was immune from suit, he was not immune from investigation,” he added.The AMLC had sought to freeze the assets of Binay and his alleged dummies for alleged involvement in questionable transactions.The Vice President is being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged overpriced construction of Makati City Hall Building II when he was still mayor of Makati City.The Binay camp has decried the freeze order, contending that the AMLC had misled the court and that the petition was part of a well-orchestrated move of political foes to demolish the Vice President’s chances in the 2016 elections.Binay had declared his intention to gun for the presidency next year."
1331,"Some 15 fully armed men believed to be members of New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) torched a truck fully loaded with 1,462 boxes of bananas last Wednesday in Barangay Banahao, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, a flash report reaching the police regional headquarters on Thursday said.The driver and helper of the truck were not harmed during the incident, according to the Lianga municipal police station.The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Lianga contained the blaze after an hour at around 1:38 p.m.Initial investigation conducted by the Lianga police showed that the truck of DOLE- Philippines was travelling from Tago town, Surigao del Sur to Panabo City, Davao del Norte prior to the incident.“Upon reaching the aforementioned place, said van was flagged down by more or less 15 fully armed men believed to be a member of Sentro de Grabedad (SDG) platoon under certain a.k.a. ‘Dindo’ and Tulong Wagdos, a.k.a. ‘Tuloy’, fired and burned the container van using their long firearms several times,” the Lianga police report stated.After the incident, the perpetrators immediately withdrew towards northwest direction in Sitio Huwangan, Barangay San Isidro.Responding Lianga police personnel recovered from the crime scene several fired cartridge cases of M16 Armalite rifle, M14 rifle and AK47 rifle.As of press time, elements of the Philippine Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion and Lianga police are still in pursuit of the perpetrators."
1340,"Internet Celebrity Jon Gutierrez a. k. a. King Badger surprised his long time girlfriend and FHM model Jelai Andres with a wedding proposal. He popped the question during the Ex Battalion Concert in Muntinlupa.The couple had a participation at the concert and during a transition on stage, Jon announced that he has something to say. He fished the ring from his pocket bend the knee and popped the question to Jelai in front of a huge crowd who was needless to say, also surprised.Jelai was stunned for a moment and cried but finally she said yes to her long time boyfriend's marriage proposal. The two savored the moment with hugs and kisses as the crowd cheered on them.The proposal video was captured on video and was posted by Gutierrez on his Facebook account where it received tons of positive reaction and support from fans.Earlier this year, Jon and Jelai weathered a storm in their relationship when the former was rumored to have been cheating. It was reported that Jon was having an affair with another social media personality Toni Fowler. The couple managed to fix their issues after a time and soon returned to their normal romantic selves that fans loved so much about them.We sure hope to see these two beautiful people get married and have a family of their own. Congratulations to Team JoLai!As of now, there's no available information about their wedding plans.Here's the videothat is now going viral on social media."
1350,"Last time I checked it is East Asia that is adopting Western values, standards, and innovation, not the other way around. For example, take Korea. Before 2006 their automobile industry was terrible. But after Korean car companies Kia and Hyundai hired Peter Schreyer, a German automobile designer, to take control the Korean car industry has been exploding ever since thanks to him. Too bad the Koreans are the ones hogging the credit.Let me tell you, wherever Germans go they take their high cultural standards with them. In America the US states that dominate best livability have the highest percentages of German heritage. In Africa the Germans colonized what is today Namibia, whose capital city Windhoek has been dubbed the cleanest capital in Africa while ranking top 10 most livable African cities and top 3 least corrupt. German immigrants also settled mainly in South Australia, whose capital city Adelaide was awarded Australia's most livable city by the Property Council of Australia.Coincidence? No. This is what I consider contributing to the greatness of another country, coming in and increasing the standards of living and infrastructure, helping construct a model society which makes others want to move there and become better people. It's true that Filipinos work hard to become professionals in many fields that help society, which is something to be admired for. I know, because I am one of them. But as a Filipino I'm not the one who created the conditions for that to happen. I am a byproduct of it, and we should all start acknowledging that. Filipino culture and being Filipino is not what made me a hard working man who cares about the welfare of society, because if that was the case then the Philippines as a country wouldn't be in the condition it is in now.---------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/06/do-filipino-immigrants-really-contribute-to-the-greatness-of-the-united-states-and-other-countries/#comment-1179371"
1360,"In the week leading up to Mother’s Day, Facebook users were surprised to see a new emoticon that they could use to respond or react to posts.The new emoticon is a purple flower which is supposed to convey the emotion of being thankful.In the Philippines 🇵🇭, in addition to the purple flower, Facebook has included a second new emoticon — a graphic image of Vice President Leni Robredo.Facebook says that Filipinos can use the Robredo emoticon to convey that the post they are reading is “fake” or a “troll.”Robredo has been labeled FVP (Fake Vice President) by her critics and those who allege that she stole the election from rival Bongbong Marcos.The VP is also known to have a legion of online supporters — most of them anonymous — engaged in the spreading of fake and biased news or who are true masters of trolls."
1371,"He too had been losing sleep—and missing his favorite evening teleserye to boot.So countered Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Samuel Martires of the antigraft court’s Third Division when a lawyer for defendant Janet Lim-Napoles Thursday complained of the inconveniences his client had to endure to attend the morning hearings on the P10-billion pork barrel scam.Lawyer Stephen David said the detained businesswoman had been forced to wake up as early as 2 a.m. to attend the twice-a-week hearings that started on Wednesday.Napoles, who allegedly masterminded the elaborate scheme to funnel the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to her fake foundations, had previously asked the court to let her skip the proceedings, a request that was turned down twice.“Do you think we’re enjoying this?” Martires asked David, starting off a 30-minute litany that ended in a virtual lecture on how corruption in the bureaucracy had led to other social ills.‘Pangako Sa ’Yo’“We’re hearing cases in the morning and afternoon. I also wake up at 4 a.m. to prepare,” the judge said.“That’s why I have to sleep early and because of that, I have not been able to watch ‘Pangako Sa ’Yo’ and ‘On The Wings of Love,’” he said, setting off chuckles inside the courtroom.“That’s why (I’ve managed) to catch only ‘Ang Probinsyano,’” Martires added.The voluble magistrate was referring to the top-rating television dramas aired nightly over ABS-CBN that star some of the country’s most popular show biz love teams.The court’s hectic schedule had also forced him to skip his regular exercise, the 67-year-old justice said, adding that the court had been hearing more than 900 graft and corruption cases.Jogging pants“In fact, one of the lady reporters (said they missed) seeing me in my jogging pants in the afternoon (after the hearings),” Martires said.Martires, Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez compose the Third Division of the special court that had been assigned to hear the plunder case and 25 counts of graft against Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile.But the court has so far initiated only the trial of the plunder case against Napoles and Enrile’s former chief of staff, lawyer Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, as the senator managed to convince the Supreme Court to grant him bail for humanitarian reasons.Enrile, Napoles and Reyes were indicted for allegedly conspiring with each other to embezzle P172-million of Enrile’s pork barrel, an accusation they had repeatedly denied.The high court also approved the 91-year-old lawmaker’s motion seeking a bill of particulars directing prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman to cite the specific evidence and allegations against him in relation to the pork scam.Comic reliefMartires’ comments provided some comic relief to the otherwise dreary court proceedings, which continued with the testimony of witness Marina Sula, one of Napoles’ former employees who blew the whistle on her.But before Sula was called to the witness stand, Tang let off some steam as she berated David for accusing the court of showing “special interest” in speeding up the trial.In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Napoles’ lawyer assailed the justices for requiring his client to be present at the hearings that the court had set from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon every Wednesday and Thursday.Tang reminded David that he and his client did not challenge the court’s two previous rulings which required Napoles’ presence during the trial.She also noted that it was Napoles’ counsels themselves who told the court in a previous manifestation that it would be “better” for Napoles to attend her trial as it would give her an opportunity to assist her lawyers.“This court has every right to require an accused to be present, isn’t it counsel?” a visibly irate Tang asked David.Barred from answering back, the lawyer was also asked to be “more responsible with (his) statements to media.”"
1380,"As someone who still pays for a weekly subscription, I’m very disappointed at TIME Magazine editors. I just realised that after all these years reading about and admiring people featured on their annual 100 most influential list, it turns out that some on the list include people whose achievements were simply romanticised, exaggerated or completely untrue.Take the write-up about Filipino Senator Leila De Lima who is currently detained on various charges for her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs at the Philippine national penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison. TIME included the senator in the category “Icons” as if De Lima is someone to be admired. Well, if you live in an alternate universe and prefer someone who is loud, a bully and lacks moral values, then you likely would consider De Lima to be an “icon”.First of all, the write-up, which was written by former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power, was so short, lacked facts and details about the cases against De Lima. She implied that the only reason De Lima landed in jail was because she is a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte…But Senator de Lima has become Duterte’s most vocal critic—a role her friends call suicidal. Last August de Lima convened a hearing on Duterte’s drug-war killings, featuring devastating testimony from a former hit man. Duterte allies stripped de Lima of her Justice Committee chair. In February she was jailed.Power did not even bother to know the facts about the cases against De Lima. She also had the nerve to imply that De Lima’s colleagues in the Senate were in cahoots with Duterte and not acting independently when they stripped De Lima of her committee chairmanship. Never mind that De Lima was abusing her power in the Senate by turning the Senate hearing into a witch-hunt and focusing on Duterte’s alleged role in the vigilante group the Davao Death Squad while he was still City Mayor there.The focus of the Senate hearing then was supposed to be on the alleged extra-judicial killings (EJKs) relating to the government’s war on drugs, but De Lima took the opportunity to lambast Duterte in front of the media. That did not sit well with the other senators because De Lima came across like she simply had an axe to grind for her failure to prosecute Duterte when she was the Department of Justice Secretary under the Aquino government and even earlier when she was still the head of the Human Rights Commission during the Arroyo government.Power’s write-up was disturbing because it was obvious that she only based its message on one side of the story – De Lima’s side. Power wanted to paint a picture of a lawless Philippines under Duterte. She mentioned “some 7000 people were killed” in the drug war as if all these deaths were government-sanctioned. She wanted De Lima to look like a political prisoner whose only crime was to criticise Duterte. Power does not have respect for the members of Philippine criminal justice system, which includes the law enforcement agencies and the court judges who work on De Lima’s prosecution.Power is not only showing her ignorance of Philippine politics, she is also showing her superiority complex. She probably thinks that only the Western system of delivering “justice” is acceptable. To be fair, Filipino politicians have a track record of persecuting those not allied with them when they are in power. Even former allies get thrown under the bus as soon as they fall out of favour. This was very evident during former President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s term. As a matter of fact, De Lima played a big role in detaining Aquino’s political enemy former President Gloria Arroyo for five years even when she was sick. Power should have asked celebrity and international human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin Clooney about the time De Lima denied Arroyo her right to travel and her right to presumption of innocence back in 2011. I wrote about it several times in the past. It’s still worth highlighting now:De Lima’s initial violation back then was in defying the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on the travel ban against Arroyo. De Lima even risked disbarment for ignoring the highest court’s order. Senator Miriam Santiago likewise questioned De Lima’s action citing the DOJ had no legal basis to issue a watch-list order against Arroyo since there was no pending case against the former President and was only a respondent in a joint DOJ Comelec investigation on electoral fraud at that time. Santiago said the DOJ had “no legal basis” to issue watch-list orders based on the memorandum circular. She rejected the argument that Arroyo’s constitutional right to travel could be suppressed as a matter of “national interest.” She noted that a person could be barred from traveling based only on three exceptions: national security, public safety or public health. “It is a very serious and grave mistake to think that national security, public safety and public health can be interchanged with national interest,” she said. “We are putting words in the mouth of the Constitution, that is why the Supreme Court ruling is correct.” Justice Secretary Leila De Lima acted like the President’s thug in preventing Arroyo’s departure. It was apparent then that De Lima was acting on orders from President BS Aquino. He even cut short his overseas trip when he found out Arroyo was about to leave the country. De Lima acted like the President’s thug and seemingly obeyed his orders to do anything – even break the law and deny basic human rights – just to prevent Arroyo from leaving the country.TIME Magazine’s editor Nancy Gibbs also wrote a very brief comment about De Lima, which likewise showed her ignorance on Philippine issues and her own bias about human rights:Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte and his nemesis Senator Leila de Lima, whose denunciation of Duterte’s bloody crusade against drug dealers has landed her in prison.Both Gibbs and Power’s credibility are in question now since it is obvious they did not bother to check the facts about De Lima’s incarceration.The TIME editor’s agenda in choosing Duterte’s critic former Colombian President César Gaviria to do the Philippine President’s write-up is also questionable. They apparently wanted someone who did not have anything good to say about Duterte. Just because Gaviria failed in his own drug war in Columbia doesn’t mean those who take a tough stance on illegal drugs elsewhere will fail too. Gaviria doesn’t seem to want Duterte to stop drug lords from plying their trade. He wants Duterte to focus on treating addicts instead.There are many ways to address the drug problem, but the Philippines being a poor country, cannot afford to spend public funds on treating all drug addicts like celebrities. Sometimes prevention is cheaper than the cure, which is why a lot of Filipinos agree with Duterte that removing the source of the drugs will solve the drug scourge a lot quicker. In a Third World country like the Philippines, drug addicts will have to go cold turkey once the source of their recreational drug is gone. No luxury rehab centres for drifters, unfortunately.Gaviria cannot really compare the Philippine drug problem to Colombia’s drug problem. Colombia was once one of the world’s top producers of cocaine. The U.S. government was even involved in trying to beat the drug cartels. The problem in Colombia was bigger than the Philippines. Gaviria should have at least commended Duterte for addressing the Philippine drug problem before the country became a Narco state like Colombia. This was something the previous Aquino government failed to do.TIME’s write-up about Duterte is unfavourable, indeed. They ranked him right up there with strongmen who did nothing for their people but bring misery. After almost a year in office, Duterte’s popularity is still strong. That’s proof that Filipinos are not exactly living in a lawless and hopeless state the way some of these bleeding heart liberals from TIME and the UN want the rest of the world to think."
1390,"Pope Francis yesterday urged an audience of senior political leaders “to reject every form of corruption, which diverts resources from the poor, and to make concerted efforts to ensure the inclusion of every man and woman and child.”It was was a somber message that put Philippine politicians on notice that the Vatican is well aware of the corruption that has plaqued this Catholic country in the last several years and beyond.In contrast, with the Pope looking on, President Aquino complained that local church leaders were overly critical of him and his administration and that they even ‘gave me unsolicited advice on my hair.’ The balding Aquino who has repeatedly blamed previous administrations for the problems faced by his country today. ‘The church should turn their criticism toward my predecessors,’ Aquino said. Immediate past President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is under hospital arrest for corruption charges while her predecessor, now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, was convicted and jailed for similar offenses but later pardoned by Arroyo.In response to Aquino’s gripe, the Pope told him, “Blessed are those that that love their political enemies, for they shall achieve eternal power in heaven. Blessed are those who are criticized for thinning hair, for they shall receive a full head of hair in heaven.”Aquino was heard whispering to the Pope: ‘Amen.’"
1401,"A landmark law signed by President Duterte in June has declared 94 protected areas as national parks that are now under government protection and management, with government resources mobilized in their conservation.Under Republic Act No. 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (Nipas) Act of 2018, the protected areas have been put under the control and supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Biodiversity Management Bureau.The new law also requires the Department of Justice to appoint special prosecutors for violators of the laws, rules and regulations in the protected areas.Some of the new and bigger protected areas under the expanded Nipas law are: Tañon Strait in Cebu and Negros Islands (534,589.05 hectares), and Ticao-Burias Pass in Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon provinces (414,244 ha);Samar Island Natural Park in Samar (335,105.57 ha); Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte (283,974.77 ha); Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Tawi-Tawi (242,958.29 ha); Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur; and Sarangani Bay in General Santos City (210,887.69 ha).Also declared as protected areas are: Taal Volcano in Batangas and Cavite; Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City; the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument in Bohol; Aliwagwag Protected Landscape in Davao Oriental; Bulusan Volcano Natural Park in Sorsogon; Hinulugang Taktak falls in Rizal; Apo Reef in Occidental Mindoro; Las Piñas-Paranaque Wetland Park; the Panglao Island Protected Seascape in Bohol; and Mt. Mayon Natural Park in Albay.Prohibited actsConsidered prohibited acts in the protected areas are: poaching and disturbing any wildlife; hunting, taking or collecting any wildlife or by-products; cutting, gathering or removing timber without permit.Possessing or transporting any timber, forest products, wildlife or by-products; using any fishing gear and indulging in practice that destroys marine life; dumping toxic chemical, untreated sewage or animal waste.The practice of “kaingin,” or causing forest fires; damaging and leaving roads and trails; littering; possessing or using blasting caps or explosives.Occupying or dwelling in any public land; building any structure, fence or enclosure; conducting any business enterprise without permit; and purchasing or leasing lands.Violators face fines ranging from P50,000 to P5 million, and prison terms ranging from six to 12 years.Government officials convicted of violating any provision of RA 11038 will also be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.According to the law, “these areas, although distinct in features, possess ecological values that may be incorporated into a holistic plan to conserve and protect our natural heritage.”A protected area management board, composed of representatives from the DENR, Congress, the local government, and the private sector, will be tasked to approve and implement the management plan created for each protected area.Aside from the 94 new Nipas, 113 protected areas have been previously declared national parks through presidential proclamations.However, only 13 of them are supported by legislation under RA 11038."
1411,"The Commission on Audit (COA) has recommended sanctions against Vice President Jejomar Binay in connection with the alleged anomalous construction of the P2.8-billion Makati City Hall Building II, according to a special audit report.The 148-page report by the 12-member COA team against Binay, who is running for President in the May 9 elections, said the Vice President was administratively liable for grave misconduct, dishonesty and gross inexcusable negligence, graft and corrupt practices.The charges concerning crimes that Binay allegedly committed while he was mayor of Makati City carry penalties ranging from removal from office, fines and imprisonment.However, Binay, as a sitting Vice President, is immune from lawsuits and the charges against him can only be prosecuted after he steps aside.The report, a copy of which was secured by the Inquirer, said that Binay should be meted out administrative disciplinary action for violation of COA circulars and memorandums as the head of a procuring entity from 2007 to 2010.Also named in the special audit report, forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman for prosecution, were Binay’s son, Junjun, who has been removed as mayor of Makati in connection with construction irregularities in the city, and 54 former and current officials in the municipality.“Any unjustified failure of the officials and employees concerned to comply with the requirements herein imposed shall be subject to the administrative disciplinary action provided in Section 127 of Presidential Decree No. 1445; Section 55, Title I-B, Book V of the revised Administrative Code of 1987 and Section 11 of Republic Act No. 6713,” the report said.IrregularitiesThe report stated that “the construction of the Makati parking building from Phase 1 to 5 totaling P2.8 billion showed irregularities from budgeting to procurement to execution resulting in the misuse of public funds.”It also said that the grant of the city government of undue advantages to the privately owned Hilmarc’s Construction Co. and Mana caused injury to the government.The audit team also found out that the contract for architectural and engineering services with Mana for P11,974,900 was not covered by an appropriation and was awarded through “simulated bidding.”Payments, it said, were not supported by documents as required by law.The recommendation by the special team was approved the Assistant Audit Commissioner Alexander B. Juliano.AnomaliesAmong anomalies cited by the team were programs not included in the annual procurement plan (APP); the supplemental budget of P2.55 billion was enacted without available funds; the purported public bidding on the five phases as bases of award of contracts were not an outcome of a competitive bidding; the original project of a nine-story parking building with cost of P283 million was upgraded to 11 floors with bloated cost of P2.28 billion without an approved plan and approved budget cost; reported accomplishments were paid without the required vital documents; the100 percent reported accomplishments showed variances when compared to actual inspection per audit resulting in bloated reports equivalent to P1.3 billion.The report said that the absence of the APP, which should have determined the extent and size of contract scopes, resulted in the construction and implementation of the parking building project into five phases without judicious planning and procurement.The team refuted Binay’s defense that the responsibility for the bidding of the project was not with the mayor, but with the city’s bids and awards committee. It said that under the law “fiscal responsibility rests directly with the head of the agency concerned.”IndispensableThe absence of an APP, an indispensable requirement for judicious planning and procurement, should have alerted Binay to do a more strict review and supervision of the project, it said.The team said that the auditors assigned to Makati that reviewed the different phases of the project did not issue any adverse audit observation or notice of disallowance did not mean that the transactions were legal and regular.On the case of the enacted supplemental budget, the team found out that the various infrastructure projects amounting to P14 billion of which the P2.8 billion pertains to the parking building were sourced from either loans, unappropriated surplus or savings of the executive budget and surplus income.The audit team discovered that P1.24 billion and P2.3 billion representing proceeds of loans which were not released by state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines on 2007 and 2008 but on Jan. 29, 2010, an election period.Cited for sanctionsAlso cited for the sanctions were Line de la Peña, Marjorie de Veyra, Mario Hechanova, Nelson Morales, Kenneth Dasal, Lorenza Amores, Ulysses Orienza, Ernesto Mercado, Ernesto Aspillaga, Maria Theresa de Lara, Virgilio Hilario, Angelito Gatchalian, Henry Jacome, Erlinda Gonzales, Arnold Magpantay, Luis Javier, Salvador Pangilinan, Armando Padilla, Tosca Camille Puno, Elias Tolentino Jr., Constancia Lichauco, Christine Mercado, Israel Cruzado, Romulo Peña, Monique Lagdameo, Leonila Querijero, Lorenza Amores, Nelia Barlis, Merlina Panganiban, Norman Flores, Ralph Liberato, Rodel Nayve, Giovanni Condes, Carmelita Morales, Febronia Ambrosio, Rowena Carpio, Cecilio P. Lim III, Raydes Pestaño, Eleno Mendoza, Rosemarie Yumul, Arnel Cadangan, Patrick Carullo, Jane Cano, Alden Albano, Efren Canlas, Ernesto Magat, Eleuterio Tamayo, Ronaldo Garcia, Abraham Pastor, Ronelio Tan, Mario Badillo and Mana."
1420,"Vice President Leni Robredo is now in London to attend a meeting with some Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based in the said country.According to the Office of the Vice President, Robredo was there to promote “stories of hope” and to highlight the sacrifices of our Filipino workers in London for their family in the Philippines.She’s going to deliver a speech at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on Friday, April 6.However, in his arrival in the said University, Robredo was greeted by her critics consisted of both supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte and former Senator Bongbong Marcos holding several placards to mock and criticize the Vice President.The group called themselves as DDS United Kingdom and BBM London.They didn’t wasted the opportunity to wait for the Vice President at the entrance of the University.However, it seems that Robredo used the other entrance and exit of the University to avoid a confrontation between the Vice President and her critics.Because of this, the critics of Robredo expressed their disappointment that the Vice President didn’t face them.Meanwhile, supporters of Leni Robredo also showed up to greet the Vice President.Some members of Democratic Alliance Movement of the Philippines – International (DAMPi) and Global Alliance for a Humane Democratic Society (GAHDS) also hold a placard to address their message of support to Robredo.Photo: FacebookDuterte supporters posted some photo taken inside the LSE during the Vice President’s visit.Robredo visited London amid the manual recount conducted by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).The Vice President angered her critics after she called them “trolls’ and “bots” while she called her fans as ‘real people’ who’s not being paid to express their support.She said that the criticisms that she received on social media are part of the “well-oiled propaganda” against her.Source [1] [2]"
1431,"28 grams of “Purple Dragon” sold for $160.“People out here on the street are thinking it is a legitimate operation and are smoking this cannabis with all these dangerous pesticides, and they are really killing themselves,” Montez said.Some illegal pot shops look so legitimate that customers may not even realize they are illegal unless they figure out they aren’t being charged tax. But like any shopper looking for the best deal, plenty know these places are illegal and go because it’s cheaper.While some illegal LA County pot shops grow their own plants, many are supplied by illegal grows in the hills of Northern California, long a major source of all U.S. pot.Lake County, about 125 miles (201 kilometers) north of San Francisco, is home to many such grows because of its topography, which allows pot farmers to easily hide large operations. It has an abundance of federal and state forests and land where cartels set up operations.Like the LA County Sheriff’s Department, Lake County lacks the manpower to put much of a dent in illegal operations.Deputies patrol on the ground and in helicopters, and last year they destroyed about 250,000 plants and arrested 46 people for illegal grows, Sheriff Brian Martin said.He has no estimate for the number of illegal grows in the county but is confident the hundreds of thousands of plants deputies chop down each year are “just the tip of the iceberg.”Martin said his short-staffed department has assigned a single a detective full-time to marijuana eradication. He counts on help from state and federal agencies, but they too have their priorities.“It’s all about manpower,” he said. “No one has enough of it.”"
1441,"have ruled its use unconstitutional.Nationwide, only 14 people have been killed in the electric chair since 2000. The most recent was Robert Gleason Jr. in Virginia in 2013.Robert Dunham is executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, which doesn’t take a position on capital punishment but is critical of the way it is administered.He said attorneys who defend death row inmates have seen their options shrinking, thanks to state secrecy laws around executions and unfavorable federal court decisions.“What do you do when you have really strong facts and a court that won’t listen?” he asked. “That’s the position Edmund Zagorski is in.”After Tennessee’s Supreme Court ruled against Zaroski’s midazolam challenge, the prisoner signed an affidavit asking to die by electrocution. A typed addendum cites the 8th Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment, stating, “I believe that both lethal injection and electrocution violate my rights.”Zagorski believes electrocution will be quicker and less painful, Henry has said.But the choice is one she had hoped Zagorski would not have to make."
1450,"Members of the Philippine Opposition could use some professional therapy. They seem to be suffering from some kind of mental disorder. Their obsession with the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr is already disturbing. The way the Opposition use Marcos in their protest rallies and the way they associate him with current President Rodrigo Duterte is as if he is still alive today despite being dead since 1989. Yes, that was almost 30 years ago. One wonders why these people are still haunted by the man who died in exile in the United States.Activists holding up placards with images of Marcos Sr during a recent protest rally to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law were a ridiculous sight. The anti-Marcos protesters are of the belief that nothing good came out of Martial Law. But if you analyse the real situation then, there was a real threat of communist takeover in the Philippines in the 1960s and 70s. One just has to look at the events that transpired in Vietnam at that time to confirm this.While it is right to remember the people who were victims of atrocities committed by rogue members of the law enforcement agencies then, it should be balanced with commending the work of the military and police who remained committed to their duties to protect the republic from communism. The problem is, some of these protesters are communist sympathisers or have been brainwashed into believing that those who died in the hands of the military and police during Martial Law were all “innocent”.That is a big fat lie. Testimonies from former members of the communist group like famed film director Mauro Gia Samonte prove that the communists were out to wreak havoc in Philippine society during Marcos’s time. Samonte even wrote in one of his columns on the Manila Times recounting the time he almost launched a grenade into a crowd when he was a member of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) within the Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng mga Manggawa (KASAMA):While the lead agitators were taunting the police and mouthing anti-US imperialist tirades, Ka Estrel sidled up to me and in a stealthy manner slung on my shoulder a soft, innocent-looking bag made of cloth (backpacks were not yet in vogue at the time), then whispered: “Ganyan ang ginamit sa Plaza Miranda. Pagbunot ng pin, ibato mo agad. Four seconds sasabog yan. (That’s the same kind used in Plaza Miranda. After pulling out the pin, throw it at once. In four seconds it will explode.)” And with that, Ka Estrel made herself scant. Shortly after, those at the front line succeeded in intimidating the policemen, who started charging. Those assigned with pillboxes exploded their weapons at the police onrush.Suffice to say, the protesters during Marcos’s term did not come in peace. They came to maim and hurt innocent people just to prove a point. They were no different to terrorist suicide bombers in the Middle East. These are facts that millennials are refusing to accept. It doesn’t even matter how many previous members of the communist movement like Samonte speak out against their former comrades. They still think that only Marcos was “evil” for declaring Martial Law.Proof that the Opposition is also suffering from tunnel vision is the fact that they only blame Marcos for the supposed atrocities even when former President and former head of the Philippine Constabulary Fidel Ramos oversaw the activities of the police force. He should be held accountable for the alleged atrocities committed by his men. But as long as he is singing praises to the Aquinos, he is safe from condemnation and persecution from the Opposition particularly the anti-Marcos advocates.Ramos sure won’t suffer the same fate as former Senator and former Marcos Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile. Enrile was a key player in the ousting of Marcos Sr in the 1986 so-called People Power revolution, but has had a falling out with the Opposition. They have thrown him under the bus since he has gone past his use-by date and since he has come out with his “real” version of what happened during EDSA that doesn’t paint a good picture of the “victims” of Martial Law.In a one-on-one interview with former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, Enrile claimed that Marcos forces did not kill anyone because of their political or religious beliefs. He justified the need to declare Martial Law, which included putting an end to the negative propaganda that claimed Marcos ordered the massacre of Muslim trainees in Corregidor Island in 1968 dubbed as the Jabidah massacre, a fabrication created by Ninoy Aquino, as well as the Plaza Miranda bombing in 1971.It’s about time we correct the version of history written by the “victors” in 1986. The winners of today need to add to the one-sided narrative that has been played out with the help of mainstream media allied with the Aquinos. It is time to end the brainwashing of the youth. As San Beda Law Dean Father Ranhilio Aquino posted on Twitter:Following Proclamation 1081, many heaved a sigh of relief. There was order. The streets of Manila were free of the noisy and raucous hordes. There was no fear about walking about in the evening because everyone knew that misbehaviour could have dire consequences.The Opposition who keeps organising these protest rallies are definitely out of touch with reality. They keep hoping to copy the successful ouster of Marcos Sr using people power and wish to use the same style in ousting Duterte who they think is copying Marcos. But the recent failed “people power” revolution to oust Duterte only means one thing: the leaders of the Opposition do not have the gravitas to convince the public to join their cause. It doesn’t help that their cause hasn’t evolved and is still stuck in the 1970s.It’s one thing for members of the public to join protest rallies but it is quite another for a public servant to join one. That’s exactly what Senator Risa Hontiveros did during the recent rally. She was videoed heckling Duterte before a crowd of protesters and accusing him of destabilising democracy. She was a disgrace. She is already a lawmaker and should be using her post to effect the changes she wants done. If she doesn’t have ideas for the legislature anymore, then she should simply resign and become a full time protester. She is useless as a Senator because she doesn’t use her post to write or amend laws that can help Philippine society. Hontiveros is the one who doesn’t understand how democracy works. She doesn’t understand change in a democracy is slow because every policy or idea has to run past different branches of government. One simply cannot implement one’s ideas without approval from Congress and the Executive.People like Risa Hontiveros do not have any legal means of getting rid of Duterte so they just use their position to taint his image before a gullible crowd. They claim to be advocates of human rights but deprive their enemies of right to due process. They are inconsistent.It is 2018, but the members of the Opposition still think a dead man still poses a threat to them. This paranoia is the result of feeling powerless and not being in control of their destiny. If they are afraid of Marcos Jr, then it only means they have no faith in Philippine society. There is no one else to blame for that other than the people who were in charge after Marcos left the building."
1461,"After nearly 50 years since its establishment, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) held its Second National Congress, elected mostly younger and middle-aged cadres to its powerful Central Committee and reaffirmed its armed revolution.The CPP made the announcement on Wednesday as it marked the 48th anniversary of its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), which celebrated its founding with a lighting rally by some of its members and supporters in Quezon City two days earlier.In a statement, the CPP said 120 delegates representing nearly 7,000 party members attended the congress on Oct. 24-Nov. 7 last year, after the second round of formal peace negotiations between the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the government aimed at ending one of the world’s longest-running communist insurgencies.Around 60 percent of the delegates were aged 45-59 years and 15 percent were 44 years and younger, it said.Congress in guerrilla baseThe new Central Committee would ensure that the party leadership “will remain vibrant, tightly linked with the lower levels of leadership and capable of leading the practical work and day-to-day tasks of the party, especially in waging revolutionary armed struggle against the reactionary state,” the statement said.It said the congress, held inside a guerrilla base, was secured by a battalion of armed fighters, an indication that it may have been in Mindanao where the NPA had battalion-sized formations.It said 45 percent of the delegates represented party members from Mindanao, 40 percent from Luzon, 15 percent from Visayas and the rest from leading organs and commissions.Amended constitutionThe CPP said it amended its constitution and the biggest change was the “elaborated preamble” that includes its analysis of Philippine society and its adherence to protracted armed struggle as its principal form of struggle.“The party program reaffirms the necessity of waging armed revolution in order to counter the armed violence employed by the US imperialists and the local reactionary ruling classes and end the oppressive and exploitative semicolonial and semifeudal system,” it said.It added a constitutional provision to accept “members of foreign fraternal parties” into the party.Another new provision specified the right of a party member to retire at age 70 but retain party membership and receive subsistence and medical assistance. An advisory committee would be formed for the retirees.The congress also approved a resolution giving “the highest honors” to founding chair Jose Maria Sison, calling him a “great communist thinker, leader, teacher and guide of the Filipino proletariat and torchbearer of the international communist movement.”The CPP said it would continue to seek his counsel and guidance on party work.In a separate statement on the NPA anniversary, the CPP said it supported the peace negotiations but warned its cadres and fighters of “the dangers of pacification, especially as a result of a prolonged ceasefire without substantial gains for the Filipino people.”RELATED VIDEO"
1470,"Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo ‘Pulong’ Duterte didn’t escape the speed gun of the city’s Land Transportation Office personnel early Friday morning in Bangkal, Davao City.Duterte posted a Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) from the LTO indicating his 57kph speed. The street he was taking has a speed limit of maximum 40kph.The vice mayor said that it was his first time to be apprehended. He noted that it was because he feared of his wife which urged him to go home that fast.” Pandamay ning ga dali ta ug uli kay suko na si Kumander ( I needed to go home fast, my wife is now angry) said Duterte.His facebook followers appreciated the Vice Mayor for accepting his fault. Some would look the brighter side of the incident. One commenter said that Pulong was arrested because he is a good-looking man.” If the they are basing the looks, they should have gotten Baste as well ” Duterte joked referring to his younger brother Sebastian Duterte.“But the problem with Baste, there is no speed limit in surfing. Do you really wanted us all to be caught ha?” he added.Pulong’s sister, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara, also experienced apprehension due to speed limit 2 years ago. Their father, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte who was then the city Mayor, wasn’t able to escape the speed gun of Davao LTO in 2014 also.So, in your next visit to Davao, you should watch out for speed limit. This is the city that even the President of the Philippines can be arrested.Your thought? Leave your comments below!Photos sources: Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte page | Mindananews.com"
1481,"""While Pacquiao rebounded from the losses with a decision win over Brandon Rios in 2013 the 'comeback' was fully completed in 2014, as Manny Pacquiao set the record straight with Timothy Bradley in April to put the controversial loss in the rear view mirror,"" ayon sa sikat na boxing radio show. ""Pacquiao ended his 2014 with a outstanding, dominate win in a November bout with unbeaten light welterweight, Chris Algieri in which Pacquiao managed to send Algieri to the canvas six times."" Nilinaw ng OTRB, na si Pacquiao lamang ang tumalo sa isang boksingerong nakalista bilang No. 5 sa pound-for-pound list ng The Ring Magazine sa katauhan ni Bradley at nagpalasap ng unang pagkatalo kay dating WBO light welterweight champion Chris Algieri. ""The real deciding factor in naming Manny Pacquiao our 'Fighter of the Year' was he accomplished what no one else did during the calendar year, as Pacquiao secured a win over a top 5 P4P fighter, with his win over Timothy Bradley. Bradley was not only coming off a terrific win over the dangerous Ruslan Provodnikov, but he also definitively beat Juan Manuel Marquez who had just come off a knockout win over Pacquiao,"" paliwanag ng boxing show. ""This factor separated Pacquiao from a close field that included Terence Crawford and Gennady Golovkin."""
1490,"Former ONE featherweight champion Honorio Banario of Team Lakay plans to keep winning in hopes to one day land a shot at the lightweight title ahead of his upcoming showdown against Amir Khan on the undercard of ‘ONE: Beyond the Horizon’ on September 8 in Shanghai, China.Banario, 28, at one point suffered a five-fight losing skid, but has since bounced back and is now looking to extend his impressive win streak to six against the Singaporean striker.“Right now I’m just motivated to keep on winning. Whether that means I’m on the road to another title shot or not. I just want to beat whoever they put in front of me. If that leads to the title, then I’m fine with it,” said Banario.“I know he is a great striker, but I am also. It’s going to be Muay Thai versus Wushu when we meet at the center of the ring. They have a lot of world champions training at Evolve, the best facilities, access to knowledge from BJJ black belts, Muay Thai and wrestling world champions,” he added.Banario is a renowned wushu specialist but has since evolved throughout the years after he showcased an improved ground game in his past few fights.Knowing that his upcoming foe hails from the renowned Evolve MMA, Banario is expecting Khan to be just as prepared as he is come fight night.“We may not have advanced facilities [at Team Lakay], or every resource at our disposal, but I don’t see it as a disadvantage. We have each other, and because we operate on very little, I think it makes us hungrier to prove that Team Lakay is world-class and one of the best teams in the world despite our limited resources,” said Banario.“I’m confident of victory. I know it won’t be easy but I know what it will take to win. He’s a worthy opponent, young and dangerous. I think my skills are good enough to beat him. The winner will move forward in the division in a big way and I’m looking to make a statement.”"
1501,"CEBU CITY - Isa si Norman Solamo, 40, sa mga maagang pumila upang mag-apply ng trabaho sa pagbubukas ng Manila Bulletin Classified Jobs Fair sa SM City Cebu Trade Hall kahapon, at puno siya ng pag-asa na makahahanap na ng oportunidad sa pagkakakitaan para makatulong sa kanyang pamilya."
1510,"Sometimes, I'm amazed at how the Philippine educational system, deranged though it is, has produced people who appear to think profoundly, but not give an alternative future for the Philippines at all.I have this acquaintance who prides himself on being a ""proletaryo"". In fairness to this guy, he is actually a working-class intellectual, the sort of Mao Zedong-typesfall in love with, marry, and then dump well into their marriage because they eventually prove to be a burden. He reads much, talks much, and knows a lot of people. He is generally genial - until you hear this ""proletaryo"" shit from him. We're good, by the way - but I'm not okay with this kind of deception or hypocrisy I hear, not just from him, but from a lot of such other working-class intellectuals. It's becoming a widespread phenomenon in the Philippines.I am a working-class intellectual, and one of the hardest things for us is to congeal (in Tagalog:) the things we learn in school, the things we read in books, and the doings of the people around us. We must make sense of all three for ourselves, especially the third; the Philippines is no intellectual paradise where you can even just inquire without being suspected of something bad. . An insuperable feeling of intellectual claustrophobia is stamped on us every time we look around and try to befriend people around us. This is exactly the feeling experienced by middle-class intellectuals and the upper classes in general as well - but we claim to be ""working-class"", or on the side of the people. We profess to love the people and serve the people because we're part of them. Working-class intellectuals are much like middle-class intellectuals without money. But we're intimately living with the working class non-intellectuals - and our differences withbecome more substantial as the intimacy deepens.It's a bit like having a girlfriend who doesn't share your BDSM tastes and likes sex only once a month, given that she does like it in your relationship in the first place.So the danger for working-class thinkers here is to have intellectual ""flings"", instant gratifications of the mind. The thing is that, in the end, we could either 1) get sucked up by the system we are trying to change or at least peacefully coexist with, 2) create ivory towers for ourselves, where we can live out our fantasies and dreams, or 3) become cynical and hard-bitten by the reality. We end up bitter, and mistake the bitterness for ""revolutionary fervor"". We hold a ""revolution"" and, if it works out, we translate the bitterness into the kind of social regimen (not ""regime"", but regime change is a part of it) we feel our society must have. At best, we might foster a government like Cuba (left) or Milosevic-era Yugoslavia (right). At worst, we might give birth to another Khmer Rouge-era Cambodia (left), where a fifth of the population was killed just because the leaders wanted them killed, or Taliban-led Afghanistan (right), where, for ten years or so, militants chopped hands, stoned people, forced women to cover themselves entirely in public, and terrorized the general population just because they wanted to.[You might be surprised that I didn't list Nazi Germany and the Stalin-era Soviet Union as the worst cases. At least the society stabilized and developed - for a time - before eventually breaking into mass killings. The cases I cited as 'worst' broke down society in those countries from the moment they came into existence, and rapidly.]I think that the Philippines still has a long way to go in developing its intellectuals, and its working class. The best treatment for this problem might be for us working-class intellectuals to realize that we are, in fact, part of the working class, and that will not change. We should adopt terminologies suited for the working class, an attitude open to the rest of the working class and their concerns, and not merely posturing in public. By virtue of the skills and information required of them every single day, the working class is actually very intelligent (maybe not 'informed', but intelligent). They know if someone is only deceiving them with words. The working class is the strength of a society, because most of the other classes look to them for everything they need. Working-class intellectuals need to remember this, not flinch when rubbing shoulders with the rest of the working class, and destroy any ivory towers."
1521,"Alphaland Corp. executives on Wednesday defended its agreement with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) to develop a one-hectare property in Makati City, belying the allegation that a 5-percent portion of the deal went to the BSP president, Vice President Jejomar Binay.At the resumption of the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee on irregularities in Makati, including the BSP deal, when Binay was mayor, former Makati Vice Ernesto Mercado claimed the Vice President had received kickbacks from the Alphaland Makati Place deal that could reach as much as P651 million.Mercado, a former ally of Binay, alleged that 5 percent of the deal was given to Binay through Silvertown Property Development Corp. shares transferred to the firm Noble Care of Mario Oreta, now Alphaland Corp. president. The Silvertown shares were later exchanged with Alphaland shares.Oreta, president of Alphaland Corp., said the 5-percent of the deal that went to Noble Care was part of his compensation for crafting the deal with the BSP.NonsenseAlphaland CEO Roberto Ongpin said Mercado’s assumption that the 5 percent given to Oreta was delivered to the Vice President was “complete nonsense.”In his testimony last month, Mercado said Silvertown and the BSP entered into a joint-venture agreement in June 2008 to develop the property on Ayala Avenue Extension and Malugay Street in which the developer would acquire rights, title and interest in 85 percent of the gross floor area, and the BSP, as landowner, 15 percent.Mercado, then BSP senior vice president, said he opposed the sharing, and pushed for a 20-percent share for the BSP, but was overruled by Binay.Quoting Binay’s aide Gerardo Limlingan, the former vice mayor said 5 percent, a fourth of the 20 percent, represented Binay’s share to fund his election campaign, and for which the latter got an initial P189 million.To escape responsibility, Binay asked his then vice mayor, Mercado, to sign the agreement, opposite Oreta, Mercado said.So Binay could collect his share in August 2008, Alphaland granted Noble Care a 5.88-percent stake in Alphaland/Silvertown, equivalent to 2,031 shares at P10 each, or P20,310, he added. It also granted Noble Care a P100.4-million loan.After two years, Alphaland bought back Noble Care’s shares for P88.973 million, and wrote off its P100.4-million loan, or a total of P189 million.The deal makerMercado claimed this amount became Binay’s “initial kickback.” All these transactions were carried out during Binay’s birthday on Nov. 11, 2010.On June 2, 2011, the agreement was amended after Alphaland acquired Silvertown. On the same day, the BSP executed a deed of absolute sale of the property in favor of Alphaland.At the Senate hearing on Wednesday, Oreta said Noble Care’s assets, including the 5 percent carried interest in the Makati Place project, were all owned by him and his two partners.“To emphasize, your honors, Vice President Jejomar Binay or any other person aside from the three (Oreta and his partners) of us has no interest whatsoever in Noble Care or in its assets,” he said.“We own the assets and the company 100 percent,” Oreta said of Noble Care.Oreta said the 5 percent formed part of his compensation and he was not just a mere salaried employee in Alphaland, but a deal maker.When he joined the company, there was an agreement that he would get carried interest if he packaged a deal for Alphaland.Tax evasion or kickback?But Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said Oreta could be liable for tax evasion when he failed to pay income tax for the shares he got as compensation.“The question is, ‘Is that the Vice President’s kickback or did you commit tax evasion?’” Cayetano asked.By Cayetano’s estimate, income tax liability for Oreta’s shares amounted to P550 million to P600 million, including surcharges. He said that if one was paid compensation, one had to pay a 30-percent income tax.He said that the tax on shares would be based on the price on the stock exchange, not on the par value for which it was bought.According to him, the 2,031 Silvertown shares were valued at P20 each when Oreta received these, when these were actually worth P12,000 per share.When Alphaland bought back Noble Care’s shares in Silvertown, it issued 8.9 million Alphaland shares to Noble Care at a par value P10 per share. But at that point, the actual price was an average of P60 per share, he said.Mercado on Wednesday said that with the price of the Alphaland shares, Binay’s kickback could amount to P133 million to P551 million, depending on when these were sold.If Noble Care’s P100 million condoned loan from Alphaland is factored in, the alleged kickback could be P233 million to P651 million, Mercado said.Shares not soldOreta said he did not commit tax evasion. He said he had a tax clearance and paid P18 million capital gains tax for shares valued at P189 million. He also believed he did not need to pay income tax because he had not sold the shares.“How can I pay income tax? There was no income,” Oreta said.Ongpin said Noble Care had reported capital gains and paid the corresponding tax. It was required to pay only the capital gains tax. Ongpin also said Noble Care continued to own the Alphaland shares of stock and Oreta had not sold these.“When and if he does sell those shares, he pays the final tax,” Ongpin said.Cayetano said that if the money really went to Oreta, this could be traced. He asked if Oreta was willing to waive the bank secrecy of Noble Care to show where it went.But Oreta said he was not ready to do that.Neither confirm nor denyCayetano then asked if it was true that P100 million was withdrawn in one day. “I neither confirm nor deny,” Oreta replied.Cayetano also alleged that between October and December 2012, the Alphaland shares in Noble Care disappeared, but Ongpin disputed this. Ongpin said Oreta could produce the shares.The Alphaland CEO also said the BSP got more than what it shelled out when it entered into the joint-venture agreement with Alphaland to develop the prime property, adding that Mercado negotiated a “fabulous” deal.Ongpin said he could not understand why Mercado was claiming the BSP got the short end of the stick, when its P600-million share now amounted to more than P3 billion.“The Boy Scouts had no risk. They contributed P600 million. We funded everything and their investment is worth five times P600 million. That’s a 26-percent return on investment. Any way you look at it, that’s a great return,” he said.“And therefore I feel Mr. Mercado should be congratulated for having negotiated such a fabulous deal for the Boy Scouts,” he added.Ongpin said BSP’s contribution to the deal to develop the 1-hectare property into a mixed-use facility, which has a total construction cost of P5 billion, amounted to 12 percent of the project.The BSP owned part of the property and this area was valued at P600 billion. Under the agreement, Alphaland would provide the total construction cost for the Makati Place project.But Ongpin said that during negotiations, Alphaland agreed to increase BSP’s share to 15 percent. The sharing scheme has been retained even if the project cost has gone up to P8 billion, he said.“To explain, had the sharing been adjusted in view of the new project cost, the contribution of the Boy Scouts amounting to P600 million would only be entitled to 7.5 percent,” he added.Not only was the deal a good one in which “both Alphaland and Boy Scouts will make a lot of money,” it was also not tainted with irregularities, Ongpin said.Some senators did not appear convinced that it was a good deal."
1530,"President Rodrigo Duterte is confident that one of his well-known critics, Senator Leila De Lima would go in jail soon.Duterte said that the former Department of Justice Secretary would be pinned down by the testimonies of the witnesses who accused her of protecting the drug trade in the Bilibid in exchange of money.“Makukulong naman talaga yan, because of the testimonial evidence, makukulong ito and everybody [in bilibid prison] says five or six would say that they contributed money” Duterte told the officers of the Malacañang Press, Cameramen and Photojournalists.The President also believes that the most feared narco politics was already here in the Philippines because the people elected a Senator who allegedly received money from drug lords.“She will be jailed when everybody says, five (witnesses) could say that they contributed money. So on a national scale…who brought in the narco politics? It is here already,” he added.The President also said that Senator De Lima may face non-bailable cases related to drugs."
1541,"Bakas sa mga mukha ng 70 bata na residente ng Barangay Mahal na Pangalan sa lungsod ng Calapan ang saya dahil sila’y napagkalooban ng libreng arts and craft workshop at basic reading enhancement program ng Pamahalaang Lungsod na pinangasiwaan ng City Public Library of Calapan na nagsimula noong Agosto 7, 2023.
Lumahok ang mga bata sa iba’t ibang aktibidad tulad ng Button-Pin Making, Polymer Clay Art, Heat Shrinking Art, Fabric Heat Press at Basic Reading Enhancement at iba pang mga sining. Bukod dito ay tinuruan din ang mga bata na bumasa gamit ang mga babasahing pansanay at mga materyales na handog ng Lokal na Pamahalaan.
Ang nasabing programa ay inilunsad ng Pamahalaang Lungsod noong 2019 nang ipatupad ang kampanya sa ilalim ng Republic Act 7743 o ‘An Act Providing for the Establishment of Congressional City and Municipality Libraries and Barangay Reading Centers throughout the Philippines.’
Ang programa ay gaganapin sa loob ng tatlong araw na sinumulan noong Agosto 7 sa pamamagitan ng kick-off ceremony na isinagawa sa covered court ng naturang barangay na pinangunahan ni City Librarian Claire Benter, katuwang ang Sangguniang Barangay, at marami pang iba.
Samantala, layunin ng nasabing programa ang makapagbigay kaalaman, kasanayan at pagpapaunlad sa pagbabasa ng mga batang may edad 7-12 taong gulang habang sila ay bakasyon."
1550,"She could have worn an Igorot native attire or a Filipino terno or a Maria Clara outfit, but she didn’t. Could it have cost her the Best National Costume award?We’re talking about our dear Baguio City beauty, Kylie Verzosa, Miss Philippines and our new Miss International !Instead she wore a Japanese kimono beneath that Miss Philippines sash for the national costume competition.Unconfirmed reports say that her gold terno didn’t arrive on time on PAL (Plane Always Late.)But in all seriousness, congratulations Kylie. You made us proud!It was a great speech, by the way. And you looked stunning in that evening gown!"
1560,"is common in almost all governments. from the Office of the President to the Senate and House of Representatives to the Supreme Court and local governors and mayors. Even the Philippine Catholic Church has been implicated or benefited from the pork barrel scandal.Guinness said that it would be very difficult for other countries to surpass the Philippine record.Upon hearing of the news, President NoyNoy Aquino convened his cabinet for a celebratory gathering in Malacañang, the presidential palace, where San Miguel beer and the favorite sisig appetizer flowed all night."
1570,"President Rodrigo Duterte dared the Catholic Church and Commission on Human Rights to show an alternative way to fix the drug problem in the Philippines during his speech at the 20th founding anniversary of the Premier Medical Center in Nueva Ecija on January 18.Duterte while showing the thick drug list to the people of Cabanatuan City said that he would pass the responsibility to the Commission on Human Rights and Catholic Church to solve the drug problem if they can solve it.He also said that he would ran out of bullets even if the law gives him the right to kill every politicians included in the thick drug list.Duterte also joked that some bishops may try to use illegal drugs to knew the problem of the people addicted to it.He also slammed the United States of America and outgoing President Barack Obama for criticizing his War On Drugs.“Hindi naman kayo ang pumili sa akin. Ang pumili sa’kin, Pilipino. Kaya mga Pilipino ang poprotektahan ko.” Duterte said during the speech."
1580,"Sa pinakahuling talumpati ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte noong Sabado, inihayag ng Presidente na dapat mapanagot na sa batas ang mga batang criminal na may edad 14-anyos pababa. May nakabinbin ng panukalang batas sa kongreso para mapababa ang criminal liability ng mga kabataan. Mula 15-anyos, gustong gawin 9-anyos ang mga mapaparusahang mga bata. Si Senador Tito Sotto din ay naghain na rin ng resolusyon para pababain ang criminal liability ng kabataan. ""15 years old, hindi mo makulong. Doon tayo nagkaroon ng great injustice. Labas pasok (sa kulungan) all through out of the country. Ang nagkasala rape with homicide, balewala,"" sabi ng Pangulo. Umangal naman ang rights group sa ideya na babaan ang edad ng criminal liability, habang ang ilang nating kababayan ay pumabor naman. Source: ABS-CBN"
1590,"Everyone has a different taste and a different perception with beauty. Sad thing about our so-called 'race' is that they don't get the attention or even respect globally because lately when I saw something that has a Pinoy subject in it, it all has something to do with outrage..and we seem to love to ride on the outrage fad. It is no wonder why a lot of people suffer from hypertension and high blood pressure, not to include of course the life style that most people do.We have no international representation in just about anything, take sports for example, now don't get me wrong about Gilas and Azkals but we have yet to at least participate in a big global event that is at the level of the Olympics. When was the last time we won a gold medal in the Olympics? Last time I checked every medal our country has won in that event can be counted by my fingers. 2 silvers and 7 bronze I think? My pinky finger still has room for one more :DSpeaking of international representation, how many people actually come here and experience that ""It is more fun in the Philippines""? Thanks to the NPA, MILF, MNLF, Abu Sayaff that is infesting the places where tourism could have been good business and all those misguided, gun-toting, mouth-breathers are waiting for their next victim(s) to kidnap, rape, rob, and slay. But of course at the cost of millions of dollars to be paid for by our government just in case they still want to give them back alive. Even if they don't go to those places, just when you arrive at NAIA when you see the immigration officer, the cops, the comfort room, the taxi drivers, the pollution, the sad miserable tow-wrecks (whether a beggar or a robber) trying to get you to give your money to them because their children are hungry..you get the drift.Sadly our cuisine has not been able to attain a consistent point of view and refinement. You don't see many foodstops abroad with Filipino cuisine in it, and don't get me started with Jollibee.So the problem lies is this, they work with what they have, and that is with their women. Very rare that you get women in pageants who aren't a mix of another race, but then whoever gets the shot will get a lot of attention and support. The Filipinos have a lot of pride in their so-called 'race' and thrives to compete with other countries for respect or at most for attention. Look at Manny Pacquiao and how the Filipino community comes together. The problem with that is after the match is over, everyone is gonna ride the coattails of Manny Pacquiao or in this case Megan Young in which that is the part where it all goes wrong.Every nation is guilty of taking something too seriously..like how South Africa loves football(soccer), how America loves basketball and football, how India loves Bollywood just to name a few (feel free to correct me though but that is my observation as I've traveled to these places already). You can call it a shallow obsession or whatever but that is how it is, it gives people a sense of numbing pleasure that takes them off from the reality of the world.As for me, I go back to work today, this country's problems still remains unsolved, people down south are stuck in a warzone, pork barrel bs is still high and up in the air, some parts of my province are still stuck with blackouts, the price of rice is still freaking expensive, U.S. Government shuts down..and yeah so many other bullshit that around the world.Source:http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2013/10/why-pinoys-are-fixated-on-superficial-beauty-contests/comment-page-1/#comment-139221"
1601,"Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday that Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Eduardo Año will retire on June 2, or almost five months before his scheduled retirement on October 26 of this year.Lorenzana made the revelation as he spoke at the closing ceremony of “Balikatan 2017” held at the Tejeros Hall in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.He revealed that he had tried to persuade President Duterte to extend Año’s service with the AFP before eventually giving him the post as Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary.“I was trying to persuade the President to extend his (Año’s) service with AFP, the last time was last night when I said: ‘Mr. President can we extend the stay of Gen. Ano with the AFP?’ He said: ‘No, no, no, no’,” Lorenzana said.“Let’s have the turn-over by June 2 so that’s it, its final,” Lorenzana quoted Duterte as having told him.Meanwhile, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim congratulated Gen. Año on his recent nomination to head the DILG.Citing how critically important the Cabinet post is, Kim said: “We will of course miss his (Año’s) tremendous leadership of the AFP… but I think it speaks volumes that President Duterte has nominated someone of his caliber to head this very important department.”"
1611,"""As chair of the Senate peace, reconciliation and unification committee, and as a senator from Mindanao, I am calling today for the creation of truth commission which will conduct a thorough and impartial probe on the massacre of more than 40 members of our elite Special Action Force Unit of the Philippine National Police in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. It will be a cruel injustice if the truth behind the incidents that led to their death is not uncovered,"" ani Guingona."
1620,"New York Times and Inquirer reporter Jez Aznar was criticized by the netizens after he posted live updates from Marawi City that showed the position of the government snipers which can help the Maute Terrorist Group to track the positions of the soldiers.On his Instagram account, Jeszmann posted videos of the military snipers in Marawi City showing their current position.Blogger RJ Nieto posted the screenshot of Jeszmann Instagram video that uploaded on May 25, 2017 and criticized him for allegedly giving a valuable information to the terrorist group.Since May 25, the journalist didn’t post videos about the military operations anymore.Screenshot of @jeszmann post on Instagram Photo: ThinkingPinoy Facebook pageEven the netizens asked Jes Aznar to take down his posts because it only endangered the lives of the government troops.The Maute Terrorist Group is more familiar with the place and they can possibly easily track the position of the government snipers via videos and photos posted on social media. That’s why the government asked the netizens and the reporters to avoid giving live updates of the military operation in the southern city.In a press statement, the Philippine National Police urged the public to “refrain from posting on social media information that would tend to exacerbate the situation.”This includes providing blow-by-blow reports which include critical information, photos, and videos of the military’s movements that could pre-empt the government’s response to the situation."
1630,"If popularity surveys are to be believed, Presidential candidate Mar Roxas is not very popular among the voters. He has consistently landed on the 4th spot in most of the surveys conducted since the first popularity surveys were commissioned for these Presidential Elections. He is even behind Vice President Jejomar Binay despite the latter being subject to months of negative propaganda by members of the Liberal Party to which Roxas belongs.Roxas’s supporters in social media are baffled as to why their candidate is unpopular. They think he is a decent guy and they think the ideas presented in his platform are great. But that is where the problem lies. A lot of people do not think Roxas is a decent guy and they don’t believe in his platforms or promises anymore especially since Roxas had been in various key positions during the current administration under President Benigno Simeon Aquino.In other words, Roxas was already in powerful enough positions to effect change and implement some of his ideas but he failed to do so. He could have done more considering BS Aquino made an informal promise to Roxas at the start that the latter would play an important role in his Presidency, sort of like the President’s right-hand man. This was some kind of consolation prize after Roxas agreed to put aside his Presidential ambitions to give way to a more popular BS Aquino back in 2010 and especially after losing in his Vice Presidential bid. Furthermore, both Roxas and BS Aquino have a strong family heritage in the Liberal Party stretching back to the early postwar years and, therefore, are like family. Unfortunately, the bond between the two is the reason Roxas’s bid for the Presidency is failing once again.Because Roxas cannot publicly criticize BS Aquino for his government’s failures, many see Roxas as impotent and a weakling. The voters who are tired of the current government want someone new and effective, not someone who promises to continue the same things.Why would they vote for Roxas when he could not even improve the appalling traffic situation in major Manila roads nor provide better public transport services while he was in charge of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)? Roxas left a sorry legacy to be inherited by his unfortunate successor, current DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya. Nonetheless, Abaya went on to run with that and oversee further deterioration of the Metro Rail Transit system under his watch. Abaya’s role in mishandling of the MRT maintenance is huge according to Philstar columnist Jarius Bondoc:The other sleaze began in Aug. 2015 and was consummated in Jan. 2016. In utter secrecy Abaya negotiated a P4.25-billion three-year maintenance of MRT-3. Exposed in this column that he was rigging the talks for Korea’s Busan Transport Corp. and four unknown but supposedly highly capitalized Filipino principals, he brought the final price down to P3.88 billion. Nothing for the Filipino people to be thankful for that, because Busan easily can walk out of the deal, especially when sued for dummying. Despite its P350-billion capital, it owns only four percent of the joint venture, while the four dummies, with just a little over P1 billion combined, control 96 percent. The four – a condo constructor, an agricultural supplier, a general merchandiser, and a plumber – have no experience in railway. They are the newest fronts of Abaya’s favorite LP member Marlo dela Cruz, who before this had wangled P1.86 billion from MRT-3 without maintaining it. Vitangcol swears that Rapanut brokered Busan’s participation too.It seems all these years that Roxas, then Abaya, were in charge of the MRT, they wasted their time trying to negotiate a deal for contractors who would get paid for doing hardly any maintenance on the MRT. Abaya has been lucky so far that the MRT problems have not resulted in passenger casualties specially whenever trains stop in between stations, when the doors don’t shut while the train is moving, and that time when the train derailed and jumped off the tracks. Abaya has been lucky that the commuters who wait for hours while enduring heat, humidity and sometimes monsoon rains just to get a ride on the MRT bear with the situation because the poor souls need their jobs to be able to meet their basic necessities in life. Abaya is disgraceful for taking advantage of the public’s “patience” while Roxas’s boss BS Aquino was too disconnected from reality to fire Abaya for his negligence and Roxas for laying the foundation for the MRT debacle. All of them still think they have done a great job for the public.Similarly, why would Filipino voters vote for Roxas when his performance in his last major role as head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was a disgrace? His true character was unraveled during the height of super typhoon Yolanda. His arrogance was even broadcast to the international community while he was being interviewed by CNN’s foreign correspondent Andrew Stevens as mentioned in my previous article:At one point during the interview, Roxas was arguing over the treatment of dead bodies left rotting on the roads. Stevens pointed out that every day, he sees the same decomposing bodies when he passes by the same road on the way to the city. But Roxas vehemently denied they were the same bodies, stopping short of calling Stevens a liar. The DILG Secretary showed his arrogance in that instance. Suffice to say, it is evident that it would be another colossal mistake if he becomes the next President. Korina Sanchez as the next First Lady doesn’t sit well with a lot of people either, specially since she is beginning to show signs of irrational behavior. Another CNN journalist can attest to this. The way Roxas kept interrupting Stevens during the interview gave viewers the impression that he is not a people person. His attitude was like “I already know what you are getting at but let me correct you now…”. Likewise, his use of banal metaphors to describe their relief efforts can be interpreted as an attempt to distract from the real issue. At one point he said that the government only set aside pails of water not realizing they needed a swimming pool of water. As if that actually excuses the government’s lack of foresight. Stevens seems to share other international media correspondents’ observations and pointed out to Roxas the apparent lack of order in distributing relief goods. While he acknowledged what Roxas was trying to say — that the government could not handle the initial response — Stevens couldn’t help but remind Roxas that it has already been a week and yet the victims of the typhoon still beg for water from him and his crew. Stevens appeared frustrated over not getting an accurate assessment of the relief and rescue efforts from Roxas considering they were both in the disaster zone. It was as if they were both seeing the same thing – chaos, survivors begging for food and water and dead bodies lying around – except that the DILG secretary still insisted that the situation was under control.Roxas’s recent attempt at revising the accounts as the tragedy unfolded through a comic book portraying him as a “hero” is an insult to the over 6000 people who died and countless who are still unaccounted for. The survivors know the truth and Roxas and his public relations people cannot hide it by glossing over the pain the suffering the victims are still feeling now particularly since a lot of them still live temporary bunk houses.It’s not enough that Roxas is perceived as a “decent” guy by those close to him. He has to be a people person too. Since only those loyal to the Liberal Party are into him, he won’t make it to Malacanang. It’s not enough that he has grand plans for the Philippines. If you think about it, it’s only recently that Roxas has become vocal about his plans. He now says his vision is to build a high-speed train and put order to traffic. Some people can be forgiven for saying his vision will be like his comic book — they will remain on the drawing board.Yes, family and friends in the business community Roxas is a part of will likely thwart the implementation of his “vision”. They will fight for the right to get awarded with contracts to supply and manage government projects. Because Roxas has to please his “friends” in the business community, negotiations alone could take the entire six years of his term. The voters are wise not to vote for Mar Roxas."
1640,"Never underestimate a woman, especially if she is Vice President. She could beat any man in a race to be first.For several days now, many Filipinos have been wondering why the usually talkative Leni Robredo has been silent over the devastation brought about by typhoon Urduja to the Eastern Visayas.Well, the wondering is over.Yesterday, when President Rodrigo Duterte flew over Eastern Visayas to inspect the typhoon damage, he was surprised to spot Robredo already on the ground visiting with victims.”Naunahan ako ng P*tang *na,” Duterte was overheard saying aboard the Presidential helicopter.It wasn’t clear whether the Vice President flew by plane or took the bus to the Visayas."
1650,"Another ambitious project was planned by Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and Department of National Defense (DND) that might solve the problem of the fishermen who had some problems in selling their catch.The “Philippine Food Skyway” is a joint project of DAF and DND that would use the C-130 Cargo Transport Aircrafts of the Philippine Air Force to transfer fish products from Mindanao to Cebu, Metro Manila and Luzon.According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, the Philippine Food Skyway is a strategy to connect the farmers and fishermen in the distant islands of the country to the big markets using Air Force Cargo Transport Planes.“On Monday, shortly before a Cabinet Meeting which President Rody Duterte will preside in Malacañang, Sec. Lorenzana and I will sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to officially start this unique food delivery project.In the proposed MOA, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will cover the fuel and maintenance expenses for the C-130 Cargo Planes which will be used in the project.” Piñol wrote.One C-130 Cargo Transport Aircraft is cable of carrying about 20 tons of cargo.The Agriculture Secretary also said that after the fish products was unloaded in Luzon, the Cargo Planes will then be loaded with vegetables from Cordillera Provinces which could be delivered to Visayas and Mindanao.The Philippine Food Skyway Project is a concept in food supply repositioning that the Agriculture Secretary designed ten years ago.But he warned that fish caught illegally will not be accepted."
1660,"Hindi pinalampas ng kilalang Pro-Duterte Blogger at Foreign University professor na si Sass Rogando Sasot ang mga pagka-dismaya ni Vice President Leni Robredo sa pagkaka-deport sa Misyonasryong si Sister Patricia Fox. Matatandaang sinabi ni Leni na mas Pilipino pa umano si Sis Fox kaysa sa ilan sa mga kababayan natin. ""Talagang babad na babad at nakakalungkot na pinaalis siya dito sa atin. Sabi ko nga, parang mas Pilipino pa siya kaysa sa marami sa atin,"" sabi ni Leni. Ayon kay Sass, bakit hindi narinig ang boses ni Robredo noong sinipa palabas ng bansa ng Aquino Government ang foreign activist na si Thomas van Beersum dahil pagsali sa mga political activities. ""Nakakaloka ka! Bakit ka malulungkot na may nade-deport? Eh yun ang policy. Eh di mag hain ka ng batas na pwede ang foreigners na mag participate sa mga political activities sa Philippines. Mahilig kayo manggamit ng mga isyu na kunwari concern kayo etc. Pero noong kayo ang nasa kapangyarihan, Over Acting din naman kayo magpa-deport ng mga foreigners na nagpa-participate ng mga political activities. Di ba si Thomas van Beersum? Ang plastic ni Leni Robredo. Hindi ka naman nag-ingay kay Van Beersum,"" sabi ni Sasot. Ang opinyon ni Sasot laban kay Leni ay sinang-ayunan naman ng karamihan sa ating mga kababayan. Source: Sass Rogando Sasot"
1670,"Sometime in October, a group of 260 Filipinos and Filipino Americans signed a letter addressed to the Miss Universe Organization asking that the 2016 pageant be pulled from the Philippines. The petitioners included familiar names like Filipino American millionaire Loida Nicolas-Lewis, retired entertainer Leah Navarro, and former beauty queens Aurora Pijuan and Gemma Cruz-Araneta.The petitioners argued that the newly-elected leaders of the country, led by no less that President Rodrigo Duterte and his cohorts have demonstrated “objectionable, scandalous, and demeaning sexist attitude towards womankind.”We all know of course that the letter-petition was a total failure. The 65th edition of the pageant will, indeed, be held in the Philippines and some contestants have already arrived in the country.But the petitioners are not conceding defeat. They are planning a one million people power march on January 30 to protest the staging of the pageant in the Philippines. It will be held at Luneta Park, not far from the venue of the pageant finals at the Mall of Asia.When asked by The Adobo Chronicles how many people have signed up so far to join the one million march, a spokesperson for the group said: “260.”"
1681,"Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, on Tuesday said he would recommend that the latest version of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) be transmitted immediately to Congress and certified as an urgent bill without prior revision by Malacañang.“Unlike what they did in the last administration — when they tinkered with proposed BBL first — our recommendation is that as soon as the President receives it, he will turn it over to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President,” Dureza said. “But, as you know very well, the President makes the final call.”Mohagher Iqbal, who was chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), had told Inquirer that the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) was ready to submit the draft BBL to Malacañang on July 17.Iqbal, a member of the BTC, was hopeful that Mr. Duterte would keep his promise of a “homeland” for the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao in three years’ time.The BTC, comprised of representatives from the government and the Moro rebels, hopes the President will certify the bill as urgent in his State of the Nation Address on July 24.The crafting of the law is part of the implementation of the peace accord signed by the Philippine government and MILF in March 2014.The BBL defines the basic structure of the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous state in Mindanao, a key feature of the federal form of government being pushed by Mr. Duterte and his allies.Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Sen. Sonny Angara, chair of the Senate committee on local government, on Tuesday said they were optimistic of Congress’ support for the measure.Pimentel said he was told by a BTC member that “this version is less constitutionally objectionable” than the first draft.He told reporters its passage would be among the priority measures of Congress.Angara believes the proposed law “will have a good chance if it has the full backing of the administration and if there’s an extensive consultation that will happen.”“Our people are losing hope in Mindanao and they are looking for solutions and BBL is one possible solution,” he said.The previous Congress failed to pass the first proposed BBL under the Aquino administration in the wake of the fallout from the Mamasapano massacre in early 2015.In a speech in Iligan City last month, Mr. Duterte promised to push the passage of the new BBL.“That’s the truth,” he said. “I’m not joking … On the third year [of my term], God willing, it will be there and you will see how we will build our country.”"
1690,"President-elect Rodrigo Duterte attended his last flag ceremony as Mayor along with the Davao City government employees, Monday morning with a cash gift called educational assistance.Duterte delivered another 1-hour speech filled with hopes and jokes. Digong reiterated that he will do what he promised during his campaign.“Mayroon akong kontrata sa mga tao, wala akong pakialam kung sino ang masagasaan ko” said Duterte.As he ended his speech, Duterte also made the local government employees delighted when he announced that he will give all regular employees P10,000 each while those under job order program will take home P4,000 each.An educational assistance that balloons to P65million. According to the outgoing city administrator Melchor Quitain, the money will be released soon.Mayor Rody also gave special recognition to City Administrator Jesus Melchor Quitain and Executive Assistant, now Presidential Management Staff Secretary Bong Go, for their exemplary public service to the City of Davao and its people.Look for more photos below by CIO and King Rodriguez:What can you say about this story? Leave your comments below!"
1701,"Churchgoers at San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City mysteriously ended up with rashes or blisters on their forehead, the spot which the priest marked with a cross on Ash Wednesday using ashes from burned palm branches.Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David has ordered a probe of the incident after some devotees complained of burns from the ash used during the Feb. 14 rites that opened the Lenten season.David said the church staff was also puzzled, even as he assured the public that the church had already extended assistance to the affected churchgoers. “We apologize for whatever harm inadvertently caused by what should have been a solemn ritual marking the beginning of Lent,” the prelate said on Friday.David said his staff reviewed the surveillance camera footage of the church, particularly during the burning of the ashes on Tuesday night. “We have asked our staff to review our closed circuit television footage for any possibility of sabotage. Could somebody have maliciously sneaked in to mix acid in the ashes?”Sabotage ruled outBut when contacted again later in the day, the bishop said they had ruled out sabotage after a careful review of CCTV footage.Catholics marked the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent with the observance of Ash Wednesday on Feb. 14, a day of fasting and abstinence. Catholics also heard Mass that day and had their foreheads marked with ash, made from burning palm fronds used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration.Burning sensationBut at the San Roque Cathedral, some churchgoers said they felt a burning or stinging sensation after they had their foreheads marked with the ash. Those who immediately washed off the ash in the church’s bathroom noticed reddish rashes or blisters.“Strangely, others who lined up for the imposition of ashes by other lay ministers didn’t experience the same thing,” David said.Upon hearing of the complaints, the cathedral’s pastoral vicar decided to immediately pull out the ashes and rushed to neighboring parishes to ask for some of their own ashes.“We checked if our cathedral staff had done anything with the ashes that was different from what we’ve done for many years. They, too, were puzzled by what had happened,” he said.David said they sent the ashes, which they mixed with holy water, to a chemical laboratory for testing. “Our volunteer doctor said it was indeed similar to skin burns caused by a chemical substance. He suggested having our ashes tested in a nearby chemical laboratory,” he said.High acidityDavid said the results of the laboratory tests showed that the ashes had a high level of acidity.This apparently happened when “overcooked charcoal turned into caustic ashes that produce high acidity when mixed with water.”David explained that palm fronds were traditionally burned in earthen pots. Since there was a huge pile to burn, the gradual addition of palm fronds led to “overburning,” which produced grayish ashes instead of dark charcoal, he added.“What matters to us now is that we are able to apply the proper medication—silver sulfadiazine—on people who have been affected,” David said, adding that the church was also willing to reimburse parishioners who would present receipts for medications or expenses incurred in treating the burns."
1710,"Sa mga hindi nakakaalam, kinasuhan ni Jover Laurio a.k.a. Pinoy Ako Blog ang influencer/blogger na si Franco Mabanta ng libelo noong Disyembre 2017. Si Mabanta ay ang media strategist ng kampo ni former senator Bongbong Marcos. Nag-ugat ang paghahabla dahil tinawag ni Mabanta si Laurio na ""super ugly"" at ""ogre lady"". Matapos ang mahigit isang taon, inilabas ng hukuman ang kanilang desisyon. Sa kasamaang palad ay talo si Jover sa naturang kaso. Matatandaang humihingi pa ng danyos na kalahating milyon si Laurio laban kay Mabanta. Sa resolusuyong inilabas ng Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati nitong Enero 17, 2019, pumabor kay Mabanta ang naging hatol. ""A thorough re-evaluation of the matter was made wherein this Office arrived at the same conclusion, that is, the pieces of evidence submitted are insufficient to find probable cause to indict respondent with the offense complained of... As it is, the complainant has not forwarded any significant evidence or alleged errors of fact or law that can otherwise give merit to the motion for reconsideration,"" sabi sa dokumento ng korte. Ikinatuwa naman anng ilang taga-suporta ng Pangulong Duterte ang naging hatol ng hukuman. Basahin ang reaksyon ng pro-government blogger na si Sass Roagando Sasot sa naging desisyon ng korte. Si Laurio ay nasasangkot ngayon sa isyu ng pagtanggap ng pondo mula kay Kris Aquino. Source: Ahmed Paglinawan | Sass Rogando Sasot"
1721,"The Light Rail Transit-1 will give free rides to all teachers on Sunday, September 17, in celebration of the National Teachers’ Month. Free rides can be availed in all 20 stations of LRT-1 from Baclaran in Paranaque City to Roosevelt n Quezon City. Teachers will be required to present their DepEd ID, PRC license or their respective school ID to avail themselves of the rides. The free rides is a project of LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. and the PLDT Gabay Guro Program of the PLDT Smart Foundation."
1731,"THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is coming out before the end of the year with a policy or guideline on contractualization, which the labor sector blames as a cause of the country’s high unemployment rate.According to DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd, the move would be based on proposals of employer and labor groups made during a dialogue on the issue last week.“We will come up with a policy or guideline that will be enforced by the department before the year ends. We will decide whether we will end contractualization, allow contractualization or come up with a balance of the two positions,” Bello said in a statement on Wednesday.The DOLE, he added, is studying a proposed “win-win structure” submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with the support of various employers’ groups, including Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Philippine Association of Local Service Contractors.The DTI and the employers’ groups pushed hiring of workers as regular employees by their contractors with full benefits, including leave credits, 13th month pay and coverages by the Social Security System and PhilHealth.But the Association of Labor Unions (ALU) said the labor sector remains firm on its call for an “absolute” ban on contractualization and rejected as well the proposal of the DTI and employers’ groups.“We want an absolute ban on contractualization. Our proposal is for employers to be regularized by the employers, not by the labor contractors. We want the principals to regularize their workers to maintain an employer-employee relationship,” ALU spokesman Alan Tanjusay told The Manila Times in a phone interview.“Our last meeting did not result in any agreement between the labor sector and the employers’ groups. It was a stalemate,” he said even as he expressed confidence that the policy being crafted by the DOLE would be on the side of the workers.Bello said after consultations with labor and employers’ groups in the Visayas and Mindanao, the labor groups can come up with their unified proposals.He expressed confidence that the government can end contractualization or “endo” (end of contract) in the country.“Putting a stop to ‘endo’ will not be that easy but I am confident that with the determination of the department and the support of our partners, we can put an end to illegitimate contractualization and provide security of tenure to all our workers,” Bello said.Under “endo,” workers are hired and fired after five months so that employers can skirt regularizing them and granting them benefits and job security."
1740,"Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) released a list of websites that they labeled as ‘fake news site’CBCP labeled our website and Mindanation.com as websites that allegedly using unverified information.Pinoy Trending might decide to stop contributing to the ChurchCatholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) released the list of alleged ‘fake news sites’ on the internet that the netizens must avoid reading.We are not surprise when CBCP included our website in their list because our writers still remain anonymous, but including Mindanation, a website where the writers are revealing their faces and known for publishing editorial articles is quite surprising to be tagged as ‘fake news site’.Here is the list of websites ‘carrying fake or unverified contents’ according to CBCP:Classified Trends – http://www.classifiedtrends.net/– http://www.classifiedtrends.net/Definitely Filipino – http://definitelyfilipino.com/– http://definitelyfilipino.com/ Duterte News Info – http://www.du30newsinfo.com/– http://www.du30newsinfo.com/ Extreme Readers – http://www.extremereaders.com/– http://www.extremereaders.com/ FilipiNews PH – http://www.filipinewsph.com/– http://www.filipinewsph.com/ Get Real Philippines – http://www.getrealphilippines.com/– http://www.getrealphilippines.com/ Guard1an – https://theguard1an.com/– https://theguard1an.com/ Kalye Pinoy – http://www.kalyepinoy.com/– http://www.kalyepinoy.com/ Leak News PH – http://www.leaknewsph.com/– http://www.leaknewsph.com/ Media ni Duterte – http://www.dutertedefender.com/– http://www.dutertedefender.com/ Minda Nation – http://mindanation.com/– http://mindanation.com/ Netizens PH – http://www.netizensph.com/– http://www.netizensph.com/ News Media PH – http://www.newsmediaph.com/– http://www.newsmediaph.com/ News Titans – http://www.newstitans.com/– http://www.newstitans.com/ OKD2 – http://okd2.com/– http://okd2.com/ Pinoy Freedom Wall – http://www.pinoyfreedomwall.com/– http://www.pinoyfreedomwall.com/ Pinoy Trending – https://pinoytrending.altervista.org/– https://pinoytrending.altervista.org/ Pinoy Trending News – http://pinoytrendingnews.net/– http://pinoytrendingnews.net/ Pinoy Viral Issues – http://www.pinoyviralissues.net/– http://www.pinoyviralissues.net/ Pinoy Viral News – http://pinoyviralnews.com/– http://pinoyviralnews.com/ PinoyWorld – http://www.pinoyworld.net/– http://www.pinoyworld.net/ Public Trending – http://www.publictrending.net/– http://www.publictrending.net/ SocialNewsPH – http://www.socialnewsph.com/– http://www.socialnewsph.com/ TahoNews – http://www.tahonews.com/– http://www.tahonews.com/ TheVolatilian – http://www.thevolatilian.com/– http://www.thevolatilian.com/ Thinking Pinoy – http://www.thinkingpinoy.net/– http://www.thinkingpinoy.net/ TrendingBalita – http://www.trendingbalita.info/– http://www.trendingbalita.info/ Trending News Portal – http://www.trendingnewsportal.net.ph/– http://www.trendingnewsportal.net.ph/ TrendTitan – http://trendtitan.com/You can notice that most of the websites included by the CBCP are writing good things about the government which they are criticizing because of the policies of the Duterte administration against criminals.Some of them are really using unverified information, but how about the mainstream media that also using unverified information?Well, the head of this website is a Catholic and he/she donating thousands of pesos for the Church near his home, but now he might stop contributing for the Church because the priest might not accept money from fake news sites.The writers of our sites are also reading an article from Wikihow titled “How to Become a LaVeyan Satanist” because since we are already labeled by the Catholic Church as a ‘fake news site’ we are expected to meet Satan instead of St. Peter.We are planning to change the name of our company, our site and planning to reveal the names of our writers. But we expect that CBCP still labeled us as ‘fake news site’ because most of our articles are critical to the opposition.We are getting our information from reputable sources on social media, internet and mainstream media. We also remind our writers to include the sources of their information.Well, that is what our followers want to read? Gusto niyo ba mag sulat kami ng article na puro negative kay Duterte edi nag si alisan ang aming mga followers na pinaghirapan namin ng tatlong taon.Alam niyo naubusan na ako ng english, hindi na ako aapela sa NUJP, CBCP o sa kahit anong organisyasyon na mag sasabing fake news site kami, hayaan nalang natin ang mga tao na basahin ang gusto nilang basahin kasi hindi naman nila ikamamatay yan.I also read in one of my history books that the Catholic Church also banned several newspapers and books during the Spanish period here in the Philippines."
1750,"Two members of Ninoy Aquino’s family were Presidents — a political reality that spanned 35 years. Yet nothing has been done during those years to solve the 1983 assassination of Senator Ninoy Aquino. Not by Cory. Not by NoyNoy.Well, yesterday, on the day commemorating Ninoy’s death, the Aquino family, headed by former President NoyNoy made a stunning announcement on the murder case that triggered the Yellow advocacy in the Philippines.In a single-sentence statement released at the Aquino residence on Times Street, the Aquinos said: “We now know who killed Ninoy — Rolando Galman.”(Kris Aquino was not present at the reading of the statement; she was busy promoting her first major, major Hollywood film project, “Crazy Rich Asians.”"
1760,"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s three-day official state visit to Japan is expected to secure billions of dollars in trade deals for the Philippines, but his rock star status has earned him the honor to be among the celebrity judges at tomorrow’s Miss International Beauty Pageant.The 56th Miss International pageant will be held on October 27, 2016 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Edymar Martínez from Venezuela will crown her successor at the end of the event.In addition to his known love for women, Duterte hails from a country that has had 5 Miss International Beauty titles, second only to Venezuela in the most number of crowns for this pageant.This year’s Philippines’ representative is Kylie Versoza from Baguio City.Duterte promises there will be no “hometown decision” when he sits on the judges’chair tomorrow night. (Duterte hometown is, in fact, Davao City.)"
1770,"Sa isang panayam, halos paliguan na ng lait at mura ni Attorney Larry Gadon ang mga kritiko ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na sina Senadora RIsa Hontiveros at Senador Antonio Trillanes. Ayon kay Gadon, lahat na lang ata ay kinokontra ng mga nasabing senador. Para kay Gadon bobo daw ang mga senador na ito. Kinuwestiyon din ni Gadon ang pagkapanalo ni Hontiveros. Ang mga pahayag ni Gadon ay sinabi niya ng makapanayam niya ang pro-government blogger na si RJ Bieto o mas kilala sa tawag na ""ThinkingPinoy"". ""Alam mo ba na nakakasabay ko sa campaign iyan, yung mga debate debate noong 2016. Halos malaglag ako sa upuan sa mga kabobohang sinasabi niya.Sobrang babaw ng utak . 'Yung tipng nakakahiya pagdi-discuss mo siya. Tignan mo yung sinasabi niya lahat palpak. Isnisisi niya 'yung passport (controversy) kay DUterte. Hello? Panahon ni Noynoy nangyari 'yung pagpalit ng (service provider). Walang silang ginawa kundi isisi kay DUterte. Kahit anong gawin ni DUterte isisisi nila. Hindi na sila nag-iisip ng para sa bayan. Ang iniisip nila ay paano kontrahin si Duterte,"" sabi ni Gadon. Binanatan din ni Gadon ang parating pagpapa senate hearing ng mga senador. Para kay Gadon, nakikipagtulungan daw dapat ang senado sa ehekutibo. Basahin ang reaksyon ng ilang kababayan sa mga sinabi ni Gadon kay Hontiveros. ""Gadon iba ka talaga pinapahanga mo kami di maka interap ang nagtatanong syo dahil sasabihin palang nila sinasagot mona alam mona agad ang sagot .kya nomber 1 ka sa list ko,"" sabi ni J. Caadlawon. ""Mas totoo pa tlga yung mga panget ang tabas ng dila kaysa sa maamong puro paamo ang salita. Mas gusto ko pa puro mura atleast totoo kaysa sa puro pakitang tao lng..,"" sabi ni J. Bradecina. ""ama hindi potket taga oposisyon ka oppose ka lang oppose sa administration.dapat tanggalin mo lang ang sa tingin mong hindi nakakaganda sa bansa,"" sabi ni M. Movera. ""Ok na ok ang mga banat ni Atty. L. Gadon at tama lang mga messages nya dhil ang pinas ay lubog na lubog sa katotohanan dhil sa rampant, really contaminated ng corruption majority of all gov'nt agency, from top to bottom high ranking official is involved in previous adm. Spearheaded by abnoy aquino.,"" sabi ni M. Formes. Source: ThinkingPinoy via Para sa Bayan"
1781,"DENGVAXIA ‘DEATHS’The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has filed more criminal charges at the Department of Justice (DoJ) against Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd, his predecessor Janette Garin, and several others in connection with Dengvaxia-related deaths.PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta on Tuesday assisted family members of 10 alleged casualties of the vaccine in filing 10 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, torture, and violations of the Consumer Protection Act (Republic Act 7394), particularly “defective product” and “mislabeled product,” against Duque, Garin, other health officials, and officials and personnel of vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, and its distributor Zuellig Pharma.One of the victims was Senior Police Officer 2 Vicente Arugay who was represented by his wife Mary Jane.Complainants from Cebu province included Wilson and Theresa Alcontin, Eleazar Brigoli Sr., Jiny Casona and Marilyn Teleron, Erwin and Judelin Apa, Domingo and Luzviminda Cortes, Marlon and Damasajuevesano, and Argel Sam and Lara Nina Garces.The other complainants were Antonio and Rosalinda Castroverde of Valenzuela City and Rey and Jessica Viaros of Sariaya, Quezon Province.Duque was charged in particular with obstruction of justice by Arugay and Viaros for alleged violation of Section 1B of Presidential Decree 1829 or Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders for his continued refusal to give the list of those inoculated with Dengvaxia.Also charged were Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials and personnel Vicente Belizario Jr., Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Gerardo Bayugo, Lyndon Lee Suy, Irma Asuncion, Julius Lecciones, Joyce Ducusin, Rosalind Vianzon, Maria Lourdes Santiago, and Melody Zamudio; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) officials Socorro Lupisan and Maria Rosario Capeding; Sanofi corporate directors and officers Carlito Realuyo, Sanislas Camart, Jean Louis Grunwald, Jean-Francois Vacherand, Conchita Santos, Jazel Anne Calvo, Pearl Grace Cabali, and Marie Esther de Antoni; and Zuellig’s Kasigod Jamias, Michael Becker, Ricardo Romulo, Imran Babar Chugtai, Raymund Azurin, Nilo Badiola, John Stokes Davison, Marc Franck, Ashley Gerard Antonio, Ana Liza Peralta, Rosa Maria Chua, Danilo Cahoy, Manuel Concio 3rd, Roland Goco, and Ma. Visitacion Barreiro.In February this year, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. filed charges at the DoJ against Garin, former president Benigno Aquino 3rd and former Budget secretary Florencio Abad for their alleged involvement in the purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia and the implementation of a massive vaccination program under which more than 800,000 school children were inoculated with the anti-dengue vaccine.They were charged with technical malversation for conspiring to unlawfully effect the release of savings from the fiscal year 2015 Mutual Benefit Personnel Fund and use the same to augment the anti-dengue immunization program.The respondents were also charged with multiple homicide and physical injuries through negligence under the Revised Penal Code by the family of the victims of the deadly vaccine."
1791,"THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is urging incoming college freshmen students to enroll in the so-called priority courses to increase the number of graduates in areas that are undersubscribed but are needed for “national development.”“We should push for that because there are too many students who go into the very popular courses, so we would like more to go to agriculture, science and technology, and even the arts,” CHED Chair Patricia Licuana told The Manila Times at the sidelines of signing of renewed memorandum of agreement between CHED and the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) for CHED-PAEF Fulbright scholarships program in Makati City on Friday.Licuanan explained that under the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Law, scholars are required to take up priority courses.“What we hope, you know, with this UniFAST Law that our scholarship will be directed towards areas which the country really needs. If you get the scholarship, you should go to priority courses,” she added.The CHED chair also said that even non-scholar students are also encouraged to enroll in priority courses.“We encourage them also to take on these courses. Part of it is mentoring and information counseling. There should be more of that in the schools,” Licuanan noted.“We have a program with DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment], so it’s not just giving grants but it is informing them about what types of courses will get them jobs in the future. We are trying very hard to support priority courses,” she added.Under CHED Memorandum Order 1, Series of 2014, some courses will be made a priority within the next five years where qualified beneficiaries of the CHED Student Financial Assistance Programs (Stufap) shall be directed to enroll in.The CHED priority courses are information technology, agriculture, teacher education, science and math, engineering, health sciences, business administration, architecture, arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, maritime and communication."
1801,"Oil companies will increase the prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene on Tuesday, reversing the price cut they implemented a aweek ago.Flying V was the first to adjust pump prices, raising the price of diesel by 50 centavos per liter, gasoline by 30 centavos per liter, and kerosene by 45 centavos per liter, effective at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, and Seaoil hiked the price of diesel and gasoline by 50 centavos per liter and 30 centavos per liter at 6 a.m."
1810,"The Duterte Effect has infected the entire nation now as more and more drug users and pushers have surrendered to the government.In Tagum City, 4,064 combination of users and pushers surrendered, Saturday morning after the local government of Tagum and its Anti-illegal Drug units intensified the Oplan TokHang (Toktok Hangyo) in the city.The Tagum City Hall got full house of drugs traders who listen to the words of wisdom given by the city Mayor Allan Rellon who would give them a second chance provided that they will stop the use and trade of such illegal drugs.Look the photos below:What can you say about this photo? Leave your comments below!"
1821,"Eight individuals were bitten by rabid dogs in the village of Poblacion, New Lucena, Iloilo, Mayor Christian Sorongon confirmed on Friday.All the victims in these different biting incidents are now all in good condition and have received anti-rabies vaccines.Sorongon said that based on the information from the locals, one rabid dog was first sighted at the said village last June 9 while fighting with approximately less than 10 stray dogs.Four locals were then bitten by the rabid dog in the same village. The victims sought financial assistance from the mayor’s office last June 11 for treatment.The said dog was confirmed as rabid based on the investigation of the municipal agriculture’s office, the mayor said.But the said rabid dog was already killed and buried by locals so it would not further harm others.Sorongon said that the owner of the dog was not identified and they cannot also assure if it was from their town or from neighboring towns since most of the dogs in their town were vaccinated with anti-rabies.Last June 13, another batch of four individuals again sought help from his office because they were also bitten by another rabid dog.Sorongon said they assumed that the dog who bit the next batch of four victims is among the 10 stray dogs that the first rabid dog fought with on June 9.However, Sorongon assured these dogs were already caught and now being monitored.Each of the eight victims were given PHP1,000 financial assistance for their vaccination.Sorongon said that he also helped them in referring these victims to the Western Visayas Medical Center for their follow-up anti-rabies vaccination.Meantime, Sorongon reminded the people in New Lucena to assure that their dogs are vaccinated with anti-rabies.“Let us not wait for the vaccinator to come if we have new pet (dog), let us vaccinate them immediately,” he said."
1831,"On March 8 this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an advisory warning to the public about the spurious activities of an entity named Bullion Buyer Ltd.According to the SEC, it received information that Bullion Buyer Ltd. was operating in Baguio City, organizing groups of people and inviting each coordinator to recruit other beneficiaries.Those recruited were then asked to pay P30 that, the group claimed, would entitle them to receive P10,000 a month through their Landbank ATM accounts for four years and 11 months, starting February 2017.They would also be entitled to a grant of P500,000 for livelihood programs, the group added.But Bullion Buyer Ltd. was not registered with the SEC as a corporation or partnership, the government regulatory agency said.“There being no primary license, it is not authorized to solicit investments which require a secondary license as provided under Sec. 8.1 of the Securities Regulation Code,” the SEC advisory stated.The SEC also advised the public to stop investing in this kind of activity that may turn out to be a fraudulent scheme, and to take the necessary precautions in dealing with Bullion Buyer Ltd. and its representatives.The following month, in April 2017, SEC Director Jose P. Aquino brought to the attention of Interior and Local Government officer in charge Catalino Cuy the modus operandi of Bullion Buyer Ltd.The group’s coordinators, he wrote Cuy, had been recruiting beneficiaries who, for an initial fee of P30 for a booklet or passbook, were promised pension funds from the “Marcos wealth.”The P30 booklet bought by attendees to the so-called general assembly of One Social Family Credit Cooperative at the UPLB on Saturday had a picture of former strongman President Ferdinand Marcos on its front cover. At the back was written Bullion Buyers, said to be the credit co-op’s former name.The website of the Cooperative Development Authority showed that One Social Family Credit Cooperative was not on its list of registered cooperatives.Sources: Inquirer Archives, cda.gov.ph, antipolo.ph"
1841,"Pormal nang idineklara ng gobyerno ng Malaysia ang nawawala pa ring Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 na isang aksidente noong Huwebes at sinabi na ang lahat ng sakay nito ay ipinapalagay na patay na, upang mabigyang daan ang pagsisimula ng claims. Karamihan ng mga pamilya ng mga biktima sa China -- kung saan nanggaling ang karamihan ng mga pasahero -- ay umaasa pa rin na buhay ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay."
1851,"‘The Duterte administration’s massive infrastructure development program, “Build, Build, Build,” will transform the Philippines into Asia’s next economic powerhouse, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said.“We will usher in President (Rodrigo Roa) Duterte’s golden age of infrastructure with a sense of urgency. We now have a leader who has strong political will, enough to realize ambitious goals set to transform country into Asia’s next economic powerhouse,” Dominguez told over 540 delegates attending the Davao Investment Conference at the SMX Convention Center here Saturday.He said Duterte’s economic team has laid out ambitious strategies on how they will improve infrastructure efficiency in all economic sectors, while taking into consideration the importance of developing public infrastructure to boost the country’s economy.“The improved efficiency will mean less congestion, lower transport cost, improved investment effectiveness. In order to grow, grow, grow, we have to build, build, build,” Dominguez said.He said foremost among their plans are the proposed comprehensive tax reform program and the hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) to immediately begin with the construction of government projects.“The government shall undertake the planning, building, and financing of government projects or we could begin using ODA (official development assistance) from our friends in the region to get them started while the private sector will focus on operations and maintenance or buy the projects from the government after we complete them,” he said.Meanwhile, Dominguez pointed out the tax reform program was part of a series of five reform packages aimed at making the tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient.“The first tranche of this program, which will create P133.8 billion in incremental revenues, has passed the House, and is now under consideration by Senate,” he said.“We expect package one to be implemented in the third or fourth quarter of this year, the end goal of economic strategy is to bring down poverty incidence from the present 22 percent to only 14 percent by 2022,” the Finance chief noted.He added the President’s economic team was also engaging in sustainable borrowing to fund their strategy with ODA funds to initially start the infrastructure projects.“ODA financing will not only involve lower financing cost, the projects can be started and completed faster. Time is not important element in the interest of economic development the quicker you can complete these projects that better we can sustain our pace of economy expansion,” Dominguez explained.But he maintained that it can longer afford to spend another 30 months to gestate projects within the PPP framework."
1860,"Note that ThinkingPinoy is a one-man team so he does not have proofreaders. He apologizes for any typographical errors because he's already too tired to proofread the article at this time.On 26 January 2018 press conference, Public Attorney’s Office Forensics Laboratory chief Erwin Erfe released the official forensic and histopathological report for the case of Anjielika Pestilos, who died on 06 December 2017 [1] . Pathologists from the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center performed the histopathology [2] The Public Attorney’s Office commissioned three forensic teams for this report: (1) a Clinical Team of 3 specialist doctors, (2) a Medico-legal team of 3 doctors, and (3) a Pathology Team of 2 Pathologists [3] According to the medical report, “Anjielica sustained hemorrhages in the lungs, heart, liver, and stomach. The hemorrhage in the lungs was extensive – involving both right and left lungs and all the lung lobes… Anjielika’s liver, spleen, and both kidneys are enlarged.”“Anjilieka exhibited Viscerotropic-like disease similar to the Viscerotropic Disease associated with the Yellow Fever vaccine. Dengvaxia®, a vaccine based on they yellow fever vaccine and contains live attenuated yellow fever virus, most likely caused the Viscerotopic-like Disease.”Erfe said, “the underlying cause is viscerotropic-like disease secondary to Dengvaxia® vaccination… Dengvaxia® is a live virus, a combination of the yellow fever virus and dengue virus.”Viscerotropic disease (VTD) is an acute multiple organ system dysfunction that occurs following vaccination. The severity of VTD ranges from relatively mild multisystem disease to severe multiple organ system failure and death [4]CYD-TDV, marketed under the brand name Dengvaxia®, is a dengue vaccine in a yellow fever 17D backbone developed by Sanofi Pasteur [5] , meaning Dengvaxia® is combination of the yellow fever virus and the dengue virus, albeit in a weakened form.Viscerotropic Disease, or in plain terms multiple organ failure, has been associated as a side effect of the yellow fever vaccine [6] . In particular, no other than Stamaril®, Sanofi Pasteur’s own yellow fever vaccine, lists viscerotropic disease as one of its side effects.According to the MIMS pharmaceutical database [7] Note that thrombocytopenia refers to low blood platelet count [8] : platelets are more formally called thrombocytes while the suffix “-penia” means deficiency [9] . Myalgia, on the hand, refers to muscle pain [10] Simply put, yellow fever vaccine – including Sanofi Pasteur’s yellow fever vaccine Stamaril® – is known to have viscerotropic disease, a.k.a multiple organ-system failure, as a side effect.More formally, this side effect is called Yellow Fever Vaccine-Associated Viscerotropic Disease, or YEL-AVD [11] For example, a 2007 Yellow Fever mass immunization program of 42,000 Peruvians resulted in a number viscerotropism cases, four of whom died as result [12]Dengvaxia® is a live, attenuated vaccine, so it contains a version of the living dengue virus that has been weakened so that it does not cause serious disease in people with healthy immune systems. Because live, attenuated vaccines are the closest thing to a natural infection, they are good teachers for the immune system [13] Aside from being “live (alive) and attenuated (severely weakened)”, Dengvaxia® has also been described as a “chimeric” vaccine, as it is a combination of two viruses. Viruses have two basic parts: a nucleic acid core and a casing [14] . In Dengvaxia®’s case, the core is RNA from the Dengue virus, while the casing is from the yellow fever virus [15] . Thus, Dengvaxia® has a commonality with Sanofi Pasteur’s Stamaril®: the yellow fever virus casing; suggesting that Dengvaxia® and Stamaril® may share some common side effects.On 10 December 2015, Sanofi-Pasteur’s scientists themselves admitted a theoretical risk viscerotrophism among Dengvaxia® Vaccinees. More specifically, Sanofi-Pasteur, led by Bruno Guy of its Research and Development Department, said [16] Let ThinkingPinoy break this down for the reader.In that peer-reviewed journal article from Vaccine, Sanofi-Pasteur admitted that Dengvaxia® may have side effects that include, but are not necessarily limited to:, “sensitization to severe dengue infection” is, in simple terms, the worsening of the symptoms of a disease that a drug is supposed to alleviate or even eliminate [17] , something that has been extensively discussed in the ThinkingPinoy article “ #DengGate: Mr. President, here’s the memo you asked for , “acute viscerotropic disease” or multiple organ-system failure, which is the main contention of this article., “acute neurotropic disease”, in the case of some yellow fever vaccine recipients, manifest as meningoencephalitis, Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis [19] Meningoencephalitis is the inflammation and/or bleeding of the brain and/or its surroundings [20] ; Guillain–Barré syndrome is when a person’s immune system attacks a part of the nervous system [21] ; and encephalomyelitis as inflammation of the brain and the spinal cord that damages the protective covering of nerve fibers [22] This bears repeating: in as early as 10 December 2015 and by Sanofi’s own admission, Dengvaxia® has the theoretical possibility of causing the following side effects. Adding the fact that it was published in a widely-read scientific journal means that the risks must have been publicly known.With that said, the operative term here is still “theoretical” as opposed to “confirmed”. Moreover, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration regulators can claim that they may have not seen Sanofi’s 10 December 2015 journal article yet when they issued Dengvaxia®’s Certificate of Product Registration in 22 December 2015 [23] , i.e. there wasn’t enough time because the two dates are just calendar 12 days apart.But here’s the problem: FDA knew it all along.DoH, Sanofi and a coverup?Dengvaxia's Certificate of Product Registration issued by the FDAFDA classified by Sanofi as Rx“Four important identified risks have been established for [Dengvaxia®]: allergic/anaphylactic reaction, viscerotropism and neurotropism, increase in severity of dengue disease from the start of vaccination and waning protection against dengue disease over time. ”Stamaril® vs Dengvaxia®Grossly Uninformed ConsentThere’s around a 40% chance that the vaccine will not work at all,That the vaccine may backfire as it worsens dengue symptoms for kids who’ve never had dengueThat the vaccine may destroy their kids’ internal organs, including their nerves, and,That in the off-chance that the vaccine works, the protection is merely temporary, as opposed to many other more familiar vaccines that provide life-long protection.Dengvaxia®: The New Vioxx®?“[In 2000, Merck] consider(ed) whether to develop a study to directly test a disturbing possibility: that Vioxx®… might pose a heart risk. Two months earlier, results from a clinical trial conducted for other reasons had suggested such concerns…But the executives rejected pursuing a study focused on Vioxx's cardiovascular risks.”#StandWithPAO?Note: References are listed below.DONT FORGET TO SHARE!Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help! Just click the link below! :-)REFERENCES:RELATED POSTS:ThinkingPinoy obtained a copy of Dengvaxia®’s Certificate of Product Registration (CPR), along with the Sanofi Dengvaxia®’s filled-out “Initial Marketing Authorization Application Form”. The Marketing Authorization form is required for the issuance of CPR, which is basically Dengvaxia®’s Philippine license to sell.A cursory look at Sanofi’s CPR shows that it was classified as Prescription Drug (Rx), which is already a red flag. Why would then Health Secretary Janette Garin and her co-conspirators use an EXPERIMENTAL prescription drug in a Mass Vaccination Program?But why, exactly, was FDA compelled to classify Dengvaxia® as a prescription drug?A look at Sanofi’s application, embedded below, reveals several soul-crushing reasons.According to Sanofi’s own submission,by Sanofi’s own admission:Aside from the two known side effects of Sanofi’s yellow fever vaccine Stamaril® that were identified earlier (i.e. viscerotropism and neurotropism) and were cited as a potential side effect of Dengvaxia® ®, Sanofi also admitted TO THE FDA that Dengvaxia’s list of potential side effects may include (1) anaphylactic reactions, which may cause sudden death due to respiratory failure and/or sudden decreases in blood pressure [24] ; (2) increase in severity of Dengue Disease, which the public has already been informed about recently [25] ; and (3) waning protection from Dengue over time.Despite the FDA having full knowledge of Dengvaxia®’s potential side effects, it is alarming to discover that Dengvaxia®’s Full Prescribing Information [26] , includes only “serious allergic reaction”, i.e. anaphylaxis, among the list of side effects listed in the Marketing Application.This bears repeating: the FDA-approved label for Dengvaxia® does not state the risk of viscerotropism, neurotropism, waning effectiveness, and enhanced dengue symptoms.In short, FDA deliberately helped Sanofi – to the detriment of the Filipino People – by not letting our citizens know that Dengvaxia® may cause multiple organ failure, severe nerve damage, enhanced dengue symptoms, and decreasing protection from dengue over time.But why would they do that?As shown in the previoussection , the anti-Dengue vaccine Dengvaxia® shares a few common possible side effects with its anti-Yellow Fever “sister-vaccine” Stamaril®, the most controversial of which is viscerotropism, which is multiple organ-system failure.Unlike Dengvaxia®, however, multiple organ-system failure is included in Stamaril®’s product label. This may sound puzzling because both vaccines are from Sanofi Pasteur. Given this, why would Sanofi be reluctant to do the same for Dengvaxia®?The obvious answer would be that any salesman does his best to downplay the disadvantages of whatever he sells. By not mentioning possible multiple organ-system failure, it would be a lot easier to sell Dengvaxia®.But a closer look shows a darker picture.While Stamaril® is confirmed to cause rare instances of multiple organ-system failure at a rate of about 0.4 per 100,000 doses, one dose of the vaccine provides life-long protective immunity [27] against Yellow Fever.On the other hand, the frequency of multiple organ-system failure for Dengvaxia® recipients, while probably low, is still unknown. Moreover, Sanofi itself admitted that Dengvaxia®, unlike its sister-vaccine Stamaril®, provides DECREASING protection over time, i.e. it provides TEMPORARY and NOT LIFE-LONG protection. Add the fact that instead of providing protection from dengue, it actually WORSENS dengue symptoms to those who have never been infected with Dengue before vaccination.For purposes of illustration, let’s simplify the scenarios:1 - STAMARIL®: Suppose you were offered the vaccine Stamaril® that has a 0.0004% chance [28] of destroying your internal organs but will most likely give you lifetime protection from yellow fever, a disease that has a 15% chance of destroying your internal organs, would you accept the offer?You most probably would, because the advantages obviously outweigh the disadvantages.2- DENGVAXIA®: Suppose you were offered the vaccine Dengvaxia® that has a small but still unknown chance of destroying your internal organs, a vaccine that work only 60% of the time [29] , and will provide you only temporary protection from dengue fever with a chance of worsening dengue symptoms if and when you get infected, will you accept the offer?You most probably will decline the offer, because the tradeoffs are just too much.But it gets even worse.In Probability Theory, the Law of Large Numbers dictates that a low-probability event happens given a sufficient of trials. Modestly assuming a 0.0004 percent chance of multiple organ-system failure PER DOSE of Dengvaxia®, 3 million doses administered would translate to approximately 12 cases.Note, however, that the quoted probability is just based on passive surveillance of recipients of the yellow fever vaccine, so that real-world figures for the dengue vaccine -- which are unconfirmed because the drug up to now is still experimental -- may be higher.It would have been understandable if the parents were fully informed about the risks, but they weren’t. After all, which parent in his or her right mind answer “yes” to the following question:“Here’s an experimental drug that TEMPORARILY protects your child from Dengue but it works only 60% of the time and it may also destroy your child’s internal organs?”But of course, the Department of Health didn’t ask that. Instead, they injected hundreds of thousands of Filipino kids without telling their parents…Worse, they did not inform some of the parents at all, such case of the child from Tarlac that ThinkingPinoy investigated [30] in December 2017, a case that no less than the Deparment of Health tried to cover up [31] And it doesn’t help that Department of Health Secretary Janette Garin actively promoted Dengvaxia® as if she’s part of Sanofi’s marketing department.In an interview interview [32] that took place barely two weeks after FDA approved Dengvaxia®, Garin said, “[Dengvaxia®] is recommended to those 9 to 45 years old”, failing to mention any serious side effect.I have reason to suspect that Garin and her accomplices in the government did all these for personal gain, as evidenced by leaked emails [33] that demonstrate the Health Department’s uncanny enthusiasm to get the vaccine approved, purchased, and mass-deployed in record time.By the looks of, the Dengvaxia® saga appears to be following a storyline similar to Merck’s blockbuster painkiller Vioxx®.According to a New York Times [34] report:Vioxx® was eventually pulled out in 2004 after the FDA itself confirmed the heart risk, with Merck agreeing to pay $950 million in fines [35] , aside from other possible claims arising from invididual personal injury lawsuits.Now, let’s compare that to Dengvaxia®’s situation.Just like Vioxx®, Dengvaxia® has a potential side effects (multiple organ-system failure, nerve damage, severe dengue, etc) that warrants a larger confirmatory study, some of which have manifested when Sanofi tested kids aged up to 9 years old [36] Instead of conducting the study, Sanofi simply told regulators that it’s ok to use Dengvaxia® for those over 9 years old and at the same time told them that there’s an off chance that such catastrophic side effects may occur.A year after the mass immunization’s launch, Sanofi finally confirms one of the side effects: that it enhances dengue symptoms among seronegatives [37] Sanofi’s admission indeed hurt their drug’s sales, but there’s still some hope because the press release only affects seronegative recipients. Sanofi can still tap the seropositive market, i.e. those who have had a previous dengue infection, with an added bonus: Sanofi can develop and sell test kits that tests for seropositivity, providing Sanofi with an additional revenue opportunity.Should Sanofi be fined several years later for concealing information and cheating the system, they would’ve already had earned billions from Dengvaxia®, and they can use those billions to pay fines and other personal injury claims, similar to what Merck did with Vioxx®.But here’s the problem: the Public Attorney’s Office appears to be foiling that plan.But here’s Sanofi’s monumental problem: Dr. Erwin Erfe, Atty. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta, and their colleagues at the Public Attorney’s Office PAO are starting to confirm what DoH and Sanofi deliberately concealed since 2015... that Dengvaxia may cause viscerotropism, or multiple organ-system failure.Erfe’s 26 January 2018 announcement on the official forensic and histopathological report for the case of Anjielika Pestilos, where he mentioned the term “viscerotropic-like disease”, is a nightmare not only for Sanofi Pasteur and its billion-dollar Dengue vaccine program, but also to all the Health Department officials involved in this grand scheme of deception.To make matters worse for Sanofi, preliminary results show that some of the other Dengvaxia® cases handled by PAO may follow the same trajectory as that of Anjielika’s.If Erfe and Co. somehow succeeds to prove a link between Dengvaxia® and any of the major side effects, a personal injury class suit will surely follow, which may cost the financially ailing [38] Sanofi billions in damages and billions in lost potential revenues.Yes, there’s a chance that Erfe and the Public Attorney’s Office may destroy Sanofi, France’s largest pharmaceutical company… or at least hurt it to the tune of a few billion dollars.And that’s why Sanofi and its allies in the Philippine government is pulling out all stops to discredit the Public Attorney’s Office, as it sends all the medical professionals in its payroll to attack the credibility of PAO, especially those of Dr. Erwin Erfe and PAO chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta.Why? Because if the Public Attorney’s Office succeeds, then it’s the end not only for Sanofi’s hopes for Dengvaxia, but also for the careers of the top government officials who didn’t mind endangering hundreds of thousands of poor Filipino kids for their own personal gain. [ ThinkingPinoy"
1871,"President Rodrigo Duterte has given communist guerrillas until 5 p.m. Saturday to officially silence their guns or he would lift a unilateral ceasefire he had declared ahead of peace talks scheduled for next month.The ultimatum came after a member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) was killed and four others were injured on Wednesday in an ambush by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Mindanao.READ: Militiaman killed, 4 hurt in NPA ambush in Davao NorteThe violence has threatened to imperil peace talks set to resume in Oslo, Norway, in August, and just two days after the presidential directive was announced in Duterte’s first address to joint chambers of Congress.“I will wait for that declaration, 5 p.m. tomorrow,” the President said after visiting the wounded militiamen. “If I don’t get a word from them (by 5 p.m., Saturday) then I will order the lifting of the ceasefire.”“So I am asking you, are you ready to declare a ceasefire or not?” the President asked.Window of opportunityIn Manila, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the rebels have been given a small “window of opportunity” to explain their side of events. “The onus remains on their side. So whatever trust there is must be firmed up from their side,” he said.He said the government was still hoping at this stage that the weeklong talks would still push ahead as planned on Aug. 20, despite the violence.On Wednesday, the military said members of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) armed wing, the NPA, ambushed the Cafgu unit returning to their base in Kapalong in Davao del Norte province, leading to the casualties.Disheartening attackSilvestre Bello, chair of the government peace panel, called on the CPP-NPA to reciprocate President Duterte’s announcement “in order to immediately stop violence on the ground, protect our communities from conflict and provide an enabling environment for the resumption of formal peace negotiations.”Bello said he confronted Fidel Agcaoili of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the rebels’ political front, about the violence and asked him to look into it. Agcaoili said the rebels have been on active defense mode since July 26, but vowed to look into the incident.However, he hit back at the rebels for carrying out the ambush “barely two days after this ceasefire declaration.”“It is disheartening that the (NPA) failed to respect the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Duterte last Monday,” Bello said.NPA claims attackIf the rebels reciprocated it could “build trust and confidence on the peace process and more importantly bring peace in our communities for the good of the people,” he said.The rebel leadership has placed its fighters on “active defense mode” while guerrillas await a ceasefire order, meaning they would not stage attacks but would fight to defend if they came under fire.Aris Francisco, an NPA spokesperson, stressed that contrary to military reports, the slain Cafgu members were not returning to their base as claimed by the military but were involved in active combat operations despite President Duterte’s order to silence guns.“Nothing can be farther from the truth,” Francisco said, adding that the militiamen were in fact involved in a July 5 ambush that wounded a rebel also in the town of Kapalong in Davao del Norte.He charged that the military ignored the unilateral ceasefire and were “twisting the facts” to sabotage the upcoming talks.“Its troops were clearly on combat operation and not engaged in ‘civilian activities’ in direct violation of GRP President Duterte’s ceasefire order,” Francisco said.Communist party chair Jose Ma. Sison advised President Duterte, his former student, not to be hasty in his decision.Duterte dismayed“President Duterte should be patient and not expect quick surrenders from highly principled and experienced revolutionaries who have a growing mass base against the rotten ruling system of big compradors and landlords,” he said, adding that it took the government at least three days to “make clear” the contents of its ceasefire.The President, who met with officers and men of the military’s Southern Luzon Command on Thursday prior to his Mindanao trip, was clearly dismayed by the developments.He also sought to assure military and police officials in Quezon that while he was pursuing talks with the communists, he would never agree to a coalition government with them.“I would like to assure everybody here in this room that I will never, never agree to a coalition government,” he said.He also appealed on troops to support his peace initiatives, noting that many from both sides of the conflict have died in the communist insurgency that has stretched on for more than four decades as one of Asia’s longest and deadliest rebellions.DoubtOn Friday, he visited the 60th Infantry Battalion base in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, where he was briefed by military officials. Also present were tribal leaders from the town of Kapalong, where the ambush occurred.Col. Ricardo Nepomuceno, commander of the 1003rd Brigade in the south, said the Cafgu unit was passing by Sitio Kamunoan in Barangay Gupitan in Kapalong to observe the ceasefire, when they were attacked without provocation by guerrillas.“We shall continue to abide by the ceasefire while we continue to secure the communities (and) other vital installations against NPA attacks,” said Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, the commander of the 10th Infantry Division.The President rejected a pullout of troops from the area, and stressed the NPA needed to do away with “the element of hate.”“You doubt (my sincerity),” he said. “I am not threatening you. If you don’t want (peace), it’s OK with me.” With reports from Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Allan Nawal, Karlos Manlupig, and Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao/TVJRELATED STORIESDuterte to NPA: Explain attack or I will cancel ceasefireDuterte gives CPP-NPA ultimatum to reciprocate ceasefireRELATED VIDEOS"
1881,"Who the heck is advising President Aquino?Former President Fidel V. Ramos would like to know.On Wednesday, Ramos said he was disappointed at Aquino’s speech on the Mamasapano clash on Monday, describing it as less than the “high standard of behavior” required of the Commander in Chief.Ramos also criticized the President’s advisers for their failure to maintain the dignity of the Office of the President.Ramos said Aquino’s advisers “failed in their mission to keep the President of our country up there, instead of being the target now of all kinds of criticism high and low.”He added that he observed this failure not only in the President’s meeting with evangelical leaders, in Malacañang on Monday, but also in other previous instances.President Aquino spoke to leaders of evangelical groups on Monday, insisting that the sacked commander of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF), Director Getulio Napeñas, gave him wrong information about the Jan. 25 counterterrorism operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, that cost the lives of 44 SAF commandos.While the public was urging Aquino to take responsibility for the tragedy as Commander in Chief, he dumped the blame on Napeñas, saying the former SAF chief disobeyed his order to coordinate the operation with the military.Speaking to reporters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 minutes before boarding his flight to Burma (Myanmar), Ramos said he was “so disappointed with the language used” by Aquino.“If that (language) were used in a meeting of group of international leaders or even just ordinary foreigners visiting our country, the impact, including the message given, would have been so negative for our country,” he said.‘Navigator’ of countryAccording to the former President, Aquino is not just the father of the nation or just the Commander in Chief of the uniformed services, but is also the “navigator” of the country.“We are on board one ship and therefore our lives, including those of our families and the unborn, depend on this man called the President and as such he has a certain high standard of behavior, even paternal feelings and even leadership ascendancy over everyone in this country,” he said.Ramos left for Burma to lead the Rangoon International Water Summit on Friday, meet with the country’s top officials and participate in a dialogue called “Challenges to Peace and Development: The Philippine Experience,” organized by the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies and the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation Inc.No political crisis"
1891,"Despite President Duterte’s access to intelligence gathered by the state, the burial of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani on Nov. 18 went under his radar.Believe it or not, Malacañang on Tuesday insisted that Mr. Duterte was unaware that the late tyrant’s burial was to be held a day before he left for Lima, Peru, to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.This contradicted an earlier statement of one of the President’s most trusted aides, Director General Ronald de la Rosa of the Philippine National Police, that Mr. Duterte had been informed of the burial.The assistant presidential communications secretary, Marie Banaag, said Mr. Duterte was already in transit to Lima when reports on the rushed burial came out.“We have been so consistent about that. It has been very clear that insofar as the President is concerned, he wanted that kind of burial for the former President. But as to the exact date, we don’t know because that is a family decision,” Banaag said at a press briefing in Malacañang.Funeral wreathShe dismissed insinuations that Mr. Duterte was told beforehand of the burial date as he had sent a funeral wreath extending his condolences to the Marcoses, who had supported his candidacy in the May 9 presidential election.“We’re not the ones who lost a loved one. It’s not the government or this administration that lost a loved one for us to decide on everything,” she said.Banaag said the President’s plate was already full with other pressing concerns for him to think about sending funeral flowers for the deposed strongman’s burial.“Our country is beset with many problems. We are not saying that the (Marcos) burial is not an issue. What we’re saying is that the President is attending to many other things,” Banaag said.“I don’t really think the President still thought of sending the funeral wreath …. He just respects the dead and he only did what the law says,” she continued.Unaware of exact dateBefore flying back home on Monday night, the President told Filipino journalists who covered his attendance at the Apec meeting that he “knew nothing” about the exact date of the Marcos burial.Said Mr. Duterte: “In all honesty, I’m telling you: ‘I knew nothing about it.’ They only asked me when would be the ‘appropriate time for me? I said, ‘do as you wish.’”“I didn’t ask them and why would I ask? I allowed it already so what’s it to me? What would I get if I had known in advance whether he would be there for the interment on that day?” he added.Protests, RamosThe burial sparked protests from groups and individuals, who claim that Marcos did not deserve to be entombed at Libingan as he was not a hero.Former President Fidel Ramos also opposed the move, describing it as an “insult to veterans.”Ramos castigated the covert manner of the burial that he said was carried out with connivance among the Marcos family, military and police officials. He said the Duterte administration was “losing support, they are losing friends.”“We respect the opinion of former President Ramos but the President’s position is very clear: The Supreme Court ruled on the basis of its appreciation of the legal aspect of the case, not on whether martial law led to human rights violations or some other political issue,” Banaag said.As to whether Mr. Duterte has been losing friends because of the developments, she said she knew of no desertions.“So far, there has been none. We know of no such development. The President will arrive and they will talk,” she said.‘Big brother’She said Ramos had been clear that while he might disagree with the President’s decisions or positions on certain issues, he remained a “big brother.”Mr. Duterte credited Ramos for convincing him to run for President and appointed the former Chief Executive as a special envoy to China.Banaag said that as long as the President trusted his Cabinet secretaries, she saw no reason for them to resign even if they opposed his decision to allow Marcos burial at Libingan.“They may not agree on various fronts, but then let it not be said this would mean resigning, because they have other programs which they would want to implement together,” she said.Leftists in CabinetCabinet members who had been martial law activists have castigated the stealthy burial, but have said they would not leave the administration because they still see space for them to engage with the President on other matters.Mr. Duterte continues to stand firm on his decision allowing Marcos to be laid to rest at the country’s cemetery for heroes amid massive outrage over the stealthy burial, which was carried out before the Supreme Court ruling dismissing the petitions against it became final and executory.The burial was also announced only an hour before it took place, and after Libingan was closed to the public and surrounded by state security forces.Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano said he would not resign from the Cabinet although he was against the hero’s burial for Marcos.“Before we entered the government, we were already aware of the differences we have with President Duterte on some issues. Despite our opposing stance on the Marcos burial, we continue to engage him on this matter,” Mariano said in a statement on Monday, three days after Marcos was buried.Equally important issuesA founding member of the militant farmers’ group, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Mariano underscored the “equally important issues” he wanted the President to pursue.“We accepted the post in the Duterte [administration] because we aim to find common grounds in pursuing talks for just and lasting peace including the release of political prisoners, completion of the comprehensive agreement on social and economic reforms, prioritization of social services and the forging of an independent foreign policy,” he said.He noted that Mr. Duterte had already convened the long-defunct Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, resulting in decisions or considerations on “landmark cases,” such as the revocation of two stock distribution option contracts, one agribusiness venture agreement contract, a two-year moratorium on land-use conversion of agricultural lands, condonation of arrears on interests of unpaid amortization by agrarian reform beneficiaries, free irrigation, return of coco levy funds to farmers and end to labor contractualization."
1901,"Dear PAO,My husband is planning to get a yaya/helper for my mother-in-law because she is already old and fragile. She is used to living on her own and although she still has a sharp mind, she now needs help as she is already having a hard time preparing her own food, eating, dressing up and bathing. He plans to give the helper a salary of P4,200.00 as long as she is stay-in. He just wants to know if, with that amount of salary, he still needs to pay for the helper’s Social Security System (SSS) contributions. If so, how much does he need to pay? Your advice will be greatly appreciated.VernaDear Verna,Household or domestic helpers are compulsorily covered under the Social Security Law. Section 9 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8282, otherwise known as the Social Security Law, clearly impresses the mandate that, “(a) Coverage in the SSS shall be compulsory upon all employees not over 60 years of age and their employers: Provided, that in the case of domestic helpers, their monthly income shall not be less than P1,000 a month: x x x”With the passage of the Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay (RA 10361), the coverage of domestic helpers under Social Security remains intact. Although it eliminated the salary base (not less than P1,000 a month), RA 10361 requires that the concerned domestic helper must have rendered at least one month of service so as to oblige the employer from paying and remitting proper contributions. (Section 30, Id.) Said law, likewise, provides for the minimum wage of domestic workers, which may be reviewed, and if proper, determined and adjusted a year from the effectivity thereof and periodically thereafter. (Section 24, Id.)Should your husband hire a household helper for his mother, he will be required to pay and remit the monthly SSS contributions, once said helper has rendered at least one month of service, notwithstanding the fact that the salary grants to the latter amounts to P4,200. Such obligation is imposed upon by law and there are no exceptions. In fact, Section 30 of the said law expressly states that premium payments or contributions are to be shouldered by the employer. It is only when the monthly salary of the domestic helper amounts to or exceeds P5,000 that they are required to pay the proportionate share in the premium payments or contributions, as provided by law.Corollary, your husband will be required to pay and remit monthly premium payments or contributions of P440 as SSS contributions, plus P10 as Employees’ Compensation contributions, in consonance with the SSS revised schedule of contributions. (https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/appmanager/pages.jsp?page=scheduleofcontribution)We hope that we were able to answer your queries. Please be reminded that this advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net"
1910,"Sen. Pacquiao Gustong Tapusin na ang Career ni Trillanes sa SenadoSo what can you say about this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to share this post to your family and friends online. And also, visit our website more often for more updates."
1921,"The Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Group of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has been removed from his post pending results of an ongoing investigation of a graft case for alleged extortion filed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon issued an order dated November 2 that was released only on Thursday on the dismissal of Arnel Alcaraz.President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he wants a corrupt official out of the Customs bureau.Major Isabelo Tibayan 3rd of the Customs Police was named acting Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) chief in a temporary capacity.“I want him suspended immediately. I have to communicate with the chief, [Faeldon]…. [He must be (sacked) and investigated. These people in government are becoming abusive],” Duterte said on Tuesday.The President did not name names but it was obvious that he was referring to Alcaraz who, among the six BOC deputy commissioners, was the only who has a pending case before the NBI.“We are assuming [that it was Alcaraz] because we have not received any other formal charges against the other deputy commissioners. So since [his name was mentioned by the President], it is safe to assume that he was referring to him,” Faeldon’s chief of staff Mandy Anderson told reporters.The BOC is working with the NBI to gather affidavits of complainants and evidence for the investigation.“[No complaint against Mr. Alcaraz has reached us yet]. So we will be working hand-in-hand with the NBI to get whatever complaint was filed, and then we will initiate administrative investigation against him accordingly,” Anderson said.The Manila Times learned from a highly-placed source that the case against Alcaraz was filed before the NBI-National Capital Region (Metro Manila) Office.The complaint is being investigated by NBI Special Investigator Gary Ruiz.The complainants alleged that they were asked to shell out P5,000 for every container after their shipment was issued an alert order by Alcaraz.The source said the alert order has no “bar code” and thus void, adding that “Alcaraz also violated the order of Faeldon that alert orders should have prior clearance and approval from the command center headed by Faeldon.”When asked for comment, Alcaraz politely refused to explain his side.“Kuya, di ako puede magsalita pa. Pero kilala mo naman pagkatao ko [Brother, I can’t speak further. But you know my upbringing],” Alcaraz said in a text message to The Manila Times.Alcaraz, a lawyer, headed the enforcement group as officer-in-charge.He has been with the bureau for nearly two decades and has served in various positions.Records show that Alcaraz has no pending case before the Ombudsman.Customs sources said Alcaraz has stepped into the toes of some brokers who are allegedly well-connected with the so-called Davao group.Another highly placed source at the bureau told The Manila Times that former Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno will take over next week his old post as head of the enforcement group.“His [Nepomuceno] appointment has already been signed by Malacañang. He will be back next week,” the source said.Nepomuceno served as deputy commissioner for the enforcement group during the Aquino administration.WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL"
1931,"Game na game sa pagsayaw ang first lady ng Uptown Funk ni Bruno Mars kasabay si Ellen at back up dancers. ""There is some hip-thrusting,"" pabirong sabi ng first lady, 51, nang mahulog ang kanyang mikropono. ""There is a lot of it."""
1940,"Napatunayang guilty ng Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 79 si Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. dahil sa illegal possession of drugs. Si Parojinog Jr. ay anak ni dating Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog na nasawi sa operasyon kontra iligal na droga sa kanilang tahanan. Sa desisyon ng Quezon City RTC Branch 79, reclusion perpetua o habang buhay na pagkakakulong ang hatol kay Parojinog Jr. matapos mapatunayang lumabag ito sa Section 11, Article II ng Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Maliban sa panghabambuhay na pagkakakulong, papatawan ng P500,000 hanggang P10,000,000 multa si Parojinog Jr. Si Parojinog Jr. ay isa sa mga nadakip sa operasyon ng pulisya na ikinasawi rin ng kanilang ina na si Susan. Kasama niyang naaresto at nakulong ang kapatid na si Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez sa parehong operasyon. Matatandaan na Nobyembre 2018 nang sinabi ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na ""uubusin"" niya ang mga Parojinog. PANOORIN: REYNALDO PAROJINOG JR. HINATULANG GUILTY SA KASONG ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED DRUGS"
1950,"There was one thing celebrity “activist” and former Apo Hiking Society singer Jim Paredes achieved after his spectactular tililing rampage during the 31st anniversary celebration of the EDSA “people power revolution” last weekend. He managed to expose just how intellectually-bankrupt the Philippine national “debate” had become.Or perhaps the more appropriate conclusion to draw from Paredes’s “outrage” is just how this national “debate” has not changed at all. Way back in 2000, an “admired Filipino economist, based in New York” after taking stock of the political discourse at the time lamented, “What ails the country is that Philippine society is intellectually bankrupt.” In his now-viral epic tantrum on this supposedly hallowed historical highway, Paredes once again proved how vacuous Philippine political discourse remains.Indeed, what was once a society divided between the camps of the “Yellowtards” and the “Dutertards” during the elections has become polarised — camps of the die-hards increasingly relegated to the extreme ends of the spectrum while a sector increasingly growing disenchanted (or worse, merely bemused) with both grows in the middle. Let’s call this growing community of bemused observers, the Popcorn Camp. If there is a camp that a new, arguably more intelligent breed of politically-passionate Netizens and activists should begin to consider themselves a part of, it is this Popcorn Camp.I coined the term Popcorn Camp after, for some years now, observing how some participants in comment threads express a preference to just sit back and “eat popcorn” whenever “debate” ensues following the eruption of the next outrage fad. It alludes to how this snack is often consumed while watching a movie — particularly non-intellectual movies like action movies which, interestingly enough, are derisively referred to as “popcorn movies”. While these sorts can be derided as mere fence sitters, perhaps a better way to regard the position they take is as one of active listening. Indeed, it has often been observed how the mirons (unofficial arbiters and commentators) in a chess game are able to see all the right moves that the actual players seem to be missing.The interesting pattern emerging in the polar camps is how increasingly blinkered they are becoming and how increasingly focused on personalities and decreasingly hinged on ideas they have become. In the communities that grew within my own sphere of operations on the Internet, the guiding principle has always been to focus on the ideas and regard the personalities that happen to be orbiting around these at the moment as mere peripherals. One thing I have learned over the years is that these personalities come and go. The ideas, and specially the underlying fundamental principles, on the other hand, remain largely stable and consistent over time.A true intellectual class in the Philippines can only be one where ideas reign supreme over personalities. In this regard, Jim Paredes provides a handful of stark lesson to a whole generation of Filipinos.First is that celebrity and cult-of-personality is fleeting. Paredes has learned the hard way that ascendancy built upon celebrity tends to come back to bite. We see it in the way he now comes across as a sad relic of heady bygone days that can no longer be invoked.Second, being beholden to personalities makes it difficult to remain consistent over time. Paredes proved this a number of times, in the way he now contradicts his 2006 position that Filipinos require tougher government to shape up and another he took in 2007 when he wrote a critical piece citing the “Filipino archetype” that is wont to live in “a mythic, magical world where we expect a handsome prince to save us at the last minute, or that things will get better with the wave of a magic wand, without any need for us to change.” Both actually articulate valid and insightful thoughts about Filipino culture. However, they are wasted in a man who stubbornly defines himself by the politicians he remains steadfastly loyal to.Lastly, Filipinos of all people, should be the ones who could relate the most to the notion that the one who is first with letting loose an emotional outburst, is the ultimate loser. There is a popular Tagalog phrase for this concept that even kindergarten kids take to heart: Mapikon, talo. Between the stolid position the Duterte-aligned activist took and Paredes’s tantrum-like display, it is clear who was the loser in that melee."
1960,"Leni Robredo’s resignation from the Duterte Cabinet is a great early Christmas gift to the Filipino people. Thank you Lord! Now, a proper housing czar can be appointed who actually knows how to do the job, and the government can be rid of this pretender who is only using the HUDCC to promote herself as some kind of socialite princess of the poor.I remember a few months ago, Robredo and her campaign manager Bam Aquino held this anti-poverty summit that was supposed to be one of her “accomplishments” in her first 100 days. And what grand solution did they present? An inane ritual where Robredo and her guests went up the stage and took turns holding up pictures that formed a puzzle, then reciting a corny, cringe-inducing pledge about fighting poverty.. Try searching the video on YouTube. It will make you laugh and gag at the same time. Idiotic gimmicks like this are vintage LP/Leni. This was their brilliant plan for helping the poor. God help us if Robredo stayed one day longer at HUDCC.The press has been trying so hard to pass Robredo off as the Hillary Clinton of the Philippines that Robredo herself has lost all sense of reality and fallen for her own PR. When she looks at her face on that silly Esquire article, does she even notice that the picture doesn’t look like her at all? Does she even see that her very big eyes and eyebags were photoshopped so much that she actually looks, and her cheeks were so digitally contoured that her wide squarish face became narrower and more oval? A true advocate of women’s rights would have objected to this digital fakery, but not Robredo. She seems to actually enjoy having her pictures airbrushed to model perfection, so she keeps hopping from one photo shoot to another.Robredo was a plain jane who became the darling of the yellow oligarchs overnight, and she doesn’t want to wake up from her Cinderella dream. Notice the words she used in her cabinet resignation statement: “I won’t allow the Vice Presidency to be stolen”. Apparently, for major-doma-turned-doña Leni, the office of the vice president is her own personal hacienda. It belongs to her, not the Filipino people, so she will not “allow” it to be taken from her, not even if the courts rule that her “win” is riddled with anomalies.This trademark LP sense of entitlement, this eagerness to live in an illusion, this addiction to the flattery of the yellow media—these are the reasons why Robredo’s downfall is inevitable. Even though other winning candidates for national positions have consistently won in NCR and overseas absentee voting, except her, Robredo still refuses to acknowledge that her “win” is highly suspicious, and she refuses to accept that she owes it to the Filipino people to submit herself to a recount or a rematch.What are you afraid of, Leni? The truth will set you free. Get out while you still can. When the sh*t hits the fan on the election investigation, someone’s head at the LP is going to roll, and you can bet your LP masters will make sure it’s your head, not theirs. Just ask Leila de Lima.But maybe Robredo really doesn’t understand the concept of a graceful exit. President Duterte tried to give her one with that private text message from Secretary Jun Evasco advising her not to attend cabinet meetings anymore. If Robredo was an intelligent person, she would have read between the lines and quietly handed in her resignation the next working day, then gone on to whatever else she does with her life, like attend events and pose for magazines. But no, Robredo was incapable of reacting in a professional and mature way. Instead, she ran crying to the media, gave them screenshots of Evasco’s text message, then issued a bizarre melodramatic statement about someone trying to steal the vice presidency from her, interspersed with lame excuses about why she failed to accomplish anything as HUDCC head.that you were fired. Had you not given in to the urge to throw a public tantrum, you could have maneuvered this situation to make it look like it was you who decided to resign. President Duterte precisely tried to give you that, through Secretary Evasco’s PRIVATE text message to you, so you could save face. But what did you do? You proved yourself to be the insidious snake that most Filipinos already think you are, by sending Secretary Evasco’s text message to the media in a cheap bid to gain sympathy. You’re so caught up in your bubble that you don’t even realize it’s very hard for the public these days to believe you’re a victim, thanks to the fawning of the yellow media and all the magazine covers where you projected yourself as the darling of high society.President Duterte tried to give you a chance to show that you would put the interests of the Filipino people above the interests of your party when he gave you a cabinet post. But instead of doing your job, you used the position to backstab and undermine the President at every turn, and act as the chief mouthpiece of your party’s selfish interests. It would be an insult to the President’s team for you to continue sitting at the table with the other cabinet secretaries who are working so hard to protect the interests of ordinary Filipinos, so thank heavens you’re out. Now the long suffering people can have a new, competent HUDCC head who will really put their concerns first. Good riddance, Mrs. Robredo, and enjoy your mid-life modeling career while it lasts.------------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
1970,"Sa kabila ng pamba-bash na natatanggap ni former senator Bong Revilla mula sa mga kritiko niya, ramdam pa rin daw niya ang pagmamahal ng mga taga-suporta niya. Muling pinanindiganan ni Revilla na hindi siya nagnakaw sa kaban ng bayan. Sabi pa ni Revilla, hindi daw niya kailangan ng pera dahil nagkapera daw siya sa pagiging artista niya noon. Ibinunyag din ng dating senador na nangalap pa raw ng P50 million na pondo ang mga kontra sa kanya para lang siraan siya. Ayon sa ulat ng Abante, nagbigay pa daw ng mensahe si Revilla sa mga kritiko at bashers nito. ""Si Bong Revilla, mandirigma, habang nasasaktan, lalong tumatapang, habang sinisiraan, lalo ako popogi,"" boladas ni Revilla. Magugunitang naglabas ng warrant of arrest ang hukuman kaban kay Revilla noong 201 dahil sa pagkaka-ugnay nito sa Napoles' pork barrel scam pero nakalaya ito matapos i-acquit ng korte noong 2018. Si Revilla ay tumatakbo muli para sa pagka-senador. Hindi naman nagustuhan ng ilang kababayan natin ang mga binitawang salita ni Revilla. ""Habang tumatagal lalong kumakapal.. Dyusmio pag pinanalo niyo ito... Magkakaself confidence na naman itong animal na to.. Magbibilang n a kami ng bobong bobo to sayo,"" sabi ni G. Wun. ""kabobohan na ng mga pinoy pag siya ang binoto..wag tatanga tanga,"" sabi ni F. Kenneth. Source: Abante | MSN"
1980,"While others are celebrating pit senyor, dutertards are also celebrating for the death of anti-Duterte website SEC Registration (still digging its own grave). Rappler is facing various violations in relation to Anti-Dummy Law.We can summarise the 29-page decision of SEC’s revocation of Rappler’s registration to only few words. Rappler is owned by a foreign company called Omedyar Network that has been linked to destabilizing countries like Ukraine. Period.The anti-administration particularly the Rappler reporters call to defend press freedom. That President Duterte is a dictator who kills democracy. That Digong is maneuvering to shut down critics. That Philippines is dangerous to journalists.The chairperson of SEC, Ma. Teresita Herbosa, is an appointee of PNoy, therefore it was the appointee of the past administration who curtailed press freedom and not President Duterte’s admin.Now that’s even more shocking! Pnoy’s appointee is finally working with a bang!PRD is not a dictator. In fact, Maria Ressa can still operate. She can always create a brand new group. She and her rapplerettes can still tweet, post a status, and upload their stories to any outfit. No one is holding their rights to express. Facebook is always free.No one is silencing them. It is just that, this digital media outfit is a violator of the Philippine constitution allowing foreign individuals to control mass media in the country.The law is very simple, the government does not want aliens to control, shape and influence the people of this nation. This is a national security concern. My goodness!Rappler will still be operating in the coming days as it has the luxury of time to find legal remedies on this matter. But hey baby, the end is near.Let us just remind them that it is not Digong who is pressing the press but one of Pnoy’s buddies in Duterte’s time.This is going to be Rappler’s last rap battle. Maria Ressa will not get back her ‘internet’.To quote the yellow everwing man, Jim Paredes ” What a Great Day” indeed.Break it down yo! | BY ALBERT EGOT JR."
1991,"‘safe houses they can rest in as they try to recover from the extreme stress and trauma they suffered,” said DSWD Assistant Secretary Aleli Bawagan.“Many of them lost loved ones; most of them lost all they have worked for. The least that should have been done to help them was to ensure that they have safe and comfortable houses; we failed to do this,” she added.FINAL WORDSOUR POSITIVE ACTIONS TODAY TO PREPARE FOR, MITIGATE, MINIMIZE AND, ULTIMATELY, SURVIVE GLOBAL WARMING/CLIMATE CHANGE WILL ENHANCE MANKIND’S SURVIVABILITY ON MOTHER EARTH.ON THIS NOTE, WE CONGRATULATE DONALD TRUMP FOR HIS ELECTION AS 25TH U.S. PRESIDENT, AND ALSO HIS WORTHY OPPONENT, HILLARY CLINTON FOR CONCEDING EARLY, THUS ENHANCING U.S. NATIONAL UNITY.WE HOPE US LEADERS, NOW IN CONTROL OF BOTH CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE WILL ALSO BRING GOOD “GREEN NEWS” TO ALL MANKIND!!!Please send any comments to fvr@rpdev.org. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org."
2000,"President Rodrigo Duterte wants to settle an old issue with the US Embassy, he recalls that he was once denied of a United States Visa when he planned to visit his college girlfriend.During his speech in front of the Filipino Community in Beijing China, Duterte questions why the US Citizens can enter the Philippines easily and visa-free when Filipinos had a hard time securing travel documents and sometimes denied by the embassy to visit the US.“America? Miski ako hindi ako makapunta doon, hindi ako bigyan ng visa ng mga..” he said.He asked by the the Consul if he was in love with his girlfriend and planning to marry her and stay in the US if he was allowed to travel there.The President answered that even the US gave him life time free visas and 10,000 dollars, he will still return to his country and be a Filipino.“The problem is you go to America? You’ll not be issued a visa,” he stressed.He also recalled a local government official who denied by US Embassy even he was invited to an event by the US Government itself.“The poor man had to travel. He was in poor health. Pagdating dito, he was denied. Pero sila anytime. They enter the Philippines visa-free. Well, there will always be a time for reckoning. Bakit hindi natin tablahin?” Duterte said and gave a faint smile.This statements gave some clues to the Netizens that he also considering to remove the visa free policy that the Americans enjoyed when traveling in the Philippines."
2011,"“Why blame me?” Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas asked.A rival presidential candidate, Sen. Grace Poe, has claimed that Roxas was behind Tuesday’s decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division to disqualify her in next year’s elections.“Wasn’t it her and her lawyer who filed the papers? Wasn’t she the one who took her oath as an American? She should take responsibility for these and explain instead of looking at me,” Roxas said in a statement on Thursday.He said that he was aware that Poe’s “feelings were hurt” after the Comelec division voted 3-0 to nullify her certificate of candidacy for President because she was two months short of the 10-year residency requirement.“All of us suffer internally because we don’t get what we want, right? But it doesn’t mean that if what happened is not to our liking, we’ll go out and destroy institutions and plant seeds of doubt. Let’s respect the rule of law, let’s respect the institution. These are constitutional bodies and they are independent,” Roxas said.Roxas said that instead of finding someone to blame, the senator should just answer the disqualification cases against her. He said no one was stopping her from going to the Supreme Court to appeal the Comelec ruling.He said he was one with Poe in seeking a fair and speedy resolution of her cases because the people were getting “confused” about her status.A day after the Comelec handed down its decision, Poe said: “Who else would benefit from this? [There’s no one else] but my two rivals who, I’m sure, had sent their people to file these cases.”Roxas said he did not know the individuals and groups seeking Poe’s disqualification and did not want to comment on her case because she was a rival.RELATED STORIESAnakbayan: LP, Roxas behind disqualification cases vs PoeRoxas to Gordon: Name LP member who ‘approached’ him to file case vs PoeRoxas, Binay asked to stop allies on Poe’s disqualification case"
2021,"“Does masturbation make you dumb?” “Is it okay to have sex with a girl who’s having hermenstruation?” “Will I get poisoned if I swallow semen?” Kevin de Vera recalled these questions from high school students when he discussed adolescent reproductive health under a program of the Forum for Family Planning and Development (Forum)a health and social development advocacy organization. “We all know that adolescents have curious interests in sex, reproduction, relationships and behaviors, but wait till you hear their thoughts and questions.” De Vera, Forum’s director for programs and advocacy said. A boy asked if coconut juice can cure gonorrhea because his friend had the sexually transmitted infection. It turned out that the boy was the friend. De Vera said Forum’s project that required talking to thousands of high school students, including in over 35 night high schools in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu from 2015 and intermittently until 2023, has been completed but he noted that young people continue to have questions. This highlights the critical need for sex education. “This is where we provide correct, scientific, factual, age-appropriate information to help them make the right decisions when they are in situations that their parents fear,” De Vera said. “Telling them not to have sex yet, not to have a boyfriend or girlfriend yet, or to act properly without explaining what these mean will never work.” Seeking answers elsewhere De Vera’s realization, however, is not reflected in the country’s educational system where many teachers admit their lack of readiness and training to teach the subject due to values-related conflicts and dearth of educational resources on the topic. “In our experience in the night high schools, teachers are all willing to improve the state of ARH,” he said. “They know there is data and evidence as reliable sources of information to teach young people, but most of them have concerns.” The 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey of the University of the Philippines Population Institute that surveyed more than 10,000 youth aged 15 to 24 noted gaps in their access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. The survey said 44% of the girls and 39% of the boys said they did not have access to material sources of information about sex. Those who did have access got their information from social media, educational materials, movies, videos, TV, radio and print media. When asked about the top five persons they consulted for questions about sex, 65% of the male respondents and 50% of the females listed their friends, parents, and health professionals in that order. Notably, a sizeable number said they did not seek answers from anyone. De Vera said teens become pregnant or get STIs such as human immunodeficiency virus or HIV due to early dating and sexual contact, prostitution — especially those from poor families, and lack of sex education which drives them to make wrong decisions. “We must normalize the discussion of sex. Informing the youth prevents them from engaging in unsafe sexual activities and becoming pregnant,” he said. Unsettling, terribly wrong In March 2025, the Commission on Population and Development reported that an eight-year-old girl became pregnant and gave birth at nine, the youngest recorded case of pregnancy in the Philippines. Also last year, Undersecretary and CPD executive director Lisa Grace Bersales said two other girls aged 10 from the Bicol Region and Western Visayas also became pregnant. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Bersales said births from girls aged 10-14 years old reached 8.9% in 2024. Pregnancies among girls 10-14 years old were prevalent in populous regions: CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Metro Manila and SOCCSKSARGEN. “When a child becomes a mother, something has gone terribly wrong. These are girls who should be in school, discovering their dreams—not raising children before they even understand adulthood,” Bersales said. In 2023, the PSA noted that 3,343 girls under 15 reportedly delivered their first child. Among girls aged 10-14, this translates to nine live births per day. PSA noted and called attention to the more unsettling problem of repeat pregnancies that occurred among 38 girls under 15 that same year, noting that 17 had five or more live births before they turned 20. In 2022, the PSA recorded 25,358 second, third, fourth, and even fifth livebirths among girls aged 10-19. There is also a rising number of adolescent fathers, from 5,054 in 2018 to 8,665 in 2019. Statutory rape and abuse. Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III, vice president of the Forum and former CPD executive director, said PSA records showed that live births among girls in the below-sexual consent age of 10-15, significantly increased from 8,914 in 2021 to 10,826 in 2022. In 2023, only 21 fathers were of similar age of the 3,343 mothers aged 8-14, and 1,234 fathers to girls 8-14 were aged 17-22. “These are indicative of sexual abuse, as they are already considered as statutory rape as per Republic Act 11648,” he noted. RA 11648 promotes stronger protection against rape, sexual exploitation and abuse, increasing the age for determining the commission of statutory rape from below 12 to below 16. Sexual activity with a person under 16 is considered statutory rape regardless of whether consent is given, as a minor cannot legally consent. “This implies that sexual and reproductive health rights of those under 16 are being violated with impunity despite the RPRH Law,” Perez said, citing the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012 (RA 10354). “Government agencies should have acted on the law three years ago,” he added, stressing that the Department of Justice and Department of Education were specifically mentioned in the law. Perez said girls have little freedom and autonomy over their bodies and decisions. “More 8-16 girls were raped in the Philippines in 2023 than the entire adult female population; their risk for rape is five times higher than all women and girls,” he explained. “Most pregnant girls 8-14 probably dropped out of school, were seen by health workers and their parents or guardians were aware or became aware of the pregnancies,” said Perez. “Yet no one reported a single case under RA 11648.” The official said that 2023 PSA data noted a 7% increase of 3,343 births among 9-14 year-olds and 8% or 8,136 births among under-16 girls. But there were also no rape cases filed under RA 11648. Au Quilala, executive director of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development, agreed, saying, “The number of very young girls getting pregnant is not eventhe saddest story” “Data shows that most of these pregnancies may involve statutory rape, as the men who impregnated the girls were practically adults or significantly older than them,” she concluded. The advocates urged Congress to enact the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill in the a hearing on March 17 by the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development. In that first hearing, Quilala said, “No girl deserves this. All of us adults in this room, especially the duty bearers, should not let this situation continue.”"
2030,"The latest on Leni and her BFF Loida…..I managed to get a peek at the explosive “#LeniLeaks” Yahoogroup before it was switched to private (yup, it took the yellow twats half a day to change the settings after the thing went viral). My thoughts:1. This yellow group calls itself GFDC, which stands for “Global Filipino Diaspora Council”, but I think “Geriatric Filipinos Destabilization Council” suits them better, because the most active members of the group are senior citizens with long careers in ouster plotting (i.e. Loida Lewis, her sister Imelda Nicolas, Vicky Garchitorena, Yoly Ong, Fr. Villarin of Ateneo, Black and White Movement, etc). Tumanda na, sila-sila pa rin. From Marcos to Erap to Gloria, oust pa rin ng oust. Yan lang talaga ang alam nilang gawin.2. The yellow dinosaur demographic might also explain why a) they’re still using yahoogroups, b) they didn’t notice their posts were set to public, and c) they think they’re the saviors of the Philippines despite their epic stupidity.3. From the manic tone of Loida’s rants in the egroup, I think she may be seriously off her rocker. This could explain why she thinks she can play God with the lives of Filipinos and dictate who can and cannot be president. It’s like she thinks she’s some kind of divine being, and all the rest of us are mere hampaslupa who should obey her commands. There was even one message with her name in the egroup that referred to the Marcoses as “Dracula” and claimed they stole $100 billion. Yes, 100 BILLION dollars. That’s bigger than the net worth of the Sultan of Brunei and Warren Buffett, combined. That’s bigger than Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.Actually, I feel kinda sorry for Loida. She reminds me of one of my aunts who was victimized by charismatic groups because she was bored, insecure, and had lots of money. They got her into all sorts of idiotic causes, milked her for donations and sponsorships and consulting fees. They made her think she was supporting some worthy cause so they could squeeze money out of her.I sensed this when I read that latest smear article on President Duterte that came out in the Guardian. The article was so lame and haphazard, and it wasn’t even written by a Guardian writer, but a “contributor” from some bogus-sounding NGO, and it was published in a section for outside contributors. One of my friends in advertising called it the “” section, which all newspapers have. That’s basically where editors publish prepared press releases, in exchange for a (cough!) “honorarium”. The PR agency is taking shortcuts, and doesn’t seem to care what happens with Duterte either way, as long as the billionaire client keeps paying the bill.And from the looks of things, the PR money might as well be flushed down the toilet. After flooding all the biggest global media outlets with all sorts of shocking stories and videos and pictures, Duterte’s approval rating is still a whopping 83%!----------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
2041,"In separate advisories on Monday, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum, PTT Philippines, Eastern Petroleum, Unioil and Flying V said they will increase gasoline prices by P1.50 per liter and diesel by P1.20 per liter, effective Tuesday morning.Shell and Flying V said they will raise kerosene prices by P1.40 per liter, also effective Tuesday morning.Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum, PTT Philippines and Unioil said they will implement the price changes at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.Flying V said its price adjustments will take effect at 12:01 a.m. also on Tuesday.Department of Energy (DOE) oil monitoring for Metro Manila as of November 22 showed that diesel prices ranged from P25.75 to P29.32 with a common price of P26.75; gasoline from P34.60 to P44.10 with a common price of P42.18; and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) in P11-kilogram (kg) cylinder from P430 to P661.Also, the DOE oil monitoring showed that the adjustment for gasoline is now at a net increase of P4.14 per liter while diesel remains at P5.98 per liter.The latest price changes resulted from average price movements for the previous five trading days in the global market."
2051,"Nagbabala si Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong sa mga pampublikong sasakyan na sapilitang naniningil ng mataas na pamasahe mula sa mga komyuter.
Ayon sa alkalde, hindi nila hahayaan na may mga manamantala sa kasalukuyang krisis.
Binigyang-diin ng opisyal na voluntary ang pagdaragdag ng pamasahe at hindi sapilitan.
“Meron na akong instruction na paghuhulihin sila lahat. Hindi puwede ‘yung sasabihin nila na itinaas na ng P20. Bawal ‘yan. Sa atin lang is voluntary. Hindi natin ito-tolerate ‘yan dito sa siyudad,” babala ni Magalong.
Aniya, nakiusap ang mga jeepney association na sana ay mabigyan sila ng tip pero wala pang aprubadong dagdag-pasahe mula sa Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Sinabi ni Magalong na ayaw nilang mahirapan ang mga drayber at komyuter kaya ipinatutupad nila ang Emergency Transport Support Program, kung saan binabayaran ng pamahalaang lokal ang mga backload o return trip mula sa mga barangay kahit walang pasahero. Ito ay upang masiguro na may mga pampasaherong jeep na papasada hanggang 11 p.m. “And we’re spending about P1M every week dito. Kung tuloy-tuloy itong giyera, baka abot pa ito ng P2M a week,” sabi ni Magalong.
Sa gitna ng mga hamon sa transportasyon at ekonomiya, patuloy ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Baguio sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa upang maprotektahan ang mga residente, komyuter, at residente mula sa epekto ng krisis at tumataas na presyo ng mga bilihin habang nananawagan ito ng mga data-driven na solusyon mula sa mga ahensya.
Samantala, nananatiling tutol si Magalong sa pamamasada ng bagong e-taxi sa lungsod dahil sa sobrang bilang ng mga taxi na nagdudulot ng matinding trapiko. (JDP/DEG-PIA-CAR SLU intern Rennalyn Tajon)"
2061,HINDI na nagawang ilihim pa ni Erich Gonzales ang naudlot na panliligaw sana sa kanya ni Coco Martin. Itatago na sanang tuluyan ni Erich ang hindi itinuloy na panliligaw sa kanya ng super sikat na aktor pero naipit ang aktres kaya for the first time ay inilahad niya iyon sa Aquino & Abunda Tonight nina Kris Aquino at Boy Abunda.
2071,"PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is opposed to same-sex marriage but he is not against same-sex unions, Malacañang clarified on Monday.It issued the statement a day after a Social Weather Stations survey showed that three out of five Filipinos oppose same-sex marriage.“If same-sex marriage is being talked about, the President is against that. But if it is union, the President is favoring that,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing in Maasin, Southern Leyte.The President had changed his stand several times on the issue.In a speech before members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Davao City in December last year, Duterte said he “wants” gay marriage.“I want gay marriage. The problem is we have to change the law, but we can change the law,” he said.“I am for (same-) sex marriage if that is the trend of the modern times. If that will add to your happiness, I am for it. You know, whatever makes the person happy, I will give it. Why should I hold it back?” the President added.During the campaign period, Duterte said he will help legalize same-sex marriage even if he is against it.Months after, Duterte said the country could not legalize same-sex marriage since the Civil Code states that marriage is only between a man and a woman.In June, Roque said the country “is not yet ready” for same-sex marriage.“I personally believe that the Supreme Court and the country is not yet ready for the proposal of same-sex marriage,” Roque said.The Supreme Court had started hearing oral arguments on same-sex marriage as it tackled the petition of lawyer Jesus Falcis 3rd, which challenged the provisions of the Family Code of the Philippines."
2080,"Actress Vivian Velez announced on her Facebook account that there’s a petition started by her group to bring back the old name of Ninoy Aquino International Aiport.The petition was started by Atty. Lorenzo G. Gadon and the members of #BringBackMia group who urged the Duterte government by the help of the congress to bring back the name Manila International Airport.Manila International Airport became Ninoy Aquino International Airport on 1987 as an honor to the man who became the face of democracy during former dictator Ferdinand Marcos term as President.But according to the #BringBackMia group, its still way too early to award Ninoy such an honor beause of three malfeasances for which he must be held to accont:He authored the fake account of the so-called “Jabidah massacre” in 1967 and sabotaged our country’s claim to territory. He was complicit in the reestablishment of the local communist party and guerrilla army under Maoist control in 1968-69.He was inexplicably absent during the bombing of the LP rally in Plaza Miranda in 1971 despite his being the most popular and frontrunner candidate and the secretary general of the Liberal Party.They also believe that the name NAIA is only confusing and does not lead to a recognition and identity of the country it represents.The group also pushing to change the Ninoy Aquino Sports Stadium back to Rizal Memorial Coliseum.The petition that they started on the internet already got 145 supporters.Velez also asking the Netizens to sign the petition on Change.orgSome people supported the petition, but some also opposed because they only think that the people behind the #BringBackMia group are also belongs to the Marcos Loyalists who already pushing the same petition many years ago."
2091,"Nur Misuari emerged from three years of hiding in his forested Jolo Island redoubt and was flown to Manila in a private jet for a meeting on Thursday with President Duterte in Malacañang, where he vowed to help bring peace to Mindanao and expose Malaysia’s role in the Abu Sayaff kidnappings for ransom in the south.The 77-year-old founder of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the President embraced like “long-lost brothers,” said peace adviser Jesus Dureza, who was tasked with bringing the rebel leader to Malacañang after a Pasig court suspended for six months, at the government’s behest, an arrest warrant against him for the 2013 siege of Zamboanga.“I came here to thank him for restoring my freedom, if only partially,” said Misuari, wearing a printed kaffiyeh, in a nationally televised news conference with Mr. Duterte. “Should he need our cooperation in his campaign for peace, [he] can count on us.”Misuari said he moved against the Abu Sayyaf bandits on Mr. Duterte’s request and that he was responsible for the rescue of their hostages, including Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, in September.He said he sent 1,700 of his forces and cordoned off the position of the bandit group, which then told him that they would return the hostages.But Misuari said “enterprising people” came and offered them money.Malaysia linked to kidnapsHe said the steps that he had taken had led the Armed Forces of the Philippines to rescue some of the hostages.Misuari linked Malaysia to the Abu Sayaff kidnappings.“Our source is saying that since Malaysia is the one who is involved in this kidnapping for ransom, probably, one day, I will drag their leaders into that International Criminal Court,” he said. “My people are everywhere and besides, they cannot escape because they are hiring my own people.”Mr. Duterte, who is traveling to Malaysia for a two-day visit next week, is expected to have more meetings with Misuari, Dureza said, adding that the two were unable to talk at length yesterday.“We would like to ask that we work together with our Moro brothers and create a country that is really, that is just and that is good and that would be for the next generations to come,” Mr. Duterte said, addressing Misuari as “Brother Nur.”He recalled that he and Misuari had previously spoken about finally talking peace in Mindanao. Little did they know that the time would come that they could now talk about an understanding with the government, the President said.“And that I assure you, I said, as you have narrated, we will come up with the modality and then of course, how to place us in our proper homeland, our Mindanao, and that we will talk about the Bangsamoro Authority,” he said.Misuari, describing the President as a man he respects and trusts, promised that Mr. Duterte could rely on him.Happy to be free again“Just allow me to reiterate my sense of gratitude to the President and my promise, should he need our cooperation in his campaign for peace, you can count on us, Mr. President,” he said.“I told our dear brother, the President, I was already determined to stay put in the mountains were it not for his call, were it not for his invitation. It’s just that I cannot reject his invitation because I respect him too much,” said Misuari, who has been in hiding since a warrant for his arrest was issued for rebellion in the 2013 siege of Zamboanga City.“Now I want to tell you, paraphrasing that statement of my friend Kjartan, now I am so happy to be free again, owing to the initiative of our President,” he added.Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier told reporters that Misuari’s group would take up some seats on the Bangsamoro Transition Commission that would draft a new Bangsamoro law.“What we know is that the strategy for a successful Bangsamoro peace agreement is to be inclusive and include the Moro National Liberation Front faction of Chairman Nur Misuari,” he said.The implication of Misuari’s release would be “big,” he added.“It only means that there’s bigger chance, opportunity for the Bangsamoro peace agreement to really push through, because it’s the same agreement that failed [under] the last administration,” he said, referring to the Bangsamoro Basic Law that the Aquino administration had negotiated with Misuari’s rival group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).The panel now would include the groups which felt they were marginalized during the last administration, he said.Injustices citedMisuari also aired his grievances, reminiscing about injustices. He talked about the protests outside Malacañang that he had joined to demand justice for the Muslims killed in the Jabidah massacre. He also complained about some members of the media, saying they “distort” his statements.“And some of them are insisting—before, they used to insist, MNLF is a spent force,” he said.Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, the AFP spokesperson, said Misuari would give peace a chance.“Hopefully all of these arrangements, all of these negotiations will lead to a long, just and lasting, sustainable peace for the whole country,” he said."
2100,"Is the American government knows something about the fiercest critic of President Rodrigo Duterte?According to the article of Philippine Star Ngayon Editor-in-Chief Al G. Pedroche, United States of America President Donald Trump allegedly call Senator Antonio Trillanes IV a ‘lil narco’ during an interview with the press before the American leader boarded in Air Force I.The reporter asked Mr. Trump about his thoughts on the visit of the Filipino senator in United States and according to the report, this is what the American leader said:“The little Narco met with Sen. Marco.”Mr. Trump was also asked by the reporter if Senator Trillanes convinced him to not attend the East Asean Summit on November 14 in the Philippines.“Senator who? Like I said senator who? The lil’ narco who met Marco? How’d he get a visa? isn’t he wanted, doesn’t he have an arrest warrant or something?” Trump reportedly said.“I’m going to Manila to meet the main guy. A leaders’ leader, man’s man Rody, we talk from time to time, he’s the head of ASEAN right now and when you do deal you deal with the boss”. he added.’Trillanes met with Senator Rubio on October 18 to talk about ‘corruption, human rights and narcotics crisis’Blogger ThinkingPinoy was also surprised after he heard the statement of Mr. Trump against Senator Trillanes.According to him, ‘narco’ is a colloquial word for a ‘drug lord’It’s still not yet known if U.S President Trump mistakenly thought that Senator Trillanes is Senator Leila De Lima who’s also a fierce critic of the Filipino President.The lady senator is currently detained for her alleged connection in illegal drug business inside the National Bilibid Prison.Trump and Duterte was scheduled to meet on November as part of the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that would be held in Manila.President Rodrigo Duterte praised President Trump several times in his speeches saying that they are ‘alike’.“We both make curses. Even with trivial matters we curse.” Duterte said in one of his speeches.Meanwhile, Trump also reportedly praised Duterte’s war against illegal drugs during their private conversation.“I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem,” Trump told DutertePhilippine Daily Star deleted the article of Al G. Pedroche about U.S President Donald Trump allegedly calling Senator Trillanes a ‘lil narco’, however, the article of Mr. Pedroche was already printed on their newspaper."
2110,"Fox Television has announced that it has completed its search for actors to play the three main characters for its new Monday night series, “The Tea Party Girls.” The drama, which premieres in November, follows the adventures of three conservative women politicians as they navigate the male-dominated political arena of Washington, D.C.The real-life characters in the series are former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Senator Michele Bachmann and Arizona Governor Janice Brewer.Playing Palin is Tina Fey who originated the Palin look-alike character on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Miley Cyrus will play Michele Bachmann. Cyrus was selected after producers saw her performance as Bachmann in last Saturday’s edition of SNL where she performed a sexy Republican version of her song “We Can’t Stop.”The producers had the hardest time looking for the actor to play Janice Brewer, but finally decided on Terrence Stamp, best known for his memorable performance in the film, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”Fox Television reportedly has very high hopes that this new series will win big in next year’s Emmys."
2121,"The military has deployed 10 battalions to “selected target areas” in Sulu province to go after the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers who beheaded two Canadian hostages in the last two months after failing to get their ransom demand.Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, said all resources from land, sea and air had been made available for the mission, which could involve some 5,000 troops belonging to the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, including their Special Forces.“We have about 10 battalions, including Marines. Ten battalions of two brigades. All service commands are involved,” Tan said.But he clarified that the operations would not be on a “wide scale,” but would focus on areas known to be supportive of the Abu Sayyaf.“We will go to the communities known to provide refuge to bandits,” he said. “There are selected target areas. These bandits have relatives and they hide in the populace.”On Monday, Abu Sayyaf bandits beheaded Canadian Robert Hall after the P600-million ransom money they had demanded was not delivered. Another Canadian, John Ridsdel, suffered the same fate on April 25.The group is still holding hostage Filipino Maritess Flor and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad.All were kidnapped in an exclusive marina in Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte province on Sept. 21 last year.Police were checking “an intelligence advisory from the higher office” that four Malaysians were abducted by armed men in Sabah, Malaysia, on Wednesday night.“So far, no confirmation,” Senior Supt. Joselito Salido, police director of Tawi-Tawi province, told the Inquirer by phone.Tan refused to give the exact number of soldiers or the units deployed in Sulu, and where the operations would be.“Just imagine our operation maps are filled with pins,” he said. Pins indicate deployment of troops on the ground.Abu Raami, spokesperson for the Abu Sayyaf, said his group would make it hard for the government troops to locate them.“We know the terrain,” he said in a phone interview on Thursday morning.Raami said that every time a military aircraft would hover over them, “we run for cover, we put off all communications and we hide.”On Wednesday, President Aquino visited Jolo, Sulu, to check on the operations of the military against the Abu Sayyaf.Sulu Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan said he chose to snub the President “because he is responsible why all these problems are besetting our place.”Tan said Mr. Aquino did not consider his earlier recommendation to involve the communities in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf. “Instead … he poured more troops and changed the police officers and replaced officers who were not functioning.”On Mr. Aquino’s visit, Tan said: “Who do you think will listen to him? Coming down here when he has only 15 days left (as President).”“That is what we call ‘too late to play a hero.’ Lives have been wasted, resources reportedly poured but we never saw it, never felt it,” said the vice governor.In Manila, Sen. Bam Aquino said yesterday that it was time for the government to do all it could to crush the Abu Sayyaf in the wake of threats that it might behead another hostage if its ransom demand was not met.Senator Aquino lamented that the Abu Sayyaf already wrought extensive damage on the country’s image, economy, tourism industry, and the way of the life in several areas in Mindanao.“It is time to take the appropriate action to pulverize the bandit group at the earliest possible time,” he said.“We support any action of the present government and the incoming administration of President-elect Duterte as long as it conforms with the law.”"
2131,"An Army soldier was killed, while another and an officer were wounded in a fierce gun battle with Communist insurgents at a far-flung area of Kilometer 7, Barangay Camagong, in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.A sketchy report received here from operating Army troops said an undetermined numbers of the New People’s Army (NPA) members were believed killed or wounded in the encounter.The Army’s 23rd Infantry Battallion (23rd IB) is still pursuing the fleeing rebels, who are believed to be members of guerilla-Front Committee 4-A of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao regional Committee (NEMRC).The identities of the Army casualties were withheld pending notification of their next of kin.The officer, said to be a second lieutenant, and soldier were immediately taken to Nasipit District Hospital before they were transferred to a Butuan City hospital for further medical attention.An initial report from the field said elements of the 23rd IB were conducting combat patrol operation in upper Barangay Camagon when they were engaged by the group of a certain “Commander Baking” of guerilla-Front Committee 4-A at 7:16 a.m. on Sunday.Troops under the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade based in Camp Bancasi, Butuan City have already been dispatched to beef up the pursuing troops of the 23rd IB in Camagong area.Meanwhile, the regional command of the Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) based in Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez, Butuan City also mobilized its regional and provincial mobile forces to help the 23rd IB by conducting blocking positions along the possible escape route of the fleeing NPAs here.The Nasipit Municipal Police Station (MPS) and Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO) also intensified their intelligence monitoring in the area for possible information of wounded rebels admitted in some hospitals in the province.The regional command also directed all camps/stations in Agusan del Norte, Cabadbaran City and other neighboring areas to be on alert, remain vigilant and intensify proactive measures and their intelligence monitoring.All police unit commanders were also ordered to conduct strong checkpoints in any strategic areas of their respective areas of responsibility (AORs) while also strengthening their respective headquarters/stations defense systems to prevent any hostile NPA act."
2140,"Nagsalita na sa unang pagkakataon sa harap ng media si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte tungkol sa krimen na kinasasangkutan ni dating Bayan Muna Congressman Satur Ocampo at ng mga kasama nito. Ayon sa Presidente, kidnapping daw talaga ang ginawa ng kampo ni Ocampo dahil walang pahintulot ng mga magulang ang ginawang pagbiyahe sa mga kabataang lumad. Banat pa ng Pangulo, nialalgay sa kapahamakan ng mga komunista ang mga lumad. Nagpahayag din ng suporta ang Pangulo sa mga pulis at militar. ""I support the police and the military. You know an ordinary person, lalo na kung senador (mambabatas) ka, you must be aware that you cannot remove children from one community to another without the consent of the parents. That is actually kidnapping... Eh nagreklamo 'yung mga victims. You heard they were lectured upon by the Lumads. And it's like controlling the lives of the natives... Iyan ang mahirap sa komunista, ginagamit nila ang Lumad. Kaya ang karamihan ngayon ang namamatay Lumad.... When they started to go to the mountains and wage a war there, they recruited ang pinaka vulnerable... Bakit pa tayo magbobolahan? Satur Ocampo is fronting Bayan. Bayan is a front of the CPP. We know that KMU, Gabriela, they're all communist fronts or being used by the communists. Alam ninyo lahat yan.,""sabi ng Pangulo. Basahin ang reaksyon ng mga tao sa naging pahayag ni Presidente Duterte sa isyu nila Satur Ocampo. Source: PTV | ABS-CBN | MPC POOL"
2151,"Nauna nang nagpahiwatig si Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, na pinangunahan ang military coup noong Mayo, na maantala ang ipinangakong halalan sa huling bahagi ng 2015. Sinabi ni Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, na siya ring defense minister, na magaganap ang eleksiyon sa 2016, tinukoy ang mga grupong kontra sa junta, o National Council for Peace and Order, bilang isa sa mga dahilang ng pagkaantala."
2160,"What a ‘National Coming Out Month’ October was! First, Apple CEO Tim Cook officially came out as a proud gay man, confirming what many in his inner circles already knew about the successor to the late Steve Jobs. Today, Microsoft’s founder and chairman Bill Gates announced at a developers forum in Seattle that he was ‘straight.’ “Most everyone already knows that,” Gates said, ” but I wanted to make it official in the hope of inspiring young people who are unsure of their sexuality to come forward and categorically state their preference. Being straight should not be a barrier to success.” While Cook has become the first openly gay leader of a major U.S. company, Gates’ announcement makes him the richest man in the U.S. to come out. Now, there is hope for young gay or straight men and women to break the glass ceiling and become billionaires — thanks to role models Cook and Gates."
2171,"Rep. Edcel LagmanHe fought martial law enforced by strongman Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s onward, even losing an activist-brother to the cause. Four decades later, he finds himself railing again against martial law declared by President Duterte in Mindanao to quell a plot by militants allied with Islamic State to overrun Marawi City. Appearing before the Supreme Court early this week, the Albay lawmaker articulated the petitioners’ argument to void Mr. Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216. Given pronouncements by defense and military officials that the situation in Marawi was under control, he asserted that there was no factual basis for declaration of martial law. When Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo pointed out that the President has access to the government’s vast intelligence network, he countered: “Access does not mean to say that what he has accessed is valid.”Jose CalidaIt fell upon him, as solicitor general, to justify President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. Playing with words, he argued that martial law was the President’s “calling out power on steroids.” The calling out power is the first of three measures available to the President to quell lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. But Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said steroids could give the appearance of increased muscular presence, but could not address the ill. Realizing his error, he asked the justices not to take his phraseology literally. But he didn’t stop there. He said martial law was an “exclamation point” in the fight against the militants, prompting Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to ask, “So it’s golpe de gulat?” Otherwise, all the elements of rebellion were present in Mindanao, hence the necessity for Proclamation No. 216, he said.Frederick AlegreThe country’s new tourism ad was meant to show the exhilaration that a blind Japanese tourist experiences as he tours famed destinations, talks with locals, and feelsthe wind on his face while riding on the back of a motorcycle, according to Frederick Alegre, Department of Tourism spokesperson. “Here, you don’t have to see the sun to discover radiance,” M. Uchimura himself narrates in the ad. It seemed refreshingly new, until someone pointed out that it had an uncanny resemblance to South Africa’s ad. Last Thursday, the DOT announced it was severing its relationship with McCann Worldgroup Philippines “after a diligent review of the ad materials in question.’’ It also said that they expect a “public apology” from the ad agency due to the “similarities between McCann’s ‘sights’ ad and South Africa’s ad released in 2014.”Niño Rey BonielThey were a “power couple” in Bohol. Niño sits in the provincial board, while his wife Gisela, a former airline pilot, was mayor of Bien Unido town. Like any couple, they had fights and their relationship turned sour. But nobody thought it would end in tragedy, as it happened last week. Allegedly, on Niño’s orders, Gisela was kidnapped from a resort, tied up, gagged, wrapped with a blanket and forced inside a fishnet, then shot dead before she was dumped in the waters between Cebu and Bohol. Gisela’s friend, Angela Leyson, reportedly saw Niño punch and drag Gisela from the resort, while the former was subjected to electroshock. Leyson and her 17-year-old son were spared, and ended up reporting the crime to the police. After his cohorts confessed to the crime, Niño was charged in court along with his henchmen. Gisela’s body remains missing.Kevin DurantScorned for leaving Oklahoma City to chase a crown in Golden State, Kevin Durant delivered the perfect response—his first NBA championship. And there’s even the Finals Most Valuable Player plum to boot as Durant averaged 35.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in the Warriors’ conquest of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the eight-time All-Star throws credit back to his star-studded squad led by two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry. “To have teammates that encourage you, that lift you up, that’s what we all need in life,” Durant said. “It was amazing to just see that all year.” His stellar numbers in the title series—which the Warriors won at 4-"
2181,"South Korea expressed its willingness to help boost the Philippines’ armed forces modernization plan.This came following the first official talks between the two countries’ top defense and military officials in Seoul.According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya, and Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General Lt. General Edgar Fallorina when he met recently with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo and their counterparts at the Ministry of Defense in Seoul.During the meeting, Secretary Lorenzana, who assumed his post upon the inauguration of President Duterte in June, proposed broadening current defense and military engagements in the field of personnel training and education, and exploring possible joint exercises on disaster response and terrorism.The suggestion was warmly received by Minister Han who instructed his Joint Chiefs of Staff to look into this matter.Han also expressed appreciation to his counterpart for the Philippines’ support during the Korean War and subsequent reconstruction, as well as Korea’s current diplomatic efforts to counter the provocations of North Korea at the United Nations and other forums."
2191,"THE Department of Education (DepEd) and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, through its Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MoEYS) and Secretariat of State of Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), convened for the bilateral meetings geared towards the betterment of the educational systems of both countries.The meetings, held in the capital Dili, aimed to identify and explore possible cooperative activities in the education sector of the two countries, with focus on technical-vocational education and training.During the meeting on October 1, the Timor-Leste delegation reported the potential areas of cooperation with the Philippines, including management system, teacher discipline, student exchange, and effective teaching of official languages.In the meeting with Sefope on October 3, the delegation expressed hope that the Philippines would contribute in developing middle-level skills training, sharing its experiences on technical-vocational budget and expenses and the process of accreditation of training centers.Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo, head of the Philippine delegation, presented and addressed the queries of the Timor-Leste representatives on the Philippine education system.Mateo also assured the delegation that an inter-agency meeting will be conducted in the Philippines involving the key government agencies in charge of the areas of concerns they raised. These include the Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other agencies.The DepEd official likewise conveyed his aspirations for a stronger partnership between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, and noted that the “offshoot of this conversation is that there will be more conversations in the future with the end view of coming up with possible cooperation.”Joining Mateo in the delegation were First Secretary and Consul of the Philippines to Timor-Leste Jason Juvencio Anasarias, DepEd International Cooperation Office (ICO) Director Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros and ICO Officer Farida Bianca Velicaria.Meanwhile, the Timor-Leste delegation was composed of MoEYS Minister, Her Excellency Dulce de Jesus Soares; Secretary State for Vocational Training and Employment (SSVTE), His Excellency Julião da Silva; Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Philippines José Gaspar Piedade, and other ministers/deputy ministers, and diplomats."
2201,"The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld an arrest order against eight of the 10 Philippine Navy personnel charged with the 1995 murder of Ensign Philip Pestaño, junking a motion for reconsideration filed by the accused for lack of merit.The ruling was penned by Associate Justice Nina Antonio-Valenzuela and concurred in by Associate Justices Manuel Barrios and Agnes Reyes-Carpio.The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) had issued an arrest warrant against retired Navy Capt. Ricardo Ordoñez, retired Lt. Cmdr. Ruben Roque, Cmdr. Reynaldo Lopez, Lt. Cmdr. Luidegar Casis, Lt. Cmdr. Alfrederick Alba, Lt. Cmdr. Joselito Colico, Hospital Man 2 Welmeno Aquino, Machinery Repairman 1st Class Sandy Miranda, Police Officer 2 Leonor Igcasan and retired PO1 Carlito Amorsolo.In the current case, however, Igcasan and Roque were not named petitioners.The CA ruled that there was no grave abuse of discretion on the part of Manila RTC Judge Josefina Siscar when she found probable cause to order the arrest of the accused on July 23, 2013.It argued that in determining probable cause for issuance of a warrant of arrest, a judge is not yet mandated to review in detail the evidence submitted during preliminary investigation.Records of the case showed that BRP Bacolod City, a Philippine Navy cargo ship, left Tawi-Tawi province in southern Mindanao on September 20, 1995.The ship made a last stopover in Sangley Point in Cavite province and shortly departed for its final destination, the Navy headquarters in Manila.On September 27, 1995, the then -24-year-old Pestaño was found dead inside the cargo ship with a bullet wound in his head.Navy officials claimed that Pestaño committed suicide.Pestaño’s parents did not believe that their son killed himself and eventually pressed criminal charges against the officials.The Office of the Ombudsman ruled that Pestaño was murdered and that there was conspiracy to kill him.It said the wound sustained by Pestaño did not appear to be self-inflicted."
2211,"The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division has thumbed down a motion filed by Malampaya fund scam respondent Ruby Tuason to be allowed to go on a monthlong medical trip to the United States.In a March 15 resolution penned by Associate Justice Bernelito R. Fernandez, the antigraft court denied Tuasonís motion “for lack of merit.”In her Feb. 22 motion to be allowed to travel to the United States, Tuason said she was suffering from a corneal edema in her right eye, and had been advised by her doctor to undergo a Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty procedure abroad as the procedure is “not routinely done in the Philippines.”Tuason revealed plans to undergo examination at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Hospital and said she would be away from March 22 to May 5. –JAYMEE T. GAMIL"
2220,"Dear Sonny,It was both puzzling and irritating to hear you issue statements to the media declaring that you are now willing to cooperate with the administration of the next President, Rody Duterte.I can’t help but ask myself whether the conciliatory tone of your statements now is a manifestation of statesmanship, where you are willing to yield on the fundamental advocacies that you carry for the sake of our people and country, or whether it is an indication that the issues you raised against Duterte towards the last days of the campaign were canards and lies intended to derail his ascension to the Presidency.So, you are now suggesting that we just forget the issues raised during the campaign?Maybe, just maybe, President-elect Duterte, in the kindness of his heart, will accept your offer of reconciliation but we who believed in him and who were shaken and hurt by your accusations against him could not forget that easily.Neither are we willing to forget the accusations that you raised without resolving these.Let’s go through the issues you raised:1. You accused Duterte of stashing as much as P2.4-B in his accounts with the Bank of Philippine Islands and presented to the media documents citing transactions which involved hundreds of millions. You even suggested that this unexplained amount could come from drugs. This shocked us because we have known Duterte as incorruptible and that he hated drugs. For a while, even the most loyal of his supporters asked themselves: Is this true?2. You followed this up with a listing of properties which you alleged were owned by the Duterte family and which you suggested were proofs of the family’s unexplained wealth. Well, we all know that at least two people – a doctor in Cagayan de Oro City and an heiress of a family which owns a huge public transport fleet in Bacolod City – have branded you a liar for including in your list properties which they owned.3. Finally, you capped your attack with a “plunder” case which you filed with the Office of the Ombudsman at the last day of the campaign period claiming that Duterte,as Mayor of Davao City, hired “ghost employees” whose salaries ran into hundreds of millions.Of course, we all know that you called Duterte “duwag” but it is something that he and you will have to settle because even at my age, I still have not found a way to measure a man’s courage or cowardice.These are the issues you raised against Duterte in the heat of the campaign and you are now suggesting that we just forget these and go on with life?Ganyan na lang ba palagi?Every election period, we destroy people’s reputation, accuse them of being corrupt and then we say afterwards “kalimutan na lang natin?”Hwag boss.You owe it to us who were hurt by your accusations that you follow through with your charges against Mayor Duterte.Do not hide behind a feigned act of reconciliation.As for us, we also would like to pursue the issues raised by your former cellmate and fellow ring leader, Marines Captain Nick Faeldon.You have to answer his accusations against you and these are:1. Did you or did you not solicit and receive money from then Cong. Imee Marcos while you were in detention with the other officers involved in the Oakwood Mutiny?2. Did you or did you not receive money from Sen. Jinggoy Estrad while you were in detention?3. Did you or did you not compromise our country’s interests and even sovereignty in your 16 trips to China?4. Are you or are you not willing to meet Faeldon in a face-off to determine who between you is telling a lie?You have always projected the image of a no-nonsense Senator who will stop at nothing just to get to the truth.Tell us the truth Sir, election or no election.We’re not done yet, Sir. Let’s settle the issues.Anything short of that would be a betrayal of people’s trust in you as member of the Philippine Senate.Respectfully yours,Manny PiñolFormer Governor, North CotabatoA voter for Antonio Trillanes IV"
2231,"“To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am.”— Bernard Baruch (1870-1965), U.S. Financier Quoted in The Observer (London, Aug 19, 1955) on his 85th birthdayBefore any brickbats are hurled my way, let me qualify.80 is the new 60 if you deserve it. If it’s been a profligate life for you or what in the past we’d call a life of wine, women and song, maybe 80 is 80. In some cases, in fact, 60 is their 80. But there are some reformed men and women who have given up smoking, started eating better, and surrendered less to the temptations of the flesh of whatever form (wine, women, and karaoke).Still, longevity is also improving in the Philippines. In the mid-1970s, the average life expectancy was 58.1 years (United Nations Development Program or UNDP report). In the new millennium, Filipino women are expected to live an average of 72.8 years while men may live up to 67.5 years.Take the Aging Quiz. The Mayo Clinic designed a test to be able to assess the reader’s grasp of some concerns in the aging process. Take it and see how much you know: True or False?“1. Most older adults are missing most of their natural teeth and must use dentures.Older adults go to bed earlier and get up earlier than their younger counterparts. Getting older means giving up your driver’s license. You should cut back on having sex as you get older, or eliminate it entirely, to save strength. (I can almost hear my fellow Rotarians in RCM gnashing their teeth). Older adults are at risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Memory problems are inevitable as you age. Retired people can live rich and productive lives. If you continue to work past age 65, you probably won’t be able to keep up with your co-workers. Most older adults are sick or disabled, making them dependent on other people. Incontinence becomes more common as you age.”The correct answers are:False – as long as good dental hygiene (flossing daily and brushing after meals and seeing the dentist at least twice a year) is followed, dentures may not be part of aging. True – the body’s internal clock or circadian rhythm changes as one ages Older people usually sleep earlier and get up earlier as well. However, the quality of sleep is important so try to avoid caffeine in the evening and to consider a medical check up if snoring or frequent urination at night have become bothersome. False – Giving up driving is a personal decision affected not by age alone but by failing vision, poorer reaction times, and worsening hearing. Older people may even be better drivers because they are not likely to speed or drink and drive. False – Satisfying sex is not only for the young. True – regardless of age, polygamous sex is always a risk factor for STDs. False – now is it known that glial cells, intricate connections between neurons continue to multiply. Memory loss becomes a problem to those who are too lazy to read and learn as they grow older. True – especially in the Philippines, older people are given a prominent role in family affairs. Retirement may also be seen as a time to go back to old hobbies or to start new ones. False – as a senior member of a team, you can offer wisdom and experience. False – Exercising daily, eating sensibly, and getting enough sleep are mainstays in an older adult’s regimen versus sickness and disability. True – at least 1 out of every 10 people over 65 has urinary incontinence – but it isn’t caused by aging alone. Some conditions such as urinary tract infection or prostate enlargement are implicated. Therefore, you should see a urologist or an OB-Gyne.The more you know about the aging process, the more you should expect to truly enjoy the golden years. Only then can you, with a swagger, repeat after Bernard Baruch – and mean it.Dr Pujalte is an orthopedic surgeon. E-mail jspujalte@yahoo.com"
2241,"‘Former Bacolod Mayor Jose “Digoy” Yulo Montalvo Jr., also known as the “Father of the Masskara festival” passed away Sunday, April 2, at the age of 92.Montalvo served as city mayor of Bacolod from 1980-1986. He also served as assemblyman during the interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978-1980.“We lost a statesman, a gentleman and a visionary. We are a grateful people for the legacy he left,” said Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia.“And even just for the MassKara alone, Mayor Digoy is now immortal,” Leonardia added.Leonardia recalled how Montalvo fought to give birth to the MassKara, the festival that celebrates the Negrense’s fighting spirit during two major disasters – the sugar crisis and the loss of many loved ones in the sinking of a Negros Navigation ship in April 1980.Bacolod City Hall will hold a service for Montalvo on April 6. He is scheduled to be laid to rest at the Bacolod Memorial Park on April 7."
2251,"‘A Roman Catholic priest is hoping that Filipinos will be more socially aware in the coming New Year.Rev. Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Public Affairs Committee, said being socially aware means being more conscious of what is happening around them.“I think Filipinos should be more socially aware, more conscious of the issues that are happening,” he said.Being socially aware, Secillano said, means speaking out against things which they believe are wrong.“They should actually participate, make their voices known or heard. Otherwise, some other politicians, our government for that matter, will just take advantage of us. And we would be taken for a ride, whatever they want, what they do they implement without us having a say in all of this,” he said.“Let us be mindful of the issues that may adversely affect us. Sometimes people tend not to care. We need to be socially aware, conscious,” he said.The CBCP official also urged Filipinos to welcome the Year 2018 not only with hope but also with a different outlook.“Let us welcome the New Year with a different outlook, more hopeful and at the same time we should be more confident that there will be changes, reforms along the way."
2261,"Government peace negotiators over the weekend urged leaders of various indigenous peoples (IP) groups to form an advisory council that will aid the peace talks with different rebel groups.“You understand your situations the best; therefore, you are also the ones who can suggest the best solutions. But for this to happen, you also need to come together as one,” Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza told leaders of IP groups during a peace table conversation over the weekend in Midsayap, North Cotabato.The advisory council is envisioned to give IP groups a voice in peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front and Muslim separatist rebels.Dureza earlier said that the creation of an IP advisory council will guarantee a more inclusive and transparent peace process under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.“We cannot solve your problems for you because we do not know what your problems are. That is why there is a need for you to sit down and discuss them and the possible solutions,” Dureza said.“We cannot promise to deliver all the needs you have mentioned, but what we can promise is that we will present your concerns during the negotiations,” he added.Dureza also reminded the leaders that they can start working on their concerns even prior to a final peace agreement.“We must not solely rely on the peace agreements. If we can act now for the betterment of your welfare, we can do so and not wait anymore for the signing of peace pacts,” he said.The meeting with the IP leaders is part of the continuing consultation process of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process with the “bigger peace tables” to discuss their concerns and participation in the peace process.“The negotiating table is a smaller table and only involves the government and the rebel groups. The ‘bigger peace table’ is the general public, which will be affected by the issues tackled in the smaller table. It is, therefore, important to listen to the bigger table,” Dureza explained.“Peace-building conversations” with different stakeholders are also set to be held in Surigao del Norte and Compostela Valley on January 12.Dureza also assured the IP groups that they will be represented in the new and expanded Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) which will draft the enabling law for the implementation of all Bangsamoro peace deals and other pertinent measures including the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997."
2270,"An expat living in the Philippines, slammed the netizens and a priest who celebrated the misfortunes happened in Davao City.Jonathan A. Watson, a writer working in Davao City, expressed his anger towards the people that spreading ‘toxic comments’ on the twin tragedies happened in the said city by writing an open letter addressed to them.Amid the mourning of the whole Davao City on the death of their fellow Dabawenyos, Watson read several comments from the netizens who hated President Rodrigo Duterte, celebrating and laughing over the victims of NCCC Mall tragedy.The expat said that he don’t know the victims personally, but he cried after reading the statements from the relatives of the call center agents who got trapped inside the burning building.In his open letter, he said that while the President was waiting patiently together with the families of the NCCC fire victims, the anti-Duterte’s were only sitting behind their computers while ridiculing and celebrating the tragedy happened in Davao City.Watson’s post became more interesting after he mentioned a Davao-based priest who made a laugh emoticon over an article about the NCCC Fire.He didn’t named the priest, but he hinted that the priest taught at Ateneo, but originally living in Manila.This is his whole open letter:Dear people outside of Davao, I understand some of you hate Duterte. If that’s your opinion, okay, that’s fine. But all of us are mourning right now over the flood and fire, and we do not appreciate you laughing at him for crying over the victims. Just because you perceive someone to be a bad politician, doesn’t mean that he/she doesn’t have a sense of human empathy. All of us Dabaweynos mourn in solidarity. Could they be fake tears like you say? Sure, let’s call your perception a possibility, but do you really think it’s the time to do that? I’m not a Leni fan, but I wouldn’t even do that to her. I don’t even know these victims and I cried reading after the statements of their loved ones. I found out all about it after working from midnight to six this morning helping pack relief goods for the flood evacuees. When I woke up, I was sore, not just from working my arse off to at least help do something, but sore inside from all the toxic comments. While some of us are doing something about the problems that hit our city- even Duterte, who didn’t have to be there- you sit behind your computers and laugh. I know for some of you it’s just concerning him, and not the victims, but we’ve also gotten people laughing at anything tragic that happens to us merely out of hate for a leader out from our land. If you can’t pack goods, put out fires, console evacuees and victim’s families, then I advise you to shut up. It’s Christmas and we don’t need anymore of your negativity. I was also appalled to see a certain individual make a laugh emoticon over the article- someone who taught at Ateneo here but is originally from Manila. He’s a priest. For the sake of mercy, the greatest Christmas gift given to us by our Lord, I won’t reveal names. But you know who you are. I’ve no problem with you disliking the President, but if you’re going to be a priest, act like it. Please. That being said, to all of those making fun of the President, the situation, or both, I don’t hate you. I believe you can turn around and stop. And I hope you all have a lovely Christmas. But please, for our sake here, stop with the negativity. God bless, and Merry Christmas.The post of Watson received thousands of reactions and shares from the netizens who were also shocked and disturbed on how the anti-Dutertes reacted on the tragedies happened in Davao City.“Wow!i can fully understand some trolls for hating the president but a priest?!!can’t believe a priest can do such thing!!what happen to catholic priest in the philippines??instead of uniting the people, they are a source of hate and division in our country..unbelievable” Netizen Ivy Garcia said.“Some people forget that if a tragedy happens to another city, Davao is always there to help!We will rise again!” Rizza Pioquinto-Sabid remarked“Hindi ko inilahat but sana nman mga taga manila respetuhin nyo kaming mga taga mindanao wag niyo kaming ilolookdown na parang hindi niyo kami kalahi iba-iba language natin pero pareho tayong mga pilipino. Respect us tulad ng pag respeto namin sainyu pag dumayo kayo dito sa mindanao. Porket taga mindanao presidente natin gaganyanin na ninyu? Why? Duterte is a filipino too hindi porket ang manila ang capital city ng pilipinas dapat taga diyan rin nakatira ang magiging presidente. I’m not saying this sa lahat ng taga manila this is for those who disrespect us for being a “taga mindanao.” Donica Dela Torre Rivas wrote.The year-end celebration of Davao City was cancelled by two tragedies, first is the typhoon Vinta that ravaged Mindanao and second is the NCCC mall fire which killed 37 people.On Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte promised to get the truth about a blaze in his home city.“I assured them… that the truth will — let the truth come out,” Duterte said. “That is what they are asking for. Just the truth of what happened.”"
2281,"Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Executive Director Dr. Renato Solidum has urged Cabuyao officials and residents to always be on the lookout for earthquakes and increase their preparedness level since Barangay Casile sits atop the active West Valley Fault System.Solidum was the main resource speaker at the National Disaster Resilience Month observance of the city with the theme “4Ks: Kamalayan sa Kahandaan, Katumbas ay Kaligtasan” over the weekend.Solidum elaborated how Cabuyao can likely be affected by the “Big One” and why disaster preparedness is important.He called on officials and residents to identify areas that can possibly be affected by 7.2 magnitude quake while referring to the powerful earthquakes that jolted Leyte and Batangas recently.“It is vital in the proper planning for the earthquake disaster to make risk assessment by classifying the possible damages like buildings and other structures and to determine possible injured victims and casualties,” Solidum said.He urged city officials, disaster managers, village executives, the academe, the private sector and all stakeholders to convince the communities here to prioritize disaster preparedness to save lives and properties.According to the Phivolcs chief, the Philippines ranks third among countries prone to natural hazards and vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, storm surges, floods and landslides.“We provide you science-based hazard and risk scenarios for extreme and large-scale events and by using science we should make community safer,” Solidum added.He explained that a large earthquake from the West Valley Fault can significantly affect Metro Manila and surrounding provinces like Laguna, hence the need to understand and appreciate the hazards and risks to prepare and respond to it appropriately."
2291,"Ayon kay Tito Aguirre, tagapagsalita ni Abu, inamyendahan sa committee hearing sa Senado ang naunang resolusyon at isinama ang Lipa City na nasa ikaapat na distrito. Sinuportahan ni Lipa City Mayor Meynardo A. Sabili at department heads ang resolusyon gayundin ang pamunuan ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ( SP) na pinangunahan ni Vice Governor Mark Leviste at board members. Pasado rin sa NSO ang populasyon ng mga lungsod para maging distrito. Kapag naaprubahan sa plenaryo ng Senado, uusad ito sa Malacanang at magiging distrito na ang dalawang lungsod sa oras na nilagdaan ito ng Pangulo."
2301,"“Fungus Face!’”Santiago said to then Laguna Rep. Nereo Joaquin when he criticized her in a privilege speech in 1992 over the arrest of foreign pedophiles in his district.“That is why I’m issuing this challenge: If they get 13-0, I will have myself shot in Luneta like Jose Rizal.”She said in Filipino should the proadministration People Power Coalition sweep the May 14, 2001, senatorial election“I lied!”She said with a laugh when reminded about her bold declaration on April 23, 2001, that she would jump out of a plane without a parachute if police succeeded in arresting ousted President Joseph Estrada“I am irate. I am foaming at the mouth. I’m homicidal. I’m suicidal. I’m humiliated, debased, degraded. And not only that, I feel like throwing up to be living my middle years in a country of this nature. I am nauseated. I spit in the face of Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and his cohorts in the Supreme Court.”She said after her name was removed from the short list of candidates for Chief Justice on Dec. 4, 2006.“I eat death threats for breakfast!”She said as commissioner of immigration and deportation“I charge this private prosecutor with contempt of this impeachment court!’”Santiago to then private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre II, who admittedly covered his ears while being lectured by the former during the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona on Feb. 29, 2012“This man, contrary to logic and common sense, hopes to evade criminal prosecution and public outrage over his plunder, by resurrecting campaign dirt against me which are over 21 years old! Dream on, old man, a.k.a. Tanda!”Santiago to then Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, whom she accused of committing seven sins in her privilege speech on Dec. 4, 2013“I have cancer. I told God I am ready, but He was never ready.”Santiago in her campaign at her alma mater, University of the Philippines Visayas, on April 13“Cardinal Rosales on my appeal has already said he will not excommunicate me. Otherwise, I will risk embarrassment during my wedding anniversary when I attempt to receive communion. He’s not going to deny me. I guess he’ll turn a blind eye. Besides I’ll be so covered with makeup, I’ll be unrecognizable.”Santiago, coauthor of the Senate version of reproductive health bill, on qualms about her advocacy of the controversial bill at the expense of her renewal of marital vows in a Catholic church“I have said it before and I will say it again: I will never quit, I will never stop, I will never withdraw. I owe it to the Filipino people who believe in my leadership and who yearn for long-overdue reforms.”Santiago in a statement prior to a street party staged by her supporters in Quezon City on May 7“This is what I promise: Once I become the President, all the people who stole the people’s money shall be sent promptly to brand-new jails. They can choose their jail. There’s the ordinary, first-class or business class. But they will all be jailed.”Santiago in her campaign with running mate Bongbong Marcos in Batac, Ilocos Norte on Feb. 9. Compiled by Inquirer ResearchSource: Inquirer Archives"
2311,"The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) chapter in Misamis Oriental has objected to the order of the Supreme Court to transfer to Cagayan de Oro City the hearing of criminal cases filed against members of the terrorist Maute group.The lawyers’ group on Wednesday sent to the Department of Justice its resolution expressing concern over the high court’s June 6 resolution, which rejected the request of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for the creation of special courts outside of Mindanao to try cases in connection with the Marawi City siege.“(We) strongly oppose the transfer of trial of (cases against) Maute (members) in the courts of Cagayan de Oro City,” the local IBP chapter said in its single-page resolution dated June 8.“Cagayan de Oro City is not prepared to accommodate the Maute cases,” it added."
2320,"Inanunsyo na ng Catholic Charismatic Group na El Shaddai ang 14 na kandidato sa pagka-senador na kanilang susuportahan para sa darating na May 13 midterm elections. Sa isinagawang worship service ng grupo sa Amvel Business Park sa Paranaque City, mismong si El Shaddai Servant Leader Bro. Mike Velarde ang nag-anunsyo sa kanilang mga susuportahang kandidato. Sampu sa mga ito ay nasa ilalim ng Hugpong ng Pagbabago na regional party ni Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte o mula sa Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) na partido naman ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Ilan sa mga ito ang re-eleksyunistang sina Sen. Cynthia Villar, Sen. Aquilino ""Koko"" Pimentel III, Sen. JV Ejercito at Sen. Sonny Angara. Gayundin ang nagbabalik senado na sina Bong Revilla at Jinggoy Estrada; Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, dating Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, dating Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino at dating PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa. Inendorso rin ng grupo ang re-eleksyunistang si Sen. Nancy Binay na nasa ilalim ng Nationalist Alliance na partido ng kanyang amang si dating Vice President Jejomar Binay. Gayundin sina Sen. Grace Poe at Dr. Willie Ong na tumatakbong independent. Samantala, tanging si re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino ang kandidato ng oposisyon na Otso Diretso ang nakakuha ng suporta mula sa El Shaddai."
2330,"What did Conchita do? The July 2017 ThinkingPinoy article “Zooming forward to June 2018, Carpio-Morales again downgraded charges against PNoy in connection with multi-billion-peso Disbursement Acceleration Program scam when she merely indicted the latter with usurpation of legislative powers, an offense that’s punishable by only up to 6 years in prison.Aquino and his cohorts have committed so many other wrongdoings during the past administration, but Carpio-Morales turned a blind eye on them.I will not discuss these anymore because I think I have sufficiently illustrated that Carpio-Morales used her authority as the Ombudsman to protect her ally Aquino at the expense of Public Interest.And Duque appears to be doing the same right now.But first, let’s learn a little bit more about Health Secretary Francisco Duque.Who is Francisco Duque? Let’s list down the various major government positions that Health Secretary Francisco Duque held over the past couple of decades:President and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) from 2001 to 2004. Secretary of Health from 2005 to 2009 Chairman of the Civil Service Commission from 2010 to 2015 Consultant to Health Secretary Janet Garin from 2015 to 2016 GSIS Chairman in 2017 Secretary of Health (again) from 2017 to present Duque, by all means, is a political survivor in that he managed to stay in power through appointive positions in three consecutive administrations: that of PGMA, PNOY, and PRRD.And we all know “meritocracy” is rare, if not nearly non-existent, in Philippine Government.Duque is a survivor. The July 2017 ThinkingPinoy article “ Conchita's Trojan Horse: Weak Mamasapano cases to provide PNoy immunity? ” detailed how Aquino-appointee Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales downgraded charges against the former president when she indicted Aquino only for usurpation of authority instead of homicide for the death of the 44 SAF troopers in Mamasapano, even if there is sufficient evidence to prove the latter, more serious offense.Zooming forward to June 2018, Carpio-Morales again downgraded charges against PNoy in connection with multi-billion-peso Disbursement Acceleration Program scam when she merely indicted the latter with usurpation of legislative powers, an offense that’s punishable by only up to 6 years in prison.Aquino and his cohorts have committed so many other wrongdoings during the past administration, but Carpio-Morales turned a blind eye on them.I will not discuss these anymore because I think I have sufficiently illustrated that Carpio-Morales used her authority as the Ombudsman to protect her ally Aquino at the expense of Public Interest.And Duque appears to be doing the same right now.But first, let’s learn a little bit more about Health Secretary Francisco Duque.Let’s list down the various major government positions that Health Secretary Francisco Duque held over the past couple of decades:Duque, by all means, is a political survivor in that he managed to stay in power through appointive positions in three consecutive administrations: that of PGMA, PNOY, and PRRD.And we all know “meritocracy” is rare, if not nearly non-existent, in Philippine Government.Duque is a survivor.Duque and Dengvaxia Current Health Secretary Francisco Duque’s first major challenge was the Dengvaxia Scandal that erupted on 30 November 2017, after manufacturer Sanofi admitted a major drug defect that affects a significant but unknown number of vaccine recipients in the Philippines.Instead of siding with the over 800,000 Filipino victims as expected from a public servant, Duque took an underhanded approach by not-so-subtly defending the vaccine when he said [“For those who were not previously infected by the dengue virus, the analysis found that vaccination led to a benefit in preventing severe illness for at least 30 months. In the longer term, severe cases may occur following a subsequent dengue infection among those who were not previously infected.” The problem here? The 30-month protective period isn’t back by sufficient empirical data, for the simple reason that the vaccine has not been in the mass market long enough to demonstrate such a protective period.The protective period is interpolated at best, or completely hypothetical at worst. For example, the 63 bodies autopsied by the Public Attorney Office all passed away less than 30 months after their last Dengvaxia dose.This is not to say that the supposed protective period is entirely fictional, but why would a Secretary of Health, instead of advocating for the victims, defend Big Pharma instead?Duque not defending Big Pharma? A deeper look shows that that Duque is not trying to save Big Pharma: he’s instead trying to save his own ass.Duque was appointed to the Department of Health on 26 October 2017 [That is, the botched Dengvaxia program still went on for a full month into Duque’s incumbency as Health Secretary despite:The Dengvaxia Mass Immunization Program is already controversial within the Healthcare Community even before it was rolled out in April 2016. There have been several attempts to halt its implementation, with Secretary Paulyn Ubial leading the charge. The primary reason for Ubial’s CA rejection is her opposition to the Dengvaxia program. And the primary reason why he got the DoH portfolio is Ubial’s rejection. With these said, how in the world can Duque be so oblivious about the Dengvaxia issue, when the fact of the matter is that it’s the primary catalyst of his appointment to the Department of Health?Again, political survival. Current Health Secretary Francisco Duque’s first major challenge was the Dengvaxia Scandal that erupted on 30 November 2017, after manufacturer Sanofi admitted a major drug defect that affects a significant but unknown number of vaccine recipients in the Philippines.Instead of siding with the over 800,000 Filipino victims as expected from a public servant, Duque took an underhanded approach by not-so-subtly defending the vaccine when he said [ MB ]:The problem here? The 30-month protective period isn’t back by sufficient empirical data, for the simple reason that the vaccine has not been in the mass market long enough to demonstrate such a protective period.The protective period is interpolated at best, or completely hypothetical at worst. For example, the 63 bodies autopsied by the Public Attorney Office all passed away less than 30 months after their last Dengvaxia dose.This is not to say that the supposed protective period is entirely fictional, but why would a Secretary of Health, instead of advocating for the victims, defend Big Pharma instead?A deeper look shows that that Duque is not trying to save Big Pharma: he’s instead trying to save his own ass.Duque was appointed to the Department of Health on 26 October 2017 [ CNNph ] to replace Paulyn Ubial, who was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.That is, the botched Dengvaxia program still went on for a full month into Duque’s incumbency as Health Secretary despite:With these said, how in the world can Duque be so oblivious about the Dengvaxia issue, when the fact of the matter is that it’s the primary catalyst of his appointment to the Department of Health?Again, political survival.Duque and the Commission on Appointments I initially tried to give Secretary Duque the benefit of the doubt because he was still up for CA confirmation at the time the Dengvaxia scandal broke. Well, I guess his strategy worked because his defense of the Sanofi and his aversion to attributing blame to the Aquino Administration easily earned him a CA nod in early February, with no less than Aquino ally Senator Risa Hontiveros advocating for his confirmation.Again, I am not saying that he’s an Aquino ally. Instead, I’m saying that he’s a traditional politician whose primary goal is his own political survival.After his CA confirmation, I expected Duque to take a tougher stance on the Dengvaxia Issue because there is virtually no risk of him losing his DoH post.However, it has been four months since his confirmation and not even a single Department of Health official has been put under preventive suspension, a non-punitive measure that would have helped keep officials from unduly influencing the Dengvaxia investigations.This is despite the fact that 99% of officials in the Health Department are holdovers from the past administration.For example, Assistant Secretary Lyndon Lee-Suy, who is a pro-Dengvaxia advocate and has been in the department since the Aquino-era, is still freely roaming inside the Department of Health.Instead of acknowledging this shortcoming, Duque had the gall to tell the public that disease outbreaks are possible because people complain about Dengvaxia [ I initially tried to give Secretary Duque the benefit of the doubt because he was still up for CA confirmation at the time the Dengvaxia scandal broke. Well, I guess his strategy worked because his defense of the Sanofi and his aversion to attributing blame to the Aquino Administration easily earned him a CA nod in early February, with no less than Aquino ally Senator Risa Hontiveros advocating for his confirmation.Again, I am not saying that he’s an Aquino ally. Instead, I’m saying that he’s a traditional politician whose primary goal is his own political survival.After his CA confirmation, I expected Duque to take a tougher stance on the Dengvaxia Issue because there is virtually no risk of him losing his DoH post.However, it has been four months since his confirmation and not even a single Department of Health official has been put under preventive suspension, a non-punitive measure that would have helped keep officials from unduly influencing the Dengvaxia investigations.This is despite the fact that 99% of officials in the Health Department are holdovers from the past administration.For example, Assistant Secretary Lyndon Lee-Suy, who is a pro-Dengvaxia advocate and has been in the department since the Aquino-era, is still freely roaming inside the Department of Health.Instead of acknowledging this shortcoming, Duque had the gall to tell the public that disease outbreaks are possible because people complain about Dengvaxia [ GMA ].Where’s Duque’s Logic? At this point, many Filipinos are wont to think that Duque has lost his mind. My reading, however, is that his actions post-confirmation still makes a lot of sense with respect to his personal interest of political survival.Duque is hedging. Hedging is a strategy to reduce risk by betting on two or more things at the same time instead of just one.In this case, Duque is already confirmed and, despite his astounding incompetence, is still within the good graces of President Duterte. As far as I can see, Duterte will not replace him because the president himself said he fires people only on the grounds of corruption. That is, as long as Duque displays only incompetence and not corruption, he should be fine, just like most of the President’s communications team.Duque’s primary concern, however, is what happens to him AFTER Duterte. He has been in appointive positions since 2001 and he has survived up to now. Now, what will help ensure his appointment to some juicy position in 2022 after Duterte steps down and somebody else takes over?What if the opposition somehow snags the Presidency? For one, Duterte’s assassination is not impossible as the President himself floated the possibility when he said in April 2018 [“At least, if ever my airplane explodes, or if some roadside bomb explodes, maybe you can ask the CIA.”In short, Duque’s defense of Dengvaxia is Duque’s defense of the past administration, which is currently the political opposition, whose nominal chairman is Vice President Leni Robredo.And I think it’s reasonable to say that as Bongbong Marcos’s electoral protest reaches the finish line, the risk of a presidential assassination goes higher and higher.And Duque, the political survivor, wants to survive a regime change. At this point, many Filipinos are wont to think that Duque has lost his mind. My reading, however, is that his actions post-confirmation still makes a lot of sense with respect to his personal interest of political survival.Duque is hedging. Hedging is a strategy to reduce risk by betting on two or more things at the same time instead of just one.In this case, Duque is already confirmed and, despite his astounding incompetence, is still within the good graces of President Duterte. As far as I can see, Duterte will not replace him because the president himself said he fires people only on the grounds of corruption. That is, as long as Duque displays only incompetence and not corruption, he should be fine, just like most of the President’s communications team.Duque’s primary concern, however, is what happens to him AFTER Duterte. He has been in appointive positions since 2001 and he has survived up to now. Now, what will help ensure his appointment to some juicy position in 2022 after Duterte steps down and somebody else takes over?What if the opposition somehow snags the Presidency? For one, Duterte’s assassination is not impossible as the President himself floated the possibility when he said in April 2018 [ AJ ]:“At least, if ever my airplane explodes, or if some roadside bomb explodes, maybe you can ask the CIA.”In short, Duque’s defense of Dengvaxia is Duque’s defense of the past administration, which is currently the political opposition, whose nominal chairman is Vice President Leni Robredo.And I think it’s reasonable to say that as Bongbong Marcos’s electoral protest reaches the finish line, the risk of a presidential assassination goes higher and higher.And Duque, the political survivor, wants to survive a regime change.Duque found a hairy ball But to everyone’s surprise, Duque in late May 2018 went to the media with guns blazing, squarely blaming Garin for the multi-billion peso school-based health center scam. Many were impressed, but I wasn’t.You see, the health center scam has already been reported on 25 December 2017 in the ThinkingPinoy article “Duque cannot claim to have no knowledge of that article becauseDuque went on radio silence about the issue until the last several days of May 2018, when he apparently found the balls to take Garin head on.But a bit of investigation shows that Duque, again, is hedging.A highly-placed and unassailable source from the Department of Health informed me that only P1.2 of the P8.1-billion has been paid to the contractor as part of the mobilization costs. Mobilization costs are like the down payment that allows a contractor to commence with the project.Meanwhile, the rest of the funds, amounting to P6.9 billion, is safely deposited in the Department of Health’s savings account at the Land Bank of the Philippines. But to everyone’s surprise, Duque in late May 2018 went to the media with guns blazing, squarely blaming Garin for the multi-billion peso school-based health center scam. Many were impressed, but I wasn’t.You see, the health center scam has already been reported on 25 December 2017 in the ThinkingPinoy article “ #DengGate: Garin’s P4.8-billion botched, overpriced Health Center Project ”. The article gained over a million reads and over 56,000 shares on Facebook alone.Duque cannot claim to have no knowledge of that article because Duque himself went ballistic in a January 2018 PhilHealth Board Meeting when he said nobody should release PhilHealth documents to the public. Philhealth Insiders told me it was in direct reference to my article, which was replete with documents that could have been obtained only by PhilHealth employees.Duque went on radio silence about the issue until the last several days of May 2018, when he apparently found the balls to take Garin head on.But a bit of investigation shows that Duque, again, is hedging.A highly-placed and unassailable source from the Department of Health informed me that only P1.2 of the P8.1-billion has been paid to the contractor as part of the mobilization costs. Mobilization costs are like the down payment that allows a contractor to commence with the project.Meanwhile, the rest of the funds, amounting to P6.9 billion, is safely deposited in the Department of Health’s savings account at the Land Bank of the Philippines.How Duque is doing a Carpio-Morales Garin is faced with two major high-profile issues right now:1. The Dengvaxia Scandal, which has been the subject of Senate Blue Ribbon Hearings. This scandal is deeply intertwined with the P10.6-billion PhilHealth Fund Scandal that was extensively outlined in "" Garin is faced with two major high-profile issues right now:1. The Dengvaxia Scandal, which has been the subject of Senate Blue Ribbon Hearings. This scandal is deeply intertwined with the P10.6-billion PhilHealth Fund Scandal that was extensively outlined in "" #DengGate: Dear Mr. President, here’s the memo you asked for2. The School-based Health Center Scandal, which will be subject to a new set of Senate Blue Ribbon Hearings chaired by Senator Gordon. This scandal is deeply intertwined with the P10.6-billion PhilHealth Fund Scandal that was extensively discussed in "" 2. The School-based Health Center Scandal, which will be subject to a new set of Senate Blue Ribbon Hearings chaired by Senator Gordon. This scandal is deeply intertwined with the P10.6-billion PhilHealth Fund Scandal that was extensively discussed in "" #DengGate: PNoy, Garin, Abad, Padilla almost bankrupted PhilHealth "".As explained in “This is in stark contrast to the Dengvaxia Scandal, where Garin connived with several DoH officials to bend the rules, negotiate with Sanofi, and actively influence the government to buy the experimental anti-Dengue vaccine. This has been extensively discussed in the article “In short, Garin will most likely be indicted for the relatively minor crime of technical malversation for the Health Center Scam, as opposed to a potential plunder case stemming from the Dengvaxia Scam.That is, Duque is hedging: he is grilling Garin for a lesser offense. He is effectively diverting public attention from the Dengvaxia issue where there’s already a preponderance of evidence, to a health center issue where Garin could only get a slap on the wrist at worst.So it appears that Duque’s attack on Garin does not only make Duque look good in the administration’s eyes, but also to Garin’s because it shifts the attention away from the Dengvaxia issue.Why’s Duque doing this again? Political survival.And that is how Francisco is doing a Conchita.And that, my friends, is the hallmark of a traditional politician. TraPos sometimes bend to public opinion, but Duque relies on appointments and not on elective posts. Hence, negative public opinion matters less to him, as he stays in power as long as he’s ok with the sitting president.Faced with the biggest Public Health Crisis in recent history, with 64 deaths and counting, do we need a Health Secretary whose primary goal is Political Survival and not Public Safety?I do not think so.Mister President, please fire this idiot. [DONT FORGET TO SHARE!Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help! Just click the link below! :-)Follow @iMthinkingPinoy RELATED POSTS:As explained in “ Garin’s P4.8-billion botched, overpriced Health Center Project ”, the contract involved, while highly irregular, does not show direct traces of Garin’s exertion of undue influence for personal gain.This is in stark contrast to the Dengvaxia Scandal, where Garin connived with several DoH officials to bend the rules, negotiate with Sanofi, and actively influence the government to buy the experimental anti-Dengue vaccine. This has been extensively discussed in the article “ Leaked emails show Pnoy, Garin, Hartigan-Go intentionally bent rules for Sanofi ”.In short, Garin will most likely be indicted for the relatively minor crime of technical malversation for the Health Center Scam, as opposed to a potential plunder case stemming from the Dengvaxia Scam.That is, Duque is hedging: he is grilling Garin for a lesser offense. He is effectively diverting public attention from the Dengvaxia issue where there’s already a preponderance of evidence, to a health center issue where Garin could only get a slap on the wrist at worst.So it appears that Duque’s attack on Garin does not only make Duque look good in the administration’s eyes, but also to Garin’s because it shifts the attention away from the Dengvaxia issue.Why’s Duque doing this again? Political survival.And that is how Francisco is doing a Conchita.And that, my friends, is the hallmark of a traditional politician. TraPos sometimes bend to public opinion, but Duque relies on appointments and not on elective posts. Hence, negative public opinion matters less to him, as he stays in power as long as he’s ok with the sitting president.Faced with the biggest Public Health Crisis in recent history, with 64 deaths and counting, do we need a Health Secretary whose primary goal is Political Survival and not Public Safety?I do not think so.Mister President, please fire this idiot. [ ThinkingPinoyHere’s why I believe Health Secretary Francisco Duque must go.In May 2018, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque suddenly became a very vocal critic of his predecessor Janet Garin when he accused the latter of complicity in an 8.1-billion-peso school-based health center scam that Duque himself claimed to have discovered.The “news” is shocking at first glance, but a little research shows that Duque is not telling everyone everything, and that’s what we’ll talk about. In this article, I will show you that Duque appears to be using the same strategy that our current Aquino-appointee Ombudsman is using."
2340,"Pinagkakatuwan ngayon ng mga netizens ang glass door decal ng isang establisimiyento. Makikita kasi ang larawan ni Senador Antonio Trillanes sa pintuan ng tindahan at nakadamit pang security guard. Ayon sa original uploader ng mga larawan na si SDa Mancao, sa Davao daw matatagpuan ang nasabing shop. Habang isinusulat ang blog post na ito, umabot na sa 150 ang nagbahagi ng mga social media post ni Mancao at umani na rin ng iba't ibang reaksyon mula sa mga netizens. ""Kaya pala nawawala si Trillanes Andito Lang Pala sa Davao,"" sabi ni Mancao Ito po ang ilang sa mga naging komento ng mga kababayan natin sa mga litrato. Source: SDa Mancao"
2351,"Ililipat na sa gilid ng Plaridel Bypass Road ang Bustos Community Hospital sa Bulacan.
Pinangunahan ni Senate Committee on Health Chairperson Bong Go ang paghuhulog ng panandang bato bilang hudyat ng pagsisimula ng konstruksyon.
Ito’y handog sa Ika-106 na Taong Anibersaryo ng Pagkakatatag ng Bustos bilang isang bayan.
Ayon kay Bustos Community Hospital Head Rowena Ocmer, mananatili itong nasa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ng pamahalaang bayan kahit na magkaroon ng bagong pasilidad.
Kapag natapos ang kabuuan ng proyekto sa taong 2025, ang lumang gusali nito sa kabayanan ay magiging isa namang malaking Rural Health Unit.
May inisyal na 100 milyong piso ang inilaan ng Department of Health o DOH sa ilalim ng Health Facilities Enhancement Program para sa unang palapag na target maitayo ngayong 2023.
Sinabi ni DOH Bulacan Field Office Team Leader Emily Paulino na sa inisyal na operasyon nito ay magsisimula sa 25 kama ang kapasidad nito bilang isang Level 1 Hospital.
Sa target nitong makumpleto ang konstruksyon at mabuksan ang kabuuan ng operasyon sa 2025, aabot sa 100 kama ang kapasidad kung saan mangangailangan ng mahigit sa 50 medical practitioners at mga empleyado.
Kaugnay nito, sinabi Mayor Francis Albert Juan na naglaan ng 17 milyong piso ang pamahalaang bayan para sa pagbili ng nasa 5,000 metro kuwadrado na pagtatayuan ng bagong lokasyon ng ospital."
2361,"President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday inaugurated the first Filipino-owned solar panel factory that would enable Filipino homes to cut their electricity bills by 30 percent.Solar Philippines president Leandro Leviste said the solar factory in Santo Tomas, Batangas province, would produce 2.5 million panels a year, establishing the Philippines as a player in the global renewable energy revolution.The solar panels will also be exported to the United States and the European Union, he said.“We have an agreement with Chinese manufacturers that, instead of making the panels in China, they will be made here in the Philippines for export to the US and Europe,” Leviste told reporters.‘Made in the Philippines’“The Americans and Europeans prefer those ‘Made in the Philippines’ because the quality is better,” he added.Leviste said Solar Philippines had submitted to the country’s electric utilities an offer to replace many planned fossil fuel plants with solar farms that could produce 5,000 megawatts of electricity at lower costs.Solar panel prices have fallen 90 percent over the last 10 years—50 percent in the last three years alone—prompting countries like China and India to source the majority of their future power from renewables.“Electricity from coal plants costs around P5 to P6 per kilowatt but solar farms would cut that down to P2.99 per kilowatt. So, the charge for solar energy from solar farms is almost one-half,” Leviste said.“Filipinos can save 30 percent on electricity, and the average family paying P3,000 will see their bill [drop] to P2,000 a month. And now with the latest batteries, entire towns can use solar energy for 24 hours a day,” he added.For individual homesLeviste said the Santo Tomas factory would also produce panels so that individual homes could have their own solar panels on their roofs.“Before, these were only for SM or Robinsons malls but, because of this factory, all Filipinos who have an electricity bill of P1,000 to P3,000 a month can get a solar panel and pay it on installment,” he said.Leviste said Solar Philippines had received 10,000 inquiries from people who were interested to buy solar panels.“We started production in March for our projects with SM and solar farms in Tarlac and Mindoro. But with this grand launch, we will now offer these to the retail market,” he said.“So, we can get rid of those fossil fuel plants and replace them with solar farms. The Philippines can save P200 billion every year or P1,000 per month per family,” he added.Solar Philippines also announced during Wednesday’s plant inauguration a new initiative that would help communities with poor electricity service to form their own “solar power associations” and benefit from low-cost 2"
2371,"The chairman of the Social Security System (SSC) on Wednesday strongly defended the supposed correctness of the increase in monthly premium of the pension fund’s members and the lifting of the monthly salary credit (MSC), saying it will finance the P1,000 hike in the monthly benefits of more than 2 million pensioners while maintaining the lifespan of the SSS until 2040.Dean Amado Valdez said the premium increase would be 1.5 percent and the maximum MSC is P20,000 from the P16,000 at present.Valdez added that the SSS will be aggressive and faster this time in going after employers who do not remit the monthly contributions of their employees to the SSS.SSS records showed that many employers collect the monthly contributions of the employees but deliberately refuse to remit them to the pension fund.Valdez said this practice of delinquent employers is a clear violation of the SSS Law.He added that collectibles from these delinquent employers amounting to billions would be a big help in funding the increase in members’ pension.Valdez said the SSS is considering to become 25 percent owner of income-generating projects like infrastructure, real estate and even the lotto business.He added that this idea would ensure a good financial standing for the SSS, making it less difficult to finance future increases in members’ benefits.Valdez noted that President Rodrigo Duterte’s point that the national government will not subsidize the SSS to ensure that its members’ benefits will be given because its members come from private firms.Thus, the SSS should work hard to continuously improve its financial standing until 2040 and beyond, the SSS chief said."
2381,"Return all the ill-gotten wealth. Disclose any condition for its return. Hold the Marcoses accountable for raiding the public coffers.Several lawmakers and victims of abuses under the Marcos regime issued these calls a day after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was willing to return part of its wealth, including gold bars, to help government manage its finances.Loretta Ann Rosales, a torture victim during the Marcos regime, said the Marcoses “will have to be accountable for something they took from the government, which Duterte claims they are now willing to give.”“That will be an admission that the father was a plunderer,” said Rosales, a former chair of the Commission on Human Rights.‘Scam’The Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (Carmma) called the Marcos family’s offer to return part of its wealth a “scam” and urged the public not to fall for it.As skepticism greeted the Marcos offer, Malacañang said the President was looking after the Filipinos’ best interest.Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Mr. Duterte wanted what was best for Filipinos.Carmma spokesperson Bonifacio Ilagan said the offer was part of the Marcoses’ gameplan to return to power.“Imee Marcos is going to run for senator in the next elections and Bongbong for president,” Ilagan said.Duterte alliesHe said the Marcoses knew that the biggest issue against their comeback was their ill-gotten wealth, part of which they are now offering to return “without even admitting [to wrongdoing].”The Marcoses, including Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., are known political allies of Mr. Duterte.In one of his previous speeches, the President had identified Imee as one of the chief financiers of his presidential campaign.The family is believed to have amassed $10 billion over the two-decade rule of Marcos, who was ousted in February 1986.Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said there was a need to get the details of the offer made by the Marcos family.“But if it’s a settlement, the Republic of the Philippines is not cheap and whatever the entire wealth that was stolen, should be returned,” Pimentel said.If the offer was a donation to help the government as Mr. Duterte had implied, Pimentel said this should be accepted as long as it would not affect the cases the Marcoses were facing.‘Not that simple’When Mr. Duterte disclosed the offer of the Marcoses to return part of their wealth, he did not refer to it as ill-gotten and neither did he say that the family had admitted that it had stolen from the country’s coffers.The President said the family gave the reason that Mr. Marcos was “protecting the economy,” which was why it seemed the wealth had been hidden.Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said facilitating the return of the Marcos wealth might not be that simple, as there were pending cases against the Marcos family.As head of the executive department, Mr. Duterte may enter into an agreement with the Marcos heirs, Aguirre said.“It could be done under the framework of the law. Maybe there should be a new agreement, an enabling law or an initiative law or regulations to be issued by the President himself,” he added.Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the Marcos heirs should reveal “any conditionality for the voluntary partial surrender” of the family’s ill-gotten wealth.Danilo de la Fuente, spokesperson of Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, said the Marcoses should still be considered criminals.“The Marcoses should return all ill-gotten wealth, every centavo of it, but plunderers and criminals they remain,” he said.Zenaida Mique, executive director of Claimants 1081, a group of human rights violations victims, said Mr. Duterte’s Monday announcement was “unacceptable.”“They have no moral or legal rights to choose to return ‘some’ of these ill-gotten wealth. We’re talking here of Filipino people’s money,” Mique said in a text message."
2391,"Karamihan sa mga benepisyaryo ng Balik-Pinas, Balik-Hanapbuhay ay mga babae na nagtrabahong household service worker (HSW) o kasambahay, at caregiver habang ang iba ay mga lalaking skilled worker mula sa mga bansang nakararanas ng kaguluhan at tensiyong pulitikal, gaya ng Libya at Syria. Ang nasabing starter kit ay ginamit sa pangkabuhayan tulad ng buy-and-sell, karinderya, food processing, salon, spa, cell phone repair, computer repair, electrical repair, bakery, dress-making, tailoring at paggawa ng kandila."
2400,"Noynoy Aquino today fired his Transportation Secretary, Joseph Emilio Abaya, after the Philippine president experienced first hand being caught in a traffic jam on EDSA, Metro Manila’s main and busiest thoroughfare.“Last night, I passed through EDSA and I really felt the traffic that our citizenry go through every single day and night,” Aquino said.A couple of months ago, Abaya angered Filipinos with his insensitive remarks that Metro Manila’s traffic, while really bad, “is not fatal.”In addition to Abaya, Aquino’s limousine driver was also fired for subjecting the president to the nightmarish EDSA traffic. “He could have taken the side streets and used “wang-wang,” the presidential spokesman said. “Wang-wang is a colloquial term for “siren.”Because of the traffic delay, Aquino reportedly missed his scheduled mahjong session with his sister, Kris and her friend and co-anchor Boy Abunda."
2410,"Nagssagawa ng welga ang grupong Akbayan sa labas ng PICC na nagsisilbi bilang lugar kung saan kina-canvass ang mga boto. Mga iregularidad daw sa kattapos na halalan ang gustong ireklamo ng grupong ito. Basahin ang reaksyon ng ilang kababayan natin sa ginawang pagwewelga ng Akbayan. ""Nung c BBM natalo at nag protest sabi nyo Mga hay-p na leftists kayo mag move on na c BBM, now please apply it to yourselves...,"" sabi ni M. Zambrano ""Nasaan kayo noong dinaya si BBM? Diba okay lang sa inyo na dinaya siya kasi ayaw niyo sa kanya dahil Marcos ang pangalan niya,"" sabi ni A. Sanchez ""AA kasosyo nga na may pagasang manalo nirespeto ang pagkatalo, makikiisa sana ako kung kay Fake VP2016 elections ginawa nyo yan,"" sabi ni D. Sanchez Source: PTV"
2420,"As far as I can tell, the vast majority of drug users/pushers etc are not being summarily shot. The streets are not littered with corpses. There are no packs of feral policemen picking off drug addicts. I hear no gunshots at night, even though there are plenty of drug addicts wandering around my neighbourhood. I'm here on the ground, and whatever the newspapers are saying is clearly nonsense.As for those 700 who have (apparently) been executed, what of it? There are 8000 documented murders every year. You and I both know that most murders aren't even investigated here, so the true figure is probably in the tens of thousands. Most of them would have been ordinary people who upset the local criminal clans.And we're worried about 700 drug dealers?Thing is, the Philippines is not even close to being a functioning country. I've spent all my life living in civilized places, and when I came to the Philippines I quickly learned that what makes sense in those countries makes no sense here.To take a simple, everyday example, I tend to trust people first, and assume that they will treat me with respect if I show them respect. This works so well in Europe or the US (and much of Asia) that we consider it normal, common-sense behaviour.Not in the Philippines. In any social interaction here, you DO NOT assume that, the other person sees you as a fellow human being, or that he is interested in some mutually-beneficial outcome. You do not trust ANYBODY unless they show some positive proof that they are trustworthy, and even then you watch your back because they're probably just stringing you along until they can stab you in the back.So when you get earnest reporters blathering about 37% of Filipinos going to church, and are therefore good, honest people, you want to scream. If churchgoing were a metric for social probity, the country wouldn't have a murder rate five times higher than Europe.My option for ""fixing"" the Philippines's problems would be to send in a million disciplined, well-trained soldiers from European countries and have them performing police duty here until the criminals are off the streets. That simply isn't going to happen. Sadly, then, we're stuck with incompetent, ill-trained, and ill-funded Filipinos performing that duty. A long way from ideal, but better than the status quo.-------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2016/08/foreign-media-outlets-criticising-dutertes-war-drugs-clueless-philippine-politics/#comment-1715484"
2430,"Leave it to the Filipinos to correct a major error, like Steve Harvey’s announcement of the wrong winner in last month’s Miss Universe beauty pageant in Las Vegas.Miss Colombia wore the crown for several minutes before Harvey came back on stage to admit he mistakenly announced the South American beauty as the new Miss Universe. But after everything was corrected, the television coverage of the live event had already ended.So to give back Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach that lost moment at the pageant, the Philippines recreated the traditional Miss Universe Walk.This time it was live on television.All’s well that ends well."
2440,"(In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) condemned The Adobo Chronicles for our satirical news story about the League “launching a campaign against the Senatorial bid of former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay.”The “news story” which most everyone knew — except perhaps the LCP — was satire, was a light-hearted take on Hilbay’s past criticism of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and by extension, all city mayors of the country, of not having the training for international politics.Here is the LCP statement.And this is our statement:ADOBO CHRONICLES STATEMENT ON THE STATEMENT OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES It looks like it’s not only #Rappler that does not understand what satire is. We appreciate the time and effort that the League of Cities of the Philippines took to prepare this statement protesting one of our “stories.” We just wished that the intelligent men and women of the League also spent the time to research the meaning of satire as well as the history of our “news site.” Disclaimers are all over our site — if only they took the time to first visit our “About” page before firing off with their statement. Satire is a centuries-old literary art form that is protected under Free Speech. LSP could have easily Googled it. But more than that, our same “About” page delineates (although we really don’t have to) what is true and what is fictional in our stories. Everything that the League is protesting about as fictitious in our story is exactly that — as indicated by the use of regular font. Only parts of our stories that are in italics are factual. Facebook has no jurisdiction over our website. It can exercise control over our site’s Facebook page, but we also know that Facebook understands satire and is equally committed to Free Speech. (And by the way, can you authenticate your published statement since it was merely ‘signed’ as League of Cities of the Philippines, and not by any real, authorized person or representive?)"
2451,"AtienzaA woman partylist lawmaker wants to put in place an indefinite moratorium on any and all mining activities over the entire province of Marinduque.MATA partylist Rep. Tricia Velasco-Catera filed House Bill 6384 seeking to prohibit all mining operations in Marinduque, making it a mining-free zone.Violators of the proposed Act shall be penalized with six to 12 years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from P100,000 to P500,000.Catera laments that as of today, the inhabitants of the province are still suffering from the effects of the 1996 Marcopper mining disaster, wherein 1.6 million cubic meters of tailings were released along Makulapnit-Boac river system.“There is no solution that can erase the damage that has occured in Marinduque. The people simply want their environment cleaned up, compensation for their suffering, and assurance that this will not happen again,” she said.In 2005, the provincial government filed a $100-million class suit against Marcopper and the parent company, Barrick Gold Corp., but the Nevada State District Court threw out a case a decade later.“Until now justice remains elusive for the victims of the mining disaster. Not a single centavo had been paid as compensation for what was tagged as the country’s worst mining disaster. Negotiations are still ongoing at present with Barrick Gold on the compensation of damages to the province and its people, but an acceptable deal for the victims still does not appear on the immediate horizon,” said Catera, sister of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco."
2460,"Pasado na sa kamara de representante o kongreso ang panukalang batas na naglalayon na mabigyan ng libreng dialysis treatment ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan sa mga national, regional and provincial government hospitals. Sa botong 177, naaprubahan ang House Bill 9156 o ang ""Comprehensive Renal Replacement Therapy Act"". Layon din ng panukalang batas na palawakin ang Philhealth coverage para sa kidney transplant. Maia-angat din nito ang PhilHealth Z-benefit package rates para sa peritoneal dialysis at hemodialysis matapos ang kidney transplant procedures. Ang mga kuwlipikadong pasyente ay maisasailalim sa ""No Balance Billing Policy"". Ang Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office o PCSO ang magpopondo naman sa natitirang sessions ng peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis kung sakaling magamit na ng lubusan ng pasyente ang kanyang benefit package mula sa PhilHealth. Ikinatuwa naman ng ilang kabbaayan natin pagpasa sa naturang panukalang batas sa kongreso. ""Very good news indeed! A big help not only for the patient but to the whole family. Thank you,"" sabi ni S. Omer. ""Good news indeed! Thank you Lord for using your faithful servant in the government..You are amazing Lord,"" sabi ni S. Gamolo. ""Wow this is the best new i read for today...Long live Pilipinas...Thank you God form the continous improvent our our government,"" sabi ni A. Manglicmot. Source: GMA News | ABS-CBN"
2471,"Peaceful resolution of territorial disputes is always the first and pursued option for countries battling over land or sea domain. Our current negotiation with China over the issue of the West Philippine Sea, I believe, is moving forward along more peaceful and cordial lines, with both parties keeping more serene modes while sitting on the negotiation table. As we wait for the mutually gainful agreement between the Philippine and the Chinese governments, we can only hope to learn from past lessons of harmonious settlements that kept peaceful and healthy diplomatic ties flourishing.In the past, there have been several accounts of territorial disagreements between countries that culminated in the peaceful resolution of the case and restoration of diplomatic relations between the parties to the discord. In 2014, for example, Indonesia and the Philippines ended nearly 20 years of negotiation over maritime boundaries. From the more distant past, in 1875, the Treaty of St. Petersburg ended the discussions between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over the ownership of Sakhalin Island. Similarly, Bangladesh and India, after 30 years of negotiation, reached agreement in July, 2014, over the disputed Bay of Bengal maritime boundary.Similar stories of peaceful settlement of territorial disputes already etched in history are the following: 1) Ukraine and Romania over the Black Sea and Snake Island, resolved in 2009 by the International Court of Justice; 2) Norway and United Kingdom from over the Bouvet Island, with Britain renouncing its claim over the Island, and settling the conflict in 1929; 3) Mexico and France over Clipperton Island where the disputed territory was declared in favor of France; 4) Qatar and Bahrain over the Hawar Islands declared by the International Court of Justice in The Hague as belonging to Bahrain in June, 2001; 5) Malaysia and Indonesia over the Islands of Ligitan and Sipadan, decided by the International Court of Justice in 2002 as part of the Malaysia’s territory.Territorial disputes indeed challenge the peace, progress, and stability of the countries involved. Both economic and political interests are put at stake in disagreements involving land or maritime boundaries. As for our current debate with China, peaceful resolution of such discord is therefore crucial if indeed we are to proceed towards regional economic integration."
2481,"Naghatag sang pagpangandam si Palace Press Officer kag Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro nga ang peddlers sang “fake news” online posible nga mag-atubang sang legal charges.249Ini ang ginsambit ni Castro sa ginpatigayon nga press briefing sa syudad sang Iloilo sang Abril 17.250Iya ginsiling nga ang ini nga mga indibidwal “mahimo nga mangin liable para sa danyos, para sa cyber libel, kag para sa mga paghambal sang peke nga balita nga nagatublag sang public order.”251Iya man ginpunto nga ang ini nga mga aksyon wala nagatuyo nga pamalabagan ang free speech.252“We are not curtailing anybody’s freedom of expression… only those spreading fake news,” iya ginsiling.253Mahibal-an nga ang Presidential Communications Office (PCO), paagi sa iya Anti-Fake News Desk (AFND), nagsumite sang Abril 15, 2026, sang endorsement sa Department of Justice (DOJ) batok sa tatlo ka Facebook accounts bangud sa gina-alegar pagpalapta sang indi matuod nga impormasyon angut sa kondisyon sang ikaayong lawas ni Presidente Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.254Suno sa PCO, ang mga reklamo kabahin sang nagapadayon nga mga pagtinguha sa pagsabat sa paglapta sang disinformation online.255Ang isa ka persona nga ginsambit may kaangtanan sa sini nga mga report amo ang account nga “Iloy Bugris: Ang Reyna sang mga Bugna,” isa ka vlogger nga orihinal nga taga-Iloilo nga yara karon sa Dubai. Sa isa ka news release, ginsiling sang PCO nga ang Facebook page ni Iloy Bugris naghiwat sang live broadcasts nga nagapanindugan nga yara sa kritikal nga kahimtangan ang ikaayong lawas sang Presidente sa karon.256Samtang, nanindugang naman si Castro nga nahibal-an nila [fake news peddlers] ang ila ginabuhat, gani iya ginsiling nga indi na gani kinahanglan sang sini nga mga indibidwal ang pagpangandam.257“Unang-una, kung gumagamit naman po tayo ng ating kaisipan, ang mga fake news peddlers, hindi na po ito wina-warningan. Alam naman nilang mali ang kanilang ginagawa. So, warning, hindi po ito ang nararapat na salita para sa kanila,” iya ginsiling.258Siling pa ni Castro, bangud ining mga “fake news peddlers” intension na nga mangguba sang iban, nagakaigo lamang nga sila manabat.259“Alam nilang naninira lamang sila. So kung anuman ang kanilang ginagawa, they should face the consequences,” dugang pa niya.260Siling man sang PCO, ang mga nagapalapta sang sala nga impormasyon mahimo nga masilutan sa idalom sang Article 154 sang Revised Penal Code kag mga kaundan sang Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, ilabi na kon gibuhat ini online.261Dugang pa diri, ang Anti-Fake News Desk nagsiling nga padayon ini nga maga-monitor kag maga-refer para sa imbestigasyon kag prosekyusyon sang mga online content nga makita nga hungod nga nagapalapnag sang sala nga impormasyon. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6)"
2621,"The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started its relief operations to over 125,000 individuals in Northern Luzon who have been affected by the storm’s onslaught.On Friday night, the DSWD Field Office in Region 1 already distributed family food packs to typhoon-stricken residents of Barangays Puro and Alangan in the municipality of Magsingal, Ilocos Sur who are currently staying at the People’s Coliseum in Sto. Domingo.The Department also distributed food packs to residents from the islands of Puro and Villamor in the town of Caoayan who are taking temporarily shelter at Caoayan Central School.According to the DSWD, the town of Caoayan has the largest number of coastal barangays in Ilocos Sur that were hit by storm surges due to Ompong.As of now, the field office is processing the request of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte for additional 2,000 family food packs, 500 family kits, 500 hygiene kits, and 500 sleeping kits to be distributed to the affected residents in the province.Meanwhile, the DSWD Field Office in Region 2 also started to distribute relief aids to families staying in various evacuation centers in the Cagayan Valley.On Saturday, DSWD FO 2 personnel delivered family food packs to evacuees in the municipality of Cabarroguis, Quirino and has distributed hygiene kits to residents of the town of Lasam in Cagayan.Prior to this, the FO 2 has earlier set a total of 21,700 food packs in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya, and delivered at least 432 sacks of rice in the province of Batanes to help local government units (LGUs) in responding to the needs of the residents.The DSWD Field Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has also coordinated to the respective LGUs in the region for the relief aids distribution and evacuation camps management.As of Friday, the DSWD office in CAR already delivered a total of 21,022 family food packs, 590 sleeping kits, and 175 hygiene kits to the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.In Metro Manila, the Department’s FO NCR has sent family food packs to 131 families who evacuated from Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City and currently staying at the Barangay covered court due to the typhoon.Meanwhile, the DSWD Field Office in Region 3 is now on red alert as it continues to monitor the situation of the provinces in Central Luzon.Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo said that as of 8 a.m., Saturday, Ompong has affected a total of 31,631 families or 125,751 individuals in 594 barangays in Regions 1, 2, 3, CAR, and NCR.“There are currently 724 open evacuation centers (ECs) in the affected regions, where a total of 5,190 families or 13,413 persons are currently staying. The bulk of the evacuation centers are located in Regions II and CAR with 287 and 228 ECs, respectively,” Orogo reported during a press briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) headquarters Saturday morning.To ensure provision of assistance to affected families and individuals, Orogo said that the Department is now monitoring the condition of the evacuees, as well as their registration, profiling, and assessment."
2630,"Too many ‘whistleblowers’ – too much NBI incompetence.Whistleblower – uninvolved in the crime and motivated by ethics/principles;Squealers – participant in crime, and trading information for leniency/immunity.Tuason is a criminal, squealing only when caught to save her own neck. So far she has said next to nothing, and should neither be heralded, nor disproportionately rewarded, if at all.Prosecuting Tuason would send a stronger and clearer message, than treating her as a ‘celebrity’. And i am sure she will not lose her wealth – i imagine she is actually being paid by Pnoy Aquino.Whose next – Gigi Reyes, then the whole of the napoles family. NBI not even looking for napoles brother ( most probably know where he is and the deal was to leave him alone).Source:http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/02/why-pork-barrel-whistleblowers-benhur-luy-and-ruby-tuason-should-go-to-jail/comment-page-1/#comment-213396"
2641,"Kinilala ng pulisya ang mga biktimang sina Jayvee Abreu, 21; Junmar Dastas, 23; at Roman Dastas, 48, pawang residente ng Sitio Anahaw 2, Barangay Maugat, Nasugbu."
2651,"In a testimony that made Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa cry, confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa on Wednesday disclosed the full extent of police involvement in his illegal drug trade.Espinosa said he did business with policemen manning checkpoints to regional officials themselves supplying “shabu” (crystal meth).Sen. Leila de Lima and top police officials whom Espinosa said were on his payroll all denied wrongdoing.The high police officials included those who participated in the Nov. 5 raid on the Leyte subprovincial jail where Kerwin’s father was killed.“I do not know now whom to believe,” said Dela Rosa, nicknamed “Bato,” who unabashedly cried during the nine-hour nationally televised hearing in the Senate.“I place in God the PNP. I love the organization … there are still many policemen who can be trusted,” he said.Espinosa said that in exchange for protection, he paid off De Lima, retired Chief Supt. Vicente Loot, one of the top officials President Duterte had accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade, as well as three police officers who were implicated in the killing of his father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.Espinosa, who fled the country in June fearing for his life after Mr. Duterte promised a relentless war on narcotics, finally faced the Senate committee investigating the death of his father during a police raid on the Leyte subprovincial jail on Nov. 5.He detailed the network of protectors that he had built to shield his business, which earned him P40 million to P50 million yearly.The 36-year-old, who said he went by the code name “Batman” in his drug transactions, also outlined how drug convicts were able to continue their activities while in jail.Before Espinosa testified before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, his lawyer had sought immunity for him. Espinosa was captured in Abu Dhabi and was returned to the country last week.Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the committee chair, said he would seek the approval of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III for the immunity request on a motion of Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, which was unopposed.On payrollAmong the people whom Espinosa said were on his payroll were:De Lima—a total of P8 million through her former bodyguard and boyfriend Ronnie Dayan. He said he met her personally at Burnham Park in Baguio City in November last year after Dayan arranged it.Supt. Marvin Marcos, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas—P3 million to fund the election campaign of his wife in May.Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, who shot Espinosa’s father dead during the Nov. 5 raid—P20,000 weekly.Supt. Santi Noel Matira, raiding team supervisor in the Leyte jail assault—P15,000 weekly, increased to P20,000 weekly after his operations widened through Eastern Visayas.The biggest police official he named on his payroll was Loot, now mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu province, who allegedly received P120,000 per month.He said Laraga had recommended the payoff to Loot, then deputy of Provincial Region Office 8. “I gave General Loot money until his transfer to the Training Center in Camp Crame,” Espinosa said.Espinosa said in August last year, Albuera police chief, Senior Insp. Jovie Espenido, told him that Dayan wanted to speak to him about De Lima’s need to raise funds for her senatorial campaign. He said it was Peter Co, an inmate at New Bilibid Prison (NBP), who confirmed that De Lima was seeking funds.He said Dayan asked for P2 million but he could only shell out P700,000 monthly. Dayan called him to say that De Lima had agreed to the monthly P700,000 but wanted goodwill money of P2 million, which he delivered at the parking lot of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City in August last year.He said he was not able to give the P700,000 monthly because this time Dayan was asking for P8 million.The second time he gave Dayan P1.7 million was at a restaurant in Dampa along Macapagal Avenue in October last year.Espinosa said he asked Dayan if he could meet De Lima. Between Nov. 19 and 22 last year, Dayan arranged a meeting in Baguio City where Espinosa was to bring P2 million.They met at Burnham Park and Espinosa said he brought his family along. De Lima was there, and Dayan introduced him as Batman.He and his family had a photo taken with De Lima. “We shook hands after the picture taking and I whispered to her that Dayan has the money. Ma’am Leila just nodded,” Espinosa said.Espinosa next gave Dayan P2.3 million in February this year at SM Mall of Asia.Dealers in jailEspinosa read most of the time from his 27-page affidavit. He said he began selling drugs in 2004 in Cebu City. He was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2005.At the Lahug jail in Cebu City, he met four inmates dealing shabu, including Jeffrey Diaz, alias Jaguar, who was supplied by Lovely Adam Impal, who now lives in Makati City.“I was able to save P1.5 million while I was in jail,” Espinosa said.He was transferred to NBP, where he continued his business with another inmate, Co, who supplied him from 4 to 10 kilos of shabu. They distributed shabu in Leyte cities, such as Tacloban, Ormoc and Baybay, and Hilongos town.He got out of NBP in 2010 and resumed his activities in 2011 in Leyte. He said he was shot and wounded by a rival, Tatang, who worked for a now retired policeman, Socrates Datahan.Espinosa was jailed again in Ormoc City after he was charged with illegal possession of firearms at the behest of Jaguar, who asked a policeman, Ramon Bolongaita, to file the case. “Jaguar and I were quarreling because he had an affair with my wife,” he said.In jail, he said he met Wengweng Rosal and went into drug dealing again with the help of Senior Insp. Rio Tan. He said he gave Tan P15,000 weekly and the same amount to now Supt. Jose Estopin. He named two other Ormoc policemen who got P5,000 weekly each.Police suppliersEspinosa said Chief Insp. Wilfredo Abordo and Dennis Torrefiel supplied him with shabu. He said he gave Abordo P12,000 weekly, later increased to P80,000 monthly in 2014. Espinosa said he gave the money to Abordo through Sean Bean Quintana.He mentioned giving P6 million to Senior Supt. Hasher Dolina, then police regional director, through a Victor Espina.Other police officers who received payoffs from 2013 to 2014 were Senior Insp. Chua (P15,000 weekly); Senior Insp. Jabinez, then Albuera police chief (P15,000 weekly); Senior Insp. Camacho, who was also Albuera police chief (P15,000 weekly), SP03 Bituin, team leader of check point in Barangay Makabug (P8,000 weekly); Magamay, chief of the checkpoints (P10,000 weekly); Sir Arafol, also assigned at checkpoints (P5,000 weekly); Capt. Angay-Angay and Sir Ludo of Ormoc police force (P15,000 weekly) Torrifiel (P10,000 weekly) and Macanas, city director of Ormoc, (P25,000 every Saturday)."
2661,"The Sandiganbayan First Division yesterday junked detained former senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla’s motion for leave to file a demurrer to evidence.In a three-page resolution signed by Associate Justice Efren De La Cruz and concurred by Associate Justices Geraldine Faith Econg and Reynaldo Cruz on December 28, the court denied his motion for reconsideration for lack of merit.Filing a demurrer to evidence is an act contesting that the evidence offered in the case is insufficient.The first time he filed his motion for leave to file demurrer to evidence, the court junked it in open court because “there is a need for the accused to present evidence.”This time around, the court said Revilla’s arguments are “a mere reiteration and rehash of those contained in [his] motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence.”In its November 9, 2017 resolution, the court already admitted all the documentary evidence offered by the prosecution.As it stands now, the court finds that the documents are sufficient for purposes of denying Revilla’s motion for leave.“At any rate, the court reiterates that if the accused so choose, [he] may file a demurrer to evidence without leave of court subject to the limitation and consequence provided in Section 23, Rule 119 of the Rules on Criminal Procedure,” the resolution reads.Revilla is facing one count of plunder and 16 counts of graft over his supposed misuse of his priority development assistance fund (PDAF) in exchange for kickbacks."
2670,"the taking of photos of one’s self and posting them on social media.Because selfitis has become a highly contagious worldwide epidemic, the FDA granted Bayer a fast track approval process. FDA drug approval takes takes anywhere from 10 to 15 years, but it took just 14 months for Bayer to gain the marketing green light.The new drug comes in pill form and requires a doctor’s prescription. Dosage is different for men and women. Men need to take one pill a day while women need 5 pills. Neither Bayer nor the FDA had any explanation on the dosage discrepancy.Bayer is now pursuing drug approval in Europe and Asia."
2680,"Naglabas ang Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ng listahan ng mga synthetic acetic acid na suka o sukang gawa sa kemikal na posibleng magdulot ng cancer. Ayon sa FDA, magsasagawa sila ng inspeksyon sa pasilidad ng mga kumpanyang gumawa ng mga nasabing suka. Sabi ni Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo, ang mga naturang suka ay may iba't-ibang expiration dates na pinaghihinalaang gawa sa hindi natural na sangkap. ""Any artificial matter such as synthethic acetic acid or any cloudifying agent deems the vinegar adulterated hence, it must not be sold to the public,"" saad sa advisory ng FDA. Nilinaw naman sa advisory na walang masamang epekto sa kaligtasan ang mga suka, bagkus substandard lang ang kalidad ng mga ito at hindi dapat ibenta sa merkado. ""The presence of synthetic acid merely represents that the vinegar did not undergo fermentation, either through a slow process, quick process, or submerged culture process which is used for commercial vinegar production,"" ayon pa sa FDA. Batay sa pag-aaral ng Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), walo sa sampung vinegar products sa merkado ay gawa sa ""synthetic acetic acid"". Ayon kay PNRI Director Carlo Arcilla, dapat may karagdagang tatak ang mga brand ng vinegar na naghahalo ng synthetic acetic acid sa kanilang suka. Kapag sinabi raw kasing vinegar ang isang sangkap ay dapat gawa ito sa natural na sangkap. ""Hindi tinatawag na vinegar 'yan. Puwede namang non-fermented acetic acid. 'Yan po ang sabihin kasi as I said hindi siya masama (kahit) di siya pure,"" ani Arcilla."
2690,"I’ve just come from a lovely out-of-town trip with my husband and our lifelong friends and was offline for 2 days (I have a wonderful life outside FB—unlike a lot of these keyboard warriors. Such losers.).I only got home now, logged in and saw all the trash on my wall. And I see that monsters of the disente variety have descended on my wall and used it as a way to spread their particular gospel of hate. I haven’t read a lot. Just a handful—and the rest, I will ignore and/or delete. Once I find the time.(Not tonight. I have books I want so bad to read. Also, I want you to have more time to read through the hateful comments, if you so wish—disabuse yourself of the notion that ONLY pro-Dutertes are capable of poison and hate. And, too, here’s a truth you must keep in mind: none of that poison is about me but everything about the commenter )Here’s the thing.There are only 6 opinions that matter to me in the whole world. That would be my husband’s, my 3 children’s, and my 2 dogs’.(Yup, my 2 dogs’ opinions of me matter far far more than some random online person. My dogs are much finer creatures, for one and for another, they are far better human beings than a lot of human beings I know.)You’d be hard pressed to find a more solid family than ours. And you’d be hard pressed to find a bunch of people who have my back more than these 6 do and who say, “That’s my wife/mom.” with as much love and pride as they do.This is the abundance of my life.And for as long as I have those 6 in my life, I keep on keeping on. I know what it is I am fighting for and for whom and why.My work with the impoverished is front and center of my life. And I will do all I can to support a president who I think will take a lot of them out of the vicious cycle of poverty.And there is this other person whose opinion of me matter far more than those 6 up there and it is MY opinion of myself.Long and far and wide have I traveled so I now stand solidly by my side. I know the stuff I’m made of. And it will take so much more than ugly memes and cyberbullying to get a rise out of me.I know it’s real hard for cowards who can only be brave behind a keyboard to understand this but what can you do about losers no?You can’t make my words mean what it is you want them to mean.And you can’t make me be what I am not.I write because there is far too much left unsaid that must be said. And I write because I know silence is far more dangerous than speaking up.And I have, long ago, gathered the courage and given myself permission to write my truths—no matter if the truth I share is the truth others don’t want to hear.It is as simple as that.---------------------------Lorraine Marie T Badoy as posted on Facebook"
2700,"During the recent Senate hearing on NFA’s depleted rice stocks, Senator Kiko Pangilinan kept on asking, “Where’s the affordable NFA rice?”There is no rice shortage in the country. However, commercial rice has been selling at a high price in the market. NFA’s recommendation to import rice to boost its supply has been denied by the independent NFA council headed by Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco.An investigation by The Adobo Chronicles found that the ‘missing’ NFA rice had been diverted to 25 Times Street in Quezon City, the private residence of former President NoyNoy Aquino.Apparently, the sacks of NFA rice were used to barricade Aquino’s residence as part of his security plan.Mystery solved, Senator Pangilinan! Now go back to your real job of legislation."
2710,"THE government, in many aspects, is just like one big corporation. And like private or government-owned corporations, it imposes upon itself a corporate social responsibility, a non-core program that sets aside part of their profits to reach out to communities that need assistance.Government-owned corporations, under the Gender and Development Program, are mandated by law to set aside 5 percent of its budget for GAD. While this was primarily designed to institutionalize gender equality, GOCs may also tap this fund for CSR projects especially those which gives equal opportunities and responsibilities for women and men of the implementing agencies and the beneficiaries themselves.Private corporations have a wider latitude in carrying out their CSR programs in that they are not subject to government audit but only abide by the guidelines set forth by the firms. The Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines give prestige to government and private corporations by giving those with exemplary CSR projects that help improve the lives of beneficiary communities.Carrying out CSR programs is not, however, a walk in the park. I therefore commiserate with Sec. Christopher “Bong” Go because I observed lately that he has to perform odd jobs which aptly falls under government CSR except that his is such a huge undertaking. Bong Go is the data bank of his boss, Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte, and at the same time head of the Presidential Management Staff. As PMS head, he attends to complaints, inquiries and pleas for assistance. I would best describe him as a traffic officer that directs the flow of communications from the public to appropriate government agencies for proper action. His office is where the first step that addresses red tapes begins. It was therefore so unkind for the likes of Rappler’s Pia Ranada to insinuate irregularity when Secretary Bong, the Special Assistant to the President, wrote a marginal note endorsing documents relating to the frigate issue to the Defense Department for proper action.With the enormous task his boss has to attend to, “Bong”, as he prefers to be called, now represents the President in unscheduled trips arising from disasters, death in the family and other emergencies. He carries not only the personal message of the President and assistance of whatever kind. Add to that mounting appeals for help that are coursed through radio programs. Cesar Chavez of DZRH, for example, is now swamped with requests to convey their concerns to Secretary Bong.It pays that Bong had, through the years of being with his boss, adjusted his body clock and is quite physically fit being a basketball player. The President, even when he was Mayor of Davao City, would make the rounds of the city when everybody goes to sleep. Bong may not be riding on a motorcycle like the mayor loves to do, but he is not actually far behind. In time of calamities Bong is among the first to respond. Once when an unexpected flash flood engulfed a subdivision close to where I stay, Bong was seen rescuing several people trapped in flood water that had breached the rooftops. He fetched them in his jet-ski and brought each to safe places.Talking of Pia Ranada, as a cub reporter of Rappler covering Duterte’s early foray in the Presidential campaign, she fell in a deep canal when amidst a huge crowd wanting to have a glimpse of the Mayor became unruly and pushed her to he edge. Bong and his boss cut short the campaign sortie and personally brought her to a hospital. They never left her until the doctors assured them that Pia is okay.These days, Pia is focused on finding faults against the President and Bong, and of late had the brashness to say that Duterte is afraid of her for she speaks the truth. Her “truth” actually comes from perjured witnesses Edgar Matobato and Arthur Lascanas. Bong had a share of Pia’s audacity and attempt at craftiness. After clearing himself in the Senate hall, the Special Assistant to the President got back to his job doing his daunting task which partakes of one huge corporate social responsibility."
2721,"The Philippine government should form an independent commission to investigate the role of police officers in the killing of drug suspects, a New York-based human rights watchdog said on Tuesday.Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the recent admission by a Philippine National Police official of the use of officers in drug war executions should compel the government to carry out measures to exact justice from people responsible for the killings.‘Hit men most likely police’“[President Rodrigo] Duterte has made it clear over and over again that he wants drug dealers and users killed so there is no reason to think these [killings] are rogue operations. It’s time for an independent commission to be created to officially identify those responsible and begin the process of accountability for mass murder,” said Brad Adams, HRW Asia director.Adams cited the “public admission” on Oct. 31 by Chief Supt. Debold Dinas, Central Visayas police director, that some of the hit men in the killings were “most likely… retired military or police officers” or “active police officers.”Dinas’ admission came on the heels of a series of killings in Cebu City and elsewhere in Central Visayas that “bore similarities” to the drug war murders that began after the President took office in June 2016, Adams said.“The admission by a senior police official that police officers are working as hit men for drug syndicates is yet more evidence of Philippine government complicity in ‘drug war’ killings. Given the total failure of the police to stop these abuses, it’s clear that any serious investigation of the police role in the war on drugs needs full independence,” he said.A proposed “commission of inquiry” should be independent from the PNP and the Office of the President, and its members should include investigators from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and representatives of private organizations with recognized expertise, Adams said.‘Reckless proposal’But Malacañang rejected Adams’ suggestion, calling it a “reckless proposal” and another attempt to meddle in Philippine affairs.HRW’s “inference from an interview of a lone police official cannot be a valid ground for such a reckless proposal. This is not new and is no different from those hurled by desperate critics of this administration since Day 1 of the President’s war against illegal drugs,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement on Tuesday.Panelo said there were independent bodies that had looked into alleged government abuses, including the CHR, Congress and the PNP Internal Affairs Service.“These, among other governmental bodies engaged in counterbalancing measures, are functioning,” Panelo said.Planning and coordination“We thus reiterate our position that we do not need schooling from outsiders on how to run the country,” he said.HRW said its own investigation of the drug war killings showed the “pervasive involvement of police officers” who “routinely falsified evidence by planting weapons and illegal drugs on suspects’ bodies.”The group noted the “similarity of tactics” used in the killings, which showed planning and coordination by the police and local civilian officials.It said media organizations had also been able to show through investigative reports that police officers were involved in drug war killings, despite constant denials by Philippine authorities.Despite the calls for accountability, not one police officer or government official has been convicted for any of the killings, the group said.Instead, the Duterte administration has attacked critics of the drug war, it said.“The government jailed an outspoken senator on spurious charges; falsely accused human rights groups of links to the drug trade; threatened journalists who report critically on the ‘drug war’; and, most recently, deported a longtime foreign resident for denouncing the government’s antidrug campaign,” it said."
2730,"For the first time in its pageant history, Miss Earth 2017 will have an all-Filipino panel of judges.The event will be the 17th edition of Miss Earth pageant, scheduled on 4 November 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. Katherine Espín of Ecuador will crown her successor.Xander Ford will chair the board of judges. Members include ex-President NoyNoy Aquino, Pinoy Ako Blog’s Jover Laurio, Rappler’s Maria Ressa, Tweeter Raissa Robles, Blogger Cynthia Patag, Talk Show host Winnie Monsod, TV Patrol Reporter Doris Bigornia and Senator Franklin Drilon.Karen Ibasco will represent the Philippines."
2741,"Suddenly, marami ang hihingi sa iyo ng iba't ibang tulong. Ingat lang na huwag kang abusuhin, or else hihingi ka na rin ng tulong. SCORPIO [Oct 23 - Nov 21]"
2751,"“It’s the word of the day,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) official James Jimenez tweeted shortly after Comelec Chair Andres Bautista mentioned the term “soirée” several times in an Inquirer forum on Wednesday.“Soirée” refers to mixed parties between classes in exclusive male and female high schools.Except for going to soirées, he’s just a “simple” guy trying to do his job, Bautista said, using the term at least four times during the almost two-hour “Meet Inquirer Media” forum.Despite a storm rolling in, the first guest of the Inquirer forum gamely took on questions from reporters and editors from the print, radio and online platforms of the Inquirer Group of Companies.“I’m just a simple person, trying to do his job. Nothing special,” Bautista said in response to a number of questions from netizens following the hashtag #MediaInquirer.Party-goerThe former chair of the Presidential Commission on Good Government and top executive of several private companies, however, revealed himself a party-goer when “soirée” became his point of reference upon being asked about several political figures.When an Inquirer editor mentioned that a friend of his had said hello, Bautista, quipped, “ah, ka-soirée natin ’yan (ah, he was with us in soirées).”Later, the Comelec chair revealed that he had met President Aquino’s cousins through, yes, soirées.Upon meeting Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, however, Bautista admitted, “Hindi tayo magka-soirée (We haven’t met in soirées). More of Tessa (Prieto-Valdez),” referring to Romualdez’s elder sibling who writes a society column.His partying ways did not get in the way of his studies, though, with Bautista graduating with degrees in BS Legal Management and Law from Ateneo de Manila University in 1986 and 1990, respectively. He then taught political science at De La Salle University (DLSU), a career choice that sometimes made for awkward conversation with friends coming from the rival schools.“[W]hen my La Salle friends ask why I teach at DLSU, I’d reply, ‘Well, I’ve seen the light.’ Now when my Ateneo friends ask why I’m on the other side, I’d say, ‘You know, somebody’s got to teach the heathens,’” Bautista said.Twists and turnsHe did not dream of landing the top post at Comelec, he said, but appreciates the twists and turns that life throws at him.“In life, I’ve realized you never know what comes your way. I never dreamed of becoming head of the PCGG, or Comelec. It’s the accidents of life, I think, [that] make life interesting,” Bautista said.But while he’s just raring to do his job, the Comelec chair said he wouldn’t mind not getting confirmed by the Commission on Appointments in Congress.“It might be a blessing, in fact,” he said with a chuckle. “If somebody else wants the job, I’m not attached to it in that sense. But this is our holy grail: We want a credible election in 2016.”The official who described himself an Everyman may in fact be just that when it comes to complying with Comelec requirements. As he himself admitted, he has yet to register his biometrics with the agency he heads.“I still do not have my biometrics,” Bautista said, quickly shifting to a plug for the Comelec’s campaign for biometric registration.“But I did it on purpose because I know I could get a little media mileage. So in case you want to join me, I’m a voter of the fourth district of Quezon City, and according to the schedule, I’m supposed to go to Trinoma on July 18 to have my biometrics taken,” said the Comelec chair.RELATED STORIESAquino names PCGG chair Bautista as new Comelec chiefNew Comelec chair: My loyalty belongs to the peopleRELATED VIDEOS"
2761,"Dapat umanong desisyunan base sa ebidensya at hindi pulitika ang pananagutan sa batas ang proseso ng impeachment laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ito ang inihayag ni Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre, Chairman ng House Committee on Higher and Technical Education at miyembro ng Justice panel na dumidinig sa impeachment laban kay VP Sara kaugnay ng umano’y pag-aalinlangan ng mga Kongresista na bumoto o tutulan na ang impeachment.
Sa darating na Miyerkules, Abril 22 ay magpapatuloy ang impeachment laban kay VP Duterte kung saan idedetermina ang ‘probable cause’.
Ayon kay Acidre dapat timbangin ng mga mambabatas ang bigat ng pananagutan sa batas base sa ebidensya laban kay VP Sara at hindi sa konsiderasyon sa pulitika dahilan tatakbo ito sa presidential elections na maagang idineklara ang kaniyang kandidatura.
“Puwedeng mayroong takot, mayroong pangamba. Normal ‘yun kasi pulitika ‘to. Pero dapat ang tanong na hindi dapat iniiwasan, dapat ba ma-impeach ang Bise Presidente o hindi?” ani Acidre dahilan sa pag-aalinlangan umano ng mga mambabatas kung paano sila boboto sa impeachment laban kay VP Sara bago ito maipadala ng Kamara sa Senado para sa ‘full trial’.
“May nagawa ba? Should we hold her accountable for something?” punto ni Acidre na sinabi pang dapat magdesisyon ang mga Kongresista base sa bigat ng mga ebidensya sa impeachment case."
2770,"Definitely the 1986 People Power narrative should be junked. But the methods the yellows used to create that narrative and sustain it are worth studying. The yellows have one skill: propaganda/spin doctoring. Maybe GRP writers can write a piece on this, it's like the yellow ecosystem for brainwashing the masses. The ecosystem is made up of:1. AcademeExample: Ateneo de ManilaHow they operate: Since schools, students, and professors are perceived to be neutral, they are used as mouthpieces to promote the yellow agenda. They show up on TV and radio programs as ""analysts"" or man-on-the-street interviewees, and this is how the yellow media are able to editorialize the news.2. Survey firmsExamples: SWS, Pulse AsiaHow they work: They crank out supposedly independent surveys that are used to project that majority of the Filipinos support the yellow agenda.3. ""Civil society""Examples: Makati Business Club, Akbayan, Kaya NatinHow they work: They project themselves as independent organizations, but notice they are always toeing the yellow line. They make it seem like they speak for the sectors they represent (i.e. businessmen, farmers, ""concerned citizens""), but actually sila-sila lang yan.4. Foreign interest groupsExamples: US embassy, World Bank, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, foreign media like Time magazine, AFPHow they work: They tap into the colonial mentality of Filipinos who are dazzled by anything ""imported"" or ""international"". (I must say, Pinoys are not as gullible as they used to be. Many no longer take what these ""international"" groups say as gospel truth.) They also give awards and scholarships to yellow journalists to co-opt them and make them appear more credible.5. Mainstream mediaExamples: ABS-CBN, Inquirer, Rappler (to a lesser extent, also GMA News and Philippine Star)How they work: Yellow media spinning yellow tales peddled as independent news.Gloria Arroyo did not take the threat of the yellow propaganda machine seriously and suffered for it. Hope Duterte does not make the same mistake. I know, I know. He doesn't want to stoop to the level of these idiots who don't do anything except make noise. But like my lola always said, don't expect people who play dirty to ever play fair. Throw the dirt right back.--------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2016/08/filipinos-junk-1986-people-power-narrative-order-truly-progress/#comment-1711828"
2780,"Naaresto na ang pangunahing suspek sa pagpatay sa kay 16-anyos na dalagita sa Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu na si Christine Silawan. Kinilala ang suspek na si Jonas Bueno na nadakip sa Davao City at iprinesenta sa media ng pulisya. Ayon sa mga otoridad, apat na araw nang nananatili sa Purok Santiago, Barangay 74-A, Matina Crossing si Bueno. Dinakip si Bueno ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng CIDG Regional Field Unit 11, NBI Region 11, Regional Intelligence Unit 11, Mindanao Area Police Intelligence Office, at Talomo Davao Police Station. Samantala, umamin si Jonas Bueno na siya ang responsable sa pagpatay at pagbalat sa mukha sa 60-anyos na si Trinidad Batucan sa Danao City, Cebu ngunit hindi umano siya ang pumatay kay Christine Lee Silawan. Kasama rin ni Bueno sa pamamaslang sa 60-anyos na magsasaka ang mga kapatid na sina Junry at Jovy na pawang napatay nang manlaban nitong Enero sa pagsisilbi sa kanila ng arrest warrant. Inaalam pa ng pulisya kung posibleng may koneksyon si Bueno sa pagpatay kay Silawan. Si Bueno ay may standing arrest warrant dahil sa pagpatay sa isang magsasaka sa Danao City, Cebu noong Enero kung saan inalisan din ng balat sa mukha at wala na itong dibdib nang matagpuan."
2791,"diverting their time and energy to duties other than teaching.In short, it’s the lack of modernization and perennial underinvestment in education. While the compensation of public school teachers is relatively competitive for the moment. investments can still be made for schools to gain access to the latest advances in education technology(edutech), adopt modern curricula, and send their teachers for further studies and training on new pedagogies and teaching styles.Email: angara.ed@gmail.com| Facebook & Twitter: @edangara"
2801,"Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña attended the inauguration of the newly-constructed state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory at the Philippine Coconut Authority-Albay Research Center (PCA-ARC) recently. Through the funding of the DoST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DoST-PCAARRD), a more spacious and fully-equipped culture room was constructed for better organization of tissue culture activities, and bigger growth room for the development of existing coconut tissue cultures. The existing screenhouse and humidity tent were also repaired for the ex-vitro establishment of tissue culture-derived regenerants. Father Salvador Nicolos Bilono 3rd officiated the blessing of the CSet Tissue Culture Laboratory, as well as the Food Processing Facility of PCA-ARC. Present for the unveiling of the marker were De la Peña, PCA Administrator Romulo de la Rosa, PCAARRD Crops Research Division Assistant Director Dr. Edna Anit, OIC Deputy Administrator for R&D Branch Erlene Manohar, Guinobatan (Albay) Municipal Mayor Gemma Ann Ongjoco and PCA-ARC Department Manager and CSet Program Leader Dr. Cristeta A. Cueto. Also present were PCA-ZRC Deputy Manager and CSet Project Leader Ramon Rivera; Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Director and CSet Project Leader Marissa Estrella; DoST Science and Technology Information Institute Director Richard Burgos, DoST Region V Director Tomas Briñas; DoST-PCAARRD Institution Development Division OIC Director Ruel Carlo Tanqueco; other staff of DoST-PCAARRD and PCA; guests from the Department of Public Works and Highways Region V; and the local government unit of Guinobatan."
2810,"The tragedy that befell 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos allegedly in the hands of Philippine police officers is truly an outrage. No kid deserves to die that way. And so it is, like in any society that aspires to be a truly just and modern one, imperative that justice be sought for the wrongful death of Delos Santos.The important question therefore is this: How exactly will this justice be effected in this instance? Via the criminal justice system? What’s the alternative? A street rally again? Unfortunately, within hours of his death breaking news, Delos Santos has become the most recent of a string of victims turned into political artefacts by a desperate and rudderless Opposition.Indeed, Delos Santos is but the latest such artefact cast in the mold of the original artefact that started a long tradition of necropolitics in the Philippines, none other than Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr. Yet the murder of Aquino himself back in 1983 remains unsolved. So one just has to ask: How can justice for Delos Santos be delivered when Ninoy’s own son, a former Philippine president himself, could not see to it that his own father’s murder is solved while he was in power?For that matter, Filipinos don’t really need to go too far beyond their own day-to-day existence to reflect on the inherent hypocrisy in some of the outrage fads their “activists” launch into. How, for example, can a people issue calls for “justice” whenever the latest outrage circus is in town when easy-to-solve everyday injustices cannot even be rectified? Manila’s horrendous traffic, for example has unjustly sentenced millions of Filipinos to prison time within their own cars befitting murderers. But is there justice in the way buses and jeepneys routinely clog half the width of Manila’s roads loading and unloading passengers illegally with impunity?Therein the answer to those questions lies the answer to why nothing changes where it matters. Because many things Filipinos consider unimportant actually matter a lot. It starts with small things. The easy solutions cannot even be implemented. The smallest injustices cannot even be resolved. How then could Filipinos hope to solve the truly big problems?It is, indeed, the height of hypocrisy for a people who can’t follow even simple traffic rules to call for “justice for Delos Santos”.Those street kids you drive by everyday? How come nobody is outraged about them? And yet here we are screaming #JusticeForKian.And take that manhole on the street that has remained uncovered for weeks. Someone could be seriously injured or even be killed by such banal hazards that are easily corrected. Filipinos’ low regard for public safety attests to a disturbingly low regard for human life. Yet they now scream #JusticeForKian like human life suddenly turned to gold.The fact is, the scale of banal injustice in the Philippines that fails to launch outrage fads dwarfs those alleged “extrajudicial killings” idiots shriek about today. There is, to cite another example, “senator” Antonio Trillanes who, over the 2000s led and was involved in several armed rebellions. Here is a man who endangered thousands of Filipino lives. He was elected a Senator nonetheless. #JusticeForKian? Seriously?You can’t take seriously a people who can’t even solve small everyday acts of impunity when they cry #JusticeForKian. There are many Filipinos — unsung victims of injustice — who don’t get the same sort of Outrage Fad treatment #JusticeForKian gets because of political agendas. You want #JusticeForKian? Don’t turn him into just another political artefact. Learn that real justice can only be achieved on the back of consistency."
2820,"British Ambassador in the Philippines Asif Ahmad was criticised by President Duterte supporters after his tweet that allegedly condemned the War on Drugs of the current administration.The only way to deal with outlaws is to use the full force of the law. Cult of death has to be stopped Philippines. — Asif Ahmad (@AsifAAhmad) September 2, 2016His tweet on September 3 also shows that he was concerned about the victims of violence in the Philippines.My thoughts are with the victims of violence in the Philippines #ruleoflaw — Asif Ahmad (@AsifAAhmad) September 3, 2016Netizens asked the British Ambassador about the meaning of his tweet, they are doubtful that Asif Ahmad called the Pro Duterte supporters as the “Cult of Death”Even the famous Pro-Duterte supporter Sass Rogando Sassot noticed the tweet of the Ambassador and she asked if he already talked to the President or DFA Secretary to raise his concerns before issuing such statement on twitter.The British Ambassador is not yet giving any statements about this issue."
2830,"Footprints of an electoral fraud, the pain of remembering and the danger of ignoringIT is exactly one year, eight months and 24 days since that early morning of May 10, 2016 when I woke up to the nightmarish sight of Leni Robredo leading the race for vice president. It was also the day when David Yap and I began exposing the anomalous data trends in the vice-presidential race.And that was the beginning of our journey into hell. We were viciously attacked. We were trolled. Our academic credentials were questioned even by our own colleagues. Over a hundred so-called data scientists even passed an online resolution condemning us. Not contented, our detractors even wrote my university demanding that I should be fired. My family was not spared when the legal troubles of my cousin, who had nothing to do with my politics, was maliciously publicized by an anonymous pro-Robredo blogger. David’s family was attacked too. He had to deactivate his FB account.And now, more pieces of evidence of the fraud perpetrated in the May 2016 elections, particularly in the VP race, are coming out.And the magnitude is horrifying, to say the least.A forensic analysis of digital footprints reveals that some precincts in Ragay, Camarines Sur and in Marawi City were already transmitting results a day before the elections.Decrypted images of ballots indicate that in Negros Oriental and in Camarines Sur, there are cases when votes for Senator Marcos were read as undervotes and were therefore considered spoiled, even as ballots that are supposed to be spoiled because they were technically overvotes, with more than one name shaded, were read by the machine as valid Robredo votes.Undervotes, or cases of voters not voting for any candidate, is expected in any election. However, election experts point out that the normal level of undervotes should not exceed 3 percent of the total votes cast for a position., while anIn Negros Oriental, 10 towns had at least 22 percent undervotes. In Iloilo, nine towns had at least 10 percent undervotes and another two with at least nine percent. In Camarines Sur, four towns have more than 10 percent undervotes and six towns had more than seven percent undervotes.In fact, the total number of undervotes for the position of vice president is 2.8 million compared to 1.2 million for the president. In terms of percentage, the undervote for the president is within the normal level of three percent, but that of the vice president is at seven percent, which according to expert must already cause alarm.An analytics group, SESAT Technologies Co., made an analysis of the undervotes and found out that almost all candidates for president and vice president were adversely affected by the undervotes. They all lost their share of votes as the number of undervotes increased. However, it is only theThe team of Senator Marcos also uncovered that in ARMM, the handwriting of the boards of election inspectors (BEIs) of precincts that are at least 60 kilometers apart are exactly the same, even as the signatures in the voter’s list are different from those who actually voted.Most appalling is the fact that the total sum of votes for the vice president which was transmitted to the central server of the Comelec had a disparity of around 250,000 with those transmitted through the municipal, city and provincial servers. A clean election would have not yielded any disparity.It was also revealed that a fourth server, the existence of which was not known to the public and the political parties, served as a queue server. Thus, instead of the precincts transmitting directly to the Comelec central server, the transparency server managed by PPCRV, and the municipal or city servers, they transmitted to this queue server. It is this illegal server that then transmitted to the three legally authorized servers.The Comelec, six days before the election, and without informing the public and the political parties and candidates, decided to set up six additional regional election management systems (EMS) in La Union, Albay, Zamboanga del Sur, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos, when the law only allowed the one in Sta. Rosa in Laguna. It is these new EMS sites which processed the unusually high number of malfunctioning SD cards.in the supposedly mirror-image information contained in the main and backup drives of election returns in three regions.The footprints of a massive electoral fraud are certainly and horrifyingly evident.Meanwhile, the rage over the fraud seems not to be as fervent to a point that one can feel that people seem to be ignoring it. Very few social media enablers focus on the issue, as compared to the outrage over Grace Poe’s alleged threat to block Facebook and her seeming bias against Mocha Uson.Andy Bautista, who presided over the contested elections, appears to be slipping through the net of public scrutiny and escaping accountability. It appears that Leila’s sins on drug-related crimes, or Conchita Carpio-Morales’ arrogance, are getting more top-level rage than the fraud that could have undermined the entire electoral system of our country.If we keep ignoring the footprints of the fraudulent election in 2016, then we certainly deserve the fraud that will visit us in 2019 and beyond."
2841,"FIRST major concert ng tinaguriang Asia's Pop Sweetheart na si Julie Anne San Jose ang Hologram: The Concert sa SM Mall of Asia Arena on December 13. Sa presscon given by GMA Network and GMA Artist Center, sinagot ni Julie Anne ang ilang intriga na may koneksiyon sa concert, tulad ng nabalitang umiyak siya nang hindi pumayag si Pia Magalona, mother ng dating ka-love team na si Elmo Magalona, na mag-guest sa concert niya ang young actor."
2851,"The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs may recommend disciplinary actions, including the disbarment of Aegis Juris fraternity members who are trying to cover up the hazing death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson.Lacson, chair of the committee looking into Castillo’s death, floated this possibility after his fellow senators expressed displeasure over how the fraternity, a mix of practicing and future lawyers, acted to cover up the crime to evade investigation and prosecution.Transcript of hearings“We will send a transcript of the hearings to the Supreme Court so we can recommend what appropriate actions it can take to discipline these lawyers, who are in fact treading a different course, although motu proprio the high court can initiate its own investigation,” Lacson said in a radio interview on Friday.On the aspect of legislation, the senator said the committee could recommend an amendment to Republic Act No. 8049, or the Anti-Hazing Law, making the punishment more severe for the cover-up of the crime.Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, the Manila police director, on Wednesday presented to the Senate committee a 38-page slide of screen shots of Facebook conversations among the fraternity members.The Facebook chat group thread started on the day Castillo was believed to have died from excessive beating during his initiation into the fraternity.Coronel said the conversations—including how the fraternity planned to clean up the site of the initiation rites and to make a settlement with Castillo’s family to keep them quiet—showed the members’ attempt to cover up the crime and evade prosecution.Grounds for disbarmentOn Thursday, Sen. Francis Escudero, a lawyer, said the fraternity members’ alleged participation in the conversations and in the actual hazing could be grounds for their disbarment or could prevent them from taking the bar examinations.Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday said that it was disturbing that “respected members of society such as lawyers” were the ones encouraging their younger counterparts to conceal evidence and deceive authorities."
2861,"In fairness, cute naman ang puppy na ibinigay at sa tuwing lalabas ang magkasintahan ay dala-dala nila with matching stroller pa. Heto na ang siste, naghiwalay na sina TV host/actor at TV host/actress dahil babaero raw ang una bukod pa sa hindi rin boto ang pamilya ng huli. Siyempre, naiwan si Puppy kay TV host/actress. Ito ang naging kasa-kasama niya noong nalulumbay siya hanggang sa naka-move on na siya. ""Sobrang love ni _____ (TV host/actress) si _____ (puppy) kasi first baby niya kay _____ (TV host/actor), kaya maski nasaan siya, kasama 'yan. Ang problema 'pag nagpunta ng _____ (ibang bansa) siya, paano saan niya iiwan? Hindi pa kasi napapagawan ng passport."""
2870,"Sa isang masuwerte ngunit aksidenteng pagkakatuklas, hindi sinasadyang natamaan at sumabog ang isang natural gas deposit sa may Purok 8, Poblacion, Magallanes, Agusan del Norte. Makikita ito sa isang video na ibinahagi ng netizen na si Inday Joffee sa kanyang Facebook page. Sa naturang video na naging viral na at umabot na ng 100K views at lampas 4K shares wala pang isang araw matapos itong ipost sa FB, makikitang tumatalsik sa lakas ng pressure ang naturang gas deposit. Ito ay malapit sa ilog o sapa at mapapansing nagbubuga ito ng putik at bato sa lakas ng pressure nito. Kung mapapatunayan na mayaman sa natural gas deposit ang lugar na iton sa Agusan Del Norte, isa itong magandang balita para sa mga residente doon. Maaari umangat ang estado ng buhay ng mga mamamayan sa nasabing lugar kung sakali mang pagkuhanan ito ng natural gas ng gobyerno o maging mga pribadong kumpanya Bukod sa Natural Gas, maaari ding ang nasabing gas deposit ay naglalaman ng Methane gas, na sinasabing maaaring ipampalit sa LPG na inaangkat pa natin sa pandaigdigang merkado at nakasalalay ang presyo sa presyo ng krudo. Malaki ang matitipid ng bansa sa krudo kung totoong Methane gas ang nilalaman ng naturang gas deposit. Sa kabila ng pagnanais ng Pilipinas na pigilan ang lahat ng klase ng polusyon, ang Coal Energy o enerhiyang nagmumula sa uling, ay ginagamit pa rin bilang pangunahing pagkukunan ng enerhiya sa bansa. Ito ay kumakatawan sa halos 50% porsyento ng enerhiyang gamit ng bansa. Ang 25% naman ay nagmumula sa renewable energy at 20% naman para sa natural na enerhiya. Ang natitirang 5% ay enerhiya galing sa langis. Source: Angat Pilipino"
2880,"The 2016 Philippine presidential elections just got more interesting.Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte were both hoping to enlist Senator Grace Poe as their vice presidential running mate, but the popular and well-loved senator has all but rejected both offers. She is contemplating on running for president herself.In an effort to boost their quest for the presidency, Binay and Duterte have named their respective choice for a running mate. Duterte says that his choice for a VP running mate is Batangas Governor Vilma Santos while Binay has picked multi-awarded actress Nora Aunor. Filipinos, of course, know that in their younger years, Santos and Aunor were rivals for the title of movie superstar. Santos was a former movie star herself. It would be déjà vu for both actresses if they decide to face each other in the election.So how about Grace Poe, herself the daughter of two famous actors, the late Fernando Poe, Jr. (who ran unsuccessfully for president five years ago) and movie queen Susan Roces?Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the presumptive heir to partymate President NoyNoy Aquino wanted Poe to be his VP running mate but the latter has refused. So Roxas is left with no potential strong running mate.Poe, on the other hand, is leaning towards drafting actor Bong Revilla, Jr. as her running mate. Unfortunatelty, if Revilla would indeed be Poe’s VP choice, he has to campaign from inside his jail cell. Revilla is currently incarcerated for charges of corruption .Forget about ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ How about ‘Elections with the Stars?’ It’s really more fun in the Philippines!"
2890,"Perhaps because of the recent controversies in the police, netizen Jorick Jogado saw it fit to ask his girlfriend to marry him with a staged police arrest complete with real officers in uniform and handcuffs.In cahoots with his friends including the participating police officers who would play the arresting officers, they executed the plan. The act was so convincing that his girlfriend was clearly shocked when she saw her boyfriend was put in handcuffs and dragged in the streets and forced to kneel.The officer handed the 'warrant' to the girlfriend which of course is not a real arrest warrant but a note says ""Will You Marry Me?"".Jasmine Ferreras was confused for a moment trying to make out the words written in the supposed warrant. When she realized that it was a proposal, she was stunned and overwhelmed by a wave of mixed feelings - possibly mostly with relief from the fact that her boyfriend will not be shot because of 'panlalaban'.Anyway, although the conservative would say the act is too soon because of the recent controversy surround the national police due to alleged EJKs they are facing this wedding proposal video is undeniably a creative and timely one.Here's thevideo that is now going viral:"
2901,"A new plunder case may be in store for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, according to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who is unbowed by the Supreme Court decision absolving the former President on charges that she pocketed P366 million in state lottery funds.“Assuming we can prove there was pillaging or ransacking of the public treasury,” Morales told a press conference on Wednesday, Arroyo, a reelected Pampanga representative, could end up back in detention.As of Wednesday, the 69-year-old Arroyo was still awaiting her release papers at Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City where she had been detained since 2012 because she was suffering from severe spinal problems.On Tuesday, the Supreme Court announced Arroyo’s acquittal on plunder by an 11-4 vote without immediately releasing the decision.Morales said state prosecutors were conducting a preliminary investigation of another case against Arroyo that also involved the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.“I do not recall the amount but it covers the period of 2004 to 2007,” she said.In the case, which was thrown out by the Supreme Court, Arroyo was accused of diverting P366 million from the PCSO’s confidential intelligence funds for her personal use between January 2008 and June 2010.Part of the funds were supposed to have gone to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but the money was allegedly coursed to the Office of the President.New caseMorales said the new case would involve an amount upward of P50 million, qualifying it for plunder, a nonbailable offense.“If after preliminary investigation we believe probable cause lies, we will certainly hale her to court,” Morales said.On the Supreme Court decision, Morales insisted, “We were able to prove the guilt of GMA beyond reasonable doubt.”“I can say we were able to present strong evidence through 630-plus documentary exhibits and testimonials, which are reflected in 43 transcripts of office stenographic notes, as well as records from A to Z, consisting of 40 plus folders,” Morales said. “To us, these are exhaustive records.”DisappointedMorales admitted that the prosecutors were in low spirits because of the high tribunal’s ruling.“It’s just natural they are disappointed. They are disheartened, but they know that they should move on. This is not the end of the line. We have other options, one of which or two of which we will exercise,” she said.Asked to elaborate on those options, Morales only said they might file a motion for reconsideration once they had received a copy of the decision, and determined whether an appeal was “warranted.”“We have many legal options. I’m not going to place our cards on the table. I would not like to open the eyes of our detractors,” she said.Morales noted that one of Arroyo’s coaccused in the case, Rosario Uriarte, was still in hiding after so many years.“And as the saying goes, if you are innocent, you are bold as a lion, but flight can also indicate guilt—I’m only saying indicate,” she said.She also noted denials on the side of the AFP and the NBI that the agencies made any request for intelligence funds, or that they had been a beneficiary of any amount from the PCSO.The Ombudsman also cited the testimony of another accused, Benigno Aguas, who certified under oath that P244 million of the PCSO’s funds went to the Office of the President.“And P140-plus million of that [was] given to the Office of the President in January 2010 up to June 2010, which was parenthetically an election period,” she said.Act of one, act of allOn the Arroyo defense’s argument that the prosecution failed to prove that the former President herself got the money, the Ombudsman said: “You will recall that the charge is for conspiracy, act of one is act of all.”“There is a series of acts that would show there was conspiracy and the accused were guilty of having pillaged the treasury beyond the amount of P50 million,” Morales said.She bristled at a question about whether she ought to resign due to her failure to prosecute Arroyo even when she had six years to do so.“Do I have to win all cases I file? Do you have to fault prosecutors if they lose cases? Do you have to fault the Sandiganbayan if their decisions are reversed?” she said."
2911,"Noong Marso 13, ang Clippers, wala sa hanay si Blake Griffin, ay nabigo via 129-99 sa Dallas. Makalipas ng dalawing araw ay sumadsad naman sila sa sariling tahanan kontra sa Houston, 100-98. Simula noon ay nagising na koponan sa pamamagitan ng mga panalo, kasama na ang apat na ang double-digit road victories. ''Our offensive execution is amazing and our defense has held teams to 16- and 18-point quarters,'' saad ni Paul. ''With Blake back, he makes us that much more dangerous and you have to pick your poison.'' Nagposte si Griffin ng 21 puntos at 9 rebounds sa Los Angeles, tumalon sa 68-47 halftime lead. Nagsalansan si DeAndre Jordan ng 15 puntos at 14 rebounds, habang inasinta ni Matt Barnes ang 18 puntos. Bumagsak ang Boston ng half-game sa likuran ng Brooklyn para sa Eastern Conference's eighth at final playoff spot. Tinalo ng Nets ang Los Angeles Lakers kahapon. Pinamunuan ni Isaiah Thomas ang Celtics na taglay ang 19 puntos. Itinarak ni Tyler Zeller ang 16, tumapos si Kelly Olynyk na mayroong 14 habang tinipa ni Brandon Bass ang 13. ''We didn't provide any defensive resistance at all, nobody at all has against them lately if you look at their scores,'' pahayag ni Celtics coach Brad Stevens. Itinulak ng Los Angeles ang kanilang bentahe sa 35 puntos sa kalagitnaan ng third quarter. Naisagawa ng Boston ang huling pagsalakay kung saan ay lumapit sila sa 111-100 mula sa tres ni Gigi Datome, may 4 minuto pa sa laro, subalit agad ding rumesponde ang Clippers na kaakibat ang 5 sunod na puntos. ''Our ball movement is sensational right now,'' ayon kay Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers. ''We haven't been a great travel team up until now. We had amazing focus when we left on this trip. They felt like these are the games we can get.'' Nagmula ang Los Angeles sa mabilisang pagsisimula, kung saan ay kinonekta nina Redick at Barnes ang malalayong buslo sa unang dalawang possessions. Nagkaroon din ng kahalintulad na panimula ang second half, kung saan ay naisakatuparan nina Barnes at Redick ang 3s upang muling tulungang mag-init ang koponan na taglay ang 14-4 run na nagtulak sa Clippers sa 82-51 lead. ''They played well, made a lot of shots early and kind of got us out of what we were trying to do, and then ran away with it,'' lahad ni Olynyk. Umungos ang Los Angeles sa 105-79 matapos ang third quarter. Sa puntong iyon, tila nawalan na ng gana ang karamihan sa crowd at ang ilan ay naghihiyawan para sa dating Celtics na si Brian Scalabrine, na ngayon ay isa sa TV analysts ng koponan. Ilang bulto ng fans ang nagsilisan sa korte sa kasagsagan noon ng timeout, may 9 minuto pa sa laro. Naantala ang laban ng halos 5 minuto sa huling bahagi ng fourth quarter nang kinailangan ng isang fan ng medical attention malapit sa bench ng Clippers at ito naman ay tinugunan ng Celtics team physician. ''From what I was told they think the person's going to be OK,'' pahayag ni Stevens. TIP-INS"
2920,"During the height of the 2016 presidential campaign period, former President NoyNoy Aquino made a bold statement that there is no way another Marcos will end up in Malacañang.Well, guess what: on the very day Aquino left Malacañang, not one, but two Marcoses returned to the presidential palace — Senator Bongbong Marcos (who ran unsuccessfully for the position of VP) and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.It was, of course, to attend the inauguration of President Rodrigo Duterte. It was, nevertheless, two Marcoses ending up in Malacañang.Never say never."
2931,"President Rodrigo Duterte’s home region, southern Mindanao, had the most political killings linked to state agents in all of Mindanao in 2017, according to a human rights group.Ryan Amper, spokesperson of Barug Katungod Mindanao, could not say how many activists had been killed in 2017 in the region, composed of four Davao provinces and Compostela Valley, but claimed that 59 farmers and activists had been killed since Mr. Duterte came to power in June 2016.In an interview, Amper said the killings worsened when the President placed Mindanao under martial law, which led to the arrest of dozens of people tagged as communist rebels.Worse, Amper said, the government had targeted innocent farmers and “lumad” in its counterinsurgency campaign.Most of the military attacks on lumad and farming communities, said Amper, took place in Compostela Valley. These included “wanton bombings.”The military denied involvement in such killings. According to the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, soldiers only targeted “lawless elements that spoil peace and development.”But human rights workers listed the following as victims of the military crackdown on suspected communist rebels:Jeannie Rose Porras, a member of the Compostela Farmers’ Association (CFA) who went missing on Dec. 14 and whose body was later found at a funeral home in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.Rodrigo Timoteo, another CFA member killed on Nov. 29 also in Compostela Valley.The couple Ramon and Leonila Pesadilla, farmers killed in March in the same provinceJimmy Saypan, a former CFA leader, who was killed last year.Jean Bustamante, a 17-year-old CFA member who went missing on Dec. 5 and was later found in a military camp.Brothers Bernardo and Benjie Clarion who were abducted on Dec. 8 in Calinan District, Davao City; the body of Bernardo, listed by the police as a communist guerrilla, was found the next day in Calinan."
2941,"The country’s chief economist will appeal President Duterte’s decision to reject the 250-million euro aid from the European Union (EU) even as the government expects more grants from China.Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the decision to decline EU aid was not a policy and would be implemented only for that specific grant.“Projects [funded by the EU] on stream will continue,” said Pernia, head of the National Economic and Development Authority.Noting that the decision was never discussed in Cabinet meetings, Pernia said the President was generally “open to suggestion.”“We have to parse this carefully because you know our President has a style of doing something and then taking it back later. It’s some kind of a tactic,” he said.Pernia said that based on his recollection, “the letter of the President rejecting the assistance from the EU was done before the trip to Geneva of our human rights team.”The government team, led by then senator Alan Peter Cayetano, now the foreign secretary, explained the country’s human rights record to the European Union.“What I gathered from them was that they were able to explain the human rights situation here… So, perhaps that might help change the global perception of the EU and other countries regarding the human rights situation here,” Pernia said.But even without the EU grant and given the country’s closer ties to China, Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, “we can get other grants, too,” he said.“That’s what the President is saying: assistance from China can make up [for the loss],” he added.Senate alliesAs expected, allies of the President supported his move. “Aid with conditions,” which “amount to interference in our sovereignty,” is not aid at all, said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.Opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV called Mr. Duterte’s move “another reckless and whimsical decision.”In the House of Representatives, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said the move was “short-sighted and obviously not well thought out.”The decision to turn down the EU aid saddened the disaster and risk reduction management officer of Biliran province, one of the areas that received aid from the European Union in the aftermath of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in 2013.The European Union provided Biliran livelihood assistance and helped construct multipurpose buildings that would also serve as evacuation centers, according to Sofronio Dacillo.The Department of Health, meanwhile, saw no negative impact of the decision on the health sector.“I just got information that the EU has around P2 billion for the health sector until next year. It won’t affect us because as far as the (EU) commitment is concerned, it is a done deal,” said Assistant Health Secretary Enrique Tayag."
2950,"Just in time for her travel to the United States next month, blogger Raissa Robles has released a sequel to her controversial book, “Marcos Martial Law: Never Again.”The sequel which is in comics format will be a recommended reading in all high schools throughout the Philippines, thanks to the efforts of Senator Risa Hontiveros.Included in this sequel are interesting anecdotes involving Vice Presdent Leni Robredo, COMELEC Chair Andy Bautista, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes, as well as pro-Aquino and anti-Duterte groups like “Silent No More PH.”It also features other personalities like former DSWD Dinky Soliman, CHR’s Chito Gaston and Australian Jim Paredes.The new comic book is now available at all Robinson’s Supermarkets as well as all street corner newsstands near you."
2960,"If you are planning to enrol in law or accounting course at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, you are advised to make alternative plans.Beginning next semester, U.P. Diliman is abolishing its law and accounting courses.The difficult decision was reached today by the U.P. Board of Regents after the tax-funded state university failed to place in the top ten in the most recent Bar and the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) board exams.“We cannot in conscience continue to offer these courses when none of our graduates 🎓 make it to the top ten board examinees,” the board said.U.P. students are expected to stage a rally at the Diliman campus this week to protest the decision by the Board of Regents.Well, that’s what U.P. students are good at. Rallies."
2971,"iisa sa gitna ng lambak ang bundok ng Mogao sa bayan ng Tadian sa lalawigan ng Mountain Province.
Matatagpuan ang Mt. Mogao sa barangay ng Pandayan at Cagubatan. Dahil sa kapansin-pansing itsura nito, naging atraksyon ang bundok, isang landmark para sa munisipyo.
Matayog, matarik, at nag-iisa sa gitna ng lambak ang bundok ng Mogao sa bayan ng Tadian sa lalawigan ng Mountain Province.
Matatagpuan ang Mt. Mogao sa barangay ng Pandayan at Cagubatan. Dahil sa kapansin-pansing itsura nito, naging atraksyon ang bundok, isang landmark para sa munisipyo.
Sa kabila ng nakakabighaning itsura, may kuwentong nakatago sa likod nito.
Sa tuktok ng Mt. Mogao ay may nakatayong bakal na krus. Ito ay may taas na 8.5 talampakan at itinayo ito noong 2001. Sa krus na ito nagsisimula ang penitensiya ng isang ama.
Ayon sa kuwentong hinango sa cultural mapping book ng munisipyo, isang ama ang bumuhat sa krus bilang pagsisisi sa isang aksidenteng kaniyang nagawa.
Sa kuwento, ang ama ay pagod at gutom na umuwi sa kanilang tahanan mula sa pagtratrabaho sa bukid. Sa kaniyang pag-uwi ay hindi pa nakapagluto ang kaniyang mga anak ng panghapunan.
Sa kaniyang galit, kinuha niya ang kaniyang sack bag at hinampas ito sa isa sa mga anak. Hindi niya naalala na may nakahudlot na itak sa loob nito. Dahil dito ay aksidenteng nabawian ng buhay ang nasabing anak.
Sa labis na pagsisisi ng ama, nagboluntaryo siyang buhatin ang isang krus na ginawa ng Catholic youth organization para ilagay sa bundok ng Mogao. Bilang penitensiya, mag-isang binuhat ng ama ang krus mula sa paanan ng bundok, hanggang sa tuktok nito. Tiniis nito ang makipot, matalahib at matarik na daan papunta sa pinakamataas na bahagi ng Mt. Mogao.
Sa ngayon ay may nakasementong tablet sa tabi ng krus, nakasulat ang pangalan ng mga Catholic youth na bumubuo nito, at ang pangalan ng nasabing ama na siyang bumuhat sa krus.
Ayon din sa cultural mapping book, ito ay itinalaga ng Catholic at Anglican churches bilang isa sa mga lugar kung saan isinasagawa ang Stations of the Cross tuwing Semana Santa.
Upang bigyang-halaga ang bundok at ang mga kwentong nakapaloob dito, isa ang Mt. Mogao na inilistang natural heritage ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Tadian."
2980,"A young just became the first in the world to legalize gay marriage by popular vote. Will the Philippines be next? Unlikely.Here are the top ten reasons gay marriage will never be legal in the Philippines:It’s in the books, but in actuality, there is no such thing as ‘Separation of Church and State’ Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines ( CBCP) Senator Tito Sotto Congressman Manny Pacquiao CBCP CBCP CBCP CBCP CBCP CBCP"
2991,"Inatasan ng Office of the Ombudsman ang isa nitong Asst. Special Prosecutor na magpaliwanag sa alegasyon na naibunyag ng umano’y dating bagman ni Vice President Sara Duterte na si Ramil Madriaga.
Dalawang araw o 48 oras ang binigay ng Ombudsman na panahon kay Assistant Special Pro­secutor Ryan Rey Quilala na ipaliwanag kung bakit hindi siya maaaring ma­nagot sa isyung ito.
Si Quilala ang dati umanong propesor ni VP Duterte sa San Sebastian College - Recoletos (SSC-R) College of Law. Sinabi rin sa alegasyon na tinulungan umano ni Quilala si Sara na makapasa sa law school.
“You are reminded that any proof of your participation in the alleged illegal activities with Mr. Madriaga may subject you to administrative and criminal prosecution. This includes, but is not li­mited to, violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713),” nakasaad sa show-cause order na naipalabas ng Ombudsman kay pro­secutor Quilala na may petsang April 15.
Ang kautusan ng Ombudsman ay kasunod ng pahayag ni Madriaga sa pagdinig ng House Committee on Justice na nag-deliver umano siya ng pera kay dating Ombudsman Samuel Martires at Quilala sa utos umano ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at Sara.
Una nang itinanggi ni Martires ang alegasyon sa kanya ni Madriaga."
3001,"The Aquino administration on Monday defended its handling of controversial tax issues, especially the refund of value-added taxes (VAT) for some foreign companies with local investments and the long-running PEACe bonds.In a statement e-mailed to the Inquirer, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. quoted Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares who pointed out that “the rules, law and jurisprudence are clear: all VAT refunds are processed within 120 days. Taxpayers will know within this 120-day period what they have to do: either they will be granted or denied a refund. If they do not get a response, the refund is deemed denied. When denied, they have 30 days within which to appeal to the court. Refunds are like exemptions: taxpayers will have to prove they are entitled to the refund.”“The processing of the refund is not ministerial on the part of the BIR,” Henares said in her comments responding to allegations that the Aquino administration had been dragging its feet and refusing to honor VAT refunds to foreign firms.“Refunds are similar to government expenditures. These will have to be based on a justifiable basis; otherwise, responsible officials can be charged with malversation or plunder, depending on the amount involved,” Henares said. “We are well aware that in the past, there had been several scams involving refunds.”Henares also responded to criticism that it reversed itself when it withheld some P4.9 billion worth of taxes from the Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificate (PEACe) bonds that it had earlier ruled to be exempt from the 20-percent final withholding tax.“We honestly believe the ruling of the BIR sometime in early 2000 (was) wrong. Why should there be a special class of government securities? All government securities should be taxed in the same way,” she said.“What these [bonds] will fund and who will receive the benefit should not have any bearing on its tax consequences,” she said. “After all, issuances of government securities are made to fund public goods. Furthermore, doubt is not purely cast upon the government side. There are other people who are also questioning the exemption.”She said that the amount involved was of such a magnitude as to open the authorities to possible plunder complaints should they eventually found to be erroneous in granting the exemption.“It is OK to defend something if you believe it is right. But I would not risk myself for something I believe is not right,” Henares said. “Prudence dictates that there should be a final declaration from the judiciary as to what is right and what is wrong.”RELATED STORIESSC orders gov’t to return P5-B tax for PEACe bonds‘Peace bonds’: market integrity as social good"
3011,"Magbibigay ang Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ng hanggang $25,000 na reward para sa makakapagbigay ng impormasyon sa isang wanted na Pinoy na sangkot sa online exploitation ng mga bata gamit ang gaming at social media platforms.
Sa post ng FBI-Dallas, kinilala ang suspek na si Austin Jan Sy Yatco at may mga alias na “Hairy Lips” at Austin Yatco.
Tubong San Pedro, Laguna ang suspek ay ipina­nganak noong Agosto 27, 1998, nasa 145 pounds at nasa 5’7” ang taas.
Nakasaad din na pinipilit umano ang mga batang biktima na gumawa ng “child pornography” na ipinapakalat naman online ng grupo kung saan kasama si Yatco.
Isang federal arrest warrant ang inilabas laban kay Yatco noong Enero 23, 2026 ng United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn, New York.
Ayon pa sa post, si Yatco ay may koneksiyon sa Plano, Texas at pinaniniwalaang naninirahan sa Pilipinas."
3021,Clippers: Lumisan sa korte ang forward na si Spencer Hawes sanhi ng galos sa kaliwang tuhod sa huling bahagi ng first quarter at 'di na nagbalik pa. ... Hindi na naming naging aktibo sina guard Reggie Bullock (sprained right ankle) at guard Chris Douglas-Roberts (sore right Achilles). ... Ang nine-game winning streak ay ang ikaapat na pinakamahaba sa kasaysayan ng prangkisa.
3031,"Si Morales, ang 3rd Fil-Am Criterium awardee, ay napasama sa tatlo-kataong Philippines Track Cycling Team na ang hangad ay masungkit ang mga medalya at maging ang importanteng mga puntos para sa nakatayang silya sa gaganaping 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Agad nakakubra ng Olympic qualifying points si Morales bunga sa pagwawagi ng medalyang pilak sa paboritong men's elite scratch event habang nasiguro rin nito ang isang silya para sa paglahok ng pambansang koponan sa nalalapit na 28th Southeast Asian Games sa Singapore sa Hunyo 5 hanggang 16. Napantayan ni Morales ang huling nagwagi ng pilak sa internasyonal na torneo na ACC sa road race na si Arnel Quirimit at sa track scratch race na si Paulo Manapul sa men's division. Ang 29-anyos na mula sa Marikina ay pumangalawa kay Benham Khalilli-Khos-Roshani ng Iran sa 15 kilometrong karera na nilahukan ng matitinding 12 riders. Maliban sa kanyang unang hakbang tungo sa Rio de Janeiro Olympic, pinutol din ni Morales ang 14 na taong pagkauhaw ng bansa sa medalya sa torneo o noong 2001 ACC sa Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Si Morales, na naging multi-stage winner sa Ronda Pilipinas, ay umatake sa huling tatlong lap matapos na bantayan ng kanyang mga kalaban, partikular ang tinanghal na Incheon Asian Games medalist na si King Leuk Chong. Sinandigan ng miyembro ng Philippine Navy Standard Insurance ang kanyang kahusayan bilang 1-kilometer time trialist kontra sa malamig na panahon sa Thailand upang biguin sa huling hiritan ang mga kalaban na mula sa Korea, Taiwan at Iran."
3040,"Katawa-tawang mang pakinggan, alam nating lahat na hindi biro ang nararanasan ng isang taong biglang sumama ang tyan at hindi na kaya pang magpigil ng paglabas ng kanyang dumi. Ganito ang nangyari sa isang babaeng inabutan ng sama ng tyan sa isang  coffee shop kung saan nakunan ng CCTV ang buong pangyayari. Sa isang video, mapapanuod ang babae na tila maayos na nakikipag-usap sa staff ng coffee shop na napag-alamang Tim Hortons. Ayon sa ulat, hindi umano pinayagan ng staff ang babae na gumamit ng banyo. Base sa kanilang patakaran, kahit naman raw sino ay welcome na makigamit nito. Subalit sa kasamaang palad, ang ilang branch o franchise ng nasabing shop ay kailangan pa raw magbigay ng passcode o susi sa customer depende sa discretion o sariling pasya ng empleyado. Dahil dito, malinaw na nagalit ang customer sa naging pagtrato sa kanya kung kaya naglabas ito ng sama ng loob sa pamamagitan ng pagdumi sa mismong harap ng cashier at ibinato ito sa staff na noong una ay pinakiusapan pa nya. Naglabas naman ng statement ang Tim Hortons tungkol dito. Saad nila, hindi umano pinayagan ng staff na gumamit ng kanilang washroom ang babae dahil sa “past behavior and out of concern for the immediate safety of team members and guests in the  restaurant. ” Dagdag pa nito, “We are deeply concerned by this video as the safety of our team members and guests is always a top priority for us,""  ""In limited cases across the country  restaurants have a restricted access policy for restrooms to ensure the well-being of our guests.” paliwanag ng kumpanya. Agad namang inaresto ng mga pulis ang babae dahil sa pagdumi sa pampublikong lugar. Panuorin dito:"
3051,"Victims of martial law on Wednesday blasted efforts to abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), expressing concern that recent administration actions favor the interests of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.A number of lawmakers also assailed House Bill No. 7376, which was approved on final reading by a vote of 165-7 on Tuesday.The measure would abolish not only the PCGG but also the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) and to transfer their functions to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).The first official act of Corazon Aquino after she assumed the presidency following the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution was the creation of the PCGG to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies.The family of the dictator, who ruled the country for 20 years, and their cronies are said to have amassed between $5 billion and $10 billion in ill-gotten wealth and have been linked to the killing, torture and forced disappearance of political foes.‘Unacceptable’Calling the measure “unacceptable,” the martial law survivors urged the Senate to reject the House bill once it reached the upper chamber.“We therefore call on the Senate and the public to outrightly expose the bill and reject it for what it is,” said Akbayan emeritus chair Loretta “Etta” Rosales, a martial law detainee and torture victim.HB 7376 would “strengthen” the OSG by making it the sole authority in all government cases and by placing it under the Office of the President for budgetary purposes.Marcos supporterThe functions of the PCGG would be taken over by a special task force composed of at least five divisions, according to the bill.The task force would maintain and preserve assets pending judicial determination if they were ill-gotten.Proposals to delegate the functions of the PCGG to Solicitor General Jose Calida, a known supporter of the Marcoses, will not help, said Rosales, a former Commission on Human Rights chair.Abolishing the PCGG and giving its powers to a “blind Marcos follower like” Calida is like rubbing salt on the wounds of martial law victims, according to Rosales.Zenaida Mique, executive director of Claimants 1081, said her fellow members were worried that the passage of the House bill would make it even harder for claimants to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.Paying political debtsRose Trajano, secretary general of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, blamed the recent developments on President Rodrigo Duterte’s fondness for the Marcoses.“The move is just another manifestation that the President, his administration, is paying his debts to the Marcoses, paving the way to preserve the behest loans and fruit of corruption of the former dictator’s family,” she said.Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the House of Representatives gifted Calida with expanded powers “[a]s if causing the removal of the Chief Justice through an irregular quo warranto petition is not enough arrogation of power” by the solicitor general.Lawmakers belonging to the Makabayan bloc reiterated on the floor their earlier objections to the bill’s passage.ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said the PCGG was being abolished despite the fact that it still had to recover more of the Marcos ill-gotten wealth.According to the PCGG, it recovered more than P170 billion in ill-gotten wealth from the family of the late dictator and his cronies from 1986 to 2015.“We’re seeing here the continuing efforts of the Duterte administration to rehabilitate the Marcos family—from his allowing the burial of the dictator’s remains at Libingan ng mga Bayani [in 2016] to his support for the vice presidency” of Bongbong Marcos, Tinio said.The recount of votes for the vice presidency being contested by the younger Marcos is underway.Gordon for keeping agencyIn the Senate, the chair of the justice and human rights committee said there might not be enough support in the Senate for a counterpart bill.Sen. Richard Gordon, one of the senators who filed similar bills abolishing the PCGG and strengthening the OSG, said he was no longer in favor of scrapping the agency.“I’m going to call one more hearing to make sure. They (PCGG) have been able to get back quite a bit. We just need to give it a timeline to finish the work and give it the support needed.”Sen. Bam Aquino said the move to abolish the PCGG could be a part of a ploy to revise history about the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses."
3060,"KAWAWANG TRILLANES PINAPALAYAS NA SA SENADO GALIT NA PINAPATAHIMIK NI ERWIN TULFOSo what can you say about this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to share this post to your family and friends online. And also, visit our website more often for more updates."
3070,"Saw the video of Leila de Lima's press conference today with Senate reporters whom she was feeding cake and pancit because her birthday is coming up.While she was denying Duterte's latest accusations against her, I was reminded of the time she defied a Supreme Court order and arrested the sick Gloria Arroyo at the airport years ago.I remember wondering at that time, what kind of person is capable of doing something like this?Even if, granting for the sake of argument, Arroyo was guilty, how can a government official—the Secretary of Justice, no less—flout a Supreme Court order so flagrantly, on live national TV, and not care about the consequences?People didn't know much about De Lima back then, but after all the revelations that have come out about her in the past days, and after hours of psychoanalysis with friends who are equally hooked on this teleserye, here's our theory on why De Lima is capable of extreme brazen acts.We call it the ""AIDS"" hypothesis. AIDS stands for Ambition, Impunity, Delusion, and Sex.(No offense to actual AIDS sufferers. This acronym is purely coincidental.)AMBITIONWe've seen in the two-day senate hearings that just ended that no one would mistake De Lima for a genius. But she was able to become head of CHR, head of DOJ, and now senator out of sheer ambition and chutzpah. Could it be that it wasn't even Noynoy Aquino who ordered her to defy the Supreme Court order and arrest Arroyo at the airport? Noynoy seems too weak to be capable of something like that. Could it be that De Lima did it on her own, to make pakitang-gilas to her boss and prove to him that there was no line she wouldn't cross? And in return for her loyalty, he got her elected senator.IMPUNITYDe Lima seems to sincerely believe she is untouchable and indestructible. No matter what she says and does, even if untrue or illegal, she honestly believes she can't be held accountable. This might be part of the reason why she was able to rise to the upper echelons of government despite minimal talent. People who are willing to take big risks and make huge gambles often become more successful than talented people who are risk-averse and worry too much about consequences.DELUSIONIn the case of Steve Jobs, this was called a reality-distortion field. Jobs's creativity was due to him not seeing reality for what it is, but for what it could be. In De Lima's case, her self-image seems to be quite different from how we ordinary folk see her. For example, she has no qualms carrying on like a femme fatale with her driver and the MMDA motorcycle guy despite her advanced age and appearance. She even said in the birthday press con, ""I'm about to turn 57, I'm still young."" Clearly she sees herself very differently from how we see her. In her mind, she is a young and desirable vixen.BTW, she admitted in the press con that the MMDA motorcycle guy Warren is still part of her security staff.SEXThe Bible says money is the root of all evil. But sex is also another root of evil. Duterte said De Lima's ""urges"" caused her to become entangled in the illegal activities of the men she had ""sex escapades"" with. I feel kind of sorry for her in this aspect. How many times have we seen old, lonely, sex-starved women taken advantage of by devious men who f*ck them for their money, power, connections, etc? Even her sex video might have been recorded by one of the men she got involved with for future leverage against her.I wonder why no one from the yellow camp seems to be speaking out to defend De Lima now. She sold her soul to the devil to do their dirty work for them, and now that she's in a bind, they're nowhere to be seen.De Lima said in her press con that despite all the things happening to her, her spirit can't be broken. This is the AIDS talking, as explained above. She needs to believe that she can't be broken, otherwise she won't be able to go on.-----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2016/08/filipinos-abandon-yellow-narrative-embrace-duterte-way/#comment-1714749"
3080,"Reaction Times(It) doesn’t have to be true, (it) just needs to look like that.Inquirer's Oscar Franklin TanRappler and Tony La VinaFirst, that there’s a call for Duterte’s resignation, but not a move for his ouster.Second, that Robredo and Lewis deny meeting in the US over the holidays, with Robredo claiming that the last time they met was in the first half of 2016.Third, that there is no connection between Pete Silva and the OVP so far.Businessworld's Greg MacabentaBetrayal of public trustPublic Trust on Mainstream mediaThe Future of Mainstream MediaDONT FORGET TO SHARE!RELATED POSTS:Two weeks ago, I published “ Inside Leni Robredo's international propaganda machinery ”. The article featured emails published in the Yahoo! Group Global Filipino Diaspora Council (GFDC), a civil society group led by billionaire lobbyist Loida Nicolas-Lewis, her sister and former Commission on Filipinos Overseas chief Imelda Nicolas, and a several other extremely influential members of the Overseas Filipino community.In that article, two basic things were shown:First, that the Office of the Vice-president (OVP) actively controls its side of the ongoing propaganda war, as shown a forwarded email-directive supposedly sent by a certain Pete Silva.Second, that the OVP is supported by a network of influential and wealthy individuals – including the powerful Nicolas Sisters – who disseminate, promote, and/or implement these email-directives.The article quickly went viral in a few hours as it garnered hundreds of thousands of hits and tens of thousands of social media shares.Yes, it became a full-blown scandal.Vice-president Leni Robredo's office reacted just like how it did during the #NasaanSiLeni (#WhereisLeni) scandal of the preceding week [ TP: Pregnancy Doctor ], where it took the office several days to issue a clarificatory statement.Truth be told, I was not totally surprised by the glacial pace at which Robredo's PR Team works because one of my contacts in the Senate, who used to be aligned to Liberal Party (LP), explained to me that the standard operating procedure of many PR operators is to let the issue simmer for two to three days before issuing counter-statement.The problem, however, is that social media doesn't sleep.This SOP, while generally considered effective in the era of TV, radio, and print, doesn't work in the era of the internet, an era where people have access to content on demand.What's worse, the OVP's silence was further accentuated by mainstream media's failure to pick up the story right away. For two full days, not a single mainstream outlet wrote anything about it. Whatever mainstream's reasons are, this deafening silence only managed to magnify the OVP incompetence, whether real or perceived.Let me borrow the words of Robredo benefactor and billionaire lobbyist Loida Nicolas-Lewis [ Yahoo ]:But mainstream eventually picked it up, and how they treated the #LeniLeaks issue was nothing short of fascinating, and let me cite the most prominent ones.In his column, the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Oscar Franklin Tan called the #LeniLeaks issue a “bizarre nonstory”, as he focused on the ouster plot angle of my original article [ Inq ]. Tan has a penchant for writing Inquirer articles with clickbait titles, but this one was particularly sneaky.Specifically, Tan wasted no time citing Mocha Uson as a reference, despite the fact that it was my statements that he attempted to rebut. And how was I cited in his column? I was called “one”.Why did he do that? Well, if he said “Thinking Pinoy”, his readers would have visited my website. They would have seen that the issue is not the ouster plot per se, but Leni Robredo's shady propaganda email.Imagine this: if Tan mentioned “Thinking Pinoy”, his readers would have discovered that Leni Robredo told her followers to “flip the memes and show unflattering pictures of BBM (Bongbong Marcos)”, that Robredo suggested that her followers use issues such as “coccaine addict”, “fake diploma”, and “Sandro is stupid.”The problem: the OVP email was #LeniLeaks' central topic and NOT the ouster plot.But of course, the ouster plot is easier to rebut, but the OVP email isn't, so why don't we just mention Mocha Uson and her alone?I guess Tan can't find an alibi for Pete Silva's OVP email.College sorority blog and Liberal Party apologist [ Rappler ] also published a rebuttal, where it cited three loopholes in my original article, namely:On the first point, Former Ateneo School of Government Dean Tony La Vina is right when said that calling “for the President’s resignation is a free political exercise.” The problem, however, is that he conveniently forgot to mention that the ouster plot is NOT the central topic of my article. Instead, it's the OVP email from Pete Silva.On the second point, Robredo's denial works only if she told the truth. But as De La Salle Professor Antonio Contreras pointed out, Robredo and Lewis met at an Overseas Filipino event held in August 2016, where Robredo was the keynote speaker while Lewis was a panelist [ NYConsulate ].Yes, Robredo lies.On the third point, I would concede that a connection between Pete Silva has yet to be established. But for the sake of argument and in consideration of the damning contents of that email, isn't it incumbent upon the vice-president to [1] deny that the email came from her office and [2] at least offer to investigate this email?Not long after #LeniLeaks erupted, Robredo cried foul over her disinvitation from Malacanang's Vin d'Honneur, saying that “If they are mad at me, so be it. But they should have given my office a little respect [ Inq ].” Yes, Robredo wants her office to be respected, but she's fine with not denying the email and with Pete Silva using her office's name to propagate black propaganda?And just like the Inquirer, Rappler conveniently forgot to cite the source of #LeniLeaks. That's just like telling their audience that something is wrong, without telling them exactly what that “something” is.What is Rappler so afraid of? Surely, an unknown blogger is no match for Her Majesty Maria Ressa and her scales.Anyway, let's go to the third and final article. I saved the best for last.I can smell the fear among mainstream media men, but I found one dissenter who was brave enough to mention Thinking Pinoy: Businessworld's Greg Macabenta [ BW ].The problem? Macabenta is not very smart and, to say the least, hyper.Macabenta's first twenty-or-so paragraphs were basically rants in the form of ad hominems, where he suggested that I was in the business of fear-mongering, so I skipped that part. After all, Macabenta already successfully made himself look like an idiot without my help. Suffice it to say, the first half of the article was mostly “pambalot sa tinapa”. What's interesting, however, was everything that followed next.Midway through the article, Macabenta acknowledged meeting with GFDC's members in Atty. Rodis' residence, something that my original blog post never mentioned. And his article went round and round this admission.I do not know if Macabenta has been sniffing glue, but it appears that he was rebutting a Thinking Pinoy article that he never read.Macabenta wrote, “Neither David nor Pimentel was at the Rodis residence. But I was. And so was Loida Nicolas-Lewis. And so were many other prominent Filipino Americans...”Alright, so Loida's GFDC is alive and kicking, that's what I can deduce from this admission. But then, GFDC is not the focal point the original article, instead, it's Pete Silva's OVP email. But the ouster plot is easier to tackle, right?Just like Inquirer's Tan, Macabenta chose to fixate on the ouster plot, not the fact that the OVP may have committed a grievous ethical breach by using government funds to undermine the government.The discovery of the email-directive was solid. It's a solid story. It's just that these mainstream outlets hate citing social media blogs like mine because they are afraid of making us look more legitimate, and they're too proud to even paraphrase our discoveries.Too bad we don't need mainstream media's validation anymore.Pete Silva's email that was supposedly from the OVP and was forwarded by no less than CFO Chair Imelda Nicolas is the most important discovery in the #LeniLeaks emails. And did I mention that that email that also happen to have been published in pro-Leni pages Silent No More and Educators for Leni Robredo, on the same day that Nicolas received it?Today is the 22nd of January, or almost two weeks since the #LeniLeaks controversy blew up. As of this article's writing, the OVP has neither denied the authenticity of the email nor offered to investigate the matter.Did Tan, Rappler, and Macabenta – members of the mainstream media – find this detail so trivial, or are they just running out of excuses for Our Lady of Naga? Yes, mainstream media's half-assed treatment of the #LeniLeaks issue serves only to validate their personal political biases.Too bad everybody knows about #LeniLeaks already. If there's one thing that I realized during this whole #LeniLeaks saga, it's that the Filipino People hardly need mainstream media anymore.The public doesn't trust mainstream media anymore, and social media is starting to take over.As of January 2016, 74 percent of the 48 million Filipinos on Facebook are over 19 years old [ WeAreSocial ], that's about 35 million voters who get their first taste of the latest news on Facebook, and we expect more voters to join the platform as the internet penetrates an even larger part of the populace. The remaining 26%, who are aged 13 to 18, will reach voting age by 2022. That is, by the next presidential elections, around 48 million will be online.What is my point?More than just exposing the duplicity of Vice-president Leni Robredo, #LeniLeaks showed us that mainstream media has finally lost its monopoly in information. With social media, the regular Filipino can be directly informed about the latest developments in the national scene.If Duterte's continually stellar satisfaction ratings [ Sunstar ] despite mainstream media's anti-Duterte barrage is to imply something, that would be the reality that most Filipinos have started to trust social media players more than their mainstream counterparts, as the strongest social media players right now – Mocha Uson, Sass Sasot, and ThinkingPinoy – are largely pro-Duterte.Mainstream media, of course, will not necessarily die. But I am pretty damn sure that it will just become a shadow of its former self.Mainstream media vs social media will be like Kodak vs digital photography In 2016, we were witness to one of the most aggressive mainstream media ad campaigns of the presidential candidates. Despite the billions that Roxas, Poe, and Binay spent on ads, it was Duterte – who spent the least – who won the polls [ TP: SOCE ].Yes, it appears that pol ads have lost their once-mythical efficacy, and I expect that trend to continue in future, as more and more people ditch mainstream media for online platforms.I think that by this point, most politicians have realized that expensive TV, radio, and print ads are not as effective as they were in the past, and I believe that in response, they will start recalibrating their campaign strategies in recognition of this development.The “2022 election wars” shall be fought online. Mainstream media companies, whose incomes rely heavily on political ads, are bound to suffer. That is, the news arms of mainstream media companies will most likely downsize in the not-too-distant future.Ah, writing about mainstream media people losing their jobs will be fun! [ TP Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
3090,"Ilang taon nang hindi maka-detect ng mga submarine ang Philippine Navy mula sa mga kapitbahay na bansa na nagkukubli sa karagatan ng Pilipinas. Pero dahil nabiyayaan sila ng dalawang anti-submarine choppers, may kakayanan na ang Philippine Navy na maka-detect nito. Dumating kasi ang dalawang AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopters noong Martes, ayon kay Navy Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad. ""It's a great leap to our capability that we have equipment that can locate subsurface, submarines, we can detect the submarines going through our waters,"" ani Empedrad. ""It can detect and it can sink, it can destroy submarines because these choppers have torpedoes and it is not only for detection, it can destroy too, so, this has a good capability but because the waters are too wide, we will need more of it,"" dagdag niya. Nabili ang dalawang helicopter ng P5.4 billion kasama na ang mission essential equipment, munition, at integrated logistic support. ""Limited lang yung makikita dahil dalawa lang, ang luwag-luwag ng dagat natin. Pero at least yung mga nasa sea lanes of communication natin pwedeng ma-monitor kung may dumaan na submarines,"" aniya pa. Kaya umano nitong makawasak ng mga submarine dahil mayroon itong torpedoes."
3101,"The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Wednesday gave the go-signal to universities and colleges to shift to full online classes for the rest of the academic year (AY) in light of the fuel crisis brought about by the Middle East conflict.311In a memorandum, CHED said it released the guidance for higher education institutions (HEIs) on implementing learning modalities as part of the country’s efforts to conserve energy amid the oil crisis.312“During the national energy emergency, HEls may adopt up to 100% online delivery as necessary and as a temporary arrangement, subject to institutional capacity and student readiness and notification to the CHEDRO (CHED Regional Office) concerned,” the commission said.313“Such temporary arrangements shall not be construed as authority to operate undergraduate and graduate programs through Open Distance and e-Learning,” it added.314It said the advisory remains effective until the end of AY 2025–2026 (including summer classes). A new advisory will be issued before AY 2026–2027.315It urged HEIs to use and continuously upgrade their approved plans in implementing flexible learning modalities.316Meanwhile, laboratory and skills-based components will be conducted onsite or through appropriate alternative modalities without compromising learning outcomes.317HEIs were also tasked with developing and implementing operational protocols for energy conservation measures. Consider student readiness, infrastructure, and program requirements when determining appropriate learning modalities.318They must provide students with adequate psychosocial support and guidance during flexible learning and consider.319In a statement, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) expressed alarm over CHED’s decision to allow HEIs to shift to online classes.320“The reality remains: millions of Filipino students are still not equipped for a fully digital learning environment. Years after the pandemic, the same systemic issues persist—unstable internet connectivity, high cost of mobile data and electricity, lack of access to personal devices, and home environments that are not conducive to learning,” SCAP said.321“In this context, a full shift to online classes is not simply a flexible option, it becomes a policy that disproportionately excludes students from low-income and marginalized sectors,"" it added.322President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier declared a state of national energy emergency, as prices of petroleum products are expected to further increase due to the Middle East conflict.323He had also announced that starting March 9, 2026, a four-day workweek will be temporarily implemented in offices under the executive department, as the Middle Conflict impeded the shipping of petroleum products in the Strait of Hormuz, which is considered the world's most vital oil export route.324Marcos also directed all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including GOCCs, to reduce their actual electricity and fuel consumption by 10% to 20%."
3250,"Filipinos are known to be among the most, if not the most warm and hospitable people in the world. This trait has recently been confirmed by a worldwide survey conducted by the World Travel Association (WTA).WTA surveyed one million frequent travelers from the Americas, Europe, Asia and other continents. The single- question survey asked “Which of the countries you have visited in the past year has extended to you the warmest welcome?” The Philippines topped the list in the survey.Survey respondents were in agreement that their warm welcome experience happened as soon as they landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Upon disembarking from the plane and entering the airport terminal, they said they were immediately greeted by entertainers singing hit songs like ‘Gangnam Style.’ The warm atmosphere was further enhanced by the non-functioning airconditioning units at NAIA, making the temperature inside the terminal feel almost twice the heat and humidity outside. The average temperature in Manila during the summer months is 34 degrees celsius or 94 degrees fahrenheit.Philippine Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya said he was elated over this new honor bestowed upon the Philippines and “extremely proud of the work by airport authorities.” He commended NAIA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado for creating a warm atmosphere at the airport.In the light of this new survey, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has decided to change its campaign meme of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” to “The Philippines: Hot as an Oven!” “A visit to the Philippines is a life-changing experience that starts right at NAIA,” DOT said."
3261,"May 25 organikong prodyuser mula sa iba’t-ibang munisipalidad ng Tarlac ang lumahok sa pagsasanay sa paggawa ng rice wine.
Ang naturang aktibidad ay inorganisa ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Tarlac para sa mga miyembro ng Tarlac Organic Producers- PGS Association Inc. na nakabase sa bayan ng Gerona.
Ayon kay DTI OIC-Provincial Director Florencia Balilo, tinuruan ang mga benepisyaryo ng proseso ng paggawa ng wine gamit ang lakatan (regular glutinous rice) at organic red rice.
Ang isinagawang pagsasanay, ani Balilo, ay naglalayong magpakilala ng panibagong kasanayan sa mga organikong prodyuser upang lumikha ng bagong produkto.
Dagdag pa rito, layunin nitong linangin at pagyamanin ang kaalaman ng grupo upang mas mapataas pa ang kalidad ng kanilang mga produkto.
Bahagi ang pagsasanay sa programa ng DTI na nagbibigay ng mga training sa iba’t-ibang sektor sa lalawigan ng Tarlac.
Matapos ang aktibidad ay patuloy pa rin ang tulong ng ahensya sa pamamagitan ng pagmo-monitor ng mga Negosyo Center na matatagpuan sa lahat ng munisipalidad at siyudad ng Tarlac."
3271,"Sasagupain ng HD Spikers ang wala nang tsansa sa kampeonato na Foton Tornadoes sa ganap na alas-2:00 ng hapon habang magkakasukatan nang lakas ang nangungunang Petron Blaze Spikers at nagpapakita ng kalidad na Generika sa ganap na alas-4:00 ng hapon sa women's division para sa prestihiyosong inter-club tournament na inorganisa ng Sports Core kasama ang Air 21, My Phone, Via Mare, Mikasa, Mueller Sports Medicine, Healthway Medical, Generika Drugstore, LGR at Jinling Sports bilang technical partners. Pag-aagawan din ng baguhang Cavite Patriots-Fourbees at beteranong Maybank ang matira-matibay na salpukan para sa ikatlong puwesto sa pagkikita nila sa ganap na alas-6:00 ng gabi sa men's division. Hindi makakasama ng Generika ang head coach nila na si Ramil de Jesus bagamat hangad ng Life Savers na ituloy ang itinala nilang apat na sunod na panalo upang agawin ang solong ikalawang puwesto matapos na huling biguin ang RC Cola Raiders sa iskor na 25-15, 25-21, 15-25, 25-21. ""Our game against Petron will test not only their mental toughness but their whole character. Hindi porke pasok na kami sa top 4 ay puwede na kaming mag-relax. We want the game to gain as much possible advantage if ever we could meet them again,"" sinabi ni De Jesus, na binitbit ang Life Savers sa 6-3 (panalo-talo) karta. Anuman ang maging resulta ng laban sa pagitan ng Petron at Generika ay hindi na makakaapekto sa kanilang silya sa semifinals. Okupado ng Blaze Spikers ang unang puwesto na bitbit ang 8-1 karta at pumangalawa naman ang Life Savers. Importante naman para sa Cignal HD Spikers ang unang laro kung saan ay kailangan nilang manalo kontra sa Foton Tornadoes upang makapantay sa kartada ang nasa ikatlong puwesto na RC Cola-Air Force na may 5-5 marka. Bitbit ng HD Spikers ang 4-5 marka. Base naman sa format ng torneo ay ookupahan ng Blaze Spikers ang unang puwesto habang malalaglag ang Generika sa ikatlong puwesto dahil sa mas mababa ang ranking na dedetermina sa match point, bilang ng panalo, set quotient at points quotient. Ookupahan ng RC Cola-Air Force (5-5) ang ikalawang puwesto habang ang Cignal (4-5) ang ikaapat anuman ang maging resulta ng laro nila kontra sa Foton. Dahil sa istatistika ay sasagupain ng Petron ang Cignal habang muling magsasagupa ang RC Cola-Air Force at ang Generika sa sudden-death semifinal sa Biyernes. Ang dalawang magwawagi ay uusad sa kampeonato na gaganapin naman sa Linggo. ""Hindi madaling kalaban ang Foton. They have nothing to lose. Kailangan talaga na ibigay namin ang best namin para umangat ang standing namin at mas gumanda pa ang chances namin na makahabol sa finals,"" sinabi ni Cignal coach Sammy Acaylar, na pinutol ang apat na sunod na kabiguan matapos biguin sa kontrobersiyal na laro ang RC Cola Air Force, 3-2 set, sa iskor na 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-16, 16-14."
3280,"You've painted an overly idyllic picture of Davao's melting pot here. It may be 'peaceful,' but as a foreigner I can't walk down the street without getting a load of 'hey, Joe' cat-calls from all ages and made to feel like an alien in their city.I haven't experienced that level of harassment (however benign, it's a constant annoyance) in any other country in Asia, not even elsewhere in the Philippines, urban or rural. Foreigners are still something of a novel concept in Davao and they are extremely provincial even when comparing themselves to their countryfolk from Manila and Cebu who they have clear stereotypical views about.----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/08/ramon-bautistas-hipon-joke-davao-women-should-lighten-up/comment-page-1/#comment-643419"
3291,"The Sandiganbayan has sentenced former Angeles City Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno to at least 12 years to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for the unlawful donation of a city-owned service vehicle to a nongovernment organization (NGO) in 2010.In its 26-page ruling, the antigraft court found Nepomuceno guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for giving unwarranted benefits to a private party and for binding the government into a disadvantageous contract.The vehicle’s recipient, Abelardo Pamintuan Jr., president of Kapanalig Angeles City Inc., was also convicted and given the same prison term.Kapanalig received the donation of a Mitsubishi Adventure GLS 2.5 vehicle worth P786,000.Nepomuceno said he would appeal the Sandiganbayan’s decision.“We’re filing a motion for reconsideration of the March 27 decision of the antigraft court’s fourth division,” Nepomuceno said without elaborating.The case stemmed from the June 8, 2010, donation of a Mitsubishi Adventure GLS 2.5 vehicle with the plate number SHL 124 to Kapanalig which was not a government entity. State prosecutors questioned the donation for violating the Local Government Code.In its ruling, the Sandiganbayan said “the donation … is without justification because a motor vehicle which is still in use by the city government is not allowed.”Citing the Commission on Audit Circular No. 92-386, the court said only government vehicles that have become unserviceable or no longer needed may be disposed of at a public auction.It added that only “disposable government property” reported for disposition may be donated subject to the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. In this case, the donated vehicle was “never reported for disposition.”The donation was also deemed disadvantageous to the government, with the court pointing out that had Nepomuceno followed the rules on disposable property, the vehicle could have been auctioned off or transferred to another agency instead.The decision also cited the “hasty manner” of Nepomuceno in allowing the donation at Pamintuan’s request.“As soon as he found out that there was an available motor vehicle, [Nepomuceno] immediately set in motion the processing of the donation by giving instructions to the city administrator to make the necessary request from the city council to authorize him to execute the said donation,” the decision read.The court also pointed to the Commission on Audit’s findings in Audit Observation Memorandum No. 2010-005-(10) as reiterated in the Interim Report on the Audit of the Accounts and Operations of the City of Angeles.A total of 11 functioning and newly acquired motor vehicles with acquisition cost of P10.21 million were donated to different barangays, government agencies and NGOs without ample consideration for the city’s financial condition and service needs, and without observing the pertinent rules, the said report found.Justice Reynaldo P. Cruz penned the decision"
3300,"High school graduate? No problem! Maaari nang mag-apply bilang flight attendant o cabin crew ang mga bagong graduate pa lamang ng high school. Sa Facebook post ng Become a Flight Attendant Philippines, ay inilabas nito ang listahan ng mga requirements kung paano magiging bahagi ng malalaking airlines company sa bansa sa taong 2019. Trabaho ng isang flight attendant ay tiyaking ligtas at maayos ang biyahe ng kanilang mga pasahero. Sila rin ang namamahala kapag nagkakaroon ng sakuna at tinitiyak nila ang pagsunod sa Federal Aviation Administration. Maliban sa height requirements at madalas na pagkakaroon ng good looks ay tumatanggap na rin ang mga kompanya ng eroplano ng mga high school graduates. Ilan sa mga dati nang requirements sa pagiging flight attendant ang mga sumusunod: nakakompleto ng dalawang taong kurso; binata o dalaga; hindi bababa sa 27-anyos; mahusay sa pasulat at pasalitang komunikasyon sa wikang Ingles; may taas na 5'3'' at tugma ito sa kanyang timbang; may groomed-professional image; maayos na ngipin at makatawag-pansing ngiti; at mature, may positibong pag-uugali, may kakayahang umangkop at may kaaya-ayang pag-uugali. Bagama't may sariling kurso ang pagiging flight attendant ay maaaring mag-apply ang mga nakapagtapos ng ibang kurso. Daraan din ang mga aplikante sa tamang proseso ng aplikasyon. Ayon sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), ang nagsisimula pa lamang na flight stewardess ay sumahod ng nasa P18,000 - P26,000 at maaaring tumaas pa ng P36,000- P54,000 depende sa training at karanasan. Bentahe rin nila ang makarating sa iba't ibang lugar sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo. Sa mga interesadong aplikante maaaring i-click ang Facebook account ng Become a Flight Attendant Philippines."
3310,"(In the #KungAkoSiRody article series, ThinkingPinoy attempts to “play the political Game of Thrones” by pretending to be President Rodrigo Duterte.)It’s too late to “kurakot”.JPE himself drew this cave painting during the last Ice Age.I never forgot Jojo.I do not micromanage.I know the art of saying “No!”I keep my friends close, but I keep my enemies closer.My future Executive Order FOI, and 26 September 2019Supreme Court Justices, labelled according to decreasing seniority. The 8th oldest (newly-appointed Jardeleza, shown in image is predecessor Abad), will retire on 26 September 2019. That is, Duterte would have appointed 8 out of 15 (majority) of SC judges by the end of 2019 [TP: Supreme Court Math].[Please share]I, Rodrigo Duterte, can admit that, at first glance, some of my preliminary cabinet choices do not meet your expectations. Just like past administrations, you were expecting me to appoint martyrs with scot-free reputations. Thus, I can just imagine the shock that you felt after hearing about the first few men that I invited to the fold. News outlets were quick to judge me. They said I am ruffling feathers in my own circle [ Rappler ], and that I am just appointing KKK or kaibigan, kaklase, kabarilan [ Inq ].I am 71 years old. I am probably in my last decade, and I will be the most ancient president this country has ever had. The only politician older than me is that fossil that goes by the name of “Juan Ponce Enrile”.Throughout my over 40-or-so years as a government prosecutor and a public official in Davao City, I have never been entangled in any serious corruption scandal. Putang ina, throughout the three presidential debates, where every candidate was throwing corruption allegations at each other, didn’t you even notice that no one tried to throw one at me?Yes, Trillanes’ P2.4 billion BPI Julia Vargas allegation counts as a major scandal. However, let me ask the question: why did people give credence to Trillanes, whose word is less valuable than a pothole in EDSA? The answer is simple: people believed it because it was so unbelievable. Just read what ThinkingPinoy wrote a few weeks ago and you’ll see what I mean [ TP: BPI Julia Vargas ].I will be your president for the next six years. If I will “kurakot” all your money and assuming that I will reach the ripe age of 80 years, I will have a full four years to enjoy the loot. Wouldn’t that be stupid, let alone fact that I will be destroying my family’s good name in the process for the rest of eternity? That's just stupid.Here's a tip: watch less ""Ang Probinsiyano"" and more of ""House of Cards"". It helps.I hate spoon-feeding explanations but let me break this down for you.Let me remind you about what happened to the fallen Vice-president Jejomar Binay.Jojo always dreamed of becoming the country’s president. He was so eager that he announced his presidential plans in as early as 2014. Adding the fact that he topped all voter preference surveys at the time, he became the prime target of all his political rivals.For a glorious 20 months’ worth of senate investigations, he was tried, scourged, and crucified [ Rappler ]. His rating took a death drop because of that [ Inq ]. If it weren’t for that long-drawn investigation, no one among Roxas, Poe, and I could have stood a chance against him.But for your benefit, let me give you a glimpse of what I plan to do.The government is one gigantic monster of an organization, and reining it in requires the help of people that I can entrust my life to, people who I know will stick with me even when the going gets rough. I do not want to fill my core team with the likes of Joey Salceda, who basically raised the definition of turncoatism to a whole ‘nother level [ Inq ].When I said a Trudeau-esque cabinet [ TP: Trudeau ], I was referring to positions below cabinet secretaryships. Why? Because hiring outsiders at the onset is risky for my still-fragile hold on power, and outsiders are more likely to be overwhelmed by the political pressures that their prospective positions will entail. You might have worked in an office before so you’re probably familiar with office politics. Now, multiply that by a million and that’s the kind of shit cabinet secretaries go through every single day.Now, as soon as I get comfortable in Malacañan, then that may be the time when I let qualified outsiders in. But for now, I will limit this meritocratic Trudeau thing to undersecretaryships and lower positions. Don’t be picky, I am already generous as it is. Just look at PNoy who never even bothered discussing his choices before he occupied the palace.Now, it’s time to talk about those politically-charged presumptive cabinet appointees. I know that's what you're itching to know.Let’s assume that I chose the crappiest possible cabinet members and that fact had you thoroughly pissed. What you forgot, however, is that I still have over a month to go before I get sworn in. Did you know that PNoy announced his cabinet just a day before he took office [ Mirror ]? Meanwhile, I pretty much showed you my plans a day after I got elected. Didn’t it even occur to you that something is off?Let me teach you one thing about politics:Imagine this, Governor Trapo flies from Manila to Davao City, visits me at Matina Enclaves, and kisses my ass so he can ask a favor. You, the wise-ass idealist, would want me to say no, so I say no. Thus, a fuming Governor Trapo angrily leaves the Matina Enclaves and will then start plotting something against me as soon as he gets home. Inquirer ].Thus, instead of an outright “No,” I say “Yes,” and let Mr. Trapo and the media think I said yes. Because it’s still a month to go before oath-taking, I basically fed Mr. Trapo to the wolves. Yes, you and the rest of the country are the wolves. Mr. Trapo will be roasted in every major newspaper, every major TV network, on every AM radio station, to a point where I can just tell him in June, “Look, I want you, but the Filipinos clearly don’t.”But what if Governor Trapo turns out to be more shameless than I thought? Then here comes my Plan B.Let’s assume that despite public hatred, Mr. Trapo still insists on staying. Of course, I can just eventually fire Mr. Trapo as soon as he fucks up. But what if he abuses his power so subtly that no one notices it right away? Now, suppose Mr. Trapo is one thick-skinned motherfucker, then it’s time to cite two things:I am not Congress so I virtually have no power over the passing of the FOI bill – that’s the legislature’s job. However, I am the God of the Executive Department, so I can just impose FOI on all of my subordinates [ Inq ]. Did you forget what I said last week? I said all applicants in bureaus and government corporations must agree to have their names published [ Star ]. Now, combine the FOI EO with the knowledge of who to attack via the list of names, then you will obviously have a field day haranguing Mr. Trapo.I will use your investigative reports to find damning evidence against Mr. Trapo, and successfully put him behind bars in as early as 26 September 2019.By 26 September 2019, eight of the fifteen Supreme Court will be my appointees. This is because SC Justices Perez, Brion, Reyes, Mendoza, Velasco, de Castro, del Castillo, and Jardeleza, would have have already retired by then [ TP: SC Math ]. If I wait for one more month, Bersamin and Carpio would have also retired, so that 10 of the 15 justices will be under my influence.Wouldn’t that be lovely? Yes, Mr. Trapo will have nowhere to go, and isn’t that what you wanted all along?My unpredicatibility is my greatest asset, that's how I won the presidential race against all odds. Yet here you are, thinking that you can easily read all of my intentions.You give yourself too much credit.My child, there's a reason why I am president... and you are not.Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
3321,"The first bulk water project here between the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) and Bacolod Bulk Water, Inc. (BBWI) is nearing its completion that will initially distribute around 30,000 cubic meters per day to improve the water delivery systems in the city.A statement from BBWI said the pipe-laying on Injection Point 1, from the intake structure to the delivery point specified by BACIWA in barangay Granada, has been completed.Nearing its completion were also the Water clarifiers and Multi Media Filters facilities, as well as the Flocculation tanks.Project engineer Joey Pastorel said that since the recent release of the building permit they have been working overtime to ensure that the bulk water project would be completed on its target date of delivery.The BBWI, headed by Ryan Yapkianwee as chairman, was awarded the project last year by the Bacolod City Water District for the construction of Injection Point 1, to supply water to the water utility firm within 18 months.This surface water approach technology ensures that the ground water will not deplete its supply as it will initially deliver 30,000 cubic meters in bulk water every day on its first year and is expected to increase up to 150,000 cubic meters in the latter phase of the program.For injection point 2, the nearly 10-kilometer bulk water pipeline connecting Sum-ag River in Murcia to Baciwa’s delivery point is also in progress, it also said.Mayor Andrew Montelibano of Murcia, Negros Occidental also said this bulk water company is also now applying for water rights in Manila to tap water from the Caliban River in his town to operate injection point 2 for its bulk water supply project.Montelibano said in an interview, BBWI was already issued a certification of no objection from the Murcia Water District and both have an agreement that the contractor will also supply water to Murcia.He said BBWI has a plant in Brgy. Salvacion of the town where they will purify water before it is delivered to Bacolod City, adding that it has secured all its local permits with them.Montelibano said he wants to share their water supply with Bacolod City because he understands that lack of water is one of the city’s problems.The rate for injection point 1 of the bulk water supply project is P8.85 per cubic meter and P9.85 for injection point 2, which is fixed for 25 years.The Bacolod Water Consumers Watch, Inc. (BWCWI or Bacolod Water Watch) will assemble the 61 barangays of Bacolod for updates on the status of the Bulk Water Supply Contract of BACIWAvtomorrow, Sept. 7, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Session Hall of the Bacolod City Government Center.The water consumers group, chaired by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., had invited Atty. Juliana Carbon, BACIWA General Manager, and Ryan Yapkianwee, Chief Operating Officer of BBWI, to be resource speakers. The meeting will discuss the status of the Bulk Water Supply Contract, the water supply shortage in the city and concerns regarding the water refilling stations.Expected to attend are representatives from the barangays of Bacolod and various water consumer stakeholders and concerned Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)."
3331,"""People need to be told in a language they can understand the dangers that they face,"" sabi Roberto Anonuevo, executive director ng Filipino Language Commission ng pamahalaan. ""Typhoons and storms are a common occurrence, so they become complacent. This will help them to respond. This is potentially lifesaving,"" aniya sa AFP. Ang mga higanteng pader ng tubig mula sa dagat, na tinatawag na ""storm surges"" na dulot ng bagyong Yolanda, ang pinakamalakas na bagyo sa kasaysayan ng bansa, ang sinisi sa pagkamatay ng halos 7,350 katao sa Central Visayas isang taon na ang nakalipas. Kahit na nabigyan ng babala ang mga lugar na pinakamatinding tinamaan, kalaunan ay inamin ng for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) at iba pang mga opisyal na bago sa pandinig ng mga biktima ang terminong ""storm surge,"" na hindi nila lubusang nauunawaan ang peligrong hatid nito. Kabilang si Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa mga nangungunang kritiko ng PAGASA na madalas niyang pangaralan ang mga forecaster na gumamit ng mga katagang nauunawan ng karaniwang tao sa kanilang mga bulletin. Halos 20 bagyo ang tumatama sa bansa bawat taon, na nagdudulot ng mga baha at pagguho ng lupa na ikinamamatay ng daan-daang katao. Ang mga lindol at pagputok ng bulkan ay kabilang sa mga namamayaning banta sa kapuluang ito sa Asia na bumubuo sa bahagi ng ""Ring of Fire"" ng mga isla sa Pasipiko. ""People with lower levels of education at times have trouble understanding technical terms,"" pagamin ni Lani Aquino, public relations officer sa PAGASA. ""So what happens is they do not make the necessary precautions for certain meteorological events,"" wika ni Aquino sa AFP. Sinabi ng tagapagsalita ng weather service na nirerepaso nila ang 300-word glossary ng mas madaling maiintindihan na mga termino sa panahon na inihanda ng komisyon ng wika, kabilang na ang mga salita para sa storm surge sa mga pangunahing diyalekto sa bansa. Bukod sa Filipino-language weather bulletin, sinabi ni Anonuevo na hahanapan din nila ng mas simpleng termino ang mga Englishlanguage weather bulletin, na mahirap mauunawaan gaya ng ""intertropical convergence zone."""
3340,"In the upcoming ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit in Laos, President Rodrigo Duterte has an opportunity to meet other heads of state. Reportedly, the prospect of meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin is something Duterte looks forward to:Duterte, after meeting repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2, confirmed that he was meeting Putin when world leaders meet in Laos next week. “That I look forward to. Gusto ko si Putin (I like Putin),” Duterte told reporters with a grin. Duterte also acknowledged that he was also like Putin: “Pareho kami… Baka sa girls. (We’re similar…maybe with girls)” Like Duterte, Putin is known for being outspoken and for making firm but controversial decisions.Though western media, mostly American, has made comparisons between Duterte and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the past, some outfits, like Morning News USA, have compared Duterte to Putin. They cite similarities, aside from making contentious statements, such as perceived anti-American sentiment, and supposedly questionable psychological profiles and well-beings. Though their backgrounds in law also indicate another common area, their career paths to the highest offices in their respective governments have been markedly different.Though he began his professional career as part of the City Prosecution Office in Davao City, majority of Duterte’s career has been spent in politics. He had spent more than 20 years as Davao City Mayor, and the rest of his career was as Davao City Vice-mayor, and as Congressman. Duterte is held in high regard by Davaoeños for the work he has done in making their city safe, livable, and largely crime-free. In the 2016 elections, Duterte was elected 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines.Putin, on the other hand, had spent 16 years in the KGB (in English, Committee for State Security), and had been assigned to the East German office from 1985 until the Berlin Wall fell down. After that, he returned to his home town of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and worked under several local government offices until his former professor, Anatoly Sobchak, lost his reelection bid for mayor. In 1996, Putin started working in Moscow as part of the Presidential Property Management Department. He had also served as part of the Presidential Staff under Boris Yeltsin. In August 1999, Putin was appointed, first as Deputy Prime Minister, then as Prime Minister. On 31 December 1999, Yeltsin stepped down, and according to Russia’s constitution, Putin was to be the Acting President of the Russian Federation until elections could be called. Vladimir Putin first officially became president in 2000. He is currently serving his third term as president, after also being elected in 2004, and serving as Prime Minister from 2008-2012.What Putin has over Duterte is almost two decades of experience in both the highest government office and the international arenas. If the two do get a chance to meet, it is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Duterte to exchange insights with a leader who can be best described as a pragmatist – one who exists outside the Western sphere of influence. Putin can also be described as a leader who has cemented his political future at home, and thus gives much less importance to outside perception, Western in particular, of his leadership and Russia’s place in global affairs.Though Duterte and his Philippines will never, not in this lifetime at least, achieve the position that Putin and his Russia have – one as counter-balance to dominant US global influence – it will do him well to establish relations with a world leader, one whom the West has, inadvertently or not, mistakenly alienated, and get a more holistic view of global affairs not yet “poisoned” by incompatible Western “values”, idealism, and ways of thinking. As the world slowly but surely moves away from the domination of US influence, and other players like China, India, and Russia come into the picture, Duterte, for the ultimate benefit of the Philippines, will have to learn how to play along, and move away from the tradition of putting all the Philippines’s eggs in the American basket.[NB: Parts of this article were lifted from the Wikipedia.org articles, “Vladimir Putin”, and “Rodrigo Duterte”, in a manner compliant to the terms stipulated in the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License that govern usage of content made available in this site. Photo courtesy: newsfeed.ph]"
3350,"Davao City is boasting its Emergency Response system – the Davao Central 911. Wondering what inside this popular 911 and how does it work? By watching the video below, you will be amazed how President Rodrigo Duterte pampers the dabaweños with his leadership.Watch a feature video below created by a video blogger Albert Egot, Jr on Netijourn.com.Could it be possible for the entire country? Leave your comments below!"
3361,"Rosaries and religious icons hanging from dashboards are banned if they block a driver’s line of sight, a restriction that has drawn protest from a Catholic priest, a group of jeepney drivers and senators.The items can still be placed on the rearview mirror, however, as long as these are coiled up so they don’t swing around, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).The confusion following the implementation on May 19 of the Antidistracted Driving Act, which focused on the use of communication devices and other electronic gadgets while driving, extended to religious items on dashboards.A priest claims that rosaries and small religious statues in vehicles do not cause accidents.While he agreed with prohibiting the use of cell phones when driving, Fr. Jerome Secillano said he did not agree with the LTFRB ban on rosaries and religious statuettes in cars.Missing the point“The LTFRB is absolutely missing the point by prohibiting the display of small religious images in cars,” said Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ permanent committee on public affairs.Secillano pointed out that it was not the rosaries that caused accidents on the road, but mechanical problems and the drivers’ ignorance and abusive behavior on the road.Piston, an association of jeepney drivers and owners, said no data showed that rosaries and religious trinkets caused accidents. “Do not meddle with the drivers’ faith in God,” said its president, George San Mateo.Aileen Lizada, an LTFRB board member, said religious items, such as rosaries, should not be in the line of sight of a motorist.Lizada said an earlier traffic regulation, Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01, prohibited drivers from having unauthorized accessories on dashboards or windshields.The Senate decided on Monday to look into the controversial implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Antidistracted Driving Act.Senators described as “overacting” and “excessive” the IRR interpretation of the intent of the law.They were particularly aghast that rosaries and car air fresheners were among those prohibited.Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III stood up on the floor to slam the IRR and to ask the committee on public services chaired by Sen. Grace Poe to review the rules.Sotto joined Sen. JV Ejercito in calling on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to suspend the implementation of the law pending the review.“They expanded the law … because the real intention of the law really concentrated on talking and texting, using the phone in a vehicle or by drivers,” he told reporters.Ejercito said the IRR should be stopped until it was made clear.“Looks like the officials did not understand the essence [of the law]. They have made matters complicated, when it’s basically just about banning the use of cell phones while driving,” he said.He asked that the DOTr reconsider its restrictions on the placement of cell phones within the line of sight of drivers, especially when these were used for navigational purposes.Senators Nancy Binay and Richard Gordon sought a review of the IRR as they did not believe that rosaries should be prohibited.Gordon said the IRR was the “most abused thing in the country” because it tended to change the law.Binay said the intent of the law disappeared when the DOTr interpreted it.Drivers receiving fareLizada pointed out though that the Antidistracted Driving Act did not include jeepney drivers receiving fare and handing out change while driving, which netizens pointed out was also distracting.She said that the LTFRB planned to resolve this issue by employing an automated fare collection with the jeepney modernization program.It will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to come out with a memorandum circular ordering public utility vehicles to clear their windshields.Lizada disclosed that the LTFRB was studying how signboards should be placed on jeepneys and buses, such as having only one on the lower right side of the windshield.She said UV Express vans should not have signboards because they were ferrying passengers from point to point."
3371,"The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday released certified true copies of documents on alleged irregularities committed by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno that shall be used to possibly impeach her.The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) went to the High Court and was able to obtain copies of the documents that it had requested as supposed evidence against Sereno.VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez cited the SC for its “transparency” in approving the request.“We’re very happy… I understand it was a 14-0 vote [that paved the way for the release of the documents]… [Long live] the Supreme Court,” he said.The request came from VACC and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Incorporated (VPCI), which has filed an impeachment case against Sereno.The case is yet to be endorsed by a lawmaker at the House of Representatives.“We have now done our part. Now it’s up to you guys there in the House of Representatives… please read carefully [our complaint]… you [congressmen], do your job, I [have done] mine as a citizen,” Jimenez said.Among the requested documents were:-“En Banc Resolution in A.M. 12-11-9-SC supposedly adopted on November 27, 2012 creating the Judiciary Decentralized Office (JDO) and reopening the Regional Court Administration Office (RCAO) in Central Visayas;-“Subsequent En Banc Resolution recalling A.M. 12-11-9-SC;• “Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s letter on the withdrawal of his signature in the appointment of Atty. Solomon Lumba as Chief Justice Staff Head II;• “Memorandum to the Court en banc dated December 2012 of Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro seeking the recall of honorable Sereno’s administrative order creating the new Judiciary Decentralized Office and reopening the Regional Court Administration Office; and• “En Banc Resolution creating the Needs Assessment Committee to determine the need to decentralize the functions of the Supreme Court in support of its power of administrative supervision over lower courts.”The Supreme Court, however, decided not to release the certified true copy of the memorandum of de Castro questioning Sereno’s delayed and questionable appointments without the en banc’s concurrence and the questionable travels abroad of the Chief Justice, including her staff.Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon, a lawyer, has also filed an impeachment case against Sereno in connection with her allegedly anomalous purchase of a bulletproof luxury vehicle and her non-declaration of her earnings from her stint as part of the legal team in the government case against the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. or Piatco where she acted as a legal researcher.Gadon is also seeking the release of certified true copies of documents on the car procurement and the non-declaration of true income."
3381,"A detained opposition senator is calling for a Senate inquiry into reports that more than 600,000 families face eviction from government housing units where they had been relocated following demolitions of informal settlements in Metro Manila.Sen. Leila de Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 535 asking the Senate committee on housing and resettlement to look into the plight of residents of Northville, Southville and other resettlement areas for families displaced by demolitions of informal settlements.De Lima said many of the resettled families had failed to pay amortization for their units in Northville and Southville and their contracts to occupy the houses had been canceled by the National Housing Authority (NHA).De Lima, in a statement issued from her detention quarters in the main Philippine National Police headquarters Camp Crame, said the mortgage crisis was “threatening to deprive our countrymen of their residences.”She filed the resolution after leaders of a group of resettled residents, Homeowners’ Federation of Northville and Southville Inc., brought to her attention the plight of resettled residents and poor living conditions in relocation sites.De Lima quoted the leaders as saying the relocation sites lacked water and electric supply and basic facilities like sewerage systems and access roads. The sites also lacked streetlights.At least 600,000 families from Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna had been moved out of informal settlements on the paths of two rail projects—Northrail and Southrail—from 2005 to 2014, according to De Lima.The displaced families had been relocated to 69 Northville and Southville resettlement areas built by the NHA.But De Lima said the families were now facing eviction after the NHA issued memorandum circular No. 2506 that canceled the occupancy contracts of families that failed to pay amortization for more than three months and those with contracts that had matured but failed to settle unpaid amortization.The NHA, according to De Lima, hired collection agencies and law firms to collect arrears without considering the living conditions in relocation sites.“These collection agencies and law firms do not consider the challenges the residents are facing, most of which arose from or are directly related to their relocation to these remote areas,” said the senator."
3390,"Senator Gordon, ipapatawag si PNoy kapag bubuksan ang imbestigasyon sa Mamasapano!So what can you say about this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to share this post to your family and friends online. And also, visit our website more often for more updates."
3401,"WITH the change in leadership at the House of Representatives, senators on Tuesday closed ranks to insist that when it comes to Charter change (Cha-cha), the chamber will vote separately.“The Senate will really make a stand as one regarding Cha-cha. We will assert our role in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, as simple as that,” Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.He said the Senate would not enter into a joint session or convene into a joint session with the House of Representatives if there is no clear agreement that Congress would be voting separately.“There are also ideas that we won’t make ourselves open to any possibility of a joint session, just to make sure,” he added.Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon agreed that the Senate should vote separately.“In so far as voting jointly or separately the position the Senate is firming up that we vote separately,” Drilon said.Lacson said what happened at the House on Monday, when Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was unceremoniously removed from his post, was a strong argument against a parliamentary form of government.Pampaga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo replaced Alvarez.“If GMA’s ascension to the speakership is a prelude to becoming Prime Minister, they better think twice because the Senate, both majority and minority (senators), have agreed to close ranks to defend and assert our role under the 1987 Constitution in revising or amending the same. That, I can say with certainty and conviction,” Lacson said.The House of Representatives has been pushing for Cha-cha to pave the way for the shift to a federal form of government.Lacson said rece nt developments at the House were discussed by senators on Tuesday.He said the leadership change was discussed at length, particularly its implications on Cha-cha.Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd said the President was displeased with what happened at the House on Monday and threatened not to proceed with his (State of the Nation Address (SONA).“He gave a threat to that effect (walk out),” Sotto said.Sen. Grace Poe warned against the possibility of Arroyo becoming prime minister if the proposed shift to parliamentary form of government pushes through.Poe said Arroyo would again be in power, pointing out that under a parliamentary system, the authority would be given to the parliament which is headed by the prime minister.“There is no denying that Gloria Arroyo is efficient and when they want to pursue something she could be effective in doing so. But Congress was not created to pursue political agenda but for the good of the people,” Poe said.Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the ascension of Arroyo as speaker would not look good for the Duterte administration.Ejercito said the former president has pending plunder and corruption cases."
3410,"The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee had broadcaster Erwin Tulfo and Senator Antonio Trillanes clashing in the senate hall during the hearing of the P60 million deal of Erwin’s sister, former Department of Tourism secretary Wanda Teo to BITAG Multimedia Production owned by their older brother Ben Tulfo.Erwin insisted that he is only a talent of BITAG and not a producer nor an owner who deals with DOT.On the other hand, Trillanes keeps on prejudging Erwin that he accordingly part of the plunder case. Erwin is also being pressed with the same accusation by Senator Risa Hontiveros. Erwin didn’t mind the bullets from the senators coming from the opposition and fired back instead. Watch the video belowWhat can you say about this? Leave your comments below!"
3421,Makumpleto ang isang malaking upset at makamit ang tinatarget na unang pagtuntong sa finals sa women's division ang tatangkain ng third seed na National University (NU) sa muli nilang pagtutuos ng second seed na La Salle sa pagpapatuloy ng stepladder semifinals sa UAAP Season 78 volleyball tournament sa MOA Arena sa Pasay City.
3430,"site of the record-breaking will receive the trophy from the Guinness Board of Governors at ceremonies in Malacanang (the Philippine presidential palace) on October 31, Halloween."
3440,"MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) — US Vice President Mike Pence says President Donald Trump will be attending a summit with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, in the Philippines in November.Pence says Trump will also attend the East Asia Summit that follows the regional meetings in the Philippines that same month.But not so fast.President Duterte has instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration to make sure Trump has a valid visitor’s visa when he arrives in Manila.While US citizens are not required to secure a visa to visit the Philippines, Duterte said it’s payback time for America and Trump whose travel policy is known to be anti-immigrant and unfair to Filipinos. (Filipinos have to secure a visa to visit the US.)“Since I have not been granted visa to visit the US years ago and Filipinos have to go through the eye of a needle just to get a visitor’s visa to the US, why should Trump be able to come to the Philippines without a visa,” Duterte said.Duterte’s anti-Trump policy has the support of 100% of the ASEAN leaders."
3451,"At least four Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justices will vie for the position of chief justice that was left vacant with the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno.Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta, Andres Reyes Jr. accepted their nomination while Teresita Leonardo-de Castro is expected to do the same on Thursday.Bersamin submitted the required documents on Tuesday to the Judicial and Bar Council.Bersamin, de Castro and Peralta were appointed to the high court by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Reyes was an appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte.Bersamin, the fifth most senior magistrate of the high court, penned the decision granting bail to former senator Juan Ponce Enrile and led the declaration of the pork barrel of lawmakers and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) of the Aquino administration as unconstitutional.Peralta, the fourth most senior justice, is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas College of Law.He served as prosecutor of Manila and later became a judge in Quezon City. He also served as presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan.He penned the controversial ruling allowing the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.Reyes meanwhile served as a judge in Makati City and San Mateo, Rizal. He was later appointed justice in the Court of Appeals.Reyes penned the ruling denying the petition for bail of pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim-Napoles.De Castro, the third most senior justice of the SC served as a justice at the Sandiganbayan.It was she who penned the ruling that convicted former president Joseph Estrada.The JBC will hold its first deliberation on the nominees on August 3."
3461,"Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on Thursday said he did not know where the insistence that he is with the so-called Binay faction was coming from.“I am unaware of their basis or reasons,” Coloma said, when asked by the Inquirer why it is believed that he is a loyal follower of Vice President Jejomar Binay.Coloma said he worked as a volunteer in the Noynoy Aquino Media bureau that later was named the Samar group during the 2010 presidential campaign. He also served Mr. Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, in various capacities.“As Cabinet members, my colleagues and I serve at the pleasure of the President,” Coloma said.Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa is also reportedly a supporter of Binay in the Samar faction but Palace sources have denied this.“He (Ochoa) will go where the President goes. It’s a misreading that Ochoa is pro-Binay,” said the source, who declined to be identified for lack of authority to speak to reporters.Another source said it was “unlikely” that Ochoa would support Binay’s presidential bid.“ES (executive secretary) is not pro-Binay. Where the President goes, he will go,” the source said, also requesting anonymity.The source added Ochoa is not even at odds with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the head of the so-called Balay faction in Malacañang who is likely to contest the presidency next year, which Binay is actively seeking.“Ochoa’s relationship with Mar is not cold but it’s warm enough,” the source said.The “Balay” and “Samar” factions in the President’s Cabinet were named after the divided and separate campaign headquarters of Mr. Aquino during the 2010 presidential campaign.The Balay group is named after the Liberal Party headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City, owned by Roxas’ family.The Samar faction was reported to be led by Binay and Sen. Francis Escudero. Escudero actively campaigned for Binay. The group is named after the street in Quezon City where the main election campaign headquarters of then Senator Aquino was located.The two groups have reportedly remained at odds since the May 2010 elections, in which Binay beat Roxas for the vice presidency.Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Ging Deles, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Senate President Franklin Drilon, and the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo are among those identified with the Balay group. Nikko DizonRELATED STORIESBinay quits Aquino CabinetTrillanes: Binay’s resignation removes conflict in straight path drive"
3470,"It happened yet again on live television. The wrong winner was announced.How can viewers forget that moment when host Steve Harvey announced that Miss Philippines was first runner-up and that Miss Colombia was the new Miss Universe when in fact, it was the other way around?Tonight at the 89th edition of the Oscar Awards, presenter Faye Dunaway announced that ‘La La Land’ had won the Academy’s Best Picture. Then in a quick turn of events, the mistake was revealed. ‘Moonlight’ had won the Oscar.It wasn’t a spoof of the Steve Harvey fiasco at last year’s Miss Universe Pageant.In a move seen by many as a very serious effort at damage control, the board of directors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved a new rule that requires all future Oscar hosts and presenters to undergo a vision test on the eve of the Oscar Awards ceremonies.“This is to make sure that the correct name or names of winners will be read correctly,” an Academy Spokesperson told The Adobo Chronicles.The Academy’s move goes a step further from what the Miss Universe Organization did at this year’s pageant in Manila. As repeat host Harvey was about to read the name of the new Miss Universe, outgoing title holder Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach rushed on stage to hand Harvey a pair of powerful magnifying lenses just to make sure there will be none of the 2016 fiasco.It wasn’t clear from the new Academy rules if a host or presenter found without a 20/20 vision will be allowed to continue with the hosting duties, or if corrective glasses or contact lenses would be required of them on Oscar night."
3481,"""Noon, ang huling northbound trip mula sa Alabang ay umaalis ng 7:30 ng gabi at ang biyaheng southbound ay umaalis naman sa Tutuban ng 7:07 ng gabi. Simula noong Disyembre 2, nag-deploy kami ng karagdagang northbound trip ng 7:50 ng gabi at soundbound trip ng 7:37 ng gabi,"" ani Dilay. Ang pagpapalawig ng biyahe ng MSC ay dahil sa 20 porsiyentong pagdami ng araw-araw na pasahero ng PNR, pero sinabi ni Dilay na magiging regular na ang nasabing dagdag na biyahe kahit pa matapos na ang Disyembre. Hindi gaya ng PNR, mag-o-operate sa regular nitong schedule ang mga tren ng Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 at 2, at Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 kahit pa pinalawig ang operasyon ng mga shopping mall sa Metro Manila ngayong Christmas season. Ayon kay Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Honorito Chaneco, kung palalawigin ang biyahe ng LRT at MRT ay masasakripisyon ang pagmamantine sa mga tren at mga elevated rail system."
3490,"Recent events have once again proven how important information is. Now an overused cliché, it is still worth reminding, in this age of the Internet and social media, how fast information can spread. While the human mind is wired to respond quickly to stories, it is not particularly well-equipped to evaluate data outside of an emotional frame. What is particularly disturbing is how today’s biggest Internet platforms — Facebook and Google — work to exploit that reptilianvestige of the human mind. Google — and Facebook in particular — continuously hone their algorithms to harvest isight from the vast amounts of data it collects from its users to tune in on what makes public sentiment tick. It then uses that insight to sharpen the digital barbs it uses to hook people onto its content.What makes content go “viral” over the Internet therefore does not necessarily depend on what makes reasonable sense. Rather it is the stories with the sharpest emotional hooks that win in today’s Internet jungle. This is what is behind the baffling spread of “fake news”. The reality is that while fake news is easily debunked by crtical analysis, its hooks into people’s psyches are not as easily pulled out. Unfortunately, political discourse has long been a game of tug-o-war between competing narratives (much of it laced with fake news). It has never been a contest between competing ideas in the real sense. The outcomes of politics result more from one or another narrative winning hearts and not the much-vaunted “wisdom of crowds” that past idealists hope the “popular will” might embody.We see the flaw in the that theory of “democracy” today. Political leaders do not necessarily represent the most sensible option. The debate surrounding how a country is run is more about “good guys” versus “bad guys” (in the minds of the consumers of these narratives) and less about objective problems and solutions. More disturbingly, social media’s elite influencers organise themselves in the same way — around personalities and stories. Technology did not change the dynamic of human interaction. It merely accelerated the outcomes — or consequences — of what remains a fundamentally primitive social dynamic of allegiances to tribes, beholdenness to mythology, and emotional reactivness.Fortunately there is hope. Data- and algorithm-driven decision making is slowly taking over many key aspects of our lives once dominated by emotion-based action. Nutrition is an example. Whereas in the past, we only had our bodily cravings to rely on to choose what to eat, many of us are now guided by scientific knowledge about the effects of various types of food on our health. We also increasingly use data-gathering devices like pedometers and wearable vital signs monitorong gadgets to track physical responses to daily choices we make. Another is religion. Religion sees the zenith of its power in societies that lack access to information and modern knowledge. When people began to understand the natural forces behind phenomena they observe everyday, they rely less on stories of long-bearded gods in white robes throwing lightning bolts from the sky while perched on a cloud.I’d like to believe the state of political discourse in the Philippines is reaching a turning point. If we take stock of the landscape today, we will find that we have gone back to square one — with the nation’s foremost influencers latched on to the personal agendas of the powers-that-be and not keeping a secure footing on objective and measureable reality. This does not serve the public well and, not surprisingly, some are beginning to regard the output of these “influencers” with a critical eye even those who come from within their own political camps. To ride on that opportunity to feed a growing community of critical partisans, we need a source of reliable information to support sound decision-making. At the moment there are many sources of information. Unfortunately, all of them are coloured by the paralysing partisanism of Philippine politics. On one end of the spectrum are the corporate-owned big media organisations that Filipinos have grown suspicious of. On the other, is state-owned PTV-4 and a community of pro-Duterte bloggers led by social media celebrity Mocha Uson who issue content generally aligned with the administration’s agenda.Interestingly, one of the promised initiatives of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte was the establishment of an independent public information dissemination channel. Indeed, in June 2016, Martin Andanar, head of communications for the then president-elect reportedly asked the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to “help the Philippine state-owned PTV4 transition into a self-sustaining, independent network.”Andanar has asked the public media firm to help train staff. As a broadcaster, Andanar also trained with the Australian network. He added that the unified Presidential Communications Office under Duterte would also seek help from local commercial media. “The charter of ABC is patterned after the BBC,” the respected state network of the United Kingdom, Andanar said, noting the need to amend PTV4’s charter. Andanar believes Duterte, who drew protests for comments that seemed to justify the killings that hound Filipino journalists, backs press freedom and sees no need deprive state media of that right. “The three important, primary values that he believes in are justice, fairness and equality,” Andanar said. If you believe in these principles, “there’s no reason why you can’t give in to editorial independence.”I wrote a while back about how the BBC presents a promising model to frame implementation of reform in the Philippines’ information industries. The most recent version of its charter demands that it “must display at least one of the following characteristics in all content: high quality, originality, innovation, to be challenging and to be engaging” and that it must “demonstrate that it provides public value in all of its major activities.” A state-run media operation that is chartered to be independent of partisan politics could step up to this ideal unencumbered by the commercial realities of competing in the free market.Nonetheless, the key challenge remains with the Filipino public, in the ability of its members to think outside of the little square that frames their primitive regard for their politics and embrace a practice of democracy that is more intellectually engaged. Personality politics is the chicharon of the national discourse that Filipinos need to learn to approach with prudence equuippped with modern educated minds."
3500,"It seems that the actor Baron Geisler is getting ready for the viral event called “Suntukan sa Ace Hardware” on April 15, that will be held in Ace Hardware, SM Lucena.People thought that the event is already over after the host canceled the event, but Baron Geisler revived the excitement of the fans after he posted his desire to attend the said event.But who is the opponent of Baron? Some people said that the viral Bulalord is willing to face the actor in exchange of a free cup noodles.Photo Credits: Baron Geisler official Facebook accountAfter reaching 80,000 people willing to go in the event, the host decided to cancel it and leave the decision to the Netizens if they are still going to visit the Ace Hardware in SM Lucena. The reason of the host in canceling the event is not yet known.Even the event is already gone, the excitement of the Netizens is still there and waiting if something is going to happen in the location of the event."
3510,"This ""open letter"" was found making the rounds on social media:* * *Dear Sirs:I just wanted to make some comments on the reporting of the CNN International crew here in Manila, regarding the relief efforts for the victims of super-typhoon Haiyan (which we locally call typhoon Yolanda).First, full disclosure: I am a retired Filipino executive and computer person. I was born in the Philippines and spent all my life here (save for some very short overseas stints connected with my career). I have worked with a large local Philippine utility, started up several entrepreneurial offshore software service companies (when outsourcing was not yet in vogue), and also served as the Philippine country head for a multi-billion dollar Japanese computer company. This diverse work background allows me to always see both the local and global point of view, and to see things from the very different standpoints of a third-world citizen, and a person familiar with first-world mindsets and lifestyles.I appreciate CNN's reporting, as it brings this sad news to all corners of the world, and in turn, that helps bring in much needed charity and aid. The tenor and tone of CNN's reporting has not been very palatable for a local person like me (the focus seems to be on the country's incompetence). But I shrug that aside, as there is probably some truth to that angle. And in reality, what counts now is that help arrives for the people who need them most; recriminations and blame can come later. Last night, I listened to a CNN reporter wondering about the absence of night flights in Tacloban, in the context of the government not doing enough to bring in relief goods. It was like listening to newbie executives from Tokyo, London or the USA with no real international experience, yet assuming that their country's rules and circumstances applied equally to the rest of the world. That was the proverbial last straw: I knew I had to react and call your attention to a few things (with some risk, since these topics are not my area of competence):1. The airport in Tacloban is a small provincial airport: when you get two commercial Airbus flights arriving simultaneously, you are already close to straining that airport's capacity. Even under normal operations, the last flights arrive in Tacloban at around 6pm, partly because of daylight limitations. Considering that the typhoon wiped out the airport and the air traffic gear, and killed most of the airport staff, you basically have nothing but an unlit runway which can handle only smaller turbo-prop planes. You can only do so much with that. I would assume that our Air Force pilots are already taking risks by doing landings at dusk. Take note that in the absence of any working infrastructure, the cargo will have to be off-loaded from the plane manually, while it sits in the tarmac. If you do the math, I wonder how aircraft turn-around's can be done in a day? How many tons of supplies could theoretically be handled in one day?2. The Philippine air force has only three C130 cargo planes (I am not sure if there is a fourth one). This is supposedly the best locally-available plane that is suited for this mission: large enough to carry major cargo load, but not too large to exceed the runway limitations. We do not have any large helicopters that can effectively move substantial cargo. I am happy to read in the newspapers that the USA is lending another eight C130 planes. I am not the expert, but I would suspect that even with more planes, the bottleneck would be in capacity of the airport to allow more planes to land and be offloaded, as discussed above.3. A major portion of the road from the Airport to Tacloban City is a narrow cement road of one lane in each direction. With debris, fallen trees, toppled electric poles, and even corpses littering the road, it took time to clear the airport itself, so that they could airlift heavy equipment needed to clear the roads. Then it took even more time to make the roads passable. Listening to our Interior Secretary on CNN, he disclosed that the Army was able to bring in 20 military trucks to Leyte. Half of them were allocated to transport relief goods to the different villages in the city, and the rest were assigned for clearing, rescue and other tasks. With very little local cargo trucks surviving the typhoon, I guess this would be another bottleneck. Again, I assume that if I do the math, there is only so much volume that can be moved daily from the airport to the city.4. The Philippines is an archipelago. Tacloban City is in Leyte island, which has no road link with the other major cities/islands. The only external land link (the San Juanico bridge) is with the neighboring island of Samar, which was equally hard hit by the typhoon, and which is just like Leyte (in terms of limited transportation infrastructure). The logistics of getting relief, supplies and equipment to Tacloban is daunting. Not too long ago, my company put up a large chunk of the communication backbone infrastructure in Leyte province. It was already a challenge to get equipment onto the ground then. This has always been the challenge of our geography and topography. What more now, when the transportation/communication systems are effectively wiped out in Tacloban?5. There is an alternate land/sea route from Manila to Leyte: down 600 kilometers through the Pan-Philippine highway to the small southern province of Sorsogon, taking a ferry to the island of Samar, and then 200+ kilometers of bad roads to Tacloban City. I was told that some private (non-government) donations are being transported by large trucks through this route. So many trucks are now idle in Matnog town down in Sorsogon, waiting for the lone ferry which can carry them across the very rough San Bernardino Straits to the town of Allen in Samar island. The sheer volume probably is over-whelming. Again I do not have the exact numbers, but my educated guess is that the low-volume Matnog ferry needs to transport in a few days what they would normally do over one or two months.6. The government administrative organization in Tacloban is gone. Most local government employees are victims themselves. This adds to the problems of organizing relief efforts locally. Even if augmented with external staff, the local knowledge and the local relationships are hard to replace. In some other smaller towns (where the death toll and/or damage has not been as bad), local governments are still somehow functioning and coping. They are able to bury their dead, set up temporary makeshift shelters, organize and police themselves. Short term, they need food, water and medical supplies to arrive; medium term, they need assistance in clean-up, reconstruction and rebuilding. But Tacloban is in a really bad condition. What can you expect from a city that has lost practically everything?I am told of the comparison with the Fukushima earthquake/tsunami, where relief supplies arrived promptly, efficiently, and in volume. I think there is one major backgrounder that CNN staff fail to mention: that Tacloban is not Fukushima, that it is not Atlanta. And the Philippines is not Japan, and certainly not the USA. Even before the typhoon, this region was one of the less developed in the country, with limited infrastructure. There was only a small airport, limited trucking capacity, a limited road system, and a small seaport servicing limited inter-island shipping. And with the damage from the typhoon, that limited infrastructure has been severely downgraded. It is easy to blame the typhoon. But the truth is: Tacloban is a small city in a third-world country. If you had to bring in that volume of cargo in that short window of time in pre-typhoon Tacloban, it would already have been a challenge. It is easy for a first-world person to take everything for granted. The reality (or sometimes, the advantage?) of growing up in a third-world country is that you do not assume anything, you take nothing for granted, you are grateful for what little you have (and you do not cry over what you do not have).I understand and sympathize with the desperate needs of the victims. Every little bit counts. The smallest food or water package can make the difference between life and death. I think every Filipino knows that. And that is why I am very happy with the national display of compassion and civic duty. Everyone, even the poorest, even the prison inmates, is donating food and money. People are volunteering their time. All the local corporations are helping. In the Philippines, Christmas is the most important holiday, and the annual company Christmas Party is probably the most important company event for most employees. Yet in very many companies in Manila, employees have decided to forego their Christmas party, and instead divert the party budget to relief/aid.From what I see on TV, the situation on the ground is not pretty. I do accept that efficiency needs to be improved, that service levels have to go up. I do acknowledge that our country's resources are limited, that our internal delivery capabilities may not be world-class. I do understand that there may be ineffective policies/processes and even wrong decisions made by government. But what I cannot understand is the negative tenor of CNN reporting. I suspect that CNN reporters are viewing this through the eyes of a first-world citizen, with an assumed framework of infrastructure and an expectation of certain service levels. I suspect these are expectations that we would have never met, even in the pre-typhoon days.Or perhaps it is a question of attitude: a half-empty glass rather than a half-full glass. At my age, I have experienced and lived through earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and at least twenty really bad typhoons (but admittedly, none as bad as Yolanda). From my experience, what we have now is not just a half-filled glass, I personally view it as probably at least 75% full (meaning, I think this is a big improvement over past efforts in past calamities). But please do not fault us for being a third-world country. Please do not explicitly or implicitly attribute everything to our incompetence, what might be due to other factors (such as those that result from limited resources or infrastructure, or those conditions that God or nature seems to have chosen for us). Our people are doing what they can, so let's give them a break. More so in these difficult times, when suffering is high, emotions are feverish, and tempers are frayed.It breaks my heart to see my countrymen suffering so much. I will do my share, whatever I can do to help. I will bear insults and harsh words, if this is the price for my people to receive the aid we need. I make no excuses for my country's shortcomings, but I just wish that some positive slant (the many small tales of heroism, the hard work of our soldiers, the volunteerism and compassion of the typical citizen, etc) would also be mentioned equally. I just needed to let you know how this particular Filipino reacts to your reporting, and I suspect there are many, many other folks who feel the same way that I do.For whatever the limitations, I still sincerely thank you for your coverage, and the benefits that it will bring my countrymen.Source:https://m.facebook.com/aireen.navarrokhauv/posts/10153544176195565"
3521,"He was not always within reach but he certainly was no absentee father when his children were growing up.Both Sara Duterte-Carpio, this city’s incoming mayor, and youngest son Sebastian consider President-elect Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte no less of a father.Duterte, who served as mayor of this city for more than 22 years, never missed attending his daughter’s recognition day, Sara recalled.READ: Inday Sara Duterte pays tribute to ‘Digong’: Education is everythingSebastian, on the other hand, said the elder Duterte was a strict disciplinarian.“Baste,” as he is more commonly known, particularly recalled a bad morning as a Grade 2 student when his prized damang (spider) was nowhere to be found.“I was crying because I couldn’t find my spider,” said Baste, unaware that the creature has been freed by their househelp. “My crying woke my father. He called me to his room and hit me with his belt.”Nocturnal dadBaste said his father, known as a nocturnal mayor, did not want to be disturbed in the morning because he has a hard time sleeping at night.“Besides, he was tired working from afternoon to dawn,” Baste said, referring to some nights when his father would drive a taxi around the city just to see what’s going on.But he also recalled an amusing incident involving the plaques that his father had gathered over the years.Baste said he made a haul of three sacks of bronze he wrenched from the plaques and sold them to a local junk shop.When he saw the ransacked plaques, the austere father shook his head in amusement.Baste’s idol“I thought he will get mad,” said Baste, who eventually sustained his fascination by opening a junk shop in Davao City.He said their life as a family was “not necessarily a feel-good story but he has no ill feelings against his father.”“He is my idol,”Baste said, a statement that had made his tough-talking father teary-eyed during the thanksgiving party in Cebu. “There are others who are already contented with the love from their friends and family but for him fulfillment means his job. He wants to accomplish something that would benefit everyone.”READ: Baste Duterte delivers emotional speech at Cebu thanksgiving partyNo pressureNow a father to a 5-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, Baste loves to see his children fall asleep on the chest of Digong.“He calmly talks to them, telling them to be a good person when they grow up,” he said.Sara said her father place an extremely high value on education but he did not pressure them to be on top.“Education is everything,” Sara recalled her father saying, sounding almost like a broken record.On social media, she posted a photo of her father pinning a ribbon on her during her school’s recognition day. Sara wrote, “That is me and Digong.”“He never missed my school’s recognition day because he always wanted to be the one to pin my ribbons and medals,” Sara posted on her Facebook and Instagram accounts during the height of the presidential campaign to show the soft side of the tough-talking mayor.She said her father did not really pressure them to excel but he was proud of their achievements.If ever she took home an award, he would consider it a bonus, she said.‘Love-hate relationship’Sara also recalled one late evening on her third year at San Beda Law school when she was having a hard time with one of her subjects.“I wanted to have a good cry,” she posted on Facebook. “I did not call Mama because I did not want her to worry.”She said all she wanted was to talk to a lawyer, and ended up calling her father although she admitted rarely talking to him because of their “love-hate relationship.”“I can imagine Digong’s surprise when told by his aide that I asked for him to call me,” she said.But when she heard his voice on the phone, she couldn’t speak. “Every word disappeared in the surge of emotions,”she said. “His first question was, ’Asan ka (Where are you)?’”Then, Sara recalled “howling like a wounded wolf,” which alarmed her father.“There was silence at the other end of the phone before he asked me, ‘Buntis ka (Are you pregnant)?’”Sara laughed and couldn’t stop herself from laughing.“Nabuang ka (Are you going crazy)?” her father asked.Thinking her father might be thinking she was drunk, she caught her breath and said, “Naglisod ko sa akong (I’m having a hard time with) Wills and Succession.”She recalled hearing the exasperation in the voice of her father. “The answers are not in your tears,” he said. “Go back to your books!”She said that was all she needed. “Not comforting words, no baby bunny stories,” she said.Later, she said she heard from somebody that Digong cried upon learning that she passed the bar examinations. TVJRELATED STORIESDuterte calls daughter drama queenBaste Duterte: Face to face with the reluctant heartthrobSuspect in rob-slay of taxi driver shot dead while resisting cops – Davao City policeDuterte warns taxi drivers: Not giving change is extortion"
3530,"May matinding hamon si former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald ""Bato"" Dela Rosa sa mga kritiko niya na nanlalait sa kanya matapos niyang aminin na kailangan niya ng training para sa pagiging senador. Ang hamon niya sa mga taong nagsasabi na bobo siya ay sabay na magpa IQ test para malaman kung sino talaga ang mas matalino. ""Ang katalinuhan ng tao doon 'yan nasusukat sa IQ test. 'Yung tumutuligsa sa akin na ako'y bobo, sabay tayo, mag-exam tayo ng IQ test kung sino mas mataas sa atin ang IQ,"" Si Bato ay tapos sa Philippine Military Academy at may master's degree sa public administration. Isa pa sa mga hindi alam ng ilang kababayan natin ay mayroon ding doctorate sa development administration ang dating hepe ng PNP. Hindi ikinakahiya ni Bato ang kanyang limitasyon at handa daw siya pag-igihin ang kanyang sarili. ""Bakit ka magmayabang porke't senador ka na, ayaw mong aminin na kulang ka sa alam, hindi mo tanggapin limitasyon mo... If you stop learning, you'll stop growing,"" banat pa ni Bato. Base sa datos ng Commission on Election (COMELEC) Transparency server (11:00am, Saturday), nakakuha na si Bato ng 18,763,572 na boto. Ayon kay Bato, gagawa siya ng mga batas na kapakipakinabang sa mga tao. ""Magtrabaho nang magtrabaho, hindi matutulog, pagsikapan ng husto na 'yung mga batas na magagawa natin ay pawang magaganda at kapaki-pakinabang sa sambayanang Pilipino,"" dagdag pa ni Bato. Source: ABS-CBN | CNN Philippines"
3541,"New People’s Army (NPA) spokesperson Jorge Madlos, using the alias Ka Oris, announced on Friday that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) had ordered a ceasefire “in observance of the Filipino people’s traditional holidays and the CPP’s 49th anniversary” on Dec. 26.In a statement, Madlos said “all NPA units and people’s militias shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations” against government forces from 6 p.m. on Dec. 23 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 26 and from 6 p.m. on Dec. 30 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 2.The NPA’s two-part ceasefire matched the same time frame of the truce ordered on Thursday by President Duterte, but shorter by about 12 hours.“We wish the whole nation a peaceful Christmas and New Year,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said following the NPA announcement.Peaceful celebration“We expect that the CPP-NPA would honor their word and comply with the unilateral ceasefire, so that our people could truly experience a peaceful Christmas celebration,” he said.Both Roque and Madlos said both sides would remain vigilant.Madlos said the rebels were wary of the military’s alleged “treachery, attacks and deception” during previous government-declared unilateral ceasefires.The NPA leader also said soldiers and policemen “who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units” would be allowed to enter rebel-controlled areas “to make personal visits to relatives and friends” during the holidays.Peace negotiationsMr. Duterte went ahead with the ceasefire over the “adamant” opposition of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.The President ordered the truce despite his decision last month to scrap the peace negotiations to end nearly half a century of communist insurgency in the Philippines, one of the most protracted in Asia, and to designate the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations.Mr. Duterte said he terminated the talks with the rebels and declared them terrorists because of continued guerrilla attacks, even while talks brokered by Norway were underway.The ceasefire declarations were welcomed as a way to revive the talks.“That is welcome news,” Cagayan de Oro Bishop Antonio Ledesma said. “Hopefully it can lead to a resumption of the peace talks.”Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, Bataan, praised the truce, saying “the best Christmas gift to one another is peace.”“We appreciate the good intentions of the government in exerting all efforts to forge peace,” Santos said.Appeal to both sidesThe activist priest, Fr. Robert Reyes, appealed to both sides to “ensure sincerity and commitment to their promised ceasefire.”“We call on both parties to give true peace a chance not only through a temporary ceasefire but a more vigorous return to the table of dialogue,” Reyes said. “The violence of war attains more violence. The peace of dialogue attains peace.”Mayor Joselito Ojeda of Mulanay town in Quezon province said the fate of the talks depended on the Christmas ceasefire.He said that in the “total war” between the rebels and the government, “the ultimate loser is the people and their hope for better future for their families and their communities.”CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, the chief political consultant for rebel peace negotiators, earlier said it would be “unwise and illogical” for the CPP to order the NPA to declare a truce following the termination of the talks and the terrorist tagging.But Sison, who has been living in exile in the Netherlands since 1987, said the decision to declare a holiday ceasefire still rested with the CPP leadership.Government forces and NPA rebels have previously declared separate unilateral ceasefires during the Christmas season. The ceasefires, however, have ended with both sides swapping accusations of violations."
3551,"that’s your problem, not his.Supporters of Duterte get his fondness for hyperbole and the crass street humor. But many Metro Manilans still don’t understand why he can’t act more ‘presidential’ and stop with the cussing already. These people had better find a Visayan or Mindanaoan friend to explain things for them, such as how the cuss word “p—ina” is almost as common in the south as “s—t” is with the average American. And how exaggeration is an art form for southern politicians like Duterte and the much lamented Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who once told immigration employees they should be chopped into a thousand pieces and fed to the sharks in Manila Bay.Andanar’s translators are likely intended for the diplomatic corps who would be attending the SONA, some of whom consider English a second language and Filipino and Visayan, totally foreign ones. But Filipinos in this country are also not as adept in languages as we appear to the world.Listening to one of Duterte’s speeches, the one he gave in Digos City, Davao del Sur recently, my transcription came to an abrupt halt once the President started speaking in Bisaya, which I don’t understand. I can speak and write Filipino, but unfortunately, not Visayan or any of the regional dialects. I started wishing for an instant translator because his audience in Digos was up in stitches with all his jokes that I couldn’t understand.There’s a disconnect between the people from Metro Manila and Luzon, and those from Visayas and Mindanao, and language and culture have a lot do with this. One can sense Duterte’s awkwardness in talking in Filipino. Compare this with his totally relaxed mode when speaking in his native Visayan. Duterte was born in Maasin, Leyte, although he grew up in Davao and speaks a variant of Cebuano, the Davaoeño Cebuano.But Duterte when in public seems more comfortable talking in English than Filipino, which has not evolved as well as the proponents of the 1974 bilingual education had projected, that is into a national language that will be spoken well by everyone in the country.This brings to mind the case of India, which like the Philippines has many languages and dialects, in fact hundreds more than we do. India tried to promote Hindi to serve as their main language but there was strong resistance from the non-Hindi speakers especially those from southern India.Today the country recognizes 22 Indian languages for its official communications, apart from English, but no national language. I asked a friend from India how they communicate with their countrymen from other regions, and she said: “In English.”Filipinos’ English language proficiency was once considered as good as the native speakers of the U.S. and Europe. But this skill set is fast deteriorating, and we see the degraded English everywhere, in media especially on local television, in the schools, and even call centers have complained that they can’t get enough applicants who can communicate well in English.The bilingual education policy introduced in 1974 has received much of the blame for this, but the overall decline in the quality of public schools, the lack of updated materials and equipment, and loss of good teachers to jobs overseas, are also contributing factors.Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has proposed a bill to strengthen the use of English as the medium of instruction from preschool up to the tertiary level. Congress should support this bill if it wants to preserve the country’s edge over others, our competency in the English language.We have to make the choice now: do we want to compete in the world marketplace? Then we cannot let go of English. Everyone else in the world is trying to learn English, which has become the lingua franca of international business. Learning English and Filipino (and other regional dialects) need not be mutually exclusive. Students and young people have an amazing capacity to absorb knowledge and languages. We just need better teachers and schools."
3561,"Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he was ready to face charges, in connection with the clearing of roads in villages inside the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. (Tadeco) banana plantation on March 5 in Braulio Dujali town, Davao del Norte.Tadeco said it would file charges for the destruction of one of its biosecurity fences during the survey led by a private firm and aided by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, police and Alvarez’s chief of staff, Edwin Jubahib.“I have no problem even if I wash my face with cases,” said Alvarez in a videotaped interview with reporters at the opening of Tagum City’s Musikahan Festival on Wednesday.House probeReports said several residents welcomed the clearing of the roads, which was ordered by two House committees—justice and good government—in connection with House Resolution No. 876 that Alvarez filed.Alvarez accused Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., whose family owned Tadeco, of using his influence as a legislator to bag a contract with the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) for Tadeco to use at least 5,000 hectares of land belonging to the Davao Penal Colony.Floirendo said it was not him who signed the contract with Bucor, saying it was his father and namesake, Antonio Sr., who did so.During the survey, some residents were seen displaying handwritten placards saying “Thank you President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez for opening the roads.”Complaints“We found that there are provincial roads inaccessible to the public because these were blocked,” Alvarez said in the videotaped interview.“There had been complaints about it and we agreed that public roads should be made accessible to all,” he added.A gate had been built at the entrance of the plantation, visible from the highway leading to Sto. Tomas town.Alex Valoria, Tadeco president, said if the operation was just a survey, there was no need to destroy the fence which was a biosecurity barrier."
3571,"Binitbit ng mga mandaragat na Espanyol ang mga pinya sa kanilang paglalakbay upang maiwasan ang scurvy, isang sakit na nagdudulot ng anemia at panghihina ng katawan. ""Hala kahiki,"" ang tawag ng Hawaiians sa pinya, na ang ibig sabihin ay ""plant of Tahiti."" Taong 1900 nang magsimulang magtanim si James Dole ng pinya sa Hawaii. Itinatag naman ng Dole at Del Monte ang kanilang mga plantasyon ng pinya noong 1901 at 1917, ayon sa pagkakasunod. Noong 1920, ang prutas ang naging pinakamalaking industriya sa Hawaii."
3580,"Every Filipino knows the proper way of displaying the Philippines 🇵🇭 flag: the blue stripe on top and the red stripe at the bottom. There is only one situation in which the colors can be reversed — when the country is in a state of war.Today, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of war not through an upside down display of the flag but of the official seal of the Office of the President (see photo.)Malacañang told The Adobo Chronicles that he has had it with the Yellowtards and has — albeit reluctantly — launched an all-out war against those who have obnoxiously opposed him and his reform programs, especially his anti-drug and anti-corruption campaigns.As part of his official declaration, Duterte urged his social media warriors to crush the opposition, especially those whose statements and actions are aimed at destabilizing the legitimate government while compromising the extremely popular will of the supermajority of Filipinos."
3591,"Nagsimula ang usaping ito kay Sir Brian Vickers nang minsang dumalaw siya sa isang unibersidad sa London. Ayon kay Vickers, mali ang pahayag sa librong Times Literary Supplement na ang sonnet 116 ay isinulat na may ""primarily homosexual content"", ayon sa ulat ng Daily Star."
3600,De La Salle University Antonio P. Contreras asked the ‘yellows’ referring to the Liberal Party supporters to take stay calm after they experienced several defeats during the Duterte administration.Hey yellows. I know it is difficult. You have been smacked in succession. The SC Ruling. Then Duterte’s very good net satisfaction ratings. Kerwin Espinosa in town ready to spill the beans. And now the Marcoses legally blindsiding not only you but all of us.He also asked them to relax themselves than keeping theirselves stressed.Can you take a deep breath. Count 1 to 10. No. Make it up to 100. Get a massage. Go and detoxify.The professor urged them to stop ranting on social media because they only made illogical statements like using the “thief in the night” as an insult to the former President Marcos.You say the Marcoses undermined the Court but Ted Te already said not so. You claim it was a secret burial. And then you look up the meaning of secret and you realize that it was not a hush hush. Only sudden but not a secret. You use thief in the night as a pejorative yet you forgot that its a biblical phrase referring to the Lord.“Thief in the night” is a biblical phrase in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 used by Vice President Leni Robredo to describe the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2The professor believes that anger and frustration can only made them do more illogical things.The post of Antonio Contreras already got 4.1k reactions and 900 shares on Facebook.
3611,"Amid public criticism, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) suspended on Tuesday the new law forbidding the use of electronic communication devices while driving pending a review of guidelines.The transportation department said in a statement it was heeding the advice of lawmakers to defer the implementation of Republic Act No. 10913, or the Antidistracted Driving Act.The DOTr said it would reconvene its technical working group “to conduct a review of the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations)” in coordination with the Automobile Association of the Philippines, Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the World Health Organization, among others.“In the meantime, we invite the public to continue the constructive discussion on this new law so as to contribute to how we could all better promote road safety, discipline and responsible driving,” the department statement read.The authorities started implementing the new law on Thursday but the public, including lawmakers, criticized the department for “stretching” prohibitions that are not in the law."
3621,"Some officials of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), including Solicitor General Jose Calida, were paid honoraria or allowances that exceeded 50 percent of their annual basic salary, the Commission on Audit (CoA) said.According to CoA’s audit report on the OSG for 2017, the excess sums that they received totaled P10.77 million.“The honoraria/allowances paid to some OSG officials for legal services and advices rendered to client agencies had exceeded the fifty percent of the annual basic salary by ₱10,774,283.92 contrary to Item 4 of COA Circular No. 85-25-E dated April 25 1985,” CoA said.According to the audit report, Calida’s allowances exceeded 50 percent of his annual basic salary, or by P7.46 million.The others and the amounts received in excess of 50 percent of their basic salary were: Henry Angeles (P697,039.15), Herman Cimafranca (P62,454), James Cundangan (P448,707.83), Renan Ramos (P837,252), Rex Bernardo Pascual (P9,394), Bernard Hernandez (P136,814.72), Ma. Antonia Edita Dizon (P273,746.44), Raymund Rigodon (P363,894), Danilo Leyva (P50,051.82), Lilian Abenojar (P90,626), John Dale Ballinan (P99,026), Perfecto Adelfo Chua Cheng (P158,501.85), Leney Layug-Delfin (P70,626), and Gift Mohametano (P13,739.83).CoA said it had issued notices of disallowance dated February 21, 2014, August 12, 2016 and January 15, 2018, and that the first two disallowances were on appeal to its Commission Proper for resolution.“Pending resolution from the Commission on Audit, the OSG officers and employees who rendered legal services and advises to client agencies should have collected only the amount of up to 50 percent of their basic salary.The excess should remain in the Cash in Bank, Local Currency Current Account and could be earmarked and be given to the concerned officials and employees when a decision favorable to them will become final and executory,” according to the audit report.CoA recommended, among others, that the OSG “refund the excess amount received and deposit the same to OSGs Trust Fund.”The OSG commented in part that “COA Circular No. 85-25-E does not apply to the OSG lawyers. Section 1(i) of P.D. (Presidential Decree) No. 478 and Section 35(9), Chapter 12, Title III, Book IV of E.O. (Executive Order) No. 292, authorize the OSG lawyers to receive allowances and honoraria for the legal services they render without qualification, in addition to their regular compensation.”“The application of COA Circular No. 85-25-E means that not all client agencies can pay the OSG lawyers allowances and honoraria mandated by law. Once the fifty percent limit is reached by some client agencies, the other client agencies can no longer pay the said allowances and honoraria,” the OSG also said in part.But CoA said: “We still maintain our view that the receipt of honoraria/allowances in excess of 50% of their annual salaries must be subjected to limitation as set forth under COA Circular No. 85-25-E. The laws (RA No. 9417 and EO No. 292) allow the benefits, but the same laws having not fixed the amount of benefits to be granted, the allowances and honoraria must conform to the limitations stated in COA Circular No. 76-25 dated March 31, 1976, as amended by COA Circular No. 76-25-A dated June 30, 1976 and further amended by COA Circular No. 85-25-E dated April 25, 1985.”It also recommended that the OSG “require all handling lawyers to strictly comply with OSG Office Order No. 188 series of 2009 requiring the Task Force Team Leaders to report all honoraria directly received from client agencies together with the appropriate BIR form evidencing withholding of taxes to FMS OSG.”CoA made the recommendation after it found that “some allowances were directly remitted to OSG lawyers but not reported to” the Financial Management Service (FMS).“The failure of the OSG employees to report the allowances directly given to them by client agencies provides no assurance that the correct taxes were indeed withheld or no taxes were withheld at all,” CoA said.“The confirmation received from client agencies also revealed that the taxes withheld were not sufficient. These cases should not have happened had the receipt of honoraria/allowances were reported to the OSG through FMS and the correct withholding taxes have been deducted in compliance with BIR Regulation No. 10-2008 dated July 10, 2008,” it added.In the same audit report, CoA told the OSG to refund excess claims for travel allowance.“The allowable travel expenses prescribed in Executive Order (EO) 298 were not strictly followed resulting in excessive claims for local and foreign travel allowances totaling ₱53,796.00 and ₱78,096.64, respectively; thus, disallowed in audit,” CoA said.Also, it found that seven employees’ monthly take home pay in 2017 were below the P4,000 mandated minimum.“The reduction of the required net take home pay of the above employees was due to the repayments of unpaid amortizations on various loans availed,” CoA said.“We recommended that management strictly enforce and implement the provisions stipulated in the GAA on the minimum take home pay of employees,” it said.GAA is General Appropriations Act.According to the audit report, the OSG has “[a]djusted the net pay as of January 31, 2018 through settlement and restructuring of loans.”"
3630,"flashed the news report on their websites, news alerts and live broadcasts. The social media also burst with posts, even among self-identified gay men and women, praising Brewer for her act of courage.The Pride Committee said that no other act by an individual merits the honor of being named Grand Marshall . “We might even double the parade attendance by the potential of Arizona residents coming to San Francisco in June to support their well-loved governor,” the committee said.Upon hearing about the Pride Committee’s decision, the National Coalition of Gay Immigrant Associations ( NCGIA) annouunced that it will boycott the SF Pride Parade this year, citing Brewer’s anti-immigrant record. She signed into law Arizona’s SB 1070, the most stringent anti-immigrant law in the country."
3640,"It’s beginning to emerge that there was a rivalry between gang leaders Herbert Colangco and Jaybee Sebastian within the New Bilibid Prison. It seems, in the midst of all that, Sebastian emerged as the one favoured for coddling by the Philippine Government during the administration of former President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III. Senator Leila De Lima, who was Aquino’s Justice Secretary at the time, herself admitted that Sebastian was an “asset” in that he supposedly “kept things in order” at the prison.But Colangco alleges that Sebastian also helped raise money for the Liberal Party campaign for the 2016 elections. And so what keeps pundits, activists, and observers busy nowadays is exchanging speculation surrounding this Colangco-said-Sebastian-said circus. The bigger point, however, is this: Guilty or not of accusations made by inmate Herbert Colangco, the fact remains, Bilibid Prisons had practically become a drug lord’s resort under the watch of the Aquino administration.Whatever the case, De Lima was responsible for ensuring that Bilibid Prisons be maintained as a penal facility and not a hub for the drug trade it had evidently become.The problem with De Lima is that, following her ouster as Senate Justice Committee chairman, she now plays the victim card like a loser. Rather than suffer the consequences of her approach with a level head, she spends her days at the Senate now updating the seemingly sympathetic Philippine news media industry on her “persecution”. Interestingly, De Lima’s behaviour in recent days presents a stark contrast to the quiet dignity exhibited by former President Gloria Arroyo when she herself was in a similar situation in 2011. Her dignified stance eventually earned her the respect of even people who used to hate her.De Lima also played a significant role in the demonisation of the late former Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial in 2012. The story back then almost reads like today’s news…It was very uncomfortable to watch a woman of De Lima’s calibre reduced to defending her indefensible actions. The simple question asked by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on whether or not the Chief Justice acted alone in trying to enforce the TRO — to which De Lima replied, “The direct answer to that is no” — already reveals her untenable position. The fact that other justices are free to vote “yea” or “nay” is a testament to the freedom accorded them by the Supreme Court as an institution. And for De Lima to insinuate that the other justice’s decision can be easily swayed is an insult to the justices themselves as individuals and to the institution itself. De Lima also alleges that Chief Justice Renato Corona wanted to let GMA “leave the country in November despite her facing charges of electoral sabotage.” Her statement was inconsistent with how things truly transpired. We recall that GMA and former first Gentleman Jose Miquel Arroyo’s first attempt to leave was on the 15th of November 2011 and at that time, there were no charges filed against her. It was on this basis that the Supreme Court issued the TRO citing that their decision was “consistent with the constitutional provision on the presumption of innocence” because the Arroyos are not yet accused.Instead of yakking away in front of the cameras, De Lima should learn from the late Corona and GMA what it means to be a true representative of the Filipino people. Left on her own, she has come to stand for everything that is wrong with the archetypical Filipino character."
3650,"Despite his displeasure with how he has been portrayed by Alec Baldwin, Donald Trump says he actually likes ‘Saturday Night Live’ and is a big fan.As a matter of fact, the president-elect just announced that when he delivers his very first State of the Union Address (SOTU), it will not be before a joint session of Congress. Rather, it will be on a special prime-time edition of SNL.It will not be business as usual under POTUS Trump."
3661,"President Rodrigo Duterte will be in Maguindanao on Monday as a guest of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in its campaign to gather support for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).Mr. Duterte would be at the first Bangsamoro Assembly in Sultan Kudarat town in what could be a gesture of his personal backing for the proposed BBL.MILF leaders and members of Moro communities would join the President in the assembly, which would allow MILF to fully explain to its members and their families the proposed BBL and its effects on the Moro people.The proposed BBL would establish a new autonomous government with more powers to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.The proposed law remains pending in Congress despite Mr. Duterte’s support.Shortly before he flew to Japan on Oct. 29, the President urged Congress to act swiftly on the proposed BBL.“If we do not act on it expeditiously, I think that we are headed for trouble,” Mr. Duterte said.“We must continue to talk and I will urge Congress to fast track it because (Moro rebels) are getting impatient,” he said.But Mr. Duterte also pleaded for patience from the MILF and told its leaders to “just wait a bit” because he would deliver “what we have promised.”“That is a commitment, not even a promise, but a commitment to the Moro people,” Duterte said.Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF first vice chair, said at least 4,000 MILF members had been tapped to secure the venue of the assembly in Sultan Kudarat.He said the rebel group expected “very important personalities,” like Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, to attend.“This is in support of the passage of the BBL,” Jaafar added.He said MILF was also exploring partnership with other groups, like Sustainable Initiatives of Grassroots and Networks for BBL (SignNewBBL), to drum up support for the proposed BBL’s passage.Together with SignNewBBL, Jaafar said MILF would launch a “Walk for BBL” event.He said the Walk for BBL would show “unity and solidarity of the Bangsamoro people and other sectors” behind the proposed law."
3671,"GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Isang hinihinalang miyembro ng carnapping syndicate ang napatay sa pakikipagbakbakan sa awtoridad sa Pikit, North Cotabato nitong Martes. Kinilala ni Senior Supt. Danilo Peralta, Cotabato Police Provincial Office director, ang napatay na si Muslimen Kawil, 20, ng Barangay Bulol sa Pikit."
3681,"The World Bank in its World Development Report 2008 pointed out: “In the 21st century, agriculture continues to be a fundamental instrument for sustainable development and poverty reduction. Three of every four people in developing countries live in rural areas—2.1 billion living on less than $2 a day and 880 million on less than $1 a day—and most depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.”Incoming Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor Espenilla cited financial inclusion as his primary goal. Such goal is crucial, as the Philippines remains largely unbanked, with nearly 7 out of 10 Filipinos keeping their savings hidden away at home, unsecured and unproductive.Even more noteworthy, Governor Espenilla urged banks and financial institutions to open and ease credit access to agriculture, citing lack of financing the major reason why agriculture remains behind industry and services in terms of productivity. Where industry and services accounted for 33.4 percent and 57.1 percent respectively of the country’s 2015 GDP, agriculture contributed only 9.5 percent.This is terribly troubling. See the tragic statistics: 10.033 million Filipinos—or over 1 out of 5 working Filipinos as of the January 2017 Labor Force Survey—worked in agriculture. In fact, the Philippines remains a largely agrarian country. According to 2015 World Bank data, up to 56 million Filipinos—roughly 55.6 percent of our 100.7-million 2015 population—lived in rural areas. As of 2015, roughly 32 percent of the country’s land area—or 9.671 million hectares out of a total 30,000,000 hectares—were considered agricultural land.Starving farmers and fisherfolks of credit and other support had rendered Philippine agriculture unproductive and unprofitable—and has effectively impoverished farming and fishing communities throughout the archipelago. On top of the resulting widening wealth and income gap, the food security of the entire country was placed in serious peril.This is the financial equivalent of apartheid.On paper, this shouldn’t be the case. The Agri-Agra Law of 2009 (RA 10000) mandates all banking institutions, whether government or private, to set aside at least 25 percent of their total loanable funds for agriculture and fisheries (15 percent for agricultural lending and 10 percent for agrarian reform beneficiaries). The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 (RA 8435) clearly outlined the various modes of bringing food and agriculture to modern standards.Performance however has been perfunctory at best and totally evasive at worst. As of June 2016, the local banking industry fell short of the 15-percent quota for agricultural lending, devoting only P374.5 billion to agriculture and fisheries or only 13.18 percent of its total loan portfolio. It was far worse for the 10-percent quota for agrarian-reform beneficiaries, as local banking institutions allotted only P29.12 billion, or only 0.97 percent of their total portfolios for this requirement.In fact, compliance differs widely across subsectors of the banking industry. Where universal and commercial banks and thrift banks respectively allotted 13.09 percent and 9.92 percent of their loan portfolios to agricultural lending, rural and cooperative banks loaned up to 30.79 percent to farmers and fisherfolk.The pattern is similar when it comes to agrarian-reform credit. Universal and commercial banks and thrift banks respectively devoted only 0.67 percent and 1.45 percent for agrarian reform beneficiaries, while rural and cooperative banks set aside up to 16.73 percent of their loan portfolios.This suggests that the current “one-size-fits-all” approach to agricultural financing needs to be revisited and revamped. The Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) recently estimated that the unmet credit demand for priority agricultural commodities amounted to P364 billion in 2014. It can only be worse circa 2017.To be sure, even BSP officials have called for a review of the Agri-Agra Law, as banks and other financial institutions are extremely risk-averse and generally consider loans to farmers and fisherfolk to be too risky. There is even anecdotal evidence of financial institutions choosing to pay the penalties for non-compliance, instead of actively seeking and assisting agricultural enterprises.The recent launch of the Credit Information System offers an opportunity for positive change. New financing approaches are definitely needed. Initiating and implementing innovative solutions require both political will and BSP technical leadership. The private sector can and will respond. But government must incentivize the private banks for the higher risk they bear in agricultural lending.For far too long, Philippine agriculture has been treated by Philippine policymakers as a poor stepchild of development. And yet, as the World Bank pointed out early on: “…[A]griculture and its associated industries are essential to growth and to reducing mass poverty and food insecurity.”Email: angara.ed@gmail.com| Facebook & Twitter: @edangara"
3691,"There were 46 AIDS deaths and 650 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reported in December last year according to the Department of Health.HIV could lead to the fatal Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which the body’s immune system is attacked and totally damaged by the virus.Of the 650 new HIV cases, 27 cases developed into full-blown AIDS, according to the latest Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry. The figure is 28 percent higher than in the same period in 2014.According to the DOH report, Metro Manila accounted for 38 percent of the total number of HIV cases reported that month. This was followed by Calabarzon with 15 percent; Central Luzon, 10 percent; Davao region, 8 percent, and Central Visayas, 7 percent.About 97 percent (632 cases) were acquired through sexual contact, 555 of them men who had sex with other men. Seventeen of the new cases were injecting drug users, while one case was acquired through mother-to-child transmission.Steady riseOf the cases reported in December, 46 were overseas Filipino workers who got infected through sexual contact.The new cases brought to 7,829 the total number of HIV cases reported in 2015, of which 503 developed into AIDS. There were a total of 461 deaths recorded for the entire year, said the health department.Despite increased surveillance and free access to testing, the DOH reported a steady rise in HIV cases, attributing this to the low level of comprehensive knowledge on the virus and dismal condom use among vulnerable populations, particularly males having sex with other males.Earlier, Health Secretary Janette Garin warned that if the government and other stakeholders would not invest in preventing new HIV infections in the country, the figures would reach 133,000 by 2022, which would cost the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. P4 billion a year for the outpatient HIV package alone."
3700,"Senator Tito Sotto slammed the proposal to decriminalize the illegal drugs in the Philippines as an alternative to the action of the Duterte administration against narcotics.Legalizing illegal drugs may only hurt the families of the victims of drug related cases like rape and murder because it will only give more chances to the drug addicts to use the dangerous illegal drugs.He also said that only ‘drug users’ will think a proposal like that.Last week, Vice President Leni Robredo urged the government to study the actions of Portugal against illegal drugs by decriminalizing it and to focus only in rehabilitation of the drug users.Legalize drugs? Tell that to d families victimized by addicts/pushers. Mga user lang makakaisip nyan. @teddyboylocsin — Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) April 23, 2017“Legalize drugs? Tell that to d families victimized by addicts/pushers. Mga user lang makakaisip nyan,” Sotto said in his tweet.On 2015, there are reported 48,532 drug-related cases and only 178 resolved.Teddy Locsin also replied to Tito Sottos tweet and he said that decriminalizing the illegal drugs also means decriminalizing its market.He also called the people who debate with him between the difference of legalization and decriminalization as ‘idiots’In Sotto’s latest tweet, he said that ‘humanity is now defined as drug pushers fighting back vs police operations’News flash: HUMANITY is now defined as drug pushers fighting back vs police operations! @teddyboylocsin — Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) April 24, 2017Sotto became the chairman of Dangerous Drugs Board in 2008-2009 and he supported the Duterte’s administration war against illegal drugs."
3710,"Tito Sotto is expected to take over the reins as Senate President on Monday, replacing Koko Pimentel.The Adobo Chronicles sat down with Sotto for an exclusive interview this morning. Here’s the full transcript:AC: Congratulations on becoming the next Senate PresidentSotto: Salamat. Sino naman ako para tumanggi?AC: How did the decision to designate you as Senate President come about?Sotto: Wala. Naano lang.AC: You realize that as Senate President, you are third in line in the Presidential succession.Sotto: OO nga eh. Kung di lang diyan kay Leni Robredo, second in line sana ako.AC: What are your plans and your vision as Senate President?Sotto: Di pa namin napag-usapan nila Vic at Joey.AC: Are you going to deliver an acceptance speech in the Senate Chambers?Sotto: Sure thing. I’m just waiting for clearance from the Kennedy Center, just to make sure nothing in my speech is plagiarized.(End of Interview)"
3720,"October marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of Quezon City, former capital of the Philippines and part of the larger Metro Manila.The city government, under the leadership of former child actor Mayor Herbert Bautista, is going for the big guns as part of celebrating this milestone.On October 12, Quezon City is holding what it hopes to be the largest Zumba class in the world and has set its eyes on the Guinness World Record.But Bautista is not stopping there. He has announced that he wants his city to be the first in the Philippines and in all of Asia to recognize same-sex marriage.None of the countries in Asia allow same-sex marriage and none would recognize such marriages performed elsewhere in the world where it is now legal.Bautista however acknowledged that even if he succeeds in bringing same-sex marriage to Quezon City, he knows it would not be valid since cities cannot establish their own marriage laws. (In the U.S., same-sex marriage laws are established by individual states).As an alternative, Bautista said plans to hold the largest invalid same-sex mass wedding in his city, and achieve another Guinness World Record. He will personally officiate the mass wedding which he hopes to organize and schedule on February 14, 2015.“This will be my Valentine’s gift to the city, and to my millions of LGBT friends and colleagues,” he said."
3730,"Sa press conference na isinagawa sa Malacanang, ibinunyag ni Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo ang pagkakadawit ng isang Filmore Rull sa ""Bikoy"" videos na nangyuyurak sa pamilya ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Pero sino ba si Filmore Rull? Ayon kay Panelo, si Rull ay security officer ni Senador Antonio Trillanes. Base sa impormasyon ng pahayagang The Daily Tribune, si Rull ay dating Air Force at miyembro din ng Magdalo. Nakibahagi din daw ito sa Oakwood mutiny at Manila Peninsula siege. Ito daw ang dapat mag pa-facilitate sa pagtatago kay Rodel Jayme, ang web developer ng metrobalita.net, ang isa sa mga unang website na nagbahagi ng Bikoy videos. Magugunitang lumitaw ang pangalang ""Filmore"" sa ulat ng National Bureau of Investigations (NBI). Bago ang pagsisiwalat ni Panelo, ilang concerned citizens na rin ang nagbahagi ng mga larawan ni Rull sa social media. Panoorin ang kabuuan ng pagbubunyag ni Secretary Panelo. Source: Presidential Spokesperson | The Daily Tribune"
3741,"Ito ay matapos ibasura ni Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, ng QC-RTC Branch 221, ang apela ng prosekusyon na payagang makapagpiyansa si Ampatuan, anak ni dating Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. at kapatid ni dating Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. Ang mag-amang Ampatuan ay kasalukuyang nakadetine sa Camp Bagong Diwa sa Taguig City matapos ituro bilang utak sa pamamaslang sa 58 katao, kabilang ang 30 mamamahayag. Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang abogado na si Gregorio Marquez, naglagak si Sajid ng surety bond na nagkakahalaga ng P11.6 milyon para sa kanyang pansamantalang kalayaan. Subalit epektibo pa rin ang hold-departure order na inilabas ng korte laban kay Sajid kaya hindi siya makalalabas ng bansa habang nililitis sa kasong multiple murder. Si Sajid ang unang suspek sa Maguindanao massacre na pinayagang makapagpiyansa ng korte. ""For the court, the mere presence of the accused during the meetings, albeit the argument that he occupied a government position, does not... translate to a conclusion of a strong evidence of guilt,"" saad sa limang-pahinang desisyon ni Solis. Ayon sa prosekusyon, si Sajid ang tumatayong officer-in-charge ng Maguindanao nang mangyari ang pamamaslang noong Nobyembre 23, 2009."
3750,"Incumbent Senator Bam Aquino has some unsolicited advice for his cousin Kris: Just stick to show business!Bam’s advice came on the heels of the recent Pulse Asia survey showing him dropping from No. 12 to No. 20 in the list of possible 2019 Senatorial candidates. He was closely followed by Kris.Political analysts say that if both Aquinos will run in 2019, they will split the Opposition vote.”This is not the time to engage in cousin rivalry,” the Senator said. “One of us has to go, and it has to be Kris. I have the experience and credentials, she doesn’t. She should just come out of retirement and start hosting her own TV shows again.”"
3761,"It’s not too difficult to find Norman King in Barangay Macapagal, a settlement put up by former first lady Imelda Marcos on a hill at the northern side of this former United States military base-turned-economic zone.Pointing to the King family home, an “unat” (lowlander) running a tricycle repair shop nearby described King as “the ‘kulot’ (Aeta) who recently graduated from UP (the University of the Philippines).”It’s a distinction that the Aeta community around Mt. Pinatubo wears with pride. No other Aeta has been known to have graduated from the state university before King, who obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral sciences at UP Manila last month.King, 27, is as proud of his identity, describing himself as a “katutubong” (native) Aeta, in an interview at the family kitchen behind a small yard filled with metal boxes, rubber tires and wooden planks.In fact, during UP Manila’s recognition day on June 20 and graduation on June 21, King wore a “lubay,” an Aeta G-string for which he got such comments as “cool,” “‘astig’ (bold),” and “‘ang lupit mo, kuya’ (that’s gutsy, brother).”Community spirit“I was not showing off. I just wanted to say that we Aetas are capable of being educated,” he explained. “It wasn’t only I who went up the stage. The Aeta community was with me.”King, the eldest in a brood of seven, had to work his way through school. His parents, Warlita and Roman, could not afford to send all their children to school at the same time on her earnings as a vegetable and fruit grower, and his salary as driver for the late Justice Eleazer de los Santos.King was only a year old when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, forcing the Aetas of Inararo village to flee to the lowlands.After finishing high school in Angeles City in 2004, King worked as a delivery boy for Gintong Sining Art Center in Makati City for P3,700 a month.Using his savings, King studied to become a computer technician in 2005, and landed a job in 2008 at a business process outsourcing company that paid him P16,000 monthly.“Money is a tool you put to good use. It should not use you,” he said.But there are more important things in life than money, King and his father soon realized. The two quit their jobs in 2010 to help assert the right of Aetas over a part of their “lutan tua” (ancestral domain) where a Korean had built a spring resort. The resulting tension caused Roman, a former village chief, to go into hiding for his safety.Great respectKing said he imbibed from his father the awareness that he was an Aeta and that their existence was tied to their ownership and control of their land.His grandfather, Miranda, had lived in a resettlement site near a forest about 10 kilometers from Inararo to protect the domain, King said.In fact, he added, so great was the respect shown by early American commanders to his ancestors, the Aeta leaders, that they were given the name King.In more recent times, poverty and their remote resettlement site have deprived most access to education and health services, something that they gained back with the explosion of Mt. Pinatubo.Sadly, King said, some members of the tribe used their education to improve only themselves and their families.“At times, I ask myself if it was worth defending the Aetas since some of us have already disregarded our culture,” King said. “I end up asking myself, ‘Who would care for those who are struggling to defend our identity and culture?’” he added.King said he planned to take up law to help Aetas defend themselves and their lands. His aunt, Wyda Cosme of Zambales, is the first law graduate among Aetas.He has trust in God’s guidance, King said. Isagani Malaya, the name he uses on his Facebook account, reflects this positive outlook. “I want to be a leader of our people,” he said."
3770,"Top Filipino news media are turning their heads toward entertainer-turned-blogger Mocha Uson. No, make that scratching their heads.Soon after Rodigo Roa Duterte was elected, it was only Uson who was able to score an exclusive one-on-one interview with the then newly-elected Philippine president. None of the major news media like the Inquirer or GMA-7, or ABS-CBN, or the online Rappler was able to sign the president up.Now, Uson scored another exclusive, one-on-one interview with Nur Misuari, the founder and leader of the rebel group Moro National Liberation Front. Misuari earlier met with Duterte in Malacañang, the presidential palace over peace talks in Mindanao.Readers of The Adobo Chronicles had their own conclusion on why Uson was able to do what the legit media could not.Readers said that both the news media and Uson are obviously biased. “The only difference,” they said, “is that Uson flaunts it while the new media try to hide or deny it.”Fool the Filipinos once, they bite it. Fool them twice they swallow it. Fool them a third time, they turn around and bite you!"
3780,"Mungkahing i-decriminalize ang paggamit ng iligal na droga, tinanggihan ni Pres. Duterte sa panayam bago dumating si Indonesian President Joko Widodo sa Palasyo.Sabi ni Duterte pariha yan ng EU, pero ayaw ko niyan! pabiro pa nyang sagot na ang suggestion nila na gagawa nlng daw siya ng clinic dito sa manila at si President Duterte nlng daw ang mag supply ng mga illegal drugs.So what can you say about this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to share this post to your family and friends online. And also, visit our website more often for more updates."
3790,"There is a growing clamor among Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters to grant him revolutionary powers in order to expedite the transition to a Federal and Parliamentary form of government.So far, Duterte himself has given no specific indication that he indeed wants to have revolutionary powers. Now we know why, thanks to his Holy Week state visits to the Middle East.In the past two days, Duterte has personally met with King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain. He is expected to meet with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar today.A mole in Duterte’s delegation told The Adobo Chronicles that the main purpose of the meetings with the monarchs was to seek their advice on what is needed to be a king 👑.“I am a mere mayor of a city in the Philippines and I have no experience ruling an entire kingdom ” Duterte reportedly told the heads of state.Is it time to practice saying ‘Hail to the King’ instead of ‘Mabuhay ang Pangulo?’We reached out to Vice President Leni Robredo, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno and incarcerated Senator Leila De Lima for comment. None have returned our texts."
3801,"AIRLINE companies continue to collect travel taxes and terminal fees from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in violation of existing laws, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said on Monday.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said the collection of said fees was “illegal” because under Presidential Decree 1183 and Republic Act (RA) 8042, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, as Amended by RA 10022, OFWs are exempted from paying travel tax and terminal fees.Bello said departing OFWs only need to present their overseas employment certificates (OEC) and working visas to avail of the exemption.“I am wondering why they continue to collect. In fact we already wrote them a letter that they should not collect. This is illegal extraction and they may be liable [under the law]. So we are writing them again to remind them of this exemption of OFWs,” he said in a news briefing.Bello also reminded the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to remit to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) P500 million, the money collected from OFWs since 2015.“They (airline companies) have to account to us how much they collected for the last three years and how much they have remitted to CAAP. We will also ask the CAAP to account to us how much has been remitted to them by the airlines, and then ask them to remit this amount immediately OWWA,” he said.Bello said while some OFWs were given refunds, many failed to get a refund either because they had no time to process their claim or they did not know that they can get their money back.The labor chief instructed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and OWWA to coordinate with CAAP on the implementation of a mechanism for the automatic exemption of OFWs from paying travel tax and terminal fee."
3811,"When Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle visited Pope Francis’ office at the Vatican last September, he bought with him a suitcase carrying a very special gift—the hope of 1,000 Filipino children who had been living on the streets of Manila.Empowered by pen, paper and their imagination, the children, ages 3 to 22, now under the care of a nongovernment organization, Tulay ng Kabataan (TNK), had each written a special letter asking Pope Francis to come visit them during his trip to the Philippines.Each drawing and message had different forms but were united in spirit and in dream.Jose, 11, says, “My drawing is that of a little boy praying because praying is important to us and what we do every day. It is God who we are talking to and through this we hope our wishes will come true.”“Such a simple and touching message, showing how a wounded child, does not give up and puts his hope in the hands of God,” says Fr. Matthieu Dauchez, a French executive director of TNK.Alexandra Chapeleau, communications and partnership manager at TNK, says the Pope’s visit to the children will help them know they are not alone. “They will feel the mercy of God through Pope Francis, and will understand that despite their terrible stories, the world is not ignoring them.”How campaign startedThe campaign, called Even Us, started when a French volunteer at ANAK TNK, the French sponsor of TNK Manila, wrote the Pope and asked him to visit the children. TNK, which helps children transition from a life on the streets to a safe home, then decided the children should ask him themselves.What began as a two-monthlong letter writing campaign at the shelters, was then complemented by a video promoting the children’s dream.The powerful video, which shows realities of their life on the streets and the joy in their smiles as they translated their hope into words, has already received almost 10,000 views. Though the Pope has yet to confirm a visit to the children, he has acknowledged receipt of the letters.Neil Mercado, a teacher in charge of the Pope-related children’s activities, says, “The children remain very excited. They ask every day if he is coming.”Dauchez explains, “We know Pope Francis is coming to Manila and we are aware of his great love for the poorest among the poor. So we thought that letters coming from wounded, neglected and abused children, who still believe in this hope that he proclaims on the rooftops of the world … could be a great message and gift for our children.”Thousands of children live on the streets without any links to their families—surviving by begging, stealing and prostituting themselves. Chapeleau says many become drug addicts, and fall victim to physical and sexual abuse.TNK, founded by a Jesuit priest in 1998, now has 115 Filipino employees and 40 community workers, ranging from social workers, psychologists and caregivers to street educators and house parents.Street educatorsThe street educators roam Metro Manila 24 hours a day to try and convince the most “hard-core street children"
3821,"The Iloilo provincial police has brought charges against the New People’s Army (NPA) fighters who raided the police station in Maasin town, Iloilo, last June 18.Senior Supt. Marlon Tayaba, Iloilo police chief, filed charges of robbery in band, serious illegal detention, direct assault upon persons of authority, public disturbance, and violation of Anti-Carnapping Act before the prosecutor’s office Thursday.The group of about 60 rebels stormed the town’s police station, handcuffed nine officers who were on duty and took their firearms.Only 20 of the rebels have been identified: Joan Fajardo, Chiva Diaz, Joven Ceralvo, Melvin Dayaday, Mary Llyich Bocala, Ronnie Canon, Romeo Esmendiana, Joerey Cordero, an alias “Gamay” Monterio, Karma John Suarez, Leizle Bandiola, an alias “Ruby,” an alias “Katkat,” Lanie Gardose, Christy Cabales, an alias “Niel,” Randy Canoy Garnica, Erver Buencochillo and Levy John Palencia.Tayaba said Buencochillo and Cabales are high-ranking officers of the NPA’s Southern and Central Fronts.Ceralvo is believed to be “Ka Julio Montana” the spokesman for the NPA Coronacio Chiva Waling-Waling Command.The Police Regional Office considered the NPA raid in Maasin as a malicious threat to the entire Western Visayas.“Rest assured, the PNP (Philippine National Police) is doing everything in its power to arrest the perpetrators and recover the items they took,” said Supt. Gilbert Gorero, PRO spokesman."
3830,"The Chinese government continues to be puzzled by the sudden increase in the panda population in just the last six months. The latest official panda count is placed at 1,600 but as of the end of February, 2014, an unofficial panda census shows that the number of these absolutely lovely animals has reached almost 6,000, not including the worldwide zoo population.In an investigative report done by a reporter for The Adobo Chronicles, it was revealed that at least 4,000 of the pandas registered with the Chinese Ministry of Endangered Animals, were actually chow chow (chow) puppies, whose fur were dyed so that they would look like baby pandas.Reacting to the Adobo Chron report, the Beijing government issued an advisory for all panda owners to report to the Ministry of Endangered Animals with their “panda” pets for verification and registration. “Pandas” discovered to be actual chows will be given decoloring baths and the owners will be dealt with a hefty fine."
3841,"He took off his helmet and bullet-proof vest, laid down his firearm and turned on the megaphone to speak to the Islamic State-inspired gunmen here on Oct. 19.“I just wanted to get the children, the women and the injured (hostages),” Capt. Jeffrey Buada said through the megaphone.At the risk of being shot, Buada, commander of the Army’s 15th Scout Ranger Company, slowly walked through the rubble and tried to get near the building, where hungry and thirsty hostages were anxiously waiting to be rescued.As he inched forward, the gunmen warned him against getting past the wall that separated them.Children hostagesBut the sight of enemies holding children hostages was too much for Buada to bear. He said he saw his daughters— aged 4 and 1"
3850,"Isang hindi kaaya-ayang pangyayari ang naranasan ng mga banyagang vloggers ng ""Making it happen Vlog"" na nagpo-promote sa ating bansa. Sa kanilang pagbalik sa Pilipinas mula Japan, minalas sila at nasakyan ang isang balbal na taxi driver. Ayon sa vlogger, wala daw silang makuhang service mula sa Grab kaya nag-taxi sila. Base sa pahayag ng vlogger, pinilit sila ng taxi driver na huwag gumamit ng metro at pati ang mga bagahe nila na isinakay sa taxi ay pinababayaran. Mapapanood din sa video na inihinto ng driver ang taxi nito sa isang highway. Sa isa pang punto sa video, sinabi ng vlogger na idinadaan sila mga kalsadang hindi dapat daanan. Naging agresibo din daw ang taxi driver nang makitang kinukunan siya ng video at pinilit kunin ang cellphone ng mga biktima. Hindi nagustuhan ng mga kababayan natin ang ginawa ng taxi driver. Ito po ang ilan samga komento ng netizens ""This makes me mad. Especially that you guys are very nice to the country - promoting it, etc,"" - H. Marcelo. ""Hey guys please report this to police immediately, never tolerate this kind of behavior. I was saddened about this news,"" - S. Ser. Source: Making it happen Vlog"
3861,"Inaasahang lalakas ang ugnayan sa sektor ng turismo sa pagitan ng Sultan Kudarat at ng konsulado ng bansang Malaysia at Indonesia kasunod ng ginawang pulong kamakailan ng ilang mga opisyal nito.
Ayon kay provincial tourism officer KaharudIn G. Dalaten naging matagumpay ang ginawa nilang pakikipagpulong kay Malaysian Consul General Deddy Faisal nitong Miyerkules, Mayo 9, 2023 at Indonesian Consul General Dr. Achmad Djatmiko nitong Huwebes Mayo 10 sa kanilang konsulado sa Lungsod ng Davao.
Binigyang diin ni Dalaten na batay sa prayoridad ni Governor Datu Pax Ali S. Mangudadatu partikular nilang binalangkas ang mga isyung nauugnay sa tourism services, investment opportunities, at cultural understanding.
Palalakasin din, aniya, ng magkabilang panig ang partnership at collaboration lalo na sa agri-tourism kung saan kilala ang lalawigan bilang nangungunang producer ng kape sa bansa at mga agri-tourism adventure parks na nasa iba’t-ibang bayan nito.
Taon-taon ding ipinagdiriwang sa iba’t-ibang bayan ang mga Festival gaya ng Timpuyog Festival sa Bayan ng Lambayong sa buwan ng Pebrero; Sulok Festival ng Senator Ninoy Aquino tuwing Pebrero; Salagaan Festival ng Kalamansig–Hulyo; Kastifun Festival ng Columbio–Agosto; Kapeonan Festival ng Lebak–Agosto; Hamungaya Festival ng Isulan–Agosto 30; Talakudong Festival ng Tacurong City–Setyembre; Kanduli Festival ng Lutayan–Oktubre 12; Kalimudan Festival ng buong probinsiya– Nobyembre; Bansadayaw Festival ng Bagumbayan-Nobyembre; Hinabyog Festival ng Esperanza– ikalawang linggo ng Nobyembre; Kalilang Festival ng Palimbang–Nobyembre 11; at Sambuyawan Festival ng President Quirino tuwing ikatlong linggo ng Nobyembre.
Tiwala rin si Dalaten, sa tulong ng Indonesian Government, maraming mga kapatid sa ASEAN ang bibisita sa probinsiya at maging sa Mindanao upang maranasan at makita ang mga mayayamang kultura rito, mga wildlife at bird sanctuaries, mga magagandang lawa, agri-eco adventure parks, mountain ridges, diving spots, waterfalls at higit sa lahat ang “one-of a kind hospitality” ng mga residente.
Sa nasabing pulong, inimbitahan din ng Indonesian Consulate office ang mga Pilipinong turista na subukan ang bagong flight route mula Davao City papuntang Manado, Indonesia sa loob ng isa at kalahating oras na biyahe."
3870,"If a disaster occurs in a squatter community, the first people who come are the politicians. They come with their SUVs , bodyguards, alalays, etc.if there is a case between the property owner and the squatters the barangay will advise that the case be brought to the upper courts. The squatter is usually a voter since most land ownersdo not live in the vicinity.I do remember when I went out to check a property in Pasig, I was asked by the Muslim community to give the 100 sqm property to them. Does the city know that the Muslims and the city accepted the building of a mosque in a residential area. It reflected the squatter thinking of these minority. They can built a multimillion structure in an area given by the government for the poor. I talked with the barangay. The police asked me to sell the property in installment so that he can built an apartment. Bullshit! You ask help from these barangays and othe government officials and there are always strings attached. I remembered I followed the transfer papers in Pasig twenty visits before getting the title and the new tax Dec.Now I am following up papers in Marikina. Marikina prides itself for it's no squatters. Resettlement. Ironically the resettlements gets their permits faster than a contractor can get from the city engineers. The contractor left the job unfinished and it appears he made the structures without getting the permit . So far twenty visits pa Lang in my follow up for the wiring permit. The city engineer is even asking an undertaking that I cannot sell the property. Grave what the city government can ask you to do. I made the wrong choice of building structures between resettlements. Some lot owners built 4 story buildings without a location plan, without easements but with more budget. They even had the audacity to use our easements.We businessmen look for return of investments . The government put so much pressure on apartment contractors (7% increase every year, brgy clearance, city permits including fire , sanitary, engineering etc….A p700 th units should at least have a monthly income of p7000th. Rather hard to earn in the outskirt of Marikina.So many skyscrapers are being built in our cities without proper planning. After the multistory buildings are built the neighboring areas suddenly experience perennial flooding. Ironically the condos are late . There is very little demand for space in the budget of P20th a month. Filipinos as a rule prefer house with lots.Now the squatters. Why do they stay in their stinking hole. Why leave when our place is accessible to transportation. When we can have business at aminimal fees."
3880,"Looks like my last article about Martial Law, “Calls for ‘justice’ for the Martial Law ‘victims’ are just fashion statements” hasn’t really sunk in. Worse, all the Martial Law Crybabies in my social media radar seem to have stepped up their idiotic campaign to mis-inform Filipinos about Martial Law.I’m glad someone who was actually a victim of police brutality during that period finally spoke up. Read all about what former Ambassador (now a writer for the Manila Times) Rigoberto Tiglao wrote here. Tiglao is a bon a fide “Martial Law victim”. As benign0 wrote earlier, we really should listen to people who were really there.What I find bizarre is how Filipinos, instead, choose to listen to the ululations of cretins like Jim Paredes and Cynthia Patag. I mean they’re just singers and B-movie actors/actresses for god’s sake! How do their words and thoughts stack up to a guy like Tiglao? Obviously, Filipinos are so starstruck by these celebs that they forget to think straight.As a matter of fact, Tiglao clearly recalls what sort of a student Paredes was at the Ateneo High School, some kid who was “known in our high school for his singing and dancing, not for thinking and writing.” Tiglao goes on to say about Jim who, for some reason, wrongly asserted that he was a classmate of Tiglao’s at the Ateneo…First of all, Jim wasn’t and couldn’t be my classmate at the Ateneo High School, but a batch mate. I was in the “B” class for semi-honors students, with “A” being the honors class. Jim was in the G or H class.Ha ha! Tiglao is super classy! 😀Seriously, why would anybody listen to these wankers anyway — specially on a topic as serious as Martial Law?I’m guessing that the Martial Law Crybabies are in a panic seeing that Bongbong Marcos is gaining so much traction on the campaign trail. Have you checked his Facebook page lately? It’s now got more than 1 million ‘Likes’? Last time I checked (about a year or so ago, if I’m not mistaken), he had less than 100,000. Mar Roxas, to be fair, has 1.3 million as of this writing. But I’m quite confident BBM will catch up and overtake him soon.And so here we are, seeing a throng of desperate Martial Law Crybabies desperately tweeting and posting memes and emo stories about those so-called “victims” of the Marcos regime. And all they get for their trouble is millions of millenial eyes rolling up to the sky in bemusement.Lumang tugtugin coming from a sorry lot of lumang taos.Pathetic.Bongbong Marcos with the ironic help of the Epic 1986-2016 Yellowtard Fail has effected the most spectacular PR turnaround in Philippine history. Left in the dust is the Yellow Mob and their old song-and-dance playing out like a broken record. They wasted their political capital on loud trumpetting instead of investing it in quiet achievement.So for all you Martial Law Crybabies, tigilan niyo na ang ngawngaw. Just cut your losses and admit that the Philippines continues to fail not because of the “evils” of the Martial Law Years of the 1970s but because what we Filipinos got out of your 1986 “revolution” was nothing of any substance that we could work with."
3891,"President Benigno Aquino III has chosen a son of Mindanao to be the new head of the country’s Armed Forces.And the first instructions he gave to Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri: Ensure that the 2016 elections are clean and peaceful.Mr. Aquino has credited Iriberri for the peaceful midterm elections in Abra in 2013 where he was the brigade commander. For the first time in decades, there was no bloodshed in the province, where elections have traditionally been marred by assassinations.“Under his and his men’s guard, no village in Abra declared a failure of elections for the very first time and there was no election-related violence recorded in the province,” Mr. Aquino said Friday. He said the same thing when he appointed Iriberri Army chief 17 months ago.Abra, an election hot spot, saw its most peaceful elections ever that year. For the first time since 1978, Abra was not placed under the control of the Commission on Elections and no candidates were killed during the election period.The province also posted an 83 percent voters turnout, the highest in the Cordillera Administrative Region.Second MindanaoanIriberri, who is from Surigao del Sur, took over the reins of the AFP from Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. who retired Friday.He is only the second military chief to come from strife-torn Mindanao, out of the 46 generals who have held the post since independence.The first Mindanaoan AFP chief was retired Gen. Alexander Yano of Zamboanga del Norte.Yano told the Inquirer that being a military chief from Mindanao is significant because it is about a soldier who grew up knowing and living amid conflict.The changing regional security landscape, largely brought about by the South China Sea maritime dispute, makes it imperative for the Philippines to put an end to the threat of terrorism and decades-long insurgency problems, he said.“Let us remember: The elections are near. It is part of your task to ensure that when our countrymen choose their next leader, it will be a peaceful and clean process,” the President said in his speech at the turnover of command ceremony, which was held indoors at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday because of bad weather.“It is in this way that [the military] can repay the support and care given to you by the Filipino people, our bosses,” Mr. Aquino added.Iriberri, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983, will retire on April 22, 2016. But because appointments ban would be in place by the time he retires, high-level sources believe Mr. Aquino would either extend his term or appoint the AFP vice chief of staff as acting AFP chief.The President also challenged Iriberri to sustain the good work done by Catapang and previous AFP chiefs, and raise even further the quality of service given by the military to the people.He also thanked Catapang for serving the AFP well. Catapang was conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor, the highest honor that the President may grant an individual without the concurrence of Congress.In his acceptance speech, Iriberri said the military would prepare as early as now to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in 2016.He said the elections would be one of his five priorities. Iriberri said what the AFP and the Philippine National Police achieved in the Abra elections in 2013 would be “our yardstick for success in performing our duties in the 2016 elections.”Iriberri said his four other priorities were putting an end to the communist insurgency by 2016; improving the AFP as an organization through the AFP transformation road map; implement the country’s national policies; and the AFP modernization program.He stressed the need to improve joint and combined operational capabilities and readiness in responding to natural and man-made calamities, noting the AFP’s partnership with local and foreign partners in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.Attention to militaryIriberri also thanked President Aquino for his all-out support for the AFP modernization program.“After a very long time, it is only now that our soldiers have handled and used modern weapons. It is only right that we repay the country with loyalty and unparalleled service,” he said.In his five years as President and Commander in Chief, Mr. Aquino has given remarkable attention to the military, one of the weakest in Asia, pouring in money to upgrade its capability.In his speech, Mr. Aquino said that through good governance and the anticorruption drive in the past five years, the government was able to acquire the materiel that Filipino soldiers only once dreamed of, such as the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, as well as the BRP Tagbanua, the very first landing craft made in the Philippines.The government also acquired three AW-109 naval helicopters, field ambulances and 1 ¼- and 2½-ton troop carrier trucks, he said.In addition, the government is set to procure 36 projects worth P90.46 billion, he said. These include 12 fighter/surface attack/lead-in fighter trainer aircraft (FA-50) and basing support; six close air support aircraft; eight combat utility helicopters, two long-range patrol aircraft and basing support; two C-130 aircraft; and two frigates.“I want to emphasize that it was not by chance that we had money to purchase these. We have been spending public money correctly. That is why we have had many benefits,” Mr. Aquino said.He also noted how government ensured decent housing for soldiers and an increase in the subsistence allowance, and that soldiers received the Productivity Enhancement Incentive that he signed in May.“It is clear that in the straight path, government has given you what you deserve, you who are ready to sacrifice your lives during times of disaster, the threat of terrorism or contagious diseases, and when there are those who want to claim our territory as theirs,” he said."
3900,"In a still on-going poll by The Adobo Chronicles, a majority (not just plurality) of respondents have indicated that Vice President Leni Robredo is their top choice to be the next guest of Stephen Sackur on his BBC program ‘Hardtalk.’So far, Sackur has interviewed Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Senator Antonio Trillanes and lately, ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. In all three interviews, Sackur asked hard-hiting questions which the interviewees had a difficult time responding to. For Trillanes and Sereno specifically, their appearance on the show were dubbed by many as an embarrassment.Now, Sackur has officially extended an invitation to Robredo to be his next Filipino guest.The Adobo Chronicles has learned that the Vice President has agreed to the interview with two conditions:One, that the interview will be live at the BBC studios in London with airfare, accommodation and shopping allowance provided by BBC.Second, that Robredo will bring along an interpreter, her spokesperson Georgina Hernandez. Robredo will be responding in Tagalog. Hernandez will be translating Sackur’s questions into Tagalog for Robredo to answer. Robredo also wants assurance from Sackur and the BBC that if Robredo’s answer would be inaccurate or embarrassing, Hernandez will have the option to revise the Vice President’s response.Neither Sackur nor BBC has indicated consent to Robredo’s conditions.Stay tuned."
3910,"Hundreds of firearms confiscated by the Ozamiz City PNP were going to be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte in his visit in the said city Thursday.Philippine National Police Director General Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa was also reported to be there to witness the ceremony.The visit was scheduled, one day after the remains of former Mayor Aldong Parojinog who got killed in the anti-drug raid conducted several weeks ago was buried in Ozamiz City.Heavy and small firearms confiscated in different people connected to the Parojinog family were presented to the media before President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in the place.Several firearms that presented came from the surrendered Barangay Captains of Ozamiz City.According to Senior Inspector Jovie Espenido, the firearms surrendered by the public official of Ozamiz came from the Parojinogs to hide their weapons from the government.President Rodrigo Duterte is also scheduled to talk to the troops in Ozamiz City and award seven medals to the cops who joined the biggest anti-drug raid in history of the said city that resulted to the death of former Mayor Aldong Parojinog Sr. and Board Member Octavio Parojinog.The anti-illegal drug raid that led by the controversial cop Senior Inspector Jovie Espenido also resulted to the arrest of several public officials of Ozamiz City including Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog Echavez who currently detained in Manila.Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte and PNP Chief Dela Rosa gave an special award to Jovie Espenido for his big contribution in war against illegal drugs of the government."
3921,"Political rivalry was the motive of former Abra Gov. Vicente Valera in having then Abra Rep. Luis Chito Bersamin killed, a judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) said in convicting Valera of murder.“The court finds from the evidence presented by the prosecution that it was able to establish the guilt of accused Valera, [Leo] Bello and [Rufino] Panday beyond reasonable doubt,” Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria of Quezon City RTC Branch 94 said in a decision handed down on Wednesday.Also convicted of two counts of murder for the killing of Bersamin and his police escort about nine years ago were the two coaccused—Bello and Panday.Bersamin, brother of Supreme Court Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, was shot in the head at the compound of Mt. Carmel Church in Quezon City after attending the wedding of his niece on Dec. 16, 2006.His police escort, SPO1 Adelfo Ortega, was also killed, shot in the head and body.40 years, damagesValera, his close-in security Bello and Panday were sentenced to up to 40 years in prison for both murder charges.They were also convicted of frustrated murder for the wounding of Bersamin’s driver, Allan Sawadan, and ordered to pay P3.5 million in damages to Bersamin’s heirs and P309,080 to Ortega’s heirs.Two accused, Dominador Barbosa and the gunman, Jerry Turqueza, remained at large. Two other accused, Sonny Taculao and Freddie Dupo, former vice mayor of La Paz, Abra, were discharged after they turned state witness.Operatives of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit were able to trace Panday through the getaway motorcycle.Panday admitted his participation in the assassination of Bersamin and implicated Dupo, Taculao and Barbosa.MastermindDupo and Taculao pointed to Valera as the mastermind. They also identified Bello as coconspirator and Turqueza as the gunman who shot the four victims. A 13-year-old parking boy was hit in the leg when Sawadan shot it out with the gunman.In a sworn statement, Panday said Dupo told him on Dec. 13, 2006, about the plan to kill Bersamin on Valera’s orders.Meeting in La UnionBased on court records, Dupo said he had met Valera at Nalinac Beach in La Union province as arranged by a person he only knew as “Uncle.”He said Valera gave him P25,000 and told him to open a bank account for further payment.Valera allegedly said that Bersamin should be killed to get him out of the way. Bersamin supposedly reneged on his promise not to run for a third term as congressman so Valera’s wife could take the post.News reports also said Bersamin had planned to run for governor against Valera.Driver of getaway bikeDupo called his cousin Taculao to serve as guide of the persons tasked with killing Bersamin. Taculao testified that he was the driver of the getaway motorcycle, and that he saw Turqueza shoot Bersamin as people were coming out of the church.Valera and his wife, Maria Zita, also attended the wedding of Justice Bersamin’s daughter in which Congressman Bersamin stood as principal sponsor.Close relativesValera testified that he could not have conspired to kill Bersamin as their mothers were close relatives and their ancestral houses in Abra were connected by a wooden bridge.He said he knew Dupo as La Paz vice mayor but he had neither talked to him nor met with him regarding the alleged plan to kill Bersamin.Valera said he might have been implicated because he did not follow the instructions of then first gentleman Mike Arroyo to cheat in the 2004 elections to ensure then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s victory.He also speculated that other political aspirants might have wanted to create a wedge between their families and supporters because of their strong political alliance.Dupo clearly stated that political rivalry was Valera’s motive for wanting Bersamin killed, the court said.It added that Taculao’s testimony corroborated the statements of Dupo on its material points while Valera mainly interposed the defense of denial.Valera’s assertion that the evidence against him was rigged was not proven, the court said.No evidence was presented that Bersamin had involvement in illegal drugs and that he earned the ire of the New People’s Army in Abra over the killing of a ranking member of Bayan Muna, the court added.The court noted that Bello provided financial support to Dupo and Taculao while they were hiding and the conspiracy between Bello and Valera was clearly established.As for Panday, who said his sworn statement was made under torture, the decision said courts looked with disfavor upon retractions.“In view of the foregoing, the court rules that accused Valera, Bello and Panday were part of a grand conspiracy to eliminate Bersamin,” the decision said.RELATED STORIESEx-Abra gov Valera convicted for murder of ex-solon BersaminAbra Gov Valera to face trial for murder of political rival, says CA"
3930,"Let’s face it. There is a disturbing proliferation of fake news, especially on the Internet.As a public serivce to our readers and followers, The Adobo Chronicles is disseminating this easy, fool-proof guide in detecting fake news.When you see these logos or images, you can rest assured that their posts are fake.See, that was easy!"
3940,"The homosexual lobby groups here in the US have become quite powerful. People have lost their jobs or have been sued just because their view doesn't agree with their company's support of the nationwide gay movement. Organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the American Civil Liberties Union are pushing to have LGBT exposure in schools and churches.Right now it's not about tolerance anymore, they want forced acceptance and acknowledgement everywhere. America, just like Europe, has become so liberal and politically correct you cannot even do or say anything that appears to criticize any minority group without severe repercussions. This was bound to happen given liberalization, but I hope things will stay civilized.The rights and definition of marriage hasn't stopped there either. Now I believe the polygamists in the country want their nationwide right to have marriage licenses to marry multiple partners. We'll see what happens in the future. Filipinos, are you ready to handle such a scenario if the Philippines were to undergo the same winds of social change?-----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/06/gay-marriage-philippines/#comment-1217254"
3950,"It must have been a slow news day that Rappler’s major story was about googling the words, ‘Psychopath Philippines.’ 🇵🇭 The online news source’s point was that when you do a Google search of the two words, the results are dominated by President Rodrigo Duterte.It will be recalled that Philippine actress Agot Isidro once took to her social media account and called Duterte a ‘psychopath.’What Rappler failed to mention (or deliberately omitted) in its story is that when one does a Google or Facebook search of ‘Idiot Isidro,’ the results will be dominated by — who else — the idiot actress who started it all."
3960,"“Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves.”― C.G. JungFalse pride ( i.e. delusional beliefs) are a barrier to progressSuch people/cultures/countries are not able to- readily admit to mistakes or apologise- ask for help- say ‘i don’t know’- listen and learn from others/outsiders with more knowledge/experience.Instead pride is used as a compensation for low self-esteem, a lack of confidence, a sense of not belonging/fitting in, and consequently the need to exaggerate everything, simply make things up, or try to feel better about their failings by basking in the success of othersAt a national level it is pure propaganda aimed at diverting thoughts from the reality of peoples day to day misery and tribulations through emotional appeals, and also politicians trying to associate with others successes to cover up their own failures.A government pushing ‘pride’ is afraid of criticism and one of image not substanceA populace believing in ‘pride’ is a malleable group driven by emotions not factsEmpty vessels make the most noise – and lazy copycats are the quickest to jump on some-one else’s bandwagon.“ Jingoism, racism, fear, religiousfundamentalism: these are the waysof appealing to people if you’re tryingto organize a mass base of support forpolicies that are really intended tocrush them.”Noam ChomskyIn the right place, in proportion and in perspective, pride can be positive.Genuine pride should arise primarily from personal accomplishment/contribution. ‘Take pride in your work’ is a positive use of pride, where pride is the composite feeling of concrete specifics and outcomes of direct achievements, not manufactured or nebulous, and not something to dwell on. As with a good chef, you are only as good as your next meal.Core corporate and personal values should includeLeadership via mentorshipEndeavour, and quality standards/outputAchievementOriginalityCreativityContinuous improvementLifelong learningProfessionalismIntegrityTeamworkHonestyDecencyCompassion“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame isman-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”John WoodenSource:http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/01/aquino-admin-pinoy-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-202767"
3970,"Source: Twitter / Mikaela Long""This is my first time babysitting and idk where I went wrong but my niece is currently asleep on her head. Do I call the parents of the exorcist,"" she wrote on her tweet.""She's been quite acrobatic lately,"" she said.""I think it's just her settling down and getting comfortable,"" the mother said.A social media personality Mikaela Long had a very unusual experience when she babysit her niece on evening. She checks the baby monitor and what she saw was like a scene in a horror movie.The baby was sleeping standing up on her head with the legs stretched out upward and arched over the bars of the crib. As one who haven't seen anything like that, she freaked out and like any of us who's in that kind of situation she snapped a photo of the moment and tweeted about it.Babies are known to be nimble allowing them to do acrobatic moves that are seemingly impossible to grown adults. But most babies do their yoga like poses when they're awake and playing and not during bedtime.The photo of the upside down baby has since gone viral on social media after it was shared many times by Long's followers.In an interview with web portal BuzzFeed News , the mother of the unbelievably nimble child, who doesn't want to be named, confirmed that her daughter had been doing the upside down pose while sleeping lately.While all of us firmly believe tha lying on your back is the safest position while sleeping, the mother believes that there's no reason to worry as the pose that her baby does while sleeping isn't dangerous.There was not mention of whether they called an exorcist to make sure there are no malicious spirit coercing the baby to do those things or not."
3980,"as well to teach them how to read.Currently, the kitchen is feeding between 5o to 70 children daily during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lugaw is usually served for breakfast.(During the campaign, Robredo said that her campaign funds came from various fundraising events held on her behalf, including lugawan, or stores that sell lugaw or rice porridge).Noting Robredo’s expertise in cooking lugaw, PDP-Laban said that now that her time has been freed up from Cabinet duties, she can be a big asset to the feeding program.The vice president has not officially responded to the offer as of press time."
3990,"I’ve been getting a lot of hate mail recently because I’ve criticized VP Leni Robredo.A lot of friends have told me how I am being tarred and feathered in other people’s walls and some of them have even shown me screen caps. Screen caps I don’t bother to look at.And I don’t look at them because it doesn’t matter to me one bit what they say. The language of hate is wounding and I have more than enough wounds on my plate, thank you. If I’m going to get wounded at all, it’ll be by the hands of people who matter to me. Not strangers I care nothing for.Also, I tell my friends there is no need to defend me. That that is all part and parcel of democracy. I love it when they do, yes but there is no pressing need to. I would rather they focus their time and energy on worthier pursuits like sex. (😃)But also, I have a deeper understanding of my freedom.There is a price I pay for writing with the kind of freedom I do. And it is this—that I awaken the dirt in other people’s souls and they mistake their dirt for mine. And they will spit at me and throw stones at me and try to deny me my humanity and lie about me—and it will be for no other reason than because I spoke my truth. A truth they don’t share.And how they would like nothing more than to silence me.And the funny thing is some of the most vicious ones I’ve encountered are people who think themselves decent and moral and virtuous. Teachers, college professors, bankers, Jesuits, Ateneans, people who fancy themselves buddhists even.There is someone connected with Ateneo—as what, I have no idea. I don’t know him/her. Yup, I don’t even know his/her gender.But time and again, s/he’s tried to pit me against my sister. And her theme, according to friends who’ve told me about it is how so much better my sister is (because, presumably, they share the same political beliefs. Yup. Another lazy thinker..or does this person even think?) My sister is precious to me. And right now we are on shifty ground. There is some discord between me and my sisters because of politics.And family being what it is, it doesn’t take much to see that this definitely isn’t just about politics. That really, as far as I can see, a lot of these issues go all the way back to unresolved childhood issues and have insinuated themselves into our politics.And I try to navigate these murky waters with as much self-care as needed for all the deep wounds that only family can give. And I am pretty sure, my sisters are trying their darndest too to navigate these same waters and with some difficulty.I do know we will find our way back to each other again. There is a storehouse of love that exists still. At least, that is my hope. At kung hindi naman eh, I belong to the larger family of humanity.. 😃And here comes a stranger who has a problem with my political views and uses this cheap shot to get to me.. And in that cruel post, you will see a Jesuit priest cheering him/her on.That’s the kind of decency and moral superiority displayed by the ‘disente’ crowd.This must be why my favorite people on earth are the outcasts. I feel so much more at home with them than I do these respectable disentes. And how, I would rather share a drink with Marcos loyalists than these anti-Marcos ghouls who display behavior that proximate the hateful behavior of the dictator they abhor.In the end they teach me to watch that I don’t let hate into my heart –not even for Ferdinand Marcos –this dictator I have hated all my life.In the end, hate will hurt you. And I no longer want it to. I will fight the reinvention of Ferdinand Marcos and his family but it will be for reasons other than hate.As the great Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster. For when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”I have seen monsters. And they are all decent.---------------------Lorraine Marie T Badoy as posted on Facebook"
4000,"I write because I want to help people make better political decisions. I do not write to gain sympathy and attention. Truth be told, I do not really care if other writers have other intentions, but their freedom to choose their reason for writing ends where they start trampling on me and my work.IMPORTANT NOTE: I really do not want to talk about this issue but the attacks have gotten so vicious that it might affect the reputation of my blog among my social media followers and it might also harm the reputation not only of Karambola, but DWIZ as well. Yes, I have to address this before the issue gets out of hand.I started ThinkingPinoy with the intention of talking about Politics and little else. The problem, however, is that I have not seen a drama queen of your caliber before. I didn't want to respond to your round-the-clock passive-aggressive dilawan-type status posts because I hate drama, except when that drama involves a national issue."
4010,"PC's for studentsJapanese PCsKnowledge economyWhat's in it for Brian?Red tape in public schoolsBird's eye view[END OF SUN.STAR ARTICLE]TP, the 23-year-old disillusioned yuppieMany readers ask TP where his crazy patriotism started. He wasn't able to tell them his story because he was too busy writing about pressing national issues. However, now that the election season is almost over, he feels its time to do so.So let TP tell you how TP became TP.In 2010, ThinkingPinoy was just a snot-nosed news reporter for a local broadsheet. He likes to believe that his youthful idealism during those days compensated for his lack of skills, experience, and refinement. After being assigned to write something for the paper's Sunday feature, TP came up with this:ANGELO Brian Peliño is one of the brightest and most promising high school seniors at Francisco Bangoy National High School (FBNHS) in Sasa, Davao City. He ranked first in many national competitions. He won first place in national spelling competitions twice.But Angelo Brian is not just any other kid. He is near-deaf and totally blind.He can use personal computers (PCs) because a private company gave him a program that lets PCs voice out the keys pressed. But he cannot join an elective computer classes because all the PCs in his school are too old to handle it. They are more than 10 years old, which is totally prehistoric by PC standards. The Philippines lags behind everybody else in computer education. At FBNHS alone, there are less than 30 PCs to be shared by more than 4,000 students.But through the initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and assistance from the Japanese government through its Japanese Non-Project Grant Assistance-Countervalue Fund (NPGA-CVF), a project was conceived and implemented to address this problem.The project, dubbed as Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) project, as its name suggests, provides free modern computer sets, printers, software bundles, and internet access to public high schools nationwide. The project, which had its launching at Bangoy National High School on Friday, is now focusing on its Mindanao component, called PCPS4 or its fourth phase of implementation.The PCPS4 launch was attended by Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura, DTI Secretary Jesli Lapus, and DepEd Undersecretary Ramon Bacani, who represented DepEd Secretary Mona Valisno.As PCPS4's first beneficiary, FBNHS was awarded 11 computer sets, a printer, and a wireless router. Other public schools all over Mindanao are also set to benefit from the project. PCPS4, with total funding of P170 million from NPGA-CVF, is special since only public high schools in Mindanao (Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, and Armm) are project recipients. A total of 426 schools will benefit from the project.There are 51 recipient-schools in the Davao Region: 10 in Compostela Valley; 11 in Davao del Norte; 10 in Davao Oriental; four in Davao del Sur, 16 in Davao City. With the funding support from the government of Japan, DTI has been spearheading the implementation of the PCPS project since 2001. Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the project have provided 3,714 public high schools with computers, cutting the computer backlog in secondary education from 75 percent from the start of its implementation in 2001 to 37 percent at present. Japan's total contribution to the PCPS project is approximately P1.8 billion.Overall, the PCPS Project is DTI's response to the compelling challenges posed by the fast emerging Knowledge Economy. It aims to enhance the Filipino youth's information technology (IT) skills as the country's future knowledge workers and promote IT culture in Philippine classrooms as an avenue to develop skills to be at par with global standards.""The government of Japan has been giving strong support to IT education in the Philippines as we recognize its major role in the global economy. To help realize and maximize IT potentials in the Philippines, the government of Japan is happy to continue giving its full support to the government of the Philippines,"" Ambassador Katsura said in his speech during the launching ceremony.The Philippines has been recognized for its competitive advantage in the IT services sector, being the second largest producer of computer services in Asia, next to India. To maintain this advantage and provide a continuous pool of manpower in the sector, the DTI, through the PCPS project, promotes the need to incorporate IT in the basic levels of education by providing computers to public high schools.""As you all may know, the Philippine government initiated the PCPS project in 2001, and has extended the project three times, taking into consideration the overwhelming acceptance and appreciation from recipient schools and beneficiary students. Today's occasion marks the third extension, or the beginning of Phase 4 of the project,"" the Japanese ambassador told school officials, students, teachers, and representatives from city government, DTI and Deped present during the launching ceremony.""We are glad to know that the first three phases of the PCPS project have already enabled computer education to cover about 63 percent of all public high schools nationwide,"" Katsura added.Addressing the students of FBNHS, he said: ""I hope you will make best use of your PCs to enhance your IT skills, and will bear in mind the great potentials offered by IT to you as an individual and to your country as well.""He also emphasized that PCPS4 is also a part of Japan's assistance policy for Mindanao called ""Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development or J-Bird,"" which was launched in 2006 to contribute to the peace process and development in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao through its economic cooperation.""The Mindanao component of PCPS is also considered to be one of the J-Bird projects. Thus, through various reconstruction and development efforts under the J-Bird, Japan is committed to further advancing the peace process and to enable the people and communities in the targeted areas to enjoy the dividends of peace,"" Katsura said.Upon hearing the news, Brian hoped that things may change. He was glad that Japan, a foreign country, is concerned with the plight of Filipino students. He is also happy that DTI initiated such undertaking, even if the public school system is not under its jurisdiction. However, Brian, sitting at a corner of the conference hall, wearing dark glasses and a hearing aid, is still worried.In a trembling voice, he said in Filipino: ""I am really happy that the new computers are here, but I don't think that I will be able to join the computer class because my teacher won't let me. I think he wants to tell me that I am too difficult to teach.My teachers encouraged me to take culinary arts as an elective instead. I don't want that. I don't want to accidentally chop my own fingers off. If it's okay, I want to study computers. They're easy to learn too you know.""He complained about some teachers who refused to allow him in their computer classes.Antonio Sarmiento, FBNHS computer teacher for seniors, said in Filipino: ""I am not a special education (Sped) teacher, I am not trained for that (people like Brian), and this school actually has no Sped department. He is the only student like that in here.""In essence, Sarmiento rejected Brian simply because he thinks that only a Sped teacher can teach the child. But he said the city government had provided Brian with a personal computer that is capable to use a program that lets PCs voice out the keys pressed. Sarmiento is also the school's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) coordinator.""There was a computer given to Brian by the City Government, I just don't know where it is. I think it's in the possession of the Values Education department,"" he said.When checked with Irene Galorio, FBNHS Values Education officer-in-charge, she said the computer is being used by the Guidance Department.""Brian can use it anytime though; he just has to go to the guidance office. Our Values Education office, as you can see, is leaking. Just look at the ceiling. We cannot store the PC here,"" she quickly added.She later referred this writer to Mary Jane Tindoc, the schools Sped Department officer-in-charge. Tindoc, also an English teacher, said the school is also trying to help Brian in his interest with computers.""We try to find ways for Brian's needs, it's just that the equipment he needs is prohibitively expensive,"" said Tindoc, who was assigned as Sped OIC in the absence of any formally-trained Sped teacher.When asked about the personal computer the City Government had provided for Brian's use, Tindoc denied such donation was solely made for the blind student.""The computer (in question) is for all Sped students, not just for Brian. There are about 10 of them in the school, I do not have the exact numbers. It is still under assessment,"" she said. This pronouncement contradicted Sarmiento's claims that the school has no Sped department and Brian is the school's only student of his kind.Seeing how the previously-awarded PC was mishandled, will this also be the case for personal computers PCPS4 has awarded? Let us hope not. If Brian's story happens again, the project will defeat its purpose.It may be unfair to blame the teachers for this micro-level debacle.""Information and knowledge are replacing capital and energy as the primary wealth-creating assets, just as capital and energy replaced land and labor two centuries ago,"" Secretary Lapus said.However, information and knowledge needs capital and energy, both of which the country sorely lacks.Based on recent DepEd statistics, the country lacks more the 50,000 teachers. Forget right now about the quality of the teachers, it's bad enough that there are so few of them. Thus, public school teachers are given workloads that are way more than what they can handle. It is infuriating to know what happened with the Brian issue, but it is something that a teacher, who has to deal with literally thousands of students, will have an undoubtedly hard time to handle.""Computer education is compulsory in Japan and we always ensure that Japanese students are well-educated with new technologies and innovations,"" Ambassador Katsura said.But this appeared to be not the case for the country. As shown by the Brian issue, DepEd has tagged computer education as an ""elective"", so that taking it up is optional. But DepEd and public school teachers are simply finding ways to maximize what little financial resources they are given, and they are not the only ones accountable for it.Brian is just hoping that somehow, the entire hullabaloo that happened last Friday will be something that actually matters.After writing that article, the extremely idealistic TP felt a pervasive sense of disillusionment. TP knows he's lucky: he comes a relatively well-off family, had a decent education, and is free from disabilities. However, what TP did not know back then is the kind of struggles that other people actually go through.There was Angelo, a kid who desperately struggles get a better shot in life while the government seemingly tries its best to screw his life up. TP felt that everything was so wrong.Basically, TP lost his idealism,fell into severe depression and decided to quit his newspaper job, but not before he tried to look for college scholarship grants for Angelo in time for the first semester of 2011. Using what's left of his meager writer's salary, TP knocked on the doors of every university in Davao City, including Ateneo de Davao (ADDU) and the University of Mindanao (UM), begging them to find a way to help that poor kid.TP was silently weeping as he scoured Davao, trying to find help for this kid. He just couldn't take what's happening. The social injustice he was witnessing was just too much for him to bear. One of the universities eventually yielded, so TP finally got to heave a sigh of relief. However, at that point, he has already given up on his idealism and went overseas.Many years later in October 2015, TP discovered that Angelo actually received a scholarship grant from Deutsche Bank [ DeutscheBank ] a few months after TP tried to find funding. He is still the studious, hardworking kid that TP knew. The high school kid TP knew was about to graduate from college in just a few months.Then TP realized his mistake: he gave up too early. He decided to come back to the fore and continue to fight for the Filipino. (And thus, ThinkingPinoy.net was born.Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
4021,"An Airbus A320 of Air Asia made an emergency landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after its right engine malfunctioned, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said on Thursday. Flight Z2-612 with 159 passengers and six crew on board, was flying from Davao City when its pilot, Captain Allan Roque, requested clearance for emergency landing while approaching NAIA. It was not known if the plane already had engine failure when it took off from Davao."
4030,"Amid criticism that her video message at the annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on Narcotics in Vienna last week was based on lies and was meant to destabilize the Philippines and the Duterte administration, Vice President Leni Robredo today issued a retraction.FVP spokesperson Georgina Hernandez told The Adobo Chronicles that Mrs. Robredo inadvertently sent the wrong video to Vienna. “She apologizes to the Filipino people,” Hernandez said.Here is the correct video message (courtesy of PH Democracy Defender):"
4041,"By urging Filipinos to join the “Walk for Life” against widespread drug killings and the return of capital punishment, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has thrown down the gauntlet at President Duterte and set the stage for another classic church-state confrontation.“Let us face those who attempt to cast fear among the people and show them our courage,” CBCP President Archbishop Socrates Villegas told thousands of ralliers on Saturday morning at Rizal Park in Manila.“We will not be bullied or intimidated,” declared Bontoc-Lagawe Bishop Valentin Cabbigat Dimoc, a burly Cordillera native.Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called for “active nonviolence” in opposing extrajudicial killings (EJKs) as a result of the government’s war on drugs. “If the response to violence is also violence, we merely abet the violence,” Tagle said. “We should not be propagating violence but challenging it with nonviolence.”But he also clarified that what was needed was “not passive but active nonviolence.”Apparently referring to next week’s anniversary observance of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution, Tagle called for unity and “people power” against state-sanctioned violence. “People power not violence,” Tagle said.Clearly, Church leaders were calling for active resistance to the Duterte government’s draconian measures at checking the 2drug menace and imposing law and order.Villegas said the choice to hold an early-morning prayer rally was significant because many of the victims of EJKs were found at dawn.“Why in the early hours of the day? This is simply because during this time when victims are found along the road or in garbage heaps,” Villegas said, as he urged Filipinos to banish fear and “walk with the victims and their families.”“We’re here for the Walk for Life in the name of those who cannot walk because of our shortcomings,” he said. “They cannot walk because they have been killed and we’re too afraid to get involved.”“This Walk for Life is for them,” Villegas said. “We will walk and we will stand for them.”Clearly the head of the episcopal conference was saying the Church wouldn’t tolerate EJKs and the restoration of the death penalty that the bishops felt was antipoor, as reflected in how Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo defined capital punishment—“it is punishment for those without capital.”Good Shepherd Sister Regina Kuizon, chair of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), reminded Catholics of Pope Francis’ wish for a world “free of the death penalty.”“Since December we have lobbied at Congress (against) the death penalty,” Kuizon said. “Nuns have done room-to-room campaigns at the House of Representatives for them to favor life instead of death.”Kuizon reminded lawmakers that capital punishment “brings no justice to victims but instead fosters vengeance.”“This Walk for Life is not to defend the drug addicts or the killers,” Villegas said. “Criminals ought to be arrested, prosecuted, sentenced and jailed to correct the wrongdoings they committed. They ought to be judged by the court of law and never by the (barrel of the gun) or extrajudicial means.”Villegas added that all Christians should unite against the evils of “ABCDE"
4051,"Police say a 31-year-old woman has been fatally shot and seven people wounded in a nightclub shooting in Cleveland.A Cleveland police spokeswoman says officers were called to Club X-Rated, near downtown, around 1 a.m. Saturday and found the woman with a gunshot wound to the head. She died at a hospital.The spokeswoman says there was an altercation both in and out of the club, but provided no further details.The seven people who were wounded were taken to Cleveland hospitals. There was no immediate word on the extent of their injuries or their condition."
4060,"from The Netherlands to Australia.What was more puzzling is the fact that importers are flying into Taiwan to personally pick up their shipment. In addition, they were buying the tofu and durian only from specific vendors.After an extensive market analysis and investigation, Taiwan’s Ministry of Trade and Commerce traced the sudden export surge to these two vendors (see photo).Both the tofu and durian vendors told The Adobo Chronicles® that their goods are all on backorder at the moment."
4070,"Now it can be told. Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s colorful language supposedly directed at U.S. President Barack Obama had nothing to do with the cancelled meeting between the two world leaders.The two presidents were supposed to have a one-on-one meeting during the ASEAN Summit in Laos this week.News media have speculated that The White House cancelled the meeting because Duterte had called Obama a “son of a whore.”Sources close to Obama, however, confirmed to The Adobo Chronicles that the real reason for the cancellation was because The White House and the U.S. State Department were not happy about a recent meeting between Duterte and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.A photo of the Duterte-Trump meeting was leaked to the media just before Obama left for Laos.Now we know."
4081,"I will eat you alive. Just bring me vinegar and salt.President Duterte issued this warning to the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group, which he previously regarded as “not criminals,” but a group of Moros “driven to desperation” because of the government’s “failed promises.”Addressing the gathering of the Filipino community here on Monday night, Mr. Duterte vowed to exact vengeance on the Abu Sayyaf for the killing of 14 people and the wounding of 67 in an explosion that ripped through a popular night market in his hometown of Davao City last week.“Let me state my case. They will pay …. Well, give me time. There will be a time when I will really crush all of them. You watch me. Anyway, you know how I operate,” the President said in a speech at Feungfar Convention Center.Mr. Duterte issued the warning as the Philippine military said more than 10 battalions would be pursuing about a thousand fighters and supporters of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. Each battalion has about 400 soldiers.The President, who flew here to attend the 28th and 29th summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, his first foreign travel since he took office on June 30, also promised to end the Moro and communist rebellions before his term ends in 2022.Beyond redemptionDefending his tough stance against criminality, he said lawless elements like terrorists were already “beyond redemption.”“If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you,” the President said, drawing laughter from his audience, including some children.“That’s true. If you annoy me to the fullest …. I will eat you alive. Raw,” he said.Speaking to the Abu Sayyaf, he said: “Go ahead. Set off bombs. Time will come when I will eat you in front of the people. I will devour you and if I have to, erase you.”He also sought the understanding of the Filipinos based here as he defended his ruthless take-no-prisoner strategy against the narcotics trade, which has led to the killings of some 2,000 drug suspects and elicited international condemnation.For next generation“If I relent, if I stop, if I renege on these commitments, I would have compromised the next generation of the Filipino,” he said.After hurling invectives at US President Barack Obama, Mr. Duterte turned his ire on the Abu Sayyaf, the al-Qaida-linked terror group that has denied involvement in the Davao blast.He said: “I am very sad. I share the grief (of the families) of those who died. They were the collateral (damage). But that will not stop us because I cannot go to them and say, ‘Please stop and I am on bended knees.’”“I carry the burden of a country, a sovereign state and at all costs, I must uphold the dignity and the integrity of our country,” Mr. Duterte said.In Zamboanga City, Major Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said five more battalions would be deployed to Sulu soon.He confirmed the arrival of three battalions—63rd, 16th and 69th Infantry Battalions from the Visayas, Luzon and Davao, respectively.Tan said two brigades, with four or five battalions each, were already in Sulu.“These fresh deployment of three battalions is not part of the five battalions that President Rodrigo Duterte earlier committed,” he said in an interview.Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said the Abu Sayyaf armed bandits numbered roughly 250, “but they can reach about a thousand considering their affiliations (with other armed groups) by affinity and by blood.”Tan said each battalion was assigned to a particular threat group and a particular municipality. “Different battalions in different towns can conduct operation simultaneously,” he said.Primary targetsThe primary targets in the military operation are Radullan Sahiron alias Commander Putol, Alhabshi Misaya, Muammar Askali alias Abu Ramie, and the subgroup leaders of factions of the Abu Sayyaf.Tan said after the Aug. 29 encounter in Patikul town where 15 soldiers were killed, the bandits had reportedly splintered into smaller groups and blended with civilians in the communities.“We intensify our intelligence network,” Tan said.Raden Ikbala, the convenor of Bassakao, (Bangsamoro against Kidnapping and other Crimes) appealed to government troops to make sure they were hitting the bandits and not homes, farms and civilians.Ikbala, in his Facebook post, said the soldiers “must walk toward the Abu Sayyaf, walk to make sure genuine Abu Sayyaf will be killed.”“So that no human life will be wasted, no fruits will be destroyed (because it’s the fruit season in Sulu now and fruits are the main source of living of our people),” he added.Tan said the soldiers would try to minimize collateral damage. “But if there will be those affected by this war, I believe there is a greater good after the war. We consider damage, but it should not hinder the operations to achieve better or greater good in the future,” he added."
4091,"President Rodrigo Duterte arrived early on Friday morning in Davao City after his brief visit to Bali, Indonesia, where he stressed the importance of closer regional cooperation to boost growth at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Leaders’ Gathering.“I am pleased to be back home from an engaging interaction with my fellow Asean leaders and heads of international institutions at the Asean Leaders’ Gathering in Bali,” he said in his arrival statement.The President said he reiterated the country’s “national priorities of inclusive growth, stable and secure environment and economic integration in the region.”Steady growth path“As a regional bloc, Asean should capitalize on its strength as a highly competitive region in order to maintain its steady growth path,” he said.“Only when we are willing to invest in ourselves can we ensure resiliency amid the challenges of trade tensions, threats to security and stability, and increasing natural calamities,” he added.During the Asean leaders’ gathering, Mr. Duterte extended the Philippines’ sympathies to Indonesia, following the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit South Sulawesi.Humanitarian aidThe Philippines also offered humanitarian aid to Indonesia, which was also hit by an earthquake during the summit.“I conveyed to President Joko Widodo the Philippines’ condolences to the Indonesian people,” the President said.He said that it was the Philippines’ turn to extend a helping hand to Indonesia, which had always shown its readiness to help the country during past calamities.“Now, we are giving back. That’s the Asean way. That’s our duty as brother and a neighbor,” he said.Mr. Duterte said he also met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to discuss efforts by their countries to delineate their maritime boundaries in the disputed South China Sea."
4101,"Six suspected members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed in a fierce gun battle with Army troopers in a remote area of Maluso town in Basilan.Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional police, said the clash stemmed from the operation launched by elements of the 68thInfantry Battalion.At around 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, the Army troopers chanced upon a group of Abu Sayyaf men in Sitio Kitchen in Barangay Muslim area that resulted in the firefight.“As a result, six alleged ASG members were killed,” said Mijares.Pursuit operations, he said, were still being conducted by the military in Maluso town and nearby areas for those who were able to escape.“We are now in the process of identifying the six slain ASGs,” said Mijares.The military has been aggressively running after the Abu Sayyaf which continues to hold several hostages.The ASG was tagged as responsible in the series of high-profile kidnap-for-ransom cases that include foreigners, its notoriety includes beheading the hostage whose relatives would not pay their ransom demand.Aside from kidnap-for-ransom, the group has also been tagged in bombing activities and attacks on military posts in Basilan and Sulu.The military, however, said that the ASG’s operational capability has significantly reduced following the death of its top leaders, including the Janjalani brothers, over the years."
4111,"The Supreme Court came to the aid of relatives of four slain drug suspects a day after the Philippine National Police suspended its bloody war on drugs.The Supreme Court barred PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa and his men from harassing the relatives and from entering within a one-kilometer radius from their homes in Payatas, Quezon City.The high court en banc on Tuesday granted the petition for a writ of amparo filed by the families of Marcelo Daa Jr., Raffy Gabo, Anthony Comendo and Jessie Cule—alleged drug suspects killed on Aug. 21 last year by the police in Group 9, Area B of the former garbage dump.The relatives feared police harassment and intimidation for being the first among thousands of victims of the “Operation Tokhang” antidrug campaign to seek justice for their loved ones.Writ of amparo is a legal remedy under the 1987 Constitution available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity.The Supreme Court referred the petition of the Tokhang victims for raffling to justices of the Court of Appeals, which the tribunal ordered to immediately conduct a hearing on the petition.Appellate courtThe high court has given the appellate court 10 days from submission of its decision to decide on the case.The case was filed by the drug suspects’ relatives—Efren Morillo, Martino Morillo, Victoria Morillo, Ma. Belen Daa, Maria Daa, Maribeth Bartolay, Lydia Gabo, Jennifer Nicolas and Marilyn Malimban.They were represented by the Center for International Law, which believed that with this first case against Oplan Tokhang more victims would be emboldened to seek the court’s help in stopping the extrajudicial killings.More than 7,600 people, mostly users and small-time dealers, have been killed since President Duterte took office at the end of June, vowing to crack down on drugs.So far, these operations have predominantly been carried out by police in a campaign that has caused international alarm due to the high death toll and disputed circumstances of many of the killings.A total of 2,555 people have been killed in police operations since the crackdown started seven months ago, the PNP said. The PNP said that the police killed the suspects all in self-defense and that the other killings were carried out by vigilante groups or were unsolved murders.Human rights groups said the extrajudicial killings were frequent, as were “hits” by assassins that they said were linked to the police, claims that the PNP and Mr. Duterte denied.‘Trumped-up’ chargeOne of the petitioners was charged by the police with direct assault upon agents or persons in authority. Their lawyer called the charge “trumped-up” and part of efforts to cow the families of the victims into silence.Just five days after the case was filed, the high court agreed to provide protection to the families of the victims by “prohibiting the respondents and any of their agents from entering within a radius of one kilometer from the residences and work addresses of the petitioners.”Named respondents were Dela Rosa, Senior Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, Quezon City Police Director Lito Patay, Quezon City Station Commander Emil Garcia, Police Officer 3 Allan Formilleza, PO1 James Aggarao and PO1 Melchor Navisaga and their agents.‘Moot and academic’Sought for comment on the petition for the writ of amparo, Eleazar said he had yet to receive a copy of the order.But he said the petition might now be “moot and academic” because of the President’s order to stop the antidrug operations.The PNP suspended the antidrug operations on Monday to rid the ranks of “scalawags” after the President said that the PNP was “corrupt to the core” and that 40 percent of the force members were dishonest.Mr. Duterte lashed out at the PNP on Sunday for the kidnap and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo by rogue officers. Jee was kidnapped from his home under the pretense of an antidrug operation."
4121,"ANTIPOLO City —The nearly 300 super health centers that have remained inoperational or unfinished can be resuscitated through a public-private partnership, or through their conversion into facilities offering ambulatory service, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said. 413“Unang solution, Tutulungan namin pondohan yung doktor through our National Health Workforce Agreement. Pangalawang solution, turn over niyo sa amin, gagawin kong mini-BUCAS. Pangatlo, public-private partnership,” Herbosa said during an inspection of a newly-opened super health center in Antipolo City on Thursday.414(The first solution is that we will help fund the doctors through our National Health Workforce Agreement. The second solution is that they will turn it over to us, and I will make it a mini-BUCAS. Third is a public-private partnership.)415“May pang-apat, ito yung old mo iwanan mo, pumunta ka dito, gawin mong primary care kasi hindi mo [iiwan], gawin mo for some other purpose,” he added.416(The fourth is to leave their old [facility] and to move here, and make it a primary care facility because if you will not [leave] your old facility then use it for another purpose.)417BUCAS stands for Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service, which aims to provide free urgent and outpatient care services, especially in underserved areas. These centers aim to bridge the gap between primary care and higher-level hospitals by offering services like minor surgeries, laboratory tests, and consultations, helping to decongest major hospitals. 418A super health center is a primary health care facility that offers primary laboratories and radiological services, pharmaceutical services, birthing services, minor surgical services, dental services, ambulance services, and telemedicine.419The center is meant to be a collaboration project between local governments and the DOH.420Herbosa has said that around 500 super health centers have been funded by the government since 2021, when its concept was introduced.421However, the department recently discovered that at least 297 remain incomplete or inoperational.422The DOH is set to face the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Friday to tackle the almost 300 incomplete super health centers.423“For a long time, I have always considered healthcare to be about services… It’s not about infrastructure… We’re not about public works. If you ask me, if you have to weigh, what do we need? The infrastructure that takes long to build or medicines for patients with TB, high blood... I’m a doctor. I prefer free medicines for our citizens,” Herbosa said."
4240,"A little-known Republican senator from Oklahoma, James Lankford, told his colleagues that men like him have the right choose whether or not women should have an abortion.He made the statement during Monday’s senate floor debate on the proposal to defund Planned Parenthood which ended up being rejected in the subsequent vote.Lankford argued on that he had the right to lecture women about whether or not they should get abortions because he had impregnated his wife and “had something to do with the birth.”Lankford’s argument resonated well with Republicans and Tea Party members, as well as religious conservatives who hailed the senator as the new hero for men’s rights. Several of the Republican candidates for president have also taken notice of Lankford and are seriously considering him to be their vice presidential running mate.“I admire his courage, but most especially his logic on this highly-sensitive issue,” Senator Ted Cruz said."
4250,"Kris Aquino’s first major Hollywood film project has been completed and it hits theaters around the world in early February. It’s titled, “Yellow Safari.”The Adobo Chronicles was able to secure an advanced copy of the film’s trailer and we are sharing it for the first time with our subscribers and followers.View the trailer:"
4260,"Three years ago, The Adobo Chronicles reported that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has classified the taking of ‘selfies’ as a mental disorder called ‘selfitis.’We, of course, made it all up.But what’s not made up is a scientific research conducted by the UK’s Trent University which concluded that your selfie obsession is real, but your selfitis is fake."
4270,"Even if Duterte (or anyone else) has all the right answers… Even if he (or anyone else) is the leader that the Philippines needs to get out of whatever rut 30 years of ""freedom"" left us in… Even if he is elected by a landslide majority…… he won't make an impact in Philippine society. I guarantee it.Why? Because even if he wins, all the losers will do their darndest to sabotage any progress he'll make. They will use all of the influence and power they have (and Manileños have so much influence and power) to limit the influence and power of whoever wins. It's a very Pinoy trait.Pinoys would rather see the Philippines burn and never thrive rather than see it blossom and grow… because of someone they dislike.They will make things difficult. They will stonewall all efforts. They will hang back, put their hands behind their heads and say ""O. Ikaw pala ang gusto ng bayan. Sige, ikaw ang gumawa d'yan. Bakit kami tutulong e kinontra mo kami?""You will never see a defeated politician go to the winner and say ""Boss, congrats. Pero ito pong plano ko, sigurado akong makikinabang ang lahat ng Pilipino. Kahit kayo na lang ang gumawa. Kahit hindi na ako ang gagawa. Basta magawa siya at matulungan ang bayan natin.""No, they will hold on to whatever help they could give and hold back, hoping that they can win the next election and then use that plan.Unless Pinoys change from a grass-roots level, you can get the best leader there is and ever was… and it will mean diddly-squat.---------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2016/05/rodrigo-duterte-represents-revolution-denied-filipino/#comment-1659773"
4280,"It finally happened on Wednesday night — the much-anticipated meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.The meeting between the two heads of state was cancelled twice, prompted by Duterte’s colorful language supposedly aimed at Obama.The first meeting was cancelled by The White House soon after Duterte made the expletive-filled statement. A second meeting was supposed to happen at the state dinner hosted by the Laotion prime minister in honor of the ASEAN summit participating heads of state. Duterte was supposed to sit next to Obama on one side, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the other. That, too, was cancelled.But in the holding room prior to the state dinner, Obama and Duterte were the last to leave for the banquet.Here is a transcript of their conversation:Obama: Did you bring me a barong tagalog?Duterte: I did. I left it at your hotel’s front desk. Thank you for the suit and tie you gave me.Obama: Oh, you’re most welcome. You looked dashing!Duterte: I would like to apolo….Obama: Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t offended. I know you’re a very colorful guy. The news media is making such a big deal out of this.Duterte: Those son-of-a-bitches!Obama: Now, now…Duterte: I’m sorry, Mr. PresidentObama: I’ve heard a lot about your word war with Senator Leila de Lima…Duterte: That whore!Obama: Meeting’s over. Time for dinner!Duterte: Put*ng ina naman.Obama: What did you just say?Duterte: I said, “Thanks for this brief opportunity!”Obama: Oh, okay. You’re welcome!"
4290,"No matter how you embellish it, DH is a menial work looked down upon by people anywhere. Admit you are a servant when you work as DH. If you don't want to be stereotyped as DH, then don't work abroad as DH. It's just as easy as that theoretically. But in reality, ask the Labor Department or B.S Aquino if Filipinos can do without that job abroad, if affirmative, send all DHs from all over the world back to PH, if not, please endure and learn to rise above discrimination.Learn from the Chinese during the time when they worked as coolies, despite being called Intsik Beho, Chinks, Baboy, quietly they toiled! Their government was weak so they were helpless. Even after they became businessmen, up to these days, they have to put up with discrimination in the form of harassment, extortion etc. from the government.So Filipinos nowadays are just undergoing what the Chinese coolies were experiencing during the time when they were ""Sick Men of Asia""! All told, the real cause is a corrupt, incompetent and weak government! If you insist to have a cure, then to change the government is the cure. Can you do that, my fellow Filipinos? If not, what can't be cured should be endured. Making noise is not a solution!---------------This is a GRP Feature Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/06/hk-filipino-maids-react-to-latest-racism-row-as-impact-of-singapore-hate-blog-ripples-across-region/comment-page-1/#comment-544939"
4300,"none other than Nora Aunor.A victory for Aunor would be a vindication for her after Aquino snubbed her in last year’s naming of the National Artists.In the Philippines, politics and showbusiness are always a perfect match, and this tandem on both the Roxas and Binay camps is no exception.But don’t discount Senator Grace Poe as yet. It is rumored that she is about to name actor Dingdong Dantes as her vice presidential runningmate.Oh, what fun. In the Philippines."
4311,"Social media has sustained the number of Filipinas marrying foreigners through the mail-order bride route, an official of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas said Monday.Marriage sponsors under such scheme are making as much as P500,000 to P1 million for each wedding arranged.In the Davao Region, the cases of marriage migration have reached 9,990 with the province of Davao del Sur, which includes Davao City, registering the highest with 7,490, according to a data collected from 2005 to present.Emigrant Services Officer Ma. Camille Lacaba of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) said 25 percent of Davao Region’s marriage migrants were made possible by online sites like Facebook, chats, and dating websites.While there is nothing wrong in connecting with other people, Lacaba said Filipinos must ensure they linked with somebody who has a verified identity and through safe and legal websites.“Most of the time, foreigners (dating online) have fraudulent identities,” she said in an interview Monday on the sidelines of the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex here.Lacaba said marriage migrants are highest in the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Canada. She pointed to South Korea as having the most mail-order bride schemes.But she said CFO is able to conduct workshops with South Korea-bound Filipinos especially on family culture.Lacaba said Filipinos must know the family dynamics of the Koreans."
4320,"Many see the Philippines today as hopelessly polarised with the “die-hard Duterte supporters” (DDS, a.k.a. the “Dutertartds”) on one side and the old “Yellow” cliques loyal to the cult of personality of the Liberal Party (LP, a.k.a. the “Yellowtards”) on the other. The Yellowtards were, since their colossal loss in the 2016 elections, easily-characterised as an obsolete political faction in its dying throes but, by no means going away quietly as evident in the trite noise it contributes to the national “debate”. The Dutertards, on the other hand, were the up-and-coming “new breed” of influencers who seemingly expertly wielded the modern tools of the trade crafting punchy Intenet memes, sustaining statistically-impressive “engagement” scores on social media, and pushing out edgy “blog” articles over various channels.For the most part it was, at least as far as our narrowly-curated timelines would reveal, a troll “war” between both camps, each side accusing the other of “weaponising” the Net and burying the “truth” underneath a mantle of mass-produced sound bytes meant more to sow confusion than add clarity to the discourse. But the narrative that had been sustained for a while, that of two unified camps that dominated the Philippines’ bipolar discourse, seems to be evolving. The monolithic character of the DDS has seen some fraying at the edges lately which, following a tell-all video released by Bruce Rivera (erstwhile part of the “solid” DDS inner-circle) that pretty much lay the group’s dirty laundry out for all to gawk at, now seems more like an understatement.The pedestrian cliques of the Yellowtard side, for their part, have remained consistent to their shallow, primitive, and monomanic style of discourse despite an underworld network of slapstick blogs and shadowy Google AdSense money trails being laid bare under the harsh light of DDS “investigative” blogging. At the upper crusts of the Yellowtard camp, chi chi mainstream “journalists” have maintained their ideological umbilical cord to Western liberalism and even strengthened this bond having all but invited generous commentary on today’s “killings” from their European and American counterparts. Evidently, the strategy involves tapping into stubborn vestiges of Filipinos’ renowned colonial mentality to accord automatic social ascendancy and credibility to these foreign Western voices.This, interestingly enough, is not much different from pro-administration bloggers and “influencers”. Although “Dutertard” bloggers provide a fresh and innovative perspective to the discourse that contrasts with the Yellowtards’ voodoo primitivism, there remains in the DDS’s approach the same “credibility” built upon cult-of-personality. And just like the “influence” wielded by the Yellowtards during their heyday, the key DDS influencers’ work in punditry and social media is entangled in a conflict-of-interest owing to their being employed or contracted as officials or “consultants” by Malacanang.As the discourse gets increasingly polarised with both sides digging themselves increasingly deeper into an unproductive trench warfare wherein each side shells and snipes at the other from a distance rather than engage in close-contact combat, the landscape is once again left wide-open for true and independent punditry. The key here is for these true and independendent pundits to elevate themselves above the stalemated trench warfare being waged by the Dutertards and the Yellowtards and way above the intellectually-bankrupt arguments of choice such as “Why should I listent to you, you’re a […]-tard?”True pundits should focus less on polarising the debate and more on clarifying stuff — clarify the issues, clearly-define the problem, evaluate options, and recommend clear pathways. When there is an increase in focus on clarity, we can expect an increase in focus of inclusiveness in the discourse. At the moment, there is none of this sort that can be seen in the way the Yellowtards and Dutertards conduct themselves. Indeed, the division they are causing is not just between the two camps but, as evident in the Rivera and Cocoy Dayao episodes, also within their respective camps.The patterns are becoming quite evident. On the Yellowtard side, its honchos have, as presumptive leaders of the Opposition, failed to unify this Opposition around a common ideology or strategic direction. On the Dutertard side, a once-monolithic unity surrounding Duterte’s cult of personality is beginning to unravel and is starting to make the DDS brand look more like a house of cards rather than the formidable edifice it once came across as. Across all that is the general erosion of the blanket trust the public once blindly-accorded mainstream news media and the celebrity “journalists” that fronted the industry.Seeing all this, it is evident that Filipinos in general haven’t really yet become the independent-minded and skilled thinkers that are essential for a society to thrive in a full embrace of Western liberal democractic ideology. The lip service paid to “equality”, “people power”, and “rule of law” serve well as fodder for the cocktail and latte-sipping classes’ pretentious conversations in their quaint soirées but, unfortunately, these lofty concepts break down in the broader Philippine setting where beholdenness to personalities rather than ideas is more the rule.To be free and responsible in the use of democratic “freedom” requires intelligence and foresight. The latter is important because the ability to think several steps ahead and visualise the different scenarios that could branch out over that horizon is key to making the right decisions. Also as important is framing the problem properly. Not surprising, therefore, is the reality that faces us; that the Philippines is basically a society that is the result of the wrong solutions being implemented on the back of ill-defined problems.In such a society, one would be better off cautious about espousing too much “freedom” on the assumption that people to whom this will be afforded will apply enough personal accountability to wield it well. That’s the Philippines in a nutshell, basically. It is a society begging for a dictatorship but fatally-convinced it is entitled to enjoy liberal Western democracy. Note that this is a strong unifying premise that describes the current bipolar condition of the Philippine national “debate” — the Dutertards begging for a dictatorship opposed by the Yellowtards who are convinced of Filipinos’ entitlement to “democracy”. The challenge is to discover what lies between."
4330,"Manila Times Columnist Rigoberto Tiglao had a shocking revelation that he wrote in his January 12 article.In his article, Tiglao said that the two telecom giants in the Philippines, Smart and Globe has became the biggest source of money for the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the terrorist group New People’s Army.His sources said that the two companies, financed the CPP-NPA in exchange of the safety of their 20,000 telecom towers that built all over the country which cannot be guarded by the authorities all the time.Tiglao believed that the lowering cases of cell sites being destroyed by the terrorist group is because of the alleged agreement between the two companies and the terrorists.“The telcos have calculated that it is cheaper to pay the NPA than hire heavily armed private security guards, who have proven again and again to be so quick to surrender to communist terrorists. “The NPA in many instances, didn’t even have to fight the security guards,” a source said. “The NPA simply tells them they will attack the site, and the security guards abandon their posts. Why shouldn’t they?” Tiglao said in his article.Tiglao wrote that the telcos is giving 3 billion pesos to the CPP-NPA and the huge part of the money are received directly by their top leaders including the Filipino Communist chairman Joma Sison who’s still in exile in the Netherlands.“NPA had been demanding “P50,000 to P200,000 as yearly tax per site, and as much as P500,000 for a newly set up cell site.” Tiglao said.Tiglao also mentioned that a military intelligence source said that there’s a secret alliance between the telcos and communists, moreover the NPA encampments usually had a strong cell signals that the rebels rely on.New People’s Army officials were also spotted using the latest Apple laptops that connected on the internet which they allegedly used to communicate with their members.The two telcos are not yet giving any comments on the accusations of Tiglao.What can you say about this, do you believe on the claims of Tiglao against the two telcos? Comment your thoughts below!"
4341,"The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday opposed the House of Representatives’ proposals on presidential succession and the lifting of lawmakers’ term limits, saying it stood by the draft federal Constitution put forward by President Duterte’s consultative committee.Interior Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, in a statement, said the DILG appreciated the effort of the House to fast-track deliberations on the proposed federal Constitution but not at the expense of political and electoral reforms.“[W]e ask the House not to sacrifice the political and electoral reforms that our country urgently needs,” said Malaya, also the DILG spokesperson.The department made its position known following the approval by the House committee on constitutional amendments of a new version of the draft Constitution authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.Proposals draw flakThe House proposals include taking out the Vice President in the line of presidential succession and removing term limits for lawmakers during the transition to the proposed federal form of government.But the proposals, contained in Resolution of Both Houses No. 15, drew flak from critics, prompting Majority Leader Rolando Andaya to “recommit” them to the committee level.Malaya said it was not clear to the DILG why the Arroyo-backed draft removed the Vice President from the order of presidential succession, when it sought to maintain the presidential system.The existing term limits must also be respected so that the people would not question the motives behind the President Duterte’s push for a federal system, the DILG official said.Malaya said the DILG stood by the original draft Constitution and backed the proposal for a “self-executing antipolitical dynasty provision” that will “open up and democratize” the country’s electoral process.The DILG, he said, remained hopeful that the Senate and the House could still convene as a constituent assembly to debate on the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution."
4350,"Drug lords becomes more creative in hiding their supplies due to the intensified war against illegal drugs by the Duterte government.Kilos of Shabu found inside dried fish boxes also known as “tuyo” has been discovered by the agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in a warehouse in Las Piñas on Tuesday.Agents of PDEA also discovered several machines in the third floor of the warehouse which allegedly used as the storage of the illegal drugs when it was transported the drugs to the Philippines.The machines was transported to “Lee Jie Hua” and “Li Zhi Qiang” both Chinese Nationals who allegedly bought the illegal drugs.Last week, the PDEA also raided a hotel in Paranaque where illegal drugs were also stored together with dried fishes.People who owned the illegal drugs might face charges for violating RA 9165 also known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002."
4360,"Hindi pa nai-enjoy ni Giacomo Filibeck ang Pilipinas ay agad na itong sinipa palabas ng bansa. Dumating sa Cebu si Filibeck para maging bisita sa Akbayan Partylist Congress pero ito ay na-detained sa Mactan-Cebu International Airport at kalaunan ay dineport palabas ng Pilipinas. Si Filibeck ay Deputy Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists in the European Parliament. Isa si Filibeck sa mga EU Politicians na bumisita sa bansa noong Oktubre 2017 para kundenahin ang kampanya kontra-droga ng Duterte Government. ""Akbayan condemns, in the strongest terms, the detention and deportation of European human rights leader Giacomo Filibeck. Filibeck, the Deputy Secretary General of Party of European Socialists, has been barred from entering Cebu, Philippines on Sunday, April 15 on his way to join the Akbayan Partylist Congress where he was invited as guest. He was held at the Cebu airport and immediately deported,"" sabi ng Akbayan. Basahin ang mga reaksyon ng mga kababayan natin sa sinapit ni Filibeck. Masaya ba kayo sa pagpapa-deport kay Filibeck? Source: politiko"
4371,"More than a million disabled Filipinos will finally enjoy tax exemptions at par with the perks granted to senior citizens, maximizing the benefits that they deserve under the law.President Aquino has signed into law a bill authored by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez granting persons with disabilities (PWDs) exemption from the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on certain goods and services.The President signed Republic Act No. 10754 granting VAT exemption benefits to persons with disabilities last March 24, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said he had been informed yesterday.“From the bottom of my heart, I thank the President for signing this very important measure into law. This is a compassionate measure aimed at helping the plight of the PWD sector,” Romualdez said in a statement yesterday.The bill was ratified in the House and Senate last December and transmitted to Malacañang on March 2.Fear of a vetoPWD groups earlier expressed concern that the bill might suffer the same fate as the proposed P2,000 pension hike for Social Security System pensioners, which was vetoed by Mr. Aquino because of its financial implications.The Philippine Statistics Authority has estimated the PWD population in the country at 1.5 million.Like senior citizens, PWDs are eligible for a 20-percent discount on medical and dental services; purchase of medicines in all drugstores; public railway, skyway and bus fares; admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers.But unlike senior citizens, PWDs had to pay the 12-percent VAT, which meant they were only enjoying less than half of the cash perks they were entitled to.‘Equalizing measure’Romualdez’s House Bill No. 1039 sought to change that by exempting PWDs from the VAT just like senior citizens, with an amendment to Republic Act No. 7277, also known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, as amended by RA 9442, which gave the PWDs the 20-percent discount.“This is an equalizing measure because this will accord PWDs exactly the same privilege enjoyed by senior citizens, who are exempted from the VAT by virtue of Republic Act No. 9994,” Romualdez explained while campaigning among his congressional colleagues for the bill’s passage.He noted that senior citizens enjoyed a P20 discount for every P100 worth of certain goods and services, while PWDs effectively enjoyed only a P12 discount for every P100 worth of goods and services, “because the law did not exempt them from VAT, which is imposed on the net value of the good or service, or 10 percent of the P80 after deducting P20.”Aside from Romualdez, the other proponents of the bill are Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, and Senators Sonny Angara, Ralph Recto, Bam Aquino and Nancy Binay.Apart from the tax perk, the PWD law will also allow PWD relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity taking care of the handicapped to claim a tax deduction of P25,000 in their annual income tax.“We are grateful for Congressman Martin Romualdez, who has tirelessly fought for this law, and Senators Sonny Angara and Ralph Recto and to the President for signing into law the PWD Bill, RA 10754,” said National Federation of PWD President Manuel Agcaoili.RELATED STORIESRomualdez asks Aquino to enact PWD benefits lawDOJ backs bill on tax exemption, benefits for PWDs"
4380,"Remember when the Philippine national daily, Inquirer, published a photo showing a “horse-driven” cart — the horse looking a lot like a carabao?Well, the carabao seems to be mutating in many ways.Today, the Bureau of Fisheries announced the discovery of a rare fish species never before seen anywhere in the world.The fish looks like a normal fish except for its head which resembles the head of a carabao. Forget about “beast of burden.” Is this the “fish of burden?”Could what’s happening in the Philippines the effect of global warming?"
4391,"were in the tens of thousands in urban counties such as Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton and Lucas, where Democrats tend to do better than in much of the rest of the state.However, it’s not clear how many voters lost their registrations even though they should have remained eligible. Associated Press calls to more than 100 people listed as removed in five mostly urban counties found that in the vast majority of cases, the people were no longer at the address where they lived when registered.Some voters in the Ohio case say they were given provisional ballots, which are subject to verification, but believe their ballots weren’t counted.Miami University political scientist Christopher Kelley said in a closely divided swing state like Ohio, anything done to “put your finger on the scales” can be decisive. He pointed to the 2004 election, when voting under a Republican secretary of state was plagued by long lines, faulty equipment and other problems in Ohio. President George W. Bush won by some 118,000 votes to carry Ohio and clinch his re-election, four years after he won election with a disputed 537-vote margin in Florida.WHAT DO AFFECTED VOTERS SAY?Joseph Helle, an Army veteran, was removed from the rolls while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.He called voting a fundamental right that ensures all of the other ones protected by the Constitution.“It affects me and it affects any veteran,” said Helle, now the mayor of Oak Harbor, Ohio. “But it also affects anyone who has never served. It affects everyone equally. It takes away our voice … I was incredibly emotional when I was taken off the rolls …”Helle, who attended the Supreme Court arguments in January, said that not voting also is a right of free expression; it can be a way to express dissatisfaction with the candidates or the way the system is working.Lisa Keil, of Toledo, found out she had been removed from the list of eligible voters when she tried to cast a ballot in a special mayoral election in 2015.“It made me look really stupid. I felt humiliated,” she said.She remembered that she tried to vote in 2012, but she showed up to find long lines and was worried she wouldn’t have enough time to get to her job, so she skipped voting. Keil said she never knew that could lead to her being removed from the voting rolls. She was separated from her husband for a short time and doesn’t recall getting a notification from the secretary of state.Jennifer Arlinghaus, of Cincinnati, was listed in Hamilton County records as subject to removal for not voting or responding.She acknowledged that sometimes she doesn’t vote if she’s not that interested in the candidates or issues. She said removing people for voting isn’t “necessarily good.”But she cast her ballot without problem in 2016, for Trump. And she’s “very pleased” that she could exercise that choice."
4400,"Many Filipinos are urging him to run for president in 2016, despite his reputation as a gun-toting mayor who has no problem with extra-judicial killings of criminals and drug traffickers. He is Rodrigo Duterte, mayor of Davao, one of the major cities in the Philippines’ Mindanao island.Although he has repeatedly said in public that he has no intention of running for higher public office, Duterte went on record that if he becomes president, he will abolish Congress and form a revolutionary government to totally rid the government of corruption.He has also promised to bring back high educational standards by banning Facebook and mandating instead that young people use Google.“I am sick and tired of our youth using Facebook as their primary news source while wasting hours and hours posting and commenting on insignificant events in their already empty lives,” Duterte said. “They should instead use Google to enrich their knowledge about history, geography and science while keeping abreast on world developments that have a direct impact on our country,” he added.Duterte criticized Mark Zuckerberg for the latter’s effort to provide free Facebook access in the Philippines. At the same time, he said he would encourage Google to set up operations in the Philippines, including the inclusion of Google Search in all school curricula, as a way to bring about a truly informed and intelligent citizenry."
4410,"Matapos maiulat nitong nagdaang araw na nag-negatibo sa paraffin test ang bangkay ng bodyguard/aide ni Attorney Glenn Chong na si Ricahrd Santillan, isang bagong impormasyon ang lumitaw tungkol sa kaso. Ayon sa kampo nila Attorney Chong, nawawala umano ang cellphone ni Santillan at kaduda-duda ito para sa kanila dahil alam nilang may dalang cellphone si Santillan noong gabing napaslang ito. Ang cellphone laman ang tanging bagay na nawawala kay Santillan. Ayon kay Chong, natatakot daw ang mga pulis dahil ipinaalam nito na ipapa-forensic examination niya ang gadget sa ibang bansa. Basahin ang reaksyon ng mga kababayan natin sa bagong update sa aso ng napatay na aide ni Atty. Chong. Source: Glenn Chong"
4421,"Nagsimula na ang pagbabaon ng mga pundasyon para sa itatayong Third Candaba Viaduct ng North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) mula sa bahagi nito sa Pulilan, Bulacan hanggang Apalit, Pampanga.
Pinangunahan ni House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez ang pormal na paglulunsad ng konstruksyon sa barangay Dulong Malabon sa Pulilan.
Base sa disenyong iprinisinta ng NLEX Corporation na inaprubahan ng Toll Regulatory Board, itatayo ang ikatlong viaduct sa gitna o sa pagitan ng northbound at southbound viaducts ng NLEX na may habang limang kilometro.
Ayon kay NLEX Corporation President Luigi Bautista, may halagang P7.89 bilyon ang inilaan para sa proyektong ito na pinondohan ng korporasyon bilang bahagi ng konsesyonaryo upang ipreserba, pangalagaan, pahabain at patuloy na gawing moderno ang NLEX.
Ipinaliwanag niya na dahil ang Third Candaba Viaduct ay itatayo sa gitna, magsisilbi itong haligi at saligan ng dalawang matatandang viaducts.
Para kay Romualdez, ang pagtatayo ng Third Candaba Viaduct ay pagpepreserba sa halos 50 taong gulang na istraktura.
Inalala rin niya na isa ang Candaba Viaduct sa mahahabang tulay na ipinatayo sa tulong ng World Bank.
Naitayo ang northbound lane ng Candaba viaduct o ang direksiyon patungo sa Pampanga mula taong 1974 hanggang 1977 Habang ang southbound lane nito o ang direksiyon na paluwas sa Metro Manila ay naitayo mula taong 1977 hanggang 1985.
Viaduct ang tawag sa isang uri ng tulay na mahigit sa isang kilometro ang haba.
Binigyang diin naman ni Romualdez na ang pagsasakatuparan ng Third Candaba Viaduct ay bahagi ng Build-Better-More Infrastructure Program sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Patotoo aniya ito na buhay na buhay at epektibo ang Public-Private Partnerships bilang modality sa pagtatayo ng mga imprastraktura.
Tiniyak naman ni Department of Public Works and Highways na pasado sa bridge design requirements ng Pilipinas ang inheneriyang disenyo ng bagong Candaba Viaduct.
Halimbawa na rito ang 20 metro na agwat sa bawat poste kung saan may nakabaon na tig dalawang haligi at mga pundasyon.
Kapag natapos ang proyekto sa Nobyembre 2024, magiging isang istraktura na ang Third Viaduct at ang dalawang lumang viaducts.
Magiging tig-apat na linya na ang magkabilang direksiyon nitong Candaba Viaduct.
Sa ibabaw ng Third Viaduct padaanin ang lahat ng uri ng trucks at iba pang mabibigat na mga sasakyan.
Pwede na ring makapagpatakbo ng sasakyan sa bilis na 60 hanggang 80 kilometers per hour mula sa kasalukuyan na limitado lamang sa 40 hanggang 60 na kilometro.
Kaugnay nito, kasabay ng pagsisimula ng konstruksiyon ng Third Candaba Viaduct, nasa kasagsagan ang ginagawang pagpapalit ng girders at slab sa southbound at northbound viaducts.
Nasa 25 link-slabs sa southbound lane ng Candaba Viaduct ang napalitan na mula Hulyo 2020 hanggang Hunyo 2021 habang 13 na link-slab sa northbound lane ng viaduct ang napalitan na rin mula Pebrero hanggang Agosto 2022."
4430,"In a single tweet, Ellen Tordesillas of Vera Files accused Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte of supplying weapons to the International Criminal Court (ICC).Duterte is facing a complaint before ICC for alleged crimes against humanity.Tordesillas’ latest tirade against Duterte follows her previous accusation that the president is the No. 1 source of fake news.The Adobo Chronicles talked to Tordesillas as she was leaving a television studio where she figured in an embarrassing interview where she aaaah’d and uuuuhm’d when asked about her working definition of fake news.Tordesillas said that the weapons supplied by Duterte to ICC includes Uzi’s, semi-automatic rifles, multi-calibre guns and other assault ammunition.The Adobo Chronicles could not immediately fact-check Tordesillas’ claim."
4441,"how were they hit by bullets?” he said.But Naim Mangal, a doctor at the hospital, said “all the victims” had been “hit by pieces of bomb, shrapnel”.“Out of the 100 wounded and six dead in the hospital none have been hit by a bullet,” he told AFP.Radmanish said 18 senior Taliban commanders were killed in the airstrike on a “training centre” for the group’s elite Red Unit. Another 12 were wounded. Earlier he had said 20 Taliban were killed.The government has sent two teams to conduct an investigation into the incident, he added.– Police deny madrassa hit –Kunduz police chief General Abdul Hamid Hamidi told AFP on Tuesday that “72 of the enemy” had been killed in the airstrike.Hamidi added that five civilians also died and another 52 were wounded but he denied a madrassa or mosque had been hit. Security forces have donated large quantities of blood to the hospital.The Taliban has confirmed the attack on the religious school but denied that any of its militants had been there.The madrassa was run by Islamic scholars sympathetic to the Taliban but the facility was open to the public, a senior Taliban commander speaking from an unknown location in Pakistan told AFP on Tuesday. He said as many as 2,000 people were at the school on Monday, including 750 students, for a graduation ceremony, but insisted there were no senior Taliban leaders present.He estimated that 400 people had been killed and an unknown number wounded. The Taliban are known to exaggerate battlefield claims.Several boys with their arms and legs bandaged were seen lying in beds and along the corridors of the hospital.One of the security sources said the Taliban had started meeting at madrassas in the hope of avoiding airstrikes.US and Afghan forces are increasing ground and air offensives against Taliban and Islamic State insurgents as they try to get the upper hand in the 16-year war."
4451,"The justice committee of the House of Representatives on Monday approved six articles of impeachment to be brought against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, moving the case closer to trial in the Senate.Headed by Rep. Reynaldo Umali, the committee voted 33-1 to approve a resolution containing the allegations against Sereno and certify the report recommending her impeachment.Only Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte of the Liberal Party voted against the resolution.Not impeachable offenses“I agree there are problems, but they are not enough to be considered impeachable offenses,” Belmonte told reporters.The justice committee voted to impeach Sereno on six grounds allegedly constituting culpable violations of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes:Not filing financial statements 17 times and not disclosing her true wealth.Misusing P18 million in public funds, which showed her “grandiose sense of self-importance.”Arrogating to herself the collegial and deliberative functions of the Supreme Court.Deliberately and maliciously abusing her position as ex-officio chair of the Judicial and Bar Council.Deliberately undermining and violating the principles of separation of powers among the three branches of government.Willfully and deliberately failing to comply with her oath of office through tyrannical abuse of discretionary power.House vote nextThe justice committee’s report will be submitted to the rules committee headed by Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, which has 10 session days to calendar it for action by the plenary.The plenary has 60 days to tackle the report and put it to a vote.A vote of one-third of the House’s 292 members, or 98, is required to impeach Sereno and send the case to the Senate for trial.Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said that if the House could transmit the articles of impeachment by May, the trial of Sereno would start in July.Congress goes on a break this weekend and returns on May 15. Then it goes on sine die adjournment on June 1."
4461,"Pipilitin ng Cignal na makahirit ng Game Three sa pagsagupa sa Creamline sa krusyal na Game Two ng 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Finals.
Lalabanan ng Super Spikers ang Cool Sma­shers ngayong alas-5:30 ng hapon matapos ang bakbakan ng PLDT High Speed Hitters at Farm Fresh Foxies sa alas-3 sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Winalis ng Creamline ang Cignal, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16, sa Game One noong Martes para kunin ang 1-0 lead sa kanilang best-of-three championship series.
Hangad ng Creamline na makumpleto ang sweep sa Cignal para makamit ang ika-11 PVL crown.
Ngunit hindi papayag si Cignal star Vanie Gandler na tuluyan silang mawalis ng Creamline sa serye.
“We’re approaching this with our heads up,” ani Gandler. “We know our mistakes, we know our lapses. The championship isn’t over. We just need to recover and make the necessary adjustments.”
Pumalo ang 25-anyos na si Gandler ng 17 points habang may 10 markers si Erika Santos sa kabiguan ng Cignal sa kanilang series opener ng Creamline.
Dalawang beses minalas ang Super Spikers na makuha ang pinapangarap na unang PVL title noong 2022 Reinforced Confe­rence at 2024 Invitationals.
At hindi na nila puwedeng pakawalan ang pagkakataon ngayon.
“We’re just moving forward, focusing on what we need to fix and improve,” wika ng 5-foot-9 na si Gandler na muling makakatuwang sina Santos, Ishie Lalongisip, Rose Doria-Aquino, Jackie Acuña, setter Gel Cayuna at libero Dawn Macandili.
Muli namang aasahan ng Cool Smashers sina Jema Galanza, Bernadeth Pons, Tots Carlos, Michele Gumabao, Pangs Panaga, Bea De Leon, setter Jia De Guzman at libero Jen Nierva."
4471,"THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman has recommended the indictment for graft and malversation of former Eastern Samar Rep. Teodulo Coquilla in the Sandiganbayan over the alleged misuse of P5 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel allocation in 2007.The case against Coquilla was included in the fourth batch of complaints resulting from the special audit conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA) in the wake of the P10-billion pork barrel scam controversy.Charged along with Coquilla were former National Agri-Business Corp. (Nabcor) head Alan Javellana and his subordinates Encarnita Cristina Munsod, Ma. Julie Villaralvo-Johnson and Romulo Relevo.Also named respondents were Margie Luz and Ma. Cristina Vizcarra, representatives of Gabay Masa, the foundation which implemented the allegedly anomalous project.They were charged with two counts each of malversation and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, popularly known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.In a statement, the Ombudsman said Coquilla and the others conspired with another in the “ghost” purchase of 32,887 seedlings of fruit-bearing trees and 10,470 pieces of instructional materials for the municipalities of Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Lawaan and Guiuan."
4480,"""Do you know what leadership means, Lord Snow? It means that the person in charge gets second guessed by every clever little twat with a mouth. But if he starts second guessing himself, that's the end. For him, for the clever little twats, for everyone. This is not the end. Not for us. Not if you lot do your duty for however long it takes to beat them back. And then you get to go on hating me, and I get to go on wishing your wildling whore had finished the job.""―Ser Alliser Thorne to Jon SnowIt is lonely at the top but Noynoy really has never been there. Until 50 avoided all responsibility or simply had no ability or desire for it. Then mommy dies. Of course he went from little or no to criticism to an avalanche of it. Somebody tell him it is part of the territory. But he can't even realize that.----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/07/president-noynoy-aquino-and-criticism-cant-live-with-it-cant-live-without-it/comment-page-1/#comment-612669"
4491,"Isang panalo na lang ang kailangan ng Creamline para muling magreyna matapos mabigo sa nakalipas na tatlong kumperensya.
Ito ay makaraang dominahin ng Cool Smashers ang Cignal Super Spi­kers, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16, sa Game One ng 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Confe­rence Finals kahapon sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Humataw si Jema Galanza ng 17 points bukod sa 13 receptions para sa 1-0 lead ng Creamline sa kanilang best-of-three championship series ng Cignal at makalapit sa pagkopo sa ika-11 PVL title.
“Sobrang eager kami na makuha itong Game One at matapos namin hanggang Game Two,” sabi ni Galanza. “Iyong semis talagang kinalimutan namin and sabi namin itong game na ito para sa amin.”
Nagdagdag si Bernadeth Pons ng 11 markers habang may 22 excellent sets si setter Jia De Guzman.
Maaari nang tapusin ng Cool Smashers ang serye kung muling tatalunin ang Super Spikers sa Game Two bukas sa Big Dome.
Pumalo si Vanie Gandler ng 17 points kasunod ang 10 markers ni Erika Santos sa panig ng Cignal na hangad ang kauna-unahang PVL crown.
Sa agawan sa bronze medal, inilusot ng PLDT ang 22-25, 25-21, 27-25, 26-28, 15-11 panalo laban sa Farm Fresh sa Game One ng kanilang best-of-three series.
Nagpasabog si Fil-Canadian Savi Davison ng 33 points para sa two-time champions habang may 16 at 13 markers sina Kim Kianna Dy at Mika Reyes, ayon sa pagkakasunod.
Nagkadena si Alleiah Malaluan ng triple-double na 11 points, 27 digs at 21 receptions para sa tropa ni coach Rald Ricafort."
4501,"Rice and vegetable damage from the floods last weekend in Negros Occidental has gone up to P9.5 million, Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said Thursday.Masculino said that based on reports submitted to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), the damage was reported in towns of Valladolid and Ilog where rice and vegetable crops worth P1,021,650 and covering 41.8 hectares and 72 farmers were lost.So far 813.25 ha of rice and vegetable farmlands suffered P9,549,328.6 worth of damage and affected 651 farmers in four towns in south Negros.Masculino said the records are not final, since reports from many city and municipal agriculturists have not come in.The damage in Ilog was placed P648,000, affecting 36 rice farmers and covering 36 hectares, he said.He also reported that in Valladolid, 36 vegetable farmers were affected, covering 5.8 hectares with total damage at P373,650.Valladolid also had the second biggest losses at P1,599,928, involving 254.85 hectares in 10 barangays affecting 153 rice farmers.He urged agriculturists in towns and cities affected by the flooding to submit damage reports immediately so the stricken farmers can receive help.Total losses in rice production for the province is estimated at 136.45 metric tons, Masculino said.He said they might ask the help of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol who is in Negros Occidental today to check on the affected farmers.Masculino assured that the Department of Agriculture’s regional office has a buffer stock of rice seeds that can be readily distributed to affected farmers.After the OPA determines the number of farmers affected, it will identify who are enrolled in the crop insurance program of the provincial government or in Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, he said."
4511,"Four minors perished while two others were injured in separate vehicular accidents here in the past two days.On Friday afternoon, Kenneth Magan-an, 12, who was driving a motorcycle, along with his backrider, Diana Rose Martinez, 13 were added to the growing list of vehicular accident fatalities when the former lost control of the motorbike along a slippery road in Barangay San Agustin.A second backrider, identified as Maria Corazon Lopez, 15, was injured.On Thursday morning, Police Officer 1 Romeo Marquez Jr. said two teenagers also figured in a vehicular accident along the national highway in Barangay Bagani Campo.The casualties were identified as John Raven Manzano, 15, who was driving a motorcycle, and his backrider, Ericson Santiago, 12.Another backrider, Charles Orallo, 15, was injured.Marquez said that based on initial investigation, a pickup truck driven by Marlon Diwayan of Abra overtook a tricycle and later collided with the motorcycle bearing the teenagers."
4520,"There are only three key takeaways coming out of the second round of the 2016 presidential debates or #PilipinasDebates2016 held in the Cebu campus of the University of the Philippines (UP Cebu): (1) Mar Roxas was the butt of jokes, swipes, and even a seeming collusion between his three opponents, (2) Vice President Jejomar Binay was not in his element keeping up and jumping into the fast-pace of the debate format used in this session; and, (3) Rodrigo Duterte and Grace Poe emerged as the most eloquent and witty of the lot.Roxas, having been chief of two departments critical to securing Filipinos’ safety and security — the Departments of Transportation and Communication and of the Interior and Local Government — was bogged down by inquiries into his poor performance leading those departments. He was an easy target to potshots and the witty pasarings of the other three candidates having overseen botched management of natural disasters and police commando operations, and an abject degeneration of key infrastructure works that impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands if not millions of Filipinos.Indeed, the debate overall remained constantly in danger of sliding into degenerate mud-slinging between the candidates. However it was quite notable that the worst mudslinging was always between Roxas and all the rest. Remarkably, there was very little evidence of open animosity between Poe, Binay, and Duterte. The most bitter clashes were reserved for ones that had Roxas as the primary target of the fielded arguments.When you performed badly, suffice to say, you are sentenced to spend the rest of your life explaining yourself. Ironic indeed, as there were many instances that some of Roxas’s responses to the pointed questions directed at him were borderline revisionist. For example, Roxas’s account of his involvement in the events that led to the massacre of the 44 Special Action Force officers in Mamasapano seemed to gloss over details that pointed to his being outside of President Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III’s tight circle of trust. Instead, Roxas asserted that Aquino assumed that he was on top of the situation and routinely kept informed by General Alan Purisima about the operation. Whatever the case, the fact that Pursima, who, at the time, was suspended from his role as Philippine Police director, was Roxas’s supposed only link to the operation still makes Roxas look like a chump nonetheless.That said, exchanges between Roxas and Binay, who were pretty much seriously at each other’s throats over most of the debate period, were not the highlight of the show. It was the composed and consistent eloquence of Senator Poe, and the sharp wittiness of Duterte that stole the show. Ultimately, this being a media event and the elections, as a whole, being a popularity contest, the trophies go to the most engaging stars of the show.Duterte, for one, shone during the exchange surrounding the issue of the Philippines’ clean energy sourcing strategy. While Poe and Roxas liberally issued promises to do this and that and build this and that, Duterte kept to a simple and sensible position — the Philippines, a developing country, simply cannot afford “clean” energy. Duterte also pointed out what many commentators have long observed — that developed and wealthy nations that account for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions have so far failed to commit in a manner proportionate to what less-developed nations will have been expected to invest in the effort. In that regard, there really is no point, at this point, for the Philippines to be even putting a problem this big as a priority given the abundance of low-hanging fruit that leaders have yet to pick.The show was capped by a replay of what transpired and was captured by the cameras over what comprised the more than one-hour delay on the start of the debate. Apparently it was Binay who was the cause of the delay thanks, supposedly, to a “miscommunication” over the rules on the use of notes during the debate. Nonetheless, the banter caught on camera between Poe, Duterte, and Roxas while they stood awkwardly on stage behind their respective podiums was priceless. Unfortunately for Roxas, his lack of charm and charisma was all the more evident in that period of awkwardness, the chemistry between Poe and Duterte clearly outshining his evidently dull personality. Both Poe and Duterte exhibited a natural talent for engaging people, skilfully working the audience while everyone waited for the Binay issue to be resolved.Good show overall. The issues were adequately spoken to through both the eloquence of the candidates and the insights that emerged as a result of the exchange in arguments — which is the whole point of a presidential debate, an occasion out of which Filipino voters could get to know their candidates better all-around."
4531,"Ayon kay Atty. Virgie Suarez, abogado ng pamilya Laude, noong Pebrero 2 itinakda ni Judge Rolie Ginez-Jabalde ang pagbasa ng sakdal laban kay Pemberton ngayong Lunes kung kailan isasagawa rin ang pretrial, preconference at presentasyon ng mga ebidensiya sa Olongapo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74. Lumabas ang desisyon matapos maghain ang kampo ni Laude ng omnibus motion na humihiling kay Jabalde na iurong ang suspensiyon ng paglilitis at simulan na agad ang pagbasa ng sakdal laban kay Pemberton. Inihain ang mosyon dalawang araw matapos katigan ng Department of Justice (DoJ) ang desisyon ng Olongapo City Prosecutors' Office na kasuhan ng murder si Pemberton. ""This (February 23) will certainly be a whole day affair,"" pahayag ni Suarez."
4541,"Opposition senators on Tuesday said that executive department officials had no legal basis for a yearlong extension of martial law in Mindanao and that it was likely their justification for it would be questioned in the Supreme Court.The military said it had recommended the extension for its “psychological impact” on troops, but the senators said there was no armed uprising or actual rebellion in Mindanao, a requirement under the 1987 Constitution for the imposition of military rule.President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Congress to extend his martial law declaration in Mindanao for a year from Jan. 1, citing continuing threats from the remnants of the Islamic State (IS)-inspired extremists who seized Marawi City in May and attacks by communist rebels.Malacañang on Tuesday said it expected Congress to grant the President’s request.“We look forward to the support, which has been given in the past by Congress,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters.‘Factual basis’“We have factual basis for the declaration of martial law and we see no reason why Congress will not give its usual support to this initiative of the Chief Executive,” Roque said.Mr. Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus throughout Mindanao on May 23 after hundreds of local terrorists loyal to the Islamic State jihadist group rampaged through Marawi and seized large parts of the city to establish an IS province in Southeast Asia.In July, Congress extended the proclamation up to Dec. 31 after which it ends unless extended again by the legislature.Solicitor General Jose Calida said on Tuesday that the “ongoing rebellion” in Mindanao justified Mr. Duterte’s request for another extension.“This request for further extension of martial law is amply supported by facts available to the President as Commander in Chief,” Calida said in a statement.“The remnants of these rebel groups are currently regrouping and recruiting new members to sustain the ongoing rebellion,” he said.Joint sessionCongress holds a joint session on Wednesday to decide whether to extend military rule in Mindanao.Key security officials briefed members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday on the situation in Mindanao.The briefing lasted for three hours, after which House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said members of the House were “overwhelmingly” in favor of extending martial lawin Mindanao.Security officials also briefed the senators on the situation in Mindanao to help them decide on Mr. Duterte’s request.In a news conference after the briefing, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino conceded that Congress would likely grant Mr. Duterte’s request.Drilon said the Liberal Party was taking the position that there was “no legal or constitutional basis” for another extension of military rule in Mindanao.Actual rebellion“There’s no factual basis and that the factual conclusion was validated in (Tuesday’s) briefing where the security forces said that the threat is continuing, that martial law has psychological impact in the performance of their duty. Unfortunately, these are not sufficient basis under the Constitution to extend martial law,” Drilon said.Aquino and Pangilinan contended that there should be actual rebellion and not imminent threat to justify an extension of martial law in Mindanao.Drilon pointed out that the Supreme Court, in deliberating on the martial law declaration in Mindanao, had also interpreted rebellion as having “actual clashes.”Drilon and Pangilinan said that the defense and military officials said during the briefing that extending martial law would have a good psychological effect on government forces in Mindanao.But they said the psychological effect of martial law was not a basis under the Constitution for Congress to extend military rule on the island.Drilon noted that Mr. Duterte had cited five reasons for his request, including the threat posed by the communist New People’s Army (NPA).Ask all questions“Why, if it’s an extension of an original six-month period of martial law, the NPA is not a factor then? Why are they now including the NPA?” he said.“A threat is different from an actual armed uprising,” he added.Vice President Leni Robredo urged Congress to “ask all the questions at the back of our minds” when it sits on Wednesday to decide on Mr. Duterte’s request.Speaking to reporters in Marikina City on Tuesday, Robredo said the lawmakers should look closely at the real situation in Mindanao before making a decision.Most local officials in Mindanao support an extension, but several groups oppose the continuation of military rule on the island.“They are not really for peace, they only want to perpetuate themselves in power,” said Drieza A. Lininding, chair of the Moro Consensus Group.Italian missionary Sebastiano D’Ambra said he did not understand how martial law could eliminate terror groups or how it could deal with violence, though he urged the faithful to stay calm."
4550,"Recently Binibining Pilipinas candidate Sandra Lemonon generated a buzz in the internet world with her brutally honest answer in the question-and-answer portion. She was asked by a judge a question about her insights on the government’s Build, Build, Build program?Lemonon, regretfully, does not have any idea what Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s flagship program. She told the judge, “Actually you know what, I studied so much for this Q&A, but sadly that’s something that I don’t know really much about. But at least I’m here trying to answer a good question. Thank you.”It is unfortunate that she does not know what is going on in her country. But honestly, she is not alone. There are more Filipinos like her who have no idea about what the government is doing to make their lives better. Sadly, unlike Lemonon who is honest about her lack of knowledge, many of those who are unaware are also the ones who are unrelenting in their bashing of the government and the president.In a nutshell the Build, Build, Build program of the government is part of the 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda of Pres. Duterte envisioned to reduce poverty from 21.6 percent to 13 percent by 2020.Under the Build, Build, Build Program the administration targets to build key infrastructures that will help the country increase its productive capacity, create jobs, increase incomes, and strengthen the investment climate that will lead to sustained inclusive growth (http://www.build.gov.ph/).The government targets to spend 8 to 9 trillion pesos on these infrastructure projects from 2017 to 2022.Some of the projects under this program include the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, Panguil Bay Bridge, Bacolod Economic Highway, Metro Cebu Expressway, Davao City By-pass, Leyte Tide Embankment Project, Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road, Zamboanga City By-pass Road, Panguil Bay Bridge, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, and many more.The Build, Build, Build Program of the government is the reason why you see so many Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) personnel working so hard under the heat of the sun even throughout the night. It is the reason why our roads are wider and nicer. It is also the reason why areas that you can’t get to in the past are now accessible. It is the reason why the islands are much more connected than in the past.Some people say that the Build, Build, Build Program is one of President Duterte’s defining legacy, but if you really know him, he does not care for that. He just wants to make the lives of Filipinos better.Now, if you ever join a beauty contest and you are asked about the Build, Build, Build Program of the government, you know the answer."
4561,"Sinabi ni Valmoria na nagbukas ang PNP ng account sa lahat ng cash donation para sa ayuda sa mga nasugatan at naulilang pamilya ng SAF 44. Ang mga nagnanais na magkaloob ng kanilang tulong pinansiyal ay sa pamamagitan ng Land Bank of the Philippines sa PNP Special Assistance Fund Account 1862-1027-77 at maaaring tawagan ang awtorisadong kinatawan ng PNP na si Chief Insp. Renante F. Pinuela ng PNP Directorate for Comptrollership sa 0917-270-5533 at 0917-857-6026. Nilinaw pa ni Valmoria ang NCRPO ay hindi nagso-solicit ng suportang pinansiyal para sa pamilya ng SAF 44 gayunman ay nagpaabot ang opisyal ng kanyang pasasalamat sa lahat ng donor na nagkaloob ng tulong. Hinikayat ng NCRPO chief ang publiko na agad i-report sa anumang himpilan ng pulisya o magsumbong sa NCRPO hotline number 838-3203, 0915-888-8181 at 0999-901-8181; i-Tweet sa @NCRPOReact o sa facebook account na NCRPOReact kung may indibidwal o grupo na gumagamit o nagbibigay ng hindi awtorisadong account o numero para sa SAF 44 donations. Mahigpit na binalaan ni Valmoria ang mga indibidwal na magsasamantala sa nasabing sitwasyon. Samantala, pinayuhan kahapon ng NCRPO director ang mga bagong nagtapos na pulis ng Police First Responders Course, Civil Disturbance Management Training at Explosive Ordinance Reconnaissance Agent Course na gawing mabuti ang kanilang tungkulin at gamitin ang lahat ng estratehiya at teknikal na operasyon na kanilang napag-aralan mula sa training courses."
4571,"Ayon sa Manila Fire Department, tinatayang nasa 700 bahay ang natupok sa unang sunog at apektado ang mahigit 1,000 pamilya, na mula sa Barangay 275 sa District 3, ng Parola Compound. Lumilitaw sa ulat ng Manila Fire Department na dakong 6:00 ng gabi ng Lunes nang magsimula ang sunog at mabilis na kumalat sa iba pang kabahayan na gawa sa light materials at nakatirik sa mahigit isang libong hektaryang lupain na pagmamay-ari ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Maynila. Umabot ang sunog ng general alarm at naideklara lamang fire out pasado 6:23 ng umaga nitong Martes. Nabatid na nahirapan ang mga bumbero na apulain ang apoy dahil bukod sa walang hydrant na mapagkukunan ng tubig sa lugar, matindi rin ang trapik at maraming tao sa kalsada. Sinasabing sa bahay ng isang Edgar Angapo nagsimula ang sunog, bunsod ng isang nag-short circuit na electric stove ngunit iniimbestigahan pa ito ng mga awtoridad."
4580,"Sa programa ng CNN Philippines para sa mga gustong tumakbo bilang senador, sinagot ni Magdalo Congressman Gary Alejano kung ano ang mga nagawa niya para sa bayan. Ayon kay Alejano, muntik na raw siyang namatay sa pakikipag-gyera sa kalaban ng bayan. ""Ako po ay dating sundalo na nakipag-giyera sa kalaban ng estado. Tayo po ay muntik ng mamatay. Nagbabago lamang ang ating larangan ng digmaan, noon kalaban sa estado. Dahil sa ating desire na magkaroon ng pagbabago, tayo po ay nagprotesta sa gobyerno. Dahil diyan ay nagnais po tayong maka-impluwensiya ng polisiya sa ating gobyerno, kaya nga sumali tayo sa pulitika. But it went through a great debate dahil alam ho natin na parang kakainin ho tayo ng sistema, sa persepsiyon ng mga Pilipino ay marumi ito, pero dahil naniniwala tayo sa ipinaglalaban, kami po ay sumali,"" sabi ni Alejano. Diskumpiyado naman ang ilan nating kababayan sa mga lumabas sa bibig ni Alejano. Ayon sa uploader ng video clip ng CNN na si Ernie Sagabaen De Vera, paanong muntik mamatay, sa hotel pa lang na kinukob daw ng magdalo ay sumuko agad ang mga ito. Basahin ang ilan pang reaksyon ng mga kababayan natin sa mga pahayag ni Alejano. Source: CNN Philippines via Ernie Sagabaen De Vera"
4590,"Put your food where your mouth is'Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, traditional Filipino cuisine has a limited appeal to many international travellers ( a review of TripAdvisor/LonelyPlanet etc would confirm that) ? and the country is generally not a great inspiration to chefs, unlike Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, and obviously Japanese, but I agree the issue is not to have a meaningless pissing contest, but to apply the principle ? 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating', and to develop the industry as appropriate, highlight excellence where it exists, take advantage of opportunities, create dishes which excite, and strive to improve at all levels, as many other countries have done over recent years to great effect/benefit.The question is whether the Philippines has the will to improve and adapt, particularly in the mid price range, which tends to be where most tourists focus, or whether Filipinos are too blinkered to do anything about it, too 'proud' to even acknowledge/recognise the problem, and also whether the apathy of the department of tourism simply continues to both miss out over time on the possibilities of increased business/jobs/tourism, or to act as a contributory change agent within the culinary/food sector, which obviously extends beyond restaurants alone, to the whole supply chain.Mon dieu! ? the Philippines is not even a member of The World Travel and Food Association ( WTFA). This is what happens when you put incompetents in charge of tourism. They really have no clue about the industry, or customer needs, are not businessmen, and certainly do not have the creativity to come up with new initiatives, or maybe, as i suspect, they just don't really care, are devoid of passion for the job and are purely interested in their own personal gain.So, no surprise that Expo 2015 is another missed opportunity.The country needs a different approach to attract tourists than a lacklustre advertising campaign. Mon Jimenez is a simple advertising guy and is too insular and inexperienced for the job, and certainly not a strategic thinker by all accounts.The Philippines also has the world's worst airport food throughout the country ? run no doubt by a San Miguel subsidiary, and the food courts in malls ? a dog's dinner!Countries such as Australia and Ireland used food as one of the central strands in their tourism promotion last year which proved very successful, and culinary tourism is now becoming a major segment in its own right. Whilst the Philippines cannot currently compete at that level, it can over time at least improve, learn, develop, and take action.The first step is to take a step back, and apply critical analysis, without fear or favour, and listen to 'customers'. The second step is to do something, rather than endless trips/seminars/meetings etc. There is no such thing as a free lunch ? except in DoT where it is seen as a perk of the job.But back to the essence. I have been to a number of culinary schools in the Philippines, and many produce excellent trainee chefs, but the point which immediately comes to mind is that the training is heavily, sometimes exclusively, geared towards cooking international food from the outset, and few, if any, train people to be restaurateurs. Many of the chefs learn by 'rote', rather than experimentation, so that the mechanics may be there, but often the passion isn't.I fully understand that the courses are geared towards the student chefs going on to cruise ships, working abroad, or in international hotels, however from the perspective of national food it leaves Filipino cuisine languishing as an also ran in global terms, since there are few chefs who not only champion national cuisine, but more importantly who do not have the creativity to develop it. That in itself is self-incrimination, and a vote of no confidence.In the UK it took two brothers from France ? Albert and Michel Roux ? to change the palate of the whole nation and its attitude towards food. Now a whole brigade of English chefs such as Gordon Ramsay who was trained by Albert, Marco Pierre White, Jamie Oliver, and arguably the worlds best chef and master of molecular cuisine ? heston Blumenthal - have taken up the baton, and continue on the quest for excellence and innovation, which has a ripple effect at all levels.The Philippines needs serious chefs if it is to be taken seriously, and should consider a new style of Filipino fusion cuisine, traditional dishes de-constructed etc., and people's passion for food needs to be re-invigorated. Sustainable produce, farm branded/sourced products, healthy options, garden restaurants, tasting menus, wine pairings, gluten-free are just some of the global trends and is therefore part of the mindset which tourists bring with them.And irrespective of market segment/price point, the over-riding principle is that standards must improve across all facets of food production, nutrition, hygiene etc. for the benefit of all.Dining out is always about the total experience, even more so for tourists/holidaymaker ? quality, presentation, service, decor/environment, value etc. And any chef worth his salt will tell you that you are only as good as your next meal, and that each service starts with a clean slate, but must end with delighted customers. There is no excuse, or room, for mediocrity, whatever part someone plays in a restaurant ? executive or sous chef, waitress, or dishwasher.Food/customer tastes change over time and how dishes can be in vogue one year, but out of fashion the next, and new trends change the fundamentals, such as 'farm to table' becoming more popular, recipes becoming healthier, fusion cuisine catering for new demands, and the constant search for new ingredients/combinations. Travellers and diners want new experiences, but will not sacrifice quality. Less is more ? good taste and less waste. And organic ? more delicious, highly nutritious ? less suspicious.Most of the best restaurants in the Philippines are run by foreign chefs, and the best hotels managed by foreign GM's. That is a black mark on the industry as a whole, but even where the food is good, the wine selection is appalling, and the country must also move away from buying cheap 'bin ends', be more selective/knowledgeable, and again from a business point of view start to educate and encourage potential customers.Apart from a clear strategy, a co-ordinated structure, and stakeholder involvement, there are a myriad of practical initiatives which could be examined/undertaken, ( even at a regional level, exempt from the inertia and bureaucracy of DoT) ? e.g.,- using jeepney adapted/designed food/travel trucks in selected tourist areas/events, home and abroad ( expo 2015!),- co-operative marketing on a regional basis ( food passports ? a cooks tour),- angel investors ( food sector),- DTI advice/support for current/new restaurants ( 'success on a plate' ),- free iPhone/android app for tourists ( IT students to develop),- culinary school students guest at local hotels/restaurants,- pop-up restaurants,- culinary tours/cooking lessons,- local cooking competitions in malls, restaurants to sell more local produce ( i.e deli),- tapas/tapas style- new Filipino sauce ? '7107′ sauce- restaurants to market souvenir food items, food art/posters etc- farmers markets,- local press to run regional restaurant of year competitions ( multiple categories),- start up finance packages,- short term training at restaurants abroad/partnerships,- development/farming of new crops/foods, the great filipino menu ( the best of the best) ? tv programme/contest with the winners of each course eventually serving the complete menu once at a major international event/dinner/ASEAN meeting etc.,- visiting/guest chefs etc, etc.The list, and opportunities, are endless, but the challenges also daunting. Kitchen nightmares on a national scale. The ingredients for success ? diversity, quality, creativity, a love of cooking, respect for the ingredients, a passion for excellence, the desire to delight customers, and an inquiring mind which is eager to learn and innovate.[This is a Featured GRP Comment]Source:http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/03/expo-2015-and-filipino-food-an-opportunity-slowly-slipping-away/comment-page-1/#comment-232544"
4600,"Manny Pacquiao losing to Floyd Mayweather in the “Fight of the Century,” in Las Vegas tonight. He remains a hero and a people’s champ, but tonight’s loss by unanimous decision could mean an end to the boxer’s career.But which one?Boxer? Congressman? Recording Artist? Actor? Basketball coach and player? Christian minister?And did his chances of becoming Philippine president diminish after tonight?Only time will tell. And The Adobo Chronicles will be there to report on developments."
4610,"Toni Fowler is out again to try and break the internet like she did a few weeks ago when she did the Trumpets and Wiggle Wiggle challenge. Now she's doing Horn dance challenge it's making everybody so horn.. err, happy.Last month she did another dance craze challenge called Controlla it also made a dent on the Filipino interneting space. So.. Yeah. As much as I want to be articulate in this blog post, well, I can't. Watching the newest video of Toni Fowler had somehow affected my once concentrated zen-like focus. Here's a screenshot first:And now, make your rolls of tissues ready because the dance form shown in this video will surely move you to happy tears. Here'sto make your day right."
4621,"THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily suspended the shipment of live domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chick, eggs, semen and manure from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao in a bid to contain further spread of avian influenza from a town in Pampanga province.Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Tuesday said the government is exerting all efforts to contain the spread of the avian flu from the town of San Luis, Pampanga, which was placed under immediate quarantine issued by the DA last Thursday, August 10, when the disease was confirmed.Piñol added that the ban on the shipment of poultry meat and poultry products from Luzon to the rest of the country is an aggressive step to contain the spread of the avian influenza to other parts of the Philippines.Appealing for understanding and support of the public, including poultry farm owners and workers, he said the ban will be temporary and will be lifted as soon as experts conclude that the risk of spreading the virus has been eliminated.The temporary ban on the shipment of chicken and other fowl from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao is contained in Memorandum Circular 09, Series of 2017, signed by Dr. Enrico Garzon Jr., Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Livestock and Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).“In view of the avian influenza outbreak in the province of Pampanga and to prevent further spread of the disease in other parts of Luzon and to Visayas and Mindanao … No movement of LIVE domestic and wild birds including poultry meat, day-old chick, eggs, semen and manure shall be allowed from Luzon [mainland Luzon and island provinces of Luzon] to Visayas and Mindanao,” Memorandum Circular 09 stated.Garzon noted that “[s]ince Visayas and Mindanao remain free from avian influenza, the movement of live poultry, poultry mat, day-old chicks, eggs, semen manure and other products from Visayas and Mindanao to Luzon will be allowed.”Shipment of poultry meat and poultry products from Luzon to any point in Luzon, the DA secretary said, will be allowed “provided this is outside of the 7-kilometer radius control area of Pampanga.”Piñol added that Luzon-to-Luzon shipment of poultry meat and poultry products will be allowed under the following conditions:Shipping permitLive domestic and wild birds, including but not limited to chickens, duck, geese, quails, doves and pigeons shall be accompanied by a shipping permit and a veterinary health certificate issued by a government sector veterinarian that these products were sourced from farms with no incidence of avian influenza for the past 21 days prior to shipment.Poultry meat, including but not limited to fresh, frozen meat, uncooked poultry products, shall be accompanied by a shipping permit and a meat inspection certificate.Piñol said the temporary ban will be lifted when there are no new cases reported after the stamping out activity, including the disinfection of all affected areas and surveillance.Meanwhile, Department of Health (DoH) Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag also on Tuesday said they are monitoring two suspect cases among those exposed to chickens affected by avian flu in San Luis.In a news briefing, Tayag added that he was given a preliminary report on those interviewed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and found two suspect cases with flu symptoms.“I was given a preliminary report where they interviewed 20 people from different farms and found two of them with [flu] symptoms. One with cough and one with fever. Influenza [symptoms] are fever, cough and sore throat,” he said.He added they will release the results on Wednesday to confirm whether they are infected with the avian flu virus.“However, due to them having symptoms, they are called suspect cases. Tomorrow we will release the results to know if this is due to bird flu,” Tayag said.Suspect cases are those who had direct contact with the affected poultry and with flu-like symptoms.The two suspect cases were taken to a hospital where they are being isolated and monitored by the RITM for 48 hours before confirming if they carry the virus or not.Tayag said cross-infection of chicken to human is rare while human to human infection is “with great difficulty” as studies on the disease show that among a million exposed in other countries, only 200 were infected by avian flu.He added that those who take human influenza vaccine will not be protected from bird flu infection because the vaccine only prevents mutation of the virus.“It [influenza vaccine] does not protect you. Human influenza [vaccine] will protect you from human influenza. This is bird flu virus,” Tayag said.No cause for alarm“There is an important effect if you are vaccinated. Example, you work at the [affected] farm and you are vaccinated from influenza, so you are preventing mutation of the influenza virus,” he added.Tayag explained that if a person who has human influenza gets infected by the bird flu virus, the two strains of influenza virus will mutate.The DoH has reiterated that there is no cause for alarm because this is an animal health virus, not a public health problem.A person infected with avian flu shows some of these symptoms: mild conjunctivitis or swelling of the eyes and severe pneumonia.Left untreated, bird flu can be fatal.The Health department urges farmers in Pampanga who have flu-like symptoms to report to their local government unit so they could be brought to regional hospitals for isolation and monitoring.According to RITM Director Celia Carlos, the avian flu strains that have been known to jump to humans are the H5N1 and H5N7 sub-types.Tayag said they have stockpiled around 8,000 capsules of Oseltamivir, an anti-viral medication that blocks the actions of influenza virus types A and B in the body.The medicine is used to treat influenza in people who have had flu symptoms for 2 days or less.The Health department is yet to receive a report from the DA on what strain affected the chickens in Pampanga.NEIL A. ALCOBER, KENNETH HERNANDEZ AND BENJIE L. VERGARA"
4630,"If you live in the Philippines and are reading this story, be forewarned that re-posting it on your Facebook or Instagram account or re-tweeting it is now a crime, punishable by fine and jail time.Tired of being constantly criticized by The Adobo Chronicles, So What’s News (SWN), The Professional Heckler, Mosquito Press and many others, President NoyNoy Aquino, with full support from the Senate and the House of Representatives, issued an Executive Order banning re-tweets and re-posts of satirical articles.The Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently reviewing international laws on Free Speech to see if international sites like The Onion, The Borowitz Report and The Daily Currant, can also be banned from Philippine social media.The idea for the Executive Order actually came from Turkey.Recently, a provincial court in Turkey sentenced a college student, Meral Tutcali, to one year in prison for the offense of “insulting a public official” by sharing a satirical news story about a regional governor on Twitter.The trial was held in Adana, a southern Turkish province, after a complaint by the region’s governor, Huseyin Avni Cos, who discovered last year that he had been mocked in a photograph and headline on Zaytung, a Turkish site akin to The Onion."
4641,"Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno urged those who have domestic workers or kasambahays in to register them in their barangay (villages) centers.In his directive to local executives, Sueno urged the implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10361 or “Batas Kasambahay,” which requires every household or employer to register all domestic workers in the Registry of Domestic Workers in barangays, also called as Barangay Registration of Kasambahays.“Kasambahays have a big role in keeping socioeconomic activities running. They take care of households and look after their employers’ children in order for their bosses to go to work or attend to their enterprise,” Sueno said.“Their well being ought to be taken cared of just like workers in the formal public and private sectors,” he added.The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary also called on all punong barangays (village heads) through a directive to enact local ordinances in support of RA 10361 and to implement the Barangay Registration of Kasambahays in their areas of jurisdiction.“Registering kasambahays is both beneficial to kasambahays and their employers,” he emphasized.“I also encourage barangay officials to discuss your implementation of the Batas Kasambahay during the coming law-mandated conduct of Barangay Assembly Day this first semester of the year, which will be on March 25,” he said.Under RA 10361, a domestic worker or kasambahay is any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship such as but not limited to: general househelp, nursemaid or “yaya,” cook, gardener or laundry person, but shall exclude any person who performs domestic work only occasionally or sporadically and not on an occupational basis.The term does not include children who are under a foster family arrangement, and are provided access to education and given an allowance incidental to education, i.e. “baon”, transportation, school projects and school activities.Barangay Kasambahay DeskIn July 2013, the DILG directed barangays to have Kasambahay Desks. Barangay chairpersons were ordered to devise a system to ensure the registration of all kasambahays in their barangays including an online registration through their official website or e-mail.The KR Form 1 and the Kontrata sa Paglilingkod sa Tahanan are available at the barangay and city or municipal Public Employment Service Office (PESO). Both forms are also downloadable at www.dilg.gov.ph and www.dole.gov.ph.In case of termination of the contract, employers must immediately notify the Kasambahay Desk for updating purposes.The disclosure of information about the kasambahay and the employer by the barangay and the local PESO are subject to compliance with the requirements of RA No. 10173 (Data Privacy Act of 2012) and other existing laws. Violators shall be subjected to fine or imprisonment."
4650,"When Filipino Catholics attend services this Sunday, they will listen to the reading of a “historic” pastoral letter issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).Rappler is reporting that the CBCP is urging Catholics to stop spreading fake news as it is a “sin against charity.”What Rappler is not reporting is that the bishops are issuing a second pastoral letter to be read next Sunday condemning presstitutes, noting that they are committing a “sin against faith.”(Faith, Hope and Charity are three theological virtues espoused by the Catholic Church.)Many pro-Duterte bloggers have discredited both legitimate journalists and anti-Duterte bloggers as “presstitutes” for their bias, faux investigative reporting and spreading of fake headlines and photographs. Among the so-called presstitutes are Rappler, The Inquirer, GMA-7, ABS-CBN and bloggers like Raissa Robles, Cynthia Patag, Leah Navarro and Jim Paredes.The second pastoral letter argues that presstitutes destroy the people’s faith in the truth and the basic tenets of fair, balanced and accurate reporting.The letter urges all Catholics who have been following and reading news from the presstitutes to go to the Confessional Box at their first opportunity.Coincidentally, The Adobo Chronicles has issued its own list of presstitutes as a public service to its readers and followers."
4660,"We have been deluged by Martial Law articles and comments recently. Part of this has to do with marking the 30th anniversary of EDSA, true. But a greater part of it is the resurgence of Bongbong Marcos in the VP surveys. People (especially of a certain age) are genuinely aghast and distressed that the Philippines looks ready to put another Marcos en route to Malacanang.Foaming in the mouth, many are blaming the reliable scapegoat, the stupid millenials. It has become a great generational divide–those who lived and remember what it was like during Marcos, and those who were born later or were too young to remember. It is especially frustrating for the former group that the latter group outnumbers them, and will likely determine the outcome of these elections.Like old codgers and curmudgeons starting a lecture with “In my time, I used to walk 10km to school without shoes, in waist-high floodwaters…”, we tend to belittle the young people. After all, we are older, wiser and, hello?, WE WERE THERE. These young whippersnappers with their broken english, they don’t know what the heck they are talking about. They imagine a Golden Age under Marcos, not realizing that far from it, Dark Age is a more fitting monicker.They are crazy stupid. Or are they?The problem is the harder we push back, the more resistance we get in return. And the more shortcuts we take, the more younger people doubt we are telling the truth. It is not a simple story of Marcos was evil and we threw him out i.e. the good guys won and that’s that.Even bringing up the horrors of torture and salvagings (summary executions) in graphic detail do not produce the intended effect. After all, in a violent age where 4,000 people can be killed in an instant by terrorists flying a plane into a building, and where water torture is used by “the good guys” the United States, there is no more coin in shock value. Young Filipinos saw and heard how the SAF 44 soldiers were massacred. It is hard to bring up an ancient bogeyman when equally scary or even more terrifying monsters like ISIS inhabit our present.Insisting that everything and everyone associated with Marcos was evil, and sticking to this black and white paradigm is simplistic and injurious, not only to the way we recount history to our children, but also to the way we want our government and society to be organized. Marcos trauma and the fear of another dictator coming to take away our freedom have already had profound impact on our post-Martial Law life as a nation.We must never ever be caught lying or fudging the data, which unfortunately, this administration has a penchant of doing. Young people can smell lies and they are smarter than you think in spotting data mining. Just the other day, I was furious at the government’s Official Gazette for producing a GDP graph that supposedly compared the Marcos era economic performance with succeeding presidents’. Problem is, they only included the last 5 years of Marcos’s administraton from 1980-1985, conveniently when the depressed global economy and the political crisis caused by Ninoy Aquino’s assasination plunged the country into negative growth.The temptation for historical revisionism, especially now that we are facing elections and many of the same players are running against the administration, has reportedly lately manifested itself again in the experiential museum set up as part of the EDSA 30 anniversary. In the exhibits, the roles of the Aquinos are prominently displayed while the roles of other key players such as Binay, Honasan, Ramos and Enrile are downplayed or omitted altogether. Talk about the victors getting to write history.So, yes show them the (correct) facts and context and then give your opinon. But also recognize and acknowledge that the truth is– complicated.For example, Bobi Tiglao had a column which put the Marcos dictatorship in historical context vis-a-vis the Asia region. That is useful in understanding how Marcos came about and it is useful in coming up with a fair historical assessment. It was the age of the Asian strongman leader: Indonesia had Suharto; Korea had Park; Malaysia had Mahathir, etc. All of them were dictators, and to an extent that was a reaction to the needs of the times. There was a global threat of Communism and the Cold War was raging with spheres of influence being carved out by the US and Russia. When Saigon fell to the communists, people expected the red wave to sweep down and spread across Southeast Asia, as in actual military invasion. This was the backdrop of Martial Law. In the Philippines, we cannot neglect to mention The First Quarter Storm, the almost daily student riots in the streets. We should not omit the Oil Crisis of the early 70’s and the hyperinflatioin that resulted in even wealthy families foregoing meat.Moreover, it is not enough to recount and pass on history as accurately as possible, we must also analyse in light of the past 30 years what exactly transpired and what it meant. That has not been done enough and there is a multitude of underlying and related issues that millennials, knowingly or unknowingly, sense are not being articulated and being held back.Vince Rafael pointed out one of the obvious take-away that everybody should recognize by now: that EDSA only amounted to political change, a rotation of elites, and no real societal change. In fact, we fell back into the same system of corrupt patronage and oligarchs that Marcos sought to abolish and replace with the New Society. It is an unfinished revolution. One of the difficult questions we have to ask is whether our current system better enables us to achieve that much needed inclusive growth.Problem is some are unwilling to take off the rose colored glasses and debate the real underlying issues on why some people harken back to the old autocratic system. Some of the larger issues we should be debating with the youth are:1) Are there any advantages to an authoritarian type regime? Why are centrally planned economies like China and Vietnam able to rapidly mobilize their laws and resources to spur their economies? Why do they still have a controlled press in Singapore and how does that reconcile with our beliefs on censorship? Is our own system, where the press is often bought or owned by the powers that be, much better?Why were we among the first nations to overthrow a dictator? What are the experiences of other countries that ousted dictators? What is the role of economics in social unrest and revolt against authoritarianism? Where do we think the balance lies between the sublimation of individual rights to public rights?2) Is the idea of a “benign dictator” realistic? We have always been told that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But then how to explain Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew? Although Lee did jail and persecute his political opponents, he was definitely more benign than Marcos. Singapore is always cited by the loyalists and Duterte followers as an example of what could be, if only we changed the current system.3) What were the circumstances behind the formulation and ratification of the 1987 Constitution? What was the role of the Left and the Church? Why did we choose to bring back a bicameral Congress?In short, how did we get to where we are now. Were the trade offs worth it?It is questions and discussions like this that will ultimately convince the millenials, or not. Unless we go beyond the fairy tales and morality plays and start to argue the substantive and underyling issues, there can be no satisfactory closure. Unless we recognize that it is the experience of the past 30 years, including the latter six years under Aquino, that brought us to this point then we will continue to curse blindly at the dark, devoid of illumination.Unless we ourselves understand and come to grips with history, we will come off to millenials the same way as one of the pop icons of our generation, Madonna (who was incidentally in Manila around the same time as the EDSA commemoration) comes off to them–a bit baduy, nalipasan ng panahon, needing to shock to hold attention, a bit out of touch, insisting shrilly on our timeliness and relevance."
4671,"Saying only the Philippines can legally build on territories in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), Malacañang said China will have to return someday what belongs to the country.In an interview aired on his Facebook page on Wednesday night, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the Philippines one day would “thank” China if it would be able to ask them to leave the artificial islands it has reclaimed in the disputed sea.“There will come a time when China’s might had ceased, when we will have to thank them for the islands because it is only the Philippines that can legally build on those artificial islands,” Roque added.“Clearly, eventually, those artificial islands will be ours if we can ask China to leave the islands,” he said.In recent years, China significantly expanded its claims to most of the waterway as it continues to build and militarize artificial islands.It has also refused to acknowledge the July 6, 2016 arbitral ruling, which states that Bejing’s argument to assert sovereign rights over the resource-rich area was baseless.On Monday, reports said Beijing has nearly completed military installations in at least seven reefs in the contested waters.But the Palace official reiterated there was “nothing new” in the developments.“There is nothing new happening in the islands now,” Roque said, adding that the Philippines had already filed diplomatic protest regarding Chinese build-up in the disputed sea.“They are saying they have completed, it is effectively a military base but we’ve known that. And we have protested that. Much as we don’t want it, you when asked a question what can we do, I’m literally asking the question because we have protested already,” he said.“They are saying we should protest, we did that. Do you want to protest every minute, everyday? What else will the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] do if that is the case?” Roque added.The Palace official reiterated that the Philippines would not wage a war against China.“No, we don’t want [that]. And moreover, why should we even bother because there is already a decision in our favor. That those islands anyway are in our exclusive economic zone,” Roque said.“The truth of the matter is, better to have friendly relations now because while we can’t stand up to them, let’s not give them the opportunity to use their weapons in these artificial islands against us,” he added.On Wednesday, Roque said the Philippine government is “not being too soft” on Beijing despite the latter’s activities in the disputed sea.Prior to the Duterte administration, China had been at odds with the country after it continued to insist claims over the disputed waters despite a 2016 ruling from the United Nations arbitral tribunal recognizing the country’s extended continental shelf in the contested waters.President Rodrigo Duterte restored warm ties with China, especially with Chinese President Xi Jinping.In November 2017, Duterte said the South China Sea issue is “better left untouched,” rejecting confrontation and instead pushing for “cooperation.”"
4680,"A coalition of immigrant rights organizations across the U.S., acting on behalf of 11 million undocumented immigrants, today extended amnesty to former by a vote of 68-32 –a bill that would strengthen the borders while providing a path to citizenship to the country’s estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. The U.S. House of Representatives is now debating the Senate bill, but many conservative Republicans are not happy with the upper chamber’s version because it is tantamount to “granting amnesty to those who have violated this country’s laws.”In his statement, Bush said, “We can uphold our tradition of assimilating immigrants, and honoring our heritage of our nation built on the rule of law. But we have a problem. The laws governing the immigration system aren’t working; the system is broken.” He urged his fellow Republicans in Congress to address the issue as soon as possible. It wasn’t clear whether Bush’s urging will have any impact in changing the minds of lawmakers opposed to the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.Meanwhile, the Democrats in Congress have remained silent on the grant of amnesty to the former president. But sources said that while Democrats may not want to go as far as granting amnesty to Bush, they are also weary that opposing such move might jeopardize their standing with the Latino and other immigrant communities, especially in the next elections.As he posed for a photo with newly-naturalized citizens from Nigeria and the Philippines (see photo), the former president was asked for his reaction to the amnesty extended to him. He simply winked his eye and blurted out, “he he.”"
4691,"A princess from Sulu province in southern Philippines has called on her fellow Tausug to be vigilant in the wake of the recent beheading of a 70-year-old German hostage, whose family failed to deliver a multimillion ransom that his captors from the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) had demanded.Jacel Kiram, in a statement, expressed concern that the good name of the Tausug would be compromised by the horrific death of Jurgen Kantner last week in the hands of the ASG, a local jihadist group with links to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS.At the same time, the princess condemned the killing, saying, “We abhor to the highest level this gruesome act of kidnapping and beheading of people in our territory.”She added that as a Tausug, she “take[s] pride in belonging to this strong minority who are historically known as honorable, fearless warriors, standing and fighting only for a good cause.”According to Princess Jacel, “The truth is, this fight embraced by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Sulu must also be the same fight for every Tausug who seeks peace and a safe future for the sake of our children’s children.”She cited the need “to strive harder in order to secure and leave a good legacy for our next generation.”The Sulu princess said Filipinos, including the Tausug of Mindanao, “have to be vigilant in protecting the reputation of the Philippines in the eyes of the international community by giving due respect and honor to the sacredness of the Tausug.”She also called for unity for “peace, progress and prosperity for our country and the world.”Princess Jacel Kiram, daughter of the late 33rd Sulu King Sultan Jamalul Kiram 3rd, is the president of both the Philsilat Sports Association and KIRAM Inc. (Kristiano’t Islam Repormang Aagapay sa Mamamayan), an inter-faith organization geared toward livelihood and sustainability for Muslim communities.She is also the vice president for Mindanao of the People’s National Movement for Federalism or Penamed."
4701,"Chairman Cariza “Aiza” Seguerra of the National Youth Commission has called for unrestricted distribution of condoms across the country in light of the record-breaking new human immunodeficiency virus cases, which reached 1,098 in May alone.Seguerra, a former child actress and a professional singer, made the call on Tuesday, citing the HIV and AIDS Registry of the Philippines Report (HARP), which showed that the 1,098 new HIV cases is the highest recorded number of HIV cases in the Philippines since 1984.HARP said the May 2017 cases represent a 48-percent increase compared with the 741 recorded in May 2016.“We need the help of everybody here, the government, the private sector, in fixing this. This [rise in HIV virus cases] already happened in Thailand, and they resorted to condom distribution. From college [level] down to pre-schools, students were taught about reproductive health so that they won’t be awkward when condoms are raised in a conversation,” Seguerra said.The Reproductive Health (RH) Law enacted in 2013 allows the government to provide free contraceptives such as condoms and intrauterine devices.The RH Law does not contain the word condom but its implementing rules and regulation provide that dispensing of health products such as condoms; natural family planning charts and digital thermometers; standard days method beads; injectables and oral contraceptive pills; and immunization and micronutrient supplementation should only be done by appropriately trained and skilled health professionals.“In Thailand, you get a whole box of condoms every time you go to the gas station and avail of a full tank. We can’t do that here. If we can’t change that, these cases of HIV will continue to rise, no matter how often we conduct seminars,” Seguerra said.She urged families and parents of the youth to help combat the deadly virus.“We really need everybody’s help. This is not just about HIV, but teenaged pregnancy as well. The Philippines already tops Southeast Asia in teenaged pregnancies. That is not a good place to be in,” Seguerra said.“We can’t deny the situation that is happening. We can’t always invoke cultural sensitivity here because, otherwise, we will be helpless. If we will be proactive, we will have a chance to defeat this,” she added."
4711,"Why the overreaction?President Benigno Aquino III posed this question to bickering politicians back home, as he called for an elevated level of debate on the run-up to the 2016 national elections.“Why are you so overreacting? Why (do) all of you need to overreact?,” the President commented in a press conference here late Thursday night, when asked about the continuing word war between Sen. Grace Poe, who is seen as a possible presidential contender in 2016, and the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who had made known his plans to seek higher office next year.Binay’s daughter, Makati Rep. Abigail Binay, on Thursday called for a ceasefire on the “heated and emotional” exchange started by her father’s political lieutenants who had questioned the senator’s alleged lack of residency, and her doubtful citizenship owing to her being a foundling who did not know her biological parents.READ: Abigail Binay: Stop word war with PoeIt’s like “black propaganda” this early, President Aquino said. “Can we not help them change the system to something better and bring the debate to a more intelligent and studied level?” he added.But Mr. Aquino also clarified that he made the appeal “as a citizen,” as he would rather steer clear of the issue as President. He had not been authorized to serve as spokesperson for either camp, he joked.Anointed oneDuring his state visit here, the President was asked several times about his successor, and who he thinks could best sustain the gains of his administration.In an engagement with the Japan National Press Club on Friday morning, Mr. Aquino said he would name his anointed one after his last State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July.“When will I endorse? I promised our people I was hoping (it would be) the end of June, but now it seems that I have to, by law, deliver a State of the Nation Address, which is (on) the last Monday of July. It will be shortly after that that I will endorse the person (whom) I believe can carry out the continuity,” the President said.Mr. Aquino also made assurances that the friendship between the Philippines and Japan would remain even after his term.Asked about the low popularity of the ruling Liberal Party’s prospective presidential candidate, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the President avoided a direct answer and said: “I don’t think our people will elect a foolhardy replacement that will suddenly throw away all these very good economic partnerships that we have with Japan.”Right to apologizeMeanwhile, in Sorsogon province, Roxas on Friday supported the President’s call for senior government officials to refrain from “overreacting” to issues triggered by rivalry in the 2016 elections.“It’s just right to stop the bickering. It’s just right to apologize. It’s just right to put the debate on a higher level,” Roxas told reporters after leading the turnover of a public water facility in Prieto Diaz town.“Do you think the residents here care what’s happening in Manila?” he asked.Roxas, who has been visiting the provinces to oversee the distribution of police patrol vehicles and other local government projects, said people in other parts of the country were more interested in issues that directly affect their lives.“What they care about is ensuring clean and safe water for their (community). They care about PhilHealth so they will receive medical assistance,” he said, referring to the government’s public health insurance system.He said the public would be more interested in efforts to bring development to their towns, like infrastructure projects, the construction of more schools and adequate power sources.“Those are the concerns of the people. That’s what I call meaningful public service. The people don’t need this useless bickering,” Roxas said."
4721,"As they reel from soaring prices of basic goods, particularly food, Filipinos consider curbing inflation and improving wages as the most urgent national concerns that the Duterte administration should attend to, a Pulse Asia survey has found.Pulse Asia has also found that people’s disapproval of how the administration is handling rising prices surged 22 points to 51 percent.A labor group said the survey sent a strong message to President Duterte that he had failed to deliver on his campaign promise for ensure a comfortable life to Filipinos.“The survey result also shows that the administration has wrongly focused its attention and energy on changing the Constitution and form of government and on attacking their critics rather than on arresting problems like high prices and low wages,” said Nagkaisa labor coalition spokesperson Renato Magtubo.Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque assured the public that Duterte was dealing with rising prices.At a press briefing, Roque cited the President’s recent issuances, such as the removal of nontariff barriers and the streamlining of procedures for importing agricultural products.Most urgent concernResults of the Pulse Asia survey show that 63 percent of respondents identified controlling inflation as the most urgent concern, up 12 points from June.Amid the rising cost of living, 50 percent identified improving wages as their second concern.Zero real wage growthRecently, wage boards throughout the country approved a P9 to P56 raise in the daily minimum wage to help workers cope with high inflation.Labor groups, however, said the paltry increase did nothing to help improve the lives of workers.The workers’ situation is supported by a finding of World Bank Philippines senior economist Rong Qian that real wage did not grow at all in the country between 2000 and 2016.Other issues related to the cost of living—fighting poverty and creating more jobs—were identified as urgent concerns by a third of the respondents.Up to three concernsIn the survey, Pulse Asia interviewed 1,800 respondents, who are registered voters 18 years old and above, to cite up to three urgent concerns from a list.The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2 percentage points.The nationwide survey was conducted from Sept. 1 to 7 when the government announced that the August inflation spiked to 6.4 percent, the fastest rate of increase in prices since March 2009.Prices of food and nonalcoholic beverages rose to 8.4 percent.Budget adjustmentsBanny Poblete, an employee at an insurance company, said she had to make adjustments to keep her budgeting steady.Rice, fish and meat have to be bought at wet markets, where prices are usually cheaper than those at supermarkets and grocery stores.She said the changes in her family expenses were more felt in her 7-year-old child’s “baon” to school. Prices of fruit juices have increased by as much as P15, while powdered milk can cost her P35 more.The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines suggested that the President ask his Cabinet for “timebound indicators and expected results” to deal with the problem of the ever-increasing cost of basic goods and services.Remy Santos, who runs a small eatery in Quezon City, agreed that the government should curb the rapidly rising prices.Even with the rising prices of ingredients that she needs for the foods that she sells, she said she had kept her prices low.Her daily earnings, however, has significantly been reduced to just P1,000 from P3,000 of the past two to three years.Stop obsessionBayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said that instead of harping on the supposed Red October plot against Mr. Duterte, the administration should concentrate more on improving the economy.“The Duterte administration should stop its obsession with their hunt for the phantom Red October and move fast to lower the prices of commodities,” he added."
4731,"U-Freight Philippines Inc., one of the companies of businessman Alberto Lina, is being investigated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the agency he now heads, for its alleged failure to pay about P1.5 billion in taxes and duties for an undisclosed number of shipments at its Pasay City warehouse.This was disclosed to the Inquirer on Monday by BOC insiders, who said the joint probe by the Customs office at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and the Intelligence Group started about two months before Lina’s appointment as Customs commissioner.Lina replaced John Phillip Sevilla who resigned last week, citing “political pressure,” among other reasons.On Monday, Lina denied a report that any of his firms had been investigated for alleged nonpayment of correct duties and taxes, saying that the negative reports coming out to besmirch his and his companies’ reputation formed part of a “concerted effort” to discredit the Aquino administration.“There’s no truth to that,” Lina said in a telephone interview, when sought to comment on reports that U-Freight Philippines, was being investigated by the BOC. “People can twist facts.”Lina said he had been warned that such reports would come out one after another in a “concerted effort” to destroy his reputation.“It may be because of politics, or the smugglers are out to bring me down; they don’t want me to do my job here at Customs,” said Lina.The inquiry was based on a 2014 memo issued by Sevilla directing all Customs collection districts nationwide to conduct an “inventory of all overstaying cargoes” within their respective jurisdictions.Unpaid taxes, dutiesThe order, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, was “pursuant to the bureau’s revenue generation efforts and to free up space in various ports, as well as to accommodate new shipments coming into the country,” Sevilla said.Initial BOC investigation found that the shipments, which arrived in the country between 2011 and 2013 and subsequently stored at the U-Freight Cargo Haus facility, located near Naia Terminal 2, “could not be accounted for and remained unliquidated.”“The cargoes were apparently released without the payment of Customs taxes and duties, as required by the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP),” said an official of the Department of Finance-attached agency, who asked not to be named for lack of authority to speak to the media.Based on the TCCP, the unliquidated cargoes should have been forfeited in favor of the government and auctioned off to raise additional revenue.Imported helicopterU-Freight also owes the bureau an explanation for the allegedly anomalous presence at its warehouse of an imported helicopter that has two airway bills (AWBs), said Customs operatives interviewed for this story.“One AWB says the helicopter came from Poland while the other says the same aircraft originated from the United States,” said one of the BOC personnel. “For sure, one of the AWBs is fake.”Asked if the investigation would continue despite Lina’s appointment as Customs boss, the BOC official said, “Trabaho lang po ito, walang personalan (It’s just work. Nothing personal).”In a related development, Sevilla on Monday issued a statement denying reports that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima had pressured him to quit his BOC post.“On the contrary, they urged me to remain at the bureau,” he said, noting “my resignation from Customs was my decision alone.”He clarified reports that he resigned as he “disagreed with the prospective appointment of lawyer Teddy Raval as director of the Customs Enforcement and Security Service and believed that it would be better for Customs to be held by someone who could better navigate a more political environment than me while continuing structural reforms.”Sevilla also pointed out that no one from the Iglesia ni Cristo ever contacted him directly. “As such, I have no direct confirmation that the INC was truly pushing Atty. Raval’s reassignment or appointment.”The ex-BOC chief expressed hope that “all Customs stakeholders will work together with Commissioner Lina toward our common goal of a Bureau of Customs that is efficient, effective and free of corruption and politics.”“Toward this end, Commissioner Lina and Secretary Purisima will have my support and any help they may need from me,” he added.RELATED STORIESLina to divest from businesses, says PalaceBert Lina a poor choice"
4741,"The family of an American documentary filmmaker is demanding answers from Philippine authorities over the “suspicious” death of their member while in custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Cebu City.Boston native Jesse Phinney, 42, who was accused of pedophilia and human trafficking with local children in Cebu, was arrested by the NBI on December 4, 2017.Less than 24 hours later, Phinney was found dead at the toilet of an NBI-7 detention facility.The NBI claims that he committed suicide by hanging himself using a belt, according to media reports.But Phinney’s family members believe that what happened to him was “a false arrest, failed extortion, a murder and a government cover-up.”“Jesse was a big-hearted, gentle and generous man who found his purpose in helping people in Third World countries build sustainable homes using wind and solar,” his family said in a statement sent to INQUIRER.net. “The circumstances surrounding his death while in police custody must be investigated thoroughly and completely.”Dominika Posseren, Jesse’s widow, suggested that what happened to her husband was a case of extrajudicial killing.“I hundred percent believe that the Philippine police murdered an American humanitarian,” Posseren told WCVB-5 in an interview.She added: “I will spend the rest my life making sure that the last thing that is known about him is not that he was some sort of a child trafficker [who] committed suicide because I will say this until my last breath: that is not true.”In the same interview, Molly Phinney Baskette, Jesse’s sister, noted that the Philippine government offered P50,000 for any Philippine police who could kill a criminal.Phinney’s career as a documentarian for National Geographic and History Channel took him to remote places around the world. He worked on hit adventure shows such as “Naked and Afraid,” “Life Below Zero” and on NBC’s “The Apprentice.”His family is asking the Philippine government to provide answers to their questions and to grant them full access to documents and evidence.“We have no idea what actually happened in the jail and are convinced that our beloved Jesse may have been the victim of extortion, just like hundreds of other cases in the country,” Baskette said in a statement.INQUIRER.net reached out to NBI for comment but received no response as of publishing time.Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Manila confirmed to INQUIRER.net the death of a “US citizen” in Cebu and offered their sincere condolences to the family.When asked if the Embassy was coordinating the incident with Philippine authorities, Press Attache Molly Koscina declined to further comment “out of respect for the family during this difficult time.”Phinney’s family claimed they did not receive any help from the American government. They called for more pressure to the Department of State to act on Jesse’s case"
4750,"Following the pronouncement of President Duterte to cut alliances with the world's giant, United States, another statement from the President has stirred an international commotion. This is when he told U.S President Barack Obama to ""go to hell"" and would prefer kneeling down before the king of Brunei and Malaysia than him. He also reiterated how the US has criticized him in the alleged extrajudicial killings which he described us ""riding on garbage""thrown by his political rival. The president then pointed out that the US should have been supportive in his goal to end the chronic drug problem in the country.These are the exact statements of the President directed towards the US:""Instead of helping us, the first to hit back was the State Department, so you can go to hell. Mister Obama, you can go to hell,""""EU better choose purgatory because hell is full.""""If this is what happens now, I will be reconfiguring my foreign policy. Eventually I might, in my time, I will break up with America. I would rather go to Russia and to China. At least even if we do not agree with the ideology, they have respect for the people."""
4760,"What has our elected president ever done to compete?? His mom died. That is the why the country voted for him. We deserve to do lousy in international competition because in the eyes of Pinoys Noynoy, The Binays, the Erap family, the Marcos family are all winners. So in truth we are losers.We can not compete because we don't appreciate people who can. It is about having the right name, the right family and not the right skill. That is the pinoy way and will be the pinoy way for a long time to come. Self entitled. ""Oh your mom died, you have my vote"".That attitude may be fine locally but get a country of people who worship the Aquinos and the Estradas all playing basketball and it can't even get significant international wins against other countries whose best athletes play football, baseball and get Olympic medals.-----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/09/continued-loss-suffered-by-gilas-pilipinas-in-the-2014-fiba-wold-cup-mirrors-philippine-history/comment-page-1/#comment-682177"
4770,"Magkasabay na nasunog ang mga building ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) nito lang gabi ng Biyernes. Sapul sa aerial shot ng Manila Bulletin ang sunog sa Gate 3 ng customs sa South Harbor at pati sa Gate 1 sa may Parola compound.Ang layo daw ng mga building sa isa't-isa ay mag-iisang kilometro. Inaalam pa ng tagapagsalita ng customs kung anu-anong opisina ang nadamay sa sunog. ""[We are] securing Customs personnel as of the moment. Firemen are already in the building,"" sabi ni Customs Spokesperson Atty. Sandino Austria. Umabot daw sa 30 trak ng bumbero ang rumisponde sa sunog. Nakapagpalala daw sa sitwasyon sa Parola compound ang mga light materials na ginamit sa mga bahay sa nasabing lugar. Basahin ang reaksyon at tugon ng ilang kababayan natin sa nangyaring sunog sa customs. ""Malapit na kasi ang Feb. 25 anniversary kuno ng edsa...baka may drama to the max ang mga demonyong kalaban ng gobyerno. Naisip ko lang naman,"" sabi ni M. Gratuito. ""Pinagsabay talaga ang sunog para hindi makapagfocus sa isa ang mga bumbero. Gusto talaga nila lumaki ang sunog sa magkabilang lugar.,"" sabi ni R. Dellosa. ""Alam na this tapos sasabihin nasunog ang mga papeles na importantes style bulok boc boc,"" sabi ni W. Mendez. ""My nararamdaman nanaman akong drama neto kinabukasan. Sana wala lang buhay ang nawala sa pagkasunog. Keep safe and God bless Pilipinas!,"" sabi ni I. Nieves. Source: Philstar | MB"
4781,"More than a thousand Catholics, among them senior citizens and students, marched through downtown Baguio on Saturday to make a stand against proposed laws on divorce and same-sex unions and to express their outrage against extrajudicial killings.“Our nation is embracing a culture of death,” said Baguio Bishop Victor Bendico during a Mass before the march of devotees who proceeded to Session Road after emerging from four Baguio churches at 8 a.m.“Congress is working to pass House Bill No. 7303 to usher the divorce law [where] marriages for any reason can be dissolved if the parties wish so,” Bendico said.“We recognize there are marriages with difficult situations but there are legal remedies in our civil and canon laws,” Bendico added.Same sexThe bishop also said there were “ongoing oral debates on a petition that seeks to pave the way for same-sex unions which has been translated to House Bill No. 6595.”“That petition is challenging provisions of the Family Code on marriage, particularly Articles 1 and 2 which uphold marriage between a man and a woman,” Bendico said.“We recognize that there are those with homosexual orientations and we give due respect to them,” he added.“[But] gender politics and societal reconstruction are not the answers,” the bishop said.He also criticized sectors of government which advocated these changes.“They can undermine basic structures of our society, veiled by wrong information. The dignity of the human being is taken for granted,” Bendico said.No rebellion“We are not here to incite rebellion, [but] to incite love [and] ignite our responsibilities to protect life, high morality, marriages and faith,” said lawyer Ramon Bayan of the Church’s Commission on Family and Life, which organized the protest march dubbed “Walk for Life.”President Duterte had expressed opposition to divorce, but “a promise today could be reversed by our President,” Bayan said.Contraceptives’ effectThe widow of a substance abuser, who was murdered at their home by unknown gunmen in 2016, joined the Church rally, to denounce killings committed while the government waged a campaign against drugs and criminality.Bendico said the breakdown in values could be traced back to contraceptives.Pope Paul VI “prophesied that widespread use (of contraceptives) would lead to conjugal infidelity and the general lowering of morality,” he said.The bishop claimed that the late Pope’s insight was validated by 2001 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics George Akerlof who concluded that “widespread use of contraceptives has led to higher rates of divorce, single parenthood, drug abuse and other social evils.”"
4791,"The widow of slain human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos has expressed dismay over the ongoing police investigation into her husband’s murder.Clarissa Ramos said police had floated the idea that her husband may have been involved in illegal gambling, citing witnesses who claimed seeing him playing mahjong shortly before he was shot on Tuesday night.“My God. Where did they get this information? My husband didn’t even get enough sleep just helping his clients. What an irresponsible statement!” she said on Friday.Should be rich by nowRamos, 56, a founding member of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), was standing in front of a store at Barangay 5, Kabankalan City, in Negros Occidental province past 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday when he was shot three times by still unidentified assailants.If her husband had been involved in illegal activities, the widow said, they would have been rich by now, he would not have to borrow a car to get to his hearings, and their children would have been enrolled in private schools.She hopes her husband’s case will not “end up nowhere,” Clarissa said.According to human rights groups, Ramos had just come from the police station where he filed a pleading on the transfer of a political detainee to Bacolod City when he decided to buy cigarettes before heading home.The police, however, said they had witnesses claiming that he came from a mahjong session when shot by one of two men who arrived on a motorcycle.Clarissa said she believed her husband was killed either by landowners whom he had sued on behalf of his farmer clients, or by the military who had reportedly linked the activist-lawyer to the communist insurgency.Challenge to DuterteThe widow challenged President Duterte and the investigators to find justice for her family, saying she would only “trust the government again” if the case is solved.Mr. Duterte on Thursday maintained that the government had no hand in Ramos’ murder.“Why would I kill a lawyer? For what?” Mr. Duterte asked during the distribution of certificates of land ownership awards to land reform beneficiaries in Boracay, Aklan province.“Communists want their own land reform. Tenant or not, they will enter a property and then they will invite others to join the fray, but in the process killing people and even their lawyer,” the President said, adding: “I will not allow it. That’s anarchy. If you force your way in, my orders to the police and the military, evict them.”34 killed in 2 yearsIn a recent statement, Col. Benedict Arevalo, the commander of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia town, Negros Occidental, denied the military had a hand in the killing of Ramos.Sen. Nancy Binay expressed alarm over the “unacceptably high” number of lawyers killed in the country as she condemned the murder of Ramos, who served as legal counsel to the families of nine Sagay City farmers who were massacred in October.“The cases of assassinations, harassment, threats and other forms of attacks on lawyers are not only alarming but are clear threats to the rule of law and democracy,” Binay said, citing figures from the NUPL that showed that 34 lawyers had been killed in the past two years."
4800,"Described as a destination of unmatched natural beauty located off the eastern coast of Luzon in the Philippines, Balesin Island Club, Alphaland Corporation’s flagship project, is a 500-hectare tropical island paradise with 7.3 kilometers of pristine white-sand beaches. It is a members-only, private leisure getaway located 60 miles east of Manila that boasts of a clientele composed of the who’s who in politics, business, arts & entertainment, and the Philippines’ millionaires circle.(The resort was the venue of the recent wedding of Senator Chiz Escudero and actress Heart Evangelista.)What is little known about this exclusive resort is that it discriminates against the very customers that it is trying to attract: the rich people.On Saturday, fashion designer and model Maggie Wilson-Consunji said that her mom was discriminated against by the resort. It happened during breakfast when the waiter refused to serve her mom the same delicious chicken adobo meal that her son Conner’s yaya (nanny) ordered. The waiter said the adobo was a ‘yaya meal’ and was not available to the rich clients of the resort.Consunji informs us she will file a formal complaint against the resort before the Philippine Commission on Human Rights on Monday for discriminating against rich people and for giving preferential treatment to nannies.Here’s her story as posted on her Facebook page:"
4810,"Presidential sister and television host Kris Aquino on Thursday confirmed the alleged plot by bandit group Abu Sayyaf to kidnap her and cited this as the reason for not renewing her contract with broadcast network ABS-CBN. The plan to kidnap Kris and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was disclosed by President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday.We sat down with Kris in an exclusive interview regarding the Abu Sayyaf threat. Here is the full transcript:AC: Is it true that your real reason for not renewing your showbiz contract was the kidnap threat by Abu Sayyaf?KRIS: Yes, pex man (I swear). My blood pressure went to the roof when I first heard of the threat. Afraid ako (I was afraid).AC: But you’re the sister of the president. Why would you be afraid?KRIS: Yun na nga eh (that’s just it). My brother could not promise me that he can protect Filipino citizens and soldiers, or foreigners from the terrorist group. Not even me, his own sister. So I decided to just quit show business.AC: Why do you think you are being targeted?KRIS: Well, it’s not just me. As the president said, even Manny Pacquiao.AC: And why do you think it’s the both of you?KRIS: Didn’t you hear what the president said last week? I am one of the biggest taxpayers, and Pacquiao is the No. 1 biggest taxpayer. So we both have a lot of money. Most kidnapping is for the purpose of ransom money.AC: So do you blame your brother for exposing your wealth to potential kidnappers when he mentioned you as among the biggest taxpayers?KRIS: Oo naman (yes of course).AC: Do you see yourself ever going back to show business?KRIS: I’m hopeful, lalo na kung si Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and mananalo bilang president (especially if Mayor Rodrigo Duterte wins the presidency). I believe he’s the only one who can stop crime and terrorism in our country. Don’t tell Mar Roxas this, but I’m voting for Duterte come May 9."
4821,"ALL permits to carry firearms are suspended starting today with the start of the 37-day election period for the synchronized Barangay (Village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK or Youth Council) elections on May 14.Also, the seven-day filing of certificates of candidacy (CoC) for barangay and SK candidates commences also today and will end on April 20.James Jimenez, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman, on Friday said the national gun ban would take effect at 12:01 a.m. of April 14.“The Comelec is duty-bound to strictly implement the firearms ban,” Jimenez added.Comelec checkpoints, he said, will also be established across the country to enforce the prohibition.Aside from the ban on the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons, the availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards is also strictly prohibited.Comelec Resolution 10197, promulgated on September 14, 2017, states, “During the election period, no person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, even if licensed to carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the commission.”Exempted from the gun ban are regular members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies of the government that are duly deputized in writing by the Comelec for election duty may be authorized to carry and possess firearms during the election period.The Comelec, however, said, “When in the possession of firearms, the deputized law enforcement officer must be in full uniform showing clearly and legibly his name, rank and serial number, which shall remain visible at all times, and in the actual performance of his election duty in the specific area designated by the commission.”According to Jimenez, the poll body may issue gun ban exemptions to other qualified individuals, “who by nature of their official duties, profession, business or occupation, such as but not limited to cashiers, disbursing officers, persons who are under the Witness Protection Program, etc., are considered as high-risk individuals.”All applications/requirements for gun ban exemptions shall be filed with the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel at the Comelec main office, 8th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila.Qualified to vote in the SK polls are duly registered Filipino citizens who are at least 15 but not more than 30 years of age on the day of the elections; a resident in the barangay for at least six months on Election Day; and not otherwise disqualified by law.Jimenez pointed out though that only qualified voters who are between 18 and 24 years old are allowed to run in the SK polls.He reminded candidates for the youth polls that that they need to declare under oath that they are not related within the second degree by affinity or consanguinity to any incumbent, elected national or local officials as provided for under Republic Act (RA) 10742 or the SK Reform Act of 2015.RA 10742 states that candidates should not be related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent, elected national official or to any incumbent regional, provincial, city, municipal or barangay official in the locality where they are running.For the barangay elections, one should be at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the elections; and must be a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and living in the village where he/she intends to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the barangay elections; and should not otherwise be disqualified by law."
4830,"(DEVELOPING STORY PLEASE REFRESH THE PAGE FOR UPDATES)Philippine National Police cancelled the mission of the controversial cop Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido in Iloilo City to resolve the illegal drug problem in the said place, according to PRO-6 Director Police C/Supt. Cesar Binag.Binag made this official announcement at the end of a news conference in Camp Martin Delgado, the PNP Regional Headquarters of PRO-6.Instead of Espenido, Chief Superintendent Binag named P/Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas as the next Iloilo City Police Director.When asked by the media about the reason of Espenido’s reassignment cancellation, he only said “we cannot speculate”The announcement happened one day after the top 1 drug lord of Western Visayas or Region 6 Richard “Buang” Prevendido was killed in an anti-drug operation conducted by Iloilo PNP.It means that he’s going to stay in Ozamiz City like what he wanted to do.According to Espenido, he would rather stay in Ozamiz to finish his business against illegal drugs.PNP Director General chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also wanted Espenido to remain in Ozamiz.“If I will have my way, I prefer him to stay in Ozamiz para matapos ‘yung problema doon kung mamarapatin. Mas maganda nga doon muna siya. Anyway ‘yung sa sitwasyon sa Iloilo e nakikita ko na inaamin naman ni Mayor Jed Mabilog na napabayaan niya yung problema sa drugs noon, hindi niya na-address but right now, in fairness to the good mayor, nakikita ko rin naman na nagsususmikap siya sa anti-drug campaign sa Iloilo City,” Bato said.Bato also added the people of Ozamiz don’t want Espenido to leave the city.Meanwhile, Bato praised the Provincial police office of Iloilo for putting an end to the drug illegal drug operation of Prevendido.Jovie Espenido became controversial after his team nabbed the former Albuera Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa who got killed inside his cell last year.Espenido also led the team who raided the house of former Ozamiz Mayor Aldong Parojinog who also got killed during the operation.Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he’s going to assign Espenido to Iloilo City to clear the illegal drug problem in the city.Duterte tagged Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog as a drug protector. He also ordered the NBI to do a lifestyle check to the city mayor which Mabilog welcomed.Mabilog even opened his house which Duterte described as like a ‘castle’ to the media to prove that his house is not like what the President said.The city mayor of Iloilo also said that his city is drug free a year after President Rodrigo Duterte linked him to illegal drug operations in the Visayas."
4840,"Foreboding The Return of Peping Cojuanco at the Helm of the Philippine Olympic CommitteeAs a sport that only Filipinos from very rich families can play, you would think Philippine equestrian sports would be insulated from feudal trapo politics and be able to focus on developing the best athletes it can.Unfortunately, like other sports and organizations built around a sport, it is pretty much riddled with corruption.Noynoy Aquino’s uncle Peping Cojuanco, a man who some say knows nothing about equestrian sports, has been re-elected as President of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines (EAP) with daughter Mikee as Vice President.Kamaganak Inc in Philippine sports? It looks very much like it as we gather that sisters Janine Felix and Nikki Aboitiz were also elected to the board.Moreover, Mikee is the IOC representative to the Philippines. Should she not be above the fray? Isn’t she compromising the impartiality of the IOC in a matter that may eventually elevated to a body where she sits?But what did the father-daughter tandem Peping and Mikee do to deserve their positions at the EAP? Apparently, not much.According to a former sports reporter friend of mine, Peping and daughter Mikee were such lazy douche bags that the association that they blamed La Nina for not leading the EAP to mount a single competition in 2017.Moreover the EAP didn’t have a local training and competition program and managed to completely avoid having regular consultations with stakeholders.He pointed out that our country’s performance at the SEA Games slipped so far down during Peping’s watch at the EAP that people were wondering what the EAP was doing. In 2005, we ranked first. Then in the following years under Peping, our country’s performance in equestrian sports fell consistently to the lowest ranks. In 2007 we were 6th place; in 2009 we were 5th; in 2011, 6th place; 2013, 7th place; 2015, 6th place; and in 2017, we stayed on at 6th place.But what do you expect from someone who doesn’t even know who his athletes are in the EAP?At the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Peping didn’t even know that Colin Syquia was representing the country. He was overheard telling the POC functionaries with him, “Hindi atin ito.” (Upon learning about this, my reporter friend asked himself, “Was that senile dementia creeping in?”)As for me, I’d credit it to a complete lack of interest in the sport. To begin with, it is said that Peping missed all the other days of the SEA Games despite being in Kuala Lumpur and had to be dragged to watch the last day of the event.But if Peping is so completely uninterested in equestrian sports, why did he have himself elected as the President of the EAP?My sports reporter friend says that Peping needs to be the president of EAP in order to recapture the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee and continue to benefit from it like the absentee landlord that he is.Right at the beginning of his nephew Noynoy’s term, Peping seized control of the POC. To keep it, he manipulated every NSA to install his cohorts as leaders of those NSAs, even if they had nothing to do with the sport. That way, he won every POC election while numerous NSAs suffered under the mismanagement of his allies. After that, they worked to get Mikee selected into the IOC. So then they had the POC and the IOC. Now, they take control of the top two positions of the equestrian association.The questions begs to be asked — WHY? Bakit sila kapit tuko?One clue is that while the POC is financially independent and does not receive any subsidy from government, its member NSAs receive some financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission.Even better, the POC supports its own activities with funds generated from sponsorships, licensing fees on the use of the Olympic marks, IOC subsidy and proceeds from special projects and donations.Has anybody checked where all that money goes?Since 2009, the top national athletes have been complaining about lack of support, but they couldn’t get the Peping’s ear — all they got was an upturned chin.The thing is, lack of support for our athletes is the main reason why we have been doing so poorly every time there is an international sports competition and it is a wonder how some of our athletes even manage to compete in such events."
4850,"Both the [public utility vehicle] operators and commuters are at fault in our sorry traffic condition. What we have here is a deeper problem that festers within the Filipino consciousness.A typical thought process for any Filipino motorist in committing a traffic offense would be :""If I can get away with it, then screw the rules! No cop's or MMDA's watching me anyways. I don't care about the guy behind me while I load or unload my passengers in the middle of the intersection.""Contrast that thought to some other motorist in our more developed counterparts… Which goes like this: ""I won't violate the rules since my actions may impact other motorists negatively.""Rules laws and regulations here in our country are only for show. Laws are poorly written and much less poorly, if not even implemented at all for that matter.Some moron cuts your line while you wait for your MRT ride and no one bats an eye. Actually penalize a violator for an offense and everyone throw a hissyfit on the violation of their ""freedom and human rights"", immediately they cry ""martial law"" all over again. No wonder law holds no meaning in this country.Until that transformation in the thoughts of ordinary folk happens, nothing will work. That's the biggest hurdle that seems to overwhelm pea-sized Filipino brain.----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/10/borderline-criminal-contribution-of-manilas-public-buses-to-traffic-congestion/comment-page-1/#comment-819280"
4861,"House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has expressed “strong support” for forest protection and restoration, saying caring for forests presents positive impacts to food security and tourism.“Kahit wala pa tayong mining dito, ang kayamanan natin ay ang kalikasan natin, yung mga food manufacturing natin, yung food security na maitutulong natin sa buong bansa, at yun na nga, responsible care of the forest (Even if we do not have mining activities here [in Pampanga], our treasure is the environment, our food manufacturing, the food security that we can contribute to the whole country, and responsible care of the forest),” Arroyo said when she attended the tree planting activity in Barangay Villa Maria in Porac, Pampanga. The activity was led by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in celebration of its 118th anniversary dubbed “Lingkod Bayani: Kilos para sa Kalikasan.”Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, CSC Chairman Alicia Bala, Porac Mayor Conrado de la Cruz, Vice Mayor Dexter Albert David, and Assistant Secretary Joselin Marcus Fragada of the Department of Environment and National Resources among others, attended the event.Arroyo said even if there had been no landslides in Pampanga, local officials have the responsibility to see to it that mountains in Porac remain safe for residents and to help realize the town’s potential.The former president said only responsible mining should be allowed in the province.“There should be a rehabilitation portion na magtatanim ulit ng mga puno (where trees should be planted). So if ever makaswerte tayo, makahanap tayo ng gold dito, bakit hindi? We can mine it, pero dapat mayroong mga rules (If we get lucky and discover gold here, we can mine it. But there must be rules),” Arroyo said."
4870,"With the historic debut of a Filipino figure skater at the Sochi Winter Olympics, a big change is coming to the Senate of the Philippines. Not to its do-nothing occupants, but to the basement of its building.Inspired by today’s awesome performance by the Philippines’ lone representative to the Winter Olympics, the Senate of the Philippines today passed a bi-partisan resolution that would convert the basement of the Senate building into an Olympic-sized skating rink.Michael Christian Martinez skated his way to the finals in today’s men’s short program, to the delight of the Filipino senators. Martinez is the first Filipino and first in all of Southeast Asia to earn a spot in the Winter Olympics figure skating competition. He had trained in the SM Mall of Asia and another indoor skating rink in Metro Manila.Focusing their sight on the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea, the honorable senators were in agreement that the Philippines needed more training venues not just for Martinez but other upcoming and potential Filipino Olympic figure skaters.Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino is reportedly also considering converting Malacañang Palace, the official presidential residence, into the Aquino Skating Palace, patterned after the Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi, Russia."
4880,"Filipino theater-goers are quite familiar with the anti-film piracy video shown along with movie trailers, depicting thieves being jailed for various offenses: stealing a motorbike, stealing kisses, stealing from the government treasury, and stealing films.Beginning this weekend, an updated version of the public service video will debut in theaters throughout Metro Manila.The update is a direct result of Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo’s recent visit to the victims of a fire that gutted houses along NIA Road in Quezon City. During that visit, Robredo issued a statement saying that she will be coordinating relief and rehabilitation efforts, promising residents that she would let them stay put in the fire-ravaged neighborhood.Her statement is directly in contrast to that of Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista who said he’d rather relocate the victims to a safer neighborhood.Many political analysts accused Robredo of dipping her fingers in a job that she had nothing to do with. Some have said that she stole the job that really belongs to Mayor Bautista and other local and national housing agencies. (Robredo was appointed by President Duterte as housing czar but the vice president resigned her Cabinet position late last year.)The updated video shows the vice president behind bars, accused of stealing Bautista’s job."
4891,"Napanood noong Huwebes si Dax Shepard sa Ellen DeGeneres Show at pinag-usapan ang paghihirap ng kanyang asawang si Kristen Bell sa panganganak lalo na't nag-labor ito sa loob ng 33-oras sa kanilang pangalawang anak na si Delta noong Disyembre 19, sa C-section. Nahirapan nang husto ang House of Lies actress, 34, ngunit ang Parenthood actor, 40, na tila mas na-trauma sa buong pangyayari."
4900,"In a desperate effort to regain lost votes as a result of the ongoing recount of the 2016 Vice Presidential Elections, Leni Robredo has petitioned the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), for partial credit of 25% shaded ballots.Earlier, PET denied Robredo’s petition to consider partly-shaded votes, including those that are shaded just 25%, as votes in her favor.In a new petition filed before PET, Robredo asked for a compromise: that ballots cast for her that were shaded just 25% be credited as a 1/4 vote (0.25).”The number would still be significant,” Robredo spokesperson Georgina Hernandez told The Adobo Chornicles. “It means that 4 ballots that were each shaded just 25% would equal to one full vote for the Vice President.”The math may be correct, but the logic is, well, illogical!"
4910,"Western media, especially Time magazine, was heavily used in the 1980s to build up the Aquino brand and to demonize Marcos. The same strategy is being applied on Duterte today.There's a recent article on Time written by a writer named Rishi Iyengar who should be sent back to journalism school. This guy wrote a report about Duterte and the war on drugs, and the main Philippine national government official he interviewed was—don't laugh—Senator Leila de Lima. Yes, believe it. He also included a token quote from PNP chief Bato de la Rosa, but only so he could depict the ""closeness"" of Bato to Duterte as some kind of blind loyalty to a mass murderer. Iyengar's main interviewee was Leila de Lima, the accused drug lord protector herself. Maybe Iyengar should also interview Lucifer about the Christian faith.Other minor interviewees of Iyengar among government officials: Mike Rama, the former mayor of Cebu who is also an accused drug coddler; and Chito Gascon, the die-hard yellow CHR head appointed by Noynoy Aquino under whose presidency the drug lords thrived. Makes you wonder how much research Iyengar actually did before he wrote his article.This is the problem with foreigners who self-righteously criticize what's going on in our country when in fact they don't have a clue. Iyengar thinks he knows better than the 16+ million Filipinos who voted for Duterte, and the 91% of Filipinos who trust Duterte. In effect, Iyengar is saying that nearly all of us Filipinos, all 91%, are idiots, and we should ignore the realities that we see with our own eyes everyday, and listen to him instead. Why? Because—shiver me timbers—he's with Time magazine! The Time logo is supposed to razzle-dazzle us indios into forgetting we have our own brains.Iyengar calls the planned investigation against De Lima, and the info about her driver-lover, a ""smear campaign"". He obviously doesn't know that the news about De Lima's driver-lover has been an open secret for years and De Lima herself has not denied it. Has Iyengar even seen the pictures of De Lima partying with a drug lord at the national penitentiary? Is Iyengar aware of how the national penitentiary turned into the ""Bilibid Hilton"" of the drug lords and became the number one source of meth/shabu in the country during De Lima's watch as head of the Department of Justice that oversees the prisons in the Philippines?Iyengar did not mention in his article that nearly 600,000 drug pushers/users surrendered within Duterte's first 6 weeks in office, and the average number of killings per day has gone down from 35 to 20. Why indeed should he bother to mention these facts? They don't fit with the fiction he and Time magazine want to promote.Communications Secretary Martin Andanar should sit down with the foreign correspondents in the Philippines and educate them on what is really going on. He should show them what a crazed shabu addict is capable of doing, like stabbing a 22-year-old nurse 19 times in her bedroom because he was looking for cash to pay for his next fix. Better yet, Andanar should arrange a free one-week stay at the Bilibid Hilton for these foreign journalists. It will be the most unforgettable sponsored junket they will ever experience.Here's the link to Iyengar's article. His Twitter handle is on it. All Filipinos on Twitter should give him a piece of their minds, and show him that the Time logo can't razzle-dazzle them into giving up their capacity to think for themselves.http://time.com/4462352/rodrigo-duterte-drug-war-drugs-philippines-killing/?xid=tcoshareMake no mistake about it. The Western media has been mobilized to demonize Duterte and make foreign investors lose confidence. Andanar's team should beef up their ranks. The government channel and the Philippine News Agency are not being maximized to disseminate real information, so the yellow media and the Western media with their vested interests are filling up the vacuum.--------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2016/08/ninoy-not-hero-lets-rename-naia-back-manila-international-airport/#comment-1714923"
4921,"Tiniyak ng Philippine National Police (PNP) na patuloy ang kanilang monitoring sa mga posibleng hoarders at profiteers ng langis bagama’t sunud-sunod ang rollback sa presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo sa bansa.
Sa datos ng PNP, umabot na sa 77 indibidwal ang naaresto kaugnay ng ilegal na pag-iimbak, pagbebenta, at transportasyon ng langis, pati na rin ang mga nahuli sa “paihi” scheme. Sa bilang na ito, 31 na ang kinasuhan.
Samantala, nagpapatuloy ang manhunt operation ng pulisya laban sa isa pang suspek sa gas-and-run incident na naganap noong Abril 20 sa Payatas, Quezon City.
Ayon kay PNP Spokesperson PBGen. Randulf Tuaño, tukoy na ang pagkakakilanlan ng suspek na may nauna nang kaso kaugnay sa ilegal na droga noong 2017 at frustrated murder noong 2020.
Matatandaang nauna nang naaresto ang dalawa nitong kasama sa isinagawang follow-up operation ng Quezon City Police District matapos silang tumakas makaraang magpakarga ng P1,500 halaga ng gasolina nang hindi nagbaba­yad."
4930,"In an interview with CNN last week, former Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin said that Spanish-speaking people must speak American while here in the U.S. And that includes Pope Francis.The head of the Roman Catholic Church is scheduled to visit the United States on September 22-27, during which he will meet with President and Mrs. Obama, address a joint session of Congress, deliver a speech before the United Nations General Assembly and keynote a huge religious gathering in Philadelphia.The Argentinian pontiff has said time and again that he is not comfortable speaking in English. Spanish is his native language.So when Francis presides over a mass in Washington, D.C. on September 23, he is going to say it in Spanish, according to Cardinal Donald William Wuerl. “It is also in honor of the huge U.S. Hispanic population and the Catholic Church’s advocacy of immigration,” the Cardinal said.That didn’t sit well with Palin who was baptized a Catholic but began attending non-denominational Christian churches when she was young. At the age of 12, Palin was baptized in the Wasilla Assembly of God, a Pentecostal church whose preacher bordered on fundamentalist.“While I appreciate the fact that Spanish is the Pope’s first language, I believe that as I previously stated, he should speak American while in America,” Palin said."
4940,"The Philippine economy crawls along dragging behind it a monumental infrastructural disability...""The 2.2 million vehicles a day that grind away on Manila's crumbling road system cost the country 876 billion pesos a year, or more than $20 billion, in lost productivity and wasted energy, according to a recent study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. That is a serious drain on an economy of about $250 billion.""The problem is really bad...""Infrastructure problems have surpassed corruption as the leading economic obstacle, according to the most recent World Economic Forum competitiveness report, which is based on responses from people doing business in the country. Manila is plagued by power failures, chronic water shortages, an antiquated telecommunications system, deteriorating roads and bridges and a subpar airport.""But there is no relief in sight owing to the political intrigue and infighting in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential elections...""Richard Javad Heydarian, a foreign affairs and economics lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University, said that although corruption investigations might keep infrastructure funds from being pocketed, they could also paralyze spending.""'The ensuing political infighting and nonstop investigations could dampen the momentum for sustained infrastructure development,' he said. 'In short, the Aquino administration is confronting mammoth bureaucratic, temporal and political roadblocks in realizing its infrastructure development plans'.""Read the full article on the New York Times website:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/04/business/international/strained-infrastructure-in-philippines-erodes-the-nations-growth-prospects.html"
4950,"Former Filipino entertainer Jim Paredes has suddenly turned from being a harsh critic of the Duterte administration to a loyal and passionate supporter.Paredes’ change of heart and politics shocked and disappointed his former fellow Yellowtards like Raissa Robles, Leah Navarro and Cynthia Patag. Rappler and The Inquirer both refused to carry the story claiming it is “fake news.”Bur Paredes’ most recent tweets speak for themselves. Finally, the FIlipino-Australian has nothing but positive comments about Duterte and the Philippine government."
4961,"Allies of presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe said the three election commissioners who on Tuesday disqualified her from next year’s elections either did not know their law or were politically linked to her rivals.In interviews conducted with radio stations in Bacolod and Iloilo cities on Wednesday, Sen. Francis Escudero said the moves to disqualify Poe were being orchestrated by her rivals—Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, or the ruling Liberal Party (LP).Escudero said Estrella Elamparo, the lawyer who filed a disqualification case against Poe is connected with a law firm, which he said was used by former Defense Secretary Avelino “Nonong” Cruz in a case he filed against former associate Pancho Villaraza. Cruz and Villaraza were partners in the Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco or CVC Law also known as “The Firm.”“Nonong Cruz is, of course, with Mar (Roxas),” he further said in a text message to the Inquirer.“She (Elamparo) is with Divina law firm which was the firm used by Nonong Cruz in the case he filed vs Pancho Villaraza,” Escudero said in a text message on Wednesday night when asked if Elamparo was connected to the LP.Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier denied that Elamparo was connected with the LP, which is endorsing Roxas’ presidential bid.On Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division, ruled favorably on Elamparo’s disqualification case, saying that Poe had submitted documents that belied she met the 10-year residency requirement of a presidential candidate under the Constitution.The three other petitions are yet to be resolved on the qualification of Poe, a foundling, as a natural-born Filipino.After her petition was granted by the Comelec Second Division, Elamparo immediately filed another motion seeking Poe’s exclusion from the ballot for next year’s elections.“Her overeagerness is astonishing,” Escudero said. “Perhaps she is simply trying to gain publicity or attention to her cause given that, as a lawyer, she should know that the relief she is asking for is not in accordance with the law and rules of the Comelec,” he added.No experienceLorna Kapunan, a veteran lawyer and a senatorial candidate on Poe’s ticket, on Thursday scored the absence of seasoned election lawyers in the Comelec’s Second Division.“Election law is an expertise, a niche; it takes years of practice in election law to be considered an expert. Sadly, none of the lawyers sitting in the Second Division fits the bill,” Kapunan said in a statement.The division, composed of Commissioners Al Parreño, Arthur Lim and Sherrif Abbas, voted unanimously on Tuesday to disqualify Poe from running for President due to her lack of 10-year residency.Kapunan recalled that Parreño, the division’s presiding commissioner, earlier admitted in media interviews that he was appointed for his expertise in information technology, not his knowledge in election law.“The last job Parreño held before joining the Comelec was with the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board when Mar Roxas was secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications,” Kapunan said.Lim, for all his years of law practice, was “never known to have engaged in election law,” Kapunan said.As for Abbas, Kapunan said that his tenure as legal officer in the Civil Service Commission’s Cotabato office “may have given him a familiarity with civil service laws, but not election laws.”‘Law on our side’The lawyer said that when Poe’s disqualification case is elevated to the Supreme Court, “our justices may be better equipped to appreciate the elements of the case.”“The law is on our side. Jurisprudence is on our side. And the people are on our side. This is a fight for our rights. We believe that when all is said and done, the law and the truth will prevail, and Senator Grace will be allowed to run for president,” Kapunan said.Escudero, along with Poe’s senatorial candidates Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, made the rounds of radio stations and schools in Bacolod and Iloilo cities.Colmenares challenged the Comelec commissioners to rule on the merits of Poe’s cases and uphold their independence since the seven commissioners are all Malacañang appointees.“The issue here is the rights and interest of foundlings. Do these (cases against Poe) prove that it’s difficult to run for congressman or senator if you’re a foundling?” Colmenares said.Drilon on Thursday expressed belief on the independence of Comelec. “By some stroke of chance, it’s the President who appoints but I believe the Comelec is independent and the term of office of its members are definite,” Drilon said in a radio interview.ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said the move to disqualify Poe showed that the Aquino administration’s game plan is to reduce the number of opponents of Mar Roxas and increase his chances of winning.“It’s a political reality, whether it’s about the Supreme Court decisions or Comelec decisions, these supposedly constitutionally independent bodies are swayed by those who appointed their members,” Tinio said. With reports from Nestor Burgos and Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas; Jerome C. Aning, Gil C. Cabacungan, Christine O. Avendaño and Maila Ager, Inquirer.Net, in ManilaRELATED STORIESPoe says Roxas, Binay behind disqualification movePoe camp on disqualification: There is no ‘Plan B’Grace Poe slapped with 4th disqualification case by ex-law dean"
4971,"""Well, I follow the teachings of my parents has taught me, church has taught me, so kanya-kanya naman 'yan, 'di ba... your own set of views in the world,"" sagot ng singer. ""My view is to follow what my parents has taught me."" Kaya kampante si Christian na wala siyang anak sa pagkabinata. ""Confident naman na wala. DNA test lang ang katapat n'yan."" Paano kung aksidenteng may nangyari sa kanila ng girlfriend niya 'tapos may nabuo pero hindi ito handang magpakasal? ""Hindi mo mapipilit 'yun, eh, so kung may mabuo at hindi pa ready 'yung babae, irerespeto ko siya. Pero 'yung anak, ipaglalaban ko na pareho kaming may rights. Ako right to see, meron kasi ibang babae, ayaw 'yung anak, pero iba gusto,"" pananaw ni Christian. Walang kaso kay Christian kung umibig siya sa single mom. ""Yes, I will be willing to marry her, kasi it's not fair na kapag nagkamali siya or ako, eh, itataboy mo na lang. So may responsibilidad ka do'n at nangyayari 'yun to some friends of mine whether in the industry or not or whether together or not, 'yung anak, eh, tinutulungan pa rin. ""'Daming kuwento like Jennylyn (Mercado) and Patrick Garcia, ngayon okay na, ring bearer na nga (si Jazz sa kasal ni Patrick at magiging asawa nito),"" paliwanag niya. May lahi ba sila na nagiging matandang binata o dalaga? ""Mabilis kaming mag-asawa, ako lang yata ang pinakamatagal, 'yung dalawang kapatid ko may girlfriend na. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, 'oy, kung gusto na ninyong magpakasal okay lang, mauna na kayo walang problema,"" natawang sabi ng binatang singer. Si Christian ang panganay sa magkakapatid at hindi naman daw siya pini-pressure ng magulang niya na bigyan sila ng apo. ""'Yung lola ko nangungulit, 90 plus na kasi siya,"" dagdag na kuwento niya. Noong bata-bata ay marami rin siyang kapilyuhan, pero hindi na niya ikinuwento sa amin. ""Sa akin na lang 'yun, ha-ha-ha. Too bad to say."" Inamin niya na kung minsan ay naiinggit na siya sa mga kaibigang nag-asawa na, tulad ng naugnay sa kanya noon na si Karylle na asawa na ngayon ni Yael Yuzon. ""Sorry ha?"" natawang sabi sa amin, kasi nga boto kami sa kanilang dalawa. ""Ang ganda ng kanta namin (ni Karylle sa kanyang bagong album), After All,"" dugtong pa. Hindi naman daw seloso si Yael dahil, ""One of the links ako sa kanilang dalawa kaya hindi siya nagseselos. Cool kausap si Yael, pareho kaming nagba-basketball,"" say pa ng singer. May pabirong nagtanong, bakit sa kanya hindi nagseselos si Yael samantalang kay Vice Ganda... ""Ay, hindi na ako makikisawsaw d'yan,"" natawang sagot ng binata. Samantala, single pa rin si Rachel Ann Go na planong dalawin ni Christian sa London sa Enero. Posible ba ang reconciliation lalo't ang ganda rin ng duet nilang ng The Way We Were na kasama rin sa kanyang Soundtrack album sa Universal Records? May pinagdaanan daw kasi sila ni Rachel kaya ang The Way We Were ang napili nilang kanta, pabirong sabi ng binata. ""Hanggang ngayon magkaibigan kami, hindi naman malungkot na kanta, eh. Kasi it's the laughter you remember so it's a bitter-sweet (song). Okay kami ni Rachel, friends pa rin. Wala bang possibility for reconciliation? ""Tingnan natin, pero sa ngayon, walang plan kasi wala lang,"" natawang sabi pa niya. Wish ni Christian na extrovert sana ang susunod niyang girlfriend na puwede siyang mahila dahil introvert siya. Pero hindi lang si Rachel ang dadalawin niya sa London kundi maging ang kaibigan nilang si Mark Bautista. ""I'm happy for them, sina Mark at Rachel, dumadating sa atin 'yung news doon na hindi natin pinipilit, hindi natingsinusulat, dumadating dito, so masarap ang feeling,"" say pa ng binata. Kung may dumating na tamang role para sa kanya, gusto rin niyang subukan na mapasama sa musical play sa ibang bansa. ""Kaya dapat mag-aral na akong sumayaw talaga para maging ready. So kung gusto ko talaga ng international career, kailangan karerin ko ang pagsayaw talaga. Hindi naman ini-expect na maging Gary V or Billy Crawford, pero 'yung confidence lang,"" pahayag pa ng binata."
4981,"Kinumpirma ng ipinalabas na statement ng Swiss Tennis Federation na ang pares ay: ""have decided to not make themselves available"" para sa tie na nakatakda sa Liege sa Marso 6-8."
4991,"Environment Secretary Gina Lopez is now training her eyes on mining operations in Mindanao.In a press briefing in Quezon city on Wednesday, Lopez said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) audit and impact assessment on mining operations, which began earlier this month, covered six mining sites in Surigao. She said the assessments would hopefully be concluded this week.The rest of the mining operations in Mindanao will be audited next week, Lopez said.Lopez said the DENR was focusing on Mindanao “because the President is from there, and I would like to ensure that, at the very least, in Mindanao their social injustice will be minimal,” Lopez said.Lopez also prioritized Surigao after members of indigenous people’s groups met with her earlier this week and aired their grievances against mining operations in their areas, particularly Sagittarius Mines Inc. in Tampakan, Sultan Kudarat province; SR Metals Inc. in Tubay, Agusan del Sur province; and Greenstone Mining and Taganito Mining, both in Surigao del Norte province.According to Mines and Geosciences Bureau chief Leo Jasareno, there are currently 23 nickel mining operations in Surigao and Agusan, and one in Compostela Valley.Nationwide, the DENR audit will cover 105 mining sites: 40 metallic, 65 nonmetallic, Jasareno said. All the reports will be submitted to Lopez by mid-August. Mining firms which fail the audit will be suspended.Jasareno said the mining firms could appeal the findings of the audit.“The audit is not just physical or technical. It’s also social and environmental; it involves the community. It’s a total impact evaluation of the mining sites in that area,” Lopez explained.“There will be a moratorium on all new mining applications until the audit is finished,” Lopez said.The DENR has already suspended seven mining firms in Luzon, four of them in Zambales province. These include Zambales Diversified Metals Corp. and Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc. In 2014, a suspension order was already issued to lnt’l Archipelago Minerals lnc. and Eramen Minerals Inc., which remains in effect.The other three are in Palawan province: Berong Nickel Corp. and two Citinickel mining sites.“A month ago, Berong spilled 1,200 metric tons of nickel into the corals in one of the best island destinations of the country,” Lopez said.“They have actually broken rules and regulations,” she added."
5000,"The Philippines has been fighting a COMMUNIST insurgency for nearly fifty years. This is a movement whose stated goal is to destroy our democratic institutions and impose a Maoist-Communist social order along the lines of North Korea. And yet the national government imprisons General Palparan, a soldier who did exactly as he was ordered — to defend the country against an enemy threat.It is characteristic of the feeble-mindedness of the Aquino administration and their useful idiots in the media and the 'human rights industry' to be morally incapable of confronting evil. It is the same attitude they have adopted when dealing with the jihadists in Mindanao. Like the communists, they are sociopaths at heart — obsessed with their own tribal desires and utterly incapable of conferring justice or compassion on those outside their inner circle. If you were not one of them, you were a lesser being, and, in their mind, should be treated any way they saw fit.It is stupid and careless to place the 'rights' and interests of the enemy over the interests of the people you are sworn to serve and protect. It is immoral to elevate the interests of your enemy above your own rights and freedom.-----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/08/retired-general-jovito-palparan-is-a-filipino-soldier/comment-page-1/#comment-647079"
5010,"The upcoming Presidential Elections in the Philippines is getting a lot of Filipinos excited. They are excited because, one, the incumbent President Benigno Simeon Aquino is finally stepping down. That means the people will no longer have to put up with idiotic motherhood statements in Presidential speeches and press releases. The people have had enough hearing the President mention his late father and mother and their so-called “sacrifices” that arguably only amounted to the deterioration of Philippine society’s values. More importantly, with the departure of BS Aquino, there will be, cross your fingers, less blame-game and more pro-active governance in the years ahead.Second, the election is giving Filipinos another opportunity to vote for a new leader who can give them hope – hope for a better future, I suppose. I know, it sounds like a title for a Star Wars film but BS Aquino’s stint in Malacanang has indeed forced some people to “awaken” from their stupor. Just how many are going to use the power of their mind to help them decide who the best candidate to vote for is anyone’s guess. If the past is any indication, some voters will go for whoever is popular in the surveys; some will accept bribes or sell their votes to anyone willing to give them loose change and then there are also some who will simply vote for whoever their religious leader will dictate for them to write on the ballot paper. There’s no hope for them, unfortunately.The behavior of the majority of Filipino voters is what they often refer to as the tyranny of the majority. Since Filipinos are generally emotional people, instead of using reason, they easily become enamored or are gullible to the sweet talk or emotional blackmail individuals running for public office use on them. The few who use their critical analysis faculties are helpless against the majority’s irrational behavior and have no choice but to live with the consequence of the majority’s decisions.Yes, the problem in the Philippines has less to do with the tyranny of the few but more to do with the tyranny of the majority – those who give power to the few members of the elite or oligarchy. Like what was said before, democracy only works when the majority voters are informed and educated on the current issues that affect their lives and their future. That is not the case in the Philippines. A lot of Filipinos either choose to ignore the problems or simply believe the misinformation being fed to them by the same public servants who dupe them over and over again.In the Philippines, there is this belief that only the “corrupt” politicians are to blame for the current state of the nation. Most Filipinos do not realize that they actually need to monitor how their politicians do their jobs and call out their bad behavior. The lack of outrage from the public is the reason why politicians get away with their incompetence and criminal activities.In other societies, BS Aquino and his cabinet secretaries, whose decisions and incompetence in the past have resulted in mismanagement of billions of pesos of public funds and deaths of thousands of people, would have at least been ousted if not jailed or hanged. But since the majority of the Filipino people are still beholden to the Aquino name, the President and his allies are still enjoying their stay in power as if they had done nothing wrong during their entire term in office. BS Aquino even had the audacity to say in his recent speech that his “Daang Matuwid” or straight path policy is what will propel the Philippines from Third World to First.That kind of talk – something that sounds like it came out of his behind – is what the gullible crowds fall for and fail to question. Never mind that Daang Matuwid hasn’t resulted in anything significant. BS Aquino’s straight path policy does not include strengthening institutions and reforming old policies that hold things back from moving forward. A lot of his policies made things worse for Filipinos.As a matter of fact, BS Aquino’s anything goes policy weakened the country’s institutions especially when he trampled on the rights of his political enemies. His patronage politics was the reason the condition of public facilities and services like the train system went from bad to worse. There were times when only five trains were operational due to insufficient maintenance. Patronage politics is also to blame for the Manila International Airport getting a bad rap due to much-pubicized scams involving airport personnel victimizing travellers. Despite all these fiascoes, no one has been sacked or prosecuted among his allies in his cabinet.BS Aquino may be stepping down from the Presidency but the situation in the Philippines could remain the same since most of the candidates are still allied with the incumbent. Senator and aspiring President Grace Poe has always said that she considers BS Aquino a friend. He gave her the opportunity to enter Philippine politics as chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010 even when she was still a US citizen. Vice President and Presidential Candidate Jejomar Binay is practically part of the Aquino family even as Binay is persecuted by BS Aquino’s own Liberal Party. Binay is still indebted to the Aquinos because the late former President Cory Aquino paved the way for the Binays to rule Makati City for three decades.Even Davao City Mayor and another Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte is said to be indebted to the Aquino family. It was said that it was also Cory who appointed Duterte as OIC mayor of Davao City in 1986 and paved the way for the Duterte dynasty in Davao. That could explain why we hardly hear Duterte say “Putang ina mo Noynoy!” despite his displeasure at the way the current government is being run.So, even if BS Aquino’s official ally Presidential candidate Mar Roxas doesn’t win, the President seems to be in good hands if ever one of the other popular Presidential candidates mentioned wins the Presidency. Such is the power of the “dark side”. The Filipino people can only watch as the members of the oligarchy take turns sitting on the main chair in Malacanang.The only way to change the way these politicians behave is for people to demand more from them and make them realize that the Presidency is not an entitlement but a privilege – a privilege to serve the people. Now that’s something Filipinos should be excited about."
5020,"In a hastily-called press conference in the summer capital of the Philippines, Vice Presidential spokesperson Georgina Hernandez defended her boss’ wardrobe at last weekend’s graduation ceremonies of the Philippine Military Academy.”There was a bit of a misunderstanding with the organizers of the ceremonies,” Hernandez said. “We were given the impression that the Vice President would be helping serve lugaw to the graduates and guests at the reception following the graduation program. That’s why Robredo wore an apron.”Mystery solved!"
5031,"Eight more young farmers from this province left for Japan on Wednesday for a three-year Young Farmers Exchange Program (YFEP), the provincial agriculture office here said.Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAG) supervising agriculturist Delinia Juan said the eight technical intern trainees would undergo a three-year hands-on and comprehensive on-the-farm training at the Farmers Cooperative of Ehime Prefecture and in Kochi Prefecture, Japan.The eight trainees are Rufino Budoyan Jr. of Bokod; Francis Galuten and Gentar Manicawa, both of Mankayan; Rico Wakat of Sablan; Hardy Bua-eg of Buguias; Vincent Comila of Bakun; Arman Carias of Kapangan; and Febie Ann Mayamnes of Kibungan.The eight brings to 95 the number of technical intern trainees who have so far availed of the program this year.YFEP was conceived to provide training opportunities for young men and women engaged in agriculture to help improve Benguet’s agriculture through exchanges in technology and farming methods.Juan said the program encourages the entry of young farmers into agriculture by helping them acquire new agriculture techniques, experience life in a foreign country, and strengthen their foreign language skills.When they return home, the trainees are expected to bring a new level of expertise that will assist them in their work and share with their fellow farmers in the province.The program also aims to foster exchanges with young farmers’ organizations in the host country.It is done on the back of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the Benguet government with Kuroshio Agricultural Development Cooperative (KADC) and Kochi Tobu Agricultural Development Cooperative (KTADC) for the technical internship training program in Kochi and in Ehime Prefecture.The province also signed an MOA with the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC) for a special project called “Safe vegetable production and marketing project with soil resource and conservation”, which is one of the components of YFEP."
5040,"Nagtumpok-tumpokan ang ilang estudyante ng University of the Philippines Diliman para muling ipagsigawan ang pagpapatanggal sa martial law sa Mindanao. Ayon sa mga aktibista ng Unibersidad, hindi raw ito epektibo at ang ginawa nilang pruweba ay ang nangyari kamakailan lang ng pagsabog sa Jolo Cathedral kung saan 20 katao ang binawian ng buhay at dose-dosena ang nasugatan. Hindi naman pinalagpas ng ilang kababayan natin na taga-Mindanao ang pagkakataon para magsalita tungkol sa mga aktibista na taga-Luzon. Source: Michael Delizo - ABS"
5050,"Nag-viral ang ilan sa mga video clips ng isa sa mga iginagalang na news anchors sa bansa na si Mike Enriquez nang magpahayag ito ng mga pansariling opinyon hinggil sa naganap na eleksiyon noong Mayo 13. Tila nasilbing boses ng taumbayan ang mga naging pahayag ni Enriquez habang nagbabalita sa special election coverage ng GMA 7. ""Lahat ng mga nanalo, nawa ay ma-interview natin. Gusto ko silang singilin. Ano'ng maaasahan namin sa inyo ngayon?"" pahayag ni Enriquez na patungkol sa mga nanalong kandidato, partikular sa mga nangungunang senatorial bets. Tumugon naman dito ang dalawang co-anchors na sina Mel Tiangco at Jessica Soho. Nagtanong kung bakit ang aga yatang maningil ni Enriquez. Anila, bigyan muna ng panahon ang mga kandidato para ma-enjoy ang kanilang pagkapanalo. ""Ah, ganon? Tama kayo. (Pero) 'Yung mga nagugut0m, mga walang tirahan, at walang panggamot kapag may sakit, subukan mong sabihin na 'kaunting panahon pa, ha?' Tiis-tiis lang,"" sagot ni Enriquez. Dapat din daw na habang umuusad ang kanilang termino ay nakikita ng taumbayan kung ano ang mga nagawa ng mga nanalo sa eleksiyon versus sa kung ano ang mga naipangako nila habang nangangampanya. ""Lahat 'yan ay mga nangako. Kung kalahati lang sa pangako ng mga kandidato ay magkatotoo--kalahati lang, hindi siyento por siyento--aba, napakagandang lugar nitong Pilipinas,"" dagdag pa ni Enriquez. Umani ng mga positibong komento ang mga naging pahayag ni Enriquez. Halimbawa na sa Twitter kung saan sinabi ni Gabriela DC ang: ""And I'm lovin' it! Journalist/Anchors should be like that so that the viewers will get educated."" Nagpasalamat naman si Aida A at sinabing: ""Thank you for your audacity in giving voice to the silent and the defenseless who have no pulpit to express themselves and be heard."" ""Isa ka sa mga tunay na journalist! Para sa bayan!"" komento naman ni Zarey Z."
5061,Nakatakdang lumabas si Kardashian sa nasabing serye na pinamagatang Bigg Boss sa India sa Sabado ng gabi para makipag-usap sa contestants. Ang housemates ay binubuo ng mga modelo at aktor na mananatili ng 90 araw sa loob ng bahay na walang Internet at bawal gumamit ng telepono o kahit anong kagamitan na maaaring gamitin sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa labas ng bahay.
5071,Ito ay matapos na buuin at kilalanin ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ang bagong pederasyon na siyang mangangasiwa sa volleyball at tuluyang alisin ang dating pinag-aagawang asosasyon na Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF).
5081,"MALACAÑANG on Saturday said an initial investigation by the information technology department of the Office of the President (OP) indicated that the use of the server “mail.malacañang.gov.ph” appeared to be a “malicious forgery.”In a radio interview, Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III explained that the Palace mail server could not have been hacked or compromised, but may have been conveniently used as cover for the hacking of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) voter database.Quezon said the OP’s Management Information System (MIS) department, after reviewing its firewall and server logs, determined that there was no “unusual activity” detected from the “mail.malacañang.gov.ph” mail server.This “suggests, at this point, the possibility of a malicious forgery,” Quezon, speaking on state-run Radyo ng Bayan, said.The Malacañang mail server, which handles OP’s incoming and outgoing e-mail messages, was seen as one of the “seeders” of the voter information data uploaded online after the hacking of the Comelec website.Seeders refer to people or entities that are uploading to the Internet files they have already downloaded.Three possibilitiesQuezon said the MIS team looked into three possibilities in its investigation: if the server was used to download and seed the torrent (peer-to-peer file-sharing systems); if the server was compromised, or if a remote client was using the mail server to access the Internet; if the culprit intentionally forged his host name to appear as “mail.malacañang.gov.ph” with malicious intention.The “mail.malacañang.gov.ph” subdomain has been delegated to a specific mail server under the OP-MIS department since May 2011, Quezon said.Quezon said around 9:55 p.m. on April 21, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa was informed about social media screenshots that showed the OP’s mail server being used to torrent, or seed, the Comelec database.Experts said “Comeleak,” as the leak is now called, was perhaps the biggest government-related data breaches in history, after personal information of more than 55 million registered voters were uploaded online.On Friday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. emphasized that the “cyberattack” had not affected the integrity of the automated election system.READ: Consumer groups want blood over ‘Comeleak’Downloading going on“Now, as of yesterday (Saturday) morning, there continued to be screenshots that the torrent was still being downloaded or seeded using the address. So what is being done? An investigation,” Quezon said.He said the OP-MIS had yet to submit an investigation report.Quezon said the Office of the Executive Secretary would determine the accountability “if proven that someone indeed used the mail server to download the Comelec data.”A hacker group defaced the Comelec’s website last month, and on April 6 a second hacker group posted the entire database online, with mirror links where the data would also be downloaded, according to Internet security company Trend Micro.LOOK: Comelec website hackedThe Tokyo-based company said leaked were personal details of more than 55 million registered voters, including names, birthdays, home addresses e-mail, parents’ full names and in some cases passport details and text markers of fingerprints.Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the leaked data that were uploaded online were not fingerprints but text markers that cannot recreate the fingerprints.He said the integrity of national elections on May 9 would not be affected, as the automated balloting would be run on a different server, not on the one that was hacked."
5091,"A group composed of high school students has risen to counter attempts to rehabilitate the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and depict the years under his martial rule as a golden age in Philippine history.Student League Against Marcos (SLAM), organized by Ignacio Lorenzo Villareal and Ronin Leviste, Grade 12 students at Xavier School in San Juan City, launched its fight against revisionism on Wednesday by joining thousands of other Filipinos who gathered at the People Power Monument on Edsa to protest the Nov. 18 burial of Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani.It was at the same site just outside the main military and police camps that millions of Filipinos gathered 30 years ago in a largely peaceful uprising to topple Marcos from power, ending a dictatorship marked by massive corruption and human rights violations.Political stormWednesday’s protest was the latest in a growing political storm following the burial, which was allowed by President Duterte and upheld by the Supreme Court amid opposition by anti-Marcos groups.Mr. Duterte, whose campaign for Malacañang was supported by the family of the dictator, allowed the burial on the grounds that there was no law barring Marcos’ interment at the heroes’ cemetery, where presidents, soldiers, statesmen and national artists are buried.It was a politically risky decision in a country where democracy advocates still celebrate Marcos’ ouster each year.After the Black Friday protest at Manila’s Rizal Park on Nov. 25, Villareal and Leviste mobilized SLAM members through Facebook to join Wednesday’s grand protest at the People Power Monument.Martial law conferenceSLAM has 1,000 members from other high schools across the country, and plans to hold a conference on martial law that will be open to the public.Villareal said that after Wednesday’s protest, the group would take the fight against the rehabilitation of Marcos to classrooms throughout the country and constantly remind students about the atrocities Filipinos suffered under Marcos’ martial rule.“We have to show how the atrocities of the past affect us, for instance, the need to pay the [foreign debts incurred by the Marcos regime], or that martial law might happen again,” said Villareal, great-grandson of the late House Speaker Cornelio Villareal and captain of his school’s debate team.Past atrocitiesVillareal and Leviste spoke at the rally about the atrocities committed by the military during Marcos’ rule.“Marcos was not a hero,” Leviste said. “And he will never be.”Other student groups joined the protest, including the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines.No to historical revisionBeata Carolino, vice chair of the University of the Philippines Student Council, explained the students’ participation in the protest: “To ensure that history will not be changed, to ensure there is no revision of our history to cover up for all the atrocities of the Marcos regime.”“This is [our] way of [showing] respect [for the struggle of our] elders, who should have been [here] with us had they not been killed,” she said.The rally speakers included Maria Serena Diokno, who resigned on Tuesday as head of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to protest the burial of Marcos at Libingan.Never forget“We should never forget our history,” said Diokno, daughter of the late Sen. Jose W. Diokno, one of the leaders of the opposition to Marcos’ mailed-fist rule.“We won’t allow even a part of the dictatorship to return,” she said.Diokno criticized Mr. Duterte’s bullheaded decision to allow the burial. “He is clinging too much to his allies who want to return to power,” she said, referring to Mr. Duterte’s loyalty to the Marcoses.Not a hero“I thought it was controversial to kill, to steal and not to respect women,” Diokno said. “What we are seeing now is that the lie has become the truth. Someone who’s not a hero is buried at the heroes’ cemetery.”Bonifacio Ilagan, one of the organizers of Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang, called Mr. Duterte’s campaign promise of change “bullshit,” pointing out that the administration was apparently bent on pursuing the “rehabilitation of the Marcoses.”“What kind of change is that when you’re supporting one of the darkest chapters of our history?” Ilagan said."
5101,"A MILITARY operation has been going on for some time for the rescue of three Westerners and a Filipino woman abducted by gunmen from the resort island of Samal in Davao del Norte province in September, but the operation did not become known until a video showing the hostages pleading for a stop to the assault on the kidnappers’ lair surfaced on Tuesday.The 2-minute-23-second video posted on YouTube by user Darthodieus on Tuesday and circulated online by the US-based SITE Intelligence Group showed Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino Maritess Flor appealing to the Philippine government to stop the artillery fire, which one captive said hit close to them, and calling on their governments to negotiate for their freedom.The video showed the glum-looking hostages sitting in a grassy clearing with a dozen mostly masked gunmen standing behind them. Two black flags associated with the Islamic State group were hung in the backdrop of lush foliage.One of the hostages, who identified himself as Ridsdel, spoke as a long-haired captor held his head and aimed a machete on him.Ridsdel said there had been artillery fire nearby, flights overhead and bombings, and asked that they be stopped. “Please, stop all these operations so that negotiations can start,” he said.“We beseech the Canadian government to please, please help us and the Philippine government … by stopping all of the operations that have been going on like artillery fire, which came near us,” he said.A man who introduced himself as Hall also spoke, pleading for help.“To my family and friends, I am OK, but I am in grave danger,” Hall said.“I encourage you to please contact the Canadian government and ask them, plead with them to cooperate with the Philippine government to stop the bombings and the problems going on here. I know there are people who can find a way to do this. Please, please help us,” he said.A third man, who identified himself as Sekkingstad, called on the Bangayan family, which owns the marina at the Holiday Oceanview resort hotel where he and the three others were seized on Sept. 21, to deal with the kidnappers.“Please meet their demands or else we will be possibly dead,” he said.One of the gunmen, reading a statement in English, said the kidnappers would not negotiate for the captives’ release unless the military operation was halted.The gunman said his group would negotiate with the Canadian and Philippine governments and would issue their demands once the military assault stopped.The gunmen then erupted in yells of Allahu akbar, or God is great.The woman seated beside Hall, possibly Flor, did not speak.The Philippine Army identified the four in September as having been taken hostage.This was the first video released since they were taken.AuthenticityThe Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police Wednesday said they were verifying the authenticity of the video.A spokesperson for the security forces, however, declined to comment about the military operations to avoid “jeopardizing” the lives of the hostages.“We are currently studying and evaluating the video and its content and cannot provide any further comment on the matter until such time that we have our thorough assessment,” said Col. Restituto Padilla, spokesperson for the AFP.“We beg the indulgence of the public and our friends in the media that we cannot divulge operational details and discuss way ahead recommendations that may put in jeopardy the lives of the hostages,” Padilla said.“Both the AFP and the PNP would like once again to emphasize that our primordial concern is the safety of the [hostages] as well as those of our troops and police officers,” he added.Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, spokesperson for the PNP, said the video was going through “authentication” at the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group.Government’s objectiveMalacañang said the government’s primary objective was to ensure the safety of the hostages.“[The] government’s aim is to ensure their safety and secure their release and all actions emanate from this,” said Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.Brig. Gen. Allan Arrojado, commander of Task Force Sulu, said he was uncertain whether the video was taken in Sulu.“This could be a mock setting in some forested area to make it appear that they are in the forests of Sulu,” Arrojado said.Cmdr. Roy Vincent Trinidad, chief of the Naval Forces in Western Mindanao, said the military was trying to determine where the video was taken and who the kidnappers were.Trinidad said the military was also checking the identity of the person who posted the video on YouTube.“There is more than meets the eye and we are confident that the people we tapped to preview this can extract more details for our next move,” Trinidad said.Military operationsArrojado said there were military operations, but these were against the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits holding hostages and he could not just order a halt without orders from higher commanders.“We are just performing our mandate and our mandate [is to] fight the Abu Sayyaf group and rescue the hostages safely,” he said, adding that the operations started in 2014.He said the operations were centered on the towns of Patikul, Indanan, Parang and Talipao in Sulu.Habib Hashim Mudjahab, chair of the Islamic Command Council, a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front, said the kidnappers in the video appeared to be from Sulu, as they spoke Tausug.Arrojado said the gunmen’s spokesperson in the video spoke “Malaysian English.” With reports from Jaymee T. Gamil and Nikko Dizon in Manila, AP"
5110,"The ICC Prosecutor has clarified that the preliminary examination of the complaint filed against President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity is not — repeat — not an investigation.Rather, ICC said that it will investigate Philippine Congress, the Supreme Court, the Ombudsman and the Commission on Human Rights for crimes on infutility.‘Under the Rome Statute, national jurisdictions have the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute those responsible for international crimes,” the prosecutor said.”Our investigation will focus on why these national institutions in the Philippines failed in their duty to respond to allegations against Duterte.””Yet, Senator Antonio Trillanes and Representative Gary Alejano had the nerve to come to Geneva to file an additional complaint against Duterte when they themselves are members of Congress, one of the national jurisdictions supposed to resolve national, domestic issues,” the prosecutor added."
5121,"Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte kept the public guessing for months last year whether he would run for President. He repeatedly declared that he wouldn’t, then cited different reasons when he finally did.On the campaign trail, he flipped and flopped on a number of key pronouncements. That has made it difficult to discern when the brash Duterte, who spikes his speeches with sarcasm and hyperbole for added punch, is serious or, in his own words, is “just taking you for a ride.”Some of the verbal U-turns made by the presumptive President-elect.READ: Who is ready to change?Running or not?Last year, Duterte kept the entire country and his rivals at a loss over whether he would run for President, declaring initially in a June 21 TV interview that he was not closing the door on the prospect. “I will leave it open for God to decide,” he said.He turned around the next day, chiding reporters for not listening carefully and telling them what he actually said was that he was keeping his doorway open for women.As an October deadline for signing up for the presidential race approached, he rejected clamors for him to run by supporters, some of whom, including his daughter, shaved their heads to underscore their plea. Duterte said he didn’t harbor the ambition to be President.The following month, however, he switched places with a fellow PDP-Laban member who had registered for the race, saying he decided to run out of dismay over a decision to allow a rival candidate to run despite protests that she was not a natural-born Filipino as the Constitution requires.He would later say he ran because Mindanao had been neglected by past Presidents.READ: From wimp to pimp?Zero crimeOn the campaign trail, Duterte promised to end crime and corruption in three to six months, an impossible feat that nevertheless resonated with crime-weary Filipinos. “If I fail,” he dared, “kill me.”Duterte eventually toned down the big promise, saying in a campaign rally that “I cannot really stop as in stop (crime). For as long as there is society, and there are men and women and children in society, there will always be crime.”“Ending” then gave way to “suppressing” crime.READ: Death is comingPope, go home!In November last year, Duterte cursed Pope Francis for causing a traffic jam during a Manila visit that trapped the Davao City mayor for five hours. He told a crowd, “I wanted to call and tell him, ‘Pope, you son of a bitch, go home. Don’t visit here anymore.’”Amid ensuing criticism, he backtracked and explained that he was cursing the mishandling of the traffic and not the Pontiff. Still, he wrote a letter of apology to the Vatican.After it became clear Duterte had won the presidency, his spokesperson announced plans to visit the Vatican because “he really needs to explain to the Pope and ask for forgiveness.”Three days later, Duterte shot down the idea, saying he had canceled the planned Vatican trip. Duterte said he had already sent a letter of apology to the leader of the Catholic world, adding, “That’s enough.”READ: The incomparable DuterteConfronting ChinaDuterte and his camp have adopted a gamut of options in dealing with China over contested territories in the South China Sea.Under his presidency, he said the Philippines would prod China to abide by the upcoming decision of a UN arbitration court handling Manila’s lawsuit against Beijing. If China didn’t budge, he said he’d be open to one-on-one talks with Beijing.Another time, he said he leaned toward multilateral negotiations that would involve the United States, Japan and rival claimant governments to resolve the escalating conflicts.But at a televised debate, he revealed his most outlandish approach: He said he had thought about traveling to the disputed waters by Jet Ski and planting a Philippine flag on one of the new Chinese man-made islands, saying it’s up to the Chinese to shoot him and turn him into a national hero.READ: Say it like it isBank accountsWhen one of Duterte’s harshest critics, Sen. Antonio Trillanes, alleged last month that Duterte had a secret bank account with daughter Sara with at least P211 million ($4.5 million) that he failed to declare in 2014 as required by law, Duterte’s spokesperson initially denied the account existed.Critics, however, proved the bank account at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) existed by depositing a token amount to get a receipt that showed the names of Duterte and his daughter, prompting Duterte to acknowledge he had the account.He then suggested that his BPI account had a smaller amount, but later backpedaled by saying at a news conference that he had “a little less than P211 million.” Duterte said that amount wasn’t declared because he had already spent it by the deadline that required officials to make public only their existing assets.Although he has not fully disclosed details of the BPI account and where the money came from, Duterte swore he wasn’t corrupt and cited the absence of any corruption case against him in his more than 22 years as Davao City mayor.READ: Yearning for a strongmanRape jokeIn his most infamous campaign joke, Duterte said he had wished to be the first in line to rape a beautiful Australian missionary who was sexually abused and killed by inmates during a 1989 Davao jail riot.He later struggled to ease the backlash by saying his remark was slang for expressing his disgust, and refused to apologize.With criticism growing during the campaign homestretch, his spokesperson and political party issued an apology on his behalf in which Duterte apologized to the Filipino people and said, “I am a man of many flaws and contradictions.”Duterte later disowned the apology and added that he never approved his own party’s statement. Moments later, he grudgingly suggested that the statement of apology was fine. APREAD: Duterte should apologize as well to Australians"
5130,"Hindi pinalagpas ng prominenteng Pro-government blogger na si RJ Nieto a.k.a. ThinkingPinoy ang mga pinagsasabi ni Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Loraine Badoy sa isang forum. Sa sidelines kasi ng Facebook Community Standards Feedback Forum, pinagsabihan ni Badoy ang mga taga-suporta ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na huwag magkalat ng pekeng balita tungkol sa Presidente at ginawa pang ehemplo ang sarili niya sa hindi pagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon. ""I'm very pro-Duterte, but why am I not spreading any fake news? ... If there are pro-Dutertes who think that they need to spread fake news, I have to tell them that you don't need to... "" sabi ni Badoy. Ipinaalala naman ni Nieto kay Badoy ang ginawa nitong pekeng istorya laban kay Senator Manny Pacquiao. Maaalalang kinumpronta ni Pacquiao si Badoy sa isang senate hearing tungkol sa ikinalat nitong tsismis laban sa kanya. Kalaunan inamin ni Badoy na nakuha niya lang ang impormasyon niya sa magtataho at security guard ng subdivision. ""I still remember, pinicturan mo iyung bahay ng tao ko and then sabi mo, this is the house of the mistress of Manny Pacquiao, a Christian"" banat ni Pacquiao kay Badoy. ""Usec. Lorraine Badoy passive-aggressively accused Duterte supporters of spreading fake news, even going as far as citing her own immaculate self as the Exemplar of Responsible Citizenry,"" buwelta ni ThinkingPinoy kay Badoy. Hindi nagustuhan ng ilang taga-suporta ng Pangulo ang pinagsasabi ni Usec. Badoy. Si Badoy ay sumuporta sa kandidatura ni Vice Presidente Leni Robredo, ayon sa Women for Leni Facebook page. Source: ThinkingPinoy | ABS-CBN | Inquirer | Women for Leni"
5141,"that you will bump up the queue.This is what happened. Motorists on the skyway coming from Alabang, Sucat (Dr. A. Santos) and Bicutan (Doña Soledad) who had paid upon entry were asked at the new plaza cash lane No. 1 to surrender their QR-coded stub. To complicate the delay, the convoy was mixed it up with the incoming flow of newer motorists from Sta. Rosa and beyond who had entered the skyway.Believe it or not Dept. The Skyway management tried the new system on Saturday and Sunday but wrought purgatory on Monday and Tuesday traffic before conceding to revert to the old “pay as you o enter.” Still, it plumbs what went wrong in the hope of resurrection.The Plan. The NAIA Expressway on-ramp was designed to “make toll collection and traffic throughout more efficient.” But it caused more problems by slowing down traffic:Some northbound motorists said they spent about two more hours on the road, arrived late for work, or missed their flights at NAIA.Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon tweeted: “The new system actually made things worse. It’s like being thrown into the lower basement of hell.”Radio and TV host Andi Manzano-Reyes called Skyway “the new EDSA” and demanded a refund.The greatest insult to one motorist, whose noontime trip took 40 minutes, was staring down at EDSA and seeing cars zipping through it.“Naku, kung lumipat na ang Mayon sa Naga, lumipat na rin ang EDSA sa Skyway?” quipped a motorist whose sense of humor remained above the fray.Here’s Plan B. Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) spokesman Bert Suansing advised Skyway users to use RFIDs as the lines on ETC lanes were much shorter compared to cash lanes. He added that the TRB will create an opening in the barrier of the new toll plaza so that those who have paid can proceed to a counter-flow lane and avoid the queue.Not his swan song, but he added, “Humihingi kami ng paumanhin kung nagambala ang mga motorista natin. Nabigla ang iba sa bagong sistemang ipinatutupad. Talagang inaayos natin iyan, hinahanapan ng paraan.” (We apologize if our motorists were inconvenienced. Some were surprised by our new system. We are fixing it, trying to find solutions.)Izzat an apology… or a threat to continue with an updated redesigned system? Does he really believe that this experience will return to haunt us?* * *BTW, our daughter Luisa who went through skyway purgatory Monday and Tuesday recalls that when she took a Singapore Airlines return flight from Germany via Singapore, the movie channel didn’t work despite several attempts to start it up. The stewardess apologized, and gave her $70 (Singapore dollar) in reparation. With which she consoled herself at the duty-free store.Why am I saying this? Ano ka, sineswerte? Don’t expect that kind of gratuity or discount from your Skyway management tollway. This is the Philippines!"
5151,"Tentative P. Duterte’s departure from LimaWHAT TO EXPECTDUTERTE TO BRING UP PEACE AND ORDER, AND ECONOMIC AGENDA OF HIS ADMINISTRATION. HERRERA-LIM SAID P. DUTERTE IS LIKELY TO BRING UP INITIATIVES OF HIS ADMINISTRATION SUCH AS SUPPORT FOR MSMEs. APEC PRIORITIES ALSO DOVETAIL NICELY WITH THE DUTERTE GOVERNMENT’S 10-POINT SOCIO-ECONOMIC AGENDA. DUTERTE TO TRAVEL TO PERU VIA NEW ZEALAND, NOT U.S. INSTEAD OF TAKING A ROUTE THAT PASSES THROUGH MIAMI OR NEW YORK TO LIMA, P. DUTERTE WILL PASS THROUGH AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. LIM-HERRERA DENIED RUMORS THAT P. DUTERTE CHOSE TO FLY TO LIMA THROUGH A ROUNDABOUT ROUTE VIA NEW ZEALAND FOR THE APEC SUMMIT TO AVOID HAVING TO LAY-OVER IN THE U.S. FLYING TO THE PERUVIAN CAPITAL VIA NEW ZEALAND ACTUALLY MAKES GOOD SENSE AS THERE IS A LARGE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN N.Z. WHICH WAS HIT THIS WEEK BY A MASSIVE 7.8 EARTHQUAKE.SUMMARYESTABLISHED IN 1989, WITH THE PHILIPPINES AS A FOUNDING MEMBER, APEC HAS WORKED STEADILY TO REDUCE TARIFFS AND OTHER TRADE BARRIERS ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC WITH THE OBJECTIVE TO CREATE EFFICIENT DOMESTIC ECONOMIES AND DRAMATICALLY RAISE EXPORTS. IN 2015, APEC WHOSE HOSTING VENUE ROTATES ANNUALLY AMONG ITS MEMBERS, WAS HOSTED BY THE PHILIPPINES IN MANILA. THE APEC MEMBER-ECONOMIES ACCOUNT FOR APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION, AN ESTIMATED 55% OF THE WORLD’S GDP, AND ABOUT 44% OF GLOBAL TRADE.SINCE APEC IS THAT IMPORTANT, LET US WHO BELONG TO THE PHILIPPINE TEAM, FOR A CHANGE, AVOID INFECTIOUS FOOT-IN-THE-MOUTH-DISEASE!!!KAYA NATIN ITO!!!Please send any comments to fvr@rpdev.org. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org."
5160,"BABAENG GUSTONG PATAYIN SI PRES. DUTERTE TINUTUGIS NA NG NBI AT PAMAHALAANSo what can you say about this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to share this post to your family and friends online. And also, visit our website more often for more updates."
5171,"Filipino workers face threats here and abroad and have no assurance that their labor rights will be upheld, according to the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa.The group cited the recently released International Trade Union Confederation’s Global Rights Index that gave the Philippines a category five rating, or “no guarantee of rights.”Other countries with the same category were Greece, Bahrain, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.“While the legislation may spell out certain rights, workers have effectively no access to these rights and are therefore exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices,” the ITUC said in its report.Josua Mata, Sentro’s Secretary General, said Filipino workers are “screwed up” whether they are home or abroad.“The problem is our own government does not have the moral ascendancy to demand rights for our workers abroad when the Philippine government itself can’t protect its own citizens,” Mata said in a statement. “It can’t even guarantee the fundamental rights of its own workers.”The ITUC also said the Philippines is among the ten worst countries for working people, along with Turkey, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan.“In a context of extreme state violence and suppression of civil liberties, workers and trade unionists in the Philippines faced threats and intimidation,” the ITUC’s report said, citing the martial law declaration in Mindanao. “Employers frequently used intimidation tactics and dismissals to prevent workers establishing unions.”Sentro said the issue on illegal contractualization will persist if workers’ rights continue to be repressed.Every year, the ITUC Global Rights Index “documents violations of internationally recognized collective labor rights by government and employers.”“So long as trade union killings remain unresolved, so long as employers can abuse contractualization, the violent repression of workers’ rights in the country will continue with impunity,” the group added."
5181,"Nguni't ang mga nakahihindik na kalamidad na ito, at ang pinsalang idinudulot - libo-libong buhay ang nakikitil, maraming pamilyang nawawalan ng tahanan at kabuhayang naglalaho - ay bahagi na ng normal na pamumuhay sa Pilipinas, isang bansang kabilang sa tinatawag na Pacific Ring of Fire at sa likas na landas ng mga unos. Ang kalagayan ng bansa ay lalo pang pinasama ng climate change o pagbabago ng klima sa daigdig, kaya inaasahang magiging pangkaraniwan na ang matitinding mga bagyo na darating sa atin. Noon lamang nakaraang Sabado ay sumalubong kay Pope Francis ang malakas na hangin at ulan dahil sa bagyong Amang sa kanyang pagdalaw sa Leyte. Nakatakda sanang manatili ang pinuno ng simbahang Katoliko ng halos kahalating araw upang magmisa at makapaniig ang mga biktima ng bagyong Yolanda, nguni't napilitang bumalik sa Maynila ng mas maaga upang maiwasan ang lalo pang malakas na hangin. Sinabi ng papa na alam niya ang nangyari sa Leyte noong Nobyembre 2013 kahit nasa Roma siya, nguni't sa pagdalaw niya sa lalawigan, masasabing personal niyang naranasan ang dinaranas ng maraming Pilipino sa kanilang buhay. Umaabot sa 18 hanggang 20 ang mga bagyong humahagupit sa bansa bawa't taon. Ang Pilipinas, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Chile, Mexico at Russia, mga bansang nasa Pacific Ring of Fire, ay siyang nakararanas ng mas maraming lindol na nangyayari sa daigdig. Sariwa pa sa alaala ng mga Hapones ang lindol noong 2011, na lumikha pa ng tsunami at naging dahilan ng nuclear meltdown at nag-iwan ng halos 16,000 patay. Mas mahina ang 7.2 magnitude na lindol na yumanig sa Bohol noong Oktubre 15, 2013 kaysa sa magnitude 9.0 na naminsala sa Japan, nguni't isa sa ito sa pinakamalakas na natala sa Pilipinas, at kumitil sa mahigit 200 mamamayan at sumira sa maraming makasaysayang simbahan. Bilang bahagi ng Pacific Ring of Fire, ang Pilipinas ay may mahigit 30 bulkan, at mahigit sa 20 sa mga ito ang aktibo, kabilang ang Mayon at Taal na palagiang binabantayan. Ang Mount Pinatubo, na sa maraming siglo ay bahagi lamang ng kabundukan ng Zambales, ay pumutok noong 1991, at ang epekto nito ay naranasan sa buong daigdig. Dahil sa dami ng abo at kemikal na ibinuga ng Pinatubo, bumaba ang pandaigdig na temperature ng 0.5 degree Centigrade. Ang milyon-milyong toneladang umagos ay nagpabago sa daloy ng mga ilog sa Gitnang Luzon. May palagiang babala ang US Embassy sa Maynila para sa kanilang mga mamamayan na nasa Pilipinas upang manatiling nakahanda sa anumang kalamidad. Ang binigyang-diin ng nasabing babala ay preparasyon. Sa aking pananaw, ang matagumpay na preparasyon ay suportado ng sistemang may kalakip na tamang impormasyon gaya ng pagtaya sa panahon o weather forecast, na mangangailangan naman ng makabagong teknolohiya at kagamitam. May sapat tayong weather forecasters, volcanologists at iba pang siyentista (kaya nga pinipirata ng ibang bansa), nguni't kailangan nila ang pinakamabagong teknolohiya at kagamitan upang magawang mabuti ang kanilang trabaho. Bilang isang bansang lantad sa mga kalamidad, ang Pilipinas ang dapat nangunguna sa weather forecasting. Napakalaki ng kabayaran para sa isang bansang hindi preparado sa kalamidad: libo-libong nasasawi, mga pamilyang nawawalan ng tirahan, mga pasilidad na napipinsala at kabuhayang nauuntol. Nakita at naranasan natin ang lupit ng bagyong Yolanda noong 2013, Noong 2014, sinasabing tama ang ginawang preparasyon kaya hindi gaanong nakapaminsala ang bagyong Ruby, na unang kinatakutan na maging super typhoon. Sa kabila nito, nag-iwan pa rin ng mahigit limang bilyong pisong pinsala at 18 bangkay ang nasabing bagyo. Ang huling bagyong tumama sa Pilipinas, ang bagyong Ruby, ay mahina lamang nguni't nagdala ng maraming ulan at lumikha ng malawak na pagbaha, kay umabot sa 66 ang nasawi at mahigit 100,000 pamilya ang nawalan ng tahanan. Ang pinakahuling mga unos na ito ay nagsisilbing panggising at paalala sa pamahalaan na gawing makabago ang ating teknolohiya at kagamitan sa weather at disaster forecasting. Dahil sa ating sitwasyon, dapat maging palagiang layunin natin na gawing pangunahin ang Pilipinas sa larangang ito. Sa panghuli, nakikigalak ako sa aking mga kababayan at nagpapasalamat sa pagdalaw ni Pope Francis sa Pilipinas."
5190,"As the fighting between government forces and gunmen of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group entered its fifth day, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Año predicted the military operation will take about a week as soldiers go house to house to clear Marawi City of militants. Año said although the troops have the upper hand, it is proving difficult for them to engage in urban warfare as the militants have taken tactical positions in almost every house in the city.Advertisement“We are in total control of the whole area but it’s not cleared due to the urban terrain,” Año told reporters on the sidelines of President Duterte’s visit to the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Battalion headquarters late Friday.SponsorSo what can you say about this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to share this post to your family and friends online. And also, visit our website more often for more updates."
5200,"Madadaanan na ng mga motorista ang Quirino Bridge II o mas lalong kilala na Concordia Bridge sa Quirino Highway sa Paco, Manila, ayon sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Ayon kay DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, makatutulong ang muling pagbubukas ng bahagi ng tulay sa daloy ng trapiko sa mga siyudad sa Manila, Pasay pati na Quezon. Kinokonekta ng Quirino Bridge II ang siyudad ng Manila, Pasay at Makati sa gitna at silangang bahagi ng Metro Manila. Matatandaan na ang Quirino Bridge II ay pansamantalang isinara noong 2018 upang bigyang daan ang kontraksyon ng Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project na nagkakahalaga ng P58 million."
5210,"Ayon kay Nograles, mapayapang yumao ang kaniyang ama sa piling ng kanilang pamilya. ""Our family would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of you for being a part of Papa Boy Nogie's life and journey. Papa passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. May we please ask for your continued prayers. He is finally at peace,"" ani Secretary Nograles. Nangako ang kalihim na maglalabas sila ng detalye sa burol ng kaniyang ama. Ang dating House Speaker ay matagal na naratay dahil sa sakit."
5221,"The feud between Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Nicanor Faeldon that started in the 2016 presidential campaign caused tensions at Tuesday’s resumption of the Senate inquiry into the smuggling P6-billion worth of “shabu” from China.Trillanes spoke about his feud with Faeldon, a fellow mutineer in the 2003 Oakwood siege against the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, when Faeldon initially refused to answer his queries at the hearing.Faeldon accused Trillanes of “propounding preposterous lies” against him and the BOC in refusing to answer the senator’s questions.“We did not have this feud prior to the campaign. You know that. I know that. You would come here to the Senate and greet me until the campaign started,” the senator told Faeldon, who used to belong to the Magdalo group of young military officers with Trillanes until he was kicked out in 2005.The senator was referring to their rift that began when Faeldon came out of the blue in 2016 to defend then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte against attacks by Trillanes.Faeldon sat in the news conference of Mr. Duterte to denounce Trillanes following the senator’s accusation that the then presidential candidate had amassed unexplained wealth, as shown by over P2 billion in transactions that went through his bank accounts.Faeldon also slammed Trillanes during that press conference with Mr. Duterte for “sabotaging the dream” of the majority of Filipino voters for change."
5230,"Ibinunyag ng mga dating pinuno ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) na si CPP Founder Jose Maria Sison ang mga pakana sa pagpapasabog sa Plaza Miranda noong Agosto 21, 1971. Matatandaang 9 ang binawian ng buhay at mahigit isan-daang tao ang sugatan sa naturang inisdente. Nagtatag din daw sila ng mga grupo sa ilalim ng Kabataang Makabayan at nagsagawa rin ng mga pakilos laban sa gobyerno. Nagkipagkutsabahan din daw ang grupo nila sa kay mao zedong, pinuno ng Communist Party of China para sa mga suportang pinansiyal at armas. Naisiwalat din na ipinapapatay din ng ilang lider ang mga sariling miyembro. ""Ang pumalit kay Sison, si Tiamson, Benito Tiamzon, siya ang gumagawa ng polisiya na lahat ng tao ay iimbestigahan sa bawat lebel ng unit. Talagang papatayin ka nila,"" pagsisiwalat ni Ben Tepaet, dating Executive Committee member. Ayon naman sa isa pang dating kasapi ng komunista, umabot daw ng isang libo ang naipapatay. ""More or less 1000 ang pinagpapatay na sarili nilang kasamahan,"" sabi naman ng dating Miyembro ng New People's Army (NPA)-Sandantahan Yunit Propaganda Chito Herbolingo. Ayon pa sa ulat, wala daw respeto sa mga tribu ang mga komunista. Panoorin ang buong dokumentaryo tungkol sa mga dating miyembro ng NPA. Basahin ang naging reaksyon ng mga tao sa pagbubunyag ng mga dating pinunu ng partido omunista. Source: PTV"
5240,"A women claimed that she was contacted by the camp of Senator Antonio Trillanes to testify against President Rodrigo Duterte in International Criminal Court.Guillermina Barrido, the mystery girl who seek help to Brigada News Davao to spread the information that she knew against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV finally revealed herself in a press conference at The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City.The camp of senator Trillanes IV also allegedly gave a draft affidavit to Ms. Guillerma that became her script in testifying against President Duterte.The script was also needed to be approved by Senator Trillanes and De Lima first.According to Ms. Barrido, she was trained by the camp of Senator Trillanes to testify against President Duterte.She said that Senator Trillanes instructed her to call him and read the script that she received from his camp. Barrido claimed that Trillanes did the same process to Matobato and Lascañas to make it more convincing.“Nirerecord nila sa video kung ano ang pinagsasabi namin para matakot kami na bumaliktad daw,” Guillerma told the press.Guillerma revealed that they planned to reveal that Duterte was allegedly involved in illegal drugs because the camp of senator Trillanes believes that other way to destroy the President was not effective anymore.As part of her training, she was instructed by the camp of Sen. Trillanes to fly to Manila, she also carrying some evidences that would prove her claims.The netizens were shocked by the revelation of Guillerma, but they questioned why the media didn’t covered her revelation, giving them an idea that there’s a news black out happening.Guillerma was a fan of President Duterte before she became a support of Liberal Party.All of her relatives who ran for government office was also under the Liberal Party.She was also a black sheep of her family, that’s why the camp of Senator Trillanes thought that she can be bought.Guillerma also revealed that the camp of Senator Trillanes believes that she’s a convincing witness against President Duterte because of being connected to a city councilor and she also have the number of Secretary Christopher Bong Go.Brigada News Davao got an exclusive interview with Ms. Guillerma and she also revealed that Father Alberto Alejo gave her money several times and also a budget to go to Manila to attend a meeting about the plan to destabilize President Duterte and implicate him in illegal drugs.Attorney Jude Sabio also showed the soft copy of the affidavit that made by the lawyer of Edgar Matobato for her to Brigada News Davao."
5251,"LEGAZPI CITY (PIA5/Albay) — Pinangunahan ng Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Legazpi ang second nationwide fire drill 2023 para sa high density occupancies na establisyemento. Ito ay isinagawa sa SM City Legazpi, Hulyo 31.
Ayon kay Sr. Fire Officer II Norman N. Andes mula sa Chief Community Relations Unit ng BFP Legazpi, ang nabanggit na aktibidad ay bahagi ng kanilang programa na magsagawa ng semestral fire drill nationwide sa mga high density occupancy tulad ng SM.
‘’Ang purpose din nito ay para yung mga employees o occupants ng establishment ay maging prepared sila in case magkaroon ng emergency o ng sunog alam nila ang gagawin,’’ saad ni Andes.
Nagpa abot naman si SM City Legazpi Assistant Mall Manager Kyle S. Espiritu ng kanilang pasasalamat sa BFP.
‘’We are very thankful sa BFP, dahil we are in partnership with them for the longest time kailangan talaga namin ang mga ganitong training para ready din ang mga employees namin, ang mga tao namin sa mall sa mga ganun na situations,’’ saad ni Espiritu.
Mahigit 77 indibidwal ang lumahok kasama ang ilang empleyado, tenants at iba pa mula sa ilang ahensya sa aktibidad, ani Espiritu.
Kabuluhan ng fire drill
Ani Andes, mahalaga na may kaalaman ang lahat na business establishments kung ano ang mga hakbang at preparasyon na dapat gawin sakali man na magkaroon ng sunog.
‘’Kailangan mayroon sila [mga establisyemento] ng fire drill plan dahil hindi natin alam kung kailan mangyayari ang isang sakuna at least sila ay prepared na,’’ saad ni Andes.
Samantala, ibinahagi naman ni Espiritu ang natutunan nila sa isinagawang aktibidad.
‘’Malaking tulong ang fire drill dahil natutunan namin kung paano mag-respond at the same time, kasi second fire drill na namin ito, we were able to improve them based sa una namin na fire drill execution,’’ saad ni Espiritu.
Rekomendasyon naman ni Andes sa publiko lalo na ang mga establisyemento na sumunod sa batas at tumugon sa patakaran n g BFP upang masigurong ligtas ang mga usali pati na rin ang umuukupa dito.
‘’Lagi tayo na mag ingat lalo na sa paggamit natin ng mga appliances, at kuryente,’’ paalala ni Andes sa publiko."
5261,"THE PHILIPPINE National Police stepped up its alert level as the campaign period for local elections kicked off Saturday.“We know local elections tend to get more heated. So we have ordered increased police presence and more focus on operations on the ground,” PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez told reporters last week.The PNP has been placed on heightened alert since March 15, but Marquez said it was up to regional directors to elevate the status if required.“One feature of heightened alert is extended hours of duty. But under extreme circumstances, we would still allow our people to go on leave,” Marquez explained. Under full alert, all leaves are canceled.On the PNP watchlist because of intense political rivalries are Pangasinan, Masbate, Negros Oriental, Western Samar, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.Only two confirmed cases of election-related violence have been reported since the start of the election period on Jan. 10.The campaign period for local elections officially began Saturday, but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) expected politicians to go all out in their campaign starting today.“The resurrection of the politicians will happen,” Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said in a phone interview.“So far, they’ve been quiet. I haven’t heard any campaign (jingles). I think people are still praying,” he said. “So far, I haven’t received any negative feedback, no news is good news. I hope it stays that way,” he added.The Comelec said there were 18,067 seats to be filled in the May 9 local polls and 44,694 candidates were vying for them.Under the Omnibus Election Code, the release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds, construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works and issuance of treasury warrant or similar devises for a future undertaking chargeable against public funds, and the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation or filling up of new positions, promotion or giving of salary increases, remuneration or privilege are banned from March 25 to May 8, 2016.Election rules require candidates to post their banners only in common poster areas or public places designated by the Comelec such as plazas, markets, barangay centers and other places approved by election officials.Local candidates and political parties are entitled to not more than 60 minutes of TV ads per station and 90 minutes of radio commercials, also per station.Candidates are prohibited from giving gifts in cash or in kind. The appointment or use of special policemen and confidential agents is prohibited.Violation of campaign rules carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment, disqualification from public office and removal of the right to vote.Bautista is encouraging the public to use social media to report and “shame” candidates violating the Fair Elections Act."
5270,"53 out of the 310 alleged rouge policemen bravely accepted the challenge gave to them by President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.On Tuesday, the cops finally arrived in Basilan for a two year mission to maintain law and order in the place where terrorist group Abu Sayaff is operating.They were expected to be deployed in the far flung areas of Basilan such as Al-Barka and Tuburan.Basilan Governor Jim Salimman welcomed the additional police force in the province that would help the anti terrorism campaign of the government.Netizens reacted on the arrival of the cops in Basilan and they said that the scalawags must face the consequences and became vigilant.Some Netizen were also cheered them and amazed by the braveness of the cops who chosen the Basilan deployment than to retire."
5280,"Kaawa-awa ang sinapit ng isang-taong sanggol matapos itong maputulan ng ulo habang nakasakay sa motorsiklo. Ayon sa ulat, minamaneho ng lola ng sanggol ang sasakyan habang tanga-tangan naman ito ng isang babae nang biglang sumabit ang telang nakabalot sa ulo ng sanggol sa gulong ng motorsiklo. Nangyari ang insidente sa Northern Samar. Mahaharap sa kasong reckless imprudence resulting to homicide ang babae at ang lola ng sanggol. Base sa datos ng Department of Healt, anim sa bawat sampung namamatay sa mga road crash ay mga naka-motorsiklo. Ayon naman sa impormasyon mula sa Philippine Statitics Authority, mula 2006-2015 ay may mahigit 600 na bata ang namamatay kada taon. Sa isang forum, binanggit ng opisyal ng Land Transportation Office na balak na umano nilang ihiwalay ang pagsusulit para sa mga motorcycle rider pag kukuha ng exam para sa driver's license. ""Specific to the restriction code you are applying for. Let's say for example, your restriction code is 1, So, all of the questions will be for motorcycles,""sabi ni LTO Field Enforcement Division Robert Valera Ito po ang ilan sa mga reaksyon ng mga kababayan natin. Source: ABC-CBN"
5291,"Since the massacre of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos on Jan. 25, calls have been made for President Aquino to apologize for the botched counterterrorism operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province.The widows of PO2 Peterson Carap, PO2 Noble Kiangan, PO2 Jerry Kayob and the parents of PO1 Russel Bilog said they could not move on with their lives unless the President ended the finger-pointing.“We want President Aquino to accept responsibility for this [bloody mishap], apologize publicly and sincerely and then investigate the one who gave those orders that led to the deaths of our family members,” Celestino Bilog said. “This issue would not have gone unanswered this long had the President simply stepped up and apologized.”“Our grieving has not ended,” Janet Carap said, adding it would continue unless the government revealed everything about the operation.Last week, former President Fidel V. Ramos said a sincere and humble apology from Aquino “would probably do 90 percent of the job.”“What’s so difficult about that? A previous President said ‘I am sorry,’ and so that removed a lot of pressure on that person although eventually other things came up to cause her temporary detention in a hospital for alleged crimes,” Ramos said, referring to former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.“Certainly, he’s the Commander in Chief,” Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel said. “Humility is a sign of true leadership…. Genuine leaders never pass the buck.”Senators Sergio Osmeña III and JV Ejercito blasted the President for supposedly being bullheaded.According to Osmeña, Aquino should follow the example of then President Arroyo, who publicly apologized for the “Hello Garci” controversy in 2005.“His pride is too high and [he] is stubborn at times,” Ejercito said.Sen. Nancy Binay said the President should take responsibility for Mamasapano debacle. “If you follow the line of command, he’s the one on top, at the very top,” she said.Even allies have also called on the President to say he’s sorry.“A commander is responsible for everything that his unit does or fails to do. Unlike authority, which may be delegated, responsibility is something that a leader cannot pass on to others. Command responsibility is a time-tested leadership principle practiced and observed by great leaders all over the world,” former Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.“A leader assumes responsibility, not for any reason, except it is the right thing to do. Assuming responsibility does not automatically mean admitting criminal liability,” he added.Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello resigned from the administration coalition, saying that he could no longer support the President and his “continuing cover-up” of the fiasco.“He can go ahead and scratch me off the list of his allies,” Bello said. “Mamasapano is a deadly acid eating at the presidency,” he said.“This is the latest development in the shrinking of the man from a credible President to a small-minded bureaucrat trying to erase his fingerprints from a disastrous project,” added Bello, who led Akbayan in supporting Aquino’s run for the presidency in 2010.Source: Inquirer Archives"
5300,"MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau). Facebook on Thursday announced that it was partnering with Rappler and Vera Files to fact-check news that are disseminated through the popular social media platform.It’s Facebook’s way of curbing the spread of fake news on the Internet.But leave it to Mark Zuckerberg to make sure all things are covered.Today, Zuckerberg announced that it was partnering with San Jose-based Adobo Chronicles to fact-check fact checkers like Rappler and Vera Files.As part of the Memorandum of Agreement with Facebook, Adobo Chronicles will fact- check all news and reports from Rappler and Vera Files to ensure that these outlets only publish or post accurate, not biased information."
5311,"A total of 168 new officers who recentlly graduated from the Officer Candidate School in Capas, Tarlac will join the Philippine Army.The Officer Candidate Course “Emancipator” Class 50-2018 is comprised of teachers, criminologists, nurses, engineers, bankers, agriculturists and other professionals.Second Lieutenant Luwiemae Maceda led the batch. She received the Secretary of National Defense Saber award.Maceda, a graduate of Technology Communication, vowed to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos.2LT Alvin Nicolas Jr. and 2LT Vincent Dacomos were the recipients of the Chief of Staff Saber Award and Commanding General Philippine Army Saber Award, respectively.Maj. Gen. Casiano Monilla, commander of Training and Doctrine Command, said the 168 newly minted officers would be deployed to strengthen the Army’s tactical units who are in charge of quelling insurgency and terrorism in the country."
5320,"During a live television discussion on undocumented immigrants, conservative author Ann Coulter referred to Asian Americans as “Mandarin.”Her fellow panelist on the Chris Matthews show corrected her and said they are called “Asian Americans,” but Coulter insisted it was the correct term and refused to be policed for her language.Well, Coulter learned a lesson she will never forget.When she returned to her home after the TV interview, she found boxes and boxes of rotten Mandarin oranges waiting for her at her doorstep, and more boxes are reportedly on the way.She told The Adobo Chronicles, “I’m sure these oranges were sent in by Asian Americans upset by what I said on TV.”See? Even old dogs can learn new tricks. “Asian Americans,” Ann, “Asian Americans.”"
5331,"Former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) General Manager Al Vitangcol 3rd on Thursday dismissed graft charges filed against him last week as “baseless.”The cases stemmed from an alleged extortion try on representatives of Czech company Inekon Group in connection with a contract or transaction for supply of Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), and an alleged request for the Inekon representatives to forge a joint venture deal with a group in connection with the contract or transaction for the train system’s maintenance service.“[I have said this before, we already showed documents but the Ombudsman is very selective. There are documents that they look into, and some that they do not want to look into…],” Vitangcol told reporters in an interview after he posted bail on Thursday when asked on the alleged extortion attempt.“[I have said before that what he was saying is a lie],” he said, referring to then-Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar who exposed the matter to the public.The Manila Times’ Chairman Emeritus Dante Ang was the first to report about the meetings held between Inekon officials and Vitangcol, who left office in 2014.The Office of the Ombudsman filed two charge sheets on November 23 accusing Vitangcol and Wilson de Vera of violation of Section 3(b) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.Vitangcol posted a total of P60,000 bail for his provisional liberty after the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division where the cases are pending.The court has recalled the arrest warrant as to de Vera after the latter posted P60,000 bail on Tuesday.De Vera pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was conditionally arraigned on Thursday for purposes of a travel clearance, which he is seeking from the court for a trip to the United States from December 20 to January 6 for business purposes.In filing the cases, the Ombudsman alleged that Vitangcol, through de Vera, attempted to extort money in 2012 from representatives of Czech company Inekon Group in connection with the contract or transaction for the supply of Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) or supposedly in exchange for the selection of Inekon as supplier of the LRVs.The Inekon representatives turned down the alleged request or demand for $30 million so the sum was supposedly reduced to $2.5 million, which the Inekon representatives also refused.According to the charge sheet, the alleged request or demand for the money was supposedly made by de Vera on July 9, 2012 at Rychtar’s Makati City (Metro Manila) residence."
5340,"The Philippines is a paradise for con men and carpetbaggers. Because Filipinos lack a substantial foundation of principles to stabilise their journey through life, it is easy to use modern technology and basic persuasion techniques to herd them in different directions. It is a nation of 100 million people just asking to be milked of their hard-earned OFW remittances. Just toss Filipinos a basketball, a glossy Korean telenovela, a sound byte from a popular celebrity, a noisy “Senate Inquiry” circus, a cleverly-crafted slogan, or a gone-viral outrage fad and they’ll flock around like pigeons to breadcrumbs. I call these the opiates of the Filipino masses. They are the pipes that enable the crafty entrepeneur to siphon the last peso off the pockets of the 100 million cash cows lazily grazing off the Philippines’s abundant natural resources.That’s just the free market economy at work. The folk who make the big bucks are the folks clever enough to invest in the development and implementation of systems that create capital and harvest income off resources employed by said system. As such, there really is no point in demonising people and entitites that “monopolise” control over the economy. Domination of a market is always the end-game of astute players in a free market. The only things in a market that will keep that desire to dominate in check is competition.“Fake news” is the latest bogeyman seen by many as a threat to everything decent and one blamed for the “death of truth”. Doomsayers are also warning that it has all but dominated mass media and edged out legit players like corporate media and “ethical” bloggers. But, really, what these “fake news” crybabies don’t realise is that there are far more lucrative businesses that “kill truth” out there that enjoy not only a blanket get-out-of-jail pass but institutional protection from vilification. Popular noontime shows like Eat Bulaga, for example, are renowned entertainment institutions that for decades fed off the poverty and ignorance of its audience to deliver popular low-brow “entertainment” — one of those opiates of the masses that big marketers and corporate sponsors salivate over to the tune of billions of pesos spent on advertising and product endorsement.The Roman Catholic Church is another purveyor of brain-killing mass opiates that feeds off fear, ignorance and intellectual poverty. The Catholic Church is even more insidious as it sells its vast reach and influence to the highest-bidding politicians. Proof of this has, time and again, been exhibited in the way it used its “pastoral letters” and the homily sections of its widely-attended “holy sacrifices of the mass” to disseminate sermons that deliver politically-potent payloads.‘Fake news’ just happens to be the easy target of the moment of ‘activists’ — because it is the new kid on the block in a neighbourhood already crowded with legal and untouchable mass-scammers such as Eat Bulaga and the Catholic Church. It is easy for the Philippines’ disente “thought leaders” to mount their quaint crusades against “fake news”, simply because it is an ill-defined enemy.Interestingly enough, as recent events have revealed, once a tangible aspect of this shadowy enemy is put on the spotlight — like Cocoy Dayao, for example — these crusades suddenly become complicated. Dayao and his circle of admiring “thought leaders” are institutions in the social media cliques of the Liberal Party (a.k.a. the “Yellowtards”). So when popular blogger RJ Nieto recently released a damning report that seemingly put Dayao at the centre of a vast network of anti-government websites (some of which are known producers of content that fits the label “fake news”), suddenly the anti-“fake news” crusade was no longer as simple as its champions made it out to be.Once partisanship infects a debate, clear and critical thinking goes out the door — not that the “debate” around “fake news” has ever enjoyed any semblance of clarity. We have seen in this recent “Senate inquiry” on “fake news” that the introduction of personalities — such as the no-show Dayao and the unfortunate lot of pro-Duterte bloggers RJ Nieto and Mocha Uson who signed their death warrant by walking into this den of thieves — into the “debate” easily turns everything untenably political.Who ends up laughing all the way to the bank? Ultimately those who profit the most from the scourge of “fake news”. For now, the politicisation of the “fake news” debate turns one camp or the other into either the good guys or the bad guys in this raging drama. That’s just a function of the political wind of the moment. The real winners will be those who find the best means to profit from all of that. For some insight into that, it is best that we turn to the experts — those who are veteran owners and managers of the, shall we say, more institutionalised traders of the Philippines’ more traditional opiates of its masses."
5350,"I could say that it is good BS Aquino (and his sister Kris, with her STD) has practically undone whatever legacy Ninoy and Cory supposedly handed over to history. If we are now to believe some of the articles coming out of media and otherwise, Ninoy and Cory are not heroes, but are actually traitors for trying to sell Sabah, for one, and are simply part of the oligarchy (via Hacienda Luisita) that has been sucking the blood of the nation. Supposed legacy of the two, therefore, was just a media creation. The Aquinos were the darling of media to a great extent, of course, for they are perceived as the principals in bringing back the multi-billion business of the media industry. So, there is poetic justice in P-Noy blundering so badly with his incompetence and total stupidity.But, that is not the worst thing one could hear about the top personalities in PHL politics. If we are to believe the older generations, PHL politics is just a saga of greed and lust for power brought about by personal rivalries among persons who happen to think that national and local government could be their personal playground and personal fiefdom. The citizenry, of course, was never a part of that saga, or if they had a role to play, it was a role to be used and discarded at the pleasure of the top, i.e., depending, again, on the personal needs of the politicians.If only briefly, we could pick up the saga from where the brilliant lawyer, accomplished orator, supposed multi- medalled war hero (jailed, but influentially freed, killer of Nalundasan), Ferdinand Marcos (FM) was eyeing the presidency. Standing on his way was the popular, well-loved, tough talking, and surprisingly unrefined despite being an Atenean, Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson. He was the presumptive Nacionalista Party standard bearer and was the one banging then the very young and very beautiful Miss Manila, who happened to be one called Imelda Romualdez. Imelda, of course, was the love-child (some say, out of too much booze) of the patriarch of a very wealthy Visayan clan, the Romualdezes, with a maid, or a laundry woman. Marcos had to get rid of Arsenic Lacson, and he lusted for Imelda.Marcos got his first wish when Lacson died of a heart attack (some say out of unnatural cause). Some say Stone Hill, a Manila based US businessman and a big political financier (as well as being suspected of being a deep CIA agent) was hesitant in supporting Lacson for he was character too hot to handle. With time running out and with Hill's hesitancy becoming more obvious, Lacson became more anti-American in his radio talk show, and that may have cost him his life, but we will never know the real story.With the presidency now within easy reach of Marcos, Imelda should also prove to be an easy little project . There was a political rationale in running after the Visayan beauty queen. With a recognizable family name as Romualdez, things could be finagled so that she could be an asset in the South, as Marcos was already sure he had the North and Luzon. But alas, Imelda had too many suitors, and one of them happened to be a glib-tongued, a very young, brilliant investigative journalist by the name of Ninoy Aquino, who also happened to be one of his fraternity brothers.Everybody underestimated the deep seated ambition of the naive looking beauty queen who had an axe to grind with every facet of her being. Imelda knew by sheer instinct where sure money was, and she had no choice, but the sure-to-be president, Ferdinand. Of course, we should also never underestimate the shrewdness of FM in fulfilling the lust of his life at that point in time, for indeed he was shrewd in everything. We will never know if it was a one-sided lust, but it did prove to be a marriage where each one simply used the other for selfish ends. It also proved to be a dangerous combination for the nation — a love affair that eventually had direct national (and international) ramification. Compare that with Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore who had compartmentalized his simple family life from his philosophically driven public life, or that with Park Chung Hee who had so much self-discipline both in his private and public life.It must have been at that point, some say, that the jilted Ninoy resolved to oppose FM at every turn, even if that meant later in jeopardizing national security. He eventually of course found as a partner a more powerful name, the Cojuangcos, to rival the Romualdezes. So, ""up yours, FM"", he must have been saying, ""stay with your nymph and you ain't going nowhere."" Cory was the typical highly educated, quite refined, also French speaking, gal that one would expect from high society, gals who are typically cloistered, so that they are so exclusive by nature. (Should we even wonder then why PNoy is so obstinate with his KKK?) And this is manifested by Cory when she spend hours playing mahjong with the same friends all the time. (So, why wouldn't PNoy play computer games for long hours and find solace in the shooting range with exclusive buddies?)But alas, Cory was no beauty queen, and Ninoy must have hated FM the more, we wonder. Even then, the stage was set for the rivalry between the steel-willed homey and the society climbing beauty queen who eventually surrounded herself with Blue Ladies from high society and who managed to rub shoulders with the royalties of the world and the captains of multinational industries. We don't know who ended up in the wrong side of history for the history still being written.But, that is just a snippet of the saga, a very small one at that. If we are really going to dig into the tsismis and supposedly real stories, written and unwritten, we should be able to fill up the historical archives with volumes that should rival the saga of Moses and the Pharaoh. But, unlike the saga of others where we might learn something, ours, salacious and sleazy as they may be, will make us vomit as already the above tabloid should make us. What is clear, and it should be very clear, is that this personality centered politics has damaged the nation. We are a basket case, and worse, we had all the opportunity at one point to rival Japan if we wanted to, and that is a fact — not wishful thinking. Now, we can't even challenge China with a simple Putang Ina, we have to whisper it. Putang-ina.Hopefully, the Mamasapano has ended the era of the Marcoses and Aquinos, the Romualdezes and Cojuangcos. But, that wont happen by itself; we have to guide it so that that could happen, especially since something like this is easier said than done. Maybe, let us start by thinking that Bonget and Noynoy are history, over and done with, at the very least as far as the presidency is concerned. You allow Bonget room to maneuver, then Kris mounts a comeback, and before we know it, our children will have Bimbi or Josh… oh shit, that would be the day when our children will beg the Abu Sayaf to bomb Metro Manila.But, we have to realize that it will be a while before we detoxify our system. See, the system has within it already: Grace Poe, the daughter of FM and Rosemarie Sonora — amazing, a neophyte but she showed natural knack in being a TraPo; just read her report on Mamasapano. Binay, the trusted fixer and runner of the Aquinos during the martial law years — wow, they, wittingly or unwittingly, rewarded him with a hacienda as well. If ever, Jinggoy. gosh, his father was really just a pimp for FM so that any beautiful starlet was made available when Ernesto Maceda was not around to pimp . You know Jinggoy just sat almost whole day in Club 409 in Wilson Street playing tong-its yet was making a mountain of money when his father was VP and Prez. Why? Because he has managed to set-up with a group ""toll gates"", quite invisible from the public, at every port, through which every smuggler had to pay ""homage"". And, Bonget was no different during his time. He sat practically every night at the Hyatt Kalesa Bar, listening to jazz music, and banging the likes of Lorna Tolentino, a beauty in her younger years, and etc etc when he was tired of jazz, when he should have been in England studying. — yet, he was making money even in those seemingly idle time. Of course, PNoy was no different too. He just goofed around all the time with the bodyguards while his mother was prez. Dont think he made money though while doing that for as one PSG said Noynoy is just a bum by nature, and they like that from a rich kid. ..Who else? Ping Lacson? Well, he was together with Kabise the Palparan of FM. He too had to make a lot of money because of the harem of beauties he was keeping while in PNP. He made more than he needed…Etc, etc, etc. . ….so how are we going to flush the system of dirt for the list is long of personalities who look so honorable and yet so low life in outlook, and mentality like Napoles –we have not even scratched the surface. …..Point is, every contender for the Prez and VP should be checked for skeleton in the closet. But, the moment we do that also, we are allowing ourselves to be sucked in into the personality cult syndrome.Maybe, we should concentrate in brain-storming the qualifications of a good president, instead of siding with any of the current presidentiables — just wondering if this also good for improving the psychology of the voters if that could even be done.-------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/04/riding-the-ninoy-cory-legacy-is-riding-a-bunch-of-lies/comment-page-1/#comment-1140414"
5361,"Education Secretary Leonor Briones admitted that the department faces challenges in the full implementation of the senior high school program.The Department of Education will fully implement the Grade 12 program next school year. Having a senior high school is part of the K-to-12 [Kindergarten to Grade 12] basic education program.“Right now, we are facing the challenge of finishing of school buildings intended for Grade 12 [students], and also the furniture because these are the most basic needs,” Briones said over the weekend.She expressed confidence that these problems will be addressed before the start of classes in June.“We are getting ready for Grade 12 [implementation]. We expect higher level of enrolment,” Briones said as she expressed optimism that all Grade 11 students will proceed to Grade 12.“We are preparing for Grade 12, but at the same time, we have to consider the short course for the other grades, and the feared factor, which is very important is the impact also of a natural disaster,” she added.Briones recently visited some schools in the provinces that were devastated by typhoons to ensure the rehabilitation of damaged classrooms before the next school year.“I’ve had the opportunity to visit, for example, the cities of Tuguegarao and Isabela, particularly Isabela areas, and then the Bicol region with Catanduanes, Naga City, and Camarines Sur. We have a lot of catching up to do with some repairs, clean up, and we hope to do that in much time,” Briones said.The DepEd chief said her agency is also fasttracking the downloading of the budget for the repair of school buildings damaged by typhoons late last year.“We downloaded over P61 million to repair damaged school buildings,” she said.Briones added that the curriculum for Grade 12 is ready.Dina Ocampo, DepEd undersecretary for curriculum and instruction, said the curriculum for Grade 12 was finished in 2013.“What we’re doing for curriculum now is enhancement. The curriculum is the basis for choosing what programs to offer,” she said.“When we started working on the preparations for senior high school we already planned for both grades (Grades 11 and 12), so as a matter of fact the planning processes now are already for 2018. So we’ve already identified how many teachers, how many classrooms, and so on, and these are being implemented. Buildings are being constructed, learning materials are being procured, and so on,” the DepEd official added.Briones affirmed that the K-to-12 program is primarily geared to benefit Filipino students and the country.“I always insist that K-to-12 is not only for our regional friends or for our international neighbor or for the global community, we are doing this for ourselves,” she said during the 2nd National K-to-12 Conference held at the Philippine International Convention Center on Saturday."
5370,"Mula sa tatlong oras na biyahe sa bus o jeepney, magiging 40 minutes na lang ang commute mula Antipolo, Rizal patungong Recto, Maynila oras na matapos ang rail line extension. Hudyat ng pagsisimula ng final phase ng proyekto ang ceremonial track laying at installation ng electromechanical system (EMS), na isinagawa sa LRT Line 2 Emerald Station sa Marikina ngayong araw, ika-16 ng Abril 2019. Ang EMS ay binubuo ng signaling system, overhead catenary system, telecommunications system, power supply at distribution system, na gagamitin sa dalawang bagong istasyon ng LRT Line 2 - ang Emerald Station sa Marikina at Masinag Station sa Antipolo. Kasalukuyan nang nasa 60% completion rate ang kabuuan ng proyekto at inaasahang matatapos sa huling bahagi ng taong 2020 upang makapagbigay ng maayos at mas mabilis na biyahe sa mga commuter ng eastern Metro Manila. To give the Filipinos a comfortable life as President Rodrigo Duterte directed, we at the DOTr are working on ways to efficiently and effectively ferry our commuters. The LRT2 East Extension project ranks among such projects, for this shall ease the travel of our kababayans coming from Rizal to Manila. Once this is completed, travel time from Recto to Masinag will be reduced to 40 minutes compared to up to three hours travel via bus or jeepney,"" pahayag ni Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. Source: Dotr"
5381,"THE retirement of the No. 2 man of the Philippine National Police (PNP) resulted in a major reshuffle in the organization’s command group, directorial staff and the national support units.Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, deputy PNP chief for operations, has been appointed deputy chief for administration, replacing Deputy Director General Francisco Uyami Jr., who bowed out of the service on March 19 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.In a news briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, PNP chief and Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez Jr., the chief of the directorial staff, has been designated as the deputy PNP chief for operations vice Apolinario.Director Archie Francisco Gamboa of the Directorate for Comptrollership has been named as the new chief of the directorial staff replacing Mendez.Director Ramon Purugganan of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) has been designated to head the Directorate for Comptrollership vice Gamboa.Purugganan’s former DPRM post was taken over by Chief Supt. Rene Aspera of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG).Chief Supt. Joel Crisostomo Garcia, the former deputy chief of DPRM, replaced Aspera as PSPG chief.Dela Rosa is yet to name Garcia’s replacement."
5391,"Four suspects, tagged as members of the notorious Basilio Criminal Group, were killed before dawn yesterday by police operatives in a shootout in Apalit, Pampanga.Chief Superintendent Aaron N. Aquino, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) director, said the four alleged members of the gun-for-hire group shot it out with elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region-3 (CIDG-3) and the Apalit Municipal Police Station (MPS) at 3:10 a.m. on the Apalit-Macababe Road in Barangay Colgante.The exchange of gunfire resulted in the death of the four suspects, three of whom were identified by Aquino as Julito Basilio, of Barangay Cama Juan, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija; Melchor Ruz, of Barangay Hulo, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija; and Nestor Estabillo, of Barangay Malaya, also in Sto. Domingo.The regional director (RD) said suspects hired assassins operating in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Pampanga.He said that apart from the firearms, ammunition, and two motorcycles seized by police, the suspects also had in their possession a photograph of Mayor Arvin Salonga of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija. It had writings on the back that read: “MAYOR ARVIN SALONGA 300K,” said Aquino."
5400,"The House investigation on the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison has been productive in terms of establishing Senator Leila de Lima's alleged relationship with her former driver Ronnie Dayan, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said Friday.Umali chairs the justice committee that spearheaded the investigation and held a 12-hour hearing on Thursday.""Kasi sabi ni Leila, there are some snippets of truth to what they are accusing me of, kaya lang hindi niya sinabi kung ano 'yung totoo at hindi,"" Umali said in an interview on News To Go.The supposed relationship was bared by De Lima’s ex-security aide, Joenel Sanchez, one of the resource persons in Thursday's hearing.Umali said the establishment of the alleged affair is crucial, as it implies that Dayan’s relationship with the senator gave him power and influence over drug lords inside the national penitentiary.He said that while it is important to know if De Lima did receive drug money from NBP inmates when she was justice secretary, it is also significant to show if there really is an affair as it would establish certain links.In aid of legislationUmali also said since the investigation was ""in aid of legislation,"" they are expecting to come up with several proposed legislation from it.""Anti-wiretapping. Sabi ni [Justice] Secretary Aguirre, bawal daw. Even if the civil rights are suspended, bawal pa rin daw. So we may have to amend that,"" he said.They may also file bills to modernize Bureau of Corrections and its facilities and to “relax” the bank secrecy law.‘All roads lead to De Lima’Umali said there have been several investigations before to prove illegal drugs activities in NBP. However, he said all these resulted to nothing.""Until when natin hahayaang walang mangyari sa lahat ng mga imbestigasyon? Now, we mean business, and we’re going to the bottom of this. It is just so unfortunate that all roads lead to Leila De Lima,"" he said.Umali also said he is hoping that the hearing on Monday will be their last.The panel approved a motion to hold an executive session on Monday morning to hear the testimonies of Philippine National Police deputy director for operations Benjamin Magalong and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission executive director Reginald Villasanta that involve national security.Probe not yet overBut Umali said this does not mean Congress will stop conducting further investigations.""Whatever our unfinished business dito sa aming pagdinig, we will farm out to the other committees and even our sub-committees to continue the reforms we need, to ensure real reforms will come into play,"" Umali said.""We hope na yung taumbayan ay manumbalik yung kumpyansa sa criminal justice system,"" he added.Umali said convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian, who is still recovering from the wounds he sustained from the stabbing incident in NBP two weeks ago, is also expected to attend Monday's hearing.""That’s how fair we are in the House of Representative,"" he said.Sebastian, who allegedly controlled the drug trade inside the NBP, had earlier said he will file charges against De Lima and top officials of the national penitentiary for graft, violation of ethical standards for public officials and torture."
5410,"Senator Gringo Honasan posted this . Rafael Alunan posted this I think a lot of people will agree with them. It is high time Philippine journalists are held to account. They have been hiding behind “democracy”, “human rights”, and “freedom of speech” to excuse their incompetence, maliciousness, and lack of accountability for too long.The damage they are causing with their partisan reporting has reached treasonous levels. Their haphazardly prepared “kill lists” and exaggerated stories about extra-judicial killings are jeopardizing the Philippines’ reputation abroad and hampering the ability of our police to carry out their duties. Their constant and deliberate misrepresentation of President Duterte’s statements is endangering diplomatic ties with other countries.Some years ago, the British parliament conducted an inquiry on the illegal and unethical practices of the UK’s top newspaper, the News of the World. The findings of the investigation forced the newspaper to close down, and members of its editorial staff were charged in court. The inquiry was widely supported by the British public who were fed up with the dirty tricks of the British press.(Some might argue that the News of the World was a tabloid. But so is the yellow rag known as the Philippine Daily Inquirer. They don’t even bother to hide it anymore.)We need a similar inquiry done here by the House or Senate. Our legislators should not be afraid to take action against irresponsible journalists, because millions of Filipinos are sick and tired of their abuses and want to see them punished. The only ones who will defend these warped journalists are other warped journalists and the people who benefit from their lies.Everyday, these hacks extra-judicially murder billions of Filipino brain cells in a kind of intellectual genocide with every kilobyte of rubbish they churn out. They commit economic sabotage with every potential investment lost because they keep portraying our country like a killing field. True, we can always tune them out if we don’t want to hear what they’re saying, but in the internet age, their lies can spread around the world in a matter of seconds and threaten our country’s welfare. They need to be brought to justice. These arrogant, self-righteous “defenders of democracy” are nothing more than terrorists and criminals with press passes.What makes them think they are so special that they should be above the law? If doctors, lawyers, and accountants can be sued for malpractice and sent to jail, so can journalists. Journalists don’t even have board-certified skills. They rank low on the point system for immigration to first world countries because, for all the noise they make, they contribute little to society and policymakers know this.We don’t need rabid, irrational, mis-educated, and unethical journalists to defend our freedom of speech. We already have the internet and social media for that. Sue them and send them to jail. No one will miss them. We’re not in the 70’s anymore.(I refer here specifically to malicious journalists, not the few good ones left who have integrity.)---------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
5420,"Netizens praised DSWD for responding fast to the families affected of Bagyong Lawin in North Luzon.DSWD also explained that foreign aid is not necessary because of sufficient funds. There is also no corruption in the Department of Social Welfare and Development.LGU, members of private sector, and volunteers also joined forces to help the victims of Typhoon Lawin without seeking help in other countries like United States of America.DSWD also said that Filipinos must not beg to other countries because we can stand on our own feet.This is the full statement of DSWD Sec. Judy M. Taguiwalo facebook fanpage.Mga mahal naming kababayan, kaunting paliwanag po: hindi tayo humihingi ng foreign assistance o donations mula sa ibang bansa para sa Karen o Lawin dahil nakitang may sapat na pondo ang gobyerno at mga ahensya nito para saklolohan ang mamamayang apektado.Dahil walang katiwalian at transparent ang ating ipinatutupad na proseso, kitang-kita na may pondong sapat na magagamit para sa kagyat na pangangailangan. Nagtutulungan ang mga LGU, members ng private sector, ang taumbayan at ang pambansang gobyerno sa pamumuno ni Pres. Duterte para maibigay ang saklolong tulong para sa ating mga kapatid na nasalanta. Pagsisikapan natin na paghusayin at linisin ang sistema ng relief and assistance dustribution NANG WALANG HALONG PULITIKA. Hindi madali ang pagbabago –mahirap at matagal din ito, pero kung di natin sisimulan ngayon, kailan pa?Hindi tayo dapat maging pala-asa at pala-hingi sa mga dayuhang gobyerno kung kaya nating tumindig sa sariling paa. Kung sama-sama, lahat makakaya. #KayaNgPilipinasPresident Duterte and DSWD Judy Taguiwalo visited the Typhoon Lawin affected areas in North Luzon and personally gave the aid to the affected families.The affected families of Typhoon Lawin received a box of relief goods."
5431,"Well, how hard can being a senator be?He “can memorize biblical verses” so world boxing champ-turned-lawmaker Manny Pacquiao said “it won’t be difficult” at all.Trying to appease critics who said he was “not fit for the Senate,” the boxer said he will learn the ropes on the job.“I can memorize biblical verses so it won’t be difficult for me to do it,” the newly minted senator told reporters at Almendras gym, where he played basketball with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, incoming President Rodrigo Duterte’s aide Christopher Go, and several other personalities here.Pacquiao maintained that he retired from boxing because he now had a bigger role in government and wanted to “fulfill the trust of the Filipino people.”“I am happy with my retirement and my life,” he said, adding that his focus now was on his new responsibility so he still couldn’t tell if he would go back to the ring to fight Floyd Mayweather again.Attendance sheetAt the very least, the boxer said he was aspiring for another gold—this time, on the attendance sheet.Notorious for being chronically absent, the former Sarangani representative said he was targeting a 100-percent attendance now that he had become part of national politics.So determined was he to meet this goal that Pacquiao said he even gave up his shot at the Olympics, declining the proposal for him to compete in the Rio Games in Brazil this August.“If we can make perfect attendance, why not? That’s not a problem,” he said.“That’s why I did not accept the Olympics (proposal). I’m excited to work (in the Senate)… and it would be a shame if in my first month in service, I’d disappear,” he added.Pacquiao, who served two terms in the House, was elected senator with 16,050,546 votes. Of the 12 senatorial slots, the boxer won the seventh.Apart from attending to his responsibilities as a senator, the world boxing champ has other commitments as a businessman, a pastor, a basketball coach, an actor, recording artist and international product endorser.Support for DuterteThe 37-year-old lawmaker said he was interested in handling the Senate committee on games, amusement and sports, and hoped to pass legislation that would deal with poverty.Pacquiao arrived here late Friday to meet with Duterte “to give him support and to play basketball,” he said.The boxer, who ran as a candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the political party of defeated presidential aspirant and Vice President Jejomar Binay, said he had always supported Duterte and was among those who pushed the Davao mayor to run for President.“I was one of those who encouraged the mayor to run,” said Pacquiao, who maintains a house in Davao.Duterte kept saying no, so he switched to the UNA camp, the boxer said. “Then after a month, (Duterte agreed to run) but by then I had already committed (to Binay). It would be embarrassing to turn my back on my decision. What I do is show that if you had already made a commitment, you don’t switch camps.”Pacquiao admitted that he had not yet met with Duterte, whom he would “congratulate and assure of my support,” especially on the President-elect’s advocacy of the problem of illegal drugs that “can destroy our nation.”The boxer added: “Whatever his decision, we will respect that. Because he is the authority.”RELATED STORIESFrom Binay’s slate, Pacquiao says he’s always been for DutertePacquiao aiming for 100% attendance in Senate"
5441,"Malacañang on Wednesday squelched speculation that President Rodrigo Duterte would pardon retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. as human rights groups accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of coddling the former general who was convicted earlier this week for the abduction and disappearance of two University of the Philippines students.“There is no basis for that,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a radio interview regarding a possible presidential pardon for Palparan.Palparan, dubbed “The Butcher” by militant groups, was sentenced, along with former Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, to life imprisonment for the kidnapping and illegal detention of Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.“It’s the government that jailed Palparan and it will be the government that will ensure that justice will be given to the victims,” Roque said.Empeño and Cadapan were seized in June 2006 by armed men in Hagonoy, Bulacan province.The two UP students were last seen being tortured in a military camp.Mockery of the lawIn a statement, rights group Hustisya said the AFP was making a mockery of the law by refusing to immediately commit Palparan to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) after his conviction.“The AFP is making a fool out of the victims and even the courts by saying they’re still waiting for a commitment order. The court decision is the order itself,” said Evangeline Hernandez, chair of Hustisya, an organization of victims and relatives of victims of human rights violations.Hustisya said Palparan was still being held at the Army custodial center in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, three days after his conviction.The group said the military was “making all kinds of excuses” in trying to keep Palparan in its custody.According to Hustisya, Palparan’s counsel asked that he be allowed to remain in Fort Bonifacio to attend to other pending cases against him, which the judge denied on grounds that doing so would violate Supreme Court guidelines to immediately transfer a convict to a national penitentiary.Special treatment“Palparan should be brought to NBP the soonest. He has enjoyed years of special treatment in Fort Bonifacio, it’s time that justice be served [to] the fullest by treating him like a common criminal,” Hernandez said.Erlinda Cadapan, Sherlyn’s mother, said the AFP was perpetrating “impunity” by keeping Palparan.“The delay of his transfer at the NBP reeks of special treatment. He has been proven guilty, and as long as he remains in an Army camp, that is impunity,” she said.Warning of same fateOne of the President’s archcritics, jailed Sen. Leila de Lima, warned the President and his associates that they could meet the same fate as Palparan for their alleged human rights violations.“No matter how brave you are now and how much you disrespect the human rights of Filipinos—including their right to life and freedom—you will be judged and made to answer for your wrongs,” said De Lima, who is facing what she describes as trumped-up drug charges.She said the conviction of Palparan should open the eyes of people in power and their minions who act as if they were the law.“Remember that all those who commit wrong will be held to account at the proper time,” said De Lima, who was the justice secretary when the case was filed against Palparan.The verdict, she said, was “a welcome respite in our long and tedious struggle against impunity in this country.”"
5451,"The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) has received over 200 complaints against alleged vote-buying, vote-selling, and abuse of state resources (ASR) with just a few days left before Eleksyon 2025.546Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr., chairperson of CKB, said they received a total of 271 complaints as of Thursday, May 1.547Of the figures, 169 cases constituted vote-buying and vote-selling, and 80 were related to the ASR.548The regions with the highest reports include Calabarzon, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Mimaropa, and Bicol Region while the areas with the most number of complaints were Laguna, Marikina City, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, and Bulacan.549“By comparison, and you make your analysis on this, nung 2022 NLE, ang total reports na natanggap ng Comelec ay 1,226 and ngayon ho with 12 days remaining, 271 ang aming natatanggap,"" Maceda Jr. told Balitanghali.550(By comparison, and you make your analysis on this, in the 2022 NLE, the reports we received were 1,226, and now, with 12 days remaining, we received 271.)551“So, it's either mas bumaba 'yung incidents or depending on what happens when we reach election day, baka tumataas din naman po ang pagre-report ng mga tao,” he said.552(So it's either it went down or it may increase depending on the developments come election day.)553The committee last week said at least 213 national and local candidates were issued with show-cause orders (SCOs) for alleged vote-buying, vote-selling, and ASR.554Maceda Jr., for his part, reiterated that candidates with pending cases may still be disqualified or not be proclaimed.555“Siguro dapat alalahanin nung ating mga botante ang dangal at ang kahalagahan ng kanilang boto, this is the only way by which they can contribute to governance and the running of their their nation. It's part of nation,” he said.556(The voters should remember the importance of their votes.)557Stricter measures558In February, the Comelec said it will impose stricter measures to curb vote-buying, vote-selling and prevent the ASR for the May elections as it relaunched the committee mandated to address vote-buying and vote-selling. It also partnered with e-wallet applications such as GCash and Paymaya to address vote-buying via digital transactions.559ASR refers to the misuse of government resources, whether material, human, coercive, regulatory, budgetary, media-related, or legislative, for electoral advantage. This usually includes the use of government facilities and vehicles for campaign-related activity, but Maceda said the Comelec will also presume ASR is committed if the disbursement of aid or subsidies came with campaign materials or with candidates and their families.560Also constituted as ASR are the use of government-funded media platforms to promote a candidate, the unjustified revocation or selective granting of government assistance during the campaign period and the sudden surge in hiring of job orders or contract-based orders when engaged in partisan electoral activities."
5611,"ON THE VERGE of securing his family’s biggest victory since their humiliating downfall three decades ago, the namesake son of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos talks confidently about his political ambitions and his father’s legacy.In an interview with Agence France-Presse ahead of the May 9 elections, with surveys showing he could win the vice presidency, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conceded there were “widespread human rights abuses” during his father’s rule.But the 58-year-old senator insisted the Marcos name remained one of his strongest assets, as he stuck to a no-apology mantra that has been a key part of his family’s remarkable political resurrection.“I think one of the things that is happening now is I am a beneficiary of the good work that was done in my father’s time,” Marcos said on Monday night at his campaign headquarters in Manila.“There were so many different things that were initiated at that time that to this day are of benefit to the people,” he added.Marcos was a fresh-faced provincial governor in his father’s dictatorship when millions took to the streets during the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution that forced the family to give up two decades of power and flee into US exile.The Marcos family and its business allies are accused of plundering billions of dollars during the patriarch’s rule, while the regime’s security forces allegedly killed and tortured thousands of critics.However, after the dictator died in exile in Hawaii in 1989, his controversial wife, Imelda, and their children were allowed to return to the Philippines, and they slowly began rebuilding a power base.‘Golden age’ debatePart of their strategy was to portray the Marcos years as a “golden age” of peace, security and infrastructure-building for the nation.A younger generation of voters fed up with corruption and politics in modern society has also proved receptive to the Marcos narrative.The Marcos family has consistently denied any major wrongdoing, fending off dozens of legal challenges and probes aimed at retrieving the fortune allegedly stolen from state coffers.“I think a great deal of it was made up because none of it has been verified,” Marcos said when asked whether they stole billions.“These huge numbers that we hear about, we don’t really know where they come from and how they were made up.”Marcos did concede there were abuses under his father’s regime, but insisted they were no worse than those committed by the democratically elected governments that followed.Human rights abuses“I acknowledge that there were,” Marcos said when asked about human rights abuses under his father’s rule. “(But) there are widespread human rights abuses in any administration and that is a problem that we as a country have to face.”Marcos’ bid for the vice presidency has stolen many headlines away from the race for the top post which in itself is a fascinating four-way tussle.Memories of the Marcos years have dominated this election campaign.President Aquino, whose mother led the Edsa People Power Revolution and succeeded Marcos, has repeatedly urged Filipinos in recent months to never forget the dictatorship’s horrors and stamp out the Marcos comeback.Presidential plans?However, Marcos who has enjoyed a high national profile as a senator since 2010 is in the lead or running a close second in the race for the vice presidency, according to various surveys.His controversial mother, Imelda, 86, is also regarded as a near certainty to win a third term as a congresswoman representing the family’s northern provincial stronghold of Ilocos Norte.And one of his sisters, Imee, will secure a third term as Ilocos Norte governor, with no opponent challenging her, while other relatives are expected to easily secure lower level posts.Network of alliesOne important aspect of the family’s success has been its ability to tap into a vast network of allies that never fully crumbled despite the revolution.Asked why he wanted to become the Vice President, the former governor of Ilocos Norte spoke at length about wanting to return to the executive branch of government because that is where he could do the “most good.”He insisted he was not gunning for the vice presidency as part of a grand plan to run for the presidency at the next elections in 2022.“That’s not something I am thinking of at all right now. Every brain cell that I have is directed toward this campaign,” Marcos said, when asked about a presidential bid in six years, but then nevertheless spoke candidly about his loftier ambitions.“Of course you have a political career and many times you’d be frustrated and think: ‘God if I was president I’d fix this in a flash’… and in that sense I guess we all aspire to that,” he added. AFP"
5620,"After many years of debate, experts have finally confirmed that the computer is not a 20th Century Invention.A joint statement was issued today signed by top technical and religious experts, saying that Apple, Microsoft and other computer pioneers did not invent the computer.They added:”Adam and Eve had an Apple in Paradise, and Moses had a tablet — in fact, two tablets. Even iCloud was God’s invention and He communicated with his Chosen People wirelessly.”Controversy solved."
5630,"Marcos propagandaAdvertisementChallenge accepted‘Fishing expedition’WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:SponsorThe camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said that discrepancies in the ballot images that former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. presented as evidence of election fraud might have been “fabricated or manufactured” to support his claim that he was cheated.In a statement,He said the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should investigate Marcos for claiming he had in his possession hundreds of ballot images that were radically different from images generated by secure digital cards.“If Marcos’ ballot images do not tally with the ballot images in the custody of the PET, then those in Marcos’ possession are clearly fabricated, manufactured or tampered with to suit his political propaganda,” Macalintal said.He dismissed as laughable Marcos’ allegation that the appearance of “mysterious squares” on the computer images of some ballots used in the May 2016 elections proved widespread fraud.“This is a laughing matter. It made me laugh,” Macalintal told a press briefing in reaction to Marcos’ claim that they had discovered “shocking evidence” that the election results were manipulated to favor Robredo.He urged the PET and the Comelec to look into Marcos’ contention that the ballots had been tampered with as purportedly proven by the soft copies of the ballots.But Macalintal vehemently denied Marcos’ claim that the Vice President had secured from the PET in November the complete set of the ballot images from the polling precincts covered by his election protest.The veteran election lawyer also accepted Marcos’ challenge to withdraw all pending motions by the Robredo camp in the PET, but said the Vice President had never filed any petition to stall the manual recount of votes.As to Marcos’ insistence that he would overtake Robredo’s margin of victory of over 200,000 votes after the manual recount, Macalintal said: “He’s just dreaming.”“Marcos does not want a recount because the truth will come out that what they have been saying is not true,” he added.“He is afraid because we will be able to prove that no election cheating was committed,” he said.Macalintal said the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. had resorted to a “fishing expedition” after realizing that his election protest might be dismissed soon by the Supreme Court, sitting as the PET.He said Marcos had already abandoned most of the allegations in his original complaint after he failed to submit documents as evidence."
5640,"The Great Wall of China. The Egyptian Pyramids. Rome’s Colosseum. The U.K.’s Stonehedge. India’s Taj Mahal. These are among the most famous historical and cultural landmarks in the world — built by humans.But Baguio City in the Philippines holds the distinction of being the site of a unique historical and cultural landmark — built by humans and cared for by spirits (translation: ghosts).The National Museum of the Philippines has recently declared the Laperal Mansion, fondly called ‘The White House,’ among four century-old buildings in the summer capital as cultural landmarks of the country. It said that “these ancestral houses and public structures are reflective of the nation’s history, enduring the elements of time and preserving the nostalgia of Filipino art and culture in the 18th century for posterity.”The Laperal White House is an eye-catching Victorian edifice along Leonard Road. There have been many stories including those of passersby seeing a little girl standing motionless on the third step of the staircase that fronts the house. Some have spotted a woman looking out its glass windows. Some have heard angry voices and loud noises from inside the empty house. Others have claimed they had this awful feeling of being unwelcome and being watched once inside. The security guards are also terrified to go in at night.At the height of World War II, terror knocked on door of the mansion in the form of Japanese soldiers. The house was transformed into a garrison, where — if some stories are to be believed — they brutally tortured and murdered many, including members of the Laperal family.While the mansion, since 2013, has been transformed into a gallery of Filipino artwork based on bamboo and wood, many come in less for the displays, but more for the ‘supernatural’ experience. Boooo!DISCLAIMER: The Adobo Chronicles commissioned a ghost writer to help with this story."
5651,"Mayroon nang dalawang outs at nakatungtong ng first base ang kakamping si John Christopher Pantan, hinataw ng Herrera ang naturang winner kontra kay rookie pitcher Paolo Macasaet upang giyahan ang Fighting Maroons sa ikaapat nilang panalo sa loob ng walong laro habang ipinatikim naman nila sa Blue Eagles ang una nilang talo kontra pitong panalo. Sa iba pang laban, umangat ang De La Salle University sa kartadang 6-2 panalo- talo sa pamamagitan ng 11-5 panalo Laban sa Adamson University,na bumagsak naman sa barahang 1-7, panalo-talo. Sa softball, nagposte naman ang De La Salle ng 10-0 four-inning na panalo kontra Ateneo, habang ginulantang naman ng National University ang University of Santo Tomas, 9-3 at namayani naman ang UP laban sa University of the East (UE), 8-2. Ang panalo ang ikalima ng Lady Archers sa pitong laban na nagpanatili sa kanila sa ikalawang posisyon sa likod ng defending champion at unbeaten Adamson University (6-0) na nanaig naman kontra Ateneo, 4-3."
5661,"(First of a series)Fourteen-year-old Ruben Manog was alone and crying. His whole body shook with a dreadful thought: This is the day I’m going to die.That did not happen on that day in 1982. Still, for one year and seven months"
5671,"MalipotHeeding the appeal of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced today a one-month extension for all its members to settle their past due loan accounts.GSIS, in a statement posted on its website, noted that the deadline for all GSIS members to settle past due loan accounts to one more month or until Oct. 31, 2018 has been extended after the appeal from the DepEd.“We extended the deadline to give more time for DepEd employees as well as other members with overdue accounts to benefit from the condoned penalties and surcharges of the Enhanced Consolidated Loan Program,” said GSIS President and General Manager Jesus Clint Aranas.Meanwhile, Aranas said that GSIS is also “advocating responsible borrowing by rewarding members who have good credit standing” thus, members with updated loan accounts as of September 30, 2018 “will get a chance to win big prizes to be raffled off soon.”Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones has written to the GSIS appealing for the extension of the Sept. 30, 2018 deadline to Dec. 31, 2018 for all member-borrowers to update and settle their past due accounts such that penalties and surcharges on their past due loans may be waived.In addition, DepEd has requested the GSIS for condonation of compounded accrued interest on past due loans. This came after teachers have reported problems of undeducted GSIS loans that reportedly resulted in the imposition of penalties, surcharges, and compounded accrued interest.Aranas said that the GSIS appreciates the “conscious efforts” of DepEd to “assist us in addressing their [teachers’] predicament.” He added that Briones’s letter and request for an extension of the deadline made GSIS “fully understand the plight of members.”Currently, Aranas said that GSIS “does not impose penalties and surcharges for delinquent loan accounts of members in the active service.” However, he noted that the pension fund “will lift this ‘automatic waiver’ for penalties and surcharges by Nov. 1, 2018 to step up its call for members’ responsible borrowing, while stressing the rewards of paying loans on time.”Aranas noted that although GSIS has given a one-month extension, it remains “steadfast in reminding our members that slacking on loan payments may cost you your entire benefits in the future.” He added that if the loan balances of members “go unchecked for a longer period, your obligations will continue to add up, which may severely impair the benefits due you or your family in due course.”"
5680,"PAGASA earlier warned that Lawin could become a super typhoon.Signal number 4 or 5 might be raised in Cagayan (including the Calayan Group of Islands), Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and northern Isabela on Wednesday night.If indeed these areas are placed under signal number 4 or 5, there would be very strong winds 220 km/h or more and gustiness of up to 365 km/h or more.Such winds ""can destroy high- to low-risk structures"" as well as topple trees and transmission towers, according to the state weather bureau.Storm surges up to 5 meters high are also possible in Cagayan (including the Calayan Group of Islands), Isabela, and Ilocos Norte."
5691,"Thousands of opposition supporters marched in Zimbabwe’s capital on Tuesday to demand electoral reforms ahead of the July 30 vote, the first since Robert Mugabe stepped down last year.The street demonstration was Harare’s largest since the massive one in November leading to Mugabe’s departure. Speakers warned they would march again if President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took power with the military’s help, “steals” the election.Mnangagwa has promised a “free, fair and credible” vote and invited Western observers for the first time in nearly two decades, mindful that the West has indicated a fair vote must take place before international sanctions can be lifted. Previous elections have been marked by allegations of fraud and violence.Nelson Chamisa, the 40-year-old MDC-T party leader who has energized the opposition since the death of longtime opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in February, said they will not allow elections to go ahead if the vote is not free and fair.“We will stop all processes until they accept our demands. … We are prepared to do whatever is necessary,” Chamisa told cheering supporters.Chanting slogans, the marchers passed through Mnangagwa’s office, where a Cabinet meeting was under way, and presented a petition. They did the same at the electoral commission.Police, previously known for suppressing such events under Mugabe, kept watch on the demonstrators after banning the ruling ZANU-PF from holding a counter-march.The opposition’s demands include an end to alleged military interference in the electoral commission. The commission has denied it, saying only 15 percent of its staff is made up of retired security agents. Other demands include an end to alleged state media bias, an audit of the voters’ roll and transparency in the printing of ballots.Former ruling party members who are now part of another opposition party backed by Mugabe also addressed the crowd and pledged to support Chamisa’s candidacy."
5700,"Former Comelec Chair Andy Bautista is finally returning to the Philippines this weekend. He has been out of the country since his arrest was ordered by the Senate for failing to personally appear at hearings investigating his unexplained wealth.But Bautista’s reason has nothing to do with his arrest order.Rather, he is here to celebrate the first anniversary of his life-changing experience last year — the kissing of his feet by Jose Antonio Cardinal Tagle. It is a Lenten tradition practiced in the Roman Catholic Church.Talk about foot fetish.Happy anniversary, Mr. Bautista."
5710,"Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo arrived in her hometown after a 12-hour grueling bus ride, ABS-CBN reports.Immediately after her homecoming, the Liberal Party bet met with local officials from Naga, who reported alleged incidents of vote-buying not just in their province.Robredo said votes are allegedly bought for as low as P500.She expressed dismay that some politicians resort to dishonest means to win their positions. Although she did not name names, many believe that she was referring to her own presidential running mate, Mar Roxas.It will be recalled that senatorial aspirant Greco Belgica on Tuesday filed a petition before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to investigate the alleged vote-buying of the Liberal Party (LP) for its standard-bearer Mar Roxas.In his petition, Belgica attached a copy of the video “proving that indeed such vote-buying scheme spearheaded by the Liberal Party to assuage the votes in favor of their standard-bearer, Mar Roxas.”The viral video shows the alleged distribution of envelopes supposedly containing money during a campaign sortie of the Liberal Party last April 16.The Adobo Chronicles commends Robredo for being independent-minded and unwilling to condone any form of dishonesty, including those committed by Roxas."
5720,"""I'm not a tax evader. I overpay my taxes."" Sa isang panayam kay Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa, sinabi nito na pananagutin niya raw ang gobyerno dahil tinawag siyang kriminal. Ayon pa kay Ressa, nai-issue na raw ang arrest warrant laban sa kanya. Nahaharap si Ressa sa patung-patong na kasong ng tax evasions na nagkakahalaga ng milyon-milyon. ""I'm going to hold my government accountable for publicly calling me a criminal. I am not a criminal. I have been a journalist my entire life. I will conture to hold the government accountable, "" sabi ni Ressa. Inakusahan pa ni Ressa ang gobyerno ng panggigipit. Ayon kay Ressa, binabali daw ng gobyerno ang batas. ""I think that is the point, right? The point is for the government to actually make you feel its power. Including bending the law to the point that it is broken,"" dagdag pa ni Ressa. Basahin ang reaksyon ng ilang kababayan natins amga pinagsaabi ni Ressa. Source: Rappler"
5730,"Just finished watching Day 1 of De Lima's senate hearing on ""extra-judicial killings"".It was very informative, but I think not in the way De Lima expected. If her goal was to discredit Duterte's war on drugs, I think it may have backfired because the two witnesses she presented ended up confirming many of the things Duterte has been saying.The first witness was a woman whose live-in partner and his father were killed. The second witness was a woman whose mother and father were killed.1. Both Witness 1 and Witness 2 confirmed that all the slain victims—yes, ALL, including the dead parents—had a history of selling drugs, and only planned to stop after Duterte won the election. Witness 1 actually stressed several times that ""si Noynoy pa ang presidente"" when her slain live-in partner was actively dealing drugs. I don't think De Lima meant to include this in her script.2. Both Witness 1 and Witness 2 confirmed that the killings took place just before or just a few days after Duterte assumed office on June 30, 2016. This is consistent with the belief of many people that it is the drug lords themselves and the crooked cops from the previous administration who are behind the killings, because they are cleansing their ranks and permanently silencing their pushers before the new PNP chief's team can go after them.3. Both Witness 1 and Witness 2's testimonies confirmed what Duterte has been saying all along that drug use, drug dealing, and drug-related corruption within the police and LGUs had grown to epic proportions under the previous administration, and nothing was done about it.De Lima did her best to appear neutral, but there were telltale slips that showed, like:1. Whenever the witnesses would start elaborating on the mechanics of the drug supply chain and the remittance of the money collected, she would stop the witnesses and tell them to just stick to her original question.2. She avoided asking a very glaring, very obvious question: Witness 1 admitted that she bribed police with P20,000 then P10,000 in two instances in the past so her live-in partner would not be arrested. Witness 1 also said her live-in partner only earned about P300 each time he ""occasionally"" sold drugs ""para lang pantawid gutom"" and had no other source of income. So who gave Witness 1 the P20,000 and P10,000 for bribing the cops in the past? De Lima did not probe this.3. De Lima was unable suppress her gleeful cackle when the new PNP official who took over the station where Witness 1's live-in partner was detained said that the CCTV cameras at the station were not working when the live-in partner was detained there. There was this ""huli ka!"" expression on De Lima's face, like she was glad that she finally fished something out of the witness that could paint the police in an unflattering light. (She seemed to forget that said new PNP official only took over the station after Duterte became president.)Other sidelights:1. Alan Cayetano questioned the media's use of the term ""extra judicial killings"" and ""vigilante killings"" which are kind of biased. ""Unexplained deaths"" or ""deaths under investigation"" are more neutral. Agree, let's all stop using the term ""extra-judicial killings"", it's bad for the image of the country.2. Ping Lacson had a similar comment about the CHR's use of the name ""Team Rubout"" for their task force on unexplained killings. Lacson said the name alone already suggests the CHR is pre-judging the PNP. Absolutely correct. The head of CHR, Chito Gascon, is an Aquino appointee after all.3. Risa Hontiveros put her background as a theater actress to good use, asking pseudo-intellectual questions in a contrived ""little girl"" voice designed to camouflage her true nature as one of the most vicious rottweilers of the yellow camp. It's embarrassing to listen to, actually, and it's not fooling anyone, so she should just go back to her real speaking voice.4. The people in the room visibly flinched whenever the word ""driver"" was mentioned. De Lima to Witness 1: ""Anong trabaho ng ka-live in mo?"" Witness 1: ""Driver po."" Audible gasps in the room. De Lima to Witness 2: ""Anong trabaho ng tatay mo na namatay?"" Witness 2: ""Nagmamaneho po."" Muffled gasps.5. Trillanes could not pass up the chance to get some airtime, so he lectured the police about the world being round, and basically told them that someday when Duterte is no longer president there will be no one to protect them. Don't worry, Sonny, karma is coming for you too.------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2016/08/filipinos-abandon-yellow-narrative-embrace-duterte-way/#comment-1713300"
5740,"Para kay Bise Presidente Leni Robredo, ang mga naging pahayag ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte tungkol sa South China Sea ay parang pagbebenta umano ng soberanya ng bansa. Ayon kay Leni, irresponsable umano ang mga naging pahayag ng Pangulo at ng mga opisyal nito. ""Noong nakaraan lang na mga araw, mayroong deklarasyon si Pangulo na sinasabi na, 'Wala na tayong magagawa.' Kapag iyong Pangulo na iyong nagsabi na wala nang magagawa, parang na-give up na natin iyong pakikipaglaban... Iyong mga irresponsible na comments galing sa Pangulo, galing sa spokesman, galing sa ating ibang officials, tantamount ito sa pagbebenta ng sovereignty natin""sabi ni Leni. Matatandaang sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte na nasa kamay na raw ng China ang bahagi ng South China Sea at iniiwisan niya na magkaroon ng hindi pagkakaunawaan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at China. Sa mga dating pahayag ng mga opisyal ng Palasyo, sinabi na madedehado at maraming mamamatay sa Pilipinas kung makikipag-giyera sa China kaya dapat ay daanin sa diplomasya ang pakikitungo dito. Ang mga pahayag na ito ng Malacanang ay patunay na pinoprotektahan lamang ni kasalukuyang administrasyon ang mga mamamayan ng Pilipinas. Hindi naman nagustuhan ng mga kababayan natin ang mga pinagsasabi ni Leni. Source: GMA News | RMN DZXL 558 Manila"
5750,"Celebrity host Kris Aquino went live on her facebook page to air her reaction on ASEC Mocha Uson after the latter uploaded a video of Ninoy Aquino, father of Kris, being kissed by women. That didn’t appeal Kris and challenged Uson for a fight in the public.” Bring all your supporters versus me. Ako lang mag isa. Hindi ko kayo uurungan” Kris said in the video.Mocha showed a comparison video why people got angry with President Duterte’s kiss made in South Korea when it was okay to kiss a President on the lips like what Ninoy did. CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO BELOWWhat can you say about this video? Leave your comments below!"
5761,"“All the drugs were contaminated. Everyone’s touching it. Everyone’s taking selfies with the drugs. I was really taken aback!”This was how Wilkins Villanueva, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), described the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) alleged mishandling of the 605 kilograms of smuggled “shabu” (crystal meth) seized from a Valenzuela City warehouse.Besides Villanueva, lawmakers also assailed the BOC officials for procedural violations, which may undermine any charges that can be filed over the contraband shipped from China.This prompted the House dangerous drugs committee chair, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, to tell Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to resign and spare President Rodrigo Duterte further embarrassment.“Commissioner, it’s a pity the President trusted you. You were from nowhere. We don’t even know why you were placed there,” Barbers said.“You should resign to avoid further embarrassment to our President. All of you, you should all resign. I’m waiting for you to submit your resignation,” he added.But Faeldon stood his ground before the lawmakers: “I am a soldier. I do not treat this position as a job. For me, this is a mission. However, a soldier can be fired. Let the President fire me.”Butting headsDuring the hearing, Villanueva, who was cloaked with legislative immunity, said that not only was the PDEA left out of the operations initially, it also had disagreements with the BOC on the proper handling of the drug evidence.After Faeldon sought the assistance of PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña on the morning of May 26, Villanueva was tasked with joining the operation.But when PDEA agents arrived at the scene in the afternoon, he was surprised that the crates, and the printing cylinders used to hide them, had already been opened by the BOC personnel.Villanueva said that if the PDEA had its way, it would have cordoned off the drugs.He disagreed with Faeldon and Customs Intelligence and Investigative Service Director Neil Estrella on how to properly conduct a “controlled delivery” operation on the illegal drugs and preserve the integrity of the evidence.Controlled delivery is an investigative technique where a suspect shipment is allowed to pass through under the supervision of an authorized officer to track the people involved in the unlawful trade.Villanueva said all five crates of illegal drugs should have been used for the operations, but Faeldon, who he said consulted his fiancée lawyer who doesn’t work for the government, insisted that only one crate be used.“You have to guide the whole cargo. You cannot choose. But he butted in that one crate is good for us to file a case,” Villanueva said. “We did not want to agree. Many in the antidrug community are laughing at us. We insisted and failed to convince him.”Faeldon said Villanueva’s account was 90-percent truth but “a half-truth is not the truth.”He said he wanted to retain four crates amounting to 505 kilograms of drugs in the compound so these could be used as evidence against the warehouse owner.Estrella explained that the drug crates were opened up so he could see for himself and “validate the information given to me.”Not adept with lawLawmakers did not buy the BOC officials’ reasoning.Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta noted that the PDEA had the expertise over drug operations and its position should have been given weight.Even from the start, the raid was already on shaky ground for being based on a mere letter of authority (LOA) issued by Faeldon, instead of a search warrant, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said.“When it reaches the judiciary, it’s dismissed. What happens is it would be illegally obtained evidence, aside from other matters that will surface later on,” Fariñas said.“It’s so scary that you are not adept with the law,” he added.Faeldon maintained that BOC operatives could act on suspect shipments “as long as these LOAs have something to do with the importations.”Barbers also blew up at BOC officials for conducting the surveillance operations before the raid without seeking PDEA assistance as mandated under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002."
5771,"that has already piqued the interest of Hollywood film producers.But the mission would last a further eight days, with the risk of extracting the weakened group through flooded, tight, twisting passageways intensified by the risk of fresh rains and falling oxygen levels inside the cave.The mission was “an order of difficulty much higher than anything that’s been accomplished anywhere around the world by any other cave diving team,” said Stanton.A former Thai Navy diver died trying to establish an airline to the group just two days before the rescue bid was launched.– Water from stalactites –The boys are recuperating from their ordeal in Chiang Rai hospital, apparently in good spirits with doctors on Friday saying they were sleeping and eating well and able to receive visits from close relatives.The father of Duangpetch Promthep, or “Dom”, cast light on how their survival hung in the balance in the nine days before they were found. “When the boys were hungry, coach Ek shone his torchlight up towards the stalactites, telling them to drink the water dripping down,” Banpot Promthep told reporters late Thursday.He said the boys were “ecstatic” when the two divers appeared in front of the ledge where they had sought sanctuary, crowding to the front of the bank to greet their rescuers.Thai authorities have only released partial information about the bold operation to free the team, heavily restricting access to the boys and their families.But in a striking coda to an already astonishing tale, a former Thai Navy SEAL told AFP the boys were “sleeping” as they were passed from divers or on pulleys as they exited the cave in stretchers.Footage circulated by the SEAL team showed boys seemingly unconscious in wetsuits and diving gear being carried over rocky passageways.Australian anaesthetist and diver Richard “Harry” Harris posted new details of the audacious rescue operation on Facebook, saying he had “never seen anything like it”. “Local climbing and rope access workers rigged the dry cave section for that part of the rescue and scoured the bush for more entrances to the cave.“Drilling teams attempted to get through nearly a km of rock to the boy’s location. And all this time 4 brave Navy Seals sat with the Wild Boars knowing they were in as much danger as the kids,” he wrote.“When it seemed all other options were exhausted, the decision to swim the players out was made and the rescue went ahead.”He added: “The pressure that was put on these (international divers) was immense and they never dropped the ball for a second.”The rescue bid was also lauded for the hard, long hours and teamwork between highly-skilled Thais and foreigners.“Despite all this amazing technology, in the end it took people working together…. for this one unifying goal,” said American caver Josh Harris, 42, who worked as liason between the foreign divers and the Thais.“In the end, cave rescue requires cavers and trained cave rescuers,” he said, referencing the “distraction” of the offer by US tech guru Elon Musk to evacuate the boys in a special pod."
5781,"In a resolute effort to make Ilocos Sur a drug-free province, the provincial government headed by Governor Ryan Singson hosted the first Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Summit at the Vigan City Convention Center, recently.Director General Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, graced the summit and joined the signing of a pledge of commitment and support for a drug-free Ilocos Sur.The event was aimed at boosting efforts and strengthening the coordination of the different stakeholders to overpower the problem of illegal drugs in the country.Signing the “Pledge of Commitment” were Gov. Singson, PNP Chief Dela Rosa, Chief Superintendent Charlo C. Collado (Police Regional Office 1 director), Senior Supt. Rey de Peralta (Police Provincial Office OIC), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Director Jeoffrey C. Tacio, Vice Governor Jeremias Singson, the Provincial Board Members, Department Heads, Municipal Mayors, students, representatives from National Government Agencies and the barangay officials headed by ABC Federated President Mario Subagan.Dela Rosa motivated the participants in setting the goal towards the realization of the battle that was launched by Duterte administration through “Oplan Tokhang” and “Project Double Barrel.”He emphasized that the victory of the war on illegal drugs will depend much from the community-based efforts and the barangay officials play an important role being the first line of defense.Ilocos Sur has a total of 5,676 drug personalities who have already surrendered. A total of 580 out of the 768 barangays are now “cleared” of illegal drugs, and there are still 98 barangays which remain “uncleared.”Gov. Singson believes that the drug problem is despicable and that the only way to resolve the it necessitates force like in any combat.“The great part of the war is how we work together to end this battle once and for all. This summit clearly highlights the need for our community leaders to take an active role in this fight. In Ilocos Sur, we express our support to the President’s war on drugs,” Singson added."
5791,"President Duterte’s directive to the National Food Authority (NFA) to maintain a 60-day buffer stock could be done only through importation, according to Senator Cynthia Villar.During the Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum on Tuesday, Villar, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said that with the current lean season, the only way to beef up the agency’s inventory was through importing rice.“If they would maintain their buffer stock, they have to import. Right now, we’re in the planting season,” she said.The lean months, which stretches from July to September, is when the country’s rice farmers are planting and rice supply is at its lowest.The NFA is mandated to maintain a 15-day buffer during the regular season and a 30-day buffer during the lean season.But with the delay in rice shipments, its current inventory is good for only four days.Latest data from the Department of Agriculture show that nationwide rice stock, including those held by the private sector, is good for only 45 days. This is half the country’s usual rice inventory of 90 days.‘No rice shortage’Public markets now have long lines of consumers who want to avail themselves of cheaper rice from the NFA.Villar assured the public, however, that there was no rice shortage in the country.“What happened was all the supply of the rice went into the hands of the traders,” she said.Lawmakers seem to disagree on what the NFA function should be once the limit on rice imports is lifted.Villar said the agency would lose its power to import under the Senate version of the rice tariffication bill.“Under the rice tariff model, there would be liberation of rice. The NFA will have no more power to import rice. That function will not be there anymore,” she said.But the House version of the bill, which was approved last month, wants the NFA to retain its import function to ensure a stable supply and prices of rice. It would also continue giving out permits to eligible importers from the private sector.The rice tariffication measure allows imports to enter the country without limit so long as these are slapped with a tariff.It provides for the creation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which would consist of all duties collected from rice imports. The fund would be used to help improve the competitiveness of local rice farmers.Villar said the Department of Finance was considering a smaller agency to handle the buffer stock.The senator noted the need to review the existence of the NFA, especially after it failed to stabilize the supply and price of rice.Lawmakers and industry groups have been calling for the abolition of the agency and the resignation of its chief, Jason Aquino.According to economic managers, this has led to high rice prices given the tight supply of affordable rice in the market."
5801,"Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) urged private sector employers to observe proper pay rules for the Chinese New Year on January 28.Under Proclamation 50, President Rodrigo Duterte declared Chinese New Year as a non-working holiday.“No work, no pay” shall apply if the employee did not work on the 28th.But if the employee worked, he will be paid an additional 30 percent of his daily rate for the first eight hours of work.An additional 30 percent will be added if the employee worked for more than eight hours.Meanwhile, if an employee worked on a non-working holiday on his rest day, he will be paid an additional 50 percent of this daily rate for the first eight hours of work.Another 30 percent of his daily rate will be added if he exceeded eight hours of work.MICAH VARDELEON"
5810,"Most people think that the idea of Donald Trump running for president of the United States is a big joke. But for the real estate mogul, it’s serious business.Donald Trump has put off agreeing to an extension of his “Celebrity Apprentice” reality television show while he weighs a 2016 U.S. presidential bid. He told NBC yesterday he could not commit to a three-year contract extension for the series until he decides whether he’s running. From all indications, the Donald is throwing his hat in the ring.Trump, speaking at an event at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Palm Beach, also said that he is putting off next January’s Miss Universe Pageant so he could focus on his presidential campaign. Trump is the owner of the Miss Universe Pageant.Upon hearing the news, Miss Philippines-Universe Pia Wurtzbach, broke into tears, saying she has waited for years to be on the Miss Universe stage. Wurtzbach finally won the title this year after several attempts at the crown.Meanwhile, The Adobo Chronicles learned that the Philippines’ richest man, Henry Sy, is seriously considering buying the Miss Universe franchise from Trump.Sy owns the SM Investments Corp, the largest retailer in the Philippines with over 200 individual outlets around the country. The firm is one of the country’s largest conglomerates with interests in real estate development, shopping malls and banking. One of his more recent ventures, the City of Dreams Manila resort and casino, which opened in December 2014, cost $1.3 billion to develop.A spokesperson for Sy said that if the Filipino billionaire succeeds in acquiring the Miss Universe Pageant, he plans to make the Philippines the permanent venue for the annual beauty competition."
5820,"President Rodrigo Duterte invites the 200 Lapanday farmers to eat at the Manila Hotel tonight.The farmers came from Tagum were already staying in Mendiola for seven days to protest against the Lapanday Food Corp. that recently attacked by the New People’s Army.“Kumain na kayo ng hapunan?” President Duterte asked the farmers.“Ilan kayo lahat dito? Bong, reserve ka ng 200 sa Manila Hotel. Doon ko kayo pakainin. Ayaw ninyo? Bong, 200 sa Manila Hotel. Gusto nila Manila Hotel,” President Duterte told Bong Go, his special assistant.“Basta ‘yung nakabarong lahat don, huwag ninyo pansinin ‘yun. Hindi tayo magkakilala. Sabi ni Mayor, dito kami mag-kain ng hapunan… Manila Hotel… para makatikim kayo,” Duterte added.The President was serious in his offer to feed the rallyist in the five star hotel.Prices of the food in the Manila hotel is ranging from 1,000-5,000 pesos per people.The farmers asked the President to urge the Lapanday Foods Corporation to follow the government orders to give away the lands to the farmers who listed in the agrarian reform beneficiaries.The Lapanday Foods Corp. reportedly deployed 800 armed security guards to barricade the banana plantation that ordered by the government to turn over to the farmers."
5830,"The news media have been focusing on China’s supposed threat to go to war with the Philippines should the latter pursue its claim over disputed territory in the South China Sea.By sheer number, the Philippines is no match to China’s military power. China has seven times the number of Filipino military personnel, not to mention the Chinese great advantage in as far as equipment like tanks, fighter aircraft, warships and submarines are concerned.But Filipinos have an advantage over China 🇨🇳 when it comes to keyboard warriors.It is estimated that almost half of the Philippine population is on Facebook, not to mention other social media accounts.Here’s how Filipinos can avert a possible war with China:Each of the 50 million or so Filipino Facebook account holders should send a minimum of 26 friend requests to the Chinese. That would amount to a total of 1.3 Billion (the estimated population of China) Chinese friends.If China decides to go to war with the Philippines, no Chinese would support it, not even its military since they all would have Facebook friends in the Philippines 🇵🇭.Problem solved.Long live the Filipino keyboard 🎹 warriors! Long live world peace!(Well, if all else fails, Darna will come to the rescue):"
5840,"49,000 buried at Libingan, and you protest the burial of a former President, and A CONFIRMED participant of the Bataan death march of soldiers who tried to defend the country against Japanese aggressio. Ok I hear your point re human rights abuses, but has there been a single case proven that Marcos personally ORDERED somebody killed? A document or just eyewitness affidavit that Marcos adopted a state policy of killing and torturing those who were against his dictatorship, and ordered the PC to implement his order? Will you protest the burial when the time comes for another president who had command responsibility over the Philippine Constabulary that is accused of all these human rights abuses? Should the government review the record of each and every military man buried there to determine if he participated in some human rights abuses or killed an NPA, and if he did, order the exhumation of the body?OK. Swiss bank accounts were traced to be his, and this is very very bad. But is that enough to erase his being a President and a death-marcher? Please tell me if I'm so very wrong when I say to the Yellows with placards ""Marcos is not a hero"", that he is not being buried there for being a hero, but solely for, as Duterte has said repeatedly, being a soldier and a president.Marcos's biggest sin was that when he found out he had a debilitating disease in 1980, he still held on to power, which resulted ina political crisis that combined with the 1983 global debt crisis to push the country into such deep recession 1983 to 1985 that is the real cause of our underdevelopment.-----------------Bobi Tiglao as posted on Facebook"
5851,"Masaya niyang ibinalita na annulled na o napawalang-bisa na ang kasal niya kay Meryll Soriano. Naging bunga ng pagsasama nila ng aktres ang kaisa-isa nilang anak na si Elijah. ""After six to seven years , I'm legally annulled,"" pahayag ni Bernard. Wala na raw sagabal sa kanila ni Jerika kapag naisip na nilang magpakasal. ""We are on the right path. Legally, I can ask her,' sey ng aktor. Handa na rin daw siyang pakasalan si Jerika dahil ito ang ipinangako niya sa sarili, ang ihatid sa altar ang anak ni Manila Mayor Joseph ""Erap"" Estrada. ""I don't see the relationship going anywhere but there,"" mariin niyang sabi, na sinalo naman ni Jerika ng, ""Walang nagmamadali."" ""If they gave me enough shows to make that much,why not? As long as we got the confirmation, I'm happy already. If it will lead to marriage, the sooner, the better,"" sey pa ng aktor."
5860,"Nakatikim ng banat kay dating Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) deputy executive director V Arnell Ignacio ang ang singer/songwriter na si Jim Paredes matapos lumabas ang video scandal nito sa social media. Ayon kay Ignacio, binabatikos ni Paredes si Pangulong Duterte pero mas matindi daw ang ginagawa nito. ""Eh si Presidente, sinasabi mo bastos, eh ano ngayon gagawin sa iyo ng Presidente kung makaharap mo siya? Gaganunin ka niya oh. (Labas dila),"" sabi ni Ignacio. Ayon pa kay Ignacio, sinabihan daw ni Paredes na hindi disente ang mga taga-suporta ng Presidente. ""Ano ba iyan? Bakit may ganun kang video? Susmaryosep! Sabi mo lahat kaming (Duterte Supporters) ay hindi disente, pagkatapos ikaw maglalabas ng ganyan,"" banat pa ni Ignacio. May hamon ngayon si Ignacio kay Paredes. ""Na-inspire ako. Parang gusto ko rin maghubad. Gusto mo sabay tayo? Tapos magpaboto tayo kung sino ang lalabas na disente, kung hubo't-hubad,"" dagdag pa ni Ignacio. Kahapon ay kumalat sa social media ang video ng isang lalaking dumidila-dila sa harap ng camera at kalaunan ay nagpakita ng pribadong bahagi ng katawan. Maraming netizens ang nagsabing si Paredes ito dahil sa nunal sa dibdib at tatoo sa balikat na kaparehas na kaparehas ng kay Paredes. Itinanggi ito ng musikero pero ilang oras matapos niyang itanggi ay inamin ni Paredes na siya nga ang nasa video. Source: Jim Paredes"
5870,"NAG VIRAL SA BUONG MUNDO ANG BALITANG PAG HANGA NG ISANG KOREAN NEWS AGENCY NA ITO. Tinawag ng isang reporter si pangulong duterte na pinaka matapang na lider ng bansa sa panahong ito , ito ay matapos makita sa buong buong mundo ang seryusong kampanya ng pamahalaan kontra ilegal na droga na lumalabas ngayon sa ibat ibang pahayagan."
5880,"DPWH Sec. Mark VillarDPWH: Mocha posted a video of kids. Would you know location? Could I get her contact details? I showed Sec. (Villar) the video. We at DPWH can help.ThinkingPinoy (TP): “Ayy! Yung nasa ilog?“(Oh! The one at the river?)”DPWH: Yup!TP: Ask ko sa manager ni Mocha. (I’ll ask Mocha’s manager.)DPWH: Thanks!TP: Uy ‘teh, it’s in G'tum, Brgy. Lanipao, Iligan City. Kung may plano kayong gawin, let me know. People want to know kasi. (Hey sis, it’s in G'tum, Brgy. Lanipao, Iligan City. If you plan to do something, let me know. Because people want to know.)DPWH: Gotcha. Papupuntahan pa namin. 🙂Super duper thank you! (Gotcha. We’re sending somebody there. Super duper thank you!)DPWH to build bridgeDPWH: Hahaha! Sabi ni Sec Villar, ipapagawa na namin yung bridge! May short-term at long-term. Bigyan kita ng details bukas. Baka umpisa na next week, pinagawan lang namin muna ng design. Hahahaha! (Hahahah! Sec. Villar said we’re going to build the bridge! There’s a short-term and a long-term [bridge]. I’ll give you details tomorrow. We might start building next week, we’re just had to get designs first.)TP: Ang taray! Paano plano? Jusko tulo luha ko nong napanood yong video. (So fierce! What’s the plan? My god, I shed tears when I watched that video.)DPWH: Balak namin by December pero we're still checking feasibility… Outside of our jurisdiction kasi. Kailangan pa namin magpasintabi sa LGU. Hahahaha! (We plan [to build] by December but we’re still checking feasibility because it’s outside our jurisdiction. We still have to ask clearance from the LGU [Local Government Unit]. Hahahaha!)TP: Papayag yon malamang. (They will probably give consent.)DPWH: Ayusin ko lang yung permit. Hahaha! (I’ll just secure the permit. Hahaha!)DPWH: GMA reported about it [GMA] and Ivan Mayrina said he wasn’t able to get a statement from the LGU so we just assumed responsibility. Sec Villar said we can just take the initiative and do it.TP: Oo nga, tama na tsaka na muna ang sisihan, mga bata muna. (I agree. It’s just right to set aside the blaming for now, let’s think about the kids first.)Short-term bridge now, long-term bridge laterDPWH: May initial report na ako kanina. Napuntahan na ng tao namin. Pabibilisan namin ‘to. (I received the initial report earlier today. Our field agents have inspected the area. We will do this ASAP.)TP: Alam mo ba sabi nung mga readers ko? Kahit hanging bridge lang daw muna. Basta lang daw di sila mahulog. (You know what my readers said? Even a simple hanging bridge will do, just so they won’t fall to their deaths.)DPWH: Hanging bridge nga yung ipapagawa naming as a temporary solution. Yun yung “short term” na sinabi ko earlier. Pero maganda ang design. Di naman masyadong bara-bara. Yung long-term bridge, pinag-aaralan pa, mas complex kasi yon. (Yeah, we’re building a hanging bridge as a temporary solution, that’s the “short term” I was referring to earlier. But the design is good, it’s well thought out. We are still studying the long-term bridge option because that’s a more complex issue.)TP: Ayyy sige! Isusulat ko to! (Oh, okay! I’ll blog about this!)DPWH: Pabibilisan namin ‘to. Yung actual construction one month long daw kasi 30 meters ang lapad ng ilog. (We’ll complete the project at the soonest. The actual construction takes a month because the river is 30 meters wide.)TP: Sige, sige iba-blog ko! Yehey! (Okay, okay, I’ll blog about this! Yahoo!)DPWH: Hahahaha! Exciting!TP: Yes it is!DONT FORGET TO SHARE!RELATED POSTS:Sec. Mark Villar, through his media officer, said DPWH to build bridge in Iligan after seeing viral video.On 14 November 2016, MinYas Mangorsi posted a Facebook video showing two schoolchildren crossing an improvised bridge on the way to school.The “bridge”, situated in a rural part of Iligan City in Mindanao, was just a pair of ropes held up by wooden stilts, over a raging river.The two kids face mortal danger as they pass through this flimsy structure every day.The video quickly went viral after it was reuploaded a day later by digital activist Mocha Uson on her Facebook page, with a total of 2 million views so far.But the story didn’t end there.Now, if you've been following the ThinkingPinoy Facebook page , I interviewed Public Works Secretary Mark Villar on 04 November 2016, so I maintained contact with DPWH since then.On the same day Mocha Uson reposted the viral video, Sec. Villar’s media officer Anna Mae Llamentillo (DPWH) messaged me.The following conversation ensued:A few minutes later…And there I was, amazed by the idea that social media is real. But wait! There’s more.Just tonight, DPWH’s Llamentillo messaged me again to give an update.Llamentillo said they already are in the process of securing permits.Llamentillo said they will construct the temporary bridge in as early as December, with a long-term, sturdier bridge to follow.So there it is. These are one of those moments when I feel that this country still has hope! [ ThinkingPinoy Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
5891,"What happened?The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has failed to fully implement two major development projects worth P12.8 billion in farming communities despite the release of funds for the programs, the Commission on Audit (COA) reported.In its scrutiny of the agency’s financial transactions in 2013, the COA said the DAR did not meet its goal to help alleviate poverty incidence in agrarian reform communities because of the delays in the completion of Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (Arisp) and the Agrarian Reform Community Project Phase II (ARCP).In a report, uploaded to the COA website on Tuesday, the state auditors also found that the DAR had spent P135.7 million for training and consultancy services without a public bidding in violation of Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.Italian aidThe COA said the office of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes had failed to submit the “cash programming” for the P2.5-billion Italian Assistance to the Agrarian Reform Community Development Support Program in Mindanao, which caused the delay in the release of funds for the project.Aided by a soft loan from the Italian government, the project was intended to spur economic development and improve peace and order in 35 agrarian communities in the provinces of Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur as part of the government’s Millennium Development Goals within a six-year period.As of December 2013, the COA said none of the deliverables, including the construction of farm-to-market roads and bridges, had been met despite the release of P20.7 million for the project since April 2011.In the case of Arisp, the COA said the DAR had already spent P7.76 billion out of the P8-billion appropriation for the project, but only 42 percent of the infrastructure projects had been completed.Loan from Japan“As such, full attainment of its targets at the end of the project duration may no longer be feasible,” the COA said.The project, funded primarily by a P6-billion loan from Japan Bank for International Cooperation, was initially programmed to run from August 2007 to August 2014.But delays in the first two years of the project prompted the DAR to request the National Economic and Development Authority to extend its life until August this year.With the help of the National Irrigation Administration, the Department of Public Works and Highways, local government units and other project partners, the DAR was tasked as lead agency for the undertaking to help improve the income of farmer-beneficiaries through the construction and rehabilitation of public infrastructure, and organizing and strengthening peoples’ organizations.Besides road construction, the funds for the project were earmarked for the putting up of communal irrigation and postharvest facilities, and a supply of potable water.Only 18 projects doneThe project also involved non-infrastructure items, such as agrarian reform information and marketing centers, and the training for the development of cooperatives involved in agribusiness and rural enterprises.The COA said out of the 34 projects it inspected, only 10 had been completed or operational, 2 were completed but were not operational, while 19 other projects were still in the pre-implementation stage.Three projects, supposed to be implemented in 2013, had yet to start as of last year, it added.“From the auditor’s point of view, project completion/progress thereof is a tangible thing. While (the DAR) considered the transfer of funds to the implementing agencies or the conduct of procurement as an accomplishment, the project does not exist yet,” it said.While it considered the explanation of the DAR officials for the delays in the project, the COA said the agrarian reform department should have been able to address these issues “considering that this is the third phase of the Arisp project.”“(P)roblems encountered in the earlier projects should have been given solutions and resolved for the smooth implementation of the current project,” it said.“Problems encountered during Phase I and II should have been ironed out and used as guiding tool on the same problems that have arisen in the implementation of Arisp III,” the COA noted.As to the implementation of ARCP, the COA discovered that DAR had used up P3.6 billion out of its P4.8-billion allocation, but only 2.25 percent of the foreign-funded project had been completed since it was started in March 2009.Commitment fees, bonusState auditors said the government had to pay P14.8 million in “commitment fees” because of the delay in the use of the loan proceeds from the Asian Development Bank and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund for International Development.The COA said the DAR also illegally used P3.6 million from the funds of the project for the bonus, medical benefits and clothing allowance of its personnel in violation of the Department of Budget and Management Circular No. 2010-001.RELATED STORIESAquino asked to reform DAR to complete agrarian reform targetsIn Quezon town, land reform is incomplete"
5900,"Viral ngayon ang isang babaeng nangunguha umano ng bata. Pinag-iingat ng netizen na si Danalyn Orella Tayag ang publiko sa babaeng na sa kanyang social media post. Ayon kay Tayag, nahuli sa Barangay 870 ang naturang babae Naaktuhan umano na papasok na ng gate ng isang bahay ang suspek. Base sa pahayag ng babae, may kasama daw siya na nangunguha ng bata. Paratang ni Tayag, dumating daw sa punto na nagbabaliw-baliwan at paiba-iba ang sinasabi ng babae. Pinakawalan din ang babae ng mga otoridad. Habang isinusulat ang blog post na ito ay umabot na sa mahigit 17,000 ang nagbahagi ng ng video at umani na rin ng sari-saring komento sa mga kabaayan natin. Ayon sa post ni Tayag, nangyari daw ang babae sa barangay 870. Base sa Google Map, ito ay nasa Pandacan sa Manila. Ito po ang video ng kumprontasyon sa pagitan ng mga mamamayan ng Barangay 870 at ng babaeng nangunguha ng bata. Source: Danalyn Orella Tayag"
5910,"Kinumpirma ng palasyo ang Oust-Duterte Matrix na inilathala ng Manila Time kani-kanina lang. Ayon sa palasyo, ang parehas na impormasyon ay ilalabas din daw ng Malacanang ngayong araw. Nakapaloob sa nasabing matrix ang mga impormasyon tungkol sa ilang media groups na kasabwat sa pagpapabagsak sa gobyerno ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Ilan sa mga sangkot na media organizations sa matrix ay ang Vera Files, Rappler at Philippine Center for Investigatice Journalism (PCIJ). Kasabwat din daw ang National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL). Mapapansin sa itaas na bahagi ng matrix ang pangalan ni Ellen Tordesillas, presidente ng Vera Files at isa sa fact-checkers ng Facebook. Matatandaang sinabi ni Tordesillas na ""professionally done"" at ""riveting"" ang video na nagsasangkot sa pamilya Duterte sa kalakaran ng droga na may pamagat na ""Ang Totoong Narco list"". Ang first episode ng mapanirang video series ay nabutasan ng ilang pro-government bloggers dahil sa mga kahina-hinalang dokumento. Mayroon din isang alkalde mula sa Maguindanao ang umalma matapos makita ang kanyang pirma sa video. Ayon kay Mayor Datu Zamzamin, ninakaw daw ang kanyang pirma para gamitin sa mapanirang video. Matapos ang ilang araw ay binura ng original uploder ang first episode video sa kanyang Youtube channel. ""The source of that (matrix) is from the Office of the President, from the President himself. I don't know how he got one, but it's coming from the President,"" sabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Hindi pa muna magsasampa ng kaso ang gobyerno. Inilabas ng palasyo ang impormasyon para ipaalam sa publiko ang pinaggagawa ng mga nasabing media groups at ipaalam din sa mga nais magpabagsak sa gobyerno na alam ng pamahalaan ang masamang balak nila. ""Eh basta lumabag na sila. Pag meron na silang overt acts to bring down this government, that's a different story... Pero kung ito ito lang muna, eh dati dati naman nilang pinagagagawa ito eh hindi naman sila nagsa-succeed. But the public has the right to know. They have to know,"" ayon kay Panelo. Source: INQ | Manila Times | Manila Times | PC | ABS-CBN | PNA | Datu Zamzamin"
5920,"The trend is becoming clear. With the victory of Malaysian opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan led by former revered strongman Mahathir Mohamad in the recently-concluded Malaysian elections, a region revisits its roots as rapidly-industrialising economies back in the mid- to latter-half of the 20th Century. The return of Mahathir follows a similar ascent to power of Mindanao dark horse Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines in 2016 that also befuddled political observers and turned the political establishment in Manila upside down. The Sydney Morning Herald today makes a similar assessment in its report of the expected aftermath of Malaysia’s first major change in government in 61 years…In a result that has dumbfounded most analysts and turned the political system of Malaysia upside-down after decades of one-party rule, the Muslim-majority nation delivered a resounding vote for change on Wednesday by dumping the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak. The result will go off like a political earthquake in south-east Asia, where there has long been a tendency towards one-party rule and which in recent years has taken a turn towards more authoritarian regimes.Mahathir had led Malaysia for two decades as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and oversaw the awesome development of Malaysia from Third World to a major regional economy that uplifted millions from poverty. The 92 year-old Mahathir is regarded as a pillar in a generation of strongmen that ruled the original countries that went on to found the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) including Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, Indonesia’s Muhammad Suharto, and Prem Tinsulanonda who was key amongst several military dictators who ruled Thailand in the 1970s and 1980s. Joining that group, of course, was the Philippines’ very own former President Ferdinand Marcos who also ruled the Philippines with an iron fist in the 1970s and early 1980s before he was deposed in a military coup in 1986.Mahathir’s return to power comes at an interesting time firstly in the context of the Philippine public’s own recent embrace of the “strongman” leadership of Duterte. Second, the current prime minister of Singapore happens to be Lee Hsien Loong who is the son of Lee Kuan Yew. Third, and back to the Philippine context, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, also the son of a former ASEAN Original is also a strong contender for a return to Malacanang. A return of Marcos to power will see three of the five founding ASEAN member states led by men with the illustrious family names of “strongmen” of ASEAN yore.The ASEAN, now the economic power bloc that was the stuff of the aspirations of its former patriarchial leaders takes its place amongst the world’s cliques of powers that are emerging as part of the developing story of the postulated retreat of Western liberalism worldwide. To the erstwhile dominance of the “goodness” of Western liberalism are the recent proposals presented by the recent “affronts” to it in the form of Britain’s exit from the EU, the rise to power of Donald Trump in the US, the electoral backlash to perverse multiculturalism in Western Europe, the paving the way to a new stance against immigration put up by Eastern Europe, the new Cold War launched against the “good guys” by Russia, and the bid for renewed hegemony in the Orient by a Celestial Empire newly awakened after a century or two of slumber.It is fitting that ASEAN now takes its place in the emerging new world order led once again by the sorts of leaders that originally made it great and oversaw real progress by showing their respective citizens The Money. Interesting times and even more interesting opportunities to learn from what, essentially, are unprecedented developments. It is difficult to issue stamps on approval to where we are headed at the moment but, at least, the change is real and substantial — a far cry from the mere promises of a former world Western “liberal” order that is now evidently failing to evolve as it latches on to what had essentially become rigid and increasingly-obsolete dogma."
5930,"A letter from Duterte through the effort of Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea to the UN Rapporteur is here contains:The Government of the Republic of the Philippines congratulates you on your recent appointment as UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings. We understand that you are mandated, among others, to examine the circumstances surrounding extrajudicial/summary/arbitrary executions and thereafter to submit your findings, conclusions and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. The Philippines has been in the international limelight since the assumption of office of President Rodrigo R. Duterte last July 1, 2016 due to number of drug-related killings which his critics and detractors term “extrajudicial.’Maybe, it is appropriate for us to recall the President’s pronouncement in his inaugural speech that the sale, use and proliferation of illegal drugs shall be stopped by “all means that the law allows.” It is in this context that we invite you to visit our country and see for yourself whether or not the criticisms are legally and factually sound.We are confident that whatever reports, papers or data you may have been furnished with for your perusal and consideration by your immediate predecessor have not swayed you into prejudging the situation in the Philippines. We certainly expect your good self to take a fresh look at the Philippine situation in the light of the drug problem that bedevils our country and have been proven to be more widespread than initially thought. We likewise expect you to look into the circumstances surrounding the killing of our policemen during legitimate drug operations. That way, your picture of the enormity and gravity of our problem, and the audacity of drug personalities can be placed on accurate perspective.Since it is this administration that is maligned as being behind these extrajudicial killings, due process requires that the Pesident of the Philippine Republic, be given the opportunity to propound his own questions which have been nagging him for some time. The right to be heard is great principle which every nation recognizes.I suppose that that would further fortify his right to due process which requires that the party against whom a charge is levelled, is accorded the opportunity to propound his own questions to whomever he deems appropriate, including your good self.After all, the party charged is entitled to know the motive for the investigation, and why the focus is on the Philippines when there are other nations responsible for the death of innocent and defenseless individuals elsewhere in the world.Those are extrajudicial killings too, are they not? Finally, it would be best to put everyone to whom questions are directed to swear under oath that the answers and/or responses they give are the truth and nothing but the truth,” ang laman ng sulat ni Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea sa UN."
5941,"A London-based nongovernment organization has once again tagged the Philippines as the most dangerous country in Asia and third across the globe for environmental activists.In its annual report titled “Defenders of the Earth” released on Thursday, Global Witness called 2016 the “worst year ever” for green advocates due to activist killings “both growing and spreading” worldwide, with at least 200 killed in 24 countries, up from 185 killed in 16 countries in 2015.At least 200 land and environmental activists were slain protecting forests, rivers and land from mining, logging and agricultural companies—the highest annual number on record, the watchdog group said.With 28 activists killed in the Philippines in 2016, the country remains the worst in Asia for the fourth year running, or since 2013 when Global Witness first launched its international report.For 2016, the Philippines also ranked third worldwide for the most number of killings, following only Colombia with 37 and Brazil with 49.“A voracious mining industry makes the Philippines stand out for killings in Asia,” Global Witness said in a statement.Most of the killings were linked to mining, coal and extractive industries. Half of those killed were indigenous people.Global Witness considered mining “the bloodiest trade” in the world, with at least 33 murders worldwide linked to the sector, the report read.Kalikasan-PNE, a partner organization of Global Witness, noted that under the Duterte administration, they had monitored at least 17 environment-related killings."
5950,"After all the misinformation that Rappler has been publishing regarding the Court of Appeals (CA) decision denying its petition to reverse the SEC’s revocation of its media license, one thing stands out: CA is actually siding with the online news source.In arguments before the court, Rappler insisted that it is not a media company and is therefore not subject to the Constitutional provision regarding 100% Filipino ownership.So, in a separate but still unpublished ruling, the CA said that it agrees 100% with Rappler that it is not a media company. “Therefore,” the Court said, “Rappler must now wrap up its online news operations, shut down for good and concentrate on whatever non-media business it is operating.”Buh-bye, Rappler!"
5961,"Falling off a collapsed bridge at a housing project in Zamboanga City on Thursday was bad karma for the government officials who supposedly failed to act on the “dismal” state of housing projects, the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) said on Friday.Kadamay said that while the video clip that showed lawmakers and National Housing Authority (NHA) officials falling into murky waters appeared to be comical, it highlighted the seriousness of the problem facing government-built shelters.“NHA officials seem to have gotten a taste of their own medicine as they experienced firsthand the perils in government housing sites,” the group said in a statement. NHA spokesperson Elsie Trinidad on Friday apologized for the mishap, saying the agency “is going to look closely into this case.”"
5971,"A New People’s Army (NPA) terrorist was killed, while undetermined numbers of other communist terrorists were believed critically wounded, when troops of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade clashed with the rebels late Saturday afternoon in Sitio Mahan-aw, Barangay Bulonay, Impasug-ong town, Bukidnon province.In a flash report received here, the troops were able to seize an AK 47 rifle and live ammunition from the slain NPA.The gunbattle between the 403rd Brigade troops and NPA terrorists happened at 5:30.m. on Saturday.“We have been proactively monitoring their (NPA terrorists) activities in the area with the help of the concerned citizens and we caught them this time,” explained 403rdBrigade commander Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, in a statement sent to The Manila Bulletin late Saturday afternoon.“Sad to say that because of the selfish interest of the terrorists’ leadership, who victimize and lure innocent people to join their money making group, one NPA has to die,” the brigade commander added.Capt. Joe Patrick A. Martinez, regional Army spokesperson, said the remains of the slain NPA will be turned over to the Impasug-ong local government for identification so that it could facilitate decent burial for the rebel.As of press time, troops are still conducting pursuit and clearing operations in upper Bulonay area, also in Impasug-ong town of that same province."
5981,"House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Friday urged the protesters on Friday to respect the Supreme Court decision allowing the burial of the former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig.Alvarez, a close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, made the statement as protests erupted in Metro Manila after Marcos’ remains were sneaked into the Libingan ng mga Bayani and buried around noon without waiting for the Supreme Court decision to be final and executory.“We are a government of laws and not of men,” Alvarez reminded the protesters. “This cardinal principle of a democratic system is the basis of the Supreme Cout ruling allowing the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. We should respect its decision as the final arbiter of all constitutional and legal issues.”Duterte had earlier ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prepare for the burial to fulfill his campaign promise of putting the divisive issue to rest.Alvarez said the administration respects the protesters’ right to freedom of speech, expression and peaceful assembly.“The Duterte administration is well aware that some sectors are vehemently opposed to the Marcos burial at the Libingan,” he said. “They can express their grievances as part of freedom of speech and of expression and they can freely exercise their right to peacefully assemble to articulate their sentiments.”“This is part and parcel of our democratic tradition and the government will uphold these fundamental freedoms and right enshrined in our Constitution,” he added."
5990,"When Megan Young was crowned Miss World last year, the United States claimed her as its own candidate as well. Young was born in the U.S. to an America father and Filipina mother.History repeats itself. This year’s newly-crowned Miss World Philippines is half Filipina and half German. Valerie Weigmann will represent the Philippines in the prestigious international beauty pageant, hoping to become the second Filipina to win the title.Weigmann was a runaway winner. “To be honest, I would have been shocked if the TV celebrity and fashion model hadn’t won. Even during the screening for this year’s Miss World Philippines, I could see it in her stars that bearing the red and silver crown was her destiny,” said Joyce Ann Burton Titular, a former beauty queen herself who now stars in a Philippne television series about beauty pageants. Titular was the Philippines’ candidate in the 1985 Miss Universe Pageant.Upon learning of Weigmann’s victory, Germany abruptly cancelled the 2014 contest to select its candidate for Miss World. ” We’re more than happy to have Miss Weigmann represent Germany as well ” pageant organizers said in Berlin.The 2014 Miss World Pageant will be held December 14 in London.We’ve heard about dual citizenships, but dual beauty queens?"
6001,"Sa pahayag ni MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, sinabi niyang kanselado ang number coding sa Abril 1-3 (Miyerkules Santo, Huwebes Santo at Biyernes Santo), gayundin sa Abril 6 (Lunes) at Abril 9 (Huwebes) kaugnay naman ng paggunita sa Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)."
6010,"Julia Abad, chief of the Presidential Management Staff, and daughter of Budget Secretary Butch Abad recently posted on her Facebook page a statement in defence of her father. She writes that the public should not let allegations made by Janet Lim-Napoles ""shake our belief that a reformist public service is possible.""She goes on to state ""I am Julia Abad, government employee, wife and mother. And I am proud to tell you, Butch Abad is my father.""On the one hand, this sounds like a testament to the Abad family's commitment to a tradition of public service. Considering Ms Abad's mother, Henedina Razon, now serves as Representative of Batanes, not a few Filipinos will see this as confirmation that, for the Abads, POLITICS is a FAMILY BUSINESS. Furthermore, it's a reminder that their family's close relationship with the Aquinos stretches back to 1989 when Butch Abad served as DAR Secretary. Not to be overlooked is the fact that the Abad family's presence in three key positions — PMS Chief, Budget Secretary and Congresswoman — could influence and facilitate the transfer of DAP money to Batanes.-----------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Source:http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/05/budget-secretary-butch-abads-loyal-chief-of-staff-clare-amador-defends-her-boss/comment-page-1/#comment-469990"
6021,"MAKATI city’s Public Safety Department (PSD) has recorded a total of 63,172 traffic violations for which PSD enforcers issued citation tickets from July to December 2016. Compared with the first half of the year, the number of traffic violations recorded by PSD rose by 239 percent during the first six months in office of Mayor Abby Binay. A report from PSD’s Ordinance Violation Receipt Redemption Management Division shows top 10 violations during the six-month period as Disobedience to Traffic Control Signs – 16,473; Disregarding Lane Markings – 8,194 and Disregarding Yellow Box – 468; Road Obstructing – 7,035; Violation of number coding – 5,651; Illegal Parking – 5,106; Smoke Belching – 4,255; Non-use of Seatbelt – 2,859; No Safety Helmet (motorcyclist) – 1,962; Violation of loading Zone – 1,699 and Driving in Sandos/slippers (PUV) – 1,520. From July to December last year, the city government collected a total of P29.6 million in fines for various traffic offenses."
6031,"MalacaÑang on Thursday called it a loss for the US if it stops a planned sale of around 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippine National Police (PNP).Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the Philippines can still look for other sources of firearms and that the aborted deal will ultimately be the loss of the arms supplier.“But then again, this [sale] is a process that the US government and the US Senate will have to fix themselves,” he added.It was earlier reported that Sen. Ben Cardin, a top-ranking Democrat in the Senate foreign relations committee, would ask for the halt of the firearms deal.The PNP was supposed to receive 27,394 basic assault rifles amounting to P1.7 billion next year.The aborted sale was apparently an offshoot of the American government’s concerns over alleged human rights violations under the Duterte administration, particularly in its war on illegal drugs.President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech on Wednesday in Pangasinan, indicated that he might turn to Russia and China for the weapons if the US stops its sale.According to the President, he had “lost respect” for the US, calling those behind the decision “fools” and “monkeys.”“Look at these monkeys, the 26,000 firearms we wanted to buy, they don’t want to sell,” Duterte said, adding that Russia and China had shown a willingness to sell arms to the Philippines,He, however, said he would wait to see if his military wanted to continue using US weapons.“Russia, they are inviting us. China also. China is open, anything you want, they sent me brochures, saying we select there, we’ll give you… But I am holding off because I was asking the military if they have any problem. Because if you have, if you want to stick to America, fine.”CATHERINE S. VALENTE"
6041,"Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Saturday ordered his men to find Supt. Rafael Dumlao after the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) failed to serve the arrest warrant on him for the kidnapping and murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in October.Dumlao was linked to the abduction and killing of Jee by SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, who has been identified by Dela Rosa as the main suspect.Dela Rosa said in a radio interview that he told his men to proceed to Dumlao’s house in Camp Crame on Friday night but Dumlao refused to go with the arresting officers, claiming the warrant was invalid because it only named “alias Dumlao” as the subject.“I am concerned for his safety because he might get killed if he insists on staying outside (the camp). And then a story will be made up that we had him killed. So be careful, I told them. Look for him. Make sure he is alive,” he said.Dumlao had repeatedly denied his involvement in the case. He has been placed under restrictive custody by Dela Rosa but has gone missing since Friday night after leaving Camp Crame."
6051,"Kaisa ang Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA),Tuwing sa pagdiriwang ng Health, Safety, and Sanitation Month ngayon Setyembre sa bisa ng Proclamation No. 115-A, s. 1966.
Paalala ng MMDA sa publiko na mahalagang maging kabahagi ang bawat mamamayan sa pagpapanatili ng isang malusog, malinis at ligtas na komunidad na malayo sa mga sakit.
Payo ng MMDA na magagawa ito sa pamamagitan ng paglilinis ng kapaligiran at palaging paghuhugas ng kamay.
Mahalaga din ang pag-sanitize ng mga bagay na madalas nahahawakan upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng mikrobyo at ng iba’t ibang sakit.
Sinabi pa ng ahensiya na responsibilidad ng bawa’t isa ang kani-kanilang kalusugan at kaligtasan kaya nararapat lamang na sumunod sa mga patakaran at health protocols upang maiwasan ang mga bagay na magdudulot ng masama sa kalusugan."
6061,"Ruiz and Genalyn KabilingTo protect world-renowned Boracay Island from further degradation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will extend its no-build zone for establishments 30 meters from the shoreline.Meantime, the government is giving priority to the cleanup of Boracay and the accountability of erring local officials amid the island destination’s environmental problems, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said, in response to reported concerns President Duterte’s tirade against the pollution in Boracay might adversely affect tourism.The President earlier threatened to shut down Boracay if its environmental woes are not addressed in six months.“ Let’s wait for six months because the President’s mandate to Secretary Cimatu is to give him a recommendation after six months,” Roque said in Filipino when asked about the impact of the President’s statement on tourism traffic in the island.Extended zoneFrom the current 25-meter no-build zone, the DENR will be extending the easement by five meters between the shore and establishments in the beachfront of the island.“There should be no structure there and this is for their protection. When a strong typhoon hits the island, the shoreline gets blasted by the winds first. They are putting themselves in the danger zone by encroaching on the 25+5 meters easement,” DENR-Western Visayas Regional Director Jim Sampulna said.He led a stakeholders’ meeting in Kalibo, Aklan last week to tackle issues hounding Boracay Island.“It was a very positive meeting that had good results as everyone wanted to help fix the hounding issues of Boracay Island,” Sampulna said.Sampulna said the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) had distributed notices of violation (NOVs) to 51 establishments in Boracay Island.This was the first batch of the 300 identified by the EMB that have violated conditions in their environmental compliance certificates.“We will be calling them for a technical conference and from there, they need to work on the required measures to address their violations. If they will not shape up, we will be escalating their cases to the Pollution Adjudication Board . The PAB will then decide whether to penalize them or totally close them down,” he added."
6071,"~By KENNETH HARE HERNANDEZThe Department of Health (DoH) Epidemiology Bureau has recorded additional 44 firecracker-related injuries, bringing to 406 the total cases since the start of the surveillance period from December 21 to January 3. Of the 406 cases recorded in sentinel hospitals, 219 are from Metro Manila, of which 103 cases from Manila; Quezon City – 26; Valenzuela – 16; Pasig – 15; Marikina City – 14; Caloocan – 12; Mandaluyong – 11; Las Piñas – six and other towns with 16 incidents. Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) has recorded 41 cases; Ilocos Region with 40; Western Visayas – 37; Central Luzon – 25; and Bicol Region – 15. The surveillance period’s cases of 210 are 34 percent lower than the same period last year and 53 percent lower than the five-year average from 2012 to 2016. As of Wednesday, there have been no recorded deaths and fireworks ingestion while one stray bullet case was recorded in Caloocan, according to the Philippine National Police. Majority or 79 percent of the cases were males, ages ranging from 11 months to 69 years old, while most involving 13-year-old boys, with 216 of them were active users. Illegal firecracker “Piccolo” remains the top cause of injuries with 136 case while others were caused by “Boga” and “5-Star.”"
6080,"While Pope Francis was being warmly received (and almost worshipped) in his visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines this week, another Pope was being trashed in Hollywood.We’re talking about cinematographer Dick Pope who was just nominated for an Oscar for the film, “Mr. Turner.”When his nomination was announced by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, she called him ‘Dick Poop.’Pope took it all in stride saying that he had been called a lot worse, like “Dick Pee.”Isaacs quickly apologized and denied rumors that she intentionally called the cinematographer ‘Poop’ as a way of protest for the non-inclusion of a single woman or Person of color in this year’s Oscar nominations.We anxiously await Mr. Pope’s acceptance speech of he wins the award. Will he get back at Isaac and call her ‘Adele Dazeem?’"
6091,"The Department of Finance (DoF) on Tuesday said it has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health (DoH) on the construction of drug rehabilitation facilities to be funded by a 50-million yuan grant from China.In a statement, the DoF explained that the 50-million yuan aid, equivalent to $7.5 million, is half of the 100-million yuan grant that China has pledged to the Philippines during President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to Beijing in October last year, through an Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation signed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd and China Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation states that “in accordance with the needs of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the Government of the People’s Republic of China agrees to provide the Government of the Philippines with a grant of RMB Yuan 100,000,000 [one hundred million Renminbi Yuan only], which shall be disbursed to implement the projects for illegal drugs and law enforcement security cooperation.”According to Dominguez, the other half of the grant will be used to procure law-enforcement-related equipment to be divided among the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Presidential Security Group.The DoF said the agreement with the DoH, the Finance department is tasked to coordinate with the Chinese government all concerns that will ensure the “successful and smooth implementation of the sub-grant to the DoH.”Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Edita Tan said the agreement also states that the DoF shall “coordinate with and/or secure the approval of the DoH” on all matters relating to the design and specifications of the sub-grant” and the “supply, delivery, implementation and acceptance arrangements” related to it.In turn, the DoH will be responsible for, among others, identifying and providing the sites for the proposed drug rehabilitation facilities and securing the necessary clearances, approvals and permits for their construction, Tan said.The DoH is also responsible for providing the necessary information and assistance to the Chinese government or its designated consultants to enable the latter to facilitate the supply and delivery and installation or construction of the drug rehabilitation facilities, according to the agreement.Under the agreement, counterpart funding for the construction, installation and maintenance of utilities necessary for the smooth operation and implementation of the sub-grant shall be provided by the DoH, either through its own budget, assistance from the private sector or, if allowable, the Chinese government.MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO"
6101,"The Basic Education Facilities Fund has allocated P3.59 billion for the construction and repair of public schools in Western Visayas.Al Fruto, assistant regional director of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said the P3.59 billion covers construction and repair of 2,473 classrooms in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo provinces.“DPWH-6 assured it is fast-tracking completion of these projects,” said Ma. Gemma M. Ledesma, regional director of Department of Education (DepEd).DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineer Rodney Gustilo said the city and province of Iloilo have the biggest allocation, with almost P1.45 billion. This covers 789 classrooms in Iloilo towns and 166 classrooms in Iloilo City.P962.37 million is allocated for schools in Capiz, P801 million for Antique, P272.97 million for Guimaras, and P108.95 million for Aklan.DPWH is also implementing a P16.89-million school project funded by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) in Capiz.Ledesma said funding for the improvement of school facilities can also come for local governments and the private sector.“We’re getting help for our students,” he said."
6111,"The Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI) and historical preservation groups said the China-aided project to build a bridge connecting Intramuros to Binondo would “destroy” some historical sites of the Walled City.“Our stand is that preservation of heritage is paramount. We are not saying to preserve, you should not develop,” CCPI President Jose Luis U. Yulo, Jr. said on Monday.“No new bridge or construction should destroy heritage. That is basic. Any new construction can destroy new heritage by demolishing an existing heritage, by endangering it or by demolishing the atmosphere in many ways,” he added.Yulo said the Binondo-Intramuros bridge project plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) “violated” the National Cultural Heritage law.“It was totally against and in violation of the national historical commission law,” he said, adding that there is “no use” for it.In July, Virgilio Castillo, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Roads Management Cluster project director of the bridge project, notified the CCPI that the construction would “partially affect the CCPI” by “taking symmetrically from its property the right-of-way requirement.”The CCPI suggested that Del Pan Bridge should be expanded or a new bridge built beside it to decongest the traffic jams brought by cargo trucks that “travel to and from North and South Piers.”The group said it would also clear traffic congestion along Roxas Boulevard “and it will not damage Intramuros structures and environment with pollution and noise vibration.”Meanwhile, the Intramuros Administration (IA) said it has yet to give clearance to the project.“It must ensure that Intendencia must not be affected and that the movement of the bridge must not prejudice our restoration of Baluarte de Sto. Domingo, which is across Magallanes,” Guiller Asido, IA administrator, said.Intendencia was the first home of the Philippine Senate.Architect Joel Rico, president of the Guild of Architects in Conservation, echoed this, saying the proposed bridge compromises the Intendencia, which “would collapse in one year’s time because of the impact of the vehicles.”He called on the government to put the bridge project on hold."
6121,"Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon ended up being detained indefinitely in the Senate after he refused to testify at the inquiry into the P6.4-billion “shabu” (crystal meth) shipment from China, and the payola system at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).Faeldon, who came to the Senate on Monday, told Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the blue ribbon committee, that he would rather face the court than testify at the hearing.He will be detained “until he decides to come over or until the Senate says ‘you may go,’” Gordon told reporters after he went to see the former Customs chief, now detained in the Office of the Sergeant at Arms on the basement of the Senate premises.Corruption complaintLast week, Faeldon was cited for contempt by the committee for his refusal to attend the hearing twice despite a subpoena.Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who accused Faeldon of accepting bribes at the BOC, said he was set to file a complaint against the former customs commissioner for alleged corruption.“Let’s just say we have completed our documentation and … we are about to draft our complaint that I will lodge before the Ombudsman against Faeldon and other customs officials,” Lacson told reporters after the hearing.Senate basementWearing a white shirt emblazoned with “Truth is Justice,” he went directly to the Senate basement as the hearing at the Senate session hall continued.Gordon called for a recess so he could go downstairs and talk to Faeldon after he said he did not want the latter to be forcibly taken to the hearing.Speaking to reporters after meeting with Faeldon, Gordon said the former BOC chief told him he did not want to testify at the hearing after he said Lacson and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV had prejudged him of being involved in corrupt activities at the BOC.Faeldon has denied accepting bribes from unscrupulous importers in exchange for the release of their shipment without BOC inspection."
6131,"By Bonita ErmacThe National Bureau of Investigation operatives arrested the suspect for kidnapping with murder in Barangay Ilian in the Municipality of Piagapo, Lanao del Sur by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Wenida Papandayan.Atty. Abdul Jamal Dimaporo, NBI Iligan District Office Chief identified the suspect as Abdullah Dimakuta alias “Iduk”. He faces kidnapping and murder charges before the branch 9 of the Regional Trial Court in Marawi City for committing the crimes last 2014.Dimaporo said Dimakuta was part of the group who abducted a relative, who was 24 years old that time, and behead him when their demand was not given.Dimaporo didn’t disclose the victim’s identity and the said demand.“Pinugutan at chinap-chop nila ang biktima nang hindi binigay ang demand nila at itinapon sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa Piagapo (They killed and chopped the victim’s body into pieces and threw it in areas of Piagapo when they didn’t give their demands),” Dimaporo said.The suspect was already committed while other 20 suspects are still at-large."
6140,"The Independent reports that a victim of clerical sex abuse has said Pope Francis told him God made him gay and his sexuality “does not matter”.Juan Carlos Cruz spoke privately with the pontiff last week about the abuse he suffered at the hands of a prominent Chilean priest.After his sexuality came up in conversation, Francis reportedly told him: “Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like that and loves you like this and I don’t care. The Pope loves you like this. You have to be happy with who you are.”Reacing to the Pope’s statement, 10% of the Filipino Catholic Bishops and priests interviewed by The Adobo Chronicles said that they fully support the Pontiff’s stance on homosexuality.It’s just coincidence that 10% is the common estimate of the number of homosexuals, according to the Kinsey Reports on male sexuality."
6151,"Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday dismissed the call for seven Supreme Court justices to inhibit themselves from the deliberations on a quo warranto petition against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno due to their “antagonism” toward her.Alvarez argued that the magistrates were just doing their job. “Besides, there are no personal interests involved here.”The Speaker said the Supreme Court had the power to decide whether Sereno’s appointment was legitimate.Solicitor General Jose Calida filed the quo warranto petition in the Supreme Court on Monday, alleging that Sereno was unlawfully holding the position.Calida claimed that Sereno’s appointment in 2012 was void from the start because she did not comply with the requirement of submitting her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth for the previous 10 years before she applied for the top post in the judiciary.Opposition callShortly after Calida filed the petition, the so-called Magnificent Seven opposition bloc asked the seven magistrates, including six who testified during the impeachment hearing against Sereno in the House, to recuse themselves from ruling on the petition.The House group reiterated its call on Tuesday, noting that the seven justices had “figured prominently in the ouster move against Sereno, which ended in forcing her to go on an indefinite leave.”The opposition lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman did not name the seven in the statement, but the associate justices who appeared in the House hearing were Teresita de Castro, Samuel Martires, Mariano del Castillo, Andres Reyes, Lucas Bersamin and Diosdado Peralta.Insider reports about the full-court proceedings last week said the group had pressured Sereno into quitting or going on leave. Sereno then announced she was taking an indefinite leave.‘Manifest antagonism’“These seven justices cannot be impartial jurists because of their manifest antagonism against the chief magistrate,” Lagman said.“Under these adverse circumstances, due discretion on the part of the affected justices as well as the Rules of Court and Code of Judicial Ethics demand their inhibition,” he added.Lagman said the seven justices must not be allowed to seize the opportunity presented by the pending quo warranto petition to consummate their design to oust the Chief Justice.Asked how he thought the Supreme Court would rule on the quo warranto petition, Alvarez replied: “I don’t know. Anything can happen.”"
6160,"Itong nagdaang araw, naging laman ng social media ang pagpanaw ni Richard Santillan, ang bodyguard/close-in security aide ni election whistle blower Attorney Glenn Chong. Si Santillan ay napatay ng mga pulis Rizal sa isang operasyon. Ayon sa mga pulis sa naturang lugar, mayroon umano silang intel na kriminal si Santillan. Ang intel na ito ay mariin namang pinabulaanan ni Atty. Chong, pamilya nito at ng mga kilalang personalidad sa social media. Noong Martes ay inihatid na sa huling hantungan si Santillan. Sa video ng CinEmotion Digital Films, makikita ang lubos na pagdadalamhati ng mga kaanak at kakilala ni Santillan. Kita rin sa video ang paghihinagpis ng employer nito na si Atty. Chong. Sa pinakahuling balita kaugnay sa pagpaslang kay Santillan, magsasampa na ng kaso ang ahensiyang pinamumunuan ni Atty. Persida Acosta, ang Public Attorney's Office (PAO). Ayon kasi sa pagsusuri ng PAO Forensics, may senyales daw na pinahirapan muna si Santillan bago pinatay. Ito po ang ilan sa mga reaksyon ng mga kababayan natin sa kaso ng pagpatay kay Santillan. Source: CineEmotion Digital Films"
6171,"Para kay Jema Galanza, ang 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference na ang pinakamatamis at pinakamahirap na torneong pinagreynahan ng Creamline.
Matapos matalo sa PLDT High Speed Hitters sa kanilang unang la­ro ay limang sunod na pa­nalo ang hinataw ng Cool Smashers para kaagad makabalik sa pamatay na porma.
Nakapasok sila sa Qualifying Round kung sa­an naman sila inilaglag ng Cignal Super Spikers sa play-in stage.
Pinatumba ng Creamline ang Akari sa play-in ba­go niresbakan ang PLDT sa unang laban sa single round-robin semifinals.
Muling yumukod ang Cool Smashers sa Super Spi­kers sa ikalawa nilang la­ro sa semis kasunod ang four-set win sa Farm Frsh Foxies papasok sa best-of-three championship series.
Bumawi ang Creamline at winalis ang Cignal sa ka­nilang titular showdown para kunin ang ika-11 PVL crown.
“Para sa akin ito ‘yung hap­­piest and most memo­ra­ble na championship na napanalunan namin kasi ‘yung mga teams na nata­lo kami, nakabawi kami nga­yong conference,” sabi ni Galanza.
Nagposte ang dating Adamson Lady Falcons star ng triple-double na 12 points, 19 excellent digs at 16 excellent receptions sa 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11 pagsibak ng Cool Smashers sa Super Spi­kers sa Game Two no­ong Huwebes sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Bago kami nakapasok talaga sa Finals, talagang di­naan namin lahat nu’ng tumalo sa amin. And alam mo, ‘yun pa lang, parang na­kaka-proud na. And na-prove din namin sa self namin na kaya talaga namin na mag-champion basta sama-sama kami,” dagdag ng 29-anyos na si Galanza.
Huling nagkampeon ang Creamline noong 2024 PVL Invitationals kung saan nila tinalo ang Cignal, 3-2, sa kanilang title series."
6181,"Exasperated with a slow bureaucracy, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez admitted to pressuring an official of the Department of Energy (DOE) to release a permit for a solar farm project in Zamboanga City, without the knowledge of Energy Secretary Al Cusi.The Inquirer learned that Lopez sent text messages to Mario Marasigan, director of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau last September, urging him to release the renewable energy service contract (RESC) of French-backed firm EcoGlobal Inc.EcoGlobal applied for an RESC in mid-2015 for a $100-million, 30-megawatt solar farm that would power up the Zamboanga Peninsula. The solar farm is to be built at Zamboanga Freeport and Economic Zone in San Ramon village in Zamboanga City.‘Goooooooood’But RESC requirements made the application long and tedious. “Since EcoGlobal was willing to do solar in Zamboanga—and government bureaucracy was not moving—yes, I called Mario to fast-track it,” Lopez told the Inquirer in a text message when sought for comment.Part of the text message to Marasigan read: “Mario, it’s important for the country to go the route of renewable energy. Eco Global is not even getting any subsidy so their (sic) putting in renewable is GOOOOOOOOOD for Zamboanga and goooooo (sic) for the country!!!! … They have been waiting for the contract for 10 months.“IT GOES AGAINST THE DIRECTIVES OF PRESIDENT DUTERTE … It’s also not good to make promises you can’t keep … They are not asking for any favors … Just the rule of law—the protocol mandated 45 days!! You are sooo behind schedule Mario … Okay. Let’s get this going.. Take care…”Marasigan replied: “My apologies Ma’am and thank you for your understanding.”Lopez told the Inquirer she did not encroach on Cusi’s turf. “I asked him if it was OK I do alternative in off-grid areas. And that is what I am doing. My mandate is the environment,” she said.The Inquirer learned about this unusual setup after two EcoGlobal employees expressed alarm upon seeing their boss, John-Philippe Henry, at a press conference with Lopez on Feb. 27.At the press briefing, Lopez announced that the French public company SIAAP (the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority) would undertake the Pasig River Rehabilitation program through EcoGlobal Foundation, of which Henry is a trustee.Nonpayment of wagesSabrina Simbulan, EcoGlobal’s former vice president and shareholder, and a former EcoGlobal Foundation trustee, filed estafa and qualified theft cases against Henry and his associates.Vienna Tañada, who remains with the company, filed a nonpayment of wages case against Henry in the labor department.Simbulan and Tañada said EcoGlobal was cash-strapped because of Henry’s alleged mismanagement. It was Tañada who provided the Inquirer with a copy of Lopez’s text messages to Marasigan.How did Tañada get them? Lopez had apparently sent Henry copies of her text messages to Marasigan. Henry copied and pasted them on the Whatsapp chat group of the EcoGlobal team handling the RESC, which included Tañada.Trip to ParisIn the Whatsapp thread, the then EcoGlobal president and chair, Alberto Dalusung III, appeared adamant that EcoGlobal stick to the process and discouraged Henry from going straight to Lopez or Cusi for the RESC.Dalusung said on Oct. 1 that Energy Undersecretary Felix Fuentebella had informed a lawyer of the company that Cusi got mad that Lopez went straight to Marasigan.Because of this, Cusi disallowed Fuentebella from joining the Oct. 2-7 trip to Paris organized by EcoGlobal for Lopez and her delegation. But Lopez said she invited Cusi to the trip.Sought for comment, Cusi said in a text message: “Sorry… but I don’t really know the problem,” referring to Lopez’s text messages to Marasigan. Cusi also denied preventing Fuentebella from joining the Paris trip.Lopez said SIAAP shouldered the trip to Paris where she met with the French Ministry of Environment and SIAAP officials. Henry told the Inquirer the same thing on Sunday.But the Inquirer obtained EcoGlobal’s Sept. 29 letter of guarantee to the French Embassy signed by Henry. He said: “EcoGlobal Inc. will take the full responsibility for all of their airfares, hotel accommodations, insurance coverage and travel allowances during the entire business trip in France.”For saying that she pressured Marasigan and for going on a trip paid for by a private company, Lopez may be liable for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.Lopez’s involvement with EcoGlobal does not end with her lobbying Marasigan to grant the RESC, which the company finally received in January.Intracorporate disputeShe is also upset that EcoGlobal’s intracorporate dispute is getting in the way of the solar farm project.The dispute began after trustees of EcoGlobal Foundation discovered that Henry allegedly misused its funds.SIAAP and other foreign donors send funds to the foundation for projects like rehabilitating the Pasig River.However, Henry, a foundation trustee and its chair and president, allegedly misappropriated the funds for his personal use, said Simbulan, who filed a qualified theft complaint against Henry in the National Bureau of Investigation.Simbulan also claimed that early this year, Henry and his associates illegally removed her, Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan and Sandra Palou as foundation trustees.Dalusung also filed an estafa case against Henry and associates for illegally removing him as EcoGlobal Inc. president and shareholder last November.Shareholder Dedes ZobelMercedes “Dedes” Zobel, a former EcoGlobal Inc. shareholder, likewise filed a falsification complaint against Henry and colleague Jean Yves Rovani after the two allegedly tampered with the original memorandum of agreement (MOA) and forged her initials.In the original MOA, Zobel would have a 10-percent share in EcoGlobal’s waste-to-energy plant and solar farm project."
6191,"Expect residents of this premier city of Camarines Sur to walk the streets today in the shoes—or rather the flip-flops—of their hero, the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash off Masbate province four years ago.Flip-flops or rubber slippers were the favorite footwear of Naga’s longtime mayor who used to visit the city’s villages to get firsthand information on the problems of his constituents, said Allen Reondanga, chief of this city’s events, protocol and public information office.Robredo’s tsinelas (slippers) leadership touched the lives of ordinary folk who will commemorate his fourth death anniversary today with an essay writing and poster-making contests as well as other activities focused on his legacy, said Alec Francis Altea Santos, chief of this city’s arts, culture and tourism office.Vice President Leni Robredo, the former mayor’s widow, was also expected to attend a Mass and a program at Eternal Gardens here, Reondanga said.Flower offeringIn Masbate, at least 10 rafts representing the 30 villages of Masbate City will set sail this morning to bring local officials and other participants to the site at Masbate Pass off the shoreline of Masbate City to offer flowers at the crash site, according to Mayor Rowena Tuason.In 2014, the 3-kilometer Nursery Boulevard, which cuts through four villages overlooking Masbate Pass, was renamed Jesse Robredo Boulevard during the commemoration of the official’s second death anniversary.President Duterte earlier declared Aug. 18 a special nonworking holiday in Naga City to allow residents to observe Robredo’s fourth death anniversary.Proclamation No. 37, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Aug. 9, acknowledged Robredo as a “champion of good governance” and as “instrumental in the implementation of far-reaching reforms in local governance.”The proclamation said Robredo’s “many virtues as public servant have permanently earned him [the] gratitude of the city he led, and the Republic he served.”Robredo served as mayor of Naga City for 19 years, from 1988 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010. His stint earned him numerous citations for good governance practices, including the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2000.Robredo was then President Benigno Aquino III’s interior secretary when his plane plunged into the sea off Masbate in 2012. He had attended an event in Cebu City and was on his way home to Naga City.Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr., who served as councilor and vice mayor under Robredo’s administration, said the late mayor laid the groundwork for people’s participation in governance in Naga during his first term, from 1988 to 1992.Bordado said Robredo crafted a good governance model that served as template for all of the city’s programs that were driven by people’s participation.Robredo, he said, envisioned “a city for the people,” where growth with equity was the top concern.He thus established and encouraged partnerships with various sectors to ensure that Naga’s limited resources were augmented and enhanced by private groups, including nongovernment and people’s organizations, according to Bordado.“He didn’t even have to be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani to secure this legacy,” Bordado said."
6200,"There is a reason why Filipinos always opt for the ever popular Cinderella story. They want someone or something to come swoop down and change everything for the better for them.But they conveniently forget that original story of Cinderella had to do something to make her dreams come through. Shame that this version is always ignored in favor of the Disneyfied popular version.Needless to say, Filipinos need to learn that the one who controls the story is themselves.--------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/05/the-search-for-pinoy-heroes/comment-page-1/#comment-1153254"
6211,"American and Filipino war veterans were honored on Friday at the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City (Metro Manila).War veterans of both nations participated in the event, which was led by United States Chargé d’Affaires Michael Klecheski and Eduardo del Rosario, Philippine Defense Undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Retiree Affairs.Klecheski and del Rosario recognized the united stand of Filipino and American soldiers against war.“Our soldiers have worked, fought and died together,” Klecheski said.“The soldiers of our two countries have served at war, peace time and during disasters,” he added.Del Rosario said, “May the sacrifices of our heroes be passed on to the next generation that is peaceful, humane and developed.”The US Embassy in Manila and its affiliated offices were closed to the public on Veterans Day, an American holiday.Regular services will resume on Monday.Veterans Day is being celebrated every year in the US on November 11, the day that major hostilities of World War I formally ended with the signing of the Armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.MICHAEL JOE T. DELIZO"
6221,"Gumuho na ang mga kasinungalingan matapos ang mga patunay sa presensya ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kagitingan, batay sa mga video, photos at ulat ng mainstream media, taliwas sa maling impormasyon na ipinakakalat sa social media na namatay na ang Pangulo, ayon sa lider ng makabayang grupo.
Dagdag pa aniya rito, na hindi lamang ito pinabulaanan ng Pangulo, ipinakita pa niya ang katotohanan, nang sa harap ng mga mamamahayag ay nag-ehersisyo at tumakbo sa loob ng Malacañang.
Ito ba ang sinasabing “patay” o “may sakit”? Dito pa lamang, wasak na ang kasinungalingan,” ani Chairman Emeritus ng apat na makabayang grupo na si Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia.
“Mas nakababahala ang ganitong padron ng disimpormasyon. Hindi ito nagkataon lamang. May malinaw na layunin na guluhin ang publiko, paghiwalayin ang bansa, at ilihis ang atensyon mula sa mahahalagang isyu,” aniya pa.
Kahanga-hanga aniya ang pagiging kalmado at seryoso ng Pangulo, na patuloy na kumikilos upang tugunan ang mga suliranin ng bansa, kabilang ang pagresponde sa krisis sa langis sa pamamagitan ng pagsuspinde ng excise tax sa LPG at kerosene.
Tama lamang aniya na papanagutin sa ilalim ng Cybercrime Prevention Act at iba pang paglabag sa batas ang nasa likod ng mapanlinlang impormasyon."
6230,"Since July 5, 1946, the Philippines has had a great diplomatic relationship with Colombia, with foreign embassies established by both countries locally. But it took one despicable act on the part of some Colombians for the Philippines to immediately sever its ties with the South American country.On New Year’s eve, while most people around the world were lighting up fireworks to welcome 2016, some Colombian sore losers chose to light up the Philippines’ Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe, and pageant host Steve Harvey. Well, not them in person, but their effigies.The group of Colombians can’t seem to get over the fact that their representative to the recent Miss Universe Pageant, despite being temporarily crowned Miss Universe, was, in reality, the first runner-up. Harvey misread the cue card and announced that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez had won the crown only to correct himself minutes later to say that Wurtzbach was the actual winner.Filipinos are a loving, hospitable and laid-back people, but when it comes to their beauty queens, it’s a different story. Anyone or any country that humiliates or offends their Filipina pageant title holders will certainly suffer severe consequences. Yes, even the cutting of diplomatic ties.As of press time, the Colombian embassy in Quezon City was still occupied by their diplomats. They are still processing the shocking news they received from the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department."
6241,"Sandra Cam might have come across as a nobody to an airport worker last month, but she’s now one of the most recognized and reviled personalities on social media, no thanks to the litany of curses rained on her by netizens appalled by her abusive conduct at the VIP lounge of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).Labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) also urged the airport worker and her manager “to file the appropriate charges” against Cam who, before the airport incident, described herself as a jueteng (local numbers game) whistle-blower.The labor group also said that Cam’s pending Cabinet appointment should be reconsidered.But President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday confirmed that he was willing to offer Cam a government post in return for her help in his campaign and that he was leaving it to the people to judge her after the airport incident.“She helped me during the last election. I’ll be frank. Her behavior? Let the public judge it. She helped me and I will help her. That’s a debt of gratitude,” Mr. Duterte told reporters in Baguio where he led the inauguration of the government channel PTV Cordillera hub.“If she would ask for work, I’d give her work. It’s not because she was shouting there. That’s her business,” he added.But Mr. Duterte said he did not know yet what position he could give Cam as there is currently no vacancy in the Cabinet.“We’ll have to kill someone from the Cabinet [because] it’s already complete,” he said in jest.‘Grand plan’Reacting to the nasty posts about her, Cam said on the GMA News Twitter account: “This is [a] grand plan by Liberal Party to destroy those close to the Duterte administration.”On Feb. 16, the Masbate-bound Cam berated a Naia employee and her manager when she was not accorded the VIP treatment she had expected.She also took offense when informed that use of the VIP lounge came with a fee.Cam gave the employee a tongue-lashing liberally laced with curses and dropped the name of Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, saying she was going to be appointed to a government post in three months’ time.Said PM’s Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda: “If accounts in news reports were true, then the injured parties, particularly the employee and the manager, should file appropriate charges.”The group cited a similar case that had an airline ground staff filing slander charges against a party-list representative for calling her a “menopausal bitch.”The congressman ended up apologizing to her.Like other netizens, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat posted on Twitter: “I hope she doesn’t get appointed. Or else, just like (Perfecto) Yasay, reject. Grabe, pati ako, never nagamit VIP lounge (I’ve never used the VIP lounge myself),” he twitted.‘Self-entitled’Other netizens called Cam “self-entitled” and “arrogant,” and advised her not to use the VIP lounge if she didn’t want to pay the P1,120 fee.Said @PerciCen: “Baka dapat naka-sash & crown si Madam Sandra para makilala siya saan man siya pumunta (She should wear a sash and crown so she’d be recognized wherever she goes).“Such uncouth behavior! Cam’s sense of entitlement is astronomical. Speaks volumes on most of D’s (hench)men.” posted @JazzyJean8Noted @tweety27c: “Wala pang position ’yan, ha. Paano na ’pag natuloy na bigyan? (And to think that she has yet to get the post and already, she’s acting that way). This should serve as fair warning to gov’t. (fingers x’d).”Said @lyrerook: “I feel so sorry for the worker (who) was just doing her job. Customer service is the worst when you have self-entitled people like this.”@bluaudio wrote: “Supertyphoon Sandra has just entered the PAR, packing center winds of 1,000 kph. It is expected to hit Davao City.”Sneered @ArbetBernardo: Tumakbo sa nakaraang halalan tapos pambayad na Php1.2k wala??? (how could she have run in the elections when she couldn’t even pay the P1,120 fee?)Agreed @missjover: Kung wala kang pambayad ’wag kang mag-VIP lounge. Buwiset. (If you don’t have the money, don’t go to the VIP lounge.)ArroganceSaid @1nutty_hazel: ANG KAPAL! (Shameless!) And she’s going to get a Cabinet position? My taxes will be paying this feelingera? Ang yabang! (Such arrogance!)”For those who doubt the story, @puretuts had this to say: “Yes Sandra Cam who. E labas ang CCTV bec some doubt the story (Bring out the CCTV recording!)”Said @primpaypon: “Even a government position can’t give you class. We can only wish that the CA (Commission on Appointments) also values social graces. Scam Cam.”@marocharim looked back at the Duterte supporters’ Feb. 25 rally at the Rizal Park to make a point. “Your daily reminder that Pres. Advisor Sandra Cam spoke before a crowd on Friday to say “Masarap pumatay at mamatay para sa ating bayan (It feels good to kill and be killed for the country).”@nakngtweeting reminded netizens anew about her Rizal Park quote: “Tsk! Such sense of entitlement. S’ya din yung “masarap pumatay” para sa bayan ’di ba?! Kaloka (Wasn’t she the speaker who said it’s good to kill for the country? Crazy)!Swell-headed@acbernales used hashtags to describe Cam: Her Majesty, Sandra Scam. #Bastos #FeelingVIP #LumakiAngUlo (Rude, swell-headed).Said Miranda: “Workers are trained to abide with established protocols in the workplace. They were not hired to suffer indignity from powers-that-be or worse, from a VIP wannabe.”Miranda cited the case of Philippine Airlines customer service agent Sarah Bonnin Ocampo, who won a favorable settlement in a slander and serious misconduct case she had filed against former Ave party-list Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay.“In the case of Cam, it is the exploitation of nonexistent power against the lowly airport worker. She can be more dangerous with an official ID from Malacañang,” the PM official said."
6251,"Renowned for the richness of its more than 400 years of history, there is still a lot of interesting facts to discover about Asia’s oldest existing university, the University of Santo Tomas.Here is the #InquirerSeven Facts you might not know about UST:1. UST was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Santissimo Rosario, which was later on replaced by Colegio de Santo Tomas.2. The Doctrina Christiana, the first book printed in the Philippines, was produced in 1593 by the old Imprenta de los Dominicanos de Manila, now known as the UST Publishing House.3. On May 20, 1865, UST acted as the country’s “Department of Education” for directing and supervising all schools under the royal order of Queen Isabella II of Spain.4. During the Japanese occupation, the UST Intramuros campus was bombed and destroyed while the UST campus in España became an internment camp for the civilian families of allied forces and nationals living in the country.5. Four Filipino presidents were produced by UST namely: Manuel L. Quezon, Sergio S. Osmeña, Jose P. Laurel, and Diosdado P. Macapagal.6. The figures of Piolo Pascual, Charlene Gonzales, Rev. Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., and Monina Orlina on the Quattromondial symbolize Excellence, Erudition, Spirituality and Tradition, respectively.7. UST is the only school in the Philippines visited by three Popes four times. Pope Paul VI in 1970, Pope John Paul II in 1981 and in 1995, and Pope Francis in 2015.READ: Message of Pope Francis to Filipino youth at UST"
6260,"The Philippines may have failed to bag this year’s title of Miss Intermational, but another Filipina beauty has just been crowned Miss International Queen!Trixid Maristela from the Philippines was crowned on November 6 at pageant finals held in Pattaya City, Thailand. She received her crown from last year’s winner, Isabella Santiago of Venezuela.This is the second pageant win for the Philippines. In 2012, Kevin Balot was chosen the winner.Miss International Queen is the world’s most prestigious and largest beauty pageant for tramsgender women from around the world. It has been held annually since 2004.The contestants must have been born male, can be pre- or post-operation and between the age of 18 to 36. They can only represent their country of birth or that listed in their passport. Some of the pageant objectives are: creating transgender rights awareness among international communities, to build friendship, sportsmanship and exchange ideas between international LGBT communities.The prize includes US $12,500 in cash plus the option of plastic surgery.Asked by The Adobo Chronicles what she plans to do with her prize, Maristela said, “I’d like to spend the prize money helping Manila’s homeless children so that they do not have to go begging in the streets, and perhaps get a school education.”“As far as the plastic surgery is concerned, why bother? I’m already beautiful. That’s why I won this pageant. I love how I look and I don’t need to change anything,” she added.Good answer!"
6271,"THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the ball rolling for the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters and the filing of petitions for registration of political parties and coalition of political parties.The commission en banc approved over the weekend Comelec Resolutions 10392 and 10395 in preparation for the May 13, 2019 national and local elections.Under CR 10392, voters can start filing their application for registration on July 2. Registration of voters will end on September 29. From July 2 to Sept. 29, Comelec offices around the country will also accept applications for transfer/transfer with reactivation, reactivation, change/correction of entries/and including/reinstatement of records in the list of voters.Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the commission wants to give qualified Filipinos the opportunity to register and exercise their right to vote.Meanwhile, CR 10395 fixes July 1, 2018 as the last day of filing petitions for registration of political parties and August 31, 2018 for coalition of political parties.Comelec Commissioner Luie Tito Guia earlier said an early deadline is necessary to give the poll body ample time to review the petitions.On March 20, the Comelec promulgated Resoluton 10273 delisting 24 party-list organizations for not participating in the last two elections or failing to obtain seat/s in the two previous polls.Under Republic Act 7941 or the Party-list System Law, the Comelec may remove or cancel the registration of a party-list group if it fails to participate in the last two preceding elections or fails to obtain at least two percentum of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two preceding elections for the constituency in which it has registered."
6280,"Yesterday, we reported that according to a soon-to-be-released national poll by the Social Weather Networks (SWS), there is a four-way tie among declared and potential 2016 presidential candidates Grace Poe, Mar Roxas, Jojo Binay and Rodrigo Duterte.To confirm the poll results, we conducted our own informal survey among our readers.Lo and behold, we have a significantly different result.Duterte, the candidate that has not officially declared his presidential bid, topped our survey with an overhwelming 48% of the votes — 26 (22%) and 29 (19%) points ahead of Roxas and Poe, respectively. Vice President was dead last at 11%.With a margin of error of plus or minus 3%, Roxas and Poe are in a statistical tie.Will Duterte now change his mind and finally declare his run for the presidency?Stay tuned!"
6291,"The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is warning the public against fake enumerators who extort money from families in exchange for a promise to include them as beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).The warning came after the regional office received a report from a concerned individual in Cebu City.Based on the report, a certain woman introduced herself to the concerned individual as a DSWD employee and said she was looking for 400 families who wanted to become new beneficiaries of 4Ps.“This person is taking advantage of the ongoing household assessment of Listahanan,” said DSWD Director for Central Visayas Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre.Listahanan is handling On-Demand Applications (ODA) for the 28,680 households which were not assessed in 2015.The fake enumerator asked the concerned individual and her neighbors to list down their names and birth dates. She then asked for the “cedula” and voter’s certificate as requirements.When the concerned individual and her neighbors could not produce a cedula or voter’s certificate, the impostor volunteered to process the documents for P128 (P50 for the cedula and P78 for the voter’s certificate) and assured them of their inclusion as possible program beneficiaries.“We would like to inform the public that we do not solicit money from people for them to become beneficiaries of our different programs especially in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” Macapobre said."
6300,"The journalists have been pounding the President-elect Rodrigo Duterte in press conferences but in all honesty and brutality, Duterte answered it in all forms – light to hard. The media were feasting information straight from the most powerful man’s mouth in the Philippines. Today, Duterte’s aid Christopher Go said that the President will no longer hold a press conference.Earlier, the President got mad with how the media distorted and twisted his statements particularly on the killing of corrupt media. Duterte is currently also in hot water when he catcalled GMA report Mariz Umali. According to Digong, he didn’t mean to sexually harass the lady reporter.With all these splicing of information, Duterte said that all of his statements will be streamed through the government funded station called PTV Channel 4. Go also added that they will only send prepared statements and press releases to avoid misinterpretation of Duterte’s statement.The tough-talking president also challenged the media to boycott his press briefing and end journalism. He said that he doesn’t care if no one is covering him. He also boasted that the government has its own TV station that can solely send his messages to the people.TV reporter Martin Andanar who has been appointed as the new secretary for the Presidential Communications Operation vowed that he will enhance and upgrade PTV to make it accessible to the public with quality content.Now, it looks like Duterte wanted to show to the giant media networks that his administration can run with or without them. This new action from his camp shows how frustrated they are with how the mainstream media transform the information they got from Duterte into a news item.Will you change your channel to PTV? Leave your comments below!"
6311,"THE United Nations special rapporteur on summary executions who earlier criticized the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte on alleged extrajudicial killings in the country has not officially responded to an official invitation earlier sent by Malacañang.This was disclosed on Tuesday by Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose, who said UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Agnes Callamard has not replied to the invitation for her to investigate the Philippines’ ongoing campaign against illegal drugs.“To date, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings has not officially responded to the official invitation sent to her through diplomatic channels by the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights on October 24,” Jose told reporters in a news briefing at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).Jose explained that by practice after acceptance of an invitation, Terms of Reference (TOR) of the country visit are negotiated together with the usual guarantees of free movement, security and non-reprisal.But aside from the usual scope, the President has included additional element in the TOR, including public presentation in the Philippines of the findings of the special rapporteur and the opportunity for the President to publicly ask questions and present additional information or clarification in the presence of the special rapporteur and the media.When asked if the additional element might be the reason why the special rapporteur has not responded to the invitation, Jose said the doesn’t think so because the UN rapporteur has not even replied to the invitation itself.“The special rapporteur has not responded to the invitation itself and much less to the specific element being requested by the President,” he added..The DFA spokesman clarified that even if the Philippine government has not yet received a response from the UN, the invitation still stands and the country has not set a deadline for it.He said for the country visit to take place, the UN special rapporteur needs to accept the invitation and agree on the TOR including the additional request of the President.“The country visit will not take place if there is no response from them [UN sepacial rapporteur],” Jose added.At the same time, he noted that the Philippines is not being singled out by UN for country visits because all UN member-states are requested to accept request for country visit by special rapporteurs and other mechanisms on the UN human rights council.Jose said the Philippines in the past had invited other special rapporteurs like those on internally displaced persons and on the right to food.When asked why he thinks Duterte is insisting that he be allowed to ask questions and be heard by the rapporteur, he replied that the President just wants to ensure fairness and to make sure that accuracy of information that the rapporteur would gather.“The rapporteur already made public statements about the allegations of [extrajudicial killings] in the Philippines and the President is compelled to say that what you are saying is wrong so if you come here to conduct investigation let me know what your findings are and I will try to rebut them in public,” Jose said.He added that the invitation sent by the Philippine government to the UN showed that the country is open to the visit by the special rapporteur and that it is consistent with the country’s willingness to be examined, while the specific element being requested by the President is meant to guarantee that fairness will be observed."
6320,"After all the social media hype, news reports and speculation, loyal fans of former talk show host and presidential sister Kris Aquino were shocked and disappointed that their idol isn’t one of the main cast members named for an upcoming Hollywood film, “Crazy Rich Asians.” This major Hollywood film based on the novel by best-selling author Kevin Kwan, will have an all-Asian cast.IMDb, Hollywood’s official repository of film projects, reveals the names of the cast of the new film, including Constance Yu, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina and Sonoya Mizuno, but no Kris Aquino.Still, fans are hoping that rumors indicating that Aquino will play an Asian princess 👸 in the film are true.However, sources close to the Philippines’ Queen of All Media say that Aquino misread the casting call invitation she received. Indeed, she was invited to play the role of an Asian princess but not in Hollywood. The invitation came from Bollywood."
6330,"So Grace Poe-Llamanzares (GPL) has vowed to put a cap on coal in our energy mix should she become President. Of course this vow is all in the name of environmentalism, the fight against Climate Change or Global Warming, and our country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement. While it is important to be mindful of the world’s environment, I think it is ridiculous to put Climate Change or Global Warming on the same priority level for our country as, say, poverty. Limiting what is currently the cheapest and quickest means of energy production while in pursuit of alternative “greener” energy sources (which are more expensive) would be devastating to the plight of the energy consumers because of the cost implications. For someone who is supposedly intelligent I cannot imagine how GPL could be so gullible as to easily jump into the Global Warming bandwagon. Did she really study this thoroughly or is she merely parroting the environmentalist narrative that the carbon emissions by human beings are causing the Climate Change phenomenon we are seeing? I think this is just one of the tell-tale signs that GPL is not really the intelligent person her fans think she is.Think about it. It is a fact that the earth has gone through several ice ages. This means that from time to time the earth cools down and then warms up on its own. Even before human beings existed this has been the norm. So when climatologists point out trends warming climate with increased carbon emissions this doesn’t mean that increased carbon emissions causes Global Warming. At best it only shows a correlation. But as I mentioned in my previous article, correlation is not necessarily causation. So does GPL really believe that it is indeed carbon emissions that is causing temperatures to rise? If she does then this potential future President may very well be as gullible as a fat man believing he looks good on spandex! (I finally realized the truth after a series of shoot downs from hot babes I tried to pick up.)So does my skepticism make me a “denier”? Well, not necessarily. I would love to believe that I am just being careful with what I choose to subscribe to. I consider the facts, not the fad. For example, a study by the Global Carbon Project tells:Current levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are 380 parts per million (ppm), about 100ppm higher than before the Industrial Revolution 200 years ago. Some computer models predict damaging and irreversible climate change if carbon dioxide levels rise above 450ppm or 500 ppm.…The rate of increase of emissions suggests it may soon be impossible to avoid some of the worst-case scenarios, said Josep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project. “On our current path, we will find it extremely difficult to rein in carbon emissions enough to stabilise the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration at 450ppm, and even 550ppm will be a challenge,”…Based on current trends, carbon dioxide concentrations are likely to increase to 500ppm this century. The last time the planet experienced levels as high as 500ppm was about 20 or 40 million years ago, when sea levels were 100 metres higher than today.So who can argue with the climatologists, right? GPL probably has no problem with what these Climate Change scientists say. But wait! Look at what these so-called scientists said. They said that 20 to 40 million years ago the carbon dioxide concentration was 500ppm. We didn’t have human pollution activities back then (e.g. no coal-fired power plants). Heck, even if we go back 200 million years ago, the levels were 4-5 times higher than our present levels. That sure sounds like a lot of dinosaur farts! So GPL is ready to limit the cheapest source of energy for us in exchange for pursuing more expensive green energy so that we can impress the world by showing our commitment to decreasing our carbon footprint, which by the way, is not even conclusively established as the cause of Global Warming?If decreasing carbon footprint is our goal then let’s get rid of the vehicles in the country! A US EPA study shows that:The majority of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are CO2 emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum-based products, like gasoline, in internal combustion engines. The largest sources of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions include passenger cars and light-duty trucks, including sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. These sources account for over half of the emissions from the sector. The remainder of greenhouse gas emissions comes from other modes of transportation, including freight trucks, commercial aircraft, ships, boats, and trains…(Incidentally, yellow activist Carlos Celdran, said that we should be thankful to Mar Roxas for making Filipinos able to afford cars along with their oversized Starbucks drinks. So I guess this just further justifies why we should not vote for Mar Roxas either.)But why merely focus on the vehicles? Did you know that a medium size dog, according to a study from Victoria University in New Zealand, is twice as large as the carbon footprint of a Toyota Land Cruiser? The average cat has roughly the same carbon footprint as that of a Volkswagen Golf! So I guess instead of those expensive solar panels, let’s eat all the dogs and cats in the country instead! That seems like a cheaper and more realistic option for the Philippines considering how much the cost of alternative sources are without coal and nuclear (who was the dolt who scrapped our Nuclear Power Plant option anyway?).Okay if you have read this far and if you think I am being serious about my vehicle discarding and pet eating proposals then you are giving me too much credit. . Of course these were all stated in jest. The point is not that we should eat dogs and cats instead of capping coal to decrease our carbon footprint. The point is that we should be smart thinkers and that we should also expect our leaders to be smart and critical thinkers as well! GPL obviously did not think all these through. For her to suggest capping coal just to show our commitment to some international agreement (that is not even legally binding) and to get into more green energy is tantamount to having one’s cake and eating it too!Our country currently cannot afford to spend so much money on more expensive green energy technology. Even if we had some extra cash stashed there are other things that are far more immediately important to focus on. How about much needed infrastructure? How about livelihood programs? More realistic energy generation? I, for one, feel that such things are far more important to consider than lofty pie in the sky projects that GPL seems to embrace. In contrast to GPL, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte offers a more realistic and sensible take on solving our energy crisis as well as a more concise assessment on the absurdity of this Paris Agreement. Duterte sees nothing wrong with putting up more new coal-fired power plants to address the country’s energy crisis. He said:“You open the Philippines for all power players, I guarantee you the electricity will become cheaper… “He even called out the industrialized countries bullying us to reduce our carbon emissions as hypocrites. He noted that the Philippines barely contributes to the carbon footprint of the planet and claimed that it is the industrialized countries that do not comply with the UN pact. He stated:“Sila ang ayaw. It’s not fair. I’m not saying that coal is right but I’m just saying itong United Nations at (industrialized) countries are really hypocrites … Al Gore came here, talked about environment (and) climate change. Bakit hindi niya makumbinsi ‘yung bansa niya?… Why are they coming here telling us what to do when, as a matter of fact, we need energy to develop. We are just a developing nation… ” [Trans.: “It is them who won’t deliver on the commitment. It’s not fair. I’m not saying that coal is right but I’m just saying that the United Nations and these (industrialized) countries are really hypocrites … Al Gore came here, talked about environment (and) climate change. Why couldn’t he convince his own country to deliver on their commitment?… Why are they coming here telling us what to do when, as a matter of fact, we need energy to develop. We are just a developing nation… “]Wow! Firm, plain, simple, sensible and spoken like a true no-nonsense leader. No wonder he has more accomplishments to show for compared to mere parrots like GPL and no wonder why his message resonates better to the people.Philstar columnist Alex Magno noted that many people have started to sense that GPL is a mere hologram. His column notes:She has not offered a compelling program of government beyond her regular recitation of the names of people she claims to be her “advisers.” She has no track record of performance to back up any claim of policy remolding. She has no compelling record of public leadership to support her ambition to lead the nation through the thicket of challenges ahead.…In her speeches, Poe speaks about continuing her adoptive father’s “legacy.” What exactly that “legacy” was, no one really knows.…Many are disturbed at Poe’s propensity to poach campaign lines from her rivals. When Binay began scoring points by promising to raise the tax exemption levels and provide free medical care, Poe began repeating the same promises. When Duterte promised to substantially bring down criminality within six months of his assumption of office, Poe began promising a shorter period and even offered to name Duterte her anti-crime czar – even as she had earlier named Ariel Querubin to that role.Poaching campaign lines and parroting statistics and popular talking points certainly do not make a candidate genuinely intelligent and capable of steering our country away from its current quagmires. GPL’s take on issues such as Climate Change and energy betrays her lack of critical thinking skills and her being out of touch on the realities of the world and the Philippines. Duterte’s message, in contrast, resonates with the people. Simple, direct, no-nonsense, and with a non-pandering genuine feel. Duterte may not be perfect and may not be the most refined candidate, but he certainly has a worthy track record of performance and leadership to offer.(Images taken from the Manila Bulletin, Zazzle, and the Hoboken Journal)"
6341,"Social action arms of the Catholic Church appealed to the faithful to pray and extend assistance to those affected by the eruptions of Mt. Mayon in Albay province.In a statement, Caritas Manila said the most needed items were sleeping mats, mosquito nets, blankets, face masks, hygiene kits, firewood, food, water, toilets and communal kitchens.In a separate appeal, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon said food and warm clothing for the evacuees were most welcome.Donations can be made online via http://ushare.unionbankph.com/caritas or by bank deposit to Caritas Manila’s saving accounts.These are at Banco de Oro through Savings Account No. 5600-45905 and account name Caritas Manila; Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) through Savings Account No. 3063-5357-01; and Metrobank through Savings Account No. 175-3-175069543.Dollar donations can be deposited at BPI through Savings Account No. 3064-0033-5 and account name Caritas Manila, with swift code: BOPIPHMM; and Philippine National Bank through Savings Account No. 108566600025 and swift code: PNBMPHMM.Donations can also be made through Cebuana Lhuillier free of charge; the Caritas Manila office at 2002 Jesus St., Pandacan, Manila; or at Radio Veritas on West Avenue and Edsa, Quezon City."
6351,"Malacañang on Saturday said President Rodrigo Duterte supports the Philippines’ bid to co-host the 2023 Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) World Cup.The Philippines, which failed to claim the hosting rights for the 2019 staging of the World Cup, teamed up with Japan and Indonesia for the 2023 edition.In a statement, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said the Philippines would get another boost in tourism should it be able to secure the co-hosting rights in 2023.“President Duterte backs the FIBA World Cup to support the initiative of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan and SBP president Al Panlilio,” Abella added.“This hosting is very rare and it will unify the country and will have positive impact on basketball and tourism,” he said.On Thursday, the three-man FIBA Evaluation Commission inspected facilities in the Philippines that can be used for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.The final nod would be given by the FIBA Central Board in December.China will host the 2019 FIBA World Cup across eight cities."
6360,"The recent bungled-journalism-ignited conflagration that almost led to a complete souring (if not severing) of ties between two close long-standing Pacific allies has brought up another piece of the mosaic that makes up the vision of radical change that President Duterte has in mind for his country. It was as if in one fell swoop, President Duterte with a flaming “PI”-expletive-laced outburst could have brought all the many decades of partnership, trust and good will between the US and the Philippines crashing down.Yes, in theory that’s how easy geopolitics can take a wild turn these days. As they say in this gladiatorial arena, there are no permanent friends, just permanent interests.Intended or not, one thing is clear from the fallout of the recent circus. Duterte has greater regard for his own monkey-eating avian species than the high-flying American bald eagle, in stark contrast to all his predecessors. This reminds me of the book by David Platt “Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream” whose front cover has a picture of a house turned upside down.As I mentioned in the past:Common Sense is simple. What you see typical Filipinos doing – just do the opposite.And that’s exactly what think-out-of-the-box Duterte is doing. We have seen how the Yellow Cult has all these many decades been following after Americans like a star-struck dog on a colonial-mentality leash. Our new president dares to be different by moving towards cutting the invisible umbilical cord that we as a nation had been surviving on.Action defines characterAs the Creed of Winners states (line 4): action defines character. What you really are deep within will show through what you do. And all that you see in Duterte’s behavior is but a reflection of the object of his allegiance. Duterte proves himself to be a true and bold nationalist, who is the least beholden to our erstwhile Aquiline-nosed colonizers.Consistent with what Duterte has set in his heart to accomplish under his watch, he had planned from the onset to chart a new course for this country – one that has the training wheels fully detached from our precariously wobbling bicycle. The following outlines his intention back when he just took office:Duterte to chart his own course on foreign policy, won’t rely on US – May 31, 2016“I will be charting a course on its own and will not be dependent on the United States,” Mr. Duterte told a news conference after presenting his Cabinet. His comments came hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping said that Beijing wants to deepen relations with Manila under the new Duterte administration, as both sides seek to reset bilateral ties strained by rising tensions over conflicting claims in the South China Sea. “A friendly, stable and sound China-Philippines relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people,” said Mr. Xi in a congratulatory message to Mr. Duterte on Monday after his victory in the May 9 election was officially confirmed. “We hope the two sides can work together to bring bilateral relations back on a healthy track,” added Mr. Xi, according to a statement published on the website of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Xi’s congratulatory message noted that the two countries had a long history of friendly exchanges and a deep traditional friendship.What’s the risk of losing America?This daring new course could be a huge risk for our disaster-prone country with just token national defense capability that has depended like lazy junkies for so long on the US as an overgrown infant still not fully weaned off of its mother’s milk. In a recent statement, Duterte says he is not a fan of the US, and vowed to steer an independent course and refrain from confronting territorial rival China.Can the Philippines survive on its own in shark-infested waters? Will distancing from the US (coming out of America’s protective umbrella) and getting closer to China be a greater advantage for the country? What do Filipinos have to lose on a future without Uncle Sam?What’s in it for America and the Philippines anyway?The biggest fundamental question really is: why do we even have to stick with America? What does America get out of the Philippines, and vice versa: a mutual defense treaty? – Do you really think Americans will risk their asses to defend Scarborough Shoal should the Chinese proceed to “invade Philippine-claimed territory” by turning it into another one of their artificial islands? We must be dreaming.America’s hegemony in the Pacific may appear to be a deterrent, but will it actually hold water in a real conflict that requires spilling American blood for Pinoy asses? Ask any American if a perceived stinking shithole like the Philippines is worth saving and you’ll get a frank answer. Remember how the West abandoned Rwanda at the height of their genocide?On the flip side, what can befriending China lead to? A removal of strain in the Spratlys with the building of new factories and railways across the nation, right? Like for a young man who realizes his next move after carefully studying the pros and cons table of all his prospects for a lifetime partner (maganda – check, mabait – check, matalino – check, mayaman – optional), the choice already appears to be glaringly obvious.Maybe it’s about time to get trained by our good ol’ Chinese brothers."
6370,"If you will be surfing the Internet on Sunday and Monday, May 8 & 9, you will notice that you will not be able to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media accounts anywhere you are in the Philippines. It has something to do with the Philippine elections.According to the rules of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), candidates are prohibited from campaigning the day before and the day of the elections. The last day for campaigning is Saturday, May 7th. It is when all candidates will be holding their final rallies, or ‘miting de avance.’But in this Internet world and the accessibility to social media, it would be almost impossible for the COMELEC to monitor unlawful campaign activities which may be done by candidates and their supporters through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and other social media accounts.So, to ensure that there will be no campaign violations, Internet connectivity will be shut down throughout the entire Philippines from 12:01 a.m. on May 8 until 11:59 p.m. on May 9.If candidates or their supporters have last-minute appeals to the voters, they are advised to do so before the strike of midnight on May 8.Hurry!"
6381,"Sen. Serge Osmeña on Sunday said Sen. Grace Poe’s lead in presidential polls may be affected after she supported the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) mass action against the Department of Justice, making her appear to be a traditional politician (trapo).Speaking on dzIQ, or Radyo Inquirer, Osmeña, who always gave Poe advice, this time offered no help when asked how she could correct her “mistake.”“She has strategists. She should ask her strategists,” Osmeña said. Poe, he said, had already teamed up with Sen. Francis Escudero against hisadvice.“She was wrong there, she appeared to be a trapo,” Osmeña said of Poe’s statement justifying the INC’s five-day mass action that started at the DOJ office and culminated on Edsa.Poe received flak for saying the politically influential INC was just exercising its rights and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima should explain the merits of the case filed by a former INC minister.Osmeña reiterated his disapproval of Poe’s team-up with Escudero, saying the latter brings with him “more minuses” than pluses"
6391,"Thanks, but no thanks, Malacañang told off former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas who had ventured several suggestions on how the Duterte administration could beat the rising prices of consumer goods in the wake of the devastation left by Typhoon “Ompong” (internaitonal name: Mangkhut).“I haven’t heard what [Roxas] said, but because of his experience in Leyte, it’s better [that] he remains silent,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a radio interview on Wednesday.“My message [to Roxas] is, if he will do what he did during [Supertyphoon] Yolanda, thank you very much, [but] never mind,” he said.Roque said Roxas was “the one who perpetuated the neglect of those in Leyte because of politics.”Conflicting reports faulted either Roxas or Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez for the delay in the delivery of goods and services to survivors of Yolanda, which left at least 7,000 people dead and thousands homeless when it whipped Eastern Visayas in November 2013.‘Time out’ from politicsIn a Facebook post on Tuesday, Roxas sought “time out” from politics between him and President Duterte, noting that the damage caused by Ompong was bound to create bigger problems for the country on top of the spiraling prices and limited supply of rice.“We have different views on many things, but I think all Filipinos want this problem addressed. So let’s call a time out [on politics],” Roxas said.Roxas proposalsHe proposed, among other things, a presidential order to increase to 1.5 million metric tons the Minimum Access Volume of rice; removal of the usual requirements imposed by the National Food Authority on the importation of rice to allow in the private sector; an order asking Jollibee, other fast-food chains, supermarkets and all large users to independently source and import their own needs so they don’t have to share the national stockpile; inclusion of all farming families in the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer program, and, in the medium term, the repeal of taxes imposed on fuel and other basic goods under the Tax Reforms for Inclusion and Acceleration law.Roxas and the Aquino administration had been heavily criticized for their handling of the relief efforts in Tacloban, Leyte, which bore the brunt of Yolanda.According to the Roxas camp, the former interior secretary wanted a letter from an “uncooperative” Romualdez requesting aid, a part of protocol between the national government and local governments.The Romualdez camp accused Roxas of using the tragedy as a platform to raise his profile for the 2016 presidential election.Roxas ran but lost."
6400,"Millions of both supporters and non-supporters of the President-Elect Rody Duterte are expecting to watch the inauguration of the first Mindanaoan President on June 30 in Malacanang Palace.According to some analyst, this will be one of the biggest event in the history of the Philippines.Some of PRD’s supporter are also planning to celebrate the victory of the Punisher in Luneta Park in Manila and Crocodile Park in Davao City.They are also hoping that there will be no signal interruption happens during the oath-taking, because half of the Filipino people is going to watch the said event and they are afraid that the mass audience can cause some interruptions."
6411,"The Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police need to draw up a whole new security strategy for Mindanao to prevent a repeat of the Marawi City siege elsewhere, according to a lawmaker.“We cannot afford to expose another city or large municipality in Mindanao to a crisis akin to Marawi, or to the Zamboanga City siege in 2013,” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, a member of the House Committee on National Defense and Security, said in a statement.Pimentel is supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to enlist up to 20,000 new soldiers to build up the Armed Forces.“Actually, compared to our peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, we really have fewer active military personnel to begin with,” he said.At present, the lawmaker said, the Armed Forces have a total active troop strength of only 125,259 —with 85,825 in the Army; 22,771 in the Navy; and 16,663 in the Air Force—excluding 2,693 soldiers deployed to service support units.“We still have pockets of insurgency in other parts of the country, so we cannot just pull out large forces from Luzon or Visayas and transfer them to Mindanao,” he noted.“The peril of opportunistic elements taking advantage of fewer troops stationed elsewhere due to redeployments is always there, so we really need the additional soldiers,” Pimentel said.Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd earlier said that Malacañang may ask Congress to pass a supplemental appropriations law for the rehabilitation of Marawi, the replenishment of the military’s weapons store and the recruitment and training of up to 20,000 new soldiers.“We are not overly concerned now, because Mindanao is still under martial law. But in the long term, we have to increase our investment in Mindanao’s security, mainly to protect population centers and vital installations,” Pimentel said.“Besides, we are developing high-value infrastructure projects in Mindanao that will require extra security for deterrence,” he added.The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is investing P36 billion from 2018 to 2022 to construct and complete Phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway Project—the 102-kilometer line linking the cities of Tagum, Davao and Digos, according to Pimentel.The lawmaker said the DOTr is also investing P1.14 billion in 2018 alone to modernize 13 airports in Mindanao.The DOTr is spending P425 million for the Don Carlos Airport in Bukidnon; P221 million for the Zamboanga City Airport; P200 million for the Surigao City Airport; P192.2 million for the Ozamiz City Airport; P184 million for the Butuan City Airport; P182 million for the Dipolog City Airport; and P161 million for the Cotabato City Airport.The department also is spending P100 million for the Sanga-Sanga Island Airport in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; P84.2 million for the Pagadian City Airport; P38 million for the M’lang Airport in North Cotabato; P30 million for the Jolo Airport in Sulu; P18.3 million for the Ipil Airport in Zamboanga Sibugay; and P9.5 million for the Bislig City Airport.Pimentel said the airports in Ozamiz, Dipolog, Cotabato and Pagadian are being night-rated to enable them to handle evening flights.Congress in July granted the President’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year."
6420,"Sa isang speaking engagement, binunyag ng dating rebelde na si Ka Tina na pinagsisisihan niya ang pagsali sa New People's Army at inabusahan ang mga kabutaan na layuan ang nasabing grupo. Isiniwalat rin niya sa kabataan ang taktikang ginagamit ng mga makakaliwa para makapanghikayat ng mga miyembro. Ayon kay Ka Tina, madalas na paraan ng mga NPA recruiter ay galitin ang emosyon ng mga tao para mag-aklas laban sa gobyerno. Ayaw din daw ng mga NPA sa mga taong nag-iisip. Sa kalagitanaan ng kanyang pagsasalita, nagpahayag ito ng pagsuporta kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. ""May Presidente tayong nagta-trabaho, inaaway pa natin. I would rather have a President who have a foul mouth. Kahit mag-mura siya minu-minuto, oras-oras. Kita mo naman nagta-trabaho eh. Kahit sampung milyong Duterte ang ilagay mo diyan, kung kayo mismo hindi nag-aaral ng matino, sama kayo ng sama sa grupo, tandaan ninyo ang unang hakbang patungong sa kabundukan ay ang iapak ang inyong paa sa lansangan, sumama sa malawak at sistematikong pagkilos sa lansangan,"" sabi ni Ka Tina. Binanatan din ni Ka Tina, ang kabalbalan ng NPA sa bayan. Isa na dito ay pagpapasabog ng mga NPA sa mga imprastruktura at pangingikil sa mga kumpanya. Ikinwento rin niya ang naging buhay niya sa bundok habang siya ay kasama pa sa kilusan. Si Ka Tina ay naging NPA ng isang dekada. Ayon sa ilang mga netizens, gusto nilang magsalita si Ka Tina sa mga unibersidad na pinamumugaran ng mga aktibista. Source: Raoul C Esperas"
6431,"Malacañang on Tuesday said it was optimistic that the new customs commissioner would learn lessons from the mistakes of his predecessors in the Bureau of Customs (BOC).But asked what the mistakes were, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was up to new Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to identify them.President Rodrigo Duterte has put the BOC under temporary military control to rid it of corruption.Guerrero is a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.Third commissionerHe is the President’s third customs commissioner, after Nicanor Faeldon and Isidro Lapeña, both of whom were reassigned amid scandals involving smuggling of illegal drugs into the country through the Port of Manila.Panelo noted that the President had ordered Guerrero to rid the BOC of corruption and increase the agency’s revenue collection.Two goals“All his actions in the BOC will be in pursuit of [those] goals,” he said.Panelo said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III met with Guerrero last week and also directed the new customs chief to clean up the BOC.Guerrero was also given a monthly revenue collection target of P55 billion, Panelo said.Senators are cautiously optimistic that Guerrero can reform the corruption-plagued BOC.“He sounds very serious,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III said in a text message on Tuesday, commenting on Guerrero’s statement to BOC employees on Monday that he would not allow his name and reputation to be tarnished.“I wish him well and will hold him to his word,” Sen. Francis Escudero said.“He must be able to match his good intentions with competence in his new position,” Escudero added.Difficult task“It’s a difficult task, but hope springs eternal,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.“If he is serious and is given the full support of Malacañang, I do not see how he cannot succeed,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan said.“The question is, is Malacañang serious in going after the big drug syndicates behind the smuggling of ‘shabu’ (crystal meth) through the BOC?” Pangilinan said.Sotto has proposed privatizing the BOC to clean it up.Panelo said the Palace was open to looking at the “pros and cons” of the proposal.“Sotto thinks it’s a good idea and that’s the function of Congress to introduce bills and laws. Let’s see,” Panelo told reporters.“That’s his idea. Let’s see the pros and cons of that idea,” he added.Panelo said the proposal may be tackled in the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday night."
6441,"After launching his political career from a jail cell, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV believes it could end in a grave thanks to a relentless campaign against his “hit man” President.But the former Navy officer with a history of coup attempts appears to thrive on the pressures that have come with regularly accusing President Duterte of being a corrupt mass murderer.“This man is a sociopath and he has the mindset of a hit man,” Trillanes, 46, said on Wednesday, offering a typically incendiary assessment of his rival.Mr. Duterte won last year’s presidential election on a brutal law-and-order platform in which he promised an unprecedented campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in the country by killing up to 100,000 traffickers and addicts.He vowed so many bodies would be dumped in Manila Bay that the fish would grow fat from feeding on them, and said he would pardon police officers if they were found guilty of rights abuses while enacting his drug war.Since Mr. Duterte assumed office in the middle of last year, the Philippine National Police has reported killing more than 3,800 people while thousands of others have been murdered in unexplained circumstances.Many Filipinos looking for quick solutions to crime continue to support Mr. Duterte, according to polls, and he enjoys majority backing in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.Climate of fearHowever, a climate of fear has also emerged, with critics warning the President is determined to silence dissenters and drag the Philippines back into a dictatorship three decades after the Edsa People Power Revolution ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.Mr. Duterte has launched tirades against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Commission on Human Rights, Catholic Church and critical media outlets, like the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler and ABS-CBN. He and his allies have then started campaigns to discredit them.Sen. Leila de Lima, one of the most vocal critics alongside Trillanes, was jailed in February on drug trafficking charges that she said were fabricated. Rights groups describe her as a political prisoner.On the weekend, the President made Trillanes his new top target. “I will destroy him or he will destroy me,” Mr. Duterte told reporters.Senate inquiryThis came after Trillanes had the President’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, brought before a Senate inquiry last week to face allegations that the latter was involved in drug trafficking.Trillanes accused the younger Duterte of being a member of a Chinese triad that imported huge amounts of “shabu” (crystal meth) into the country, and challenged him to show a tattoo on his back that allegedly proved he was a member of the gang.The vice mayor acknowledged he did have a tattoo on his back, but he refused to show it and rejected all accusations against him.Since the President’s “destroy” remark, his officials and social media supporters have accused Trillanes of hiding ill-gotten wealth in secret bank accounts overseas.The senator denied those accusations, saying they were an expected part of Mr. Duterte’s counteroffensive, and that worse could come.“(Mr.)Duterte actually ordered a hit on me. He wants me killed. Aside from the fact he wants cases fabricated so I can be put away (in jail) like Senator De Lima,” said Trillanes, a father of two teenagers.Even though he has called for so many killings, Mr. Duterte has insisted he will not act outside the law nor allow state-sponsored murders.Crazy, braveTrillanes showed no signs in the interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) of being intimidated by Mr. Duterte, likely drawing on his many years of experience in the country’s bare-knuckled democratic ring.As a young naval officer, Trillanes helped lead two brief coup attempts against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003 and 2007.Trillanes and his military allies accused Arroyo of corruption, state-sponsored terrorism and subverting democracy on multiple fronts.He was jailed for seven years but, in what was widely seen as an anti-Arroyo vote, became the first person to be elected senator while in jail.Presidential pardonMr. Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, an Arroyo critic, pardoned Trillanes and other coup plotters in 2010.This allowed Trillanes to pursue his Senate career at full throttle and he became well-known for digging up dirt on a range of powerful politicians.To his supporters, Trillanes became a crazy but brave antigraft crusader.His critics saw him as a publicity hound chiefly concerned with advancing his political career.Not running in 2019Trillanes rejected those accusations, insisting he would walk away from politics when his Senate term ended in 2019 to initially pursue a master’s degree in international relations.“In this political fight with (Mr.) Duterte, there is no forthcoming election for me,” Trillanes said as he defended his motives.“And most importantly my life is at stake here. So I believe no political ambition could ever match up to that.”"
6450,"Contestant No. 8, Pia Wurtzbach. She happened to pick a senator, Juan Edgardo Angara, to ask the question which he did in Tagalog. The other 14 finalists were asked their respective questions (and responded) in English.Wurtzbach who was born in Stuttgart, Germany, didn’t win any of the crowns at stake for the night, and she attributed it to the fact that the senator had asked the question in the national language. “I’m glad that despite my German-sounding name, I proved to all that I am a true Filipina and that I can speak Tagalog quite fluently.” “However,” she added,” it was not fair that all the other finalists were asked their questions in English. I’m sure I could have done much better than all the other girls had I been asked the question, and responded, in English.”Wurtzbach said she has engaged the services of an attorney to see if she could file a lawsuit against Senator Angara for discrimination.Here is a transcript of the Q&A portion of the pageant."
6460,"Villegas at the Heal our Land, Line our Pockets, Fatten our Wallets rally earlier today:“Kapag hindi natin tinigil ang patayan, may sumpang parusa ang bayang pumapatay sa sariling kababayan.”You mean, mas malala pa sa sumpa na pinagdaanan namin dati?Pesteng Villegas to.Para malaman mo Padre Damaso, ikaw ang sumpa para sa mga Katolikong nanglamig sa pananampalataya kasi ayaw marinig ang ka hipokritohan mo. Dahil sayo, maraming lumayo sa simbahan para di na magkasala habang pinkakikinggan ang mga kasinungalingan ninyo at pag kampi sa mga totoong demonyo na siyang nagsumpa sa Pilipinas noon pa man!Kayo ang sumisira sa simbahan at sumumpa sa bayan dahil alam naming Corrupt, Kunsintidor, Sipsip, Nagbubulag Bulagan, Nagbibingi Bingihan, at SAKIM ang karamihan sa inyo.Sinumpa ng kakitiran ng isip ninyo ang mga kababaihang hindi mabigyan ng proteksyon dahil ayaw ninyo ng family planning at divorce. Sinumpa ninyo ang mga kabataang lalaki sa kahirapan dahil mapagmalinis kayo.Matagal nang nararamdaman ng Pilipinas ang sumpang sinasabi mo. Ikaw lang ang nasarapan sa buhay mo.Leche. IKAW ang sumpa.You led your people astray.You chose to politicize rather than bring peace.You chose to condemn rather be inclusive.And yet you turn a blind eye towards the sins of your own, and you allow yourself to be a divisive figure. You use Catholicism to further divide this country. You are the antithesis of Jesus Christ.Soc Villegas, YOU ARE A VERY BAD, INEFFECTIVE PRIEST. I hope God fires you ASAP | By Krizette Laureta Chu"
6470,"I am British, and moved to the Philippines from Hong Kong in May 2001, with a Filipina I met there. After my divorce was finalised, we married in June 2002 and I obtained 13A Visa in November of that year. I was Engineering Manager – Asia Pacific, earning US$85,000pa, but effectively retired early in Cebu Philippines.I was obtaining good income from Peso Time Deposits in Rural Banks. That is until the Monetary Board closed all 12 Banks of the Legacy Group in December 2008. It took the PDIC from 6 months to 22 months to pay out the Insured Deposits in 5 x Rural Banks.I invested in a local company, that was supposedly importing Chinese motorcycles (Zongshen) assembling them and supposedly selling via a growing chain of shops to market, sell, service and support with spares (as well as Appliances).We filled a 'Syndicated Estafa' Court Case against Catherine L. Soronio in May 2008. She no doubt used the funds (up to Php350M allegedly?) we (the investors) had given for the motorcycles, for some other purpose. No doubt including paying for Lawyers to get the cases down turned from Syndicated Estafa – twice! Just delay, delay delay (which would not have happened if she was in Jail as Syndicated Estafa is non-bailable) – no real progress to getting our money back nearly 5 years later!I applied for a Job in a Call Center in Cebu (Sykes), and was told I had passed, but because a Foreigner needed clearance from Head Office. No Offer Letter was forthcoming.So I sought work as a Native English Speaker – ESL Teacher. Full time work as such is difficult to find, apart from seasonal Winter and Summer 'English Camps' to Korean students and the like.I can earn more money, for less hours, as an Native ESL Teacher in China, and indeed, I am on my 2nd year of teaching there.I would prefer to earn a decent salary, in the Philippines, as a Permanent Resident, making use of 35 years experience as an Engineering Professional (IEng MIEEIE).Alternatively the Legal System of the Philippines, not be so corrupt and slow and get back some Php10M I lost to local ventures!Source:http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/01/filipino-labour-force-not-up-to-par-philippines-ready-to-host-foreign-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-201145"
6480,"but no frontal or full nudity. Men were tied up, and tied down. But, unlike in San Francisco, there was no entrance fee or donation buckets to gain access to the festival.The Philippines Catholic Church, as expected, frowned on the festival and urged its followers to stick to the traditional, church-sanctioned Holy Week activities and ceremonies.The Philippine Folsom Festival coincided with Good Friday, the most solemn time in the Catholic Church’s calendar."
6491,"The Supreme Court has dismissed fears that the proclamation of martial law in Mindanao would lead to a dictatorial regime and declared that there was no constitutional limit to President Duterte’s sole discretion to exercise extraordinary emergency powers to deal with a rebellion.The majority decision, penned by Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, said the nation was facing a “crisis of such magnitude and proportion that we all need to summon the spirit of unity and act as one undivided nation, if we are to overcome and prevail in the struggle at hand.”“Can we not sheathe our swords and pause for a while to bury our dead, including our differences and prejudices?” said the 82-page ruling.The majority decision was released late Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court spokesperson announced that thejustices, voting 11-3-1, had supported Mr. Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216 that also suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus following the rampage in Marawi City on May 23 by Islamic State-allied terrorists.Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Benjamin Caguioa concurred with the majority, but averred that the proclamation should be confined to Marawi and several other provinces, not the whole of Mindanao.Justice Marvic Leonen was the sole dissenter, arguing that the Marawi conflict only needed calling out the military to deal with it, not martial law.Carpio warned his colleagues not to “play with the fire of martial law, which could turn into ashes the very Constitution that (we) are sworn to preserve and defend.”1972 martial law debacle“The court must never allow the 1972 debacle to be ever repeated again,” Carpio said, referring to President Ferdinand Marcos’ martial rule that lasted 14 years.“With this wisdom from hindsight, the court must now stand firm and apply the clear letter and intent of the 1987 Constitution without fear or favor,” he added.The new Constitution was promulgated after the ouster of Marcos in the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution. It was crafted precisely to prevent the nation from falling again into a dictatorship.Three petitions were brought to the high tribunal questioning the sufficiency of the factual basis for Mr. Duterte’s martial law order. Opposition lawmakers led by Rep. Edcel Lagman said that the President’s report to Congress on his proclamation contained “false, inaccurate, contrived and hyperbolic accounts.”Power of judicial reviewThe high court held that its “power of judicial review does not extend to calibrating the President’s decision.”“To do so would be tantamount to an incursion into the exclusive domain of the executive and an infringement on the prerogative that solely, at least initially, lies with the President.” it said.“In determining the existence of rebellion, the President only needs to convince himself that there is probable cause or evidence showing that more likely than not a rebellion was committed or is being committed,” the tribunal said, adding that it did not have the resources available to the President to make such determination.The court appeared to adopt the doctrine in the 1971 Lansang case, following the bombing of the Liberal Party rally in Plaza Miranda, that the suspension of the privilege of the writ was a political question.‘Unjustified fears’In this case, it held that enough safeguards had been written into the 1987 Constitution to prevent abuse of the President wielding extraordinary emergency powers.“Considering the country’s history, it is understandable that the resurgence of martial law would engender apprehensions among the citizenry. Even the court as an institution cannot project a stance of nonchalance. However, the importance of martial law in the context of our society should outweigh one’s prejudices and apprehensions against it,” the court said.It said the significance of martial law should not be undermined by unjustified fears and past experience. “After all, martial law is critical and crucial to the promotion of public safety, the preservation of the nation’s sovereignty and ultimately, the survival of our country,” the tribunal said.Martial law, the court said, “is vital for the protection of the country not only against internal enemies but also against those enemies lurking beyond our shores.”It said the “the President’s duty to maintain peace and public safety is not limited only to the place where there is actual rebellion; it extends to other areas where the present hostilities are in danger of spilling over.”The court, the ruling said, “cannot simply take the battle of Marawi in isolation. As a crime without predetermined bounds, the President has reasonable basis to believe that the declaration of martial law … in the whole of Mindanao is most necessary, effective and called for by the circumstances.”"
6500,"President Rody Duterte was asleep. As we all know, he sleeps a lot at day time. His son in law, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte’s husband, Mans Carpio posted on his facebook account a series of photos showing the President’s grandson lining up to surprise him and greet him for his 72nd birthday.In the photos, Duterte looks like he just woke up while the kids mobbed him to his bed. Click to WATCH THE VIDEO below.To the 16th President of the Philippines, from DuterteNews Headquarters, Happy Birthday!Send your birthday greetings to PRRD! Leave your messages below!"
6511,"One-fifth of the members of the House of Representatives have crossed party lines to urge President Rodrigo Duterte to “listen to the clamor of the people” to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).The NDFP is the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has been waging an armed insurgency for almost 50 years.In House Resolution No. 1803, the 61 lawmakers also called for the conclusion of the comprehensive agreements on socioeconomic and political reforms to “lay the basis for a just and lasting peace.”The lawmakers held on to Mr. Duterte’s remarks on Feb. 20 that he might reopen the negotiations but would have to consult military officials first. This followed a meeting with Norwegian officials who host the talks.Norwegian special envoyMr. Duterte met with Idun Tvedt, Norwegian special envoy to the peace process between the Philippine government and the NDFP, in Davao City on Feb. 15.The President on Nov. 23 last year terminated the peace talks through Proclamation No. 360, which cited the alleged insincerity of the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, by committing unspecified “acts of violence and hostilities.”The termination came two days before the fifth round of formal talks were supposed to be held from Nov. 25 to 27 in Oslo. The agreements on socioeconomic reforms and general amnesty for political prisoners were supposed to have been discussed.‘Terrorist’ declarationLast Dec. 5, the President issued Proclamation No. 374 declaring the CPP and NPA terrorist organizations.“Compared to previous administrations, peace negotiations under the Duterte administration have reached remarkable and unparalleled headway after the four successful rounds of negotiations,” the resolution read.“Continuing the peace talks would benefit the Filipino people, most of whom are poor peasants and workers, as the agreements on agrarian reform and national industrialization may address their issues and concerns and help provide relief for their economic hardships,” it added.SignatoriesWhen Mr. Duterte ended the talks, negotiators were already working on the draft of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (Caser), aimed at addressing the economic grievances and social inequalities that caused the insurgency.The resolution was signed by the peace, reconciliation and unity committee chair, Ruby Sahali, and three of the four vice chairs—Jose Christopher Belmonte, Jesus Nonato Sacdalan and Amihilda Sangcopan.The fourth vice chair, Shernee Tan, did not sign the resolution. Tan is an advocate of martial law nationwide.The call for the resumption of talks was also supported by Deputy Majority Leaders Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. and Arnel Ty, and Deputy Minority Leaders Anthony Bravo, Eugene Michael de Vera and Alfredo Garbin Jr.All seven members of the Makabayan bloc—Carlos Isagani Zarate, Arlene Brosas, Ariel Casilao, France Castro, Emerenciana de Jesus, Sarah Jane Elago and Antonio Tinio—signed the resolution.Likewise, five members of the opposition Magnificent Seven bloc—Teddy Baguilat Jr., Emmanuel Billones, Raul Daza, Edcel Lagman and Tomasito Villarin—expressed support for the resolution.Eight representatives from Mindanao, which Mr. Duterte placed under extended martial law by invoking the communist insurgency, signed the resolution, too. They are Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba, Joel Mayo Almario, Lorna Bautista-Bandigan, Lawrence Fortun, Zajid Mangudadatu, Maximo Rodriguez Jr., Juliette Uy and Manuel Zubiri.Among the signatories are 14 lawmakers from Luzon: Jorge Banal, Leopoldo Bataoil, Bayani Fernando, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Edward Maceda, Allen Jesse Mangaoang, John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, Strike Revilla, Cesar Sarmiento, Deogracias Victor Savellano, Eric Singson, Noel Villanueva and Victor Yap;Nine lawmakers from the Visayas signed the resolution: Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Wilfredo Caminero, Leo Rafael Cueva, Juliet Marie Ferrer, Carlito Marquez, Edwin Ong, Henry Ong, Raul Tupas and Melecio Yap Jr.Nine other party-list representatives also backed the resolution: Michelle Antonio, Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay, Salvador Belaro Jr., Sabiniano Canama, Virgilio Lacson, Benhur Lopez Jr., Rodante Marcoleta, Ron Salo and Orestes Salon."
6520,"Ipinahayag ng aktres na si Gretchen Barreto ang kanyang ""simpatya"" sa dating project manager ni Kris Aquino na si Nicardo ""Nicko"" Falcis. Si Falcis ay kasalukuyang humaharap sa mga reklamong ""qualified theft"" at paglabag umano sa ""Access Devices Regulations Act"" na isinampa ng mismong ""Queen of All Media"" laban sa kanya. Ayon kay Kris, ginamit umano ni Falcis ang kanyang company credit card para sa personal nitong mga gastusin. Sa Instagram post ni Gretchen Barreto ay makikita ang isang artikulong may headline na ""Nicko Falcis swears Kris Aquino said: 'PAPAPATAY KA NG PAMILYA KO'"". Ganito ang nakasulat sa post ni Gretchen: ""I feel for Mr. Nicko Falcis after reading this article. I salute him for his courage to speak the truth, fight for his family name and reputation in spite of the threat to his life"". Pahabol pa ni Gretchen, ""No to bullies!!!! STOP POWER TRIPPING"". Ano'ng masasabi niyo rito mga kaibigan? Source: INQ | Gretchen Barreto"
6531,"A leader of the House of Representatives on Tuesday said the absence of many lawmakers during plenary session in the past weeks might be partly due to their opposition to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).“You have to consider that the people against BBL are purposely absenting themselves,” said Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II.“Once you take up a controversial measure like the BBL, you can expect that nonattendance might be part of their way of making sure it will not pass,” he told a press briefing.Gonzales acknowledged time was running out on the proposed measure, which would create a new autonomous region for the Bangsamoro in Mindanao to end decades of armed conflict.“I’m not saying there is conspiracy to sabotage the BBL deliberations,” he said, pointing out that the low numbers were consistent with the downward trend of attendance during the third regular session of Congress.This is a period when most lawmakers are keeping a presence in their districts for the upcoming elections.The 291-strong chamber is in the middle of interpellation on the draft BBL.Still hopefulCagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the ad hoc panel on the BBL, said he hoped the House would be able to pass the measure and transmit it to the Senate by Sept. 15.The proposed 2016 national budget is expected to reach the plenary floor on Sept. 28, during which time it will take up all of the chamber’s time.“We only have 20 [lawmakers left to interpellate], so if we can have five a day or six a day, we should be able to finish it in five hearing days,” Rodriguez said.House leaders met with members of the peace negotiating panels to discuss a request by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to restore 28 provisions that were deleted from the original draft submitted to Congress.MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the deleted provisions should be put back to retain the heart of the bill.But Rodriguez and Gonzales said it would not be a simple thing.“It’s hard to tell us they will not accept a watered-down version, because that’s relative. On the part of the House, we would like the BBL to be constitutionally compliant,” Gonzales said.“Even if it’s not ‘watered-down,’ but it is not constitutional, that would amount to the same thing. Nothing will happen,” he said.Same titleRodriguez said he had not yet seen the Senate version of the bill, but that he was encouraged it has the same title as the House version: Basic Law on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.“I’m sure we can reconcile the two versions because our primordial concern is, No. 1, to make this bill compliant with the Constitution and, No. 2, we remove the characteristics of a substate, which would also make it unconstitutional,” he said.The House and Senate will deliberate on the bill separately, and the two chambers will reconcile their versions at the bicameral conference committee.The House had failed to muster a quorum for two weeks after Congress resumed session on July 27.On Monday, a quorum was achieved with 188 lawmakers present, but deliberations on BBL could not proceed as there was no one present among the lawmakers on the list of interpellators.On Tuesday, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza questioned the quorum, which was later achieved, with 178 members present.But Rodriguez said there were still more than 20 House members left to ask questions on the proposed law.RELATED STORIESBelmonte pushes for BBL passage before end of 16th CongressBBL hounds 16th Congress as House opens third regular session"
6541,"Madalas na ginagawang panghilod ang mga “buhay na bato” na mas makinis kaysa ordinaryong bato at karaniwang pabilog o bilohaba ang hugis. Pero maaari din umanong gamitin ang mga bato na ito na pang-therapy dahil sa nakahihigop ito ng init, at maaaring makapagpagaling ng karamdaman.
Sa nakaraang episode ng “I Juander,” itinampok ang isang Filipino traditional wellness spa na Balay Royales, na gumagamit ng buhay na bato sa kanilang therapy at massage.
Nagkakahalaga ang buhay na bato therapy o stone healing therapy ng P1,200 sa loob ng isang oras at 30 minuto, na isa sa “most requested” ng kanilang mga costumer.
“Nagsimula ito ng pandemic. So, it was year 2020. Sa pamilya namin, meron naghihilot especially, kagaya ng mga sinasabi natin sa ating mga lola. So, ‘yun, ang mga hinahanap-hanap namin na gano'ng klaseng hilot na mga salin-salin na paghilot,” sabi ni Ricardo G. Catacutan Jr. quality assurance specialist ng Balay Royales.
Si Rex Zamora na isang dating seaman, naapektuhan ang galaw ng katawan nang ma-stroke sa gitna ng dagat.
“Nakaramdam ako ng pag-ihi. Pagbangon ko, nagsimula na ako mahilo, umikot na lahat, paligid ko. Tapos, ayun na, hindi ko na magalaw ‘yung paa ko, ‘yung katawan ko. Pero pinilit kong gumapang para maabot ‘yung telepono. Humingi ng rescue. Tinray ko rin binuksan ‘yung pinto para mapasok nila ako,” kuwento niya.
Dahil nasa gitna ng dagat, dumaan pa ang tatlong araw bago sila nakarating sa pinakamalapit na pier. Hindi agad naagapan ang karamdaman ni Rex, kaya siya na-comatose ng pitong araw.
Matapos magising, tila lantang-gulay na ang kaniyang katawan.
Sumailalim si Rex sa physical therapy upang maibalik ang galaw at balanse ng kaniyang katawan. Nakalalakad na siya noon, pero tila napag-iwanan ang kaliwang bahagi ng kaniyang katawan.
Hanggang sa natuklasan ni Rex ang tungkol sa buhay na bato therapy. At matapos lang ang unang session, ikinagulat niya ang resulta.
“Paggising ko, aba, nakakayuko na ako ah. Talagang nawala ‘yung sakit ko. Parang may ugat ako na naiipit na bigla na lang nawala,” sabi ni Rex na sinunod-sunod na ang buhay na bato therapy.
Paliwanag ng general physician na si Dr. Gerald Belandres, ang init ng buhay na bato na humagod sa katawan ang naging sikreto nito.
“So, ‘yung buhay na bato ‘yung tinatawag din na hot stone massage. So, usually kasi ‘pag mga ganito, parang mainit 'yung stone na ‘yun tapos ina-apply or kaya kinikiskis doon sa parte ng katawan natin. Usually, ‘pag may mga pains kasi ito, parang 'yung heat energy kasi nito ay nagpe-penetrate doon sa mismong loob ng muscle, 'yung kaniyang ginagawa, Ina-affect niya,” sabi ni Dr. Belandres.
“So, ang nangyari kasi dito nare-relax 'yung katawan natin, tapos 'yung pores natin nag-o-open. So, ‘pag mga ganito kasi mas maganda din 'yung circulation ng dugo natin. Mas maganda 'yung blood pressure natin,” dagdag pa niya.
Nilinaw din ni Belandres na epektibo ito kay Rex dahil na rin sa tulong ng iba pang therapy na kaniyang pinagdaanan.
“So, usually naman talaga, once kasi 'yung mga stroke patient, siyempre tini-treat pa rin talaga siya medically. Kailangan pa rin talaga kung akma ba talaga sa pasiyente. At kailangan pa rin talaga tingnan muna 'yung mga vital signs nito kung akma ba siya doon sa procedure na ‘yun on that time,” sabi ni Belandres.
Nagpaalala si Belandres na dapat kumonsulta muna sa doktor para masigurong ligtas ang pagpapahilot gamit ang buhay na bato.
“Kapag may mga ganito, dapat talaga tinitingnan mo pa rin talaga kung kaya ng isang pasyente na gumamit ng mga ganitong hot stone na ito,” payo niya."
6551,"will make the campaign toward good eye health stronger.The observance focuses on blindness and vision impairment as well as on ways to help people with these conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, as well as Lions Clubs International, coordinate programs that educate target audiences about blindness prevention, and generate support for “Vision 2020; The Right to Sight,” the global initiative for elimination of avoidable blindness.Launched in 1999, Vision 2020 works to eliminate preventable and curable blindness by 2020. Adopted in more than 40 countries, including the Philippines, it promotes the importance of good vision and the limiting effects that uncorrected vision impairment can have on people’s lives.WHO statistics show that 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, of which 39 million are blind and 246 million have low vision; 90 percent of visually impaired are in developing countries; 80 percent of visual impairment can be avoided or cured; 19 million children are visually impaired; and 65 percent of visually impaired are aged 50 and older. The principal cause of blindness is cataract. Refractive error is an eye disorder in the focusing of light, the most common of which are astigmatism, hyperopic (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), and presbyopia. Increasing elderly populations in many countries mean that more people will be at risk of age-related visual impairment.In the Philippines, 348, 771 people are blind; common causes are cataract, retinal and macular diseases, optic nerve diseases, glaucoma, and trauma. The Department of Health and the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology work together for Vision 2020 Philippines to address the incidence of avoidable blindness, whose causes are cataract, errors of refraction, and childhood blindness. Avoidable blindness is more common among those who lack access to quality eye care; people in developing world are more likely to go blind that those in highly industrialized nations.The WHO Global Action Plan (2014-2019) targets the reduction in prevalence of avoidable blindness and visual impairment by 25 percent by 2019. Under the plan, governments collect better evidence on magnitude and prevalence of blindness; train more eye care professionals; provide comprehensive eye care services and integrate them into existing health systems; and identify and eliminate socio-economic obstacles, particularly for the poor and marginalized."
6561,"President Aquino should be more generous in the grant of executive clemency to selected prisoners to honor Pope Francis during his visit to the country, said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III.The President should exercise more leniency, “especially in cases where the guilt of the person is doubtful, or let us say for health reasons, or the person has reformed,” the senator told reporters on Wednesday.Pimentel, the chair of the Senate justice committee, acknowledged the right of inmates to appeal to the visiting Pope to intercede on their behalf when he meets President Aquino on Friday.“They’re hoping that the Pope will raise it with the President because that’s really the power of the President,” he said.Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who earlier announced that Aquino was considering granting clemency to elderly and seriously ill prisoners as a gift to the visiting Pope, said the list of inmates recommended for executive clemency had been submitted to the Office of the Executive Secretary, where she said the list would be vetted “prior to submission to the President himself.”47 inmates recommendedDe Lima said “there will be an action on the recommendation for executive clemency in time for the papal visit.”She refused to disclose the number of inmates in the list “pending the action by the Office of the President.”The Pardons and Parole Administration (PPA) recommended 47 inmates for executive clemency in November 2014.“The final say is the President because the President has the plenary and absolute power of executive clemency. These are just recommendations, recommendees subject to the approval of the President,” De Lima said.De Lima said that included on the list were “old-aged” inmates—those aged from 70, 80 and even 90 years old—and inmates who are “suffering from serious, including terminal illness.”She said the convicted road rage killer Rolito Go was not on the list, “even if someone had made the recommendation for him to be included.”“But I disapproved (his inclusion) at my level,” she said.De Lima clarified that this was “certainly not the last batch” of inmates to be recommended for executive clemency.She explained that there were more names submitted to her but there was not enough time to vet the entire list, hence there were names not included in the list submitted to the President.But De Lima said the PPA could “always again submit recommendees for executive clemency in time, for example, for the Holy Week.”“Events like that are the best time to consider executive clemency,” she said.Political prisonersPolitical prisoners in a police camp in Taguig City have begun fasting ahead of the papal visit and wrote an open letter to the Pontiff to intercede for their release.They included suspected communist rebels Andrea Rosal, Alan Jazmines, Tirso Alcantara, Loida Magpatoc, Emeterio Antalan and Leopoldo Caloza.The London-based Philippine Jury Campaign (Philjury) has also written to the Pope to intercede with the President for the release of the “Abadilla 5,” the five men convicted of the 1996 killing of Lt. Col. Rolando Abadilla.Philjury said the five had been “fighting for their innocence for 18 years,” and noted that the Board of Pardons and Parole had recommend their release in 2011, and that the Department of Justice had recommended a conditional pardon for them in 2012.The Supreme Court affirmed in February 2011 the Court of Appeals ruling upholding the lower court’s conviction of Lenido Lumanog, Augusto Santos, Cesar Fortuna, Joel de Jesus and Rameses de Jesus."
6571,"The plea bargaining arrangement between the courts and suspects indicted for illegal drugs charges has resulted in the release of some 500 prisoners from the Bataan District Jail, here.Newsmen learned that drug cases account for 81 percent of the 2,015 population at the Bataan District Jail.But Superintendent Andrew Tauli, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP’s) jail warden here, said that since the implementation of the plea bargaining around 500 inmates who are charged with a misdemeanor cases of drugs have been released by the court since last year.In nearby Olongapo city district jail, Supt Clarence Mayangao, jail warden, also said that a number of inmates jailed here have been also released, saying he expects that by next year a total of 1,500 prisoners might be reduced to only 500 once the full implementation of the plea bargaining is carried out."
6580,"Some of us have always thought that Filipinos in general are both gullible and pushovers. This notion lends itself to the fact that Filipinos have been sidelined by their neighbours in South East Asia – people who started out with countries as backward as the Philippines. But the belief all Filipinos are slow is not fair to other Filipinos who are now fighting against tyranny from within. We have to be more specific. Most of the stupidity in Philippine society is evident in the behaviour of members of the Philippine Liberal Party, its allies and supporters. More than three decades after the Liberal Party supported a coup d’état to oust former President Ferdinand Marcos, not much has changed. But now that a new leader is at the helm — someone whose approach is different from previous administrators — the Liberal Party, their allies, and their supporters cannot accept their defeat and still stand by their brand of mediocre leadership even though the Philippines already suffered under their rule.What do the people behind the Liberal Party stand for, really? They do not stand for liberalism or liberty and equality in the real sense. It seems they only stand for patronage politics and advancing their own personal interests. Take the case of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a long-time ally of the Liberal Party. With his cohort and former fellow soldier friend Magdalo Partylist Representative Gary Alejano, the two recently filed what they claim is a supplemental complaint against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands in connection with his war on drugs.This was after their impeachment bid against Duterte failed miserably. Their own colleagues in Congress ruled against it on insufficient grounds since the complainants only based their impeachment complaints on unverified media reports or hearsay that Duterte authorised extra-judicial killings in his drug war. Alejano even admitted during the deliberation in Congress that he had no personal knowledge even though he swore under oath that he did have personal knowledge of his allegations. In other words, Alejano lied and was just trying his luck in his bid to pull Duterte down.Others saw the impeachment complaints as a prelude to a more sinister move on the part of those who want to oust Duterte. It is now apparent that Alejano and Trillanes and whoever else supports them are using the junking of the impeachment complaints to justify asking for international intervention. They have now moved on to Plan B, which is to prove to the ICC that Congress is no longer acting independently of the Executive branch. Their persistence in destroying Duterte is notable. They are like a dog with a bone.Trillanes and Alejano – both members of Congress – are inadvertently telling the international community that they and their colleagues are useless in going against Duterte. How can they when Duterte hasn’t violated any laws to begin with? The two so-called lawmakers are acting naïve. As if they, Trillanes in particular, don’t or did not play the game of patronage politics. Some even call Trillanes the Liberal Party’s attack dog since he acts like the Liberal Party’s public defender and attacks those who oppose the LP agenda. He was one of those so-called senator-judges who voted in favour of impeaching the late former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona using the lame charge of inaccurate filing of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) just to please former President BS Aquino who wanted Corona out. That was just one of those instances when Trillanes seemingly paid back a favour he owed to BS Aquino for a pardon he granter him while he was in jail for being a convicted mutineer. Trillanes also played the attack dog well when he relentlessly bullied former Vice President Jejomar Binay when the Liberal Party thought he was a threat to Mar Roxas’s bid for the Presidency in 2016. Trillanes was in the media for almost a year crucifying Binay. It’s a good thing his overexposure did not win him a lot of votes in the last election. A lot of people saw through his cunning moves.Trillanes and Alejano’s motives are quite suspect. Filipinos do not stand to gain anything from their actions. They are just embarrassing the country and risking destabilisation. What do they want to happen? They want Duterte out of the way so the current Vice President Leni Robredo – another loyal Liberal Party member – could take over the Presidency. We all know what a disaster that would be. Robredo has become a laughingstock and would only be a lame duck if she becomes the President or worse, a puppet for the yellow oligarchs. It can only be bad news for the Philippines if the complaint filed before the ICC progresses. The international court does not know the real situation in the Philippines. Trillanes and Alejano are the wrong people to brief the outside world. These two are not objective. They want chaos so they can grab power. It’s a recipe cooked up in the 1980s.Trillanes is also against Duterte’s Martial Law in Mindanao. He came up with six proposals to defeat the terrorist group Maute without the need for Martial Law:1. Sustained military operations Time and again, the AFP has consistently crushed the enemy forces it has faced. 2. Increased intelligence funds of the AFP/PNP Realign Malacanang’s P18B Intelligence/Confidential Funds (this includes the P1.4B of Sec. Andanar’s PCOO) to augment AFP’s P1.6B Intelligence Fund. 3. Intensify intelligence operations Once the Intelligence Funds of the AFP/PNP had been augmented, the intensified intelligence operations will effectively pinpoint the exact location of the terrorist cells throughout the country without affecting the way of life and freedom of the Filipinos. 4. Pass the National ID System Bill This will make it difficult for terrorists and lawless elements to go through checkpoints and airports, and to conduct other activities. 5. Provisional Enlisted Personnel Bill This will allow the AFP to recruit 20,000 troops to augment its present force and therefore be more effective in dealing with different national security threats. 6. Vigilance of the civilian populace Everyone should be empowered to participate and contribute to our national security.With the exception of item number one, which the military is already doing, most of his proposals will not even address the immediate damage to property and lives terrorists are causing right now. He is proposing bills that need to pass legislators and seek executive approval. This could take months or years. Meanwhile, the rest of Mindanao is at risk of falling in the hands of terrorists. Trillanes is simply being lame. For a guy who couldn’t pull off a successful mutiny (he failed twice and went to jail for it) and who came out last in the Vice Presidential Election, Trillanes doesn’t have the credibility to win any battle.Another member of the Liberal Party Senator Risa Hontiveros has earned the ire of the public for seemingly defending the terrorist group Maute who are currently wreaking havoc in the Marawi City in Mindanao. In an interview with Get it Straight host Daniel Razon, Hontiveros thinks that Duterte’s Martial Law is not justified since she doesn’t consider what the Maute group is doing as “rebellion” nor an “invasion”. She said that since the government forces initiated the military operation, it does not fall within the “parameters of Martial Law”. Never mind that all the Senators including her were shown a video of the terrorist group plotting their attack, which the military only pre-empted. She has angered a lot of Netizens for showing more concern for terrorists who do not think twice about beheading or killing who they consider “infidels”. It is baffling why people like Hontiveros do not see the urgency to nip the situation in the bud. As usual, they want to be reactive and not proactive.These are the kinds of mediocre thinking that the Liberal Party, their allies and their supporters are promoting. They cause loss of lives, damage to infrastructure and impede the country’s growth. They have perpetuated this kind of loser mentality since 1986. One can be forgiven for thinking it is harder to defeat the mentality they espouse – a mixture of arrogance and irrational thinking – than the terrorists themselves. It’s too bad there are still gullible Filipinos who fall for them.[Photo courtesy ABS-CBN News.]"
6591,"with stipends to boot. We’re asking why all these have not been done to SCU students who are also “iskolar ng bayan” and on whose shoulders the nation puts lots of expectations.Rep. Elago is correct: The tuition-free policy is indeed a game changer for SCUs. SCUs will finally stop telling students the same false arguments private schools tell about high quality education supposedly costing more and that the public should directly bear its cost.For with this tuition-free policy in SCUs, Congress addresses the adverse impact of the Education Act of the Marcos dictatorship and the Higher Education Modernization Act of the post-Marcos administrations. These laws provided SCUs the license to impose runaway increases in tuition and other school fees that betray the mandate of public tertiary schools.It remains an issue of investment, and realigning public funds to such a productive and socially beneficial expenditure. Between alloting funds to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and adding more funds to SCUs, it is a no-brainer that we would be better off investing in the education of more engineers and scientists. The first is crazy and possibly corrupt. The second could lead us to a future with adequate green energy, poverty alleviation, and social mobility among many benefitsSome might say P8 billion is already too much, and additional funds may adversely affect other expenditures and investments. Yet we should only remember that the previous administration corrupted P200 billion in taxpayer money for presidential pork barrel. Even doubling, tripling or quadrupling the P8 billion to upgrade and expand SCUs would sound infinitely more reasonable and more responsible.National democrats and progressives should demand more in terms of funding so that SCU students could really be more like actual scholars. The National Union of Students of the Philippines and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines have reported that miscellaneous other school fees now outpace basic tuition in many SCUs. How would the new Congress policy address this?We also hope colleges and universities under local governments follow the lead of Congress, and totally defray costs that they now pass on to students.It is understandable that many are in a state of disbelief. They cannot yet accept the news and instead raise a whole lot of questions, like whether this is true 100 percent or worrying how it would be implemented.For instance: Would the University of the Philippines be covered or would the government keep UP students the highest-paying “scholars” in the country? Change must come to UP too; UP must stop thinking like a private school when it comes to tuition.This is a radical step in course-correction. Thus, it would be messy, as we could sense from the disbelief of many, because it seeks to overturn how tuition and other school fees are pegged in SCUs. We could only tell them to keep calm and accept this positive change, and to discard the wrong notions about who should bear the costs of public education.Rep. Elago and the youth movement led by the NUSP and the CEGP are out there. They have a keen eye not just on the next steps. They are also vigilant on the possible “resbak” of capitalist educators inside and outside SCUs who view students as customers, education as a mere commodity, and schools as merely a conveyor belt that produces cheap and docile workers for the backward and pre-industrial economy.We must embrace tuition-free SCUs as a first bold step towards a national, scientific and mass-oriented education that the country needs and wants, and away from the colonial, commercialized, and repressive education that we know suffer from.Follow me on Twitter @tonyocruz and check out my blog tonyocruz.com"
6601,"The local business community vowed to hold presidential candidates accountable to the promises and pronouncements they made at Tuesday’s 41st Philippine Business Conference.Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Grace Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas outlined during a forum hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) programs they planned to pursue if elected President in next year’s election.READ: 4 presidentiables on FOI, Cha-cha, corruption, tax reformThe programs ranged from priority bills, tax reforms, human capital and infrastructure investments to constitutional amendments.“Basically, their opening statements talked of the same things and the questions that were asked of them were similar. At the very least, we have a record of what they promised us and if they win, we will hold them accountable for what they promised,” businessman Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. later told reporters.Ortiz-Luis said the issues discussed were deemed crucial for businesses to thrive, pointing to measures to further ease doing business and amending laws and policies that are seen as unfriendly to businesses.Lack of focusHowever, he lamented the lack of focus on measures that can boost the competitiveness of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, which comprise over 99 percent of all registered businesses in the country.“I thought they would spend more time on this issue especially on the issue of financing. I also thought that they would talk about exports. Unfortunately none of them did,” he said.PCCI president Alfredo M. Yao stressed the need for political will to carry out necessary reforms for a sustainable and inclusive growth.“I am looking for a leader who has the political will, and can make decisions whether popular or unpopular. When you say it, you do it. They said basically the same things although what Roxas said about the judicial impediments are also important,” Yao added.Deviating from the usual face-off debates, the PCCI forum saw the candidates taking the stage one by one, delivering opening and closing statements and fielding questions by the moderator, TV business news anchor Coco Alcuaz.‘More prosperous’First up was Santiago who vowed to step down as President by 2022 with a nation that is more prosperous, people who are more united and institutions that are more stable.First on the list of Santiago’s priorities once she assumes the presidency is to have the freedom of information bill enacted as this enhances transparency and public accountability; restore meritocracy in government and weed out political parasites in the ranks; run the government’s finances responsibly by reforming the 19-year-old tax system; “right size” the government; and keep government deficits manageable by keeping it below 3 percent of the gross domestic product.Asked why she had refused to release her medical records, Santiago, who said he had survived stage 4 lung cancer, said: “Can’t you see me? Can’t you see I can stand straight? What else do you want from me? Why are you so nasty?”“Have you seen anything, any provision under Philippine law that requires any candidate for any office to show his or her medical records?” she said.“What right does someone walking on the street have to suddenly ask you: “Do you have medical records?” What have I done? Why should I surrender my medical records?” Santiago said.Marcos connectionAsked about her choice of running mate, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Santiago said: “I did not team up with him to defend him … he can defend himself.”“I have not seen prima facie evidence that Bongbong Marcos killed someone, raped someone, burned down a house or violated the revised penal code … A formal complaint must be filed in court so that we’ll see if there is any basis at all,” Santiago said.Binay’s prioritiesAccording to her, the election of the namesake son of the late dictator should show that the greater majority believes he deserves to be in public service.Binay similarly stressed the need to ramp up infrastructure spending; revisit and reduce corporate income taxes; amend the Constitution to lift the restrictive economic provisions as these are no longer attuned with the present times; support agriculture sector; boost job creation, among other things.The Vice President shrugged off allegations of corruption against him, saying these were “a conspiracy of all sectors.”“But thank you for making allegations. It’s the job of the courts to say whether you are guilty or not of corruption,” he said.“The moral problem actually is not corruption, the moral problem is poverty. That is what I have to face, not a fight against all these allegations but a fight to alleviate poverty in the life of every Filipino,” he said.Charter amendmentsRoxas spoke like he was running for reelection as he was forced to defend President Aquino’s record on anticorruption and public service, and his stand against Charter change and income tax cuts.He said that in his four years as trade secretary, no foreign investor asked him to open the doors to more foreign investments but to address practical issues undermining business transactions in the country such as delayed payments of export credits, and the tedious and layered process in obtaining licenses.Roxas said that while he was open to lowering income taxes, he pointed out that lower government revenues would have a negative impact on public service and the country’s credit rating (a downgrade due to lower collections would lead to higher borrowing rates).He addressed businessmen’s concerns on the chronic breakdown and overcrowding in trains and congestion in the airports by saying that there was simply too little time to undertake adjustments in these essential facilities.Roxas said the government had its hands tied on the MRT from Day One because its private proponents were guaranteed to earn a 15-percent internal rate of return in dollars per year from a contract awarded three administrations ago.Roxas also blamed the short window for expansion and repair work in the airport and terminals that operate 18 to 20 hours a day. He said the government had to squeeze in the limited time frame to put up additional quick exit runways because it could not afford to shut down the airport.READ: Roxas lauded for transparency in forumBetter late than neverSen. Grace Poe, who was able to catch up in Tuesdays forum, vowed that in her first 100 days in office as President, she will have the freedom of information bill and the proposed Anti-Red Tape Act enacted; further ease in doing business; boost tourism; fight corruption; reform tax code; and reduce income taxes, noting that there is some P600 billion in unspent resources and that the reduction of income taxes will only be equivalent to about P30 billion.READ: Poe says ‘lean’ resume in short public service is better“We just need to be more efficient in government. We consider businesses as our partners and you will need the government to become an enabler,” Poe said.Organizers had to bend over backward to accommodate the former movie censor. She had initially declined to appear in the event, saying she had a provincial engagement. Poe blamed the mix-up on a “misunderstanding” and that she decided to come at the last minute to “man up or woman up.” She was given 10 minutes to do her thing."
6610,"Students of the University of the Philippines in Diliman and other parts of the country will be required to reimburse the government for their free tuition if they want to graduate.President Rodrigo Duterte issued an Executive Order that would in effect cancel the free tuition status of U.P. students who waste taxpayer money by walking out of their classes to protest against the very government that gives them free education.”If they want to continue protesting against the government, they should transfer to Ateneo University, De La Salle University or St. Scholastica’s College,” Duterte said. “It is about time we spend taxpayer money wisely.’"
6620,"Six Presidential Guards of President Rodrigo Duterte were wounded in an ambush in Brgy Matampay Marawi, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday, a day before President Duterte’s visit in the province.Reports said that two of the member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) was in a critical condition in the attack in Marawi.The wounded Presidential Guards have been rescued and brought to the Army’s 103rd Brigade headquarters in Marawi.The people behind the attack is still not identified, but there’s a possibility that the Maute Terror Group who pledged their allegiance with the Islamic State was behind the ambush.The Maute Terror Group is currently attacked by the Philippine Army in Butig.There’s still no updates if President Duterte would still go to Marawi City despite of the ambush.UPDATE: Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed that six Presidential Security Group personel and two security escorts from the Military were wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on their way to the headquarters of the 103rd Infantry Brigade.Brigader General Restituto Padilla, the AFP’s spokesman told radio DZMM that they recommended to postpone the visit of President Duterte to ensure their commander-in-chief’s securty"
6631,"The popular bar chow “sisig” – grilled pig cheeks and chicken liver chopped and served on a sizzling platter – is now officially part of this city’s heritage.Sisig has always been on every Kapampangan dining table, but a recent ordinance has elevated this gastronomic delight to its new stature as a cultural icon.A city ordinance was passed to safeguard and preserve the recipe and the manner of preparing authentic sisig. It also called for the promotion of “sizzling sisig” as a tourist attraction.An annual Sisig Festival has been mandated in the fourth week of April, encouraging the participation of schools and community-based makers of the dish.Sisig is also envisioned to help the city in vying for the title of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Creative City for Gastronomy this year “to boost its claim as the culinary center of Central Luzon,” Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said on Thursday.A dictionary published in 1732 by an Augustinian priest, Fr. Diego Bergaño, had an entry for sisig, which was defined as unripe fruits or boiled pig ears or tails dipped in vinegar and eaten by pregnant women.In 1974, out of a need to support seven children, Lucia “Aling Lucing” Cunanan improved and popularized the sisig, which became a hit to beer guzzlers in her stall beside the old tracks of the Philippine National Railways in this city.The culinary legend was 80 years old when she was stabbed and killed on April 17, 2008.It started to be enjoyed outside Pampanga province through Dan Tayag, former majority owner of Trellis Restaurant in Quezon City. Trellis used a similar sisig recipe but the dish was served on a hot plate.“Cunanan invented the sisig as we know it today,” said artist and chef Claude Tayag. His book “Food Tour” has a chapter titled “Sisig All the Way,” with a sketch of Cunanan, then known as the “Sisig Queen.”Former Mayor Carmelo Lazatin began the Sisig Festival in 2003. The subsequent festivals produced 177 sisig recipes using, among other ingredients, “bayawak” (mountain lizards), “kamaru” (cricket) and “tugak” (frog).For the last three years, Marquee Mall has been producing a giant sisig as centerpiece of its “Big Bite” food fest."
6641,"Fire razed a flea market in Boracay, Malay town, Aklan Monday.Malay Town Councilor Nenette Aguirre-Graf told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview at least 90 percent of the D’Talipapa market in Station 2 was destroyed.The fire started at around 4 a.m. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) declared a fire out by almost 9:30 a.m.Early estimates said more than 1,000 establishments were affected by the fire.While the fire was concentrated mostly in the flea market, the flames also reached several residential houses as well as Nigi Nigi Beach Resort.Graf said Mayor Ciceron Cawaling has called a meeting Monday to assess the damage and extend aid to those whose homes were affected.No one was reported injured in the fire.The last major fire to hit Boracay was on Christmas Eve of 2015."
6650,"Forget about the containers of filthy trash sitting in the Port of Manila (imported from Canada as recycled plastic). It’s nothing compared to what happened to a shipment of laundry detergent imported by a local company from a still unnamed country.Enroute to the Philippines, the ship, containing tons of detergent, sank amid bad weather in the Pacific Ocean.Watch the video to see what happened next."
6660,"Mover over, Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt. The Philippines just earned a spot — no, two spots — in the new list of ‘Wonders of the World.’Bohol province just made it to the list with its Chocolate Hills.And Baguio City is now recognized for its Chocolate Lake at Burnham Park.Congratulations to Bohol, and especially to Baguio!"
6671,"Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday said he wants limits on the terms of the country’s elected officials lifted, he said here where he is on a three-day sortie.“Itong term na ito ’di talaga ako naniniwala d’yan. Kailangan one to sawa ’yan, hangga’t gusto ng tao. Kaya kung meron amendments sa Constitution, ipapaalis ko yung term limitation. Hangga’t maaari, iboto nang iboto,” Binay told local officials.The Constitution provides that the President is not eligible for reelection after a six-year term.It also provides that no Vice President shall serve for more than two successive terms.Unfazed by Roxas-Poe tandemBinay is anticipating to face the tandem of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe in the 2016 polls—and is confident of victory, regardless of who he faces for President.Binay said he was unfazed by such a tandem because Filipinos would vote for someone with capability, experience and love of country.Earlier, in a speech at Barangay (village) Banago here, the Vice President kept the crowd of 100 people in stitches with promises ranging from false teeth and male diapers to Viagra.“They (the senior citizens) are given free movies every day, free cakes on their birthdays, burial expenses when they die,” Binay said.“The problem of senior citizens who are male is they pee in their pants. Maybe in the future male senior citizens will be given diapers.”He added: “The women have no problem with diapers because when they are old they have no panties … So we will not give diapers, we will just give Viagra…”At a press conference later, Binay said he believed President Aquino had already made a decision on whom to endorse for President in the 2016 election.He said the Liberal Party had been releasing information in trickles to the media about a possible Roxas-Poe tandem.“I believe there are results already,” Binay said. “They are just dribbling public opinion so that their decision can become acceptable.”Binay was confident of victory, saying the issue in the election should be qualification.He said a teacher could not be a supervisor or a principal without experience, nor could an apprentice be a president of a big corporation.In his case, he said, he proved his ability to run the executive department when he was mayor of Makati City.Binay didn’t specify who between Roxas and Poe would face him in the election.Most local officials in the province have endorsed Roxas—whose mother has roots in Negros Occidental—for President.They credited Roxas for the creation of the Negros Island Region composed of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, which had been pushed by officials of both provinces.Binay, however, said he didn’t believe Negros Occidental was solid behind Roxas due to the “warm” response he had received while going around Bacolod.He added he went to Negros Occidental for consultations on who to field as his candidate for governor.With Alma MorenoBinay visited the bagsakan fish port at Sitio (settlement) Sibucao in Banago about noon. He was with former actress Alma Moreno, chair of the Councilors League of the Philippines, human rights lawyer Harry Roque and former Rep. Danilo Suarez.RELATED STORIESJejomar Binay invades Mar Roxas countryBinay promises false teeth, diapers, Viagra to Bacolod voters"
6681,"Nagkaloob kamakailan ng tulong pinansyal ang Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) Regional Extension Unit MIMAROPA sa ilalim ng Quick Response Program (QRP) sa mga empleyadong naapektuhan ng pagsabog sa isang establisyemento sa lungsod ng Calapan kamakailan.
Nangyari ang insidente kung saan nasugatan sa pagsabog ang karamihan sa mga empleyado ng estabisyemento at nagtamo ng scald burns sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng katawan. Dahil dito, dinala agad ang mga ito sa Maria Estrella General Hospital upang lapatan ng paunang medikal na interbensyon.
Sa pamamagitan ni ECC Information Officer Ruth Calinao, inaksyunan agad ng tanggapan ang mga biktima upang hinggil sa kanilang karapatan tungkol sa mga benepisyong maaaring makamit ng mga ito sa ilalim ng programa.
Layunin ng ahensiya na maprotektahan ang karapatan ng mga ito, gayundin ang maisiguro na ang mga nararapat na kompensasyon ay kanilang matatanggap.
Patuloy pa rin ang isinasagawang koordinasyon ng ECC sa mga konsernadong stakeholders at mga awtoridad upang maisiguro ang mabilis na daloy ng tulong sa mga biktima habang nagpapagaling ang mga ito."
6691,"""All the champions and the top collegiate teams from all over the Philippines will be taking part so this will be a battle of the best of the best,"" pahayag ni Nestea Beach Volley technical director Rustico Camangian. Gayunman, inaasahan na magiging mahigpit ang labanan sa women's division kung saan ay idedepensa ng La Salle ang korona. Isa lamang sa koponan ang magbabalik at ito ay si Kim Fajardo matapos na ang kapares nito na si Ara Galang ay hindi makapaglalaro dahil sa tinamong injury. Matatandaan na nagtamo si Galang ng iba't ibang injury habang nasa stepladder semifinals ng katatapos na UAAP at hindi makapaglalaro sa loob ng anim na buwan kung kaya maiiwan kay Fajardo ang responsibilidad upang ipagtanggol ang hamon ng pinakamahuhusay na collegiate team sa torneo sa dinarayong Boracay. Posibleng humalili kay Galang si Cyd Demecillo upang makatambal ni Fajardo. ""La Salle has tentatively named Cyd Demecillo as her partner. But the lineup will only be finalized by next week,"" giit pa ni Camangian. Makakasagupa ng Lady Spikers ang tinanghal na kampeon sa UAAP na University of Santo Tomas (UST), NCAA titlist San Sebastian, Perpetual sa NCAA South, University of Negros-Recoletos sa NOPSSCEA, Southwestern U ng CESAFI, University of Mindanao-Tagum sa Governor's Cup, Mindanao State U-Tawi-tawi sa Tawi-Tawi Open, Unigames holder University of Mindanao-Davao, University of Baguio at nakaraang taong Nestea runner-up na Adamson U."
6701,"Malacañang has congratulated Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, expressing optimism that his return to power will further strengthen the ties between the two countries.The 92-year-old Mahathir is “an old friend of the Philippines,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.“His fresh mandate augurs well for the deep relations between the Philippines and Malaysia,” Roque said in a statement.In a stunning political comeback, Mahathir was sworn into office as Malaysia’s new prime minister on Thursday, unseating Najib Razak who was implicated in a corruption scandal.Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia from 1981 to 2003, is the world’s oldest elected leader.Roque said the Philippines considered Malaysia a “brother nation and dependable partner” for its constructive role in the search for peace in Mindanao."
6711,"KINUMPIRMA ng Palasyo na tumulak pa-Hong Kong si Pangulong Duterte kasama ang kanyang long-time partner na si Honeylet Avancena at bunsong anak na si Kitty para magbakasyon. Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo na regalo ito ni Duterte kay Honeylet na nagdiriwang ng kanyang kaarawan. ""Yup. He is in Hong Kong with Honeylet. It's the latter's birthday today,"" sabi ni Panelo. Sinabi naman ni dating Special Assistant to the President Christopher ""Bong"" Go na si Kitty ang humiling sa kanilang bakasyon sa Hong Kong. ""It was actually Kitty who requested her father for the trip, as a gift. Nagawa na ito nila noon kahit nung Mayor pa ng Davao City si PRRD. The weekend getaway is for rest and recreation,"" sabi ni Go. idinagdag ni Go na itinalaga ni Duterte si Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea bilang officer in charge. Umalis ang First Family kahapon at nakatakdang bumalik bukas, ayon pa kay Go."
6720,"San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is keen on their plan to connect Boracay Island and Caticlan by building a 1.9-kilometer toll bridge that will connect the Philippines’ most famous bridge to the mainland.According to SMC President Ramon Ang, they’ve had the capabilities to complete the project within two years, and they’re ready to submit its proposal to the government.The project will cost P3-B, and SMC expects a return on investment in 10 to 15 years.In the present, Boracay Island is only accessible via ferry.The bridge can also become the ultimate solution on how the wastes of the island would be transferred to the mainland easily.“We think we can build the bridge within 2 years. All concrete. Passable ang ilalim ng barko (Ships can pass below). It can handle sewage and all solid waste,” Ang said.In an old interview, Ang also said that the bridge would help Boracay to decongest because some hotels in Caticlan are much cheaper than the island.“We think what’s best is if everybody will stay and eat in Caticlan, go to Boracay to enjoy the beach,” Ang said in an interview with Inquirer.San Miguel is also the company that renovated the Caticlan Airport.On April 26, President Rodrigo Duterte decided to close Boracay to conduct a rehabilitation on the island.Hundreds of violations committed by commercial establishments have been discovered by the government during the renovation.The island is expected to reopen to tourist on October 26, following the announcement of Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu that Boracay is no longer a “cesspool”."
6730,"It seems that President Rodrigo Duterte would not forgive the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA) for allegedly killing soldiers while the ceasefire agreement of the government was still effective.The President asked the CPP-NPA leaders to return to the country and surrender after the government decided to end the peace talks between the Communists and Philippines.“Yung na-release temporarily to talk with us in Oslo, they should come back and submit themselves to the jurisdiction of this government, they are still prisoners. Walang pardon, walang amnesty, wala lahat,” President Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview with the press during his visit in his mother’s grave in Davao City.He also threatened the Several CPP-NPA leaders including the Tiamzon couples who were freed to became the negotiator of the communists side in Europe to go home and surrender to the government or else he would ask the International Police to arrest them.“Come home because you’re wanted and upon your arrival I will arrest you and place you back in prison. If you don’t want to go back, you’re fugitives. I will cancel your passports and I will inform the international police for an international warrant” President Duterte said.CPP-NPA is now a “terrorist group”President Rodrigo Duterte also considered the CPP-NPA as terrorist group for killing his soldiers that made him embarrassed.“Nagmamagandang loob ka na nga, napapahiya pa ako sa sagot ng pu—- Akala mo kung sino” Duterte said.”You give them all the leeway and you return to me a stupid… From now on, I will consider the CPP-NPA-NDF a terrorist group.”CPP-NPA ended their ceasefire agreement with the government after President Rodrigo Duterte failed to release the 400 political prisoners that they asked to release.The Government, in response of the killings of their soldiers in the alleged recent NPA attacks also ended the ceasefire and ordered the arrest of the freed political prisoners who traveled abroad using the money of the government.One of the soldiers killed sustained 76 wounds that angered the President."
6741,"Matatandaang nag-ugat ang lahat sa loob ng Cebu Pacific flight patungong Pagadian City noong Biyernes, March 19 nang magkaengkuwentro sina Melissa at Rey. Naging dahilan ang insidente para i-offload ng naturang airline si Melissa sa NAIA terminal. Sa IG post ni Melissa nitong Martes, March 24, sinabi niyang, ""In the light of the recent incident that involved me and Mr. Rey Pamaran, I would just like to simply apologize for my untoward actions and move on from this. This incident has caused a lot of pain and trouble to me and my family, as well as the other party involved. I am owning up to my mistake. No matter what the reason might be, I had no right to physically hurt Mr. Pamaran. Again, my deepest apologies to Mr. Pamaran and everyone else who have been affected by this."" Ilang oras pagkaraang mai-post ni Melissa ang paghingi ng dispensa, nag-post naman si Rey sa kanyang Facebook page ng reaksiyon hinggil dito."
6751,"SOCORRO, Oriental Mindoro—President Duterte on Wednesday vowed to implement a smoking ban in the country as he shared his health woes, including his need to use an oxygen machine because of his oxygenation problem from years of smoking.Speaking before residents and local officials here, Mr. Duterte disclosed that he was using an oxygen machine when sleeping.“My oxygenation is not good because of smoking,” said the President, who has since kicked the habit.He earlier admitted to having Buerger’s disease, a condition in which blood vessels constrict due to the accumulation of nicotine.The President, who turned 72 on Tuesday, also said he could not eat whatever he wanted because he had to watch his cholesterol level.He also has to be careful about his sugar intake and has to refrain from drinking alcohol because of his Barret’s esophagus, a serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease, which involves changes in the tissue lining the esophagus.In promising to implement the no-smoking law “in the coming months,” Mr. Duterte joked that those who wanted to light up could only do so in the open sea.“At least 5 kilometers from the coastal shores. You go there,” he said in jest.Mr. Duterte has been studying the draft executive order on the smoking ban, which may be patterned after a measure implemented in Davao City where he was a longtime mayor.As the city’s chief executive, he was known for his strict implementation of the antismoking ordinance.He reportedly made a tourist swallow a cigarette butt after the latter questioned the ordinance’s prohibition on smoking in public places."
6761,"Senate President Vicente Sotto III has given up on his proposal to change the last line of the national anthem after drawing flak on social media.In a post on his Twitter account on Thursday night, Sotto addressed criticisms over his suggestion to revise the lyrics of “Lupang Hinirang,” the original Spanish version of which was penned by Jose Palma.“Maraming mahina intindi-miento. Ayaw niyo? Huwag! (Many people have poor understanding. You don’t want it? Then don’t!),” the senator said on his Twitter account, @sotto_tito.But Sotto said he preferred folk icon Joey Ayala’s rendition of the national anthem, as its lyrics were properly pronounced.“I will support Joey Ayala’s version of singing the national anthem. The pronunciation and intonation are correct,” he said.‘Wrong cadence of words’The senator blamed the “wrong cadence of words” in the “original translation from the Spanish to Filipino lyrics.”He was referring to Ayala’s rendition of “Lupang Hinirang” in 2013 that was slower and featured properly pronounced Filipino words.Ayala’s version replaced the last line with “ang magmahal nang dahil sa iyo (to love because of you),” instead of the original “ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo (to die because of you).”It is the last line in the original lyrics that Sotto wants to replace with what he says is a less defeatist line, “ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo (to fight for your freedom).”While respecting Congress’ prerogative on the proposal, Malacañang views the change in lyrics as unnecessary, given the more pressing problems the country is facing"
6770,"The Filipino word “bakla” used to be synonymous with male homosexual. That was back in the day when the stereotypical homosexual male was effeminate and silly-looking. Philippine cinema in the 1960s and 1970s (and even as recent as the 1980s and 1990s) almost always characterised male homosexuals that way. To be fair, even today, they suffer an unfair characterisation — because celebrities like Vice Ganda who rose to fame on the back of low-brow and crass comedy continue to be symbols of male homosexuality.Vice Ganda and his ilk continue to propagate the bakla stereotype — caricatures of male homosexuality that prosper with immunity from crticism (thanks to the prevailing political correctness that rules “liberal democracies”). It is therefore important to redefine the word “bakla” to fit today’s reality — that there are gay men who are anything but this caricature portrayed by celebrities like Vice Ganda. These non-bakla gay men are actually real men in the sense that the old Ateneo slogan “men for others” once meant (before political correctness killed that meaning). They are (like what Ateneans used to be) well-bred modern gentlemen who intelligently think things through and not go into emotional shrieking fits when confronted with something they do not understand or grasp fully.In short, the word “bakla” no longer describes sexual orientation. Rather, it describes an acute weakness of character that predisposes one to seek attention using loud, annoying, and crass means. Vice Ganda, is an example of the quintessential bakla who just happens to be gay. Perhaps this is the reason people with bakla characteristics dominate social media cliques where chatter is loudest and where unsubstantiated information is most likely to spread and “go viral” — because social media has long been recognised as a medium that both exacerbates narcissism and allows narcissists to thrive. This is understandable in chatter surrounding showbiz and entertainment where chismis (gossip) holds currency.What is disturbing today is how bakla chatter has made inroads into political discourse. The same loud and crass narcissism once reserved for showbiz talk shows have become the new format for political “debate” as well. Screaming faggotry (a particularly annoying flavour of bakla behaviour) can be seen in many homemade videos and comment threads that purport to be exploring serious political topics. Small wonder that nothing ever gets resolved — because when the objective becomes seeking attention and speaking the loudest rather than speaking in turn and seeking the truth, intelligent conversation cannot take root.I’ve found that bakla-types are responsible for most of the unfounded and nonsensical opinions — and even supposedly foregone conclusions — that have come to define many “political movements” today. Many bakla slogans surrounding the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (“Heroes’ Cemetery), for example, continue to be shouted out. These shout-outs come across as bakla because they are loud (their shrillness hurts the brain) and crass (many talk about digging human remains off their resting place). Many are downright unethical — bakla folk who outright wish death upon people they hate or make speculate on and fun of people’s health issues or medical conditions. Others have become religious in nature by habuitually deifying “heroes” of the moment and demonising “evil” antagonists.The 1986 people power “revolution” for example had become a Philippine national mythological edifice of biblical proportions thanks to the bakla mentality that sought both messianic and demonic characters and symbols to rally around. To this day, even as the “people power” mythology declines in relevance, the cliques who remain associated with that mass hypnosis continue to desperately seek new (or cling even more tightly to old) gods and demons. This is the reason why the Opposition cannot unite — because the different factions cannot agree amongst themselves which gods are tops and which demons are the most vile. Some believe the Aquinos still reign supreme on Mount Olympus even as others believe the G20 governments are the prime sources of humankind’s ideological validation. Others remain convinced the Marcos’s are the vilest denizens of the underworld even while some of their partisan “allies” would rather spit on their country’s armed forces in memory of Martial Law “victims” of yore.It’s a confused society indeed — because Filipinos still believe in personal destinies controlled by elves and fairies rather than in the power of the scientific method where facts are woven together by threads of logic to form robust and testable ideas.Gay people enjoy more recognition today in the Philippines. The community owes this to many unnamed scientists who had proven using the scientific method that being gay is not a “sin” but, rather, a natural sexual orientation controlled by genes and not by personal choice. it is ironic, though, that a sad relic of the cultural heritage of their community — the stigma of the bakla — continues to stain their profile in mainstream society. But the more important thing to focus on is to rid the country’s political discourse of bakla approaches to “debate”. The future of the nation is too important to leave to shills who are in the habit of going into shrieking fits over unsubstantiated outrage fads."
6780,"Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta became emotional while denying Senator Hontiveros claims that there’s a pattern on killings in Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.During the senate probe on the death of Kian Delos Santos, Acosta clarified that PAO didn’t pronounced that there’s a patter on killings in the drug war of President Duterte contradicted to the claims of Senator Hontiveros who quoted the PAO several times during the hearing.“Mawalang galang na ho kay Senator Hontiveros, wala hong pronouncement ang PAO na may pattern dito. Uulitin ko po, walang polisiya ang gobyerno na pumatay ng walang awa,” Acosta said.She also defended the cops who are willing to sacrifice their lives to fulfill their duty in the country because the controversies made all the cops even the good ones looked bad.“Ako na mismo ang makakapagpatotoo na walang inuutos sa mga pulis na pumatay ng walang kaawa awa, kaya po yung mga kliyente namin, 80,000 plus nakakulong.. buhay hinuli ng mga kapulisan natin,” she said.“Kasi kawawa naman yung mga pulis na handang ibuwis ang kanilang buhay para sa inang bayan parang nalalahat na sila,nasasaktan po ako dahil madami rin po kaming kliyente na pulis na pinagtangol namin noon hanggang ngayon” she addedShe clarified that PAO pointed out the similarity between Kian Delos Santos and Carl Aranaiz.“Wala po kaming sinasabing pattern, lilinawin ko lang.. yung similarity lang ng kaso ni Kian at ni Carl.. parehong teenager, parehong OFW ang nanay, parehong may munting tindahan sa harap ng kanilang tahanan, parehong maayos ang itsura at wala sa drug list ng mga barangay, yun po yun pero wala po kaming sinabi na may pattern na mayroong utos [ang gobyerno] na pumatay, wala hong ganon,” PAO Chief Acosta said.But Hontiveros explained that they only quoted what Acosta said during her radio interview on DZMM.“Ang punto dito buhay ito eh bakit ganito ang pattern, parang may pagkakahalintulad ito kay Kian,” Hontiveros said while quoting what Acosta said during the radio interview.In the video posted by CNN Philippines, it also showed PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, still wiping his tears after defending the PNP against the accusations that the PNP were ordered to kill anyone in the form of war against illegal drugs.You can watch the whole video here:"
6790,"Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on Thursday, March 31, took advantage of his exemption from the campaign ban and urged agency employees in Central Visayas to spread the word about the administration candidates.In a meeting with regional officials of DOTC agencies, Abaya wrapped up his presentation of the department’s accomplishments by encouraging employees to tell their families and friends to vote for Liberal Party (LP) presidential canddiate Manuel Roxas II and running mate Leni Robredo.“Nagmamakaawa po ako sa inyo upang hindi ako mawalan ng trabaho. Please lang, iboto ninyo si Roxas at Robredo.” (I am appealing to your sense of pity so that I won’t lose my job. Please vote for Roxas and Robredo.)The desperate Abaya knows that the only way he can keep his job beyond June this year is for Roxas to be elected president."
6800,"Donald Trump has been called the Rodrigo Duterte of the West because of the similarities between the presumptive Republican presidential candidate and the Philippines’ president-elect.Both men are controversial because of their no-holds-barred comments and statements during campaign sorties and media interviews. They have made headlines for their sometimes vulgar, sometimes offensive responses to questions from reporters.Today, Trump once again copied Duterte’s style by revoking the credentials of The Washington Post to cover his campaign on the grounds that the leading U.S. newspaper has been unfair and untruthful in its coverage of the GOP candidate.It will be recalled that Duterte recently cancelled all press briefings going forward because of what he said was the Filipino journalists’ misinterpretation and misreporting of his public statements. Duterte now channels all his media statements through the state-funded Public Television network. He has also banned local media from covering his public events.It remains to be seen whether Trump will also limit his media exposure to either the National Public Radio or Voice of America.American journalists are very nervous about losing their jobs if Trump follows in the footsteps of Duterte."
6810,"Isang babae ang natagpuang patay at walang saplot sa katawan sa damuhan sa Barangay Rizal, lungsod ng Kananga, Leyte, Biyernes, Abril 12. Kinilala ni Police Major Jimmy Boy Balasanos, hepe ng Kananga Police Station, ang biktima na si Mary Cris Porsalida at nakatira sa nasabing barangay. Ayon kay Balasanos, isang residente sa lugar ang nakadiskubre sa patay na katawan ni Porsalida. Kaya agad na ni-report sa awtoridad ang insidente. Natagpuan ang biktima na walang saplot sa katawan at naliligo sa sariling dugo. Kinumpirma ni Balasanos na ni-rape ang biktima bago ito pinatay, base sa initial findings. Samantala, hindi pa masabi ng kapulisan kung ilang tao ang sangkot sa brutal na pagpaslang at ano ang motibo sa krimen dahil patuloy pa ang imbestigasyon."
6821,"Ang Wizards ay may 61 porsiyento mula field sa second half, at nagtapos na 13-of-26 mula sa 3-point range. Umiskor ang reserve na sina Rasual Butler at Bradley Beal ng tig-14 puntos para sa Wizards, na nanalo ng tatlong sunod at lima sa kanilang huling pitong laro. Ang 3- pointer ni Ramon Sessions ang nagbigay sa Washington ng kanilang unang tikim ng kalamangan, 89-88, may 10:11 natitira. Nagtala si Butler ng limang sunod upang iangat ang bilang sa 94-88 at ang sumunod na 3-pointer ni Wall ang tumapos sa kanilang 16-0 run. Nagtala si DeMarcus Cousings ng 30 puntos para sa Kings bago nag-foul out may 5:34 pang nalalabi at nagkasya na lamang na panoorin si Wall, ang kanyang kakampi sa Kentucky, na maipanalo ang laro. ''We want to beat one another, we want to be able to go back later on in the summer and talk trash about it,'' ani Cousins. ''He had an incredible performance. He came out and led his team in the second half.'' Ang Kings, naglaro sa kanilang ikalawang back-to-back, ay nagtapos na 2-6 sa kanilang eight-game road trip. ''Maybe we got a little tired,'' ayon kay Kings coach George Karl. ''Our defense was a step slow, a second behind, whatever you want to say, but we were very ordinary at both ends of the court probably.'' Kapwa naglaro ang dalawang koponan na wala ang kani-kanilang starting forwards. Si Rudy Gay (left patellar tendon strain) ay naupo para sa Sacramento, habang si Nene ng Washington (personal reasons) ay wala sa ikalawang sunod na laro. Si Wall, na nagbuhos ng 15 puntos sa third quarter, at Pierce (12) ang nagpaapoy sa kanilang 19-2 run na naglapit sa kanila sa 79-77 sa huling 2:45 ng quarter. Ang 3-pointer ni Wall ang tumapyas sa abante ng Kings sa 85-84 matapos ang tatlong yugto."
6831,"A Cotabato City think tank has advised against too much rejoicing over the enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), saying the charter of a proposed new autonomous region for Muslims in Mindanao still needs to clear a plebiscite and beat a possible legal challenge.President Rodrigo Duterte last week signed the BOL, a key step to ending a Muslim rebellion in the south that had claimed more than 150,000 lives since the 1970s.Tens of thousands of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members, supporters and local residents from various parts of Mindanao, including women in headscarves and fighters carrying firearms, trooped to the main MILF camp in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao province, for a consultation on Sunday.‘Most people want peace’Their leaders are seeking support for the law ahead of a plebiscite on the measure, which establishes an expanded autonomous region for Muslims in Mindanao and is aimed at ending one of Asia’s longest and deadliest conflicts.“This is our dream. If we end this [fighting], hopefully we can live in peace,” Nasser Samama, a 61-year-old veteran rebel fighter, said inside the MILF’s headquarters in Camp Darapanan.“Most people want peace and so do we in the MILF forces. What the MILF has achieved is not just for our group but for the whole of Mindanao,” Samama said.The BOL aims to enforce a 2014 peace deal between the government and the MILF, under which the rebel group vowed to give up its quest for independence and lay down the weapons of its 30,000 fighters in return for self-rule.Under the BOL, a new political entity called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) would replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) established following a 1996 deal with another rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front.The BARMM will have more powers and cover a bigger area.Last week’s signing of the BOL was met with rejoicing in Mindanao.But on Sunday lawyer Benedicto Bacani, executive director of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance, cautioned against too much excitement about the BOL, citing the challenges facing the measure.“The initial challenges [for the BOL] is to hurdle [possible] constitutional challenges and for its ratification in the plebiscite,” Bacani said.He stressed that the charter for the BARMM must first be ratified by the people in the proposed expanded Muslim autonomous region.The BOL provides that a plebiscite will be held three to five months after the law is approved to legalize the creation of the BARMM.Besides the ARMM, which encompasses the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the plebiscite will be held in 39 villages in North Cotabato, six towns in Lanao del Norte, and the cities of Cotabato and Isabela.But the BOL may not get that far before the Philippine Constitution Association and the group of former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan question the constitutionality of the law in the Supreme Court.Bacani said one of the constitutional issues the two groups may raise could be the parliamentary system of government.The 1987 Constitution provides for a presidential system of government for all of the Philippines.While the BARMM would be an integral part of the Philippines, the region would have a parliamentary government that some people see as putting it parallel to the national government, effectively making it a state within a state.Resolving a challenge could take years.But once the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and the BARMM are in place, Bacani said the two entities should ensure that peace dividends and better security must be felt in the communities.For the BARMM to succeed, he said, it is vital for the regional government to be efficient, accountable and transparent in handling the region’s finances, and for the national government to make sure that committed funds are delivered on time.Upright governmentIn interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM on Sunday, Bangsamoro Transition Commission Chair Ghadzali Jaafar gave assurance that the regional government would be upright.“[W]e give our assurance that this government is different from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Jaafar said, without elaborating.Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Nabil Tan described the BOL as “an inclusive law that will provide equal protection to all constituents in the region and not just one sector.”"
6840,"Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said he would invite for beer the police officer who drove the van that plowed through a crowd of protesters last week outside the US Embassy in Manila, to ask him why he did it.While maintaining he was not justifying the acts of PO3 Franklin Kho, Duterte said the officer—who was caught on video running over some protesters and bumping several others—may have been under stress at the time.” I will try to talk to him peacefully, invite him for beer.” I will also talk to the activists,” Duterte said.It seems that it is not only US President Barack Obama who is resorting to beer diplomacy to intermediate on issues of national concern.When asked by The Adobo Chronicles what his beer preference was, Kho said, “San Mig Light siyempre.” (San Mig Light of course.)"
6851,"Bonuan Gueset, a seaside community of over 23,000, is this city’s most populous barangay but ranked third in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) list of villages in Pangasinan province with the biggest number of drug pushers and users.So when incoming President Rodrigo Duterte warned anew that drug addicts would be dealt with severely during his administration, about 500 illegal drug abusers and peddlers came out in Bonuan Gueset and promised authorities that they would stop “at their own free will.”The scene has been played out in cities and towns in many other provinces and in Metro Manila since Duterte won the presidency last month on a campaign platform of punitive action against drug trafficking and addiction, criminality and government corruption.On Sunday in Cebu City, Duterte said drug addicts were better off dead if they could no longer be rehabilitated because they would eventually commit crimes to sustain their addiction.In Quezon City, outgoing Philippine National Police Director General Ricardo Marquez corrected public perceptions that the antinarcotics police operations started to intensify only after Duterte’s poll victory.From January to mid-June, “we already accounted for more than 18,000 illegal drug personalities and confiscated more than 680,000 grams of ‘shabu’ (methamphetamine hydrochloride),” Marquez said in a speech on Monday during retirement honors for him at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.President Aquino, who appointed Marquez to his post last year, attended the ceremony.Marquez also said 183 fatalities were tallied in “encounters between police officers and clandestine [drug] laboratory workers, drug pushers and users.”Promissory notesRicardo Mejia, chair of Bonuan Gueset, said the drug users and pushers who turned themselves in signed promissory notes which, he pointed out, could incriminate them in a criminal complaint.He said he would not give authorities the notes which were “just for the purpose of cross-checking in the future when law enforcers furnish me a list again.”Mejia said signing the documents would not remove them from the list of illegal drug users and pushers because the village council would keep them under surveillance to make sure they kept their promises.“Night and day, [drug users and dealers] come to see me. This [Monday] morning, three people came to sign the promissory notes. Even those who were hardheaded have softened after seeing drug-related killings on television,” he said.“At first, they were afraid to come out in the open because they assumed I would send them to jail. But I told them that as long as they promised to stop, I would give them a chance,” he said.Chance to reformIn his meetings with village residents, Mejia admitted that he had used drugs but was given a chance to reform.“I tell them: ‘I am not ashamed to admit to you that I once committed a mistake, but I have changed since then. I’m telling you this because I believe everyone is capable of changing for the better,’” he said.He said it would have been easy for him to just report everyone to the authorities and claim a P50,000 reward because the police and the PDEA regularly gave him a copy of a list of drug abusers and peddlers.“But I tell them, ‘I didn’t send anyone to jail. But if you get jailed, it’s your fault. If you get killed because you fought those who are arresting you, it’s your fault,’” he said.Mejia said that among those on the list were his son, brother, nephew and a grandson. “I told them—because they are my family—that if they don’t stop, I would not want them killed by those who are killing drug suspects. So, they have changed,” he said.Eastern Police DistrictAnticipating a promise of a changed life and free rehabilitation, some 300 suspected drug users who were on the watch list of the Eastern Police District (EPD) in Metro Manila have given up over the past two days as lawmen mounted Oplan Sagip Bukas, Oplan Kapa and Oplan Tokhang.The watch list contains 710 names, Senior Supt. Ariel Arcinas, EPD spokesperson and chief of directorial staff, told the Inquirer. It included 200 from Pasig City, 100 from Mandaluyong City, 23 from Marikina City, and nine from San Juan City.“They are treated as victims here, not as suspects, who can change,” Arcinas said.Aida Concepcion, acting head of the Pasig Antidrug Abuse Council, said the city government would try to shoulder the rehabilitation of the suspected users. Admission fee for an eight-month program costs around P4,500, she said.Those who surrendered were told to attend spiritual, livelihood, medical and physical health seminars.Senior Supt. Jose Hidalgo, Pasig police chief, said that if they would not change after undergoing rehabilitation for three months, they would be held liable.“It is hard to change without intervention. When we heard we will be under the amnesty program, we thought it was the chance for us to change,” said 61-year-old John (not his real name), a company driver who was into drugs for 20 years.As the Marikina police under Senior Supt. Vincent Calanoga launched Oplan Tokhang (Operation Knock and Warn), 24 suspected drug users showed up at the police station on Monday and signed sworn statements “regarding their involvement in illegal drugs.” They vowed not to get involved again in any illegal drug activities.The police took their fingerprints and mug shots.Davao del SurIn Digos City, Davao del Sur province, at least 130 drug pushers and users surrendered to officials of Barangay Tres de Mayo on Monday afternoon. They feared for their lives, said the village chief, Oscar Bucol.Glen, 17, admitted that he started using drugs a year ago. Mar and his wife Perlas confessed that they had no jobs and were forced to sell drugs. Another pusher named Boyet disclosed that his source was an Army soldier.Supt. Dario Gunabe, provincial police chief, said charges would not be filed against those who gave up, but they would be placed under surveillance.They will be given livelihood assistance by the local government, while some will be endorsed for admission to a rehabilitation center, Digos Mayor Joseph Peñas said.Zamboanga CityIn Zamboanga City, more than 40 people, 23 of them pushers, surrendered to the police station in Barangay Ayala over the weekend and five more in the villages of Tetuan and Sinunuc.“Three of the 23 are classified as among the top 10 most wanted in Ayala,” said Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, spokesperson of the city police.Supt. Luisito Magnaye, the city police chief, said among those who surrendered in Tetuan were sons of barangay officials and tanod (watchmen). With reports from Jaymee T. Gamil in Manila; and Orlando B. Dinoy and Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao"
6860,"The Davao Coastline and Port Development Project has finally given a go signal by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte after he signed as Mayor of Davao the Joint Venture Agreement between the city government and its developer Mega Harbour Port Development Corporation.The JVA was signed by outgoing Mayor Duterte at SMX Convention Center to represent the city government of Davao, Tuesday, June 21. The said proposed port development covers Bucana to R.Castillo coastline.The reclamation project will be a mixed industrial, commercial and government centers which has a target completion date on 2019.Look the photos below of the architect perspective of the said project. Change is coming in Davao City!What can you say about this development? Leave your thoughts below!"
6871,"Nalaglag ni Wozniacki ang unang set kay Barbora Zahlavova Styrcova ng Czech Republic, 6-4, at tabla ang bilang sa 1-1 sa ikalawang set nang siya ay maglakad patungo sa net at sinabing hindi na niya kayang magpatuloy."
6880,"Kritikal ngayon ang lagay ng isang ginang matapos masagi ng humaharurot na kotse ang sinasakyan niyang motor. Kinilala ang mga biktima na sina Mark Joseph Belen na nagtamo ng bali sa kanyang paa. Si Rosanna Ugto naman ay nakaratay sa ospital dahil na-comatose. Kitang-kita sa dashcam ng isa pang kotse ang pabarumbadong pag-overtake ng kotse sa mga nakasakay sa motor. Nang masagi ang mga biktima ay sabay humarurot ito na tila walang nangyari. Nangangalap na ng posibleng karagdagang CCTV footage ang mga otoridad para matunton ang suspek. Humihingi naman ng tulong ang tiyahin ni Joseph Belen na si Divina sa publiko para mabilis na mahuli agad ang suspek. ""Pamangkin ko po yang nakamotor. Magkasama sila NG asawa niya. Sinundo galing sa trabaho mga bandang 1 am to 1:30 am sa may Santolan, Pasig. Kitang Kita naman po na nasa tamang Lane siya at smooth naman ang pagpapatakbo niya bigla silang parang sinadya na pitikin ng puwet ng kotse tapos iniwan lang... Yung pamangkin ko po ay bali ang paa, yung asawa niya po comma, may dalawang anak po silang maliliit pa, Kaya sobrang malaking perwisyo po ang ginawa. Kung sino man po ang nagdadrive ng kotse na Yan.. tulungan niyo po kami na matunton Ang may ari ng kotse at panagutan Ang dapat niyang panagutan,"" pakiusap ni Divina Belen sa publiko. Labis naman ang paghihinagpis ang naramdaman ni Joseph sa insidente. Hiling niya ay makonsensiya ang driver at sumuko na. ""Sana makonsensiya ang driver ng kotse sa ginawa nia sa asawa ko kasi may dalawang anak po 'yung dinisgrasya niya. Sana magpagaling na po ang asawa ko alang-alang po sa mga anak namin. Sana gumaling na po siya. Mahal na mahal ko po siya,"" sabi ni Joseph. Source: GMA | GMA | Divina Belen"
6891,"Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno has drawn more flak for scolding a lawyer of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay during the oral arguments before the Supreme Court on Binay’s suspension by the Ombudsman for alleged corruption.Retired Supreme Court Justice Vicente Mendoza said Sereno should not have vented her frustration over the condonation doctrine on lawyer Sandra Marie Coronel.“Don’t scold lawyers for invoking the doctrine. After all, that doctrine was laid down by the court itself,” Mendoza, who served in the high tribunal from 1994 to 2003, told reporters on Friday.“And under the doctrine of stare decisis that is the law until by force of better reasoning the court erred in adopting the doctrine and decides to overrule it,” he said.Coronel had used the doctrine in defending Binay from the Ombudsman’s order preventively suspending him for six months while he is being investigated in the alleged overprice of the Makati City Hall Building II.The doctrine, set by the Supreme Court in 1959, states that administrative offenses by elected officials are deemed forgiven upon their reelection.While interpellating Coronel during the oral arguments, Sereno described the doctrine as an “unfortunate doctrine made on legally insecure foundations” and an example of “bad case law.”“Is this the kind of legal regime you want? We want to tell you this [doctrine] is wrong and you want to tell us to continue believing in this?” Sereno asked Coronel.Mendoza said the Supreme Court’s choices in the Binay case were not limited to whether or not the condonation doctrine should be abandoned. He said the high court may simply “modify” or even “retain” the doctrine or may even opt to apply it for lesser offenses and revoke it for serious ones.The condonation doctrine is also known as the “Aguinaldo doctrine,” taking its name from the 1992 Aguinaldo v Santos case, in which condonation was first reinforced by the Supreme Court under theConstitution."
6900,"(UPDATED)An OFW from United Kingdom started a petition on the internet to oust Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in the senate.On March 6, Michael Valderama writes a letter addressed to senator Trillanes and asked him to voluntarily resign.He explained that the Filipino people don’t really like a public servant who only wanted to oust the President who elected by the majority.Mr. Valderama said that Trillanes cause was useless and the Filipino people don’t need his kind of service.He explained in his letter that the administration is working to give a brighter future for the Filipino nation and Duterte was elected because the Filipino people wanted a vital change to the Philippines.Mr. Valderama told Trillanes that any propaganda that he created was a betrayal for the republic of the Philippines.Trillanes was warned in the letter that people may forced him to resign if he didn’t voluntarily resign.“You have stirred bewilderment and confusion among us and tried to divide us with your wimpy tricks. if this prolongs, people who are sane enough will be forced to drag you out and bring you to places you don’t want to go,” Valderama wrote.“Before this happens, kindly tender your urgent resignation for the benefit of all. This is the best sacrifice you can make for us; TO STEP DOWN FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION,” He added.The letter went viral on the internet and being featured in some pro-administration blogs.Some Netizens voluntarily shared the letter and hopes that it would reached the office of Senator Trillanes.This is the full letter:On Friday, June 23, amid the criticisms received by senator Antonio Trillanes after his interview with BBC’s HARDTalk host Stephen Sackur, a netizen named Raffy Guiterrez criticized the politician and asked him to voluntarily resign as a public official.He uploaded a video, where attacked sen. Trillanes and other members of the opposition.“Panawagan sa lahat ng mga Pilipino: we must demand for the immediate resignation of Sonny Trillanes and the other Liberal Party id**ts,” Guiterrez said in his post."
6911,"Ayon kay Gil Genio, Globe chief operating officer for business and international markets, na ang mga bansang nabanggit ay kabilang sa mga tinukoy na may pinakamataas na bilang ng mga migranteng Pinoy at expatriates sa mundo. ""We realize how important it is for our kababayans abroad to get in touch with their families especially during calamities. This is why we have set up free calling stations in these eight countries where Globe is directly serving the Filipino communities there,"" aniya. Sa Italy, ang free calling services ay available sa Globe Stores sa Milan at Rome. Para sa Spain, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore at Hong Kong, ang public service ay nagsimula noong Disyembre 7, 2014 at iniaalok sa pamamagitan ng ilang accredited Globe retailers. Sa US, ang Libreng Tawag service sa West Coast ay magiging available sa lahat ng sangay ng Seafood City habang ang Pilipino sa East Coast ay pagsisilbihan sa pamamagitan ng subscribed access service ng Lunex."
6920,"You probably know who is Xian Gaza by now but for those who don't, let me give you some overview of who he is. He's the guy who went viral after posting a giant billboard ad inviting actress Erich Gonzales to a coffee date.Things were going smooth until people started outing his dirty past. Apparently, Xian Gaza has been engaging in various shady business and has been called out as a scammer by a realtor in Qatar and Ella Cruz' mother.A model from Davao City named Dewanie Catapang also came forward saying she too was scammed by Gaza in a supposed charity project for the victims of typhoon Haiyan. The project was suppose to sell shirts and donate the profits to the victims of the typhoon. The money was swept away by the storm and was never seen again.Here's a photograph of Xian Gaza whose real name might be Christian:I know that you are thinking right now that he looks familiar. That is because he may or may not be Randy Santiago, the singer and actor but without shades and with braces.Or so the professional meme makers on the internet thought. But anyway, let's move on to the parody.Two Filipino social media personalities thought that making a parody of one of Xian's video is great idea. Which is absolutely no doubt indeed a great idea. Watch thevideo below:If that's not hilarious enough then maybe the parody video by internet celebrity Jon Gutierez will be better. But first go watch the original video by Xian Gaza when he went to check off one of his childhood bucket list by visiting an old temple in Cambodia.Now here's the Xian Gaza Cambodia Bucket List parody by Jon Gutierrez:"
6931,"After a monthlong break, it’s back to business in the Senate, with two inquiries on alleged irregularities involving public funds on top of the week’s agenda.The blue ribbon subcommittee is set to resume its hearing on Jan. 22 on the allegations of corruption against Vice President Jejomar Binay during his term as Makati City mayor.On the same day, the committee on social justice, welfare and rural development is scheduled to hold its first hearing on alleged irregularities in the administration’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program, which has a budget of more than P60 billion this year.Call for investigationHeading the committee is Sen. Nancy Binay, the Vice President’s daughter.The senator had said the hearing was prompted by a resolution filed by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago calling for an investigation into the Commission on Audit’s findings of irregularities involving the fund which provides cash assistance to the poor.Binay said the CCT hearing was not necessarily intended to stop the project, but to determine how it could be more efficiently implemented.The blue ribbon subcommittee may also hear new testimony on the allegations against the Vice President.Earlier, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said a new issue concerning Vice President Binay was to be discussed at the next subcommittee hearing, and there were four to five more hearings in the offing.Kickbacks, dummiesThe hearings on the Makati issues had brought out allegations by former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado that the elder Binay had received kickbacks from city projects and had used dummies to hide his wealth.The Binay camp has denied the allegations and has been critical of the long-running hearings, which it described as farcical and intended to destroy the Vice President’s popularity among voters.In the coming weeks, the Senate is also expected to tackle the draft Bangsamoro basic law, which would create a new autonomous region in Mindanao and flesh out a historic peace agreement between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.The Bangsamoro basic law, which is being handled by the committee on local government, is one of the priority measures of Congress in the first quarter of the year.The Senate committee on constitutional amendments will hold parallel hearings on the measure to check if it is in conflict with the fundamental law of the land which is the Constitution.Best giftMeanwhile, two senators called on Filipinos to continue living Pope Francis’ messages, which he delivered during his five-day visit.Sen. Bam Aquino said that putting the Pontiff’s words into action would be the best gift the people could give him.Among the Pope’s messages was an exhortation to shun all forms of corruption, which diverts resources from the poor. He also said that political leaders must have honesty, integrity and a commitment to the common good.Disappointment“The Pope’s visit must inspire us to eradicate graft and corruption in government. And this needs everyone’s cooperation, vigilance and faith to make the reforms happen,” Aquino said in a statement on Monday.Sen. Loren Legarda said she hoped citizens would heed the Pope’s concern for the environment. She expressed disappointment that many who attended his concluding Mass at Rizal Park failed to keep the area free of trash.“I don’t think it is too hard to find a wastebasket or take the trash back home to dispose of it properly. These simple acts should be part of our attitude and lifestyle if we seriously take our responsibility as stewards of the environment,” she said in a statement."
6940,"Towards Gender EqualityChrystia Freeland is Minister of International Trade , roughly equivalent to the PH DTI Secretary., roughly equivalent to the PH DTI Secretary. Jody Wilson-Raybould is Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, roughly equivalent to the PH Department of Justice plus the position of Solicitor-General.Minority Representation and Religious Diversity5 are Atheists (McKenna, Duncan, Yves-Duclos, Garneau, Qualtrough)1 is a Muslim (Monsef)1 is a Jew (Carr)5 are from Protestant denominations (Philpott, Brison, Foote, Goodale)3 are Sikhs (Chagger, Bains, Sajjan)3 are Catholics (Dion, McCallum, Trudeau)4 are of Indian ancestry1 is Inuit (the correct term for Eskimo; an Indigenous People’s group)1 is Kwak'wala (another Indigenous People’s group)1 is an Afghan refugee.1 is openly gay (Brison)2 are PWDs (Hehr, Qualtrough).A Technocracy of the most badass human beings1: The War RefugeeMonsef (bottom left) used to be like one of those kids.2: The Canadian RamboPangulong Digong, heto na ang karibal mo.3: The Quadriplegic Superman4: The Paralympian Sports MinisterA real athlete that leads athletes. Awesome!5: A Climate Change Advocate for a Science Minister6: The Transportation Minister who's a real-life AstronautHiyang-hiya naman ako kay DOTC Sec. Abaya.7: 4Ps on hyper-driveSo how will a Trudeau-esque Duterte cabinet look like?An equal or near-equal number of men and women. Cabinet heads will be relatively young and vibrant (below 50 years old) A technocratic selection process, where positions are offered to those who have the most relevant knowledge and experience. Equal or near-equal representation from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Muslims, LGBTs, and other minority groups will be represented.Presumptive President Rody Duterte's transition committee said they'll fill cabinet posts like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's. What does that mean? ""We ideally want to follow Justin Trudeau's cabinet in Canada wherein sectors are properly represented,"" said Duterte spokesperson Peter Tiu Laviña [ Rappler ].ThinkingPinoy leapt for joy when he first read that Rappler article. However, TP feels that many Filipinos are not familiar about the Canadian Government, aside from the fact that their leader looks like Prince Eric in Disney's The Little Mermaid.. Hence, TP decided to write an article describing Trudeau's cabinet, including short bios of some of the ministers. Let's go.There are 15 Men and 15 women in Trudeau’s cabinet, a first in the Canadian History [ Guardian ]. This is not just a lame attempt at affirmative action, as some women ministers were given very powerful posts, such as:The image below shows the men and women comprising Canada’s Cabinet.Of the 18 cabinet ministers that declared their religious affiliations:Among Trudeau’s cabinet ministers:The image below shows the religious affiliations of each minister. Those who declined to declare religious affiliation were covered with large rectangles:Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef arrived in Canada at age 11 after fleeing war-torn Afghanistan with her widowed mother and two sisters [ Globe&Mail ]. She grew up with a first-hand understanding of the horrors of war and forced migration.Defense Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan is one major badass. He was deployed once to Bosnia-Herzegovina and thrice to Afghanistan, for which he was awarded the Order of Military Merit for reducing the Taliban’s influence in Kandahar Province [ National ]. Yes, he’s basically Rambo.Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr is quadriplegic [ CalgaryHerald ], meaning he is virtually paralyzed from the neck down after being a victim of a drive-by shooting. In Pinoy slang, parang nabiktima siya ng riding-in-tandem. And who better understands the needs of Veterans than someone who was a victim himself?Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough is a three-time Paralympic Games bronze medalist: once in Seoul 1988, and twice in Barcelona 1992. She also was the legal officer of the 2012 London International Paralympics Committee [ VancouverSun ]. If Pacquiao were just as literate as she is, TP wouldn’t mind his winning a Senate seat.Science Minister Kirsty Duncan, Ph.D., was part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change the won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize alongside former US President Al Gore. About a decade ago, she led a “planeload of impatient, paternalistic” scientists in a death-defying expedition to Svalbard in the Norwegian Artic. Yes, just a few hundred miles from the North Pole [ NatGeo ].Transport minister Marc Garneau was Navy ensign who became first Canadian Astronaut to fly in outer space when he served as a payload specialist on Shuttle Mission 41-G in October 1984. Half a decade later, he was named Deputy Director of the Canadian Astronaut Program [ GC ]. Jeez, Canada’s transport minister knows how to transport stuff to outer space!Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is a veteran economist. Regarding his role on poverty reduction, Duclose currently working on a proposal to provide all Canadians with “a minimum income regardless of their employment status”, basically enhancing Canada’s already-remarkable social safety nets [ Globe&Mail ].Of course, we can't just look for clones of Trudeau's ministers. TP does not expect Duterte's ministers to be as accomplished as Canada's. However, based on what TP knows about the current Trudeau cabinet, TP believes we can expect the following in Duterte's cabinet:TP heaves a sigh of relief. Why? Because so far, so good. (TP)Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy.com stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
6950,"Sinabi ni House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez sa Commission on Human Rights sa panahon ng budget briefing noong Lunes, na icut-off nalang daw ang budget nito dahil lagi nitong pinupuna ang gobyerno na nagbibigay ng pondo sa kanila. Sa panahon ng House hearing, sinabi ni House Speaker Alvarez na ang pinoprotektahan lamang ng CHR ay ang mga kriminal at hindi ang mga biktima. ""When it comes to police matters, there is no human rights violations, as human rights, that human rights are bad. Because of that, too much influence on international organizations is just human rights of criminals,"" sabi ni Alvarez Sinabi ni House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez sa Commission on Human Rights sa panahon ng budget briefing noong Lunes, na icut-off nalang daw ang budget nito dahil lagi nitong pinupuna ang gobyerno na nagbibigay ng pondo sa kanila. Sa panahon ng House hearing, sinabi ni House Speaker Alvarez na ang pinoprotektahan lamang ng CHR ay ang mga kriminal at hindi ang mga biktima. ""When it comes to police matters, there is no human rights violations, as human rights, that human rights are bad. Because of that, too much influence on international organizations is just human rights of criminals,"" sabi ni Alvarez"
6961,"“The Vice President is not immune from suit. He is an impeachable official but he is not immune from suit.”Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday made the stand amid the debate between administration senators and the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on whether he enjoyed immunity from suit.Among the impeachable officials, only the President is immune from suit, De Lima said in a statement.“Impeachability only means that he cannot be removed from public office except by impeachment. Any suit filed against him that would not result in his removal from office, like a civil suit for forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth, is allowed,” she explained.“There is no doctrine in constitutional or political law that serves as a legal basis or rationale for immunity from suit of impeachable officials, other than for the President,” she added.‘Don’t hide behind legalities’In an interview with reporters, De Lima said Binay should just answer theaccusations of alleged corruption and issue of questionable bank deposits against him during the Senate investigation and by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).“He should face the music, and not keep saying that [the investigations] against him are politically motivated. There is always politics in cases like these, anyway. He should just explain his bank accounts and not hide behind legalities such as immunity from suit,” De Lima said.Earlier, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero III said Binay was not immune from suits or from investigations, such as the inquiry being conducted by the AMLC on the bank accounts of the Vice President, his family, aides and friends.University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque said Binay would lose his immunity and may be charged in court only after removal from office through impeachment.Roque said the AMLC’s petition to the Court of Appeals to freeze Binay’s accounts and the freeze order itself violated the Vice President’s immunity.Under Philippine jurisprudence, De Lima said, only the President, the State and members of the diplomatic corps under international law were immune from suit.“In the case of the President, he has to be protected from suits in order for him to concentrate on the business of running the government. He cannot be left attending to personal law suits left and right, instead of performing his job as the President,” she explained.–Jerome Aning"
6970,"In the U.S., the Helmet Law means bike and motorcycle riders are required to wear helmets to prevent head injuries in accidents. In the Philippines, it means riders must take them off!House Bill No. 4438, or the Helmet Ban Bill, will allow local government units in the Philippines to ban the use of helmets in their respective jurisdictions. Bill author Celso Lobregat, representative from the province of Zamboanga, said that his measure is intended to curb crimes perpetrated by criminals riding-in-tandem (two to a motorcycle).There has been a recent spate of incidents in which helmeted motorcycle riders snatch bags and purses from pedestrians.“It is an easy choice for us,” Lobregat said, “we’d rather protect the purses and bags of pedestrians than the lives of motorcycle riders. If they happen not to be criminals and figure in injury or fatal accidents, then so be it.”An investigative report by The Adobo Chronicles shows that Lobregat himself was involved in a motorcycle accident when he was a teenager. He wasn’t wearing a helmet and suffered serious injurious to his skull and brain.Could there be a connection between the lawmaker’s accident and his idiotic bill?"
6980,"Members of the Philippine Liberal Party and their supporters are feeling a sense of schadenfreude lately. They delight in the thought that President Rodrigo Duterte could be sick. Some of them even claim that he is in a coma. Apparently, someone has been spreading the rumor that he is in a coma. This was after Duterte decided to skip the Independence Day rites this week. Since they haven’t heard from Duterte for a few days, they assume the worse and think that he is ill. For people who are against fake news, they spread fake news really fast.There’s just no pleasing his critics. When Duterte goes on a tirade, they complain that he is rude and lacks manners. When he is quiet, his critics go on imagination overdrive and assume his cabinet is hiding the real state of his health and well-being. It’s as if Duterte doesn’t have the right to rest anymore. They seem to forget that Duterte is 70 years old, not 20.Duterte’s critics are contradicting themselves. They act like they are advocates of human rights, but wish harm on their enemies. They make a lot of noise and accuse Duterte of perpetuating extra-judicial killings, but they wish death on Duterte. When you see their posts on social media, you will lose faith in humanity. Some of them wish Duterte is dead already. It would have been different if they wish Duterte was prosecuted for what they accuse him of. At least that would give Duterte a chance to clear his name or provide justice to those killed in the war on drugs. But, no. His critics simply want him gone. They have no respect for human rights at all.Yes, Duterte’s critics, some of whom are from the Liberal Party and their supporters do not want to give Duterte the presumption of innocence. They claim to be advocates of the rule of law, but do not want to give Duterte his right to due process.The Liberal Party and their supporters think they own righteousness. They act like they have a monopoly on being right. They blame all the current woes on Duterte and ignore the fact that the Liberal Party was at the helm for six years. They expect Duterte to fix, over a short period of time, all the problems that former President BS Aquino left behind. This just proves that they are vindictive and apply double standards. They did not complain about problems when BS Aquino was in charge, but magnify all the problems now even when they were neglected during his term.An example of a major problem that BS Aquino government neglected is the management of the Metro Rail Transit. Despite a budget of 3.8 billion pesos, the train system did not improve. It didn’t help that the previous administrators purchased new train coaches that are too wide for the existing train tracks. This was a major blunder that seems to fly above their supporters’ heads. Obviously, the current coaches cannot accommodate the growing number of passengers who use the MRT. In other words, the incompetence of the previous administration is affecting the current administration today.It would take miracle for the Liberal Party and their supporters to admit that the previous BS Aquino government was neglectful and should take accountability for the current woes today. Unfortunately, taking accountability is not their greatest trait. Even when they were in power, they blamed other people like the previous administrators. Now, blaming the previous administrators only worked when they were still new, but the public got tired of the blame game when BS Aquino still blamed his own shortfalls on former President Gloria Arroyo and sometimes even on the late Ferdinand Marcos.The Liberal Party and their supporters don’t seem to learn. Their tactic of using negative propaganda is only exposing their own hypocrisy. They should have noticed by now that Duterte doesn’t even play the blame game. Indeed, the only people who spread hatred in Philippine society are ironically the ones who are complaining about human rights abuses."
6990,"Sa pinakahuling kaganapan sa kaso ng karumaldumal na pamamaslang sa grade 9 student na si Christine Lee Silawan, kinumpirma ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ang pagkaka-aresto sa bagong suspek. Ayon kay NBI 7 Director Attorney Tomas Enrile, ang suspek ay isang menor de edad at dating karelasyon ni Silawan. Naaresto ang suspek sa Barangay Bangkal sa Lapu-Lapu City. Base sa ulat ng Sunstar Cebu, inamin ng dating karelasyon ng biktima na isa sa mga rason kung bakit niya pinaslang ang dalaga ay dahil nagseselos siya. Binunyag na rin ng suspek ang mga kakuntsaba niya sa krimen at magsasagawa na ng follow-up operation ang otoridad. Ang bagong impormasyon tungkol sa Silawan case ay tila kontra sa mga naunang ulat. Magugunitang lumabas sa ilang ulat ng mainstream media ang larawan ni Jonas Bueno na sinasabing primary suspect sa pagpaslang kay Silawan. Si Bueno ay may kinahaharap na kaso ng pagpatay sa isang magsasasaka. Ang paraan ng pagkakapaslang sa magsasaka ay nakitaan ng pagkakaparehas sa nangyari sa bangkay ng grade 9 student. Noong nakaraang linggo, tumabad sa publiko ang balita ng kalunos-lunos na sinapit ni Silawan. Ang dilag ay nagtamo ng mahigit 30 na saksak, binalatan ang mukha at ang ilang bahagi ng laman loob ay nawawala. Si Silawan ay isang volunteer sa simbahan malapit sa kanila at nasisilbing kolektor dito. Dahil sa kaawa-awang nangyari sa biktima, may ilang kababayan tayo na gustong ibalik ang parusang bitay. Kinontra naman ito ng ilang senatorial candidates ng Otso Diretso habang ang ilang kandidato ng administrasyon ay pumabor sa panawagan. Source: Sunstar | CDN | DYHP RMN CEBU | ABS"
7001,"NANANATILING positibo sa red tide ang walong probinsya, ayon sa Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Ayon sa pagsusuring isinagawa ng BFAR at lokal na pamahalaan, positibo pa rin sa red tide ang Matarinao Bay sa Eastern Samar; Cancabato Bay; Tacloban City sa Leyte; Lianga Bay sa Surigao del Sur; coastal waters ng Dauis at Tagbilaran City sa Bohol; Puerto Princesa Bay, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; aat coastal waters ng Pampanga at Bataan (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay at Samal). ""All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from the area are not safe for human consumption,"" saad ng advisory ng BFAR. Maaari namang kainin ang isda, pusit, hipon, at alimango na makukuha sa mga lugar na nabanggit basta kailangang ito ay sariwa, aalisan ng laman -oob at lulutuing mabuti."
7010,"Retired singer-comedienne Cynthia Patag has never denied being a loyalist of the defunct Aquino administration, alongside other retired entertainment celebrities Jim Paredes, Leah Navarro and Carlos Celdran.She is fierceless in her criticism of the current administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, using her social media account as a megaphone for her political persuasion.Today, Patag finally admitted she is suffering from schizophrenia.Her words, not ours."
7020,"Sa survey na isinagawa ng Social Weather Station, lumabas na 7 sa 10 mga Pilipino ang naniniwalang kumonti na ang mga durugista sa kanilang mga lugar. Ginawa ang naturang survey noong Disyembre 16, 2018 hanggang Disyembre 19, 2018 sa may 1,400 na respondents. Sa survey, 66% Pilipino ang nagsasabing nabawasan na ang mga durugusta, 14% naman ang nagsabing tumaas ang bilang ng mga ito, habang 7% ang nagsabing walang pinagbago. Malugod namang tinanggap ng Malacanang naturang baita. Ayon sa tagapagsalita ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na si Secretary Salvador panelo, ito raw ay tanda ng tagumpay ng kampanya ng pamahalaan laban sa bawal na gamot. ""The Palace welcomes the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) showing that more than 6 out of 10 Filipinos, or 66%, believe that the number of drug addicts in their area has decreased over the past year. This survey, conducted last December 16-19, 2018, is a validation of the success of the Duterte Administration's campaign against illegal drugs. As we all know, it is a major campaign platform of President Duterte and remains a centerpiece program of his Administration, notwithstanding the harshest criticisms, brickbats and pressures the current government is receiving here and abroad... Even as our people acknowledge the Administration's efforts to bring down the number of drug personalities, our focus and drive remain unwavering in destroying the drug apparatus and putting behind bars the drug pushers, with strict observance to operational protocols, until the last day of the President's term of office in 2022.,"" pahayag ni Panelo. Basahin ang reaksyon mula sa ilang kababayan natin sa ulat na ito. ""Natural bababa yan. Gusto mo bang matokhang? Maraming trabahong mapapasukan para lang mabuhay. Ang droga ay salot sa buhay natin,"" sabi ni B. Victorino. ""otoo yan,malaki ang pagbabago ngayon kaysa noon na para kalang bibili ng candy sa tindahan laganap tlaga ang shabu sa panahon ni Pinoy abnoy..Salamat Tatay Digong,"" sabi ni J. Ellarina. ""Sobrang bumaba na sa cavite mga kapit bahay namn mga pala simba mga kagalang galang mga pag mumukha pero mga drug user... ngaun nag tigil na kasi takot ma tokhang... sa pasay ilang beses ako dumaan sa malibay pinag tripan akong hampasin ng walis tambo habang nakasakay ako sa jeep. Kasi ang kalsada pag aari na mga tao dun na sila nagiinuman nag susugal nag kukutohan , pag dadaan ka ikaw ang mag aajust. Pero ngaun hnd man 100% pero almost 80% na maayos.,"" sabi ni K. Saavedra. ""Ayaw ng mga anti ADMINISTRATION yang balitang yan.... gusto nila yung masama si PDuts ang ibabalita kasi yun ang masarap pakinggan ng tainga nila.,"" sabi ni Y. Paler. ""lamang..! marami paring user/pusher noon na pinapahalagahan ang sarili ..with or w/o surveys.. Filipino people feel that..atleast dahan dahan nababawasan di na nadadagdagan,"" sabi ni M. Teves. Source: MB | ABS | PTV | Office of the Presidential Spokesperson"
7030,"Timothy Bradley defeated Manny Pacquiao. Then Pacquiao defeated Bradley. Then Floyd Mayweather defeated Pacquiao. Then Bradley defeated Jessie Vargas. Then Bradley becomes the new welterweight champion. Then Mayweather is stripped of his WBO welterweight title. Vargas protests. Pacquiao protests.In the sport of boxing, judges’ decisions are oftentimes controversial and the rules can be confusing. Worse, reporting on it could be very complicated.Even before the WBO decided to strip Mayweather of his welterweight title, that belt was already up for grabs last June 27, between Bradley and Vargas. The bout was held at the StubHub Center in Carson, California which ended with, what else, a controversy.Drama ensued during the June 27 fight after Referee Pat Russell stopped the fight with ten seconds left in the final round because he said he heard a bell. Vargas had then just dealt Bradley with a mammoth right hook, and Bradley was practically out in his feet. When Russell waved his arms, Vargas believed he had won the fight and began celebrating his upset victory. Russell then scrambled to tell everyone that he didn’t stop the fight because of a knockout. In the end the judges determined Bradley to be the winner.So, Vargas filed a formal appeal with the California State Athletic Commission over the controversial ending of his unanimous decision loss to Bradley.Pacquiao, on the other hand, filed an appeal with the WBO, claiming that since Mayweather’s welterweight title was won against the Filipino boxer, then he should inherit the belt, not Bradley, or Vargas if he wins his appeal.If you are confused about this story, don’t worry. We are, too!"
7040,"Sa isang talumpati, siniwalat ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na kaya umano nagalit ang China sa Pilipinas ay dahil sa iringan ng banyagang bansa laban kina dating Presidente Noynoy Aquino at Senador Antonio Trillanes IV. Binunyag din ng Pangulong na ""inotso"" umano nina Trillanes at Aquino ang pera ng China pero hindi idinetalye kung pangyayari. ""Galit ang China sa atin di ba because if their tiff with Trillanes and Noynoy. Inotso nila yung intsik diyan eh. Pera. So hindi ko sinasabi pumunta kay Noynoy but sinabi ng Intsik,"" pagbubnyag ni Pangulong Duterte. Magugunitang kinumpronta ni ex-senator Juan Ponce Enrile noon si Trillanes sa senado dahil sa makailang beses na pagbiyahe ni Trillanes sa China pero imbes na sumagot sa mga banat noon ni Enrile ay nagwalk-out si Trillanes sa plenaryo ng senado. Binanatan din Pangulong Duterte si Trillanes at sinabing walanginatupag ito kundi mang-away at manakot. ""Anong ginawa nila? Trillanes anong ginawa nila kung hindi manakot. Akala mo kung sinong gago. Sinong tinatakot mo? Wala puro away, insulto,""buwelta ni Pangulong Duterte. Source: Abante | RTVM | Rappler"
7051,"SEN. Cynthia Villar on Thursday made it clear that she has no intention to file a bill that would prohibit food establishments from serving unlimited rice but she is urging concerned government agencies to come up with programs that would promote healthy eating among young people.“I am not planning to make a law banning ‘unli rice’, not at all. I just voiced out my concern that eating too much rice is one of the main causes of high blood sugar that leads to diabetes,” she explained.Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, was reacting to news reports claiming that she was planning to ban food establishments from offering unlimited rice to address problems on rice supply.“I cannot prevent people from eating unlimited amount of rice. It is their choice. It was just a genuine expression of concern on my part,” the senator said.During a recent hearing, the senator said that countries like Japan promote balanced diet that consists of a small portion of rice and a generous amount of vegetables.Villar said she will ask the Department of Health and the Department of Education to develop a new diet program that will encourage children to eat more vegetables and less rice.The senator cited a study claiming that eating one plate of white rice everyday increases the risk of developing diabetes by 11 percent.Health experts are also recommending adding 20 percent brown rice to the daily white rice consumption to reduce the risk of diabetes by around 16 percent."
7060,"Let's not speculate. Let's deal with fact. Muslims, wherever they are worldwide, are adherents of a monolithic, inflexible and unrelenting religion… Islam. All of them strictly follow the tenets and strictures of the Quran, as well as the Sunnah and the Hadiths which were handed down by their prophet Muhammad.The Muslim you may encounter in trouble spots like Iraq, Palestine, Nigeria or Syria, are of the same fabric… cut from the same bolt of cloth… as the fractious Muslim in Mindanao, Sulu and Basilan.. and Metro-Manila. All of them are of the same mindset, that is, that theirs is the one true religion and that anybody who says otherwise is an unbeliever.. an infidel, who must either convert or, be taxed heavily, or, be put to death. The Mozarabes.. Spaniards who did not convert to Islam, in the 8th through the 15th century, Moorish Spain.. paid dearly to live in their own country during that period. All these are data gleaned from today's news and from books like 'Introduction to the History of Western Europe', 'History of Spain', and 'History of the Moors of Spain'.Proceeding from these accounts… the Philippine Muslims who account for about 5% of the population today have become more assertive in their life's quest for a separate identity.. and territory. Their voices are now louder and more strident, their methods more aggressive and deadly. This new attitude matches their growing share of the population; and, is consistent with the flagrant Muslim skirmishes and assaults in other countries… Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium… where Muslim populations have crossed the 5% mark. While we can't say for certain that these developments are inter-connected; given the foregoing accounts, it is reasonable to think so. What is certain is that the consistent weak-kneed, paternalistic and patronizing policy of this, and past administrations has been a prescription for disaster. This stance has allowed an unpleasant local police problem, early on, to transition into a wider and costlier, 'chronic-low-grade insurgency' problem.The saga of President Aquino's Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which has already attracted international attention, can only exacerbate this problem. It is time to put a stop to this feckless and dangerous experiment.Please remember.. there are some failed attempts for which there are no second chances.. sky diving, bungee jumping and this BBL.------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/11/3-things-need-learn-paris-attacks/#comment-1432562"
7070,"An alleged grand plan of the opposition to oust and destroy the image of the President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte was uncovered by Sass Rogando Sassot.Yesterday, the supporters of Duterte alarmed after Sassot revealed an alleged plan of the opposition to spread propaganda against the President.Sass fought back after the Facebook pages that against Duterte attacked the President’s known supporters like Mocha Uson.Recently, a Facebook page named “Madam Claudia” tried to destroy the image of Sass and revealed some old photos of Sasot together with malicious captions.Mocha also faced controversy after a fake bank check for Uson sent by Bongbong Marcos has circulated online.She labeled the alleged as “THE WELL-ORGANIZED SOCMED PROPAGANDA MACHINE OF THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT”.Sass also discovered that a group on the internet called “Global Filipino Diaspora Council” where Billionaire Fil-Am Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairman Imelda “Mely” Nicolas, Inquirer US Bureau columnist Ted Laguatan and ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent Atty. Alcantara were members.Her first post about the leak showed Pete Silva’s message to Fil-Am Millionaire Loida Nicolas Lewis, giving strategies on how they can fought back against the tirades of theBBM/Duterte supporters.Silva allegedly instructed the “communities” to spread hate posts against Bongbong Marcos and President Duterte on social media.Second was about an email of Fil-Am Millionaire Nicolas-Lewis calling President Duterte to resign to save the alleged plot to unseat Vice President Leni Robredo.In her third post about the Leni Leaks, Sasot leaked the number of Loida Lewis’s executive assistant “Lilly”In her fourth post, Sasot revealed the identity of Pete Silva, one of the people who created an strategy to fought back against the Duterte/BBM Supporters on Social Media.She also showed the liked pages of Silva, showing that he followed some Anti-Administration Fan pages and Georgina Hernandez Spokesperson of the Vice President of the Philippines.Sasot also showed her conversation with the Netizen named “Vilma” who informed her about the Internet group. Sasot also thanked Vilma for giving the important information to herAfter the Netizens saw the revelation of Sasot, they speculated that the daily negative news against Duterte locally and internationally was part of the organized plan to unseat the President of the Philippines.The people involved in the Internet Group is not yet giving any statement on Sasot claims."
7080,"The next ombudsman will not be a woman, according to President Rodrigo Duterte.He said this as he explained his requirements for the next head of the Office of the Ombudsman.“[S]omeone whose integrity is admired by people. Of course, it could not be [a] politician, especially not a woman” he said while speaking with reporters late Wednesday night.Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales will hang her robes on July 26, seven years since former President Benigno Aquino III appointed her to the position.Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque spoke with The Adobo Chronicles and explained that the President is only following the law.“The position is called Ombudsman, not Ombudswoman,” Roque said.He also did not discount the possibility that Duterte will appoint a gay man."
7091,"from the “once young” from her first presidential candidacy in 1992, to the young ones of 2016.True, it gave a certain legitimacy to Marcos’ attempt at political restoration, but it is unfair to blame Miriam for everything else that enabled Bongbong to reach that point: The money-focused prosecution of the Marcoses, the continuing failure to indemnify victims, and also the absence of any form of punishment – those are not Miriam’s faults.But by picking Bongbong, she forced the Filipino people to take a look back not just on the lamentable six years of the second Aquino presidency, but at the 30 years since 1986. She forced a national remembrance of the dictatorship and compelled us to consider what has happened since its downfall.It would take a Rodrigo Duterte to take up the mantle of exposing and condemning the ineptitude, corruption and pretenses of the post-Marcos administrations. The anti-establishment torch had been passed.Miriam’s 1992 and 2016 candidacies could also explain why the spin doctors and paid hacks of the 2009 canonization of Santa Corazon Aquino were quick to write their cynical obituaries for Miriam. She had to be put in her proper place, according to their chosen narrative: as the bright, voluble but secretly pro-Marcos id of the nation. And they called that a tribute.Her anti-corruption candidacy, which condemned and sought to end corruption under Santa Corazon, had to be forgotten. Her political mistakes, such as siding with Estrada in a constitutional process, had to be blown completely out of proportion.It is also worth mentioning now, as we rediscover this constitutional command for an “independent foreign policy,” that Miriam’s has long been a champion of it and has exposed the shamelessness of the past administrations. Consider these: Santa Corazon Aquino wanted a new lease for the U.S. bases while her son BS Aquino gave Americans free use of Philippine camps as bases. Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved and supported the Visiting Forces Agreement.Miriam was against such unconstitutional depradations that turned out to be ineffective to even deter Chinese bullying and invasion, and only kept our own military servile to others.1992 was really her year because a President Miriam would have started a patriotic and incorruptible meritocracy. The system could not have “handled” such a change. The oligarchs weren’t done plundering with no small help from their choice traditional politicians. The politics of grand, made-up narratives could still hook even the most intelligent among the electorate. She had to lose.2016 was a bit different for Miriam. Between the presidency and the cancer that she faced, she was prepared and at ease. She had seen enough to know that it was a moment for both practical programs for now and highest aspirations for the future. She wanted us to see what was in store if we chose a new way, beyond what the others wish to sell for cheap. We didn’t mind that she was running despite she was ill. We wanted her there because she was the only one who had nothing to lose and everything to give.In what turned out to be her twilight years, Miriam was a fierce champion and loyal servant. May her memory inspire us to see the problems beyond the forced narratives, and to finally confront what she tried to fight well ahead of and amid her own affliction: the festering “social cancer” that sickens the nation.A grateful nation cannot repay the gift of Miriam Defensor Santiago. But we can take up her fight until we achieve the best that she represented and reach the bright and changemaking future she never got to see.Follow me on Twitter @tonyocruz and check out my blog tonyocruz.com"
7100,"Hollywood action star Steven Seagal met President Rodrigo Duterte in a courtesy call in Malacañang Palace Thursday.The actor who expressed his support to the President is in the Philippines to produce “General Commander” a movie/TV series about crime and illegal drugs.In the photo, it looks like that the both Seagal and Duterte were happy that they met personally.It seems that President Duterte is also a fan of the action star.The actor also did the fist bump pose or ‘du30 pose’ together with President Duterte, former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson and several cabinet members.In one of the press conference, Steven Seagal said that he felt safe in the Philippines because he believed that President Duterte is doing a great job in making the Philippines a better place.“I’m a big fan of the government, and I think Duterte is a very good president and he has been instrumental in making the Philippines a safer place,I think what he’s done is very good in terms of trying to get the control back to the people” Seagal said.“I don’t feel like that this is a dangerous place, you know a place that’s up and coming,” Seagal added."
7110,"The romanticism of the Marcos rule is not really a phenomenon but rather the logical outcome of two rivals. When two opposing super powers/rivals are pitted against each other, each side would struggle to distinguish how different they are from each other, thus resulting in a stronger sense of identity.Case in point, ADMU and DLSU. Every so often you can hear a Lasallian boast of their accomplishments and characteristics in contrast to an Atenean. The duality is rather natural. The Philippines can't be just this dystopian society we are living in. Naturally, people would look to the other side of the fence, the Marcos Dictatorship.I was not alive when Marcos ruled over the Philippines, I only hear stories of what was and what could have been. But from where I am standing right now, it feels like we are in a gridlock. It seems rather hopeless. It's like the people just gave up and are trying their best to get by with what the government throws them. (an image of an obese man in a suit throwing a bone to a scrawny man on a leash comes to mind)Because of this lackluster behavior, this 'wala tayo magagawa ganyan na talaga yan' mindset, this pathetic pacifism brought to us by the kind of media and entertainment the masses are fed, the government does not fear us. When will we progress? When the Filipinos realize it's not enough to get sick an tired of the status quo but when we take a more proactive approach to anti-anti-intellectualism andwe fucking grow a pair.-------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/10/filipinos-give-philippine-historys-bad-guy-a-second-look-due-to-lack-of-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-815310"
7120,"Nahuli na ang suspek sa nangyaring pamamaril na ikinamatay ng 16-anyos na lalaki na umano'y mayabang at siga sa Tondo, Manila. Sa tulong ng mga CCTV, napag-alaman ang tirahan ng suspek na kinilalang si Mark Joseph Vasquez, 22-anyos, residente ng Barangay 68, Tondo. Si Vasquez ang itinuturong suspek sa pagpatay kay Kevin Lois Monsod, 16-anyos, residente ng naturang lugar na nagtamo ng tama ng bala sa dibdib na tumagos pa sa kanyang baga. Kinumpirma ito ng dalawang kaibigan ng biktima na kasama sa insidente na si Vasquez ang namaril. Batay sa kuha ng CCTV ng Barangay 72, kasama ng biktima ang dalawa pang kaibigan na naglalakad sa lugar nang pinagtripan at sinipa ang motorsiklong minamaneho ng suspek na may angkas na tatlong babae. Ayon naman sa salaysay ng kaibigan ng biktima, sinabihan umano ng biktima ang babae ng ""pangit, kumusta na?"" na hindi naman nagustuhan ng suspek at nagbitiw ng hindi magandang salita. Dito na daw nag-init ang ulo ng biktima kaya nagawang tadyakan ang motorsiklo ng suspek hanggang makalayo sa lugar. Samantala, itinanggi ito ng suspek at sinabing nasa bahay lang daw siya nang oras na mangyari ang pamamaril. Nagpapasalamat naman ang pamilya ng biktima sa mabilis na pagkahuli sa suspek at umaasang tuluyang mabibigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng binatilyo."
7130,"The Adobo Chronicles ran into Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes at Fisherman’s Wharf in the City by the Bay and we asked to sit down with him for an ambush interview at a nearby, nondescript coffee shop. We wanted to get his take on the recent Senate hearing called by his colleague Grace Poe regarding the NAIA handling of the Xiamen plane derailment.NAIA, of course, stands of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Many Filipinos have demanded that it be renamed Manila International Airport (MIA).Here’s a transcript of our interview with Trillanes:AC: It’s good to see you in San Francisco, Mr. Senator. What brings you here?TRILLANES: Just bamming around — I mean bumming around — trying to feel the pulse of San Franciscans on issues important to their city. I hope to learn new things that we ourselves can pursue in the Philippines.AC: You’re here on government dime?TRILLANES: Yes. It’s actually an official trip… in aid of legislation.AC: Let’s talk about the recent Senate hearing on the Xiamen plane incident at NAIA. How is that “in aid of legislation?”TRILLANES: You didn’t hear this from me…but I think it is Grace Poe’s idea of “in aid of reelection.”AC: NAIA’s reputation seems to have been tarnished for many years now: laglag bala, airconditioners not working, roof leaking and collapsing, long queues everywhere, overcrowding and flight delays, missing items from passengers’ luggages and balikbayan boxes upon reaching baggage claim, and now this Xiamen plane incident. Is there hope for NAIA to recover from being constantly named one of the worst airports in the world?TRILLANES: Between you and me, I think we should totally abandon NAIA and build a new airport in Manila, not in Pasay City. I think we can reclaim parts of Manila Bay next to the existing Mall of Asia (MOA). Then we can call it Manila International Airport or MIA. Wouldn’t it be cool to have MIA at MOA?AC: So what do you propose we do with the soon-to-be-extinct NAIA?TRILLANES: It could be put to good use. Let’s convert it into high-end housing projects and distribute the units to members of Kadamay. Now, don’t you think that’s a brilliant idea? We’re solving two problems at the same time — building a world-class airport and solving our housing crisis.AC: Would you still name the housing project after Ninoy?TRILLANES: Of course not. What did Ninoy do to deserve any project named after him? Well, since it’s my bright idea, I would name it after me — ATKHP or Antonio Trillanes Kadamay Housing Project. And since my term as Senator is almost up, I wouldn’t mind being named the Administrator of this new project.AC: What a legacy this would be from your fine and dedicated service to the country — both as coup plotter and Senator.TRILLANES: I like your take on things, Adobo — not unlike that fake news company Rappler.(At this point, the operator of a passing San Francisco Cable car rang his bell. It also marked the end of our interview with the Senator)"
7140,"Sa isang press conference, ibinahagi ng National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas (NBI-7) ang kanilang imbestigasyon ukol sa kaso ng pagpatay sa 16-anyos na si Christine Silawan. Ayon sa NBI, nakatulong ang kanilang mga nakuha mula sa Facebook account ni Silawan dahil isa umanong person of interest ang lumabas mula rito. Nadakip ng mga tauhan ng NBI ang 17-anyos na suspek sa brutal na pagpatay sa dalagita sa Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Positibo rin itong kinilala ng ilang eye witness na siyang kasama ng biktima noong gabi ng Marso 10, 2019. Napag-alaman rin na dating kasintahan ng biktima ang person of interest base sa kanilang pag-uusap sa Facebook Messenger. Lumabas rito na may usapang magkikita ang dalawa noong Marso 10 sa isang simbahan sa Barangay Pajac bandang 6:00 ng gabi. Ilang larawan rin na kuha mula sa mga CCTV sa lugar ang ibinahagi ng NBI. Mula sa kuha noong 5:50 ng hapon, makikita si Silawan kasama ang kanyang kaibigan na kumakain ng balut. Bandang 6:00 ng gabi, unang nakita ang person of interest sa isang CCTV papunta sa simbahan sa Pajac. Base sa oras sa CCTV, 6:12 ng gabi, nakita si Silawan na lumabas mula sa simbahan ilang minuto pagkatapos nitong pumasok kasama ang kaibigan. Maya-maya pa'y nakita na si Silawan kasama ang person of interest na naglalakad magkasama. Sa huling larawan na kuha sa CCTV, nakita ang dalawa sa isang lugar malapit sa bakanteng lote kung saan natagpuan ang bangkay ni Silawan. Base sa postmortem findings, namatay ang dalaga bandang 6:00 hanggang 7:00 ng gabi. Ayon naman sa resulta ng Medico-Physical na ginawa sa person of interest, mayroon itong mga marka ng kalmot sa kaliwang braso na tumutugma sa tagal mula nang maganap ang krimen. Nilinaw ng NBI na ang person of interest lamang ang taong huling nakita na kasama ni Silawan noong Marso 10, mga sandaling huling nakita na buhay pa ang dalaga na positibo namangg kinilala ng mga eyewitness. At dito huling nakunan ng CCTV si Silawan at ang person of interest, malapit sa lugar kung saan nakita ang bangkay ng biktima."
7150,"It’s been two days since that Palit-Bise rally was held at Luneta by Duterte supporters, but the debate still rages on as to what the actual number was of total attendees. Was it 4,000, 50,000, 100,000?To settle the issue once and for all, The Adobo Chronicles has come up with this infographic to put in perspective the number of attendees at the April 2 Luneta rally compared with the EDSA commemoration held earlier this year.The blue represents the Luneta rally and the yellow, the EDSA commemoration.Editor’s Note: The yellow graphic already includes Jim Paredes, but the blue does not yet take into account Mocha Uson since the ANC TV reporter said that the MTRCB Board Member was not able to attend the Luneta event."
7161,"A 22-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her husband as she threatened to leave him last Saturday night in Barangay Bagong Pook, this town.Senior Police Officer 1 Primitivo Dayandayan, case investigator from the Lian Municipal Police Station (MPS), said Zarah Jane Acosta was allegedly killed by her husband, Jimuel Acosta, 28, in front of their seven-year-old son.Dayandayan said the two had a quarrel as Jimuel was allegedly jealous of someone else.In the middle of their marital spat, Zarah prepared to leave the house with their son.At this juncture, Jimuel took out his fan knife and allegedly stabbed his wife repeatedly in the chest, the investigator said.Zarah was taken to the hospital, but declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.Jimuel fled the crime scene, but was later arrested in a follow-up operation in Barangay Kapito, same town.A parricide case is being prepared for filing against him."
7171,"Ten contemporary artists were brought together for a celebration of art and culture at the launching of a roadshow around SM Supermalls, dubbed as “My City, My SM, My Art,” at SM City Cabanatuan last Tuesday.The local visual artists took centerstage with their works to advocate art for all, through team projects with communities in mounting workshops and contests in key cities of the country.Coming together for this celebration of visual arts at SM City Cabanatuan were Mario Parial, Edwin Wilwayco, Heber Bartolome, Elito Circa, Ramon Lopez, Gromyko Semper, Fredi Agunoy, together with Baler artists Sherwin Gonzales, Vincent Gonzales and Ian Maigan.Cabanatuan City Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara called the event “another milestone for the city as a venue of revolutionizing art” with the wide range of artistry the artists bring to the table – painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and even film-making.“I never expect that the project is this big. I saw young artists here being inspired by the story of their fellow artists. The artworks displayed in the exhibit are all amazing and beautiful. I congratulate all the people behind this event and the artists to continue their passion,” said Vergara.Other officials present at the launching were City Councilors Fanny Posada, Junny Del Rosario, Mario Seeping, and Nero Mercado; Brigida Pili of the Provincial Department of Trade and Industry; officers and members of Guhit Pinas-Nueva Ecija; representatives from the local government of Aurora; SM SVP for Marketing Communications Group Millie Dizon; and Regional Operations Managers Cesar Bondoc and Mall Manager Mark Carlo Herrera."
7180,"Last week, we reported that President Rodrigo Duterte is closing down Baguio City for six months for rehabilitation, following the success a similar order he issued for Boracay.Well, now the Summer Capital of the Philippines is fighting back!Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has just signed an ordinance penalizing profanity in the city.Authored by Councilor Lilia Fariñas, the “Anti-Profanity Ban” prohibits swearing, cussing, and other forms of profanity in selected institutions in the city.The ordinance seeks to ban “all manner of cursing, cussing, expressing insults, whether directly or indirectly to anyone or anybody, or using profane and foul language, as a means of expression, or as a manifestation of anger, surprise, disgust or any other form of extreme emotion that yields to such expressions of profanity.”The measure covers schools, computer shops, arcades, and other business establishments frequented by children, high school, and college students in the city.We all know what this means.It means that the cussing Duterte is banned from visiting Baguio. So it looks like before he could close down the city, the city closed its doors on Duterte."
7190,"like the 2014 Miss World Beauty Pageant to be held on December 14, 2014 in London. Who will succeed the reigning Miss World, the Philippines’ Megan Young?Here is our prediction for the Top 12, in no particular order. Do you agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments section.SEE WHO’S IN OUR TOP 12.A full list of contestants is available here."
7200,"Galit na hinarap ni National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Guillermo Eleazar ang pulis na naaktuhang humihithit ng droga sa isang club sa Bonifacio Global City, Tgauig City. Ang pulis ay nakilalang si Police Officer 1 Redentos Bautista, na naka-designate sa anti-crime. ""Nagpe-prepare lahat sa Undas. Lahat tayo naghahanda. Full alert status. Ikaw, anong ginagawa mo? Nasa isang club, nagco-cocaine. Anong klaseng pulis ka? Sumagot ka nga? Anong duty mo? Anong assignment mo? Sinong immediate supervisor mo?""sabi ni NCRPO Chief Eleazar. Natuwa naman ang mga kababayan natin sa ginawang aksyon ng Philippine National Police laban kabalbalan ng ni PO1 Bautista. Source: Manila Bulletin | Philstar"
7211,"The former spokesman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Wednesday voiced doubts the group could fully comply with the decommissioning process.Eid Kabalu said by phone that this early, many MILF fighters and commanders had rejected the idea of turning over their firearms under the decommissioning process, which is part of the normalization annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.“It’s a serious issue. For them, they are not complete anymore without their guns. I don’t think MILF fighters will go for it,” Kabalu said.On Jan. 29, the government and the MILF signed in Kuala Lumpur a 10-page implementing guidelines for the decommissioning of weapons and combatants of the rebel group.“Standing by their commitment to achieve the objectives of the normalization process, the parties finalized and signed the Protocol on the Implementation of the Terms of Reference of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB),”the panels said in a statement following the signing of the decommissioning protocol.The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) said that under the guidelines, an IDB would conduct the “inventory, verification and validation of the members, arms and weapons of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF); develop and implement the schedule of decommissioning of BIAF members; plan, design and implement techniques and technologies for weapons collection or retrieval, transport, and storage and putting weapons beyond use in accordance with the agreements of the parties.”“The IDB is also tasked to ensure that the parties comply with all the necessary steps and processes for decommissioning,” the Opapp said.Under the guidelines, the decommissioning will be done in four phases wherein Phase 1 will be the ceremonial turning in of 75 high-powered weapons.“By the time of the ratification of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, 30 percent of MILF weapons and combatants would have been decommissioned. Another 35 percent will follow under Phase 3 and the balance, under Phase 4,” the Opapp said.Kabalu said because of feedback he got from the frontline, he didn’t know how the MILF leadership would be able to convince its entire force to yield their weapons.“As to how they will implement it on the ground is another story,”he added.Originally posted 11:37 AM | Wednesday, February 4th, 2015RELATED STORIESGov’t, MILF sign guidelines on decommissioning of rebel firearmsMILF to decommission firearms in February"
7220,"There's no reason why ""due process"" can't work in the Philippines, but we all know why it can't and won't work today: the police are idle, unfunded, and burdened by reams of meaningless paperwork (as is most of the country), the lawyers are incompetent, and the judiciary are venal. The law itself is a mess. In other words, the country has no judicial system. It literally does not exist except in name only.As for the drug problem, I don't like what's happening, but in the absence of any feasible alternative – say, importing a million honest and competent policemen and judges from Switzerland, and rewriting the constitution and the Law – what is Duterte supposed to do?Criminals run the country. These are not just people who have taken a wrong turn in life and need a bit of time to reflect in prison. They are monstrous people who would happily blow Duterte's brains out if they thought it would keep their evil businesses running. They can't be reasoned with, they can't be rehabilitated, and given any chance they will not only go right back to what they're doing now, they'll leave a trail of revenge killings while they do it.Oh, but what about the poor drug addicts? Aren't they just victims? Yes, they are. They're also dead men walking. They will never recover. I've had some tangential experience with people like this, and once they reach a certain point, their life is basically over. They will do absolutely anything, including murder, to get their next fix. A lot of them have probably already killed, and 99.9% of them are a one-man crime wave. A swift bullet in the head is probably the kindest way out. The only realistic alternative is locking them up in prison for 20 years in isolation from others who would supply them drugs.Killing innocent people is possible, but not because drug addicts are hard to pick out. An experienced policeman can spot a druggie in a crowd of 1000 others in 0.1 seconds. The eyes, the teeth, the sagging skin – it's not difficult. The problem here is the policemen, who are mostly stupid, lazy, and have as much interest in honing their craft as the average Filipino, ie., none at all. Shoot first and think later, I suspect.-------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2016/08/dutertes-shoot-kill-order-makes-sense-land-overrun-zombies/#comment-1707247"
7231,"Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte has questioned the Development Bank of the Philippines’ (DBP) decision to grant at least P5.6 billion worth of loans to supposedly favored companies.Alvarez raised the issue on Tuesday during a briefing by the DBP and by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank conducted by the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries headed by Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar.Alvarez cited 2015 Commission of Audit (COA) report findings showing that the DBP granted P5.6 billion worth of loans to three borrowers despite more than 10 exceptions to and deviations from existing credit policies “which could result in a higher DBP credit risk and possible loss of government funds.”The same COA report said review of various loan documents revealed that special transactions, particularly exceptions to and deviations from credit policies, were made by the three borrowers.COA did not name the three borrowers but only identified them in general terms. Of the P5.6 billion loaned, P2.1 billion was granted by the DBP to an energy company in September 2015 to partially finance up to 50 megawatts Solar Power Project in Northern Luzon. This borrower was given a Borrower Risk Rating of six with 16 exceptions to and deviations from the bank’s credit policies.Another P2 billion was lent by the DBP to a power company, with the loan proceeds used to redeem the power company’s outstanding preferred shares and fund its other general corporate purposes. Also, this power company’s credit application reflected 12 exceptions to and deviations from existing credit policies.These energy and power businesses belong to the same group of companies.The DBP also purchased P1.5 billion of P9 billion fixed-rate bonds of the holding company for the refinancing of existing debt obligations of the borrower and its subsidiaries and convert short-term debt to long-term liabilities to match the borrowers long-term contract-to-sell receivables from its customers.Without specifying the amount, COA reported that the DBP also approved the loan of a holding company—the largest mass housing developer in the country in terms of units from years 2011 to 2013 based on the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board—with 11 exceptions to and deviations from credit policies.“We need to know who are these borrowers because it appears that they are so privileged. The bank even had to bend their policies multiple times just to accommodate their loans,” Alvarez told reporters.“Of course, the DBP’s capital is limited. If DBP grants loans of such huge amounts to privileged borrowers, we have to know if these borrowers are paying their dues. The COA report is alarming. We have to ensure that the government is not losing money,” he said.One of the most prominent cases of DBP granting a controversial loan involved former Trade Secretary Roberto Ongpin whose company Deltaventures Resources Inc. received a P600-million DBP loan even if DVRI lacked collateral and capital.Ongpin was charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan but he was acquitted of the charges with finality in March 2015."
7240,"MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau)- Forget about news. You should be more concerned about real, legitimate news. Which begs the question, which “real” news should you believe? The beacon, the light, the bearer of truth, the watchdog of government — otherwise known as the news media — is in shambles in the Philippines.If you’re not paying attention, you might think that you’re dealing with political parties, listening to or reading their ideological propaganda. Where before it was a battle of bloggers, i.e., Mocha Uson vs. Raissa Robles, it is now a war between what we know as legitimate media. They battle for your attention, and cater to your political leaning. How? Through their headlines. So fear not. Any news story — and we mean ANY news story — can be good news for you. Just pick the headline you wish to believe. You don’t have to read the full story. What for? The headlines tell it all."
7251,"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised the public to be vigilant about stolen products reported by pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories Philippines.Among the products reported as part of the cargo theft include Ascorbic Acid (Cecon) 500 mg chewable tablet, with registration number DRHR-1608, lot numbers 44783XP, 44784XP and 44785XP and has an expiry date of Aug, 25, 2016; Mutivitamins + Iron (Iberet-Folic 500) film-coated tablet, with registration number DR-XY33496, lot number 44757XP and will expire on Aug. 15, 2016; and Divalproex Sodium (Epival) 250 mg enteric coated tablet, with registration number DR-XY34509, lot number 44762XP and expiry date of Aug. 21, 2016.The FDA said the lot numbers mentioned above are not guaranteed to be stored according to good storage practice (GSP).“Thus, the safety, efficacy and quality of these lots are also not assured. These present safety risk and potential adverse health consequences,” the FDA said.It advised consumers not to purchase nor use the drug products with the stated lot numbers and report to authorities if any of these products are offered for sale.The FDA also ordered all of its field food and drug regulation officers to seize these products if found available in the market.“Any adverse reaction experienced from use of the aforementioned products should be reported immediately,” said lawyer Nicolas Lutero III, FDA officer in charge, in a statement."
7260,"The Philippine Supreme Court has finally issued its decision against the petition to block former President Ferdinand Marcos’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) and the result was 9-5 in favour of allowing the burial. As predicted, there are people weeping and gnashing their teeth in frustration. Anti-Marcos rallies are being held as of this writing with one attended by no less than former President BS Aquino expressing his outrage over the decision. It’s not surprising considering the decision is a slap on the face of the Aquino clan.The Aquinos built their image on the back of the “Marcos is evil” narrative. It’s safe to assume that the Aquinos feel threatened now. They probably think that allowing Marcos to be buried at the “heroes’ cemetery” will change how the public see them. If the public perceives Marcos Sr as a hero, how will the public perceive Ninoy and Cory? Apparently, 30 years in power have made the Aquinos and their supporters delusional. They need to be told that the majority of the public have stopped seeing them as “heroes” a long time ago thanks to BS Aquino who ruined his parents’ so-called legacy.Indeed, 30 years in power have made the Aquinos, their supporters and all the other anti-Marcos advocates complacent to the point that they were completely taken by surprise by the fact that there is no law that says Marcos cannot be buried at the LNMB. They had all the time in the world to craft a law (BS Aquino was a lawmaker for years) or change the rules in a way that would exclude Marcos Sr from being buried at the LNMB, but they didn’t do anything at all.It was only when the new government under current President Rodrigo Duterte announced the schedule of the planned Marcos burial in September of this year when those opposed to the burial finally did something, and what they did was basically just a shot in the dark. They were hoping against hope that appealing to emotion would work to convince the judges of the Supreme Court — those trained to follow the law — to throw the rule book out the window and accede to their petition.Now the petitioners are acting so outraged — as if they didn’t see it coming. It’s not like the Marcos kin made it a secret. The Marcoses have always made their wishes to bury the husband and their father at the LNMB. Critics of the Marcos family knew this but just laughed at the thought. They underestimated the Marcos appeal.The petitioners’ reactions show their lack of understanding of the law. It is crystal clear that Marcos Sr, being a former President and soldier, is more than qualified to be buried at the LNMB. Moreover, Marcos Sr was never convicted of any of the allegations being bandied around by his critics. This was also confirmed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court spokesperson Ted Te emphasised during a press conference that the former President was not convicted of any crime. It is therefore wrong for anti-Marcos advocates to continue calling him a thief and murderer. Doing so means they are denying an individual his right to presumption of innocence and they are no better than people they accuse of violating the law.The petition to stop the Marcos burial at the LNMB already went through a process with the highest court of the land. The petitioners and other anti-Marcos advocates should respect the decision. The Supreme Court’s decision to allow Marcos’s burial at the LNMB should bring closure to the issue. The petitioners should follow their own advice. Ironically, the same people keep telling Duterte to follow the rule of law, so it would be hypocritical of them not to accept the Supreme Court’s decision. The decision is part of the democratic system they hold so dear. There is no dictator now. They should be lauding the fact that their petition was entertained despite the lateness of the hour when it was filed.The problem with anti-Marcos advocates is they expected the SC to rule based on emotion. It seems too hard for them to comprehend the simple rule that allows Marcos Sr to be buried at LNMB. They are being irrational now. Some of them want to promote civil disobedience just because they didn’t get what they want. Anti-Marcos advocates are blaming the SC and Duterte for their own lack of foresight and complacency.It’s odd that the people who insist on calling it a “hero’s burial” are the same people who object to giving him a hero’s burial. What is actually going to transpire is a state burial, not a hero’s burial. These people find it hard to understand that the LNMB is not just for heroes, it’s also for former Presidents and soldiers.It’s a good thing there are more people who don’t have a problem with the Supreme Court’s decision. Most Filipinos are ready to move on to more important issues plaguing the Philippines. Filipinos need to bury their dead as a symbol of closing a chapter and moving on to the next. It’s too bad there are Filipinos who would rather be stuck in the past even though they consider that past as the darkest part of Philippine history. It’s as if they have become too attached to that episode and cannot let go. Some of the architects of Martial Law are still alive today and are enjoying being revered as “heroes of EDSA”. Focusing on Marcos and blaming him for all the atrocities is where his critics get it wrong.Marcos Sr is dead. It’s quite baffling why some people are still afraid of him. His critics keep giving him power over them even beyond the grave. Burying him as soon as possible will definitely help his own critics to get over him, if only to stop the noise that distracts everyone from focusing on the real issues."
7270,"The average IQ in Singapore is 108. The average in Philippines is 86. IQ is approximately 60% genetics. A child with excellent potential going through the Singapore educational system becomes a genius. One going through the Philippine educational system languishes.Our motto is Pinoy Humility, not Pinoy Pride. With humility comes self-awareness and the realization that you have to work harder than everyone else to get to the top instead of feeling entitled as a birthright. If you are motivated parents, your children will be reading at age 2 and doing algebra by age 6. Singapore has no monopoly on hard work.The very last people on earth to model yourself after is fellow Pinoys puffed up with pride and testing 42nd out of 45 countries on international tests. You can be YEARS ahead of Singapore students before they learn the first letter of the alphabet. All you have to do is put your pride down, substitute hard work in its place, and not expect anyone but yourself to be responsible for your achievements.It makes us sick to see the birthday parties, parades, ribbons, and mindless pomp. Cap and gown for learning the alphabet. Graduation ceremony for counting to ten. Worshipping teachers who cannot do math, cannot read a map, and cannot even pronounce vowels or consonants correctly, let alone utter a complete, coherent sentence.-----------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/08/3-things-holding-the-philippines-back-from-becoming-another-singapore/#comment-1654785"
7281,"General Santos City- Security forces busted a narco-terrorist network in Mindanao, Monday, following the arrest of a senior leader of Ansar-Al Khilafah (AKP) terror group in an anti-illegal operation in Maasim, Sarangani.Gil Cesario Castro, regional director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, said PDEA agents and military intelligence operatives arrested Morsalen Mashod,45, in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Kanalo, Maasim, Sarangani.According to Castro, Mashod was a close confidante of AKP leader Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, who is also known as Commander Tokboy.Maguid, considered as one of the top leaders of the AKP, was slain in an encounter with security forces in Kiamba, Sarangani last January.After his death, it was reported that Mashod was already re-organizing Maguid’s AKP cell after he was killed.Also confiscated from Mashod were several grams of shabu worth P20,000.“The suspect was included in the narco-terrorism watch list issued by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Castro said.“Mashod knew very well the logistical and operational structures of the AKP,” he added."
7290,"In response to an increasing number of motor accidents involving drivers with impaired vision, the Optometric Association of the Philippines (OAP) today unveiled a new, improved eye test chart.The announcement was met with approval by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) which issues driver’s licenses in the Philippines.The new chart includes a special test for double vision using a sample headline from the Inquirer (see photo).Those with double vision will be required to wear corrective lenses when operating a motor vehicle."
7301,"""We will not be able to meet the deadline of the enactment of the BBL,"" pahayag ni Biazon, miyembro ng ad hoc committee sa Kamara na tumatalakay sa kontrobersiyal na panukala."
7311,"Our athletes returned yesterday from the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Kuala Lumpur, where they won 24 gold, 33 silver, and 64 bronze medals.Even before the opening ceremony last August 19, a Cebu lass won the women’s marathon, followed two days later by both gold and silver medals in the men’s and women’s triathlon. Our basketball team swept all opposition in this most popular game in the country. We had a surprise gold in ice hockey, a game we had not played before in any international competition.More gold medals were won in the succeeding days by our athletes in athletics, gymnastics, wushu, fencing, boxing, lawn balls, billiards, equestrian taekwondo, judo, and pencak silat.Other silver medals came from archery, athletics, gymnastics, wushu, fencing, sepak takraw, boxing, lawn balls, karate, swimming, squash, bowling, billiards, tennis, equestrian, taekwondo, ice skating, and sailing.Bronze medals came from archery, athletics, gymnastics, fencing, sepak takraw, boxing, lawn balls, golf, shooting, karate, table tennis, swimming, squash, bowling, billiards, tennis, taekwondo, cycling, judo, waterskiing, ice skating, sailing, pencak silat, and muaythai.All these individual victories merit our commendation and congratulations. However, our Philippine standing of 24 golds, 33 silvers, and 64 bronzes, put us only in sixth place in the 11-nation competition behind Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia. Champion Malaysia had 145 golds, 92 silvers, and 86 bronzes.The Southeast Asian Games is the least competitive among the international multi-event sports competitions in the world. We will next send our athletes to the 46-nation Asian Games where we will face athletes from formidable sports nations like China, Japan, South Korea, and Iran. Then we join the 207-nation Olympic Games usually dominated by the United States, Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.We have never won a gold medal in the Olympics. The best we have won are silver medals in boxing. But we continue to hope for that elusive gold, perhaps by our boxers.We must, however, do much more than hope. We must see how other nations are undertaking their sports programs, how they are discovering young potential athletes and training them for international competition. We have a Philippine Sports Commission with government funding as well as an independent Philippine Olympic Committee but it is said they do not work well together.They might want to review their operations and see how they can coordinate their programs in the interest of developing Philippine sports and improving our sorry record in international sports competitions."
7321,"Ang seventh-seeded na si Bouchard, na nakaabot sa semifinals sa unang tatlong Grand Slam tournaments noong nakaraang taon, ay nanalo naman sa siyam sa huling 10 games laban kay Irina-Camelia Bagu, ngunit nabigo sa pito sa sumunod na siyam upang mapuwersa ang ikatlong set sa unang pagkakataon sa torneo. Matapos mag-serve ng double fault sa isang set point sa second set, sandaling nagpahinga si Bouchard bago nagbalik upang makumpleto ang 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 na panalo laban sa No. 42-ranked na si Begu, na tinalo ang No. 9-seeded na si Angelique Kerber sa first round. ''I gave myself a good, long hard look in the mirror,'' paliwanag ni Bouchard tungkol sa kanyang panandaliang pagkawala mula sa Rod Laver Arena. ''I said, 'Genie, this is unacceptable.' I really kind of kicked myself in the butt a little bit.'' Ang five-time Grand Slam winner na si Sharapova ay may 3-0 career record laban kay Bouchard, kabilang ang isang comeback semifinal win sa French Open noong isang taon. Natalo si Sharapova sa fourth round sa Melbourne Park noong nagdaang taon, kung saan umabot si Bouchard sa semifinals ng kanyang tournament debut. ''I feel like something or someone gave me another chance,'' ani Sharapova. ''Last year I lost in the fourth round here, getting to the quarters is really special.'' Sinabi ni Sharapova na si Bouchard ang pinaka-consistent na manlalaro sa Grand Slams noong 2014, at kailangan niyang mag-doble kayod laban sa 20-anyos na Canadian. ''She's playing really well, confident tennis. So aggressive,'' saad ni Sharapova. ''I have a tough match ahead of me, but I always look forward to that.''"
7331,"Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has assured legitimate vendors in Divisoria and Blumentritt of protection amid reports of extortion activities by criminal syndicates in these areas.Estrada gave this assurance during his dialogue with a group of Divisoria and Blumentritt vendors held last Friday at the Manila City Hall.During the dialogue, Estrada warned the vendors against unscrupulous individuals posing as city hall representatives and collecting protection money.He advised them not to fall prey to these extortion schemes.“You don’t need to pay anything to anyone. I’m empowering you not to give in to these syndicates. Basta magbayad lang kayo sa city hall, po-proteksyunan namin kayo,” he said.He likewise encouraged the vendors to report all extortion attempts to his office.“If they keep bothering you, report it directly to me,” he said.As far as the city government is concerned, Estrada said legitimate vendors in Blumentritt only have to pay the local government R40 a day.The vendors, however, complained that a lone “organizer” was charging them P160 a day for vending space."
7341,"Heroism knows no age and size, and can manifest in everyday acts of kindness.This was the message that some 60 children, aged 7 to 9, gathered from several stories during the Inquirer Read-Along session on Saturday.The session, which celebrated both the National Language Month of August and National Heroes’ Day on Aug. 27, featured host, singer and comedian Kakai Bautista, Inquirer columnist and former Presidential Communications Undersecretary Manuel “Manolo” Quezon III, and veteran storyteller Ann Abacan of Sophia School.Bautista read “Si Carancal Laban sa Bongbongeros” by Rene Villanueva, which tells of how a pint-sized boy led the townsfolk in driving away fishermen who were using dynamite and destroying marine life.“The story reminds us of the apathy of some Filipinos who tend to act on a problem only after being reprimanded about it. Worse, others would only do something after the problem had gotten worse,” Bautista said.Terms of endearmentQuezon read a retelling of Lapu-Lapu’s Battle of Mactan, as seen through the eyes of a brave boy in “Si Makisig” by Lamberto Antonio.Abacan narrated Michael Coroza’s “Ang mga Lambing ni Lolo Ding,” the story of a grandfather whose terms of endearment became seeds of character that later manifested itself in enduring acts of kindness that may also be considered as everyday heroism.“I think the session was less about the stories and more about how kids, even at the Grade 3 level, understand that heroism is possible for everyone, even [children] their age,” said Quezon, a first-time Inquirer Read-Along storyteller.“Being a good citizen is in itself a noteworthy commitment and the children understand this, so it’s encouraging because at a time when we hear that people have become apathetic, you encounter alert, curious and concerned kids,” Quezon added.One doesn’t need to be a superhero to be emulated by kids, Bautista said. What is important is that the acts children see or hear about are good, because they tend to imitate those.Like a sponge“Children’s consciousness are like a sponge that absorbs everything, whether good and bad. If you let them absorb all the good deeds, they will carry those values as they grow,” Bautista added.Through the stories, the Grade 3 pupils from Nueve de Febrero Elementary School, Mandaluyong City, learned that doing small meaningful acts translates into heroism as well.For Christal Mae San Andres, 7, Lolo Ding’s story taught her the importance of listening to elders for the knowledge and wisdom they could impart that would enable her to help others in the future.Helping others and defending those in need can be considered acts of heroism, said Radiance Herman, 8, whose favorite story at the session was Carancal’s act of courage.The session was hosted by Inquirer Research’s Rafael Antonio, and was held in cooperation with Rotary Club of Mandaluyong West District led by its president, Joel Reña, and past president, Paolo Rivera."
7351,"Ang fund drive para sa mga namatay na commando ang nakasaad sa House Resolution No. 181, kasama na ang House Resolution 186 na pinagtibay ng kapulungan. Ang tulong-pinansiyal ay boluntaryong kontribusyon ng mga kongresista sa pamamagitan ng one-time donation na P10,000 na aawasin sa buwanang sahod ng bawat mambabatas. Gayunman, maraming kongresista ang nagkaloob ng higit pa sa P10,000. Ang simbolikong pagkakaloob ng fund collection ay ginanap sa session hall at dinaluhan ni House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, at ng mga opisyal ng Philippine National Police (PNP) na sina Police Director for Comptrollership Rolando Purugganan, Budget Division Chief, DC, Senior Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup at Finance Service Deputy Director Senior Supt. Lurimer Detran. Ang P5.3 milyon donasyon ay binubuo ng P4,889,000 mula sa 285 kongresista, P100,000 mula sa Party List Coalition Foundation, Inc.; P225,800 mula sa mga empleyado at opisyal ng Secretariat; P65,100 mula sa congressional staff; at P20,100 mula sa contractual employees."
7361,"The Philippine National Police chief on Thursday said the relaunching of the war on drugs “may be today, tomorrow, [or] next weekend.”“The plan for the resumption of the drug war is still in the works. It is being hammered out. If it’s done, we can relaunch,” PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa told a news conference here.“I’m just waiting for feedback from my commanders if they are ready,” Dela Rosa said. “Being ready means the campaign won’t be undermined by unscrupulous elements of the police and all drug enforcement units in all levels of command will be manned by persons whose integrity are beyond question.”The PNP would be “more careful” this time, he said, adding that he had learned lessons from the impact and criticisms drawn by the original war on drugs.President Rodrigo Duterte suspended the war on drugs in January after a series of scandals involving the police force that carried out the campaign, including the kidnapping for ransom and murder of a South Korean businessman.On Tuesday, he said he was calling the police back to the campaign because of the resurgence of the illegal drug trade, but only select officers would be assigned to the crackdown."
7370,"Manila’s main international airport has repeatedly been named among the worst airports in the world. This weekend, that reputation became even worse as thousands upon thousands of passengers were stranded and hundreds of incoming and outgoing flights were delayed or cancelled at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).The reason? Ground personnel of Cathay Pacific Airlines, still in their official uniforms, left their posts, counters and stations to put up a show in the middle of the busy and crowded main airport terminal.It was meant as a ‘flash mob’ performance to welcome incoming passengers from Asia, Europe, America and other continents. The singing and dancing ground personnel delighted many onlookers who subsequently missed their flights and connections. Incoming flights were stranded at the runways because there was not a single ground staff person to assist the flight crew and passengers.While the flash mob involved only Cathay Pacific employees, other airlines were affected because their respective ground crew also left their stations to watch and videotape the impromptu dance performance.Did we already mention that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines?”"
7381,"The Department of Health (DOH), on Tuesday reiterated that HIV was an evolving local epidemic in the country as the number of cases continues to steadily rise.739During the Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing on Tuesday, data shared by the DOH showed there were already 217,700 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the country.740There were also 30,800 new HIV infections recorded annually, and 2,300 AIDS-related deaths recorded in the same year.741The same records shared that by 2030, the number of PLHIV could climb up to more than 457,000.742“Globally, annual new infections and AIDS-related deaths are on a steady decline, including the Asia and the Pacific region. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for us in the Philippines. The AIDS-epidemic model reveals that there is a 555% increase in new infections and 667% increase in AIDS-related deaths between 2010 and 2024,” said DOH Epidemiology Bureau Senior Health Program Officer Dr. Noel Palaypayon.743“This means that we have an evolving local concentrated epidemic that requires sustained and intensified interventions,” he continued.744DOH HIV Program Manager Dr. John Derek Junio also noted that there were still significant gaps with DOH’s current performance on meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 AIDS epidemic targets.745The 95-95-95 target aimed to have 95% of PLHIV diagnosed, 95% of diagnosed PLHIV to be on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of ART patients to achieve viral suppression all by the year of 2030.746“As of October 2025, the current performance in terms of the 95-95-95 is at 60%-64%-59%... Our vision is to have 0 new infections, 0 aids-related deaths, and 0 stigma and discrimination by 2030, with the goal of reducing mortality, reducing new infections, and 0 catastrophic costs,” Junio said.747He noted that the DOH is recalibrating their strategies and finalizing plans for HIV and STI response for 2026 to 2030."
7480,"Four Senators were not allowed to extend their term in the next senatorial election on 2019, according to the constitution.Senators serve 6-year tenure per terms with a maximum of 2 consecutive terms, with half of the senators elected every three years to ensure that the Senate is maintained as a continuous body, though staggered.Because of this, Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Francis Escudero, Gringo Honasan and Loren Legarda are disallowed by the constitution to extend their term and they need to wait for the 2022 Presidential election if they willing to work in the Senate again.Three of these senators ran for Vice Presidency last election, but defeated by VP Leni Robredo.Meanwhile, senators who served a first term in the Senate like Senators Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar are allowed to run for reelection.There’s possibility that JV Ejercito is going to run under PDP-Laban because of the rumors that he’s going to accept the invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte and Senate President Koko Pimentel to join their party.Yet the party of the President is not yet revealing if some reelectionist is possibly going to run under PDP-Laban.Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Presidential Communications Office Operations (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson was recommended by House Speaker Pantaleon Alverez III to run for senator under PDP-Laban.But the two are not yet deciding if they are going to accept the invitation of the House Speaker.“Kung tatakbo man po ako, eto po ay dahil si Pangulong DUterte na mismo ang nagpatakbo sa akin,” Mocha Uson said in her official statement.Aside from Mocha and Roque, Alvarez said the ruling party’s possible senatorial candidates include Reps. Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental, Karlo Nograles of Davao City and Geraldine Roman of Bataan, and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino."
7491,"The remains and vestments of former Cebuano Archbishop Teofilo Camomot, who died in 1988 and is a candidate for sainthood, emitted no foul smell when it was exhumed last Wednesday, according to a forensic expert.Dr. Erwin Erfe, a forensic consultant for the Public Attorney’s Office, said a decomposing body releases different chemical compounds that emit distinct odors.But in the case of Camomot’s body, “there was a remarkable absence of foul smell and odor of decay.” Erfe said in an interview with reporters Thursday night.Camomot’s body was exhumed Wednesday and transferred to a new tomb.The body and vestments were “in pristine condition, uncorrupted by any form of infestation and insect activity,” he said.Erfe, who headed the team that examined Camomot’s remains, said never in his 15 years as a forensic anthropologist did he encounter such a case.“It was a unique experience for me and the rest of the team,” he said.Camomot was killed in a car accident in September, 1988 in San Fernando town. He was 74.Camomot died of “multiple, bilateral rib fractures, left clavicular fractures, and extensive cranial and bilateral facial bone fractures,” the team’s assessment said.Fr. Samson Silloriquez, the Rome-based postulator of the cause of Camomot’s sainthood, said a part of the remains was selected as a relic that will be used during his beatification and canonization.Erfe said he recommended to take the rib nearest to Camomot’s heart to be preserved as a relic.The bones of the bishop were placed inside a wax figure that was interred Thursday afternoon in a special tomb at the Domus Teofilo museum, about a hundred meters from his former grave.About 6,000 devotees heard Mass celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma at the Daughters of St. Teresa compound in this city.In his homily, Palma called on the faithful to continue to pray that “by God’s will, may he (Camomot) be declared a saint soon.”A miracle is required for Camomot’s beatification. “Another miracle is required for him to be canonized."
7501,"Around 15,000 jaywalkers have been apprehended by the anti-jaywalking unit of the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) since the measure was implemented in December last year.Donald Estoquio, inspector at the CTTMO said that most of the violators were arrested at the City Hall/San Pedro area despite the presence of at least four pedestrian lanes fronting the San Pedro Square.However, Estoquio said that the citations will only be issued as soon as the tickets have been printed out by the local government.The release of citation tickets could be by April, depending on whether the tickets are approved, printed, and distributed to the CTTMO personnel.At the moment, there are 19 anti-jaywalking personnel from the CTTMO roaming the city’s major streets.These include, aside from San Pedro Square, illegal crossings at the SIR area of MacArthur Highway, as well as non-crossings across NCCC Mall in Maa and along JP Laurel.The violators are apprehended but are only required to attend a seminar at the CTTMO near SIR.The administration of Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio revived the crackdown on jaywalking at the beginning of her term as part of her Byaheng Do30 policy campaign.Byaheng Do30 has 30 projects across various areas that ensure inclusive benefits for all Dabawenyos.However, Duterte said that the full implementation of the Traffic Code, in which jaywalking is encompassed, may only be done when the necessary facilities such as repainted sidewalks are available.Earlier, the CTTMO for its part is asking the city government for P15 million for the painting of the city’s 36 crucial intersections as part of the traffic signalization maintenance program for 2017.CTTMO logistics officer Samuel Pagkaliwagan said the system repair is worth P36 million including other components of the project.The same amount was allocated to the department in 2016.The anti-jaywalking ordinance prohibits pedestrians from crossing in non-designated roadway.Ordinance No. 778 Series of 1973 or the Jaywalking Law requires violators to undergo a seminar or perform community service as penalty.Amended in 1992, the jaywalking ordinance became controversial during its initial implementation in the city’s bid to force people to use pedestrian lanes in crossing the streets.Apprehended violators were brought to holding areas where they were given lectures after being booked for violation."
7511,"Amid media outrage over his remarks justifying the killings of corrupt journalists, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has also drawn flak for wolf-whistling a female broadcast reporter on a nationally televised press conference in Davao City on Tuesday night.Duterte, 71, interrupted a question from GMA 7 reporter Mariz Umali about his Cabinet appointees with a light-hearted comment about her trying to get his attention, then wolf-whistling and breaking into a short serenade.READ: GMA reporter scores Duterte for catcalling wife Mariz UmaliUmali continued trying to ask her question as Duterte smiled and some other reporters laughed.In an interview with her network on Thursday, Umali described Duterte’s remarks as “improper.”She said she would not ask for an apology and sought not to inflame the controversy, but her journalist husband, Raffy Tima, took to Facebook to criticize Duterte.“Catcalling my wife is wrong in so many levels,” Tima wrote. “Some jokes are funny and should be laughed at but disrespecting women is definitely not one of them.”Sexual harassmentAida Santos, president of the women’s rights group Wedpro, said Duterte’s wolf-whistling was a form of sexual harassment.“Catcalling treats women as sex objects … some say it’s a way of being cute, but it’s wrong,” Santos told Agence France-Presse (AFP).Duterte and his aides have repeatedly said such controversial comments and actions should not be taken too seriously: that the President-elect is a straight talker and an authentic character who likes to joke and speak the language of the streets.They also point to Duterte’s prowomen policies in Davao City, which he has ruled as mayor for most of the past two decades.But Duterte’s jokes sent negative messages to society, according to Elizabeth Angsioco, national chair of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines.“His words and actions reinforce looking at women as second-class citizens,” she told AFP.Catcalling ordinanceIn Quezon City, catcalling women and subjecting them to gestures that supposedly extol their looks in public but are actually demeaning, such as wolf whistles, are now considered crimes under the city’s amended gender and development code.Other acts punishable under the anticatcalling ordinance include stalking, making offensive hand or mouth gestures aimed at demeaning women, cursing and taunting a woman with talk about sex.At the same press conference, Duterte created another controversy by saying there was justification for killing corrupt journalists, and that one “rotten son of a bitch” reporter deserved to have been murdered.The incendiary politician has previously been criticized for comments about women.On the campaign trail, he made a joke about wanting to rape a “beautiful” Australian missionary who had been sexually assaulted and murdered in a 1989 prison riot in Davao City.When his daughter reacted to those comments by revealing she had been raped, Duterte described her in jest as a “drama queen.”Duterte, whose first marriage was annulled and is in a long-term relationship with another woman, has also openly boasted about having mistresses and using Viagra to have sex with them.Defying logicIn a post on his Facebook page titled “Catcalling My Wife Is Wrong In So Many Levels,” Tima said what Duterte did was “wrong in so many levels” and “defies logic” for someone who holds the highest post in the land.“I know his reputation well enough not to be shocked by it, but that does not make it right. For someone who espouses leadership by example, catcalling anyone in a press conference with all cameras trained on him defies logic. Then again, that’s Mayor Duterte,” he said.He also criticized those who laughed and egged Duterte on by further teasing his wife.“What appalled me even more was how some people in the room reacted. Most laughed, others made teasing noise and basically urged the mayor to dish some more! And he did. I do hope none of them were journalists because if they were, shame on them,” Tima said.People should not tolerate what the President-elect did, he said. “When you see or hear anyone say something wrong you do not encourage it, you do the opposite. Or in that particular instance at least, they should have kept [quiet] and in their silence gave the message that what the mayor did was wrong.”“Some jokes are funny and should be laughed at … but disrespecting women is definitely not one of them,” he said.Tima’s post has garnered more than 4,600 shares as of posting time.Umali told her husband that despite Duterte’s actions, she remained firm and composed.“I was surprised with President Duterte’s response to my question. However, I tried to understand him based on what I know about him, kept my composure and insisted on my answer, which I got,” she said.Umali had asked Duterte how he would deal with Cabinet members “who are nonperforming” and would he give them a deadline.The President-elect said in Filipino: “You’re really trying to catch my attention.” He then wolf-whistled, and some people in the audience could be heard laughing and cheering.Umali just smiled and said, “Mr. President, can I get an answer please?” To which Duterte answered with a song. She repeated the question, and this time, the mayor answered."
7521,"Mild tectonic earthquakes jolted Davao del Sur province Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.However, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Southern Mindanao region reported no damage or injury in the series of tectonic quakes that struck Davao del Sur province on Thursday.Of the eight mild tectonic earthquakes that shook the province of Davao del Sur on Thursday (Aug. 31), a 4.0 magnitude earthquake was the strongest and it was registered at 1:31 a.m., Phivolcs said.The epicenter was traced 27 kilometers (km) northwest from the town proper of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur province, Phivolcs said.The earthquake had a shallow depth of only 5 km, it said.Intensity lV was registered in Santa Cruz, Davao Del Sur; Davao City; and Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur while Intensity lll was also recorded in Sulop, Davao Del Sur and Intensity ll in Digos City, Davao Del Sur and Kidapawan City.At 1:45 a.m. on the same day (Aug. 31), a 3.0 magnitude earthquake was also recorded, Phivolcs said.The epicenter was plotted only 7 km. northeast of nearby Digos City, also of Davao del Sur province, the agency said.The tremor had a depth of 20 km, Phivolcs said.The agency also recorded 6 other mild tremors from 1.8 magnitude to 2.4 magnitude earthquakes that struck Digos City, Davao del Sur province of the same day.The 8 tremors that jolted the province of Davao del Sur on Thursday morning were all tectonic in origin, Phivolcs added."
7530,"Two research studies released simultaneously today from opposite sides of the international dateline show an interesting link of eating corn grits to being gay and being a champion boxer.The Daily Currant reports that scientists at Stanford University in California released a study showing that men who regularly eat grits are 70 percent more likely to have gay children.The prospective cohort study, published in Nature Medicine, followed 15,000 volunteers for 30 years to determine the influence of parental diet on the development of childhood illnesses.In the Philippines, researchers at the University of the Visayas in Cebu City released their own study linking the consumption of corn grits to being champion boxers. While rice is the predominant staple in most of the Philippines, corn grits are the staple in many areas in the Visayas and Mindanao islands.The Philippines has its share of champion boxers, many of whom hail from grit-eating cities and provinces. Manny Pacquiao is from Sarangani in Mindanao. Legendary Filipino boxer, the late Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde was from the Visayas.Got grits? Be gay. Be a champion boxer!"
7540,"After today’s contentious Democratic presidential debate in New York, Bernie Sanders is headed for The Vatican to seek the blessing of Pope Francis.Sanders, who does not participate in any organized religion, is hoping that by seeking the Pope’s blessing, he will gain the support of American Catholics in this coming Tuesday’s primary in New York. In New York City alone, it is estimated that there are 2.6 Million practicing Catholics.Sanders faces one of the more important primary contests in New York against Hillary Clinton, a Methodist.Will Sanders’ strategy work?Stay tuned."
7551,"Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno has warned governors and mayors against a certain individual who is allegedly using the name of the department to collect letters of request from local government units (LGUs) for funding of local development projects.Sueno had received information from a Northern Luzon mayor and a DILG field officer that a certain Phia or Pia Alarcon is allegedly presenting herself as a DILG staff and asking LGUs to send her letter-requests for the funding of LGU projects.“I suggest that you coordinate directly with our DILG regional and provincial offices or our city and municipal local government operations officers stationed in LGUs if you want to learn how to secure funding for your local projects,” the DILG secretary told local chief executives.He pointed out that there are certain procedures that an LGU has to go through and requirements that have to be met to be able to access DILG projects such as Salintubig, Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities and Performance Challenge Fund.“A letter-request may be one of them, but there are a host of other requirements to be complied with. Bear in mind also that we do not require any payment for LGUs to be able to access DILG projects,” Sueno said.Earlier, Mayor Ramon Guico of Binalonan, Pangasinan informed the DILG that he has seen several letters from LGUs in Regions 1, 2 and 3, including Baguio City addressed to Alarcon, requesting financial support for local projects.Aside from Guico, DILG provincial director Anthony Ballug of Mountain Province reported about LGUs having fallen victim to someone presenting herself as Pia Alarcon.Sueno said based on official records, there is no Pia or Phia Alarcon currently connected with the DILG."
7561,"President Rodrigo Duterte committed an unconstitutional act by creating, through an executive order, the Philippine Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) out of “spite and vengeance” against perceived enemies, according to an opposition lawmaker.Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, leader of the “Magnificent Seven” independent bloc at the House of Representatives, said Mr. Duterte’s motive in creating the PACC afflicted the new body with “congenital infirmity.”But an ally of Mr. Duterte, Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, said the President was well within his right to exercise “presidential plenary power.”The President’s Executive Order No. 43, Dy said, “basically copies” provisions of other executive orders that created the defunct Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.Lagman said EO 43 violated the Constitution and duplicated the functions of the Ombudsman under the Ombudsman Act of 1989, or Republic Act No. 6770.Flawed from the startOn Thursday, Malacañang announced that Mr. Duterte had signed EO 43, creating the PACC to be “solely dedicated” to investigating complaints against erring government officials, including those from independent constitutional bodies like the Ombudsman.Mr. Duterte issued the EO after accusing the Ombudsman of corruption and selective justice following confirmation made by the antigraft body that it was investigating the President and his family’s finances.The PACC, Lagman said, “is flawed from the beginning.”“Aside from being born out of reprisal, the PACC violates the Constitution,” Lagman said.The opposition legislator said the President, in his “inordinate rush to create the PACC,” overlooked the fact that he did not have any jurisdiction over constitutional offices.Presidential appointees and principal officials of constitutional bodies are “outside of the executive department and beyond the reach of the President’s power of supervision and control,” Lagman said.Empowering himselfMr. Duterte’s defender, Dy, said the PACC empowered the President, who created it, to “get rid of corruption and correct ethics of people in government.”She said the PACC jurisdiction extended to regulatory bodies, like Energy Regulatory Commission, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems and National Telecommunications Commission.But she said she hoped the “EO can withstand any legal review as to its constitutionality.”Dy said she also wished Mr. Duterte would appoint “the right people, very good people” to the PACC."
7571,DAHIL sa pelikulang English Only Please ay muling pinag-uusapan si Jennylyn Mercado na pawang positibo. Dati kasi ay naging laman siya ng mga pahayagan pero hindi naman maganda ang mga nasulat dahil tungkol iyon sa lovelife niya na hindi naman nagtatagal at kung anu-ano pang resulta ng pagluluka-lukahan niya noon.
7580,"Have you ever gone inside a squatter colony ? I have ! It is humanity living in a sewer, above, along, beside, below, living in hovels built from disgarded fragments of rotted coco lumber, broken furniture, torn filthy tarps, rusted nails, low cellings, and often stacked 3 to 4 floors high. Dirt floors, repressive heat, sickness, TB, rotted teeth, dysentery, unwanted pregnancy, criminality, open fires, illegal electrical hookups, no fire route access or escape plan, none of the occupants ever paying taxes. Sweaty Babies with snotty noses, children covered in dirt, dressed in rags, everyone peeing almost anywhere, crapping in plastic bags, one tap for 30 or more families. People sleeping on mats, lined up often like sardines, with the rats, cockroaches, unimaginable strenches wafting from every direction. Walkways 18 inches wide, the sounds of voices, crying, wailing, laughing, screaming, as if you just woke up liviing inside a Fellini movie complete with dwarfs and disfigured would wandering around. It is sad to see, (but) with the inhabitants amazingly cheerful, and quite pleased it would seem, with the entire arrangement.Of course, much of the time the squatters are simply tolerated by the true land owner who pays the property taxes, has title to the property but faces huge challenges to reclaim what is in fact owned. Evicting the squatters is rarely possible without resorting to costly and lengthy legal remedy that through delaying tactics can take 10 or 15 years to resolve.In the Philippines where the Judiciary is broken, impunity rules, and discipline doesn’t exist, the problem simply exacerbates itself, with the Government lacking the will or the intention to fix any of the country’s ills.The squatter problem is a good example of why the Philippines can never really move away from its 3rd world status. As long as the right of ownership cannot be exercised over the so called rights of squatters who in modern society should only have extremely limited rights, expect little in the Philippines to truly change. It is a country that has a hopeless future unless overdue reforms can get a foothold. Looking at the Political landscape, it really does not look even remotely encouraging.Source:http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2013/07/sustainable-solution-to-squatters/comment-page-2/#comment-229601"
7591,"The groundbreaking ceremony for a $1.5-billion integrated resort called NayonLanding at the reclaimed area of Manila Bay in Parañaque City was all for naught.President Rodrigo Duterte fired on Tuesday the entire management and board of directors of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) as the agency and a Chinese casino operator launched the project.The NPF officials were sacked for allegedly approving a long-term lease contract with Hong Kong-based Landing International Development Ltd. that the President found “grossly disadvantageous to the government,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. (See related story in Biz Buzz on Page B4.)The NPF is a government-owned and -controlled corporation attached to the Department of Tourism.Dismissed were Patricia Yvette Ocampo, the foundation chair; Caroline Lansang, Alicia Manuel, Elizabeth Mercado, Bishop Efraim Perez, Clarence Bringas, Rex Anthony Villegas, Marie Nino Gerald Medina and Maria Fema T. Duterte, all foundation board members.Contract unaffectedLanding International said the decision to replace the top NPF officials “did not affect the validity of the subject contract of lease.”“Unless the lease contract is canceled or nullified on legal grounds by the courts, Landing has reason to believe that it is a valid leaseholder and can legally proceed with its project,” it said in a statement.Landing said it was granted a provisional license by state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to operate a casino in 2022 — once the 10-year moratorium on new casinos at Entertainment City ends — provided that it complies with all the requirements of the law and existing regulations.In his morning briefing, Roque said the President also had ordered the cancellation of the lease contract for a 9.5-hectare NPF property at Entertainment City beside Solaire Resort and Casino.But Roque later said in a statement that the President had ordered a review of the contract, which the President found “flawed” because it was entered into without public bidding.The project will feature Filipino-inspired architecture and interior design that will be the country’s newest entertainment and leisure hot spot by 2022.Its centerpiece will be a Filipino cultural theme park with iconic architecture, and will have a 1,500-room world-class hotel and meetings and convention facilities.Duterte exasperatedThe property is smaller than the 45-hectare Nayong Pilipino theme park beside Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which opened in 1970 but was shuttered in 2002 to make way for the airport’s expansion.When it was still operating, the theme park showcased Filipino culture and landmarks of six regions, such as the Banaue Rice Terraces, Mayon Volcano and Chocolate Hills.The NPF currently operates a Nayong Pilipino park at Clark Freeport in Pampanga province.Roque said the President made his decision to fire the NPF officials during the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang on Monday after expressing exasperation that “corruption continues even in his administration.”“He [the President] cited the case of Nayong Pilipino, which leased a government property for a ridiculous long period of time of 70 years, beyond a lifetime of anyone,” the Palace official said.He considered the contract grossly disadvantageous to the government, Roque said.Lease contract periodRoque said the contract was reduced from 70 years, to 50 and then to 25, “but the rental payment was still unconscionable.”In a complaint she filed in the Office of the Ombudsman in May, Maria Fema T. Duterte, a distant niece of the President, claimed that the government would lose at least P517 million a year, or more than P25 billion, in 50 years under the contract.The NPF approved the proposal of Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. for a monthly lease of P150 per square meter, or P14.358 million a month for the 95,724-sq-m property for 50 years, or P172.303 million yearly, with an option to renew for 25 years, according to a Commission on Audit memo.Maria Fema said the lease should be at least P57.434 million a month, or P689.212 million a year, as the current land appraisal value in the area, which is in the vicinity of Solaire and Okada Manila, was P600 per sq m.In a statement, Ocampo said the term of lease was for 25 years, starting from the date of execution of the contract, and not 70 years. This was reaffirmed by Landing International.Rental paymentsMonthly rentals were pegged at P360 per sq m, and the advance rental amount was placed at P827.05 million.On top of this, the NPF was to receive an additional monthly rental equivalent to 10 percent of net profits from the operations of its attractions and theme parks after taxes exclusive of the value-added tax.“We negotiated what we believed then, and believe now, are most advantageous terms and conditions for the government and the people,” Ocampo said.She said she would abide by the President’s decision, but denied any wrongdoing.This is the second casino project under fire from the Duterte administration.In April, it shelved a plan by Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group to build a $500-million integrated casino-resort on the holiday island of Boracay, just a month after the gaming regulator approved the project. The government cited environmental concerns for the move."
7601,"THE COUNTRY’S top enforcer of laws governing air transportation plans to put up its own K-9 division to help guard 44 commercial airports nationwide.The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), which is responsible for prescribing rules and regulations for all aircraft owned and operated in the country, will also construct a dog academy at Butuan-Bancasi Airport in Agusan del Norte province.At the CAAP’s 38th management meeting on April 11 in Butuan City, Director General William Hotchkiss III cited the initiative of Area 12 manager Evangeline Daba in producing a K-9 unit composed of 10 bomb-sniffing and narcotics-detecting dogs.‘Effective’“Her (Daba’s) development of a K-9 unit is so effective that her effort has been widely acknowledged by the LGUs (local government units) in her jurisdiction,” Hotchkiss said.Local governments have responded positively to Daba’s initiative and have donated more dogs to the K-9 pool.“They know it is for the good of the community so they are pitching in. The K-9 unit is ultimately for their own welfare because having safe and secure airports in the region would usher in economic growth,” Hotchkiss said.The creation of a K-9 division will institutionalize and boost security at the CAAP-controlled commercial airports nationwide and eliminate threats. Apart from the detection of explosives and illegal drugs, the CAAP plans to train dogs in bird tracking to prevent bird strikes on commercial aircraft.Immune“While we have noise-producing equipment to shoo away birds from the runways in the airports, the birds grow immune to the sound, which increases the possibility of bird strikes,” Hotchkiss said, adding that there must be no obstruction to an airplane’s takeoff and landing.According to the CAAP official, the use of dogs for dispersing birds will be very effective in the CAAP-managed commercial airports where flights are intermittent.He said the dogs could also serve as deterrents to runway incursions, including cattle and other stray animals, which also imperil aircraft."
7610,"Sapul sa patagong cellphone video ang pagbabanta ng alkalde ng Candelaria, Quezon, sa mga kawani ng munisipyo na hindi boboto sa kanya sa paparating na araw ng halalan. Mapapanood sa video kung paano na lang takut-takutin ng Mayor ang mga tauhan nito. Base sa ulat ng DZRH, nakilala ang alkalde na si Mayor Macky Boongaling. Hindi pa alam kung sino ang kumuha at nag-upload ng video. Natatakot na raw ang ilang residente ng Candelaria dahil sa naging pagbabanta ni mayor. ""Alam ko na kung saan ko kayong dadalhing mga departamento. Kung kayo ay nasa malamig, dadalhin ko kayo sa mainit na lugar para ito ay maging pahirap sa inyo,"" banta ni Mayor Boongaling Ayon pa sa alkalde, titiktikan daw niya ang mga empleyado ng munisipalidad at pasensiyahan na lang daw kung malaman niya na hindi siya ang ibinoto. ""Pag hindi niyo ko binoto, alam ko kung sino sa inyo, dahil lahat kayo ay papa-ispayan ko. Lahat ng nagta-trabaho sa pamahalaang bayan, pag hindi niyo kami sinamahan, pasensiyahan tayo,"" pananakot pa ni Mayor Boongaling Ito po ang ilang reaksyon mula sa social media page ng DZRH. ""Wag iboto ang mayor na yan mayor sport ka lang xa sa ginWa mong yan e matatalo ka na malamang zure bol yan talo kan sa tkot ng mga taga munisipyo sau wala kA BOTO SA KANILA,"" sabi ni R. Nidnum. ""Wag iboto ang mayor na yan mayor sport ka lang xa sa ginWa mong yan e matatalo ka na malamang zure bol yan talo kan sa tkot ng mga taga munisipyo sau wala kA BOTO SA KANILA,"" sabi ni R. Nidnum. ""Kapal ng mukha mo mayor,,Kaya nga demokrasya Ang bansang Pilipinas Ng sa ganun meron tayong sariling disisyon bawat isa sa atin,, wag kang dektador mayor ikaw din baka balikan ka ng mga taong tinatakot mo...,"" sabi ni F. Abarracoso. ""Ano b yan ...desperado n ..ayan tuloy nakunan ng video ...ang tama kc dapat bahala n kayo kung cno iboboto nyo may kalayaan kayo cno pipiliin nyo,"" sabi ni A. Origenes. Source: DZRH | archive"
7620,"The Seattle Seahawks, one of U.S. National Football League teams favored to advance into this season’s Super Bowl, chalked up their 10th win last Sunday as it defeated the Minnesota Vikings. But that was not the headline.Seahawks player Doug Baldwin, who is part Filipino, carried the Philippine flag as his team entered the football stadium. By doing so, the Seahawks all but declared war on behalf of the typhoon-ravaged country. The four-color Philippine flag has a red stripe and a blue stripe. During peace time, the flag is always carried or displayed with the blue stripe on top. The red stripe on top signals that the country has declared or is at war. Baldwin carried the flag with the red stripe on top.The Seahawks explained that the Philippines is “fighting the devastation of Haiyan which has been worse than many war-torn regions of the world.” Many thought the explanation was lame and undiplomatic.To make amends, the team signed a pledge that it will send all its players to the Philippines to fight alongside that country’s army should it be involved in any military war now or in the future. But the ever-forgiving Filipinos suggested instead that the Seahawks send its entire team to Tacloban City to help with relief and reconstruction efforts immediately after the Super Bowl. That is, assuming the team will make it to the Super Bowl."
7630,"Magpapatupad ng ""one-time bill waiver scheme"" ang Manila Water bunsod ng naranasang water shortage ng ilang lugar sa Metro Manila at probinsiya ng Rizal ngayong buwan ng Marso. Sa press briefing, sinabi ni Manila Water CEO Ferdinand Dela Cruz na ang scheme ay makikita sa bill ng higit 6 million costumer sa buwan ng Abril. ""To help ease in some way the inconvenience we have caused, with inputs from both MWSS Corporate Office and Regulatory Office, we are announcing a voluntary and one-time bill waiver scheme in March to be reflected in the April bill of our customers,"" ani Dela Cruz. ""Pero ang mga ""severly affected areas"" o iyong walang tubig ng buong araw sa loob ng isang linggo lang ang hindi na sisingilin sa kanilang nakonsumo sa buong buwan ng Marso,"" saad ni Dela Cruz. Para naman po sa pinaka-naapektuhan or the most severely-affected barangays without water for 24 hours for more than a week, they will not be billed for their whole water consumption for March Maging ang hindi pasok sa kategoryang ito ay hindi na rin naman sisingilin ng minimum charge o equivalent sa halaga ng 10 cubic meters ng tubig o P76 hanggang P656. ""This minimum charge ranges for our lifeline customers of P76 but it also goes to all kinds of customers -- lifeline, domestic, semi-domestic, commercial, industrial so it ranges from P76 to P656 for industrial customers, which represents the 10 cubic meters,"" sabi ni Dela Cruz. Sinabi ni Dela Cruz na ang impact sa kanila ng pag-waive sa minimum charge ay aabot sa P150 million o mahigit pa."
7641,"Today, many people will pin a red ribbon on their shirts and blouses to express solidarity with the global observance of World AIDS Day, especially with those afflicted by the condition. First observed in 1988, World AIDS Day is held annually on December 1 to accord people around the world with the opportunity to unite in the fight against Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV), show support for people living with HIV, and commemorate people who died of the condition. The day, which is celebrated by all UN member states, is a reminder to the public and governments that HIV lingers, and thus the continuing need to raise funds, increase public awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.The recent Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Prevention report reveals that globally, around 1.9 million adults have been infected with HIV every year in the past five years and the number of new HIV infections is rising in some regions. HIV prevention efforts must be reinvigorated if the world is to stay on the fast-track to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.This year, the UNAIDS has chosen the theme “Hands Up for #HIVPrevention” for World AIDS Day. The theme seeks to explore various aspects of HIV prevention and how they relate to specific groups of people, such as adolescent girls and young women. Launched in September this year, the campaign has offered people a space to express their thoughts on how to strengthen HIV prevention efforts through a photograph of a word or phrase written on the palm of their hands, or a 30-second video message.Despite the gains achieved in terms of scientific advances in HIV treatment, legislation that protect people living with HIV, and a better understanding about the condition, a significant number of people remain unaware of the facts on how to protect themselves and others, and the stigma and discrimination remain a harsh reality for many people living with the condition.The red ribbon remains a powerful universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV. Red was chosen for the ribbon because it is bold and visible, it symbolizes passion, the heart and love. As we observe World AIDS Day 2016, let us contribute to a broader awareness of the facts about HIV. As UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe has urged everyone, “Let us seize this opportunity and join the fast-track towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”"
7650,"especially unarmed black men –and in other countries where extra judicial killings are not uncommon.“Kimmel is very much a man who is not easily affected emotionally by stories of animals being hunted and killed by poachers,” his publicist said. “It’ll take hundreds of lions killed at any one time before Kimmel would shed a tear,” he added.The publicist appealed to netizens to stop re-posting the video because “it is hurting Kimmel’s reputation as a tough and unbiased journalist.”"
7660,"Putrajaya, Malaysia- Just like the energizer bunny, the Philippines just keeps on going and going and going.On the last evening of 2013, the Philippines won yet another international beauty pageant, Miss Tourism International held in Malaysia. Miss Philippines Angeli Dione Gomez bested 59 other beauties from around the world to win the title previously held by another Filipina. Miss Gomez joins the list of Filipinas who won major international beauty crowns this year including Miss World, Miss International and Miss Supranational, not to mention the third place finish in this year’s Miss Universe Pageant.As a result of this latest win, the decision by the Association of Beauty Pageant Franchise Holders (ABPFH) to ban the Philippines from participating in beauty pageants for the next two years has been revised yet again. The ban will now remain in effect for four years. See previous story about the ban as reported in The Adobo Chronicles."
7670,"Sa isang Facebook post, nanawagan ang abogada at kapatid ni former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago na si Paula Defensor Knack kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na makialam na sa kaso ng pagpaslang sa bodyguard/aide ni Attorney Glen Chong na si Richard Santillan. Ayon kay Knack, nagtamo umano ng 64 na sugat si Santillan dahil sa torture na ginawa ng mga pulis. Nananahimik din daw ang liderato ng Philippine National Police (dahil) magkaka-mistah ang mga ito. ""How can we continue supporting a drug war if the police tortures a civilian bodyguard of a lawyer exposing electoral fraud against the supposed Vice-President ? Drug courier raw sya, pero tahimik ang PNP officials kung anong solid evidence nila na sya o ang amo nyang abogado ay sangkot sa droga maliban sa ginawa nilang encounter set-up!,"" sabi ni Knack Basahin ang komento ng mga kababayan natinsa naging panawagan ni Knack kay Pangulong Duterte kaugnay sa kaso ng pagpatay kay Santillan. Source: Paula Knack"
7680,"Filipinos were ecstatic when they heard the news that Ms. Peters (Rachel) of the Philippines won the Miss Universe crown.Motorists started honking their horns. Office workers were high-fiving each other and patrons at karaoke bars began singing the oldie Pinoy song, “Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko.”But alas, it was all short-lived. Many folks misread the texts they got from their friends and family.Little did they know at first that the Ms. Peters who won the crown was South Africa’s Demi-Leigh Peters, not Rachel.Well, we can’t win all the time, can we?"
7690,"Manila, Philippines - Kasabay ng paggunita ng bansa sa Mahal na Araw, pinagtibay ni senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence ""Bong"" Go ang kanyang pananampalataya sa pamamagitan ng paglilingkod sa mga nangangailangan sa pagsasabing ang pagseserbiyso sa mga tao ay pagseserbisyo sa Diyos. Ayon kay Go, nagdesisyon siyang tumakbo para sa Senado upang direktang makapagsilbi sa taongbayan, gaya ng matapat niyang paglilingkod kay President Rodrigo Duterte sa loob ng higit 21 taon. Kaya naman kilalang-kilala siya ni Pangulong Duterte na nagsabi mismo na si Go ay hindi lang tao na may integridad bagkus ay may tunay na pagmamalasakit sa kapwa. ""Ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo sa Diyos,"" ani Go""Ang bisyo ko po, magserbisyo."" Naniniwala si Go, batay sa Christian teaching, na ang anumang mabuting ginagawa sa kanyang kapatid (kapwa) ay ginagawa na rin sa Diyos. Bago pa naisip ang pagtakbong senador, naging personal nang krusada ni Go ang pagtulong sa mga nangangailangan, partikular sa mga nasusunugan. At sinabi niyang ipagpapatuloy niya ito, maluklok man o hindi sa Senado. ""Noon, ngayon at saan man po ako ipadpad ng aking tadhana, papasukin ko kahit saang eskinita para marinig ang mga hinaing ng mga kapatid natin, lalong-lalo na 'yung mga nangangailangan ng tulong,"" sabi ni Go. ""Sabi ng iba delikado raw, pero di ako natatakot. Basta gagawin ko lang 'yung trabaho ko,"" dagdag niya. Kapag nahalal na senador, nangako si Kuya Bong na patuloy na susuportahan ang mga inisyatiba para sa pagbabago ni Pangulong Duterte. ""Susuportahan ko yung kampanya ni Pangulong Duterte laban sa iligal na droga, laban sa corruption at laban sa kriminalidad. Ito po ang dahilan kaya po siya minahal ng tao. Ipagpapatuloy ko po ito,"" aniya. Ipupursige rin niya ang mga pro-poor concerns, kagaya ng pagpapabuti ng agriculture sector na titiyak sa seguridad sa pagkain ng bansa, murang pabahay sa mahihirap, maayos na delivery ng medical services sa pamamagitan ng pagtatayo ng mas marami pang Malasakit Center. ""Ito po yung gusto kong isabatas (Malasakit Center) pagdating ng panahon para tuloy-tuloy ang serbisyo kahit hindi na Pangulo si Pangulong Duterte. Pera nyo po ito, ibinabalik lang sa inyo. Basta po Pilipino qualified, at may express lane pa para sa disabled at senior citizens,"" ang paliwanag ni Go. Sa kasalukuyan ay mayroon nang 34 Malasakit Centers na nagsisilbi sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa. Ang iba pang legislative agenda ni Go na magseserbisyo sa Filipino ay kinabibilangan ng mga programa sa education, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, barangay welfare, pagbuo ng Department of OFW at pagtataas ng benepisyo sa senior citizens. ""Patuloy nyo po akong magiging tulay kay Pangulong Duterte. Wala po kaming ibang hangarin ni Pangulong Duterte kundi kabutihan ng Pilipino dahil mahal namin kayo,"" ani Go. ""Minsan lang po tayo daraan sa landas na ito. Anuman ang magandang pwedeng gawin natin sa ating kapwa gawin na natin dahil malamang hindi na tayo muling daraan sa landas na ito,"" Go added. Source: Remate"
7701,"The executive stamp of approval to the Paris Agreement that paves the way for the Senate’s ratification of the climate change accord exemplifies the participatory decision-making exercised by President Rodrigo Duterte, the chairman of the advisory board of the Climate Institute said on Thursday.“He listened to the appeal of climate change advocates and his Cabinet’s recommendation to alter his initial reservation” with the agreement, Heherson Alvarez said in a statement.This concerned humanitarian gesture of the President, according to Alvarez, benefits the Philippines, which is “most vulnerable to the onslaught of extreme climate catastrophes.”“The threat of climate change that brings death to our people and irreparable destruction of our life support systems is just as challenging as the drug menace,” he said.Signing by the President of the Paris accord, Alvarez added, “will enable the systematic transition from disastrous carbon fuel to a mix of alternative clean energy–solar, wind, hydro, waste and geothermal–that can now be accomplished without hampering the Duterte plan of modernization.”Also, the former senator and former Environment secretary said, it will provide for a safe and resilient community that has harnessed consensus and wide social involvement.“Change can now be undertaken in our fuel consumption, in our power plants, transport system, the use of energy in our buildings and homes, as well as management of our industrial and municipal waste, including the protection of our forests and oceans as carbon sinks,” Alvarez added.“This carbon reduction program under a Duterte stewardship, without hampering industrialization, promotes our nation’s interest and global survival from an overheated earth that is causing cataclysmic typhoons and super droughts that impact on poverty, health and famine,” he said.Future generations, looking back, can only applaud the President for signing the Paris climate deal, Alvarez added."
7711,"SOME members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will undergo basic literacy training, through the Alternative Learning System (ALS), a high-ranking official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday.G.H. Ambat, DepEd assistant secretary for public affairs service and the Alternative Learning System, noted that 45 decommissioned MILF combatants will be given educational assistance as part of socio-economic programs under the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) — a peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF after more than 17 years of negotiations.“It is part of the normalization process . . . there are 45 decommissioned MILF combatants. The government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, has assistance package for all of them.They can avail of livelihood, education, and have cash assistance as part of the normalization,” Ambat told this reporter in an earlier interview.“Twenty-six of them have been taught how to read and write for two weeks, and it’s nice to see them they already know how to read and write when I came back to Cotabato City in ARMM [Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao],” she said.The Education department, according to Ambat, will also provide education assistance to family members of MILF fighters who want to undergo ALS training in the next round of decommissioning.“We would be working with DepEd-ARRM and, of course, the [school] division of Cotabato City, to deliver education in that area because, as we know, the President who is also from Mindanao really understands the need of education there,” she said.“Let’s give them a fighting chance, teach them how to read and write and give them additional skills,” the DepEd official added.The alternative learning program is a parallel learning system that provides school dropouts with access to complete basic education in a mode that fits their distinct situations and needs.Under the program, students will be given brought to the regular school system or else they will take equivalency test and then they will be declared as elementary or high school graduates.The other part of the training is that they will be given skills training, and then will get jobs after graduation.The DepEd said it will give more allowances to ALS volunteer teachers starting next year to ensure that more out-of-school youth, particularly in far-flung areas, will be covered.Its data shows that around 517,000 ALS learners completed the program in 2015, increasing to 691,000 the succeeding year.For this year, the DepEd has allotted P637 million for the expansion of the ALS program."
7720,"If Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) were to run for president in the Philippines, he never would have won. LKY is just too ugly and his pockmarked face would never appeal to Filipino voters who tend to favor tisoys or showbiz personalities or people with name recall such as Noynoy. LKY is not eloquent, and would have been no match for the oratorical skills of our forever speechifying Ninoy Aquino or Chiz Escudero.LKY is just too straightforward, sometimes too mataray and abrasive, which will rub Filipinos the wrong way. His expressions are just too unvarnished, which will hurt our Filipino pusong mamon. LKY does not fit the Filipino concept of mabait, an attribute which Filipino bobotantes are looking for. If anything, LKY looks like Ponga, the intsik caricature ridiculed and reviled in Pinoy pop-culture (of decades past). Most importantly, LKY also cheated in order to win the national election in 1963. A few months before the election, LKY launched the British-aided ""Operation Cold Store"" to put all his political opponents away. That's how LKY won the 1963 election handily. Given that LKY is a big believer in the concept of 'the end justifies the means', would that sit well with the Judeo-Christian morality of the Filipino people? Nah, I didn't think so.And if by some off chance LKY were to become the president of the Philippines, the owners of PDI (Marixi Rufino-Prieto and her clan) would be the first to pack up and leave the country for obvious reasons. Given LKY's incisive understanding of how mestizo hacienderos control the Philippines and impoverish 99.99% of the Filipino people, Noynoy, Mar Roxas and the Lopez clan of ABS-CBN would be the first few families to end up in LKY's crosshairs.-----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/03/lee-kuan-yew-and-the-singapore-he-built-is-proof-that-the-philippines-did-it-all-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-1131653"
7730,"Nakarating na sa kaalaman ng radio host na si Erwin TUlfo ang ginawang pagpopondo ni Kris Aquino sa mga anti-government bloggers. Sa kanyang programa, binanatan nito ang pinaggagagawa ni Kris. ""Speaking of dilawan, lalong gumaganda ang drama ngayon parang teleserye. Ang reyna ng intriga at talakan na si Kris Aquino ay may bagong na raw title ngayon. Siya na po ang reyna ng mga boostings, pagbo-boost ng post. Bakit kanyo? Inamin po ni Madam Kris Aquino na nagbabayad siya para i-boost ang mga post nila Jover Laurio ng Pinoy Ako Blog at ng iba pang dilawan. Inain po ni Kris Aquino iyan, na siya ang nasa likod, na siya ang nagpo-pondo para i-boost ang mga posts nila Jover Laurio at ng iba pang mga dilawan. Iyan ang katothanan bayan. Kaya ngayon, maraming nagagalit kay Kris Aquino. Ikaw palang loko-loko ka ang nasa likod ng iyan. Winawaldas mo ang salapi para labanan ang Duterte Administration.,"" sabi ni Tulfo. Hindi rin nakaligtas kay Tulfo ang tila dalawang mukha ng aktress. Ayon kay TUlfo, sasabihin daw na hindi kaaway ang kampo ng mga Duterte pero pino-pondohan ang mga bloggers na kumakalaban sa administration. ""Pero ngayon ang sinasabi ni Kris, 'friends naman kami ni kuya Bong Go'. Anong friends? Titirahin ng mga pinagbo-boost mo pagkatapos sasabihin mo suddenly, friends kayo ni kuya Bong Go? May friends bang ganun? Binabanatan nila Jover Laurio si Tatay Digs, binabanatan si kuya Bong Go, binabanatan ang pamilya niya, tapos ibu-boost mo ang mga posts?,"" dagdag pa ni Tulfo. Ang pagpopondo sa mga anti-DU30 bloggers ay inamin ni Kris sa comment section ng kanyang Instagram account ng tanungin siya ng isang user tungkol sa #PABoost isyu. Panoorin naman ang opinyon ng pro-government blogger na si Attorney Trixie Cruz-Angeles tungkol sa pag-amin ni Kris. Source: Erwin Tulfo | Luminous"
7741,"in satisfaction in Class E, the poorest class in Philippine society and long considered the mass base of President Duterte.Some pundits believe this may be due to the perception that most of those who have fallen in the nationwide anti-drugs campaign, as carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP), were poor folk. President Duterte has now ordered in a memorandum signed Oct. 10, that all anti-drug operations will henceforth be led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), with the PNP only in a supportive capacity.This first year of the administration has been concentrated, it seems, on the anti-drugs campaign. It is indeed a tremendous problem that merits the all-out efforts of the government to eradicate it for the future of the nation’s youth. But other problems also call for the government’s attention, most notably the age-old problem of widespread poverty.The drop in ratings may thus be also related to the unfulfilled expectations of so many poor folk for a better life through more employment, more and cheaper food on the table, and better government services such as in mass transportation. The “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program is thus anxiously being awaited for the massive government spending may well stimulate the national economy in a way that will touch the lives of the poor.The campaigns against drugs, against corruption, for more independent foreign policy, for closer ties with our neighbors are all important. But the government should start focusing on long-awaited reforms and programs that will have a direct effect on the everyday lives of the people, especially the poor. This could be what the people want to tell the government with their responses to the recent SWS survey."
7751,"The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday the enforcement of the ban on going shirtless in public places has resumed in Manila and Quezon City following a brief suspension.776“Ang unang naiulat na mga cities po na pansamantala na tumigil sa loob lamang ng isang linggo, ito po yung Manila City at Quezon City. The following week ay pinagpatuloy na po,”  PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said at a press briefing.777(The first cities that were reported to have temporarily stopped for just a week were Manila City and Quezon City. The following week, it was resumed.)778With its resumption, Tuaño said PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. advised National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Police Brigadier General Anthony Aberin to implement the policy with “common sense.”779“Malinaw po ang instruction ng Chief PNP kay General Aberin ng NCRPO na pairalin yung common sense sa pagpapatupad ng shirtless ordinance,” Tuaño said.780(The Chief PNP has clearly instructed General Aberin of the NCRPO to apply common sense in the implementation of the shirtless ordinance.)781“Hanggat hindi pa malinaw na nareresolba kung ano ba talaga ang specific definition ng public places, sabi po ng Chief PNP kay RD na ipatupad yung common sense sa pagpatupad ng nasabing shirtless ordinance,” he added.782(While it is not clear what the specific definition of public places is, the Chief PNP told RD to apply common sense in the implementation of the said shirtless ordinance.)783On April 6, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced stricter implementation of the ban on going shirtless in public areas and other measures under the “Safer Cities Initiative.”784The enforcement in some areas including Manila was suspended amid concerns that the policy was “anti-poor.”785Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on April 15 personally visited and apologized to a construction worker who was earlier apprehended for being shirtless in Mandaluyong City. "
7860,"Truth be told. The Philippine Constitution provides for the removal of Constitutional officials through impeachment. That includes the positions of Commissioner of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.As mandated, it is the Senate of the Philippines that conducts impeachment hearings and votes on the ouster of the Constitutional officials.Well, two potential impeachment hearings were botched. First that of former COMELEC Commissioner Andy Bautista who resigned his position prior to the start of the hearings, and former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno who yesterday was ousted by her peers in a 8-6 vote.This morning, Senator Bam Aquino lamented the fact that the Senate was not given the opportunity to pursue the impeachment process for the two officials.In an exclusive interview with The Adobo Chronicles, Aquino said he was very much looking forward to donning the maroon robe that Senators wear during impeachment hearings. “I really like wearing robes, and maroon is my favorite color,” Aquino said.Well, maybe next time. How about impeaching the Commission of Human Rights Commissioner, Chito Gascon? The ball is in your court."
7870,"Authorities confirmed that the former driver and boyfriend of Senator Leila De Lima was arrested in San Juan, La Union on November 22, Tuesday.BREAKING: Ronnie Dayan, ex-driver-bodyguard ni Sen. de Lima, naaresto na sa Northern Luzon; nagpalipat-lipat umano sa La Union at Pangasinan pic.twitter.com/BQJvndOcNT — DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 22, 2016Ronnie Dayan is currently in the custody of the La Union provincial police.Dayan who hid for many months in different provinces in North Luzon was ordered arrested for not attending the congressional inquiry into the proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison.Ronnie Dayan mentioned by the Bilibid Inmates that involved in illegal drugs and transporting drug money from Bilibid to his former girlfriend,Last week, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption announced a P1-million reward for Dayan’s arrest.Weeks ago, Senator Leila De Lima admitted her relationship with her driver Ronnie Dayan who allegedly involved in illegal drug trade.Netizens are expected that Ronnie Dayan is secured because they believe that he is the only one who can prove the involvement of the former Justice Secretary in illegal drugs.Philippine National Police said that they are going to present Dayan in the press at 4pm"
7881,"ADMINISTRATION and opposition leaders of the House of Representatives on Wednesday downplayed an apparent plot of government critics, including the “yellow forces” allied with the previous administration, to use the burial of remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LMNB) in Taguig City (Metro Manila) as launching pad to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from power.In separate interviews, Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu of Batangas and House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez of Quezon belittled a planned broad protest rally to greet President Duterte on his return tomorrow (Friday) from Lima, Peru to show the people’s supposed indignation over the interment of the remains of the former leader at the LMNB or Heroes Cemetery last Friday.Abu, in a statement, said the political enemies of the President will fail in their attempt to pull down President Duterte’s trust and approval ratings.“They will not succeed. Still the President enjoys support from the great majority of the Filipino people. When these noisy people [plotters] filed petitions before the Supreme Court asking [to declare] the burial [illegal], the President said he will follow whatever decision of the SC is, the tribunal being the interpreter of the law,” he pointed out.“The SC decided that there’s no reason to prohibit the burial. So what is the reason of these critics for trying to oust the President when he only followed what is the rule of law?” Abu said.Suarez, meanwhile, said protest rallies as an “offshoot” of the burial of Marcos’ remains at the Heroes Cemetery will not prosper into bigger ones that could topple the Duterte administration.“The President continues to enjoy widespread and overwhelming support from the people and he is doing his very best to address the problems of the country, especially the illegal drug trade,” he added.“Attempts to oust him [Duterte] is just a figment of their imagination,” Suarez said, referring to the President’s political enemies.The people, according to the lawmaker, will not support any attempt by any group to remove the President, a move that he said would only create chaos in the country.Bonifacio Ilagan, convenor of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang or Carmma, said Marcos’ burial on November 18 at the LNMB was an affront to victims of martial law and activists who fought against strongman rule.Earlier, Deputy Speaker and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said President Duterte’s men and the Marcos family did not violate any law when the remains of the former president were interred at the Heroes Cemetery.Castro explained that there is no more order from the High Court that bars the government’s issuance of the “green light” for the Marcoses to bury the family patriarch at the LNMB because an status quo ante order had been lifted.He said the SC will not reverse its ruling–nine against five and one abstention–that paved the way for the burial at the Heroes Cemetery."
7891,"The investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of a criminal complaint filed by an expelled Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) minister against leaders of the Christian sect is not an attack against the group and has nothing to do with religion, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said on Sunday.Pimentel said the DOJ should be given a chance to determine whether the complaint of former INC minister Isaias Samson Jr., against the sect’s governing council was actionable, adding that he disagreed with the INC position that the government should dismiss it and not to give it priority.“I don’t think this is a case against a church but against persons. It’s part of the DOJ’s job to accept the complaint, conduct a preliminary investigation, look at the basic facts whether this violates the Revised Penal Code or any law, or [if it is] a public crime. So you need a formal investigation,” Pimentel said in a radio interview.INC scandalInvoking separation of church and state, INC has massed thousands of its followers at the Edsa-Shaw Boulevard intersection in Mandaluyong City to pressure the government to drop the complaint, an offshoot of a scandal involving alleged financial mismanagement by members of the sect’s governing council.Samson alleged that the council placed him and his family under “house arrest” on suspicion that he was the blogger who exposed the alleged bad business decisions and financial excesses of council members and posted the views of other dissenters on the Internet.He said he and his family escaped in July and disclosed that at least 10 other ministers were also abducted to suppress dissent in the ranks of INC followers.At about the same time as the Samsons’ escape, the mother of INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo, Cristina Manalo and brother, Angel Manalo, posted a video on YouTube claiming their lives were in danger and appealing to INC members for help.The governing council expelled mother and son from the sect for causing division, in a scandal that exposed cracks in the secretive group that governments tolerated for decades because its members voted as one on instructions from their leaders.The bloc-voting sect aims to bring 1 million members to Edsa on Monday to force the Aquino administration, which is facing national elections next year, to drop Samson’s complaint.But Pimentel, a lawyer, said the DOJ needed to look into the complaint because it involved serious illegal detention, a nonbailable offense.DOJ probe importantHe said it was a serious offense considering it involved not only a person’s liberty but also his life.Pimentel underscored the importance of the DOJ investigation, a process that would determine whether a crime had been committed or if this was an action of a religious group and thus an internal matter.“If you know the general picture, then you can look into whether this involves freedom of religion or freedom of a person,” Pimentel said.Rep. Sherwin Tugna of the party-list group Citizens’ Battle against Corruption, said Sunday the DOJ should proceed with the investigation and assign the complaint to a prosecutor “with a long impeccable track record of competence, integrity, impartiality, transparency, and someone who cannot be influenced and cannot be pressured.”Politicians warnedSamson’s lawyer, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, on Sunday warned that politicians who would try to influence the DOJ into dropping or shelving the complaint faced graft and corruption charges.Angeles cited Sen. Grace Poe, a potential presidential candidate in next year’s elections, who said in an interview with reporters in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija province, on Friday that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima should give priority to other cases and not to Samson’s complaint.According to Angeles, the antigraft law declares unlawful the acts of a public official who “persuades, induces or influences” another public officer to act in violation of that officer’s sworn duty.“Now could you repeat your spiel about how the justice secretary needs to focus on other cases and not to take cognizance of the case serious illegal detention filed by [Mr. Samson]?” she said, referring to Poe.Senators Francis Escudero and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., both looking to run for Vice President, also spoke in favor of INC as the sect massed its members in front of the DOJ building on Padre Faura Street in Manila on Thursday.Juridical entityAhmed Paglinawan, another lawyer for Samson, said INC, being a corporation registered with the government, should obey the law.“[INC] is still, after all, a juridical entity existing by the ‘application/operation of law.’ Violate the law, goodbye, corporation. Goodbye, lawful purpose,” Pagkalinawan said Sunday in a post on Facebook.“The right to peaceably assemble pressuposes a lawful purpose. A statement of purpose that is not based on facts, truth and reality is not a lawful one. A statement of purpose [that] even those [on] Edsa do not know and cannot even say, is not a lawful purpose at all,” he said.INC was registered with the then Bureau of Commerce as a corporation by its founder, Felix Manalo, in 1914. The Securities and Exchange Commission performs most of the bureau’s duties today.On the INC mass action on Edsa, Pimentel said the sect had a right to assembly and the authorities had the obligation to give them rally permits.But the mayors should set conditions for the permits to prevent inconvenience to the public, he said.Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the right of INC members to express their grievance through street demonstrations must be respected, but Samson’s right as a citizen to file a criminal complaint and expect it to be resolved on its merits should also be respected"
7900,"and correcting the record on how large our country actually is, would do just that,” Aquino said in the note verbale."
7911,"A total of 4,159 families have been evacuated in Marikina City as of 11 p.m., according to Eastern Police District.Marikina River’s water level hit 20.6 meters at 9:58 p.m.On Saturday, heavy rains flooded several areas in the metropolis, paralyzing vehicular traffic. Some thoroughfares have been not passable to motorists due to floods.EPD said there are seven evacuation sites in Marikina, which are ready to cater to residents devastated by the flood.The seven evacuation sites in Marikina cater to 11, 765 individuals."
7920,"After almost a year, the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino is back to claim her reign on TV, or so says her new TV network, GMA.‘Trip Ni Kris’ is the title of her new show.No, it has nothing to do with drugs — not that kind of trip. Rather, it is a travel-themed, lifestyle special TV show produced by APT Entertainment and broadcast via GMA Network.Already, Aquino has taken to social media to complain about her rigorous schedule, having to take public transportation via Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines since she is no longer entitled the use of her ex-President brother’s helicopters.She also misses the swarm of security that accompanied her everywhere she went as the unofficial First Lady.In exclusive interview with The Adobo Chronicles, Ms. Aquino belied rumors that she will be promoting her Chowking business franchise in her show. “Just authentic Filipino food,” she said."
7930,"Dr. Jose Rizal as national hero!Congressman Relampagos also wants The Adobo Chronicles to become the official gazette of the Philippine government.Well, Mr. Congressman, we at The Adobo Chronicles are very honored but we can’t comment because that would constitute a conflict of interest. But we will gladly report the facts as your bill moves through the respectable congress."
7941,"""With 13 continental and two national squads, the 2015 Le Tour will definitely be the most exciting,"" sabi ni Lina-Flavier. ""Unlike in the past editions when club teams joined the race, this time, the Le Tour has made its name as one of the most competitive in Asia."" Ang continental teams na magbabalik sa Le Tour ay ang Satalyst Giant Racing Team (Australia), CCN Cycling Team (Brunei), Astana Continental Team (Kazakhstan), Pegasus Continental Cycling Team (Indonesia), TPT Cycling Team (Iran), Terengganu Cycling Team (Malaysia), Bridgestone Anchor Cycling Team (Japan) at 7-Eleven (Philippines). Sila ay sasamahan ng Le Tour first-timers na Team Novo Nordisk (USA), RTS Carbon (Taiwan), Attaque Team Gusto (Taiwan), Pishgaman Yazd Pro Cycling Team (Iran) at Singha Infinite Cycling Team (Thailand). Ang pambansang koponan ng PhilCycling ay sasabak din bilang bahagi ng kanilang paghahanda para sa Asian Road and Track Championships sa huling bahagi ng Pebrero at ng Singapore Southeast Asian Games sa Hunyo. Ipapadala rin ng Uzbekistan ang pambansang koponan nito upang maging matalas at handa para sa Asian championships. Ang 2015 Le Tour ay magbabalik sa maalamat na ruta sa Kennon Road patungong Baguio City sa Stage Four. Ang Kennon Road ay kinilala sa kasaysayan ng Philippine cycling bilang ""maker of champions"" - kung saan ang mga tunay na ""sports heroes on two wheels"" ay naiuukit ang kanilang mga pangalan - sa local Tour. Ang Stage One sa Pebrero 1 ay ang 126-kilometrong Balanga-Balanga route sa Bataan, ang Stage 2 sa Pebrero 2 ay isang 153.75-km ride mula Balangan hanggang Iba sa Zambales at ang Stage 3 sa Pebrero 3 ay sasakupin ang 149.34- kilometro mula Iba hanggang Lingayen, Pangasinan. Para sa Stage 4 sa Pebrero 4, ang Le Tour, na napasama sa Visit the Philippines 2015 program ng Department of Tourism, ay ang karera mula Lingayen hanggang Baguio City sa pamamagitan ng Kennon Road at may habang 101 kilometro."
7950,"What is it about nuns and the way they play “guardian angel” to supposedly “oppressed” public figures?Back in 2008, it was star “whistle-blower” Jun Lozada — a key witness in the ZTE broadband deal — making a spectacle of himself hiding behind the skirts of a phalanx of nuns as he emerged from hiding at the La Salle Greenhills campus.Now, in 2017, embattled Senator Leila De Lima reprises the same stunt, as if to show that the Philippines’ Roman Catholic Church still towers above government as a source of legitimacy.The soundbites sound familiar. “They can’t silence me!” crows De Lima. Back in 2008 it was Lozada promising fans during a rally, “dito magpapasabog ng katotohanan!” (“from here will come an explosion of truth!”).Even more familiar — and increasingly trite — is the manner with which Filipino nuns presume to protect a Philippine Senator from the imagined clutches of her own government.Nuns, of course, are no match for state officers who may soon descend upon De Lima to serve an arrest warrant. They will be of no consequence to a judge who will rule on the basis of evidence and not out of deference to the cloth. They will also leave a public long made weary by an institution that promises nothing in life and everything after death utterly unimpressed."
7961,"Aabot sa 500 QCitizen bikers ang sabay-sabay na pumadyak sa kauna-unahang Katipunan Freedom Trail (KFT) na umikot sa limang historical sites sa Lungsod Quezon.
Bilang bahagi ng selebrasyon ng 84th founding anniversary ng QC, inorganisa ng Quezon City Tourism Department (QCTD) at Department of Public Order and Safety Green Transport Office (DPOS-GTO) ang KFT.
Layon nito na muling ipaalala sa mga QCitizen ang mga importanteng lugar at pangyayari sa lungsod noong panahon ng rebolusyon.
Suportado ng QC ang patuloy na paggamit ng bisikleta ng QCitizens. Bukod sa nakababawas ito sa polusyon para maproteksyunan ang kalikasan, malaki rin ang benepisyo nito sa kalusugan.
Nag-umpisa ang bike run sa Andres Bonifacio Shrine sa Balintawak, patungong Barangay Apolonio Samson, sa Cry of Pugad Lawin, at Melchora “Tandang Sora” Aquino National Shrine na dinaluhan ng mga kaanak ni Tandang Sora. Binaybay din nila ang Holy Parish Cross Church sa Barangay Krus na Ligas hanggang makapunta sa City Hall.
Nagbigay ng lecture ang QCTD sa bawat historical landmark. Nakatanggap naman ang mga sumaling siklista ng bike repair kits, helmet, at meals.
Dumalo sa event sina DPOS head Elmo DG. San Diego, DPOS-GTO Chief Cora Medes, Traffic and Transport Management Department OIC Dexter Cardenas, Assistant City Administrator (ACA) Alberto Kimpo, ACA Atty. Rene Grapilon, City Architect Department Arch. Lucille Chua, QCTD OIC Tetta Tirona, Market Development and Administration Department Action Officer for Administration Perry Dominguez, at Dr. Dave Vergara ng Office of the City Administrator."
7971,"Lawyers have announced a broad alliance challenging President Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, which has killed thousands of mostly urban poor Filipinos.Police say the killings were carried out by officers in self-defense after the drug suspects resisted arrest.Critics dispute that claim and say extrajudicial killings (EJKs) are taking place, with zero accountability.Mga Manananggol Laban sa Extrajudicial Killings (Manlaban sa EJK) on Thursday joined a growing chorus of voices calling on the Duterte administration to end the campaign.Human rights violationsManlaban sa EJK is composed of lawyers, law professors, judges and law students opposed to human rights violations under the Duterte administration.Organizers include former University of the Philippines College of Law dean Pacifico Agabin, Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) chair Jose Manuel Diokno, former Ateneo School of Government dean Antonio La Viña, former Sen. Rene Saguisag, former Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, and National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) president Edre Olalia.At the launch of the group in Quezon City on Thursday, Olalia said the alliance aimed to unite lawyers and coordinate their actions in defense of human rights.“We believe the duty of lawyers is not to apologize, deodorize [or] rationalize violations of rights and due process,” Olalia said.“It is the duty of all lawyers to consistently and uncompromisingly uphold and defend human rights no matter what temporary and fleeting positions and circumstances may bring,” he added.Mr. Duterte’s incoming spokesperson, Harry Roque Jr., a congressman and human rights lawyer, denied rights violations on the part of the President but welcomed the formation of the new group, saying it could help gather evidence against law enforcers allegedly behind the unlawful killings.“I welcome this development because unless we can come up with actual evidence that there really are extralegal killings, then we cannot overcome the presumption of regularity [in the discharge of official functions],” Roque told reporters.The killings in the antidrug war are presumed legal unless there was contravening evidence, he said.Roque said the President’s position that he “will not tolerate murders” was clear.“He will only tolerate killings when it is in line with duty and when the engagement is legal,” said Roque, who had prosecuted on behalf of murdered journalists.The lawyers said Manlaban sa EJK would spearhead advocacy campaigns and mobilization in defense of human rights, as well as issue legal statements and opinion.Personal capacitiesThe alliance also counts as members law student groups, including the Association of Law Students in the Philippines, UP Diliman College of Law Student Government, Paralegal Volunteers Organization-UP Diliman and NUPL-UP Diliman chapter.Although coming from different organizations, the organizers said they joined forces on their personal capacities.“This is not partisan in the sense that it is political or [colored],” La Viña said. “We are doing this to uphold human rights, not to use it as a political weapon.”The lawyers said they would extend legal assistance to families of drug war victims.They estimate that 12,000 people have been killed in just one year, although the Philippine National Police acknowledges only 3,800 deaths in its antidrug operations.There are EJKsManlaban sa EJK disputed the PNP claim that there were no extrajudicial killings in Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs.“Extrajudicial killings are crimes done by state agents, like the military, the police, even private individuals who are induced by the government,” said Agabin, a constitutional law expert.“Whoever is the Commander in Chief, if there are patterns in the killings and the Commander in Chief is not doing anything, then he is responsible under the concept of command responsibility,” he said.According to La Viña, killings directly committed or sanctioned by the state and those not being investigated by the state are extrajudicial killings.In a separate interview with the Inquirer, La Viña said the government must release the results of its investigation of “nanlaban” cases."
7981,"Members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Maralita (Kadamay), whose forced occupation of over 5,000 government housing units here have been tolerated by President Duterte, are expected not just to behave but be productive new citizens of their adopted hometown.Local government unit (LGU) officials led by Mayor Celestino Marquez said yesterday that while they have agreed to the wishes of the President, it is expected of Kadamay members to be responsible and law-abiding residents of the town.It will be recalled that the Kadamay members forcedly occupied the National Housing Authority (NHA) units in the five resettlement areas, here, which were originally dedicated to police and military personnel.“They need to be provided with jobs in order for them to feed their families,” said Celestino. “We don’t need more livelihood training. What we need here are new jobs and that can only be attained if investors are brought in through the intervention of national government agencies,” he added.The mayor said officials are raising their hopes not only in the willingness of Kadamay members to work, but also on the plans declared by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to source out and bring in job opportunities for them.“Tanggap na rin namin sila, pero dapat bigyan ng social services at pagkakakitaan sa pamamagitan ng trabaho (We accept them, but they must be given social services and sources of of living; jobs), said Celestino. “And we hope they won’t give us a headache.”"
7991,"avocado, sinigwelas (ciruela in Spanish), chilies and all other fruits and vegetables ending with te; atsuete, sayote, tomate (tomatoes).The arrival of the galleons in Mexico or Manila would be cause of celebration.Silver was the Chinese currency at the time and when the voluminous haul from the mines of Peru and Mexico flooded China, it eventually leads to economic collapse.When the galleons failed to arrive, Manila, Spain, and Mexico are economically crippled."
8000,"In his recent visit, the Pope asked us to be ""ready to go beyond your homes and to care for your brothers and sisters who are most in need.""This is difficult for me. I have become numbed by the onslaught of the countless poor and dispossessed. I have stepped over so many children sleeping in the street, that I no longer feel anything. I sometimes wish that the poor would just go away and go back to the provinces.The clamor and filth created by these colonies of squatters makes me want to run away to a gated community. The Filipino ""Family First"" value is understandable. However, that siege mentality has consequences.Public spaces are neglected, covered with spit, trash, dog shit, and broken glass.Why does loving your family mean turning your back on everyone and everything else?--------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/01/values-and-virtues-in-the-philippines-and-why-they-dont-help-much/comment-page-1/#comment-1066482"
8010,"Ask any Francisco or Santa Clara resident and they can’t tell you which teams are playing at next Sunday’s Super Bowl 50. Certainly not the 49ers, that much they can tell you.We know, of course, that Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara will be hosting the championship game between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. But ticket sales are not going well. In fact, they’re dismal. As of today, only half of the 68,500 stadium seats have been sold.But the city of San Francisco stands to benefit from this year’s NFL championship game. It has established a Super Bowl City by the waterfront at the Embarcadero. It opened today and will continue until game day on February 7. Already, San Francisco is predicting that it will earn more revenue than the Levi’s stadium.And we can see why.The average ticket price for a Levi’s stadium seat is $3,500.Access to Super Bowl City is a mere $35, and that includes a front row-seat to the game and the half-time show via a super gigantic screen, concerts, vendor hospitality tents, food booths, fireworks, a scenic view of the San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge. What else can one ask for? If one can afford to spend $3,500, he or she can even have a penthouse suite at the Hyatt Embarcadero and have a private Super Bowl party while still having access to Super Bowl City 17 floors down.What a deal! San Francisco sure know how to party."
8021,"Kerrina Atillo was not yet born during the martial law era.Now 18 years old and a third year business administration student at the University of San Carlos, she is among those leading a campaign against the vice presidential bid of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.“Right now, there are no soldiers following us. We enjoy the right to express ourselves. We can rant on Facebook,” said Atillo, one of the youth leaders of Anti-Bongbong Coalition (ABC) in Cebu.The coalition, which consists of 70 representatives from cause-oriented groups, gathered in a hotel here on Saturday afternoon for the formal launch of their “No to Bongbong” campaign.Noel Tabasa, ABC spokesperson, said the group was into raising funds for the campaign, including organizing a concert next month and selling P300-anti-Marcos shirts and P5-stickers.Atillo said she wanted to help students like her to always seek the truth and not just rely on what was being circulated on social media about the good deeds of the Marcos family.“We will not stand for Bongbong Marcos. He was there when martial law happened,” she said.The present generation of the so-called millennials will have to be reminded that they owe the freedom that they now enjoy to student activists who fought martial law, Atillo said.Former Sen. Francis Pangilinan said in a statement that Filipinos should be reminded of the people who gave their lives for freedom.“We cannot dishonor their memory by saying martial law was a good thing, it was not,” he said."
8030,"Step 1: SupplyThe Sinaloa Drug Cartel, hailing from Mexico [MT]Nine Chinese Drug Cartels, hailing from Mainland China [Star]The African Drug Cartel, hailing from the Western African Continent [MT]Wu Tuan, aka Peter CoPeter Lim, aka Jaguar, protected by Ret. PNP Gen. Marcelo GarboHerbert Colangco, bilibid inmate and PMPC Star Awardee (LOL)Bilibid Prison has own Music StudioLOL: Herbert Colangco, the convicted kidnapping gang leader who owns the fully-equipped music studio at the New Bilibid Prison, won the “New Male Recording Artist” award at the 2014 PMPC Star Awards for Music for his platinum-selling debut album titled “Herbert C: Kinabukasan”. Colangco shared the award with actor Richard Yap.(Huwag lang i-like, i-share mo na rin!)#DaangMatuwid #RoxasRobredo2016 #Duterte2016 #MIriam2016 #binay2016 #LabanPoe2016Posted by Thinking Pinoy on Saturday, February 27, 2016Step 2: ManufactureBoats, e.g. the “floating shabu lab” found in Subic Bay [ABS]Dug-up tunnels, e.g. the ones underneath the New Bilibid Prison [ABS. MT]Abandoned houses, e.g. in Quezon City [Inq] or a posh village in Alabang [Inq]Chinese Cartels smuggle ingredients into the Philippines. Various local shabu labs, including those owned by the Mexican Sinaloa cartel, cook shabu.Step 3: DistributionCommunication, i.e. coordination of their activities Law EnforcementStep 4: RetailA reputation for violence is the dealer’s best guarantee that his business transactions will be accomplished as agreed upon… Those who do not pay what they owe can expect to be disciplined violently or killed… Dealers often fail to pay because they were cheated or robbed or the drugs and/or money was confiscated by law enforcement.When drug lords give a drug pusher shabu to sell on the streets, they expect that shabu to be sold entirely. Drug lords expect to be paid after a certain period and they do not accept returns. Drug lords kill street pushers who fail to meet their sales quota to strike fear on other street pushers. The fear motivates the surviving pushers.You sell, or you die“There may be fewer people who want to buy (shabu), or the dealers want the trade to be faster to avoid being caught and for some other reasons. [Star]”Again, what happens if a lowly drug pusher fails to meet his sales quota? He dies.Step 5: ConsumptionStealing, which we are all-too-familiar with, or worse, Becoming a drug pusher themselves.Again, what happens when an addict-turned-pusher fails to meet his sales quota? He dies.Step 6: Expansion-StabilizationAfter North America, South America, Africa, and Europe, where else would it go? Asia.Alcohol in the Middle East (West Asia) is largely banned [Matthee 2014], so just imagine the penalties for shabu.North Asia is sparsely populated and the logistics is messy because of the lack of viable sea routes.East Asia (Japan, China, and South Korea) have well-developed and draconian policies.South Asia has weaker governments, but the general population is too poor to afford shabu.Drug lords kill each other to gain territoryReporter: ""And you're ready to kill to protect your business?""Pusher: ""Yes, that has been happening.""ORIGINAL SOURCE: Vice News - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ0I7HyZNiIPosted by Thinking Pinoy on Saturday, August 27, 2016Drug Pushers and Turf WarsDrug Pusher: If they want to take over our territory, we can't just allow them to get it as easy as that.Original Source: Vice News; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ0I7HyZNiIPosted by Thinking Pinoy on Saturday, August 27, 2016Drug dealers give payolas to police and local officials.Sometimes, even local officials run their drug rings.And most interestingly, some otherwise powerless people get into the business by f*cking the DOJ secretary [TP: Ooh... Ronnie... You're a very... very... bad... boy!].And what happens when a lowly drug dealer wants to surrender or possibly become a state witness against a powerful government official? He dies.Duterte's War on DrugsIf a drug dealers fails to meets his quota, someone dies.If a drug dealer wants to gain new territory, someone dies.If he wants to protect his own territory, someone dies.If he wants to turn himself in or become a state witness, someone dies.No amount of government regulation will prevent drug dealers from killing other, precisely because they operate outside government control.And what's the only way to prevent them from killing each other?By stopping the drug war, but that also means we will be letting them kill the rest of the population instead.ThinkingPinoy's TakeawaysDONT FORGET TO SHARE!RELATED POSTS:This is the story of how Filipinos get “ shabulized ”, from start to finish.The debate over Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs has been raging for at least two months now, with proponents of each side saying their approach is better than the other. The problem, however, is that no one has, so far, provided anyone a clear an comprehensive explanation about how the illegal shabu (meth) industry works.Thus, in this article, ThinkingPinoy will explain the Shabu Business Process from supply, to manufacture, to distribution, to retail, and finally, to consumption, with the Philippine Shabu Market in mind.The shabu business is just like any other manufacturing business that follows this basic process:Almost everybody knows this. However, what many still don’t understand is HOW EXACTLY this process works in the context of Philippine shabu, and explaining this process is what I will do.Let’s go.There are many ways to cook shabu, with the basic method using several nondescript ingredients, ethyl phenyl acetate , whose legality in the Philippines is still unclear to me, and one key precursor chemical: ephedrine. Ephedrine is a controlled substance in the Philippines [ PDEA ]. One kilogram of ephedrine, after combining with other ingredients, can be converted into 750 grams of shabu [ Inq ].Large-scale shabu cooking operations are usually the domain of drug cartels. When I wrote “ Duterte’s Drug War, where is the logic in 400 Deaths? ”, I said there are at least 11 key players in the Philippine Shabu Industry:In 2014, it was discovered that the Hong Kong-based 14K and Sun Yee On triads (Chinese Cartel) supply raw materials for use in the Sinaloa cartel’s shabu laboratories in the Philippines [ SCMP ].Hong Kong is part of China, and China is the No. 1 source of drugs in the Philippines [ Inq ]. Chinese cartels find it easy to smuggle shabu precursors into the country because the Philippines’ archipelagic nature provides lots of points of entry, and law enforcement was lax.The government has identified three key persons who facilitate this process:Yes, Colangco won the award WHILE IN PRISON.As long as you have ephedrine, manufacturing shabu is very easy: it does not require advanced training and all you need are household items that you can legally purchase from a supermarket, with the only major challenge being the ingredients’ flammability: a poorly-constructed, do-it-yourself shabu lab can explode [ Inq ].Because cooking shabu is not very high-tech, setting up shabu labs is relatively easy. Hence, shabu labs have been found in many places in the Philippines, including:Let’s recap:Alright, the shabu is ready, what comes next?The shabu final product is ready, so how does it reach the streets? This is where the second step comes in: shabu’s movement from the shabu labs to the hands of retailers.Manufacturer-to-dealer logistics is pretty straightforward. What’s complicated however, are two things:Just like regular citizens, drug syndicates communicate through mobile phones and the internet. This is the same reason why the government was in shock when it raided the New Bilibid Prison a few years ago and discovered cellular signal boosters inside the jail compound [ GMA ]. It would have been easy for law enforcement agents to track the movements of these syndicates by tapping on their phone phone calls, but they are fraught with three key problems:, wiretapped conversations are inadmissible as evidence in court per local laws [ PCIJ ]. This is the same reason why the Duterte cannot use as evidence the wiretapped conversation between Senator de Lima and her alleged driver-bodyguard-lover-bagman Ronnie Dayan , that was provided to him by foreign intelligence agents [ GMA ]., SIM card registration is not required in the country [ Inq ], so drug dealers can simply toss an old SIM card, get a new one, and law enforcement agents who tap for leads will have to start all over., law enforcement agents themselves are involved in the drug trade [ TP: PNP Generals TP: 400 Deaths ]. LGU officials are also involved in it, making manufacturer-to-dealer logistics a lot, lot easier [ TP: Mayors ].Alright, so the shabu is now in the local wholesale drug dealer’s hands, so what happens next?Wholesale drug dealers then hand over shabu to smaller scale drug pushers (retailer, “tulak”), similar to the relationship between a large insurance company and a lowly insurance agent.But there’s a major difference.According to the US Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) [ BJS 1992 ]:The fight against drugs is one of Duterte’s core campaign platforms, and his well-publicized crackdown on shabu caused demand to go down.For example, in June 2016, demand for narcotics dropped in Naga City in anticipation of the Duterte’s 30 June 2016 inauguration [ ABS ].A similar incident was report in the Cordilleras a month later, where Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA Regional Director Juvenal Azurin said in Filipino:After a certain point, many shabu consumers or adiks (addicts) run out of personal funds to sustain their habit. This is when they resort to two things:At this point, you now have a working idea about how large-scale shabu business works, but there’s one more thing that we haven’t discussed yet: Expansion and Stabilization.Shabu is a business. And just like any other business, they seek to expand operations as soon as they have established their core operations (i.e. Steps 1 to 5).So how do drug syndicates do this?Sinaloa is the most powerful and influential drug syndicate in Mexico today.Established in the mid-1990s, the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel first gained control of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, then expanded to five other Mexican States. Afterwards, it established operations across the United States. After dominating North America, it set up operations in South America, West Africa, and Europe [ Chalk 2012 ].But where in Asia?What's left? Southeast Asia, where law enforcement is lax and the economies are booming.Drug smuggling in Southeast Asia has been on the rise in as early as 2012 [ Globe ].In 2013, authorities confirmed that the dreaded Mexican Sinaloa Drug Cartel has arrived in the Philippines [ ABS ]. Just last year, PDEA operatives arrested Horacio Hernandez in Makati City. Hernandez is third in command to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel [ Vice ].When a drug syndicate enters a geographic area, its operations may encounter resistance from other drug syndicates who are already operating in the same territory. Overlapping operations of rival drug syndicates bring rise to “turf wars”, where rival syndicates kill each other off to gain new territory or to protect their own.Let’s see how the the Sinaloa Cartel works [ DailyMail ].In 2015, Israel Hinosa revealed he killed members of rival drug cartels under orders from the top honchos of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, for as little as $30 (Php 1,500) per assignment. He was addicted to heroin and crystal meth, and he would indulge in these drugs to numb post-assassination psychological trauma.Hinosa was a “sicario”, a desperate individual who became ruthless killers for the narcotrafficking industry and in his case, for the Sinaloa Cartel. Sicarios were an integral part of the mass murders ensuing from the Sinaloa Cartel’s declaration war on the Juarez Cartel in 2007, where more than 20,000 people in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico lost their lives in the next five years.Hence, we ask: Do we have sicarios in the Philippines?Yes, we do [ MB ].Let’s watch the video clip shown below:We all know this.If you want to know more, you can read the following articles I previously wrote:Duterte previously asserted that most of the shabu in the Philippines come from Chinese Cartels whose base is, obviously, in China [ SCMP ]. Because he has zero authority over the China, he has to cooperate with the Chinese government in this regard. As to how the Chinese government will deal with is, is a totally different story.This is the same reason why Duterte said, ““Hey, I have to invade a country to arrest the drug lords [ Inq ]”.Given these, what can Duterte do?Looking at Steps 1 to 5, we can see that while Step 1 might be out of the government’s hands, the remaining steps are done within the country, i.e. within the government’s jurisdiction.This is the same “drug apparatus” that Duterte has been referring to [ MB ].That is, even if the government exercises no power over the supply of raw materials, it still has power to destroy manufacturing plants, distribution facilities, retail networks and most importantly, the corrupt public officials who make all of them possible.However, the disruption of shabu’s business process means death. As I have explained in the previous sections:Legalization of shabu? Of course not. The oft-cited Portuguese drug decriminalization is about cocaine and heroin, which work VERY DIFFERENTLY from shabu.No, shabu decriminalization will not work either.Besides, if decriminalization was even feasible, is that the executive's problem? It's the legislature who should be doing that. It is DE LIMA who should be doing that.Duterte’s war on drugs has been encountering opposition from local and international media, with the latter blaming the alleged drug-related deaths – even all of the vigilante killings – solely on the administration. The problem, however, is that mainstream media’s reasoning is too simplistic, as it totally ignore the gruesome reality that I have just explained.The recently concluded Senate Hearing on Extrajudicial Killings is a testament to that. We saw two days’ worth of grandstanding on the part of Senator Leila de Lima and CHR Chairman Chito Gascon, but not a single testimony or piece of evidence showing that the State itself sanctioned extrajudicial killings or even tolerated it [ TP: Gascon; TP: Leni Robredo ].Mainstream media wants the killings to stop, but they provide no viable alternatives.I guess mainstream media's oligarch owners simply cannot bear the idea that a common man with a heart for the people is now the most powerful Filipino... or are our mainstream journalists on the payroll of drug lords themselves? [ ThinkingPinoy Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
8041,"the OFWs have not been seen coming home in droves, eager to start life anew in Duterteland.About 15 million Filipinos abroad cannot be wrong about the sacrifice they do by leaving family and country. They know better than any troll or fanatic DDS OFW leader the truth about the Philippines under Duterte.So no massive homecomings anytime soon. And like Rizal and the propagandists who studied and lived abroad, they’d be part of the movement against tyranny and against a leader whose idea of governance is encapsulated in his words against jeepney drivers: “Mamatay kayo sa hirap.”Follow me on Twitter @tonyocruz and check out my blog tonyocruz.com"
8051,"If you vote for Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., you will make this country great again.That’s the campaign pitch of Imelda Marcos for her son, who is leading popularity surveys in the vice presidential race barely two weeks before the May 9 elections.Speaking before a crowd of 1,500 at the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez gymnasium in downtown Tacloban, the former first lady said the Solid North of the Ilocano-speaking region and the Warays of Eastern Visayas “should unite so that our nation will be great again.”“I am campaigning for us to unite, which is the theme of my son Bongbong,” she said.On the stage with Imelda were Marcos Jr., her nephew Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is running for senator, Tacloban mayoral candidate Cristina Romualdez and Yedda Romualdez, who is seeking a congressional seat in Leyte’s first district.In her 15-minute speech, Imelda recounted the “persecution” her family suffered after the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution ousted the Marcoses after a 20-year rule.She recalled how she and her family were “kidnapped,” exiled to Hawaii and slapped with string of charges filed by the government allegedly for amassing ill-gotten wealth.Bongbong has been singled out for vilification by the Aquino administration and his vice presidential rivals for refusing to apologize for the human rights abuses of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship and shrugging off demands that he return billions of dollars in ill-gotten wealth that the family had allegedly amassed in 14 years of martial law.In his speech, Bongbong said he was happy to set foot in Leyte which he considered his home. He said he was happy that his campaign platform had been well-received during his campaign throughout the country.“Our leaders, instead of uniting us, are causing division for the sake of politics. What is happening now is that we cannot be together because we belong to different parties. That is not right,” the senator said.Present times, he pointed out, call for the country’s oneness by reviving the “bayanihan” spirit. He said that if all Filipinos used their skills, talent, good traits and hard work to the country’s benefit, progress will be felt in all levels of society.“I am now 86 years old but my heart is still here and my love remains strong for my fellow Filipinos, especially for the country,” said the former first lady.“There is really no reason for the country to suffer. We really need to have a leader who cares for the Philippines and who has the intellect to know what is good for the Filipinos,” she pointed out, adding that her marriage to her late husband unified the Waray and the Ilocano peoples.She said, “We need to love each other not only for our nation’s future but also so our nation will be great again.”The Ilocos Norte representative urged the people of Eastern Visayas, with more than 2.6 million registered voters, to vote for her son, saying that he has “heart, compassion and wisdom.”“If you vote for Marcos and Romualdez, you will have Imelda as your mother whose love is boundless for all. You can be sure that if Marcos and Romualdez win, everybody wins because we are here not for us, but for you,” she said."
8061,"A partymate of President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday described as unfair the right of Small Town Lottery (STL) operators to match the bid offered by aspiring players for the franchise of the state-sanctioned numbers game.Former Mayor Roderick Umali of Tiaong, Quezon province, urged Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to review the “right to match” privilege given to existing STL operators under the implementing rules and regulations approved by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board.“The ‘right to match’ privilege means that the current STL operators could win the bidding if they match the highest bid of the new players. It’s that simple. I think it’s unfair,” Umali told the Inquirer.He said the reforms implemented to fix the STL benefited only existing gaming operators, who have been found to have billions of pesos in unpaid taxes.Third frontMr. Duterte designated Aguirre to head the multiagency task force created to introduce institutional changes in STL in an effort to stamp out illegal gambling, the third front in the President’s war against criminality.The Arroyo administration reintroduced STL in 2006 to stem underground lottery, but was conveniently used by gambling syndicates as a smokescreen for similar illegal numbers game, such as “jueteng,” two-ball and “masiao.”Similar mechanicsIn STL and jueteng, bettors choose two-number combinations. Bets in jueteng involve a pair of numbers from 1 to 37. In STL, the choices are from 1 to 40.Unlike the PCSO-run lotto, where draws are televised nationwide, STL draws are done locally.Because the two games had similar mechanics, STL was used as a front by jueteng operators.Sought for comment, Aguirre said the concerns of Umali and other other applicants of STL franchises had already been addressed by the PCSO chair, Jose Jorge Corpuz, and its general manager, Alexander Balutan.Contrary to Umali’s claim, he said the reforms in the STL operations would ensure a level playing field for all interested gaming firms and increase the PCSO’s income.“Besides, the right to match privilege is just 50 percent of the criteria for awarding an STL franchise. The applicants are also chosen according to their ability to provide employment and financial capability,” Aguirre said in a mobile phone interview.In fact, he said at least four of the 18 current STL operators lost the bidding despite enjoying the right to match privilege.With the reforms being implemented, the justice secretary said the PCSO could generate as much as P30 billion a year from STL operations, which would be used to fund Mr. Duterte’s health programs for the poor.Cash bondHe said the “presumptive monthly retail receipts” or the projected minimum monthly income, which would be collected from the gaming companies as cash bond, would protect the PCSO from unscrupulous STL franchise owners who underreported their collections.Corpuz said he would be in Malacañang on Tuesday to discuss and launch the PCSO program for STL.“All the questions will be answered in Malacañang,” he said.Corpuz said his office “will soon announce the winners” of the bidding for STL franchises.He said the PCSO board evaluated between Oct. 1 last year and Jan. 10 this year, a total of 224 corporations that applied for a franchise.“It took that long to evaluate all the records, so the right to match is done already,” he said.From the initial 18, there are now 56 corporations that will operate STL,” the PCSO chair said.“Umali did not take part [in the bidding.] So, it’s not my fault,” he added.Umali, who lost the May 2016 elections as member of the President’s PDP-Laban party, said the projected minimum monthly income, which would be collected from the gaming companies as cash bond, provided an undue advantage to firms previously given STL franchises.He pointed out that Aguirre and the National Bureau of Investigation had mentioned that STL franchise owners did not pay as much as 90 percent of their taxes.Said Umali: “These companies were able to run away with billions of pesos in unpaid taxes. They should have been punished and disqualified outright because of their background.”Besides allegedly using STL as a front for jueteng, operators have been suspected of shortchanging the government by underreporting their daily bet collections and their refusal to pay documentary stamp tax.“If the current STL operators want to join the bidding process, they should pay their tax liabilities first. All operators who want to run the STL should have a clean record,” Umali said.He cited the case of Ramloid Gaming Corp., the licensed STL operator in Laguna whose owner, incumbent Tiaong Mayor Ramon Preza, beat Umali in the mayoral race.“But this is not about politics because the elections are over,” said Umali. “I just want to help the government in cleaning up the STL operations.”DST settledCorpuz said he did not know whether the BIR was running after Ramloid. “But when it comes to the PCSO, we already settle the taxes,” he said.Corpuz said the PCSO had started paying documentary stamp taxes (DST) that were not remitted to the BIR.In 2015, a BIR representative said that STL operators had not paid a single centavo in documentary stamp tax since the STL was established in 2006.The BIR won a Supreme Court ruling in 2008 that the STL is covered by a National Internal Revenue Code provision that imposes a 10-centavo documentary stamp tax for every P1 bet in jai alai, horse race, lotto, or other authorized numbers games.But the PCSO ignored the ruling.Corpuz said the PCSO is set to settle the P3.81 billion in back taxes (cut down from the original P13.6 billion) that it incurred from 2006 to 2014 for the 10-percent stamp tax document.It paid P1.05 billion last October and P490 million in November.The PCSO was expected to settle the remaining P1.34 billion last Dec. 31 and another P1 billion by June 30, 2017.‘More reforms’Corpuz said the recent reforms in the PCSO had resulted in aggressive expansion of financial assistance and increase in monthly revenues from 100 to 150 percent.Since 2006, there are only 18 corporations running the STL and they have earned P4.7 billion in revenues.“How much more if you expand the market to more than 50 corporations?” he said.Corpuz cited, for instance, that the P43 million in presumptive monthly retail receipt in September last year was increased to P113 million in October in one location.“This is the reason why we are very positive we are able to generate more charity funds going to the poorest of the poor. We increase the daily allocation for financial medical assistance,” he said in an earlier interview."
8071,"Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday dismissed as “sensationalized and misinterpreted data” claims from some media sectors and Vice President Leni Robredo that President Duterte’s war on drugs had resulted in more than 7,000 extrajudicial killings (EJKs).In its latest report, the PNP put confirmed drug-related deaths in the eight months of the Duterte presidency at 1,398.In a press briefing, Dela Rosa denied that the administration was sponsoring the killing of drug suspects and slammed sectors out to demolish Mr. Duterte’s centerpiece program.Media figures“They want to discredit the war on drugs because the war on drugs is the face of the Duterte administration. The brickbats for that are for the President. Who are they hitting? It’s the President and the administration that they want to discredit,” Dela Rosa said.“That 7,000 came from the media. Let’s face it. Let’s be frank about it. That 7,000 EJK did not come from the PNP. My apologies to the media who are very accurate in their reporting. When I say media, I don’t mean all the media but there are those who erroneously report that 7,000,” he added.Director Augusto Marquez Jr., head of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, said that from July 1, 2016, to March 24, 2017, there were a total of 6,011 killings or “homicides” in the country.Of this number, 1,398 were confirmed to be drug-related while 828 were not drug related. The rest—3,785 cases—remained under investigation, Marquez said.However, the PNP on Jan. 3"
8081,"The government filed a criminal case in court on Wednesday against a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, accusing her of trying to sabotage a congressional investigation of her alleged involvement in the drug trade.The justice department’s case against its former head, Sen. Leila de Lima, says she deliberately skipped the House of Representatives inquiry and told her ex-driver and alleged bagman to go into hiding and ignore a legislative summons.In a statement, De Lima clarified that the National Prosecution Service (NPS) found probable cause to charge her with violation of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code (disobedience to summons issued by the national assembly, its committees or subcommittees, etc.), not obstruction of justice as mentioned in some reports.“I am not aware if there is such a separate charge, but, in any case, there would be no basis for it because the House inquiry is not a criminal proceeding,” De Lima said in a statement.She said her legal team was “reviewing all options available to us—but with the disadvantage of not really knowing what the allegations and evidence against me are.”“Nevertheless, we will act with dispatch to answer the charge that this administration has desperately hurled against me in order to save the House leadership from embarrassment for failing to link me to the drug trade in New Bilibid Prison, and for shaming itself by engaging in rumor-mongering, slut-shaming and voyeurism,” she said.De Lima is among only a few high-profile domestic critics of Mr. Duterte’s campaign against drugs, which has killed about 6,000 people, roughly a third in police operations. The other deaths are classified as under investigation, many believed to be the work of vigilantes.Mr. Duterte’s allies in Congress said De Lima had shown disrespect for the inquiry. The criminal case is built around breaches of an article of the law on legislative summonses.In a separate statement on Wednesday, De Lima said the criminal charges would have no impact on her, or change the fact that people were dying as part of Mr. Duterte’s war.“It’s saddening and frightening that even high-ranking public figures have swallowed hook, line and sinker the fantasy that the Duterte administration has been weaving: that [one] person was single-handedly responsible for the proliferation of drugs in our country,” she said, referring to the accusations against her that she is a drug lord.De Lima had led a Senate investigation into suspected extrajudicial killings during Mr. Duterte’s drugs crackdown and a similarly bloody campaign he oversaw in Davao City when he was mayor.But she was ousted by his allies as head of that investigation and just days later came under investigation herself in a House inquiry in which witnesses testified to her having a pivotal role in the narcotics trade.De Lima has denied the accusations and filed a case in the Supreme Court to try to muzzle Mr. Duterte and stop him from disparaging her in public and making salacious allegations about her private life."
8091,"Filipinos have gone through adversities in recent months, but Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, offers them hope and joy.“Remember Yolanda. Remember Mamasapano. Remember the frustrating unsolved problem of government corruption. Remember the loneliness of our loved ones toiling abroad. Our memory is full of broken hopes and dreams. The litany of frustrations is endless. But we have hope,” Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, says in an Easter message that he will deliver at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Dagupan City today.“Easter is the greatest and most important feast of our faith. If Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith is irrelevant and meaningless, dry and dead,” Villegas says.He calls on the faithful to “go beyond the customary greetings and feasting” and continue the mission of the Risen Christ by bringing His message to more people.“Be like the Risen Jesus. Look at the Risen Jesus. Love the Risen Jesus. Follow the Risen Jesus. What is it in Jesus that we must carry with [us] through life? It is his joy,” Villegas says.“Our calling is to return to the joy that comes from the Gospel and from sharing the Gospel,” he says.RELATED STORIESArchbishop Socrates Villegas: Let glam go for Jesus to glowBishops propose prayer for peace to ‘calm anxieties’ over Mamasapano incident"
8100,"Why is Bongbong Marcos the Vice President of the Philippines? Simple. Because presumtive “vice president” Leni Robredo was originally disqualified from taking office. And it was not just Robredo who was disqualified. The entire Liberal Party lineup in the 2016 elections was effectively disqualified.Recall, following the conclusion of those elections, Robredo’s running mate and Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas as well as the Liberal Party itself failed to meet the deadline imposed by the Commission on Election (COMELEC) on the submission of their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) — a violation of Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 which stipulates that “No person elected to any public offices shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures herein required.” Further to that, COMELEC rules applicable to the 2016 elections set a deadline on the 8th of June 2016 that is “final and non-extendible” and that submissions after this date will not be accepted. The LP had violated these rules.As if Robredo’s disqualification from taking the VP office was not enough, allegations of massive electoral fraud continue to cast black clouds of doubt over the results of the vice presidential race. The integrity of the COMELEC has been put to question thanks to its primary technology vendor Smartmatic being caught out in anomalous procedures surrounding the handling of the electronic counting machines they supplied in those elections.The only reason Robredo is regarded by many in the Opposition as the current “vice president” is because (1) she was given a lot of help by the then powers-that-be to circumvent all of the rules she and the LP violated, (2) evidence of electoral fraud was systematically covered-up by the COMELEC, and (3) Smartmatic personnel were allowed to quietly slip out of the country and evade investigation. This is all thanks to all the lackeys of former president Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III being in the right positions at the time to oversee and coordinate the various covert and underhanded operations surrounding these three initiatives.Finally, and most evident of all, Robredo has not achieved anything as “vice president”. Within the first few months of the Duterte administration, she managed to get herself kicked out of the Cabinet and, after that, stumbled through a series of public relations disasters that earned her the ire of the public and, worse, turned her office into a national laughingstock. To be fair, the VP is not exactly expected to do much other than be prepared to step up as president in the event the President is incapacitated. That scenario is not seen to be one that will pan out well considering she will, in the event she needs to, be effectively walking into a den of lions and would have to deal with a Congress that does not think much of her. Indeed, even her own supporters would be hard-pressed to imagine her as an actual acting president of the republic.Robredo owes her being the perceived VP of the Philippines (for now) to the dishonest acts of top LP henchmen who abused their authority over their remaining days in the COMELEC and the Justice and Immigration Departments as well as a “cooperative” news media industry that helped bury stories and evidence that would have helped expose all of this dishonesty.In short, the “vice presidency” of Leni Robredo is built upon a vast foundation of dishonesty. To be fair, Filipinos too will have to bear some of the responsibility for routinely allowing or turning a blind eye to the routinely dishonest and disrespectful behaviour of their public servants. It’s high time this lackadaisical attitude is corrected and public officials more rigorously held to account for their actions by the public."
8111,"His loss of the lead in the presidential polls is not making Vice President Jejomar Binay reconsider his bid for Malacañang in next year’s elections.His fall to second place is just a temporary setback and he is undaunted, his daughter Sen. Nancy Binay said on Saturday.The Vice President, who held the lead in the polls for nine months, was overtaken by the increasingly popular Sen. Grace Poe in the latest Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS) voter preference surveys.The Pulse Asia survey results released on Thursday showed Poe leading Binay, 30 percent to 22 percent, and the SWS poll results released on Friday confirmed Poe’s capture of the lead, 42 percent to 34 percent.It was some consolation to Binay, however, that Poe was not a declared candidate, not for President, not for Vice President.Even if she were, the Vice President’s loss of the lead was not fatal, as the poll results showed he still had substantial voter support, according to Senator Binay.“Now, it appears from the different results that he still has a core [support] at 20 percent. It appears that no matter how they try to besmirch his name, that 20 percent remains,” she said.She was referring to allegations of corruption against her father that a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee is investigating and plunder and graft charges that have been brought against him in the Office of the Ombudsman.The scandal caused by those charges eroded the Vice President’s voter support and his fall from the top in the polls did not come as a surprise, Senator Binay said.No backing outBut “there is no backing out,” she said.“This fight is not just the fight of Vice President Binay. It is also a battle … for solutions to the problems of the downtrodden,” she said.Senator Binay said her father was no stranger to uphill battles, pointing out that he launched his campaign for the vice presidency with a rating of 2 percent but finished the race as the winner.The polls then, she said, are “not the measure” of potential victory or loss in elections.For the Vice President’s camp, the polls are guides to “what to do and what issues” to deal with, she said.On Friday, Joey Salgado, spokesman for Binay, said the Vice President took the results of the latest polls as “barometers of the pulse of the public” and that he would “continue to listen to the people.”VP affected bestFormer broadcaster Mon Ilagan, the new spokesman for Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party, said the poll results affected the Vice President.“He would be a hypocrite [if he said] he was not affected,” Ilagan, a former mayor of Cainta, said. “But we [in] UNA believe he is still the best man for the post.”“The surveys do not represent the 100 million Filipinos,” Ilagan said, adding that Binay would continue going around the country to “consult the people.”“He still has 11 months and he [will take the people’s pulse] until [the election],” Ilagan said.As for Poe, Ilagan said she could expect “more issues” to be hurled at her.“But definitely these would not come from us,” he said.OJT presidentSure enough, the new front-runner’s first detractor was not from UNA but from a party-list lawmaker allied with Binay.Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, who earlier announced that he would run for the Senate under UNA’s banner, said Saturday that Poe was too inexperienced to lead the country.“If Sen. Grace Poe becomes President, an on-the-job training is what will happen to us,” Atienza said in an interview on Radyo Inquirer.“I am afraid of what will happen if Grace Poe becomes President, because she has no experience. If she becomes President, whom do we run to? Another six years of what?” he said.“Let us choose someone with a really deep experience. We need someone with experience,” he said.There was no immediate comment from Poe.–With reports from DJ Yap and Niña P. CallejaRELATED STORIESGame not yet over for Binay after Poe’s poll lead, says analystDespite rating drop, Binay says SWS poll shows ‘unwavering support’RELATED VIDEOS"
8120,"Luxembourg may be the only country in the world where the prime minister and vice prime minister are both gay men, but that record could soon be eclipsed by the Philippines where two women may be elected president and vice president in the coming May 9 elections.Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Vice Prime Minister Etienne Schneider, are both openly gay.The Philippines has had women presidents in the past — Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — but this year’s electoral contest could put the country on the world map as the only one with the top leaders being both women.The latest national polls shows Senator Grace Poe leading the pack of what Filipinos fondly call, “presidentiables” — those who COULD be president. Poe was recently cleared by the Supreme Court to run for president after it decided a disqualification case (DQ) in her favor. By a vote of 9-6, the high court ruled that Poe, a foundling, is a natural-born Filipino citizen and has fulfilled the 10-year residency required of all presidential candidates. Poe’s opponents include the incumbent Vice President, Jejomar Binay; former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (President Aquino’s anointed one); Davao Cityi Mayor Rodrigo Duterte; and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Poe has consistently led in the polls.For the vice presidential contest, the latest poll shows Leny Robredo closing in on top rivals Senators Chiz Escudero (Poe’s running mate) and Bongbong Marcos (Santiago’s running mate).While Robredo is the VP running mate of Roxas, Philippine electoral rules allow for voters to elect a president and vice president who may be from different political parties, unlike in the U.S. where it is a party winner-take-all for the presidential and vice presidential contest.The Philippines is known for its penchant for world records — in boxing, beauty contests, or the Guinness World Record.Will the Philippines bag yet another honor come May 9?"
8131,"Believe it or not, the Marcoses, who allegedly amassed up to $10 billion in ill-gotten wealth, are willing to return to the country part of that wealth.President Rodrigo Duterte disclosed on Tuesday that the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was open to returning part of its wealth, including gold bars, supposedly to help the current administration manage its finances.As of 2016, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) had recovered a total of P170 billion in ill-gotten wealth"
8140,"Matapos mag-viral ang video ng Facebook page na VOVph tungkol sa comparison sa ulat ng ABS-CBN at obserbasyon ng mga kababayan natin sa Hong Kong tungkol sa bilang ng tao sa campaign rally ng Otso Diretso. Hindi napigilan ng beteranong mamamahayag na si Jay Sonza na banatan ang ABS-CBN reporter na si Ron Gagalac dahil sa umao'y 'kasinungalingang' ulat nito. ""akala ng abs-cbn bulag, pipi at bingi tayo at tatanggapin ang kanilang kasinungalingan hook, line and sinker. their news crew lied thru their teeth by feeding the viewers with false information. OFWs testified and posted footages in Honkong to disproved the network,"" sabi ni Sonza. Pasalamat din daw si Gagalac na hindi sila nagkatagpo ng landas sa ABS-CBN dahil puro kahihiyan ang aabutin daw ng reporter. ""ron gagalac, mabuti na lang hijo hindi mo kami inabutan diyan sa abs-cbn kundi lahat ng kahihiyan aabutin mo sa ginawa mo sa hongkong report. magtanong ka sa mga nandiriyan pa tulad nina claude at iba pa. sayang ang bata mo pa corrupted na utak at pagkatao mo,"" banat pa ni Sonza. Sa ulat ni Gagalac, sinabi nito na marami daw taong nagtungo sa campaign rally ng mga taga-Otso Diretso sa Hong Kong. Iniulat din ni Gagalac na mayroon daw nagsabi na ang mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) daw sa Hong Kong ay ayaw na sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Sa isang video mula sa OFW, mapapanood ang malayuang kuha sa rally ng Otso Diretso at makikita ang bilang ng mga tao. Sa video naman ng isa pang OFs, maririnig ang mga kabbayan natin sa Hong Kong na isinisigaw ang pangalan ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte habang nagsasagawa ng programa ang oposisyon. Ang comparison video mula sa VOVph ay napanood na ng mahigit isang milyong beses at naibahagi na ng lagpas 49,000. Source:Jay Sonza | Jay Sonza | VOVph"
8151,"Drivers of cars and even “karetelas” face a fine, or worse, revocation of their licenses, if they use navigation apps like Waze or send text messages while their vehicles are moving.They should pull over when checking the map or smartphone so as not to be penalized under the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, transport officials said on Wednesday.The law prohibiting unrestrained use of electronic mobile devices (Republic Act No. 10913) will be enforced starting May 18, the effectivity date after the publication requirement of its implementing rules and regulations.Audio navigation guides are allowed, but “if I need to look at the gadget and take my eyes off the road, then I have to pull the vehicle over so as not to obstruct traffic,” said Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Edgar Galvante.Galvante said the measure was aimed at promoting behavior for road safety and accident prevention.Checking mobile devices while temporarily stopped for a red light or at an intersection is prohibited.Dash camsCell phones, two-way radios, video game consoles, calculators and laptops are some of the electronic devices covered by the law.Galvante said televisions on buses would have to be removed if these draw the attention of the driver.Dash cams can be placed in areas that do not obstruct the driver’s line of sight, such as the rearview mirror, he said.Even if the gadget installed with a navigation aid is placed in an area that does not obstruct the driver’s view of the road, but he keeps looking at it, then he can still be apprehended, according to the LTO chief.“It’s not the dash cam or the navigation aid but the behavior of the driver,” he said.Uber, Grab driversGalvante said drivers of ride-hailing apps Uber and Grab who use Waze or Google Maps must review their route before driving.Victor Nuñez, liaison officer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said violators could be cited through the no-contact apprehension policy or screen grabs of traffic cameras.The LTO, as the lead implementing agency, can deputize enforcers of the MMDA, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group.For inner streets, traffic enforcers of local governments will be authorized to carry out arrests.The law provides exemptions for emergency situations and drivers who are penalized may contest the citation through the adjudication board.Motorists can take calls through hands-free function or using earphones, but using the earphones to listen to music falls under “similar acts” prohibited by the law, according to the primer issued by the Department of Transportation.Joevic Hernandez, an Uber driver, said that although the intention to discipline drivers was good, he was dismayed at the new law.“It seems impossible not to check your phone, especially when the GPS (global positioning system) is acting up,” Hernandez told the Inquirer.READ : IN THE KNOW: Anti-Distracted Driving Law"
8160,"A total of fifty 40-foot container vans of garbage recently arrived in Manila’s International Container Port. It was supposed to be an export of scrap plastic materials for recycling, consigned to a Metro Manila trading firm by a Canadian company identified as Chronic Plastics.It turns out that the shipment contained mostly toxic garbage, and was in violation of the Philippines’ Tariff and Customs Code, better known as the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous Wastes Control Act of 1990.”Alerts were promptly issued on the shipment because the consignee had submitted incorrect documents for the importation, which has a declared value of over $220,000.Ariel Nepomuceno, customs deputy commissioner for enforcement, warned “this junk dumped in the Philippines could pose biohazard risks to our people.”Both the Bureau of Customs and the consignee firm have asked the Canadian shipper to take back the garbage. However, Chronic Plastics laughed the request off, saying that it has a policy of “No return, no exchange.”A spokesperson for Chronic Plastics said that all sales are final, especially for garbage waste. “The only way we can accept a return is if the Philippines can assure us that the return shipment will be in the exact same condition as when it first left the Canadian port,” he said.That doesn’t seem to be possible, as it was reported that garbage juice is now leaking from the container vans. It’s been sitting for almost a year now at the Customs container yard and shipping it back to Canada will take another 3 months."
8170,"President Duterte became emotional after being asked by a GMA journalist about the loss of two of Inday-Sara Duterte’s triplets.The President also admitted that he cried after he received the news that two of his three upcoming grandchildren’s heart were not beating anymore.“I went to the bathroom, I cried upon learning that Inday sara lost the 2 of the triplets” emotional President Duterte said to the press.Duterte was attending the ASEAN Summit in Lao PDR, when he received the sad news.The room in the Davao International Airport where the press conference happened suddenly became silent after the president revealed that his heart broke after the loss of his two upcoming grandchildren.The President understands that Davao City Mayor Inday-Sara must revealed her condition publicly because she is a public official.Three days ago, Davao City Inday-Sara Duterte revealed that President Duterte still don’t know what happened to her triplets.Netizens who watched the live press conference on Facebook also became emotional and teary eyed after seeing the reaction of the President while answering the question of the GMA correspondent."
8181,"Filipinos have failed to reap the benefits of free Wi-Fi connectivity due to the failure of the four-year, P6.5-billion project of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Commission on Audit (COA) said.In its 2017 audit report, the COA said the lack of project planning and coordination resulted in the delayed and failed implementation of Project Pipol Konek.Records showed that as early as 2011, the government laid out a five-year program to provide free internet through its Internet for All project.In 2016, the project underwent tweaks under the administration of President Duterte and was renamed Pipol Konek, the COA audit report said.With an initial fund layout of P4.8 billion, Pipol Konek was started in January 2015.The COA findings, however, revealed that as of December 2017, the project achieved a “very low-performance rate."
8191,"RuizThe Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is seeking the intervention of President Duterte for the distribution of some 3,800 hectares of reservation areas of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) and Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST) to landless farmers.In a memorandum addressed to the President, DAR Secretary Rafael Mariano asked for the issuance of a presidential order that will support the placement of unused portion of the landholdings of the USM and CFCST under the coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).Mariano also asked President Duterte that his agency be allowed “to immediately proceed with the acquisition and distribution of the landholdings of the USM and the CFCST and the identification of possible beneficiaries.”The DAR chief also asked the President to direct the Commission on Higher Education and the governing Board of Directors of the USM and the CFCST to issue the necessary resolutions that would allow the DAR to cover the institutions’ unused areas.Both schools’ unused areas cover a total of 3,878 hectares, which encompass through seven barangays of the municipality of Arakan, Cotabato – Badiangon, Doroluman, Ilustre, Makalangot, Malibatuan, Meocan and Naje."
8200,"Senator Leila De Lima believes that some of the names included on the affidavit of the slain Mayor of Albuera Leyte Rolando Espinosa are real.Picture of the drug list of the slain Mayor of Albuera, Leyte Rolando Espinosa.In an interview, Senator Leila De Lima said that in the 50 names included in the drug list of Rolando Espinosa, some of them was possibly real.“Yung iba siguro doon totoo, yung mga totoong ka deal lalo na yung anak si Kerwin Espinosa” Sen. De Lima told the press.But she also said that some of the names there were possibly invented and added for some personal interest.According to the affidavit, Former Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima’s name was included in the drug list of Rolando Espinosa.“Pero yung iba siguro doon dagdag nalang, imbento nalang” The Senator added.The photo of the interview was posted by Politiko"
8210,"all for the sake of promoting her fitness program which is celebrating its 5th year. Hence the tag, “Give Me Five!”Indeed, Michelle Obama is now the undisputed greatest endorser of health and fitness, Zumba included.Here’s the video of Mrs. Obama’s appearance on the Ellen Show."
8220,"Inanunsyo ng babaeng anak ni Jim Paredes na si Erica na magpapahinga muna ito sa social media. Ito ay matapos aminin ni Jim na siya ang napanuod sa isang video scandal na kumalat at viral online. Ayon kay Erica Paredes, break muna siya mula sa kanyang social media account. Paliwanag niya, nakakaramdam na siya ng labis-labis na ""toxic energy"" at hindi na ito kasing saya tulad ng dati. ""Taking a break from my personal social media for a bit. Too much toxic energy and honestly, it's not as fun as it used to be."" Mensahe pa ni Erica sa publiko: ""Mind yah business. Post things that will actually benefit the society."" ""See y'all soon! Friends, you can still DM me."" ""In the meantime, be nice. Mind ya business."" ""Post things that will actually benefit society. Check on your loved ones often. Byeeeeeee."" Kasabay nito ay pinasalamatan naman ni Erica ang mga kaibigan at followers niya na nagparamdam sa kanya ng pagmamahal at suporta kahit na marami ngayon ang bumabatikos sa kanyang ama. ""Just a quick THANK YOU to friends and even followers I have never met who reached out. I had an outpour of love and support in my inbox this morning."" ""We are dealing with it. Just want life to go back to normal already. Whatever that really means in my not normal life."" ""Again see y'all soon. Just wanted to say thank you. Means a lot."""
8230,"Abot-kamay na ang matagal nang pinapangarap ng mga kababayan nating taga-Rizal dahil mula sa (3) tatlong oras na biyahe sa bus o jeepney, magiging 40 minuto na lang ang commute mula Antipolo, Rizal patungong Recto, Maynila oras na matapos ang rail line extension. ""To give the Filipinos a comfortable life as President Rodrigo Duterte directed, we at the DOTr are working on ways to efficiently and effectively ferry our commuters. The LRT2 East Extension project ranks among such projects, for this shall ease the travel of our kababayans coming from Rizal to Manila. Once this is completed, travel time from Recto to Masinag will be reduced to 40 minutes compared to up to three hours travel via bus or jeepney,"" pahayag ni Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. Hudyat ng pagsisimula ng final phase ng proyekto ang ceremonial track laying at installation ng electromechanical system (EMS), na isinagawa sa LRT Line 2 Emerald Station sa Marikina ngayong araw, ika-16 ng Abril 2019. Ang EMS ay binubuo ng signaling system, overhead catenary system, telecommunications system, power supply at distribution system, na gagamitin sa dalawang bagong istasyon ng LRT Line 2 - ang Emerald Station sa Marikina at Masinag Station sa Antipolo. Kasalukuyan nang nasa 60% completion rate ang kabuuan ng proyekto at na tina-target ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) na matapos sa fourth quarter ng taong 2020 upang makapagbigay ng maayos at mas mabilis na biyahe sa mga commuter ng eastern Metro Manila. Ayon sa DOTr, kumpleto na ang package 1 ng fkabilang ang pagtatayo ng viaduct noon pang Marso 2017 habang 78 porsiyento na ang natatapos sa dalawang istasyon. ""The first two phases of the project had a smooth implementation. Today's track laying and EMS installation signify the culmination of the project and the realization of the much-awaited answer to the clamor of the commuting public from the eastern areas of Metro Manila for a fast, affordable and convenient means of mass transit system,"" ayon kay LRTA Administrator Reynaldo Berroya. Ang four-kilometer extension ay dagdag sa kasalukuyang 13.8 kilometrong biyahe ng LRT2. Ang extension project ay inaasahang magdaragdag ng 80,000 pasahero sa 240,000 arawang pasahero ng LRT2."
8241,"More legal experts have come to the defense of Sen. Grace Poe against the view of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, head of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), that she is a naturalized and not a native-born Filipino citizen.A lawmaker, however, insisted on Sunday that Poe should explain why she abandoned her Philippine citizenship in the first place when she could have lived, worked and raised a family in the United States and still remained a Filipino.“Since Sen. Grace Poe is now running for President no less, she has to deal with the reality that she has put herself and her family under a microscope,” House Deputy Minority Leader Arnel Ty said in a statement.Carpio’s stating his opinion, based on international law, during oral arguments on Sept. 21 on a petition for the ouster of Poe from the Senate has led to calls for his inhibition from the case.But election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, in a statement issued Sunday, said Carpio’s opinion using customary international law (CIL) as basis was not a strong ground for his inhibition.‘Merely an opinion’“[The] comment was merely an opinion. It was not yet the decision of the SET. Looking at the positive side of Justice Carpio’s comment, it was to the advantage of Poe that he disclosed what was in his mind, if ever that would be his final position on this issue. It is now a challenge to Poe’s lawyers to prove otherwise,” Macalintal said.“Who knows, given an argument better than his, Carpio might, after all, be convinced that Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen under CIL that recognizes the parents of a foundling as citizens of the country where the foundling was found. In other words, Carpio has to be convinced that since the parents of Poe are recognized by CIL as Filipino citizens, then Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen,” he added.PrejudgmentFor former Sen. Rene Saguisag, however, Carpio must inhibit himself from the disqualification suit because the magistrate had already “prejudged” the case with his pronouncement.“I don’t think Justice Carpio should continue on the [SET], having sadly and openly prejudged the case. I think he should have waited until all arguments are in before concluding that Grace is naturalized, not natural-born, which Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion defined as ‘one born a citizen,’” Saguisag said in a statement.“It seems to me his startling imprudent and egregious prejudgment allows him no wiggle room,” Saguisag said.The SET heard oral arguments on Sept. 21 on the petition brought by defeated senatorial candidate Rizalito David, who questioned Poe’s qualification to hold public office, as she is allegedly not a natural-born Filipino.The parties in the case have until Oct. 6 to submit their final arguments and positions, after which the SET, composed of three Supreme Court justices and six senators, will hand down its decision.Poe was found in a church in Jaro, Iloilo province, after her birth in 1968. She was adopted by movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. and his wife, actress Susan Roces, in 1974.Under questioning by Sen. Loren Legarda, a member of the SET, during the oral arguments, David’s lawyer, Manuelito Luna, admitted that David had no evidence to prove that Poe’s real parents were foreigners.Human rightsPoe, being a foundling, is considered a natural-born citizen under the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that the right to a nationality is one of the most fundamental human rights, according to Saguisag, a human rights lawyer and advocate.Under the UDHR, Saguisag said, a foundling “may be the weakest of minorities deserving of special case and assistance, not special discrimination.”“Being a pulot (foundling) or ampon (adopted) used to be a traditional vilification modern thought now looks askance at. The UDHR’s Article 15 says: ‘Everyone has the right to a nationality,’” Saguisag pointed out.From birthHe added: “Grace should not be denied that right. And nationality should attach at birth, not a day, week, month, a year later, an unmanageable standard. When was she naturalized, assuming she needed to be? Naturalized from what other nationality? Naturalization implies a change in nationality. Or assumed two citizenships,” he said.Saguisag also supported the opinion that the burden of proof could not be shifted to Poe, who enjoys the presumption of being a natural-born citizen.“When will we stop vilifying foundlings? They have parents, [although] unknown. It seems to me to put the burden on David in this seeming case of first impression is legally tenable, intellectually respectable and psychologically satisfying,” he said.Retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban also disagreed with Carpio and agreed with Macalintal that Poe is considered a natural-born citizen under the generally accepted principles of international law, which form part of the law of the Philippines.In his column in the Inquirer, Panganiban cited Article 2 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which says: “A foundling found in the territory of a Contracting State shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be considered to have been born in the territory of parents possessing the nationality of that State.”He recalled that the 1935 Constitution, which was the country’s basic law in 1968 when Poe was born, provides that the Philippines adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the nation.“[S]he—a foundling who was found in Iloilo, Philippines—is deemed to have Filipino parents. Perforce, she is natural-born since her presumed parents, specifically her father, are accorded Philippine citizenship,” Panganiban said.Panganiban also said it was actually Poe’s parents who acquired Philippine citizenship pursuant to international law. “She derived her citizenship from her presumed Filipino father; thus, she is a citizen from birth without having to do anything to acquire or perfect her Philippine citizenship,” he added.The 1935 Constitution provides, among other things, that those whose fathers are citizens of the Philippines are considered Filipino citizens.Burden of proofPanganiban said Poe’s biological father may be proven to be actually a foreigner, “but the burden of proof belongs to those who challenge her natural-born status.”“Unless such proof is presented, her parents continue to be presumed Filipinos. Thus, she retains her natural-born citizenship,” Panganiban said.Although the Philippines is not a signatory to the 1961 convention, Panganiban said it was still bound by its provisions because they had become “generally accepted principles of international law, which … are as binding as statutes passed by Congress.”Apart from the 1961 convention, he said, foundlings are also protected by the 1930 Hague Convention on the Conflict of Nationality Laws and the 1948 UDHR, which states that the right to a nationality is one of the most fundamental human rights.Macalintal said it would be up to Carpio to decide whether to inhibit.According to him, the Supreme Court, in a previous case, stated that members of electoral tribunals, may, as their conscience dictates, refrain from participating in the resolution of a case where they sincerely feel that their personal interests or biases will stand in the way of an objective and impartial judgment.In another case, the Supreme Court reminded judges accused of biases due to reasonable circumstances that they should conduct a careful self-examination and then exercise their discretion in a way that the people’s faith in the courts of justice is not impaired.“Thus, no one could force Justice Carpio to inhibit from Poe’s case. Only his conscience and sound discretion could make the final decision,” Macalintal said.Explain to votersIn his statement, Ty said Poe should explain to the voters why she gave up her Philippine citizenship and acquired US citizenship.“Voters deserve a straightforward answer from the senator, on the question as to the specific circumstances that compelled her to seek and acquire US citizenship, and surrender her Filipino citizenship,” he said.“This is a perfectly legitimate question that is of great public interest,” he said.Ty made the statement in reaction to reports that Poe continued to use her US passport in her travels abroad even after she had renounced her US citizenship.According to Inquirer legal commentator Oscar Franklin Tan, the matter is legally irrelevant.“There are many Filipinos who have lived and worked in America for years, but have been content on staying on as permanent US residents, or so-called green card holders,” Ty said.Based on a cursory review of US immigration rules, Ty said, both US citizens and foreigners who are US green card holders enjoy long-term rights to live, work and even raise families in the United States.“The significant difference, as far as many Filipino voters are concerned, is that when you acquire American citizenship, just like what Senator Poe did, you have to swear absolute loyalty to the US and its Constitution, and categorically reject your Filipino citizenship,” Ty said.“Assuming Senator Poe wanted to work and live in America, and raise a family there, which she actually did, she could have accomplished all these as a US green card holder, without necessarily becoming an American citizen—without necessarily abandoning her Filipino citizenship,” he said.RELATED STORIESCarpio should inhibit from Grace Poe citizenship case–BelloCarpio: Poe must prove she’s natural-born Filipino"
8250,"to small local restaurants to be used as ingredient for lumpia, the popular Filipino egg roll.There is growing speculation that Jollibee is also considering to buy out all McDonald’s restaurants in selected U.S. cities with a large Filipino population, including Daly City, Vallejo, Los Angeles, Chicago and Jersey City."
8261,"An opposition coalition and a group of lawyers on Wednesday slammed the decision of Congress to grant a yearlong extension of martial law in Mindanao, warning that this was the Duterte administration’s attempt to cover up for the “festering corruption” in an “incompetent” government, as well as turn the country into a police state.#TindigPilipinas and the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) also joined groups from Mindanao, including Konsyensya Dabaw and Suara Bangsamoro, in urging Filipinos to resist moves to return to authoritarian rule in the country, as they expected human rights violations to worsen on the island.In separate statements, #TindigPilipinas and NUPL said the extension of martial law in Mindanao was laying the ground work for its imposition nationwide.They said there was nothing on the ground and even in the Constitution that “justifies a request for an extension.”The two groups also called on the people to resist attempts of the administration to impose a dictatorship.“The democratic space left for us to breathe is getting smaller and smaller by the day and will suffocate all our rights before we realize it. Unless we refuse to just stand and watch idly by,” the NUPL said.The NUPL doubted the veracity of the presentation of the executive department and the military to Congress, which convinced lawmakers that an extension of martial law was necessary.“There is no actual and real—not threatened or predicted—rebellion in the entire Mindanao of such intensity and scope as to honestly satisfy the strict extraordinary constitutional powers,” it said.The group said Mr. Duterte’s tagging of communist rebels as terrorists and demonizing progressive groups were “to lay expansive grounds not only for such extension of martial law in Mindanao but eventually to possibly put the whole country under effective military rule or institutionalized authoritarianism.”Power grabFor #TindigPilipinas, “the extension of martial law in Mindanao cannot be seen as anything but an admission of incompetence and a power grab by a murderous, corrupt and increasingly isolated regime.”“The government attempts to show itself as competent and strong by bragging about its long-drawn and stumbling campaign to capture the Maute group but has left Marawi, its businesses, its homes and most especially its people and children in ruins and desperation,” it added.Groups in Southern Tagalog, including Karapatan, staged a protest rally in Quezon City after Congress extended martial law in Mindanao.In Mindanao, Jerome Succor Aba, spokesperson for the Moro group Suara Bangsamoro, said “the extension of martial law will only worsen what we have already experienced in the last seven months when martial law was declared.”Aba said his group had documented 87 extrajudicial killings and over a thousand people killed during air strikes by the military in Marawi, 482 people facing “trumped up charges,” and 500,000 more people who were displaced.“With the extension of martial law, we do not have a choice but to defend ourselves,” he said.Aba said martial law no longer had any basis to be declared when the President himself had declared the liberation of Marawi.“We urge citizens to persist in standing against a return to militarism and authoritarian rule in our country,” Mags Maglana, lead convenor of Konsyensya Dabaw, said in Davao City.Threat remainsIn Zamboanga City, military officials insisted that terror groups remained a threat despite their claim to have killed over a thousand terrorists in Mindanao for the year alone.Among those killed were top Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, tagged as the Islamic State (IS) emir in Southeast Asia, and the two Maute brothers who led the five-month siege that seized a section in Marawi.Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of Western Mindanao Command, said despite the fall of Hapilon, and the IS-inspired Maute brothers who led the homegrown Maute Group, the threat of terror groups remained.Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said they were not discounting the possibility of IS-inspired groups regrouping outside Marawi.Not the answerSuara’s Aba said martial law was not the answer to the problem in Mindanao.“We need to address the roots of armed conflict and issues like injustice, landlessness, national industrialization and the right to self-determination for Bangsamoro and lumad,” it said.Ryan Amper, spokesperson for Barug Katungod Mindanao, said “unli” (unlimited) martial law “means unli extrajudicial killings, displacements, food blockades, disappearances which we have already seen in the past seven months.”Fr. Rolando Abejo, spokesperson for the group Movement Against Tyranny in Northern Mindanao and regional chair of the group Promotion of Church People’s Response, said he expected cases of human rights violations to swell."
8270,"If Senator Antonio Trillanes did it, why can’t Representative Imelda Marcos?Many will recall that in the weeks following President Rodrigo Duterte’s issuance of Proclamation 572, which revoked his amnesty, Trillanes sought refuge inside the Senate Building in anticipation of his arrest.Now, Marcos is reportedly preparing to move into the Batasang Pambansa after the Sandigang Bayan convicted her on seven counts of Graft and ordered her arrest.Speaking to The Adobo Chronicles, the former First Lady said she was quite comfortable making the Batasan her home. “After all, it was built by my husband, the late Ferdinand,” she added.Unconfirmed reports say that Mrs. Marcos has engaged the services of a well-known interior decorator to redo her office in the Batasan."
8280,"for passengers, even and especially in the economy section.Some airlines like United and Philippines Airlines charge an additional premium fee for front-facing seats.Rich de la Cruz, a frequent traveler from the Philippines who experienced flying in economy class on the new aircraft recently, said he appreciates the additional legroom especially on 13 to 16-hour flights. Asked about the reduced elbow room and space between seats, de la Cruz said, “I don’t mind it at all. It’s actually cozy, especially when you’re seated next to a beautiful lady. It’s a pleasant perk!” He added, “It also encourages more social interaction among passengers.”If you’re a frequent air traveler, which would you prefer: more legroom, or more elbow room? Participate in our poll below:"
8291,"Tumapos si Hill na mayroong 15 puntos, 10 rebounds at 12 assists, kung saan ay napasakamay niya ang unang triple-double sa kanyang karera na may tatlong free throws sa huling 30 segundo upang iselyo ng Indiana Pacers ang 93-86 victory kontra sa Cleveland Cavaliers kahapon."
8300,"After pedophile Peter Scully and Liezyl Margallo were successfully arrested by the authorities, many Netizens became curious of the video “Daisy’s Destruction” and some of them already searched it on the internet.Fortunately, the video is impossible to be searched on google and other visible websites on the internet. But some people used the curiosity of the Netizens to gain attention on social media by allegedly distributing the illegal video on the internet.Some Netizen even intendedly shared the exact video on their social media groups.According to Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 Section 4 , Netizens who also distributed the video of the crimes that Scully and Margallo made would also be punished by the law.Section 4.Unlawful or Prohibited Acts. – It shall be unlawful for any person: (d) To possess any form of child pornography with the intent to sell, distribute, publish, or broadcast: Provided. That possession of three (3) or more articles of child pornography of the same form shall be prima facie evidence of the intent to sell, distribute, publish or broadcast; (l) To possess any form of child pornography.Any person found guilty in violating section 4 D shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal and a fine of not less than 750,000 pesos but not more than One million pesos.According to Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 Section 4, when the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 Section 4 was committed through a computer system, the penalty to be imposed shall be one degree higher than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775.People who knew common sense warned their friends to avoid sharing or watching the video because Scully and Liezyl made it to be watched by their heartless customers.But some Netizens defended their “rights” to watch the video, saying that the authorities must only punish the producer of the video and not the distributors.Authorities even warned the Netizens who saved the video on their computers and distributed it to their friends that they may face the penalty gave to Scully and Margallo.They also encouraged the public to report anyone who distributed the video on the internet."
8310,"On again, off again. That’s how Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s bid to become the next president of the Philippines has been characterized by his followers and opponents, and by the media.Well, it’s on again. After repeated statements that he was not interested in the position, the tough-talking Duterte, who is known for his extra-judicial style of management, says that he has decided to run in the 2016 elections. His latest pronouncement was triggered by the Senate Electoral Trubunal (SET) ruling throwing out the disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe. The case was filed on the grounds that as a foundling, Poe is not a natural-born citizen and is therefore ineligible to run for president.We, at The Adobo Chronicles have been accused of reporting ‘hoax’ stories, so Duterte’s recent announcement about running for president must be a hoax, right?Or so do many Filipinos hope."
8321,"Ibinida ng San Diego Elementary School sa Brgy. Batasan Hills ang kanilang kinikilalang urban garden na “sky garden” sa mga kawani ng DENR National Capital Region na nabubuhay at umuunlad sa pinakataas na palapag ng gusali nito.833Ang tinaguriang ‘sky garden’ ng paaralan ay naglalaman ng iba’t ibang uri ng gulay gaya ng pechay, calamansi, talong, sitaw, okra, gabi, sili, at iba pa.834Mayroon din itong mga livestock gaya ng mga manok, pabo, at pato.835Buhay na buhay rin dito ang mga tilapia at hito sa pamamagitan ng aquaponics at mayroon ding hydroponics, organic composting, at coffeeshop.836Ayon sa DENR-NCR, ang mga urban garden at urban farm sa mga paaralan ay mahalaga, ito ay nakatutulong sa pagpapaunlad ng mga greenspaces sa rehiyon, bukod sa iba pang mga mahahalagang beneipisyo na naibibigay nito.837Patuloy ang paghikayat ng DENR-NCR sa mga pampubliko’t pambridaong paaralan sa Metro Manila na mag-umpisa at panatilihin ang mga ganitong gawain para sa pagpapatibay at pagpapalawig ng mga altibidad na makatutulong sa pagprotekta at pangangalaga kapaligiran.838Ang DENR-NCR ay bukas din sa pagbibigay ng mga libreng punla ng mga fruit-bearing tree at gulay sa publiko, kabilang na ang mga eskwelahan."
8391,"Kaya patuloy niyang ipinagdarasal ang kaibigan, na sana ay maging okay ang kalagayan. Pati na rin ang pamilya ni Kris at siyempre kasama na rin ang kapayapaan ng buong Pilipinas. Para naman sa kanyang sarili, boykot ang byuti ni Vice sa Araw ng mga Puso. Binanggit kasi ng Unkabogable Star na hindi raw siya magdiriwang ng Valentine's Day kahit na sabihin pang meron siyang special someone. ""Paano kami magba-Valentine's date hindi nga kami lumalabas? Last year sa bahay lang. Ngayon, hindi pa namin alam,"" banggit pa ng Phenomenal Box Office Star. Ipinagmalaki ni Vice na isa siyang romantikong tao pero ang higit na importante ngayon ay masaya siya at inspirado hindi lang sa trabaho kundi pati na rin sa personal niyang buhay. ""Lahat naman tayo, dapat lagi tayong inspired. Hindi naman kinakailangang dyowa mo ang isang tao. P'wede namang nai-inspire ka niya everyday, hindi kinakailangan na mayroon kayong relasyon,"" napatawa pang banggit ni Vice. Sa It's Showtime ay ipinagsigawan ni Vice na masaya siya sa kasama niyang inspirasyon ngayon. Nasa cloud nine rin siya dahil katatapos lang niyang pumirma ng multi-picture contract with Star Cinema last Monday. Kaya nga raw grateful siya dahil sa sunud-sunod ang blessings na ibinibigay sa kanya. ""'Yung Diyos sobrang misteryoso gumalaw. 'Yung Praybeyt Benjamin laking-laki na (ng kinita sa box office), ang first film aabot ng 300 million, 'tapos, sumunod 'yung Sisterakas nag-400 pa, 'tapos yung Girl, Boy, Bakla Tomboy, 400 plus. Parang every year, na lang tinatanong nila sa akin paano mo tatapatan 'yun? Paano mo hihigitan 'yun?"" masayang sabi ni Vice."
8400,"It’s a mystery. Not too long a time ago, the colour yellow was worn by Yellowtards with pride in their political events and protest rallies. Suddenly the practice stopped. In fact whenever leaders of the Opposition organise and call for a rally or some sort of political action nowadays, they even issue clear instructions to “wear white” or some other colour — except yellow.Has the colour yellow become a taboo colour in Philippine Opposition politics? The concept that yellow had become taboo boggles the mind considering how, for more than three decades, the colour yellow was regarded by many Filipinos as a symbol of all in politics that was good.How do we go about solving this mystery? One would think it would be a simple matter of asking a typical Yellowtard the simple question:Why do you Yellowtards now seem to shun the colour yellow?Perhaps it is because the typical Yellowtard would likely answer in a not-so-straightforward manner or would simply outright refuse to “dignify the question” with an answer. That’s pretty typical of a Yellowtard, to be fair. A Yellowtard would be offended by what is otherwise a pretty valid question. One’s perfectly sensible curiosity is met with a baffling defensiveness.This could be the reason why the question may never be answered — because Yellowtards themselves couldn’t be bothered to confront the reality of why the colour yellow no longer rocks. Even more disturbing, it could be a sign that Yellowtards are incapable of evolving. The journey towards a enlightened state often starts when one is willing to answer the hard questions.The change in choice of political colour amongst Yellowtards seems to have been driven from within their ranks. Yet, because they have long shown an inclination to externalise the perceived causes of their problems, they fail to consider that, perhaps, there is something about their very nature that contributes to the failures they’ve been experiencing in recent years. In their monomanic focus to find the roots of their problems elsewhere they fail to find the solutions that could easily come from within them. Tragic indeed."
8411,"Exiled Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison said his latest “arrest” in the Netherlands over alleged murder charges back home was another fake news he attributed to President Duterte’s troll army.Claiming he had long been a target of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s troll army as well, Sison said the two bogus news websites—which reported that he was arrested by Dutch operatives for his alleged involvement in the assassination of three communist leaders in the Philippines in 2003 and 200"
8421,"THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has declared that it is winning the war on child labor.“We have made significant strides in curbing child labor in poor communities, especially its worst forms,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said.Bello noted that in September last year, the United States Department of Labor, in its study dubbed “Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor,” cited the Philippines for having accomplished great strides in its efforts to eliminate hazardous forms of child labor.“This is the fourth year in a row that the Philippines was cited positively by the study. The study highlighted the assessment of government’s effort in eliminating the worst forms of child labor,” he said.Child labor-freeBello also reported that as of November, the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns has certified 60 barangays as child-labor free, bringing the total number of certified barangays to 219 since 2014.On the other hand, the DOLE Regional Offices awarded Child Labor-Free Establishment (CLFE) Certificates to 38 establishments, bringing the total number of certified establishments to 199 since 2013.The CLFE Certificate is conferred on an establishment that is not employing child labor and not using products or materials produced through the use of child labor.The grant of a CLFE Certificate aims to promote compliant and socially responsible business practices as the establishment-based component of the DOLE’s campaign to eradicate child labor.Anti-child labor policyBello issued Administrative Order No. 439, Series of 2016, or the Child Protection Policy of the Department of Labor and Employment, on August 16, 2016 which provides a framework of principles, standards, guidelines and procedures in relation to creating a “child-safe and child-friendly” organization; awareness-raising and prevention of abuse; personnel recruitment and training; management system; guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate behavior; guidelines for communication regarding children; and recognizing, reporting and responding to allegations of abuse.Yesterday, the “Makiisa Para sa 1 Milyong Batang Malaya” program also launched three major initiatives against child labor.These initiatives include a first comprehensive project on child labor with setting of help desks, a new project on child labor in gold mining, and a new child labor module in the conditional cash transfer program.The National Child Labor Committee, chaired by the DOLE, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Ban Toxics jointly launched the programs.According to the 2011 Survey on Children, 2.1 million Filipino children are subjected to child labor.“Child labor is complex and deeply rooted in poverty. Children suffer and risk their health or even their lives to work for their family’s survival. Ending child labor requires strong commitment and collective effort,” said Khalid Hassan, director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines, who also managed projects that addressed child labor in Africa and Asia.DSWD initiativesMeanwhile, the DSWD launched the Strategic Helpdesks for Information, Education, Livelihood and other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) as its first comprehensive program on child labor.It will focus on areas with high incidence of child labor by making services more accessible to children and their families, among others.The program aims to strengthen the capacity of local government units in eliminating the worst forms of child labor such as gold mining, deep-sea fishing and farming.DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in a statement that most of the child laborers are engaged in hazardous work especially those who are in the mining industry.“We must immediately and urgently rally to respond to this concern because of the problem which is unabated. Children continued to be violated a thousand fold, especially those child laborers engaged in back breaking and hazardous work,” said Taguiwalo.Interventions will also include improving working conditions and providing support to establish models for operation that are legal and viable as well as compliant with labor, environmental and health standards."
8431,"Ang nanalo bilang Best Actor in a Leading Role ay si Pierre Png (para sa kanyang pagganap sa Zero Calling ng MediaCorp Pte Ltd/Channel 5) ng Singapore. Nominado rin si Pierre sa The Journey: A Voyage ng MediaCorp Pte Ltd/Channel 8. Siya lang ang nag-iisang aktor na tumanggap ng dalawang nominasyon sa ATA2014. Nominado naman si Dennis sa role niya bilang Eric del Mundo sa My Husband's Lover ng GMA Network, ang nagpanalo sa kanya sa 5th Golden Screen TV Awards ng Entertainment Press Society (Enpress, Inc.) nitong nakaraang Marso bilang Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama Program. Second nomination na ito ng aktor ng Hiram Na Alaala sa ATA. In 2007, nakakuha rin siya ng nominasyon sa APT-produced Unico Hijo sa 12th Asian TV Awards. Hindi na rin nasayang ang pagpunta ng bida sa ""Ulam"" episode ng Shake, Rattle & Roll XV ng Regal Entertainment dahil sa ipinagkaloob sa kanyang certificate citing him as highly commended. Hindi rin naman umaasang maiuuwi ni Dennis ang tropeo."
8440,"Tinawag ng Malacanang na ""cheap political propaganda"" ang gimik ng ilang kandidato ng Otso Diretso sa pagtungo sa Masinloc, Zambales para tangkaing magtungo sa Scarborough Shoal. Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo na hindi nauubusan ng gimik-pambata ang Otso Diretso para iugnay sa foreign policy ng Duterte administration sa China at makakuha ng publicity sa pamamagitan ng bitbit na mga mainstream media. Hindi umano dapat kalimutan ng mga Pilipino na sa panahon ng nakalipas na administrasyon nawala sa Pilipinas ang mga isla sa South China Sea, at sa panahon din ng Aquino administration pinigilan ang mga mangingisdang Pinoy na makapangisda sa mga pinag-aagawang lugar. ""We look at this cheap political propaganda as another dramatic opportunity to lambast the Duterte administration's foreign policy on China in full view of the cameras with the consequent free media mileage. They must be commended for their creativity. Surely they never run out of childish gimmickry,"" ani Panelo. Sa kabilang dako, hangad ni Panelo na magtagumpay ang mga kandidato ng Otso Diretso sa kanilang pagpapanggap na makabayan. Sinabi pa ni Panelo na sana ay tamaan ng kidlat at kulog ang mga kandidato ng Otso Diretso para maliwanagan at maging rasonable ang mga ito sa kanilang pagtahak sa tunay na pagiging makabayan. ""We wish them luck in their pretended patriotism. Hopefully soon they will be struck with the lightning of enlightment and the thunder of logical reasoning that they may tread the path of genuine nationalism,"" dagdag pa ni Panelo. Mababatid na sa pagtungo ng opposition candidates sa Zambales sa pangunguna ni Congressman Gary Alejano ay hinamon nito si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na tuparin ang pangakong mag-jetski ito para puntahan ang mga pinag-aawayang teritoryo sa Scarborough Shoal."
8451,"The Armed Forces of the Philippines had “more than 10” social media accounts closed down for spreading propaganda from terrorists who had besieged Marawi City, a military spokesperson said on Wednesday.Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military also wanted to arrest the people behind the accounts, which the AFP had been closely monitoring and whose numbers had grown from 63 to “nearly 80,” the majority on Facebook.“We have touched base with social media companies to request their assistance to put down sites that are fomenting disinformation and discord, as well as violence,” Padilla said, adding that these companies had provided “very good assistance.”“As soon as a determination has been made that these accounts are actually being used for the purposes that I said, then it is brought down immediately,” he said.“But the point is, it only solves the closing of the account. The individuals behind those accounts are the more important targets of our operation,” he added.CyberseditionThe AFP would go after the people behind the accounts and charge them with “cybersedition,” he said.Padilla declined to name the suspects because they might flee and go into hiding if they were publicly identified. “Let’s not give them that benefit,” he said.The official said the military would go after people clearly “supporting” the gunmen belonging to the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group who have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) and have been battling government forces in Marawi for the past three weeks.The gunmen are led by Isnilon Hapilon, the supposed leader of IS in Southeast Asia. The United States has offered a $5-million reward for his capture.Information Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima on Tuesday said the government would soon arrest people spreading terrorist propaganda online for “cybersedition.”“You do sedition when you incite people via cyber or via internet,” Salalima told reporters in Malacañang.He said “more than one” cybersedition suspects had been identified but declined to give details.RELATED VIDEO"
8460,"Why is it that even if the people are complaining left and right, crying about their suffering, and yet people are not revolting?Is the suffering of the people enough to compel them to revolt?The Filipinos cry about social abuses. Slow justice system. Massive corruption in government. Inept public service. High unemployment. Alarming peace and order situation. High prices of commodities, services and public utilities. Worst traffic jam. And the list goes on. In short, the Filipinos are indeed suffering.But, even if the people are having a hard time, this would not be enough to compel us to revolt. Suffering alone will not make us rebel against the government.So, why is it that we are not revolting? Filipinos lack the COURAGE and DESIRE to CHANGE. To be in better state we are in right now. We are hungry and angry but still LAZY.---------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/09/gripped-by-a-mounting-crime-wave-filipinos-increasingly-fearful-for-their-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-696974"
8471,"In a hall underneath an elevated church on busy Rizal Avenue in Manila, more than 60 people, mostly men in maroon shirts and flip-flops, sat in rapt attention as the speaker flashed biblical verses on the screen and talked about the “spirituality of work.”The talk began with a prayer and a Zumba session and segued into two hours of Gospel verses from Proverbs, Thessalonians, Timothy, Peter and Luke, with the speaker warming up to topics about wealth, indolence, industry and stewardship.It sounded like a parish-organized renewal seminar for the spiritually lost. And in many ways, it is, although it is clearly more than that.The captive audience were drug surrenderers from around Blumentritt, a populous area in Manila where crystal meth, or “shabu,” is swapped openly like candies at street corners, and the speaker is a staff member from the Catholic Church-run Caritas Manila.The session—a prelude to a livelihood training project—is part of a community-based drug reformation program.That morning in late January, the drug users, runners and peddlers trooped back to San Roque de Manila Church parish hall to attend the program, hoping to turn a new leaf as news spread about another drug suspect shot dead the night before.Refuge and redemptionSince September last year, the San Roque Church on the corner of Rizal Avenue and Blumentritt Street has been hosting the drug reformation program once a week in collaboration with the barangays, local police, Parish Pastoral Council, Caritas Manila and volunteers from different institutions.Long before the Catholic Church decried the “reign of terror” triggered by the Duterte administration’s drug war that has so far claimed more than 7,000 lives, this parish has been quietly providing refuge and a shot at redemption to meth users and peddlers.Inside the parish hall, shut out from the noise outside—the madding crowd, the incessant honking of jeepneys and the rush of LRT trains—the surrenderers find peace, distraction from their cravings and escape from violence.In late January, the national police suspended the crackdown on illegal drugs after some antinarcotics agents were found to be using it for extortion.“I’ve been clean for six months,” said Veronica Sevilla, 44, one of the very few women taking part in the program.Her partner, Jose Mari Beslig, also in his 40s, with whom she has 2-year-old twins living with her mother in Bataan, has also joined the program but finds himself struggling with it. And so she follows him everywhere to make sure he doesn’t suffer a relapse into drug use.“But things have become easier now,” Sevilla said, acknowledging that the program has somehow put order into their relationship. “We used to bicker a lot when we didn’t have a ‘hit,’” she added.They’ve come a long way from their drug-crazed days when they would escape into a cheap motel along Rizal Avenue to satisfy their craving, bed bugs notwithstanding, Sevilla said.Sevilla works as a street sweeper, and Beslig as a watchman in Barangay 377, an area located just behind Chinese General Hospital, for a small allowance. At night, the couple sleeps on the barangay hall stage, rolling out a mattress on the cold floor. They use a table top upended on its side as makeshift divider for privacy.It’s an arrangement made possible by barangay chair Victoria Grande, who plucked the couple from the streets and extricated them from drug use.She also employed them, coaxed them to surrender under “Oplan Tokhang” and enlisted them in the program. Until they find a more stable job, the arrangement suits them fine, Sevilla said.“(Grande) is like a mother to us,” she added.Weeks after last year’s launch of Oplan Tokhang—the government’s operation against illegal drugs that has police knocking on homes—some 300 people from two zones or 20 barangays around Blumentritt turned themselves in to the local police.Beyond ZumbaDrawing up a rehab program for drug surrenderers beyond Zumba sessions and playing hoops thus became an urgent matter. And barangay officials like Grande, parish priest Fr. Antonio Navarrete, Parish Pastoral Council officials and police officers did just that as early as September last year.“After watching the gory deaths of drug suspects on TV, I told (my partner) Kokoy that I didn’t want to end up like them. I want to grow old, surrounded by family,” Sevilla said of her decision to enlist in the reformation program.Out of the 300 surrenderers in the community, less than 100 turned up for the program. People feared that signing up could lead to a violent death, as had happened to countless others.But Sevilla saw it as a safe pass from the police. Commanders at the nearby Santa Cruz police station, who often stopped by the parish hall to check on the sessions, had given the assurance that the police would lay off the surrenderers once they complete the program.Spiritual formationThe parish reformation program is divided into formation by catechism, values formation, skills and livelihood, and sports, arts and culture.Heavy on Gospel verses and joyful songs, the sessions ran the whole gamut of self-affirmation exercises: from coming to terms with oneself to reconciling with God; from valuing one’s dignity to valuing the dignity of others and from avoiding temptations to journeying together as a community toward conversion.“It’s a spiritual formation. It’s important to mold the interior first; the exterior will follow,” said Fr. Robert “Bobby” dela Cruz, 55, an ordained minister of Caritas Manila’s restorative justice ministry who crafted the formation modules from his own experience as a former drug dependent. “This is like the ICU, after which (the program participants) will be integrated into society.”But transformation doesn’t happen overnight, Dela Cruz said over the phone. “Most of the surrenderers turned up for the program on their own and slowly learned to articulate their thoughts and feelings. They became more free and their fear disappeared.”To complement the formation, volunteers from the Center for Family Ministries (Cefam) and University of Santo Tomas Psychotrauma Clinic also provide counseling for the surrenderers.“Admittedly, we have addictive tendencies in all aspects of our lives, (but) there’s always hope for change,” said Fr. Teodulo Gonzales, Cefam program director for research and development of new programs, who helped craft with the Psychological Association of the Philippines the program’s modules on psychosocial training for the volunteers.Fear factorWhen the Archdiocese of Manila, under Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, launched in October last year its rehabilitation program called Sanlakbay para sa Pagbabagong Buhay (A journey toward conversion), it held up the San Roque parish program as a model.Soon after, several parishes in Metro Manila followed suit.The long-term goal is for surrenderers to be reintegrated into mainstream society by encouraging them to join a religious community and offering them livelihood, among other options.There’s no discounting the fear factor, however.When the Philippine National Police’s crackdown on drugs was ordered suspended following the expose on drug agents’ extortion activities, the number of surrenderers attending the San Roque parish program dwindled: from a high of 66 in late January, the number shrunk to 25. The suspension could have offered drug suspects a temporary reprieve from their fear of being randomly killed in dark alleys or inside their hovels before terrified family members. (The crackdown resumed in late February, this time under the command of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency—Ed.)“Whether that’s good or not, I can’t say,” Dela Cruz said. “But we will carry on. If (people) stop coming, then we will stop.”"
8480,"Until now, the authenticity of the photos on October 6,2017 12:53am of allegedly President Rody Duterte driving a taxi in Davao City is not yet verified. The uploader didn’t even say if it was really the President. Could it be him knowing that the President is fond of going around Davao City incognito.Duterte was spotted many times on the streets of Davao serving as taxi driver at night. In one of his interviews he said that he wanted to say the current situation on the road and he wanted to kill a ‘holdaper’.In a facebook post of a certain Norman Tamilongan, he said that the driver didn’t even say a word when he and his companion tried to get his attention. There was no ID hanging also inside the cab. READ HIS CAPTION:SI PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE TAXI DRIVER NAMIN KANINA?!?! Kayo na mag judge sa pictures guys, GRABE nag mukha kaming mga FAN GIRLS kanina sa taxi kaka-sigaw ng “JUSKO LORD” PRAMIS! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Kakatapos lang namin mag futsal (indoor football) sa Crocodile park Davao City kanina, then since malayo and madilim palabas ng lugar nag patawag kami ng taxi sa staff, I was with some foreigners din na futsal players, then 10mins while nasa taxi kami, bumulong si Alec na kahawig nung driver si President Duterte, so ginawa ko is nilapit ko mukha ko and tiningnan ko yung rear view mirror, LUMAKI MATA ko sa nakita ko hahahaha pta. CONFIRMED! HAHAHAHAHA! “HALA JUSKO!!” then sabay tumawa yung driver which assume namin na si President talaga. may pa cover pa siya na face towel sa ulo niya We asked him “Pres kayo po ba yan” MARAMING BESES, Then always wala siyang sinabi then tumawa lang, nilapit ko ulit mukha ko then natataranta na yung mga foreigners na kasama namin sabay search ng mukha ni Pres.Duterte sa google para iconfirm Hahahaha! CONFIRMED! ang ingay ingay na nila sa taxi to the point na nag arabic na sila OJ sobra hahahaha! Di namin alam guys if siya ba talaga or Kamukha niya lang, but if SIYA MAN or HINDI SOBRA kaming nag enjoy sa taxi. wala din siyang ID sa Taxi niya which dapat meron. DI ko talaga alam hahahaha PS: AGAIN KAYO NA MAG BASE SA PICTURE! I apologize sa mejjo blurry, pictures were taken while ga drive siya. DAVAO CITY.Here are some throwback photos of the President driving a taxi when he was the city Mayor of Davao.Could it be the President? Leave your comments below!"
8490,"Pinaluwag na ng Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) ang pagbabawal sa pagpapadala ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sa bansang Libya Ayon sa Philippine News Agency, inilabas ng POEA ang Resolution number 1, series of 2019 nitong Martes, ika-29 ng Enero, para sa pagpayag na muling ma-deploy ang mga piling OFW sa northern African nation. Ang desisyon ay ginawa ng POEA matapos ibaba ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), na sinangayunan naman ng National Security Council, sa level 2 (restriction phase) mula sa level 3 (voluntary repatriation phase) ang Crisis Alert level sa Libya Ang mga newly hired OFWs at seafarers ay hindi kabilang sa mga muling ide-deploy sa Libya. ""As a result of the lowering of the Crisis Alert Level in Libya from Alert level 3 to Level 2, we now allow the processing of the Balik-Manggagawa to Libya,"" pahayag ni POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia. Ang ganap na suspension ng deployment ban ay gagawin kapag ang Crisis Alert level ay tuluyan nang naalis. Paliwanag ni Olalia, ang partial lifting ng deployment ban ay para lang sa mga OFWs na mayroong existing contracts to return sa bansang mayaman sa langis. Kabilang din sa mga OFW na papayagang makabalik sa Libya ang mga empleyado ng mga diplomats, ng mga embahada, international organizations at academic institutions; mga OFWs na nagta-trabaho sa offshore oil rigs; ang mga OFWs na nasa bakasyon bago ginawa ang pag-anunsiyo ng Crisis Alert level 3; at mga Pinoy na kasal sa mga Libyan nationals. Nauna rito, ang Overseas Filipino Workers Organization-Benghazi ay umapela sa pamahalaan na huwag isama sa deployment ban ang mga propesyunal gaya ng mga inhinyero, nurses at guro. Ang total deployment ban ng OFWs sa Libya ay ginawa noong nakaraang taon dahil sa kaguluhan doon."
8501,"a measure of how flawed their cancer genes are, according to a profiling test by Foundation Medicine. Medicare recently agreed to cover the $3,000 test for advanced cancers.Of 679 patients, 299 had a high number of gene flaws in their tumors. In that group, survival without worsening of disease was 43 percent after one year for those on the immunotherapy drugs versus 13 percent of those on chemo. The immunotherapy drugs did not help people with fewer tumor gene flaws.“We have a tool that helps us determine who are the patients that are most likely to benefit from this combination,” Hellmann said.The median time until cancer worsened was about 7 months on the immunotherapy drugs versus 5.5 months for chemo. Serious side effects were a little more common in the chemo group.Another rival, Genentech, recently announced that its checkpoint inhibitor, Tecentriq, improved survival in a study similar to the one testing Keytruda. Details are expected in a couple months."
8510,"Well someone actually did just that. Somebody promoted a website. Not the ordinary Buzzfeed type of website but a sort of a specialty website that focuses on a very specific niche. A site that contains all the stuff that you don't want your grandchildren and/or grandparents to gaze upon. Yup, you guessed right: a biology website showing biology videos.Just kidding. The billboard in question showed a pron clip. At first, many thought it was just the IT staff whose boredom was so severe he unintentionally streamed his desktop screen to the billboard while watching his or her favorite internet clip.Some speculates that it was indeed intentional and that maybe it was some sweet revenge of an estrange employee quitting his job with style, and not minding a possible lawsuit on his tail.The official story, though, is less dramatic. Globaltronic, the operator of the said digital billboard said in a statement that it was a malicious attack and assured the public as well as the city government that they will cooperate with the ongoing investigations by the authorities.""Our company, being the leader in digital outdoor technology, would like to continually reassure all its advertisers and stakeholders amidst this momentary issue. ""As category stewards, the company concurrently sees this case as an opportunity to commit itself and be at the forefront of the drive against cybercrime,"" Globaltronics said in a statement.""Makati City Mayor Abby Binay has since ordered the billboard operator to cease and desist from all operations.Before it went down, a netizen captured the billboard streaming extremely questionable content and posted it on social media. That videos has since been removed but copies of it keep on sprouting and chances are you'll get to it if you would just look.Here are some perfectly safe screenshots from the said Makati Avenue digital billboard:"
8520,"They say it takes a village to raise a child. In Davao City Mayor and Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s case, it might take an entire nation to help him watch his tongue. Since announcing his candidacy, 70-year old Duterte has been experiencing a public berating, probably for the first time in his life, for his remarks that some consider offensive. It’s been entertaining, to say the least. While it is good to know that there are still Filipinos who value decency in Philippine society, we also need to remember not to overreact lest we get distracted from the more important issues plaguing the nation.Thanks to social media, Filipinos from all walks of life are able to express their views about current issues. In the case of Duterte’s “foul” mouth, for example, not all who are offended by his swearing, “sexist” and “misogynist” remarks come from the country club set, and not all who defend him come from people who live in the gutter where Duterte proudly claims to have come from. This incident showcases our society’s many contradictions.Indeed, a robust exchange of ideas is one of the keys to a healthy democracy. More Filipinos are now exposed to alternative views other than what they get from mainstream media and the Sunday homily. That is a good sign that there is a chance our society can reach maturity one day.Even septuagenarians like Duterte can learn from Netizens. He could be the Philippines’ Eliza Doolittle – someone who can be taught civility and diplomacy. It’s not too late. It may be hard to teach old dogs new tricks but if Duterte wants to win the Presidency, he needs to listen to his critics and try to appeal to their emotion. His latest gaffe has certainly outraged a lot of Filipinos and the only way to win them back is to apologize without reservation.Did Duterte trivialize rape? Was he promoting rape? Did he disrespect the victim? Here is the full text of his recent statements that got him in trouble, translated in English:All the women were raped so during the first assault, because they retreated, the bodies they used as a cover, one of them was the corpse of the Australian woman layminister. Tsk, this is a problem. When the bodies were brought out, they were wrapped. I looked at her face, son of a bitch, she looks like a beautiful American actress. Son of a bitch, what a waste. What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up. I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.The mayor should have been first. Did he mean something else with that line or should we take it at face value? Duterte said he uttered those statements in 1989 at the height of the hostage crisis in Davao’s jail. According to Duterte, he was angry after seeing the body of the victim and then proceeded to kill the rapists. What does that tell us? It should tell us that he was angry at the rapists, right? But how do we reconcile what he said about feeling sorry for not being the first in line to rape the victim? Perhaps he did mean something else but since he was talking in Tagalog, which is not his native language, it may have all been lost in translation.During a press conference, Duterte did not offer any explanation for his statement though. He did clarify that his remarks weren’t meant as a joke. Frankly, I was more disgusted with the audience who laughed at a no-laughing matter subject. They have a sick sense of humor. The audience needs their own public berating. Their behavior says a lot about Philippine society in general — that women are still regarded as people of lower status.After watching several videos of Duterte speak, I noticed that his tone is the same whether he is serious or joking. He has this permanent look on his face that reminds you of The Dude – a no worries kind of guy. He wasn’t even worried about losing voters. That attitude is a bit worrisome. It could mean that the public has to accept him for who he is — warts and all — and that winning could give him immunity from public backlash if he wins the Presidency.The public needs to be clear to Duterte before the election that crassness will not be tolerated from the President. If Duterte wants the job, he needs to learn to compromise and act with a little bit of consideration for others’ feelings. After all, if he becomes President, he will have to deal with a lot of foreign dignitaries and cannot afford to keep offending them with rude remarks. The best way to avoid this is to just stick to business and stop attempting to be funny. The country is already in deep shit, we don’t have time for laughs."
8531,"The credibility of the principal accuser of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was challenged at Wednesday’s hearing on her impeachment case, although the House justice committee denied the top magistrate’s plea to allow her lawyers to question witnesses on her behalf.Lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno, faced questions challenging his personal knowledge and documentation of the charges he leveled against her.He admitted on at least two occasions during the hearing that he did not personally know the circumstances nor possess authentic records of the charges, including the allegation that Sereno altered a temporary restraining order (TRO) drafted by Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro without full-court approval in 2013.In responding to questions about the TRO, Gadon said he learned about Sereno’s alleged tampering with the document from a Manila Times reporter and later confirmed it with Supreme Court insiders.Asked by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon if he confirmed the tampering with De Castro personally, Gadon replied: “No, your honor. Not directly.”“There must be some problem here,” Leachon said.De Castro statementIn a statement, De Castro said: “I have never released to [Manila Times reporter] Jomar Canlas any information, report or document regarding the work of the court.”Gadon was also grilled by Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun on a memorandum issued by De Castro that was cited by the complainant.The lawyer admitted he did not have a copy of that document as well.“When I talked to [Supreme Court Clerk of Court] Felipa Anama, she told me they still cannot find this memorandum. But Associate Justice De Castro herself has affirmed in the media that she has the memorandum,” he said, citing a story by an Inquirer.net reporter.Asked by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, the justice committee chair, if he personally confirmed this information with De Castro, Gadon replied: “I have a common friend who is a go-between.”Fortun commented: “I’m just wary that the allegation … is based on neither authentic documents nor personal knowledge. There’s a reference to a memorandum, but the memorandum is not attached to this complaint. The complainant has admitted now he has yet to see this memorandum. That is my concern insofar as the allegation is concerned.”Sufficiency rulingBut coming to Gadon’s defense, Umali said the committee had already ruled on the impeachment complaint being sufficient in form and substance.Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop also pointed out that a copy of the De Castro memorandum was actually attached to the dismissed impeachment complaint filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.“Are we to take cognizance of documents in a dismissed case?” said Siquijor Rep. Ramon Rocamora.Umali, however, said this was “in the province” of the committee’s work.Gadon has accused Sereno of, among other charges, failing to declare her real wealth, buying a luxury car with government funds and making questionable decisions without consulting her fellow magistrates.In a discussion of his charge that Sereno had failed to fully declare P30 million in lawyer’s fees that she had earned as government lawyer in the Piatco case, Gadon said he calculated that the Chief Justice failed to account for P14 million in her financial statement.Under questioning by Rocamora, however, Gadon said he did not know whether Sereno, then a law professor at the University of the Philippines, declared the amounts before 2010, the year she joined the judiciary.Determining probable causeThe justice committee is trying to determine whether there is probable cause to impeach Sereno based on Gadon’s charges, after previously finding the complaint sufficient in form and substance, and with sufficient grounds.Once probable cause is established, the committee will send the articles of impeachment derived from the impeachment grounds to the plenary for approval.A vote of one-third of the 293 members of the House is needed to send the case to the Senate for trial.Sereno’s lawyers were barred on Wednesday from taking part in the hearing by a 30-4 vote.The panel also rejected, by a vote of 30-3, the plea of nonmembers of the committee, including opposition lawmakers Edcel Lagman of Albay and Tom Villarin of Akbayan, to be allowed to take part in the hearing.Shortly after the vote, Sereno’s lawyers led by Alexander Poblador excused themselves and left the room.Poblador made it clear to reporters that it was not a “walkout.”“We asked the chair for permission,” he said.Bigger battleBut Poblador hinted that Sereno’s legal team was moving on from the House proceedings to concentrate on a bigger battle: the looming impeachment trial in the Senate.“We are looking forward for this case to be brought to the Senate, and we are confident we will be able to defend the Chief Justice there consistent with her constitutional rights,” he said.In arguing against the right of Sereno’s lawyers to cross-examine witnesses, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas cited the plunder case of former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who, the Supreme Court ruled, did not even have the right to be furnished a copy of the complaint at the preliminary investigation stage.“Senators [Jinggoy] Estrada, [Bong] Revilla and [Juan Ponce] Enrile were detained in jail … They were sitting senators of the republic yet they were not even afforded the right to cross-examine any of the complainants, because that may come during the trial,” he said.He said Sereno had even concurred in that decision.Fariñas also cited the case of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was not allowed a preliminary hearing in his own impeachment, “because he did not have the right.”Addressing Sereno’s lawyers in the gallery, he said: “If you want to participate here, then become congressmen first.”To the Chief Justice, he said: “We’re not in trial yet. For all she knows, we may dismiss this.”"
8541,"The economic think tank Ibon Foundation on Saturday challenged the Department of Finance (DOF) to be more transparent regarding the impact of the new tax reform law on ordinary Filipinos.Ibon criticized the administration’s “downplaying” of the true effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, particularly on low-income families.“We ask for something as simple as placing on their website the breakdown of the impact of the tax measure per income decile,” IBON executive director Sonny Africa told reporters. “These would be the impact in terms of income tax and of each tax measure"
8550,"Despite of the busy schedule, President Rodrigo Duterte gave his time to talk with the leaders and members of activists group BAYAN in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday.The delegation consisted of partylist representatives, farmers and workers and representatives from Mindanao.The meeting, according to the social media post of BAYAN secretary Renato Reyes Jr. became more serious than the last meeting between them and President Rodrigo Duterte because they talked about the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao until the end of the year which the activists extremely opposed.President Rodrigo Duterte meets the member of BAYANPhoto: Renato Reyes Jr.According to Reyes Jr. the President really wanted to extend Martial Law in Mindanao while the members of Bayan don’t want to extend it.Despite of their opposition to the Martial Law in Mindanao, they clarified to the President that they don’t support the ISIS affiliated Maute Terrorist Group that attacked Marawi City.They also talked about the militarization near the communities of Lumad, contractualization, free tuition in all State Universities and Colleges and land reform.President Rodrigo Duterte received the letter from the old and sick political prisoners that the members of BAYAN asked to be freed by the government because of their worsening conditions.Letters made by the political prisoners to President Duterte Photo: Renato Reyes Jr.They submitted the 20-point urgent demands from the group and informed the President about the mass rally that planned to organize in Mendiola on Monday, the same day which Duterte would deliver his second State of the Nation Address.Reyes Jr. expressed his disappointment to the result of their meeting, but thanked the President for the time that he gave for the meeting.“Nais sana naming maghatid ng mas magandang balita sa mga kasama na naghihintay sa Mendiola, pero hindi ito ang sitwasyon. Matingkad kanina ang mga pagkakaiba sa mga mayor na isyu.” Reyes said in his Facebook post.He said that it became more clearer that the activists must unite in Mendiola on Monday to voice out their message to the President.“Matapos ang pag-uusap, lalong luminaw ang pangangailangan ng sama-sama at militanteng pagkilos para maipanalo ang mga kagyat na makabayan at demokratikong interes ng masa, at makamit ang pagbabago. Alam natin kung kanino tayo dapat umasa. Lalong luminaw ang pangangailangan para sa malaking pagkilos sa darating na SONA sa July 24, at marinig ang panawagan ng mamamayang lumalaban.”The BAYAN secretary said that they determined to call for a democratic change and not for false promises by the government.Meanwhile, Presidential Communications assistant secretary Mocha Uson reported that President Rodrigo Duterte allowed the activists to rally against him on Monday.“Sige, mag-rally muna kayo, tapos mag-usap ulit tayo.” President Rodrigo Duterte told the members of BAYAN.Despite of being called a dictator by some people, President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly showed that he’s open for criticisms and even allowed her critics to enter Malacañang Palace.On Monday President Rodrigo Duterte would deliver his second State of the Nation Address and showcase the achievement of the current administration in their first year.Reports said that 15,000 people would participate to the rally on President Duterte’s SONA.To maintain peace and order during the event, the Philippine National Police planned to deploy 6,300 police officers around Batasang Pambasa where President Duterte would deliver his SONA.PNP Director General chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also ordered the organization that there would be no shields or batons, or firearms for police officers tasked to manage to protesters.The protesters were also allowed to do their program 15 to 20 meters near Batasang Pambansa."
8561,"An alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) wanted for 11 years for murder and who is now a tricycle driver was arrested by the Quezon City Police Friday after a police officer posed as a passenger.Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspect as Abdulmuin Yahiya, known as “Jayson,” 35, a resident of Basilan Street in Salaam Compound, Barangay Culiat.Joint operatives from the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU), with National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NCR-NICA) and Naval Intelligence and Security Group (NISG) of the Philippine Navy personnel nabbed Yahiya after receiving a tip from a resident of Salaam Compound that a wanted person was living in their neighborhood.Senior Inspector Paterno Domondon of the DSOU said that they verified the said report with authorities of Zamboanga and Basilan.Domondon also found out that Yahiya is a cousin of Hadji Taufik Sanihin Yahiya, known as “Nonong Yakan,” who was known to be one of the “hardcore” members of the ASG and was wanted for nine counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder in Mindanao.Domondon also disclosed that the suspect admitted he had close links with members of the ASG and said that he worked for them as a courier.Yahiya, who was also known as “Mauhmin Yahya,” has a standing warrant issued by Judge Leo Jay T. Principe of the Isabela City, Basilan Regional Trial Court with no provision for bail in August 2006.According to Domondon, the suspect was arrested at about 10 a.m., Friday, along Tandang Sora Avenue, when one of the arresting officers posed as a passenger and confirmed his identity."
8570,"(UPDATE)The couple behind the brutal murder of the Kuwait-based Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Joanna Demafelis has been sentenced to death by hanging.On Sunday, the Kuwaiti Court sentenced in absentia the Lebanese man Nader Essam Assaf and his Syrian wife Mona Hassoun.The court issued the sentence during the first hearing in the murder case of Demafelis that resulted to a diplomatic rift between the Philippines and Kuwait.According to the news reports, the sentence can still be reverse when the couple returns to Kuwait.Kuwait Ambassador Saleh Ahmad Althwaik also confirmed the news to the Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.He said that the hanging can apparently showed in public.He also thanked the Kuwaiti government for the swift justice given to Demafelis.The couple were caught in Syria, where they fled after leaving Kuwait in 2017.Joanna Demafelis body was found inside the freezer formerly owned by the couple in their old apartment.After failing to pay their debts, the couple forcefully leave their old home and they also left Demafelis body that they tried to hide from the authorities for months.Because of this case, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a deployment ban in Kuwait and vowed that he would not lift his decision until the government of the oil rich nation ensure the safety of the Filipino workers there.He set several conditions to the Kuwaiti government to prevent the employers from abusing their employees.Some of the conditions are higher salaries, 8 hours of sleep, once a week day off and the passport of the OFWs should not be confiscated by their employers.An estimated 252,000 Filipinos work in Kuwait and some of them didn’t waste offer of the Philippine government to bring them back home for free.However, some OFWs are reportedly being confined by their owner to prevent them from leaving Kuwait.As of writing the palace is not yet giving any comment on the latest development of the Demafelis’ case."
8580,"Is 7080 deaths an accurate body count?Rappler vs TiglaoThe Rappler report is so patently wrong, I can only attribute it not to stupidity but to malice. It included 4,525 ‘deaths under investigation or investigation concluded’ as killings related to the anti-drug war – which they aren’t!” Bueza’s simple and straightforward methodology uses the following formula:T = P + D + C where, T = total number of people killed in War on Drugs; P = suspected drug personalities killed in police operations; D = victims in cases of deaths under investigation (DUI); and C = victims in cases where investigation has concluded And herein lies the problem: it appears to be a classic case not only of bad Math, but also of bad terminology.In his 20 March 2017 column, Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao accused Rappler of having “misled… the World” , as he wrote:Bueza’s simple and straightforward methodology uses the following formula:And herein lies the problem: it appears to be a classic case not only of bad Math, but also of bad terminology.Rappler’s and Bueza’s Collective Confusion The Rappler article did not provide any precise definition of any of the equation’s variables, and that’s something that me, who is darned good in High School Math, find problematic.Moreover, I do not understand how Rappler categorized all DUIs as drug-related. How would they know they’re all drug-related if an investigation is still ongoing in the first place?And lastly, everyone suddenly use Bueza’s 7000 figure to describe the number of extrajudicial killings and summary executions, despite the fact that at least some of those killings must have been conducted in legitimate police operations.This is just messed up! How many were lawfully killed during police operations? Did the PNP say all DUIs are drug-related? How many DUIs have been confirmed as drug-related? How many drug-related deaths are there in total?Let me quote something that’s often attributed to genius physicist Albert Einstein[Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. In Rappler’s case, Bueza's formula is not only problematic, but also oversimplified.The rest of mainstream media had almost a year to clear things up, but they appear to enjoy a willful ignorance on the matter. Some influential organizations have already called for economic sanctions against the Philippines, yet local mainstream media insists on displaying an appalling level of negligence reminiscent of the Malacañang Press Corps’ legendary indolence.So why don’t I, ThinkingPinoy, sort it out myself? The Rappler article did not provide any precise definition of any of the equation’s variables, and that’s something that me, who is darned good in High School Math, find problematic.Moreover, I do not understand how Rappler categorized all DUIs as drug-related. How would they know they’re all drug-related if an investigation is still ongoing in the first place?And lastly, everyone suddenly use Bueza’s 7000 figure to describe the number of extrajudicial killings and summary executions, despite the fact that at least some of those killings must have been conducted in legitimate police operations.This is just messed up! How many were lawfully killed during police operations? Did the PNP say all DUIs are drug-related? How many DUIs have been confirmed as drug-related? How many drug-related deaths are there in total?Let me quote something that’s often attributed to genius physicist Albert Einstein[ QI ]:In Rappler’s case, Bueza's formula is not only problematic, but also oversimplified.The rest of mainstream media had almost a year to clear things up, but they appear to enjoy a willful ignorance on the matter. Some influential organizations have already called for economic sanctions against the Philippines, yet local mainstream media insists on displaying an appalling level of negligence reminiscent of the Malacañang Press Corps’ legendary indolence.So why don’t I, ThinkingPinoy, sort it out myself?Ironing out the definitionsSenator Alan Peter Cayetano was right when he cited former President Benigno Aquino III’s Administrative Order 35 to show the problematic definition of “extra-judicial killings“ [There is no standard international definition of the term “extrajudicial killings”. Quoting Ballesteros of the [Hence, to ensure that you and I are on the same page, let’s adopt the most common definition adopted the most vocal critics of the Duterte Administration – the Liberal Party-led Political Opposition. That is, for the purpose of this article, our preliminary definition shall be:An extrajudicial killing is the drug-related killing of a person by governmental authorities without the sanction of any judicial proceeding or legal process. This is, a working definition, but I feel that it’s incomplete, as it precludes unknown vigilante groups that the opposition alleges to have committed drug-related killings with the State’s imprimatur. Thus, we shall revise the definition into:An ""extrajudicial killing or summary execution"" shall be defined as the drug-related killing of a person by governmental authorities without the sanction of any judicial proceeding or legal process, or by civilians with the explicit approval of the State. “Drug-related killings” shall be defined as homicides where the suspect, the victim, or the suspect’s motive has a history of, or is connected to, illegal drugs. This shall be the the definition used for the rest of this article.Let’s get the numbers, shall we?But first, let’s be clear about the definition of “extrajudicial killings and summary executions”Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was right when he cited former President Benigno Aquino III’s Administrative Order 35 to show the problematic definition of “extra-judicial killings“ [ Star ].There is no standard international definition of the term “extrajudicial killings”. Quoting Ballesteros of the [ Manila Times ], even “UN bodies have interchangeably used the terms ‘extrajudicial execution,’ ‘summary execution’ and ‘arbitrary execution’ to refer to intentional murders of crime suspects by law enforcers.”Hence, to ensure that you and I are on the same page, let’s adopt the most common definition adopted the most vocal critics of the Duterte Administration – the Liberal Party-led Political Opposition. That is, for the purpose of this article, our preliminary definition shall be:This is, a working definition, but I feel that it’s incomplete, as it precludes unknown vigilante groups that the opposition alleges to have committed drug-related killings with the State’s imprimatur. Thus, we shall revise the definition into:This shall be the the definition used for the rest of this article.Let’s get the numbers, shall we?PNP speaks Instead of speculating, I decided to go to Camp Crame and ask the Public Information Office of the Philippine National Police (PNP-PIO) about it. A couple of days ago, I visited PNP-PIO and interviewed Police S/Supt. Dionardo “Caloy” Carlos, the PNP‘s official spokesperson.Asked to confirm Rappler’s 7,080 drug war body count, Carlos said:The media reports over 7,000 extrajudicial killings and/or summary executions, that’s their description, but we only have 6,011 homicide cases recorded from 01 July 2016 to 24 March 2017. These (homicide cases are) formerly (called) DUIs, or deaths under investigation. Carlos essentially meant that 7,000 EJKs and summary executions is impossible because there are only 6,011 documented homicides under investigation to begin with. That is, the total number of EJKs and summary executions, if any, should be less than 6,011. To further elucidate his point, Carlos saidSo, all killings that occurred while we're implementing the campaign vs drugs are classified as Deaths Under Investigation. but we don't necessarily say they're all drug-related, that's why they're under investigation. Asked if drug-related deaths are just a subset of DUIs, Carlos said:Yes. Now, we are determining which ones are really connected to the anti-drug campaign and which ones are regular crimes. Asked on how many of the DUIs have been confirmed as drug-related, Carlos said:Among these 6,011 homicides, we have determined that there are only 1,398 cases that are drug-related, so it’s automatically wrong to say that there have been over 7,000 EJKs or summary executions that they attribute to the campaign versus illegal drugs… There are names of victims, suspects, places, and not just numerical data. Carlos said there are 1,398 confirmed drug-related homicides, but these killings have yet to be proven to be state-sanctioned.To clarify the 1,398 confirmed drug-related homicides, Carlos said:These are not necessarily deaths resulting from EJKs or summary executions. There are many possible motives. And among these 6,011 homicide cases, we so far determined that only 1,398 are drug-related.” In reference to Rappler’s tally, Carlos said: Instead of speculating, I decided to go to Camp Crame and ask the Public Information Office of the Philippine National Police (PNP-PIO) about it. A couple of days ago, I visited PNP-PIO and interviewed Police S/Supt. Dionardo “Caloy” Carlos, the PNP‘s official spokesperson.Asked to confirm Rappler’s 7,080 drug war body count, Carlos said:Carlos essentially meant that 7,000 EJKs and summary executions is impossible because there are only 6,011 documented homicides under investigation to begin with. That is, the total number of EJKs and summary executions, if any, should be less than 6,011. To further elucidate his point, Carlos saidAsked if drug-related deaths are just a subset of DUIs, Carlos said:Asked on how many of the DUIs have been confirmed as drug-related, Carlos said:Carlos said there are 1,398 confirmed drug-related homicides, but these killings have yet to be proven to be state-sanctioned.To clarify the 1,398 confirmed drug-related homicides, Carlos said:In reference to Rappler’s tally, Carlos said:It’s wrong to say that all 6,011 are EJKs or summary killings (executions) because the circumstances surrounding each of the 6,011 deaths differ. The motives vary.” I told Carlos that if there are 1,398 confirmed drug-related homicides among the 6,011 DUIs, that leaves us 4,613 DUIs that are still unaccounted for, to which he replied:Aside from the 1398 (confirmed drug-related deaths), we also have 828 resolved cases but the motives are different, not connected to illegal drugs... (The motives are) fights over parcels of land, personal grudges, atrocities of armed leftists, love triangles, (etc.) ... We still have (around) 3700 cases that are still under investigation. Subtracting 1,398 drug-related and 828 non-drug-related deaths from the 6,011 DUIs yields 3,785 DUIs with pending investigations.I told Carlos that if there are 1,398 confirmed drug-related homicides among the 6,011 DUIs, that leaves us 4,613 DUIs that are still unaccounted for, to which he replied:Subtracting 1,398 drug-related and 828 non-drug-related deaths from the 6,011 DUIs yields 3,785 DUIs with pending investigations.Over 7,000 killed in Drug War? I compiled the numbers Carlos provided and they’re shown in the following table: I compiled the numbers Carlos provided and they’re shown in the following table:In line with our definition of EJKs and summary executions, the oft-repeated statement “over 7,000 EJKs and summary executions in Duterte’s Drug War”, which would have included all 6,011 DUIs per Bueza’s formula, is incorrect.First , the 828 deaths that are not related to drugs are obviously not part of the War on Drugs.Second , the 1398 drug-related deaths may be EJKs or summary executions, but it is still unclear if the killings were state-sanctioned. Third , the remaining 3,785 DUIs are still being investigated upon, so it is still unknown if they’re related to drugs or not. Thus, how can we say that these 6,011 are EJKs or summary executions when the essential elements of such a crime have yet to be proven?In short, Rappler’s article that features Bueza’s calculations provide, at best, an upper limit of potential EJKs and summary executions, and not the actual number of EJKs and summary executions.But that makes Rappler’s oft-cited article meaningless, which is best explained through an analogy:I am technically correct when I say, “I have, at most, a million fingers” is technically correct because I have ten fingers and ten is less than one million. But is that statement meaningful? Does it help others get a better idea of how many fingers I have? Rappler did the same thing. Rappler basically showed that there are, at most, 7,080 extrajudicial killings and summary executions, even if the actual number of proven extrajudicial killings, so far is a lot, lot lower.Less than or equal to two How many EJKs and summary killings in the Philippines so far? Less than or equal to two.So far, there are only two clear candidates of EJKs and summary executions: that of Korean national Jee Ick-Joo and that of Mayor Rolando Espinosa.According to Carlos, Jee Ick-Joo’s murder was found out to be a classic robbery-extortion case that’s unrelated to drugs, with the culprits using the War on Drugs only as a camouflage.Again: Jee Ick-Joo’s murder is not part of the War on Drugs.Meanwhile, warrants of arrest have been issued for the suspects in Espinosa’s murder [For argument’s sake, however, let’s assume that the Espinosa slay is indeed an EJK or summary execution, then let me ask:Does one clear case of EJK or summary execution warrant the international outrage against the Philippine Government today? Does it warrant the imposition of economic sanctions that can destroy millions of Filipino lives? Why did Rappler say that the PNP gave a 7,080 EJK or summary execution body count even if the PNP clearly didn’t do so?Rappler’s Willful Negligence? Asked on what the PNP has done to correct Rappler’s monumental error, Carlos said:When we saw it after the first three months of the Duterte Administration, we wrote to Rappler so they can correct it… They did nothing. Asked about the date of that letter, Carlos said:September 2016. Carlos said Rappler’s news desk did not just ignore PNP’s letter, it even had the temerity to update that badly written article SEVENTY-FIVE TIMES .Asked on what corrections they requested from Rappler, Carlos said:We saw that the Rappler article shows different figures, and they claim the data comes from the PNP. (We avoid incidents like these) that’s why we have an analysis portion every time we release information, so you can’t just make up an interpretation of the numbers given. So Rappler didn’t… we didn’t receive a reply pertaining to (the September 2016 letter). Asked on what other measures PNP takes to avoid confusions like these, Carlos said:Whenever I give them updates, I myself insert an accompanying note stating ‘Deaths Under Investigation are not automatically extrajudicial killings and these are crimes of murder and/or homicide that are still being investigated on.’ Carlos was referring to regular updates given to journalists covering the Camp Crame Beat. In line with our definition of EJKs and summary executions, the oft-repeated statement “over 7,000 EJKs and summary executions in Duterte’s Drug War”, which would have included all 6,011 DUIs per Bueza’s formula, is incorrect.Thus, how can we say that these 6,011 are EJKs or summary executions when the essential elements of such a crime have yet to be proven?In short, Rappler’s article that features Bueza’s calculations provide, at best, an upper limit of potential EJKs and summary executions, and not the actual number of EJKs and summary executions.But that makes Rappler’s oft-cited article meaningless, which is best explained through an analogy:Rappler did the same thing. Rappler basically showed that there are, at most, 7,080 extrajudicial killings and summary executions, even if the actual number of proven extrajudicial killings, so far is a lot, lot lower.How many EJKs and summary killings in the Philippines so far? Less than or equal to two.So far, there are only two clear candidates of EJKs and summary executions: that of Korean national Jee Ick-Joo and that of Mayor Rolando Espinosa.According to Carlos, Jee Ick-Joo’s murder was found out to be a classic robbery-extortion case that’s unrelated to drugs, with the culprits using the War on Drugs only as a camouflage.Meanwhile, warrants of arrest have been issued for the suspects in Espinosa’s murder [ Star ], and the 19 suspects – all of them policemen – have surrendered [ Star ]. Their cases are still being heard in the local courts so under the presumption of innocence , they are still considered innocent until proven guilty.For argument’s sake, however, let’s assume that the Espinosa slay is indeed an EJK or summary execution, then let me ask:Asked on what the PNP has done to correct Rappler’s monumental error, Carlos said:Asked about the date of that letter, Carlos said:Carlos said Rappler’s news desk did not just ignore PNP’s letter, it even had the temerity to update that badly written articleAsked on what corrections they requested from Rappler, Carlos said:Asked on what other measures PNP takes to avoid confusions like these, Carlos said:Carlos was referring to regular updates given to journalists covering the Camp Crame Beat.Seemingly exasperated over Rappler’s chronic non-action, Carlos added:How can they say differently when clearly, every time that I release the data, we put something like that (a note) there? It's more like questioning and playing with the use of words. They interpret it differently (from) the intention of the one that crafted the policy. Bewildered by Rappler’s logic, Carlos said:If that's how (Rappler) sees it, then all crimes in 2016 before Duterte took office and in 2015 under a different leadership... ...so all of those are EJKs, going by their interpretation.” Camp Crame is the central headquarters of the Philippine National Police.Seemingly exasperated over Rappler’s chronic non-action, Carlos added:Bewildered by Rappler’s logic, Carlos said:Presumption of RegularityAccording to Carlos, 2,694 deaths resulted from legitimate police operations as of 05 April 2017, but they can neither be counted as extrajudicial killings nor summary executions because they were committed in the course of legitimate law enforcement operations.Killings committed in the course of law enforcement operations are considered as justifiable homicides on the ground of self-defense, in accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s oft-repeated directive:“Only if your life is in danger and the criminal is armed and hostile, shoot him [ TP: Deaths ].” Duterte’s directive is in line with established law enforcement practices. For example, the directive merely resonated T.F. Martin and L.L. Priar’s 1955 paper “Police Techniques in Gun Fights”, published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology [Shoot only when life is in danger or a vicious felon cannot be apprehended. In case of an escaping felon, shoot as a last resort and when all means of apprehension have failed. In case of a firearm assault against the police, always shoot to kill. Now, critics of Duterte’s War on Drugs may argue that some of the 2,694 deaths must be extrajudicial killings or summary executions. However, the legal principle of presumption of regularity applies.Presumption of regularity is a principle applied in evidentiary evaluation that transactions made in the normal course of business are assumed to have been conducted in the usual manner unless there is evidence to prove otherwise [ US Legal ]. That is, this globally-recognized legal principle implies that the 2,694 deaths are justifiable homicides, unless the critics manage to prove otherwise.The problem, however, is that these critics never even attempted to file a single case against any policeman. The judiciary has shown a history of openly defying the Chief Executive [In the absence of evidence showing abuse of authority on the PNP’s part, all these 2,694 deaths, except possibly for the death of Mayor Rolando Espinosa, are considered lawful.So how many EJKs or summary executions are there?One, at most, so far. Duterte’s directive is in line with established law enforcement practices. For example, the directive merely resonated T.F. Martin and L.L. Priar’s 1955 paper “Police Techniques in Gun Fights”, published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology [ Martin & Priar 1955, p. 401 ], which states:Now, critics of Duterte’s War on Drugs may argue that some of the 2,694 deaths must be extrajudicial killings or summary executions. However, the legal principle of presumption of regularity applies.That is, this globally-recognized legal principle implies that the 2,694 deaths are justifiable homicides, unless the critics manage to prove otherwise.The problem, however, is that these critics never even attempted to file a single case against any policeman. The judiciary has shown a history of openly defying the Chief Executive [ TP: Duterte vs Sereno ], so these critics cannot claim unwillingness of the courts to hear these cases.In the absence of evidence showing abuse of authority on the PNP’s part, all these 2,694 deaths, except possibly for the death of Mayor Rolando Espinosa, are considered lawful.So how many EJKs or summary executions are there?One, at most, so far.Why the international rage? Despite the lack of evidence, relying solely on Duterte’s fiery rhetoric, and without fully consulting the PNP, the opposition, led by vice-president Leni Robredo, propagated the grossly inaccurate death toll figure that “genius” Rappler employee Michael Bueza “computed”.Michael Bueza, the same “genius” who not-so-subtly insinuated that Bilibid inmates could not have contributed to Senator Leila de Lima’s campaign because they’re not on the contributor list.None of the contributors to the senator's 2016 campaign have been mentioned by the witnesses in the congressional inquiries on the reported drug trade inside Bilibid [ Rappler ]. Bueza is seriously a piece of work, along with his overlords Maria Ressa, Glenda Gloria, and Chay Hofileña, who allowed the publication of the article and its SEVENTY-FIVE updates.This is the problem when a local news outfit is funded by foreigners. They need not care about customer feedback, because no matter how much they hemorrhage money, they still got lots in store. Screw accountability, screw dismal social media performance: all Rappler needs is good Search Engine Optimization and it can spread its fake news far and wide [What's more worrisome is that NOBODY in mainstream media, except for the Manila Times, bothered to investigate this journalistic monstrosity.God invented lightning for a reason. Let me just leave it at that. [DONT FORGET TO SHARE! Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!Follow @iMthinkingPinoy RELATED POSTS:Despite the lack of evidence, relying solely on Duterte’s fiery rhetoric, and without fully consulting the PNP, the opposition, led by vice-president Leni Robredo, propagated the grossly inaccurate death toll figure that “genius” Rappler employee Michael Bueza “computed”.Michael Bueza, the same “genius” who not-so-subtly insinuated that Bilibid inmates could not have contributed to Senator Leila de Lima’s campaign because they’re not on the contributor list.Bueza is seriously a piece of work, along with his overlords Maria Ressa, Glenda Gloria, and Chay Hofileña, who allowed the publication of the article and its SEVENTY-FIVE updates.This is the problem when a local news outfit is funded by foreigners. They need not care about customer feedback, because no matter how much they hemorrhage money, they still got lots in store. Screw accountability, screw dismal social media performance: all Rappler needs is good Search Engine Optimization and it can spread its fake news far and wide [ TP: SPO4 Pia ].What's more worrisome is that NOBODY in mainstream media, except for the Manila Times, bothered to investigate this journalistic monstrosity.God invented lightning for a reason. Let me just leave it at that. [ ThinkingPinoy Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!When Duterte said Filipinos aren’t inherently good in math, I think he was referring to Rappler's employees.In September 2016, Rappler published Michael Bueza’s “ IN NUMBERS: The Philippines' 'war on drugs’ ”, which supposedly serves as a tally of the deaths resulting from President Rody Duterte’s War on Drugs. Bueza has updated the list 75 times since September 2016, with the latest version (the 75th update) dated 07 April 2017.On the 75th update, Bueza, citing “revised PNP data”, came up with a total of 7,080 casualties by combining 2,555; 3,603; and 922, which are the deaths from police operations, DUIs, and concluded investigations, respectively.Rappler’s tally has so far been used by various international news agencies as the basis for the death toll of Duterte’s War on Drugs. It has been quoted by major organizations such as the [Financial Times , [ Newsweek , the [ Guardian , and even the [ New York Times , and it has also been used as the basis for a [Human Rights Watch ] report and a [ European Parliament ] resolution.And most importantly, Vice-president Leni Robredo herself used this figure in a video address shown in a UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs side event, the same video that was featured on [ Time ] Magazine last month.Yes, that’s how oft-cited Rappler’s article is, so let’s ask a simple question that few mainstream journalists chronically fail to ask:"
8591,"Two sub-leaders of extremist and a combatant were killed, while two civilians and a soldier were killed in an encounter between troops belonging to the 49th Infantry battalion and fought terrorists from the Daulah Islamiya/ISIS Maute group in the town of Sultan Dumalondong in Lanao del Sur, around 5:20 morning of Thursday.The encounter resulted in the killing of Daulah Islamiyah/ISIS Maute group sub-leaders identified as Mobarak Manalao, and Popular and a still unidentified cohort.They were said to be operating under Owayda Benito Marohombsar, alias Abu Dar, a new emir of ISIS in Southeast Asia, replacing Isnilon Hapilon who was killed in the Marawi siege last year.There were two other civilian casualties and one soldier killed-in-action.Recovered were two (2) M16 rifles, one (1) long magazines, five (5) shorts magazines, one (1 ) Improvised Explosive Device (IED) with triggering device, seventeen (17) celfones, two (2) tablets, one (1) ICOM radio and one (1) rifle scope.Joint Task Force Ranao deputy commander Colonel Romeo Brawner, Jr., conveyed his condolences to the berieved families of the civilians who were caught in the cross fire.“It was very unfortunate that our citizens have to go through this incident again brought about by elements of the Maute-ISIS group,” Brawner said.“We are assuring the people that your Philippine Army will do everything to capture or neutralize the perpetrators of the killing of innocent civilians”, he said.“We also express our condolences to the family of our killed soldier. He is indeed a hero who has paid the ultimate sacrifice so that our brother and sister Maranaos can live in a peaceful environment”, stated Brawner."
8600,"Philippines Senator Antonio Trillanes says he going to file a lawsuit against British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for a recent interview he had with Stephen Sackur of ‘Hardtalk.’During that live interview, a video of which has now gone viral across the globe, Sackur pulverized every comment and response Trillanes made regarding questions about the Philippines and President Rodrigo Duterte.The wide-ranging interview covered topics from Martial Law, to Coups to Crystal Meth (which Trillanes seemed to have mistaken to be marijuana.)“BBC is nothing but fake news,” Trillanes said, “and they must have been paid by Duterte supporters to have me insulted over and over by Sackur.”Since Trillanes cannot sue Sackur because the latter is not a Filipino citizen, the senator says he will fly to The Hague to file his complaint before the International Criminal Court (ICC).When asked by The Adobo Chronicles what his basis was for suing BBC and Sackur, he replied, “Crimes against my humanity.”"
8610,"Newly-installed Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao regrets having been elected by 16 million Filipinos and wants to return to his boxing career as early as this fall.The Philippines Daily Inquirer is reporting that Top Rank CEO Bob Arum told Boxingscene.com that Pacquiao is looking for another opponent for a possible return fight and is working with Senate President Franklin Drilon to figure out how to go on a leave of absence to train.The champion boxer and former top absentee congressman was originally slated to fight Adrien Broner but the American asked for a price Arum can’t afford.Top Rank has made a pencil reservation for October 15 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for Pacquiao’s possible return.The Adobo Chronicles caught up with Pacquiao while he was jogging around the Elliptical Circle in Quezon City and asked him what his longer term plans were.The senator said that because he was elected by the people, it would not be kosher for him to voluntarily step down. “I’m meeting with Senator (and former Aquino administration Justice Secretary) Leila de Lima who promised to help by initiating impeachment proceedings against me. Until such time, I will have to be absent from my senate duties to train and prepare for my next fight,” Pacquiao said."
8620,"For security reasons, I can't publish a screenie of that post on this website. However, here's a similar post that I wrote in ThinkingPinoy's Facebook Page:Nanlilimos ng bigas ang mga gutom na gutom na magsasaka. Imbes na palamunin ng kanin, pinalamon niyo ng bala.Ang bayan...Posted by The Thinking Pinoy on Friday, April 1, 20162 Friends Discuss the Kidapawan CarnageLumad killings in Northeastern Mindanao? Because Lumads don't want miners around. AFP uses paramilitary forces to terrorize them, blames the murders on NPA. Roxas is a known supporter of at least one mining crony, and he owns shares in at least 7 mining companies.Manobo Refugee to then-Sec. Mar Roxas: 'Soldiers are killing us'Roxas: So anong nangyari dun?Manobo Refugee: Bale...Posted by The Thinking Pinoy on Thursday, March 31, 2016(Learn more about Roxas' links with the mining industry. Read ""Roxas and Corruption: Campaign Planes, Election Spending, Mining Interests and Lumad Rights"")Isang TV5 report sa SR Metals, na pagmamay-ari ng ""kaibigan"" ni Roxas na siya namang nagpahiram ng mga eroplanong...Posted by The Thinking Pinoy on Thursday, February 25, 2016THROWBACK THURSDAY: HACIENDA LUISITA MASSACRE [PLEASE SHARE]Warning: Extremely Graphic Content On 16 November 2004,...Posted by The Thinking Pinoy on Wednesday, March 2, 2016(Learn more about Liberal Party. Check ""How to get away with Plunder"")(TP has written about how Roxas betrayed human advocates by forging alliances with the exact same people that they are fighting against. To know more, read: Keeping Things in Perspective: Political Corruption and the Presidentiables"")DISCOVERY CHANNEL: GANG LEADERS RUN BILIBID, RUB ELBOWS WITH PNOY, DE LIMA [PLS SHARE]Host: Wait ‘till you see what he...Posted by The Thinking Pinoy on Friday, February 26, 2016[A Liberal Party Senator]It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it. - Upton SinclairIn response to this post, one of my respected friends (Let's call him NC) replied to the post. Note that I have inserted some notes in some parts of the conversation to provide you, the reader, with a bit of context.So here we go.: I am sorry TP, but why the automaticity? In as much as they are LP, do you really think all of their actions are influenced and/or directed by Mar?: Either so, or he's so toothless that he can't control his own party, despite him being LP's president.: By extension then, are you conceding that all the bigotry, bullying, and misdemeanors of Duterte supporters (or of any candidate for that matter) is influenced by their standard bearer? I get that you're frustrated, mad even, I am too, but I hope we don't lose our rationality.: We are talking about LP party members killing starving farmers. We are talking about people in power. By what stretch of imagination did Duterte supporters enter the picture? Are Duterte supporters in charge of the police? Do they have considerable power over public funds? Are Duterte supporters in power?The culture of impunity is deeply embedded in this administration.Hacienda Luisita Massacre? I don't need to explain that anymore. Mendiola Massacre? I don't need to explain that anymore.: Roxas allies with these people, even going as far as ditching human rights advocates like Panlilio and Padaca to support the Pinedas and the Dys. The list goes on and on and on.Your vote for Roxas is complicity to these atrocities. So no, NC, no.: How convenient to invoke these examples as if that is attributable to him and him alone. Blame the perpetrators, do not generalize. Your generalization will only hold water if you can prove that to be part of the party, one needs to kill. I don't think that's the case.: The Liberal Party. Who is it's standard bearer?: For example, I murdered your mother. If I murdered your mother, then Roxas did not murder your mother, as I am not Roxas. Then 2 years from now, Roxas allies with me, despite his full knowledge that I murdered your mother. Are you ok with that?: Come on, TP. An investigation is already being conducted. Sobriety is asked in times of crisis, so problems can be solved.: Yes, the same kind of investigation done on Mendiola and Hacienda Luisita. Years and years of investigation and nothing.Let's just be thankful that we ended up with pretty decent opportunities. Because if we were helpless starving farmers, you would be singing a different tune.: Crying foul for a culture of impunity? Hmmm. Pot calling the kettle black? TP, I get you. You want accountability. We all want accountability. All I am asking is sobriety in putting the blame. Or at least, if you're going to blame people, you apply the same logic to everyone, ie supporters or agents of Duterte (death squad, etc).: Here's the issue, NC. I apply the same logic to anyone.If Duterte indeed commits extrajudicial killings, why has the CHR failed to file even a single against him? I am not even asking for a conviction, I just want a case filed.Is Daang Matuwid that inutile? Or is the fact that Roxas even asked Duterte to be his vice-president evidence of his complicity with Duterte's alleged deeds?Even the past administration, where his archnemesis Nograles was the powerful House Speaker, was unable to dig up anything to warrant probable cause.Homicidal rhetoric is what it is: rhetoric.I'd rather stick with someone who claims he kills criminals, than someone who actually lets his allies kill starving farmers.: I know you don't like him, but let's be fair. Don't vote for him. The guy's not omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. He has his lapses, but let's not blame him for everything, because that's just unfair.: For the sake of argument, consider the worst case scenario: both Duterte and Roxas commit, or allow other to commit, extrajudicial killings. Even Roxas would admit that Duterte targets alleged criminals. Roxas, on the other hand, lets others target starving impoverished farmers.Now in these situations where choosing a candidate is about choosing the lesser evil, the optimal choice is pretty clear.: Impressive argument, but alam mo, I am not asking you to vote for Mar or even to consider him. I know you already made up your mind.All I am asking is fairness and sobriety in the statements we make. Kasi if you generalize that LP is a lean, mean, killing party, then Panlilio, Padaca, Hontiveros, de Lima, at iba pang matino sa LP ay killers din, and I don't think that's the case.: NC, Roxas-LP has already betrayed Panlilio and Padaca. I'll give you Risa Hontiveros, she's decent as far as I know. De Lima rubs elbows with gang lords in jail. Don't be clueless, you're part of that organization.: Which organization? I don't get it.: You work for. NC, ‘wag na paikutin pa.: I am not attacking you or your candidate or whoever.: Yes, I know.: This is not an endorsement of Mar, either.: You're correct. It's wrong to blame Mar the human being. But it's correct to blame Mar the Liberal Party President.This handwashing culture of LP is the exact reason why impunity pervades PH society. Haven't you heard about bottom-up budgeting? Are these LP-supported LGUs the kind of people you want to facilitate BuB?: I just do not agree with the automaticity of blaming Mar. Maybe he is partly to blame, maybe he's not, but who are we to judge?: We are the electorate. That gives us the right to judge. Do you seriously think that voting for Mar means voting for Mar alone? Don't be naive.: I am a part of the technical staff. I work for my boss, I do not work for the party. Again, generalization.: Jesus Christ, NC.: So if Mar punishes the candidate under LP who facilitated this (if proven) will you be okay with it then? Or are you then going to spin it as a ""handwashing culture""? There's no winning in this e. I am curious, what course of action do you expect the party to do?: You miss the point. This carnage is but another instance of the kind of corruption that is present within LPs ranks. Whether Mar rectifies or not is not the urgent issue. The question is will he be able to clean LP by June 30? Despite the entire corrupt ARMM LGUs, despite the Pinedas of Pampanga, despite the Dys of Isabela, despite the Ortegas of La Union?Mar is known to go Pontius Pilate when things get fucked up (leaving Erap's admin, leaving Gloria's, Mamasapano, Yolanda). I did not want to explain this anymore, but I have respect for your opinion. Note, however, that recently, some of them smell like shit.: There's no winning in this e. I am curious, what course of action do you expect the party to do?: Withdraw Mar's candidacy and go straight to hell. NC, I rest my case with this:"
8631,"A VEHICLE bearing the “8” protocol plate used by a civilian in a road rage incident in Angeles City, Pampanga this week was recovered by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) on Friday morning.Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo, director of PNP-HPG, said the Toyota FJ-Cruiser, owned by Jojo Valerio, was retrieved by a tracker team along Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City at 3 a.m., with Valerio’s girlfriend at the wheel.The roof and parts of the front bumper of the SUV that were originally white were covered with a black sticker and the “8” protocol plate was changed back to its regular license plate AVA8781, Fajardo said.He said Valerio, who was involved in a traffic altercation, whose video went viral, had the intention to confuse authorities, noting that changing the color of his vehicle even violated the law.The PNP-HPG is still looking for the missing “8” protocol plate that Valerio had used.“Of course, if you’re a criminal, you will hide, destroy, or burn it. Hopefully, he surrenders [the protocol plate],” Fajardo said.The “8” protocol plate is reserved only for members of the House of Representatives.Valerio was arrested on Thursday morning but was later released after he posted bail.He works as an entertainer who tried to pass himself off as a relative of one of the members of the House."
8641,"The damage from Typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu), which struck Luzon last week, had ballooned to P9 billion, the national disaster office said Friday.The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Lando caused P9,428,796,667.93 in agriculture and infrastructure, making it the most destructive typhoon to hit the country so far this year.The NDRRMC said damage to agriculture and livestock came up to P8,242,946,236.93, while damage to infrastructure reached P1,185,850,431.As of yesterday, the death toll had climbed to 46, with 82 people injured and five others still missing.The NDRRMC also monitored 498 typhoon-related incidents in the past week, with 479 floods noted in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).Around 295,835 families, or 1,407,805 people, were affected by the typhoon all over Luzon; 24,022 families, or 108,688 people, were still in 424 evacuation centers as of Friday.So far, the government has given P27,664,278.98 worth of relief assistance to typhoon victims, the NDRRMC said.It said two provinces, one city and nine towns were placed under a state of calamity.The agency also reported that hundreds of schools all over Luzon, including Metro Manila, were damaged in the typhoon.It said 751 schools were affected, 240 of them destroyed and 511 partially damaged.Central Luzon—parts of which are still submerged in floods—had the most number of destroyed schools, 86, while Cagayan Valley had the most number of partially damaged schools, 279.The typhoon also affected 26,124 houses in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the CAR, of which 3,203 were destroyed and 22,921 partially damaged.Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) had the most number of destroyed houses, 1,225, mostly in Quezon province.Central Luzon had the most number of partially damaged houses, 8,489. Nueva Ecija province registered the highest figure in the region, with 6,410 partially damaged houses.The government has begun clearing roads of landslides and debris carried by flash floods. As of Friday, the number of unpassable roads went down to 92, while 11 bridges remained impassable.Sailings have resumed. Only eight passengers and three motorboats remain stranded at the Aparri port because of rough seas.On Friday, Sen. Ralph Recto proposed that typhoon victims be taken into the government’s conditional cash transfer program so they would have a steady source of assistance until they can get back on their feet.The program provides a monthly cash assistance to the poorest families, given in exchange for sending their children to school and pregnant women submitting themselves for regular checkups.Recto said a certain percentage of the allocation for the program should be reserved yearly for calamity victims.“Calamity victims should not live from one relief bag to another. One of the best forms of aid is the [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program] because it is regular, guaranteed and sustained. That is the program that will really tide them over, [as] it is not temporary or short-term,” Recto said in a statement.He said calamity victims should receive help also from other government programs like the “cash-for-work” in the reconstruction effort and free seeds in the rehabilitation of agriculture.Recto said a portion of the 2016 budget for the Conditional Cash Transfer program could be set aside for the victims of Typhoon Lando.He said it had been done in the 2014 budget, with the Senate allocating funds for 20,000 victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan), which ravaged Eastern Visayas in November 2013.The proposed 2016 cash transfer budget is P62.67 billion. The bulk will go to 4.4 million families under the regular program, while P3.3 billion of the fund would be set aside for more than 218,000 families under the modified program. The modified program covers homeless families and indigenous peoples.Recto said a new category could be made for calamity victims, or 2 percent of the annual ceiling could be earmarked for them.Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Escudero said many local government units were apparently unaware that they could access a P1-billion People’s Survival Fund (PSF) that they could use for programs and projects to deal with the effects of climate change.In a statement, Escudero urged local officials to submit proposals for projects to mitigate and deal with extreme weather events to the Climate Change Commission, the secretariat of the PSF board which would choose which programs to fund.RELATED STORIES‘Lando’ death toll rises to 46; damage amounts to P9.4 billionLando wreaks damage even before landfall"
8651,"Ang pagkapagod, dahil na rin sa paspasang larong ginagawa ng Aces, ang nakikitang isang dahilan ni Alaska coach Alex Compton kung kaya nakuha nilang itabla ang serye sa 3-3 sa pamamagitan ng 87-76 panalo nila sa Game Six. ""The big thing for us was the minutes that their guys had to play,"" ani Compton. ""When you play against a team that plays the way that we do, nakakapagod talaga."" ""I really think that as athlete, you tire sometimes and I thought that let them miss some shots and not making plays they normally make,"" dagdag pa ni Compton. Sinang-ayunan naman ito ni coach Leo Austria ng Beermen, ngunit naroon din ang kanyang pag-amin na may halong sobrang tiwala ang kanyang mga manlalaro sa nakalipas na laro. ""Maybe tama 'yung iba na napagod, 'yung mga player namin,"" ani Austria. ""Siyempre you're aiming for the championship medyo mataas ang adrenaline at emotions,puwedeng naubos agad. Then we were running out of fuel sa second half kasi makikita naman 'yung Alaska, from start to finish hindi nagbago ang intensity nila. At saka medyo naging complacent din kami when we're leading."""
8660,"Just hours after American singer-songwriter James Taylor announced that he had cancelled a scheduled concert in the Philippines, he confirmed with The Adobo Chronicles that he had accepted an invitation from the Donald Trump inaugural committee to perform during the president-elect’s inauguration.The inaugural committee has had a very difficult time booking artists and performers for the January 20 event. No one wanted to be associated with the Trump inaugural.Taylor’s acceptance comes as a big relief for Trump. The president-elect tweeted his appreciation for the 70’s folk singer who, incidentally, is a known Democrat.Taylor cancelled his Manila concert scheduled in February, claiming that it was in protest of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and the alleged extra-judicial killings that prompted his withdrawal from his Philippines appearance.Many believe, however, that the real reason Taylor cancelled was because of dismal ticket sales."
8670,"Sa isang pambihirang pagkakataon, umamin na ang pinakamataas na opisyal ng simbahanag katoliko tungkol sa nangyayaring pang-aabusong seksuwal ng ilang pari. Sa kanyang pakikipag-usap sa ilang reporters, inamin ni Pope Francis na mayroong mga kaso ng mga madre na inabuso ng mga pari at obispo. Humahantong pa raw ito sa sexual slavery. ""Pope Benedict had the courage to dissolve a female congregation which was at a certain level, because this slavery of women had entered it - slavery, even to the point of sexual slavery - on the part of clerics or the founder,""< sabi ni Pope Francis Sinabi ito ni Pope Francis matapos ang kanyang makasaysayang pagbiyahe sa Middle East noong Martes. Ginagawan na raw ng paraan ng simbahan para resolbahin ang nasabing isyu. Sa katunayan, mayroon na raw nasuspending mga pari. Ayon sa ulat ng BBC, mayroon kaso sa India kung saan ang isang madre ay 13 beses ginahasa ng obispo. Pinaimbestigahan naman ng Vatican ang ilang ulat ng pang-aabuso ng mga pari sa mga madre sa bansang Chile. Nai-ulat din ng Associated Press News Agency noong nakaraang taon ang mga kaso ng pang-aabuso sa Italy at Africa. Mayroon din mga ulat na pwesahan pinalalaglag sa mga madre ang nagiging supling ng paring nakabuntis sa kanila. Magugunitang madalas banatan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang mga alagad ng simbahan sa Pilipinas. Source: BBC | WION"
8681,"A HOUSE panel has approved a substitute bill creating an Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (eVOSS), which streamlines the process of securing the necessary permits for power generation projects.The House Committee on Energy unanimously adopted the bill, which guarantees the consumer’s access to quality and secure electrical power at a reasonable cost through measures that ensure supply meeting demand in a timely manner.The bill helps power project proponents by improving the ease of doing business, as well as bringing down steep transaction costs associated with the numerous requisites for such projects.It also improves the transparency and accountability in the process of approving power projects as a means to deliver efficient and effective service to the public.By eliminating duplication, redundancy and overlapping mandates in the submission and processing of requirements, the bill would help ensure timely completion of energy projects.The Department of Energy (DoE) will be mandated to supervise the eVOSS, which is an online system that allows the single submission and synchronous processing or required data and information.The eVOSS will also provide a single decision-making avenue for actions on applications for permits and certifications.It recognizes the legal effect and validity of electronic documents submitted in relation to applications for permits and certificates for power generation, transmission, sub-transmission or distribution projects.An online payment system for applications and a secure paperless processing system will be used for convenience of project proponents.A unified permitting process, uniform templates for electronic documentary requirements and simplified manner of compliance with mandated processing time, as well as the updating and monitoring of electronic documentary requirements, are among its advantages.An eVOSS Coordinating Council will be created, with the Energy Secretary as the chairman and the Information and Communications Technology Secretary as the vice chairman.Members will also include the Secretaries of Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Trade and Industry, as well as the Energy Regulatory Commission chairman and the administrators of the National Electrification Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.The council will also include one representative each from the generation, transmission and distribution sectors and end-users.These representatives shall be nominated by the sector concerned and chosen by the DoE to serve for a term of three years.From the current appropriations of the DoE, P50 million will be allocated for the initial implementation of the law."
8691,"Ayon kay Tolentino nananatili sa kritikal na kondisyon ang traffic constable na si Sonny Acosta sa intensive care unit ng Saint Luke's Medical Center sa lungsod ng Quezon sanhi ng pamumuo ng dugo sa ilalim ng utak. Inihayag ng opisyal na sinita ni Acosta ang Isuzu Sportivo (AABA 197) na pag-aari ni Dante F. Borguete, residente ng Guillermo Village San Miguel sa Bulacan, dahil wala sa tamang linya ang sasakyan. Ipinasok ni Acosta ang kamay nito sa loob ng Sportivo upang hingin ang lisensiya ni Borguete subalit bigla umanong isinara ang bintana bago pinasibad ang sasakyan dahilan upang makaladkad ng ilang metro saka humampas ang ulo ng traffic constable sa ilalim ng nasabing sasakyan. Ibinalita ni Tolentino na naaresto ng mga tauhan ng Bulacan Police si Borguete at nakadetine ngayon sa Camp Karingal."
8700,"A video showing a man being collared and slapped by a woman inside an MRT train has been making the rounds on social media Saturday, August 5, 2017. The person who posted the video said the man was a pervert who touched a female passenger. The apparent victim did not let it slip and confronted the perpetrator by ripping his shirt and introducing her palms to his face repeatedly.The woman can be seen trying to drag the man outside of the train presumably because she do not want to cause further inconvenience other commuters than her confrontation with the man already did. ""Lumabas ka"", she demanded repeatedly but the man won't oblige and said ""Pumasok ka na lang"". The woman had the way of it though after other passengers added their voice to hers threatening the man that they would push him outside if he would go on his own accord.The security guard eventually stepped in leaving the alleged pervert no choice but to step off the train.We condemn all violence against women especially those done in public but what made this video more interesting is the boy with the cap on. During the commotion, the sneaky little man saw the opportunity to make a living and took it. He fished something out of the pocket of the man that was being slapped by the woman. It was crazy! The perv fell victim to sneaky thief which makes him a perpetrator and a victim at the same time. Mind blowing lol.Go watch the video closely below:"
8711,"""Ang bongga rito, ni-restore sa high definition ang mga mapapanood na pelikula, ang Anak na dinirek ni Rory Quintos; Kapag Langit Ang Humatol directed by Laurice Guillen at Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa? ni Direk Chito Rono,""sabi ni Jojo."
8721,"Inihayag kamakailan ni Lady Gaga na engaged na siya sa bida ng Chicago Fire na si Taylor Kinney. Sa isang litrato ay nakita ang singer, kasama ang walang damit pang-itaas na si Taylor habang magkasamang papunta sa lawa. Lumublob din si Vince Vaughn. Nakasuot ang tubong Lake Forest ng Chicago Blackhawks jersey at jeans. Noong una ay hanggang tuhod lang lumubog ang aktor, hanggang sa unti-unti siyang lumublob sa nagyeyelong lawa. Noong nakaraang taon ay lumublob din sa lawa ang komedyanteng si Jimmy Fallon habang nakasuot ng suit and tie, at nakatulong siya sa paglikom ng mahigit $1 million."
8730,"from its roots and trunk to its bark, fruit, flower and shell.The Coconut Palace has been a guesthouse for many guests, including Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, Brooke Shields and George Hamilton.On the fifth season fifth season of the reality series The Amazing Race, the Coconut Palace served as the pit stop when the competing teams went to Manila.Binay and his family are known for their passion for structures that cost tons of money. Binay and his son, Makati City Mayor Junjun, are the subject of controversy and investigation for the new, overpriced Makati City Hall which began construction when the older Binay was mayor of Makati.According to complaints, the Makati City government allocated P2.7 billion for the construction of the project when it only declared P1.5 billion as the total cost of the project.Binay said that being near Manila Bay would make it easier for me to flee the country in the event of another People’s Revolution, referring to the citizen movement that drove Ferdinand Marcos out of power and into exile. The Coconut Palace is located relatively close to the U.S. Embassy in Manila and that certainly accounts for something."
8741,"President Duterte’s nomination of controversial Gina Lopez as secretary of environment and natural resources has failed to fly with lawmakers on the Commission on Appointments.Voting 16-8 through secret balloting, the commission’s committee on environment and natural resources headed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao rejected Lopez’s nomination on Wednesday.Pacquiao, whose committee held hearings to determine Lopez’s qualifications, announced the outcome of the vote at a session of the full commission “with sadness in my heart.”A supporter of Lopez, Pacquiao said the deliberations were “perhaps the longest, [most] dramatic and most watched by all Filipinos from all walks of life.”Pacquiao did not identify the committee members who voted to reject Lopez.For and againstAside from Pacquiao, seven other senators were known supporters of Lopez—Vicente Sotto III, Loren Legarda, JV Ejercito, Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto and Bam Aquino.That means the 16 other members of the panel voted against Lopez—Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson, Gregorio Honasan and Juan Miguel Zubiri and Representatives Benhur Saalimbangon, Joel Almario, Antonio Floirendo Jr., Wes Gatchalian, Roy Loyola, Rosenda Ann Ocampo, Josephine Sato, Ronaldo Zamora, Rodolfo Albano III, Abraham Tolentino, Julieta Cortuna and Jerry Treñas.Zamora told reporters later that all 24 members participated in the secret balloting and that there was no debate during the deliberations, just a discussion of procedures.“It is not enough that you have passion for the job. It is not enough that you have certain convictions. It’s important, too, that you have every minimum of qualifications for the job,” he said.“Many of us were uncertain that she had that. In the end, [we decided that] something as important as this (the environment job) should not be left in untested hands,” he said.The lawmakers’ decision forced Lopez out of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), ending a 10-month tenure during which she nearly shut the mining industry of the Philippines, the world’s biggest exporter of nickel.Lopez became the second nominee of Mr. Duterte to be rejected by Congress. In March, the lawmakers rejected the nomination of Perfecto Yasay Jr. as foreign secretary because of his uncertain citizenship.No replacement yetMalacañang said it respected the lawmakers’ decision, but paid tribute to Lopez’s accomplishments during her brief tenure at the DENR.“She has contributed a lot of meaningful insights into the environment and the Philippine environmental situation, and it is with deep concern that the [Commission on Appointments] has seen fit to reject her appointment,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters.“On the other hand, it is a democratic process and we respect their decision and so we would just like at this stage to leave it at that,” he added.Abella said no one had been chosen yet to replace Lopez.Lawyer Mark Kristopher Tolentino, whom Mr. Duterte’s party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan had endorsed for the environment post, may be “one name among many” that may be considered in the search for a replacement for Lopez, he said.In a talk with reporters, Lopez suggested that President Duterte take her place at the DENR.The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), which vigorously opposed Lopez’s nomination, thanked the lawmakers for their decision.“[We are] thankful to the commission for the speedy resolution of Ms. Lopez’s nomination,” COMP vice president Ronald Recidoro said in a statement.“This is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new chapter for the mining industry,” Recidoro said. “We will have to work doubly hard to uplift the industry.”Recidoro said the chamber would seek the reversal of Lopez’s controversial orders.“We feel that those have no legal foundation,” he said. “There were no proper consultations held. And more important, it’s really out to kill the mining industry.”Mining shares reboundMining shares sizzled on the stock market on Wednesday after lawmakers’ decision became known.Bucking the downturn on the stock market, the mining/oil index gained 2.73 percent to close at 12,772.81.It was the only subindex that stayed afloat on Wednesday while the local stock barometer slipped by 0.27 percent.The biggest gainers in the sector were Apex Mining, Benguet Corp. A and B shares and Oriental Peninsula Resources, which surged by 18.24 percent, 15 percent and 13.19 percent, respectively.Bright Kindle Resources, a holding company that owns 32.94 percent of nickel miner Marcventures Holdings Inc., rose by 12 percent while Marcventures itself gained 4.06 percent.Lepanto Consolidated edged higher by 8.42 percent while affiliate Manila Mining rose by 8.33 percent.A committed environmentalist, Lopez was selected by Mr. Duterte because of her record as an activist dedicated to the poor, which included cleaning up the Pasig river that flows through the heart of Manila, reforestation work and safeguarding areas of biodiversity.But Lopez, locking horns with the mining industry and other members of Mr. Duterte’s Cabinet, ordered the closure of 23 mines located in watersheds, suspension of five others and the cancellation of 75 mining contracts.Last week, Lopez also banned open-pit mining.‘I believe I can fly’In a news conference after the appointments commission’s session, Lopez thanked the lawmakers “who voted according to their conscience.”“It’s unfortunate that business interests have in fact run the day because that’s really what it is,” she said.“It is the constitutional right of every Filipino to a clean and healthy environment. It is our right in the Constitution, and that is premier above all, it is the duty of [the] government to grant our people this right, and when people make choices, influence based on interest, transgressing the rights of every Filipino to what God has given them, it is wrong,” she said.Lopez closed the news conference by singing some lines from her favorite song, “I Believe I Can Fly,” with some of her staff members."
8751,"A lawyer has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate how international export firm Marsman-Drysdale Corporation used one of his dormant companies to facilitate a series of unexplained and possibly fraudulent bank transactions worth US$21 million (around P1 billion) from 2007 to 2018.Antero Sison Jr., owner of Oro del Mar Aquatic Resources Inc. (Odmar), told the NBI that he learned about the Marsman officials’ transactions only when he retired early this year and that he was shocked to find the staggering amount of money that passed through his company.“I am alarmed by the magnitude of the amount deposited and withdrawn in the name of my dormant corporation which I believed might expose me to money laundering and possible tax evasion. It is for this reason that I am seeking the help of your office to immediately investigate these transactions in order to make those responsible punished,” Sison said in a letter dated May 17.“I am seriously concerned that these transactions could possibly be illegal, fraudulent and/or done with criminal intent, in breach and abuse done with criminal intent, in breach and abuse of my trust and confidence when I allowed them to use my corporation for legitimate purposes,” he added.Sison said he executed a waiver on the bank accounts so the NBI can conduct a thorough investigation.Lawyer Nathaniel Ramos, officer in charge of the NBI’s antigraft division, said a probe was underway and that those named by Sison were asked to submit their counteraffidavits.He said the bank was also asked to submit the transaction records of the accounts in question.But Marsman, in a statement to the Inquirer, called Santos’ claim “wild and false” and said it would cooperate with the NBI in its investigation.“The Marsman Group of Companies has acted and will always act within the strict confines of the law. In fact, this is what our lawyer of over 40 years, Atty. Antero Sison Jr., has always assured Marsman, its board of directors and officers regarding the transactions he now casts doubt on,’’ Marsman said.“It is thus surprising and shocking that after Atty. Sison was separated from Marsman this year, he started making these wild and false accusations against the very corporations where he was no less than president, board member and tax counsel,” it added.Sison said Odmar was incorporated as a family corporation in 1987 to operate a farm in Cadiz, Negros Occidental, that exported prawn to Japan. He said he stopped Odmar’s operations in 1995 because he could not compete with prawn farms in neighboring Asian countries that were subsidized by their governments.Sison said Odmar was incorporated as a family corporation in 1987 which he and his wife used to operate a prawn farm in Cadiz, Negros Occidental for export to the Japanese market. In 1995, Sison said he stopped Odmar’s operations because he could not compete with prawn farms in neighboring Asian countries that were subsidized by their governments.Sison said Odmar became inactive and dormant until Marsman’s vice president, Eduardo B. Castillo asked him in late 2007 “if I had a corporation which was inactive that he could use to facilitate transactions without directly involving the Marsman Drysdale Group of Companies and its affiliates.’’“In good faith, I consented to Mr. Castillo’s request to have Odmar used to facilitate these transactions, on the assumption that the transactions would be legitimate and would not expose me or my dormant corporation to any government investigation,” Sison said.Sison was president of Marsman from 2006 until January 2018 when he retired. That was when he asked the Marsman officials to return Odmar and its documents to him.On its company website, Marsman Drysdale Group described itself as a “diversified Philippine-based synergy of companies with interests in the export of agribusiness products, medical equipment, travel and tourism, and mining.” The firm has businesses located in Metro Manila, the Bicol region, Davao del Norte and Guimaras with a 3,000-strong workforce.Marsman said it is known internationally for its export-quality bananas, with its 1,000-hectare farm in Davao having produced the local industry’s highest production record of 6,000 million boxes in 1999. Marsman also has a mango plantation n Guimaras and is only one of two major producers of asparagus in the country.Sison said after he agreed, Castillo instructed Marsman-Drysdale lawyer Enrique Dimaano to prepare secretary’s certificates for the opening of three foreign currency accounts in the name of Odmar with the Bank of Philippine Islands in Ayala-Paseo branch.Sison, in his affidavit, said the authorized signatories, were himself as Odmar president; Castillo, and Jesus Pedro S. Adan II, vice president and chief financial officer. Another Marsman officer, Emily A. Medina, was named Odmar representative authorized to confirm check deposits and other transactions. He said another account was opened at BPI, with another Marsman officer Dorothy Isabel Drysdale as additional signatory.Sison said the secretary’s certificates were not supported by any minutes of meetings or resolutions of the board.However, in more than 70 bank transactions that took place from 2007 to 2018, Marsman-Drysdale never informed Sison what the transactions were about.Sison said when he retired from Marsman early this year, he asked Dimaano to return to him all the records of Odmar. But Dimaano did not turn over records of the BPI transactions.“I had to make a personal request myself to the – branch for copies of records of transactions involving these – accounts. When I reviewed the transactions made – I was shocked to discover that from 2007 to 2018, there were approximately US$21 million remitted into the accounts, in which substantial amounts encashed by Ms. Emily Medina, some funds transferred to the other accounts, and some converted for deposit to the peso current accounts,” Sison said.Sison said that since Castillo and Adan were senior Marsman officers, he “can only surmise that the instructions given by them to the foreign banks to remit the US dollars into the FCDU BPI accounts in the name of Odmar were made upon orders of the chairman of Marsman, Mr. George M. Drysdale, who has the sole authority to decide financial matters concerning the Marsman Group of Companies.Sison said he was “totally unaware of where the funds remitted to the BPI accounts of Odmar came from’’ and that he had no knowledge of who got the funds from the accounts.He said neither he nor his wife ever received any compensation for allowing Odmar to be used by the Marsman officials.Sison asked the NBI to “investigate the nature and purpose of these financial transactions, and to clear myself of any civil or criminal liabilities’’ if the transactions turned out to be fraudulent.“I executed a waiver so that the NBI can investigate,’’ Sison told the Inquirer."
8760,"China and Philippine talks will center on improving the bilateral relations, friendship and cooperation of the two countries.The relationship of China and PH become bitter because of the West Philippine Sea dispute and the Duterte administration promised that they would not give the WPH to the Chinese.President Duterte will meet the Filipino Community in Beijing to address some of the problems of our country and how can he solve it.Duterte and his camp will stay in a historic hotel in Beijing China where other foreign dignitaries who visited China stay."
8771,"Cebu businessman Peter Lim on Monday night denied he knew Kerwin Espinosa and blasted the confessed narcotics kingpin for dragging his name into the illegal drug trade in the Visayas.In an interview with the Inquirer, Lim denied involvement in the drug trade and said President Duterte and Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa were deceived by Espinosa.“How could we believe a criminal, someone who is into illegal drugs? We can’t believe what Kerwin is saying,” Lim said.“I think [the] PNP chief was misled by Kerwin and his bodyguards. And I think President Duterte was also misinformed and misled,” he added.Lim denied he was the drug lord Peter Lim and urgedthe authorities to investigate deeper and find the real narcotics dealer.Who’s the real Peter Lim?“Somebody is behind all these lies. I think Kerwin is protecting some people, including the real Peter Lim,” Lim said.Asked who he thought was behind the disinformation, Lim said: “It might be the real Peter Lim, who is a Chinese national, who comes in and out of the country as earlier mentioned by the President.”Lim, 71, said he began to fear for his life after Dela Rosa told a Senate inquiry on Monday that Mr. Duterte had ordered the PNP to build up a case against him and to kill him if he resisted arrest.Lim met with Mr. Duterte in Davao City in July, days afterthe President publicly identified him as one of the three biggest drug dealers in the country.The other two were identified as Wu Tuan, alias Peter Co, and Herbert Colanggo, alias Ampang.Dela Rosa: He’s the oneThe Peter Lim identified by Mr. Duterte used the alias Jaguar, but Justice SecretaryVitaliano Aguirre II later clarified that he was not the same Jaguar who was killed in a gunfight with police in Parañaque City on June 18. That Jaguar was the drug dealer Jeffrey Diaz, Aguirre said.The Peter Lim identified by Mr. Duterte operated in the Visayas.During the Senate hearing on Monday, Dela Rosa said he informed Mr. Duterte that the real Peter Lim was the Cebu businessman referred to by Espinosa.“Peter Lim was among Kerwin’s suppliers of illegal drugs. and together with his driver or hit man, they reportedly met in Thailand together with Kerwin and Peter Lim,” Dela Rosa said.“Right away, I reported to the President. I told him, ‘Sir, the Peter Lim, your compadre who had a photo with you, is the same person now accused as one of Kerwin’s suppliers of illegal drugs. Right away, the President said, ‘Work on it. If he resists arrest, kill him,’” he said.The PNP chief said he was not supposed to disclose the President’s instructions, but he was compelled to do so after Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV showed a picture of Mr. Duterte and Lim standing as cosponsors at a wedding in Cebu.“I must say that the President is very angry with that Peter Lim. He is not protecting that person,” Dela Rosa said.“That picture was taken during a wedding and the President didn’t know the background of that person,” he added.In the interview with the Inquirer, Lim confirmed that he met Mr. Duterte at a wedding in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu province, and that was all.“Everybody wants to have a picture with the President. What’s wrong with me having a picture with him? I think I am sued by other people to destroy or discredit the President. That’s unfortunate,” Lim said.He said he was excited about Espinosa’s appearance at the Senate hearing, expecting the drug dealer’s testimony to clear up everything for him.But he was dismayed when the confessed drug kingpin identified him as one of his suppliers.Lim said the real Peter Lim could be the Jaguar that Aguirre referred to in September.NBI findingBut Aguirre said on Tuesday that the National Bureau of Investigation had determined that the Cebu businessman was indeed the drug lord Peter Lim.Lim urged the authorities to check his travel records, denying that he had met with Espinosa in Thailand.“Why not check our travel records, including that of Kerwin, his bodyguard and mine? Very simple. As simple as that. Then they will know that Kerwin is lying,” he said."
8781,"Filipinas, the students and teachers of different high schools, colleges, and universities in the province.The GAMABA is the highest award given to the finest traditional artists in the country that was institutionalized in 1992 through Republic Act No. 7355.The administration of the awarding is assigned to the NCCA, the country’s highest policy-making and coordinating body for culture and the arts.Among the incentives to be given to the awardees are a gold medallion, the initial grant of R100,000, and lifetime monthly stipend of R10,000.In consonance with the provision of Republic Act No. 7355, which states that “the monetary grant may be increased whenever circumstances so warrant,” the NCCA board approved the following: additional monthly personal allowance of R14,000 for the awardees; and a maximum cumulative amount of R 750,000 medical and hospitalization benefits annually.These incentives are similar to that received by the National Artists of the Philippines, and funeral assistance/tribute fit for a National Living Treasure.Aside from Gammayo the 12 other GAMABA awardees are: Ginaw Bilog (poetry); Masino Intaray (musician and storyteller); Samaon Sulaiman (musician); Lang Dulay (textile weaver); Salinta Monon (textile weaver); Alonzo Saclag (musician and dancer); Federico Caballero (epic chanter); Uwang Ahadas (musician); Darhata Sawabi (textile weaver); Eduardo Mutuc (metalsmith); Haja Amina Appi (mat weaving) and Teofilo Garcia (casque maker)."
8790,"In President Rodrigo Duterte visit in Thailand, his last leg of ASEAN tour, Duterte once again struck elites and big networks backing up mining in the country.”Sino may-ari ng mga minero dyan,do you think?,, look at their names of the owners of the.. lahat pati yung mga TV networks, yung may-ari ng istasyon, ang mga sister Companies nila, may-ari ng mga mina, kaya bakbakan ka talaga, ngayon kung maniwala kayo dyan sa kanila, bahala kayo.” Duterte Said.CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:The Filipino community in Thailand who were in the hall responded Duterte’s speech with cheers and ‘Duterte! Duterte!’ yells.What can you say about this? Leave your comments below!"
8800,"While some may already have the notion that COMELEC may bend the rules to favor LP, I have a feeling that the pressure this time is so intense for them to impose the law.First, they themselves emphasized the non-extendibility of the June 8 deadline and that any late submissions will be considered as non-filing.Second, there will be an outcry from candidates who lost to LP who complied with the deadine.And most importantly, LP is no longer in power.--------------------Antonio Contreras as posted on Facebook:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10205510922966630&id=1658231410"
8810,"San Miguel Corporation is best known for San Miguel Beer, but this Philippine company has extensive investments in fuel, power generation, food, agriculture, aviation, finance and infrastructure. It is on the list of Forbes 2000 largest public companies in the world.Among its latest capital investments is the ambitious plan to build a new international airport in Manila. The existing airport, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has long exceeded its maximum capacity and has, in fact, earned the reputation as the worst international airport in the world.The new airport plan will involve reclaiming (land fill) parts of Manila Bay in order to build up to four runways. Manila Bay has already been chipped away to make room for hotels, a huge shopping mall, casinos and other infrastructure. Initially, the planned airport will be used exclusively by Philippine Airlines (PAL) but will eventually be opened up to foreign airlines. San Miguel Corporation owns 49% of PAL stocks.Since San Miguel Corporation now practically controls major aspects of Filipinos’ daily lives, and with the increasing inability of the government to manage the country, some influential legislators have proposed to rename the Philippines from ‘Republic of the Philippines’ to ‘Capitalist Republic of San Miguel,’ and to turn over management of the government to San Miguel Corporation.Filipinos seem nonchalant about the proposal. In fact, many are drinking to that! As an advertising meme aptly proclaims: “Mag- beer muna tayo!” (Let’s first have a beer). San Miguel beer of course.Related News: San Miguel Corporation To Build, Manage Toll Road in Manila"
8820,"Sa talumpati ni Pangulong Duterte sa inagurasyon ng Cavite Gateway Terminal, hindi nagpigilan ng Pangulong Duterte na banantan ang mga pulis na gumagawa ng kalokohan. Ayon sa Presidente, ayaw niyang makita ang mga pulis na gagala-gala sa Okada Hotel dahil namumugad daw ang mga usurers at kidnappers sa naturang lugar. Ang Okada ay isang prestihiyosong hotel and casino resort sa lungsod ng Paranaque. Sabi ng Presidente, sasagasaan niya at tatanggalin sa serbisyo ang mga pulis na makikitang gagala-gala sa casino. Hindi rin daw siya magtitimpi na mag-assign ng army sa naturang lugar makipag-barilan sa mga pulis iskalawags. ""Iyong Okada diyan p**** ina niyan. I'd like to announce, lahat kayong mga pulis umalis kayo diyan. It's crawling with usurers, kidnappers. So ako ang magdaan diyan 'pag nakita ko kayo, sagasaan ko kayo. Better go away, lahat ng law enforcement... I do not want even a police car there... If you violate my order, I will dismiss you from the service. That's an order because you are there to commit a crime. You are not assigned there. Or I will assign the Army to patrol. Which do you want? Magbarilan kayo o sumunod kayo?.... And if I lose my patience, I'll call the [Scout] Rangers. Kayo ang mag-patrolya diyan. Diyan sa galing ng Fort Magsaysay. Mamili kayo, either the military will do the patrolling there or you go out of that place there. I do not want to see any law enforcement guy there, either in uniform or in civilian clothes,"" sabi ng Pangulo. Naglabas din ng sama ng loob ang Pangulo dahil kahit na dinoble niya na ang sahod ng mga pulis, mayroon pa ring ibang natutuksong gumawa ng iligal. Ang pagbabawal sa mga pulis, sundalo at government officials na magpunta sa casino ay naka-base sa Presidential Decree 1067B noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos. Basahin ang ilan sa mga naging reaksyon ng netizens sa balitang ito. Sang-ayon ba kayo sa hakbang ng Pangulo? Source: GMA News"
8830,"You can’t have your cake and eat it too. This was the lesson learned today by incarcerated Senator Leila De Lima.In a statement to the press, De Lima urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to do something about President Rodrigo Duterte’s “mendicant” policy towards China, amid the latter’s reported installation of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in the South China Sea, capable of hitting Palawan.In a written statement, De Lima claimed the deployment of Chinese cruise missiles is the “single biggest existential threat” to the national security to the Philippines and the Filipinos.However, the senator said the AFP continues to play “the monkey that sees, hears, and speaks no evil” on China’s aggression on the disputed seas, due to the President’s “amorous” affair with the Asian super power.Of course, the AFP was not happy about De Lima’s statement and is suing the senator for libel and defamation of character.”Her statement is not only considered inciting to rebellion but also dehumanizes the men and women of the Armed Forces,” a military spokesperson told The Adobo Chronicles.And we thought all along that monkeys like to eat saba (bananas). Well, maybe, not Leila ‘Saba’ De Lima."
8841,"Nakapaglaro ang 40-anyos na si Rivera sa World Cup sa Poland nang maghari sa BWC National Finals noong Agosto matapos ding makopo ang Masters title sa Philippine National Games noong Mayo para sa rekord na ikawalong Male Bowler of the Year award. ""It feels good to win again. It would definitely be tougher to repeat in 2015 as more talented youth bowlers start to emerge,"" sambit kahapon ng international campaigner na si Rivera. Tampok sa makinang na performance ni Tabora, patungo sa Female Bowler of the Year, ang unang career perfect game, pamamayagpag sa PBA Open Masters ladies at ang pagiging kasapi ng PH team sa Incheon 17th Asiad 2014. Hinirang namang 2014 top Cebu bowlers sina BALP Open Masters champion GJ Buyco (men) at Sinulog Open Masters champion Samantha Lagcao (women) sa una nilang pagtanggap sa parangal. Ang 18-anyos na si Enzo Hernandez na kinubra ang limang medalyang ginto sa Manila Asian Universities Championships at anim na 300 perfect games ang tinanghal na Male Youth Bowler of the Year. Iniuwi ni Bea Hernandez ang Female Youth Bowler of the Year sa impresibong pagsabak sa Chinese Taipei, Singapore at Malaysian International Opens, bukod pa sa pagwawagi sa PBC Youth Quarterly tournaments. Most Improved Bowler of the Year naman sina Ray Snyder (male) at Dale Lazo (female). Idineklara si Eboy Farr na Cyclist of the Year sanhi ng 15 international at national titles, kabilang ang ASEAN MTB Cup Series- overall men masters at ipinutong kina Sonny Montilla at Camille Gotohio ang Badminton Player para sa kalalakihan at kababaihan."
8850,"Just finished watching Day 5 of the Senate hearing on EJKs. You can binge-watch the whole thing here if you haven’t seen it. This is TV gold!There’s a lot to say about Leila de Lima’s maniacal rant and walk-out at the end, so if you can’t wait for that, scroll down to #5 below.Meanwhile, let’s review the highlights that led up to De Lima’s emotional rampage.In the Day 5 episode, the Davao policemen that Edgar Matobato accused of being members of the “Davao Death Squad” appeared at the Senate. Matobato was kept in another room and was not inside the session hall while the policemen were cross-examined.The highlights:To save time, the committee skipped the dramatic witness identification that Trillanes wanted to stage, because the Davao policemen already stated that they knew Matobato, since he used to hang around Davao government offices as a security gofer.Trillanes looked pissed. He was desperate to have Matobato say anything correct on TV, literally anything, just to prove his “star witness” is not a complete dud. But Gordon was right—the identification would prove nothing, except the fact that Matobato knows the Davao policemen exist.Dionisio Abude, the cop accused by Matobato of being the head of the DDS, looked more like a dapper Makati Med doctor than a death squad leader. Turns out he was a Pinoy Hero awardee of Cobra Energy Drink, so Cobra got free advertising when he played the Pinoy Hero video on his police accomplishments. Abude also showed news clippings of arrests he made through the years, to show the people he caught were alive. In one instance, he and his team even saved a drug offender from committing suicide after he was caught.Arthur Lascanas, the cop Matobato claimed was very close to Duterte and the one who received kill orders directly from him, is an old, lolo-type guy about to retire. Lascanas said he and Matobato used to be good friends because Matobato helped him broker real estate deals. But Lascanas said he was not Duterte’s best friend as Matobato claimed. Two of Lascanas’s brothers were actually killed in police operations because of their drug-related activities, and his daughter was not accepted by the Davao city hall when she applied for a job. Would this happen if he was the BFF of Duterte?tried to make a big deal about a watch that Lascanas gave Matobato years ago. Lascanas said he couldn’t remember if it was old or new. Trillanes pressed him: old or new? He claimed this “test” would prove Lascanas’s credibility. “Kung relo lang ang basehan ng credibility, parang problema yata yan,” Lascanas said. Everyone in the room laughed. Tama nga naman. But Trillanes kept insisting, so Lascanas said the watch was old to get it over with.Trillanes later produced a receipt showing the watch was new. He said this proved Lascanas was lying, and his “inconsistency” was worse than Matobato’s inconsistencies. In’s kindergarten mind, forgetting what kind of watch you gave someone years ago is worse than forgetting who you murdered, why you murdered them, and who ordered them killed.This is similar to’s “newspaper test” last week, where he claimed Matobato was a credible witness because the bombing incidents he mentioned appeared in newspapers. Trililing’s single-digit IQ failed to grasp that anyone who read those newspapers or watched the news could tell stories about those bombing incidents.Another cop, Jun Ayao, was accused by Matobato of killing Davao journalist Jun Pala. Ayao denied this, saying Pala was actually his friend, and he even helped bring Pala to the hospital the first time someone tried to kill him.Ayao had a revelation of his own. He showed a 2009 affidavit where he narrated an encounter with Leila de Lima who was then conducting her “DDS” investigation in Davao as CHR head. Ayao said De Lima asked about his suspension case, then got his cellphone number. Three days later, she called him, saying she wanted to meet at a discreet place, and someone would be in touch with details. Then, he got calls from someone who more or less offered to fix his case if he testified against then-Mayor Duterte.De Lima said she doesn’t remember meeting or calling Ayao. She denied her 2009 CHR investigation was politically motivated.De Lima set her own butt on fire when she brought up Sali Makdum. “Siempre, itatanggi niyo rin po yon?” she said to the Davao cops in her usual goading, condescending tone.Unfortunately for her, the cops had done their own digging.The Davao cops produced documents from the fiscal’s office in Samal and the NBI which showed Makdum disappeared in November 2000, not 2002 as Matobato claimed. The documents also showed Makdum’s wife blamed Matobato for her husband’s disappearance, and she even filed a kidnap-for-ransom case against him and three of his companions! (Remember, Makdum’s wife and Matobato’s wife are cousins. They know each other. This was no random accusation.)Gordon asked why this was not mentioned until now. De Lima said Matobato actually disclosed the kidnapping case to her when she interviewed him, based on her “extensive” notes.Cayetano asked De Lima when this interview occurred. De Lima said September 2, and another date before September 15, the day Matobato first appeared at the Senate.Lacson asked De Lima why she didn’t do a thorough cross-examination on the kidnapping case when Matobato testified at the Senate. De Lima said she just overlooked it. Both Gordon and Lacson looked skeptical. How could she “overlook” such a critical element that essentially overturns Matobato’s claim that Duterte ordered the killing of Makdum? To begin with, none of the Davao policemen Matobato named in the killing of Makdum were part of the case filed by Makdum’s wife, and one of them, Medina, was not even a policeman yet in 2000 when Makdum disappeared!Gordon asked for Matobato to be brought to the session hall to explain himself, and that was when the second bomb dropped—Trillanes had taken Matobato out of the Senate, claiming it was for security reasons.To make a long story short, a heated argument erupted between Gordon and De Lima, which you can watch starting from 5:28:00 of the video above. Trillanes returned to the Senate and tried to defend De Lima by saying Matobato did mention the kidnapping case, as shown in the transcript. Trililing’s peabrain missed the point as usual.Yes, Matobato mentioned he had a kidnapping case, but he never gave the details of the case in his testimony (why would he? the details would prove he was lying). De Lima, on the other hand, had PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE DETAILS of the case filed by Makdum’s wife, but she kept this to herself. She said nothing while Matobato made wild accusations against President Duterte about the murder of Makdum, for the benefit of the foreign media. This smells like orchestrated, pre-meditated perjury.De Lima only admitted that she had the details on Matobato’s kidnapping case after the Davao cops produced the documents from the Samal fiscal’s office. (She had to admit it to save Matobato’s “credibility”, so she could claim he didn’t withold information.) It’s hard to believe De Lima didn’t deliberately conceal information, because this is not the first time she’s done this. From the very start, she concealed Matobato from her co-chair Senator Lacson, so Matobato’s claims were not vetted before he testified at the Senate. She also didn’t inform the other senators that she had a surprise witness before she sprung Matobato on them. Now, it seems she may have also concealed the true extent of her prior interactions and interviews with Matobato before he appeared at the Senate.The yellow media are doing their best to downplay what happened, airing mostly the side of De Lima and Trillanes, but you can watch the video of the hearing and see for yourself. Even Trillanes’s lame excuses about the sudden departure of Matobato from the Senate simply don’t wash.Trillanes said he took Matobato out of the Senate for security reasons. But why didn’t he ask Gordon’s permission first? He knew Gordon had strict orders for Matobato to stay at the Senate until the hearing was over. Also, why didn’t Trillanes bring Matobato back with him when he returned to the Senate, knowing the other senators were looking for him?Most likely, Trillanes realized he needed to coach Matobato some more after he saw the testimonies of the Davao policemen, so he whisked Matobato away to buy extra time for rehearsing before putting him back in play.How long will the other senators let De Lima and Trillanes dupe them and use the Senate for their ludicrous gag show? How long will the other senators let these two clowns cheapen the Senate with their squatter behavior, like hysterically yelling, walking out, and switching off microphones when they don’t like what’s being said?As it is, after this Matobato fiasco, no one will take Senate testimonies seriously anymore. People have seen how loose the standards are. Anyone can just walk in, commit perjury, and get away with it. Matobato proved one thing: the oath to “tell the truth and nothing but the truth” at the Senate means absolutely nothing. By letting Matobato testify without proper vetting, De Lima and Trillanes opened the floodgates of hell and now the entire Senate’s credibility is burning in it.And for this, De Lima wants an apology? Has she totally lost her mind? In other countries, she and Trillanes would already be facing a firing squad.So, the question now is, what will the other senators do about De Lima and Trillanes? Will they let these two gutter rats get away with what they’ve done without being severely penalized?What message would that send future witnesses of future Senate investigations? That you can just say whatever you want, because no one gets punished anyway?The ball is on your court, dear senators. Please don’t fail the Filipino people who elected you.-------------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
8861,"eat much more of it than if it was tucked away in a desk drawer out of sight."" Kasama na rito ang natirang desserts o doughnuts sa kusina, ""if there's a common area for sweets and you know it's a weakness, you may need to steer clear and not let yourself be tempted."" Madalas na kasiyahan sa opisina"
8871,"Naglabas na ng HDO ang Sandiganbayan Third Division laban kay Dangwa at 32 kapwa akusado, kabilang ang kanyang anak na si Erwin at tinaguriang ""utak"" ng pork barrel fund scam na si Janet Lim Napoles. Samantala, sinabi ni Third Division Clerk of Court Atty. Dennis Pulma na kapwa naghain ng P520,000 piyansa sina dating Congressman Dangwa at anak niyang si Erwin, na nagpiyansa naman ng P420,000, bagamat wala pang inilalabas na mandamiyento de aresto laban sa dalawa. Si Erwin ay nahaharap sa kasong six counts of graft at six counts of malversation habang ang nakatatandang Dangwa ay kinasuhan ng six counts of graft, six counts of malversation at five counts of bribery."
8880,"Tila may matinding regalo si soon-to-be-senator Ronald ""Bato"" Dela Rosa sa mga kabataang nagbabansag na Team China daw ang Duterte Administration. Ayon sa social media post ng dating hepe ng Philippine National Police (PNP), tatrabahuin niya daw na maibalik ang Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) para mapalakas ang pagdedepensa sa teritoryo ng Pilipinas. Inaasahan niya na makikilahok dito ang mga kabataan. ""Para doon sa mga kabataan na nagbigay ng team china monicker sa duterte administration, I admire your patriotism. I will work for the return of mandatory ROTC in order to strengthen our territorial defense in case of foreign invasion. Konting tiis lang mga anak for the sake of our country. Ok?"" banat ni Bato. Ilan sa mga binabatikos sa Duterte Government ng mga oposisyon at ng mga makakaliwang grupo ng mga kabataan ay ang pagiging malapit ng Pangulo sa bansang Tsina. Ang panunumbalik ng ROTC ay iminungkahi na dati Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Pero mariing tinututulan ito ng ilang kabataan dahil hindi daw sa ROTV nakasalalay ang pagiging makabayan. ""As history has shown, it is not President Duterte nor the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) nor even the Philippine National Police (PNP) who can instill discipline and nationalism in the hearts of the youth. In reality, these very institutions harm, harass, rape, and worst, kill the youth and the Filipino,""sabi ni Kabataan Partliys Representatative Sara Elago. Basahin ang reaksyon ng ilang kababayan natin sa banat ni Bato sa mga kabataang bumabatikos sa Duterte Admnistration. ""The abolition of the ROTC has given rise to the radicalization of the campuses not only in SCUs but schools run by the church who meddles so much with state affairs, cuddles radicals and insurgents and support sedition and rebellion. The rise of the Aquinos and the LP have place our country and the future of our children at risks. Now that the people have spoken and have expelled the LPs, we should raise from the ruins left by these demons and join hands in rebuilding our country's future. Let us do our share in making our country great again,""sabi ni J. Bolinao. ""Tama ibalik ang ROTC. Sa totoo lang marami sa kabataan ngayon patriotic lang sa fb,""sabi ni A. Ante. ""Gusto ko yan Sir...Ibalik dapat ang ROTC. ... or Di kaya pareho sa Singapore , korea and Israel na May mandatory military service lahat ng kabataan,""sabi ni T. Sablada. Source: Ronald Dela Rosa | Inquirer"
8891,"Saying it was his administration’s “biggest Christmas gift” to the public, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday signed a tax reform bill that critics claimed would lead to increases in the prices of oil, power and other products, and further burden the poor.Surrounded by congressional leaders, Mr. Duterte signed the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act that exempts most workers from paying income taxes while raising P120 billion in revenue.“This is the administration’s biggest Christmas gift to the Filipino people, as 99 percent of the taxpayers will benefit from the simpler, fairer and more efficient tax,” the President said in his speech.He said one of the TRAIN’s most significant breakthroughs was exempting from income tax workers earning below P250,000 starting Jan. 1.The TRAIN Act, the first package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, aims to raise funds for the government’s ambitious infrastructure program.“Revenues from the TRAIN Act will fund our priority projects to ensure a quality education, including free tuition in state universities and colleges, quality healthcare, social protection and conditional cash transfers, improved infrastructure to the “Build, Build, Build” program and the reconstruction of Marawi,” Mr. Duterte said.‘Progressive’ tax systemHe said the law also dealt with overdue corrections in the tax laws and introduced a more progressive tax system for the rich and the poor.The President directed the Department of Finance to submit to Congress Package 2 of the tax reform program, which deals with corporate income tax early next year.“Next year would mark the beginning of a new, simplified and fairer income tax system,” said Sen. Sonny Angara, chair of the Senate ways and means committee.Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the TRAIN Act would raise P120 billion, 70 percent of which would go to infrastructure, including military infrastructure, and 30 percent to “social services and mitigating measures.”Roque said the law also simplified taxes for small and micro taxpayers with the payment of a flat tax of 8 percent on gross sales in lieu of income and percentage taxes.Lower estate taxThe TRAIN also lowered estate taxes. Taxpayers would now have to pay a fix rate of6 percent for the net estate with the standard deduction of P5 million, he said.“Donors’ taxes is also now at a fixed rate of 6 percent over and above P250,000 yearly, he added.Roque said the law modified the value-added tax (VAT) and made it “fairer” after it repealed 54 special laws that provided nonessential VAT exemptions.The law, however, exempted medicines for diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension from VAT while the purchases of senior citizens and people with disability also remained exempted.Roque said oil excise taxes would have a staggered increase of up to P6 per liter over a three-year period while there would be lower rates for essentials, such as diesel, kerosene and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).VehiclesThe automobile excise tax was set at 4 percent for vehicles worth up to P600,000; 10 percent for vehicles between P600,000 and P1 million; 20 percent, between P1,000,000 and P4,000,000; and 50 percent for hybrid cars.Purely electric vehicles will still have zero excise tax.Sugar-sweetened beverages will have a P6 per liter tax for drinks containing caloric or noncaloric sweetener; P12 per liter for drinks containing high fructose corn syrup, or combination; three-in-one coffee and milk will be exempt.A 5-percent gross receipt tax would also be imposed on cosmetics while the excise tax on coal was also increased, raising concerns that this would lead to higher electricity rates.The increase was from P10 per metric ton to “P50, P100, and P150, respectively, for 2018, 2019 and 2020, covering both domestic and imported coal,” Roque said.“This will translate only to a very small increase in terms of the price of electricity,” he said.Mining excise tax was doubled to 4 percent while the tobacco excise tax was increased to P32.5 per pack between January and June 2018, P35 from July 2018 to December 2019, P37.5 in 2020 and 2021, and P40 in 2022 and 2023, “followed by annual indexation of 4 percent.DST, dollar deposits, stocksRoque said documentary stamp tax (DST) increased 50 percent to 100 percent, except for property, savings and nonlife insurance.“Foreign currency deposit units increased from 7.5- to 15-percent final tax on interest income. Capital gains of nontraded stocks increased from 5- to 10-percent to 15-percent final tax on net gains only,” he said.“And stock transaction tax increased from 0.05 to 0.6 percent of transaction value. So it’s only 0.1 increase,” he added."
8901,"State of Rebellion: 2001 and 2003ON MAY 1, 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a “state of rebellion” in Metro Manila when mobs protesting the arrest of deposed President Joseph Estrada stormed and nearly overran Malacañang. In signing Proclamation No. 38, Ms. Arroyo also issued General Order No. 1, where she called upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police “to suppress and quell the rebellion.” The order was lifted five days later.On July 27, 2003, President Arroyo declared a “state of rebellion” after a group of mutinous soldiers led by then Navy Ltsg. Antonio Trillanes seized Oakwood Premier in Makati City, in what was purportedly the opening salvo of a coup attempt aimed at toppling the administration. In signing Proclamation No. 427, Ms. Arroyo also issued General Order No. 4, which asked the military and the police to “immediately carry out the necessary actions and measures to suppress and quell the rebellion with due regard to constitutional rights.” It was lifted 15 days after its issuance.State of Emergency: 2006On Feb. 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo proclaimed a “state of national emergency,” claiming an alliance of soldiers, opposition politicians and communist rebels were plotting to overthrow her. The President appeared on television to announce Proclamation No. 1017, which she signed after meeting with the National Security Council attended by top Cabinet and military officials in Malacañang.The President cited Section 18, Article 7 of the Constitution which empowers the President to “call out (the) Armed Forces to prevent or suppress rebellion …” and Section 17, Article 12 of the Charter authorizing her to “temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately-owned public utility or business affected with public interest.” She also ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence, as well as any act of insurrection or rebellion, and to enforce obedience to all the laws and to all decrees, orders and regulations [she had] promulgated personally or upon [her] direction.” It was lifted a week later.State of Emergency, Martial Law: 2009On Nov. 24, 2009, a day after 58 people were killed in the bloody Ampatuan massacre, President Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1946, “declaring a state of emergency in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and the City of Cotabato for the purpose of preventing and suppressing lawless violence in the aforesaid areas.”On Dec. 4, 2009, President Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1959 declaring martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao, saying it was done to suppress a “rebellion in the offing” by disparate armed groups loyal to the Ampatuan clan, who were believed responsible for the Nov. 23 massacre. It was lifted 8 days later.Sources: Inquirer Archives, gov.ph"
8911,"SEN. Richard Gordon on Friday said he cannot decide alone on a requested “furlough” of detained former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon since the blue ribbon committee is a collegial body.Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, justified his decision to turn down Faeldon’s request to attend Mass and join the Black Nazarene traslacion on January 9, take oath of office before Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana after being named deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and attend family celebrations.“An important reason why his request for a furlough could not be granted is [that Faeldon] is held for [his] contempt of the committee and thus of the Senate. The citation for contempt was, and still is, a collegial act which the [chairman], on his own, cannot reverse,” he said in a statement.Faeldon issued a statement to the media on Thursday, denouncing Gordon for being “cruel” after he denied his request to temporarily leave his detention room to attend to some personal matters, including seeing his newborn child.The former Marine captain was detained on September 12, 2017, after the Senate cited him in contempt for refusing to cooperate with investigation of reported corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BoC) that led to the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China.Faeldon said Gordon turned down his request “upon the orders of the cement-smuggler senator, who vowed vengeance against me for exposing his and his son’s cement-smuggling racket” referring to Sen. Panfilo Lacson.“I thought that Sen. Gordon was man enough to stand up to the cement-smuggler senator. I was wrong again. While I totally expected extreme cruelty from the likes of Lacson and [Sen. Antonio] Trillanes [4th], I never expected that from Sen. Gordon. What happened to you, Sen. Gordon?” he asked.Faeldon filed separate ethics complaints against Lacson and Trillanes on September 18, 2017, and September 25, 2017, respectively, for linking him to alleged corruption and smuggling at the BoC.Lacson on September 28, 2017, filed graft and economic sabotage charges against Faeldon.In reply to Faeldon’s allegation, he said, “No wonder Faeldon is in big trouble facing a non-bailable case of agricultural smuggling. He doesn’t have a clue about the customs and tariff code and the CMTA (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).”“Why? There can’t be smuggling of cement simply because it is not subject to tariff. For quite a long time that he served as commissioner, he dedicated most of, if not all, his time counting tara [bribe] instead of learning the Customs Code,” Lacson said in a text message.“Capt. Faeldon in one letter dated this year wrote to the chairman seeking permission to hear Mass and have a check-up with his cardiologist supposedly in preparation for his attendance in the Black Nazarene’s traslacion,” Gordon said.The senator said Faeldon also sought permission to travel to the Department of National Defense headquarters in Quezon City to meet with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana regarding his recent appointment as assistant secretary at the OCD.He even requested permission to leave without being accompanied by members of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), Gordon said.“That request was not granted because one, his release without the company of the OSAA would have meant that he was being released from custody, without his having cleansed himself of his contumacious conduct, the very reason why he is detained,” he added."
8921,"Secretary Ismael Sueno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday urged the public to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays without firecrackers to prevent firecracker-related injuries and accidents.“I believe there is no better way to celebrate this holiday season than to be in the company of our loved ones enjoying the happy, safe and peaceful comfort of our individual homes. Therefore, I enjoin everyone to try to welcome the festivity with utmost care by going back to our old way of making noise,” he said.Sueno added that Christmas is not only a season of giving but also a time to rekindle the dwindling Filipino tradition and culture that has taken a back seat because of the evolution of technology.He said noise can be produced from pots and pans, car horns, mobile phone ringtones and outdoor sound systems that will encourage community countdown while waiting for the clock to strike 12 midnight that will signal the coming of the New Year.The DILG chief added that while the government still allows the use of some firecrackers, resorting to the customary way of greeting the New Year is danger-free and cost-efficient.“Filipinos create noise to welcome the New Year and at the same time drive away the negativity. But we will not be able to do this if at the start of the year a member of the family will have to be rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention due to a firecracker accident,” he said.Sueno reminded sellers of pyrotechnics that display centers for such materials will only be allowed outside of malls and with proper safety protection to persons and property under existing rules and regulations.He said all pyrotechnics that will be shown in the display center should be marked with a Philippine Standards Product certification issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.Last year, the Department of Health recorded 932 cases of injuries nationwide from December 21, 2015 to January 5, 2016.Of the 932 reported injuries last year, 920 or 98.7 percent were caused by fireworks, 10 or 1.1 percent by stray bullets and 2 or 0.2 percent by firecracker ingestion."
8930,"It came straight from the horse’s mouth: the Presidential Communications Coordinating Office (PCOO) has begun campaigning to re-elect Rodrigo Duterte as President come 2022.The 2022 campaign was officially launched on November 1, 2018 at the North Cemetery.On her Facebook account, PCOO Undersecretary Lorriane Marie T. Badoy revealed that the PCOO team showed up in full force at the cemetery giving out water, bread, coffee and pamaypay to thousands of Filipinos who were honoring their dead.Given the more than P1 Billion budget of PCOO, there sure would be a lot of campaign giveaways to go around between now and 2022!Mabuhay, PRRD! Mabuhay PCOO!"
8941,"""Hindi ko maintindihan kung anong sistema ang ginagamit nila. Ako mismo, ilang express toll ang aming dinaanan para lamang makalabas sa expressway,"" sinabi ni Drilon, na nagtungo sa Baguio City nitong Biyernes. Ganito rin ang reklamo ng ilang bakasyunista, sinabing umabot sa halos 12 oras ang biyahe patungo Baguio gayung nasa lima hanggang anim oras lang talaga ito."
8951,"Sa report kay Police Sr. Inspector Gina DC Parinas, hepe ng Women's and Children Concerned Desk (WCPD), kinilala ang suspek na si Larry Cabangunay, 27, ng No. 207 Feliza Bukid, Barangay Parada ng nasabing lungsod. Sa salaysay ng biktima, 17, kina PO2's Ana Grace Mendoza at Cherbim Baluli ng WCPD, kasama niya ang kanyang live-in partner at namamalengke sa Bgy. Parada, dakong 6:00 ng gabi. Nasalubong ng mag-live-in partner si Cabangunay na matagal umano nilang hindi nakita at nagkayayaan na mag-inuman sa bahay ng suspek. Pumayag ang mag-live-in partner at nagtungo sa bahay ni Cabangunay at nakipag-inuman kasama ang dalawang kalugar ng suspek at inabot ng hanggang 10:00 ng gabi. Dahi l sa kalasingan, nagdesisyon si Cabangunay na patulugin ang mag-live-in partner sa kanyang bahay. Pagsapit ng 1:00 ng madaling araw, hinipuan ng suspek ang biktima. ""Hindi po ako makasigaw kasi may hawak siyang patalim at nakatutok sa tagiliran ko,"" sabi ng biktima. Nagising ang live-in partner ng biktima at nakitang inaabuso ni Cabangunay ang kinakasama kaya tinadyakan niya ito hanggang sa kumaripas. Makalipas ang ilang minuto, nadakip si Cabangunay ng mga tauhan ng PCP 10 sa loob mismo ng kanyang bahay. Kinasuhan si Cabangunay ng Rape in Relation to 7610 (Child Abuse)."
8960,"Ma.Victoria V. Ferro provided me an analysis made by an associate of hers who requested to remain anonymous on the election results on a precinct basis, and this is what was revealed.There were many precincts that had more than 90 percent turn-out. A turn-out like this indicates voters that are eager to vote and have a high degree of enthusiasm.An analysis of the undervote percentages of the precincts that had 90 percent turn-out is very revealing. Ms. Ferro's associate computed the number of precincts for each interval of percentages of undervotes, and this is what was obtained.5-15% 138615-30% 140830-50% 28350-70% 3870-85% 985-95% 395-100% 3Take note that according to Prof. Douglas Jones, the noted election scientist from Iowa, an undervote of 5 percent is already suspicious, and that of 10 percent is highly suspicious.Data shows that we have 3,130 precincts whose turn-out was more than 90 percent, indicating high voter enthusiasm, but whose undervote for Vice President is considered suspicious to highly suspicious to even preposterous, with 3 precincts showing 95-100 percent undervotes!This is simply incredible!Now, for the over-all picture, regardless of turn-out. Ms. Ferro 's associate calculated the number of precincts by undervote percentage. This is what came out.0-5% 476155-15% 3079215-30% 867130-50% 157250-70% 14985-95% 395-100% 3.We have a total of 41,190 precincts with suspicious to highly suspicious to simply preposterous levels of undervotes for the Vice President.-----------------Antonio Contreras as posted on Facebook:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10205414208188821&id=1658231410"
8970,"Dahil mainit ngayon ang usapin tungkol sa karahasan sa loob ng paaralan. Balikan natin ang naging rebelasyon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte noong nangangampanya pa lang ito para sa pagka-presidente. Isa sa mga rebelasyon ng Pangulong Duterte ay ang dinanas niyang pambu-bully sa paaralan noong nasa kolehiyo pa ito at kung paano siya gumanti sa taong iyon. Ayon sa Pangulo, madalas daw kutyain ng bully ang pagka-bisaya niya. Kinutya din daw ng nasabing estudyante ang mga mag-aaral na Muslim. Dumating daw sa puntong napuno na siya at dito na niya binaril ang kanyang brother sa fraternity sa loob mismo ng campus ng kanyang paaralan. Nangyari daw ang insidente noong graduating student na si Presidente Duterte sa San Beda College noong 1972. ""I was a graduating student at San Beda when I shot a man... I waited for him, I told myself I'll teach him a lesson... I said you son -- - --- if I get hit I will shoot you. I was hit in the nose. Aaah! Bang,"" sabi ng Pangulo. Ayon sa source ng Inquirer sa Lex Talionis fraternity, ang nabaril daw ay si Octavio Goco. Tinamaan daw si Goco pero hindi namatay. Si Goco at si Presidente Duterte ay pareho noong mga miyembro ng fraternity. Dahil sa insidente, hindi nakasama sa graduation rites si Pangulong Duterte. Ayon naman sa isa pang source ng Inquirer, naitago umano ang insidente sa tulong ng fraternity at ng opisyal ng paaralan para hindi na magkaroon ng iskandalo. Hindi namin sinasabi na gayahin natin ang ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte. Sana lang ay matutunan natin ang moral lesson sa istoryang ito na huwag mang-argabyado ng kapwa dahil baka karamahin balang araw. Panoorin ang isa pang video kung saan ikinuwento ng Pangulo ang parehas na istorya sa ibang pagkakataon. Source: Inq | GMA"
8980,"The “debate” on whether it is right that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) plans to sue shock “activist” Mae Paner (a.k.a. “Juana Change”) for disrespecting the uniform continues to rage. Paner donned a military costume as part of a “protest” spectacle she staged during the second State of the Nation Address delivered by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday. The stunt has caused an uproar amongst the Philippines’ military brass.The complaint to be filed by the AFP is on the basis of Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code which stipulates…Illegal use of uniforms or insignia. — The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon any person who shall publicly and improperly make use of insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person or to a class of persons of which he is not a member.…and Republic Act 493:(I)t shall be unlawful for any person not in the service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine Constabulary… to use or wear the duly prescribed insignia, badge or emblem or rank of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine Constabulary, or any colorable imitation thereof.Some “observant” members of the Opposition Twitterati, however, pointed out that Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson “also likes to wear fatigues” and cite Uson’s Twitter profile and various photos of her and her “Mocha Girls” dance troupe also donning similar military-themed costumes in their public shows.[NB: As of this writing, Paner is appealing for legal help on Twitter. Any volunteers?]On the basis of what the law stipulates, the legal battle will likely be around whether or not these costumes (worn by Paner, Uson, the Mocha Girls, and any other public performer for that matter) are deliberately meant to mimic specific insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an existing office or rank or class of personnel in the AFP. That’s for the lawyers to debate and “observant” members of the chattering classes to quibble over.But let’s not let legal details and self-righteous quibbles get in the way of a good show, shall we?Ultimately, the real “fight” will be in the Court of Public Opinion as this circus is, at the end of the day, around mere showbiz cuuriosities and not as serious as chatterati hipsters make it out to be. Paner, like fellow shock activist Carlos Celdran and their lot, make liberal use of showbiz techniques to attract attention to their “causes”. The advocacy they build is around cult of personality and less around a consistent body of ideas. Indeed, both Paner and Celdran have over their careers as shock activists switched political camps, personal affiliations, and personal endorsements several times. This fickleness is an outcome of the all-too-familiar focus on people rather than on ideas that characterises much of the Philippines’ political “debate”.To be fair, Uson and a number of bloggers and pro-administration “influencers” also make use of the same low-brow “activist” techniques, building strong followings on the strength of their public persona and not much else. But that fact merely strengthens the point I make that what is really at stake here (as is the case in many “trending” Filipino “political debates”) are the personal brands of these “activists” and “influencers” and, again, not much else.So here’s the thing. The more important points to highlight are (1) why it could be an easy-peasy PR walk in the park for the AFP to go after Paner, (2) why it is likely that the popular tide of public opinion will be behind the AFP’s legal attack on Paner and not on a foreseen counterattack on Uson and the Mocha Girls for the same charge, and (3) why Uson and the Mocha Girls will likely emerge from such a tangle unscathed. Like the 2012 “impeachment trial” of the late former Chief Justice Renato Corona which merely pretended to be a legal exercise and was in actual fact political and showbiz in nature, the fight Paner faces will be a nothing more than a popularity contest.Paner will be doing herself a favour by evaluating her next move on the basis of confronting realities about the situation she finds herself in. This is really not about who is right or wrong or what laws were broken or upheld. It will be about who will win the PR and popularity contests. At the moment, the AFP enjoys an astounding well of PR capital thanks to the Marawi War. Opposition “influencers” had, in fact, grossly miscalculated the effectiveness of the old 1980s mind trick of painting soldiers as the bad guys and the people they kill as “victims” in this instance. Filipinos are squarely behind their boys on the battlefield and less inclined to lap up old 1980s-vintage activist rhetoric. As for Uson and the Girls? Well, one only need take stock of the latest popularity polls and the remarkable hit Duterte’s Second SONA proved to be.And, on top of all that, I can cite one important and unmentioned factor that will draw people behind Mocha, her girls, and our boys in uniform and no more than a sad irrelevant minority behind Paner and her hipster camp. But I’m not gonna go there."
8990,"The Philippine Department of Health has placed Malacañang, the presidential palace, under quarantine after President Aquino and his staff suddenly started becoming ill.First, it was presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, then Aquino, then media relations undersecretary Rey Marfil. Soon, most other staff person at the palace complained about being sick.Department of Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona said that all their symptoms follow the same pattern. First, they start sneezing then coughing. “It’s definitely more than just the ordinary flu,” Ona said. “We had no choice but to quarantine all the occupants of the palace in the interest of public health and safety.”Aquino and his staff began exhibiting symptoms right after they were challenged to douse themselves with a bucket of ice as part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. “It’s better for us to err on the side of extreme caution and not accept the challenge,” Aquino said. He didn’t say whether he and his staff were donating instead.The Philippine government has asked the help of the World Health Organization (WHO) to help contain what seems to be a serious epidemic in Malacañang."
9000,"Blogger Raissa Robles took to Twitter to criticize Isabelle Duterte’s red gown which the latter wore at a photo shoot in Malacañang.But something went terribly wrong.Robles posted a different photo in her tweet which quoted an Alex Carlos Stan saying that the red gown represented “thousands of dead Filipinos.”Instead of attaching a photo of the 17-year-old Duterte, Robles uploaded a photo of Kris Aquino in — yep — a bloody red gown.Was Robles subconsciously thinking about ex-President NoyNoy Aquino in the Mamasapano massacre or the potentially adverse (and deadly) effects of the Dengvaxia vaccination program which he authorized?But regardless, Kris is suing Robles for equating her red gown with bloody massacres."
9011,"About two or three years ago, I tackled LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi, trans-gender, queer) issues in my cable TV program (Republika, Tuesdays 8 p.m., Gsat-Channel 1, Destiny Ch. 8, Sky Ch. 213) with foreign educated lawyers Jeremy Gatdula and Raymund Alikpala of Ladlad Partylist. It was a highly intellectual exchange with on such matters as the biological necessity to procreate, attraction of men for certain body shapes, LGBTQ rights to love, dress as a woman, clashing with school regulations and private company standards, the use of ladies room, etc. Part of understanding the LGBT community is knowing thought processes and inclinations, for example a gay man who thinks he is lesbian and hence prefers women as partners. The issue of LGBTQ marriage was also discussed. Admittedly, the pragmatists among the gay community grasp they are travelling upstream with a highly Christianized norm pervasive in the Philippines.In my own thinking, Ladlad Party-list should have easily won one or two seats in Congress back then, stirring public thought with provocative positions and lively support from core constituents to straight supporters. I was mistaken.This subject has found new traction in President DU30’s step-back a few days ago. Months ago, he had cited his resistance based on our inflexible culture contrasted with more open societies in the West. Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman (transgender) filed House Bill 6595 sidestepping the “marriage issue,” cognizant of the legal limitations under the law defined under “man and woman.” The Constitution in Article II, Sec 12, provides: “The state recognizes the sanctity of family life…” Family life, as explained by constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas, means “a stable heterosexual relationship.” Plus prevailing religious conceptions underpinning the term of marriage.“Give it to them. What we want are civil rights,” Congresswoman Roman asserted. In her HB 6595, unions may be between same sexes under “Civil Partnerships,” granting similar rights and privileges as spouses, for example, adoption, property sharing, dissolution of the partnership. In other countries, the union is in the ambit of “Domestic Partnerships.” This approach is the better route in respecting the principle that in law, varying terms/definitions have differing legal effects. Thus “murder” is different from “homicide,” from “parricide” etc., but the net result, is still death."
9020,"The Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command (RESCOM) has called hundreds of thousands of army reservists to active duty following the Philippines’ loss to China in yesterday’s FIBA Basketball Asia Championship game. The Filipino team, Gilas, lost the 2015 title to China 78-67.The 2015 FIBA Asia Championship game was held in Changsha, Huna, China.The Filipinos accused China of cooking the game through bad calls by Chinese referees.The Philippines and China are embroiled in a territorial dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.Till yesterday, the Philippine government has been passive in dealing with the dispute, choosing to resolve the hot button issue through diplomatic means, including filing a formal protest with the United Nations.Gilas’ loss — its second failed attempt in a row at the much-coveted title — was too much for the Philippines to bear, so it decided to bear arms instead.“We’ve been trying our best to be sportsman-like in dealing with the South China Sea conflict, but it seems that the Chinese can’t be sport enough even in a supposedly friendly competition like basketball,” President NoyNoy Aquino said.Among those called to active duty were Filipino champion boxer and Congressman Manny Pacquiao, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve; and Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve."
9030,"Itinanggi ni Subic Mayor Jefferson ""Jay"" Khonghun ang umano'y alegasyon na isa siyang narco politician. Ayon kay Khonghun, ang alegasyon ay kagagawan ng kanyang kalaban sa pulitika. Ang pagtanggi ni Khonghun ay matapos siyang masama sa narco-list o sangkot sa kalakalan ng iligal na droga na inanunsyo ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Sa Facebook Live ni Khonghun, sinabi ng alkalde na hindi niya kailangang magprotekta ng droga o maging drug lord dahil hindi naman siya ganoon kahirap. Makikita naman sa video na katabi ng alkalde ang kanyang girlfriend na si Aiko Melendez kung saan dinepensahan niya ang mga alegasyon kay Khonghun. Mababatid na laging suportado ni Melendez ang alkalde sa mga pagharap nito sa publiko lalo na sa gitna ng kontrobersya."
9040,"“Pangatlo, may kilala akong psychiatrist. Patingin ka. Hindi ka bipolar. You are a psychopath,” she said.(Third, I know a psychiatrist. Get yourself checked. You’re not bipolar. You are a psychopath.)Citing a “recalibrated” foreign policy, Duterte has launched a series of tirades against the US, the European Union, and the United Nations for calling him out on alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in the government’s bloody war on drugs.“Mamili kayo (You choose) — the crumbs of the favor of other nations, mag-asa lang tayo sa assistance nila (we just depend on their assistance), or we make a stand that this country must survive, that this country must see to it that the next generation is protected?” Duterte said in his speech last Thursday.“If you think it is high time for you guys to withdraw your assistance, go ahead…We will not beg for it. We have a problem here trying to preserve our society,” he added."
9051,"About 12 million Filipinos are hypertensive and half of them are “walking time bombs” who could succumb to a heart attack or stroke because they are unaware of their condition. To raise greater awareness of hypertension, the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday launched a monthlong campaign to screen Filipinos for abnormal high blood pressure.Called the May Measurement Month 2017 (MMM17), the campaign aims to screen at least 1.7 million Filipinos for hypertension as part of a global screening effort targeting 25 million people, the DOH said.“Some of these unsuspecting hypertensive individuals are extremely at risk and can be considered ‘walking time bombs’ because anytime they can figuratively ‘explode’ to develop complications like massive stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure,” said Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial.“Health awareness offers tremendous advantages,” she added, referring to screening to detect the illness.Premature deathHypertension is a primary contributor to premature death in the country, with 200,000 deaths every year due directly or indirectly to high blood pressure, according to the DOH.A department report said hypertension was the third leading cause of morbidity in 2014, behind topnotcher acute respiratory infection and pneumonia.Ubial said screening would be a cost-effective way to identify at-risk individuals early enough to reduce their healthcare costs, increase their productivity and prevent a rise in the overall disease rates.She urged Filipinos to support the campaign by getting screened this month for hypertension and other noncommunicable diseases like diabetes at local health centers, rural health units or hospitals.Health workers would need to take a person’s blood pressure several times to establish whether that individual has hypertension. Those diagnosed with hypertension would be encouraged to enroll in the DOH Hypertension and Diabetes Registry and Club for regular checkups and maintenance medicines.Healthy lifestyle“We advise the public to know their blood pressure and adopt a healthy lifestyle because your health is in your hands,” Ubial said.She suggested regular exercise, a diet that is low in fat, sugar, salt and high in fiber, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol consumption to lower the risk of hypertension.The screening project is a DOH initiative in cooperation with the International Society of Hypertension and the World Hypertension League, the Philippine Society of Hypertension and the Philippine Heart Association.The DOH chose Manila as the pilot site for MMM17 because of Mayor Joseph Estrada’s focused health-care programs and policies, including the citywide smoking ban and free maintenance medicines for the city’s senior citizens."
9060,"the Oscars.To be held February 22 at the Dolby Theater, the 87th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences annual awards will feature 8 of last year’s best films vying for the top prize.As per tradition, each of the nominated films will be featured in a one-minute clip throughout the evening’s program. This year, there will be one exception.One of the Best Picture nominees, “Boyhood” will be afforded a full 12 minutes of film clip.The coming-of-age dramatic film written and directed by Richard Linklater depicts the adolescence of a young boy in Texas growing up with divorced parents. It stars Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater and Ethan Hawke.The film was shot intermittently over the course of a 12-year period, from 2002 to 2014.The Academy board of directors decided to give justice to the nominated film by allowing one minute per year that it was in the making.Sounds fair.Here is the list of Oscar nominations. For the most fearless predictions on the Internet, visit NeverTooEarlyMoviePredictions."
9071,"The city government thanked the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for stepping up recovery efforts in this typhoon-hit city under the new administration.Mayor Cristina Romualdez on Friday said the city government is lucky to be a recipient of DILG-funded projects after the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda.Romualdez was referring to the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) funded projects such as city hall rehabilitation, court office, and repair of village facilities.“DILG has lived up to its mandate to promote public safety and strengthen local government capability toward effective delivery of basic services to the citizenry,” she said.The mayor issued the statement after DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno visited the city on Thursday to lead the inauguration of the Tacloban City Court office building.The city trial court located at the city hall grounds has two rooms at the first floor. The upper floor is the office of the City Civil Registrar.Sueno lauded the resiliency of Tacloban residents who recovered right after the typhoon.The DILG chief also went to the Leyte provincial capitol to unveil the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) marker for the province.Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla described the award as a product of the collaborative effort of all employees of the provincial government.As recipient of the SGLG award, the province of Leyte will receive Performance Challenge Fund, an incentive to local government units implementing projects addressing the basic needs of residents."
9081,"To postpone scheduled barangay (village) elections for the first time may be tolerable, postponing it the second time may be bearable but to postpone it again for the third time is already untenable and so unreasonable, an election lawyer said on Wednesday.In a statement, Romulo Macalintal cited Sen. Ralph Recto who, according to him, said the village elections being canceled for the third time is already a “strike three against democracy.”“Thus, the proposal of certain legislators to cancel the twice postponed barangay elections set on May 14, 2018 is already too much of an imposition upon [village] officials who do not enjoy our present mandate. They were elected for a three-year term last October 2013 to serve from November 2013 to November 2016 with the elections set on October 31, 2016. But their term of office was extended in holdover capacities when the October 2016 barangay elections were postponed until October 2017 and the latter canceled again and, as stated, set on May 14, 2018,” Macalintal said.He added that the Constitution mandates that these village officials shall be elected by their respective constituents, meaning that they cannot be appointed.Hence, according to Macalintal, the repeated cancelation of the elections and the extension of the term of office of “holdover officers” are a violation of the Constitution because, as enunciated by Supreme Court Justice Presbitero Velasco in his separate opinion in the 2011 case of Kida vs Senate, “Legislative appointment covers ‘holdover offices’ since a legislative extension of the term of an incumbent is virtually an appointment of the office for the extended time.”He also cited then Associate Justice and later Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, saying in the 1997 case of David vs Comelec where certain incumbent barangay officials wanted to cancel the 1997 village polls, the Supreme Court held that “the petition is a subtle and self-serving proposition to lengthen governance without a mandate from the governed. In a democracy, elected leaders can legally and morally justify their reign only by obtaining the voluntary consent of the electorate.”“Indeed, the dangerous effect of such a scheme is that if it can be done for barangay officials, what could prevent Congress from canceling the elections for other elective officials, like the President down to the last position of councilor, and extend their respective terms of office. This practice clearly violates the democratic system of our government where we could only be governed by leaders who have our free and voluntary mandate, not by those who were only imposed upon us by legislation, whether we like them,” Macalintal said."
9090,"I watched a news conference given by Mar Roxas. It, of course, was filled with the usual bullshit responses to questions as has been the case since this band of idiots have taken office. However, what really caught my attention was his (Roxas) explanation of the ""body count"" and the reason for the difference in ""totals"". To make his long, torrid and completely ridiculous explanation of this simple (I'll paraphrase here);'Human remains are NOT considered or counted in the ""death toll"" tally until they have been through a process which, prior to internment or a return to surviving family member, ends with positive identification of said remains.'It's sort of a twisted view of ""Schrödinger's cat"". This theory (or experiment) is an interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. You place a cat in a box. The box contains some sort of device, like a hammer attached to a pulley which is controlled from the boxes exterior, which will kill the cat. The box lid is closed and the device is activated; SPLAT! According to this theory, the cat is not alive or dead until we open the box and actually SEE its condition. Some studies have even taken this a step further to suggest that the cat does not even exist in the Physical World until we view it. So what's the connection? Roxas and the NDRRMC would like us to believe that all those bodies on the streets and especially those who have yet to be discovered are NOT dead until they have been positively identified and, their deaths may not have been caused by the actual Super Typhoon so their inclusion to the ""Death Toll"" is not a certainty. As Roxas said; ""they might have died from a heart attack"". This sums up his explanation of the differing figures insofar as the ""Death Toll"" is concerned.And then it hit me! How can Aquino, Roxas, Soliman and the rest of the ""Student Government"" sit there with a straight face and say the idiotic things they say? How can they expect people to believe these things? No one in their right mind would even… And that's the exact moment it hit me! Aquino is not just stupid and idiotic; he's physiologically challenged! To make matters worse, he has somehow managed to place people in his cabinet who suffer from the same condition! This is NOT a joke! I am being VERY SERIOUS here! There is something SERIOUSLY WRONG with these people! It would be a waste of time to go through the list of examples point-by-point.Everyone who reads this blog on a regular basis already knows it by heart. This country is being run by, pardon the term, ""retards""! I remember posting a humorous comment (probably on one of Ben Kritz's articles) saying people who defend Aquino (and his Cabinet) are like those who defend ""special children"" who had to take ""the short bus"" to school… I'm not laughing anymore. CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera (etc) send REAL journalists here who investigate, ask the tough questions and then point out the failures of this Government. In response, the Government says they're wrong.International Aid Agencies pointed out the many reasons why relief has been taking so long to reach people who need it. In response, the Government says they're wrong. The freaking United Nations, the UNITED NATIONS, criticizes the Government for their continued failures. In response, the Government says they're wrong… Clearly, the ENTIRE International Community can see what is REALLY happening here and yet, this Government of fools sticks to their guns and, instead of doing things to improve the situation, they come up with more stupid ideas which make the matter worse (I didn't think that was even possible). Now, they're talking about an ""investigation to uncover the reasons why so many people died""! What's the line used by that Columnist? ""Santa Banana""!I just assume the Face-Palm Position and say out loud; ""WHISKY-TANGO-FOXTROT""! This is beyond funny! This is way beyond anything I have ever witnessed before… The Philippines is being run by a bunch of clowns who have no idea that the entire Circus is on fire! Keep CRITICIZING! The Student Government will NOT hear you (nor will they care) but maybe, just maybe, people out there will hear you and finally decide to change the disastrous course the Philippines is now on.Source:http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2013/11/filipinos-who-say-stop-criticizing-the-government-are-not-helping-the-country-progress/comment-page-2/#comment-163681"
9100,"The propagation of an article written by a misguided author published on a media outlet not exactly known for its intellectual integrity is quite ironic behaviour exhibited by a self-annointed ""thought leader"" in the field of anti-""fake news"" activism. It's wrong on many levels but hardly surprising as this is, after all, Maria Ressa we are talking about.Wikipedia does not ""release"" stuff. It does not own or author any of the content it hosts. It relies on the work of an army of volunteer contributors and editors to create and maintain its content. All Wikipedia does is provide the platform for all that volunteer work.Ressa, being a self-described ""expert"" on all things digital would have likely known that -- except, perhaps in this instance, she, yet again, did not allow the facts to get in the way of a good story.Note the insights we gleaned communicating with so called ""editors"" of Wikipedia here . They are real class acts.According toCEO Maria Ressa, pioneering crowdsourcing site Wikipedia ""released"" a list of ""Philippine Fake News Sites"". Well, actually she parroted an article title used in the Philippine edition of the almost-porn media outlet..."
9111,"THE proposed reimposition of the death penalty is still very much alive in the Senate, contrary to earlier claims of some senators in the minority bloc that it is already dead, Sen. Francis Escudero said on Thursday.Escudero, who opposes the planned restoration of capital punishment, added that he was able to get the respective positions of senators on the matter two months ago and they are different from a statement earlier made by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.Drilon recently said in a news forum that the bill seeking to restore the death penalty in the country was already dead in the Senate with at least 13 senators likely to reject it.“I don’t believe that the death penalty is dead in the Senate and I hope he [Drilon] will not assume that and be complacent,” Escudero said, as he maintained his position against capital punishment.According to him, there is a chance that the death penalty will gain the Senate’s nod.Five death penalty bills are pending before the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights headed by Sen. Richard Gordon.Escudero said that there was a proposal to limit the imposition of the death penalty to high-level drug trafficking and there is a big possibility that the move could convince more senators into supporting the proposal.“What is clear is that the version of the House of Representatives which involves firing squad and hanging won’t have a chance of passing in the Senate,” he added.Sen. Richard Gordon, in a separate interview, said the fate of the death penalty is still too close to call, adding that his position against it would not change.Gordon reiterated that instead of imposing capital punishment, the government should work on improving the prison system and adopting a stricter policy on life imprisonment.“We have to really make sure that when we do impose life imprisonment, it should really be in prison, where prisoners are seen undergoing hard labor and far from their families,” he said."
9120,"Two of the Philippines’ largest television networks, ABS-CBN and GMA 7 have announced that they will be laying off almost 50% of their respective news staff effectively immediately.The lead competing networks made the announcement soon after President-elect Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said through his spokesperson that he will no longer be holding press briefings. Instead, he will be making statements or giving interviews through the state network, PTV.Duterte has been widely criticized for his recent statement concerning murdered journalists. Some media outlets reported that Duterte was “endorsing” the killing of journalists. The mayor was also attacked by the press for “catcalling” female journalist Mariz Umali during one of his recent briefings. Umali herself she did not expect any apology from Duterte.Since Duterte’s election, journalists have been swarming the mayor’s temporary office in Davao City, reporting on every single phrase that he uttered and calling him out for what they thought were statements or words that were inappropriate and insensitive. Duterte’s staff have repeatedly said that the mayor’s words are always taken out of context or misinterpreted for the sake of creating sensational headlines.Since there will no longer be press briefings, ABS-CBN and GMA 7 both said there will no longer be any need to employ reporters to cover the president-elect.Journalism groups have also called for a boycott of media coverage on Duterte.Well now, the “boycott” is moot and academic.Some of the laid off reporters have been re-assigned to cover the entertainment world, including the sensational team AlDub of GMA’s noontime TV show."
9130,"Article 1: Excess Donations1. The candidate is incredibly stupid2. The candidate is incredibly honest3. The amount is incredibly negligibleSi Isko Moreno lang ang problema tapos nandamay pa ng iba, para lang mapahaba ang article!Alam na ng taong sinauli na ni Duterte ang pera... maliban sa mga taga-PCIJ.Article 2: SALNs vs SOCEsMay pilit bang sinusunod na SOCE theme ang PCIJ kaya kahit mas mahalagang anggulo e dinedma na lang nila... Or was there a directive from “higher-ups” to avoid mentioning anything too negative about her?ARTICLE 3: Only 830 Filipino BankrollersTingnan mo lang si Roxas, Binay, at Poe: hindi pa kampanyahan, nakaubos na ng pinagsamang P2 billion!Cayetano’s P71-mHere's one of those ""tandem ads""Totohanang usapan lang ha: utang na loob ba ni Duterte na lumitaw sa commercial ni Cayetano, o kailangan talaga ni Cayetano na ma-endorse ni Duterte?Independent Micro-contributionsDuring the elections, regular citizens took the initiative to campaign for Duterte. PCIJ failed to take that into account.Has PCIJ been left behind by the times?What is TP’s point?DONT FORGET TO SHARE!RELATED POSTS:If there's one thing that can describe PCIJ's latest SOCE-themed article series, it would be ""KABISOTE"".I always try my best to make Politics funny and interesting for my readers, because politics and its periphery are an inherently very toxic subject matter and talking about it has taken a toll on me. So after a year of almost nonstop ThinkingPinoy, I decided to take a short vacation in Davao City. But just a few hours after landing in Durianland, I discovered that controversy after controversy erupted in Manila and I was like, ""Heto na naman tayo! (Here we go again!)"".Among these burning controversies are a series of articles released by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), controversial mainly because [1] the articles tackle election spending and [2] PCIJ has a reputation for in-depth investigative reports. And yes, I checked the PCIJ articles one by one, hoping to find something interesting. And yes, I found a few interesting bits, but they’re interesting for all the wrong reasons.Let’s discuss the PCIJ articles one by one and to make this blog post easier to follow, let me first list down the articles-in-question.Now, let's go.In THE WINDFALL OF ELECTIONS: 13 bets, 4 parties raise P69-M excess donations , PCIJ investigated what the candidates for national-level positions did with their excess campaign contributions based on their respective Statements of Campaign Expenditures (SOCEs).I was a bit iffy about this article from the onset because SOCEs are historically under-reported [ Vera ]. That is, a candidate who reports campaign expenses should fall under one of the following categories:Losing senatorial candidate Isko Moreno reported an excess of P50 million (P171-m contributions minus P121-m expenses). Comparing his expenses with Franklin Drilon’s P144-m and Hontiveros’ P99-m, I have a reason to believe that he did not deliberately underspend. As to where the P50 million went is anybody’s guess, and I feel that PCIJ is correct when they decided to raise their eyebrows when they received this information. Thus, Moreno is either incredibly stupid, or incredibly honest, or both.What’s confusing for me, however, is their inclusion of other candidates in the same article, as all other candidates reported an excess of less than P5 million which, for a national-level campaign, wouldn’t really get any candidate anywhere. That is, their excess contributions fall under the third category, i.e. incredibly negligible.Minus Isko’s P50-million, there’s really nothing interesting here. It appears that PCIJ simply tried to stretch the article so it’d pass as a feature piece. I found it thoroughly disappointing, as I had higher expectations in an article from a purportedly distinguished institution.It’s also worthy to note that PCIJ said it “tried to contact the candidates and parties who had reported unspent amounts to find out what they did with the money… One of those who has yet to reply is President Duterte...”According to PCIJ’s data set, Duterte reported P3.5 million in excess campaign donations. In theory, excess donations should be declared as income, so I guess that’s why PCIJ examined Duterte’s 2016 SALN, which shows an P500,000 increase, or P3 million short of the expected amount.However, a simple Google search with the keywords “Duterte Excess Donation” [ Goog ] leads to a May 2016 [ Philstar ] report indicating that Duterte returned the unused sums to the donors, which the newspaper said was “the first time excess funds were returned to contributors”.Surely, the supposedly prestigious organization could have pointed that out. But it didn’t.The article “ PUZZLING PERSONAL SPENDERS: SALNs and SOCEs of some bets don’t add up ” really puzzled me.Aside from Roxas and Marcos, whose out-of-pocket expenses are P18 million and P9.8 million respectively, the other presidential and vice-presidential expenses shelled out negligible amounts (less than P1 million) from their personal coffers, but PCIJ still decided to include other candidates in the chart.I don’t know if it’s just me, but what’s more puzzling is the fact that Leni was not on the table.Sure, Leni could have claimed that she spent none of her own money for the campaign, but would anyone buy that excuse? Seriously, not even a single peso?And do you still remember when she said, ""Very creative nga 'yung aking mga volunteer. Kung anu-ano 'yung naiisipan. 'Yung fundraining dinner na for me, siguro mahigit lima at malaki talaga 'yung nakukuha sa mga fundraising dinners.“?Ain't that neat? Too neat?Would it have been wiser for PCIJ to explore Robredo’s case, considering that the P418 million she spent dwarfs winning presidential candidate Duterte’s 371 million, despite the fact that she is just running for VP?In CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND THE 2016 ELECTIONS: Donors, Inc.: Only 830 Filipinos bankrolled poll bid of 5 prez bets , PCIJ explained that a woefully small number of Filipinos funded the vast majority of presidential campaigns. I actually concede to that, and I myself am disturbed by this fact.PCIJ suggested that a candidate who relies too much on the contribution of too few is a “captured candidate”, which means he or she is more likely to be beholden to the interest of his or her small group of wealthy benefactors.Even I agree with that, especially in light of the public knowledge that Grace Poe enjoyed the blessings of Marcos crony Danding Cojuangco [ TP: Coco Levy ], a major figure in Poe’s social circle [ TP: Connection ]. PCIJ then went on to list the biggest contributors of each major presidential candidate, then it quickly analyzed the numbers without regard to the nuances of each of their campaigns.For such an organization, this is disappointing, to say the least. To say that there are only “830 Filipino Bankrollers” based solely on the SOCEs is lazy journalism. SALNs cover only the campaign period that started a few weeks after the dawn of 2016. However, actual big-ticket spending started way before that.Take TV, radio, and newspaper ad spending in 2015 as an example, where Mar Roxas spent P774 million, Binay P695 million, Poe P694 million, and Duterte P129 million [ MT ]. Here’s a table that neatly compares the said figures vs SOCE (campaign period) spending:Looking at this table, would it be reasonable to say that “only 830” bankrolled the candidates when a vast majority of the big spenders spent the vast majority of their funds before the campaign period even started, i.e. before the period that SOCEs cover?PCIJ is mostly technically correct when it said only 830 bankrolled the candidates during the campaign period, but how useful is that information when the fact of the matter is a vast chunk of total election-related spending are not included in the SOCE’s anyway?Moreover, it’s interesting that VP candidate Cayetano was cited as having donated P71 million which PCIJ called “substantial”. PCIJ described the donation as in the form of “tandem advertisements”.PCIJ conveniently failed to define ""tandem ads"" as “Duterte being mentioned in Cayetano political ads”. This would not have made much of an issue if not for the fact that PCIJ essentially insinuates that Duterte hitching on Cayetano pol ads makes Duterte more likely to turn into a “captured candidate”.This theory is problematic at best as the Cayetano camp would probably agree that it’s Cayetano who needs Duterte’s endorsement more than the other way around. That is, while Cayetano had the money, it was Duterte who had the star power. I voted for Cayetano, and I am very well aware of that fact.So would that P71 million really make Duterte beholden to Cayetano? I do not think so because that would’ve implied that the Marcos Burial wouldn’t have happened [ TP: Cancel Burial ], as Cayetano is against the Marcoses [ CNN ].I think PCIJ, with its resources and connections, has been very lazy lately.PCIJ said “contributions amounting to P10,000 and below reached a total of only P175,313, which is not even half of one percent of his campaign funds”. But why didn’t PCIJ even attempt to estimate “de facto micro-donations” that were integral in the Duterte Campaign but cannot be directly measured?This issue becomes even more noticeable in light of the other PCIJ article “ CAMPAIGN FINANCE OFFICE IN DRIFT, HEADLESS: P334M from only 13 donors funded Duterte’s presidency For one, PCIJ failed to take into account the countless number of Duterte shirts printed by volunteers who are not officially connected to the Duterte campaign [ MS ]? With a modest estimate of 1000 plain shirts per province times a production cost of P200 per shirt times 81 provinces, that would already amount to P16 million nationwide!And we're just talking about the T-shirts: we have not even included the Duterte ballers, the tarpaulins, and the costs of independent pro-Duterte grassroots groups.This is my point: PCIJ unnecessarily limited campaign spending into what’s in the SOCE. However, in light of the Duterte’s unorthodox campaign, old definitions don’t apply anymore.PCIJ should take every effort to make sure that their articles describe reality as accurately as possible. However, judging from the gaping holes in this PCIJ SOCE series, it appears that PCIJ, who once had a reputation of engaging in out-of-the-box journalism, has become as dangerously bookish as the rest of traditional media.Is the PCIJ’s SOCE series still useful in evaluating the status quo of Philippine elections?Maybe, but not to a degree that’s expected from an organization of this caliber.[ ThinkingPinoy Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
9140,"Critics of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came out in full force on the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law under former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. Typing the number 45 made me realise how ancient that occasion was. Nevertheless, a lot of people still have hang-ups about it. They still whine about it as if Marcos is still alive today. They are starting to come across like people with mental health issues who need professional help. These people need to realise that Marcos is dead, Martial Law is still allowed in the current constitution “in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it” and more importantly, Duterte hasn’t violated any laws.The declaration of Martial Law itself was not illegal, but the abuses perpetuated by the rogue members of the Philippine Constabulary then under its Chief, former President Fidel Ramos in subsequent years make some people paranoid. To be fair, their reaction is not without merit. A lot of members of the military and police today still have the tendency to abuse their power. However, with today’s environment especially with the advent of social media, abuses would be easier to expose and dealt with. Furthermore, the 1987 constitution written during the late former President Cory Aquino’s term already has provisions to avoid a repeat of a dictatorship. Which makes all these protesters carrying placards saying “Never again!” and “No to Martial Law!” look a bit silly.In the first place, the President alone cannot proceed with Martial Law without the concurrence of members of Congress. If majority in Congress are not happy with the Executive’s report justifying his declaration of Martial Law, they can revoke the proclamation. Duterte’s declaration of Martial law in Marawi City and of the entire Mindanao was approved by Congress. They even agreed to extend it until the end of the year after its 60-day effectivity as required by the Constitution expired. This is proof that the Philippines is not under a dictatorship, which again makes the protesters singing songs from the Broadway musical Les Miserables and mimicking The Hunger Games salute sign look ridiculous. Their lack of originality just tells us that they don’t really understand the issues they are complaining about. They already contradict themselves by calling Duterte a fascist while enjoying their freedom to march and protest on the streets without getting harmed.The truth is, the anti-Marcos/Duterte protesters are so uninspiring. They are chanting the same slogans as if they were back in the 1980s. They have nothing to work with. Even I, as a pundit, have little to work with in analysing their behaviour. They should change their tactic to be more effective. As someone wise said earlier, these protesters have gone nuts. They are protesting something that happened more than 40 years ago. Meanwhile, they are not doing anything about the real issues plaguing the nation today like electoral fraud, patronage politics and incompetence of public servants especially in Congress. Those are the real threats to democracy. Electoral fraud means the people’s votes don’t really matter. Voting has become an expensive exercise in futility since the votes are sold to the highest bidder. And those who dismiss allegations of cheating during elections seal the country’s doom. Members of Congress who dismiss the impeachment bid against Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista for his alleged hidden wealth are guilty of this.Yes, the real tyrants come from Congress. Some of these bastards unite for or against allies they think can help them win or lose in the coming elections. The people should be protesting against them.Speaking of allies in Congress, members of the Liberal Party also came out in full force to attend a rally at the University of the Philippines on the same day. Former President BS Aquino was seen attending a mass at the university chapel for what they call “Misa para sa Katarungan”. How ironic considering a lot of people did not receive justice during his term.People have noted that BS Aquino and the rest of the Liberal Party mates have ditched wearing yellow shirts and pins. They were all wearing white shirts instead. They must have finally decided to rebrand. Goes to show that they lack conviction. While they finally accepted that being labelled “yellow” has a negative connotation, it also means that they do not stand for anything of substance since they can easily switch colours. They may have changed their colour from yellow to white, but they have not changed their style of leadership and policies. Their party is still based on nothing but patronage politics. What a waste. The costs of manufacturing those yellow shirts must have come at the expense of the taxpayers too. Now they are going to end up as rags or in the Filipino term “trapo” just like those that wore them.A lot of Duterte’s supporters also came out to show their appreciation for the President. They looked more organised and united compared to the anti-Duterte crowd. The latter came from different groups with different ideologies. Some of them believe in communist ideology, some are just against Martial Law and some, well, some don’t even know why they were there because they were just brought in to add to the numbers.While his critics and supporters gathered at the Luneta on the Day of Protest, a photo of the President was shown on the same day with his military men who are still fighting the terrorist group Maute in Marawi City. The President knows he needs to show them his support. For as long as the military is on his side, protesters shouting and whining against his policies won’t bother him."
9151,"Kasama sa mga paparangalan sa kategoryang ito sina Atty. Romulo Makalintal ng DZMM, ang Natatanging Gawad Tanglaw sa Sining ng Radyo; si Tirso Cruz III para sa Natatanging Gawad Tanglaw sa Sining ng Telebisyon; at si Chito Rono para sa Natatanging Gawad Tanglaw sa Sining ng Pelikula. Si Dindo Balares ay homegrown writer ng Liwayway, Balita, at Manila Bulletin. Noong 1989, bilang fresh graduate ng Literature sa Ateneo de Naga ay nagsimula siya bilang isang staff writer ng Liwayway, at naging entertainment editor nito bago nagbukas ang Movies and Friends magazine, at inilipat sa Balita. Siya ay nakapagsulat ng mahigit sa 20 nobela sa iba't ibang publikasyon. Noong 2013 ay inilabas ang kanyang pinakahuling libro, ang Walang Katulad, na tumatalakay sa pinanggalingan at pagkakalinlan ng mga Pilipino. Ang Gawad Tanglaw ay binubuo ng mga professor na pawang may doctorate at masteral degree mula sa iba't ibang paaralan sa Metro Manila at mga karatig-probinsiya. Narito ang kumpletong listahan ng 13th Gawad Tanglaw awardees: PRINT"
9160,"No civil or political rights are suspended during the existence of a state of lawless violence. In particular, no warrantless arrests shall be effected unless the situation falls under any of the following circumstances among others:(1) when the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit an offense in the presence of the arresting officer.(2) when an offense has just been committed and an arresting officer has personal knowledge of facts indicating that the person to be arrested has committed the offense.(3) when the person to be arrested is a prisoner who has escaped from a penal establishment or place where he is serving final judgment or temporarily confined where his case is pending.(4) when the person arrested, or to be arrested, has voluntarily waived his right against warrantless arrest.PCO cites wrong law for warrantless arrestsPresidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) ASec. Ana Marie Banaag, the Revised Penal Code is not the actual basis for warrantless arrests.Posted by Thinking Pinoy on Wednesday, September 7, 2016Citing the ConstitutionThe State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.Revised Penal Code? Not exactlyArt. 269. Unlawful arrest. — The penalty of arresto mayor and a fine not exceeding 500 pesos shall be imposed upon any person who, in any case other than those authorized by law, or without reasonable ground therefor, shall arrest or detain another for the purpose of delivering him to the proper authorities.chanrobles virtual law library [RPC Art. 269].Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure? Yes.Section 5. Arrest without warrant; when lawful. — A peace officer or a private person may, without a warrant, arrest a person:(a) When, in his presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit an offense;(b) When an offense has just been committed, and he has probable cause to believe based on personal knowledge of facts or circumstances that the person to be arrested has committed it; and(c) When the person to be arrested is a prisoner who has escaped from a penal establishment or place where he is serving final judgment or is temporarily confined while his case is pending, or has escaped while being transferred from one confinement to another.Why does it matter?DONT FORGET TO SHARE!RELATED POSTS:I support the Duterte Administration, but I criticize it when criticism is due, so here I go.Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary (ASec.) Ana Marie Banaag held a conference earlier today to explain President Rodrigo Duterte’s memorandum realting to the declaration of a State of Lawless Violence in the country.Banaag read a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.Among other things, the memorandum stated:After reading the entire statement, Banaag accepted follow-up questions from the media corps. The first question was from Leila Salaveria from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.Salaveria asked, “ The rules on frisking, checkpoints, instances of warrantless arrests… are these actually newly crafted rules or already existing in laws and rules?”Banaag answered, “They’re already existing. In fact, they are based on the constitution and based on the Revised Penal Code. So whether the proclamation (of the State of Lawless Violence) was issued or not, they still take effect. It (warrantless arrests) is still part of the law of the land.”Therein lies the problem.What Banaag said was mostly true, however…The constitution is the supreme law of the land, but it’s incorrect to cite the constitution out of the blue. Why? Because many provisions in the constitution include the phrase “as defined by law” or “as provided by law”. This means that the provision require the enactment of an addition “enabling law” before it takes real-life effect.For example, Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution specifically states:The constitution prohibits political dynasties but political dynasties abound. Why? Because there is yet to be an enabling law for this constitutional provision.Banaag should have simply skipped citing the constitution and went straight to citing a specific Republic Act or Court Rule.And she actually did, but there’s another problem.Aside from citing the constitution, Banaag also said warrantless arrests are based on the Revised Penal Code, otherwise known as Republic Act 3815.There's a problem with this statement: the Revised Penal Code, while allowing for warrantless arrests, does NOT provide the specific exceptions to the prohibition on warrantless arrests.The only most relevant provision on warrantless arrests in the Revised Penal Code is Article 269 which states:Art. 269 states there may be exceptions to the requirement of arrest warrants, but it does not actually say what those provisions are.RPC is correct, but it's not the best answer.Is there really a law or rule that allows warrantless arrests?Yes, it’s the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 113, Section 5 , which states:In cases falling under paragraph (a) and (b) above, the person arrested without a warrant shall be forthwith delivered to the nearest police station or jail and shall be proceeded against in accordance with section 7 of Rule 112. (5a)Sounds familiar?Yes. This is pretty much the same words included in the memorandum, except that Sec. Medialdea’s memo didn’t mention the name of the law upon which the statements were based.In short, it’s not the Revised Penal Code. Instead, it’s the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure, Rule 133, Section 5.So Banaag cited the wrong law, but does this issue really matter?, members of the opposition love to point out even the most trivial flaws in the Duterte Administration, so it’s essential to not give them additional ammunition., policemen and other law enforcement authorities may use Banaag’s inaccurate statement to justify warrantless arrests. We do not want these brave men to look stupid, of course., public confidence in the government’s competence is essential in any successful state. In the case of the Presidential Communications Office, it’s their job to be as accurate as possible when conveying the president’s messages.With these said, I suggest that the PCO issue a notice on its Facebook Page to clarify this issue as soon as possible.[ ThinkingPinoy Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
9171,"Naniniwala ang PNP-Cybercrime Group na namatay ang dalawang menor-de-edad dahil na-groom o naimpluwensyahan ng mga extremist group na nasa online game na Roblox.
Sa pagdinig ng Senate­ Committee on Women, Children, and Gender Equality, kinumpirma ni PNP-ACG Acting Deputy Director for Operations PCol. Romeo Desiderio ang report kung saan parehong nagdala ng ba­ril sa kanilang eskwe­lahan ang dalawang biktima. Tinukoy ni Desiderio na ang isa ay Grade 10 mula sa Marikina habang ang isa ay Grade 12 student sa Batangas.
Sa kaso sa Las Piñas, nakumpiska nila ang nasa humigit-kumulang 20 replica ng mga baril mula sa mga kabataan.
Batay sa profile ng mga kabataang nasagip mula sa grooming o impluwensya ng Roblox, tinukoy ni Desiderio na ang mga ito ay nasa edad 12-15-anyos at mayorya rito ay nag-aaral sa private schools kaya sa tingin ng PNP-ACG ­galing ang mga ito sa mga middle-income at high-income families. ?Tinukoy ni Desiderio ang ilan sa tinatawag na nihilistic violent extremism na ginagawa sa mga kabataan sa online games.
Kabilang dito ang pang-iimpluwensya ng ideolohiya ng Nazism o ang political principles ng diktador ng Germany na si Adolf Hitler, Satanism, Order of the Nina Angels na isang occult network at idolizing ng ilang mga personalidad na sangkot sa violent extremism tulad ng mass shooting sa US at Australia."
9180,"It is the proverbial 3 a.m. call that only heads of state are expected to make to settle urgent world issues. That’s exactly what happend at 3 a.m. this morning, Philippine Time (3 p.m. Washington time).U.S. President Donald Trump called Rodrigo Duterte to offer his unequivocal support for the Philippine President after the latter was widely criticized for kissing a Filipina lady on the lips during a meeting with the Filipino community in South Korea.”Don’t your critics have better things to do,” Trump reportedly told Duterte. “I fully understand your predicament. It happened to me during my campaign when an audio tape was leaked to the news media where I had commented that I grab women “by the p*ssy,” “I can definitely relate,” Trump added.Trump said he was 100% behind Duterte, chastising the news media for not having any idea on what Presidents go through every day. “They like to make a mountain out of a molehill. Well, they can go to hell.”"
9190,"If you haven't heard of the news, TESDA is offering FREE online courses. Which by the way, upon completion will earn you a certificate that you can use as credentials when applying for a job.Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA launched this program in an effort to uphold education to every aspiring Filipino learners. Now, if you want to know how to enroll and sign up for the free online program, I suggest you keep on reading the following tutorial:Things you will need:Internet connectionA desktop computer or laptop or a smartphone (Android or iPhone will do).A valid and working email address. Make sure you have access to your email.Step 1: Go to e-tesda.gov.ph website and click or tap the login permalink located at the upper-right hand corner of the site.Step 2: Create an account. To do this, just either click the 'New Account' or the button 'Create New Account.' Both links redirects you the same page.Step 3: By now you are now on a form that asks you for your information. Supply the blank fields with accurate facts about you. Once completely filled ou, answer the CAPTCHA correctly.Step 4: If you have successfully signed up for complteing all the required fields, you will see a message like in the image below:Step 5: Check your email, the same email you provided when you created the account on TESDA. There should be an email from TESDA with a link that you have to click in order to verify your application.Step 6: After clicking the link, you will be redirected to TESDA's online program page and there you may start and choose a course by clicking the ""Courses"" buttonStep 7: Choose the course you want to learn.Step 8: After choosing a course, you will be taken to its modules. Complete each modules as any incomplete module will result to an unfinished course. You cannot make to the assessment exam with an unfinished course.Step 9: Choose a module and click it. You will prompted with a message asking you to confirm. Just click yes.Step 10: After that, you can now see the lessons under the module you have selected. You may now begin your online course.Do you know someone who is willing to learn from home? Share this article on your timeline to help your friends find TESDA's free online courses!"
9200,"There is a missing beauty crown and a sash, and television host Steve Harvey is being questioned by authorities for it.It has nothing to do with Miss Universe. Rather, it is about Miss Washington USA. Stormy Keffeler who had earlier won the crown resigned after a previous DUI arrest surfaced. However, the first runner-up could not be crowned because Keffeler said both the crown and the sash mysteriously disappeared.Harvey, many will recall mistakenly crowned Miss Colombia in last December’s Miss Universe pageant only to correct himself and say that Miss Philippines had actually won the contest.Authorities said Harvey is not a suspect in the disapperance of the Miss Washington USA crown and sash. “We’re just trying to pursue all possible leads to find the missing items,” they said."
9210,"DAVAO CITY — Perjury is a serious crime.President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night broke his silence on the allegations by a confessed hit man that he ordered the killings of some 1,000 suspected criminals and political opponents while he was still mayor of Davao City,Duterte was asked in an ambush interview here for his comment on Edgar Matobato’s claims in a Senate hearing.“Alam mo kung bakit, if you know it’s a lie and you have a person who testify, you are an active participant. Sige, sige mag-testify ka, that is subornation of evidence. It’s a serious crime,” he told reporters.Matobato was presented in a Senate hearing by Sen. Leila de Lima, one Duterte’s staunchest critics.The President also said that his son, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, was angry that Matobato implicated him in the alleged extrajudicial killings in Davao City.The self-confessed hitman said Paolo was behind the killing of Cebu businessman Richard King and four security personnel of Duterte’s one time political rival, former Speaker Prospero Nograles.But amid the Senate investigation into extrajudicial killings, Duterte said he would not intervene in matters not within his territory. This came after De Lima lost her Senate chairmanship of the committee on justice.The President said he was not cowed by various investigations meant to discredit his crackdown on illegal drugs.“[The war on] drugs it will continue, I don’t care if there is a thousand hearings everywhere. Maka-focus lang ako doon sa problema,” he said.He said he was focus on his agenda, adding that Congress has its own plan.“Congress, bahala sila magka-gulo dun, I will stick to my own agenda. Congress they have their own show. Go ahead, be my guest,” he said."
9221,"San Beda College is now a university after meeting all the standards and qualifying requirements for the grant of the status by the Commission on Higher Education.The school in Mendiola, Manila, has continued a tradition of leadership and innovation in providing high-quality education while keeping its faith in the Benedictine virtues and values of ora et labora (prayer and work), and fides, scientia, virtus (faith, knowledge, and virtue).Founded in 1901, San Beda excels academically, particularly in accountancy and law. Among its law graduates is President Duterte.The university has eight departments: Basic Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Nursing, College of Law, College of Medicine, Graduate School of Business, Graduate School of Law, and Graduate School of Liturgy.The College of Arts and Sciences has earned numerous awards instrumental in the Level 3 accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, College, and Universities, one of the requirements for university status. It produced CPA board topnotchers in 2005 and 2014."
9231,"The Liberal Party (LP) plans to present to the people its presidential candidate, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, as a “much-improved version” of President Aquino, its spokesman, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, said on Sunday.Since Roxas is more popular among “intellectual voters,” the plan is for Roxas to focus on getting the support of Classes D and E starting “from now until the homestretch of the campaign,” Evardone said.Speaking on dzIQ or Radyo Inquirer, Evardone was asked whether Roxas should have a platform of government that was not too identified with President Aquino, especially since some quarters refer to him as “Noynoy 2.0.”Evardone disagreed, saying that Roxas should emulate and improve on the performance that was set by Aquino, noting that the country and the international community have seen a President not tainted by corruption and who only has the interest of the nation at heart.“I don’t think you need to depart from this. You can improve some aspects. But you need not deviate. If it’s necessary for him (Roxas) to be a clone of President P-Noy, so be it. It can’t be that Mar Roxas would reinvent himself. Maybe an improved version of President P-Noy is what we can say about Sec[retary] Mar,” the LP spokesman said.He said he talked to Roxas on Saturday and the latter was open to his suggestion that they concentrate on getting more support from Classes D and E, or the marginalized sector.“Because we think he is strong with intellectual voters, they know his competence and integrity, but he is not yet that strong in Class D and E,” Evardone said.Evardone said he thought Roxas would resign from the Cabinet this week.But Sen. Sergio Osmeña III said Roxas could still keep his Cabinet post because under the law, he need not resign until he files his certificate of candidacy (CoC) in October.“He is not yet officially recognized as a candidate by the Commission on Elections,” Osmeña said over another radio station.In the interview, Osmeña said Roxas could get 60 to 80 percent of the votes intended for Sen. Grace Poe if she would not run for president.Osmeña said the votes meant for Poe would come from supporters of Aquino.The senator said this scenario would be a big help to Roxas. “That’s the winning idea, the winning move to convince [Poe] to run as vice president or pull out from the presidential race and endorse Roxas,” he said.But Osmeña said this might not happen because Poe was likely to run for president.The chances of a Roxas-Poe tandem were dim, he said, because President Aquino had met several times with Poe but failed to convince her to beRoxas’ running mate.Not giving up yet on a Roxas-Poe team, however, is Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, vice president for external affairs of the National Unity Party. He said such a tandem was possible.“Grace Poe has not made any formal announcement yet so the possibility that they (Poe and Roxas) would team up is not too remote,” Barzaga said in another radio interview.Barzaga pointed out that the tandem of the late President Corazon Aquino and the late Vice President Salvador Laurel in the 1986 snap elections saw the pair agreeing to team up only 15 minutes before the filing of CoCs.If a Roxas-Poe tandem will not happen, it is possible that not all of the coalition partners of Aquino will support Roxas in 2016. The coalition includes such groups as the Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition and the party-list group Akbayan.Osmeña, who was away during the State of the Nation Address of the President on July 27, said he was giving Aquino a grade of D-plus for the performance of his administration in the past five years.But the senator said he was giving the President an A for integrity.Still, he said the people were aware that the President was around officials who were corrupt and whom he even defended.RELATED STORIESMar Roxas needs new packaging to win in 2016, says analyst‘Roxas in good place for 2016’"
9241,"SENATOR Cynthia Villar is dismayed over the steady increase in the number of Filipinos being deployed overseas as domestic workers since 2014.According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the country in 2016 deployed 275,073 first-time househelpers compared to 194,835 in 2015 and 183,101 in 2014.“Why are we sending more domestic workers now than ever before? Last year, the records of the POEA showed that we have almost breached the 300,000-mark in terms of newly hired migrant domestic workers,” Villar said on Friday.“We should focus our attention more in offering women workers decent local jobs rather than facilitating their deployment to foreign households under slave-like conditions,” she said.For the first semester of 2017, the POEA has processed the contracts of 124,969 first-time migrant domestic workers.“This means we may be sending 300,00 new-hires as overseas domestic workers by the end of the year,” she said.“I find this quite alarming because the intention of our President [Rodrigo Duterte] has always been to find better and safer means of local employment especially for our women,” Villar said.“Are we sending out more domestic workers than we can protect? We cannot afford to see more ‘Joramies’ stripped of dignity by foreign employers who think of our women as their slaves,” she said.The senator was referring to overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joramie Garcia Torres who was scalded with boiling oil and beaten up by her Malaysian employer.She intends to seek an inquiry into the rising number of migrant domestic workers and instances of abuse and maltreatment concerning OFWs like Torres on a “per country basis.”“Indonesia has stopped sending domestic workers to the Middle East despite pressures from other governments,” Villar said.“What exactly is the Philippine policy in relation to the deployment of overseas domestic workers? This is something that needs to be discussed because right now, the figures are quite alarming,” she said.More welfare protectionVillar urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to enhance welfare protection for OFWs.She urged the DFA to extend legal and humanitarian assistance to Torres as she attends court hearings and pursues a criminal case against her employer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.“We all should be proud and supportive of Joramie because she is intent on seeking justice under Malaysian law. While she cooperates with the Malaysian government, I hope that the DFA and DoLE can also assist her indigent family,” Villar said.She noted that Torres was a grade school teacher prior to applying to work abroad as a domestic worker in Malaysia.Torres is now under the care of the Malaysian government while charges against her employer are pending in court. The Malaysian employer was arrested but was able to post bail.Villar hopes that the P1-billion in Assistance-to-Nationals Fund of the DFA can be used to protect and help OFWs especially hundreds of thousands of domestic workers living and working under vulnerable conditions worldwide."
9251,"SOME senators on Wednesday expressed their support to the assistance being extended by the Philippine Embassy to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait, saying the welfare of Filipinos should be a priority.Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito and Francis Escudero, both members of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said it was good to see embassy officials being aggressive in defending the rights of abused Filipino workers.According to Ejercito, while the Philippines needs to respect laws of the host country, the priority of the any government should be the welfare and lives of its citizens.“Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa had to make a hard decision. While he may have violated protocols of the Kuwaiti government, saving the lives and protection of welfare of Filipinos should be given utmost priority,” he said.Villa was summoned by the foreign ministry of Kuwait to protest the rescue by the Philippine Embassy of distressed Filipino household workers in Kuwait, which was viewed as an infringement of the country’s sovereignty.Apart from being summoned, there were also reports about some members of the Kuwaiti parliament who want Villa expelled for violation of local laws.“I would rather see Villa being summoned or deported by the Kuwaiti government rather than see Filipinos going home in caskets,” Ejercito said.Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano already apologized for the actions of the Philippine Embassy that have offended the Kuwaiti government and its people.“I apologize to my counterpart and we apologize to the Kuwaiti government, to the Kuwaiti people and the leaders of Kuwait if they were offended by some actions taken by the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait,” Cayetano said.Escudero, on the other hand, said he is hoping that embassy officials would still be aggressive in protecting and rescuing distressed OFWs even after the Foreign Affairs department issued an apology.The senator insisted that Filipinos living or working abroad have to feel safe and confident, knowing that their government would protect and defend them right or wrong.“I was glad to see Philippine Embassy officials being aggressive in defending the rights of abused OFW’s and with gusto,” Escudero said.Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd said the actions made by embassy officials clearly showed the problems facing Filipino workers in Kuwait and imposing a ban on the deployment of new workers was just right.He said the Philippines needs to sort things out first with Kuwait before agreeing to lift the deployment ban and make sure that all mechanisms to protect Filipinos in the Gulf state are in place.The Senate president added that the Foreign Affairs department did the right thing when it issued an apology for the recent actions of the embassy.The move, Cayetano said, could gain the respect of the Kuwaiti government.“We may gain the respect and friendship of Kuwait more and maybe some other countries looking at the Philippines and seeing how the country admitted its mistake,” he added.The Philippines, Cayetano said, should always be conscious in respecting the laws of other countries just like how the government wants other countries to respect Philippine laws."
9260,"The Adobo Chronicles has just obtained a leaked copy of a new Pastoral Letter that will be read at all Catholic Churches in the Philippines this coming Sunday.The yet, undated and unsigned letter from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is an appeal to all devout Filipino Catholics to come to the defense of priests and bishops who have recently come under attack by the President.In the letter, the bishops said that calling god ‘stupid’ is like calling the men and women in fancy robes ‘stupid.’Here is the leaked letter:"
9270,"He told fishermen not to ""gamble and destroy"" the breeding grounds of fish in the sea since marine products are the cheapest food Filipinos can buy in the market.""The cheapest thing that we can buy today is the marine product. So if not to really gamble and destroy the spawning ground because then it would result in an imbalance sa ating pagkain (to our food),"" he said.Duterte also revealed that Xi has already asked Chinese fishermen to leave Scarborough but is not sure whether the Chinese leader would fulfill their agreements.""Ang alam ko pinaalis na rin niya ang mga Chinese na fisherman at parang wala ka nang makita diyan. 'Yun ang pinag-usapan namin ewan ko kung tutuparin nila,"" he said.(I know he (Xi) already asked Chinese fishermen to leave so you won't see anyone anymore. That's what we discussed. I don't know if they will fulfill it.)Filipino fishermen have been reportedly denied access to Scarborough Shoal by Chinese coast guards.Last July, the Hague arbitration tribunal has ruled in favor of the Philippines on the disputed South China Sea which includes Scarborough Shoal.According to the decision, Scarborough Shaol is a common fishing ground of Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese fishermen."
9280,"There are Filipinos whose actions can be considered treacherous. In their obsession to stay in power, they will do anything, including destroy the reputation of the Philippines with the international community.Take the case of Senator Leila de Lima. In her recent interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, De Lima not only was critical about President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy on illegal drugs, she also undermined the members of the Philippine police force. When Amanpour asked her what she thought of the police’s defence that some of those who were killed during police operations resisted arrest, De Lima did not hesitate to say “I do not, for a second, believe that”. Her statement was irresponsible and outrageous.Even without the results of police investigations, De Lima already gave her own verdict against the police based on her own gut feel. What kind of lawyer is she? She should have been disbarred a long time ago. It’s too obvious that she is just trying to save her own ass since her reputation is already in tatters. She doesn’t deserve to be a senator. Instead of looking out for the men and women in the police force who work hard for very little pay and benefits, De Lima badmouths them before the international community.De Lima’s beef with President Duterte is getting out of control. In De Lima’s desperation, she is seeking the help of the international community to bring Duterte down. She doesn’t care anymore if there are other casualties in the process. She knows – since she was the former Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary – that there is a real threat the Philippines could turn into a “narco state”, but she still continues to throw accusations that the government’s war on drugs is violating the human rights of drug lords and dealers. A lot of people are wondering when she is going to cry foul over the deaths of helpless victims of drug-related crimes. She seems more concerned about the fate of lowlifes who wreak havoc in Philippine society.I am actually surprised there are women who look up to De Lima. She seems to have become a champion of the women’s activist group GABRIELA. They see her as a courageous woman who soldiered on even after Duterte’s attacks and especially after he divulged her alleged affair with her former driver at the DOJ. A GABRIELA member called me out on Twitter for being critical of De Lima. She insinuated that being a woman, it is wrong for me to put down another woman. To which I replied, I do not discriminate. I call out irrational behaviour coming from both men and women. The members of this women’s group are acting irrational themselves for expecting me to go soft on someone just because of her gender. They are the ones being discriminatory.De Lima will definitely not get a pass from me since she had been irrational since former President BS Aquino put her in his cabinet. De Lima had acted like his attack dog for six years. Besides, I don’t think she is an authority on human rights since she herself violated other people’s human rights in the past. It’s worth mentioning again how De Lima violated former President Gloria Arroyo’s rights:We recall that there was pandemonium at the Manila international airport in November 2011 when Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima panicked after she found out Arroyo was leaving the country and ordered officers at the airport to help bar her from leaving for Singapore. And with the assistance of the media in inciting anger against Arroyo, some members of the public also joined the fray – besieging her at the airport. Her frail and helpless appearance on a wheelchair did not stop them from acting like a lynch mob. The scene resulted in a standoff because Arroyo’s supporters insisted on her right to travel abroad as stated in the Philippine Constitution. De Lima’s initial violation back then was in defying the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on the travel ban against Arroyo. De Lima even risked disbarment for ignoring the highest court’s order. Senator Miriam Santiago likewise questioned De Lima’s action citing the DOJ had no legal basis to issue a watch-list order against Arroyo since there was no pending case against the former President and was only a respondent in a joint DOJ Comelec investigation on electoral fraud at that time.I don’t see De Lima as a champion for women’s rights either. She comes across as someone who uses her position to get what she wants. Some say that perhaps her former driver didn’t have a choice but be intimate with her for fear of losing his job. If what they are saying is true, she is definitely someone young women shouldn’t emulate. De Lima also bullies other people. That is behaviour that both men and women shouldn’t pattern themselves after. Bullies like De Lima are actually weak deep inside. They mask their weakness by putting others down.It’s quite disturbing that someone like De Lima is in a powerful position. Her endless yakking in front of the media is not helping the country move forward. She seems to be trying to divert the public’s attention from the fact that she was too incompetent to deal with the country’s drug epidemic as DOJ Secretary and how, while she held that office, drug manufacturing thrived inside the country’s main penitentiary, The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was right in saying she kept using the term extra-judicial killing too loosely considering she issued a set of guidelines that makes clear what constitute as one. The killing of suspected drug dealers is not covered by the definition stipulated on those very guidelines.Indeed, De Lima’s self-serving actions should be investigated. The country doesn’t need someone who would rather look good while ruining the country’s standing in the international community and destabilising the current government."
9291,"A special division of the Court of Appeals (CA) voted 3-2 to dismiss the murder case against former Palawan Gov. Joel T. Reyes and ordered the Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 52 to stop all action against him.Associate Justices Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob and Maria Filomena Singh dissented from the majority decision penned by Associate Justice Normandie Pizarro and concurred in by Associate Justices Danton Bueser and Victoria Paredes.Invoking a “miracle” in Reyes’ favor, the special division ruled that the Puerto Princesa RTC abused its discretion when it decided there was probable cause to charge Reyes of involvement in the killing of Dr. Gerardo Ortega on Jan. 24, 2011.“Call it a second chance afforded him by God or a lucky three-point play for him, to use a common street lingo, or a miracle in his favor, (Reyes) must by all means be exonerated from the charge,” the court ruled.The appellate court said there was no evidence against the former governor aside from the sworn statement of Rodolfo Edrad alias Bumar.But Edrad’s testimony, the court said, was riddled with “inconsistencies” and “contradictions” so the division decided Edrad was “not a credible and trustworthy witness.”“Edrad’s sworn statements cannot therefore be validly used as evidence against Reyes,” the appellate court said.Since there was “no valid circumstantial evidence” against Reyes, it was “utter uselessness” to proceed with the trial.“It is the duty of this court to shield the innocent from senseless suits right from the start. Why wait for trial if there is no evidence?” said the appellate court.The decision, dated Jan. 4, was written by Associate Justice Normandie Pizarro, former chair of the special division of the court.Normally, a special division of five is only created when the original three members of a division cannot reach a unanimous decision.“This court could only hope that he would take advantage and give full faith and meaning to this second lease on life given him. He is definitely saved from the 20-year or so imprisonment metable to the offense charged,” it added.The court set aside the points raised by the prosecution against Reyes: that the ex-governor turned fugitive for some time used a fake passport; that he acknowledged he was the subject of Ortega’s anticorruption campaign; that Reyes had a close relationship and gave money to Edrad who confessed to orchestrating the murder; and that one of the self-confessed participants in the murder was violently killed while in prison.“Criticisms alone is too trivial a reason to murder somebody,” said the appellate court.“(Reyes’) close relationship if any to Edrad aka Bumar, does not automatically mean that he authored the killing of Dr. Ortega. Mere relationship, association or companionship do not establish conspiracy,” it added.On Reyes’ turning fugitive, the court said: “Flight is not per se always synonymous with guilt especially so if the above premises are considered.”To Ortega’s loved ones, the court said: “Our hands are tied by our bounded duty to administer justice and abide by the law. No evidence, no conviction. So be it.”"
9300,"ATTY. MACALINTAL IS WRONG AGAINThe seasoned election lawyer is reported to have stated that should Bongbong Marcos accept a cabinet post after one year, that it will be bad for his impending electoral protest against Leni Robredo.Atty. Macalintal offers two reasons for this.1. Accepting a cabinet post after one year is an admission that Marcos lost, since the one-year ban is only for losing candidates.2. A cabinet post would render as null any protest and could be taken as a waiver.With all due respect, I think the good lawyer is again wrong on both grounds.On point 1. While the 14 million who voted for Marcos certainly believe that he won, unfortunately under the law Mrs. Robredo has already been proclaimed. Hence, since we are a government of laws, Marcos and President Duterte will have to abide by the one-year prohibition against appointing candidates who were declared to have lost in the official canvassing, but without prejudice to such candidates accepting a post in the cabinet more so that a successful electoral protest, to which any losing candidate is entitled, would lead to an elected office that is not constitutionally barred from holding a cabinet position. Marcos ran for Vice President and if his protest is successful he will occupy that post. Under the 1987 Constitution, a Vice President may be appointed to the Cabinet.On point 2. It is also for the above reason that the argument that taking a cabinet position will moot an existing protest may not necessarily hold when the post being contested is that of the Vice President. Senator Legarda's protest against then VP De Castro was deemed mooted because she ran for the Senate and one could not be both a Senator and a Vice President at the same time. The same logic applied when Senator Santiago's protest against President Ramos was mooted when she ran for the Senate.And to remind Atty. Macalintal, the protest by Mar Roxas against VP Binay was not mooted when the former was appointed by President Aquino to his cabinet. Until before filing his certificate of candidacy for President, the election protest was still a live case with the PET.-------------------Antonio Contreras as posted on Facebook:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10205533514891414&id=1658231410"
9310,"SM, the Philippines’ leader in the retail industry, announced today that it was converting some of its department stores into PX Goods Centers. PX stands for Post Exchange which is basically the military department store. It sold goods that the average local store didn’t have. Servicemen would bring their native girlfriends or wives shopping on base. PX goods were extremely popular during the tenure of U.S. Military bases in the Philippines.Now, as the Philippines and the United States prepare to sign a new 10-year agreement allowing renewed American military presence in this Southeast Asian country, SM said it would start converting some of its major stores into PX centers, starting with cities in which there are (or have been) military bases. These include the former Clark Airforce Base in Angeles City, Subic Naval Base in Olongapo City and John Hay Airforce Base in Baguio City. SM said it will also convert some of its department stores in the Visayas and Mindanao.Filipino Americans hailed the SM announcement saying that this will eliminate the need to include such American goods like SPAM, Libby’s Corned Beef, Taster’s Choice Instant Coffee and Dove soap in balikbayan boxes they regularly ship to loved ones in the Philippines."
9321,"MUKHANG light and positive drama series ang type na subaybayan ng mga manonood sa telebisyon ngayon. Ito na siguro ang epekto ng feel-good serye na pinasimulan ng Be Careful With My Heart na napanood sa umaga pero umabot na maging sa gabi. Sinusubaybayan ng marami nating mga kababayan ang Dream Dad na nakapagpauso na kaagad ng mga katagang ""magandang buhay"" at ""Mr. President."""
9330,"Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is already two years into his term. While he is not the first presidential candidate to be elected on the promise of change, he is possibly one of the few under whom Filipinos feel that it is genuinely happening.Duterte has done quite a few things differently from his predecessors. He has adopted a foreign policy that is not defined primarily by being Uncle Sam’s loyal terrier. As the first president from the Mindanao region, he gives more due attention, and not just lip service, to its development. The way he openly criticizes “untouchable” institutions like the Catholic church and the mainstream media is considered unheard of.While Duterte may be indeed rocking the boat, so to speak, if there is any change that is occurring, it is relegated to the political and economic aspects of life in the Philippines. But how far can the momentum of president Duterte’s drive for change go?For long-lasting change to take place, it must reach all the way to the root of Filipino dysfunction: the Filipino culture. The way things are going, Duterte’s “change”, while it may inspire Filipinos to think that a better tomorrow is possible (pwede naman pala), will ultimately fail to have any real effect on Filipinos.He cannot unite them.The greater good, all-encompassing concept of the Filipino does not exist, not in the way that, for example, America and Americans are defined beyond the fifty states that make up the Union. Instead, Filipinos have remained regionalist, tribal, and ultimately loyal only to their self-interests.The current opposition to president Duterte’s administration is composed of people and groups who lost the previous presidential election (and still can’t get over it). Also added to the mix are communist/socialist groups who are interested only in the overthrow of those whom they don’t like. What further complicates things is that the opposition is more interested in ousting Duterte through whatever means possible, rather than presenting a clear, rational, and realistic alternative to the way he’s running the country now.The underlying culprit, however, the reason there is inability to unite, is the way Filipinos approach unity. Most of them simply cannot put their egos aside; the way they regard unity is that others must submit to them. You will be hard-pressed to find the “win-win” mindset among Filipinos. Although there are Filipinos who can practice the delicate art of winning enemies over through gentle persuasion, a lot of others view engagement with non-allies as a zero-sum game – “only I must win; everyone else must lose.”No matter how hard Duterte tries to reach out to all Filipinos, some of them (including he and his supporters) are just plain stubborn, insufferable, and incorrigible. And they would rather stay that way.He cannot instill an appreciation for the rule of law.As has been pointed out in Get Real Post many times before, Filipinos have this baseless sense of being more important than everyone else. The rule of law is as close to a logical, rational method of ensuring fairness among people as you can get. Unfortunately, this doesn’t sit well with many Filipinos because not having an undue advantage over others is simply unacceptable to them.As it stands, Filipinos will not abide by the rule of law by themselves. Most of them will do so only under the threat of forces stronger than them. And even then, they will pull out the victim card, cry foul, and use their “pitiful” state to make excuses as to why they should be “special”.He cannot wean them from their meek, deferential, subservient, and submissive collective character.President Duterte recently made headlines when he criticized the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The church, and primarily the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), have widely been perceived to be meddlesome in political affairs, and to hold politicians by the neck with the prospect of “votes”. He has also made headlines for criticizing the West for the way developing countries are “shamed” for not towing the liberal/politically correct line.It is fairly obvious that without a figurehead like Duterte at the helm, Filipinos would never have thought of criticizing the CBCP and the church for their hypocrisy. They would never have thought of revisiting just why religion has such a deep stranglehold on the Filipino psyche. And they would have never thought of criticizing the West for their hypocritical and lopsided regard towards developing countries who don’t tow liberal lines.Filipinos are known for being an enduring people – “matiisin” in the vernacular. Being enduring doesn’t mean that it’s good that they can outlast discomfort; it means that they would rather bear the indignity of the problem, than confront it. It doesn’t help that Filipinos are an emotional people who easily capitulate to the loudest voice in the room.While a powerful figurehead is a great help to any movement for change, it must not be dependent on that alone. The Filipino fixation on personalities, instead of ideas, is truly one of the biggest hindrances to deep-rooted change and enlightenment.The challenge to Filipinos is simple: they need to show themselves that they can overcome their cultural inertia, and keep the momentum of change going, even after president Duterte’s term ends."
9340,"President-elect Donald Trump today reiterated his intention to bring back the greeting ‘Merry Christmas,’ one of his many campaign promises.Waging his war on political correctness, Trump said that beginning next year, he will ban greetings like ‘Happy Hanukkah,’ ‘Happy Kwanzaa,’ and ‘Maligayang Pasko.’Although ‘Maligayang Pasko’ is merely a Filipino (Tagalog) translation of ‘Merry Christmas,’ Trump said, “Still, if you’re in America, do as the Americans do. Speak English.”So to our Filipino readers in America, we say — for the last time — Maligayang Pasko!"
9351,"The Philippines’ largest Moro rebel group on Tuesday retired 145 fighters and handed over 75 firearms in a symbolic gesture to reinforce a stalled peace pact with the government.President Aquino and Murad Ebrahim, leader of the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), witnessed the handover of the weapons, including mortar and rocket launchers, near a rebel stronghold.The 145 MILF fighters were the first batch of guerrillas who agreed to return to normal life with promises of government support.An autonomy deal signed by the administration and the MILF last year was expected to be a major legacy of Aquino when his six-year term ends next year.Aquino described the return of the Moro fighters to civilian life and the ceremonial turnover of the guns as a “solid testament and participation” of the MILF in the peace negotiations after four decades of secessionist war.Chance to save livesSpeaking before the MILF leaders, the decommissioned Moro fighters and their families, Aquino urged everyone to “repay the trust” the MILF had shown.One way, he said, was to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), adding that opposing the measure would deprive the Bangsamoro people of a chance for a better life they deserved.This was the first time Aquino had publicly chided those opposed to the draft law, his priority measure.“Let us repay the trust they have shown us. Let us strive to reach the point in which we can say: We truly gave them every opportunity to change their lives and to reach their dreams,” Aquino said in Filipino.“But I must also say: If you are planning to make it difficult to pass the law, it is as if you have willfully deprived them of what should be theirs—guaranteeing that they will never lay down their arms and leave the conflict behind,” Aquino said.Call to BBL foesThe President noted that the MILF went ahead with the ceremonial decommissioning ceremony even if the proposed BBL had not yet been passed and there was still no Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).He said the MILF remains committed to putting down their weapons even if “they are fully aware of threats to their own safety brought about by private armed groups.”Lawmakers and those who will vote in the plebiscite against the BBL should “remember this day,” Aquino said.“Are we also going to seize from them the chance to live dignified and peaceful lives? Are we going to cling to baseless fears? Do we want to fall back on solutions that have already failed to rectify the problem … and deepened the wounds caused by a lack of trust?”To abandon path of violenceAquino observed the decommissioning process of the 145 rebels held in sweltering heat in an old, abandoned capitol.He shook hands and spoke with some of the fighters as Murad in the presence of International Decommissioning Body (IDB) head, Ambassador Haydar Berk, and other officials.Aquino also inspected the high-powered firearms and crew-served weapons that had been decommissioned.In his speech, Aquino said the government was not “gambling our country’s fate by talking peace with the MILF.”“Gambling is a matter left to chance … What we are witnessing today is a solid testament to the honest participation of the MILF in our peace talks and of their preparedness to abandon the path of violence,” Aquino said.He said it was unfortunate that there were still lawmakers “advocating for a halt to the BBL” instead of thinking of how to improve it.Transformation, not surrenderThe proposed BBL suffered a setback in Congress after the Mamasapano debacle in January, when 44 Special Action Force troopers were killed in clashes with Moro guerrillas.A busful of Moro guerrillas arrived at the old capitol grounds for the ceremonies.The 75 firearms were turned over by the MILF to the IDB.Putting into context the peace talks with the MILF, Aquino said: “We cannot deny that we have a debt to our brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro.”“Now, we have the chance to right the narrative of suffering together. This is our time. This is what our fallen countrymen fought for.”Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace panel, said the firearms decommissioning was a “very difficult” decision but it signified the rebel group’s sincerity.He said it was not tantamount to surrender. “If you look at the struggle, it’s about arming ourselves,” he said. “Now, it’s decommissioning. It’s a difficult decision to make but it’s part of the peacemaking (process) in Mindanao.”Iqbal said most people would think that firearms were the source of the MILF’s strength but in reality, the source of its strength was the love and faith of the Bangsamoro people.Murad said the decommissioning process was never viewed as a surrender by the MILF.“Today we begin the long walk to transformation, not surrender. (This is) the start of transformation of MILF from armed organization to political organization ready to serve the Bangsamoro people,” Murad said in his speech.He said the decommissioning signaled the start of the MILF shift into self-governance.In working conditionAll the 75 firearms handed over by the MILF were “in working condition,” according to retired Army Gen. Rey Ardo, head of government’s decommissioning body.Ardo said the firearms included 50-cal. Barret sniper rifles and mortars.The weapons were handed over to a group of independent monitors, with the government in exchange granting about P25,000 each to 145 former combatants to begin a new life as farmers.Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said she was confident the start of the decommissioning process would have a “positive effect on the legislative process” pertaining to the BBL.“We are just awaiting the eventual passage of the BBL, the establishment of the Bangsamoro government, and the election of its leaders in order for the full decommissioning of the MILF to push through,” Deles said.Under a bilateral agreement, the full decommissioning process would take place with the passage of the BBL. Under it, the MILF would deactivate 30 percent of its combatants and their weapons turned over.The remaining forces and weapons will be decommissioned when the Bangsamoro government starts functioning.The United States and several Asian and European countries have backed the peace deal as a way to prevent impoverished rebel strongholds from turning into breeding grounds of Islamic extremists.At least four smaller and more hardline armed groups, including the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf, are not involved in the peace talks and have continued sporadic attacks, including kidnappings in the South and neighboring Malaysia.More than 120,000 combatants and civilians have died in the rebellion that has stalled progress in many resource-rich areas of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation’s South, home to about 5 million Muslim Filipinos.The MILF agreed last year to disband its guerrilla force and surrender 15,000 weapons in exchange for control of their economy, culture and politics.–With reports from Germelina Lacorte, Edwin Fernandez, Charlie Señase and Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao; and wiresRELATED STORIESMILF: No 2nd phase of arms, forces decommissioning if BBL is not approvedMILF turns over ‘working’ guns–general"
9360,"How the mighty have fallen—Maria Ressa, former CNN bureau chief and former head of the ABS-CBN news department, has been reduced to picking fights with Mocha Uson.Ressa’s websitehas been posting a series of articles against pro-Duterte netizens who lambasted the yellow media for their biased reporting.Mocha Uson was singled out bybecause she’s one of the most vocal Duterte supporters, and her blog has been overtaking Ressa’sin Facebook engagements.What a humiliating blow for Maria Ressa’s ego. A mere “sexy star” (ascalls Mocha), with none of Ressa’s credentials, experience, or funding, has beaten her at her own game.How could this happen?As a netizen who used to readbut who now prefers to read Mocha’s blog, let me offer an explanation.I prefer getting my news from Mocha Uson because she provides the updates that none of the yellow media are reporting.For example, it was through Mocha’s site that I found out about the great improvements Sec. Art Tugade made at the airport, and the groundbreaking steps that Sec. Rafael Mariano and Sec. Manny Pinol have taken to help Filipino farmers, like the two-year ban on land conversion and free irrigation.I go to Mocha’s site because that’s where I can read the unfiltered sentiments and concerns of our, without the lies and distortions of the yellow media.Obviously, I’m not the only one who feels this way, that’s why the traffic on Mocha’s site and other anti-yellow sites has been skyrocketing.Elitist journalists want to believe only the masa read Mocha’s page, but they are gravely mistaken. Everyone is reading Mocha Uson’s blog, from security guards to CEOs. Her Facebook engagement stats are now higher thanand, so it’s not surprising that they’re openly attacking her.Senators, congressmen, and other elected officials, you need to pay attention.Mocha, like President Duterte, is living proof that the yellow media are becoming irrelevant.Mocha, like President Duterte, became more popular than she ever was because she gave voice to the people and refused to kowtow to the yellow media.Contrast this with Leni Robredo and Leila de Lima, who worked so hard to be the darlings of the yellow media and only succeeded in making people hate them more.Sucking up to the yellow media is the new kiss of death. Be forewarned. The people and Mocha Uson are the real kingmakers now.-----------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
9370,"That vast flow of dollars coming into the country is needed to pay for the imports that the Philippines relies upon, and it relies upon imports because it has no local industry. The matching outflow of exports is almost entirely raw materials, with a very low value. The country is basically selling itself, piece by piece. And it’s STILL running massive trade imbalance (exports lower than imports).Expulsion of all Filipino workers from foreign countries is probably the best thing that could happen to this place. It could easily be justified on the grounds that the Philippines makes it difficult-to-impossible for foreigners to work here or operate businesses, ie., there is no reciprocity. A ban on travel would have similar effects. The import-based economy would instantly collapse, and the government would either be forced to restructure the laws that prevent Filipinos from earning an honest living, or risk a revolution.This is a GRP Featured Comment. ----------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
9380,"Mary Angel Regalado is still trending on social media mainly because it is rumored that there is another video of her being circulated online using the 'pabulong' system. The said video is a bit longer than the first footage that was released a few days ago.The second video or the part 2 as the netizens are calling it now, can be described as being the contrast of the first video as Regalado is fully facing the camera this time whereas her back is turned away from her partner on the first one. Also, the second clip is clearer whereas the first one is a bit blurry. By the way, the camera used in the second video was most likely to be an iPhone X judging by the quality of the footage.Anyway, there is much debate regarding the legitimacy of the so-called part 2 video, though. Some netizens pointed out that the woman in the video is not Regalado but a mere lookalike. Although that claim is a possibility, the features of the woman in both videos match up.We can't be sure for certain though. Unless the original source of the video comes forward and validate that it is indeed Mary Angel in both videos. Until then, we can just speculate and analyze empirical data available to us: screenshots from both clips.Here's a screengrab from the first video:And here's from the second clip:It is now for you to decide whether or not this so-calledspreading online is legit or fake."
9391,"Manatiling nakaluklok sa liderato ang tatangkain ngayon ng reigning champion Purefoods sa pagsagupa sa NLEX sa pagpapatuloy ng elimination round ng 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup sa Smart Araneta Coliseum. Habang sinusulat ang balitang ito ay nasa 3-way tie sa unahan ang Star Hotshots, Barako Bull at Meralco Bolts na may laro kahapon kontra sa Rain or Shine na pawang nagtataglay ng kartadang 3-0 (panalo-talo)."
9401,"Senate’s P1.16-B funding meant for all dengue patientsThe P1.16-billion supplemental budget that the Senate approved on third reading will be used to provide medical assistance to all dengue patients, not just those who had been inoculated with the vaccine Dengvaxia. Minority Leader Franklin Drilon introduced the amendment that replaced the reference to “Dengvaxia vaccinees” with dengue patients. The bill was first introduced as a measure to help vaccinees of Dengvaxia, which created a furor last year after findings showed that it could cause more severe dengue symptoms in those who had not been exposed to the mosquito-borne disease. At the hearing on Wednesday, Drilon said he hoped that the Senate version would be the one adopted and not that of the House of Representatives, which provided the funding for medical assistance to Dengvaxia recipients. “It is critical that we be able to provide enough funds for patients who are from the poorer sectors of society,” he said."
9411,"Retirement of a ranking police official prompted the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief to order on Thursday a top-level reorganization of other key personnel.PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has approved new designations of senior police officials based on recommendation made by the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board (SOPPB), PNP spokesman and Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in a statement.Carlos added that the reorganization will affect some key positions in the PNP Command Group, Directorial Staff (DS), Directorate for Integrated Police Operations, National Support Units (NSUs) and Police Regional Offices (PROs).He said dela Rosa installed Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario as the new PNP Deputy Chief for Operations (DCO) replacing Director Benjamin Magalong, who retired from the police service on Wednesday.Apolinario’s old position as the Chief of Directorial Staff (CDS) will be taken over by Director Fernando Mendez, the current head of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM).The PNP spokesman added that dela Rosa named other senior police officials to their new posts in the DS, PROs and NSUs.Carlos said dela Rosa named Chief Supt. Ramon Purugganan as the new acting head of the DPRM, replacing Mendez, and Chief Supt. Edwin Roque as the acting director of the PNP Directorate for Plans (DPL).He added that Senior Supt. Glen Dumlao was designated as the new acting director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), replacing Senior Supt. Manolo Ozaeta, who was named the new director of the PNP Legal Service.Dela Rosa designated Chief Supt. Sheldon Jacaban as the new director of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence (DI), Senior Supt. Renato Angara as the acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration (ARDA) of the Cagayan Valley Regional Police Office, Senior Supt. Jose Briones as the ARDA of Soccskargen Police Office, Senior Supt. Froilan Quidilla as the new ARDA for the Mimaropa Police Office and Chief Supt. Franklin Moises Mabanag as the new ARDA for the Central Visayas Regional Police Office."
9420,"There’s been quite a bit of talk after Kris Aquino recently announced that she will be leaving the country soon. Of course, this isn’t exactly the first time she has threatened to leave the country and, as a matter of fact, has done so countless times in the past. Just to name a few, she said she would leave after her one of her numerous relationships came to a disastrous end, she said the same thing when her brother was about to become the president and she’s saying it again now that President Aquino’s term is about to end this 2016.However, note that despite the many times she has threatened to leave, Kris Aquino continues to be firmly entrenched in Pinoy showbiz. Indeed, even as the darker side of Kris Aquino’s family is being revealed to the public, she will more likely than not retain the title of “Queen of All Media” of the Philippines. Of course, Kris Aquino isn’t the only case of impunity in Philippine society as current president Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III is yet another shining example of another public figure of questionable integrity (and perhaps sanity) that is untouchable to the criticisms of the Filipino people whom he has done nothing but deceive and exploit since he came to power in 2016.So the big question is: Why do some Filipinos still support the Aquinos despite the countless times they’ve been betrayed by them?Simple.It’s because a lot of Pinoys see themselves in the Aquino family! Yep, you read that right. The sole reason the Aquino family and their ilk remain in power despite their many transgressions to the Filipino people is because there are people who not only see themselves in the Aquinos, but see them as a perfect representation of us as a people.Not convinced?Well, here are my three points:Fame WhoringNote how Kris Aquino seems to demand attention in whatever shows she seems to be in. Remember her interview with the main actor of Spider-Man 2 wherein she instead made it an opportunity to boast about her son Bimby’s achievements and even insinuated that she is supposedly “The Oprah Winfrey of the Philippines”? Remember how she seems so eager to reveal the sordid details of her sex life on prime-time TV when there could be millions of children watching her shows and picking up on her immoral lifestyle?Then there’s what’s mentioned above what with her constant threats to leave the country when she has shown absolutely no sign of making any real arrangements to move on and leave the Philippines in peace. She’s like the clingy lover who constantly threatens to commit suicide just to prevent their often abused significant other (or a person they want to be their significant other) from leaving them. While she may not say it out loud, her threats to leave are more or less just to make sure her fanatics remain enthralled by whatever kind of foul sorcery she has cast on the many viewers who continue to keep up with her and her skanky shenanigans.Truth be told though, the common Pinoy is really no different when it comes to craving for attention. As fellow Get Real writer the venerable Gogs has shown, it all too often “KSP” which stands for “Kulang sa Pansin” (desperate for attention), that is the cause of many a Pinoy’s dysfunctional behavior. Coupled with the inability to not flaunt their wealth in a show of hollow bravado as summed up here by ChinoF, is it really any surprise that most Pinoys don’t just tolerate Kris Aquino’s behavior but outright worship her as the goddess of Filipino attention whores.VindictivenessThe Aquino family are well known for their vindictive attitude. Note how they went out of their way to vilify and demonize the Marcos family after EDSA. In the present day, has President Aquino ever missed a chance to blame former President Arroyo for the troubles of the Philippines which is, more likely than not, simply because the latter decided to consider the reforms for the land distribution of Hacienda Luisita which the Aquino family has jealously guarded for generations.But then again, is this really surprising what with the common definition of “justice” among typical Pinoys?In more ideal places, “justice” is defined as a sense of equality and harmony. It’s about having a society wherein everyone is treated fairly with respect and no one can be imprisoned or punished without due process. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case for Philippine society and its deeply flawed culture.Indeed, “justice” in the Philippines simply amounts to “getting even”. No due process, no cross examination and no deductive reasoning. It’s all about beating the other guy until you feel better or killing all the other people until you feel better. Justice for Filipinos isn’t about making society a safer and better place, it’s about punishing people who offend you regardless if your actions will only make the situation worse or if your choice of action is even proportionate.HypocrisyOkay, here we go.Well, the church did support the Aquino family during the alleged “bloodless” revolution of EDSA People Power. In the present day, according to Ilda here, there are even those who are pushing former president Corazon Aquino into becoming the third saint of the Philippines. Indeed, in just about every special occasion like Christmas, Easter or the wedding of big celebrities, one can probably find televised footage of the Aquino family attending said events.However, one needs to remember that the Aquino family is infamous for numerous scandals, especially Kris Aquino. She has had numerous trysts with various other male celebrities over the years and yet no one from the MTRCB has ever called her out on her immoral activities. Indeed, it seems the MTRCB is a lot more interested in denying meaningful and informative shows from being shown on local TV than they are in criticizing public figures whom children might look up to.Of course, is it really any surprise at all considering the kind of culture we have. While we may have countless penitents come Holy Week, one can rest assured that those same people flogging their bloody backs and crucifying themselves will be drinking themselves silly, cheating on their wives and beating their children when Holy Week finally ends. One can also surmise many people might be attending “Simbang Gabi” during the Yuletide Season but will probably be busy engaging in adultery perhaps even during Christmas Eve and filling their mobile devices with Christmas-themed porn which is all too often easily accessed by children.***Of course, I know it’s not very likely but I’m really hoping that Kris Aquino will really go through with her decision to leave the country at the end of her brother’s term as president. After all, it would probably safer for her and the rest of her family to flee while they still can as a lot of discontent and unhappy Filipinos will be out for blood should their allies lose in the up and coming election. And yes, like many of the commenters of GRP here, should Cory Aquino be made the third saint of the Philippines, I will excommunicate myself from the Catholic Church as this would be the ultimate act of heresy and an abomination to God."
9430,"War against illegal mining started since Environmentalist Secretary Gina Lopez handled the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).As part of the campaign to give awareness to the Netizens on how illegal mining firms destroyed the environment and the locals, she posted a video presentation showing the destruction caused by mining in different parts of the Philippines.In a 4 minute video posted by Secretary Gina Lopez, shows the different places that she checked and how she became disappointed for seeing the destruction of oceans and forest because of irresponsible mining.It also shows the tribes who fought against the mining companies that destroying their home, including the Lumads who got allegedly killed because of their advocacy.You can watch the video here:"
9440,"You would hope that the extortion sheme ‘Laglag Bala’ at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, more incidents where unsuspecting passengers are questioned and detained for discovery of live bullets in their luggage — “planted” by scheming airport personnel — have surfaced.In the interest of public service, The Adobo Chronicles is issuing these Ten Guidelines that local and international travelers passing through NAIA can consider in order to avoid being victimized by the extortion scheme. You’re welcome!1. Make sure your check-in luggage is locked. If traveling to the U.S., choose a lock or luggage that is TSA-approved (which means the TSA can still open it for inspection using a master key).2. If at all possible, don’t travel with a carry-on bag.3. If you absolutely have to have a carry-on bag, choose one that does not have zippers and outside pockets.4. If your carry-on bag is singled out for manual inspection, demand that YOU open the bag yourself.5. If airport personnel insist that THEY open your bag, be ready to take a video of the proceedings with your smart phone.6. Place a business card of your attorney on your luggage tag. Make sure the card uses BOLD fonts, especially the word “ATTORNEY.”7. Avoid using designer carry-on bags. They invite interest among inspectors. Instead, use a bayong or some other cheap bags, perhaps even a re-usable grocery bag from Safeway.8. Place one of the following inside your carry-on bag: durian, bagoong, daing na bangus, or kimchee. Any of these items will surely repel the inspector with the foul smell, eventually choosing not to inspect your bag.9. Place an activated mouse-trap inside your carry-on bag. That will give the scheming inspector a painful lesson.10. If all else fails, just enjoy the experience. Be thankful for an extended stay in the Philippines, with free board and lodging — inside the prison cell."
9451,"Ikinabahala ni Senate Committee on Public Services Chairman Sen. Raffy Tulfo ang naitalang 1,555 road crash incidents ng Department of Health (DOH) Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS) nito lamang Semana Santa mula Marso 29 - Abril 5.
Ayon pa sa datos ng DOH, 255.8% ang itinaas ng bilang ng drunk driving cases kumpara sa naitala noong nakaraang taon. Ito ay sa kabila ng paulit-ulit na paalala ni Tulfo sa Philippine National Police (PNP), Land Transportation Office (LTO), at Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) sa nagdaang hearings ng kanyang komite ukol sa kahalagahan ng paggamit ng law enforcement agencies lalo na ng pulisya ng de-kalidad at fully functional na breath analyzers.
Matatandaan na kinuwestiyon ni Sen. Idol ang PNP sa kanilang budget hearing noong November 17, 2023 kung bakit 17 units ng breathalyzers lang ang meron sila sa kabuuang 330 million pesos na binili ng gobyerno para sa PNP noong 2020 kalakip ang mga speed gun — bagay na itinanggi ng PNP na may natanggap sila mula rito. Sa ginawang pagsisiyasat, napag-alamang dalawang beses bumili ng breathalyzers ang LTO sa supplier na 3R Metalcraft noong 2015 at 2016. Pero ayon sa dating hepe ng LTO na si Vigor Mendoza II, 500 units dito ay damaged at hindi na makukumpuni pa. Ang mas masaklap, nagsara rin daw agad ang kumpanya matapos mabili ng gobyerno sa kanila ang breathalyzer units."
9461,"Naglabas ng kautusan ang pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Bulacan upang pigilan ang pagpasok ng buhay na baboy at karne mula sa mga lugar na may kaso ng African Swine Fever o ASF.
Batay sa Executive Order No. 13, series of 2020, ipatutupad ng lalawigan ang lubusang pagbabawal sa buhay, katay, luto, at iprinosesong karne ng baboy na magmumula sa mga lugar na apektado ng ASF na idineklara ng National Task Force for Prevention of ASF at ibang pang ahensya ng pamahalaan.
Ayon sa Provincial Veterinary Office o PVO, kailangan munang kumuha ng letter of acceptance mula sa PVO ang magbibiyahe mula sa pink at green zones o iyong mga mula sa buffer, protected, at free zones na may kasamang negatibong resulta ng ASF test na hindi tatagal ng higit sa dalawang linggo mula sa oras ng pagbiyahe bago payagang makapasok sa Bulacan.
Mahigpit din umano ang kanilang surveillance sa mga backyard raiser mula sa iba’t ibang lungsod at bayan; habang nagsasagawa ng test ang mga commercial farms at isinusumite ang resulta nito sa PVO.
Nagsagawa rin ang tanggapan ng Biosecurity Seminar para sa mga magsasaka mula sa lahat ng bayan at namahagi ng disinfectants upang pagbutihin ang biosecurity ng backyard farmers upang tulungan sila na umiwas sa ASF.
Samantala nanantili pa ring ASF free ang lalawigan simula ng pagasok ng 2023."
9470,"When it comes to celebrity deaths, it is believed that they always come in three’s. But as far as becoming president, it comes in two’s.With that said, we are now predicting that Hillary Clinton will become the next president of the United States, and while Bongbong Marcos, the son of the late Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos, is a candidate for vice president, he will eventually become president of his country.It’s in the stars. We only have to look back at history.George W. Bush (the 43rd president) is the son of George Bush (the 41st president).John Quincy Adams (the 6th president) was the son of John Adams (the 2nd president).Benjamin Harrison (the 23rd president) was the grandson of William Henry Harrison (the 9th president).James Madison (the 4th president) and Zachary Taylor (the 12th president) were second cousins.Franklin Delano Roosevelt (the 32nd president) was a fifth cousin of Theodore Roosevelt (the 26th president).Ergo, Hillary, the wife of Bill Clinton (the 42nd president), will win in this year’s elections and become the 45th president).In the Philippines, incumbent President NoyNoy Aquino is the son of former President Cory Aquino.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal.In as far as this year’s Philippine presidential elections are concerned, while Senator Grace Poe has consistently topped national polls, her rival, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, could get elected. He is the son for former Senator Gerry Roxas who is the only son of Manuel Roxas, the first president of the Third Philippine Republic.If it’s in the stars, you can bet on it!"
9480,"Koko’s Kompromises1. Leila de Lima (LP) for the Committee on Justice and Human Rights2. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (IND) for the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous DrugsDe Lima is a vocal Duterte critic who once said, ““Dapat ngayon pa lang mangamba na tayo (about Duterte’s plans). Let’s be really vigilant.”In response, Duterte said, “Hoy, De Lima, tumahimik ka (shut up)! I will investigate you. I will file charges against you. Do not pick a fight with me, you will lose. [Inq]”BOTTOMLINE: If Koko gets what he wants, de Lima gets to exercise considerable clout over Duterte’s 10 Supreme Court appointments. For example, de Lima can influence the list of nominees to include only those are more sympathetic to the Liberal Party, where she belongs. The reader can also expect major hurdles in the passage of a new death penalty law.Lacson is a vocal Duterte critic who in February 2016 said, “I think that (suppressing crime in three to six months) would be difficult to fulfill… it’s not doable [Inq].”However, Lacson’s rhetoric softened in April when he said, “I don’t know whether he (Duterte) can do it. I entertain some doubts. He is my good friend. I must publicly thank him for having supported me in all my political battles [MT].”ThinkingPinoy’s guess on Lacson’s real stance is just as good as any of his readers. Regardless…BOTTOMLINE: If Koko gets what he wants, Lacson has the power to initiate Senate investigations on incoming PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, which can adversely affect Duterte’s crime-fighting timeframes. Duterte can, of course, invoke executive privilege [EO 464], but not without controversy.Koko’s KokoteA Convo with Source One (Pro-Cayetano)A Convo with Source Two (Pro-Pimentel)ThinkingPinoy’s TakeawaysIt’s clear that after a stunning May 11 defeat, LP and UNA are in collateral damage mitigation mode. However, will LP and UNA senators be sufficiently docile to support Duterte’s legislative agenda?Is Duterte confident that his political blackmail war chest would be enough to force rogue senators (e.g. de Lima) to submission?Is Koko’s apparent fixation for inter-party consensus a sign of his 2022 amibitions?Who are the Nacionalista Party members in Duterte’s cabinet? How will this affect Duterte’s crusade against crime, drugs, and corruption?And even if we assume NP members won’t do anything fishy, how can Duterte reconcile that to the public’s general distrust in the Villar Dynasty?Is Manny Villar testing the waters for a second jab at the presidency in 2022?Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!In Duterte, Cayetano, Pimentel: Inside Info on the Senate Presidency (Part 1 of 2) , ThinkingPinoy explained that over the past month, President-elect Duterte has masterfully consolidated and tested the limits of his political power, with Senate as the only thing standing in his way.The key to the Senate is in the Senate Presidency, currently contested by Senator and PDP-Laban President Koko Pimentel; and Senator and Duterte running mate Alan Peter Cayetano. Now, it’s time to continue where we left off.Pimentel plans to give the chairmanship of two key committees to known Duterte critics Lacson and de Lima. He said the two are a perfect fit for the committees since Lacson was a PNP chief while De Lima was a DOJ secretary [ Inq ].Specifically, Pimentel wants:So what can these two do with their chairmanships?, the Justice and Human Rights Committee Chair automatically becomes a member of the Judicial and Bar Council, which screens nominees for the Supreme Court. The committee chair also exercises power over bills related to Justice and Human Rights, such as the prospective reinstatement of the death penalty., the Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee Chair has the power to conduct Senate investigations on matters relating to law enforcement.Both Cayetano and Pimentel are still in the process of convincing other senators to vote for them. “Campaigning”, in this sense, is not like regular national campaigns. Instead, this is about employing any method to secure votes. And when TP said “any”, he means it in every sense of the word.Pimentel appears to be leading, but does Pimentel really have to go that far just to become Senate President? What did Duterte say when he heard these suggestions straight from Koko’s mouth? Will Duterte clandestinely influence the Senate to vote for someone else?Only time will tell. Besides, Duterte has yet to endorse anyone for the Senate Presidency.But then, ThinkingPinoy doesn’t like waiting, so he spoke with two sources privy to the Senate’s inner workings. For security reasons, their identities shall remain concealed. Moreover, in the interest of fairness, one of the sources (Source One) is sympathetic to Cayetano, while the other (Source Two) is sympathetic to Pimentel.TP will relay what he learned from Source One first.“Senate alliances are subject to change until July 25. If that ‘supermajority’ were real, where’s the Senate resolution? All it takes is one phone call from the new Malacañang to redefine any existing alliances,” Source One said. Elections for the Senate Presidency will be on 25 July 2016.“Drilon (LP) is just exploiting Pimentel’s desperate ambitions. The problem is that Drilon doesn’t understand how Davao (Duterte) thinks,” Source One said.“If both De Lima and Lacson continually call for Senate investigations and harass Duterte’s people, that will surely spell trouble. Of course, we don’t want to give Duterte reason to shut down Congress,” Source One said.Source One added, “These senators are loyal to neither Koko nor Alan. What matters is who between the two is favored by Duterte. It all boils to a question of political survival. Thus, the most important question is whether Koko Pimentel can maintain his alleged majority until July 25. If Sen. Zubiri, who’s closer to Duterte, is right, Koko will lose support by July 1st.”Source One added, Take the Duterte Victory Celebration in Cebu for example. Incoming House Speaker Bebot Alvarez was invited. Sen. Cayetano was also there. Where was Koko? He’s an outsider.”Duterte’s campaign promises are mostly legislation-based. Duterte already controls the House of Representatives. He has yet to control the Senate.“How can Duterte expect the passage of the death penalty, the SSS pension hike, higher salaries of police, and charter change, with an unwieldy Senate?,” Source One said.“And Legarda stays as chair of the Committee on Finance, how can Duterte be okay with that?,” Source One said.Source One said there’s tension among Duterte’s supporters, as Pimentel’s compromises raised more than a few influential eyebrows.To recall, Sen. Legarda, the Finance Committee chair of the 16th Congress, removed P1 billion from the 2016 Reproductive Health Budget without telling RH proponent Sen. Pia Cayetano.In retaliation, Sen. Pia Cayetano said, “I would have difficulty [trusting Senator Legarda], seriously. Especially since we have access, we talk about many things under the sun, and this to me is something that I could've easily been told about early on, and I was never informed. [ Rap ]""In defense, Legarda said, “The cut… was a source for the increases in other agencies, including… the DND…which is timely and equally important given the West Philippine Sea issue [ MB ].”Outgoing Senator Pia Cayetano is a member of Duterte’s Transition Committee [ PIA ] and has considerable influence over Duterte’s political decision-making, at least for the time being.“To be fair, we should also inquire as to who the other contender (Cayetano) plans to put in the senate committees,” Source Two said.Source Two added, “The guy (Cayetano) can't take a hint. The question is why he's so eager to get the spot (Senate Presidency).”To recall, Duterte immediate offered Cayetano a choice between the DoJ and the DFA. While this is a very generous offer, Source Two explained that this implied Duterte’s reluctance to endorse Cayetano for the Senate Presidency.Asked about de Lima’s prospective chairmanship, Source Two said, “She's a lawyer with years of experience under her belt, and she's the former head of DOJ. It doesn't make sense giving the justice committee to someone who's not a lawyer.”ThinkingPinoy asked Source Two about de Lima’s stance on Duterte’s platform, such as the death penalty’s reinstatement.“De Lima needed the media mileage (attention) during the campaign season, hence the anti-Duterte announcement. But I don’t think she’ll pursue as hotly because I’m sure Duterte has lots of aces that can be used against her,” Source Two said.ThinkingPinoy asked if Source Two was referring to Jaybee Sebastian and the Bilibid Resort and Spa issue.“No, she has even bigger secrets that I cannot legally tell you about,” Source Two said.Asked about Lacson’s prospective chairmanship,“Ping is now in good terms with Duterte. PRRD is a man who has eyes and ears everywhere, he has good reason for not speaking against Koko’s plans.” Source Two explained that Pimentel purposefully and consistently maintained reasonable distance from Duterte from the onset to avoid giving the impression that he’s too eager.“One question that should be asked is why Duterte endorsed Cong. Bebot Alvarez as the next House Speaker but he didn’t do the same for Cayetano. That means something,” Source Two said.Source Two implies Duterte doesn’t want Cayetano as Senate President.“Duterte is observing Cayetano’s moves. What's the catch behind Cayetano’s overeagerness? As it is, his Nacionalista Party is already raiding executive positions. Imagine, NP has the DPWH. That position is a gigantic political magnet,” Source Two said.Source Two said some PDP-Laban members are confused about Cayetano’s enigmatic moves.“A cabinet position already awaits Cayetano, so why is he still gunning for SP? If he’ll leave the Senate in 2017, does he think that the Senate Presidency is just a doormat?,” Source Two said.Source Two said, “We cannot expect Duterte to endorse anyone right now. He is very circumspective. Every move he does has a reason behind it. What he hates, however, is he is ‘pinangungunahan.’“ThinkingPinoy said, “OMG is Duterte pissed at me for my #KungAkoSiRody article series?”“LOL. No. I think you amuse him. What Duterte hates is when people inappropriately take the initiative ” Source Two said.Source Two was referring to when Cayetano said Duterte reserved a cabinet seat for VP-elect Leni Robredo. ThinkingPinoy pointed out that in fairness to Cayetano, Duterte Spokesperson Peter Tiu Laviña also said the same.“Those premature statements are the ‘in’ thing right now, so whenever some new piece of information comes up, I take them with a grain of salt. If you just see the (political) maneuvering behind closed doors, you would be scratching you head out of the complexity of the whole thing,” Source Two said.Given available data, it appears that a Pimentel Senate Presidency entails major hurdles against Duterte’s political agenda, in light of the not-so-agreeable choices for Senate committee chairmanships.Here are some questions:On the other hand, a Cayetano Senate Presidency appears to be more in tune to Duterte’s political platform, but it runs the risk of an executive branch being peppered by Nacionalista Party (Villar) loyalists.And finally, let’s ask the most important question:Given all these, who should be the next senate president: Koko or Alan?We, as regular Filipinos, have little control over that. So it’s either we trust Digong’s wisdom, or we take the issue to the streets.ThinkingPinoy doesn't want LP and UNA to emasculate Duterte's platform of government, but he also doesn't want questionable personalities to dominate executive positions. At his moment, he feels the best thing to do is to sit quietly in a corner… and observe a bit more.Because sometimes, the best answer to a burning question... is another burning question. [ThinkingPinoy.net"
9490,"Is there something to fear, when it comes to “Vice-president” Leni Robredo? The widow of Jesse, who can easily give off an impression na di makabasag pinggan? Veteran insufferable gossip, sorry, “investigative journalist”, Raissa Robles raises the question…Who’s afraid of Leni Robredo? The Ka-DDS are out in full force bashing her for being in NY. Have they forgotten that she holds NO POSITION in the Duterte government right now? That she’s just a spare tire? Is she using government money to be in New York? The Ka-DDS seem to be quite all shook up that she might meet with Loida Nicolas Lewis. If she were not that important or influential, who would care whether or not she’s in New York? Do you recall that Pres. Duterte himself and the Marcoses were all together in China when typhoon struck Ilocos Norte? Did the Ka-DDS bash Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, and former Senator (i like the sound of that) Bongbong Marcos for not being in Ilocos before and during the typhoon? Naaah. Special venom is reserved only for VP Leni Robredo? Seems they are afraid of her.NB: If I remember correctly, Ka-DDS refers to the Die-hard Duterte SupportersWhy be afraid of the VP, who is every bit concerned about “the threat of a return to Martial Law”…The threat of a return to Martial Law and one-man-rule is the worst Christmas gift to the Filipino people. To refer to specific provisions in the 1987 Constitution prohibiting such as a “reckless reaction” to the Marcos regime is an insult to the experience of the Filipino nation that endured great suffering and hardship under the Martial Law regime. Moreover, for President Duterte to challenge the democratic safeguards of the very constitution he swore to uphold on June 30, 2016 is appalling. Let us remain vigilant against the threat of Martial Law, and fight against any move that will curtail our freedoms. This is not a battle we will take sitting down. As Filipinos, we have demonstrated our courage to stand up and make our voices heard for the sake of protecting our freedom and fighting for the truth.The anti-Duterte, the Liberal Party (LP) supporters and Yellowtards (any remaining ones), were extra critical of non-allied officials “not being present, or caught flat-footed, during crisis situations in their bailiwicks” (e.g., Martin Romualdez during Yolanda, or Rodrigo Duterte in the aftermath of the Davao bombings), and yet their representatives are exempt from the very same criticism?I call bullshit, of course.At the very least, Robles is admitting that Leni “is just a spare tire.” The more accurate term for Robredo, however, to borrow a Chinese term, is a flower vase – decorative but essentially useless.One can readily observe, from the way these two responded, that they apparently still don’t get what the hungry-for-change Filipinos are trying to convey.It’s not Leni Robredo personally, that people are afraid of, it’s what she represents, all the extra baggage that comes with her.For better or for worse, Filipinos have decided not to cast their lot anymore with an LP leader. It seems that if LP were the only alternative now to a potential abuse of power, Filipinos find the LP option less attractive.Filipinos have decided that they no longer want the old ways – a return to the exclusive, ineffectual, old ways of running government like crap, exemplified by the Liberal Party.They no longer want to go back to a time where they are resigned to facing a government that cares for them only during election time, a group of people that shows concern for them only when it is not in power.Filipinos no longer want the sort of directionless, headless chicken leadership shown in the last thirty years. They no longer want to go back to a worthless type of government that makes them feel worthless.In other words, Filipinos want things to be different. While “Not LP” is pretty much as bare as “NeverAgain”, it is the leadership taking charge that will make or break it. The LP has pretty much set an abysmal standard for that one.Oh, and for the record, Raissa, you and many others overestimate the importance, and fear factor, of Leni Robredo. Dummies are good, after all, only when someone else is pulling the strings."
9500,"Hindi napakinabangan ng mga New People's Army ang kanilang 2 kuta na gagamitin sana nila para sa pagdiriwang ng ika-50 anibersaryo ng Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA). Matatagpuan ang mga nasabing kuta ng NPA sa Bukidnon at Agusan del Sur. Nakubkub ng kasundaluhan ang mga kuta ng terorista matapos ang serye ng bakbakan sa pagitan ng tropa ng gobyerno at ng mga rebeldeng komunista na nagsimula noong Disyembre 12. Ayon sa ulat, 40 armadong NPA ang unang nakabakbakan ng militar. Nasamsam sa dalawang kuta ang mga baril, pampasabog, medical kits at ilang dokumento ng mga rebelde. Ito po ang ilan sa mga naging komento ng mga kababayan natin sa pagkakasakop sa mga kuta ng NPA. ""Dapat na kabahan ang mga party list ng terroristang npa.. Maubos na kayo para peaceful na manirahan sa bukid, may negosyante na papasok di na sila takot...,""- Mc Ariston Katipunan ""Dapat di nyo muna kinubkob, hinintay nyo muna anniversary para double kill! Founding at Death Anniversary sana.,""- Rodelio B Socito ""Dapat kapag may nahuli NPA Live na Ipakita sa CNN at sa Buo Mundo na Pinupugitan natin sila ng ULO! Parang un ginagawa sa Saudi Arabia. Tgnan lng natin kung may gumaya pa sa knila!,"" - Rolando Parumog Jr. ""NPA is one of the reason why Philippines become a third world country, and they should vanished, ang bansang walang terorismo is maunlad, Sabi nila may pinag lalaban sila! That's bulshit all they do is destroying lives,"" - Mikalaki Treyandafelya ""Di pa pala sila ginamitan ng maraming sundalo ilang scout ranger.lang pala so ibig sabihin saglit lang.sila kung.may.airstrike.pa kaya dapat sumuko nalang kau mahal kau.ng inyong pamilya wag kau magpauto sa mga amo nyo naginagamit lang kau at sarap pa.buhay.nila.. walang silbi.ang mga pinaglalaban nyo terorista na.nga turing.sa inyo tumulong nalang kau sa.mga.mamayan para makabawi kayu sa inyong kasalanan higit sa lahat hingi.na.kau.tawad sa Dios,"" - Jonathan John Clamor Reginaldo Source: PTV"
9511,"An initial check conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here reportedly revealed that the sperm whale, which was found beached in front of a resort in Babak District in the Island Garden City of Samal Saturday, had large amounts of plastic trash, fishing nets, hooks and even a piece of coco lumber in its stomach.According to BFAR Region 11 Director Fatima Idris, the debris were found inside the stomach of the 37-foot whale as the agency conducted a necropsy Sunday. She said the whale was a juvenile male.Cetacean expert Darrel Blatchley had earlier suspected that the whale could have either choked on plastic trash or was mortally wounded by propellers of vessels plying the Davao Gulf.News of the whale washing up the beach on a resort in Samal broke out late Saturday afternoon.BFAR has a marine mammal stranding network which is always on the look-out for whales that could be stranded in the Davao Gulf.Netizens shared video clips of local officials using a backhoe to drag the carcass of the whale to shore."
9521,"Fifty-five percent of adult Filipinos are worried that President Rodrigo Duterte will have health problems, results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted last month showed.The survey, conducted from Sept. 15 to 23 amid news that the President was not making many public appearances, also found that 45 percent believed the President has health problems while 26 percent said otherwise. Twenty-nine percent are undecided.Opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who is skeptical about the seriousness of the Chief Executive’s condition, said it was the economy’s health — not Mr. Duterte’s — that should be the focus of everyone’s attention.Medical testsInflation rose to a fresh nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September, making life more difficult for Filipinos.Public satisfaction with the Duterte administration, according to the same SWS survey, dropped across all socioeconomic classes.Of the 1,500 respondents, 61 percent of Filipinos say the President’s state of health is a public matter, according to SWS.The noncommissioned survey has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.The survey results were released days after the 73-year-old President publicly admitted that he had undergone second colonoscopy and endoscopy for a growth that was found in his digestive tract.While he said he was still awaiting the medical results, the President said he would not seek treatment if diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer.Previously, the President said on many occasions that he was suffering from Barrett’s esophagus, a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Buerger’s disease, a constriction of blood vessels.Amie Perez, a 33-year-old law student, said the President’s own statements about his health were enough evidence to spark concern about his fitness to serve.Asked for her take on why the survey showed only 45 percent of Filipinos believed the President had health problems, she said this likely had something to do with ordinary Filipinos’ deep-seated, often blasé, attitudes about health.“We don’t really tend to take sickness seriously,” Perez said. “We go to a doctor only when we already feel like we’re about to die.”She said, however, that the President should be held to a higher standard.“It’s a matter of national security. It’s a national concern, whether or not he’s fit to be President,” she said. “I’m a student, if I’m feeling a little sick, I can’t fully function. What more if you have the entire country in your hands?”No reason to fretA Malacañang official sees no reason for the public to fret over the President’s health.Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said the President had no intention of hiding his health condition.“He did say he went to a hospital for a checkup. And in due time, if he’s really ill, he will say it,” Andanar said in a radio interview.Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, on Sunday expressed misgivings about whether the President was sincere when the latter disclosed undergoing diagnostic procedures at a hospital on Wednesday.Spiraling prices“If he is serious, then full disclosure is required but if not, then it would be best that we stop such talk and focus our time and attention on looking for solutions to the serious problems of spiraling high prices,” Pangilinan said.Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon noted that under the 1987 Constitution, the public had the right to know of any serious illness of the President.In a dzBB radio interview, he recalled widespread rumors about the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ health during the latter years of martial law, which had fueled speculations that other people were running the country."
9530,"A church located in Cagayan De Oro reportedly attacked President Rodrigo Duterte on their Homily Sunday April 30.The unnamed priest who gave the homily said that Jesus Christ is not the name of the savior and not Rodrigo.People believes that the priest was referring to President Rodrigo Duterte, one of the fiercest critic of the Roman Catholic Church.“…the saviour’s name is not Rodrigo, His name is Jesus.”Walk out, me.” The priest said during the Sunday Mass.Netizen Enrico Ramon Lluch posted on his social media account that he heard the priest saying those words during the homily.He also said that the incident happened in San Agustin Cathedral, where the archbishop of the church is vocal against the actions of President Rodrigo Duterte.Lluch also believes that the archbishop could have written that homily.San Agustin Cathedral is not yet giving any statement on their controversial homily that allegedly meant to attack the President."
9541,"Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s request for deployment of three hearing officers for his poll protest against Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo is “improper,” a lawyer said on Tuesday.Romulo Macalintal made the statement in connection with Marcos’ motion asking the Supreme Court (SC) to designate three hearing officers consistent with the “summary nature and preferential status of election protest cases.”Macalintal said the motion is premature since the SC, serving as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, is yet to hold a preliminary conference on Marcos’ protest.“Without the preliminary conference, the motion to have three hearing officers is practically intended to condition the minds of the people, if not those of the members of the PET, of the issues Marcos seems to dictate upon the tribunal. We are not even sure whether the three causes of action raised by Marcos in his protest would be sustained by the PET,” he added in a statement.Macalintal said it would be impractical to have three hearing officers to hear the three causes of action since there is only one lead lawyer for the protestant and the protestee and thus, the lead lawyer has to be present in every stage of the hearing and cannot be in three places at the same time.“As such, it is improper for three hearing officers to resolve the said issues separately,” he added.Robredo beat Marcos by 263,473 votes for the vice presidency in the May 2016 polls.Marcos is contesting the results in 92,509 clustered precincts.Robredo, on the other hand, filed a counter protest questioning the results in 31,278 clustered precincts."
9550,"are confident that just like in the biblical account of the prodigal son, the U.S. will eventually welcome back the Philippines with open arms, or in this case, the Philippines will welcome back the U.S. military to Subic Bay."
9560,"Sa social media post ng beteranong mamamahayag na si Jay Sonza, natanong nito kung nagkataon lang ba na ang hepe ng mga pulis na nakapatay kay Kian Delo Santos noon ay siya ring Hepe ng mga pulis na nakapatay sa bodyguard/aide ni Attorney Glenn Chong na si Richard Santillan sa Rizal. Ang tinutukoy niya ay si Highway Patrol Group Chief Roberto Fajardo. Sa hiwalay pang post, sinabi naman ni Sonza na kababayan nila opposition Senator Leila De Lima at Vice President Leni Robredo si Fajardo. Halos parehas ang tinutumbok ng post ng isa pang mamamahayag na si Jojo Robles. Si Fajardo ay pansamantalang ni-relieved sa puwesto noon ni PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa dahil sa command responsibility sa pagkamatay ni Kian. Naitilaga muli si Fajardo sa kapulisan bilang hepe ng Highway Patrol Group noong Hunyo 2018. Ito po ang ulat ng mainstream media sa nangyari kay Santillan na may kalakip na actual video footage ng pamamaril. Ito naman po ang reaksyon ng mga tao sa social media post ni Sonza. Source: Jay Sonza | Jay Sonza 2 | Jojo Robles | GMA | Philstar"
9570,"Bilibid or not! The national penitentiary (the “New” Bilibid Prison) at the heart of Imperial Manila, the supposedly most secure (i.e., MAXIMUM security) facility on the face of the republic for incarcerating the worst criminals in this corner of the planet and thereby ensuring the public these scumbags CAN NEVER EVER cause any more trouble in Philippine society again, had become the Command Center of the top drug lords of the country under the watch of then Justice Secretary and Noynoy’s trusted appointee… newly elected senator Leila De Lima.The series of videos below shows damning evidence proving the culpability of this woman, which eats at the very foundations of her integrity and competence for public service. Sit down, relax and enjoy the show – as usual totally appalling comedy that can only be made possible in a country overrun by dysfunctional idiots.It can only take a President like Rody Duterte who has the political will, valor and basic common sense to go up against these dark forces (such as this woman), in order to dismantle the complex drug network in the country, which had only flourished practically unhampered by the previous administration’s incompetent lineup of Noynoy-hand-picked bozos.The videos speak for themselves, so I will no longer reiterate the details. The point is to make the woman behind this unbelievable fiasco answer for all this mess. At this point, Leila De Lima has two choices: To continue to LIE and sing LALA to cover her naked exposed ass and assume all is well, or to start hiding like the rest of the generals, congressmen and mayors who have been bribery-bought protectors of these drug syndicates all these years.My advise to Leila De Lima: tama na panloloko mo ng taong bayan, magtago ka na sa DILIM.1. DE LIMA nahuling NAGSISINUNGALING tungol sa droga sa Bilibid2. Leila de Lima, bagsak ang grado sa pagsupil ng droga sa Bilibid!3. Drug Lord Herbert Colangco inaming nagbabayad sila ng 7 million pesos for protection sa mga generals!Note: Herbert Colanco who you see going “elbow-to-elbow” with De Lima in the formal gathering in video #1 is one of the top 3 drug lords (video #3) that had been operating their command center and enjoying first-class accommodations in the national penitentiary. Credit goes to all the video posters and network news agencies for the above exposés."
9580,"Below is the official statement of Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte who strongly opposes President Rody Duterte’s plan to reopen the peac-talk process between the government and the New People’s Army.Respectfully, I am asking President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to reopen the negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.I believe the insurgency problem can only be ended peacefully if the NDFP and the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, are sincere, honest, and committed to working toward the direction of peace and reciprocate the gesture offered by the government.But there are no indications at all that they are willing to negotiate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.History will also tell us that the communist movement is not to be trusted as they have consistently shown us their deep-seated proclivity to sow hate, violence and extremism, destruction, and senseless killings.These are groups motivated by the desire to overthrow the government and rule the nation.For them, peace is not an option. And that’s because they are terrorists.We maintain our position that we are not supposed to negotiate with terrorists but deal with them the way we should — tough, strong, high intensity, and one that gathers all sectors to completely crush their influence in communities where they are present.Let us not forget Larry Buenafe, the fish vendor who died because the NPA detonated a landmine in Mandug last year.Let us not forget Larry’s two very young children now growing without a father — and the many other orphaned children of other hapless, mostly poor civilians.Let us not forget the orphaned children of our brave soldiers and police officers killed by the NPAs in the name of a rusty ideology and deranged revolution.And how could we possibly forget Malysha Machorao who died after an NPA ambush in Bukidnon last year. She was only 4-months-old.Very recently, the NPAs burned down almost a dozen heavy equipment in Davao City, delaying the construction of roads and holding up the development of the communities in the affected areas.We should put a stop into the insanity of these terrorists — or more children will be orphaned, more civilians will be killed, more soldiers will die, and many more facilities and equipment will be burned, setting back development by a hundred years.If talks are revived, we are almost certain that the NPAs will continue to terrorize government forces and civilians. They will discharge offensives and unabated destruction, while recruitment of minors, farmers, lumads, workers, and students would continue courtesy of its legal fronts.We should stop rewarding these terrorists with our attention, resources, and time.Suspending the peace talks would not only mean ending the delusion of these terrorists, but would also allow the realization of long-delayed growth and the development of our countryside villages.It also means giving justice to the victims of these terrorists.While I trust the wisdom of the President and his intention to end the insurgency problem peacefully, I believe pursuing peace talks with the NDFP-CPP-NPA is counterproductive and plainly useless.Mr President, the country will move forward if the government is able to eliminate the rebels and end this senseless rebellion.Just like a battered lover, there is a time to finally say no to pain and suffering. No to peace talks."
9591,"Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has renewed an appeal to parents of school children to not lose their trust in the government’s other immunization programs.During a press briefing at Las Piñas District Hospital on Friday, Duque said the “vaccination program of the DOH (Department of Health) in general is suffering.”“Even measles, for example, even… there are cases of diphtheria reported to the DOH, much more cause of worry is the measles outbreaks in ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), Region 12 (Soccsksargen), 10 (Northern Mindanao), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), [and] 11 (Davao Region). And I think as of the other day, we have a total of 440 cases of measles,” said Duque.He reiterated that the other vaccines have been tried and tested by the department.“Nakakasiguro po tayo na makakapagbigay ito ng sapat na proteksyon laban po sa mga sakit na pwedeng makamatay, at sana maiwasan po natin ang pagkakaroon ng maraming outbreaks dahil mamaya habang puno ang mga ospital natin ay hindi po natin kakayanin ito,” Duque said.The health secretary said that DOH is still investigating the hospitals in Cavite that reportedly refused to admit a dengue patient, identified as Rizesa Salgo.“Initial explanation is something that I found unacceptable. Because tingin ko, very superficial at hindi malinaw, kaya kinakailangan na ang Region 4A (Calabarzon) Director Rio Magpantay ay siyang mag follow-up nito at kumpletuhin ang mga dokumento at ebidensya para kung magpasya man ang DOH na sampahan ng kaso ay matibay ang mga ebidensya,” Duque said.He had already warned medical institutions their license may be revoked if they refuse to attend to the medical needs of a patient.Duque has been visiting different medical institutions to check whether they are following the guidelines in treating dengue patients, especially the children inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine."
9600,"The fake vice-president is spreading fake information about fake “7,000” summary killings supposedly committed by police, at a fake “UN” plenary. Leni Robredo’s “” video is not being endorsed by the UN. It is only being aired at a side session organized by an NGO called DRCNet Foundation during the UN conference on narcotics. You wouldn’t know that though, from the way the mainstream media is reporting this as if the UN itself is endorsing Robredo’s harebrained video.The Liberal Party and their accomplices in the mainstream media like to namedrop ICC, EU, and UN to create the illusion that they’re supported by these international organizations. They do this so they can convince people in government, military, and business to turn against the President.For example, the UNwho keeps tweeting about the drug war, Agnes Callamard, is portrayed in Philippine media as a high-ranking UN official. But UNdon’t speak in behalf of the UN. They’re not even salaried employees of the UN. They’re like “partners” of the UN, to use a pet term of Leni Robredo. They’re only consultants.Another example, look at this latest headline from GMA news: “ European Parliament calls for De Lima’s release ”.It sounds like the EU itself is demanding that De Lima should be freed. But if you read the details of the article, it actually involves only a few members of the EU parliament, and their resolution has not even gone through first reading. It was only “submitted for discussion”. Yet GMA news reported this as if the EU itself already demanded that De Lima should be released.(In case you’re wondering why some EU parliamentarians are siding with the yellows, there’s a global network of liberal elites who like to control everything in the world. For years, the yellows were their foot soldiers in the Philippines, and they got everything they wanted. Military access, mining concessions, etc. Duterte changed all that. These global elites have also been losing badly in other parts of the world in recent months, so they’re starting to panic. Anyway, that’s another story.)It’s all smoke and mirrors. Robredo the “vice-president” releases “UN” video, then “EU parliament” calls for “senator” De Lima release, and then now Trillanes’s stooge files an “impeachment complaint” against Duterte in Congress. Conveniently timed, and just a day after 50+ congressmen who voted against the death penalty were removed from their committee chairmanships. Expect “Impeachment raps filed against Duterte” and “Philippine vice-president calls for Duterte resignation” to be the next international headlines. Even if the yellows know impeaching Duterte won’t work, this is all for show, for international media mileage. Trollanes needs to earn his monthly retainer, so he needs to keep producing stunts for the media to write about.But Robredo’s video is her big mistake. It may be used to start building a case against her for incitement to sedition. Robredo was unmistakably calling for international intervention in her video. It just didn’t have that kind of impact, because she is so useless she couldn’t deliver her lines properly. She was actually smiling while talking about mass murders and summary killings, and she was struggling to pronounce very basic English words (i.e. palit ulo “skim” daw, like skim milk, instead of scheme). This woman makes Sarah Palin look like a genius.President Duterte, time to play hardball. This isn’t about protecting your reputation, which we know you don’t care about. This is about protecting the reputation of the country. Start by purging the DFA and PCOO. The yellows are getting away with their international shenanigans because these two government agencies are sleeping on the job (or are they infested by LP residuals?). We, the Filipino people, give you a free hand to do whatever is necessary to eliminate Robredo, Trillanes, and De Lima. Please go ahead and crush them. You’ll be doing us all a big favor.-------------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
9610,"I don’t think so — which is disturbing considering that three of the top four universitites in the Philippines are run by Catholic priests. Catholic priests, it should be highlighted here, have taken a vow of obedience, and at the very top of this hierarchy of obedience sits, guess who, none but the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).So, yeah, go figure. Filipinos have entrusted the running of the country to an elite clique of Catholic-educated “leaders” who were trained to “think” by an organisation that is anything but objective and has partisanism baked into its very DNA. This is no thanks to the CBCP’s pathological inability to uphold the doctrine of “Separation of Church and State” that most modern and real secular liberal democracies enshrine in their governance frameworks. The CBCP can’t seem to shake off its old role as Philippine society’s kingmakers — except that the frequency with which it is failing to make kings is increasing. Nonetheless, that seeming downward spiral in the CBCP’s relevance in Philippine society has not stopped it from asserting its imagined relevance.To be fair, even in this age of readily-accessible information, the Philippines’ political chatter remains the way it is — hopelessly partisan and unable to incorporate innovation in the “debate”. It is because the country’s foremost leaders and opinion-shapers are mostly members of an elite community that have been taught what to think rather than taught how to think. One would like to think that, perhaps, it is because the generation that now holds key positions in government and business (so-called “Generation X”) were educated at a time when the goodness of Catholic dogma and the righteousness of anything or anyone that claims to be opposed to “authoritarianism” was not subject to any serious challenge. However, it is disturbing to note that even the minds of so-called “millennial” products of these schools remain imprisoned by the same groupthink that characterises products of these institutions from previous generations.The prevailing belief, however, is that being a graduate of one of these prestigious Catholic schools accords one the credentials to speak with authority on most subjects — be a “thought leader”, so to speak. The irony in this that escapes most insiders in this clique is, as made evident thus far, these creds serve more as a hindrance to enlightenment than a true catalyst in the distillation of useful knowledge. Indeed, more often than not, luminaries of these schools have exhibited a lack of intellectual humility to confront serious challenges to their cherished belief systems preferring, instead, to “block” dissenters on social media or cocoon themselves within echo chambers where they are free to inbreed their ideas amongst like-minded compadres.Perhaps this is why “fake news” had become such a “trending” topic nowadays. “Fake news” is a convenient strawman to put up to explain away the progressive slide into irrelevance of the mainstream — mainstream media, mainstream “thought leaders”, mainstream credentials, and mainstream thinking for that matter — while tiptoeing around the elephant in the room: the fact that this mainstream had many times before betrayed the trust of its own audience. Thus we have people like Maria Ressa spreading scary stories about “troll armies” that are “weaponising” the Internet. The current buzzwords bandied around within these mainstream circles are phrases like “assault on truth” and this being a “post-truth” era.Like the Catholic Church which pins blame for the degeneration of society’s “morals” on bad politics to mask its own failure to properly guide its flock, mainstream media had turned “fake news” into a bogeyman to direct the public’s attention away from the reality that they too had failed in their role as trusted disseminators of information vital to making key choices that define a society. Now the spotlight is on these exclusive Catholic schools which had for so long enjoyed a not-so-secret monopoly over the supply of young talent to plum top positions (and career paths leading to these) in government, politics, business, and media — and that these “special” products too had failed to make the difference they were told as kids they were destined to make.It is no wonder that the Philippines remains an oligarchy rather than a true egalitarian and secular democracy. There is something to be said about the supply of “top talent” in Philippine society. That supply is, itself, controlled by traditional oligarchs and, worse, medieval theocrats."
9620,"The phrase panem et circenses (bread and circuses) is often used to describe the way governments provide superficial appeasement to the governed. No doubt this describes the Philippine government and politics, with all their telenovela-worthy drama that the media is only too willing to shove a camera and microphone towards.One can also notice, however, that Philippine politics is also like watching someone wrestling with a pig, in mud. As an idiom, wrestling with a pig means engaging an opponent that benefits from the struggle even without winning it.A quote is popularly attributed to playwright George Bernard Shaw: “I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”The latest spectacle in Philippine politics indeed resembles pig wrestling. It involves current president Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Leila De Lima. Duterte recently called out De Lima and linked her to the illegal drug trade. In doing so, however, he also called attention to De Lima’s “sexual indiscretions”.Duterte’s critics claim that he is misogynistic, potty-mouthed, generally uncouth, and not at all presidential. The first three traits, of course, are all on record as part of his behavior ever since the presidential campaign. People will not let others forget his comments of “wanting to rape a woman first”, and where he cussed at the Pope. Nor will his critics let up about what is widely perceived as extra-judicial killings (EJK’s), the visible result of his “war on drugs”.On the other hand, De Lima, portly as a matter of fact, has her own fair share of critics. She earned her reputation as former president Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino’s Justice Secretary. She is on record for disregarding a Supreme Court Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), and keeping Gloria Arroyo from seeking treatment abroad in 2011. De Lima’s comments about the late former Chief Justice Renato Corona are also on record, in which she called him “a lawless tyrant”.Between Duterte and De Lima, who the pig is, and who’s doing the wrestling, is a matter of perspective.Duterte, as part of his promise to the Filipino people, is seemingly not afraid to “get dirty” in order to “clean up” the country. Though he stakes his reputation on “knowing his limits within the law”, he has not been hesitant to name and shame government officials, who, according to intelligence, are allegedly corrupt or involved in the drug trade. He is perceived as encouraging people to “shoot criminals” and ask questions later.Duterte, for lack of a better word, is a troll; he will not hesitate to say outrageous things to get people’s attention. What makes Duterte a slippery opponent though, is, “what you see is what you get”. He has successfully sold his straight shooting and unpretentious persona – warts and all – to an audience that has wanted change. Any criticism of such persona will just bounce off. Most anything his enemies have so far accused him of, so far, has also applied to them; they end up looking hypocritical because he has no veneer to hide under. Pretty soon his opponents are bound to run out of ammunition.It doesn’t hurt that he has an army of rabid supporters that is – by all appearances – a mirror image of the LP/Yellow army.De Lima, on the other hand, has a formidable support system behind her. She is still associated with the Liberal Party (LP), the same as her former boss BS Aquino. Consequently, she has mainstream media as a readily available podium on which to respond to, and attack, enemies and critics of whatever she represents. In addition, anyone who watched her respond to Duterte’s address will get the idea that she will not hesitate to evade answering issues directly, and paint herself as a victim of persecution and unfair attacks. Much like her former boss used to do.Who seems to enjoy wrestling in the mud more? Again, it is a matter of perspective.De Lima and the LP were quick to bring up the “feminism” angle. One has only to remember, however, how BS Aquino subjected Gloria Arroyo to all sorts of rude treatment, and yet only a few were calling it out. Where is the consistency here?I thought politics knows no gender. It is definitely not for the thin-skinned; those who survive know how to give as good as they get. Otherwise, they quickly get discredited and fizzle out.One observation stands out: it seems that Filipinos are merely content to watch the spectacle, and are hardly feeling dirty about it – even when the mud starts splashing all over them.If so, then the general truths about Filipinos continue to hold true: that their politicians merely reflect what they are as a people, and; that they deserve the politicians they elect.If this is the best our country has to offer, then perhaps we’re destined to wallow in the mud again for quite some time."
9631,"A registered nurse arrested last Wednesday for allegedly assisting a licensed doctor in performing abortions at a clinic in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, could be responsible for the death of hundreds of unborn babies, the police said yesterday.Superintendent Edwin Balles, chief of police of Laoag City, said the investigation continues into the operation of the Vigare Clinic in Laoag City which has been shut down, following the arrest of Mary Jean Lagmay, 48, a nurse who allegedly assisted abortions.Balles said the clinic, owned and operated by Dr. Teresita Vigare, has allegedly been operating as an abortion clinic since 2009.He said Lagmay was entrapped at 6 p.m. last Wednesday and caught red-handed dispensing abortive to a pregnant woman working undercover for the police.Balles said he has received information that hundreds of unborn babies from conception to eight months age of gestation or even term babies have been aborted at the clinic.“Nasa P12,000 hanggang P15,000 ang sinisingil sa mga gustong magpalaglag na karamihan ay mga teenager na nabubuntis (Between P12,000 and P15,000 is being charged to those seeking assisted abortions; most of them are pregnant teenagers),” an independent source told the Manila Bulletin.Balles said the operation against the clinic stemmed from the recovery of a fetus last week at Saint William Cathedral in Laoag City. The hunt for Dr. Vigare is ongoing, he added."
9641,“Practice good digital hygiene.”The National Privacy Commission (NPC) gave this advice to social media users after Facebook revealed that up to 50 million users had been exposed to a data breach.The NPC said Facebook has not yet determined how many Filipinos were among those with exposed private data in Facebook’s latest breach.Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro said it was not yet clear if any Filipino user’s data had been misused.
9650,"Kalunos-lunos ang sinapit ng 16-anyos na grade 9 student matapos siyang bugbugin umano ng lasing na Brgy. Chairman na si Felipe TJ Falcon Jr ng Brgy. 350 sa Maynila. Ayon sa ulat, napagkamalan daw ng biktima na isang kagawad si Kapitan Falcon kaya ito binugbog. Nakisali din daw sa pambubogbog ang mga alipores (kagawad at tanod) ni Kapitan Falcon noong tinangka dumepensa ng binatilyo sa pananakit ng punong barangay. ""Hindi daw siya (Brgy. Captain Falcon) nakilala, para nabastusan sa kanya. Pero noong humingi na siya ng despensa, hindi pa rin siya pinalabas, inumpisahan na siyang banatan sa loob ng barangay hall. Pinalo ng cellphone sa mukha, sinampal ng dalawang beses, tapos paluin ng matigas na dry seal sa panga, atsaka brass knuckle. Pinasubo din ang dulo ng baril,"" sabi ni Ranero Gelizon, ama ng biktima. Inulan ng batikos at tuligsa ngayon ang ginawang pang-aabuso ni Brgy. Chairman Falcon. Naniniwala ba kayo na ito ang dapat na tutukan ng mga human rights group at ng CHR? Sang-ayon ba kayo na matanggal sa serbisyo ang suspek na chairman? Paki-kalat po ang artikulong ito para malaman ng buong bayan ang kabalbalan ng kapitan na ito. Source: News5"
9660,"A ranking could also become saints, Villegas answered:“Well, that’s a different case altogether. These politicians who cheat on their wives and steal money from the people are committing a grave sin not only to themselves but to many people who suffer as a result of the misdeeds. And that would disqualify them from sainthood.”Villegas urged corrupt politicians to repent, reform their lives and to return every single centavo that they stole from taxpayers. “That, he said, is the only way for them to become holy and qualify for sainthood.”"
9670,"Hashtags: #TakeBackMariaRessa #OmidyarNetworkI can only feel for Maria Ressa. Her motherly interest to defend her team from criticism resulted in more harm rather than good. Nassim Nicholas Taleb comes to mind. He coined the the term “naive interventionism”, from iatrogenics in the medical field. Iatrogenics is a case wherein a doctor/medicine administers unnecessary treatment that will do more harm than good.In his book, Antifragile, Mr. Taleb shared this story…In 1930’s, 389 children were presented to New York City doctors; 174 were recommended for tonsillectomy. 215 were presented to a second set of doctors, and 99 were said to need surgery. The remaining 116 were shown to a third set of doctors; 52 were recommended for surgery. Note that there is a morbidity rate of 2-4% for each case. Every child who underwent an unnecessary operation has shortening of her life expectancy. The intent to do good caused more harm.The deaths of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and George Washington were all suspected to be partly due to iatrogenics as well. The excessive use of medicine to hasten their recovery and ride back to battle resulted in their deaths.The Sick and the Impatient VictimIn my “Rashomon Effect” piece, I hope Maria Ressa finally understood that even she is not immune from human flaws. The best she can do as a journalist is to not get distracted, quit justifying herself, focus on REPORTING the facts, and most importantly, STOP moderating us. Expect criticism, expect hate. As journalists, that is the burden the job carries. Let the people be. Sometimes, not intervening is the cure . As the master once said:So other people hurt me? That’s their problem. Their character and actions are not mine. What is done to me is ordained by nature and what I do by my own. – Marcus AureliusIf they are free from any political agenda, someone in their team needs some SPANKING. Their efforts to “intellectually” justify themselves resulted in increased perceived intellectual snobbery which drew more wind to the fire and got them all burned.Anybody who can’t take the heat will be unable to separate themselves from their emotions. Heightened emotions amplify bias and cloud objectivity. We cannot deny that this happened in the mass Duterte movement. Sad thing is, the same thing happened to Rappler as well! As I mentioned in my first article that as the fifth estate- it is our responsibility to challenge the media. If the media, as the fourth estate, need to hold the public servants accountable; we, the fifth estate, also need to hold the media accountable. This! Yeah, this. This.Maria Ressa could have stopped the public animosity before it caught fire, but I was very surprised that she took the ride. Although I unfollowed Rappler years ago when they started writing clickbait titles, my confidence in her remained intact. But all that changed when Rappler started moderating comments—that was a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. They got impatient with public opinion and decided on an unnecessary treatment.They took unneeded medicine. #TakeBackMariaRessaKeeping my Zen-like peace, I let it be. I kept silent because I felt it is useless to argue, and there will always be someone such as the likes of ThinkingPinoy, Sass, and GRP to represent. Much respect to these guys, listen.However, the “Weaponizing the Internet” series was my wake-up call. I breathe through the internet and the lies were as clear to me as sunrise. Worse, she talked of cognitive bias like it was a one-way thing, like she was immune to it. That was ALARMING to me. The samurai’s self-deception is getting worse and I felt the need to break the silence. In his seclusion, the monk is out on a peaceful rage. **Om Mani Padme Hum**If Symptoms Persist, Consult your DoctorIt is NOT too late for Maria Ressa to save her beloved Rappler. But she cannot do it with her team’s elitism and intellectual snobbery. She is SPOILING them by NOT pointing out these pervasive behaviors. This TEAM CULTURE breeds PUBLIC distrust. The media cannot distance itself from its people. By that, they need to stop treating Rappler’s FB comments as a forum section, where deleting comments and demeaning people is becoming a normality. In a democracy, the people is NOT the enemy. #TakeBackMariaRessaAs an anonymous paid troll with unquestionable credentials, I sincerely offer you my prescription:Pride Chicken is Expensive. Listen to those who matter, the people.Stop demeaning people. We know you’re an elite. STAHP already.We are NOT bots. We have emotions. We have feelings. #JoneeehhlDon’t moderate us. The comment section is therapeutical to us.Stop justifying yourself. We don’t need your customer service.Do your job. REPORT the facts until Mocha Uson shares your posts.Stop sensationalizing yourself. We had enough of De Lima already.Accept your humanity- and your bias. Reevaluate your interest.Practice humility. Intellect does not win you women. Trust me!Stop being an elitist. Study Siddharta and the KardashiansDo NOT be distracted. Trolls love attention, don’t give them that.Don’t ever wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it.**cough**carlos***cough**celdran**Hospital Admission: Time to Reevaluate Options and ReorganizationIf the Rappler team will be unable to adapt these prescriptions, their primary stakeholder (Omidyar) will need to step in. They’ll have to reevaluate their options. They need to check if the team’s behavior is in alignment with their intended VISION and, Company Culture. Because even if Rappler is saying they are doing well overall, search engine traffic still drives majority of their revenue stream. Social media is TOO BIG of a business chunk to miss out on—just look at the FB engagement data, for God’s sake. Rappler may not be losing money, but they are missing SERIOUS GROWTH opportunities. Investors should NOT be happy. Businesses exist for revenue. Or if it should be for the cause, then it should be for the people, otherwise, whose interest is it?Unless Omidyar is gunning for being one for “Elite Media”, a TOUGH reorganization needs to be made. The team culture apparently seems to be corrupted by elitism. As a Venture Capitalist, I take it that Omidyar are very familiar with the concept of the Diffusion of Innovation. With that snobby team culture, there’s no way Rappler can reach the critical mass in comparison to their competitors, they are keeping the early majority for themselves. Learn from us, your so called TROLLS. Our reach covers the whole scope of people: from innovators to laggards, from thought leaders to Mocha Uson. There is no separation of classes with us. The stakeholders need to be involved, Maria Ressa is now obviously too attached to shake the tree for everyone. #TakeBackMariaRessaThe Naive Interventionism of the Rappler SupportersLastly, whoever is running the FollowRappler campaign must stop. Please stop. I know your intention is to help Rappler but you are actually doing them more harm. Iatrogenics. Naive intervention. Do not make the same mistake. You are giving the people hints on who’s behind you and further linking yourselves with political agenda. It is not looking good, take it down.MARIA RESSA BADLY NEEDS TO FIRE SOMEONE! Someone got burnt and is getting restless. I can smell it.Remember antifragility—the more you hit, the stronger it gets. That is Mother Nature’s design. The arrogance is making the people stronger. This should not be the case.Stop. If you are wounded, let it heal or it will only complicate itself.Much love,MarcusPS,In my effort for deliberate anonymity, my Facebook profile got ejected hours after my post against Rappler went live. Facebook is requiring my full name and proof of identification. Against FB’s guidelines, I had my name structured in a way that my network of friends would be able to distinguish my full name yet remain unsearchable. I am NOT famous; I just bent the rules (just like the rest of the others) and got targeted specifically.Looks like the Rappler team got the wrong ninja skills. I commend your efforts of finding my account and getting it reported. You need not intervene. We cannot afford for you to get distracted, the stakes are HIGH.PPS,I have nothing but love for you Maria Ressa. Much like ThinkingPinoy, Sass, GRP and others, I would value your word to a higher degree if you go independent and unfunded. It will help free you from the bias and self-absorbed surroundings. It will free you from the burden of BUSINESS. It will free you from your shackles.It will bring back the inspiring, uncompromising Maria Ressa that moved the hearts of the Filipinos.It’s time to take back the respect you once had. It’s to take back the old MARIA RESSA! TAKE BACK MARIA RESSA! #TakeBackMariaRessaIn case we can’t bring you back, at least, listen to our indignation. Do not argue but listen. As the fourth estate, it’s the honorable thing to do.PPPS,And to you, the reader, a Filipino. Gather your friends, your family, anyone. Let your voice be heard. Let our voice be heard. If they won’t listen, then let us SHOUT. If they SILENCE us, then the system already failed. We are no longer a democracy. #TakeBackMariaRessaBe passionate but let us try to be objective. But since you reach the bottom of this piece, you are no headliner and probably smart enough to not do that. Just remind those that are not, explain in the language they’ll understand.PPPPS,To my teammates who probably know me based on my series of arguments, yes it is me. Forgive me, I lied. I was not sick for 4 days. I’m just away on a philanthropic mission.—Uncopyrighted: No permission needed to copy, distribute, or modify the content of this article. Do whatever the hell you like."
9680,"Nagbabala si Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Chito Gascon kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa balak nitong pagbuo ng Death Squad na lalaban sa mga hitmen ng New People's Army (NPA) o mga sparrow unit. Ayon kay Gascon, labag daw ito sa International Humanitarian Law (IHL) dahil pwede lang daw gamitin ng isang estado ay ang regular na militar. ""The state always has a duty to protect its citizens from all forms of harm including lawless violence and terrorist acts... must at all times be undertaken in accordance with established rules of engagement, due process and rule of law guarantees; and International Humanitarian Law principles,"" sabi ni Gascon Kumontra rin si Liberal party Senator Kiko Pangilinan sa mabuting plano ni Pangulong Duterte. Si Gascon ay dating Director General ng Partido Liberal. Hindi naman nagustuhan ng ilang mga kababayan natin ang hirit ni Gascon kay Pangulong Duterte at naligo na naman ito ng batikos mula sa mga netizens. Source: GMA News | News5"
9690,"Filipino boxing champion and Senator Manny Pacquiao has denied online reports that he is donating $5 Million to support Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s ‘war on drugs.’The supposed donation was reported by the fake news site, theguard1an.com, and was quickly picked up by other social media sites. (The guard1an is not the same as the British newspaper The Guardian.)In an interview with The Adobo Chronicles, Pacquiao said he does not have that kind of money to donate to Duterte. “I’m broke at the moment,” he said, “and that’s why I have agreed to come out of retirement and fight WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas.”“Maybe, if I win this upcoming fight, I may have an extra $5 Million to donate to Duterte’s drug war.”The Pacquiao-Vargas fight is scheduled on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada."
9701,"The House justice committee is unlikely to reduce the age of criminal liability from 15 to nine years old under a measure that, initially, is the second highest priority of the Duterte administration next to the death penalty bill.Rep. Reynaldo Umali of Oriental Mindoro, committee chairman, made the prediction on Monday, or a day before a scheduled vote on the proposed measure authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte and Deputy Speaker Frednil Castro of Capiz.But it is also unlikely to send children to jail in light of approval of the death penalty bill, according to another lawmaker.“I was briefed by the Committee Secretariat [this morning], and I was told that the option being pursued is to enhance the existing [Juvenile Justice] law. I don’t know the details yet, but I will know more about it within the day,” Umali told reporters.“Not reducing the age of criminal liability is a possibility, but I don’t want to preempt the decision of the committee,” he said.While reducing the age of criminal liability is a priority measure of the Duterte administration, the bill has failed to get the support of government agencies in charge of children’s welfare namely the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its attached agency the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DoH).The DSWD is headed by Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, while the Secretary of Education is former NationalTreasurer Leonor Briones. The Health department is led by Secretary Paulyn Ubial.Of these three, only Briones’ appointment has been approved by the Commission on Appointments, a body composed of lawmakers who have the power to reject presidential appointees.Lawmakers welcomed the House justice panel’s softening stance on the bill detaining children in conflict with the law.“There has been a proposal by child advocates that Congress should instead provide more funds for the implementation of the Juvenile Justice law instead of lowering the age of criminal responsibility. We proposed that ages 9 to 15 should have a comprehensive intervention package as required by law. If the justice committee approves a measure with those provisions, it will be a victory of reason,” Rep. Tom Villarin of Akbayan party-list said in a text message.“In the event that happens, it would be a cause for jubilation not only or the child rights advocates but also for the members of the majority coalition [in the House] who believe in providing our justice system with reformation measures rather than retribution,” Rep. Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol party-list said.Representative Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao is not convinced that majority of his colleagues will still support jailing of children, especially in light of the approval of the death penalty bill.“There has been little support to the measure in the first place, and I would say it was enough that majority of the lawmakers showed their support to the administration during the death penalty vote,” Baguilat said.But for Castro, an author of the bill, hope springs eternal.“I am not aware [that this bill will not be pursued anymore]. The chairman of the committee can only hear and preside. The final call is on the members of the committee on what the bill should be,” he said."
9710,"This year, the traditional self-appointed “owners” of the 1986 EDSA “people power revolution” — often referred to as the Yellowtards — again stood aghast as yet another anniversary celebration fizzled. The really surprising thing about this is that these folk were surprised to begin with, because, in truth, this erstwhile commemorated event has been following a trajectory of decline for some years now.Some thought leaders at least acknowledge that this “revolution” that some still insist was the seminal event in which Filipinos “won back” their democracy needs a new narrative. Indeed, for the longest time, the key outcome of the EDSA “revolution” has always been made out to be a rebirth of freedom in the Philippines. But, echoing a tweet issued by Get Real Post author Paul Farol, a really important question has now come to light…Have Filipinos used the freedom supposedly won in 1986 wisely?For that matter, did Filipinos come to understand what that freedom entailed? Take Apo Hiking Society singer Jim Paredes, for example. In a video that has since gone viral, Paredes is seen severely berating an activist expressing support for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. It seems Paredes regarded the hallowed grounds of the EDSA memorial as off-limits to anyone not associated with his Yellow Camp. The prevailing mindset surrounding EDSA after all has long been around the notion that husband-and-wife “national heroes” Ninoy and Cory Aquino are the sole central figures around which the current EDSA narrative spins.The Aquinos and the Yellow Camp political clique that surrounds them have, since 1986, been regarded as the owners of this revolution and its artefacts. Suffice to say, for 30 years, the Aquino-Cojuangco clan did not shrink from what started out as an organic distinction bestowed on them by Filipinos in the early days. They nurtured the notion and proceeded to secure their lofty place in the EDSA narrative to the point where their family names became virtually synonymous with it. Rather than uphold the EDSA “revolution” as a Filipino revolution, the Yellow Camp marketed it as Ninoy’s and Cory’s Revolution for three decades. They achieved this by employing the vast resources and network of businesses at the disposal of the Aquino and Cojuangco clans to mount an awesome messaging campaign spanning those decades to create the deeply-rooted mythology and cast of political deities that now surrounds EDSA.It seems the Philippines is now in the midst of a collective effort to dismantle this traditional mythology of yellow ribbons and “L” hand gestures and take back EDSA to its rightful owners — the Filipino people. Long overdue of course, but, as the cliché goes, better late than never."
9721,"Malacañang on Tuesday assured Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of his safety amid “present threat” to his security.In a news conference, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said Mabilog would be properly secured when he returns home from abroad.“Of course [Mabilog would be safe],” Abella replied when asked about the Iloilo mayor’s concerns over his safety.“This is a pretty democratic country. As far as the evidence shows, rule of law prevails,” the Malacañang spokesman said.Abella gave the assurance after Mabilog’s wife, Maria Victoria, on Monday admitted that the Iloilo mayor is not returning to the Philippines anytime soon because of “the present threat, veiled or otherwise.”In an interview with Panay News, Maria Victoria said she was keeping her husband from returning over security concerns.“Better be healthy first and safe than sorry,” she added.Mabilog, his wife, and their two children, left the country on August 31 amid repeated public accusations by President Rodrigo Duterte that Mabilog is a drug protector, an allegation that the mayor has repeatedly denied.The President ordered a lifestyle check on Mabilog.He also ordered the assignment of controversial police official Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido to Iloilo City but the deployment was later canceled by the Philippine National Police.Mabilog’s spokesman, lawyer Mark Piad, earlier said the mayor filed a sick leave from September 11 to 30 because he needed rest and is seeking treatment for Type 2 Diabetes.When asked about Mabilog’s move to extend his leave, Abella said, “That we need to refer to the Office of the Executive Secretary to find out their opinion regarding the matter.”On Monday, Piad was quoted as saying that Mabilog filed an extension of his leave on Friday for another 30 days.He said the mayor’s family has been receiving reports from their friends on possible threats on their lives.“We have to continuously validate these reports with the police,” Piad added."
9731,"THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday reassured the Department of National Defense (DND) that no student will be recruited by local and international terrorist groups.Lawyer Alberto Muyot, DepEd undersecretary for legal and legislative affairs, noted that they will closely monitor schools, particularly madaris or Muslim schools, to ensure that students will not be recruited and indoctrinated by terrorist groups.“Those concerns that our Muslim schools are being used by terrorist groups, we have a Madrasah curriculum, which teaches the true values of Islam and also discourages students to embrace violent extremism,” Muyot said in an interview with The Manila Times.“The Madrasah schools are schools in the Muslim areas, so they’re implementing their own curriculum, but they should be regulated and recognized by the DepEd,” he added.The DND earlier called on the Education department to strictly supervise schools to ensure that students will not be recruited by terrorist groups.The Defense department made the call over reports that some Muslim schools are being used by terrorist groups as vehicles to legitimize the entry of their members into the country.Just recently, Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur claimed that Turkish terrorists have already entered the Philippines.NEIL A. ALCOBER"
9740,"Photo Credits: Pompee La VinaBrother Eddie Villanueva was seen leading a prayer for the PDP-Laban Standard bearer Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.He is the founder of Jesus is Lord, one of the largest religious sect in the Philippines consisting of 4,000,000 members and once tried to enter politics.Many people rejoiced after seeing brother Eddie praying for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, thinking that God really appointed the Davao City Mayor to become the President of the Philippines.If Bro. Eddie is praying for Mayor Duterte, is the Jesus is Lord is now supporting the Davao City Mayor for Presidency?More religious sects is now planning to support Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, one of the most biggest news is the upcoming endorsement of INC to Duterte and Marcos tandem."
9751,"Sinabi ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte na gaya noon, magagawa ng DSWD na malagpasan ang anumang kontrobersiya, kabilang na ang nasabing alegasyon ng COA. ""It's not the first time na nagkaroon po ng mga ganitong observations ang COA sa DSWD, and in our past experience, lagi naman pong nasasagot ng DSWD 'yung mga audit observations ng COA to their satisfaction,"" sabi ni Valte. ""Katulad po in this case, ang nangyari ay hindi po nai-include 'yung management's response doon ho sa COA report. I understand that Gamoteait was submitted by DSWD noong November,"" dagdag pa ni Valte. ""Nailabas ho 'yung report 'nung December 15 at naibigay po ito doon sa ahensiyang involved, which is DSWD, at hindi po naisama 'yung kanilang management's response. Importante po na maisama ito para ma-consider din po ng COA ang sagot ng DSWD,"" aniya pa. ""In the past years, ang nangyayari po kasi naiiwan 'yung datos. Kumbaga, 'yung mga datos po natin mula doon sa regional offices ay hindi po minsan umaabot doon sa cut-off, so kailangan po talagang hatakin ng central office para maipasa po 'yan sa COA,"" sabi pa ni Valte. Sa COA report para sa 2013 na inilabas nitong Disyembre 15, 2014, natuklasang may 4,300 double entry sa listahan ng mga benepisyaryo ng CCT na umaabot sa P46.502 milyon."
9761,"Oil companies will implement a hefty increase in the pump prices of petroleum products Tuesday.Eastern Petroleum, Flying V, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, and Seaoil will increase the price of diesel and gasoline by P1.10 per liter and P1.15 per liter, respectively, starting at 6 a.m.Meanwhile, Flying V, Pilipinas Shell, and Seaoil will raise the price of kerosene by P1 per liter, also effective at 6 a.m.This is the first time oil companies imposed a substantial increase this year."
9770,"Viral ngayon ang post ng magandang anak ni Attorney Larry Gadon na si Alarice. Sa kanyang social media post, ipinagmalaki niya ang katangian ng kanyang ama at kung bakit iboboto niya ang kanyang tatay. Ayon kay Alarice, iboboto niya si Attorney Gadon hindi dahil daddy niya ito. ""#BOBOto ko sya not just because he's my dad. Iboboto ko sya dahil alam ko kung paano sya magmahal. Mapagmamalaki ko din na he's the type na hindi humihingi ng kapalit. Katunayan nyan, sa dami ng tinulungan ng papa ko, hindi sya yumaman sa pera. Yumaman sya sa mga kaibigan ,"" kwento ni Alarice. Ayon kapa kay Alarice, matalas lang daw talaga ang dila ng kanyang ama dahil passionate daw ito sa mga bagay na pinaniniwalaan. ""Hindi din sya plastic, matalas man minsan ang dila nya pero it's because he's very passionate with the things he really believes in,"" sabi pa ni Alarice. Noong una raw ay ayaw da ni Alarice na pasuking ng kanyang ama ang mundo ng pulitika dahil alam niya kung gaano kagulo ito. Pero naniniwala siya ng lubos na may maitutulong ang kanyang ama sa bayan. ""Sabi ko nga nung 2016 sa post ko, ayoko sana sya tumakbo dahil magulo ang mundo ng pulitika. Gusto ko man syang ipagdamot, mas naniniwala akong may maitutulong sya lalo na kung mahal nya yung ginagawa nya... #Boboto kita Atty Larry Gadon dahil alam kong mamahalin mo ang magiging tungkulin mo kung sakaling pagpalain ka. Iboboto kita dahil alam ko kung paano ka magmahal, maglaan ng oras at magsakripisyo,"" dagdag ni Alarice. Ibinunyag din ni Alarice na ika-61 kaarawan na din ni Atty. Gadon. ""Birthday nya today and my only wish is for him to have more healthy years to come, kasi kailangan nya maging strong para sa mga bagay na mahal nya.... Happy 61st birthday Papa, dati pa man ikaw lang Senator ko,"" pagbati ni Alarice sa kanyang ama. Banag isiusulat ang blog post na ito ay umabot na sa 2,000 mahigit ang nag-share ng post ni Alarice at bumohos angpagbati sa kanyang ama sa coment section. Source: Alarice Gadon"
9781,"THE Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office batted for patriotism and valor during the recent Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and Philippine Veterans Week celebrations.Anchored on the theme “Kagitingan at Pagmamahal sa Pilipinas Para sa Tunay na Pagbabago,” the celebrations aimed to instill in the minds and hearts of Filipinos, especially the youth, that the freedom the people enjoy today was nourished by the blood and sacrifices of their forefathers.They also aimed to present war veterans as among the country’s national treasures; to revive “kagitingan” or the culture of heroism and love for country that Filipinos are known for; and to strengthen the collective sense of national pride and patriotism.Winners in the painting and essay writing competitions held during the celebrations were:Painting: First Prize, Shena Rain Libranda, Gumaca National High School, Quezon, coached by Emmanuel Enero; Second Prize, Eric James Balanquit, Batasan Hills National High School, Quezon City, coached by Raymond Poblador/Ivy Baitlon; and Third Prize, Mayshelle Janzenne Reyes, Ramon Magsaysay High School, Quezon City, coached by Susana Tolentino.Essay Writing: First Prize, Ma. Princess Anne Curioso, “Bayaning Beterano sa Bayang Malaya,” Gumaca National High School, Quezon, coached by Ronald Andanar; Second Prize, Erika Marie Javines, “Tinig ng Liwayway sa Bayani ng Kahapon,” Navotas National High School, Navotas City, coached by Felix Ternida Jr.; and Third Prize, Ken Bein Mar Caballes, “Pugay Kamay para sa Makabayang Tagumpay,” Caraga Regional Science High School, Surigao City, cached by Alfe Lito.The winners received their awards during the Araw ng Kagitingan celebrations on April 9 at the Mount Samat National Shrine, Pilar, Bataan, graced by Undersecretary Tonisito Umali and other DepEd officials and personnel."
9790,"[Filipinos live by flawed notions when it comes to] casting blame. It's practically saying let's punish the children or descendants of those people who did wrong in the past. Let us make the children answer/suffer for the shortcomings, real or imagined, of their elders. I don't think that is what Jose Rizal meant or thought when he made a statement about our youth as the future of the country. Pointing to the past crimes of the other party will not really prove the innocence of the accusing party. It will only prove that everybody is guilty of the same crimes.I don't think martial law is being use as a tool to frighten the people. Even if it is I don't think there will be people who will get scared because martial law is a non-starter at this time. It was a fad in the '70s and '80s. It was the trend in the past that will be hard to repeat in the present. What actually was happening was, for lack of a legitimate issue against, for example Bongbong [Marcos], people bring up the past that can be attached to him in order to put him on the defensive. And what better way to do it than drag his dictator father in the picture?Politics is all about points. Wherever you get it you must get it.I'm actually speaking about not putting too much fuss about martial law as a tool to frighten us not because it was harmless but because it is now being floated about as a handicapped, an obstacle on Bongbong's path to frustrate his political ambition. It's all politics.You know what's scarier than the specter of martial law for some people? The possibility of Bongbong Marcos becoming the president of the country.----------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/10/why-the-neveragain-slogan-reflects-filipinos-total-failure-of-imagination/#comment-1374749"
9800,"Three criminal cases have just been filed by the Department of Justice against Senator Leila De Lima for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP).Anticipating her arrest shortly, the feisty senator declared in a news conference that she is not guilty of any of the charges and that she will not escape, hide, ask for hospital arrest or request for a wheelchair or wear a neck brace (similar to that of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo before her release from hospital arrest.)Now a fake news item on social media claims that De Lima is suffering from asthma and that, according to her doctor, she won’t be able to endure conditions in an enclosed jail cell.The senator categorically denied that she was suffering from the common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties.“I’m in perfect health,” she declared.“Besides, if I had asthma or can’t endure conditions in enclosed places, how then was I able to endure hours on end inside the kubols of certain inmates at NBP?” She was referring to allegations that as Justice Secretary during the previous administration, she was often seen spending a lot of time inside the jail cells of convicted drug lords at NBP.)The Adobo Chronicles is inclined to believe her."
9811,"Kalahati nito ay ini-release na para sa mga paghahanda at pagsasaayos ng mga pasilidad para sa naturang Palaro. Kasama na rito ang pagtatayo ng Albay Sports Complex sa bayan ng Guinobatan bilang main venue, kung saan magkakaroon ng international standard oval track at malaking grandstand para sa libu-libong manunood. Ayon kay Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, ang pamahalaang panlalawigan nila ay magtatalaga rin ng P150 million bilang karagdagan budget sa inaprubahan ng Pangulo. ***"
9820,"So anti-Duterte Senator Leila De Lima has been ousted as the chairman of the Senate Justice Committee. Although the main reasons why De Lima’s colleagues removed the chairmanship from her were about her bias, her misuse of the Senate to advance her political vendetta against the President, and her poor handling of the investigation on the alleged extra judicial killings (EJK) of drug criminals mostly attributed to law enforcers under President Rodrigo Duterte’s rule, De Lima insists that her removal was a glaring case of persecution by Duterte and his minions. International bodies like the New York-based Human Rights Watch stated that the Senate should reinstate De Lima’s chairmanship. The European Union (EU) even condemned Duterte himself (not the Philippine government) for the incidence of EJKs and even went to the extent of calling on the Philippine Congress to abstain from reintroducing the death penalty. Such meddling of the EU into the internal affairs of the Philippines has piqued the “colorful” President resulting in his profanity laced rebuke of the EU’s condemnation.Were the profanities given by Duterte to the EU justified? Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan III seems to believe so. Alunan posted on his Facebook wall:The problem with the meddling of foreign nations like those of the West on the internal affairs of sovereign countries like those in the East is that their imposition of their values and ideals can easily be interpreted as arrogance and superiority complex. In addition, the pressure exerted by countries like those in the EU on countries like those in the East can be deemed as an attempt to undermine a nation’s sovereignty. World view differences of the East and the West on things like human rights can be a source of friction. This has been evident in the way China has rebuffed criticisms of America on China’s alleged poor human rights practices and of course, the recent word war between Philippine President Duterte against America and the EU. While there is indeed a consensus on the general ideals for human rights, there is no binding agreement on every country’s specific approach towards such ideals. Policy research specialist John Albert Suing points out historian Barbara Tuchman’s statement that:“Humanity may have common ground, BUT needs and aspirations vary according to circumstances.”Singaporean High Commissioner Michael Teo also pointed out that:“China and Russia study Singapore as one possible model for their own development. Whether they can adapt it to their own circumstances will depend on their ability to run a clean, honest and meritocratic system, governing for the long-term good of the country with the support of their people. But ultimately these large countries, with their long histories and ancient cultures, will develop in their own ways. They are not likely to morph into western liberal democracies, regardless of what Singapore does. Every society has to strike its own balance between individual liberties and the common good. Some in the west like John Kampfner feel a calling to go forth and convert the heathen to western liberal democracy. But the true test is what works in the real world, with real societies. To worship a western model as the only way, and dismiss all other solutions as authoritarian or undemocratic, is surely the ultimate anaesthetic for the brain.”So given that common ground does not necessarily equate to the application of a universal means to an ideal end, why do bodies like the EU as well as Human Rights Watch still seem impose their will on sovereign nations like the Philippines? The answer may lie in what Suing and journalist Stephen Kinzer have pointed out – it is from their narrow, shallow and egocentric definition of human rights!Kinzer pointed out an interesting view on the dark side of what he has dubbed as “Human Rights Imperialism”. Although human rights advocates (and activists) such as the Human Rights Watch may have noble causes, these may also come with (unintended) consequences. Kinzer said:“Those who have traditionally run Human Rights Watch and other western-based groups that pursue comparable goals come from societies where crucial group rights – the right not to be murdered on the street, the right not to be raped by soldiers, the right to go to school, the right to clean water, the right not to starve – have long since been guaranteed. In their societies, it makes sense to defend secondary rights, like the right to form a radical newspaper or an extremist political party. But in many countries, there is a stark choice between one set of rights and the other. Human rights groups, bathed in the light of self-admiration and cultural superiority, too often make the wrong choice. The actions of human rights do-gooders is craziest in Darfur, where they show themselves not only dangerously naive but also unwilling to learn lessons from their past misjudgments. By their well-intentioned activism, they have given murderous rebel militias – not only in Darfur but around the world – the idea that even if they have no hope of military victory, they can mobilise useful idiots around the world to take up their cause, and thereby win in the court of public opinion what they cannot win on the battlefield. The best way to do this is to provoke massacres by the other side, which Darfur rebels have done quite successfully and remorselessly. This mobilises well-meaning American celebrities and the human rights groups behind them. It also prolongs war and makes human rights groups accomplices to great crimes.”For the case of the Philippines, I fear that naïve human rights activism being parroted by the jaundiced critics of President Duterte and western liberal bodies like the EU would just re-strengthen and re-embolden drug criminals causing further moral and societal deterioration in a developing country like the Philippines.In the end, what bothers me other than the loftiness of these “Human Rights Imperialists” is that they seem to be expecting or even demanding that developing nations like the Philippines automatically and immediately adopt their approach to achieving and ensuring human rights, despite the fact that it took them centuries to get there (with some of them still having cases of human rights violations). Being oblivious to the reality on the ground in the Philippines, the EU as well as other human rights activist groups are unwittingly playing the role of useful idiots by the local opposition who themselves have committed, condoned, and perpetuated human rights violations when they were in power. To that I can fully understand and appreciate President Duterte’s verbal attacks on them. Personally, I would not flip the bird at them and tell them “F*ck Y*u” like what President Duterte did. I would probably just tell them to “Get Real!”(Photo taken from aljazeera.com)"
9831,"If President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that his only sin was extrajudicial killings was, according to his spokespersons, just a joke, then it’s not funny.Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said it was sad when officials speaking on behalf of the President would tell people not to take the highest-ranking official of the land seriously.Drilon made the comment in the wake of presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s claim that the President should not be taken seriously when he said extrajudicial killings were his only sin.“That is saddening,” Drilon said in an interview with radio station dwIZ.Rarity“It seems they are the only presidential spokespersons in the world who keep on saying that we should not take the President seriously,” he added.Statements of the country’s leaders must always be taken seriously, he said.“The President is not an ordinary senator or citizen, he is the leader of 105 million Filipinos,” Drilon said.“It is wrong for the President’s spokesperson to say that we should not believe the President because he was just joking,” he said.Roque sought to downplay the President’s remarks about extrajudicial killings as the chief executive’s critics bared plans to submit his statement to the International Criminal Court."
9841,"Confessed hit man Edgar Matobato on Thursday insisted that he and five other men killed alleged terrorist Sali Makdum on orders of SPO4 Arthur Lascaña, the leader of a liquidation squad linked to President Duterte when he was still mayor of Davao City.Matobato, 57, continued his testimony about the killing of about 1,000 criminals and opponents of Mr. Duterte in gangland-style assaults at the resumption of the inquiry into alleged extrajudicial killings in the President’s brutal war on drugs by the Senate committee on justice and human rights, now headed by Sen. Richard Gordon.Senators led by Alan Peter Cayetano and Panfilo Lacson as well as Gordon grilled Matobato on the consistency of the testimony he gave on Thursday in which he pictured Mr. Duterte as a cold-blooded killer.Alliances became apparent during the proceedings, with the allies of Mr. Duterte who voted to oust Sen. Leila de Lima as committee chair on Monday leading the questioning.Gordon called much of Matobato’s testimony last week hearsay.Cayetano, Mr. Duterte’s defeated vice presidential running mate in May’s national elections, said the witness was “lying.”Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the Bible-quoting world boxing champion and Duterte ally, asked why the public should believe a witness whom he described as inconsistent.De Lima and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who had both vouched for Matobato’s credibility, called out their colleagues on the tenor of their questioning, giving the witness a chance to clarify his statements when it was their time to ask.De Lima’s allies from the Liberal Party were absent from the hearing.Grilled for more than three hours mostly by Mr. Duterte’s allies, Matobato at one point made an emotional plea, saying his former companions in the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) were out to kill him.‘I’m telling the truth’“I came here even if I’m illiterate. I volunteered to come here. I did not kill for money, but because we won’t get caught because the police were with us,” Matobato said, wiping away tears.“Even if they hang me, I’m telling the truth. Just the truth. All I want is justice. I saw how the [New People’s Army] beheaded by father. Now I don’t know where to find justice, just like the people we killed are looking for justice,” he said.The test of Matobato’s credibility was interrupted by sometimes heated exchanges between some of the senators, including between Cayetano and De Lima as well as between Cayetano and Trillanes, as they sought clarification of confusing accounts of the former militiaman.One of the exchanges came after Matobato was asked about the killing of Makdum, a suspected terrorist from Pakistan, in 2002.Cayetano presented at the hearing a CNN video interview in which Makdum’s relatives said Matobato knew Makdum, as the two men were discussing a land deal.In his testimony on Thursday, Matobato said he and five other members of the DDS kidnapped Makdum from Samal Island in 2002 and took him to the office of the former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force.He said they garroted Makdum, quartered and buried him in a quarry.Confronted with the CNN video, Matobato admitted he knew Makdum, as the Pakistani’s Filipino wife was the cousin of his wife, and confirmed they were in discussion of a land deal. He also said he had known Makdum for three months.Makdum a terroristMatobato said he did not know Makdum was a terrorist until he was informed about it at the police heinous crime unit’s office.“I never knew he was a terrorist,” he said. But he told the unit that he knew the Pakistani.Asked who ordered him to kill Makdum, Matobato replied: “Arthur Lascaña.”But he said he did not know who ordered Lascaña to take down Makdum.Cayetano told Matobato that in his testimony last week, he said Mr. Duterte ordered the killing of Makdum.“So it was not Mayor Duterte who gave the order,” Cayetano said, and Matobato replied that he did not know.It was at this point that Trillanes jumped in, saying Cayetano was “giving wrong information” because Matobato did not say last week that Mr. Duterte ordered Makdum killed.“Let us not twist the story,” Trillanes said.Gordon told the senators to refer to the transcript.Cayetano explained that he was just testing Matobato and that the witness was free to say he never said Mr. Duterte gave the order to kill.Matobato later told Cayetano that he was getting confused, and admitted that he did not hear Mr. Duterte directly give orders to kill but had seen him talking to Lascaña, whom he identified as leader of the DDS.NBI agent killedCayetano also tested the credibility of Matobato’s account last week that it was Mr. Duterte who killed National Bureau of Investigation agent Vicente Amisola in 2007.In his testimony last week, Matobato said Amisola’s vehicle impeded a DDS mission, which lead to an altercation that deteriorated into a shoot-out. The agent ran out of bullets and was wounded, he said. Mr. Duterte, he said, arrived and finished the agent off by emptying two Uzi magazines on him.Cayetano said he found “incredible” Matobato’s account that 30 men were unable to kill Amisola during the shoot-out.“This means you are all good killers,” Cayetano told the witness.Matobato denied saying 30 men shot it out with Amisola. He said the agent, who was armed with a Glock pistol with an extended magazine, used his vehicle as cover and fought back.“But (Amisola) ran out of ammunition and he was taken,” Matobato said, adding the agent was still alive when Mr. Duterte arrived carrying an Uzi submachine gun.“It was the mayor who ended (Amisola’s) life,” he said.RELATED VIDEOS"
9850,"Most of the senators expressed their support to the martial law declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte in the whole island of Mindanao.Fifteen out of 23 senators, said that the Senate Resolution No. 388 also known as the martial law in Mindanao signed on Monday is “satisfactory, constitutional, and in accordance with the law”“The Senate hereby supports fully Proclamation No. 216 and finds no compelling reason to revoke the same,” the resolution said.The 15 senators who voted in favor of the martial law are all the members of the majority bloc of the senate.“The acts committed by the Maute group are an open attempt to remove from the allegiance to the Philippine Government the part of Mindanao and deprive the Chief Executive of its powers and prerogatives to enforce laws of the land and to maintain public order and safety in Mindanao, hence constitutes the crime of rebellion,” the resolution read.Meanwhile, eight senators, all whom belong to the minority bloc, and another two from the majority bloc did not sign the senate resolution.Senators who voted ‘yes’ for Martial Law in Mindanao:Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III Sen. Sonny Angara Sen. Nancy Binay Sen. JV Ejercito Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian Sen. Richard Gordon Sen. Gringo Honasan Sen. Panfilo Lacson Sen. Loren Legarda Sen. Manny Pacquiao Sen. Joel Villanueva Sen. Cynthia Villar Sen. Miguel ZubiriSenators who did not sign the Senate Resolution No. 388Sen. Francis Pangilinan Sen. Franklin Drilon Sen. Bam Aquino Sen. Leila De Lima Sen. Risa Hontiveros Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV Sen. Grace Poe Sen. Francis EscuderoSenator Escudero explained that he did not sign the resolution because he didn’t receive a copy. He also said that the 1987 Constitution does not require the said resolution.Senators from the minority bloc also tried to block the declaration of Martial Law of President Rodrigo Duterte after they filed on Monday a resolution to ask the Congress in a joint session and discuss the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.Senate Resolution No. 350 was signed by Drilon, Pangilinan, Aquino IV, Hontiveros, De Lima and Trillanes and they said that the joint session was necessary to determine the “constitutional and factual validity” of the Proclamation No. 216 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte following the attacks of the Maute group in Marawi City.Liberal Party President Kiko Pangilinan also vowed to oppose nationwide martial law declaration if President Rodrigo Duterte plans to do it.“While there may be isolated terrorist acts in these areas, there exists no Visayas-wide nor a Luzon-wide invasion or rebellion to merit the declaration of martial law as allowed under our Constitution,” Pangilinan said.“Absent any nationwide rebellion or invasion, we will vigorously oppose a nationwide martial law declaration,” he added.According to the Proclamation 216. President Rodrigo Duterte forced to declare Martial Law in the whole island of Mindanao because the attack of the Maute Terrorist Group in Marawi City was the start of their mission to build an ISIS stronghold in the Philippines.The report also said that “the recent attack shows the capability of the Maute group and other rebel groups to sow terror, and cause death and damage to property not only in Lanao del Sur but also in other parts of Mindanao”"
9861,"Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Guiling A. Mamondiong issued a stern warning against fixers and TESDA officials entertaining grease money to facilitate the acceptance of applicants for training.Speaking at the recent regional technical vocational education and training (TVET) stakeholders’ conference at the TESDA Training Center in Barangay Tabang in Malolos City, Mamondiong said he strictly forbids such a scam which not only dupes Filipinos who wants to have decent jobs, also puts TESDA in a bad light.He said he will be making rounds of all of TESDA’s 120 training centers throughout the country to rid offices of fixers.The TESDA chief’s host, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado hailed the renewed initiatives and programs of TESDA under the Duterte administration, citing how they have provided opportunities for Bulakeños to live decent lives.As Alvarado gave his salute to TESDA and Mamondiong’s leadership, it was cited that at present, 830,000 citizens nationwide have applied for a TESDA scholarship in around 18,000 technical and vocational courses."
9871,"MINSANG naka-face-to-face ni Victor Basa ang press people sa opisina ng Cotton Club. Nauwi ang maliit na pagtitipon sa simpleng usapan tungkol sa mga paboritong isuot na underwear. Kuwento ni Victor, mas masarap matulog kung ang suot ay medyo maluwag na boxer shorts. Mas komportable at mahimbing siyang nakakatulog. At idinagdag pang ""para madaling hubarin""."
9880,"Truth is like a lion. You don't have to defend it. You just let it loose. It will know how to defend itself.* * * *Once again, the people have been invited to the circus (SONA). They said it was the last show for the season; the next season will involve another lion tamer. In the last other shows of the current season, tamer and lion didn't coordinate well. People came, curious if he has finally learnt from his blunders; after all, it was his last show. Unfortunately, this show was worse despite the additional props.Experts tamers allow lions to be just, well, lions. It is, after all, a lion show. People come to watch the lions; maybe, a little bit of the tamer. But, if the lions did their act well, the credit and accolades will be to the tamer.But, they booed him; why? Because he tried very, very hard to steal the show from the lions. There he was with his usual chair (the Office of the President) and his whip (presidential power). But, we don't know if he knows that taming is not just about chairs and whips, but also more importantly, about having a good psychological frame of mind in order to be able to read what the lions want. He didn't read the lions well, so the lions were just all over the place uncoordinated. Strange, surreal, mysterious, but they didn't even look like real lions. It was a pathetic sight.What we don't know is if the crew behind the production are related to the making of the ad of Tide laundry detergent where Vic Sotto, the comedian, is the lead commercial model. That type of ad is called comparative advertising where they compare Tide with another detergent.How is it that this tamer was trying very hard to compare himself with the previous tamer? The worst part was that he was using the whip of the previous tamer. How did we know that? Because engraved in the handle of the whip, it read: Gloria's economic policies. Still, he was trashing the previous tamer. So, how is it that this tamer looked very much like Vic Sotto? That we will never know; that he had the gall, or kapalmuks, to present himself as a tamer; but more strange, people thought he was a good one. Now, more and more people are admitting they were wrong.It was supposed to be a lion show, not a stand-up comedy. It wasn't funny, though, he has poisoned the well, so to speak, and the circus air is no longer the same — when lions cannot be lions.We are pretty sure the next time he gets near the lions, they will devour him; at least, it looks that way now. Aren't we glad it was his last show? Next time, please don't allow a tamer by the name of PNoy, or anything that has a semblance of that, or anything corollary to that.So, again, to those who have the ambitions of being the tamer, it is important to remember: TRUTH IS LIKE A LION. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEFEND IT. YOU JUST LET IT LOOSE. IT WILL KNOW HOW TO DEFEND ITSELF.------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/07/pnoy-showed-what-a-sore-loser-he-is-in-his-6th-and-last-sona/#comment-1241444"
9890,"Spied in a tweet recently that some bozo screeched “Never again to Martial Law” as senatorial candidate Imee Marcos posed for the cameras with her family at some public event. This got me to thinking. What’s Imee Marcos’s connection to “Martial Law” nga ba?Some (mostly communist and Yellowtard “activists”) may say the answer to that is “obvious”. But, really, is it truly obvious as had once been the national dogma? That Jesus was born of a virgin, died, and supposedly resurrected has become the subject of debate today in light of a more enlightened regard for that narrative. This is so even after centuries of being regarded as “fact”. So one really needs to be careful of regarding something as an “obvious fact”.To put this question in perspective consider that two men who, without a doubt, are known direct executives who oversaw the implementation of martial law during the 1970s. These two men, despite this fact, went on to pinnacles of achievement in politics in the Philippines. Indeed, we have yet to hear similar bozos shriek “Never again to Martial Law” at former President Fidel Ramos and former Senate President (now senatorial candidate) Juan Ponce Enrile.Many senatorial candidates today are re-electionists who denounce “Martial Law” in fiery speeches before the cameras. But as senators under the watch of Enrile the Senate President, they had every opportunity to denounce the Chief Architect of “Martial Law” when it mattered. Yet we know of no Yellowtard senator who ever did that — never stood up in the middle of a Senate session, pointed to the then Senate President and scream “Never again to Martial Law!”This highlights just how shallow a song-and-dance election campaigns are and just how stupid Filipino voters are to lap up all the bullshit on sale during these circuses.Indeed, this is not to say that it is not just the Martial Law Crybaby rhetoric on sale in this market of bullshittery. Filipinos need to be better evaluators of their politicians than they ever had been over the last half-century since they were granted “independence” by the United States in 1946. Both camps — whether Yellowtard or Dutertard — call out the stupidity of the Filipino voter. So no one or clique of politicians is innocent of the charge of bullshitting Filipino voters with empty slogans and downright misleading rhetoric.What makes the “Never Again” activist brand particularly good as an example of just how dishonest Filipino partisans, communists, and “activists” are is its standout emptiness and fallacious nature. Imee Marcos is seen to be a “Martial Law” perpetrator simply because her father happened to be president during the “Martial Law Years”. It’s the very same exact logic applied to the notion that one vote for Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III — the accidental presidential candidate of 2010 — because his father was a guy who got shot at an airport in 1983 and then crowned “national hero” for his and his family’s trouble. At least, in that regard, the Yellowtard mind is consistent.Filipino voters need to think better and choose better than that. Several generations of Filipinos need to ditch the dysfunctional thinking taught to them — more like forced down their throats — by Yellowtard “thought leaders”, religious clerics, their school teachers, their gated-village friends and even their parents. The slogan template “No to [insert “evil” notion here]” should be put in a museum of idiotic activist paraphernalia. Filipinos and a new breed of real activists should, instead, embrace a fresh approach to solving the Philippines’ problems and advocating genuine reform — one that is forward looking and positive. Let’s start with the template “Yes to [insert original and innovative notion of the future here]” and move on to the future from there."
9901,"Should he win the presidency, Vice President Jejomar Binay promised to get things done, including pushing for mining in the country and doing away with the “PowerPoint presentation” style of leadership—an apparent dig at the Aquino administration.Binay also said Thursday that he favored amending economic provisions in the Constitution to make the country more competitive and to help attract foreign investments.In addition, he would push for a “genuine” anticorruption campaign that would not be used for harassment and vindictiveness.The Vice President shared the main points of his platform at a meeting with business executives attending the Wallace Business Forum at Makati Shangri-La Hotel, which he said were “all ears” and had a good response to his presentation.“I do not just plan or promise, I get things done,” he said in a speech.Palace: Nothing irregularMalacañang said there was nothing irregular about the Vice President’s presentation of his proposed economic platform to a business group.Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters that “such interactions between candidates and stakeholders are regular features of the democratic process.”On Binay’s call for constitutional amendments to open up the economy to foreign investors, Coloma said “it is known that the President does not favor constitutional amendments.”PPP administrationSpeaking to reporters, Binay said he told the business executives that he intended to have a decisive administration.“It will not be PPP or PowerPoint presentation (administration), which means we will get things done. Enough of long studies,” he said.He also told the audience that he would push for mining to flourish in the country, adding that he believed fears about mining were brought about by inadequate information to the people about the subject.“Many First World countries have big investments in natural resources, particularly mining,” Binay said.He added that there were many new ways, technology and equipment for minimizing the hazards of mining, which he believes could ease apprehensions over mining.Binay also told reporters he wanted to have Cabinet members who are not politicians.“If it’s possible, my Cabinet members will be those who did not have to go through learning curves or are first-timers,” he said, adding he was inclined to get former Cabinet members from previous administrations because of their experience.He said if a politician was in his Cabinet, there might be a chance he would want to run for office and he would be tempted to stray from doing the right thing.LedacHe also said that should he win the presidential election in May, he would hold quarterly meetings with the legislature and judiciary through the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) and the Judiciary-Executive-Legislative Advisory Council so the three branches of government would have a better understanding of issues.Binay said the Disbursement Acceleration Program, a mechanism that the Aquino administration launched in 2011 to pump-prime the economy but ended up being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, could have not been implemented had Malacañang met regularly with the two other branches of government.Binay, who is facing plunder complaints in the Sandiganbayan which he decried as politically motivated, also spoke about his anticorruption policy.New king, new waysHe explained that he was not the type of manager who exemplified the saying: “Bagong hari, bagong ugali (New king, new ways)” because he wants to continue the good programs of the past governments.“And one of these is the fight against corruption but this would be a genuine one which you will not use to prosecute people without evidence. This will not be used for harassment and vindictiveness,” he said.The Vice President acknowledged that the government had lost billions of pesos due to corruption. But while the anticorruption drive of the Aquino administration was a good concept, it was not made meaningful as this was used to scare and harass (people).Binay, who is being investigated by the Senate on alleged corrupt activities when he was still mayor of Makati City, said the corruption allegations against him were not raised at the business forum.But he did spoke of the long-running Senate blue ribbon subcommittee probe of the corruption allegations against him.Although he believed the Senate hearings were “waning,” the Vice President pointed out that he was also being charged in the Office of the Ombudsman.Asked why the policies he outlined seemed to be intended to change the policies of the Aquino administration, he said: “We will change what needs to be changed but we will continue good programs. I am a manager who will continue good programs of past administrations.”Purely businessPeter Wallace said that the business group did not raise the corruption allegations against Binay because it “stuck basically to business.”“We are businessmen. We don’t want to get into politics,” Wallace told reporters.On the corruption allegations against Binay, he said: “I always take this sort of thing with a grain of salt. Nothing has been proven and until there is, it’s unfair to make a judgment.”Wallace said he believed business executives had agreed with some of the changes that Binay proposed to make under his presidency, including pushing for mining.DisappointmentsHe said that one of his “greatest disappointments” with the current administration was that mining in the country “has come to a complete halt.”Binay also said he would focus on infrastructure development and the creation of a Department of Information and Communications Technology.Wallace said he hoped the next President would be able to accelerate the private-public partnership programs that were well put together by the Aquino administration but took a long time to get it started.Wallace said his group had already met Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and was hoping to meet next with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the standard-bearer of the administration’s Liberal Party"
9911,"The country’s largest labor group on Wednesday decried the P25 increase in minimum daily pay for Metro Manila workers announced by Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) and urged President Duterte to approve a higher amount.The acting Ecop president, Sergio Luiz-Ortiz, announced the P25 wage hike on top of the current P512 daily minimum wage after a meeting on Tuesday of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).In a statement, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the increase was “meaningless,” a “measly token,” if not a “nonincrease” that won’t solve the hunger problem of Filipinos.“It is not a wage increase in real terms and falls far short of addressing the lost value of National Capital Region wages in the face of the spiraling prices of basic goods,” it said.Just speculationThe P25 is only a fraction of the Metro Manila minimum wage increase of P320 that the group sought in June, after the second quarter inflation rate averaged 4.8 percent, and of the P344 it petitioned for last week to help workers recover their purchasing power, which had been further weakened by the 6.2-percent inflation rate in the third quarter.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he had yet to receive the RTWPB’s recommended wage adjustment, adding that whatever amount announced by Ecop or TUCP was just speculation.“I have not received any formal recommendation from the board, so I don’t know where TUCP and Ecop got their source,” Bello said.He repeated his previous statement that any wage hike in Metro Manila “may not be less than P20,” which was based on the minimum amount of wage adjustment that has so far been implemented across the country.TUCP vice president Luis Corral told reporters at a news conference that the announced wage increase was “a grand deception.”“How far can P25 go? Let us know where, how,” he said. “We will challenge that P25.”Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson for the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP (ALU-TUCP), said they were hoping that in the coming days the President would approve a bigger minimum daily pay.If not, “hunger and poverty will only escalate and cause more instability from the labor front,” he said.‘Hoping against hope’“We are hoping against hope President Duterte will intervene and take the matter into his own hands and make sure the wage increase will be more than P25 as a gift for the workers who continue believing in him,” Tanjusay said.TUCP president Raymond Mendoza said in a statement the P25 increase “doesn’t even come close to meeting the need to provide at least P72, which represents in real terms the lost purchasing value of the existing minimum wage.”“Second, it does not address the lack of any real wage increase in the past 10 years,” Mendoza added.“Third, the increase is in denial of real needs of workers in the face of a 6.7 percent inflation, which made basic needs unaffordable and beyond the workers’ reach,” he said.Apart from the wage increase, there will also be an additional P10 daily cost of living allowance, TUCP said.Ateneo studyCiting a September 2018 study by Ateneo de Manila University Policy Center, TUCP assistant general secretary Vicente Camilon said food prescribed for a family of four under the Pinggang Pinoy program of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute would already cost P643 per day, more than the current minimum daily wage of Metro Manila workers.Hunger is rising in Metro Manila, with around 549,000 families, or 2.7 million people, suffering from hunger just this September, Camilon added.He also cited a World Bank study saying that while the country’s labor productivity grew 3.4 percent, real wage growth, or the increase in purchasing power, was zero.Corral said his group would likely file a petition “based on supervening events” for another wage next week.Tanjusay said the RTWPB decision was based “on the long-disproven myth that economic benefits will trickle down to workers.”"
9920,"Ten-time Grammy winner Carlos Santana shocked the music world today with his comment that Beyoncé didn’t win Album of the Year because she’s not a singer, unlike winner Adele.“I think that Adele won because she can sing, sing,” Santana recently told the Australian Associated Press, before elaborating on his opinion.“With all respect to our sister Beyoncé, Beyoncé is very beautiful to look at and it’s more like modeling kind of music ― music to model a dress ― she’s not a singer, singer, with all respect to her,” the Mexican-American musician added.Upon hearing of Santana’s comment, Beyoncé tweeted, “In that case, why did Santana win all his Grammy awards when he’s a guitarist, not a singer?”We’ll leave it at that."
9931,"The power situation in Davao City will be stable for the rest of the year, an officials of power utility firm Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) disclosed in an interview with reporters Tuesday afternoon.Rossano Luga, DLPC assistant vice president for its reputation enhancement department, said DLPC officials have met with Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, and have assured her that there will be “little to no scheduled power interruptions for the year,” unlike last year when the El Niño phenomenon caused four-hour brownouts.DLPC noted that the power interruptions last year was also caused by the closure of Aboitiz-owned Therma South, Inc. (TSI) coal-fired power plant, for maintenance, which contributed to a reduction in power availability in the grid.“We went to the mayor and explained to her that this time we will not experience rotating brownouts, because we will have enough power supply,” Luga said.The DLPC official explained that, in Davao City alone, the peak demand is pegged at 391 megawatts (MW).“We are able to cover the demand that we have as of the moment,” Luga said. “The supply is close to that figure. We’re not looking at any problem as far as supply is concerned.”"
9941,"La Union 2nd District Rep. Sandra Young Eriguel is pushing for the live television coverage of execution of convicted criminals sentenced to death, should the death penalty bill be approved.“Any method (of death penalty), as long as viewed on national TV because that would give impact or fear among people who want to commit heinous crimes, Eriguel said.Eriguel, together with 1st District Rep. Pablo C. Ortega and Abono Party- list Rep. Vini Nola Ortega, wife of La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” Ortega III, voted in favor of the death penalty bill.Eriguel said that the House of Representatives did not tackle the method of death execution but it will surely be discussed in the plenary.“Maybe firing squad, it has more impact to deter crime when viewed in public. I used to favor lethal injection but on second thought, if firing squad is televised live, maybe those planning to commit heinous crimes will think twice,” she said."
9950,"Rice is the main staple food of the Filipinos. It is estimated that each household eats an average of almost 500 kilograms of rice per year. While Philippine farms produce rice quite extensively, the country often resorts to rice importation to supplement local demand.It is therefore not surprising that Filipinos are alarmed at recent reports and studies showing the presence of arsenic (poison chemical) in rice and rice products. (See latest article from The New York Times).To appease the growing anxiety among the population over arsenic-tainted rice, Philippine lawmakers have moved quickly to make pan de sal the new national staple in place of rice. The wheat-based delicacy is the Filipinos’ choice of breakfast bread or dinner roll.While lawmakers realize that their action will cost the country millions of pesos in wheat importation, they said that the health and safety of the citizens are of greater concern. Wheat is not produced locally and the Philippines imports 100% of its wheat and flour requirements. The Philippines is one of the top destinations for U.S. wheat exports.The lawmakers are confident that the Filipino people will adjust easily to the change in staple from rice to pan de sal because the latter goes well with many Filipino dishes like adobo, pancit, dinuguan, menudo and queso de bola."
9960,"I still don’t give that much credence to what the surveys say and so I am basing my guesses on nothing but a lot of rough figuring at this point coupled with whatever strikes me as sensible at the moment.Regardless of what our so called “political analysts” are saying at this point, my method for guessing at who will win as President and Vice President is as good as theirs. Unless, of course, they actually have reliable data (read that as the in-house surveys conducted for candidates) to base their analysis upon, they are all basically just talking out of their hats.The only ones with really reliable data are those in the innermost circles of candidates and like a game of poker, they’ll hold this close to their collective chests. The only reliable thing for us to judge as an indication of how they are faring at this point are certain “tells” and that could be anything to any one.For me, it’s basically whichever candidate’s name I hear spoken of in ordinary conversations I overhear as I go about my day in the heart of Manila.Currently, there are only two candidates for President that are being talked about for Presidency and it’s basically Grace Poe over Jojo Binay. Then for Vice President, people are talking about Chiz Escudero over Bongbong Marcos.I was actually surprised that people in the heart of Tamarindville (Sampaloc) aren’t talking about Duterte or Roxas and it’s strange, given their popularity on the internet.In the Vice Presidential race, Robredo and Cayetano don’t even get a mention unless you prod people and, mind you, it takes a bit of prodding for people to get them to think about these two other candidates.Anyways… People are figuring Grace over Jojo simply because they think that she represents unfulfilled aspirations for a government that is truly in tune and responsive to their needs. Jojo, on the other hand, is someone they figure will have to devote a lot of time trying to fend off graft and corruption cases as well as possible impeachment complaints that will detract from actual time needed to set up his administration. That is, if Jojo doesn’t got the other route and try to set up a ploy to neutralize his enemies and whoah boy, he certainly has a lot of them.Grace, on the other hand, is someone they see as not being on either side of the full blown fight between the old oligarchy and the new oligarchy. As fellow GRP writer ChinoF had pointed out in a comment on a previous post, and what he said is really interesting:“I’ve been told about this book, The Outsider Advantage, that says real movers and shakers of societies are usually outsiders. They are the ones who introduce new ideas because the locals often want only the status quo, and block and progress and improvement. That’s why a change to the law I want, is to remove any requirements referring to residency, blood, etc. anything “natural,” so people like OFWs can run for office here. Really, that’s what we need. Philippine society is too hung up on the obsolete concept of blood relations as something that determines loyalty.”Viewed from another angle, I have a tendency to describe the old oligarchy vs. new oligarchy fight more like two bands of in-bred factions going at each other in a zero-sum contest where the winner thinks he can take it all and the loser won’t let it happen.So far, just from the looks of it, Grace isn’t an integral part of that conflict even given that some people point to so-called “ties” with Danding Cojuanco.The way the people I eavesdrop on say it, they describe Grace as someone who isn’t “subo sa sistema” or eaten by the system or whose fortunes weren’t built through decades of feeding or benefitting from favorable government action or policies.Thing is, when was the last time we had a president who was basically an outsider in the war of Philippine oligarchs?I may be wrong here, but the last time that happened was when good old Steady Eddie (Fidel V. Ramos) became president.Sure, Ramos was part of the Marcos regime but he wasn’t really part of any of the existing oligarchies and that, in part, assured people of somewhat a “level” playing field.Of course, the question right now is… Does Grace have what it takes to tame the Philippine oligarchy and at the same time serve the interests of the common Filipino?(That’s something I’ll discuss in my next post.)"
9970,"In election years in the Philippines, there are mass political rallies, but no televised live debates. But that could soon change if a lawmaker’s proposal to create a Presidential Debate Commission is approved by Congress.Representative Estrellita B. Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija) filed the proposal last year which aims to benefit presidential and vice-presidential candidates as it will provide them a good venue to present their platforms and positions on issues that affect the country, and also clarify matters facing the candidates themselves before the voters.“I hope it will merit the approval of Congress and the president during the remaining months of the 16th Congress so we can already have a Presidential Debate Commission in place prior to the May elections. The Presidential Debate Commission shall obligate all presidential and vice presidential candidates to participate in the debates, and thus, will help the voting population discern who to vote for,” said Suansing, who is also the vice chairperson of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality.The proposal embodied in House Bill 5269, otherwise known as proposed “Presidential Debate Reform Act”, has already been referred to the House Committee on Government Reorganization and has a counter-part measure, Senate Bill 1797, submitted by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.In anticipation of the first Philippine presidential debate, CNN Philippines has offered to host and broadcast it live. The cable news network has even designated its star anchor Anderson Cooper to moderate the proceedings. Cooper was moderator in last night’s U.S. Democratic presidential debate on CNN.Cooper is extremely popular in the Philippines. His ground zero coverage of the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Tacloban gained him the respect and admiration of the Filipinos. Following his stellar coverage of the disaster, Cooper was rumored to being considered the next U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.Upon learning of the news, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, wife of administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas, registered her strong objections to Cooper being named as debate moderator.Many will recall that Sanchez had her own debate with Cooper when she accused the American news anchor of not knowing what he was talking about in his coverage of Typhoon Haiyan. Cooper challenged her to leave her airconditioned broadcast studio in Manila and do her own live coverage at ground zero in Tacloban.“Cooper, because of our conflict, will not be a fair and balanced debate moderator since my husband is one of the presidential candidates,” Sanchez said."
9981,"“The Firm” has blood ties to one of the Court of Appeals justices accused of receiving P25 million in payoffs to prevent the Ombudsman from enforcing its 60-day suspension order on Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr.An Inquirer source said CA Sixth Division Justice Francisco Acosta is the father of lawyer Franchette M. Acosta, one of four senior partners of The Firm, or Villaraza & Angangco.Franchetta is the second of Acosta’s four children. She handles corporate and government legal cases, including government agencies for procurement and build-operate-transfer projects.The Inquirer left a message in her office but she did not return the call as of press time.Senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that Acosta and Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. were paid P20 million each for the temporary restraining order in favor of Junjun Binay. The payoff was allegedly facilitated by lawyer Arthur “Pancho” Villaraza, chair and founding partner of The Firm.Trillanes further claimed that Acosta and Reyes were paid an additional P5 million each for the issuance of a writ of permanent injunction that were also done through Villaraza.Aside from arguing that the accusations of Trillanes against Villaraza were baseless, The Firm claimed that Villaraza and Binay have no business relationship.“Mayor Junjun Binay is not a client of the firm, and specifically, the firm does not represent the mayor in the cases filed against him,” said managing partner Bienvenido Somera Jr. who speculated that Trillanes might have been “misled and dragged by adversaries” of The Firm."
9991,"For the second year in a row, the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO) won second place for national Best Tourism-Oriented LGU (local government unit) at the 18th Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines and Department of Tourism (ATOP-DOT) Pearl Awards held in Iloilo City recently.The Pearl Awards was part of the ATOP National Convention, an event that celebrates the best of Philippine tourism through bringing together tourism officers and showcasing premier tourism practices, products, and service from all over the country.Ilocos Norte tied with the Province of Samar for second place, while Davao del Norte bagged first place.“We dedicate this award to all the hardworking private and public stakeholders, our PGIN family, and everyone in Ilocos Norte who have been supporting the tourism programs of Governor Imee R. Marcos,” Tourism Officer Mr. Aian Raquel wrote in his Facebook account.“We are committed to continuously working for all Ilocanos and to win bigger Pearl Award next year,” he added.“From the very start, during the screening, we were already told that it was a very difficult competition, hence they decided to award two first runners-up,” explained Xavier Ruiz, tourism operations officer at the INTO.Raquel said that INTO is “truly honored to be with the best tourism provinces in the country!”Ruiz also added that a strong factor in the awarding process is “how [the local tourism industry] benefits people from across the province regardless of their levels of society, regardless of their gender, even, and whether they’re directly or indirectly involved in tourism, so it’s a good sign.”"
10001,"Sa pangunguna ng presidente ng UFCC na si Rodolfo Javellana, pinangalanang respondent sa petisyon ang Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC), Metrorail Transit Corporation (MTC) at Light Rail Transit Corporation (LRTC). Hiniling ng grupo na magisyu ang hukuman ng Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) na pipigil sa pagpapatupad ng DoTC Department Order No. 2014-014 na nagdedeklara ng fare hike sa LRT at MRT. Nais din nilang ideklara na unconstitutional ang kautusan."
10010,"‘Tis the season for beauty pageants.Miss Philippines has just been crowned 2017 Miss Earth while the new Miss International and Miss Universe will be chosen later this month.But there are other prestigious national pageants as well, and three of the top national queens have been crowned at the Mall of Asia Arena last night.In no particular order, they are:Jover Laurio, Miss Earthworm; Raissa Robles, Miss Antinational and Maria Ressa, Miss Doubleverse.Congratulations ladies!(Editor’s note: We intentionally used black & white photos of the queens. We don’t want their true colors to show.)"
10021,"Winter solstice has come, bringing the longest nights for 2016.In its astronomical diary, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the sun reached the winter solstice on Dec. 21 at 6:44 p.m.Winter solstice is when the sun is at its farthest point south of the equator, marking the completion of the Earth’s annual circuit around the sun, and signaling the onset of winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere.For the Philippines, this means “nights will be longer than daytime,” Pagasa said. “That’s why sunsets have become earlier, or the sun has been rising later,” said Dario de la Cruz, chief of Pagasa’s space science section in an interview on Wednesday.Dela Cruz said the Philippines has actually been experiencing the longest nights of the year since Dec. 17, which is expected to last until Dec. 26. Winter solstice marks the fifth of those 10 days.In Metro Manila, nighttime has stretched to 12 hours and 46 minutes since Dec. 17, which is expected to last until Dec. 26. Northernmost areas, like Basco, Batanes, have experienced up to 13 hours of nighttime, De la Cruz said.He said the duration of these longest nighttimes differ, depending on the area. “In northernmost areas in the Philippines, like Ilocos Norte or Batanes, they have longer nights than those in Mindanao,” he said."
10030,"Just hours after CEO Larry Page announced a new name for Google, the giant Internet search company unveiled its new logo.Google will hence be called Alphabet, according to the announcement.The new logo was presented to the media during a champagne reception at the company’s Mountain View main campus Monday afternoon."
10040,"Habang isinusulat ang blogpost na ito ay nasa ika-17 pwesto sa trending videos ng Youtube ang panayam kay Nicko Falcis, ang dating financial manager ni Kris Aquino. Matatandaang kinasuhan ni Kris ng qualified theft si Nicko noong nakaraang taon dahil sa hindi otorisadong paggamit sa credit card ng aktress. Noong panahon na nagsampa ng kaso ang kampo ni Kris kay Nicko, si Nicko ay nasa ibayong dagat. Ngayong naririto na si Nicko sa Pilipinas, gusto niyang isiwalat sa publiko ang kanyang panig. Ilan sa mga rebelasyon ni Nicko ay ang mga pagbabanta ni Kris sa kanyang buhay. ""'You f--- a--- Nicko', that was the first bungad. You know, she never said those things. Never. And I'm, never gonna forget that na ako yata 'yung nasabihan ng ganun ng isang Kris Aquino."" sabi ni Nicko. Sa bahagi ng panayam, inilarawan ni Nicko na isang bully si Kris. ""Thank God, you know, let's be honest, recently, bullying is a core topic now and I think I've experienced the worst evolved form of bullying and that is a Kris Aquino - the bully."" saad ni Nicko. Pinanindiganan ni Nicko na hindi siya nagnakaw kay Kris at gusto niya raw mangyari ay aminin ni Kris na hindi siya nagnakaw sa aktress. Hindi kasama sa panayam kay Nicko ang ginawa ni Kris na pagpopondo sa anti-DU30 blogger na si Jover Laurio (aka Pinoy Ako Blog). Matatandaang naglabas ng ilang screenshots ng chat conversations ang kampo ni Falcis para ipakita na si Kris ang pumopondo sa mga anti-government bloggers. Sa comment section sa Instagram Account ni Kris, inamin nito na nagpondo nga siya ng mga political blogger. Basahin ang reaksyon ng mga kababayan natin sa naging rebelasyon ni Nicko kay Kris.. Source: ABS-CBN | ABS-CBN | ABS-CBN"
10051,"ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz 3rd has called for a congressional inquiry into the complicity of a cruise ship and its owner in the illegal recruitment of 200 Filipinos for jobs as entertainers, cooks and waiters in Micronesia. “We intend to ascertain whether MV Forever Lucky managed to sneak Filipino job recruits out of the country in the past, before it was caught red-handed,” Bertiz said. Bertiz is filing the resolution with the House committees on labor and employment and on overseas workers affairs to investigate the case. Forever Lucky is owned by Fahrenheit Co. Ltd., which operates out of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and supplies construction materials to Micronesia, according to Bertiz. Micronesia refers to the Pacific archipelago that includes the U.S. territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Wake Island. The ship was about to leave the Port of Orion in Bataan on July 3 when held by the Philippine Coast Guard after becoming suspicious of its large number of passengers. Authorities discovered about 200 Filipinos without foreign employment papers were told to bring their passports and board the ship by July 2 for jobs in Micronesia."
10060,"A death of a prosecutor in Caloocan City was featured in U.S based newspaper Washington Times. But the man claimed by the newspaper as one of the casualties of President Duterte’s War on Drugs is still posting on social media.Darwin Cañete was featured in an American newspaper article about the War on Drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte.According to the article, the corpse of Darwin Cañete, a 20 year old man became one of the casualties of the anti-illegal drug operation of the Philippine National Police in Caloocan.But Darwin Cañete proved that he’s still alive by sharing the article of the newspaper where he was featured on his Facebook account.He also urged his friends to not ask the newspaper to correct the article because he found it hilarious.Cañete even made a joke about his death on the newspaper.His friend and columnist Jojo Robles reacted on the article, calling it ‘bizarre’.Robles also explained that Cañete was the one who often called upon to perform inquest of drug-related crimes in the city of Caloocan.The post of Robles gave an idea to the Netizens that the journalist who written the article mistakenly thought that Cañete who performing an inquest during that night was one of the casualties."
10070,"A pro-duterte blogger and lawyer Bruce V. Rivera expressed his anger towards Jim Paredes after he watched the video showed the OPM Artists shouted at the members of Duterte Youth.In his video, he defended the members of Duterte Youth who only “showing their support to their own choice of politician” but got intimidated by Mr. Paredes just because they do not share the same opinion.Atty. Rivera believes that Mr. Paredes must shouted to a person who can match him that’s why he challenged the artist to a debate.“Alam mo Jim.. kung gusto mo ng kalaban.. ako ang kalabanin mo..ako harapin mo.. ako sigawan mo,” Atty. Rivera told Mr. Paredes.“Wag kang pumili ng bata.. wag kang pumili ng hindi makakasigaw sayo,” He added.Atty. Rivera criticized Mr. Paredes for trying to destroy the own political beliefs and aspirations of the young people that he confronted during the rally.He also said that his ready anytime once Jim Paredes accepted his challenge.Netizens reacted on the video of Bruce V. Rivera and cheered him for defending the rights of the youth who got intimidated by Mr. Paredes."
10080,"Wondering about the Writ of Habeas Data filed by Senator Leila De lima against President Rodrigo Duterte? That’s new! Along with her followers, lawyers and priests, De lima went to Supreme Court to file the petition on November 7.The petition is to stop Duterte for accordingly inventing stories against her and she said that she has all the video clips of the President who she said putting her in public ridicule.Delima also said that it is a test case and she does still not know if it prospers. One thing is for sure, she is hitting hard Duterte again. WATCHWhat can you say about this? Leave your comments below!"
10090,"Mukhang hindi pa natatapos ang problema ng anti-Duterte blogger na si Jover Laurio o mas kilala bilang Pinoy Ako Blog. Matatandaang naging laman ng social media si Laurio noong nakaraang buwan, matapos aminin ni Kris Aquino na pinopondohan niya ang blog ni Laurio. Napilitan umamin si Kris sa pagpopondo kay Laurio dahil sa mga ebidensiyang inilalabas ng kampo ng nakaalitang dating business partner na si Nicko Falcis. Ngayon naman ay nagpahapyaw na ang political strategist at Pro-Duterte personality na si Franco Mabanta tungkol sa gagawin niyang hakbang laban kay Laurio. Ayon kay Mabanta, nakagawa raw ng several counts of perjury si Laurio at may ebidensiya umano ang mga abogado niya. Hindi rin daw siya makikipag-ayos kay Laurio at itutuloy daw niya ang paghahabla laban sa anti-government blogger. Si Mabanta ay kinasuhan ni Laurio ng libel noong 2017. Naghabla si Laurio laban kay Mabanta matapos siyang tawagin ni Mabanta na pangit. Ilang buwan lang ay natalo si Laurio sa kaso niya kay Mabanta. Basahin ang bahagi ng social media post ni Mabanta para kay Laurio. ""I'M SICK AND TIRED OF BEING LIED ABOUT BY THIS SICK, FRAUDULENT, MANIPULATIVE HUMAN BEING. I FU-- HATE IT. Enough's enough. After three years of her consistent and unacceptable bullsh--, it's time Jover gets what she deserves. NOW IT'S MY TURN. Over a dozen friends and strangers have told me they're either considering or have already straight up decided to file cases against her -- most of them primarily because her vile FB posts deeply hurt their families. I personally hope they all file, but what we all learned over the last few months was this...Jovey Bear seems to be transferring from place to place so that she can't get served the papers and the legal process. Scared and hiding? Yeah, I think so. So, Miss Laurio, I know you went through hell and back all throughout January -- musta been tough. Do you know why I held back and participated just a few times while everyone else was dropping grenades on your head everyday? 'Cause I was saving the nuke. WHAT YOUR LAWYERS DIDN'T TELL YOU IS THAT YOU COMMITTED SEVERAL COUNTS OF PERJURY BY LYING UNDER OATH ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. AND MY LAWYERS HAVE ACTUAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOR YOUR CRIMES. YOU'RE IN A SITUATION RIGHT NOW THAT IS SO DAMNING AND COMPLETELY INDISPUTABLE. EVEN MORE THAN THE FIRST TWO TIMES YOU LOST TO ME, THESE COUNTS OF PERJURY ARE FUCKING BULLETPROOF. YOU CANNOT AND WILL NOT WIN THESE CASES. EVERY TOP TIER LAWYER I'VE SPOKEN TO SAYS IT'S GAME OVER. DONE, DONE, DONE. I hope they let you run your stupid blog in prison because you're facing a combined prison term of up to seven years. And, mind you, I'm absolutely not going to settle. I don't need your money. I WANT YOU BEHIND BARS. THIS IS FOR ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE YOU SLANDERED AND IRRESPONSIBLY, HEARTLESSLY LIBELLED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. It's gonna feel so goddamn glorious. (By the way, I can also hit you with three more libel cases on top of the two counts of perjury. Ask your lawyer.) "" sabi ni Mabanta Mapapansin na hindi pa idenetalye ni Mabanta kung bakit mahaharap sa kasong perjury si Laurio. Pero isa lang ang kapanapanabik dito, talagang kaabang-abang ang magiging hakbang ni Mabanta laban kay Laurio sa mga susunod na buwan. Pabor ba kayo na makasuhan na si Laurio? Source: Franco Mabanta"
10100,"President Rodrigo Duterte would not stop anyone from joining the Anti-Marcos Burial or Black Friday protest on November 25 according to Malacañang Palace.Presidential Communication Assistant Secretary Ana Barie Banaag said that it’s very clear that the President ordered to let the rallyist expressed their complaints and their emotion on the said issue.“The protesters don’t need to secure rally permits in fear of being evicted,” Banaag said during the press conference in Malacañang.Even the rally continues until next week, they still don’t need to get a rally permit.“On the scheduled rallies for tomorrow and other days, the instructions of the President is very clear. That he respects the right of citizens to protest against the Marcos burial,” she added.According to Banaag, the protesters and the President have different beliefs, but Duterte respected them.““And the President emphasized that he may not agree on the opinions of the protesters and he may not agree on what they say, but he will protect their right to say it and that is how he expressed our democracy,”Thousands of protesters are expected to held a rally in Luneta and different parts of the Philippines to show their disapproval on the burial of the former dictator."
10110,"Aabot sa sa higit 400 ang naitala ng Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) na aftershocks sa huling tala dakong alas-7 ng umaga ngayong Martes, Abril 23, kasunod ng magnitude 6.1 na lindol na tumama sa Luzon nitong Lunes. Sa naturang bilang, walo ang naramdaman habang 62 ang ""plotted,"" ibig sabihin ang kanilang epicenter ay natukoy, ayon kay PHIVOLCS Director Renato Solidum. Ang natitirang iba pa ay masiyado nang mahina para malaman ang kinaroroonan nito. Ang mga naitalang magnitude ay naglalaro lamang sa 1.4 hanggang 3.4. Natagpuan ang epicenter ng magnitude 6.1 na lindol sa bayan ng Castillejos, Zambales, nasa 100 kilometers northeast ng Maynila, ayon sa PHIVOLCS. Samantala, ikinalugod naman ni Solidum na mataas na ang awareness ng publiko hinggil sa kaalaman sa mga hakbang na dapat gawin sakaling makaranas muli ng malakas na pagyanig. Hindi pa aniya nila matutukoy sa ngayon kung kailan tatama ang tinatawag nilang ""Big One"" o ang mas malakas pang mararanasang lindol sa bansa. Nagpaalala si Solidum na gawing batayan ang naging karanasan sa mga nangyaring lindol upang mas maging handa sakaling dumating ang hagupit ng kalikasan. Kitang-kita kung papaano gumalaw ang isang condo sa Quezon City habang niyayanig ng lindol. Kuha sa dashcam ni Earl Cunanan ang pagkataranta ng mga tao sa Santo Rosario sa Angeles City, Pampanga"
10121,"He is a multiawarded police officer, a writer and a self-styled gaming industry “expert” with only the best of intentions for the country.Such was how retired Senior Supt. Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero presented himself at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the bribery scandal surrounding the release of 1,300 Chinese nationals arrested at the Clark Freeport Zone in November, saying he stepped in to save them from dire detention conditions.But for Sen. Leila de Lima, Sombero is “a fixer, an operator, a wheeler-dealer.”Sen. Joel Villanueva called him a “scumbag.”Verbose and smug as he faced the Senate for the first time, Sombero said he had served as resource person in briefings of various government agencies on online gaming, saying he had waged a “lonely one-man crusade” to help develop the Philippines as a viable market for online gaming.He said he had conducted studies showing how the Philippines could serve as a global online gaming industry leader, given the slump in North America and Europe due to “rigid online gaming laws” and market saturation.“Believe it or not, I truly wanted to help President Duterte’s administration in as much as I was totally convinced that the Filipino people have finally elected a President who is sincerely committed to reform and have the political will to execute the necessary actions,” he said.“I have been consistently and humbly offering my services to the national government in so far as crafting the implementing guidelines for the full regulation of the gaming industry,” he said.Evasive responsesHis evasive responses at Thursday’s Senate hearing, however, drew the ire of several senators.De Lima called him a “glib talker” and a “fixer.” Villanueva made an indirect reference to him as a “scumbag” for asserting that there was nothing illegal in the presence in the country of the Chinese workers.Sen. Richard Gordon, the committee chair, several times reprimanded him for being a “smart aleck.”After 27 years in the military and law enforcement, Sombero said he retired at age 44 “virtually at the height of my career” to pursue his passion for “investigative writing.”He immersed himself in the “underground gambling industry” believing that it “was the most organized syndicated crime group” and eventually established a network here and overseas.Sombero said he had published his investigative reports, served as resource speaker in congressional inquiries and appeared on several television and radio programs.He, along with other partners and stakeholders, founded Asian Gaming Service Provider Association Inc. or Agspa. He was eventually tapped to help the group of gaming magnate Jack Lam to secure the release of the arrested Chinese workers.Sombero came into the picture through one Gigi Rodriguez of the North Cagayan Gaming at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, an agency that had issued the operating license for Next Games.Next Games, a locator at Lam’s Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino, had sought the magnate’s help to take the arrested Chinese nationals out of detention.Lam’s business partner, Charlie “Atong” Ang, said Rodriguez had recommended Sombero to help Next Games, and this was why the retired officer was called to broker the bail settlement.Into the seventh hour of the hearing, as he was still being grilled about his role in the payoff, Sombero cut off Sen. Risa Hontiveros in the course of her questioning. “We are not given the chance to answer,” he complained.Questions overlapped and answers were cut off, said Sombero, who was threatened with arrest for skipping earlier hearings.“You are insulting this committee. You try to put form over substance. You come up with half-truths, hairsplitting answers. You better say your sorry properly,” an angry Gordon told Sombero, who apologized."
10131,"THE Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed an administrative complaint filed by an engineer against three magistrates of the Court of Appeals (CA).In a full-court decision promulgated by clerk of court Felipa Anama, the SC junked for lack of merit engineer Ramil Morales’ complaint against Associate Justices Celia Librea-Leagogo, Amy Lazaro-Javier and Melchor Sadang.The case stemmed from the administrative complaint filed by one Roland Pidlaoan in 2008 against Morales, as acting chief of the Building Plan Processing Section, Bureau of Fire Protection Quezon City, for dishonesty before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Office.Pidlaon alleged that Morales introduced himself as an employee of Quezon City Hall and asked for P89,000 representing payment for inspection clearance. It was found out later that the amount paid by Morales to the treasurer’s office was only P89.00.The local court rejected the criminal charges for estafa through falsification against Morales, but ODO-MOLEO found him guilty of serious dishonesty and was meted out the penalty of dismissal from the service for the same allegations.Morales sought reconsideration before the Ombudsman but to no avail, prompting him to elevate his case to the CA, which sided with the anti-graft office.It prompted Morales to file administrative charges against the justices.“From the foregoing, it is clear that the case should be dismissed for utter lack of merit,” the SC held.“Morales failed to overcome his burden of proof to show that respondents committed an offense. The presumption that respondents regularly performed their duties will prevail.”The SC, in its July 18, 2017 ruling that was released only recently, opined that Morales was not deprived of his right to due process."
10140,"""I'd like to give notice that as the President has promised, for the use of his presidential aircraft last night on our way back to Manila from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Those who were required by our medical professionals to be evacuated to Manila, used the presidential aircraft and other aircraft of the Air Force to be transported to Manila,"" AFP spokesperson Brig, Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said at the Mindanao Hour press briefing in Malacañang.""A fulfillment of his commitment to have the presidential plane used by the soldiers. And we'd like to pass on the thanks of our Armed Forces on behalf of the Chief of Staff and the wounded warriors that we brought to Manila for further treatment,"" Padilla said.So what can you say about this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to share this post to your family and friends online. And also, visit our website more often for more updates."
10150,"IN RESPECT AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE THOUSANDS OF FILIPINOS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND PROPERTY AS A RESULT OF THE WORST-EVER RECORDED TYPHOON IN HISTORY, THE ADOBO CHRONICLES WILL GO TOTALLY BLACK FOR THIS ENTIRE WEEK. WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.In the meantime, 100% of sales of the book version between now and December 2, 2013, will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross for typhoon relief efforts. We will also match the sales dollar for dollar.To be eligible for the match, book must be purchased from our web site.FOR ONCE, this is NOT satire…"
10161,"After a grueling count of the votes, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday proclaimed the 12 winners in the senatorial race, including five newcomers who expressed openness to presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s plan for a shift to the federal form of government, but were divided on his proposal for the return of the death penalty.The newcomers were Senators-elect Joel Villanueva, Manny Pacquiao, Risa Hontiveros, Sherwin Gatchalian and Leila de Lima.After a nine-day count of the votes by the Comelec serving as the national board of canvassers, the five newbies were proclaimed winners together with old-timers Franklin Drilon, Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Ralph Recto, Francis Pangilinan and Miguel Zubiri.All but Sotto and Lacson were present at the proclamation. Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal and former Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. accepted the certificates of proclamation on behalf of Sotto and Lacson.Macalintal said he had given the wrong date for the proclamation to Sotto, who was out of the country.All the winners arrived at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) with members of their families and friends for their proclamation.Some people were seemingly disappointed when Pangilinan and Recto showed up without their celebrity wives.Pangilinan explained to inquiring reporters that his wife, singer-actress Sharon Cuneta, was on a taping. “Somebody has to earn while I am here,” he said in jest.There was no word from Recto as to the whereabouts of his wife, movie actress Vilma Santos, who won her run for the seat of the 6th district of Batangas province in the House of Representatives.Senator PacquiaoBut the crowd at the PICC was buoyed when Pacquiao, the world boxing champion turned politician, arrived with his wife, Jinkee, and their two sons, Michael and Jimwell.Before the proclamation ceremony, people asked for selfies with the new senator, while Comelec employees were content to get a few snapshots of him from afar.De Lima was a celebrity on her own, drawing the loudest cheers from the crowd, next to Pacquiao, when she was officially named senator-elect.The Comelec went ahead to proclaim De Lima despite a petition by the 13th placer in the senatorial race, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino, to the Supreme Court to stop the poll body from proclaiming the last three winning senators, claiming irregularities in the vote count.De Lima beat Tolentino by 1.33 million votes. Tolentino polled 12,811,098 votes.In proclaiming De Lima, the Comelec said the remaining 1,211 uncanvassed votes would no longer materially affect the ranking of those in the Top 12 slots, including De Lima.In the final official tally of the Comelec, Drilon garnered the highest votes, 18,607,391, followed closely by Villanueva, with 18,459,222 votes, and Sotto, with 17,200,371 votes.Lacson captured the 4th spot with 16,926,152 votes; Gordon took the 5th place with 16,719,322 votes and Zubiri the 6th place with 16,119,165 votes.The last half of the winning circle were composed of Pacquiao with 16,050,546 votes; Pangilinan, 15,955,949; Hontiveros, 15,915,213; Gatchalian, 14,953,768; Recto, 14,271,868 and De Lima, 14,144,070.‘Vindication’Zubiri, who came with his wife, Audrey, and their three children, said his victory was a vindication of sorts for his “rough and tumble” political career.“It’s a vindication of sorts for the work I’ve done and not really because of anything to do with the past—with 2007 and 2013. It’s a vindication that people have seen the work I’ve done when I was there for four years in the Senate,” Zubiri said in an interview with the Inquirer.Zubiri was proclaimed winner in the senatorial election in in 2007 but he resigned in 2011 when it became clear that he benefited from fraud. He ran again for the Senate in 2013, but lost.Zubiri said he was open to discussion on Duterte’s federalism proposal, which he believed would promote competency and efficiency in the country, but might change his mind about his original stand for the reinstatement of capital punishment.“I am open to the possibility of not allowing it if, and only if, we can come up with a national penitentiary where there is full isolation of prisoners,” he said.Hontiveros, who vowed to push for better healthcare for higher compensation for barangay health workers, said the eventual shift to a federal government was welcome, but she would fight against the reimposition of the death penalty.“What the people can expect from me as I work in the Senate is to help make it stronger and independent, especially when there is a need for a check and balance in any overreach whether on the part of the executive or any branch of the government,” she said.Death penaltyPacquiao was reluctant to make known his position on federalism, but he minced no words in voicing his assent to the reinstatement of the death penalty.“I support death penalty as long as our laws are in order because death penalty is biblical. Read Romans 13,” he said, referring to Paul’s epistle on submission to the authorities.Villanueva, the son of evangelist Eddie Villanueva, also said he supported the reimposition of the death penalty.“I am for the death penalty, believe it or not as long as our justice system works, which is very crucial,” he said.Villanueva, who turned in a strong showing in the senatorial race, described his victory as a vindication after being hounded for years by allegations linking him to the pork barrel scam.De Lima said her stand against the return of capital punishment would not change.“His proposed shoot-to-kill orders, I will definitely oppose that,” De Lima said, referring to Duterte’s plan for a law-and-order crackdown. “That’s illegal. That’s unconstitutional.”But like Recto and Gordon, De Lima said that she was open to Duterte’s proposal for federalism.“I’m open to it, but I cannot really give my commitment until I see the whole proposal,” she said.Recto and Gordon said they might support the restoration of capital punishment, but only for heinous crimes.“I think it’s important that we help the new administration, the new President. Let’s be cooperative as much as possible, as much as we can,” Recto said."
10170,"People come and go. Governments rise and fall. Disasters (natural or otherwise) happen and leave their effects. In this regard, the Philippines is not much different from other societies in the world.What distinguishes us is how we react. Despite knowing some things happen cyclically, rather than improve their response, it seems Filipinos collectively would prefer to go around in circles.The cycle of rearing PinoysStarting from the family, Filipino children are reared to obey their parents unconditionally. Children are still seen by some families as property of the parents; they can do whatever they want with and to these kids, even to the point of humiliating them and eroding their dignity.Normally, kids are encouraged to be curious about their surroundings, and ask questions to get answers. But it seems that there are still quite a few among the Filipino grown-ups who don’t like entertaining questions from kids. Some of the grown-ups think that being unable to answer a question is a loss of face. Some probably think that asking questions disrupts the air of “harmony” or “bliss”. Still others may think that kids should concetrate on being children – property as defined previously.Worst of all, certain Filipino grown-ups who do unacceptable things to/in front of their children don’t own up and apologize to them. Rather, they scare the kids into saying nothing, or else the young ones face risk of physical harm.In short, certain Filipinos don’t treat children with respect for them, but rather treat them with the respect which puts children “in their place.” Anyone who’s been told, “bata ka pa, wag mo muna isipin iyan (you’re too young to think of such things)”, could attest to this.When these Filipino kids grow up, most of them may do it to their kids because it’s the only way they know. Or worse, because they feel the need for “sameness” or “retribution” towards their kids. These are the type of people who strengthen the case that Filipinos should stop having children they can’t raise properly.This manner of rearing and molding young Filipinos continues in our universities. It is obvious from the collective state of Pinoy society that students are taught what to think, and not how to think. Especially with schools run by religious orders, feeding them political dogma is but an easy, extra, small step when you’re already indoctrinating them in religious dogma.And what happens to the “leaders of the next generations”? They wil simply keep on the tradition of dogma in the Philippines – their elders will shove their beliefs down on them, the students will be discouraged from thinking, and thus become additional bricks in the wall.The cycle of reacting to unfortunate eventsA few factors come into play when talking about how Filipinos react to unfortunate/unforeseen events:1) Some view natural disasters as “tests of faith by God”2) Most Filipinos don’t plan for the future.3) If a good idea is someone else’s Filipinos will find a way to take credit for it, or discredit that idea by discrediting the people attached to it.With that, Pinoys follow a predictable cycle:1) Observe cavalier disregard for their environment.2) Get hit by calamities.3) Smile, grin, and bear it, then finally;4) Blame the government for not doing something.Filipino government officials, on the other hand, follow their own cycle:1) Disaster preparedness protocol/infrastructure are not given the proper budget.2) Legislators ignore preventive measures if there is no way to insert themselves into the picture.3) Local unit suffers avoidable damage in calamities.4) Legislators conduct hearings on why they were caught unprepared.The cycle of victimhoodNo discussion of Pinoy culture is complete without mentioning their penchant for victimhood. Filipinos, quite simply, don’t recognize personal accountability; to them, their misfortunes are usually someone else’s fault.If you failed to prosecute an opponent, they cheated.If you lost a competition, the other party cheated.When your opponent gives as good as he takes from you, your voice is being “stifled”Do Filipinos truly want to change their society, truly for the better? Then they need to improve on how they do things for the next cycle.Otherwise, Pinoys are just spinning in circles. And they keep coming back to the same thing over and over again.Photo credits to 350.org"
10181,"Matatandaan na ibinulgar ni Atty. Renato Bondal sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na nagkakahalagang P1,000 ang isang cake na ipinamamahagi ng Makati government sa bawat citizen sa siyudad na nagdiriwang ng kanyang kaarawan. Subalit kinalaunan ay lumitaw na nagkakahalaga ang bawat birthday cake ng P308 base sa mga dokumentong iniharap ni Sen. Nancy Binay, anak ni VP Binay. Lumitaw sa imbestigasyon ng BIR na inupahan ng lokal na pamahalaan ang CMK bilang supplier ng mga birthday cake, at caterer ng Makati City Hall cafeteria at Ospital ng Makati mula 2009 hanggang 2011. Sa nabanggit na tatlong taon, nagdeklara ang CMK ng gross income na umabot sa P43.2 milyon. Subalit lumitaw sa audit ng mga tax fraud investigator na binayaran ng Makati government ang cake supplier ng P107.6 milyon."
10190,"Actually, I am curious as well. What did Ninoy actually do for the country? Take out his monologues and death (of which only an insane person will deny the country is divided about).For fairness, we’ll discount his suspicious absence in Plaza Miranda and his arguably treasonous Jabidah myth making. And let’s take out allegations of Japanese collaboration by his family, rumors of in-laws absconding with the Katipunan funds, and the fact that he was not a model student (kept transferring schools) and journalist (his editors say he was a terrible writer). So that’s quits.Ninoy was not the only political leader to be killed fighting Marcos: there were Edgar Jopson, Cesar Climaco, and Evelio Javier.For things built: the South and North Expressways, the C-5, and the present Manila International Airport were done during Marcos’s time, as well as our civil service and labor codes, all of which still benefit Filipinos today.Believe it or not, our military structure is still a remnant of Manuel Quezon’s creation.Senators have had lasting impacts: there’s the Recto and Maceda laws (on rent), the Lina Law (on squatters), and Pimentel’s (local government code).Lorenzo Tanada was a national team footballer that later prosecuted Japanese collaborators (which included Benigno Aquino Sr; as historical interest see gr. no. l-1243, April 1947) and also acted to have publication of laws implemented as part of due process.As opposition leaders, there were Gerry Roxas, Ben Diokno, Neptali Gonzales, Jovy Salonga, Aquilino Pimentel, Lorenzo Tanada, Doy Laurel, Ramon Mitra, Eva Kalaw, Tecla Ziga, Bono Adaza. Former Marcos guys Kit Tatad and Paeng Salas, then Arturo Tolentino.I grew up during the Martial Law years and I remember either having met or seen or currently read then all those capable men and women who fought, lived, and worked for democracy in our country.But for Ninoy, I can’t recall anything of lasting importance he actually did. The earliest memories I have of him are merely his videotaped political speeches or interviews circulated after his death.So, to sincerely and with all due respect ask: What law or measure has Ninoy Aquino done that actually, profoundly, and enduringly benefitted the Filipino as a united people and not just a certain sector thereof?"
10201,"KAHAPON naka-schedule ang first taping day ng Rich Man's Daughter, ang bagong soap ni Marian Rivera sa GMA-7. Kahit sa first week pa ng May ang airing ng soap, kailangan nang mag-taping dahil aalis si Marian para sa GMA Pinoy TV event sa US at Canada. Kabilang sa MGA nagpaabot ng good luck kay Marian ay ang inang si Amalia Rivera. Nag-text ito sa aktres ng ""Anak, good luck sa taping mo tomorrow (kahapon). Pahinga ka na, text mo lang ako kung may kailangan ka. Okey? Love you!"""
10210,"Sir Thomas Jones, more popularly known as singer Tom Jones, has released a new version of his 1968 hit, “Delilah” as a way to honor a Philipppine lady senator (Leila De Lima) whose term as a neophyte legislator has been marked by several walkouts during senate sessions and committee hearings.Jones told The Adobo Chronicles that he hopes this new version will be well received in the Philippines. “Delilah” is one of the favorite “old hits”sung in karaoke bars in the Philippines.The new lyrics:My, my, my, De LimaWhy, why, why, De LimaLike before you had to walk out the doorForgive me De Lima I just couldn’t take any more(Here’s the original version:)"
10220,"A Pro-Duterte blogger has a message for Republican Senator Marco Rubio who recently met with Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes Iv in Washington.Atty. Bruce V. Rivera wrote an open letter to Rubio to express his disappointment for entertaining a senator who according to him, ‘has no credibility at this point to talk about corruption and protecting human rights’He said that Filipinos managed the affairs of their own country in the same of how Rubio managed his affairs.Rivera also pointed out that the Florida state represented by Rubio also suffering in drug problem and it also became the entry point of drugs from South America.Despite of that, Rivera didn’t called out Rubio for that problem.However, the lawyer was utterly disappointed when Rubio blocked the PNP contract for purchases of guns just because he believed in the claims of Senator Antonio Trillanes.He also reminded the Senator that if he cannot protect his own people, don’t try to meddle with other country’s affair by making the information that he received from a ‘rebel-turned-senator’ as basis.This is the whole letter of Bruce V. Rivera to Sen. Rubio:Dear Senator Rubio, Let me make this very, very clear. The Philippines is an independent state thus, openly twitting about your conversation with a Senator who has no credibility at this point to talk about corruption and protecting human rights only shows that you are the problem. Only a moron can be fooled by a fool. You see, we manage our own affairs in the same way you manage your affairs. The state you represent, Florida has a 53.3% rate of middle school students who have tried drugs. And we do not call you out on that. Your state has been the entry point for drugs from the Latin Americas and we do not judge you on that. And yet, you shelved our PNP contract for the purchase of guns because you only listened to a senator known for making up stories and fabricating witnesses. The US comprises 5% of the world population but 25% of the people in jails are Americans majority of whom are Blacks and Latinos. If you cannot protect your own kind, do not branch out to a country whose information you know of is from a rebel-turned-senator. It is so hypocritical.This week, Senator Rubio confirmed that he met Senator Trillanes in Washington to discuss different topics including the alliance between Philippines and United States.Several bloggers also reported that aside from Rubio, Trillanes also met with other U.S politicians and several CIA officers.Source:"
10231,"Another farmer-activist has been shot dead in the contested 4,124-hectare reservation area of the University of the Southern Mindanao (USM) in Arakan, North Cotabato, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said yesterday.In a press statement, the DAR identified the victim as Willerme Algorde, auditor of local farmers’ group Mailuminado Farmers’ Association, Inc. (MAFAI). He was reportedly the third farmer to be killed in 2017.Reports reaching the DAR central office in Quezon City said Algorde was sitting in front of a store owned by his son in Barangay Elustre, Roxas town when unidentified men in a tricycle fired gunshots at him at around 6:00 p.m. last Sunday.Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano has condemned the killing and has instructed regional officials in South Central Mindanao to immediately come up with measures that would finally resolve the ongoing land row in the area.Mariano earlier assured the farmers of the Arakan municipality that the unused portion of agricultural lands previously covered by the USM reservation will be awarded to its actual tillers and occupants.On December 8 last year, MAFAI members from five villages in Arakan held a protest and camped outside the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST) to seek the immediate distribution of their farmland.The land in question was part of the 5,091-hectare lot declared as a reservation area for the Mindanao Institute of Technology and the USM through Presidential Declaration 428 during the administration of President Carlos P. Garcia.Last February 9, the DAR along with officials from other concerned agencies and local government units held a dialogue with executives from the CFCST and USM to develop ways on how the disputed land could finally be distributed to the farmers.The meeting reportedly resulted in an agreement to parcel the unused land of the university to its farmer-occupants as long as the indigenous people are considered. The implementation of which, however, remains to be seen."
10241,"In just an hour after posting bail last Friday, former President Benigno Aquino III was told that the Sandiganbayan had found probable cause on the Mamasapano case against him and that he would have to face trial, but that a warrant of arrest would no longer be issued since he had already posted bail.The antigraft, however, issued a hold departure order (HDO) on Aquino.Aquino went to the Sandiganbayan hours after his case was raffled off and landed with the Third Division, chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, whom he appointed to the antigraft court in 2013.He posted his P40,000 bail in cash for the usurpation of authority and graft charges stemming from the botched police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015 that led to the deaths of 44 police special commandos and became one of the lowest, if not the lowest, point of his presidency.Aquino was accompanied by his two lawyers and surrounded by political allies, some of whom wore yellow— the Aquino family’s political color—inside the cramped but air-conditioned room of the Sandiganbayan Third Division, which will handle his case.Aquino pinned his trademark yellow ribbon on the left side of his white long-sleeved barong Tagalog.His sisters, brother-in-law, nephew and cousin watched a few meters away from where the group huddled with Third Division clerk of court, lawyer Dennis Pulma.It was Pulma who briefed the former President, said Abigail Valte, Aquino’s spokesperson.“Atty. Pulma informed former President Aquino and his lawyers that the court had found probable cause and issued an HDO and (arrest) warrant. But the warrant would not be served since he already posted bail,” Valte told the Inquirer.Posting bail ahead of the court found probable cause and issued an arrest warrant, and submitting his own photos in lieu of a police mugshot— although not unheard of"
10251,"Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc to immediately act on a petition of his client, senior citizen Cecilia Lopez, to cancel the registration of the Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Philippines (CASCP), a duly registered party-list in the May 2016 elections for having two factions, making it impossible to determine the voters’ real intention.In a statement, Macalintal said Lopez filed a petition last December 16 seeking that she be allowed to intervene in two pending petitions at the poll body where two groups are both claiming to be the rightful CASCP representative.“It is of such urgency that Lopez’s petition be treated by the Comelec with utmost dispatch considering that said cases had been pending with the Comelec for almost a year now and had been causing too much confusion among us senior citizens,” he added.CASCP officers Francisco Datol and Godofredo Arquiza have filed separate Manifestations of Intent to Participate in the 2016 elections, the same problem they had in the 2013 elections, which caused the non-proclamation of winning CASCP representatives.“Since the CASCP has two factions, the Datol Wing and the Arquiza Wing, who both presented themselves to the electorate in the 2016 elections, then all votes cast for CASCP should be considered as stray votes or should not be counted since there is no way of determining the real intention of the voters, whether they voted for CASCP Datol Wing or CASCP Arquiza Wing,” Macalintal said.Macalintal added that “by analogy, Sections 1, 4 and 14 of the Omnibus Election Code could be applied in that when the votes do not sufficiently identify the candidate for whom they were intended, said votes shall be considered as stray votes, but the ballots are still valid for other positions properly voted for by the electorate.”Lopez also sought the cancelation of the CASCP registration on the ground that the acts of its officers Datol and Arquiza “had created confusion and continue to create confusion among the voters and the members of the senior citizens sectors thus preventing a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate as provided under Section 1(j), Rule 2 of Comelec Resolution No. 9366.”She said the cancelation of CASCP registration is also justified “because the disputes between the officers of CASCP denied the party-list seats in the 2010 and 2013 elections or it had not effectively won any seat for two consecutive elections as provided for under Section 6(7) of Republic Act 7941, the Party List Law.”Canceling the CASCP registration and treating votes cast for it as stray votes, according to Lopez, “will serve a lesson to party-list groups similarly situated wherein their officers and members continue to have disputes negating the very purpose and objectives of a party-list system that of unifying people belonging to same sectors of society.”She asked the Comelec to set her petition for hearing for further clarification."
10261,"Sa ulat kay acting Tarlac City Police chief Supt. Felix Verbo Jr., ang kinasuhan ay si Rechell Cristobal, nasa hustong gulang, ng Sapang Bayan, Calumpit, Bulacan."
10270,"Many will recall when in October last year, Philippine actress Agot Isidro took to Twitter to criticize President Rodrigo Duterte, calling him a “psychopath.”The president had a classic response, saying that Isidro had a constitutional right to free expression.Well, Isidro took that constitutional right a step further in a timely fashion by designing a limited edition wrist watch which will be jointly manufactured and distributed by Swiss watch maker Patek Philippe and Japanese watch maker Seiko.Unconfirmed reports say that Filipino American millionaire and Duterte critic Loida Nicolas-Lewis is investing an undisclosed amount in this joint venture.The limited edition watch will be called “SeikoPatek.”Isidro and Nicolas-Lewis expect this new designer watch to be a psychopathic success.The watch hits the international market on February 1, 2017.(iReporter Kaizan C. contributed to this story)"
10280,"The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has announced the launching of the Hot Cop of Castro Annual Pageant, with its inaugural show to be held on December 15 at the famed Castro Theater.The contest announcement comes just days after Police Officer Chris Kohrs, a.k.a. Hot Cop of Castro, took down his Facebook fan page months after generating more than 50,000 followers.Kohrs rose to prominence after a Castro resident took a photo of the good-looking cop while he was making the rounds of the gay district. Shortly after the photo was posted on Facebook, it went viral, giving birth to a popular fan page.Korhs told reporters that he just wanted to focus on his family and job as a police officer. Nevertheless, he told his fans that he was just three digits away (911).In view of Kohrs’ disappearance from social media, the SFPD decided to look for a successor, and the rest is history. The Hot Cop of Castro Pageant was born. “It is a way for us to showcase the SFPD in a more positive light as a gay-friendly police force,” a police spokesperson said.Interested pageant contestants are asked to contact SFPD through text and email but are urged not to call 911. The contest is open to all SFPD cops, gay or straight. “We have no specific qualifications or criteria. All it takes is for candidates to show us what they’ve got that’s hot,” SFPD said."
10291,"Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has initiated an investigation of two Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials, saying it would be “more proper” for the antigraft body to conduct the probe than the Department of Justice (DOJ).“I directed this morning to check in on the case and see if we can on motu proprio [on its own] start our own investigation,” she said at the Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum on Tuesday.Morales pointed out that the DOJ exercised supervision and control over the officials because the bureau was its attached agency.Because of this, she said her investigators would conduct a probe “parallel” to that ordered by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, which he disclosed to reporters on Sunday.Associate Immigration Commissioners Michael Robles and Al Argosino were accused of extorting P50 million from Macau-based online gambling operator Jack Lam, in exchange for the release of 1,316 illegally employed Chinese nationals, who were arrested in a raid in Clark, Pampanga province, last month.The two commissioners, who were appointed by President Duterte, their fraternity brother, in August, admitted to receiving P48 million of the amount on Tuesday, but said they meant to keep it as “future evidence of corruption of public officials.”"
10301,"sunod na kilig at kasiyahan ang dapat abangan ng manonood sa ASAP ngayong Linggo (Abril 26) sa pangunguna nina Belle Mariano, Alexa Ilacad, BGYO at James Reid.
Humanda nang kiligin sa hatid ni Belle na pangmalakasang performance ng kanyang single na Like U. Isang bonggang solo production naman ni Alexa ang matutung­hayan ng manonood kasama ang Gen-G.
Perfect ngayong weekend ang inaaba­ngang collab performance ng BGYO kasama si James.
Patuloy ang kilig at saya sa pasabog na opening number nina Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Erik Santos, Angeline Quinto, Yeng Constantino, Darren, Maymay Entrata, Alexa, AC Bonifacio, Kai Montinola, Janella Salvador, Jane de Leon, Jason Dy, Khimo Gumatay, Reiven Umali, JM Yosures, JM Dela Cerna, Sofronio Vasquez, Jona, Elha Nympha, Marielle Montellano, Gen-G at MNVRS Ignite.
Damhin ang pagmamahal naman ng pamilya sa high-energy dance performances ng paborito niyong celebrity families na sina Jhong Hilario at Sarina Hilario, Patrick Garcia at Michelle Garcia, Darren Espanto at Lynelle Espanto, at Melai Cantiveros kasama ang kanyang mga anak na sina Mela at Stela Cantiveros.
Punung-puno ng kasiyahan ang jamming na hatid nina Yeng, KD Estrada, Jarren Garcia, Angela Ken at Kai, kasama ang mga banda na Six-Part Invention at Fitterkarma.
Pangmalakasang performance naman ang saksihan mula kina Angeline, Yeng, Jona, Kai, Jarren, JM Ibarra, Fyang Smith, Gelo Rivera, A­lexa, pati na ang Gen-G.
Samantala, tuluy-tuloy ang selebrasyon ang hatid ng kolaborasyon ng Sweet Notes at ng mga duo na sina JM, Marielle, Christian Tibayan at Arvery Lagoring. Tampok din ang bonggang duet nina Gary at Darren kasama ang MNVRS Ignite.
Makisabay rin sa kantahan at sayawan kasama sina AC, Alamat, Gela Atayde, Wrive, Belle, DNA, Jane de Leon, Jane Oineza at Legit Status.
Matatapos ang selebrasyon sa pangmalakasang tugtugan nina Martin, Regine, Ogie, Zsa Zsa, Erik, Angeline, Yeng, Jona, Jed Madela, Sofronio, Nyoy Volante, Khimo, Darren at Louie Ocampo.
Magsisilbing hosts ngayong Linggo sina Robi Domingo, Belle, Darren at Alexa."
10310,"Forget about the Pulse Asia Survey on the 2019 ‘Senatoriables.” Here comes the survey of the decade.If we were to come up with the ‘Magic 12’ of the most stupid Dilawan, who would you want included in this prestigious list?Vote in our poll and let your voice be heard.(You can vote for as many names as you wish. You can also add names of those not on our list.)"
10321,"DUMULOG sa Ombudsman ang ina ng 17-anyos na lalaki na napatay umano ng mga pulis at pinalabas na nanlaban. Inireklamo ni Christine Pascual ng murder, planting of evidence at obstruction of justice sina Rosales Municipal Police officer-in charge Chief Insp. John Corpuz, PO2 Arvin Abella, PO2 Roy Sarmiento, PO2 Ronald Casareno, SPO3 Oliver Vingua, at SPO1 Hilario Taquiqui Jr. Ayon sa complaint affidavit, pumunta ang anak ni Pascual na si Joshua at dalawa niyang kaibigan sa Baguio City noong Agosto 15. Ang tatlo ay mga DOTA player. Naligaw ang tatlo at nang dumilim ay nagpasya na umuwi na. Hinala ni Pascual sina Joshua at Julius Sebastian ay naglalakad umano malapit sa Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway sa Pangasinan nang damputin ng mga pulis. Hanggang ngayon ay hinahanap pa si Sebastian. Ayon sa mga pulis, nagsasagawa sila ng checkpoint nang dumaan umano si Joshua na sakay ng motorsiklo. Nagpaputok umano ito ng baril kaya gumanti ng putok ang mga pulis na nagresulta sa pagkamatay ng bata. Sinabi ni Pascual na hindi adik at walang baril si Joshua. Hindi rin umano ito marunong magmotorsiklo. Hindi rin umano totoo na sangkot sa holdapan ang kanyang anak. ""All killings in police operations must be investigated and prosecuted. Each incident comes with the stark admission that police committed the crime, of at least, homicide. 'Nanlaban' is a legal defense which they have to establish in court,"" ani Atty. Maria Kristina Conti, abogado ni Pascual."
10331,"Kinilala ang sumukong forklift operator si Sonny de Pedro, 43, ng San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, habang ang nasawi ay si Emterio Beto, 20-anyos, ng Balut, Tondo, Manila."
10340,"Libel versus PerjuryScenario A: If Duterte sues Trillanes for libel There are 4 essential elements of libel [SC GR 172203]The imputation must be defamatoryThe imputation must be made publiclyThe person defamed must be identifiableThe imputation must be malicious In a prospective Duterte vs. Trillanes libel case, the first three elements are easily met. The fourth element, however, is a bit tricky. The law presumes malice is present in every defamatory imputation [AbogadoMo], however, this does not exactly apply if the plaintiff is a public official or public figure which, in this case, is Duterte.For libel cases where plaintiffs are public officials, the law requires the prosecution to prove actual malice, or “[Trillanes] must have known that the speech was false, or he must have been recklessly indifferent to its truth or falsity [SC GR 128959]”.But this may easily be denied by Trillanes because he regularly points to his “secret sources”. That is, Trillanes may say that the accusations are true to the best of his knowledge, even if they are, in fact, false.In short, Trillanes will most likely be acquitted if sued for libel.Scenario B: If Duterte sues Trillanes for perjury Meanwhile, the 4 essential elements of perjury are [SC GR 192565]:That the accused made a statement under oath or executed an affidavit upon a material matter. That the statement or affidavit was made before a competent officer, authorized to receive and administer oath. That the sworn statement or affidavit containing the falsity is required by law or made for a legal purpose. That in that statement or affidavit, the accused made a willful and deliberate assertion of a falsehood. The first three elements are a given, as we have assumed the execution of Trillanes affidavit, with the legal purpose being the verification of bank transactions. Now, we have earlier assumed, for the sake of argument, that Trillanes’ accusations are false, so that may automatically trigger the fourth element.Prison SentencesLibel is punishable by prision correccional, i.e. imprisonment from 6 months to 4 years [Chan-Robles Law]. Perjury is punishable by arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period, i.e. imprisonment from 6 months to 2 years [Chan-Robles Law].Is that it? Wala na bang iba?Consquences of a Perjury ConvictionImpeachment of adverse party's witness. — A witness may be impeached… by evidence that his general reputation for truth, honestly, or integrity is bad… but not by evidence of particular wrongful acts, except that it may be shown… or the record of the judgment, that he has been convicted of an offense.”Evidence that the witness is a liar in general Evidence of a particular act PLUS conviction for that act.Final NoteIf Trillanes is lying and he executes an affidavit, his public life is over, at the least. However if he’s telling the truth, he has nothing to fear.In yesterday’s article, ThinkingPinoy theorized why Duterte insists on an affidavit from Trillanes and why Trillanes insists on not executing one. Hindi ba pwedeng mag waive na lang agad para tapos na? But then, on the flip side, executing an affidavit isn’t very difficult, so TP doesn’t understand why Trillanes won’t do it either.In this article, I will expound on the affidavit issue and try to discover its potential significance. But first, let me quote a part of the previous article to give the readers a quick rundown of what’s TP has discussed so far:Investigating further, however, it appears that there’s a reason behind it for both parties. But before I explain, let me clarify that it’s over if Trillanes accusations are true, i.e. that affidavit won’t matter.Thus, for the sake of argument, let’s assume for the moment that his accusations are false.With no sworn affidavit, the best that Duterte can do is sue Trillanes for libel. With an affidavit, Duterte can sue Trillanes for perjury.Now the question is... what’s the difference?Basically, it’s a lot easier for Duterte to send Trillanes to prison if the charge is perjury. But then again, this assumes that Trillanes’ accusations are false. What TP does not understand, however, is why Trillanes remains stubborn despite his claim that his accusations are verified and true.Now, let’s continue the discussion.Trillanes will have too many easy and convenient defenses if faced with a libel charge, especially since our libel laws general favor freedom of the press.On the other hand, Trillanes will almost certainly be convicted for perjury. That is, aside from another conviction for violation the Bank Secrecy Law, which is already a given.A violation of the Bank Secrecy Law is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years, a fine, or both, i.e. imprisonment from 0 to 5 years [ LawPhil ]. But we are not talking about that right now. Instead, let’s talk about perjury and libel.Before we go further, let's have a recap of potential prison sentences:ThinkingPinoy observed that in terms of prison sentences, perjury is actually a “lighter” accusation than libel. Well, I guess it’s better to sue Trillanes for a “lighter” accusation that’s easier to prove.From ThinkingPinoy’s knowledge about Duterte’s character, TP believes he is not the kind of guy with an unbridled thirst for power.He has repeatedly refused to take national positions for decades. Former President Ramos offered the DILG while former President Estrada offered the Bureau of Customs. He denied both of them [ GMANews ]. In 2012, he also refused to take the DILG post after Jesse Robredo died [ Inquirer ], a post that the Malacañang’s Balay (LP-Roxas group) and Samar (Ochoa-Binay group) factions are fighting over [ Inquirer ].That is, for better or for worse, Duterte uses power only when the need arises.Hence, the question: What kind of power will Duterte gain from Trillanes’ affidavit? More convenient litigation is a given, but is there something else?Hence, ThinkingPinoy asks the question: What happens if Trillanes gets convicted for perjury?Let's take a look at the Rules of Court.Here is an excerpt of Part IV, Rule 132, Section 11 of the Rules of Court (Revised Rules on Evidence) [ LawPhil ]:From the excerpt above, the credibility of witness can be destroyed by at least two methods:The first method is tricky: it’s quite difficult to prove. However, the second method can easily be done of Trillanes has a prior conviction for perjury.Hence, if we assume Trillanes gets convicted for perjury, his words will hold very little legal weight, should he decide to do another “expose” in the future.In simple terms, Duterte’s insistence on an affidavit essentially means:But then again, this assumes that Trillanes' accusations are false, which we will find out on Monday Let’s summarize what we’ve talked about:Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy.com stay up! 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10350,"In March of this year, The Adobo Chronicles broke the story about the announcement by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) officially classifying taking selfies as a mental disorder, called ‘Selfitis.’ Since then, there has been much debate in the media about this growing phenomenon on the Internet.This fall, a new television series will debut on the ABC Network largely based on the story that went viral. Titled ‘Selfies,’ the new show stars Karen Gillan (‘Dr. Who’) and John Cho (‘Star Trek,’ ‘Harold & Kumar go To White Castle’). It will airTuesdays at 8pm.During pre-production, the reporters of The Adobo Chronicles were asked to lead the show’s writing team, but the reporters declined. “We don’t do television,” they said.Initially, the series was titled ‘Selfitis’ but ABC Network could not get permission from the APA to use the patented name.Here’s the new show’s trailer."
10360,"President Rodrigo Duterte offered Vice President Leni Robredo a cabinet post in a different way.On his press briefing, Duterte called Robredo in front of the media and his officials.“Gusto mo ba ng housing mam? Para matigil na itong mga tanong ng tanong” Duterte said.In the conversation, it appeared that Robredo accepted the post as the Chief of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)Watch the full video below:"
10370,"1. He is the only person that understands that Filipinos must fix their own country. (America, China, and Korea are not going to fix the Philippines).2. Intellect is not the problem in the Philippines it is discipline. Many OFWs go work in America and change their behavior in our country. This country needs someone to stop the not caring attitude about breaking laws.3. He actually knows the problems of the poor. The fact that during a debate was the first time that two candidates pretended or did not know t healthcare and the 6 month job termination practice problems exist is very scary.I would vote for Grace Poe, if she was not too much like our current president Obama with no plans to enforce discipline or her goals.------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2016/05/will-philippines-president-rodrigo-duterte-plunged-dark-ages/#comment-1662477"
10380,"Ibinida ni Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Pinol ang kauna-unahang gulong na pagmamay-ari ng mga rubber farmer sa bansa. Unang nakipagkasundo ang Philippine Rubber Farmers's Association sa Leo Tire Manufacturing Corporation para sa mga goma na gagamitin sa paggawa ng mga gulong ng motorsiklo at maliliit na traktora. ""The manufacturing and marketing of the tires for working motorcycles commonly known as 'habal-habal' as well as tricycles marks a small step forward in the program of the Department of Agriculture to elevate the farmer from the status of a raw material producer to the processor and merchandiser of finished products with added value,"" ani Pinol. Ayon kay Pinol, ang gulong ay tatawaging 'Pilipinas Agila Tires' na mas mura kumpara sa mga imported na gulong sa merkado. ""Pilipinas Agila Tires, the first farmer-owned motorcycle tire brand using locally harvested rubber cup lumps, will be in the market next month at prices lower than imported tires,"" sabi ni Pinol. Dagdag ni Pinol, ang mga magsasaka na rin mismo ang mag-aalok ng mga gulong sa mga may-ari ng motorsiklo at traktora. Sa ganitong paraan ay may proteksyon na ang mga magsasaka sa mga negosyante na bumabarat sa presyo ng goma. Inaasahan naman ng ahensya na magkakaroon ng sariling planta ang mga rubber farmers bago magtapos ang termino ng Pangulo sa 2022. ""The DA projects that before the end of the term of President Duterte in 2022, the country's rubber farmers will have their own tire manufacturing plant in Mindanao,"" ani Pinol. Nagpapasalamat naman si Pinol sa Pangulo dahil sa pag-suporta sa naturang proyekto. ""We thank President Duterte for his support and we promise him, we will handle this project well and we will move forward and liberate ourselves from the bondage of middlemen and traders who buy our produce at very low prices and sell us expensive tires,"" dagdag pa ni Pinol."
10391,"Navy to conduct thorough probe of frigate’s groundingThe Philippine Navy will launch a thorough probe on the grounding of its flagship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, as soon as she arrives at the Subic port.Navy flag officer in command Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad told reporters on Wednesday that the frigate was still being towed to safe harbor by the tugboats M/T Vigilant and M/T Trabajador.Empedrad said the Navy expected the frigate to arrive at Subic on Friday.“We need the ship to arrive at Subic and then we [will] conduct the comprehensive investigation,” he said.The BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which had its starboard (right) propeller detached due to the grounding, is already due for its scheduled maintenance at the shipyard in Subic, the Navy chief said.The vessel was extricated late Monday night from Hasa-Hasa (Half Moon) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea after it ran aground last week."
10401,"Cebuanos should expect a flurry of construction activity as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) starts major infrastructure projects in the province.DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the projects are part of President Duterte’s mandate to decongest major thoroughfares and implement an integrated seamless transport system.Among the big ticket projects is the 74-kilometer Metro Cebu Express Project, Villar said in a statement distributed to the Cebu media.The Metro Cebu Express Project will reduce travel time from Naga City to Danao City from three hours to one hour and 25 minutes, Villar said.“We have already completed the feasibility study of the P5-billion Metro Cebu Expressway Project. It will be implemented in three segments,” he added.Another major project is the construction of the 1.61 kilometer, four-lane Guadalupe-Lahug ByPass Road.Villar said the P500-million road will cut the one-hour travel time from Barangay Guadalupe to Barangay Lahug by half.There is also a feasibility study for the Mandaue City-Consolacion-Liloan Bypass Road which is expected to bring down travel time from Cebu City to the Municipality of Liloan by half.The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Cebu’s largest business organization, has called for an immediate solution to the city’s worsening traffic to avoid discouraging investors.CCCI President Melanie Ng said that while traffic congestion is a common problem for a growing city, the group is hoping that a solution will finally be implemented.“We need the traffic solution as in yesterday because traffic is a major concern, especially with new businesses, hotels, real estate development which are supporting growth,” Ng said."
10410,"Each year, The Adobo Chronicles names its Person of the Year, choosing from among candidates who have made a significant impact on news and social media by grabbing the headlines for heroic deeds and statements relating to national or international events.In 2013, we named Hollywood actor Jackie Chan, who has repeatedly survived news about his untimely demise. Last year, we named former Philippine Interior Secretary and now presidential candidate Mar Roxas for being the “man for the masses.”For 2015, we were very conflicted.Our short list included President Aquino, for being in a constant bubble, always proclaiming that the Philippines is the “new darling of Asia,” while ignoring the many ills and perils that the Filipino people continue to endure.We also considered his sister, television host Kris Aquino, whose penchant for blabbering has made her the ‘queen of gossip,” oftentimes washing her dirty laundry — especially her private and family life — in public.Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya was also on our list for the unending woes of Metro Manila’s nightmarish traffic and the beleaguered MRT (light railway) and for proclaiming that these problems “were not fatal.”But after serious deliberations, our editors have finally made a unanimous choice: Jose Angel Honrado, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), under whose watch the now internationally-famous laglag bala became a trademark of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).Laglag bala was an airport scheme in which scrupulous airport personnel “planted” live bullets in bags and luggage of unsuspecting airline passengers for the purpose of extorting money.The scheme caused the cancellation of international gatherings, business meetings, family reunions by overseas Filipino workers (OFW), and the proliferation of a new cottage industry: plastic wrapping of checked-in luggage at NAIA.Even President Barack Obama was advised by ther U.S. State Department to wrap his briefcase in plastic upon arriving in Manila for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit meeting last month.It has also been reported that a Philippine Airlines flight from Honolulu left for Manila with no passengers, only the crew, because confirmed travelers refused to board the plane for fear of being victimized by the scheme once they landed in Manila.But what made the editors truly convinced about bestowing this 2015 honor to Honrado was his testimony before a Senate hearing in which he told Senator Bongbong Marcos that he had no control over what happens at the airport, essentially confirming that he is being paid as general manager to do absolutely nothing.Congratulations to our 2015 Person of the Year!"
10420,"Arestado ang kandidata ng 2018 Binibining Cebu at kasabwat nito dahil sa pagbebenta ng party drug. Nakuha rin sa beauty queen ang mga pakete ng high-grade marijuana. Kinilala ang beauty queen na si Teri Marina Colmenares,22-anyos at nakatira sa Echavez Street sa Cebu City. Habang ang kasabwat naman niya ay nakilala sa pangalang Nicole Allan Casino ng Barangay Apas, Cebu City. Si Teri umano ang itinuturong source ng party drugs na ginagamit sa mga kaso ng date-rape. Natunton si Teri nang may nagreklamong rape victim sa mga pulis. Ayon sa rape victim, minolestiya siya ng isang disc jockey sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng date-rape drug. Matapos maaresto ang rape suspect, binunyag nito na kay Nicole Allan Casino niya na nabibili ang mga droga. Nang mahuli naman ng otoridad si Casino, itinuro naman nito si Colmenares. Ayon kay Guadalupe Police Precinct Chief Senior Inspector Dexter Basirgo, gumagamit si Colmenares ng mga fake id para maitago ang kanyang tunay na pagkakakilanlan. Source: Inq | Sunstar | Bombo Radyo Cebu"
10431,"to say nothing of the impact on day visitors, park workers and small businesses along the highway, Gediman said.The last time the 7.5-mile-long (12-kilometer-long) valley was closed because of fire was 1990, he said.Over nearly two weeks, flames have churned through 60 square miles (155 square kilometers) of timber in steep terrain of the Sierra Nevada just west of the park. The fire was just 25 percent contained.More than 3,300 firefighters are working the fire, aided by 16 helicopters. One firefighter was killed July 14, and six others have been injured.In the state’s far north, a 7-square-mile (18-square-kilometer) wildfire has forced the evacuation of French Gulch, a small Shasta County community that dates to the Gold Rush."
10441,"MALACAÑANG on Wednesday voiced confidence that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will comply with a resolution of the Supreme Court (SC) requiring it to submit a report on the 4,000 documented individuals who had been killed in the Duterte administration’s anti-drug war.In a news briefing, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said there is no need for the Palace to direct the PNP to follow the High Court’s order.“Yes of course [they will follow], if that’s the final order of the SC all agencies of the government bound by that order are supposed to comply and follow,” Guevarra added.“The Office of the Solicitor General has argued that there are certain security concerns that need to be addressed in connection with this matter but since the Supreme Court itself has apparently made a final order for the production of these particular documents by this law enforcement agency of the government, I guess we have no other alternative except to comply,” he said.The resolution, according to Guevarra, will not affect the implementation of the anti-drug campaign.“We cannot see any effect [on Oplan Tokhang] because our law enforcement agencies are not hiding anything behind these documents, except for the security of possible witnesses and so on and so forth,” he said.The PNP was removed from the drug war in October 2017 over thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings, which were causing local and international uproar from human rights advocates and concerned citizens.The deaths of teenagers Kian Lloyd de los Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman, who were accused of being drug peddlers, became the final straw for the PNP’s removal from the crackdown.The PNP was brought back to Oplan Tokhang by President Rodrigo Duterte two months later but only as a support for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a news briefing on January 29 that Malacañang expects the PNP to have a less controversial role in implementing the anti-drug war."
10450,"Former actress Tanya Garcia-Lapid slammed Senator Bam Aquino over his rude comments against the personalities who entered the magic 12 of the Social Weather Stations’.The survey which conducted on the last quarter of 2017 showed that Tanya’s Father-In-Law, former Senator and actor Lito Lapid entered the magic 12 together with Grace Poe, Jinggoy Estrada, Erwin Tulfo, Bato and other personalities.Aquino said in the alleged interview that he respected the result of the survey, however he didn’t like how the people chose the people that they wanted to serve the country just because they always see those personalities on TV, like Garcia’s Father-in-Law who’s one of the cast of the famous primetime series “Ang Probinsiyano” by ABS-CBN.“Nirerespeto naman natin ang resulta ng kahit anong survey. Kaya lang, sa tingin ko may mga ilang pumasok sa Magic 12 kahit di naman dapat. Napansin ko kasi, parang bumabalik tayo sa dati na pag laging nakikita ng publiko, akala nila pwede na,” Aquino allegedly said according to Politiko.ph article.After the alleged comment of Aquino circulated online, Tanya Garcia couldn’t stop herself on slamming the Liberal Party senator who’s rumored to seek another term in the Senate.In her Facebook account, the actress became sarcastic in responding on Aquino’s alleged comment against her Father-In-Law.“Hmmmm …why Bam Aquino???? So you think ikaw lang deserving maging senator??? At yung ibang humahabol, hindi? O e di ikaw na! Ikaw na! Bam Aquino for Senator this 2019! I sincerely hope you win ng madami ka pang magawa!She also found Aquino’s comment funny because Aquino and the other members of Liberal Party liked to ridiculed her father-in-law when he was still a senator.“At nakakatawa kayo, ke LP man or hindi, nung senador si Lito Lapid ang daming niyong sinasabi, ngayon na nag-aartista na nga lang ay may sinasabi pa rin kayo! Ano ba talaga gusto nyo gawin nung tao???? she asked.Garcia also said that if Aquino really respect the results of the SWS survey, he should keep his ‘mouth shut’When we tried to verify the alleged comments against former Senator Lito Lapid, the social media page of Bam Aquino denied that the Senator said that kind of rude comment against the action star-turned-politician.“Sen. Bam has not made any negative comments regarding the recent surveys for the 2019 elections nor has he commented on any of the top 12 Senate candidates.” the Facebook page of Aquino announced."
10461,"A team that includes representatives from the University of the Philippines is looking at ways to replace humans in mapping coral reefs through open-source robots deployed in Mindoro.Dubbed the MindoroBots project, a team led by researchers from the Hong Kong University (HKU), has mapped the corals and other biodiversity from the coast of Mindoro in an expedition that began in December.The project is being coordinated among team members coming from HKU, UP, as well as Ecotone Resilience.The open-source robots were built by Scoutbots and students from HKU.The idea is to deploy robots to map the ocean floor instead of current traditional methods such as sending in divers and equipment or pointing orbiting satellites at certain portions of the ocean.The proponents of the study called satellite imagery as not enough to understand the health of the corals.Sending in human divers, the proponents said, was “expensive, slow and dangerous.”“Coral reefs are critical ecosystems but they are very fragile,” the proponents said in a policy paper sent to media.Coral reefs take decades, even centuries, to fully develop and serve as homes to various ecosystems.However, corals are being threatened by several issues, such as global warming, overfishing, acidification, pollution, and dredging, among others.The project involves researchers coming from countries such as China, France, India, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, Portuguese, HongKong, and the Philippines.According to the team, the robots can “autonomously map” or survey coral reefs.“Our mission is to reduce the cost and increase the quality of data collected during coral reef surveys by using robots instead of human divers so that reefs can be surveyed more efficiently resulting in better conservation,” the proponents said.The team mapped the corals in Udalo, Mindoro, using techniques called quadrat-based mapping, line transet method, and GIS-based plotting of data on a software map."
10470,"Tinadtad ng komento ang social media post ng pro-goverment blogger at radio host na si RJ Nieto na kilala din sa tawag na Thinking Pinoy. Sa kanyang post ngayong araw, ibinahagi nito ang larawan kung saan makikita ang dalawang magkatabing litrato. Sa kaliwa ay may mukha ni Kris Aquino na nag-e-endorso ng isang serbisyo, habang sa kanan ay ang mukha ni 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach sa parehas na lokasyon. Hindi pa malinaw kung saang lugar at kailan nakunan ang billboards. Matatandaang nasasangkot sa patung-patong na isyu ngayon si Kris. Mula sa pagpopondo sa anti-government blogger na si Jover Laurio (Pinoy Ako Blog), hanggang sa pagbabanta sa buhay ng dati niyang financial manager na si Nicko Falcis. Habang isinusulat ang artikulong ito ay umabot na sa daan-daan ang nagkomento sa post ni Thinking Pinoy at umabot na rin sa mahigit tatlong daan ang nagbahagi nito. Matatandaang noong pumotok ang isyu ng pagpopondo ni Kris kay Laurio, may ilang taga-suporta ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na nagpahayag at nanawagan na i-boycott ang mga produkto at serbisyong ine-endorso n Kris. Paraan ba ito ng naturang kumpanya para idistansiya ang sarili sa mga isyung kinasasangkutan ni Kris? Ito po ang ilan sa mga komento ng mga kababayan natin sa litratong ibinahagi ni Thinking Pinoy. Ngayon araw naman ay may matinding rebelasyon ang aktres na si Gretchen Barretto laban kay Kris. Ayon kay Barretto, tinulungan daw ni Kris ang isang nagngangalang Alice Eduardo sa tax liabilities nito para mapababa ang babayaran na buwis. Nangyari daw ito noong panahon ni dating Presidente Noynoy Aquino na kuya ni Kris. Nagpatulong daw si Kris sa dating Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Chief Kim Henares. Source: Thinking Pinoy"
10481,"Passengers of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) Thursday night were unloaded after the train suffered yet another glitch supposedly due to an electrical problem.The glitch comes after the viral MRT-3 “rain” because of a leak from one of its airconditioning unit (ACU), which prompted passengers to use their umbrellas inside the train.The MRT-3 unloaded 1, 050 passengers of its northbound train at 9:41 p.m. at the Buendia Station. This reporter happened to be one of the passengers affected.Prior to the unloading, the train bound for North Avenue around 8:30 p.m. took a while at Magallanes Station, with the train operator telling commuters that it was conducting an “intervention.”Minutes later, it departed for Ayala Station and then to Buendia, where the train had completely shut down.The train stopped at around 8:56 p.m. in the tunnel between the Ayala and Buendia Stations. This time, the train operator had repeatedly told passengers that the train had a “technical problem” and another “intervention” is still being conducted.During the supposed intervention, the train had moved backwards only to suddenly stop. This occurred thrice. Passengers were also told to open the train’s windows.Later, at around 9:30 p.m. passengers were informed that the train will be pushed towards Buendia Station where they will be unloaded. Doors had to be manually opened for passengers to get out.Electrical failureIn an advisory, the MRT-3 said the glitch was due to an electrical failure in the train’s motor. One cause of the said failure is worn-out electrical sub-components, it added.The whole train carrying some 1050 passengers were unloaded. They were loaded in the next train which arrived nine minutes later.Some passengers, however, were heard complaining that they have been waiting for the train for about an hour.The MRT-3 has apologized for the inconvenience. It said preventive measures would be conducted, particularly preventive maintenance, replacement of electrical components, ensuring the availability of spare parts.In November last year, a northbound MRT-3 also encountered a major glitch between the Ayala and Buendia Stations after its coaches detached, causing more than 100 passengers to walk along the rail tracks."
10491,"Updated @ 11:40, Nov. 10, 2018The personal data of over 100,000 Filipinos, including passport and credit card information, were compromised in a data breach at Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways earlier this year.The National Privacy Commission (NPC) said the data breach was first detected in March and confirmed in May this year, but Cathay Pacific informed the NPC only on Oct. 25 that Filipinos were affected.“Among those fields taken were passenger name, nationality, date of birth, phone number, e-mail, credit card number, address, passport number, identity card number, frequent flyer membership number, customer service remarks and historical travel information,” the NPC said.102,209 affectedThe agency said a total of 102,209 Filipinos were affected in the data breach and the information in 35,700 passports and 144 credit cards were likely compromised.The extent of the data compromised varies for each person, but it was a breach that involved 9.4 million passengers worldwide, Cathay Pacific said.While the breach was found months earlier, the company claimed that it only determined “very recently” that Filipinos were also affected, the NPC said, citing the Cathay Pacific report.Apparent failure to report“On the surface, there appears to be a failure on the part of Cathay to report to this commission what it knew about the data breach at the time it confirmed unauthorized access, and what the affected data fields are,” the NPC said in an order dated Oct. 29 but released only on Saturday.Under the country’s Data Privacy Law, a company or agency needs to notify the NPC within 72 hours Cathay Pacific learned or even reasonably suspected that a data breach happened.Show cause orderThis notification is mandatory if the data could be used to enable data fraud, if it’s in the wrong hands, and if there’s a real serious harm to the person, the NPC said.Moreover, mandatory notification applies especially if the data is about the financial or economic situation of the person.The NPC has ordered the airline to explain why it should not be prosecuted under the Data Privacy Act, which imposes criminal liability for the failure to notify.The NPC asked the company to explain within 10 days why the airline should not be presumed to have failed to notify, which could make company officials criminally liable.The NPC also told the company to submit within five days further information on measures that have been taken to address the breach.Hong Kong also involvedFrancis Acero, NPC division chief for complaints and investigations, told the Inquirer the airline would be given sufficient time to respond.“[But] we don’t know when they received [the order]. We’ll let the process take its course,” he said.Aside from the NPC, the Hong Kong government is also demanding more answers from the airline.The Hong Kong government expressed on Oct. 26 its serious concern about the incident and ordered the airline to cooperate with its privacy agency.The airline came under fire from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, for not disclosing the problem until more than half a year later, according to the South China Morning Post.The newspapers quoted the airline as saying that it would “cooperate fully with authorities” and that it was in the process of contacting affected passengers."
10500,"Ipinagtanggol ni Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro si President Rodrigo Duterte mula sa mga kritiko nito.Sa Facebook account ng Tourism official nitong Lunes, October 3, isang maiksi pero diretsong pahayag ang ipinost ni Kat sa mga bumabatikos sa Pangulo:“Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.“Some people can’t stop being negatrons.“If you think you can do better than the President, takbo kayo sa 2022 ha?”Sinagot din ni Kat ang isang netizen na pumansin sa paghingi ng paumanhin ni President Duterte kaugnay ng naging pahayag nito na magiging Hitler siya sa paglaban sa droga sa bansa.Si Adolf Hitler ay ang diktador noong World War II at dahilan sa pagpapahirap at pagkamatay ng milyun-milyong Jews.Na-pick up ang balita ng international media at hindi nagustuhan ng Jewish community ang pahayag ng Pangulo.Nag-sorry si Duterte sa mga Jews na hindi nagustuhan ang kanyang pahayag.Depensa ni Kat, mas mabuti na humingi ng sorry si Pangulong Duterte kapag kinakailangan.“At least he apologizes when there is a need to. Mas mahirap naman kung hindi siya nag apologize.”"
10511,"Most Rev. Ricardo L. Baccay of the Diocese of Alaminos, Pangasinan has called on the Roman Catholic faithful to shun vices and be wiser in spending money that may be used in more fruitful endeavors.Baccay cited developments in the sin tax law where lawmakers proposed House Bill (HB) 4144, which imposes higher sin tax rates than intended in original provisions of the law.“In addition to what Archbishop [Oscar] Cruz said earlier, if you smoke a pack of cigarettes daily, you more or less spend P45.00 each time. That equates to P1,350.00 a month that may be added to your family’s monthly spendings,” he said in a statement.Earlier reports said Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz had praised HB 4144 as a “pro-health” measure in his Radio Veritas program.The vocal archbishop cited data from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) that 10 Filipinos die every hour daily from smoking-related diseases.He said the government’s objective is to ultimately stop vices and he urged citizens to spend their money on more important needs.Archbishop Emeritus Diosdado Talamayan of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, meanwhile, commended lawmakers for passing the bill since it helps Filipino farmers in their livelihood.Talamayan hails from Cagayan, one of the North’s tobacco-rich provinces and where many churchgoers are tobacco farmers who depend on the crop to support their families."
10520,"Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Chief Ronald “Bato Dela Rosa revealed on Monday that it’s possible that Ozamiz Chief of Police Senior Inspector Jovie Espenido would be transferred in another drug infested province.”Mag-determine muna tayo kung sino ang next target.” PNP Chief Dela Rosa told the media during a press conference in camp crame.However, Dela Rosa said that PNP must validate all the information first before assigning the so called ‘drug terminator’ in another province.“Mag-determine muna tayo kung sino’ng next na target, doon natin siya ilipat. Hintay muna tayo. I-validate muna natin kung saan siya puwedeng ilipat,” he said.He also said that Espenido must finish his assignment in Ozamiz first before leaving the city.According to Dela Rosa, many LGUs wanted Espenido to be assigned in their province to solve their illegal drug problem.The PNP Chief also revealed that Espenido is going to receive an award from the organization for his achievements in fighting illegal drugs in Albuera, Leyte and Ozamiz City.Espenido would receive “special award for anti-illegal drugs campaign” after he led the biggest and most successful anti-drug raid in history of Ozamiz City which resulted to the death of Mayor Aldong Parojinog Sr., Board Member Octavio Parojinog and 13 others.The drug raid also resulted to the arrest of Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog and other members of Parojinog clan.Before he was assigned to Ozamiz City, Espenido also nabbed former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., an alleged narco politician who also killed inside his cell.Dela Rosa clarified that they didn’t gave the award to Espenido because his team killed the alleged Ozamiz narco politicians.“Hindi pa nangyari yung Ozamiz incident, kasama na si Espenido sa list of awardees for his accomplishments sa drug operations sa Albuera at Ozamiz. Significantly nag-drop ‘yung drug activities sa Ozamiz dahil sa kanyang pamumuno,” he said.Espenido became the most performing cop in region 10 in 2017 despite of just being newly installed there according to PRO10 website.IIf given the chance, where do you want the Ozamiz Chief to be assign next?"
10531,"The Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force (PNP-CITF) on Saturday arrested a traffic enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for robbery extortion in Pasay City. In a report, the PNP-CITF said the MMDA traffic enforcer was identified as Emilio Guinto, who was nabbed during an entrapment operation at a drug store along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in Malibay, Pasay City, after receiving the marked money worth P5,000 from the complainant. The report added the operation stemmed from a complaint filed on Friday by two employees of New Oriental Club in Pasay City namely Herbert Natividad and Van Lester Dimanlig."
10541,"NAIS itama ng Bandera ang pagkakamali sa isang istorya nito na naipost sa website noong Pebrero 4. Nagpapasalamat ang Bandera kay Sheila Mateo, kamag-anak ng pinaslang na si Boyet San Buenaventura, sa pagtawag sa atensyon sa Bandera ukol sa pagkakamali nito. Si San Buenaventura ang may-ari ng tindahan na pinaslang umano ng bumibili na si Jessie Mark Batugon; at hindi gaya nang napaunang ulat hindi lang Bandera kundi sa iba pang mga news website. (Read more) http://https://bandera.inquirer.net/208320/lalaking-bumili-ng-noodles-patay-matapos-barilin-ng-may-ari-ng-tindahan-sa-quezon Narito ang itinamang istorya: PATAY ang isang 37-anyos na lalaki matapos barilin sa kanyang tindahan sa Gumaca, Quezon bago maghatinggabi noong Linggo, Pebrero 3, ayon sa pulisya. Kinilala ni Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police director, ang nasawi na Boyet San Buenaventura. Isang police manhunt naman ang inilunsad laban sa suspek na si Jessie Mark Batugon, 19, sa Barangay Progreso. Sa kuwento ng kamag-anak ng biktima na si Sheila Mateo, pumunta si Batugon sa tindahan upang bumili ng noodles. Ang nagbabantay sa tindahan ay ang misis ng nasawi na si Cristina. Nakita umano ng suspek ang biktima na nagtungo sa likuran ng tindahan at doon ay umiihi; pinuntahan ito ng suspek at doon binaril ang biktima sa likod gamit ang .22 kalibreng baril. Binawian ng buhay ang biktima habang dinadala sa San Diego Hospital. Narekober ng mga pulis ang baril, bagamat nakatakas ang suspek. Nanawagan ng hustisya ang mga kamag-anak ng biktima"
10550,"Several weeks ago, a group of Filipinos and others here and abroad signed a letter petition asking the owners of Miss Universe to pull the 2016 beauty pageant from being held in the Philippines.The petition states: ‘This reason is the objectionable, scandalous, and demeaning sexist attitude demonstrated by the newly elected leaders of our country, by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, and his cohorts towards womankind.’As expected the letter, signed by about 200 individuals, didn’t have much support from beauty pageant-loving Filipinos.Well, the petition has officially failed. No less than reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines has confirmed that indeed, the international pageant will be held in Manila on January 30, 2017 (January 29, US time). Pre-pageant events are also reportedly being planned in cities like Baguio, Bohol, Cebu and Davao.Disappointed but determined, the group of petitioners is reportedly setting its sight on the next target : Miss Earth, another major international beauty pageant based in the Philippines.This time, the group’s reason has nothing to do with President Duterte but with this year’s Philippine representative, Imelda Schweighart, who embarrassed the country by asking Miss Austria if Adolf Hitler was from her country; accused the pageant winner Miss Ecuador of having fake nose, chin and breasts; and made a huge deal about the yellow gown that she was supposed to wear had she been chosen a semi-finalist (she wasn’t.)It seems that this group of petitioners has too much time on their hands."
10560,"Malugod na ibinalita ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) sa kanilang social media account ang pagdating ng mga bagong aircon units na siguradong makakapagbigay solusyon sa problema sa init na nararanasan sa pagsakay sa MRT-3. Sa pamamagitang nito ay inaasahan na mas magiging kumportable at malamig ang biyahe ng mga pasahero. Ayon sa DOTr, 60 brand new aircon na raw ang nasa atin at 18 na lang ang hihintayin. Magugunitang noong Octubre 2018 daumting ang 42 sa 78 na kabuuang bilang ng mga bagong air conditioning units (ACU). Ang 42 na ito ay kasalukuyang naka-install at nagagait na ng mga kababayan natin. Ang natitirang 18 ACUs naman ay inaasahang makakarating sa Pilipinas sa Abril. Natuwa namana ng mga tao sa campaign material ng DOTr tungkol sa mga bagong aircon ng MRT. Ang graphics mula sa kanilang Facebook page ay hango mula sa sikat na international show na ""Game of Thrones"". Nasiyahan naman ng ilang kababayan natin sa trabaho ng DOTr. Basahin ang ilan sa kanilang mga komento at reaksyon. ""Hinay hinay lang mga kabayan ika nga one at a time ang importante nakikita natin na may determinasyon ang gobyerno natin na itaas ang kalidad ng serbisyo para sa kapakanan ng mga mamamayan,"" sabi ni R. Luna. ""Ganito dapat ang mga service announcements!!! Great job DOTR,"" sabi ni E. Batt. ""Ang galing ng ahensyang ito laging may good news at good vibes..updated lageh ang taong bayan salute din sa admin ng page na to Ganda ng graphics!! Ipagpatuloy inyo lang mga Sirs and madame po for the motherland!! Good job may your tribe increase!,"" sabi ni K. Mel B. Source: DOTr | DOTr"
10570,"Up until last week, almost no one outside of the Philippines knew who Rodrigo Duterte was. He is, of course, the mayor of Davao City, who is running for his country’s presidency in the upcoming May 9 national elections.But thanks to the power of the Internet, Duterte is now one of the most popular politicians worldwide. Even mainstream media in Australia, Europe and North America are paying very close attention.But the tough-talking, foul-mouthed Filipino politician is becoming the talk of the world for all the wrong reasons. It was his comments making light of rape and murder that’s giving him the spotlight, and he is unapologetic about it. In those comments, he joked that he was mad that a beautiful female Australian missionary was repeatedly raped by many men before being killed. He was mad because he believed that the mayor should have been first in line.The Adobo Chronicles has learned that Time magazine is already considering naming Duterte as 2016 Person of the Year. His only competition for the honor so far are the Filipino fanatics who overwhelmingly support his candidacy, and, of course, Donald Trump.Once again, the Philippines is front and center on the world stage — outside of boxing and beauty pageants, that is — thanks to the mayor."
10581,"The Supreme Court’s validation of the extension of martial law in Mindanao may have opened the door to a permanent state of martial law, according to one of the five magistrates who disagreed with the decision.Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza said the Supreme Court abdicated its power to review presidential declarations of martial law when it upheld the government’s argument that military rule was necessary because of the rebels’ “capability” to sow discord.“Worse, it would open the country to the possibility of a permanent state of martial law, as the Philippines has a long history of rebellions motivated by diverse religious, ideological, regional and other interests,” Jardeleza said in his dissenting opinion.Public safetyMoreover, Jardeleza maintained that the government failed to prove actual rebellion and actual threat to public safety that could have justified the extension of martial law in Mindanao.He said the acts of rebel groups showed that rebellions were “episodic” and were considered continuing crimes under Philippine jurisprudence.“This criminal law doctrine, however, was never envisioned to be a justification to declare martial law whenever and wherever a rebel may be found,” Jardeleza stressed.10-5 voteIn a 10-5 vote, the tribunal last week upheld Congress’ Joint Resolution No. 4 on Dec. 13, 2017, granting President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law.After the President imposed martial law in Mindanao on May 23 last year, Congress even extended the imposition beyond the 60 days prescribed in the Constitution, he said.In denying various petitions against the extension, Jardeleza said the high court was saying it had no power to review the decision of Congress.Jardeleza argued there was also no “reasonable proof of scale” to determine that the President was justified in exercising his power to impose martial law.“Ensuring that the President has enough flexibility and discretion on when to impose martial law is not sufficient justification for taking on a ‘permissive’ approach,” he pointed out.Jardeleza said the military gave data on the rebels’ manpower and firearms, the barangays they controlled, as well as the number of violent incidents they had initiated against government troops.“[But] there is nothing in the record to show that there are hostile groups engaged in actual and sustained armed hostilities with government forces,” Jardeleza said.He said there was no proof that rebels were holding territory and preventing authorities from carrying out their duties.There are likewise no proof of the claimed links between local and foreign terrorist groups, such as Islamic State.“Lest I be misunderstood, I am not discounting or belittling the damage to life, limb and property caused by the reported continued attacks of the hostile groups,” Jardeleza said.“Granting all of the government’s allegations to be true, however, I do not find these to be sufficient basis to warrant any continued restriction or of suspension of fundamental civil liberties,” he said."
10591,"Inabangan ng televiewers ang Oh My G dahil hindi lamang sa ratings ito nanguna kundi pati na sa social networking sites tulad ng Twitter na naging nationwide trending topic ang #OhMyGTheBeginning. Lalo pang napatutok at nahu-hook ang mga manunuod dahil sa mabilis na takbo ng kuwento ng Oh My G na ngayong episode week ay mas napalapit si Sophie (Janella) sa kanyang Daddy Paul (Eric Quizon), pero nagtapos ang linggo na mawawala rin pala ito sa kanya. Ang mapapanood sa mga susunod na kabanata at kung ano ang magiging epekto nito sa buhay ni Sophie. Ang Oh My G ay tungkol sa teenager na si Sophie na biglang guguho ang halos perpektong buhay dahil sa pagkamatay ng kanyang mga magulang, mula sa direksyon nina Roni Velasco at Paco Sta. Maria."
10601,"Wagi sina Alex Eala at Zeynep Sonmez sa kanilang unang laban sa doubles ng Mutua Madrid Open matapos talunin sina Fanny Stollar at Hao-Ching Chan, 6-2, 6-2.
Sa loob lamang ng 61 minuto, dinaig ng unseeded Filipina-Turkish tandem ang mas mataas na ranked na kalaban, tampok ang 8-0 run sa pagitan ng dalawang set. Wala rin silang naitalang double fault at nakakuha ng limang break points.
Pasok na sila sa Round of 16, kung saan haharapin nila ang susunod na kalaban mula sa dalawang pares.
Nauna rito, nanalo rin si Eala sa kanyang singles match laban kay Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova"
10610,"In boxing, a weight class is a standardized weight range for boxers. The lower limit of a weight class is equal to the upper weight limit of the class below it. A boxing match is usually scheduled for a fixed weight class, and each boxer’s weight must not exceed the upper limit.For the welterweight class, under which the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is scheduled for May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the upper weight limit is 147 lbs. or 66.7 kilograms (the lower limit is 140 lbs which is the upper limit for the super lightweight class).Manny Pacquiao has been training so hard and eating so healthy that his weight going into tomorrow’s fight night was down to 143 pounds. While that does not disqualify Pacquiao under the welterweight rules, there are rumors that his opponent, Floyd Mayweather may exceed the upper limit of 147 pounds.Mayweather has been very confident he would easily defeat the Filipino boxer that he has been training very lightly while binge-eating and drinking in exclusive restaurants in Las Vegas.Sources close to the American boxer have been heard as saying that as of last private weigh-in, he had registered 159 pounds.While Manny’s coach Freddie Roach is worried that his protégé would be at a great disadvantage if he weighed close to the lower limit under the welterweight class, Floyd’s uncle and trainer Roger Mayweather is losing sleep over the possibility that his nephew will be disqualified for being overweight.It all boils down to the official weigh-in which is just hours away! The magic numbers to watch for are 140 to 147.UPDATE!!! The official weigh-in has just concluded! Mayweather weighed in a 146 lbs. and Pacquiao at 145 lbs. Tuloy ang laban! (The fight is on!)"
10620,"Uh, again. You can't be a real Bourdain fan and support dictators who are verbally mean to women. It's one or the other, sorry. 🙃Some people need a better understanding of the word “dictator”. It's difficult to get how they can accuse Duterte of being a dictator while being safe to criticise him.But the worst thing about Yellowtards is how they habitually stake a claim on the latest trending hero or occassion as one that only theyhave the right to associate with. And once they had drawn an imaginary yellow dotted line around said artifact, they then proceed to wax righteous about their political agenda using that artifact as a platform.This behaviour is encapsulated in a recent tweet by social media influencer Gang Capati...One would have thought Ninoy’s supporters want us to respect the dead, but now they are using Anthony Bourdain as a poster boy for their political agendas. I really don’t want to go there, but he did take his own life. That says something about losing the battle with his demons.For that matter, many Yellowtards are devout Catholics. Catholic dogma is very specific about its regard for suicide as a. Seeing how Yellowtards are known to worship very publicly and often make it a point to flaunt their piety in front of the camera, the consistency they exhibit in reconciling their political and religious beliefs should be routinely put under a harsh light.This sort of self-righteousness routinely exhibited by Yellowtards is what lost them an entire nation in 2016 to begin with. They are not for inclusiveness. They are comfy with the status quo of exclusiveness."
10631,"Ipinost ni Bianca sa Instagram ang gift ni Miguel at marami ang nag-like. Lalo pang kinilig ang BiGuel fans nang i-post ni Miguel ang old photo ni Bianca during Mulawin days. Ibig sabihin, nagkasama na ang dalawa noong bata pa sila."
10640,"Vice President Leni Robredo has a message to the 75% or so Bar examinees who flunked this year.Robredo failed the bar exams on her first try in 1992.”Don’t lose hope. Learn to rise from failures,” she told the flunkers, echoing what she said when she spoke at the commencement rites of Sacred Heart College in Lucena City last March.“Flunkers can be Vice Presidents, or even Presidents,” she said during an interview with The Adobo Chronicles.“The 25% passing rate this year is but a reflection of reality,” she said, obviously referring the to 25% shading of ballots which she is contesting in the ongoing recount of the VP elections of 2016."
10650,"Senators Bam Aquino and Risa Hontiveros just filed a new Senate Bill naming the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University the new “Institutes of Yellow Education.’The proposal is in recognition of the two universities’ consistent support for the political opposition in the Philippines, especially the Yellow Cult.”The two universities have frequently opened their doors to the Liberal Party and other Opposition groups in their continuing quest to attack the Duterte Administrationa and the legacy of Ferdinand E. Marcos,” Aquino said.De La Salle was the venue for yesterday’s commemoration by Opposition groups of the imposition of Martial Law by the late Marcos.Leni Robredo was the featured speaker at the event in which she criticized Duterte’s support for a shift to a Federal form of government. Robredo equated Federalism to abandoning Democracy and the Constitution."
10660,"It’s been a while since fans last saw Chris Kohrs, the ‘Hot Cop of Castro‘ whose Internet photograph showing him walking the streets of Castro Street went viral, prompting the setting up of his own Facebook fan page and making him a hit in local LGBT and other fundraising charity events. He recently decided to keep a low profile and even took down his Facebook fan page (although it is now back up).No matter. He has had his time.Now it’s Alex’s turn to shine. Alex of Target. Yes, that Target.A photo of this handsome young cashier bagging purchased items at a Target store was posted on Twitter and it immediately went viral. It even spurred many memes. Still, others dared to impersonate him, to no avail. His is now officially known as Alex of Target, or the Hot Cashier of Target.The Castro resident who set up Kohrs’ Facebook fan page wants to do the same for Alex. Ellen DeGeneres wants him as a guest on her TV show. Apple wants him to model its new Apple Watch. Abercrombie & Fitch is dying to sign him up for its fall and winter collection.Even The Adobo Chronicles wants to do an exclusive interview with him.So Alex, if you’re reading this, please call. We are also offering a $50 Target gift card to anyone who can provide us with Alex’s email address or phone number.The hunt is on!"
10671,"THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has suspended the participation of foreign principals or representatives of foreign recruitment agencies (FRAs) with accredited or registered job orders in the recruitment of household service workers amid rampant incidents of abuses against HSWs or domestic helpers.“Given the increasing number of reported abuses to HSWs, the POEA shall not accept applications for LoA (Letter of Authority) of foreign principals/employers with accredited/registered job orders for HSWs. LoA shall not be issued to recruitment activities which will be conducted within and outside the address stated in the license or of branch offices,” POEA Administrator Bernardo Olali in Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 3 said.The MC effectively prohibits, among others, foreign principals or their representatives from interviewing applicants for HSWs.Olalia explained that concerned private recruitment agencies are now fully responsible for the conduct of recruitment activities for manpower requests for HSWs of their principals or employers.“Licensed recruitment agencies found violating the provisions of this circular or performing activities inconsistent herewith, shall be subjected to administrative sanctions in accordance with the schedule of penalties prescribed under existing POEA rules and regulations, without prejudice to any action which the Bureau of Immigration may take against the foreigner/principal under immigration laws and existing issuances,” the circular said.The recruitment sector said they would appeal Olalia’s order, saying MC 03 is a virtual ban on HSWs deployment.In a letter to Olalia, the Society of Hong Kong Association of Recruiters of the Philippines (Sharp) said preventing foreign principals or representatives from interviewing applicants for HSWs is a curtailment of the recruitment activities of licensed agencies.It pointed out that the main purpose of foreign principals in coming to Manila is to personally select applicants for HSW work for themselves so as to properly match the applicants with the clients of foreign recruitment agencies to prevent any mismatch, which may result in termination or repatriation of the applicants.The LoA issued by the POEA is requested by licensed agencies in lieu of the Special Working Permits (SWPs) issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and has been the practice since 2001.In the same letter, the group explained that if the objective of the circular is to reduce the number of workers applying for domestic work, such is unlikely to happen as the government cannot stop Filipinos from seeking greener pastures abroad.It said licensed agencies are partners of the government in combating illegal recruiters and human traffickers and imposing a ban on interviews or even a deployment ban on HSWs will only aggravate the trafficking of HSWs.The industry also requested that prior consultation with stakeholders should be the rule instead of the exception as this has been the previous practice of former POEA administrators to promote good and harmonious relations with the recruitment industry."
10681,"Isinusulong ng Department of Health (DOH) ang Universal Health Care for Children upang maiangat ang antas ng kalusugan ng mga kabataan sa bansa. Ito ang inihayag ni DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire sa pagbubukas ng 2023 National Children’s Month (NCM) na idinaos nitong Nobyembre 6 sa Valenzuela City Amphitheater, Lungsod Valenzuela.
Ayon kay Vergeire, nilalayon ng DOH na ilipat ang sistema ng kalusugan ng bansa mula sa kasalukuyang high-cost, specialist-centric system tungo sa preventive, promotive, at integrated primary healthcare service delivery system na maagang nakakakita at namamahala sa mga sakit at tinutugunan ang mga ugat nito.
“Noong nakaraang pandemya, nakita natin na tumaas nang tumaas ang kaso ng mga kabataan natin na nagkakaroon ng mga issue sa kanilang mental health. Na nagkakaroon ng tinatawag nating suicide ideation. Ang ibig sabihin no’n ay nagkakaroon sila ng pag-iisip na kikitilin nila ang kanilang buhay dahil wala silang matakbuhan. Wala silang mapuntahan kapag sila ay may problema,” aniya.
Dagdag pa niya, ang pagsiguro ng pagkakaroon ng pangkalahatang serbisyong pangkalusugan ay isang mahalagang hakbang upang matiyak na ang lahat ng mga bata ay magkakaroon ng pantay na access sa mga mahahalagang serbisyo tulad ng regular na check-ups, mga bakuna, at mga serbisyong pang-mental health.
Sa kabila ng pangunahing pag-aalaga sa pisikal na kalusugan ng mga bata, hindi rin dapat aniya kalimutan ang kanilang kalusugang pangkaisipan o ang mental health.
Ang pagkakaroon ng sapat na suporta para sa kanilang kalusugang pangkaisipan ay isang paraan upang tiyakin na sila ay ligtas at masaya, at ito ay nagbibigay sa kanila ng magandang pundasyon para sa kanilang kinabukasan, ayon pa sa opisyal.
Tuwing Nobyembre, ipinagdiriwang ng Pilipinas ang National Children’s Month, na nagbibigay sa lipunan ng mahalagang plataporma upang magkaroon ng kamalayan sa mga iba’t-ibang pagsubok na kinahaharap ng mga bata.
Sa temang, “Healthy, Nourished, Sheltered: Ensuring the Right to Life for All!” nakatuon ang pagdiriwang ngayong taon sa nutrisyon at kalusugan ng kabataan. Ayon kay Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Executive Director Angelo Tapales, “Ang pagiging malusog ay hindi lamang pagiging malaya sa sakit. Kung hindi pati na rin sa pagkakaroon ng mga pagkakataon para sa pisikal, mental at emosyonal na kaginhawahan.”
Bakit nutrisyon at kalusugan?
Ayon kay DOH Usec. Vergeire, 1 sa 3 Pilipinong bata ang bansot at mula sa 27 milyong Pilipinong sobra ang timbang o obese, 11.6% nito ay kabataan at ang Pilipinas ay nasa ika-69 na pwesto sa 121 na mga bansa ayon sa global hunger index noong nakaraang taon. “Bagama’t tayo ay nasa kalagitnaan, hindi tama na nakakakita tayo ng mga batang nagugutom dito sa ating bansa.” Binibigyang halaga ng CWC ang boses ng kabataan kaya naman sa tulong ng mga non-government organization (NGO) mula sa National Steering Committee on Child Rights Advocacy (NSC-CRA), nagsagawa ng online survey ang CWC sa 434 na mga bata sa buong bansa para sa 2023 NCM. Karamihan sa mga bata (39.40%) ay nais magtuon sa Survival Rights at sa ilalim ng Survival Rights 34.78% ang pumili sa kalusugan at nutrisyon bilang pangunahing isyu na dapat bigyang diin.
Paalala ni CWC Executive Director Tapales sa pagtatapos ng programa na mahalaga na tiyakin na ang mga pangunahing karapatan ng mga bata ay hindi lamang mga salita na isusulat sa papel.
Aniya, ito dapat ay ipinamamalas at isinasagawa sa buhay ng bawat bata. Isang malaking tungkulin ng bawat Pilipino na lumikha ng isang kapaligiran upang umunlad, lumaki at magkaroon ng pinakamataas na potensyal ang isang bata anuman ang pangangailangan o kalagayan niya sa buhay.
“Ang mga bata ay may karapatan. May sarili silang personalidad. Sila ay hindi ektensyon ng pagkatao nating matatanda o nating mga magulang. Kaya mahalin natin sila, igalang natin ang karapatan nila,” ayon kay Tapales.
Sa pangunguna ng CWC, kasama ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at City Government of Valenzuela, ang pagbubukas ng 2023 NCM ngayong taon ay dinaluhan ng mga kabataan, advocates at mga magulang kasama ang kanilang anak, suot suot ang mga paboritong gulay at prutas."
10690,"WE INTERRUPT THE NEWS TO BRING YOU THIS AMAZING AND HEART-WARMING VIDEO. MABUHAY! PHILIPPINES!We at The Adobo Chronicles join the entire world in sending positive thoughts to the people of the Philippines.With help from some of our readers and viewers, we have made donations to the Philippine Red Cross for Haiyan Typhoon relief. We hope that we all continue to help even after the cameras and news media have left the scenes of devastation. Let’s lift up the Filipino spirit. We will endure. We will rebuild. We are one. We are the world!"
10700,"The 66th edition of the Miss Universe Pageant will be held on November 26 this year at The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada. Iris Mittenaere of France will crown her successor at the end of the event.The Miss Universe Pageant is no stranger to controversy, the most notorious of which was when host Steve Harvey announced the wrong winner during the 64th pageant — Miss Colombia instead of Miss Philippines.Well, yet another controversy has come up.Apparently, the final question that will be asked of the top finalists in this years’ pageant has been leaked to some contestants, including Miss U.S.A. and Miss Philippines.The leaked question:”If you had the sole power to choose the president of your country, who would you choose: Donald Trump or Rodrigo Duterte, and why?”Truly, the Miss Universe pageant is not all about beauty, but brains as well.Stay tuned for the final answer."
10711,"Rights group Karapatan on Monday called on the Duterte administration to put an end to the killings of human rights advocates, as it sought justice for the murder of Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura on Sunday morning in Gattaran town, Cagayan province.Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, said her group also demanded an end to “the system that has made it rife for such murderers to exist without fear of accountability nor regard for people’s rights.”Ventura, 37, was gunned down around 8 a.m. while he was still in his altar vestments and was chatting with choir members and parishioners.The gunman, who wore a helmet, entered the hall through the back entrance, and shot Ventura twice at close range. The priest died outright.The gunman fled with another man on a motorcycle, which sped off toward the desolate villages of Baggao town.Karapatan linked Ventura’s killing to his human rights and antimining advocacies.The priest had just said Mass at the covered court of Barangay Piña Weste, part of the San Isidro Labrador mission station under the diocese of Tuguegarao.Ventura’s parish is located at nearby Barangay Mabuno, about 30 km from Gattaran town proper.“When the Church stands up for the poor, its people become targets,” Karapatan said.Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio Utleg said the Church “lost a young priest, zealous and dedicated, one who smelled like his sheep, to an assassin’s bullet right after he said Mass and was baptizing children.”Go after perpetratorsIn a statement, Utleg appealed to “the authorities, especially to the police task force, to act swiftly in going after the perpetrators of this crime and to bring them to justice.”Noting the many murders committed with impunity by assassins riding tandem on a motorcycle, the archbishop said, “May this be the last.”Utleg, who was in Pamplona town when news of the killing reached him on Sunday, drove straight to Gattaran, and performed necrological rites for Ventura before his body was taken out of the crime scene.“The bishop saw in Father Mac (Ventura) that as a young priest, his heart is for the poor and he wants to be there in the barrios. This is the main reason he put him there in that mission,” said Fr. Bernie Corpuz, chancellor of the Tuguegarao diocese.Police task forceThe police have formed an interagency task force to solve the murder of Ventura.Investigators declined to attribute Ventura’s murder to the causes he pushed as a priest.“All statements we have gotten so far point to the fact that he is well loved by the people, and with his mild manners, he could not have [drawn] the ire of anyone,” said Senior Insp. Rodel Tabulog, Gattaran police chief.To friends and colleagues, Ventura was soft-spoken, kind and helpful. He was known to belt out the song, “Always,” popularized by singer Marco Sison.“He loved the tune and lyrics of the song that he would even repeat the song when we go out for some videoke singing sessions,” said Neil Earl Laguimon Ambida, one of Ventura’s closest friends.‘Forever cherish’Ventura would dedicate the song to parishioners of San Isidro Labrador Mission, particularly when he sang the lyrics, “Always forever cherish,” and “[You] mean more than life,” Ambida said.The slain priest was “down-to-earth” to villagers, especially in far-flung areas where he had served for 11 months, he said.Ventura also served as rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary at Lyceum of Aparri in Cagayan.“Whoever you are, God knows what you have done,” Nicanora Ferrer, a parishioner, said of the gunman.The death of Father Macmac, as Ventura was fondly called, demands swift justice, said Ma. Theresa Remigio from nearby Aparri town.Fr. Gregorio Marvic Uanan, parish priest of Our Lady of the Visitation Church in Gamu town, said people who knew Ventura wanted “God’s justice to prevail.”Nice Geraldez said the attack on Ventura was a “sad and shocking day” for Catholics."
10721,"KABALIGTARAN NINA KC AT PAULO SUNUD-SUNOD ang mensaheng natanggap namin kahapon habang naghahabol ng deadline at naaliw kami sa mga tanong sa amin ng mga nakapanood ng ""Gift of Life"" episode nina Gerald Anderson at Maja Salvador sa Christmas seryeng Give Love on Christmas. Base sa obserbasyon ng mga nakapanood, ""Bakit po walang kilig sina Ge at Maja sa Gift of Life? Parang hindi sila magdyowa. Bakit hindi sila kinikilig? Bakit parang pilit lang ang acting nila?"""
10731,"Magkakapatid sina Aiko, Dimples at Carlo at ang batang si Louise naman ay ala-alaga ni Ka Eddie na mag-isang namumuhay sa probinsiya. Biyudo na at maysakit si Ka Eddie kaya't hinihintay niya ang araw ng Pasko dahil makikita niya ang kanyang mga anak. Nakakatawa kasi habang nagpupunasan ng luha ang entertainment press ay dire-diretso rin pala ang tulo ng luha nina Dimples at Aiko dahil naalala nila ang kani-kaniyang ama. Sila na nga raw ngayon ang bagong 'crying ladies'. ""Sorry ha, I started everything (umiyak) kasi sa soap na 'to, makaka-relate talaga lahat sa bawa't character namin,"" simulang kuwento ni Aiko. ""Ako talaga tinamaan dahil nga maagang kinuha sa akin ng Panginoon ang tatay ko, pero masaya ako dahil alam ko while I'm doing this soap, the Gift Giver, alam kong this Christmas, ang Papa Jimi (Melendez) ko po ay proud po sa akin dahil tinanggap ko po ito."" ""Ako naman, pinipigil-pigilan ko rin (umiyak) kasi my papa naman passed away when I'm 16 and my sister passed away about 4 years before that,"" sabi naman ni Dimples. ""And this project, really for some reason, hindi ko nga alam kung ako lang ang maemosyon dahil buntis ako, pasensiya na po, ha. Ano kasi 'to, very dear to my heart and in fact, I wasn't expecting to do a teleserye until I gave birth. I was telling them nga (production) kasi buntis nga ako, so tinayming ko na patapos na 'yung taon at wala na akong gagawin. ""But with this project, it just reminded me of how much pain I still have of losing my papa. Kasi everyday, tini-take for granted lang natin na nandidiyan lang ang magulang natin kasi busy tayo sa sarili nating pamilya, sa mga kailangan nating gawin para sa sarili natin. ""And when this project came along, parang siguro this is my papa's way of telling me na 'you know, it's Christmas and I miss you.' Something like that. This project hits the mark of the heart of the Filipino family whether you lost someone, you didn't lose someone, the fact you miss somebody at some point in your life tuwing Pasko... 'yun, eh. Bawat isa dito mayroon kang konekta."" Wala namang maikuwentong sakit na nararamdaman sina Carlo at Louise dahil pareho pang kumpleto ang pamilya nila. Tinanong sina Aiko at Dimples na panay ang punas ng mga mata kung naging mabuting anak ba sila at kung may pagsisisi ba sila ngayong wala na ang kanilang ama. ""Ito po ba ay workshop?"" natawang tanong ni Dimples. ""Ako kasi 16 lang (nang maulila sa ama), so you can imagine I really started working. Kasi my mama wanted me to work, work and my papa, we had the path na, 'mag-school muna ako ha, tigil muna ako mag-artista', sabi niya (papa), 'okay-okay' ""Two months bago ako mag-college, nawala si Papa, actually aneurysm siya, that's why maraming regrets sa akin kasi hindi ako nakapag-goodbye. So, tuwing may ganitong kuwento, malapit talaga sa puso ko and siyempre sa atin bilang artista, mas gusto ko po na maibigay 'yung totoong nararamdaman ko. ""So 'yung mga regrets ko lang as a daughter, hindi lang enough, akala ko kasi ang dami kong oras dahil akala ko marami akong oras, hinayaan ko lang. Hindi ako masyadong tumawag, hindi ako masyadong nangumusta, so 'yun lang naman 'yung mga regrets. ""Ang laking pasalamat ko kasi sa bawat ginagawa kong eksena ngayon, bago ko iarte or whatever I always have a silent corner kay papa, which I want to know if I do this, will I make him proud? If I do this, matutuwa ba siya sa akin? Ano ba'ng sasabihin niya sa akin, so kahit wala na siya, buhay na buhay siya sa akin,"" naiiyak na kuwento ng aktres. Madamdamin ang naging relasyon ni Aiko sa ama dahil tatlong buwan lang niya itong nakasama. ""Ako kasi, open book naman 'yung naging relationship ko sa dad ko, Jimi Melendez. Hindi kami naging okay nu'ng una, pero 'yung regret ko is noong naging okay na kami, three months after, kinuha siya ni Lord sa buhay ko,"" unang pahayag ng aktres. ""Nag-Hong Kong kami, nandoon na 'yung bonding namin ng tatay ko ulit. 'Yung regret ko, 'yung kuwestiyon ko kaya nga siguro 'yung pagkakaiba ko ng personality hanggang sa ngayon is 'yung bakit ganu'n, kung kailan lahat okay na, doon pa kinuha si Papa,"" sabi ni Aiko na nasabayan ng pagtulo ng luha. ""Saka 'yung papa ko, hindi naman siya namatay dahil sa sakit, eh. Namatay ang papa ko nanonood ng pelikula ko sa Cinema One, pinapanood niya 'yung MMK, The Movie, na-choke 'yung papa ko dahil naiyak siya sa eksena sa movie, so I missed him by five minutes sa hospital. So, 'yung pakiramdam ko, ganu'n pala ako kamahal ng tatay ko, akala ko kasi nu'ng iniwan niya kami nu'ng bata kami, 'pinagpalit sa ibang pamilya, 'dinenay na may anak siya kasi, di ba dati ang uso kapag matinee idol ka dapat wala kang anak. That's why nga nu'ng una akong i-launch, Paredes ang aking apelyido hindi Melendez kasi nga sabi ng tatay ko hindi kami puwedeng malaman na kami 'yung unang pamilya. ""So hindi naging maganda 'yung relationship namin, pero nu'ng okay na, sabi ko magiging mabuting anak ako kasi mahal ko tatay ko kasi naman sa itsura pa lang, halata naman na pinagbiyak kaming bunga, female version ako ako ng tatay ko. ""'Tapos nu'ng kinuha nga 'yung tatay ko, nanonood ng pelikula ko, so feeling ko kasalanan ko pa na namatay ang tatay ko, bitbit ko 'yun. ""Kaya nu'ng i-offer sa akin itong 'Gift Giver',"" napatigil sa pagsasalita dahil nahihirapan nang huminga sa kakapigil ng iyak, ""sabi ko, 'para sa 'yo 'to, Papa kasi, sandali,"" nabilaukan na, ""baka 'cause of death ko naman 'to,"" tawanan ang lahat sa sinabing ito ni Aiko."
10741,"A proposed bill amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act will set P5 million as the threshold for a single casino transaction, a congressional leader said on Sunday.Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, chairman of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, made the clarification in connection with the approval of House Bill (HB) 5663.“If you go to a casino and bought P5 million worth of chips in a single transaction, that’s a red flag that must be reported by the casino to the AMLC [Anti-Money Laundering Council]. Yes, P5 million is the threshold but if there is a pattern, like if I bring P1 million today, then P2 million tomorrow, and so on… that pattern must also be reported to the AMLC,” Evardone said in a radio interview.“You can’t use such pattern of breaking down the threshold amount as an excuse because that will be evading the law. It’s the same for banks. P500,000 single transaction is the threshold but if you deposit P100,000, then P200,000 and P200,000 in consecutive days, that’s a pattern. That’s a red flag,” he added.Evardone called on casino owners to strengthen their customer identification system and background check on their clients.“Even if you don’t reach P500,000, as long as there is a pattern, that transaction must be reported. The same goes for the casinos,” he said.“As it is, casinos just require passport for identification. It should be more than that. Pagcor should have a regulation in place for that. You can’t know everything about your customer just thru a passport,” Evardone added, referring to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp..Evardone was supposed to be the head of Pagcor."
10750,"The petitioners in the disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe are at it again. This time, they want Jejomar Binay disqualified from the presidential race after the Commission on Audit (COA) found the vice president liable for grave misconduct, dishonesty and gross inexcusable negiligence, graft and corrupt practices. The COA findings are in connection with the overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall parking garage during Binay’s term as mayor.The petitioners, former senator Francisco Tatad, De La Salle University professor Antonio Contreras, former Government Service Insurance System lawyer Estrella Elamparo and former University of the East College of Law dean Amado Valdez, lost their case against Poe. The Supreme Court ruled in Poe’s favor — by a vote of 9-6 — allowing the Senator to stay in the race for president.This time Tatad and company want the Commission on Elections to disqualify Binay, promising to take the case to the Supreme Courty if necessary.“We want to rebuild our reputation after that stinging loss in our case before the high court,” Tatad said. “We are confident we will win this time.”When asked by The Adobo Chronicles for comment on the impending disqualification petition against him, Binay just laughed it off, saying that nothing in the Philippine Constitution requires presidential candidates to be of good moral character. “Criminals can run for president as long as they are natural-born Filipino citizens, at least 40 years of age, have resided in the country for ten years before the date of election, registered voters and are able to read and write.”Tatad’s group is also reportedly preparing a case against Mar Roxas and his wife, Korina Sanchez, for violation of election laws. Sanchez was recently castigated for distributing Department of Agriculture (DA) checks to farmers while wearing a yellow shirt, the official color of her husband’s and the Aquino administration’s party. “That’s clearly electioneering,” Tatad said, “especially for someone who is not an employee of the DA.”Expect the group to also start putting together a case against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Stay tuned!"
10761,"A member of the Constitutional Commission (ConCom) threatened to stop writing his draft primer because of the news that Mocha Uson was among those tapped to promote the shift to a federal system of government.“I will stop writing my Primer on the ConCom draft because I have been told that Mocha Uson will explain it to the nation for us,” San Beda Law dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino said in his Facebook account on Tuesday.Uson, Presidential Communications Operations Office assistant secretary, was tapped by the commission to promote the proposed shift to a federal form of government.Ding Generoso, ConCom spokesman, defended the move, saying it was for awareness and dissemination.“She can write about it in her column in the [Philippine] Star and blog which have a wide reach. That would help increase awareness,” Generoso said in a text message to reporters on Monday.But Aquino said he knew how “bad things are” when the controversial Cabinet official was tapped to discuss the new Constitution.“You use actors, actresses and Mocha when you want something raved about,” he said. “But when you want people to understand and to discern, you get serious and you ask the clowns to return for the intermission.”A June survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed that 62 percent of Filipinos are not in favor of charter change, and 69 percent know little or nothing about the proposed shift to federalism.WITH A REPORT FROM RALPH EDWIN U. VILLANUEVA"
10771,"The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is looking at closing down the factory of homegrown cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp. by next month to penalize the company for evading tax payments through the use of fake tax stamps.Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay told reporters on Monday that the agency was preparing to file at least three more cases against Mighty this month at the earliest for unlawful possession of counterfeit cigarette tax stamps. The BIR slapped a P9.6-billion tax evasion case against the company last month.Since late 2014, the BIR has been implementing the Internal Revenue Stamps Integrated System on tobacco products. The stamps ensure that the correct excise taxes have been paid.The law authorizes the BIR to cancel the license to operate of companies that evade tax payments.Mighty license to operateDulay said the BIR was “looking at” and “working on” the possible cancellation of Mighty’s license to operate.According to Dulay, the BIR will “most likely” cancel Mighty’s license to operate, “maybe it will not go beyond next month.”Cancellation of the license to operate will lead to the closure of Mighty’s factory.“If you recall, the Bureau of Customs canceled their (Mighty’s) authority to import, their license to import the raw materials. And you could imagine that within the next two or three months if you don’t have the import license, if you don’t have importation of raw materials, how do you manufacture your cigarettes?” Dulay said.“To begin with, their warehouse in Bulacan—there was no license. You have to have a license to operate that warehouse. As for manufacturing, we’re firming it [the cancellation of the license] up. We’re firming up our evidence on that,” he said.Dulay said Mighty’s warehouse in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, last month yielded about 160,000 master cases of cigarette packs that allegedly bore fake stamps.“In the case we filed involving the warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga, we estimated the [total basic assessment and penalties] at P9 billion. The Bulacan warehouse is three times bigger than the San Simon warehouse, so we’re looking at about P27 billion,” he said.“Hopefully, within the month or even earlier we can complete the documentation and the gathering of the evidence” against Mighty to file another case, he said.DOJ’s preliminary probeJustice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has assigned three state prosecutors to handle the preliminary investigation of the tax evasion case against officials of Mighty.He named Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Sebastian Caponong Jr. as chair of the panel and Assistant State Prosecutors Ma. Lourdes Uy and Mary Ann Parong as members.In a text message to reporters, Aguirre on Monday said that the President preferred a compromise agreement with Mighty so that the money to be collected from the Bulacan-based cigarette manufacturer could be immediately allocated to government projects.“If [there will be] no compromise, [President] Duterte might not be able to use the money since the case will drag on in court,” Aguirre said.“The President was only asking for P3 billion as compromise tax payment. But [he wants it] fully paid in just one payment,” he added.Aguirre earlier said Mr. Duterte had spurned an offer from Mighty to settle its tax liabilities to the national government, which could amount to as much as P13 billion.He said the President did not want staggered payments as proposed by Mighty.The cigarette manufacturer wanted a compromise agreement with the government to save its owner, Alexander Wongchuking, and three other officials of the company from criminal prosecution after the BIR filed a P9.6-billion tax evasion case against them in the Department of Justice last month."
10781,"Kinumpirma ni Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia na ire-require na nila ang pagsasama ng birth certificate sa paghahain ng certificate of candidacy (COC) para sa 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) at mga susunod pang halalan.
Ayon kay Garcia, layunin nitong maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng mga kaso ng material misrepresentation sa hinaharap, gayundin ng diskuwalipikasyon ng kandidatura hinggil sa isyu ng citizenship.
“We want all certificates of candidacy to include a birth certificate. That is for us to check where and when a candidate is born to avoid issues of underage and citizenship,” ayon pa kay Garcia, sa panayam ng mga mamamahayag.
“They should prove where they were born and what their citizenship is through attaching a birth certificate,” dagdag pa ng poll chief.
Dagdag pa ni Garcia, ang bagong inisyatiba ay magsisilbing paghahanda na rin nila para sa 2028 national and local elections.
Ang paghahain ng COC para sa BSKE 2026 ay itinakda ng Comelec mula Setyem­bre 28 hanggang Oktubre 5, 2026."
10791,"Criminal and administrative charges were filed against President Duterte and 27 others by Edgar Matobato, who testified in the Senate inquiry on extrajudicial killings that he, along with the Chief Executive, who was then Davao City Mayor were part of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) linked to the death of some 1,000 individuals.Malacañang meantime said the charges are merely meant to distract the President from his job.“The complaint is nothing but harassment aimed at distracting the Chief Executive from performing his duty. The Ombudsman already terminated an earlier investigation on the Davao Death Squad case which linked then Davao City Mayor Duterte,” Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag said.The complaintThe criminal complaint for murder, torture, kidnapping and crimes against humanity was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by Matobato’s lawyer Jude Sabio.Sabio said Matobato, who is under the custody of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, could not come for security reasons and is undergoing surgery for wounds sustained when he was tortured by DDS members following his decision to quit the group in 2013.Likewise named in the complaint were Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa, Davao City Vice Mayor and Presidential son Paolo Duterte as well as former and present members of the Davao City police force.Sabio said the complaint covered crimes allegedly committed by the accused during the stint of Duterte as Davao City Mayor.Immunity from suitSabio said they knew that the President has immunity from suit, but “hopes that justice be given to the victims of the death squad,” adding that the “spate of killings continues.”Under its charter, the Ombudsman is allowed to investigate a sitting-President and may file charges against him when he steps down from office.Death squad storiesIn his three-page complaint-affidavit, Matobato said the DDS main targets were robbers, rapists and other suspected criminals in the city.He said then Mayor Duterte formed the DDS in 1988 composed mostly of policemen and selected civilians.He said Duterte himself ordered the killing and if the victim was a known personality he would supervise the slaying and the chopping of the deceased.Matobato reiterated his Senate testimony that he came into the open to give justice to the victims, admitting that he also killed 50 persons allegedly on orders of Duterte.The Senate panel looking into the extrajudicial killing recommended the filing of murder charges against Matobato.Gordon’s hintSenator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate justice committee expressed belief Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila de Lima had a hand in Edgar Matobato’s complaint against the President.“Nasa likod niyan si Trillanes at saka si De Lima eh (It’s Trillanes and De Lima who are behind it),” Gordon said in a televised interview.Gordon recalled that both senators presented Matobato during the Senate inquiry. De Lima was then the chairman of the committee when Matobato was presented as a witness.It was Trillanes who provided temporary shelter for Matobato."
10800,"A homegrown industry can't gain traction if the local market doesn't support the product from the outset. Most Filipinos opt to purchase foreign vehicles as much for the prestige as for their reliability.Then there is the fact that the quality of those vehicles you cited left a lot to be desired. Especially for a public that was looking for an automobile that could be used for comfortable city driving, not a bare bones utility vehicle. And, of course, one that could compare to American, European and Japanese cars.—South Korea followed the same path as the Philippine car industry at its inception. The first local vehicles they produced were modified military surplus and junked Willys Jeeps. During the 1960s and early 1970s, they moved into assembly and subcontracting for parts manufacturing.By 1975, Hyundai would introduce the Pony, South Korea's first mass-produced car. This was a proper passenger car, not the low end, affordable 'Asian Utility Vehicle' the Philippines focused on. The Pony was a 1.2 L four door hatchback developed by a team of British engineers with diverse experience from the Land Rover to Jaguar to Ford.In 1976, Hyundai began exporting the Pony to Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Egypt. This would last until 1988. By 1978 it would become the first Korean car to be sold in Europe. In 1982, they started selling in the United Kingdom. The Pony was also sold in Belgium, the Netherlands, and later exported to Greece.The key difference is that South Korean strategists aimed for an export oriented business model, designed to compete with already established global brands. The Philippine automobile industry, on the other hand, focused on serving an insular niche market. Thinking small and parochial doesn't elevate you to the position of the world's fourth largest car manufacturer like Hyundai.-------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/08/jeepneys-remain-a-stark-symbol-of-the-philippines-utter-failure-to-prosper/comment-page-1/#comment-662872"
10810,"Forget all the controversy surrounding Sunday’s Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) pageant contestants and judges. There’s a bigger controversy brewing involving pageant host, singer-actress Toni Gonzaga.Gonzaga co-hosted the televised pageant finals at the Araneta Coliseum with the very good-looking Xiam Lim.The female host got mixed reviews about her hosting duties on Sunday. Some described her emceeing style as a “breath of fresh air,” while many were critical of her off-the-cuff, often sarcastic remarks which made the beauty contestants (and the judges) more nervous and uneasy than they already were.But that’s the least of Gonzaga’s concerns.Today, she lambasted the Binibining Pilipinas Charities (BPC), organizer of the annual pageant, for tricking her to believe that she would be included in the evening gown competition.“I had to scour the innermost stalls in Divisoria to look for the best evening gown I could find, hoping that I can be at par with the contestants’ designer gowns,” she said.Gonzaga was visibly very upset when the name of the best in evening gown was announced. It wasn’t her.After the show, Gonzaga confronted BPC chairwoman Stella Marquez Araneta who explained to her that she may have misunderstood the agreement as co-host. “What I said was that I hope you can wear an evening gown that would stand out amid all the designer dresses that the contestants will be wearing on pageant finals,” Araneta told her. “I never said that you will be part of the evening gown competition.”As a compromise, Mrs. Araneta promised to reimburse Gonzaga the full amount that she paid for her blue, flowing, extravagant gown which took quite a lot of space on stage.The amount wasn’t much, really, since Gonzaga purchased it from Divisoria. And we’re not being sarcastic."
10821,"The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Siquijor province pushes to increase its technical assistance to the Island’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).Siquijor Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) director, Engr. Mario de la Pena said MSMEs need technical assistance in terms of technology upgrading, needs assessment, appropriate product packaging and labelling, laboratory analysis and the like.SETUPDe la Pena added that this year, DOST-Siquijor and PSTC aims to reach out to more qualified MSMEs to avail of its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).DOST’s SETUP program is aimed at empowering MSMEs to improve productivity and efficiency by adopting technological innovations to improve products, services and business operations.According to DOST-Siquijor information officer Engr. Reinhold Abing, as of October 2017, the agency had assisted eight MSMEs at a cost of over P3.9 million.This year, DOST wants to surpass that amount.ScholarshipsAbing added that one of the major programs of DOST is its Science Education Institute (SEI) which accepts yearly applications for undergraduate scholarships.He said this year, DOST-Siquijor aims to have at least two passers per town or 12 scholars for the province.Mango farmingAnother major focus of DOST-Siquijor is mango farming, which has been its priority sector for the tech consultancy for agricultural productivity.Integrated farming is gaining popularity in the province because of the growing demand of resorts and restaurant owners for locally grown vegetables, fruits and other produce, Abing said.DOST-Siquijor continues to assist SETUP clients and other tech-consultancy programs including energy audit, cleaner production and food safety, Abing said.Education, STARBOOKSIn terms of assistance to education, DOST’s STARBOOKS program has been gaining grounds in the public schools.The agency wants to increase the S&T library book holdings by adding STARBOOKS sites in the province.Abing reported they have identified five secondary schools to be given one set of STARBOOKS for their respective libraries.The agency has already received a proposal for funding from the DepED Division of Siquijor, he added.Climate change and other S&T research programsIn the wake of last year’s successful conduct of Climate Science Youth Camp 2017, de la Peña bared that this year, the Climate Science Youth Camp will be bigger and more exciting.De la Pena said attendees will be coming from provinces in the Visayas region and some parts of Mindanao and more interactive activities with scientists are planned for the camp.CODARThe Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar or CODAR was recently installed in Bogo, Maria, Siquijor and more similar equipment will be installed in the San Juan area as planned years ago, De la Pena added.To boost the health care capability of local health care providers De la Pena reported DOST has rolled out RxBox research program in identified rural health centers in Siquijor.Hi-tech healthcareRxBox research program aims to develop a locally-manufactured, medical-grade telemedicine device and demonstrate its usefulness in target rural health units or local health centers in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas/municipalities nationwide, de la Pena explained.According to him, Siquijor State College, through the endorsement and support of Siquijor PSTC and DOST-7 submitted this year another proposal for funding from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of DOST.If approved, it will be the third phase of the research which aims to document the folk healing practices particularly within the area in Lazi municipality where Señora River is located."
10830,"""Elected officials must serve the greater good no matter what it takes, like a father protecting and disciplining his family"". (Provincial Governor in Davao from 1959 to 1965, Vicente Duterte).A small and harmless sparrow, The Red Maya, was up to 1995 the national symbol of the Philippines. But the popular president at that time, Fidel V Ramos, felt he needed a stronger symbol in his attempt to raise national self esteem. He was a liberal democrat who included Muslims in his successful projects for economic growth and social justice. He wanted to reintroduce the death penalty against hard resistance, and took a very confrontational action towards the Chinese leaders in the territorial dispute that still goes on. He needed something stronger than a sparrow and chose a predator, the monkey eating eagle of Mindanao, as the new national symbol.When this happened (1995), Rodrigo Duterte was in the middle of his second period as Mayor of Davao City. He was a son of a former Provincial Governor, Vicente Duterte, and known as a fearless leader ready to take bullets for his mission to make Davao a safe place.But the system of justice has often been a hindrance, especially when it comes to a common man, so Duterte, with his direct and vernacular language, and a deeply felt understanding of the people he served, must at one point in his life decided to do the opposite of what the Major in the ""Dirty Harry"" movies did, (the one who practices the law the correct way to serve himself and with all his power tries to stop the Clint Eastwood character to create justice in his own way).In Davao, it seems that the role of the Mayor and Dirty Harry has merged and the result is amazing. Davao has transformed from being the ""Killing Capital"" of the Philippines to become one of the safest cities in the world. This is a process that would have taken very long time within the existing law system, and maybe never succeeded, and most people in the Philippines seem to agree on that.There is no lack of protests against Duterte's way of ruling his City; he is accused to be a cold blooded murderer by human rights organizations and others with Western ideals of mercy as a foundation for building a civilization.But Duterte also seems to share many of these ideals; he is like the former President Ramos, a complex person and a warrior with a social profile and care for his people. But when it comes to petty crimes, drug dealing and other criminal offenses, there is no mercy at all.Duterte's uncompromising style appears very appealing for the majority of the people here, and I can understand that. He has just performed what most of the Filipinos I have met is saying openly: I'm willing to kill if someone hurts my family badly. This clan mentality is very strong, and Duterte, with his fearless personality seems to be the strong man many are waiting for to lift the nation up from a swamp of inability and corruption.But so far, he brutally rejected all attempts to convince him to run for president in 2016. Seven mopnths ago, former president Ramos visited Duterte in Davao, and the speculation since has been is if the eagle will take off for Manila with his father's exhortation; ""Elected officials must serve the greater good no matter what it takes, like a father protecting and disciplining his family"", in his claws or not.- An expat in Davao--------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/05/dutertes-iron-fisted-leadership-is-popular-with-crime-weary-filipinos/#comment-1165807"
10841,"HINDI maiwasang interbyuhin si Ricky Davao tungkol sa actress-of-the-hour na si Jennylyn Mercado sa presscon Second Chances ng GMA Network. Si Ricky kasi ang may pinakamaraming eksena kasama ni Jennylyn sa drama series. Siyempre, hindi mahila si Jennylyn crowd dahil bukod sa siya ang pinalakpakan nang husto among the cast of Second Chances ay mabangung-mabango sa movie press dahil sa pagkakapanalo niya ng best award para sa English Only, Please ng Quantum thanks to his katambal na si Derek Ramsay at director nilang si Dan Villegas."
10850,"The official yellow tabloid, also known as the “”, came out with an editorial against Senator Dick Gordon today.Gordon’s crime? Calling out Leila de Lima’s crap at the last Senate hearing.In the fantasy yellow planet thateditors live in, it was Gordon, not De Lima, who lost his sh*t and screamed like a lunatic, hence the op-ed title “Gordon’s meltdown”.According to the, Gordon “tried to shame De Lima that angered many people watching the televised hearing”.That’s not a misprint. Thereally wrote that.Perhaps the PNP should include the Inquirer office in their next Oplan Tokhang visit. These hallucinating editors make shabu addicts look like models of sobriety.Theeditors love to misrepresent the truth because they think ordinary people are too stupid to see through their lies.But who are the real stupid ones? Ordinary citizens like us, or theLet’s look at the facts, based on the actual video of the Senate hearing below.1. Who had a meltdown, Gordon or De Lima?Watch 5:52:09 to 5:54:00 of the video, and see who ranted like a wild animal, then stormed out of the session hall while shouting “I’m walking out! I’m walking out!”Was it Gordon, or De Lima?2. Was there “material concealment”?In 5:47:50 of the video above, Trillanes read what Matobato said about his kidnapping case, based on the transcript:.”Notice Matobato did not mention that it was Makdum’s wife who filed a kidnapping case against him. This was a deliberate omission.But someone at the Senate already knew this juicy tidbit—Leila de Lima.De Lima admitted that she interviewed Matobato on Sep 2, nearly two weeks before he first testified at the Senate on Sep 15.In 5:06:39 of the video above, De Lima said this is what Matobato told her during that interview, based on her notes:“A criminal case for kidnapping was filed against him (Matobato) by Makdum’s live-in partner or wife Mirasol Marquez.”So, was there “material concealment”?Hell, yes!De Lima knew all along that Makdum’s wife held Matobato responsible for her husband’s disappearance. But despite knowing this, De Lima let Matobato pin the blame on President Duterte, in front of the global media!Moreover, Makdum’s wife is the cousin of Matobato’s wife, so Matobato’s claim that he didn’t know Makdum, and only followed orders to kill him, was a total lie.Worse, De Lima only admitted that she knew Makdum’s wife filed the kidnapping case after the Davao policemen already exposed it. She was forced to admit it so Matobato would not be accused of lying to the Senate.There you go,. The joke’s on you.Senator Gordon, please don’t take this sitting down. Fight for what is right and what is true. Don’t let the yellow media bully you. The yellow media are dying. You don’t need to please them. Be on the side of the people instead, because we are watching everything, and we have our own voice now through social media.Senator Gordon, don’t let De Lima and Trillanes off the hook just because it’s politically expedient. They need to pay for what they’ve done. Take a stand. Give your privilege speech and expose their grand deception. Millions of us are behind you. We are counting on you to make sure justice is done. The Filipino people and our President deserve no less.This is your moment of truth, sir. Bring back the fearless Flash Gordon!----------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
10861,"WHEN “Eat Bulaga’’ hosts Joey de Leon and Sen. Tito Sotto appeared in Arab garb on the noontime show’s Halloween segment on Saturday, a Filipino Muslim official demanded that they apologize for portraying Muslims as troublemakers.Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said the ARMM government “takes offense at and is appalled by the stunt pulled on national TV by noontime show ‘Eat Bulaga’ on Saturday, Oct. 3"
10871,Ito ang napag-alaman sa isang mataas na opisyal ng POC na matagal nang ipinag-utos ang pagpapatawag ng isang general assembly sa asosasyon matapos magsumite ng kanyang indefinite leave of absence ang dating pangulo na si Gener Dungo subalit hindi naganap sa nakalipas na dalawang taon.
10880,"Sa pangunguna ni Chief of Police PLT Eladio Alo, matagumpay na nadipensahan ng kapulisan ang Victoria Municipal Police station sa pag-atake ng teroristang New People's Army (NPA) sa Northern Samar nito lang 3:30 ng madaling araw. Nagtapos daw ang bakbakan mga 6:40 ng umaga. Base sa mga naglabasang mga ulat, 3 NPA terrorists ang nautas ng mga kapulisan. Habang 1 naman ang nahuling NPA. Kinilala ang nahuli na si Aljon Cardenas, 18-anyos at naninirahan sa Calbayog City. Nagtamo naman ng mga minor wounds ang 2 sa mga pulis. Pinuri ni Police Brigadier General Dionardo Carlos ang ginawang pagdepensa ng Victoria MPS sa kanilang himpilan. ""I am directing all PNP personnel to always be extra vigilant and alert in their tour of duty within their jurisdiction to preempt similar attacks,"" sabi ni Carlos. Nakuha sa mga NPA ang mga matataas na kalibre na mga baril (1 M60 light machinegun, 2 M16 Rifle at 1 M14 Rifle). Source: Radyo Pilipinas | Philstar | Philstar"
10891,"A ship carrying 97 passengers caught fire on Sunday while cruising near Port of Taloot in Argao, Cebu, the Philippine Coast Guard reported.PCG spokesperson Capt. Armand Balilo said the fire broke out on M/V Liteferry 28 about 300 meters from Argao. No casualty was reported.Balilo said all of the passengers safely disembarked from the burnt ship at 11:45 a.m. when fire trucks tried to put out the fire. Also aboard the vessel were the 27 crew members.“All passengers of M/V Liteferry 28 safely disembarked at Argao Port. They are in good condition,” said Balilo, who is also the head of the PCG’s Public Affairs Office.Responding to the incident, Landing Craft Tank (LCT) Miami and Coast Guard’s BRP Capones rushed to the site to help put out the blaze.Authorities deployed emergency response teams for the rescue mission.The vessel was still burning when the 124 persons were brought to safety. PCG did not disclose the identity of the ship owner and captain.M/V Liteferry 28 came from Tagbilaran, Bohol and was headed to Cebu when the incident occurred.As of this posting, Balilo said the cause of fire in the vessel has yet to be determined.The PCG spokesman assured the cause of the fire will be investigated by the PCG in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection. He said the safety aspect of the vessel would be part of the probe."
10900,"According to reports, President Rodrigo Duterte was so angry after hearing about the Department of Tourism(DOT)-Bitag Media Unlimited Inc.(BMU) advertisement deal scandal that he ordered the immediate resignation of Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo.Politiko reported in their May 7 article that Duterte was allegedly pushing to remove the tourism secretary in his cabinet team because of the conflict of interests which involved her siblings, Ben Tulfo and her husband Roberto.“Duterte has reportedly asked for Teo to submit her letter of resignation.” the report said.Attorney Ferdinand Topacio said to the press that they would voluntarily return the P60 million pesos received by BMU from DOT, however if the report are true, it would not still save Teo from being ousted as tourism secretary.“‘Kung hindi man mabawi, kasi nasweldo na ‘yun, nagamit na sa production, mag-aambag-ambag na lang kaming magkakapatid para hindi na lang magkaroon ng kahihiyan,'” Attorney Topacio said in a radio interview.Amid the controversy, Roberto Teo also voluntarily resigned as board of director of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).Another report also said that Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar allegedly received some profanity-laced sermon from Duterte.Andanar has been asked by Special Assistant Christopher Bong Go to explain how BMU received an ad deal from DOT.Secretary Andanar is not yet confirming if the news report is true.After Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the ad deal between BMU and DOT, Erwin Tulfo and Ben Tulfo slammed several officials, media companies and accused them of destroying their reputation.Palace said that the President quickly ordered an investigation over the ad deal.President Duterte repeatedly said that he would not hesitate to fire government officials if they showed even a “hint of corruption”."
10911,"Baha’i spiritual leader Antonio Toledo on Thursday denied the allegations made by his daughter that he raped her and was an irresponsible husband and father.Toledo told The Manila Times the accusations of his daughter, journalist and researcher Andrea “Drei” Toledo, were all fabrications.Andrea claimed that her father was a New People’s Army leader.In her story titled “The life of a communist cadre,” the younger Toledo claimed that her father raped her. She also said Toledo did not take care of his wife Virginia when she suffered a stroke, and that he had a mistress in the rebel group named “Linda.”But Toledo refuted his daughter’s allegations.“She’s painting me as someone irresponsible. Someone who did not take care of her mom. That is not true. She was the one na sisipot-sipot (who would just pop up). I was there every day for almost nine months in the hospital….She was helping, yes, she was. Pero for her to say na (But for her to say) I was mostly irresponsible, I was not caring for my wife, fiction na yun (that’s fiction),” Toledo said.He added that he is practicing Baha’i Faith and not using it as a cover.Toledo also denied his daughter’s claim that he is a drinker.“I think she was referring to one instance…nakatira pa kami sa Muntinlupa tapos `yung isang (we were living in Muntinlupa and a) group of neighbors, nandoon sa harap ng tindahan at nagpumilit ako na uminom ako (were forcing me to drink). I just took ng isang (one) gulp…ever since, ikinagalit niya [iyon] (she got mad),” he said.No such thing as ‘Ka Linda’He also denied his daughter’s claim that he had a guerilla wedding with someone named “Ka Linda,” had children with her, and married Virginia.Toledo shared that his daughter went to his younger sister Rose Marie to tell her about “Ka Linda.”He added that Andrea could have associated him in the concept of “married to the bullet” based on the story of her aunt Perla, who was once a rebel and was married to an NPA member.In her narrative, Andrea slammed her father for spreading the news that his father Simeon was bipolar when there was no hospital record to prove such claims.She also denied that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.Toledo maintained that he never said his father was bipolar.“Hindi ko sinabi na bipolar `yung father ko (I did not say that my father was bipolar) but he has his own psychological difficulty but I did not use the term bipolar…Retired na siya noong nagmamanifest `yung ganoong behavior, (he was already retired when the behavior manifested,) he explained.Toledo said Andrea was diagnosed as bipolar when she entered the University of the PhilippinesDiliman.Rape also a ‘fabrication’Toledo also denied raping his daughter.“Fabrication na naman `yan (That’s another fabrication). Where she got that, di ko talaga matanto (I have no idea),” he said.He said Andrea started to make such claims when she was exposed to child abuse cases she heard from United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in the 2000s.“Around that time, she made those claims, saying God is her witness. I’m also saying God is my witness,” Toledo said.“How can I apologize for something I did not do?” he added.EastMinCom clearanceToledo welcomed the statement issued by the Eastern Mindanao Command clearing him of any involvement with the communist group.“Mabuti naman at ginawa nila `yun. Kasi sila ang makakapagsabi talaga whether nasa intelligence ito o hindi (It’s a good thing that they did that because they are the only one who can really say if someone is in their intelligence list).Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., EastMinCom commander, had said they had no information on Toledo’s alleged involvement with the NPA.Maj. Ezra Balagtey, EastMinCom spokesman, also confirmed that Toledo was not on the list of NPA members under their military surveillance."
10921,"Malacañang on Tuesday came to the defense of President Rodrigo Duterte over his threat to bomb lumad (indigenous people) schools in Mindanao after the indigenous people joined an anti-administration protest during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.In a statement, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte issued the threats as he linked the lumad schools to the rebellion against the government.“The President notes that certain indigenous schools are being used to foment rebellion against the government. [He] warns them in the strongest terms to discontinue these actions; persistence will warrant appropriate government action,” Abella added.“[Duterte] highlights the need to protect our youth and doing so entails ensuring they get the correct education that reinforces the right values that instill love of country and respect for our laws among others, not rebellion,” he added.The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Tuesday blasted Duterte and called him a “madman” over his threat to bomb schools built for the lumad.“To the Madman Duterte: Nice try. You thought you could still fool the people with your grandstanding and phrase-mongering. Having been rebuked by the people’s jeers, you threaten to drop bombs on the lumad schools. You threaten to kill the children. You are the lowest of the low,” the CPP said in a statement.“You are a madman with bombs. You are a bully. An arrogant street thug intoxicated with power,” the communist rebel group added.During a news conference after his second SONA, Duterte threatened to bomb lumad schools as they supposedly teach students to “rebel against government.”The President said he would order the bombing of the lumad schools since they are functioning without the Education department’s authorization.“The schools of lumad, they’re operating without the Department of Education’s permit. In their schools, they are teaching subversion, communism, and everything. Umalis kayo dyan, sabihin ko sa mga lumad. Bobombahan ko iyan, isali ko iyang mga istraktura [So better leave. I’ll tell the lumad now, leave because I will bomb those structures],” Duterte said"
10930,"He is not the president of Europeans or Americans. He is the president of the Filipino people. As such, Filipinos get to decide what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in their leader, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The trouble with the Philippine Opposition is that they have become comfy in their habit of preaching morality from their ivory towers. In the process they have become woefully out of touch with the pulse of ordinary Filipinos many of whom, at best, don’t really give a flying frig about Duterte kissing Bea Kim on the lips.The Philippine Opposition led by the Liberal Party (a.k.a. the Yellowtards) have become so self-assured in their self-appointed roles as the Philippines’ Morality Police that they now presume to know better than one or the other of these “victims” they constantly manufacture to serve as fodder for their obsolete ideology. Kim, the latest of the Yellowtards’ victim postergirls, had already categorically stated that she is not a victim. But the Yellowtards prefer that she be a victim. And on that we ask: Who is really the one victimising here?This latest outrage fad had proven an important thing. The Yellowtards are inconsistent with the fundamental principles of their own “liberal” cause and, worse, offer a pathetically incoherent ideology. They have perverted the notion of consent to their political agenda of demonising the Duterte administration, for example, by their baffling quest to convince Kim she is a “victim” even if she chooses not to be one. Indeed, choice and mastery of an individual over her body is at the core of the feminist sect of the liberal cause. An individual’s choice to be a victim or not deserves respect. In continuing to insist that Kim is a “victim” despite her final decision not to be one is the Yellowtards’ insanity on exhibit.The Philippine Opposition and their Yellowtard leaders have gone too far. They subordinate the personal choices of their postergirl “victims” to their political agendas and dismiss the preferences of ordinary Filipinos in favour of the high-horse pontification of foreign “rapporteurs” and the teachings of the Roman overlords who educate the wealthiest of Filipino youth. The Yellowtards are actually imperialists disguised as nationalists. The status quo they protect is one that is hinged on the continued political, cultural, and military hegemony of Western Europe and North America over the region — ironic, considering the same convoluted ideology was originally behind the decision to boot Uncle Sam out of the bases they spent billions to develop in the Philippines.What ails the Opposition and hinders their ability to counter the astounding popularity of Duterte is their sad fragmentation. Aside from the confused liberal faction headed by the Yellowtards, a motley array of obsolete communist movements also chime into the static noise of the broader Opposition. Add to that, the LBTQI (or whatever the hell the latest “trending” acronym under which gay people march is) “cause” which, bizarrely seems to be a comfy but sketchy alliance of convenience with the Catholic rosary fiddlers of Yellowtardom and ideological confusion reigns. Out of this cauldron of halo-halo thinking emerges none other than intellectual dishonesty.The Philippine Opposition, in short, is a mess. They are held together by a common hatred of Duterte and not much else. A movement fuelled by hatred cannot endure and, quite simply, will fail to move Filipinos.It is imperative that the Philippine Opposition evolve so that they can step up to a true Opposition that truly serves and strengthens Philippine democracy. The alternative is the unproductive noise Filipinos are subject to thanks to the intellectually dishonest sorry excuse of an “opposition” they get today — one that subsists on a diet of “victims” that are manufactured by the Yellowtards to prop up their dishonest cause."
10941,"Inquirer Libre, the free newspaper of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, has sealed two contracts assuring its position as the dominant news source of thousands of commuters of Metro Manila’s light rail train (LRT) network.Inquirer president/CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez and chief operating officer Rene R. Reinoso signed a three-year deal with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Deo Leo Manalo, acting general manager (GM) of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3).Some half a million people ride the MRT along Edsa on weekdays.Romualdez and Reinoso also signed a new contract with Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) president/CEO Rogelio Singson.LRMC is the private company operating LRT Line 1, which connects Baclaran in Pasay City to Roosevelt in Quezon City via Taft Avenue.Last November, Romualdez and Reinoso renewed an agreement with acting general manager Emerson L. Benitez of LRT Line 2, which links Recto in Manila to Santolan in Pasig City.With these agreements, the Inquirer keeps its commitment to provide commuters a free, relevant and up-to-date daily newspaper in key stations of all three light rail train systems across Metro Manila. Over a million commuters ride the trains every day.The Inquirer has been publishing and distributing Inquirer Libre for free since 2001.“Free papers give those who cannot spare enough budget the opportunity to be informed and engaged through relevant news and events happening around us. Aligned with the Inquirer’s mission, Libre’s role is more of a public service initiative to the community, strengthening the reading habit across all sectors and empowering them to make wise and sound decisions,” Reinoso said.For Romualdez, publishing a free newspaper complements the Inquirer thrust to be the most engaging news source in the country.She said the renewal of contracts to distribute Libre in the train stations proved that the Department of Transportation and LRMC continued to be the Inquirer’s committed partners in keeping the people informed through free access to relevant news.“We are very happy and proud that Libre has been able to service the commuters by providing them with key news and information as well as giving them delight through the years. We would like to sincerely thank Transportation Secretary Tugade, GM Manalo, LRMC president Singson and their teams for giving us the opportunity to partner with them in continuing this service,” Romualdez said.Aside from the free newspaper, readers can access Libre on social media through facebook.com/Inquirerlibre, @inquirer_libre on Twitter, inquirerlibre on Instagram, and through chat on http"
10951,"Members and leaders of an urban poor group on Friday said they will not vacate idle homes that they occupied on March 8 until the government distributes to them for free the houses built by the National Housing Authority (NHA) during the past administration.Earlier in the day, tension rose after militants from the group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) tried but failed to barge into the NHA central office in Quezon City.Kadamay and three other organizations supporting its supposed right to call the housing units in Bulacan province, north of Manila, as their own–Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis–branded President Rodrigo Duterte as “King of Talk” for his “failure” to commit to his election campaign promise that he will give priority to urban poor Filipinos “who are in need of homes.”The four groups challenged the NHA to “face them to cancel the eviction notices served” to the occupied units in the town of Pandi, Bulacan.In an interview, Kadamay Chairman Bea Arellano noted in Filipino that March 24 marks the anniversary of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act, which her group “strongly condemns” because it “seeks to demolish all the urban poor Filipinos in the city.”“[We] will not leave those occupied housing units. This is [our] last chance… to have proper homes,” she said.Even if maximum force was used to evict them, according to Arellano, they would not budge but instead continue to fight for their rights because the houses in Pandi were built with taxpayers’ money.“We all know that these housing units came from our fellow Filipinos, not from the NHA, not from anyone else. [These houses] should be distributed most especially to the poor community,” she said.Kadamay Secretary General Carlito Badion agreed.“Let [us] stay in those housing units… which were funded by the people, not by the government, so let the occupants stay there,” he said.On March 8, throngs of Kadamay members and leaders occupied the empty housing units built for retired police and soldiers.Eviction notices had been served by the NHA but the notices were torn down by the group, saying they will not leave.At the NHA protest, officers and men of the Quezon City Police District put up a barricade to prevent the protesters from entering the premises of the agency.Younger members of the group vandalized the walls of NHA office and destroyed the agency’s logo.According to Arellano, they will bring “the fight” to the streets of Manila, particularly to Mendiola “so that Malacañang will be able to listen to their cries.”Mendiola Street, historically a protest site, is a stone’s throw away from Malacañang, the seat of power in the Philippines.Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo also on Friday described as “self-righteous” those who criticized her department’s distribution of food packs to Kadamay members and leaders.She said the DSWD’s mandate is to “serve the urban poor” without discrimination."
10960,"President Rodrigo Duterte publicy announced this week that he had just undergone colonoscopy and edoscopy.Colonoscopy is a medical prodecure that checks for abnormalities in the colon. It is often described as a preventive measure because of its ability to nip polyps which can potentially turn into cancer.Endoscopy is an examination of the upper part of the gastrointestinl tract.Both are usually outpatient procedures.Today, Duterte challenged his No. 1 critic, Senator Antonio Trillanes, to undergo a brain scan to check for abnormalities and the current status of his mental capacity. The President said Trillanes should also make public the results of the brain scan.Presidential Spoksperson Harry Roque told The Adobo Chronicles that the President is very concerned about Trillanes’ mental health considering the many unfounded and stupid statements about Duterte that he has been spreading during his press conferences.”Just like the President, Senator Trillanes is a public official who should be transparent about his health status,” Roque said."
10971,"FEU-NRMF-Gerry's Grill (82) - Manalo 16, Bautista 16, Gaco 13, Arafat 13, Crellin 9, Santos 5, Abdul 4, Sta. Maria 3, Morales 3, Raymundo 0, Tan 0, Gumabay 0. Diliman-JPA (76) - Diakhite 20, Torrado 14, Brutas 13, Enriquez 12, Salazar 4, Ligon 4, Corpuz 3, Sombero 2, Antalan 2, Cuerquez 1, Tay 1."
10981,"Moro terrorists may be behind the twin blasts that wounded 32 people in Hilongos, Leyte province, on Wednesday night, police and defense officials said, as President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday ordered an early solution to the attack that marred the Christmas holidays.Suspicion has fallen on the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Maute bandit group following police determination that the bombs were 81-millimeter mortar rounds that were remotely set off by cell phones.The BIFF and the Maute group share bomb-making technology, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Rizal Day celebration at Rizal Park in Manila on Friday, Lorenzana said he believed the two groups, both under intense military pressure, could have pulled the Hilongos bomb attack as a diversionary tactic.“It looks like they are employing diversionary tactics elsewhere to ease military pressure on them,” Lorenzana said.Three bombsHilongos was celebrating its fiesta on Wednesday and at least 1,000 people filled the town plaza, watching an amateur boxing competition, when two explosions ripped through the crowd.The first bomb, planted near a water tank, went off at 9 p.m. and the second, hidden near the stage, exploded a minute later.Thirty-two people were wounded, most of them in the first explosion, police said. The second bomb, apparently poorly constructed, did little damage, they said.A third bomb failed to explode. Hilongos Mayor Albert Villahermosa reported on Thursday that police found the unexploded bomb, also made from an 81-mm mortar round.Speaking to reporters in Caloocan City on Thursday night, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa described the construction of the bomb as the “signature of the BIFF.”A similar bomb went off at a night market in Davao City, President Duterte’s hometown, on Sept. 2, killing 15 people and injuring 70 others.That attack was blamed on the Maute group, three of whose members were arrested on Oct. 2.Maguindanao connectionThe Maute group is based in Lanao del Sur province, while the BIFF, an offshoot of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front with which the government has a ceasefire, is based in Maguindanao.Lorenzana said Maute group members also lived in Maguindanao. “[T]hat could be their connection,” he said.Dela Rosa said the Hilongos police were also looking at the possible role of a narcotics gang or of currency counterfeiters in the explosions.Senior Insp. Alberto Renomenon, Hilongos police chief, said on Thursday that the bomb attack could be retaliation for the arrest in October of drug dealer Raida Ampaso Sarip.Members of Sarip’s gang are still operating in Hilongos, he said.Renomeron said the gang that was behind the circulation of bogus P1,000 bills seized by policemen in October was also a suspect in the bomb attack.Early solutionThe President on Friday ordered the police to solve the bomb attack as soon as possible. He arrived in Hilongos at10:29 a.m. to visit the victims at Hilongos District Hospital.Six were still confined in the hospital while six others were confined in other hospitals. Twenty were discharged on Thursday but were asked to return to the hospital to meet Mr. Duterte.Mr. Duterte gave cell phones to two victims—John Reynell Lamo, 15, and Mary Grace Odia, 12 – and P10,000 to each of the 26 victims."
10990,"Broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez, wife of presidential candidate Mar Roxas, says she is very proud about the laglag bala scheme that has tainted not only the reputation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), but that of Philippine tourism as a whole.The scheme involves the arrest of airline passengers allegedly found to be keeping bullets in their luggage. It is suspected that the bullets are “planted” by airport personnel as a way of extorting money from unsuspecting passengers.In a statement yesterday, Sanchez even suggested to the international magazine National Geographic to feature the scheme as well as NAIA in one of its future editions. “This way, the world can truly appreciate the heroic efforts of the Philippine government to ensure the utmost security of passengers flying into and out of Manila. She went as far as to suggest a title for the feature article on NAIA: “World’s Best Bullet-Detecting Airport.”Sanchez is no stranger to controversial on-air and off-air comments. She once clashed with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, accusing him of not knowing what he as talking about in his live coverage of the devastation brought about by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).She also commented in a live broadcast that she hoped an impending typhoon (Ruby) about to hit the the Philippines would veer towards Japan instead.If her husband is elected president, Sanchez will surely be a First Lady with a lot to say."
11001,"Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Friday appealed anew for the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels, citing civilian casualties in the renewed armed conflict.Taguiwalo said the social workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Cordillera Administrative Region are assisting nearly 400 villagers who fled their homes in Asipulo, Ifugao, after soldiers attacked a suspected camp of New People’s Army rebels in Sitio Pinugao, Barangay Namal, in the municipality on Feb. 12.At least one villager died from exposure outside the evacuation center, she said.Taguiwalo, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte on the recommendation of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), said having civilians caught in the crossfire is a “very compelling” reason to resume the peace talks.“We must all support calls for the resumption of the peace negotiations. Armed conflict often leads to violations of the rights of civilians … Their lives are put in danger,” she said.Clashes between the military and the rebels erupted this month after the NDFP’s declaration terminating its own unilateral ceasefire, citing the nonrelease of 400 political prisoners and military incursions on rebel-controlled areas.Mr Duterte terminated the peace negotiations on Feb. 4.The DSWD said 98 families, or 398 villagers, including 107 children, had been staying in five evacuation centers in Asipulo.Meanwhile, Malacañang on Friday insisted that communist rebels show confidence-building measures to prove their sincerity in talking peace, after the Ecumenical Bishops Forum urged President Duterte to “keep walking toward peace.”"
11011,"“Malicious and actionable.”That was how Lorenzo Tan, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) president and CEO, described the “insinuations” that the top management of the financial giant—controlled by Chinese-Filipino tycoon Alfonso Yuchengco—was aware of multimillion-dollar transactions that were later suspected to be part of an international money-laundering scheme.In a press statement issued Wednesday, Tan said that he would “fully cooperate with all ongoing inquiries” and hebelieved that he and the bank’s management would be fully vindicated.“I condemn as malicious and actionable insinuations that the top management of the bank knew of and tolerated alleged money laundering activities in one branch,” he said, referring to the $81-million international wire transfer made to the bank’s Jupiter Street branch in Makati City on Feb. 5.The funds were converted into pesos by the bank’s foreign exchange partner and then moved to the bank accounts of personalities linked to the local casino industry.Sources told the Inquirer that the some of the funds were then wired back overseas, including at least one bank in Hong Kong—all in a span of a few days.Another $870 million in wire transfers was blocked after local banking regulators were alerted by foreign banks that approximately $1 billion went missing from the accounts of the Bangladesh central bank, due to an alleged computer hacking incident.Track recordIn his statement, the RCBC chief cited his experience and track record in the local financial services industry.“I have been in the Philippine banking industry for 18 years, rebuilding banks, institutingreforms in Philippine and Asian banking, creating products for the unbanked and providing capital to small entrepreneurs,” he said.Tan added: “My track record is unblemished and even counts positions of trust, such as head of the Bankers Association of the Philippines and the Asian Bankers Association.”Jupiter Street branchRCBC itself issued a statement saying it was investigating the large dollar deposit in question at its Jupiter branch “and the subsequent transactions thereon.”The RCBC corporate vice chair, Cesar E.A. Virata, assured the public that “the bank is cognizant of its bank secrecy obligations and will at all times maintain confidentiality of its accounts.”“RCBC and its principal shareholders—the Yuchengco family, Cathay Life (the largest life insurance company in Taiwan) and IFC (the investment arm of the World Bank)–are fully committed to comply with all banking laws and regulations, in particular those on money laundering,” Virata said in his statement.“The bank has timely submitted the required reports to the AMLC and will cooperate with government regulators,” he added. “The bank investigation will involve a committee appointed by the board, assisted by SGV and external counsel.”The bank, according to Virata, will issue subsequent reports and statements as the investigation progresses."
11021,"Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa on Wednesday officially took his oath as member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). He confirmed that he would be running for a Senate seat in 2019.Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd, president of the PDP-Laban, officiated the oath-taking.De la Rosa said he made the decision to run for senator during the mass oath-taking of the Davao City-based Hugpong ng Pagbabago held last month in Davao City. He added that President Rodrigo Duterte convinced him to run.The former national police chief admitted that raising money to fund his campaign would be a big challenge.“Even if I spend all my retirement pay it will still be not enough so I will leave it up to the Lord,” he added.A recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed de la Rosa among the top 12 senate bets, with Sen. Grace Poe leading the pack.Senators Cynthia Villar, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, and Nancy Binay also made it in the Magic 12, along with former senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Sergio “Serge” Osmeña and Lito Lapid, Rep. Pia Cayetano, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.If he gets elected as senator, de la Rosa said he would work for the reinstatement of the death penalty.Apart from de la Rosa, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Deputy Administrator Nicanor Faeldon and actor Philip Salvador also took their oath as PDP-Laban members."
11030,"A young poet from Marinduque goes viral with his impressive poem which he dedicates to President Duterte. Alexis Fabrero, who resides at Sitio Apartahan Barangay Tigwi, Torrijos, Marinduque recited the poem he wrote in front of a cellphone camera while standing on a mound of dirt in their vegetable garden brandishing a machete on his hip for effect.The video quickly gained traction as many social media users find his poem both impressive and inspiring. He delivered the poem like a classic poet pouring emotions to each and every word complete with gestures.The machete he wore on his hip, which he uses to help his father work their vegetable garden, only gave a nationalistic effect to his recital which of many us found amusing.According to report by Marinduque News, a local website in that province, Alexis is a grade 3 student in elementary and is a consistent honor student in his class.The young poet wishes to have the opportunity to shake hands with the president as a gift for his upcoming birthday on August 6. He also wanted to ask for a scholarship for his two younger siblings as well as for himself. Marinduque News reports that the video of Alexis reciting his heartfelt poem has already been viewed over a million times and garnered almost 30 thousand shares and counting as of this writing.Aside from having the chance to shake the hands of the president, he also wanted a tablet for his birthday prompting the the editors of Marinduque News to open a donation drive where netizens may donate so that they may buy him a present.Here's the video of Alexis Fabrero, now dubbed as Batang Makata ng Bayan, reciting his poem for President Duterte, followed by the full transcript below:“Magandang araw po, sa taga It’s ShowtimeLalo kay Ate Vice, sa inyong lahat diyanAko ay nagsadya, sa inyong harapanUpang makiusap, ako ay payaganTula sa pangulo dito sa programa, kanyang mapakinggan.Magandang araw po, kagalang-galanganMahal na pangulong, kapitag-pitaganSa sandaling ito, sa’yo po’y nagpupugay.Ako po ay batang, taga MarinduqueHinubog sa aral at gawang mabutiMay takot sa Diyos sa droga’y tumanggiBawal magpasaway, ng hindi magsisi.Sa aking panonood, ng mga balitaAking namamasdan, ang inyong mga mukhaSa loob at labas, nitong ating bansaAking namamalas, ang inyo pong mga gawa.Sa murang isip ko, akin pong nalamanKayo ang pangulong, mabait matapangPuso’y maawain, laging mapagbigaySa lahat ng taong, nangangailangan.Subali’t kung taong matigas ang uloSa bayan ay pasaway, ayaw magbagoLipulin ang salot, sakit ng gobyerno.Ako po ay kampi, sa inyo ay panigAlam kong tama lang, parusang ginamitKung hindi gagawin, kastigong makisigMas lalong darami, mga taong adik.Para po sa akin, bilang isang bataSa aking paglaki, paligid ko’y payapaSaan man magpunta, makisalamuhaSaan mang panig, sulok nitong bansa.Kaya salamat po, sa pagmamalasakitLipulin ang salot, sa aming paligidKami ay mamuhay, ng walang ligaligPuno ng pangarap, payapa’t tahimik.Ako po ay mayroon, isang kahilinganNa dapat idulog, sa inyong harapanBilang pagkilala, sa inyong tagumpayNais kong personal, kayong makamayan.Kung mangyari iyon, sa’kin ay biyayaNa dapat ipagbunyi, ng isip ko’t diwaItong Pilipinas ay malayang bansaLahat pantay pantay, may isang bandila.Sa aking pagtanda, di ko lilimutinNa isang pangulong, nagmulat sa akinAkoy magtiwala, sa kanyang layuninSiya’y inspirasyon, saan man makarating.Kaya salamat po, ako’y pinakingganBinigyang pansin, tula kong inialaySa isang pangulong, dangal nitong bayan.Salamat Ate Vice sa iyong kabaitanAking habilin, pusong nagmamahalIka’y mayakap, ng buong paggalangRegalo mong tablet, aking iingatan.Share this article if you think this kid deserves to meet President Duterte."
11041,"Detained former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. is asking the Sandiganbayan’s First Division for a six-hour furlough spread over three days to visit his father at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City (Metro Manila).Earlier, on December 14, the court granted his plea for a furlough so that he could visit former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. at the medical center after the latter was brought there.Revilla Sr. was discharged but was again brought to the hospital and admitted on December 22, according to an urgent motion filed by the defense on December 28.The motion said, “Distraught and deeply concerned about this another unfortunate development, [former] Senator Revilla [Jr.] again respectfully implores this Honorable Court’s kind consideration and compassion that he be allowed to visit and be with his ailing and weak father.”Revilla Jr. is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City over plunder and graft charges filed against him and several others in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel scam.He “feels it is his obligation to come to the aid of his father, who is very close to him, even by his mere presence, and cannot disregard a son’s natural urge and desire to visit and be with his ailing and weak father, and spend a few moments together, to provide former Senator Revilla Sr. the needed assurance and support,” the urgent motion said.The defense then asked the court to let him visit his father “as soon as possible, (a) preferably on 28 or 29 December 2016, from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; and (b) on 31 December 2016 and 1 January 2017, both at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., on such terms and conditions which this Honorable Court may impose.”Revilla Sr. “is currently being treated and closely monitored” at the hospital and is expected to be confined until January 3, according to the urgent motion."
11050,"First, it was Rappler. Now, it’s The Adobo Chronicles.The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has cancelled the media license of The Adobo Chronicles (AC) effective immediately.In issuing the revocation order, SEC said that AC has misrepresented itself for claiming it was a satire site.”As a matter of fact,” SEC said, ‘most of its news stories are not only factual or based on truths, it has consistently predicted news developments that the legitimate news media would later report.”SEC also clarified that unlike Rappler, AC has no issue about foreign ownership, since it is based in California and is therefore not subject to the restrictions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.SEC gave AC 30 days to refile its Philippine license application and revise it from satire to legitimate news, based overseas."
11060,"Here are 9 things your eye color says about your health and personality:Now let's get to what your eye color says about your personality:Did you know that the color of your eyes say something about your health and personality? Well, if this is the first you heard about that, just continue reading to find out more.Let's start with how your eye color correlates with your health:If you have blue, green or gray, you are less likely to be inflicted with vitiligo. It's an autoimmune diseases whose symptoms are unpleasant including blotchy skin. In a study done by the University of Colorado School of Medicine, showed that people with light colored eyes are significantly less likely to have the said disease. Among the 3,000 patients with vitiligo, the study found out that 43 per cent has dark eyes and only 30 per cent had hazel or green and only 27 per cent had blue or gray eyes.Dark eyes like brown or black means that you have lower chance of developing melanoma. The same study mentioned above revealed that considering genetics, genes that protect against melanoma and those that simply dictate the amount and type of pigment you're given are associated with each other.Macular degeneration is, sadly, an incurable eye disease that is caused by the deterioration of the centtral area of the retina - the part that captures the images we see and sends it to the brain via optic nerves. Among Americans, this disease is now the leading cause of loss of vision. It was also revealed in the study that age related Macular Degeneration or AMD are most common to Caucassians who are also more likely to have light colored eyes.Having dark colored eyes sucks when combined with old age. According to a study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology said that people with dark eyes have about 1.5 up to 2.5 times greater risk of developing cataracts that people with light eyes. It was also advised that you wear dark glasses if you have dark eyes in order to protect from ultraviolet light which is one of the catalysts to developing cataracts.Your eyes are the windows to your soul and apparently, to your health too. If your eyes turn red, it's probably a health related sign like irritation or even infection. Yellow eyes is what you don't want to see in the mirror because it's probably a sign that you have a liver problem which can be life threatening. A sudden change in eye color should be your cue to go see a doctor as soon as posible.A study conducted by an anethesiology professor Inna Belfer, MD, PhD in 2014, revealed that women sporting light colors in their eyes are more likely to better withstand pain and discomfort. The study was conducted involving a group of women who were observed before and after giving birth. The dark eyed ones were observed to have more sleep disturbances and had more discomfort anxiety. It could also mean that is why your light colored eyed crush is cannot feel your pain. Just kidding.An experiment done to 300 participants of white European descent revealed that people with light eyes are more likely to be less agreeable and have more competitive personalities compared to the participants who have dark colored eyes who shown more friendliness and empathy.Another study published in PLOS ONE says that people with dark colored eyes appeared to be more trustworthy to some 200 participants who were asked to rate photos of people with different eye colors. The results showed that the majority of the participants were more likely to trust the brown-eyed people than blue-eyed ones.People with blue eyes tend to get drunk more than their dark eyed peers. Accroding to a study in Georgia State University where they surveyed 12,000 men and women, the light colored one actually drank more alcohol and are more likely to have problems with alcohol abuse. That should explain why your light-eyed friends are now becoming alcoholics. The study suggests that if the color of the eyes has a correlation with the sentivity of an individual to alcohol, it may mean that people with dark colored eyes are more sensitive to alcohol thus making them more tipsy than people with light colored eyes.Regardless of what the color of your eyes, you should always look after yourself if you want good health. Having less likelihood of getting a disease because of your eye color does not mean you are invulnerable to that disease. Proper diet and healthy lifestyle is always the best."
11071,"A former policeman, who was tagged as among the suspects in the Davao City bombing, has reportedly admitted his involvement in the September 2 incident that killed 15 persons and hurt 70 others.Saying that he acted as military trainer of the Maute Group, ex-PO2 Jessy Vincent Guinto Original, a former member of Antipolo Police Office, admitted that he also acted as lookout of the bombers.”I did not leave our vehicle, I watched for police officers nearby,” Original, who goes by the name Abu Ashia, told reporters.Original said he went on Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL) after nine years in police service, and proceeded to Lanao del Sur with the help of a friend who convinced him to join Islam.“I am a Balik Islam,” he said, adding that he felt belongingness in the company of Maute group in Butig, Lanao del Sur.He said in February, he joined the Maute group in taking over Butig town as “test mission” for his trainees.Original served as Maute group military training officer providing the recruits close quarter battle training, jungle warfare and mountain military operations.“Most of my trainees were young, about 1,000 of them,” he told reporters.Original, along with Arumpac Ibrahim Pandita, Hamsa Bagul, Musa Rasalam and Mohammad Said Jamla, are all Maute members. The four, however, denied knowing Original.Original said he was planning to return to Antipolo or in the Visayas to lie low after they were driven out of Butig by government forces last November.Sr. Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police provincial director, said a highly reliable informant tipped off the police about the movement of Original’s group on board high-end cars they tried to hide in the mountains of Barira, Maguindanao.Police and military forces impounded a Toyota Tamaraw FX (ULB-358), a gray Mitsubishi Adventure (DSL-162), Mitsubishi Montero (AEX-783), Toyota Fortuner (TDQ-440), Toyota Fortuner (TQK-892) and a Toyota Hi-Ace van without license plates.The suspects are now detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) detection cell in Cotabato City.Taken from them were an improvised explosive device and four hand grenades. (With reports from PNA)"
11081,"A STORM surge warning to coastal communities may come out as babala sa daluyong bagyo, while a gale warning to fishing boats may come out as babala sa hanging hagunot. And the next advisory from the state weather bureau may come out as weder forkast.Say again?Many words in the new official translation of weather terms issued by a government language body has even weathermen themselves shaking their heads while trying out the unfamiliar terms.After more than a year’s work, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) on Monday launched its 73-page “Patnubay sa Weder Forkasting” for use by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), media, disaster agencies and schools.The illustrated book contains weather terms in English, Filipino and major Philippine languages with their translation and explanation. It also has sample forecasts and storm warnings, explanation of weather events, and even Philippine mythological tales, proverbs and riddles related to weather.Some terms in English are retained, such as cold front, equinox and low pressure area; many are translated to Filipino, such as altitud for altitude, bubog-ulan for hail and taog (for high tide).Then there are original Filipino terms introduced—daluyong for giant waves, halumigmig (for humidity), hanging haginit for fresh wind.“We ask that from this day, weather forecasting be done in Filipino using the terms contained in the book. This way, we educate ordinary citizens and the government will no longer have a hard time calling for an evacuation in case of disaster,” KWF Director General Roberto Añonuevo said in Filipino.Fear of confusion“We urge TV and radio networks, the media to use the terms in this book because if we do not use them, the words will die,” he went on.But Pagasa officials admitted adopting some of the new terminologies would not happen quickly.“We are going to study what is acceptable to the public because it might cause confusion,” said acting Pagasa Administrator Vicente Malano, who asked the KWF officials why they chose to translate altitude into altitud.“With so many dialects that we have, don’t we have our own word, a Filipino word?” Malano asked.Añonuevo said the word altitude had no equivalent as a technical term, although there were Filipino words related in meaning.He said there were 27 words in Philippine languages for rain and 14 words for sun, while there are two Philippine proverbs about cyclone (bagyo), eight about wind (hangin) and five about flood (baha).Malano is uncomfortable using weder forkasting. “Why don’t we just adopt the English term weather forecast?” he asked.Admitting they are introducing the use of weder forkasting, Añonuevo said Pagasa chose to adopt the English term but spelled it according to local phonetics to broaden Philippine vocabulary.Reality of the soundAccording to KWF Commissioner Purificacion Delima, the word weder is recognizable since it is how it is usually pronounced by Filipinos, as there is no th-sound in Philippine languages.“Our realidad is the d-sound. So if a child hears or sees the word weder, he will recognize it,” she insisted.The weather division chief, Esperanza Cayanan, admitted weathermen were confused by the translated terms.“At the start we were arguing over the terminologies since we want to make sure we are understood (by the public). Because we ourselves do not understand some of the terms that are here,” she said.“At first we were not comfortable, because we are supposed to teach the public since we announce the forecast. Instead of a short (forecast), it may be long just to explain what is (hanging) hagunot,” Cayanan added.A matter of patriotismAñonuevo said those in Metro Manila may not be familiar with humahagunot na hangin or daluyong, but said these were words used in the provinces.He said the word daluyong was found in a vocabulary book in the 1860s used to describe giant waves whipped up by a storm.Pagasa drew flak for using the term storm surge without clarifying its meaning when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) hit the country in November 2013.“It’s already in the consciousness of the people. We just have to dig them up, restore them. Maybe they’re not used much anymore because we have been used to English. But in the provinces, you hear that,” Añonuevo said.Cayanan said Pagasa would have to hold workshops among themselves and with the media first to get used to the new terms, but she admitted the KWF guide would promote Philippine culture while helping make forecasts better understood."
11091,"Ayon sa grupong Train Riders Network (TREN), nananatili ang kanilang posisyon na iligal at hindi makatarungan ang dagdag pasahe sa naturang mass transport."
11100,"Leni Robredo admitted to Mike Enriquez during a radio interview on May 9 that she owned stocks at Meralco. She also admitted that such had a value of 95k pesos in 1995.Robredo did not declare the value of these stocks, and while she declared owning stocks, the value of such is not listed in her SALN as an asset.Now after doing some crowd-sourcing and math, here is what I found out.I could not get the share prices of Meralco stocks in 1995. What I got thanks to Carlos A Jr Cortes is the value in 2000 which is 4 pesos per share.Using this, and this is even conservative since the price in 1995 must have been lower than 4 pesos, then Robredo owned at least 23,750 shares of stocks (95k divided by 4).The current share price of Meralco is 272 pesos per share. If we use this value, then Robredo has at least 6.46 milion pesos (at least 23,750 shares multiplied by 272 pesos per share) of assets which she failed to declare in her SALN.Using the Corona precedent, this is an impeachable offense.And this does not even include the fact that she did not divest from Meralco, in violation of Article VII, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution.[Above posted by Antonio Contreras on Facebook .]Here is the transcript of Robredo's convo with Mike Enriquez.Several things are clear here:1. She admits to having shares in Meralco.2. She admits that the value of the shares in 1995 was 95k (22 years ago)3. She admits divesting in other business interests but not in Meralco.Fact is, while Robredo declared the shares in her SALN, SHE DID NOT INDICATE THE VOLUME OR VALUE, and such was not included in her assets.Hence, she misdeclared in her SALN.And by the Corona precedent, that is an impeachable offense.************ROBREDO:ENRIQUEZ:ROBREDO:ENRIQUEZ:ROBREDO:ENRIQUEZ:ROBREDO: P95,000.ENRIQUEZ:ROBREDO:ENRIQUEZ:---ROBREDO:ENRIQUEZ:ROBREDO:ENRIQUEZ:ROBREDO:[Above posted by Antonio Contreras on Facebook .]"
11110,"""Ang mga tao talaga dito ay hindi mga Otso Diretso pero ang sigaw nila ay 'Duterte',"" Habang nagsasagawa ng campaign rally ang mga kandidato ng Otso Diretso sa Hong Kong, ipinakita ng mga taga-suportang Overseas Filipino WOrkers (OFW) ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na buong pa rin ang kanilang suporta sa Presidente. Sa video na ibinahagi ng OFW na si Joy Nerie, makikitang ang mga OFWs na sumisigaw ng ""Duterte"" habang ipinapakilala ang mga kandidato ng oposisyon. Ayon sa ilang ulat, mataas ang nakuha ni Pangulong Rodrigo na boto sa mga OFWs sa Hongkong noong nakaraang eleksyon para sa pagka-presidente. Ang mga Otso Diretso candidates na nasa event ay sina ex-solicitor general Florin Hilbay, ex-congressman Erin Tanada, attorney Romulo Macalintal, civic leader Saira Gutoc at attorney Cel Diokno. Naroroon din sila Vice President Leni RObredo at ang artistang si Agot Isidro. Ayon sa analyst na si Michael Henry Yusingco ng Ateneo Policy Center , nakapagdesisyon na ang mga kababayan natin OFWs bago pa nagsimula ang kampanya at baka masayang lang ang pagkukumbinsi ng mga miyembro ng Otso Diretso sa mga OFWs. ""OFWs in Hong Kong have a close affinity now to the President. Not only to the President himself but to his family. Therefore, their minds now are, in a way, conditioned to favor the President, and those affiliated with the President...I think overseas Filipinos have already made up their minds even before the campaign period has begun. The wooing, 'yung panliligaw sa OFW, dapat that should happen even before the campaign period. If you reach out to them now, most likely they are just going to say why only now,"" Source: Joy Nerie via DU30Corner | ABS"
11121,"Americans from various sectors and places in the United States were honored as The Outstanding Filipinos in America (TOFA) 2017 for their respective contributions in raising the profile of the Fil-Am community.Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega of the Philippine Consulate in New York extolled the awardees for their “trailblazing achievements and advocacies” during a ceremony held at the historic Carnegie Hall, over the weekend.The TOFA award recognizes the contributions of the Fil-Ams and their role in elevating the presence of Filipinos in America in various fields such as arts and culture, community service and advocacy, women empowerment, business and entrepreneurship, health care, sports, fashion, research and technology senior and youth advocacy, media, entertainment and public service and politics.The 2017 TOFA awardees were Bing Cardenas Branigin (Community Service and Advocacy); Sylvia Buhain (Women Empowerment); Francis Sison (Senior Advocacy); Amable Yalong (Business and entrepreneurship); WCBS-TV correspondent Hazel Sanchez (Media and Publishing); photographer Filbert Kung (Arts and Culture); Jessica Cox (Courage of Conviction Awardee); Miss Saigon star Jon-Jon Briones (Entertainment); Rocky Gathercole (Fashion and Style); Dr. Noel Fajardo (Healthcare); Assemblyman Rob Bonta (Public Service and Politics)Christina Laskowski (Research and Technology); Christina Julaton (Sports) Jayson Tangco (Youth) and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Pasia Comerford (Heritage Awardee).Talk show host Boy Abunda hosted the event which also featured performances by Fe delos Reyes, Sheryn Regis and other Filipino and Filipino-American performers.The event coincided with the commemoration of the Filipino-American History Month.Engineer Gil Quinones, president and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority represented New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the ceremony.Cuomo, in a letter read for him by Quinones, expressed his recognition of the thriving community of Filipino-Americans and their many contributions to the diversity and achievements of their respective communities.De Vega, for her part, further enjoined all those present to set higher goals and definite timetables to ensure that more Filipino-Americans are represented in different fields and policy making platforms.The Consul General and Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Teodoro Locsin handed out the awards to the honorees from throughout the United States.Founded in 2010, the TOFA Awards was initially established in search for exemplary Fil-Ams in the New York Metropolitan area."
11130,"We don’t hate the Commission on Human Rights by itself. We need it. The country needs CHR base on the mandates from our constitution. But, we don’t need a CHR head like the yellow-blooded Chito Gascon. Because of him, the CHR became ugly and tasteless.Here are the supposed functions of the CHR that every filipino should be enjoying but the CHR failed to deliver.Let’s review each item if CHR really deserves the P700-million annual budget.CHILD RIGHTS CENTERHow many ‘menor de edad’ children were molested and raped by some priests and pedophiles since Aquino’s regime? Did we hear any noise or condemnation from them? Is the CHR a redundant office since we already have a functioning DSWD? It says that CHR monitors the current situation of Filipino children but we don’t even see any major programs that enhance, protect and develop the total humanity of our children in our country. Our children remain vulnerable from abuse, drugs, and crimes.CENTER FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S RIGHTOur Womens Desk in the PNP covers it already. The LGBTQ has its own voice now. Protecting women? What have CHR done so far for our abused and prostituted women? None! Mas naririnig pa namin ang boses para sa hustisya ng napaslang na rapist kesa sa kanyang biktima dahil mas tinutulungan ng CHR ang mga kriminal. Why? Because they want to blame Duterte as the man behind all the killings. Because the mission of Chito Gascon is so clear — destroy Duterte, install Leni!CENTER FOR ECONOMIC,SOCIAL,AND CULTURAL RIGHTSTo all Lola and lolos, have you heard about CHR existence in your area? What have they done to you so far? Have the CHR written a single recommendation to the Congress for the PWDs?CENTER FOR CRISIS, CONFLICT AND HUMANITARIAN RIGHTSOh come on! Where was CHR during the Yolanda wrath? They allowed the yellow government consumed the funds for their political gains. Have you heard the CHR condemning the poor and substandard houses built by the Aquino government for Yolanda victims?The law says, CHR acts as main coordinator and a police for crisis like war. Now, have you seen Chito Gascon participating the crisis management in Marawi? Have you heard CHR condemning Aquino for the unfortunate fate of our 44 soldiers in Mamasapano?A country needs a government institution and a head that is true to its mission. We need CHR as a whole but let’s call for the resignation of former Director-General of the Liberal Party, Chito Gascon. He will only use the office of the CHR to continue embarass the governement in the International Courts and Human Rights groups. He wants to destroy Duterte while he campaigns for the release of drug queen Leila de Lima.Gascon asked the Congress for P1.7 Bilion 2018 budget but it was slashed to P1,000. Are the congress crazy? Nope. This is only a wake-up call to Gascon that the people from their district are not happy with his performance. I believe that the P1,000 budget will not prosper in the Senate level. The CHR will still be getting its 650 million budget but at least, we’ve seen Gascon fall. A revenge that we’ve been waiting for.Give the whole budget to CHR….IF Gascon will resign! We need CHR. We hate Gascon. Period. #OustGasconWhat can you say about this? Leave your comments below and LIKE our page!"
11140,"A student from the University of the Philippines-Cebu was caught by the Armed Forces during an encounter between the government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists.Members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army cracked down a group of heavily armed NPA terrorists at Barangay Luyang, Mabinay, Negros Occidental on March 3.According to the report of Hukbo.com, more or less armed men believed to be NPA terrorist fired on the members of the army which prompted the troops to retaliate.The encounter which lasted for 45 minutes ended with a victory from the government forces, they also captured six members of NPA, however they were shocked when they discovered that among the group that they arrested, there’s a female student from UP.Army identified that the female student was a mass communication student in UP-Cebu, however they didn’t disclosed her name.Photo: Hukbo.comThey also arrested two armed minors that were recruited by the terrorist group from Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.Firearms recovered from the captured NPA terrorist were high powered firearms as follows: one M16A1, one M16A1 attached with M203 Grenade launcher, two M4 Rifles, one VLTOR (M16), one AG 43 (M16), rifle grenades, explosives, other war fighting materials, food stuffs and subversive documents.A week ago, alleged members of CPP-NPA terrorist have burned a tractor in La Castellna and a Sugarcane Truck Hauler in Canlaon City.The government forces were started to conduct a peace patrol in the area where the encounter happened because they received several reports from the locals that members of the NPA were doing a rampant extortion, harassment and recruitment.According to 303rd Brigade Commander Brigadier General Losañes, the increasing locals who were trying to coordinate with the army is a manifestation that the people are already tired with the crimes committed by the NPA.In a statement, General Losañes said.“it is a clear manifestation that the people themselves are tired of these armed NPA Terrorists conducting extortion, harassment and recruitment of minors as terrorists. Furthermore, despite the encounter, the capture of the six Communist Terrorists who were unharmed clearly shows the troops’ adherence to the principles of Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law and Rule of Law with its primacy of preserving human lives. With our continuous combat operation against the communist terrorists, we encourage the CPP-NPA Terrorists to lay down their arms, return to the folds of the law and avail the Government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program and live a normal and peaceful life”.Critics of University of the Philippines labeled the educational institution as a recruiting grounds for the future members of the Communist Party of the Philippines.A blog even listed the procedures on how a student from U.P slowly evolving to become a communist.UP Cebu is not yet giving a statement on the arrest of their student."
11151,"THE MESSY fight for minority leader in the House of Representatives of the 17th Congress is expected to reach the Supreme Court if Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez recognizes Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez instead of Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat.Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said the majority coalition led by PDP-Laban should respect the rules and recognize the votes of the eight lawmakers who chose Baguilat in the speakership race on July 25 to avoid an embarrassing clash in the high court.Erice said Suarez clearly lost the battle for the minority post because he had only seven votes.The Caloocan lawmaker also noted that Suarez was technically not a minority member, having voted for Alvarez for the speakership race.Supposedly, the second highest vote-getter in the election for Speaker automatically gets to be the minority leader.Erice claimed that the majority bloc was trying to manipulate the results of the voting by refusing to recognize Baguilat as the minority leader and allowing the minority bloc to conduct another vote just to enable Suarez to win.Baguilat said the House had suffered from the majority’s dirty tricks.If you’re in purgatory and in limbo, what right do you have to call for a meeting of the minority bloc to elect its leader? This was the question raised on Tuesday by those who voted for Baguilat after they received a letter from those who abstained from choosing the Speaker inviting them to a meeting of the minority bloc today at 10 a.m. to choose their leader.‘Neither in heaven nor hell’Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza described the 21 representatives who abstained from voting on Monday as akin to those in purgatory who are “neither in heaven nor hell.”“Why would they call for a meeting? I think it’s funny,” Daza said in his interpellation of Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who pushed for the minority leadership of Baguilat.“I said, how can the independent members of the House constitute themselves as minority and arrogate to themselves the authority to elect a minority leader?” Daza said, adding they do not have any right or privilege to convene a meeting of the minority.Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco raised the same point. “There was a paper given to me but I refused to sign it because for me, it’s a scrap of paper. They are independents until such time they are accepted as minority or majority,” he said on the floor.Lagman, Daza and Tiangco were among the eight congressmen who voted for Baguilat, who ran against Alvarez “to do what is right.”Baguilat voted for himself. The others who voted for him were Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Erice, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin and 1-Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.TraditionAlvarez received 251 votes, Baguilat, eight, and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, seven.Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said there was no minority leader yet, and he pushed for the meeting and election today (Wednesday).Atienza was the one who asked the majority leader, Ilocos Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, who comprised the minority and its leader.Fariñas replied that based on Section 8 of the rules, the minority leader should be elected by members of the minority bloc.But the Baguilat group insisted that by tradition, the one who received the next highest vote to the elected Speaker would become the minority leader.Lagman also questioned why Suarez was even being considered as in the running for minority leader when he voted for Alvarez, automatically making him a part of the majority.By tradition, a nominated candidate does not vote for himself, Suarez told reporters.At press time, the congressmen have been debating for nearly three hours to thresh out the minority leadership.The Baguilat group believed that the majority bloc tried to manipulate the elections on Monday to ensure Suarez would become the leader of a “friendly minority.”"
11160,"Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has just been proclaimed the Philippines’ Vice President. This, despite having lost the May elections to Leni Robredo.No less than Rodrigo Roa Duterte proclaimed Marcos in a gathering of the Filipino community in Beijing China, where the president is on an official state visit. Marcos, along with his sister, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, joined in Duterte’s China visit.Duterte, however, qualified the proclamation, saying that Bongbong will be the new vice president if he wins his electoral protest.The former senator has filed a protest, claiming that he, not Robredo, won the election for vice president.There has yet been no decision on his protest."
11171,"Cadet First Class Rovi Mairel Valino Martinez, 22, almost quit the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) because of the rigorous training but was persuaded by her family and friends to persevere.“Don’t you know how many women want to become part of PMA? Would you give up now that you are already in PMA? Don’t you know how lucky you are?” Martinez said, quoting senior cadets who berated her during her second year as a cadet.She heeded their advice. Now she ranks first among the 167 members of Salaknib Class of 2017 who will receive their military commission from President Duterte on Sunday.Martinez leads seven other female cadets who are in the Top 10, the first such case since the first seven women graduated from the academy in 1997.They rose through the ranks on their own merit, Lt. Gen. Donato San Juan II, PMA superintendent, said when asked if a female-dominated Top 10 was timed with the 2017 celebration of International Women’s Day on Wednesday.Lt. Col. Leah Lorenzo-Santiago, one of the first PMA female graduates, was the senior tactical officer who trained the Class of 2017.Santiago said she was proud of Martinez and other topnotchers—Cadets First Class Eda Glis Buansi Marapao of Baguio City, who ranked third; Cathleen Jovi Santiano Baybayan of the City of San Fernando in Pampanga, fourth; Shiela Joy Ramiro Jallorina of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya, sixth; Sheila Marie Calonge de Guzman of Manaoag, Pangasinan, seventh; Joyzy Mencias Funchica of Butuan City, eighth; Resie Jezreel Arrocena Hucalla of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, ninth; and Catherine Mae Gonzales of Zamboanga City, 10th.Only two male cadets made it to the Top 10 this year: Cadets First Class Philip Modestano Viscaya of Ligao City in Albay, who ranked second; and Carlo Emmanuel Manalansan Canlas of Lubao, Pampanga, fifth.Martinez, who was born in Cabanatuan City, is the fourth female cadet to top her class. The late Navy Lt. Senior Grade Arlene de la Cruz of Class of 1999 was the first, followed by Tara Velasco of Class of 2003, and Andrelee Mojica of Class of 2007.Aside from graduating cum laude, Martinez will receive 11 awards, including the Presidential Saber and the Philippine Navy Saber.Special awardsThree other female cadets will get special awards. They are Cadets First Class Michelle Serdiño Calusar, who will receive the journalism award; Karen Joy Benitez Gamboa, computing and information sciences plaque; and Ma. Isaia Pearl Paracale, mathematics plaque.Cadet First Class Franklin Esperanzate Dellomos will receive the Athletic Saber.Viscaya said he and Canlas paid no attention to insinuations they were beaten by women, saying, “Everyone did his best.”It also helped that Class of 2017 has the most number of female cadets compared with previous classes, Viscaya said, adding that all 63 of his female classmates are good friends with their male counterparts.The youngest of two siblings, Martinez was a third year accountancy student at Araullo University in Cabanatuan City when she decided to join the PMA.She had not shown any interest in the military growing up, unlike her elder sister, Rubylyn, who went through Citizens’ Army Training and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, said her father, Mariel, a village councilor of Bangad in Cabanatuan.Martinez was a consistent dean’s lister at Araullo University who enjoyed full scholarship with an allowance, her father said.“Back in high school, if a task needed completing, she never got tired accomplishing her work,” her mother, Ruby, said.The father said he was happy that his daughter joined the military. “My aspirations to be a soldier had been frustrated. I went to all military camps to apply as a soldier and no camp took me in,” he said.Marapao grew up at Camp Henry Allen in Baguio and was a civil engineering student at Saint Louis University when she passed the PMA entrance examination.Like Martinez, Marapao is joining the Philippine Navy. “I look for adventure. I will be joining the Navy because the Navy needs people who will man the ships and command the naval forces,” she said.Her mother, Helen, is from Buguias town in Benguet province while her father, retired M/Sgt. Edgar Marapao, is from Misamis Occidental.“We were surprised she made it [to the Top 10]. We heard over the radio that she landed among Top 3,” the father said.Ready for combatAll top cadets said they were ready for combat duty and aspired to do great things as military officers.“I want to be the commanding officer of a [Navy ship] in the future, and if God allows, I want to be the flag officer in command [of the Navy],” Marapao said.Baybayan, who will join the Philippine Army, said she intended to work hard to lead the armored company.Funchica wants to fly and is joining the Philippine Air Force.“The PMA taught us to be leaders so we will be leaders wherever we are assigned,” they said during a press briefing on Monday.Marapao’s father said the family planned to hold a Thanksgiving Mass and gather relatives for a small celebration at their home in Baguio City.UP dropoutLubao town is celebrating the success of Canlas, who dropped out in his third year as geodetic engineering student at the University of the Philippines to pursue his dream of becoming a military pilot.Rosemarie, Canlas’ mother, said her son “dropped out of UP and prepared for the physical tests at PMA by taking boxing and taekwondo classes.”Canlas, who is turning 23 on April 14, topped the PAF qualifying exam.The eldest among five children, Canlas also finished at the top of his class at Regional Science High School in Subic Bay Freeport.“He is a quiet and obedient young man. He puts the concerns of others before his own,” Rosemarie said.Canlas’ father, Tiburcio, is assistant director at the Department of Public Works and Highways in the National Capital Region."
11180,"Blogger Mocha Uson asked some random people about their opinions on Agot Isidro’s statement against President Duterte.The owner of Mercy Fruit in stall in San Andres Malate who interviewed by Mocha Uson was disappointed with Agot’s criticism on President Duterte. Aling Mercy believes that Agot disrespected the man who represented the whole country.Aling Mercy said that Agot must know that President Duterte is the leader of the country where she lives. She also added that if she doesn’t like the policy of the President, the actress should find another place to live.The businesswoman also admitted that she got hurt by the statements of Agot Isidro.“Kasiraan niya[PDuterte], kasiraan nating mga Pilipino, hindi ba Pilipino si Ms. Agot Isidro, para magsalita siya ng masama sa Presidente natin? Ama ng bansa natin yun” Aling Mercy told Mocha.Aling Mercy told the Netizens that they already felt the changes that promised by President Duterte.She also believe that the people who criticise the President didn’t felt any changes because they are already rich and living in comfortable and secured life.“Sila’y mayayaman kaya hindi nila nararamdaman yung aming kasiyahang mahihirap” Aling Mercy said before Mocha ended the interview."
11191,"IBINIBIGAY po sa akin, hindi ko hinihingi ang bridal shower,"" natatawang sagot ni Marian Rivera nang biruin kung pang-ilang shower na niya ang ibinigay ni Dra. Belo noong Biyernes sa Il Terrazo in Quezon City. ""Pang-anim na po ito na mga kaibigan at mga taong nagmamahal sa akin ang nagbigay. Nang sabihin sa akin ni Dra. Vicki bibigyan niya ako ng bridal shower ang ko, 'salamat Dra. Vicki', sagot niya sa akin, ka pa ba p'wedeng mag-practice tawagin ninang?' Kaya p'wede ko bang tanggihan offer ng isa sa mga ninang namin ni Dong Dingdong Dantes)?"""
11200,"What is a broken record? It is a disparaging term for someone who repeats a statement over and over without any variation whatsoever. How about a one-trick pony? It describes a person, again disparagingly, who is really very good at doing only one thing. What happens if you put the two together? You get someone who keeps repeating a statement over and over, yet that is the only thing he knows how to do.for a long time to come during his speech at the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy’s class of 2012 last month. You can read the full transcript in the following links in the original We need not look far for an example of a one-trick pony who sounds like a broken record. President Benigno Aquino III (PNoy) demonstrated that he has been and will be thatduring his speech at the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy’s class of 2012 last month. You can read the full transcript in the following links in the original Filipino text , or in the translated English versionOnce you get through the speech, you will realize that he just did the same thing over and over again; making references to his mother’s “saintly” qualities while taking potshots at his political enemies. The cadets, being respectful of the commander-in-chief, sat down quietly throughout the whole tirade. However, if the circumstances were a bit different, and if I were a part of the audience, I would have raised the following points:Excuse me, Mr. President. If it has to come to the situation that these AFP soldiers of ours have to take bribes from illegal loggers just to let them through, then it means that your people at the DENR were not doing their job properly in the first place!Excuse me, Mr. President. Your mother may not have been involved in taking money from national coffers herself, but she idly stood by and did nothing while her buddies did. So much for being clean; she is complicit to that wrongdoing by allowing it to even happen.Excuse me, Mr. President. Maybe you should have told those cadets instead, that you’re sending them out to battle, and most likely to die, at the hands of the very enemies of the state that you have allegedly been sleeping with.Excuse me, Mr. President. The PMA has an The PMA has an honor code ; your clan apparently does not. Maybe you should also be telling these cadets that you condone military adventurism among their ranks. Do try to remember Danilo Lim and Antonio Trillanes, who is now one of your most rabid attack dogs in the Senate.Excuse me, Mr. President. The military emphasizes results over excuses. Stop making them. You do not blame the lack of progress on the presence of your “enemies”. You march on in spite of it. This is what real men do.Excuse me, Mr. President. You may have made a bit of good on your promise to modernize the AFP and to give them housing, but have you asked whether the housing is really what they need? Now that military confrontations within the region are looming, do you actually think that we stand a chance?On a side note, the PMA class of 2012 is called Bagwis. By itself it refers to the eagle’s wings in Philippine folk tales. However, in their context it also is an acronym: “Bagong Kawal Nag-iisang Lakas” – a new force with united strength. Will this ever apply to us as Filipinos in the future?Now that it is graduation season in virtually the whole Philippines, some of them are sure to take on PNoy as their guest speaker. I pity the poor souls who will have to sit down and listen to him rant. They will undoubtedly be more mature than he ever has been.Maybe PNoy, ever showcasing the grand unoriginality of the Pinoy, will be attempting to take a cue from John F. Kennedy but alter the message to suit his own whims:“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for my family!”"
11210,"In a move everyone is calling desperate and pathetic, Presidential candidate Mar Roxas appealed to the second most popular candidate, Senator Grace Poe to unite against the most popular candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. In a press conference, Roxas called on Poe to make the ultimate sacrifice to thwart a “looming dictatorship”.“I call for unity. I call for decency. I call for democracy. I call for the rule of law. I call on Senator Grace Poe, Grace, mag-usap tayo (let’s talk). I will adjust schedules to your convenience. Sabihin mo lang kung saan at kailan at darating ako (Just tell me where and when and I will come),” said Roxas.For a guy who says he is not into drama, Roxas came across like a drama king. Why didn’t he just phone Poe privately instead of speaking to her via the media? It’s as if Poe was so unapproachable that he had to use a mediator to contact her. Roxas was obviously trying to make it look like the ball is now in Poe’s hands – that if she did not agree to his suggestion, she is being selfish. True enough as soon as Poe said no, a member of the Malacanang communications officer Manuel L Quezon III posted a statement on social networking site Twitter with “Poe says no to calls for unity against dictatorship”.The tweet was irresponsible, indeed. It seems that the press conference was an orchestrated move by people from the Palace to undermine Poe. In his statements, Roxas also insinuated that the Philippines is going to be led by a monster if Duterte wins the Presidency. Roxas and his supporters including President Benigno Simeon Aquino thinks they know who and what is best for the Filipino people. The thought is so laughable because the people think they have been mismanaging the country in the last six years. They have lost the credibility to tell the people what is best for them.BS Aquino also appealed to the public and asked them to urge the candidates to unite against Duterte:Talk to your principals and say we need to see a demonstration of country before self,” …If there is anyone acting like a dictator, it is BS Aquino. He thinks he can dictate to everyone including the Presidential candidates and expect them to accede to what he wants. He thinks he has a monopoly on being righteous. He has forgotten the essence of democracy. In a real democracy, the people decide who they want as their leader. Even if Duterte comes across as a dictator, Aquino can’t stop the people from voting for him. The people want another strongman after experiencing a dud. It is worth mentioning that, of course, the people will get what they deserve whoever they vote for.Besides, if the allegations against Duterte are true – that he is a killer and a corrupt public servant, why didn’t BS Aquino do anything to prosecute him a long time ago? He could have asked the Department of Justice to at least investigate the allegations against him since Day One of his term. Some say that he couldn’t do that because Duterte has been an ally of the Aquinos for decades. Duterte was appointed acting Vice Mayor of Davao after the 1986 people power revolution during the late former President Cory Aquino’s term. In fact, Roxas even considered Duterte as his running mate when he was still scouting around for a Vice President.They all ignored Duterte and didn’t think he was a threat to Roxas’s candidacy until the Mayor’s popularity shot up to Number One. Even the negative propaganda employed by their attack dog Senator Antonio Trillanes didn’t put a dent on Duterte’s popularity.Some say that Roxas looked so tired and already at the point of calling it quits. He seems to have lost all the confidence he had in the previous days. The last time he spoke to the media he said he was still confident of winning the race, which made everyone suspect that he is going to cheat his way to the Presidency. That is another problem for him. A lot of people don’t think he can win through honest means. So win or lose, he is toast.Even if Poe backs down, it’s not a guarantee that her supporters will automatically vote for Roxas. It would make more sense for Roxas to step aside for Poe because with Duterte currently at 33% and Poe at 22%, Poe just needs 12% more to outclass The Punisher. Roxas wouldn’t be able to do that. Unfortunately for him, the more he talks, the less voters he gets.Yes, Roxas was a turn-off. His press conference was probably the final nail in the coffin. He has finally made it clear that he is arrogant and that he is not fit to lead the nation. His last ditch effort to defeat Duterte was an ill-conceived idea. He and his people don’t seem to think things through. They are the victims of their own public relations disaster.There are times when you feel sorry for Roxas. Watching him makes you feel like helping him avoid more PR disasters. The truth is, even if we want to stop Roxas from making a fool of himself, he will simply ignore us. It’s best to just sit back and watch him self-destruct."
11221,"Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg was set for a fiery face-off on Capitol Hill Tuesday as he attempts to quell a firestorm over privacy and security lapses at the social network that have angered lawmakers and the site’s two billion users. Zuckerberg, making his first formal appearance at a Congressional hearing, will seek to allay widespread fears ignited by the leaking of private data on tens of millions of users to a British firm working on Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.The scandal has sparked fresh talk about regulation of social media platforms, and Facebook in the past week has sought to stem criticism by endorsing at least one legislative proposal, which would require better labeling and disclosure on political advertising.Senator Bill Nelson, one of the lawmakers who met privately Monday with Zuckerberg, said he believes the 33-year-old CEO is taking the matter seriously.“I believe he understands that regulation could be right around the corner,” the Florida Democrat said.Other lawmakers were less clear about the need for new regulations.Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said, “I’m not interested in regulating Facebook. I’m interested in Facebook regulating itself and solving the problems. I come in peace.”Zuckerberg was set to appear before a Senate panel from 1815 GMT, with another session in the House of Representatives Wednesday.The huge social network has begun alerting some users about whether their data was leaked to the British firm Cambridge Analytica.Notification is among several steps pledged by Facebook to fix pervasive problems on data security and manipulation of the platform used by some two billion people worldwide.Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley said Tuesday’s hearing is the first step in an “open dialogue about how we address growing consumer privacy concerns.”“The tech industry has a duty to respond to widespread and growing privacy concerns and restore the public trust. The status quo no longer works,” Grassley added.– Suit and tie –On Monday, Zuckerberg ditched his trademark T-shirt for a somber dark suit and tie as he made the rounds on Capitol Hill and sounded contrite about Facebook’s conduct. “We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake. It was my mistake, and I’m sorry,” Zuckerberg said in his written testimony released by the House commerce committee.“I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here.”In his written remarks, Zuckerberg called Facebook “an idealistic and optimistic company” and said: “We focused on all the good that connecting people can bring.”But he acknowledged that “it’s clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm as well. That goes for fake news, foreign interference in elections, and hate speech, as well as developers and data privacy.”Zuckerberg said he has called for more investments in security that will “significantly impact our profitability going forward,” adding: “I want to be clear about what our priority is: protecting our community is more important than maximizing our profit.”– ‘Investigating every app’ –Zuckerberg recounted a list of steps announced by Facebook aimed at averting a repeat of the improper use of data by third parties like Cambridge Analytica, and noted that other applications were also being investigated to determine if they did anything wrong.“We’re in the process of investigating every app that had access to a large amount of information before we locked down our platform in 2014,” said Zuckerberg.“If we detect suspicious activity, we’ll do a full forensic audit. And if we find that someone is improperly using data, we’ll ban them and tell everyone affected.”Zuckerberg met behind closed doors with Senators Bill Nelson of Florida and Dianne Feinstein of California, among others.– Backing ‘Honest Ads’ –On Friday, Facebook sought to quell some concerns over political manipulation of its platform by announcing support for the “Honest Ads Act” that requires election ad buyers to be identified, and to go further with verification of sponsors of ads on key public policy issues. Zuckerberg said the change will mean “we will hire thousands of more people” to get the new system in place ahead of US midterm elections in November.“We’re starting this in the US and expanding to the rest of the world in the coming months,” Zuckerberg said.On Monday, Facebook agreed to supply proprietary data for a study on its role in elections and democracy.“The goal is both to get the ideas of leading academics on how to address these issues as well as to hold us accountable for making sure we protect the integrity of these elections on Facebook,” Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page.“Looking back, it’s clear we were too slow identifying election interference in 2016, and we need to do better in future elections.”"
11231,"CORPORATE giants Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) and sister company PAL Express (Palex) on Thursday assured the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) of full compliance with existing labor laws and regulations in light of results of investigation that they were among the top violators of labor laws.The firms made the assurance in reaction to a story published also on Thursday in The Manila Times entitled “PLDT, PAL biggest ‘violators’ of labor laws.”But the PLDT, through Corporate Secretary Ma. Lourdes Rausa-Chan, clarified that it has not received any order from the DoLE, other than document requests in relation to an ongoing audit by the DoLE of PLDT’s compliance with labor standards, occupational health and safety and engagement of third-party service contractors.“The company and its contractors continue to submit documents requested by the DoLE as part of this ongoing audit. PLDT will continue to fully cooperate with the DoLE in connection with the ongoing audit process. PLDT is committed to fully comply with all existing labor laws and regulations,” Chan said.PAL, on the other hand, made the following clarification: “The Department of Labor and Employment has sent Philippine Airlines the results of its initial Special Assessment Visit of Establishments or SAVE covering four stations – Bacolod, Dumaguete, Davao and Zamboanga, citing so-called violations of labor standards [underpayment of wages, overtime pay and underpayment of service incentive leave]. These findings were sent to PAL only last April 17 after DoLE conducted station audits from April 7 to 11, 2017.“Philippine Airlines would like to clarify that these ‘noted’ infractions/violations were in reference to alleged acts committed by service providers of PAL and PAL Express stations. PAL Group Management and Palex shall exhaust all means to ensure compliance [with] general labor standards, labor laws and industry standardpractices. Such adherence to labor guidelines will ensure work quality, productivity and high service levels.Management is currently carrying out a verification process on the labor-related allegations committed by some service providers and has instructed all relevant Domestic Station Operations heads to validate these DoLE findings. If and when these infractions are validated, PAL will require said service-providers to comply within a specified period as provided by DOoLE rules and require submission of respective proof of compliance. As we strive to sustain safety and service as the cornerstone of PAL operations, we welcome the conduct of such SAVE assessments from the Labor department as these ensure a check and balance mechanism, which will ultimately redound to the benefit of PAL and its passengers.”Earlier, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd disclosed that PLDT, PAL and Palex were among the big companies that have been subjected to SAVE, DOLE’s mechanism to assess, validate and verify compliance with labor laws and their contractors/sub-contractors.According to Bello, the corporate giants were found violating the law against illegal work contracting and sub-contracting,Bello said violations were found on PLDT, mostly among its sub-contractors and majority of which are not even registered or with expired registration.“I will order the regularization of close to 10,000 workers under contracting and sub-contracting arrangements but are performing jobs that are directly related to PLDT’s business,” he told a news briefing, warning that if PLDT fails to comply “we will close them.”“Imagine PLDT, one of the biggest companies in our country contracting out with unregistered service providers,” Bello said."
11241,"Maraming tao ang karapat-dapat na makasama mo, yaong nagbibigay s sa iyo ng lakas, ng ganang magpatuloy kahit higante ang dusang iyong dinaranas; sila ang nagdudulot sa iyo ng inspirasyon sa tuwina at komportable kang ipakita ang iyong galing."
11250,"to eight refugee families from Syria. Each family will occupy one of the eight guestrooms in the palace.The Coconut Palace, also known as Tahanang Pilipino (Filipino Home), is a mansion of the Philippine Government on the campus of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in Manila, the Philippines. It was commissioned in 1978 by former First Lady Imelda Marcos as a government guest house. It was offered to Pope John Paul II during the Papal visit to the Philippines in 1981 but the Pope refused to stay there because it was too opulent given the level of poverty in the Philippines.It cost 37 million Philippine pesos to build. It is owned by the government-owned and controlled corporation the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). In 2011, it became the official residence and principal workplace of the vice president.A devout Catholic, Binay challenged President NoyNoy Aquino to do a similar humanitarian act by opening the presidential palace, Malacañang, to refugees.“During times of calamity, the world community has come to the aid of the Filipino people,” the vice president said . “Now it is our turn to help those in need, especially the refugees from Syria.”Shortly after making the announcement, Binay’s poll numbers in the 2016 presidential race jumped by almost double. He is now tied with Senator Grace Poe, who still has to officially declare her candidacy. Aquino’s anointed candidate, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas is still in a very distant third place in the polls."
11261,"A vending machine that dispenses luxury cars to well-heeled buyers is the latest space-saving innovation in land-starved Singapore — just don’t try to shake it if it gets stuck.Used car dealer Gary Hong has taken to displaying his wares in a glass-fronted, 15-story building.Like choosing a chocolate bar, the buyer can see everything on display, before pressing some buttons and having their choice delivered.Hong, 45, said he got the inspiration for the new showroom during a trip with his 4-year-old son to buy toy cars.“From there I realized that the Matchbox arrangement is a mini version of our inventories that can be displayed and arranged nicely,” he told Agence France-Presse (AFP).From the comfort of a plush sofa on the ground floor, potential buyers can order a among other brands, all with the touch of a handheld device.Once a selection is made, a promotional video of that car is played on a flat-screen television while the vehicle is automatically transported down by a lift.“When the customers see a car that is presented in a best way like a beauty pageant, they just decide that this is a winner, and we got a deal,” said Hong, who added that sales have risen by 30 percent.With a population density ranked by the World Bank to be third highest in the world, land comes at a premium in the tiny city-state.The company stores between 70 and 80 cars at its facility—an amount that would otherwise require five times the space if the vehicles are parked traditionally, Hong said.A similar car vending concept currently exists in the United States, through online auto retailer Carvana, which was reported to have five such facilities around the country as of April."
11270,"Ha? Ano raw? I’ll explain.What the Supreme Court didDoH from issuing new registrations and recertifications of all RH products. DoH from having anything to do with Implanon.Oo, two years and at least four million new Filipinos later, pinag-aawayan pa rin.What can we do?The constitutionality of all RH products The constitutionality of ImplanonBasically, Griswold vs Connecticut explains our right “na hindi pakialaman ng gobyerno.”What is Implanon?Medyo malabo kasi nga talaga ‘yung Implanon. Tara’t ipapaliwanag ko mga friendships.”The State… shall… protect… the life of the unborn from conception.”What exactly is Implanon?Drastically decreases likelihood of ovulation, i.e. virtually no egg cells made Thickens cervical mucus, i.e. makes sperm less likely to reach egg Changes the uterine lining. i.e. makes it harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterusConception, or the beginning of life.Egg cells and sperms cells, on their own, are not human beings per se because otherwise, that’d mean any man who has masturbated at least once in his life would be liable for genocide, and any woman who has menstruated would be liable for murder.That’s just crazy.Implanon, the Embryo, and “Technical Abortion”Implanon changes the uterine lining. i.e. makes it harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.Let’s compromiseParang may isang noisy lang sa klase tapos lahat ng estudyante, pinalo.Implanon lang naman ang problema e, so Implanon na lang ang ibawal, wag lahat.DONT FORGET TO SHARE!RELATED POSTS:I am categorically pro-RH, but I think it’s time to re-evaluate government policy because the only way to move forward is to actually move forward.It’s time to understand the current situation and see what we can do to fix it.Let’s face it: a 30,000-peso monthly paycheck is barely enough for a family of five. Now, imagine if the breadwinner earns a half of that and the family is twice as big? Sadly, that’s the case of many Filipinos today because of limited access to birth control products, and the RH Law was enacted for this purpose.If there’s one thing that I can give the Aquino Administration some credit for, it would be the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law, more formally known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 [ RA 10354 ].The problem, however, is that as of today, it’s still nowhere near implementation because of legal roadblocks.On 13 March 2013, the SC prohibited the RH Law’s implementation pending the judicial review. It was extended until the SC decided parts of it were unconstitutional. These parts were struck down [ GMA ].And just when I thought it has been ironed out after that, another challenge popped up in June 2014, when a civil society organization challenged the constitutionality of the Department of Health’s decision to distribute contraceptive implants that can prevent pregnancies for up to three years. The SC TRO-ed the RH Law again [ GMA ].The battle still rages two years later, well into the Duterte Presidency.The contraceptives-in-question are Implanon and Implanon NXT, which we will collectively call “Implanon” because they’re essentially the same thing.I'll describe the current situation then explain what we can do to fix it.The Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that prevents [ SC 2nd Div ]:Note that the TRO I used as reference [ SC 2nd Div ] was issued on June 2015, but it’s basically the same TRO that’s being rehashed from 2014 to present.Judging from the TRO’s contents, there are two core issues:Obviously, the key to overcoming this hurdle is showing that the two are constitutional., the constitutionality of all RH products, is relatively easy to argue. That is, the Philippine SC has cited Griswold vs Connecticut [ PBS ] in a few decisions, including Gamboa vs PNP , and Ople vs CoA . This suggest that they generally agree to it. Griswold vs Connecticut.Griswold vs Connecticut is a United States SC decision which says that despite the presumed unconstitutionality of contraceptives, a couple’s right to marital privacy is more important so the government cannot deny them access to contraceptives.This leaves us with the second issue: the constitutionality of Implanon.Late into Aquino’s term, Health Sec. Janet Garin announced that her department will procure hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of Implanon for distribution throughout the country.A single Implanon shot, good for three years, is worth ~$800 [ Drugs ] or ~₱40,000 [ Goog ]. Garin got it for just ₱500 apiece, thanks to a subsidy from the Gates Foundation [ ABS ].Garin has procured 400,000 units so far, worth ₱200-m. However, due to the June 2014 SC prohibition that’s active up to this day, these contraceptives are basically rotting in Department of Health (DoH) warehouses. If the TRO is not lifted before 2018, ₱200-m of taxpayers’ money will just go to dust [ ABS ].Implanon is a contraceptive, i.e. an RH product, so if we can win on the first issue using Griswold vs Connecticut, then that would also apply to Implanon, right?Not exactly. [ Article II Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution ] specifically says:The keyword here is “”, i.e. the beginning of life.The problem? RH opponents argue that Implanon is an abortifacient, or an abortion-inducing product.Implanon is a matchstick-shaped device that contains a pregnancy-preventing hormone. It is implanted beneath the skin of the upper arm, and it successfully prevents pregnancies for around three years [ UWisc ]. It is an extremely effective birth control method, arguably safer and more effective than natural (e.g. rhythm, calendar) or mechanical (condoms, IUDs) methods.Upon subdermal insertion, Implanon has three effects on a woman’s body:And here’s where the constitution gets in the way. Do you still remember the keyword I mentioned before?Hence, the first two effects are non-issues, as they happen BEFORE conception, or BEFORE the beginning of life.The problem is with the third.The legal issue is in Implanon’s third effect:In the off chance that a woman still manages to ovulate despite Implanon, plus the off chance that a sperm reaches it, the embryo will find it difficult to attach to the uterus because Implanon makes the uterus “slippery”.And where does the embryo go to? Straight out of the vagina, and that’s abortion. Technically, at least. You see, after fertilization happens, the “thing” starts cell division by Day 2[ UNSW ], while moving from the fallopian tube to the uterus. Implantation of the embryo onto the uterus starts on Day 6 at the earliest and lasts for 12 days [ EHD ].That is, a human being has been “conceived” by Day 2, and it will not survive past the first three weeks because Implanon makes the uterus too slippery for implantation to happen.And that’s why Implanon is likely to be declared unconstitutional, because it technically kills the embryo.Yes, I have reason to believe that the DoH’s ₱200-million Implanon stockpile may never get out of the warehouses.But there’s a way to move forward.Let’s go back to the TRO that’s active up to this day. Pro-RH camps have called for its lifting just this month, but to no avail [ Star ].I believe that the TRO in effect is too far-reaching. Instead of just banning Implanon, it basically banned everything in the market.And this is where I think there’s an opportunity.I believe that Implanon is the core issue that prevents SC from lifting the TRO. However, as I have explained, all other non-abortifacient RH products (e.g. personal lubricants, sex toys, whatever), can be declared constitutional per Griswold vs Connecticut.In short, pro-RH camps can request the Supreme Court not to lift the TRO, but to AMEND it.This way, we can move forward with the RH Law’s implementation sans Implanon, then let government lawyers fight their way to show Implanon is OK.The Implanon legal battle will take a while to settle, but we can at least move forward with everything else.Garin may have good intentions, but even the best intentions are not enough without foresight.Yes, Garin will be in hot water because it will appear that the government would tacitly admit Implanon’s unconstitutionality, but it’s in the public’s best interest to gain greater access to RH products as soon as possible.Fine, stop Implanon, but don’t stop everything else. That’s what I am saying. [ ThinkingPinoy Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
11281,"Patrick Murphy was convicted of killing a fellow Muscogee (Creek) Nation man in 1999 and was sentenced to die. Prosecutors say he mutilated George Jacobs and left him to bleed to death on the side of a country road about 80 miles southeast of Tulsa.In a decision that many believe could radically redefine criminal jurisdiction across a huge swath of Oklahoma, though, a federal appeals court overturned the conviction last year. It determined the case should have been tried in federal court, not state court, because the crime occurred on land assigned to the tribe before Oklahoma became a state and Congress never formally disestablished the tribal borders even though the land long ago stopped being a reservation.The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the state’s appeal of the ruling this fall, but other Native American inmates and defendants in Oklahoma have already begun appealing their convictions or asking for their cases to be dismissed on the same jurisdictional grounds. State and federal officials warn, too, that if the ruling stands, it could have far-reaching effects on areas beyond criminal jurisdiction, including tax collection and property rights.“If not corrected, the decision … could result in the largest abrogation of state sovereignty by a federal court in American history,” Oklahoma’s attorney general, Mike Hunter, wrote in asking the Supreme Court to look at the ruling.The ruling could have a big effect on tribal members in Oklahoma, but not elsewhere, because of how tribal land was treated as Oklahoma transitioned from territory to state.Many of the 38 Oklahoma-based tribes were driven from their ancestral homelands and resettled on sweeping tracts of land in what later became the state, including most of what is now eastern Oklahoma. The Creek Nation’s territory, alone, encompassed more than 3 million acres, including most of what became the state’s second-largest city, Tulsa.As settlers continued to expand westward, the federal government took back much of that land through forced allotment, a policy aimed at transforming communally owned tribal land to individual parcels owned by tribal members. Lands the government determined to be “excess” were sold on the open market or allowed to be settled by non-Native Americans.In its ruling last year, the appeals court in Denver determined that because Congress never formally disestablished the Creek Nation’s original tribal boundaries, the land in McIntosh County where Jacobs was killed is still under the jurisdiction of tribal or federal authorities for crimes involving tribal members.Although the ruling is specific to Murphy’s case and Creek Nation territory, legal experts say it could be applied to cases involving other members of tribes whose boundaries also weren’t formally disestablished by Congress.If the ruling is allowed to stand, the number of felony indictments based on Oklahoma Indian country jurisdiction could jump from three cases in 2017 to more than 500 per year, the U.S. Department of Justice’s solicitor general wrote in a filing supporting the state’s appeal.“The federal government would have exclusive jurisdiction over most crimes by or against Indians in most of eight counties, including the City of Tulsa, with a total population of about 950,000 people,” he wrote.The state’s oil and gas industry also submitted a brief in the case, fretting that the ruling threatens to “upend practically every aspect of Oklahoma’s legal and regulatory regime.”Many tribal officials and legal scholars, along with Murphy’s attorneys, say many of the “sky-is-falling” legal arguments in the case are overblown.“I would say they’re not just a little bit overblown, they’re wildly overstated on a lot of fronts,” said Lindsay Dowell, first assistant attorney general for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.Dowell said the tribe, like many in Oklahoma, has a fully functional court and law enforcement system that already works closely with state and federal partners.“So, the Nation has the capacity to function as a government with respect to law enforcement and does that already and has the capacity to handle anything that would result from Murphy,” she said.Oklahoma City University’s general counsel, Casey Ross, who is also director of the law school’s American Indian Law and Sovereignty Center, said she also believes many of the fears about how the ruling might impact tax policy, environmental regulation and land ownership are overstated. Still, she acknowledged the ruling is momentous, as it stands.“It’s an interesting case. It’s an interesting time,” she said. “Particularly my law professor colleagues, we all kind of joke with each other about how we might have to change up the way we’re teaching (tribal law).”"
11290,"Good fortune has just struck twice for Rose Fostanes, the Filipina caregiver who recently won in the inaugural season of X Factor Israel.Yesterday, Fostanes won one hundred fifty million sheqel (Israeli currency) in the country’s national lottery, Mifal HaPayis.Most gambling is prohibited in Israel, but Mifal HaPayis is a government-sanctioned national lottery organization. It was established in August 1951 to recruit funding for the construction of a hospital in Tel Aviv. At first, the project’s profits were used only for healthcare applications. Later on, when Mifal HaPayis became a national lottery organization, its support was extended to projects in the fields of education, recreation, and the arts.This latest fortune comes as huge relief for Ms. Fostanes who learned last week that she cannot be paid for any recording contracts, concerts or public appearances within Israel because her work permit allows her to only get paid as a caregiver. Winning the lottery has no such restrictions. Citizens, immigrants and tourists can claim the prize as long as they possess the winning ticket.Asked by The Adobo Chronicles about her immediate plans, the singer/caregiver/millionaire said she will continue to work as a caregiver and give free concerts in Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel. She added that she is considering establishing a care facility in Tel Aviv so she could help the sick, indigents and the elderly."
11300,"Both local and national-based journalists were blocked from entering the Cebu Country Club where supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte are having a thanksgiving party dubbed as “Bisaya na Gyud!”.This is in line with what President Rody said that he will boycott the media until the end of his term after he was misquoted and when his statements were misinterpreted by the media during his previous press conference.Only PTV channel 4, a state-owned TV broadcasting network was allowed to cover the event. President Duterte once said that his statements will only be channeled to PTV4.Look at the photos below:Any thoughts? What can you say about these photos? Leave your comments below!"
11311,"As the country awaits the signing of the law postponing the barangay and youth elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) told the public that the election period will begin on Oct. 1.The poll body cautioned the public of poll-related prohibitions to be enforced during the election period from Oct. 1 to 30, particularly the election gun ban.The Comelec issued the reminder as it awaits President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the law postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to May 2018.In a statement, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez stressed that violating the election gun ban, as well as the other prohibitions, will be considered an election offense.Jimenez said violations of the election prohibitions will come with one to six years imprisonment, disqualification from public office and deprivation of the right to suffrage.At least one Comelec checkpoint will be established in each city or municipality beginning 12:01 am of Oct. 1 to effectively implement the election gun ban.However, additional police or military checkpoints will be established in coordination with the election officer having jurisdiction over the city or municipality.The filing of the certificates of candidacy will be from Oct. 5 to 11, while the campaign period will run from Oct. 12 to 22."
11321,"Whatever argument Chief Justice Maria Lourdes raises in media cannot be considered a valid defense in the impeachment charges against her because it is not the proper forum, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Friday.“What I’m saying is, she does not appear in the hearing [so] how can she defend herself properly? Then she will issue statements to the media, but those are not valid,” Alvarez said in a dzMM radio interview.Alvarez said Sereno’s statements during public appearances at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City last Thursday could not be considered valid because the engagements were not the proper forums.“This is why she needs to attend [the House hearing] to disprove the allegations and the evidence laid out against her. She knows this since she is a lawyer herself,” the speaker said."
11330,"[FEATURED: Switzerland-based OFWs stage a demonstration in support of the Duterte Government earlier this month.]The Domestic Public Relations WarFor example, oppositionist Liberal Party (LP) Senator Bam Aquino attributed VP Leni Robredo plunging net satisfaction scores to “black propaganda”. Whether Anti-Robredo news’ is “black propaganda” or an inconvenient truth depends on which side of the political spectrum one belongs. However, one thing is clear: the propaganda war against Robredo is waged largely on Facebook, and it is extremely effective. Suffice it to say, Duterte, his communications team, and independent Duterte-aligned social media influencers, have managed to cement his grip on popularity, at least for the foreseeable future. That is, I have good reason to believe the that local Public Relations battle has already been won, and the task of maintaining Duterte’s satisfaction ratings is just a matter of keeping the current supporter base within the fold.This is the same reason why I, ThinkingPinoy, do not publish posts as often as I did a year ago. Clearly, Facebook has become the primary battleground for local political discourse, and Duterte-aligned social media influencers collectively enjoy higher engagement rates than those of the opposition combined [ TP: Mosquito Press ].Suffice it to say, Duterte, his communications team, and independent Duterte-aligned social media influencers, have managed to cement his grip on popularity, at least for the foreseeable future. That is, I have good reason to believe the that local Public Relations battle has already been won, and the task of maintaining Duterte’s satisfaction ratings is just a matter of keeping the current supporter base within the fold.This is the same reason why I, ThinkingPinoy, do not publish posts as often as I did a year ago.Just look at what the opposition did to Lascañas: instead of pushing for more local coverage, he was flown out of the country and has started to wreak PR havoc overseas.Sans any well-founded corruption issue against Duterte that may pop up in the future, Duterte will enjoy popular support until the end of his term, the same popular support that enables him to be as decisive as he is right now.But the international PR situation is not as rosy.Duterte vs the World The international community’s opinion of the president can use some improvement, to say the least.Let me state it more bluntly:Thanks to overwhelmingly negative international media coverage, and his chronically acerbic language, most Westerners think he’s a mass murderer, with some believing that his administration is the reincarnation of the Third Reich. I have extensively discussed the summary execution issue in ""However, quoting part of""(It) doesn't have to be true. (It) just needs to look like that.”In January, for example, the European Parliament has threatened to revoke our GSP+ status [Late last year, US President Obama used sharp rhetoric to denounced what he perceived as Duterte-instigated human rights violations. At the rate they’re going, a Democrat win in the 2016 US National Elections might have resulted into intervention [Western Governments, which are mostly democratic like that of the Philippines, are composed of political animals who generally act in accordance with public opinion. The European Parliament in itself is amoral, and it derives its “morality” from what the general public has to say. The United States Congress generally works the same way, though I can safely say that it has less of conscience than Europe.Europeans have an extremely negative opinion of Duterte, thanks to its media giants that have close ties with LP and Philippine mainstream media. Yes, the same Philippine mainstream media owned by the same abusive oligarchs that Duterte is desperately trying to rein in. The international community’s opinion of the president can use some improvement, to say the least.Let me state it more bluntly:I have extensively discussed the summary execution issue in "" Duterte's War on Narcopolitics and Rappler's Bad Math ,"" where I demonstrated how the oft-cited death toll statistic of 7,000 is the result of mangled definitions or worse, malice on the part of the reporter.However, quoting part of an email from LP-aligned billionaire lobbyist Loida Nicolas-Lewis And that's exactly what happened.In January, for example, the European Parliament has threatened to revoke our GSP+ status [ Star ], which will raise tariffs on our exports. But this pales in comparison to what happened just a few months before.Late last year, US President Obama used sharp rhetoric to denounced what he perceived as Duterte-instigated human rights violations. At the rate they’re going, a Democrat win in the 2016 US National Elections might have resulted into intervention [ TP: Goldberg ]. Luckily for us, the Republican Trump won, allaying immediate fears of local political observers [ TP: Good for PH ].Western Governments, which are mostly democratic like that of the Philippines, are composed of political animals who generally act in accordance with public opinion. The European Parliament in itself is amoral, and it derives its “morality” from what the general public has to say. The United States Congress generally works the same way, though I can safely say that it has less of conscience than Europe.Europeans have an extremely negative opinion of Duterte, thanks to its media giants that have close ties with LP and Philippine mainstream media. Yes, the same Philippine mainstream media owned by the same abusive oligarchs that Duterte is desperately trying to rein in.Take for example, the time when Senator Leila de Lima sent an aide to speak against the Philippine Government in the Human Rights International Forum in Geneva, and all we had as a defense is a passionate Filipina OFW:I sincerely laud her passion and patriotism, but the fact remains that we have a better chance at being heard if the speaker has the imprimatur of the National Government. As a matter of fact, that Filipina's heartfelt statements fell onto deaf ears, as UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard, the same exact person that the Filipina was addressing, ignored her plea and continued disparaging the Philippine Government right after the event.But I am digressing.Time is of the essenceHumanitarian intervention is a euphemism for the threat or use of force by a state, group of states, or international organization. While it may be argued that an American-led invasion of an increasingly China-friendly Philippines is unlikely, a Pence presidency brings with it a great likelihood of more subtle, but just as destructive, destabilization efforts against the Duterte Government. But before we go too far, let me make this very clear: Good Public Relations is not the end all and be all of successful diplomacy. It is, however, an integral part of it. And this dilemma is something that the internationally frowned-upon Duterte cannot sweep under the rug anymore.Besides, I think Duterte owes much to Overseas Filipino Workers, the same OFWs who are suffering from the international PR backlash today. At this rate, it may only be a matter of time before we lose our GSP+ status. And worse, given Trump’s catastrophic unpopularity further exacerbated by launching airstrikes on Syria, it may only be a matter of time before he gets impeached and consequently replaced by Vice-president Mike Pence, a known supporter of “humanitarian intervention” [ GR ].While it may be argued that an American-led invasion of an increasingly China-friendly Philippines is unlikely, a Pence presidency brings with it a great likelihood of more subtle, but just as destructive, destabilization efforts against the Duterte Government. But before we go too far, let me make this very clear: Good Public Relations is not the end all and be all of successful diplomacy. It is, however, an integral part of it. And this dilemma is something that the internationally frowned-upon Duterte cannot sweep under the rug anymore.Besides, I think Duterte owes much to Overseas Filipino Workers, the same OFWs who are suffering from the international PR backlash today.Just take a look at what his Switzerland-based Filipina had to say:What can Duterte do?During their incumbency, Duterte’s predecessors had a solution for this: they have been known to hire influential international PR firms, or what I personally call “deodorants and sanitizers”.President Aquino hired in 2010 an unnamed public relations firm for his US State Visit [The problem, however, is that Duterte seems put Public Relations at the end of his list of priorities. A cabinet secretary recently told me, “The president thinks PR is important, but he’d rather spend the money on infrastructure and food security, because he thinks they’re more important.”I cannot really blame Duterte for his disinclination in spending government funds on PR. The Philippines, despite having Admit it or not, Duterte is a Western PR disaster and something has to be done so that international opinion will not translate to increasingly likely economic and military sanctions.During their incumbency, Duterte’s predecessors had a solution for this: they have been known to hire influential international PR firms, or what I personally call “deodorants and sanitizers”.President Aquino hired in 2010 an unnamed public relations firm for his US State Visit [ Star ]. Meanwhile, President Arroyo in 2002 hired Burson-Marsteller ""to enhance the global image of the Philippines"" especially in the eyes of ""decision-makers from both government and private sectors [ Star ].""The problem, however, is that Duterte seems put Public Relations at the end of his list of priorities. A cabinet secretary recently told me, “The president thinks PR is important, but he’d rather spend the money on infrastructure and food security, because he thinks they’re more important.”I cannot really blame Duterte for his disinclination in spending government funds on PR. The Philippines, despite having one of the biggest economies on the planet, is still very poor. The pie is large but the number of people who’ll share the pie is so much larger.The cost of hiring a PR company A senior member of the Philippine Diplomatic Corps, who shall not be identified for lack of authority to speak on the matter, told me that they cost around US$3 million annually on the average.Actually, Arroyo took it to the next level in 2007, as the beleaguered president allegedlyIn fairness to Duterte, I believe that for now, his PR nightmare is not as bad as Arroyo’s in 2007. International Law scholar Paula Defensor-Knack herself explained that an ICC investigation is unlikely to lift off. Well, at least for now. Regardless, Duterte been espousal of austerity in public spending since his first day in Malacañang makes it extremely unlikely, even for his most trusted men, to convince him of doing what Aquino and Arroyo did. And even if he wanted to, Duterte will find it difficult to rival the drug-fueled pockets of the Liberal Party [ A senior member of the Philippine Diplomatic Corps, who shall not be identified for lack of authority to speak on the matter, told me that they cost around US$3 million annually on the average.Actually, Arroyo took it to the next level in 2007, as the beleaguered president allegedly hired influential US lobby firm Covington and Burling for US$ 50 million In fairness to Duterte, I believe that for now, his PR nightmare is not as bad as Arroyo’s in 2007. International Law scholar Paula Defensor-Knack herself explained that an ICC investigation is unlikely to lift off. Well, at least for now. Regardless, Duterte been espousal of austerity in public spending since his first day in Malacañang makes it extremely unlikely, even for his most trusted men, to convince him of doing what Aquino and Arroyo did. And even if he wanted to, Duterte will find it difficult to rival the drug-fueled pockets of the Liberal Party [ TP: Jesse Robredo ].Even I would cringe at that kind of price tag: only LP drug lords will be okay with that!But Duterte is the Patron Saint of Striking a Compromise and of Finding the Middle Ground.Take, for example, the Php 2,000 SSS pension hike issue:His three populist cabinet members – Agrarian Reform Sec. Mariano, Social Welfare Sec. Taguiwalo, and NAPC Chair Maza – were totally for it. Meanwhile, his three economic managers – Finance Sec. Dominguez, Budget Sec. Diokno, and NEDA Chief Pernia – were reportedly against raising pensions by P2,000, arguing that doing so would drastically shorten the SSS fund’s actuarial life. Duterte met them halfway: he approved a Php 1,000 pension hike [ Inq ]. Now, what’s the halfway mark on the PR issue? His stance against corruption, drugs, and criminality are non-negotiables, and I am happy about that. However, his stance on other issues, especially those that he admittedly isn’t very good at, can be negotiated.Take, for example, the Php 2,000 SSS pension hike issue:Now, what’s the halfway mark on the PR issue?A Public Relations Compromise To President Duterte and his men, I offer a compromise:Please reinstate the Press Attaché position in major embassies. From what I’ve learned through my friends in the Diplomatic Corps, Philippine embassies and consulates used to have press attachés that served as the single point of contact for media inquiries from their host state. To President Duterte and his men, I offer a compromise:From what I’ve learned through my friends in the Diplomatic Corps, Philippine embassies and consulates used to have press attachés that served as the single point of contact for media inquiries from their host state.With access to press attachés in their home country, foreign media organizations can get first-hand information about the issues they cover, instead of having to tap to their Philippine correspondents, who are mostly stringers whose primary employment is with Philippines’ Big Media.Stringers are correspondents who are not on the regular staff of a news organization, especially one retained on a part-time basis to report on events in a particular place [Press attachés can also serve a lot of other purposes that I’d rather not mention in this article in the interest of National Security. If the higher-ups want to know more, they can contact me and I’d be more than willing to share my thoughts.Overworked Ambassadors Unfortunately, President Cory Aquino, upon assumption of her duties, decided to eliminate the press attaché position in our diplomatic roster, so we have not had a single full-time press attaché since 1986.While some camps would say that ambassadors and consul generals can take over the press-related responsibilities, the fact of the matter is that almost every major embassy we have abroad suffers from serious personnel shortages. For one, I know of a few diplomatic missions where the head even has to occasionally man the embassy’s windows. That’s how bad the situation is.Consuls and ambassadors are just too overworked as it is, and a dedicated press attaché is necessary to fill the gap, at least in terms of handling the country’s image overseas.It’s safe to say that Duterte enjoys a certain degree of popularity in Asia while the South American and African States are already busy with domestic affairs, so we ned not reinstate press attachés in those three continents for now. Thus, we are left with the two continents to deal with: Europe and North America.To cut on costs, my friends and I think that we can start with two key cities in the United States and two key cities in the European Union, i.e. we will open up only four press attaché positions for the meantime and see if it works.How much would each press attaché cost? I bet it's just a small fraction of the US$ 3 million price tag I mentioned earlier.With that said, having a press attaché is not a PR panacea but it will, at the least, help cushion the negative publicity overseas. With press attachés, international media outfits will have no excuse for not getting the government’s official side in every story. With press attachés, international media outfits will not have to source information from local stringers whose loyalties lie on their oligarchic employers.Will the cost of having four press attachés outweigh potential losses from losing our GSP+ status? I think not, and don’t even get me started on the American Front.Mr. President, the local PR battle has been won. It’s time to look beyond our borders. [DONT FORGET TO SHARE! Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!Follow @iMthinkingPinoy RELATED POSTS:And we know what Big Media thinks of the president [ TP: Media’s Ego ], especially after his recents tirades against ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer:Stringers are correspondents who are not on the regular staff of a news organization, especially one retained on a part-time basis to report on events in a particular place [ Reuters ].Press attachés can also serve a lot of other purposes that I’d rather not mention in this article in the interest of National Security. If the higher-ups want to know more, they can contact me and I’d be more than willing to share my thoughts.Unfortunately, President Cory Aquino, upon assumption of her duties, decided to eliminate the press attaché position in our diplomatic roster, so we have not had a single full-time press attaché since 1986.While some camps would say that ambassadors and consul generals can take over the press-related responsibilities, the fact of the matter is that almost every major embassy we have abroad suffers from serious personnel shortages. For one, I know of a few diplomatic missions where the head even has to occasionally man the embassy’s windows. That’s how bad the situation is.Consuls and ambassadors are just too overworked as it is, and a dedicated press attaché is necessary to fill the gap, at least in terms of handling the country’s image overseas.It’s safe to say that Duterte enjoys a certain degree of popularity in Asia while the South American and African States are already busy with domestic affairs, so we ned not reinstate press attachés in those three continents for now. Thus, we are left with the two continents to deal with: Europe and North America.To cut on costs, my friends and I think that we can start with two key cities in the United States and two key cities in the European Union, i.e. we will open up only four press attaché positions for the meantime and see if it works.How much would each press attaché cost? I bet it's just a small fraction of the US$ 3 million price tag I mentioned earlier.With that said, having a press attaché is not a PR panacea but it will, at the least, help cushion the negative publicity overseas. With press attachés, international media outfits will have no excuse for not getting the government’s official side in every story. With press attachés, international media outfits will not have to source information from local stringers whose loyalties lie on their oligarchic employers.Will the cost of having four press attachés outweigh potential losses from losing our GSP+ status? I think not, and don’t even get me started on the American Front.Mr. President, the local PR battle has been won. It’s time to look beyond our borders. [ ThinkingPinoy ].Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!Social media is arguably one of the biggest factors behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s surprise win in the May 2016 elections and his continuing popularity almost a year into his term. Despite the chronically slanted coverage of oligarch-owned mainstream news outfits, Duterte still enjoys sky-high ratings that exceeds even those of former President Aquino and his “Cory Magic”.But Social Media is not enough."
11340,"While the anti-Duterte protesters are busy in burning effigies and criticizing the government for alleged human rights violations, the supporters of the President also gathered in an event to show that they were satisfy by the performance of the current administration.Thousands of Duterte supporter from different parts of the Philippines gathered in Plaza Miranda and Mendiola for a peaceful event to show their support to the President.According to some sources, the crowd in Plaza Miranda already reached 10,000 and the authorities still expecting that more people would come to join the rally.Several groups including, MRRD-NECC and Associated Seaman Organization gathered in Mendiola where the anti-Duterte rallyist gathered to criticize the government.Several politicians also helped to transport the supporters in Plaza Miranda, including Caloocan Mayor Oca Malapitan who hired 50 buses and 20 jeepneys.Hundreds of vans were also reportedly going to Plaza Miranda to transport more supporter of the President.Some chose to march to Plaza Miranda.Duterte’s Kitchen was set up in Plaza Miranda to distribute 4,500 servings of arroz caldo and juice to the supporters of the President.There are also a ‘Presidential Complaint Desk” in the area to welcome people who wanted to complaint something to the government.As of writing, the Plaza Miranda is already full of Duterte supporter, aerial shots were also posted by several Facebook fan pages to show the crowd.This is the aerial video shot taken by CineMotion Digital Films:Other videos:These are the other photos taken during the Pro-Duterte rally held in Plaza Miranda:Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police is ready if ever the tension risen on the National Day of Protest.The PNP asks the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons and/or activities that may disrupt the peaceful conduct of protests nationwide thru PNPTXT 2920, Emergency hotline 911, Itaga Mo Sa Bato text hotline 2286 and I-Report Mo Kay Tsip ‎09188475757.Do you think, the President still got the trust and confidence of the people? Share your thoughts below!"
11350,"Despite of criticisms from the daughter of the President of Philippine Star, Mocha Uson didn’t stop to write her first article on philstar.com.Her article titled “I have the right to speak” has gone viral on Facebook, as of now the article already reached 48,000 likes and 21,000 shares.Screenshot of Mocha’s article on PhilStarThe article of Mocha is about the freedom of speech that regardless of our education, public image or wealth all the Filipinos has equal rights.She also explained that she’s only using her blog to express her opinion and the good achievements of President Duterte. She believes that the social media is now a platform where anyone can express their beliefs and enjoy their freedom of speech.She also writes about the people who wants to pull her blog down. Mocha said that she didn’t even tried to silence her detractors even her critics already tried to silence her numerous times.I have never reported the anti-Duterte Facebook pages or the pages that mock me and my intelligence because I believe that we are all entitled to our own opinion. Yet recently, some people have tried to shut down my blog, they have tried to silence my voice claiming that I am spreading fake news, encouraging hate and creating division.Mocha also denied the accusations of her critics that she’s sharing fake news, encouraging hate and creating division. She believes that her critics wants to silence her not because she’s sharing misinformation, but because she’s sharing the achievements of the present administration.She also thanked the people who supported her and defended her against criticisms. Even without salary, she said that she would continue sharing the good deeds of the administration on social media.When Mocha Uson confirmed that she became one of the writers on Philstar, her critics including the daughter of the newspaper called her garbage. But her first article proves that she’s not a trash because her first article reached thousands of likes and shares without putting much effort."
11360,"Trending ngayon ang balita tungkol sa bagong kabit na CCTV cameras sa baggage handling area ng Ninoy Aquino Interantional Airport (NAIA). Sa pamamagitan nito ay makikita na ng mga biyahero kung paano pino-proseso ng mga tauhan ng paliparan ang kanilang mga gamit mula sa baggage carousel area ng paliparan. Ipinakabit ito ng mga nangangasiwa sa paliparan para matugunan ang reklamo ng ilang pasahero. Matatandaang naging malaking isyu noong nakaraang taon ang nakawan na nangyari sa Clark International Ariport kung saan ang bagahe ng isang Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) ay binuksan at nilimas ng ilang tauhan ng nasabing paliparan. Ayon sa ulat, mayroon isang CCTV feed monitor sa bawat carousel sa lahat ng NAIA terminals. Ang halaga ng surveillance cameras at monitor ay humigit-kumulang 1 milyon piso. ""Ang claim ng mga pasahero na dumarating ay minsan ay binabalibag ang bagahe nila at sinasabi na tina-tamper, o may mga pagna-nakaw. Isa iyan sa mga initiatives namin na ipakita sa mga dumarating na pasahero na ang mga bagahe ay dapat i-handle ng maayos... Minsan siyepmpre ang mga tao sa baba ay minsan napapagod siguro. Hindi maayos nahahawakan ang mga bagahe, ayan ho ay made-deter ho sila (dahil) buong arrival ay nakikita sila. Isa ito sa makakatulong sa pagha-handle ng mga bagahe. Pagdating dito, punit na o bukas na ang mga bagahe, may mga ganoong pangyayari. Pero dito mami-mishandle ang bagahe, maiiwasan natin 'yun,"" sabi ni Manila Internatonal Airport General Manager Ed Monreal. Ito po ang binabanggit namin na insidente ng pagnanakaw sa Clark International Airport na nag-viral noong nakaraang taon dahilan kung bakit kinansela ng Duterte Gvoernment ang kontrata ng MIASCOR, ang airport service provider ng paliparan. Panoorin kung paano tinutugunan ng Presidente ang insidente. Basahin ang ilang komento tungkol sa improvement sa NAIA mula sa mga kababayan natin. ""Nakakatuwa. Kahit hindi ako die hard ni Pres. D, hanga ako sa political will niya pati sa mga kawani niya. 1m lng pla may pagbabago na, noon billion billion ang nakukurakot wala tayo napapala. Congrats prrd,"" - M. Bartosis ""Para sa mga anti digong kung labas pasok kayo ng bansa pagawa kayo ng sariling airport wag nio idaan jan mhiya nman kayo birada ng birada sa du30 administration tpos nkikinabang nman kayo sa mga nagawa nlang improvement,"" - J. Abarquez ""Ok na ok yan! Pero mas ok kung tayong mga filipino marunong maghintay behind the yellow line hindi nmn lahat pero madami padin ang hindi sumusunod.,"" - L. Lenamae "" Tama yan lahat naka cctv at ang mga walang pusong nagnanakaw sibak agad dahil Kaming ofw dugot pawis, homesick ang puhunan para maibilhan ng konteng pasalubong ang pamilya,"" D. Bauzon ""dapat lng n ganyan kasi minsan sira2x n bagahe nmn nawawala p ang iba..binabayaran nmn yng bagahe nmn so dapat ingatan rin sana.pinaghirapan nmn yan s ibang bansa pra lng may maibigay s aming mga anak o mga pamilya,"" - L. Bebelone Source: News5 | ABS-CBN"
11370,"Former President Benigno Aquino III said that he’s not aware with the controversies surrounded Sanofi Pasteur, the company which made the Dengvaxia vaccine that bought by the former administration for P3.5.Sanofi Pasteur was accused of allegedly paying doctors in different countries in order to promote their medicine.Gordon cited the controversies faced by Sanofi during the investigation senate investigation including the reports that million of dollars of fine were needed to be paid by the Dengvaxia maker to the American government, while two of their employees were also arrested for bribery in Germany.When Gordon asked Noynoy if the former President was aware with these controversies about Sanofi, he answered ‘no’Gordon cites alleged transgressions of Sanofi in other countries https://t.co/sDo55hwVGt pic.twitter.com/q0u2FCgWY6 — CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) December 14, 2017Gordon also asked Aquino about the meeting between him and Sanofi officials in China in 2015.According to the former President, the Sanofi requested the courtesy call when he was in China.Aquino also mentioned the people he met including Sanofi Asia Senior Vice President John Luinsky, he was accompanied by former Secretaries Enrique Ona, Edwin Lacierda and Gregory Domingo.Aquino explained that he was not told by Sanofi about the controversies that they had during their meeting in Beijing and Paris.The senate blue ribbon committee chairman said that former President Aquino and former Health Secretary Garin could have been more careful with Sanofi especially because the company faced several controversies in the past.“I’m just saying that with all these signs, I would imagine that the government and Secretary Garin often been more careful and circumspect in dealing with Sanofi,”Aquino said that their only choice was simply implement the vaccine program or wait and allow people to be exposed to risk.During the senate investigation on Dengvaxia controversy, Former President Aquino defended the decision of his administration to distribute the vaccine to the public.He said that he was not advised against the Dengvaxia from the time of its procurement until his administration implemented its nationwide anti-dengue vaccine program.“Bago nagdesisyon ang gobyerno sa Dengvaxia, habang nagdedesisyon, pagkatapos magdesisyon, at hanggang ngayon, walang nagparating sa akin ng pagtutol sa bakuna,” he said.He was also told by the experts that that the vaccine passed through safety and efficacy tests.“Sa aking pagkaunawa, sa lahat ng ibinalita ng eksperto, dumaan na po ito sa lahat ng proseso para malaman ang kaniyang efficacy at mas importante, ang kanyang safety,” he said.Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Leachon said Aquino cannot be blamed for the controversy if he was given a misleading information on the vaccine.“How can you blame the president if the president was fed with wrong information by WHO or Secretary Garin?” he saidNetizens reacted on the statement of Noynoy and questioned him how his administration didn’t researched about Sanofi despite that their deal worth billions of pesos.https://twitter.com/CaridadCordova/status/941172484845350912“How the hell you closed a 3.5B dengvaxia deal when you’re not aware!” @CaridadCordova said."
11380,"Now that former Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson is a private citizen, she can start blogging. Like a real blogger. Just like that other one who’s been styled by no less than Rappler and its community of Jesuit- and nun-educated cheerleaders as the preeminent blogger of the Philippine Opposition led by the Liberal Party (a.k.a. the Yellowtards). The winner will be the Filipino audience who get front-row seats to a brilliant match of wits over the Net. Jover Laurio blogs and Mocha Uson blogs. Who’s gonna win? That remains to be seen. But the lines are drawn and pens and keyboards are locked and loaded.In an ambush interview following her resignation from government service, Uson issued the first battle cry. “Bakbakan na talaga ‘to!“. We still have to hear from The Yellowtard Blogger. Is she up to the challenge?The more interesting question is, how deep a bench of political bloggers do the Yellowtards wield. Is Jover all they’ve got? In basketball-crazy Philippines, depth of bench is an important factor to consider when placing bets. Even more interesting, the Yellowtards have designated Twitter as their battlefield…Is this a smart move? Compared to Twitter, Facebook, where Uson is queen, is the preferred platform for political discussion amongst Filipino Netizens. In terms of engagement and referral traffic, a Facebook post is at least ten times as valuable as a tweet byte-for-byte. Twitter is also known to be an echo chamber of the private school village-raised elite minority of Philippine society. This can be seen in the way elite stuff largely irrelevant to the masses (UAAP games, university rivalries, SJW causes, etc.) easily “trend”. As such, Twitter chatter has long proven to be an unreliable cross-section of the general sentiment of the Filipino public.This is the trouble with the Yellowtards and the broader Philippine Opposition that follows their lead like sheep. Rather than understand the enemy, they prefer to assure themselves in their quaint love-in soirees that theirs is the superior and morally-upstanding force and intent. In being so focused on the imagined ascendancy of their lot, they routinely underestimate who and what they’re up against — just like they did back in 2016 when then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte came out of left field to seize Imperial Manila from the Liberal Party.The Opposition will do well to consider what their next move will be and not underestimate what Uson is now capable of now that she is free of the conventions demanded of her when she was part of the Malacanang team. One obvious step is to ditch the Yellowtards and the choir of fallen saints they habitually worship. In doing so, the Opposition will become less of an insult to the intelligence of the Philippine electorate and more of the respectable Opposition Filipinos deserve — one that is a productive part of the modern democracy Filipinos aspire to build."
11391,"The schism between police and military officials surfaced in all its rawness on Wednesday when the Special Action Force (SAF) accused the Philippine Army of holding back artillery fire, which could have saved the lives of police commandos during the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash, to save the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, SAF deputy director, and Supt. Michael John Mangahis, the ground commanders for the SAF Mamasapano operation, accused Col. Gener del Rosario, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade, and his boss, Maj. General Edmundo Pangilinan, the 6th Infantry Division chief, of using the peace process as justification for not providing ground and artillery support to the 55th and 84th SAF companies that were pinned down by Moro rebels during the clash.Speaking at an investigation of the Mamasapano clash at the House of Representatives, Mangahis, his voice cracking and full of anger, challenged Del Rosario: “Man up, sir. Man up, sir.”READ: SAF officer urges Col. Del Rosario: ‘Man up!’In his testimony, Mangahis claimed that he heard Del Rosario mention “peace process” while he was talking on the phone with Pangilinan around 7 a.m. on Jan. 25.“I know they know the area very well. I don’t believe they have no assets. The real problem is their people. But I can’t say who he was talking to about the peace process,” Mangahis said.Del Rosario did not deny he mentioned the peace process, but claimed he was talking to several people on the phone that morning and it was up to Mangahis to identify the person to whom he spoke about the peace process.Flawed mission planningForty-four SAF commandos were killed by Moro rebels in that clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province.Seventeen guerrillas from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has signed a peace agreement with the government, and three civilians were also killed during the daylong gun battle.Del Rosario and Pangilinan have blamed the SAF’s flawed mission planning and lack of coordination as the main reason why artillery fire had been held back nearly 12 hours after Taliño and Mangahis went to the mechanized brigade office in Shariff Aguak on that day.READ: Mamasapano clash: What happened according to the militaryIt’s the peace processTaliño corroborated Mangahis’ testimony that the peace process was the reason for the Army’s reluctance to help the SAF.“We requested artillery support, he (Del Rosario) was talking to General Pangilinan on the phone and asked if I could talk to him (Pangilinan declined). He (Del Rosario) told me later that his division commander (Pangilinan) refused because of the peace process and the presence of civilians in the area,” Taliño said.Taliño disputed Del Rosario’s claim that he and Mangahis went to the 1st Mechanized Brigade’s Shariff Aguak office together. Taliño said they went separately, with Mangahis going earlier.ACT-CIS Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, a former chief police investigator, moved that the four be compelled to undergo polygraph tests to determine who was telling the truth.The committee deferred action on Pagdilao’s motion.Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, a former AFP chief of staff, objected to making the police and the military officers undergo lie detector tests."
11400,"It is known as the summer capital of the Philippines because if its cool weather. During the hot summer months, Filipinos trek to this mountain resort city by the hundreds of thousands to escape the sweltering temperatures in the lowland areas. This is Baguio City, developed by the Americans in the early 1900’s, who found it to be an ideal site for a future city and summer retreat, especially for officers and employees of the Insular Government. It was designed for a population of 30,000 people, but today Baguio is home to 300,000, including over 20,000 South Koreans (and counting). Many Koreans have found Baguio a suitable place to study English at local universities because of the relatively low cost of enrollment with no entrance exams required. But more importantly, Baguio weather is comparable to the spring and autumn weather in their homeland. The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration says that South Koreans come to Baguio on tourist visas and extensions thereof, student visas, and lately, to establish local businesses. In recognition of the contribution of South Koreans to the city’s economy, tourism and overpopulation, the Baguio City Council has recently passed a resolution that would change the name of Baguio to Korea City. Council members argued that Baguio has lost its allure anyway because of the local government’s failure to solve many of the city’s social, economic and environmental problems. They believe that by adopting a new name, the city can bounce back and be the great city it once was. “This will attract even more Koreans to settle in the city, resulting in a unique cultural mix and creating a viable and progressive business climate,” said one council member. He added that ‘Korea’ rhymes perfectly well with the name of the region Baguio belongs to — Cordillera. Start practicing to say “Korea in the Cordillera.”"
11411,"A Catholic priest held captive together with more than 200 civilians by terrorists linked to the Islamic State (IS) group has appealed to President Duterte to consider their plight and stop the military operation against their captors.Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob, vicar general of Marawi City, and some of the other hostages were seized in a cathedral as gunmen from the Maute terror group laid siege to the capital of Lanao del Sur province on May 23.“We are asking your help to please give what your enemies are asking for,” Suganob said in a video clip shown on Tuesday on a Telegram channel used by IS.“If you have the good heart for us, considering Mr. President the about 240 prisoners of war. We are asking your good heart, please consider. We still want to live for another day, we want to live another month, we want to live three years—more. Please consider us, Mr. President,” he said.Suganob said he was being held together with a female professor from Mindanao State University, two female church workers, two male and five female teachers from Dansalan Foundation College and “about 200 carpenters, domestic workers, children and youth, ordinary Christian settlers and other Subanen tribes.”Bishop Edwin de la Peña of Marawi City, who saw the video on Tuesday, confirmed that the priest in the video was Suganob.De la Peña said he was “more worried now because they (the terrorists) are using” Suganob.“They seem to be cornered so they use Father Chito,” De la Peña told the Inquirer by phone.“This is the most critical part of Father Chito’s captivity, this is the most difficult time for all the captives,” he said.De la Peña said it was clear that Suganob was “coached” on what to say in the video.“It was done under duress,” he said.Asked if he had informed the authorities about the video, De la Peña said: “I think they know it already. It’s already on the internet.”Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the military was aware of the video.‘Pure propaganda’“This is pure propaganda. The Maute group is using this to stop our clearing operations,” Padilla said.He said he was confident the terrorists would not harm the priest because they wanted to use him to gain concessions.Later, however, Padilla said the military was verifying the authenticity of the video.In the video footage, Suganob was standing on a deserted street with ruins around him and the sound of gunfire in the background.“They simply are not asking for anything, just to withdraw your forces … and to stop the airstrikes, and attacks, and to stop the carnage,” the priest said.Suganob, wearing a black shirt and trousers, said the terrorists had the right to practice their faith and enforce Islamic laws in the city.“After all, this is their place,” he said. “I hope you understand them. I’m saying this because you also live here. Do not use force and violence because your enemies are ready to die for their religion.”Buying timeBishop De la Peña said the matter was now in Mr. Duterte’s hands.“[Just] to buy time, not necessarily to give in to the demand, if possible, [stop the airstrikes]. The terrorists are trying to relocate,” he said.De la Peña suggested that the government look for other ways to deal with the terrorists that would not endanger the lives of the hostages.“I hope President Duterte will have listening ears and a soft heart for Father Chito and his group,” he said.SurrenderBut Malacañang and the military urged the Maute gunmen to turn themselves in on Tuesday, the eighth day of a push by security forces using armored vehicles and firing rockets from helicopter gunships to eliminate the terrorists.The military said on Monday that it was close to retaking Marawi from the Maute terrorists, who seized parts of the city on May 23 after a failed attempt by security forces to capture Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group for whose capture the US government has offered $5 million.The attack on Marawi prompted President Duterte to declare martial law for 60 days in all of Mindanao and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus on the island during the period of military rule.More than 100 people have been killed since May 23, including 19 civilians, 20 soldiers, three police and 65 terrorists.More than 71,000 residents have fled the city, mostly to Iligan City, an hour’s ride from Marawi.Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo flew to Iligan City on Tuesday to supervise the evacuation. She also pleaded for medical assistance for the evacuees.The President met with leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Davao City for a discussion of how the group, which is working out a peace agreement with the government, could help in providing humanitarian assistance to evacuees from Marawi City.Eight terroristsEight terrorists surrendered to the military in a part of Marawi called Mapandi on Sunday, Marine Brig. Gen. Custodio Parcon said on Tuesday.He said there were fewer than 50 gunmen holed up in Mapandi, which is being cleared by the Marines.“In our area, [the resistance of the Maute gunmen] is sporadic. It is not commensurate to the combat power I’m giving them,” Parcon said.“They run. We hit them hard and they run again. [They] do not clash with [us] frontally,” he added.Parcon said Maute terrorists were also holed up in the city’s commercial center.Sincere offer of dialogue“We call on the remaining terrorists to surrender while there is an opportunity,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing in Malacañang.He said Mr. Duterte was sincere when the President said that he and the terrorists could resolve their differences through “dialogue.”Mr. Duterte is “very, very open” to talking with them, Abella said.The Maute terrorists could use back channels for the talks, he added.Padilla also urged the terrorists to surrender, as helicopter gunships circled over Marawi, smoke billowed out of some buildings and troops cleared terrorist positions amid explosions and automatic gunfire, moving house to house and street by street.A politician involved in efforts to evacuate residents, Zia Alonto Adiong, said authorities had cleared 85 percent of the city—Gen. Eduardo Año, the military chief of staff, said 70 percent—but claiming the rest would be a challenge because they were dense urban areas with trapped civilians."
11420,"Edgar Matobato’s Lawyer Jude Sabio flew to the Netherlands and filed complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday, April 24, for alleged extrajudicial killings committed by the current administration.In the complaint entitled “THE SITUATION OF MASS MURDER IN THE PHILIPPINES, RODRIGO DUTERTE: THE MASS MURDERER”, that addressed to ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, Sabio included the testimonies of the self-confessed former DDS member Edgar Matobato and retired cop Arthur Lascañas that already rejected by the senate after it was proven that they are only pure ‘hearsay’.Sabio said that Duterte’s killings in Davao has been continued in his national war on drugs.He said that the DDS murders and the recent extrajudicial killings happening in the Philippines since Duterte became the President have the same elements:“police participation and command” “a hitman or an unknown armed assailant”“a reward system for every killing” “a reward in cash” “a kill watch list” “collaboration between barangay (village) and police officials” “the cardboard sign and the face/body wrapped in packing tape” “the use of ‘riding in tandem’ motorcycle-riding assailants” “the use of hooded or masked assailants” “the planting of a gun and drugs”The President is not alone in the complaint filed by Jude Sabio and he said that some individuals also allegedly conspired in the killings happened in the Philippines.This are the list of the government officials who faces the complaint along with President DutertePhilippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre Senator Alan Peter Cayetano Senator Richard Gordon Solicitor General Jose Calida House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez Former DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran Senior Police Officer 4 Sanson Buenaventura Manila Police District Police Superintendent Royina Garma Police Superintendent Edilberto Leonardo"
11430,"On Monday, August 21, Filipinos observe a national holiday, Ninoy Aquino Day.Highlight of the commemoration will be the renaming of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) back to its original name, Manila International Airport (MIA).The International Pilots Association (IPA) hailed the move. It will now be much easier to say MIA than NAIA when communicating with the air control towers."
11440,"Sa kahabaan ng isang kalye sa Barangay Caingin sa bayan ng San Rafael, Bulacan, sinasabing may isang ""white lady"" na nagpaparamdam sa mga dumadaang motorista. Pinaniniwalaang ang naturang white lady ang nahagip sa closed-circuit television (CCTV) noong nakaraang buwan na nakaangkas sa motorsiklong sinasakyan ng magkaibigang Arjay Abarte at John Narvie Luz, na nauwi sa aksidenteng ikinasawi ni Arjay. Ihahatid sana pauwi ni Arjay si Narvie noong gabi ng Pebrero 10 galing sa isang inuman nang bigla silang sumalpok sa poste ng ilaw sa pakurbang bahagi ng kalsada sa Barangay Caingin, kuwento ni Narvie. Ayon kay Narvie, maingat si Arjay sa daan, at tahimik pa raw ito at mistulang nagko-concentrate sa pagmomotor bago sila sumalpok. Hindi naman matanggap ni Belden Balansag, ama ni Arjay, ang pagkamatay ng anak kaya ipina-review niya ang kuha ng CCTV sa aksidente. ""Bumalik ako dito kasi mag-iimbestiga pa ako kung ano nangyari talaga,"" ani Balansag. Sa pag-review ng CCTV, makikita ang pigura na mistulang babaeng nakaputi na pinaniniwalaang white lady. Ayon kay Romeo Luz, lolo ni Narvie, pagkapalipat pa lang niya sa San Rafael noong 1997 ay madalas na raw siyang makakita ng white lady sa lugar. Subalit, ani Romeo, hindi naman daw nananakit ang white lady kundi mistulang nagbabantay at nagmamasid lang. Naniniwala rin si Romeo na ang white lady ang nagligtas kay Narvie lalo at galos lang ang tinamo nito sa aksidente. Kuwento rin ng kagawad na si Rolando Bautista, madalas daw talagang magpakita sa kurbada ang white lady at madalas din ang mga aksidente. ""May naaaksidente sa lugar na 'yon kasi nga kurbada 'yon sa lugar na 'yon,"" ani Bautista. Ayon pa kay Bautista, magpapagawa ang barangay ng mga bagong palatandaan sa may kurbada para makaiwas sa aksidente. Kinonsulta ang kababalaghan sa paranormal expert na si Tony Suvega, na nagsabing hindi raw white lady kundi ""engkantada"" ang nagpaparamdam. Nakatira rin daw ito sa abandonadong bahay sa lugar. ""Napakabait po, ang totoo niyan mapalad ang barangay ng Caingin na sila ay may protektor na kagaya nito,"" ani Suvega. Hindi rin kumbinsido si Val Cuenca, head ng camera operations sa ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs (INCA), na white lady ang nasa kuha ng CCTV. ""Sa tingin ko, tao ito eh, ito 'yong naka-motor, hindi ito 'yong white lady,"" ani Cuenca. Totoo man o hindi ang white lady sa Barangay Caingin, ibayong pag-iingat para rin ang ipinapayo sa mga motorista. Source: Rated K"
11450,"Anybody connected with the Leila de Lima, Mar Roxas, Aquino Drug Cartel, that operated inside the National Bilibid Prison is a suspect…In my opinion, I don’t believe that Baraan did not know what his Boss, Leila de Lima was doing, with her Drug Cartel operation inside the National Bilibid Prison…Baraan sought refuge in the U.S. However, he can be arrested in the U.S., as a criminal Alien….who was a Shabu Drug Dealer. The U.S. Attorney General could deport him, as undesirable alien, with the request of Pres. Duterte.The Leila de Lima, Mar Roxas, Aquino Shabu Drug Cartel is like an “octopus”, that had a hand on almost everything in the government, during the term of Aquino. They had entertainment inside the Bilibid Prison…They had: Drugs, Beers, Prostitutes. arms, money counters, banks, Rock band concerts, good food, etc…Prisoners can come and go…etc…name anything, they had it, inside the National Bilibid Prison, during the term of Aquino …It was the worst corruption, I have ever seen in Philippine political history… criminal inmates were involved, with government officials.The Jailers and the Jailed had symbiotic relationships….only in the Philippines!This is a GRP Featured Comment. ------------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
11460,"Yesterday, The Adobo Chronicles reported that the newly-opened Mexican restaurant in the Castro changed its name from Bandidos to Hecho.The name change came after a small group of Latino Americans headed by openly-gay Latina comedian Marga Gómez protested the name Bandidos which they said was offensive to Mexican Americans. It is a Spanish word for “criminal” or “outlaw.”Well, the name change didn’t put an end to the controversy. Now a group of Filipino Americans living and working in the Castro is protesting the new name. In Tagalog slang, the plural of Hecho sounds too close to a Filipino term, echos, which means “lie.” When someone is called echosero or echosera, it means he or she is a liar.“We are thrilled that a new Mexican restaurant has opened in the Castro,” the group said, “especially because Mexican cuisine is similar in many ways to Filipino food. But to name the restaurant Hecho is offensive to us, Pinoys (slang for Filipino).The group is headed by openly-gay Filipino American actor and comedian Alec Mapa, a San Francisco native. It is scheduled to meet with Hecho’s owners early next week.Will Bandidos, a.k.a. Hecho change its name yet again? How about just “The Mexican Restaurant?”"
11470,"Sa isang video message, nagbigay ng leksyon si Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines President Bishop Socrates Villegas sa mga Pilipino kung paano bumoto. Ayon kay Villegas, ang pagboto ay pagpapahayag daw ng kalooban ng Panginoon. Hindi rin daw pwedeng ihiwalay ang Diyos sa pagboto. Sinabi rin niya na namamayani daw ang kultura ng kabastusan, kasinungalingan at kamatayan sa ating bansa. ""Ang pagboto ay kapangyarihan, kapangyarihan ng mamamayan. Ang pagboto ay banal, sapagkat ang pagboto ay dapat nantin gamitin bilang papapahayag ng kalooban ng Diyos para sa ating bayan. Ang pagboto ay pagpili, at sa ating pagpili hindi natin maaaring ihiwalay ang Diyos. Sapagkat ang pagpiling walang Diyos ay hindi nakakabuti sa atin. Sa katunayan, ito ay makakasama para sa atin. Ano ang una nating dapat gawin? See, look around, see what is going on. Ano ang pinakamahalagang problema sa ating bansa? Nandiyaan ang kahirapan, nandiyaan ang korapsyon, nandiyaan ang kamatayan, nandiyaan ang karahasan, nandiyaan ang kabastusan, nandiyaan ang kasinungalingan. Ito ang namamayani sa ating bayan. At kung tayo ay mamimili ng mamumuno sa atin, hanapin natin yung makatutulong upang yung kahirapan, yung korapsyon, yung kultura ng kamatayan, yung kultura ng kabastusan, yung kultura ng fake news at kasinungalingan ay baligtarin natin upang makabuti para sa ating bayan,"" sabi ni Villegas. Pinatamaan din ni Villegas ang ilang politiko pero hindi niya pinangalanan ang mga ito. Dapat daw bawiin ng mga tao ang kapangyarihan na naibigay sa mga government officials na ito dahil pinaglaruan lang daw at inabuso. ""Tayo ay bumoto ng may tapang. Panindigan natin ito. Minsan hindi tayo pinakikinggan, nagiging mahalaga lang tayong botante kapag panahon ng eleksyon. Sapagkat kailangan nila tayo. Tapangan natin 'yung mga lumapastangan sa atin, yung mga nag walang bahala sa atin, 'yung mga nagnakaw sa atin, 'yung mga pumatay ng mga mahal natin sa buhay. Tapanga natin, panindigan natin at alisin natin sa kanila ang kapangyarihang pinaglaruan at kanilang inabuso,"" banat ni Villegas. Alam niyo bang nitong mga nakaraang mga taon ay naging laman ng balita ang ilang pari na nasangkot sa mga krimen? Mayroong pari na nasangkot sa tangkang panghahalay ng menor de edad. Ang isa namang pari ay inuugnay sa pagpaslang sa isang babae. Source: NYK"
11480,"In 2014, Makati City and Pasay City in the Philippines were named “Selfie Capitals of the World,” with an impressive record of 258 selfie takers for every 100,000 people.With the Philippine population now at over 100 million, that record translates into a whopping 250,000 plus Filipinos afflicted with selfitis a mental disorder confirmed by the American Psychiatric Association.This year, the Philippines set another world record by being named the ‘Paper Selfie Capital of the World.’‘Paper selfie” refers to the taking of self portraits with paper in hand which includes petitions, court filings, affidavits and other legal documents.It is a trend now popular among members of the country’s Liberal Party and opposition, made all the more prestigious by the likes of Senators Antonio Trillanes, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Franklin Drilon and Kiko Pangilinan; human rights activists Etta Rosales and Chito Gascon; Representative Gary Alejano; and self-confessed murderers Arthur Lascañas and Edgar Matobato.Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) told The Adobo Chronicles that “the new distinction puts the Philippines on the world map and shows that Filipinos will not be left behind when it comes to technology and vanity.”So what are you waiting for? Grab a stack of paper and take a selfie!"
11491,"How can a Filipino family of five make ends meet with a P10,000 monthly budget?Netizens on Thursday took to social media to vent their ire on National Economic Development Authority (Neda) officials whom they challenged to live on a “hypothetical” P10,000 monthly budget for a family of five.Noel Pascual (@noelvpascual) posted a photo of a piece of what looked like a green pea served on a plate with fork and knife. The picture was accompanied with the words “Neda-approved dinner for the family.”Andrei Ronatay (@RAJDiation) wondered which family Neda was referring to.“Family of 5 can survive with P10,000 budget per month, according to Neda. Family po ng ano ito Neda?” a. Chicken b. Grasshopper c. Miming d. Dog e. Both A and A.”“Noodles, lugaw, toyo, salt every day … maybe possible,” said Juan Juan (@Aso_ni_Juan).Officials should take leadNeda executives should take the lead by trying to survive on such meager income to determine if it’s really feasible, according to several netizens.“Neda get your family to survive on only P10,000 a month challenge,” said Arvin Bartolomeme (@arvinpls).Neda chief’s salaryWorkers have challenged Socioeconomic Planning Secrtary Ernesto Pernia, also Neda director general, to subject his family to a strict budget of P10,000.Pernia receives a monthly salary of P198,168 effective Jan. 1. He declared a net worth of P109 million as of December 2017.Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of Neda receives a monthly salary of P143,534.It was Edillon who gave the hypothetical monthly budget of P10,000 to illustrate how it would be affected by last month’s inflation rate of 4.6 percent.Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes asked Neda where in the Philippines could a family of five survive with a monthly budget of only a P10,000.“According to Neda, a family of 5 can live on P10,000/month: P3,834 – food (P25.56/head/day); P1,288 – house rent; P2,204 – water, electricity and the rest for transportation, health, education, etc. Ah, san po sa Pilipinas ito?” Reyes said on his Twitter (@natoreyes).Even former presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte (@Abi_Valte) was not amused.“Previously, Neda talked about a vision and aspiration: ideally a family of 4 needs 120k a month to live comfortably. Anong nangyari?” Valte said.A cost of living survey by labor group Partido Manggagawa showed that a family of five in Metro Manila would need P1,300 daily or P39,000 monthly to live decently as of May.With dignityBut if you ask an official of Caritas Manila, a family of five needs at least P20,000 a month.“It must be P20,000 monthly or P250 per day for food for a family of five,” said Fr. Anton Pascual, Caritas Manila executive director, the social action arm of the Archdiocese of Manila.“We respect Neda … The government is minimalist. We are balanced, idealist and realist and living with dignity,” Pascual said.A P20,000 per month income is what a family should earn to escape poverty, Pascual said.‘Decent living’“That’s decent living,” he said. “Unfortunately, 90 percent of working Filipinos are earning less than P20,000 monthly.”Sen. Grace Poe said a family of five could live on P10,000 a month in a “Survivor”-like reality show, where contestants are left on a remote island to fend for themselves with little resources.“Government officials who would cling to their faulty figure can perhaps prove their thesis by staging a reality show a la “Survivor,” where they would live on a budget of P10,000 a month,” Poe said in a statement."
11501,"Para sa mga ordinaryong Pilipinong nakikipagsapalaran sa taas ng bilihin, ang bawat pisong natitipid ay malaking panalo para sa pamilya. Ito ang sentimyento ng mga mamimili at manininda sa Agora Market matapos ang sorpresang inspeksyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. nitong Miyerkules.
Si Nanay Maverick, isang domestic helper, ay isa sa mga nakaramdam ng luwag sa dibdib. Sa kabila ng maliit na suweldo at hamon ng inflation, kinilala niya ang kahalagahan ng aktibong pagbabantay ng pamahalaan sa presyo ng mga bilihin.
“Maganda. Maayos mamili kasi may bantay at tsaka parang hindi pa naman masyadong mataas ‘yung presyo nila ngayon,” ani Nanay Maverick. Bagama’t inamin niyang ramdam pa rin ang bigat ng presyo kumpara noong nakaraang taon, malaking tulong aniya ang price freeze. “Medyo magaan sa pakiramdam namin eh, hindi muna siya tataas kasi ang baba pa ng sweldo namin ngayon.”
Matatandaan na kinumpirma ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) noong Martes, ika-17 ng Marso, na nagkasundo ang 21 manufacturers na panatilihin ang kasalukuyang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin gaya ng de-latang sardinas, tinapay, kape, at sabon sa loob ng susunod na 30 hanggang 60 araw. Hindi lang ang mga mamimili ang nakikinabang sa kaayusan sa merkado. Para kay Baby Estrada, isang chicken vendor sa nasabing palengke, ang pagbisita ng mga otoridad ay proteksyon din sa kanilang hanapbuhay upang mapanatili ang tiwala ng kanilang mga suki.
“Malaking bagay ‘yun na nagpunta si Presidente dito sa loob ng palengke kasi na-check niya ‘yung mga presyo ng mga paninda,” pahayag ni Estrada. Dagdag niya, nananatiling matatag ang kanilang presyo dahil sapat ang suplay na dumarating sa kanila. “Bago ang gyera, ganito na talaga ang presyo ng manok namin. Hindi talaga siya nagbago.”
Ang mga kuwentong ito ng bituka ang naging sentro ng espesyal na joint monitoring inspection na pinangunahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., kasama ang Department of Agriculture (DA) at Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Ayon sa Pangulo, ang layunin ng pagpapaigting sa “Bantay Presyo” at ang pakikipagkasundo sa mga manufacturer ay upang magsilbing kalasag ng mga Pilipino laban sa epekto ng krisis sa Middle East at pagtaas ng presyo ng langis.
“Iniikot namin ang mga iba’t ibang palengke para tiyakin na ang presyo naman ng pagkain natin ay hindi biglang tataas,” pahayag ng Pangulo. “Nagpapasalamat din kami sa mga vendor dahil ay pumayag naman sila na hindi itataas ang presyo at hindi sila mag-price gouging at hindi sila magsasamantala dito sa krisis na nangyayari sa Middle East.”
Binigyang-diin ng Pangulo na sapat ang suplay ng pagkain at bigas sa bansa, kaya’t walang dahilan upang mag-hoarding ang mga vendor o mangamba ang publiko. Tiniyak niya na habang hindi kontrolado ng Pilipinas ang pandaigdigang merkado ng langis, mananatiling “normal” ang presyuhan sa loob ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng mahigpit na monitoring.
“Ang supply natin, maganda naman ang supply natin ng pagkain, ng bigas, lahat ng mga basic goods. Kaya ‘yung ating mga kababayan sinasabi natin, hindi naman kailangan mag-hoarding at hindi tayo nagkukulang sa food supply,” aniya.
Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy ang koordinasyon ng DA, DTI, at Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) upang masigurong ang bawat palengke sa National Capital Region ay sumusunod sa itinakdang Suggested Retail Price (SRP) para sa kapakanan ng mga mamamayang tulad nina Nanay Maverick at Baby Estrada."
11511,"Vo Thi Hoang Yen still remembers how she had once applied as a chief accountant in a private company and, after meeting all the requirements, was called in for an interview with the director.“At that time I didn’t use a wheelchair or crutches because my disability was getting worse (with them). I didn’t use any assistive device either,” Yen recalled.It so happened that she had come early for the interview and the director had arrived late. She was already seated when he came in so he did not recognize that she was a person with disability (PWD), although she had never tried to hide it, she said.“He did the interview and said, ‘That’s good. You can come back to work on Monday.’Yen was ecstatic but noticed that the secretary had looked at her strangely when she left the office following the interview.“On Monday, I came back and didn’t see the director, only the secretary. And he told me that there had been a change. ‘Can you wait for another call?’ he asked me. And I understood that something had happened, that they had turned me down because of my disability,” Yen recounted.Like most PWDs in Vietnam in the 1990s, she felt despair. Was she also fated to depend on other people for help and financial support, she asked herself. “I [thought I] would live life as a helpless person and I didn’t want that,” she said.The general belief that disabilities were a divine punishment for sins committed in a previous life has made life for PWDs more challenging in Vietnam. The perception that they are a burden and can’t do anything by themselves has only added to the difficulty, Yen said.Full potential“Before the 1990s, Vietnam was a closed country and did not have any private companies or organizations. All university graduates had to work for the government which, at the time, did not expect a PWD to have gone to the university,” she said, adding that while a PWD may have passed the entrance exams in college, “most of them were turned (away) because of their impairment.”After stewing for three months over her rejection for a job, Yen made “the big decision to do something. I didn’t know exactly what, but I was determined to help change the situation for myself and others,” she said.To empower herself and help other PWDs achieve their full potential, and with more understanding about disabilities from her studies abroad, Yen put up the Disability Research and Capacity Development Center (previously known as the Disability Resource and Development), or DRD.She declined a job offer and a scholarship for a doctorate degree in the United States so she could return to Vietnam in 2005 and set up the DRD, but promised to return to the US in three years after the center had been well established.But the center’s activities and programs kept expanding, so for the next 10 years, Yen had to stay. “I could not leave my work until 2014,” she said, adding that she eventually earned her Ph.D. in Australia.Personal experience firmed up her resolve to put up the DRD, Yen said. “I am a person with disability (who) was born and grew up in a remote area. I faced a lot of barriers and challenges in school and at work, so I understood the difficulties faced by PWDs. I (wanted) to make the change for myself and for others,” she said.But PWDs themselves harbored wrong ideas about themselves, Yen found out when she opened the DRD and invited them to join the center’s programs and activities.“Many people came expecting to receive some money or materials,” she recalled, explaining that most PWDs in Vietnam had gotten used to doleouts.“Our organization was different at the time because we did not give them any money. But we told them about RISE (Research to Improve Vietnam’s Education System) and how to develop their capacity, how to become confident to integrate into society.”Finding partnersDespite the initial misconception, the DRD persisted and continued its activities. This eventually drew more PWDs who were taught “to regain their value” through training programs and other capacity-building projects.The DRD teamed up with other advocates to push for reforms in Vietnam, particularly the passage of the National Law on Persons with Disabilities, the inclusion of PWD employment in labor laws of regulations, and the eventual ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of PWD.The center’s work in spreading awareness about the contributions of PWDs to society and the challenges they face also helped improve the attitude and mindset of the Vietnamese toward disability.15,000 jobsYen’s nonprofit group has so far helped 15,000 PWDs get jobs. It also earned Yen a Ramon Magsaysay Award this year, one among six outstanding individuals celebrated for their selfless service. The prestigious award, Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize, recognized Yen for her personal advocacy and commitment to PWDs, and for her showcase project that involved a motorcycle taxi service designed for them.The other 2018 RM Awardees are: Youk Chhang from Cambodia, Howard Dee from the Philippines, Maria de Lourdes Martins Cruz from East Timor, and Bharat Vatwani and Sonam Wangchuk, both from India.In encouraging her students at Ho Chi Minh Open University and other colleagues to continue being a cog in the wheel of humanity, Yen said she always reminded them that, “We need only one person, each person to know their responsibility, and what they can contribute to the development of the community. Knowing their responsibility and doing it, that’s good enough for society.”"
11520,"Following in the foot steps of the South Korean government the Chinese government has advised its national not to visit the Philippines.""In view of the worsening security situation in the Philippines, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently reminded Chinese citizens not to go to the Philippines.""The Department of Tourism said 2015 will be Visit the Philippines Year.No fun getting robbed, extorted, kidnapped, tortured, murdered in the Philippines.--------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/09/gripped-by-a-mounting-crime-wave-filipinos-increasingly-fearful-for-their-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-698543"
11531,"VETERANS and newcomers form a full and balanced 12-seat Senate slate from a coalition of four political parties that independent Sen. Grace Poe will announce next week.A source in the coalition who is privy to the ongoing discussions said the candidates being considered for Poe’s senatorial lineup were:Sen. Vicente Sotto III and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC); Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares of the Makabayan bloc; Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo of the Liberal Party; former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri; lawyer Lorna Kapunan; Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno; actor Edu Manzano; Sen. Ralph Recto and former Sen. Panfilo Lacson of the Daang Matuwid Coalition; Sen. Sergio Osmeña III; Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez; former Sen. Richard Gordon; and Amina Rasul-Bernardo, director of the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy and daughter of former Sen. Santanina Rasul.The source, who talked to the Inquirer on condition of anonymity, said at least 10 of these individuals were a shoo-in in the Poe ticket: Sotto, Gatchalian, Colmenares, Romulo, Zubiri, Kapunan, Moreno, Manzano, Recto and Lacson.Gordon has not yet made up his mind whether to run for senator or President. Rasul is still studying whether her health can stand up to the rigors of the election campaign.Osmeña, Poe’s mentor, has had a falling out with Poe’s chosen vice presidential candidate, Sen. Francis Escudero.Romualdez is still waiting for the partnerships in the 2016 presidential election to firm up because his cousin, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., could be the running mate of one of the major presidential candidates.The source said that Poe was close to finalizing a four-party coalition to support her presidential bid: NPC, Makabayan, Nacionalista Party and National Unity Party.The source said that as an independent candidate, Poe had more leeway in choosing her senatorial ticket and aligning with political parties.Poe, who leads all major surveys on presidential preferences, and Escudero are expected to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters today.There will be no one big announcement of the senatorial slate of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay, according to spokesperson Mon Ilagan. This was because UNA senatorial candidates would be individually filing their COCs, Ilagan said Wednesday.Actress Alma Moreno, who is a councilor of Parañaque City, and Princess Jaycel Kiram of Sulu filed their COCs Wednesday.Ilagan said UNA was finalizing the remaining members of its senatorial slate, a mix of UNA stalwarts, guest candidates and sector representatives. “What’s important is that we would hopefully complete the slate before the deadline of the filing of COCs on Friday,” he said.Asked about the possibility that Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao would be included in the UNA senatorial slate, Ilagan said the party would know for sure by Friday upon the boxing champ’s return from the United States.Pacquiao is reportedly still waiting for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to make up his mind about running for President.Sen. Gringo Honasan, vice presidential running mate of Binay, had said the party was looking for “credible people” who subscribe to the UNA platform."
11541,"The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) on Friday announced a crackdown on the unauthorized use of sirens by motorists, including politicians.Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal, HPG director, reiterated that under Presidential Decree No. 96, only the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, and ambulances are allowed to use sirens.“Even politicians are not exempted because they are not authorized under PD 96,” he said. “If there are politicos still using sirens, we will apprehend them.”Violators may be reported to the HPG through its 7444-474 text hotline."
11550,"Incendiary content triggered a large number of Facebook user reports that, in turn, triggered an automatic ban.The Case of Ed Lingao“Guess what? FB lifted the 24-hour ban on me, and reinstated one of the two posts they deleted yesterday. Accident daw. The other one, the original post about the Libingan ng mga Bayani, is still down though. Thanks everyone! Oh, and i had a peaceful night's sleep, because I couldn't respond to the trolls who have resumed flooding my posts again haha [FB]”“Journalists are supposed to be critical but fair, because this is how anomalies are laid bare and lies are exposed. Especially lies that are so well packaged that people swallow them without question. Otherwise, go read propaganda.”“Well-meaning people have suggested i change my privacy…. It's actually a good way to keep the trolls away… But… If we insulate and isolate ourselves from the rest, we abandon the public to the growing madness on social media… we need to drive our messages across to everyone who cares to read or listen, whether they agree or not, whether they are agreeable or not.”What exactly went wrong?Traditional Media vs Social MediaFor example, I am a massive Game of Thrones fan. However, I rarely new episodes that premier at 9AM each Monday because I am busy during those hours. That’s why I get to watch them late in the evening or even the day after.I am on Facebook all the time. That’s why I am oftentimes outraged by Facebook friends (or users) who post spoilers right after the premier airs. I reluctantly forgive (but reprimand) friends who do it the first time, but I block smart-asses who do it all the time. I also block Facebook pages that do the same. The smart-ass may have posted those spoilers with the best intentions, but the fact remains that I am pissed.“YOU WANT him buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani? Very well, but on the headstone, put the name William Saunders. That is the name he used to open open his first Swiss account, that later mushroomed to a dozen, whose contents mushroomed to $300 million…”Cognitive Bias and Lingao’s Right to Inform“If we insulate and isolate ourselves from the rest, we abandon the public to the growing madness on social media…”“...We need to drive our messages across to everyone who cares to read or listen, whether they agree or not, whether they are agreeable or not.”BRIEF: A Cognitive Bias is a systematic error in judgment and decision-making common to all human beings which can be due to cognitive limitations, motivational factors, and/or adaptations to natural environments [Wilke and Mata 2012].Logic is not enough“You want Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani? I understand that you believe he’s a hero, that he’s worthy to have that plot in Taguig. However, my research paints a very different story.”I have committed the same mistake before, with my hardline attacks against Mar Roxas during the first couple of months of the campaign season. Luckily, however, ThinkingPinoy's weekly reach back then was just around 1 million FB users, as opposed to about 5 million today.Recognize Human NatureWould pro-Marcos Facebook users change their mind after Lingao's post?TP: In case you missed it, it was Carlos Celdran who labelled Duterte supporters Dutertards, i.e. Duterte Retards, yet he's wondering why the vitriol?Celdran: The label came from the excessive bullying and my frustration about the anti-intellectualism fostered by the campaign. An example of a Dutertard (shows a post from a fanatic). If you are not like this guy, then you aren't a Dutertard.TP: Masses are not yet used to political discourse. Better educated people should know better than to go Rambo on them.Celdran: So what should the ""better educated"" people do to foster discourse then? #youhavesixmonthtoprovethis :o)TP: Cut down on condescension and the passive-aggressive attitude you're displaying right now. Celdran: That is your perception. If you can't handle the heat, then don't walk into the kitchen no?TP: If u dont wanna take advice, up to you. You can waste time warding off trolls for next 6 years.Celdran: It's all part of game. Trying to make me shut up about politics or ANYTHING is non-negotiable. #freedomofspeechTP: No one asked you to shut up. People just want more substance from you because you have degenerated into a troll with a verified twitter acct.Celdran: Then unfollow. You all have that freedom. I am free to talk. You are free to hold your hands over your ears. :o)TP: I aint your follower. Just so happens you're polluting (the airwaves) ATM.Celdran: Then shut the window and leave the room? That's teh beauty of social media. You can unfollow.TP: I follow @carlosceldran in the same way I follow the sound of sirens on the streets. I don't care abt siren, but it's too noisy.@indayevarona yeah, I am on vacation. its just that a lot of my readers are asking. had to whip something up.@edlingao @interaksyon — Thinking Pinoy (@iMthinkingPinoy) June 7, 2016The official Facebook page of the Juan Nationalist was taken down by Facebook after it was mob-reported. The deluge of reports came after EJAP released a statement criticizing Duterte’s declarations against media and journalist killings. The account was restored only after contacting a Facebook executive [ Star ].A similar case happened to the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP). Meanwhile, One of TV5 journalist’s Ed Lingao’s Anti-Marcos posts also got taken down – twice. At the second instance, the system also prevented Lingao from posting for a cruel 24-hour period [ Star ].All the incidents involving these posts and accounts can be summed up into one sentence:I, ThinkingPinoy, am a journalist, and my primary enabler is the constitutional right to free speech. That is why I empathize with Lingao, EJAP, Juan Nationalist, and every journalist whose freedom to speak online has been impaired.The operative word, however, is empathize.That is, I understand their anger and frustration over the curtailment of their right to free speech, but I do not necessarily share the same sentiment. But before you blow a fuse, let me explain why.And to facilitate discussion, let focus on the case of Ed Lingao.Let’s recap what exactly happened to Ed Lingao., Ed Lingao’s original June 1st post criticizing the proposal that the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos be buried in the Heroes’ Cemetery was deleted from Facebook after Facebook got flooded with complaints from various users [ Inq ]. Lingao’s anti-Marcos post is shown below:, after it was deleted, Lingao posted it two more times, and both posts were also deleted. Facebook also also prevented him from posting status updates for 24 hours., Facebook users sympathetic to Lingao re-posted Lingao’s deleted status message, with one of them stating that he was “sharing a screenshot of [Lingao’s] re-post about Marcos and the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, in case anything happens to it” [ FB ]., Facebook overturned their decision to ban a day later then apologized to Lingao for their “mistake” [ TV5 ]., after Facebook reinstated his posting privileges, Lingao posted a new status update:, a lengthy June 3rd status update essentially attempted to defending himself, rather arrogantly, from allegations of bias. Lingao cited the Cambridge Online Dictionary’s definition of the word “bias” [ FB ]. Lingao also said:, by June 4th, he was still warding off online trolls., a section of his June 5th status post reads:Today is June 7th and Lingao has started posting about other topics, so I guess he’s trying to move on from the issue.Now, it’s time to ask:The core of Lingao’s contentious status update is clear: he vehemently disagrees with the proposal to bury Marcos in the Heroes’ Cemetery. Alright, that’s sounds like it’s perfectly within the limits of free speech. His status update would have been a perfectly acceptable opinion piece for a news website or a TV show.The problem, however, is that social media is neither of the two. The constitution bestows upon us the right to speak freely, but it does not give us to right to force other people to listen. If Lingao published this message on Interaksyon, the public can simply decide against visiting the said website. If Lingao conveyed the message on a TV show, the public can simply switch the channel to somewhere else. Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t work like that.Now, how is this GoT story relevant to Lingao’s case?Let’s cite the first several sentences of Linga’s contentious message:From the onset, this post reeks of sarcasm, and even Lingao would probably agree that it ruffled a lot of feathers. Lingao may have posted that status message with the best intentions, but the fact remains that its wording will inevitably incense Marcos’s fervent supporters.I think Lingao forgot the basic mantra, “It’s not what you say: it’s how you say it”. I have read the controversial post in its entirety and it’s pretty clear that Lingao’s post is filled not just with sarcasm, but also with a heaps upon heaps of condescension.Every person’s Facebook wall serves as his territory, his online home. That post went viral, so it will inevitably appear on the Facebook wall of Marcos supporters. While this is legal, a Marcos supporter may consider as a violation of his personal privacy.In short, it’s okay if you talk about what happened in GoT, just don’t discuss it in front of me.Hence the “mob reporting”, as Inquirer puts it. And considering that Facebook is a social network, it should have a built-in program that automatically takes down a post that too many people hate.And that’s what happened to Lingao.Lingao defended his actions a few days later by saying:Again, Lingao may have had the right message. However, it had the wrong words. Instead of making himself sound like I-am-so-right-and-you-are-so-goddamn-wrong, he should have remembered to treat his audience with respect.Lingao argued that:That is also partly true, except for the fact that it didn’t work the last time Big Media tried it. Yes, we all know how much negative news coverage Rodrigo Duterte got. The truthfulness of those news bits is not the issue here. Instead, it’s the fact that they annoy Duterte supporters so much, they simply refused to listen to, watch, or read them anymore.I believe that aside from ferreting the truth, every journalist should also strive to convey their message in ways that can bypass their audience’s respective cognitive biases.Let’s take a look at the ThinkingPinoy article “ Quantifying Discontent: An Analysis of the Bongbong Marcos Phenomenon ”. In that article, I explained how the romanticization of Martial Law may just be a product of cognitive bias arising from the public’s disappointment over alarming levels of economic inequality that has stayed the same in the past 30 post-Martial Law, mostly-Cojuangco-led years. I basically told BBM supporters that they’re wrong, but I said it in a way the clearly respects their current disposition.My post was never taken down and I was never banned from posting.Some may argue that ThinkingPinoy does not have the same reach as veteran columnist Ed Lingao’s, but judging from Lingao’s previous month’s posts before the Marcos issue, the most he got was 425 shares for a post about the PPCRV hash code issue [ FB ] and he has 13,500 Facebook followers as of today. On the other hand, the same ThinkingPinoy BBM article was shared over 700 times and I have 36,000 Facebook followers. And for the anal retentive, I also posted a PPCRV hash code article that was shared over 32,400 times [ TP: Hash Code If ThinkingPinoy wrote Lingao’s controversial post, this is how he would’ve started it:I would have deleted the sarcasm, the condescension, the rage. Why?A journalist’s objective is not just to prove he’s right, but also to persuade other people to be one with his cause. Needless to say, anti-Marcos Facebook users are already against Marcos’ burial. So why bother preaching to the choir?Yes, I may even agree that Lingao posted that message as a private citizen and not as a journalist, but he is a public figure: the regular Pinoy does not distinguish between the two. Besides, the fact that the it was a public post makes that potential claim untenable.The Marcos burial proposal gained traction because pro-Marcos users support it. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of them (*sigh*). But just like what I tell my real-life friends, “You can’t convince someone to change his beliefs if the first thing you do is piss him off.”Lingao is selling a product, i.e. his idea. Before people listen to what he has to say, he has to give them a reason to do so. If that post showed even an iota of respect for those inflicted with what he called “madness”, things might have turned out differently.Let me put it more simply: it’s okay to hold a street protest against Marcos’ burial, but if one does it on Facebook, that’s just like the online version of barging into peoples’ homes with placards and spray paint. Someone is bound to call the police or worse, hit the intruder with a frying pan right away.And that’s what got that post removed. But Lingao’s account got reinstated, right?That’s true but let’s ask this question:If Lingao continues to refuse to acknowledge the dignity of his audience, then in as far as the Marcos Burial issue, he may just be crying over spilled milk.I pointed out the same issue to Carlos Celdran, but he refused to listen. See our twitter conversation below:Mr. Lingao, you may be on the right side of history, so I respectfully ask you to heed my unsolicited advice. Neither for my sake nor yours, but for this country’s.Did you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
11560,"Kinumpirma ng Palasyo ngayon araw na hindi pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang ang pinagsamang Senate Bill No. 1477 and House Bill No. 8239 o binansagang'anti-palo' bill na naglalayon na pagbawalan ang pamamalo o pananakit sa mga bata bilang pagdidisiplina. Ang naturang panukalang batas ay inihain ni opposition senator Risa Hontiveros. Ayon kay Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, gusto daw ng Pangulo na magkaroon ng otoridad ang mga magulang sa kanilang mga anak pagdating sa pagdidisiplina sa mga ito. ""Yung paternal authority sa bata nandoon [sa mga magulang], sila unang magdi-discipline sa mga anak nila. 'Wag lang yung sobra... Alangan namang ikaw papabayaan mo anak mo iba bubogbog,"" sabi ni Medialdea. Base naman sa pahayag ni dating Special Assistant to the President Christophe Bong Go, isa sa mga rason ng Presidente sa pag-vetoed sa panukalang batas ay dahil ayaw sundan ng Pangulo ang nauuso sa mga bansa sa kanluran. Pabor ba kayo sa naging hakbang ng Malacanang ukol sa panukalang batas na ito? Source: MB | ABS | ABS"
11570,"Putting his hand against one of the most sacred sites in Judaism, Donald Trump on Monday became the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall in the disputed city of Jerusalem. Wearing a black skullcap, he paused in front of the holiest site where Jews can pray, then placed what appeared to be a written prayer or note between its stones, as is custom.SPONSORTrump was not accompanied by any Israeli leaders during the hugely symbolic visit.Allowing them to do so could have led to accusations that Washington was implicitly recognizing Israel's unilateral claim of sovereignty over the site, which would break with years of US and international precedent.Security was tight, with the usually bustling Old City, where the Western Wall is located, essentially on lockdown and the plaza leading to the site cleared.As Trump's convoy of dozens of cars entered the square around 4:00 pm (1300 GMT), armed security forces were positioned on nearly every building nearby as well as on the outer wall of the Old City.In the nearby Jewish Quarter, barriers had been erected to make viewing the square impossible from ground level, and some residents said they had been told not to go onto their roofs overlooking the Western Wall.Simon, a 20-year-old American studying in a nearby Jewish seminary, said he was ""excited"" by Trump's visit but disappointed he would not see him.Around a dozen ultra-Orthodox Jewish men had crammed into a tiny terrace on top of one house looking over, seemingly having been granted permission.Share this story!Visit and follow our website: Duterte Hot News© Duterte Hot News"
11580,"""Tuloy ang laban!"" Hindi matanggap ni senatorial candidate Neri COlmenares ang kanyang sinapit o ang kanyang pagkatalo sa ginanap na halalan nito lamang Lunes. Ayon sa dating kongresista, namanipula daw ang mga Pilipino na bumoto ng pinakamasasamang pinuno. Base sa ulat ng GMA News, kasalukuyan daw na nasa ika-24 na puwesto si Colmenares at nakakuha lang ng 4,581,688. ""I will never concede defeat to a rotten electoral exercise that has basically deceived, bribed, intimidated and manipulated our people into electing the worst kinds of leaders imaginable,"" banat ni Colmenares Si Colmenares ay naging representante ng makakaliwang partylist na Bayan Muna sa kongreso. Isa din siya sa mga matitinding kritiko ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Ito na ang pangalawang pagkakataon na nabigo si Colmenares na maging senador. Una itong tumakbo para senador noong 2016 elections. Pinangungunahan ngayon ng mga administration candidates ang top 12 sa partial at unofficial results ng COMELEC. Basahin ang reaksyon ng ilang kababayan natin sa naging pahayag ni Colmenares. ""Election is always unfair when you lose, but is always fair when you win,"" sabi ni J. Castro. "" Sir ok lang yan, we never voted for u anyways,"" sabi ni Y. Suba. ""why then did u run? hopeful ka rin, db? so, if d outcome didn't favor u, be a sport n accept it rather than mock d system which u embraced wen u won...life is sucks so don't suck it up by bitterness. help na lang in nation building for d many pinoys who still dream to see the light shines....,"" sabi ni R. Ibong. ""Then why you run for candidacy if you already know na ""rotten elections"" meron sa Pilipinas? Or now nyo lang nalaman yan?"" sabi ni G. Simplicio. Source: GMA News | FB"
11590,"which he attributes to his administration. Makati has just been named top ‘selfie capital’ of the world, according to Instagram records. Makati topped the list with 258 selfie takers per 100,000 people. Makati has a population of 500,000.To celebrate this great honor, Mayor Binay has declared March 14 as a city-wide holiday with a ticker tape parade scheduled at 11 am. Binay is urging all Makati residents to take to the streets that day and not to leave their homes without their smart phones. According to Binay’s brilliant plan, at exactly 12 noon, all parade participants and spectators will be asked to take a selfie with their smart phones. Apparently, Binay is aiming for another world record, the most number of selfies taken at the exact same time.Pasig, a Metro Manila suburb was named top selfie capital, along with Makati, but Pasig residents don’t think it is such a big deal. The same sentiment has been expressed by Cebu City in Central Philippines which was ranked number 9 in the world. So no ticker tape parade or holidays in either Pasig or Cebu."
11600,"FEATURED IMAGE: President Rodrigo Duterte met with Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua in Davao City in May 2016. SUNSTAR DAVAOAn October 1956 SEATO posterFirst, following this introduction is a short discussion of the key features of the two theoretical frameworks, as well as their implications on alliance dissolution.The proceeding section will provide a short overview of the rise and fall of SEATO.Using the dissolution of SEATO, the third section will test the hypotheses of the theoretical frameworks by weighing the evidence supporting their respective prognoses of alliance dissolution. The last section offers a conclusion.Walt and Wendta) Balance-of-threat Theoryb) Depth-of-identification TheoryBilateral meeting between the People's Republic of China and the Philippines at the East Hall, Great Hall of the People.SEATO’s Rise and FallA 1960 SEATO-themed 4c stamp issued by the United States Postal Service.SEATO's Post-mortemSo what killed SEATO?A composite image of the flags of Pakistan (left) and India (Right)ConclusionDISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of ThinkingPinoy.net.About the AuthorSass Rogando Sasot has over 10 years of international relations experience. Se has worked with people at the international level, such as international NGOs, private international defence and consultancy firm (on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear threats), and high-level diplomats.Sass Rogando Sasot graduated with a Combined Major in World Politics and Global Justice, minor in International Development, magna cum laude, sa Leiden University College in The Hague, Netherlands.Some of her key courses are International Law, Jurisdiction, Transnational History, Sovereignty and Statehood, Peace and Conflict Psychology, Conflict Resolution and Settlement. Under a former NATO Secretary-General, Sass also studied Foreign Policy and Diplomacy and Multilateral Institutions.Sass also studied US Foreign Policy and Chinese International Relations in UCLA, and ""Global Poverty, Local Solutions"" at the International Institute of Social Studies.Sass is currently doing her master's in international relations at Leiden University, working on her thesis on the South China Sea conflict.ReferencesImpermanence bows to no might. Even the leader of the world’s mightiest nation recognised this in his remarks to the United Nations General Assembly last September 2015. “None of us last forever,” Barack Obama soberly said. Deeply aware of the precariousness of their existence, States seek to maximise their security (Waltz). One way States do this is by forming alliances. Alliances are “cooperative security arrangements” States forge against a mutually perceived existential threat (Griffiths and O’Callaghan). Through their collective strengths and actions, States boost their chances of surviving in the sea of impermanence.The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) is one example of such alliances. Along with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), SEATO is one of the Cold War alliances the United States and its allies created in order to contain the spread of communism. Formed in 1954, the alliance parties were France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, and the United States. While NATO persists, SEATO bit the dust in 1977.This is a post-mortem of SEATO. Surely, SEATO’s dissolution can just be considered as some sort of natural death: SEATO, just like any alliance that came before it, simply reached “the final stage [of] the alliance life-cycle” (Misiolek and Wilemon). However, alliances blossom under different circumstances. The uniqueness of the circumstances of alliance formation extends to alliance dissolution. To analyse the peculiarities of SEATO’s disbandment, I will use two theoretical frameworks: Walt’s balance-of-threat theory; and a theory I will call depth of identification theory which I derived from Wendt’s constructivist perspective.This analysis has four junctures:As China is being perceived as a threat again, the resurrection of SEATO has been proffered and predicted since the 90s. In a 1995 New York Times op-ed, Thomas L. Friedman recommended to “dust off the SEATO Charter” if American foreign policy fails to shape a more “benign China.” Two decades later, Josh Gelernter advocated in the National Review the revival of SEATO. In 2015, in InterAksyon, Cesar Polvorosa Jr., has also argued that one of the possible consequences of China’s rise is SEATO’s comeback. This essay joins this conversation by offering a proviso on the viability and sustainability of SEATO’s possible re-emergence.Walt’s balance-of-threat theory is an attempt to rectify Waltz’s balance of power theory. As implied by Waltz’s theory, States enter into alliances either to balance against or bandwagon with the brawniest State. This theory is “seriously flawed,” Walt asserts, “because it ignores the other factors that statesmen will consider when identifying potential threats and prospective allies.” For Walt, the distribution of capability insufficiently explains alliance formation. States do not form an alliance as a “response to power alone” but as a response to “the most threatening power” (Walt 1985). Thus, States enter into alliances in order to balance against or bandwagon with the State that poses the greatest threat to themselves.The balance-of-threat theory has several features. First, States are unitary actors, as well as the consequential actors in the international system. Second, their primary interest is survival. Third, the international system is anarchical. Fourth, since States are the consequential actors, they are also the consequential threats in the international system. This implies that the threat being confronted by the States forming an alliance is external to them (Walt 1987). And fifth, the level of threat a State poses to other States is determined by four factors: its aggregate power, promixity, offensive capability, and offensive intentions. Accordingly, States feel more threatened by nearby States with enormous resources, greater offensive capabilities, and “extremely offensive ambitions” (Walt 1985).In this regard, this is how the balance-of-threat theory predicts the dissolution of an alliance: the absence of a common external threat spurs the dissolution of an alliance. The raison d’être of alliances is the existence of a State that each alliance member individually finds threatening. Thus, when that State no longer poses a threat to most of the members of the alliance, the alliance ceases to exist.Constructivism is a sociological approach to international relations which “emphasises the social, or intersubjective, dimension of world politics” (Griffiths and O'Callaghan). For constructivists, international relations is “partly socially constructed” (Hurd). Its dynamics does not exist independently of the interaction of States. Rippling out of this principle is Wendt’s dictum that “anarchy is what states make of it” (Wendt).One of the key distinctive features of constructivism is its view on how State interests come about: interaction precedes identity and identity precedes interests. Interests are a function of the role States take (enemy, rival, friend) in the process of relating with other States. States do not have a “portfolio of interests that they carry around independent of social context,” Wendt asserts, “they define their interests in the process of defining situations.” Without identity, States will find it difficult, if not impossible, to define the situation, and in turn their interests. States, however, have no pre-given identities; they acquire them by relating with other States (Wendt).Constructivism may be an odd choice of theory in explaining why alliances dissolve. However, Wendt’s concept of “cooperative security systems” can be useful in understanding alliance formation and dissolution. Accordingly, alliances form when “[S]tates identify positively with one another so that the security of each is perceived as the responsibility of all” (Wendt 1992). Through the process of positive identification, States mutually identify each other as friends, and eventually, as indispensable members of one community. A collective identity then gets formed, blurring the distinction between self and other, fusing them “into a single identity” (Wendt 1992).The blurring of self and other has implications on interests and threat assessment. Since identity precedes interests, States’ interests are the interests flowing from the collective identity. The extent States identify the collective interest as their interest largely depends on “how well developed the collective self is” (Wendt 1992). Because the self becomes the collective self, for alliance States threats are those that imperil their collective identity. They engage in collective action not because “they each feel individually threatened by the same threat” but because they feel, as a community, that the threat is an attack to their collective identity (Wendt 1999).By implication, alliances dissolve not because of the absence of external threat but because its members have not reached the depth of identification sufficient to form a collective self. The reason why alliance members stay together is that their sense of self is entangled with the collective identity of their alliance. Without the fusion of selves among its members, members will find it easy to leave an alliance when the strategic situation changes. An alliance disbands when sufficient members no longer find it necessary for their own survival.Under American initiative, SEATO was formed upon the signing of the Manila Pact in September 1954. SEATO’s secretariat was based in Bangkok and its operations were primarily bankrolled by US largesse. Its primary purpose was to contain the spread of communism in South- East Asia, particularly that of People’s Republic of China (PRC), which supported communist movements in the region (van der Kroef). Walter Lippmann hailed the treaty as marking a “new venture” in collective security. The Manila Pact “opens up the possibility of legalised and licensed [international] intervention in [the] internal affairs” of its alliance members and in Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam (Lippman; Protocol to the Manila Pact). Meanwhile, SEATO merely considered these attacks as a “common danger.” There was no obligation to come to the aid of the attacked alliance member; and measures to be taken must be unanimously agreed by and must conform to the “constitutional processes” of alliance members (Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty).Throughout the years, SEATO was increasingly viewed more as America’s foreign policy tool than as an institution embodying the collective aspirations of its members. US Senator George S. McGovern rebuked SEATO as a mere “paper treaty” providing nothing but “legal rationalization” for American presidents “to intervene in Southern Asia” (McGovern). Affirming this is a recently declassified document from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Vietnam Task Force). Meanwhile, the 1961 Laos Crisis demonstrated the weak grounding of the alliance’s collective desire. With American support, Thailand proposed “for a SEATO force to intervene” in Laos; it was quashed by the “strong opposition from the French and British” (McKnight).Plagued by disagreements, lacklustre support from some its members, and ambiguous treaty provisions, SEATO dissolved in June 1977. No one grieved its death. The New York Times called its demise a “tearless end.” SEATO was one of those things that, to borrow Oscar Wilde’s words, brings happiness “whenever they go.” Its end was heartily welcomed by several non-member Southeast Asian countries - Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia - which viewed SEATO’s existence as an “obstacle to improving ties with the new Communist states of Indochina, which saw it as a military threat” (Andelman).From the balance-of-threat perspective, what proved to be fatal to SEATO was that the threat that spurred the alliance to form — China — ceased to be perceived as threatening.From the beginning not all SEATO members viewed the PRC as a threat “in the same degree” as the US did (van der Kroef). Pakistan viewed India more of a threat than the PRC. As early as January 1950, Pakistan already recognised the legitimacy of the PRC and established full diplomatic relations the following year (Embassy of Pakistan). Meanwhile, Pakistan had several territorial wars with India. The British had a “less fundamentalist approach” against communism (McKnight). Despite the shadow of the Cold War, the UK maintained a trading relationship with the PRC. In fact, “British companies were among the first to trade with communist China” (British Chamber of Commerce). Meanwhile, France had no interests in the region “directly vulnerable to Chinese pressures.” France also started trading with China in 1958, exporting goods worth 44.4 million USD (Boyd).But the precipitating moment that dramatically diminished the threat posed by China was the 1961 Sino-Soviet split. This opened an opportunity for the US and its allies to establish ties with China. After a series of secret talks, in 1972, President Nixon visited China and “negotiated the Shanghai Communiqué, an important step toward improving relations between the United States and the PRC after many years of hostility” (US Department of State). Meanwhile, the newly elected governments of Australia and New Zealand in 1972 “sought closer economic ties with China” (Buchanan). And in 1975, both the Philippines and Thailand established diplomatic relations with China. In the same year, these two countries issued a joint communiqué, calling for the phasing out of SEATO “to make it accord with the new realties of the region” (New York Times, 25 July 1975). Thus, when the raison d’être of SEATO ceased to be threatening, the alliance bit the dust.From the perspective of depth-of-identification, what killed SEATO was the absence of collective identity. To begin with, only the Philippines and Thailand were from South-East Asia. The alliance members “represented disparate cultures in countries scattered around the world” (Vietnam Task Force). Because of this, alliance members find it difficult to identify themselves with each other because they are too different. Consequently, their “incompatible views...resulted in paralysis” (Buszynski). Since the alliance was based on a vague collective identity, the members found it difficult to identify their common interests, which rests on the members’s ability to define their situation. They could not define their situation because they did not have a “We” on which to base their assessment. Furthermore, the absence of a “We” made it difficult for SEATO’s members to withstand the myriad differences of its members on various issues, chief of them was “drawing a distinction between communism and nationalism in a decolonizing Southeast Asia” (McKnight).More significantly, there was no sufficient fusion of selves in SEATO. Since the treaty did not oblige members to come to the aid of alliance members who were under attacked, SEATO was not able to encourage the formation of a collective identity among its members that would allow them to recognise that an attack on one of them was an attack to all of them. SEATO’s treaty encouraged members to assess how a threat affected them individually rather than how it imperilled their existence as a community. Without a We to hold on to, SEATO members found it easy to leave and see their alliance vanish into history without even shedding a tear. The alliance members divorced without even getting married.By using the balance-of-threat theory and depth-of-identification theory derived from constructivism, this essay analysed why SEATO dissolved. The balance-of-threat theory emphasised factors exogenous to SEATO, while constructivism those endogenous to it. According to the balance-of-threat theory, SEATO’s dissolution was due to the cessation of the threat posed by China to most of its members. Meanwhile, from a depth-of-identification perspective, the alliance disbanded because SEATO failed to foster a collective identity among its members.These perspectives do not contradict but complement each other. Each has a blindspot that the other reveal. International events, such as alliance formation and dissolution, consist of both material and nonmaterial facets. By solely focusing on one aspect, one gets an impoverished understanding of international relations whose complexity demands to be appreciated from multiple vantage points. The presence of an external threat may provide the necessary impetus for alliance formation, but it is not a sufficient condition for an alliance to thrive and function as a cooperative security community that would come to the aid of its members who are under attacked.To those who are dreaming of another NATO-like alliance in the Pacific in order to contain China’s ascendance, this essay offers a warning that this dream might just be wishful thinking. Certainly, there is a difference between wishful thinking and wishing for something. The latter requires the dreamer to come down to earth and learn from SEATO’s experience. It is one thing to say that China’s rise is a threat, that it is a threat in the same degree to all possible alliance members is another; and that the possible alliance members will be able to identify each other deep enough to form a collective identity, which would in turn be the bedrock of their security community, is quite another still.XXXXXDid you like this post? Help ThinkingPinoy stay up! Even as little as 50 pesos will be a great help!"
11611,"The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cagayan provincial office and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) have teamed up with the local government of Rizal, Cagayan in training Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in making new products from banana stalks.Some 30 ARBs and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Rizal joined the Skills Training on Leatherized Banana Stalks Manipulation conducted by DTI and DAR, in collaboration with Rizal LGU in Barangay Duyun, Rizal, Cagayan on Friday.DTI-Region 2 information officer Manilyn Ponce said the skills training was the first of the two-part collaboration in the development of new products from banana, a raw material swarming in abundance in the area.The leatherized banana stalks are used as wallpapers, as wraps for desk lamps, and other decorative ideas.“There is a market for leatherized banana stalks. In fact, products using the leatherized banana stalks have been featured in national fairs and have received positive feedbacks from customers,” Ponce, said.“With the abundance of bananas in the area, and with the trainings provided by the government, the local administration, under the leadership of Mayor Brenda Ruma, hopes for the MSMEs to tap this opportunity and turn it into a lucrative business,” said Remigio C. Taguba, Executive Assistant of LGU Rizal, who also opened the training and welcomed the participants.The training is one of the components of the Support to SSF and Yaman Pinoy Project of LGU Rizal under DTI-BuB 2016 fund.The DTI-DAR-Rizal LGU team is set to hold another round of product development activity to the same participants this month."
11621,"THE PHILIPPINE Daily Inquirer and its election partner, GMA 7, will hold on Feb. 21 in Mindanao the first presidential debate of the 2016 polls.That debate will tackle issues centered on peace and order, poverty reduction, agriculture and Charter change.In a brief ceremony Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) drew lots to determine which media entities will host the debates for presidential and vice presidential candidates in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila.The Inquirer and GMA 7 were designated to host the first debate. Philippine Star and TV5 will moderate the second presidential debate in the Visayas on March 20.Manila Bulletin and ABS-CBN will handle the last debate among presidential contenders in Luzon on April 24.The only debate for vice presidential aspirants will be hosted by CNN Philippines and Business Mirror in Metro Manila on April 10.Dual format“They will let us know which city and which university they will be partnering with. It’s a dual moderator format,” said Comelec Chair Andres Bautista, who oversaw the drawing of lots.It was agreed earlier that the debate in Mindanao will tackle issues on agriculture development, poverty reduction and asset creation and redistribution, Charter change and peace and order.The debate in the Visayas will center on disaster preparedness, climate change adaptation, fighting corruption, healthcare and education.Chance to help votersTopics in the Luzon leg will involve traffic and public transportation issues, electoral and political reforms, foreign policy, national defense and taxation.The Comelec is pursuing the series of debates to allow candidates for President and Vice President to discuss their platforms of government and provide an avenue for voters to assess their chosen candidates.Bautista has said the candidates have the option to participate in the debate or pass up the opportunity to be heard.“We will not force anybody to join the debates,” the Comelec chief said.“Not yet officially but all of them welcomed the idea of a national debate,” he later said when asked if the presidential aspirants confirmed attendance in the debate.Among the presidential aspirants, only Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas and United Nationalist Alliance’s Jejomar Binay have expressed their intention, through their social media arms, to join the debates, according to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.“Mar and Binay’s social media campaigns have confirmed their candidates’ willingness to [participate]. The rest, not a whimper,” Jimenez said in a text message to the Inquirer."
11630,"She was only 22 years old who died during a firefight between the Armed Force of the Philippines and the New Peoples Army on November 28 in Nasugbu, Batangas. Josephine Lapira was a former student of the University of the Philippines.She is known as an activist who regularly promote her political beliefs to women and recruited them to join her. She was the Secretary General of the Gabriela Youth.She was one of the 15 killed in the firefight.The AFP has retrieved personal belongings, guns, foods and grenades from the rebels. The fight broke when authorities received a tip that several rebels are on their way for an operation.Maj. Engelberto Nioda Jr., commander of the PAF 730th Combat Group, said authorities were tipped off to the presence of vehicles “full of armed rebels” in Nasugbu, 65 kilometers south of Manila.Delvo said joint police and military checkpoints were set up on the routes to Calatagan and Balayan towns after they received information about the vehicles.“We were expecting them to pass by that road, as that would be the usual exit route, but they instead took a turn and headed toward the direction of Tagaytay [Cavite]. There were also checkpoints there,” Delvo said.The authorities encountered two – an unmarked jeepney and a van – in the adjacent villages of Aga and Kaylaway, along the dimly lit part of the Tagaytay-Nasugbu highway.“The jeep did not stop [for inspection] and [the passengers] opened fire at our troops,” Delvo said.Meanwhile, CPP-NPA Chief Joma Sison is calling the Commission of Human Rights to investigate the killings of his 15 warriors.Your thoughts on this? Leave your comments below!"
11641,"President Aquino said he would announce the administration’s presidential candidate in the 2016 elections in June this year.This was confirmed by Presidential Communication Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. who said the President had made the announcement in an exclusive interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) last Tuesday.“I heard that because I witnessed the interview and there are plenty of questions related to that. He also said that it was better to wait for what he has to announce,” said Coloma.He refused to elaborate on the President’s declaration until AFP released its exclusive story on the interview.Coloma said he confirmed the June announcement because the President himself had expressed the same sentiment in recent public announcements.He reiterated that while the President was keeping his cards close to his chest, he made hints about the qualities he was looking for in his successor, such as somebody who would continue his anticorruption measures and those who were real allies and not those who were just pretending to support him."
11650,"I think Leni Robredo’sway of speaking English is a product of spending too much time with yellow elites.(Plus, Kris Aquino was her top campaign donor, so.)Remember, Robredo is a country mouse from Bicol who only got thrown into thecliques of Metro Manila after the Liberal Party decided to build her up as a replacement for Grace Poe.Robredo obviously wasn’t used to speaking English in her normal everyday life in the past. But since this is how her socialite backers talk, she tries to emulate them to fit in.What irks me more than her awkward English is her yellowlogic.Watch this video of Noli de Castro interviewing her on TV Patrol the other day about her “resignation” from the Duterte Cabinet.If this was, Robredo would be the champion hands down.When Noli asks her what proof she has that someone is trying to steal the vice presidency from her, Robredo says, with utmost seriousness . . . . . the goodbye tweets that she got from pro-Bongbong Marcos trolls before she announced her resignation.When Noli asks her exactly how the Vice Presidency can be “stolen” from her, considering she was (supposedly) elected, she says . . . . . she can’t talk about it.Yes. After blanketing the media with press statements, press conferences, and TV interviews saying, “I won’t allow the Vice Presidency to be stolen!”, she cops out when pressed for details and says she can’t talk about it.Did coach Bam Aquino forget to include an answer to this question in her FAQ script?Or have they gotten so used to the non-critical way sycophantic yellow journalists conduct Robredo interviews that they don’t even bother to come up with details?(BTW props to Noli de Castro for asking good questions.)Watch the rest of the video if you want to look deeper into the abyss that is Leni Robredo’s mind.Another thing I noticed from this video–Robredo’s eyes are really, disproportionately BIG. Lalo na pag dumidilat siya.. She shouldn’t widen her eyes so much when she’s talking on TV.------------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion"
11660,"With just nine days before the next Miss Universe is to be chosen in Moscow, Miss Philippines is attracting all the attention. And she is among the top favorites to win the prestigious beauty pageant. Will it be a grand slam this year for the Philippines after earlier bagging the Miss World and Miss Supranational crowns ?But wait, which Miss Philippines? Miss Philippines, Ariella Arida? Miss Canada, Riza Santos? Miss Gabon, Jennifer Ondo? Miss Guam, Alixes Scott? Filipinas all!Should any of these ladies win the crown, will the Philippines lay claim over her, just like the U.S. laid claim on Miss World Megan Young who was born in the U.S. with an American father and Filipina mother?Stay tuned."
11670,"Sa pagpapatuloy na operasyon ng kapulisan laban sa kriminalidad, napatay ang 14 na alleged criminals sa ilang lugar sa Negros Oriental. Base sa imporasyon na ibinhagi ni Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office head Colonel Raul Tacaca, labing-apat na suspek ang natodas sa mga hiwalay na operasyon sa Canlaon City at sa mga bayan ng Manjuyod at Sta. Catalina. Ayon sa ulat ng GMA News, nanlaban umano ang mga napaslang. 12 na suspek naman ang naaresto ng otoridad sa parehas na operasyon. Pinalalabas naman ng makakaliwang grupo tulad ng Bayan Muna at Kabataan Party-list na mga magsasaka lang daw ang mga napatay. Tinuturing din daw nila na masaker ang nangyari. ""We hold the Duterte administration and his armed forces accountable for this crime against our farmers. The youth stands with our farmers as we call for justice for the victims of the Canlaon and all the victims of state-perpetrated violence and bogus land reform programs,"" sabi ni Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Elago. Para naman kay Bayan Muna Chairman at senatorial aspirant na si Neri Colmenares, kakasuhan daw nila ang mga kapulisan at kasundaluhan sa nangyari. ""We warn the police that we will pursue justice so that the police involved will suffer the fate of Gen. Jovito Palparan who is now languishing in prison. We demand that the PNP [Philippine National Police] and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) release the names of all those involved so that we can file criminal cases against them... This is beyond words and the height of impunity of state forces. Justice must be served,"" banat ni Colmenares. Nanindigan naman si Tacaca na legal ang naging operasyon nila at may mga arrest warrant na dala ang hanay ng gobyerno. Ayon pa kay Tacaca, ang mga napatay ay mga hitmen umano ng NPA at sangkot sa mga pananambang sa ilang miyembro ng kapulisan at kasundaluhan. Source: GMA | INQ"
11681,"WELL-LOVED pala talaga ng mga taga-production si Kim Chiu dahil marunong makisama sa mga katrabaho mula sa pinakamataas hanggang sa pinakamababang posisyon. ""Saludo kami sa ugali ni Kim,"" kuwento ng kaibigan namin na ilang beses na niyang nakatrabaho. ""Minsan barubal makipag-usap kasi diretso lang magsalita, lalo na yata 'pag iniinterbyu ng press, pero lahat ng katrabaho niya sa production walang masabi sa kanya, sobrang bait talaga."
11691,"It took 22 hours of the “Traslacion” before the Black Nazarene, the revered image of Jesus Christ, returned to Quiapo Church around 3:42 a.m. yesterday, Monsignor Hernando Coronel said.Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, the feast’s “hermano mayor,” called it “a miracle” that no one in the sea of devotees was seriously hurt and that the image was safely and peacefully returned from Quirino Grandstand through narrow streets and what security officials warned was a “possible terror threat.”“It’s God’s miracle that no one was seriously hurt; no one died. No matter how excellent our preparations are, it is God’s doing that we’re able to hold the Traslacion safely and peacefully,” said Estrada.The Manila Police District (MPD) estimated the in-and-out crowd throughout the 22-hour procession at 3.5 million since it departed Quirino Grandstand at 5:20 a.m. Monday.“We have injuries but only minor ones,” said Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel, MPD director. He said that as of 9 p.m. of Monday, a total of 1,339 devotees suffered minor injuries while only seven were classified to have “major injuries.”Garbage doublesThe only thing to frown about was that failure to achieve a “trashless Traslacion.” Despite repeated appeals for devotees to clean as they go, the city’s Task Force Manila Cleanup reported a doubling of garbage left on the streets as compared with last year’s feast.Che Borromeo, task force head, said that until 9:30 a.m. yesterday 65 truckloads of garbage amounting to 341.29 tons were collected since Saturday’s “Pahalik,” as compared with last year’s 172.29 tons during the same period. (With a report from Leslie Ann G. Aquino)"
11700,"Sa isang panayam kay Peter Joemel Advincula, nagpabatid ito ng isang hamon kay Senator Antonio Trillanes na magkita sila. Hamon nito, ""Magkita kaming dalawa. Dun makikita kung sino ang nagsisinungaling."" Giit nito, sa eye contact makikita kung sino ang ngayon pa lang nagkakilala at ang matagal nang magkakilala. Wala rin itong takot sakaling kasuhan ng senador dahil sa mga binunyag nito na nagdadawit sa pangalan ni Trillanes at sa Liberal Party. Ngunit may paalala rin ito sa senador. Aniya, ""Ito ang tatandaan niya, lahat ng mga ginawa namin noon, may mga ebidensya akong magpapatunay na sya ang nasa likod (sa likod ng black propaganda)."""
11711,Ito ang inihayag ni Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila De Lima makaraan niyang kumpirmahin nitong Disyembre 12 ang Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) ng Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013.
11721,"the most precious resource they receive from God! Tempt them to be always busy. Make them yearn for success, wealth, and praise, so they will work themselves to death. Push them to spend, borrow, sell, acquire, lease, and indulge in endless business transactions.“Prevent them from spending time with their loved ones. Persuade wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to stay in the office 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Brainwash them into thinking that giving their children money is a good substitute for quality time. As their families fragment, homes will disintegrate. Soon they will be spending their time in bars, discos, casinos; or waste their hard-earned money on drugs and other forms of escape.“Over-stimulate their minds to prevent them from thinking clearly. Muddle their priorities. Entice them to keep their TV, DVD players, iPad, iPod, or PC’s open when they are at home or in the car; keep the cell phones handy and continually upgraded so they will be addicted to it; overwhelm their eyes and ears with news and movies; keep the giant billboards bright and attractive so advertisers can invade their minds even when they are driving or traveling; flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail-order catalogues, sweepstakes, lotto numbers, and every kind of promotional products, services, and gadgets.“Put skinny, beautiful models on TV and magazines so women will spend all their time trimming their fat, lifting their noses, faces, and breasts, leaving them no time to uplift their spirits. Make men believe that muscles make a real man, that a macho must keep a mistress, and that success requires them to be dishonest and cunning. Soon, they will end up exhausted, wasted human beings, living immoral or amoral lives, trying to create themselves in the likeness of celebrities.“Give them Santa Claus, snowman, bright trinkets, and expensive commodities to distract them from the real meaning of Christmas. Keep them busy hunting for Easter Bunny and Easter eggs so they will forget the essence of Christ’s passion and resurrection. Commercialize Mother’s Day and Father’s Day so they will worry more about buying gifts rather than spending time with their mothers and fathers; involve them in gossip and small talk, so they will have no time for self-examination and prayer.”Satan is happy. He has found the right formula to keep human beings in his power. The demons goes eagerly around the world, causing people everywhere to get busier and more harried, harassed, rushed, and stressed out.So, if today you’re too busy that you sleep less and less, and work more and more, you must be under Satan’s yoke."
11731,"The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has denied the appeal of Miascor Aviation Services, seeking a reconsideration of the pending termination of its contract as ground-handling service provider in several airports in the country.“After careful evaluation of facts surrounding an incident of baggage pilferage involving Miascor’s employees, and in line with the clear directive of President Duterte for Miascor’s contract to be terminated, the DOTr denies the appeal of Miascor, and stands firm in its decision to not to renew the company’s contract with the Manila International Airports Authority (MIAA) beyond April 2018,” the DOTr said in a statement.“The President has also said that he will not entertain any appeal from Miascor Aviation Services,” the DOTr added.Ed Monreal, general manager of MIAA, the state-run administrator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, said Miascor’s concession contract would be terminated on April 21."
11741,"THE HOUSE Committee on Appropriations has approved a substitute bill seeking the creation of positions for judges-at-large.Judges-at-large are deployable judges who do not have permanent salas, which means that they will be deployed by the Supreme Court (SC) to any court in the country, depending on need.Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, committee chairman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the passing of the bill will move to address the huge backlog hounding the country’s lower courts.“The criminal justice system in the Philippines is perceived to be slow given the sheer volume of docketed cases. Human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno once said that a trial in the country usually lasts six to 10 years. This measure presents a solution that aims to decongest court dockets in an efficient manner,” Nograles noted.He said the substitute bill amends Batas Pambansa (BP) 129 and will create 50 Regional Trial Judges-at-Large and another 50 Municipal Trial Judges-At-Large.The salary level of the 100 judges-at-large will be equal to the salaries of Regional Trial Judges, Metropolitan Trial Judges, Municipal Circuit Trial Judges and Intermediate Appellate Justices.The judges-at-large will receive displacement allowances as well, to cover housing, food, transportation and other necessary fees incurred during the detail to courts that are outside their places of residence.The allowances will be determined by the SC, upon the recommendation of the Court Administrator and the Plantilla Committee, according to the bill.Nograles said the measure is timely because of the Duterte administration’s “no-nonsense” anti-illegal drug campaign, which led to the arrest and deaths of thousands of suspected drug offenders.He cited a report by the Agence France-Presse in September, which bared more or less 96,700 drug suspects have been jailed since President Rodrigo Duterte took his seat as the President of the country.“Delaying the resolution of these cases is unfair to the defendant as well as the lawmen who risked their lives in the conduct of anti-drug operations. That’s why the speedy delivery of justice is so important—nobody has a monopoly over it,” Nograles said."
11751,"Lawyer Lorenzo Gadon on Friday pressed his legal attack on Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as he sued her for graft in the Department of Justice (DOJ) over her alleged failure to file statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 17 years.Gadon, however, admitted that the DOJ could not pursue any criminal case against the chief magistrate since she is an impeachable public official.The criminal case she brought against Sereno was different from the impeachment complaint he had filed in the House of Representatives, he told reporters.Gadon said the Chief Justice committed the supposed violation when she was still a faculty member of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law.“I needed to file this because there is a prescription period (in filing the case),” he said. “You must take note that some of the violations were committed more than 10 years ago.”Ombudsman prosecutorsTold that only Ombudsman prosecutors were allowed by law to handle cases involving graft and corruption, he replied: “(DOJ prosecutors) may be allowed. It depends on the agreement (of the DOJ and the Ombudsman).”“From what I know, if the Ombudsman lacks prosecutors, they may ask for additional designation (of prosecutors from the DOJ),” he said.‘Clear evidence’“As a complainant, I should not be discussing the issue of jurisdiction. For me, a law has been violated and there are many clear evidence (against Sereno),” Gadon added.Section 15 of Republic Act (RA) No. 6770 stated that the Ombudsman has “primary jurisdiction over cases” involving graft and corruption.He said he belatedly filed the complaint for violation of RA 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and RA 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as Sereno’s alleged criminal offenses only surfaced during the impeachment hearing of the House justice committee.In his complaint, Gadon said Sereno worked as a law professor at UP from 1986 to 2006 before she was designated Chief Justice by former President Benigno Aquino III.However, he said the chief magistrate submitted her SALN only in 1998, 2002 and 2006 as shown by records from UP, the Office of the President, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Judicial and Bar Council."
11761,"Twenty-six simultaneous antidrug operations have left 21 alleged drug offenders dead across Bulacan province, police said on Tuesday.They called it the highest death toll in a single day since President Rodrigo Duterte launched his war on drugs in June last year.The Philippine National Police, however, played down the large number of deaths, saying it was “normal” considering the number of operations carried out by the Bulacan police.“If there were 22 or 25 operations conducted, it is normal. If a single operation resulted in that many deaths, that is where there will be questions,” Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesperson, told reporters at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.Carlos, however, said the PNP Internal Affairs Service would investigate the operations that resulted in the deaths of suspects.The “One Time, Big Time” police operations came as Bulacan celebrated its 439th foundation day.The operations began at 7 p.m. on Monday and ended after nine hours early on Tuesday.Of the operations, 24 were for the entrapment of suspects and the rest were for the execution of search warrants.Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, Bulacan provincial police office director, said in a report that 21 drug suspects were killed and 64 others were arrested in the operations in Marilao, Obando, Pulilan, Balagtas, San Miguel, Plaridel, Guiguinto, Norzagaray, Malolos, San Jose del Monte, Santa Maria, Baliwag, San Ildefonso, Bustos, Hagonoy and Bocaue.Caramat said 21 firearms and more than 100 grams of “shabu,” or crystal meth, worth P500,000 were also seized during the operations.Cash and drug paraphernalia were also recovered.Police records show that since the crackdown started, 3,264 alleged drug offenders have been killed in gun battles with law enforcers.More than 2,000 others died in drug-related homicides, including attacks by motorcycle-riding masked gunmen and other assaults.Resisted arrestPolice said the suspects who were killed in the Bulacan operations had offered resistance against arresting officers.Senior Insp. Lynelle Solomon, Bulacan police information officer, said two suspects identified only as Egoy and Tom fought back and were shot dead in an entrapment operation in Marilao town.Solomon said the two men were armed with a revolver and a shotgun and were caught peddling shabu.In Obando town, Solomon said, two suspects identified as Enan and Justin shot it out with officers to whom they were selling shabu when they sensed they had been caught in an entrapment operation.Another suspect, identified only as Bert, was killed when he shot it out with police in an entrapment operation in Pulilan town, Solomon aid.A man identified only as Alvin was killed in a raid in Balagtas town, she said. Recovered from the man was a revolver and six sachets of shabu, she added.In San Miguel town, a suspect identified only as Chris shot it out with policemen and was killed. Recovered from him were a revolver and five sachets of shabu.In Plaridel town, drug suspect Jerome was killed in a clash with police, while suspect Yayot and a companion fought back and were killed by officers in another raid in Guiguinto town.In Norzagaray town, an alias Allan Tattoo, a certain Arnold and an unidentified man were killed when they fought officers who were enforcing a search warrant.Details of the clash were not available. Police said they recovered two revolvers, a shotgun and two sachets of shabu from the suspects.Clash with officersSuspects Jeffrey and Willy were killed in a clash with officers in the drug operation in the City of Malolos, while suspects Elias and Eugene were slain in the operation in the City of San Jose del Monte, where 50 drug suspects were also arrested and 27 sachets of shabu seized.Two men were killed when they fired at policemen at a checkpoint. Police did not say in their report where the incident happened. Neither did they say whether they had identified the two men.In the operation in Santa Maria town, undercover drug agents shot and killed a man identified only as Macoy when he fired at them.In Baliwag town, officers shot and killed one alias Pugeng Manyak, who they said fired at them with a revolver.Before Monday’s raids, Bulacan police had killed 14 drug suspects in operations from July 31 to Aug. 9.They also had arrested 100 drug suspects during operations in the past two weeks.Other raids, other deathsIn Cagayan province, three suspected drug pushers were killed in a police operation in Alcala town on Monday.Asnali Datu, Hasim Cali and an unidentified man were killed in a clash with narcs from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and policemen in Tupang village in Alcala, according to Laurefel Gabales, PDEA director for Cagayan Valley.In Nueva Ecija province, a suspected drug peddler and his companion were killed in a clash with policemen during an entrapment operation in Pag-asa village in Talavera town.Police said Edmond Dacir fired at narcs as he fled on a motorcycle driven by Abel Erica.The two men were killed when the narcs fired back."
11771,"Importing P1.4 billion worth of fish, specifically galunggong (round scad), won’t bring down rising fish prices, Rep. Jose Atienza of Buhay party said on Thursday.“This is a band-aid solution and a poor government intervention. It does not address the problem of dwindling fish production,” he said in a statement.The Agriculture department has claimed that the importation of 17,000 metric tons of galunggong will lower the price of fish to P75 to P80 per kilo.Atienza, however, was not convinced.“What difference will 17 million kilos make? That is just equal to 17 million households consuming one kilo each in a day. Ubos na ‘yan sa loob ng isang araw lang (That can be consumed in a day). The best way for the government to fight off rising fish or food prices for that matter is by producing more fish and more food,” he said.Atienza earlier sought the cleanup of municipal waters around Metro Manila and Luzon to revive fish production.“We cannot expect fish and other marine life to thrive abundantly in our highly toxic municipal waters. Illegal fish cages, industrial waste, untreated sewage and unchecked land reclamation have caused a rapid decay of the waters around Metro Manila,” he said.The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) gave assurances that it would see to it that the imported fish, set to arrive on Sept. 1, would be free of harmful substances.“The imported galunggong will be unloaded only in BFAR accredited cold storage facilities and will undergo thorough inspection to ensure that the fish commodity that will enter Philippine markets are safe and free of harmful substances,” Agriculture Undersecretary and BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona said.The DA allowed the importation of galunggong from China, India and Holland to curb the increasing prices of fish and ensure food security.Galunggong is covered by the DA’s order on suggested retail price (SRP). Its market price must not exceed 10 percent of its SRP – P140 per kilogram.Also on Thursday, Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list slammed the government’s economic managers for easing tariff rates on imported rice and fish, saying this would wreak havoc on the economy.“Instead of lowering the prices of our staple food, it will in fact cause the increase of prices of the said products because importers and businessmen would just pass on their added cost to consumers. As a result, it will further jack up the already high inflation rate of 5.7 percent,” Zarate said in a statement.“Imported fish like galunggong can also be dangerous to our health because some may contain formaldehyde to preserve the fish. The Department of Health has in fact also previously warned consumers to be wary of imported fish because formalin can cause cancer and it should be probed by Congress,” Zarate added.With Reports from EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ"
11781,"Si Howard, na hindi nakapaglaro sa huling 11 laro dahil sa strained right knee, ay nakaabot din sa isang milestone nang maitala ang 10,000 rebounds sa kanyang career."
11790,"What Georgina Hernandez is to Vice President Leni Robredo is now what Raissa Robles is to Senator Risa Hontiveros.The senator has taken a lot of flak lately for her public statements claiming that the Maute siege on Marawi City does not constitute rebellion nor invasion, hence it could not justify President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.Admitting a lack of professional advice on her public statements, Hontiveros told The Adobo Chronicles that perhaps it was time for her to hire a spokesperson.It wasn’t difficult for Hontiveros to find the right person for the job. Blogger Raissa Robles was the first person to cross her mind.Hontiveros and Robles are both anti-Martial Law, and anti-Duterte. They’re both women. Neither of them are necessarily the epitome of smartness. Robles thinks she is a journalist, and a journalist is what Hontiveros needs (She can’t rely on her sister who is a CNN Philippines anchor because that would constitute a conflict of interest.) Plus their names are almost a perfect match: Rissa, Raissa.So a Hontiveros-Robles tandem is a match made in heaven. Or hell, depending on how you look at it.Congratulations to Robles for her new gig. It will make up for her failed book on the Marcos Martial Law. Perhaps a Duterte Martial Law would earn her more bucks if she writes a better book. That is, if her new employer would give her enough time off to write a new book."
11801,"without the added burden of certain shady characters demanding a loyalty test as a prerequisite. Or without the obfuscation by hyperpartisans who have not moved on from the elections, be they winners or losers.Thanks to the BBM Youth and Paredes, it only became clearer that we cannot afford to allow ourselves to be misrepresented or be left with false choices. Or to be derailed and sidetracked from the big issues that badly need to be discussed like the extrajudicial killings, peace talks, Endo, land reform and public mass transportation.Now, we know. Now, we know better.Follow me on Twitter @tonyocruz and check out my blog tonyocruz.com"
11810,"Sister of the legendary OPM artist Freddie Aguilar, published a conspiracy theory that no other netizen could imagine!According to Marlene Aguilar, also known as She Dragon 696, the President that we are currently saw on television and press conferences is not Rodrigo Duterte anymore, but a reptoid alien in disguise.She claimed that she has a contact with the U.S Central Intelligence Agency and she received an information from them that Rodrigo Duterte died a month ago due to cancer.“According to my contact with the CIA, the real president Duterte was in an island bedridden. He said the president’s cancer has so become so advanced he was defecating and pissing in his own bed. This was a month ago. If this is true, I believe President Duterte is dead.” Marlene Aguilar said.Aguilar pointed out the difference between the movements of President Rodrigo Duterte and the ‘reptoid alien Duterte’ during the State of the Nation Address and ASEAN Summit.She also explained that reptoids can copy any human shape to do their job and deceive many people.“Many people who saw Duterte during the SONA and who also saw him during the Asian SUMMIT say that there is a big difference between the 2 men. Duterte during his last SONA had a hard time speaking and walked slow. And he appeared to be weak. But the Duterte in the Asian SUMMIT looks younger and he did not any of these health problems I mentioned earlier.” she said.“According to reptoid aliens Dolly Barrion and I are in contact with, the Duterte you see now is an reptoid alien in disguise. These reptoids can copy any human shape and form they want.” she added.Aguilar also claimed that her asset ‘trax’ talked to several officials like Philippine National Police Director General Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and gathered statements from them that could prove her claims.“When my asset Trax told Chief PNP Bato that the current Duterte is a reptoid alien imposter, he responded, “Kaya pala may mga kakaiba sa kanya.” (You will find Trax speaking on Youtube regarding the CIA. I’m posting the link below.)” she said.“According to DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, the last time he had a meeting with Duterte, the ‘president’ couldn’t remember major issues they discussed in the past. Mayor of Salmal, David Uy apparently said the same thing regarding their recent meeting.” she added.According to Marlene Aguilar, the only thing that would prove her wrong is the President itself, so she challenged him to step forward and clean his name.“I BELIEVE DUTERTE IS DEAD. I BELIEVE THE CURRENT DUTERTE IS AN IMPOSTOR! So I challenge the president to step forward and clear my allegations immediately!” she said.The post of Aguilar has gone viral on the internet and reached thousands of reaction and shares from the netizens.However, the people obviously laughed at Aguilar’s claim against the President and some people said that she’s already insane.This is not the first time that Marlene Aguilar published a controversial article on her Facebook page.In 2015, Aguilar lambasted Pope Francis on social media and accused the pontiff of child rape, child torture, child murder genocide, and other crimes of humanity. She also saw his followers as a bunch of idiots.Aguilar is not alone, because thousands of conspiracy theorist especially from U.S also published several stories about reptoids several years ago.Marlene’s brother, Freddie Aguilar is a loyal supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte and the legendary artist even composed the campaign jingle of the former Davao City Mayor during the Presidential elections.Some netizens explained that Marlene Aguilar became insane because of what happened to her son Jason Ivler who got arrested in 2015 because of killing Renato Ebarle Sr. son of a high ranking Malacanang staff.Even former U.S President Barack Obama became the subject of the ‘reptilian’ theory and conspiracy theorist claimed that his guards are alien shapeshifters.Source:Here’s the other conspiracy theory about President Duterte:"
11820,"A heated confrontation happened between OPM Artist Jim Paredes and the Duterte Youth during the anniversary celebration of EDSA Revolution held at EDSA.Mr. Paredes tried to intimidate the seven members of Duterte Youth who peacefully joined the rally of the yellow supporters who holds a banner to show their support to the current administration.After the confrontation, the rallyists stole the banner of the Duterte Youth and forced the group to leave the rally.But in a tweet of Jim Paredes, one day before the celebration, he invited everyone including the non-yellows and Duterte supporters to join the EDSA rally.After the confrontation, the Netizens criticize Paredes on his twitter account, but the OPM Artist explain his side.@Jimparedes Oh really? So what did you do to the young professionals group earlier? Quite a disgrace! 😒 — I Am Cris (@misty_eyes) February 25, 2017@Jimparedes Kala ko everyone is free pero galit na galit sa Duterte Youth. Anyare Jim? — Karla Joie (@aivysonyeo) February 25, 2017@Jimparedes If everyone is free to go to EDSA,not just yellow, then why are you mad? Your actions seem to contradict your own words Sir. — donnajane (@d_donnajane) February 25, 2017He denied that the rallyists drove away the supporters of Duterte.@mijitatralala WE did not drive them away. They stayed another hour or so. — Jim (@Jimparedes) February 25, 2017Mr. Paredes said that he respected the rights of the Duterte Youth to became disrespectful to their rally.@heromie_26 Di ko sila pinaalis. I respected their right to be disrespectful. Get your facts straight. — Jim (@Jimparedes) February 25, 2017"
11831,"THE Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a petition seeking to compel several government agencies to effect the “road-sharing principle.”In a full-court decision, the tribunal turned down the case filed by the group of one Victoria Segovia in 2014 that sought to release the road user’s tax to implement the road sharing and to compel government officials to reduce their fuel consumption by 50 percent, among others.It effectively ruled to dismiss the petition for the writ of kalikasan and continuing mandamus for lack of merit.The verdict was penned by Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa and concurred in by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and other justices.The petitioners asked the court to compel the Budget department to release the road user’s tax to fund the reform of the road and transportation system and the implementation of the road-sharing principle.But in the ruling, the SC held that public respondents sufficiently showed that “they did not unlawfully refuse to implement or neglect the laws, executive and administrative orders as claimed by the petitioners.”According to the High Court, ”Projects and programs that seek to improve air quality were undertaken by the respondents, jointly and in coordination with stakeholders, such as: priority tagging of expenditures for climate change adaptation and mitigation, the integrated transport system which is aimed to decongest major thoroughfares, truck ban, anti-smoke belching campaign, anti-colorum, mobile bike service programs and urban re-greening programs.”Colorum refers to vehicles without franchises.“The efforts of local governments and administrative regions in conjunction with other · executive agencies and stakeholders are also outlined. Similarly, the writ of continuing mandamus cannot be issued,” the SC opined.In junking the petition, it held that “there is no showing of unlawful neglect on the part of the respondents to perform any act that the law specifically enjoins as a duty, there being nothing in the executive issuances relied upon by the petitioners that specifically enjoins the bifurcation of roads to implement the road-sharing principle.”“To the opposite, the respondents were able to show that they were and are actively implementing projects and programs that seek to improve air quality. At its core, what the petitioners are seeking to compel is not the performance of a ministerial act but a discretionary act–the manner of implementation of the road-sharing principle,” it explained.JOMAR CANLAS"
11840,"Pinoy Ako Blog’s Jover Laurio has lined up three libel suits so far — one each against R.J. Nieto, a.k.a. Thinking Pinoy, Sass Rogando Sasot and Franco Mabanta.But the anti-Duterte blogger will not stop at three.In an exclusive interview with The Adobo Chronicles, Laurio said that she will not think twice — or think at all — to sue others who would call her ‘ugly.’Asked on what basis she is going to sue those who call her ugly, Laurio said: “it’s fake news, and it ruins my reputation and good moral character. It also could affect my chances of being on the cover of magazines.”’Nuff said."
11850,"In all major cities around the world, 'people-movement' within the city is limited to government-operated mass transit systems. From New York City, Paris and Barcelona to Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong, and others… whose populations vary from 5 millions to 18 millions…city-owned/operated buses, trains, trams and sub-ways, are the only ways to move people to their destinations, safely and efficiently. To these cities' governments, the movement of their citizens is much too important to just leave to private business whose sole motive is profit.Manila, however.. like Karachi and Dacca.. among other 'backward-looking' mega-cities.. seems to be an exception. So.. it now deals with the daily 'arterial blockage' that causes paralysis in the streets, and the intermittent and costly interruptions to trade, commerce and to wage-earners' commutes that the country can ill afford. As an 'aside' to this commentary, it must be said that the DOTC and 'MMDA-run' LRT/MRT, are indeed examples.. but.. on 'how-not–to-run-a-circus'.There are many ways that congestion, which is brought about by growth, might be handled. Singapore, early in the 1980's limited the vehicles that could enter the city's core, to emergency vehicles, government utility transport, delivery vans and passenger buses. Cars.. to be allowed in.. had to pay for access. Passes were sold in booklets of 10, 20 and 50 single-use-tickets; one of which would have to be surrendered each time the car enters. As well, parking anywhere in the city was limited to designated lots and multi-storey parking buildings. Street parking was banned. The program changed the city-core's feel and appearance at once; and, the residents in and around the city center seemed not to mind the walk along clean and safe 'de-congested' streets. Perhaps this might be considered as one of the many programs needed to alleviate Manila's traffic nightmare.Manila did have a chance to grow in a rational manner. As early as the 1980s, the city governments, were told to devolve new businesses to other towns and provinces. This advise, was not heeded.. so, now we see a mall in every ten or twenty blocks, as well as warehouses, bus stations and all other sorts of vehicle and pedestrian centers guaranteed to cause traffic 'glue'. Today, this advise must be revisited. A sensible move has already taken place when the Pandacan oil terminals were decommissioned. We could complement this development by having 'inter-island shipping' operate separate cargo and passenger ships. All cargo ships must dock, load, and off-load in Cavite, thereby leaving the North and South Harbors to purely passenger traffic.. thereby, ridding the streets of most container trucks.There are other sensible solutions, of course, but whatever these measures may be, a city-run mass transport system must be its companion-remedy, or,better yet.. its 'backbone' .------------------This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion!http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/11/country-favor-get/#comment-1445867"
11861,"Actress Pinky Amador joined anti-Marcos protests on Friday, saying people should “speak up.”“Nung Edsa pa lumalabas na ako talaga,” she told Inquirer.net. “And I really believe na tama na talaga. Oras na para magising na yung taong bayan sa mga hindi magagandang nangyayari.”(“I have been joining protests since the one in Edsa and I really believe that enough is enough. It’s time for the people to wake up.”)“We all support the country for good change,” Amador added. “We all support positive political will. Pero wag naman yung ganitong dayaan at nakawan. Kasi ninakaw nila sa taong bayan yung closure, yung paga-apologize, yung pag-aamin, yung pagsasauli ng perang ninakaw nila.”(“We all support the country for good change. We all support positive political will. But not cheating and stealing. Because they stole from the people, the closure, the acknowledgment, the money of taxpayers.)Coincidentally, Amador is starring in a martial law-themed play called “Loyalista: Redux,” where she plays a Marcos apologist and a fan of Imelda Marcos."
11871,"Vice President Ma. Leonor Robredo has vowed to end all faulty housing policies by December.In a chance interview in Naga City (Camarines Sur) where she visited the grave of her late husband and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on Tuesday, the Vice President identified five problematic housing policies: Housing backlog is addressed by building houses even if relocation sites do not have access to water, electricity, livelihood, mass transportation, among other basic needs; developers have difficulty in securing permits to build housing projects; titling of land is needed before the government is allowed to build a housing project; processing of conversion of agricultural land to residential land is very slow; and housing projects are inaccessible to the poor.“We are trying to change a lot of things. We are evaluating on whether a certain policy is insufficient or just downright wrong, and the first thing that we saw is the defective metrics in measuring the accomplishment [of addressing housing backlog]. We have been doing inspection, and at least 80 percent of what I saw do not have access to basic needs,” Robredo, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, said.The Vice President cited that local government units are not consulted over their possible hosting of relocation sites, virtually forcing them to accept the relocates even if the LGUs do not have the capacity to provide water supply and other basic needs of the relocation sites.“As a result, the relocation ends up a failure because people will only reside there for a while, then they will sellit. They will return to Manila to become informal settlers again. So as far as we are concerned, we are reviewing the defective policies and I have a self-imposed deadline to iron these all out by December,” Robredo said.The country’s housing backlog for the next six years is at 5.6 million.“It takes developer a long time to secure a permit to build a housing project, thus the 5.6 million backlog and the average of a measly 200,000 houses built in a year. Since it takes a lot of time to secure a permit, developers are avoiding socialized [low-cost] housing. We really want this addressed by streamlining the process,” Robredo said.“We want to cut the processing time and ease the number of documents needed, considering that a land has to be titled before the government is allowed to build a housing project and the slow processing of conversion of agricultural land to residential land. Lastly, we want to make these housing projects available to the poor,” she added."
11881,"PINAGSAMA-SAMA ng Regal Entertainment, Inc. sa pinakamalaki at nakakatakot na Shake, Rattle & Roll XV ang apat sa hot actors ngayon na sina Dennis Trillo, Matteo Guidicelli, JC de Vera at Daniel Matsunaga. Total Christmas package ang tawag ng Regal sa kanilang entry sa Metro Manila Film Festival 2014 dahil equally hot actresses of the generation din ang kanilang female leads na sina Lovi Poe, Carla Abellana at Erich Gonzales plus napakaganda pa ng mga istorya ng tatlong episodes nila."
11891,"Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque had some strong, choice words for detained Sen. Leila de Lima on Tuesday.He was reacting to de Lima statement that said Roque “sold his own identity in exchange for a possible Senate run.”“As I said, happy anniversary on your first year of detention. May you spend the rest of your life in jail. Good night. Goodbye. So that is my reaction,” Roque said before dropping the microphone in a news briefing.Last Saturday, Roque “greeted” de Lima “happy anniversary” on the first year of her incarceration for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prisons, the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.In the same statement on Saturday, he said de Lima’s incarceration shows that the criminal justice system in the country is “alive, effective and working.”“Senator De Lima has been detained because of drug charges. She is the mother of all drug lords by allowing the illegal drug trade to proliferate inside the National Bilibid Prisons when she was the Department of Justice [DoJ] secretary,” according to Roque.In a statement released on Tuesday, de Lima slammed the Palace spokesman, saying Roque sold his credibility as leverage for his quest for a bigger political seat.“Mr. Roque, I understand, aspires to one day call himself a senator. There is nothing wrong with that per se. But just because he has bartered his dignity and reputation as a human rights lawyer, in exchange for a senatorial berth in the President’s party, it doesn’t mean that everyone is willing to go down that path,” she said.De Lima downplayed the “kind, upstanding and definitely un-petty” greeting of Roque, saying while Malacanang is indeed “happy” to see her suffer, she does not feel sorry for herself.One of the Duterte administration’s most vocal critics, she said she knows she is behind bars because she stood for what is right.“The plain truth is I am under detention, not because I am the ‘mother of all drug lords,’ but because Duterte feared being held accountable for the bloodshed he had brought down with his war on drugs, and he–and his allies who have been at the wrong end of a DoJ investigation while I was DoJ secretary—have been frothing at the mouth to get even,” de Lima noted.“So, Mr. Roque may pretend all he wants that he speaks truths–but that is all it is: a pretense. Slowly, eventually, inevitably, the truth will set me free. But it will shackle Roque and his cohorts in shame. I am innocent. They are not,” she said."
11900,"Isa ang paglalaro ng mga online games sa cellphone ang kinahuhumalingan o pampalipas oras ng mga Pinoy. Maituturing kasi na stress reliever ito, pero kailan nga ba ito nagiging masama at puwedeng magdulot ng peligro sa katawan ang paglalaro ng mobile games? Isang 21-anyos na babae ang nagtamo ng permanenteng pagkabulag sa kanyang kanang mata matapos umanong maglaro ng sikat na mobile game na King of Glory sa loob ng 24 oras. Habang nasa ospital, na-diagnose ang babae ng retinal artery occlusion o ang permanenteng pagkabulag ng mata. Aminado naman ang biktima na nagsisisi siya sa mga nangyari at sana raw ay nakinig siya sa kanyang mga magulang. ""Sometimes I lose track of time, I don't eat even when my parents ask me to. Now I feel afraid and regret (for not listening to them)."" Ayon kay Maggie Hor, lecturer sa School of Health Sciences, upang makaiwas sa labis na pagka-strain ng mga mata, ugaliin ang 20-20-20 rule. Sa bawat 20 minuto na paggamit ng cellphone, laptop, o panonood ng TV, tumingin sa malayo na may at least 20 feet ang sukat sa loob ng 20 segundo. Malaki raw ang matutulong nito upang maka-relax ang mga mata sa labis na paggamit ng digital devices."
11911,"Images of wailing widows and cold-hearted Muslim leaders have made the House of Representatives lose its appetite for talking peace with Moro rebels.Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the House had agreed to suspend indefinitely Monday’s hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) until the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) surrenders Filipino terrorist Basit Usman and its members who participated in the massacre of Special Action Force (SAF) commandos on Jan. 25.The chair of the ad hoc committee on the draft BBL said the suspension would allow the panel more time to read the fact-finding reports of Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, officer in charge of the Philippine National Police, and Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.Rodriguez said he had no firm timetable for the resumption of the hearings.He said his panel would also give way to attendance in the joint House investigation into the Mamasapano killings to be conducted by the committees on public order and safety, peace, unification and reconciliation and national defense.Issues critical to the formation of the Bangsamoro police, military, defense and control of the interior secretary are likely to come up in the joint hearing and are material inputs in the discussions on the BBL, Rodriguez said.As committee chair, Rodriguez tried his best to pursue the BBL public consultation, which has covered 75 percent of the provisions in 36 hearings and five executive sessions nationwide. But with the deaths of the police commandos in an operation to arrest international terrorists in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, he said he was taking a cautious approach to the measure.“I was really gung-ho in pushing this. But after what happened, if our policemen are dying even if they (MILF members) are not yet in the government, how much more if we give the entire government in the Bangsamoro area to the MILF?” asked Rodriguez.State of mourning“This country is in a state of mourning. Every time the people see the TV footage (on the massacre), people all over the country cry. Let us have justice take its course. We can’t just say this is all right,” he said.Rodriguez said the MILF actions in Mamasapano raised questions on how the police from Manila and other regions in hot pursuit of criminals and terrorists would act if their targets go deep into MILF or Bangsamoro territory as they would be forced to coordinate with the MILF.“After the incident, we did not immediately suspend [hearings]. We continued. But at the same time, it has reached a point where we have already to evaluate the reports that are coming in. We cannot be totally oblivious to these things. We have to stand down and wait. We cannot restart it if the MILF does not make actions to show that they are cooperating and that justice will be achieved,” Rodriguez said.He noted that the MILF has yet to declare it will return the firearms looted from the commandos two weeks ago in the bloody Mamasapano mission.“We also cannot say anymore when we can resume (hearings) because we don’t know when the committees of Congress will end their hearings (on Mamasapano) and when the DOJ (Department of Justice) will be able to finish its investigation and file charges. I hope they will be quick in their investigations,” Rodriguez said.Part of the House’s conditions for the resumption of the BBL hearings is for the MILF to surrender the guilty MILF members and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) men who gunned down the SAF troops in a cornfield in Maguindanao despite appeals for a ceasefire.Delays in BBL timetableRodriguez does not expect the MILF to complain about these setbacks, considering that it is up to its leaders to restore confidence in their sincerity in working for peace.He said the MILF had patently broken the ceasefire agreement by harboring Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Filipino accomplice, Basit Usman. “How can we talk peace, when in fact terrorists are staying there? They are there inside their territory,” he said.Rodriguez said the least that the MILF could do after the Mamasapano clash was to surrender Usman or drive him out of their territory because if he continued to stay there, “that is harboring a [terrorist].”The peace negotiators should never tolerate this behavior on the part of the MILF and that Congress would make sure that BBL provisions would not allow the MILF to stop the police in hot pursuit of terrorists inside their territory, he said.He refused to call it treachery for fear of stoking the fire of public hatred against the MILF, but he described it as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.With the suspension of the BBL hearings, Rodriguez said it would be impossible for the House leaders to approve the bill this month as originally planned. He said this would also delay the scheduled plebiscite for the BBL.“This a major setback, 44 fallen policemen should always put a setback to any peace process,” Rodriguez said.Originally posted: 8:24 PM | Sunday, February 8th, 2015RELATED STORIESAquino LP ally: Suspend BBL hearingsSuspension of BBL hearings urged by admin ally party-list coalition"
11921,"Talamak pa rin umano ang operas­yon ng iligal na sugal sa San Pedro, Laguna sa kabila nang mahigpit na kautusan ng Philippine National Police (PNP) laban sa lahat ng uri ng ilegal na pasugalan.
Isang aktibong bookies operation sa ilalim ng isang “JC Sicot” ang sinasabing nagpapatuloy sa lungsod at may sapat umanong pondo upang manatiling tumatakbo sa kabila ng mga direktiba sa pambansang antas na sugpuin ang illegal gambling.
Ayon sa ulat, may mga alegasyon ng proteksiyon mula sa loob ng lokal na hanay ng pulisya na sinasabing dahilan kung bakit hindi naaantala at hindi napapatigil ang naturang operasyon.
Lumalabas sa reklamong ipinara­ting sa pambansang himpilan ng pulisya sa Camp Crame na mayroon ding financier ng operasyon na iniuugnay sa pamilya ng isang mataas na opisyal ng lokal na pamahalaan, bagay na nagdulot ng hinala ng posibleng impluwensiyang politikal.
Nauna nang ipinatupad ng PNP at ni Police Brigadier General Hansel M. Marantan ang istriktong kautusan na alisin at tuluyang wakasan ang anumang uri ng ilegal na sugal sa buong Pilipinas.
Sa ngayon, wala pang pahayag mula sa hepe ng pulisya ng San Pedro hinggil sa mga alegasyon."
11931,"At least seven Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) gunmen were killed and 23 others were wounded including ASG Sub Leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, during heavy fighting between soldiers and the bandits Friday afternoon in the forested areas of Bakong in Patikul, Sulu.Sawadjann was seriously hit in his stomach and lower extremities, reports said.Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WesMinCom) Spokesman Army Lt Col. Gerry M Besana said 17 soldiers were also wounded during the encounter due to shrapnel.Besana said that government soldiers of Task Group Panther led by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Yunque, with a group of scout rangers led by Captain Michael Asistores, were patrolling the forested areas of Bakong in Patikul, Sulu Friday afternoon when they encountered about 100 ASG members.Firefight immediately ensued at around 1:30 p.m. Friday after which enemies withdrew due to the pressure imposed by the operating troops.The ASG bandits were under senior leader Radullan Sahiron and sub leaders Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan and Idang Susukan.Military field reports said more casualties on the enemy side have been reported by the civilians and the report was confirmed after soldiers noted many blood stains along the escape route of the ASG and at the encounter site, Besana said.According to him, the casualties were immediately rushed to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for proper medical treatment.The bodies of the slain ASG members were also brought to the hospital for forensic examination.AFP-WesMinCom Commander Lt Gen Arnel Dela Vega said “I commend the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu for this recent accomplishment.”Dela Vega said more troops have been deployed to go after the fleeing bandits in Patikul."
11940,"Good publicity or bad publicity is still publicity. And publicity is good for business.There has been a lot of controversy and social media debate over Starbuck’s decision to redesign their Christmas (okay, okay, ‘Holiday’) cups to just plain red without the usual holiday-themed designs of previous years.Many individuals were offended by the new design, accusing Starbucks of taking “Christ” away from “Christmas.”Well, it now appears that the complainants are stockholders of Starbucks who wanted to boost the coffee company’s holiday season business. In recent years, Starbucks has come under serious competition from other coffee companies, resulting in the decline of its stock value.The complainants were hoping that by “creating” a controversy, coffee lovers would empathize with Starbucks and bring their business to the Seattle-based company.The Adobo Chronicles could not independently confirm the identity of the Starbucks stockholders who masterminded this red cup controversy. We’re working on it."
11950,"Article 7, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Philippines provides that in order to serve as president, one must be at least 40 years old and above; a registered voter, single or married; able to read and write; male or female Filipino citizen by birth; and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding election.Based on the country’s consistent and recent experience, a new eligibility requirement has been proposed by Senator Nancy Binay who has sought an amendment to the Constitution.Binay is proposing a new Section 2A which would read:“In addition to the eligibility requirements as provided for in Section 2 above, candidates for president must have been charged, convicted, indicted or jailed for criminal offense that includes but is not limited to graft and corruption, plunder, fraud and violation of the public trust.”It is common knowledge that the two presidents who preceded NoyNoy Aquino have both been convicted or indicted for crimes committed while in office. Joseph Estrada was convicted, jailed and later pardoned by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who in turn is now under hospital arrest for a criminal offense.Now, Senator Bong Revilla, Jr. has just been jailed for his role in the pork barrel scam that defrauded taxpayers of Ten Billion pesos. In a statement following his arrest, Revilla said nothing will stop him from running for president in 2016 . “Who knows, I could be the first president elected while in prison,” he told reporters.Binay’s proposal seems to have the support of a majority of senators and congressmen, many of whom have also been implicated in the pork barrel scam."
11960,"ABOUT MOVING UP IN THE WORLD AND OUR VERY OWN #PoliticalCinderellaTemporarily diverting from a #Travelife here: Is it just me who is imagining an overnight lifestyle change for Madame Leni Robredo?During #Halalan2016, we were practically smothered by the media with poignant photos of the VP candidate taking buses to Bicol and taxis to bus stations, and buying snacks at convenience stores. She even said in one interview that she only had two usable dresses.This gave me the impression of modesty and simplicity, not to mention an almost pitiful lack of resources compared to the formidable arsenals of other VP candidates. How can someone with only two dresses fight in an election against the likes of Bong Bong Marcos, after all?Then Comelec released the election campaign spending reports of all candidates and it turns out that modest and simple Leni was the biggest VP candidate campaign spender. She spent something like a whopping PhP 450 million on her campaign, which was about PhP 100 million more than the next biggest spender.Who were her donors and where did this money come from? Are lugaw fundraisers that profitable? Because if lugaw sales actually generated even a fraction of the 450 million PhP she spent on her campaign, then most of us are in the wrong line of business. And I'm sure going to be brushing up on my lugaw skills this 2017.Then, now we find out she's holidaying in New York while her province languishes in the aftermath of a super typhoon. I'll refrain from being judgmental about her priorities here, and instead I'll focus on this very noticeable lifestyle change.I don't know about you, but the last time I was in New York, I was counting my pennies because everything is so expensive. So a family holiday in New York needs rather deep pockets. Or a generous sponsor. And if it's the latter, we have a right to know who this is in case her public office is compromised by such largesse from a third party.Nothing wrong with being the biggest spender in an election campaign if you run it with transparent records. And one is certainly entitled to take the family to New York for a bit of fun if one can honestly afford it and has enough vacation leaves. And if you really think your holiday is more important than public service (and I mean real public service here; not just public service in words or photo opportunities).But public officials will have to cope and live with the fall-outs from their decisions on such matters. In this case, the VP has reaped a barrage of criticism for choosing to continue on with her holiday even with her province in despair.And I just hope she filed a proper leave of absence as she is accountable to all of us taxpayers for her time, as a salaried government official.However, let's be clear. Everyone, even a public official, is entitled to his or her own priorities and diversions as long as they're not neglecting their public duties, becoming beholden to third parties in the process, using diverted public funds or drug money.Nevertheless, so many government officials seem to forget that we, the Filipino people, are paying for their time -- so they need to use their time and resources wisely and account for their actions and decisions. Furthermore, they seem to not understand that we citizens have every right to question what they are doing for us, where they got the funds for their campaigns, and what they are doing with their time on our pay.But for now, the most troubling thing to me here is the fact that the BEFORE and AFTER images of Madame Robredo just don't match. So can someone please tell me? Which image represents the real Leni Robredo? Or are both sets of images accurate and she just moved up in the world overnight like a political Cinderella?Krizette Laureta Chu, maybe you can answer this... ;)#DU30 #Duterte------------------------Christine Cunanan as posted on Facebook"
11970,"Edward Snowden, the former U.S. National Security Agency contractor who admitted revealing secret surveillance programs to media outlets, and who has been charged with espionage, has reportedly been sighted in Manila, roaming the traffic-ridden streets of the Philippine Metropolis. Manila, as many will recall, has been described as the “gates of hell” in Dan Brown’s latest best-selling book, “Inferno.”An eyewitness said he saw Snowden dressed as a Catholic nun and entering a gated mansion owned by the Archdiocese of Manila. Analysts surmised that the Catholic Bishops may be unaware that the supposed nun was Snowden because of their lack of skill in picking out cross-dressers from a crowd.The U.S. Embassy in Manila, upon hearing of the report, immediately filed a formal request with Malacanang Palace, the official residence of Philippine President Noynoy Aquino, for help in bringing Snowden into custody. It was unclear whether the Philippine Government would have the balls to gatecrash the Catholic mansion to search for Snowden. While the Philippine Constitution provides for the separation of church and state, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines remains to be a driving force in the conduct of government affairs. Politicians are constantly fearful that any action on their part that would piss off the bishops will lead to the former’s political demise, as was the case with Presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Joseph Estrada and other high-ranking government officials.It was not immediately known if Snowden plans to seek political asylum in the Philippines, after several unsuccessful attempts to do so in China, Ecuador, Cuba and Russia."
11980,"Newly-crowned Miss World 2013, Megan Young of the Philippines, came home to a very warm welcome from proud Filipinos who wildly cheered their beauty queen for bagging the once-elusive pageant title. Young is the first Filipina to win Miss World.The next few days will see a very busy schedule for Ms. Young who is expected to grace many celebration parties, public events and courtesy calls on President Noynoy Aquino and members of Congress.When Young visits Congress on Monday, she will be presented with a rare Joint Resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives commending her for this extraordinary feat while expressing relief that the focus has been turned away from the pork barrel scandal that has preoccupied the nation all summer.The Adobo Chronicles was able to obtain a copy of the Joint Resolution which will be formally presented to Ms. Young on Monday. The resolution reads:“WHEREAS, Miss Philippines Megan Young has brought great honor to the country by winning the once-elusive title of Miss World 2013;WHEREAS, Ms. Young has reinvigorated the Filipino people’s pride because of her achievement;WHEREAS, this national honor comes at a time in the nation’s political history where the Filipino people’s confidence in both the Senate and House of Representatives has reached its lowest level since the founding of our Republic;WHEREAS, this national honor focuses the spotlight away from the growing scandal relative to the pork barrel scam which has siphoned billions of pesos of taxpayer money and into the pockets of members of both houses of Congress and their cronies;BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that Miss World 2013 be presented with the highest commendation for helping save the asses of our colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives from the pork barrel scandal;BE IT RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Senate and House of Representatives declare a one-year recess from their sessions to appropriately celebrate this great honor;FINALLY, this joint resolution will have the full effect of a suspension of any and all investigation of members of both houses relative to the pork barrel scandal.Unanimously approved via voice vote by the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives this 14th day of October in the year of our Lord.”"
11991,"Excessive lead has been found in fake cosmetics by a product watchdog.Ecowaste Coalition over the weekend said it detected lead reaching 3780 parts per million (ppm) in 11 bogus MAC lipsticks.This exceeds the Asean Cosmetic Directive’s limit of 20 ppm maximum lead in cosmetics.The coalition said it used a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device to detect excessive lead in MAC imitation lipsticks.Nearly all the identified branded fakes exceeding 20 ppm were from “MAC Zac Posen” lipstick collection.Only “MAC Charlotte Olympia” and “MAC Vivaglam” were not from this collection.The fake “MAC Zac Posen’” variant “Girl About Town” (No. 08) had 3,780 ppm total lead; “Embrace Me” (No. 05) had 2,719 ppm; “Rudy Woo” (No. 12) had 2,443 ppm; and “Kinda Sexy” (No. 14) had 923 ppm.“Lead exposure has been linked to learning, language and behavioral problems, decreased fertility in both women and men, hormonal changes and abnormal menstrual cycles, and delayed onset of puberty in girls and deferred development of testes in boys,” the EcoWaste Coalition said.It may also put at risk pregnant women, leading to miscarriage, premature birth and reduced fetal growth, it added.Lead exposure can also harm their baby’s brain and central nervous system, the coalition said.“Some consumers knowingly pick branded counterfeits like ‘MAC’ because these are cheaper than the real ones, and also because these are supposedly closer to the original products in terms of quality. But, as our investigation shows, branded fakes can be notoriously toxic,” according to Thony Dizon, coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.Dizon said these cosmetics sold by unathorized retailers at bargain prices are “obviously falsified and substandard.”Ecowaste Coalition urged consumers to be vigilant in the cosmetics they buy to avoid exposure to lead’s hazardous effects.MICAH M. VARDELEON"
12001,"Imbes na tradisyunal na pagpapalitan ng pagbati sa Pasko, pinangaralan ng papa ang Curia, ang central administration ng Holy See na namamahala 1.2-bilyong Simbahang Katoliko. Nilinaw niya na ang kanyang mga plano para sa radikal na reporma sa istruktura ng kapangyarihan ng simbahan ay dapat na samahan ng mas radikal na ispiritwal na reporma ng mga taong sangkot dito. Inisa-isa ang 15 ""ailments of the Curia"", hinimok ni Francis ang mga pari na nakaupo sa Sala Clementina na gamitin ang Pasko para magsisi at magbago at gawing mas malusog at mas banal na lugar ang simbahan sa 2015. Sinabi ng Vatican watchers na ngayon lamang sila nakarinig ng mabibigat na salita mula sa isang papa at ipinalagay na ipinabatid na kay Francis ang mga resulta sa lihim na imbestigasyon na iniutos ni Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI matapos ang pagpuslit ng mga papeles noong 2012. Inatasan ni Benedict ang tatlong pinagkakatiwalaang cardinal nito na mag-imbestiga sa back-stabbing culture ng Vatican upang matukoy kung ano ang nagtulak sa isang papal butler na nakawin ang mga incriminating documents at ilabas ito sa isang mamamahayag. Ang kanilang ulat ay ipinaalam lamang sa dalawang papa. Mabibigat ang mga salita ni Francis: Kung paano ang terrorismo ng tsismis ""[can] kill the reputation of our colleagues and brothers in cold blood."" Kung paanong ang mga clique o paggrupo-grupo ""[can] enslave their members and become a cancer that threatens the harmony of the body"" at kalaunan ay papatayin ito sa pamamagitan ng ""friendly fire."" Kung paano ang iba ay naghihirap sa ""spiritual Alzheimer's,"" nakakalimutan kung ano ang nagtulak sa kanilang mag-pari sa simula. ""The Curia is called on to always improve itself and grow in communion, holiness and knowledge to fulfill its mission,"" sabi ni Francis. ""But even it, as any human body, can suffer from ailments, dysfunctions, illnesses."" Si Francis, ang unang papa na Latin American at hindi nagtrabaho sa Italian-dominated Curia bago siya mahalal, ay hindi rin nagpatumpik-tumpik sa pagreklamo sa mga tsismisan, careerism at bureaucratic power intrigues na nakaaapekto sa Holy See. Nagpahaging din siya tungkol sa mga kasalanang ito sa kanyang 2013 Christmas address. ""This is a speech without historic precedent,"" sabi ng church historian na si Alberto Melloni, contributor sa Italian daily na Corriere della Sera, sa isang panayam sa telepno. ""If the pope uses this tone, it's because he knows it's necessary."" Hindi natuwa ang mga cardinal. Iilan lamang ang ngumiti habang nagtatalumpati si Francis, at sa dulo ay napilitan lamang na pumapalakpak sa talumpati. Binati ni Francis ang bawat isa ngunit, matamlay ang Pasko sa silid. Sinimulan ni Francis ang kanyang listahan sa ""ailment of feeling immortal, immune or even indispensable."" At isa-isa: Ang pagiging magkakaribal at pagpapayabangan. Pagnanais na magkaroon ng mga bagay. Pagkakaroon ng ""hardened heart."" Panunuyo sa mga superior para sa personal na kapakinabangan. Pagkakaroon ng ""funereal face"" at pagiging ""[too] rigid, tough and arrogant,"" lalo na sa mga nasa mababa."

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