Month: August 2018

Families of drug war victims bring plea for justice at the ICC

Published by Ellen on August 30, 2018

Irma J. Locasia, mother of Salvador J. Locasia, Jr. killed in a police operation on August 31, 2016;
Dennise B. David, father of John Jezreel T. David killed in a police operation on January 20, 2017; Maria C. B. Lozano, sister of Crisanto and Juan Carlos B. Lozano both killed in a police operation on May 12, 2017; Mariel F. Sabangan, sister of Bernabe F. Sabangan killed alongside Arnold S. Vitales in a police operation on May 15, 2017; Normita B. Lopez, mother of Djastin B. Lopez killed in a police operation on May, 18, 2017; Purisima B. Dacumos, wife of Danilo G. Dacumos killed in a police operation on August 3, 2017.

Last Tuesday, as the Supreme Court started hearing oral arguments on the legality of the withdrawal by the Duterte government from the International Criminal Court, the names mentioned in the first paragraph, held a press conference announcing their decision to go to the ICC in The Hague because they do not expect to get justice for their kin killed in Duterte’s bloody and indiscriminating war against drugs.

Families of victims of Duterte’s war on drugs go to the International Court of Justice.

The Padilla family’s clarification; Fr. Picardal evades death squad

Published by Ellen on August 29, 2018

There are two items in my mail , also posted in Facebook, which I feel should be shared: One is the clarification by the family of the late Sen. Ambrosio Padilla that Arnold Padilla, the guy who was seen in a video abusing a law enforcer is not the grandson of the respected senator and the other is about the attempt to liquidate Catholic priest Fr. Amado Picardal.

Human rights lawyer Alex Padilla, son of the late Sen. Ambrosio Padilla.

“For the record, Arnold Padilla is not a direct grandson of Ambrosio Padilla, although he is a part of the wider Padilla clan. Ambrosio Padilla – lawyer, law professor, author, Olympian, senator, and family man – was known most of all for being that rare man of high moral character in private life and in public office. He had a passion for justice, a deep love of truth, and an abiding belief in personal responsibility. While family, upbringing, and education were important to him, he knew and taught that the content of one’s character was determined by the sum of one’s choices and actions…

“The actions of Arnold Padilla are his responsibility and are not sanctioned, protected, or encouraged by the family of Ambrosio Padilla. We condemn the connections being made to our father, Ambrosio Padilla, and our brothers, Frank and Alexander Padilla, which have no relevance here. The implications have no basis whatsoever, and are outrightly malicious. For those who have spread false news out of ignorance, truth and fairness require a correction and a stop to the spread of this misinformation. To those who, despite knowing the truth, insist on advancing such a malicious connection, know that the family of Ambrosio Padilla will not stand idly by while our family’s good name is sullied by association or implication.Thank you and God bless,” the Padilla family said in a statement.

Coping with today’s stressful environment

Published by Ellen on August 26, 2018

Do you experience days when you don’t want to watch TV, read newspapers, or go online because you are afraid that you would be assaulted by bad news which you feel you have had enough and don’t want any more of it or at least you want a respite from it?

I had that feeling the past days and I found comfort in “The Book of Joy” a conversation between two revered personalities, The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso and the Archbishop Emeritus of Southern Africa Desmond Tutu assisted by writer Douglas Abrams.

The book exudes a light hearted feeling. Yet the conversation is profound.

With Duterte, the Filipino people are also in perpetual pain

Published by Ellen on August 24, 2018

Pres. Duterte arrives in Cebu Aug. 21 the conference of League of Municipalities of the Philippines Visayas cluster a few days after rumors circulated that he was in coma. Malacanang photo by Richard Madelo.

President Duterte showed up in Cebu last Tuesday at the conference of the League of municipalities Visayas island cluster walking and as usual, blustering, effectively squelching rumors that he was gravely ill and in coma, as shared by Netherlands-based Communist Party of the Philippines founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison.

Duterte was in his element blasting at Sison: “Comatose-comatose ka diyan. “

He said he is pushing his trip to Israel next month and threatened to slap Sison if he saw the CPP leader.
He said: “Ah sige, tingnan natin. Pag magpunta ako diyan, turista lang. Galing ako Israel. Tignan natin kung sinong — comatose. Hindi ka naman lalaki. You are not a man. Wala ka na. You are spent, you cannot… You are talking nonsense. “

He also said: “Pag nakita kita sa impyerno, p***** i** mo, sampalin kita. Really. Don’t expect to go to heaven. Pero pag nagkita tayo isang kanto sa impyerno… Totoo ‘yan ‘no, pag hindi kita sinampal… “

Bong Go video raises more questions re Duterte health

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2018

Bong Go goes live on Facebook with Duterte amid 'coma' rumors

WATCH: In a Facebook Live, Special Assistant to the President Bong Go shows President Rody Duterte having a dinner with a "beautiful lady from Davao" to debunk Joma Sison's claim that the President is in coma.

Posted by Philippine Star on Monday, August 20, 2018

So, okay, the President is not in coma as spread by Communist Party of the Philippines founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison in social media Aug. 19.

From Netherlands, Sison said his source who was at the national convention of the San Beda Law fraternity Lex Talionis Fraternitas on Saturday said “the darkness of his (Duterte) face had become aggravated from its appearance the other day and that his walk and handshake had become more unstable.”

In the latest still-to-be-verified update from his source, Sison said, “Duterte has gone into coma since the afternoon or evening of today, Sunday, August 19. “

Duterte knows China’s ultimate goal is control of South China Sea

Published by Ellen on August 20, 2018

Twice last week, President Duterte complained about China’s activities in the South China Sea- a stark departure from his pandering stand since the start of his presidency.

Always, he was all praises for China’s President Xi Jinping, who will be coming here for a state visit in November, for the military equipment that he said was used in the war against Muslim extremists in Marawi and for the multi-billion infrastructure projects that it is undertaking in the country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2016. Malacanang photo.

Duterte wants a successor to protect him once out of Malacañang

Published by Ellen on August 16, 2018

Then President-elect Rody Duterte met with Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., who lost in the vice-presidential race, in Davao City June 11, 2016.. Photo by Kiwi Bulaclac of Davao City Mayor’s Office.

It’s easy to believe that President Duterte is tired and weary.He is 73 years old and not the healthiest person on earth. The two years as chief executive of the country showed that he does not have what it takes to be a national leader.

But he will not resign. For the simple reason that he has to make sure that he doesn’t end up in jail for all the crimes that he would be charged with once he is out of power.

That’s why he wants to make sure that his successor is someone who will protect him. And that’s former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos or Sen. Francis Escudero for him.

‘Kamut balakubak’ moments at Senate hearing with the Tulfos

Published by Ellen on August 14, 2018

I don’t know what is more galling: the grossly anomalous contract between the Department of Tourism and PTV4 with the Tulfo Brothers’ Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. or the insolence of the Tulfo brothers. Especially Erwin Tulfo smirking when Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was speaking.

Broadcaster Erwin Tulfo smirks as Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was speaking. Screengrab from CNNPhilippines

At yesterday’s Senate hearing conducted by the Sen. Richard Gordon’s Blue Ribbon Committee, the multi-million transaction between the allegedly cash-strapped PTV and Ben Tulfo’s BMUI defies logic and common sense. It’s impunity of another kind.

The Filipino language has the perfect word for it: garapal.

Duterte’s latest bank account challenge

Published by Ellen on August 14, 2018

In his latest blast against his perceived enemies (“kayong mayaman”), President Duterte singled out ABS-CBN and mentioned a subject that continues to disturb him and causes him to commit one blunder after another in his desire to kill the issue.

That’s his undeclared wealth exposed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV less than two weeks before the May 9, 2016 presidential elections that Duterte won.

Pres. Duterte admits that he released fake documents about foreign bank accounts of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Malacanang photo.

In his usual expletive-filled speech during the inauguration of the Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon last Aug. 3, Duterte said, “I’m, I am challenging ABS-CBN. Magpunta kami sa Central bank and I will ask the governor to open my account. Pindot lang ‘yan computer. I will not give it to a son of a b**** na kalaban ko. Why should I oblige you with… “

He was apparently referring to Trillanes who has challenged him to sign a waiver to open his BPI accounts which he said contained more that P2OO million during the years 2006 to 2014 which he did not declare in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth when he was Davao City Mayor as required by the law of all government officials.

Duterte’s gift to Xi Jinping when he comes in November

Published by Ellen on August 9, 2018

China’s President Xi Jinping welcomes Pres. Duterte to Beijing in October 2016. Malacanang photo by Toto Lozano.

All these efforts and pronouncements about joint exploration with China in Philippine territory is in connection with the state visit of China’s President Xi Jinping in November.

Xi is expected to proceed here after the summit of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders in Papua New Guinea on Nov. 12 to 18.

This was confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in his briefing yesterday. Asked how soon the PH-China joint exploration agreement would be signed, Roque said: “No time frame. But of course because of the impending visit of President Xi, I would say that it is anytime between now and the visit of President Xi. But it was not expressly stated as such.”