Category: Governance

The public has the right to know the truth about the President’s health

Published by Ellen on October 22, 2019

President Duterte in Japan. He cut short his visit due to “”unbearable pain in his spinal column.” Photo by Sen. Bong Go. From Philippine Star.

Section 12 of Art. VII of the Constitution states, “In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health.“

What is the state of the President Duterte’s health now? How serious is his current illness?

Tuesday, Malacañang announced that the President will be cutting short his trip to Japan where he was supposed to attend the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito. He left Davao City in a private plane Monday evening.

“The Palace announces that the president will cut short his trip to Japan due to unbearable pain in his spinal column near the pelvic bone as a consequence of his fall during his motorcycle ride,” Malacañang said.

The anomaly that is Senator Bong Go

Published by Ellen on September 3, 2019

Bong Go announcing that Malacañang is going to investigate the aborted release of convicted rapist, former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez, Sept 2, 2019.

The government of the Philippine is structured in such a way that the three branches of government –, the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial – are co-equal and independent from each other.

The independence of the three branches of government from each other is vital under the principle of check and balance in a democracy.

The system of check and balance is instituted to prevent any branch of government or any person in the government from becoming too powerful leading to dictatorship and the destruction of democracy.

Duterte gets gifts in multi-million pesos

Published by Ellen on August 18, 2019

When President Duterte told members of the police force that it’s okay to accept gifts, he was just preaching what he has been doing. And his harvest has been bountiful, by his own account.

On his 69th birthday, on March 28, 2014, seven deposits totaling P193,705,615.88 were credited to the joint account of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his daughter Sara Z. Duterte in BPI, Julia Vargas branch in Ortigas Center. The first was in the amount of P55,131,747.32, followed by P41,721,035.62. Then four deposits in the amount of P20,000,000.00 each came in. The last deposit for the day was in the amount of P16,852,832.94.

VERA Files obtained the bank records from the Senate Record where former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV submitted the documents. These are the same documents that were submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman when Trillanes filed a plunder case against Duterte.

It’s doubtful if Duterte will get his way with China

Published by Ellen on August 16, 2019

China’s President Xi Jinping welcomes President Duterte during the latter’s state visit in October 2016.

China is unfazed by President Duterte’s announcement that he will be raising the 2016 ruling of the Arbitral Court nullifying China’s all-encompassing nine dash line that encroaches on the economic exclusive zone of other countries in South East Asia including the Philippines with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they meet in Beijing end of this month before he proceeds to Foshan, Guandong to attend the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

In an interview with reporters Friday, Zhao underscored China’s consistent position before and after the decision of the Arbitral Court that favoured the Philippine position.” We expressed that we will not accept it and we will not recognize it. And that position has not changed, and will not be changed.”

Last week Duterte announced before members of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry that he was going to China. “Did I not tell you before, that before my term ends, I will be talking about the [South] China Sea?”
The announcement is a marked departure from the position of not displeasing China he articulated when the decision came out in July 2016. He justified it as part of his policy to improve relations with China, which was severely damaged during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

What will happen to my lotto bet?

Published by Ellen on July 28, 2019

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde leads the closing of lotto outlets. Screengrab from ABS-CBN video.

After reading Sen. Ping Lacson’s revelation of the billions of pesos collected by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office that do not go to government coffers and are instead diverted to the pockets of PCSO officials., corrupt politicians, policemen and syndicate operators, I feel my lotto problem is minuscule.

But I still want my P576 back.

I buy my lotto tickets in bulk- six draws- to save time and effort in going to lottery outlets.

Last Friday, I went to an SM lotto outlet to place my bets for six draws of 6/42, 6/45,6/49 and 6/55. I paid P576.

Gloria Arroyo: Astute as ever

Published by Ellen on January 28, 2019

Take note at how Gloria Arroyo, speaker of the House of Representatives, maneuvered on the controversial bill lowering the minimum age of criminal liability from age 15 which is in the existing law to originally, nine years old and finally 12.

In an interview after the bill, that has elicited outrage from several sectors of society, passed on second reading, Arroyo said she supported the bill even when the minimum age was nine years old “Because the President wants it.”

To stress her supposed support for Duterte she added, “From the beginning I said that my agenda is the President’s agenda.”

House Speaker Gloria Arroyo distributes land titles in Parola, Tondo. Photo from House of Representatives Public Affairs office.

Finding ways to circumvent charter for joint exploration with China

Published by Ellen on November 16, 2018

Pres. Duterte and China Pres. Xi Jinping in Beijing Oct. 2016 state visit.

We will be watching out for the details of the agreement on the joint exploration in the Spratlys that is expected to be signed in the presence of President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping when the latter comes to Manila on Nov. 20 and 21. If there would be any agreement on joint exploration at all.

Duterte and his foreign secretaries, present and past, have assured us Philippine sovereignty will not be compromised. We would like to believe them but we are still concerned especially after the President surrendered to China the Philippine claim in the Spratlys with his statement in Singapore last Wednesday while attending the ASEAN summit.

In an doorstep interview, Duterte, talking about the three-year time frame for the China –ASEAN Code of Conduct for the South China Sea said, apparently referring to the regional military superpower :”You are there, you are in possession, you occupy it, tell us what route shall we take and what kind of behavior.”

Social Media useful in making those in power accountable in Bertiz’s case

Published by Ellen on October 3, 2018

The shaming of Party List ( ACTS OFW) Rep. Aniceto Bertiz, III (which he fully deserves) caught on quickly because of the closed-circuit television video which was circulated in Social Media.

One of media’s public service roles is to hold those in power accountable. In this case Social Media, was a useful tool.

I’m at a loss for words to best describe Bertiz.

I find “bastos,” “trarantado,” “gago,” “walang hiya,” “manloloko” too mild for what he did to the airport personnel last Saturday at the NAIA.

Duterte tells the truth

Published by Ellen on September 30, 2018

This time, President Duterte is telling the truth: he has killed people without the victim or victims going through due process.

Malacañang was extremely bothered by the President’s admission of guilt that aside from statements by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo downplaying it, they issued a separate statement.

President Duterte admitting before civil service career officers that he has committed extra judicial killings. Screengrab from RTVM video.

This is amidst opinions by international legal experts that Duterte’s statement is an admission of guilt and will weigh heavily against him in the cases filed before the International Criminal Court.

Duterte talks about his asshole

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2018

Pres. Duterte talks about asshole trouble in his speech during the 3rd Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Forum of the Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Sept. 21. Malacanang photo by Robinson Niñal.

This is your President speaking.

This happened last Friday, Sept. 21, at the third Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Forum of Asia Pacific Association of Sastroenterology held at [Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa, LapuLapu City, Cebu |

“Now back to medicine. You know, I’ll just end my talk by just.. allow me to give you a vignette of life.

“Historically, I took after my mother who was always constipated. That was her complaint. And but she lived to be 96 years old. So if you want to live forever, pray for constipation.

“Well, I’m telling you the truth. And that was also genetically maybe. And I have a son, Sebastian. He got it also and as a matter of fact, he started to have a leak because of…

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