Peace and Order – ellen tordesillas

Almost scammed

Published by Ellen on August 18, 2026

I was nearly scammed recently, which would have resulted in the scammer getting access to my credit card.

Friday afternoon last week, I got a message saying my credit card points were supposed to expire that day and that I could choose an equivalent gift from its product catalog.

A sucker for freebies, I clicked on the link and chose something. I was jolted from my state of stupidity when it asked for my credit card CVV (card verification value). All those anti-scam reminders that came through texts and emails had been retained by my brain, and it sent out a warning alert. Thanks, God.

Murder in the morning, brawl in the evening

Published by Ellen on July 4, 2018

What day it was last Monday.

In all government offices, the week starts with a Monday morning assembly of employees in front of their respective offices for the flag raising ritual. Everybody stands still, puts the right hand over his or her heart while singing the Philippine National Anthem. The highest official of the office usually gives a short message and then everybody is off to work.

The shot that rang out at the Tanauan City Hall immediately reverberated in the country through radio, TV and the internet. In an hour, the assassination of Mayor Antonio Halili was the talk of the town.

Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili. Photo from Tanauan City Facebook page.

Grief and rage

Published by Ellen on September 8, 2017

14-year old Reynato De Guzman, found dead with 30 stab wounds.

Reynaldo de Guzman, 14 years old. Kian Delos Santos, 17 years old.

They are children under the definition of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Raymart Siapo, both 19 years old, just passed their childhood.

They are all dead. Killed brutally by persons who have lost their humanity.

The Charlie Tan- Paolo Duterte connection

Published by Ellen on August 28, 2017

Once again, we are seeing proof of the saying that truth will find its way out, however one tries to block it.

We are referring to the Paolo Duterte- Charlie Tan drug connection.

Paolo is the son of President Duterte and is the vice mayor of Davao City. Charlie Tan, according to news reports, is a Taiwanese businessman who does a lot of business in Davao.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s privilege speech last Wednesday on the corruption at the Bureau of Customs was indeed explosive. As Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said, Lacson’s speech “has exposed more actionable information regarding corruption in BOC compared to Sen. Richard Gordon’s endless hours of monologue and one-man show hearings.”

Sen. Ping Lacson delivering his expose of corruption in the Bureau of Customs. Photo from pinglacson.net

Nami-miss ko ang yumaong Sen. Miriam Santiago

Published by Ellen on August 26, 2017

Naala-ala nyo ang litrato na ito na siyang nagpasikat kay Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre? Kuha noon impeachment trial ni noon ay Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona noong Pebrero. 2012.

Tanong ni Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II sa hearing ng Senado noong Huwebes tungkol sa pagpatay sa 17-taong gulang na si Kian Delos Santos sa Caloocan noong Agosto 17:“Anong difference ng mga batang pinatay ng adik sa pinatay na bata ng mga pulis?”

Kung yung hindi malalim ang pag-intindi ng batas ang nagtanong niyan, mapagpasensyahan natin. Ngunit si Aguirre ay hindi basta-basta abogado lang. Justice Secretary siya. Siya ang adviser ng Pangulo para mapatupad ang hustisya sa bansa.

Sa salaysay ng mga nakakita ng pangyayari noong gabi ng Agosto 17 at sa resulta ng autopsy, kinaladkad ng tatlong pulis si Kian, grade 11 sa Our Lady of Lourdes Senior Highschool sa Valenzuela, mga pasado alas-otso ng gabi pagkatapos niya magsara ng tindahan.

Outrage at Kian’s wake: Lawmakers, rights activists denounce Duterte’s war on drugs

Published by Ellen on August 22, 2017

Please click here for VERA Files’ photo essay

By Arianne Christian Tapao and Ellen T. Tordesillas, VERA Files
Photos by Arianne Christian Tapao

A neighbor of the de los Santos family lights a candle as the protest march passes by.

Usually on opposing sides, supporters and critics of President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs have joined the chorus of condemnation over the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos and called for an investigation of police abuse that has resulted in “unnecessary deaths” in the anti-narcotics campaign.

As rain poured on Barangay 160, Caloocan City on Aug. 21, groups led by ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes condemned during a candle-lighting ceremony the killing by police of the Grade 11 student.

‘Tama na po! May test pa ako bukas!’

Published by Ellen on August 19, 2017

Kolumn ko ito sa Abante.

Screen grab of CCTV image. From ABS-CBN.

Anong klaseng tao itong mga pulis na walang habag na pinagbabaril ang 17-taong gulang na si Kian de los Santos habang nagmamakaawa, “Tama na po! May test pa ako bukas!”

Ito ba talaga ang sinasabing kailangan maka-quota and mga pulis kaya kahit sino na lang bibitbitin nila at pagpapatayin at sabihing drug pusher?

Gustong kung magmura ng “Putang Ina mo Duterte” ngunit hindi ko gagawin yun dahil ayaw kung maging katulad niya na wala nang lumalabas sa bunganga niya kungdi mura. Ibig sabihin noon ganun din lang ang laman ng utak niya at puro lason ang nasa puso niya.

Ayaw ko rin na idamay pa ang nanay niya sa kahindik-hindik na pinag-gagawa niya sa bansa. Hindi naman tama yun.

The tragedy of a numbed citizenry

Published by Ellen on August 19, 2017

Senator Grace Poe at the hearing of LTFRB’s suspension of UBER operations.

I seriously doubt if this bill by Angat Tayo Party List Rep. Neil Abayon will prosper into law and if it could be implemented. But it’s good enough because it is a recognition of government officials’ incompetence and ignorance of the situation on the ground.

House Bill 6195 authored by Abayon requires elected and appointed public officials with the rank or equivalent of division chief to department secretary to ride public land transport to and from work and for official business at least once every calendar month during weekday rush hours.

The purpose of the bill is in order for government officials to gain “personal, first-hand experience “and “real world perspective” about riding in public transport in this country.

The height of impunity

Published by Ellen on July 13, 2017

The President’s favorite cop: Police Supt Marvin Marcos.

Upon orders of President Duterte, Police Chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa said the murderer-cops, led by Police Supt. Marvin Marcos will be re-instated to the positions they held before they were suspended for the killing of former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and his fellow inmate, Raul Yap, in Baybay provincial jail in Leyte on November 5 last year.

The reaction of Sen. Panfilo Lacson sent to the media by text expresses the feeling of many upon hearing the reinstatement of Marcos: “There is a phrase to describe this whole damn thing: P… Ina.”

Lacson’s committee investigated the incident and found that the killing of Espinosa and Yap was premeditated

‘Huwag gawing basurahan ang Marawi’

Published by Ellen on July 9, 2017

(Unang lumabas itong column sa https://www.abante.com.ph/prangkahan-huwag-gawing-basurahan-ang-marawi.htm)

Lugmok na nga ang Marawi ngunit sa halip na tulungan palakasin ang kalooban, ini-insulto pa.

Ito ang tingin ng marami sa ginawa ni Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa sa pagpadala ng dalawang tiwali nag a pulis sa Marawi.

PNP Chief Ronald de la Rosa. Photo from UNTV

Tama lang na pinuna ito ni Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at nagreklamo si Zia Along Adiong, ang tagapagsalita ng Marawi Crisis Management Committee.

Kumalat sa social media noong isang linggo ang video nina PO1s Jose Julius Tandog at Chito Enriquez ng Mandaluyong police na sinasaktan ng yantok ang dalawang lasing na nahuli at dinala sa pulis station. Hindi nila alam ng mga pulis na habang sinasaktan nila ang isa, kinukuhaan pala sila ng video ng kasama.

Bilang parusa, sabi ni de la Rosa bilang parusa, maliban sa kasong administratibo na isasampa laban sa dalawa, ipadala sila sa Marawi para “doon nila ipakita ang kanilang tapang.”

Category: Peace and Order