ellen tordesillas – Page 21 – Making life worth living.

Hilbay warns of the danger of Duterte’s ConCom

Published by Ellen on July 5, 2018

Con-Com Chair Reynato Puno with former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. at the start of the Concom deliberations Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Feb. 27, 2018. PNA photo by Joey Razon.

We have yet to see the official copy of the new Constitution drafted by the Consultative Committee formed by President Duterte last December so we are relying on the Notes released to media which states about the formation of a Federal Republic of the Philippines.

The approved draft, which states that the Philippines would have 18 federated regions which would get a share of not less than 50 percent of all the collected taxes on income, excise, value-added tax and customs duties, is undergoing polishing in grammar and spelling before it is submitted to the President on or before July 9, in time for his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23, ConCom spokesman Conrado Generoso said.

Generoso denied that the draft Federal Constitution being circulated online dated June 27 and June 30 is official as it does not contain corrections and changes made as late as morning of July 3.

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.

Trillanes vs Nieto case underscores need to decriminalize libel

Published by Ellen on July 1, 2018

Blogger RJ Nieto with Pres. Duterte. Photo from RJ Nieto’s Facebook page.

In the press statement of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on the indictment of blogger Rey Joseph “RJ” Nieto for cyber libel, he said, “Nieto will now be brought to trial and face a penalty of at least prision correccional or imprisonment from 6 months to one year to 6 years should he be adjudged guilty of libel.”

This is what we have been fighting against without much success – the decriminalization of libel.

Not only did we lose the fight to decriminalize libel before the Supreme Court, Republic Act No. 10175 (The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) even increased the penalty. For computer-related libel, the minimum punishment was raised twelve-fold, from six months to six years. The maximum punishment is doubled from six to twelve years in prison.

We recognize that the libel law has its merits – it’s a check against irresponsible reporting and abuse of the freedom of expression- but it should be downgraded into a civil offense.

Carpio warns of 4 ideas that will cause lasting harm on the Filipino nation

Published by Ellen on June 24, 2018

Anyone who decides to decline a nomination to be the Supreme Court Chief Justice, the fifth highest government position in the country, is worthy of our highest respect and admiration.

When he speaks, we listen.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, who said last week that he would decline a nomination to be the Chief Justice to replace the ousted Maria Lourdes Sereno because he voted against the quo warranto petition that was used to remove her, spoke before the graduates of the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance last Friday.

Carpio warned about four ideas being pushed and spread to the Filipino people that are” radical and divisive” which “could Divide the Nation and even lead to the dismemberment of the Philippine state.”

Good intention does not justify violating the law

Published by Ellen on June 21, 2018

Aquino announced the abolition of “pork barrel” but didn’t say anything about DAP in August 2013.

The indictment by the Ombudsman of former President Aquino over the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program which has been declared by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional is a warning to those in power that good intentions do not justify shortcutting the law.

In the first place, no one has a monopoly of good intentions. Adolf Hitler’s concept of a Master race was seen by many Germans as a noble intention for his countrymen. If you listened to Imelda Marcos talk about her lavish projects, they are all in her desire to bring out the “good and the beautiful” in the Filipino. President Duterte justifies his bloody war on drugs as his love for the country.

As one of her last acts before retiring next month, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the resolution of the special panel granting the motion for reconsideration of complainants led by Isagani Zarate, Renato Reyes, Benjamin Valbuena, Mae Paner and others holding accountable Aquino for Usurpation of Legislative Powers under Article 239 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in connection with the DAP.

No Duterte fist pump for diplomat Delia Albert

Published by Ellen on June 19, 2018

Pres. Duterte at the 120th Anniversary of DFA, June 18, 2018. Delia Albert is sixth from right.Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante.

In the photo of President Duterte with diplomats at the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, distinguished diplomat Delia Albert stood out because she was the only one who was not doing the idiotic fist pump which has become the signature gesture of Duterte and his sycophants.

Albert, who was foreign secretary in 2003 under the Arroyo administration (she was at the helm of the foreign affairs department when truck driver Angelo de la Cruz was kidnapped by Islamist group in Iraq forcing the Philippines to withdraw from the US-led coalition) has served the country with distinction. A career diplomat she was ambassador to Australia and Germany, among the posts that she had held.

Albert is currently senior advisor at the Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co.

Comelec’s Jimenez wants social media included in campaign finance

Published by Ellen on June 18, 2018

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez wants social media promotion of candidates included in campaign fi8nance.

At the seminar workshop conducted by the Legal Network for Truthful Elections last month James Jimenez, spokesperson of the Commission on Elections proposed something that makes a lot of sense and like many sensible things, may not sit well with some people who would be directly affected by it.

Jimenez wants expenses by the candidates in promoting their candidacy in social media be included in the Comelec’s regulation of campaign expenses.

Jimenez said all those running for elected positions should be required to submit to Comelec their Facebook, Google and other social media accounts.

Cultivating the culture of killing

Published by Ellen on June 12, 2018

In his one hour and 20-minute speech at the oath-taking of the newly-elected barangay captains of Region VII in Cebu last June 7, President Duterte mentioned “kill” and “killing” and its equivalent Visayan word 30 times.

That is not unusual for a Duterte speech.

Three days after, a 44-year old priest lay dead beside the church altar killed by an unidentified gunman while preparing to say the 6 p.m. Mass at Barangay Mayamot in Nueva Ecija.

VERA Files Road Safety Fellowship

Published by Ellen on June 10, 2018

The third phase of the Road Safety Fellowship being conducted by VERA Files in cooperation with the World Health Organization is now open for application.

Just like in the first and second phases, we are inviting members of print, broadcast and online media including freelance writers based in Metro Manila and Luzon to participate in this project which aims to improve quality of life by producing stories that would make the public be conscious of making our roads safe.

Rich or poor, we are all road users. Road safety should be everybody’s concern.

There was one who didn’t cheer

Published by Ellen on June 8, 2018

Not all those who were in the meeting of the Filipino community with President Duterte in Seoul cheered when he did his DOM act on a Filipina married to a Korean on stage last Sunday.

Cil Borlaza, a Filipina studying in South Korea, was in that gathering and this is her post in Facebook:

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