“She cannot be using her arrest as a violation of the freedom of the press and make it as an excuse to attack the government. She wants a special treatment owing to her being a journalist. She wants her profession to shield her from accountability of a wrongdoing that she could be guilty of.”
Source: Panelo: Ressa wants special treatment being a journalist
“China has given us the lesson that there is just not one path for development because prior to China’s experience, it was thought that the only way to development is the Western style model of Jeffersonian democracy and coupled with a free market,” she said in a statement.
Source: Arroyo hails China development as alternative to Western model | ABS-CBN News
“It’s not about what they say, it’s not about who they are, it’s not about who they’re fighting for, the question is are they using deceptive techniques to conceal their identities?” Facebook head of cybersecurity policy Nathaniel Gleicher told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“It could have contributed, puwede naman hindi (maybe not). More on the masses ang bumoto sa kanya eh (It was more of the masses who voted for him),” Panelo added.
Source: Panelo downplays role of social media in Duterte victory
LN: Ano ba talaga attorney?
“While the court did not find sufficient evidence for the pronouncement of guilt on the part of [former Sen. Ramon “Bong”] Revilla [J[Jr.]there is overwhelming evidence presented to show that his co-accused, [R[Richard]ambe, who [w[was] government official together with accused-movant Janet Lim Napoles are the main plunderers in this case,” it said.“It is clear that in the act of amassing and accumulation of ill-gotten wealth, Cambe did not act alone. He had a private individual, accused-movant Napoles, who not just aided him, but was one in his design to amass and accumulate ill-gotten wealth and performed the necessary acts to fulfill the evil design of plunder,” the court added.
Source: Court upholds Napoles conviction | The Manila Times Online
People gather to pick up extra editions reporting the announcement of the new era name ‘Reiwa’ in Tokyo on Monday. Japan revealed the name of the era that will define the new emperor’s reign when he ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne next month, following a historic abdication.
Source: Japan announces new imperial era | The Manila Times Online
“When I saw it on social media, I was in a quandary how to respond. But after mulling and praying over it, I decided to come clean. There are already too many lies and liars in this world. I do not wish to be a part of that cabal. I have chosen to be truthful because I know that painful as the truth can be, it will eventually set me free.
Source: Jim Paredes admits viral video is real: ‘It was private, not meant for public consumption’
The Supreme Court has ordered the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to release all ‘Oplan Tokhang’ police reports to human rights groups and victims that questioned the legality of the government’s war on drugs.“
The Court just ordered the Solicitor General to submit the police reports [related to Oplan Tokhang] to the Supreme Court copy furnishing the petitioners,” SC’s information chief and spokesperson Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka said at a press conference.Petitioners that will be given copies are the Center for International Law (CenterLaw) on behalf of residents of 26 barangays in San Andres Bukid in Manila and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).
Last February, the CenterLaw prodded the High Court to order the OSG, through Solicitor General Jose Calida to provide them copies of documents related to the government’s crackdown on illegal drugs.
CenterLaw filed a petition in 2017 with the High Court seeking the issuance of a writ of amparo to protect the residents of 26 barangays in San Andres Bukid, Manila against the government’s anti-illegal drug war.
The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) also filed a petition with the high court then, asking the magistrates to declare as unconstitutional the Philippine National Police’ “Oplan Double Barrel,” which it said allows the police to “neutralize” suspected drug pushers instead of arresting and prosecuting them.
Source: Supreme Court orders release of all ‘Tokhang’ police reports | Inquirer News
“These documents are the first step towards the long road for justice for the Petitioners and to thousands of victims of the ‘war on drugs’ and their families. CenterLaw extends its gratitude to the Supreme Court for upholding the basic and fundamental right of the Petitioners to due process, and for promoting transparency and integrity in the proceedings,” CenterLaw said in a statement.
Source: SC orders Calida to release drug-related police reports
“We can prosecute. That contract was entered into by the government and drafted by lawyers of the government. That could be collusion between the lawyers of the government and the lawyers of the private company. We have to prosecute them,” he said.“That is a very onerous provision when you prohibit your own government from interfering with the terms of the contract. You cannot even do anything when there are losses.”
Source: Duterte seeks review of all govt contracts | The Manila Times Online
The House of Representatives never made a move to reduce the 2019 budget for infrastructure projects as appropriated in the National Expenditure Program.
In fact, the House introduced amendments increasing the budget for infrastructure projects without breaching the total amount pegged by the National Expenditure Program. This would allow the Executive Department to spur economic growth through increased public expenditure.
We made sure, however, that such amendments will pass the test not only of constitutionality and legality, but also of transparency and accountability.It is the Senate that may find itself liable to accusations of sabotage when it decided, unilaterally, to cut down the allocation for the President’s Build, Build, Build program and other priority projects.
We are confident that the Office of the President would consider these items in their review and find ways on how to restore them in the President’s veto message.
The police filed in the Makati Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday a complaint against the 19-year-old Filipino-Australian for violation of Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code or falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents.
Source: Actor in more trouble for fake LTO license | Inquirer News
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Ressa was smiling when she made the not guilty plea before the 1st Division of the Court of Tax Appeals headed by Presiding Justice Roman Del Rosario.
Source: Rappler’s Maria Ressa pleads not guilty to P70-M tax deficiency cases | ABS-CBN News
“Grab does not condone such alarming behavior. We have already banned the driver from the platform as we continue our own internal investigation of the incident. We likewise extend our full cooperation to the authorities in support of their investigation,” Hosaka said.
Source: Grab driver arrested in Makati for pointing ‘gun’ at security guard
“[A]s far as we are concerned there has been an arbitral ruling issued by a tribunal based on the law on the seas and accepted by international law. So we feel that we have a judgment which has a stamp of permanence; it cannot be taken away from us, and therefore they should respect it although they do not believe in it,” he said
Source: Duterte now ‘effectively’ invokes UN ruling vs China on South China Sea
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the vetoed items were either “considered by law and jurisprudence as rider provisions not being related to a particular appropriation” or were items that “seek to amend the Constitution and certain statues.”
Andaya, who has accused Diokno of corruption, said this P40 billion would supposedly be sourced from the 2018 government savings worth P97 million.
The Cabinet official allegedly dangled the multibillion-peso bribe before Andaya during one of their meetings earlier this year.
In an interview with reporters after the hearing, Andaya claimed Diokno’s exact words during that meeting was: “‘I will give you P40 billion from savings. Don’t touch the P75 billion.’”
But the House did not accept the alleged bribe. Andaya said Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo warned him against doing so.
“’Wag kang kakagat diyan (Don’t get baited). It’s a trap,” Andaya quoted Arroyo as saying.
Source: Diokno tried to bribe lawmakers with P40-B funds, claims Andaya
LN: Nek-nek nyo po. :p
“This Court should have a longer vista that political winds can change, and when that happens then it might be the reverse, that another group that does not want a future president’s policy will again want this Court to veto. And therefore we always have to anchor our views on principles and the words that we find in the Constitution and statutes, rather than on the political result that we want,” said Leonen.
Source: Why usual dissenter Leonen leans toward Duterte in ICC pullout case
Allas had initially asked for HK$46,000 compensation to cover items including medical fees, sickness leave and wages in lieu of notice, but she ended up being offered HK$40,000 if she agreed to drop her discrimination claim – a separate case – or about HK$28,000 if she would not. The two parties eventually settled at the HK$30,000 figure after nearly three hours in court.
“Bantayan n’yo na lang kami. We will be open. We will be transparent. We will allow you to check everything that needs to be checked. We need credible elections. That’s all we got to defend our democracy,” Guia added.