June 2018 – ellen tordesillas

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:

Cil Borlaza at the Filipino Community meeting with President Duterte in Seoul.Photo from her FB page.

DOM

Published by Ellen on June 5, 2018

Screengrab from ABS-CBN video. RTVM Malacanang has removed this part from its video of the event.

I have a question to those who think that there was nothing wrong in President Duterte kissing Bea Kim, a Filipina married to a Korean during his meeting with the Filipino community in South Korea in Seoul last Sunday: Is it still okay with you if Duterte would do the same to your wife or daughter?

I was scandalized by what Duterte did. I felt sad listening to Kim saying, “Iyung kiss, parang twist lang iyun, pampakilig sa mga audience.(That kiss, that was just to tease the audience.) “

I found offensive Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque justification: “That is very accepted in the culture of Filipinos.”

Actress Mae Paner pointed out, “In the Filipino culture, women are held with respect. What he did to Kim showed his low regard of women, even the way he gestured her to kiss him.”

Usec Paras’ side on Villarin’s cellphone-theft accusation

Published by Ellen on June 3, 2018

Labor Undersecretary Jacinto “Jing” Paras. Photo from his Facebook page.

Last Friday, I wrote about the complaint filed by Rep. Tom Villarin (Akbayan partylist) at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s office against Labor Undersecretary Jacinto “Jing” Paras for allegedly stealing his cellphone during a hearing at the House of Representatives last March.

I said what Paras did was Kadiri which means disgusting, despicable, contemptible, detestable, abominable.

Paras wrote to explain his side. I’m publishing the full letter:

Hi Ellen,

We’ve known each other way way back, and since then, I have always cherished your gallantry in writing against any government shenanigans. I have very high respect to your person as a writer.

Be that as it may, may I just correct on the facts of the article you wrote:

Continue readingUsec Paras’ side on Villarin’s cellphone-theft accusation

Kadiri

Published by Ellen on May 31, 2018

Kadiri means disgusting, despicable, contemptible, detestable, abominable.

That describes what former congressman and now undersecretary of labor Jacinto “Jing” Paras did to Rep. Tom Villarin (Akbayan partylist).

Screengrab from CCTV footage. Photo from Inquirer.

In a press interview about the complaint for theft he filed against Paras last Monday at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, Villarin related:

Month: June 2018