Author: Ellen

Lila Shahani, Maguindanao massacre and impunity

Published by Ellen on November 26, 2018

Lighted candles symbolize the nine long years wait for justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre. Photo by Meeko Camba.

At last Friday’s remembrance of the Maguindanao massacre at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, the feeling was a mixture of frustration and hope.

Frustration because it has been nine long years and the families of the 58 victims- 32 of them members of media – have still to see conviction for the massacre, one the darkest marks in our history of struggle for a democratic society.

Hope because government officials said the decision on the case is expected in early 2019. Given the overwhelming evidence against the identified perpetrators led by former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr, the families of the victims, lawyers, supporters and government officials are expecting a conviction.

Carpio says China recognises PH sovereign rights in SCS with PH-China MOU on oil and gas development

Published by Ellen on November 24, 2018

Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio says he has no problem with MOU which recognizes Philippine sovereign rights.

By Ellen T. Tordesillas, VERA Files

Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio said Friday China could be recognizing the sovereign rights of the Philippines in the disputed waters of the South China Sea covered in the recently-signed Philippines-China Memorandum of Agreement on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development through service contracting arrangements as provided in the MOU.

Answering a question on the vagueness of the MOU signed by Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, he took note of this portion of the MOU: “China authorizes China National Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to be the Chinese enterprise for each Working Group. The Philippines will authorize the enterprise (s) that has/ have entered into a service contract with the Philippines with respect to the applicable working area or, if there is no such enterprise for a particular working area, the Philippine National Oil Company –Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) as the Philippine enterprise(s) for the relevant working group.”

An ‘MOU to agree to arrive at an agreement’

Published by Ellen on November 22, 2018

Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. discusses the MOU on oil and gas exploration with China in CNN’s The Source hosted by Pinky Webb.

I love it that Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin, Jr slammed Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo for saying Malacanang doesn’t really mind signing an agreement on gas and oil exploration in the disputed waters of the South China Sea drafted by China.

In a tweet, Locsin blasted at Panelo: “Palace Com doesn’t care if it is a Chinese draft? I fu*k*n* care! ”
Locsin further said: “A framework or architecture for gas and oil in our part of the sea demands the draft be MINE…MIO…FILIPINO. ”

PNP complaint with ‘Ang Probinsyano’ is Duterte’s fight vs ABS-CBN?

Published by Ellen on November 19, 2018

ABS-CBN’s Ang Probinsyano starring Coco Martin

Police Chief Oscar Albayalde’s tantrums over the blockbuster teleserye “Ang Probinsyano” is alarming coming on the heels of Pres. Duterte’s renewed attack on ABS-CBN, threatening non-renewal of its franchise which is due to expire on March 30, 2020.

Duterte’s threat not to renew ABS-CBN’s license has been a common refrain in many of his speeches whenever he complained about unfavorable media reports about him.

“I will file a complaint. Congress, no need to renew it,” he said in one speech. Another time he said ABS-CBN owners sent feelers to talk with him but he refused. ““I will not talk to you, but I will also never intervene. Pero if I had my way I will not give it back to you,” he said.

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.”

Sandiganbayan conviction of Imelda debunks Marcoses’ fake news

Published by Ellen on November 11, 2018

Pres. Duterte and Imelda Marcos SONA juy 25 2016. Malacanang photo by King Rodriguez

It’s doubtful that the fabulous Imelda Marcos would ever set foot in jail after the conviction by the Sandiganbayan on seven counts of graft with a prison sentence totaling 77 years (six years and 1 month to 11 years for each case).

But the decision last Nov. 9 by Associate Justice Maryann E. Corpuz-Manalac and concurred in by chairperson of the graft court’s fifth division, Rafael R. Lagos and Associate Justice Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega is enough to reverse the declining faith of many in the country’s justice system.

Actually, this is the second boost in less than a month. Last Oct. 22, Presiding Judge Andres B. Soriano of Branch 148 of the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Region refused to succumb to the pressures of those in power to nullify the amnesty granted to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in 2011.

Cemetequette

Published by Ellen on October 31, 2018

A cemetery scene in Valenzuela City. Photo from PNA.

Cemetequette is a term coined by environment- advocate EcoWaste Coalition for “Pinoy Cemetery Etiquette.”
Nov. 1 and 2 are Undas days for the predominantly-Catholic Filipinos. Undas is derived from the Spanish word “honrar” which means “to honor.”

Nov. 1 is All Saints’ Day when we honor the saints that we all go to for refuge and comfort in times of need. Nov. 2 is All Souls’ Day when we remember our loved ones who have departed.

As we troop to the cemeteries to observe this beautiful tradition, let’s make sure that we do our share in making life worth living.

Khaled Hosseini’s Sea Prayer

Published by Ellen on October 28, 2018

Khaled Hosseini’s Sea Prayer is all of 547 words. In 43 unnumbered illustrated pages.

It’s a powerful moving story of a father and son fleeing the violence and chaos of Syria to a place unknown where they know they are not welcome.

Hosseini of the heart rending best seller, The Kite Runner, said Sea Prayer was inspired by the story of Alan Kurdi, the three- year old Syrian refugee whose dead body was washed ashore somewhere in Turkey in September 2015 as a boatload of refugees tried to flee to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.

A disturbing statement by the AFP chief

Published by Ellen on October 26, 2018

There is something very wrong about the statement of AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez praising the President for agreeing to the rule of law.

Galvez said that Wednesday when he announced that the AFP won’t be reconvening for now a general court martial to try Senator Antonio Trillanes IV following the denial by Judge Andres B. Soriano of the Regional Trial Court NCR Branch 148 of the motion of the Department of Justice to issue a hold departure order and issue a warrant of arrest for the senator for the charge of coup d’etat that the court dismissed seven years ago.

“We have already discussed this in a meeting and the President already decided that we will go to the courts,” Galvez told reporters.

He added: “We have to praise the President because he agreed to the rule of law.”

AFP Chief Carlito Galvez shows Pres. Duterte the command saber on the sidelines of the joint AFP-PNP command conference at the Malacañan Palace on Oct. 4, 2018. Malacañang photo by Alfred Frias.

The power of One righteous act

Published by Ellen on October 24, 2018

Judge Andres Soriano of Makati RTC 148. Photo by Philippine Daily Inquirer.

It took only a single act by one man to restore the fading faith of democracy –loving Filipinos in the country’s justice system.

It took only one man: Presiding Judge Andres Bartolome Soriano of the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Region, and Branch 148.

And all Judge Soriano did was do what he believed was right.

Judge Soriano’s principled stand is contained the 33-page decision he handed down in the Motion of the Department of Justice to issue a hold departure order and warrant of arrest against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in connection with the coup d’etat case which he dismissed in 2011.