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Looting the Marcos loot

Published by Ellen on January 6, 2013

Imelda Marcos loves jewelry. Photo from http://imeldific2012.blogspot.com/2012/09/imelda-marcos-muse-of-manila-iron.html
Just because the Presidential Commission on Good Government would be abolished, it doesn’t mean that the hunt for the people’s money looted by the Marcoses and hidden in bank accounts abroad or in properties under the name of some friends, should also end.

As PCGG Chair Andres Bautista said, the job could be continued by the Department of Justice. The reasons he gave, one of which as that Marcos- loot- hunting by the 200-man agency is no longer cost effective, makes sense.

So far, in its 27-year existence the PCGG has recovered $4 billion (P164 billion), only a tiny fraction of what was estimated to be a $10 billion loot in 1986. Just imagine how much the unrecovered would be worth by now including the interests.

The executive order creating the PCGG was the first issued by President Cory Aquino on Feb. 28, 1986, three days after the Marcos fled early evening of Feb. 25, 1986 as millions of Filipinos rose in a bloodless revolution called People Power.

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Amended petition vs Cybercrime law underscores unconstitutionality of libel

Published by Ellen on January 4, 2013

Anti-Cybercrime law rally at Supreme Court Oct 2012. Photo by Mario Ignacio of VERA Files.
Last week, we amended our petition against the Cybercrimes Prevention Act of 2012 (R.A 10175) to have it declared wholly as unconstitutional.

Please click here for:

Amended Petition

“We” refers to our group VERA Files and fellow petitioners namely Davao-based radio broadcaster radio broadcaster Alexander Adonis, lawyers/bloggers Harry Roque, Romel Bagares, and Gilbert Andres, legal officer of Media Defense Southeast Asia.

Our earlier petition filed last Sept 28 asked the Court to declare only the provision of the Cybercrimes Prevention Law on libel as being unconstitutional. In our amended petition, we asked the Supreme Court to expressly declare Art. 355 of the Revised Penal Code providing for the crime of libel also to be unconstitutional.

As explained by our lawyers, Harry Roque and Romel Bagares of The Center for International Law and the Southeast Asia Media Defense, “We’ve had to clarify that pursuant to the View of the UN Human Rights Committee in Adonis vs. Republic of the Philippines, libel under the Revised Penal Code is contrary to freedom of expression. In its annual report this year on the Philippines, the UN Human Rights Committee also decried that instead of complying with this view and repeal Art 355 of the RPC, the Philippines even expanded the coverage of libel through the Cybercrime Prevention Act.”

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Meet an honest person

Published by Ellen on December 30, 2012

Update: Jason texted me yesterday that All Around Services and Merchandising renewed his job contract. He was so thankful and happy.

Jason Miranda
I finally met the guy who found my cell phone and turned it over the Customer Service of Southmall. He is truly admirable.

Jason Miranda, 25, a janitor employed with All Around Services and Merchandising Corporation, services provider to companies, is assigned at Southmall in Las Pinas.

He said he found my cell phone on the floor near Counter 20 in the Supermarket. It must have fallen off my bag when I stooped to pick up the grocery paper bag that I dropped. I thought I was a victim of a pickpocket much more so because I returned to Counter 20 when I discovered that my phone was gone and the cashier said no phone was left there.

This happened about 3 pm of Dec. 19.

Jason said he immediately turned over my cellphone to the Customer Service of Southmall Supermarket. A lady called me up Friday morning, Dec. 21, to inform me that they have my cell phone. She said they looked at my phone directory and found my residential landline. She also said someone attempted to claim the phone but couldn’t give the number when they asked him. It just shows that as there are good people like Jason, there are also bad elements quick to seize opportunities to profit from the misfortune of others.

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Anti desaparecidos na batas: makabuluhang pamasko ni Pangulong Aquino

Published by Ellen on December 23, 2012

A meaningful gift to families of desaparecidos and to the Filipino people.
Malaking bagay na pinirmahan ni Pangulong Aquino ang Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012 noong Biyernes, Disyembre 22, isang araw bago ang deadline.

Kung hindi niya pinirmahan yun, magiging batas rin naman ang bill by default. Ngunit maganda na pinirmahan niya. May tatak na personal siya doon sa batas.

Mag-isang buwan na ang bill na yan sa Malacañang, isang malaking bagay rin na nakarating dun dahil katagal-tagal na yan na i-file. Anim na Congresses na ang nakalipas at ngayon lang naka-usad at nai-pasa sa House of Representatives at sa Senado.

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Pamasko talaga: Salamat kay Jason Miranda ng Southmall

Published by Ellen on December 22, 2012

The incident with my cellphone has become a beautiful Christmas story:

“”Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.- Psalms 23.6
Marami pa rin talaga mabubuting tao sa kabila ng maraming kasamaan na nakikita natin sa ating paligid.

Isa na dyan si Jason Miranda,na nasa maintenance ng Southmall sa Las Pinas na nagbalik ng aking Blackberry cellphone noong Miyerkules.

Noong Miyerkules ng hapon, bago mag-alas tres ng hapon, dumaan ako sa supermarket ng Southmall para bumili ng plastic na lalagyan ko ng crema de fruta.Nakalimutan ko kasi ito nang namili ako noong isang linggo.

Doon ko huli ginamit ang aking cellphone. Habang nakapila ako sa cashier, nag-check ako ng mga messages. Mula sa supermarket, pumunta ako sa National Book Store para bumili ng mga libro para sa mga anak ng aking mga pamangkin.

Continue readingPamasko talaga: Salamat kay Jason Miranda ng Southmall

What to do when you lose a cellphone

Published by Ellen on December 20, 2012

Pickpocket at work. Thanks to On the Road website.
I lost my cellphone to a pickpocket at Southmall, Las Pinas the other day.

I was queuing at the Supermarket cashier with a few items for crema de frutta that I was going to make for friends. While waiting for my turn, I brought out my cellphone to check on some messages.

From the grocery, I went to the National Book Store to buy some books for my grandnieces and nephew. To make sure that they have not yet read the books that I was going to buy, I thought of calling their Mom. That’s when I found out that my cellphone was gone.

I’m really puzzled how the thief could have found an opportunity to pick my bag because I was wearing a body bag. But looking back, there was a brief moment when I had difficulty closing my bag because of zipper problems and I dropped my bag of groceries. Someone helped me with them and I even thanked him.

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Will Aquino use his political clout for the FOI bill?

Published by Ellen on December 19, 2012

Thanks to Interaksyun for this photo.
With a commanding popularity, hardly dented by controversies and bungling, President Aquino’s push makes a lot of difference in passing the most difficult legislations.

We have seen it in the last few weeks.

His certification of the Reproductive Health bill as urgent last week facilitated the passage of the measure which was vigorously opposed by the intimidating Catholic Church.

A few weeks ago, Congress also passed the Sin Tax Reform bill which cigarette and alcoholic drinks companies, with huge lobby money, were blocking.

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How serious is this latest jueteng noise?

Published by Ellen on December 16, 2012

The P10 million a month Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino, Jr.
Jueteng investigations come and go but the illegal numbers game is flourishing as ever.

News reports about Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, Jr. as a jueteng lord is nothing new. On Sept. 20, 2010, retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz gave the Senate committee investigating the illegal numbers game a list containing 12 names of jueteng lords, operators and recipients of payola which he said his group, Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, had cross-checked with several sources including those with the Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Espino’s name was there together with that of two people close to President Aquino: former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico E. Puno and former Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa, touted to be the next DILG secretary but had to retire early due his negligence in the Aug 23, 2010 Rizal park hostage-taking fiasco.

Continue readingHow serious is this latest jueteng noise?