Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson defended the anti-terrorism bill against the disinformation being spread by its critics.
In a statement on June 4, Lacson hoped that the critics of the anti-terror bill would not be a victim of terrorist organizations someday.
The said bill was criticized by different celebrities including Miss Universe winners Catriona Gray and Pia Wurtzbach.
“To the critics, I dare say: I hope the day will not come when you or any of your loved ones will be at the receiving end of a terrorist attack, so much so that it will be too late for you to regret convincing the Filipino people to junk this landmark legislation,” he said.
Lacson also said that people should not believe some of the fake news about the said measure, saying that it was made to protect the people and not to destroy the critics of the government.
According to him, they’re always thinking of the constitution and basic human rights while they’re conducting hearing about the said bill.
Lacson also said that some of the provisions they put in the bill was inspired by the anti-terrorism laws being implemented in strong democratic countries like the United States and Australia.
He also said that the Philippines has a shorter reglementary period of detention compared to “Thailand with up to 30 days; Malaysia, up to two years; Singapore at 720 days extendible to an indefinite period of detention without formal charges; and Indonesia, up to 120 additional days,”
“Safeguards have been put in place to ensure the rights of those detained,” the Senator said.
The Senator said that the Human Security Act of 2007 only convicted one individual.
Only Nur Sapian, a recruiter of the Maute group was convicted under the 2007 law.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III assured that no one could misuse the anti-terrorism bill once it passed as a law.
In a statement, Sotto said that the critics of the anti-terrorism bill should do more research.
He also stated that only terrorist and their supporters should be afraid of the anti-terrorism act.
“I suggest they read the bill first before reacting,” Sotto said.
“Terrorists or their supporters are the only ones who will be afraid of the bill,” he added.
Sotto announced that the anti-terror bill would surely pass the senate despite the opposition from different groups.
“It’s as good as passed. It will just need my signature if it comes back to us after ratification then I will transmit to the President,” Sotto said in a text message
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said that there’s enough safeguards in the law so no one could misuse it once it passed as a law.
“The concerns being raised by the progressive and leftist groups as well as human rights advocates have been adequately addressed during the Committee on National Defense and Security public hearings, as well as the debates and interpellations in plenary,” Lacson said in a statement.
“Enough safeguards are in place. The critics – some of whom had been extended the opportunity to help craft the bill – should read first the bill itself to see for themselves what I am saying,” he added.
Lacson said that they’re “duty-bound” to make laws that would meet “international standards” and “fulfill state obligations with the UN”.
He also claimed that the current anti-terrorism law in the country was one of the “weakest” in the world.
Critics of the anti-terrorism bill like Senator Francis Pangilinan said that the government should prioritize the COVID-19 pandemic instead of the said act.
“Pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga walang masakyang public transport ngayong GCQ, ang mass testing at contact tracing, at pagbangon ulit ng ating kabuhayan,” he said.
“Whole of government di ba? Heal as one di ba? Gamot ba ang panukalang batas sa COVID-19 o gagamiting panakip-butas sa mga kapalpakan?” he added.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) launched an investigation after actress Kim Chiu was spotted allegedly dancing in the middle of the traffic along a major thoroughfare.
In a statement, MMDA Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago said that they’re going to investigate the actress if the video was really recorded along EDSA.
They’re also planning to invite Chiu to their office so she could shed light on the video.
Screenshot from the story reuploaded by a netizen
“We have so many problems that should be addressed and for the meantime, this is our reaction to the issue concerning actress Miss Kim Chiu. We will verify the truth about the report. We will check if this video of Miss Kim Chiu really happened on EDSA. We will invite her to explain her side then we will act accordingly.” Pialago said in a statement she shared on her social media account.
Netizen Chadric Ebojo shared the video of Chiu on his Youtube page showing the step outside her vehicle to dance her viral ‘Bawal Lumabas’ song.
Chiu’s song was based on her well-known statement about the ABS-CBN franchise issue.
“Sa classroom may batas, bawal lumabas, oh bawal lumabas. Pero ‘pag sinabi, ‘pag nag-comply ka na bawal na lumabas pero may ginawa ka sa pinagbabawal nila, inayos mo ‘yong law ng classroom niyo at sinumbit mo ulit ay pwede na pala ikaw lumabas.” Chiu said.
The award-winning actress, Kim Chiu, captured the attention of the netizens again after she did her version of ‘Kiki Challenge’ in the middle of the traffic.
Netizen Chadric Ebojo reuploaded the actress’ Instagram story, showing the controversial actress dancing to her song ‘Bawal Lumabas’.
In the story, it showed Chiu dancing her viral hit with her friend, then the next clip showed the actress went outside her car to groove to the beat of her song.
The last clip showed Chiu telling her fans that they’re doing their best to accommodate all the orders of the ‘Bawal Lumabas’ merchandize that she launched a few days ago.
Chiu’s made a surprising move after she turned her infamous ‘bawal lumabas’ statement to a song and even made merchandise out of it.
According to the actress, the sales from the merchandise would be donated to a charity.
“Proceeds of this limited edition merch will be donated to charity (food packages) and hopefully we can donate to [Angel Locsin’s] mass testing project as well. Hopefully, one day we can say that we can come out SAFE,” Chiu said.
A few weeks ago, Chiu made one of her most memorable statements while defending ABS-CBN shutdown.
“Sa classroom may batas, bawal lumabas, oh bawal lumabas. Pero ‘pag sinabi, ‘pag nag-comply ka na bawal na lumabas pero may ginawa ka sa pinagbabawal nila, inayos mo ‘yong law ng classroom niyo at sinumbit mo ulit ay pwede na pala ikaw lumabas.” Chiu said.
UPDATE:
Kim Chiu finally shed light on the video, saying that the video was recorded in the middle of the traffic of a parking lot and not along EDSA.
“Sa nagpapakalat ng fake news na sa edsa ako sumayaw, hello?!!! Okay ka lang??? Bakit ako sasayw sa gitna ng edsa. Takot ko lang. DYOS KO. Please stop spreading FAKE NEWS. Please lang. Moms @iamangelicap sa edsa daw yung PARKING LOT ng tipsy pig?… kaya pa ba? Ikaw na nagdeliver ng merchandise, ikaw pa pagbibintangan ng fake news… hay…. life…… hindi po biro magbenta ng merch,” Chiu said.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan criticized the government over the timing of pushing the controversial anti-terror bill.
In a statement on June 2, Pangilinan said that many people were suffering already because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government should look after them instead of focusing on passing the said bill.
“Terrorized na ang mga kababayan natin dahil sa COVID-19, ang nakakamatay at nakakahawang sakit. Mas na-te-terrorize pa dahil sa kawalan ng trabaho at hanapbuhay na dulot ng iba’t ibang klase ng lockdown na pinataw sa ating mamamayan at ekonomiya,” Pangilinan said.
“Pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga walang masakyang public transport ngayong GCQ, ang mass testing at contact tracing, at pagbangon ulit ng ating kabuhayan,” he added.
The opposition senator even asked if the terror bill would save the whole country from the pandemic.
“Whole of government di ba? Heal as one di ba? Gamot ba ang panukalang batas sa COVID-19 o gagamiting panakip-butas sa mga kapalpakan?” he said.
“Paano pigilan ang paglaganap ng COVID-19 at paano ibangon ang nakadapa nating ekonomiya ang bigyan ng panahon at solusyon, huwag ang anti-terror bill.” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros also reacted on the recent developments of the anti-terror bill.
“COVID-19 ang kalaban, pero itong anti-terrorism bill ang isinalang,” Hontiveros said.
“Valid at dapat pakinggan ang concerns ng publiko tungkol sa bill. Ang hiling nila ay maayos na programa para sa kanilang kaligtasan laban sa kinakaharap nating pandemic. Hindi ba dapat nandoon ang prayoridad natin?” she added.
Pangilinan and Hontiveros were the only senators who voted against the measure because they believe that the bill might be misused.
The said bill would change the definition of acts of terrorism in the Philippines.
If passed, causing destruction of public properties, developing weapons, and those who will participate in planning with terrorists would be now considered as an act of terrorism.
New People’s Army was declared as a terrorist organization by the government in 2017.
Meanwhile, Senator Sotto defended the bill, saying that only the terrorists and their supporters should be afraid.
Senator Nancy Binay expressed disappointment over the decision of the government to disallow jeepneys and other public transportations to operate amid the General Community Quarantine in Metro Manila.
In a statement on Tuesday, Binay asked the Department of Transporation (DOTr) about their plans to the people only relying on using public transportations.
According to her, the officials of DOTr were fortunate enough to have private vehicles to go to their offices while some people were forced to walk just to go to their work.
She challenged the officials to commute to their work so they could experience what’s happening every day to the simple Filipinos.
“Ano ba talaga ang plano ng DOTr sa commuters? Three months under ECQ and still they have no clear plan in place. What happened to foresight? Mabuti sila’t aircon ang mga sasakyan. Eh kung subukan kaya ng mga opisyal ng DOTr mag-commute mula sa kani-kanilang bahay papasok sa opisina nila (sa Clark City o Ortigas)? Dapat maramdaman nila ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ng mga commuter. They won’t be able to plan well if they don’t feel and understand the people’s daily struggles,” the senator pointed out.
“Napaka-unfair sa commuters na yung mga private vehicles walang restrictions bumyahe. Napaka-limitado ng choices nila. DOTr knew that Metro Manila and the rest of the regions will soon be transitioning to the new normal. They knew that 30% of those in NCR will start going to work by June 1–tapos ang idi-deploy eh truck ng libreng sakay which compromise and breach all health protocols particularly physical distancing,” she added.
Binay said that DOTr is only “favoring a certain segment of the mass transport sector” while ignoring the biggest segment of the public transport in NCR.
“Healing is not abandoning one of the most vulnerable sectors that move people and economy. When you exclude the jeepneys from the equation, you also have abandoned 250,000 families–and their children are the ones who suffer the most,” the senator explained.
The senator then pointed out that the government should not expect that the private sector would provide transportation to their employees.
“Di po lahat ay may kotse. Di lahat ay may motorsiklo o bisikleta. Di lahat kayang maglakad ng ilang kilometro sa gitna ng baha at ulan. Di po sila experiment. Our workers and the commuting public don’t deserve this kind of treatment. For the past three months, they’ve sacrificed more than enough,” Binay said.
DOTr only allowed point-to-point buses, taxis, shuttle services, and bicycles may operate during the GCQ from June 1 to 21.
Starting June 22 to 30, public utility buses, modern public utility vehicles, and UV express vans may operate but with limited passenger capacity.
They also consider allowing some jeepneys to operate starting June 22.
Meanwhile, Transporation Secretary Arthur Tugade asked the employers to provide a shuttle service to their employees while public transportation was still insufficient.
Solicitor General Jose Calida couldn’t hide his disappointment over the message of some ABS-CBN artist to him, including one of Kapamilya’s top-star Coco Martin.
During his speech at the House hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise on Monday, Calida reacted on the social media posts of some artists who criticized the government for the decision of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to close down the television network giant.
Calida called the actions of the artist as ‘desperation’, saying that they used their influence to gather public support for the network.
The solicitor general gave Martin a special mention and showed the statement of the latter against the critics of ABS-CBN in his presentation.
A few weeks ago, Martin has gone viral on social media after he criticized the people who supported the closure of ABS-CBN including Calida.
“Maraming maraming salamat Solicitor General Joe Calida at sa bumubuo ng National Telecommunications Commission sa kontribusyon niyo sa ating bayan! TINATARANTADO NINYO ANG MGA PILIPINO!!!” he said.
According to Calida, the reaction of Martin showed the ‘lack of understanding’ in the said issue.
The Solicitor General said that if he’s not the legal defender of the country, he may give a lecture to the actor.
“If I had not been the Solicitor General, I would have called his bluff and make him eat his words,” Calida said.
“For decades now ABS-CBN has been deceiving the Filipino people. The time has come to expose ABS-CBN, whose owners and corporate officers continue to deceive the Filipino people in believing that they are “In the service of the Filipino”,” he added.
Coco Martin stopped posting lengthy social media posts to defend ABS-CBN since mother’s day on Instagram, but he’s still publishing images to support his home network.
Sagip party-list Representative and Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta’s speech was cut short after a lawmaker suddenly used her microphone to question the former’s statement.
During the House hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise on Monday, Marcoleta reminded his colleagues who supported ABS-CBN not to discredit the lawmakers against the Kapamilya network.
“Sana po iwasan ang ganoong pananalita. Mabuti sigurong galangin natin ang bawat isa kung paano ko ginagalang ang opinyon nila. Mag galangan po tayo sapagkat in the final analysis only the Supreme Court will have the final say in controversy of the constitutional issue that we are about to tackle today,” the lawmaker said.
Marcoleta also talked about the charitable activities conducted by the Kapamilya network.
Marcoleta believed that no one could remove the fact that ABS-CBN really helped many Filipinos during times of calamities, but he said that it’s better if the Kapamilya network would assist the needy while following the law at the same time.
“Wala pong aagaw sa inyo nito, ang inyong pagtulong ay mananatiling kasama po ng inyong kasaysayan hanggang saan man tayo makarating, hindi po ‘yun ang punto, ang punto po natin dito ay ang gagawin nating pagtulong sa mga kababayan sa lahat ng pagkakataon na kinakailangan din natin ilagay sa lugar,” Marcoleta said.
“Walang magandang pagtulong, walang magandang ibibigay sa ating bansa kung ang pagtulong ay gagawin natin sa pamamagitan sa paglabag sa ating mga batas,” he added.
Marcoleta’s speech was suddenly distracted after Castro called the attention of the committee on Good Government And Public Accountability Chairperson Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado.
While Alvarado reminded Castro that the floor still belonged to Marcoleta, the latter insisted to speak and told the chairperson that they didn’t know that Marcoleta was allowed to summarize the speeches of his colleagues.
“Mr. Chair… kasi sa agenda natin wala naman pong nakalagay dito na summarization nu’ng ginawa natin, ‘yun pong sinasabi ni Marcoleta, ni Congressman Marcoleta ay parang sa interpellation niya nalang po niya sabihin, kasi nabigyan na po natin siya ng pagkakataon last time,” Castro said.
Alvarado couldn’t do anything but to suspend the session for several minutes.
During the suspension of the session, it can be seen that Marcoleta and Castro spoke to each other.
Marcoleta approached Castro and talked after the session suspended.
When the session continues, Marcoleta finished his speech without interruption anymore.
Marcoleta has gone viral on the internet after he raised the alleged violations of ABS-CBN on May 26.
He mentioned the alleged tax evasion activities of the network and also questioned why ABS-CBN has thousands of contractual employees.
The lawmaker also mentioned the citizenship issue of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio Lopez III.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, daughter Frankie, has a message to the Filipino supporters of George Floyd, an American who faced demise in the hands of a police officer.
In her tweet, Pangilinan said that while Filipinos are also mourning what happened to Floyd, they should also remember the rumored last words of the 17-year-old student Kian Delos Santos who lost his life during a police operation in Caloocan.
“While we remember George’s, “I can’t breathe,” let’s take a minute to remember kian’s ‘tama na po’,” Pangilinan tweeted.
“By a minute, I mean a lifetime. that’s what was taken from them both,” she added.
by a minute, i mean a lifetime. that’s what was taken from them both.
Pangilinan was referring to the testimony of a witness who claimed that he saw delos Santos together with the police.
“Tama na po! Tama na po! May test pa ako bukas!” delos Santos said according to the witness.
The post of Pangilinan received many reactions from the netizens, including political blogger Jan “Jan Writer” Suing.
Pangilinan and Suing clashed in a debate about juvenile law created by the former’s father.
Suing argued that the people behind what happened to Floyd were already punished, while the minors who allegedly committed something illegal in the Philippines were saved and never held liable for what they did because they benefited to ‘Pangilinan law.’
Pangilinan defended the law created by her father, saying that Juvenile Law ensure that minors are being punished accordingly to their age.
“Nothing was burned. the law, to those who actually know it, is about holding minors accountable in a manner and means appropriate for their age. it’s about assuring that children at risk and in conflict with the law are properly educated and fairly treated. sit down,” Pangilinan said.
“So in contrast to what you might have assumed, it’s not immunity, it’s about making sure minors are held accountable correctly. don’t make arguments based on your ignorance. read and adequately inform yourself before making assumptions and, therefore, a fool of yourself,” she added.
However, Suing said that first world countries like Australia have a lower age of criminal liability.
They also said that first world countries are doing it wrong for punishing minors for doing illegal activities.
“Again, far more developed countries. if you’re going to compare the suffering of a third world nation with all these areas where children are far less at risk, then you really are too blinded by your own convictions to have a heart or a clear mind. and again, yes, they are,” she said.
Frankie’s father, Senator Pangilinan received criticisms even from President Rodrigo Duterte himself from creating the juvenile justice law.
“The entire Philippines for the last two decades, right after the — itong Pangilinan law, nagkalat. Kasi alam ninyo, pagka-minor, he goes out. ‘Pag sinabi niya, ‘I am just 14 years old,’ he goes out. Walang seremonya,” the president said in one of his past speeches.
However, Sen. Pangilinan said that the government wrongly implemented the law he created.
According to him, the minors caught by the police would have to be transferred in a Bahay Pag-Asa or child-caring institutions for at least one year instead of freeing them or putting them to detention with older inmates.
An investigative journalist claimed that the woman being showed by Norman Mangusin, better known as Francis Leo Marcos (FLM) in his vlogs, is not his real wife.
Journalist Manuel Mejorada believed that Marcos’ wedding with Filipina-Japanese beauty queen Mayu Murakami was considered void ab initio because the businessman didn’t use his real name during the marriage, if ever that they legitimately married each other.
Marcos together with Mayu Murakami
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that Marcos’ real name is Norman Mangusin and now facing charges because of faking his identity and documents.
To prove their claims, they compared the fingerprint by Mangusin and Marcos, and it matched.
Mejorada also made a surprising claim, saying that Marcos was already married under his name Norman Mangusin.
He said that a certain Maria Christina Caber married Marcos in Pasay City 18 years ago.
According to Mejorada, Marcos introduced himself to Caber as an Engineer working in Saudi Arabia, but in reality, the latter was working as a baker in the said country.
“Noong bumalik siya galing sa Saudi ay agad siyang nag propose ng kasal kay Christine, eh si Christy kahit may duda ay pumayag na rin dahil mukhang may trabaho naman, mukhang responsable naman, so kinasal sila sa may Pasay noong 2002,” he said.
The wedding between Caber and Marcos was still valid even until today as Mejorada said.
Marcos was also married to another woman in 2012 according to Mejorada whom he refused to name because of privacy reasons.
However, the journalist said that Marcos’s wedding in 2012 was also null and void because the latter was not using his real name during that time.
Mejorada then narrated how Marcos met Murakami in Japan.
He said that FLM introduced himself to the beauty queen as a relative of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Murakami who’s supposedly clueless about Marcos’ real identity during that time was impressed by how the self-proclaimed businessman flaunted his wealth, but according to Mejorada, he’s only using the money given by his friend.
Mejorada said that Marcos used Murakami as a ‘props’ because he’s planning to run in 2022 as a senator.
“Ito ‘yung game plan ni FLM, na si Mayu ang kanyang magiging Imelda, ‘yan ang totoong dahilan kung bakit niya niligawan, whirlwind marriage na tinatawag, mabilisan, kahit wala pang isang taon na nagkakilala sila ay nagpakasal na kagad si FLM at si Mayu,” he said.
“So nagpakasal sila, pero walang bisa, its still null and void, illegal, ab inition at the start walang bisa, walang kahulugan ‘yun… As far as the law is concern, hindi nga siya pwedeng kasuhan ng bigamy,” he added.
The journalist even said that Murakami kept her silence on what happened to Marcos since he was put under the custody of NBI due to multiple charges.
“No state of concern kahit na nasa Japan siya ngayon, eh hindi nga nagpalabas ng statement, walang Youtube, walang Facebook na nag aalala siya, na she is worried about Francis Leo Marcos, dahil siguro narealize na rin niya na budol budol din siya,” he said.
Marcos in one of his oldest vlogs claimed that Murakami separated with him after he launched the ‘Mayaman Challenge’.
