Senator Richard Gordon said that the Duterte administration’s treatment to China is the possible reason why many Chinese chose to perform their illegal activities in the Philippines like money laundering.

During a senate hearing on Wednesday, Gordon said that the current administration is “too soft on China” that’s why they’re brave to break the law in the Philippines.

He even suspected that President Rodrigo Duterte is aware of the illegal activities being committed by the Chinese.

“I think there’s a patina of doubt na because malapit nga si Presidente sa China baka mayroon silang mga secret negotiations on this matter… baka lang mayroon silang usapan na hindi namin nalalaman,” Gordon said.

“Tolerance is tolerance. Take it for what the word means. Hindi mo pinapahuli, eh ‘di may tolerance. Nagsumbong na sa iyo ‘yung Customs, hindi pa rin gumalaw ‘yung AMLC [Anti-Money Laundering Council],” he added.

During his privilege speech, Gordon also showed video footage showing how the Chinese workers in the Philippines affected the Filipinos living at high-end subdivisions in Paranaque.

“It’s a very organized operation—hiring buses, hiring cars, hiring vans, getting homes. Kumpleto talaga, mas organized pa sa gobyerno,” he said.

“Seventy percent of this subdivision is now occupied. Mind you, this is not a humble subdivision, it is an upper middle class,” he added.

He even said that Chinese Nationals are already swarming the country and some of them might be entering the Philippines illegally.

“It’s a creeping invasion… I’m not being Sinophobic. I’m just trying to express some concern on why there is no seeming regulation and effort to locate these people. If they have firearms, aba delikado ‘yan, if they’re bringing in money hinahanap ba natin ‘yung pera kung saan dinala?” Gordon said.

“This is just Manila. They come in to Clark, Cebu, Davao, they go everywhere. I just want to raise the alarm bells. This is just Manila, we don’t know what’s going on in other areas and that’s why we really have to find out what’s going on,” he added.

Gordon already cautioned the government on social media about the possible dangers being brought by the Chinese POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations) workers.

“Pinili ng Tsino na mag setup ng #POGOs dito sa Pilipinas kasi madali makapasok sa mga airport natin at laong nas madali kausapin yung gobyerno natin,” said Gordon on Twitter.

“The #POGO situation is a question of policy. Do we want POGO or not? Do we want to regulate POGO or kick them out?” he added.

A producer criticized the executives of broadcasting company ABS-CBN for allegedly not being sincere in their apology to the President after they aired an anti-Duterte ad paid by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in 2016.

In a Facebook post, Robby Tarroza called the high officials of ABS-CBN as liars and called them out for asking the public for sympathy while in the past they didn’t show any pity to their former talents.

He also criticized the current talents of ABS-CBN who are defending the broadcasting network, saying that when they’re also going to get dumped when they’re not popular anymore.

“OK so after a couple of days of intense research on FACTS of the whole ABS-CBN issue against President Duterre. why I am addressing the issue between my two parties and not the re-issuance of the broadcast franchise, is because it should be known what LIARS ABS-CBN executives are!” Tarroza said.

“1st of all, you strive on public DEMAND. which includes sympathy. But you have none in the many cases of the TALENTS you let go and cared NOTHING about their future. Many have come out recently and it is disgusting! making ME appeal to the TALENTS working under abs-cbn now, who are desperately appealing to the public to suport abs-cbn. If you TALENTS are NOT RATING, would they care about YOU? how you will pay your bills? put your children to school? NO!!! pero mga executive na yan, tuloy tulloy ang mataas na sweldo nila, with benefits, buwan buwan! with retirement pa! tama? ok…. moving right along!” he added.

He urged the artists of ABS-CBN to do what is right and condemn the commercial aired by the broadcasting company in 2016 that featuring children talking bad about President Duterte.

“I now appeal to the artists who have been ALL OUT in support of abs-cbn. please do whats right. not vested interest acts. God knows your needs and will continue to provide. but doing what is right, is what will truly bless you. ABS-CBN is very cut-throat and will never side with you. trust me, I know this for a fact. Kapag Wala ka na silbi, tapon ka na!”

“Karma comes eventually. but always does. but when it does come, it is sometimes the worst ever!”

He’s also hoping that ABS-CBN is going “to change” if they’re going to survive the franchise renewal issue.

I wish abs-cbn the best. but in my heart, I know this has to end. now picking up the pieces after and rebuilding will be something rather interesting to watch,” 

He then asked if the children featured in the anti-Duterte ad are talents of ABS-CBN and the President should file charges against the broadcasting company.

“AGAIN, my reaction is based on FACTS! and it is a FACT, abs-cbn executives are liars and should be ashamed of themselves! Why have you guys NEVER admitted the attcks against Dutuerte using those children? aren’t those kids abs -cbn talents?” 

“President Duterte should have sued abs-cbn! and that is a FACT!” 

Two weeks ago, the CEO of ABS-CBN Carlo Katigbak apologized to President Duterte for not airing the local political ads he paid while the commercial paid by Trillanes was aired.

“We were sorry if we offended the President. We felt that we are just abiding with the laws and regulations that surround the airing of political ads,” Katigbak said.

“ABS (CBN) does not and will not have its own political agenda,” he added.

A netizen made a daring post on social media comparing the case of LGBT advocate Gretchen Diez and former security guard Archie Panay who led a hostage-taking last Monday.

LGBT advocate Gretchen Diez became famous after she experienced inequality after being stopped by a mall staff from using the women’s restroom while Archie Panay, a former security guard who led a hostage-taking last Monday was quickly detained by the authorities.

Panay revealed that he experienced inequality and saw the corruption being performed by the higher officials of the mall and his former security agency SASCOR.

He accused the higher security officials of SASCOR of asking P5,000 from the tenants of the mall.

According to netizen Mark Batle, Diez was even invited by the Senate of the Philippines so she could express her complaints about the rights of transwomen to use a bathroom designated for female, while Archie Panay, who’s fighting for the rights of the security officials was ignored by the politicians.

Batle called the treatment of the public officials to Diez as “special” and wished that some politicians could also do the same to Panay.

“No offense po sa mga LGBT society na friends ko dito sa fb pero totoo tong post na to, nag iisip ako lagi sa tuwing makikita ko itong issue na to na sana naman may isang mataas na nanunungkulan sa pinas na gawin din naman yung nangyari special treatment gaya nung ginawa sa issue na trans na hindi pinapasok sa cr dahil kahit noong araw pa man laganap na ang problema sa trabaho na di nabibigyan pansin at manggagawa lang mismong ang kinakawawa,” Batle said.

Some netizens didn’t like what Batle posted on social media, asking him why he needs to compare the case of Diez and Panay.

“No offense din pero bakit yan ang kailangan mong gawing comparison? Hindi ba pagmamaliit yan sa issues ng LGBT? Nalulungkot din ang LGBT community sa nangyari dahil marami sa LGBT ang maituturing na mababang uri ng manggagawa at hindi tumatanggap ng sapat na sahod at benepisyo. Lahat ng issue ng karapatang pangtao ay nangangailangang pagbuhusan ng panahon at atensyon at ang ganitong uri ng ‘crab mentality’ ay hindi nakakatulong sa pag-unlad ng bansa,” netizen Ronnel Caluag said.

“IHI vs HOSTAGE eto namang si kuya Mark nagpapatawa If we will tolerate this kind of behavior sa susunod na di ako pa-ihiin sa CR ng babae ihostage ko na lang sila lahat dun sa loob, ganun?” Chey Aceveda commented.

However, some of them agreed with the idea of Batle, suspecting that many politicians don’t want to talk about the problems of security officials.

“Karamihan sa mga security agencies eh mga general ang may ari or tga gobyerno kaya ganyan. Ska alam nila na pag bibigyan nila ng pansin yan eh sila din malulugi,” netizen Keivs Daqui said.

“Pag may pera ang involve hindi na kinakastigo kase nga may pampadulas pero pag mahirap ang naaapi matik na lilipas din ang usapin nayan. Ganyan dto sa pinas,” netizen Aron Rioja remarked.

The post of Panay already reached 51,000 shares on social media.

A professor of De La Salle University was impressed by how the current administration is spending its money.

On a social media post, Professor Van Ybiernas shared an article from the Inquirer about the 3-B pesos worth of new equipment for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and praised the Duterte government for showing that the country has a budget for improvements.

During the past administrations, Yviernas already thought that the Philippines will always be a beggar because of being lack of budget.

“Ewan ko sa inyo, pero ako nagugulat sa laki ng perang nilalabas ng gobyerno sa ilalim ni Duterte,” Yviernas said.

“Kung maniniwala ka sa mga naunang administrasyon, iisipin mong pulubi ang gobyerno natin e,” he added.

Ybiernas suspected that there might be a reason why the past administrations are seems trying to hide the true wealth of the government.

“Pero gastos ng gastos para sa pangangailangan ng bansa ang kasalukuyang gobyerno. Saan galing ang pera?” he said.

A netizen writes an open letter to ABS-CBN, reminding the broadcasting company that the Filipinos can still live normally without them.

In a Facebook post by netizen Joe Smith Medina against ABS-CBN, claimed that the Philippine government has the right to remove the franchise of the broadcasting network anytime.

“You don’t own the license, it’s owned by the Philippines. Katulad ng alinmang lisensya ito ay pinahihiram lang sa atin ng estado na kahit kelan ay pwedeng kunin din ng estado,” Medina said.

“We are reminding you that Franchise is not a right but a privilege. As a privilege it is subject for assessment, investigation, revocation, award or suspension. Don’t also project that you are the representative of Freedom of the Press,” he added.

“Don’t pressure the Philippines and its institutions for the sake of your business which spreads propaganda, fake news and editorial broadcasting,” he also said.

Medina also believed that the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN should not be prioritized by the lawmakers as there are more important issues that should be addressed by Congress.

The netizen said that the broadcasting company should stop acting like a God and insisting that their network is a basic necessity for every Filipinos.

“Your issue isn’t important, the pressing issues now are about improving the lives of the Filipinos, liberating our economy and most of all distributing the fruit of our economy to the Filipinos,” he said.

“Mabubuhay pa din ang Pilipinas at Pilipino ng wala kayo, hindi kayo ang gumagawa ng hangin, puno, pera, damit, pagkain, tubig, at higit sa lahat hindi kayo Diyos. Kapag nagsara kayo patuloy pa din iikot ang mundo, hindi kayo ang sentro ng buhay namin,” he added.

He said that the freedom of the press is still there despite the issues being faced by ABS-CBN, mentioning media outlets that being criticized by President Duterte, but still operating.

Medina also cited several politicians that are still in their position despite being a critic of the President.

“Our democracy is very liberated under Duterte, the freedom of expression is very vibrant,” he said.

ABS-CBN is facing franchise issues after President Duterte became a vocal critic of the broadcasting company.

Despite the apology from Kapamilya executives, the President didn’t tell if he already changed his mind.

Source: Joe Medina

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa expressed frustration over the decision of his twelve colleagues to push a resolution asking the Supreme Court about the role of the Senate in the termination of treaties like the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

In a statement, Dela Rosa declared that the seven senators who decided to abstain in the voting, including him, are now the part of the minority as the other members of the supposed senate majority also voted in favor of the resolution.

“We are the new minority,” Dela Rosa told the press.

“Sinasabi nga na may kaniya-kaniya tayong isip pero kung doon tayo sa political side of it, majority against minority, dapat majority palagi ang mananalo but we were not able to get the majority vote,” he added.

However, he denied that he’s not open to accepting the ideas of his colleagues.

“Ang gusto daw nila para maging statesman ang dating mo, iba ang paningin mo. Sorry, I am not a statesman. Ordinaryong senador lang ako, ‘di ako statesman. ‘Yun lang ang makaya ko ngayon. ‘Di ako statesman pa,” he said.

He also explained why asking the Supreme Court is already unnecessary, citing that the constitution already defined the limit of the Senate when it comes to termination of treaties.

“I believe there is no need for this body to ask the Supreme Court. The constitution is clearly written. I am not a lawyer but ang alam ko there is a legal maxim that what the law does not include, it excludes,” Dela Rosa stated.

“Very clear ang sinabi ng constitution kung hanggang saan lang tayo,” he added.

The 1987 constitution says nothing if there’s a need for a Senate vote when the Philippines decided to leave an agreement.

Even Senator Francis Tolentino, who also abstained in voting told his colleagues that they should respect the power of President Rodrigo Duterte who led the termination of VFA.

“Wala akong nakitang probisyon dito na kasama ang Senado sa pag-abrogate ng isang tratado. Igalang po natin ang kapangyarihan ng Pangulo sa pagpasok sa tratado. Dahil ang Saligang Batas ay walang sinasaad tungkol sa abrogation at shared power, sa aking palagay ay dapat hindi tayo makialam,” Tolentino said.

Senators Vicente Sotto III, Franklin Drilon Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Miguel Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Richard Gordon, Ralph Recto, and Lito Lapid voted in favor of the resolution.

Those who abstained are Senators Imee Marcos, Christopher “Bong” Go, Francis Tolentino, Ronald Dela Rosa, Cynthia Villar, Koko Pimentel, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr.

The man who led a hostage-taking in an establishment in San Juan City got unusual support from the netizens who believed that he’s fighting for inequality.

The 9-hour hostage standoff ended on Monday night after the former security guard, Archie Panay released the victims who are all workers of the establishment and allowed to talk to the media despite being still armed.

Panay revealed that he experienced inequality and saw the corruption being performed by the higher officials of the mall and his former security agency SASCOR.

He accused the higher security officials of SASCOR of asking P5,000 from the tenants of the mall.

When Panay told San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora that he preferred to end up in the cemetery after the presscon, the authorities started to move to disarm the hostage-taker.

Despite the successful move of law enforcers against Panay, some netizens didn’t like what they did to the security guard.

“Una sa lahat wala ng laban yong Guard” dahil nakapalibot ang Pulis & Swat sumuko na at mahinahon siyang nagbigay ng kanyang saloobin pwede siyang arestohin ng maayos bakit kaylangan dambahin dumogin..? ang OA nyu mga pasikat!“ netizen Ronald Eli said.

“Is the pinning down by so many authorities really needed?” Czari Oliveras commented.

“Nakaka dismaya yung mga pulis there were no resistance kay kuya and kitang kita naman na wala siyang planong tumakas or what so ever, at that point planting of evidence ay pede nila magawa how they tuckle and approach the suspect and para palayuin yung media from the scene, too fishy for their action,” netizen 김큰솥 said.

A netizen even stated that Panay is just fighting for his right, but in the wrong way.

“Salute to this guy- A real brave man speaks not only for himself instead speak for the others that has been treated wrong by their employers/bosses and other upper management even the consequences for his action is his life. Brave man but in the wrong situation. May god bless you sir.” Walter Estamo remarked.

Some even dedicated a poem for Panay, telling the world that he’s also a father, and a victim but stood up to speak against the corruption of his former superiors.

“He is brave, but he is wrong.
He is a victim, but he stood up to speak.
He is poor, but he has dignity.
He is a worker, but he deserves respect.
He is a guard, but he also needs protection.
He is human, and he has his right.
He has less in life, but he has more in law.
He is a father.
He is a husband.
He is a co-worker.
He is a friend.” the Facebook page wrote.

Despite the support from the netizens, Panay is going to face multiple charges.