The new Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gerald Bantag warned the personnel and inmates of the national penitentiary not to do a wrong move or else they might become unlucky in the upcoming days.
Bantag already said that he would not accept any gifts from anyone from the inmates of BuCor, saying that he’s going to do something if they insist on giving money to him.
“Ang mga magbibigay sa akin ng pera, mamalasin… hindi pala mamalasin, kakatayin ko,” Bantag said.
During an interview in the senate, Bantag vowed not to shave his facial hair until there are no changes happening in BuCor.
He asked Senator Christopher “Bong” Go for additional funds for the BuCor and some grenades.
Bantag became controversial several years ago after he became involved in a grenade explosion inside Paranaque detention center.
The new BuCor chief revealed that he’s going to replace some of the personnel of BuCor and planning to replace them with more trusted people.
He claimed that 95% of the current workers in Bilibid are corrupt.
He also ordered to ban any mobile devices inside the national penitentiary and even himself would not use a phone while at work.
According to him, he’s expected that his new job is very dangerous that’s why he’s always keeping his weapon, including a samurai in his new office.
Despite the dangers of his job, Bantag vowed to bring changes in the BuCor and help President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Basta ang sabi ng mahal na pangulo at senador (Bong Go) kapag ako [ay] pumalpak, ipapako [nila] ako sa krus,” Bantag said.
Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte shared a lengthy story about her younger days and how her father, President Rodrigo Duterte helped her to survive law school.
In her Instagram post, Inday Sara said that while studying at Law School, she faced many difficulties that almost made her give up.
Instead of trying to contact her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, she decided to consult her father who’s a lawyer and Davao City Mayor during that time.
One time when Inday Sara called her father and started to cry, the latter started to panic and asked if she’s having problems because she’s pregnant.
However, Inday Sara suddenly laughed by the question of her father and clarified that the reason why she’s emotional is because of the difficulties in her studies.
Her father gave her advice saying that her tears would not make her pass the law school and encouraged her to read books.
Inday Sara revealed that her father cried when she passed the Bar Exam.
She thanked her father because of encouraging her to continue her studies and to avoid choosing the wrong path.
You can read the story below:
“Laging present si Papa sa tuwing may recognition day sa school. Ang gusto niya kasi, siya ang laging magsasabit ng mga ribbon at medalya ko. Paano ko ba makakalimutan ang lagi niyang pinapaalala sa akin nung bata pa ako. Para siyang sirang plakang paulit-ulit na sinasabing, “Mag-aral kang mabuti. Education is everything!”
Nuong third year ako sa law school, may isang gabi na gusto ko na talagang umiyak at magwala dahil sa sobrang hirap ng mga lessons. Kailangan ko ng mahihingahan. Ayoko namang tawagan si Mama dahil baka mag-alala lang siya.
Ang gusto ko talagang makausap ay isa ring abogado gaya ni Papa na makaka-relate sa mga himutok ko. Sa totoo lang, bihira kaming mag-usap ng heart to heart ng tatay ko. Para kaming aso’t pusa kapag nagtatalo. Kaya nai-imagine ko na ang hitsura niya nang abisuhan siya ng alalay niya para tawagan ako,
“Mayor, tumawag po kanina ang anak niyo. Gusto daw po kayong makausap?”
Bigla akong natigilan nang mag-ring ang cellphone ko. Nang marinig ko ang boses ni Papa, hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko. Hindi ako makapagsalita kaya umiyak na lang ako. Ang unang tanong sa kin ni Papa, “Asan ka?”
Lalo akong napahagulgol sa pag-iyak. Nararamdaman kong nag-papanic na siya. Paulit-ulit niya akong tinatanong kung nasaan ba ako. Nung mga oras na iyon, iniisip ko na baka akala niya ay na-rape na ako.
Pero hindi pa rin ako huminto. Umiyak lang ako ng umiyak na parang isang naghihingalong aso.
Tahimik si Papa sa kabilang linya. Maya-maya pa ay muli na siyang nagtanong: “Buntis ka?”
Nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Papa ay bigla na akong natawa. Hindi ko na napigilang humalakhak nang humalakhak hanggang sa malapit na akong maubusan ng hininga. Naisip ko na bakit ba ganun mag-isip ang mga lalaki. Kapag ba tumawag sa telepono ang babae nang umiiyak, buntis na agad?
Tawa pa rin ako ng tawa hanggang sa sinabi ni Papa, “Nabuang ka? Nababaliw ka na ba”
Siguro iniisip na niya nung mga oras na yun ay lango ako sa alak.
Sinubukan kong pigilan ang sarili ko. Huminto na ako sa pagtawa at nagsabi na ako ng totoo sa tatay ko.
“Pa, nahihirapan na ako sa law school,” ang sabi ko sa kanya.
Ramdam ko na ang inis sa boses ni Papa ng sabihin niyang, “ Nahihirapan ka na sa mga lessons mo? Hindi ka matutulungan ng mga luha mo. Basahin mo ang mga libro mo!”
Ang iyon ang dahilan kung bakit isang abogado na gaya ni Papa ang kinausap ko tungkol sa problema ko. Walang kyeme-kyeme. Walang bola bola. Isang direktang sagot na kailangan kong marinig para matauhan ako Nang ibaba ko ang telepono, tumingin ako sa mga libro ko at sinabi ko sa sarili ko, “Tutal, napagkamalan naman akong nabuntis, iiyak na lang muna ako nang iiyak na parang nabuntis hanggang sa makatulog ako,”
At ganun na nga ang ginawa. Ibinuhos ko ang lahat ng luha ko nang gabing iyon. At kinabukasan, muli kong hinarap ang hamon ng aking pag-aaral.
Lumipas ang ilang taon. May nakapagsabi sa akin na napaluha daw si Papa nang pumasa ako sa Bar Exam. Sa tingin ko, napaiyak siya dahil mas magaling ako sa kanya at iyon ang isang tagumpay para sa kanya. Isa pa, marahil napaiyak si Papa dahil ako ang tropeo niya para siguruhin ang edukasyon ng susunod na henerasyon.
Bukod dito, marahil ay naluha siya sa galak dahil hindi ako napariwara. Hindi ako napabilang sa mga teenager na nabuntis at highschool dropout. Kahit anong hirap ay tagumpay akong nakapasa dahil sinunod ko ang payo ni Papa.”
The post was first published by Inday Sara in 2016 and recirculated on social media three years after.
Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Chavit Singson said that he’s planning to build the biggest statue of Jesus in the world.
In an interview by ANC, he said that the statue will be called “The Resurrection” and planning to place it in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
According to Singson, the statue is possibly made of bronze and copper and it will be 460 feet high, it’s more than 300 ft higher than the Christ the King statue in Poland and also to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil.
He revealed that the cost of “The Resurrection” will cost one billion pesos and the construction is already being started.
Singson believes that when the statue already constructed, thousands of Filipinos are going to spend time to visit it which can help the people of Ilocos Sur to earn more money from tourism.
Several reports said that the statue will be designed by architect Richelle Singson, the daughter of Chavit.
When asked if someone urged him to build the statue, he said that he only suddenly got the idea when he saw the other statues of Jesus Christ in other countries.
Singson is known for being religious and a follower of the Roman Catholic Church.
Former Agriculture Secretary and now Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) chairman Manny Piñol has a suggestion to Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno on how he would feed nutritious bread to his people while helping the Mindanao farmers at the same time.
In a Facebook post, Piñol presented the NutriBanana bread to Moreno, claiming that it’s more delicious and nutritious than the original nutribun being planned by the Manila City Mayor to distribute among grade school students.
“Yorme eto na yung hinahanap mo, sabi mo gusto mong pakainin ng nutribun ang mga bata ng Maynila… eto mas masarap sa nutribun, makakatulong ka pa sa taga Mindanao,” Piñol told Moreno.
According to Piñol, the Nutribanana is made from bananas that didn’t pass the export quality because of the wrong size.
He said that bananas that didn’t pass the quality check are normally dumped.
However, a Davao-based Bicolano, Froilan Angelo Dy made an idea on how he would save the rejected bananas and use it as an ingredient to his Nutribanana bread.
“Kung gusto mo kami na ang mag su-supply ng nutribun mo,” said Piñol.
The MinDa chairman said that the cost of Nutribanana is less than P4 per piece.
Mayor Moreno is not yet responding on the request of Piñol.
A few months ago, Moreno said that he would replicate the Marcos-era nutribun program to fight hunger in her City.
The said program is expected to start next year once they already find a sufficient budget to fund it.
While Karaoke Ban is being enforced in many Barangays across the country, some officials took extreme measures to implement it.
Barangay Mambugan in Antipolo City raised the eyebrows of the netizens for their extreme punishment over the establishments that violated the Karaoke ban in their place.
In the photos posted by the official page of Mambugan, it showed a Barangay official destroying the Karaoke Machine of an establishment that violated the ban for three times already.
However, instead of receiving praise from the netizens, most of them criticized the officials of the said barangay for destroying the precious karaoke machines.
“Hindi sapat na dahilan para sirain ang videoke. pagmultahin nyo nag renta. itago nalang yan. magagamit yan sa ibang pagkakataon. my mga lugar na barangay na nag papahiram ng videoke. sana nag kawang gawa nalang kayo ibigay sa ibang barangay malapit sa inyo,” netizen Cabatingan Char said.
“Private property yan. Hindi dapat yan basta basta sinisira. Mabuti kung sa barangay inarkila yan. Kung meron dapat parusahan sa ganyan ay tung mga umarkila na hindi sumusunod ng ganggang 10pm lang, hindi yung videoke ang pagdidiskitahan! Imberyna. Utak papel nakaisip nyan!!” netizen Frenjamkyle DG remarked.
The Barangay didn’t raise the white flag and defended themselves from the criticisms of the netizens.
According to them, they chose to destroy the Karaoke instead of confiscating it so the people would not suspect them that they’re only interested in the said machine.
“Wag kayong maawa sa may ari.at gumagamit.alam nila ang ordinansa.maawa kayo sa kapitbahay na kinabukasan ay may pasok…yun lang pag wala kang ginawang aksyon…mali…pag may ginawa kang tama.. mali pa rin..kayo na magpatupad…alam nyo ba simula nito..salamat po…” the Barangay facebook page wrote.
“Tatlong beses mahigit pinuntahan po yan sa sobrang ingay.nag cause po yan ng gulo sa sitio yan kaya kinumpiska.at wala pong balak itambak yan sa barangay namin dahil baka mapag sabihan pa na pinag interesan.salamat po,” they added.
As of writing, the post already reached 5,000 shares on social media and its considered viral as the total likes of the page of Barangay Mambugan is only 1,000.
Malacanang Palace ignored the request of Republican Senator Marco Rubio to free Senator Leila De Lima who’s being detained for her alleged involvement in illegal activities in the national penitentiary.
In a text message, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo has a short message to Rubio.
According to Panelo, the tweet of Rubio is “nonsense” and not worth to give a response.
“We don’t respond to nonsense,” Panelo said in the text message.
Rubio made a tweet asking the Philippine government to free De Lima, saying that the charges against the lady senator are “bogus”.
The American Senator insisted that the government of the Philippines should free De Lima without asking any conditions from the side of the detained senator.
“Philippine Senator Leila de Lima, a critic of EJKs under Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs,” has spent the last two years in prison on bogus charges,” Rubio said on his Sept 21 tweet.
“I call on the Philippine government to unconditionally release her,” he added.
Philippine Senator Leila de Lima, a critic of extrajudicial killings under Duterte's so-called “war on drugs,” has spent the last two years in prison on bogus charges. I call on the Philippine government to unconditionally release her #FreeLeilaNow#ExpressionNOTOppressionpic.twitter.com/B3lsNOnRtx
Rubio also joined five Senators last April urging the Philippines to drop the charges against De Lima.
“The Philippines is a close ally, but this bipartisan resolution makes it clear that the US Congress seeks an immediate improvement in the government’s behavior and the end of efforts to weaponize the rule of law against brave individuals like Senator Leila de Lima and Maria Ressa,” the resolution reads.
Meanwhile, Senator Leila De Lima thanked Rubio for his support.
For saying what's just and true, thank you Sen. Marco Rubio.
Duterte's mouthpiece may dismiss your tweet as "nonsense", but you see through the tyrant's pretense. Let's carry on the fight for freedom and human rights. #ExpressionNOTOppressionhttps://t.co/k4T5WxylUN
“For saying what’s just and true, thank you, Sen. Marco Rubio. Duterte’s mouthpiece may dismiss your tweet as “nonsense”, but you see through the tyrant’s pretense. Let’s carry on the fight for freedom and human rights.” De Lima tweeted.
Vice President Leni Robredo defended her daughter Tricia over the tweet made by the latter against the Duterte administration.
A few days ago, Tricia Robredo criticized the government for using “health” issues for “personal political wars” amid the news about the polio outbreak in the Philippines.
“Measles, dengue, and polio all in one year. When you run a nation with fear and fake news, and use health for your personal political wars. Sinong talo? ‘Yung mga pinangakuan ninyo ng pagbabago.” Tricia said on her tweet.
The Vice President, during her radio show “Biserbisyong Leni” said that her daughter was affected by the health issues happening in the Philippines because she’s also studying medicine.
According to her, Polio is preventable if they’re vaccinating the children.
“Sa isyu sigurong ito, hindi niya napigil iyong sarili niya kasi sino ba naman iyong hindi mahahabag di ba? Iyong measles bumalik, iyong dengue nag-spike, iyong polio after 19 years bumalik— na lahat naman ito preventable by vaccination di ba?” she said.
Robredo said that anyone would be disappointed if the government is politicizing the health issues in the Philippines.
“Kaya sino naman iyong hindi talaga ma… ano nga… mahahabag, maiinis, na dahil ginawang political issue yung health, iyong mga kabataan natin iyong kailangang sumalo ng problema ng matatanda,” said Robredo.
Critics of the government blamed Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta for giving fears to the parents to avoid vaccination because of Dengvaxia mess.
The Dengvaxia vaccine program started during the Aquino administration to fight the spread of Dengue in the Philippines.
A netizen revealed what he believed that reason why Senator Grace Poe is trying to oppose the emergency powers being asked by the Duterte administration to solve the traffic in EDSA.
In a Facebook post, Noel Landero Sarifa, who’s also known for being the author of several viral posts about the Duterte administration claimed that Grace Poe is allegedly in favor of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) proposal to put an elevated 10-lane tollway on EDSA.
According to Sarifa, Poe allegedly received funds from the SMC Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang who proposed the said project to the government.
During an interview, Ang bared that the project can be completed within 24 to 30 months and they estimated that the toll rates will cost P150 to P200.
Sarifa believes that Grace Poe doesn’t want the government to give emergency powers so the government has no choice but to agree with the proposal of SMC to build a tollway as a way to save EDSA from traffic and let the vehicle owners pay for every use of it.
“As for the toll rates, Put it at ₱200 or ₱150. Half a million ang dumadaan sa EDSA araw2 so let’s say half nun gagamit ng skyway 250,000 x 150. Tumataginting na 37.5 Million a day. So in few years bawi agad… And then forever cash flow,” Sarifa said.
“So ayun, ayaw nila ng emergency powers kasi gusto nilang forever gatasan ang taumbayan,” he added.
Very timely press release, may hearing sa Emergency power, Issue ang Traffic, 3 years to finish ang project at in 3 years time tapos na ang term ni Pres. Duterte, what a show. Bayan o Sarili? Grace Poe, utang na loob,” he also said.
Several reports mentioned that Grace Poe’s presidential election was backed by taipans Ramon Ang and also Eduardo Cojuangco who’s also part of SMC.
Sarifa’s post received 7,700 shares as of writing.
Meanwhile, the proposed project of Mr. Ang received support from Malacanang calling it as a “beautiful proposal,”.
“Have you read about Ramon Ang’s proposal, iyong elevated? I was talking to him last night, ang ganda ng proposal niya,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
“Tinanong ko siya how much is that. Three billion US dollars, sabi niya. In less than two years, gawa ‘yan. Tapos ipinakita niya sa akin sa ano yata, sa Jakarta. Ipinakita niya sa akin ‘yung mga ginawa nila doon,” he added.
Rapper Marlon Diaz Peroramas also known for his stage name Loonie has been found positive in using kush according to the laboratory test conducted by Philippine National Police (PNP).
The lab test which released on September 19 confirmed Loonie, together with David Rizon and Ivan Agustin were found positive in “THC Metabolites,” however they didn’t found any sign that the group is using shabu.
Meanwhile, Idyll Peroramas, Loonie’s sister, and Albert Alvarez were found positive from using kush.
Loonie admitted that he’s using kush, but not selling it as what the police accused to him.
Photo: PNP
Meanwhile, Makati City court also denied the request from the camp of Peronamas to free the accused earlier.
“This court considers this development as a supervening event, enough to render the instant petition moot and academic. It would be highly impractical for this court to order the release of the petitioners without preempting any resolution coming from the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati City,” the document reads.
Peroramas is currently detained because of being involved in selling 15 sachets of high-grade kush worth P100,000.
He insisted that the evidence presented by the cops was only planted and he’s supposed to visit an ailing fan.
“Hindi po totoo lahat yan, gusto ko pong makipag usap sa abogado namin dahil nabigla po kami, pupuntahan dapat namin ay yung batang may cancer, yun ang pag kakaalam ko,” Loonie said.
“Hindi po totoo lahat ng paratang sa akin, hindi po sa amin yan, ang cellphone ko po diyan ay yung isa, yung pera po at yung mga sachet hindi sa akin yan,” he added.
US Republican Sen. Marco Rubio urged the Duterte administration to free Senator Leila De Lima from being detained calling the charges against the latter as “bogus.”
Rubio believes that De Lima was only got detained because of being a critic of the Duterte administration.
“Philippine Senator Leila de Lima, a critic of EJKs under Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs,” has spent the last two years in prison on bogus charges,” Rubio said.
“I call on the Philippine government to unconditionally release her,” Rubio said.
This is not the first time that Rubio supported Senator De Lima.
Last April, Rubio together with other five US Senators urged the government to drop its charges against De Lima and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.
“The Philippines is a close ally, but this bipartisan resolution makes it clear that the US Congress seeks an immediate improvement in the government’s behavior and the end of efforts to weaponize the rule of law against brave individuals like Senator Leila de Lima and Maria Ressa,” the resolution reads.
Philippine Senator Leila de Lima, a critic of extrajudicial killings under Duterte's so-called “war on drugs,” has spent the last two years in prison on bogus charges. I call on the Philippine government to unconditionally release her #FreeLeilaNow#ExpressionNOTOppressionpic.twitter.com/B3lsNOnRtx
The lady Senator is not yet releasing a statement on Rubio’s tweet.
De Lima is detained for her alleged involvement in the illegal practices in the national penitentiary during her term as the Department of Justice Secretary.
However, the Senator denied the accusations against her saying that she’s only being targeted by the President because of her statements against the current administration’s policies.
