International, Law Enforcement, Politics

Incarcerated Senator Leila De Lima Asks Amal Clooney To Join Her Defense Team

July 11, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – After hearing the news that Amal Clooney, a.k.a. Mrs. George Clooney, is joining the legal defense team of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, incarcerated Senator Leila De Lima has sent a similar request to the Lebanese-British Human Rights lawyer.

Ressa faces several criminal cases, including tax evasion and cyber libel and charges of Constitutional violation over foreign ownership of her online news source.

De Lima is currently in jail over drug-related charges.

In a text message sent to Clooney, De Lima said, “Why, if you can defend Ressa from her criminal cases, surely you can also do the same for me. I am as much a victim of Human Rights violation as Ressa is.”

No word yet from Clooney on De Lima’s request.

Government, Politics

Duterte’s Fourth SONA Will Be The Shortest In Philippine History

July 11, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – President Rodrigo Duterte is known for long and winding speeches, but his State of the Nation Address (SONA) next week will be the shortest ever in the history the Philippines.

His speech will take just about 5 seconds or less, depending on how slow or fast he will read his prepared speech via the teleprompter.

The Adobo Chronicles has obtained a copy of the President’s speech from PCOO Undersecretary Lorraine M. Badoy, and it reads:

”The State of the Nation is awesome.”

Government, Media, Politics

Malacañang Has Invited Maria Ressa As VIP Guest At Duterte’s Fourth SONA

July 10, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Perhaps it’s President Rodrigo Duterte’s way of extending an olive branch. Malacañang has invited Rappler CEO Maria Ressa as a VIP guest at Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address.

Ressa, of course, is known to be one of the Administrations’s fiercest critics who has accused the government of weaponizing the law to curtail her Freedom of Speech. She faces criminal charges of tax evasion and cyber libel.

Malacañang sources told The Adobo Chronicles that the President will shake Ressa’s hand before he delivers his SONA.

The last time Duterte shook someone’s hand at his SONA, that someone —Senator Leila De Lima — was subsequently put in jail.