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Social Media

Doris Bigornia Does A Maria Ressa: ‘MMDA Is Trying To Silence Me!’

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L-R: Bigornia, Pialago, Ressa

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – ABS-CBN reporter Doris Bigornia is finally breaking her silence over her rift with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Celine Pialago.

The MMDA official filed a complaint to the office ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Division Head Ging Reyes, accusing Bigornia of “pananakit (hurting).”

Bigornia, who has had public arguments and encounters with others in the past, told The Adobo Chronicles  that MMDA, particularly Pialago, is trying to silence her. “I’m a true, tested and veteran journalist. I am entitled to free speech and press freedom,” she added.

Upon learning pf Bigornia’s statement, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa said that Bigornia has no originality. “Those are my lines. Is she trying to steal the thunder from me?”

Ressa is known for spreading misinformation — especially abroad — that the Philippine government is weaponizing the law to silence her as a journalist. She is currently facing criminal charges, including cyber libel and tax evasion.

 

Government, International, Law Enforcement, Social Media

U.N. Headquarters Moving Out Of New York, Headed For New Zealand

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NEW YORK, New York (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – “Enough is enough!” With these words, the United Nations General Assembly voted unanimously to move its headquarters out of New York and into New Zealand.

The unprecedented move was prompted by the most recent mass shootings in the United States which have put the number to 255 in just the first half of 2019.

“It is no longer safe for our diplomats and staff to live and work in the U.S.,” a U.N. statement said.

New Zealand was voted as the new site of the U.N. Headquarters.

New Zealand, led by its Prime Minister Jacinda Adern, has moved to tighten gun control laws following the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch which left 50 people dead.

A U.N. spokesperson said that members of the General Assembly hailed New Zealand’s political will to address gun violence which has plagued the U.S. for a long time.  He added:  “We hope that by moving our headquarters to New Zealand, we will be able to assure our members of peace of mind that their service to the U.N. will not be marred by safety issues like they face in America.  If malls, churches, schools and festivals have become the venue for mass shootings, what assurance do we have that it will not happen at the U.N. headquarters?”

Ironically, even U.S. permanent member of the U.N. Security Council Jonathan Cohen voted to move the headquarters out of New York.

Iceland, dubbed by some surveys as the safest country in the world, was also being considered as the new site of the UN Headquarters but members agreed it that its cold weather might result in frequent absences and tardiness for the Assembly members.

Government, Politics, The Media

Sedition: Maria Ressa Vs. Maria Ressa

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Will Maria Ressa soon join the ranks of people led by Vice President Leni Robredo who are facing accusations of sedition?

Possibly.

But the irony of ironies is that the Rappler CEO may have set herself up for a possible sedition charge.

In a recent interview  with The Financial Times (FT), Ressa said “it would be great if we didn’t have to fight our government.”

Sedition is defined as action or language that incites people to oppose or fight their duly-constituted government. 

By admitting that she is fighting the government, Ressa all but provided Exhibit A  that could be used against her in the court of law.

Ressa likes to say, “A lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.”

If Ressa keeps repeating what she told FT, it may just become the truth.