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Politics, Social Media

Senatorial Candidate Erin Tañada Defends Controversial ‘Handshake’ With Fish Vendor

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8BEE63C0-F9EC-477F-BDC0-EFD79D191892.pngMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Otso Diretso Senatorial candidate Erin Tañada today defended his controversial ‘handshake’ with a fish vendor during one of his recent campaign sorties, photos of which went viral on social media.

Netizens criticized Tañada for what they are calling his refusal to hold the hand of the vendor for fear of smelling fishy.

In a statement issued to the press, the green Senator (he always wears green-colored shirts), said the fish vendor’s name was Mercedes, and he was merely trying to hold the “Braso ni Mercedes” — (the arm of Mercedes) —  you know just like that Filipino favorite cake Brazo de Mercedes available at Goldilocks and Red Ribbon Bakeshops.

Explanation accepted!

Immigration, International, Law Enforcement, Media, Politics, Social Media

U.S. President Donald Trump Joins In The Fray Regarding Maria Ressa

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – Rappler CEO Maria Ressa’s much-ballyhooed claim of suppression of Press Freedom, harassment and political intimidation has caught the fancy of several international media organizations. 

Ressa’s claim stems from several cases filed against her that prompted the issuance of warrants of arrest.  She is charged with tax evasion and cyber libel.

Now, U.S. President Donald Trump has joined in the fray over Ressa, but for a different reason.

Trump is now questioning Ressa’s dual U.S. and Filipino citizenship in the light of allegations that she is not even Filipino.  Some in social media allege that both of Ressa’s parents are Indonesian which makes her ineligible for automatic Filipino citizenship.

”How can I trust her to be an American if she can’t even be trusted to tell the truth about her Filipino heritage.” Trump told The Adobo Chronicles.

”I am therefore inclined to order the State Department and the Department of Justice to revoke Ressa’s U.S. citizenship unless she can show me her birth certificate proving she is Filipino.”

Trump is credited for the birthright movement which came about when he questioned Barack Obama’s citizenship.  He continued to doubt Obama’s being a natural-born American citizen even after the former U.S. President made public his birth certificate proving he was born in Hawaii.F7C09861-8D1A-42FF-9820-798682E9EE02

We tried to reach Ressa at the Rappler headquarters today for comment but she and her staff were busy dealing with a protest staged by two prominent bloggers, Mark Lopez and Jovybev Aquino who accused her of destroying the image of the Philippines through her antics about her legal troubles.

Government, Media, Politics, Social Media

Rappler To Malacañang: We Can’t Keep On Using Google And Wikipedia To Write Our Stories

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Online news website Rappler on Wednesday asked Malacañang to lift the ban on its reporters, a year since they were prohibited from covering Palace events.

In a letter addressed to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the news website said the ban violates “a basic constitutional principle that no law or rule should be passed abridging the freedom of the press.” 

CEO Maria Ressa added that Rappler cannot continue to use Google and its online search mechanisms or Wikipedia to gather facts and juicy rumors about Duterte and his administration.  “We are committed to first-hand reporting and we can only do that if our star reporters like Pia Ranada are allowed back in Malacañang premises.”

In response, Medialdea said his office cannot favorably act on the request because Rappler is not considered a media company.  “It is a dealer in stocks,” he said. “Let’s leave the Malacañang coverage to the legitimate press,” he added.