Category Archives: Government

Government, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Religion

Pope Francis Invites Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte For Private Visit At The Vatican

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THE VATICAN (The Adobo Chronices, Rome Bureau) – In a move that stunned Vatican insiders as well as the politically-inclined Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Pope Francis has formally invited Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for a private visit this month.

Duterte, who once publicly cursed Francis and who is widely criticized for his war on drugs, says he is leaning towards accepting the invitation.

Recently, the Pope urged governments to combat the production and distribution of drugs and said that it is the task of governments “to face with courage this fight against the traffickers of death.”

The invitation is a big disappointment for the CBCP heirarchy who, like Duterte’s critics and the biased mainstream news media, have accused the President of engaging in extra-judicial killings in connection with his war on drugs.

”Whatever happened to the Fifth Commandment (Thou shall not kill),” former CBCP President Socrates Villegas asked.

The Vatican told The Adobo Chronicles that the Pope wants to seek the advice of Duterte on how best to stop the proliferation of drugs around the world.  A papal spokesperson said that many world leaders have tried but failed to solve the illegal drug trade, including in the Pope’s native Argentina.

 

 

Government, Politics, Religion

Duterte: ‘Friends Na Kami Ni Pope Francis’

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Remember Kris Aquino’s infamous statement, ‘Friends na kami ni PRRD?’  It was in reaction to Malacañang’s statement that then PCOO Usec Mocha Uson would apologize to Aquino for posting a video of Ninoy Aquino being kissed by two women.

Well now, PRRD —- that is President Rodrigo Roa Duterte — has issued a similar statement about Pope Francis, saying ‘Friends na kami ni Pope Francis.’

Many will recall that in 2015, when then Mayor Duterte was running for President in the 2016 elections, had cursed the Pope who was then visiting the Philippines, for the traffic jam the Pontiff had caused in Manila.

But Francis just issued a statement that seemed to support Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.

Francis recently called on everyone to combat the production and distribution of drugs and said it is the task of governments “to face with courage this fight against the traffickers of death.”

Duterte saw that as an endorsement by the Pope of his war on drugs which many of his critics, the biased media and even the Philippine Catholic Church heirarchy have been very critical of.

Vice President Leni Robredo and others in the Opposition seem  to be have been dumbfounded by the Pope’s statement that they could not find the words to issue a statement.   Did they finally meet their match in the person of Pope Francis?

And has Duterte finally found a credible, infallible ally in his war on drugs?

 

Government, Law Enforcement

Human Rights Commissioner Chito Gascon Wants To File Charges Against ‘Kidnapped’ Children

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, ACT Teachers Partylist France Castro, and 16 others were arrested in Talaingod, Daval del Norte for alleged human trafficking, kidnapping, and child abuse charges.

Ocampo’s group — members of the National Solidarity and Fact Finding Mission — was on board five vans  headed for an unknown destination when they were stopped on Wednesday by members of the Philippine National Police.  A random check revealed the presence of 14 minor children.

The children, along with teachers, were being “rescued “ from a Lumad school in Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao Del Norte from alleged harassment Wednesday night.

Immediately after the group was released on bail Saturday, Chito Gascon of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) vowed to sue the 14 kids for violating the human rights of Ocampo and the others.

Gascon said that the children should have assured the police that they were not being kidnapped. “By remaining silent, the children caused the arrest of, and charges filed against Ocampo and company.

“I understand the children are all minors, but that is no excuse to trample on anyone’s human rights, including the right to be free from illegal arrest or to engage in the civic duty to fight any form of harassment,” Gascon told The Adobo Chronicles.

Asked why CHR was quiet about the prior alleged harassment of the children at the Lumad school, Gason said he wasn’t aware of it because it was not reported on Rappler.