Category Archives: Government

Government, Politics

BREAKING: Supreme Court Extends President Duterte’s Term By One Year

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – While everyone was focused on the Manila visit of UN Rapporteur Agnes Callamard and the Court of Appeals acquittal of Janet Napoles of the serious illegal detention charge, the Supreme Court handed down a historic decision extending the 6-year term of President Rodrigo Duterte by one year.

Duterte, who was elected president exactly a year ago today will finish his term in 2022 in accordance with the Philippine Constitution.

But the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled that Duterte’s term does not officially start until his Cabinet is complete.

The Commission on Appointments (CA) has been dilly dallying on the confirmation of several key Cabinet appointees, including Rafael Mariano of Agrarian Reform, Paulyn Ubial of Health and Judy Taguiwalo of Social Welfare and Development.

The CA has been bypassing their appointment confirmations.

It was only recently that the CA finally rejected the appointment of DENR Secretary Gina Lopez.  One other Cabinet nominee, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. was rejected because of issues regarding his citizenship.

In its decision, penned by no less than Aquino-appointed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the Supreme Court said that it is extending Duterte’s term until 2023 and has not ruled out another extension if the CA fails to confirm the president’s Cabinet appointees by June 30 of this year.

Malacañang was elated over the SC ruling, saying this gives the president an extra year to fully accomplish his campaign against illegal drugs and government corruption.

Government, Health & Medicine, International, Law Enforcement, Media, Politics, Social Media

VP Leni Robredo Unveils ‘Just Do It’ Campaign For Filipino Youth

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QUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – She has called for the decriminalization of drug use.  Now, Vice President Leni Robredo, encouraged by recent pronouncements by drug experts, has unveiled her latest campaign directed at Filipino youth.

Calling it “Just Do It,” Robredo said the campaign aims to encourage young people not to even think twice before using illegal drugs. “It does no harm,” she says.

The new national campaign came just days after two international experts spoke at a drug conference at the University of the Philippines 🇵🇭 .

Dr.  Carl Hart, head of Columbia University’s Psychology Department debunked President Rodrigo Duterte’s claims that the repeated use of shabu (methamphetamine) shrinks a user’s brain over time. “The data simply isn’t there,” said Hart, whose area of research includes “behavioral and neuropharmacological effects of psychoactive drugs in humans.”

At the same time, Agnes Callamard, United National special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions declared that Duterte’s war on drugs does not work as it breeds more problems for the government.

Malacañang has not yet responded to The Adobo Chronicles’ request for comment on Robredo’s new project.

Government, International, Media, Politics, Social Media, Travel

BREAKING: UN Rapporteur Agnes Callamard Gathers First-Hand Evidence on EJKs During Manila Visit

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – UN Rapporteur Agnes Callamard who visited the Philippines this week for purely academic purposes and not on official mission, said she had nevertheless personally seen evidence of summary killings connected to President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

In an exclusive interview with The Adobo Chronicles, Callamard listed all the evidence she personally encountered while in Manila:

  • She had dinner with Commission on Human Rights Chair Chito Gascon
  • She had a private screening of Leni Robredo’s video message to a UN conference where the Vice President talked about summary killings under Duterte’s war on drugs
  • She read archived issues of The Philippine Daily Inquirer
  • While in her hotel room, she googled Rappler to review stories about 7,000 plus killed in the war on drugs
  • She watched ABS-CBN and GMA News, and occasionally, CNN Philippines 🇵🇭
  • She exchanged text messages with Jim Paredes, Cynthia Patag, Leah Navarro, Raissa Robles and Atty. Jesus Falcis
  • She had a phone conversation with jailed Senator Leila De Lima
  • She had a courtesy call with Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Socrates Villegas.
  • Carlos Celdran acted as her tour guide throughout her Manila stay
  • She personally witnessed student 👨‍🎓 and faculty demonstrations against Duterte while on her way to her speaking engagement at the University of the Philippines

Asked if she made an effort to meet with Philippine National Police Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ de la Rosa, Callamard said that she didn’t find it necessary since she already had all the first-hand information she needed to prepare a comprehensive report to the UN.

Meanhile, Callamard categorically denied that she has been hired as a paid consultant of the Liberal Party as recently revealed in Wikipedia.

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