Category Archives: Law Enforcement

Government, International, Law Enforcement, Politics

The Curious Case of Senator Antonio Trillanes’ Missing Signature

February 8, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

20513F35-248E-46CD-A84B-31342924DC62 MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – It has been reported in Philippine news media that the 5 minority Senators (otherwise known as Voltes 5) have filed a resolution calling for the release from jail of Senator Leila de Lima, as urged by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

But what has not been reported was that one of the Senators, Antonio Trillanes (whose current whereabouts could not be confirmed by The Adobo Chronicles) didn’t sign the resolution.

As seen by images of the resolution published by the news media, the signature line above Trillanes’ name was blank. However, the same images show a separate page in which Trillanes’ signature appears, with another signature/initial appearing underneath.

This led to various speculation that Trillanes may be out of the country, didn’t really agree to the resolution, somebody faked his signature, or some other curious reasons.

We’ll leave it to the fact-checkers Rappler and Vera Files to investigate the matter. After all, they’re being paid to do the job.

Government, Law Enforcement, Tourism

Proposed Baguio City Ordinance: No Gossiping Unless Juicy, No Bikini Underwear To Dry In Public

February 5, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Baguio Bureau) – Late last year, the Baguio City government approved an ordinance banning cussing in public. Now Barangays in the city want to take the law a step further: they want to ban gossiping and hanging underwear to dry in public view.

But Barangay officials in Upper Quarry clarified that they would only like to ban gossip that’s not juicy. Anyone charged with gossiping must prove in court that the gossip has the elements of intrigue and malice. Otherwise, he or she will be penalized with fine and imprisonment.

Officials of Holy Ghost Barangay, on the other hand, told The Adobo Chronicles that they don’t want to ban all underwear from being hung to dry in public. “We only want to ban bikini-type underwear because they are a threat to the morals of our youth,” a Barangay Councilman said.

So, when in the summer capital of the Philippines, watch your morals. No cussing, no gossiping, and no public display of wet underwear.

Finance, International, Law Enforcement, Media, Social Media

Rappler Wants Global Media Funding In Philippine Depository Receipts

December 19, 2018 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – It already got itself in trouble once, so Rappler is making sure the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) don’t go after the online news source again.

Many will recall that SEC earlier revoked Rappler’s media license on the grounds that it violated the Constitutional provision of 100% Filipino ownership of media entities. CEO Maria Ressa is also facing charges of tax evasion in connection with monies owed the government by Rappler.

Rappler just proudly announced on its site that the global media (read: foreign media) had established a fund-raising campaign to contribute to ‘journalism’ causes such as Ressa’s.

But Ressa has a big dilemma. By accepting foreign funding, Rappler faces more scrutiny from SEC and BIR. She could always argue that the funds will not go directly to Rappler’s media operations, which is in effect, an admission that her online news source is not a media company — which also means that she no longer can claim that she is being harassed and intimidated by the Philippine government just because she is a journalist.

So what’s there to do?

Well, Ressa has asked foreign media contributors that any funds given to Rappler should be in the form of Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs). Ressa has used PDRs to support her claim that investments in Rappler by foreign entities such as Omidyar Network do not violate the Constitutional prohibition on foreign ownership of media.

Is this a case of Rappler trying to have its cake and eat it too?

We’re a satire site (often denied by Rappler), so we’ll let the legal experts as well as the SEC and BIR make that determination.