Category Archives: Law Enforcement

Government, Law Enforcement, Music

Duterte Lists Songs To Be Banned From Karaoke Bars

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image.jpegDAVAO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The transition team of Rodrigo Duterte has been very busy putting together the president-elect’s economic plan as well as a list of priority reforms he would like to implement as soon as he assumes office on June 30.

Among Duterte’s plans were to impose curfew, limit the sales of alcohol, ban smoking in public and regulating the operating hours of karaoke bars.

Today, Duterte’s team also released to the media a list of songs that will be permanently banned from being played in karaoke bars.  The list includes:

  1. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA
  2. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
  3. “My Way” by Frank Sinatra
  4. “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
  5. “I Will Survive” by  Gloria Gaynor
  6. “Let It Go” by Edina Menzel
  7. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
  8. “Memory” (from Cats) by Barbra Streisand
  9. “And I Am Telling You” by Jennifer Hudson
  10. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
  11. “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” by Madonna
  12. “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

The transition team says it welcomes additions to the list.  Let us know in the comments section what other songs you want banned from karaoke bars.

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International, Law Enforcement, Tourism, Travel

Filipino Tourist Caught Trying To Smuggle Live Rooster Into China

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imageNINGBO, China (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In the Philippines, the 6,000 year-old sport of cockfighting has been transformed into a fully-legal, billion dollar industry. Known locally as sabong, it takes place in 2,500 dedicated stadiums across the country and kills thousands, if not millions of roosters each year.

Some Filipino cockfight enthusiasts consider their roosters part of their extended family and treat them as such, taking their feathered friends with them when they go on luxury vacations.

Such was the case for a Filipino tourist who tried to smuggle his rooster into China by packing it inside a giant ziplock bag as part of his handcarried luggage.

The unidentified male tourist was stopped and questioned by Chinese customs officials as the man disembarked at the Ningbo airport. His rooster was confiscated by authorities.

The Filipino was later allowed to leave the airport but the fate of his rooster remains unknown.

Ningbo airport was the same airport where a Chinese man was stopped by Customs officials for trying to smuggle a live giant lobster from Australia.

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Business, Law Enforcement, Travel

Laglag Bala-Proof Luggage Sell Out In Manila

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Ever since the scheme, laglag bala, was exposed at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), airline passengers have been very creative in protecting their luggage from being targeted by airport personnel suspected of “planting” live bullets in bags for the purpose of extorting money.

Many choose to wrap their bags in saran wrap or put all sorts of warning signs and stickers to let airport staff know that they are closely watching their personal stuff.

The extortion scheme has created big business opportunities for luggage makers like Australia’s Crumple, a company that manufactures high-end travel bags and accessories.

It has created a special-edition anti-laglag bala luggage made of an all-clear polycarbonate shell which hides nothing that’s packed inside the bag. Airport security inspectors need not open the bag to search for prohibited items since they can see all the way through.

The new luggage line is especially popular among Filipinos who love to show off their designer clothing, shoes, and accessories.

In less than a month after the special luggage was introduced in the market in the Philippines, it sold out and has a huge backlog of orders.

But not to worry.  A local entrepreneur has invented a new anti-laglag bala luggage — not the same transparent Crumple bags — that scares away unscrupulous airport scammers.

The luggage has a life-sized photograph of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s face and upper torso with a message warning schemers that he will let them eat the bullets that they plant in passengers’ bags.  The presidential candidate is known for implementing unusual punishment for violators of the law, including forcing violators of the smoking ban to swallow their cigarette butts.

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The Duterte luggage retails for P4,600 (about US $100).  It is also reportedly now on back order.

However, an inexpensive alternative is available for those who cannot afford to purchase the Duterte luggage.  Stickers bearing the same image and message from Duterte are being sold at the National Book Store for  P50 ($1.08). All one needs to do is to attach the stickers to each check-in and carry-on bag.

Is this the beginning of the end of laglag bala?

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