Category Archives: Law Enforcement

International, Law Enforcement

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE LISTS BEST PRISONS IN THE WORLD, PHILIPPINES IS NO. 1

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imageThe Hague, Netherlands (The Adobo Chronicles) – The International Court of Justice (French: Cour internationale de justice; commonly referred to as the World Court or ICJ) has just released its 2014 list of the Top Ten Best Prisons in the World.

ICJ is the primary judicial branch of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. Its main functions are to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by duly authorized international branches, agencies, and the UN General Assembly. 

This is the first year that ICJ is releasing the best prison list, based on an international survey it has commissioned to look at prison conditions in U.N. member countries.

The Philippines ranked No. 1 on the ICJ list, followed by Great Britain and Japan.

Reacting to the good news, Philippines Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima told reporters that her efforts to rid the country’s prison system of corruption and mismanagement have finally paid off. “We should treat all prison inmates with respect and dignity by providing them comfortable accommodations during their incarceration,” de Lima said.

Rounding up the top ten list are U.S.A., China, South Africa, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand and Singapore.

(Michael Martin Navarrete Bello contributed to this report)

 

Arts, Law Enforcement, Music

(VIDEO) PHILIPPINE PRISON INMATE’S MUSIC VIDEO NOW NO. 1 IN MUSIC CHARTS

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Mandaluyong, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – It shocked the entire nation this week when government officials led by Philippines Justice Secretary Leila de Lima raided what we now know as VIP (Very Important Prisoner) jail cells at the National Penitentiary (New Bilibid Prison).

As reported earlier by The Adobo Chronicles, the raid discovered luxury jail cells occupied by some 19 convicted felons.  The cells included saunas, jacuzzis, sleep number beds, carpeting, airconditioning, disco lights, high-end electronics, even a life-sized inflatable sex toy. Also discovered were a stash of cash, jewelry and illegal drugs.

There’s more. One of the VIP cells had a recording studio, complete with a stage and equipment for recording music videos.

Enter Herbert Colangco, the inmate occupying the jail cell with the recording studio. He is serving jail sentence for bank robbery. It appears that he has, in fact, recorded a music video inside the VIP jail cell  — an original Tagalog song, Pa’no Yon. And boy, isn’t he good!

The music video recording had earlier been uploaded to YouTube, but few ever noticed or viewed it. But now that the VIP jail cells are in the headlines, the music video has resurfaced and in just 24 hours has become the No. 1 hit in the country. Many Filipino recording artists are very nervous and recording studios are competing to sign him up for recording contracts.

Television host and presidential sister Kris Aquino is desperately trying to book an exclusive interview with Colangco.  She needs the interview to help boost her show’s sagging rating.

Business, Law Enforcement

LUXURY CONDO PRICES IN PHILIPPINES FALL TO ALL-TIME LOW : $5,000

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Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de Lima inspecting the luxury cells at the New Bilibid Prison
Philippine Justice Secretary Leila De Lima inspecting the luxury cells at the New Bilibid Prison

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Condominium sales in the Philippines have been a very lucrative business in the last decade, with Filipino expatriates investing hard-earned dollars to purchase luxury units in Metro Manila and elsewhere for an average price of 2 Million pesos (about U.S. $50,000).

But in just the last couple of days, condo prices have hit an all-time low, with a one-bedroom unit averaging  below 300,000 pesos (about U.S. $5,000).

Blame it on the recent discovery of luxury prison cells in the New Bilibid Prison, a national penitentiary,  where incarcerated drug lords had saunas, jacuzzis, sleep number beds, mini-theaters, cell phones, computers , disco lights and all, in addition to a stash of cash, drugs and firearms in their units. And all it took was for these inmates to cough up 300,000 pesos.

When news of the discovery was reported in the media, the going price for luxury condos suddenly dropped to below 300,000 pesos.

“Why should I spend 2 Million pesos when I could purchase a more luxurious and furnished unit for much less,” said Elena Batongbakal, a retired Filipino American nurse who was visiting Manila and in the market for a condo unit to use as her retirement home . The luxury units at the national prison have been put on the auction block for expatriates like Batongbakal to bid on.

Winning bidders will have a unique street and mailing address: 1000 New Bilibid Prison, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.