Category Archives: Media

At Presscon, VP Leni Robredo Tried To Silence The Media

November 23, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Quezon City Bureau) – Rappler CEO Maria Ressa found an ally in her claim that the government is trying to silence the media. The ally? Someone who is part of the government — Vice President Leni Robredo.

In a recent press conference where she discussed her role in the war on drugs, Robredo hushed the media.

She could not muster the answers to reporters’ questions about what her knowledge and competence are in as far as going after drug lords, now that she is the unofficial Drug Czar of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In her usual modus operandi in evading difficult questions, Robredo chided the reporters to stop asking questions and instead join her for some afternoon snacks.

According to a reporter present at the press conference, Robredo put her finger in front of her mouth and said: “Shhhhh. Huwag na kayong magtanong. Mag-merienda na lang tayo.” (Hush, don’t ask any more questions. Let’s just have some snacks.) And we have the photo to prove it.

Government, International, Law Enforcement, Media, Politics

An Open Letter To Maria Ressa

November 21, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Dear Maria Ressa:

In your sojourns and junkets abroad, you have taken every opportunity to promote your self-interests by telling the foreign media and other rights groups that, in your words, in “war zone Philippines,” the law is being “weaponized” to curtail your freedom of speech.

Nevermind that the very law you condemn has allowed you your continued freedom in the midst of criminal charges filed against you in the court of law for alleged violation of the Constitution, for tax evasion and for cyber libel.

Have you heard the news that in YOUR other country, the United States, priests and nuns have been arrested simply because they were protesting YOUR President, Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies?

Isn’t it ironic that in YOUR other country, the Philippines, priests and nuns have led protests against YOUR President, Rodrigo Duterte without being arrested?

If you are truly the vanguard of free speech, will you now raise your voice aganst the arrest of protesting clergy in the U.S.? Their freedom of assembly, free speech and freedom to petition the government are being curtailed, aren’t they? I’m sure as a U.S. citizen, you know those are inalienable rights, yes? (As a reminder, these were part of the 100 questions you had to review in preparation for the U.S. citizenship test.)

So maybe, you should take up permanent residency in the U.S. and be the champion of free speech among your fellow citizens. Now, that would somehow validate your collection of phony awards from those rights groups and Western media who have long been taken by your systematic and distorted rhetoric about freedom of speech.

Don’t worry, being a dual citizen, you would still be able to come back to the Philippines anytime to face your criminal charges,

Please put your money where your mouth is.

Government, Law Enforcement, Media

Philippine National Police Wants Drug Czar Leni Robredo Out!

November 18, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In the first few weeks since Vice President Leni Robredo was designated as Co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD), the “drug czar” has dipped her lugaw (rice porridge)-tasting finger into almost everything.

She has demanded to be provided with secret lists and data, asked for an increased budget, convened unauthorized meetings with foreign agencies, and practically assumed the law enforcement function related to the war on drugs.

The primary enforcer of the war on drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has had it with Robredo and wants her out!

But in its fact-checking investigation of the PNP’s statement, The Adobo Chronicles has confirmed that the police agency was misquoted by the news media. What it said was that it wanted Robredo “out of enforcement.”

Disappointing but we needed to get the facts straight.