Category Archives: Politics

Business, International, Politics

FACEBOOK LAUNCHES DISLIKE BUTTON IN THE PHILIPPINES

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imageManila, Philippines – Facebook users around the world have long clamored for a “dislike” button on their newsfeeds, but Facebook has so far refused to give in for reasons that only Mark Zuckerberg and his closest cohorts would know. Well, until now.

In an unprecedented move, Facebook officially launched the “dislike” or “thumbs down” button. The button started appearing in Facebook posts, newsfeeds and timelines as of today, but only in the Philippines.

The launch coincides with today’s Million March in Manila, a “people power” type of assembly at Luneta Park to demand the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), more popularly known as pork barrel. Recent exposés in the media point to a massive scam whereby pork barrel funds were channeled to fake non-governmental organizations and ended up in the pockets of pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles and members of the Philippine Congress.

The new “dislike” button was designed by an unnamed Filipino American employee of Facebook and features a unique graphic that merges a thumb in the down position and the head of a pig which Facebook says represents dislike for pork barrel.

Facebook has not indicated whether or not the new “dislike” button will eventually be rolled out to all Facebook users around the globe.

Politics

2016 CANDIDATE KRIS AQUINO BREAKS SILENCE ON PORK BARREL SCANDAL

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imageTarlac, Philippines – On the eve of the planned Million Protest March in Manila, presidential sister and  TV host Kris Aquino has finally broken her silence on the Priority Assistance Development Fund (PADF) or pork barrel, which has consumed the country’s daily business due to a massive scam that has robbed Filipino taxpayers of more than 10 Billion pesos.

The Monday “people’s march” calls for the total abolition of pork barrel and the prosecution of citizens and politicians who have personally benefited from the scam. Philippine president NoyNoy Aquino, bowing to public pressure, had announced that he would scrap the pork barrel.

Kris Aquino, who had previously announced her intention to run for governor of her native province of Tarlac in Central Philippines in 2016, has all but been silent on the pork barrel scandal. Finally, at a press conference in Tarlac this weekend, Aquino declared, “As governor of Tarlac, I will not need any pork.”

Potential opponents in the 2016 Tarlac governor’s race were quick to dismiss Miss Aquino’s statement. “Of course it’s easy for her to say that,” said one local political foe, “she’s vegetarian!”

Law Enforcement, Politics

BRADLEY MANNING CONVICTION AND SENTENCE TO BE OVERTURNED?

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imageChicago, Illinois – Anonymous sources at the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) today announced that the conviction of Bradley Manning, the U.S. soldier sentenced to 35 years in military prison for leaking government classified documents, is likely to be overturned soon.

Manning received the sentence on Wednesday for giving more than 700,000 secret files, videos and diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks. His lawyers had argued the former Army intelligence analyst suffered a sexual identity crisis when he leaked the files while serving in Iraq in 2009 and 2010.

JAG’s opinion came after Manning, in a statement read  on NBC’s  “Today” show declared, “As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning, I am a female.”

“Given the way that I feel and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible,” Manning said. “I also request that starting today you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun.” image

In view of this development, JAG said the military has no legal standing to carry out the conviction and sentence of the 25 year-old Manning, since SHE is no longer the same person it charged with the crime. “We have no choice but to drop the conviction and sentence,” JAG said.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Chelsea said they will file for compensation for time already served in prison by the former  Bradley.