Category Archives: Social Media

International, Social Media

Rappler Jet Ski Rammed By Chinese Vessel In West Philippine Sea!

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SCARBOROUGH SHOAL, West Philippine Sea (The Adobo Chronicles, on board a Philippine Navy ship) – It started as a courageous attempt to do an in-depth, investigative report on the collision between a Filipino fishing boat and a private Chinese vessel, but it ended up as a nightmare on the part of online news site Rappler.

In her desire to be ahead of the game in reporting on the maritime incident, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa sent her most competent and trusted Rapplerette to the scene of the incident via a jet ski earlier donated to her team by Omidyar Network.

Alas, the jet ski and its Rappler occupant were spotted by a Chinese vessel and perceived as a threat, hostile to the Chinese.

The Chinese vessel went full steam towards the Rappler jet ski and rammed the brand new equipment, causing irreparable damage.

Upon the jet ski’s return to shore,  Ressa held a press conference to show the damage and to demand that the Duterte government file a diplomatic protest with China and if warranted, invoke the U.S.-Philippines Defense Treaty for the appropriate Chinese redress to the fate Rappler relative to this incident.

This is a developing story. Stand by for an Adobo Chronicles animation of this very unfortunate incident,

Arts, Government, Law Enforcement, Social Media

Rappler Amends Its SEC Registration From Media To Animation

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Rappler may have found the magic bullet in its ongoing saga with the  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

SEC had earlier revoked  Rappler’s media license on the grounds that Maria Ressa’s online news source was not 100% Filipino-owned as mandated by the Philippine Constitution.  The revocation was challenged and the Court of Appeals had asked  SEC to review — but not rescind it.

But rather than wait for SEC’s review, Rappler announced today that it had filed an amendment to its SEC registration, claiming that it is now an “animation” company.

”As animators, we would not be considered media and therefore not subject to the Constitutional requirement of 100% Filipino ownership,” Ressa told The Adobo Chronicles.

Ressa’s change of heart came on the heels of the launching of Rappler’s first video animation project — telling the story of the Filipino fishing boat which was rammned by a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea.

As an animation company, Rappler can solicit funding from foreign investors.

Rappler can now have its cake and eat it too!

 

 

Social Media

Rappler, Vera Files Fact-check Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Facebook’s two sanctimonious fact-checking partners in the Philippines — Rappler and Vera Files — just fact-checked a recent statement by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte’s statement comes on the heels of a call by United Nations human rights experts for an investigation into police killings linked to the crackdown on illegal drugs.

Previously, a petition was submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking for a  investigation of Duterte’s alleged “crimes against humanity.” The Philippines has since withdrawn membership from the ICC.

In a public statement, Duterte said that he will not allow himself to be judged by White men.

In their fact-check, which seemed copied from each other, Rappler and Vera Files said that the United Nations is not composed of all White men, the ICC judges included.

“There are Blacks, Latinos and Asians in the U.N. and ICC, and there are women as well,” the fact-checkers pointed out.

Thank heavens for these fact-checkers — otherwise we all would have been fooled by Duterte’s statement!