Government, Law Enforcement, Politics, Social Media

Maria Ressa Next In Line For Presidential Pardon

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The absolute pardon granted by  Rodrigo Duterte to convicted murderer, American Scott Pemberton, is fueling speculation on who’s next in line for this Constitutional prerogative granted to the President of the Philippines.

Pemberton is the U.S. marine convicted of killing Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude in 2014.

Duterte supporters have supported the President’s move, citing geo-politics and many other justifications for his action.

Sources close to Malacañang Palace say that Duterte is seriously considering Rappler CEO Maria Ressa as the next beneficiary of absolute pardon.

Ressa, a fierce critic of Duterte, was convicted of cyber libel by a Philippine court.  The conviction is currently on appeal. 

Political and legal analysts believe that a pardon for Ressa is quite likely on the same grounds of geo-politics, not to mention the fact that her conviction is for cyber libel, a much lesser offense than Pemberton’s murder.

If all goes well, and Ressa is pardoned, the American citizen will no longer have reason to accuse the Philippine government of “weaponizing the law” to curtail her freedom of speech or to silence her online news business.

The ball is now in the court of Duterte.

Media, Social Media

Inquirer Fact-checks Fact Checker Rappler!

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – How the world  turns. Fact checker Rappler has been fact-checked by Inquirer.

It all started when the online news source owned by convicted libeler Maria Ressa published a report practically claiming that the decades-old broadsheet is throwing in the towel. Ressa and her Rapplerettes may have thought they’ve got company in their repeated narrative about the Philippine Press’ death by a thousand cuts.

One of the most widely-circulated newspapers in the country, Inquirer’s predominantly print media assets have not been spared by the globally receding market for traditional print media. The Prieto family owned the company for 25 years before business tycoon Ramon Ang bought it several years ago.

But Inquirer published its fact-checking rebuttal, headlining its story, “No one’s throwing in the towel.” (Translation: Rappler is a liar!)

We’ll let our readers enjoy the juiciness of the rebuttal via this LINK.

Rappler and Ressa once accused The Adobo Chronicles of “not getting” satire. Well now, we can say Rappler doesn’t get factual news.

Environment, Government, Tourism

Manila Bay Not The Only White Sanding Project In Metro Manila — DENR

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The controversial white sanding at Manila Bay is not the only such project in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The agency, criticized for bringing in white sand/rocks from Cebu to fill the shores of the bay, said it has just quietly completed a similar project at Vice President Leni Robredo’s official residence — the Boracay Mansion in Quezon City.

”We wanted to make sure that the OVP headquarters lives up to what Boracay island is world-famous for — white sand.

Looks fake but pristine…

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