Tag Archives: Philippine Senate

PROPOSED BILL TO REPLACE ADOBO WITH LECHON AS THE PHILIPPINES’ NATIONAL DISH

August 25, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Senator Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, has filed a new bill that would make lechon (roasted pig) the official national dish of the Philippines.

Until recently, the “unofficial’ national dish was the adobo.

In filing the new bill, Binay said that the main reason she wanted to replace adobo with lechon was to memorialize Congress’ pork barrel which many believe will soon be extinct. A major signature campaign has been initiated by Filipino grassroots groups asking Congress to permanently abolish pork barrel.

“Making lechon the national dish will be a constant reminder to all Filipinos of the many ghost projects that have been successfully funded through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). PDAF, also known as pork barrel funds, is the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a Congressional district.

Earlier this year, a 10 Billion-peso pork barrel scam rocked Congress and the nation, leading to indictments and the arrest of business persons and politicians who allegedly pocketed taxpayer funds intended for non-existent projects and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

While the chicken industry is totally opposed to the new bill, the country’s swine producers are throwing their full support for the measure. As a compromise, the chicken raisers are proposing that lechon and chicken adobo be designated as “co-national dish.”

Binay is scheduled to convene a townhall meeting next week to hear the pros and cons of her measure.

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ANDERSON COOPER TO TESTIFY AT AQUINO IMPEACHMENT HEARING

July 29, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Cooper reporting on typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) - file photo — Cooper reporting on typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) – file photo

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – In less than 24 hours since NoyNoy Aquino delivered his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA), the beleaguered Philippine president is facing yet another impeachment complaint. This time it is from the Philippine Senate.

The new complaint is based on what senators called “presidential lies” in connection with Aquino’s claim during his televised speech that in less than 24 hours, the government and the Aquino administration were on the ground in Leyte and other Cental Philippine cities and towns, providing assistance and relief to victims of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). The strongest typhoon ever to hit landfall left thousands dead and homeless and resulted in billions of pesos in damage to public and private property and infrastructure.

“Aquino violated his presidential oath to tell the truth and nothing but the truth to the Filipino people, and that is an impeachable offense,” the senators said.

A senate hearing on this new impeachment complaint is scheduled later this week. The first witness to testify will be CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper who was among the first among international journalists to report on Haiyan from ground zero. Cooper’s reports and first-hand accounts pointed to the exact opposite of what Aquino said in his SONA.

Here is one of CNN’s broadcasts in which Cooper describes what he saw on the ground in Tacloban, Cebu and other cities.

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INDICTED PHILIPPINE SENATORS CHOOSE WHERE THEY PREFER TO BE JAILED

June 14, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – All eyes are currently focused on the three Philippine senators who have been indicted for the non-bailable offense of plunder in connection with the 10 Billion-peso pork barrel scam. The three senators are Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, Jr. Their arrest and detention are just days away, pending review of the charges by various courts to which their respective cases were assigned and raffled off.

Yesterday, the Office of the President issued a statement saying that each of the three senators can choose where they want to be jailed.

In an interview with The Adobo Chronicles, the three senators revealed their personal choices of where they want to be detained:

Enrile, now 90 years old, said he wants to be locked in at Golden Acres in Quezon City, a home for the elderly.
Estrada said he wants to be jailed at Manila’s City Hall, next to the office of his dad, Joseph Estrada who is the mayor of Manila.
Revilla said his preference is to be sequestered inside one of the recording studios of the television network ABS-CBN in Quezon City so he could continue to record songs and music videos like the one he unveiled during his privilege speech at the Senate Floor earlier this week.

Ah, the Philippines, bastion of freedom, Democracy and privilege!