Yearly Archives: 2019
Of Presidents and the Penalty of Death
(Second of two parts) Since the Philippines regained its independence on July 4, 1946, those who were elected president accepted the death penalty as a matter of course. Except for Manuel Acuña Roxas, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, and Ramos, all the other presidents reckoned with the fate of convicts up for execution. The telephone in the execution chamber supposedly with a direct line to Malacañang came to symbolize the looming power of the president over a convict’s life. The president at the very last minute could order a reprieve or commute a sentence.
Of Presidents and the Penalty of Death
(First of two parts) A few minutes into his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22, 2019, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte asked Congress “to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs, as well as plunder.” It was the second SONA in which Duterte asked Congress to reimpose capital punishment. In 2017, he asked Congress “to act on all pending legislations to reimpose the death penalty on heinous crimes.” He linked then the restoration of the death penalty to his effort “to completely eradicate the menace of illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.”
Media experts recommend transparency in digital campaign spending for 2022 elections
To combat new forms of disinformation and propaganda that circulated on social media during the Philippine elections in May, three academics who studied the midterm polls suggest transparency in digital campaign spending in the 2022 electoral exercise.
Supporters of VP Robredo, 37 others charged with sedition rally at the DOJ
Supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo and 37 others accused in the sedition complaint filed by the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) trooped in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Aug. 9 to call for the dropping of the case which they said is “politically motivated.”
VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Pahayag ni Ex-Presidential Spox Harry Roque na si Duterte ang nakakuha ng mga patrol vessel mula sa Japan HINDI TOTOO, NAKALILIGAW
Mali ang naging pahayag ni dating presidential spokesman Harry Roque na ang 10 patrol vessels na binili mula sa Japan upang mapabuti ang seguridad sa karagatan ng bansa ay nakuha dahil kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Viva Voce goes intimate with new concert series
Viva Voce Lab, just about the country’s foremost vocal ensemble, is downscaling in its current performance series that is running for six consecutive months. The first concert of Broadway gems is already done.
VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Ex-Presidential Spox Harry Roque saying Duterte acquired patrol vessels from Japan FALSE, MISLEADING
Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque falsely claimed that the 10 patrol vessels purchased from Japan intended to improve the country’s maritime security were acquired by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Antique’s pride: ‘John Denver Trending’
I love “John Denver Trending” and I recommend you take time to watch it at the nearestvenue it is showing. Aug. 9, Friday,it is showing at 6:15 at the CCP’s main theater, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo where Cinemalaya 2019 festival is ongoing.
Covering the cultural beat
The arts and culture section of a publication, whether print, broadcast or online, may seem to reflect the lighter side of things. But as the panelists, all young bloggers, in “Writing to the Beat: Specialized Reporting for Arts and Culture” at the Philippine Readers and Writers Festival held at The Raffles Hotel in Makati showed, the cultural is also the political and invested with a nation’s soul, including resistance versus the Establishment.
