Alfie “Buddy” Turado was shot dead while under police custody. Turado was nabbed by his neighbors then turned over to the police. He admitted to having been part of the robbery but claimed that he did not participate in the rapes of two female van passengers. Wilfredo Lorenzo was previously captured by the police and identified by the victims. Two additional victims have also surfaced and have implicated both Lorenzo and Turado.

Deaths of suspects under police custody are fairly common occurrences. The usual reasons are “the suspect was able to run away” or “the suspect grabbed the gun of a policeman”.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to be proclaimed as the next President of the Philippines on June 30, 2016. He campaigned on the issues of criminality, drugs and corruption. He is also advocating the return of the DEATH PENALTY which would need Congressional action through a new law. #Halalan2016 #Duterte2016 

Related Story: https://wordpress.com/stats/day/balitangbalita.com?startDate=2016-06-16

With incoming President Rodrigo Duterte scheduled to take office on June 30, 2016, his political party PDP Laban would pursue the return of the Death Penalty in its legislative agenda. Now having a SUPER MAJORITY in the House of Representatives and the Senate, a CERTIFIED URGENT BILL from the Office of the President should have smooth sailing in Congress. In other words, we could be seeing the return of the Death Penalty in a few months. The new Death Penalty Law (assuming the bill is passed into law) can not be used retroactively. In other words those previously sentenced for HEINOUS CRIMES can not have their sentences upgraded from a LIFE SENTENCE to a Death Penalty. Therefore, the first Death Sentences can only be promulgated AFTER the Death Penalty Law is passed and published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE. This means only cases currently pending in court, as well as future cases, can and will be ELIGIBLE for the DEATH PENALTY. This recent Quezon City multiple robbery with rape cases could very well qualify as having fulfilled the criteria for the Death Penalty.

First, deceit was used in luring the two robbery rape victims. The perpetrators presented themselves as legitimate operators of a vehicle for hire. Two, the use of a vehicle in the commission of a crime is an AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE. Three, the fact that more than one person committed the crimes would fulfill the definition of RAPE IN BAND, another AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE. Four, the criminals came prepared with materials to tie the hands of the victims at the back. This is an indication of PREMEDITATION, which means that the crimes were planned well in advance. One suspect, Wilfredo Lorenzo, is now in police custody while another, only identified as “Buddy” is still at large.

A swift passage of the Death Penalty Law, a quick trial and a fast appeals process in the Supreme Court which will decide with finality should give the Filipino people its first Death Penalty conviction and execution in a long while.

Incoming President Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte now has a super majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate at a time when ABS CBN has to renew their mass media franchise.

Gil C. Cabacungan,

 Philippine Daily Inquirer

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. is in a bind after failing to have its legislative franchise approved before the 16th Congress closed shop on June 6.

The Philippines’ largest radio-TV network is now looking down a more difficult road to getting a new, 25-year congressional franchise from the 17th Congress, especially in the face of its spat with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte and his supporters are unhappy about ABS-CBN’s attacks against him during the campaign season.

Two bills were introduced in the 16th Congress for the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise granted in March 1995: one by Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, filed in September 2014, and another by Baguio Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping Jr., filed in December of the same year.

The bills would renew ABS-CBN’s right to operate TV and radio broadcasting stations in the Philippines through microwave, satellite or whatever means, including the use of new technologies in television and radio systems.

The Inquirer contacted several ABS-CBN executives for comment, but the Lopez-owned broadcast network declined to comment for now.

ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise expires on March 30, 2020.

A member of the House legislative franchise committee, who declined to be named for lack of authority to speak for the panel, said ABS-CBN had sought the renewal six years before the expiration of its franchise because it didn’t want to risk having to go through the process under an unfriendly administration.

The committee chair, Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, did not reply to the Inquirer’s calls or text messages seeking comment.

Strong opposition

The House member said ABS-CBN’s application for renewal of franchise faced strong opposition from cable operators, who had demanded a public hearing.

The same source said ABS-CBN’s franchise also lacked support from President Aquino’s allies in the House.

The source said Mr. Aquino’s allies felt the criticisms against the President were too personal and offensive and went to the point of nitpicking.

Without the franchise committee’s approval, ABS-CBN’s application for renewal could not be tackled in the plenary.

In contrast, another broadcasting company had smooth sailing when it applied for the renewal of its franchise. Aliw Broadcasting Corp., a radio station owned by the late businessman Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, got a 25-year extension in 2015, or two years before the expiration of its franchise.

President Aquino signed Republic Act No. 10790 extending the franchise of Aliw Broadcasting Corp. from April 13, 2017, to April 13, 2042.

Negative TV ads

The House member said ABS-CBN was likely to have a tougher time getting an extension, especially with Duterte not hiding his displeasure at ABS-CBN’s airing a negative TV campaign ad against him that was paid for by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

The ad used children as talking heads in reacting negatively to video clips of Duterte cursing Pope Francis and his joke about the gang rape and murder of an Australian missionary during a prison riot in Davao City in 1989.

The Davao City mayor’s foul language caused controversies during the three-month campaign.

The video on YouTube that went viral showed Duterte saying how beautiful the missionary was and then joking that he should have been the first to rape her.

“They went ahead of the mayor. Kill them all,” Duterte recalled saying during the prison riot.

The Australian missionary was later killed by the prisoners.

Duterte also drew the ire of the Catholic Church after he called the Pope a “son of a bitch,” blaming the Pontiff for the traffic jams in Manila during his visit to the Philippines in January last year.

The firestorm generated by his profanity-laced speeches prompted Duterte to tone down his rhetoric.

‘Control my mouth’

In his first TV appearance after winning the May 9 presidential election, Duterte promised that he would no longer talk trash.

“I need to control my mouth. I cannot always be rude because I will be representing our country,” Duterte said.

“If you are the President of the country, you need to be prim and proper, almost holy,” he added.

Duterte won the election by a landslide and he is expected to have a supermajority in both the House and the Senate in the 17th Congress.
#Duterte2016 #ChangeIsComing

With President-elect Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte subjected to “intensive grilling”  by media outlets, Digong has called it quits and declared he would no longer be available for interviews. This came about during the presentation of his incoming cabinet where an open forum turned “unpresidential” with Digong displaying his vintage gutter language. The main event was when he cat-called or whistled at a female reporter. Women’s rights activists took him to task as this latest incident was only a few weeks removed from his infamous rape joke. Together with his November 30, 2015 Pope cussing, the three incidents have poured gasoline to the fire of hatred directed at the non-traditional politician who captured the hearts and minds of the Filipino electorate with his crusade against drugs, crime and corruption.

The second press conference had more of the same as reporters ganged up on him again to elicit some semblance of remorse or a formal apology. Digong came out fighting in trying to talk himself out of an obviously politically incorrect situation. Attempting to hair split whether the whistling was a form of sexual harassment or not, even Duterte supporters thought the situation would have subsided if only Digong had humbled himself before the clearly hostile interviewers. Local and international news organizations raised the issue of a MEDIA BOYCOTT perhaps to brow beat the incoming President into submission. Duterte was NOT to be INTIMIDATED and turned the tables on mass media by refusing to do interviews (up to the end of his term, he says). President Duterte says he would just make use of the government media outlets specifically PTV-4  to communicate with his constituents.

So as the situation on the ground stands, the media practitioners are located OUTSIDE of the DPWH Building in Davao that is now being used as the official venue of the Presidential transition team. As an ultimate insult to the mighty radio, TV and printed newspaper outfits, they now have to rely on social media posts (specifically Facebook and Instagram) to keep track of the comings and goings in the meeting place. All through the campaign, the Digong team constantly complained of UNFAIR and BIASED reporting which is the reason Digong took to FREE social media to send his message to millions of voters (aside from lack of campaign funds).

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