While the avowed focus of the 1st Inquirer Senate Forum last Wednesday was the inner workings of the Senate, the three former and four incumbent senators who accepted the invitation spent more time discussing pressing issues, including the hot-button topic of political dynasties.
On Jan. 28, the Philippine Congress passed the landmark law on the reparation and recognition of victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime. President Aquino brought the “Compensation Act” into force by signing it on Feb. 25. Its passage reflects the high importance the Philippine government is devoting to the promotion and [...]
I just realized the Kasambahay Law might still need a lot of work. It’s either that or everyone who claims to understand this new law has his or her own interpretation.
Filipinós are saddened by the death of Lolong, the world’s biggest crocodile in captivity. Not to worry, there are still many, bigger and greedier crocodiles in Congress. They should also be in captivity.
A couple of things show how sifting through things can help us avoid problems. One is Pia Cayetano filing a bill that calls for the repeal of an “antiquated” law that curtails freedom of expression. Two is the Supreme Court issuing a new TRO stopping government from enforcing the Cybercrime Law. I warmly applaud the second, I’m not so sure about the first.
Better late than never—particularly about a project that has to do with “never again.” Heeding calls from various sectors worried about the growing blight of revisionism, the Senate has just passed a law that would create the Memorial Commission. The Commission will oversee the teaching of martial law’s atrocities in schools, and the heroism of those who fought it.
The oral arguments on the constitutionality of the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act at the Supreme Court on Tuesday gave free speech and Internet freedom advocates a boost. But whether some justices were merely playing devil’s advocate or testing the limits of the petitioners’ positions, lines of reasoning were also used at the 4-hour hearing that should give the public pause. Those who share the view that Republic Act No. 10175 should be declared unconstitutional—and antidemocratic at its core—cannot afford to be complacent.
President Aquino appears uncertain of his clout in winning control of an ungovernable Senate in the 2013 midterm elections as he faces a grass-roots backlash from the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy over the passage in Congress of the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill.
The pro-RH people shouldn’t rejoice, say the bishops. It ain’t over till it’s over. Or till the fat lady sings, and there’s actually one opposing RH in the House.
In his letter titled “Ex-newsmen, FOI ‘killers’”(Inquirer, 12/3/12), Eusebio San Diego derided House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr. (SB) and Rep. Ben Evardone for allegedly stalling the passage of the freedom of information (FOI) bill.
I applaud my friend Prof. Raul C. Pangalangan for his Publisher’s Note titled “Anti-RH, anti-poor and anti-women” (Inquirer, 12/8/12) which, it is hoped, would help push the passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill. However, I think it was unnecessary and probably counterproductive to contrapose the rights-based and the “population control” strands vis-à-vis the RH bill. To begin with, what he calls “population control” is precisely the phrase used by those who oppose the RH bill by trying to denigrate it as coercive. Contemporary, level-headed economists refer to the economic approach as “population policy” or “population management,” of which RH is a key policy instrument.
