Latest news with #Akbayan
GMA Network
21 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Lawyers ask Supreme Court to cite Larry Gadon, others in contempt
Several lawyers, accompanied by supporters of the Duterte family, filed separate petitions asking the Supreme Court (SC) to cite in contempt critics of its ruling that barred the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio filed his petition for indirect contempt against Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon, while Atty. Mark Tolentino and Rolex Suplico filed a similar petition against political analyst Richard Heydarian and Akbayan Representative Percival Cendaña. Topacio said he filed the petition over Gadon calling the SC a "tuta (lapdog)" of the Dutertes. "I was scandalized to be candid. Sapagkat, bagamat mayroon tayong freedom of expression, and sometimes I also criticize some decisions of the Court, there should be boundaries. Kapag ganoon na pong masyadong vitriolic na… masyadong maangas na. Libelous na po 'yun eh. Hindi po natin maaaring palampasin," Topacio said in an ambush interview. (I was scandalized to be candid. Because, although we have freedom of expression, and sometimes I also criticize some decisions of the Court, there should be boundaries. When it becomes that vitriolic… too arrogant. That's already libelous. We cannot let that pass.) In an interview prior to the fourth State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. last Monday, Gadon slammed the High Court for its decision declaring the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte as unconstitutional and null and void. The SC said the Articles of Impeachment are barred by the one-year rule under Article XI Section 3(5) of the Constitution. Further, the high court also found that the Articles of Impeachment violate due process of law, saying that the draft and its evidence were not made available to Duterte, denying her the opportunity to be heard by the members of the House of Representatives. "'Yun na nga 'yung Senate hearing, 'yun na nga 'yung magbibigay ng due process. Because that is precisely the trial. So anong pinagsasabi ng SC? Talaga kasing maka-Duterte sila… Wag na tayong magpaligoy-ligoy pa. Ang SC, tuta ng mga Duterte," Gadon said. (Exactly, that's the Senate hearing, that's what provides due process. Because that is precisely the trial. So what is the SC saying? They're really pro-Duterte… Let's not beat around the bush. The SC is a lapdog of the Dutertes.) 'Framed as beholden' Meanwhile, in their petition, Tolentino and Suplico noted Heydarian's Facebook post saying Duterte appointed majority of the justices of the SC. They said this "deliberately and maliciously framed the justices as beholden to President Rodrigo Duterte." On the other hand, Cendaña said the SC reduced itself to "being the Supreme Coddler of Sara Duterte." The Akbayan representative stood by his statement, saying moves to cite him in contempt is a Duterte "modus operandi" to silence legitimate criticisms. "In that moment, given the political context, I stand by that very apt description. It is a description of the moment. Sa dulo kasi, huwag nating gamitin itong mga ingay na ito for the Supreme Court to do the right thing, and that is to stand by the Constitution (In the end, this noise should not get in the way of the Supreme Court from doing the right thing, and that is to stand by the Constitution)," Cendaña told reporters. "If this is the consequence of making the Vice President accountable over misuse of public funds and abuse of power, then it's all worth it," Cendaña added. For his part, Gadon said he understood why Topacio filed a contempt case against him for supposedly "telling the truth" about the ruling. He also challenged Topacio to a one-on-one singing competition as a fund raising initiative, similar to the boxing match between Davao City Sebastian "Baste" Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III. This was rejected by Topacio. Meanwhile, Heydarian said he has "full confidence in our highest court and respected justices not to bother with such frivolity." "While it's true that the majority of our Supreme Court justices were appointed by the former president, it's unfair to make any automatic inferences about their decision-making," he said in a statement, citing his column in a news organization. — with a report from Llanesca T. Panti/ VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
SONA should not be red carpet affair amid flood devastation — solon
The fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. should do away with lavish preparations amid the devastation caused by heavy floods due to multiple tropical storms and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), according to Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña. 'Lavish preparations for the yearly address would be tone deaf to affected communities. This is not the time for pomp. This is the time for empathy, humility, and decisive action. Ang panawagan ko sa mga kapwa ko mambabatas na kusa na nating gawing payak ang pagdaos ng SONA,' Cendaña said. (I appeal to my fellow lawmakers to make the SONA simple.) 'It is the height of insensitivity if we will roll out the red carpet for SONA when our constituents and their families don't even have roofs over their heads,' Cendaña maintained. Instead of colorful displays, Cendaña said the SONA is intended by the Constitution for the President to report to the people on the current status of the country. 'Malaki ang inaasahan ng mamamayan sa SONA ng Pangulo. Marami silang tanong na nangangailangan ng agarang sagot sa Pangulo. Isa na diyan kung nasaan ang agarang tulong sa mga nasalanta at kung bakit tila lumalala ang problema ng pagbaha sa kabila ng bilyun-bilyong piso na ginugugol natin taon-taon sa mga flood control projects,' Cendaña said. (The public expects so much from the President's SONA. They want immediate answers from the President. Among these is where is the much needed help to those who were affected by the floods and why is the situation worsening despite the billions of pesos being spent annually for flood control projects.) The President is scheduled to deliver his SONA on Monday, July 28, 2025, after the opening of the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress. House spokesperson Princess Abante earlier said that the physical gathering for the President's fourth SONA will proceed amid the inclement weather. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
21-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Lawmakers: Sending 10-year-olds to jail endangers them, perpetuates abuse
Sending children to prison would perpetuate injustice and child abuse, opposition lawmakers said amid a proposal to lower the age of criminal liability to 10 years old. Neophyte lawmakers Chel Diokno of Akbayan party-list and Renee Co of Kabataan party-list, both lawyers, made the warning in response to the proposal made by Senator Robin Padilla. 'Walang batang kusang papatay ng kapwa tao dahil lang protektado siya sa pagkakulong. Ang sahol ng judgment ni Senator Padilla sa kabataan para sabihing lumalakas ang loob nilang i-risk maging kriminal. May pag-aaral bang nagpapatunay nito? Huwag po sana puro bias ang pinapairal,' Co said in a statement. (There is no child who would purposefully kill just because they are protected from incarceration. How lacking is Senator Padilla's view of young people to say that [being below` the age of liability] encourages them to become criminals. Are there studies supporting this? Let's not always let biases rule.) 'Walang tulong ang pagpapakulong sa mga bata para sugpuin ang krimen kung malaya ang mga mastermind at bad influence at umiiral ang krisis na tumutulak sa kanilang kumapit sa patalim. Kapag nilagay sila sa mga siksikang kulungan, napupunta lang sila sa dagdag panganib at magtutuloy ang siklo ng abuso at krimen,' Co added. (Imprisoning children will not help put an end to crime if the masterminds and bad influences are free, and if the crises that push them to desperation prevail. If you put them in crowded cells, you are only putting them in more danger and the cycle of abuse and crime will continue.) Co also criticized Padilla for wanting to send children in conflict with the law to jail and yet push for the release of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained in the Netherlands over alleged crimes against humanity due to the thousands of drug war killings during his term. 'Bakit galit kayo sa kabataan? Kung krimen din lang ang usapin, bakit gusto niyong iligtas sa paglilitis si Rodrigo Duterte na mastermind ng mga heinous crimes na pumaslang ng libo-libong kabataan habang pangulo, pero ang mga batang nagkasala, gigil na gigil kayong habuling mapakulong?' Co said. (Why are you angry at children? If we're talking about crime, why do you want to rescue Rodrigo Duterte—the mastermind of heinous crimes who killed thousands of young people while president—from prosecution, but you are yearning to imprison children who have done wrong?) Diokno backed Co, saying that the existing Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, which increased the age of criminal liability from 9 to 15 years old, is not a free pass for children to commit crime. The law, he said, provides that 'a child aged 15 years old or below at the time of the commission of the offense is exempted from criminal liability, provided that the child is subjected to an intervention program also provided under the same law.' Likewise, Diokno said the Juvenile Justice law provides for Bahay Pag-Asa wherein children in conflict with the law can undergo rehabilitation, and that the existing Bahay Pag-Asa units should instead be strengthened to ensure efficiency. 'Mukhang ang gusto ni Senator Padilla ay isang lipunang marahas at walang malasakit. Pero kung talagang gusto nating solusyunan ang krimen, ayusin natin ang mga sirang tahanan, sirang paaralan, at sirang sistema. Piliin nating maging lipunang may pagkalinga at pag-asa,' Diokno said in a separate statement. (It seems Senator Padilla wants a harsh society without compassion. But if we really want a solution to crime, let us fix these broken homes, schools, and systems. Let us choose to be a society that cares and has hope.) 'What we need is not to amend the law, but providing additional funding support for the children's rehabilitation,' he added. As for children aged 15 to 18 years old who committed heinous crimes, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act law provides punishment depending on the following: age (if 15 years old or below or above 15 but below 18 years old) the act of discernment; and penalty imposed on the offense committed. Children above 15 years old but below 18 years old who acted with discernment in committing a heinous crime face a jail time of more than six years and 'may be placed under suspended sentence and be subjected to rehabilitation programs.' Children who committed heinous crimes aged 15 years old and above but below 18 years old at the time of commission of the offense but are found to have acted without discernment, however, are exempt from criminal responsibility, regardless of the nature of the crime committed. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Lawmakers eye restrictions, ban on online gambling
Lawmakers are split on how to deal with the proliferation of online gambling and casinos, with some eyeing restricting access while others call for a total ban. Akbayan party-list Representatives Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Ismulla filed House Bill 1351 restricting access to online gambling or the Kontra e-Sugal Act. Under the proposal, access to online gambling or casinos will be limited by imposing the following measures: establishment of strict age verification protocols prescribing limits on advertising and promotion implementing a national- self-exclusion registry imposing betting loss limits prescribing minimum guidelines for player protection creating a harm mitigation levy recognize gambling disorder as a public health condition banning campaign contributions from gambling operators and implement strict penalties for unlicensed operators and non-compliant persons. 'Online gambling is accessible anytime, anywhere and often anonymously, making it particularly addictive and harmful to minors, persons who may be vulnerable to the lure of gaining easy money, and those desperate to make ends meet. Online gambling thus poses unique and costly risks, not only for those who gamble but also their families, communities, and Philippine society,' the authors said in their explanatory note. 'The absence of regulatory controls has led to a rise of gambling-related problems, including financial meltdowns, family breakdowns, gambling addiction, depression, and other mental health issues. The Kontra e-Sugal Act of 2025 seeks to establish a framework to regulate online gambling in the Philippines [while being able to] safeguard public welfare, protect vulnerable groups, and ensure responsible gambling practices,' the lawmakers added. Likewise, the Akbayan lawmakers said their proposal is in accordance to the constitutional provision mandating the State to 'promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all." 'Presently, there is no law specifically regulating online gambling platforms in the country. The State, in the exercise of its inherent police power, must act decisively to protect the physical, mental, and social well-being of its citizens from the growing harms associated with online gambling. Hence, this proposed legislation,' they added. But for Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong, there should be a total ban on online gambling. 'As it is, anyone can do that (gambling) with a smartphone. If you want to cut a tree, do not just trim the branches. Go to the very root of the problem,' Adiong said. 'The possible benefits that you get does not actually outweigh the negative effects that you have. Any measure that would affect the moral fiber of our society should be prioritized,' he added. Back in August 2024, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chief Al Tengco told lawmakers that the agency is studying to revive e-sabong, a online gambling rooted longstanding tradition of cockfighting matches in the Philippines, because e-sabong brought in as much as P6 billion worth of government revenues within a year before it was banned by the Duterte administration in 2022. E-sabong was banned in 2022 due to the problems also being raised against online gambling now. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippines' Duterte-Carpio staves off impeachment trial after Senate vote
Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio has won round one of her impeachment battle after her allies in the Senate tossed back the bid to the Lower House on claims it was 'defective' and 'unconstitutional'. The unprecedented move on Tuesday, which was settled by a vote of 18-5, has triggered an intense debate online about the senators' actions and Duterte-Carpio's political future. 'I think, for now, Sara has momentum even if the president still has three years left in his term of office,' political risk analyst Rolando Llamas told This Week in Asia, referring to the country's leader, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. There has been widespread speculation that Duterte-Carpio is expected to contest the 2028 presidential election, and her ally, Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, told his colleagues on Tuesday that the impeachment trial was meant to derail that. But whether she could clinch the presidency even if she were to escape impeachment would depend on her support from youth and millennial voters, with these groups seen as more demanding of accountability from officials, according to Llamas. This demographic enabled the Akbayan party list group to unexpectedly win the recent Senate midterm elections, with Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, two opposition senators who are not allied with either the Duterte family or Marcos Jnr, coming into office, according to Llamas.
