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Why Senator Sotto suddenly said ‘sorry’ to Kerry Kennedy today – sort of

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By Raïssa Robles

Senator Vicente Sotto III apologized – sort of – after Kerry Kennedy confirmed on Facebook that her letter urging him to apologize was genuine.

 

You can see Kennedy‘s post by clicking on this link: https://www.facebook.com/KerryKennedyRFK

Sen. Sotto said on the Senate floor:

If it upsets the Kennedy family, then I’m sorry.

Then he proceeded to insult Miguel Syjuco, who had initiated the move to solicit a comment from a Kennedy:

It appears that the Kennedy family has been misinformed to get them to say something about me.

In an attempt to exculpate himself, Sotto added that “copying is the highest form of flattery.”

But he also said, according to GMA News, quoting his privilege speech where he mentions the Kennedy family: 

Wala po akong inangkin so papaano po ako mag-a-apologize ng plagiarism eh wala po akong plinagiarize… sinabi ko ngang hindi akin… para hong pinagpiplead guilty ako sa murder eh ang dapat charge physical injuries. [I did not claim any authorship so how will I apologize for plagiarism when I did not plagiarize anything….I did say those (words) weren’t mine….it’s like I’m being made to plead guilty to murder when the charge should be physical injuries.]

***

Maliwanag po doon sa tatlong turno en contra speeches ko [na] ilang ulit ko pong sinabi and the journal will bear me out wala po ako sinabi dun na akin yun. [It is very clear in my three turno en contra speeches, I said it several times and the (Senate) journal will be me out, I did not say anything that those were mine.]

***

Sinabi ko na lahat ng sinabi ko sa mediko, agham at kung saan-saan ay hindi galing sa akin eh ang plagiarism to steal and pass off ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source. [I said that everything I cited about medicine and science and all sorts of sources did not come from me, and plagiarism (means) to steal and pass off ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source.]

That’s right, sir. Without crediting the sources by name.

But let’s assume that Sen. Sotto was telling the truth. If all those ideas and words weren’t his, whose speech was that he had uttered on the Senate floor if he is now disowning authorship of most of what he had said?

What did Congressman Rudy Fariñas say during the Corona impeachment trial? PALUSOT.

Using Sen. Sotto’s argument that copying is the highest form of flattery, we should also simply junk the Optical Media Board because “copying is the highest form of flattery.”

A commenter on my site posted this video he had made from clips taken from an Optical Media Board advertisement against “piracy”. Remember that Sen. Sotto had made going after film pirates one of his senatorial crusades.

It took a Kennedy to make Sotto apologize

If the Honorable Senator is really sincere about his apology to Kennedy, he would also apologize to the three bloggers whom he had blatantly copied from without attribution. And on top of that insulted them as “just bloggers” whom he said he would not dream of copying from.

I was of course initially skeptical that a Kennedy would take the time to write a letter about Sotto’s “theft” from the late Robert Kennedy’s speech. And so I waited to see if Miguel Syjuco would really be able to get a Kennedy to react to something happening on the other side of the world.

When Syjuco did get a letter signed by Kerry Kennedy, I knew it was genuine.

Someone asked me to join in the filing of the ethics complaint against Sen. Sotto but after thinking about it, I realized that my work is to stay in the sidelines and watch all sides of the story.

I have been asked why I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time on Sen. Sotto’s plagiarism. I’m doing this for several reasons.

First, it strikes at the heart of my chosen profession. It’s a mortal sin in my line of work.

Second, a senator is accountable to the people. Senator Sotto’s attitude and manner of reasoning are strikingly reminiscent of the attitude of  officials during the Marcos dictatorship. Officials can do no wrong.

Third, we should expect more from senators, given their stature, the number of staff members they employ and the amount of money for research at their disposal.

Fourth, they are role models in society. What they do is – well, COPIED.

If Sen. Sotto can get away with plagiarism, why, everybody else should be given a pass.

Soon after Sotto’s apology, an MA student sent this text message:

Can Senator Sotto be my thesis adviser?

________________________________________

Related Stories 

Robert Kennedy’s daughter offended by Sotto’s theft of her dad’s speech; wants an apology

Dear US bloggers: Remember how Sen. Sotto challenged you to sue him for plagiarism? Here’s how…

UPDATE: Senator Sotto lifted from 5 bloggers and 1 briefing paper

Did Sen. Sotto copy from 5 bloggers?

Did Sen. Sotto just lie on national TV?

Comments

  1. kaibang paksa po ito pero napapanahon. marami na po ang nagpahayag ng kanikanilang opinion tungkol sa RH BILL pero wala pa po nagpapahayag ng tungkol sa panig ng simbahan. baka sakali po na magbigay ng liwanag ng konti ang nilalaman ng pahayag ni archttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NUNqjIycgGchbishop luis tagle.

    • Yesterday, Sen Drilon, president of the LP, disavowed , before this Inquirer opinion came about, the support of any Ampatuan in their party.

      Today, UNA did the same disavowing support of any Ampatuan.

      Of course, the question is will they force the Coelec to disenfranchise Ampatuansfor filing fraudulent party affiliations.

      To see is to believe!

    • @Coco…the last line of the article whose source you quoted above is very disturbing:

      “…How can the political parties not know that support for Ampatuan candidates feeds the very impunity that led to the massacre? God help the Philippines!

      • @Coco…the last line of the article whose source you quoted above is very disturbing:

        “…How can the political parties not know that support for Ampatuan candidates feeds the very impunity that led to the massacre?”

        GOD HELP THE PHILIPPINES!

        (This is a repeat of my post above.)

    • @gayyem…maybe not “milyong milyong” but billions of pesos?

      Fishermen to planting rice under the sea? New technology siguro yan!

      Corruptions natuklasan na naman! In Pampanga pa! Okay, people in that province can vote again for the same candidates! Tuloy ang corruption dyan!

      ITULOY NYO ang butohan dyan! Happy fishings/plantings!

      • Rumored defense of Former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap:

        Kaya daw binigyan ng agricultural equipments ang mga fishermen kasi na anticipate ng mga tao ni GMA na malala na global warning, lulubog Pampanga(lumubog nga).

        Dahil sa grabeng ulan at baha ang ilog ay matatabunan ng lupa, kaya ang ginawa nila parang tunay na Boy Scouts – Always Be Prepared and that was good governance on their part.

        He he he

    • madali lang malaman kung sino ang nakinabang dyan.
      1. sino ba ang may pakana ng proyekto na yan?
      2. sino ang barangay chairman, mayor, vice mayor, gobernor, vice gobernor, congressman.
      kasi sa ganito kalaki na pera hindi pwede na hindi alam ng mga tao na ito kasi kailangan nila ng pangalan ng mga taga duon para magmukhang legal. at para makuha ang pangalan ay kailangan ng kapitan. at para ma-approve ang bigayan kailangan meron din ang bawat tao na dadaanan at pipirma.
      sino sino ang mga ito????

  4. Off-topic.

    Copied and pasted from today’s column of Ka Rene Saguisag:

    Congress will endorse K-12 to add two years to pre-college education? As a K-9 product I am not in agreement with K-12. I spent five years in Makati Elem but my teachers are what Henry Brooks Adams had in mind when he said they affect eternity. Our best teachers have been lured by jobs abroad. Those employed should not have their pay and perks reduced but new hires are something else. Some employers abroad have survived by reducing the pay and perks and everybody. K-12 with no good teachers and facilities may be a cure worse than the disease.

    • Recipients of this scam were most living abroad, dead or invalid.

      When investigated their alibi would be: show me a complainant or witness.

      Cong Arthur Yap is the latest target. Ask him also how he was able to eat tons and tons of longaniza from Nueva Ecija?

      • @johnny…like ZOMBIES nowadays, the dead before also can vote. Now, the dead can receive such gov’t funds! The dead fishermen receiving funds for planting rice is no FUN! Maybe, after dying, they registered to change their vocations to planting rice!

        SUSMA! Anong kalokohan ito! Eh, pati isang congressman sa QC naka tanggap sa pondo na yan! Is there still a rice field in Quezon City proper?

        Iba ito sa mga “bridges of no return” or “the Bridges on Kun-Waay”…hahaha!

        What gimmicks can these corrupt officials think of next?

        I suggest one: tuli ng mga namatay na! hahaha…baka puede pa!

    • @parentony…ano yan “K-12” for “dogs training?” Adding grades level to that but tuloy ang corruptions, what the heck is our gov’t thinking for our school children? Tama ka. What is needed is a good teacher or teachers and not added grades levels!

      More gastos yan for poor parents!

      Dami teachers sa public schools in the provinces and towns, poor English knowledge!
      The longer the tolerance the more ignorance on this. Makikita at maririnig ito!

    • @pinay…all of ’em are sitting on those famous wheelchairs when indicted! They’ve learned the wheelchair conspiracy so good!

      GMA in a wheel chair. Corona in a wheelchair. Morato in a wheelchair. Atbpa! Try to get more photos of the others please and put it here, so we can see the evidence of that the wheelchair conspiracy!

      Sana, pag patay na, put ’em in that wheelchairs just the same and not inside a kaba-ON!

      • @mam leona, opo ngayon na natuto na akong mag copy paste gagawin ko para makita ng buong mundo. kaya lang baka naman ako ay malibel heheheheheh. joke only. totoo naman ito dahil galing sa balitang Pilipinas.

    • Been out of the country for quite sometime now that I find myself out of the loop with a lot of things. I remember him though for the fuss over that movie Schindler’s list, and how we, 4th or 5th graders at the time, got to know about “pumping scene.” All from his televised rantings that time defending his stand to ban the award-winning movie. :)

      Remembered too that he had filed for presidential candidacy to “prevent” former President Estrada, then a candidate himself to win the post.

      I found him too moralistic. But didn’t practice what he preached? o_O Bigat ng kaso, plunder!

  6. Latest World News
    India Hanged Last Member of Terrorists who Attacked Mumbai in 2008.

    Maguindanao massacre in 2009 and nobody was tried in court yet.

    In India after 4 years all guilty people were dealt with accordingly. Case closed.

    Why are not media prints and TV pressing the issues everyday with front page condemnation?

    • @johnny…what we have here in cases like this Maguindanao case is the reverse….the witnesses are the ones hanged or killed sooner than 3 years, and not the culprits!

      Ano ba yun judge na yun? Ka tagal maka tapos ng kaso na mabigat! Mabigat siguro para sa kanya!

      Sobra tagal na. Bitawan na! Palitan Na! Tapusin Na! ‘o Ma mamatay lahat ang Witnesses for the prosecution!

      • @mam leona, yan po ang sinasabi ko na si LADY JUSTICE ay nakatakip ng duck tape. isa sa mga STONES yan maguindanao case. bagaaaaaal talga anghustisya natin. nakukuha sa patagalan ang mga kaso hanggang sa mapalitan na ang administration tapos ilalakad na ng bagong kakampi sa administration kaya makakalaya na din ang mga HINAYUPAK NA MGA SALARIN. tulad ni gma, ligot, garcia, palparan at kugn sino sino pang mga high profile na mga criminal. yan ang halimbawa nakung pangkaraniwang mamamayan naka kulong na agad. wala kasi pera eh. haaaay naku nakakasakit ng damdamin.

      • @leona,
        tama ka. malapit na sigurong maubos ang mga witnesses.

        pag ubos na sila, wala nang problema ang mga nasasakdal.

        maipababasura na nila ang kaso dahil walang makakapagpatunay na pinatay ang 58 katao.

        maaari pa nilang maipangangalandakang ang mga ito ay nag-mass suicide.

        case closed. mabuhay ang pilipinas!

  7. Published today from ASSOCIATED PRESS:

    .

    “”Former Marcos secretary is indicted in artwork plot

    NEW YORK >> A former secretary to Imelda Marcos was charged Tuesday in New York with conspiracy to sell valuable artworks that disappeared during the collapse of Marcos’ husband’s regime in the Philippines.

    Vilma Bautista, 74, was indicted on charges of conspiracy, tax fraud and offering a false instrument for filing. Two of her nephews, Chai­yot Jansen Nava­lak­sana and Pong­sak Nava­lak­sana, also were charged.

    Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said Bautista used false paperwork to sell a work from Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies” series for $32 million in September 2010.

    Her attorney, Fran Hoffinger, said Bautista got caught in a civil dispute between the Marcoses and the Philippine government.

    “It’s a civil dispute,” Hoffinger said. “It doesn’t belong in criminal court.”

    According to the indictment, Bautista was a foreign service officer assigned to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations but unofficially served as Imelda Marcos’ New York-based personal secretary.

    The indictment says that during the presidency of her husband, Ferdinand, Imelda Marcos used state assets to acquire a vast collection of artwork and other valuables.””

    • Vilma Bautista, 74 years old, should be enjoying her sunset rather than thinking court strategies avoiding jail time. Not a penny’s worth.

      Everyday, media headlines talk about money woes of Filipinos here and abroad. Pyramid scam victims, drug dealings by drug enforcement officers, bribery and extortion by police officers, overpriced government projects, overcharging consumers, influence peddling, land grabbing, illegal land sale, jueteng protection money, customs and gold smuggling, tax evasion, skimping government funds and pork barrel, politicians/police protecting drug dealers, carnappers, and pyramid scam brains, unaccounted calamity funds by priests, payola to reporters and columnists, corrupt barangay officials, BIR examiners, NBI agents, lowly govt clerks, janitors, messengers and security guards.

      You name it, Filipinos have done it.
      Is Greed a Filipino culture?

      What happened to Simple life rule? “Honest living is worth a billion bucks”
      Ahh, yes, the answer is,
      in the Philippines you remain poor, you moron!

      • If…

        If you are a squatter [informal dweller they call it} your problem is a house.
        If you are a street sweeper your problem is more more dirt to sweep.
        If you are a PUJ driver your problem is more trips.
        If you are a barber your problem is more hairs to cut.
        If you are a street vendor your problem is more selling.
        If you are a contract worker, local or overseas, your problem is longer contracts.
        If you are a farmer, your problem is more harvests.
        If you are a fisherman your problem is to catch more fish.
        These people don’t do much thinking but manually do their usual chores.

        If you are a congressman, you don’t have a problem enacting laws as you do not do that everyday.
        If you are a senator, you problem is more speeches, more copying and more posturing.
        These people gets good salaries, good pork barrel and work only for re-elections.

        If you are a general in the army and navy your problem is not much security of the State but more security of yourself and family. Thus, more fingering into the cookie jar of the defense budgets.
        If your are a cop, your problem is not much “copping” but more koto-ing, kidnapping, carnapping, pyramiding, salvagings to maintain more “mistresses.”

        If your are a politician, you have two problems: how to build a political dynasty in your place with and by your family generations and more stupid bought votes.

        From all this, so many are poor in their simple life and so few are rich in the corrupt life. The latter has a culture…GREED! The former has only a life, honesty in a hard way.

        Is this normal? Yes…normal for the poor and abnormal for the rich!

        Happy Thanksgiving Day for the POOR and Curse on You Corrupt Greedy Rich!

        • Many Filipinos have very short memories – they need constant reminders of those who plunder the wealth of our nation because their breed are still very much around.

        • @vibora…

          If…[ con’t ]

          If one is a lawyer, the problem is to know what is the law and how to apply the facts of a case under the law. But many lawyers “uses” the facts as the law and the law as the fact. Tonto! That’s why our judicial system is like this: the corrupt fact is the law. So, what or where is the law? Answer: Wala!

          Sample of the above: Fact: a letter by a lawyer written to the ex-chief justice about changing the Palea case which has been final and executory. This letter is a fact and a very strong fact. Result: Palea case is recalled! A new decision is needed. Where is the case now? Nobody knows! That is a factlaw and lawfact. No law! See? The letter did not follow any rules or a law, just a letter but it did come out with a unfair result just the same. Where is the law? Wala!

          That, @vibora, is the problem of our lawyers in all related lawyering offices!

        • Well, as our prof once sagaciously lectured us in Law I on how to argue one’s case in court: “If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither the facts nor the law is on your side, POUND YOUR OPPoNENT!” Case closed. NEXT!!

        • Pounding the law or facts…….doesn’t mean circumvent the law sir, like what happen to the PALEA case isn’t.

          During Davides tenure as SC.., facts are they utilized funds for salary and wages of SC employees on the re construction of SC vacation houses in Baguio city and clear violation of wrong disbursement or what you called them technical malversation,…..nothing happen. Clear case of circumventing the law because other government employees were prosecuted and sent t jail with those violations.

          We are not lawyers but what the SC did on the PALEA case were wrong even to a common TAO like us sir.

        • Victin, I was trying to make YOU laugh. But it was YOU who made ME laugh. HAHAHAHA!! :) Reminds me of that bit in high school litt…. from a poem by someone whose name I can no longer recall: “Be silent always… when you doubt your sense.” [Correction welcome!]

        • THANKS TO GOOD ‘OLE GOOGLE, that quotation was from Alexander Pope’s “Essay on Critism”: Here goes…

          QUOTE – ” A little learning is a dangerous thing;
          Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
          There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
          And drinking largely sobers us again.

          ” Words are like leaves; and where they most abound,
          Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.

          “Good nature and good sense must ever join;
          To err is human, to forgive divine.

          “All seems infected that the infected spy.
          As looks yellow to the jaundiced eye.

          “Be silent always when you doubt your sense.

          ”For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.: UNQUOTE

          A lot of well-known bits in there that have stood the plagiarists of time ( including our very own Sottocopy?). HAHAHAHA! :) :) :)

        • CORRECTOL: “Essay on Critism” s/b “Essay on Criticism”…. Sorry. Fingers faster than thought. :(

        • Well, Leona, confusing the judge might backfire to you… if mahinasyang umintindi… lalo kung irony o sarcasmang ibira mo… tinutuya mo na ay nagpapasalamat pa! Hahaha! Suggested readings to such BURADOS JURADOS: Jonathan Swift , Mark Twain and Westbrook Pegler. Masters of irony all.

        • @Atty Fernando…… We were of different discipline but it was true small learning or reading we had makes us wonder why and how are your laws implemented . It never intoxicated my brain and every time a case were published which I think our opinion and conclusion differs to the given decision by the court it never sobers my brain but gave me a conclusion that … Horible accidents of some of your brothers especially those who wears ROBE were justifiable .

          A little learning of wrongful things must be cut ASAP in order not to grow larger and stronger isn’t.

        • Pabor naman, Victin. Pwede Tagalogin mo na lang? Mahina ako sa English eh. At nde ko maarok ang lalim ng mga kataga mo sa lengguahhng iyon. Salamat, hijo. ;)

        • @victin luz…you’re right than those lawyers at the SC! Do you know that in the US Constitution, a justice of that high Court does not need to be a lawyer? Believe It or Not!

          Kaya lang, “many” lawyers are good liars! They change the facts and quote non-existent laws! Part of the lying process yan.

          But not all lawyers are good on the witness stand. Many fumble like Corona.

          Many lay people are professional perjurers, better than ordinary lawyers!

          In short, monopoly is on a “situation-to-situation” situation. That’s LIFE!

        • ” “If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither the facts nor the law is on your side, POUND YOUR OPPoNENT!”
          I’m hearing it different now;
          ” “If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither the facts nor the law is on your side, PAY THE PONENTE!!” Next case. CLOSED.

        • Vibora, pwede rin! Hehehe! BTW, down memory lane tayo… do you remember the komiks serial VIBORA? Where the leading man’s killer command was: “VIBORA…SA LEEG!” VIBORA was his pet cobra. I think it was by Francisco V. Coching in Tagalog Klasiks or Mars Ravelo in Pilipino Komiks.

        • August C. [email protected]

          To me it is crystal clear what Victin is saying. That he wonders how laws are interpreted and implemented by lawyers especially judges. He understands that judges are being killed due to unfair decisions they made, and that they have to be nipped in the bud.

        • @Rene ipil……thank sir for your ” malinaw na malinaw na ” explanation to Atty. Fernando……it is really true to what was happenings to our judicial system…….many Filipinos wondered how were those sensational cases like the PALEA, the VISCONDE, the Lanzanas of Cebu who was allowed to serve remaining prison term in Spain, the Singson’s admittance of murders in a magazine before was never been investigated and many more. FACTs and LAW were on the hands of the prosecutors but nothing happen… Then with our little knowledge and understanding based on what we read on daily papers and on this BLOG………. ” pag nakabasa kami ng lectures comments ” like pounding on facts , pounding the law or the opponent………. Sa aking pananaw kung ang mahal ko sa buhay ang naagrabyado mo ( like in a rape case )at dahil mga sa mahusay kang ABOGADO at pounding kaliwat kanan ay eksperto ka at nawalan ng kasalanan ang kliyente mo na gumawa ng crimen……. Palagay ko pag may pagkakataon din ako ay pananagutin ko ang ” criminal and the lawyer ” dipo ba..

        • Gawd? Where has all the SENSE OF HUMOR gone? Some people must be under the Philippine Deep when the Lord distributed sense of humor to Mankind! Labas na kayo, mga ginoo at ginoa!! ALL CLEAR NOW! CRYSTAL! HAHAHA! :)

        • ONCE MORE WITH FEELINGS… FROM POET ALEXANDER POPE:

          “BE SILENT ALWAYS, WHEN YOU DOUBT YOUR SENSE.”

        • Atty @ Fernando……… Hindi don’t mis interpret me…. Ang ibig Kung sabihin pag may pagkakataon ako di ang criminal , lawyer at Kung kasama ang judge di sila ang mananagut sa taas kay lord.

          Sa mga NPA naman they were being executed diba. Hindi nama PO tayo ganoon. Sensya na po ,we are not writers kaya kulang kulang Kung minsan ang naisusulat namin PO Atty. Christian PO tayo and PRO RH tayo.thnks

        • Hehehe. FYI, I am NOT — will never be — a LAWYER. Hindi kasinungalingan ang ikinabubuhay ko! HAHAHA! :) :) :)

        • Akala nyo siguro lwyer ako dahil dun sa LAW I class? Well, Bizniz admin studes take Law I, don’t they? It’s a curriculum requirement.

        • And I really won’t mind what you guys are yakitty-yakking. It’s just that you did NOT get my point in posting that Law I lecture bit. CASE CLOSED. NEXT! ;)

        • August C. [email protected]

          “Be silent always when you doubt your sense.”

          “It’s just that you did NOT get my point in posting that Law I lecture bit.”

          Admittedly, I did not get your point in that Law I joke. So I did not comment on it. Remember, “be silent always . . .” I heard a joke similar to yours during the impeachment trial when Senator Alan Cayetano said “If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is in your side, pound on the law. If neither the facts nor the law is on your side, pound on the TABLE”. I understood that very clearly because during the court hearing there is always that table in front of the opposing lawyers.

          But based on your post @94.2, I knew you were not a lawyer with that Law I subject and “pound your opponent” phrase. I made my comment to explain what Victin was saying based on my own understanding which Victin validated.

          Will you be so kind to enlighten us on what your point is in your Law I post?

  8. Current Latest News: American arrested in Makati with 50 million pesos worth of illegal drugs

    Old News: few months ago, Sec De Lima announced there was a request from US/AMLA to cooperate in the US investigation of Mikey Arroyo. De Lima refused to reveal details of the request.

    Old news: Dominican Republic official visited Arroyo residence. Speculation that asylum was being requested by Arroyo family but was denied.

    Latest News: The car of the American arrested belonged to the govt loaned to the congressional office of Mikey since 2008 which was not returned despite several attempts to recover it.

    Old News: Mikey has travelled 2 times to US within a year purportedly to seek donations to his constituents. Mike Arroyo has travelled twice to Hongkong. GMA had been trying to get out of Philippines thru medical reason.

    Tip of the iceberg: Arrested American drug dealer

    Countries: Dominican Republic – US – Hongkong – Philippines
    Good stuff to investigate further: info from DOJ, USDEA, AMLA, Bureau of Customs and donated goods from US to Ang Galing Pinoy party list.

    Calling Agent Raissa on Arroyo Skyfall!

    • @johnny….for illegal drug lords, ‘PINAS is good for ’em! No death penalty here. And they can “escape” from depending how much?

      Re-impose the DEATH PENALTY for this crime….DRUGGINGS ILLEGALLY!

      For CORRUPTIONS, isama din when more than P5M ang pera nakawat!

      At ibpa!

      • anything illegal is good in the PHL.
        walang malalaking tao ang nakukulong. o kung mayroon mang maipakulong, madali ring makakalabas: pwedeng patawarin o patakasin
        ang death penalty ay tinanggal ng taong unang-una sanang presidente na maaaring mahatulan nito. inunahan na niya ang paghuhukom. alam nya na mangyayari ang nangyayari ngayon. hindi dahil marunong siyang manghula, kundi dahil sa alam niya ang kanyang mga kabalbalang nilikha o ginawa.
        sino ang makakapagbalik ng death penalty? wala. magagalit ang kaparian. hindi sila papayag. magagalit din ang mga human rights advocates.
        dinarayo tayo ng mga iligalista lalo na nga mga drug dealers dahil safe sila rito sa PHL. it’s more fun in the philippines.
        hahaha, iyan ay aking paranoia lamang mga kapatid ko dito sa cpm. ako naman ay hindi pa nawawalan ng pag-asa na maiaahon pa nating mga pilipino ang ating inang bansa sa ganitong sitwasyon.

  9. Latest News:
    Marvin Leonen is new SC justice appointed by PNoy.

    Rumored as his primary supporters were Usec Manuel Quezon III, Boy Abunda, Vice Ganda, BB Gandanghari and ang Ladlad party list which were all pleased with the appointment.

      • He is qualified, intelligent probably independent like Sereno. He does not have the baggage of past negotiations with lawyers while on the bench compared to the rejected candidates. He was never a judge or justice. That is a plus for incorruptibility and I believe his sisters had a lot of input to that.

        His hidden skeleton is the unknown problem which could influence his judgment. He is now in a position to trade favors he never had before and those close to him might take advantage.

        Undoubtedly, there are SC colleagues rooting for their friends from CA. In the beginning maybe some indifference from them which is natural but later that will pass.

        Aquino is filling the SC slots with the idea that long term service is what is needed to sustain reforms. I agree with that. So far he appointed 2 from CA thru the ranks, and 2 from the outside. Balance appointments. The next one to replace Abad will be from CA, if my hunch is right.

        I am also betting that before his term ends he hopes a couple of justices will either resign due to health or AOG so he could have appointed at least 7-8 to finalize court reform by majority.

        • Letnus hope friends and especially relatives of PNOY will not be soliciting any help or favors to this appointees of PNOY on the SC.

        • Soliciting favors for the conviction of the grafters to whatever and whoever are only the one allowed .SANA

        • @Victin
          I intetionally left out one word but detailed the background, hoping you will expound on it.
          On the requirements to be SC justice, standout would be competence.
          Based on lack of judicial or extensive trial experience, is Leonen competent?

          He was an honor student, academician, activist but did not possess practical, technical judgmental experience?

          When we want our cars, TV, refrigerators, houses, computers repaired we always look for somebody with years of hands on experience.

          When we go to a doctor we look for qualified specialist with lots of hands on experience.

          When we send our children to schoos we look for the most applauded, top rated and experienced teachers.

          When we read our newspapers we tend to believe more experience investigative journalists and writers with integrity.

          How about our SC justices, do we look for one with high standards especially on judicial experience.

          When Sereno retiresin 18 yrs, Leonen will be the most senior justice in line to succeed her. By that time he would have acquired the judicial experience.

          Frankly, presently he is on the job training, OJT.
          Competence is his least qualification yet it is the most important in a SC justice.

          On this matter, Aquino, in my opinion, made a mistake, lacking competent leadership in making decisions.

          Put every aspect in proper perspective if he really trust and admire Leonen. Justice Abad would retire in less than two years. He should have appointed now a CA justice to replace Sereno, then appoint Leonen for CA justice in that vacating post for him to gain experience and then appoint him to replace Abad in two years.True sign of a thinking intelligent president.

          At the moment, Aquino is acting like any other maverick, doing whatever he pleases because he is the boss of himself. After making a decision he will hope and pray or sing repeatedly a song by The Animals with his KKK in his Pangarap karaoke!

          “I’m just a soul whose intentions are good
          Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood”

        • [email protected]

          “How about our SC justices, do we look for one with high standards especially on judicial experience.”

          Yes, Supreme Court justices must have not only high standards but the highest degree of knowledge and understanding of principles of law and jurisprudence. Previous judicial experience is desirable but not really essential.

          If my memory serves me right, former Chief Justices Panganiban, Puno, Fernan, Davide, and Teehankee had no previous judicial experience when appointed as Supreme Court justice. JBC even proposed a point system where work experience, whether judicial or not, gets only 15% while integrity and health have 20% each.

          In the United States, Warren, Marshall, Brandeis, Rehnquist, Douglas, Stone, Story, Taney and Frankfurter were non-judge justices and nearly half of the justices had no previous experience on the bench, according to The Christian Science Monitor. Elena Kagan was nominated by Obama to the post although she had no prior judicial experience.

          US Supreme Court historian Henry Abraham said: “To raise judicial experience to the level of either an express or an implied requirement would render a distinct disservice to the Supreme Court. That’s because, the Supreme Court isn’t a trial court, but a tribunal that chooses which cases it will hear and rules on the broadest questions of public policy. The skills called for are those of a savvy negotiator and consensus builder, such as Earl Warren, or master of ringing rhetoric such as Robert Jackson.”

        • @ReneIpil

          Please read again what I wrote:

          Based on lack of judicial experience or extensive trial experience, Is Leonen competent?

          All the former chief justices you mentioned had many years of trial experience affiliated with power ranking law offices aside from govt.experiences in Dept of Justice,Solicitor Generalm, member of Congress or Con Con delegates

          Leonen was an activist, a TV legalcommentator and an activist. He might not even seen a courtroom as primary trial lawyer. Check it out.

          Aside from brokering the Moro Peace Agreement and possibly loyal to Aquino, what significant academic, court trial and other legal achievement Leonen has meriting exemplary honor after his law school?

          I am not belittling Leonen accomplishments, in fact I said he should have been nominated to CA first to gain experience or for that matter in DOJ or Solicitor General office but I dont think he is qualified now as SC justice more than those rejected considering his young age on a govt branch with permanent tenure.

        • I wrote that Leonen was an activist, 2x after TV commentaor. This is not a misprint, his true professional accomplishments.
          Activist, pundit, activist, no more, no less.

          He he he

        • @Johnny…is he competent? That is the question you asked. Believe it or not, appointments to the judiciary is here – palakasan! It’s not what one knows but WHOM ONE KNOWS.

          There are many who get appointed but never had trial work experience like those in the DOJ or OSG or extensive law practice. Some came from NAWASA, SSS, Police Commission, Judge Advocates, not much experience in court room trials. But they get the posts! This is the general rule rather than the exception. [should be the other way around]

          Being already a lawyer, the practice of law [as a requirement] includes not litigation work. Writing collection letters is enough. Commercial law practice is enough. SEC practice is enough. Going around, as long as one is still a licensed lawyer or member of the IBP, is enough.

          No more additional “TEST” for judgeship or appellate or trial judge. In England, no. Their rules are stricter than US rules. One must pass a test and a minimum of years trial practice to be a judge or even to appear in their high trial courts.

          That’s why our judicial system needs revisions on this. If we want good and quality performance and decisions from our judges or courts, raise the standards for it for one to hurdle the required examination or test, etc.

          We have not done that since time immemorial of this country’s judicial system. We need it done. When? No one knows.

        • @ Leona @ Johnny Lin

          Buluuuuuuk na bulok ang ating justice system, and cleansing should start from the top, as what PNoy is doing now. We need fresh faces in the supreme Court… inexperience is a must, integrity is paramount. competence then will come by naturally.

        • @yeheywater
          Sorry, beg to disagree
          Cleansing and building up could be accomplished siimultaneously with experiened competent personnel of integrity.

          If what you advocate is integrity regardless of experience and competence will come in due time the best selection would be from new graduates, freshly out of school for they embody all what you described, untainted or virgin for the dirty mind.

          He he he

        • if we benchmark the start of judicial deterioration during Macoy’s time, since 1972 until today is 40 years. what will be our timeline of raising our judicial standards by the pace the system is crawling in this present time? i wish na mangyayari pa ito in our lifetime, more probably not yet, not me being a skeptic.
          calling our fave, cj sereno. i’m not asking you a miracle , but, please, work on it, even slowly, but make it surely…:)

        • @victin…a new SC justice like Marvic Leonen – Maganda! Wala sana soliciting in his voting and decisions, para MAGANDA!

  11. While waiting for next Raissa blog, couple of Sotto jokes:

    According to Baycas #88.2, Sotto is very proud of his fluency in translation.

    When Sotto was chairman of Dangerous Drug Board, he was invited to speak to a group of farmers in the Golden Triangle the area in Asia where most of the illegal drugs come from. The audience were Thais, Vietnamese and Ccambodians so there was no common language.
    Aside from Sotto, an American and a Mexican speaker were also invited. Since there was no common language each one devised a means to reach the audience with their message.

    Mexican: he started his speech by pounding his chest and touching his groin.
    After he finished, American and Sotto asked him: why did you pound your chest and touch your groin? Mexican answered: to address the audience, Ladies and Gentlemen. Chest refers to breast of ladies and groin to the balls of men.

    To surpass the Mexican
    American: started his speech by protruding his two index fingers on top of his head, beat his chest and grasp his groin. Sotto was in a quandary so after his speech he asked, why did you make that antler sign with your fingers? For my courteous address to the audience “Me dear Ladies and Gentlemen”

    Sotto being the greatest Imitator said to himself, I am a Filipino, I must represent my country proudly

    Sotto: he started by placing his two fingers on top of his head, pounded his chest, touched his groin and started jerking his hand vigorously in front of his crotch like masturbating.
    Mexican and American grabbed him away from the podium and asked: What are you doing?
    Sotto answered: Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me Great Pleasure

    ————–

    When Tito and Helen were newly married they honeymooned at the Peninsula hotel in Hongkong. While undressing for thr first time in front of each other, following conversation ensued:
    When Tito removed his socks, Helen noticed his tiny short toes.
    Helen: what happened with your toes?
    Tito: i had tolio
    Helen: ah, you mean polio
    Tito: yes because the muscle damage stayed only in the toes.

    When he removed his pants, she noticed an ugly skin marks on both of his knees
    Helen: what happened with your knees?
    Tito: I had kneesles
    Helen: you mean measles
    Tito: yes but the bad rash was only on my knees

    Tito removed his underwear revealing his teeny weenie
    Helen: don’t explain, I know you had smallcox

    He he he

    • [email protected]

      I tried desperately to validate your post with Wikipedia but to no avail. Please cite your source. Otherwise, you are a candidate for charges of plagiarism unless it is an original. In any case I believe it was a joke.

      • Old jokes recurring to me and polish the lines suitable to Sotto. Can’t attribute unknown sources

    • @sir johnny lin, good morning happy world. thanks to you sir!!! start the day with a big laugh!!!haahhahhahhaha

      • @Pinay710
        Good evening here in Manila.
        You are welcome! Glad to brighten your morning

        Laughter is the best medicine
        Smile and the whole world smiles with you

        If you are in US, Happy Thanksgiving!
        Dont get crushed on Black Friday

        He he he

    • PAF pilot 1 to PAF pilot 2: We are closing in to the target, have your ammo ready….PAF pilot 2 to PAF pilot 1.. Soto, clear and out,,, bwaaaaahhhh