By Dennis Gorecho “Enough is enough. Let us now raise our voices louder and demand accountability.” Bayombong Catholic Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao warned of worsening ecological damage in Nueva Vizcaya as he cited the environmental conflict in Dupax del Norte due to mining exploration activities by Woggle Corporation. Dupax del Norte is a third-class municipality …
Amicus Curiae
The ‘red-tagging’ case of detained journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio
By Dennis Gorecho The prolonged detention of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio is “inhumane and has no place in a system that claims to uphold justice and respect media freedom.” This was the declaration of the international media organization Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as a Philippine court ruled on Cumpio’s first of two cases (illegal …
The battle for the sperm and right to life
By Dennis Gorecho The “right to life” line in the abortion debate centers on conflicting rights, particularly the moral status of a fetus versus bodily autonomy of the mother. Anti-abortion groups argue that a fetus is a person with a right to life, and therefore abortion is morally wrong, while pro-choice groups argue a person’s …
Male sexual abuse in Ilonggo Cinemalaya film
By Dennis Gorecho Male sexual abuse is the focus of two regional entries in the 21st Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival — “Kung Tugnaw ang Kaidalman sang Lawod” (“Cold as the Ocean Runs Deep”) by Seth Andrew Blanca and the full-length film “Raging” by Ryan Machado, and a short film. The films underscore the deafening silence …
Doctrine of fair use in copyright infringement cases
By Dennis Gorecho The “fair use” doctrine allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder for specific purposes. Copyright infringement is a trespass on a private domain owned by the owner of the copyright and protected by law. Copyright infringement occurs when someone performs an act that is the exclusive …
Women’s suffrage and vote in Philippine election
By Dennis Gorecho Women’s suffrage means the right of women to vote for any candidate in office. On the other hand, the women’s vote refers to a united vote of women for electoral candidates whom they consider will advance their cause, either a vote for women candidates or for male candidates who are considered “friendly,” …
Freedom of expression and speech on social media
By Dennis Gorecho As the world is increasingly becoming interconnected, the fabric of society through the social media space must guarantee a balance in fulfilling human rights. Information is power, and in the digital age, we have unprecedented access to the knowledge we need to hold governments accountable and make our voices heard. With the …