By Ade S. Fajardo The Philippine National Police has announced its investigation into allegations that a quota and reward system was implemented during the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs. PNP chief Rommel Marbil has announced the formation of a review panel to “thoroughly assess and evaluate Oplan Double Barrel, including Lt. Colonel Espenido’s disclosures.” Lt. …
Come To Think Of It
How was the drug war financed?
By Ade S. Fajardo Why is a lottery office a coveted government appointment? Shouldn’t the office overseeing legal games of chance to raise funds for the sick and the needy be headed by philanthropists or civic-minded persons? Shortly after Rodrigo Duterte was proclaimed President in mid-2016, he said he wanted “killers” to head the Philippine …
A councilor named Small
By Ade S. Fajardo Congress has assembled four committees to find answers — did the Duterte administration purposely employ terror in its war on drugs to intimidate the dissenters and quietly rake in money through massive illegal drug importations and uncontrolled online gaming operations? The first hearing held by the Quadcomm in Pampanga …
Republic of Quiboloy
By Ade Fajardo Televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy stands accused of many crimes: Child abuse, sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking. Bail is discretionary, meaning that judges may order him detained while trial is ongoing. Quiboloy has yet to face his accusers four months after warrants of arrest were issued against him by Pasig and Davao …
Housing a fugitive
By Ade S. Fajardo A 2022 listing shows that the average price of lots for sale at Pinewoods Golf and Country Estate in Baguio is P34,000 per square meter. Lots paired with golf shares are cuts of at least 600 square meters. The total price for such a package would be approaching P23 million. …
Suspects in the ICC investigation
By Ade S. Fajardo Last week, former Senator Antonio Trillanes presented a document purportedly issued by the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court that names five people as “suspects” in its ongoing investigation of the war on drugs implemented by the Duterte administration. First in the list is Senator Bato dela Rosa, who bucked …
Time to decriminalize libel
By Ade Fajardo The final tax case filed by the Duterte government against journalist Maria Ressa has been dismissed by the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA). The CTA denied the petition filed by the Solicitor General that prayed to reverse the decision rendered by the Pasig Regional Trial Court, clearing Ressa and her online publication Rappler on …
Fake Pinoys in our midst
By Ade S. Fajardo The Municipality of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur is proximate to Davao City. Last week, it got featured as the source of 200 fake Filipino certificates of live birth. The certificate holders are mainly Chinese nationals. Civil Registrar General Dennis Mapa has announced that the local civil registrar has been relieved of …
Minority of one
By Ade Fajardo The latest in the Alice Guo saga is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. admitting that officials from the Duterte administration were responsible in granting licenses to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco says at least a former cabinet-level official had lobbied for those licenses. This former official …
The long and winding road to justice
By Ade S. Fajardo Former Senator Leila de Lima is finally clear of all drug charges leveled against her by the Duterte administration. This ends seven years of an arduous legal battle that she saw through from inside prison walls. Kudos to her and her team who did not hide in the shadows and faced …