Piercing Pens

The Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office today formally filed charges the four of the six US Marines accused of gang-raping a Filipina in Subic last November.

Charged with rape were Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier, Lance Corporal Dominic Duplantis, Lance Corporal Keith Silkwood, and Lance Corporal Daniel Smith. Timoteo Soriano Jr.. driver of the van where the alleged rape took place, was also charged.

The complaints against Corporal Corey Burris and Lance Corporal Albert Lara were dismissed because there was no sufficient evidence to show they were preent when the crime was committed.

Sources: US Embassy in Manila, INQ7

Merry Christmas!

– Julian & Oriah

The Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL) suggested that newly appointed Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban should inhibit himself in cases arising from the current political crisis, such as the petitions on Executive Orders 420 and 464, Batas Pambansa 880 and the CPR, the motion for reconsideration on the Arroyo’s impeachment case, and Virgilio Garcillano’s petition for ‘declaratory relief.’ Its members say since Gloria Arroyo violated the seniority rule when she appointed Panganiban, he now owes his position to Garci’s phone pal.

CODAL further says given Arroyo’s recent actions that would ensure her political survival, “it is not surprising if the public will perceive her appointment of CJ Panganiban as a part of her scheme to stay in power.”

Below is the full text of the statement of the CODAL on Chief Justice Panganiban’s appointment: (more…)

Gloria Arroyo yesterday administered the oath of office of Artemio Panganiban, the new Supreme Court chief justice. The OPS photo above also shows Panganiban’s wife Elenita. Arroyo appointed Panganiban as Chief Justice Hilario Davide’s replacement last Tuesday evening.

Described by his colleagues as a prolific write, it was Panganiban who arranged Arroyo’s oath as president during the EDSA revolt in 2001. According to a newspaper report, he has the support of the Iglesia ni Cristo, Protestant and El Shaddai groups, as well as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the business sector. (more…)

(Text and image from PETA)

Manila — Dressed as a modern-day angel and holding a baby pig, model Raya Mananquil is the latest Filipino star to appear in a prestigious People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ad campaign. The ad, released just in time for Christmas, bears the tagline “Be an Angel: Go Vegetarian.”

Raya knows that the best way to protect animals, the environment, and your own health is to go vegetarian. “The holidays are all about peace and giving, and what could be better than to give innocent animals a reason to celebrate too?” says Raya, who credits her vegetarianism with her own good health and advises anyone who still eats meat to watch PETA’s powerful video “Meet Your Meat.” “Anything we can do to lessen the suffering of animals used in the food industry makes the world a better place for all of us.” (more…)

Early in the morning yesterday, I got a text message from a friend saying “the Philippines has two presidents already.”

My first reaction was like, “Was there a coup while we were sleeping?” Or maybe the SMS had something to do with the first death anniversary of Fernando Poe Jr. The other day, FPJ’s supporters reportedly placed on is tomb a banner saying something like “Here lies the 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines.”

When I opened my PC and checked the news on the Web, I learned that retired General Fortunato Abad had proclaimed himself as the president of a revolutionary transition government. (For those interested, the Armed Forces of the Philippines website has a profile of Fortunato Abat.)

Now that the country has two “presidents,” Who’s your choice? President Gloria “Hello Garci” Macapagal-Arroyo or President Fortunato Abat?

From the Young Radicals blog. More Garci “ballotbusters” on their site.