EMONG'S JOURNALS

How well do you know the Writ of Habeas Corpus? Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is mulling to suspend the writ of habeas corpus to address the country's drug problems and suppress rebellion in Mindanao. Habeas corpus, or the Great Writ as they call it in the Western world, is the legal procedure that keeps the government from holding you indefinitely without showing cause. When you challenge your detention by filing a habeas corpus petition, the executive branch must explain to a neutral judge its justification for holding you. Habeas corpus prevents anyone from simply locking up people in secret dungeons and throwing away the key. Here are ten (10) useful facts about the Habeas Corpus: 1. A writ of Habeas Corpus is a court order to a person (prison warden) or agency (institution) holding someone in custody to deliver the imprisoned individual to the court issuing the order. 2. Literally, 'habeas corpus' means 'you may have the body' (if legal pro...

Politicians do curse - and that's a fact. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has warned US President Barack Obama not to question him about extrajudicial killings, or “son of a bitch, I will swear at you” when they come face to face at their scheduled meeting in the ASEAN summit forum in Laos. Obama's aides later cancelled the talks and Duterte has since issued a statement that he "regrets" such remark. Not quite the language you'd expect from a politician, but Duterte was not the first statesman to go on a wild cussing spree. In fact, several of the US presidents did, according to international news agency, CNN . Here's a list of US politicians who seemed to have enjoyed some political profanities: 1  President Barack Obama.   In 2010, as the BP oil spill resulted in severe environmental, health  and economic consequences, Obama said in an NBC TV show interview, "I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a col...

No one expected the kill list to hit a thousand so darn fast! More than 1000 suspected drug users or dealers have been killed by police or vigilantes in the Philippines in less than three months, according to a news report from ABS CBN News. A separate tally from GMA News is fewer, and said that since 10 May – the day Rodrigo Duterte was announced the winner of the presidential poll – at least 601 people have been killed because they were suspected to have been involved with drugs. The deadliest day fell on August 11 where a total of 27 drug men were killed. The killings appear to have been carried out by police, who attribute the violence to suspects who “resisted arrest and shot at police officers”, and vigilante groups emboldened by Duterte’s promises of impunity. During the campaign, Duterte said 100,000 people would die in his crackdown, with so many dead bodies dumped in Manila Bay that fish there would grow fat from feeding on them. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS PO...

It's Independence Day! So let's talk about patriots and heroes. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte had been hugging the headlines lately with his engaging but very delightful rhetorics. Let's admit it. All those "tough talks" remind us of the original badass hero of the country. Here's a few quotes from the movie, "Heneral Luna": 1. "Artikulo Uno: Ang hindi sumunod sa utos ng punong heneral ay tatanggalan ng ranggo at ipapapatay ng walang paglilitis sa hukumang militar." 2. "Mga inutil! Hindi tayo namamasyal!" 3. "Para kayong mga birheng naniniwala sa pag-ibig ng isang puta!" 4. "Ganito ba talaga ang tadhana natin? Kalaban ng kalaban. Kalaban ng kakampi. Nakakapagod." 5. "Nasubukan mo na bang hulihin ang hangin?" 6. "Negosyo o kalayaan? Bayan o sarili? Pumili ka!" 7. "Ano bang akala niya? Ibang bansa na ang Cavite?" 8. "Nasa ibang ulo ang utak ng inyong ka...

Are you ready for Federalism? One of Rody Duterte's platforms during his presidential campaign was to invigorate the financial capabilities of regions outside Metro Manila. To be able to do this, he said the country needs to shift into the federal type of government. Federalism is a method of government that allows two or more entities to share control over the same geographic region. Each person is subject to the laws of that city, region, state and the federal government. In a federalist government, the power is divided between the national government and other governmental units. In the U.S., this means the power is divided between the federal government and the state and local governments. This is different from a unitary government where one unit holds the power. Watch the video below. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POST? Share your ideas by commenting.

The numbers keep on coming in favor of the "presumptive president-elect" Rody Duterte. And knowing how keen the good mayor of Davao City is with regards to peace and order, here's a list of things that you may have to keep in mind once Duterte takes his oath of office as the 16th president of the Philippines. 1. No more late night videoke singing sprees. You have to end your concert at exactly 11:00 p.m. 2. Liquor ban will be at 1:00 a.m. sharp. If you want to get really drunk, start early. 3. Smoking can never be done indoors, public spaces, cafeterias, bars and restaurants, etc. Light up only in designated smoking areas. 4. No littering and no spitting anywhere at any time. 5. Follow traffic rules to the letter. Be respectful of road signs and don't try those sneaky maneuvers just to get ahead of the others. 6. If you're a motorcycle rider, never attempt to put on open exhaust pipes or any modified mufflers to make your bike louder. 7. Definite...

'I did it in Davao. Why won't I do it everywhere else.' Presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte was referring to a country-wide curfew of until 1:00 am for all commercial establishments he's planning to enforce when elected President. Of course, bars and clubs with liquor are what come into our minds when we talk about "commercial establishments" that are open up to the wee hours in the morning. Here's what Duterte said during the media interview: Gusto niyo akong maging presidente? Pag ako nag-presidente, ala-una sarado na 'to. Uwi na kayo. Ginagawa ko sa Davao. Bakit hindi ko gagawin dito (You want me to be President. If I become President, everything's closed at 1am. I did it in Davao. Why won't I do it everywhere else)? When put into effect, among those which will be affected by the 1 am curfew will be casinos, bars, clubs, disco pubs, videoke lounges, etc. According to GMA News Online , "The discussion on curfews came abo...

There's good news to all Rodrigo Duterte fans out there! The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has just announced that he can go on as a replacement for party-mate Martin Diño. The bad news? Let's talk about the good news first. National poll body Comelec on Friday December 4, has junked a petition to declare anti-crime advocate Martin Diño a nuisance candidate. This means tough guy Duterte can go on as a replacement candidate for Diño. The Comelec Second Division said the petition is “moot and academic” as Diño had already withdrawn his candidacy effective October 29, thereby losing “justiciability” because it no longer presents a real problem as between the parties involved. Comelec said, With the foregoing development, the relief prayed for in the present petition has become moot and academic, that is, whatever judgment is reached can no longer have any practical legal effect or, in the nature of things, can no longer be enforced. Now, for the bad news. Th...