The Start of the End: Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

24 January 2010
I have posted a blog entitled 'A Safer Haven for Bloggers: No More'.

There, I have made mention of the the 'Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2009', I believe it was H.B. 6794 that time. There have been other versions and now was passed into law last 12 September 2012 by Pres. Aquino.

It is now known as Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, officially recorded as Republic Act No. 10175.

The law's other provisions are beneficial. Except for the part that covers Internet Libel, where you can no longer express yourself in any form and venue over the internet.

The start of the end of freedom of expression in the Philippines. The start of the times when our mouths would have 'busals,' and our fingers, would have restraints.

I guess Pres. Aquino is trying to make another history - much worse than that of Marcos's Martial Law, which his late mother and former president, Cory Aquino fought for, believing that the Filipino people deserves freedom. The same freedom he has now allowed to be tainted and to be trampled upon with impunity by people who believed that their names don't deserved to be judged and spit upon.

Nonetheless, still many are not fooled. Just a few days ago, 9 October 2012, the Supreme Court has issued a TRO stopping its implementation - for 120 days.

And then what?

I need not quote the Constitution and our Bill of Rights just to say that I have justifications and contention.

It is my right to freely express myself, in any form.

I hope the new SC Chief Justice have enough guts to say know to her President and to the proponents of this law.

Revise it, fine. Just remove that part that denies us of our rights. And the very vague ones, where for sure those pathetic people have intentionally left out.

Church oppose Balikatan in Bicol

Militants welcome Church’s opposition to Balikatan Urges other sectors to do the same The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol (BAYAN-Bikol) welcomed the opposition of the Catholic Church against the planned Balikatan here in the region. This developed as Bishop Lucilo Quiambao of the Diocese of Legazpi, voiced out his view that the Balikatan will just be a bane to Bicolanos because civilians will be the ones caught in the crossfire when US troops are engaged in armed encounters. The bishop also said that prostitution would increase with the presence of US troops and the morality of our youth will be endangered. According to Tessa Lopez, public information officer of BAYAN-Bikol, “this is a positive development and we hope that this will encourage other sectors to speak up against Balikatan 09. Even the good bishop does not believe that the US troops will only be engaged on their so-called “humanitarian missions” because in every Balikatan exercise, war games and even actual combat operations are part of the package,” “We are calling on all patriotic Bicolanos to stand up and oppose this new type of invasion. Oragons should join rallies, sign petitions and participate in discussions opposing Balikatan, these are just some of the ways we can show our disgust against the US troops,” ended the militant leader.