PEOPLE are talking about...
* HOW THE LAPU-LAPU PROSECUTOR'S DILEMMA MAY BE SOLVED. (1) The teenage suspect will be surrendered by the mother to DSWD for protective custody, thus eliminating the need for the prosecutor to rescind his order. (2) The prosecutor will find "probable cause" for the trial of the suspect to proceed.
President Duterte created the dilemma by announcing in public he had called the prosecutor and ordered him to reverse his ruling, an embarrassment to the prosecutor and the justice protocol. The president's wish could've been quietly relayed or sent through the justice secretary.
4 arrested, 2 at large
THE GANG RAPE IN ARGAO, CEBU -- publicized Wednesday (March 27) with the arrest of four of six men who had forced sex with an eight-year-old, Grade 2 girl, in Argao, Cebu -- may compete with the savage killing of 16-year-old Christine Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City. Consider:
* The multiple rape was committed with the participation and allegedly on the behest of an uncle, 48, who, when he was finished, shared her with five other friends who one after another molested the girl;
* The mother knew about the uncle's continual abuse since the girl was Grade 1 but had not gone beyond advising her not to do it again and keep away from him. The girl reported the early abuse to her Grade 1 teacher, who relayed it to the mother. After the gang rape, she reported it to her Grade 2 teacher, who this time went to the police, leading to the arrest of four of six suspects.
Details of the scandal in Argao that were told over dyMF (Bombo) radio by the police women-and-children desk officer were as graphic as could be.
Bong Go for president?
BONG GO, NOT SARA 'DIGONG'S CHOICE.' Ellen Tordesillas, veteran journalist, offers this theory, which she attributes to a "political analyst-friend," that President Duterte prefers Bong Go, his long-time "go-for" aide, to his daughter Sara. What we've been saying and hearing is that Davao City mayor Duterte-Carpio is being groomed as Digong's successor. She has been all over the country selling her Hugpong ng Pagbabago senatorial bets and herself as presidential wannabe in 2022. What has not occurred to the public is that Digong is thinking of Bong Go instead. Well, Go is also crisscrossing the Philippines in his bid for the Senate. And if he'd land as No. 1 (over Grace Poe) in the Magic 12, he could be "viable" for the next presidential race. Or so the speculation runs.
Basis for the theory: Digong and her daughter are at odds on political principles and moves, someone he cannot control. Still, it's interesting and new, compared to the Sara yarn. Ellen's column was posted at verafiles.org Wednesday (March 27).)
Evasco's complaint
'SABOTAGING' BY FOOD IN BOHOL. There are all kinds of dirty tricks during this campaign but you may not have heard about this one. Candidate for Bohol governor Jun Evasco, the president's known friend and ally, complains that his rival "sabotaged" the visit of Hugpong ng Pagbabago campaign manager Sara Carpio-Duterte by having the caterer include in food packs doled out to supporters perishable kinds, such as "afretada" and "pansit." Evasco apologized on dyLA radio although it was not disclosed if anybody complained of food poisoning.
Would the wrong food drive away one's supporters? Evasco's competition allegedly went through the trouble of mixing his food packs with perishable material. It must have worked in the past.
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