MALAYA BUSINESS INSIGHT NEWSPAPER

NO EXCUSES ON CHILD PORN

By Anonymous | January 20, 2014

The Aquino government has assured it would act against online child sex abuse in light of the dismantling by a global
police operation of a pedophile ring which has been streaming videos of Filipino children ages six to 15 who were
depicted as sexual instruments over the Internet.
We will not countenance any syndicates that will (prey) on our minors and that they will be used... as sexual instruments.
That is something that we will really pound the hammer on, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
Curiously, it was Britains National Crime Agency (NCA) which reported that it has broken up an international crime
group that live-streamed child sexual abuse from the Philippines.
What is shocking here is that in some cases, members of the childrens own families were involved in the negotiations
with the pedophiles.
The NCA said its investigation, along with Australian police and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has
identified some extremely dangerous child sexual offenders who believed paying for children to be abused was something
they could get away with.
Lacierda warned that authorities are monitoring tourist establishments to make sure there are no foreign pedophiles.
He also said parents who push their children to commit such acts will be prosecuted.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the drive against human trafficking rings including those engaged in child sex abuse
is being hampered by lack of resources.
Both she and Lacierda also agreed that an anti-cybercrime law which is being challenged at the Supreme Court over its
provisions on online libel could have helped in tackling the crime.
Whether there is an anti-cybercrime law or not, lets face it, authorities have barely scratched the surface when it comes to
dismantling online child sex rings.[1]
This menace will continue and flourish as long as the issue of poverty is properly addressed by the government.
Spare us the excuses of lack of resources and pending anti-cybercrime law.
We must never allow our children the future of the nation to be victims of perverse acts.
Category:
Editorial

THE HIGH PRICE OF DEVOTION

By Anonymous | January 10, 2014

THE Department of Health yesterday said over a thousand devotees suffered from injuries, abrasions and even high blood
pressure during the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene.
In his Twitter account, Health Assistant Secretary and spokesman Dr. Eric Tayag, said that as of 2 p.m. they had attended
to 879 patients.
The Philippine Red Cross first aid stations attended to 615 other patients with minor injuries and high blood pressure.
Now why are we stating the obvious?
It is because the Traslacion is considered a security nightmare for organizers, law enforcement and health officials. [2]
But how does one explain why millions of devotees withstand constant pushing and shoving just to catch a glimpse of the
ebony image atop a carroza?
Why do we see this unparalleled display of devotion?
It is because these barefoot men and women zealously believe that the Senyor would grant their prayers to solve their
financial or health problems.
These are indeed pitiful times where the only hope is divine intervention.
If this were the case, where does the government fit in?
We just hope that the tradition of the Traslacion would be preserved as a stark reminder to the government that it is not the
only recourse of the people.
Category:
Editorial

LETS STOP KIDDING OURSELVES

By Anonymous | January 03, 2014

THE Department of Health should stop patting its back over its report that the number of firecracker and stray bullet
injuries during last Tuesdays New Year revelry was lower compared than when we welcomed 2013.
In its update, the DOH said the firecracker-related injuries climbed to 804 from the period of Dec. 31 to Jan. 5 this year
compared to 931 during the same period in 2013.
The DOH lauded its campaign against firecrackers as a success mainly because the number of those 10 years old and
below as well as bystanders were significantly lower and there were only minor injuries.
Where are the figures? DOH has yet to show us.
Lets do a throwback.
The DOH has changed tack in its campaign against firecrackers from showing images of severed fingers and limbs to
Aksyon: Paputok Inquiry Reduction or APIR to promote a safer welcome to the new year.
According to Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, APIR would provide advice and guidelines on how to safely handle
firecrackers. We already know the end-result.
Filipinos are known to celebrate the entry of a new year through merry-making and lighting firecrackers and fireworks either it is a family tradition or just merely to impress neighbors who couldnt care less. [3]
What the DOH needs is not just the APIR campaign to minimize firecracker-related injuries and this is where Congress
should pass laws that would effectively ban the use of firecrackers.
But how about those firecracker manufacturers and workers (most of them sadly are minors) who depend on their toil for
their everyday needs?
Every problem has a solution, but were afraid the solution regarding the issue about firecrackers is like searching for light
at the end of a tunnel. Sometimes you think its there, but actually it isnt. You just think its there. That light will come
only when theres a real effectively enforced ban. [4]
Category:
Editorial

NO PLACE IN CIVILIZED SOCIETY

By Anonymous | March 06, 2014

DID Mayor Tony Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas act wrongly when he forced a suspect to walk around the wet market
with a sign I am a robber. Dont emulate taped at the back of his shirt and to kneel before his victim in public to ask for
forgiveness?
Human Rights chairwoman Etta Rosales said the mayor blatantly committed a clear and gross violation of the suspects
human rights.
Rosales said even if the suspect was not physically harmed, he was treated with indignity and psychologically punished.
She said only the courts can determine a persons guilt and how he would be punished.
There was no due process, she said.
In his defense, the mayor said the suspect is a repeat offender and that he had no other way of making the suspect stop
than by putting him to shame.
The walk of shame was posted in the mayors Facebook account and it has been shared at least 1,000 times.
We recall a shame campaign of a former mayor in the 1900s where he spray painted doors of suspected drug pushers with
the message House of pushers, move out!
The shame campaign eventually was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
In January last year, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas announced a policy that the PNP will no longer be allowed to present
suspects to the public without their or their lawyers consent.
Roxas said questions from the media will be answered by the suspects lawyers, and that interviews will not be allowed
while the suspects are still under investigation.
The policy, Roxas said, was designed to avoid possible accusations of human rights violations.
Of course, criminality should not be condoned. But we have the law enforcers and the courts to deal with criminals.
Public humiliation should have no place in a civilized society.[5]
Category:
Editorial

THE C-IN-C IS TASKED TO DECIDE

By Anonymous | March 13, 2014

THE issue on whether dismissed Cadet First Class Aldrin Jeff Cudia should be allowed to graduate from the Philippine
Military Academy on Sunday has reached Malacaan Palace.
Avee Cudia said her brothers dismissal runs counter to the Daang Matuwid principle which President Aquino has
espoused since he set foot at Malacaang.
Mr. President, paano kung ang Tuwid na Daan niyo ay may pader na nakaharang? Hanggang doon lang po ba tayo? Sabi
kasi nila kapag binangga ang Honor Code, kami ang magigiba. Hanggang doon lang po ba? she asked.
Cadet Cudia will not be joining the graduation rites for what his superiors said was a violation of the Honor Code.
The story does not end there.
The Cudia family said a vote for acquittal was prevailed upon by the other members of the Honor Committee.
Was Cudia a victim of politics or academic jealousy in the military academy as claimed by his family?
When President Aquino attends the graduation rites on Sunday in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City, he may have already made
his decision.[6]
Aquino is a commander-in-chief at a crossroads. [7]
Category:
Editorial

[1]

Hasty Generalization, is a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.

[2]

Straw Man, oversimplifies an opponents viewpoint and then attacks that hollow argument.

[3]

Ad Populum, an emotional appeal that speaks to positive concepts rather than the real issue at hand.

[4]

Circular Argument, restates the argument rather than actually proving it.

[5]

Begging the Claim, a conclusion that the writer should prove is validated within the claim.

[6]

Hasty Generalization, is a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.

[7]

Ad Hominem, is an attack on the character of a person rather than her/his opinions or arguments.