News Roundup 13 July 2023
Jul 13, 2023 • 4 min Read
CBCP laments use of prayer for drag performance but sees no need to file complaint | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines —The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has lamented the recent use of a Catholic prayer hymn and religious garb by a drag artist for a bar party performance, saying that the use of sacred elements for secular purposes borders on “mockery and profanity.”
A representative of the CBCP has maintained, however, that the Church hierarchy will not be filing legal charges against the drag artist over the incident, saying that cautioning the public against committing similar acts is enough for now.
In a statement Wednesday, CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs Executive Secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano said that the public should be “extremely prudent in their actions, especially with regard to using elements of religion and faith for secular purposes.”
“If not used properly, such actions border on mockery and profanity,” he added.
Secillano also said that “faith and sacred objects” should not be used to entertain.
“Dancing to the tune of a sacred and biblical prayer, with matching sacred costume to boot, is completely disrespectful not only of people and institutions practicing such faith but of God Himself,” he said.
Secillano said that the CBCP will not be filing charges against Vega over the post, according to an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
“For these kinds of incidents, it’s enough for now that we have spoken about it and we have addressed the public. I believe that legal steps are not yet in the horizon,” Secillano said in Filipino.
Full Story at: CBCP laments use of prayer for drag performance but sees no need to file complaint | Philstar.com
QCPD considers photojournalist’s ambush as ‘case solved’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) announced on Thursday that the shooting incident involving a photojournalist is now considered a “case solved,” according to Police Brig. Gen. Nicholas Torre III.
On June 29, photojournalist Joshua Abiad of Remate Online was wounded when assailants fired at his sport utility vehicle in Barangay Masambong, Quezon City.
But Torre clarified that the case cannot be considered “closed” yet as the manhunt operation for the alleged mastermind and other suspects is still ongoing.
“Solved ito, pero hindi closed. We consider it by the definition ng aming [Philippine National Police] standards, solved na ito pero continuous pa rin,” Torre said at a press conference Thursday.
“Open siya kasi ongoing ang manhunt sa mga suspects na at large,” the police official added.
Full Story at: QCPD considers photojournalist’s ambush as ‘case solved’ | Philstar.com
MMDA: P500 fine soon for motorbike riders sheltering under flyovers | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Motorcycle riders seeking shelter from the rain or heat under footbridges and flyovers will soon be fined P500, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) bared on Wednesday.
MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes, during the unveiling of the MMDA’s new communications and command center in Pasig City on Wednesday, said they will start fining drivers after providing alternative shelters for them.
“Obstruction ang unang una penalty diyan P500, so soon kung maayos po natin ang sistema particularly sa mga gasoline stations I think we’ll strictly enforce na po ang pag-i-issue ng ticket sa mga mag–violate,” Artes told reporters.
(That’s obstruction, with a penalty of P500, so soon, once we fix the system, particularly at gasoline stations, I think we’ll issue tickets to violators.)
Artes explained that the MMDA is already in talks with owners of gasoline stations where tents will be set up for motorcycle riders.
Motorcycle riders seeking shelter under footbridges and flyovers, Artes stressed, is is dangerous not only to the riders themselves but for other motorists as well.
Full Story at: MMDA: P500 fine soon for motorbike riders sheltering under flyovers | Inquirer News
CA orders military, police to present 2 missing activists, justify detention | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to present missing Cordillera activists Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz Jamil De Jesus.
In a resolution dated July 10, the appeals court Thirteenth Division said the separate petitions for habeas corpus are sufficient in form and substances that it required both the military and police to bring to court Capuyan and de Jesus on July 14.
A writ of habeas corpus is a remedy applicable to cases of illegal confinement or detention.
Full Story at: CA orders military, police to present 2 missing activists, justify detention | Inquirer News
