News Roundup 28 June 2023
Jun 28, 2023 • 4 min Read
Larry Gadon disbarred by SC for profane remarks | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) unanimously voted to disbar anti-poverty czar Larry Gadon following profane remarks made against female veteran reporter Raissa Robles.
“By a unanimous vote of 15-0, the Supreme Court En Banc resolved to disbar Atty. Lorenzo ‘Larry’ Gadon for his viral clip where he repeatedly cursed and uttered profane remarks against journalist Raissa Robles,” said the SC Public Information Office on Wednesday.
The SC said that it found the clip to be “indisputably scandalous that it discredits the legal profession.”
The highest court of the land also emphasized that there is no room for sexism or misogyny in practicing law.
“The privilege to practice law is bestowed only upon individuals who are competent intellectually, academically and, equally important, morally. There is no room in this noble profession for misogyny and sexism. The Court will never tolerate abuse, in whatever form, especially when perpetrated by an officer of the court,” the SC said.
According to the SC, Gadon violated Canon II on Propriety, of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, which states that the lawyer must always “act with propriety and maintain the appearance of propriety in personal and professional dealings, observe honesty, respect and courtesy, and uphold the dignity of the legal profession consistent with the highest standards of ethical behavior.”
Full Story at: Larry Gadon disbarred by SC for profane remarks | Inquirer News
Reshuffle of top police officials halted by DILG | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — In a rare move, the head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday halted the reshuffle of some senior officials in the Philippine National Police.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the reassignment of eight high-ranking PNP officials announced on Monday were “currently just recommendations” and not yet in effect.
“There are processes that should be followed. The list of the officials should be submitted to the Napolcom (National Police Commission) first for confirmation. After that, it shall be subjected to the President’s approval,” Abalos said in a statement.
In special orders dated June 26, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. reassigned eight generals, including the regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
The reassignment orders were signed by Maj. Gen. Robert Rodriguez, head of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, and Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Peralta, the fourth in command as acting chief of directorial staff.
A joint turnover and assumption ceremony — with Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, PNP’s No. 2 as acting chief for administration, serving as the presiding officer — was scheduled in Camp Crame on Tuesday morning, which was moved to late in the afternoon, until it was eventually called off.
In stopping the action of the PNP leadership, Abalos, who sits as Napolcom chair, cited Section 6(3)(f) of Napolcom Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001, stating that “the assignment/designation of the [concerned positions] shall be submitted to the Commission for confirmation prior to the submission of the same to the President for approval.”
Full Story at: Reshuffle of top police officials halted by DILG | Inquirer News
Eco-tourism justice zone launched in Tagaytay City | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Justice Sector Coordinating Council launched Wednesday a specialty justice zone in Tagaytay City that will focus on ecotourism.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lord Villanueva, and Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez launched the JSCC’s Tagaytay City Justice Zone, the SC PIO said in a tweet.
The Tagaytay City Justice Zone was the 11th to be unveiled in the country and the fourth to be inaugurated during the term of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.
Singh stressed during the launch that the rule of law must be the anchor of the economy for it to flourish.
Full Story at: Eco-tourism justice zone launched in Tagaytay City | Philstar.com
Over 2,700 people detained in anti-trafficking raid | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have detained more than 2,700 people during a raid on several buildings in Manila where alleged trafficking victims were paid to recruit players for online games, police said Tuesday.
Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Pakistani, Cameroonian, Sudanese, Myanmar and Philippine nationals were among the people found inside a compound in the capital on Monday night.
Authorities were interviewing 2,724 detainees to identify who was a victim or suspect, said police Captain Michelle Sabino, a spokeswoman for the anti-cybercrime unit.
More than 1,500 were Filipinos.
International concern has been growing over internet scams in the Asia-Pacific region, often staffed by trafficking victims tricked or coerced into promoting bogus crypto investments.
Sabino said the alleged trafficking victims had accepted jobs posted on Facebook to work in the Philippines “to find players” for online games.
Full Story at: Over 2,700 people detained in anti-trafficking raid | Philstar.com
