How sad the direction the world is taking in respect of free speech. Prominent journalist Maria Ressa was recently released from jail on bail – she is still facing charges for her work.
In the Philippines freedom of the press is often denied, with many cases of journalists being killed or disappearing – The Philippines is among the top three most dangerous places for journalists in the world.
The trend towards curbing free expression and responsible journalism is worldwide, and the US President, Donald Trump is sending very negative messages to other leaders by calling for “investigations” when he doesn’t like a satirical program or political report. Dictators and Despotic leaders around the world have always behaved this way, because a true and free press is a danger to them.
It is very sad, however when leaders of the supposed free world start to chip away at press freedoms.
Saudi Arabia was recently adjudged to be responsible for a US based critical journalist – killing and dismembering him when he visited their embassy – and the US President refuses to condemn them.
For good or bad, he is still considered to the leader of the free world, although he is alienating most of his allies by his sometimes-bizarre actions and his lack of support for them. Previously the world had looked up to the US for leadership and guidance. This is rapidly changing.
Maria faces charges of “cyber libel” because it sought to expose corruption in the highest level. Justice in this country is hard to come by, but let hope that Maria may be kept safe and treated fairly.
Press should always be free to make comment on political actions and opinions from all sides, and when these press freedoms are curbed democracy is damaged

​​What are the biggest issues facing the Philippines today? Is it Poverty? Corruption? Healthcare? No, according to some senators it is the lack of a space program.
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The senate is now considering a bill to establish the Philippine Space Agency. Proponents of the Bill say it will enable space technology which will provide information and data that can solve some of the problems the country faces, like crop management, disaster relief and recovery, planning, transportation and communications.
Sounds good? Maybe, but the country already HAS satellites which may provide these functions. In 1996 a private firm, Mabuhay Satellite Corporation bought a second-hand satellite formerly owned by an Indonesian Company.  Since then It has launched from China it’s own satellite – Agila 2 – developed in the US.
In the public sector, the Government developed two more satellite – this time developed by Philippinos. The Diwata – 2 microsatellite and Maya – 1 cube satellite were both launched last year.
The proponents of the bill are proposing spending php 1 Billion on this project. It will also raise a further php 10 Billion from the Betting industry, other Government agencies and grants and loans (meaning free money yet again from the International Community).
The main proponent of the Bill – Senator Paulo Benigno Aquino IV – has said that insufficient funding, and a lack of a central co-ordinating agency has hindered development of space technologies in the country. He could also have mentioned that it has been hindered by the hundreds of thousands of Pesos which have disappeared into the pockets of politicians and contractors, as is the norm for all Government projects and ventures.
The average Philippino, cannot afford food, or healthcare. They worry about their family being targeted by drug dealers or by Police or Troops suspecting them of drug-dealing, with the President’s approval.
They are not impressed by another device to put a piece of hardware into space which, yet again, will likely do little more than line the pockets of it’s proponents and their cronies.

Those of us who have in first hand knowledge of the way foreign domestic helpers are treated in Hong Kong will be amused at the latest effort to paper over the cracks by the labour department. Never mind the abuse of these poor girls by having to live in with their employers, the unfairness of having to leave the SAR within 14 days of leaving their jobs, giving them no chance to find another job, and NEVER being allowed to become a Permanent Resident in the city.
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Oh no, what these girls need is a 24 hour hotline providing support services. It is open every day, except public holidays (When girls are not working and would have time to contact them) 24 hours a day. From 8 am to 10 pm. A translations service is available in most Asian languages (when girls are working, and many girls are not allowed to use their phones.)
The helpline will give advice (in several languages) on their employment rights, and how to deal with exploitation and physical abuse.
Labour departments generally have been unhelpful to domestic helpers – they are not even open on a Sunday when 90% of helpers have their only day off, so I suppose this helpline is a step in the right direction.
Most of the assistance provided to the helpers is given by non-government organisations – churches and charities. This is a sad indictment on the way this supposed modern city treats guest workers.
To his credit, Labour Party lawmaker Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung has said that although this is a step in the right direction it would just provide information and do nothing to actually assist those with problems. Cheung urged the government to provide more and better services, such as emergency shelters for those suffering abuse.
“We cannot treat them as tools, they are humans,” Cheung said.
A shelter may help workers who have their contracts terminated and are tied in legal disputes with employers. The system is against them – if they manage to stay here to fight their case, they are not allowed to work so many of them cannot afford to stay, attend court etc.
Despite the occasionally highlighted serious abuses, hundreds of girls are abused every day, their employment rights are denied (they are made to sleep on floors, their passports are taken away from them).
These girls cannot complain because it is so easy for the employer to sack them, they know the Government will not let them stay to find another job – and their families at home are depending on the income they send home. HK Government should be ashamed of itself – instead of starting hotlines or lobbying for shelter the lawmakers should be made to tackle the abuses which are enshrined in law.

​Just fifteen years ago a child of nine years old would be treated as an adult in the Philippine legal system. Children under ten years old could be tried as an adult and sentenced to life imprisonment or worse – just like an adult. Critics, at that time, said that this enabled drug dealers and other organized crime to put up children to face charges as their stooges. This resulted in children being kept in adult jails, which are widely accepted to be among the worst in the world with bad sanitation, overcrowding and food, and many instances of sexual and physical abuse.
In 2005 the Senate raised the age limit to fifteen and this year we have a proposal to reduce the age to twelve. This is all about the test of Legal Responsibility – at what age can a minor be said to have thought and acted like an adult. The truth is that it will be different in every case – I am sure we all know some very responsible twelve years old and some eighteen year olds that we would not trust to walk our dog!
In most countries in the western world there is more discretion. There is an in-between way. Up to twelve a child is deemed to be too young to prosecute as an adult – to be not responsible for their criminal actions, and over sixteen they are assumed to be an adult and should bear all responsibility for their action.
During the teen years there is a time, say twelve to sixteen years where a child may or may not be responsible for their actions. In legal terms it is called a rebuttable presumption. They are assumed to be too young to take all blame, but evidence can be introduced to show that they did indeed know what they were doing and should be treated and sentenced as such.
President Duterte is said to approve the proposed change. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo has said the change is needed to protect the children, however, many of the extra judicial killings which have been tacitly approved by Duterte have been children and because of the Presidents words and actions there is never any legal consequences for the killers.
Critics say the only effect of the change would be for crime gangs to put up children under twelve instead of children under fifteen to face crimes on their behalf, and with the inherent corruption in the police and the legal system this will probably be the case.
This change will look good in the International Community who do not understand how the Philippines works, but will have little effect in actually helping teens. Drug and criminal gangs, still run by the most powerful families and politicians, will continue with business as usual.
As with all political changes and proposals in this lawless country. The truth behind the façade is very different – what looks good on the surface does not bear scrutiny, and usually served to advance one party’s agenda – and never that of the long suffering people.