It was rainy but the heat was palpable. Holding a large Philippine flag, the man continued praying the rosary – even if police told him to step down the base of the Chino Roces monument.

The man was among 30 to 40 protesters who staged a prayer rally in Mendiola on Monday, June 12, as the nation marked its 125th Independence Day. Their loudest appeal was to free Leila de Lima, a former senator detained over drug charges, and whose petition for bail was recently denied.

“Ginagawa din namin ito para sa inyo (We are also doing this for you),” one of the protesters appealed to the police, assuring them it was not subversive.

Activist priest Father Robert Reyes, who organized the protest, then arrived to negotiate with the police to allow them to stage the protest.

After much more assurances and calls made, the police relented. They settled at a respectable distance, holding up riot shields for their presence to be known and felt.

Prayer and peace was their tool of choice for their protest, and it had worked.

Organized by the 1521 Solidarity and Clergy for the Moral Choice (CMC), these groups fight for causes, using their faith, head-on.

In front of the statue of Chino Roces, they formed a makeshift altar and prayer circle to offer their intentions for the country.

Their petitions, mixed together with song performances, included the call for election transparency, junking of the Maharlika Investment Fund, and the assertion of claim over the West Philippine Sea. 

But what the group had petitioned for mainly was De Lima’s freedom. “Aming masidhing hinihiling na mabigyang-katarungan lahat ng mga sinasakdal dahil sa politikal na ideolohiya… lalo na sa panggigipit kay Senator Leila de Lima (We feverently ask that all those persecuted for their political ideology will be given justice… especially the pressure put on Senator Leila de Lima),” their petition read.

Freedom from the unjust

1521 Solidarity secretariat Alab Cruz explained that being one with the oppressed is how the group originally came about, during a monthlong remembrance of People Power in February 2023.

She said that De Lima is one such example of who they champion.

“Inspired din tayo ni Leila de Lima dahil pinakita niya sa atin ang kalayaan ng kanyang pagmamahal sa bayan. Ang kalayaan ni Leila ay kalayaan ng Inang Bayan (We are inspired by Leila de Lima because she showed us her freedom in loving her country. Leila’s freedom is our country’s freedom),” she said.

For Cruz, freedom is given through God’s grace, and it should be our mission to grant everyone that freedom.

Reyes, who comes from the Diocese of Cubao, firmly believes that to be truly free is to be Christ-like, and it is the faithful’s responsibility to remind everyone, especially politicians, of the right to freedom.

Reyes talked to the detained De Lima the day before, and said that despite being saddened by the junked petition, she continues to hope for her freedom.

Reyes, who has long used prayer and protests to fight for causes in the country, believes that faith and love for country go hand in hand. 

He reminded Filipinos that they are not just God’s children, but the country’s as well, and a select few should not be favored over the rest.

“Merong mas nakikinabang at napakaraming hindi nakikinabang, depende kasi sa lapit mo sa kapangyarihan, sa mga nakapuwesto (There are those who benefit more, while many others don’t, depending on how close you are to those in positions of power),” Reyes said.

What does Reyes want for the country? He wants a country that experiences true freedom, a country that doesn’t allow celebrations like these to just be a celebration.

“Sana, sana ‘wag nang palabas na lamang ang Araw ng Kalayaan. Dahil kadalasan ay palabas lamang ito. Sana maging totoo na. Taun-taon, nagiging mas totoo ang Araw ng Kalayaan (Hopefully, hopefully Independence Day isn’t just for show. Because often it is just that. I hope it becomes real. It becomes more and more real every year),” Reyes said. – Rappler.com

In April 2022, the Supreme Court’s Third Division ruled with finality that the disputed areas – Bonifacio Global City and nearby “embo” barangays were under the jurisdiction of Taguig.

More than a year after the High Court’s ruling, the DILG secretary said they could not facilitate the turnover of contested territories without the writ of execution.

“Up to now, there is still no writ of execution for this Taguig-Makati case. You cannot take any action without a writ of execution,” said Abalos.

Abalos also said that the Makati-Taguig case was “complex” and involved a lot of agencies, not just the DILG.

He said they already wrote a letter to the Supreme Court two weeks ago to ask for guidance.

The DILG chief, meanwhile, assured the public and the concerned cities that they were ready to comply with the Supreme Court decision should it release a writ of execution.

Meanwhile, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano said in a separate interview that she hopes the transition would be completed within the year.

She said that Taguig is already coordinating with various government agencies, including the DILG, to facilitate the turnover of the territory. 

While meetings with other agencies are already lined up, Cayetano said that they haven’t talked with Makati regarding the transition. She, however, said that they are open to dialogue with Makati.

On Tuesday, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano asked the Supreme Court to investigate “false and troubling” claims supposedly made by Makati Mayor Abby Binay, as well as social media posts, which raised the possibility of the reopening of the territorial dispute case. – Rappler.com

On Tuesday, June 13, Cayetano filed an urgent manifestation and motion asking the High Court to order Makati and Binay to show cause why they should not be sanctioned.

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Cayetano said that a few weeks ago, there were social media posts alleging that Binay spoke with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who all supposedly promised to help reopen the case.

The circulation of these social media posts was followed by Binay’s statement in an interview where she said that they received a document setting the case for oral argument. 

“As far as the city is concerned, there is still a pending motion. We still don’t know since the Supreme Court is on a break so hopefully this month we will get some idea,” Binay said.

The Makati mayor, however, admitted in the same interview that there was no action yet on their omnibus motion.

“As far as the document that we received, we’re actually setting it for a hearing which means it’s not yet final. Even in the omnibus motion, there’s still no action,” Binay said.

“While such social media post could have been dismissed as nothing more than ‘fake news,’ an interview with Mayor Abigail Binay subsequently surfaced which echoed the same message that the fight is allegedly not yet over,” Taguig said in its motion.

Cayetano said the city has not received any advisory that there would be another hearing. On June 8, Thursday, Supreme Court spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka also said that he was not aware of the supposed reopening of the case.

Case closed

In its April 2022 decision, the Supreme Court’s Third Division ruled with finality that the disputed areas – Bonifacio Global City and nearby “embo” barangays were under the jurisdiction of Taguig.

In a two-page resolution dated September 28, 2022, High Court’s Special Third Division also denied Makati City’s omnibus motion for reconsideration on the grounds that the basic issues were already considered and passed upon by the Supreme Court. It also denied Makati City’s omnibus motion, which sought to refer the instant case to the en banc.

“Court En Banc is not an Appellate Court to which decisions or resolutions of a Division may be appealed,” the Supreme Court said in April this year. It said no further pleadings, motions, letters, or other communications will be entertained in relation to the case.

The Taguig mayor said that Binay, as a lawyer and officer of the court, has an obligation not to issue any false or misleading statement about the case. 

“The pronouncements of Mayor Binay and the Makati officials are alarming, so what we want is for them to be investigated and compelled to show cause why they should not be punished by our court for their irresponsible statements,” Cayetano said.

This is not the first time Makati had violated the rules of court, according to the Taguig mayor.

In 2016, the Supreme Court found Makati City guilty of forum shopping after it simultaneously pursued legal remedies before two different courts in connection with its land dispute with Taguig City.

The Taguig mayor said that the case has been resolved, and they should move forward on the transition without compromising the service and welfare of residents.

Cayetano said that since the promulgation of the Supreme Court’s ruling, they have yet to discuss with Makati the transition of the disputed territory. She, however, said they are open to dialogue with Makati.

When asked for a statement on the petition filed by Taguig, Makati City administrator and lawyer Claro Certeza said they have yet to see the motion.

However, Certeza said, “No right thinking lawyer would petition the High Court on the basis of these posts.”

“This is perhaps the first time that a petition has been brought before the Supreme Court on the basis of social media posts with dubious authorship, accuracy and credibility,” he said.

Certeza said they will make respond should the Supreme Court ask them to comment. – with reports from Jairo Bolledo, Rappler.com

Look back: The Taguig-Makati saga, and the clans who’ve figured in it

In a 12-page ruling, the CA’s Fifteenth Division dismissed the petition filed by Marianne Cayton, who sought to overturn the September 14, 2017, decision issued by Judge Paz Esperanza Cortes of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Taguig City Branch 271. 

Cayton owned a unit, which suffered significant damage due to the explosion. One of the victims, Angelito San Juan, was a tenant in Cayton’s unit at the time of the incident. (READ: TIMELINE: The 2013 Serendra blast)

The lower court had dismissed the civil suit due to the failure of Cayton and her counsel to attend the pre-trial and submit a pre-trial brief, as required by the Rules of Court.

In Cayton’s motion for reconsideration, she argued that Judge Cortes had committed grave abuse of discretion by dismissing the complaint, noting that she and her counsel did not receive a formal order to appear in court. They only got a text message from the court staff, informing them about the pre-trial date. 

Additionally, Cayton said that her lawyer had a valid reason to be excused due to a scheduling conflict with another case in Tarlac City. 

However, the CA denied Cayton’s appeal, emphasizing that parties are required to attend the pre-trial conference. The CA acknowledged that there may be instances where non-appearance could be excused at the judge’s discretion, but it said that unless there was clear and manifest abuse of discretion, the judge’s decision should stand. 

“It is more than a simple marking of evidence. It is not a mere technicality in court proceedings, for it serves a vital objective: the simplification, abbreviation, and expedition of the trial, if not indeed its dispensation,” the CA said.

Alveo Land, Makati Development Corporation, and Bonifacio Gas Corporation earlier sought the dismissal of the complaint. The companies argued that the unauthorized movement of a gas range in Cayton’s unit during renovation caused the gas leak.

The CA then, however, declared that it was the companies’ negligence and lack of safeguards that led to the explosion.

The Two Serendra blast on the night of May 31, 2013, took the lives of four people: three Abenson employees who were in the area when the truck they were driving was crushed by the blown-out wall, and San Juan, the guest occupant of Cayton’s unit. A four-month investigation concluded that the blast was caused by a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) leak. – Rappler.com

In an 18-page resolution promulgated on Wednesday, June 7, the anti-graft court’s Third Division said the information filed against Bautista was sufficient to establish a violation of the anti-graft law.

The graft charges against Bautista and former Quezon City administrator Aldrin Cuña are related to a multi-million solar power project signed on June 27, 2019, two days before his term ended.

The case alleged that Bautista and Cuña favored private contractor Cygnet for the installation of solar power and waterproofing systems of Civic Center Building F.

In his petition, Bautista said that the charges failed to state any factual averments that will constitute manifest partiality, evident bad faith, and gross inexcusable negligence.

Sandiganbayan, however, said that the information was sufficient as the rules only require it to state the essential facts constituting the offense without the need for finer details as to how or why the illegal acts amounted to undue injury.

“These focused on factual allegations that would require the presentation of evidence best fitted for a full-blown trial,” the court said.

Sandiganbayan also refuted Bautista’s claim that the Ombudsman’s office delayed the preliminary investigation on him and its subsequent filing of the graft case.

“Consequently, the case against him should not be dismissed upon a finding that there was no violation of his right to speedy disposition of cases,” the court noted.

Apart from this graft case, Bautista and Cuña also face another case where they pleaded not guilty. The graft case involves a P32.2-million contract awarded to Geodata Solutions, Incorporated for the procurement of an online occupational permitting and tracking system.– Rappler.com

Southern Police District Chief Brigadier General Kirby John Kraft identified the victim as Maria Rochelle Melliza, 53 and a lawyer of DPWH-NCR, and her driver, Deo Decena, 42.

A state news media report said the shooting happened around 8:10 am Monday near Melliza’s residence along Fortuna Street in Barangay 20.

According to Decena’s account, as they were driving toward F.B. Harrison Street, motorcycle-riding suspects approached their vehicle. The suspects pulled out their handguns and fired at the victim’s vehicle, Decena said.

Melliza sustained gunshot wounds on her forehead and forearm, while Decena was wounded in the left shoulder and left side of his chest, police said. Both of the victims are in stable condition.

Following the incident, Pasay City police chief Colonel Froilan Uy ordered dragnet operations. They also formed a team to track the location of the suspects. – Rappler.com

The protest was led by Benjamin Alvero from the Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (Kalipunan) coalition to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the massacre on Sunday, June 4.

“Kung sa Tsina nagkaroon tayo ng Tiananmen Square noong 1989, sa Pilipinas naman tayo ay nakaranas sa deka-dekada ng Batas Militar… Saang kontinente naman nanggaling, pare-pareho ang panawagan: ang karapatan na mabuhay ng mapayapa, ang karapatan na mabuhay ng may dignidad,” Alvero said.

(If China had the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989, the Philippines experienced decades of Martial Law. Whatever continent you come from, we all have the same call: the right to live peacefully, and the right to live with dignity.)

The Chinese student protesters were violently dispersed by state forces on June 4, 1989, in an effort to suppress the pro-democracy movement that began to take shape.

Members of the Bagong Silangan Youth reenacted the incident through tableaus to better remember the protestors that had demanded democracy and justice for their own.

Roan, the lead organizer of the tableaus, said that the incident should be memorable not for the deaths on that day, but for showing the capability of the people to call for government accountability.

She adds that it’s activist movements like these that make the government hear concerns and take action. “Ang mga services na meron tayo ngayon, hindi po ‘yan binibigay ng libre. ‘Yan ay binibigay ng gobyerno dahil may mga tao o mamamayang nangangailangan nito (The services that we have today did not come for free. They were given by the government because the people needed them),” she said.

Protests have been an important tool used by Filipinos to voice demands and concerns. The EDSA revolution is a well-known example of protests at work, which led to a peaceful ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1986.

In an interview, Alvarez compared the Tiananmen Square incident to the EDSA revolution, seeing them as two possible outcomes for both peaceful protests. “In many ways, we can look at Tiananmen as what could have happened in Manila during our own revolution. What could have happened had the army remained loyal to the Marcos regime?” he asked.

In memoriam

Any mention or reference to government uprisings, especially in relation to the Tiananmen Square incident in China is heavily censored, under the government-controlled “Great Firewall of China.”

Memorials of the incident have always been popular in Hong Kong, but since the passing of a restrictive national security law in 2020, any form of dissent or protest in the city-state has been immediately quashed.

Kalipunan member Roman Dastas hopes that by holding these commemorations, any incidents like the one in Tiananmen 34 years ago will not happen again, especially in the Philippines:

“Bagamat ito ay nangyari na dito sa Pilipinas nung panahon ng Martial Law, ayaw namin na mangyari ito sa susunod na panahon…. Hindi na ito mauulit sa mga manggagawa, sa kabataan, sa lahat ng kumikilos para sa kalayaan, katarungan, kapayapaan ng ating bansa,” he said.

(Despite that this already happened in the Philippines during Martial Law, we do not want this to happen in the future…. This will not happen again to workers, the youth, to all who take action for our country’s freedom, justice, and peace.)

Dastas also called for the release of 67-year-old activist Alexandra Wong, who was arrested along with 20 other protestors last June 4 for “breaching public peace” in Hong Kong. (READ: Tiananmen vigils shift overseas as Hong Kong falls silent)

For Alvero, memory is a lesson both China and the Philippines can learn from, as work toward democratization is “unfinished” for both countries.

He also sees memory as something the present can learn from, as it allows others to see how movements were started in the past.

“I think it’s important to realize that we are not starting from scratch…. In many cases in these incidents of mass movements, they draw from past experiences, either through metaphors, references, and even strategies,” he said.

Alvero also said that people should realize that the citizens hold the power of change, and not the government. “There’s a reason why the memory of Tiananmen Square is being forcefully erased in the history books in China and by the Chinese government… authoritarian governments are afraid of their own shadows,” he said.

“They’re afraid of ghosts, because that ghost can animate movements today.” – Rappler.com

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In a BFP report obtained by Rappler on Monday, June 5, the bureau said, “The cause of the fire is attributed to sudden self-discharge of the car battery (sulfation) resulting [in] thermal run-away,” which in turn, caused a “sudden build-up of heat and pressure,” eventually causing the explosion.

Based on the bureau’s report dated May 29, the car batteries were stored in the basement along with office supplies, thinners, and paint. These combustible materials contributed to the spread of the fire.

The BFP ruled that the fire incident was “purely accidental in nature” and declared the investigation “closed and solved.”

The bureau’s investigation just took less than two weeks, which is relatively faster compared to the initial BFP estimate of 45 days.

The Manila Central Post Office fire broke out late Sunday evening, May 21, and was put out early Tuesday morning, more than 30 hours later. The BFP pegged the initial cost of damage at P300 million.

Philippine Postal Corporation CEO and Postmaster General Luis Carlos said they welcome the result of the investigation. He said that they will move on and concentrate on the recovery and rehabilitation of the building.

This recent fire was not the first time that the decades-old structure had been put in danger – it was gravely damaged during World War II in the Battle of Manila. – Rappler.com

Gatchalian said Gentle Hands had already been warned at least three times about the violations weeks prior to the issuance of the cease and desist order.

“First of all, it was not abrupt. As early as August, we were already telling them to correct, as early as August 2022. Then another letter in February 2023, right about when I took the helm, and then another one on March 14. Meaning there were numerous letters reminding them to correct these things Gatchalian told ANC.

Must Read

Pulling out children from Gentle Hands to ‘reactivate trauma’ – director

“If there were other ways to do it, number one, we kept on warning them. Number two, when I went there, the imminent danger was there. Do we wait for something bad to happen?” Gatchalian told ANC.

“Again, the principle we are invoking here is, they are saying we didn’t give due process, quite the contrary. Three warnings were given. I personally saw the imminent danger and as the parent of the nation, the government has the power to protect those who cannot protect themselves. It is our responsibility,” the DSWD chief added.

Following the operation, Charity Heppner-Graff, Gentle Hands Inc. executive director, said that they had never had an “untoward incident” in their close to 20 years of operations.

“We have been licensed since 2004. We have never had an untoward incident, accident, anything. We’ve never been asked any of these things. We’ve never been told that our stairs are too steep. We’ve never been told that there’s no proper storage room for unused items,” Heppner-Graff said.

The 123 children who lived in Jason’s House, Gentle Hands’ facility in Quezon City, were pulled out on Tuesday following the DSWD’s issuance of a cease and desist order (CDO) against the orphanage due to alleged living standards violations. The order was issued the day before – Monday, May 22.

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The facility was built for around 80 children.

The DSWD flagged the orphanage for four main violations:

• Violation of fire code due to obstructed fire exits
• Absence of social workers during a surprise visit; five house parents supervising 123 kids
• Overcrowded living conditions
• Use of triple decker beds are not allowed

Gentle Hands said that it is willing to comply with everything the DSWD requires. The children could be sent back if the cease and desist order is lifted, the orphanage’s counsel said, provided that their license is not revoked during the DSWD’s investigation.

Meanwhile, aside from the DSWD’s investigation, Senator Risa Hontiveros also called for an inquiry in aid of legislation.

In Hontiveros’ resolution, it said that many of the children “also have specific needs, including some who require medical attention and psycho-social counseling.”

“Whereas, while the safety and adequacy of living standards are important concerns, it is also important to determine whether or not the correct processes were followed in the removal of the children from a child care facility subject to a CDO, and whether or not these processes are informed by the best interests of the child doctrine,” the resolution read.

Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez, DSWD spokesperson, told Rappler in a phone interview that Gatchalian and the social welfare department would “happily comply and cooperate” with the inquiry.

“As far as Secretary Gatchalian is concerned, he will attend to it personally, so he can settle all the issues,” Lopez said. – Rappler.com

Manila Postmaster Noel Dacasin estimated the reconstruction of the Post Office would take around two years. 

After the tragic event, how is the postal service coping with the situation and trying to move forward?

Watch the report of Rappler reporter Patrick Cruz. – Rappler.com