From My Standpoint

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Sotto: Reinstate Death Penalty

I read from yahoo news about Sotto's call for death penalty revival, and I was intrigued. I know that the senator is a Pro-Life advocate and he abhors RH Bill which he made the "famous" Turno en Contra speech in the senate in 2012; now wants to revive Republic Act No. 7659 that punishes a convicted person of heinous crime via lethal injection. His reason is to help the growing crime rate in country such as rape, murder, et al. to be minimized.

My Standpoint:

First, I would like to mention that I never voted for Sen. Sotto and I like him as a comedian actor--not as a senator. But I have to commend him on this one, as I personally believe in death penalty. Everyday, whenever I watch news on tv and read newspapers, there will always be something that will make my teeth gnashed from the horrendous reports. The recent one was the 6-yr old girl, raped and killed by a drug addict. I have a daughter, and I can't imagine how the parents of the victims felt when they found out what happened to their child. This makes me want to shout: DEATH PENALTY!

I remember when I was in my grade school days, I can walk from house to school and vice-versa without fear that I could be a victim of tremendous crime. My parents can ask me to buy something at store without doubt that I will come back safely. In my college days, I ride from Bulacan to Manila-Manila to Bulacan everyday without someone snatching my bag by a motorcycle tandem or go mall strolling without "martilyo gang" incident. I can go on and on, but the bottomline here: nowadays, crimes becoming more intolerable and those bad people are bold enough to do their ill-intentions in daylight and even at your front door! Why? Because they knew they can get away with it-- what's paying a few thousands for bail or being incarcerated for a few years?

The senator has a point here, crime rate is alarmingly increasing. This not only prevents economic progress of our country but also the citizen who lives here are now afraid to be in their own territory. With death penalty, at least a person may think twice before doing any wrongdoings to other people if they know the gravity of the punishment.

My top 5 list of crimes that should be punishable by deaths are:

1. Rape, regardless of the victim's age

2. Sexual exploitation of children

3. First degree murder

4. Drug trafficking

5. Kidnapping

I know this will create another battle from CBCP and other religious groups, and honestly I don't want to go further by tackling the implication of death penalty to one's religious belief. Those were already debated many times and we are only going to run in circle if we do so. I just hope that they consider the bill, enough to be heard in the plenary. Capital punishment isn't about 'just killing a person', it's about saving many people from that person.

Do you agree in Death Penalty?

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Richard Gomez's Instagram Post re Vhong Incident

Captured from Ricahard Gomez's Instagram

Netizens were quick to capture Richard Gomez's post about Vhong Navarro's beating that many different reactions appeared in the internet. A few said that the joke was made in bad taste, considering the alarming seriousness of the incident--some said the post was to make light of the situation and Gomez's intent to punish the real culprit was there. In light of this, I would like to give my 2 cents on this.

My Standpoint:

Mr. Gomez stated that this matter should be brought up to legal process, to file appropriate cases against each other and let the court decides who is telling the truth here. Then he added, "kung sino ang mahusgahan na may sala yun ang bugbugin nating sabay sabay"--this was what made people react. But if you read between the lines, what do you think he really meant?

In the world of internet, every sensational news broadcasted always flooded with comments, be it may Anti or Pro. The usual bashing and bad mouthing is expected depends what side they are on, you know, character assassination is the "in" thing (not that I condone it). I don't think Mr. Gomez's "bugbugin natin" meant via physical way, but maybe in a media way. Could it be, he wants us to wait for the court to tell us who's the real victim here, and when the result comes out, that is the right time we make a smartass opinion--like, bash all you want because there's already legal basis? Because no matter what, people will always give their points of view.

On a side note, it only shows that Richard Gomez is neutral at the moment. And that he didn't care if you are rich or a celebrity, when one is proven to be wrong then he/she/they should be punished.

What is your reaction to Richard Gomez's Post

UPDATED: Vhong Navarro Incident

Photo from Abs-Cbn

Madlang Pipol were shocked when the beating incident of Vhong Navarro came out on news. It was so sudden and unexpected that this issue was being in trend for few days now. Different views have been stirring the websites, speculations and opinions sprouted, but as of this writing, there is no "concrete" truth coming out yet. I know there are people who are Pro-Vhong and Pro-Deniece fighting and bashing if who's telling the truth and who's lying.

My Standpoint:

Vhong already talked via Buzz ng Bayan, and Deniece/Cedric already gave their side of the story via media. As of this time, I am staying neutral. I believed that there is more to it than meets the eye. However, I feel that both parties aren't telling the truth or they are taking some facts out from their statement. As they say, there are always three sides of the story: his, hers, and the true story.

Vhong Navarro was at the place where he shouldn't be to begin with, there is no amount of explanation why a committed man should be visiting a committed woman(?) at 10.30 in the evening, unless people were naive to believed that the visit was a wholesome one. Granted that he was set-up for blackmail or love triangle or revenge, if he only stayed in his house or did something else that night, this thing wouldn't have happened. He said in his Buzz ng Bayan interview that his girlfriend already forgave him--was that an admission of guilt for cheating? However, I believe what happened to Vhong was in highest form of cruelty and I hope people involved should be punished for the deed.

Then, there's Deniece and Cedric stories. If the CCTV is the basis for verifying each statements, clearly they are outright lying. Anyone who watched the report obviously saw the impossibility of deniece's claim.

1. How can you rape a person with approximate of one or two minutes time?
2. How can they be caught struggling in bed if Deniece was clearly outside the condo?
2. Body language of the "rape victim" in the elevator was unusual if she was indeed raped.

Not that Vhong's first statement in Buzz coincided one hundred percent with his affidavit--a few discrepancies were there but minimal compared to Cedric's and Deniece's. The question now is: Was Vhong Navarro randomly picked as a victim of set up? or IS there a deep, deep secret why the mauling happened?

Still there are lots of WHYS and HOWS running through my mind:

1. If this was pre-meditated, shouldn't you planned it firsthand? If so, how come Cedric and his group didn't foresee that CCTVs are all over the building?
2. Why they never allowed Deniece and Vhong to get intimate first (as an act) before they went to the room for a more believable set up?
3. Why they didn't think of putting hidden cameras inside the room and Deniece can act being raped to use as "evidence?

With all the rampant movie and teleserye theme of mistresses, other woman/man and casual sex, many are being nonchalant of the consequences it may bring. For them, it is the hyped thing! Bottomline, don't play with fire, because no matter how wonderful or great it can be, you will always get burned in the end.

This saga has a long way to go, let's await the legal process to roll before we judge anyone.

*Updated on January 29, 2014*

Who do you believe is telling the truth