SC raps La Union judge over ‘naked’ online posts

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- The Supreme Court reminded judges Tuesday to be mindful of what they post on social media as it admonished a regional trial court judge in La Union for posting photos of himself half-naked and revealing his tattoos.
    In a decision penned by SC Associate Justice Jean Paul Inting, the high court said the judge, who was not identified, was found guilty of conduct unbecoming of a judge.
    “The court once again reminds judges to be mindful of what they communicate in social networking sites regardless of whether it is personal matter or a part of his or her judicial functions... Content inauditability creates and contributes to the public’s perception not only of the concerned judges, but more importantly of the judiciary as a whole,” the SC said.
    “By posting the pictures on Facebook, (respondent judge) placed himself in a situation where he and the status he holds as a sitting judge became the object of the public’s criticism and ridicule,” the high tribunal said.
    The administrative case filed against the judge stemmed from printouts of the pictures he posted on Facebook, which were received by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).
    In his defense, the judge said his account was hacked and the privacy settings were changed from private to public.
    He said his photos were intended to be viewed only by his friends on Facebook and not by the public.
    The OCA said the judge violated the New Code of Judicial Conduct as well as OCA Circular 173-2017.
It recommended a fine of P15,000 fine and a reprimand with a strong warning.
    ”The respondent judge is admonished to be more circumspect in his professional and personal dealings on social media and sternly warned that a repetition of the same similar acts shall be dealt with more severely,” the high tribunal said as it adapted the findings of the OCA.
    The SC clarified that impropriety covered only the photos the judge posted on social media and has nothing to do with his decision to have tattoos.
    It also took note of the judge’s admission that he has a “sizeable” number of Facebook friends who could access his daily posts.

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to folks: Report quarantine violators

By Leilanie Adriano 

LAOAG CITY – Law enforcers in the province of Ilocos Norte have sought the help of netizens to report quarantine protocol violators if they happen to see one.
    Through the localized program dubbed as “Kabsat, E-Pulongmo!”, netizens are asked to help monitor by taking and sending real-time photos or videos of violators to the official Facebook page of the municipal, city, or provincial police station or call local hotline number 09457187074.
    When reporting, the format should indicate the name and address of the netizen, those who are involved in the photo or video and then send it to the Laoag City police station Facebook page which is open round the clock.
    “But if such act needs an immediate police response, the public may feel free to call the police station near them,” said Laoag City police chief Rafael Lero on Wednesday.
    Among the most common quarantine violations that even people themselves flaunt on social media are mass gathering and celebrations, drinking sessions, non-observance of physical distancing, and non-wearing of face masks.
    As the entire province has been placed under localized modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) with heightened restrictions in areas with the highest number of infections from August 1 to 15, the Ilocos Norte police have intensified their monitoring of people who violate health and safety protocols.
    Since March 15, the Ilocos Norte police has already arrested hundreds of individuals, mostly violating curfew and non-wearing of face mask. (PNA) 
 

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Comelec warns poll bets: Paid social media being monitored

The Commission on Election (Comelec) is faced with monitoring campaign spending with the rise of social media as the most popular medium for candidates to widen their reach.

In its Resolution 10488, Comelec has included rules on the use of social media as instrument for campaign.

According to Comelec Spokesperson Director James Jimenez, the poll body has required all candidates and political parties to submit the uniform resource locator (URL) of their official pages for the Comelec to monitor their social media activities.

These include the website name and address, whether its an official blog site or social media page.

“Kung ano iyong official outlets nila online ay kailangan i-inform nila kami. Hindi natin mino-monitor ang volume ng labas nila. Ang mino-monitor natin ay ang cost ng content,” Jimenez said on Tuesday (February 12).

“Halimbawa, you have a thousand followers. You can boost it to more than 50,000 by spending some money. Iyon ang tina-track natin na expense. Because we know what their URLs are, alam natin kung saan natin hahanapin iyong mga campaign materials nila,” he added.

The poll body created a specific group of personnel who will focus on tracking down the candidates’ online bloggers and social media influencers to lead them to the candidates and make sure that no one will be able to escape the rules.

“Iisa naman ang template nila so hanapin mo iyong source. Huwag tayong ma-obsess sa mga galamay. Doon tayo sa pinanggalingan, iyon ang hahabulin namin,” Director Jimenez said.

Jimenez emphasized, however, that hiring social media associates or commenters must be reported to the poll body.

“Kapag nalaman (namin) na mayroon kang social media associates o gumagamit ka ng paid social media commenters, that would be included in your cost. Kasama iyan sa cost na kailangan mong ireport na ikaw ay naghire ng mga personnel for the campaign para ang trabaho lamang ay to influence a discourse,” the Comelec Spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the poll body clarified that they do not count any post from a person that may benefit a candidate specifically those which cannot be considered as high value promotions.

“Mostly pasok iyan sa free expression,” Jimenez explained.

“You can literally post 24 hours a day and it will not make a difference. The only thing is kapag nag-promote ka ng post mo or naglabas ka ng content na medyo high value, high quality ay kailangan mong i-report. Iyon lang naman ang nire-regulate natin,” he added.

An election law expert said candidates should abide by the Comelec rules being the government body authorized to conduct and ensure a peaceful and orderly elections.

Atty. George Erwin Garcia noted, however, that the only thing questionable would be if the Comelec is doing a legislative function when it should only be executing the law.

“These will be issues which will be raised definitely in the Supreme Court. The Comelec can always interpret the law kung saan nila gustong i-interpret simply because under the Constitution, the Comelec is there to implement and supervise the conduct of the election,” Garcia said.

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‘Carrot Man’ of Mountain Province goes viral on net

By Ces Dimalanta

BAUKO, Mountain Province -- Social media went abuzz on Tuesday morning as photos of a handsome Igorot farmer from Barangay Monamon Sur here went viral, causing people to search for his whereabouts and identity

“Carrot Man” started trending around 10 am on Twitter and immediately took the 5th spot of the Philippines Trends List with over 19,000 tweets as of this posting.

The Bauko farmer, dubbed as “Carrot Man,” because of his viral photos wherein he can be seen carrying a basket full of carrots, was photographed by a certain Edwina T. Bandong who was captivated by the charming looks of the young guy while they were on their way to Sagada.

Bandong’s photos of the Igorot farmer were published on Feb. 10 but it was only after Positive Outlook Plus took notice that the story went viral on Feb. 22, reaching over 23,000 shares and over 2 million views, according to their Facebook post.

Netizens can’t help but swoon over the photogenic Carrot Man, who was later identified as Jeyrick Sigmaton by girls who stalked every nook and cranny of social media.

Sigmaton resembles various stars such as South Korean superstar Jang Geun Suk, Taiwanese actor Vic Zhou, and even English actor Isaac Wright who played Bran Stark in the television series Game of Thrones.

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Netizens hit ban of 2-wheeled vehicles on Baguio streets

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The ban on two-wheeled vehicles along the central business district drew flak from netizens, but city officials stood pat saying unless a local law is amended allowing such, this has to be implemented.   

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the ban on motorcycles, bicycles and motorcycles within the city limits is not a new law but an old and operative, albeit outdated statute.

This, after a memorandum he issued Feb. 4 to city police director Senior Supt. George Daskeo to implement ordinances prohibiting the use of two-wheeled vehicles and tricycles within the city boundaries  drew flaks in social media. 

The mayor said the order was meant to ease traffic flow and enhance the safety of motorists after complaints reached his office on the danger caused by these vehicles along busy streets. 

He said he did not intend to deprive motoring and biking enthusiasts of their sporting and mobility needs nor was he going against the environmental campaign to encourage biking and walking   as drummed up by some bloggers and Facebook commenters who criticized the mayor’s move.

“I also agree that the use of these vehicles should be encouraged but until the law is amended or suspended, it remains in effect.  I hope the people will not fault me for implementing the law,” the mayor said.

The mayor said in fact, the city has not been fully implementing the total ban on motorcycles and bicycles and has even been allowing them to traverse areas outside Session Road and even in parts of the central business district.

“But because of the complaints that we have been receiving, we thought we had to implement these laws fully to alleviate our traffic problem and ensure the safety of the riding public,” the mayor said.

Amid the online brouhaha, members of the Cordillera Motorcycle Association led by Robert Macamba and Watson Tabat met with the mayor and the city council and aired their request to have the ordinance amended in such a way that they will be allowed to traverse all roads at all times except in Session Road and Harrison Road where they will be allowed only on “window hours.”   The ban on tricycles will remain.

The mayor expressed willingness to consider the recommendations and asked the group to submit their proposed amendments which will be used as basis for repealing or amending the existing ordinances by the city council.

While this is being worked out, the mayor agreed to revert back to the old arrangement of allowing them entry in all roads except at Session Road.

Councilor Joel Alangsab, chair of the city council committee on traffic and transportation last Wednesday began conducting consultations with the motorcycle groups on the possible amendments. More consultations will be scheduled with the other stakeholders to determine the consensus on the matter.

The mayor said complaints reaching him pointed to transgressions by some undisciplined motorcyclists and bikers ranging from overspeeding to the detriment of other vehicles to noise and indiscriminate parking.

Ordinance No. 66 series of 1948 imposed the total ban on motorcycles, tricycle, scooters, bicycles or motorbikes within the city limits except on specified areas.  This was later amended by Ordinance No. 329 series of 1960, Ordinance No. 418 series of 1965 and Ordinance No. 423 series of 1965 but all of these in essence retained the total prohibition.  Ordinance No. 28 approved in 2012 banned tricycles in the city and this is being enforced up to now.

In 2000, there was a proposal to lift the prohibition for the motorcycles and bicycles but during consultations, the public posed objections prompting the city council to retain the ban.    

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