HEADLINE: With Duterte as president, implementing 'Bawal Bastos' law will be hard — Gabriela

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/16/1935175/duterte-president-implementing-bawal-bastos-law-will-be-
hard-gabriela

SOURCE: Philippine Star

DATE: July 16, 2019

LEAD: MANILA, Philippines — Implementing the so-called “Bawas Bastos” law will be a challenge if the president
himself degrades and objectifies women, Gabriela Women’s Party said Tuesday. President Rodrigo Duterte signed
Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act on April 17 but the document was released to the media only on Monday. The
law’s principal author, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, earlier said the proposed measure has lapsed into law.

COMMENTARY:

The news article “With Duterte as president, implementing 'Bawal Bastos' law will be hard — Gabriela” was written by
Gaea Katreena Cabico published on the online website of Philippine Star last July 16, 2019. Cabico discusses the
implementation of Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act, and how it poses as a challenge if
President Rodrigo Duterte himself degrades and objectifies women. In her article, the author continually criticizes the
President by mentioning various occasions where he acts otherwise and concludes with how critics defend Duterte.

The author includes various statements by the Gabriela’s Woman Party that further point the readers to question the
capability of President Rodrigo Duterte to follow the “Bawal Bastos” law he himself had signed (e.g. … throws an ironic
shade on himself as he represents the single most brazen violator of the law’s intent with his staple macho-fascist
remarks). This is further strengthened after enumerating various controversial remarks and actions Duterte has done
toward women. From his most recent rape joke during the graduating rites at the Philippine Military Academy, Cabico
also includes how Duterte kissed a married Filipino woman in South Korea, touched his sleeping maid indecently when
he was younger, ordered troops to shoot female rebels in the vagina, and proposed using virgins to lure tourists to the
Philippines jokingly. All of this indeed “throws an ironic shade” on the President as all the acts above are prohibited by
the newly signed law and can impose stiff penalties.

The author’s “straight-to-the-point” way of writing makes the article clear and easy to understand to the reader. By
bringing up the numerous occasions where Duterte has acted opposite of the “Bawal Bastos” law, she effectively
provokes scepticism and doubt in the reader. In my opinion, Cabisco does a good job as a news writer. Nowadays, more
and more people are becoming blinded to the truth due to senseless idolism. Thus, writers who are frank and not afraid
to speak out like her are vital to the country. The only thing I would want to change is how the author poorly concluded
her article by opening up another topic of how Duterte critics must view the issue which is usually highly discouraged
when forming a conclusion.

All in all, I approve of the author’s comprehensive way of writing which draws attention to the credibility of the “Bawal
Bastos” law. In such way, readers can “dig deeper” and form their own opinions regarding the President and the
implementation of the said law.
HEADLINE: Duterte on West Philippine Sea: I’m the owner, I’m just giving China fishing rights

SOURCE: Inquirer

DATE: July 17, 2019

LEAD: MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte insisted Wednesday Manila’s sovereign rights in the West
Philippine Sea despite his decision to allow China to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The news article “Duterte on West Philippine Sea: I’m the owner, I’m just giving China fishing rights” was written by
Nestor Corrales published on Inquirer.net last July 17, 2019. Corrales talks about President Rodrigo Duterte’s stance
regarding the ownership of the West Philippine Sea and mentions due to the president’s “warm ties” with China, they
would not heed him even if he would ban them in parts of the West Philippine Sea. To further enlighten the readers of
China’s unspoken sovereignty over the Philippines, he stated a similar past dispute which was the seizing of Scarborough
Shoal in 2012. The author sheds a light and informs the readers of such issues straightforwardly, at the same time
causing them to feel patriotism at a common enemy (in this context, China). In conclusion, the article is well-written and
provides essential information to the readers who are citizens of the country.