Retweets, Reposts and Facebook 'Likes' can be libelous

Retweeting, liking and sharing potentially libelous twitter and facebook posts can make you end up in prison because of the country's new anti-cybercrime law. 

Now that's Insaneeee. Read on..

Beware: Online libel included in Cybercrime Law

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III has recently signed the cybercrime bill into law, which includes provisions penalizing libel committed online, InterAksyon.com learned Friday.

In a text message, Taguig Rep. Sigfrido Tinga confirmed thatAquino has indeed signed the bill into law on Wednesday. Tinga is the chairman of the House committee on ICT, and one of the proponents of the bill in the lower house.

No official copy of the new law that was actually signed by the President is available as of press time.

Actress Says Maker of Anti-Muslim Film Lied to Cast + UN leader condemns 'hateful' film

An actress who starred in an anti-Muslim film that stirred extremists to protest across the Middle East claims she was tricked by the filmmaker, who she says lied to the cast about his own name and the true intentions of the movie.

"They put words in my mouth that were not in the script and I never said," said Cindy Lee Garcia, who told ABC News that after she and the other actors had finished shooting their scenes their dialogue was crudely dubbed over with incendiary attacks on Islam and the prophet Mohammed that were not in the script.

Taiwan, China oppose Philippine plan to rename South China Sea

MANILA – China and Taiwan opposed the Philippine plan to rename South China Sea as West Philippine Sea.

Late Thursday, Hong Lei, spokesman of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said South China Sea "has been for a long time a geographic name universally recognized by the international community, and is widely accepted by countries all over the world and by international
organizations such as the United Nations."

Should you buy the new iPhone 5?

Apple has dominated the smartphone market since 2007 with its widely sought-after iPhones. Today, in Cupertino, Calif., Apple unveiled the next entry in the iPhone family, the iPhone 5. Simply put, it's a device that's leaps and bounds better than any other Apple phone to date.

But is it right for you? Consider the following features of the new phone:

Viral: ‘Gangnam Style’ is new 'Call Me Maybe'

MANILA, Philippines – It is safe to say that “Gangnam Style,” the music video of South Korean rapper Psy, is one of the most viral videos in the history of YouTube.

The video, which has over 130 million views to date, gained popularity for its catchy beats and hilarious dance moves. Psy’s horse dance, in particular, has started a craze all of its own.

The “Gangnam Style” fever has hit several parts of the world, with everyone from Nelly Furtado to a flash mob in Bangkok, Thailand.

Of course, Filipinos were not spared.

NEWS:3 Pinoys make it big in HK, Relief Insight for MRT commuters

MANILA, Philippines – Three Filipinos are making it big in Hong Kong as disc jockeys and restaurant owner.

The hard work of disc jockeys Michael Vincent and June Paragas and chef Ronald Bartolome paid off. They are among the many Filipinos who have found success in Hong Kong.

Padaca: Probe 'raid' on Robredo's condo

MANILA, Philippines – Former Isabela governor and Kaya Natin Movement co-founder Grace Padaca urged the government to investigate the alleged attempt to access the condominium unit and offices of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Padaca said the incident calls for an explanation from the parties involved, particularly DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno, who was tagged as among those who tried to enter Robredo’s condo unit along with several policemen.

“The matter is crying for an explanation, at the very least, and an investigation. If Usec. Puno was open to interviews and answering questions then it would have been cleared,” Padaca told ANC’s “Dateline Philippines” on Saturday.

1M signatures to oust Sotto from Senate

MANILA, Philippines - An online petition has been set up seeking the ouster of Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

The petition at the Change.org website accuses Sotto of allegedly using his political and showbiz influence in spreading misinformation on the reproductive health (RH) bill.

It also accuses Sotto of being a serial plagiarist without remorse.

QC police trio tagged in SUV theft: ‘We just parked it nearby’

Three Quezon City policemen are in hot water for allegedly stealing a sport utility vehicle, which was recovered by its owner after nine days.

Facing charges of car theft and falsification in the city prosecutors office are PO3s Fernando de la Cruz and Roberto Tripon and PO1 Sherwin Reyes, all assigned to the La Loma substation.

The Quezon City Police District filed the complaints on Friday after the owner of the Toyota RAV-4 (UNF-553) came to the police station in search of the vehicle.

Bessie Ang, 54, only got back her SUV on Aug. 30, or nine days after it went “missing.”

Globe offers rebates for service disruption

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom Inc. said subscribers in Metro Manila who experienced "connectivity" problems during the weekend will get rebates. 

Globe Telecom said subscribers in Las Pinas, Paranaque, Muntinlupa and Taguig were unable to make and receive calls from Saturday to Sunday.

Honest airport worker returns cash, valuables worth P1.8M

MANILA, Philippines - An airport building attendant assigned at the NAIA terminal 2 domestic departure area had proven again the saying that “honesty is the best policy”, as he returned cash and other valuables totalling P1.8 million.

NAIA terminal 2 manager, lawyer Cecilio Bobila, identified the building attendant as Ronald C. Gadayan who is assigned at the NAIA terminal 2 south wing domestic terminal.

Dutch reality show to offer one-way tickets to Mars

Photo Source: REUTERS/NASA

THE HAGUE - As the world marvels at the latest US Mars landing, a Dutch start-up is aiming to beat NASA at its own game by sending the first humans to the red planet -- and film it all as a reality show.

The big hitch: it's a one-way trip.

Fact, fiction or publicity stunt from the land that launched reality TV?

Passports now available at SM Megamall

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) inaugurated yesterday its first satellite consular office in Metro Manila at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Moms are human incubators at Fabella Hospital

Ward four of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila is as crowded as they come, with two, sometimes three pairs of mothers and infants to a bed.

 

The airy hall with high ceilings is home to some 300 mothers who have just given birth. But not all births are equal. 

World’s Oldest Message in a Bottle Found Off Scotland

A Scottish fisherman has set a Guinness World Record by recovering the oldest-known message in a bottle, besting the previous record by more than five years.

Sailing the vessel “Copious,” skipper Andrew Leaper, 43, discovered the bottle floating east of the Shetland Islands off the northern coast of Scotland. It was set adrift more than 98 years ago in June 1914 by Capt. CH Brown of the Glasgow School of Navigation, the BBC reported.

Bureau of Immigration bares gang selling fake passports to foreigners

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday it believes it has uncovered a big-time syndicate whose members make and sell fake Philippine passports to foreign nationals in the country following the recent arrest of one of its members by immigration agents.

Job: Nursing grads willing to work in healthcare outsourcing

MANILA - The local healthcare information management outsourcing sector expects its workforce to almost double this year as it continues to attract unemployed nurses.

According to the Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines, the number of nurses hired by its member-firms would surge to 43,000 by yearend from 24,700 last year.

PAL proposes new Manila international airport

MANILA - Philippine Airlines will propose to government the establishment of a new international airport in Manila, the flag carrier's president said on Thursday.

On the sidelines of PAL's stockholders' meeting, Ramon S. Ang said the new airport will have four runways and will span 2,000 hectares.

He said the company is in talks with a Korean contractor for the project, and aims to complete construction in 3 years.

Woman commits suicide at Pasay LRT Station, caught on video

Click for the link to ANC reports with the CCTV footage

MANILA, Philippines – A woman committed suicide by jumping in front of an approaching Light Rail Transit (LRT) train in Pasay City on Thursday morning, an official said.

Light Rail Transit Autrhority (LRTA) Spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said the woman jumped on the tracks of the LRT-1 in EDSA-Taft station at around 5:50 a.m.