Should BSA Allow Gay Members?

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has been under some pressure from several groups lately to amend their stance on banning gay scouts. Last Friday (19 April 2013), as they try to seek for an elusive middle ground on an issue that has divided its ranks and drawn heated national debate, the organization proposed ending its longstanding ban on openly gay scouts but continuing to bar gay adults from serving as leaders.

The proposal was put on the table but it must still gain the approval of the roughly 1,400 voting members of the Scouts' National Council at a meeting in Texas the week of May 20.

Rape-Plagued India Becomes Apathetic

A few months ago, India was put into the limelight after the brutal attack and gang rape of a 23-year-old Delhi physiotherapy student on a moving bus. The student died 13 days later from massive internal injuries.

The horrific incident was followed by another sexually-motivated attack last March when a Swiss tourist was raped in front of her husband by eight men in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The attackers also stole a camera, mobile phone and about 10,000 rupees (US$ 185).

Salonga's Point-By-Point on PHL's Sabah Claim

According to former Senator Jovito Salonga, the Philippine claim to Sabah is based on solid grounds. He made this assertion 50 years (March 1953) ago when he delivered his speech by way of rebuttal to the speech of Senator Lorenzo Sumulong berating the Philippine claim to North Borneo (Sabah). The claim was originally filed by President Diosdado Macapagal on 22 June 1962, followed by the London negotiations of January 1963. The British high officials were still debating among themselves at that time what to do with the claim.

Senator Salonga was with the team of Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez who headed the London negotiations on behalf of our government. The charge of "British imperialism" must have weighed heavily in their minds because after Salonga's speech, the British organized the Federation of Malaysia in September 1963 and assigned their rights to said Federation.

Cover-up on Tampakan Massacre?

The 27th Infantry Battalion assigned in Sitio Datal-Alyong of Kimlawis village in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur claimed that Juvy Capion and her sons died during a clash with a band of armed tribesmen led by Juvy's husband, Daguil. Daguil, leader of the B'laan tribesmen, took up arms to oppose the mining project of Sagittarius Mines in the area.

Anybody with a sane mind would consider this explanation as one of the most flimsy excuses that a guilty conscience can concoct when pressured by several stakeholders and media groups. It raises a lot of questions and cast doubts on the military's strategy in dealing with armed groups when innocent civilians are present and on their commitment to equally protect the citizens of this country, whether they belong to a B'laan tribe or to a mining company.

3-Day Old Baby Kidnapped

Soon-to-be-parents should be warned that there is a possibility that criminal elements might strike when they are most vulnerable – after giving birth. An incident was just reported in Quezon City last 4 September 2012 where a woman pretended to be a doctor kidnapped a newborn in a private hospital.

Police just released the artist sketch of the suspect and have launched a massive manhunt for the woman. QCPD director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega described the suspect to be in her late 30s, about 5’5” in height and fair-skinned.