Anti-RH assaults RH advocate inside the House of Representatives

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kenneth Keng
RH Advocacy Director, Filipino Freethinkers
www.filipino-freethinkers-22d5b3.ingress-earth.easywp.com
[email protected]

Anti-RH Rizalito David threatens and assaults RH advocate inside the House of Representatives

(May 24, 2011) Quezon City, Philippines — A pro-RH advocate was recording RH Bill interpellations inside the House of Representatives (HOR) when an anti-RH advocate made threats of violence and ultimately resorted to it.

Kenneth Keng, the RH advocacy director of Filipino Freethinkers, was threatened and then assaulted by Rizalito David, former senatorial candidate of the Ang Kapatiran Party and resource person of Pro Life Philippines.

It started with a brief exchange about how the RH Bill was part of America’s imperialist plot. David spoke loudly so that Keng would hear his accusation: those who didn’t agree that the Kissinger Population Report was imperialist was “bobo” (stupid). Keng replied that he has read the report and that he didn’t think it was stupid. David replied, “Like I said, bobo.” Keng ignored the comment and continued to record the hearing.

Later, while Rep. Garcia was discussing the allegedly imperialist funding of RH advocates, David told Keng about the questionable nature of the funding that RH advocacy groups received from foreigners. Keng replied that the Catholic Church and the anti-RH side also received foreign funding and that this was also questionable.

At this statement David started to get angry. He invited Ken to go outside with him (doon tayo sa labas) where he would make it absolutely clear how questionable the RH funding was when it was only the two of them (pag tayong dalawa na lang). The threatening tone and adversarial choice of words carried with it an implicit threat of violence. Keng pointed his cameraphone from the hearing to David to protect himself and gather evidence for these threats.

At this, David became furious. He stood up from where he sat 3 or 4 seats away, shouted some unintelligible words, and walked towards Keng with his arms slightly raised, as if prepared to throw fists. The people behind him managed to restrain him, so he pretended to have calmed down and sat beside Keng. Seated and unrestrained, David hit Keng’s cameraphone, which was next to Keng’s face, with the back of his hand, sending the cameraphone flying into Keng’s glasses.

David then stood up and walked out of the hall. Witnesses from the row behind picked up Keng’s phone and gave it to him.

Red Tani, president of the Filipino Freethinkers, rose from the seat next to Keng’s and followed David outside. He caught up introduced himself, and asked David who he was and which organization he worked with, also requesting that they discuss what had happened. David refused to identify himself. He accused Tani of committing an action against one of his (David’s) colleagues. Tani told David that this was the first time he’d even met David, and that he had no idea what action, colleague, or organization David was talking about. Keng arrived and asked David the same questions. David refused to reply with any information on his or his organization’s identity.

Keng and Tani followed David outside the hall and met other RH advocates in the lobby, where they discussed potential actions, such as filing a case against David in the precinct nearby, and submitting an incident report to Congress. They were about to approach David but he had started walking upstairs to where the other anti-RH advocates were.

Keng and Tani, accompanied by witnesses and other RH advocates, waited until the end of the session for David to return so that they could figure out who he was and discuss what had happened. At the end of the hearing, David finally emerged. He was escorted by Father Melvin Castro of the CBCP, discreetly walking near the edge of the lobby toward the exit.

Keng and Tani approached David and Castro to ask them about David’s then unknown identity (at this point the RH advocates didn’t know who David was). David and Castro ignored the pair and walked straight to the driveway outside. Keng continued to ask the question until it became obvious that David and Castro were determined to ignore him.

Later at the lobby, a fellow RH advocate identified the assailant as Rizalito David.

Filipino Freethinkers condemns the actions of Rizalito David: for indirectly calling Keng “bobo” (stupid), for threatening or at least provoking Keng with violence (doon tayo sa labas), and for hitting Keng’s cameraphone into his face. That this all happened inside the chamber of Congress while a legislative process was going on makes his actions even more unacceptable, especially considering the fact that David once aspired to become a legislator.

We also condemn how Rizalito David — and to a lesser extent, Melvin Castro — hid his identity from us after several polite attempts at civil dialogue. Hiding himself and even his identity after doing what he did only shows that he himself is ashamed of what he did, and knew that he was at fault.

In the next few days, we hope to get David sanctioned by Congress and banned from entering its premises. We will file an incident report in Congress tomorrow, and we’ll consider filing a lawsuit against Rizalito David — we have more than enough witnesses who are willing to testify.

The Filipino Freethinkers is a group of nonbelievers and progressive believers who practice and promote reason, science, and secularism. They have members around the world, with regional chapters in Davao and Cebu, university chapters in UP Diliman and UP Manila, and affiliate organizations in Asia and the US. For more information, visit https://filipinofreethinkers.org/about-ff/ .

# # #

If you’d like more information about this, or to schedule an interview with Kenneth Keng, please call 0917-9681387 or email him at [email protected].

86 comments

  1. Whatever it is, ANG PIKON, TALO.

    Well, Rizalito David, you blinked, you lose. Worse, you acted like an ass.

  2. Bill or no bill, THINK. It’s your life and your future (your children’s too). People really need to stop being lazy–lazy to think; lazy to look ahead; lazy to plan a family; lazy to own up to the choices they themselves make.

    Blindly following this or that is what lazy people do! AND THEN, when something goes wrong, they are the first ones to point a finger…oh, and the drama that goes with it. Enough already!

    What would the Philippines be like if people just think?! Seriously…what would this nation be like? Now, think about it.

  3. David's punishment should be 6 months arrest in an orphanage. I think that's enough time for him to become aware of how dire the unwanted pregnancies situation is.

  4. bakit ganun? umalis na lang sila na hindi man lang nag-sorry na nanakit sya? at yung kasama nyang pari di rin pinagsabihan muna sya na humingi muna ng paumanhin? dinedma na lang? ang babastos nila sobra. parang lumaking walang nagturo sa kanila ng tamang pagalang sa iba,

    go back to school and learn proper manners and right conduct! wag na nyang subukan pang tumakbo pa ulet sa susunod na eleksyon! tatandaan ko lahat ng mga anti-rh politicians na yan at black-listed na sila

  5. So we all resort to acting like butt hurt little children when we can't respond intellectually? I hope I die before I get old.

  6. Is this one of their moralities to be imposed? Or is this one way of saving themselves from the next rapture – get physically involved against pro-RH Bill advocates.

  7. Forget legal action, have you had yourself checked? you might have contracted Catholic Cooties!

    are you showing any symptoms?
    stage one
    – saying grace before every meal
    stage two
    – attending mass and receiving communion
    stage three (you are now doomed at this stage)
    – you lose the ability to think for yourself and mindlessly agree to serve and obey Emperor Pope-atine

    I'm going to hell for this aren't I?

  8. To the pro-RH bill advocates/writers here:

    It's apparent that a lot of readers here are not too well informed about the bill and its key elements. Based on their comments, a lot of our "educated" citizens are clearly misinformed on who the subject really is, why it's not simply giving out contraceptives, education being the real intent of the bill, contraceptives being abortifacients, etc. Obviously, either they haven't read the bill (not an enjoyable read with all the legal jargon) or were merely swayed by the disinformation campaign of the anti group thru the pulpit, media, etc.

    Can somebody write a serious (satires don't work obviously) article, pointing out the key points of the bill and citing each group's arguments? This can then be circulated via the internet so no cost is involved. If this results to a thousand "educated" people shifting sides, then it's worth the effort. ..

    • Given the body of work we already have for each point, it might make more sensible if we just did something like a compilation. Still, I like your idea. 😀

      Hmmmmm…..

      • But some of the articles are flowing with sarcasm or clearly one-sided, something that readers may not find interesting or credible. Don't get me wrong, I am for the bill. I just want others to be enlightened on what the bill is really all about so they can make an informed choice as to which side they should take.

        • With all due respect dude, if a man can't even figure out what the hell sarcasm is, they have no business using their brain.

          It's like an intellectual litmus test.

          • hmmm…So, if we use your line of reasoning, then we don't need the RH bill cause the real target (of the bill) obviously don't use their brains any more than the readers my suggestion was trying to educate and enlighten! Come on now, perhaps your comment was just made out of anger at how others could not understand the article…

          • [Come on now, perhaps your comment was just made out of anger at how others could not understand the article… ]

            Admittedly yes. It pisses me off to no end that a lot of pinoys have a shallow, horribly developed sense of humor.

          • [So, if we use your line of reasoning, then we don't need the RH bill cause the real target (of the bill) obviously don't use their brains any more than the readers my suggestion was trying to educate and enlighten! ]

            Read up a bit – most of the women living in abject poverty here in the Philippines WANT an RH Bill to help them gain access to the education they need. They have the desire for information – we are simply making it easier for them to attain it.

          • You didn't get the point I was driving at. I NEVER disagreed with the need for the bill. I was merely pointing out that if the marginalized poor needs education, then so do the readers who don't understand sarcasm. If they have a right to use their brains (contrary to what you said), I guess we have the responsibility to try to educate them.

          • By the way, even as we argue on this point, the anti group has already launched their E-portal (cbcpforlife) since, they claim, "this will reach more people than the traditional media". I just hope that a lot of supporters for the bill will not be swayed after reading their articles…

          • If it's anything like their official site, the local optometrists will soon be flooded with cases of patients suffering from excessive eyeball-rolling syndrome.

          • i'm kinda betting it'll look like an Anne Geddes baby portrait studio filled with pictures of uber cute infants smiling and waving their tiny little hands at the crowd

            "oooh! look at the cute little babies! how dare you abort someone like this!"

            if they had any integrity at all, they'd post pictures of splooge on tissue paper with the caption "sperm is sacred, dont waste sperm". or a used sanitary napkin with the caption "this could have been a baby, instead the heartless cruel mother decided not to get pregnant"

  9. What is missing from this post is the fact that Kenneth Keng deliberately sat in the area occupied by the Anti-RH advocates and made every attempt to provoke them….I'm just sorry that someone fell for this childish ploy.

    • I hope you were there to categorically state this as a fact. Assuming that is true for argument's sake, does it justify the reactions of the anti group? Just like if a scantilly-dressed lady sat in their group, would the moralists resort to sexual abuse, rape, etc., just because she provoked it?

    • [What is missing from this post is the fact that Kenneth Keng deliberately sat in the area occupied by the Anti-RH advocates and made every attempt to provoke them]

      So basically, Anti-RH people can't help but be violent when they're near people they don't agree with?

      • I see they're going for the "blame the victim" approach. Classic tactic. It's not a stretch, since they force victims of rape and incest to carry their pregnancies to term. Perhaps they also believe that women deserve to be raped because they dress provocatively.

    • did someone say "childish ploy"? good idea, let's keep all children away from those pedo priests, they might *ahem* provoke their sexual urges and blame the altar boys for tempting them just by proximity… of course its all the child's fault for coming near their molesters. provocation-by-proximity? not even close. Mikaped seems to have purposely IGNORED that detail in the article which specifically mentioned David standing up from his original seat and going nearer to where Kenneth was seated. tsk, tsk… more coverups from the anti-RH rabble… will the lying never end?

      I had no idea these hearings already have separate bleachers for each team, wow parang Lasalle-Ateneo game!

    • [Kenneth Keng deliberately sat in the area occupied by the Anti-RH advocates and made every attempt to provoke them.]

      Before this incident, the seats weren't divided into Pro-RH and Anti-RH sides. Anybody could sit anywhere, so it was a mixed crowd. Kenneth just happened to be sitting adjacent to the row Tolits David was at. As a result of this incident, the Pro-RH side sits at the left side of the plenary hall while the Anti-RH side sits at the right (thanks a lot Tolits David).

      When did Kenneth ever make any attempt to provoke them there? Before, during and after the ordeal he kept himself civil. If you still want to accuse him of foul play, present some proof.

      • [When did Kenneth ever make any attempt to provoke them there?]

        The worst I've seen Kenny upset was when he used…SARCASM!

        From what I hear, getting him to really blow his stack will result in him using…SATIRE!

        The man is to be feared

      • [Before this incident, the seats weren't divided into Pro-RH and Anti-RH sides. Anybody could sit anywhere, so it was a mixed crowd. ]

        Ah, so they've officially issued Stupid, and Non-Stupid sections. Now we're getting somewhere

  10. Father Melvin Castro was the same priest interviewed by Ricky Carandang who said that corrupt politicians who steal are still better than politicians who support family planning. I guess he proved who's side he's taking.

    Quoted in Ricky Carandang's article:

    "Castro said in effect that plunder and all of those corrupt acts are an offshoot of the lack of respect for the family and therefore not as bad in the heirarchy of catholic morality as family planning which is as he says, anti-family. Flabbergasted, I asked if they were saying it was alright to vote for a crook as long as he doesn’t advocate modern family planning. His roundabout answer,—as I understand it is …in so many words–yes."

    So the CBCP says that it's corrupt politicians that are the cause of poverty, not over-population… but they'd still willingly support corrupt politicians… just because they are against family planning…? Bravo for Catholic logic!

  11. Sana sa education na lang mag focus ang lahat!!! Mashado nang complicated ang issue na 'to. If this bill passes, funds will come rushing in, that is said to be placed on people's pockets na naman. If it doesn't pass, life will still go on for all the Filipinos, just like always. Why can't everyone reproduce the normal way, mashado na bang iba ang panahon ngayon at wala nang bisa ang moral teachings ng mga magulang at teachers specially for the teenagers? Seriously, our government must do something! Ang gandang bansa ng Pilipinas, pinapapangit lang ng mga kurakot na tao sa gobyerno!!! As my prayers everyday, God please guide us all. ^_^

    • Woooo focus on education. Screw infrastructure, unemployment and family planning. Education will solve everything. A teen with 10 children can easily finish school without stress. A college graduate can easily feed 10 children.

      STDs = myth. They don't happen in monogamous couples. Pre-marital sex never happens. Pregnancy outside of marriage is a myth. Trufax.

      Do not pass any law/bill or provide budget to any department until corruption is 100% eliminated. All laws must have education about morality. If the rh bill didn't pass, life will still go on for all Filipinos which is a life of poverty, hunger and ignorance. This must not change. No to RH Bill!!

  12. Bakit po di naka-stated na, "Pro-rh sitting at the anti-rh side, keeping photos, videos, and doing other stuffs which is prohibited by the congress"… Nag-spy po ba kayo? Kasi po nung nasa HARAPAN po kayo nasa Pro- RH side kayo, nung nasa kongreso po nasa ANTI-RH side po kayo? Bakit po ganun….

  13. You could slap him–figuratively speaking of course, as we are civilized creatures if they are not–with criminal charges. (Free of charge, all the better!) Aggravating circumstance of having been committed where public authorities are engaged in the discharge of their duties. We could at least scare them, and if–probably when–they retaliate and thus blow up the issue to increased media attention, everybody's gunna knowwww 😀

    Not a bad counterpoint to our dear Mr. Celdran's "Damaso" incident. >D

    • Except that Celdran never physically assaulted anybody. All he bruised were the egos of several pompous old child-fuckers.

      • Now, now. None of those present were ever accused of child rape, though the Church as an institution is guilty of protecting rapists.

        • From my experience, brainwashing kids to follow Catholic doctrine without telling them why is a form of mindfuckery.

  14. I feel sorry for Mr. Keng, I really do. But I hate to see this as another us vs them showdown. It's like this issue is deteriorating into a "look how rabid they are!" drama rama. We really don't need another news on how the pro-lifers "attacked" RH bill proponents only to see the supposedly "free thinkers" sporting Damaso shirts. I don't know how anyone can proclaim to simply want dialogue and then wear something so provocative. I'm not saying Mr. Keng is making this up, I'm just saying let's be careful we don't lapse into these spectacles as our last line of defense.

    • @linusb1108

      What spectacle?

      From what I've heard, Keng was just calmly replying to David's depraved ramblings regarding the RH Bill, and that's pretty much what set the latter off. Keng did not actively do anything in this incident to attempt to attract attention.

      And if I may add, by remaining civil with his replies, Keng did attempt (albeit passively) to mantain an air of dialogue.

      On the other hand, David negated any possibility of civilities when he challenged Kenneth to step outside, and ultimately when he backhanded him.

      As for the Damaso T-Shirt fiasco, I have three points:
      1. No dress code was required for the attendees.
      2. Our people were told to wait outside Manila Cathedral during mass, which they did so quietly.
      3. It was Manalang's Pro-Life camp that stepped out of the cathedral to shout our members down, and told them that they should have been aborted.

      And please, kindly point out when it becomes proper to wish somebody was aborted by their mom, attempt to exorcise them, much less scream at them like a monkey on crack, just because you find their shirt distasteful.

      There were a myriad of ways Manalang and company could have handled the incident properly, and they chose to act like a bunch of anal-retentive, self-righteous, bullying assholes.

      • While I am totally against the manner in which Manalang and his cohorts conducted themselves, I would have to agree with @linusb1108b that the Damaso shirts didn't help at all if you wanted to establish any form of dialogue with Manalang et.al.

        I also agree with @linusb1108b when he says that we should not reduce this to being an "us vs them showdown" because we run the real risk of group think, with all of its glorious pitfalls, and we might blur the line between asanine fatuity and militant intellectualism.

        Mr. Keng should definitely file charges if he can back it up. This will emphasize that both sides still fall under the rule of law, even though we're all familiar that the church doesn't think so because of their [Law of Man < Law of Church = Law of God] inequality. Be that as it may, we should still approach the Pro-lifers soberly, in the way Mr. Keng stoically conducted himself, because that is what we are – we are sober thinkers.

        • While I do agree that being civil is a start, I only at civil when the person I'm talking to is also being civil. I am not obligated nor compelled to play nice with anybody who intentionally lies or distorts the facts.

          The Anti-RH side has been doing these consistently ever since the start of the RH Bill debates, and they deserve nothing less than scorn. Of course, whenever I do call one of their goons a fucking moron, I go out of my way to prove why they deserve that title.

        • [[While I am totally against the manner in which Manalang and his cohorts conducted themselves, I would have to agree with @linusb1108b that the Damaso shirts didn't help at all if you wanted to establish any form of dialogue with Manalang et.al.]

          Yes, because it's fair to equate wearing a shirt reflecting an accurate caricature of RP's social ills, with saying somebody you don't like should have been aborted. And given the RCC's line of reasoning – abortion = murder – I'd see that as a death threat.

        • The mere wearing of a Damaso shirt is being made the culprit here. Unless I'm mistaken, it simply symbolizes a principle that the church should stop meddling in government, something that is specifically inscribed in our constitution, but which the church has been conveniently violating ever since. If it provokes anything at all, it is guilt on the part of those who have been meddling in the affairs of the state in the guise of morality…

          • [[While I am totally against the manner in which Manalang and his cohorts conducted themselves, I would have to agree with @linusb1108b that the Damaso shirts didn't help at all if you wanted to establish any form of dialogue with Manalang et.al.]

            My problem with people trying to blame the shirt for Manalang's reaction, is that the same defense can be used to justify death threats against people who draw Muhammad.

          • I never said it was proper to condemn anybody just because of the nature of his shirt. My point was, if you wear something that's obviously meant to taunt and provoke, you can't just sit there and expect to be treated courteously. That's it. What Manalng et al did was just as distasteful. But this wasn't just about the shirt. In discourse, there ought to be a spirit of good will, a sincere attempt at dialogue, which was what was lacking when they went to that Church. It is the same way if an anti RH bill person comes to a pro RH bill rally wearing a shirt that says "Terrorist" and says he is there to have a "peaceful dialogue".

            Again, I feel sorry for Mr. Keng. Nobody should have a cellphone flung at one's face after all. And I'm pro RH bill (and I'm a girl by the way). My point is, let us just be careful that we don't exploit these incidents to gain sympathy and that we don't use incidents like these to fan more hatred against the other side. The issue is already divisive enough as it is. Peace.

          • I believe a Damaso shirt with one labelled terrorist is not a good comparison! The former involves invoking a principle (separation of church and state) while the latter is obviously evil and can never be justified. Just clarifying that my lady.:p

          • It is not really what name you call the other person, although I must admit Damaso is a wittier label than terrorist and terrorist carries a graver set of connotations. It is the ACT of labelling and branding the other person as such. With all due respect, I don't think any side in this issue can claim to have a monopoly on principle. The act of calling somebody a terrorist is uncalled for, but so is calling somebody a Damaso. We call somebody Damaso, they call us terrorist. We call them, what is that, brainwashed morons? They call us abortionists. Tit for tat. Point is, you can't say the other side is devoid of principle when we are all just essentially fighting for what we believe is right, are we not? 🙂

          • False equivalence. Call us a terrorist, and call them Damaso. See which one actually sticks.

          • <div id="idc-comment-msg-div-156166084" class="idc-message"><a class="idc-close" title="Click to Close Message" href="javascript: IDC.ui.close_message(156166084)"><span>Close Message</span> Comment posted. <p class="idc-nomargin"><a class="idc-share-facebook" target="_new" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffilipino-freethinkers-22d5b3.ingress-earth.easywp.com%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Fanti-rh-assaults-rh-advocate-inside-the-house-of-representatives%2F#IDComment156166084&t=I%20just%20commented%20on%20Anti-RH%20assaults%20RH%20advocate%20inside%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%20%7C%20Filipino%20Freethinkers&quot; style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="idc-share-inner"><span>Share on Facebook</span></span> or <a href="javascript: IDC.ui.close_message(156166084)">Close Message [My point was, if you wear something that's obviously meant to taunt and provoke, you can't just sit there and expect to be treated courteously. That's it. What Manalng et al did was just as distasteful. But this wasn't just about the shirt. ]

            And my point is that as distasteful as a shirt like that may be to some people, it should never be a reason to tell them to shut up or be polite. Even what you consider rude behavior is protected by free speech, provided it does not physically harm another human being.
            <a href="https://filipinofreethinkers.org/2011/03/26/un-freedom-of-expression-trumps-protection-of-religions/&quot; target="_blank"&gt <a href="http://;https://filipinofreethinkers.org/2011/03/26/un-fre…” target=”_blank”>;https://filipinofreethinkers.org/2011/03/26/un-fre

            [What Manalng et al did was just as distasteful. But this wasn't just about the shirt. In discourse, there ought to be a spirit of good will, a sincere attempt at dialogue, which was what was lacking when they went to that Church. ]

            I will ask again: Did our group behave in any way that would have provoked the harrassment? You keep bringing up the shirt, but I have yet to see you point out any active attempts from that incident that shows we provoked the harrasment?

            Your argument that we should not wear a shirt because it will provoke aggression is no different from an apologist saying nobody should draw muhammad if they don't want to be threatened with violence.

            ["It is the same way if an anti RH bill person comes to a pro RH bill rally wearing a shirt that says "Terrorist" and says he is there to have a "peaceful dialogue". ]

            Then you haven't been around our group long enough. We usually treat people who do that with in good humor.
            <a href="https://filipinofreethinkers.org/2010/12/09/the-justice-system-courtroom-fashion-typos-and-why-you-need-to-read-the-noli-me-tangere/&quot; target="_blank"&gt <a href="http://;https://filipinofreethinkers.org/2010/12/09/the-ju…” target=”_blank”>;https://filipinofreethinkers.org/2010/12/09/the-ju

          • That is good to hear then, that you afford some measure of respect for the other side in moments when the other side is obviously in aggression mode. And that is what's sadly lacking in these "discussions" about the bill. The respect is not always given to the other side, and I'm referring to both the anti and pro. It's fairly easy to hide behind the mantle of "free speech," which ought to protect you, yes. Harder to truly exercise the sense of responsibility, for ourselves and for others who don't agree with us, that comes with that right.

          • Linus: which side do you think is more prone to aggression? which side has been continuously calling the other side names? which side has been able to defend its arguments with facts and figues? which side defended its objections with outright lies, unsubstantiated claims or outright fabrications? So tell me, even if both sides are shirtless, which side is more prone to blow his top first? So, please, enough with the shirt issue and what it's supposed to infer…

          • Yes, which is why in my post (see post above yours) has mention of the word shirt in it whatsoever 🙂

          • Step back and listen to yourselves, people. I was merely establishing the connection between the Damaso shirts and non-communication between the Pro and the Anti RH Bill parties. Did I blame the shirt for Manalang's reaction? No. Did I delve too shallow as to forget the historical aggression of the RCC against all progressive values? I didn't hint on it. Did I say the we are obligated to behave in a certain way when confronting the RCC? Hell no.

            The culprit, if anything, is asinine fatuity disguised as militant intellectualism! We would all do well to remain sober as we – yes, I am on your side – combat an enemy that will outlive all of us, perhaps even our children. No need for slippery-slides, no need for ad hominems, no need to group those who disagree with us, and those who disagree with each of you, as "those people" or "goons" or "fucking morons". Because, while it feels good doing so, it is simultaneously detrimental to the quality with which all other intelligibly constructed arguments are viewed by their party and all other bystanders. And if we want change, then we first have to get our message across the table.

            It seems to me that communication these days is underrated.

          • MC, I don't necessarily call somebody a fucking moron, or a fucking liar, just because I don't like them. I only resort to labels like these AFTER I prove that they deserve them. And considering how often we've seen the Anti-RH side lie, they're virtually interchangeable to both accusations.

            [The culprit, if anything, is asinine fatuity disguised as militant intellectualism! We would all do well to remain sober as we – yes, I am on your side – combat an enemy that will outlive all of us, perhaps even our children. No need for slippery-slides, no need for ad hominems, no need to group those who disagree with us, and those who disagree with each of you, as "those people" or "goons" or "fucking morons". Because, while it feels good doing so, it is simultaneously detrimental to the quality with which all other intelligibly constructed arguments are viewed by their party and all other bystanders.]

            With all due respect, Highfalutin language is not a good way to get your point across either. Humor and sarcasm work a lot better, as does being painfully blunt.

          • Thank jebus for google then! I could have used "idiotic douchebaggery" instead of "asinine fatuity" but the former sounds so inelegant, don't you agree? 😀

          • [but the former sounds so inelegant, don't you agree? ]

            If I wanted elegant, I'd watch a ballet.

      • “much less scream at them like a monkey on crack”

        Animal models are a very important part of drug research. Crack-addicted lab monkeys contribute a lot to scientific progress during their brief lives, arguably more than a lot of humans over the course of their own lives.

        Please!

        Leave the crack monkeys alone.

        Anyway, how does Mr. David narrate his side of the events? Does he feel the opposite of “bobo” threatening fisticuffs, feigning composure, and then resorting to a pimp slap? (Hmmm, Freethinkers better watch out because they do have Pound-for-Pound Champ Manny Paquiao in their corner.)

  15. Yeah! Tama na satsat, idemanda agad ito. Sampolan natin na we're NOT just words and bible verses, we ACT on our words. Maraming witnesses! So ano pa ang kulang?! Wag lang gamitin ito sa media exposure, as we're not in showbiz. FILE A CASE!!!

  16. [maybe JFK was killed because of the RH Bill too? or that aliens in Area51 are secretly behind the population control of earth? ]

    Or Adolf Hitler was Jose Rizal's love child.

    • now THAT is a good argument for contraceptives.

      For every "Manny Pacquiao" that the Pro-Lifers claim to might not have been born due to contraceptives, another "Hitler" could also have been averted.

        • Yes Rizal…weird I thought. They even tried wordplay with the initials JR as in Jack the Ripper…medical background…same quality as the Hitler thing but a big surprise when I saw it

  17. I say we have Keng – as soon as he's feeling better – proclaim during a televised interview that he's willing to forgive David for his trespass, because he (Keng) is willing to turn the other cheek, just to rub it in the face of the CBCP and their bible-thumping horde.

    …then we sue them for all they're worth.

    • Haha I remember the Bacani-Celdran debacle in Grand Debate.

      Bacani: The Church has forgiven you!
      Celdran: But you are still suing me!

      Why not sue then forgive.

  18. It'll be interesting to see though how the camp of David will spin the situation to make it look like Keng and the Pro-RH side started it all and were actually the ones at fault/deserving of physical violence. It's a shame that the actual attack wasn't caught on camera.

  19. so first blood has been drawn… by the so-called "Pro-Life" side (in quotation marks). With the powder keg that is the RH Bill, is it any wonder that aggression is bound to escalate? The government has to step in soon and make a final decision or else things are bound to get ugly.

    Not surprising that: it's the Anti-RH side that actually resorted to physical violence since they have no actual factual basis to support their cause. Shame on Lito David

    Even less surprising: yet again, we see the Catholic Church coddling and giving sanctuary to a known offender. Shame on Fr. Castro

    • nakakairita 'yung behavior nila Castro and David when Keng was trying to have dialogue with them after the incident. Parang they just want to brush it off, as if saying, "sino ba kayo?"

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