On the Constitutionality of the Priority Development Assistance Fund

[Last updated on November 1, 2013. Added were the definition of 'discretion'; discussion on Article VI, Section 25 (2), and Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution; and the Constitutional bases of the lawmaking power of Congress. Also added was the distinction between Congress and individual members of Congress.]

The Priority Development Assistance Fund is discretionary funds appropriated for particular officials specifically members of the House of Representatives and members of the Senate. Are discretionary funds for particular officials unconstitutional? Article VI of the Constitution provides:

On Privilege Speech, Plagiarism, and Copyright Infringement

[Updated July 22, 2013. Jurisprudence explaining plagiarism and jurisprudence on ideas being not protected by copyright were included. Stand on economic rights infringement was changed. The constitutional basis for Senate member punishment was also included.]

Disclaimer: I am not a member of the bar nor a law student. I have no malicious intent in writing this commentary. I do not wish to attribute a crime or otherwise to any person. I, for one, am against cyberbullying. This exercise is purely academic that we might learn from a specific example.

Last August 13, 2012, Senator Vicente Sotto III delivered his privilege speech, Turno en Contra (Part 1 of 4), against the then Reproductive Health Bill. The speech based on the Record of the Senate can be read here.

He was accused of plagiarizing several paragraphs discussing health risks by using oral contraceptives from the blog, The Healthy Home Economist, of a Sarah. The particular blog post, How “The Pill” Can Harm Your Future Child’s Health, (which was said to be the source) can be read here.

Plagiarism can be defined as: the appropriation of another's literary or artistic manner of expression.

Jeeponomics: Cost Analysis

My class finished earlier than usual. I love days like this because I can avoid the afternoon rush - no waiting for an hour to ride a jeep and no need to sabit (see picture below).

Google Maps: Clubs & Bars

Tulisanes

PS. Apologies for being absent for nearly half a year and thank you for the more than thousand blog views.

Read the first part: Los Montañeses

"Did you came?" I asked C.

"No," he quipped.

"What will we do about that?"

"I'll finish it at home."