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SPOT.ph's Top 20 Crazy Laws in the Philippines

Published: Apr 17, 2012 - 8:00am

OK, this guy definitely deserves a reward for being assaulted by crazy pedestrians.

18. Good drivers win

Law low-down: In 2010, Representative Godofredo V. Arquiza filed House Bill No. 2010, "A Reward Scheme for Deserving Filipino Drivers." The law pushed for a discount to be granted to "good drivers" renewing their licenses.

Legal status: It's been pending with the Committee on Transportation since September 7, 2010. The law sounds good in theory. But then determining who would qualify as "deserving drivers" is another story.

 

 

Get a glimpse of the orchid that would probably become our second national flower.

17. Flower power

Law low-down: In February this year, House Bill No. 5655, which aims to have the Waling-waling orchid declared as a national flower, went through its second reading. The bill's principal author is Representative Mylene Garcia-Albano of Davao City's second district.

Lagal status: The law is backed by the National Museum, which said in a letter cited by Manila Bulletin Online: "Waling-Waling can either be designated as the national orchid of the country or as another national flower (considering) that other countries such as Indonesia have more than one national flower." Wow...we have time for this? How many textbooks have to be pulled out and revised to accomodate a second national flower? Why can't we just love one flower?

 
 
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  • mer 4 months ago Reply Report Abuse
       
    i was about to say that. The title of the article said "laws" that I was surprised to see that it was actually a discussion of proposed bills, resolutions, which, legally and technically are not yet laws. hehe
  • Freshie 11 months ago Reply Report Abuse
       
    Who wrote this? " For brevity, we're using the word "laws" in this article to also refer to bills, resolutions, and such." Brevity? LMFAO. :))

    That's an awful claim there and a very poor excuse. A bill is not a law (yet, until it is passed). A resolution is not a law. Not in any dictionary. Or system. Bills or resolutions cannot in any sense of the word be called "laws." Unless you mean proposed laws (bills). And no one needs to be lawyerly to know the distinction. Even college freshmen know that. :))
  • Geneblush 11 months ago Reply Report Abuse
       
    Re 8. Virginity Required: In medical jurisprudence, the definition of virgin is very important in sex crimes especially rape. Please read more on this. It is not about the law protecting virgins or otherwise. I don't think this is a crazy law.
  • BS Bio Student 11 months ago Reply Report Abuse
       
    About waling-waling. I know its desired designation as the country's national flower is a waste of the taxpayers' money. However, I do think that it could represent something far more important. The waling-waling orchid is endemic to the Philippines, meaning it was discovered in our country. However, it is currently presumed to be extinct in the wild. Propagation of the said species is now done through artificial means and only for its ornamental purposes. We have to cut the National Museum, which houses the Philippine National Herbarium, some slack. They may have supported this bill, not mainly for its seemingly idiotic purposes, but to call the attention of the masses and to actuate the preservation of many endemic species that are threatened due to our own ignorance.
  • wangchan May 19 2012 @ 01:59pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    Poorly titled (and researched) article. Not even 5 of the items listed here are actual laws, as most of them are only bills filed in congress. If the researcher just did his/her homework, then the research would have turned up actual laws that are really absurd, such as Duel (yes duels are actually defined) and death and physical injuries under exceptional circumstances, which basically allows spouses to kill the other spouse if they catch them in the act of having sex with another. Same rule also applies to minor daughters living in their parents home.
  • Mar Apr 24 2012 @ 09:28pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    @itsabrightday: I mean, that anti-spitting bill is good. It's meant to lessen those spit that we see in our streets. What's the fuss about that?
  • MamangUsisero Apr 24 2012 @ 04:00pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    I like #11 and #15 of Sen. Lito Lapid. They are not crazy bills but very practical bills compared to the other bills filed by other congressmen which are ridiculous.
  • Gov Apr 20 2012 @ 12:13am Reply Report Abuse
       
    @Senator - or we can introduce the Guillotine. :D hehe!
  • Senator Apr 20 2012 @ 12:06am Reply Report Abuse
       
    How about a bill or law to bring back the garote and use it on st*p*d politicians? :)
  • piknik Apr 19 2012 @ 11:57pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    even under the general definition of "law", bills yet to be approved by both houses and signed by the president can hardly be considered "laws".

    though i'm still waiting for someone from congress to pass a bill prohibiting the drafting of crazy bills.
  • attorneyjay Apr 19 2012 @ 01:51pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    The title of this article should be changed. There are more bills (therefore not yet law) in this article than laws. Also, what's the point of this article? There is very little substantive arguments in the commentary for each entry. Better consult a lawyer if you're going to write law-related articles
  • spook Apr 18 2012 @ 05:58pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    in our subdivision street names were named for the first homeowners association officers, and after a few years the incumbent officers want it to be change and of course the first officers blocked it until a case was filed at HLURB.
  • joyah Apr 18 2012 @ 10:39am Reply Report Abuse
       
    @noy yeah you're right, it must be changed to bill, the title is very confusing. You can't considered it as a law yet. I agree with the Lapid's bill about junk food not being served in school especially the elementary level, and I think it's not crazy.
  • itsabrightday Apr 18 2012 @ 10:10am Reply Report Abuse
       
    The Crazy Change-Up: Celebrities as Rule Makers and Politicians as Showbiz People, and other change-up stories http://bit.ly/IHAzXt
  • Genuine Apr 17 2012 @ 10:37pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    Can't get over the anti-planking bill. That was downright idiotic. What, the proponent never thought planking was just a fad? Think before you bill, cong.
  • Twenty Apr 17 2012 @ 02:50pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    Wow. A law against human cloning. I am so proud. Hehehe. Wasak!
  • itsabrightday Apr 17 2012 @ 02:46pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    How about the anti-spitting bill? Read more: http://itsabrightday.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/lets-talk-about-anti-spitting-act-the-whak-tus-and-the-culture-of-the-modern-filipino/
  • noy Apr 17 2012 @ 01:53pm Reply Report Abuse
       
    Please don't confuse the readers when you refer to bills as laws. Bills become laws only when they pass both houses of Congress and signed by the President. Clearly, what you mean here are bills not laws.
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