"Having a single body of lawmakers will help us prevent the ugly bickering that is happening now between the Senate and the House."
"Having a single body of lawmakers will help us prevent the ugly bickering that is happening now between the Senate and the House."
If there is one thing I like about President Duterte, it is that he comes up with laughable and ridiculous statements every now and then. A columnist always finds these worth writing about.
For example, there are his comments about women that always draw flak from women’s rights groups. There is also his fixation on the Catholic clergy.
Human rights groups say the President is a misogynist. Recall that during his campaign, he announced at a rally that he wanted to be the first in line to rape an Australian missionary.
Later, he said female members of the New People’s Army should be shot at the genitals.
The President says all these are in exercise of his right to free expression. They are all a joke.
Yes every citizen enjoys that freedom of expression, including the President. But not at the expense of other people!
Mr. Duterte is a lawyer and as such he would know that such freedoms are not absolute. As a journalist, I am aware I can write about anything I wish—but also not at the expense of others.
The President may not be sued for libel, but he cannot just denigrate anyone.
Worse, he cannot just tell people to kill bishops and priests because he is the President. As for women, Mr. Duterte should show them some real respect.
* * *
The Senate and the House of Representatives are still bickering about the 2019 national budget. This is the best argument for the restructuring of our political system from a two-chamber body into a single one, like a parliament.
What is happening in Congress is just unfortunate. The Senate accuses the House of “insertions” to the tune of billions of pesos, and the House is saying the same of the Senate. Honesty, they remind me of little kids.
The fear is that if by this week the national budget is not submitted to the President for his signature, we might have to do with a reenacted budget. This could result in the failure of the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program and the failure to achieve the targeted gross domestic product.
The bickering is not funny and we are certainly not laughing.
If we must restructure our political system, let us all forget federalism which is a leap into the unknown. Let us settle for a parliamentary system with one big body in charge of legislation.
* * *
The Forbes Magazine listing of the world’s richest Filipinos listed the children of the late Henry Sy Sr. separately. This is a big disservice to them.
Forbes listed them as Hans Sy ($2.4 billion), Herbert Sy ($2.4 billion), Harley Sy ($2.2 billion), Henry Sy Jr. ($2.2 billion), Tessie Sy Coson ($2.2 billion) and Elizabeth Sy ($1.9 billion) from number 8 to 13. But the Sy family would have an accumulated wealth of $14.51 billion— making them the richest Filipino family.
As many people know, Iñigo Zobel and sister, the Jaime Zobel siblings and others should also be in that list.
We know too well that there are many Chinese-Filipinos lurking in the shadows.
In Forbes Park, for example, a businessman has at least 10 houses in Dasma village. They have escaped the attention of Forbes Magazine—and of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
* * *
I got mixed reactions from friends about my piece about the strongman Ferdinand Marcos who is almost always remembered for the evils of martial law. I wrote that we should also remember him for the good things he did for our country.
For example, there are thousands of legal issuances covering every phase of human life. They are still in effect today.
Some friends called me to say they did not know that Marcos had made such a great number of issuances.
I cannot dispute what martial law did to the people, but let us also remember the good things.
All I wanted to say was that Marcos is definitely assured of a place in Philippine history.
Justice Manuel “Lolong” Lazaro, president of the Philippine Constitutional Association, said the legal issuances showed Marcos’ vision and foresight.
* * *
A special envoy to China is an envoy of the Philippines, not of China. Thus, when he says Filipinos are incompetent, he must be fired.
www.emiljurado.weebly.com