The impeachment case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno brings to fore the need to reform the judiciary from top to bottom.
With the House justice committee now winding up the case after a series of hearings, it’s a foregone conclusion that the articles of impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate for trial.
This is why Sereno has gone on indefinite leave. Her camp described it as “wellness leave.”
Testimonies clearly showed that Sereno, who was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III, was not fit to become chief justice. She bypassed other justices more senior than she is, all because Aquino wanted his own chief justice—for many obvious reasons.
The most damning among these was the revelation that she did not submit a complete set of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. Despite this, Aquino still made her chief justice.
Failure to submit the required SALN is enough to disqualify aspirants to the Supreme Court. Why did Aquino appoint her still?
This was clearly the fault of the Judicial and Bar Council which had Sereno in its shortlist despite these lapses. The JBC was not thorough in looking into her background.
Santa Banana, the JBC itself has been responsible for the appointment of many justices and judges, even those with links to corruption and other crimes.
This is why the judiciary must be overhauled, from top to bottom. Something drastic must happen.
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The case of the island paradise of Boracay becoming a cesspool, according to President Duterte, can only show the utter neglect of government agencies. It is a shame because Boracay has been described as being one of the best beaches in the world.
Now that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Interior and Local Government, Tourism, and Public Works and Highways are trying to restore its former glory, there are questions that must be asked: Who gave licenses and permits to those who violated the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act?
Now we are told that hundreds of establishments violated laws on easements, particularly in connecting with the main pipeline of Malay, Aklan. Go to Boracay and see for yourself.
Why didn’t the DENR inspect the establishments that committed these violations? Why didn’t Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo coordinate with other agencies when she was aware of the problem? And what did former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez do about the problem, given her advocacy for the environment?
Authorities must also look at Panglao Island in Bohol, and El Nido in Palawan.
It’s a pity that our crown jewels in tourist are going this way. President Duterte must crack the whip and make those who are accountable answer for their ineptitude and neglect.
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This we must take seriously—the report that no less than 40 foreign jihadists from the Middle East have entered Mindanao to join the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups in casting terror.
This validates reports that these terrorists are determined to set up a caliphate in Mindanao.
No less than Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Ibrahim Murad has warned the administration that young Moros are being recruited, given as much as P30,000 to P50,000.
It is not known where and when jihadists will strike next. This is why Mindanaoans favor the extension of martial law there.
The Australian ambassador has warned the Duterte administration that terrorists are already regrouping. Intelligence reports say that they are all over Maguindanao.
This is why President Duterte is talking about the possibility of arming Reserve Officers Training Corps and civilian reservists.
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National Food Authority administrator Jason Laureano Aquino deserved the scolding he got from Senator Cynthia Villar for the agency’s press release that the buffer stock of the NFA was low, thus creating panic among the public.
My gulay, even if Aquino was telling the truth, there are some things about supply that must not be made public. To be told we don’t have enough rice is a sure way to alarm the people.
The Senate is now looking into the rice stock of NFA. Aquino has the duty to ensure that the stocks are sufficient. Likewise, it is also the responsibility of the NFA Council headed by Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco to see to it that the buffer is high.
There have been complaints that NFA rice is being sold as commercial rice and that it is no longer affordable.
What is happening now is the ultimate responsibility of the NFA administrator.