Santa Banana, with the refusal of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. to comply with the House of Representatives’ ultimatum to come home and appear before the House Ethics Committee, the Negros Oriental congressman is a fugitive in flight!
But, can he run and hide? is the big question. Not with the Interpol now watching his every movement, my gulay!
With Speaker Martin Romualdez bringing the Interpol into the picture to follow through Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo’s killing together with others whose only fault was to be there with Degamo who was giving them financial assistance, the case is now an international concern.
Even if Teves will hide in other countries without extradition treaties with the Philippines, like Canada, the long arms of Interpol can still catch him.
My gulay, that is now the problem of Teves.
With all those suspects in the killing of Degamo, some of them discharged members of the military, Teves has nowhere to run and hide.
There are also some 17 killings that allegedly involve Teves, the cases are getting worse.
With Teves on the run, the House of Representatives by virtue of the findings of the House Ethics and Privilege panel, the House plenary had imposed on Teves a 60-day suspension.
If and when after the two month suspension and Teves is unable to come home and attend sessions, for sure, the House will expel Teves.
The question now is whether Teves will continue to be a fugitive on the run.
President Marcos Jr. had guaranteed Teves’ safety if he returns in an attempt to entice the Negros Oriental congressman to return.
Teves is rich and has his own private jet plane and, indeed if he wants to come back, he can easily do so.
But Santa Banana, does Teves want to come home and face the music?
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I keep on wondering why a Mafia-like cartel composed of Chinese importers seems to continue with their nefarious activities, smuggling and hoarding agricultural products and still the Marcos administration has not done anything to stop them.
Malacanang knows who the culprits are and yet smuggling continues unabated and inflation continues with high prices of rice, corn, sugar and onions, and fish.
While some senators just talk and talk, Bong Go is always there when needed
A farmer’s group, SINAG, has identified them.
And still BBM appears reluctant to crack down on them, Santa Banana!
As acting agriculture secretary, it’s time Marcos Jr. showed to the people what he is expected to do and show zero-tolerance on corruption and smuggling.
Mister President, you have been acting secretary of agriculture for close to nine months.
Show to the people that they have a President who will not tolerate corruption and smuggling of food products by a mafia-like cartel, which also keeps on hoarding goods to create shortages resulting in high prices.
I know, you can and should do right away what you are expected to do.
Have all smugglers jailed and the keys thrown to the polluted Pasig River. They deserve it.
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I have been asked by some friends and colleagues in the media why I continue supporting Senator Robin Padilla in his push for charter change, knowing that Cha-Cha is not in the priority list of the President and Senate President Migz Zubiri.
To be frank about it, I admire and commend Padilla for his commitment and dedication to charter change, especially on the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, which have allowed the Philippines to remain in the bottom of the list of foreign investments because of the restrictive and oppressive provisions on foreign investment.
But I believe it is time to amend the charter to give permanence to foreign investors.
According to Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, the nine official trips of BBM over the past eight months have yielded P3.48 trillion in investment pledges.
Reports say a total 116 projects, worth $62.926 billion or P3.48 trillion, were generated from his foreign trips.
The Philippine government reaped $8.48 billion (P468.96 billion) in Indonesia, $6.54 billion ( P361.67 billion ) in Singapore, $3.847 billion (P212.74 billion) in the United States, $4.62 billion (P255.53 billion) in Thailand, $2.20 billion ( P121.68 billion) in Belgium, $24.239 billion (P1.34 trillion) in China and $13 billion (P719 billion) in Japan.
It is for all these reasons why President Marcos Jr. believes there is no need for charter change on the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
Even if only one third of all the MOU and LOIs will materialize, I’d say BBM has succeeded in his promise to the people that he will not stop from working to attract foreign investment to the Philippines.
Yes, I agree, my gulay.
But, I also believe there’s nothing like amendments to the economic provisions of the charter, not only to assure foreign investors, but to give them permanence.
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Another senator who continues to amaze me is Christopher Lawrence Bong Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, who is always there to help victims of fire disasters, floods, landslides, earthquakes.
Santa Banana, did you know that Bong Go has put up 156 Malasakit Centers nationwide to serve as a one-stop shop for the indigents and the needy?
Instead of the poor and needy going to Philippine Sweepstakes Office, Pagcor and the Philhealth separately to seek assistance, these Malasakit centers are a one-stop shop.
Another advocacy of Bong Go is to bring healthcare to the poor and needy, and for this, he has filed numerous bills in the Senate creating health centers for them.
What amazes me about Bong Go is that he always finds time to attend to the needs and assistance for the poor and the needy.
While some senators just talk and talk, Bong Go is always there when needed.
