The expression in the title of this column is derived from an American slang which means something smells bad to arouse suspicion. It is akin to another saying: “Something is rotten in Denmark.”
The fake news that the lowly fish galunggong has been tainted with formalin has kept away cash-strapped Filipinos from buying the staple seafood. Galunggong is the barometer that opposition political candidates use to attack the administration’s failure in handling the economy. The galunggong price went up and then down because of the false report the fish, particularly the imported variety, is tainted with formalin. Market forces dictate the law of supply and demand.
Aside from fish, the prices of basic commodities like rice, vegetables, chicken, pork and beef have gone up because of the effects of the government’s TRAIN law which increased the excise tax on gasoline diesel and kerosene. Increased VAT on fuel consequently raises the price of transporting prime commodities to distributors and the market. Thus, we have a ripple effect on prices, including increased electric and water rates.
Formalin is the chemical used in the embalming of corpses to make them look good during the wake before the burial. Used on food, it is harmful to humans because of its toxic effect. If it is ingested through food, victims will need a larger dose of it to look good in the coffin. Seriously, we are not making light of a deadly situation.
“There is no truth to the rumor that galunggong is tainted with formalin,” said Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol. He explained that the fish coming into the country are actually from Philippine waters which are caught by poachers from Vietnam, China and Malaysia.
The Chinese, who are driving away Filipino fishermen from the West Philippine Sea, is hauling away our fish using trawlers with huge nets and exporting the catch back to Manila. This is the fishy part of the Philippine government’s soft stand on enforcing our territorial sovereignty. No matter how hard our officials try to explain this ambivalent policy, the people know this is all bovine droppings.
In my last column I said Agiculture Secretary Piñol and National Food Authority Administrator Jason Aquino should resign and not wait for President Duterte to fire them. Yesterday the group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura filed graft charges against Aquino for allegedly diverting P5.1 billion intended to stabilize rising rice prices. It will be up to the proper court to determine Aquino’s culpability.
If true, then consumers will know why the runaway price of rice cannot be stabilized. Piñol, who has direct supervision over NFA and Aquino, shares part of the blame for the anomalous misuse of the NFA funds.
It seems there is more than a “whiff of corruption” here which Duterte said earlier would be his basis for removing officials under his watch.
Senator John McCain, 81
John McCain—war hero, longtime senator from Arizona, and presidential nominee passed away three days ago, a victim of brain cancer. He was 81, and with his demise many Americans are probably regretting McCain did not make it to the White House. This is not just paying tribute to a titan in American politics . McCain could have been a more competent and presidential leader than Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Trump who earlier was indifferent to the passing of McCain bowed to public pressure to acknowledge the man’s contribution and legacy to America. Trump ordered the White House flag at half mast. McCain will lie in state at Capitol Hill and will be laid to rest at Arlington cemetery in Washington where America’s heroes are buried.
During the 2015 presidential campaign, Trump belittled McCain’s heroism when he said: “Heroes are not captured” referring to the US navy pilot who survived more than five years in a Vietnamese prison camp. While US leaders were one in paying tribute to McCain, sources at the White House said that Trump had scrapped a statement praising the Arizona senator.
McCain, however, had the last word when he stressed “I don’t want Trump at my funeral..” The late senator’s family said former Democrat President Barack Obama and Republican President George Bush will deliver eulogies extolling McCain’s greatness.