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Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

They don’t understand

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I really do not know what House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is trying to prove by his outlandish, bordering on stupid, proposals. Perhaps he is trying to win pogi points in the eyes of his boss, President Rodrigo Duterte.

First, Alvarez came out with a statement that he would abolish the Court of Appeals for ruling in favor of the “Ilocos 6” who are now detained at the House of Representatives for refusing to answer questions about the use of tobacco excise taxes in Ilocos Norte. He even called the CA justices “idiots.”

Then, he said he supports same-sex marriage and the legalization of couples living together outside marriage. Is he championing his own interests here?

Now we hear him calling for the extension of martial law until the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. That’s another five years! He says this is needed to quell rebellion that has plagued Mindanao for decades.

The Armed Forces is not buying his proposal, though.

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With elected people like Alvarez, no wonder some people want to abolish Congress.

* * *

I have been reading portions of the lone dissenting opinion of Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen where he said what is happening in Marawi City is not rebellion but terrorism, extremism and fanaticism.

Some characters writing in opinion pages call Leonen’s dissent magnificent. I think it is specious and fallacious.

It is clear Justice Leonen is prejudiced. Why can he not call what is happening in Marawi a rebellion? Section 18 Article VII of the Constitution is clear, and we know that the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Groups in tandem with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters want to establish a caliphate in this part of the world.

When terrorists bomb government and public facilities where there are a lot of people killed and injured, isn’t that rebellion? What is happening in Iraq and Syria where lawful governments are challenged by the IS—aren’t they political in nature? Think again, Mr. Justice.

Clearly, Leonen and his admirers do not realize what is happening on the ground.

* * *

I tend to agree with observers that that the real punishment that rogue policemen truly deserve is not being put in the battlefield in Marawi. We have seen heroes die in this conflict. Philippine National Police Director-General Ronald dela Rosa is actually insulting the government forces in Mindanao by making these rogue cops join them.

Dela Rosa should simply charge these erring cops with administrative and criminal cases. Let the chips fall where they may.

* * *

There is reported resurgence of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison traced to the rampant corruption of members of the Special Action Force detailed as security guards. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II must replace the SAF with Marines.

This reminds me of the time I was covering Customs during the Magsaysay administration. The President assigned 400 Philippine Military Academy cadets to man the bureau at the piers. Their honesty and idealism should be able to counter the corruption there, he thought.

After a month or so, corruption came back. The cadets were lured with money.

This has been what is happening at the NBP.

The solution to the drug trade in the national penitentiary is to relocate it, once and for all. The facility in Laur, Nueva Ecija can solve the congestion.

Alas, Aguirre has been postponing the final bidding for the P50-billion new facility.

Three consortia have already qualified—San Miguel, Megawide and DMCI. Why is nothing happening? Something smells here!

* * *

Some years ago when former Vice President Jejomar Binay was mayor of Makati City, he proposed that all the cities of Metro Manila should have an integrated jail facility. This was approved by the Metro Manila Development Authority.

If you go to the individual city/municipal jails,you would see the sub-human conditions of the inmates. There have been reports of sicknesses, but the mayors of Metro Manila do not seem to care.

That is the problem of government people. They do not think outside the box.

* * *

When San Miguel president and COO Ramon Ang was still with Philippine Airlines, he submitted a proposal for an airport in Bulacan. This would be an alternative to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Somehow this proposal gathered dust during the time of the PNoy administration.

There were other plans—one in Sangley Point, Cavite, for instance, to be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. But transport officials clearly saw an opportunity for kickbacks.

Now, Ang is again proposing that airport, and he will finance it. I do not understand why the Duterte administration should not allow it.

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