I Just Want Answers

Self-determination is a double-edged sword. Many have been using this to point out why the Philippines has no right in claiming it as part of the country. We have many conflicts because of this and the UN's participation in cutting up countries. Because of Israel's creation, this so-called self-determination has been disregarded. Palastine refuses to be a part of Israel. It was only recently that the world recognized its existence. Ethnicity when used, can create a huge problem.

Why then should we force upon Mindanao the wishes of the Manila gov't? Why then should we prevent the people of Mindanao to decide for themselves if they want to be a part of the Philippines? Much like the Sabahans, Mindanao is cinhabited by many tribes who have existed even before the Philippines was discovered by Spain. Is it because that Many people from Luzon has migrated to Mindanao? Are we too stupid realize that Malaysia had been meddling in Mindanao's affairs perhaps in the hope that Mindanao will eventually be part of their federation?

Instead of trying to negotiate for peace, why not simply allow the people of Mindanao to determine for themselves if the want to be Filipinos or not? Why the double standards? Why the hypocrisy? What is imperial Manila afraid of? Who knows, the residents of Mindanao might choose to be called Filipinos. I am not a critic of the administration nor a PNoy basher, I just want a clear stand and policy on the issue. For once, the palace should categorically state how it views the Sabah issue. Are we dropping the claim or not. Saying one thing and doing another is a great injustice to us all. I am not a Kiram supporter nor agree to the Sultan's actions. I just want a definite position. Many have been trying to explain PNoy's actions. 

Mr. President, I want answers to my questions. I can only guess that you have relinquished Sabah to attain peace in Mindanao. Never mind the proprietary claim of the Sultan of Sulu. We can accept that peace is more important than a monarchy long gone. Transparency is all I ask from you so that your critics can finally be silenced. Things would have been different if you did not ignore the Kirams. owould not have died if you used your intelligence funds more wisely. Your administration wouldn't have looked like a headless chicken.

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Get Real

Let's call a spade a spade. Recently, the archdiocese of Bacolod came out with posters of Team Buhay (anti-RH) and Team Patay (pro RH) senatorial bets. These posters are clearly a form of campaigning. The posters are endorsing voting for and not voting for certain candidates. The CBCP claims they are exercising their right of expression. Come on, let's get real, after all, lying is a sin. It's so obvious that you are not expressing your sentiments but endorsing candidates.

The Comelec has requested the church to re-size the posters to what is allowed in the election code. They sought relief from the Supreme Court citing the right to freedom of expression. The SC issued a TRO which to me is quite perplexing. It doesn't take a genius to differentiate a campaign material from that of an expression. Is the Catholic church above the law? If the justices are not swayed by their faith, I am very sure that they will tell the church to follow the law on campaign materials.

The moral lesson here is that lying is acceptable if it's for the church. What a way to teach us about values. Will you please get real? You've been lying long enough and getting away with it. Mahiya naman kayo!

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Disappointed

Some may argue and even defend the president for his handling of the Sabah issue. There are those who would say that we shouldn't be dragged into the Sultan of Sulu's personal claim to Sabah. I agree that the means employed by the Kirams was wrong. There are other ways to go about this issue. 

What disappoints me is the arrogance by which this administration treated the Kirams, they are after all Filipinos and treated as royalty by our Muslim brothers. He said that we are his boss yet treats shabbily a constituent. Would I be treated the same way? He went out of his way to meet the leaders of the MILF, could he have given the Kirams the same treatment. It's a PR stunt gone bad. He gave the perception that the Malaysians is his boss. Granting that a letter sent to him asking for a dialogue never reached him, it would have been presidential on his part to give the Kirams a phone call during the early days of the standoff. 

I guess his high trust rating clouded his judgement a bit. He forgot that this rating could fall in a blink of an eye. He could have convinced the Kirams in private instead of insulting them in public just to appease the Malaysians. Now that Filipino blood has been spilled, add his pronouncements, there will be political repercussions. This could affect the mid-term elections or even go as far as the 2016 presidential elections. Things could have been handled differently. Humility would have been a more prudent choice than legal threats. 

Only time will tell if the administration's arrogance will wane. Maybe the next surveys will jolt their senses. They cannot deny the fact that this unfortunate episode will have an adverse effect on the administration.

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You're Offending My Feelings

During the battle for the RH bill, the bishops engaged its opponents not just in name-calling but threatened to excommunicate those who support the landmark bill. In the midst of the battle, Carlos Celdran showed the stuff that legends are made of and mounted his own protest. DAMASO, will go down in history not just a Jose Rizal villain, but a representation of how repressive and backward the Catholic church can be. Celdran was dragged out of church and was eventually charged in court.

Today, the court handed down a guilty verdict on Celdran for offending the religious feelings of the Catholic church. I did not know that there is such an offense. I should have made the same accusation to the bishops who not only offended my religious feelings, but my intelligence as well. Perhaps someone should remind them that Jesus was crucified for offending the religious feelings of the church and that brought about the creation of the Catholic faith.

It's an absurd decision which insults the intelligence and senses of all of us. Is it now a crime to question the integrity of "HUMAN" priests who portray themselves as gods and judges of men? Can we not questions the doctrines of a church created by men? I am reminded of the middle ages and how the church manipulated everything to favor them. It's no wonder why the church's flock continue to dwindle. Many are disappointed with the church's actuation. 

The church should be more in touch with the faithful's feelings. Not to heed them may cause them their flock.  

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My Prayers Were Answered

Until late last night, I was not sure if the prosecution had the numbers to convict Renato Corona. I was busy coaching my players competing in the Philippine National Game. I frantically texted some friends to ask if we had the numbers, they replied, yes. I still did not believe them and snuck out several times to listen to each verdict. When the count went past the 3-2 result, I knew Corona will be found guilty. What surprised me is the final count, 20-3. The expected holdouts stuck to their stands. Lapid, Revilla and Villar surprised me. Lapid showed how he used on common sense better than Joker, Miriam and Marcos.

I must commend the "grand old statesman" of the senate, Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile fairly and justly managed the impeachment from start to finish. He even delivered the coup de grace and will leave a legacy he can truly be proud of. One after the other, senator judges used the case of Delsa Flores. It's as if the heavens sent each senator an email of my humble request. Twenty out of twenty-three heeded my prayers. Equal protection of the law was applied. A big fish was caught and convicted because of his arrogance and his self-serving interpretation of an outdated law. Corona was betrayed by his arrogance. After his own admission, he sealed his own fate. All the drama and the theatrics was not able to save him.

Corona is finally convicted. His illegitimate reign as the Supreme Court Chief Justice is over. He not only disgraced himself but he is the first chief justice to be removed from office. He will lose his job and his retirement benefits. He will never work in government again. He should have resigned instead of dragging the entire judiciary and using it to defend himself. He will lose his simple life of P15,000 dinners, his P25,000 Barong Tagalogs and his P100,000 Christmas gifts. Even his traveling privileges will be taken away. PAL no longer needs to cozy up to him. Perhaps, his wife Cristina will truly reconcile with her relatives and not use them as props for her PR stunts. Corona will now have all the time in the world to dissect what happened to him. He can now look back and hopefully realize that his position and his power to interpret the law to use to serve his purpose wrong. Maybe he would regret ever wanting to be chief justice despite his obvious lack of court service. 

I am not kicking a man when he is down even if he deserves it. I'm simply pointing out why he is where he is now, why things had to happen and why his career ended this way. I can now sleep soundly at night knowing that Lady Justice is blind again. No discrimination between rich and poor and the law will be equally applied. We just sent the justices a strong message, they can be made accountable. My prayers were answered.

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Equal Protection Of The Law

We demand and exact very high standards on "all" government employees. From the lowly janitor, messenger and even clerks to the highest officials of the land. Administrative cases are harsh. When found guilty, a government employee will be dismissed from office, barred 'til death from ever serving in government and all his/her retirement benefits taken away. I have always emphasized that these standards of ethics and integrity is raised as the position goes higher. What then makes Renato Corona an exception to the rule? Do we not expect more from him? His excuses are nothing, as pointed out by Rep. Rodolfo Farinas. They are self-serving and flimsy and even revolting to our common sense. 

In the '90s, a lowly court interpreter was dismissed by the Supreme Court for failing to disclose a small market stall she owns. The value, a mere P1,000. Corona hid millions in pesos and dollars. How then can we reconcile these two very similar case? Yes, one is administrative in nature, and the other an impeachable official. Isn't it just proper that we apply the law equally? To acquit Corona because of his flimsy legal justification, are we applying the law equally? Both are government employees, public servants that we all expect to be honest, person of integrity and possessing very high moral values. Isn't it proper to say that we should treat as both public servants?

We should ask more from Corona because he is the highest magistrate and lawyer of the land. He is not exempted from the law that rules the ordinary government employee. Delsa Flores hid mere change compared to Corona's millions. His defense team claims no ill intent on the part of Corona. They say that Corona's poor judgement is not enough reason to convict him. Can they say this while looking at Delsa Flores straight in the eye? Isn't it the height of absurdity to try and justify hiding millions from the public? I'm not a genius but certainly not stupid. It is clear that Corona willfully. It came straight from Corona himself. He was trying to avoid forfeiture. 

To the senator judges who will decide Corona's fate, I have only one request, bare in mind that a lowly court interpreter lost everything for a measly P1080. Corona deserves to be removed from office, barred from ever holding any public position and his retirement benefits taken away. Corona deserves no less. His position is not a guarantee for immunity. We have always asked why only the small fish fry. Here is a good chance for us to make a big fish pay. All we ask is that the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the law be applied.    

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The King And His Court

Renato Corona finally took the witness stand to tell his side of the story. His litany took all three hours to complete. Al through his storytelling, he took jabs at all his critics. Even the dead was not spared. He used all the adjectives he can use to malign his detractors. Like a child throwing a tantrum, he utilized every liberal minute afforded to him by the very lenient presiding officer of the impeachment court. He couldn't care less who insulted. The illegitimate chief justice spewed lie after lie after lie to defend himself. Acting like a pompous ass of a king, he declared his position at the end of his speech and walked out of the impeachment court.

The man who never served as a judge in any court tried to escape but was prevented by the senate's sergeant at arms from leaving the premises. Even Corona's driver was ready to spirit him away. Corona must be an avid viewer of past senate hearings. He has learned from past witnesses. Health is the key to escape being asked questions. He is the king of the imperialist Supreme Court. What they say is law. He can get away with anything. He can disrespect even a coequal branch of government. 

The senate finally has had enough. They cannot be bullied even by the illegitimate chief justice and gave his lawyers an ultimatum. This changes the entire picture. He must appear before the tribunal tomorrow. We can speculate on how things will play out tomorrow. He can always act, he has proven his acting prowess before. Yes, he will face the court with doctors in tow. His lawyers will ask him questions and from time to time, will ask him how he feels. After a while, he will appear weak and his doctors will ask the court to excuse him.

The presiding officer will be put in a bind. To ask that the Corona finish the direct and cross examination will make him appear heartless and inhuman. To discharge him without the prosecution and the senator asking Corona questions and then convicting Corona can be made by his camp to appear as an abuse of discretion and the trampling of his right to due process. A sickly Corona can claim bravery for risking his life if only to clear his name. What a travesty of justice. Corona's court can now declare the impeachment proceeding as an abuse of power.

I hope I am wrong. It's just my speculative mind at work. How about you, how do you think things will play out tomorrow?

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