WE are missing the point as far as the root cause of CARP’s [Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program] problems [is concerned].

The fact is [that] since its inception, the government and Land Bank of the Philippines have conspired successfully to defraud and deprive landowners of just compensation and farmers of genuine land reform. The former is now the new underclass and farmers should wisen up to recognize [that] the enemy is a corrupt state who grins when agricultural titleholders clash with farmer-beneficiaries while politicians enrich themselves.

Recent examples of these include the P400-million cell phone scam taken from the agrarian reform fund in the sole custody of LBP. Add to that the Bolante scam and not much will be left of the Marcos loot recovered.

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IT’S a bit confusing how come the Daewoo company and the Nigerian Embassy here in the Philippines and South Korea have not done anything productive with regards to the immediate release of the hostages.

Employees of Daewoo are stuck in the middle of all this and the Nigerian government isn’t doing anything about it at all. I think Daewoo should take better care of the security of their employees and not leave them to the mercies of kidnappers and the Nigerian government should do something as well with regards to their people unless they want to see a boycott of the United Nations helping out their country if these kidnappings do not stop.

– Jenifer Xavier, Merville Park, Parañaque City (via e-mail)

IN MY work and business, when I am unable to accomplish my objectives and targets, I can expect to lose my job and clients’ trust.

When the PNP [Philippine National Police] and military are unable to establish the peace and order expected from [them by] taxpayers and citizens, they should be held accountable or else lose their respect and position.

Regardless of who or what are responsible for the increasing extra-judicial killings, rampant kidnappings and breakdown of discipline among the ranks of our uniformed personnel, the leadership of these national institutions do not deserve the continuing support of the people or our “duly elected” government… unless of course, these civil disturbances are exactly what we want. We the people have said no but have no direct authority to act.

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WHEN I was teaching Philippine Constitution many years ago, I had no problem explaining to my undergraduate students the meaning of the constitutional tenet: No one shall be denied access to the courts by reason of poverty.

That was self-explanatory even to them. The Supreme Court has dumbfounded everyone as to the meaning of this constitutional guarantee by arbitrarily raising the amount of filing/court docket fees
to such astronomical levels [that] only the rich can now file cases in court!

– Steve Monsanto, Xavierville II, Quezon City (via e-mail)

RIGHT after the Easter holidays, I noticed a couple of heavy equipment [vehicles] working on the drainage of the west service road of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) between Villamor and Merville, which I suppose is [intended] to [prevent the] pooling of water in the area during the rainy season.

Sometime last week, there were more heavy equipment [vehicles]. But this time, they started to break the cement pavement of the southbound lane of the west service road. With the increased road work, the west service road was made one-way to northbound traffic.

Motorists bound for Merville now have no alternative but to use the SLEX and pay a toll of P25 for the short distance. Unfortunately, it seems that the toll operator failed to consider providing additional tellers at the Merville exit to meet the increased volume of vehicles. As a result, southbound traffic at the SLEX, starting from the Sales bridge at Villamor all the way to the
Merville exit, has since last Thursday, been very heavy, particularly during the night time rush hour, when residents of the various communities in the Merville area, return from work.

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IT is frustrating to see this issue getting revived again and
again.

As a non-Tagalog speaker, it was easier for me to learn in English rather than Tagalog (Filipino is just Tagalog in disguise.) Language is not the main issue. The improvement of the quality of education by increasing the budget for it is more important. Not giving quality education to our poor people is more anti-poor than teaching them English. Why don’t we just support that directive?

As an overseas Filipino worker, I keep updated by reading the Inquirer everyday. Working abroad is already depressing. Reading about bickering NGOs and politicians is not making the lives of millions of OFWs any better. I just hope that everybody cooperates and practices the bayanihan spirit to make the Philippines the best country in Asia.

– Homerson Uy, Sarawak (via e-mail)

WHY should we allow this man to go out of the country? He is an accused and should be in jail. Or is P5.3 billion such a small amount that we just let dupers like this Mr. Faustino Chingkoe make fun of our country?

In other countries, people who have duped the country of millions serve life imprisonment. Really, only in the Philippines can you
find an accused out of jail, if they are not running for a political position or [relaxing] in a resort or summerhouse like
ex-President Estrada.

Sometimes it is really hard to believe that we still have a judicial system that works for the people. Only the poor, those who are without financial means to defend themselves, go to jail.

– Ariel Cerdenia, Düsseldorf, Germany (via e-mail)