January 2009 Archives

It is deplorable to see the high-handed action of the school administration of the Quezon City High School (QCHS). It is very sad to see bright and progressive students being subject to disciplinary action without due process, for airing grievances, for saying in a truthful manner how they think about their school environment, and their feelings about their school administrator. I must point out to the QCHS administrators and faculty that the Philippines is still a working democracy. Less they have forgotten, under a democracy, people are allowed to air their grievances and feelings. A valid grievance will not be resolved by suppressing through suspensions. Instead, resolve the root cause. Less the school administrators and faculty have forgotten, QCHS is a special curriculum school, and their students belong to the upper cream of the country's high school students. Their students have the potential to be future leaders and scientists of our country. They should be shown good example of the democratic ways. Baka naman hindi na alam ng pamunuaan ng paaralan kung ano ang demokrasya dahil na rin sa mga nakikita nilang action ng national government. The school environment is a microcosm, a small reflection of the greater Filipino society. Kapag ikinulong mo ang ibon, ito ay magpupumigals at pilit na aalpas upang ang kaniyang mga pakpak malayang maipagaspas. Alberto Micu, Vito Cruz, Manila, via e-mail

Regarding your article on "Gov't fears 60,000 IT job losses" I think the title of this article is misleading. As I read the story, it really pointed to the job losses from the electronics sector which strictly speaking is not part of the IT industry. Although Intel and Texas Instruments may have some IT offerings but your article only talked about the electronics business of these two companies. On the contrary, IBM and Google even posted better earnings from their fiscal reports and these companies are the ones that really belong to the IT industry. Dexter Uy, Hagonoy, Taguig, via e-mail

Since the MMDA has begun tearing down traffic obstructions, such as the hazardous waiting sheds, they should go a step further by taking out the massive billboards that distract drivers. The C-5 road has a number of these that need tearing down. And they should ban all posters or billboards that show faces of politicians and government officials. The roads and structures, the traffic flow, the ongoing repairs and improvements should be enough to remind the people of what these officials have done. Besides, we don't owe them. It is THEY. This early, they should firm up the rules about using the highways for political ads for the 2010 elections. Victor Manalac,, Taytay, Rizal, via e-mail

On December 10, 2008, my driver was apprehended by the Anti-Smoke Belching Team of Makati at J.P. Rizal, Makati under the EDSA Bridge. His license was confiscated by the authority and got a fine of P1,000. It was the first offense of my driver. As per DENR Rules and Regulation (R.A. #8749) on Clean Air Act, fine for first offense is P 200; second offense is P500 and third and succeeding offense is P 1,000. So why charge us P1,000 right away? Isn’t it that they are only the delegated agent of DENR? Lastly, may I call the attention of this Anti-Smoke Belching Team, because I saw a member of their group smoking, he is “Mr. R. Reyes.” If you love clean air, DON’T SMOKE! You are also violating the Clean Air Act. Note: Andy Jimenez, New Manila, Quezon City, via e-mail

ITis a crying shame that, in our benighted country, those who diffuse light and luster are snuffed out. Reports say that Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato A. Puno, one of the most illustrious men ever to serve our government, is being targeted for impeachment. He is being flagged down for taking the high road – his intellect, integrity, and independence have enabled him to make a difference not only in our judiciary, but also in our country. Those privileged to be in the sunlight of his presence can bear witness to the depth and fullness of his life and works which seemed to number none but shining hours. His towering intellectual achievements and his spiring moral standards have given us a glow that illumines so we can hope against hope that we can fix our wreck of a country. Honor to whom honor is due. Here is a good man and true. Ramil San Juan, Dallas,Texas, via e-mail

If I were these prosecutors I would wait for the completion of the investigations. Kung napatunayan na wala silang kasalanan ay magiging bida sila sa mga tao. Hindi dapat dahanin sa init ng ulo ang mga ganitong situasyon. Beware, there are a lot of unemployed lawyers in the country. They will be very happy to take your jobs. Nobody is indispensable. Ruben Lacap, Daly City, via e-mail

THE Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership is now looking for more local government officials to join its ranks. The movement which was initially convened by the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government (ASOG) recently had a political retreat and strategic planning session at the Mimosa Leisure Estate, Clark Field in Pampanga and one the main things that was resolved is to be able to include more effective and ethical local government leaders in its fold. Currently, Kaya Natin! is led by Governors Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga, Grace Padaca of Isabela, Teddy Baguilat, Jr. of Ifugao, Mayors Jesse Robredo of Naga City and Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. Since the movement began in June last year, it has already brought its Caravan of Good Governance to more than 40 colleges and universities nationwide speaking before thousands of students. Over the weekend, Kaya Natin! visited Araullo University in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija and the University of the Assumption in San Fernando City, Pampanga. According to its lead convenor, Harvey Keh of the ASOG, the movement believes that there are many other local government leaders who are currently practicing good governance and ethical leadership in their respective areas and thus, the movement would like to invite them to join. "We don't believe that majority of our government leaders are corrupt especially those in the local level thus, I think our goal to be able to recruit 300 more Kaya Natin! champions by the end of 2009 is very much achievable" said Keh. Keh also mentioned that this will be done by working closely with other like-minded groups such as the Movement for Good Governance (MGG), BUSINA, Galing Pook Foundation, Convergence Team and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP). Panlilio also added that the movement also aims to serve as a leadership sanctuary and support group for upright government leaders who often struggle against the prevalent graft and corruption present in our country's government systems. Kaya Natin! has supported Panlilio against several issues, foremost of which was the recall petition filed against him by his political opponents late last year. Robredo said that the movement doesn't have any plans to transform itself as a political party that will field a Presidential candidate in the 2010 polls since all of them come from different parties. "What we want to show is despite the fact that all of us are from different political parties, we can all cross party lines and come together for the common good of the Filipino people" added Robredo, a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service. Padaca who is also a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, urged the general public and like-minded institutions to help the movement identify these deserving leaders. "We will screen nominees and applicants based on two major criteria, effective delivery of basic services to their constituents and whether or not they are able to do this while continuing to be morally-upright" said Padaca. Kaya Natin! is not only open to incumbent local government officials but also to leaders who have previously served as governors, mayors, board members and councilors. Lorenzo who recently announced that she is open to the possibility of running for Governor of Nueva Ecija, said that the main aim of the movement is to be able to come up with a critical mass of effective and ethical leaders who will all work towards a common agenda that will enable the country to work towards solving poverty. Baguilat, Jr. also stressed that the movement will continue to champion issues which will promote greater equality and social justice in our country. Among these advocacies that the movement is currently pushing for is the extension with reform of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and the complete eradication of illegal gambling in the country. Finally, Keh urged Filipinos to help Kaya Natin! in expanding its ranks by sending in their nominations to kayanatin@yahoo.com or by calling the Kaya Natin! secretariat at (02) 426-5657.

MY sympathy goes to Tess Valte, a paraplegic who simply requested a coding exemption and was embarrassed by an MMDA employee. Why is it so hard for MMDA to give an exemption to Ms. Valte when in fact a lot of motorists got an exemption without a valid reason like Valte's? The MMDA employee also assured Ms. Valte that she will definitely be apprehended because she has no exemption and my question is, why are those sporty cars bearing the license plate number "8" don't get apprehended when they counter flow and honk their sirens? Even the entourage of the US ambassador to the Philippines got away with violating traffic rules of the MMDA enforcers. And to top it all, the MMDA chair himself and his security entourage are ignoring traffic lights while honking repeatedly and blurting their sirens when I encountered them along Kamias months ago. Bayani for 2010? Think again. Nazareno See, Quezon City, via e-mail

PRESIDENT Gloria-Macapagal-Arroyo said the "full force" of government's powers would be applied "unequivocally" against Department of Justice personnel and other government officials who "betray public trust." Therefore she should be the one to lead by example by not only taking a leave of absence, but rather resign by betraying public trust and letting his sons, husband, brother in-law mess with the affairs of the Palace. Reynaldo Nacpil, Toronto, Canada, via e-mail +++ ARROYO tells the DOJ execs to go on leave due to suspected bribery in drug cases? Then everyone there at the DOJ should take that leave including Sec. Raul Gonzales. And why limit the directive to drug cases only? Why not included all cases?! Doesn't she go on a leave of absence herself?! Bugsy Del Rosario, Quezon City, via e-mail

THIS is in reaction to various reports in today's issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on the DOJ vs. PDEA controversy: After reading about Varona's nearly successful caper and the DOJ's speed of its processing and subsequent follow up, it looks suspicious enough (or that it stunk to high heavens so badly) for citizens to think that the DOJ has positioned itself to defend the Alabang boys on basis of some technicalities, while at the same time wanting to prosecute the PDEA agents. The arresting agents have now become the prosecuted. I can imagine the drug syndicates laughing at our government's uncoordinated efforts to incarcerate the drug dealers and stop the illegal trade. It also appears that the lawyer of the Alabang boys was sneaky and sleazy enough to have almost pulled a fast one on the "unsuspecting" DOJ. Was he really pulling a fast one or was it already a routine for him with some cohorts inside? For him to have prepared the resolution and fast-tracking it into the a prosecutor's office and forwarded to the Secretary for signature makes him as cheap as any prohibited LTO "fixer" of before was to his credit though, the lawyer was like a stealth and was damn effective! I think that there may never be enough evidence to prove the guilt beyond doubt of the DOJ people in the bribery case, nor can there be sufficient proof to nail any of the prosecutors for serious and maliciously motivated wrongdoing. If those cases are weak then we should drop them and focus on really getting the Alabang boys into high security jail, for good and for the rest of their lives. Let the Senate pass laws learned from this episode to bolster future cases filed by the PDEA. What they should all do is to support General Marcelino to nail these enemies of society (the "boys") to prove to us, the citizenry, that they are not guilty of having been bribed. Some questions asked by concerned citizens include speculations, such as :if the PDEA agents could not be bribed , which agency should the next payoff attempt be that would yield quick results of a release just before Christmas day? General Marcelino and his men did a good job. The guys at DOJ should match that performance with a true prosecutorial effort, and not look like they are part of the Defense. And they should run after the defense lawyer - because that cheap trick denudes the office of its respectable image. Victor Manalac, Taytay, Rizal, via e-mail

WE, the elder generation in the Philippines and abroad, are very much aware of the history of, and politics involved in, the on and off war between Israel and Palestine in particular and the Christian-Jews-Muslim conflict in general. We, the peace-loving Filipino readers, are grateful for the unbiased rendition of the abovementioned conflict by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in its editorial, "Ghastly Gaza." We are however concerned over some of PDI columnists' incendiary polemics and maledictions like the Mr. Neal H. Cruz's "Abraham and Moses to Blame for the Conflict in Ghaza" and the oft-quoted "Only a dead Moro is a good Moro" by your other columnist. Polemicizations and maledictions time and time again are always counterproductive, then (starting with the first major Christian-Muslim conflict in 636 AD, to the First Crusade authorized by Pope Urban, to the Ottoman Turks war with Europe and the Balkans, to the Europe's Reformation era) especially at this point in our modern times. Being "historical"- and pointing the atrocities of the protagonist only highlight, reinforce, and exacerbate the vicious cycle of hatred between the Christians, Jews and Muslims. What we need at this point are propositions for a long term solution - solutions that will stop the hatred between the protagonists, like continuous world humanitarian aid to the poorest Palestinians (not only during war but during peace time) living in slums worst than our own in Metro Manila, continuous scholarship grant for deserving Palestinian students in schools abroad (like what the United States has done with Iranians and Iraqis in the past) to create considerable moderates and enlightened Muslims among the Palestinian ranks, continuous deployment of large UN contingent to preserve peace and help in the reconstruction of the Palestine and creating a working government and security forces, and long term dialogue between Israel and Palestinians to start the tortuous reconciliation process, to name a few. Lastly, it is suggested that PDI rather highlight the common grounds that we Christians, Muslims, and Jews share like the following: 1. We all pray to one and only God--He is Allah to Muslims; Yaweh to the Jews; 2. The Quran was dictated to Prophet Mohammad by Archangel Gabriel; 3. Jesus Christ is recognized as a Major Prophet by Muslims; 4. We all descended from the same Patriarch--Abraham; and 5. Quran's teaching are similar in so many ways with the teachings in the Christians' Bible and Jews' Torah. Just to name a few. Let us remember that we are all into this together--we have our own version of the above conflict in Mindanao -- and this I think is the best way to discuss positively and in a productive way the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Daniel MC Sagire, Dublin, Ireland, via email

WE, the founding members and leaders of Kaya Natin! a national movement that promotes good governance and ethical leadership, condemn in the strongest possible terms the unlawful and inappropriate actions of rallyists and policemen of the province of Pampanga towards the Office of the Governor last January 5, 2009. We believe that such behavior not only disrespects their governor, the Hon. Eddie Panlilio, and the people of Pampanga, but also unnecessarily endangers the lives of many innocent people. We are saddened and very disappointed in these turn of events, as the people responsible for upholding the law did nothing while the duly constituted authorities of the province were unjustly threatened. This inaction betrays the partisan manner by which laws are enforced in the locality and contrary to the precepts of good governance. We support Governor Panlilio in his call to correct the injustice done. While we recognize the freedom of everyone to peaceably express their views, it must be within the bounds of decency and the rule of law. We appeal to the rallyists not to take the law in their hands and accord due respect to the elected leaders of Pampanga. We appeal to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan to set aside partisan considerations and protect the institutions of government in the province. We appeal to the Pampanga Provincial Command to just simply do their duty and enforce the law. The task of policing should be beyond political considerations. We also support Gov. Panlilio in his petition to the DILG Secretary, the Chief PNP, and the NAPOLCOM for the relief of Col. Singian, Col. Medina, and their men. They have miserably failed in their responsibility in performing their duties, which endangered the lives of a number of people, including the Governor himself. Finally, we also appeal to the people of Pampanga to protect the gains of the recent past, advocate good governance, and support Gov. Panlilio in his campaign for accountability and transparency in Pampanga. The Kapampangans deserve more from their public servants than what has been shown in the last few months. The future of Pampanga is in your hands. The kind of Pampanga we will have, is the kind of Pampanga you will make (Sgd.) Hon. Jesse Robredo Mayor, Naga City (Sgd.) Hon. Grace Padaca Governor, Isabela (Sgd.) Hon. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. Governor, Ifugao (Sgd.) Hon. Sonia Lorenzo Mayor, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

I quote what Nasser Pangandam Sr. said: "They should be sensitive to the feelings of others, the past few days have been very painful for us." Look who is talking. Was he sensitive to the feelings of de la Paz and family when his son and his son's bodyguards mauled Mr. de la Paz and his 14-year-old son despite of the pleadings of the 14 year old teen? Mr. Pangandaman is talking as if his son and his son's bodyguards were the ones mauled by Mr. de la Paz and his 14-year-old son...tell that to the marines. The best thing you can do and your son is to resign as a secretary and your hot headed son as Mayor. If your son can do that in a prestigious club, then for sure in his town where he is a mayor he must be acting as if he is the god. All the readers' guess is as good as mine. Bayani Magtanggol, Riyadh, via e-mail

Talk economics, not politics. So goes the newest "phrase" for GMA and her apologists to parry critic's concerns of a possible term extension with the recent revival of the efforts to amend the Charter, or should I say, rape the Constitution? Anyway, what bothers me is why can't GMA just give an unequivocal statement to dispel all these innuendoes? Unless, of course, she has other things in her mind – and I'm not thinking purely economics. On the other hand, the President has lost her credibility long ago. We can't just trust her words. Remember how she said sorry for something she didn't think was wrong? And, of course, who could forget her widely applauded avowal that she "will not run again?" While the whole world reels from an economic crisis, Malacanang is struggling, to the very end, with a credibility crisis. Jun Calaycay, Manggahan, Pasig City, via e-mail