JUST SAYIN'

After the extrajudicial killings IN RE: DRUG WAR, the murder of the four Army soldiers at Sulu by the police, the killing of retired Army Corporal Ragos at the checkpoint, the beheading of a drug suspect by some police officers in Baguio City, the alleged rape of Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog by a Police Colonel and the recent killing spree of a police officer in Paniqui, Tarlac, it is my humble view that the ranks of the Philippine National Police be purged.

We are living in a democratic country where the rule of law is respected, therefore the government must uphold the rule of law and apply the same equally. As regards the extrajudicial killings RE: DRUG WAR, the drug suspects must be given a day in court and be convicted and have a law passed for the existence of the DEATH PENALTY before executing them otherwise the execution of the same would be a great insult to that blindfolded lady justice bearing that weighing scale of justice and equality.

The killing of the four Army men in Sulu by the police and the sudden death of a war hero in the person of retired Army Corporal Ragos was uncalled for since the perpetrators of such reprehensible and forgettable criminal infractions were police officers themselves who were expected to be sober, proper and good implementors of the law and not a breaker of the same and the victims were also good agents of the government and of the state.

The alleged rape of Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog while in custody by a Police Colonel was clearly and simply an act of a sex hungry individual who was just after for sexual gratification. It is true that Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog may have violated some penal laws of the state but that does not mean that she should not be respected as a lady and as a person. The act of Vice Mayor Parojinog's jailer is nothing but a bestial act, be frowned upon, and must be properly punished in the interest of justice.

The beheading of a drug suspect by the police authorities in Baguio City and the just recently devil may care killing of two unarmed persons by a Police Master Sergeant in Paniqui, Tarlac is testaments of police brutality and a disservice to the state. These inhumane violations of the police must be checked and be addressed since if these things are left unchecked, the Philippine National Police's would be tainted and would be relegated to a mere criminal syndicate and would not be properly respected and treated as a law enforcement agency.

Many had believed that with the doubling of the PNP officers' salaries, the police would deliver better as a law enforcement agency, but why is it that many of them are instead abusing power? Are we living under a POLICE STATE? Is the government of the Philippines a government of men and not of laws? I am just saying my thoughts worth ten cents.

THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC

By Bayawanon

Nature is now getting back at mankind, there is global warming because man is cutting off the trees in the forests and establishes factories that pollute the air and the environment. COVID 19 virus came into existence because man eats bats and pangolins which produce the said virus. The global warming and the COVID 19 pandemic that man experiences nowadays are just the product of the former's abuse against nature.

Now, GOD is not letting these unfortunate things happen as a punishment against his sons and daughters (mankind) for he is good, clearly, it is nature that gets back at mankind as I've stated above. Granting that GOD lets these unfortunate things happen but he is not intending to punish us, he is just trying to fathom how patient we are in the midst of natural calamities and pandemic, and he is simply using these happenings for us to be PURIFIED.

The COVID 19 pandemic is an avenue for GOD in order for us to call his name, ask his forgiveness, ask his DIVINE GUIDANCE, and ask his succor. We should not let this pandemic pass by without being closer to GOD because this is the most opportune time for us to be nearer to him. If we cannot go to the churches for us to pray because of the virus, then we should open the bible, read the same and meditate from it. If we cannot go to worship places to praise GOD, then we may hear his good news by way of the online masses or we may pray the rosary at home with our family.

It is true that the pandemic is very damaging to people's health and to the world's economy but somehow it makes us more closer as people since we now have enough time to call each other, has enough time with our respective families and has enough time with GOD.

We should not just look at the dark side of this pandemic but we must also try to discover its bright side which would make us strong in one of the most trying times of our generation.

PLAYING FAVORITES?

President Rodrigo Duterte has told everyone that he had successfully dismantled an oligarch specifically the Lopezes by way of the closure of the ABS-CBN. As can be remembered from his platforms of government when he was still running for the presidency, he promised to get rid of oligarchy and to dismantle the same, sad to say he has dismantled an oligarch who was/is a dissenter to his administration and not an ally. If he is true to his promise in dismantling the oligarchs, then he should dismantle all of them and not the Lopezes only. He must stop playing favorites.

The Villars, Cojuangcos, and Dennis Uy are oligarchs, right? So why is it that he is not pressing them to the full when they are oligarchs? Why is he not giving them some headaches? Is it because they are friends or they have helped him win the presidency? Is it not that his statement in dismantling oligarchy in the Philippines was sweeping? Why is he now playing favorites by giving problems to his oligarch-enemies and by giving favors to his oligarch friends?

The first oligarch to fall under the Duterte presidency was Roberto Ongpin, a former Marcos crony who used to be the biggest shareholder of the biggest online gaming even before the Chinese POGOs came into popularity. Ongpin was shamed by Duterte via national television broadcast for being an oligarch, and without any delay, the former divested from the said online gaming business and sold his shares to a Duterte ally by the name of Gregorio "Greggy" Araneta also an oligarch and a son in law of former President Ferdinand Marcos. This example is actually evidence that the president is getting rid of an oligarch in favor of another oligarch.

Why is he giving favors to his political backers like Sen. Koko Pimentel and his police big whigs like Maj. Gen. Debold Senas who were not sued for violating COVID 19 quarantine protocols but orders the arrest of ordinary people who violate the quarantine protocol. Is justice selective under his watch or is he just playing favoritism?

Does his battle cry TAPANG and MALASAKIT only selective to the extent that he is only courageous and strict (MATAPANG) against his opponents and gives comfort (MAY MALASAKIT) only to his supporters?

Is this the only leadership style the president can offer to the table? Pressure his opponents and dissenters and give comfort to his loyalists and friends? If that is so, then I would conclude that the people who have elected him four years ago had actually erroneously chosen him to lead the country, whose fertile soil and natural beauty was defended by our fallen heroes in the battlefields against the foreign invaders many years ago.

POGO: A LOSS-LOSS SITUATION FOR THE PHILIPPINES

The online gambling business of the Chinese known otherwise as POGO or the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation is doing more harm than good against the Philippine government because of the following disadvantages to wit: 1.) It is not taxable; 2.) Some POGO workers might have carried COVID 19 virus all the way from mainland China to the Philippines; 3.) Prostitution has spiked in Metro Manila because of the proliferation of male Chinese POGO workers who become/became customers in the local sex trade; 4.) Plenty of Chinese POGO workers have contributed to the increase of criminality like kidnapping in Metro Manila against fellow Chinese workers and other Filipino citizens; 5.) The POGO can be a front of China for the same in spying against the Philippines; 6.) The presence of the Chinese POGO workers serves as a competition against Filipinos who can/may also be workers in the same online gambling industry.

While it is true that the Chinese POGO operations have some advantages like 1.) The boom of tourism which may boost the economy; 2.) The income of the country by way of the Philippine Gaming Corporation or PAGCOR through its gambling franchising and regulatory powers and 3.) The local income of the host cities of POGOs through their business permit issuances, it is still very clear that this online betting industry's disadvantages outweigh the advantages. So why keep the same when it offers more harm than good for the Philippines?

Let me discuss the disadvantages POGO has contributed to the country as I have enumerated above.

*** I - POGO IS NON-TAXABLE.

The National Tax Code of the Philippines provides that all income/s of resident aliens and/or foreign corporations derived without or outside the Philippines is/are non-taxable. It is true that the online betting is being done in the Philippines as regards the POGO operations but the income/s of the same is/are derived from the online bettors from all corners of the world especially China, hence its income/s is/are not taxable in this respect.

*** II - SOME OR PLENTY OF CHINESE WORKERS ARE COVID 19 VIRUS CARRIERS.

It is of public knowledge that the COVID 19 has originated from Wuhan City, Hubie, China, and because of COVID 19's outbreak in China, some Chinese POGO workers might have carried rhe virus from mainland China and transported it to the Philippines, thereby infecting plenty of its citizens and eventually killing many of them.

*** III - POGO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPIKE OF PROSTITUTION IN METRO MANILA.

Studies will show that the illegal sex trade in Metro Manila and in some places outside the National Capital Region where POGOs exist has spiked due to the proliferation of male Chinese POGO workers who have earthly cravings for sex. Young and beautiful but jobless women in the countryside may go to Metro Manila to look for easy money by way of the illicit sex trade which espouses sexual immorality and sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis and the like. This development would also badly paint the Philippines internationally as a destination for sex tourism.

*** IV - POGO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE OF CRIMINALITY IN METRO MANILA.

We have viewed from national televisions and have also read from newspapers and tabloids of crimes like kidnapping, drug-using, physical injuries, etc. etc. where Chinese POGO workers were involved against their fellow Chinese POGO workers and in some cases against Filipino citizens. These bad developments are uncalled for and must be addressed properly by the government and its agents like the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation so that this problem may be curbed. If this problem may not be addressed and checked by the authorities in due time, the Philippines could be known as a nest, haven, or lair of internationally imported criminals who affect negatively the peace and tranquil of the country.

*** V - POGO CAN BE A FRONT OF CHINA IN SPYING.

We know the truth that China was once upon a time the Philippines' enemy prior to the ascension of President Rodrigo Duterte to Malacanang, the president may not have given state security secrets of the Philippines to the Chinese, so that the Chinese have to take steps in discovering the said top state security secrets of the former in any way and one of the ways in unearthing the security secrets of the state by the Chinese Military Intelligence officers is via POGOs. The Chinese Military Intelligence officers or operatives of China's Peoples Liberation Army are probably using the POGOs to camouflage their sleuthing/s against the Philippines by disguising as POGO workers when in truth and in fact, they are probably spying against the Philippines to the detriment of the latter.

*** VI - THE CHINESE POGO WORKERS ARE COMPETITORS AGAINST WOULD BE FILIPINO WORKERS AS REGARDS JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE PHILIPPINES.

The POGO operation/s would have helped the jobless Filipinos who are looking for jobs, but such online gaming industry is being permitted by the Philippine government to operate within its territory without giving jobs to its citizens. One of the provisions of the New Labor Code of the Philippines provides, that for the Labor Department or its bureau concerned for the issuance of AEPs or the Alien Employment Permits, there shall be no Filipino worker who would not be suited for the job otherwise the job shall be given to a foreigner, hence the issuance of the AEPs. In conjunction to this, there is/are no assurance/s that there is/are no Filipino/s who can technically operate the machines of the POGO/s or cannot really work for the POGO/s in any capacity and because of this the POGO/s is/are actually denying job opportunities to the citizens of the land where it/they is/are operating.

In view of the foregoing premises and arguments, it is very clear like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west that the POGO industry has done so much harm than good with regard to the national interest of the Republic of the Philippines, thus be frowned upon and be rejected by the state or its leader's corollary to fair play, equality, and equanimity.

NOT NEEDED

by Bayawanon

The ANTI TERROR BILL is not needed as of this time due to the following grounds: 1) The Philippine legislature has already passed the Human Security Act, a law which aims to defend any Filipino citizen from any danger like terrorism, thus the passage of the ANTI TERROR BILL into law would somehow become a redundancy with regard to the former 2) Martial Law has reigned in Mindanao for quite a long time which I believe had somehow suppressed/quelled terrorism in that part of the country and 3) With the penchant on the part of the authorities to plant evidence against their dissenters and detractors, that proposed law poses a threat to every citizen's freedom to air his or her grievance/s to the government, since the law endorsers may silence the government's critics by planting evidence against the latter for the same to keep their mouths shut.

With the way, evidence was invented against Senator Delima, former Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and RAPPLER CEO Maria Ressa, it is possible that such reprehensible developments may happen again by letting the government use the ANTI TERROR BILL/ACT against its oppositors.

One can simply think of a mere habal-habal driver or a simple farmer worker who is a dissenter of the government, be planted with evidence that would tantamount to terrorism, and be charged with terrorism in court. If that would happen to the simple ones that I have discussed above, it will certainly happen against the political adversaries of the ones leading the administration of the government.

Preventing the passage of the ANTI TERROR BILL is actually a move that would stifle a probable dictatorship and an act against an IMPLIED MARTIAL RULE.

SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS IN HONG KONG, XINJIANG AND TIBET

by Bayawanon

SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS IN HONG KONG, XINJIANG, AND TIBET

Let us support the INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS in HONG KONG, XINJIANG, and TIBET. If these Chinese Autonomous Territories would be given independence, then China would not continue as a superpower, because its size would be diminished, her income as a country would shrink and her hegemonic international influence will crumble.

Secondly, many Chinese provinces would follow suit for independence too like Macau, Inner Mongolia, and Manchuria, and that would make China weaker and smaller in the field of geopolitics.

Hong Kong's citizens are protesting against China's policies which are very communistic, take note that Hong Kong was a crown colony of Britain before it was turned over to China, hence Hong Kong is democratic per se and is under an autonomous region status. Technically Hong Kong's democratic government runs counter against China's communist rule, thus the protests and later on the independence movement.

Xinjiang an autonomous province, is a Muslim province. Xinjiang's natives, the Uigurs are being persecuted by the Chinese atheist communist government for practicing their faith and for forcing them to forget the same and be full-time atheists. These reprehensible acts of the Chinese government will further foment Xinjiang's independence dreams from China which started many decades ago.

Tibet, another Chinese autonomous province, has been longing for independence dating back from the 1950s when the said former sovereign state was conquered by China by way of its brute force, Tibet's ceremonial leader, the Dalai Lama has been exiled for almost seventy (70) years already and still dreams of returning to power in his beloved Tibet, aside from that numerous Tibetans are still wishing for a free Tibet from the communist Chinese rule.

If China would be divided into smaller states by way of the independence of its autonomous regions and other provinces, then it would cease to be a threat to many democratic countries of the world, it would then stop to terrorize the West Philippine Sea and it would stop deceiving the world of international business.

China would then cease in meddling the internal affairs of little countries like the Philippines, stop siphoning the natural resources of minute states which are helpless, halt her unfair business practices against many nations and her being a world bully would then be put to an end.

In connection to this, if St. John Paul II had succeeded in persuading the world in praying for the conversion of Russia, then in our own little way we must also start praying for the conversion of China, for China's conversion means PEACE and HARMONY among nations of the world. Amen

STIFLING PRESS FREEDOM

To me, ABS CBN was tricked by Duterte and the company. As we can all remember, Duterte wanted the said TV giant network to be closed as can be gleaned from his past rants against the said media outfit. The lower house has the sole power to hear the renewal and application of franchises of television and radio networks for operation, and the House of Representatives did not act on the application for the renewal of the franchise of ABS CBN to operate. Is it not that Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and the majority of the congressmen are allies of Duterte? It is clear that Cayetano and the majority of the House members connived with the president in closing the ABS CBN by not acting on the same's application for renewal of its franchise.

The National Telecommunications Commission has promised the public and ABS CBN that it will issue a temporary permit to operate after May 4, the expiry date of its franchise but did not honor such a promise on the ground that the franchise of the ABS-CBN was already prescribed. Basing on the developments of the ABS-CBN's case the Office of the President, the House of Representatives have connived with each other so that the ABS-CBN, one of the greatest bulwarks of Philippine democracy be closed and cannot counter check the evils of the Duterte administration any longer

As can be seen from the developments of the ABS-CBN's closure, such closure was well planned by Duterte and his cohorts, as a matter of fact, the Solicitor General has also filed its Quo Warranto case before the Supreme Court against the ABS-CBN for having allegedly violated its franchise which was issued to the same twenty-five (25) years ago, which are still not being proven. Now you can already see the plan? Duterte has actually planned A,B,C so that ABS-CBN be closed and be thrown to the limbo of oblivion for being critical against his evil national leadership.

The curtailment of the ABS-CBN's rights to broadcast and air its programs are a violation of the constitutional right of the said network to freedom of the press and of expression. The cutting short of its corporate life has cut short the right of the people to be informed and d the right to know the truth.

DUTERTE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ELECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE

By Bayawanon

Duterte should not have been elected president in the first place since he was just a small-time City Mayor, he is bereft of national experience to lead the country. A local chief executive like a city mayor, cannot be a good national chief executive if he is directly elected from being a local chief executive to the helm of national leadership which is the presidency since local chief executives like municipal mayors, city mayors and/or provincial governors lack the ingredients of the presidency like foreign policies and macroeconomic policies. These are the reasons why Duterte is very poor in international diplomacy and in the economy, aside from these, Duterte has also proven that he is a failure with regard to calamity and risk reduction management, as can be gleaned from his COVID 19 solutions which are only limited to a national lockdown, curfew, enhanced community quarantine, emergency powers and international loans which can be used to finance the people being hostage by the lockdown due to COVID 19 in their homes.

Duterte is ANTI-LIFE as can be seen in his domestic policies in his DRUG WAR, MARAWI SIEGE MANAGEMENT, and in the present COVID 19 pandemic. As can be presumed in his actions, he does not attack the problem exhaustively, he makes hasty decisions and still thinks like a city mayor running a country.
His supporters cannot notice this because they are inundated and drowned by fake news, a weapon Duterte is using for him to look good when in truth and in fact he is the other way around.

His economic policy which is to raise the taxes can only be felt the negative way since inflation followed. Why is it that the Philippines cannot pole vault economically when the presidency has forced everyone to pay higher taxes? The Philippine economy cannot soar high because of the president's program of FREE GOVERNMENT SERVICES which are good for the people but bad for the economy.

To me, Duterte has actually underestimated the presidency and has even treated it much lower than the city mayorship of Davao, a position which he held for twenty-two (22) years. His penchant of airing his tirades against his political rivals in the media which can be seen and be read by the international community makes him much lower than a Barangay Captain. His howls against the catholic faith and even against GOD were uncalled for since it makes him nothing but uncivil and unsober.

In my forty-six years of existence in the Philippines, a country I consider as the best reason why GOD created the universe, I cannot imagine any worst epidemic, catastrophe or disaster to happen in the country many considered as the PEARL OF THE ORIENT SEAS aside from the former small-time city mayor coming from the Southern Philippines, they would call Duterte. 

THE REAL PROBLEM ARE THE VOTERS THEMSELVES

By Bayawanon

Fred Lim turned the CITY COLLEGE OF MANILA into UNIVERSIDAD DE MANILA and made it a tuition-free educational institution, established five hospitals in the city and made Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila a tuition-free university. He had also his own version of a DRUG WAR which was more effective than the current national leadership. Such a feat is very hard to be surpassed nor be duplicated by anyone who would lead the national capital.

I was so sad when the Manilenos rejected Fred Lim thrice for the mayorship of Manila since the caliber of leadership and service Lim could offer to the people is not just mayoral but actually presidential at its finest.

What did Erap has offered to the people of Manila when he was running for Mayor against Lim aside from his hundreds of millions of bucks and his blackened reputation as president of the Philippines? What did Erap do as Mayor of Manila for six years aside from siphoning its coffers?

Bam Aquino was the PRINCIPAL AUTHOR of the FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION ACT which the young people are now partaking but why did the majority reject him in the 2019 elections? Mar Roxas was the CHIEF ARCHITECT of the CHEAPER MEDICINES ACT but did the majority rejected him in the last two elections in which he participated? Does this mean that most of the Filipinos are ingrate nowadays?

Noynoy Aquino has made the Philippine economy kicking and alive and has established infrastructure projects despite the fact that he did not raise the taxes during his incumbency as president of the republic, but why is it that the people can only remember the glitches Noynoy Aquino's administration has made? Does this mean that the people are not politically logical currently?

When shall the people learn from their mistakes? Will they continue falling to the glare of money and to the tempting promises of the traditional politicians comes election time or will they seek better leadership by way of using critical thinking in choosing their leaders?

I do not know when would people learn how to choose a good leader. To me, it is not the fault of the leaders ruling ineffectively their constituencies, for the real problem are the people themselves who do not know how to chose their leaders who can lead them to prosperity, peace, justice and righteousness and not the other way around.