CLEAN THE RANKS OF THE POLICE FORCE IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE A DRUG AND CRIME FREE PHILIPPINES

By Bayawanon

It seems like our country cannot attain a crime and the drug-free Philippines within the term of the current Philippine president for the reason that in many instances, the men in the police themselves were or are involved in criminality and drugs themselves. What is sad with this, is that plenty of the men and women of the police force were/are involved in the illegal activities are/were high ranking officials in the Philippine National Police.

Police Supt. Marvin Marcos was the team leader of the police force

which stormed the sub-provincial jail of Leyte to serve a questionable search warrant therein during dawn time, a very unholy hour to serve a search warrant and thereby exterminating then-Mayor Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte. Supt. Marcos was actually under the list of Kerwin Espinosa, the son of the late mayor, a drug lord himself to be one of his protectors.

Police Supt. Dumlao, one of the high-ranking operatives of the now-defunct AIDG or the Anti Illegal Drugs Group was found out to be the mastermind of the kidnapping/tokhang for ransom and murder of a South Korean national.

Police Supt. Lito Cabamongan, one of the big whigs of the Philippine National Crime Laboratory was caught flat-footed in a drug raid in a drug den and was tested positive by way of a drug test.

Police Supt. Nobleza was caught with her Abu Sayyaf boyfriend in Bohol for attempting to rescue an Abu Sayyaf fighter in the midst of the police and military offensives against the Abu Sayyaf in the said tourist island.

Just lately, a police station in Tondo, Manila was discovered by the Commission on Human Rights to have a secret cell in consonance with the illegal activities of the police officers therein in connection with extortion. The possible causes of those who were detained there may not be filed in court and they may be released immediately from police custody if the ones being detained from such a highly controversial station would pay money to the police officers of such police precinct.

With these developments, do you think the drug and crime problems of the country be solved by the president by way of his police forces when plenty of his police forces are highly questionable and are even involved in drugs and criminality?

In connection with these issues, if I may have the right to suggest, I propose that the ranks of the Philippine National Police be purged exhaustively for the same to function as a very effective arm of the force of the law.

WAS GINA LOPEZ SACRIFICED?

By Bayawanon

A weird happening came into fruition in the final confirmation hearing of Regina "Gina" Lopez to be the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary before the joint session of the Senate and the House in its Commission on Appointments, since the administration senators and congressmen who were expected to side and vote for her rejected her, and the opposition members of the Commission on Appointments who were expected to deny her voted for her confirmation.

What does it mean? Does it mean that she was dropped by the current national leadership in exchange of something? Is it not that the president has lobbied for her confirmation because of her excellent performance as an environment chief? Is it not that what the president wants, the president gets, so why was Gina Lopez not confirmed?

Was Gina Lopez not confirmed because there is a congressman-member of the Commission on Appointments who happens to be a brother of a mine owner? Was Gina Lopez not confirmed since there is a congressman-member of the powerful Commission on Appointments who happens to be a brother of an aspirant to the environment post as its top honcho? Was Secretary Lopez not confirmed because of the fact that she is a member of the Lopez family, the owner of the ABS-CBN network which is exposing the dreaded drug war of the current regime?

For all I know, Congressman Ronaldo Zamora's brother is a big time mining operator and Congressman Joseph Tolentino's brother, former MMDA Chairman Bambol Tolentino would like to be DENR Secretary too. Bear in mind that both Zamora and Tolentino were two of the majority members of the Commission on Appointments who blocked Secretary Lopez's confirmation. Secondly, Secretary Lopez is a member of the Lopez family who owns the ABS-CBN network, a bastion of democracy in the field of free press, which might have run over the ego of the present supreme national leader, thus the retaliation.

According to the good president, Gina Lopez was not confirmed due to the lobby money of mining firms. Paying the senators and congressmen by way of lobby money for Gina Lopez not to be confirmed as an environment czar is purely and simply a case of bribery, so why not the president file a case of bribery against his pet senators and congressmen and the mining people who bribed them?

The rejection by the CA of Gina Lopez's ad interim appointment as environment guru was so weird because Gina Lopez was actually the best thing that ever happened to the Duterte presidency for her no non-sense implementation of the environmental laws. Everyone aside from the mining firms was expecting Lopez to be confirmed as the environment department's highest official for her sterling performance in her department, but lo and behold, the exact opposite happened.

I hope that the president would let this happening be investigated and that the proper criminal and administrative cases be filed against the culprits for trying to fool around with the law if evidences would be produced against them, otherwise Gina Lopez would clearly be considered a sacrificial lamb by the current national leadership.

THE RATIONALES WHY CHINA WON'T SANCTION NORTH KOREA

By Bayawanon

Despite the North Korean leader's threat to the regional security in the East Asian Region and even the world by way of North Korea's nuclear missile tests, China as a superpower still does not take any steps of disciplining the same. If China really cares about regional and world security, China as a superpower and as a member of the well-respected member of the United Nations Security Council must sanction North Korea. But it seems like China cannot and will not take any steps in controlling Kim-Jung-Un's threat to the world for China and North Korea are almost synonymous.

As I would try to dig deeper historically and politically, I could see five reasons why China won't sanction North Korea politically, economically, or militarily as I would try to discuss it below, and these are the following: 1) North Korea, China, and Russia are traditional allies all the way back from the late 1940s and even from the Korean War era; 2) China and North Korea are communists; 3) China has business interests in North Korea; 4) Because of the long-standing relations between North Korea and China, there are now plenty of Chinese-North Koreans inasmuch as there are also many North Korean-Chinese, and lastly 5) China can and may use North Korea as a pawn in a possible shooting war with her rival the United States of America.

i) North Korea, China, and Russia are traditional allies all the way back from the late 1940s and the Korean War era -- The pages of world history would tell us that after the second world war, Korea was divided into two, the North and the South, the North became a communist country and became allies naturally with the gargantuan communist countries like China and Russia. When former North Korean leader Kim-Il-Sung decided to invade South Korea which would eventually start a Korean War, China together with Russia, supported North Korea in such a war, since then China and North Korea became traditional allies and are inseparable and because of this China can hardly impose sanctions against North Korea.

ii) China and North Korea are communists countries -- Since both China and North Korea are all communist countries, they share the same ideologies and they become like fraternal brothers. Fraternal brothers usually help each other and do not destroy each other, hence Chinese intervention in the North Korean missile tests is very remote if not nil.

iii) China has business interests in North Korea -- After the Korean War, China made many business investments in North Korea and plenty of Chinese businesses have sprouted in North Korea, if China would sanction North Korea on its aggressive stance by producing nuclear warheads and testing the same, then the Chinese business interests in North Korea would be greatly affected since the North Korean government may no longer support the same.

iv) Because of the long-standing relations between North Korea and China, there are now plenty of Chinese-North Koreans inasmuch as there are also many North Korean-Chinese -- After the Korean War, many Chinese migrated to North Korea and vice-versa in the name of adventure and business because of these, many Chinese became North Korean citizens and many North Koreans became Chinese citizens. So how could China discipline North Korea if they are that close?

v) China can and may use North Korea as a pawn in a possible war with her rival the United States of America -- If North Korea would wage hostilities with the United States of America a very known staunch oppositor of the North Korean missile production and tests, China would have little problems in fighting the United States of America tooth and nail. North Korea is actually an extended arm of Communist China in sowing terror in the world, so why does China lift any finger in warning North Korea regarding her nuclear warhead tests?

Because of the following premises, China won't take any steps in controlling North Korea regarding the nuclear ambitions of the latter, since the former is actually using North Korea for its selfish ambitions and interests too.

DOSE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE

By  Bayawanon

The majority believe most of the time on their gut feelings, do their gut feelings serve them right? They believed that Duterte is the savior of the Philippines, with the negative things happening with the peace and order situation and the economic woes the country is facing can we consider Duterte as a solution or a problem?

Does the decision of Duterte to abandon the judgment of the International Arbitral Court on the Law of the Seas giving victory to the Philippines over China in connection with the territorial protest of the former over the latter serve the best interest of the people? Does the act of Duterte in leaving the traditional allies of the Philippines like the United States and the European Union in favor of Russia and China serve the best interest of the country? Do the extra judicial killings in connection with Duterte's WAR ON DRUGS give satisfaction to the summum bunum or the highest good of every Filipino?

If the answer would be in the negative then Duterte is the dose of the medicine of the people who voted for him to the presidency because of their gut feeling, for the same seems to function as the problem and not the solution.

The people must use their discernment in every election that they have to participate, they must make use of their analysis and research on who would they vote for in every electoral process that they have to exercise, since their indecision would only take a toll on their children and their children's children future.

The people have decided wrongly many times in many electoral processes, can they not learn from the lessons of the past? They have elected a president who would reign for two decades only to mismanage the Philippine economy and to destroy people's lives by way of his martial rule, now the same leader is considered by many to be the best Filipino president ever. The people have elected many national leaders from the position of senators to presidents whom the people believe can save them from the quagmire of poverty, injustice and inequality but the situation is still there and even becoming worse.

They've elected such national leaders because they have so much hope in them which only turned into a VAIN HOPE when the same would fail them. These politicians like Duterte were also elected by the people via their political gut feelings, feelings which should not have reigned over political discernment for such gut feelings are not scientific and inaccurate. Such political gut feelings would simply lead to national perdition and the same would be an insult to any voter who would fail to chose wisely by tasting the disservice of their choice/s and would serve as a dose of the their own medicine when their choice cannot serve their best interest.

ON THE JOB TRAINING PRESIDENT

By Bayawanon

I consider the president as an ON THE JOB TRAINING individual on the following grounds to wit: 1.) He had no national experience prior to his assumption of the presidency; 2.) Local Chief Executive Officers like City Mayors like him do not have FOREIGN POLICIES; 3.) Local Chief Executive Officers like him basically do not have ECONOMIC POLICIES aside from the Local Tax Code as provided under the Local Government Code and the Long Term Development Plans of their localities if any but not really comparable to a National Economic Plan or Policy.

Because of the foregoing reasons I won't wonder why he can't deliver as a good leader of the land being inexperienced in the national leadership. In connection to this I would exhaustively discuss the three factors why he would just be an ON THE JOB TRAINING PRESIDENT of the land.

1.) HE HAD NO NATIONAL EXPERIENCE -- For a good president you must have a great if not a good national experience. President Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay was an outstanding congressman and National Defense Secretary before he was elected president because of his national experience which molded him to be a great president, he is regarded as the best president ever elected to led the Filipino people.

President Fidel Valdez Ramos had an extensive national experience being a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and being an ex National Defense guru. I consider him as the second greatest president of the Philippines by pulling out the Philippines from the Asian economic crisis during his time, and by properly addressing the power outages in Metro Manila and Luzon island during his time.

Our present Supreme National Leader had actually a national experience when he was elected congressman representing the illustrious City of Davao. It is true that congressmen are simply elected locally but they function nationally for they can legislate laws which are of national importance. Now the question would be like this, what did he do as a congressman when he was in the halls of congress before? The answer is NOTHING.

In connection to this it is expected that the present Supreme National Leader of the country cannot duplicate the feat of the abovementioned presidents for his lack of national experience, hence it is high time for us to cross fingers for him to improve his national leading skills.

2.) LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS LIKE CITY MAYORS DO NOT HAVE FOREIGN POLICIES -- What can you expect from a former LOCAL LEADER who had no FOREIGN POLICIES when he becomes the president outrightly? Can he have a good FOREIGN POLICY? The answer would be a BIG NO , this fact can be gleaned from his so-called INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY which unequivocally sides with Russia and China and which also clearly frowns at our traditional economic and international partners in the United States of America and the European Union.

It is also very clear that he has no international policy background by eventually turning his back from the very favorable decision of the International Arbitral Court of the Law of the Seas in favor of the Philippines and against China in the matter of the disputed Spratly islands and the South China Sea.

3.) LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS LIKE CITY MAYORS DO NOT HAVE ECONOMIC POLICIES WHICH ARE COMPARABLE TO NATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICIES -- Basically, the economic policies of the Local Chief Executive Officers like the City Mayors are already provided for under the Local Government Code known otherwise as the Local Tax Code. What the
Local Chief Executive Officers like City Mayors need to do here is just to implement the law by way of tax collection through the Treasurer's Office.

Another economic policy of the Local Chief Executive Officers like the City Mayors would be found under their Long Term Development Plans, by the economic policies that can be found therein would simply be MICRO-ECONOMIC POLICIES which are simply minute and germ like compared to MACRO-ECONOMIC POLICIES of the national government.

By virtue of the foregoing grounds, facts and arguments it is very clear that the one supremely leading the Philippines is just a CITY MAYOR being over hyped-up,  addressed as the president of the land.

ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENT

By Bayawanon

The war against drugs is good and I support it but the extra judicial killings attached to it is purely and simply inimical to human rights and should be frowned upon by the public for it clearly violates Article 3, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution which provides "No person shall be deprived of his life, property or liberty without due process of law, nor shall anyone be deprived the equal protection of the law".

These extra judicial killings would also probably push out the prospective investors who would possibly venture business in the Philippines for the EJK's contribute much to the downward spiral of the peace and order situation of the country. Once the country is not peaceful the foreign investors would shy away from transacting business in the Philippines and this is probably the reason why the Philippine Peso is the worst performing currency in Southeast Asia and East Asia, this might be the reason why the Philippine Stock Exchange's performance is fluctuating and this is probably the rationale why the oil and fuel prices are skyrocketing.

These negative economic developments would also take a further toll to the economy for inflation would follow if the things that I have discussed above which are actually happening would come into being and these are actually negative indicators that the economy is not doing well.

You just imagine if these extra judicial killings would continue for the next five years and would also continually wreck havoc to the economy, will something be left for us after this administration?

Secondly, the president have many domestic policies that are very detrimental to the economy like his free WIFI program, his free medicine program, his free hospitalization program and his free college education program. These programs are actually good but in the long run would actually affect the economy, for how would you maintain these good programs of the government without money? Where shall you get the money in maintaining these programs aside from the pockets of the people in the form of taxes?

If taxes would skyrocket, another wave of inflation would hit us and the great probability of the ever perpetual increase of prices of commodities would continue and if this continues an ECONOMIC CRISIS would not be impossible.

Thirdly, the president is distancing from the two great traditional trading partners namely the United States of America and the European Union which may probably give the Philippines many investments. If these two gargantuan trading friends would leave us and divest their investments from the country do you think the Philippines can continue to be economically sound? The answer would then be a BIG NO for the Philippines is actually dependent on these traditional trading partners economically. In conjunction to this I'm hoping that the president would change his stance against the USA and the EU to avert economic repercussions out of his hostile actions against the same.

In view of the foregoing premises, I hope and pray that the president would review his peace and order and economic policies and formulate a wiser and realistic one to avert an ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENT that might be a key for an eventual ECONOMIC CRISIS ... for the greater glory of the the greatest number. SO BE IT.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

By Bayawanon

Bad karma strikes stronger than lightning, so be good. Do not fabricate evidences against your enemies, do not protect the wolves who are hiding in sheep's clothing. and stop bullying the defenseless because if the earthly justice cannot be effected ... DIVINE JUSTICE is inevitable and that would be the greatest misfortune that would ever hit you.

Stop fooling the people who almost believe that you are one of the gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus in the fold of Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Aphrodite and others, and cease acting like a royal who espoused the Divine Rights Theory for you are not a KING.

You must have a total turnaround from your bad ways for your age which is three scores and eleven years is almost in the sunset of your life, bear in mind that you are a mortal hence you must take care of your soul for it may dwell in HADES for your undoing by exterminating the innocents, your critics and your rivals while you are still the leader of your land.

You may own the land or probably the whole world but you may lose your own soul by doing things that are against the will of the CREATOR. Always think sanely that GOD made us for a reason and that is to please him. In connection to this be a subject of him, be his servant and follow him 'til your last breath and 'til the last drop of your blood for HIS and his KINGDOM'S greater glory.

You must remember that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who used to be the strongest man on Earth met karma by losing himself for not following the will of GOD. Will you be like him? If your answer would be in the negative ...then reform and be the CHANGE that you want to be for TRUE CHANGE starts from within.

How can you effect CHANGE when you yourself cannot even change? GOD made us in his own image for us to please him. Will the bullyings, fabrication of evidences against your enemies and the execution of the weak that you have done please GOD? Will such disparaging acts of yours give honor and glory to the creator? If your answer would be in the negative then CHANGE and CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

CONFIRM GINA LOPEZ AS PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT CHIEF

By Bayawanon

Regina "Gina" La'o Lopez belongs to the one of the most illustrious, affluent and respected families of the Philippines, the Lopez family being a business and political family of the country. Her family is the owner of many companies in the Philippines like the ABS-CBN, Maynilad, Meralco, University of Iloilo to name a few. Despite her being a part of a very affluent family she had chosen to serve the community and humanity for free.

She went to Africa to serve the poor people there as a part of her social responsibility. She came back to the Philippines to extend her advocacy to a wider extent by becoming an environmentalist by way of heading the cleaning of the Pasig River through the Save the Pasig River Project, by leading the preservation of the last watershed of Metro Manila through the Save the La Mesa Dam Program and by espousing opposition to irresponsible mining in the paradise island of Palawan via the Save Palawan Movement.

These social responsibilities and environmental advocacies of Gina Lopez are so commendable and I believe that she deserves a Magsaysay or a Nobel Award for environmental advocacy for her dedication to balance environment with modernism, not to mention the fact that she was doing such super tasks for free.

Gina Lopez would have dedicated herself in their family businesses and earn hundreds of millions instead of serving the society for free. Her perks and income at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as of the moment are just minute or so small compared to what she would have earned on possible corporate gains she may have had she decided to stay in the corporate world.

She would not have made numerous opponents because of her opposition to irresponsible mining and she would have enjoyed a blissful and peaceful life had she not accepted the environment portfolio from the president of the republic. Secretary Lopez would have enough privacy and would have not have problems regarding public office had she chose to be a private person and not the other way around. Such selfless acts are considered as patriotism and the same deserves a retribution from the state.

By virtue of the foregoing rationales, it is but normal and fitting for the Commission on Appointments of both the Senate and the House to confirm Secretary Gina La'o Lopez since she is a gem that the Filipino people and the Philippine Republic can seldom see and discover for their betterment as a people and as a country.

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

By Bayawanon

Change is good if it is for the better. Now, does the changes that are happening in the countryside for the better? Does the killings in connection to the obliteration of drugs for the better of the majority? Does the killings form part of DISCIPLINE which the people actually need nowadays?

Of course KILLING is not a form of DISCIPLINE, for how can a bad man change if he's already dead? How can a dead man change for the better? I hope the state would make some steps in reforming the society by not resorting to violence and I hope further that the government would respect human rights, since according to former Senator Jose Wright Diokno he said and I quote that "human rights are legal concepts, deny them and you deny man's humanity".

The state must also observe the constitutional rights of every Filipino citizen which is embodied in the BILL OF RIGHTS of the Philippine Constitution and respect the same, for we are living in a government of laws and not of men, thus I expect to have a more humane and law leaning change that would happen in the next months or years to come in our fair motherland.

There is no problem with change if it is done in consonance with the existing laws, public morals, public health and public policy. Much more that there is no problem with it if we are building and not destroying communities out of it, since we don't have to destroy in order to build.

Changing the society for goodness sake by way of killing the drug addicts and drug pushers is not a genuine change, for one cannot solve a problem by doing another problem. The true change that we are expecting is that change that effects reforms by way of peace, compassion, camaraderie and team role playing. Change by way of violence would not make any good as we would all learn from history.

The people should and must have a role for the genuine change that we are looking for. That can be possible by being vigilant against crime, corruption and human rights violation. The people must stop cheering the state in its so-called purging against the people who are involved in the drug trade, since the same is a synonym of mass killings and condoning the same would make one accountable on the judgment day.

In connection to this, the government must reconsider it's WAR ON DRUGS which is coupled with executions outside of legal avenues, revise the same and inculcate discipline to all so that CHANGE can be had in its true sense.

MOCKERY OF JUSTICE

By Bayawanon

It is my humble opinion that there is no case to talk about against Philippine Senator Leila de Lima, that the recent criminal cases she is facing involving illegal drugs now are just machinations and inventions of her political nemesis the current Philippine supreme national leader. It is clear and unequivocal that her mortal political enemy is getting back at her because of her opposition to the extra judicial killings happening in the Philippines which are connected to the DRUG WAR of the president and to the investigations of her office when she was still Chairwoman of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights and when she was still Secretary of Justice in conjunction with violation of human rights allegedly done by the president when he was still Mayor of the highly urbanized City of Davao.

To me, there is no case to talk about against the very valiant senator on the following grounds to wit: 1.) There are no evidences presented by the prosecution in court aside from the oral manifestations of its witnesses mostly composed of convicted criminals; 2.) As can be gleaned from the Senate and House investigations the statements of the witnesses cannot corroborate with each other; 3.) The alleged crime committed by de Lima happened when she was still Secretary of Justice hence her cases fall under the "ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES" which are under the the cognizance of the Ombudsman and not under the Department of Justice as the prosecutorial body and under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan and not under the ambit of the Regional Trial Court as the one to try her cases.

As to the first ground of the dismissal of the criminal cases of Senator Leila de Lima, the oral manifestations of the convicted felons can easily be manipulated by the legal team of the president by giving them paroles and important benefits in relation to their incarceration at the National Bilibid Prisons. In conjunction to this, there are no other evidence/s that would point de Lima to the illegal drug trade happening at the NBP during her time as Secretary of Justice.

Regarding to the second ground for the dismissal of the former Justice Chief's pending criminal cases in connection to her alleged violation of the DANGEROUS DRUGS LAW, the same must be dropped since the manifestations of the witnesses would not corroborate or would not jibe with each other not to mention the fact that they are convicting felons thereby making their testimonies very questionable because of their highly controversial situation.

As to the third and last ground for the dropping of the criminal cases against the honorable senator, the Department of Justice as duly represented by the Regional State Prosecutor has no right to prosecute de Lima's cases in the same vein that the Regional Trial Court has no jurisdiction to try and hear her cases. Her alleged protection of the drug trade in the National Bilibid Prisons is a CORRUPT act and would not constitute a violation of the DANGEROUS DRUGS LAW but a violation of the ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES LAW. Violation/s of the anti graft law would be investigated by the Ombudsman and would be under the jurisdiction of the graft court known otherwise as the Sandiganbayan strictly speaking.

In view of the foregoing premises it is my humble view that the cases of Senator de Lima are nothing but a farce and must be dismissed for lack of evidence and for lack of jurisdiction in the same footing that its records have no legal weight and credence and must be thrown to the smokey mountain, since continuing this farce would tantamount to a MOCKERY OF JUSTICE.

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HE IS FREE TO LEAVE THE ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGION

By Bayawanon

Religion is derived from the Latin word relegare/relegari which in English means "to be one with GOD", hence one cannot go to GOD without religion for clearly religion is an avenue in going to GOD. In connection to this any religion can be an avenue or a vehicle in facing GOD face to face one day.

The Roman Catholic Church is one of the religions in the Philippines, and it is the religion where the current president belongs. Unfortunately, the Roman Catholic Church is against his domestic policy regarding the extra-judicial executions in the matter of the WAR ON DRUGS. Because of this the president is frequently attacking the Roman Catholic Church to the extent of bullying the same.

If the president feels like any religion is a vehicle in going to heaven and to be one with GOD, then he must stop bullying the Catholic Church or any religion for that matter. If I were him, I would instead take the criticisms of the Catholic Church as a constructive one and take it as a challenge for him to do better as a Chief Executive of the country.

The clergymen as citizens of the country and in connection with their constitutional freedom of expression have the right to air their grievances against the government. These rights of the Roman Catholic prelates should be respected by the state and should not be trampled upon for doing the same would violate Philippine democracy purely and simply.

If the president thinks that he no longer needs the Roman Catholic Church as an avenue for him to be one with his Creator since the same religion attacks him as regards to his policy on the WAR ON DRUGS, he is free to leave the same and find a sect or religion which condones killing in the pursuance of his narco war.

Everyone has the right to be insane in a democracy, much more that anyone has the right to question the government when he feels like the same does not serve the best interest of the people already, in the same vein that anyone like the president has also the right to leave any religion like the Catholic faith if he also feels like the same is already an obstacle to his personal and political agenda. But no one can stop the Roman Catholic Church from opposing any agenda that would hamper the best interest of the people even if every catholic member who has the same agenda would transfer to any belief that supports the same since vividly the Roman Catholic Church is a bastion of democracy.

IN THE DEFENSE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

By Bayawanon

The present national leadership of the Philippines keep on hitting the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy of the Philippines for having consistently questioned the Philippine government on its domestic policy regarding the WAR ON DRUGS, and the current Supreme National Leader is taking personally the criticisms of the clergy regarding this issue by also throwing personal issues against some high ranking priests in the country and by trying to degrade the Catholic Church to the public. The president must slow down in this regard since the Catholic clergy have the right to check the government on this issue on the ground that they are also citizens of the country, hence they have the right to question the government when they feel like the state is not on the right track already.

It is true that there is a constitutional provision which provides for the separation of the Church and the State but it is NOT ABSOLUTE. The Separation of Church and State Doctrine is only limited to the fact that the church does not have a role in the formulation of state policies and that funds of the state cannot be used for any religious purpose, the Roman Catholic Church has also a rule prohibiting the clergymen in running for public office not until they resign from their religious duties but these factors do not mean that the Roman Catholic clerics cannot question the government when the same becomes misguided because they have the right to do so as citizens of the country and also by virtue of the VATICAN COUNCIL II.

The Vatican Council II was a council of reform empowering the priests, bishops and laities to be more proactive and to face all forces and problems of the community if needed. Now, there is a necessity from the Roman Catholic faith if the other sects and denominations won't and that is to defend one of the TEN COMMANDMENTS that says ... THOU SHALT NOT KILL. The WAR ON DRUGS is a good program of the government and I believe the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines supports this program not until its PRO-LIFE stance is and would be violated.

In connection to this, the government must give a chance to the drug addicts and pushers who would like to change by rehabilitating them and not by exterminating them. Most of the SAINTS were sinners but they were given by GOD a CHANCE to CHANGE, their stories would not have been the same if our God is not a forgiving God, their stories would not have been told if God is not a God of love and forgiveness.

Lastly, I am challenging and encouraging the government to personify Christ within its ambit. Let our government be a government of laws and not of men, and let it be a government of love and compassion and not be an instrument of hate and death. Amen

CHANGE BY WAY OF VIOLENCE?

By Bayawanon

The people have spoken and have elected a very popular Supreme National Leader in the last national elections. He was elected mainly because of his national agenda which is to effect CHANGE. He vowed to effect change by obliterating corruption, criminality and the proliferation of illegal drugs.

After having been elected to the highest elective position of the land, the Supreme National Leader has made his promise a reality regarding his war on illegal drugs. Plenty of crackdowns, arrests and killings in relation to his dreaded DRUG WAR happened, two thousand plus government led executions happened and four thousand plus vigilante killings came into being, all of which happened in the name of CHANGE and in the pursuit of a DRUG FREE Philippines.

The surveys would show that eighty percent of the PEOPLE WHO SEEK CHANGE approve the bloody moves of the State in its war against drugs. Does this mean that the people in general becomes blood thirsty in the pursuit of change? Change is good but it has to be effected in a humane manner, change has also to start from every citizen for the same starts from within.

Niccolo Machiavelli, one of the leading political thinkers of Europe during the medieval times had said and I quote that "the end justifies the means", applying this statement to the recent spate of killings IN RE:DRUG WAR, the end really justifies the means. However, in a christian nation and a democratic loving country like the Philippines, the end does not justify the means when human life is already disrespected and the democratic processes in connection to an individual's pursuit for happiness, liberty, life and property are already violated in the name of change.

FOUR REASONS WHY THE SPRATLYS IS SO IMPORTANT TO CHINA

The People's Republic of China is trying to move heaven and earth to have the Spratly Islands under its imperial dominance since the same is very important on the following grounds to wit:

1) The Spratlys is a good fishing ground for fishermen in the Southeast Asian and East Asian Regions -- Since the Spratlys is a good fishing ground, China is trying to do her best to have Spratlys by hook or by crook for the same can help feed the growing population of China which is considered to be the most populous country in the whole world;

2) The Spratlys has substantial amount of minerals and gases which may boost China's economy -- Another reason why China is so interested of the Spratlys is the fact that many geologists have tested the islands to be positive of minerals and gases which may be of great help for development of China's economy and industry if the same can be utilized for the further development of her economy and industry;

3) The Spratlys is a strategic location for China for purposes of Military Intelligence gathering -- Since the Spratlys can be found in he midst of the South China Sea known also as the West Philippine Sea it is a very strategic location for China to gather military information by way of satellite sleuthing coming from the Philippines a known American ally, from Malaysia a known British ally, from Indonesia a known Dutch ally, from Vietnam a surging territorial disputant, and even from Taiwan an old geopolitical enemy;

4) The Spratlys can be a good International Naval Traffic Base for China -- Due to the reason that the Spratly group of islands can be found in the midst of the South China Sea otherwise known as the West Philippine Sea, the same can be a good base for the Chinese Navy and Coastguard to man international navigation in the area. The Chinese Navy and Coastguard may have the power and brute force to control the international freedom of navigation which the foreign vessels coming from different countries of the world to the detriment of the same which would result to an unfair Chinese economic gain.

I hope that the arguments being presented shall be given weight and credence by the Supreme Leader of the Republic of the Philippines to reconsider his decision to abandon the decision of the International Arbitral Court of the Law on the Seas which gave a legal victory in favor of the Philippines in a case against China, since abandoning the same would do more harm than good against our very own native land.

IS SHOOTING WAR BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL HEGEMONS IN THE OFFING?

By Bayawanon

The South China Sea does not belong to anyone since it is considered as international waters, because it is classified as international waters every foreign vessel has the right to navigate it. China has long been flexing her muscles on the South China Sea by way of annexing islands being claimed by small neighboring countries at the Spratly group of islands which lie on the said disputed sea. Because of China's domination over the said waters, it seems like she already personally own the same therefore undermining the freedom of navigation of international vessels under different foreign flags.

The international community knows that the Philippines won a legal battle over China in the International Arbitration on the Law of the Seas thereby rendering the claims of China over the said disputed waters moot and academic, but China continues her arrogance by not honoring the judgment of the international arbiters and by relying solely on its super power status as a matter of fact its navy continually patrols the Spratlys and the aforementioned international disputed waters.

In view of this development, it is very clear that the freedom of navigation of many countries which indulge in commerce are highly affected, hence the freedom of navigation and to indulge in international business by some big countries to name a few like the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, India, Britain, the European Union, etc.,etc. are clearly affected since the Chinese Coastguard and Navy are unequivocally and clearly acting as the international traffic policeman of the said waters.

The economy of the countries plying by way of the South China Sea are clearly affected because of the show of force China is imposing thereat and for them to regain the status quo, they have to ask China to respect International Law and the ruling of the International Arbitral Court of the Law of the Sea IN RE : China vs. the Philippines. Just recently the United States is asking China to respect the same internationally recognized statute and ruling or suffer the consequences of her defiance of such law and decision.

In conjunction to this we should collectively pray that China must follow the internationally accepted principles of the United Nations since the United States and her allies may declare war against her on the grounds being taken and discussed above. We must firmly pray that China will soon step aside her so-called rights over the above-mentioned international waters for her insistence to lord over the South China Sea may result to a shooting war between her and the United States, the two leading HEGEMONS on planet Earth which can be also be a torch for a possible Third World War.

TIME TO CHANGE SOME PAGES OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY?

By Bayawanon

Due to the advent of the hero's burial of the former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and due to the support he is gaining nationally especially by the millennials who did not witness the horrors of Martial Law, I suppose that they have the right to CHANGE PHILIPPINE HISTORY, but who would believe the REVISED Philippine History then when the world witnessed the Philippines being mishandled by Marcos during his reign as president, dictator and strongman for more than twenty years?

Before Marcos assumed power in 1965, the Philippines had a foreign loan of only six hundred (600) million dollars, when he left power almost twenty one years after, the outstanding foreign debt of the Philippines was a gargantuan twenty five (25) billion dollars. It is true that he made some gigantic edifices like the Heart Center of the Philippines, Philippine Kidney Center, Light Rail Transit, San Juanico Bridge etc, but such constructions cannot explain the 24.4 billion dollars the Philippines got from foreign loans during his time.

Marcos was charged for looting the government after he left office as president to the tune of ten (10) billion dollars, such larceny can be corroborated by the seizures of some parts of it by way of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, but his supporters would justify his WEALTH by way of some videos not inspected and affirmed by historians saying that he was really RICH before he entered politics and that because of his so-called accomplishments he can be considered as the best president the Philippines ever had. Now, which one shall we believe, the Philippine History being written by the scholars and historians or the "EVIDENCES" not corroborated by history researchers which are being circulated by his family and supporters?

HISTORICAL REVISION MAY LEAD TO POLITICAL SLAVERY

By Bayawanon

How can a country improve when its people do not know its history? How can a country improve when its people cannot even discern what is a lie from a truth in a historical perspective? I believe that history is the mirror of the past and a vehicle going to the future, but how can we mirror back the past and go successfully to the future when facts of history can easily be fabricated and the same can simply be bought?

When historical facts can be fabricated it means that history can simply be revised, when history is revised without further research and investigation on the part of the public it means that there is something wrong with the people. If there is something wrong with the people because they don't care about there history then they're going to nowhere.

Our national history is also our national identity, if we don't know our history then we don't know ourselves. If we permit powerful and influential people to change part/s of our national history in favor of the personal glory of the few, then we are nothing but a group of ignorant falling as preys to the aristocrats.

Will we permit ourselves to be the laughing stock of the world by letting the few change our history thereby changing our national identity? Will we continue our minds to be poisoned by the few whose only aim and purpose to change our history is to grab power again? I hope we won't let ourselves be enslaved again and I hope further that our IGNORANCE won't be the reason why we would then be under another POLITICAL SLAVERY.

THE DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSES OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION MUST BE FOLLOWED

By Bayawanon

Art. 3 Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution provides "No person shall be deprived of his life, property or liberty without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law."
In connection to the aforementioned provision of the constitution of the Philippine Republic, does the commendable drug war of the present national leadership in line with the basic law of the land? I believe that the answer must be in the negative since the same national policy is not in line with the due process and equal protection clauses of the Philippine Constitution.

The due process clause of the Philippine Constitution unequivocally provides "No person shall be deprived of his life, property or liberty without due process of law", this constitutional clause is clearly violated by the authorities since the drug suspects nowadays usually cannot reach the courts for they are already executed on the ground that they are drug suspects, that they have allegedly possessed drugs and guns and that they fought back against the authorities. How can they show cause or how can they show their innocence when they are already judged and even executed extra-judicially?

The equal protection clause of the Philippine Constitution which also forms part of Art. 3. Sec. 1 also provides " nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law", in relation to this, does this constitutional clause also being properly observed by the proper authorities enforcing the law IN RE : DRUG WAR vis-a-vis other crimes? The answer would still be in the negative since the war against criminality is almost limited only to the drug problem of the country. In order for this national policy in getting rid of drugs not to be in violation of the equal protection clause of the constitution, everyone being caught violating the law shall be executed without defending themselves in court too.
Every violator of the law like the drug addicts, drug pushers, drug protectors, prostitutes, pimps, corrupt government employees, thieves, smugglers, tax evaders, wife beaters, rapists, murderers etc.etc. shall be executed outside of the law too because in the eyes of the law all kinds of criminals are equal. Executing the drug addicts and drug pushers ONLY without due process of law would negate the equal protection clause of the constitution for it would make the other classes of criminal special over the drug criminals, hence the war against drugs is actually PURELY AND SIMPLY not in consonance with the constitution.

In conjunction to this, I propose that the state should not just limit itself on its war on drugs, instead there must be a WAR AGAINST CRIMINALITY, but the existing laws like the constitution, the revised penal code, the rules on criminal procedure, the rules on evidence and other special penal laws shall be observed properly in fighting the same for we are living in a government of laws and not of men.

MARCOS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN A HERO'S BURIAL

By Bayawanon

Under the rules of statutory construction. a Municipal Law would always reign supreme over International Law if there is a conflict between the two.
It is very clear that if the provisions of the International Law on Human Rights shall be followed which the then Philippine dictator Ferdinand Augustus Edralin Marcos, Sr. had violated then the same would not be given a hero's burial since he would then be classified as a human rights violator and not a hero.

Under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Regulation G-161-373, the then strongman Marcos is qualified to be given a hero's burial since he met all of the qualifications like being a former head of state, a medal of and valor awardee and a former soldier, but does he has any of the disqualifications?

Basing on the facts given, there would be a legal issue that we would tackle here, and the issue is this ... is there a conflict between International Law and Municipal Law in this case at hand? My answer would then be in the negative since there is no conflict between both International and Municipal Laws in this regard since the AFP Regulation G-161-373 would not be considered as a law but only a mere military regulation. For the same regulation to be given a TEETH it should have passed both the two chambers of congress (House of Senate and House of Representatives) and became a law for it to be considered as one.

For this reason there is no conflict between both International and Municipal Laws here, since in the first place the subject military regulation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines would not be considered a law in this regard, and it is very clear like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west that the former deposed national leader had committed atrocities against the people against the International Law on Human Rights.

Because the subject military regulation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines would not be considered a statute and under International Law on Human Rights it is but fitting that any dictator, strongman or human rights violator should not be given a hero's burial for the same would constitute a mockery of justice.
As to the issue on whether or not he was not dishonorably discharged as a soldier, my answer is in the AFFIRMATIVE since as a former president he was the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, thus technically he was a soldier during the time that he was taken out of power by the sovereign Filipino in EDSA sometimes on January, 1986 and such a happening would even be considered MORE THAN a dishonorable discharge from military service.

By virtue of the foregoing premises, it is my humble view that Ferdinand Augustus Edralin Marcos, Sr. is ineligible to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for he does not deserved the honor of being a hero since giving a hero's burial to the undeserved would mean an affront and insult the the human rights victims in particular and to JUSTICE in general.

CAN THERE BE HEALING?

By Bayawanon

His Excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte reasoned out that there can be healing among the divided Filipinos if the then strongman Ferdinand Edralin Marcos of Batac be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Can there be really healing when the people are still divided? Nine Supreme Court justices, almost the same justices who were appointed by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo an ally of Duterte who absolved Arroyo from the case of plunder, ruled in favor of Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Days after the rendition of the highest tribunal of its decision and without waiting for the result of the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the petitioners, the Marcos family decided for the interment of their patriarch at the Heroes' Cemetery just recently. The people protested as a result and the protests are simply sprouting from the different places of the country. The question now is this ... is this the HEALING that President Duterte would like us to see?

Now, it is for the people to judge whether or not our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had discerned with all his heart, mind and soul regarding his decision to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. If the people feel like the president committed a grave abuse of his discretion as the supreme leader of the country in his decision to order the interment of Marcos in the hallowed grounds of the heroes' final resting place, then let there be a gargantuan protest against him to reconsider his decision to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for a dictator does not deserve any honor from the people he had betrayed.

In connection to this, I hope and pray that the good president will always consult the people in cases like these, for failure to consult the people in national issues as gigantic as this would mean uselessness on the part of the people of electing their supreme national leader who they feel like their hero who would save them from the abyss of hopelessness.