By Connie B. Destura LEGAZPI CITY --- After months of rigorous screenings, the Commission on Higher Education and AKO Bicol Partylist named the “Ten Outstanding Students of Bicol” (TOSB) who will be presented in an awarding ceremony today at the Bicol University (BU) here with Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara as guest of honor and keynote speaker. Rosalieh Constante Luces, political affairs officer and TOSB coordinator, said the judges chose the 10 from a list of 20 semi-finalists based on their exemplary performance in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and social responsibility in the Bicol region. She said the 10 who will be honored on March 9 at the College of Arts and Letters in BU are: Maegan Alexis A. Almasco and Katherine Princess Vista, both from University of Northeastern Philippines or UNEP in Iriga City; Romeo B. Sotto Jr. and Claudette May B. Mora, both from University of Saint Anthony or USANT, also in Iriga City. Juvin M. Durante, Cristia Shiena S. Amparo, Christine Mae Valencia, all from University of Nueva Caceres or UNC in Naga City, Camarines Sur; and Charles Michael G. Salas of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges. Karen Daniela Besmonte of Aquinas University of Legazpi or AUL and Karen V. Segovia of Divine World College of Legazpi or DWCL, both schools in Legazpi City. A special award will be given to Nico Jazmin Guillermo as the “People’s Choice Award.” According to Luces, three special Sunwest Awards, that will be announced during the ceremony, will be given--the awards for leadership, distinction in accountancy, and overall excellence. The special awards will be given by Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. Luces said it is also significant that among the 10 TOSB seven are women who will be honored with this month’s celebration of the International Women’s Month. “They all deserve to win because they are all unique and talented,” she said of the women college students. Luces said Angara’s presence is highly anticipated as he will inspire the students, teachers and parents to become the best in their field and contribute to nation-building. She said prior to the awarding ceremony, Angara will also visit Tagas Elementary School and Binitayan Elementary School in Daraga, Albay to distribute bags and school supplies to hundreds of student beneficiaries of AKB. CHED and AKB chose the finalists to the search from among nominees from various private and state colleges and universities in the Bicol region. CHED and AKB said TOSB, an annual search that was initiated in 2009, aims to recognize the hard work and contribution of Bicolano students in local and national development, a vision shared by the two award-giving bodies. The Ako Bicol partylist Representatives--Alfredo Garbin Jr, Rodel Batocabe and Christopher Co., espouse improvements in the lives of Bicolano people.

Isusunad na sa referendum kan Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative (Casureco II) sa miembros-consumedores nganing mag-desisyon na kun saen mawot nindang irehistro an cooperativa na pagpipilian an minasunod, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), o dapat magpadagos sa presenteng manijamiento sa lindong kan National Electrification Administration (NEA). Si Rolando Pante, Institutional Service Department (ISD) Manager asin parataram kan Casureco II nagpahayag sa Bicol Mail na sainda nang pigtalaan an referendum sa isasabay sa gigibohon na Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) sa Octubre 2017 nganing makua na an desisyon kan consumedores. An actividad kan manijamiento kasunod kan directiva ni NEA Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong na dapat antes kan Enero 2018 magconducir na nin referemdun sa kaparejong mga kahapotan an gabos na cooperativa nin electricidad sa nacion. An Casureco II Consumers Group na pinamamayohan ni Consejal Miles Raquid-Arroyo, perang taon na an nakakaagi hinagad na sa manijamiento na magpaapod nin referendum nganing hapoton an rinibong consumedores kun pabor o contra sa conversion kan Casureco II sa stock cooperative o magpa- rehistro sa CDA alagad ngonian sana sa bagong pamayo kan NEA nagpaluwas nin memorandum. Kun an sarong cooperativa nin electricidad rehistro sa CDA asin kun magdeclara an manijamiento na igwang ingreso an miembros makakarecibe nin dividendo alagad kun lugi mayong makukua. An matukaw na director dapat elihido kan miembros asin an nabilog na junta iyo an manombra kan general manager. Kun maparehistro sa SEC dai paman pigdetalye kan cooperativa asin sa presenting pagpadalagan padagos na inaapod na cooperativa nin electricidad alagad dai man rehistro sa CDA. Digdi sa rehiyon cinco na igwang onceng cooperativa nin electricidad solamente an Sorsogon II Electric Coopperative an rehistro sa CDA bilang stock cooperative. Dinagdag pa kan Casureco II na nagtalaan sinda nin district elections sa Agusto 26, 2917 sa mga banwaan kan Magarao, Bombon, Naga South asin Naga North. Sa presente igwa nang elehidong mga director sa banwaan kan Calabanga, Tinambac-Siruma, Milaor asin Pili. Alagad kun liwat magpalyar an pigtalaan na district elections an NEA manombra nin mga director sa mga vacanteng distrito mantang an saindang kualipikasyon dapat masunod si dating reglamento sa nagcacandidatong director. (DPA)

An Camp General Simeon A. Ola kan Bikol PNP preparado na sa pagbuhay kan campaña contra sa droga kasunod kan pinaluwas na directiva ni PNP Chief Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa na ipapadagos ninda an mga operasyon laban sa droga sa paagi kan ‘’Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded.’’ Si P/Chief Supt. Melvin Ramon G. Buenafe, regional director kan Bikol PNP nagpahayag na kan saindang kaandaman sa directiva kan national headquarter, alagad nagcierto na mayong makakahalong ‘lapang kamatis’ sa bibilogon na Drug Enforcement Unit nganing maseguro na mayong mangyayaring problema asin reklamo contra sa PNP. Kan suspendiron an guerra contra droga, digdi sa Bikol dakul na mga oficiales de barangay, LGUs asin iba pang mga sektor an nagpapadara nin mensaje na dapat ipadagos an operasyon contra droga mientras na nagbabalik naman an mga envuelto sa ilegal na actividad, sabi pa ni Buenafe. Bako lang digdi sa satong rehiyon envez sa nacional maging an Kampo krame nakakarecibe nin mga kahagadan na dapat ipadagos an higot na campaña sa droga, huli kaini nag-desisyon an jefe kan PNP na ipadagos an guerra alagad pig-ngararan na ‘’Oplan Double Barrel, Reloaded.’ Hinagad kan Bikol PNP sa namamanuan na magtabang sinda asin magparticipar sa espuersos kan gobierno nganing magkasararo na maging efektivo an operasyon kan PNP, PDEA, asin AFP mantang dai marerealisar an campaña sa droga kun kulang suporta. An Bikol PNP sa liderato ni Buenafe naheling kan publico an marhay na resulta sa guerra contra droga mala ngani pakatapos kan taon 2016 sa estrictong campaña sa ilegal na actividad nakarecibe nin onra gikan sa national headquarter bilang numero uno sa nacion sa Oplan Double Barrel Alpha. An saindang acomplisimiento bako lang 100 per cent envez nagsakat sa 216 per cent. Afuera pa kaini, naka-organisar na nin mga Kasurog Kontra Droga-Bicol Region Against Drugs (KKD-BRAD) sa mga provincia kan Kabikolan na dakulang bagay na igwang grupo na nagsusuporta sa PNP sa campaña contra droga. Kasabay kaini, nagcoconducir pa nin mga medical dental mission, feeding asin libreng gupit katuwang an mga PCRU, PPO asin LGUs na kabale sa pinakahuring ginibo an programa sa Calabanga asin Goa, digdi sa Camarines Sur. (DPA)

Bako lang an ibang cooperativa nin electricidad an kabale sa mga afectado oras na mangyari an Malampaya shut down ngonian na bulan nin tag-init envez maging an Casureco II. Kun magpalangkaw nin tarifa nin corriente an saindang mga power supplier, ipapasa man kan cooperativa an dugang na singil sa tarifa sa consumedores alagad kun magbuelta sa dating singil liwat mahuros an tarifa, sabi ni ISD Manager Rolando Pante. Naglalaom an Casureco II na mayong mangyayaring mahiwas na brownout na sisimbagon na ini kan saindang mga power supplier. Sa ngonian kabale sa saindang power supplier iyo an San Miguel Energy Corporation, WESM, Masenloc asin Bicol Mini Hydro. Ngonian na bulan nin Febrero 2017 naghuros an saindang tarifa na nag-abot na sana sa P7.58.35 kun itatampad kan Enero nagpapako sa P9.21 cada kilowatt hour. Haros cierto na an pinaluwas na patanid na shut down na maresulta sa pag-ulanto kan tarifa sa corriente, sabi pa. Sa kaparejong entrevista, sinabi pa kan cooperativa na saindang pig-aambisyonan na makasakat na sa category A kun marealisar an padagos na pagbaba kan system loss na sa presente igwa na sanang 13.7 por ciento asin mapalangkaw an collection efficiency na nag-aabot pa sana sa 95 por ciento. Kun dai naglamasa si bagyong ‘Nina’ na milyon pesos si destroso sa cooperativa naabot na ninda an Category A, sabi pa. (DPA)

Nadaog man an tercer distrito kan Camarines Sur sa desisyon contra sa pagbuhay kan congreso sa death penalty bill alagad piglansar man an Gulayan Habang Buhay (GHB) program ni Congresista Gabriel H. Bordado Jr., katabang an Departamento de Agricultura. An GHB (Urban Container Agriculture), na pigtulod kan congresista tanganing matabangan an lambang familia na limitado an espasyo para magtanom nin gulayon. An programa ginibo kan Sabado, Marso 4 sa SM Even Center na inatendiran nin maabot sa 700 na mga miembros kan Lakas ng Kababaihan, oficiales de barangay, oficiales lokal kan tercer distrito asin iba pang residentes na presente an oficiales kan DA, Alcalde John Bongat, Consejal Julian Lavadia Jr., pamayo kan Committee on Agriculture sa Sangguniang Panlungsod kan Ciudad nin Naga. Sinabi pa na an GHB program bilang Kasimbagan sa problema nin kagutoman asin nutrisyon, Dagdag sa hanap buhay kan familia, madaling gibohon sa natad kan lambang harong asin Tabang sa pagbawas nin basura. An programa makakatabang sa limitado an espasyo o natad nganing makatanom nin ano man na gulayon mantang magamit sana nin masitera, pueding lata asin plastic asin ipapasunod an organikong pagtanum. Sa mensaje ni Bordado, saiya munang nasambitan na piglaban niya an desisyon kan tercer distrito contra sa pagbuhay kan death penalty bill sa congreso alagad dinaog sinda sa ika-duwang pagbasa. ‘’Nagtutubod kita na an kagurangnan iyo an may deretso na magkua nin buhay ta siya man an nagtao sato nin buhay’’. An congresita antes nagdesisyon sa pagvoto contra sa death penalty bill saiyang pigconsulta an manlaen-laen na sektores kan tercer distrito na 80 por ciento sa sainda an nagcocontra sa House bill 4727 na saiyang dinara an voces sa ika-duwang pagbasa kan bill. Alagad tinawan niya nin duon na nadaog man sinda congreso yaon man an Gulayan Habang Buhay Program. (DPA)

Inabot nin doceng taon an gobierno provincial kan Camarines Sur nganing makapili nin permanteng provincial director kan PNP Provincial Office sa presenteng administrasyon na ni Gobernador Migz Villafuerte na yaon na sa ika-duwang termino. Nasa high morale ngonian an Capitolyo Provincial asin nagcierto nin sinto por cientong suporta an jefe ejecutivo kan provincia sa bagong PD na si Sr. Supt. Jerry Bearis. Kan huring termino kan saiyang lolo na si Gobernador kaidto Luis Villafuerte asin sundo na natapos an siyam na taon ni dating Gobernador asin ngonian Congresista LRay Villafuerte kan segundo distrito, na ama kan joven na gobernador anas OIC asin Acting Provincial Director na ngonian sana nakapili an Capitolyo Provincial nin permanteng provincial director. Sinabi kan gobernador napili niya si Bearis huli kan saiyang naheling na kakayahan na sa laog sana nin pitong bulan komo Provincial Director kan Masbate napili bilang Best Provincial Director asin halangkaw pa si acomplisimiento sa campaña laban sa ilegal na droga asin iba pang kriminalidad. Afuera kaini, naging jefe de pulicia sa Ciudad nin Iriga asin anom pang mga banwaan digdi sa Camarines Sur. Sarong Bikolano na tubong Nabua, aram niya an geograpiya asin cultura kan provincia, sabi pa ni Villafuerte. Base sa Local Government Code an jefe ejecutivo kan provincia iyo an may poder na magpili kan permanteng pamayo kan PNP gikan sa limang nominado kan PNP Regional Office na narealisar sa administrasyon kan presenteng gobernador. Si Bearis, nag-asumir sa puesto sa ginibong simpleng ceremonia kan Marso dos sa PNP Provincial Office, Concepcion Grande, Ciudad nin Naga na pinangenotan ni Regional Director Chief Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe asin sa precencia kan joven na gobernador. Saiyang pigribayan si dating Acting Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Walfredo Pornillos na saro man Bikolano asin taga Nabua, CamSur asin destino na ngonian sa Camp Simeon Ola, Ciudad nin Legaspi. (DPA)

IN THESE trying times of trolls and deceit, hatred, stupidity and incompetence, violence and cuss words, there are a few – very few -- bright spots that at any rate give us a ray of hope to survive and hurdle our misfortunes. One bright spot is the Office of the Environment Secretary which is spearheaded by Gina Lopez, a pro-environment member of the Cabinet who ordered the closure of errant mining sites in various parts of the country. She allayed fears that many would go hungry, particularly the mine workers, with the closure of these mines. She assured that providing economic opportunities and protecting the environment are not mutually exclusive. “It is not one or the other; we can and should do both at the same time, because we cannot sacrifice the welfare of future generations to meet short-term economic objectives,” the fiery secretary explained. Now she warns that clean water is “mining’s most common casualty.” “Any competent scientist will tell you that mining affects fresh water through the heavy use of water in processing ore, and through water pollution from discharged mine effluent and seepage from tailings and waste rock impoundments,” explained Lopez. Another bright spot is the Office of the Ombudsman whose chair, Conchita Carpio Morales, as a public advocate is mandated to investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient. Last Tuesday, March 7, Morales ordered the filing of information against Rep. Prospero Nograles of Misamis Oriental for his participation in the anomalous utilization of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Also on the same day, Ombudsman Morales found probable cause to charge former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad of the Aquino administration with violation of Article 239 (Usurpation of Legislative Powers) of the Revised Penal Code. The charge stems from Abad’s unlawful issuance of National Budget Circular (NBC) No. 541 to carry out the implementation of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) involving P72 billion. In addition, Abad was found guilty of Simple Misconduct and ordered suspended for three months. However, considering his separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to his salary for three months. Five days earlier, on March 2, the Ombudsman ordered members of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s staff to be perpetually barred from holding public office for their involvement in PDAF, or the so-called lawmakers’ pork barrel. Last month, the Ombudsman also found out that from 2007 to 2009, a total of P345,000,000.00 was released by DBM as part of former Senate President Juan Enrile’s PDAF and accordingly ordered the dismissal from the service of his personnel involved. Also last month, Morales barred Sen. Ramon Revilla’s staff members, described as PDAF scam operators, from government service. Estrada, Revilla and Enrile had been indicted for plunder, an unbailable offense that keeps them under detention up to now, except for Enrile, who by judicial fiat, was freed on bail. Just last week, Enrile was seen paying Pres. Rodrigo Duterte a visit with smiles on their faces. We don’t know how these pleasant events will end, given that indicted high-profile respondents for plunder and graft cases like Enrile and former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are now free as the birds, where the latter is performing her duties as newly-reelected congresswoman and being floated about as the incoming governor of the Central Bank. WWWhat? With only few bright spots amidst the dark clouds, we sincerely hope that no disastrous storm will come the way of the present administration as we keep our wits together while many others seem to be losing theirs.

“At least 11 athletes with disability have participated in the Olympics over the years, beginning with American gymnast George Eyser who won multiple medals in 1904 while competing with a wooden leg, South Korean archer Im Dong Hyun, who has 10 percent vision in his left eye and 20 percent his right, set the first world record of the 2012 Games, helping his team win bronze. Polish table tennis player Natalia Partyka, born without a right hand or forearm, competed in her second consecutive Olympic Games in 2012.” (https://www.wired.com) Naga City was declared as champion in the Palarong Bicol 2017 Special Events, holding the position for the fourth year in a row now, this year with 16 gold medals mostly in athletics events. Of the 16 Naga City special events athletes, 11 will be competing in the Palarong Pambansa in Antique City; representing Bicol Region. DepEd Naga City Special Events Coordinator Meliton “Dan Celedonio Jr. attributes this consistent victory to a training program that is in the same level with that of regular athletes for the Palarong Pambansa. Sir Dan (as he is referred to by the athletes and colleagues) adds that even at the selection process and training program, the coaches would choose athletes who could endure the physical constraints of the training at the most difficult time of the day, and undergo them in a program with the maximum time; that stamina is developed. To put it another way, athletes with exceptionalities advance to success because at the onset, they are treated as regular athletes preparing for th e national level tournaments, not as children in need of special consideration, who are about to join local games, but they are treated as regular athletes with high expectations. In the process, the main objective of sports programs is achieved – discipline is developed among students. Camille Ciudadano, Camarines Sur National High School Grade 10 student with low vision, shot put gold medalist, attests that participation in the tournaments since her first year in high school has improved her confidence, and developed her skills; that she would encourage other SPED pupils and students to do the same to prove to people that disability is not a deterrent in involvement in sports activities, and that people with disability can also perform as well as regular people. Aside from the event mentioned, Camille was also awarded silver medals for 100 meter run, goal ball and standing long jump. Maricon Bables, Camarines Sur National High School Grade 9 student with total blindness, who has been awarded with three gold medals and one silver medal for Shot put, standing long jump, 100 meter run, and goal ball respectively, echoes similar sentiments in declaring that playing as an athlete in the sports meets has built her self-confidence, gave opportunities of development of friendships, and the chance to travel to different places which entails exposure to new people, new places, new values and memories to cherish. Likewise, she would encourage SPED students to join the palaro to give them a sense of accomplishment, and as a testament before the able-bodied public that persons with disability can achieve in the same way as regular athletes can. As a SPED teacher, I have in numerous times, have personally witnessed the struggles that children with disability wrestle with their own self-esteem, the concept of future personal accomplishments. It is simply painful to be unable to give honest and realistic answers to undeniably legitimate concerns. I have personal reservations with the extensive time with sports trainings and games, opposite academic development. But seeing how athletics has boosted personality and emotional state which were once in doldrums, who am I to stand in argument against a proven highly efficient means of elevation of personal spirits? However, in lieu of purported inclusive education, why did I have a hard time searching the net for news articles on the accomplishments of these local equally skilled athletes? Could it be that despite the achievements, they remain in a blind spot? How many Palarong Bicol spectators know that special events for SPED even exist? “South African sprint runner Oscar Pistorius competes in championships for below-knee amputees and also for able-bodied athletes. Both of his legs below the knee were amputated when he was just 11 months old. He is widely referred as the fastest man on no legs. He won a gold medal and a bronze medal in 2004 Athens Paralympics, 3 gold medals in 2008 Beijing Paralympics and 2 gold medals and a silver medal in 2012 London Paralympics. Pistorius entered in able-bodied international competitions after becoming a Paralympics champion and won the 2011 World Championships in Athletics.” (www.sportsl]ook.net) “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,” Luke 14:13

THE recent television report that the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) will install internet connections in all municipalities in the country is a welcome news. Reports are that unlike South Korea where 93.9% of all its local government units have internet connections, the Philippines has only about 30% internet connections in the local level. Hopefully, the government would be able to source the millions of pesos which may be needed to realize this project. In Naga City, we have several internet connections in some strategic places like the Plaza Rizal and the Central Business District although some say that most often than not the internet connection is weak, or could hardly be accessed. Anyway, let’s look forward to the Philippines as a wifi country with abounding internet cafes. The congressional debate on the passage of the death penalty bill has shown how the opposition congressmen have effectively and eruditely expounded their sound views against the passage of the death penalty. It also showed how the pro-Duterte congressmen have practically railroaded the bill’s passage through the maneuver of the Speaker of the House who is widely known as the President’s lapdog. The bill has already passed third reading and its passage in the Lower House is a foregone conclusion. The bill is expected to go to the Senate for debate and some political pundits have expressed the view that it would be a different story in the Upper House. The Philippine Senate has always been viewed as independent and mature and not beholden to Malacanang and can presumably discuss the death penalty bill on high plane sans political or party consideration. This writer has previously expressed his views against the death penalty in his earlier column. I remain steadfast in my stand. TRIVIA: My sincere greetings and that of my spouse to my former boss, former congressman and Comelec Chairman Ramon H. Felipe, Jr. who will be celebrating his 97th birthday anniversary this coming Saturday, March 11. Before his election to Congress as representative of the then 1st District of Camarines Sur (the province had only two congressional districts then), and his appointment as Comelec Commissioner and later as Chairman thereof, he engaged in lucrative private law practice in Naga and Camarines Sur. My uncle, the late Atty. Ladislao B. Karingal was his law partner then and I had the opportunity to work as messenger and law clerk while I was then studying my pre-law at the Ateneo de Naga. It was then that I found my interest in law as I was often asked to make some researches from the Official Gazette and the Supreme Court Report Annotated (SCRA) for decisions they needed in their pleadings. Little did I know that after passing the Bar examinations in l961 I will be joining the law firm Felipe, Karingal and Felipe Law Office as one of its associates, together with Atty. Geronimo San Jose who later became a municipal judge. I was with the law office as senior partner until my election as member of the Provincial Board of Camarines in l980. Again, congratulations Tio Ramoning and may you have many more birthdays to come! QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: “TO LIVE IS NOT JUST TO SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE WITH PASSION, COMPASSION, SOME HUMOUR AND STYLE.” MAYA ANGELOU FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE: “LISTEN TO ME, YOU WHO PURSUE JUSTICE, WHO SEEK THE LORD.” ISAIAH 51:1

The peak of Rody Duterte’s presidency perhaps happened before he even became a president. It was his campaign promise to eradicate corruption, drugs and criminality, among others, that made him popular among the people. Not even his proclivity to use foul language was enough to pull his strange popularity down. But nothing has gone as well for him since. Was his promise an empty one? Of course not. Duterte launched “Oplan Tokhang,” which is a “knock and beseech” police operation targeting drug users and pushers. According to reports, “Oplan Tokhang” has resulted in the surrender of more than a million suspected drug users and pushers. At first, the people supported the war on drugs. Who wouldn’t? But ‘Oplan Tokhang’ has gradually become unpopular because of the abuses surrounding its implementation. Seven months into his anti-drug campaign, 7,000 plus killings of mostly poor people have already been reported, while Peter Lim, suspected of being one of the top three drug lords in the country, was able to mysteriously leave the Philippines. Extrajudicial killings of suspected drug users and pushers have risen, shocking leaders of the influential Catholic Church and international human rights organizations. In what appears to be a response to criticisms coming from different groups and the fact that several policemen were exposed as perpetrators of kidnapping for ransom and murder, Duterte suspended the war on drugs for a couple of weeks, but only to lift the suspension on the pretext that the proliferation of drug use is getting out of control again. But what is concerning about Duterte is his avowal to dehumanize drug users and, therefore, implicitly giving the police the license to kill them like animals. With the Congress controlled by Duterte’s own party and a Secretary of Justice who appears to be willing to engage in legal machinations, Duterte is slowly becoming a feared president. Many suspect that he was behind the imprisonment of Sen. Leila de Lima on charges that she took bribes from imprisoned drug traffickers. De Lima has been a leading critic of the president way back when she had the president, as then the mayor of Davao City, investigated for his involvement in extrajudicial killings. De Lima at that time was the Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights. You have in Duterte a compulsive vindictive president and a controlled Congress, the majority of which are not willing to oppose him for fear of losing political favors. As a result, he can get and do anything he wants. Duterte is not even afraid to wage war against the Catholic Church. Criticized by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for his “reign of terror,” Duterte shrugged off the criticism and instead challenged the bishops to “join him in hell” as he continues in his war on drugs. He said, “You Catholics, if you believe in your priests and bishops, you stay with them. If you want to go to heaven, then go to them. Now, if you want to end drugs … I will go to hell, come join me.” As if to show the Catholic Church his “don’t care” attitude, he campaigned hard to legalize the death penalty contrary to the traditional position of the Catholic Church. It’s this bravado and Duterte’s tough method of governance that keep his base loyal and his approval rating from bottoming out. But it does not really do anything except to boost his ego and sow fear among those who are opposed to him. His intention is so conspicuous. A presidency run this way might work for a short period of time. But it is not going to work forever. The Filipinos have a history of toppling presidents who do not understand the limits of their power. Once the people collectively get to their senses, like what happened during the historic People Power Revolution, Duterte’s presidency will be politically impotent. I believe the president can probably still pull himself out of the quagmire he has slowly put himself in. After all, he campaigned on popular issues that affect the daily lives of the people. But he better act quickly before it is too late.

President Donald Trump got rave reviews on his first address at the joint session of Congress last Tuesday. The public gave him thumbs up for the tone and boldness of his proposals – from the pro-defense budget to the repeal of Obamacare to which he got a standing ovation. Trump simply was a different person – not the tweeting type, but a more presidential person. The betting now goes to how long he will be able to carry-on or maintain such persona. Trump, after all, is a product of Hollywood and an expert when it comes to television’s make believe images. Many thought that it was impossible for him to possibly recover from those video revelations that captured Trump’s bragging on a live microphone about how he was able to gain access to Miss Universe candidates’ dressing rooms unexpectedly and seeing naked beautiful women unable to cover themselves from the unexpected visitor. On the video, he bragged that he could do so because he owns the company running the show. Furthermore, that he grab women by their genitals and get away with it because of his fame. But when exposed during the presidential campaign, he out rightly branded the video as fake and that the women who surfaced making similar allegations were lying. Just like that, without even flinching that he could lie through his face and not give away the lie. There were other examples during the campaign that a statement was attributed to Trump with a clip to boot but Trump would easily call it a lie despite himself being captured on camera making the statement. During his speech at the joint sessions, networks were fact-checking him left and right on some of his claims. Classic campaign rhetoric on immigration, fiscal matters, criminality, and fight with the media were delivered but with a better tone. The thing is, the speech’s better tone does not make a lie true. He cited for example that he was deporting undocumented immigrants who were criminals and have committed atrocious crimes against Americans despite evidence to the contrary. He also demonized Obamacare as “imploding” because of unbelieve rise in premiums and that the Affordable Care Act was a disaster. Trump of course was oblivious of the fact that throughout the country, many Americans are confronting their congressmen and senators regarding the very subject and their concerns about such repeal. One notable word that was not mentioned during Trump’s 60 plus minutes speech was “Russia.” Not a peep. People were expecting him to say something about Russian relations especially after his vice president, secretary of defense, and secretary of homeland security delivering some tough words for Russia at the recent NATO conference in Munich, Germany. Or at the very least, mention his old refrain about how the United States can be friends with Russia. Nada! Was it because the word “Russia” is toxic nowadays in Washington? That congressional leaders are running out of excuses on how to prevent an investigation on the Russian interference in the last election? The Russian connection has already claimed the job of then National Security Adviser Mike Flynn who lied about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States at the time when the Obama administration was about to announce additional sanctions on Russia and declaring some Russian embassy personnel persona non grata as punishment for the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff, John Podesta. The uncharacteristic response from Russian President Vladimir Putin of not retaliating to the Obama actions lent credence to the allegations that Mike Flynn might have violated the Logan Act that prohibits citizens from inferring with the affairs of the state relevant to an adversarial government. Now comes another bombshell regarding the Russian matter that the Attorney General himself, Jeff Sessions made also two contacts with Russia’s top spy in the US during the campaign. The contacts or conversations themselves could be legal but the fact that then Senator S essions denied knowing anyone from the Trump campaign was involved in such activities might open him charges of perjury or misleading congress – charges that could cost him his job. More than that, a more independent investigation now is more proper than confining them at the committee level. One of the hardest things for Trump to deliver is the notion that he could bring back old manufacturing jobs that are now overseas. Add to that is his promise of a beautiful wall fronting the southern hemisphere that borders Mexico. His famous oratory that the Mexicans will pay for it has now become illusory given Mexico’s defiance of not paying for the wall. Trump’s gambit is either abrogating NAFTA or renegotiating it. These options are rather self-serving because Canada and Mexico are parts of it too and they are not keen on either of two options because neither is acceptable, even if it results in a trade war. The latest from the Trump administration now is that a border tax will be imposed on products coming Mexico. If so, Mexico still does not pay for it but instead the American consumers are the one who will be paying for it. Even if the cost of constructing the wall is included in the FY-18 budget, Conservative Republicans will not go for it unless it is paid for through other means like cutting domes tic budgetary outlays involving entitlement reform and messing around with social security. Clearly, Trump is always talking to his supporters when he talks about these things. His supporters believe in alternative facts that Trump and others in his administration believes them to be true. As congressman Elias Cummings said, “Alternative facts are falsehood!” yes indeed. But it does not mean that Trump will stop because after all, he is just delivering on his campaign promises. When Trump rolled out the travel ban affecting seven countries in the Middle East, chaotic scenes in airports throughout the US ensued along with demonstrations against the travel ban for being “discriminatory.” The courts agreed and Trump’s executive order was sent to the freezer. Despite such setback, Trump promised to issue another travel ban because “this is a matter of national interest.” Thus the urgency was because of such terrorist threat. Weeks later, the administration is still tweaking it and would probably drop Iraq from the seven Muslim countries affected by the ban. The delaying tactics have not becomes so obvious that there was no such urgency in the first place but only an effort to deliver on a campaign promise. Donald Trump is clearly unsuitable for the job of the presidency given his bad temperament, lack of experience and basic requisite skill to comprehend the complexity of the presidency. He came to the job without a plan and it showed. His administration is in disarray and lacking the needed manpower to run an efficient government because many critical jobs are still not filled. Clearly the reason for such vacancy is not because of the hiring freeze that Trump ordered but perhaps not a lot of people wants to work under his administration or just plain incompetence that his major player really are clueless about their jobs. Trump’s incompetence is obvious but many of the Republican leaders would rather have him thinking that they could manipulate him into adopting a conservative agenda but they risking at their own peril comes the next election. Trump is destroying the Republican brand right before their eyes and they are not even blinking!

Homar Murillo What is the difference between good and evil? Well, for many it seems that the answer is a no brainer. For most of us, it is not necessary to have the same level of deductive reasoning power as Sherlock Holmes. There seems to be some ingrained or instinctive sense of morality among us that we call conscience. In most cases, it is something intuitive and does not require further analysis. For instance, most of us would agree that stealing, raping and murdering are moral evils. Humanity’s gut feel about these moral evils is fundamental that secular (e.g, Code of Hammurabi) and religious (e.g., the Ten Commandments) prohibitions against these are well-established since ancient times. Objective morality However, morality is not as simple as black and white. Some people would argue that there are exceptions. It could be asserted that morality is not only comprised of shades of grey in between extremes but also includes a rich spectrum of complex color combinations. Most of the things that we consider morally good and morally evil are either culturally determined like in the case of religious beliefs or politically enforced like in the case of criminal law. A set of values derived or evolved from both culture and politics is – to some great extent – arbitrary. These values are mere social necessities that cannot be easily reduced into something objective and truly universal. If this is the case, by what standard could we determine objective and universal morality? Would a universal and objective morality be poss ible? We must first understand that morality is something that does not exist in a vacuum. It is a value judgment that is ingrained in social interactions. Morality does not exist as a mere abstract concept that can be removed from sentient and sapient relationships. Hence, by extension, it is conceivable to extend and apply the fundamental moral precepts in connection with the way we treat other sapient/sentient organisms and the ecosystem as a whole. Philosophers and theologians have been debating morality for several millennia with some significant progress. Today psychologists and neurologists are also exploring the issue of morality from the scientific vantage point of view. For example, one research found out that the sense of morality is already present in babies as young as six months. The Euthyphro dilemma There are two main schools of thought about morality, namely, the theological-based morality or divine command morality and the secular rational morality. In a nutshell, the divine command morality is the religious thesis asserting that moral good or evil could ultimately be judged based on the will of a deity or group of deities. In the Christian tradition, for instance, God is seen as the summum bonum or the highest good from whom the standard of morality could be derived. The main criticism against this idea was expressed by Socrates in the Euthyphro dilemma: “Do the gods love the pious because it is the pious, or whether the pious is pious only because it is loved by the gods?” When rephrased in monotheistic form, the dilemma could be rewritten as “Does God command the good because it is good, or is it good because it is commanded by God?” In other words, could something be considered good because it is innately good or is it good simply because God wills it to be good? It is a dilemma because the first horn implies that if true, then there is a standard of good that is beyond or outside God, which makes God an unnecessary standard. On the other hand, the second horn of the dilemma implies that if true, then the standard of good is arbitrarily determined by God. (to be continued…)