Arrest him

Chairman Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has declared an independence of the entire Mindanao including Palawan and Sabah with Davao City as its capital.

This looks like treason to me. Will they file charges against Misuari and arrest him too?

Misuari has assailed the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as illegal and a violation of the landmark 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF.

MNLF Secretary-General Ustadz Murshi Ibrahim has confirmed Misuari’s declaration of independence.

Quoting Misuari, Ibrahim said it is a peaceful and non-violent revolution.

It is still a violation of our Constitution.

Rotational or permanent

The keyword in the proposed use of Philippine military bases by United States forces is “rotational.” Rotational or rotating means not permanent as a contingent of United States troops will be withdrawn after a temporary period. Let us say 6 months. Replacement troops will be stationed here on a rotating basis.

The basic question now is will this arrangement last? Two years, 4 years, 6 years or no provision for such exit?

There must be a definite length of stay. Otherwise, it gains the character of permanence.

More crimes

Cecilia Castillo Decena, a businesswoman who used to be romantically linked to actor Philip Salvador, survived an ambush at Banawe Street, Quezon City. Her son Danilo, who was driving their Starex van, had the presence of mind to turn his van around to bump the ambushers’ motorcycles which caused them to flee. Decena’s housemaid, Helen Felesco was wounded.

Call center agent Mark Abesamis was found dead inside a balikbayan box dumped at the corner of Matimyas and Maceda streets in Sampaloc, Manila. His head and legs were cut off.

An 11th blast hit Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu. Two persons were wounded. The AFP said that Khilafah Islamiyah were behind the Cagayan De Oro and Cotabato explosions. Who are they, BIFF or MNLF?

3 credible witnesses

The testimony of 3 OFWs charging labor officer Antonio Martinez for sexual harassment and attempted rape is credible, Senator Teofisto “TG”  Guingona  declared.

Why is the Department of Labor not releasing the result of its investigation of the case? It is a clear whitewash.

Rep. Walden Bello is threatening to slash the DOLE budget by 25% for its inaction on the matter.

DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario must now weigh in on the matter since Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) officials abroad are under the supervision of the Ambassador.

Senators Enrile, Estrada, and Villar believed the testimony of the 3 OFWs.

Malacañang inaction

LTO Chief Virginia Torres was seen playing the slot machine at a Metro casino. She has admitted she is the person in the photo seen playing the slot machine at a local casino.

This is a simple case for DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to investigate. He must submit his recommendation to President Aquino soonest considering her privilege status as a KKK friend of the President. Government employees are watching how Torres will be treated.

Taking no disciplinary action against her is a bad precedent that will set a bad example for government employees.

Major source of corruption

President Aquino announced he is planning to build 1,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads.

Good, but it depends if the plan will be implemented without corruption. Billions have been released through the  Departments of Agriculture, Public Works and Highways, Interior and Local Government, and Agrarian Reform.

The Commission on Audit must look into the use of farm-to-market roads releases as it has reportedly been a major source of corruption.

This is another pork barrel scam.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala must now release the list of farm-to-market roads released by his department to congressmen and mayors.

Another delay

Ayala Land, Inc. and Brittany Corp. are fighting over the construction of the Daang Hari-SLEX  PPP road project.

Brittany Corp. charges Ayala Land with changing the route to favor passing through a proposed Ayala Mall.

The net effect?  Work has been stopped. The project will not be finished by 2014. Ayala and Brittany should be penalized for the delay.

If the work is not resumed, the Department of Public Works and Highways should take over.

More hungry Filipinos

P4.9 million families expressed hunger during the 2nd quarter of 2013 according to a SWS survey. This is up by 1 million over the 1st quarter, up to 22.7% from 19%.

This is indicative of the ineffective anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs of the Aquino administration. It also indicates the ineffectiveness of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.

The problem is aggravated by the tens of thousands of victims of calamities who experience hunger due to lack of food supplies.

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TIDBITS: Senator Pia Cayetano and former Congressman Edcel Lagman defended the RH Law in oral arguments before the Supreme Court.

A graft case was filed by the losing bidder for the P3.8 billion license plates contract awarded by DOTC. Because of the several delays and change of specifications, corruption is suspected here.

107 Congressmen have signed a resolution asking that bail be granted to Lanao Del Norte Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo.

Dimaporo is charged with an alleged P5-million fictitious purchase of fertilizer in 2004, one of those included in the P728 million fertilizer scam involving then DA Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has rejected the applications to use the old Davao City Airport as a base for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). While unmanned, there will of course be support personnel to launch the UAVs and to safeguard and maintain them. Mayor Duterte’s decision is correct.

Congratulations to Menchu Sanchez, a nurse from Catanauan, Quezon for being praised by US President Barack Obama as a hero for saving 21 babies during typhoon Sandy in New York.

Condolence to the family of Chito Hermosura of Tagbilaran, Bohol who died of leukemia after a brief illness.