Not much Christmas cheer

I’m sorry to say that I have mixed feeling about Christmas this year especially when it becomes obvious that a number of kidnappings targeting young women have been happening around the country. What makes it sadder is the fact that while many people have been criticizing the Philippine National Police over alleged Extra Judicial Killings or EJK, no one has praised or honored our police for rescuing victims of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Last Saturday, Police Superintendent Arthur Masungsong who heads the Anti-Kidnapping Group or AKG in Luzon was killed in action while attempting to rescue a kidnap victim. His family will be in mourning instead of opening gifts on Christmas day. 

At about the same time that Superintendent Masungsong was killed, I learned that a friend’s niece had disappeared after stepping out of a coffee shop, but by God’s grace she was later found and an investigation continues. I find this upsetting because I know of two women who were kidnapped just to get all their money through their ATM cards. One was an accountant and the other a simple caretaker who lost her all her savings of P30,000. Now I find myself unwilling to let my daughter wander by herself in a mall or meet up with friends unsupervised. I don’t believe in babying our daughter but if kidnappers can operate with impunity in the country what parent would risk it?

If I have a new wish for 2018, it will have to be the return of the death penalty for heinous crimes.

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There is now a “post” going around on Facebook about the sad experience of someone who received an unsolicited Credit Card from one of the big banks in the Philippines. Instead of sending back the credit card, the person simply threw it in his drawer and assumed that since he did not apply for it and as long as he did not use it, there would be no problem. Wrong! He eventually got billed 70 plus thousand for unauthorized purchases made from his inactive or un-activated credit card.

To add to his stress the bank of course sent the collection notice to a lawyer who finds joy in tormenting and harassing people in order to get their percentage of any payment collected. The mere fact that a big bank would send out credit cards to people who never applied for them should get the attention of Bangko Sentral Authorities. A number of well -known people who read the post actually confirmed that they too have received unrequested credit cards that ended up being a bother for them. The BSP should also monitor the same practice for ATM cards.

My wife and I don’t have ATM cards. We use cash cards so that there is a limit to withdrawals and in order to avoid being kidnapped over our ATM cards!

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One of our readers, Mr. George Bian sent us an email requesting the Department of Trade and Industry to send DTI inspectors to all airport terminals in the Philippines and conduct random checks or the weigh scales used by airlines in order to assure the public that we are not being cheated by the airlines and that the weigh scales are accurately reading/ measuring baggage and cargo.

Mr. Bian pointed out that if the DTI can place “Timbangan ng bayan” or public weigh scales in all public markets, why not in all airport terminals? I agree with Mr. Bian’s suggestions because I’m often surprised with the difference between what my hospital/industrial weigh scale reads compared to what is registered at airline counters. I do hope DTI Secretary Mon Lopez can work this out with the DOTr.

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Instead of looking forward to Christmas, one of my friends dropped by and inadvertently mentioned the word NOEL except his version was No – El or No Elections in 2019. My friend who is well connected and goes around with powerful and well informed politicians told me that there may be no elections in 2019 due to an unfortunate combination of circumstance.

First of all he claims that an estimated 2/3rds or 70% of current members of the House of Representatives are on their last term and cannot run for re-election in 2019. That sudden reduction of veteran or experienced lawmakers could seriously affect President Duterte’s plans and timetable for the implementation of Federalism in the Philippines because those who will come in to replace the departing third termers would be clueless on Federalism and will eat up so much time learning.

My friend claims that plans are afoot or being floated for “No-El in 2019” by fast tracking the Federalism agenda, extend the term of third termers until the next presidential elections all under the guise of saving so much money and prioritizing Federalism, then call for a plebiscite on Federalism in 2022. While the term extension would be pleasing for the 3rd termers, will aspiring challengers sit quietly by and watch the Congressmen and Malacañang steal their chance of becoming an “Honorable” member of the House of Representatives? If pride comes before the fall, so does violating the 11th commandment: Thou Shall Not Push Thy Luck.”

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Once the Yuletide Season is over, one thing that the MMDA and LTFRB have to act on is the numerous violations of bus drivers who leave the yellow lane area and cut or bully into the lane of motorcycle riders and private vehicles. It is already an injustice that the very few buses in Metro Manila get to have their own two lanes. But it is an insult to private vehicle owners when the same buses and their drivers bully into their lane with impunity.

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