Today is our nation's true Independence Day

Exactly 72 years ago, the Republic of the Philippines was born when the US lowered the American flag and we raised the Philippine flag up to accept the Independence Day rights the Americans promised our political leaders. But we no longer call this historic moment Philippine Independence Day, but rather it is more known as Filipino-American Friendship Day, which in my book has no historical reference simply because when General Emilio Aguinaldo raised the Philippine flag in his home in Kawit, Cavite, not a single nation recognized Philippine sovereignty. But when America granted independence to the Philippines 72 years ago, the whole world accepted Filipino sovereignty.

This is the problem with Filipino history, which can be changed via a legislative fiat. Everyone knows Aguinaldo ordered the execution of Gat Andres Bonifacio and his brother, and even had his men rape Bonifacio's wife, this is why I could never call Aguinaldo a hero and I write this piece so that millennials who didn't know about today's moment in history realize that Filipinos should never legislate our history. Hence for old foggies like me, Philippine history began on the 4th of July 1946.

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Finally, the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation came up with the autopsy report on the body of the late Senior Police Officer 1 Adonis Dumpit and it was found he took 14 bullets during the shootout that was conducted in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. This autopsy was performed by Dr. Rene Cam, medico-legal officer of the NBI who reported that Dumpit had three gunshot wounds in the head that caused his instantaneous death.

But Cam said that it was not an overkill. For sure, Dumpit was shot by high-powered firearms from a distance and he stood no chance. From this report, we can only assume that those who killed Dumpit knew that he was a sharpshooter and made sure that they fired at him from a distance. At this point, we cannot expect the PNP or NBI to exonerate Dumpit because this is the story that the authorities gave to the media. We can only pray that someday, the real story as to why Dumpit was eliminated would surface.

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Another murder has happened within our beloved Cebu City, this time, former prosecutor and criminal lawyer Salvador Solima was killed inside his house in Singson Compound in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, a couple of days ago. The killer also shot his wife Verose. While Atty. Solima died, the wife is in critical condition.

The killers left on a motorcycle and the police have to investigate why Solima was murdered in his own house.

At this point, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter condemned the killing of another lawyer. IBP President Jose Glenn Capanas said: "We are saddened that another brother-lawyer was shot. The shooting of Atty. Solima is more brazen since he was attacked inside his home when it is supposedly one's refuge of safety and the fortress against violence." Apparently we learned that Atty. Solima was the legal counsel of Jocelyn Mendoza, the common-law wife of former Ermita barangay captain Felicisimo "Imok" Rupinta who was killed in an ambush in Liloan town in November 2017. Could this incident be linked to Solima's killing? Abangan!

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There's a story that has surfaced, but I find it impossible. Some members of the Catholic Church are allegedly backing an ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte. This story came out when presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that some of Church members could partner with Maoist rebels to topple the popular president. I can only second guess that this story came out when the Facebook page came up with Church clergy leaders revealing their being so ultra yellow in their politics.

Indeed when President Duterte literally blasphemed God, the Church leaders close to the Aquino political family chastised the president. Call it an opportune time that the Communist Party of the Philippines also decided not to talk peace with the government and would rather support the ouster of President Duterte. This is why these stories came out. But I don't think that the Catholic Church is seeking the ouster of the president.

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