June 12 or July 4?

Today, we celebrate our Independence Day.

But is June 12 really our day of independence?

When Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain in his hometown Imus in Cavite on June 12, 1898, only eight places in Luzon were in a state of war against the Spanish.

These places were Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and Batangas. They now represent the eight rays of the sun in our flag.

The rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were not free.

Our independence was short-lived, as the Americans took over from the Spaniards.

Aguinaldo’s army, a hodgepodge of armed insurgents, was easily defeated by the new invaders as there was dissension within the ranks.

The Filipino nation didn’t exist then. So, it was presumptuous of Aguinaldo to declare independence for the whole country. The eight provinces did not represent the entire Philippines.

The Americans, sad to say, united the whole country and made the Philippines a nation.

If we are to be technical about it, July 4, 1946, now considered Philippine-American Friendship Day, is our real day of independence.

June 12, 1898 was just the start of the Philippine revolution against Spain, a revolution that was quelled by the new conquerors.

Just some food for thought.

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The wife of a Cabinet member has been able to corner the insurance policies of many government property holdings, projects and contracts – all thanks to her husband’s power and influence.

All government property and contracts are insured with the Government Service Insurance Corp. (GSIS) which, in turn, reinsures them with private insurance companies.

The local insurance companies reinsure the government’s insurance policies with reputable international reinsurance firms like Munich Re and Swiss Re.

Reinsurance is a hedge against possible bankruptcy that may be incurred by an insurance company or insurance-linked securities in case the losses are too big to handle. It is an assurance that the policyholder gets indemnified no matter the cost.

The Cabinet official’s wife works for a local insurance company which does not have an AM Best rating, a must for any insurance company that reinsures its policies with companies abroad.

An AM Best rating determines the financial strength, creditworthiness and the ability to meet policyholder or security holder obligations worldwide.
The AM Best rating has been dispensed with for the local insurance firm.

Rumors around the insurance industry say the wifey is frolicking with another insurance executive.

Poor guy, this Cabinet member.

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The subalterns of another Cabinet official have been noticing the faraway look in his eyes lately, after the other love of his life left the department.

Mr. Secretary’s girlfriend, who held the rank of assistant secretary in the department, resigned in a huff after the wifey made a scene in his office.

The wifey, an undersecretary in another department, slapped the woman in the face in front of her philandering husband. The moral of the story: Don’t s**t in your own backyard.

Another lesson to be learned from the affair: Don’t get caught. Hehe!

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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is digging up one side of the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road to build a new drainage system.

The new drainage system is unnecessary as there is no flooding in the area even with heavy rains, some residents say.

If it ain’t broke, why fix it? It’s just a waste of government money and time.

The same residents told this columnist big acacia trees had to be cut down to make way for the project.

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Abuses against civilians by policemen continue, despite the appointment of Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Guilor Eleazar, a strict disciplinarian, is probably having sleepless nights trying to figure out how to make his subordinates toe the line.

Caloocan City policemen raided a house in a barangay in Antipolo, Rizal – way out of their jurisdiction – last month to arrest three suspected drug dealers.

They didn’t have search or arrest warrants.

The cops could claim “hot pursuit,” a police term that means that they were on the heels of a suspect who had committed a crime in their presence but was trying to get away.

The Caloocan policemen didn’t even coordinate with the barangay officials when they pounced on the drug suspects.

After collaring their suspects, the cops carted away two cellphones, a computer monitor, a power bank, perfume, an electric razor, a hair blower, an e-cigarette unit, shoes, a wallet containing identification cards and a Toyota Vios car.

They also confiscated an e-wallet containing P6,000, that they allegedly withdrew.

What can’t be understood is why the raiders confiscated personal items that can’t be considered as evidence, like perfume, the electric razor, the hair blower and shoes.

The taking of pieces of evidence at the house should be in the presence of barangay officials.

Except for the Toyota Vios, the items taken away were not listed in the police inventory of confiscated items.

The cops searched the suspect’s house and picked everything they could get their hands on without the presence of barangay officials, a no-no in a raid.

Ric Bautista, barangay chairman, said the suspects – Airwin Wines, Roel Wines and Myron Castro – were not in his barangay’s drug watch list.

Roel is vacationing from Saudi Arabia, where he is employed as an air-con technician. He was supposed to leave for Saudi on May 16. He was arrested along with the two others on May 6.

Antipolo City Associate Prosecutor Allison Zoila Telan-Eclar ordered the police to return the Toyota Vios.

But the car could not be located, prompting the family of the suspects to seek the help of Isumbong mo kay Tulfo on June 4.

Representatives from my public service program contacted the police, and the police promised to return the car to the family on June 7.