Leron-Leron Sinta’s Epstein files publicity acrobatics

“Never use your own money. Steal a good idea and say it's your own. Do anything to get publicity. Remember that everybody can be bought.”

—Jimmy Breslin

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT is now becoming obvious Senator Loren “Leron-Leron Sinta” Legarda aims to ride on the publicity generated by the late Jeffrey Epstein’s popularity even if the case has nothing to do whatsoever with the interest of the Filipinos.

Epstein’s case, particularly the “Jeffrey Epstein or Epstein files” is currently one of the hottest topics in the United States and is giving the Trump administration plenty of trouble.

During the Senate’s session February 10, Leron-Leron Sinta signified her intent to file a resolution “seeking to look into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s footprint in the Philippines.” Whoa.

When the issue wasn’t yet full-blown in the U.S., Leron-Leron Sinta never thought of even mentioning it in any platform in the Philippines.

Now, she is planning “to ask the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, or the Senate Committee on Women to look into the reports.” Yudi ha.

Epstein has been dead a long time ago. His accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell is now serving a jail term in the U.S. The issue about Epstein files is a sex trafficking problem the Americans are trying to resolve.

What “footprint in the Philippines” is Leron-Leron Sinta talking about? Why can’t we tackle our own domestic problem on sex trafficking, madame?

Joseph Pulitzer once said, “Publicity, publicity, publicity is the greatest moral factor and force in our public life.”

 

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The controversy surrounding the issue stems from the massive, multi-year release of over three million documents, videos, and images (as of February 2026) detailing the sexual abuse and trafficking of minors by the late financier, and the subsequent exposure of Epstein’s connections to powerful global elites, politicians, and celebrities.

Leron-Leron Sinta emphasized the need “to examine the organizations, syndicates, and public relations companies that allegedly worked to help cleanse Epstein’s physical and digital image.”

Loren-Loren Sinta was quoted in the Philippines press saying, “This is very recent. It’s right here at our doorstep. I don’t know whether it was him personally or his associates, but this convicted pedophile—who was supposedly a financial wizard at the time and who died or was killed—had a network in the Philippines.”

She added: “I will file the resolution to look into Epstein’s footprint in the Philippines, the organizations and syndicates that worked with him, as well as the PR companies that helped cleanse his physical and digital image in the Philippines, based on the reports I have read.”

Three more million files have yet to be released, and the delays have sparked word war and heated debates among lawmakers pushing for files’ full release and the Department of Justice (DOJ) which the lawmakers accused of redacting the files and delaying its release.

 

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The files demonstrate that despite a 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, Epstein maintained, and in some cases renewed, relationships with influential figures, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew. This has fueled accusations that a "system" protected him for years.

The release, mandated by the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" signed in late 2025, has led to severe political repercussions in the U.S. and Europe, with several officials stepping down or facing investigations. Critics have attacked the Justice Department for heavy, "ham-fisted" redactions, accusing it of protecting perpetrators while exposing victims.

Recent, in-depth releases (such as the January 2026 dump of three million pages) have often contradicted public statements made by public figures regarding their relationship with Epstein, such as the extent of Howard Lutnick’s visits to Epstein's island.

 

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The names of some perpetrators or associates were shielded while personal information of survivors was allegedly exposed.

The files have triggered investigations and political resignations in several countries, most notably in Norway, where former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland was charged with aggravated corruption, and in the UK, where politician Peter Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords.

The files, which include thousands of emails and testimonies, have provided a grim, detailed look into a vast, international sex trafficking operation that thrived for years while its perpetrator maintained high-level social and business ties.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

Debate for self destruction?

“I will no longer mutilate and destroy myself in order to find a secret behind the ruins.”

―Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE issue on sovereignty is sacrosanct.

It shouldn’t be subjected to “friendly” (there is no such animal when emotions are at fever-pitch) debate among those who are part of it—unless foreign interests threaten it.

The matter is crucial because it establishes a state's supreme, independent authority to govern itself, create laws, and control its territory without external interference.

No Filipino—politician or ordinary man in the street—in his right mind should tamper with the sacredness of our national sovereignty

Our sovereignty in the Philippines is the foundation for international stability, protecting our national interests, fostering our self-determination, and providing a framework for diplomacy, trade, and peace.

Sovereignty becomes the supreme authority of a nation or state over its territory and inhabitants. It is understood that sovereignty is essential to the autonomy and self-determination of any state. It protects the ability of a people to create laws, control its national resources, and shape its future.

 

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Because sovereignty is the power that a people exert over their nation and for themselves, it may not be imposed upon them by any other nation or people.

The violation of national sovereignty by another power or state may have a series of catastrophic consequences, such as the destruction of an entire social ecosystem, international sanctions, or war.

Thus, if two prominent leaders of the country debate whether we own the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) which is part of the national sovereignty and maritime security, we are showing the world, especially our adversaries, that we are weaklings; that we have identity crisis and we are not sure who we are and what we are fighting for.

Sovereignty gives our state the authority to defend its territory, enforce laws, and maintain security over its population.

It allows us to control our own resources and economic policies for our economic stability. If we fight over our sovereignty, it’s tantamount to self destruction or national suicide.

 

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The number of people in New York City who died rose 19, not 8 as we initially reported during a recent snap of brutally cold weather that lasted more than three weeks, city hall officials have reported.

The region has exited its Code Blue emergency, but the city was still keeping the protocols in place out of an abundance of caution as of this writing. Officials said expanded outreach and increased warming center capacity will continue through the end of the week.

Officials said on February 11 that seven more New Yorkers were confirmed to have died primarily from hypothermia since Jan. 19. Those deaths were at private homes and are not being added to the tally of 19.

Ten to 20 people die from hypothermia in the city during an average year, so 19 deaths in less than a month was considered unusual.

 

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AVOID CHEMICALS IN OUR CANS. Canned food alert: Consumer Reports found bisphenol A-a chemical linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and heart disease--in all 19 brandname canned foods it tested, including those labeled BPA free. Because levels vary so widely, even among cans of the same product, there's no way to predict how much we're getting.

SEX REVS UP IMMUNE SYSTEM. Researchers from Wilkes University showed that college students who engaged in sex once or twice a week had 30 percent higher levels of infection-fighting antibodies than did their abstinent classmates.

REENERGIZE WITH EXERCISE EARLY EVENING. Even though we're tired, forcing ourselves to do aerobic exercise will energize us for a couple of hours and make it easier to fall asleep at night. Our body temperature naturally falls at night, shortly before bedtime, so the natural dip in temperature that happens about 2 hours after a workout can help us get to bed at a decent hour and wake up refreshed the next morning.

HOW SEX CAN DO A BODY GOOD. It protects prostate. Catholic priests have an elevated chance of dying of prostate cancer, and studies point to celibacy as a factor. In 2003, research on middle-aged Australian men found that those who averaged at least four ejaculations a week had a one-third lower chance of developing prostate cancer than those who had fewer, says Dr. Regina Nuzzo.

LET'S TIME OUR NAP AFTER LUNCH. Research shows that naps, especially "power naps" of 20 to 30 minutes, help ward off fatigue. To maximize the benefits, let's try taking a siesta after lunch, when our energy levels are particularly low. Let us limit rest to less than 30 minutes or stretch it out to 60 to 90 minutes to avoid grogginess that results from waking up in the middle of deep sleep. (Source: Prevention)

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

We could die outdoor

“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?”

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

FILIPINOS with relatives and friends in the East Coast, particularly in New York City, are probably aware right now we have been experiencing here the coldest winter in two decades.

Alas, the “city that never sleeps” was again colder than parts of Antarctica on Sunday (February 8) after brutal, life-threatening winds swept across much of the Northeast and New England over the weekend.

For the first time since 2015, I stopped and ran fast to hide inside a laundry shop after being zapped by wind chills that hit 40-below while walking on my way to a bakeshop.

My reaction was instant; I actually didn’t know what hit me. I immediately felt excruciating pain and numbness as powerful wind chills blasted the exposed skin on my face.

The last time I experienced the apparent symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite while walking outdoor was in February 2010 in Chicago, known as the “windy city.”

Being exposed to severe winter cold outdoor isn’t a joke. We can’t underestimate it. We could die. That’s why authorities have been warning us to stay indoor as much as possible.

When exposed to the cold, the body can lose heat faster than it's produced. Over time, the body uses up its stored energy and body temperature begins to drop. Long-term exposure to the cold —especially if the body's core temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit—can lead to hypothermia, frostbite and other problems.

 

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Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature drops below 95°F. Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, fumbling hands, slurred speech, and mental confusion.

Frostbite can cause freezing of skin and tissues, most commonly on fingers, toes, nose, and ears. Symptoms include numbness, stinging sensations, and skin that feels waxy or looks yellowish gray. Severe cases can result in amputation.

People with asthma, chronic lung disease, or other respiratory conditions or illnesses are at higher risk when temperatures drop because cold, dry air irritates the airways, said Dr. Haitham Khraishah, a preventive cardiologist at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and an assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

sThis leads to greater inflammation and causes muscles around the airways to constrict, which can lead to wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath or a burning feeling in the chest, especially during exertion.

Too much exposure to winter cold causes the body to lose heat faster than it can produce it, leading to life-threatening conditions like hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature) and frostbite (frozen skin/tissue).

It can cause confusion, exhaustion, slurred speech, skin numbness, and damage to extremities.

 

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Temperatures hit 3 degrees in the New York City on Sunday, with bitter wind chills dragging the real feel temperatures to 14 degrees below zero. Parts of the northeast also reported wind chills that hit 40-below.

Temperatures are expected to increase every day this week, forecasters said.

The high Monday (February 9) was expected to be 31 degrees, with a low of 19 — higher than Sunday’s (February 8) high temp.

The rest of the week will be a veritable heat wave, according to Accuweather — with a week of highs above freezing starting Tuesday (February 10).

By Wednesday (February 11), the high temp will hit a tropical 41 degrees in NYC.

Rare Extreme Cold Warnings have been issued for more than 43 million people, including major metro areas such as New York and Philadelphia, through Sunday evening by the National Weather Service.

“The last time (New York City) had a warning issued similar to what we have this morning was in 2004,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan said Friday (February 6).

 

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Antarctica, by contrast, was a balmy 21 degrees at McMurdo Station—18 degrees warmer than the frozen Big Apple.

New Yorkers can thank a blast of Arctic air that is heading south from the frozen tundra north of Hudson Bay, Canada, for the latest round of winter misery.

“In many parts of the Northeast away from the coast, this prolonged stretch of cold is the most extreme in at least the last decade and, in some areas, the last two decades,” AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said.

Many locations will end up with a streak of days below freezing that falls into the top 10 longest such streaks on record,” he added.

This weekend is set to be the coldest day in what has already been a record cold snap, the worst in over two decades.

“The deep freeze is returning to the northeastern United States this weekend,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

Never outshine the master

“Always mistrust a subordinate who never finds fault with his superior.”

—William Collins

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE won’t be surprised if one of these days or weeks—or even months—the wings of Junvic Remulla will be unceremoniously clipped.

The flamboyant secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been blatantly and openly “violating” The 48 Laws of Power’s Law 1 that says, “Never Outshine the Master."

Remulla has been “outshining” every major dude in the country’s political cinerama—including the master himself, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Even in smallest items or unfussy subject matter, Remulla wanted to be always in the front seat; he has been excited to always run the show, so to speak, even if his presence and oration weren’t sought and needed.

He goes solo and is ahead of almost everything from announcing the number of people to be jailed in the Payatas jail made exclusively for flood control project criminals, to the whereabouts of suspected billionaire scammer Zaldy Co, the timetable for Harry Roque’s arrest, the possible hideouts of missing sabungero suspected mastermind Atong Ang and his protectors in the NBI, to the announcement of the motive in the twin murders of a lady cop and her son, etcetera.

 

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In all these publicity stunts, Remulla’s presence in the press conferences and media interview monologues weren’t really necessary. But he loved them. He enjoyed doing them. The guy’s so loquacious and already hackneyed.

When it comes to the game of “epal,” Remulla, 58, is neck and neck with Cristina Frasco, 44, the 18th secretary of the Department of Tourism, under the Marcos Jr. administration, who is also a publicity freak.

"Epal" is a Pinoy slang term derived from "mapapel" (one who wants a role), referring to a person or politician who is an attention-grabber, a scene-stealer, or someone who butts into situations where their presence is not needed or welcomed.

It is often used to describe someone meddling or craving attention, often in a negative or annoying way like what Remulla and Frasco have been doing.

Remulla should be told to read Robert Greene's very popular book, which we serialized in our newspaper column in 1998, the year it was published, if he doesn’t want his presidential ambitions to vanish in thin air.

 

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He must learn from Alcibiades’ horrific experience.

The brilliant but incredibly vain Athenian statesman and general (c. 450-404), who thrived on publicity and popularity, was known for his extreme extravagance, immense vanity, and talent for self-promotion.

His ambitious, often erratic, and self-serving actions—including switching allegiances between Athens and Sparta—led to him being ostracized and eventually murdered in exile.

And who can forget Narcissus, known for his excessive self-love and for rejecting the advances of others?

The famous figure from Greek mythology renowned for his extreme beauty and intense arrogance, son of the river god Cephissus and nymph Liriope, was cursed by the gods to fall in love with his own reflection and eventually perished from his vanity?

And Bellerophon, a hero who, after slaying the Chimera, became arrogant and tried to fly Pegasus to Mount Olympus to join the gods? Zeus sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, causing Bellerophon to fall to the earth, where he lived out his days as a blind, broken wanderer.

In Law 1 of Greene’s book, he—or anybody in Remulla’s position for that matter—must see to it to make his superiors feel superior, not threatened.

 

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By making them seem more brilliant and taking a backseat to their talents, you gain favor, while showing off your own skills can trigger their insecurities, leading to resentment and potential downfall, according to Nathan Glass and Shortform Books.

“You should attribute ideas to them, ask for their help, and generally deflect attention from your own brilliance to secure your position,” says Readingraphics and the official Robert Greene TikTok.

People in power need to feel smart and deserving; your brilliance can threaten that, notes Shortform Books.

Let them take credit for your good ideas; ask for their advice and act as if their guidance led to your success, say Nathan Glass and the official Robert Greene TikTok.

Don't show off or point out others' mistakes, as this makes them look bad and breeds resentment, writes Medium.

Make your boss seem more brilliant than they are; this secures their favor and helps you climb, according to Reddit users.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)