It’s time to reverse the tide

“Only the mob and the elite can be attracted by the momentum of totalitarianism itself. The masses have to be won by propaganda.”

—Hannah Arendt

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

FOUR days earlier, the nation was on the brink of political catastrophe when destabilizers and troublemakers attempted but failed to penetrate the relatively peaceful rally staged by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) at the Rizal Park in Manila.

After the INC shortened the scheduled three-day protest rally against corruption in government, decent Filipinos, who oppose any attempt by any group to disrupt or overthrow the government, heaved a sigh of relief.

In cutting short the protest rally, INC did not want to be blamed for “hosting” uncouth politicians with hidden agenda and who spew venomous diatribe like the embittered presidential sister, among other demagogues and disgraced political rabble-rousers.

The momentum partially gained by malcontents and saboteurs before or during the pivotal situation on November 16 began to melt like iceberg in the Glacier Bay.

Authorities were now able to more or less identify the destabilizers, the power grabbers and their financiers who wanted to topple President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. by whatever means and install a pseudo leader.

It’s time for authorities to weather the storm and reverse the tide. We expect warrants of arrest to be issued against rebellious agitators and other agent provocateurs.

 

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CityMD, an urgent care provider, has cautioned us to be careful with

cough that won’t go away in this cold season in the East Coast; it informs us of the causes and solutions.

Dealing with a cough that just won’t quit can be frustrating. Whether it’s keeping us up at night or disrupting our day, a lingering cough can take a toll. But what’s behind it? And more importantly, how can we get some relief?

Let’s break down the common causes, when to be concerned and the best ways to treat a stubborn cough.

What causes a persistent cough? Common reasons explained. A cough that sticks around for weeks or longer often has a clear cause.

Here are some of the most common reasons, according to CityMD:

— Post-nasal drip. Mucus dripping from the back of your nose into your throat can irritate it and make you cough. This often happens with allergies or a cold.

— Asthma. For some, a persistent cough might be the only sign of asthma. Cold air or exercise can make it worse.

— Acid reflux. Stomach acid that moves up into your throat can cause irritation and a chronic cough.

— Infections. Respiratory infections like bronchitis or whooping cough can cause a cough that lingers after other symptoms go away.

— Smoking or irritants. Smoking, vaping or exposure to dust, fumes or pollution can lead to a lasting cough.

Understanding the root cause is key to finding the right treatment.

 

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When a lingering cough might signal something serious. While most coughs are harmless, some can be a sign of a more serious condition. Seek medical attention if your cough:

— Lasts longer than eight weeks

—Comes with a fever, weight loss or night sweats

—Produces blood or rust-colored mucus

—Is accompanied by wheezing, chest pain or trouble breathing

Conditions like pneumonia, COPD, lung cancer, or heart problems can cause a chronic cough. If you’re unsure, it’s better to get checked out.

How to find relief from a cough that won’t go away.

Finding relief starts with addressing the cause. Here are some effective remedies:

1.    Stay hydrated

Drink plenty of water to thin mucus and soothe your throat.

2.   Use a humidifier

Adding moisture to the air can reduce throat irritation.

3.   Avoid irritants

Steer clear of smoking, strong perfumes and dusty areas.

4.   Try over-the-counter medications

Cough drops, lozenges or expectorants can help ease symptoms.

5.   Elevate your head while sleeping

Propping your head up can reduce post-nasal drip and acid reflux.

6.   Seek professional care

If the cough persists or worsens, we need to visit a doctor. They can check for underlying issues and recommend treatments like inhalers, antibiotics or other medications.

(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)

 

 

Destroy them first before they destroy you

“The essence of leadership is essentially taking the responsibility of trying to interpret the future to the present.”

–Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE still believe Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wanted to become president primarily to save, redeem, rehabilitate and restore the reputation of the Marcos family severely mangled after the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

Marcos became the most hated family thereafter with Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Marcos respectively landing in the Guinness Book of Records for the “greatest robbery in government” and “largest shoe collection (estimated as high as 3,000).”

This was painfully horrendous and nightmarish for the grandchildren and other Marcoses who have nothing to do whatsoever with the couple’s hegemony.

Mr. Marcos Jr. did become president in 2022.

His prayers—particularly the prayers of the Marcos matriarch Imeldific—must have been answered.

If vindication and exculpation for the infamous family were stone-carved on his mind after being elected president, would Mr. Marcos Jr. be so excited to immediately think of doing something dreadful like stealing billions of pesos in only two years of a six-year term that would totally destroy that mission statement?

 

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If it is true that his parents or family for that matter had illegally amassed an estimated $5 to $10 billion during the Marcos father’s 20 years of dictatorship, would that wealth instantly evaporate soon that the Marcos son “needed” to pocket an “additional” P65 billion (the amount flood control project scandal poster boy Zaldy Co had alleged to have gone to Marcos Jr.’s pocket in 2024) at the risk of being caught with his hands literally in the cookie jar?

Logic tells us he shouldn’t. It’s not impossible, but circumstances and rationality tell us he might not (even attempt to think of doing it).

What kind of president so stupid and idiotic to allow a sitting congressman like Zaldy Co to deliver bags containing cash amounting to billions of pesos to the sitting president’s resident (for sure not in Malacanang) in this age of CCTV, TikTok, Wi Fi, among other satellite monitoring systems where every movement of human beings and animals is monitored and seen skin deep by Big Brother Technology?

So many loopholes; a hogwash; downright injudicious.

And many people, including some professionals (unbelievable), swallowed hook, line, and sinker the claim of the fabulist warbler who is, based on stockpiles of evidence, accused of enriching himself using his influence and power as a former partylist solon through flood control projects?

 

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Mr. Marcos Jr., we are starting to believe, may be a weak leader, but may not be corrupt per se.

He is “weak” because he appears to be slow in clipping the wings of malcontents, the bedazzling but morally misfits trying to destabilize and topple his administration.

For instance, those who fabricated and maliciously circulated the “bangag” (high on illegal drugs) video that gave impetus to accusations he and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos are drug users two years ago are still scot-free and continued to ridicule the president and undermine his authority in the social media.

Why weren’t they prosecuted and placed behind bars until now boggles the mind.

Mr. Marcos Jr. has also allowed corrupt Chavit Singson and his subalterns in the destabilization department to get away with murder after the bloody September 21, 2025 uprising that nearly killed scores of violent rascals who joined the “Trillion Peso March.”

And the recalcitrant police and military generals—retired and active—who have been agitating to replace him and pave the way for restoration of the equally corrupt Vice President Sara Duterte as new president.

Why weren’t they court-marshaled (for the active ones)? What is this administration waiting for?

And now we have the boisterous Iglesia Ni Kristo three-day protest juggernauts against corruption in government. What if the saboteurs surreptitiously joined the rally and succeeded in toppling the government?

Is “weakling” Marcos Jr. waiting for the guillotine to zap his own head before he moves to destroy his enemies?  

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

 

Only a list of grocery items

“Sincerity is the way to heaven.”

—Mencius

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THOSE to be charged by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the flood control project mess that “will not spend Christmas 2025” with their families as announced recently by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should include senators, congresspeople, DPWH bigwigs, among other prominent corrupt politicians and their minions.

Or else, the reported 37 individuals will be like only items in a grocery list.

We need a decisive action; earthshaking and well grounded cases that will send shivers down the spine.

We need a big bang in order not to further infuriate the impatient Filipinos who think they are only being taken for a ride since the president exposed the multi-billion pesos anomaly in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) in September this year, but nobody has landed in the calaboose yet.

In order to convince the taxpayers that the Marcos Jr. administration is serious in its campaign against massive graft and corruption, the initial list of names to be charged and arrested before or after Christmas 2025 with no bail recommended must include the likes of  Joel Villanueva, Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla Jr., Martin Romualdez, Zaldy Co, and all other showbiz and non-showbiz celebrity solons with “blood on their hands.”

 

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There should be no more beatings around the bush. The government must call spade a spade. No more ifs and buts. No more dilly-dallying.

If the Marcos Jr. administration hesitates and dithers, it’s better not to announce anything that will only serve to deodorize the Marcos Jr. administration but without substance and determination to run after the rascals and plunderers.

Many sectors in society are already casting doubts on the sincerity of the president, especially when Mr. Marcos Jr. appeared to be not hell-bent to throw the books on his cousin, the former House speaker Romualdez.

He must prove them wrong by unveiling the most bombastic and lethal plunder cases against the thieves and criminals in government the country has ever seen, and include individuals closed to his heart but who betrayed the people’s trust and confidence and stole their money by the billions.

It’s now or never. After the initial cases have been filed, they must be powerful, and the message should be thunderous that will convince every Tom, Dick, and Harry Mr. Marcos Jr. really means business and is not politicking.

 

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I received a warning from Apple reminding me that “scammers are getting smarter.”

“Learn how to protect yourself from fraud and make the most of Apple Card's security features,” Apple said in an email.

Apple exhorted me to “end the conversation immediately” if I recognize the following red flags:

-Unsolicited contact about your account. Be cautious of

unsolicited calls or text conversations and look out for unusual, poorly worded, or unexpected emails.

-Urgent warnings. Scammers create a false sense of emergency asking you to act immediately or face consequences.

-Gift card requests. An Apple Card Specialist will never ask you to buy gift cards.

-Social media requests. Be careful who you are interacting or sharing personal information with on social media.

-One-time passcode requests. An Apple Card Specialist will never initiate contact to ask for a one-time passcode.

-Third-party app downloads. An Apple Card Specialist will never ask you to download third-party apps to your device.

 

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It also asked me to “protect yourself in 3 steps.”

-Turn on transaction notifications. When you turn on transaction notifications, you get an alert every time your card is used, so you can catch suspicious activity.

-Go to Apple Card in Wallet, tap the More button More button, then tap Notifications and turn on Transactions.

-Enable Advanced Fraud Protection. Your three-digit security code changes automatically for even more secure purchases.

-Go to Apple Card in Wallet, tap the card number button More button then scroll down to Advanced Fraud Protection and turn it on. Use Advanced Fraud Protection with Apple Card.

-Report suspicious messages. If you receive a text message about your Apple Card that feels suspicious, don't respond or tap on any “links.

To report spam or other suspicious messages that you receive through Messages, tap Report Spam under the message.” Apple concluded.

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

 

 

More doctors being investigated for fraud

 “The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle.”

―E. Lockhart, Genuine Fraud

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE case of a 70-year-old Filipino doctor from Queens, New York City convicted of medical fraud is reportedly not isolated.

The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating other cases involving fraudulent transactions to Medicare, sources said.

This developed after Dr. Alexander “Alex” Baldonado was sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty in February this year by a federal jury for causing the submission of over $24 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces.

The U.S. Department of Justice had presented court documents and evidence during Baldonado’s trial showing he received tens of thousands of dollars in illegal cash kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering laboratory tests, including expensive cancer genetic tests, that were billed to Medicare by two related laboratories located in New York.

Baldonado authorized hundreds of cancer genetic tests for Medicare beneficiaries who attended COVID-19 testing events at assisted living facilities, adult day care centers, and a retirement community in 2020 as part of the scheme, according to court documents.

 

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The U.S. Department of Justice said Baldonado was not treating any of the patients who attended the testing events and, in many cases, did not speak to or examine the patients prior to ordering cancer genetic tests and other laboratory tests for them.

Baldonado also reportedly billed Medicare for lengthy office visits that he never provided to these patients.

Several Medicare patients for whom Baldonado ordered cancer genetic tests and billed for office visits testified at trial that they did not know who Baldonado was and had never met or spoken to him. Baldonado also reportedly did not contact the patients after the testing events to review the results of the cancer genetic tests, and, in some cases, the patients never received the test results.

Baldonado also reportedly received illegal cash kickbacks and bribes from the owner of a durable medical equipment supply company in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary orthotic braces for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in addition to the laboratory testing scheme.

It was reported earlier that evidence presented at trial showed Baldonado on an undercover video “receiving a large sum of cash in exchange for signed prescriptions for orthotic braces.”

The medically unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces that Baldonado ordered in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes caused Medicare to be billed more than $24 million, court records said.

 

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Medicare paid more than $2.1 million to the laboratories and the durable medical equipment supply company involved in the schemes.

Baldonado was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; six counts of health care fraud; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay, offer, receive, and solicit health care kickbacks; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive and solicit health care kickbacks; and one count of solicitation of health care kickbacks. Following his conviction on the 10 counts, Baldonado was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

After his sentencing, he now faces a maximum penalty of seven to 10 years in prison on each count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and solicitation of health care kickbacks and five years in prison on each count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay, offer, receive, and solicit health care kickbacks and conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive and solicit health care kickbacks.

A federal district court judge determined the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Newark Field Office made the announcement.

 

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HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. Assistant Chief Rebecca Yuan and Trial Attorney Hyungjoo Han of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section led the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program.

Since March 2007, the program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion.

In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

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