Slow but not sure?

“You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you.”

—Cornelius Vanderbilt

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it has become obvious and crystal clear the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Justice (DoJ), including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), are really slow as snails.

Pardon us, but aren’t they supposed to announce the indictment of those involved in the flood control project anomalies every week if they aim to lock the criminals in jail before Christmas Day or during the Yuletide season as promised?

It seems the just concluded Trillion Peso protest did not bother the ICI, Ombudsman, DPWH, DoJ, or the entire Marcos Jr. administration that promised the Filipino people to jail some of the big names (not just the small fries) two weeks from now.

Instead of expediting the indictment of the sharks and reptiles, the big fishes so-called, to catch up for the time wasted, nothing has been heard about the high-level arrest this week.

It’s been more than a week since they announced with a big bang the issuance of warrant of arrest by the Sandiganbayan against DPWH officials and Zaldy Co’s employees in Sunwest, a construction firm linked to various “ghost” and substandard flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.

 

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So far, no follow up. No second batch whatsoever. People were expecting a second wave of arrest, this time involving prominent names in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

If they target “more or less” 200 flood control project criminals, one batch of accused per week is not enough if they want to satisfy the people’s expectations.

Each week, there must be at least a series of issuances of warrant of arrest if they plan to gather at least half of the “more or less” 200 targets.

We have reason to badger the Marcos Jr. administration because most of the solons and contractors have already been named and identified in the past Senate and ICI hearings.

These punks, especially the senate clowns, have even challenged the government to file a case against them as they maintained innocence.

They were listed in the affidavits of witnesses and even mentioned during those hearings. No need for authorities to find out who they are; all they needed to do was to make follow-ups using their investigative tentacles and other resources to nail the coffin.

The Sandiganbayan has issued arrest warrants against Co and 17 others. After that, the hemorrhage appeared to have stopped. What’s next?

 

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One of the biggest political stories that have been buzzing in Iloilo these past days was the reported split or forthcoming slip between the Biron political clan and Dumangas Vice Mayor Ronald “Onal” Golez.

Mayor Braeden John "BJ" Biron and Vice Mayor Golez were in tandem when they won their respective seats as members of the Nacionalista Party (NP) in the 2025 elections.

Biron is the son of the political clan’s patriarch, Iloilo 4th district Rep. Ferjenel.

The feud reportedly sparked after Golez questioned Biron’s 2026 budget proposal and called the P4 million recently spent for the Ben&Ben concert "extravagant or excessive."

This reportedly prompted the congressman, the mayor’s father, to announce: "𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘸𝘢, 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 1 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘖𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘻” during the municipal government's regular flag-raising ceremony.

"𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘰, 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘬𝘴𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢 2028. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳.”

There were reports the genesis of the two camps’ misunderstanding did not erupt in Golez’s decision to question the P4 million budget for the concert, among other reasons reported earlier in the media.

“There is more than meets the eye,” a local political analyst sighed. “Let’s wait for the next episode.”

There are those who believe “the quarrel can still be saved since the next local election is still far away.”

(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 actually have more Rhodoras

“When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death - that is heroism.”

—Robert Green Ingersoll

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE heroism of Rhodora Alcaraz, the Filipina domestic helper who saved a baby during a recent Hong Kong fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, was extraordinary but not new.

We salute our kababayan Rhodora, 28, for making us all proud despite the political turmoil back home. We have plenty of Rhodoras who end up working abroad after being ignored and neglected by our own government.

Filipinos all over the world have been known to be heroes and brave especially during critical moments.

When the rest of the world runs away, we come in and stay during matters of life and death.

We have heard countless stories of Filipino carpenters, nurses, drivers, caregivers, construction workers, among other OFWs, who impressed their employers by staying with them through thick and thin during disasters; some of them even sacrifice their lives to save their employers.

Rhodora, who had only recently arrived in Hong Kong, became bigger than life in the eyes of the world when she shielded her employers' three-month-old infant in a wet blanket while they were trapped for hours before being rescued by firefighters.

She is being celebrated for her courage and is being called a "modern-day hero" by many, including Hong Kong authorities.

Rhodora made her family proud and transform all of us ten-feet tall all over the globe as news of her heroism spread like prairie fire these past days.

 

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For those who missed the news. Rhodora reportedly protected the infant by cradling the baby in a wet blanket while trapped in a smoke-filled room for hours before her rescue.

According to latest reports, she survived the horrific incident but remained in the hospital. Philippine government officials and a senator have visited her to praise her heroism and offer their support.

For her gallantry, Rhodora has been lauded by the Filipino community and her former employer as a symbol of courage and compassion.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Welfare Administration (OWWA) stated in an online post that officials had visited Rhodora in the hospital, praising her as a true heroine of our time and a model of care and courage for Filipinos overseas. 

Representatives from the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Mission For Migrant Workers also visited Rhodora.

Her story has for some reportedly highlighted the enduring role of the city’s hundreds of thousands of domestic helpers who cook, clean and care for the young and elderly, often living in cramped spaces and earning modest wages in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

 

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Here’s how The Print chronicled Rhodora’s heroism:

Panicked audio messages Alcaraz sent to her sister during Wednesday’s blaze – that killed at least 151 people – went viral after they were shared online by family and friends trying to locate her in the chaotic aftermath.

“I’m feeling very weak. I can’t breathe,” she said in one of the clips, sobbing and struggling to speak.

Rhoda Lynn Dayo, Alcaraz’s former employer, was among those trying to reach people in Hong Kong to help establish her whereabouts, she said.

“I truly expected that she wouldn’t be found anymore. So I prayed: Please God … Perform a miracle, Lord,” she said.

Alcaraz, known by the nickname Jackie, had cared for Dayo’s children from the age of 17 for more than four years back in the Philippines.

 She was so trusted by the family that Dayo said she was comfortable leaving her children with Alcaraz even when she had to travel to the U.S.

“The way she cared for the kids was different – there was real love … I don’t doubt that she would put her life on the line for the child she was caring for,” Dayo said.

 

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Why it feels like everyone is sick right now In late fall, it seems like everyone is under the weather. Between RSV, the flu, the common cold and COVID-19, viral season is hitting hard in the East Coast.

“When you’re not feeling your best, CityMD is here for you — no appointment needed. Our providers can test, diagnose and help you start feeling better fast,” said the email I received from CityMD.

Why it’s important to get checked out: Accurate diagnosis: We must know exactly what’s causing our symptoms. On-site testing: We get tested for flu, COVID, strep and more. Right treatment: We can find out if we need medication like antibiotics.

We can prevent sickness by staying healthy by washing our hands often, getting plenty of sleep and coming in for our yearly flu shot.

(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)

 

 

Five hundred pesos

“The lack of money is the root of all evil.”

—Mark Twain

 

 By Alex P. Vidal

 

SOME lawmakers, including individuals “hurt” by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque’s claim that a Filipino family can prepare a “noche buena” meal for only P500 were overacting when they “denounced” the trade secretary.

“What kind of Christmas would that even be? A few noodles, eggs, water? This is a slap on the face of every Filipino struggling to make ends meet,” screamed a “hurting” member of the House of Representatives.

We can always agree, but we don’t need to be disagreeable; we can disagree, but must we “denounce” someone only because we disagree with them?

We can always give suggestions and tell the DTI secretary we don’t believe the amount is sufficient for the noche buena, then we can explain why. That’s a healthy debate.

We don’t believe Aldeguer-Roque’s remarks were “unrealistic and insensitive amid high food prices and persistent economic strain” as what some lawmakers had said. We just need to listen to the other side of the coin and open the market for a free-willing discussion over the subject matter.

The DTI boss suggested three noche buena bundles that can be purchased for under or near P500 and can serve a family of four citing prices from her agency’s guide.

 

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According to Aldeguer-Roque, one bundle costs P374.50, with Christmas ham (P170 for 500 g), spaghetti sauce (P48.50), spaghetti noodles (P30 for 250 g), fruit cocktail (P61.75 for 432g), all-purpose cream (P36.50 for 110 ml), and “pan de sal” (P27.75 for 10 pieces).

She pointed out that another option is priced at P428.70, with Christmas ham (P170), spaghetti (P78.50), macaroni salad (P152.45), and pan de sal (P27.75). Serving both macaroni salad and fruit salad would total P526.95.

The DTI secretary said these options were based on typical Filipino holiday viands. Some items, she said, may even cost less when bought as part of bundled promotions.

Under the DTI’s noche buena price guide, the prices of ham range from P170 to P945; fruit cocktail, from P61.76 to P94.41; all-purpose cream, from P36.00 to P72; “nata de coco,” from P52.50 to P62.50; “kaong,” from P76.50 to P84; “queso de bola,” from P210 to P470; cheese, from P16.50 to P310; and mayonnaise, from P20.40 to P245.85.

 

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Many Filipinos criticized doomed former DPWH official Henry Alcantara for surrendering (euphemism for returning?) P110 million to the government— the Department of Justice (DOJ)—, as part of the P300 million in kickbacks he admitted taking from flood control projects in Bulacan, the first-time restitution in the unraveling multibillion-peso corruption scandal has been made in cash.

Critics said even if Alcantara will return P500 million or more, this will not absolve him from cases of plunder or malversation of public funds.

In fact, they added, he will still rot in jail because of the degree of his participation in the multi-billion flood control project scam.

Instead of being enraged, we must welcome this development. At least, the government, or the taxpayers for that matter, will have something to get in return before Christmas after being hoodwinked by the thieves.

The amount will be returned to the public coffer to be used to finance the basic services for the poor. More money to be turned over, the better.

We expect more to follow. We lost billions of pesos from the anomalies, thus whatever amount we recover is already a blessing in disguise.

(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)

 

 

Have mercy on Harry

“Teach me to feel another's woe, to hide the fault I see, that mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me.”

—Alexander Pope

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF it is true that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has serious medical issues, have mercy on him.

As a fugitive hiding in The Hague, Netherlands, it’s not easy to live alone away from his family and with a medical problem, especially now that the winter season is fast approaching.

One doesn’t need to be a doctor to notice in his social media videos that he appears to be not well; he used to be healthy and vibrant. It seems he has lost a tremendous amount of weight (is he starving?).

The 59-year-old Roque has been the object of jokes and ridicule in the social and mainstream media because of his demeanor and political leanings.

Some Filipinos have intense animus for people who are overweight and unsightly, especially if they are loud and boisterous.

If Roque did not actually kill a person, no reason to loathe him. If he did not steal from the taxpayers, no need to condemn him. If he did not torture or rape anybody, no need to call him names and treat him like a leper.

Although he is wanted for qualified human trafficking in connection with the illegal operations of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga, he is still presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

 

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The problem with Roque is he is very talkative, pugnacious and full of resentment despite his predicament.

When he recklessly engaged some of his fellow DDS (Duterte Diehard Supporters) in trash talk over a dispute on “free” food, Roque sometimes forgot his manners.

His biggest sin was fleeing from the Philippines and marshaling a vilification campaign against his perceived persecutors after being slapped with charges for qualified human trafficking.

As a lawyer he knows that those accused of crime should have the right to due process and must face the music, so to speak, in the proper forum, not fly the coop.

Roque’s flight was perceived to be a sign of guilt. He will only have himself to blame if some people suspect he did not want to face the charges against him after he ran out of alibi.

His actuations and bellicose attitude while abroad were seen as tantamount to creating his own monster and burying his own head in the quicksand.

The former Malacanang big shot during the halcyon years of the Duterte administration has shown no remorse and is bereft of humility.

 

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IT’S been several days since the name of Iloilo’s Uswag Ilonggo partylist Rep. James “Jojo” Ang Jr. was dragged as among the eight solons in the first batch of those recommended by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for criminal charges in the Office of the Ombudsman but not a single local official or Western Visayas colleague in the House of Representatives has come out with a statement or appeal to the Ilonggos to give him the benefit of the doubt and refrain from prejudging his case.

Either they are shamed to be identified with Ang now that he is under trouble, or they believe there is semblance of truth in the allegations against him that he benefited from kickbacks in the flood control project scandal.

Or both. Their silence is deafening.

By the way, most of the comments by the netizens in both the social and mainstream media recently appear to be cordial and sympathetic to Ang.

Some of them think the partylist solon can wiggle out from the mess if given the opportunity to defend himself in court.

Some netizens however took potshots at Ang’s connection with the International Builders Corporation (IBC) owned by his uncle Alfonso Tan, which allegedly bagged multibillion-peso worth of flood control, among other infrastructure projects these past years.

 (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)