Fallacy of a perfect crime

“What do you expect me to do about it?”

— John Dillinger

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THERE is no such thing as perfect crime, according to a conventional wisdom. 

Even the most macabre crimes in human history that slumbered for decades for lack of immediate solid pieces of evidence and credible witnesses have been solved eventually even after the passing of time.

Forensic science played a major role in the belated solution of many of these almost forgotten but sensational crimes. 

Although the case of the three murdered young Iloilo businessmen: Paul “JP” Bosque, Chrysler Floyd Fernandes, and Mark Clarence Libao is now on the brink of melting down after the Iloilo provincial prosecutor’s office dismissed the murder charges filed against the accused “for lack of probable cause”, it didn’t mean the bridge will now tremble over a troubled water. 

For sure, the investigators will immediately buckle down to work, reevaluate their case, reload and mount a Plan B to pursue and nail down the perpetrators. 

If the principle of law that says no one can be subjected to a double jeopardy applies in this case, then the police will have a big problem here if they persist in running after the same set of suspects.

But who was it who said that crime doesn’t pay?

 

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True crime writer Robert A. Waters said one of the most obvious fallacies ever foisted on long-suffering true crime readers is the notion that “there is no such thing as a perfect crime.”  

While we can debate the meaning of a “perfect crime,” he said, “to me, it is one in which the identity of the perpetrator(s) is never learned and they are never brought to justice.”

He cited a few of the hundreds of thousands of perfect murders that were never solved: Then there are the un-caught serial killers:  The so-called Cincinnati Ripper, the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, the Toledo Clubber, the Axeman of New Orleans, the Zodiac Killer, etc. 

The unfortunate victims in these and thousands of other unsolved murders deserved justice, according to Waters. 

But utopia does not exist, and while it is comforting to think that there are no “perfect crimes,” the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming.

 

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Those who haven’t seen the “live” telecast of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final match between Argentina and France on December 18 should look for sports channels that show the replay. Or purchase the complete episode of that game on Netflix (if it’s available now) and other cable channels that continued to chronicle that great final showdown between to FIFA heavyweights.

It’s a must see even for those who are not soccer fans or sports buffs. As what I told some friends who were sleeping when the match happened, it was the best and most thrilling ever FIFA World Cup final tussle in history; and they missed one third of their life if they missed the championship match that ended in another heart-rending penalty shootout.

NEW HPV THREAT. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, has long been linked to cervical cancer in women. New research in the journal Head & Neck reveals that in the United States, HPV may also be the most common cause of cancer of the tonsil and base of the tongue. The cancer is starting to appear more in younger men and in nonsmokers; the shift may be associated with high-risk behaviors.

TWILIGHT INSIGHT AND OUR YOUNGSTERS. Why are teens fascinated by these fanged creatures? "Vampires are alluring. They're neither completely human nor dead; they don't belong in either world. Teenagers identify with them because they often feel like outsiders, too, as they transition from childhood into adulthood," says Dr. Kathy Ramsland, author of The Science of Vampires.

(PG 13) Consider aiming compliment below the belt. Women who have a positive attitude about their genitals reach orgasm more easily during oral sex than women who don't feel so hot about them, says a new study in the International Journal of Sexual Health.

CRUNCH TIME. Holiday shopping may flatten our wallet but it could also trim our belly. As we comb the racks, let's stand tall and squeeze our stomach muscles for five seconds (pretend we're bracing ourselves to lift a heavy box). We've just done the equivalent of one sit-up, says physiologist Pete McCall, of the American Council on Exercise.

OUR ABILITY TO BUILD MUSCLES. Thirty grams of protein are needed to maximize our body's ability to build muscles. University of Texas Medical Branch scientists found that eating 30 grams of protein at one meal helps muscle growth as much as taking in 90 grams does. Let's try smaller meals (3 to 4 hours apart) for a more efficient approach to repairing our muscles.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there is smoke, there is fire

“A man who has never gone to school may steal a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.” 

―Theodore Roosevelt

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF a congressional investigation will be held in connection with the P680-million sinking flyovers in Ungka and Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo, taxpayers must not forget Pavia Sangguniang Bayan member Pyt Trimañez.

According to a recent Daily Guardian report, it was Trimañez who authored a resolution requesting Iloilo lawmakers to conduct a legislative inquiry “in aid of legislation” on the two controversial projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The normally loquacious Iloilo City aldermen had been beaten to the draw by a brave and alert municipal councilor in as far as bringing the matter to the higher level of scrutiny is concerned.

Sometimes a concrete action from the watchdog groups and concerned public officials like what Trimañez did was better and necessary than mere press statements expressing “concern” about the delayed opening of the flyovers.

When it comes to implementation of gargantuan projects involving hundreds of millions of public funds, the taxpayers have all the right to show impatience, suspicion and outrage if they smell something fishy.

“Sinking” means going down the surface of something.  

If there is smoke, there is fire.

 

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The resolution, according to the Daily Guardian, was addressed to the following solons: Julienne Baronda (Iloilo City), Janette Garin (Iloilo, 1st district), Michael Gorriceta (Iloilo, 2nd district), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo, 3rd district), Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo, 4th district), Raul Tupas (Iloilo, 5th district), James Ang (Uswag Ilonggo), Lex Anthony Colada (Aambis Owa), and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan).

What Trimañez did was commendable: he went straight to the jugular and didn’t beat around the bush.

He believes only a congressional inquiry can prod the DPWH and other stakeholders to explain why there seems to be something wrong with the Iloilo flyovers’ structural designs.

A P680-million worth of infrastructure project in danger of going to waste isn’t a joke.

It’s not P6 million; not P80 million; not P100 million. It’s a heart-thumping P680 million worth of project paid by the taxpayers’ money.

It goes beyond logic and imagination why the flyovers could sink when it was properly (and astronomically?) budgeted.

If money illegally changed pockets which resulted in the building of a substandard project, heads must definitely roll.

 

-o0o-

 

(PG 13) Sexsomnia is the term US scientists use for people who perform sexual activities unconsciously during sleep. The spectrum ranges from masturbation to sexual intercourse—in the event that that the sexsomnia patient comes across a partner. (Source: Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine).

Congratulations to Morocco for finishing fourth place in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Coming from Africa and the first Arab-speaking country to breach the seminal, it’s a big leap for the previously unknown Moroccan players. Losing to Croatia, 1-2, in the battle for third place on December 17 was not a defeat but a victory for Morocco and the Moroccan soccer. 

IF WE'RE LOW ON SILVER POLISH, LET'S USE TOOTHPASTE: Plain, non-gel toothpaste (without additives like whiteners) can rid small silver pieces of light tarnish without damaging the surface. Moisten the silver piece; apply a bit of toothpaste to our finger. Rub gentlyand rinse, then buff with a soft cloth. (Source: goodhousekeeping)

NO DISHWASHING LIQUID? Let's grab the laundry detergent. A teaspoonful of liquid laundry detergent in a basin of hot water will cut grease on dirty dishes equally well (though we may want to wear gloves, as detergent can be drying to hands).

NOT GUILTY. That's the verdict on fertility drugs and the possibility that they increase woman's chances of developing ovarian cancer. Doctors had long worried that there might be such a link. But now Danish researchers have analyzed records of 54,362 women and found, over an average 16-yr follow up, that those who took fertility drugs faced no greater risk of cancer.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Lopez-Jaena and the FIFA final

“When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.”

— Tecumseh

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT is with great delight that as we commemorated Graciano Lopez Jaena’s birth anniversary on December 18, 2022, the attention of most people around the world would be on the crowning of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 champion.

Argentina and France would be disputing the most coveted title in soccer in Doha this year on the great Ilonggo journalist’s 166^th birth anniversary. 

We have always been proud to mention that Lopez Jaena, born on December 18, 1856 and died on January 20, 1896, was pure Ilonggo, or someone who spoke Hiligaynon and once lived in Jaro district.

In his generation, Lopez Jaena was not only an outstanding journalist, but was also an orator at par with the country’s and even the Asia’s best.

As the first ilustrado to arrive in Spain where he started the Propaganda Movement against our Spanish colonizers, Lopez Jaena became revolutionary when he formed a triumvirate with Dr. Jose Rizal and Marcel H. del Pilar.

But he became well known for his newspaper, La Solidarid.

Thus it’s not a coincidence that contemporary journalists flood the Western Visayas community with newspapers.

It runs in the Ilonggo blood: almost every freedom-loving and lovers of letters and literature want to dabble in community journalism or to own and manage their own newspaper in the Ilonggo-speaking populace.

 

-o0o-

Before he became famous, Lopez Jaena was first sent by his parents to study at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro which had been opened under the administration of Governor General Carlos María de la Torre y Nava Cerrada.

In the seminary, he served as a secretary to Claudio Lopez, his uncle who was the honorary vice consul of Portugal in Iloilo.

But he had ambition to become a physician. Lopez Jaena convinced his parents that he needed to enroll in a university in Manila.

He was denied admission at the University of Santo Tomas because he did not have a Bachelor of Arts degree when he was at the seminary in Jaro.

Lopez Jaena was appointed to the San Juan de Dios Hospital as an apprentice.

He eventually dropped out due to financial difficulties and returned to Iloilo.

His assimilation with the poor ignited his feelings about the injustices common in that era.

Lopez Jaena’s potentials as a reformer and writer became apparent at the age of 18 when he wrote the satirical story “Fray Botod” which depicted a fat and lecherous priest.

Lopez Jaena ribbed Fray Botod’s false piety which “always had the Virgin and God on his lips no matter how unjust and underhanded his acts are.”

The story was not published, but a copy circulated widely in Iloilo. The infuriated friars could not prove that Lopez Jaena was the author, thus he became off the hook, so to speak, temporarily.

The son of Jaro refused to testify that certain prisoners died of natural causes when it was obvious that they had died at the hands of the mayor of Pototan town, thus he was pilloried.

 

-o0o-

 

The Ilonggo hero continued to agitate for justice. When he received threats on his life, he sailed to Spain in 1879, where he pursued the Propaganda Movement.

In the land of our colonizers, Lopez Janea became a leading writer, propagandist, and speaker for reform of the homeland.

He finally pursued his medical studies at the University of Valencia but did not finish, thus incurring the ire of Rizal.

Lopez Jaena defended why he did not finish his medical studies by saying, “On the shoulders of slaves should not rest a doctor’s cape.”

“The shoulders do not honor the doctor’s cape, but the doctor’s cape honors the shoulders,” Rizal intoned.

The national hero died of tuberculosis in poverty on January 20, 1896, 11 months short of his 40th birthday.

He was buried in an unmarked grave at the Cementerio del Sub-Oeste of Barcelona the following day.

Marcelo H. del Pilar’s death followed on July 4. Rizal was killed on December 30 by firing squad in Bagumbayan.

Their deaths ended the great triumvirate of Filipino propagandists, but their works contributed in the liberation of their compatriots from the Spanish colony.

Lopez Jaena’s remains were never brought back to the Philippines, according to historians.

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

Free kick, free throw, lucky punch

 

“Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser.”

— Vince Lombardi

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT’S always hard to predict the outcome of any sports match especially if the rivalry is intense and both sides aren’t pushovers.

So many factors and circumstances can interfere and instantly change the entire picture in a dramatic fashion. 

What we normally expect doesn’t occur; sometimes it’s the total opposite of what everyone expects that happens.

A basketball match can be decided by a free throw or three-point shot in the dying seconds. A brawl in the ring can be won by a lucky punch.

A come-from-behind rally happens all the time and even the best team or individual athlete will always experience a Waterloo in the most painful moment.

In soccer, free kicks or penalty shootouts almost always abruptly end all doubts and arguments even if one team was losing during the entire match.

The France versus Argentina FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 championship duel at Lusail Stadium on December 18 won’t be an exemption. 

For sure there will be plenty of surprises, shockers, and heartaches.

France is looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Brazil accomplished the feat in 1958 and 1962 and reached the final despite injuries to some of their top players, including Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante.

 

-o0o-

 

Argentina star and one of those admired by Pinoy fans, Lionel Messi, is one of the greatest players in soccer history and has won just about every award and trophy in the world–except for the World Cup. 

This will be Messi's fifth appearance in the tournament—likely his last —and helped his country reach the final in 2014, losing to Germany in extra time.

Argentina is a two-time champion, winning in 1978 as the host nation and 1986 in Mexico. This is the country's sixth overall appearance in the final, previously reaching the championship game in 1930, 1978, 1986, 1990 and 2014.

France, the defending champion, also won the World Cup as the host in 1998. This is the fourth appearance in the final for France, which lost to Italy in penalty kicks in 2006.

Again, we don’t pretend to be good in predictions; it will be anybody’s ballgame since both teams are really among those fancied to rule and reach the last four after the grueling elimination rounds.

Good luck to all the fans.

 

-o0o-

 

LET'S EAT FISH: In a recent Swedish study of nearly 5,000 boys ages 15 to 18, those who ate fish frequently scored higher on intelligence tests. How much higher? Eating fish once a week was enough to boost scores by an average of 6 percent. Eating fish more than that resulted in nearly an 11 percent increase. Dr. Maria Aberg recommends fatty fish, like salmon, 2 to 3 times weekly.

HOW TO FIGHT TOO MUCH TEXTING: 1. Establish text-free zone. Kids often open up at the dinner table and in the car, so be sure to protect those precious places. Agree that texting is not allowed during mealtime or on drives to and from school and activities. 2. Let phones rest at night. 3. Be a role model.

HER NOSE AND HIS NOSE: Men may hope their cologne will mask underarm odor, but women aren't fooled, research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia found. While 6 of 32 scents tested disguised the smell of male BO from other men, none of the fragrances worked for women. To the showers, guys! (And don't forget the deodorant.)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expect more tears in semis

 

“I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He used to say, 'Listen. God gave to you the gift to play football. This is your gift from God. If you take care of your health, if you are in good shape all the time, with your gift from God no one will stop you, but you must be prepared.'”

—Pele

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF gallons of tears flooded during the quarterfinals, expect them to double when the four remaining teams—Argentina, Croatia, France, Morocco—clash in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 semifinals on December 13 (Argentina vs Croatia) and 14 (France vs Morocco).

First to cry and was captured “live” on Fox channel were actually the FIFA celebrities, or the top soccer players in the world playing for their respective countries that were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Second were their teammates and the fans both cheering in the Doha stadium and those watching back home. 

They were tears of frustration. For the winning teams and their fans, those were tears of joy, of course.

Seeing thirty-year-old Neymar da Silva Santos Junior or Neymar, Brazil’s top goalscorer, cry after his team was blasted to smithereens by Croatia in the penalties, 4-2, on December 9 evoked memories of the 1961 romantic drama film, Goodbye Again, where Philip (played by Anthony Perkins), 25, cried like a child after after he was discarded by Paula Tessier (played by Ingrid Bergman), 40, who wanted to end their illicit affair.

Those who saw the Brazil-Croatia quarterfinals seesaw match will understand Neymar’s heartaches. He was not given the chance by the coaching staff to kick the ball in the penalty shootout. Two of his teammates failed to deliver the goal in the match’s heartbreaking episode, thus they succumbed to Croatia, 4-2.

 

-o0o-

 

Also on December 10, the world’s highest paid soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, was caught sobbing like a kid on his way to the dressing room after Morocco eliminated Portugal, 1-0, in another quarterfinals shocker.

Seeing Ronaldo cry reminded us of the 1962 psychological drama film, Lolita, where Prof. Hum Humbert (played by James Mason) sobbed like a child when he learned that the object of his sexual desire, the young adolescent girl, Lolita (played by Sue Lyon), got married and refused to prolong their sexual relationship.

Both Neymar and Ronaldo weren’t prepared to see their teams eliminated before the final, especially Brazil which was fancied to win this year’s World Cup. 

If their teams went on to play in the semifinal and in eventually in the final, this would have helped boost their careers as they, too, were chasing history and eclipsing soccer records. Their chase for history became short-lived.

Portugal came in favored to win and dominated possession the entire game. But Morocco once again found a way to win at this World Cup in Qatar.

The game's only goal came just before halftime in the 42nd minute when Morocco's Yahya Attiat-Allah lofted a ball in front of the Portugal goal and Youssef En-Nesyri, the first Moroccan player to score at two world cups, soared high and headed it down past the keeper. 

Morocco is the first Arab country to go this deep into a World Cup and, now, the first African country to reach the semifinals of a World Cup. Across Doha - and the Arab world - fans have turned out in force to cheer for their Cinderella team.

 

-o0o-

 

IN a statement issued December 9, the US Department of Treasury said: “For more than a decade, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuse, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse.”

Another warning for controversial preacher Apollo Quiboloy that “the end is near.”

The United States’ Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on Quiboloy over what it called “serious human rights abuse” in connection with allegations that he raped and physically abused members of his religious group.

Marking the International Human Rights Day and Anti-Corruption Day, the US Treasury designated Quiboloy pursuant to Executive Order No. 13818 which freezes US-based assets of people “responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse” among other reasons.

The executive order also blocks the entry of those designated into the US and prohibits donations for their benefit.

The US Treasury said Quiboloy “exploited his role” in his religious group—The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name—to subject his members to rape and other physical abuse and described these as “sacrifices required by the Bible and by God” for their salvation.

For those who doubt the US Government’s capacity to finally nail this abusive pastor, it’s only a matter of time. Be patient and watch out.

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

    

 

The day our FIFA dreams died

“Nobody wants to be associated with failing to qualify for the World Cup finals. I cannot imagine the shame of it.”

—Rio Ferdinand

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

AS Asians, we blessed the day we had two FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round 16 knockout stage qualifiers: South Korea and Japan. Long shot. Big shot.

It’s not only a shocker; it’s magic and beyond imagination in a European-controlled global soccer scrimmage. 

Come to think of it. Europe controls both the soccer politics and FIFA World Cup. Yet, there we are Asians (South Korea and Japan) proudly strutting around like peacocks in the knockout stage. 

It was something we celebrated for one fleeting moment; Filipinos, unable to qualify for the World Cup themselves, found South Korea and Japan to be worthy representatives in the critical stage as soccer superpowers Argentina, France, Switzerland, Brazil, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal made their presence felt.

Asians were no longer pushovers in the game that produced great booters in the calibers of Diego "El Pibe de Oro" (The Golden Boy) Maradona and Pele, known as “The Greatest” (move aside Muhammad Ali).

We also have Daichi Kamada, Takumi Minamino, and Junya Ito of Japan; Son Heung-min, Jung Woo-young, and Cho Gue-sung of South Korea. 

But who cares? They’re not as popular as Crisanto Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luka Modric, and Casimero, to name only a few.

But the day we proudly saw the South Korean and Japanese flags fly high and heard their national anthems play at the Al Janoub Stadium and Stadium 974, respectively, on December 5 (Monday) was the day our FIFA dreams perished after both teams were eliminated.

But it was the day that will forever be etched in the memory.

Croatia dashed to pieces Japan’s amazing Cinderella-like ascension to the top in a penalty kick shootout, 3-1, after a 1-1 tie.

 

-o0o-

 

“Farewell Samurai Blue,” screamed one news headline hours after the historic match.  

“Japan have enriched the World Cup with stunning comebacks against old champions, indefatigable spirit and a passionate desire to upset the football hierarchy, but the formidable weight of history proved too great in Qatar. Their own, and Croatia’s.”

“History repeated itself in this last‑16 tie as Croatia prevailed in a penalty shootout after extra time,” narrated UK-based The Guardian. “As they do. Six of their past seven knockout games at major tournaments have lasted 120 minutes, with the exception of defeat against France in the 2018 World Cup final, and the smallest country left in the competition are defying the odds yet again. Japan exited agonizingly short of a first ever quarter-final appearance. As they do.”

Four times Japan have reached the last 16 and four times they have tasted defeat, twice on penalties. 

Hajime Moriyasu’s team were showered with praise after defeating Germany and Spain to top a difficult group but, facing their own fans and a chance to break new ground in the shootout, they froze.

 

-o0o-

 

With a sensational display of supremacy of the sport it dearly loves, 

Brazil delivered a formidable message to their many World Cup rivals with a sensational beating of South Korea in the match that followed Japan’s elimination.

Brazil booked a spot in the quarterfinals against Croatia. It was as if the parade to the next stage had been set up for Brazil and Croatia.

Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta all scored first-half goals, with Paik Seung-ho pulling one back for a beleaguered South Korea late on.

The Athletic observed that ffter their victory, Brazil’s players carried a banner bearing Pele’s name onto the pitch in support of the 82-year-old football icon, who remains in hospital in Sao Paulo.

After the match, Alisson spoke to Fox about sending well wishes to Pele: "Everybody knows that Pele is not doing well, his health. He means so much for us Brazilians, he means so much for football.

"A small message from our team to him that we are praying for him, for him to get better, that we are together with him, that he's not alone. You'll never walk alone. He will not walk alone at this hard moment, his family will not walk alone.

"We are with them even if we are far away. So if we can fight here at the World Cup and win games for him and win the competition for him, we will do that."

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

 

A warning to all Roderick Paulates

 

“I can't handle dishonesty; I like integrity in people and for me, that's very important in a man.”

—Shamita Shetty

  

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE act by dishonest public officials in the Philippines of hiring “ghost” employees and stealing their salaries is actually an old practice and, in fact, has been one of their chief sources of “extra income.”

If these corrupt public officials don’t have access to public works projects where kickbacks and grease money are easy and quick, there are many ways to skin a cat, so to speak.

Pocketing the salaries intended for non-existing (that’s why they’re called “ghosts”) employees has become a lucrative racket for these good-for-nothing public officials.

Governors, mayors, and members of the local legislature who abuse their authority can make instant money from this monkey business.

This flagrant act of dishonesty has been rampant in the LGUs (local government units) where job order/contract of service is allowed.

This controversy was again recently brought up in public because the person involved and had been convicted, Roderick Paulate, was a showbiz celebrity who used to serve as elected councilor in Quezon City.

Some of the Roderick Paulates in local and national government—those doing the same modus operandi for many years now—may be shaking in their pajamas now that their “role model” has been sentenced to spend a very long period of time in the calaboose.  

 

-o0o-

 

There were lesser-known thieves from lesser-known LGUs whose shenanigans and conviction by the Sandiganbayan were never reported in media. 

In other words, Paulate’s predicament was neither exceptional nor the first case.

But it was Paulate’s rapaciousness that sank him in the deep mud.

After his election win in 2010 as Quezon City District 2 councilor, the comedian-politician was removed from office following the discovery of his alleged hiring of ghost employees from July to November of the same year.

The Office of the Ombudsman officially charged the popular comedian in 2018, claiming he falsified a Job Order/Contract of Service, including the signatures of fictitious contractors to oblige the city government to allocate funds for their salaries.

Paulate was sentenced to a total of between 10 and a half years to 62 years of imprisonment—broken down, the graft offense was six to eight years while each falsification offense (eight for public documents, one by public officer) accounts for six months to six years.

He was ordered to a pay a P10,000 fine for each count of the falsification offense, a total of P90,000, and is perpetually disqualified from public office.

Now that a big fish in the “ghost” employees brouhaha has been neutralized in the proper court of justice, we expect more Roderick Paulates to fall and join their ilk in jail. It’s only a matter of time. 

 

-o0o-

 

Some unbelieving fans received the 3-1 defeat of the United States to The Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 knockout match on December 3 with a grain of salt.

For some of them, it’s a big and shocking news. No, it’s not. It was meant to be. 

We have friends who sharply reacted after watching the game “live” on cable like the Golden State Warriors were beaten by a basketball team from Papua New Guinea, or like ATP No. 2 Rafael Nadal was upset by 144^th ranked Borna Gojo in the Wimbledon.

Our reaction was, “yes, it was expected.” The Dutch booters were really expected to shut the door on the Americans—in World Cup. This is soccer, not basketball. The US men soccer team has never won the World Cup and was never there in the last top eight.

Although they, too, never won the World Cup but the Dutch hold the record for playing the most World Cup finals. 

They finished second in the 1974, 1978 and 2010 World Cups, losing to West Germany, Argentina and Spain respectively. In 1988, they won the UEFA European Championship, their only title since participating in 1976.

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