Panay, Negros 'too far' for Abu Sayyaf raid

"This fanaticism is what feeds terrorism. And this is precisely why Muslims must play an active role in opposing hate sermons and incitement to terrorism and extremism in their mosques."
--Otto Schily

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- Panay and Negros islands will always be safe from terroristic attack as long as the country's intelligence network is accurate and effective.
The Abu Sayyaf terrorists who engaged Philippine troops in a bloody gunbattle in Bohol on April 11 were probably also on their way to sneak into other regions to terrorize and kidnap tourists planning to visit the beautiful beaches and resorts in the Visayas during the Holy Week.
But since they were waylaid by government soldiers in Bohol, they could no longer proceed to Cebu and probably in Negros and Panay islands where tens of thousands of foreign and domestic tourists had been staying there enjoying the summer vacation.
There will always be powerful military detachments prepared to foil their invasion.
Based on their number in Bohol, there was no way for these terrorists to even leave Bohol alive if the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) doubled their air, sea, and land reinforcements.
The numerically inferior terrorists would be massacred if they did no retreat and abandon their evil plans in the Visayas.


-o0o-

Although most members of the Iloilo City Council agreed in principle to submit themselves to a drug test as suggested by Councilor Plaridel Nava during their regular session on Monday, not all of them are happy with the idea that they would undergo such "degrading" examination.
"Ka degrading ina para sa amon as members of the legislature. Para lang ina sa mga priso kag applicants sa driver's license," one of them reportedly told his media friends
Nava believed that as elected public officials, they should set as good example by voluntarily submitting themselves to a drug test.
He was worried because Iloilo City had been tagged by no less than President Duterte as "the most shabulized" city in the Philippines and he probably wanted to disabuse the minds of the Doubting Thomases.

-o0o-

It was during my high school years in a Catholic institution in Jaro, Iloilo City in the Philippines where I was able to understand what Holy Week is all about in our Christian Living subject.
Holy Week or "Semana Santa", is the week preceding Easter and the final week of Lent.
It begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.
Holy Week includes Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday) and Good Friday, which, together with Holy Saturday, are known as the Triduum.
In 1969, before the revision of the liturgical calendar, Holy Week was the second week of Passiontide; in the current calendar, Passiontide is synonymous with Holy Week.
Christians commemorate the Passion of Christ, who died on Good Friday in reparation for the sins of mankind, and rose on Easter Sunday to give new life to all who believe.
Thus, while Holy Week is solemn and sorrowful, it also anticipates the joy of Easter through the recognition of God's goodness in sending His Son to die for our salvation.
The Days of Holy Week are Palm Sunday, Spy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday.

Duterte appoints new Iloilo, Negros judges

"I love judges, and I love courts. They are my ideals, that typify on earth what we shall meet hereafter in heaven under a just God."
--William Howard Taft

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- If I were House Speaker Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez, I would refrain from further humiliating detained Senator Leila De Lima. 
In his most recent media conference, the former cabinet official of then President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo lambasted De Lima calling her as the "No. 1 drug lord in the Philippines."
True or not, in our culture we don't kick somebody who is already down. 
Especially a woman.
We never heard the same level of vitriol and angry words from past speakers like Nicanor Yñiguez, Ramon Mitra Jr., Jose De Venecia, Arnulfo Fuentebella, and Feliciano Belmonte Jr. 

.-o0o-

President Duterte has appointed the following judges for the islands of Panay and Negros: 
-Daniel Antonio Gerardo S. Amular (RTC Branch 35, Iloilo City); 
-Oscar Leo S. Billena (RTC Branch 70 Barotac Viejo, Iloilo);
-Jose E. Mauricio E. Gomez (RTC Branch 71 Barotac Viejo, Iloilo);
-Nelita Jesusa Arboleda-Bacaling (RTC Branch 72 Guimbal, Iloilo);
-Gemalyn Faunillo-Tarol (RTC Branch 76, Janiuay, Iloilo);
-Ernesto L. Abijay, Jr. (RTC Branch 10 San Jose, Antique);
-Josefina Fulo-Muego (RTC Branch 13 Culasi, Antique);
-Phoebe A. Gargantiel-Balbin (RTC Branch 45 Bacolod City, Negros Occidental);
-Edwin B. Gomez (RTC Branch 77 Sipalay City, Negros Occidental);
-Gwendolyn I. Jimenea-Tiu (RTC Branch 60 Cadiz City, Negros Occidental);
-Reginald M. Fuentebella (RTC Branch 73 Sagay City, Negros Occidental);
-Mila D. Yap-Camiso (RTC Branch 74 La Carlota City, Negros Occidental);
-Gertrude Belgica Jiro (MTC Dumangas, Iloilo);
-Kathryn Rose A. Hitalia-Baliatan (MTC Miag-ao, Iloilo);
-Meliza Joan Berano Robite (MTCC Branch 2 Iloilo City);
-Larnie Fleur B. Palma-Kim (MTCC Branch 6, Iloilo City);
-Mark Anthony D.R. Polonan (MTCC Branch 8, Iloilo City);
-Rysty Ann C. Espinosa-Borja (MTCC Branch 9, Iloilo City);
-Joan Marie B. Bargas-Betita (3rd MCTC Malinao-Lezo-Numancia, Aklan);
-Maria Fe Macabales-Taal (3rd MCTC Patnongon-Bugasong-Valderrama, Antique);
-Joevy Paclibar Velnzuela (5th MCTC Sigma-Sapian-Jamindan, Capiz);
-Kathleen Gigante Delantar (MTCC Branch 2 Roxas City, Capiz);
-Jeeli Panaguiton Espinosa (2nd MCTC Buenavista-San Lorenzo, Guimaras);
-Bienvenido B. Llanes Jr. (MTC Pontevedra, Negros Occidental);
-Jose Meno C. Ruiz (MTCC Escalante City, Negros Occidental);
-Jose Manuel A. Lopez (MTCC Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental); and
-Maria Concepcion Elumba Rivera (MTCC, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental).

-o0o-

WE can't blame Mayor Alex Centena of Calinog, Iloilo if his presence has been sorely missed in important gatherings like the League of Municipalities. 
Ever since President Duterte mentioned Centena's name as among those allegedly included in narco-politics, the dashing former chair of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) during the Marcos years has reportedly refused to join in various social and political events in Iloilo.
"He has become security conscious," noticed a former broadcaster from Cabatuan, Iloilo, who is familiar with Centena's activities during the halcyon years. 
"The mayor stays in his safe house most of the time and his whereabouts can't be ascertained even by some of his municipal staff in regular days and during weekend."

WEIGHT

He became reclusive and lost weight, the former broadcaster added.
Centena have reportedly cancelled all his out-of-town commitments and refused interviews with reporters who come to Calinog.
Duterte has threatened to kill those involved in trafficking and manufacturing of illegal drugs, including some local government executives. 
More than 7,000 have been killed nationwide since the Duterte administration launched the "Oplan Tokhang" against known drug pushers and users.
Centena has repeatedly denied links to any drug lord, but admitted slain Iloilo City-based drug lord Melvin "Boyet" Odicta Sr. once visited his house where he maintains a mini-zoo.