“When people are laughing, they're generally not killing one another.”
--Alan Alda
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If it is true that those who wanted Iloilo City PO1 Dorben Acap dead were his own superiors, then he really has reason to panic and “feel helpless” as reported.
There is a popular saying in the underworld that if your bosses are your own “enemies” you can’t be rescued even by the ghosts in heaven.
Acap is reportedly under the watch list of those suspected to be engaged in illegal drugs in Western Visayas.
He denied it and swore he is not a rogue cop.
Acap has been talking to the media and even threatened to “tell everything” once he has fully recovered.
In a mob world, if the victim’s superiors ordered the hit and he survived, they usually consider the target as a “dead man talking” (Not to be confused with "dead man walking").
-o0o-
Targets of assassination by a “big organization” (whatever it is) who survived usually are mowed down in the second or third attempt.
The harassment and assault, which have the “imprimatur” from “above”, will never stop.
This can be attested in the films made about mafia or big syndicates that exterminate their own men who either have rat against the group or have become “too big for their britches.”
Let’s hope this won’t happen to Acap especially if he is innocent and is actually a dedicated and honest police officer who leads a life as a role model to his children.
Acap is always presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
He could be a victim of mistaken identity or intrigues.
If Acap is really “notorious” whatever that means, he should be given his day in court and not subjected to gossip and summary execution.
-o0o-
There was no evidence, however, that Philippine National Police (PNP) bigwigs in Western Visayas were behind the failed attempt to finish off Acap, who survived an ambush staged by motorcycle-riding gunmen while driving his car in Arevalo district June 26 afternoon.
It was not immediately established that the foiled attempt to kill Acap had something to do with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order to kill all drug traffickers, including village officials and “narco cops.”
Acap, however, insisted he was able to positively identify PO2 Melvin Mocorro as one of the three gunmen who was hit when he fired back.
Moccoro was placed under hospital arrest by Senior Insp. Mary Grace Borio, Arevalo police station chief, while confined for gunshot wounds at the Iloilo Mission Hospital in Jaro district, while Acap, assigned at Camp Martin Delgado Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, was treated at The Medical City in Molo district.
Both policemen will survive.
-o0o-
It’s Russia versus Croatia and Uruguay versus France in the first waves of quarterfinals.
By the time this article comes out, we shall know the results of the remaining Round of 16 matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
These matches are: Belgium versus Japan; Brazil versus Mexico; Sweden versus Switzerland; and Colombia versus England.
This year’s World Cup has been touted as “one of the best” if not the best because of the series of upsets and surprises, not to mention the quality of performances executed by both the highly touted and not-so-great soccer players.
We are near the semifinals and the finals and the world is going crazy.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Alex P. Vidal Quotes (Advice, Strength)
If your strength is small, don't carry heavy burdens. If your words are worthless, don't give advice.
-- CHINESE PROVERB :
He who gives unworthy and unsuitable advice is like a blind leading another blind to the abyss. He who chews more than what he can swallow is like an overloaded train travelling on a railroad made of marshmallow.
-- ALEX P. VIDAL
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Is ‘Bugok’ mad at Gonzales pa and son beyond politics?
“I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.”
--Booker T. Washington
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Does the bad blood between former mayor Vicente “Bugok” Ramirez of Lambunao, Iloilo and the Gonzales father and son--former mayor Reynor and incumbent mayor Jayson--transcend beyond politics?
The question surfaced because hardly had the disqualification case 74-year-old Ramirez filed against Mayor Jayson Gonzales simmered down (the mayor has appealed the decision of the Commission on Elections in February this year which disqualified him for lack of residency), Ramirez came out swinging anew with another hatchet.
He wanted the Office of the Ombudsman to throw the books at the Gonzaleses for "unliquidated" cash advances, the latest of which was in 2016 totaling P8.983 million in a complaint he filed on June 26, 2018.
Ramirez had also filed a similar complaint against Mayor Jason’s dad in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, according to reports.
Ramirez’s problem is that no matter how he wanted to paint the Gonzaleses as bad guys, majority of the people in Lambunao believe otherwise.
I have yet to meet a Lambunao resident who will say (even in strict confidentiality) that Mayor Jason Gonzales is corrupt and inept.
-o0o-
We have nothing against Ramirez’s latest fusillade against Mayor Gonzales, but some observers, especially the people of Lambunao, might suspect he is “politicking” since all the cases that were thrown against the Gonzaleses father and son, so far, came only from one person: Bugok Ramirez.
Although there is no law that prohibits the likes of Ramirez from peppering certain public officials with Ombudsman cases, the fact that Bugok Ramirez has been identified as the Gonzaleses’ veritable political “whipping boy” in Lambunao makes the entire brouhaha look like a charade.
If political enemies of the Gonzaleses think they have the “smoking gun” and want the people to believe them lock, stock, and barrel, they shouldn’t focus on Ramirez as the lone “gunner” when emptying their bullets.
To make their cases more sound and credible, they should let other personalities “who can go to court with clean hands” file them, not the recycled, overused and tainted Ramirez.
--Booker T. Washington
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Does the bad blood between former mayor Vicente “Bugok” Ramirez of Lambunao, Iloilo and the Gonzales father and son--former mayor Reynor and incumbent mayor Jayson--transcend beyond politics?
The question surfaced because hardly had the disqualification case 74-year-old Ramirez filed against Mayor Jayson Gonzales simmered down (the mayor has appealed the decision of the Commission on Elections in February this year which disqualified him for lack of residency), Ramirez came out swinging anew with another hatchet.
He wanted the Office of the Ombudsman to throw the books at the Gonzaleses for "unliquidated" cash advances, the latest of which was in 2016 totaling P8.983 million in a complaint he filed on June 26, 2018.
Ramirez had also filed a similar complaint against Mayor Jason’s dad in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, according to reports.
Ramirez’s problem is that no matter how he wanted to paint the Gonzaleses as bad guys, majority of the people in Lambunao believe otherwise.
I have yet to meet a Lambunao resident who will say (even in strict confidentiality) that Mayor Jason Gonzales is corrupt and inept.
-o0o-
We have nothing against Ramirez’s latest fusillade against Mayor Gonzales, but some observers, especially the people of Lambunao, might suspect he is “politicking” since all the cases that were thrown against the Gonzaleses father and son, so far, came only from one person: Bugok Ramirez.
Although there is no law that prohibits the likes of Ramirez from peppering certain public officials with Ombudsman cases, the fact that Bugok Ramirez has been identified as the Gonzaleses’ veritable political “whipping boy” in Lambunao makes the entire brouhaha look like a charade.
If political enemies of the Gonzaleses think they have the “smoking gun” and want the people to believe them lock, stock, and barrel, they shouldn’t focus on Ramirez as the lone “gunner” when emptying their bullets.
To make their cases more sound and credible, they should let other personalities “who can go to court with clean hands” file them, not the recycled, overused and tainted Ramirez.
-o0o-
Ramirez wanted the younger Gonzales criminally and administratively charged respectively for alleged violation of Article 218 and Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code and for dishonesty, gross misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and grave abuse of authority.
Also included in Ramirez’s charge sheets were the town’s municipal accountant; municipal treasurer; individual officials and/or employees granted with the unliquidated cash advance; signatory to the obligation request (ObR); and other public officials and employees who signed the disbursement vouchers and other supporting documents of the subject transactions.
Mayor Jason Gonzales was prepared to face Ramirez’s accusations, according to some reports.
-o0o-
Like many Ilonggo soccer fans, we will continue to follow the nerve-tingling 2018 FIFA World Cup matches until the semifinals and the finals.
These are the remaining matches entering the round of 16 as of this writing: Brazil versus Mexico; Spain versus Russia; Croatia versus Denmark; Colombia versus England; Sweden versus Switzerland; Japan versus Belgium.
All matches are getting exciting and thrilling now that Argentina and Germany have been given the doors.
My eyes are always on Croatia, Spain, Belgium.
I hope to see one of the three in the finals.
Ramirez wanted the younger Gonzales criminally and administratively charged respectively for alleged violation of Article 218 and Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code and for dishonesty, gross misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and grave abuse of authority.
Also included in Ramirez’s charge sheets were the town’s municipal accountant; municipal treasurer; individual officials and/or employees granted with the unliquidated cash advance; signatory to the obligation request (ObR); and other public officials and employees who signed the disbursement vouchers and other supporting documents of the subject transactions.
Mayor Jason Gonzales was prepared to face Ramirez’s accusations, according to some reports.
-o0o-
Like many Ilonggo soccer fans, we will continue to follow the nerve-tingling 2018 FIFA World Cup matches until the semifinals and the finals.
These are the remaining matches entering the round of 16 as of this writing: Brazil versus Mexico; Spain versus Russia; Croatia versus Denmark; Colombia versus England; Sweden versus Switzerland; Japan versus Belgium.
All matches are getting exciting and thrilling now that Argentina and Germany have been given the doors.
My eyes are always on Croatia, Spain, Belgium.
I hope to see one of the three in the finals.
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP: Uruguay ousts Portugal and Ronaldo
A brace from Edinson Cavani saw Uruguay edge out Portugal 2-1 on Saturday at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi to secure a quarter-final place at the 2018 World Cup.
Cavani applied a fine finish to Rodrigo Bentancur's pass in the second half to seal the win. He had earlier linked up expertly with Luis Suarez to head La Celeste in front after seven minutes, only for Pepe to head home a corner after the break to level proceedings.
Uruguay will be sweating on Cavani's fitness for the next round after he left the match midway through the second half with an injury, though.
Even before the tournament began, Suarez and Cavani stood out as one of the World Cup's deadliest duos; they scored a combined 71 goals last season for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.
CHEMISTRY
What makes them even more effective for Uruguay is their chemistry, which they showcased by linking up superbly for Cavani to hand their side the lead just seven minutes in.
Suarez and Cavani have both found the net in three consecutive World Cups, and they have five goals between them here in Russia.
After Cavani limped out of the match in the 73rd minute—having been helped from the field by Cristiano Ronaldo—all eyes will be on his fitness for the quarter-final against France.
Suarez is still a threat on his own, but the understanding up front between he and Cavani makes a world of difference to Uruguay in the final third.
It's fair to say Ronaldo did not have his best game on Saturday. Against Uruguay's organisation and tenacity, the forward cut a frustrated figure, per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan.
There was little to no improvement in the second half, in which he also picked up a yellow card that would have seen him suspended for the next round.
His missed penalty against Iran now looks even more costly, as it would have set up a last-16 tie with Russia instead of Uruguay.
The Selecao talisman will be two months shy of his 38th birthday come the next World Cup, so this may be his last appearance at one, but his legacy for Portugal is already secured.
HAT-TRICK
His hat-trick against Spain and decisive goal against Morocco played a key role in their progression to the knockout phase, and the strikes also left him on 85 goals for Portugal, making him the second-highest international goalscorer of all time.
Along with his indisputable record, he also helped the Selecao win their first major international trophy at UEFA Euro 2016. Despite suffering an injury early on in the final, Ronaldo remained on the sidelines alongside manager Fernando Santos to motivate the team.
His failure to take Portugal further at the World Cup will hurt, but he's had a significant impact on their fortunes in his career.
Mooted as dark horses before the tournament began, Uruguay did little to live up to that tag as they scraped through their first two matches against Egypt and Saudi Arabia, respectively, with unconvincing 1-0 wins.
However, after dispatching hosts Russia 3-0 in the final group game to become one of just three sides to take a maximum nine points and their resolute performance here, no one will want to play them.
Quarter-final opponents France scored some superb goals in their 4-3 win over Argentina earlier in the day, but Uruguay are capable of going all the way, particularly if they get Cavani back. (Christopher Simpson)
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Senior Supt. Tayaba and Iloilo’s war vs illegal drugs
“Being a good police officer is one of the most difficult, dangerous, idealistic jobs in the world.”
--Thomas Hauser
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- When he was the chief of the Iloilo City Mobile Group (ICMG) in the late 1990s, Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, now Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, was one of the police officials in Western Visayas close to Iloilo reporters, especially the ladies.
Our Sun Star Iloilo reporters, Ednalyn Belonio-Diamante and Ruby Silbubrico, always had good police stories to write each time they interviewed Tayaba.
Tayaba, a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class 1993, endeared himself to the press for being approachable and always available when sought for interview.
The popular police official from Pangasinan had served as the director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 6 before being assigned as the commander of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on January 2017.
-o0o-
As the IPPO chief who led an operation that killed alleged Western Visayas drug lord Richard Prevendido at Landheights Subdivision in Balabago village in Jaro District on September 1, 2017, Tayaba’s name vaulted up as the “conqueror.”
When Prevendido’s sister, Brgy. Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City Brgy. Captain Remia Prevendido-Gregori and her personal assistant, Analee Antapatria, were killed in a family-owned beach resort in San Joaquin, Iloilo on June 24, 2018, Tayaba told reporters the slain village chief was a “high-value target” for her alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Tayaba claimed at least six unidentified armed men in red car assaulted the victims at around 4:30 o’clock in the afternoon.
As of this writing the culprits remained unidentified.
-o0o-
Minutes after the foiled assassination of Police Officer 1 (PO1) Dorben Acap of the PNP Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) in Sitio Pajo in Barangay Dulonan, Arevalo in Iloilo City on June 26, 2018, PO2 Melvin Mocorro, who reportedly worked under Tayaba, was rushed to a hospital with gunshot wounds.
Mocorro was being suspected as one of those who ambushed Acap, who managed to fire back.
Acap has survived and vowed to reveal more details about the botched assassination once doctors clear him.
There was no immediate confirmation from probers about Mocorro’s involvement in the ambush, as of this writing.
We expect Tayaba to be the “man-of-the-hour” in the next several weeks and months when the IPPO and the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) led by Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao step up their campaign against “persons of authority” (including cops, town and barangay officials) involved in illegal drug trafficking.
Tayaba and his team’s remarkable operations against dangerous personalities in illegal drugs trade have gained national attention.
Their blitzkrieg occurred days after President Rodrigo R. Duterte told Philippine councilors in a national convention in Iloilo City he wanted more traffickers of illegal drugs killed, including the “narco cops.”
--Thomas Hauser
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- When he was the chief of the Iloilo City Mobile Group (ICMG) in the late 1990s, Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, now Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, was one of the police officials in Western Visayas close to Iloilo reporters, especially the ladies.
Our Sun Star Iloilo reporters, Ednalyn Belonio-Diamante and Ruby Silbubrico, always had good police stories to write each time they interviewed Tayaba.
Tayaba, a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class 1993, endeared himself to the press for being approachable and always available when sought for interview.
The popular police official from Pangasinan had served as the director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 6 before being assigned as the commander of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on January 2017.
-o0o-
As the IPPO chief who led an operation that killed alleged Western Visayas drug lord Richard Prevendido at Landheights Subdivision in Balabago village in Jaro District on September 1, 2017, Tayaba’s name vaulted up as the “conqueror.”
When Prevendido’s sister, Brgy. Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City Brgy. Captain Remia Prevendido-Gregori and her personal assistant, Analee Antapatria, were killed in a family-owned beach resort in San Joaquin, Iloilo on June 24, 2018, Tayaba told reporters the slain village chief was a “high-value target” for her alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Tayaba claimed at least six unidentified armed men in red car assaulted the victims at around 4:30 o’clock in the afternoon.
As of this writing the culprits remained unidentified.
-o0o-
Minutes after the foiled assassination of Police Officer 1 (PO1) Dorben Acap of the PNP Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) in Sitio Pajo in Barangay Dulonan, Arevalo in Iloilo City on June 26, 2018, PO2 Melvin Mocorro, who reportedly worked under Tayaba, was rushed to a hospital with gunshot wounds.
Mocorro was being suspected as one of those who ambushed Acap, who managed to fire back.
Acap has survived and vowed to reveal more details about the botched assassination once doctors clear him.
There was no immediate confirmation from probers about Mocorro’s involvement in the ambush, as of this writing.
We expect Tayaba to be the “man-of-the-hour” in the next several weeks and months when the IPPO and the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) led by Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao step up their campaign against “persons of authority” (including cops, town and barangay officials) involved in illegal drug trafficking.
Tayaba and his team’s remarkable operations against dangerous personalities in illegal drugs trade have gained national attention.
Their blitzkrieg occurred days after President Rodrigo R. Duterte told Philippine councilors in a national convention in Iloilo City he wanted more traffickers of illegal drugs killed, including the “narco cops.”
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Why can’t they condemn Gregori’s murder?
“It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine, and murder; for the belief of a cruel God makes a cruel man.”
― Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- We have long been in the Age of Reason.
And so it saddened us that authorities have not condemned or are adamant to condemn the cold-blooded murder of Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City Barangay Captain Remia Prevendido Gregori.
Even the Liga ng mga Barangay Iloilo City chapter headed by our friend, Councilor Reyland Hervias, did not immediately release an official statement to express alarm and condemn Gregori’s grisly killing.
We also haven’t heard any angry words from the feuding Rep. Jerry Treñas (PDP-Laban, Iloilo City) and Iloilo City Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III.
Weren’t they once Gregori’s political patrons?
Even the police investigators sounded like a broken musical instrument.
Residents of Brgy. Bakhaw and the entire Western Visayas familiar with Gregori’s case before and after her cruel death have been waiting with bated breath for the words of our leading authorities in the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and City Hall as of this writing.
But all they could hear, so far, were ugly stories about Gregori’s background and alleged involvement in deplorable “activities.”
-o0o-
Instead of denouncing the violent attack on Gregori ( which also killed her personal assistant, Analee Anipatia, and wounded her husband, Bonifacio Gregori Sr., when unidentified gunmen peppered them with bullets while they were inside the family-owned Crystal Beach Resort at Barangay Igcadlum, San Joaquin on June 24, 2018), police blamed the murdered village chief for being “uncooperative” in their investigations on allegations she was engaged in illegal drug trafficking.
Instead of providing the public with fresh and satisfying leads in their initial investigations, all the people could hear were slanderous and unsavory statements that added insult to Gregori’s brutal death.
-o0o-
Even if Gregori was “evil” as what her critics were trying to portray her (although her constituents who recently gave her a fresh mandate will disagree), no one has the right to kill her.
We have laws that would deal with her alleged transgressions.
The Philippines is a country of laws, not of brute force.
It’s a country that adheres to the principles of due process and presumption of an accused’s innocence, not lex taliones or law of the jungle.
The fact that she was a person in authority and a woman to boot made her violent killing more repugnant and reprehensible.
Murder is a murder and must be condemned in a society regardless of the victims’ character and personality.
Victims of crimes should get justice by all means; and authorities are obliged to pull all strings for solution of any crime committed against any member of society.
Justice must be given to the Gregoris and Anipatia.
We don’t agree with the manner she and her assistant were terminated.
― Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- We have long been in the Age of Reason.
And so it saddened us that authorities have not condemned or are adamant to condemn the cold-blooded murder of Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City Barangay Captain Remia Prevendido Gregori.
Even the Liga ng mga Barangay Iloilo City chapter headed by our friend, Councilor Reyland Hervias, did not immediately release an official statement to express alarm and condemn Gregori’s grisly killing.
We also haven’t heard any angry words from the feuding Rep. Jerry Treñas (PDP-Laban, Iloilo City) and Iloilo City Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III.
Weren’t they once Gregori’s political patrons?
Even the police investigators sounded like a broken musical instrument.
Residents of Brgy. Bakhaw and the entire Western Visayas familiar with Gregori’s case before and after her cruel death have been waiting with bated breath for the words of our leading authorities in the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and City Hall as of this writing.
But all they could hear, so far, were ugly stories about Gregori’s background and alleged involvement in deplorable “activities.”
-o0o-
Instead of denouncing the violent attack on Gregori ( which also killed her personal assistant, Analee Anipatia, and wounded her husband, Bonifacio Gregori Sr., when unidentified gunmen peppered them with bullets while they were inside the family-owned Crystal Beach Resort at Barangay Igcadlum, San Joaquin on June 24, 2018), police blamed the murdered village chief for being “uncooperative” in their investigations on allegations she was engaged in illegal drug trafficking.
Instead of providing the public with fresh and satisfying leads in their initial investigations, all the people could hear were slanderous and unsavory statements that added insult to Gregori’s brutal death.
-o0o-
Even if Gregori was “evil” as what her critics were trying to portray her (although her constituents who recently gave her a fresh mandate will disagree), no one has the right to kill her.
We have laws that would deal with her alleged transgressions.
The Philippines is a country of laws, not of brute force.
It’s a country that adheres to the principles of due process and presumption of an accused’s innocence, not lex taliones or law of the jungle.
The fact that she was a person in authority and a woman to boot made her violent killing more repugnant and reprehensible.
Murder is a murder and must be condemned in a society regardless of the victims’ character and personality.
Victims of crimes should get justice by all means; and authorities are obliged to pull all strings for solution of any crime committed against any member of society.
Justice must be given to the Gregoris and Anipatia.
We don’t agree with the manner she and her assistant were terminated.
Speaker Alvarez is a bad influence to Ilonggos
“One of the most deadly causes of destruction of divine destinies is when a leader is failing, but he or she does not know it. Ignorance about your role is a death plot against people's successes.”
― Israelmore Ayivor
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If I were a politician in the Philippines seeking reelection or higher elective position on May 14, 2019, I would avoid national leaders like House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez.
The likes of Alvarez are morally unfit to lead the Filipinos; they are a bad influence and aren’t good role models for the youth.
Alvarez, 60, who is married to Emelita Apostol Alvarez, the current head of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, did not only defend his extramarital affair with one Jennifer Maliwanag Vicencio, he also “justified” it in public as if it’s a badge of honor.
Ilonggos and their leaders may not be perfect and immaculate, but they know the bounds of decency and indecency; they are cultured and educated in the best universities; and they venerate women as symbols of virtue and epitomes of chastity and courtesy.
-o0o-
The representative from Davao del Norte, one of the big bosses of the ruling PDP-Laban party, also slut-shamed detained Sen. Leila de Lima for her romance with her driver during a House hearing in November 2017.
He is the same political leader being adored by traditional politicians in many parts of the Philippines who want to remain in power beyond 2019.
He is the same “Speaker Alvarez” being glorified by power-seekers and applicants for higher government positions owing to his closeness to President Rodrigo R. Duterte (although the president has been asserting he will never tolerate this) and for his lofty position in the PDP-Laban.
Every time he was in Iloilo or in Western Visayas, city and provincial incumbent and aspiring officials were in mad scramble to get his attention; they wanted to woo his blessings to anoint certain candidates for the next elections.
-o0o-
In other words, these Ilonggo politicians are “worshiping” a false political god; they are barking--for “blessings” and campaign moola--at the poisonous and sinful tree.
Ilonggos, who are educated and decent, should reject politicians who glorify Alvarez, et al like they are demigods.
Alvarez and other hackneyed and dirty politicians are not the prototypical answers to the Filipino people’s most fundamental problems.
The Ilonggos, or the Filipinos for that matter, don’t need politicians as bond aides to solve their immediate needs, but leaders with economic and spiritual visions who can truly lead with dignity and inspiration.
We should eschew politicians who are vexatious to the nation’s soul and those with a convoluted sense of machismo and misplaced braggadocio.
― Israelmore Ayivor
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If I were a politician in the Philippines seeking reelection or higher elective position on May 14, 2019, I would avoid national leaders like House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez.
The likes of Alvarez are morally unfit to lead the Filipinos; they are a bad influence and aren’t good role models for the youth.
Alvarez, 60, who is married to Emelita Apostol Alvarez, the current head of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, did not only defend his extramarital affair with one Jennifer Maliwanag Vicencio, he also “justified” it in public as if it’s a badge of honor.
Ilonggos and their leaders may not be perfect and immaculate, but they know the bounds of decency and indecency; they are cultured and educated in the best universities; and they venerate women as symbols of virtue and epitomes of chastity and courtesy.
-o0o-
The representative from Davao del Norte, one of the big bosses of the ruling PDP-Laban party, also slut-shamed detained Sen. Leila de Lima for her romance with her driver during a House hearing in November 2017.
He is the same political leader being adored by traditional politicians in many parts of the Philippines who want to remain in power beyond 2019.
He is the same “Speaker Alvarez” being glorified by power-seekers and applicants for higher government positions owing to his closeness to President Rodrigo R. Duterte (although the president has been asserting he will never tolerate this) and for his lofty position in the PDP-Laban.
Every time he was in Iloilo or in Western Visayas, city and provincial incumbent and aspiring officials were in mad scramble to get his attention; they wanted to woo his blessings to anoint certain candidates for the next elections.
-o0o-
In other words, these Ilonggo politicians are “worshiping” a false political god; they are barking--for “blessings” and campaign moola--at the poisonous and sinful tree.
Ilonggos, who are educated and decent, should reject politicians who glorify Alvarez, et al like they are demigods.
Alvarez and other hackneyed and dirty politicians are not the prototypical answers to the Filipino people’s most fundamental problems.
The Ilonggos, or the Filipinos for that matter, don’t need politicians as bond aides to solve their immediate needs, but leaders with economic and spiritual visions who can truly lead with dignity and inspiration.
We should eschew politicians who are vexatious to the nation’s soul and those with a convoluted sense of machismo and misplaced braggadocio.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)