Category Archives: Columns

THE HEAT is on Speaker Prospero Nograles. And he is sweating because he could not produce 196 signatures to support the resolution authored principally by Representative Luis Villafuerte calling for Charter change (Cha-cha) via a constituent assembly (con-ass). Implicit is the unspoken undertone that the con-ass would eventually install the parliamentary system. Continue reading →

Professor Jerome Bailen and Dr. Benito Molino (Letter to the Editor, April 7) challenge the judicial decisions cited in my March 15 column that the murder of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was a military conspiracy. They insist that “only Rolando Galman (not anyone of the military escorts on the stairway) could have fired, on the tarmac, the shot that killed Ninoy Aquino.” Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines—Today, Easter Sunday, Christians commemorate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. If He did not rise from the cross, our faith would have died with Him. Christmas is merry for it marks our Lord’s human birth into this world. But Easter is glorious for it celebrates His conquest of death, sin and human frailties. In commemoration of this glorious day, let me tell you a story of faith. Continue reading →

Even the most rabid supporters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo concede that Charter change (“Cha-cha”) via the constituent assembly (con-ass) at this time faces formidable obstacles. As I explained last week, these are the (1) numbers question; (2) constitutional issues; (3) time problem; and (4) adverse public opinion. Continue reading →

Despite the many scandals plaguing the administration, I think our people are not outraged enough to jam our streets and plazas a la EDSA People Power 1 and II. Much less are they ready to support military adventures to topple the government. Instead, recent polls show that Filipinos are looking forward to the May 2010 elections as the grand opportunity to change our leaders and to revitalize the nation. However, schemes and plots to alter the Constitution persist. Angry readers ask: Will these plots derail the 2010 presidential election? Continue reading →

LAST Sunday, I lamented that while the 16 soldiers convicted of the murder of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. have all been imprisoned and pardoned, the mastermind of the sordid plot has not been identified, prosecuted and punished. Continue reading →

This question erupted again after the remaining 10 soldiers convicted of, and sentenced to two terms of reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) for, the murder of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and Rolando Galman were pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and released from the New Bilibid Prisons on March 4. Continue reading →

VICE President Noli “Kabayan” De Castro (that’s how he signed his name) wrote to say he agreed fully with my Feb. 15 column that “(p)romos and discounts given to all customers cannot nullify, modify or circumvent the senior citizens law.” He was referring to my opinion that hotel and restaurant outlets that have already reduced their prices via sales or promotional discounts must still grant an additional 20-percent discount for senior citizens. Continue reading →

IT took for me time to understand the media reports that the World Bank barred seven construction firms (three of them Filipino) and one individual (also a Filipino) “from bidding on future World Bank-financed contracts,” due to “collusion.” I had to pore over several articles, watch live TV coverage of congressional inquiries and talk with several WB officials to make sense of what was going on. Continue reading →

LAST February 9, the day after his arrival from Washington, D.C., Foreign Secretary Alberto G. Romulo visited me. He lamented that media had ignored the real purpose of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s recent side trip to the United States. Recall that from the Davos World Forum in Switzerland (and a few other cities), GMA flew to America, instead of returning home as originally planned. He rued that media unfairly pilloried GMA’s alleged “shameless stalking” of US President Barack Obama. Continue reading →