OPINION PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY March 1 - 15 , 2017
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Rey Fortaleza - Publisher Carlito Pablo - Editorial Consultant Rosette Correa - Senior Editor Jun Cordero - Associate Editor Writers - Crisanta Sampang ; Columnists - Geoff Meggs , Ben Berto , Editha Corrales , Mon Datol , Fr . Jerry Orbos SVD , DeeDee Sytangco , Alan Samuel , Erie Maestro , Sandee M . Ed Malay , Jayne Anastacio , JJAtencio and Willie J . Uy ( Manila Bureau Chief ) Alvin Barrera - Graphics and Layout ; Rolly Fortaleza - Graphics Design / JoelCastro . com - Website ; Julian Fortaleza - Sports Editor ; Photography Editor : Dean Guzman ; Assistant to Photography Editor : David Gabriele Photograhers- Charles De Jesus / Christian Cunanan
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Breaking Point
By Rosette Correa
Oplan Double-Barrel Reloaded is the latest PNP brainchild that brings back Oplan Tokhang , apparently with a different perspective . General Ronald Bato said that this new version of the war against drugs will be less violent , and more open to groups who want to be part of the battle .
From the get go , the name does not offer solace . In language , semantics play a large part in meaning of context , and even without the value of inference , the name Double-Barrel Reloaded does not sound friendly at all . It is very literal , and very violent . To add “ reloaded ” to it does not tell us it will be “ less violent ” - in fact , it tells us that the operation would be the same , if not , more aggressive and ferocious . Like a Hollywood movie , it is intensely threatening and intemperate , as it promises in its trailer . Nothing , not even a new name , could make it less unbridled and uncontrollable .
To lessen the impact of the “ new ” program , the PNP sought the pastors and Catholic clergy to espouse the program , saying that their involvement in the program will be valuable to its success .
Bulong Pulungan
By Deedee Siytangco
Reprinted from Manila Bulletin
First of all , the Catholic Church has already condemned the extra-judicial killings of about 8,000 socalled drug users as unjust , and therefore , unacceptable as a means to solving the problem . The PNP even mocked the pastoral letter read in all Catholic Churches in February , saying that the Church had no idea how bad the situation is , and so it had no right to speak of it in an ill-mannered way . The Church spoke about Oplan Tokhang for what it truly is - a shooting spree to some police scalawags and a useless approach to ending drug addiction in the Philippines , as well as an unjust means to diminish the population of the country . Out of the 8,000 or so dead in the program , a number of them were innocent bystanders , children and men and women their local police simply did not like , or with whom they had bad blood . The killing of Jee Ick-Joo while inside Camp Crame proves how a corrupt police force will never succeed in its undertakings because of the rotten roots in its ranks . In reality , the killing of the innocents have been ongoing for many decades - it was
A Rose by Any Other Name
just formalized by giving it a title , and giving the police the go-signal from the President himself to eliminate as many “ drug users ” as possible . Unfortunately , not everyone was born yesterday , no matter what Duterte and Dela Rosa think .
Second , dela Rosa and Senator Alan Cayetano say that drug abuse is on the rise again after Oplan Tokhang was suspended , and the latter begged the Senate to revive it . They claimed that when the killing stopped , the drug users took courage once more and peddled their wares once again . Anyone who hears this reasoning can easily scoff at the blindness of the statements . Obviously , the reason why the drug peddling has not ceased is not because they stopped killing the users , it is because they haven ’ t nabbed the dealers and the drug lords , who are in obvious cahoots with the current government . Plain and simple , and no need for a college diploma to conclude this line of reasoning . Even the Integrated Bar of the Philippines has declared that there neither seems to be a mention of the cases of these 8,000 dead men ,
women and children , nor their resolution . It is only a few high profile cases that are in the spotlight , and ones that the government and the lawmakers can manipulate . Dela Rosa and Cayetano need to take logic classes to aid them in analyzing the ills of the system , or they simply need to take their blinders off .
Go the straight path
They are making a mockery of logic , and Aristotle must be turning in his grave . Romeo in Shakespeare ’ s play , said that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet . In the case of Oplan Double-Barrel Reloaded , a stink , by any other name , would smell as bad .
Angel Thoughts
“ Never ignore a person who loves you , cares for you , and misses you , because one day , you might wake up and realize you lost the moon while counting the stars .”— Unified Soul *** This week of my birthday was a hectic blur of loving greetings from friends and family . And two blessed days of prayers and bonding with my Mission Angels family and our spiritual mentor , Fr . Jerry Orbos , SVD in Bella Vista .
We , Ditas Lerma and her son Francis , Lalin Basilio , Nits and Dik Trofeo , Nene
Bartolome went up for a miniretreat with Fr . Jerry . We had a family rosary , reflections , and a mass . The next day Chito Basilio joined us and Fr . Jerry again celebrated Ash Wednesday mass and heard our confessions .
We also planned our traditional Family Recollection at the Meralco Theater on Palm Sunday , April 9 , from 8 a . m . to 1 p . m . The theme will be “ That All May be One ” and will have inspirational music from the Oasis of Love , Cocoy Laurel and Friends , The Angelos third Gen led by founder George Tagle , ( it ’ s a classic pop group and Aliw
Hall of Famer ) the SVD choir , sharers , and a special guest homilist priest . Books by Fr . Jerry and Fr . Fernando Suarez will be sold for the missions at the entrance before and after the recollection . Mass will be offered at 11 a . m . And PTV- 4 will broadcast the entire recollection live starting at 9 a . m . Entrance is free . Gates open at 7 p . m . And there will be confessions before the recollection .
Fr . Jerry also took us down Ligaya Drive to Talisay to Palm Ridge to see the spot where he envisions a spiritual sanctuary for priests and lay people can rise on a donated
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property . He blessed the slope where the sanctuary will rise and we all pray his vision will be realized .
“ If the Lord wills it , it will materialize .” Fr . Jerry said to us . * * * PAGCOR ’ s new chairman Andrea “ Didi ” Domingo does not gamble but she now knows the ins and outs of the complex gaming industry . After receiving the appointment from President Duterte ( totally unexpected , Didi assured us ) to head the third biggest revenue-generating agency of government , she researched , read books , asked questions , and researched some more into the intricacies of how PAGCOR operates and earns money for government .
Her marching order was simple and direct —“ Follow the law .” The mandate for the former Pampanga congresswoman , head of the Public Estates Authority and Bureau of Immigration was not surprising , she noted , knowing of Duterte ’ s aversion to corruption . Having been out of government for a long time ( her personal integrity intact ), she had to get into the mindset of being a public servant again .
When she comes home CONT NEXT PAGE