17 MARCH 2019

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COMMENTARY 4 Sunday, 17 March 2019 Daily Tribune Daily Tribune WITHOUT FEAR • WITHOUT FAVOR “No amount of black propaganda can erase the tangible improvements enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of families liberated from want during her term. Ninez Cacho-Olivares Crispin G. Martinez Chito Lozada Dinah Ventura Aldrin Cardona John Henry Dodson Jun Vallecera Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon Larry Payawal Komfie Manalo Patricia Ramos Board Chair Willie Fernandez Publisher and President Founding Chair Executive Editor Managing Editor Associate Editors Business Editor Central Desk Special Reports Straight F student Former President Noynoy Aquino had the habit of giving himself a pat on his back during his lackluster term and his favorite goat then was his predecessor former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who, he claimed, was responsible for a “lost decade of lies, cheating and plunder.” After bashing Mrs. Arroyo in most of his speeches, he would then enumerate his claimed achievements which are mostly figments of his imagination. History, the cold-hearted judge, however, reckoned those lost years for Filipinos under Noynoy’s term. In an essay which would form part of her memoirs, Mrs. Arroyo expressed pride for the state of the economy that he passed on to Noynoy who then claimed credit for having initiated the steady growth rates. Arroyo said she was able to turn over to Noynoy a strong economy with a 7.63 percent expansion rate in 2010 which Noynoy failed to equal. Then under detention, Mrs. Arroyo lectured his former economics student at the Ateneo through her “It’s the economy, student!” composition. Noynoy, as his credit grabbing practice, assumed the 2010 growth rate should be ticked to his administration. It was largely the source of his claimed six percent average growth rate during his lackluster term. In reality, the record growth in 2010 was the culmination of 38 quarters of uninterrupted economic expansion under Arroyo despite the then escalating global oil and food prices, two world recessions, Central and West Asian wars, mega-storms and virulent global epidemics. She said in her essay “It’s the economy, student!” directed at Noynoy, that no amount of black propaganda can erase the tangible improvements enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of families liberated from want during her term. Contrast that to the student’s claim that all the gains in the economy and the society were the result of his and the Liberal Party’s (LP) delusional rhetoric of a “Daang Matuwid” (straight path). Arroyo said in his piece that Noynoy “had simply not replaced my legacy with new ideas and actions of his own.” In her essay, Arroyo cited the “vacuum of leadership, vision, energy and execution in managing our economic affairs” under Noynoy. She said the gains achieved by previous administrations, including hers, were “squandered in an obsessive pursuit of political warfare meant to blacken the past and conceal the dark corners of the present dispensation.” That observation remains very relevant with the yellow Otso Diretso wannabes who thrive on potshots against President Rody Duterte which are efforts that do nothing but to pull them down the senatorial surveys. “Rather than building on our nation’s “Arroyo said she was able to turn over to Noynoy a strong economy with a 7.63 percent expansion rate in 2010 which Noynoy failed to equal. achievements, this regime has extolled itself as the sole harbinger of all that is good,” Arroyo said of Noynoy. She then criticized the use of black propaganda and character assassination as tools of the trade under his successor. “The operative word in all of this is ‘politics,’ too much politics,” she said. On the failure of Noynoy to solve the poverty problem, Arroyo has one valid observation then. “If there is no corruption, there is no poverty — this is a proposition that also tells us that the undeniable persistence of poverty therefore means the continuation of corruption” under Noynoy’s term, she said. Arroyo added “indeed, it’s so easy to claim achievements that have already been accomplished by others and take credit for what is there when the one who did the work has gone. Just make sure she is forgotten, or, if remembered, vilified.” As a teacher, she imparted that “good management begins with planning ahead, not pointing fingers and blaming others after the fact. It means spelling out your vision quickly and clearly so your team grasps their mission at once and immediately starts to execute it.” She said during those yellow days under Noynoy there was “absolutely no fear in the administration when they’re running after me or my allies. But there is definitely a lot of favor involved when they excuse — and even defends — their friends even from misdeeds committed in full view of the public.” In a nutshell the teacher castigated the student for cheating his way through six years of the presidency. BALLARAT, Australia — Last Sunday was the third Songkran “A number I have been invited to. I am so of people glad I was finally able to find time would to attend this year. Songkran is strike a Thailand’s annual water festival conversation which takes place over three days with me in during the traditional Thai New Year. During Songkran, many Thai. Thais travel to their hometowns for celebrations and family reunions. It is a national holiday there, the better to go on temple visits, merit-making and annual house cleaning (bangkok.com). For Buddhist Thais, it is a time to give alms and make merit or do good deeds. At last week’s celebration “I daresay the Moro problem could not have deteriorated, if two members of Class’67 are still alive. Songkran Festival Pardon my hubris, but UP Law Class of 1967 is a class like no other. It was a social melting pot where students of diverse beginning, creed, political persuasion, social and cultural upbringing were SOUTHERN VOICES assimilated by fate Macabangkit B. Lanto sharing common goal — better life through high education. Individually, they succeeded and made a name in their field of choice, thanks to the character molded under the most punishing pressures of Diliman college ecosystem. Outliers, they came from far South and North, Christians and Muslims, rich and poor, brilliant and not-so brilliant. But their differences never factored in welding and gelling fraternal bond as they did battle against the odds in UP. It was a classic unity in diversity. They were one solid guild distinct from the Greek-lettered fraternities to which many of them also belong. In the heat of the classroom tournament for better grades and grilling exams, they lend each other’s shoulder. They shared typewritten carbon-copied digest of cases (“xerox” not yet invented). This bond survived to this day after leaving the portals of UP. To keep the ember of camaraderie burning they have regular mini reunions hosted alternately by the ever gracious Jun Factoran, Ding Pascual, Manny Sanchez, et al. I am uncomfortable writing this piece because of the danger of oversight. Mea culpa. We could have wrested the presidency of the country if not for the syndicate of tsunami-like lies, vilification and demonization (the court has yet to resolve the cases and constitutional presumption of here organized by the local Thai community, I witnessed the giving of alms and families and friends enjoying each others’ company. The traditional Thai dances and muay thai presentations were entertaining. I wore a violet and gold wrap around skirt I had bought at Kultura in Manila. The minute I stepped into the venue of the festival, I immediately noticed the Buddha statues and how many of the women in attendance wore colorful patterned skirts similar in style and cut to mine. I felt right at home! A number of people would strike a conversation with me in Thai. I then had to politely tell t h e m that I do not speak Thai. They UP Law Class ’67 innocence applies) against Jojo Binay when he was elected Vice President. His undoing was his early announcement that he was ready to do battle with anybody for the presidency. His defeat went against the prediction of soothsayer who during our school days already predicted Jojo to be President. Ding Pascual, a famous banker and a giant in the corporate world who retired as president of GSIS, and Davidica Salaya, now deceased, both attested to the oracle. I daresay the Moro problem could not have deteriorated, if two members of Class’67 are still alive. Jun Abbas and Musib Buat, Maranaw and Maguindanaoan, respectively, are leading lights and leaders of the secessionists, now autonomist Moros. Buat HALF FULL Lia Andanar Yu “We could have wrested the presidency of the country if not for the syndicate of tsunami-like lies, vilification and demonization against Jojo Binay. helped conceptualize merdeka or independence of Moros. During the historic signing of the Peace pact in Malacañang, he was publicly extolled by Moro Islamic Liberation Front chair Al-Hadj Murad Ebrahim as one of the brains of the front. Abbas, activist, student leader and a patriot sought asylum in Saudi Arabia when martial law was declared and became founding leader of the Bangsa Moro Liberation Front. In the field of law and environment stands out Jun Factoran, valedictorian of our class and former secretary of Department of Environment and asked me where I got my skirt from and they were happily amused when I told them that I bought it from a shop in the Philippines that proudly sells “Uniquely Filipino” things. I thoroughly enjoyed the celebration. The function room where the monks ate with many of us attendees was teeming with people. Something about the simplicity of the set-up was so welcoming, all-embracing and genuine. The women who volunteered to serve the food and assist the guests were warmly hospitable. My daughter and I discovered an absolutely delicious but surprisingly spicy dip. I later on found out from one of the friendly hosts that it is a Northern Thai dip called Nam Prik Ong. Even as we “I found many more things in addition to traditional clothing that Filipinos and Thais have in common. rushed to find and drink water after the heat of the chillies shocked our taste buds and throats, it was still so delicious that we went back for seconds. The seated Buddha statue close to the entrance of the venue was soaking wet. I had only noticed this when I stepped closer to it for a photograph. I was told that this was due to an important religious ritual during Songkran. Devout Buddhists pour fragrant blessed water over Buddha statues. The ritual is called “Bathing the Buddha.” From this Buddha image ritual sprung Thailand’s annual water festival which reminds me of the splashing, pouring or dousing of water which happens in San Juan, Metro Manila during the Feast of San Juan or St. John the Baptist. As the day progressed, I found many more things in addition to traditional clothing that Filipinos and Thais have in common. This includes a deep respect for parents and our elders, a strong faith life and spicy cuisine in certain regions of both countries. One of the most enjoyable things when learning about others’ culture is that, more often than not, I find wonderful similarities and common ties and values that well and truly bind us all together. Natural Resources (DENR). He is more known for his affiliation with cause-oriented groups like Mabini. He was a rabid anti dictatorship who fought Marcos, a conviction he carries to this day. Tony Tria has contributed in battling degradation of our environment when he was appointed first as chair of the National Pollution Commission and then undersecretary of DENR. The late Kit Villaluz was presiding justice of Sandiganbayan; Ernesto Acosta, presiding justice of the Court of Tax Appeals; Marina Buzon, associate justice of the Court of Appeals; Lourdes Coloma like Buat, commissioner, NLRC; Jaime Salazar RTC judge and Elmer Bautista, chief state counsel, DoJ; Jimmy Conception, BIR director, and Frank Pangilinan, Nick Alino, Sammy Abadiano, Jess Aguilar also physician, Arnold Sanidad, et al., all successful law practitioners. The list is long. Wealth is no stranger to civic leader, author Loida Nicolas Lewis. Before her marriage to the deceased millionaire American lawyer Reginald Lewis of TLC Beatrice, her family was already well-off with the Nicolas Furniture chain stores in Metro Manila. When I was doing my post-graduate studies at NYU I visited her office at the World Trade Center. Forbes Magazine listed Loida as one of the wealthiest women in the world. The most politically active among our female classmates was Violy Calvo, now deceased, married to Sen. Franklin Drilon. In politics, Manuel Sanchez, the star of the long running TV afternoon soap-opera Aguila circa 90’s and this writer became members of the 9th Congress but their term was cut short after losing in a protest before the Electoral Tribunal. Yes readers, UP Law Class ’67 was a melting pot for an alloy of achievers. Published daily by the Daily Tribune Publishing Co., with offices at 3450 Concept Bldg., Florida Street, Makati City • Editorial: (02) 831-0496 • Administration: dailytribune@tribune.net.ph, (02) 833-7085 / (02) 551-5148. To advertise and subscribe: ads@tribune.net.ph, dailytribune@tribune.net.ph, (02) 833-7085 / (02) 551-5148. To submit an opinion article, email opinion@tribune.net.ph. To submit a letter to the editor, email: letters@tribune.net.ph • News: news@tribune.net.ph • Metro: metro@tribune.net.ph • Lifestyle: lifestyle@tribune.net.ph • Business: biz@tribune.net.ph • Sports: sports@tribune.net.ph • PR: pr@tribune.net.ph.
Sunday, 17 March 2019 Daily Tribune “Water is one of the resources that cannot be generated but only be preserved and managed. There would surely be grim tales of horror developing as being prologued by the heated tensions among residents in the grueling endless queue for water rations! Soon, there will be “water-snatching,” “water-heist” or “water hoarding” or even killings over water possession; in other words, pocket wars over clean and potable water are not far off. In fact, in a recent World Bank study, Ismail Serageldin prognosticates that “Many of the wars of this century were about oil, but wars of the next century will be over water.” The study says, “A billion people in the world today do not have access to clean drinking water and almost as many again lack adequate sanitation facilities. Dirty water causes 80 percent of the disease in developing countries, killing 10 million people each year.” The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in a mapped study revealed that 21 of the world’s major water resources are distressed! Had this been a sequel to a horror movie it would be entitled “The Curse of Trillanes.” It’s not a horror movie but it’s about a sequel that certainly seems like one. Former coup plotter, failed “Mimicking microscopic bacteria that propagate by cloning, Trillanes seems to have spawned his own despicable putschist and exiting Sen. Antonio Trillanes will soon be surrendering the special privileges, the protection from suit and the microphone and podium granted him by the Senate. The obstructionism that he’s embarked on the day he turned his back on our Constitution and the rule of law, and then started plotting to take down the government might hopefully be at an end. It’s been quite a parade from the time he went AWOL to plant deadly explosives in Makati as a means Mini Me. to gripe and grab attention, to the hearings at a Makati court which he abandoned only to reprise his threats on our democracy from another hotel lobby, and finally to the Senate floor where he continued his obstructionism against duly constituted authority. His choice of war theaters that could have easily turned into bloody killing fields betray a knack for melodramatic violence. Beholden to a sociopath, as a Pavlovian pit bull with low caliber brain With a global population growth of 30 percent over the last two decades projected to increase from 5.6 billion to 8 billion in 2025, the levels of pollution and contamination of traditional sources of water and its depletion due to global warming and El Niño, soon the population would thirst for drops of water, more than vampires thirsting for blood on nights of full moon. (In fact, blood suckers are better off, since their thirst is occasional). Soon, water would be a commodity, in fact even today, people are now cutting a big chunk in their daily budget for bottled or so called mineral water, mostly ignoring the purified water from taps. Soon, the cost of clean and potable water would be an economic problem as we are now witnessing with the two water concessionaires whose profit charts take precedence over the advocacy of public basic utilities. The most ridiculous situation in our country TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon power and inarticulateness, simultaneously a blunt instrument given to armed threats and innuendos of assassination, he remains dangerous. Hopefully, that ends this year. Of course, we could be naive. Fascism is not our best suit. Neither is analyzing a pawn’s mind. Trillanes is not up for re-election and his name does not appear among the nominees of the party list brotherhood that supported his candidacy. A “bait and switch” tactic might however be in play. Should his partylist gain ground, Trillanes might still crawl out of the woodwork. Deception remains one of the most employed among a plotter’s cache of boobytraps. While many welcome the prospects of accountability given the numerous charges facing him, like rodent infestation that constantly reappears from behind cupboards and cabinets, it is unlikely the public will be seeing the last of his ilk. From violating our laws and trashing our sacred Constitution, camouflaged under an inappropriately named partylist, Trillanes’s co-coup plotter and fellow conspirator is now seeking to promote himself from a partylister representing mutineers to a senator of the Republic. The pastiche parodies he foists on the electorate are not only brazen in their fallaciousness, Water wars Trillanes 2.0 is the “artificial shortage,” since sources of water in our country, i.e. annual lush rains and floods, an island nation surrounded by water and in Manila, a stone’s throw from Manila Bay or Laguna de Bay, yet the scarcity or shortage of water! Water is not the problem at the moment, it is incompetent water management. Again, governance. It wasn’t even poor foresight, since water sourcing projects were on the way, such as the Kaliwa Project in Tanay, Rizal. Yet, the presumption of an oversupply of rains and floods delayed the project “Many of the wars of this century were about oil, but wars of the next century will be over water. thereby, evading the stamp of priority! Manila Water or the MWSS cannot push the argument for the delay that some kaliwa (leftists) and advocates are looking at another onerous loan from China to finance the project and are contemplating a court complaint against the project. Leftists and advocates are mostly ignored, anyway! they are insulting. More so when we consider Gary Alejano’s continuing calumny to subvert our democratic institutions from the Presidency to the Judiciary using a concealed hunting hide or sniper’s nest. Note what’s inside this leatherneck’s ammunition box. His deadly ordnance of choice, as was Trillanes’s, are reloaded hollow-point baldfaced lies. Reprising his coup plotter’s role, he attempted to sabotage the Duterte presidency by launching an impeachment charge based simply on newspaper accounts and innuendo. His warhead was totally shorn of “personal knowledge” much less of prima facie evidence as required by law. In the case of rebellion charges, tag-teaming with Trillanes, even claiming he had evidence, he attempted to undermine the Judicial Branch’s regional trial court system by COMMENTARY 5 Water is one of the resources that cannot be generated but only be preserved and managed. For instance, mills had it that there was a proposal from a Middle Eastern oil rich country to provide technology to solve the flooding problem of our country through a series of dams employing a thorough dam/reservoir selection using remote sensing and geographic information system. Excess water from the dams would then be pretreated, refined, purified and bottled, then exported to the middle east, where water is gold — additional income from a natural resource. Unfortunately, it was turned down by the government probably because it was tubong tubig (small profit) and chances of corruption were almost nil. It may take a while for “water wars” to occur globally or locally, but if governance would remain incompetent, then expect water not to cool but to burst heated heads clamoring for supply. And God knows what scenario would be painted with blood! In the meantime, let us get hold of the “Oratio Imperata” for rains; God may still be merciful. declaring that one court was being controlled by the Executive Branch through the Department of Justice. No proof was ever presented. Unable to comprehend the profound consequences of a reckless accusation that impedes judicial processes and maliciously attempts to preempt an independent judge, he remained unapologetic even when the specific court he cited eventually ruled in favor of Trillanes. Recently he tried to defame a popular and leading senatorial candidate by spreading lies and falsehood that the latter had used government funds “The Senator’s co-coup plotter and fellow conspirator is now seeking to promote himself from a partylister representing mutineers to a senator of the Republic. to purchase and distribute campaign materials. To backstop his accusations he presented documents. Unfortunately, upon scrutiny, none of his documents, not one iota within them, proved his allegations. Mimicking microscopic bacteria that propagate by cloning, Trillanes seems to have spawned his own despicable Mini Me. A former gun-wielding fascist turned putschist to replace Trillanes in the trenches, Alejano is a “Trillanes 2.0.” Fated to remain in a kennel, punished and caged for crimes against the people had Aquino not saved them by granting amnesty, with the temperament of pit bulls, both owe a lifetime of gratitude, canine loyalty and unthinking servitude to their benefactor. Crying havoc, dogs of war will forever protect the hand that fed them. “ As everyone expected, the coalition’s prayer for the issuance of a TRO was likewise rejected by the SC. From all indications, the withdrawal of the Republic of the Philippines from the Rome Statute, the 1998 treaty creating the International Criminal Court (ICC), is already a done deal. On 14 March 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute, and directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to serve formal notice to the United Nations (UN) to effectively carry out the withdrawal. Under the Rome Statute, a country’s withdrawal takes effect one year from the formal notice of withdrawal. Therefore, in just a few more days, the Philippines is formally out of the ICC. Last August, six senators identified with the political opposition — Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila de Lima — filed a suit in the Supreme Court (SC) to question the constitutionality of the withdrawal. The six senators insisted that Senate approval is necessary before the country can validly withdraw from the Rome Statute. They argued that since President Duterte did not get the prior nod of the Senate, the withdrawal is legally infirm. ICC withdrawal is a done deal Likewise, the group filed a motion urging that De Lima, who was (and remains) detained in Camp Crame on narcotics charges, be allowed to represent them in the case, but the SC denied their motion. In view of that denial, the senators did not attend the hearing on their petition. The arguments raised by the six senators were all summarily debunked by their fellow senators, and by several legal experts. As expected, their prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to enjoin the withdrawal was denied by the SC. Although the Constitution explicitly requires “It’s time for the ICC and its overzealous personnel to wake up. prior Senate approval for the Philippines to enter into a treaty, the Charter does not require the Senate to concur when the country wants out of a treaty. A second, similar petition was lodged in the SC in June last year by a self-styled but dubious coalition for the ICC led by former Commission on Human Rights chairman Loretta Rosales. This group raised issues relating to norms in international law, but their views turned out to be hollow references. The Rosales coalition also failed to prove that their group will suffer a personal, substantial and direct injury if the withdrawal is not enjoined. It was also unable to dispute that under the Constitution, the president is in charge of Philippine foreign policy. As everyone expected, the coalition’s prayer for the issuance of a TRO was likewise rejected by the SC. The one-year pre-effectivity period set forth in the Rome Statute for the withdrawal of the Republic of the Philippines from the said treaty has, to all intents and purposes, already lapsed. Accordingly, the withdrawal of the country from the ICC is already a done deal, a fait accompli. More revealing is the fact that during that one-year period, the SC did not issue any TRO or injunction against the withdrawal, much less render a ruling against it. Whatever issues have been raised against the withdrawal are now, undoubtedly, moot and academic. Therefore, even before the end of this month, Manila is officially out of the ICC, which means that the ICC has no jurisdiction to conduct any inquiry or investigation directed against the Philippines. It will be recalled that even after the Philippines officially served notice to the UN about Manila’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the special prosecutor of the THE SCRUTINIZER ICC insisted on conducting Victor Avecilla a preliminary investigation on alleged human rights violations supposedly in relation to President Duterte’s relentless war on illegal drugs. Suffice it to say that in view of the Philippine withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the ICC special prosecutor is devoid of legal authority to proceed with that preliminary investigation. To hold otherwise is to allow a foreigner, and biased one at that, to meddle in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. It’s time for the ICC and its overzealous personnel to wake up and realize that even if the ICC is an international agency, it is not the superpoliceman of the world that it thinks itself to be.
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17 MARCH 2019

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