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Monday, May 16, 2005
Mongaya: Davide and environment
By ANOL MONGAYA
MAYBE the country’s lawyers don’t see anyone from their ranks worthy of becoming a good president so they are asking Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. to run for president. Fortunately, the chief justice is not taking the bait. He reportedly wants to write a book and become an environmentalist after her retires seven months from now.
This is definitely good news for the environment, which needs an able champion. With a sorry shape the Philippine environment is in, perhaps a Davide as an environmentalist is what we need.
***
I thought Customs District Collector Lourdes Mangaoang only had a political kingpin in northern Cebu and former district collector Billy Bibit working to put somebody else in her stead.
My fellow coffee drinking analysts believe the Cebu kingpin had his moment during the wedding of his daughter late last April. Bibit, meanwhile, had a hard time getting an audience with the President. A wag said it would be best if Bibit drops his coup bluff because GMA might name him to another post. Luoy tawn imong mga tawo nga nahabilin, sir.
But then, another congressmen, this time from Mindanao, emerged with a more serious threat. The influential congressman, who regularly visits Cebu, wants another collector sitting at the Cebu district office. I say serious because this official has ‘connect’ with the powers-that-be behind President Arroyo.
Another congressman supports this move reportedly because of a huge amount from the district collector wannabe. This congressman was nearly caught literally with his pants down inside a hotel by his wife.
Another congressman, this time in Cebu, asked that a relative be placed as chief of a key division. I heard the feisty lady has turned him down.
Fortunately for the lady district collector Commissioner Bert Lina is standing up for her despite the powerful lobby for her replacement.
As this is developing, I heard that some Cebu smugglers are afraid about talks on Mangaoang’s strictness and sent back some of their shipments to the ports of origin. They find this cheaper than having their cargo as trophies in the new district collector’s war against smuggling.
The grapevine is also buzzing with talks about her refusal to meet a known importer of used and luxury cars. This importer is identified with a former senator from Mindanao.
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Meanwhile, Mactan customs authorities are asking where in the hell did the Philippine Export Zone Authority get the power to allow a Mactan Export Zone (MEZ) locator to set up plant outside the MEZ zone?
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Perhaps, we just have to stop talking about the failure of the police to stop vigilante killings even if these anti-crime fighters have begun killing even innocent kids. The continued killing of Filipino journalists is a sadder commentary of the Philippine justice system. The system could not even attain justice for members of the fourth estate, how much more justice for killers of suspect small time crooks?
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog. cell: 0917-9761193)
(May 16, 2005 issue)
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