Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Maxey: In the news By Ram Maxey Bar none
Grounded
DOES PAF stand for Philippine Air Farmers? Philippine Air Force personnel assigned at the sprawling 272-hectare Fernando Air Base in Lipa, Batangas have resorted to tilling the idle spaces, sowing seeds and watering rows of sweet papaya, corn, bell pepper and tomato plants.
The project is part of an organizational plan to convert idle military land into productive use on orders of the Commander in Chief, President Macapagal-Arroyo.
Sensible, too. Keeps idle hands busy. After all, there isn't enough flyable aircraft for everyone. If you can't fly, plant!
Lutong Macau
BY the way, Comelec Commissioner Ben Abalos could not help but regale the young De Venecia with his (Abalos) sexploits before the two parted ways over the controversial national broadband network project.
Media reports have it that Abalos was provided by the ZTE people with perks during his trips to China, including the services of two women, one for matinee (daytime) and the other for the last show (nightime).
It's not true, either, that Abalos had gone to China to give the Chinese pointers on how to cheat in elections. Over there they don't need to cheat. Elections are lutong Macau, forgive the pun.
Speaking of lutong Macau, the opposition in the Senate does not find the ZTE dish palatable at all, hence the sourgraping going on.
A Faceless Nobody
WE can't make out this guy Ronaldo Puno of the DILG. He has been a bit overly excited over the prospect of former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada gaining his freedom by Christmas through a presidential pardon or whatever.
Instead of serving 40 years behind bars for the heinous crime, Erap would have served only less than seven years before regaining his freedom at Christmastime.
Just goes to show that in this country where all the people are supposed to be "equal" in the eyes of the law, there are some who are more equal than others.
Proof? Former BIR cashier Dominga Manalili was found guilty of pocketing 266 million pesos in a tax diversion scheme some years ago and has been languishing behind bars for the crime. Why doesn't Secretary Puno's heart bleed for her, too, and ask Malacañang to pardon her?
Foolish question, that. She's just a faceless nobody who can't bring in the votes come 2010.
Surefire antidote
IF Erap's legions do not stop from intimidating the government with their demonstrations and calls for him to be freed unconditionally, there would be no need for the police and military to confront them on the streets with shields, batons, guns and water cannons.
All that's needed is for government, should the demonstrations turn ugly, to threaten to ship the convicted ex-president to the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa from his estate in Tanay, Rizal.
Faced with the possibility of leaving the comforts of his Tanay estate for the discomforts of the penitentiary, Erap himself would be forced to order his mob to cease and desist.
