THE latest news is that the House of Representatives is now writing its version of constitution that would replace the current presidential form with a federal system. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said he already has names who will be tasked in drafting the new charter. Let me point out that despite the fact we have so many nincompoops in both houses of congress, hoodlums in robes and power hungry bureaucrats from the palace to the lowest government agency, we still enjoy a well functioning democracy. It only illustrates our resiliency as a people.
But what cannot be tolerated is when an elected president wanted to stay beyond the mandate given by the electorates, such in the case of Ferdinand Marcos. Even Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo advanced ideas of amending the constitution, in the hope that not only economic provisions will be amended but political too, including the lifting of term limit.
There are always the "geniuses and Rasputins" in the palace who wanted to cling to power and dream nightly of term extension. And why not? Because once they easily get drunk with power. Perks and privileges, unlimited.
Former President Noynoy Aquino since he stepped down from his presidential seat is starting to know his real friends. His once mighty Liberal Party, which dominates both houses of congress, was decimated on the first week of Duterte's administration.
There is no need for a clean razor blade to cut loyalties to the previous dispenser of favors when it comes to congressmen and senators of this republic. It is the usual hidden pork barrel that can buy loyalty.
As of this moment, President Digong who calls the shots. He cracks the whip, everybody toe the line. Such is life. Winners, losers, survivors.
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The ever changing fortune of men. They were once the mutineers, Faeldon and company. Then came President Digong. They were tasked to reform the Bureau of Customs but apparently they were swallowed by the system. Then came the controversy. Drug smuggling in billion peso worth. There is a changing of the guard. Now former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Isidro Lapena is the new customs overseer. Will he be swallowed by the system? Let's wait.
Not all those people in the Bureau of Customs are corrupt. I've known many of the who were assigned in Clark Freeport. One of them was Romeo Catindig who was Clark collector once. He lived simply and went to farming in Sta. Rosa, his hometown.
The present collector, Maritess Martin is hurting when sweeping statements are labeled on customs workers. She is upright, very straight and could be your government employee of the year. Then her name appeared in the papers that her office is in "tara." She must be scratching her head. How could that be? All importations inside Clark are tariff free, since it is a freeport zone. And all these importations that come to Clark passes through either on seaports of Manila, Subic and elsewhere. They are just be dumped here after all of the containers were cleared in their seaports of origin. To Collector Martin. Just bear and grin it. That's part of the risk working in government.
Tweets:
- At long last poultry businesses in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija heaved a sigh of relief. No more avian flu and restrictions lifted.
- Street food on food parks are all over. Are they being monitored by the health department?
- Will traffic enforcers in all urban areas enforce traffic rules and regulations like the way they enforce traffic in Clark and Subic? If that happen, discipline will be restored.