IT HAS been over a year since my last column. It doesn't mean I have been inactive. Silent water runs deep.
My Messenger has been very active. Election fever is roiling beneath the surface. I cannot mention their names as they got in touch with me via Messenger.
Take this for example. From a lawyer friend: "I am for Albee for Bacolod City. The rent-seeking cabal led by Bing Leonardia had been staying and enriching themselves for too long. It is time for all of them to go."
Albee is of course the former third district representative and now Negros Occidental provincial consultant Alfredo “Albee” Benítez is eyeing to challenge Mayor Evelio Leonardia in the May 2022 elections. It seems a toss up between Leonardia and Benítez.
Then there's the issue with the frequent brownouts. I find it totally irritating with these power outrages (er, outages).
From the local, we go to the national.
Then from out of the blue, I got this message: "Hi Ben, do you like Ping as the one who can put sanity to our chaotic country? If you do, would you like to spread his gospel so to speak?"
My reply is this equally cryptic response: "I'll tell you what I hate, politicians selling the country down the river to China, or know nothing, a lapdog of China and the president. Let Ping be consistent and be forceful on human rights issues, like what Lt Generals Oscar Lactao and Jon Aying did when they were the Negrense 303rd IB commanders."
Then from a USLS teacher, she forwarded me this message from Bishop Rhoderick Pabillo, the auxiliary Manila bishop: "Sorry to disturb you but I have to share this with you as its content has lasting consequences to us as citizens of this country in which we were born and raised."
From Bishop Pabilio:
- If you love the Philippines please read and share—kahit ito lang ang gawin ninyo para sa bayan!
Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide swears that the entire West Philippine Sea and our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are magically absent from being mentioned as part of Philippine Territory in the draft Federal Constitution, but the Benham (Philippine) Rise was mentioned.
It's as if our holdings and EEZ in the West Philippine Sea never existed.
- If the Federal Constitution is approved, then all our struggles against China to preserve our oil-rich possessions there are all naught. They will cite the absence of our isles and EEZs as part of our territory in the Federal Constitution.
- The Hague Tribunal can recall its July 12, 2016 decision giving us legal possession of our WP Sea EEZ because not mentioning it in the Federal Constitution as part of our territory means we are officially reneging on our legal claims there.
- The Federal Constitution now appears to be China-sponsored because not only it will automatically give China sole possession of our islands and EEZs, but it will also perpetuate Rodrigo Duterte in power up to 2030 by using the Transitory Provisions!
To the DDS, please wake up if you have a scintilla of love left for this country and together with us, say no to federalism! Our loss will also be your loss!