Why Donald Trump shouldn’t have been the 47th U.S. president:
He left the White House after leading a failed attempt on Jan. 6, 2021 to retain the presidency despite his defeat in 2020 election. On inauguration day this week, Trump pardoned all who were convicted of crimes -- from destruction of property to violence against persons, including police officers, while storming the seat of government.
He was indicted four times and convicted of 34 felony counts in a New York criminal case involving hush money payments to a porn star before the 2016 election.
Trump’s lies and misleading claims, published by Washington Post in 2021, totaled 30,573 over 4 years. On Day 1 of his second term in 2025, he made 20 lies; he will break his first-term record yet.
One obstacle hurdled by Jonas Cortes; two more ahead
Which may be also true for Mike Rama, other dismissed mayors running for reelection
It’s one hurdle after another this election season against mayors ordered dismissed from government service by the Ombudsman and seeking reelection in May.
The Comelec, in a resolution adopted only late last year, changed the old rule that dismissal orders are enforced only after the Supreme Court decision of the case contesting the Ombudsman ruling becomes “final and executory.”
Cases against Cortes and other dismissed mayors across the country might be final and executory to the Comelec but certainly not to the high court.
What flawed thinking then, if not folly, to print ballots minus the names of the mayors whose COCs or certificates of candidacy Comelec had cancelled, even if its officials knew the SC could still reverse its ruling.
A slap on the election officials’ faces and heavier burden in election expenses caused by reprinting of ballots.
Did news media say Jonas Cortes ‘insisted’ he didn’t pay P1B for TRO?
Some news reports did. If Cortes “insisted,” the Mandaue City dismissed mayor was (1) saying firmly or demanding forcefully that he didn’t bribe anyone, and (2) responding when others disagreed or opposed his denial.
The first may be easily seen by the reporters from the way Cortes made the denial, in language and gestures.
The second is gathered from disagreement of others and the proof offered to confront Cortes. No such things were in the report.
The amount allegedly paid, one billion pesos, was one red flag nobody could miss.
‘Sinulog is back’: where had it gone? Its problems surely haven’t been away.
The Sinulog -- the dancing part, that is -- was cut back in 2020 and virtually gone in 2021, unless the digital show counted. The culprit: Covid-19 pandemic. Sinulog has been recovering during the past three years.
What must have returned was the site -- more accurately, Sinulog’s return to its old site: South Road Properties -- from SRP back to Abellana grounds.
Yet the problems remain, including a definition by ordinance -- so as to follow the law and shatter the fiction --- of the role of Cebu City and its officials in managing the activity. Already, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is talking about solving Sinulog’s ills in the future.
Sinulog has returned, yes, pretty much of the “vibe” and energy of old.