"This is what the best chief justice we never had really thinks."
"This is what the best chief justice we never had really thinks."
In my almost 70 years as a journalist, I have always thought that the fabled Yamashita Treasure was the biggest piece of fake news peddled among Filipinos.
The commander of the Japanese Imperial Forces that occupied the Philippines was said to have Malay, Cambodian, Thai and Burmese temples and stole treasures, especially a Golden Buddha brought to the Philippines when the Tiger of Malaya came as commander.
The news item became so popular that movies were even made of it. Even the strongman Ferdinand Marcos believed it so much so that he commissioned an expedition led by my brother Desi. The expedition failed.
Hundreds of hunters from all over the world came to the Philippines to look for the treasure.
But now, Associate Justice Antonio Carpio—the best chief justice we never had—says that China’s claim in the South China Sea is the biggest piece of fake news of this century.
I can believe him when he says that China’s claim is a gigantic fraud of the human race that should not be allowed to pass.
Carpio in fact called on Filipinos and others in in Southeast Asia to spread the truth and debunk China’s narrative about the disputed territory.
According to Carpio, the Chinese people have been fed disinformation that China established its presence in the South China Sea as early as 2,000 years ago. It presented so-called historic maps to show its claim, especially the nine-dash lines. This was rejected by the arbitral tribunal in The Hague.
Carpio said Filipinos must educate themselves lest we believe China’s claim.
Their distorted narrative is taught in China’s grade schools.
President Duterte should take this up when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But is Mr. Duterte listening?
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Another fake news was what was called the Jabidah Massacre where some 400 Muslins were massacred because news leaked that they were training on Corregidor Island so that Muslims could take over Sabah.
Ninoy Aquino claimed that the massacre was to him by a lone survivor. He exposed it at the Senate. The training was reportedly headed by Col. Eddie Marcelino, a friend of Marcos.
But if the massacre indeed took place, won’t the families have cried out for the head of Marcos?
And now a legislator from Mindanao says claims that the Jabidah Massacre triggered the creation of the Moro National Liberation Front. But Nur Misuari formed the MILF as part of the secessionist movement.
The truth is that this alleged massacre was only exploited by Marcos’ political opponents.
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Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, now numbering 60, is a multi-fold problem for us.
If indeed China claims that it such operations are illegal there and suggested that the Philippines should ban them, why are there service providers as outlets of the industry in China?
The POGO industry reportedly remits some P8 billion to the government in the form of taxes. But if we confine the Chinese workers to their hubs, what will happen to all those condominium floor the Chinese are now occupying?
And can the Duterte administration really ban POGOs? Which should be the priority—the need for security, or the need for money?
I don’t believe he can, or will, ban POGOs.
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The Department of Justice must now have an idea how outraged the people are over the potential early release of former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez. Actually, a review is not necessary since the law is clear that those convicted of heinous crimes cannot take advantage of the law.
It would be a travesty of justice to have somebody like Sanchez be a free man again.
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Here we go again. I am referring to a bill filed at the House of Representatives which seeks to change the name of Camp Aguinaldo to General Antonio Luna who headed the armed revolution under the Americans.
If we keep changing the names of places, there will never be an end to this malarkey. Please just leave things as they are.
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