"2019 brought hope for better life for all Filipinos."
"2019 brought hope for better life for all Filipinos."
Merry Christmas, everyone! We thank God for all the blessings we received throughout the year, not only on personal terms but for all the good things that happened and benefited our fellow Filipinos.
We are still elated by the people’s overwhelming support to the Anti-Crime & Terrorism Through Community Involvement & Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list in the last May mid-term elections. It means a lot to me personally, as we worked so hard for it.
To me, the resounding vote for the candidates endorsed by President Duterte is a validation of his platform and vision that I’ve supported all along. My brothers and I were hard-hitting critics of previous administrations.
Conversely, it constituted the people’s outright rejection of the Liberal Party’s Otso Diretso mascots, who obviously didn’t get any boost from Jim Paredes’ viral sex-video scandal.
Essentially a most important intangible that year 2019 brought about is hope for better life for all Filipinos.
Mindanaoans better appreciate the significance of the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the induction of the 80 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) were milestone steps towards lasting peace in the Promised Land.
At last, justice is served after 10 years of indescribable agony of the families of the 58 victims of the Ampatuan-Maguindanao massacre in November 2009 with the recent conviction of the principal accused in this Philippine election violence that horrified the whole world.
This year, we were also shocked by earth-shaking news events, such as the tragedy of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio, the exposé on “Ninja Cops,” and the investigation on the massive corruption in the Bureau of Corrections (BoC).
BuCor’s crooked officials had been exploiting the GCTA parole program releasing prisoners in exchange for hefty bribes, literally undermining President Duterte’s anti-crime and anti-illegal drugs drive.
Just as we needed the assurance of a reliable law enforcement to protect us from criminals, we learned that a number of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel themselves have actually engaged in recycling illegal drugs.
And, only months after the water crisis Metro Manila residents were subjected to, we are astounded by the decision of the Singapore-based international arbitral court ordering the government to pay the water firms billions of pesos in “lost profits.”
But the President stands firm on his position against honoring the "illegal contract" with Maynilad and Manila Water, who instantly backed down.
The President showed a sense of fairness to Leni Robredo who criticized the war on illegal drugs, appointing her as co-chair post at the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD). But apparently, she had a different agenda in mind which is to sabotage the government's drug war altogether. She deserved to be fired in two weeks.
At least 21 people died from the magnitude 6.6 earthquakes that rocked Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao in late October. And since the magnitude 6.9 quake rocked Davao del Sur on Dec. 15, the death toll has risen to 11. These natural calamities call for preparedness at all times.
Recently, a triumphant Filipino nation held its head up high, not only because Team Philippines emerged the overall winner in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) but because we lived up to our renowned Filipino hospitality in hosting the prestigious sports event.
On a high note, nine in 10 Filipinos will welcome the New Year with hope and nearly half of them expect a “more prosperous” holiday season, according to the latest survey by Pulse Asia.
Little wonder that President Duterte remains the most trusted Philippine official, also according to a Pulse Asia survey.