“With the use of the Anti-Terrorism Law against Teves, the Anti-Money Laundering Council has also frozen all the assets of all the accused”
In a democracy like the Philippines, there is a need for assent and dissent.
Otherwise, we can only have tyranny.
The country has gone through upheavals, Santa Banana, when Martial Law was declared and freedom of the press was curtailed!
What I am concerned about is the lack of a strong and credible opposition, and a seemingly timid press.
Yes, we have an opposition voice in the House of Representatives, a minority of senators, but they seem always outvoted by what is called the “super-majority” in Congress, especially with the creation of a “Uniteam” in the House.
What I am concerned about is the lack of a vociferous press which we used to have, my gulay, in past administrations.
President Marcos Jr. is now in his second year of his six-year term.
I would like to say, so far, so good, especially as secretary of agriculture, also in his second year.
And poll surveys from the two most prestigious surveyors, Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations, tell us insofar as satisfaction and acceptance ratings are concerned, both President BBM and Vice President Sara Duterte are doing very well at 85 and 86 ratings.
But, just the same,even if BBM and Sara seem to be getting good acceptance and trust by the people, what I as a journalist for over seven decades miss are the strong and credible voices from the opposition.
While there are some criticisms from columnists on the policies of BBM, they appear inconsistent and vacuous.
Personally, as a journalist, I am satisfied with what Marcos Jr. is doing, especially as acting secretary of agriculture, having laid the groundwork for food security at affordable prices.
I also commend BBM for his many trips abroad in making foreign investors aware the Philippines has become an investment destination, and more especially that the economy is sound and improving.
But, honestly, I still would like to have a strong and credible opposition since I believe assent and dissent are integral in a living democracy.
WPS at UNGA
There are reports the Senate may finally agree among themselves to elevate the issue of the Philippines with China, continuously bullying the Philippines in disputed waters, especially at the Exclusive Economic Zone, in line with China’s aggressive claim on the whole China Sea, also depriving Filipino fisher folk of their livelihood.
All things considered, elevating the WPS issue to the United Nations General Assembly would make the issue with China an international concern.
At the moment, all we can do is to file hundreds of protests against China, with China continuously ignoring us.
We may shout ourselves hoarse, but if China will do what it wants to do, all we can do is nothing.
Thus, with the WPS issue becoming an international issue with UNGA, there is the possibility that the community of nations at the UN can exert enough pressure on China to stop bullying the Philippines to the detriment of fisherfolk who simply want to pursue their livelihood at the WPS.
That’s not much to ask for, is that?
Yes, there are some Asean nations that sympathize with us since some of them, like Vietnam, also have territorial claims against China at the WPS.
But, I believe there is no substitute in making UNGA aware of our problem with China at the WPS.
Special envoy to China
There have been some suggestions former President Duterte should have special access to China – after Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Duterte for a tete-a-tete, giving Duterte special access to Beijing – and named with the rank of a special envoy to China.
He could also be the personal envoy of BBM to Xi.
Thus, when I read plans to make Duterte a special envoy to China, my reaction, why not, my gulay!
This way, whenever Xi talks with Duterte it will be his duty and obligation to make what they talked about official and made public.
As for Duterte’s personal visit to Beijing, I still believe the former President is duty bound and has the obligation to make public what he and Xi talked about, especially so in connection with China’s incessant bullying of the country at the WPS.
Duterte may now be just a private citizen, but I believe, as a Filipino, he has the duty and obligation to make public what he and Xi talked about.
Last week President Marcos and former President Duterte met in Malacanang which fuelled speculation that BBM wanted to know what Chinese President Xi Jinping and Duterte talked about.
It was a personal visit of Duterte upon the invitation of the Chinese leader.
Surely, while Duterte’s visit was personal, I am sure they did not talk about the weather with so many issues between China and the Philippines.
And certainly, Santa Banana, we cannot expect BBM to make public what he and Duterte talked about!
Blacklisted
The US Embassy in Manila has called attention to a blacklisted government-owned construction company—the China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC) involved in a Manila Bay reclamation project and in fact ready to participate in the construction of a long bridge that would connect Cavite and Bataan provinces along Manila Bay.
The same CCCC met with BBM recently to inform him they were interested in investing in the Philippines.
The CCCC is in fact a state-owned construction firm that constructed those artificial islands in the contested waters which have been made into Chinese outposts by China.
According to the US Embassy, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have also blacklisted the CCCC for fraudulent business practices.
It must be noted China’s expansionist claims in the strategic waterways had been rising tensions between China and the Philippines.
The US Embassy is in regular discussions with the government regarding reclamation projects in Manila Bay, citing concerns about the potential long-term and irreversible impacts on the environment and the threats of natural hazards to Manila Bay and nearby areas.
In line with this information by the US Embassy, it would do well for Malacanang to look deeper into the involvement of the blacklisted CCCC in the Manila Bay reclamation projects.
And it would do well for BBM to look into other projects of the government, like the National Grid where the Chinese are also involved.
Note that the National Grid is a very vital project insofar as national security is concerned.
Use of Anti-Terrorism Law
The opposition Makabayan bloc in the House of Representative has raised a very important issue in the government’s use, Santa Banana, of the Anti-Terrorism Law against suspended and fugitive Negros Rep. Arnulfo Teves, wanted together with others in the assassination of rival Governor of Negros Oriental Roel Degano by weaponizing the Anti-Terrorisim Law.
With the use of the Anti-Terrorsim Law against Teves, the Anti-Money Laundering Council has also frozen all the assets of all the accused.
The House opposition bloc raised the issue that with the Anti-Terrorsim Law against Teves and the others seemed not only to justify its existence but raising concerns about the ability of the Department of Justice in prosecuting the accused underlying issues on the effective investigation of the case and apprehension of the suspects.
Personally, I am disturbed the DOJ appears to be using the Anti-terrorsim Law against Teves and associates because of the failure of the government to make Teves and associates face the music.