INDEED, with the advent of social media these days, politicians are using to the maximum its vulnerability to manipulation if only to attain their personal interest on certain issues.
One such example of manipulating its contents and what the ones who posted the same on a social media platform is the reported plan of the Iglesia ni Cristo, a religious denomination that has been known to get themselves involved in Philippine politics since the country became independent, to hold a huge rally. The posts which earlier came out first, were about the Iglesia ni Cristo intending to hold a major rally at EDSA supposedly to deter efforts of congressmen to impeach Vice President Sara Duiterte.
Apparently the post came from pro-VP Sara supporter-vloggers. But soon after, a post on the same INC rally that, as claimed earlier to possibly trigger a people’s power, also came out. And based on its contents it could not have come from sources other than the pro-BBM vloggers.
The gist of the post is that the Iglesia ni Cristo rally intends to highlight the religious group’s support of the President’s call for the Lower House to forego any impeachment move against VP Sara.
Frankly, we do not know which of the two posts is true. But what we are certain about is the fact that social media through its many platforms, has become an effective tool for sowing disinformation to waylay the people in making decisions relative to the future of the country.
*********************************
Of course, VP Sara has nothing to be worried about should the impeachment cases against her succeed. Imagine, this early some lawyers are already lining up to offer their services to defend the VP when the Senators, acting as judges, will start hearing the VP’s impeach raps!
And yes, one of these lawyers is Congress’ maverick Partylist Representative Rodante Marcoleta. Marcoileta who is a rabidly pro-Duterte lawmaker has displayed no qualms at all in making known his desire to defend the Vice President who he believes, is being grilled by the House quad com not so much from its desire to get “aid in legislation,” but for actually ensuring that some personalities in the Lower House get their political agenda attained.
Marcoleta’s offer to become Sara’s lawyer should the impeachment raps against her materialize, is in itself also a political agenda for him. Imagine Marcoleta getting a prized slot in the Duterte Senatorial lime-up! So he could not have made the wisest move of his political journey. Political agenda anyone?
*******************************
So a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) hub was operating in Barangay Manay, Panabo City? And it was utilizing what looks like an abandoned warehouse that the owners of the hub had to refurbish to suit the gambling den’s operation.
How on earth did it escape notice from the local government of Panabo City or even the officials of the barangay or the owner of the former banana plantation who leased the facility to the POGO owners?
Imagine so many Chinese and three Malaysians suddenly relocating to an area that is far from the ideal of what could be a POGO hub.
We have no doubt that the owner or owners of the abandoned warehouse definitely applied for a permit for renovation. So, it could only be the Panabo City Hall’s lack of due diligence in finding out the true purpose of the renovation that allowed the POGO hub to get noticed even before its renovation was completed.
Honestly, we suspect that there could be some other POGO hubs not just in distant Manay in Panabo City but even in Davao City itself. Only that people in this part of Mindanao and elsewhere have been conditioned to believe that POGO hubs are virtual “no-nos” because the local officials in the city are able to convince the populace that gaming operations cannot set even a foot in this metropolis.
********************************
So a House Bill allowing the expansion of Davao Light’s franchise area in Davao del Norte is now approved?
In other words, the same House that issued the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO) its franchise to last up to 2028 and another up to year 3033 is the same House that now decided to cut short the length of time of the earlier issued franchises.
The next question is, “Will it breeze through the Senate when it tackles its own version of the bill?
Somehow, we have this notion that had NORDECO done its best to address the problem of quality power that is wanting in its franchise area while the bill was deliberated upon, it could have easily saved itself from its perdition.
Unfortunately, it failed and it is very unlikely that between now and the actual deliberation of the Senate Version NORDECO can still do it.
In other words, if the electric cooperative is now in that situation, it is definitely due to its own making.
-30-
