sumaWe strongly believe it is about time for the members of the Quadruple Committees of the House of Representatives to re-visit and study carefully the rules they have laid down in the conduct of their investigations, specifically on the alleged extra-judicial killings (EJKs) claimed to have been perpetrated during the Duterte Presidency.
Yes, we are constrained to let out this unsolicited recommendation of ours because during the quad com hearting last Wednesday, November 13, there was an attendee who we assume was one of the resource persons who acted like he was a congressman quad com member.
The quad com over-all chair Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Barbers sort of allowed former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to ask pointed questions on the main resource person – former President Rodrigo Duterte. He even used an unauthenticated document supposedly to prove his claims of the Dutertes humongous bank accounts. And we are dead certain he did not provide in advance a copy of the said document reportedly acquired from the banks to the quad com secretariat so the members could study if it was worth presenting during the hearing.
If the former senator was indeed in that hearing as a resource person the joint probe body should have reminded him of the rules so he would know his place and how far he could go insofar as the deliberation of the quad com is concerned.
It was however, apparent that Trillanes go beyond the limits of the probe rules and the quadruple committee chairs somewhat subtly allowed the former senator to do his thing.
Thus, we believe that the members of the quad com should re-group themselves and take stock of what has happened to their set rules and how much of these have been openly breached by either the resource persons and the members themselves.
And think of it. Many among the members, mostly those representing the Makabayan Partylist groups reminded last Wednesday’s primary invitee, the former President, to show respect to the Committee. There comportment however, was so bereft of respect to the person they invited calling him simply as Rodrigo Duterte, like he is nobody and an insignificant former highest official of the land.
Clearly, these lawmakers from the so-called Makabayan bloc totally forgot that respect is not demanded; that it is earned. Show no respect and you should not be shown either.
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How serious really is Davao City first district congressional aspirant lady lawyer Migz Nograles in her challenge to the position now held by incumbent Paolo “Polong” Duterte?
We are asking this question because we feel that if she is hoping to put up a good fight against the former President’s son, she cannot afford to just delegate the dissemination of her candidacy to her leaders who she may have just inherited from her father and from brother Karlo.
She should make herself personally and physically visible but be aware of the restrictions of the election law on early campaigning. She should know the areas in the first district where voting population is large as well as the demographics of these places. She may be able to acquire advantage in areas where there are more women voters than the males, especially the young ones.
Historically, both PBA representative Migz and mayoral bet Karlo know which areas in the first district they had been performing strong even during the time of their father. But the lapse of time and possible neglect of their turf may have given these places to the ruling family.
It is, without doubt, for this reason that Migz, and Karlo for that matter, should already be busy hobnobbing with the people in areas within the spheres of their respective candidacy. That is, if they dream of winning, or at least putting up an honorable showing in the May 2025 midterm election.
They should not be all too complacent relying on the social media political battle front. It can lead candidates into perdition.
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When the current City Council assumed almost three years ago we were advancing an idea on what possible ordinance or amendment to any existing, to be introduced by whoever feel our suggestion was worth.
We were actually pushing for the crafting of an ordinance or amendment to existing ones that will have a sure impact on the environment, especially in villages in the city where putting up of poultry and swine farms are allowed.
It has been common knowledge that at certain seasons, especially during harvest times for chicken, swarms of flies “evacuate” the poultry or swine compound because of the massive chemical bombardment as pre-requisite to the delivery of another batch of broiler chicken. The same is true in hog farms.
The fly swarms that could provide “darkness” in times of its flight almost always “invade” the nearby communities. In fact at one time when we visited a friend’s residence not far from a large poultry farm we thought the windows of his reception room were closed. But no, what created the darkness were the swarms of flies mounting on our friend’s house window screens.
So this idea of mandating poultry and swine farm owners or operators to put up some kind of a bio-fence. This is at least three to five =layers or rows of trees planted in the entire perimeter of the farm, compound. These trees should be at the inner portion of either a concrete or metal fence of the poultry or swine farm. When these trees grow bigger, say in 3 to 5 years since planting, these will prevent the swarm of flies from invading the nearby community as the trees will serve as natural barrier right within the poultry or swine farm compound. Consequently the flies’ non-invasion in the community will spare the population from possible illness brought about by the dirty insects.
Unfortunately, no one from our friends in the local legislative body seemed to care. We can only hope that one or two from among the new Council aspirants will be able to see the logic of this idea and pick it up as his or her campaign promise.
