‘From a Distance’ Archives
2nd Time Around
Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Ronald Llamas, is once again in the headlines. He was spotted buying pirated DVD’s in a Quezon City Mall last week. This incident once again put Llamas on the spot the second time. The first was in keeping several firearms which was exposed in public after 2 of his bodyguards figured in a road accident while Llamas was in Switzerland. Objectively, the act of Llamas is not a “mortal sin”. The Aquino Administration had more important matters [...]
Law Breaker
NBI Director Magtangol Gatdula has been relieved from his post in relation to the kidnapping and extortion of a Japanese national. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that investigation showed that Gatdula had personal knowledge of the crime and cover-up. Malacañang upheld the findings of the fact-finding team of the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommending the filing of charges against Gatdula and other NBI officials. President Aquino was particularly angry at Gatdula’s insubordination [...]
Pantawid Program reaches 2.3 million beneficiaries
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assisted not only the needy and poor residents in the country but also thousands of indigent senior citizens nationwide. The DSWD has reached its target of 2.3 million beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4P’s) in 2011. Data from DSWD showed that as of Dec. 23, 2011 there are 2,302,745 registered Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. The DSWD will receive a budget of P48.9 Billion for the year 2012, a [...]
Corporate social responsibility
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) exemplifies what we call in the corporate world as corporate social responsibility (CSR). Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, chairman of San Miguel Corporation and Ramon Ang, president of SMC have signed a P500 million donation for the purpose of building “San Miguel Communities” in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. But more than just raising the stakes, San Miguel Corporation has also decided to change their approach to charity and relief works. Instead of being [...]
The importance of the Impeachment Trial
Every law abiding Filipino must see the impeachment trial since it is the first time in Philippine history that the head of the Supreme Court is being tried for culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust. We should encourage Filipinos to watch the proceedings where we can learn and see the mechanisms of government at work as well as the interplay of law and politics. We should watch the impeachment proceedings so we can see our system of justice [...]
OFW remittances increased
Remittances from Filipinos working abroad posted a double digit growth of 10.6% hitting a new monthly record of $1.78 Billion in November, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday. BSP Governor Armando Tetangco Jr. said remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFW) grew faster in November as more funds were sent home to their loved ones here in the Philippines in time for the Christmas season. Data showed that the amount of remittances last November was $178 Million [...]
Enrile’s shining moment
The impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona has already started and I take my hat off to its presiding officer, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. His opening statement is assuring enough for the Filipinos that the trial will be just and fair. We take on its face value Enrile’s assurance that the impeachment court which he presides will be guided by the Constitution, the applicable laws, the facts presented and the senators – judges individual conscience. There may be doubts that [...]
A feather on Alangalang’s cap
Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals’ organizers once more earns a pat on their backs for garnering again a milestone of success with Lingganay Festival of Alangalang contingent having romped away the grand champion in the world-renown Sinulog competition just concluded in Cebu last week. Mayor Loreto “Entong” Uy, Alangalang officials and its people must be grinning now from ear to ear for this success. * * * Lingganay Festival was the champion in last year’s [...]
The SALN
It is a constitutional requirement that all employees and officials in the government including lawmakers, members of the judiciary are required to file the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) every year. Most people however, can hardly care considering the declarations in the SALN’s that have been made public in the past years. For many Filipinos, the SALN provide comic relief. Even if all key public officials filed their SALN’s religiously every year and opened the [...]
Chief Justice Corona’s fate
Today is the start of Chief Justice Corona’s impeachment trial. Even before the start of the trial, Corona is already damaged. Worse, his wife who also served in government is going to be dragged into the malee. Even acquittal for the Chief Justice in the Senate won’t erase the doubts on people’s minds about his character and the appropriateness of his continued leadership in the Supreme Court. The flip flops on decisions make people frustrated. The Court has simply lost the [...]
Loading ...
