Rough cuts

IN A social media post, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte who is detained in an ICC detention center, said that if there is an opportunity for him to get out of jail he would not go home to the Philippines as long as the country is still under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

Isn’t the former President planning to “do a Ninoy Aquino?” It is our take that by doing such, he will be assured of getting the hero status in the earliest possible time.

In a related development, rabid supporters of the former President are insisting that his handing over to the ICC by the Philippine government is “kidnapping” facilitated by Philippine officials.

We are just thinking aloud. If it was kidnapping that must be kind of exceptional in nature. Imagine the one kidnapped was accompanied by a top-notch Philippine lawyer and a nurse to ensure that someone is always available to check on the kidnapping victim’s physical condition while on board the private jet bringing him to The Netherlands. 

Perhaps it would be more beneficial to the former President if those working for his release should focus more on gathering evidence that will help strengthen his defense. After all, what is critical at this stage of the former President’s case at the International Criminal Court is for his defense team to deal with the evidence submitted to the ICC against the former Philippine leader.

Besides, who are the Duterte backers expecting to rule or affirm their claim that the former President was “kidnapped?” It is unlikely the ICC. Not any of the country’s courts either.

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We learned from a social media post that the approach of the still-unfinished Ma-a Flyover, specifically the one fronting the Monteritz subdivision, was inundated with floodwater early yesterday morning.

What does this mean? Simple. The planners of the multi-billion project have not taken into consideration the drainage system that should be installed to prevent flooding in the area under the flyover.

The DPWH should not have overlooked the location considering that the area is right at the foot of the downward route of the water coming from the elevated road leading to the center of Barangay Magtuod.

Perhaps at this point in time, it is still not too late to come up with a workable drainage plan in that portion of the C.P. Garcia Diversion Highway.

Maybe putting up such a project to complement the soon-to-be-completed flyover will not be as costly as when the flyover is fully finished. 

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It looks like flooding was all over the provinces in the Davao Region. It is also true in most provinces in other parts of Mindanao.

So what flood control projects are being debated about? If we have to reckon with the flood incidence all over, then the conclusion is that there are no existing flood control projects. If there are, these are not implemented in the appropriate areas.

Or another possibility is that either these are ghost projects or are done in the poorest of quality that at the first strike of the flood, their walls immediately give way.

Even on certain roads leading to inland municipalities like Laak in Davao de Oro, the base collapsed as the water sipped through the soil under. The result? The river in that municipality opened its own outlet through the collapsed portion of the road.

In Monkayo, also in Davao de Oro, landslides resulted in the death of two residents and some still believed buried by the soil avalanche.

Again, these incidents can only be attributed to where flood control projects are built, the quality of the work, and the materials are far from ideal.

In the case of the destroyed roads, it is again the failure of the government agency monitoring the quality of the project to validate the workmanship of contractors.

Regarding landslides on remote mountain barangays, well, those are revenge made by the overabused environment.

ANYTHING known to be too much in excess could end up doing more harm than good.

And we are starting to believe that this is what is happening to the efforts of some human rights advocates and those who are strongly highlighting the harm done to society by the controversial war on drugs of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Yes, we have this notion that the “crusaders” are overdoing efforts to highlight the alleged crimes against humanity that the former President is facing at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Imagine, they established a so-called memorial site for victims of the so-called Extra Judicial Killings (EJKs) in a portion of the La Loma Catholic Cemetery in Caloocan City! The “crusaders” transferred two remains of alleged EJK victims from their original burial grounds in Manila’s North and South Cemeteries to the Dambana ng Paghilom. The two are in addition to the 116 remains already interred in the first memorial site for EJK victims.

However, our view is that in creating the memorial those behind it are putting a lot of elements for drama. One glaring thing is that the memorial is called “Dambana ng Paghilom,” or healing. What are these people eyeing to be “healed” with the memorial when clearly the name of the shrine is contradicting its supposed intention?

They want to heal the hurt and temper the hatred the war on drugs has created among Filipinos? How can such healing be achieved when the memorial only perpetuates animosity of the relatives of victims against the suspected perpetrators?

Why would these “crusaders” not focus their efforts in strengthening the case against the former President now awaiting trial at the ICC?

If the former President is convicted by the ICC, we are certain that they will not be bothered even a bit by their conscience. After all such conviction – or maybe exoneration – was attained in the most legal of processes.

And possibly, the “Dambana ng Paghilom” may stand as a reminder that in the succeeding governments, EJKs should not be given a chance to come back. “Never again,” they say.

But will it succeed in healing? Reminds us of the EDSA Shrine.

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Vice President Sara Duterte, in her message during the Chinese New Year celebration, called on Filipinos to embrace courage, unity, and growth.

What nice words to hear. So pleasing to the ears. But can the VP’s admonition attain its purpose of unity for the Filipinos?

We have our doubts. Why? Because, for now, the Vice President is the acknowledged leader in fighting the President who was once her partner when the new administration first forayed into attaining the “Bagong Pilipinas” using their campaign slogan UniTeam.

And with the two at odds, how else will their loyal followers and favor-seekers behave but join in the fray.

So, the advocated unity is clearly nebulous. So is the dream of growth. Courage? Yes, their fanatic followers have all the courage to fight for and on behalf of their patrons. And surely, VP Sara has a huge number of them.

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A German national has made another use for the bible. He carved a space on the inside of the Holy Book and, using duct tape, concealed P55.3 million worth of shabu.

Unfortunately for him, his religiosity did not match  his illegally-inclined mind. When the German national arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila Customs, authorities were suspicious of the significant number of bibles among his cargoes. So, these were inspected.

Lo and behold! The addictive drugs were inside the bibles wrapped in plastic. We can only hope that the drug merchants will not further innovate in their means of bringing in drugs to the country by converting the same into host form. That will definitely be sacrilegious.

VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte, in her recent statement on the state of the country today, said she is doubtful if there will still be a Philippines by 2028 in time for the next Presidential elections. She was short of saying that from the way the country is governed by incumbent President, Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. she doubts if the country will survive.

Saying it without batting an eyelash could not be interpreted otherwise. That is, as far as the VP is concerned, the government is going to the drain, the way it is being run now. And that is exactly what the VP meant.

On the other hand, VP Sara has also ramped up her activities these days, and she is being built up by her well-organized groups, while actively criticizing the present leadership, all of which are clearly geared toward her Presidential run in 2028.

So, if she suspects that there might be no more Philippines by then, for what country will she be running for President?

Does VP Sara expect that if she wins the Presidency, her first order of the day is to resurrect the country? Or, if, as she claimed, there will be no more Philippines, from whom will she get the country and bring it back to life? From the US, China, or Japan?

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Senate President Vicente Sotto III is asking the question why he is singled out in a case filed by some “die-hard” DDS lawyers with the Supreme Court petitioning that he be cited in indirect contempt for issuing negative comments about the SC ruling.

The subject ruling questioned by Sotto was the one that the Supreme Court issued declaring the impeachment of VP Sara, which actually did not see trial by the Senate as “unconstitutional” for violating the one year bar in the Constitution. The same resolution was not reversed in the High Court’s ruling on the House’s Motion for Reconsideration.

While Sotto’s position gained supporters from several law experts like former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna, College of Law deans and professors, the DDS lawyers led by Ferdinand Topacio, former Negros Congressman Jacinto Paras, non-lawyer and PGMA’s lackey Mike Defensor, and several others, decided to zero in on Sotto.

Our take on the issue is that they know that if the Supreme Court will be true to its mandate, the accusers can never win in their case. Why? Because they know that Sotto merely criticized the ruling and manifested his disagreement on it. Nowhere did Sotto make any statement recommending that Congress should not obey the SC ruling.

However, Sotto is just like any other citizen of the Republic who is Constitutionally-guaranteed of his freedom of speech and expression.

So, by zeroing in on the Senate President, what the complainants will certainly fail to get from the Supreme Court, they’ll get it from Sotto who will be subjected by them and their hired trolls to vicious political attacks, the most scathing of which is Sotto’s supposed lack of moral authority to comment on the SC ruling because the Senate President is only a graduate from the fictional “Wanbol University” of the defunct television comedy sitcom, “Iskul Bukol.”

Our position though is that Senate President Sotto will possibly have the last laugh. And the complainants –mostly lawyers – could end up “ma BULAGA” while they EAT their lunch, courtesy of …

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Now we will know whether Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go will do a Senator Bato dela Rosa.

Yes, Go is now officially included as one of those “enablers” of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs that allegedly resulted to the killings of thousands of suspected drug addicts and dealers.

Go, along with Senator Dela Rosa and some others, was implicated in the alleged crime against humanity by a former police official-turned General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) P/Col. Royena Garma.

But even before Dela Rosa’s name was officially mentioned by the International Criminal Court (ICC) he immediately “vanished” from the public’s view and stopped attending his Senate duties. He did the disappearing act with barely talks of an arrest warrant already issued against him minus the proof.

Go, however, preferred to show his innocence by continuously making himself visible both in the Senate and elsewhere in the country. 

SOME YEARS back, we hosted a visitor from Switzerland, a design engineer.

A month before his coming, we were told by a common friend – a Filipino who worked in that tiny country – that our then future visitor was looking forward to seeing scenes of nature, as most places he visited were already altered by modernization.

So when he finally came with his wife, we decided to bring him to Malabog, where some inland resorts were slowly being developed. In fact, to really find out if he enjoys everything nature-created, our target last stop was the waterfall that was on a property of the late Second District Councilor Pedring Salvador.

Our route started in Calinan via Lacson, then to Malabog. But we were surprised when his wife warned us not to hire an air-conditioned vehicle. Instead, the wife wanted us to hire a public utility jeep. When we told her that the road to Malabog was still not concreted, therefore dusty, she said his husband does not mind.

So off we went with some stops along the way, every time we passed by groups of men enjoying their Saturdays with some drinks. Yes, that Swiss visitor of ours disembarked and talked to the group. He also accepted a glass or bottle of beer offered to him. And upon leaving, he gave at least P500 for their additional drinks.

Along the way, we got the courage to ask our visitor why he opted to take a simple, open vehicle instead of an air-conditioned one.

He told us that in taking an enclosed and air-conditioned transport unit, his seeing the sceneries along the route would be no different from viewing them on television. His appreciation will not be complete. With his reason, we could only agree in silence.

As we were nearing Malabog, our guest pointed to a valley still heavily forested.  We asked him what it was that he saw in the valley that gave him some degree of excitement. Instead of directly answering our question, he proceeded to ask if our local government has a designated area for a game park. We answered him that there is none.

He then told us that the area, which we later found out to be part of Sumimao, is best suited for development into a regulated game park that could be a good destination for hiking and outdoor camping enthusiasts.

We did not tell our Swiss visitor that during that time, a number of upland communities were still havens to the rebel New People’s Army (NPA), Sumimao included. In fact, we were initially hesitant in taking him to Malabog had we not been assured by a friend associated with the rebels of some kind of protection.

Now, after a lapse of many years, we are reminded of that question by our foreign friend about an open park of that kind.

Yes, why not our councilors, especially those from the Second District of the City, find time to visit Sumimao and Malabog in order for them to appreciate that particular gift of nature? Maybe they might be able to find out that the forested valley is still government-owned and therefore can be used for government projects like a game park.

It is our take that having a game park where nature enthusiasts can spend their weekends without much budgetary requirement is one way of dispersing development to the rural areas. It can also be an opportunity for the locals to showcase their products – agricultural and others – to the lowlanders.

Putting a game park in areas like Sumimao could also give job opportunities to those who will be hired by the local government to enforce regulations on the park’s use.

Perhaps it is about time that the natural resources in upland villages are harnessed without first considering the financial gains, but rather making the people feel that they have a responsibility to nurture the city’s environment.

How about that, honorable gentlemen and ladies? 

THIS ONE is something weird. That is, as far as we are concerned. Imagine the driver of an unlucky vehicle passing under an elevated highway in Metro Manila getting charged for the death of a man who was apparently committing suicide by jumping!

The suicidal man jumped from the railing of the elevated highway and landed on the vehicle negotiating the road below. And as he might have wished, he died when his body hit the vehicle.

It is easy to imagine how the driver of the unfortunate vehicle felt when he was accused by the police of homicide through reckless imprudence when he had nothing to do with the man’s fall. In fact, if he were merely a driver of the vehicle and it was owned by another, he could have dreaded more of the potential cost of the damage to the car.

But no, he was slapped with a case that no person in their right senses could have imagined. The incident he met on that fateful day made him a victim twice over. First, he has to reckon with the expenses needed to restore the damage to the vehicle he was driving. Second is the strong possibility that the police will pursue the homicide through reckless imprudence that could even result in the impounding of his driven vehicle or his incarceration.

The case made us remember an unwritten policy of a large company based in the Davao Region that “encourages” drivers of its fleet of vehicles to just totally run over a person hit by its vehicles, especially if the driver feels that the victim may end up fully invalid.

After all, according to the unwritten policy, the company may end up paying for the long hospitalization and recovery process of the victim. So, it was believed by management to be more prudent to just pay one time for the life of the victim.

How did we learn about this “encouragement” by the company management to its drivers? Well, for a time, the giant firm was a valued client of the company where we once worked. And it was our insider office friends who told us through a slip of their tongues.

It was one revelation to hardest for us to believe. But the possibility of its truth was not remote during those times, especially when the company’s service vehicles were involved in road accidents, hitting some hapless victims. Settlements of such cases were as quick as the passage of wind gusts.

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Then, who has not heard of the reports that the appropriate authorities are running after the operators of the two sea vessels that met accidents in the high seas that resulted in deaths and injuries of a number of the boats’ passengers and crew members.

One of the vehicles was reported to have capsized in the waters off Samal Garden City largely still largely part of the Davao Gulf. The other is a Ro-Ro vessel plying the seas of the island Province of Basilan. As of yesterday, the number of deaths was already over 50 people, with many still missing.

The Department of Transportation and the Maritime Industry are quick to order the investigation of the operators of the two vessels.

But the two agencies appear to be a bit lenient on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel who were actually the ones who gave the vessels clearance to depart from the port. Such clearance to leave port should have only been given after certain protocols were strictly followed, such as carrying only passengers allowed in its tonnage capacity, availability of safety gadgets based on the number of people on board, meeting the minimum safety requirements of the boat’s build, and, of course, ensuring the sanity of the crew’s minds and emotions.

On the incident involving the first vessel, it was reported that the boat was only authorized to travel within the waters around the island city. But the Coast Guard seemed to have been “hoodwinked” by the crew into believing that it was taking the route allowed in its operation and not much farther away.

In the second vessel sinking, the Coast Guard certainly knew the kind of weather conditions then prevailing in the Basilan Sea. And we have no doubt the CG knew just before the Departure of the vessel whether or not it was carrying passengers and cargo much beyond the boat’s allowable capacity.

It was also likely that the CG officials giving the clearance did not even attempt to validate the number of passengers listed in the manifest when they could have done it by simply taking even a cursory look at the crowd of human beings who had boarded the ro-ro vessel.

And the DOTr and Marina simply suspended the Coast Guard personnel involved while a thorough probe is still to be conducted on the said regulatory personnel.

Can they not possibly change the process – charge the boat operators simultaneously with the Coast Guard personnel? Let them prove in court beyond a reasonable doubt that they are not guilty of any wrongdoing.

The government though its regulatory bodies on maritime business, only has to produce what they may think is irrefutable evidence of the boat operators and Coast Guard personnel’s wrongdoings.

We believe that only in that scheme will the so-called probe into the misdeeds of both the CG and the operators be able to dodge the vulnerability of bias for or against any of the accused.

These two incidents remind us of a post on Facebook that showed pictures of a suspected snatcher arrested by the police. The lawman on the desk was quick to order the arresting policeman to immediately bring the suspect to the detention cell.

On the same post, another picture shows the same policeman hauling a politician who was caught red-handed demanding a percentage from a contractor and attempting to bribe the policeman into keeping his mouth shut on what he saw.

And the same desk officer shouted to the arresting cop to immediately release the politician as the charges against him by the contractor, and the claim of bribery by the apprehending officer are still subject to investigation.

Funny? Of course. But that is what has been happening in the country’s governance. Sad.

A BILL banning the perpetuation of political dynasties is now being worked out in the Senate. In fact, the sponsors and other supporters of the bill in the Upper Chamber are already starting consultation activities with the various sectors of Philippine society. One of the senators who is actively involved is opposition Senator Riza Hontiveros.

This early, we already know which political families will be against the bill to the point of fighting it “tooth and nail.”

We know that after decades since the effectivity of the 1987 Constitution, where such is prominently provided, not a single legislator was known to have strongly come up with a bill that would have been an enabling legislation to make the Charter provision work.

Of course, we can understand. After all, most of those who are now dominating the two Houses of Congress are either some of the surviving delegates to the Constitutional convention, or their scions – sons and daughters, or even grandchildren.

With the anti-political dynasty bill emanating from the Senate, chances are it may be able to hurdle any opposition. Many are also hoping that the final Senate version of the bill will be what the majority of the Filipino people are hoping for.

Imagine, these days we have places where key elective positions are held by the grandparents, the sons and daughters, the grandchildren, the nephews and nieces, and even those still inside the womb are already designated to one day become mayor, congressman/woman, councilors, and even barangay captains!

Our fervent hope is that this bill subsequently becomes a law that is not mutilated and substituted with provisions that will suit the interests of incumbent politicians.

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We have it from reports in the national capital that a lawyer who gained popularity with his defense of suspects in high-profile crimes is filing with the Supreme Court a petition to declare Senate President Vicente Sotto III guilty of indirect contempt.

Yes, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio is petitioning the highest court to have the Senate President held in indirect contempt. His basis was Sotto’s criticism of the SC’s ruling declaring the impeachment case against the Vice President “unconstitutional” for having violated the Constitutional bar of filing more than one impeach rap within a one-year period.

Perhaps Topacio believes that Sotto’s negative reaction to the ruling can be taken as already a clear manifestation of his encouragement to the other Senators not to follow the Highest Court’s decision.

But we have heard and read several times the Senate President’s critical statement on the SC’s resolution. And nowhere in his statement tends to suggest that the Senate should not obey the same.

Perhaps Topacio might have thought that he was too bright a lawyer to have Sotto’s reaction as already an order to the Senators to ignore the ruling. But it was clearly a manifestation of his disagreement with the ruling. As simple as that.

Maybe the lawyer of the suspected massacre “brain” in Negros Oriental must have thought that the Constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of expression and speech is already dead, so Sotto is prohibited from manifesting.

If lawyers like Topacio can conveniently make their own interpretation of the Constitutional provision because they are known to be on the other side of the political fence with the Senate President, can any ordinary Filipino citizen still run to lawyers of similar status for defense in cases where he or she needs such a lawyer’s intervention?

Pray, tell us.

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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region XI has reported that the Ma-a Flyover Project is 90 percent completed. So the ten percent remaining could possibly be just the finishing touches?

But how long will it take to finish the remaining ten percent? We have heard of projects where the 10 percent unaccomplished is the longest to be finally completed.

Take the case of that very short concrete bridge spanning the creek that divides Tacunan in the third district and Catalunan Grande in the first district of Davao City.

For several years now, starting during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been taking the route from our house in the rural area when we make visits to our residence in Catalunan Grande.

The span itself was completed shortly after the pandemic started.  Lacking were the bridge approach from the Tacunan end and the connection of the Catalunan Grande approach to the main road.

Roughly, what remains to be done may be only about ten percent of the total bridge project. But lo and behold, it is already about seven years since the bridge’s main portion was finished. However, the approaches on one side have not been done, and the one at the Catalunan end has not been connected to the main road.

In other words, in that particular project, the ten percent or a little over has not been started yet after several years already. How much more for the ten percent of the Ma-a Flyover?

Of course, it is our take that since the flyover project is seen by motorists almost 24 hours a day, the possibility is that the DPWH XI will not put itself in an uncompromising situation.

WILL ANY of the new impeachment cases filed against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte finally succeed in the Lower House and be submitted to and tried by the Senate sitting as an impeachment Court?

Frankly, we have no idea. However, many sectors of the Philippine population believe it will go to the Senate. And while the VP is calling it political harassment and that it has no evidence, other sectors also believe that Sara knows fully well that it has. 

These latter sectors believe that the VP is issuing statements and recording videos to make it appear that she is the “victim” in the political maneuver to keep her away from the road to the presidency in 2028.

According to the latter sectors, the VP is using the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) as proof that her accusers have no grounds against her.

On the other hand, the same sectors are insisting that the COA findings could be one of the most devastating pieces of evidence against her.

Whether or not Sara’s claim of zero evidence against her and whether allegations of misuse of her P125 confidential funds are true, the people will only come to judge for themselves after her impeachment is tried by the senator-judges.

So, we have to wait a little longer. After all, the impeachment process has just been initiated by the House Committee on Justice.

With the latest report of some congressmen allegedly shifting support a little over two years before the next Presidential elections in 2028, the outcome of the decision of the plenary in the VP’s impeachment may end up a totally different story.

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So, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao Oriental finally decided to revoke the permit of the company that is extracting mineral ores in an area adjacent to the world-famous Mt. Hamiguitan mountain range?

For this act of the Provincial legislative body of Eastern Davao Province, the Interfacing Development Interventions and Sustainability (IDIS) is rejoicing. Certainly, because the revocation is one win in the organization’s battle against those who are bringing destruction to the environment.

It is our take, however, that the IDIS rejoicing may not be for long. Why? It is because the mining company operating in the area found the place to be well-endowed with the mineral ores it is looking for. The ores are directly shipped to their foreign markets where the processing is done.

And it cannot be denied that the mining company has already sunk a huge amount of money into its operation over the past few years. It surely will find ways to recover its capital.

It’s more likely that the mining firm will leave no stone (may be ore) unturned just to continue its lucrative operation.

How it will do it is for everyone concerned with the environment to imagine.

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A detained man arrested for possession and sale of illegal drugs managed to escape from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Custodial facility in Camp Leonor.

As a consequence, six policemen tasked to secure the facility are now relieved. Well, the escapee must be one no ordinary detainee. Imagine, he was able to outsmart all the guards of the detention facility very well inside the camp compound!

While the escapee was not able to dodge the CCTV installed in the vicinity while executing his daring escape, he succeeded in getting out of the compound. He must possibly be the Houdini reborn.

Levity aside, according to the news about his escape, DCPO acting director Mannan Muarip admitted knowing that the custodial facility has “structural weaknesses.” Did the DCPO director discover the “weaknesses” after the escape only, or did he see them before?

If the good colonel noticed the “structural weaknesses” before, it is unfortunate that he failed to do what was necessary to prevent any escape. If he discovered it after the escape then he should endeavor to correct the “weaknesses” so that no other detainee will be able to exploit it later.

As to the relief of the six policemen, the disciplinary measure given them is more than worth their omission. They could have possibly been literally sleeping on the job.

WE THANK Davao City’s First District Councilor Tek Ocampo for giving us the needed clarification on the implementation of the increase in the amount of subsidy to qualified seniors. The amendment of the previous ordinance providing for the subsidy, then pegged at P1,500 annually, provides for the addition of another P1500 for a total of P3,000 starting this calendar year.

Many of our co-villagers were asking us if they would receive the said amount starting this year from the city government. While we are aware that the increase of P1,500 is to be staggered at P500 starting this year, we want our answer to the question raised by many beneficiaries to be correct and will not give even an inch for them to doubt.

To ensure that our response to the query is foolproof, we contacted through Messenger two of our more active local legislators, namely Second District Councilor Danny Dayanghirang, and First District alderman Tek Ocampo.

Tek however, was the quicker to answer our inquiry. He told us that the hike in subsidy was incremental. Meaning the entire upward adjustment of another P1,500 will be implemented for a period of three years at P500 per year starting in 2026.

So we would like to advise our senior readers that by the time you receive the subsidy, hopefully starting this Saturday, the amount that the city government will give you is P2,000. The remaining P1000 will be included in the 2027 and 2028 releases of the subsidy.

For this very clarifying information that Councilor Tek has provided us, we can be certain that there will be no more doubts as to how much the Seniors will receive this year, next year, and in 2028.

Thank you again, Councilor Te,k for your immediate response. May all the other Councilors in the city be as sharing as you are. More power, and we hope we can help you with ideas on what ordinances to propose.

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Officials of the various barangays in Davao City, beware.

If you want to be suddenly slapped with suspension from office, then do not listen to the warning made by the local government. That is, “to create a Barangay Mosquito-Borne Disease Task Group (BMDTG).

And the possible suspension and reprimand will not stop there. The barangay officials will have to religiously enforce all the defined responsibilities in the task group.

Clearly, the creation of the BMDTG is an admission that, despite the efforts of the City’s Health Department, the threat of outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue has remained uncurbed.

We can only hope that such a threat of suspending barangay officials or giving them scathingly-worded reprimand will help in a large way the prevention of the spread of diseases that are coming from the seemingly harmless insect.

We too expect that the cooperation of the residents of the villages by way of reporting to the city authorities that the barangay officials ignore the mandate to put up a Task Group.

They cannot compromise the health of the people in the villages by giving weight to their personal relations with certain barangay officials, especially the barangay captains and the members of the Sangguniang Barangay.

And we expect as well that the Council members will have the balls to impose the sanctions provided in the ordinance creating the BMDTG. If not, they will just end up as laughingstocks.

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In our column days back, we wrote about the issue of how the House Justice Committee will possibly look into the sufficiency in substance of the impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. filed by a lawyer and another by the Makabayan bloc in the House.

Earlier, the same committee in the Lower House proudly brandished its findings that the impeachment complaints were sufficient in form. From that resolution, we raised the question whether the Committee members will also find sufficiency in substance in the complaints.

And we were not wrong with our assessment that the House body will immediately see the substance in the impeachment raps against the President as wanting.

What now? Will the complainants in both impeachment raps file a revised rap and provide the necessary documents and reword the body of the charges to make the substance required clearly manifested?

It is our take, however, that the complainants in both impeachment cases can only present the acceptable substance if they really have the beef with the President.