Expreccionez

        Justice for the murder of “Bubby” Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito seems to have been long forgotten and buried away in the ravages of time. Especially when the suspect involved is one of great influence and rank such as Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson who was linked to the case by a witness testimony.

        Senator Lacson vehemently denied his guilt of the case, and stated that he could look anyone in the eye and say that he has nothing to do with it. Nevertheless, an arrest warrant was released, and he has gone away long before that.

       After he claimed that he was not guilty of this crime, he ran away to various places, and thus became a fugitive, not guilty was it? From Cebu to Hong Kong he fled, and it was then suspected that he had also gone to Australia. But why does it seem hard for the police to catch him right away? He was sighted several times at different places. There was even a CCTV camera that recorded his flight for Hong Kong. But the police came back empty handed.

        Despite the countless sightings of senator Lacson, it seems that the police handle his capture very lightly. But the reason to that is very evident. He was the former Director General of the Philippine National Police, and a bemedalled police official, in addition to that, of course he is a senator. Whom of the police would want to go against their senior, and to top it all, a senator?

        But what if Lacson was just a common person? In comparison with those common people who have had cases similar to his, most likely a salvage operation was to be held and the Court of Appeals wouldn’t even bother to pay such attention to the cases of unknown people.

        Another thing is that the Court of Appeals made too quick a decision regarding his case na dthouroghly rejected the affidavit presented by Cesar Mancao saying that it was suspicious of him to take eight years before testifying against Lacson. It seems that the Court of Appeals really did it quickly this time, especially rejecting an 80 page affidavit without further ado and concluding that Senator Lacson is not guilty.

       But then, the decisions have been made and the arrest warrant has been lifted from Senator Lacson. However, it has been well-known to all that he used his influence and power to protect himself and take control of justice. Is this what the blindfolded woman holding the balance means? Being easily swayed by power and influence and to top it all the one doing it was a law enforcer who once stated such honorable principles to the people? Such a rotten system indeed.

-Harmony Joy B. Donato ^_^

P.S. Hope you liked my Editorials! ^_^

       The Filipinos are fortunate enough, as well as its media to have the rights for the freedom of expressing themselves. But along with these rights, come responsibilities for maintaining the balance and order in our country.

       The Philippines is known for upholding its reputation as a democratic country, and at the same time, for being a haven for the freedom of expression. However, in the latter events, the order that the country has long fought for and maintained regarding this right seems to be replaced with chaos.

       Yes, the Filipinos are indeed free to express their feelings, opinions, and views and some use this freedom in various ways. Anthony Nepomuceno, the person alleged to be responsible for the bar exam blast last September 26 at De La Salle University, defended himself from this accusation by saying that he is not the one responsible for the said crime for he was not there when the incident took place. On the other hand, Political misunderstandings are also resolved by means of using the power of expression.

       The fact that the freedom of expression could do all these, people as well as the government should treat it of utmost importance. For this same right that could be used to defend people and mend misunderstandings could be turned into a deadly weapon that could destroy the country and bring chaos unto its citizens.
“Actions speak louder than words.” as the old saying goes, but words are more lethal than actions. For example, some people say that the current administration is lax in accomplishing their duties and responsibilities to the country and that President Aquino was only chosen as President because of “Parental” reasons and neither for the skills he possess nor the projects he had done.

       Now these remarks mainly act as poison to the people’s minds. Extinguishing nationalism in them, making them disinterested on whatever should happen to our country, putting out the urge in them to continue the fight for change, progress, and development leaving the government disabled. What could the government do without its citizens anyways? Thus leaving the rest in a chaotic country.
The freedom of expression plays a vital role in deciding the fate of our country. The people must understand that everything they do has its own consequences, every word they say can either be a cure or a poison. Yes, the media and the citizens could express whatever their views and opinions are, freely. Provided, however, that they take responsibility for the result of their actions- for the result of their words.

       One cannot just express himself about how he sees a situation carelessly and when it becomes trouble, he’d just say: “I don’t know, I absolutely have nothing to do with that.” For if that were to happen, that would indeed be a ridiculous act.
People must be aware of the fact that in their hands, lie the power of expression, and what more? the freedom to use it. It is up for them to decide what they are going to do with that power. Whether they would use it for the country’s development or for the country’s downfall they should remember that alongside these, are wisdom in usage, and of course, responsibility.

       One last thing is, whatever people choose, they should make sure that they would not regret it in the end, for as the cliché goes, “With great power, comes great responsibilities.”

-Harmony Joy B. Donato ^_^

       NEW YORK- After a jam packed schedule of meetings with important people, President Benigno Aquino III took a quick break to eat a hotdog sandwich with a cola on the other hand near his hotel. Such act truly proves that he is the exact opposite of the former president.

         Last year, $20,000 for a capricious meal at the restaurant Le Cirque in New York after a meeting with the U.S. president Barack Obama was spent by the group of former president- now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. For a president of a country which is experiencing severe economic crises, such capricious act was seen by the public as absolutely ridiculous.

       It was a relief that President Aquino did not follow the former president’s footsteps but took the other path and did his best not to commit the mistakes that the former president once did.

        Compared to the big amount of money that she frivolously spent, the total sum of $54 (about P2400) was spent by the Aquino party at the small Sabrett hotdog stand for a quick bite after many meetings with such people of high status and importance. Such benevolent act is one that cannot be expected from a president of a country- especially a country that is known to be corrupt. It seems like the winds are finally changing on the Philippine islands.

        Even the American citizens did not expect such act. The pedestrians passing by at the time- unaware of the current event, asked the reporters who is causing such a crowd. Told that it was president Aquino, in a split second, digital and video cameras started flashing and rolling. This is really surprising and unexpected, but delightful to know at the same time.

        P. Noy really holds the light that will outshine the darkness left by the former administration. We believe that his claims of making this country a better place are in his capacity to fulfill.

       Instead of being drowned in the pleasures that a person of high status can obtain, the president instead, reached out to the people, especially to the poor. As former events could prove it, he even refused to be treated special and different from his fellow citizens so as he discontinued the use of “wang-wang” and followed the traffic regulations as well. P. Noy holds high the hope of the Filipino people of having a better nation.

       On the other hand, our president caused such a problem especially for his protection such that his bodyguards and secret service escorts surely had a hard time back then. There was even a plan of the president to dine at Jollibee instead, but it was rejected by the secret service so as it will require more agents should the president eat inside the Filipino fast food chain. Just imagine how the guards are handling the situation of the president eating a hotdog sandwich while they are busy telling the people, “Step aside, step aside.”

       But even though President Noynoy wasn’t thinking of how his bodyguards were back then, from this, we can assume that he wasn’t even thinking of his own protection at the time and he wasn’t thinking of himself at all! Instead, he thinks about the situation of our country especially of the poor and helpless. Being careful not to waste the taxes paid by the citizens just for his own pleasure, he uses the country’s money thriftily in the most practical ways ever. Just like what a father does to his son. Our president is putting himself behind for the sake of our own country. Surely an act of a hero did he do. As the motto of the rotary club says that we should always put “Service above Self.”

-Harmony Joy B. Donato ^_^