Showdown at Al-Barka

First it was “all-out justice”, now it’s a “cooperate or stand aside” message to the MILF by surrendering fugitive accused Commander Dan “Laksaw” Asnawi. The AFP announced that the 104th Brigade was moved from Lanao del Sur to Basilan. Also, a 91-man Special Forces contingent was added.

There is a frontal face off here as the MILF issued a statement that Dan “Laksaw” Asnawi is innocent of the charges for a crime he had not committed and therefore, he wouldn’t be surrendered. They said the MILF is ready to defend itself, meaning ready for war.

So who will prevail? The Republic of the Philippines or the belligerent breakaway Bangsa Moro MILF force?

 By the way, why has Al-Barka town not been placed under police control?

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ZERO AGRARIAN REFORM . . . In the matter of agrarian reform, CBCP President Bishop Nereo Odchimar and 19 Bishops and hundreds of NGOs, labor farmers, religious and academic leaders signed a manifesto criticizing President Aquino’s lack of interest for agrarian reform. Hacienda Luisita has not been distributed to tenants to date. The Agrarian Reform program was not mentioned in 2 SONAs. DAR Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes was on sick leave for 2 months.

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REVEAL THEM . . . Pamalakaya, an organization of fishermen has asked Malacañang and DBM Sec. Butch Abad to identify the Congressmen and Governors that received the P1.2 billion released by DBM from the Road Users Tax Fund.

President Aquino promised the world in New York last September a government of transparency. Pursuant to that, the list of Road Users Tax Fund recipients should be released.

Recall that at the height of the impeachment of Merceditas Gutierrez debate, reports of an additional P20 million pork barrel released per Congressman supportive of the Malacañang position was reported.

It is a matter of public knowledge that pork barrel funds are a major source of corruption.

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BIG TAX EVADERS. . . The filing of a P1.8 billion, yes billion, tax evasion case against billionaire Macario Gaw Jr. validates earlier observations that BIR should go after big taxpayers rather than imposing a VAT on toll, a VAT on oil and requiring the filing of Annual Information Returns (AIR) by private individuals.

The smugglers of billions of oil products, the operators of big gambling and drug syndicates, the awardees of billion peso contracts under GMA, nouveau riche personalities now living in high end Makati villages and condos acquiring private planes and luxury yatchs should be prioritized for tax audit and investigation.

The Gaw case illustrates how an established businessman would practice tax evasion.

 BIR has filed about 50 tax evasion cases with the Department of Justice. DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima should expedite the filing of cases, the Court of Tax Appeals should also double time to decide the cases which in the past took more than 5 years to finally resolve.

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BUSINESS IS BAD. . . The last quarter of any year, October to December are traditionally boom months for business because of the Christmas shopping rush.

 Businessmen tell us that with October gone, business is still slow. Aquino’s spending program has not been felt. The CCT has not perked up the economy.

This is also indicated by a DOLE survey that reported that Metro Manila employers have not been hiring new workers.

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CRIME WATCH. . . The father of international singing star Charice Pempengco, Ricky, was stabbed to death with an icepick in San Pedro, Laguna.

NPA rebels raided the provincial jail at Oras, Eastern Samar and took 3 guns and valuables of 3 provincial jail guards. A mining firm in Agusan del Sur was raided by the NPA.

Congratulations to Supt. Billy Beltran and the Parañaque police for the speedy solution of the murder of Ramgen Magsaysay Revilla, half brother of Sen. Bong Revilla. What is shocking is the arrest of one of the siblings of the deceased, Joseph Bautista as alleged mastermind. The killing was perpetrated by 2 gun for hire assassins who were paid P200,000 to do the job.

Two RIT gunmen shot dead Paquito Umbao, a court interpreter in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. Two other killings were recorded at Pinamalayan and Bongabong towns Sunday.

Dr. Domingo Dongala Jr. lost P5 M in valuables to robbers of his house at 31 A Scout Hernandez, QC while his family was at Taal Vista Lodge for the weekend. 

Lyndon Millan, 41, has surrendered to Pangasinan police. He is accused of killing his brother Supt. Lloyd Millan and his wife, Cheryll with an M-16 again raising the question of how a private person can acquire an M-16 automatic rifle.

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GUESS WHO? . . . Two senior Cabinet Members are feuding. Their policy difference — rules on the PPP program.

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TIDBITS . . . As of today, DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima has not given former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. It certainly demonstrates a lack of compassion on De Lima’s part. What business has Political Adviser Ronaldo Llamas involving himself in the GMA travel application?

AKO Bicol Reps. Christopher Co, Rodel Batocabe and Alfredo Garbin Jr. have introduced HB 5410 providing a 20 percent discount for teachers similar to senior citizens.

Provincial Agriculturist Serafin Santos said that Nueva Ecija rice production is down 40 percent due to the typhoons and floods.

Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla has announced the renovation of the MacArthur Park Beach Hotel in Tacloban by a Singapore based hotel chain.

Greetings to our readers SSS Commissioner Dianne Pardo Aguilar, Atty. Noel Malaya, RCBC vice president Maross Claudio and Manila Rotary Club president Banit Caasi, Rotarians Mike Guerrero, Rudy Bediones, Babes Reyes, Raul Villegas, Jun Noche, Amado Valdez and Benny Laguesma.