In God's own time

We heartily agree with President Noynoy Aquino when he declared: “it is clear that the fight for freedom and change that started during the People Power Revolution in 1986 is not yet over.”

On the other hand, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the state of the country is still a cause for concern. And Bongbong asked:

“Has poverty been alleviated? Has the wealth of the country been more equitably distributed? Do we have more jobs available at home? Has there been a rise in the quality of education? Is there less hunger? Crime? Insurgency? Corruption? Basic services? Health?”

President Fidel V. Ramos issued this statement: “This anniversary is supposed to be a day of coming together. But, that is what is missing in our country today because our co-equal, powerful branches of government are so divided.

“That is why now, what we need is cooperation of all Filipinos and that’s something that won’t be attained just by impeachment.

“Because they are still beggars, there are still starving people and there are still jobless people, impeachment will not solve the problem of poverty, inequity, lack of jobs and a declining economy.”

We were at Edsa for 4 days 26 years ago. Like millions, we did our small share. We even talked to General Artemio Tadiar in Ilocano to plead for him not to attack. We sent a message to Gen. Balbas not to fire his cannons.

I must say candidly that Manong JPE, General Fidel Ramos, Col. Gringo Honasan, Col. Antonio Sotelo, Col. Tirso Gador, Gen. Felix Brawner and thousands of young officers ended a dictatorship, restored democracy and installed a duly elected President in power. The freedoms we are enjoying today were given back to us by Edsa I.

It is especially significant that JPE and FVR did the honorable act of refusing to take over the government and allowed Cory Aquino to rule.

True, poverty and abuses of human rights still exist but, over and above that is our freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, freedom to follow our religious beliefs, freedom to choose where to live and freedom to educate ourselves have been restored.

Hopefully, in God’s own time the other problems will be solved as our country, though slowly, continues to develop and our economy continues to improve.

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BAD DAYS FOR THE PROSECUTION. . The past week was definitely a good week for the defense. On Monday, Day 20, the Senate Impeachment Court spent the whole day trying to ferret out the truth on who leaked out the bank documents of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s accounts. Nothing was accomplished.

Sen. Pres. Enrile rejected the testimony of Enrique Javier, Vice President of PAL to testify on the free tickets given to CJ Corona, ruling it was irrelevant to Article 3 as there were no allegation of bribery in Article 3. Having no other witnesses, the prosecution was forced to give up Article 3.

Wednesday and Thursday put Justice Sec. Leila de Lima on the witness stand. Sec. de Lima relied heavily on the dissenting opinion of Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Upon cross examination, de Lima admitted she had no personal knowledge of what Justice Sereno said in her dissenting opinion causing Sen. Pres. Enrile to rule that her testimony was hearsay, a victory for Justice Serafin Cuevas.

De Lima explained why she blocked GMA’s departure in spite of the TRO issued by the Supreme Court saying she had not received the TRO at that time and further, it was conditional and the three conditions have not yet been complied with.

Upon questioning by Senators, De Lima and prosecutor Cong. Neri Colmenares could not define what they meant by “partiality” of CJ Corona. Also, it was not explained how CJ Corona with one vote controlled or influenced the votes of 8 other Justices in a collegial decision.

Yes, it was a week the defense scored. And as usual, retired SC Justice Serafin Cuevas and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile were the “rock stars” of the show.

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SUPPORT FOR NAGUIAT. . Vice President Jojo Binay threw his support behind embattled Pagcor Chairman Cristino “Bong” Naguiat. Binay said that Naguiat “reestablished the confidence of investors in the gaming industry” as he compared Naguiat’s performance to Ephraim Genuino.

Pagcor, under Naguiat, has increased its income for 2011. In January, 2012 Pagcor recorded a P600 million increase over last year. He has reduced Pagcor operating expenses by 20%.

Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts CEO, has charged that Wynn Resorts Director Kasuo Okada had made $110,000 in illegal payments and accommodations to Pagcor Chairmen Ephraim Genuino and Bong Naguiat.

Of the $110,000, $90,000 was allegedly given to Genuino and $20,000 in accommodations and food and a gift Chanel bag was allegedly given to Naguiat. Naguiat has answered that he immediately returned the Chanel bag and being given a hotel suite is an industry practice to give free accommodations to a gaming industry CEO.

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TIDBITS. . . Holduppers shot and robbed Crisologo Pangan, an ABS-CBN technical director, along Panay Ave. in Quezon City. He suffered a wound in the leg. The crime was caught on CCTV.

Congratulations to Bishop John Du of Dumaguete on his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI as Archbishop of Palo, Leyte.

Compared to previous years, the crowd on Feb. 25 at the People Power Monument was small. President Aquino again used the forum to attack Chief Justice Corona.

House Bill No. 5727 authored by Cavite Cong. Joseph Emilio Abaya raising sin taxes has run into solid opposition from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the Northern Luzon Alliance and Minority Leader Cong. Danny Suarez.

Greetings to our avid readers Congresswoman Kimi Cojuangco, DFA Usec Erlinda Basilio, Amb. Ariel Abadilla, Usec Jose Brillantes, Amb. Patty Paez and Amb. Generoso Senga.