Aman Futures top executive Manuel Amalilio is Malaysian, David Park Lee who operates an illegal casino in Ayala, Alabang is a Korean, shabu laboratories are run by Chinese citizens, drug mules are recruited by Nigerians, Yakusa leaders are behind criminal syndicates and Indians are kidnapping fellow Indians.
What does the picture tell you? Those foreign criminals come here because they can operate well without too much problem. It doesn’t speak well of our police agencies.
To add insult to injury, they marry Filipinas whom they use as dummies to buy a property or to get business permits.
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ANOTHER MASSACRE . . Christopher and Lilian Lastimosa together with their two children have been massacred in Cagayan de Oro by another drug crazed suspect.
There are just too many of these cases happening.
The President must again crack down on the PDEA to do its job.
In a House hearing, an executive of the Dangerous Drugs Board has placed the number of drug users at 1.7 million. Earlier estimates of PDEA placed the number as high as three million.
DDB Executive Director Benjamin Reyes told the House committee on dangerous drugs that there has been an increase of 200,000 drug users for the last two years.
Reps. Vicente Belmonte and Roilo Golez disputed the DDB’s figure of only 1,700 deaths due to drug use.
Nueva Viscaya Rep. Carlos Padilla and Misamis Occidental Rep. Leo Ocampos said that drugs use has spread to the rural areas.
It is accepted that drug use and drug dealing is prevalent in cities and urban areas.
The coordination between PDEA and PNP has to be strengthened.
Malacañang should call a summit on the drug problem.
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MORE DISQUALIFIED . . The Comelec has disqualified 10 more party-list groups bringing to 70 the total number disqualified.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has issued a status quo ante order covering 8 groups led by Ako Bikol, APEC and I-CARE.
Chairman Sixto Brillantes wants to reduce the qualified party-list groups to less than a hundred.
It is clear that certain party-list groups like Ang Galing Pinoy do not represent marginalized groups.
The Supreme Court should act with dispatch on these cases. The Comelec will print the ballots by January 2. The ballots have become too long.
We endorse Chairman Brillantes’ policy to reduce the number of party-list candidates.
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CONFISCATORY . . The Senate is moving to approve the Sin Tax bill. On Tuesday, Sen. Ralph Recto took the floor to debate Sen. Frank Drilon on what he termed as a confiscatory and implausible tax policy seeking to raise P40 to 45 billion revenues from cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
The Drilon version according to Recto increases the tax on beer by 60 percent. Recto claimed any tax that is 50 percent or more is confiscatory.
Recto also pointed out that the Drilon version will impose a heavy burden on sari-sari stores whose sales will be greatly affected.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also disagrees with the Drilon version.
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SERIOUS CHARGE . . Davao City Vice-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte charged Davao police of protecting carnap king Ryan Yu, alias Baktin.
Duterte said that Ryan Yu has deep contacts in the police force that helped Yu to avoid arrest by informing him in advance of police raids.
Duterte revealed that Yu has fled to Thailand. A raid on Yu’s warehouse yielded 14 carnapped vehicles.
Meanwhile, carnapped vehicles have been sold in Surigao Del Sur with several mayors buying them.
DILG Sec. Mar Roxas should shake up the Davao City and Surigao Del Sur police force.
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120,000 ‑ 300,000 VICTIMS . . Aman Futures founder Samuel Amalilio alias Mohammad Suffian Saaid has escaped to Sabah, Malaysia. The NBI has processed more than 8,000 victims in Pagadian City and Zamboanga City alone including Mayor Sammy Co. Mayor Co estimates as much as 120,000 victims in Pagadian.
The bad news is we have no extradition treaty with Malaysia.
DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima has created a panel of 12 prosecutors to expedite the filing of estafa cases against the officers and directors of Aman Futures Group.
DILG Sec. Mar Roxas asked the local government officials to submit a report on their financial positions.
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TIDBITS . . . It is welcome that President Estrada has settled the disagreement between sons Jinggoy and JV.
Another US General, John Allen, the US Commander in Afghanistan and a close friend of Gen. David Petraeus, has been linked to an extra marital affair with Jill Kelley, a Florida socialite.
Minority Floor Leader Danilo Suarez questions the award of the paper contract by the National Printing Office to Holy Family Corp.
An illegal online casino owned by Korean David Park Lee was raided at Ayala, Alabang.
ADB has listed the Philippines as one of the top five Asian countries in terms of tobacco users.
President Aquino speaking before Church leaders led by Brother Eddie Villanueva likened his presidency to “Impossible Dream,” the favorite song of his father Ninoy.
My friend Manuel Almario who is an Inquirer columnist is correct. He said the solution to the political dynasty problem is to create a strong middle class and a majority class of voters that cannot be bought.
BSP reports that Foreign Direct investment reached $1 billion for the 1st eight months of 2012. Sounds good but not really as it is way below Singapore’s $17 billion, Indonesia’s $6 billion, and Vietnam’s $4 billion.
Greetings to avid readers: Fr. Gerry Manlangit, OP; Tessie Tan, Darwina Sampang, Mayor Armando Domantay of Malasiqui, Mayor Vivian Villar of Sto. Tomas, Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay of Calasino, Mayor Nani Braganza of Alaminos, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez of Dagupan City and Gen. Arturo Lumibao.
Also to Mayor Gerry Calderon, Barangay Captain Ely Ezer, Rey Tan and Col. George Calla of Angono, Rizal.