ORMOC CITY-A man was killed after the truck he was on board tumbled which also resulted in the injury of two persons in Lavezares, Northern Samar on Monday (July 17) at about 4:30 pm.
Killed was Reynaldo Torcido, a resident of San Roque, also in Northern Samar, while the injured were identified as Oscar Ligid-ligid, Jr.43 and from Catarman, and Ruben Mansanilla, 30, who is from Victoria, in the same province.
In an interview, Police Corporal Andre Banez said that the truck that Torcido was on board fell to the side of the road due to a mechanical problem.
However, he jumped off the vehicle and landed on the pavement which resulted in his death.
His companion, Mansanilla, and Ligid-Ligid, a lending collector whose motorcycle was hit by the rampaging truck, sustained injuries.
About 24 motorcycles, which were parked in the streets where the incident happened, were damaged. The truck was loaded with about 300 bags of cement which was on its way to Catarman from Allen town.
All three were brought to the Allen District Hospital where Torcido was declared dead on arrival by his attending physician. (ROBERT DEJON)
Our country has historically grappled with the pervasive issue of corruption within its government institutions. But our citizens, known for their vigilant stance against corruption, have emerged as a formidable force in combatting this societal ill. Through their unwavering dedication, collective action, and the employment of various tools and approaches, Filipinos are actively working towards eradicating corruption and ensuring a more transparent and accountable government.
One of the core attributes that define the Filipino society’s character is their innate intelligence and comprehension. This enables them to grasp the systemic intricacies of corruption, dissect its root causes, and identify feasible solutions. These individuals have acquired the intellectual prowess necessary to analyze the workings of the Philippine government, identify patterns of corruption, and suggest effective countermeasures. With this knowledge, they play a crucial role in fostering public awareness, mobilizing communities, and engaging in informed discussions that lead to tangible actions against corruption.
The comprehension of Filipinos further extends beyond the realm of academia. Through an informed understanding of their rights as citizens, Filipinos are equipped with the necessary tools to hold their leaders accountable. Transparency and accountability are foundational principles emphasized not only in educational institutions but also by civil society organizations and media outlets. With increasing access to information through social media platforms, the dissemination of news regarding corrupt practices has become more widespread. Filipinos, thus, remain vigilant in their efforts to expose corruption and ensure that public officials are held accountable for their actions.
Collective action acts as a unifying force among Filipinos in their fight against corruption. The shared belief that corruption must not be tolerated fosters a strong sense of community engagement and involvement. This collective action takes various forms, including peaceful protests, grassroots campaigns, and active participation in anti-corruption initiatives. Collaborative efforts between civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and advocacy groups provide a platform for Filipinos to voice their concerns, demand transparency, and maintain pressure on the government to enact reforms. By lending their collective voice to the cause, Filipinos continue to push for change and challenge the status quo.
The Filipinos’ intelligence and comprehension, coupled with their unyielding dedication, have positioned them as key players in the fight against corruption within the Philippine government. While challenges persist, the vigilance exhibited by Filipinos serves as a beacon of hope, driving the country towards a future marked by accountability, transparency, and good governance.
The United Nations (UN) currently finds itself at a crucial juncture in its history, as it confronts the challenging task of adapting to an increasingly interconnected world that demands global governance. As globalization continues to shape the political, economic, and environmental landscape, the need for effective global coordination becomes ever more imperative.
The UN’s intelligence in preparing for a global government is evident through its emphasis on sustainable development goals (SDGs) and climate change mitigation. Understanding the interconnectedness of global challenges, the organization has developed a comprehensive agenda focusing on economic growth, social welfare, and environmental protection. Through initiatives such as the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN exhibits a profound comprehension of the need for coordinated global efforts to tackle pressing issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Moreover, the UN’s resolve is reflected in its ability to foster multilateralism as a key driver of global governance. The organization serves as a platform for nations to come together and negotiate shared values, norms, and policies, furthering the understanding that collective action is necessary to address global challenges effectively. By facilitating dialogue and promoting international cooperation, the UN strengthens its position as a global authority capable of providing guidance on matters of global concern, substantiating its preparedness for a potential global government.
The need for inclusivity and equity underpins its progressive stance on global governance. Acknowledging that true global governance requires representation from all nations, the UN strives to give each member state an equal voice in decision-making processes, regardless of their economic, political, or social standing. This approach ensures that the potential global government doesn’t marginalize any nation, fostering a more equitable and just world order.
However, challenges persist in the UN’s journey towards a global government. The intelligence of the organization is tested by increasing disputes and conflicts among member states, which hinder effective global governance. Addressing these challenges requires the UN to enhance its conflict resolution mechanisms, strengthen diplomatic efforts, and ensure that its decision-making processes are fair, transparent, and supported by all member states. By continually evolving and adapting to such challenges, the UN displays its blueprint in its pursuit of a global government.
Thus, the UN stands poised to address the growing demand for global governance as the world becomes increasingly interconnected. The organization demonstrates a profound understanding of the need for sustainable development, multilateralism, inclusivity, and equity in shaping global governance. While challenges persist, the UN’s commitment to overcoming obstacles and fostering international collaboration paves the way for a more effective and inclusive global government, enabling the world community to tackle pressing issues collectively and shape a supposedly more prosperous future for all.
The majority decision of the International Criminal Court authorizing the investigation of the brutal drug war by the Duterte administration would open unhealed wounds of the victims. It will also expose the extent of the mayhem that the drug war was carried out by the police under the command of now senator Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, purported other person subject of the investigation. It would be recalled that the administration of then president Rodrigo Roa Duterte made the drug war as its primary program.
The strategy started with knocking on doors dubbed as “tokhang” which stands for the combined local dialects “katok” (knock) and “hangyo” (request) on houses where suspected drug users and sellers reside. The houses and the purported drug users and pushers were taken from a list made by barangay officials who were forced to submit a list to the police under pain of being tagged as supporters of drug users and sellers in the community.
But the knocks were reportedly carried out at night while people in the community are asleep. The tagged persons would the be brought to police stations were they were made to admit as drug users or pushers. Often, the admissions were under duress and the purported suspected drug users and sellers would be made to list names of their drug suppliers.
In the worse case that the revelations extracted would point to the very same police officers who nabbed them, the drug user or seller becomes a candidate for silencing to “serve and protect” the police officers who were labelled by their then police director and now senator Ronald Marapon dela Rosa as “ninja cops” which he explained as police officers in the practice of recycling confiscated drugs as repacked commodity for sale.
The helpless drug suspects who are under police custody would become an asset in detention in exchange of cooperation, otherwise, a candidate for elimination to silence the squeeler forever.
In the horrible days that the drug war was in full implementation, the streets and communities became dangerous places splattered with blood of suspected drug users and pushers. The knocks were reportedly turned into shooting sprees carried out by police officers who blindly follow the unwavering instruction by the then president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his loyal policebgeneral Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, to shoot on the incredible nse of “nanlaban” meaning “fought back”.
Thus far, the families of the victims are united and wailing in pain as they fight for justice of their murdered kin. The evidence are splattered with blood stains.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com
IT’S obvious that we need laws. We should respect and follow them as faithfully as possible as long as they are just laws. But we have to understand that laws, which in the end come from God, are formulated and articulated by us and therefore are subject to varying human conditions, such as the prevailing culture at the time the laws were made, etc. It’s for this reason why some exceptions can be made in obeying these laws.
We are reminded of this fact of life in that gospel episode where some leading Jews complained to Christ about his disciples doing something unlawful during the Sabbath. That unlawful thing was nothing other than that these disciples picked grains in the field to eat because they were hungry. (cfr. Mt 12,1-8)
That was when Christ clarified to them what the real intent of the Sabbath law was. He explained that exceptions can be made. “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry,” he said, “when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat?”
Still more: “Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent?”
Then he explained why such exceptions can be made. “I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
It is quite clear that laws are made to serve our ultimate end, and that can only be that we be led to God, our original source and ultimate end. Our laws should be such that they should not negate nor even undermine the achievement of this fundamental purpose of the laws. Even our traffic laws, so insignificant if impacted with our ultimate end, should respect this fundamental purpose.
But what do we have? We sometimes absolutize our laws as if they are the ultimate purpose in our life. They can be so rigidly and indiscriminatingly applied to all cases when there can be exceptions or even exemptions that can be made. We fall into some kind of legalism.
And nowadays, there are even laws that undermine the ultimate purpose of our life, that is, our proper relation with God. Christ himself complained about this. “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” (Mk 7,8) We are now making ourselves as the ultimate lawgiver, as if we are the creator of the universe.
We have to be careful with our tendency to fall into what is called as legalism, which is a way of making our human laws so absolute as to regulate even matters of conscience that they become the end in themselves. Legalism is when we make our human laws so absolute that they cannot stand any more improvement, enrichment, or even revision and revocation.
Legalism is when we get too obsessed with following the letter of the law at the expense of recognizing the true spirit of the law. It is usually characterized by rigidity and heartless treatment of people, especially those disadvantaged by a given law.
This is not to say that our laws are useless. No. Laws are always necessary and very useful. But they should be treated as means only, not as ends. As such, they cannot be treated as if these laws are the only laws that have to be followed. In a given situation or case, other laws may be followed.
CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA,DM, CESE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA,DM, CESE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.-Proverbs
Ironic as it may seem, we must anticipate the reality of El Nino or long dry spell, even if its raining and Typhoon is at the door. In fact, the predictions of the drought would be wise to heed as leading scientists are on it. The weather bureau expects the country to have fewer typhoons this year because of El Niño. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration predicted that El Niño, the warming of the Pacific Ocean, will most likely prevail in July. This story was bannered by Manila Times early this year. Philippine Daily Inquirer in the April issue of the paper interviewed the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration and predicted that: The occurrence of an El Niño phenomenon this year has become more likely, with now a probability of at least 80 percent, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Tuesday.
The weather bureau, however, clarified that before the looming onset of an El Niño, the Philippines would first experience a rainy season.
PAG ASA warned that heavy rainfalls might occur before the onset of the phenomenon.
“From previous experience natin, pwede tayong makaexperience ng extreme rainfall event like Ondoy noong 2009 wherein nagkaroon ng El Niño noong 2009 to 2010. Bago maramdaman ‘yung kakulangan sa tubig, nakaexperience tayo ng extreme rainfall events,” she said.
Meanwhile, what can we do to prepare;
Here are the measures that LGUs can take:
1. Conserve water. Conserving water is one of the key actions needed to be taken to mitigate the effects of El Niño1. LGUs can enact ordinances curbing illegal connections and encouraging prudent water usage1.
2. Fix water leaks. LGUs can allow water concessionaires and water utilities to conduct emergency leak repairs1.
3. Maximize rainwater usage. LGUs can implement measures to maximize rainwater usage for harvesting and storage1.
4. Implement contingency plans. LGUs can implement and update existing contingency plans related to El Niño1.
5. Stockpile relief goods. LGUs can stockpile relief goods for immediate relief assistance1.
6. Coordinate with other agencies.
What can individual homes do to prepare :
El Niño is a climate pattern that occurs when sea surface temperatures over the Central and Eastern Pacific Oceans warm up and affect air and sea currents. It increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, potentially causing dry spells, droughts, and other adverse environmental effects1. Here are some tips to help you prepare for and cope with El Niño at the household level in the Philippines:
• Monitor weather forecasts and advisories: Stay updated on the latest weather news and advisories from reliable sources such as PAGASA1.
• Conserve water: During El Niño, water supply may be limited. It’s important to conserve water by fixing leaks, taking shorter showers, and using a bucket to wash your car instead of a hose1.
• Prepare for power outages: El Niño can affect the electricity supply since some power plants depend on dams. Make sure to have emergency supplies such as flashlights, batteries, and candles on hand1.
• Protect your health: Hot weather can increase the risk of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, wear light-colored clothing, and avoid strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day1.
This may be trivial for now but it may be helpful soon.
