PERPETUAL UNION OF STATES

I WAS shocked to read recently Antonio Contreras’ column “On the Contrary” re his Constitution series, that the US Federal Constitution allows states to secede from the federal union. It does not. The forerunner of the US Federal Constitution, the articles of Confederation, explicitly stated the union was “perpetual,” and the US Federal Constitution’s preamble refers to establishing an even “more perfect union.”

The American Civil War was fought because 11 Southern states seceded from the union and the American Federal government held that states had no constitutional right to secede from the tion and has caused me and my family and friends anxiety and outrage at such unfounded, unverified story.

Please be reminded that I occupy a public office whose every action is subject to public scrutiny. Your irresponsible news reporting, which you have not even verified in the interest of fairness and justice, is tantamount to ‘fake news’ — one that should not have any place in a newspaper that purports to provide balanced and factual reporting.

In this regard, I demand a public apology and this will be evidenced by a prominent retraction of the story in the front page of your newspaper immediately. This retraction should run not only once but In the succeeding weeks thereafter to ensure that all vestiges of doubt will be erased.

Should this not be forthcoming, I will be constrained to take the necessary legal actions to protect myself, my family and my track record. This is a necessary step to rectify this injustice and so that no one will be subjected to this agony because people can spread lies without accountability.

MARIA LOURDES F. JAPSON Assistant Secretary Department of Tourism

which will serve as temporary residence/ sanctuary to the surrenderees for their rehabilitation, healing sessions and skills training. These houses will be established in highly urbanized cities for their safety, and financial remuneration ranging from P15,000 to P50,00 will be given as livelihood assistance. These amounts may further increased.

Many times I thoughtfully was in askance of the NPAs/ former rebels assertion or sincerity with regard their involvement in the localized peace talks, though in Albay and Masbate, these NPAs have already surrendered in droves.

On one hand, it will be such a big loss on their ( NPAs) part if they won’t seize these “once in a life time opportunities.”

If I were in the shoes of those NPAs, with the packages offered, with no fuss I will surrender.

Romeo San Juan CN: “Meong” Cabangan, Legazpi City

union. Many believe the war was fought because of slavery; but as long as the slave holding states remained in the union, there was no war.

Beyond the force of arms, the legal question as to whether a state could constitutionally secede from the union was settled by the US Supreme Court decision of 1869, Texas v. White, which ruled that “unilateral secession (of a state) was unconstitutional,” and that following its admission to the USA in 1845, Texas had became part of an “indestructible union composed of indestructible states.”

Rosemary Leeann Funnell- Castillon Labangal, General Santos City