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With a majority decision of nine justices moving to junk the plea, over the six justices who wanted the opposite, the Supreme Court dismissed Senator Leila De Lima’s motion to nullify the cases pressed against her in relation to the illegal drugs trade inside the National Bilibid Prison.
The charges were seen by De Lima and her political allies as a way to silence her, being a critic of the president, and that the accusations were fabricated; at some point, she was viewed as a “political prisoner” or that was how her allies would want to peddle to the media both local and international.
It may sound unfair, if “pork barrel queen” Janet Napoles and “pork barrel prince” Jinggoy Estrada were allowed to post bail and was allowed to be released from detention, so should De Lima.
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On the same day, yesterday, the Commission on Appointments comprised of members in the Senate and House of Representatives, rejected the appointment of Dr. Paulyn Ubial as Secretary for the Department of Health.
Ubial, who has been in the agency serving various DoH regional offices in Mindanao, and her rejection was quite puzzling since she was not on the hotseat that trigger’s the CA’s egos and interest.
Her rejection was a manifestation that we have a dysfunctional congress. The worst in Philippine history so far. *** For at least two weeks the Cagayan de Oro Water District in partnership with its contractor, Rio Verde, received all the ire from its concessionaires after the western part of Cagayan de Oro almost had no water supply.
While some parts are already back to normal, there are some areas that are still struggling.
And so some groups are bringing up again the idea of COWD to be converted to either a private entity or a cooperative.
But you know, different structure,and yet potentially same internal political dynamics. *** From the inbox: I’m Hyacinth J. Tagupa and I currently work for DOST-X. I’d like to congratulate you on your insightful opinion piece “Scientific works that could save the ailing society” (Sunstar Cagayan de Oro, 25 September 2017). You highlighted a couple of good points, including the Filipino public’s lack of appreciation for S&T.
DOST-X is also grateful that you wrote about the Regional Contest Invention and Exhibit from that angle, suggesting that innovations are already available but in need of public appreciation. I’m writing this email personally, but I think I speak for the whole organization in saying that the mainstream adoption of and support for S&T products is one of the primary goals the DOST works towards.
Just a bit of a clarification, though. RICE is not an annual event but a biennial one. It alternates yearly with the National Invention Contest and Exhibit (NICE). Next year, there will be no RICE, but our region’s winners will be competing in the NICE.
But that’s a minor quibble. Congrats again, and eager to read more advocacy pieces from you in the future.