No exception!
“
Maayo ra” was the curt comment of a housewife upon learning that President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao Tuesday night to contain the Maute Group.
The comment, of course, was not meant to denigrate the good people of Mindanao but was directed at the terrorists, who have already wrecked havoc on the peace and order of this place once called the “Promise Land.”
Duterte should have declared martial law in Lanao months ago after the Maute Group that claims to have links with ISIS started harming people and disturbing the province’s stability.
I beg to disagree with some who suspect that the declaration of martial law in Mindanao is a test case to see how the people would react to another martial rule and that it would eventually be implemented nationwide.
The President knows the limits of his power under the 1987 Constitution. Besides, a martial law government could disrupt the economic gains of his administration and this would also drive away foreign investors.
I believe that the people, not only of Mindanao, fully support the move. My only wish is that within the period allowed by the Constitution for martial law to remain enforced, Maute group will be vanquished.
*** The legislators in crafting laws are guided by the principle “for the common good.” So, when Congress passed and approved Republic Act (RA) 10666 in 2015, the safety of the children who ride motorcycles was the prime concern.
Children on motorcycle taxis, or habal-habal, with no head gear is an everyday sight. Some can hardly hold on to the driver because they’re too young.
Authors of the Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015 must have seen the dangers kids, whose feet could not even reach the foot rest, face while on the back of motorcycles.
But Cebu City Councilor Joy Young doesn’t seem concerned about their safety because he is asking for an exemption in places where there is no available public transport other than the habal-habal.
The councilor said the law is not fully applicable in the city since there are areas where the motorcycle is the only means of transporting children to school.
Precisely, the intention of the law is the safety of children who have to go to school, or wherever, on a motorcycle. Councilor Young chooses expediency over the safety of children. But no, there shall be no exception on this law.