ISSUES THAT SHAKE, MAY DIVIDE NATION

SHOULD WE HAVE A LAW THAT ALLOWS DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE, WHICH IN EFFECT WILL BE DIVORCE ‘TO GO’ OR QUICKIE DIVORCE?

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez promised passage before Christmas of House Bill 6027 with much less hassle than what couples undergo under existing laws. Only two grounds: “severe chronic unhappiness” and “irreconcilable differences.”

How about the children? An agreement or plan on custody, food and shelter, education and other essentials must be submitted to the court. What about unhappiness? Court will find out if it’s “severe and chronic.” Not adequately defined, says a Catholic Church official. SHOULD IT NOW BE AN ALL-OUT WAR AGAINST COMMUNISTS?

Malacañang has not used that phrase yet but the president cancelled talks with Reds and will soon proclaim official termination of peace negotiations and classify the NPA as a terrorist organization. DISMISSAL OF CHARGES AGAINST SEVERAL CUSTOMS OFFICIALS LED BY EX-BOC CHIEF NICANOR FAELDON DREW QUESTIONS AS TO HOW P6.5B WORTH OF SHABU COULD PASS ITS EXPRESS LANE WITHOUT ANYONE COLLUDING WITH THE SMUGGLERS.

The charge of coddling administration cronies was raised by senators who found it odd and unbelievable how the huge shabu shipment, and similar other cargoes, could’ve been smuggled without the participation of BOC officials. DOJ Vitaliano Aguirre cited the “process” which, he said, includes his review of the decision.