On snubbing a co-equal

THE PHILIPPINE constitution provides that the three branches of government, namely: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are coequal and as such they deserve inter-department courtesy and are at most performing check and balance functions and prer ogat i ves.

It is therefore surprising that President Duterte, a lawyer and former prosecutor, dissuade his cabinet members and executives from attending what seems to be valid, and for all purposes, legal, investigation in aid of legislation, of a huge anomaly involving huge contracts (in billion pesos) of medical equipment and supplies by an alleged undercapitalized company. There were allegations that this company and its officials have the backing and encouragement of none other than the president.

This undue interference of the top executive of the country into the acts of the Senate smacks of irregularity and violation of the coequal clause of the Constitution.

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Thus, Secretaries Duque and Galvez (chair of the IATF) are alter egos of the President and may not be allowed to testify as an exercise of the executive privilege, and as such, may not be arrested if they don't show up in the hearing.

As to the subpoenaed witnesses, the arresting officer of the Senate may not be able to arrest them, as President Duterte ordered his military and the PNP forces not to follow the Senate sgtat-arms in enforcing the arrest orders. So?

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Lawyer and PDI columnist Joel Ruiz Butuyan wrote a relevant observation: Mr. Duterte is now stewed with critical suspicion by the public. This is because, while some of those being investigated have admitted instances of anomalies, the President has hastily prejudged the deal as immaculately clean. The President has proclaimed the innocence of all the people under investigation even if the same people have conceded particular irregularities.

"Each one of My children loves themselves naturally, but this generation loves itself in a totally disordered fashion. Therefore, you are selfish and preach in the name of your ego: the point of reference is your ego, the characteristics and examples that you give before your brothers and sisters have as their point of reference the inner ego that only loves itself.

"My People: Do you wish to come out of the ignorance that you inflict on yourselves by working and acting according to your individual ego?

"Be humble: this is lacking in this generation - the humility to accept that although each person is an individual, you do not live alone, but surrounded by other human beings, with whom I have called you to live in fraternity.

"Creation groans and feels birth pangs, expecting My People to keep the Faith. "Man dominates man to such a high degree that the elite accepts the prospect of my children's self-destruction caused by abortion, euthanasia, atomic weapons- the most inhuman weapons ever created by the human being- chemical weapons with which My people will be scourged, and at this time, innovations unknown to you-- the symbol of human arrogance.

"Pray, My People, pray, pray, cold will come to a great part of the Earth, penetrating to the bone, and My children will suffer greatly as a result, not expecting it and not having the proper preparation to face the frost.

"Pray, My People, pray, pray, the earth will continue to shake strongly: you will be plunged into suffering.

"My people, you must prepare yourselves before events of all kinds gather strength and chaos increases. You know full well that human beings act savagely when faced with instability.

"Humanity will be without communication: technology will be suspended by the decision of human power on Earth. Silence and fear will take hold of those who do not love Me and those who do not agree to repent of their evil deeds.

"Remain faithful to Me; receive Me in the Holy Eucharist. Do not travel along paths contrary to the Commandments, to the Sacraments and contrary to Sacred Scripture. This is not the time to interpret My Word according to your personal taste: be faithful to the true Magisterium of My Church.

"Do not waste this time. You have entered into great suffering.

(Here Jesus asked that the rosary be prayed the whole day last Oct. 13, feast of our Lady of Fatima, for certain intentions,- Ding)

"My People, you are protected. Unite fraternally without forgetting that My Celestial Legions commanded by St. Michael the Archangel are guarding you by Divine Will.

"My People: the moment is the present moment. I protect you, I carry you in My Sacred Heart; do not be afraid, evil goes away before Me.

"I bless your senses so that they would be more spiritual and less worldly. I bless your hearts so that they would be soft and not cause pain to your brothers and sisters. I bless your hands so that they will do good. I bless your feet so that you would follow in My Footsteps.

"How I love you, children, how I love you. Do not fear, I protect you." (End of quote.) Meanwhile, let me share with readers excerpts from a document dated Oct. 11, as prepared by Milieu/IOM Ltd at the request of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament.

The document brings to mind a warning from Heaven that soon, microchips would be imposed on mankind.

The document cited "key findings" that "in existence for around 20 years, human implantable RFID chips come in passive and active forms."

It noted that "advocates of the use of RFID chip implants suggest that they confer benefits in terms of ease and convenience compared to the alternative technologies (e.g. smart cards) that they replace...

" One integrated theme would seem to be that of human rights; covering the inviolability of the human body and an individual’s right to privacy. These issues would seem to reflect both ethical concerns and the legal provisions safeguarding those rights.

"It would seem that legal efforts to overturn those rights for compulsory implant use in the workplace would need to reflect over-riding demands, perhaps on the grounds of national security. Here however, the evidence that the RFID technology is insecure, and the lack of specific assurances regarding adverse health effects can be seen as undermining the case for such a development.

" However, even where such technological challenges are to be overcome, it must be recognised that the use of such implants evokes strong objections (including religious concerns) and any compulsion would need to provide for appropriate exemptions in such circumstances… .

"From the preceding chapters it will be apparent that there are legal, ethical, health and security issues surrounding the potential use of RFID implants. It will also be apparent that these issues often overlap and are interrelated.

"However, these have to be seen against the convenience that such devices are regarded as providing compared to, for example, having to retain and use a smart card." (More in the next column.)