The other day I came across these two artiles from the BBC how companies were wasting money on Like campaigns because of fake profiles – Facebook ‘likes’ and adverts’ value doubted by BBC Technology Correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones
Furthermore, the BBC tried a Like Campaign with a bogus product and got results that pointed out that a number fake profiles and profiles not targeted by the Like campaign produced false positives or bloated figures. The countries where these Facebook profiles came from Egypt and the Philippines none of them were the target markets of the Like campaigns.
Bad news for Marketers and Brands
Considering the millions of money spent on Facebook and other Social Media Channels it really seems that a person, brand, company or organization must be careful and wary in relying to much on Like or even trending campaigns. For one the numbers can be deceiving. And another such campaigns could be staged managed for the customer and the agency or who ever is running a campaign look great. Really it would not be hard to imagine the implementor or manager of such a campaign fudging or even astroturfing the numbers to serve his own interest … Leaving the company stranded on a boosted ego of a shrimp made to believe it was a whale.
It might be time to implement an independent audit of such campaigns. Even better test the skill of agencies and the implementors and set goals & objectives beyond likes and trending. Perhaps, Ultimately question whether the campaign go beyond the digital world?
Nothing New For Readers
Fake profiles and astroturfing on-line is nothing new . It is something the Internet is made up of – information, opinion, knowledge, belief and propaganda. And the BBC posts just proves this. Unlike Brands, Readers in general do not lose large amount of monies because of like and trending campaigns. There is a possibility, however that we may be duped by such campaigns into believing them In the end it is still best to question any claim and be wary of digital appearances. As a Buddhist once advised,”If you meet Buddha on the road shoot him for that is not Buddha.
]]>Growing up I got to know him because of his movies and television shows. His body of work is extensive and diverse. Most people would remember him for playing two types of roles the underdog representation of the common man and a homosexual. But his roles were much more. Perhaps because I have watched a number of old films I was made aware of this and I guess it also helped that our yaya introduced to a number of his movies it was several, and although I have not seen all of them i have seen enough to know that Dolphy’s characters are more than just stereotypes.
John Puruntong and Kevin Cosme
John & Marsha to Home Along Da Riles
Source: Video48 Blog
The family man who tries to make ends meet in order for his family to survive. And every week for several years the audience has witnessed the misadventures of the Purontong and later the Cosme family as they try to forge a decent life despite problems and contravidas – a monster in -law and her toady: Dona Delilah Vda d Jones and Matutina – or terror officemates – Steve. It makes us laugh because we are familiar with it. Like John Puruntong we have our problems and monsters … And humor has a way of reliving the stress; distancing the problem; giving the tyrants what they deserve … Comeuppance and ridicule ; and perhaps even a way to solve our problems.
Perhaps this is why John and Marsha seems to be etched on our soul: our psyche. Of course when I say us and our those of us who have been touched by the comedy of Dolphy. Perhaps this is why Puruntong Shorts came to be known as Puruntong shorts.
Comedy Skills
Spoofs: Barilan sa Baboy Kural to Darna
Source: Video48 Blog
Of course none of this would not have been possible unless there had been a correct mixing of talents, skills and circumstances. Dolphy would not be be Dolphy without the help of other people and favorable circumstances but the skilland talent of Dolphy made it possible to became a perfect pearl. If you were to see his early films , you would see Dolphy mixed a subtle wit, grace of a dancer, which he was when he started n bodabil, and a perfec sense of timing. In Jack en Jill he was able to make his scenes with Martin Marfil, who was trying to “straighten” look ridiculously funny with a mixture of subtle and overt actions. These three things served him well through the years. In Buhay Marinero he sang with Timi Yuro a pig-latin version Sitsiritsit Salagubang – Ritsisitsi bangsalagu or when along with Panchito Alba he would translate a song.
Gay Roles
Dolphy’s role included homosexuals and would-be politicians
Source: Video48 Blog
Dolphy also became famous for playing homosexuals from Facifica Falayfay to Walter Dempster Jr in Markova. In fact you could group of his films in this niche. For me one of the two standout his role as Gregory/Goryo/Glory in Jack n Jill and as Coring in Ang Tatay Kong Nanay. In both films his character throygh humor and quick-wittedness his characters perserves and survives in Jack en Jill for a time and in Ang ztunay Kng Nanay proves the triumph of nurture over nature … Evn over stereotypes.
A Sense of Humor and Resiliency
The Panchito and Dolphy Duo
Source: Video48 Blog
Maybe the best legacy one got from watching nearly all Dolphynalia woild be the lesson from another great Comedian and his alter-ego: Charlie Chaplin and the Tramp. And the lesson would be that resiliency and humor go hand in hand. In order cope, survive and succeed we all hqve to try, try and try but not lose our sense of humor.
So to all of us John Purunton’s out there: Tayo ay magsumikap at wag lumimot na tumuwa orthe John Purontong Principle: Magsumikap Ka at tumawa or Work Hard and Persevere but do not lose your sense of humor)
]]>DOLPHY On YouTube
Some of Dolphy’s films: Dolphy has been in the Filipno Film Industry for years and because of this has a large body of work. Some like Jack En Jill,are available on DVD; some are still shown on television and cable from time to time. While others can be seen online.Mga Kandidatong Pulpol
Comedy film poking fun at politics and elections. This has not lost its edge.Dolphy and Panchito n Buhay Bombero
Dolphy becomes a fireman. H becomes the bane of his immediate superior Panchito. In this clip you will see Dely Atay-Atayan play the mother of Dolphy’s girl friend. Mch later on Atay-Atayan becomes Dona Delilah. Vda, de Jones in John and Marsha.Lucio at Miguel
Another film from the comedyteam of Dolphy and Panchito. The film rvolves around the mission of an angel and a devil on Earh. Includes mash-up song between Lucio and Miguel.Silveria
Dolphy and a talking horse called Silveria. Looking at tht films one notices are more active rebooting of themes and films in the industry. Some just as good but in my opiniom in general not as good as the films they were based on for example Jack en Jill or even Bondying.Bayan Ko
Dolphy and Panchito sing Bayan Ko. The duo actually has a compilation of novelty songs. One even promoting Birth Control and so e commenting on the problems faced on a daily basis.
Hunyo 12, 2012- Ngayon araw na ito naglakad kami ng pamangkin ko sa Intramuros. Imbis na pumunta kami sa mga ibat-ibang museo at lumang simbahan. Naglakad lang kami at nag-usap. Walang tao masyado ngayon – kasi nga Araw ng Kalayaan. Karamihan nasa mall o sa kanya-kanyang bahay at napapahinga.
Mahangin sa loob ng Intramuros. Hangin mula sa dagat pumapasok-labos. Kaya siguro yung mga nakatira dito noong panahon ng mga Kastila mahilig maglakad pag hapon upang masigip ang hangin mula sa dalampasigan. Habang nagkalakad kami napunta yung usaspan namin sa kasaysayang ng bansa. Araw ng Kalayaan kasi at siguro kasi nasa Intramuros kami kaya nakaka enganyo. Nakakagulat marinig sa kanya ang mga iba at ibang istorya ng mga bayani ng Pilipinas. Sabagay hindi nakakagulat ito dahil tinuturo naman ito sa mga iskwelahan. Napa-isip tuloy ako, siguro …. Panahon na ibigay ko sa kanya ang libro kung A QUESTION OF HEROES ni Nick Joaquin.
Ito yung libro na isa sa mga bagay na dagdag na aking pagkaintnidi at nagturo kung ano pa ang puwedeng basahin ukol sa Kasaysayan at Kalayaan ng ating Inang Bayan. Dito ko nakilala si Padre Pedro Pelaez. Na naging tagapagtaguyod o tagapagsanggalang ng mga Pilipinong Paring noong mga panahon ng mga Kastila. Kakabalik pa noon ng mga itinakwil na Jesuits at ibinigay sa kanilaang ang mga simbahan at parokya ng mga Recollects. At dahil diyan nais ng mga Recollects at ibang mga Religious Orders na makuha ang mga simbahan at parokya na hawak ng mga Filipino Secular Priests or Clergy. Kinalaban ito ni Padre Pelaez – at isang paraan na ginamit niya ay ang pagpapadala ng sulat sa Espanya dinedepensa ang karapatang ng mga Pinoy na pari na manatili sa kanilang puwesto at atokya. Nakatulong din na si Padre Pelaez noong panahon na iyon ay administrador at defacto na Arsobispo ng Maynila. Subalit bago maka gawa ng hakbang ang mga Prayle kay Padre Pelaez- siya ay namatay ng maguno ang isang parte ng Cathedral nang lumindol.
Kahit namatay na si Padre Peleaz, ang kanyang mga kaaway ay tuloy pa ang paninira kay Pelaez at sa mga Pilipinong Pari. Dahil dito lumabas ang isang pamphlet na Manfesto at kinalaban nito ang mga paratang ng mga Prayle laban kay Padre Pelaez at mga Pilipinong Pari.
Maramng ang naniniwala na si Padre Jose Burgos ay isa sa may akda ng Manifesto. Si Padre Burgos ay isang liberal at isa ring tagapagtangol ng mga Pilipinong Pari. Estudiyante si Burgos ni Pelaez at si Burgos naman ang guro Paciano Mercado.
Noong 1872 nangyari ang Cavite Mutiny, Ginamit ang Cavite Mutiny para makulong, matapon, mapatay, at mapatahimik sina Padre Burgos at mga kakampi nito. Si Padre Jose Burgos, Padre Jacinto Zamora at Padre Mariano Gomez ay na sintensiyahan ng kamatayaan – ginarote sila sa Bagumbayan. Ang mga kapanalug nila itinakwil sa ibang bansa. Nakuha ng mga Prayle ang kinakamkam nilang mga parokya mula sa mga Pilipinong Pari.
Noong pinatay sina Padre Burgos, Padre Gomez at Padre Zamora naging martir sila sa mga sumunod na Pinoy ang Mga Reformista at Propagandista na naghangad ng reporma at atonomya mula sa Espanya. Isa na dito si Paciano Mercado nakatatandang kapatid ni Jose Rizal. Hindi makakaila ang impluensiya ng mga Pinoy na Pari kay Rizal, ang El Filibusterismo ay inihandog niya sa tatlong pari na mas kilala ngayon sa acronym na Gomburza.
Pero hindi pa diyan nagtatapos ang isyorya. Ang hiling para sa reporma at atonomiya ay hindi dininiig at pagkalipas ng ilang tao nagbago ang sigaw naging revolusyon na at kalayaan . Pero ang rebolusyon na ito ay hindi nangyari bigla-biglaan. Ang isa sa mga ugat nito ay nagsimula kay Padre Pedro Pelaez tuloy kay Padre Jose Burgos at ang kanyang Manifesto tuloy kay Paciano Mercado at Jose Rizal – sa kanyang mga sinulat. Nagpapatunay lamang na ang punla ng pagbabago at kalayaan ay nasa ideya at pag-iisip.
Siguro panahon na nga na ibigay ang libro nii Nick Joaquin – A Question of Heroes – sa pamangkn ko.
Isang pag-iisip mula kay Ariel at Will Durant inakma sa paksa na ito. Sana magsilbing paalals at aral sa lahat.
Ang tunay na Rebolusyon ay pagyaman ng isip at mabuting pagbabago ng ugali
. Ang tunay na Kalayaan ay nagsisumula sa sarili. At ang totoong Rebolusyonayo ay ang nag-aayuda, nag-aaral, at mga nagtuturo.
The English Version
June 12, 2012 – Today I took a walk with my nephew around Intramuros. Instead of going to the museums and old churches we just took a walk along the old walls. There was hardly anyone about – It was Independence Day. I guess most people were at the malls ir just staying at home resting.
It was winday that day. The Sea Breeze was coming i n and out. Perhaps this is why in the old old days the Spaniards were fond of strolling around this part of Intramuros. As we were walking our talk meandered towards the history of the Philippines. It was Independnce Day and we were inside Intramuros:the time and place making such talks inevitable. It was surprising though to hear such things from my nephew, but then again such things are taught in school. Such things made me think that .. Perhaps it was time to give my nephew my much read Nick Joaquin book – A QUESTION OF HEROES.
This was the book that allowed me to understand and expand my understanding of the history and freedom of our Motherland. This is where I met Father Pedro Pelaez. The advocate and champion of the Filipino Secular Clergy. During that particular part of our Spanish Colonial past, the Jesuits had returned from exile and were given the church and the parishes of the Recollects. And because of this the Recollects and the other orders wanted to get the churches and parishes managed by the Filipino clergy. This was opposed by Fr. Pelaez – and one way he countered this was by writing a letter to Spain defending the right and competence of the Filipino Clergy. Being the defacto Archbishop of Manila also strengthened his position. However, before Fr Pelaez could do anthing else his life was cut short when part of the Manls Cathedral collapsed during an earthquake. The Filipino Clergy and Reformers were now alone to face wrath of the friars.
Even though Fr. Pelaez was dead, his enemies persisted in besmirching his reputation and scuppering his cause – the Filipino Secular Clergy. And because of these attacks a pamphlet titled Manifesto came out and it set out to debunk the accusations of the Friars against the Filipino Secular Clergy and Fr Pelaez.
Many believed that Fr Jose Burgos was one of the authors of the Manifesto. Fr. Burgos was liberal priest who also championed the cause of the Filipino Secular Clergy. He was a student of Fr.mPedro Pelaez and He was the teacher of Paciano Mercado.
In 1872 the Cavite Mutiny happened and this was used to imprison, exile, execute and silence Fr. Burgos and his allies. Fr. Jose Burgos; Fr. Jacinto Zamora; and Fr. Mariano Gomez were sentenced to death by garrote in Bagumbayan. Some of their allies were exiled. The Friars got the churches and parishes from Filipino Secular Clergy.
Upon their deaths, Burgos, Gomez and Zamora became martyrs to the next generation of Filipino who desired reforms and autonomy from Spain. The three became known as Gomburza.
But the story does not end there. When the demand of the Filipino Reformists and Propagandists for reforms and autonomy fell on deaf ears the call then change to revolution and freedom. This of course has one of its roots from Pelaez to Burgos and his Manifesto to Paciano to his Brother Jose Rizal and his writings. Proving that one of the seeds of change and freedom can be found n ideas and thoughts.
Perhaps it is time to give Joaquin’s A QUESTION OF HEROES to my nephew.
.
A set if ideas adapted Ariel and Will Durant adapted for this post. Hopefully this may serve as a reminder and a lesson of sort to all.
The True Revolution is enlightenment of the mind and improvement of character
True Freedom is Individual
True Revolutionaries are those who help, learn and guide
One of France’s most respected directors, Olivier Assayas, will honor the festival with his presence to accompany a selection of his films, a retrospective compiled by the Institut Français, an agency of the French Ministry of Culture. The UP Film Institute and the Cultural Center of the Philippines will provide an opportunity for Mr. Assayas to share his passion for cinema by providing a venue for him to interact with Filipino film directors and students upon his arrival in Manila – Source
Below you will find the screening schedules from June 8 to 17 – both in images and text. Feel free to copy and pass the word on. For inquiries, please call 0915-313-5891 or send us an e-mail at [email protected]
Tentative Schedule of Citi-Rustan’s French Film Festival
June 8-
1:00 pm- All That Glitters (Tout ce qui brille)
3:30 pm- Hideaway (Le Refuge)
5:30 pm- The 3-Way Wedding (L’ Mariage a Trois) 8:00 PM- Roses A Credit
June 9 -
12;30 pm- Clean
3:15 pm- Deep in the Woods (Au Fond Des Bois)
5:30 pm- Irma Vep
June 10-
12;00 pm-Roses A Credit
2:30 pm-Sentimental Destinies
6:00 pm-Cold Water (L’eau Froide)
8:00 pm-Demon lover
June 11
12:30 pm-Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)
3:00 pm-Rebellion (L’ordre et la morale) 6:00 pm-The Art of Love (L’art d’aimer) 8:00 pm- Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)
June 12-
1:30 pm-Bakal Boys 4:00 pm- Short films
8:00 pm-Busong
June 13-
12:30 pm-Demon Lover
3:30 pm-Irma Vep
5:30 pm-Summer Hours 8:00-Sentimental Destinies
June 14-
12:00 pm- Rebellion (L’ordre et la morale)
3:00 pm- The Art of Love (L’art d’aimer)
5:00 pm- Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)
7:30 pm-The Artist
June 15-
12:00 pm- Cold Water (L’eau Froide)
2:30 pm-Demon Lover
5:30 pm- All That Glitters (Tout ce qui brille)
8:00 pm-Clean
June 16-
12:00 pm- Hideaway (Le Refuge)
3:00 pm- The 3-Way Wedding (L’ Mariage a Trois)
5:30 pm-Sentimental Destinies
8:00 pm-Summer Hours
June 17-
12:30 pm-Clean
3:00 pm- Roses A Credit
5:30 pm- Deep in the Woods (Au Fond Des Bois)
8:00 pm- The 3-Way Wedding (L’ Mariage a Trois)
Alarm raised over knife fish invasion in Laguna de Bay
Pamalakaya blames LLDA for spread of knife fish
Knife Fish invades Laguna Lake
Philippine seeks to blunt knife fish invasion
DENR studying use of turtles vs Knife fish
For the moment the Knifefish has been branded as the latest invader to our local lakes and rivers replacing the Janitor fish or an armored catfish or a suckermouth sailfin catfish from South America known before as the Plecostomus but now is Pterygoplichthys. A reading of the news reports reveal some inaccuracies – like stating that the Janitor fish is a an African catfish not South American, although I think we have been invaded by an African Catfish as well – and possible recommendations that maybe worsening the problem rather than solving – like introducing soft shell turtles Pelodiscus sinensis to kill the knife fish population – thereby just replacing the problem species with another one in our lakes and rivers.
Is this a new phenomenon or have we been through this before? Do we really have to formulate new policies and plans or do we just have to re-tool and implement plans formulated before?
In May 21 to 22, 2001, a Seminar workshop was held to discuss, strategize and recommend measures to be taken to tackle Invasive species. An article written by Rexie Jane Parreño entitled,
THEIR BIODIVERSITY AND MANAGEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES: Tackling the Issue on Invasive Species can be found online here.
The seminar-workshop was organized by the ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation or ARCBC http://www.arcbc.org.ph/ in collaboration with the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or DENR in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity. The workshop recommended the following:
Conduct pilot test before introducing alien species to determine their beneficial and invasive attributes.
Enforce rigid inspection and quarantine regulations to prevent uncontrolled transfer of pests when importing logs and reforestation species.
Monitor identified alien species invasive to indigenous and endemic species.
Monitor developments relevant to altered species (genetically modified organ- isms or GMOs).
Use of invasive alien species instead of alien invasive species.
Mobilize interagency effort through task forces involving the DENR, Department of Agriculture, NGOs, other government agencies, communities, private entities and other related agencies.
Improve existing policies and other regulations related to invasive alien species and formulate new policies.
Enhance public awareness and encourage advocacy campaigns by making people understand the impact of such species and involving them in action plans.
Conduct more researches on invasive alien species and dis- seminate results to the public and other appropriate bod- ies.
Establish a baseline data on endemic/indigenous and alien species
The participants were told that the recommendations and agreements will be forwarded to the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development through the relevant sub-committee, the House of Representatives through the Committee on Biodiversity and to the Office of the DENR Secretary through Undersecretary Ignacio.
The workshop – seminar discussed different types of Alien invaders. For Aquatic invaders the following were listed – these were Alien Aquatic species introduced into the Philippines (Most of these were mentioned by Dr Rafael Guerrero and Ravindra C. Joshi in their respective papers on invasive species- Invasive Aquatic Animals and Invasive Alien Species: Concerns and status in the Philippines
THE INVADERS
The Thai catfish or Clarias batrachus,
The Golden Apple Snail or Pomacea canaliculata;
The African catfish or Clarias gariepinus;
The White Goby or Glossogobius giurus;
The Eleotrid or Hypseleotris agilis;
The Mosquito Fish or Gambusia affinis;
The Jaguar Guapote or Parachrmis managuensis (?)
And the Janitor Fish or Pterygoplichthys pardalis and P. disjunctivus
I wonder why the Tilapia was not include? Clearly this was an introduced alien species. Like the Golden Apple Snail and its pink eggs it was brought in as a food source from the United States in the 1980s and it displaced the native kuhol or Pila Luzonica. The Thai catfish was also introduced for food and displaced the native Clarias macrocephalus. Other species that maybe but hopefully not included in the list would be the Mekong Kanduli or the Pangasius hypopthalamus; the Giant Snakehead or the Channa micropeltes ; and even the Fortune Lobster also known as the Procambarus clarkii.
Incidentally, study was recently releases showing that the species of Janitor fish have been cross-breeding,
Of course, we, Man introduced them to our waters. The more popular belief is that these were introduced by aquarium hobbyists who grew tired of them or could not support these pets as they outgrew their tank. Another possibility and less popular is that these organisms could have been bred near the lakes and rivers – in fish farms and fish ponds. They may have escaped during a storm or when water was changed. What I fear and is a possibility is that they were cultured in fish cages or fish pens -even for grow-out purposes.
In the workshop one of the things discussed was the need to create public awareness the ecological, economical and social impact of invasive species. It and their recommendation of that workshop more than a decade ago is still valid, very much so.
So how do you stop the invasion of the Knife Fish? One can hunt them down and eat them . It is considered a delicacy. You could introduce another predator but done without a study is haphazard and could lead to bigger problems. Another suggestion would be to put limits and impose inspection on fish farms and ponds near the rivers and lakes but then again this particular solution is something that should have been before,a long long long time ago.
]]>It is important to note this because of all the multitude of articles of impeachment; all the allegations of corruption; all gathered and fished for evidence, which were leaked to a number of media personalities and organization did not implicate Corona in the end.Rather it was his own words that led to his removal from office.
This is important.
And this decision all sets a new precedent timely and much needed that all public officials can be held accountable for each action and inaction they take. The decision of the Senate demands it. The Citizens of the Philippine Republic demands it.
The unconditional waiver left by Mr Corona is timely reminder… A symbol to all public officials … Public servants from top to bottom that they are accountable. It is also a reminder to the Aquino Government and its succesors that such fight against corruption must be fought at all levels and on all sides – irregardless of political affiliation.
As such almost any offense is greater than mistakenly filling up the SALN. Going against any law of the land. Any law.
The waiver and the impeachment also reminds us of the importance of passing theoney Freedom of Information Act/Bill. Because it allows the Citizens to look into transactions of the government. Personally, I think this is more important than emulating the Corona Waiver, for this law will put in place a mechanism to check where the government puts our tax money to use.
This is what we need. This is what we need to use. This is what our present government needs to give us.
Johnny, Miriam and Joker
The most important speeches during the impeachment vote for me were the speeches given by Enrile, Arroyo and Santiago. The three are probably the best legal minds in the Senate and also the three come to the Senate with experience and learned wisdom earned from the time of Ferdinand Marcos; Cory Aquino and the Edsa Revolution; and the the years of Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Beningno Aquino III. And through the years Enrile, Arroyo and Santiago have been described as villains and heroes, depending on the time, place and person one talked to. Hate them or love them one undeniable fact is the strength of their will and intellect. And as such these were opinion and votes worth listening to whatever the outcome of the impeachment was, if ever we were to learn from this episode of our collective history.
Senate President: Juan Ponce Enrile Voted Chief Justice Renato Corona Guilty
On Article II of the Articles of Impeachment against Hon. Chief Justice Renato C. Corona
In the entire course of this impeachment trial, I have faced many difficult challenges to my own and the Court’s collective wisdom, our sense of justice and fairness, the delicate balancing act we must perform to ensure that we do not stray from the strictures of the Constitution, the law and our rules.
This trial began and unfolded against the backdrop of a highly charged and emotional atmosphere, acrimonious debate in and outside the confines of this Court, and a deep political fissure which threatened the stability of our democratic institutions.
But the impact of the many events that transpired since December 12 last year to this very day, taken altogether, cannot compare to the sense of heaviness that I feel at this very moment.
The culmination of this national drama is at hand, and the time has come for me to render judgment on the person before whom I took my Oath of Office as a Senator of the Republic…no less than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Renato C. Corona.
The Respondent Chief Justice and his family understandably feel deeply hurt, pained and aggrieved.
As a lawyer, I must confess that I was personally frustrated by the loose and hasty crafting and preparation that characterized the presentation of the charges contained in the Articles of Impeachment. It seemed that the case was being built up only after the charges were actually filed. The repeated recourse to this Court’s compulsory processes to obtain evidence which normally should have formed the factual basis of the charges in the first place further burdened and, at times, taxed the patience of this Court.
We have witnessed with disdain the indiscriminate, deliberate and illegal machinations of some parties who have been less than forthright with this Court in presenting dubiously procured and misleading documents which were spread to the media obviously to influence this Court’s and the public’s opinion.
The letter of the Administrator of the Land Registration Authority which contained, as an attachment, a list of 45 properties supposedly owned by the Respondent Chief Justice, was fed to the media even before we could begin the actual trial of this case.
Even before the Hon. Ombudsman, Conchita Carpio Morales, was called to testify before this Court, her letter to the Chief Justice requiring him to explain in 72 hours an alleged aggregate amount of US$10M in several dollar accounts was leaked to the media right before the resumption of this trial last May 7.
We have sternly cautioned against unethical and unprofessional conduct, the penchant to engage in trial by publicity, to use the media to disseminate and advance so called “information” or “evidence”, to provoke and disrespect this Court and its members, and to irresponsibly hurl disparaging insinuations and accusations.
We have tried to impress upon everyone who may be similarly motivated and inclined to test our will that this Court means serious business and would not succumb to nor allow such underhanded tactics and gimmickry to deter us from our task.
Prudence and justice dictate that in determining the guilt or innocence of the Chief Justice, we must try our best to confine ourselves to the pieces of testimonial and documentary evidence that have been presented to this Court, to pass upon their relevance, and to measure and weigh their value in the light of the charges before us.
After all the accusations levelled against the Chief Justice – eight (8) charges in all comprising the Articles of Impeachment – the Prosecution chose to present evidence only on three Articles (Articles II, III and VII), and abruptly rested its case.
I have always believed that of these three, the case for the Prosecution and the Defense will rise or fall on Article II, which is the subject of this vote.
This Court, at one point, had extensive discussions and differences of opinion, to be sure, regarding the charge contained in Paragraph 2.4 of Article II that the Chief Justice was “suspected and accused of having accumulated ill-gotten wealth, acquiring assets of high values and keeping bank accounts with huge deposits”.
We ruled to disallow the introduction of evidence in support of Par. 2.4 which, to this day, I strongly maintain was an invalid charge, it being based on mere “suspicion”, on so-called “reports”, rather than on factual allegations.
The Defense and the Chief Justice himself somehow revived this issue of the nature of his assets by introducing evidence to prove that his income and assets were legitimate, and by testimony to show how he and his wife had saved and invested these savings in foreign currency over so many decades.
I wish to reiterate, for the record, that the Chief Justice does not stand accused of having amassed any ill-gotten wealth before this Impeachment Court.
Paragraph 2.2 of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment accuses the Respondent Chief Justice of failing to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth as required by the Constitution.
I submit that the Chief Justice had justifiable and legal grounds to rely on the Supreme Court’s procedural and policy guidelines governing such disclosures as embodied in a Resolution promulgated way back in 1989 when the Respondent was not yet a Member of the Supreme Court.
Under the said guidelines, the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, who is the repository of the SALN’s submitted by all the Members of the Supreme Court, may furnish copies of the SALN’s in his or her custody to any person upon request, and upon showing that there is a legitimate reason for the same.
The Constitution, in Article XI, Sec. 17, states that “in the case of the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional offices, and offices of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law”.
R.A. 6713, known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, recognizes the public’s right to information on the assets, liabilities, net worth, financial and business interests of public servants. But it likewise declares it unlawful for any person “to obtain or use the same for purposes contrary to morals or public policy or for any commercial purpose other than by news and communications media for dissemination to the general public”.
Whether the said guidelines violate the letter and spirit of R.A. 6713 and the principle of public accountability is not for this Court to pass upon. I grant that the Chief Justice believed in good faith that after periodically filing his sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court were sufficient to allow the Clerk of Court to comply with the Constitution and the law.
We cannot ignore the fact that the failure or refusal, particularly of public officials in high government positions, to provide the public or the media with copies of the SALN’s, continues to be a raging issue to this day. In fact, some, if not most of the members of the Prosecution panel itself, the Members of the Supreme Court, members of Congress and other high officials of the government have been challenged by media organizations to make their SALN’s available to the public and to the media.
Paragraph 2.3 of Article II further accuses the Respondent Chief Justice, based on “reports”, of not including some properties in his declaration of his assets, liabilities, and net worth, in violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.
The Prosecution, based on the list it procured from the LRA, claims that the Chief Justice owned and failed to fully disclose in his SALN 45 real estate assets. Based on the evidence, I am convinced that the Defense has presented credible evidence to refute this charge and to explain the exclusion in the Respondent Chief Justice’s SALN’s of certain properties which have either been sold or legally transferred, properties which are actually owned by his children and/or third parties, and properties which were never owned by the Respondent in the first place.
I am likewise convinced that the Defense has sufficiently established that there was no ill intention on the part of the Respondent to understate or misrepresent the value of his real properties.
Proceeding now to the most significant charge involving the non-disclosure of the Respondent Chief Justice’s cash assets, the Ombudsman, at the instance of the Defense, testified with a presentation of a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), showing 82 bank accounts allegedly belonging to the Respondent.
She further testified that based on her analysis of the report, aided by the Commission on Audit, the Chief Justice had cash assets in the examined bank accounts of anywhere from US$10 Million to US$ 12 Million.
Even if we grant the existence of these 82 accounts, the amount of deposits corresponding to each of these could not just easily, fairly or logically be summed up to arrive at exactly how much cash assets or deposits, in actuality and in totality, the Respondent Chief Justice had or has at any given point in time.
Hence, the Ombudsman’s reference to a “transactional balance” of about US$12 Million should not mislead this Court in its appreciation of the facts.
Regrettably, both the Prosecution and the Defense panels decided not to present the concerned bank officers or the AMLC to ascertain the veracity of the data allegedly provided by the AMLC to the Office of the Ombudsman, despite the Respondent’s submission to this Court of a written waiver to cause the opening of all his bank accounts. Laudable as this belated act on the part of the Respondent Chief Justice may be, it would have served him better if he had just presented bank documents as evidence to either confirm or refute the documents showing his bank transactions as presented by the Ombudsman. It has not escaped this Presiding Officer that initially, last May 22nd to be exact, before he walked out of the halls of this Court, the Chief Justice signed the said waiver in open court but made the release of the same conditional, that is, after all the 188 signatories to the Articles of Impeachment and Senator-Judge Franklin Drilon have signed a similar waiver. It was only during the hearing last May 25 that the Chief Justice decided to submit the waiver to the Court without any conditions.
Moreover, even as the Chief Justice had full access to his own bank accounts and all the opportunity to introduce evidence to disprove the data, findings and analysis presented by the Ombudsman or the report of the AMLC, the Defense did not introduce any such evidence.
As it is, the Impeachment Court could only rely on the documents supplied by the Ombudsman which show the Respondent’s bank transactions but which do not show the actual bank balances of Respondent’s bank accounts.
Instead, the Defense presented the Chief Justice himself as its last witness and pleaded for the Court’s permission to allow the Respondent to deliver an “opening statement”.
This Court, out of courtesy to the Chief Justice, decided to extend its understanding and to exercise liberality in granting the request.
The long narration, where the Chief Justice touched on a wide range of issues, assertions of facts, accusations, opinions and personal sentiments, which the Respondent said he found necessary to narrate in order to clear his and his family’s name, was later adopted by the Defense as the direct testimony of the Respondent. The Prosecution, on the other hand, waived its right to cross-examine the Chief Justice, provided the Defense would not conduct any further direct examination.
Nevertheless, the Respondent Chief Justice testified and admitted, in answer to questions from a member of this Court, that he had around P80 Million in 3 Peso accounts and US$2.4 Million in 4 US Dollar accounts, but that he had purposely not declared these assets for 2 reasons: (1) That his Peso accounts represented “co-mingled funds”, and (2) That he was not required to report or declare his foreign currency deposits in his SALN because they were absolutely confidential under R.A. 6426.
I disagree on both counts.
If, indeed, any of the Respondent’s cash deposits were co-mingled with the funds belonging to other parties such as the Basa Guidote Enterprises, Inc. (BGEI) or his children, the Respondent was still duty bound to declare these deposits in his SALN, they being admittedly under his name.
The evidence is devoid of any indication that the Chief Justice was holding these funds in trust for or that they were actually beneficially owned by any one other than himself or his wife.
Assuming that any part of such deposits in truth belonged to third parties, the Respondent could have indicated such third-party funds as corresponding liabilities in his SALN. That would have reflected his real net worth.
With all due respect, I believe that the Respondent Chief Justice’s reliance on the absolute confidentiality accorded to foreign currency deposits under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6426 is grossly misplaced.
The Constitution, in Article XI, Sec. 17, provides that “A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities and net worth. x x x ”
Are we now to say that this Constitutional command is limited to a public official’s assets or deposits in local currency? If so, would we not be saying, in effect, that the Constitution allows something less than a full, honest and complete disclosure?
It bears noting that the prescribed form of the SALN quite simply requires public officers and employees to declare their assets, real and personal, the latter to include cash and bank deposits, bonds, etc. It does not require the public officer or employee to indicate whether or not he or she has foreign currency notes or deposits. Neither does it require details such as account numbers, account names, bank identity nor any branch address. All that it requires is a declaration of the total amount of the funds deposited in any bank account or accounts maintained by the public official or employee concerned.
Surely, the Chief Justice knows the equivalent value in local currency of his foreign currency deposits to be able to declare the same as part of his assets, especially since the aggregate amount of these foreign currency deposits, by his own account, amounts to US$2.4 Million.
The non-disclosure of these deposits, in both local and foreign currency, would naturally result in a corresponding distortion of the Chief Justice’s real net worth.
Consistent with the position taken by this Court in the case filed by the Philippine Savings Bank before the Supreme Court last February, pursuant to which the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order, I maintain that the Constitutional principle of public accountability overrides the absolute confidentiality of foreign currency deposits.
The provisions of R.A. 6426 cannot be interpreted as an exception to the unequivocal command and tenor of Article XI, Sec. 17, of the 1987 Constitution, and I regret that the Highest Magistrate of the land, no less, would think otherwise.
Section 8 of R.A. 6426 provides that except with the written permission of the depositor, “in no instance shall foreign currency deposits be examined, inquired or looked into by any person, government official, bureau or office whether judicial or administrative or legislative or any other entity whether public or private.”
The so-called conflict of laws between R.A. Nos. 6713 and 6426 is more illusory than real. Section 8 of R.A. No. 6426 merely prohibits the examination, inquiry or looking into a foreign currency deposit account by an entity or person other than the depositor himself. But there is nothing in R.A. No. 6426 which prohibits the depositor from making a declaration on his own of such foreign currency funds, especially in this case where the Constitution mandates the depositor who is a public officer to declare all assets under oath.
Some have raised the question: Why should the Chief Justice be held accountable for an offense which many, if not most others in Government are guilty of, perhaps even more than he is? They say that hardly anyone declares his true net worth anyway.
Here lies what many have posited as a moral dilemma. I believe it is our duty to resolve this “dilemma” in favor of upholding the law and sound public policy. If we were to agree with the Respondent that he was correct in not disclosing the value of his foreign currency deposits because they are absolutely confidential, can we ever expect any SALN to be filed by public officials from hereon to be more accurate and true than they are today?
I am not oblivious to the possible political repercussions of the final verdict we are called upon to render today. I am deeply concerned that the people may just so easily ignore, forget, if not completely miss out, the hard lessons we all must learn from this episode, instead of grow and mature as citizens of a democratic nation.
Those whose intentions and motivations may be farthest from the lofty ideals of truth and justice are wont to feast upon this man’s downfall should this Court render a guilty verdict.
I am equally aware of the tremendous pressure weighing heavily upon all the members of this Court as we had to come to a decision on this case, one way or the other.
But to render a just verdict according to my best lights and my own conscience is a sacred duty that I have sworn to perform.
As one who has been through many personal upheavals through all of my 88 years, I, too, have been judged, often unfairly and harshly. But I have constantly held that those who face the judgment of imperfect and fallible mortals like us have recourse to the judgment of history, and, ultimately, of God.
And so, with full trust that the Almighty will see us through the aftermath of this chapter in our nation’s history, I vote to hold the Chief Justice, Renato C. Corona, GUILTY as charged under Article II, Par. 2.3, and that his deliberate act of excluding substantial assets from his sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth constitutes a culpable violation of the Constitution.
Senator Joker Arroyo: Voted to Acquit
I will not discuss what both the prosecution and the defense had already argued in their closing arguments. Mr. President and esteemed colleagues, Impeachment is a political process not a political assasination. An impeachment aspires to be a judicial proceeding that makes imperative that it sticks tp judicial rules. An impeachment must ever uphold a due process no citizen high or low can be denied that is why we were judicial robes as you see them to listen to ponder and decide like judges according to Law.
What started in the house was not an impeachment for an impeachment was an accusation accompanied by necessary formalities attended by the appropriate solemnities flagged by the liberties and guarantees and that a genuine grand jury proceeding affords. The purpose is to arrive at sound finding of probable cause sufficient to lodge a valid complaint charging real offenses before the appropriate tribunal.
The Senate is being asked to remove the Chief Justice from office all because he submitted an allegedly erroneous SALN. The Senate Trial could be as close to a criminal proceeding in a court of law as non-lawyers could approximate thus far all the great authorities agreed.What has happened?
Is the passage that to which the Senate President once warned we were veering close to a bill of attainder . A bill of attainder is a law passed by one house and approved by the other creating an offense where there was none inventing a crime out of actions willful or not that were innocent when they were performed. It is a legislative act of convicting an accused of acts that were not offenses in the very measure by which he is condemned through a vote instead of a trial on the basis of accusations taken as proof. I cannot imagine removing a chief Justice on a count of SALN. Today we are one step from violating the constitution and passing a bill of attainder. No one can stop us if we do not stop ourselves. This is not justice political or legal . This is certainly not law for sure it is not the law of the constitution. It is only naked power as it was i 1972. I not thought I would see it again so brazenly performed but for what it is worth I cast my vote if not for innocence falsely accused of offenses yet to exist and if not for the law and the constitution that we were privileged to restore under Cory Aquino then because it is a dangerous not to do what is right when soon we shall stand before the Lord i vote to acquit. Thank you.
Senator Miriam Santiago: Voted To Acquit
]]>The Constitution provides that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent, until the contrary is proved. The burden of proof is on the prosecution. How much proof is necessary? In other words, what is the standard of proof? I have adopted the very high standard of “overwhelming preponderance of evidence.” My standard is very high, because removal by conviction on impeachment is a stunning penalty, the ruin of a life.
The defendant admitted that he did not declare his dollar accounts and certain commingled peso accounts in his SALN. Did this omission amount to an impeachable offense? No.
Under the rule of ejusdem generis, when a general word occurs after a number of specific words, the meaning of the general word should be limited to the kind or class of thing within which the specific words fall. The Constitution provides that the impeachable offenses are: “culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.” An omission in good faith in the SALN carries a light penalty, and is even allowed to be corrected. Thus, it is not impeachable.
The Constitution simply provides that a public officer shall submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth. That is all. There are no details. The Constitution is a brief declaration of fundamental principles. Many constitutional provisions are only commands to the Congress to enact laws to carry out the purpose of the charter.
As a general rule, constitutional provisions are not self-executory. The usual exceptions are the Bill of Rights, and constitutional prohibitions. All other constitutional provisions, such as the SALN provision, need implementing laws to provide the details. Hence, Congress, to implement this constitutional provision, has passed a number of laws, including the Foreign Currency Act, which confers absolute confidentiality on dollar deposits.
There is no conflict between the Constitution and the Foreign Currency Act. The perceived conflict is so simplistic that it is seriously laughable. If there is any conflict, it is between the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards, which provides for a waiver of confidentiality; and the Foreign Currency Act, which provides for absolute confidentiality.
It is for Congress to balance on the one hand, the need for public accountability from public officers; with, on the other hand, the desperate need for foreign investment, which entails confidentiality, on pain of driving away investors from our country. The argument that a dollar deposit protected from inquiry would nullify the principle of transparency is for Congress to resolve. We could retain the absolute confidentiality clause, with the amendment that Filipino public officers are not protected.
The prosecution mistakes admission for confession. In a confession, the defendant admits guilt. In an admission, the defendant merely states facts, which might tend to prove his guilt. In the instant case, the defendant did not make a confession, but merely an admission, with a legal defense.
As a former RTC judge, I find it reprehensible that the AMLA document was introduced in evidence, without authentication, as required by the Rules of Evidence. I am deeply disappointed that on at least three occasions, the prosecution claimed that its documents came from an anonymous source. Are you for real? Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. False in one thing, false in all things.
The defendant used his own name in all his questioned transactions. He could have done otherwise, if his purpose was invisibility. Why would a suspected criminal leave his calling cards at the scene of the crime?
Assuming for the sake of argument that there is a preponderance of evidence for the prosecution, the preponderance is not overwhelming.
Unfortunately, the demands for the Chiloscyllium both for the aquarium trade and for food have made it into an endangered member of our world. And if the Chilloscyllium eventually disappears it will have an effect on the coral reef.
What is interesting about this particular batch of Chiloscyllium is that they have been cultured – bred and reared in the public aquarium of the Manila Ocean Park (MOP). Even more interesting is this is an F2 batch- meaning this is the 2nd generation that have been raised in the waters of a public aquarium. So this means the rehabilitation of the Chiloscyllium is eventually possible, which is a good thing.
VIDEO: OFFLINE Release of the Bamboo Shark in Calatagan, Batangas Part One
The release was done in Calatagan, Batangas and the process was interesting. Starting with the transfer from Manila Ocean Park to Calatagan; to the acclimatation of the sharks in Calatagan – involving monitoring water parameters and the sharks’ health; the tagging of the Chiloscyllium by the team from BFAR-NDRI; the final seminar and briefing with community representatives prior to the release; and the release itself both offshore and in the nearby reef.
VIDEO: OFFLINE Release of the Bamboo Shark in Calatagan, Batangas Part Two
And it does not end there. The team from MOP and its partners – the Provincial Government of Batangas; the Municipal Government and Community of Calatagan;
BFAR NFRDI And CAP-Ocean- plan to go back to monitor the fate of the sharks. With the continuing breeding of the Chiloscyllium in the public aquarium this seems poised to be a continuous thing.
Let us hope so.
Here are some snaps from the release.
Tagged Bamboo Sharks
The Release
Rashomon was required reading at High School and tells the tale of man recently a ronin taking shelter in one of the two former gates of Kyoto, now in a state of decay and corruption becoming a den of thieves; a place where the dead were left to rot; and where unwanted babies were left. This was the setting were the Ronin found himself in and confronted by a moral dilema that was about to be tested.
Of course in the film Rashomon, things are changed a bit and becomes a story from which another Akutagawa’s story comes in In the Grove, where the reader sees a murder through the eyes of someone, possibly a magistrate, listening to all the characters in story. A murder has occurred, who is the guilty one? Who is telling the truth?
Dear friend you should read these stories and the film it was crafted into.
Today, I re-read the stories again and I will probably watch the film again. It would seem better than watching the Impeachment. The chronicles and analysis of the Impeachment, including my own, have suffered from something similar to a Rashomon effect each of us have our own recollection and interpretation of the Impeachment. Even with the thinning down of the impeachment articles we are divided into those who would acquit and those would convict.
After a long wait we are down to the question – Is Corona guilty of not including his dollar and co-mingled accounts in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) ?
Guilty or not?
It would seem all of us – from the President, the Senators; the Supreme Court; the Media; and us whether online or not – have made up their minds. Some of us have made up our minds on day one, Some of us have made up our minds as the events at the Senate happened. And all pronouncements and analysis are used to promote our opinion. It is what it is.
In the end it is a political vote – vote along political affiliations and political considerations with legal and moral argument strengthening the case.
In Kurosawa’s Rashomon the story ended in a happy note. In this Impeachment Case I am not quite sure.
Nevertheless, one hopes that this costly exercise will bring to light the need for a Freedom of Information bill and to use it. A few days ago I felt this would be the only good thing that will come out of the Impeachment. Today, I am not sure with a Congress that is slow-paced and what seemed to be Media’s disinterest. This is the real tragedy.
]]>As I read the news items about The Impeachment of Chief Justice there was this article from Al-Jazeera – Philippine judge testifies at own graft trial and it described perfectly the perception of those seeking to impeach the Chief Juscfice as the magistrate that protected former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. And this brings us to the original sin of the Chief Justice being a midnight appointee of the highest judiciary position of the Philippines. Being an appointee of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo further sullying the matter. And the stand-off between the Executive and Judiciary regarding the Hold Departure Order a few months before providing the catalyst that speedened up the impeachment process.
The question of failure to declare items in the SALN and other charges a means to an end. Similar to getting Al Capone in jail for tax evasion. It is a means to an end.
Of course all those who witnessed the 40th day of the Impeachment were treated to what seemed to be,for the moment the Swan Song of the Chief Justice (which included valid and very invalid points, capped with walk-out that seemed viewed from very jaded eyes adapted from a Hollywood film. Furthermore, If one were to put on a propagandist hat the Swan Song would have been more effective that instead of leaving, a faint would have been more powerful. But to be fair to the Chief Justice at this point i would give the CJ that his blood sugar dropped to a very dangerous level.
So where do we stand now ?
The Chief Justice in the Intensive Care Unit who will be impeached unless something dramatic happens. Again the drama. And a Congress bogged down scuppering important and earmarked priority bills by the President. Priority bills like the Freedom of Information Act/Bill and the Reproductive Health Bill – this is the real tragedy here.
In the future will there be more Arroyo appointees to be impeached? Certainly. It is part of the de-Arroyofication of Government. Let us hope that it will not be as costly and time consuming as this one, otherwise the Aquino will be forever be pre-occupied with this until the elections.
Hopefully one good thing will come out of the Corona Impeachment and its not the Corona Impeachment but the Freedom of Information Act/Bill.
The country, the people, we need it. But we need to use it. Not to use it would be greater tragedy. Because if we do not we will be forever sentenced like Sisyphus. Now King Sisyphus was a King from Ancient Greece who tricked and cheated the Gods into not letting him die and go to the underworld – in one instance he tricked death or Thanatos into chaining himself to a rock thereby preventing everyone from dying and making Ares the God of War angry because no one was dying in battle. Sisyphus was eventually caught and his punishment was to push a huge boulder uphill only to see it roll down and then again to push it up only to see it roll down again for eternity.
Do we need to be trapped in Sisyphus’ punishment as well?
]]>This was his famous speech that earned him the name in history the Iron Chancellor. Bismark was the architect of the unification of Germany under the Prussian Kings and the author of several political alliances and agreements that held the piece until World War I. There are historians who believed that because of Bismark’s policies WWI was made possible. Along with Italy’s Cavour he became the symbol of art of realpolitik – one of the most pragmatic view of politics. In the end though he was dismissed by the German Kaiser and retired and upon his death was given a hero’s funeral save for a speech from his Kaiser – a wish explicitly spelled out by Bismark, knowingly well what his Kaiser, Willhem Ii was capable of.
Bismark was a sly parliamentarian and once said, “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.”
A sound advise from the Iron Chancellor.
Today is perhaps the most critical day of the impeachment of the Chief Justice Renato Corona: Today he is going to testify. What fate awaits Citizen Corona? Well hopefully within a few days we will know. And judging by the performance of this Congress this seems to be the only thing it has accomplished. Even bills signified urgent like the RH Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill are now part of a long long long queue of bills before Congress.
At least you can eat and enjoy eating sausages. Laws delayed and laws compromised are a different matter.
It is what it is.
What to do ? What to do? What to do?
OPTION A: Bismark was able to steer the Reichstag and Bundestag with realpolitics and German nationalism.
OPTION B: England’s Lord Protector having lost patience with Parliament, dissolved it, saying, ” Take away that fool’s bauble, the mace.”.
OPTION C: Then again there is Vatican solution use a conclave – lock Congress and not let them out till the necessary laws are passed. Of course all bills subject to approval by referendum.
What to do ? What to do? What to do?
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