By Mortz C. Ortigoza
I just learned
that many congressmen in the Philippines are Korean.
Ombudsman should
look on this so these lawmakers could be sued because of their “citizenship”
and dismiss them from office.
As you know, just
like the president and those senators, a congressman should be natural born
when he filled his certificate of candidacy.
Two private
contractors who make public roads, bridges, and buildings told me the same
story every time they asked the solons (tongressmen) to sign the approval of
the projects in their district:
These members of
Congress would ask them: “Magkano
Korean?”
***
Barangay chairmen submitted urine samples to the personnel of the City Office for Substance Prevention in Cebu City . PHOTO CREDIT: Sun Star |
Different opinions permeate the air nowadays on the legality and
illegality of the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to postpone anew the
October 23, 2017 election. But this time all barangay (village) officials would
be appointed by the president through a committee.
The rai·son d'ê·tre of the appointment is to avoid narcotics monies
from drug personalities to influence the outcome of the poll.
The father of the Local Government Code of 1991 and former Senator Aquilino
“Nene” Pimentel said: "Mas democratic ang eleksyon. In short nabawasan
ang demokrasya ng Pilipinas”.
He disputed the argument of Duterte that 40 percent of village chiefs
are dangerous drug’s protectors.
"Hindi naman
ibig sabihin na 'yun ang dahilan, i-appoint na lang natin sapagkat 'yung iilang
barangay official magnanakaw. Paano 'yung iilang governors na magnanakaw?
Iilang mayors na magnanakaw? So ibig sabihin lahat na lang i-appoint
'yan?" he told radio dzBB.
My radio guest recently Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil told me that come
May 2, the opening of the House of Representatives, he and his colleague at the
August Body would pass a bill to empower Duterte to appoint officials to fill
up the vacuum after the postponement of the poll in October.
“Of course, we
have to amend the Local Government Code,” cited by Speaker
Pantaleon Alvarez in reaction to the statement of Congressman Sherwin Tugna of the
Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption that the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act No. 7160,
mandates that elections be held for the chairs and councilors of barangays.
****
****
Here’s my take on these various reactions.
The appointment of President Duterte of these village officials as way
to avoid dangerous drugs monies to influence the poll this year will be lawful
as long as there is a law empowering him to do it.
It would be unlawful; however, if someone filed a Petition of
Declaratory Relief and Similar Remedies to the Supreme Court questioning the
statue or law to be passed or being passed by Congress as undemocratic and the
high court sided with the petitioner.
With a pending case like this at the high court, the status quo where
appointees run the village could probably stay for one year or less before the
court released its adverse decision to the law made by Congress and signed by
the president.
(You can read my selected columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at Pangasinan News Aro. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com)
(You can read my selected columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at Pangasinan News Aro. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com)
Tony Lazarraga Ilegal
TumugonBurahinLike · Reply · 1 hr
Robert Almo
Robert Almo What happened to the list including mayors, governors congressmen and police officials being waived everything speaking engagements of the president and even in his yearend interviews with the different networks.
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Danilo David
Danilo David it doesn't shows in the COMELEC by laws therefore digong playing dictator.
Reynaldo Andres Sinaon Sr. let us not use the drug problem as basis to pospone the elections
TumugonBurahinLike · Reply · 15 minutes ago
Antoine DeMactan
Antoine DeMactan Someone's gonna hitch the election budget again??? Go figure!