Zoren Legaspi holds four TIN documents

The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday granted the request of actor-director Zoren Legaspi for an extension to file his counter-affidavit regarding the P4.45-million tax evasion case filed by the BIR last May 8.

Legaspi may find himself in deeper trouble after it was revealed in the hearing that he has four Taxpayers Identification Numbers (TINs) which is prohibited under the National Internal Revenue Code. Capili admitted that Legaspi has four TINs adding they discovered it when they noticed discrepancies in the certification they got from companies that requested the services of the actor-director. “We are verifying from the companies why there are different TIN numbers,” Capili said.

Legaspi was a no-show at the preliminary hearing of his case and sent his accountant Flora Capili to represent him. Assitant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano ordered Capili to inform Legaspi to submit his counter-affidavit on June 6.

The BIR said Legaspi earned an income of P9.64 million in 2010 and P6.49 million in 2012 but he declared a gross income in his ITR of P6.79 million in 2010 and P1.82 million in 2012. “Compared with the income payments he received, he will fully substantially underdeclared his correct taxable income by P2.85 million or 42 percent in 2010 and P4.67 million or 256 percent in 2012,” the BIR said. “

As a result of his acts and omissions, Mr. Legaspi was sued for an aggregate income tax liability covering taxable years 2010 and 2012 amounting to P4.45 million, including surcharges and interests, broken down into P1.92 million in 2010 and P2.53 million in 2012,” it added.

State of the World’s Mothers: Philippines as a difficult place to be a mother

Six months on, after Typhoon Yolanda took away lives, livelihoods, and infrastructures. Save the Children, a 30-year children’s rights organization in the Philippines, addresses the health system and health care of women, pregnant mothers, and children in the typhoon struck area of Eastern Visayas.

This agency launched the State of the World’s Mothers or SOWM report at Bayleaf Hotel Intramuros, Manila.

Philippines ranked 105 out of 178 countries as the most difficult place to be a mother. In South East Asia, the Philippines rank behind Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and just ahead of Timor-Leste and Indonesia.

“How a nation treats its women and children is the best indicator of the wellbeing of that nation” Ned Olney, country office director of Save the Children in the Philippines, said.

Poor mothers and children suffer most in man-made and natural disasters and other humanitarian crises.

According to research in the New Scientist, there are 15 times as many infants to die in 2014 due to aftermath of major typhoon rather than the storm itself. During this period, health system collapses. The large number of deaths occurred among female infants due to competition for resources.

As reported, Typhoon Yolanda destroyed up to 90 percent of health facilities in the worst affected areas, leaving children and families without access to basic health care at a critical time.

According to Save the Children, more than 750 births were due to take place every single day in affected areas.

In an interview with Dr. Franscesca Cuevas, Director of Health in Save the Children, the figure of maternal deaths in post-Yolanda is not available yet, due to poor information system in affected areas where they will be needing equipment and trainings for data collection. Almost 50 percent of health workers in Eastern Visayas was affected so the result is to bring Save the Children team in the area.

Women die during crisis because of lack of assistance from skilled health provider as the health care facilities became unavailable.

SOWM reported that women who die in childbirth leave behind families. Their babies usually do not survive and those who do make it through infancy often do not make it to age 5. All children who lose their mothers are more likely to be malnourished and impoverished.

Six months after Yolanda, up to 45,000 babies were born without full medical care.

Among reported in the event is an increasing percentage in deaths among newborn babies in the first month of life during crisis due to lack of proper care, medicines, and unsanitary conditions.

The agency launched a birthing kit called the BEACON box (Birthing Essentials and Care of Newborns) that will contain plastic sheets, tarpaulins, soap, sterile cord ties, sterile blades, clean towels, a birth certificate, and a lamp.

The birthing kit is designed to protect pregnant women and newborns in areas where even health system collapses, during emergencies like storms and typhoons.

Ten million is invested in 2000 birthing kits, according to Olney. The agency is still working on putting together the stormproof box and its contents. According to Dr. Cuevas, the agency has identified the places to be prioritized in distribution of the birthing kit.

Venecia Relon, a local midwife affected by Yolanda, said her community needs vaccines the most for newborns, such as Rotavirus.

The utmost objective of Save the Children is for the Newborn babies and mother’s mortality rates to go down, and that could be done when National government, local government, and citizens prepare for the crisis.

(PressCon attended as Malaya Business Insight intern)

Save Yourself, Energy

By Susmita May B. Policarpio (Published in Omega Magazine 2013-2014)

Energy is essential. Energy-induced activities are getting bigger and faster and the temperature in the environment is getting less predictable. In warm days, people cool their homes while in cold days, there is water heating that affect either gas bills or electric bill if using an electric water heater. One way or another, we should find ways to save energy at home for power crisis is not beyond today.

Lighting for less cost

While ideas for saving on lighting should be in another article, here is a nutshell of saving lighting use and costs in a much simple way. There is simpler way than using energy-efficient bulbs like CFLs and LEDs. For example, do not over light the room. Match the power of bulbs and your lighting with the purpose and the ambience of the room.

Install multiple switches to cover different areas in lighting of a large open-plan space.

An electric lamp cost lower than overhead light so if a task to be done needs a focused light use lamps instead, with regular dusting of bulbs and lampshades.

Turn it off

Unplug appliances as soon as you stop using them, or by plugging them into a power strip, and turning the strip off when not in use. Moms cannot say it enough. This advice is as old and popular as electricity, and still the key to simple saving on use and costs.

Weather-stripped doors and windows

Who have not heard the phrase of: “Close the door, the Aircon (AC) will go out” in an air-conditioned room? While the correct statement should be “Close the door, you are losing the cool air,” there is more to leak proofed than the big openings of doors and windows. Sealing tightly through weather-stripping the small cracks and gaps where air is leaking into and out of your home could potentially save a percentage from your family’s annual energy billing.

Summer Shade of Trees

In summer season, fans and AC are in demand usage to cool homes, office, schools, and other facilities. And cooling is costly in energy bills especially in summer. Trees as a summer shade can reduce energy bills if properly place around the vicinity, while doing a favor to the environment.

Planted Deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves) on the east and west sides, will keep your house cool in the summer, create soothing shade from the hot summer sun, and reduce summer air conditioning costs. And, Shading the ACs helps cool a building more efficiently, using less electricity. A unit operating in the shade of trees uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.

Alternative source of energy

Let us be honest. Replacing a conventional energy use to alternative sources of energy like solar power system is not a simple-and-no-cost thing. But these are investments that will pay for itself in a definite time.

Solar power system is the most real thing homeowners can install to homes if their location has adequate solar resources. A shade-free, south-facing location is best, and mostly, if a homeowner is willing to pay more than the conventional energy to reduce the environmental impact of their electricity use. Solar panels are the most popular form of renewable energy today. You can use them to generate heat, electricity, and indoor and outdoor light.

Heating water is a great use of solar power. Most solar heating systems are cost competitive with conventional systems and have very low operating costs. It is actually the most cost-effective use of solar energy.

National Issue: “Cha-Cha” a Way to National Growth?

by Susmita May B. Policarpio (Published in Election Issue of LPU Independent Sentinel 2014-2015)

The structure of government is as good only as the people exercising governance, isn’t it?

1987 Constitution is a supreme law of the Republic of the Philippines. According to Malcolm and our very own Jose P. Laurel, Constitution of the Philippines is a written instrument by which the fundamental powers of the government are established, limited, and defined, plus distributed to branches and departments of our government for safe and useful exercise for benefit of the people.

To add, the constitution is introduced by a Preamble wherein as a Filipino citizen, we are required to know it by heart.

On February 11, 2015, the 1987 constitution is 28 on its years. And in every administration since Cory Aquino, Charter Change (Chacha) or the process of amending or revising the present 1987 Constitution is discussed, seen, and considered for reform and growth.

The 1987 Constitution may be amended three ways: constitutional convention, constituent assembly, or people’s initiative. But any amendment will need to be ratified by the people through a plebiscite.

There have been five constitutional conventions in Philippine history: Tejeros Convention (1897), Malolos Congress (1899), 1935 Constitutional Convention, 1973 Constitutional Convention, and the 1987 Constitutional Commission.

The 1987 constitution is a product of post Marcos dictatorship that puts the Philippines under his Military law for more than two decades. When Cory Aquino’s appointed commission made the 1987 constitution, it seems that they made sure that the future President can only have a one term with six years of governance and would not be a hindrance of Philippine democracy.

Cha-cha is being talked about since the Ramos Administration. Ramos lost against public attacks of being a future dictator and accused of his purpose of amending the term limits as self-serving and would only benefit the incumbents.

Estrada administration wanted to amend the economic provisions that would open doors for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The Filipino people opposed in the name of national patrimony.

The Arroyo Administration proposed a constitutional reform in exchange with good governance and economic growth with major revisions to a parliamentary and federal system. However, the proposal died a natural death after Arroyo’s name was dragged to a lot of controversies.

While the President Aquino Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino allies would want to amend the constitution to give way for President Aquino to run again in the 2016 presidential election. Aquino said he does not seek a second term. He point out that stepping down from his position as the President will give him his much awaited freedom.

In another note, the thing that the Public is concerned about is if the next leader of the country will continue the programs that the Aquino government established. The political opposition of Vice President Binay is the strongest contender from surveys made.

Disadvantage of Term Limits

According to Analyst, particularly the point of news agency Rappler when discussing Chacha, the problem of term limits is continuity of reform and governance.

According to a Rappler report, Joy Aceron of Ateneo School of Government explained the disadvantage of term of office on local officials.

According to Aceron, on the first year of the elected official, he would be truthful to his mandate and he will study the functions of his office. Then on the second year, he will start designing programs and policies. And that made him a year away from the next election of his office. Therefore, he will start to think about how to stay in position to implement his programs and policies. This will definitely affect his judgment so on third year, he is now on full campaign mode.

Therefore, as a solution, amend the term of three years of local officials to a two five-year term for local and national officials for the purpose of continuity and political stability.

FDI

The economic provisions on Foreign Direct Investments are the most wanted amendments among observers of 1987 constitution. The constitution does not allow foreign ownership of land, natural resources, and public utilities.

However, to amend the economic provisions will cost time and opportunity to attend to more urgent matters. Plus, Philippines have people to protect from the colonization of foreign investors.

Why can’t we dance the Chacha

For one thing, Ramos wanted a shift to Parliamentary system from the current Presidential system of government. However, according to Filipino author Hector S. de Leon, our country’s problems will not disappear if the same breed of traditional politicians and political dynasties exist or take over under the new system.

Any initiative for changing the constitution is not pushing through for the past 40 years because some people of our country believe that, what is needed is not a change in the political system but values transformation.

The necessity of changing the constitution when the system is rotten and cannot be fully implemented is hard to be seen. Cha Cha or not, if there are people who wants to abuse the constitution, they will abuse it in any way possible. We advocate and fight for the promotion of national patrimony.

Corruption never ends. Then you allow it.

By Susmita May B. Policarpio (Published in Omega Magazine for National Issue 2014-2015)

Leader of Roman Catholic Pope Francis visited the Philippines with the motto of Mercy and Compassion.

Pope Francis went to typhoon Yolanda-devastated Leyte. He heard voices of the marginalized about hardships of life. He listened to children asking with tears why God allow those hardships of losing someone.

With all this, Pope Francis said he do not know the answer to those question nor any words to give them peace.

If human is capable of conscience, the corrupt people in the government should had thought for a second that maybe they know the reason for Filipino’s hardship and struggles in life.

Maybe corrupt-elected leaders know the answer to never-ending poverty and crimes in the Philippines.

The Philippine culture is corruption and corruption is a Filipino culture. Government leaders and officials enter politics “to grasp” the public’s money and not “to serve” the public as said by René B. Azurin.

If a percentage of budget is allotted for social services, a greater percentage of the national budget was lost to graft and corruption.

Measuring corruption would be a daunting task to do. What we can elaborate is the effects corruption do to us Filipinos.

We are made to pay for overpriced goods and services or to deal with low-quality and substandard goods and services.

There is no need to define the instances of corruption published on national broadsheets because aside from politicians and government officials, corruption is around us happening right under our noses.

Doing business in the Philippines would require a lot of papers and years of business permit approval. Aspiring businessmen results in bribes in exchange of processing their business permits.

Corruption in business sector is in abundance. Development and improvement of life is exclusive to few families who run business and politics.

As instance, government business transactions are given to private companies who will provide a “return of favor” to government officials. Instead of competing in quality services and affordability among company bidders, these companies result in who can return the biggest favor in the corrupt officials.

A gold turn pebbles happened in Filipino farmers when the budget for fertilizer funds was lost to private pockets during Arroyo administration. In agricultural country, the government must support, nourish, and protect the natural resources in any way possible.

What happen are, unsubsidized hectares of lands and exploitations of minerals by foreigners and opportunists. And worst land-grabbing of lands from the helpless farmers.

From all the corrupt acts, no one is ever punished. The stories of corrupt acts are replaced by another corruption stories.

The fear of trouble is also the reason for upright citizens to disclose any knowledge in matter of graft and corruption. The corrupt patron has the private armies’ protection.

Corrupt leaders resist the duty and responsibility to create a better life for impoverished Filipinos.

Once, developed country United States under its Foreign Corrupt Practices had penalized and dissolved a US company involved in partnership with Philippines based company which had made numerous illegal payments to foreign government officials.

This is a good example of fighting graft and corruption that must be done by Aquino administration who cries for “Daan matuwid.” Furthermore, serious anti-corrupt officials could establish intelligence institution for good governance.

As a youth, if you are living in slum and have a relative in slum areas, strive to be part of better social cultural location. Be more oriented with justice, be disciplined and be responsible at all time.

Take action using Social media to demand right questions and consequently hear the right response from media, TV and newspapers alike.

Blaming the corrupt acts that have taken away chances for quality life and good governance when you elected them as the leader of the government would be nowhere to go.

However, make the weakness of being part of the masses into strength. With the masses, we have knowledge on how simple things could be precious and the powerless interests and aspirations.

Almost there: 10 Tips to Survive OJT

by Susmita Policarpio

As a post high school graduate looking for a College or University, the LPU brochure that includes list of organization and companies where students can take practicum course would attract enrollees. That was a good brochure. It made you look forward that enrolling to LPU is a way to get into these known companies where your relatives or parents talked about.

However, in reality, college is learning theories and acquiring skills. Getting nto those companies might require someone to know someone from the company and a good timing of passing your resume to score an intern slot.

On-the-job training (OJT) is defined as: Providing training at the job site, usually one-on-one, where the learner performs the job or tasks to be learned.

So, make sure the company or the job site regardless of the organization’s popularity provides you a trainer who is easy to approach and can help you in your objectives in taking a practicum course.

To that end, the following is unpopular opinions on what awaits you in OJT days.

1. Learn by doing. When you start working and a trainer told you a new concept or to do a strange task, my advice is to Google it or, if the internet would not be possible, it is better to simply ask right away and clarify that unknown concept.

2. Stamp your time card. While it is exciting to start a day on doing the OJT task, upon arriving at the job site accomplish first the Practicum Attendance Log.

3. Be friendly with the guard of your company. You never know when you will forget your university ID or OJT ID. In my case the only person that needs to talk to is my trainer and the day is good. However, to talk with workmates and future colleagues will gain the capital N, networks.

4. Dress smart. This is a basic thing plus your supervisor/ trainer will evaluate you on how you dress. There is a criteria for physical appearance in the LPU OJT journal.

5. Always bring the LPU OJT journal. During free time, you can put entries on the journal about your day so on submission to thesis adviser it will save yourself from cramming OJT requirements with senior academic subjects like Thesis and Electives.

6. Be friendly. When someone invites you to eat with them, eat. Or at least reject politely.

7. Get a uniform exemption from SAO. When unfortunately you are still completing the OJT hours during resume of classes, the uniform exemption is a saviour from bringing double attire: LPU uniform and OJT attire.

8. Bring some good cameras. Shoot every experience. Take a group shot with your workmates or take a selfie with your trainer then paste it on your journal. This will save you space on writing the daily work journal.

9. Bring earphones, books, or any gadget. There might be a lot of not-doing-anything time during your OJT hours because there is no intern work assigned to you. To pass your time, these things might help you to save the day.

The last tip is hearsay. As an intern (10) perform the duties and responsibilities. OJT has a lot of doing serious things in the name of your future career. The OJT experience could be the best mentor of your college life if done right. Be passionate, committed, and dedicated.

Dear HK, what’s next?

By Susmita May B. Policarpio (As appeared in Omega Magazine 2013-2014)

Without the visa-free access in a country means a visa requirement. And getting a visa can mean a tedious process of waiting in long lines. Plus, the fees and heavy documentation until you get your VISA (Visitor Intended for Seeking Admission.)

Otherwise, the visa-free access countries can boost tourism industry and increase of foreign currency earnings because of the spending of tourists in the Philippines market; And, without the process of producing a visa.

Consider those as you read this story.

First the story started on August 23, 2010, when police officer Rolando Mendoza took 22 Hong Kong tourists and three Filipinos captive on a tour bus. He shot dead seven tourists and their guide before being killed in a rescue, later investigated as a failure rescue ¡n the most part of Manila Police District.

Right after the hostage crisis, a black warning – the highest warning – against travel to the Philippines had been and remains ¡n force, which makes the Philippines more dangerous for the Hong Kong nationals than going to Syria.

Three years later

What pulled the trigger for new discussions about the issue are Hong Kong party called People Power calling on HK lawmakers to impose sanctions. Then, lawmakers voted in favor of a motion pressing the government to impose sanctions on Manila and cancel visa-free access for Filipinos.

Hong Kong takes the Hostage crisis as a complicated issue and the reason why it have gone on for three years and counting. Or so Hong Kong Legislators say.

Survivors and victims’ relatives demand for a formal apology, compensation, punishment of responsible officials and improved tourist safety.

Chief executive Leung Chun-ying in a statement said, “Unless, within a month, there are concrete steps taken to resolve this issue, the government will take necessary actions to apply sanctions.

HK threatened a non-visa-free access to HK and possible trade sanctions while in travel warning to the country.

A quiet conversation happened between HK and Philippines to work on victim’s demands.

But President Aquino has made a firm decision not to make a formal apology on behalf of the Country.

Even Chief Executive Chun-ying or known as CV said HK and Philippine officials have been discussing the matter but talks lead to no result over the apology that HK demanded.

No more 14-day Visa-free access

Before the coming of Lunar New Year, Hong Kong threat got real.

In January 29, HK government canceled visa-free diplomatic passport privileges with the exception to existing accredited Philippine consular officials. Hong Kong did this after PNoy refused to apologize to the victims of the hostage-taking incident.

That cancellation of visa-free as the first phase of sanctions followed a “token for solidarity” and an official statement from Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The DFA did not specify the tokens but said, “Are substantially more than those that have been previously accepted by the victims and their families”.

But Philippines is undecided to consider the renegotiation offered by HK. The Philippines won’t apologize. That has been the latest in the quiet discussions made by Hong Kong and Philippines

Reactions

In any Issue, reactions and comments are the most interesting part. The people’s perception on the event and how it had impact also influence the future course of the issue.

Some may say, at least only the officials visa are sanctioned unlike the initial threat of involving everyone who wish to go to HK.

Perhaps the reason is more than 160, 000 Philippine nationals reside in Hong Kong and most working as domestic helpers. And bilateral trade between the two totalled some $82 billion in 2012 Again, consider the first two paragraphs.

Maybe Chun-ying has thought the consequence the Hong

Kong economy might face in a difficult position.

A little fact about Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of PRC (Peoples Republic of China). China is in dispute over the Scarborouqh shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

HK legislator said the sanctions could be stepped up gradually to pressure the Philippine side.

Some of the reactions posted on the website of Hong Kong’s English language daily, the South China Morning Post, are:

A ‘yuan.enriquez.3’ commented “Hong Kong is only a city, the Philippines is a sovereign country. Thus, the head of Hong Kong does not have the diplomatic right to directly call and make demands to the PRESIDENT of the Philippines as if they are equal.”

“Less Filipinos traveling to HK slow down HK tourism, and it will be the perfect opportunity for Japan, Singapore, Bangkok and Malaysia to market themselves to the Filipinos. I know for a fact that two of those nations eye Filipinos as a top market potential, an ‘average joe’ said.

A ‘johndoe’ concluded after the sanction threats, “This is a populist ploy by CY to drum up some support for a non-issue to detract from bigger problems. The Filipinos have enough problems at home; Hong Kong should show a good example. And why should these families suddenly get so much power and influence? People die of flu, heart attack, cancer, obesity or whatever every day and their families get nothing for it.”

A ‘michael.michael.’ analyzed the hostage taking as, “No honest and clear effort was made to rescue those hostages by the PH government until it was too late. If the hostage situation had occurred in HK, you know HK would have sent out their elite SDU unit to save the hostages, not a bunch of ill equipped, fully retarded, and wannabe rambo look alike police officers.”

“Isn’t sanction a bit too late now? This ¡s not very diplomatic at all and why are we dragging the rest of Hong Kong into this an ‘aarondotpang’ asked and perhaps some of us asked as well.

Bureau of Customs in Action (Press Briefing)

May 29, 2014

In Bureau of Customs (BOC) series of actions to protect Filipino entrepreneurs from cheap and smuggled products in the market, Clurky Trading, local company located in Manila, charged with smuggling violations worth 55 million pesos for importing faked goods in a three container vans from China.

The vans arrived at the Manila International Container Port last January 2, 2014

The faked goods include Levi’s shirts, Adidas jogging pants, gadget holders for Sony PSP, and Aeropostale shirts among other imported brands.

Because of importing faked brands and trade names, the owner Rizaldy Valencia and his Customs broker Elizar Lopez faces charges of violating Section 166 named as infringement in Intellectual Property Code, plus, Sections 3601 and 3602 termed as unlawful importation and fraudulent practice against customs revenue in relation to Tariff and Customs and Code of the Philippines (TCCP).

To add, Lopez and Valencia did not declare items which violated the Section 172 of the Revised Penal Code for falsifying public documents.

The undeclared items include Diesel men’s undergarments, Renrene Hair Dye, Powder Face mask, Paraffin wax, and mobile phone chargers among electronic product in the import entry documents.

Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla advised the public to reprehend faked products from China and asked the public to support Philippine made products.

“It is our duty to protect our consumers and our legitimate businesses from the harmful effects of fake products. Faked goods are damaging to business and investment opportunities and pose a serious threat to public health and safety since these counterfeit products are not subject to safety checks,” Sevilla said.

The smuggled goods are seized and destroyed, Sevilla said.

When you feel hopeless with Philippine government

By Susmita May B. Policarpio (As published in LPU Independent Sentinel)

Because of my Faith, I live to accept how things work and to believe that everything is part of a process. I am not responsible for everyone’s hardship in life because definitely they have a say on how they life would went.

But while contemplating, I thought, asking the right questions to the right people on how things happen can eventually save my soul. Because perhaps when you ask the right question it will lead to the truth. And when there is truth, there could be no injustice.

I heard from church that there are two kinds of suffering. The necessary suffering and the unnecessary suffering. The necessary suffering is what the PNP-SAF (Special Action Force) commandos or the Fallen 44 brought us on the table.

They suffered on holding ground in a worst possible case with terrorist and opponents of the government. Because it is their purpose to live a designated mission as an elite commando.

It is their mission to conduct Counter-Terrorist operation in urban and rural areas, to operate as a rapid deployment force capable to strike anytime and anywhere in the country in support of other units and other agencies as higher headquarters may direct, and most of all to perform other tasks as the Chief PNP may direct.

Any encounter, operation, or clash with the terrorist is a part of a deal because you have taken an oath to live your mission. At least they have a noble purpose on living.

Now, the Filipinos are in outrage. They demand accountability and responsibility to the police officers who died in “vain”.

For a review, Mamasapano, Maguindanao armed encounter happened and resulted to the death of 44 SAF members, 16 from MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters), several civilians, and the death of Zulkifli Abdhir or “Marwan” whose head place a price of $6-million by the United States.

This quote from Police Officer Michael Mellora gave us something to think about, “This country is not worth dying for, sir, kung yung gobyerno natin hindi kami kayang protektahan as a warrior.” said to DILG Sec. Mar Roxas.

In that statement, the uncoordinated organization is very evident.

The military admitted that they cannot move out and send back-up because of the lack of information and the whereabouts of the operation.

Now, version of the stories are released and published by the media.

Inquirer reported Chief Supt. Getulio Napeñas, the sacked commander of the SAF, admitted bypassing the military and the MILF to avoid alerting Marwan.

And the worst scenario came from a former SAF commander who said, the animosity between Purisima and Roxas was to blame for the worst debacle in the history of the SAF.

It means that because of power, one has chosen to be in charge of everything to gain redemption and glory if the operation had been successful.

However, it’s not what happened and what is left are the “why and how” of the families from the dead love ones in the elite commandos.

The Commander-in-Chief failed to manage his team. The team failed to operate with the Chief. No doubt, the operation resulted in a disaster.

I suggest to the people who read my material not to be neutral about this issue. Be afflicted and demand the truth and justice from whatever you hear and watch.

Another result of the armed encounter is the setback of Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) because perhaps the clash became another reason to postpone the peace process in Mindanao.

There might be greater matter beyond the Fallen 44 issue however this issue talk a lot about our nation and the Filipino people. The power is isolated to those few who are in a position. The government who have to live for the estate does not function as one. More likely we live for the government.

I am one with the families of the elite commandos who are in all-out releasing of emotional statements and asking the “why and how” the police officers died.

I am also in one with the fellowmen who are against the government especially when the government asked the outrage Filipinos to not make a greater problem and to cooperate in the “due process.”

The due process that will take six-month long in minimum. Where is the justice with that?

Why should we focus on the global crisis and other sophisticated matter if our nation is suffering from the worst and old-aged political instability? And why would we listen to a government who allow someone to conduct an operation that would risk a number of lives because of that someone’s glory and redemption.

10 Ways You’re Making Your Life Harder Than It Has To Be