BULL’S HIT

Rudy Garcia
Grease money for a bingo joint

Just as this world is experiencing climate change, US President Barrack Obama reverses the environment policies of then former US President George Bush. If this would do better for us then, I would say he is thinking ahead line than rushing things at the last minute.

This could be one of the reasons why President Arroyo was inspired in appointing herself as environment or climate czar. First, she appointed herself as the anti-drug czar following the conflict between the Department of Justice and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency over the Alabang Boys drug case controversy.

Could it be that she was not satisfied with the performance of Dangerous Drugs Board top honcho Tito Sotto and Environment Secretary Lito Atienza? If then, why didn’t she just kick out the two and replaced them with more deserving people? Otherwise she would be appointing herself anti-smuggling czar, anti-gambling czar, anti-kidnapping and maybe as anti-jaywalking czar.

If the president was serious enough in sanitizing and pouring insecticide to kill the unwanted insects under her administration then she could appoint herself as anti-graft and corrupt czar first. Putting deodorants to cover up the stinks is not enough, total cleansing is necessary. After all, nobody believes that the president has the superpower to perform as chief of all these government bodies. She is an economist and a president. Her job is to supervise her cabinet secretaries and appointed officials, not a wonder woman who does all the jobs, right Vice President Noli de Castro?
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It was not the global crisis that is giving me headache these past days but the crisis bought by the cell phone I bought from a Muslim trader at the Baguio centermall. Call it bad luck, but I guess I made a mistake in buying this cheap second hand cell phone after my official cell phone fell accidentally in one of the malls at San Fernando City, La Union.

Little did I know that it would be bringing me lots of inconvenience. It was disgusting but it was an experience worth learning from and I want to share this lesson to everyone who is planning to buy a cheap second hand cell phone. Don’t fully rely on cheap ones but rather look at the negative effects it would be bringing you. After all, guarantee is the best policy the seller can offer to a buyer.

In light of this, I wonder if the authorities concerned are strictly enforcing regulations on these swarming second hand cell phone outlets. If reports are true that some traders are buying cell phones coming from questionable sources like known snatchers and thieves, then this should be properly monitored and investigated.

Our revised penal code states that buying an item considered “ hot” is punishable by law. This is called the anti- fencing law. But here in the city of Baguio I seldom see cases of anti-fencing being heard at Justice Hall, or am I just to lazy to look for the records at the trial courts? I stand corrected your honors!
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At last, the bingo joint beside the Igorot Park in Baguio City was dismantled bringing back the area as loading parking area for public jeeps bound for Gabriela Silang and Green Water Village.

This fund raising activity of AZCKO barangay had been the object of complaints from various sectors. Well, these has beens are smiling from ear to ear for their victory as dome did it because they have nothing to gain.

There are lessons the barangay captain should be learning from this experience. First, never place your fund raising activity in an public place especially if this is in public view. Better have it on a discreet place, not in an open public area where public criticisms and game swaying of hypocrites are prone.

Secondly, consult an expert who could help in the PRs or someone who will do the dirty job of knocking at the doors of the city officials, NGOs and the media. But don’t be surprised if this someone will be giving you a list and amount of money you have to give in advance aside from the weekly, bi-weekly or monthly intelihensya (grease money) to these people. It is an SOP deal as it could be a no deal for your activity if your don’t have the blessing or basbas or face bulabog or closure. Am I also right concerned city officials and colleagues in media? Agaammotayon Apo!