Pangan: Bad Precedents

DURA lex, sed lex. The law may be harsh or hard, but it is the law.
This maxim is seemingly being observed by China and Singapore, to name the countries which implement punishments prescribed by their statute books. Of course, in our country, the areglo system or arrangement is prevalent in courts, as institutionalized by the arbitration mode between litigants by the Supreme Court purportedly to de-clog the courts’ dockets and preempt litigious and protracted litigation.
No wonder, rarely do we see the swift closure of cases, including the big and controversial ones, to their natural flow of procedure. Who knows that even the horrendous Maguindanao massacre case might end up as a classical case of areglo?
Well, before I stay away from my main point, I’d like to put in my two cents’ worth of observation on the case of the three Pinoys who are scheduled to be executed in China, after being found guilty of drug trafficking, a heinous crime by China’s law and standards.
Let the ax fall where it may, though some feelings may be hurt by their sad fate. If they were tried fairly and judiciously, then, let the law take its natural course.
And now we are scrambling to save the three sentenced inmates. Even VP Jejomar Binay was sent to convince to Chinese authorities to forego the execution and instead commute to life the death sentence. What? Have we forgotten that China is still a hard-core communist country although it is slowing adapting to the needs of the times, that is, to welcome Western influence?
The precedent perhaps set by former President Arroyo in making last-ditch efforts to save from the gallows Filipino prisoners in the Middle East (Saudi Araba, Kuwait), seems to have been carried over to the Aquino administration, but in these cases, I would say, the Filipino workers were at the receiving end of the court litigations in these Arab countries.
I suggest that if the evidence of guilt is really that strong and convincing, and even beyond reasonable doubt, then by all means, carry out the maximum penalty so as to deter criminal inclinations and serve as hard, bitter and harsh lessons to those who are predisposed to commit grave offenses. Dura lex, sed lex. So be it that the execution take place on those found really, really guilty. No more kid glove treatment, please.

Acting General Manager Engr. Reynaldo “Rey” Cortes Liwanag was finally confirmed as the new General Manager of the Angeles City Water District (ACWD) last Wednesday, by the firm’s Board of Directors chaired by Edgar “Egay” Lopez.
Now that Engr. Rey is the full-fledged GM, succeeding the retired Engr. Romeo “Romy” P. Calara, he now has at his disposal and disposition the resources of the water facility, including concerns of personnel and concessionaires.
Known for his no-nonsense style of management, Engr. Rey’s acts are often misconstrued as aloof and stiff, again as contrasted, according to some ACWD’s employees, to his predecessor.
To this assertion, the new GM was quick to retort: “I have a different style of management than that imbibed in by employees during Engr. Calara’s term. I want to manage and oversee the operations of ACWD so that the interests, not of a few, but of the concessionaires at most, are protected and enhanced. I want to do away with the frills and lavish preparations of times past, instead, I intend to implement a stricter observance of budgetary requirements.
Sa akin, pantay-pantay ang benepisyo. Kung masipag kang magtrabaho, wala kang dapat ikabahala. Pagseserbisyo ang mauna, tsaka na ang mga nakaugaliang paglilimayon.”
With this new tact, GM Rey envisions a more profitable outcome and recognition for the large category water district.
I wish the new GM of ACWD more power, and more smiles and charisma, in his post.

From the provincial level, down to the barangays. This flow of work regarding the disposition of the gnawing problem of garbage disposal is at hand and the issue is being addressed, this time, with more consciousness and seriousness.
Ever mindful of the requirements of RA 9300, the Governor of Pampanga, the Honorable Lilia Pineda has come full circle in taking steps in solving the garbage problem in the province and its municipalities, including the city of San Fernando. The summits called by her should bear positive results and the proponents should not only engage in rhetoric, rather, more action to solve the menacing problem should be taken by all those concerned.

Now that the schools days are coming to a close, I suggest that the vacation time be filled with worthwhile activities such as skills trainings and livelihood projects, such as food processing, soap and candle making and fashion accessories. The skills trainings may include industrial sewing machine operation, welding, barista, waitering and bartending and, one important skill that may be acquired: plumbing. As sounded out by no less than President Aquino, technical-vocational courses should be prioritized and the white-collar oriented courses be set aside as there are so many graduates from these traditional courses that are not employed, or if they are, they are underemployed and their skills are mismatched with their current positions. This is where the Dole and Tesda can come in. These two agencies, complemented by other government agencies (such as the DTI), can supplement the workers’ inadequacy in skills training. Paging the DoLE Regional Director and those of Tesda, namely: Regional Director Yolando Olano and Provincial Director Ben-Hur H. Baniqued. You are of big help to the job aspirants and current workers.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/opinion/pangan-bad-precedents

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