This one is not 'extra-judicial'

How ironical it is that only a few days after the highest court in the Land, led by its Chief Justice Reynato Puno, head called for a summit to address the seemingly uncontrollable rash of "extra-judicial killings", a member if the judiciary himself would become a victim of just that kind of killing. The whole country was shocked, more so those of us in the twin provinces of Negros because the victim was Judge Orlando Velasco of the Regional Trial Court Branch 63 of Bayawan, Oriental Negros.

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The shooting of Velasco, which took place as he was alighting from a motorcycle in front of his residence, was perpetrated by three men, also on board a motorcycle. There are strong suspicions that the killing was triggered by any of the cases he had heard or ruled on recently, which included those involving drugs, murder, arson and rape. Although we have no evidence confirming the connection, one cannot help imagining the killers thumbing their noses at the Courts.

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Velasco did not die immediately after the shooting, he lived for several hours more before succumbing to his injuries. So we have some reason to hope that he had made some ante mortem statements that could help law enforcers to identify and arrest his killers. The Supreme Court, no less, is expected to pull out all the stops in pursuing this case. It is indeed an indication of lawlessness when even officers of the Court themselves are eliminated just like that, and it is hoped the recommendations of the summit will be able to cope with that.

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The former head of the National Economic Development Administration has been shuffled off to the Commission on Higher Education. In the latest moves of Malacañang, that seems to show us that all the members of the cabinet are treated as "jokers" who can apply to any combination in card games, NEDA administrator Romulo Neri has been sent to the CHED. Is it any coincidence that there is an announcement that the government will hire 10,000 more teachers soon? That is good news but let us pray that the new appointees will not be composed mostly of relatives, family members or recommendees of politicians who may be college graduates, but lack the competence, aptitude and preparation for the job.

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The military has secured warrants for the arrest of 130 guerillas believed responsible for the killing and beheading of soldiers during an ambush waged on them in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan province. My, that's a lot of warrants to serve and I don't want to sound disloyal to the Republic, but how many or what percentage of the 130 will they be able to arrest? From the reports in the national media, it seems they are not even sure how many are members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and how many are from the notorious Abu Sayyaf.

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And if they are actually all apprehended, where will they be detained? How much will the government be spending to feed them? Also, how many guards will be needed to watch them 24 hours a day? When you come to think of it, the whole thing is very confusing, really. As events have shown, the kidnapped Fr. Giancarlo Bossi was all the time in Lanao, and the soldiers searching for him were ambushed in Basilan, another province. First the Army head declared punitive action against the MILF, but later they said they were after the Abu Sayyaf. Now they have stated that both were involved. I guess it's safer to say that.

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Two Bacoleñas who have made it to be among the top in the public relations business in Manila are in town now as part of their very exciting work that has them rubbing elbows with celebrities and VIPS, both in the entertainment and business world. Norma Japitana, who is known to be behind the success of so many of our top movie stars, and who, herself, is a popular as her "wards" in showbiz, is here to support her friend, another talented Bacolod girl, Rose Ann Coscolluela-Villegas, who occupies a very high position in the Robinsons company.

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At dinner last night at the L'Fisher, with Norma and Rose Ann, we were joined by Linda Bolido of the Daily Inquirer, Paulo Alcarazen of the Philippine Star, and Christine Tomas of Robinsons Place. It was a very pleasant meeting, with the talk shifting from reminiscences, family, travel, politicians, architecture, demography, and, of course, showbiz chismis. Thankfully, nobody mentioned calories or sugar counts. By the way, Robinsons Bacolod is marking its 10th anniversary today, and Oh! To think that I was at its original launching at the Midtown Hotel in Manila, 10 years ago. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!*

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