Another kind of
rat in Dinagat

A very rare and highly endangered species known as the “cloud rat” has been rediscovered in Dinagat Island, where it is endemic. When I first heard about the discovery of the Cloud Rat, I thought the reporters were talking about another kind of rat that could also be hiding in the island, and which the police could not, or are not willing to find.

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A noted election lawyer, who used to be on the team of former president Gloria Arroyo, is filing a petition at the Supreme Court seeking to stop the special election scheduled on June 2, to elect the replacement for the late Congressman Iggy Arroyo. One can’t help wondering if the move of Romulo Macalintal has the support of the Arroyo family. Is it possible that they do not want Iggy to be replaced at this point? But Macalintal seems to have a point in underscoring the fact that some P20 million will have to be spent for this special polls. The amount could build several kilometers of roads in that area, you know. But the petition will be filed today, so we have to see what the High Court will do.

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A most welcome news this week was the conviction of a notorious car-jacking leader whose operations did not only involve the theft of vehicles, but, apparently also the death of some victims as well. The judge sentenced Raymond Dominguez to 17 to 30 years in prison, but the families of some victims of the operations of his gang are disappointed. But I understand the conviction was only for a certain carjacking incident, the others, where at least two car-owners or dealers were also killed, have not come up in court yet.

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It is a great pity, seeing such a young person as Raymond Dominguez, being found guilty of such a crime as car-napping. Looking at his photos, as shown on TV and published in the newspapers, one would never suspect him of being such a hardened criminal. His boyish looks must have deceived his victims, so that they trusted him with their vehicles, only to have them disappear later. In at least two cases, even the owners also disappeared, and only their bodies were found later. Let us hope the other cases are concluded soon, and that the other members of his family said to be also involved, are also charged and convicted as well.

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If you are one of those who wonder why the present chief of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Kim Henares, seems so fearless, this should clarify things for you. An item in a Manila daily revealed that although she now has security personnel assigned to her by the government, Henares has her own protector in her husband who always accompanies her, especially in her sorties. And the hubby is a crack shot who practices regularly at the firing range. And the lady commissioner is herself also a sharpshooter. Any duo with evil plans riding in tandem on a motorcycle should, therefore, think several times before approaching her.

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Could this happen in the Philippines? The president of Turkmenistan – and don’t ask me where is that – fired one of his cabinet members for being a bad father to his children, when a son of the official was involved in an accident. He also warned the Education Minister about his performance in the country’s schools. The name of the minister, by the way, is Yarmukhammit, while the president is Gurbanguly Borymukhamedov. Maybe their teachers have a hard time teaching their pupils how to spell.

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Like many others who watched the Binibing Pilipinas pageant the other night, I was surprised at the choice of the judges for Miss Universe-Philippines, since I had not factored her into my “possibles”. For one she wore a very “extrambotique” gown that did nothing for her figure. But maybe they wanted a really Pinay-looking bet since our last winner was also a kayumanggi beauty. I noticed, however, that several of our beauty contestants are recycled ones whose mottoes must be “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. For some, the next try had proven successful, too.

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The article and accompanying photo about a cosmetologist applying what they call “permanent” lip color on a customer alarmed me, somewhat. Is putting on lipstick or coloring that is permanent not dangerous? Suppose one got sick and doctors cannot tell how ill the patient is because she does not turn pale, which could be a symptom? And, can you imagine a corpse lying in her coffin with glaringly red lips? Ah, vanity, thy name is woman, indeed.*

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