When will they ever learn?

Will they never learn? Yesterday, news came out about two Filipinos who were nabbed in Hongkong on drug charges. The two, sisters, reports said, were apprehended with about 14 and a half kilos of suspected illegal drugs. Wasn’t it only a month ago when a Filipina was executed in China for a similar offense? No appeal from our government could move the Chinese courts, the woman had been proven guilty, and may even be tagged a recidivist, having been known to commit the same act 18 times!

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How could those people ever think that they would escape notice by the authorities in the countries where they are smuggling the contraband substances? Even their own countrymen hardly sympathize with them because they are into that crime because of greed! Perhaps the thrill of risking arrest or eluding detection gives them a high? Those who are apprehended should remember that in such places as Hongkong, China and other Asian countries, prominence in our country will not help. An example is the son of former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson who had to serve a prison term, although he was apprehended with a less dangerous substance.

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Will they or will they not? Perhaps today we will know if the Commission on Election has listened to the supplications of its local office for an extension of the deadline for registration of voters that is supposed to be today. Although Chairman Sixto Brilliantes had sounded adamant when he said there would be no extension the other day, the strident calls from so many areas may have reached the ears of the President who is the only one who can prevail upon that office to take pity on the would-be registrants.

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What is alarming, however, is the observation of some election officials in the province, and also in Bacolod, about the sight of young people being ferried to and from the Comelec offices, supposedly by “interested parties”, that is, politicians who have plans to further strengthen their hold on local politics by cornering the votes of the youth for the Sangguniang Kabataan, and of barangay residents, for the potential barangay captains. Both the SK and the barangay are entitled to send a member to the town or city sanggunian, you know.

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The call for resignations issued by the chief of the Bureau of Customs has been heard by most of the personnel targeted, who are collectors, but there are still some who hang on, probably believing that they are either untouchable, or are so clean that no charges against them will stick. An interesting development, however, is that one of the officials expected to resign, but has not done so, is the brother of one of the most powerful political figures in the country, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.

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Now Ricardo Belmonte, the brother, is digging his heels in because he contends that he has been in the BOC for more than 30 years and expecting to retire soon. So he wants to complete the number of years needed for him to avail of the maximum in retirement benefits.That sounds reasonable enough, but there are some who claim that he is one of the alleged “Three Kings” at the BOC, the scope of whose reign we don’t know. Of course if he is sure that his slate is clean, we don’t blame him for sticking on. But what if there is even a hint…?

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But will the resignations be enough? What about a lifestyle check to determine whose standard of living, and whose material possessions have increased considerably during their stay in th Bureau? Will that not be required? That might discover who among the once lowly collectors now have mansions, real estate properties in the country, and even abroad. Meanwhile, there seems to be a vigorous effort on the part of the Customs top gun to go after smugglers,with some big results lately. Let us hope that it is not a “ningas cogon” zeal only.

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The Cagayan de Oro tragedy has claimed two more victims, making the total number of fatalities eight. The last two died while being treated in local hospitals. One was a medical doctor from Cavite, and the other an executive of UNILAB, the pharmaceutical company. While we sympathize with the families of the victims, we also grieve for Cagayan de Oro, whose peace and quiet has been so badly shaken by the dastardly act of those conscienceless ones responsible for the blast. Let’s hope they get their just desserts soon.*

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