Only if he gives up

Both the Sandiganbayan and the Office of the Ombudsman must really be working overtime on the cases before them. Almost everyday there is a report about another conviction and, sad to say, they are almost all about graft and corruption. Yesterday's report was about the governor of Oriental Mindoro, said to be a partymate of the President, who, together with some of his fellow officials, has been meted a maximum of ten years imprisonment for a P2.5 million loan to a ship transport owner in 1994. With the conviction comes loss of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from public service.

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It does seem to be quite a harsh penalty for only P2.5 million. What about for a P50 million graft case? Will the Sandiganbayan penalize it with life imprisonment? And isn't there a prescription time for such cases? Note that the crime took place in 1994 yet, more than 10 years ago. I suspect that President Aquino is prodding the two agencies to speed up their cases while he is still in office. Who knows what his successor will do, especially if the culprits are aligned with him or her?

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In the meantime, we also have to worry about our compatriots who are now languishing in foreign jails. Some of them are there for crimes of passion, like that OFW who killed his employer, but most of them, I believe, are there for drug-related charges. The latest is that of Mary Jane Veloso, who was caught with more than two kilos of heroin in her luggage when she entered Indonesia. Unfortunately for her, the court would not believe her defense that somebody had duped her into carrying (without her knowledge?) the contraband into the country.

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A recent interview with the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia brought out the information that travelers to Asian countries, especially OFWs, even while on the plane going there, are warned about the seriousness of bringing drugs, and the severity of the penalties for those apprehended. Alas, some probably did not hear that, or had believed they could get away with it. Only later did they realize what a price there would be to pay for it.

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Meanwhile, what can we say about that Hong Kong politician, a woman at that, who claimed that some Filipino domestic helpers are homewreckers who seduce their male employers and cause break-ups of their families? The politician, said to be lawmaker Regina Ip, reportedly said that the “jilted” wives had complained to her that their husbands had strayed because of the relationships between them and their Filipino maids. Has she not also received complaints from Filipino domestic helpers about being raped by their employers? When she was slammed right and left for her racist statements, Madame Ip, a member of the Government Executive Council, said her comments had been “misinterpreted”. Is there any charge that can be filed against her? Maybe even just a diplomatic protest?

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Some terrifying tremors shook up Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia the other day. Reports said the earthquakes measured at Magnitude 6.6 in Japan and Taiwan, Magnitude 6 in Indonesia, which is quite strong, too. We know that Japan, especially Tokyo, experiences earthquakes quite often, but surely not as strong as this, where people had to be warned about a possible tsunami. Really this world we are now living in has changed so much since our younger days.

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The excitement is now peaking but they say the only person who continues to stay “cool, calm, and collected” is the other star of the May 2 (3 in Phl) encounter in Las Vegas, our Pambansang Kamao (National Fist), Manny Pacquiao.And let us hope he stays that way, despite all the insulting jibes the Mayweathers, both father and son, are dishing out. Maybe the family is peeved because so many celebrities and famous boxing stars are coming out for Manny Pacquiao. Even the screen boxing hero, Sylvester Stallone of the famous “Rocky” movies, has called on Manny.

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So far, those reported to be batting for our Pacman include the famous Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and several others, as well as movie personalities. Maybe we can put among them the British Prince Harry, who even invited Manny and Jinkee to dinner at Buckingham. Has Floyd Mayweather ever rubbed elbows with royalty? They probably avoid him and his trash talk. Oh, someone should warn Manny never to listen to anything Floyd may say to rile him during the fight. Except, of course, if he says, “I give up already!”*

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