No fun in bullet planting

One can only imagine the backlash of the scandal involving the so-called “laglag-bala” or bullet dropping into the luggage of unsuspecting plane passengers will have on travelers from other countries coming to the Philippines. And let us not assure ourselves that such news has not gotten around the world by this time. For sure, the victims, or even those who may be contemplating to come here may be telling each other “There's no fun in the Philippines” after hearing about the abominable incidents.

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The government should use all its resources in identifying and charging the authors of this scam. Already, not only foreigners but even Filipinos themselves have been victimized, and among the latest was an elderly woman who must have been shocked beyond belief to be accosted with a bullet being found among her travel things. Recent measures being taken, like wrapping up one's bags and suitcases are too cumbersome, they may prevent the insertion of the contraband, but there will still be others who may not know what protections to take. And the measure is only palliative, not until the culprits, or the syndicate behind it are exposed and detained will travelers feel safer.

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In the same manner, our local police should also be efficient enough to identify the foreigners, particularly young tourists, who come to the city. Such people are not aware of the ingenuity of Pinoy thieves and racketeers, so, if we want to keep them coming we should devise ways to warn and protect them. The report in yesterday's STAR about the Slovakian woman whose bag was snatched by riding-in-tandem criminals is one very shameful example for our city. I hear the woman wasted no time in getting away, not even waiting for a police investigation.

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I don't blame her, though. If she had encountered police action or response the way the Acting Police Chief reacted to complaints about jeepneys running around the city at night without lights, she would only have spent more time and money waiting here for positive action on her case. The Slovakian affair is a very lamentable one because the woman involved came from a country, few of whose people have ever come to ours. What an experience she may relate to her family and friends back home!

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Some people, political opponents, obviously, have scoffed at President Aquino when he said that he believes his administration has surpassed that of his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. I agree with him, however, for a lot of reasons, foremost of which is his doggedness in ridding the officialdom of this country of the grafters and thieves who have apparently been enjoying their heydays then. Note how many of the officials who came in during the Macapagal time are now facing charges, or have already been detained, convicted, fined, or even dismissed by the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan during PNoy's term.

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And most of them were very influential during those days, probably thinking they would forever enjoy impunity. Until PNoy came along. And brought with him the feisty and unflappable Conchita Carpio Morales. I am sure that Madame Morales is now working overtime to dispatch of the cases before her to rid the country of all those corrupt and thieving officials before the administration is changed. For whoever wins the presidency – and God forbid it will be a champion grafter – may not retain her, or may fill up her office with a bird of similar feathers.

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Meanwhile, eight members of a fraternity in Zamboanga have been charged under Republic Act 8049, or the Anti-Hazing Act. Anthony Javier Dalmacio of the Western Mindanao State University reportedly died after hazing rites of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity that he was hoping to join. For his eagerness, he lost his life to his would-be “brothers” who made him offer his life before they would accept him. I hope all the members involved will get what they deserve, life in prison, where they may also be “hazed” by their fellow inmates.

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Why does senator and presidential wannabe Grace Poe keep seeking extensions for the submission of documents required to prove her qualifications for the high office she is seeking? I think a DNA test was among those expected, but so far, no results on that have been published. Maybe they are testing the wrong persons? Please consider this a joke: To disprove once and for all the gossip that she was fathered by the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, why not do the test on Bongbong? As I said, that's a joke only!*

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