News from leaks

The news of the “win-win” decision by the Supreme Court reversing the Ombudsman's first suspension of Junjun Binay and at the same time to abandon, only after this case, the Aguinaldo doctrine that has been used to extinguish a reelected official's administrative liability from alleged wrongdoing during a previous term with the source of the news from a SC insider.

The formal decision has not been released as of printing but the leak from the SC has created the news item. As to the perspective of “win-win” that is in my opinion debatable as I propose that it is the Filipino people who should come out as a winner. It is also worrisome that an important decision is released by a SC insider and not formally by the Court's spokesperson. We shall be reading other opinions on this matter in our newspapers.

Another source of news from leak, or rather a leaking mouth, is the interest generated or, at some point, even entertainment, on whether Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is going to run for President. The situation has been described as alternating from hot to cold and vice versa. As the man himself has declared becoming the President of our nation is a destiny, we are all interested as to which destination he reaches. Meanwhile, we find the on-going journey a study of simultaneous “yes and no”.

As the nation prepares for the hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit we in the provinces are also interested to get an understanding of “what is it in for us” as a people. A national daily editorial opined that the hosting is for our country to level up globally. Furthermore, “…it has to be seen as a test of our capacities, indeed a rite of passage. Only in that way will the strain on the country's fabled reputation for hospitality be seen for what it can be: growing pains.

A friend from Cavite who spent the weekend in Dumaguete City has related the “bullet planting” episodes as part of destabilization attempts related to the APEC affair. Furthermore, he advised us to avoid going to the malls during the duration of the affair as those seeking to place the government in a bad light will find a congregation of citizens a tempting target. Our group assured him his advice would be followed, as better safe than sorry.

Let us end with an anecdote that should remind us to plug leaks and these usually calls for the help of a plumber. Three Plumbers and three Electricians are about to board a train to a Teamsters convention. The Electricians noticed that the Plumbers bought only one ticket between them. The Electricians ask the Plumbers how they plan on getting to the convention. "Watch and learn," one of the Plumbers tells them. As soon as the train leaves the station, the three plumbers rush from their seats and all squeeze into one restroom. When the conductor comes through the car he knocks on the restroom door and says "ticket please!" The door opens a crack and the one ticket is handed to the conductor. The electricians are impressed, and decide that's what they will do on the trip back. Then on the return trip, the electricians notice that the plumbers had not bought any tickets. "How do you plan on getting home without any tickets?" they ask. "Watch and learn," one of the Plumbers tells them. As soon as the train leaves the station, the three electricians hurry for the restroom. A few moments later, one of the plumbers gets up from his seat, knocks on the restroom door and says, "ticket please!"*