By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
How to corner juicy business opportunities? Become a crony of the politically powerful.
The cronies now have been grabbing those they could the past few years and are now in a rush to bag those which are still available. The granting of the frequencies to a company identified with former Senator Manny Villar was expected. It finally settled speculations as to who among the cronies will get those.
Government spokesmen are now saying that the matter was above board. So they also said that regarding the billions of pesos worth of deals with Pharmally which was being ran by friends of the President on the overpriced face masks and shields. They can present all their arguments until their voices are hoarse, but the people know better.
Anyway, the squandering of the nation’s resources are now being felt by people who are feeling the pangs of hunger due lack of income caused by joblessness. It is also being felt by MSMEs whose businesses just died.
As the prices of petroleum products continue to rise, the prices of basic commodities will also rise. The resulting difficulties should really filter the real DDS (Diehard Duterte Supporters). Let us see if they will still be shouting for their idol in Malacanang.
Then there are the candidates being supported by the administration, particularly, Bongong Marcos and Sara Duterte. Why don’t you donate to their campaign funds?
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A main stumbling block preventing the economic progress of the Cordillera, were the very bad conditions of its roads. Take the case of the Halsema Highway. Since time immemorial, it was really bad. Travelling from Baguio to Bontoc (or negotiating a similar a distance) or anywhere around the region was torture, thus, these were called abortion roads and later became suicide roads. These remained such for the many decades when President Marcos reigned.
The Halsema Highway started to be concreted only during the time of Pres. Ramos. The concreting got finished up to Buguias. Then it was continued up to Bontoc during the time of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The roads to nearby areas like Sagada and Besao followed.
Marcos did not cause any economic progress of the Cordillera.
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The move to cause the investigation of COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon who reportedly voted for Bongbong Marcos’ disqualification means powerful political forces are at play. The Marcos-Duterte camp might be unable to sway her to their side, so they are now playing hardball. Will Guanzon capitulate? My guess is she will stand her ground.
How about the revelation that the resolution of that case is being delayed by some powerful political interests?
For Sara Duterte, I think, the best time to disqualify Bongbong is after the election. If He wins as president and Sara wins as vice president and then Bongbong is disqualified, then Sara will ascend to the presidency.
What an easy way.**
