SONA prevails over UN speech

By Estanislao Albano, Jr.

Harvard is the best school in the US, according to U.S. News & World Report’s new college rankings.
Why is the Electoral College not in the list when it makes all US presidents?
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Twenty-four (24) percent of American voters are considered as the diehard base of President Donald Trump said to follow him whatever he does and wherever he goes regardless.
Since the US has 127.66M voters, that means the 16M of that country is 30.6M.
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According to a New York Times’ expose, President Donald Trump only paid $750.00 taxes annually in 2016, 2017.
Could he have done what the POGOs do in this country – pay taxes under the table?
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President Duterte recently reiterated his offer to resign over what he called rampant corruption in the government.
Personally, I am against the intent because that would dash to pieces all remaining hopes that his campaign promise to ride a jet ski to the West Philippine Sea and plant our flag there will be fulfilled.
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So prevent the possibility that the President will leave his post on account of corruption, if his allies truly care for him and the country, they should lighten his burden by foreswearing corruption and returning all the billions they stole.
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But then again if we really get down to it, the President has no one else to blame except himself for the situation which now prompts him to consider resigning his post.
Had he fulfilled his campaign promise to end corruption in 3 to 6 months, all these thieving, plunder and ransacking of government coffers in nearly all government agencies would already be a thing of the past.
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According to a recent survey, the President and actress Angel Locsin are the most admired Filipinos.
For sure, they have no mutual admirers.
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Newly appointed COMELEC Commissioner lawyer Michael Braganza Peloton is from Davao City, the home city of PRRD.
I am fervently hoping he is not as independent-minded as Senator Christopher Go.
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The Philippine Navy wants to keep its presence in Sangley Point in Cavite amid the construction of an airport there by a consortium which includes China Communications Construction Co. Inc. (CCCC), one of the Chinese companies recently banned by the United States for its alleged role in the illegal construction of artificial islands on maritime features in the South China Sea including the West Philippine Sea.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines should also maintain its presence in its camps where the Department of National Defense has allowed the China-backed telco DITO to erect cell sites despite national security concerns voiced by many quarters.
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Major Gen. Debold Sinas of the mañanita birthday celebration fame deserves to be promoted, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan recently announced.
That means his next mañanita birthday will be even more festive.
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Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 which provides P165.5B fund to strengthen the government’s response to the Covid-19 is now in effect.
I fear that if Health Secretary Francisco Duque is not finally replaced, we will get to Bayahihan 10.
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Secretary Duque was elected as chairperson of the World Health Organization Western Pacific’s regional committee.
For sure, competent handling of the Covid-19 pandemic was not one of the criteria for selection.
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In his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, the President affirmed the country’s arbitral victory against China over the South China Sea which naturally gladdened the hearts of patriots who have been very critical and dismayed over his virtual surrender to China on the issue. However, immediately, Palace Spokesman Harry Roque doused cold water on the hopes stirred up by the declaration of the President when he clarified that the Hague Ruling remains set aside.
Apparently, the 2020 SONA where the President said “Inutil ako”when it comes to asserting our territorial rights against China is still our abiding policy on the maritime dispute. **