SEN. DICK GORDON TO LASCAÑAS: FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU; FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!

It was apt that Sen. Richard Gordon refused to re-open the Senate inquiry on alleged Extrajudicial Killings (EJKs) on account of a witness’ “recantation” – because SPO2 Arthur Lascañas has shown that he has 0% credibility. His 180-deg. turn from his previous testimony, after being under the wings of the Catholic church - known staunch critics of Pres. Duterte’s war on drugs, casts shadow on his motivations.

Sen. Ping Lacson may not have a choice if the committee on peace and order that he chairs opens an inquiry on the matter. Liberal Party senators will likely see to that. It’s all about media mileage, although it is highly doubtful that they can muster

DENR SEC. GINA LOPEZ’S LEGACY: A TRUE-BLUE CRUSADE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR OUR FUTURE

Sec. Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a renowned crusader herself even before being tapped by Pres. Duterte to head the agency, has taken “baby steps” to help ensure that local mining operations are kept in check by closing down or suspending operations of several big mining outfits after an initial audit. Now the more difficult work begins – ensuring that these mining firms comply to strict environmental laws and high-end mining operational standards before they can even resume operations. If they comply and resume operation, strict monitoring should be in place to ensure

TWO SENATORS ALLEGE THAT “FAKE NEWS” THREATEN NAT’L SECURITY AND WANT THE ISSUE PROBED: ARE THEY JUST “SOUR GRAPING”?

Have “fake news” and “trolls” made such an alarming impact on swaying people’s hearts and minds that the two senators are now making a fuss over it? How is the issue any different from a candidate who’s waging psy-ops to defeat an opponent on the election campaign trail? How can it amount into a so-called “national security” concern? During the EDSA Revolt, former Pres. Ramos made announcements or “fake news” on defections of military units who haven’t actually turned on the Marcoses in order to encourage other units to follow suit – and we were quick to dismissed it as a valid means of waging psychological warfare.

Battles for the people’s hearts and minds have been fought over and over again for a long time – only the methods have changed due to today’s interconnected world. Information gets around faster and wider. Those who take better advantage of it

NOW THAT PHILIPPINES IS COZYING UP TO RUSSIA AND CHINA, U.S. ASSETS AND ALLIES WILL TRY TO OUST PRES. DUTERTE BY DISCREDITING HIM LOCALLY AND ABROAD

It won’t be a surprise if the article of The Guardian in UK that claimed Pres. Duterte is out of control in his drug war is a U.S. asset-instigated attempt to oust him by discrediting him abroad. Since the crusading Philippine leader started cozying up to long-time U.S. adversaries Russia and China, even “expelling” U.S. troops from the Philippines by terminating their joint military exercises – the U.S. has been trying to discredit his leadership locally and internationally. It is not about human rights or Pres. Duterte’s drug war – because the U.S. is the no. 1 human rights violator, they’re just good at disguising their wars as righteous crusades – it is all about protecting their interests in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.

The U.S. invaded Iraq on the pretense of seizing WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction) but none was ever found and proof of its non-existence was known by the U.S. even before the invasion. The U.S. even claimed that Pres. Saddam Hussein committed genocide by gassing his opponents – no proof of mass murder at the scale they alleged was ever established.

PROs AND CONs OF DOING BUSINESS IN MALABON CITY: SPEEDY “ONE-STOP-SHOP” PERMIT RENEWAL BUT 2017 FEES HIKED BY UP TO A WHOPPING 40%

It is not the renowned pancit or the seasonal flooding. It is that Malabon City has become one of the most expensive places to do business in a drastic and prohibitive move for 2017 by Mayor Len-Len Oreta. Compared to Makati City, where a business grossing P120K/yr. pays only P6,000, Malabon City’s skyrocketed from P9,000 in 2016 to a whopping P13,500 for the 2017 renewal for the same grossed amount and business type! Many small and medium-sized business owners were surprised (and shocked) and were questioning the sudden and enormous increase.

This unprecedented and unreasonable move by Mayor Len-Len Oreta and his administrators overshadowed Malabon City’s more-improved, speedier “one-stop-shop” system that gives business owners a chance to renew business permits within a