12 more weeks

I went to the Senate Monday to Thursday last week and watched the 4 days of trial. Except for a 2-hour recess for marking and photo copying SALNs, I observed no unusual delay in the proceedings.

The slow pace was due to the prosecutors being unprepared and going roundabout in their examination of 3 witnesses. Prosecutor Mario Bautista spent 2 hours questioning Supreme Court Clerk of Court Atty. Enriqueta Vidal without being able to convince her to produce Corona’s SALNs. It took Senator Frank Drilon only 5 minutes to get her to submit the SALNs.

The prosecution is accusing the defense of delaying the trial. I didn’t see that. The objections raised by Retired Justice Serafin Cuevas were elementary and mostly sustained by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Atty. Bautista was advised by the Senate President to reform the question many times.

Enough was accomplished in 4 days. Cong. Niel Tupas Jr. said he has 8 more witnesses for Article 2. He said it will take the prosecution 6 weeks to present its case. The defense turn should take as long. The fastest estimate therefore, is that the trial will last until mid March.

SIDELIGHTS. . . On the 4th day of the trial, there were no more demonstrators outside the Senate and the gallery was no longer full. It seems that after only one week, public interest has waned.

Senators Miriam D. Santiago and Loren Legarda were absent for 4 days. It would be interesting to watch if they will be present this week. Continued absence would mean lack of interest or an intention to abstain.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said that the pace of trial is something he cannot control. It is also affected by several Senator Judges asking questions. In the case of Clerk of Court Enriqueta Vidal, Senators Drilon, Alan Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Joker Arroyo, Ping Lacson, TG Guingona, Francis Pangilinan, Koko Pimentel and Jinggoy Estrada took the floor to ask questions or express their views. There were also several recesses called.

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WORRISOME . . . The discovery of two big shabu labs, one at Ayala Alabang and another at Caloocan, both in operation for more than a year, underscore the very serious problem of huge illegal drug trade in the country. It’s happening all over the country. It makes one wonder who is extending protection to the drug lords.

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BIG PROBLEM. . . The biggest problem of the country is water. It is lack of water on one side and floods, rains and too much water on the other side.

About 20 percent of barangays, especially the far away sitios have no water. There used to be many deep wells but, many of them have dried up. Even some parts of Metro Manila have no regular water service. Then there is the question of potability. Water from Manila Water and Maynilad Water is not safe for drinking due to the presence of old rusty pipes.

Sale of bottled water has been a big business. But, it is largely unregulated and there is no regular testing of water from water stores. The price is also high and costs families more money daily than the daily rice requirement.

On the other hand, excess rain water has caused floods, landslides and death. Release of water from the big dams has caused problem.

Japan is building a 6-mile water highway with reservoirs under it. Bangkok has unveiled a master plan to prevent floods.

What do we have? Not even simple rain harvesting facilities. DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson was named Water Czar about a year ago to coordinate 18 agencies that have to do with water. We haven’t heard from him.

Smaller water impounding dams must be built to harvest rain water. DILG and Department of Agriculture should implement these programs.

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PERFECT MATCH . . . We were privileged to attend the wedding of Congressman Roman Romulo and Councilor Shalani Soledad at the St. Benedict’s Church at Westgrove, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Six hundred people filled the church to capacity for a wedding mass solemnized by Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Bishop Mylo Vergara.

There were 11 pairs of sponsors. There were 21 flower girls. Five Congressmen were in the wedding entourage, namely: Reps. Toby Tiangco, Rodolfo Fariñas, Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Tom Apacible and Lucy Torres-Gomez.

Shalani was exquisitely lovely in her bridal gown designed by Inno Sotto. Roman wore a tuxedo with a gray bow tie. His parents, Sec. Alberto Romulo and wife Lovely Tecson were also radiant in their happiness. Sisters Lupe, Mons and Berna took care of the preparations.

As usual, the bride came 30 minutes late but the wedding rites took about an hour after which the reception was held at the new Nuvali Ayala dockside where fireworks greeted the newlyweds.

It was revealed that DFA Sec. Albert del Rosario played matchmaker for the couple. As sister Mons said it was a match made in heaven.

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TIDBITS. . . DOE Sec. Jose Rene Almendras has begged off from being transferred to the post of Executive Secretary.

Pagcor registered a 16 percent increase in income for 2011.

PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. has raised the alarm of a zero conviction rate in the province of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. In many provinces it is only 5 percent conviction rate.

Fifty NPA rebels disrupted the Sto. Niño celebrations of Lapinig, Northern Samar, killing one and wounding another and then looting several houses.

Greetings to our avid readers former Sec. Nonong Cruz, Cong. Victor Yu, former Cong. Sandy Urro, former Usec Rosellar de la Peña, Solo de Venecia of Dagupan, Elvie Abordo of Villasis, former Cong. Mark Cojuangco, Amb. Tony Cabangon Chua and Ruel Manalo.