Show of force

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) will hold a grand evangelical mission and Bible exposition at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, Manila on Feb. 28 to urge President Aquino and his Administration to respect the rule of law.

The INC is expecting 2 million of its members to attend the event. Other INC rallies are to be held simultaneously in Visayas and Mindanao.

The relations between President Aquino and INC have been further strained by the removal of NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula, an INC member. DBM Sec. Butch Abad was refused an audience with Ka Eduardo Manalo, the Executive Minister 2 weeks ago.

Iglesia ni Cristo members attended in big numbers the rally for Chief Justice Corona in front of the Supreme Court recently.

Should President Aquino make good on his veiled threat to call for people power in case of a Senate acquittal of Chief Justice Renato Corona, there is the strong probability of a confrontation in the streets. What it will lead to, it’s anybody’s guess.

President Aquino must tone down his rhetoric if he wants to avoid street demonstrations. But for the moment, he appears to be encouraging them. Sec. Ronald Llamas is organizing a big rally on Feb. 25.

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SOLID ACHIEVEMENT. . The Aquino administration can claim credit for an educational milestone, the passage of Republic Act 10157 or the Kindergarten Law.

It is accepted worldwide that preschool education increases the aptitude and preparation of young pupils.

The Aquino administration must now appropriate P5.7 billion to fund the hiring of 27,000 kindergarten teachers. Last school year, only 3,000 were hired. Benjo Basas, chairman of the Teachers Dignity Coalition called on President Aquino to make the welfare of teachers and the quality of education a “paramount consideration.”

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MARRIAGE ON HIS MIND. . In an interview with reporters in Baler, Aurora, President Noynoy Aquino said he has been thinking of getting married since college days. He said the presidency would be “less taxing” if he had a “first lady to help him run affairs of state.”

Both the President and Korean Grace Lee are talking about marriage. It, certainly, looks like it is under consideration.

One thing sure, reporters noted that the President was in a jolly mood. A man very much in love.

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GOOD IDEA. . Senator Manuel Villar is batting for the creation of a Department of Migrant Filipinos. Villar said that the worsening situation in Syria prompted him to call for the creation of a Cabinet level agency exclusively for OFWs and their families.

Villar said a Department for Overseas Filipinos becomes imperative and practical as the country grapples with problems and issues involving OFWs.

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EXEMPT THEM. . The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has announced that temporary and casual employees need not submit SALNs. That makes a lot of sense. Teachers should also be exempted. There’s very little opportunity for a teacher to make money. Spare them the trouble of keeping financial records and the possibility of being charged with perjury. All janitors and drivers should also be exempted. It’s a waste of paperwork and filing records.

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RESTRAIN YOURSELVES. . Senators Tito Sotto, Joker Arroyo, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda and Francis Pangilinan have called on both President Aquino and Chief Justice Renato Corona to restrain themselves and stop their word war.

Sotto said it is improper for both camps to malign each other publicly.

But to no avail. President Aquino said in answering reporters in Baler that he will not cease his attacks on CJ Corona. President Aquino hit back at Corona for demanding release of his medical records.

The Corona camp was more accommodating and promised to restrain their statements.

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JOYOUS EVENT. . In a ceremony organized by Speaker and Mrs. Jose de Venecia, 226 couples were married by Mayor Roberto de Vera in a mass wedding rite in San Jacinto, Pangasinan last Sunday. Hundreds of sponsors and relatives filled the San Jacinto Auditorium in an affair attended by Provincial Statistics Officer Dante Pescador, Vice Mayor Rolando Columbres and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Municipal Civil Registrar Cristina de Vera and 19 Barangay chairmen.

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NO STOPPING. . Just like the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Immigration, corruption has reared its ugly head at the Bureau of Corrections. Kabungsuan Makilala, a 12-year employee has charged Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, Bucor Director, of buying overpriced mountain bicycles, P32 million rice purchases, even a P720,000 tab to feed P-Noy and his party on his recent visit.

It is alleged that Gen. Pangilinan made the purchases without public bidding and without the required approval of the Secretary of Justice.

It will be recalled that objections were raised against the appointment of Pangilinan.

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TIDBITS. . . Senator Jinggoy Estrada celebrated his birthday at 409 Shaw Boulevard Sunday evening. Heading the guests were Vice President Jojo Binay, Sen. President Juan Ponce Enrile, former Sec. Titoy Pardo, Deputy Speaker Noli Fuentebella, Gov. Alfonso Umali, Cong. Rodolfo Fariñas, Ex Senator Migz Zubiri, Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, William Gatchalian, Eric Tagle, Cong. Antonio Lagdameo and wife Dawn Zulueta, Amb. and Mrs. Felimon Cuevas, Tony Boy Cojuangco and Gretchen Barretto, Nines Cacho Olivares and dozens of municipal mayors.

Senator Kit Tatad said the Senator-Judges are asking too many questions and is one reason the trial is moving slowly.

President Aquino snubbed the PMA Alumni Association homecoming event to go to Aurora Province to break ground for a 114-kilometer road. Well, he needs Senator Ed Angara’s vote in the Corona impeachment trial.

Councilor Alexander Guevarra, 47, of Sto. Tomas, Batangas was critically wounded in an ambush.

Greetings to avid readers Justice Gregory Ong, George and Ina Yulo, Manaoag Mayor Pol Sales and his wife Dr. Angie Sales.