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It was the Chief Minister of Sabah that gave the order not to let Manuel Amalilio get in the plane with NBI agents to be brought to Manila.

DILG Sec. Mar Roxas said the Chief Minister Musa Aman gave no reasons for his order.

There appears to be a dispute as to the citizenship of Amalilio. The NBI claimed he is a Filipino citizen with a Philippine passport and a birth certificate. Malaysian authorities say he is a Malaysian national.

President Aquino should intervene here and call Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Razak. Roxas admitted there is no extradition treaty with Malaysia. There is, however, a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

The Department of Foreign Affairs ordered the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to find out why the deportation of Amalilio was stopped.

In Davos, Switzerland, President Aquino expressed confidence Amalilio could be repatriated soon to face trial for the P12 billion pyramid scam that victimized thousands of Filipino investors in Mindanao, especially Pagadian.

DINAGYANG. . . After Sinulog in Cebu, Iloilo held its Dinagyang Festival in honor of the Sto. Niño with an estimated 2 million attendance.

There were 10 entries to the Ati-Atihan street dancing competition. All the streets in the center of Iloilo were closed to traffic.

Leading the attendees were Senator & Mrs. Frank Drilon, 4 foreign ambassadors, former Senators Jun Magsaysay, Dick Gordon, Jamby Madrigal and Migz Zubiri and Representatives Teddy Casiño, Mitos Magsaysay and Neri Colmenares.

The new Iloilo Press Club building donated by Rommel Ynion was inaugurated on Sunday also.

ON DRUGS. . . The suspected assassin in the murder of Maconacon Mayor Erlinda Domingo, Marsibal Abduhadi alias “Bagwis” was arrested Friday in a slum area in Culiat, QC. He was stoned and high on drugs.

This fact again highlights the drug problem in the country with an estimated 80% of crimes being drug related.

Meanwhile, robbers held up the jewelry section of a big mall. They fired shots putting thousand of shoppers into panic.

Yes, no one is safe even inside busy shopping centers.

A big part of the problem is the low conviction rate of drug offenders. Police corruption also contributes to the problem. Policemen usually file weak cases resulting in acquittals of the accused.

Even Congress has not shown any interest to investigate the drug problem with the number of users now estimated at 3 million.

DAVOS MEETING. . . Philippine media played up President Aquino’s attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. But, the official opening program had 4 other heads of state led by the German Prime Minister and the Italian Prime Minister as guest speakers.

President Aquino spoke at an anti-corruption forum on the sidelines. Reports say he spoke before 50 people.

As always, President Aquino took a dig at GMA and played up the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona. The Davos trip which cost P49 million is the 23rd foreign trip of the President since he assumed office. In 9 years as President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo averaged 14 trips a year.

DFA announced a schedule of 12 foreign trips for the President in 2013.

SUBMIT CLAIM . . . President Aquino said at a presscon in Davos, Switzerland that the apology of the US government is not enough implying that damages must have to be paid.

Of course, damages have to be paid. At least 1,000 square meters of coral reefs has been damaged. But, the Philippines must formally submit its claim for damages.

We suggest that a bill for $1 billion be sent to the US Embassy. This is necessary to deter others from entering Tubbataha Reef.

POPULAR SENTIMENT. . . President Aquino has urged senators to end their personal brawl and concentrate on passing vital bills.

On top of the list is the Anti Money Laundering Act amendments to comply with deadlines set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

President Aquino said he will appeal to the Senators “to put aside personal issues as there are more important national issues to be attended to.”

Seven senators have indicated their intention to interpellate on the AMLA bill. The reaction of the people on the street is very negative against the Cayetano/Trillanes attacks on Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. As Senator Ping Lacson said, the Senate as an institution “lost” and all Senators are “losers.”

VIOLENCE AGAIN. . . 9 persons were killed when suspected NPA rebels ambushed a truck in La Castellana, Negros Occidental. Police Officer I Richard Canja, 6 barangay tanods and 2 civilians died when 20 gunmen raked the truck they were riding while driving home from a village dance.

Barangay tanod Elmer Dayon-dayon was shot dead by another barangay tanod, Rodrigo Larios in Santa Cruz, Manila. Despite the gun ban, people still carry their guns outside the house. 

Armed men held up a pawnshop in Cavite City.

Five soldiers were hurt when a land mine exploded in a military truck in Makilala, North Cotabato. No peace in Mindanao.

TIDBITS . . . Iloilo has no city hospital. It is lagging behind Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro in development. Megaworld bought the old airport and is now starting its development into a commercial center.

It is surprising to hear that 60% of Iloilo still has no regular water service.

DENR is allocating P34 million to reforest areas in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental damaged by typhoon Pablo. Watch for ghost employees and overpriced seedlings.

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Greetings to avid readers: Go Teng Kok, Atty. Leonardo Jiz, Danny Fajardo, Meg Montalla, Councilor Dave Jamora, Jeffrey Ganzon, Gov. Luisa Cuaresma, Elsie Cuaresma and Lawrence Tiu.