All Aquino appointees must go

Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte said that Aquino appointees “have to go.”

Does this mean that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairman Chito Gascon have to resign?

Duterte has to make room for hundreds of leaders who campaigned for him, including 10 nominees from the National Democratic Front (NDF), among them former University of the Philippines (UP) Prof. Judy Taguiwalo, former Congressmen Rafael Mariano, Carlos Zarate and Teddy Casiño.

The NDF submitted a list of 10 nominees, including four women. A woman is expected to head the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Duterte also announced that Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) head Jose Maria Sison would be taken in as a consultant.

Duterte changed his mind on appointing a NDF nominee as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), saying he is thinking of appointing a military man to the post. He said he needs a military man to close down mining companies who violate the law.

Duterte said he would not appoint communist hardliners to the Cabinet.  “If you are a cadre in the mountains, I will not accept you. You will kill members of the military. I have to balance it. I have to give to the progressive, not to the communist party hardcore,” Duterte said.

LP defections

Outgoing President Benigno Simeon Aquino Jr. said in Tarlac it is understandable for Liberal Party (LP) members to defect to the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

He said that congressmen and local officials would have to think about constituents and their interests whenever a new administration comes in.

LP members inducted into the PDP-Laban include Rep. Eric Singson of Ilocos Sur, Rep. Rodito Albano of Isabela, Rep. Rosemarie Arenas of Pangasinan, and Rep. Joseph Bernos of Abra.

Rep. Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao declared he is remaining with the LP and will join the minority. He said he believes in having a “vibrant and smart minority” in the House of Representatives.

Reelected Rep. Ronald Cosalan of Banguet said he would remain with the LP.

Incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez named Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas as Majority Floorleader.

Crime continuing

Talavera Barangay Chairman Maximo Vinuya, 58, was shot dead by riding-in-tandem suspects in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija.

Construction worker Marcos Blas was shot dead while watching a billiard game in Malabon.

In Navotas City, Gilbert Naval, 38, was shot dead by two men riding-in-tandem while manning his computer shop.

A trooper from the 35th Infantry Battalion was shot dead aboard a tricycle in Jolo, Sulu.

Barangay Councilor George Seranilla, 52, was gunned down by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Sison, Pangasinan.

The body of a man stuffed in a suitcase was found out at the seashore in Lucena, Quezon.

Four soldiers were wounded when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels fired at them in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.

Four fishermen were killed in a gun attack on their motorized banca off Sibago Island in Basilan.

Florina Tenorio, 47, principal of Casisang National High School in Malaybalay , Bukidnon was shot dead by her husband, Arnord Tenorio, reported to be a drug user.

Nestor Macaspac, 52, was shot dead by his son-in-law, Edrick Soltes in Caloocan City.

3-child policy

Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte backtracked and said his proposal for a 3-child policy is only a suggestion. He said, however, that he will implement the Reproductive Health (RH) law.

He said it is unnecessary to have a dialogue with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). He clarified that he is not against all Catholic bishops.

Fr. Joel Tabora S.J., president of Ateneo de Davao, suggested that Duterte and the CBCP should reconcile.

Duterte said he does not believe in confession to priests.

Postpone barangay elections

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista has proposed the postponement of the Barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) elections in October, saying there maybe voter fatigue.

He stressed that there should be only one election in one year.

Most congressmen agree with Bautista’s proposal.

In the Senate, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Tito Sotto supported the Bautista proposal.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto opposed the postponement.

The barangay elections will cost P100 million.

Tidbits

President Aquino’s candidate, Mar Roxas, won in the province of Tarlac, with 194,000 votes over National People’s Coalition (NPC) backed Grace Poe, who got 185,000 votes. Roxas also won in Pangasinan, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, Albay, and Camarines Sur.

Vice President Jejomar Binay won in Cagayan province, Isabela and Aurora.

Grace Poe won in Quezon, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Catanduanes, Nueva Ecija, and Nueva Vizcaya.

Duterte won in Bulacan, Laguna, Batangas, and Ilocos Sur.

Duterte said he would abolish the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Bureau of Customs (BoC), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the three most corrupt government agencies.

Greetings to Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, former Rep. Racquel Arenas and former Gov. Faustino Dy Jr.