Drug czar in the offing

If I remember right, President Rodrigo Duterte proclaimed at the onset of his presidency that he was going to lick the country’s drug problem in six months. Three years and a half have passed, the huge number of drug addicts may have dwindled some, but the drug business is still a big problem. What is so rattling to the Chief Executive is the questions hurled at his method of eradicating the scourge, and the insistence on investigating the government’s anti-drug policy characterized by alleged extra-judicial killings, by international and local observers.  

Vice-President Leni Robredo  has made remarks about the need to possibly change the president’s approach toward the eradication of the problem. 

The president has had enough of criticisms; he severed contracts  with countries that signed a resolution in the United Nations urging investigation of the Philippine anti-drug policy. And lately, obviously in frustration, he offered the job of drug czar to Robredo, challenging her, as she seems to be so “bright,” to do the cleansing job in six months.

True, Robredo  has questioned the policy that cracks down “on the poor, rather than big drugs networks,” in an ABS-CBN news report, adding that Duterte’s “violent rhetoric was aiding a culture of police impunity for which international help should be sought if the government refused to change tack.” 

I agree about the President’s being caught between a rock and a hard place. Solving the problem is a gargantuan task, which is why after three years and a half in office, he has not been able to bid the problem goodbye. But giving the vice-president to solve the problem in six months is utterly impossible. What could she do in six months that the president was not able to do in three and a half years?

At this writing, no word has been heard about the vice-president’s acceptance, or not, of President Duterte’s offer.

How things will turn out is something to watch out for.

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Now that Davao Mayor Sara Duterte is being trumpeted  as the most possible candidate for president to run against possibly presidential candidate Leni Robredo  – not Bong Bong Marcos – in the next election, what would be her solution to the drug problem?  There are other questions to be asked her, but this is only one, for starters.

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 For the past 11 years, the Forum for Family Planning and Development has been holding the Rafael M. Salas Golf Cup. On Nov. 8, the 12th Salas golf tournament will be held at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in Quezon City, with former President Fidel V. Ramos  as guest of honor.  

The Salas Cup is named in honor of Rafael M. Salas who is remembered as a patriot who dedicated himself to serving people in various private and government posts, most importantly, as the Filipino who created for the world a population program that centers on people and quality of life regardless of faiths and beliefs. For this, he served as the first Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the rank of Undersecretary-General, and the first Filipino to make a mark in the pursuit of a sound population policy for all countries in the world. 

At least 100 avid golfers are expected to play to support this year’s tournament with the  theme “Early Child Bearing Teenage Pregnancy, a National Concern.”

 The tournament is open to all amateur golfers for an entry fee of P3,500.00 which includes a donation to the Forum, a green fee, mulligan, golf balls, buffet lunch during the awarding, and raffle.

Entry verification starts at 6 a.m.  

To reserve tournament slots, call Joemarie Rocha – 0917-8374548, and Benjamin De Leon – 0917-8587952. Email: [email protected].

This year’s staging has the  support of San Miguel Corp., First Philippine Holdings Corp., DKT Philippines, Ayala Corp., Fil-Invest Corporation, Marubeni Philippines Corp., Group Management Development Inc., Zuellig Family Foundation, Stradcom Corporation, Manila Electric Company, San Roque Power Corp., SGV & Co.,  Majent Group, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

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President Duterte signed the Safe Spaces Act (RA no. 11313), called “Anti-Bastos” law, and act, says Rep. Bernadette Herrera, House Deputy Majority Leader of the 18th Congress,  and principal author of the law, that “looks to the future as well as the past. For far too long, we women faced unwanted sexual advances or attention. For far too long, our ears have heard and our bodies cringed  at whistles and shouts of men calling attention to our bodies.”

Herrera belongs to the Bagong Henerasyon Party-list, and is secretary general of the Party-List Coalition Foundation Inc. She expressed her great appreciation to President Duterte for signing the law last July 15. She thanked the 16 members of the Technical Working Group led by the Philippine Commission on Women for their hard work.  

She pointed out that the law “covers not only actual physical space, but the online space as well. Heavily penalized are violations of this law in public spaces, workplaces, and schools. Stalking for instance in the physical realm as well as the online are prohibited, with hefty penalties attached.” 

I think it should make punishable referring to men and women’s sexual organs in words, or writing  – even in jest.

“I am proud to bear witness to the signing, hopeful that with proper implementation, the law and the IRR shall change Philippine society where no woman has to endure receiving catcalling, wolf-whistling, leering, unwanted comments on appearance, stalking, or any unwanted sexual physical contact of any kind,” said Herrera who chaired the House committee on women and gender equality during the 17th Congress. 

The legislator expressed the hope  that with this legislation,  women will no longer fear for their safety walking our streets. Finally, she said,  “We bring our society into the 21st century, where gender equality and mutual respect would be widespread and pervasive among our citizens.” 

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Home-cooked meals with lots of flavor in satisfying portions will be available at Talio’s Café when it opens on Nov. 8, says millennial entrepreneur and chef Renz Mark G. Cabatingan, 22, who together with his older brother, Ralph Kevin, 28, are giving Sta. Rosa, Laguna residents a new venue to enjoy good food with family and friends.

Talio’s Café, named as homage to their grandfather, Anatalio, offers an array of well curated entrees, desserts and coffee selections using the freshest and in-season ingredients, especially, the seafood that comes from RKR Seafood Mart next door run by Ralph Kevin.

Renz Mark, who obtained his culinary degree from the Endurun Colleges and spent almost a year in Barcelona, Spain learning cuisine and cooking technique, says that Talio’s Café offers  meal sets that meet the expectations of the typical Filipino diners who want their main dishes savory and their desserts, less sweet.

The recipes of the cafe have also been influenced by their mother Lourdes, who is a kitchen whiz herself she being exposed to Pampanga’s delicious delicacies.

Talio’s Café will surely satisfy comfort food cravings, patriarch Rosendo, a successful corporate executive who grew up in Masbate, assures. He has given his sons encouragement in pursuing their business ventures.

Talio’s Café   is located at Block 2, Lot 1, Phase 1-E, San Lorenzo South Subdivision, Sta. Rosa Laguna, and will be  open daily from 8 a.m.  

email: dominitorrev