Irregular deal?

The deal between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and news website Rappler is off – for now.

The memorandum of agreement provides for Rappler to act as the poll body’s fact-checking network concerning false and misleading claims on social media related to the May 9 elections.

The MOA was suspended pending a petition filed with the Supreme Court by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

Calida contends that Rappler is a foreign-owned firm which violates a constitutional provision that media entities should be owned wholly by Filipinos.

But why did Calida keep quiet when the Comelec signed a contract with presidential crony Dennis Uy’s F-2 Logistics for distribution of election equipment and paraphernalia?

Didn’t Calida also find the Comelec-Dennis Uy deal highly irregular?

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It was well for the Comelec to be rebuffed by the Supreme Court which ordered a temporary restraining order (TRO) to desist from further removing campaign materials posted by private citizens in their properties.

The TRO holds while the high tribunal is hearing the petition of the supporters of a presidential candidate to stop the poll body.

The claim that the poll body is suppressing freedom of expression is valid.

For why should the Comelec prevent a private citizen from endorsing his favorite candidate in his own gate and fence to his house?

Doesn’t the law say that a man’s domicile is his kingdom?

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Prominent philanthropist James Dy, president and CEO of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, is donating P2 million to the government to bring home Filipino domestic workers afflicted with COVID-19.

Dy made the P2 million offer to the Department of Labor and Employment through the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc.

“I was moved with pity upon learning the sad plight of our kababayans(compatriots) who are forced to sleep in airport terminals and public parks for the past two nights after employers advised them to go home upon testing positive for COVID-19,” said the 91-year-old philanthropist.

Dy’s concern for the sick Pinoy domestic helpers in Hong Kong is noteworthy as he is also having problems with his health.

“The strongest people make time to help others, even if they are struggling with their own problems,” goes a saying adopted by the US Army’s Special Forces or Green Berets.

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I’m going to make a wager: COVID-19-hit Filipino domestic helpers returning from Hong Kong will be accepted gratis by the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) as patients.

In the past, I had asked Dy to accept very sick persons who were poor to get treated at the CGHMC, one of the best hospitals in the country.

Dy paid for their hospitalization and medicines from his own pocket.

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Aside from this columnist, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is also asking President Digong Duterte to pardon retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, who is serving a life term at the New Bilibid Prison.

Palparan, once a nemesis of the New People’s Army (NPA) and called berdugo(butcher) by leftist groups, was convicted of kidnapping by a Bulacan regional trial court.

The judge who heard the case was apparently pressured by leftist groups despite the lack of evidence against the former general.

The good judge took the testimony of a farmer who was detained for being a suspected member of the NPA. The witness didn’t even see Palparan at the scene of the kidnapping.

I’m surprised why the military establishment is only now standing up for Palparan who has served his country well.

If I may venture a guess: The controversial former general is not a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). It’s professional jealousy among the officers’ corps at its worst.

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Very few of the delivery service riders will be too busy to read this column, so I’m addressing this advice to their friends or relatives:

When you’re assigned to deliver a package by your online delivery service employer, ask what is in the package.

If I were you, I would even insist that the package be opened in your presence so you will know what it contains.

Some riders have been arrested for delivering packages which – they didn’t know – contained contraband. The riders were not backed up by their employers.

Such was the case of John Michael Hipona, who was arrested by the police for carrying a package which contained two types of Philippine turtles considered as endangered species, the possession of which is illegal.

Hipona’s employer, Lalamove, threw him under the bus.

It was highly suspicious that the Manila policemen and agents from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) didn’t go after Lalamove which assigned Hipona to act as a courier.

Hipona spent four days in jail; Lalamove didn’t do anything to get him out.

Hipona’s cellular phone and motorcycle were confiscated.

Up to this time, the phone and motorcycle have not been returned despite the fact that the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office ordered him “released for further investigation.” This means that the prosecutor who handled the preliminary investigation didn’t find Hipona liable for any crime.

Hipona was passed around like a ball by the police to the DENR when he asked for the return of his phone and motorcycle. The police said Hipona’s items were with the DENR.

When we at Isumbong mo kay Tulfo, who are helping Hipona, called the DENR we were told that the female bureaucrat who was supposed to sign the release of the confiscated items was on leave and would not be around for days. Nobody could sign for her.

Hipona is jobless because the tools of his trade are not with him yet.