This couple does not need anyone to defend them as they can, on their own, fight, have fought, and continue to fight battles since their days as our students then at the University of the Philippines Cebu College (UPCC), now the autonomous University of the Philippines Cebu.
Their present status speaks volume about their achievements for/by themselves and like true Isko, Iska, in the service of our people and our nation.
The then low-key Marlo Magdoza from Bohol is now known to many as the feisty Manila RTC Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar who dismissed the Department of Justice petition to declare the CPP-NPA a terrorist group.
Leo Balverde Malagar has quietly, steadfastly steered himself from his humble roots in Liloan, Cebu, raised by jeepney driver and sari-sari vendor parents.
Beyond Political Science in UPCC, he finished Bachelor of Laws in UP Diliman, Master of Laws at the University College London, and Executive Master of Business Administration at the Asian Institute of Management.
He moved on to become Assistant Secretary and Deputy National Statistician of the Civil Registration and Central Support Office of the Philippine Statistics Authority before assuming his present position as Chancellor of UP Cebu.
Both Marlo and Leo do not need anyone else to secure themselves from the malicious, unfounded, false red-tagging by one not deserving to even be mentioned here.
But both Marlo and Leo rightly and deservedly received the support of those who believe in truth, justice, human rights, and the rule of law, not only from the whole UP System but from, among other Filipinos, fellow lawyers, judges and no less than the Supreme Court Justices en banc.
Padayon, Leo, Marlo and family in serving God, our people, and our country, and salamat!
May no one else be subject to threats to and loss of freedom, rights and life because of any unfounded, false red-tagging from now on.
May abusive red-taggers also receive what they deserve under the law for their lies, malice, and misinformation.
Waste not any more time for red-taggers and those who peddle lies and misinformation. Let us proceed to proclaim the truth and nothing but and ensure that justice and human rights reign in our midst for all.
Moving on and so we waste not any more time dignifying peddlers of lies and red tagging, there is a worthy Waste Not issue that all need to be reminded about.
Miss Catherine Ruiz of Kaabag sa Sugbu Foundation, Inc. --a coalition of development civil society organizations in Cebu-- posted this message from the United Nations:
“Tons of food are lost or wasted every day, while 828 million people go to bed hungry. All of us can do our part to help tackle this problem --from buying 'ugly' food and improving storage, to being creative with recipes and sharing leftovers.”
This year’s September 29th International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste has this urgent theme: ‘Stop Food Loss and Waste! For People and Planet.’
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, an estimated 14% percent of the world’s food is lost between harvest and retail. Moreover, an estimated 17% is wasted in retail and at the consumption level.
This food loss and waste accounts for 8 to 10% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions.
Save our planet and millions of hungry people!
Be a food hero and promote the following benefits of reducing food waste shared by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization: 1.) Help address food insecurity, 2.) Protect our planet’s resources, 3.) Become a more conscious consumer. 4.) Reduce our carbon footprint, and, 5.) Save money and energy.
See http://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1309609/ for more tips on how not to waste, how to reduce food waste.