Editorial | October 23, 2022
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was thrown under the bus lately after successive happenings that obviously pointed the spotlight at his office.
On October 3, journalist and broadcaster Percival “Percy” Lapid was gunned dead while he was heading home. The killing of Lapid added to an already long list of killed journalists, 197 since the 1986 EDSA Revolution to be exact, and seems like heading towards another unsolved mystery.
On October 10, former DOJ Secretary and Senator Leila de Lima survived a ‘hostage-taking’ inside the detention facility in Camp Crame. With the grounds for the incarceration of the former senator already in question, the hostage-taking resurrected the interest of the populace in the jailed legislator.
On October 11, the eldest son of Secretary Remulla was nabbed over possession of two packets containing cannabis (marijuana) estimated to be worth around P1.3M. Social media and the Filipino populace erupted into a frenzy, with calls for the resignation of Remulla as DOJ chief reigning the newsfeeds.
On October 17, the gunman of Percy Lapid “surrendered voluntarily” to the authorities fearing for his life after a P6.5M bounty was offered for his identity and arrest. Initial investigation reveals the gunman has no prior criminal records.
On October 20, Secretary Remulla disclosed that the middleman of the killing of Percy Lapid died inside the New Bilibid Prison. An autopsy and an in-depth investigation are ordered to determine thoroughly the cause of the death of this middleman.
These events rocked the boat at the DOJ. The issue of delicadeza spawned when the Secretary’s son was caught for illegal drugs. Many called for his resignation to preserve the impartiality of justice and the integrity of the department. The Filipino nation now put a keen eye on his son’s case and monitored closely the development of the case. They don’t want this case to follow the path of the P6.4B worth of shabu smuggled into the country in 2017. Despite the massive haul, the DOJ managed to indict the broker, along with its conspirators but failed to locate the big fish until now.
The hostage-taking of De Lima resurrected her plight back to the spotlight. The past months showed how major witnesses recanted their testimonies against De Lima. Of the three (3) drug-related cases she faced, the Muntinlupa City court already dismissed one.
The DOJ must expedite the case of De Lima, who spent nearly her entire term as senator under police custody. Such would also dismiss rumors that the hostage-taking was staged to divert attention from the Lapid case which was highly believed to be politically motivated.
Remulla and the department must also clear the air that the surfacing of that middleman and his untimely demise was not crafted to divert the spotlight away from his son’s arrest. Though the good secretary maintained that his eldest son was already of his own discernment, the thinking that the former doesn’t have a trace of a clue of his namesake’s whereabouts and doings seemed to be farfetched.
Remulla also maintained that he serve at the pleasure of the president. Such that he must oblige the department to uphold the integrity, sanctity, and impartiality of justice. When the Filipino populace tends to question the credibility of the justice system, Remulla must perform craftily and honestly to break that stigma.
He must also work double time to help courts expedite the cases, especially those of public interest. He must look into the plights of lawyers and judges and the courts who are facing thousands of cases, some of which are already decades old. The Justice Secretary is must be equally crafty and honest to deliver and overcome these trials to the Philippine justice system.
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The City of Ormoc celebrates its Diamond Charter Day Celebration this week. Synchronously celebrated was the 78th Commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landings.
This City by the Bay has marvelously turned into the City of Beautiful People. More than beautiful, Ormocanons have proved to withstand the test of time. The city and its people overcame and came back stronger from the mud and ruins of Typhoon Uring in 1991 and the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. This city also maneuvered the coronavirus pandemic soundly. It has stood strong in the face of natural calamities and other adversities and repeatedly demonstrates the spirit of resiliency and resourcefulness.
Ormoc City metamorphosed from a simple yet decent standard of living into a hub brimming with pride in the fields of sports and entertainment. The succession of administration, however politically opposed, displayed how the previous leaders cultivated and instilled the basic foundation of governance, education, agriculture, and basic services among others that enabled the present administration to capitalize and harness for today’s glory.
Let this year’s celebration, its 75th, encourage Ormocanons to look back and trace the nitty-gritty of local history. Much as we enjoy the festivities calendared for the month-long celebration, it is but equally rewarding to discover how this independent component city in this side of the country managed to reach greater heights anchored on outstanding local governance, efficient financial management, sound support on the production fields, and a very obliging populace. These enabled Ormoc to flourish and bask in the spotlight without any need for loans.
Indeed, it is prim and proper that Ormocanons is yet to witness the best this city could be. Happy Charter Day Ormoc City!
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