Faces of the News: Oct. 13, 2019

Illustrations by Rene Elevera

Rudy Lacadin

Retired Police Gen. Rudy Lacadin became a surprise witness against Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde in the Senate probe on so-called ninja cops.

Lacadin told a Senate hearing on Wednesday that Albalyalde had called him in 2013, asking about a police investigation of a drug raid involving 13 Pampanga policemen accused of pilfering drugs worth millions.

Albayalde was then Pampanga police director while Lacadin was the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region III deputy director for operations.

Lacadin said he was not sure if the PNP chief was joking, but that he had clearly told the CIDG official that he “got just a little” from the drug sting.

Albayalde denied  Lacadin’s testimony and claimed there was a “conspiracy” against him. He also threatened to sue the retired police general.

Carlos Celdran

Carlos Celdran thrived as an out-of-the-box tour guide who used performance art to bring to life the rich history of Intramuros and Binondo.

His gift of gab shone in his one-man show that deconstructed martial law and Imelda Marcos.

But his ability to provoke with his strong opinions drew fans and foes alike. He was credited with coining the term “Dutertards” to refer to rabid supporters of then presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte, based on a Facebook post on Dec. 9, 2015.

In August 2018, Celdran was convicted of “offending religious feelings,” for disrupting a religious service by holding up a “Damaso” placard inside the church, in reference to a notorious friar character in a Rizal novel.

When the courts denied his appeal over his jail term, Celdran exiled himself in Madrid where he died Oct. 8 of suspected aneurysm at age 46.

Cynthia Villar

She once courted the ire of netizens for her comment describing nurses who work as overseas Filipino workers as having aspirations no higher than being “a room nurse.”

Sen. Cynthia Villar had to apologize for that unthinking remark. Unchastened, she next criticized farmers who remain poor because, she said, they’re “bad at doing business.”

This was on top of social media’s almost universal condemnation of her support for the rice tariffication law that has been blamed for the plunging prices of palay.

This week, Villar again found herself being bashed on social media for her remarks during a Senate hearing on the agriculture department’s budget: Why allot so much for corn research, she asked. “Why are you so obsessed (“baliw na baliw”) with research when I, a smart person, can’t even understand what you’re doing?” Villar added. Not a smart move, that.

Daryl Morey

A single tweet churned out devastating consequences over the week when Daryl Morey, the Houston Rockets’ general manager tweeted his support for the Hong Kong protests.

It turned out to be a tweet that polarized fans all over the world and provoked a furious response from market-rich China.

The result was catastrophic for the NBA’s plans to strengthen its Chinese fan base.

Angered by Morey’s tweet, China canceled sponsorships, broadcasts, events and other partnerships with the NBA.

The league immediately issued a statement expressing regret over Morey’s tweet that, in turn, prompted some US politicians to accuse NBA of trading freedom of expression to buy back Chinese approval.

The controversy has become a full-blown diplomatic crisis, with people on both sides urging a quick resolution. Until then, Houston, indeed, has a problem.

Carlos Edriel Yulo

As a kid, Carlos Edriel Yulo used to watch national gymnasts train at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Their movements so awed and inspired him that Yulo soon followed their path and became a national gymnast himself, gaining prominence on the international stage and bringing pride to the country.

As if that wasn’t enough, Yulo became  the second Filipino to officially qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after advancing to the finals of the men’s all-around event of the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

Yulo wound up 16th overall in the preliminary round out of the 20 Olympic qualifiers from 14 countries after compiling a total output of 82.164 points.

The 4-foot-11 dynamo joins pole vaulter EJ Obiena in the Tokyo Olympics after the latter became the first Filipino qualifier in this event.