No sense of decency

Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez says he has filed charges against Lynard Allan Bigcas and five others for alleged smuggling.

A total of 29 luxury motorcycles and cars, believed stolen in the US, were seized by authorities from Bigcas’ warehouse in Talakag, Bukidnon.

Why didn’t Alvarez file criminal charges against customs officials at the Cagayan de Oro port where the smuggled vehicles were brought out?

A customs official in that Mindanao port reportedly owns the brokerage firm that facilitated the release of the vehicles.

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Officials and employees of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) office in Region 3 are complaining that their commissioners are going on an excursion to the Subic Freeport.

They say that P300,000 will be spent on the commissioners’ picnic.

The amount will come from the savings of Napolcom Region 3 office.

Does Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, ex-oficio Napolcom chair, know about this?

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During the Arroyo administration, the Ampatuans came to Manila, bringing along their army of bodyguards carrying M-16s.

With the Ampatuans in jail and on trial for the Maguindanao massacre, the Mangudadatus have taken their place.

The Mangudadatus come to Manila with fully armed bodyguards.

It’s understandable for the Mangudadatus to have well-armed bodyguards in Maguindanao but do they have to bring along their bodyguards when they come to Manila?

Why can’t the Philippine National Police (PNP) VIP protection unit provide the Mangudadatus with bodyguards while they’re in Manila?

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Wherever you look in Makati, you see the letter “B” inside a circle displayed prominently on fences, government buildings and billboards.

This is the logo of the Binays who have ruled Makati for decades.

I’m a country boy and in my hometown of Manay, Davao Oriental, a similar logo is branded on cattle and horses.

The practice of government officials of putting their family logo on display in public places is detestable.

They may be mayors, governors or congressmen but they can’t claim personal ownership of their city, town or province.

Don’t they have a sense of decency at all?