Thank you, social media
One year after the siege on Zamboanga City by members of the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front, some 2,300 families are still living in a makeshift evacuation center at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex.
The evacuees who belong to the Muslim Badjao tribe depend on government doles for their food.
On the other hand, Bohol province, which was devastated by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that destroyed thousands of houses also last year, has almost completely recovered.
Boholanos whose houses were toppled by the strong quake have rebuilt their homes and are now leading normal lives. It’s as if the earthquake never happened.
Now why have they almost fully recovered while the Zamboanga City Muslims are still struggling a year after disaster struck them?
The reason is attitude: The Boholanos are industrious.
Article continues after this advertisementSo when the government keeps helping the Zamboanga City Muslims, it’s promoting laziness.
Article continues after this advertisement* * *
The recent commotion on Edsa has turned out to be a kidnapping incident with the victim a Chinese businessman from Davao and one of the suspects a policeman.
An unknown citizen recorded the kidnapping on his/her cell phone camera and uploaded the footage on social media.
Bless that unidentified citizen!
If not for him/her, the kidnapping, which other passersby thought was just an ordinary traffic altercation, would have gone by unnoticed by authorities.
We should emulate that unknown citizen by taking pictures of any crime that catches our attention.
Thank you, social media for making journalists out of everyday folk!
* * *
I saw the YouTube video of the spat between Davao City police chief Senior Supt. Vicente Danao and his wife, Susie, in their house.
The video has gone viral, prompting Philippine National Police higher-ups to relieve Danao of his post.
In the video, the altercation between the couple ended up with Danao trying to slap Susie but she was able to parry the blow with a pair of shoes she was holding in her hands.
I disagree with Mayor Rody Duterte who came to Danao’s defense, saying it was a “private matter” and his relief as police chief was an infringement on an issue that involved the couple.
What Danao did to his wife was a clear violation of the Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act of 2004.
The quarrel between Vicente and Susie stopped being a domestic matter when it came out on YouTube and went viral.
If the quarrel didn’t go public, Danao could have claimed that it was a private matter and that he and his wife had kissed and made up.
From my point of view, Danao had no intention of really slapping his wife but even then, the PNP did right in relieving him of his post.
A military or police official is enjoined to be an officer and a gentleman in his dealings with civilians, particularly women, at all times.
If he could not hold his temper in dealing with his wife, how could he remain calm when faced by people not related to him?
* * *
I’m surprised Rody Duterte defended the ungentlemanly behavior of a subordinate since he himself is a complete gentleman.
You see, Rody is a ladies’ man and what makes him attractive to women is his chivalry.
Yes, Rody places all of his women on a pedestal.
RELATED STORIES
2 cops nabbed in Edsa kidnap; 7 more hunted
