By Ben Contreras   ONE cannot help but fully agree with the statement of Councilor Roger Abaday that “these people (referring to the city council majority) have long allowed Emano to insult their intelligence and trample on their dignity as human beings with critical thinking faculties. They have surrendered everything, including their ability to reason to Emano.” When you puke, you don’t eat back what you threw up. That’s simply disgusting. But the “lord” can make anyone rich, very rich. That makes me wonder why Dr. Bob Ocio is not. Ocio is not an angel but he didn’t sell his soul to the devil. He could have been like any of those who made it with the “lord” today––comfortable and with enough for the rainy days. Ocio is not like them. This is the reason why we have lawyers and decent people who surrender everything, “including their ability to reason,” in the name of money that the “lord” provided and continues to provide. They are now captives by their own acts of cooperation and will be forever held hostage to their sins. The “lord” is a wolf in a lambskin apron. He copied certain rituals in the Craft for his Padayon Pilipino seminar. He swore before the Bible but sports the sign of the Devil. He has a ready clone in his vice mayor. The “lord” demands no less than canine loyalty from his flock. A lawyer would even stoop to the most degrading perversion just to satisfy his master. Lawyers are supposed to be smart. But when one allows another to insult his intelligence, choose your own adjective to describe that kind of person. To be guided in your choice of word, watch the lawyers defend their benefactor. It defies logic to see a supposed brilliant mind defending the indefensible. If the “lord” can afford to take this kind of people hostage, what more for the so-called “kabus”? For the “lord” who “loves” the “kabus,” he gives them crumbs while he wallows in riches and lives in palatial homes. One family, three magnificent homes overlooking their kingdom and subjects! And the “kabus,” they remain poor as ever with no sign of improvement, and gullible as ever. Allow me to echo the words of one resident from Barangay 2: “Kahayahay ba. Sila ang nangaw___, unya kami ang ibahug?” Pagmata na, CDO!

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From a reader: “Kabantay ka tent nag-occupy katunga sa kalsada sa Ebarle St. duol na corner Capt. V. Roa? Hapit na two weeks nako ni nabantayan. Murag naa haya pero wala. Ganiha 5 am, pag-agi nako, daghan nagsugal. Unsa kaha ni? ‘Haya me’? Para maka sugal? Perwisyo kayo ni.” To tell you frankly, everything is possible here. All you need is to kiss one’s behind or make a pact with the devil. You can’t even claim ownership of the area you own like the setback area of your building. Anarchy is the name of the game in CDO, my friend!

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The Provincial Red Cross set out for Compostela Valley early on Monday, Jan. 14, with relief goods––food and clothing. Help CDO Inc. (Health, Education, Environment and Livelihood Program) donated 20 sacks of rice to beef up the goods prepared by the Red Cross. Unfortunately, some members of Help had appointments that cannot be postponed. Hence, they were not able to go with the group. However, we were ably represented by our Help vice president Dr. Ramon Nery who is also a member of Red Cross and the concurrent chief of provincial hospitals. God bless them!