Quarrying destroys, too

IT’S not that some people can be so lucky that they become untouchables. But for whatever reason that they can do what they want to do despite becoming subjects of queer stories only reflects a leadership of complacency and neglect.

A texter sent me a message about the the gambling employee at the City Treasurer’s Office. The texter said it has been six months and yet, the employee continues to play mahjong during office hours. He says the issue has fallen on deaf ears because “gasalig man gud kay nay gadupa.”

I have repeatedly said that if the head is crooked, you cannot expect the body to be straight. To put it bluntly, a thief cannot accuse another of being a thief.

A year ago, a city hall insider alleged that “galumba lang sila ug pangawat.” That’s quite an accusation. Although it is not to be believed right away, I have taken note of the many circumstances, and the fact that similar stories have been spreading.

With the 2016 elections around the corner, the public is now being treated to COA (Commission on Audit) findings and orders apparently for the purpose of destroying people’s or would-be candidates’ image. While it may sound good especially when it points to guilt, a semblance of favoritism would only destroy the credibility of COA.

COA has not been spared from accusations of being partial. It is an office under the influence of Malacañang. As such, it cannot say no to any presidential pressure to do things against its will. What is good for Caesar must also be good for the Romans, or the people will rise!
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On this paper’s front page picture last Thursday (July 16, 2015) was a hill near the boundaries of Opol town in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro, destroyed due to hydraulic mining. The photos were taken last week and, therefore, new. Scenes such as this are not new. Long before Sulog, there have been TV footages on destroyed hills, bald and cracked, in fact. After Sendong, there were Save CDO and Sulog and both groups have taken photos and documented the same magnitude of  destruction.

I want to make this challenge to Sulog or Task Force Kalikasan: it’s not only hydraulic mining––if it really still exists––that is destroying our hills. Quarrying also, legal or illegal.

Let’s not pretend quarrying is not destroying our environment. Let’s not even pretend that nobody makes money out of it in the form of bribes. When that “disaster waiting to happen” happens, we know who’s to blame.
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It’s difficult to determine the new and the old RTA enforcers. But I notice a few doing their job religiously and with enthusiasm while some just go about their duty standing, whistling once in a while or manning the traffic when the situation comes to worse.

I cannot speak for areas I do not frequent. But the enforcers manning the stretch of Osmeña and at the intersection of Osmeña/Recto are doing a fine job.

There is one, if he’s the one being dubbed as the “Dancing Enforcer,” who I really like. He reminds me of Sonny, a former boxer turned “Dancing Traffic Enforcer” who I also admire a lot.
I hope their tribes multiply.