Truth Commission - Truth Denied by Congressman Edcel Lagman

On November 7, 2010 the Supreme Court of the Philippines handed over a decision that struck down denying legality of the Executive Order No. 1 of President Aquino III on creating a Truth Commission to investigate wrong doings of former President Arroyo and her administration during the 9 tumultuous years of her term, including the C5 controversy of which have allegedly benefited the company of Senator Many Villar, are among the key concerns. It is not surprising that even before the Executive Order No. 1 has been inked, it already faced strong opposition from the allies of then former president Arroyo who is now a congresswoman of her representative and who have gone self-demotion. The Executive Order No. 1 is the key centerpiece of the Aquino administration to bring back the confidence and trust of the people to the government.

Sadly, our elected official particularly Congressman Edcel Lagman the main proponent in blocking the Truth Commission and filled the case at the Supreme Court, was swayed by partisan politics and in doing so has succeeded. In one of his arguments he said that only the congress has the vested power to create offices. True and and there is no question about that, however, what is disturbing is the fact that Congressman Edcel Lagmay, if anything left in his good character and is sincere to help the country, should have instead talked to or communicated with the Aquino administration that this function may best serve if Congress will be given a hand or opportunity to initiate the Truth Commission task. Congressman Lagman could have help the country by sponsoring a bill to create a Truth Commission or similar to it rather than opposing them. The question is what does Congressman Edcel Lagman has to gain or loose with the Truth Commission? Nothing, because in the first place it will not affect his duties as representative of his district nor his constituencies and he is not the subject for investigation.

The public continues to blame the Supreme Court in the present structure that most of the justices led by Chief Justice Renato Corona are appointed by the former president Arroyo and that many are led to believe that the Aquino Administration will not get any favorable outcome on the present structure of the Supreme Court. If the Aquino administration cannot get what it hoped for they need to start to plan on their next course of action even without the Truth Commission. For instance, the PCGG and the Justice Department can work together and form a task force committee with the members of the Truth Commission headed by former chief justice Davide to oversee and look into the past administrations wrong doings.

For more info see this link abs-cbn Truth Commission and abs-cbn Truth Commission FactBox.

Renewable Energy Act

Revisiting the Renewable Energy Act of 2008

On a daily basis we often see a great deal of debate observing President Benigno Aquino III’s governance policy. It was not left go unnoticed how his administration work tirelessly to prevent and prosecute wrongdoers in the government be it in the past or present. This is a reform that most of us believe will lead our country to a sustainable economic prosperity and success, and each citizen has a chance to this opportunity to a better access of quality of living.

Prescription for economic growth and success cannot all depend on good governance alone but we can acknowledge it as a good start. The formula to sustain a well-manage economic success means a good driven formula for innovations. Our country needs to embrace innovations through technology supported by government initiatives to attract more foreign investments to create jobs domestically and compete globally. Part of these initiatives, President Aquino III administration needs to start to look at tapping alternative source of natural energy that will reduce the country’s heavy reliance on oil use. How? The administration needs to look into the failures of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, a change or expansion to the provision of the Energy law mandating Power Producing Companies to tap the natural source of energy by building more Photo Voltaic (PV) Solar Farms, in the minimum 10 percent of the energy that these power producing company sells should sourced from natural or renewable energy, which when sold to consumers should be at a reduced rate. At the same time mandating government buildings to start installing solar panels in their roof tops, grounds, or to where feasible at a close proximity. Private companies that are making a revenue of 100 million pesos or more annually to be included in the compulsory implementation subject to open consultations with the private sectors with the option to provide them tax breaks or rebates to be able persuade them to the support the initiatives.

Renewable energy has a bright promising economic as well as environmental benefits aspect, solar is expensive but in the long term it’s benefits outweigh it’s cost and it is wise to fundamentally support this Renewable Energy Act implementation. This initiative will create jobs and is environment friendly and will help companies who installed and use solar on their buildings can help them reduce their electric bills because they are generating and producing their own power. Perhaps Malacañang could start investing in renewable energy by becoming a blueprint model for other government as well as private sector, installing renewable energy device that will generate power for their use within their vicinity.

Pimentel on the Other Side of the Road

Senator Aquilino Pimentel is beginning to lose his integrity, it is in part thanks to his efforts of siding with whomever he perceived will challenge his main chief political rival Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, his jailer during the martial law period. In the most recent debacle on the Senate, Senator Pimentel chooses to side with Senator Manuel Villar on the allegations that Villar real estate business benefited mostly from the C5 project. Senator Pimentel, has a long reputation of advocating good governance and has chaired the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the most powerful committees on the senate. But his political meddling whenever he sees fit that Enrile is making way ahead of him has contributed to his sagging popularity. He is determined to stop Enrile even if he sees the other side of the road is nowhere to be found.

Senator Pimentel stand on defending fellow Senator Villar on the C5 project issue is contrary to his advocacies. Whether Senator Villar’s real estate business benefited directly or indirectly there is a simple case of conflict of interest issue. First and foremost Senator Villar should have divested his and his family shares in their business that does business with the government before entering politics; Senator Pimentel is a bright politician and should have known this also. Instead he chooses to ignore this principle over personal interest, or that he chooses the lesser good.