Let’s leave God alone in search of Zaldy Co

By Alex P. Vidal

“A God that never interferes is indistinguishable from a God that doesn’t exist.” — Oliver Markus Malloy

WHAT a big embarrassment. It was a case of so near yet so far.

The Philippine government did not only bite off more than it could chew, but one of its top officials tasked with bringing home a prominent fugitive also ended up a tourist in Prague and had the nerve to invoke the name of God.

When first asked by TV reporters who accompanied him on his trip to Prague, Czech Republic, to bring back fugitive Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Secretary Fredderick Vida said, “May confidentiality kami ni Lord eh (I spoke in confidence to the Lord), so I cannot disclose that.”

During Mass at a Catholic shrine in Prague, Vida was also quoted as saying he prayed to receive “help in his work” regarding Co, a former congressman linked to flood control project kickbacks.

We have no problem when someone “asks God’s help in his task,” but the Bible, particularly in the Third Commandment (Exodus 20:7), has warned that using God’s name, or that of Jesus Christ, casually, in false oaths, or in curses, brings guilt and represents a profound misuse of the sacred.

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“I always pray for everything that’s good for our country. Tulungan ako sa trabaho ko. Hindi kasi madali ito. (I pray that I would be helped in my work, as this is not easy). At yung pursuit natin (And I pray for our pursuit) in justice, given the mandate that I’m the Secretary of Justice,” Vida told reporters in a short briefing in Prague.

Now that Co is again nowhere to be found, how will Vida explain that “confidentiality” he supposedly shared with the Lord?

That’s why we are prohibited from taking the name of God in vain: because it demonstrates a lack of reverence for God’s holiness, treats his name as common or empty, and misrepresents his character.

Let’s be reminded that using the name casually or with cursing shows a disregard for God’s power, majesty, and love.

We must always remember that God’s name is set apart and should only be used for praise, worship, and prayer, not as surety when we are hot on the heels of fugitives like flood control project kickback accused Zaldy Co.

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I just received a warning from our bank regarding fake ticket sales, travel scams, and toll scams.

For fake ticket sales, Bank of America (BA) has warned about scammers creating websites and social media profiles to sell fake sports or concert tickets.

For travel scams, BA has warned about scammers who may create fake travel listings, like bogus vacation rentals, to trick us into sending money.

Also, we have been cautioned to avoid using public USB charging stations, as “they can be used to install malware on your device.”

For toll scams, BA has warned about scammers sending fake notifications saying we owe a toll. “They’re trying to steal your information. Avoid clicking any links and delete the message,” BA alerted us.

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The U.S. Department of State has announced that on April 16, 2026, the Philippines joined the Pax Silica initiative, launched by the United States and 13 other nations, hailing a growing geopolitical consensus that economic security is national security and national security is economic security.

The Philippines, a close U.S. treaty ally, brings to Pax Silica key capabilities and human talent in technology manufacturing, including semiconductors and electronics, according to the State Department.

Under the framework of Pax Silica, it explained that the United States and the Philippines also announced plans to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub in the Luzon Economic Corridor of the Republic of the Philippines.

The site — the first of its kind — is reportedly being offered by the Philippines as an Economic Security Zone to surge production for inputs vital to U.S. supply chains.

“It is intended to serve as a staging point for a purpose-built platform for allied manufacturing, an investment acceleration hub where specific industrial activities can be shaped by market demand, host-country comparative advantages, and the evolving needs of the Pax Silica network,” the State Department said in a statement.

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DEAD PRESIDENT. French President Francois Faure died in 1899 during sex, which so terrified his lady of the evening that her vagina constricted intractably, necessitating the surgical removal of the dead president’s weapon.

WHEN DID CONDOM ORIGINATE? The earliest known illustration of a man using a condom during sexual intercourse is painted on the wall of a cave in France. It is dated between 12,000 and 15,000 years old.

One ton, or 907 kilograms, of recycled wastepaper spares 17 trees. Let us recycle and save trees.

BRUSHING OUR TEETH HELPS US RETAIN OUR MEMORY. If we forget to floss, we may soon have trouble recalling names, our grocery list, and the question we were asked five minutes ago.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines. — Ed)