The smoking gun

By Alex P. Vidal

“Our duty is to believe that for which we have sufficient evidence, and to suspend our judgment when we have not.”—John Lubbock

IF the Iloilo flyover project was built in communist China or Cuba, all those responsible for its apparent “miscarriage” would be executed in public.

Corruption—lower and higher magnitude—is severely dealt with capital punishment in these tough and unbending lands known for law and order.

But it was erected in democratic Philippines, home of the lukewarm, “due process”, padrino system, mercy, generosity, forgiveness, passivity, apathy.

Meanwhile, the best evidence that taxpayers money in the amount of P680 million was “mishandled” (we don’t have the evidence yet it was stolen) is the report of Engr. Adam Abinales of the third-party consultancy firm hired by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct an independent probe on the substandard Iloilo flyover project in Ungka, Pavia, that at least P250 million is needed to repair the inexplicable infrastructure.

That’s the smoking gun.

If there is smoke, there is fire. Si fumus est ignis.

The fire is the perceived anomaly.

The construction of the P680-million flyover project that connects the city and provincial via Ungka, Pavia and Jaro District is supposedly tainted with anomaly based on Abinales’ smoking gun.

Simple logic. If the project’s total cost was handled properly and judiciously, there would be no need for the repair; there’s no need to cough up P250 million (let’s hope they won’t bilk the taxpayers anew) to fix the mess.

The need to repair the stinking flyover project is the result of negligence, incompetence, apathy, and partly corruption.

-o0o-

MJ will have to eat his own words after the Gilas Pilipinas, representing the Philippines in the 2023 SEA Games mens basketball, captured the gold by trouncing elimination round conqueror and host Cambodia, 80-69, in the final on May 16.

MJ had called as “disgraceful” the RP Team’s shock defeat to Cambodia in the early match. Instead of giving the Pinoy cagers the benefit of the doubt, MJ unleashed his unbridled antagonism like he was giving his employees the dressing down.

The Gilas’ win marks a return to the top after their grip on the Southeast Asian Games basketball title was surprisingly broken by Indonesia last year, according to Chloe Merrell of Olympics. The loss brought about an end to a winning streak that dated back to 1991.

After a tight first quarter, which saw the hosts take the lead by one, the Philippines burst into action in the second, outscoring Cambodia 23-11 to secure a 44-33 lead at half-time.

With the regional title back in their hands the Gilas have been handed an important boost ahead of this year’s 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup where the first qualification berths for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be on the line.

-o0o-

ABNORMAL. The weather anywhere in the world today is abnormal. Summer and winter are unpredictable. Earthquake here, earthquake there. Volcanic eruption there, volcanic eruption here. We should take the climate change and environment issues seriously and be aware of what’s going on in every nook and cranny worldwide–before it’s too late!

TOP 20 WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: 1. Bananas, 2. Apples 3. Carrots 4. Tomatoes 5. Iceberg Lettuce 6. Oranges 7. Broccoli 8. Grapes 9. Winter Squash 10. Onions 11. Pears 12. Watermelon 13. Peaches 14. Spinach 15. Zucchini 16. Cauliflower 17. Strawberries 18. Cabbage 19. Cucumber 20. Cantaloupe. (Source: Produce Retailer)

LAST SEASONAL FRUITS. Fresh cherries are one of the few items in the produce department that don’t have year-round availability. Imports start in November and run through January from Chile, then pick back up in May from California and end in late August or early September from the North-west and British Columbia. There can be as much as 5 to 6 months with no fresh cherry availability.

FIRST iPOD. Apple released their first portable music device on October 23, 2001 and called it the iPod.

When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society — Pope John Paul II. The late Pope was right. And It will be the disintegration of society and decay of the human race.

Judges rule on the basis of law, not public opinion, and they should be totally indifferent to pressures of the times — Warren E. Burger.

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