Yes to ‘no mask’ EO; justice for Ka Percy

By Herbert Vego

THIS writer did not vote Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr. for President. But I agree with two of his unexpected moves.  Let us discuss them.

First, his issuance of Executive Order No. 07 is a step in the right direction. The EO allows for voluntary wearing of face masks in all indoor and outdoor settings with the exception of health care facilities, medical transport vehicles and public transport.

BBM noted that “countries around the world have been instituting measures such as reopening of international borders, and relaxation of health safety protocols and requirements, resulting in immediate positive impacts to their economies.”

The truth of the matter is that it was not the Covid-19 pandemic but the consequential lockdowns worldwide that have done us more harm than good. Think of the rising business ventures that have gone bankrupt due to lockdowns caused by governments’ panicky fear of Covid-19.

On a personal note, I have steadfastly refused to be vaccinated, relying instead on my God-given immune system for protection.

But of course, Big Pharma has already amassed huge profits from forced vaccinations that have not really served the purpose of immunizing beneficiaries. Pfizer-BioNTech, for example, has already earned US $101.3 billion from its anti-Covid vaccines, according to Bloomberg TV.

In a sense, BBM refuted the claim of the Department of Health (DOH) that “the pandemic is still here.” Indeed, the DOH and its propaganda arm, Octa Research, have been urging us to get more “booster shots” on the pretext that the emerging COVID-Omicron XBB strain “is five times more toxic than the Delta.”

So, if vaccine protection wanes, what’s in it but repeat business for Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac and AstraZeneca?

Now, for the second reason why I find BBM different from his predecessor, it’s because of his statement to “let the investigation continue” on the indictment of suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director-general Gerald Bantag, suspected mastermind in the assassination of broadcaster Roy “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

“Of course, that’s terrible,” he commented on Bantag before flying to Cambodia last Wednesday for a four-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. “I guess he established his own fiefdom there in the prison. Yung galaw niya is with no fear of being punished.”

Bantag had unabashedly bragged that if Rodrigo Duterte were still the President, he would not be persecuted and prosecuted.  Hmmm, bakit kaya?

It was Duterte who designated Bantag BuCor chief in September 2019 while the latter was still facing homicide charges for the 2016 grenade explosion that killed 10 “high-profile” inmates in Paranaque City Jail.

“I don’t think that he did it,” Duterte said in a press conference at Malacanang.

As if on cue, the Parañaque Regional Trial Court acquitted Bantag and two co-accused — then Senior Jail Officer 2 Ricardo Zulueta and Jail Officer 2 Victor Erick Pascua — for lack of evidence.

Does Zulueta’s name sound familiar?

Yes, it does, and you ought to know why.

-oOo-

NIGHT TOURISM IN ILOILO CITY

IT is impossible to ignore the grandeur of Molo Plaza and Molo Church in Iloilo City when one feasts on its expanse of lighted tourist attractions at night. The halogen lamps and spotlights beaming upward seem to explain the details of the Gothic-designed church. The textures, columns, and shadows of spires and towers evoke the nostalgia of the 19th-century Spanish era.

We learned from city tourism officer Junel Ann Divinagracia that Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is leaving no stone unturned to light up all renovated heritage buildings in the city in collaboration with MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power).

I remember the opening night where no less than MORE Power’s President Roel Z. Castro was among the honored guests.

“Modernization,” Castro said, “doesn’t mean that we have to forget our heritage or our history. This project is a testament that MORE Power is here not only to modernize the electric services but also to support the initiatives that highlight the rich culture, history, and heritage of Ilonggo people.”

The City Tourism and Development Office (CTDO) is engaged in facilitating night tourism through a three-hour night tour showcasing Iloilo City, starting in September.

To quote Ms. Junel, “In cold nights, with less distractions, tourists could focus on stories behind the destinations.”

Among those who have responded to CTDO’s tour invitation are groups from the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) and the Palawan Electric Cooperative.