Ducky Paredes

“Still, if and when Bong does run for Vice President, expect me to take notice and, very possibly, umbrage.“

by Ducky Paredes

We have two letters on our recent columns to which we are giving space today. The first is from the Office of Senator Ramon Bong Revilla and, its tone and gentility tells me that I may have misjudged the senator:

‘I begin by expressing my complete agreement with you that ‘…we have chosen our leaders very badly’ and that ‘Our political parties are gangs built on personal pursuits rather than ideals of public service.’
“However, despite this agreement on these two basic propositions, I cannot agree with the entirety of the writer’s opinion and his conclusions, which I believe is unfair, and the name-callings uncalled for. It seems that the good writer has been misinformed, or is uninformed at the very least.
“Prior to being elected Senator, Bong Revilla was elected Vice Governor of Cavite where he led its Anti-Illegal Drug campaign. Its success was recognized globally, which gained for him an International Award of Honor and Medal of Valor from the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association (INEOA) based in Albany, New York. When he received these recognitions, he bested counterparts from the US Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and other international counterparts.
“In 1998, he was elected Governor and concurrently served as Region 4’s Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order Council. You may recall that it was during this period that industry thrived in CALABARZON and Region 4. It was also during this period that Cavite saw a transformation from being the murder capital of the Philippines to one of the most peaceful provinces in the country. He headed various programs which gained for him a recognition from President Joseph Estrada as the Most Outstanding Governor of the country. Senator Bong Revilla also received an international citation, this time from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for his efforts recognized worldwide against child labor.
“In 2002, Bong Revilla was appointed Chairman of the defunct Videogram Regulatory Board. His efforts gained attention from the international community, and led to the country’s anti-piracy efforts being recognized as the most aggressive in the South East Asian region. In fact, he was even recognized in Hollywood by the Motion Picture Association of America and Motion Picture Association International for his outstanding achievements in the anti-piracy campaign. This recognition was unprecedented.
“Finally, official Senate records will bear out that Senator Bong Revilla is, in fact. one of the highest performing Senators in 13th and ongoing 14th Congress. He belongs to the group with the most number of bills filed, most number of bills filed now signed into law, number of bills sponsored to become law, and the number of bills perused and acted upon by a committee as committee chair.
“In the 13th Congress alone, he has successfully sponsored 19 bills that are now law. In the Committee of Public Works, he has acted upon hundreds of bills that were referred to his committee.
“In the 14th Congress, he has already sponsored the Citizen’s Right of Reply Bill which has now been approved on third reading. The reduction of amusement taxes from 30% to 10% has also been approved on third reading. Four of his bills filed are now law. These are the Tax Exemption on Minimum Wage Earners, the Expansion of the Court of Tax Appeals, the new UP Charter, and the Magna Carta for Small and Medium Enterprises.
“Senator Revilla is also working on the amendment of the Local Water Utilities Administration Charter to expand its capabilities that will enable it to provide potable drinking water to every household in the country. He is also pushing for the mandatory wearing of helmets among motorcycle riders, and keeping off children below the age of seven from riding motorcycles. There is also the anti-pornography measure that he has been trying pass since the 13th Congress. The Anti-Cable theft and signal pilferage act has just concluded its committee stage and will soon be sponsored on the floor. The Anti-Billboard Blight Act which was approved on third reading in the 13th Congress will now be on second reading.
“Because of these accomplishments and many others, Senator Bong Revilla is now a holder of two doctorate degrees, honoris causa, one in Public Administration from the Cavite State University , and the other in Humanities from the Nueva Vizcaya State University.
“Just recently, the Senator personally extended his assistance to the victims of typhoon Frank in the provinces of Iloilo and Aklan. In fulfillment of his promise to the children involved in the Jun Ducat hostage-taking last year, he has been sending these children to school for two years now.
“Surely, this is what is meant by performance, or is it not? It is true that Senator Bong Revilla is not as noisy and as publicity hungry as other politicians, but does it make his performance less? We have always been clamoring for public servants who would prioritize his responsibilities to the people over grandstanding and self-promotion, but when we encounter such public servants, some of us are very dismissive and quick to judge.
“I hope that I have shed light on the matter, and in the spirit of responsible journalism and fairness, I pray that this response be published and given space in your column.” — Felix Robert A. Moraleda, Media Relations
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Still, if and when Bong does run for Vice President, expect me to take notice and, very possibly, umbrage.
* * *
We have a letter from Atty. Victor Avecilla, who was the lawyer who filed a disqualification case against Rep. Josy Limkaichong. Of course, he disagrees completely with our column on the same subject and asks to be given space to explain the other side. I have expunged his snide remarks about me and other parts of his letter which were really unessential. Here is the gist of what he wanted to say:
“(A case was filed by) two residents of La Libertad, Negros Oriental on April 2007 with the COMELEC to disqualify Mrs. Limkaichong from running as congressman because she is not a Filipino citizen and under the 1987 Constitution, Section 6, Article VI, only natural born Filipino Citizens can become member of Congress.
“On May 17, 2007, The Comelec 2nd Division, after due hearing resolved to declare Jocelyn Limkaichong a Chinese citizen, and therefore disqualified to sit in the House of representatives. The Comelec also ordered the suspension of her proclamation until the finality of the decision. The Comelec 2nd Division arrived at the conclusion that Limkaichong is Chinese citizen because her father Julio Ong Sy has remained a Chinese citizen due to his failure to acquire Filipino Citizenship in the naturalization proceedings that he undertook.
“Quoting from the Comelec 2nd Division’s ruling, ‘Petitioners have successfully discharge their burden of proof and that convincingly shown with pieces of documentary evidence that Julio Ong Sy, father of Respondent Jocelyn Limkaichong, failed to acquire Filipino citizenship for the following reasons: The OSG was deprived of its participation in the naturalization proceedings for failure by Julio Ong Sy and the CFI to furnish said office a copy of the decision in the said proceedings. The OSG being the counsel for the government is an indispensable party and must participate in all the proceedings but it was not able to do so under the circumstances. Therefore, lacking the participation of an indispensable party the proceedings are null and void and no rights could arise therefrom.’ The law on the matter is very clear. Commonwealth Act No, 473 Sections 10, 11 and 12 provide that the Solicitor General shall appear in behalf of the Government in all naturalization proceedings and all the hearings thereof, that the final order or decision of the court in said proceedings must be furnished to the OSG and after the lapse of 30 days from receipt of said order or decision may file an appeal to the Supreme Court or may manifest no objection to the said order.
“Further the Comelec 2nd Division stated that Julio Ong Sy made another fatal error by taking his oath of allegiance prematurely. He took his oath prior to lapse of the 30 day reglamentary period as stated above. The decision declaring Julio Ong Sy as naturalized Filipino was September 21, 1959. He took his oath of allegiance on October 21 1959 which is exactly 30 days after and certainly still within the reglementory period.
“Lastly, Mrs. Limkaichong filed a Motion for Reconsideration on the above-mentioned ruling of the Comelec 2nd Division and the MR was dismissed by the COMELEC en ban and the said ruling became final and executory because she failed to question it in the Supreme Court within the five-day reglementary period as provided under the Comelec Rules.
“We are not questioning the character of Mrs JosieLimkaichong, whether she’s good or evil, or whether she did well in performing her duties as mayor or congressman.”
* * *
Okay, you’ve said your piece, counselor. So, how is it (if what you have given us is the
truth, the whole truth ann nothing but) that Josy Limkaichong sits as Congresswoman today, having been proclaimed by the Comelec as the duly elected qualified congresswoman for her district?
At any rate, I do not mind giving you some space to explain your view but, next time, do be more complete in the telling. Give us also what else happened, not only what you told the Comelec and your clients.

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hvp (07.31.08)