By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
The Department of Finance (DOF) remained confident that the national government’s debt ratio would decline during the Marcos administration despite its recent uptick in the third quarter.
That confidence will get you past the powerful Commission on Appointments! Right, Secretary Ben Diokno? I guess, kulang pa sa yabang mga journalist, Sec. Erwin.
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National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos says the latest maritime incident involving the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Philippine Navy (PN) near Pagasa Island cast doubt on the sincerity of Chinese President Xi Jinping to settle the territorial dispute between the two countries peacefully.
That’s nothing new, madam. Our Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed dozens of protests that clearly highlight the insincerity of China. So kindly remind President Bongbong Marcos of that when he makes that trip to Beijing upon Xi’s double-face invitation.
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Suspended BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag was a no-show at the preliminary investigation hearing last week on a solid defense pointed out by his lawyer: The Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor’s subpoena was issued for a Gerald Bantag with a different middle name, “Soriano.” Therefore, the controversial Bantag was not subpoenaed at all.
Is this really how “wow, mali” the DOJ is, Secretary Boying Remulla?
No wonder authorities could not even get Jun Villamor’s name on record right!
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Also, last week, skeletal remains were dug up within the DOJ premises in Manila by construction people working on the site for a new prosecution building. So, Secretary Remulla immediately ordered a probe.
The fact that the remains of a dead person are accidentally exhumed on DOJ grounds did not come as much of a surprise for forensic expert Dr. Raquel Fortun, who tweeted that in the past, remains of World War II victims had been found in that area.
But for many Filipino netizens who commented on the news online, such a find was nothing to be surprised about at a time when we have a DOJ that conveniently sweeps thousands of extrajudicial killings related to the past administration’s “war on drugs” under the rug.
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Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Senior Manager Renfred Tan was in the wrong house when he wagged his tongue about ambitious targets to grow the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry to P10 billion by 2027.
Neither he nor other PAGCOR officials present at the Senate hearing last week could give Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian a straight answer when he demanded them to present global gross gaming revenues, where POGO clients are located, and the number of jobs that could be generated should revenues rise.
Gatchalian closed the show, saying PAGCOR’s ambitious “POGO roadmap” was mere “toilet paper.”
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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View. Read current and past issues of this column at http://www.thephilbiznews.com