The surge of red-tagging against progressive legislators and outspoken celebrities during the current budget season is calculated to maintain and secure more funds for the military’s campaign against perceived insurgents and terrorists.
Elements of the military whose faces have been blurred in a photograph triumphantly preening over the obviously posed lifeless body of the young rebel with a cause whom they have slain in an encounter are the terrorists of the oppressed and beleaguered indigenous peoples of Mindanao, like the long-suffering Lumad.
There are universal verities which we can learn from the decisive defeat of President Donald Trump:
When the bill proposing the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience was deliberated on during the 17th Congress, I consistently opposed its passage and voted against it on third and final reading in the House, for the following reasons:
Contrary to initial reports, there are no fatalities in the Municipalities of Tiwi and Malinao in the First District of Albay as a result of Supertyphoon Rolly.
There are also no casualties or fatalities in Bacacay, Malilipot and Sto. Domingo.
The zero casualties in the said local government units is confirmed by the Regional Director Claudio Yucut of the Office of Civil Defense.
