Lacson Bats for Commensurate Authority for PNP Chief

In the wake of reports that Philippine National Police funds are being diverted to bribe potential Palace allies, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson pushed Tuesday for “commensurate authority” for the chief of the PNP to prevent such irregularities from happening.  Continue reading “Lacson Bats for Commensurate Authority for PNP Chief”

Lacson to PNP: Ensure Credible Investigation of Makati Blast

Vapor from bunker fuel used to run power generators at the Glorietta 2 commercial complex in Makati City, and not a bomb, may have caused last Friday’s deadly blast that so far killed 11 persons.  Continue reading “Lacson to PNP: Ensure Credible Investigation of Makati Blast”

Speech before the General Assembly of the Philippine Printing Technical Foundation Inc.

Manila Peninsula Hotel, Makati City

These are tough times we are living in. Every effort towards progress counts. And we must hurry as competition is kind only to the victor but cruel to the vanquished. Let us not be at the end of the line.

The print industry is a vital segment of the social structure and it can play an even greater role in the advancement of the nation. In the last 3 or 4 decades the Philippine print industry has turned into a shadow of its former glory. This may have been brought about by various extraneous factors but it also includes an amount of the complacency that gripped our nation after being one of the most advanced nations in the aftermath of the Great War.

We allowed other nations such as Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and now Malaysia to overtake us in virtually all spheres of life. Vietnam is steadily catching up with us and may overtake us sooner than we think. The only way for us to go now is forward and up.  Continue reading “Speech before the General Assembly of the Philippine Printing Technical Foundation Inc.”

PIGS We are Not

Message to The Young Men of De Molay

This is the Year of the Pig. Fortune tellers start telling who is in and who is out, who will get killed and who will survive, who will get rich and who will get poor. And my first message is: You and I are not pigs. We were in created in the image of God. In short, hindi tayo baboy.

And that reminds me of a story.

Once upon a recent time, God sent a saint to earth. His mission was simple: persuade everyone to change his evil ways. The saint came to earth, went to Congress, visited the offices of the BIR and the Bureau of Customs, Malacañang and the LTO, but quite expectedly failed to persuade anyone. Discouraged, he went back to heaven and reported his failure.  Continue reading “PIGS We are Not”

Where We Are

Speech before the Rotary Club of Manila

I feel honored today. It is good to be with you again. After all, it is not every week that one is given the chance to speak before the oldest of the country’s Rotary Clubs – certainly not the kind that Spokesman Toting Bunye has insulted.  I mean that to be the truth – not the truth that Malacanan Palace speaks and expresses each time we, Filipinos seek an explanation on Garcillano, on impeachment, on Venable and what have you.I feel honored today. It is good to be with you again. After all, it is not every week that one is given the chance to speak before the oldest of the country’s Rotary Clubs – certainly not the kind that Spokesman Toting Bunye has insulted.  I mean that to be the truth – not the truth that Malacanan Palace speaks and expresses each time we, Filipinos seek an explanation on Garcillano, on impeachment, on Venable and what have you.

The invitation of President Cesar made through fellow Rtn. Art to be your guest speaker today brings back good memories. This is the group to whom I delivered my first major address when I became Chief of the Philippine National Police in November 1999. I remember that was upon the invitation of a good friend and mentor and now a Senator and a distinguished colleague, the Hon. Alfredo S. Lim.

It was easy then to deliver my speech. There was a strong clamor for reforms in our country’s police force. In that address before you, I defined my response and vision. I remember talking about the ICU’s among the police – the inept, corrupt and undisciplined. At that time, I was already thinking of my antidote against the ICU’s. It was AID – aptitude, integrity, discipline.  Continue reading “Where We Are”