One of the warmly applauded points in P-Noy’s State of the Nation Address a week ago was the announcement of a new Philippine Ombudsman in the person of former Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio- Morales.
Despite some objections: Ex- Pres Arroyo who allegedly says she never voted in her favor in cases where the former Chief Executive may have had some interest.; Sen Miriam Santiago, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez , former Ombudsman Aniano Desierto and resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez – ‘she is too old’ to be able to handle the volume of work in the Office of Ombudsman- estimated to be ten times’ heavier load than that of the Supreme Court.
But many more welcome this appointment. It’s a new chance to review a number of cases that did not see resolution from the previous leadership supposedly because of ‘weak evidence’ and ‘lack of merit. Of particular attention, the public says are the NBN- ZTE deal and the Fertilizer Scam at the Department of Agriculture.
As Carpio- Morales formally took her Oath of Office a couple of days after the President’s announcement of her appointment, Malacanang issued the statement that it shall be distancing itself from the Office of the Ombudsman to maintain its independence to act on cases. It added that it will not wield the baton to orchestrate how the Ombudsman should conduct her office- evidence and due process will prevail for the conduct of each individual case.
Meantime, allies of the President in Congress said they will watch very closely the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman herself- congressmen led by Quezon Rep.Tanada said they have high expectations of her after the weakness shown by her predecessor in trying cases against the incumbents. Tanada added however, that changes and reforms should not be the responsibility of the Ombudsman alone- Prosecutors have also the responsibility to make cases stand in court by providing strong evidences and arguments.
The 70- year old Ombudsman hails from Paoay, Ilocos Norte, graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1968, and entered government service in 1971.
As the Supreme Court issued its decision outlawing the creation of the Truth Commission (a day after Carpio- Morales was appointed), the public now looks up to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman herself to take on the task of sifting through a number of cases of graft, corruption and other ‘injustices’ to the Filipino people allegedly committed by members of the past national leadership and determine which ones merit being heard in court and win these.
A tall order indeed but if she and her team succeed, to them will go the deep thanks of this nation.
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After months of feeling sluggish and fatigued, I am now able to move this overweight body more spritely and look forward to the day’s tasks with anticipation and energy (di tulad noon na isipin ko pa lamang ang gagawin ay nangungunsumi na ako), thanks to a man who pinched the right geriatric nerves in me.
This is not an account of romance, mind you, I am talking about one, Mang Ambok, Ricarado Cariaga of Tarlac Province sa totoong buhay, ambulant hilot, hindi masseur, take note!
His flyer, the size of a regular cigarette pack says ‘MANG AMBOK, services: pasma, pulikat, rayuma, lamig, gout, mild stroke, migraine, pamamanhid ng paa at kamay, pananakit ng buong katawan.- free konsulta/ pulso’.He distributes printouts of this to commuters, passersby, and pedestrians as he pedals his bicycle towards the home of yet another patient who, I am sure, based on my own expe-rience, will emerge refreshed and rejuvenated after a full hour therapy on the hands of Ambok.
No medicine man, Ambok feels the patient’s pulse to determine what may be wrong with his body- he felt mine and announced that gout has seeped in causing my finger and part of my right arm, lower waist and other body areas to harden, tense and cause serious aches. ‘Bawas food with uric acid’ was his advise to me as he commenced to prod on the sore spots and connecting nerves.
Abaw, but I thought he must be a miracle man! Slowly, the sore spots were no more and relief took over- the right thumb that could not be bent can now be used to press my cellphone keypad for texting, the nangangalay agad na balakang is ngalay no more when I stoop to pick up things that fall on the floor, and the feet and legs take less tentative steps and are now confidently striding as I resume those walks that take me to Divisoria and Echague for my bargain discoveries.
I swear by him and so when any of you do your balikbayan thing in the near future and want some natural way of relieving those body aches, do get in touch with me- I will bring you to him or bring him to you, whichever you would prefer.
THANK YOU, TORONTO!
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