By Alex P. Vidal
“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”—Exodus 21:24
THIS could go down in history in as far as the killings of journalists in the Philippines and their quick “solutions” are concerned.
In only one month and four days after our hard-hitting colleague from Manila, Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, was gunned down in Las Pinas City on October 8, the alleged mastermind, Gerald Bantag, and several others have been formally charged with murder.
And it’s a big fish, to say the least.
Bantag is the suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general.
The accused mastermind, if true that he ordered Mabasa’s killing, must be hiding something and was worried by Mabasa’s series of expose about his alleged corruption, abuse of power and mismanagement.
If true that he ordered the murder of other people (mostly inmates) who opposed him, or journalists who criticized his wrongdoings, his appointment to the Bucor was wrong from the beginning.
Kudos to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Let’s hope the cases will prosper, be elevated in the trial court, and the guilty parties will spend time in jail—if they will not be also killed.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ (Matthew 5:38)
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I sympathize with the Democrats, but I am prepared to accept their fate in the 2022 US midterm elections on November 8.
All indications as of this writing point to a Republican tsunami in the Lower House and a slim chance to regain the Senate.
In the 2010 midterm elections, then President Barrack Obama lost his chief ally, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after the House of Representatives went to the Republicans. The Senate, however, went to the Democrats.
Will history repeat against for Pelosi, who is now the House Speaker under the Biden administration? Let’s wait and see.
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According to the latest information sent to us by US chess master Marlon Bernardino, a young female chess player from Imus, Cavite in the Philippines recently became a chess sensation in an ASEAN tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.
Bernardino identified her as Elle Castronuevo, 8, who won the championship of the 6th Eastern Asia (ASEAN) Youth Chess Championship held on Friday, Nov.5 at Asia Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
Joining the 8-under girls’ class, she played 7 rounds during the rapid chess tournament. A Grade 3 pupil of Imus Pilot Elementary School, Castronuevo swept his all opponents, winning seven out of seven to claim the title.
Bernardino said she shined among any other and considered as the best player for the team Philippines.
Mary Janelle Tan and Gllasea Ann Hilario won silver and bronze in the 10-under girls’ class.
Bernardino added that Daren dela Cruz of Dasmarinas City, Cavite, playing under the guidance of Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Frani Barzaga Jr. and national coach Fide Master Roel Abelgas also tallied perfect 7 points in the combined 12 and 14-under girls’ class.
Ruelle Canino, one of the top player of Far Eastern University-Diliman from Cagayan de Oro City took the silver with six points while Ryien Bahita of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental completed the Philippine domination went home the bronze medal with a higher tie break points in the group of four pointers.
Lexie Grace Hernandez and April Joy Claros, both from Angeles City, Pampanga won silver and bronze in the combined 16 and 18-under girls’ class.
In the boys division, Michael Jan Stephen Rosalem Iñigo of the Philippines bagged the bronze medal. He competed in the U16 boys category and won five and two loses. Iñigo is the pride of Dumaguete City/Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
Other Filipino medallists are Caleb Royce Garcia (U8, silver), John Cyrus Borce (U14, silver), Christian Gian Karlo Arca (U14,bronze) and Janmyl Dilan Tisado (U18, silver).
The 1st day activity is a 7 rounds Rapid Blitz 15 minutes plus 5 seconds increment competition and will be followed by standard 30 minutes chess competition on the second up to the last day competition according to National Master/National Arbiter Rodolfo “Rudy” Toledo.
The chess tournament draws a participation of closed to 200 participants of under 8,10,12,14, 16 and 18 years old boys and girls categories from 12 East Asian nations.
Backed up by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission, Team Philippines bags 3 Gold, 7 Silver and 7 Bronze medals in the Rapid Chess Tournament on the opening day of the East Asian Youth Chess Championship added Toledo.
PH delegation head was Grandmaster Jayson O. Gonzales who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by its’ chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)
