P-Noy should have asked about Davide

On Target
by Ramon Tulfo
from Philippine Daily Inquirer

PRESIDENT Noynoy’s State of the Nation Address yesterday where he called, in effect, for an end to thievery in government was not met with enthusiasm by most members of the House of Representatives.

The applause came from the public at the gallery, P-Noy’s Cabinet members, new members of the House of Representatives and the opposition during the past administration.

Why?

Because those congressmen and women, who were in the administration of Gloria, took part in plundering the government.

They felt guilty, they felt shame.

* * *

P-Noy reiterated his campaign against tax evaders and smugglers, even singling out the owner of a chain of pawnshops who could afford to buy a P26 million Lamborghini sports car but didn’t pay taxes, to raise revenue collections.

It’s easy to reach the government revenue targets yearly: Kick out from key positions corrupt officials and employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs while they are being investigated.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), the government’s third biggest revenue earner, should be manned by officials who are focused on earning more for the agency rather than going on a vendetta campaign against their predecessors.

The present Pagcor officials should understand that their predecessors couldn’t do anything but allow the Big Man and Little Woman to have their way with the revenue agency.

* * *

The President has reposed much trust in the Truth Commission which will handle investigation of irregularities in the past administration.

P-Noy apparently didn’t ask around when he appointed former Chief Justice Hilario Davide to head the Truth Commission.

I will not elaborate for fear of being charged with libel.

But please, Mr. President, ask around: Ask his former colleagues and employees at the Supreme Court ask employees at the Court of Appeals branch in Cebu.

Send your people to ask questions; of course, discreetly.

You would have second thoughts if you were informed.

That is the truth, and it’s not being given without request for commissions.

* * *

Most Filipinos believe P-Noy is honest and sincere in ridding the government of thieves.
But that cannot be said of some of those close to him.
One even appointed himself to a position that would have favored the company that he once worked for, until the media raised a howl.
Another was involved in a billion-peso scam in the previous administration.

* * *

To my fellow responsible gun holders, thank you!

Despite being rained out in the last minutes, the two-day Tulfo Cup practical competition was participated in by 243 shooters.

One in four participants was a soldier or policeman.

Despite what anti-gun advocates say, practical shooting competition promotes responsible gun handling.

Participants in shooting competition adhere to many rules, such as following orders from range officers who are king at the range; having a gun holstered while awaiting one’s turn to shoot; practicing dry fire (drawing the pistol and firing without bullets) in designated areas only.

Discipline at the firing range is carried over by a shooter outside: In the home, in the streets, at work.

That’s why only a few practical shooters—if any—ever get into trouble because they avoid it like the plague.

The ones who get involved in shooting incidents are non-shooters.