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Monday, February 13, 2012

Deadly mañana habit

By ERWIN TULFO

THIS mañana habit of Filipinos, especially that of local government officials, is becoming deadlier and deadlier.

A prime example would be the LGU executives who refuse to follow the geohazard maps that have been provided them by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Sadly, stubbornness prevails in several provinces. This, despite two landslides where numerous lives could have been spared.

First, there was Compostela Valley where at least 100 residents were buried alive. Earlier this month, 71 more people joined the list of victims who shouldn’t have died but did. Thanks to their selfish, indolent leaders.

The vicious cycle is becoming tiresome. After a tragedy-in-wating occurs and several are killed, the blame game follows. Then the wait begins for another catastrophe to happen. And the counting of bodies starts all over again. Darn.

President PNoy, it’s about time for heads to roll and punish the negligent.

Please don’t tell me that the mañana habit also prevails in the Palace. Do you have to wait for thousands to die in another landslide before you punish the culprits, Mr. President?

DENR-Mines and Geo-Science Bureau (MGB) director Leo Jasareno has said that the geohazard maps are useless if they would not be followed.

Local government officials concerned would have stomach-churning nerves if they ever use lack of funds as an alibi not to heed these precious maps. For god’s sake sirs, all you have to do is evacuate your residents to safer land.

Just thinking of the local folk who continue living at the foot of mountains gives me goose bumps. These people practically have no idea that death hangs over them like a sword of Damocles every day. What is totally sickening is that their officials are fully aware of it.

The DENR has identified Benguet, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Apayao, Southern Leyte, Abra, Marinduque, Cebu, Catanduanes and Ifugao as landslide-prone areas.

Susceptible to flooding are Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Maguindanao, Bulacan, Metro Manila, North Cotabato, Oriental Mindoro and Ilocos Norte.

Grimly, there has been no effort to move the ‘dead people walking’ in these high-risk areas.

President PNoy, nobody has been punished for the deaths in Compostela Valley and Negros Oriental.

For this gross injustice, I only have three words for you: LET HEADS ROLL.

Baby snatchers
Snatchers have sunk to the deepest pit of bottom feeders. They are now targeting homeless people on the streets.

A couple recently lost their baby to crooks. Maricris Villanueva, 21, Jesus Canedo, 23, and their kid slept on the cold pavement, believing that their obvious poverty would shield them from robbers. But the snatchers still snuck up on them and stole the infant.

The kidnapping incident occurred on Arroceros Sreet., Ermita, Manila.

Kudos to Chief Inspector Marcelo Reyes, chief of the Manila City Hall Public Assistance (CHAPA), who immediately ordered his men to scour the area for signs of the baby snatchers.

Unfortunately, nobody saw anything or anybody suspicious.

The baby must probably be in another city by now. It could be in the arms of an unwashed woman begging for alms on the streets.

Loose talk goes that beggars carrying sleeping babies on dirty arm slings are just actors on orders of crime syndicates. And the kids are usually kidnapped. Worse, the infants are reportedly drugged. To make them cry, the fake mother burns their skin with cigarettes.

Baby kidnappers earn more by selling their young victims to childless couples.

The incident on Arroceros Street should be solved soon. It should also not be repeated.

If poor couples could lose their children to snatchers, then heaven help the more moneyed ones who stroll in malls and parks.

MPD Director Gen. Alex Gutierrez, sir I think you should act on this now.


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