‘Speculation is high that Malacañang has programmed its huge concern for the poor and suffering to coincide with Christmas, never mind the mounting deaths going to the merriest season…’
THE Duterte administration should do everything it can to try to ensure that no one goes hungry during the two-week ECQ in Metro Manila and several provinces. But this is near to impossible as Malacanang, with eyes on 2022, has reportedly “parked” huge electoral funds in government-owned and controlled corporations. One of which is the Philippine International Trade Corporation (PITC) which, according to Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon, has P11.1 billion unremitted to the National Treasury. Uncommon logic has imposed on the President’s party and his allies the ultimate primacy of politics in the midst of a national crisis.
The President should know by now that the vast majority have been seized by uncertainty and fear never before experienced since the last world war and nothing else can assuage their wretched condition other than the assured control of COVID infections and prevention of widespread hunger. Speculation is high that Malacanang has programmed its huge concern for the poor and suffering to coincide with Christmas, never mind the mounting deaths going to the merriest season, an insidious agenda with an untold backlash during the 2022 polls.
As more people are taken to intensive care units due to the persistent virus, more people are similarly seen on the streets violating the basic health protocols, such as wearing of masks and physical distancing. The depressed communities in Marikina — in Barangays Marikina Heights, Parang, Fortune and Concepcion Uno — seem detached from the beleaguered population attacked or threatened by the virus.
Residents in these barangays have virtually ignored the use of face masks and physical distancing. And yet these people have burdened government with their hospitalization and other medical needs after being infected by the virus since they have little or no means for immediate treatment.
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Our deep sympathies to the family of Ms. Kitchie Benedicto, former general manager of Channel 2 then under the Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS). Last Wednesday night, the 74-year-old succumbed to complications caused by a kidney transplant. Disk jockeys Jing Magsaysay, Ed Picson, Wayne Enage, Pinky Villarama-Evangelista and yours truly were particularly fond of her. While a pioneering jazz station in the country was virtually ignored by marketing and other network executives, Ma’am KB, as she was fondly called, had stood firmly supportive of our new jazz format. Soon enough, DWWK-FM (101.9) was making more money than all the Manila and provincial stations put together owned by the TV network.
