Friday, March 24, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns

In a pickle

Lito BanayobyLito Banayo
February 6, 2023, 12:10 am
in Columns, Opinion, So I See by Lito Banayo
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

“It was so interesting watching Sen. Chiz tear down the contortions of the economic managers and their factotums in a recent committee hearing on the Maharlika ‘whatever’ bill”

The Brits have a way of describing a seeming quandary, where there is no easy solution, and they say one caught in such a situation is “in a pickle.”

Sometimes, in sarcasm, they say “in a fine pickle.”

The president faces some very difficult situations where finding the right course of action, right not in terms of moral or even legal considerations, but more political than anything.

One comes from the “pakialamero” International Criminal Court or ICC.

Recently, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber granted the request of its prosecutor Karim Khan, and announced it would open a preliminary investigation on our drug war where thousands died (the numbers are in dispute).

ADVERTISEMENT

The ICC said it is “not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the Court’s investigations based on the complementarity principle.”

It added the Philippine government’s efforts to probe the drug war deaths “do not amount to tangible, concrete and progressive investigative steps” that sufficiently mirror the ICC investigation.

Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla retorted we have a functioning justice system and the ICC has no business judging our internal affairs. Solicitor General Meynard Guevarra said we will appeal the pre-trial chamber’s decision.

A very terse reaction came from the chief legal counsel of our president, Juan Ponce Enrile, who will be turning 99 years old this Valentine’s Day, but whose legal acumen is as sharp as ever.

“I am telling you … I will not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC,” said Enrile.

“If they come here, if I were to be followed, I will cause their arrest. They interfere too much in our internal affairs,” the former Senate President declared.

The president has declared he will not allow the country to resume membership in the ICC, from which his predecessor withdrew on March 17, 2019. But the ICC maintains we were still a signatory to the Rome Statute when cases were filed regarding our bloody drug war.

But what if the ICC sends its investigators to the country, and they land in our territory using their UN-issued diplomatic passports?

If we do not allow them entry, or as Enrile said, arrest them even, we would be creating an international incident. That would be a fine pickle indeed.

Though unrelated, our president in the Malacanang vin d’honeur, advanced before the diplomatic community, his desire for the Philippines to have a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council come 2007-2008, and asked for their government’s support in our bid.

This writer is sympathetic to our justice secretary’s position that we should not allow the ICC to transgress or run roughshod over our functioning justice system, no matter how slow it may be.

But the ICC is not likely to write finis on the matter, which would put President Marcos Jr. in a bind, and, sooner or later, that is forthcoming.

***

Another “in a pickle” situation, although easier to resolve, is a scenario where warrants of arrest are issued against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the self-appointed “son of God.” on FBI’s criminal charges for “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion” involving even children, as well as “bulk cash smuggling.”

As these “crimes” are punishable under Philippine laws as well, they fall under the scope of our extradition treaty with the US of A.

How shall our president react when the issue comes to a head?

We ought to respect the extradition request, although we could perhaps dribble, or temporize, utilizing to the full the snail pace of our justice system. What are the domestic political implications?

Even more significantly, how would this impact on our relationship with our ally, which our president describes in glowing terms as “I cannot imagine a future of the Philippines without the United States of America”?

***

We have expanded our Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement to include temporary basing facilities for American troops in four new agreed locations, on top of previously agreed sites in Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Cebu.

Though no formal announcement has been made during the visit of US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, these are expected to be in northernmost Luzon (Cagayan), in Isabela, another in Palawan, and in Subic Bay, site of the former naval base of the Americans.

As the confrontation between the US and China heats up on the issues of Taiwan and the South China Sea, and with our own West Philippine Sea conflicts, the recent enhanced security cooperation developments present another “in a pickle” situation for our leadership.

But that is a continuing saga, and deserves another full article in the near future.

As we write, a “spy balloon” which China calls a “civilian” weather instrument has been shot down over the Atlantic shores of South Carolina upon orders of President Biden, after traversing the entire North American continent from west to east.

Interesting times.

“In a pickle” situations, truly.

***

During President Erap’s conflicted and shortened tenure, then Rep. Joker Arroyo, who failed to bag the speakership after the president threw his support to Rep. Manny Villar, organized a noisy opposition group who called themselves the “Spice Boys.”

They became the noisy de facto opposition.

In return, presidential son, and now Sen. JV Ejercito organized a group of young congressmen whom he called “Bright Boys,” led by then young congressmen, and now still young senators — Chiz Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano.

It was so interesting watching Sen. Chiz tear down the contortions of the economic managers and their factotums in a recent committee hearing on the Maharlika “whatever” bill.

That bill, which was rushed in the HoR in time for the president to preen about it in Davos, has mutated several times, and, in the hands of Chiz and later Alan Peter, is likely to be “Humpty Dumpty” as we wrote about in a recent article in this space.

President Marcos Jr. has himself said it is up to the Senate to introduce a better version of the HoR bill, which was introduced in the Senate by his Davos companion, Sen. Mark Villar.

Interesting how it will evolve.

By then, the economic and business community will not know how best to describe Maharlika — wealth or investment fund, sovereign or private, and whatever else.

Tags: Chiz EscuderoICCInternational Criminal Court
ADVERTISEMENT
Lito Banayo

Lito Banayo

Related Posts

Expanding EDCA’s reach

byManila Standard
March 24, 2023, 12:20 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

With four more sites due to be added to the five already established under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)...

Read more

Are we moving closer to energy security?

byErnesto M. Hilario
March 24, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

With the onset of summer, it seems the perennial critics are at it again, with doomsday scenarios and dire predictions...

Read more

Have we hurdled COVID-19 pandemic?

byEmil Jurado
March 24, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
A tribute to Bob Garon

Is it true, as President Marcos Jr. stated, that “we have hurdled the COVID-19 pandemic? Yes, it is true—in a...

Read more

Ombudsman’s dismissal of a criminal complaint

byTranquil G.S. Salvador III
March 24, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Nullity of marriage: a defense in bigamy cases

The office of the Ombudsman is an investigative body tasked to “investigate on its own, or on complaint by any...

Read more

Incompetence, possible corruption in Dimayuga’s MMDA

byLouis "Barok" Biraogo
March 24, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
Anti-Duterte RTC judges seek appointment to CA

Senator Mark Villar recently filed Senate Bill 1959 which, if enacted into law, will require the installation of digital countdown...

Read more

Infrastructure binge

byManila Standard
March 23, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Infrastructure binge

One of the main reasons foreign investors hesitate to bring their money into the country, apart from red tape, corruption,...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Reels, vlogging, pictorials made easy with all new vivo V27 series
  • Men, women differ over control, monitor of smart devices
  • Globe Group’s Yondu Inc. bags SEATH MSP Partner of Year ‘22 Award
  • Mariwasa, SCG feature innovative home solutions at WORLDBEX
  • Clarkson reaffirms commitment to PH, looks forward to World Cup
  • Malixi sizzles in the heat, reigns in Iloilo with solid 66
  • Richardson, pals survive world-class challengers
  • Zaragosa blows field with record 63, pulls away by 8

Advertisement

Latest News

Malixi sizzles in the heat, reigns in Iloilo with solid 66

byManila Standard Sports
March 24, 2023, 9:00 pm
0
8
Youngsters take spotlight as IRONKIDS unfolds

Iloilo—Rianne Malixi put up a flawless closeout and pounced on Daniella Uy’s flawed finish as the country’s top amateur nailed...

Read more

Richardson, pals survive world-class challengers

byPeter Atencio
March 24, 2023, 8:50 pm
0
8
PH Rugby Union elects new officers

Ilagan, Isabela—Southeast Asian Games veteran Kayla Richardson, newcomers Lauren Hoffman and Umajesty Williams and local bet Sara Dequinan took on...

Read more

Zaragosa blows field with record 63, pulls away by 8

byManila Standard Sports
March 24, 2023, 8:45 pm
0
8
Youngsters take spotlight as IRONKIDS unfolds

Iloilo—Rupert Zaragosa shook off a couple of frontside putting woes with a blistering backside charge, posting a new course-record seven-under...

Read more

Youngsters take spotlight as IRONKIDS unfolds

byManila Standard Sports
March 24, 2023, 8:40 pm
0
8
Youngsters take spotlight as IRONKIDS unfolds

Davao—The future of local triathlon takes center stage ahead of the cream of endurance racing crop as they clash for...

Read more

PLDT, Smart tech-abled solutions reach disadvantaged women and girls, PlantSmart kits cross 8k milestone

byManila Standard
March 24, 2023, 8:33 pm
0
8
PLDT, Smart tech-abled solutions reach disadvantaged women and girls, PlantSmart kits cross 8k milestone

As part of the group’s initiatives for International Women’s Month, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) turnedover...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App