Can this happen in the Philippines? A Chinese billionaire was recently sentenced to 18 years in prison for criticizing their President on the way he had been acting on the coronavirus pandemic in their country! Well, according to the report, it was not quite specified that it was the pandemic thing, but just for criticizing their leader. Well, that is not likely to happen in our country, because everyone knows that we are not blaming President Duterte for what has stricken, not only our country, but almost all those in the world.
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Another reason I think why that will not happen here is that, aside from the fact that we have few billionaires, the one we have are not the type who would tangle with the president. And in this case, where even the leaders of the wealthiest and most powerful countries seem helpless against this plague, what would be the use criticizing, even our Health officials? The ones who are in hot water now are in it, not because of being outspoken, but because they are suspected of having secrets like stashing away funds intended for the sick.
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But the President is on to them now, and at this point they must be hunting for the best lawyers in the land to get them out of this scrape. And the President seems relentless, but who knows? He might be placated with some logical explanations, or maybe an Act of Contrition? Well, let us wait for the development of these cases involving the allegedly unhealthy acts of the officials in our Health Department. I don’t think the distractions caused by the coronavirus will make him forget about those unhealthy goings on.
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It should be good news that a vaccine has been approved, in Swedenbut there are strict rules for its application. Seems only adults can be administered it , and not children. And their government does not intend to make vaccinations mandatory, only those who are willing can be vaccinated. As for their big muscled men, some have been quoted as saying “I am strong enough without it”. Has any study shown that big, strong guys are immune to it? Well, no findings have revealed such yet.
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I have heard some people complaining that the requirement for wearing both a mask and a shield is an “overkill”. Well, it may seem so, because, before the mask was all we were required to wear. But then with clarifications that this virus has the bad habit of floating in the air for several minutes, and could land on your eyes, nose and maybe even your pores, let us be mindful and comply. Note that countries where people have been ignoring orders to wear such protect devices are also known to have the most number of cases and fatalities.
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News reports via TV have claimed that the United States has chalked up about 200,000, or even more deaths so far, but their President continues to claim that they have already been flattening the curve”. Is that part of his reelection campaign? In the meantime, the death recently of a Supreme Court Justice has added more cause for conflict between the two contenders for the Presidency. Republicans, led by Trump want him to appoint the replacement of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg immediately, but other officials want the appointment delayed until after the election.
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Why so? Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? In case of any controversies in the election results that might have to be elevated to the Supreme Court, for whom do you think will his appointee vote? Not that we are in a position to question the integrity of whoever gets the position, but even if they are justices, they are also human, and the new one could help even by just not casting a vote. There are less than 50 days now before their election and every move by either candidate could be crucial. I wonder what our own government’s view is on that election?
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What was it that Vice President Leni Robredo said about some decision of the President that made Harry Roque immediately answer back? I hope VP Robredo ignores him, after all the President is not ill, or incommunicado. I regret I was not able to follow up that report, but I don’t think she reacted to him, which would be proper. Anyway, the President is hale and hearty, and only in Davao where communication facilities are as efficient as in any part of the country.*
