The granting of emergency powers to the President has constitutional basis enshrined under Article VI, Section 23(2) of the 1987 Constitution which states that “In times of war or other national emergencies, Congress ma, by law, authorize the President, for a limited period and subject to such restrictions as it may prescribe, to exercise powers necessary and proper to carry out a declared national policy.
Unless sooner withdrawn by resolution of Congress, such powers shall cease upon the next adjournment thereof.” This provision grants the President temporary extraordinary powers (but only under specific circumstances) and is subject to a congressional nod.
Methinks that in such cases as economic sabotage by certain individuals and their business entities affecting the general welfare of the citizenry, and together with the onslaught of flooding in the metropolis brought about by climate change with a substandard flood control program in the cities and municipalities, the President must act swiftly in addressing the situation until such time that the proper safeguards are put in place and that the guilty parties brought to justice and ideally behind bars with the permanent closure of their businesses as well.
With such powers, only then shall we see that the government is serious in putting people in prison and for such punishment given as mentioned by no less than the President that regardless of friendship or close association with him, guilty parties will be met head-on with the shackles of the law.
Please grant the President emergency powers now.
The creation of the President’s Fact-Finding Commission
I hereby nominate Fr. Ranhilio ‘Rannie’ Callangan Aquino to head the President’s fact-Finding Commission whose task is to look further into the matter involving the country’s flood control program for which none of these projects have fully satisfied the expectations of the tax-paying public.
It has also been discovered that many of the funds for the program have found their way inside the Hermes and LV bags of crooked contractors and their female offsprings who now enjoy an opulent lifestyle financed by the people.
Fr. Rannie is currently Dean of the San Beda Graduate School of Law and an official-faculty member of the Cagayan State University (CSU).
Lawmakers with US green cards?
In addition to the President’s call for lifestyle checks on government officials, he should also call on the same individuals to disclose to the public whether they are US Green Card holders or not.
It would be easy for a public official with a USCIS document (Permanent Resident Card) to fly to the US in the event that he faces a court case in Ph for corruption charges or any felony giving him the idea of flight in the context of criminal law.
However, if the public official is an elected individual such as a congressman, he is, by law, prohibited from obtaining a US Green Card because of a requirement for him to renounce any foreign allegiance which may indicate commitment to a foreign jurisdiction.
The intent of this law is to ensure that any Filipino who holds public office, (elected and appointed) are fully and solely committed to his native land. And while a US Green card holder does not automatically make someone a US citizen, the law on renunciation of foreign citizenship for public officials is broadly interpreted to cover such ties.
In addition, a US Green Card may be revoked if the holder spends too much time outside of US soil, which may create a conflict of interest for a serving official. Nevertheless, we ask the President to order the Foreign Affairs Department to check on the matter.
-o0o-
Ye olde 365 Club of the now non-existent Jeepney Coffee Shop at the Intecontinental Hotel in Makati has moved to the Holiday Inn Hotel in Makati and will celebrate its 53rd founding anniversary on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
The club’s living members such as CPLC Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and columnist Emil Jurado will be in attendance for this grand affair together with members Maloli Espinosa-Supnet, Augusto ‘Toti’ Dantes, and Ka Emil’s daughter Nina Jurado.
My radio program LESLIE BOCOBO LIVE! aired via Radyo Pilipinas Radio Publiko 738 Khz has an added day. Other than Thursdays 1:00-2:00PM, an additional (every) Sunday 9:00-10:00 AM has been allotted to me by Director Dindo Amparo and Station Manager Alan Allanigue. Programs are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Random Memorandum: The real owner of many of his businesses here in PH is not Manny V. Pangilinan, (as we are made to believe) but Anthoni Salim, reportedly one of the top five wealthiest men in Indonesia. So ‘MVP’ is a dummy – a ‘Salim Pusa.’
Factoid: I just went for a lifestyle check. The result: ‘Unexplained Poverty.’ And do you know that those expensive Hermes bags are made from crocodile and alligator skins? And are you still wondering why they are a favorite item by wives and daughters of crooked politicians and contractors? Because the buyers/owners simply wish to pay homage to their lifestyle inspiration.
(Leslie Bocobo is a former Director and Special Assistant to the Secretary at the Office of the Press Secretary, Malacanang, and a former Public Affairs Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources)
Email: sleeplessinmyshuttle@yahoo.com
