Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Honor And Dignity

Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri in his decision to resign as Senator of the Philippines has rightfully demonstrated one way to preserve family honor and dignity. As far as I can remember, his resignation as senator is the first time to happen in the Philippines politics.

Mr. Zubiri was alleged to have won the election as senator in 2007 election through massive cheating especially in Maguindanao. Zubiri placed 12 followed by Mr. Koko Pimentel as number 13 in that election canvass. However, Mr. Pimentel filed an election protest against Zubiri with the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

In view of the latest revelation of what happened in Maguindanao and the information given by Mr. Lentang Bedol of the COMELEC regarding the 2007 election in Maguindanao coupled with the result of canvass in the Senate Electoral Tribunal, Mr. Zubiri decided to resign as Senator last Wednesday, August 3.

Perhaps, Mr. Zubiri believes, there was indeed a massive election cheating. Hence, he gave up his Senate seat. He did not and will never accept something through dubious means such as to win an election by cheating.

He vehemently denied he cheated. He did not cheat the election, stressed Zubiri. He neither asked somebody to cheat for him nor authorized anyone to commit election irregularity to win an election. However, he believed now that there were indeed serious irregularities committed in the 2007 election and he was one of the beneficiaries of cheating.

Therefore, he resigned his senate seat and withdrew his counter election protest against Mr. Koko Pimentel in order to safeguard and maintain family honor and dignity which his family has long cherished, developed and earned among the Filipinos.

Indeed, Zubiri’s action deserved emulation and respect especially by our top leaders not only in government but also in business and the profession as well. May Zubiri’s tribe multiply.

Persona Non-Grata

Mr. Crisanto Aquino who is pretending as the owner of West Cove in Boracay Island Resort has also continuously been defying local ordinances of Malay, Aklan.

In spite of the "closure order" of Mayor John Yap of Malay, the West Cove is still operating uninterrupted. Mr. Aquino has been showing his wanton disregards of laws and ordinances and defied legal orders.

Mr. Aquino is maintaining he owns West Cove while reliable information circulating in Aklan stated he does not own it, Manny Pacman Pacquiao actually owns West Cove according to most trusted source. Will Crisanto Aquino get Pacquiao’s investment in the long run? False information repeatedly given becomes truth in the long run.

Will the LGU executives in Aklan allow a man like Crisanto Aquino to continuously defy legal orders and violate laws? Today, Crisanto Aquino is in Malay defying closure order and operating a business sans authority like the Mayor’s Permit.

This is disrespect. Who can predict someday in the future Crisanto Aquino will branch out in Buruanga? In Nabas? And do the same? Disrespect the laws?

Will the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay approve a Resolution Declaring Mr. Crisanto Aquino "persona non grata" for his disregard and defiance of the laws, rules and legal orders? If SB Malay and Mayor John Yap declare Crisanto Aquino persona non grata, will other municipalities also approve a similar resolution? /MP