How many did Trillanes
and Lim have?

It is now apparent that the police must have noted the number of armed Magdalo soldiers with Senator Sonny Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Delfin Lim at the Manila Peninsula .

Now what has happened is that the presence of media practitioners who refused to vacate the Pen must have avoided a possible bloodbath that could have proved highly embarrassing for the government. That may explain the insistence of DILG Secretary Rony Puno that he will order the arrest for obstruction of justice of journalists should they refuse again to obey orders for them to leave alone “rebellious” elements.

In short, while it is agreed that the police and the authorities were supposed to solve the problem before sunset, it is presumed that they must have by then the needed intelligence as to the number of people involved in the aborted rebellion. Even the Commission on Human Rights seems to have tagged the Puno directive as something that violated the constitution and press freedom.

True, mediamen should not do anything that would prevent the authorities from performing their duty. In that case, the service of the arrest warrants and the saving of lives.

But it must be remembered that the guests of the Pen had already evacuated from the hotel in droves before the final assault was mounted. By that time, it must have become apparent to the government men that mediamen present outnumbered the number of putschists (if one may call them such). Thus, what was intriguing was their insistence that mediamen were obstructing justice. Thus their mishandling and processing.

Anyway, time will tell the real score. But it is evident that the presence of mediamen prevented what could have been a massacre.

***

Kudos to Eric Loretizo for having been named as Philippine Sports Commissioner. Eric truly deserved the honor. And, perhaps, to a certain extent. Rep. Monico Puentevella deserves also praise for having recommended Eric to the post.

No one can deny that Eric deserves the accolade. He has been not only a noted sports journalist and editor, he had also brilliantly served several other agencies as PR consultant and other positions such as executive assistant of former Governor Rafael Coscolluela.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez reportedly announced Eric's nomination as PSC Commissioner through Commissioner Ritchie Garcia at the opening of the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand Wednesday night.

Well, the only thing we can say – more spectacular achievements ahead, Eric.

***

As a Negrense, I glory in the feat of Dumaguete-born mountain biker Joey Barba for capturing the Philippines ' first gold in the Southeast Asian games in Thailand .

Barba ruled the men's downhill race at the Kaho Yai Thieng in Thailand and that was no mean feat. Barba outpaced an Indonesian and two hometown favorites in capturing the race.

We applaud him for his feat.

***

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas may have given the cue for local residents to report pilferages of power lines in the city. This recently led to the arrest of 50-year-old Loreto Peñaflorida while in the act of pilfering electrical lines from the Iloilo streetlights along Ledesma Street last Monday.

Peñaflorida was arrested by traffic management and engineering unit aides Ely Ellne and Reycel Fernandez. Peñaflorida yielded a 30-meter copper wire. Task Force Boltahe Engineer Salvador Pedrosa ordered the filing of charges against the wire pilferer.

I would like to ask the Bacolod police station as to how many alleged wire thieves had been charged in court for their actions. Iloilo reportedly filed four cases with the City Prosecutor's Office against wire thieves.

Treñas believe that the offer of P20,000 as incentive to those who report pilferages of wires will encourage more citizens to report the rampant loss of electrical and telephone wires to thieves. We hope that Bacolod City will also follow the example of Treñas. That's the best way to put a stop to the racket by wire thieves. And, yes, more important that the fencers (usually buyers of salvaged items) could also be charged in court.

***

Dr. Pete Jaena, former Lions District 301-B governor, took pains to have me driven all the way from the CPU to the Iloilo Harbor Thursday.

Pete, who is a relative, did it because he wanted me to inform the Lions of Negros Occidental that he has not attended their meetings and social functions here because of flagging physical condition. But I had to tell him that what was also the reason why I had not been seen in most Lions functions. Whether, we like it or not, age sometimes affects our mobility. But, I guess, one must convey to local Lions what Peter wanted me to tell them. Actually, he had not been that mobile since the demise last year of former governor Celso Hofileña, also a relative of ours.*

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