Poll expenses and contributions must be probed now!

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people… For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him… Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts…” (Romans 1:18-32, the Holy Bible).

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POLL EXPENSES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MUST BE PROBED NOW: Now that the deadline has lapsed for the submission of sworn statements by candidates in the recently-concluded May 2019 elections detailing the campaign contributions they received and how much they spent of those funds, I propose that an honest-to-goodness audit be made of all candidates, winners or losers, to see where the money that were donated to, and spent by, them actually came from.
The intention of this kind of an audit is not just to exact compliance with existing election laws regarding the money donated to, and spent by, these candidates, but more to shed light on, and to enable the people to know, whether the money came from legal sources, specifically identifying who contributed substantially to the campaign expenses of those who will be installed as elected officials by July.
This will allow everyone to determine the kind of financial transactions and sources of income of the candidates and their supporters, with emphasis on whether or not they are paying appropriate taxes. We will also be enlightened as to the motivations behind the pronouncements and actions of those who prevailed in the elections, especially when the interests of their multi-million campaign donors are to be the subject of their official functions.

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CONGRATS CANADA RAPTORS, BUT… : I may have to say “I am sorry”, for I don’t wish to be a “kill-joy” over the victory of Canada Raptors in the 2019 US NBA Championship where they prevailed against the crowd-favorite Golden State Warriors, but I feel I have to really say something about what I saw in the games that had been happening time and again whenever people attain success or victory in the different areas of life.
Truly, I am bothered by the fact that, in the euphoria that attended the Raptors’ clinching the 2019 NBA title (the team’s first ever NBA crown), people once again forgot, or deliberately sidelined, God’s role in the Canadians’ feat, toasting only the players, the team, or their coach as if the historic victory they were given this year came about only through their own efforts, strength, or power. Indeed, this is the kind of a reaction that many people exhibit nowadays, even here in the Philippines.
Surely, there is really nothing anomalous about man celebrating and enjoying his victories, based on what he thinks is his mental capacity, strength, and training. What is unfortunate, however, is when in the festivities, he fails to express his appreciation and forget to recognize publicly that it was God who gave him the victory in the first place. Well, when will mankind ever learn to thank and honor or recognize God? Sadly, the curses from Romans 1:18-32 of the Bible may yet come down upon us once more.

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ORAL DEFAMATION, AND WHEN MUST IT BE BROUGHT TO THE BARANGAY: We will devote this space today to respond to the first part of the question sent to us at batasmauricio@yahoo.com by Mark M. Hundungan, 21, of Caranglan, Nueva Ecija. I translated this to English, as follows: “Hello Sir. A complaint was filed against me with the barangay where I am atprsent actually living. I am not registered in that barangay, however. Can I refuse to obey the subpoena for me attend the barangay proceedings? I am being accused of oral defamation…”
Under the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7061, amended), there is a delineation of what criminal cases are to be brought before the barangay authorities before they can be filed with the prosecutors’ offices or even with the courts. These cases include simple oral defamation, which is defamation not of a serious nature, or is not gravely injurious of one’s reputation.
Defamation cases like this fetch a penalty of not more than one year imprisonment, and that makes them subject to referral to the barangay first and foremost. What barangay must a simple oral defamation case be brought? With the barangay of the town or city where the complainant or the respondent resides. Thank God in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

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REACTIONS? Call 0977 805 9058, 0918 574 0193, 0933 8251308, or my Messenger account in Facebook, Melanio Lazo Mauricio Jr. Or you could email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@gmail.com, or send your comments or queries at www.facebook.com/attybatas.

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