FIRST SAY:
It’s amazing how relaxing it is not to pretend to know more than you do. I’m surprised that those who claim to speak in the name of God don’t take more advantage of this.
—Christopher Hitchens
—o0o—
If you think you are an important political figure, you have to think again. You are not.
This is, in effect, what Rep. Robert Ace Barbers told former President Duterte spokesman Harry Roque after the cantankerous ex-Spox posted on social media a video of him near the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City assailing the Marcos administration for allegedly silencing critics such as himself.
First, a backgrounder on why Roque had the temerity to post such a video. The day before, he was just released from detention at the House of Representatives where he was cited for contempt by the quad committee and punished to serve a short time in detention.
The reason for the contempt punishment? Well, the glib-tongued Roque was caught lying to the House committees. He said in a letter—and under oath— that the reason why he did not attend the quad comm’s August 16 hearing in Pampanga was because he attended a court hearing in the Manila Regional Trial Court on that day.
However, Rep. Ron Salo (Party list, Kabayan) submitted to the quad comm a certification from Manila RTC clerk of court Jennifer dela Cruz that belied claim that he attended a court hearing on that day. This proved that Roque was lying through his teeth, and so House legislators deemed it proper to declare him in contempt and detain him.
“Well for me, all I can say is Attorney Roque should dial down his belief that he is such an important political figure that his freedom of expression needs to be curtailed,” Barbers, chairman of the quad comm, said.
The quad comm is composed of the House committee on dangerous drugs headed by Barbers, the House committee on public order and safety headed by Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, House committee on public accounts of Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party list, Abang Lingkod) and House committee on human rights headed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.
Barbers urged his former colleague (Attorney Roque was also a representative once) not to paint any political color in his latest tangle with the House committees.
The Surigao del Norte congressman is correct in calling out Harry Roque, but in the same breath, I believe he is wrong in saying that Roque needs to be an important personality in the political scene to be able to denounce attempts at silencing his freedom of expression. The Constitution grants to every citizen of the Philippines this freedom, whether he is among the top leaders in government or the lowliest farmer planting rice.
Barbers’ argument that the government does not curtail Roque’s freedom of expression because if it wants to attack this constitutional guarantee, it would train its guns on people more VIP than Roque in the political lay of the land. It is easy to spot the logical fallacy there—it is called a red herring.
—-o0o—
The Department of Health (DOH) has reported that there have been 136,161 dengue cases reported from January 1 to August 3. This is 33 percent higher compared to the 102,374 cases recorded during the same period last year.
To fight and control dengue, it is important to know what this disease is all about, how it is transmitted from one person to another, with the unfortunate potential of being an epidemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The disease is found in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. About half of the world’s population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100 to 400 million infections every year.
While dengue infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, the virus can occasionally cause more severe cases, and even death. The WHO added that prevention and control of dengue depend on vector control. There is no specific treatment for dengue and severe dengue, and early detection and access to proper medical care greatly lower fatality rates of severe dengue.
The WHO also said there is no specific treatment for dengue. The focus is on treating symptoms. Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or paracetamol. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin are avoided as they can increase the risk of bleeding. For patients with severe dengue, hospitalization is often needed.
The DOH has publicized its “4S Strategy against Dengue” which should take precedence ii all other city, town and barangay information campaigns.
This refers to “Search and Destroy” mosquito breeding grounds by eliminating stagnant water and their containers; “Self-protection” measures like insect repellent and wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants; “Seek” early consultation with a doctor or health worker for any symptoms; and “Support” fogging or spraying in local hotspot or outbreak areas where an increase in cases is registered.
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