Editorials

The dispute between the local government of Buhi, headed by Mayor Rey Lacoste, and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bicol under Director William Ragodon over the water resource provided by Lake Buhi is a cause for concern since peoples' livelihoods are endangered in whichever course of action would be taken.

The endeavor of the Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation to introduce and establish another form of gambling through betting stations of its "virtual numbers game" in the province of Camarines Sur and in the City of Naga had been reported to have met with little success so far.

Last week, it was reported that since the COMELEC gun ban had been implemented, 13 violators had been apprehended in the region. "According to the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here, police arrested 11 violators in Masbate and one each in the provinces of Camarines Sur [sic] as of January 18, 2010," stated the news report.

It has been reported that in February of this year, a number of Filipino lay Catholics are coming together for the "Discernment on the Prophetic Calling of the Lay Faithful in Philippine Society." Moreover, the same news report stated that a petition letter addressed to bishops, priests and religious has been written asking them "to hold high the moral compass and provide pastoral and prophetic accompaniment for the laity during these crucial times."

The implementation of the "election gun ban" as defined by the Commission on Election in its Resolution 8714 is to take effect on January 10 of this year and is to last until June 9. Intended as a measure to curb and prevent election-related violence, the "election gun ban" has been touted to be "total."

Last December 22, the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (BRBWMP) which is headed by Mr. Tomasito Monzon called for a press conference in which it was announced that the implementation of the Libmanan-Cabusao Dam Project (LCDP) was indefinitely suspended. The stated reason for the suspension was the unresolved matter regarding the relocation of more than 70 families who were identified as being adversely affected by the dam project.

Amid the dramatic resurgence of Albay from the natural catastrophes that had befallen it of recent, the Diocese of Legazpi has welcomed Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon as its sixth bishop last week. Bishop Baylon is in all respects an Albayano, having spent his early years and young adulthood at Albay, and as such his installation as Legazpi's prelate serves as a homecoming after having served various pastoral and ecclesiastical functions outside the province.

The power of the media brought to our living rooms heart-rending images of the savagery that had been let loose by brutal men in a village of Maguindanao on hapless civilians including women and journalists.

We are shocked and appalled that such an act could be carried out in broad daylight with indescribable brazenness and effrontery, that it seemed the perpetrators were confident that they could not be made accountable for it.

We welcome and laud the Supreme Court's recent appointment of Judge Ramon Cruz, a Bikolano, to the Court of Appeals. His appointment affords us the opportunity to have a glimpse of a life which may serve as an inspiration to fellow lawyers and fellow Bikolanos.