This week, we have a smattering of familiar names and familiar incidents. And as we have discussed this before many, many, many times, we’ll do a quick roundup of some of the news this week before going back into the cesspool that continues to surface. Okay? Okay.
So among the headlines this week – Baguio is plotting to pursue a materials recovery facility for its solid waste in the Sto. Tomas mountain area, the city had talks with investors for among other things, parking facilities, and a quick inventory of the city indicates a new estimate of 30k tourists a day in terms of carrying capacity.
Out of the city, we have some interesting data – 10 towns in the Cordillera region had 0 crimes last year. Most impressive.
A few other stories – Bokod elders are objecting to the operation of the Ambuklao dam over claims of insufficient compensation, and Benguet State Uni opening up a new campus, among others that you can read in This Week’s Issue of the Baguio Chronicle™.
Now that that’s out of the way, Badoy.
One of the headlines of this week is Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong being red-tagged once more. It should be obvious why I am reluctant to give this any more column space than I already have – we have discussed this matter over and over and over ad nauseam, ad infinitum.
As always, the culprit is local disinformation purveyor SMNI, with Quiboloy, Badoy, and “Ka Eric” being the ones pointing red fingers at Magalong. This is nothing new. This has happened before.
As always, they are trying to convince the mass public that Magalong is of the communist terrorist element due to his stance on activism being, you know, activism and not inherently a crime or communist in nature and protecting the youth in particular who partake in student activism.
Let me reiterate this – inasmuch as I am inclined to disagree with the government in general (this too is not communist-terrorist in nature), I am on Magalong’s side here. He has done absolutely nothing to link him with the communist terrorist element, and all he is doing is protecting the rights of the people under his jurisdiction as he (expletive) should as part of his duty.
Since they continue to reiterate ad nauseam, ad infinitum that activism is communist, let us reiterate that no, it in fact is not. Activism, criticism of the government, is not communist. Communism is a political ideology. It itself is not a crime. What is not allowed is being part of the active communist insurgency and bringing harm to the people of the Philippines. The actual insurgency.
It isn’t as if Magalong isn’t aware of this. The man has a long track record of service both in general and against the communist insurgency. Longer, I would presume, than any of the unspeakables that brand him traitor to the country. And he has even been supportive of the NTF-ELCAC, the very people that are trying to besmirch his name.
At least people are rallying behind the man. The BCPO Chief has put out a statement in support of Magalong, and if the comments are anything to go by, the actual locals of Baguio are in support of their mayor.
I too am in support of this mayor. Specifically on this one matter.
How many times must we repeat it? Say it again, once more with feeling – activism is not a crime. Activism is not communist. Activism is not terrorism.
