Young Roots
Rules are rules
By Johanne Margarette R. Macob
FROM the largest governing bodies to the smallest entities, there are rules. The Philippine government has its Constitution providing all this state’s laws and provisions. Sports and games have rules. Even relationships or thy self have rules. Rules that are ought to be honored, followed.
One of the issues in the country today pertains to that of Senator Grace Poe’s circumstances in relation to her possible presidency in 2016. Questions have been raised about her citizenship and how and when she acquired her American citizenship, that could possibly indicate that she would not meet the 10-year residency requirement.
Article 7, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution rules, “No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election.”
Apparently, the qualifications for a President are clear enough and Sen. Poe herself, given her above average intelligence, knows too well if she is, indeed, qualified to run or not.
Then there was the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight last month. Over 30 lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. claiming that Pacman should’ve disclosed his shoulder injury before the fight. When he was asked if he had any injuries, Pacquiao said ‘no’ and even his signed medical questionnaire tells so. Has Pacquiao broken any rules? That we have yet to find out. Cases are pending.
In the local scene alone, an ‘elected’ Liga ng mga Barangay (LB) president wasn’t allowed to serve because his election has violated certain provisions. Barangay Balogo Chairman Douglas Delos Angeles won as Binmaley LB president in the election held on November 9, 2013 but his election was deemed unlawful since there was no authority who should’ve called for such election. When the national executive board ordered another election, Delos Angeles again won. But if the rules had been observed in the first place, then he could’ve served his full term.
Personally, I, too, have one unforgettable experience about rules. I was taking an exam. The exam’s rule or instruction said, “write T if the statement is true, write F is the statement is false.” I didn’t know what had gotten in me that instead of writing T, I wrote True; instead of F, I wrote False. My answers should’ve been right if only I was able to follow the instruction. But crazy, careless me.
Rules are highly important. They may warrant one’s destiny and have consequences. Sen. Poe may miss her chance of possible presidency. Pacquiao may lose significant amount for damages, perhaps. Delos Angeles already lost over 60% of his term as LB municipal federation president. And I flunked an exam for the first time in my life. These cases, and more, only show why we have rules in the first place. Again, for them to be observed and followed, for an orderly set.
But, as I came to this part of article I’m writing, I couldn’t keep myself from thinking, what happened to the PNP rules on appointment of its officials, particularly for the provincial director post for Pangasinan? Sudden replacement of OICs, no permanent PD for years- I’m sure these aren’t in the rules. Please follow rules, too, Sir! Rules are rules.
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