By Farah G. Decano   THE Quad Committee of the House of Representatives has so far earned a better reputation than the Senate.  Representatives Jinky Luistro, Rodge Gutierrez, Raoul Manuel, and Paolo Ortega have been receiving praise from Filipino observers because of the firm but calm manner they propound valid…

By Farah G. Decano                   THE absence of a strong political opponent makes elected powerful leaders prone to abusive and corrupt practices.   No one or very few would dare to defy and expose them in order to keep their actions in check.   If someone musters the courage to refuse blind…

By Farah G. Decano   THE law, Republic Act 10121, provides that each local government unit (LGU) must set aside 5 percent of its annual budget to disaster and risk reduction management projects, programs, and activities. Seventy percent of such budget should be for disaster preparedness and 30 percent for…

By Farah G. Decano   WHILE it is true that my family still experiences inundation inside our house despite the almost three feet road elevation in our village, we are thankful nevertheless to Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, the City Government of Dagupan, and the right of way donors because we…

By Farah G. Decano   THE result of the 2022 elections in Dagupan City was a surprise.  No one expected that the brilliant and hardworking Councilor Michael Fernandez would slide from his usual position in the top three down to the last spot for councilors.   We cannot say that Councilor…

By Farah G. Decano   WHEN I first ran for Councilor in 2001, some concerned relatives informed me that this political exercise was also a competition among angkans or clans.   Those who were  “mabuleg” or have a lot of  kin members were more likely to win.   Candidates must not only…

By Farah G. Decano   I cannot help but continue to laugh at this ad hominem attack hurled at me online by a lawyer during the height of the Carlos Yulo family saga. The Olympian publicly faulted his mother of theft.  This co-alumnus of the UP College of Law claimed…

By Farah G. Decano   IN observation of Law Week this September, the Lyceum Northwestern University (L-NU) College of Law was honored to have the online presence of former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio. He spoke on Philippine Island Territories in the West Philippine Sea. Justice Carpio started…

By Farah G. Decano   VICE President Sara Z. Duterte released a video last week clarifying some issues regarding her behaviour during the congressional budget hearing of the Office of the Vice President. In her explanation, VP Sara revealed that the fund hearing was all for show because there were…

By Farah G. Decano             THE House of Representatives (HOR) did not terminate its hearing on the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) despite the matter being set already for the second time around. Afterward, the Lower House came under fire from the Duterte camp because…