By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

 I USED to think that only the lazy, irresponsible writers and journalists can be guilty of the crime of plagiarism. (Of course, it’s rampant among lazy students especially with the onset of technology and those discovered were promptly failed).

I was perhaps naïve to believe that no lawmakers worth their public standing would even think of plagiarizing the work of their own colleagues. Well, the 7epaLiFes proved me wrong and did the unthinkable!

We heard the 7epaLiFes try to defend and justify their obstructionism as fiscalizing, a legitimate process in lawmaking. In my book, it’s a defense of the despicable and tyrannical politicians. But I leave that to their constituents to discern that.

But to commit plagiarism with impunity, stealing the credit and authorship unabashedly in front of those whom they  have deprived of proper credit and attribution, can only be done by individuals bereft of moral integrity, self-respect and honor.

But having seen them again how they reacted to their being described as irreverent, arrogant with slanderous mindset and language, I’m certain they couldn’t care less if they are tagged as “individuals bereft of moral integrity, self-respect and honor.”

That’s par for the course for them, except for one thing. They committed a crime punishable by law this time.

Plagiarizing is a crime punishable under the Philippines’ Penal Code. Section 217 of R.A. 8293!

It provides that “Any person infringing any right secured by provisions of Part IV of this act or aiding or abetting such infringement shall be guilty of a crime punishable by a) Imprisonment of 1–3 years plus fine of P50,000 to P150,000 for the first offense.  b) Imprisonment of 3 years and 1 day to 6 days plus fines from P150,000 to P500,000 for the second offense.

Thanks to Councilors Michael Fernandez and Jig Seen. They went on record to expose the acts of plagiarism of the 7 councilors (Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Red Erfe-Mejia, Celia Chua-Lim, Irene Lim-Acosta, Alfie Fernandez, Alvin Coquia, and Marilou Fernandez).

The 7epaLiFes submitted a draft ordinance they claimed to be authored by them when in fact, their draft ordinance was from the draft earlier submitted by Councilors Fernandez, Jigs Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Bradley Benavides as original authors to the standing committees manned exclusively by the 7epaLiFes. Not a word was changed to make it their own.

 Note: The approval of the that ordinance with the participation of the minority bloc does not remove the 7epaLiFes’ commission of the crime.

But exposing the 7epaLiFes as plagiarists is not enough to make them accountable for the crime they committed.  The minority bloc must file cases of plagiarism against the 7epaLiFes since as Minority Leader Councilor Fernandez revealed, since the submitted draft ordinance last Tuesday was not the first time that the 7epaLiFes grabbed authorship of draft ordinances they submitted to the committees.

Not even a public apology should be accepted for they have demeaned and cast aspersion on the integrity of the sanggunian as an institution.

However, If the minority bloc whose rights were infringed by the 7epaLiFes’ habit of claiming authorships, again hesitate and do not file the appropriated charges vs. the 7epaLiFes, Councilor Michael Fernandez and his group cannot also escape culpability if plagiarizing continues in the Dagupan sanggunian.

Here’s what I have to say to the minority bloc – “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

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ADVOCATE VS GAMBLING. There is one senator in the country today who’s been consistently at the frontlines opposing gambling, particularly online gambling that included POGO, that’s Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.  (Let’s hope Sen. Ping Lacson is restored in 2025, that will make two again in the senate).

 Before President BBM ordered the ban on POGO, Cayetano already reiterated his call to the national government two days earlier to halt all forms of online gambling that have mushroomed since e-sabong was allowed by law.

 Cayetano was already outspoken even as House Speaker against all forms of gambling.

 Two years ago, Cayetano filed the Anti-Online Gambling Act (Senate Bill No. 63) to prohibit gambling activities on the internet and impose penalties on online wagering and betting. Will his colleagues heed his call?

 “To this date, the city of Taguig did not allow any POGO operations. It’s because, now, it’s just like legal gaming forms – pero parating may unintended consequences yan,” he said.

 In a media interview, Cayetano said his opposition to POGOs is grounded on both economic and moral reasons, arguing that the negative social impact of POGOs far outweighs any supposed economic benefits.

 When PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) justified and argued for POGO for expected billions in revenues, Cayetano asked: “Magkano ginagastos natin sa peace and order. Magkano ba yung nawawala sa scams o panloloko?”

 Cayetano cited growing concerns over impact of online gambling on Filipinos and the generations to come. “Ano ba yung tinatanim natin sa next generation? Wala pa akong country na nakikita [na tumatangkilik] sa mga online gaming na talagang umunlad,” he intoned.
Expect him to do his anti-gambling armor if Pagcor thinks it can substitute POGO with Internet Gaming License.

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POGO GENERALS. Expect illegal POGOs to mushroom like illegal drugs, after Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco said “Illegal POGOs outside our jurisdiction.”

By that statement, with or without a direct order from PBBM to arrest all suspected operators of illegal POGO, the politicians and law enforcers protecting the illegal POGO operations will be looking forward to more and higher pay-offs.

Expect more cover-ups and collusions between and among police generals involved in illegal POGOs. We’ve seen this during PNoy administration when narco-generals protected the illegal drug syndicates. These narco generals naturally became the target of the Duterte administration’s drug war.

Will PBBM go hammer and tong against POGO-generals? Hmmm….so far, he has not arrested and jailed a single rice hoarder, illegal rice importer responsible for the sudden surge of prices of rice after he was elected.
So, I seriously doubt he will although I know he can if legacy means anything to him.

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