Plunder raps vs. Ex-PGMA, et. al. 

BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

 LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life…” (John 3:16, the Holy Bible).

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SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY BRINGS AMERICA TO DESTRUCTION: Need we still wonder why the United States of America is on the brink of bankruptcy and destruction, with the kind of character of one of its senators, Nevada Sen. John Ensign? Admitting he had extramarital affair with one of his campaign staff who was herself married, Ensign insists he did nothing wrong. 

Nothing wrong? Sen. Ensign, whatever happened to two of the Ten Commandments of God which say, “You shall not commit adultery” and “Do not covet thy neighbor’s wife?” (See Exodus 20: 14 and 17, the Bible). 

Ensign and other Americans should be reminded that America was founded on high Biblical and spiritual morality, and that now that many Americans are no longer reading the Bible and obeying God’s commands, they will be destroyed as promised by God the Father (see Deuteronomy 28:15-68) and by Jesus Christ (see Matthew 7:26-27).

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EX-PGMA, ET. AL. MUST BE CHARGED WITH PLUNDER NOW: I maintain that Jose Barredo, who is complaining about his inclusion in the non-bailable plunder charge filed by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan against former Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo and Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, should really be part of the case, in view of his own admission about his participation in the P728 million agriculture fund scam.

But, with his affidavit on April 19, 2011, the Ombudsman is now in duty-bound to include in the plunder charges former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her relatives and former officials, on the theory that they are the so-called “Jane Does and John Does” included in the charge sheet who were not previously identified.

With Barredo’s affidavit which named these “Jane Does and John Does”, the liability of Arroyo and her officials has become clear, even without a new preliminary investigation being conducted all over again.

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SMALL BUT SINCERE FAITH, GREAT REWARDS: Just how much faith do we need to receive the promises of God? Only a faith as big---or as small---as a mustard seed. With this big---or small---faith, we can move mountains, cast out demons, and perform miracles.

“… I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed,” Jesus said in Matthew 17: 20, anyone can tell any mountain to move from here to there and it will move. “Nothing will be impossible for you,” Jesus said.

This promise was made by Him in connection in the story of the boy who was suffering from seizures which hurt him greatly because he often fell into the fire or into the water, and whom Jesus’ disciples failed to cure. So the boy was brought to Jesus, and he was healed. Jesus then told His disciples that all they needed was a faith as small as a mustard seed.

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Plunder vs. Ex-PGMA, et. al. 

INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “… Gayon na lamang ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa sanlibutan, kaya ibinigay Niya ang Kanyang bugtong na Anak, upang sinuman ang sumampalataya sa Kanya ay di mapapahamak, kundi magkakaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan…” (Juan 3:16, Bibliya).

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KAWALAN NG ESPIRITUWALIDAD, WAWASAK SA AMERIKA: Dapat ba tayong magtaka kung bakit nawawasak na ang Estados Unidos, sa uri ng karakter ng isa sa kanyang mga senador, si Nevada Sen. John Ensign? Bagamat umamin siyang nagka-relasyon sa isang babaeng may asawa na din, ipinagpipilitan niyang wala siyang kasalanan.

Walang kasalanan? Sen. Ensign, ano ba ang nakasaad dalawa sa Sampung Utos ng Diyos na nagsasabing, “Huwag kang makikiapid” at “Huwang mong pagnanasaan ang asawa ng iyong kapwa”? (Exodo 20:14 at 17, Bibliya).

Dapat mapaalalahanan si Ensign at iba pang mga Amerikano na ang Amerika ay itinatag batay sa moralidad sa Bibliya at espirituwalidad, at ngayong marami na ang di nagbabasa ng Bibliya at di sumusunod sa utos ng Diyos, siguradong wawasakin sila,  gaya ng ipinangako ng Diyos Ama (Deuteronomio 28:15-68) at ni Jesus (Mateo 7:26-27).

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EX-PGMA, ET. AL. DAPAT NG ISAMA SA KASONG PLUNDER: Tama pa din sa akin na dapat kasama si Jose Barredo sa plunder case ukol sa P728 million agriculture fund scam na isinampa ng Ombudsman sa Sandiganbayan laban kina dating Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo at Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, sa kabila ng kanyang reklamo, sapagkat inamin niya mismo na kasama siya sa nasabing krimen.

Pero, sa kanyang salaysay noong Abril 19, 2011, may tungkulin na ang Ombudsman na isama sa plunder case sina dating Pangulo at ngayon ay Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at ang kanyang mga kamag-anak at mga opisyales, sa teoryang sila ang mga “Jane Does at John Does” na nakabanggit sa demanda bagamat di pa pinangangalanan.

Sa salaysay ni Barredo, maituturing na ang mga “Jane Does at John Does” na ito ay nakakasakop kina Arroyo at ng kanyang mga kasama, kaya naman dapat na silang isama kahit di na magsagawa pa ng bagong preliminary investigation.

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MALIIT NGUNIT SINSERONG PANANAMPALATAYA, MALAKING GANTIMPALA:  Gaano kalaki---o kaliit---ba ang pananampalatayang kailangan upang matanggap natin ang mga pangako ng Diyos? Tanging pananampalatayang sinlaki---o sinliit lamang---ng buto ng mustasa. Sa ganito kalaki o kaliit na pananampalataya, maaari nating mapakilos ang mga bundok, makapag-paalis ng demonyo at makagawa ng mga milagro.

“…Sinasabi ko sa inyo, kung mayroon kayong pananampalatayang sinlaki lamang ng isang buto ng mustasa,” ayon kay Jesus sa Mateo 17:20, sinuman sa inyo ay makakapag-utos sa anumang bundok na kumilos at ito ay susunod. “Walang magiging imposible sa inyo,” dagdag ni Jesus.

Ibinigay ni Jesus ang pangakong ito kaugnay sa kuwento ng isang batang lalaking may sakit, na napipinsala pag bumabagsak siya sa apoy o tubig, at hindi magamot-gamot ng mga disipulo ni Jesus. Dinala ang bata kay Jesus, at ito ay gumaling. Tapos, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad na ang kailangan lamang nila ay pananampalatayang sinlaki lamang ng buto ng mustasa.