Cold-blooded murder. That’s how my contemporary in media, Percy Lapid, of “Lapid Fire” commentary fame in radio broadcast, was handed his end of days on earth.
Regardless of what police investigators dig up in their investigation, the killing of Percy (real name: Percival Mabasa, brother of another friend of mine, reporter Roy Mabasa) is a direct attack on media – the nation’s Fourth Estate.
Knowing Percy’s tough, direct, sometimes harsh, and uncompromising commentary, many who are on the wrong side of law and order – especially government officials who manifest themselves as untouchables – are suspect.
Authorities of this administration are given notice. Percy is one of ours. Media will not stop pushing until his murder is solved, his killers put behind bars, and the very things he set out to expose as ills of this government are set right.
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In my last column, I quoted a betting website that placed the statistical odds of hitting the winning number combination for a Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot at one in 28,989,675. By stating that, I thought I had highlighted the statistical absurdity of 433 bettors winning the same draw.
A leading research firm put me to school the next day. According to OCTA Research, the probability of 433 people betting on the same number combination in the same draw is actually “1 out of 1, followed by 1,224 zeroes.”
Chew on that, PCSO!
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What’s wrong with the President, his son, his son’s girlfriend, and his cousin flying off to Singapore to watch the Formula One World Championship?
Mr. President, just say you did. Enough with the sugar-coated reasons and cover-up justifications. The Grand Prix was simply a great way to spend the weekend. YOLO, right?
Just don’t spend P1.76 million of our money to gas up the presidential jet to do it.
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In my 40 years in media, I could not recall the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) being tasked to submit a full report on spreading STDs or sexually transmitted diseases. Yes, its agents had swooped down on prostitution dens but never monitored who gave herpes to who or even how HIV spread to Tom, Dick, and Harry.
Now, the Justice Department has given the NBI that assignment because foreigners working for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country are spreading dirty, sickening sex! And guess what – in this case, it doesn’t matter whether POGOs involved are legal or illegal.
I’ll say it again: POGOs need to go!
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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email [email protected] or tweet @Side_View. Read current and past issues of this column at http://www.tempo.com.ph/category/opinion/firing-line/
