Lawyers based in UP Diliman & Tacloban are sponsoring one generator set to light one barangay in Tacloban: please join us
From Atty. Owens Disini: (Background of this FB message: Atty. Patrick V. Santo lost his father, Atty. Papiano Santo, in the aftermath of super-typhoon Yolanda. Atty. Patrick V. Santo and Atty. Torks Buban hail from Tacloban and are well-known private practitioners . Atty. Owens Disini is the chief legal officer of U.P. Open University, Atty. Ana Bernad is the deputy general counsel for corporate affairs of U.P.. We’re doing this in our private capacity as friends of Atty. Patrick Santo. Here we are when we were with the U.P. Diliman Legal Office:
Here’s the FB message from Atty. Owens Disini) “Dear classmates, Patrick Santo wants to thank everyone for the kind words and condolences he received for his Tatay Paping. He texted me today his account number in Tacloban. For those who wish to send their “abuloy”, it is BPI, J. Romuladez – Tacloban City Branch, Savings Account No. 1126-0191-33. However, an alternative that he suggested is for us to contribute to buy a generator set that he can use and share with his ka-baranggay. Patrick said he just needs the most basic and standard generator (maybe at least 2 hours). He said we can give it to Torks (Atty. Torks Buban) who may have a way of bringing it to Tacloban. So far, I have collected Php23,000 from Eddie V., Lindy and from me & JJ. I need your suggestions on this, please. Thanks.”
Please join us.
Mommy (Lydia C. Lambino, Los Angeles, California) sent her support with condolences and encouragement today , c/o Atty. Ana Bernad (i dropped by the 3rd floor office).
Please join us in lighting one barangay in Tacloban with one generator set. Thanks.
The President in his visit to Guiuan, Eastern Samar yesterday praised his allies, the Guiuan local government officials, and took another swipe (in the form of innuendoes) against the LGU officials of Tacloban. Here is what he said (English translation by the Inquirer, which is accurate):
“ “Whoever is prepared, he will receive [help] first,” he said, claiming the national government still lacked enough “data” on the relief and rehabilitation needs in other areas.
“ “We need not talk, only act,” he said.
“The President insisted local government units were supposed to be the “first responders” in a calamity.
“ “The national government will come but you expect the local government to take care of everything. Then if more is needed, we will fill in,” he said.
“ “But if they haven’t started anything, we will do it. But we are still on our way,” he added.
“ “Where will you send the troops? Where will you send the medicines? You will need all these information.” “
The legal aspect of this is: Those donations were sent to the government IN TRUST for the benefit of the victims. In civil law, this means that the government does not own those donations and is not authorized to arrogate unto itself the authority to give them to whoever it thinks is “handa” or prepared to receive the donations. Who will determine who is “handa” or prepared? The President? Mar Roxas? The Liberal Party? What does “handa” or prepared mean? If the local mayor cannot give a definite answer to certain questions to the satisfaction of the President, does that mean that, that LGU is not “handa” or not prepared? Therefore, most of the donations will go to the “ready” officials?
These donations were given when many donors were moved by images of the dying, the injured, the devastated, in Tacloban, Ormoc, and other areas. Who is the President to say he will choose which ones will get the donations first?
I’m sure PNoy did not mean it.
I hope he meant it simply as a gentle reminder. Like… when I try to jolt my lazy students, I tell them: “if you don’t present your report today as scheduled, I will flunk you. Drop my class.” (in my “student evaluation of teaching” many students say”, : “strict but fair”. I will take that any day of the week. My ambition is to be a terror teacher.)
I’m sure that the President would be fair.
If not – there are criminal provisions applicable: Criminal complaints can be filed If the donations are not given to those who need them most.
