The criminal complaint filed by Isidro Manalo and company against some members of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) is well-taken as it will settle once and for all the legality of seizing alleged carnapped vehicles from innocent buyers.

In all their seizures, TMG is invoking a policy, the so-called "standard operating procedure no. 4 if we are not mistaken, to justify their forcible recovery of "hot cars" from its possessors. This is an internal policy which is not binding among citizens who are constitutionally protected from unlawful searches and seizures by government agents unless they are armed with search warrants and warrants of arrest.
Otherwise, any Tom, Dick and Harry who present themselves as government agents can forcibly take personal properties whimsically.

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Whoever peddled the story that a fistfight ensued between some city lawmakers during the regular session of the city council last Wednesday just because of the snacks should be hung in the nearest electric post.

The story does not only undermine the honor and integrity of the duly elected city councilors, but it boils down to the temerity and the gall of the story peddler to concoct an untruthful allegation and in utter disrespect, belittling the members of the 10th Sangguniang Panlungsod.

There are only two possible motives behind the concocted story: sour-graping for not being elected as a city councilor or ill-will, plain and simple.

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In the first place, city councilors cannot have a snack for their own consumption which is chargeable against city funds because they are already receiving a representation and traveling allowances (RATA) of more than P9,000.00 per month.

This is very clear in the existing government accounting and auditing rules. It is just like the prohibition against public officials having a government service vehicle who are also claiming for a traveling allowance every month.

Secondly, even a prudent mind of an ordinary city resident would not believe that city councilors will stoop down from the level of their being "honorables" by having a fistfight over a snack. That is why such story does not merit further amplification in this corner.

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That single line is the US television series "Desperate Housewives" drew an uproar among Filipinos worldwide just like the story about city councilors fighting over their snacks causing a lot of brouhaha in the local media last week.

The line, made by Teri Hatcher's character (Susan) in a scene with her gynecologist who told her that she might be hitting menopause, went like this: "Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines. "

The Philippine embassy in the US filed a diplomatic protest and sought for an apology from the show's producer and scriptwriter of ABC television.

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Not contented with ABC's response, Filipinos worldwide posted an online petition over the Internet.

Kevin Nadal, a Filipino performance artist and activist, capsulized the outrage of Filipino Americans in this wise: "This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful, but is also unfounded, considering the presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the health care industry. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. and passing their U.S.

licensing boards as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant".

He continued by saying that "as Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this type of hateful message is not allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show's producers, the show's actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn't the first time that negative remarks have been made about the Philippines or Filipinos in the past. In recent years, we've heard one too many "dogeater" comments by "comedian" Joan Rivers on the red carpet or in her standup act, and I believe that it is about time that we stand up for ourselves, so that this type of hateful speech never happens again".

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