RECENT survey results by the two major poll outfits in the country, Social Weather Station (SWS) and Pulse Asia, once again were irreconcilable, with SWS showing that Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte's popularity rating had dropped by 18 fat points --- although that would still be within the "good or very good" category --- and Pulse Asia recording an excellent rating of over 90 percent.

The disparity does nothing but to sow confusion that is deleterious to stability, as governance would suspiciously proceed on false, if not manipulated, premises --- a state of affairs that the sovereign Filipino people certainly do…

Read more: Such jaundiced chutzpah!

By Jose D. Escartin

The moments a government executive has enjoyed his best effectiveness are those when he mobilizes public support for his policies and programs. A corporate executive would have felt also similar enjoyment when his target customers patronize his company’s product and services.

Given the realities of political and corporate world where a political or corporate leader functions, it is to his interest that he has the means for reaching his publics and rallying their opinion. His effectiveness would substantially depend on his ability to generate public support to promote the interests he represents.

Discovering public opinion is…

Read more: Power of Public Opinion

LAST Monday and Tuesday, Malacañang declared the suspension of work in all government offices as well as classes in all levels in both public and private schools nationwide,

The reason for the declaration was the two - day protest and strike actions organized by PISTON against the government’s jeepney modernization program.

PISTON is the leftist organization for the transport sector. It is worth noting non- leftist jeepney transport organizations did not join in the Piston –led strike.

Minimal Effect

The effect of the strike was minimal and certainly not Metro Manila - wide much less nationwide. 

Those of…

Read more: Duterte cracks whip on erring jeepney drivers!

I feel sorry for Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, the man on whose shoulders rests the responsibility of leading the attack against a seemingly soaring crime wave in general, and Pres. Digong Duterte's war on drugs in particular. Yes, there is a "seemingly" soaring crime wave, for in actuality, crimes have appreciably been reduced since Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte became president last year.

So it's just logical to suppose that, without law enforcers, the incidence of crime would rise, chiefly in the hands of drunken and drugged malefactors, not to mention riding-in-tandem vigilantes, terrorists, rebels…

Read more: Bato's Frustrations