While I was up well before dawn today and tracking the news as I have since I was 13, I was ruminating about what to write about to close the week given the 24-hour-old kidnapping of 3 humanitarian worker in Sulu by the seemingly indestructible Abu Sayyaf despite repeated government assertions about its decimation.
But here at FilipinoVoices.com has come an ‘announcement’ from a chest-thumping entity who is supposedly a ‘ranking’ Malacanang legal eagle.
The entity seems to have his dander up over this writer’s warning about what the self-enthronement of GMA as anti drug trafficking Czarina could lead to.
But what do you know the post has elicited what appears to be the most categorical declaration that Mrs. Arroyo will “never” resort to 1-man rule to cling to power beyond 2010?
If true, this is cause for national rejoicing marked by high masses and street dancing!
But you may recall an earlier assertion by that Malacang functionary that they do not intend a 10-year-extension of GMA’s term,
The commenter later own backtracked to say he was only expressing his own “aspiration.”
Now if by his new ‘announcement’ we are assured that democracy is indeed not under threat, then we can all sleep soundly.
But don’t hold your breath.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Blogging and the anecdotal joke that anyone might just be talking to a dog – I wish to know – if it does apply here?
You were a journalist since you’re 13?
How come you are feeding the readers with wrong information and yet you do not correct the. Journalists are supposed to check on the veracity of what they are reporting especially if it is an information that is important for public consumption re: drug testing.
Arrogant or just plain person-who-does-not-want-to be-corrected?
All I was asking for was the source of the news.
“Crrectd”?
You know me you assume. You have my admiration given your ‘apparent’ stature.
Did I assert anywhere in my post that specific public schools were mentioned?
What you fail or refuse to understand is that public schools nationwide are intended for random drug testing with students there left no alternative.
Note how private schools where the paying students are not, and cannot, be forced by the government to be covered by the Czarina’s edict.
Enjoy the weekend.
Erratum : “Corrected”?
Ding,
I think someone in this blog had already posited the issue of GMA’s enigma over her intention to extend her term was just an attempt to keep the people around her treat her like a queen still and not a soon would be has-been so she can govern her last years in office with a modicum of sanity and order. Early in her 2 year term, you could see a lot of jockeying and jostling even among her surrogates had she been clear about it.
I myself do not believe that she would seek the office after 2010.
You approached her latest pronouncement with open-mouth disbelief for all along you have created a strawman of her intention to stay in power. You had been seeing a ghost and telling everyone about it that when someone told you there was none, you are flustered in disbelief for it could not be that the veteran Ding could be hallucinating.
Please do not feed your readers with less than forthright information. You should have been discriminating and analytical of how all these political mumbo-jumboo are being spun out.
Ding,
You are saying that your post has elicited from PGMA that assurance nay declaration that he will not resort to a one man rule nor cling to power beyond 2010?
When do you want us to say bravo!?
Enough. Descend from your Ivory Towers, that could just have been built on sand! Forgive me but I think it’s just been habit forming. Others have allergies as well.
Thank you for the response. That statement where the private schools can not be pressured to have their students undergo drug testing which I have been looking for. My nephews are in private schools and I wanted them tested. It is not because I suspect that they are using drugs.
But to be frank, drug testing is expensive. The government according to the Dangerous Drugs Law should shoulder the test.
The intent is more preventative than punitive.
Who is a parent who would not welcome this test?
Cat,
Who is a parent who would not welcome this test?
I think it is a rhetorical question. Parents who are themselves in crack would not welcome this test! :)
Don’t be too quick to volunteer your kids to drug-testing. Better be sure the test is on hair-sample, not on blood sample. Reason — dirty syringes spread HIV.
Also remember these 2 words —- false positive. The false-positive they flag may be your son or your brother’s daughter. We have a good idea what Ding may do if his daughter gets flagged because they associated with his daughter the sample taken from the principal’s niece. I swear about 9 months ago, I saw some comments (on MSM, not blogthreads) that the drug-test-thing has potential for shakedowns/extortions.
Internet to the rescue!!!! A few Pinoy kids do have access to the internet and information on Urine Luck version 6.3, Stealth, Clean-X, Krystal Kleen…. or that drinking 1 to 2 liters of water can successfully dilute the concentration of drug metabolites in their urine below detectable thresholds without risking detection, especially if the tests are done by non-medical personnel.
And if your son tested positive but you swear on a stack of Bibles that he really is sweet, honest, dependable and clean, then say three-hail-mary’s that the authorities listen to the items in the paragraphs below:
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Drug Test Interaction With Medicines And Foods
Be aware that certain foods and over-the-counter medications can cause you to test “positive” for various kinds of drugs.
* Poppy seeds, for example, can show up on a drug test as morphine.
* Cold remedies that contain codeine can also cause a positive result for morphine.
* Valium reportedly can produce erroneous indications of PCP (Phencyclidine), and other cold remedies can apparently produce false reports of methamphetamine usage.
* Dextromethorphan can produce a falsely positive qualitative urine opiate screening. (If you don’t know what dextromethorpan is, you have a serious problem.)
* The widespread availability of hemp-containing products, including everything from hemp-seed oil nutritional supplements to hemp-seed candy, cookies, cheese, bread, cooking oil, and general seasoning, means that ingesting ANY of these products could potentially cause a false positive result on a test for marijuana.
* Ibuprofen can make a positive result for marijauna. [If you don't know what ibuprofen is, you have a problem.] The EMIT test (an immunoassay test) has therefore been changed to use a different enzyme to eliminate false positives due to Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in very high doses will still interfere with both the EMIT and the GC/MS (Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer) test. Ibuprofen: Ibuprofen is a common pain reliever that (even in low dosages) used to cause a false THC positive on the EMIT test. The EMIT has been changed to use a different enzyme to eliminate false positives due to Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in very high doses will still interfere with both the EMIT and the GC/MS. There is some conflicting data here because some sources say that the GC/MS tests can distinguish between Ibuprofen and THC (as well as other over-the-counter drugs).
* Common over the counter cold, asthma, and allergy remedies and diet pills such as Diatec, Dexatrim, Cotylenol, Triaminic, Primatene, Bronkotabs, and Nyquil can show up as positive for amphetamines.
* Vicks Formula-44, Demerol, Mydol, Primatene-M and common prescription antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofanil can show up as positive for opiates such as opium and heroin.
* Ephedra, also known as Ephedra Alkaloids or ‘MaHuang Extract’ has a chemical structure which is closely related to amphetamine, and can reportedly give a false positive for amphetamines. Often sold as an ‘energy pill’ it is an effective decongestant in low doses.
* Valerian root is reported to cause false positives for benzodiazepines. Other herbal supplements such as Kava Kava and St Johns Wort may also affect body chemistry such that false positives are produced.
* Zoloft is reported to cause false positives in urine screens, although for what specific substance isn’t clear.
* Primatene can also show up as positive for barbiturates, and Benadryl can show up positive for Methadone.
* Some additional over the counter medicines that may cause various kinds of drug test interactions include Alka-Seltzer plus, Allerest, Bronkaid, Contac, Donnagel, Sinuntab, and Sudafed.
—————–
And would you know if you should you take a drug-test in the morning? before lunch? after lunch? after merienda? will taking a beer to calm the nerves help?
Atty. Camano,
Your “You had been seeing a ghost and telling everyone about it that when someone told you there was none, you are flustered in disbelief for it could not be that the veteran Ding could be hallucinating.
Please do not feed your readers with less than forthright information. You should have been discriminating and analytical of how all these political mumbo-jumboo are being spun out.”
Most respectfully, you comment may sound accusatory and below your esteemed standing as a ‘legal eagle’.
But my sources are in Manila and not in the most exhilirating air air of California.
I stand by my post.
I will shortl update you re the “reaxamination” of the incumbent’s plans given the public reactions to the trial balloons circulating in Manila.
Be assured that THERE IS NOTHING I WANT MORE THAN TO BE PROVEN WRONG SO LONG AS GMA DOES NOT BREAK HER PRESUMED WORD OF HONOR TO STEP DOWN IN 2010.
But as you may know, ~I will not just yet hold my breath.
I hope they allow you to resume your law practice in the Cit of Angels soon, Sir.
ding, what will you do if you were proven wrong, dedma na lang? meantime, you make a lot of gullible people lose sleep, for what?
Atty. Ben,
You can take this as me going on record that if i am “wrong” I will join you and the other defenders of GMA and in hailing the ‘majesty’ of her ‘statesmanship and adherence to the rule of law, along with her readiness to face the music for what history has in store for her after 2010.
BTW, you are saying “people are losing sleep”? Nah, that’s unproductive as even you will admit.
Which inaugural ball did you go to, BTW?