TODAY is Philippine Independence Day. Long Live the Philippines!

After a prolonged wait of almost four years, the Commission on Appointments (CA) finally gave me a passing grade on June 4, to which I suspect that the Holy Spirit had come to bless me that memorable day. I was very thankful for the surprisingly lighthearted endorsements that opposition senators offered me in an unsolicited gesture of goodwill and statesmanship.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said in his endorsement that he admired my tenacity and dedication for hard work, even if we had disagreed on a number of things in the past. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada hoped for a good and fulfilling life for me in my senior years, to which I am most grateful. I was deeply touched by the friendship and kind words of Senator Ponce Enrile, of Senator Santiago, of Senator Gordon and all the other members of the commission. To the congressmen who rooted for me, my former colleagues in the House, I will always treasure your friendship and support. To all those who supported me, who prayed for my confirmation, including my staff, the officers and employees of the Department of Justice, thank you all. I am most grateful.

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In yesterday’s session of the Senate, my appointment as secretary of justice, which was confirmed by the CA on Wednesday, was finally approved by the plenary, finalizing the democratic process as mandated by the Constitution. In a manner of sorts, this, too, is my Independence Day.

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For the first time since 1992, an oil-field development project in the country will start to deliver the precious mineral in the Galoc oil field. Its estimated daily output will be at around 17,000 to 20,000 barrels of premium oil, comparable to the Dubai sweet crude, up to December this year. The reserves, estimated at between 10 million and 20 million barrels of premium oil, will generate some $1.4 billion in foreign-exchange savings in its two-year life span.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Oil Co.-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC) is intent on developing the Camago-Malampaya oil leg in its bid to boost the efforts of the government to bring down oil and power rates. The PNOC-EC is talking with contractors for possible tie-ups, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to jump-start its mobilization. All these concentrated efforts are designed to find ways to tap local fuel and power sources to lower oil and power rates. There are other similar programs which the government is pursuing, and this is merely to demonstrate how serious the President is in extricating the country from the mercy of oil-producing countries and from the nagging power problem. This time, we are looking for long-term solutions, from which generations after ours will continue to benefit.

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Even as we write, media practitioner Cecilia “Ces” Drilon of the ABS-CBN group is still being held captive by Abu Sayyaf bandits, together with her cameramen. The Abu Sayyaf unit led by Albader Parad had lowered the ransom demand to P10 million “billeting fees,” and this only goes to show how expensive it is to deal with the Abu Sayyaf. Whoever may be the kidnap victims, the government is always under pressure to effect the release of the victims and the capture of the perpetrators. Nevertheless, it is the duty of all citizens to provide government agencies with information as to the location and identifies of the kidnappers. This is also a warning to other eager journalists to weigh their options and evaluate the risks before plunging deep into unknown territory for the sake of a byline. There are other ways to get a story, uncorrupted and unedited. To hope to present only one side of a story is unfair to other parties, and it might result in uncomfortable situations. Be wary, be careful.

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Good news to all Manila Electric Co. customers: There will be a projected P0.64 per kilowatt-hour reduction in your monthly bill this year, to which the President has given her support, and which will soon be realized for the consumers’ benefit. This is just the start of something more lasting. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. But let s not forget the overcharging, the trust deposits, the projected refunds, the transparency that customers and stockholders demand. One good news does not offset other issues.

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