Fire Private Lawyers

Fire private lawyers.  This was the advice given by SolGen Devanadera to OIC Nario of PCGG on account of the “inefficient and uncooperative” private lawyers retained by the latter to pursue ill-gotten wealth cases against the Marcoses and their cronies.

Sounds like a good advice right? Only if OSG also fires its “inefficient and uncooperative” lawyers who collect huge retainer fees from government agencies despite doing nothing. 

Most government agencies (except the OSG of course) would admit their OSG lawyer (in some agencies it’s “lawyers”) rarely gives due attention to their cases.  This is precisely the reason why government agencies hire private lawyers who are willing to at least do something with their pending cases. 

So doesn’t that solve the problem?  Not really. Government agencies can’t hire private lawyers without the approval of OSG and COA. However, OSG can approve hiring of private lawyers if it admits that it does not have enough lawyers to handle the cases of the requesting government agency. Now, can you honestly believe they will admit to such fact? Moreso when “[t]here is now a sufficient number of OSG lawyers to actively prosecute ill-gotten wealth cases instituted by the PCGG in the Sandiganbayan”.

Yeah right! I may agree with the claim on sufficiency of OSG lawyers, but not on the claim that they will actively prosecute cases, unless maybe when the case involves wide media attention.

 

Source:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=175996

12 Mental Exercises to a Keener and More Flexible Mind

Saw this at Yahoo. Followed the link, and read a bit of it. I intend to read it later… when I’m not as busy. So I thought of blogging it just so I won’t forget.  Now I think I really have to get on it as soon as possible.

In case curiosity gets the best of you and would want to know and try it out, here are the 12 exercises (without their deeper explanation):

1. Spend an hour each day without saying anything except in answer to direct questions, in the midst of the usual group, without creating the impression that you’re sulking or ill. Be as ordinary as possible. But do not volunteer remarks or try to draw out information.
2. Think for 30 minutes a day about one subject exclusively. Start with five minutes.
3. Write a letter without using the words I, me, mine, my.
4. Talk for 15 minutes a day without using I, me, my, mine.
5. Write a letter in a “successful” or placid tone. No misstatements, no lying. Look for aspects or activities that can be honestly reported that way.
6. Pause on the threshold of any crowded room and size it up.
7. Keep a new acquaintance talking about himself or herself without allowing him to become conscious of it. Turn back any courteous reciprocal questions in a way that your auditor doesn’t feel rebuffed.
8. Talk exclusively about yourself and your interests without complaining, boasting, or boring your companions.
9. Cut “I mean” or “As a matter of fact” or any other verbal mannerism out of your conversation.
10. Plan two hours of a day and stick to the plan.
11. Set yourself twelve tasks at random: e.g., go twenty miles from home using ordinary conveyance; go 12 hours without food; go eat a meal in the unlikeliest place you can find; say nothing all day except in answer to questions; stay up all night and work.
12. From time to time, give yourself a day when you answer “yes” to any reasonable request.

 

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gretchen-rubin/12-surprising-and-product_b_147769.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4710154/Dorothea-Brande-Wake-Up-and-Live