Luma nang tugtugin ‘yan (that’s an old, worn out refrain).

Her spokesman, Ignacio "Two Tapes" Bunye said Ms. Arroyo "extends her sympathies to the victim’s bereaved family."

Luma na rin.

The police said a task force "was created to look immediately into the motive and identities of the killer and mastermind."

Luma pa rin.

The government would "not allow this criminal act to go unpunished," said presidential adviser Jesus Dureza.

Lalo nang luma.

Each time a journalist and others are killed or abducted, we hear the same refrain. Hopefully, this time it will be different. We’ll see.

***

Arroyo’s legal counsel Sergio Apostol said the Lintuan murder is an isolated case. Where has the poor fellow been all this time?

More than 50 journalists, five this year alone, have been killed in the country since Ms. Arroyo usurped power in 2001. According to the National Union of Journalists, only two suspects have been convicted so far. The rest remain unsolved.

***

The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat party is reportedly scouting for its 2010 presidential bet. It is also supposedly eyeing a possible coalition with the Nacionalista or the Liberal parties.

If Lakas-CMD president Speaker Jose de Venecia is truly serious about his advocacy of a "moral reformation" and if its chairman emeritus ex-President Fidel V. Ramos really meant what he said about his "protection and enhancement of the national interest," they need look no further.

They should draft Pampanga Governor Eddie "Among Ed" Panlilio as the Lakas-CMD standard bearer in 2010.

I am not saying Among Ed is open to such a draft. However, I am confident he will consider it if he is convinced the Lakas leaders genuinely want change and a moral regeneration in politics.

How about the chairperson of Lakas-CMD? Well, it would be good if she could give her imprimatur to the idea. But I doubt if she will. In fact, I doubt if De Venecia and Ramos will buy it either. Panlilio’s brand of politics simply doesn’t suit them.

***

Ms. Arroyo’s minions claim she is not the most corrupt president the country has ever had.

They are right, but only in the sense that her claim to the presidency is questionable at best.

Ms. Arroyo likewise claims that her regime is serious about fighting graft and corruption.

There’s a widespread rumor about a cabinet member acquiring another luxurious yacht recently. This cabinet member reportedly already has two. He is also rumored to own a couple of airplanes.

If she is dead serious about fighting graft and corruption in government, Ms. Arroyo should have this report looked into. What better way to prove her sincerity about eliminating venalities in government than to make an example of one of her cabinet members?

Of course, it is possible this cabinet member doesn’t really own all these luxury items. Maybe he is just a "dummy." All the more reason Arroyo should have this person investigated for that would mean he is not the only one guilty of a possible crime.

***

Earlier in the year, I said there ought to be a law that would limit the number of times presidential appointees could be nominated for confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA), i.e., after having been bypassed three times, they should be rejected with finality by the CA if re-nominated by the chief executive.

It seems no such legislation is needed. Agusan del Sur congressman Rodolfo Plaza, a CA member, said that the body has agreed on a "Strike 2" policy, where a nominee who is bypassed twice starting in 2008 would face rejection the next time the CA takes up his/her appointment.

Plaza said the policy would also apply to colonels, generals, consuls, and ambassadors whose promotions are subject to the Commission’s confirmation.

Cabinet members whose appointments have been bypassed a number of times include Angelo Reyes of Energy, Margarito Teves of Finance, Rolando Andaya Jr. of Budget, Raul Gonzalez of Justice, Nasser Pangandaman of Agrarian Reform, Francisco Duque III of Health, Ronaldo Puno of Interior and Local Government, Hermogenes Ebdane of Public Works and Highways, and Lito Atienza of Environment and Natural Resources..

CA members Sen. Jamby Madrigal and Rep. Joel Villanueva of the party-list group Citizens Battle Against Corruption have said they would oppose the confirmation of Gonzalez. Villanueva also said he would vote against Ebdane whom he accused of heading the most corrupt department.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, on the other hand, vowed she will do everything in her power to block the appointment of Reyes.

It would be interesting to watch how the CA members react to almost certain pressure from Malacañang on this one.

***

In reaction to the decision of the Swedish Government to close its embassy here soon, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said "that the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm will continue to strengthen the bridges of friendship and partnership" between the two countries.

What a feeble reaction!

In case Romulo hasn’t yet heard, strengthening bridges of friendship and partnership is a two-way street. Hello?!

I say again – shut down our embassy in Stockholm, as a cost-cutting measure if you will, but shut it down. We do not want to be treated like a second-class partner by anyone. We can re-open it when Sweden re-opens here.

Meanwhile, our post in Oslo can look after our interests in Sweden.

***

Two weeks ago, an Egyptian national was arrested by police at the Majad Islamic School in Cotabato City. In his room was found an explosive device fashioned from a 60-millimeter mortar round and ball bearings attached to a timing device.

The Egyptian, a cleric from Egypt’s Al-Azhar University in Cairo, is Sheikh Mohammed al-Sayyid Ahmed Mussa. Police had him under surveillance due to intelligence reports that suggested he was planning to detonate the bomb found in his room at an undisclosed place in the city last Christmas day.

As a result of what I’m almost certain must have been insistent and possibly even demanding representation on the part of the Egyptian ambassador, it is reported that Mussa has been freed and is now in the custody of the Egyptian embassy "until all release procedures are completed."

Now, that’s curious – "until all release procedures are completed?" Does it mean Mussa has already been cleared by the police? Are the authorities now saying that the police intelligence reports were faulty? Isn’t that preempting the police? What about our judicial system? Due process?

Since when has it become policy for a foreign national who is arrested on valid grounds, who is not covered by any bilateral agreement or who does not enjoy diplomatic immunity to be freed in the care of his embassy? Surely, we realize that Mussa is now beyond our reach being in the confines of the Egyptian embassy.

I know what Malacañang and the DFA will say – "in the interest of bilateral relations." What, because he is from an influential Islamic country? What about the national interest? What about national pride and dignity? The image we are projecting is that of a patsy, a pushover. Are we?

Remember how the city-state of Singapore caned an erring American citizen despite the persistent and spirited representation of the world’s only superpower? When she hanged one of our nationals despite vigorous representation on our part? That’s what I call protecting the national interest.

***

Today is the 248th day of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

Finally, the Court of Appeals has issued a writ of amparo in the case of Jonas. We hope and pray it will lead to a happy ending in the long search for him.

***

HAPPY NEW YEAR!