A blunder of the first magnitude. Better just to forget all about it.

***

GMA dissolves peace panel negotiating with the MILF. Malacañang will create a new panel that will deal directly with the Muslim communities.

Who appointed the MILF to talk for them?

***

Senator Ping Lacson says members of the disbanded panel should not be appointed to the new panel to be created by the Palace.

His suggestion makes good sense.

***

The peace talks with the MILF has been ongoing for 11 years. Now the whole thing has gone up in smoke. It’s back to square one for the negotiators.

***

There is a strange ring to the newspaper ad placed last week by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. In that ad, the IBP is urging Court of Appeals justices who have been linked to an alleged bribery scandal in the GSIS-Meralco case to resign "out of delicadeza."

The IBP pointed out that "the resignation is a necessary sacrifice that needs to be made by those whose names have been dragged into the scandal. The lawyers group added that justices have to quit "out of ultimate concern to salvage what is left of the integrity of the CA as an important national institution."

***

At first blush, the IBP’s call sounds commendable and worthy of support of people like us who are shocked by the improprieties of some justices in the second highest court of the land.

But upon close scrutiny, one somehow cannot help but wonder whether, wittingly or unwittingly, the IBP has become part of a plan to stop the scandal from reaching President Arroyo’s feet.

The investigation into the scandal, being conducted by a Supreme Court-appointed panel, has invited witnesses who confirmed interference by the President’s top officials in the GSIS-Meralco case.

***

Senate President Manny Villar announces that he is running for president in 2010.

Watch out for four others with the same thing in mind.

***

Head of Intramuros Administration is under fire for authorizing the cutting of 29 old trees in front of the Manila Cathedral.

How can you be so insensitive?

***

Supreme Court rules that Secretary Neri was within his rights when he invoked executive privilege in refusing to appear at Senate investigation.

Senate has become inutile.

***

Senators call the Supreme Court decision terrible, erroneous and unreasonable.

***

The Organization of Islamic Conference and the business sector of Mindanao are very keen about resuming the peace negotiations.

The government leadership is also of the same frame of mind but everything is on hold for now.

***

The government has not let up on its manhunt for the MILF rogue commanders who launched those unauthorized attacks in Lanao and Cotabato that resulted in the death of dozens of soldiers and civilians.

They must not be allowed to go unpunished.

***

Civilians in Mindanao have gone on a rampage to arm themselves. The most worrisome is the emergence of the Ilaga, an armed Christian group that waged war against the MILF some years back.

***

Noli de Castro has rejected an offer of the Lakas to join the party and become one of the possible presidential bets.

He is weighing his options. Maybe he will listen to Speaker Joe de Venecia’s offer to join Lakas.

***

12,000 foreign domestics, including Filipinos, escaped from their employers in Malaysia last year.

What’s going on there?

***

Overseas Filipino workers are joining the clamor against a move to require psychiatric tests for workers going abroad.

It’s a big put-down for our humble working class. They should drop the idea.

***

After months and months of probing the sinking of the Princess of the Stars in Romblon, the government has yet to take against Sulpicio Lines for its culpability.

The Board of Marine Inquiry wants its franchise suspended.