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THE PROS AND CONS OF THE CAVITE–BATAAN INTERLINK BRIDGE ISSUE Without taking sides, let’s look at the Cavite–Bataan Interlink Bridge (CBIB) from both angles — the good and the bad — and let’s make one thing clear from the start: whichever side wins, the environment should not be the loser . Nor should national security or national pride . Because what is the point of faster travel if we lose the rich marine life of Manila Bay? And what is the value of a modern bridge if it becomes a symbol of compromised sovereignty? The Promise: A Bridge to Progress On paper, the CBIB is a dream project — 32.15 kilometers long, connecting Mariveles in Bataan to Naic in Cavite, slashing travel time from five hours to just an hour and a half. It’s part of the government’s “Build Better More” program, envisioned to decongest Metro Manila and spread economic activity across Central Luzon and CALABARZON. The Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have both backed it, ca...

PLASTIC-EATING ENZYMES, ANYONE? Just when I thought we were losing the war against plastic waste, science once again shows up like a hero in a lab coat — introducing “plastic-eating enzymes.” Believe it or not, these microscopic allies could become our most effective army yet — countless invisible warriors working quietly to digest our garbage. No, I’m not talking about people, but about enzymes — biological catalysts that can break down even the most stubborn plastics. They don’t demand salaries, don’t go on strike, and don’t complain about overtime. And yet, they could do what billions in infrastructure spending have failed to do: clean up our plastic mess. Science to the Rescue — Again Around the world, scientists are discovering bacteria, fungi, and even insects capable of breaking down plastics. One of the most famous discoveries came from Japan, where a bacterium called Ideonella sakaiensis was found to produce enzymes — PETase and MHETase — that can decompose PET, the same p...

WHAT ARE SMART WARRANTS? When we hear the word “warrant,” we often think of a paper document signed by a judge and carried by a police officer to enter a home or seize evidence. But what if that paper could disappear — not because the law is gone, but because the process has gone digital? That, in essence, is what we now call a smart warrant . Simply put, smart warrants are digital, paperless versions of traditional warrants — legal authorizations that are issued, tracked, and executed electronically. The goal is to make law enforcement faster, more efficient, and less prone to human error. If done right, they could also make the justice system fairer and more transparent. I will not be surprised, however, if even after we go digital, someone will still insist on printing a hard copy “for the record.” Old habits die hard. But imagine how much better it would be if warrants could be processed in minutes instead of days — sent straight to a police officer’s phone instead of being carri...

IS THERE A LEGAL BASIS FOR REOPENING COLD CASES IN THE PHILIPPINES? Yes — there is a legal basis for reopening cold cases in the Philippines. And perhaps the more important question is not “Can we reopen them?” but “Why aren’t we doing it more often?” Under Section 24, Rule 119 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure , a court may reopen proceedings before a conviction becomes final, especially “to avoid a miscarriage of justice.” In plain language, this means that if new evidence surfaces, or if something went wrong during the original investigation or trial, the courts — or law enforcement — can go back and take another look. To be fair, the Philippine National Police (PNP) does have mechanisms for this. Cold cases — those unsolved crimes that have gone dormant — are technically under the jurisdiction of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) . These units have the authority to reopen old case...