There are reports that Chairman Tito Sotto of the Dangerous Drugs Board is targeting popular nightspots, like Embassy at The Fort, since drug addicts and pushers reportedly abound in these places.

It is also said that board is looking at two of Metro Manila?s exclusive schools where illegal drugs are sold. Although Sotto did not name them, we can only guess what these schools are.

Indeed, we need to be more vigilant to fight the drug menace. For this reason, no less than the President has proclaimed herself ?drug czar? to mobilize the entire government machinery to check the drug problem, which has become a multi-headed hydra, corrupting high levels of government and mocking the pillars of justice.

But Sotto should also look at his own backyard?the entertainment industry? the movies, television, rock bands and club guest relations officers where drug trafficking abounds.

I?m certain that he does not need to look far to find what he?s looking for.

***

The Senate ethics committee has scheduled hearings on the conflict-of-interest charge against former Senate President Manny Villar with the expos? of Senator Ping Lacson (and his ?alalay,? Senator Jamby Madrigal) that Villar was responsible for P200-million ?double insertion? on the budget of the C-5 road project traversing Villar?s property. There is also the issue of the alleged overpricing of the right of way for Villar?s property along the same route.

But, in the process, this Senate inquiry on Villar?s alleged conflict of interest poses several questions since Villar?s fellow presidential aspirants for 2010 are members of the committee.

There?s for instance, Lacson, who exposed the alleged anomalies, Senators Mar Roxas and Loren Legarda. First of all, how can Lacson, as Senate ethics committee chairman, be the accuser, the judge and the hangman rolled into one? My gulay, Villar is a dead duck!

The presence of Villar?s co-presidential hopefuls in the committee is also a big question. Knowing that Villar is now a front-runner in surveys, can Ping, Mar and Loren be fair and just?

I?m not saying here that Villar is not guilty of the charges brought against him. All I?m saying is that the composition of the committee brings to fore questions about fairness and a level playing field.

As far as I am concerned, reports that the minority in the Senate has chosen to boycott the hearings against Villar is immaterial. Santa Banana, what is important to consider is the fact that Villar?s fellow presidential wannabes seem to be ganging up on him. And this can make him more like a victim of politics.

And Filipinos love underdogs. Remember that.

***

Let?s look at this scenario. Supposing the committee validates the expos? of Lacson et al? Will it then suspend or unseat Villar as a senator?

Will the people believe all those charges brought against Villar? Won?t the people just shrug them off in the light that the 2010 campaign has long began where anything goes, be it right or wrong?

As I said, all I?m saying that if Villar is truly guilty of conflict of interest, let him hang. But, knowing the kind of politics we have, the fact that Villar?s fellow presidential aspirants seem to be ganging up on him can make him a political martyr of sorts.

My gulay, Villar can come out of this Senate investigation looking like a victim and smelling like a rose. Santa Banana, have Lacson et al considered this?

***

There?s a portion of 44th US President Barack Obama?s inaugural speech before some 2 million Americans of all colors and creeds that sounds closer to home. It?s that portion when he said he has ?chosen hope over fear? in ?remaking America.?

To me, that note of hope in the first 100 days of Obama?s presidency is closer to home in the wake of surveys which should much hope (6 out of 10 Filipinos) for this year for the country.

This is significant in the wake of so much gloom-and-doom predictions for the Philippine economy because of the global financial meltdown which will surely affect us, and is in fact already affecting us.

For so long as Filipinos have hope for the future, I believe we can overcome this crisis just as we did with so many crises hitting the country year after year.

Hope is something ingrained in us Filipinos because of our Christian background as a nation?something that other Southeast Asian countries cannot rely on in times of distress. For so long as a nation there?s hope, we will stay afloat.

***

I have always believed that tourism is an engine of growth for the Philippines that can fuel economic recovery for many reasons, especially at this point in time when so many countries worldwide are reeling from the global economic meltdown.

While other countries, even here in Asia, are tightening their belts there are always those who want to travel abroad. And as the Department of Tourism says in its promotion and marketing for that?s what tourism is all about the Philippines is meant to be traveled.

Speaking of marketing and promotion which is the lifeblood of the tourism industry, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano is right in saying that the tourism industry is evolving, and innovation is the name of the game.

Durano has this to say in his advertisement spread in the December issue of Fortune magazine: the thinking now of foreigners, who typically come from other Asia-Pacific countries, is that it is cost effective to buy a second home since they visit so often and stay so long, sometimes for one month to 45 days as shown by statistics.

This is our edge over other countries?the Philippines is an oasis for travelers looking for a vacation home near sun and surf.

***

Malaca?ang?s musical chairs have caused a minor reshuffle with Press Secretary Jesus Dureza becoming presidential legal counsel, and Cerge Remonde, chief of the presidential management staff, taking Dureza?s place.

In place of Remonde comes presidential adviser for the peace process and former Philippine National Police Chief Avelino ?Sonny? Razon, who had earlier been appointed as deputy national security adviser replacing Hermogenes Esperon, who takes over from Remonde at PMS.

There are others involved in the Palace musical chairs, but noteworthy is the fact that Cerge Remonde is now the Press secretary, a position that suits him. Remonde has been a long-time broadcaster and part-time PR man of the President. Cerge will not find it hard to step into the shoes of Dureza, who himself had a long experience as a journalist.

I?ve known Cerge Remonde for sometime as a broadcaster and a president of Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas or KBP. As such, Cerge will surely be welcomed by his fellow members of the press and broadcast industry since it takes one to understand how the press works, its idiosyncrasies and caprices.

Welcome back to the press, Cerge!

***

I have no comment on the others involved in the reshuffle since it is always the prerogative of the President who she names to key position in Malaca?ang.

All I can say is that the appointment of Sonny Razon, a former chief of PNP, as presidential adviser on peace process should be a walk in the park for him, having involved in police and intelligence work.

Dureza as presidential legal adviser is also a position fit for him, being a lawyer, and in fact having been a Bar topnotcher.

That?s why I see no reason for any endorsement comment coming from the inveterate critics of the President and the opposition.