I never liked Conchita Carpio-Morales (who, as Ombudsman, filed the ridiculous charges of “usurpation of authority and graft” against former President Benigno Aquino III for the deaths of the SAF 44) and Alberto del Rosario, America’s key lackey in the Aquino administration.

Former Senator Francis Tolentino, I used to like. But he discarded the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) like used tissue paper when he had no more need for President Duterte. To me, that was unforgivable; he deserved to lose.

But when China turned Carpio-Morales and Del Rosario away a few years back, I felt bad as a Filipino and said so publicly. And Tolentino’s ban from mainland China and all its other territories — for “egregious behavior” --- I condemned on record and in public.

I believe that, while as a lawyer I was taught that entry to any country is a prerogative exercised solely by its government, saying that prominent Filipinos are persona non grata in any nation should be considered an affront to all Filipinos.

At least, I am consistent. Many of those whom I joined in denouncing such an act against fellow Filipinos do so hypocritically. I am not surprised, of course, as hypocrisy and double-talk are among the trademarks of the Yellow-Pink combine (and since 2023, the present government).

Why do I say so? Because, when the United States of America cancelled the visa of Sen. Bato dela Rosa, these same people hailed the act, even mocked the senator, in effect saying “good for you.” And — very few people know this — the liberal allies of the Yellow-Pinks in the US Congress used the same sanction of banning people from the USA to influence the treatment of their people by the previous government. In short, blatant interference in our domestic affairs. This they did by brandishing the Magnitsky Act.

What animal is this Magnitsky Act, you might ask. The law was named after Sergio Magnitsky, a Russian who died under strange circumstances while investigating fraud in his government.

The USA, ever the self-righteous, self-declared sole guardian of human rights in the world, sanctioned numerous Russian officials by banning them from the USA and its banking system, among other “penalties.” Sometime in 2020, under intense pressure from Liberal Party lobbyists in the US Congress, the latter passed a resolution imposing similar sanctions on Philippine government officials linked to the arrest and detention of Leila de Lima. Yes, our very own Leila “Frailties of a Woman” de Lima, self-confessed adulteress still under investigation for contumely to the Supreme Court.

Such a measure effectively deterred judges and prosecutors, who had kin in the USA (who are legion), from going all out against De Lima or testifying against her. But did we hear a peep from those who condemn China? No! Just because it was the US doing it, and it was their allies who benefited.

For their hypocrisy and double standard, we should be throwing rotten eggs at these egregious people.