DISPLAYING an uncanny understanding of  intricate aerodynamics, the native Australians devised a wooden weapon that when thrown always came back.  It is called a boomerang.  Undoubtedly, the boomerang found immense usefulness in vanquishing prey and foe.

The word has also enriched the English language and the political lexicon, as we shall see in the following example.

Rep. Niel Tupas, the lead prosecutor in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, has been found to be building a mansion at Xavierville Subdivision in Quezon City, the Tribune has reported.

More millions of pesos are likely to be poured into the interiors of the Tupas mansion, the newspaper said.

Low salary

The congressman has confirmed he owns the property  He says it will be reported in his next Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

Tupas and his co-prosecutors,  all congressmen, have a salary of some P25,000 monthly, the paper said.

Many other congressmen are also known to own several homes and condominium units which, on the basis of just their salaries as members of Congress, (they) certainly cannot afford to own, the paper said.

The Tribune added: “Tupas was elected Iloilo congressman less than two years ago, yet could afford to build a huge mansion resting on a lot measuring 632 square meters.

“The price of the property, transferred to the Tupas spouses in 2011, has an estimated tag of P30,000 per square meter. The Tupas spouses’ property covers over 632 square meters, or a purchase price of a little over P20 million just for the lot alone.

“A document from the Land Registration Authority obtained by the Tribune showed a Transfer Certificate of Title no No.004-2011003495, with the parcel of land described as follows: A parcel of land (lot 26 blk. 5, of the cons. subd. plan (lrc) pcs-6818 (sheet 2), being a portion of the cons. of lots 1-18 blk, 1; 1-13, blk. 2; 1-14, blk. 3; 1-16, blk. 5. 1-22, blk. 6, 1-23, blk. 7, 1-9, blk. 8, 1-21, blk. 9, 1-3, blk. 10, 1-16, blk. 11, 1-13, blk. 12, park lots 1, 2 & 3 and street lots 4-8 and 10-16, all described on plan psd-35337, lrc (glro) rec. no. 7672), situated in the Quezon City, island of Luzon, bounded on the ne., points 8 to 1 by lot 25; points 1 to 2 by lot27; and points 2 to 3 by lot 28, all of blk, 5; is registered in accordance with the provision of the Property Registration Decree in the name of spouses Niel C. Tupas Jr. and Yvonne Angeli Lee Tupas.”

Targets

Rep. Romero Quimbo, chief House spokesperson for the trial, says he is next in the list of persons to be targeted for public crucifixion.

Congressman Quimbo, together with Tupas, has been repeatedly admonished by the Senate court for violating Senate rules prohibiting discussion of evidence in public.

Their experience proves the efficacy of an ancient weapon called boomerang.