Ronnie Puno for Binay

Former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronnie Puno has joined the campaign team of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) presidential candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay, according to Reginald Velasco, secretary general of the National Unity Party (NUP).

UNA interim secretary general Atty. JV Bautista also confirmed, at a hearing of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), that Puno was working as an adviser to the Vice President’s campaign. Puno has been working for the Vice President since September of 2015.

Puno is credited with helping former presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo win their presidential bids.

Binay has now topped three surveys: Pulse Asia with 33 percent; Social Weather Stations (SWS) with 31 percent; and Lailo with 30 percent.

In the January SWS 2016 poll, Grace Poe slid down to second place with 24 percent, Mar Roxas third with 21 percent, and Rodrigo Duterte fourth with 20 percent.

US envoy blasts Poe

United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg criticized the manner of the Senate probe of the Mamasapano massacre, saying that “sensitive matters were exposed to people who would like to know the information such as the US participation in the training and intelligence gathering of Oplan Exodus.”

Goldberg said sensitive matters should be discussed in a closed session.

Senator Gringo Honasan had issued a warning that sensitive information about military operations was being exposed at the hearing.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is blaming Congress for the non-passage of the Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL), but absolved President Benigno Aquino Jr. for the “death” of the BBL.

The MILF, however, acknowledged that the Mamasapano massacre of 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commandos affected the fate of the BBL.

Drilon praises 16th Congess

Senate President Franklin Drilon claimed the 16th Congress was a success as the Senate passed 284 bills, 116 signed into law.

Drilon said the biggest reform the Senate supported was the abolition of pork barrel even before the Supreme Court (SC) declared it as unconstitutional.

He pointed out that Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia gave the Senate high approval ratings, amid all the controversies.

But the Senate was also accused of receiving P50-100 million in Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds to vote for the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

It also saw the imprisonment of three incumbent Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Jinggoy Estrada.

It failed to start the period of amendments to the BBL, which was supposed to be approved on second reading during the last session.

It also failed to override President Noynoy Aquino’s veto of a bill that would have raised Social Security System (SSS) pensions by P2,000 a month.

Congress also failed to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill and anti-political dynasty bills.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said that Congress passed mostly local bills with no national impact, noting there was no substantial legislation that protects the nation, the people.

Binay solidifies Cebu

Cebu, which is a Liberal Party (LP) bailiwick, has suddenly turned to support Vice President Jejomar Binay, with the decision of the One Cebu Party of the Garcia clan to announce its support for the Vice President.

Winston Garcia, gubernatorial candidate of the One Cebu Party, in a statement, declared their support for Binay. “He has proven public service track record. He has also presented the most credible platform of government among the other presidential candidates,” Garcia said.

Joining Garcia, in deciding to support Binay, were former Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, Toledo City Mayor John Osmeña, 3rd District of Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia, and former Mayor Alvin Garcia.

Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and his team Rama City Slate had earlier declared their support for Binay.

In the last two surveys of Pulse Asia and SWS, Binay gained the lead in the Visayas, with Liberal Party leaders of Southern Leyte also transferring to UNA.

In 2010, Binay lost big to Mar Roxas. He is expected to do better this year.

Garcia also said that the majority of the members of One Cebu Party believe that the Vice President would answer at the right time and at the right venue the issues that have been raised against him.

Ifugao Governor Dennis Habawel, a Nacionalista, and 11 mayors have transferred to the UNA and declared support for Vice President Binay.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile announced he will campaign for Binay and will also help Honasan’s vice presidential bid.

Comelec approves Duterte

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has junked the four disqualification cases against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, for lack of merit.

Commissioners Christian Robert Lim, Rowena Guanzon, and Tito Luie Guia unanimously decided to dismiss the petitions of Rizalito David, Elly Pamatong, Ruben Castor and John Paulo de las Nueves.

However, Guanzon sought an amendment to the rules and laws to prevent a repeat of the Duterte’s substitution case.

With no more legal impediments to the presidential  candidacy of Duterte, Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez and Davao City Congressman Karlo Nograles announced their support for Duterte.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he agrees with the Davao Mayor’s plan to restore the death penalty since our country has become a drug haven.

Duterte and his vice presidential candidate, Senator Alan Cayetano, will launch their political campaign on Feb. 9 in Tondo where they will dramatize the issue of the urban poor.

Tidbits

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said the Philippines is the second most dangerous country for journalists in the past 25 years.

Government debt has reached P5.95 trillion, up four percent from 2015.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach is not exempt from income tax.