Opinion

P-Noy’s failures

SEARCH FOR TRUTH - The Philippine Star

June 18, 2016 | 12:00am

President Benigno Simeon Aquino Jr. failed in so many respects:

1. failure to achieve rice self-sufficiency, together with low one percent agricultural growth;

2. failure to eradicate drug problems – three million drug users;

3. failure to solve the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and New People’s Army (NPA) insurgency.

4. lack of classrooms, especially what is needed for Grade 11 enrollees;

5. 25 percent poverty rate, together with 6.1 percent unemployment rate – three million unemployed.

6. low foreign investments, the lowest in Asean.

7. smuggling of oil, rice, luxury cars, steel products, sugar, frozen meat, onions and garlic;

8. failure to solve the drug manufacturing activities at National Bilibid Prison (NBP);

9. failure to solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila;

10. failure to relocate Metro Manila informal settlers;

11. failure to solve housing shortage and build four million homes;

12. failure to pass the Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL);

13. failure to pass Freedom of Information bill (FOI);

14. failure to eradicate corruption in the bureaucracy, especially Bureau of Customs (BoC); Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Bureau of Immigration (BI);

15. failure to build the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) connector;

16. failure to solve the Metro Rail Transit/Light Rail Transit (MRT/LRT) problems;

17. failure to solve the problem of LTO;

18. failure to resolve the conflict with China on the West Philippine Sea.

Panelo replaced

Atty. Salvador Panelo, the appointed presidential spokesman, has been relieved and shifted to the position of Presidential Legal Counsel.

Panelo’s appointment was controversial from the beginning as he served as legal counsel of the Ampatuan family.

He was also called down for issuing statements without clearance from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

He was also criticized for violating a no parking zone in Greenhills.

Expect more changes to be made in the Duterte Cabinet.

Separate inauguration

Vice President-elect Leni Robredo has been told she cannot have her oath taking in Malacañang. The reason, the Rizal Ceremonial Hall can accommodate only 500 guests. Incoming Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) head Martin Andanar said they could only reserve 30 slots for Robredo. Why not at least 50 for Robredo?

Duterte will take his oath before Supreme Court (SC) Justice Buenvenido Reyes, a graduate of San Beda Law School, and a fraternity brother.

It has not been announced where Robredo will have her oath taking – most probably at the Boracay Mansion. She is expected to take her oath before Barangay Chairman Ronaldo Coner of the smallest and farthest barangay in Camarines Sur.

10 battalions in Sulu

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it has deployed 10 battalions in Sulu, consisting of 5,000 men from the different branches of the AFP.

There were fresh reports of another abduction of four Malaysians in Sabah and brought to Sulu.

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has an estimated 300 rebels in Sulu and 200 in Basilan.

ASG spokesperson Abu Raami said his group would make it hard for the government troops to locate them, saying they know the terrain. He added that every time a military craft would hover over them they run for cover, put off all communications and hide.

President Aquino visited Jolo, Sulu to check on the operations of the military against the ASG. But Vice Gov. Abdusakur said he chose to snub President Benigno Simeon Aquino Jr. because he is responsible why all these problems are besetting their place. Tan said the President did not consider his earlier recommendation to involve the communities in the campaign against the ASG, instead Aquino poured more troops and changed the police officers and replaced officers who were not functioning.

With just two weeks to go before the end of his term, President Aquino is unlikely to succeed in defeating the ASG.

More killings

Two construction workers, Jerome Mila, 35 and Edward Narvarte, 38, were shot dead in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City.

Money changer Larry Oliva Haya Sr., 65, was shot dead during a robbery holdup incident by two unidentified man in Bakakeng Norte, Baguio City.

In South Cotabato, Dalton pawnshop was held up inside a well-secured Gaisano Grand Mall by four men, who were suspected to belong to an organized gang preying on pawnshops in South Cotabato and General City.

Barangay chairman Ariel Mauricio, 53, was shot dead in Paniqui, Tarlac.

P02 Rodolfo Tayong Jr. was wounded in an ambush by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Pio V. Corpus town in Masbate.