Danger signals

Diehard P-Noy supporters insist that 100 days is too short a period to grade his performance. Without disputing that argument, the bottom line is that 3 months and 10 days can give a good basis for determining whether he is on the right track of competent and corruption-free governance. On that question, many danger signals have emerged. The principal ones are:

1. Many high ranking presidential appointees have clearly shown their incompetence, or to say the least inadequacy, among them the 3 Communications Group Secretaries with conflicting statements, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., who dropped the ball on his first issuance that was Memorandum Circular No. 1 which was withdrawn and revised the day after, DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo and Undersecretary Rico E. Puno who failed miserably in the Luneta hostage-taking crisis.

2. P-Noy’s anti-corruption campaign promise has not taken off. Not a single big government official has been charged. In his first SONA he mentioned questionable actions at the MWSS and the DPWH.  But to date, no MWSS or DPWH official has been charged before the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice. In fact, MWSS Deputy General Manager Macra Cruz has been promoted to OIC. Add the notorious agencies Pagcor, Road Board, NFA and DOTC where deals involved billions and you see a clear case of omission or nonfeasance.

3. There are signs of a lack of urgency indicated in the work ethics of P-Noy. Definitely, he is not a 24/7 executive, reserving weekends for personal hobbies like target shooting, billiards and video games and Sundays for family reunions or malling.

Malacañang oldtimers observed that the work schedule spans 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., even less. He has not acted promptly on the IIRC recommendations in the Luneta hostage-taking case. Another indication of this is the 4,000 unfilled positions which was admitted as of September 23 when he departed for New York. The Truth Commission is not fully operational.

4. The lack of a road map or plan of government has been raised by UP Professor Benjamin Diokno, Rep. Edcel Lagman and Senator Joker Arroyo who even made the classic statement “The government is being run like a student government”, also citing lack of good staff work.

5. This early intolerance of criticisms and resistance to well-meaning advice has resurrected. In his arrival from New York, P-Noy blasted his critics. A ranking Cabinet Member and a senator ally have complained to Cabinet Members and a City Mayor na “matigas ang ulo”.

6. There are indications of the existence of a midnight Cabinet.

Nothing is secret in this town.

Yes, it has only been 100 days, but clearly, the danger signals are all over the landscape. Kailangan ang pagbabago!

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PLUS SIDE . . . On the plus side, you have the following performing appointees:

1. DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima — Grade A

2. DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo — Grade A

3. DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus — Grade A

4. DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz — Grade B plus

5. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino — Grade B plus

6. PCSO Chairman Margarita Juico — Grade B plus

7. VP Jejomar Binay — Grade B plus

8. DOE Secretary Rene Almendras — Grade B

9. BIR Commissioner Kim Henares — Grade B

10. CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan — Grade B

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HOPELESS MPD . . .The Manila Police District which has been charged with torturing suspects in Tondo and mishandling the Luneta hostage fiasco, suffered another big blackeye when 4 of their policemen were caught in an entrapment extorting money from a couple at a checkpoint in Yuseco street, Tondo planting marijuana and mashing the breast of the woman passenger last Sept. 24.

Charged were SPO2 Rhoderick Lacangan who also did the acts of lasciviousness on victim Jonalyn Trajano, 19, SPO1 Romeo Batalla, PO2 Gerry Genalope and PO1 Ricardo Magtajas for robbing Michael Novoa, 34, of P9,000 and cellphone and demanding another P20,000.

What happened to Mayor Alfredo “Dirty Harry” Lim’s campaign promise to discipline the police?  

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NO “TURON”. . . President GMA was known for eating in expensive restaurants abroad like Le Cirque in New York. Consistent with her luxurious lifestyle, GMA hosted lunch for congressmen belonging to her Minority bloc at a House conference room last Monday. The caterer: the high class Tsukiji Japanese restaurant in Makati. The tab - P5,000 per person. Among those who enjoyed the feast: Danny Suarez, Arthur Yap and Mitos Magsaysay.

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TULOY ANG LIGAYA . . . DBP employees are talking about a middle level executive Ms. “J” who has an ongoing affair with a ranking senior executive. This other woman is the one approving most of the contracts being awarded by the senior executive. Retiring DBP Governors received huge benefits despite DBP’s huge losses in the Lehman Brother’s investment. The new DBP Board Members are Jose A. Nuñez, Chairman Antonio Jose U. Periquet, Jose Luis L. Vera, Juan Kevin G. Belmonte, Daniel L. Laogan, Cecilio B. Lorenzo and Ronaldo M. Llanas, with Franklin Velarde, son of brother Mike as holdover.

The new Board should review the statement of assets and liabilities of DBP executives, some of whom have bought luxury condominium units and luxury cars. There are also midnight appointees.

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INFLUENTIAL SUPPLIER . . . Stradcom has not refunded the P350 fee for RFID despite an order by the Supreme Court six months ago. Stradcom has successfully convinced DOTC Sec. Ping de Jesus to suspend the bidding for new drivers’ licenses which LTO Asec. Virginia Torres ordered to replace the present plastic licenses which break up easily. Looks like Stradcom is influential whoever sits in Malacañang.

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TIDBITS . . . VP Binay is correct. Sen. Mar Roxas should pay the P166 million fees on his protest first before he insists on reviewing the ballots. . .CHED Secretary Patricia Licuanan says that RP has too many universities and colleges, 2,180 in all, 88 percent are private. Then close down the small substandard private ones, Madam . . . Rep. Manny Pacquiao said he is supporting the Catholic church against artificial birth control. . .The popular TV-show “Juicy” reported Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa’s interest in actress Vina Morales. Andrew Tan joins the list of mega rich taipans with his Alliance Global Group which includes Megaworld, Empire East, Emperador Brandy and McDonalds reporting a 38 percent growth in 2010 with a net income of P6.2 billion and projecting another 38 percent in 2011.