Breaking news: President Aquino announced appointment of his former running mate Mar Roxas as new DOTC secretary. He will also hold the position of senior adviser of the Economic Cluster.
Another side to the controversy that speaks a lot of the goings-on in the Aquino administration:
Manila Times
The Manila Times story on the forced resignation of DOTC Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus was as clear as the sky on a fine day. De Jesus did not resign from the Cabinet. He was fired by President Benigno Aquino 3rd for loss of confidence, to say the least.
De Jesus was summoned to Malacañang on Monday morning at ten by the President. The meeting was brief; merely 15 minutes. He was distressed and looked teary-eyed after his meeting with the Chief Executive.
I do not know de Jesus personally. Never met him before. Fact is, he strikes me as a no-nonsense former Lopez executive. I have absolutely no reason to write ill of the man who, if you believe his spin doctors, resigned out of frustration for not getting the support from the President for the agency’s various projects and over the Virgie Torres issue.
I have it on good authority that several questionable, if not dubious decisions by the DOTC have conspired together that led to the sacking of de Jesus by the President. Chief among them were the Radar Control System, MRT maintenance and privatization, Stradcom’s interconnectivity agreement with LTO and its P1.2-billion claim against the government.
In fairness to the President, he tried to put a lid on the “firing” of de Jesus perhaps out of respect for the man who had served his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino. The Press Office wanted to announce the resignation that very Monday but PNoy gave specific orders to “hold the announcement.” He must have wanted to give de Jesus a graceful exit.
Before the announcement could be made on Tuesday, de Jesus asked the Press Office to hold it for another day. De Jesus’ resignation was leaked to the media on Wednesday but was denied by the Secretary. The denial was published Thursday in the Star.
And so it came to pass that it was a DOTC Undersecretary who made the announcement of de Jesus’ departure from the Cabinet effective end of the month.
Prior to the meeting of the President with de Jesus on Monday, PNoy reportedly made a long distance call to a member of his family who was in Paris at the time to break the news of his decision to let go of the DOTC Secretary. “Ping has to go” the President reportedly said over the phone.
Prior to the long distance call, de Jesus had no inkling that all the while the President had been gathering information from independent sources about the contracts entered into by the previous administration. It was during these consultations that PNoy came across the questionable transactions in the DOTC.
Immediately after getting the data from his sources, the President crosschecked and validated the information with an expert who confirmed the attendant anomalies involving the radar project. A series of consultations occurred with the resource person. An “aide memoir” was finally sent to the President for his study.
The P 7.3-billion radar project was awarded to Sumitomo-Thales consortium during the Arroyo administration. It was perfected during the early months of the Aquino administration. The first phase was for P 4.8 billion, the second, P 2.5 billion.
The bidding process was flawed. The award to Sumitomo-Thales was illegal according to the Commission on Audit. It objected to the award, noting that some years ago, when the Japanese-Australian consortium was still called CSF Thompson it abandoned a project, “Global Maritime Distress Signal System (GMDSS).” COA also slammed DOTC in a memorandum sent to the agency’s officials for “not disqualifying spurious bidders.”
In short, the bidding was rigged to favor Sumitomo-Thales. Despite the COA findings, de Jesus authorized the release of P58 million to the consortium representing 15 percent as mobilization fee. The P58-million mobilization fee was subsequently disallowed by COA.
Another contentious issue that unsettled the President was the privatization of the MRT. PNoy and de Jesus have been at loggerheads over the details of the privatization. As opposed to the position of the President, the Secretary wanted to pay the winning bidder P15 billion over three years. Instead of a Private Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement, de Jesus favored awarding what he calls a “Service Contract.”
The President was against it. PNoy preferred an arrangement that is straightforward, very transparent, no-nonsense, and with no out-of-pocket expense for the government. He wanted the winning bidder to take over the operations and maintenance of the MRT at no cost to the government in exchange for an extension of the 25-year contract, depending on the amount of investments the private operator puts in the project.
LTO Chief Virginia Torres had nothing to do with the sacking of de Jesus by the President. If at all, Torres was only one of those who briefed the President on the real score involving the P 1.2 billion that Stradcom was trying hard to collect from the government, contradicting what Velasco earlier told PNoy. It was the LTO chief who refused to release the P 1.2-billion payment to Stradcom given what she described as an “anomalous contract.”
At one point, the President reportedly confronted Velasco and told him straight to his face, “You’re not telling me the whole story.” In effect, PNoy accused Velasco of lying to him.
On another issue, showing extreme displeasure, PNoy reportedly confronted de Jesus about why the MRT coaches malfunction very often and why despite his order, the coaches remain decrepit. The President must have been hurt by the incessant public criticisms over the frequent malfunctioning of the MRT coaches. He had expected the DOTC boys to solve the recurring problems in the MRT to spare him the negative publicity being generated by the incompetence of some government officials.
Three DOTC undersecretaries namely, Dante Velasco, Glicerio Sicat and Ruben Reinoso called a press conference on Friday to announce that they too were resigning their posts effective June 30 to “give the incoming Secretary a free hand.”
At the same time, they accused the President of extending passive support for DOTC’s programs. Reinoso also announced that he was going back to his old job at NEDA and Velasco to the Office of the Executive Secretary. Until that press conference, nobody knew Velasco was holding on to two positions on a concurrent capacity.
After putting the President in a bad light, these two now want to go back to their “old jobs.” What gall.
***
Related story:
Payment not allowed by COA but radar firm still got funds
By Joel M. Sy Egco, Assignments Editor
Manila Times
GOVERNMENT auditors have disallowed a P58-million “advance payment” made by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to the winning bidder for the controversial Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project, which was reportedly among the main reasons for the “sacking” of top agency officials.
In his “Valentine’s Day” letter to Transportation Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, DOTC resident auditor and lawyer Aristoteles Ilarde disallowed the release of the amount representing “15-percent advance payment” because of the failure of agency officials to clarify certain issues raised previously by the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding the project.
“We are returning the Request of Disbursement and Disbursement Voucher No. 102-201101-0083 dated January 19, 2011, and the related supporting documents for the 15 percent advance payment [to] Sumitomo Corporation/Thales Australia Ltd. Joint venture of the New CNS/ATM Systems Development Project Package I in the amounts of Y1,036,221,982.00 and P58,923,269.03 due to failure by management to clarify the issues and concerns raised in COA Audit Observations Memorandum No. 09-033 dated July 2, 2010 and the related series of communications thereafter,” Ilarde said in his letter coursed through DOTC chief accountant Edna Tapar.
Questions on the propriety of the CNS/ATM project came after the Transportation department awarded Package 1 of the project to Sumitomo/Thales Joint Venture on December 23, 2010. This phase costs P4.2 billion.
Since July last year, COA has been seeking clarifications from the proponents of the CNS/ATM project on some vague provisions in the contract.
Despite this, the DOTC released the 15-percent advance payment to the contractor.
State auditors decided to “disallow” the payment after they found out that only a consultant had ordered commencement of the project.
“We also noted that the Notice to Proceed/Notice of Commencement of Work to Sumitomo Corporation was not issued by the Head of the Procuring Entity but instead by the consultant, which is not in accordance with the provisions of RA [Republic Act] 9184,” Ilarde further said in the letter.
“In view thereof, compliance is hereby requested before appropriate action could be taken on the herein claim,” he added.
RA 9184 is the act providing for the modernization, standardization and regulation of the procurement activities of the government and for other purposes.
When sought for comment, de Jesus maintained that there was nothing wrong in their actions and that the issues raised by the Audit commission were all being addressed.
“We have responded to all the issues raised by the auditor and have appealed the auditor’s disallowance,” he said through a text message he sent to The Manila Times.
A source of The Times claimed that the Commission on Audit advised the Transportation department against awarding the CNS/ATM contract to Thales Australia Ltd. because it was blacklisted for abandoning a previous deal with the Philippine government.
Formerly known as Thompson-CSF Group, Thales was blacklisted during the time of President Fidel Ramos after failing to deliver on its contract package for the Globe Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS), which resulted in the Philippine Coast Guard resorting to the use of its antiquated system in its maritime operations.
“[COA] stated they [DOTC] cannot award [the project] to Thales considering that they have abandoned the project called the global maritime distress signal system. At [the] time, their name was Thompson CSF. The disqualification of other bidders was also spurious,” The Times source said.
A highly-reliable government source earlier claimed that de Jesus and his subordinates were actually “asked to resign” after they drew the ire of President Benigno Aquino 3rd for ignoring his instructions to have certain contracts further scrutinized on suspicion that these may be riddled with anomalies.
Apart from the CNS/ATM System Project, the other “dubious” deals are the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7 Project and the inter-connectivity contract between the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and information technology provider Stradcom Corp.
The source claimed that the President has come across the questionable decisions by agency officials on the controversial deals.
Besides being expensive, the Japanese-funded air traffic management project was criticized for allegedly being “flawed,” “futile” and “redundant” since existing air traffic facilities can very well handle anticipated increase in international and domestic flights in the future.
Critics said that the CNS/ATM System Project worth P13 billion should be quashed because the existing Manila Air Control Center (MACC) can still effectively manage air traffic.
At the most, the sources added, an upgrade of the MACC should be undertaken.
See…and all the while Pnoy’s critics and putot’s paid internet brigade were having a fiesta with a barrage of negative comments on the subject in the media. Jumping merrily on the critics’ bandwagon yet clueless on the actual facts.
On second thought, I don’t agree with Pnoy arranging a ‘graceful’ exit for de Jesus. The truth about his ‘resignation’ should be made known to the public. If the man is involved in any anomalous transaction, he should be prosecuted. So much for ‘faithful’ service to the government.
wow! bigla akong nagizing!
Ganyan dapat! May guts pala naman si Pnoy! Mas nakakabelieve kung may masampang kaso against sa mga kumita sa kontrata na iyan.
Pnoy is doing the right thing. Looks like de Jesus was not following instruction. More so accomodating a blacklisted company. Questionable na nga itinuloy pa. Looks like they are not there to protect our countries interest. Amoy komisyon. What can one expect sa mga beteranong public servant daw! Fire them all.
GMA’s image-maker dante ang is still around?
Now, things are becoming a little bit clearer.
Even before there was something in this Usec Velasco that I was not comfortable with. I couldn’t explain it. Gut feel.
Imagine, he was holding two positions pala in government. Was he also collecting two salaries?
This means napapaikutan si Ping de Jesus?
Iyan na nga ang tinatawag na KUPITENCE sa trabaho.
Hawak na nga naman ang sandok at kaldero, pababayaan pang iba ang unang dumulog sa dulang?
Ganun naman pala kung totoo ang kwento ni Dante Ang.
Bakit ba hindi kaagad gawin na transparent kung bakit sinisibak sa pwesto ang mga opisyal at ng walang kesyo ito-kesyo ayun?! Hindi pwedeng walang espekuslasyon ang publiko dahil sa trauma sa mga nakaraang desisyon ng liderato. Gawing malinaw ang lahat, walang tago-tago sa publiko pag dating sa pagsisilbi sa mamamayan!
Re: Reinoso also announced that he was going back to his old job at NEDA and Velasco to the Office of the Executive Secretary. Until that press conference, nobody knew Velasco was holding on to two positions on a concurrent capacity.
__
Hindi ba ito alam ni Pnoy o ni Ping de Jesus? Aba, huwag ng pabalikin ang mga swapang na government officials na Reinoso at Velasco, kasalanang malaki na mag-double compensation sila sa gobyerno unless pinayahagan sila ng presidente.
Talagang tukso ang pera diyan sa departamentong yan. The job is to find one who is not easily flashed by money.
Engineering department din lang yan, why not get an engineering graduate who is impervious to bribes? Engineering din naman ang tinapos ng mga PMA grads di ba? How about Danny Lim? Or General Miranda. If GMA can post some twerp like Ebdane, maybe PNoy can give the PMA a second chance to truly serve.
Re: The P 7.3-billion radar project was awarded to Sumitomo-Thales consortium during the Arroyo administration. It was perfected during the early months of the Aquino administration. The first phase was for P 4.8 billion, the second, P 2.5 billion.
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Sino ang nagsulsol kay Ping de Jesus para iperpekto ang proyekto, kung hindi man siya mismo? At kung sya, hindi pala totoo ang sabi-sabi na malinis ang taong ito. Baka yan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi mai-announce kaagad ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit nag-‘resign’ si de Jesus, dapat ay walang bahid dahil sa association kay Tita Cory.
Chi, agree ako sa post #9 & 12 mo. Sabi ko nga, bakit ba pinoy madrama pagdating sa ganyang subject. Dapat sabihin talaga ang totoo. Tulad nga niyan nag-fiesta ang mga loyalists ni putot sa issue.
Yun namang issue na kesyo isa mga few competent, honest at qualified daw na members ng Pnoy administration si de Jesus, siguro spin na nga lang iyan ng mga PR agents ni de Jesus et al at siyempre mga bayarang PR agents nila pidal. May nabasa pa nga akong mga comments sa ibang newspapers ang resignation daw na iyan katulad noong ginawa ng Hyatt 10 at simula na raw yan ng another EDSA against Pnoy. Hay, mga Pinoy nga naman.
Pero naniniwala talaga akong may bayarang internet brigade itong sila putot. Kasi the other week nag honest comment ako sa same newspaper; in less than 5 minutes dami agad response at lahat eh negative at personalan ang dating. Obvious na maraming nag-aabang ng positive comments at babarahin agad. Exit agad ako, I just wrote: sorry, di ko kayo papatulan.
whatever dahilan kung anuman was/were behind de jesus’ resignation, bahala na sila du’n. sila sila lang naman ang nagkakaintindihan at hindi ipinapaalam sa madlang pipol.
ang hintayin nila ay kung paano ibagsak nang lumalagapak ang TRUST rating ni PeNoykyo at araw araw ay bulagain siya ng nakakarinding street protests demanding his resignation.
magpipiyesta na naman ang mga mapanggulo, nanggugulo magugulong makaliwang grupo!
haaayyy! hanggang asa na lamang ba tayo kung kailan magkakaroon ng maayos at transparens na gobyerno?
akala natin siya na nga, hindi pala!
#14, Phil…. yan mga bayaran ni Pidal at the sway of Luli’s wand are very much alive, per column inch yata e. 🙂 Kaya dapat ay walang pakieme ang bagong administrasyon, kung gustong sipain, e di sipain kung may alam ang pangulo na katarantaduhan ng kanyang opisyal.
I believe that Pnoy is good at heart kaya konting kamal na bakal lang at pagsasantabi ng mga impluwensya ng buddies at relatives ay titino ang Pinas under him.
Si Dante Ang ba naman binibigyan pa ng credibilidad? Kung yan taong yan ay ituro ang araw na nasa kalagitnaan ng langit at sabihin niyang tanghaling tapat na pero may tandang na tumilaok, Dun ako maniniwala sa tandang na madaling araw pa.
Anyway, yun Virginia Torres…
She didn’t want Stradcom paid. But she sided with Sumbilla/Yujuico against Quiambao. Sinamahan niya sa failed take-over diba?
Sa madaling salita ayaw niyang bayaran ang stradcom ung kay quiambao pupunta ang bayad. Eh pano kung yun take-over ay nagsucceed? Baka naman yun lang ang hinihintay niya.
Besides inembisyigahan yun incident ng justice department and de lima recommended preventive suspension for Torres. Si De Lima ba ay gagawa o makikisali sa kabalbalan?
At eto naman ang inside story sa inside story ni dante ang. Sabi ni Torres ayaw niya sa Stradcom. Ayaw din ni De Jesus. Gusto ni De Jesus to ease out stradcom para naman hindi mapurnada ang operations sa LTO. Si Torres gusto apurahan kasi nadinig ko na may grupong iglesia na gusto pumalit sa stradcom. So ito ang tanong – bakit siya kumampi kay sumbillo kung gusto pala niya mapalitan ang stradcom? Sa pananaw ko ang bakbakan sa stradcom ay kung sino sa dalawang grupo ang makahahawak nung P1.2B na kinokolekta ng stradcom sa LTO.
Ellen,
Is dante ang a doctor of medicine or did he earn a doctorate in a university?
Ang gulo nito,alin ba ang totoo?Dapat alisin na lng ni Pnoy si Torres doon para hindi napaghihinalaan ang mga kilos nya,sana pag-upo ni Mar ay maliwanagan lahat ang mga isyung ito.
#17. Ibang inside story naman yan, MB. Samut-sari ang mga kwento. Sana mangaling mismo kay Pnoy ang totoong dahilan kung bakit sinipa…este nagresayn si Ping de Jesus. Pero di yan mangyayari kasi may baka may dapat takpan sa kaibigan ng nanay, o may sabunutang talagang nangyayari sa stradcom.
Thanks, MB, for the other side of the story.
Eto pa. Susunurin sana ng presidente yun recommendation ni De Lima at De Jesus na patawan ng preventive suspension si Torres. Pero hindi natuloy at sinabi na lang niya kay Torres na mag 60 days leave of absence kasi nag-iiyak at hinimatay daw si Torres ng humarap sa presidente.
Pakisabi kay dante ang na itanong niya sa mga “inside sources” niya kung totoo itong nadinig ko. Baka kasi hindi na isama yang storyang yan dun sa mga talking points na natanggap niya.
Publicist ang hanap buhay niyan taong yan tapos maglalabas siya ng inside report kuno. Sus ginnong buhay ‘to.
#21. Naku ha! Malakas ng kutob ko na malaki ang kinalaman ni asintadang Virgie sa desisyon ni Pnoy. Pero ang mag-iiyak at himatayin ng humarap kay Pnoy at inalo naman ay …uber na uber!
Juicekopo, kailan ba lalabas ang tunay na rason sa resign blues na ito ni Mang Ping?!
Keeping people speculate is very good fodder to cloud and mess up an issue especially if it involves credibility and honesty of those who are involved. The more speculating, the better. It’s a guessing game where the loser is the general public, because whatever the real reasons in this case, nobody will ever know. If ever, maybe pagputi ng uwak.
Dante Ang was the former make-up artist of GMA. Ang trabaho niya ay to create illusions, beautiful images and “spin to win”.
Is he already inside the track or still “spinning” his way to get inside the bakuran of Noynoy?
Ellen, disappointed ako sa iyo dahil bakit mo pinatulan si Dante Ang. Hindi ba siya ang top spinmaster ni GMA? Bakit natin siya paniniwalaan? Nagkaroon na ba ang Vera Files ng malalim na inbestigasyon sa isyu laban kay Ping?
Si Ping de Jesus na kakilala ko ay isa sa mga matapat na sundalo ni Dr. Onofre Corpus sa tangkang paghubog sa mga Career Executives ng gobyerno bago siya kinuha ni Cory sa gobyerno at pagkatapos ng ilang mga big shot na gaya ng mga Lopez at Pangilinan. Siguro naman kung me duda itong mga business moguls sa kakayahan ni Ping, hind nila ito pagkakatiwalaang mamahala sa kanilang mga negosyo.
Samantalang sino naman si Dante Ang? isang mapagsamantalang tao – katunayan yung binuo niyang Commission on Filipino Overseas ay maliwanag na paggawa lang ng pera ang motibo kasi hindi ko maunawaan kung bakit kailangang ikontrol mo ang mga Overseas Filipino samantalang wala namang binibigay ng serbisyo itong CFO
Sa presscon ni Pnoy at subsequently kay Mar Roxas, pareho nilang sinasabi ang kanilang ‘pagkagulat’ sa biglaang resignation ni Ping. Isip ko tuloy napaka ipokrito naman nilang dalawa, pero totoo nga ba ang information ng artikulo ni Mr Ang?
srcitizen, in finding out the truth, you have to listen to everybody, get all the information. Sift through what you have gathered.By doing so, maybe you will be able to know what’s the truth.
Do you know what’s the real story behind the resignation (if that’s what you want to believe) of Ping de Jesus?
Has Malacanang or Ping de Jesus or any of the undersecretaries denied the MT story?
In fact, if you listened to the presscon of Pnoy Tuesday when he announced the appointment of Mar, there were some tidbits about projects in the DOTC that confirmed some of items stated in the story.
Has anybody denied the COA report?
In my job, I have learned to listen to everybody. You don’t have to believe them.
You don’t close your eyes and ears to one version of the story just because it’s not pleasant to you.
If Dante Ang’s version of Ping de Jesus’ departure from DOTC is wrong, later he would be exposed as lying and irresponsible.
Meanwhile, because De Jesus himself is not giving us the full story, nor is Malacanang, we have to be open to all versions.
Ellen is right, we have to be more circumspect and be open, if what we’re really after is to make informed decisions but if we just want to make so much noise, its another story.
Some people like florry here have already made up their minds even before any information comes out, kaya like a pack of wolves they just spit and snarl and make so much noise akin to empty metal containers or shallow waters.
I can’t understand why some people are so determined to be so miserable, they expect the worst everytine and more disturbing, they want everybody to be miserable wih them.
Fact of the matter is, this administration is not perfect, and it certainly is not the one we need, but its what we have right now.
What we need is a comprehensive development plan for the country spanning 10 to 20 years, outlining where we want to be, what we want to achieve, with related supportive infrastructures. A plpan that goes beyond partisan politics, one that has no 6 year shelf life and whoever leads after one term is tasked to continue working on the plan until fruition. What we are seeing are new administrations coming up with their own plans every time, their own projects, its as if they are looking for ways of spending money or reasons for making money rather than focus on what really needs to be done.
Until we see leaders who see it this way, we will be reinventing the wheel every 6 years, each admin will try to malign the former, and it never ends.
“If Dante Ang’s version of Ping de Jesus’ departure from DOTC is wrong, later he would be exposed as lying and irresponsible.”
True. I just don’t trust Dante Ang.
I speculate that another group wants the P7.3B radar project. As this was perfected during the previous administration, aba naman bakit sila makikinabang e tapos na sila hihihi. Now, in government projects, if you wish to find anomalies, you can find one ALWAYS. But since this will entail another round of bidding (and on-the-shadows horsetrading), guess how many more months or years will it take, if it will come at all.
Tungkol sa Stradcom, mukhang tumbok ni MB.
I am for getting all information in search of the truth. But assessing source of information is as critical to get to the the truth.
1. MT, given its long existence, is out of the radar of advertisers & marketeers. No circulation, no readership, no reach. Not a wise media buy.
At the same time, publications exist due advertising. Ask then, how MT continue to exist. If there’s no advertising, funding must come in from somewhere. If from Dante Ang himself, how does he plan to recover his investment or at least sustain his newspaper.
2. Mr. Dante Ang, as far as I know, is a PR man. A communicator. As such he can help make or break anyone. Having a newspaper at his disposal can help ensure success.
To me, this ‘developing story’ is nothing but a propaganda job. To take the heat of noynoy and put off the fire that Ping’s resignation has created unexpectedly.
I pity Ping for being set up. I have witnessed first hand the kind of integrity this man possess. Literally, I can say that there’s no hidden skeleton in his closet, under his bed, garage, attic, bedroom, or any place in his house.
i was just reading something about corruption in the journalistic profession.there is what some called envelope journalism. one does not have to lie to be corrupt, but paid not to write.pinas is ranked among the top of corrupted journalists.
I saw it in the foreign news services how this new Air Traffic computer system is about to create the worst air disaster in history. The system freezes and hangs then it needs to be rebooted to untangle the instruction conflicts coming from ATC workstations.
Just imagine how many planes are circling NAIA waiting to be cleared for landing at runway 6/24 then the system reboots?
And we are paying this for Billions of pesos to a previously-blacklisted consortium? Magkanong dahilan?
De Jesusmaryosep, matutukso ka nga.
Biglang nagbago ang tingin ko dito kay De Jesus. Akala ko ay sakripisyo talaga ang ginawa niya nung bitiwan ang napakagandang pwesto sa private sector kapalit ng gov’t service, wala naman palang sakripisyo, mas malaking kwarta kasi ang nasa poder niya ngayon.
Wala na ba talagang pag-asa ang Pilipinas?
Este, Magno, walang logbets ang kapitbahay ko. Puro chicks ngayon ang nakatira sa paligid ko, hehehe.
Huling hirit, pwede ba, i-prioritize na yung FOI Act para imbes na tsismis at spekulasyon, facts na ang pinag-uusapan ng tao.
Bakit nga ba noong panahon ni Putot, gigil na gigil sila sa FOI? Ngayong sila na, wala na sa priority?
Pakisagot nga Atty. Paq Ochoa?
Sa paningin ko demolition job ang ginawa ni Dante Ang. Sa akin red flag ang magumpisa ng isang expose with “I have absolutely no reason to write ill of the man…” at pagkatapos eh sasabihin niya na yung alam niya a nanggaling sa anonymous source na bibihisan niya as a good authority on the issue – “I have it good authority.”
So anong ibig sabihin ng “good authority”? Insider ba sa Palasyo? O insider sa DOTC? Si PNoy kaya yun “good authority”? We don’t even know if Dante Ang is in a position to say who is or is not a “good authority.” So why take his word na solid nga ang source niya?
Nung binasa ko yun sinulat ni Dante Ang ang unang pumasok sa isip ko is why was the story leaked to a publicist, a well known spinmeister? Bakit sa kanya at hindi sa mga credible at legitimate investigative journalists tulad ni Ellen o PCIJ o Vera Files o Newsbreak?
YSa tingin ko ibinigay kay Ang kasi ang mga nabanggit kong investigative reporters ay hindi basta-bastang susulat ng storya base lamang sa sinabi ng isang source. Hindi mga stenographer yan. Hindi gumagawa yan ng storya na nakabase sa “talking points”.
They will probe, they will double check, not only the alleged facts but also the source. Sa madaling salita, mabusisi ang mga nasabing reporter. Kaya nga mataas ang credibilidad nila.
Ang ikalawang tanong na pumasok sa isipan ko ay ano ba ang motibo ng source ni Ang? Ano ang mapapala niya sa paninira kay De Jesus? May interes kaya siyang personal doon sa kontratang nabanggit ni Ang? Na perwisyo ba siya o makikinabang ba siya kung yun mga kontratang nabanggit ay bubuksan ulit for bidding?
At nakit babahirang corrupt si De Jesus? Maski nga ang oposisyon ay aminado na above reproach ang reputasyon ni De Jesus.
Ngayon yung related story ay galing din sa Manila Times. Samakatuwid, galing sa iisang bakuran si Ang at si Egco, yun sumulat ng related story.
#28 Jug,
Here’s my comment @23:
“Keeping people speculate is very good fodder to cloud and mess up an issue especially if it involves credibility and honesty of those who are involved. The more speculating, the better. It’s a guessing game where the loser is the general public, because whatever the real reasons in this case, nobody will ever know. If ever, maybe pagputi ng uwak”.
Now jug, try to understand what I said and tell me what makes you think that I already made up my mind? Why did I say “it’s a guessing game” and “nobody will ever know” if I already had a conclusion on the case? Just like you, the others and I are in the dark because nobody among the parties is talking and I bet nobody will ever will.
You missed big time.
manuel,
Mukhang solid nga ang source, paano ka makakakuha ng kopya ng Valentine’s Day letter ng COA kung puro heads lang ang involved?
The best proof however remains with the “resigned” officers themselves. They can always deny. But they haven’t.
Read further:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/06/07/11/multibillion-peso-air-traffic-system-deal-comes-under-fire
I have learned in my experience in news gathering that vital information may come from the most unlikely sources.
The source may be tainted but you have to sift through the info gathered. You have to learn to separate the info from the source.
In the coming days, I hope we will be able to find out the truth.
I too don’t trust Dante Ang really. But Ellen is right we should be open to other sources inorder to find the truth.
Meanwhile, if this is true that Pnoy sacked Ping De Jesus contrary to what the media feed us in the previous days, then I salute more to PNoy for such courageous act. Indeed no sacred cow on his administration, no matter how brilliant, attached to his mother’s administration before, etc. when one integrity is in question don’t take chances, let it go.
Keep it up PNOY, the Filipino people are with you.
bilib talaga ako sa yo tongue. i didn’t say anything more about the issue because i do business with the people involved. but the truth has a way of coming out, me and my big mouth are not needed here. 🙂
Just like you, the others and I are in the dark because nobody among the parties is talking and I bet nobody will ever will.
———————–
speak for yourself. i choose not to live in the dark, its not the way i roll. 🙂
@41
Ellen,
You will be doing everyone a great service if you get to the bottom of this controversy.
Please check out all three issues: the radar deal, the MRT, and Stradcom.
Nahihirapan akong maniwala na madumi si De Jesus. Pero kung may ebidensya laban sa kanya, dun ako papanig sa ebidensya.
Kung sakasakali naman na walang ebidensya laban kay De Jesus, sana maungkat natin kung sino ang sumisira sa kanya at bakit.
#44 Jug,
“speak for yourself. i choose not to live in the dark, its not the way i roll”.
Now, now, come on Jug, so it’s you who already made up his mind.
I thought you said that one has to be circumspect and open.
Maybe you’re very fond of babies who know how to do the beautiful eyes and “close-open”.
Manuel has a point (15):
Kung walang ebidensiya, possible ngang may sumisira kay de Jesus as a way to strike down the projects — could be from one of the other “losing” proponents of the above projects.
Reminds me of the other radar deal some 10-12 years ago. Pipirma na si Erap. It was a go na talaga and then it was “exposed”.
You certainly remember this Ellen — when Josie Lichauco’s project which was about to be signed by Erap got exposed (UK’s BAe Marconi)? It was a demolition job. True, there had been a few people on the take but overall, it was a demolition job on, i.e., to “kill”, the Marconi deal by companies who were proposing similar deals, but which sadly affected then DOTC secretary and Josie herself (although the DOTC sec Jun Rivera came out of it unscathed dahil he had just started and really “he was still not in the thick of things at the DOTC”, pero Josie didn’t). It was not meant to shoot down the DOTC sec nor Josie but there was no other choice but to “wound” the officials at the DOTC if only to take down the BAe Marconi deal and their Araneta agent.
Kaya, if Ping de Jesus is really a good bloke as they say he is (and I think he is because we dealt with him during Cory’s time and he was OK which I can’t say of some who worked under her and who, interestingly, are still found in the entourage of PNoy today), then it could be that it’s really really all about killing the deal. Ping could be merely collateral damage 🙁
Maybe you’re very fond of babies who know how to do the beautiful eyes and “close-open”. – florry – June 9, 2011 11:21 pm
napatawa ako sa comment mo florry! Jug naisahanka ni florry..hahaha
And incidentally, Mar Roxas is related to the Aranetas, isn’t he? The same Aranetas who were in on the initial BAe Marconi radar as agents (hundreds of millions of dollars iyang deal na yan with a tens of millions in direct commission or fees for the “agent” alone) that was shot down during the time of Erap… And I seem to recall that Ping and Mar are not exactly from the same provincial group (naknampucha, I can never remember the names of those ethnic groups that are fighting to pick crumbs from the table of Pinoy!!!) na may away away sila…
Fighting and full body contact combats among proponents and their local guys are worse when it comes to DOTC deals than deals with DND involving the military…
Because the takes are bigger, juicier, easier too!
You gotta find out which Araneta is still lurking at DOTC 🙂
Ana and Ellen,
Below is an excerpt from the column of Butch del Castillo in the Business Mirror. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/opinion/12279-was-he-sacked-ping-opens-up
(BTW, I am not a fan of del Castillo. I find him as credible as Dante Ang. However, here he writes from the first person so De Jesus can deny del Castillo’s account if it is not true.)
“Was I in luck when he answered my call yesterday. He said, in his usually calm and collected voice, that “no, Butch, I was not fired.” He also asked, just as evenly toned, how could anyone concoct such a thing.
“Mr. Dante Ang’s published story, I’m afraid, was far from authentic.” He added, quite charitably, that “he must have been misled by his source.” (In newsroom lingo, to be misled by a source is to be electrocuted, or nakuryente.
“In fact,” he said, “I just finished—about five minutes ago—composing a letter I am sending to Dr. Dante A. Ang. I just want to set the record straight.” Ever the gentleman, he also said, “I hope he uses it.”
Thanks, MB. See? Information can come even from as you implied not so credible sources.
Ellen,
Truthfully, alanganin ako until I see the letter of De Jesus printed in the Manila Times or De Jesus himself says he wrote the letter.
Basta ako I believe De Jesus resigned because of Virginia Torres. At isang malaking pagkakamali ang nagawa ng presidente. na disappoint ako talaga sa presidente
If you don’t mind heto ang link sa reaction ko dun sa nangyari http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/opinion/12147-letter-to-president-aquino
Just read the letter… Dante Ang must be feeling like a typical nig-nog.
Poor de Jesus, oo nga, Manuel, victim of moral harassment siguro ni Torres (she is the shooting buddy of Aquino di ba?)
ana,
shooting buddy at tiga tarlac din. matagal na yata may close ties and mga pamilya nila.
Manuel
Baka yan ang demolition man, i.e., the “good authority” thinggy in Ang’s letter.
On Dante Ang:
I can still remember very clearly that it was Dante Ang that called for a meeting between the PPA GM Al Cusi (a student of mine at the UP MBA in Cebu, and a good one at that) and the officers of the Distribution Management Association (DMAP) together with Willie Villarama (ex-Congressman and then a GMA fire fighter), Atty. Rod Domingo (yes, Coogie’s father,for DMAP)and then observer Romulo Neri (whom I just met after being invited to listen to him speak about “Booty Capitalism”.
The issue then was about unconscionable cargo handling tariff rates and the underhanded manner which PPA used to justify such rates.
After having clarified on the issue at hand, my former student had the arrogance to say: “If you don’t like my decision, so, sue me”. What gall!!! Rod Domingo was about to stand up and walk out of the meeting held at the Manila Hotel (where I really saw how observer Romy enjoyed the offered snacks then).
Dante Ang became speechless as all the rest were. I have forgotten how that sordid meeting ended, but nothing came out of it, PPA and the cargo handling operators had their cake.
So much for local affairs….
I came here to Ellen’s blog to call attention to a deja vu situation happening with the US President. I was alarmed because the first thing on my mind was: This is exactly what has happened to us under the previous past Administrations: Lying and corruption has been brought to its highest level during GMA’s stint. (Note: Former classmate of Bill).
Before making any further comments on this topic I would like those that are interested to look for similarities to view YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw&feature=related. (If unable to locate the link, just search of “FAKED OBAMA BIRTH CERTIFICATE”.
Ellen, would you do us the favor of writing about this here in your blog? I would like to know what your take is on my observations on “similarities”. Is there really a world-wide common thread? What can the Internet and the alternative media do about this?
Thanks for reading; my blog is still up if you are interested to know more on the details on the use of deception and lying during the GMA administration and my recollection on the role of Dante Ang. To find it, simply search for “Dante Ang, Al Cusi, maritimewatchkeeper, Romy Neri, Villarama”. You will be shown my archives on this topics.
Have a nice day at Ellensville!!!
Thanks,MrG.
As to writing your requested topic, I’m sorry to say that I’m neckdeep in my commitments. I’m not taking on additional work as of now. I have to finish my commitments first.
Still trying to sift through accusations and counter-accusations:
Palace blasts outgoing DoTC official for RORO comment
The Palace blasted an outgoing official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for making what it deems “irresponsible” statements on a roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ports project undertaken by the previous Arroyo administration and currently under review.
A published report in The Philippine Star on Friday noted Undersecretary for Planning and Project Management Ruben S. Reinoso Jr. championing the approved P11.8-billion modular contract with French consortium Eiffel-Matiere SAS, insisting that cancellation of the project will have dire consequences.
Moreover, Mr. Reinoso said that the project was already underway, with funds requested from the Department of Budget and Management, when Transport Secretary Jose “Ping” P. de Jesus had ordered a review undertaken.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda rebuked Mr. Reinoso for what he termed “a crude attempt to unilaterally dictate policy” and a “disservice” both to outgoing Secretary de Jesus and incoming Secretary Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II.
“There have been many questions raised about the RORO ports project of the previous administration. These are being studied and the proper decision will be announced in due time. The incoming DoTC Secretary Mar Roxas has already announced that he is undertaking a review of the RORO program,” said Mr. Lacierda.
“The statement of Ruben Reinoso Jr. … is merely the opinion of an official who is departing the scene,” dismissed Mr. Lacierda.
Last week, following the announcement of Mr. de Jesus’s resignation, effective June 30, Mr. Reinoso had said he would be going back to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), where he is assistant director-general, as he had merely been seconded to the Transportation department.
In his capacity as deputy director-general, Mr. Reinoso reportedly had a role in the approval of the contract. –Johanna D. Poblete
Now the RORO?
How blessed have I been lately here in Ellensville! Contrary to what a PDI columnist’s efforts to peddle the modular RORO ramps like it were snake oil, there have been a lot of things going wrong since day one when GMA made the announcement that she had signed EO 170 aka Superferry er…. este… Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH).
Before the term “public-private” initiatives became the vogue, the principle had already been part of policy inside EO 170 and starting from it’s title even. I should know, I was part of a team (funded by USAID) that pushed for the concept and eventually joined another team that went into polishing the EO.
This is not BS and to anyone interested, come and visit my lethargic blog. It has a search utility and simply type “RORO” and you can be treated to my archives.
I have already sent an email to the new Secretary inviting him to let someone dredge the maritime archives for things, documents, news items hints on the roles of Cito Lorenzo, and another Agriculture Secretary and his Under Secretary the names I can no longer remember (maybe just plain senior moments) when they lied about what the President actually announced in Cagayan de Oro ordering for a roll-back in port charges, aka cargo handling which is smack inside the turf of one of my students in MBA with the famous words….. so, sue me [if you ].
And yes I did. But in one case it turned out that he was tasked by Malacanang to look into the matter. Ganun na ba lang ka baba ang tingin ng former bright student ko sa akin? He did not do anything since it would have been tantamount to an accused given a chance to investigate his accuser. onli in da….
Tuloy, nagsisi ako sa uno na binigay ko sa kanya.. huhuhu. 🙁
I am not leaving a url here for my site; simply search for the tag words, “maritimewatchkeeper, RORO, Pena, Cusi, Sevilla” or if you have been lucky to have a friend inside the PPA, try including his name, you might be in for a surprise! You can also try your luck with “Sta Ana”.
What a day and thanks to Ellenville and the blog owner for allowing a retarded… ops, I mean retired maritime watch keeper to blow some horns here.
Thank you all and sleep tight.
Thanks, MrG.
Here are other links re Roro and reinoso which should give us an idea about the issues at the DOTC that lead to the departure of De Jesus from the Aquino government.
Transport exec denies pushing for Ro-Ro project
By Paolo G. Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso said yesterday that the recommendations by the department, which said the Ro-Ro project should either be scrapped or renegotiated at the very least, should speak for itself.
A copy of the Department of Transportation and Communications report was sent to the President last month. The review committee, which came out of the report, was chaired by Reinoso.
“The report I signed was endorsed by Secretary Jose de Jesus himself,” Reinoso said.
He denied the statement that he was pushing for the implementation of the controversial Ro-Ro project. However, he said whatever the President’s decision will be, it will have to be recognized that the government signed the P11.8-billion contract with the French contractor Eiffel Matiere.
“Honoring the contract is different from proceeding with the project,” he said.
“Renegotiating for better terms or scrapping the project entirely will have consequences. But these consequences will be a small price to pay to save the government from paying for expensive ports that the country has no use for,” Reinoso added.
Thia was Reinoso’s statement that earned a rebuke from Malacanang #59:
DOTC says roro ports not overpriced
THE Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the construction of modular roll-on, roll-off (roro) ports nationwide to link the country’s provinces was “not overpriced.”
Ruben Reinoso, Transportation and Communications undersecretary for planning and projects told reporters that based on a committee report, the P11-billion Greater Maritime Access (GMA) Ports, which will be funded by BNP Paribas was “not overpriced. The issue was the site selections . . . overpriced is a wrong terminology.”
Here’s another item from PhilStar’s Boo Chanco:
Start fresh on NorthRail
By Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star)
The NorthRail is a good example of how two of the three resigned usecs of Ping de Jesus tried to undercut him possibly in pursuit of their own agenda. Ping’s downfall can be traced to his failure to discern what drove those two.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=66&articleId=694630
Here are some useful links from MrG’s site:
http://maritimewatchkeeper.info/?p=269
http://maritimewatchkeeper.info/?p=301
http://maritimewatchkeeper.info/?p=308
http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/index10.php?doctype=Executive%20Orders&docid=a45475a11ec72b843d74959b60fd7bd645f1dfa715328
http://reklamo.ph/eo170/
The NorthRail is a good example of how two of the three resigned usecs of Ping de Jesus tried to undercut him possibly in pursuit of their own agenda. Ping’s downfall can be traced to his failure to discern what drove those two.- Boo Chanco
If Ping de Jesus was not wise enough to rein in the greed of his subordinates, that means his stint at the DOTC was not really untainted. That means there were irregular transactions. There’s some truth to the Manila Times story.
Thanks Ellen for the assist. You deserve a peck on the cheeks from a 70-year old retarded…., I mean retired maritime expert. I am not trying to blow my own horn. But it would help that the articles referred to by Ellen are authentic. Perhaps if one would want to blow my take on this and debunk my claims, I invite you to search for”pascual, manila mail, gambito, maritime authority, villiarama”
What you will be reading is history and that would give you young one’s and idea of how country may be served without necessarily coddling up to politicians and oligarchs.
I am not about to junk what I learned from Romy Neri about his booty capitalists. He had a very distinct opportunity to call a spade, a spade. Why Romy, that has been a nagging question in the mind of one that you convince that we, together with Ka Willie were starting to go on the “matuid na landas”
Were the snacks offered at the Manila Hotel really that good?
Good luck, Romy and I really mean to be sincere about this. To this day I am hoping that someone could tell exactly what happened to the Booty Capitalist Hunter. Were you scared about the stare from their ravenous eyes?
Enjoy!!!
MrG, the powers have changed hands. But the problems? Meron talagang mga taong magaling lumaro. Consistent in being a crony of whoever is sitting. Sila pa rin ang problema mo, heheh.
As to Romy, he was definitely afraid Tisoy would actually break his bones.
Romy deserves to grow a new set of spine anyway.
TGW, I prefer this shortened handle (rather than just Tounge or worse, T-T…hehehe).
From the pre-departure area, I can only set back and relax ruminate about the happenings
in the past and wonder just where this country that has been so kind to me is headed.
Elsewhere, in the Internet, I have claimed to have been born an American citizen with
both parents having enjoyed the blessings of the protection of the USA. Had we not been robbed of our birth right, we would have been qualified for the position of Barak Obama; born else where, not in the Continental USA. I am sure that
you must have read this; just in case you have not, search for the keywords [territorial
filipino, 14th amendment, july 4, 1946). You won’t miss it because the first four search
results on top point to the same blog where I am a bit player – seeking to post it for
posterity and until such time that the public hosts to the blogs shall close it down.
Opps, this is getting to be an out of topic post; but let me go back to my pre-departure
area. True, your statement about a new administration has not rid me of my problems. That
is why, I was driven back to Ellensville and scanned for the timely article on Ping de
Jesus to post my concern about the events unfolding (whether true or not) about issues on
deception from the highest officials (see #57).
At this point, I don’t have any suggestions since I would not want to “walk the talk” anymore. The joints already creak just to stand up; so, walking is out of the question. Counsel? Yes!!! Now that Ping de Jesus is no longer DOTC Secretary, I can already share with you my covert site where I have been re-hashing items from my archives… those that still seem relevant today. I have already forgotten how to contact you directly; but I think the last time I shared something with you, I shared it with Ellen too. I will do just that for my covert and passworded blog.
Cheers!!!!
Ellen. another information to chew on. Not worth posting in your blog?
Aquino ordered DoTC chief to alter report on LTO deal
EXCLUSIVE
By Charlie V. Manalo
06/13/2011
The cat is out of the bag. Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus did not resign from his post due to health reasons but rather quit in disgust after President Aquino ordered him to change his recommendation on the automated system being rendered by Land Transportation Office (LTO) Information Technology (IT) provider Stradcom that will in effect terminate its contract with the government which was the demand of no less than Aquino’s favorite kabarilan (shooting buddy), LTO head Virginia Torres.
The Tribune yesterday obtained a copy of a memorandum for the President written by De Jesus on the Stradcom deal which pointed out lost opportunities for the government if the deal is terminated.
The memorandum, dated May 23, 2011, received by the Palace at four in the afternoon or three days later on May 26 and assigned Reference No. RE0056600, contained in details the findings of the DoTC on the benefits of Stradcom’s automated system for LTO.
More: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.html