That’s the essense of Aquino’s televised ranting last Wednesday.
Apparently, Aquino and his team have sensed the public indignation over misuse of pork barrel funds, intended in principle for the poor but ended up in public officials pockets. If everything is going well, why would he make changes in his communication setup. He enjoyed high approval ratings with the condescending Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda (aligned with Mar Roxas faction) assisted by Abigail Valte and Communications strategist Ricky Carandang as his mouthpieces. Why then the need to bring in the unassuming Press Secretary Sonny Coloma, aligned with the 2010 election Samar group that supported Vice President Jojo Binay?
Aquino rails at those who criticize his creation: the Disbursement Accelerated Program.
His reaction was to blame senators Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla, Juan Ponce-Enrile (whom he didn’t even name.)
A boy wanted to find out what happens if the legs of the beetle are removed.
At first he shouted at the six-legged beetle “Move” and tapped the table. The beetle moved fast. He started with removing two legs of the beetle on both sides. Then he tapped the table and instructed “the beetle to “Move”. He noticed the beetle moved slower. He removed the next two legs and again told the beetle to “Move”, and he noted the beetle moved even slower. Then he removed the last two legs, shouted at the insect and tapped the table. The beetle didn’t move.
His conclusion: when you remove the beetle’s legs, it becomes deaf.
Hopeless.
This was posted in the preceding article:
saxnviolins – November 3, 2013 10:30 pm
All because they want to save the Pork, and the DAP.
Sabi ilalaan ang pork for Zambo and Bohol. But the pork is tied up in litigation in the Supreme Court. If they truly are concerned for the victims, the President could have certified a bill for emergency appropriations. How long did it take for the House to approve the impeachment? A few hours? I’m sure they could have moved just as fast to appropriate for Zambo and Bohol.
But they would rather save the pork, so they are waiting for the Supreme Court litigation, which will be heard on the 11th, and maybe, decided in a few weeks, if the Court moves fast. Meantime, namamatay ang mga tao.
So if, and when they do get the go-signal to use pork for Zambo and Bohol, huli na ang lahat. Aahin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? Ipakain sa mga buwaya.
If the Congress was sent a certified bill after the calamities, money could have been appropriated in a day. Simultaneous bills could have been filed in the House and Senate.
So you see, all the bleeding heart declarations about using pork for Zambo and Bohol is just posturing, so that they can save their blank checks. That is what pork is, actually – blank checks for the swines.
Above, I said, if and when they get the go-signal. But pork is actually unconstitutional; so is the DAP, as I will explain in a later post.
Magsisimba muna ako.
Very good points, saxnviolins.
The beetle experiment reminds me of my fave The Beatles 🙂
After three years in office, I now come to conclusion that his administration is no different from the previous and the past. Yes, Pnoy is honest and clean; but not his men who he’s fully aware of. What’s very disappointing is his tendency to defend and protect them despite knowing their wrong doings. Indeed, the KKK is very true. Pnoy is to be similarly blamed for ignoring his corrupt men. Is he now being put hostage by his close inner circle particularly the Hyatt 10 group? What brought Erap and even Marcos down may happen to him too. His bet Mar Roxas may even leave him before 2016 if Roxas pursues his presidential ambition in 2016. For who would want to be endorsed by an inefficient leader?
Joker Arroyo:
And nowhere has the weakness of the President’s men been so starkly shown than in the pork barrel scandal that has been roiling the government and Congress since July, especially after the so-called Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) came to light and got challenged in the Supreme Court.
“Now that President Noynoy is under siege, his officers also rushed [forward, but positioned] themselves behind the President for him to take the bullets for them,’’ he said.
And with them nowhere to be seen, the President addressed the nation on television last Wednesday night, but his speech writer ruined it for him, Arroyo said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/519689/aquinos-cabinet-unwilling-to-take-bullet-for-him-joker-arroyo
Lack of experience and leadership is the best to describe Pnoy’s governance. That’s what we got for placing someone who’s not exactly qualified to lead a nation. His late mother Cory was also just placed by people or shall we say those anti-Marcos groups. Many say she was selected not elected.
Let’s be reminded that Pnoy’s election to presidency was very timely because people were mourning for Cory’s death; and that people were so disgusted with GMA’s rampant corruption for nine years that they were willing to place anyone to get rid of her. Pnoy did not even perform well as congressman and senator. What outstanding bills has he sponsored and passed? Last election, Erap even placed second to Pnoy despite being convicted of plunder and INC’s surprising switch to endore Pnoy and not Erap.
Regarding Joker, I used to admire this good and honest human rights lawyer. But he was also eaten by the system. Where was he during GMA’s nine years of corruption and incompetence? Why only bark now?
Oy. Gumagalaw na naman ang mga galamay ni Carandang. Ang hirap mag log-in. My old trick of persistent logging in did not work.
Of course, there is a work-around. Hindi ko na sasabihin. Mag-isip ka kumag.
About the pork. Para sa tao daw yan. Reminds me of the joke about collections in Church, which are also, for the people daw.
Bishop visits three priests.
Bishop: Reverend Fathers, how do you divide the collection? What percent goes to God (works of charity) and what percent do you retain for yourselves?
Priest 1 – Your Brace, God is my priority. So I draw a big circle on the ground, and toss the money up. What lands in the circle is God’s; the little that lands outside is mine.
Priest 2 – Your Grace, I believe in fairness. So I draw I straight line. What lands on the right is God’s, what lands on the left is mine.
Priest 3 – Your Grace, I completely surrender to the will of the Father.
I just toss it up. What stays up is God’s, what comes down in mine.
Alin sa palagay niyo ang method ng inyong mga Congressman?
#5 Good one.
I pick the third. Because when you toss it up, nothing comes down. But when the congressman goes to heaven, he shall claim all what were tossed up when he was still on earth. 🙂
#5 LOL!
I would like to share this with seniors including Madam Ellen:
Texting for Seniors:
ATD: At The Doctor’s
BFF: Best Friend Fainted
BTW: Bring The Wheelchair
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM: Covered By Medicare
CGU: Can’t Get Up
CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center
DWI: Driving While Incontinent
FWIW: Forgot Where I Was
FYI: Found Your Insulin
GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low !
GHA: Got Heartburn Again
HGBM: Had Good Bowel Movement
IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?
LMD0: Laughing My Dentures Out
LOL: Living On Lipitor
OMMR: On My Massage Recliner
ROFL…CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing…And Can’t Get Up
TTYL: Talk To You Louder
WAITT: Whom Am I Talking To?
WTFA: Wet The Furniture Again
WTP: Where’s The Prunes?
WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil
GGLKI: Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking In
Mga bata-batuta ni Noy, mga banal na nakukulapulan ng banakal!
Fire them all, rating nya sisirit ulit. No rigodon in his mouthpiece will do him good as long as there’s no sample of cutting off his men.
Matigas lang ba ulo ni Noy, nagtutulog-tulugan, o talagang mahina ang tuktok?
Nasiwalat ang PDAF/DAP scam under Pnoy’s admin, and people are thankful he let it uncovered furthermore.
Pero dioskoday, gawan mo ng solutions na maituwid ito, not telling one and sundry that you are not a thief over a broadcast takeover. Masyadong malayo sa focus ng dapat mga measures to correct the issue.
‘nung kainitan ng gulo sa zamboanga city ay kung ano anong pangako ang binitiwan ni noynoy tungkol sa rehabilitation ng mga barangay na winasak ng mga rebelde ni misuari. gayundin, todo pakikiramay ang meyor at halos mapatid ang litid sa galit sa mga bandidong MNLF. nariyan ang paglalaan daw ng pondo upang maging panimula sa pagbangon ng mga tao. pero ngayon, ano ang maririnig mula sa bibig nila? ang mababasa sa diyaryo at mapapanood sa balita sa TV?
nandiyang kulang daw ang pera at pinaplano pa ang pagsisimula ng pabahay. kuntodo may seminar pangkabuhayan. may pagbibigay ng relief goods na kulang na kulang.
nagkakasakit ang mga nasa evacuation centers. ilan na ang namamatay na ang sanhi ay sakit lamang na pangkaraniwang hindi nila mabigyan ng tamang lunas gayung alam nilang WALANG WALA kahit kusing ang mga kawawang umaasa sa kanilang tulong.
maliwanag lamang na IISA ang ibig sabihin nito – MAS GINUGUSTO nilang nagkakapeste na ang mga tao! bakit? SAYANG ang perang gagastusin upang makapagsimula ang mga naging biktima ng karahasan. dapat, KANILA na lamang!
Kapag naantala ang pagpapatupad ng proyekto, natural, hindi rin ito gugugulan ng pondo. Hindi po natin hinahayaang matulog ang pondong ito: humanap tayo ng programang nakapila sa ilalim ng ahensyang mabilis magpatupad, at doon natin itinutok ang pondong natipid, pati na rin ang dagdag na perang kinita ng ating gobyerno.
Eighth paragraph, I am not a thief speech.
What? Did the speech writer just make the Boss admit to technical malversation?
Erap was done in by a conspiracy. But this guy is being hit by friendly fire.
Re: #12
Ilang beses nang sinita yan dati. Na-qualify na rin yan ni Abad na kailangan, nasa budget yung item para maprioritize yung SARO. Di ko lang alam kung bakit inuulit-ulit pa rin yang statement na yan.
Kungdi ako nakakamali, si Ted Failon ang nag-attempt i-trap si Abad sa technical malversation, yun nga lang may qualification na dapat nasa budget.
Wala namang problema dun sa mabilis magpatupad ng programa. Natural yan para sa efficient management practice, mas mabilis ang allocation ng replenishment kung mabilis ang implementation, simple! Pero yung sentro ng programa niya – yung PPP – epic failure! Yan sana ang magdadala ng bandera natin para ipakita na maunlad tayo, invisible pa rin. Wala ni isang gustong makipartner.
Ang problema ko, yung mga ahensyang mabagal o yung walang pinatutupad, pero hindi naman sinisibak. Agriculture, DOTC, DPWH, DTI, Customs, MMDA puro kuyakoy ang nakaupo. Ituro mo sa akin ang isang proyektong natapos diyan simulang umupo si Noynoy. Meron ba? Mabuti sana kung naantala lang. E mukhang walang project talaga e.
Swerte lang siya at masipag ang kalahati ng Finance (BIR, Central Bank) Palpak naman yung kalahati (Customs) Ganunpaman, malakas mangolekta kaya marami siyang pera. Nakakainip na. Kelan pa iaaward yung big ticket projects, pag nalapit nang umupo si Binay?
Nalintikan na.
#11. Mags, sa tindi ng nangyari sa Zamboanga ay nakapagtataka na walang follow up na balita tungkol sa rehabilitasyon ng lugar at mga biktima ng gera-gerahan ni Misuari. Something is wrong somewhere, hindi nga mahuli-huli ang kontrabida.
#12. Erap was done in by a conspiracy. But this guy is being hit by friendly fire.
Hindi nakakahalata, atty, that he is being worked out by his own guys.
More friendly fire found at the government website.
gov.ph/2013/10/07/qa-on-the-disbursement-acceleration-program/
Lagyan ng tatlong w sa harap.
The complete paragraph of the speech is as follows:
So kumukuha ng pondo galing sa mabagal na agency, at ibibigay sa mabilis. For example, if the bidding for bridges is slow, kunin ang pondo at ibigay kay Dinky Soliman. That is the very definition of technical malversation; because the intent of Congress is to build a bridge, and that will cannot be subverted by saying that the DPWH is slow, so I will give it to the DSWD.
The explanation in the government website is even more revealing.
I-post ko muna ito, to see if it gets through, because somebody is hacking Ellen’s blog again.
This is from SnV. He has problem getting into this blog.
The explanation says:
The explanation further states that:
Book VI Chapter 5 Section 39 of the 1987 Administrative Code authorizes the President to fund deficiencies through savings. It states:
Except as otherwise provided in the General Appropriations Act, any savings in the regular appropriations authorized in the General Appropriations Act for programs and projects of any department, office or agency, may, with the approval of the President, be used to cover a deficit in any other item of the regular appropriations….
These are further defined in the General Provisions of the GAA. In the 2011 GAA, Section 59 reiterates the Constitutional authority of the President and heads of other branches to augment budget items from savings in other items. Section 60 further defines savings as follows:
Savings refer to portions or balances of any programmed appropriation in this Act free from any obligation or encumbrance that are:
(i) still available after the completion or final discontinuance or abandonment of the work, activity or purpose for which the appropriation is authorized;
(ii) from appropriations balances arising from unpaid compensation and related costs pertaining to vacant positions and leaves of absence without pay; and
(iii) from appropriations balances realized from the implementation of measures resulting in improved systems and efficiencies and thus enabled agencies to meet and deliver the required or planned targets, programs and services approved in this Act at a lesser cost.
Note it says completion, final discontinuance or abandonment.
But the government itself says, kasama ang slow-moving. So the slow-moving, by the very fact that it is moving, has not yet been completed, abandoned, or discontinued.
What this does then, is subvert the will of Congress. By deliberately making a project move slowly, the Executive can impound (that is the American legal term) the funds, and dedicate it to an expenditure not determined by Congress.
The Executive, therefore, has arrogated unto itself, the power reposed solely in Congress – to determine where the funds should be spent.
SnV, I think Pnoy and his advisers, have learned that many members of the Supreme Court have the same view as you explained. Thus, the Oct 30 speech was, in a way, for the SC justices.
One lawyer said Malacañang has already gotten a lot of “favors” from the SC (RH bill, Sin tax, ARMM elections) that they are not sure if the SC will be inclined to be lenient to them on DAP. Thus, the panic.
The RH bill is not a favor. There really is no basis to declare it unconstitutional. The sin tax is not a favor either, because Congress has the absolute discretion to tax – what to tax, how much to tax.
It is probably only the ARMM elections that were really iffy, and a favor.
So now they will go by the playbook of Macoy and Estelito Mendoza. Withdraw the DAP, and argue that the petition of Syjuco et al is now moot. If they succeed, then there will be no declaration of unconstitutionality; and they can revive the DAP after the outrage has died down.
tribune.net.ph/headlines/palace-mulls-scrapping-dap-to-preempt-sc-action
favor?
ibig bang sabihin TALAGANG wala na ang independence and equal execution of functions of each branch of the government? maliwanag lang ba na ang namamayani ngayon ay tropa-tropa system gaya ng kamag-anak, kamag-aral, kabarilan at kaklase kaya walang maaaring asahang matino sa inakala nating mag-aahon sa atin mula sa pagkakalublob kawalanghiyaang isinabog ng nakaraang administrasyon?
ala, ay juan, kilos na. ay, huwag ka nang asa pang ibabangon ka ng mga nambola sa iyo nitong nakaraang eleksiyon. wala kang aasahan ngay-on kundi ang iyong sariling kakayahan na la’ang, eh. hala, ay sulong na.
Angelo Reyes
By ERIK ESPINA
With the Malampaya Funds the subject of public scrutiny and the manner past and current administrat ions disbursed, used or abused executive funds, separate from Congress’ approved General Appropriations Act, former Secretary Angelo Reyes comes to mind.
Those in uniformed and government sector who worked or had an experience with the former AFP chief and Cabinet members have their own impression or chronicle regarding “Sir Angie”, his nickname to juniors.
It is not the intent of this piece to correct or modify their story or portrait on the man. Mine is to share a modest account, and present unique, albeit personal vignettes on Reyes as I knew him. A man I appreciated in our mini-discussions, and who, in my last memory of him always had a welcome smile.
I first met Reyes as commander of the 5th Division in Isabela. We spoke in his Spartan quarters about 9 pm regarding Civil Military Operations (CMO) and its significance in insurgency environment. I recall his words, CMO being not as easy as some people think it is, in comparison to actual operations.
He asserted given the AFP’s superiority of arms and logistical support, one can predict the outcome in an encounter. But in CMO, it would be more difficult to foretell the impact after a campaign is conducted, in clear and qualitative terms. If not after an appreciable time. It all makes perfect sense since this is not the theater of body-bags, arms captured and territory recovered but the sphere of the “hearts and minds.”
He said, if you do a good deed in the middle of the forest and no one knows about it, meaning with no media to sound the trumpets, is the action effective? To its full potential?
Two incidents stand out on “Angie’s” drawing his proverbial line in the sand on patriotism and decency in public office, which requires telling.
I was in the habit of visiting him in various military/Cabinet positions he occupied, and he enjoyed the exchanges simply because it was a friend popping by with stories and politics. Plus, I was not there for favors.
In one visit, his secretary “Sandy” informed me to proceed to his alternative Camp Crame office as DILG Boss. When I arrived, he was beaming and in a surprise move, closed and locked the doors.
After a span, he opened up (his lawyer was present), and said to me, in Tagalog, “After what they did in 2004, enough is enough. I cannot do what they want. I will not do it.” He was referring to a plan to also cheat a “Cha-Cha” plebiscite to enable the shift to parliamentary form by the past administration and stay in power. Angie was transferred.
The second was, how then-energy secretary Reyes dribbled a Palace order to have the Malampaya Funds transferred to Department of Agriculture. Memos would go back and forth from the Office of the Secretary to Legal Staff for comment. Until exasperated, the legal of DOE, requested clarification as to what the secretary really wanted. And Angie said, “Don’t you get it”?
During an angry call by the President, he said, a written authorization was required, as a coequal department cannot transfer funds to another. The voice on the other line, in no uncertain terms, said it would be sent ASAP. Putting down the phone, he said, “we tried, at least we managed to delay it.” He was referring to the inevitable fund misuse and corruption.
(Source: Page 4, Manila Bulletin issue October 31, 2013, Thursday)
Ganu’n pala. WHY DID HE NOT RESIGN AND LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THESE ANOMALOUS ACTS BY THE THEN SHITTING PRESIDENT AND HER ALLIES?
IF HIS WORDS WERE TRUE REGARDING WHAT THEY (GLORIA’S AND HER LAPDOGS IN THE CONGRESS) TRIED TO DO TO PERPETUATE HER IN POWER, WHY DID HE (REYES) CHOOSE TO REMAIN SILENT THAT LONG, KEPT AND FINALLY BROUGHT WITH HIM ALL THESE SECRETS IN HIS GRAVE?
AAAAH. LOYALTY AND PATRIOTISM REYES’ STYLE.
Thanks to this writer-friend of Gloria’s savior and hero, nalaman na natin ngayon ang mga lihim na pinakatago tago ni Angelo Reyes. But take note, ipinagmalaki pa ‘yung pagsasabing “sobra na, tama na”, at ‘yung pag-delay daw niya ng paglilipat ng pondo’ng Mala-ampalaya. Parang mamamayan ang nakinabang. Tst. tsk. tsk.
Sa administrasyon ngayon ni Noynoy, ano ang pagkakaiba? Meron ba?
#22 Angie could have told all before his alleged suicide. He would have served his country much better.