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Category: Governance

Robredo: matino, mahusay, mapagkatiwalaan

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2012

Thanks to Malou Tiquia for this photo.
Ang halaga ng buhay ay hindi nasusukat sa haba kungdi kung paano mo ginamit ang bawat minuto o oras na biyaya ng Panginoon.

Masasabi natin na walang nasayang na oras sa sobra 54 taong ibinigay ng Panginoon sa nasawing secretary ng Department of Interior and Local Government na si Jesse Robredo.

We join all those who grieve for the passing of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. We will always remember him to be a decent and competent government official.

We also echo the call of Solar News’ Pia Hontiveros “Leave no one behind. Not the pilots. Not the rescuers. Not the divers. Let’s take care of everyone.”

Contrary to earlier reports when Robredo’s body was retrieved from the ill-fated Piper Seneca’s fuselage yesterday, the bodies of the aircraft owner, Capt. Jessup Bahinting and co-pilot Sri Lankan Kshitiz Chand, have not yet been recovered.

Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas said the bodies of the two pilots were seen slumped in the cockpit. Retrieval operations will resume today.

We pray that the families Robredo, Bahinting and Kshitis be blessed with strength to sustain them in this hour of sorrow. We also pray for the complete healing of Robredo’s aide, who survived the plane crash, Chief Insp. Jun Abrasado.

Continue readingRobredo: matino, mahusay, mapagkatiwalaan

Yes Virginia, their telephones work

Published by Ellen on August 13, 2012

By MARILYN MANA-AY ROBLES, VERA Files

The week past was very revealing. Filipinos again displayed resilience in the midst of tragedy. As the floods came and swept away treasured material possessions people grinned and bore it out. Some were unable to have food for days and shivered in the cold. Even the untimely death of loved ones buried in mud was taken as mere fate. Could something have been done to prevent or reduce the effect of this calamity?

Yes, something could have been done. We have a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) if you need help. They operate 24/7.

The hotlines of NDRRMC are 911-1406, 912-2665 and 912-5668.

Continue readingYes Virginia, their telephones work

The gift of sunshine after the rains

Published by Ellen on August 13, 2012

Marikina residents doing their laundry. Photo by Luis Liwanag of VERA Files
What a joy to have two days of sunshine after several days of heavy rains.

Floodwaters are receding and relief goods can now be delivered to areas once inaccessible.

Please click here (VERA Files) for Luis Liwanag’s article and video “For Marikina residents, life goes on”

My friend, Marilyn Robles, was able to heave a sigh of relief when informed yesterday that upon the request of the director of Region 3 National Disaster Response Coordination Center, an Army truck from Camp Olivas in Pampanga had delivered food and water to her bedridden brother, retired Police General Ed Manaay, who was trapped during the height of the flood (water was neckdeep )in his home at Olivas subdivision, just behind the Philippine National Police Region 3 headquarters.

Click here (VERA Files) also for Vinvent Go’s “Malabon’s forgotten evacuees.”

After the depressing rains, just to be able to dry out our laundry under the sun is a blessing much appreciated.

Continue readingThe gift of sunshine after the rains

Using the Arroyo stigma again for 2013 and 2016

Published by Ellen on April 15, 2012

Target of Arroyo stigma campaign
Come to think of it, why would Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay and Miguel Zubiri want to be in the United Nationalist Alliance, a coalition that former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Jojo Binay are forming for the 2013 senatorial elections, and not under the political party of Gloria Arroyo, their benefactor?

We can only guess that they themselves know how unpopular Arroyo is. They want to use other political vehicles and they have found this in UNA.

This has nothing to do with loyalty because we believe Magsaysay remains solidly behind Arroyo. It’s being practical. Actually a smart move. And opportunistic.

We are intrigued, however, by the decision of Binay, who is not shy about his 2016 presidential plans, to allow the two to align with him knowing the political damnation people tainted by Arroyo, imagined or not, suffer. Remember how the “Villaroyo” tag doomed Manny Villar’s presidential bid?

Not surprising that Liberal Party leaders and anti-Binay operators immediately picked up the slant and pastin on Binay the Arroyo stigma. Binay had to remind the public of the time when those are now styling themselves as anti-Arroyo used to be her ardent supporters.

Continue readingUsing the Arroyo stigma again for 2013 and 2016

Aquino’s first year: The good and the bad

Published by Ellen on June 28, 2011

Shortcoming: shooting buddies
One area where the year-old Aquino government has made reforms, slow it may be, is in the fight against graft and corruption through reforms in the justice system.

This is not to say that Aquino has eliminated graft and corruption or there is no graft and corruption being committed by his own appointees. I merely recognize some reforms made in the justice system that could help in the fight against graft and corruption that was the campaign battle cry of Aquino -“Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

Number one ‘achievement’ is the removal of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and her subordinates either through dismissal, resignation or suspension. As long as Gutierrez was head of the anti-graft body, her benefactor Gloria Arroyo, her husband and members of her family could feel safe from prosecution.

Continue readingAquino’s first year: The good and the bad

3 Cabinet men giving P-Noy headaches

Published by Ellen on June 24, 2011

Aquino with Singson, not one of the 'dreaded' 3
By Delon Porcalla
The Philippine Star

President Aquino dreads seeing two or three members of his Cabinet he considers harbingers of bad news.

Aquino’s candid admission was made before dozens of officials and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways gathered for the department’s 113th anniversary celebrations yesterday. He made it clear Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson was not among the three.

“Sa totoo lang, meron akong na-obserbahan na mga miyembro ng gabinete, mga dalawa o tatlo – kada makita ko agad iniisip ko, ano kayang bad news ang dala-dala nito (In truth, I have observed Cabinet members, about two or three – each time I see them I wonder what bad news they bring),” he said.

Continue reading3 Cabinet men giving P-Noy headaches

Mar to DOTC diffuses battle for proximity in Malacañang

Published by Ellen on June 7, 2011

Related article: Drilon congratulates “Samar group” with Roxas appointment as DOTC secretary (Article in comments)

PNoy appoints Mar to DOTC. Photo from Inquirer.
Mar Roxas is now the new secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications replacing Jose “Ping” de Jesus, whose resignation is a subject of numerous speculations.

The Manila Times’ Dante Ang, in an information-filled article complete with findings of the Commission on Audit of irregularities in a radar project, said de Jesus did not resign. He was actually fired.

We have yet to know the whole truth about what happened at the DOTC amidst the spins being given fed to the media.
In announcing the appointment of Roxas, Aquino admitted that Roxas was originally slated to take a position based in Malacañang.“Sabi ko sa kanya kelangan sana kita sa headquarters pero may sunog sa frontlines…. Puwede ba sumugod ka muna doon? ”

Continue readingMar to DOTC diffuses battle for proximity in Malacañang