The continuing saga of conflicts

In a recent Senate hearing, senators Frank Drilon and Nene Pimentel questioned why Presidential Adviser on International Competitiveness Roberto R. Romulo uses the title "Ambassador" because as they clearly pointed out, the Foreign Service Act of 1991 restricts the use of the title to people with specific foreign assignments, and must be approved by the Commission on Appointments. It may be recalled that in the early days of GMA’s term, Romulo was appointed as Presidential Adviser with Cabinet rank. He was called "Secretary" but now he prefers to be called "Ambassador." That’s probably why former Solicitor General Frank Chavez filed serious administrative and criminal conflict of interest charges against the Ambassador? Secretary? Which is which? In the meantime, GSIS president Winston Garcia had also filed serious conflict of interest charges against Roberto Romulo relating to his position as chairman of Equicom Systems Management Inc., and as former chairman of Equitable Card Network Inc. – another clear conflict when he was appointed as an independent director for EPCIB before he was booted out. Today, Romulo reportedly continues to recommend people for ambassadorial positions – which has allegedly irritated his cousin, the Foreign Affairs Secretary – to no end. Meanwhile his brother, ‘PIATCO lawyer’ Dick Romulo, continues to campaign for the resignation of GMA. This continuing saga of conflicts is getting more and more confusing. Ano ba talaga, kuya?

Common strokes for different folks

Last year, Fernando Poe Jr. suffered a stroke that eventually led to his death. Before he slipped into a coma, ‘Da King’ complained of dizziness. News about NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco slipping into a coma after suffering a stroke has revived public interest into the condition. In the most simple terms, a stroke is a sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain, which could lead to damaged brain tissue. A sudden headache may already be a sign of a stroke’s onset, and other common signs include sudden numbness of the face, arms or legs, particularly if it is concentrated on one side of the body; dizziness; vision impairment; loss of balance; sudden confusion or trouble talking. Consequently, emails are also circulating that any bystander can recognize a stroke by asking the individual to perform three simple tasks: Smile, raise both arms, and speak a simple (but comprehensive) sentence. While it is true as this advisory said that this was presented during an American Stroke Association Conference (in February 2003), the ASA has not officially endorsed this because the results came from a very small study. Bottom line, however, is to be vigilant of the common signs and not to take them for granted when they occur. Common strokes from different folks.

Chicken with convenient cockroach

A customer of a convenience store located in a Makati carpark got the shock of her life when she discovered a cockroach had become part of the garnishing for her fried chicken lunch. Appalled, the customer allegedly brought the uneaten portion of the chicken back to the convenience store. To avoid attracting the attention of the other customers, the store manager led the complainant to the pantry. To the customer’s utter disgust, she saw a couple of cockroaches happily crawling on the wall near the sink, and the crew reportedly removed the cockroach near him with his bare hands. Worse, the store manager had the temerity to justify the unsanitary condition of the outlet and allegedly even said that such things also happen in other food establishments. After her appalling discovery, the customer has understandably decided to stop going to this convenience store. Maybe their tagline should be – Cockroaches at your Convenience.

Spy tidbiz: Increased security for Little Miss Red Riding Hood

In a number of functions she recently attended, people have been noticing the increase in the security men surrounding Little Miss Red Riding Hood. The word is there are a lot of big bad wolves going around wanting to blow down – not up – the house where she lives. Normally there would only be one fourth of the number she brings along. Our Spybiz sources reported that two busloads of PSG men are now dispatched to act as her advance party and another busload as her back up security. Our Washington sources tell us that there has also been an increase in requests for PSG men to be trained at the US Secret Service training camp outside of Washington DC. As the children’s book says, "so much the better to fight the big bad wolves who are ready to eat Little Miss Red Riding Hood".

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