Erap finally lands in prison cell - JAYWALKER by Art A. Borjal

As soon as Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena announced the issuance of a warrant of arrest against former President Estrada, the colors at the giant boards at the Philippine Stock Exchange turned green. That is a clear indication of where public sentiment lies. And Erap’s arrest might just be the long-awaited event that will bring back political and economic stability to our country.

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Some said that Erap’s arrest will lead to EDSA 3. Wrong. The reality, which is harsh for the allies of Erap, is that many people from the Silent Majority actually wanted the Sandiganbayan to order the arrest of Erap. Now, as Erap’s trial begins and as interest over his arrest wanes, the country can begin in earnest its search for national prosperity and progress.

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Top people in the business community are still talking about how President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reportedly "stormed out" of a Cabinet meeting, after she found out that some of her Cabinet secretaries came unprepared for the main agenda. "Why waste our time? The meeting is adjourned," President Gloria said, without masking at all her irritation. At that time, the Cabinet meeting had just been called to order.

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The business execs also talk of how President Gloria, in another Cabinet meeting, put down to size a Cabinet minister who used to be a congressman. "You are no longer in Congress. This is no place for grandstanding," she reportedly said, after the Cabinet man tried to paint a picture or scenario more glowing what it really was.

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I wonder where the business biggies get their info about things going on behind closed doors in Malacañang. Apparently, they are very enterprising. But let me make some corrections, though, as a result of some verifications I made with certain Cabinet secretaries who attended those meetings.

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Actually, President Gloria did not "storm out" of the Cabinet meeting. She merely declared its immediate adjournment, after showing her extreme displeasure at the lack of preparations done by her subordinates. "What lady!" said a delighted businessman. That is how things should be run in the government, he added. Deretsahan. Walang bolahan.

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Cainta Mayor Nick Felix, clad in slippers and an old T-shirt, dropped by my house at Brookside Hills early Tuesday morning, carrying with him a letter explaining the dumping of garbage in a vacant lot near the residential village where I live. He was apologetic, saying that he has ordered a stoppage to the garbage disposal project, after I wrote extensively and negatively about it. But then, Mayor Felix said, the Cainta government is finding it difficult to look for a permanent garbage dumping site.

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Over a cup of coffee, Mayor Felix explained that the use of the vacant lot near Brookside was only temporary, and that it was not an "open dumpsite." However, in response to the clamor of Brookside residents to the stoppage of the garbage-dumping there, he had reacted favorably and transferred the garbage-disposal project elsewhere.

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According to Nick Felix, what started the garbage problem was the closure of the San Mateo landfill. And considering that Cainta town is densely populated, with so little vacant space available, the Felix administration had to resort to emergency "burial grounds" for unrecyclable garbage.

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"The process calls for the Cainta government to dig about ten feet of excavation where non-biodegradable waste is dumped, and then treated with chemicals," said Felix. Thereafter, the garbage is covered with soil. The mayor assured that the process does not do harm to the environment, even as he reiterated that the project is merely emergency and temporary.

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Mayor Felix is now in constant touch with Secretary Heherson Alvarez and other officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. "Hopefully, after the elections, we will be able to acquire a permanent landfill, duly qualified by the DENR," Nick said.

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An 81-year-old lady who lives near Greenhills in San Juan wrote to me, asking who is paying for the food and transportation expenses for the pro-Erap crowd at Greenhills. She also said she pities the crowd, "taking refuge from the summer sun under makeshift tents, eating from little packages, and lying in the dirty sidewalk." And just a few meters away, the lady said, Erap lives in comfort with such lavish amenities. "Ignorance is indeed very sad," the lady said.

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Remember Mariano R. Santiago? He was a colonel when he retired from the active military service. Then, he became head of the Bureau of Land Transportation. Afterwards, he took up law at the MLQ University, and then became a lawyer. I do not now remember whether Mar tried to become a politician, but I think he did.

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Well, after many years, I finally got a letter from Mar Santiago, about whom I wrote several times during his stewardship of the land transportation office. In his note, he told me that he had just sent a paper to the authorities concerned, particularly Chairman Benjamin Abalos of the Metro Manila Development Authority, suggesting effective ways and means of getting rid of the traffic congestion in the roads leading to the airport.

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Mar also said he has authored a handbook entitled Mar Maingat and Road Safety, which is addressed to children and their parents. The handbook deals with pedestrian, commuter and bicyclist safety. "I am sure this handbook will help contribute to the molding of the character of your youth," he said.

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Mar – who is not rich money-wise, although he is rich intellectually – has one problem, though. He needs some sponsors to enable him to distribute the handbook to schoolchildren, either for free or at the cheapest price possible. Probably, some food chain or some company catering to schoolchildren could coordinate with Mar on this very laudable project. Mar Santiago may be contacted at Suite 509 President Tower, No. 81 Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, Tel. Nos. 928-8113 and 414-8252. That office, by the way, is also Col. Santiago’s law office.

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Marietta Guanzon-Holmgren, whose family runs the Lourdes Grotto at San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, is all praises for the way the policemen and barangay officials manned the traffic system during the Holy Week. "There was no hustle at all to the tens of thousands of pilgrims," she enthused. Chief of Police Macusi did such an excellent job, Marietta added.

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Marietta requested me to thank Quezon City Mayor Mel Mathay who sent two ambulances with doctors and nurses. She is also grateful to Mayor Roquero and Rep. Angelito Sarmiento, who also sent an ambulance. Others who gave volunteer services to the pilgrims were Trinity College students, Red Cross youth members, REACT of NCR-West, and the Bigkis Pinoy Foundation.

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My e-mail address: <[email protected] and <[email protected]>