Overboard

Apologists of President Aquino insist that 100 days is too short a period to assess and grade the President’s performance.

But, if one goes by the President’s “Report Kay Boss”, he claimed he accomplished so much in so short a time. Which is which now?

It is to be expected and even tolerated that a President would boast of so much accomplishments but when one goes overboard and exaggerates, it becomes unbelievable.

Listen to this P-Noy punchline:

“We have seen the problems we inherited, but we were not weakened. WE WERE ABLE TO FIX IN 100 DAYS WHAT THE PAST ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT ABLE TO DO IN 3,448 DAYS” (underscoring ours).

WOW! BRAVO! OLE, SUPERB! But people are asking what was he referring to?

The speech writer who created this statement should be given the Philippine Legion of Honor award.

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PUNO OFF THE HOOK . . . After 50 days, P-Noy finally released his action on the De Lima IIRC report.

The bottom line, Usec Rico Puno is off the hook. He and Secretary Jessie Robredo have been retained in their posts with a simple admonition.

A lot of people will be disappointed.

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MORE … All Asian currencies are appreciating led by the Japanese yen, the ChineseYuan and the Thai baht. All Asian stock markets are booming. This is because of the fact that the dollar has weakened a lot and the US and European economies are not recovering. Gold, silver, copper and other metal prices are at record highs. There are external factors that nobody in this country can claim credit for. To do so borders on mental dishonesty. By using these facts to claim success in the economic programs of government is certainly making the same claims President GMA used to make. The bottom line is that 60 percent of Filipinos are experiencing hunger and the number of jobless Filipinos is increasing by the day. Include more than 5,000 casuals and contractuals laid off from their government jobs, more than 700 of them from the Immigration Bureau.

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CRIME WATCH . . . The headless body of Kathrina F. Gantan, 22, a call center agent was found inside a motel in Angeles City, one of the most crime ridden cities in the country today. 

Vice Mayor Luisito Caraang of Licab, Nueva Ecija was gunned down by 2 men while he jogged in Barangay Casimiro.

Forty NPA rebels bombed and set fire to the pump station of Victorias Milling Co. in Victorias City, Negros Occidental. The Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion noted the “intensified terroristic activities of the NPA” in Negros Island. Earlier, the NPAs raided a military outpost in Tobaco town killing Detachment Commander S/Sgt. Efraim Bogonoc.

Jimmy Cantor, Malaya Sports editor lost his car and P15,000 in cash to hijackers parked in front of a Mini Stop convenience store in QC. Also in QC, a Toyota Hi Lux was carjacked. Another Toyota Hilux was carnapped at Vicente Cruz St., in Sampaloc, Manila.

Arnulfo Callos, 49, Councilor of San Isidro, Abra was shot dead in an ambush in the commercial center of Bangued, the capital of Abra.

Another official, Geronimo Torres, 44, Planning Officer of Bucay, Abra was shot dead in front of his house. Barangay Nabasan kagawad Wenifredo Lotino, 45, his wife and daughter were massacred in Daraga, Albay. Bgy. Kagawad-candidate Aquilino Gutierrez was shot dead in Candelaria, Quezon.

Pangalian Lumabao, Municipal Election Officer of Tangkal, Lanao del Norte and two companions seriously wounded in an ambush in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte. Previously, Municipal Election Officer Entong Musa of Tuburan, Basilan was murdered, too.

A DSWD official was shot dead in Iligan City.

Another Chinese-Filipino businesswoman, Conchita Tan, 73, is kidnapped in Cotabato City and kidnappers killed her bodyguard and driver. Kidnapping is a weekly occurrence in Cotabato. Carol Day, 56, a businesswoman from Hong Kong has been missing for 15 days. Putting us again in the front page of HK newspapers.

Gang rapes are happening everywhere — 3,100 rapes were recorded in 2009. But PNP Chief Raul Bacalzo has the gall to claim that the incidence of crime is going down.

In his 100 days “Report to the Boss” President Aquino did not touch on the deteriorating peace and order condition in the country.

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SILENCE . . . In the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing Tuesday, Ex-Governor Among Ed Panlilio of Pampanga was asked to assess P-Noy’s policy on jueteng.

His answer “We don’t see the Administration’s determination. You are not hearing from the President on this. No comment from him. We hope he would make an all-out statement on his stand about this matter.” In his 100 days report, P-Noy was silent on the Hacienda Luisita issue, the reproductive health bill, the Luneta hostage fiasco, climate change and the flourishing illegal drug trade.

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WE RESPECT . . . The major newspapers are talking about the P-Noy-Shalani Soledad romance. Asked by Malacañang reporters about the status of their relationship, P-Noy said: “ibigay na ninyo sa akin ang aking private life.” We shall respect that wish.

But in London, Paris and Washington, the private affairs of the President or Prime Minister are standard tabloid material. Boy Abunda who is close to the Aquinos said on the Buzz TV show that he believed the story that they have broken up. But we respect his privacy, we shall not touch on the issue. Anyway, he is a bachelor.

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TIDBITS . . . Asked to comment about the instant protest of UP students at the La Consolacion College program, an obviously irritated messaging Sec. Ricky Carandang answered: “Ask Sec. Coloma.” Asked where Coloma was, he brusquely said: “Di ko alam!” . . .The number of dengue cases has reached 98,984 . . .Albay Governor Joey Salceda is linked to jueteng. Since time immemorial, jueteng has always been operational in Albay . . .

The appointment of Grace Poe Llamanzares as MTRCB Chairman and Director Emmanuel Borlaza are good appointments. The movie industry is unanimous in praising the appointments . . . Wonder why Liberal Party officer Chito Gascon got a low ranking position as Director of BCDA? . .

For the 3rd month in a row, the Bureau of Customs under the controversial Commissioner Lito Alvarez has missed its target with a higher deficiency of 24 percent.