6 disappointing months

President Aquino’s first 6 months has been a roller coaster ride and has certainly left much to be desired. P-Noy claimed achievements but the bad decisions, the blunders, the legal boo-boos and tragic incidents predominate. Look at the monthly sequence of events:

JULY — Typhoon Basyang hits the country. Pagasa issues a wrong forecast. Metro Manila is hit badly Memorandum Circular No. 1 on the mass layoff of employees is issued, then withdrawn as it would paralyze government and an amended Memorandum Circular No. 1 is reissued.

The appointment of Vice President Jejomar Binay to the Cabinet is blocked by Mar Roxas. Public opinion favors Binay.

AUGUST — The Luneta hostage crisis results in the death of 8 Hongkong nationals. The PNP mishandles the situation. P-Noy, Robredo, Mayor Lim criticized. The fiasco is covered for weeks by CNN and foreign media sparking outrage worldwide.

P-Noy creates a 5-man Independent Investigation Review Committee headed by DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima.

Coffe shops talk about P-Noy’s active after hours activities. P-Noy criticized for short working hours.

P-Noy tries to oust Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez who refuses to resign.

Infighting among the 3 Secretaries of Communications group erupts.

P-Noy announces postponement of Indonesia, Vietnam state visits as they are not ready to receive him.

Sen. Joker Arroyo says government being run like a student council.

SEPTEMBER — The La Salle Bar Exams bomb explosion wounds dozens as students Raissa Laurel and another girl suffer amputations.

Typhoon Juan hits the country. Despite government preparations for zero casualty,widespread death (26) and destruction is suffered.

4,000 Presidential appointments unfilled, classmates and buddies and Hyatt 10 get first appointments.

The infighting between Samar and Balay factions surfaces. Balay group headed by Sen. Mar Roxas targets Exec. Sec. Jojo Ochoa of the Samar group.

Supreme Court creates Hacienda Luisita Mediation panel as tenants mount protests.

P-Noy takes full responsibility for hostage fiasco, reiterates trust in DILG Usec Rico E. Puno who declares he cannot be fired because he is one of the few “who can tame the President”. P-Noy holds Harapan with Mel Tiangco, Ted Failon and Paolo Bediones to explain his hour to hour activities on the day of hostage crisis. Hongkong is dismayed by the IIRC report. P-Noy assigned it to Exec. Sec. Ochoa and Presidential Legal Counsel for review.

Jueteng payola issue exploded by Archbishop Oscar Cruz against 2 ranking P-Noy appointees, PNP chief Jesus Verzosa and DILG Usec Rico E. Puno.

OPAPP Sec.Teresita Deles insults Muslim Congressmen. House passes resolution asking for Deles’ resignation. P-Noy stnds by her. Sen. Miriam Santiago calls Cabinet a bunch of “lightweights”.

OCTOBER — Debate on RH Bill heats up — P-Noy threatened with excommunication by Catholic Bishops. 100 day mark reached. Malacañang (Lacierda) gives P-Noy “above passing mark”.

Amando Doronila, senior columnist labels Administration as ad hoc presidency. Calls P-Noy combative.

PAL - FASAP/PALEA controversy erupts.

Dengue victims reaches 114,000 mark. S.C. issues status quo ante order retaining National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Bai Omera Lucman as NCMP Secretary.

Iran bans import of Philippine bananas Makati oil leak worsens Mt. Bulusan erupts 2,000 Presidential appointments still unfilled China refuses to accept delegation headed by VP Binay, DFA Sec. Alberto Romulo and DOT Sec. Alberto Lim.

NOVEMBER — P-Noy flip flops on DILG Sec. Jessie Robredo Asec Maria Carmen “Mai” Mislang issues insulting twits against Vietnam. P-Noy retains her. DOT hit for “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” brand fiasco with Tarsier.

Usec Enteng Romano resigns. P-Noy withdraws logo, slogan Proclamation No. 50 granting amnesty to rebel soldiers recalled after House, Senate found it defective. Malacañang issues Amended Proc. No. 75.

Malacañang submits defective Amnesty list to Senate of qualified persons entitled to amnesty.

Liz Uy rejects P-Noy.

Philippines slips to No. 148 in the case of doing business in latest WB/IFC report US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France and Japan issue travel advisories against travel to Phil.

UP Botany professor Leonardo Co was killed by military men in a case of mistaken identity in Leyte. UP students, faculty, and alumni expressed outrage.

DECEMBER — P-Noy labels Cabinet meetings unproductive Only 5 Cabinet meetings in 6 months SC declares EO #1 creating Truth Commission unconstitutional P-Noy/Sec. de Lima/Sec. De Mesa and Sol. Gen. Cadiz declare war on the Supreme Court. P-Noy brands SC blind and deaf.

Unemployment rate rises to 7.1 percent.

Underemployment rate to 19.6 percent - (500,000 sex workers) A culture of impunity has developed among criminal syndicates BIR, BOC misses collection targets. Deficit still at all-time high, to reach P325 billion. Smuggling wide open.

Jueteng in full bloom. DENR Secretary Ramon Paje decries the killing of forest workers by illegal loggers and illegal miners.

MILF peace talks are stalled. No meeting yet.

Charges against Morong 43 withdrawn due to illegal search warrant.

High NPA activity all over the country. Latest: 10 soldiers die in a NPA ambush in Catubig, Northern Samar.

P-Noy commits diplomatic fiasco by admitting China pressured him to snub Nobel awards rites, citing the welfare of Filipinos sentenced to death penalty in China. China denies P-Noy’s statement.

2011 Budget approved with pork barrel not only retained but greatly increased. P12 billion for President, P200 M for Vice President, P200 M increased to P300 million for Senators and P70 M increased to P120 for Congressmen plus P15 million each for members of the Commission on Appointments.

No charges yet filed against GMA, her Cabinet, Ephraim Genuino and other officials.

No resolution yet of Hacienda Luisita case.

An exclamation point is delivered by the rebels in a Christmas day bombing of a church inside the PNP camp in Jolo, Sulu, while mass is going on. The priest, Fr. Romeo Villanueva and 10 other mass attendees were wounded drawing worldwide condemnation led by Pope Benedict XVI.

The foregoing record does not give hope for major reforms. There is no clear roadmap to progress, jobs and citizens’ security. It’s like the GMA administration is still in power. Maraming corrupt, maraming mahirap.