AFP most corrupt

The latest Pulse Asia survey shows that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now considered the most corrupt government office with 49 percent of respondents expressing that view.

What is regrettable is the fact that up to now Malacañang and DND as well as the new AFP leadership under P-Noy, Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David for eight months and now Gen. Eduardo Oban have not acted to file charges against erring military officers.  

Inaction and whitewash has been made on the expose of Lt. Col. Rabusa of a $2 million lease of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone from Israel, the annual expenditures of hundreds of millions for overpriced C-130 repairs and the ghost drydocking of navy ships. Also, whitewashed is the release of thousands of AFP guns and ammunitions to the Ampatuan family. There are nasty talks about the planned purpose of another C-130.

And, of course, none of the other officers who approved or participated in the conversion of hundreds of millions of funds by AFP comptrollers have been investigated and charged, especially those higher than the comptrollers and ISAFP officers who malversed AFP funds. DND Secretaries should also be held accountable. Lt. Col. Romeo Mateo testified at the Senate that 11 percent of the millions converted were paid out to officers who approved the conversion.

Chief of Staff Eduardo Oban should start by clearing up his branch of service, the Philippine Air Force.

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INSENSITIVE. . . Presidential Spokesperson Ricky Carandang issued a reaction to the 13 percent drop in P-Noy’s net satisfaction ratings saying Malacañang is not bothered by the SWS findings because the purchase of a Porsche S-211 Turbo is an old issue. Carandang even said the survey result may convince President Noynoy not to buy another luxury car in the future. Sec. Sonny Coloma called the drop “insignificant”. Again, Carandang and Coloma missed the point. The public expects the No. 1 official of the country to set the example for simple living, for austerity in these times of extreme poverty. By the same standard, many are unhappy about P-Noy’s refusal to set the good example for a healthy lifestyle by dropping his smoking addiction. He should also set the example for hard work for public officials by starting work at 8 a.m., the long standing start of the working day for both government and private employees. No less than ally Sen. Chiz Escudero advised P-Noy to work harder.

If he wants to recover his ratings, he can make the following simple announcements:

1. I will now sell my Porsche and donate the proceeds to victims of calamities.

2. I will stop smoking.

3. I will now start my working day at 8 a. m., or even only 9 a.m.

4. The price of NFA rice will be reduced back to P18/kilo.

The bosses have spoken. This is what they want.

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LACSON’S GRIPE. . . The most surprising statement of Senator Ping Lacson during his presscon Monday was his complaint that he never felt he was treated as an ally of President Aquino. He even said he felt the persecution never stopped even under the Aquino Administration. He assailed DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima for insisting he was still subject to arrest even after the Court of Appeals had issued a decision dismissing the case against him and lifting the warrant of arrest.

Not surprisingly then, he added that he was “not a shoo-in judge to vote for the impeachment of Merceditas Gutierrez” as earlier speculated because he was an ally of P-Noy.

He confirmed that for the 13 months he was in hiding, he was never back in the country. He admitted he cried when he heard that his Senate office was being closed and his employees would be laid off.

He assured the media that if the Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals decision, he will accept it and face trial.  

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RAIDING IMMIGRATION TRUST FUND. . . While the House and the Senate have passed bills limiting the compensation of executives of GOCCs and GFIs, officials and employees of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) are receiving fantastic allowances charged to the Trust Fund coming from airline companies. Former OIC Ronald Ledesma issued an Office Order detailing Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz to the Bureau of Immigration last March 9, before Gen. David assumed his office for purposes of giving him an allowance. This is irregular. A Bureau Director appointing a Cabinet Member? A lowly DOJ janitor was given an allowance of P25,000 a month.

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TIDBITS. . . Former TV broadcasters have gotten high paying jobs. Cielo Villaluna is spokesperson for PAL, Maricar Bautista is with Pagcor and Margaux Salcedo is spokesperson for Stradcom. And, of course, Ricky Carandang is now Malacañang spokesman with Cabinet rank.

PAGCOR insiders confirm that former Chairman Ephraim Genuino spent P265 million from Pagcor intelligence funds for election campaigns. The Pagcor operating budget went up from 20 percent of gross income under Alice Reyes to a whopping 45 percent under Genuino. Pagcor income suffered a drop for the 1st time in January. Let’s watch what Pagcor Chairman Cristino Naguiat will do.    

DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima is asking how Lacson was able to travel in Europe even after his passport was cancelled. It is easy to get a new Philippine passport under another name.

 We express our sincerest thanks to the following friends who greeted us on our birthday:

President Erap, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Gringo and Jane Honasan, Congressmen J.V. Ejercito, Toby Tiangco, Rufus Rodriguez, Deputy Speaker Raul Del Mar, Deputy Speaker Noli Fuentebella, Cong. Ompong Plaza, Baby Arenas, Jackie Spadin, Jimmy Policarpio, Nilo & Nina Raymundo, Kenneth & Annabel Ching, Tony Evangelista, Benny Laguesma, Usec. Benjie Martinez and Robert Coyiuto Jr. (partial list only).