Erap, Ping cleared

Former Police Colonel Michael Ray Aquino is back in the country after 10 years in the United States. He is now detained at the NBI headquarters in Ermita, Manila. In an arrival statement, he said:

“I want the Filipino nation to know that there was no order from President Joseph Ejercito Estrada or Senator Panfilo M. Lacson to kidnap, harm or kill anybody, specifically Mr. Salvador Dacer and Mr. Emmanuel Corbito.”

It was widely speculated before his arrival that he would clear Lacson, but implicate Erap instead as the mastermind in the Dacer-Corbito murders.

The Michael Ray Aquino statement should now put closure on all “suspicions” against President Estrada, including the million dollar damage case filed by the children of Dacer in San Francisco, California. All those who said or believed Erap ordered the killing now owe him an apology. It certainly, affected his presidential candidacy in 2010.

As his son, San Juan Rep. J.V. Ejercito and other close friends have said:

“It is not in the character of my father to get involved in such a heinous crime. Since my childhood until now, he has never been implicated in such criminal cases or human rights violations.”

In fact, he is often characterized and even criticized for being “pusong mamon” or soft-hearted.

Former Caloocan Rep. Luis “Baby” Asistio has said that he accompanied Dacer and daughter Ampy who is Erap’s godchild twice in baptism and marriage and her husband Bobby Henson a few days before his death, to visit Erap in Malacañang. At that meeting which lasted one hour, they relived their old friendship, dating back to Erap’s San Juan days engaging in “bunong braso” and Bubby Dacer asking and getting clearance from Erap for then Mayor Joey Marquez. Definitely no sign of any grudge. Baby Asistio said that if Erap was sore at Bubby, he would not have agreed to receive him.

The truth is out. Be free and happy, yehey, Mr. President.

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COTABATO UPDATE. . 37 barangay chairmen of Cotabato City have come out to say that Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. is telling the truth and confirmed that they have not received the relief goods costing P7 million allegedly released by DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman, the President’s favorite Cabinet Member.

It is clear, however, that Sec. Soliman played politics and released the bulk of DSWD relief goods to Malacañang ally, Congresswoman Sandra Sema and Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema, with only 2,100 bags going to Mayor Guiani. That is wrong because it is the City Mayor who knows the situation and has the personnel to pack and distribute relief packages.

Mayor Guiani was telling the truth that when President Aquino arrived in Cotabato, he did not bring with him any additional aid for relief and when asked, did not offer any solution to the water lily problem. President Aquino even appeared irritated when confronted, and reminded all he has not been in office for a year and therefore, should not be expected to solve every problem when the President visits.

There are 39,000 displaced families in Cotabato City now for three weeks. Certainly, 6,100 bags of food packages or P7 million is grossly inadequate even for one or two days of feeding.

One more thing, when answering complaints of elected local officials in times of calamity, Secretaries Lacierda, Valte and Soliman should be more understanding, less confrontational and avoid the use of strong, insulting language. It is the duty of mayors in the frontlines to complain or to ask for help. It is the duty of Cabinet Members to explain. Or are the Cabinet Members now getting headaches too, from bad news brought by mayors?

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RESIGN ALL. . President Aquino declared at the DPWH anniversary program that 3 Cabinet Members are bringing him bad news and giving him headaches. Since he didn’t name names, the entire Cabinet should now submit their courtesy resignations. With one year probation period, it is time to replace non performing Cabineteers.

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TIDBITS. . . New York State has approved a law legalizing same sex marriages, after Vermont, Massachusetts, Iowa and the District of Columbia.

Prices of crude oil have dropped $20 to $91 a barrel. But, instead of reducing prices by at least P3 per liter, the oil companies reduced by P.75 centavos with DOE not saying anything. Jeepney drivers are complaining their Pantawid Pasada Smart Cards have no load.    

Casinos now being built at Pagcor City should review their construction plans. At Resorts World, going up or down, the parking area can take 30 minutes because the passageway is too narrow and therefore, clogs easily.

A barangay tanod in Marikina was shot dead. A police report admits that murders and theft in Metro Manila has gone up by 14 percent the first five months of 2011. In Isabela, Basilan, a bomb blast at Max’s Kitchenette, killed two persons and wounded 11. Another bomb exploded in Kidapawan, North Cotabato. PAOCC Chairman Ochoa, take note.  

A dissatisfied car owner in the US donated his Porsche to a gun club to be used for target practice; 100,000 bullets were pumped into the car.

President Aquino regularly drives his Porsche to Clark and Tarlac at 11 p.m. midnight on weekends.

Congratulations to Mayor Archie Arquillano and his town of San Francisco, Cebu for winning a UN award for an outstanding community disaster preparedness program.  

Condolences to President and Mrs. Fidel V. Ramos on the death of their youngest daughter, Jo, 54, who died of cancer. Her body lies in state at the Funeria Paz in Sucat, Paranaque City.

Greetings to our friends and readers Dr. Dennis Garcia, Mayor Gerry Dalipog, Financial Consultant Arman Raquel Santos, Whelma Lanzuela, Paul Schafer, resident representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation, Nellie Valdes and Tito de Guzman.