No breakdown?

Malacañang declared over the weekend that the kidnapping of Mayor Henry S. Dano and two escorts of Lingig is not an indication of a breakdown of peace and order in the country.

We submit that Malacañang is in a state of self denial and is covering up for its failure to improve the peace and order situation. Review the events of the past few weeks alone.

In Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, a lone gunman entered the law office of Archer Baldwin Martinez, past president of the Rotary Club of Dumaguete and shot him in his chair.

In Zamboanga del Sur, barangay administrator Rene Ebol was shot dead in the capital city of Pagadian. In nearby Labangan town, the Municipal Planning Development officer Pangsayan Radi Jr. was shot dead.

Two women real estate brokers were shot dead by a lone gunman in front of the Alicia Hotel in Legaspi City.

In Valenzuela City, a robber stabbed 78-year-old Wu Xuan Xuan to death in Barangay Parada. In nearby Barangay Malinta, robbers broke into a house and molested a woman who was alone in the house. In Mandaluyong, a City Hall employee was seriously wounded in a stabbing incident near his house.

In Quezon City, a policeman, Harold Meneses killed 18-year-old Filipino Norwegian Michael Troy Rasay in a bar fight. In another incident, a drunk PAF Staff Sargeant Dominador Aguilar Baldomero shot dead SPO1 Reynaldo Mateo.

There have been 10 cases of carjacking the last 30 days with six drivers killed, among them Teresita Teaño, Cheryl Agnes Sarmiento, Marlon Quiochio, driver of Judge Raquelen Vasquez and three taxi drivers. The latest, the Toyota Innova of Mahinhin Bertin carjacked in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati.

Twenty-two dentists have been robbed, some them sexually molested in Quezon City, Manila, Valenzuela, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Rizal and Camarines Sur in the last six months.

In Mindanao, midwife Evangeline Taverisma was kidnapped in Indanan, Sulu. Two bomb blasts hit Cotabato City, killing two persons and wounding nine others.

A dead body inside a box is left at a corner of España amd Instruccion, Sampaloc, Manila. Several salvage victims have been found in Quezon City.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) reported that four journalists have been killed under the Aquino Administration.

Drug dealing and pushing is done openly all over the country.

People get shot inside their homes, inside their cars, inside their dental clinics and inside their offices, even inside municipal buildings.

No one is safe anywhere. Look at all the politicians and businessmen having bodyguards.

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BIG GAMBLE. . President Aquino took a big gamble by meeting MILF Chairman Al Hadj Murad Ibrahim in Tokyo. If a peace pact is finalized with the MILF, he wins the gamble.

If the MILF and Abu Sayyaf continue to attack government troops and kidnap civilians for ransom and no peace deal is signed, then the President loses.

The bottom line, President Aquino must now impose a six-month deadline on Al Hadj Murad and Teresita Deles/Marvic Leonen to come to an agreement. That’s the only result that would uphold the President’s dignity which he put on the line by the secret meeting with Murad in Japan.

One wonders, why Tokyo, a four-hour trip? Why not the General Santos or Davao airport, or even Hong Kong, Macau or Taipei, or even Kaoshiung off Batanes which is just an hour away? Malacañang should now divulge details of the trip including whose private plane was used, who were on the trip, how big a security force accompanied the President, including why DBM Secretary Butch Abad, DOF Secretary Cesar Purisima were in the delegation. Was money discussed? If so, how much would be given to the MILF sub-state to sign a peace accord?

One positive comment we could make on the trip, it shows a working President. One negative implication, the President is unhappy with Teresita Deles/Marvic Leonen’s efforts so far, causing him to act. They should tender their resignations.

The NPAs will now demand equal treatment. Will P-Noy now meet with Joma Sison in Europe? 

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DBP SCAMS . . The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) filed criminal and administrative charges against the past Board led by Chairman Patricia Santo Tomas, President Reynaldo David, DBP CEO Edgardo Garcia and former Governors Ramon Durano IV, Miguel Romero, Alexander Magno, Floro Oliveros, Joseph Pangilinan, Franklin Velarde and Rene Velasco for extending two behest loans totalling over P660 million to a corporation owned by Bobby Ongpin, reported to be a close associate of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

The amount loaned was used to buy a big block of Philex shares from DBP for P12.75 a share which Ongpin sold less than a month later for P21 a share for a gain of P412.4 million. This is what they call in Tagalog “ginisa sa sariling mantika”.

DBP officers have also been accused of receiving salaries, allowances and bonuses as much as P12 million. Some of them now own and live in luxury condominiums.

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TIDBITS. . . Palace Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte saying it is not counting Koko Pimentel as an ally, but said it would not be difficult for Pimentel to back Aquino if he also wanted reforms. That sounds like an arrogant rejection. Pimentel should consider it an insult.

Vice President Jojo Binay is in Sweden to attend a Boy Scout Jamboree. He was able to secure a Swedish government grant for the housing program of the government.

The SEC has fired the OSG as its lawyer. Several senior OSG officials have resigned.

Special greetings to Mrs. Francisca Vergara, mother of GSIS president Roberto Vergara who has successfully fought cancer. She’s now cancer free for two years. Praise God!

Greetings also to Mrs. Rachel B. Tumblod and Ma. Elizabeth Rachel Tumblod Carangan.