God's will

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo was one of the most hardworking members of the Cabinet. He was all over the country after typhoons, floods and criminal incidents. That’s part of his job as DILG Secretary.

As Speaker Sonny Belmonte said, he was a decent, hardworking cabinet member. Multi awarded, receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award, TOYM and Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) awardee, Robredo was undefeated as Naga City Mayor, a testament to his effectivity as a local official. We join the thousands praying for his recovery. Whatever happened, we accept as God’s will. For all his services to the country, we sincerely thank him for doing a good job.

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FLYING COFFINS . . Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is correct. Secretary Jesse Robredo should not have taken a small plane, a Piper Seneca, when the weather is uncertain and he would be flying after sunset.

Most of these 40- and 50-year-old planes being used by small aviation companies have minimal maintenance. Spare parts are hard to find. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is also to blame as it is lax in giving permits and licenses for small plane to operate.

The same may be true of new small commercial airlines. These maintenance capabilities should be checked.

One problem which even PAL is experiencing is that all the good mechanics are leaving for better paying jobs with foreign airlines.

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MORE KIDNAPPINGS . . Prof. Teresita Ang See reported that 4 Chinese tourists were abducted in Cavite and released after paying P2.5 million ransom.

Sec. Leila de Lima confirmed that there have been 4 cases of kidnapping of relatives of prisoners at the New Bilibid Prison.

A pawnshop is held up at a Pasay Mall.

7 were hurt in another truck bombing in Zamboanga City.

A male is shot dead in Bacoor.

A female is shot dead at Payatas; 2 dead bodies are found inside balikbayan boxes in Quezon City.

Two motorcycle riding gunmen robbed a gas station at McArthur Highway at Malinta, Valenzuela.

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LONG LIST . . In the past, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) had submitted a short list of 3 names for judicial appointments. Several times a list of 5 Supreme Court Justices were submitted for the Chief Justice position.

It is a wonderment why President Aquino would now say that he is unhappy and dissatisfied with the JBC shortlist of 8 nominees including 5 Justices and 3 outsiders.

He has in effect said that the 8 are not well qualified to be appointed.

Sen. Edgardo Angara is correct to disagree with the President.

“That’s not even a shortlist. There were 8 names on it. Why should it be inadequate?” he asked.

This is the first time that 3 outstanding outsiders were recommended. All the three have excellent credentials.

It looks like Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio who got 7 out of 8 votes and 68-year-old Justice Roberto Abad are leading contenders for the CJ position. We will know on or before Aug. 27.

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UNA LINE UP . . In an interview with the Philippine STAR, President Joseph Estrada, member of the UNA Executive Committee confirmed the following list of UNA candidates for Senator in 2013: Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, former Senators Migz Zubiri, Richard Gordon and Ernesto Maceda, Congressmen Mitos Magsaysay, Jack Enrile and JV Ejercito Estrada, Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia and businessman Joey de Venecia.

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ANOTHER PROTEST . . DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas and DOF Sec. Cesar Purisima have ruled that no overtime pay for Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Quarantine and PNP officers can be paid by airlines.

Unless resolved, the said employees are threatening to strike. The immigration employees in a position paper insisted that the collection of overtime pay is sanctioned by law and jurisprudence under Sec. 7-A of CA 713 or the Philippine Immigration Act.

They say that the collection of overtime pay is established by long practice dating back to the 1950s and is required by necessity and exigency of the service.

They cite the example of the United States as allowing the said practices. Like the PAGASA weathermen, this is a dispute that has to be resolved soon. The Department of Justice should issue a legal opinion on the matter to resolve the controversy. 

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PEOPLE’S SURVIVAL FUND . . Senator Loren Legarda called President Aquino’s signing into law of the People’s Survival Fund bill a triumph for Filipinos and a concrete move towards a disaster-resilient Philippines.

“The enactment of amendments to the Climate Change Act of 2009, primarily the creation of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), strengthens the three-year-old law by helping achieve its objectives through provision of funds to local governments and communities for their climate change adaptation programs. As we have seen clearly over the past few weeks, there is a pressing need to financially support disaster prevention efforts of local government units. The President’s approval of the PSF affirms our nation’s commitment to building communities’ resilience to disasters,” she said.

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BOOM CITY . . Tuguegarao, Cagayan is experiencing a booming economy.

Mayor Delfin Ting who was first elected in 1988 reported that the year’s target of P180 million tax collection has been achieved in the first 6 months of 2012. He expects at least P80 million more in the 2nd semester.

Tuguegarao McDonalds and Jollibee are reporting record sales. There are 15,000 tricycles in the city.

Rice and corn harvest is good.

The city just celebrated its 288th anniversary.

Mayor Ting announced the building of a new town center.

Cagayan State University has an enrollment of 19,000 students. The enrollment in its College of Medicine has increased with 130 first year students. Tuition is at a reasonable P15,000 per semester.