Name names

Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PARR) chief Panfilo Lacson was challenged by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-Nassa) Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez, to name the persons who are involved in getting kickbacks for the contracts to build bunkhouses in Leyte and Samar.

Lacson had earlier disclosed that he had a “shortlist” of people who have been “getting in the way” of the government’s relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Informed sources had charged that the bunkhouses did not follow international standards, and were overpriced.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson denied the charges, and said that he would resign if the charges are proven. Singson, however, agreed to increase the size of the bunkhouses from 8.4 sq.m. to 17.8 sq.m.

The House committee on public works is set to investigate the matter tomorrow.

Overpriced

National Food Authority (NFA) insiders have charged that the rice imports from Vietnam in 2013, totalling 705,700 metric tons (MT), were overpriced by P825 million.

Documents show that the 205,700 MT imported in April was overpriced by $34 per MT, while the 500,000 MT imported in November was overpriced by $23.

The NFA paid $459.20 and $462.25 per MT, while the United States Department of Agriculture’s grain agriculture and information report pegged the Vietnam rice at $358.59 per MT.

This overpricing of rice importations has been happening for the last 12 years, but the Administration never conducted an in-depth investigation of the same. Note that authority to import rice is approved by the Office of the President.

Once again, the 705,700 MT importation confirms the failure of the administration to achieve self-sufficiency in rice as promised by the President, in his 2013 State of the Nation Address (SONA).

DOT too

The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked officials and employees of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to return the P162.4 million in bonuses and allowances paid in 2011 and 2012.

The COA noted the payments were not approved by the President. DOT officials maintained that the bonuses and allowances were paid out due to a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). COA, however, ruled that the CBA was not authorized by the law.

4th Annex signed

The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the fourth and last annex to the Framework Peace Agreement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last Saturday.

The fourth annex called the normalization annex, provided for the decommissioning of the MILF armed forces and the surrender of their firearms in four stages.

The arms will be surrendered to an international decommissioning body. The specific details, of which, are still to be agreed upon.

President Aquino in an interview said he is wary that the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) or some other breakaway group from the MILF would spoil the gains of the Framework Peace Agreement.

A proposed law, which is being drafted by a 15-man Transition Commission, will have to be submitted to Congress for approval.

It is expected that some sectors would again question the proposed law before the Supreme Court, principally on the creation of a Bangsamoro “sub-state,” and the carving out of a separate territory.

The signing of the last annex was done by Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer for the Philippine government, and Mohagher Iqbal for the MILF.

There have been 2 bombings happened in Cotabato area in the last few days. One bombing also happened in Zamboanga.

Yolanda survivors protest

Fifteen thousand Yolanda survivors from Leyte and Samar marched in the streets of Tacloban, coinciding with the visit of Secretary Ping Lacson last Saturday, protesting the inadequate aid given to them, and asking the Aquino administration to increase aid to them.

They also demanded a P40,000 compensation per victim of the tragedy. Cash payments have been given by the government in previous typhoons.

A religious nun was quoted, “A bag of 2 kilos of rice, sardines and noodles given once or twice is not enough relief for the victims.”

The protesters also declared the slow pace of construction of bunkhouses and new homes as thousands were still living in overcrowded tents, which recently have been flooded.

Senator Lacson announced that he would make Tanauan municipality a model of reconstruction. Why only Tanauan? Other destroyed towns like Palo, Tolosa, Dulag, Basey, Marabut, Guiuan, Mercedes, and Salcedo should be equally treated.

Restore death penalty

There is a growing clamor for the revival of the death penalty, even only for drug manufacturers, traders, and pushers.

Recent apprehensions show how big the drug business has become, the last estimated to cost P1.3 billion in a drug arrest in Parañaque.

Public clamor has also been stirred up by two recent cases of 6-year-old girls raped and killed in Paco, Manila and Naic, Cavite.

Mayor Joseph Estrada has announced an all-out war against drug dealers in Manila.

Authorities are doubly concerned of the entry of Mexican, Chinese, and Canadian drug cartels into the country.

The personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (Aidsoft) should be increased.

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Tidbits: King Gustav Adolph of Sweden visited Tacloban and donated $100,000 for typhoon relief.

Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Bishop Emilio Marquez, Archbishop Rolando Tirona, and Bishop Ramon Villena visited former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Sunday at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). Previous visitors were Archbishops Oscar Cruz and Ramon Arguelles.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is preparing to run for President in 2016.

The price of commercial rice has gone up to P40 per kilo.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking for Mexican assassins who have entered the country.

Condolence to Fr. Jerry Orbos and Oscar Orbos on the passing of their mother, Concepcion.