Awful manager

Senator Sergio Osmeña, who ran on the Liberal Party (LP) ticket and was Noynoy Aquino's campaign manager in 2010, declared President Aquino to be a good man, an honest man but  “an awful manager.” Osmeña also said that the President is so “hard headed, matigas ang ulo.”

Osmeña blamed the President and Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla for mishandling the power crisis. He also observed that the President stands by his appointees even if they did something wrong. Osmeña’s observations are shared by many. Many have criticized the President for not firing non-performing Cabinet members.

Recall that President Aquino disapproved Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s recommendation to file criminal and administrative charges against to those who mishandled the Luneta bus hostage-taking incident. He even refuses to apologize to the Hong Kong government for the deaths and injuries of their nationals. President Aquino has also stonewalled on the mining issue. He has picked a fight with China on the West Philippine Sea. He continues to increase funding for the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program even if there is no finding that it is effective in reducing poverty. He refuses to certify the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. He has taken a stance against Charter change (Cha-cha).

Osmeña’s declaration should be a wake up call for him. He should start by cleaning up his Cabinet. He has not even held regular Cabinet meetings. Osmeña further observed that President Aquino should admit if he made a mistake. First, you have to admit you made a mistake before corrections can be made.

Noynoy apologized before high school students at Hope Christian College who has adopted 150 Yolanda survivors from Tacloban. President Aquino apologized for not having acted faster to extend aid to Yolanda-hit areas. “I apologize if one could not act even faster,” the President said.

One student questioned him why he stayed in Tacloban for only three days. One of the students, Zar Agustin Yu, said that for the first three days, no food, no medical care, nothing arrived in his barangay in Tacloban. The President explained that the devastation was so massive, the government could not immediately respond. He pointed out that the airport was damaged and the Air Force had only 3 C-130s.

Well, at least, he apologized..

Capa sacked

Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, head of Task Force Tugis, who arrested Delfin Lee has been relieved and transferred to Cebu. His reaction: “I’m mad. After I arrested Delfin Lee, they just dumped me.”

Capa’s relief raises questions about Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima’s role in protecting Delfin Lee. He was reported to have issued an order delisting Lee from the list of wanted persons. General Purisima defended his decision saying Capa’s transfer was a promotion, which Capa did not accept. He said, “I am very angry, I am very frustrated. Frustrated is still a very kind word. I will not take this sitting down.”

To say the least, the timing was bad. It gives a clear impression that General Purisima was unhappy with Capa’s arrest of Lee, who has been wanted for two years. It has been a practice that warrants of arrest are not served for a price. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas should investigate this case.

Fortunately, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Court of Appeals (CA) quashing the arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court of Pampanga.

P6.6 billion of Pag-IBIG funds have been diverted by Globe Asiatique. It is good that Vice President Jejomar Binay is personally attending to this case.

Sea collision

After the successive accidents at South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Quirino Highway in Bicol, this time two fishing boats collided off the coast of Ternate, Cavite and Caballo Islands, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Two persons died while nine are still missing. Twelve were rescued from a 45-foot fishing vessel MV Dan Israel.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is trying to identify the blue cargo ship that bumped the fishing boat.

Who is ampaw?

President Aquino said at Hope Christian College that people should not vote for a candidate who is “ampaw.”

Who was he referring to? DILG Secretary Mar Roxas is backed by an 18-year stint in public service as a Congressman, Senator, Secretary of Trade and Industry, and Secretary of Department of Transportation and Communications, and a Wharton graduate. Certainly, he is not “ampaw.” Vice President Jejomar Binay was Mayor of Makati for 20 years. He is doing well as Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman and a member of the Aquino Cabinet. He is a University of the Philippines (UP) law graduate. Neither is he “ampaw.”

So who is he referring to? Senator Alan Cayetano? A woman senator? A businessman? But it can be said that he is partly correct since he had no management experience before his election as President. 

Tidbit: Justice Secretary Leila de Lima denied that Undersecretary Jose Justiniano coached the two witnesses Ruby Tuason and Dennis Cunanan to pin down the three senators as alleged by Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

The price of rice has gone up some more now costing P44-52/kilo.

Rebecca Sapelino, a 77-year-old grandmother was hit by a stray bullet and died at the Victory Liner station in Caloocan.

Passport applicants laud the efficiency of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) satellite office at SM Megamall.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) issued a statement that the Philippines should ramp up its infrastructure spending.

PO2 Danbeth Valida Geronga and PO1 Ryan Sergio Tabudlong, Caloocan policemen, were arrested at a shabu session.