Poe’s presidential platform

After months of speculation, Senator Grace Poe formally announced her presidential candidacy in 2016 at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Bahay ng Alumni before 2,000 supporters. It is the same place where her father Fernando Poe Jr. declared his presidential intention. A mixture of politicians, movie personalities and former FPJ 2004 leaders attended the announcement program.

In her 24-minute address, presidential aspirant Senator Poe announced her 20-point political platform, promising to pursue the mission of her late father. Among these are education, Freedom of Information (FOI), internet speed, infrastructure, and security, many of which Malacañang said have been done and being done by President Aquino. One outstanding example is the traffic problem now being attended to by Secretaries Jose Rene Almendras, Rogelio Singson and Francis Tolentino. Liberal leaders criticized Senator Poe’s offering of the “Daang Matuwid” but leaving its captain, President Aquino, behind.

She texted President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr. that she is not going to attack him in her campaign speeches. But Poe already did that when she said no person or group has exclusive right to the “Daang Matuwid” program. More than half of her 20-point platform is a direct attack that President Aquino has failed to accomplish the same such as his programs in education, health and agriculture.

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano was grateful to Senator Poe for considering some programs and proposals in her presidential campaign platform that he has long been advocating in Congress such as making all Filipinos feel the benefits of economic progress, expansion of the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program to cover livelihood assistance for current beneficiaries, create an Emergency Management Department (EMD) to combat the effects of climate change, build more roads and infrastructure in other regions outside NCR to help ease the traffic jams within Metro Manila, protect welfare of overseas Filipino workers, and achieve genuine change in Mindanao.

It was a good show but it should have been held in a bigger venue with at least 10,000 in attendance. The congressmen in attendance should have been introduced.

Some netizens are attacking her by calling her words nothing but wishful thinking and empty promises.

A day after Senator Poe’s presidential bid, Senator Francis Escudero was declared as Poe’s running mate at Club Filipino in  San Juan. He said their tandem will establish a “Gobyernong may Puso,” reiterating they would remain without a political party.

On Binay’s camp, they just wished the tandem of Poe and Escudero nothing but the best in the 2016 national elections. 

To date, there are three declared candidates – Binay, Roxas, and Poe - for president in the coming 2016 polls.

On Sept. 26, despite his earlier announcement of not running, supporters of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will hold a gathering dubbed as “Million March: Run Duterte Run” to make him run as president.

Terrible crimes

Seventeen-year-old University of San Carlos (USC) college student Karen Reyes Montebon was raped, robbed and killed inside her house in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu.

A male teacher was found dead in his classroom at a Catholic college in Masbate City, with deadly blows on his head.

Three lumad leaders in Mindanao were massacred in Lianga, Surigao del Sur that were said to be perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA). Farmer Sonny Regulacion, 38, and four family members – wife Adela, 42; children  Cristina, Angel Mae, 2, and Princess Christine Joy, 5 – were shot dead in Calbayog City, Samar.

Barangay Chairman Manolo Macalindong, 43, was shot dead in Batangas.

Seaman Arnest John Agbayani, 27, was found hogtied, shot to death and dumped in a ravine in Tagaytay.

Former PO1 Carlito Reguiere was shot dead in Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong.

Three soldiers are accused of rape of a 14-year-old Manobo girl in Davao.

DSWD anomalies

For the third time in two years, the Commission on Audit (COA) charged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with mishandling of relief funds, relief goods and conditional cash transfer (CCT) payments.

In its latest report dated Sept. 10, the COA said P382 million in foreign and local cash donations for Yolanda victims was kept in DSWD bank accounts.

The COA also found P141 million of expired, undistributed family food packs consisting of rice, canned goods, noodles and coffee.

Earlier, the COA reported that unqualified or not poor persons were included in CCT beneficiaries.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had reported that 30% of CCT funds were mishandled.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. accused DSWD of mishandling of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) fund which also has been delayed and withheld. Only 45% of ESA funds have been distributed.

Yet, despite this long list of anomalies, President Aquino or the Ombudsman has not ordered an investigation of DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman.

Tidbits

Vice President Binay filed another libel complaint against former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, for accusing him of extorting (60% to 70%) condominium units in Makati when he was still mayor.

Former Minister of Justice Estelito Mendoza revealed in an ANC interview that 97% of detainees or 88,000 are awaiting trial. CJ Sereno should look into this justice delayed situation.

Mendoza also said that 60% of the detainees at the Pampanga Provincial  Jail (PPJ) are accused of drug offenses.