US to the rescue

BY REY O. ARCILLA

MALAYA

‘The US said it supports the Philippines on China’s execution of three Filipino drug mules. After they were executed?! That’s a laugh!’

I AM a Smart user. Lately, however, I am beginning to doubt if I am being smart using Smart. Some text messages I send are either received hours late and sometimes not at all. The same is true for messages sent to me. Others I know experience the same problem. The sad part is even if you complain about the bad service, you know nothing will be done about it.

And now comes Manuel Pangilinan of PLDT-Smart about to acquire Digitel Telecommunications, Inc., the company that operates Sun Cellular. I hope nothing similar will befall Sun’s present subscribers if the deal goes through. (The National Telecommunications Commission will review it.) How about improving Smart services first before taking on Sun Cellular, Mr. Pangilinan?

Pangilinan has in recent times been acquiring interests in several vital sectors of the economy. The same thing is true with Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation. The two of them, singly or together, are now in a position to wield so much influence, undue or otherwise, on the people and the government. I sense a danger there somewhere.

As columnist Solita Monsod suggests, perhaps it’s about time President Noynoy Aquino gave substance and meaning to one of his promises, i.e., put in place an Anti-Trust Law. It would be interesting to watch Ang and Pangilinan’s reaction to it.

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US Ambasador Harry Thomas Jr.’s bodyguards roughed up members of the media recently during an ambush interview. All he did was to admonish the mediamen to refrain from the use of profanity when they reacted to the despicable treatment by his bodyguards.

What did Thomas expect? For the mediamen to say “thanks” to his bodyguards? Shouldn’t he have admonished his overzealous bodyguards instead?

What’s even more grating was when his press attaché later said “the US Ambassador’s security team performed its prime function of ensuring a secure and safe environment for all.” For all or for him alone?

“It is regrettable, however, that a misunderstanding and commotion took place,” she added.

Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? The mediamen were shoved and manhandled. Where is the misunderstanding there?! They obviously were no threat to the bulky ambassador.

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Incidentally, what is Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario going to do about the complaints of commuters, including from his own department, over the extended closure of the service road in front of the Seafront Compound of the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard? Obviously, the service road is not part of the Embassy property. Del Rosario should talk to the mayor of Pasay to have the road re-opened.

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Many DFA personnel were dismayed by the action taken by Del Rosario against Michael Macaraig, a minor functionary in his department. Macaraig testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the DFA is ill-prepared, lacks coordination, planning and funding in the repatriation of OFWs from the affected countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

First, Macaraig was transferred from his present post as transportation dispatcher to the Office of Consular Affairs. Given his reputation and his background as a long time bogus president of the DFA Personnel Association who refuses to turn over the association’s books and funds to the recently elected president, the general reaction to his transfer was that it was like throwing the turtle into the water. DFA insiders allege it was upon the insistence of the undersecretary for administration Rafael Seguis that Macaraig was moved to the consular office, with the approval of Del Rosario of course.

It seems this character Macaraig has managed to intimidate people in the Department. One staff member was heard to have remarked once: “Huwag ninyong kalabanin si Mike. Baka pulutin kayo sa kangkungan.” Hmmm…

Macaraig was also asked to explain within three days why no disciplinary action should be taken against him for his irresponsible outburst before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Insiders believe that his case should be included in the agenda of the next meeting of the Board of Foreign Service Administration (BFSA) for proper deliberation. However, with Seguis as BFSA chairman, chances of that happening are slim. He is known to be scared of Macaraig for reasons only the two of them know. Just the same, any member of the Board can raise the issue at its next meeting.

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Many insiders also believe the BFSA should take up the accusation of nepotism against assistant secretary for administration Catalino Dilem Jr. for allegedly favoring a nephew and a niece in matters of appointment or promotion. The names Ivan Versoza and Maureen Joy Santos have been mentioned.

Just because he heads personnel does not mean Dilem should enjoy impunity from questionable actions on personnel matters, does it? Well, I guess that is up to his immediate boss, Seguis, to decide and ultimately, Del Rosario.

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The United States said it supports the Philippines on China’s execution of three Filipino drug mules. After they were executed?! That’s a laugh!

The assistant secretary of state for East Asia of the US State Department said he will speak with our officials on the matter shortly. What for? To tell us that China shouldn’t have done it? That if they had their druthers, they would have told China not to do it? What?!

Such gratuitous statements do not earn brownie points with the Filipinos anymore. And in case the US is not aware, the Filipino people have accepted the fact that there was nothing more that the Philippine Government could do to stop the execution. Driving a wedge between China and the Philippines whose relations are fast maturing will not work, not with President Noynoy at the helm. The sooner the Americans realize that, the better for our bilateral relations.

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There’s a clamor among our gallant congressmen for President Ferdinand Marcos’ remains to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

As expected, many Filipinos object to the proposal. Maybe, just maybe, the people’s objection could be overcome if the late dictator’s heirs were to return the bulk of the alleged ill-gotten wealth to the Filipino people. Who knows, it just might work.

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Due to the tendency of our people to stop focusing on things no longer given prominent treatment by the mass media, I have decided to have a regular section of this column entitled “Reminders” that will continuously list matters pending action by the Aquino administration, especially as they pertain to his promise to bring down graft and corruption in this country.

REMINDERS:

1) Appointment of Heidi Mendoza as Commission on Audit chairman.

2) Recommendation of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for the suspension of Land Transportation Office chief Virginia Torres.

3) Filing of charges against the previous administration’s National Food Administration officials for the anomalous importation of rice (Noynoy himself said there is documentary evidence to prove the anomaly).

4) The investigation of the rampant corruption in the military.

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From an internet friend:

Man is sitting at home on the verandah with his wife and he says, “I love you.”

She asks, “Is that you or the beer talking?”

He replies, “It’s me … talking to the beer.”

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Today is the 342nd day of the fourth year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

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Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com