MALAYA
‘It appears the United Kingdom has become a nation of talent raiders.’
In an earlier column, I mentioned the plaint of a foreigner businessman who alleged that the “cost” of bringing in through the Bureau of Customs one container during the Arroyo regime was P150,000. These days, he said, the cost has risen to P250,000.
Last week, another foreigner businessman in the export industry complained about more paperwork being required of them by Customs which naturally means more “cost” in terms of more man hours, delay and “expedite” fee.
I believe it is high time President Noynoy Aquino cracked the whip on Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to straighten out that graft-ridden agency in compliance with his “daang matuwid” dictum – unless, of course, Purisima doesn’t believe in it.
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I have only one question for Miguel Zubiri:
Would he have quit had not Zaldy Ampatuan, Lintang Bedol, et. al., come out with their revelations?
The accusations of cheating were there even before he sat in the Senate chamber.
And when I saw Zubiri embracing Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, it brought to mind the time when Nene Pimentel lost his bid for a Senate seat allegedly due to a dagdag-bawas scheme, just as his son, Koko, apparently became the victim of a similar scheme. But unlike his father who had to wait for a subsequent election to get a Senate seat, Koko, may not have to. It looks like he will be able to occupy the seat vacated by Zubiri.
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Noynoy really went out on a limb by talking directly, in Tokyo at that, with Murad Ibrahim, leader of the MILF rebel group.
It was like the mountain going to Mohammed with all the attendant risks and implications the move entailed.
Right or wrong, I hope and pray Noynoy’s decision will lead to a lasting peace with the rebel group in the near future, not “during” his term that ends in mid-2016.
I’m sure Noynoy and his advisers realize that doing what he did left him with very little room for maneuver and limited options should things go awry and the rebels turn recalcitrant and violent once again.
Then again, I like to believe that Noynoy went through the exercise with the knowledge that the major obstacles have already been ironed out. All that’s left for the negotiating panels to do is to cross the “t’s” and dot the “i’s”.
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On the other hand, if MILF vice chair for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar is to be believed, it would appear that an agreement of sorts had indeed already been reached. He was quoted in a news report that “it’s up to the government when to sign the agreement.”
Jaafar reportedly said the MILF will not push anymore for an independent Islamic State but a Bangsamoro Republic under the Philippine government. “That’s the content of our Proposed Comprehensive Compact Agreement we submitted to the government,” he said.
Frankly, I fail to grasp the difference between a state and a republic. And how can a republic be under the Philippine government? By definition, a republic is an independent state.
Jaafar also reportedly said that the Bangsamoro Republic will cover the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
If I am not mistaken, the ARMM came into being because of the peace pact reached with the MNLF. Wouldn’t they have something to say about what Jaafar said? I would expect them to violently object to it. That’s their turf. Lest we forget, the MILF is merely a breakaway faction of the MNLF. I suppose this point has been covered in the agreement referred to by Jaafar.
As Noynoy’s favorite song goes, let’s watch what happens.
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It appears Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario was left entirely out of the loop on Noynoy’s Tokyo trip. Is it possible the President has not been happy with the inputs from the DFA on the MILF problem?
If so, could it be that Del Rosario, in turn, is not getting the proper inputs and advice from three of his undersecretaries, namely, Erlinda Basilio (Policy). Chito Brillantes (Special Concerns) and Rafael Seguis (formerly head of the peace panel during Arroyo’s regime)? Perhaps it’s time he looked for their replacements to inject new blood into the top hierarchy of his department. Incidentally, all three are way past the retirement age of 65.
For now, Del Rosario should just grin and bear the fact that he was apparently not even consulted on the Tokyo trip. With that giant smiley at the entrance of the DFA building greeting him every time he goes to office, that should be no problem.
Incidentally, I have been informed that the notorious Michael Macaraig whose suspension for one year was approved by Del Rosario last week is allegedly still holding on to his job as transportation chief. If true, what good is suspending him if the status quo remains? What gives, Mr. Secretary, Sir? Oh, I hope Macaraig has been instructed to turn over the funds of the DFA Personnel Association to the incumbent president.
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At some point in the past, the British were known as a nation of horse traders.
Today, it appears they have become a nation of talent raiders.
Developed countries usually assist developing ones by, among others, offering scholarships to the latter’s nationals to study in their schools so that when they finish their studies, they can return to their countries with the necessary knowledge and skills to help in their development. That is how it was supposed to be.
Not anymore. Now the British government lures talented foreigners to live and work in the UK through a special migration program..
About three weeks ago, the British embassy in Manila issued a press release inviting “exceptionally talented” Filipinos to migrate to the UK. It was in line with the “Exceptional Talent” project launched by the British government. The special migration program encourages the “brightest and the best” in the fields of science, arts, engineering, the humanities and social sciences to live and work in the UK.
Knowing how short we are of such talents which are necessary for our development, the British would go to the extent of depriving us of the little that we have.
That’s a bit underhanded and is certainly predatory in character.
And we call these friends who, for the slightest reason, issue travel advisories to their citizens against traveling to the Philippines to the detriment of our struggling tourism industry?
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Noynoy says he takes personally the abuses committed by the unlamented Arroyo regime because he considers those abuses as having been committed against his bosses, the people. So how come he hasn’t taken action so far on the following, particularly on the NFA and former GSIS head Winston Garcia?
Reminders (for Noynoy’s action):
1) 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.)
The report that the NFA lost a mind-boggling P100 billion in the last 10 years should spur Noynoy to go posthaste after those responsible for that grievous crime against his bosses, the people.
2) Facilitating the investigation of the rampant corruption in the military, including the uncovered anomaly in gas allowances.
3) Expeditious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos.
4) Preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice of the graft complaint filed late last year by Bayan Muna against Gloria Arroyo in connection with the aborted $329 million ZTE-NBN deal.
5) Investigation of the reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia and the scandalous allowances and excessive benefits the members of the Board of Trustees allotted themselves (P11 million each) in 2009 alone.
Reports that the GSIS has stopped giving housing loans to members due to lack of funds gives urgency to Noynoy ordering the new GSIS management to act expeditiously on cases to be lodged against Garcia. People are anxiously waiting for them.
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From an internet friend:
“Don’t mess with Seniors”
A lawyer and a senior citizen are sitting next to each other on a long flight. The lawyer is thinking that seniors are so dumb that he could get one over on them easily. So, the lawyer asks if the senior would like to play a fun game.
The senior is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks. The lawyer persists, saying that the game is a lot of fun… “I ask you a question, and if you don’t know the answer, you pay me only $5.00. Then you ask me one, and if I don’t know the answer, I will pay you $500.00,” he says.
This catches the senior’s attention and, to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game. The lawyer asks the first question. “What’s the distance from the Earth to the Moon?” The senior doesn’t say a word, but reaches into his pocket, pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer.
Now, it’s the senior’s turn. He asks the lawyer, “What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?” The lawyer uses his laptop to search all references he can find on the Net. He sends E-mails to all the smart friends he knows; all to no avail. After an hour of searching, he finally gives up. He wakes the senior and hands him $500.00. The senior pockets the $500.00 and goes right back to sleep.
The lawyer is going nuts not knowing the answer. He wakes the senior up and asks, “Well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?” The senior reaches into his pocket, hands the lawyer $5.00, and goes back to sleep.
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Today is the 103rd day of the fifth year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.
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Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com
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