A big ‘bako’

BY REY O. ARCILLA
MALAYA

‘Based on his track record with respect to taking appropriate action on alleged anomalies brought to his attention, I consider DFA Secretary Del Rosario as a big “bako” (pothole) in Noynoy’s “daang matuwid”.’

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario would do well to tend to his turf.

For instance, there is his favorite (and his compadre and immediate predecessor Alberto Romulo’s) future ex-undersecretary for ad­ministration Rafael Seguis.

Seguis has allegedly been plac­ing his “own people” in positions of responsibility in several of our Middle Eastern embassies and consulates general, particularly those where we have a big number of overseas workers. He can do that as head of administration, with the approval of Del Rosario, of course.

He has also been accused by DFA insiders of “usurping” the jobs of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and the Undersecretary for Special Con­cerns, obviously also with the consent of Del Rosario, by going to the Middle East very often on one pretext or another, but most­ly on account of our nationals there. He has also been usurping the work of the Undersecretary for Policy on substantive matters affecting our relations with some countries in the Middle East and Central Asia.

This has led to tongues wagging in the Department that Seguis, whose main responsibility is to look after administrative matters, must have some special interests in the region.

***

A number of our nationals in Damascus have written to com­plain about Jay Labrador, a local hire in our embassy. This charac­ter is so notorious for his alleged wrongdoings that the former charge’d’affaires of the embassy was constrained to terminate his employment in the interest of the service.

However, when Seguis went to Syria recently, he allegedly casti­gated the poor charge’ d’affaires in public and had Labrador, who is allegedly close to him and the former ambassador to Syria, rein­stated.

This same Labrador was report­edly the subject of several com­plaints two years ago that were duly reported to the Department, but no formal investigation of the serious allegations against him was ever conducted.

I wonder what Del Rosario will do in this case. Will he call in Seg­uis to brief him?

***

Based on his track record with respect to taking appropriate ac­tion on alleged anomalies brought to his attention, I consider Del Rosario as a big “bako” (pothole) in Noynoy’s “daang matuwid”.

He has not taken action, as far as is known, on the following alleged anomalies in the DFA:

1) Overpricing of epassport cov­ers.

2) Acquisition of the consular building on Macapagal Blvd.

3) Hiring of service cars for the DFA.

4) Payment of $75,000 yearly rental for the embassy premises in Baghdad, where we had no mis­sion from 2003 to last year.

6) Refusal of the former presi­dent of the DFA Personnel As­sociation, Michael Macaraig, who is now on suspension for another offense, to turn over the Asso­ciation’s funds to the incumbent president.

***

Kudos to Noynoy for braving the floods, incessant rain and even risking life and limb (his helicop­ter had to make an emergency landing due to poor visibility) to be with his bosses in their time of need and grief wrought by “Habagat”.

Not to forget… kudos should also go to the thousands of volun­teers, donors of relief goods, the armed forces, the coast guard and the police for their great work in alleviating the suffering of those affected by the calamity.

Thanks should also go to the US for her generous pledge of US$100,000 and to Australia for her even more generous pledge of A$2 million which is equivalent to about US$2 million at the current exchange rate.

***

Reminders (for Noynoy’s ac­tion):

1) Filing of charges against of­ficials of the National Food Administration (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documen­tary evidence to prove the venali­ties in the past in that agency; 2) Investigation of reported anoma­lies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia; 3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant cor­ruption in the military and police establishments; and 4) Expedi­tious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos.

***

Today is the 100th day of the sixth year of Jonas Burgos’ disap­pearance.

***

From an internet friend:

“Hello, is this the Sheriff’s Of­fice?”

“Yes. What can I do for you?”

“I’m calling to report ‘bout my neighbor Virgil Smith. He’s hidin’ marijuana inside his firewood! Don’t quite know how he gets it inside them logs, but he’s hidin’ it there.”

“Thank you very much for the call, sir.”

The next day, the Sheriff’s Dep­uties descend on Virgil’s house. They search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust open every piece of wood, but find no marijuana. They sneer at Virgil and leave.

Shortly after, the phone rings at Virgil’s house.

“Hey, Virgil! This here’s Floyd. Did the Sheriff come?”

“Yeah!”

“Did they chop your firewood?”

“Yep!”

“Happy Birthday, buddy!”

***

Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com