Hogwash

By Rey O. Arcilla
Malaya

(File Photo)

NOT too long ago, I wrote about the plan of the US to bequeath nearly everything she has brought in to Afghanistan to the Afghan security forces when American troops finally leave next year.

The US has apparently changed her mind. According to the Associated Press, the US military has been destroying most of the equipment (armored vehicles, trucks, air conditioners, exercise machines, furniture, appliances, etc.) brought in to Afghanistan in the last 13 years and selling the scrap for millions of dollars to willing Afghan buyers.

AP also said a former mujahideen, or holy warrior, compared the impending pullout of US and NATO combat troops to the 1989 Soviet military pullout after ten years of occupying Afghanistan, thus: “The Russians were better. At least they didn’t leave us junk. They didn’t destroy everything and then leave.”

I mention this because of the stalled negotiations on the Increased Rotational Presence of US troops in the country. Among other things, I have suggested that we should get the commitment of the US to leave intact everything that they bring in to the country for use of their troops, just as they did when they left Iraq.

The other quid pro quos I have suggested are: rental of $2 to $3 billion annually in cash; immediate settlement of what is rightfully due to all of our WWII veterans commissioned by the US government; US commitment not to bring nuclear weapons or materiel into the country (no more of that “neither-confirm-nor-deny” bullshit); clean up their toxic wastes when they leave.

Further, the arrangement must be for a maximum of five years only, not twenty, which the US wants. We should also have the prerogative to terminate it unilaterally at any time before the end of that period. The present state of our relations with both China and the US could change within the next five years. We should keep our options open.

And the arrangement should not be merely tied up with the Visiting Forces Agreement which is null and void ab initio. It should be the subject of a separate and distinct agreement that would be consistent with the relevant provisions of our Constitution, specifically Section 25, Article XVIII.

Finally, everyone must always bear in mind that the increased rotational presence of US troops and facilities in the country is purely and solely intended to serve US interests, no one else’s. The malarkey that the US and her lapdogs hereabout are mouthing about the arrangement being good for us is nothing but bullshit. At the end of the day, only we can help ourselves. And the only way we can do that is to get our act together. If other countries can do it, so can we. We also get more respect from others.

In this regard, I am pleased to note that Philippine officials concerned said the negotiations would be guided by the principles of strict compliance with the Philippine Constitution, laws, and jurisprudence, Philippine sovereignty, non-permanence of US troops in Philippine territory, non-exclusivity of use of facilities by the US side, and mutuality of benefits.

***

The leader of the Chinese city of Hong Kong has threatened to impose sanctions on us unless President Noynoy Aquino formally apologizes and compensates “adequately” the families of the victims of the unfortunate Luneta hostage incident more than three years ago.

I think it is time we told them we would apologize for the incident if the President of China, Xi Jinping, were to apologize also for the “terrorist” attack in Tian an Men Square recently that killed one of our nationals and seriously injured three of her family members.

Noynoy has already expressed regret and sympathy for the Luneta incident and has promised to compensate the victims’ families. Beijing has also done the same thing with respect to the Tian an Men incident.

If what Noynoy has said and done is good enough for their masters in Beijing, that should also be good enough for the Hong Kong-ers. They should stop yakking already.

Regrettably, the Hong Kong legislature has reportedly adopted a non-binding motion to scrap visa-free access for Filipino citizens. At the same time, however, an amendment to restrict entry of Filipino domestic helpers was rejected.

It is plain to see that the Hong Kong-ers do not want to jeopardize the deployment of such workers to their city. In response to their move, therefore, I believe we should immediately consider the banning of such deployment. I think it is the only language they would understand.

***

After recently bragging about the supposedly improved services to its members, it turns out that GSIS chief Robert “Pretty Boy” Vergara had been overcharging members to the tune of P1.3 billion in loan interests in 2012. This fellow ought to be ashamed of himself.

In a report filed last week, Peter Tabingo of Malaya Business Insight said that the Commission on Audit (COA) found loopholes in the GSIS Consolidated Salary Loan Plus Program and other procedures that resulted in members being overcharged “capitalized interest” totaling P859.835 million while delay in the posting or crediting of loan payments caused “excess interest” amounting to P441.122 million.

Improved services? My foot! And Vergara is the highest paid civil servant around!

Following is the full report of Mr. Tabingo:

“The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has been ordered by the Commission on Audit to reimburse members some P1.3 billion in loan interest that it overcharged in 2012.

“COA said loopholes in the GSIS Consolidated Salary Loan Plus Program and other procedures resulted in members being overcharged “capitalized interest” totaling P859.835 million while delay in the posting or crediting of loan payments caused “excess interest” amounting to P441.122 million.

“Auditors noted that conflicting provisions of PPG No. 201-09 and PPG No. 217-12 caused confusion in interpretation wherein an extra month was added to the interest charges imposed on a borrower upon approval of the loan.

“‘The charging of the third month interest, which was capitalized caused the GSIS overcharging its members/borrowers totaling P859.835 million for CY 2012,’ COA said.

“Ironically, the confusion was blamed on PPG No. 217-12 which was supposedly issued “in line with the vision of transparency” and in compliance with RA No. 3765 or The Truth in Lending Act.

Another policy mix-up caused members to pay another extra month of interest upon renewal based on paragraph 9, Section III of PPG No. 201-09 which states that an interest rate of 12 percent shall be charged based on diminishing balance.

“What caused the overlapping of interest charges was the provision stating that, “a fraction of a month is considered as one month”, to be charged interest accordingly.

“ ‘Thus, on the month of renewal of loan, the member is charged twice the whole month interest – on old loan and renewal,’ COA pointed out.

“ ‘Computation of capitalized interest on loans of all members starting from the date of loan approval on a pro-rata basis or actual days of loan occurrence disclosed a total excess interest of P441.122 million charged on loans of members for CY 2012,’ it added.

“Problems in the processing of loan payments in the GSIS system also meant amortizations were not promptly credited to the member/borrower’s account.

“This meant that if they apply for loan renewal, the same members received lower proceeds on the new loans because their accounts showed arrearages or missed payments.

“And yet once the delayed remittance is finally posted, their account would show a credit balance or overpayment.

“GSIS has acknowledged problems overcharging and delays in posting of loan payments and informed COA that it has already put up a scheme to refund the amounts to its members.

“However, the aggrieved member will not be paid back the amount he was charged via loan overpayment as GSIS said such sums will instead be applied as “advance payment” to any existing loans.

“In case a member has fully paid his loan, then he will receive the due amount as reimbursement.”

Now, if that ain’t a real bummer, I don’t know what is!

***

An ex-member of the GSIS Board of Trustees said Vergara’s compensation of P16.36 million last year “is just right because he handles P90 billion worth of assets and investments”. Hogwash!

The governor of the Bangko Sentral must be handling so much more, but he is not the highest paid civil servant hereabout. “Pretty Boy” Vergara is, according to COA.

And how about President Aquino? He gets something like P1.45 million salary as of last year. But think of the hundreds of billions of pesos he is responsible for… and I’m talking about his pork barrel alone which everyone is hoping he would finally give up.

I say again – hogwash!

***

Reminders (for Noynoy):

1) Filing of charges against officials of the National Food Authority (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 and ordering his successor, Robert Vergara, to file the proper charges, if warranted, against the former.

Noynoy should also order Vergara to report to him on COA’s findings that:

(a) He received the obscenely excessive compensation of P16.36 million last year making him the highest paid government servant and;

(b) That, as of four or five months ago, at least P4.13 billion in contributions and loan payments made by 12 government offices to the GSIS had not been credited to the offices as of Dec. 31, 2011.

COA also said the amount of unrecorded remittances could go much higher because only 36 agencies have so far responded out of the 186 that were sent confirmation requests by government auditors. Of the 36, 27 confirmed “discrepancies” in their premium and loan payments ledgers when compared with those of the GSIS.

There are three questions being raised when remittances, or parts thereof, of government agencies are not recorded by the GSIS on time: a) Where are these huge sums “parked” in the meantime?; b) Do they earn interest?; and c) To where (whom?) does the interest, if any, go?

3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant corruption in the military and police establishments.

4) Expeditious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos.

***

Today is the 191st day of the seventh year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

The Justice Department has dismissed the charges against several of those accused in Jonas’ disappearance. Cleared were former AFP chiefs of staff Hermogenes Esperon and Alexander Yano, ex-PNP chief Avelino Razon, retired Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Brig. Gen. Eduardo Ano and Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano. Only Maj. Harry Baliaga will be charged for arbitrary detention, murder and obstruction of justice on the disappearance of Jonas.

“Pwedeng kasuhan ang kamay ng krimen pero ang utak ay hindi?” rued Lorena Santos, daughter of a desaparecido like Jonas.

Mr. President, is this what you meant when you called for a “focused, dedicated and exhaustive” probe of what really happened to Jonas?

***

From an internet friend:

THE NEW MEDIA

Daughter – “Dad, I’m in love with a boy who is far away. I am in Australia and he lives in the UK. We met on a dating website, became friends on Facebook, had long chats on Whatsapp, he proposed to me on Skype and now we’ve had 2 months of relationship through Viber. Dad, I need your blessings and good wishes.”

Father – “Wow! Really?! Then get married on Twitter, have fun on Tango, buy your kids on Amazon and send them through Paypal. And if you are fed up with your husband… sell him on E-bay”.

***

Email: ambaroarcilla@gmail.com
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