Neri should come out of her shell (or what Danton says, Lumadlad ka na!)

Romulo Neri is in a quandary and he (or she?) needs to act fast. Of course, we all know that Malacanang's plan to suspend him is just part of public relations to ease or manage public outrage against the non-inclusion of the First couple in the charge sheet at the Office of the Ombusman for graft.

Yet, for Neri, that is a humiliation indeed. Imagine, your entire career is now damaged. Neri is an academic, and one damned good idealist and to be charged with graft is, for me, simply, unacceptable. Of course, Neri has been serving like Gloria's dog since the start and he's probably not an idealist anymore but a pragmatist (at best).

Anyway, if I were Neri, I'll not keep quiet about it and go out of my shell and expose what I know about the deal. I'll not go quietly in the night for this.

To hell if Malacanang threatens to expose what they know about your private life. Damn if they expose in public that you're gay. So what Mr. Neri? We, the public don't care. The point is, even if they do it, you'll have the entire nation protecting you, right? We're more powerful than your amiga, Mr. Neri.

Gender preferences has nothing to do with what you are. It's better to come out right now and expose what you know instead of waiting for that time when forces of Good already overtook these events and jail you for your crimes against the nation.

Think, Neri, Think. And do it fast before it's tooooo late. The Patriotic Forces are poised to take over the nation sooner than you think.

Romulo Neri should REALLY stand on her own and RESIGN

For protecting her president, Romulo Neri now faces a humiliating graft charge before the Office of the Ombusman. Humiliating in the sense that Neri now has to explain her visits to the ZTE-NBN offices, her golf sorties with the First Gentleman and ex-Con, err, ex-COMELEC chair Benjamin Abalos and her meeting with Mrs. Arroyo at the Palace. For a former professor known for having a clean and honest mien and with a spotless record of service to the country, this graft charge is most humiliating indeed for Romulo Neri.

Worst, the palace announced that Neri is on his own. Neri has six months to answer the graft charges and during that time, all benefits for her are suspended. That is the reward for her not spilling the beans on her beloved president.

Some say that the most honorable thing for Neri to do now is resign her post as SSS president. Come to think of it, this graft charge gave Neri a reason to resign and save herself from another humiliation---that of being charged as the one who nearly bankrupted the SSS. The agency right now suffers from extreme financial difficulties.

Neri said that he's most surprised why he's now being charged with graft when all these things are "circumstantial" at best. Neri contends he was the one who actually refused the offer and now, he's being cruficied or possibly sacrificed in order to protect the hides of those who really masterminded the whole caper.

But, that's the thing. The administration wants this thing done and over with without really putting great legal pressure on their own sacrificial lamb who happens to be Neri.

Circumstantial evidence is weaker compared with direct or documentary evidence. So, expect Abalos and Neri to come out of this whole charade unscathed. They'll not be jailed. They'll just sacrifice their reputations.

Ombusman decision on ZTE-NBN: A stinking steak dinner

Pardon if I write about my carnivorous self, but I just love a beef steak, medium rare. Its tender. It's juicy. If you chew it, it's like your average salty-flavored bubble gum.

Of course, a steak would not be complete without mash potatoes and some vegetable sidings.Plus of course, a nice red wine to boot.

And you know if your steak is as tender as the one you had the last time. Steak dinners should be perfect---one that would give you a big blurp in the end.

Ask Mrs. Arroyo and her husband---they had this fine steak when they dined at Le Cirque and went to Bobby Van's steakhouse a day later. They know the difference between a French cooked steak and those of the greasy kind of American Bobby Van's.

And apparently, this recent decision by the Office of the Ombusman to file graft charges against former Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos and ex-NEDA chief Romulo Neri can be likened to a steak eaten in some carinderia. They are being charged for the moth-balled ZTE-NBN deal. Yet if you looked closely, it seemed that the Office of the Ombusman did not cook this ZTE-NBN steak the way we know steaks are cooked.

This one is like some slab of meat put in the fire without those spices and steak sauces put into it. It's bland.It's tasteless. It's immoral to eat it.

Imagine, only Abalos and Neri are being charged, showing how pitiful their states are and how lowly the power-that-be regard these comical creatures. Worst, they are being charged with just "circumstantial evidence", an obvious way out for them in the end.

This is a poor steak sideshow, meant to appease perceived public outrage while clearing the main actors who conspired to muddle a very good telecomms deal.

It's sending the message that the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his wife, Gloria Arroyo are not part of the dirty operation, despite photos of them visiting the ZTE-NBN headquarters and even played golf with ZTE officials. Of course, the Ombusman did not find anything wrong with how DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza and his undersecretaries comforted themselves nor did the Office found anything wrong with the conduct of ZTE officials led by Yu Yong.

In the end, obviously, Abalos and Neri would get court victories, not in this election period, possibly they have to wait for a few months more.

Jun Lozada and Joey de Venecia, the team up who exposed the stinking deal, have asked why the Ombusman exonerated the First Gentleman and his cohorts. They don't need to ask. And please, don't pretend to be naive. From the very start, it has already been decided---fry the small ones while fatten the already big leeches.

This decision is a stinking steak dinner.

Lucky 09 and the SSS

Will 2009 be a lucky year for Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo? Will she finally get her wish to be able to extend her term at least, a year? Sources say Arroyo and her henchmen, especially Ronnie Puno, want the elections deferred for at least a year, meaning, make it 2011. That's their minimum desire. Why? For three reasons. One, they would want the Constitutional Convention formed by that time and they would use this argument to bolster their case before Congress re-opening on January 20. Second, that would also provide more funds for the ruling party and third, that would coincide with the formation of a bigger economic block led by Arroyo. Question---will 2009 be Arroyo's luckiest year as yet?

The country faces extreme challenges next year, especially in the export industries sector. As early as August 2008, the export industries have suffered tremendous blows due to low job orders. The US market has begun slowing down at that time and it continues to further slide. After the US meltdown, other European markets and even the Japanese market fell like dominoes.

Next will definitely be the tourism-related services industry. With more Westerners opting to save rather than splurge on a holiday, the tourism industry will likely slow down as well. I have'nt seen the World Tourism Association (WTA) projections but this will most likely be down by about 15 to 20% at the most.

Now, depending on what US President-elect Barack Obama will announce on January 20, 2009, the BPO sector will continue its robust growth. Why? Even if Obama decides to encourage US companies to just make their BPO in the mainland instead of offshore, more companies will still decide to continue their overseas operations because it is still cheaper to operate a BPO here than in the US. Obama will likely find a way to exploit other sectors in their economy instead of dipping his hands in the global BPO market.

Another critical sector would be the small and medium sized entreprises. If government, especially the BSP will hesitate to further widen the credit markets, it would put the entire economy to further risk since SME's rely on banks and government financial institutions for their capital infusions. For example, in my case, I want my own business but I lack capital. Will government extend its loan portfolio further to cover those in-between job cases like myself?

I went to SSS thru the help of its very efficient SVP Susie Bragante and found out that yes, I can get a loan but I need to land another employment to secure one. Whatthe? Its policy. Well, if I elect to continue my SSS membership, I have to pay a sum. Fine. I'll pay it. But, before I can loan, I have to wait for a month just to post that payment. Whatthef..ck! Paging SSS head Secretary Romulo Neri. You need to create another loan portfolio for the following:

1. Those SSS members who want to start their own businesses but lack capital and resigned from their jobs because they want to be entrepreneurs. And SSS should AT LEAST be able to give them the maximum loan amount equivalent to three times their former monthly pay. Look, Madame Arroyo urges everyone to be an entrepreneur and when we, citizens, do want to make our dreams come true, government fails in its obligation to at least extend us some loan.

2. OFWs. (I think government already provided 2 billion pesos worth of loanable funds for displaced OFWs. By the way, these OFWs are twice displaced--when they went abroad, they are classified as economically displaced. When they're busted from their jobs, they went displaced again.)

The secret so that we all would survive the global economic crisis in 2009 would be the following:

1. Expansion of credit facilities
2. Lowering of BSP interest rates
3. Lowering of BSP credit rates
4. Expansion of government assistance to SME's

One and a half weeks to go

Its a good thing that groups are just giving Arroyo a week to answer all these allegations. Today, arguments were heard over the SC on what to do with the petition of former NEDA secretary Romulo Neri. It was a deliberation on the issue of lifting EO 464, which quarters, including the Vice President, has said that Gloria should lift for the public to hear the truth about the ZTE deal. I don't know what's the big deal about Neri's testimony since I believe, Neri already told everything there is before the Senate when he went there. But, considering how the palace and even the entire country is reacting, maybe, there's really something about what transpired between Neri and Arroyo that Neri's counsel even said that its "part of a state secret"

Bull.

A state secret involves national security. What's so serious about what Neri told Arroyo that they're both afraid on the possibility that the people will know about it. Everybody is urging Arroyo to allow Neri to testify. Malacanang, it seems, is starting to harden its position which is a BAD THING to do. Doing so at this point only worsens their situation. They are like creating a quick sand to sink themselves in.

In the next few days, I believe that Gloria will, definitely do the following things:

1. She will announce the lifting of EO 464 to prevent the CBCP from further joining the growing protest movement. That will give her administration a few more days to survive.

2. She will announce the suspension of controversial government officials involved in the ZTE scandal. That would contradict what the Palace announced today and yesterday, but, nonetheless, that would give her enough breathing space to prevent herself from totally being besieged.

3. She will announce new appointments in the Comelec, foremost of which, members of civil society, or one belonging to the Muslim sector.

I think the environment is being prepared for these pronouncements. Palace operators have allowed the people to hinge the search for truth with Neri, which is a tactical way of solving this issue. By concentrating all attention at Neri's probable testimony, the palace is effectively leading the public's attention away from Lozada and concentrate on Neri. I bet my bottom dollar that Neri's testimony will not amount to anything since it has been months since the controversy first began. I am sure that palace operators have already cleaned every filth there is about this deal.

On, by the way, groups should ask for the original copy of the ZTE deal. Since this time, no copy of the supposed controversial deal has been presented to the media. Why? The people have the right to know since its their money who'll finance the shebang anyway. There should be an active call from people for the palace to reveal the deal.

So, my friends, you just have to wait for one and a half weeks before we can finally put these things to rest. The big rally in UST might just be the last hurrah for Gloria. Or, it might also be the last say of all these groups opposing Arroyo. Let's wait and see.

Rejoinder:

By the way, that statement by Loren that she'll not support calls for the resignation of Arroyo because of the prospect of Noli assuming the presidency is pure idiocracy. It says so much about Loren. She, like Gloria, is hungry for power. Be cautious about the likes of Loren. She's a potential Gloria just waiting in the wings. I hope that she'll be marginalized so that no such breed would ascend the position of power.

Malacanang's exit strategy

Romulo Neri is a very important man nowadays. He's expected to show up at the Senate hearings to shed light on the ZTE deal. ANC's Ricky Carandang had a chat with him a few days ago and he seems unaffected by it all. Remember that Neri told Carandang and the Inquirer that he received an indecent proposal from ZTE officials via Chairman Abalos involving millions of dollars. Neri was previously the head of the government's economic planning portfolio. That department was responsible in approving such deals because its the one who gives the justification for government to undertake of such a project. If Neri tells the unvarnished truth, that he was bribed or that an attempt to bribe him did happen, then, this issue is finished. What government must do is just pressure the Supreme Court to declare it unconstitutional, throw the deal to the waste basket and get on with running the government. The SC decision is the most convenient way out of this mess. The government will not lose face to the Chinese. Likewise, the Chinese will definitely understand it if this deal does not push thru.

However, this issue will continue in another front. Neri's revelation will change the direction of this controversy. Right now, all attention seems to be directed at the gang of FG and Abalos. The attacks seem to be pointing to the palace, specifically at the presidency.

Issue Shifting

Neri's testimony is important because it would prove whether there really was a bribery. A mere attempt could easily persuade the public that the deal was tainted with corruption. The onus of proving otherwise, remains with Abalos. However, Abalos will find it very hard to convince the body politic that he did'nt receive a single cent from the Chinese.

If I were Mrs. Arroyo, i'll allow Neri to nail Abalos and the ZTE guys. Judging from the amount of publicity this controversy has generated, Neri's controversy will condemn Abalos to perdition, conveniently allowing FG and Mendoza to distance themselves from the payoff scandal. If this happens, the issue has been effectively contained because it'll be limited to just what the public or government anti-graft prosecutors must do to Abalos. Reports say that Mendoza is clean. I believe them. News articles say that FG was just used by Abalos to put pressure on ZTE's rivals, which, in this case, Joey de Venecia's group.

Malacanang's spinsters should (1) allow Neri's testimony to point to Abalos as the "it" guy. They should write stories that'll say that Abalos actually used his influence and pressured the First Gentleman to accede to this deal. That way, all blame will be directed at Abalos.

Impeachment

Let Abalos sacrifice himself for the sake of the palace. Abalos will definitely be allowed to retire in peace, because he can't be impeached anyway. It'll be a wasteful use of public funds if Congress files an impeachment case against him. The old man is retiring from the Comelec anyway. Common sense dictates that, for the sake of peace, Abalos should be allowed to end his term with "dignity" eventhough he does'nt deserve it.

The Exit Strategy

The main question is this---will Abalos be party to this strategy? Will Abalos allow himself to be further maligned by this scandal? There are precedents anyway. Perez' s case is one. Joc-joc's case is another. Perez is now enjoying the fruits of his indecency somewhere in Batangas while Joc-Joc remains comfortable in his high security cell in the United States. After all of his helter-skelter thing, Abalos has the chance to "wither away", so to speak, a few months from now, when all things simmer down. If I were Abalos, i'll accept this exit strategy. Anyway, if all reports are true, he already received the monies from the Chinese. He can retire in peace. ZTE already paid him. If the SC decides that government should not push for this deal, then, ZTE cannot really demand Abalos to return the money, right? It'll be convenient to all parties to just allow another body to give them the way out. And the SC is the one such body.

Joey's fate

This NBN project will still be given to Joey's group. I don't know if you noticed, but all of these Chinese deals have been bagged by JDV's group. They just raised this thing because one project was not given to them. Civil society groups should scrutinize all Chinese deals and they'll find that JDV's group got all these projects (i.e., Northrail, etc.). Surely, Malacanan will give Joey some projects just to silence him. Its just a question of when. I think we will see Joey in the next few years.