President Aquino--near ouster or to be allowed to continue term as lame duck president

Malacanang is in disarray. A source says the Mar Roxas group now knows which group the President favors, and it is planning of bolting out from the Cabinet. Several overtures were sent to a shadowy group. Seems like there is a possible repeat of the Hyatt 10 incident during Arroyo's time.

One indication that bickering has reached a critical juncture was when former senator Ping Lacson criticised Pnoy for the botched SAF operation. Ping's group is one of five groups supporting the Aquino administration. Let's review.

You have the Hyatt 10 which is composed of Roxas, Soliman, Butch Abad, and Purisima. However, sources say Purisima and Roxas do not see eye-to-eye because of Purisima's closeness with the Ayalas. Remember that Roxas represents the family interests of the Aranetas and the Roxases, traditional rich families here in the Philippines.

The next group is the Samar group composed of close family members, friends and associates. Ochoa leads this pack together with several other members who were attacked publicly by the Hyatt 10 group last year.

The next one is the Chiz Escudero group which is represented by several young businessmen, military men, and those close to the Cojuangcos and Ramon Ang group. The other two are of Osmena's and Lacson's. Osmena has since concentrated his attention at helping Grace Poe in propping up her ratings in preparation for her eventual campaign for a higher post sometime soon.

With Lacson's statement, it seems like, even his group has abandoned Aquino. Is the Roxas group ready to jump ship soon now that it appears that the DILG secretary has lost the trust and confidence of the President himself?

The President is slowly being disrobed so to speak. This SAF incident has exposed his nakedness and weakness as a leader. It is now a matter of time before he entirely loses all power.

When it comes, expect either of two things happening---cutting short his term and allowing the Vice president to assume the remainder of the term just like what happened to Erap or allowing him to continue office but is now exposed as a lame duck. Whatever the Fates allow, these things are expected to happen in the next coming days.

SON NA ANG PAGBABAGO (Where's the Transformation)?

President Benigno Aquino III's speech lacked the power needed to really change society. It also lacks substance. If you read it, it is an attempt to replicate the powerful speeches of US President Barack Obama. Good, however, it turned out to be a mis-mash.


The State of the Nation Address of Aquino was actually a brief departamental report of the performances of several divisions. Aquino reported how several divisions (i.e., DFA, DOE, DOTC, etc) performed during the last year. There were bright spots like his claims that the government were able to save this and that, but it is clearly evident that Aquino deliberately missed several of the main and most crucial issues bedeviling this Nation since Day One.


Aquino never mentioned about the progress of peace talks in Mindanao. Yes, you may have credit upgrades up to seven times, but with just one incident in Mindanao and all would be lost. 


Aquino boasts of building new roads and bridges, but without farmers owning their own lands, how would they be productive enough to even plant those rice and harvest them and take them to markets?


He mentioned that 1.6 million jobs were created but he never did mention if these are full-time positions or casuals. He talked about renewing foreign investor confidence but he never mentioned those problems pointed out by the foreign chambers that is the continued red tape and bureaucratic bullshits that choke the life out of foreign investors.


He says that self-rated poverty went down to about 15% from 25%, but he never mentioned that this reflects the higher sociological impact of the people, not the true state of poverty incidence. Poverty incidence remains very high and in fact, has risen a couple of notches since January 2011.


The only concrete thing he mentioned was the Spratlys issue that while we seek for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, we nonetheless, find ways of re-equipping our naval forces with some sophisticated equipment like ships and air power. 


For the SONA to really be effective, it must answer the question SON NA ang Pagbabago? (Where are the changes?).


A true SONA tells us what reality really is. Every Filipino will face every problem like a man. I believe that it will not hurt if Aquino tried to really say what the root cause of the problems is.


Aquino should have levelled off with the Filipino, and while doing that, provided much needed solutions to the systemic problems of the country. It will not be a shame if Aquino told the people that these problems remain because of a bloated bureaucracy lumbering about while the world changes. That the system is really the true problem, Aquino should have mentioned that. Aquino should have admitted that the reason why changes are very slow stems from the fact that the system itself prevents changes from happening. 


Arroyo was brave enough to tell this to foreign investors and several other Philippine legislators before. People expect Aquino to be better than Arroyo. 


In short, that one hour speech was not just malamya but walang bayag.

Global Integrity Report 2010: Philippines, a weak state

The 2010 Global Integrity Report places the Philippines in the "weak" category in terms of governance and corruption. 


Fact is, the Philippines received a downgrade---from the 71st place to 57th. And to think that this administration always mouth the propaganda line of being in the forefront of anti-graft and corrupt practices.


Global Integrity places the Philippines as weak in terms of: anti-corruption legal framework, judicial impartiality and law enforcement professionalism and the "rule of law" mainly due to the weakness of the anti-graft agency or translated--Office of the Ombudsman. Now that the "main thorn" in the anti-graft fight has been "eliminated", there is no excuse anymore for Noynoy Aquino not to go after grafters in government, even those of his closest friends.


The country is also week in judicial independence, fairness, and citizen access to justice as well as law enforcement particular in conflicts of interest safeguards and professionalism. 


This government is also very weak in providing public access to government information, scoring only 42 on a scale of 0 to 100. 


President Aquino should cure this immediately if he wants to prop up his sagging popularity.

Noynoy Aquino: Anti-Labor?

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda was asked if Monday, May 2, is a holiday. Lacierda said no. Under Republic Act 9492 moves regular holidays and special days to the nearest Monday.

" In the event the holiday falls on a Wednesday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday of the week. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday that follows."

May 1 falls on a Sunday. Labor Day is one of the most important days in the calendar because it is the only day dedicated to the toiling masses. Labor is the power, the strength behind modern and successful societies.

Seems like this administration is truly anti-labor.

Consider these---Aquino already told workers not to expect any wage hike or wage adjustment following a string of price hikes. Aquino allows companies to hike their prices but when it comes to benefits and wages of workers, Aquino acts like Mr. Scrooge.

Aquino says its okey if oil companies jacked their prices up illegally by 40 centavos. Yet, Aquino does not even forgive workers who militate against unfair labor practices.

And now this: it is only one day of the year when society recognizes the value of labor and then what? Aquino poo-poohs declaring May 2 as a holiday.

Wow.

Stop the TOLL Rate Hikes!

Several months ago, President Benigno Aquino III said that he owes his position to the Filipino People. Aquino recognizes the sovereign power of the Filipino People. 


Now, after several months in power, it seems that Aquino and his cabinet already forgot who their bosses are.


Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in an interview with Ted Failon today, said that President Aquino III has approved the toll hikes at the North and South expressways under the principle of "honoring the commitments of the government with private investors".


I personally have no problem with honoring government's commitments with private investors. Yet, if this commitment harms the interests of the people, then, quo vadis, Mr. President?


Whose interests would you prioritize, Mr. President?


The 325% increase in toll fees is too much, Mr. President. Look, news reports say prices of vegetables have increased because of the toll fees. This is the direct effect of the Toll Regulatory Board's almost dogged adherence to the interests of investors, instead of the Filipino People.


These toll hikes lack the requisite public hearings, Mr. President. With this alone, the President is empowered to recommend a review of the TRB's decision and possibly order a stoppage of the implementation of toll rate hikes.


If the President shows incapacity or is incapable of protecting the public interest, who, then, will protect the People?


Let the People show their outrage and disgust over this inhumane toll rate hike.


Is the President so weak that he is not capable of overturning the decision of a mere agency of government?

Why do I believe Noynoy Aquino is "it"

Why do I believe that Senator Benigno Noynoy Aquino will clinch this year's presidential post? First, every one who has experienced a national campaign will definitely tell you that funders and election groups consider the year-end surveys as barometers of the people's pulse. A 40 plus percent rating is insurmountable. Even if the next survey leader manages to get at least 39% (which is impossible), the survey leader will still win.

Former president Joseph Estrada, at the height of his popularity, only managed to get a 38-41% trust rating. As we all know, Estrada got the highest number of votes ever by a presidential contender.

Since funders always rely on scientific surveys, expect a deluge of financiers and funders to the Liberal party.

Second, I believe that there are only two contenders that will seriously challenge Noynoy Aquino and the Liberals in the end game: Manny Villar and Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro, three if Joseph Estrada continues his campaign (there are talks that Erap will back out in the middle of March or April). Villar is Noynoy's serious opponent. Barring any controversy, Noynoy will squeak a win out of Villar. Villar's machinery will sputter in the end.

Now, since I expect the outbreak of political violence in this elections, Noynoy Aquino will still win in the end if he leads the people's movement against electoral fraud.