NEW ZTE-NBN DEAL IN THE WORKS with CONTROVERSIAL ZTE PLAYER NOW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

What will happen to the ZTE-NBN deal, now with one of the main actors, former DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza serving con-currently as Executive secretary?

Mendoza's appointment as Mrs. Arroyo's little president speaks volumes. It just shows that this administration tolerates or will tolerate any and all infraction just to coddle an Arroyo mini mini-me.

Remember that in 2006, Mendoza was the head of the DOTC who went to China, signed the controversial deal and when he was exposed by Joey de Venecia III, backtracked and claimed that they lost the copy of the contract.

Mendoza was also the one who defended the contract before the Senate and deployed his close advisers and henchmen to ensure that nothing comes out of the probe about the US$325 million deal.

In an interview after his formal announcement as Executive secretary, Mendoza hinted that he may yet revive the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) deal, possibly with other players and with a more acceptable term. Mendoza says NBN is a great idea but was only marred by controversies.

Will the administration force another ZTE-NBN type of deal in the next few weeks? Yes. My sources within the palace says that's precisely the reason why Madame Gloria decided to appoint Mendoza as Executive secretary---to ensure the speedy implementation of a new NBN deal with the same actors and players only donning different attires.

The problem with the NBN plan is simple--it is a government-to-government transaction that any administration, even if not with Gloria, is committed to implement it. Meaning--whether we like it or not, this Republic will have an NBN program with the Chinese government.

Only through an Executive action will stop this plan from lifting the ground.

The more pertinent question is---why is the public now, oh so silent, with what this administration did--appoint as Executive secretary somebody once accused of graft and corruption? How this will be interpreted by the international and business community will be seen in the next couple of weeks.

Palace to make a move against Gibo soon?

Senator Frank Drilon, citing sources from the palace, says that Secretary Ebdane will head the Department of Defense (DND)--a move interpreted as a precursor to the declaration of martial law in the Philippines. What's curious is the expected "lateral" transfer of Defense secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro to the Justice department, with now current head Agnes Devenadera to go back to her solgen post.

Why the justice department for Gibo? Is he not an effective soldier anymore for Gloria? Probably because of his strong public condemnation of martial rule yesterday, when he said that there's no such thing and he'll be first to oppose it, same stance as former president Fidel V. Ramos. Or, possibly, Gloria is afraid that Teodoro is gaining more and more adherents not just in the military, but moreso in civil society. I, myself, admired Teodoro's grit. He seems to be the perfect leader, having a good grasp of things and with a good and strong heart.

Maybe Teodoro is being eased out because he's getting bigger than his boss. Being a professional in Arroyo's Cabinet is not an admirable trait. What Gloria wants and likes are dogs. These people serve her well and calms her troubled mind.

Or possibly, maybe the justice portfolio is more apt for Gibo, since the post is more "controversial" and one can get more publicity juice out of it. Or, maybe, Gloria suspects that some group within the Cabinet is sabotaging her and wants a Honduran solution soon?

I asked my classmate what he thinks and he says that Gibo and Gloria are not seeing eye-to-eye anymore after Gibo's lavish birthday party. Gloria was not there, but her Cabinet members were. That party was interpreted by close Arroyo associates as a virtual Munich Putsch. Remember that even Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita was there to toast for Gibo.

An Oddity

It's so odd that, a few months prior to her downfall, err, the end of her term, Gloria is still making all these moves. Ebdane was formerly PNP chief and commands his own men inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) and AFP. Like DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza, Ebdane was one of those who remained loyal to Madame, because they're friends of her husband, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Ebdane remains very relevant to Mrs. Arroyo since his former subordinates now occupy highly sensitive posts within the AFP and PNP.

Consolidating power for what?

For an administration with a few months left, it's totally suspicious why the sudden re-shuffle. Is Gloria easing those not in her inner circle anymore and moving to consolidate all power to her group? Teodoro revealed that he's not too privy to what Arroyo thinks anymore, a possible sign of disengagement to the power center. (some say that the reshuffle will happen shorly during or after Arroyo's trip to Egypt)

Why consolidate power when you're virtually a lameduck at this point, except that you're preparing for something big soon?

The transfer of Ebdane, Arroyo's closest general, says something. This is actually an indirect admission that internal squabbles are really happening within the military establishment, for both glory and gold.

The defense department has a say on appointments in the AFP. With the current wrangling within the military and police, Arroyo probably sees the need to appoint someone very close to her so that her favored PMA class gets the top posts even while AFP Chief of Staff General Victor Ibrado stays as head.

The plan really is to undermine the leadership of Ibrado, subverting him by snatching the ranks beneath him, while allowing him to act as Chief of Staff. This is reminiscent of the moves by Lacson's group when he allowed his men to undermine then PNP Chief Roberto Lastimoso's leadership while allowing Lastimoso to "act" as PNP chief.

Bombings related to efforts to "delimit" Gibo's power as defense sec?

Arroyo's men know that its hard to dislodge Gibo from his seat, given his rising popularity. What would, however, justify this?

Instability. As what I wrote previously, this administration thrives in destabilization. It always gets what it wants shortly after a destabilized situation.

By creating a destabilized environment, Malacanang can now justify the removal of Gibo from defense and transfer him to the justice portfolio. The question really is---what's next?

More on this at http://daily2020.blogspot.com/. See you there.

Frank reminders

While Gloria was hobnobbing with Washington royalty, "Frank" went on a killing spree, slaying hundreds and destroying property worth 4.3 billion pesos. Thirty eight provinces were laid waste and made desolate. The devastation is widespread, from as far as Pangasinan to the Southern provinces of the country. It is as if God has judged us for our omissions.

More that these raw stats, the devastation wrought by Frank is worth more than that. Thousands or even millions face the prospect of hunger and depression. To prevent things from turning worst, Gloria ordered the flooding of NFA rice to affected areas. But, this is just a stop gap measure.

You can't eat raw rice. You have to cook it. But, how could you when you don't have electricity? You don't have gas? These areas were rendered disabled due to the storm.

International help should be pouring in right now. The United States says it will give US$200,000 as aid to those affected areas. They even lent their precious military rescue hardware to retrieve those bodies off the coast of Romblon.

As more bodies are being recovered from the sunken ship, Malacanang's men are in a frenzy as to who should conduct that probe of Sulpicio lines. (In) Justice Secretary sRaul Gonzales says it should be a probe initiated by Malacanan with the Marina and the Coast Guard made to inhibit themselves for an impartial investigation. DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza meanwhile said, it should be his department since it is mandated by law. This is the first time that a non-lawyer remarked with legal authority on a matter which the chief enforcer of the law should have known in the first place.

While they're pointing fingers, all the Vice President can suggest is disallow ships from cruising when there's a storm signal. What a whimp of a leader. Those footages showing VP Noli conducting a cabinet meeting should remind us even more not to elect him in 2010.

IN these times, we need someone who will lead us. Mar Roxas went to Iloilo to assess the damage and provide some solutions to the problem. That's the way to do it. Go to the people, see these things not from a distance but from close range. And provide intelligent solutions.

Some things are very clear in all of these things:

1. Government should have a comprehensive disaster contingency plan in place to address natural or man-made disasters such as these.
2. A clear organisational chart or command responsibility should be effected in case the president goes someplace else, and not allow a whimp such as the Vice President to command such a crucial Cabinet meeting.
3. Remember not to vote for the Vice President come 2010.
4. As a leader, go to the people and attend to their needs and not spend time finger-pointing, least a non-lawyer reminds you about the law which you ought to enforce.

Pathological Traps

Palace PR operators are at it again. They are heightening the Neri testimony to diffuse the situation. They are allowing the media to highlight the former NEDA chief's testimony as if it matters now. The SC has said that Neri could not disclose his conversation with Arroyo. What value or use will his testimony be, since that conversation is the kernel of the truth behind ZTE?

It seems that Arroyo's handlers is propping up the situation in anticipation of a major announcement from their principal. I guess Arroyo will be announcing some major changes in the Cabinet, including the "lateral transfer" of DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza from the DOTC to the newly formed Aviation Authority. Its a "demotion" which way you look at it and we don't know how Mendo would accept such an offer from the president. Surely though, it would not diminish Mendo's influence at the DOTC, since he has been there since this administration started. Some say it was a reward since Arroyo added more responsibilities to Mendo. However, by the looks of it, it seems that the ground is being prepared for his eventual transfer...

It would be very interesting how Arroyo would dislodge DENR secretary Lito Atienza from his post. Or how about PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. whom civil society members also want to be "retired" or "resigned"? How would Arroyo handle them?

In the past, Arroyo is known to sacrifice her lieutenants and knights just to survive. Surely, Arroyo will not touch Razon. She might "relocate" not totally remove Atienza from his post. Probably Atienza would be transferred to an ambassadorial post? In Guinea I suppose? Or probably the head of the Luneta Park? Or a government corporation? Or since Atienza is fond of abducting witnesses and ordering them to make the rounds of Cavite-Laguna-Batangas, maybe he's fit to be assigned at the Calabarzon area? Arroyo's very creative, this survivor is, she'll find some inventive ways of solving a problem like Atienza. This early, I believe Atienza is a done deal. He's a goner.

Funny thing

A Pulse Asia survey showed that some of the senators who took part in the ZTE deal hearings suffered from a drop in approval ratings, most especially Joker Arroyo. Everybody's ratings dropped, including those of presidentiables Manny Villar and Mar Roxas. Perplexing, is'nt? Probably people hate Arroyo so much that this hatred is beginning to affect her allies at the Senate. Pulse Asia should probably conduct another poll to see why people reacted that way. This survey may or may not influence the Senate, especially Cayetano who also suffered a drop, to continue with the ZTE probe.

Finally, Big Mike admitted the Wack-Wack meeting

After this controversy, I bet that every influence peddler would (1) learn how to play golf and (2) would visit Wack-Wack more often. Look at Abalos, he chairs the golf club and won for himself a nice trip to the US. Wow, that's something. Maybe i'll play some rounds at WackWack and win myself a trip to the US.

By the way, Big Mike, whom Senator Madrigal referred to as "First Goon", "First Grafter" or what have you (I refer to him as "First Golfer" since, despite his reported illness, continues to play that game of the elites), admitted meeting Joey de Venecia that fateful morning at Wack Wack. Though he never admitted telling Joey to "back off", Big Mike admitted warning Joey though of dipping his hands at government contracts, being a son of the Speaker. However, if you closely examine what transpired, I believe Joey more than Big Mike. If Mike admitted admonishing Joey for having himself involved in a government deal, would it be logical to conclude that, indeed, he said that word "back off"?

On hindsight, what's so bad about Big Mike telling Joey to "back off" from the deal? Nothing. In the context of the meeting, it's not bad for the First Gentleman to tell Joey to back off since, as he said, Joey's the son of the Speaker, right? In fact, if FG admitted saying that, it could have been good for him since that shows you how "protective" he was of the national welfare, right? I think this is worth considering by his publicists.

Let's wait and see, shall we? We only have until March 14. Afterwards, if nothing happens at that time, then, we can all junk all of these things and let bygones be bygones. Anyway, 2010 is just around the corner. Pardon Arroyo again for her infraction and just junk her or charge her in court after 2010. However, I don't think people will just do this at this point. People are tired of the corruption and the hardships this administration has been doing since Day One. I think they will flood UST of warm bodies. If not, then, kalimutan na lang lahat ito and just suffer in silence, okey?