PNOY promotes corrupt tourism official to Undersecretary

In a move that was contrary to all that PNOY promised during the elections, he promoted one of the most corrupt officials in the Department of Tourism (DOT). Past administrations, yes, administrations had been aware of the activities of this long time official who is a CESO and a protégé of former Secretary Narzalina Lim.

What are the sins of this DOT official to garner such attention from the press? Well as sources put it, the list is long – from position peddling, gross abuse of authority, nepotism and misuse of public funds. During the time of Mina Gabor, she used to pressure Tourism attaches to invite her, in the guise of conducting inspections and needs assessment tours in their respective posts where she would shop for gifts at the most expensive places like Harrod’s. Another would be endearing herself to Congressmen by including them in familiarization tours to gain favor from them for personal gain. She would also threaten the line personnel as all position promotions passed her desk. During the term of Gemma Araneta she single handedly put a stranglehold on plans and programs that were being developed as she held sway over the Legislative Liaison Office and Administrative Services that included the legal division and management of the Coconut Palace. Her trips continued to London and other European posts by insinuating to the Attaches her power of having them retained in their posts as at that time Araneta had been conducting a recall and alignment of the attaches assignments to the DFA rotation model. When Richard Gordon took over, she was not able to position herself as Araneta had been able to conduct a transition despite the political environment. It was at this time that she became a “frozen delight” – an official enjoying the perks of her position but without any direct function. Gordon was briefed on her specifically and she was iced so to speak with Armand Areza looking over her every move. But her power still held weight as she was able to have her daughter hired in a foreign DOT office in the United States as a local hire. She may have had the goods on this attaché to be able to do this. The total insult however came during the term of Durano where again, the outgoing and incoming secretaries were able to exchange notes. Durano retained the staff of Gordon and added some more of his to institute a dynamic change in the DOT. This ASEC as she is called was fully in the back burner for 10 years. But still she could not be removed as she endeared herself to a powerful Drug Lord turned public official from Pampanga who protected her from the ax. The lull and dullness of this period gave her time to scheme and plot for the future.

I was told that during this transition, PNOY told Durano that he was going to retain him for his sterling performance in increasing tourism arrivals to the country. So there was a feeling of continuity. But as politics would have it, another person with much less credentials (even has a pending case or had a pending case that was tourism in nature) took the job – Albert Lim. Let’s see… Narzalina Lim and Bert Lim…are they related?

In anycase, a transition meeting was supposed to be held between Durano and Lim, but at the last minute, the latter excused himself feigning a lack of schedule…or lack of interest as he had already been briefed by the ASEC. As soon as the first order of PNOY came out firing co-terminus employees. This ASEC presented all the personnel to Bert Lim where they were fired instantly with her standing at the back smiling. These included personnel who were in the Department for 15 years and should have been given permanent ones that were unfortunately unavailable or unavailable to those who were not loyal to the ASEC.

PNOY being the President would not be able to look over the entire operations of the Executive Branch of government. That is left to the Executive Secretary and Department Secretaries. Being so, they should be more prudent and circumspect in their appointments of crucial officials by looking into the background of these people. Word has it that this ASEC has a mansion and wide swaths of land in Batangas. Now, how could she possibly amass that with her salary at the DOT?

While the ASEC is a CESO, it does not preclude her from the life style check and a morality check before promotions are signed and handed to so called deserving CESOs. Let’s all be reminded that some of the most corrupt officials in government are armed with this lofty title and do their bidding under its protection.

Why reward corrupt officials or those whose reputations are tarnished with instant promotions even after the slogan – Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap has already been made official and clear as the operational guideline of this government? PALAKASAN PA RIN BA as some DOT personnel put it. WALA RIN PAGBABAGO, they quipped.

There is only one (1) Assistant Secretary (ASEC) position in the DOT and she has just claimed the order for her promotion to Undersecretary has been signed and released in and from the Palace. Good lord, save the people in the DOT and save our tourism Philippine industry.

Tags: A, ABS-CBN, Alberto Lim, Armand Areza, Asec., Aspiras, Assistant Secretary, Benigno Aquino, Department of Tourism Philippines, GMA7TV, Makati Business Club, Malacanang, Mar Roxas, Narzalina Lim, Noynoy Aquino, Paquito Ochoa, PATTA, Philippine Senate, Philippine Tourism, PNOY, Richard Gordon, Shanghai EXPO, Theresa Martinez, tourism, travel, wikipedia