Lacson back from hiding

His arrival was as swift as his departure! Former fugitive Senator Panfilo Lacson arrived in the Philippines via Cebu International Airport from an undisclosed location. Bureau of Immigration officials were mum on the actual immigration stamps on the Senators passport to determine where he was hiding but indicated that he got off from a flight that originated in HK. On whether it was a connecting flight from Europe, they remained quite.

In a live press conference today, Lacson admitted that he hid and became a fugitive from the unfair administration of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Yes, I evaded the law because I knew I was innocent and was not going to get a fair treatment under her administration. “I thank the media for respecting my privacy and enabling me to spend the weekend with my family in peace. I went to the grave of my parents and went to church. After, I played with my apo’s”. – Lacson said.

He also indicated that he was not allied with this government as these were only indicated in news reports. This is the perception that everybody would want to have based on the current state of affairs of the Administration vis the impeachment of the Ombudsman in the Senate. They would need more Senators on their side to finally impeach Guttierrez.

The truth may be far from what is being written in the press if it were based on the history of Panfilo Lacson. He is supported by a number of rich families “oligarchs” chief among them is Tony Boy Cojuangco, the first cousin of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino. Under the Estrada Presidency, Panfila Lacson was given a free ride on the surveys of Pulse Asia. He did not pay for any single survey and yet included in all of them as instructed by Tony Boy. How could he own a place in Ayala Alabang with his pay as a police general or his salary as a Senator. That is unless he pocketed political contributions from the oligarchs for his failed presidential bid. Or, was there also “pabaon” in the PNP?

According to sources many of the oligarchs would rather have Lacson on their side and in his good graces as they are scared of him. His connections in the intelligence community and government infrastructure is intact and these moles provide him all the information. His position in the Senate merely provides the cover. Furthermore, are our laws subject to the interpretation of those who are in power only where for political convenience somebody can get away with not following the procedures of the law? So does it mean to say that the Ombudsman is being impeached because the current administration wants its own lawyers as an Ombudsman or as a Supreme Court Justice. Talaga bang weather weather even in the application of procedures of the law?

His arrival is a hard pill to swallow for Secretary Leila De Lima. It is a lump in the throat of the no-nonsense DOJ Secretary who almost lost her job for pursuing the case against the fugitive Senator.

The question that will haunt us now is simple. Are our Senators and Congressmen above the law? Are there 2 separate laws applied for the normal Filipino citizen and another special law set for the powerful and rich?

These are questions that need to be answered. If the supreme court overturns the Court of Appeals decision, will Lacson run again?

No matter what he says, no matter how much his allies defend him, he fled from the Philippines for a mere procedure of the law. He could have had the opportunity to defend himself under the judicial system, but his arrogance prevented him from doing so.

Malacanang is happy that Lacson is back. But should they really be so? Remember Lacson is a dog that bites his own master. Look, he even said Estrada had ordered the killing of Dacer.

Lacson is for Lacson and all should be duly advised.

Ombudsman Merceditas sad about impeachment

In a press conference embattled Ombudsman asked for fairness in the upcoming impeachment case to be heard in the Senate. She said that the cases against her and her office are weak because they really did not look at the history and timelines of the cases. Law is a process and the Ombudsman follows this process.

Asked on the case of General Garcia, she said that the former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo and Special Prosecutor Villaignacio are the ones to be faulted because they had filed a weak case. Further they misinformed President Aquino on the true nature of what was filed. A demurer was never filed. They basically misled the President into believing that the Office of the Ombudsman, the institution is graft ridden and protectors of corrupt people. The disinformation campaign launched against us led to where we are now.

Marcelo and Villa-ignacio were found to have lied by the Sandiganbayan. Hence, they had to issue their public apologies. In fact the Ombudsman under her went into the plea bargaining agreement option in order to get back something for the Philippines. Otherwise, based on the case that Marcelo filed with the Sandiganbayan, we would have lost everything.

Gutierrez did not want to comment on insinuations that Congressmen were getting back at her for the cases that have been filed against them by their constituents with the Office of the Ombudsman. She however cited that the case of former Governor Neil Tupas Sr. regarding irregularities in the construction of the Iloilo International Airport is now with the Sandiganbayan. I hope the Senate will be more fair in hearing the impeachment case.

She denied that she is the gatekeeper of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and that the Deputy Ombudsmen were not appointed by the former President. The problem lies in the process of law and our legal system because it is perceived to be slow. However, it is a system that ensures the rights of everybody and usually that takes time. She stated that anybody can come to the Ombudsman and file cases against erring officials for as long as they have enough evidence. We will help them with these cases if they have evidence. That is our duty.

On whether she watched the whole proceeding last night, she said that she only watched parts of it but her lawyers, Atty. Anacleto Diaz and former Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas watched through the 8 hours of the proceedings. However she already expected that the House Resolution would be passed because of the pressure that were put on them. On a question whether the former President called her, she just said in tagalog: “Kayo naman palaging ganyan ang tanong niyo” and answered that she did not talk to her.

I am saddened by this whole affair after having served the government for almost 40 years. At least the Senate will be fair in the hearings. At least that is my hope. Asked whether she will be going on leave during the trial, she said she did not see the need to do so.

As of this reporting, the family of the Ombudsman has experienced mixed feelings most specially in light of one of her daughters passing the bar exams.

DOT Usec resigns! Ends letter with Pilipinas Kay Ganda

In a move to try and put an end to the Pilipinas Kay Ganda branding fiasco, Enteng Romano III, DOT Undersecretary for Promotion, has irrevocably resigned his post. In a purportedly hasty press conference with supporters already present and ready to give his reasons for leaving, he still denied any plagiarism had occurred to downplay the uproar. While others were elated at the news of someone taking responsibility for the 3.7 million widely and globally publicized faux pax, many still questioned why it was Romano who resigned and not the Secretary of the DOT if there was truly any command responsibility in this new government.

It is true that the President has been very vocal in defending his men and women from their miscues. But this is not just a publicity nightmare or a twitter or “he left his celphone” mistake, it is travesty that puts to question our culture, creative integrity, global image and how public funds are spent by government. Secretary Alberto Lim should not hide behind the curtains and should himself have had the integrity to offer the President his courtesy resignation at the least. Our recent reports have pointed out several instances that has proven the incapability of this individual to handle such an important and frontline job of promoting and marketing the Philippines and its image. Add to this his arrogant stance against the tourism congress, the private sector and the tourism stakeholders. Now, to defend himself, PR outfits have been trying to re-tell the story of the fiasco and trial ballooning the notion that the flak received was purportedly initiated by people against the open skies policy of this administration and the tourism congress who have been clamoring to be heard under the tourism act of 2009. This is clearly a deflection job trying to downplay his role in this marketing fiasco as he himself was very active promoting and defending the Pilipinas Kay Ganda campaign on radio and print media.

At the onset of the Aquino administration and Lim’s assumption as tourism chair, he was already against the WOW Philippines brand and was already looking to replace it by claiming that the WOW slogan was lacking in content. It should also be noted that Secretary Lim signed all the vouchers and checks and even launched the brand. In government, nothing happens and moves until the Secretary or head of Agency gives his approval and consent. And this can only happen after several internal presentations. If there is anyone who should resign, it should be Secretary Alberto Lim because he has lost the support of the tourism industry stakeholders and not Romano who has been the unfortunate but happy fall guy. Happy? his resignation at most increased his level of integrity which is totally lacking in the Department of Tourism’s current head.

Are they all off the hook so to speak after this gallant and selfless display of personal sacrifice by Enteng Romano? It should be noted that public funds were spent to promote this fiasco to a tune of 3.7 Million for the event alone. Note that Romano only resigned after it was revealed that funds were already spent for the launching event of the failed and plagiarized slogan and logo with actual vouchers and copies of the check being revealed by DOT insiders. This is a crisis response. There should be a full accounting of funds and events…Costs of meetings, reimbursements, travel, agency commissions to really get to the bottom of the fiasco because again public funds were used. They will need to explain all these as a duty to the public and restore a semblance of confidence in the government already branded as a college student council by Senator Joker Arroyo. 3.7 Million may be a small amount, but it is still public money that should be accounted for and justified. Who were the contracted parties that launched the event? Are they in anyway involved with Campaigns & Grey? Who copied the Polska logo? When was this done? More light should be shed in order to avoid a repeat of this in this government and maybe for future governments.

I am sorry does not cut it anymore. GMA said this but her popularity declined. The President should now cut and cut clean and weed out all the bad eggs in his administration to lighten his load! This is the only way this could end. If Alberto Lim had any self respect left in him, he should follow the example of Enteng Romano and just go back to El Nido.

While Enteng Romano has resigned, he still believes in what was developed by Campaigns & Grey. You have to give the man some points for this whereas the Ad Agency who was supposed to defend their creative idea totally failing to defend their own work.

Link to Romano press statement and resignation letter.

What led to Pilipinas Kay Ganda? The reasons and questions!

In light of the logo and slogan controversy and the revelation of financial documents detailing the initial expenses of the Pilipinas Kay Ganda launch, despite the denials of any expenditures on the program by no less than Secretary Alberto Lim himself, President Aquino has issued an official statement that he will personally review Philippine Tourism Plans and Programs.

Insiders in the Department where non too happy that the President has finally intervened in the mishandling of the prime programs of the Department responsible for promoting the country. Many officials of the DOT and PTPB were forced to leave at the assumption of Secretary Lim. These include Undersecretaries, Directors and Staff who have served the Tourism department for well over 10 years. The revamp was undertaken using the first few Executive Orders emanating from Malacanang. Former Undersecretary Palabyab, an Attorney, was offered a consultancy position by the Secretary himself in exchange for stepping down and vacating his post. He was not a CESO, but by Civil Service Rules is equal to one and thus could not be fired or just changed. Several Directors were likewise threatened and forced to tow the line in the initial salvo of personnel replacement in the Department. Staff in the Office of the Secretary and the Office for Special Concerns were immediately presented to the Secretary and terminated without due and proper notice. Employees have pointed to Undersecretary Theresa Martinez for initiating the internal problems in the Department of Tourism and in turn having herself and people close to her promoted to choice positions in the Department and its attached agencies.

The initial revamp was defended by Alberto Lim saying that he wanted to institute changes and concentrate less on marketing but on product planning or simply concentrating on creating new destinations. Tourism Attaches’ even those who were performing and delivering were recalled and replaced wantonly without regard for any performance audits being conducted. Marketing units that were working so well as established by former Secretary Ace Durano were abolished. This sowed confusion within the travel industry and its counterparts abroad. The market fluctuated because of a lack of clear cut directions and the replacement of critical personalities mid stream. Then came the Manila Hostage Massacre which further aggravated the situation as the Secretary issued statements that strained relations between China and the Philippines when he said that Hong Kong and mainland tourism inflow can be easily replaced by other markets. Instead of placating the market and assuring the chinese travel industry which had contributed to the development of Northern Tourism destinations, he basically added to the decision of tour and travel providers in China and Hong Kong in canceling their bookings amounting to several millions of US dollars. Tourism inflow from china and HK remains stagnant and has seen Laoag and Vigan suffering from the lack of chinese tourists.

These negative moves directly affected tourism arrivals which were aired by the Hotel and Travel industries. The knee jerk reaction was the re-branding exercise as Campaigns & Grey would now term it in their justification and open letter of explanation to the Filipino public.

Pilipinas Kay Ganda is a knee jerk response to the lack of tourism inflow and the confusion caused by the revamp of the marketing strategies and personnel in the DOT. They had to look for an alternative to the China and Hong Kong Market initially, and the other markets lost due to the negative travel advisories issued by Western countries, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The solution was to concentrate on the traditional market – Filipinos, because our tourists are largely Filipinos who have migrated (Balikbayans) and those who were already born abroad with foreign citizenships. The campaign that was thus developed is largely meant to target the Filipino market who live in other countries and again engage locals to see other destinations. Since we have no means to market to foreigners or these means have been lost due to the revamp and bungling moves of the DOT Secretary, the Department of Tourism looks once again internally and to the Filipino market for tourism revenues. Misled by data or otherwise, Campaigns & Grey should have had the gumption and better judgement to advice their client on the challenges of brand repositioning. The thematic campaign should have stayed on as WOW Philippines and tactical campaigns developed therein to attract the Philippine market if in fact that was the goal of the Department and Ad Agency as this article would surmise.

Indeed for the creative people responsible for this plagiaristic debacle and are cowering behind the coat tails of client direction and the management of Campaigns & Grey, the road to perdition would be sooner than later if they do not cut and cut clean by telling the truth. WHO, WHY, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and HOW MUCH? Explain entries 2, 3 , 5 ,6 of the proposed budget and the supplemental budget. Explain how Campaigns & Grey were contacted by the DOT and then contracted by the PTPB in detail. Or should Cynthia Carrion, PTPB’s COO be left to explain this debacle because she is an Arroyo holdover?

Here is a link to the document:

Bastardizing the flag! Just a media stunt.

It seems that Senator Richard Gordon has reached the end of the ropes in trying to promote himself to a higher position by coming out with a Bill that seeks to change the number of rays in the sun of the Philippine flag. Senator Gordon wants another Ray added to represent the Muslims who fought against the Spanish and American Colonial forces. He further adds that this will be a symbol of unity which is now lacking in the Philippine flag.

The National Historical Institute, the premier government body that serves as a guardian and resource to correct Philippine history has objected to the move as it does not have any historical basis. The sun and rays represent the 8 provinces that first fought the Spanish for the creation of a NATION, the first Philippine Republic. This is contrary to the various revolts and acts of defense that were conducted by individuals and groups for their communities as exhibited by Lapu-Lapu and other early filipinos. They did not even consider themselves to be filipinos then and there was no sense of nationhood as compared to the 8 provinces represented in the current Philippine flag.

What Senator Gordon refuses to accept is that the Muslims are already represented in the 3rd Star of the Philippine flag. He contends that it is not enough to honor the muslims who are part of our nation. By adding the Ray, it would stop the fighting in Mindanao and foster unity.

The question is, what is the real purpose of this Bill? First, the NHI already rejected the proposition for lack of historical basis. Second, the Muslims don’t really care because what they want is Autonomy and even secession from the Philippines. Third, those who have signed and supported the Bill in the lower house are known supporters and people of Sen. Richard Gordon. So, it brings the question to fore of what the true purpose of this Bill is.

We have known Gordon to shy away from the cost of advertising in running for a higher position. In fact, he puts all his money in the Red Cross. His dismal rating in the Presidential Polls, which he refuses to believe, does not stop him from his dream and goal of being the President of the Philippines. But why change the flag and make it an issue? Because that is how he is. He believes that it is better to do something radical and be talked about rather than to place an advertisement. He balks at mere idea of spending money for promoting his presidential ambition. Thing is, nobody wants to spend for him and his aspiration, so he looks for issues that will make him news worthy.

The good Senator defends the bill by saying that even in 1998, the flag colors where changed. In this he would be wrong. Yes, it was changed to conform to the real royal blue color of the original flag. Why did the flag for a time become navy blue or darker? One, because suppliers and flag makers did not have the raw material for the royal blue and, second, the government did not have the will to correct it.

So the question remains, is it worth bastardizing the flag for people who are already represented in it at its current design and layout? Or are we playing into another of Senator Gordon’s media stunts to promote his Presidential ambition. It seems that only President Arroyo can put an end to it because the Bill is already up for signing and final approval by the travel bug chief executive. Let’s hope she is more discerning.

The plan(e) that never took off!

It seems that in the last 10 months of GMA’s Presidency, more of these inconsistent and short sighted decisions will be taking place in the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Malacanang. With the current controversy of the dinners in Washington and NY yet un-answered to the satisfaction of the Filipino people, here they go again with a plan to buy a JET for future sojourns and junket trips! What gall do these idiots in the palace have.

Instead of planning for the transition to the next administration, it seems that the GMA and her nincompoops are still busying themselves with trying to implement last minute purchases or “midnight contracts”. The announcement and immediate retraction a day later of the planned purchase of the Presidential Jet is just a sample of how insensitive this government has become and how confusion now permeates in Malacanang Palace. We are still lucky that there are those boobs in the Palace who are stupid enough to admit to their oversights.

Apparently the reality is creeping in that there would be elections and unscrupulous palace insiders who have yet to make a buck are rushing to make one.

What are the things that the public should be watching for in the next ten months then? 1) Foreign trips, there should be none unless it is for an international commitment already approved the year before. Usually, invitations for such occasions are not done overnight; 2) More loans and chinese funded projects. These are just done to get the papers moving so to speak and inhibit the next administration from making its own decisions and hence taking credit and the “grease money” for them. And 3) Stupid purchases for cars, planes and other assets that can be left to the next administration. Oh and yes the most important of all 4) Any moves to revive Cha Cha through the CONASS!

Let’s not allow ourselves to be conned by the asses in congress!