Davao explosion death toll rising

The death toll in Davao’s explosion has risen to 12 individuals. 10 where killed instantly after the blast with 2 reported deaths after they were brought to hospitals.

Reports remain sketchy surrounding the explosion as police continue to investigate the incident.  Some witnesses claim that the explosion was due to an LPG tank in a nearby SPA located near the Roxas Ave. night market.  Other speculate that this could be a terrorist attack brought about by either the current drug war being waged by the government or the newly launched all out war against the Abu Sayaff.

The explosion at nearly midnight of September 2 caused panic among residents, bystanders and students who frequent the night market on Roxas Avenue. Mayor Sarah Duterte recently re opened the night market as it conformed to the City Government rules on how it was to be organized.

Based on current news reports being received from Davao, 60 have been injured by the blast.  Some received what appears to be shrapnel wounds according to first responders from Davao’s emergency response services. Others suffered shock.

Police Chief Ronaldo Dela Rosa has stated that the investigations are on going, but also speculated that it may be a terrorist attack from the abu sayaff.

During weekends, President Rodrigo Duterte goes home to Davao.  In an interview with media he declared a state of lawlessness across the nation, ordering the police and armed forces for increased vigilance and visibility to include checkpoints. He also reassured that public that Davao as a destination remains safe.

Duterte was in power in Davao for almost 2 decades, occupying various positions from Mayor to Congressman. The current Mayor and Vice Mayor are his children.

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.

Rural Banks deny involvement in Jueteng operations

The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines has issued a statement categorically denying the involvement of the industry in illegal jueteng operations. It further said that former Archbishop turned Anti-illegal gambling crusader Oscar Cruz has been making general statements that are so far unsubstantiated according to RBAP Executive Director Vincent Mendoza who further added that Rural Banks are at the forefront of countryside development and are strictly monitored by the BSP, PDIC and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLAC).

Rural Banks have recently been strengthening their risk management systems, product portfolios and capitalization as prescribed by the BSP and under an environment of mergers and consolidations. In working within these guidelines and rules, it would be impossible to digress from them even slightly, most specially, as involvement with jueteng would deal in large cash deposits. Cash deposits are closely monitored by both the bank management and regulators to ensure that the depositors are legitimate Mendoza added. There is no room for laxity when it comes to operations of Rural Banks and we operate much like the big commercial banks, only at a smaller scale with a niche client base and niche products. The BSP also prescribes the KYC or Know Your Clients program that encourages Rural Banks to know first-hand who their clients are and their businesses.

The strict guidelines that govern the operations of Rural Banks include the submission of regular reports of covered transactions and suspicious transactions. These are prescribed in the AMLA Law of 2001 or RA 9160 as amended by RA 9194 that Rural Banks follow under penalty of law.

Under these strict guidelines, it would be too tedious for jueteng operators to use Rural Banks for their money laundering operations. And Rural Bank owners are very well aware of the penalties involved in even accommodating so called jueteng money into their respective banks Mendoza said.

Rural banks are found extensively in local municipalities across all the Philippine Provinces, as mandated by law in order to serve the countryside communities and promote rural development. There are 600 Rural Banks nationwide with a total network of over 2,100 branches.

ERAP in lalalalalala Land

The whole speech of ERAP today just gives us a glimpse of how fractured our society is at present and how politicians would manipulate this to their end. He chose an audience that would obviously accept any concocted dream that his speech writers created. He belied everything and so believed himself during his delivery that he actually forgot the truth! When he was delivering his obviously dream speech, he forgot about his friend and confidant, Governor Singson who turned against him and caused his downfall. His acting prowess obviously leapt out in his tirade of lies and dreams and once again projected the actor that he is and will always be.

It’s all the same shady characters and washed out politicians like Maceda standing behind this drunkard despot justifying the decision as against the document ERAP signed as a condition for his pardon. Even Jejomar Binay who is searching for political relevance in 2010 was all smiles given that he already assured some votes around Laguna where most of the squatters of Makati where transferred ahead of the 2010 elections. Take note, most of them still choose to vote in Makati even though they are no longer bonafide residents thanks to the PNR and Bayani Fernando.

The Cabal that came to Tondo today is no one else’ fault but GMA’s and her lack of political will. Had she not pardoned this criminal, he would still be where he should be – jail!

ERAP is not the problem here. Our problem as a people is our lack of memory and how easily we are duped. It is our penchant for forgiving and forgetting. It is the large gap between the have’s and those who don’t. Our problem is our society and the norms we live by. How to change it remains in our hands.

ERAP is free to dream. He is even freer to aspire for any position. The decision remains with the Filipino on whether they would help ERAP achieve his or achieve their own dream for change in our nation.

ERAP was in Lala land today! Are you? You decide.

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!

Gloria Arroyo’s Mad dinner party!

The appalling insensitivity and wanton abuse of discretion on the part of Gloria Arroyo and her clique is reminiscent of the mad hatters party in wonderland. Spending such an extravagant amount for so few brings to fore the excesses of this government and how we have allowed ourselves to be cheated of our taxes. This even after she signed an austerity executive order for all government agencies to follow. It seems that there are those excused from the Executive Order.

In honor of your wanton abuse of your position as President and your contribution to your further degrading its status, we present this perpetual reminder and enshrine it as part of your legacy for all to remember.

What you spent could have fed 3,000 Filipino children a lot of HOTDOGS as pea brained Cergie would put it.

To those among your party who pocketed their per diems for those two free dinner days, they should return it as they are tax payers money.

The Sisters at Assumption cringe at your actions and its students and alumnae frown upon your lack of class.