Who’s this ‘Queen of the South’?

Our spyring in Cebu disclosed recently that there is a big demand for flip-top reds of a very popular cigarette brand and Mild Seven cigarettes. According to our ear-spies, about 500 boxes are needed in a week for "export" through Cebu. These are locally made cigarettes, not fakes from China. On the side of "imports," have you ever wondered why there’s a deluge of cars in the country – SUVs, motorcycles, delivery vans, small trucks, and other automobiles coming in from Cebu? Very reliable sources disclosed that Jose Pidal’s "right hand" is behind the operations. Those investigating the Pidal case will most likely find the money trail leading to the Queen of the South.

Subic Fastbreak

Our Palace ear-spies overheard recently a high official in Subic imploring GMA to act against the port development project at the Subic Bay area. The high official apparently considers it as an onerous contract for Subic and Region III in particular and the country in general. His reason? There are presently nine seaports existing already in and around the Bay area and to add another might just burden the Philippine economy even more with debt. According to our ear-spies, GMA’s silence and inaction are being ascribed by many in Subic to political considerations since she declared she would run again in 2004. It has been said that the wife of one of Subic’s honchos was GMA’s classmate in Assumption College. Worse, in the name of politics and cowardice, one particular honcho was said to have appointed to the SMBA board the man who allegedly shot and murdered his brother. What one will do for power and wealth.

American Bandstand

One of our ear-spies caught a question raised by an American embassy official: "Why isn’t the Philippines a good investment haven when in reality, it is?" Another American who has stayed in the country for a couple of years, answered: "Because the media has sold the Philippines as a dangerous place. Consequently, the international media pick up locally-generated negative news and amplify these." However, both Americans agree: They would like to help solve the image problem of the country by creating a more stable security environment by modernizing, professionalizing and reforming the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police as a first step. They both feel it’s a shame that RP isn’t one of the leading economies in the Asia-Pacific region all because of political and media irresponsibility. One American official interjected: "The Philippines as a government is underrating itself. The reality is, it’s even safer in the Philippines than in some parts of Los Angeles! But CNN reports otherwise."

Bored And Lodging

One of our ear-spies accidentally spotted a top Palace official attending a function of a (well-known?) secret society near the De La Salle University campus last weekend. This group, which was associated through the years with the Illuminati during the Age of Reason, and with the Knights Templars during the Middle Ages, and even with the pyramid and temple builders in ancient history, makes for quite a political network, if you really think about it. According to our spyring, most of the senior officials of the AFP and PNP are avowed members of this secret society, and so were our national heroes, General Douglas MacArthur, and some of the founding fathers of the United States. But then again, maybe this Palace official is merely bored, or knocking at their doors for "enlightenment," or better yet, for permanent lodging.

Suspect Spook

Who is this alleged intelligence official that the Palace doesn’t trust? He is said to be close to Gen. Vic Batac, who is supposedly an associate of Gringo Honasan. According to our ear-spies, this suspect spook is also suspected of masterminding the Al-Ghozi escape. Supposedly, the official is possibly being given a wide berth to monitor him and his cohorts, and to give him enough rope to hang himself with. But not for long, we hope. Last our ear-spies heard, even American intelligence is on to him.

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