Lacierda's lapse

After booboos by colleagues Secretaries Ricky Carandang and Sonny Coloma, now it’s Secretary Edwin Lacierda’s turn to commit one.

Secretary Lacierda is the Presidential Spokesman. When he speaks, it is in effect, the President speaking through him. Last Friday, Secretary Lacierda issued a statement that President Noynoy registered a mark “above passing” for his performance these first 97 days. So in effect, P-Noy is grading himself. That’s inappropriate.

P-Noy will formally issue his report on his performance during his first 100 days this coming Friday. So Secretary Lacierda preempts that report by issuing his “above passing” grade days before. Again, that’s not correct.

Archbishop Oscar Cruz has made his own assessment. He gave P-Noy a 75 percent or “C” grade. He said he was “expecting more” from P-Noy. Well, Lacierda’s above passing grade could mean 76 or 77 percent.

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HARD TO FIND . . . We ask 4 persons, namely a law professor, a housewife, a Councilor and a Makati executive, separately, to give us three good things P-Noy did the first 100 days. They found it hard to identify 3 accomplishments.

One said “The no wang-wang, no names on DPWH signboards” policy. Another said the lower expense in his trip to New York, where P-Noy took a commercial flight to and from San Francisco and stayed at a 4-star Sofitel hotel.

Another said — “I like P-Noy’s courageous stand against the Catholic church on family planning.” The fourth said — “His first appointee to the Supreme Court is a good choice.”

Asked to identify 3 failings of P-Noy, they were almost unanimous to pointing out the following:

1. The Quirino Grandstand hostage fiasco;

2. The poor quality of presidential appointments;

3. 3 P-Noy’s easy going work style. One even said that he works only 12 noon to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

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PERFORMING ASSET . . . PCSO Chairman Margarita P. Juico is quietly but effectively doing her job. She has replaced Romualdo Quiñones as Small Town Lottery project director. Noting a COA report that PCSO is losing money on its operations despite a big lotto, sweepstakes and STL income, she put a stop to the activities of a group indiscriminately paying hospital bills of “favored” applicants which amounted to P1 billion the last 12 months of GMA. Some Generals were allocated P500,000 or more when the maximum limit is supposed to be P100,000 per indigents.

Chairwoman Juico has decided to act on the finding of DPWH Rogelio Singson that the present PCSO office at Quezon Institute is in danger of collapsing in case of an earthquake and will move out to PICC. Mrs. Juico confirmed that several STL operators are also jueteng lords and vows to terminate their contracts if their current reported sales are not increased to at least 80 percent of estimates.

Carry on the good work, Margie.

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SWIMMING IN ONIONS . . . If the NFA warehouses are swimming with rice, farmers’ warehouses in Nueva Ecija are swimming with onions. SIPAG, Sibuyas ng Pilipinas Ating Alagaan Foundation asked DA Sec. Proceso Alcala to implement punitive measures against onion smugglers. SIPAG President Francisco Collado complained:

“Up to now, no smuggler has yet been charged. Imported onions from China, India, New Zealand and Holland are openly sold in the market.”

Collado should direct his complaints to BOC Commissioner Lito Alvarez, the Alabang golf cheat for tolerating smuggling of agricultural products.

Onions (and chicken) arrive in reefer vans which are refrigerated. BOC can solve the problem by simply requiring Asia Terminals, Inc. (ATI) and International Container Terminals and Services, Inc. (ICTSI) to notify the BOC advance notice on the arrival of all reefer vans. PASG apprehensions showed onions are misdeclared as garlic.

P450 million worth of fake Rado and Omega watches were seized by the NBI in Quiapo. How did they pass the Manila Customs zone?

Meanwhile, Customs employees in Subic confirmed the smuggling of 53 containers of “chicken feet” which arrived on 5 August, and mysteriously disappeared on August 13, despite a report of Customs Deputy Police Chief Jose Yuchongco to Commissioner Lito Alvarez. Customs insiders suspect a member of Commissioner Alvarez’ staff facilitated the entry of the “chicken feet” for 1,500,000 reasons.

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BACALZO’S BOAST . . . Barely a month in office, PNP Chief Raul Bacalzo said that there is no breakdown of law and order, saying that the crime rate is going down, especially in Metro Manila.

That’s unbelievable, unacceptable, even a big lie! Note the following crime reports disputing Bacalzo’s claim:

Judge Reynaldo Lacasandile of RTC Vigan, Ilocos Sur was shot dead while Municipal Treasurer Elpidio Sy of Adams, Ilocos Norte was also killed. Entong Misa, the Comelec Election officer of Tuburan, Basilan is shot dead in Isabela City.

The De La Salle bar exams grenade explosion injuring 44 persons with 2 law students losing their legs; the Luneta Hostage incident.

A woman waiting for a ride in Quezon City is abducted and gang raped; a 21-year old nurse is gang raped and left for dead by 6 men belonging to prominent families in South Upi, Maguindanao;

Two high school girls are ganged by 7 young men in an island barangay in Negros Occidental; a new Mitsubishi Montero belonging to Jose Benedicto was carjacked in Maria Clara Street, QC.

Barangay Chairman Romeo Rombrero of Lambayang, Sultan Kudarat was shot dead in Barangay Malagasang; Barangay Kagawad Anselmo Frias is killed by 2 motorcycle riding gunmen in Basista, Pangasinan; Barangay Kagawad Nemencio Navarette was also killed in Imus, Cavite.

Elsa Carolina Ronielo died of several gunshot wounds to the head in Bolinao, Pangasinan; in Angeles City, two foreigners are shot dead in separate incidents while a woman was found beheaded inside a motel; 3 headless bodies were found in a river in Saguday, Quirino.

Two men who identified themselves as policemen entered a billiard hall in San Francisco del Monte, QC and shot dead Dondon Fajardo in front of several players; Teacher Teodora Soner of Manuel Luis Quezon High School in Caloocan was stabbed to death by a student in Caloocan City. Another teacher, Oscar Saanen, 38, was also killed by a student in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan.

Robberies, carnappings, kidnappings and cellphone snatching are daily occurrences in Quezon City, Caloocan and Tondo, Manila. Drug pushers are openly selling shabu on street corners and bars in Metro Manila.

Wake up, Gen. Bacalzo, wake up and tell the truth!