It was unchristian for President Aquino to announce on Christmas eve a Cabinet revamp in January. Thirty Cabinet rank officials will be sleepless and uneasy for the next few weeks.
Reportedly on the chopping block are DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo, DILG Usec Rico E. Puno, Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez and Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa. Cong. Irineo “Ayong” Maliksi (LP, Cavite 3rd dist.) is the probable DILG Secretary.
DFA Sec. Alberto Romulo has expressed a wish to be chairman of the Commission on Audit (COA). Former Ambassador to the US Albert del Rosario is in line to be the next DFA Secretary.
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CHRISTMAS WISHES. .We have two Christmas wishes for President Noynoy Aquino: 1st that he finally finds his lady love and lifetime companion. 2nd that the Balay faction of Mar Roxas and the Samar faction now end their infighting and quarrels and concentrate on helping the President achieve his promised reforms.
Our Christmas wish for Vice President Jejomar Binay: That he is finally transferred to DILG where he is a perfect fit and can more effectively pursue an anti crime campaign.
For Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile – continued good health and good eyesight. Also, a stress free tenure as Senate President.
For Speaker Sonny Belmonte, a widower, also a new partner and companion for his remaining years.
For Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, a new set of Deputy Executive Secretaries and a Presidential Legal Counsel that will perform better and protect his backside. Also a bottle of Petrus red wine.
For Chief Justice Renato Corona, peaceful co-existence with President Aquino.
For President Erap, more condominiums to sell, eight years as First Gentleman of San Juan and more romantic moments.
And for the Filipino people, safety and all the blessings and good graces from the Lord Almighty.
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GOOD PERFORMANCE. .These following officials are doing their jobs comparatively well and deserve commendation:
1. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. She handled the IIRC panel investigating the Luneta Hostage case very impartially and expeditiously. She’s always available to inform the public of her decisions. She is handling the Ampatuan Massacre case efficiently. She’s a hard worker and has flown to Mindanao several times to supervise investigations, especially the rape case of a nurse in South Upi, Maguindanao.
2. Foreign Affairs Sec. Alberto Romulo, providing strong and mature support to the President in foreign affairs and during his 3 trips to the US, Vietnam and Japan.
3. Vice President and HUDCC Chairman Jejomar Binay. A workaholic. VP Binay is handling his multifarious duties very well. He is constantly on the move 24/7 visiting the provinces at least 3 days a week. He has not exacerbated his fight with losing candidate Mar Roxas.
4. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino. A pleasant surprise, Chairman Tolentino is on the ball 24/7 too, attending to traffic, sanitation and illegal settlers. One good quality he possesses: he follows thru in his programs.
5. BIR Commissioner Kim Henares. A no-nonsense administrator, she’s fighting powerful and vested interest tax evaders and so far not a whiff of scandal emanating from the BIR.
6. PCSO General Manager Margarita P. Juico. She’s cleaning up the Augean stables in the PCSO, neutralizing the syndicates that inflated medical and hospital payments, cut the excessive media budget and have started to crack down on cheating STL operators. (No similar efforts at Pagcor.)
7. GSIS President and CEO Robert Vergara. He is effectively attending to the complaints of his biggest constituency, the teachers. He has increased pension payments. He has terminated the use of Union Bank as GSIS depository bank and returned to Land Bank. He is reviewing and upgrading the investment priorities of GSIS, suspending further foreign investments. He’s decisive and has learned to get full control of GSIS.
8. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro has turned around the original unbelievers in his appointment. He convinced Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago to withdraw her objections to his confirmation. The DepEd employees have started to support him. He has shown a caring heart for teachers who have been victims of crime and harassment, even visiting the wakes of murdered teachers.
9. Budget Secretary Butch Abad successfully defended and shepherded the proposed 2011 national budget thru Congress getting the House and the Senate to approve it on time without any major cuts.
10. Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Wilfredo D Tamayo. The PCG has performed well in helping victims of typhoons, floods and other calamities.
THE LEMONS OR SLOW PERFORMERS:
1. DILG Sec. Jessie Robredo
2. DILG Usec Rico Puno
3. Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez
4. Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa
5. Truth Commission Chairman Hilario Davide Jr.
6. OPAPP Sec. Teresita Deles
7. DOT Sec. Alberto Lim
8. Energy Sec. Rene Almendras
9. Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz
10. Executive Sec. Paquito Ochoa
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PRESIDENTIAL DERBY. .The positioning for the 2016 Presidential race has started. In the running are:
1. Vice President Jejomar Binay (PDP-Laban)
2. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino)
3. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (NP/KBL)
4. Senator Mar Roxas (Liberal Party) if he succeeds as Executive Secretary
5. Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla (Lakas)
6. Senator Francis Escudero (Independent)
7. Kris Aquino (Yellow Army), if she runs for and wins as Governor of Tarlac in 2013.
Also in the wings is Senator Francis Pangilinan (LP).
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is young enough to think of running again if Pres. Aquino does not perform well.
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TIDBITS. . .Christmas and holiday greetings to all our beloved readers and to listeners of our Mr. Expose radio program every Sunday morning from 8-9:30 A.M. over DZRJ-AM, 810 KHZ.
Merry Christmas to Agilang Pilipino officers Ellen Bocalan, Albert Yang, Dennis Tan and Peter Carandang. To Cong. Dan Fernandez and Timmy Chipeco. Also to Jay Francia, Sister Gloria Ross, R.V.M., DBP Gov. Kevin Belmonte, Gov. Ito Ynares and son Gov. Jun, Mayor Martin de Guzman, Mayor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier, Poch Puyat, Ramon Balatbat, Councilor Shalani Soledad, Cherry Lagman, Dr. Tyrone Reyes, Dr. Ramon Batungbacal, Dr. Jose Y. Perez, Dr. Lucila Bernardo, Kim Wong, Ramon Lee, Oca, Cora and Boy Tibayan.