13% drop for P-Noy

After the Pulse Asia survey where his approval rating dropped 5 points, SWS in a later survey taken March 4-7 has now reported that President Aquino’s satisfaction rating has dropped 13 percent from 64 percent to 51 percent.

One question asked was P-Noy’s purchase of a Porsche S-211 Turbo – 48 percent disapproved of the act, 33 percent approved.

One big negative perception about P-Noy is his easy-going work schedule and his devoting a lot of hours to personal hobbies like driving his Porsche to Clark and Tarlac, his target shooting sessions, his video games and billiards playing and his nightly gimmicks and dates.

As in the Middle East, lack of jobs and widespread poverty have not been effectively attended to. No tangible results have been shown in the anti-corruption effort. In many offices, corruption is going on as usual.

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PRO MANAGEMENT. . . President Aquino has decided to favor PAL management over PALEA workers, thereby allowing PAL to lay off 2,600 workers. PALEA is dismayed with P-Noy’s decision and has decided to go on strike. The Malacañang decision is not surprising considering that PAL President Lucio Tan is one of the top five contributors to P-Noy’s presidential campaign.

Anyway, the adverse effects of a PAL strike will be softened by the presence of Cebu Pacific, Zest Air, Air Philippines, Sea Air and foreign budget airlines Tiger Airways, Air Asia and the latest decision allowing open skies policy in all airports outside of Manila. The availability of Manila-US flights will be covered by Delta, Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Hawaiian Air Lines, Japan Airlines and Korean Air Lines.

If the PAL strike happens and continues for a long time, expect Lucio Tan to sell out his stake in PAL.

The PALEA is set to strike on April 2, according to PALEA officer Bong Palad.

If it comes to pass, charge it as a clear failure of no less than President Aquino to solve the problem.  

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LAUDABLE. . . Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay and Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado of Bulacan have launched programs to assist returning OFWs from Libya. The programs include financial assistance to start a business and priority in hiring for provincial government projects. Also, scholarships and summer jobs of children of the returning OFWs. To date, the office of Gov. Sy Alvarado has listed about 250 Bulakeños who have returned from Libya.

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NOT A PRIORITY. . . Sec. Ricky Carandang said that despite the anti RH bill rally at the Luneta which 40,000 people attended, the President’s pro-family planning stand is unchanged. But why is he not pushing the RH bill? Congress went into a two-month recess without passing the bill.

Two hundred university professors including many from Ateneo de Manila University have signed a statement supporting House Bill No. 4244, otherwise known as the RH bill. Seventy percent of the population also support it.

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MURDER SCOREBOARD. . . Albert Hernandez, 46, revenue officer of BIR, Bacoor, Cavite was shot dead in front of his office in Barangay Dulong Bayan, Bacoor last Friday.

Ex NBI agent Michael Ryan Romero, 32, was shot dead in Makati. Rafael Campaña, just recently released from jail was shot dead in Bagong Silang, Caloocan. The victim’s live-in companion suspects Caloocan policemen as the killers.

Meanwhile, the convoy of Naguilian, La Union Mayor Reynaldo Flores was ambushed Saturday night with the use of an improvised explosive device (IED). Mayor Flores was unhurt but two policemen in his party were wounded.  

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TIDBITS. . . SWS reports that 52 percent of Filipinos surveyed agreed with the SC decision allowing Congress to proceed with the impeachment proceeding against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Senator Miriam D. Santiago, a Constitutional law expert, expressed the view that the arrest and detention of Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot is legal.

VP Jojo Binay has not given up hope that the execution of three Filipino drug mules will be postponed. He wrote another letter of appeal to the Chinese leadership to stay the execution and asked for a review of their cases emphasizing that the three Filipinos were victims, not traffickers.

Bad news — Saudi Arabia has suspended the hiring of Filipino domestic helpers. After Libya, another whammy.    

Out of the shortlist of five candidates for the Comelec Commissioner vacancies due to the retirement of Commissioners Gregorio Larrazabal and Nicodemus Ferrer, two have been knocked out by unusual occurrences. Former IBP President Jay Castro died in a vehicular accident while Truth Commission Member, Atty. Carlos Medina is now in the ICU due to an aneurism in the brain.

Bus fares went up by P1 today. Rice prices have gone up by P2 per kilo. Water rates have gone up.

Retired Justice Magdangal Elma has taken all his things out of Malacañang. He resigned two months ago but no announcement has been made by Malacañang.