Very poor marks

Respected economist Bernardo Villegas said that President Aquino was doing very, very poorly in attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs). That’s true.

Speaking at the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Angeles City, Villegas pointed out that the Philippines in 2010 totalled only $1.8 billion in FDIs compared to $10 billion for Indonesia and $7 billion for Vietnam. In a list of 10 Asian investment areas, the Philippines came out 9th.

Prominent UP Economics Professor Benjamin Diokno also pointed out that all FDIs of our Asian neighbors increased while the Philippines decreased.  He analyzed that the main disincentive of foreign investors is still the continuing corruption in the country as shown by the recent PERC survey.

Villegas also pointed out that trade and investments from Japan will suffer as it will take 4 to 7 years for Japan to complete its reconstruction from the earthquake/tsunami disaster.

In Davao City, Robert Kuan, the founder of the Chowking fast food chain also gave President Aquino poor economic marks. “I don’t see any concrete plans or any direction yet to address the country’s economic problems,” he declared.

The Aquino presidency is approaching the 300 days mark. One thing is clear, prices of rice and other prime commodities have gone up and continue to increase. Unemployment is up with tens of thousands of OFWs losing their jobs and coming home. Remittances of OFWs are lower. Revenue collections are down.

The President’s anti-corruption drive is snagged with the Truth Commission in limbo, the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan uncooperative and carryover of GMA type corrupt practices still on the scene.

And the President’s excuse for his lackluster performance and declining ratings - the media is focusing only on the bad news. If he truly believes that, it is time for him to start firing his entire Palace communications group. Their Cabinet titles have gone to their heads, their comments too cocky.

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MALACAÑANG CORRECT. . . Under the Constitution, the Ombudsman, the Civil Service Commission, the Commission on Audit and the Commission on Human Rights are part of the Executive Department. While their top officials are removable only by impeachment, their other officials and lower employees are not also impeachable officers. Therefore, they are subject to disciplinary action by the President who has supervision and control over all officers under the Executive Department.

The President was within his authority in dismissing Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III for gross neglect of duty and misconduct in accordance with IIRC investigation.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima agree with this view in their interviews over DZRJ last Sunday morning.

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ALL-OUT? . . . President Noynoy has finally come out to declare he was concerned about violent crimes and illegal drugs. He vowed to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs.

That’s excellent rhetoric. Now let’s see some specific action programs undertaken.

In a buy-bust operation in Taguig, a police officer again - SPO4 Rustico Sacramento of the Eastern Police District was arrested as the drug trafficker.

No word has been heard about the arrest of the persons who recruited the three executed Filipinos in China. Well known Precy Evangelista, the recruiter of Ramon Credo and other drug mules has not been located.  The case against Tita Cacayan, Sally Villanueva Ordinario’s recruiter, is going nowhere as Tita did not show up at the preliminary investigation last March 28.

Violent crimes continue unabated in Metro Manila and nationwide. In Valenzuela City, the Administrative Officer of Asia United Oil Industry was ambushed and P500,000 just withdrawn by a local bank was grabbed by two holduppers who then shot the company driver, Reynaldo Almario, 52.

Killings occurred in Cavite and Laguna as scrap iron dealer Reynaldo Tayag, 28, and his driver Noel Natividad, 40, are shot dead by two holduppers in Imus, Cavite, taking P300,000. In Pagsanjan, Laguna, town Councilor Ronnie Sablan was shot dead in Barangay Calusiche. Councilor Allan Valles was shot dead in Alamada, North Cotabato.

Another kidnapping in Cotabato City. Jinky Lim Yap, 30, a grocery owner was kidnapped right inside her store in Sinsuat Avenue in Cotabato City. Kidnappers have demanded a P15-million ransom. Another businessman, Adin Yu, kidnapped in January, is still unreleased. 

And to top it all, the headline news of eight persons including five relatives of Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu were killed in an ambush by 60 armed men in Mangudadatu town in Maguindanao; 16 persons including a Principal, a teacher and several students were kidnapped at a graduation rite in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. What happened to the campaign to disband private armies?

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DIVISORIA AT THE AIRPORT. . . We took a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong last Thursday. Departing from NAIA I, it was so full causing long lines from entering the front door of the terminal to the x-ray machines to the check-in counters. Literally full like shoulder to shoulder full for the whole ground floor. Having recently seen the easy and comfortable situation in Singapore and Hong Kong airports, why hasn’t the DOTC in nine months convinced more foreign airlines to use the new NAIA 3? Give them discounted rates if necessary, at least for one year. I strongly suggest that Saudia, Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Qatar Air which carries a lot of OFWs be transferred to NAIA 3.  

Even the PAL NAIA 2 terminal is now overcrowded. There are not even enough chairs for women and children to sit on while waiting.  

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TIDBITS. . . The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) explains that under R.A. 9417, the Solicitor General and his legal staff are allowed to receive honoraria and allowances from client agencies like the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Even granting that, the issue is still, who is receiving allowances from the BI trust fund and how much.