Lackluster performance

Global Integrity, a Washington based business think tank, has reported that out of a high of 100 percent, the Philippines received a “very weak”, a very low rating of 57 percent, down from 71 percent in 2007 in its anti-corruption campaign.

Global Integrity noted that the significant decrease to a “very weak” rating is “a result of a widening gap between the laws and their implementation”.

The very weak anti-corruption drive of the Aquino administration is reflected in the continuing corruption in the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Immigration, DOTC and the Philippine National Police. The latest proof of this is the seizure of an NBI/FBI team of 25 luxury vans and big bikes stolen in the United States in Talakag, Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City. Yes, it took FBI assistance to discover this high priced smuggling operation. The P180,000 per container system has been reported as ongoing in the Customs zone. Many luxury vehicles are hidden in containers.

On the PNP front, more policemen have been charged with corruption beginning with five Manila policemen pocketing P10.4 million in ransom money and 10 Sarangani policemen robbing fishermen of their day’s catch.

The Global Integrity finding confirms the Hongkong based Political Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) Corruption Index which reported that corruption in the Philippines under P-Noy worsened from 8.25 percent to 8.9 percent on the scale where 10 is the worst.  

Notwithstanding all the explanations from Malacañang, the sad fact remains that the Truth Commission is in limbo and the Department of Justice has not filed any major corruption case against a big fish. Most department and office heads are reluctant to investigate previous contracts of their predecessors.

There are questionable deals entered into by Pagcor which have not been cancelled or revised. Reps Rufus Rodriguez, Mitos Magsaysay and Carlos Padilla have questioned the contract between Pagcor and PhilWeb on internet gaming which has yielded only P139 million for the government while making hundreds of millions for the operators.

Meanwhile, petty corruption is still ongoing at LTFRB, LTO, BIR, AFP and DPWH. Sir, tinimbang ka ngunit kulang.

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GOOD NEWS. . . The price of crude oil in New York slumped $11 per barrel from P110 to $99, close to its December 2010 levels.

Since January, Philippine oil companies have increased prices weekly every time crude oil prices increased by $2 or more per barrel. A total of P11.40 per liter has been added to the price charged at the gas stations since January.

Now we will see if the Department of Energy (DOE) can insist to the oil companies to rollback their gasoline and diesel prices by at least P8 per liter. And just as fast when they increase, oil companies must now effect a big rollback in the next two days. Yes, Secretary Jose Rene Almendras must work harder to keep the oil companies in line.

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APPOINT NEW OMBUDSMAN NOW. . . Merceditas Gutierrez resigned effective yesterday, May 6. With Congress resuming on Monday, May 9, the President may consider appointing a new Ombudsman today who can assume work pending confirmation. The new one has a lot to attend to. There are only five years to go before the end of this Administration. Eleven months have been wasted.

More names have come up for the vacant Ombudsman post: La Salle Law Dean Jose Manuel Diokno, retiring Justice Antonio Nachura, lawyer Ernesto Francisco.

Former Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro issued a statement saying he is not available for the job due to existing business commitments. Sec. Leila de Lima has also declined.

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UNENDING BUS ACCIDENTS. . . Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil (Pangasinan, 2nd dist.), his daughter Angela, PO3 Jim Evangelista and driver Ruben Escobra were seriously injured in an accident in Bugallon, Pangasinan when a Dagupan Bus Lines bus collided head on with Bataoil’s Nissan Escapade.

A few days ago, a racing killer bus bumped and injured six persons in a passenger jeepney at Commonwealth Avenue again. It looks like MMDA has relaxed its watch on speeding buses on that killer highway.

A bus of the Ceres Bus Company fell into a ravine in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental killing two and wounding 10 others.

In Metro Manila, traffic accidents increased 321 to 18,700 for the first three months of 2011.

Wake up, LTO, LTFRB and Highway Patrol Group, PNP.

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TIDBITS. . . Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong admitted his mistakes and has apologized. That’s humility at its best.

After the successful Osama bin Ladin killing by US Navy Seals, the approval rating of President Obama jumped up nine points to 56 percent.

The resumption of Willie Revillame’s program on TV 5 has been scheduled for May 14, to give time to finish the bigger new studio, according to Manuel V. Pangilinan, TV5 chairman.

UP Economics Professor, Dr. Raul V. Fabella supports an increase of wages for both private and public sector employees.

It is welcome news that the Department of Agriculture has built a P40-million cold storage facility in Dapitan City for the benefit of the sardine industry. Portuguese Mabuti sardines now sell for P190 at Unimart. Montano sardines in tomato sauce which is just as good sells for only P85 per bottle at Cherry’s Foodarama with double the number of sardines than Mabuti in each can.

NPA rebels raided the police station of Malitbog, Bukidnon carrying away a dozen firearms.

Communications Group Sec. Sonny Coloma said in a radio interview that President Aquino has returned the Lexus to its “lender”. But my Chinoy friend “Vivian” said she saw the President driving it last Saturday at Ongpin where he took lunch at the President Hotel.

Dingras, Ilocos Norte added Randolph Magno to the growing list of Ilocos officials killed by assassins including a RTC judge, a vice mayor, several councilors and barangay chairmen.