Falling down, falling down

The SWS June survey reports that the satisfaction rating of President Aquino has dropped further from 64 percent in November to 51 percent in March to 46 percent after one year in office.  

This is the 3rd quarter in a row that the President’s ratings dropped substantially, confirming citizens’ comments that nothing is happening under the Aquino Administration.

Many say the situation is getting worse in the poverty, crime and corruption fronts with no clear job creation program and no effective policy to curb excessive oil prices.

Highlighting negative public perception are the KKK protection issue centered on DILG Usec Rico Puno and LTO Asec Virginia Torres, the President’s easy going bachelor lifestyle, the lack of humility of Communication Secretaries Edwin Lacierda and Ricky Carandang, the resignation of DOTC Sec. Ping de Jesus, the ongoing factional fight between the Balay and Samar groups, the slow action of Malacañang and DND on wide ranging AFP corruption, the hightened and continuing smuggling.

But just like President GMA, President Aquino dismissed the latest drop in his ratings “I am not really that concerned with my ratings going up and down.”

President Aquino declared that “what is more important is that at the end of the day we can face anybody and say that we are working and are not running after popularity ratings.”

President Aquino and spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Ricky Carandang and Manolo Quezon are making a big mistake in not accepting the latest negative survey results as a clear sign of the peoples’ impatience, if not anger.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda had the gall to point out that the level of dissatisfaction did not increase nationally from its 18 percent rating. Further, he again reiterated the oft repeated excuse that the Aquino Administration has been working to clear the obstacles (or landmines) for good governance put in place by the previous Arroyo Administration.

The bottom line: After one year of trial and error on the job training, people’s lives have not become better. On the contrary, it has gotten worse.

The bottom, bottom line, people are not convinced he is working hard enough, studying hard enough, and deciding fast enough.

Tarlac bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. . .

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2ND CASE VS. GENUINO. . . Pagcor has filed a 2nd graft case against former Chairman Ephraim Genuino and 7 other Pagcor executives involving the release to the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA) headed by Mark Joseph of almost P39 million from 2007 to 2009, a big portion of which was used to pay for rental of the swimming and dormitory facilities of Trace College in Los Baños, Laguna which is owned by the Genuinos. Ephraim Genuino used to be president of Trace College which is now headed by his son Erwin.

Former Senator Nikki Coseteng is the main complainant against Pagcor and PASA.

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FULL TIME CRIME CZAR. . . President Aquino said Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa is the full time PAOCC Chairman and will monitor crime on a day-to-day basis while he monitors it on a periodic basis.

Well, Chairman Ochoa, get down to work, personally investigate and throw the book at PSG S/Sgt. William Candelaria, Barangay Chairman Angelo Murillo and 2 others who cooperated in the rape of a 15-year-old girl inside the Malacañang compound. Aggravating the crime is the fact that the girl is a minor that it was done inside the PSG barracks inside the Presidential grounds and the fact that a drinking session was done inside a military establishment.

Barangay Chairman Murillo had no business turning the girl over to PSG. He should have turned her over to the police station or brought her to the barangay hall and called for her parents. Mayor Fred Lim must take action too, against Chairman Angelo Murillo.

Meanwhile, is Chairman Ochoa monitoring the following crimes:

Another policeman turned criminal. PO1 Sonny Merino of the Pasig police station went on a shooting spree at a wake in Santa Ana, Manila, killing mourner Apolonio Torres, 28 and wounding 3 others.

Another dentist robbed. Dr. Rosario Cruz of the Lyn Dental Clinic at Quirino Highway, Novaliches, QC was robbed by a “patient”. He is the 10th dentist to be robbed by a man posing as a patient the last 3 months in Metro Manila and Bulacan.

Another killing by motorcycle riding assassins. SPO1 Ernie Escalan of the Northern Police District is gunned down with 8 bullets near a market in Caloocan.

Another Barangay Chairman killed. Barangay Chairman Hernani Obaña of Bone South, Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya was shot dead in a cornfield.

Another police shootout. Laoac, Pangasinan Police Chief, Senior Inspector Ludovico Salazar Jr. as he led his policemen in a confrontation and resulting in a shootout that killed ex Councilor Rodrigo Eleazar, 62 and his son Gener, 34.

And will Chairman Ochoa focus special attention on the series of kidnappings in Cotabato, Maguindanao, Basilan, Zamboanga City and Lanao? Double time, Secretary Ochoa. Don’t even take a smoking break 16 times a day.

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TIDBITS . . . Former Congressman Marcelino Libanan said that NPAs are still in control of certain areas of Northern Samar and Samar. The killers of Calbayog Mayor Reynaldo Uy and the mayors of Balangiga and Giporlos are still at large.

Tenants of Hacienda Luisita are wondering why the Supreme Court keeps delaying the decision on the Hacienda Luisita case. It was supposed to come out in February. Again, why so slow?

Our greetings to Gov. Raul Lee of Sorsogon, former DTI Chief Peter Favila, PEZA Chairperson Lilia de Lima, Cong. Mark Cojuangco, Ernie Kuan, Jane Abacan (not Lulu as earlier reported), Jessica Panga and Kristia Reyes.

Congratulations to the Philippine Eagles on the occasion of their 32nd anniversary.