Yearend assessments of the presidency

The following made their assessments:

1. Archbishop Oscar Cruz, no achievement except for wang-wang;

2. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, nobody home, the economy decelerating;

3. Sergio Ortiz Luis, PCCI president, there is still corruption;

4. Senator Chiz Escudero, not slow but deliberate;

5. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, only one year, give him more time;

6. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, low grade in curbing corruption;

7. Sen. Manuel Villar, the economic growth did not improve the lot of the poor;

8. Migrante, 65 percent, failed to protect OFWs in the Middle East;

9. Harvey Keh, Kaya Natin president, 85 percent grade;

10. Rigoberto Tiglao, the Porsche presidency, idiosyncratically, sybaritic image;

11. Katrina Legarda, law professor, not just well intentioned, capable. I am not unhappy;

12. Solita Monsod, out of 10 point agenda, passing grade is only in 3 promises. At a scale of 1-10, 10 for zero based budgeting, 0 for failure to submit the Freedom of Information bill, 4 for the administration of justice, among others.

13. Alex Magno, UP professor, the President is unduly defensive;

14. Nines Cacho Olivarez — Tribune editor, he is really a do-nothing President;

15. Ernesto Hilario, Business Mirror columnist, Mr. Aquino is fast emerging as a traditional politician who doesn’t think twice about rewarding his allies and supporters with the spoils of victory;

16. Congressman Danny Suarez, expect the worst;

17. Gabriela Party List Rep. Luz Ilagan, stop being emotional and onion skinned. He should be open to criticisms;

18. Emil Jurado, Standard Today columnist, there is disenchantment and frustration in the air.

19. Felino Palafox Jr., MAP president, barely passing mark of 75 percent.

To be generous, it was an uninspiring performance.

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The top headline stories for the year:

1. Luneta Hostage Taking crisis;

2. The Supreme Court declares the Truth Commission unconstitutional;

3. The 2011 budget is passed on time with the P21.2 B CCT intact;

4. Jose “Ping” de Jesus resigns as DOTC Secretary;

5. Mar Roxas is appointed DOTC Secretary;

6. Bilibid corruption exposed. BUCOR Director Ernesto Diokno resigns;

7. House of Representatives vote to impeach Merceditas Gutierrez with overwhelming vote;

8. Merceditas Gutierrez resigns as Ombudsman;

9. Dispute with China on the Spratlys erupts;

10. A series of typhoons, calamities hit the country, the latest being the Taal Lake fishkill and widespread floods in Mindanao;

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OCHOA INTERVIEW. . . In a one hour interview over ANC by Pia Hontiveros, Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr. revealed that the best points of President Aquino are his sincerity, his political family background and his expertise in music and sound.

He admitted that in the 2010 campaign, he worked exclusively for President Aquino’s candidacy, recruiting IBP officers into the campaign, but said he voted for Mar Roxas.

He admitted that as a young lawyer, he run for Mayor of Pulilan, Bulacan but lost.

He said that as Executive Secretary, he decides on all legal matters and appeals from the different departments.

It was an interesting interview, but no hard questions were asked like why he rejected the ICRC report of DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima on the Luneta Hostage crisis and why no action was taken against DILG Usec Rico E. Puno. He was also not asked to reveal the 3 Cabinet Members who submit bad news and cause headaches for the President.

He denied that the Marcos, Ochoa, Serapio and Tan (MOST) law office is the new version of “the FIRM”.

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TRY A WOMAN. . . Elizabeth Lee who has just resigned as president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and as CEO of Universal Motors Corporation is being considered for the job of Commissioner of Customs. It might be good to appoint a qualified woman as Customs Commissioner for a change.

But Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima is still protective of Commissioner Angelito Alvarez and insists he will not be replaced. Mr. Secretary, are you blind to open smuggling now going on in the different ports? Do you condone the consistent monthly short collection of BOC target collections with the latest report on the May collections being P6 billion short of the P26 billion target?

Look around at Divisoria, Baclaran, Greenhills San Juan and Quiapo and you will see the proliferation of smuggled laptops, cellphones, appliances and other goods.

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GOOD NEWS. . . The US State Department has removed the Philippines from the Human Trafficking Watch List, Tier I. This is one achievement the Aquino Administration can lay claim to. A major part of the credit for this successful effort should go to Vice President Jojo Binay who chairs the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and to DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima.

Sec. Hillary Clinton announced the elevation of the Philippines to Tier II status which means the Philippines do not fully meet standards on human trafficking, but is making progress to do so. Sec. Clinton presented Zamboanga Prosecutor Darlene Pajarito with the 2011 Hero Acting to End Modern Day Slavery Award. Congratulations!

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TIDBITS. . . Starting tomorrow, the smoking ban in public places including streets in Metro Manila will take effect. Smoking is banned in restaurants, bars and other places of entertainment. Will it be implemented in the many casinos in Metro Manila where many customers smoke?

Tullahan River, Malabon flood control project, JICA project started in 2003, not yet finished due to lack of funds again.

Big clash between NPA and AFP in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.

Our thanks to CSC Chairman Francisco Duque, former Secretaries Eddie Ermita, Ruben Torres, Gabby Claudio, Lennie de Jesus and Annabelle Abaya, former Congresswoman Eileen Ermita and Cong. Bernie Vergara for being regular readers of our column.