The real SONA

The State of the Nation is:

1. 252 killings by assassins in motorcycles from January to April 2011;

2. New York based Human Rights Watch report charging the Aquino Administration with “lackluster performance in curtailing rights abuses”. Killings of journalists are continuing with six killed the last 12 months;

3. The continuing ambushes and raids of the NPA from Rizal to Negros Occidental to Samar to Surigao del Sur;

4. Abu Sayyaf kidnapping activities in Maguindanao, Basilan and Zamboanga still happening regularly;

5. RH Bill still pending in Congress and FOI bill shelved by Malacañang;

6. The price of rice at P27-P35/kilo and sardines P12 per can;

7. The unregulated high prices of oil and gasoline products;

8. A higher unemployment rate with 11.1 million unemployed and underemployed;

9. OFWs being sent home from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries;

10. A combative President Aquino attacking GMA regularly;

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The State of the Nation is also:

11. DOST Sec. Ona’s admission that many rural health units and district hospitals are not fully functioning ;

12. The serious level of dengue cases reaching 34,000 from January to date, including 900 cases in Batanes;

13. The record number of accidents resulting in thousands killed or injured;

14. A classroom shortage of 124,000 rooms and teacher shortage of 113,000;

15. The Philippines being bullied by China on the Spratlys;

16. The latest 4.9 percent GDP growth rate;

17. The slowing of foreign investments flowing into the country due to unstable economic policies as declared by foreign chambers of commerce;

18. The many cases of policemen turned criminals themselves;

19. The increase in drug dealing activity resulting in an increase of drug users to an estimated five million.  PDEA says all barangays in Manila, the capital, are “drug affected”;

20. About 2,000 government posts to be appointed by the President still unfilled . . .

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The real State of the Nation is also:

21. Travel advisories against the Philippines issued by the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong;

22. Usec Rico Puno and incompetent KKK buddies still in office;

23. The Belgian contract for the dredging of Laguna de Bay cancelled with floods regularly hitting Metro Manila;

24. The very high level of air and water pollution, especially in Metro Manila;

25. No PPP projects bidded out to date;

26. 287 local government units and government offices not remitting their collections to GSIS resulting in suspension of benefits for 26,000 employees;

27. A million unregistered vehicles and motorcycles with colorum buses still running on Edsa;

28. A BPI bank branch in Quezon City held up;

29. No Cabinet changes as promised;

30. The LRT and MRT breaking down frequently .

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The true State of the Nation is also:

31. NAIA 3 airport terminal still not fully operational;

MIAA still downgraded by FAA and European countries;

32. No peace pact with the MILF or with the NPA;

33. ARMM elections postponed to 2013;

34. A shortage of 3.6 million housing units;

35. Governor Ismael Mangudadatu saying 40-60% of voters in Maguindanao are ghost or double registrants;

36. Malabon flood control project still unfinished after 20 years;

37. P1.2 billion of ghost farm to market roads;

38. Illegal logging and illegal mining unchecked;

39. We are still importing rice and there is continuing smuggling of rice and sugar;

40. Evidence of cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections is coming out;

41. President Aquino, Kris Aquino and Jun Jun Binay still loveless.  

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UNFAIR ORDER. . . The order of Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro suspending Caloocan Mayor Recom Echeverri for 6 months is highly irregular and very unfair.

The case against him was filed by Vice Mayor Edgar Erice on July 7. Without giving Echeverri a chance to answer, much less conduct a fact finding investigation, Casimiro issued the 6 months suspension on July 17, a Sunday at that. With just 2 years to go before the end of the term of Echiverri, suspending him ex parte for six months is no longer preventive, but is already a penalty.

Casimiro must explain why the hasty ex parte order suspending Echiverri for 6 months. What motivated Casimiro to take this unusual, mysterious step?  Why the haste in favoring Vice Mayor Edgar Erice?

Note that the graft charge did not nvolve malversation of funds, but non remittance of employees’ premiums to GSIS, which is still being reconciled as admitted by GSIS Board Chairman Daniel “Bitay” Lacson. The Court of Appeals issued a TRO against the suspension order.

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T I D B I T S . . . 54 Congressmen received cash dole-outs from STL operators in their provinces.  Congressman Arnulfo Fuentebella (NPC, Camarines Sur, 4th dist.) was one of the very few that did not accept and returned the PCSO checks. Congressmen Erin Tañada, Jesus Crispin Remulla and Elpidio Barzaga denied receiving STL money.

Michael Buguid, Jr. was shot dead by 2 motorcycle riding gunmen in Malabon. Veterinarian Orlando Roma, 50, was killed by robbers in San Miguel, Bulacan.

Economist Bernardo Villegas says it is impossible for the Philippines to attain a GDP growth of 7% or more in the next 5 years without large amounts of foreign direct investments (FDIs). In 2010, the Philippines received only $1.8B FDI compared to Vietnam’s $7 billion and Indonesia’s $13 billion.