500 days gone

President Benigno S. Aquino III has reached the 500th day of his term.

The following is the state of the nation today:

1. 21.5 million Filipinos hungry.

2.   NAIA 3 still not fully operational. NAIA 1 the worst airport in the world.

3. KKK appointees still in office led by DILG Usec. Rico Puno.

4. MILF criminals Commander Ameril Umbra Kato, Commander Bravo, Commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi, Long Malat, Hud Limana and those responsible for the 2007 and 2011 Al Barka massacres are still at large despite arrest warrants issued.

5. Abu Sayyaf still operating in Sulu and Basilan and inflicting casualties on AFP.

6. Hacienda Luisita lands still undistributed to tenants.

7. No effective reforms at PNP, many police officers involved in crimes. Close to 2,000 riding in tandem murders to date for 2011 alone.

8. Not a single PPP project started.

9. Gasoline and LPG cartels still operating and reporting excessive profits.

10. Electricity rates the highest in Asia.

11. The drug business still flourishing.

12. Smuggling still unabated. BOC still short of targets. A record 2,000 containers went missing.

13. No serious campaign against smoking, P-Noy still smoking.

14. No serious infrastructure program ongoing.

15. Unemployment (3 million Filipinos unemployed) and under employment rates still sky high. No jobs creation program other than PPP which has not taken off.

16. Hundreds of thousands are still in evacuation centers and relocation areas.

17. RH and FOI bills still pending.

18. Ampatuan trial still proceeding so slowly.

19. GDP still below 5%. Economy in the doldrums.

20. Traffic still bad.

21. 60,000 passengers off loaded at NAIA.

22. Inflation has risen to a high 5.2%. Prices of rice, sugar, pork, chicken, galunggong, LPG, cooking oil, sardines, canned goods and medicines at record highs.

23. Toll fees have skyrocketed.

24. Nine million OFWs abroad. No prospect of returning home, thousands leaving daily. POEA banned deployment to 41 countries.

25. Traffic accidents a major problem. LTFRB and LTO still inutile, unable to solve problem.

26. No attention accorded to agrarian reform.

27. We are still short of 3.6 million housing units.

28. Metro Manila one of the top heavily polluted cities of the world.

29. Illegal logging, illegal mining, illegal fishing remains unchecked.

30. Spratlys issue still unresolved.

31. The US still permitted to interfere in purely domestic affairs.

32. No one convicted or sacked for the mishandling of the Luneta hostage taking crisis.

33. The 3-headed Palace Communications group still in office. Add Usec. Abigail Valte to the group.

34. Health program still not fully supported; 80,000 dengue cases so far. More than 200 towns without doctors.

35. 300,000 unemployed registered nurses.

36. Pork barrel system not only retained but allocations for senators and congressmen increased.

37. 66,000 classrooms needed.

38. 112,000 teachers needed.

39. No Philippine university in the top 300 outstanding educational institutions in the world.

40. New Bilibid prison, provincial jails and city jails overcrowded.

41. President Gloria M. Arroyo has been denied permission to go abroad for treatment.

42. Burial of President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani denied.

43. There are no elections at ARMM.

44. PBA Talk and Text player Ali Peek is shot in the neck in a robbery attempt in the parking lot of RFM gymnasium Mandaluyong. 

* * *

Hardliner. The denial of President Gloria M. Arroyo’s request for an Allow Departure Order (ADO) to enable her to seek specialized medical treatment abroad is additional proof that President Aquino is engaged in a no holds barred anti-Arroyo policy.

The anti-Arroyo hard line is indicative that the President harbors a deep personal grudge against PGMA. In the same way, he is unforgiving of President Ferdinand Marcos.

All are now forewarned. Don’t cross the President or he will throw the book at you. Wish he had the same hard line policy against the MILF murderers and mutilators.

The denial of the ADO has now been brought to the Supreme Court.

The issue is clear enough. Since a serious medical problem is involved and in view of public interest in the case, the Supreme Court should prioritize the case and decide within 30 days.

* * *

Crimes Galore. PBA Talk and Text player Ali Peek was shot in the neck by a lone gunman in a bungled robbery at the parking lot of the RFM gym at Pioneer street in Mandaluyong. He survived. The shooting has shocked the PBA.

Provincial Board Member Rafael Viduya, 59, was shot dead as he left a church Sunday in Bislig, Surigao Del Sur.

Six soldiers were wounded in a bomb blast in Sumisip, Basilan. A woman was killed and 3 Cafgu members wounded at an ambush at Balingasag. Misamis Oriental NPA rebels shot dead 2nd Lt. George Tiago, 27, as he was escorting a medical mission at Daraga, Albay. NPA rebels burned 2 trucks loaded with lumber at Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur. Heavy Equipment of a Chinese construction company was burned at Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

Three South Korean investors in mining were kidnapped in Lala, Lanao del Norte and brought to Lanao del Sur. Ransom has been demanded.

Security guards Wilson Silva and Antonio Aragon were gunned down at Commonwealth Ave. Market in QC. Achilles Ponce Enrile, 32, who claimed to be a grandson of Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile was robbed by a taxi driver inside his taxi at Bago Bantay, QC.

Philippine Coconut Authority (PHILCOA) Provincial Manager of Batangas Necitas Pujanes, 62, was killed in an ambush in Lucena, Quezon.

The crime wave is going on with impunity.

* * *

Tidbits. POEA Administrator Carlos Cao Jr. has suspended the ban on deployment of OFWs to 41 countries.

The 5 persons closest to the President are Sec. Jose Rene Almendras, Pagcor Chairman Cristino “Bong” Naguiat, contractor Romy Mercado, Sec. Proceso Alcala and Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya Jr.

Amado S. Munda Jr. of Davao City complains about the rude condescending and insulting behavior of French Embassy personnel when he applied for a visa.