Resurgence of kidnappings

Teresita Ang See, chairman of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order, deplored the big number of kidnapping cases that have occurred since January. DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo admitted the resurgence of kidnappings and other crimes.

In one week, 3 kidnapping cases were recorded in Quezon City, Makati and Las Piñas.

In Makati, Aiko Moore, 27, the wife of an American businessman and her driver were kidnapped and released after paying P 6.1 million ransom.

In Las Piñas, shipping executive Vicente Cordero III was kidnapped while biking with friends at Daang Hari road.

In Banawe, Quezon City, a mother and her daughter were seized in front of a popular coffeeshop. Two other kidnappings were reported in Divisoria, Manila and Antipolo.

Meanwhile, HLURB officer Atty. Leonard Jacinto Soriano was shot dead in front of the HLURB offices in Quezon City.

In Malabon, newspaper vendor Ramon Almadin, 54, was shot dead in front of his house at Letre.

Celerino Odtujan Jr., a truck driver, was shot dead in Tondo, Manila. Zenaida Barea on her way to a court hearing was shot dead in Batangas City. Jose San Diego, a Barangay Kagawad, was shot dead by a worker who was demanding his unpaid wages. Dennis Encinares, 32, and Lenis Papio, 31, were killed in an ambush in Ibaan, Batangas.

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BIG BLOW . . Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez predicted a tourist arrival of 4.6 million for 2012.

It looks like he may not reach that target as major Chinese Travel Agencies have suspended their package tours to the Philippines due to threats of anti Chinese protests as a result of the Scarborough Shoal stand off.

Last year, Chinese tourist arrivals jumped 77% from 54,332 in 2010 to 96,455 in 2011. It was hoped that 200-300,000 Chinese tourists will visit the Philippines this year since 3 million Chinese visit Singapore and Thailand.

Last year, Hong Kong authorities issued a black advisory against travel to the Philippines. Several other countries led by the United Kingdom have existing travel advisories.

Lately, the airport mess has been compounded by long delays in flights due to the congested NAIA airport.

DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas admitted in a DZMM interview that 23 systems for NAIA Terminal 3 are not yet in place.

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POLITICAL UPDATE . . Sen. Manny Villar, Nacionalista Party (NP) president, said the NP was prepared to go it alone. He denied reports that the NP was set to enter into a coalition with the Liberal Party.

The NP has as probable Senatorial candidates namely, Cynthia Villar, wife of Manny Villar, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Deputy Speaker Crispin Remulla, and former Cong. Robert “Ace” Barbers.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia has transferred her voter’s registration to Barili, Cebu in the 3rd district, giving rise to speculation she may run for Congress.

Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez will be opposed by former Cong. Kako Lacson.

Dr. Peter Miguel, Mayor of Koronadal, South Cotabato has joined the Liberal Party but his father Fernando Miguel remains with the PMP and is planning to run for Governor against Congw. Daisy Fuentes and the wife of graduating Gov. Arthur Pingoy.

DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo is busy going around the country recruiting incumbent local officials to join the LP with promises of easy fund releases. One reason he’s too busy to attend the worsening crime situation.

Rep. Egay San Luis is set to run for Governor against Gov. E.R. Ejercito in Laguna.

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ECONOMIC PRESSURE . . China has tightened restrictions on the import of banana, pineapple, and other fruit products from the Philippines.

Seventy million boxes of bananas are exported to China every year.

China is also a major export market for the Philippine mineral products.

Reduction of Philippine imports by China will hurt over economic recovery.

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REGISTERED . . President Joseph Estrada went to Comelec Manila Thursday to formally transfer his voter’s registration from San Juan to Manila.

Being the media icon that he is, hordes of reporters covered the event. He is now a resident of 589 Mangga Ave., Sta. Mesa, Manila.

He formally announced that Vice Mayor Isko Moreno will be his running mate together with a complete ticket of 36 Councilors for the 6 districts of Manila.

Erap’s PMP Secretariat is in full swing for his campaign together with Isko Moreno’s Asenso Manileño Party.

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WATER SHORTAGE . . With the onset of the summer season, the water service in Metro Manila is experiencing shortages.

In Bulacan, it has been reported that the water table has gone down and many artesian wells are dry.

In many parts of the country, the quality of water is bad causing diarrhea outbreaks. Bottled water prices are up and nobody is regulating them.

The last few days in Metro Manila saw some unseasonable rain. Again, we reiterate: Speed up the construction of rain water conservation systems to gather and preserve rain water. 

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TIDBITS . . . I like the way MTRCB Chairman Grace Poe acted speedily on the Tulfo Brothers “T3, Sagot Kita Kapatid,” TV program over channel 5. The program was suspended for 21 days.

The House committee on ways and means approved the bill increasing taxes but it was watered down with the expected additional tax revenue to be collected only P33 billion instead of P60 billion.

SMC president Ramon Ang promised to return Philippine Airlines to profitability in one to two years time. He plans to buy 100 new planes and hire the most beautiful flight attendants in Asia.

Greetings to avid readers Greg Senining and Jun Arigo of Bantay Radio, Cebu, Mayor Malou Loot of Daan Bantayan, Cebu, Ric Sampang of Pasay, Congw. Emmy Calixto Rubiano, Mayor Sofronio Ona Jr., of Calaca, Batangas and Mayor Jose Alberto III of Virac, Catanduanes.