The state of the nation

The state of the nation is the presence of 30 Chinese vessels in Philippine Waters.

The state of the nation is the constant flooding in many areas.

The state of the nation is the daily robbery of foreign tourists in Manila and riding in tandem killings.

The state of the nation is 51% self rated poor Filipinos.

The state of the nation is the continuous smuggling of rice, pork, chicken, laptops and cellphones.

The state of the nation is unchecked corruption in many government offices.

The state of the nation is the lack of equipment and medicine in public hospitals and health centers. The state of the nation is the increase to 220,000 maternal death cases.

The state of the nation is the lack of 138,000 teachers and 66,000 classrooms.

The state of the nation is the lack of peace agreements with MILF and the NPA and frequent raids and ambushes happening. 

The state of the nation is NAIA 3 not yet fully operational and Manila Airport not yet upgraded.

The state of the nation is the continuing increase in the price of prime commodities.

The state of the nation is 2.9 million unemployed Filipinos, 7 million underemployed and 8 million OFWs abroad.

The state of the nation is the failure to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

The state of the nation is flourishing illegal drug and illegal gambling operations.

The state of the nation is President Aquino has less than 4 years to fulfill all his campaign promises.

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DIRTY TRICKS . . The dirty tricks of the Administration are fully operational with the filing of two cases of graft and corruption against Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, an official candidate of UNA for Senator.

The cases were filed by the Ombudsman before Gov. Garcia was scheduled to deliver her state of the province Address (SOPA) Friday at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

The 2 graft charges arose due the purchase by the Province of Cebu of a 24.9 Balili Estate in Naga, Cebu for P99 million.

Gov. Garcia immediately filed a P90,000 bail bond to head off an effective arrest warrant to be issued by the Sandiganbayan. Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who were at the SOPA expressed opinion that the timing of the filing of the charges clearly indicates it was politically motivated.

In her SOPA, Gov. Garcia pledged to fight the charges and prove they are baseless.

She said “I will stand my ground and endure this early storm which the returning dark clouds of traditional politics bring and will fight to the last destination of this, our continuing voyage.”

It was poor strategy on the part of the political planners of the administration party. It only generated a lot of sympathy for Gov. Garcia.

Giving support to Gov. Garcia at the SOPA were President Estrada and UNA senatorial candidates J.V. Ejercito, Mitos Magsaysay, Jack Enrile, Sen. Migz Zubiri, Joey de Venecia, Sen. Richard Gordon, and Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian. 

The other dirty tricks case is the media report on graft charges against Cong. Aurora Cerilles. She denied the charges “This is a case wherein casual workers assigned in the provincial hospital expressed dissatisfaction against their former Chief, although somewhat politically motivated because of the timing (2004 election was forthcoming then) and the lawyer who counseled them is the political rival of the chief’s husband.

“I was included as among the respondents allegedly because I approved the voucher in the purchase of medical supplies which, according to the Complaint, did not go the regular process of bidding in accordance with the audit rules in 2011.

“I denied responsibility, assuming that there was an irregularity, because I was the last person to sign the voucher in the process. I made it sure that the attachments were complete and, before I signed, I always make it sure that all the signatories have already affixed their respective signatures. In other words, I had to rely in the regularity in the official works of my subordinates who, by reason of their special knowledge and experience, are more knowledgeable than me about the transaction. It may be noted that the transaction happened in 2001 when I was elected for the first time as chief executive and assumed office only in the month of July of the same year.”

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CRIMES IN SONA WEEK . . While President Aquino was claiming that crime is down, several crimes greeted him yesterday.

Ex PTA Chairman Nixon Kua, 47, an aide of Sen. Ping Lacson was shot in the head and was in critical condition by robbers in Calamba, Laguna. His brother Allyson was also shot.

Sampaloc Barangay Chairman Hilario Ramiro was shot dead by fellow Barangay Chairman Jonathan Florendo.

The Manila Police Department admitted one foreign tourist a day is victimized in Manila. Crimes in Manila have risen by 64%.

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TIDBITS . . . The World Bank has raised its growth forecast for the Philippines from 4.6 to 4.8 % for 2012. It is still way below the 7-8% GDP growth needed to uplift people from poverty and create new jobs.

DOH Sec. Enrique Ona clarified that charity wards are not being phased out. He meant charity patients will no longer be around as he is moving to enroll 5.2 million poor families in PhilHealth.

Sec. Ona said he has created a task force to look into the stem cell therapy now being offered by some hospitals.

Best dressed Lady solons at Sona: Imelda Marcos, Lani Mercado Revilla, Lucy Torres Gomez, Rachel Arenas, Gina de Venecia, Nancy Catamco, Ana York Puyat-Bondoc, Janet Garin, Rachel del Mar, Nur-Ana Sahidula, Bernadette Herrera Dy, Tricia Bonoan David, Abigail Binay and Mercedes Alvares.

Greetings to avid readers: CA Justice Carmelita Manahan, Claire Buencamino, Yoly Tuadles of Los Angeles, Johnny and Marisol Lim.