Tributes to Jesse

Almost all adjectives have been used to describe Jesse Robredo: decent, honest, hardworking, friendly, valued, sincere, humble, best LGU official, multi-awarded, effective, outstanding, heroic, great, well-respected, serious, selfless, inspiring, deeply-loved, a man of integrity and a good family man.

Tributes poured in through social media.

His example should be followed by all government officials.

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TIME FLIES . . It was the 29th anniversary of Ninoy Aquino’s death Tuesday. I still vividly remember the ever active Ninoy during his 3 years in Boston where we met regularly at least once a week. He came to New York often and stayed with me in my Broadway apartment.

Ninoy definitely had plans of returning to the Philippines and he was confident he would be President. That dream died at the tarmac of NAIA but it was subsequently fulfilled by his wife Cory and son Noynoy.

Ninoy was a voracious reader, finishing 2 books a day. He was a walking encyclopedia. He was in daily contact with associates in the Philippines. He knew what was going on. He was a popular graduate student of Harvard.

There’s no doubt in my mind he would have become the best President of the Philippines.

Thank you for all the memories Ninoy, especially our trips to Saudi Arabia, Nicaragua and all over the United States.

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ADMIRABLE . . It is indeed admirable to see President Aquino fly to Masbate to oversee the search and rescue mission for DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo. He stayed overnight and spent 2 full days in Masbate. He then proceeded to Naga to brief Robredo’s wife and family.

He returned on Tuesday to meet Robredo’s body and bring it to Naga.

Because of the short runway of Masbate and Naga airport, he had to fly on an Airforce C-130.

There are no holidays for a President. He is the head of the Filipino family.

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GOLD SMUGGLING . . The gold purchases by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas dropped by 95% for the first 6 months of 2012. Total BSP gold purchases amounted to only 786 kilograms against 15,003 kilograms the previous period.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said it is clear proof that gold sales are being coursed by blackmarketers and smugglers.

The industry is so big it has made several billionaires in the Davao-Agusan area. One gold trader got himself elected Mayor. He was reported to have arrived in Davao carrying P300 million in cash in several suitcases to buy a hotel foreclosed by a major bank.

Why is BSP not sending agents to clamp down on the gold blackmarket? Why has not the DENR Regional Director reported the illegal sales? Why has the BIR overlooked the so many millionaires due to gold trading?

To drop 95% in 6 months should have been cause for concern by BSP and DENR officials to begin with. It should have been noticed after the first 2 months.

Or are they in connivance with the gold traders? Even the PNP monitors gold production in the area to make sure they got their cut.

Attention Malacañang. Attention Finance Secretary Purisima.

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SENSIBLE PROPOSAL . . Senator Vicente Sotto has proposed that a new plane be purchased by the Government for the use of the President and Cabinet members.

The President uses a 37-year-old Fokker F27. Cabinet members have to use small civilian aircraft or airforce planes.

Part of the problem is the lack of commercial flights to many airports. While there are Cebu-Legaspi flights, there are no flights to Naga.

In my tenure as cabinet member and senator, I averaged 2 flights in a week. In 6 years as cabinet member, I must have taken about 400 flights. I was in a near accident or emergency landing 5 times. Yes, it cannot be avoided. Cabinet members have to do regular inspection trips, inaugurate projects, attends official conferences and speaking engagements.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, DBP or Land Bank can help buy a new plane which they can lease to cabinet members at cost.

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EXPENSIVE FIELD TRIPS . . It is welcome that CHED Secretary Patricia Licuanan has banned expensive field trips for students.

I have been approached by relatives to help defray an HRM student’s trip to Singapore costing P50,000. For a trip to Puerto Princesa, the students were billed P19,000, otherwise you don’t graduate.

If out of town trips are allowed, it should be within the Philippines to help our domestic tourism program.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino led the Congressional inquiry into the matter. 

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BUY THE EQUIPMENT . . The search and rescue effort for Sec. Jesse Robredo and his two pilots has again revealed one glaring deficiency in the Philippine Navy. We have to depend on the US Navy to lend us sonar equipment and ROV.

It also took private tech divers to find the wreckage and bring up the body of Sec. Jesse Robredo. There are only 4 tech divers in the Philippine Navy. We should train more.

This was the same problem with PAGASA, lack of equipment, shortage of personnel. 

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TIDBITS . . . 925,000 Koreans visited the Philippines last year. The number of seats on PAL, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air for flights to and from Korea has been increased from 19,000 to 28,500 a week. There are big Korean communities in Metro Manila, Angeles, Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Dumaguete.

Actress Zsa Zsa Padilla has been diagnosed with 1st stage kidney cancer.

The body of Air Force Major Neil Tumaneng who crashed into Mariveles, Bataan Sea 3 months ago has been found in the waters of Corregidor.

Malacañang announced President Aquino will appoint the new Chief Justice on Monday, August 27.