One more pyramid

Some 15,000 persons were gypped by Aman Futures Group, Philippines, Inc. Estimated amount lost is P12 billion as the company operated a pyramid for more than 2 years in the Visayas and Mindanao, specially Cebu, Pagadian, Zambo-anga and Lanao del Sur.

How can this happen? Why didn’t the police take note of the scam? Thousands lined up at the Aman office. In fact many policemen invested. How were they able to get SEC registration? This indicates a yawning gap in SEC, DOJ, DILG and DTI supervision of businesses operating in a locality. Should the BSP also get involved to stop these scams as several had happened before?

It’s amazing how people never learn their lesson after so many have been duped before. The lesson, don’t go for easy money.

NOT TRUE . . SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia announced that no toxic waste has been dumped into Subic Bay by Glenn Defense Marine Philippines, a US navy contractor.

It looks like a false alarm with environmental groups fooled by earlier reports. The US Navy also denied the report.

Even DENR has cleared the Glenn Defense company, saying what they dumped was ordinary or domestic waste, not toxic waste. The DENR, however, said it has to wait for the Philippine Coast Guard to give its report on the matter.

GOLD TAX . . The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has joined the clamor to review the 7% tax on gold sales as the sales to the BSP have gone down by 90%.

Gold miners in Davao have asked for a removal of the tax. Senator Gregorio Honasan also backed up the miners’ call.

To avoid the 7% tax, miners sell it to the blackmarket and subsequently the gold was smuggled out to Hong Kong and China.

Gold is part of the official reserves of the government.

Thousands of gold panners are employed in the industry.

SMUGGLING GALORE . . Philippine Wood Producers Association president Antonio Olizon deplores the widespread smuggling of plywood from China, causing the layoff of 10,000 employees in Philippine plywood factories.

Batangas port insiders also revealed that 10 Toyota Land Cruisers were smuggled in last week, paying a small duty of P750,000. The luxury vehicles were undervalued at only $10,000 each.

The two examples explain why BOC collectors always miss their collection targets.

DROPPED CALLS . . The National Telecommunication Commission has released a report saying that Smart is giving better service than Globe.

It found, however, that both Smart and Globe failed the dropped call standards.

The NTC should direct the telecom companies to give refunds for dropped calls.

GOOD JOB . . Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro is doing a good job. He has a big water distribution program to waterless barangays using 6 water tankers.

He has adopted a pro-poor policy of no franchise fees for the 5,000 tricycles operating in Muntinlupa.

He works 24/7 and makes regular visits to his barangays.

Amiable and approachable, he is expected to win his reelection bid.

The same is true of Lipa City Mayor Meynardo Sabili who in just over two years completed the Ospital ng Lipa and a Grand Terminal for buses.

Sabili’s election was recently affirmed by the Supreme Court who declared him a legal resident of Lipa City.

Sabili makes regular visits with his medical teams to the 72 barangays of Lipa. His wife Bernadette is running for Congress against incumbent Mark Mendoza.

POLITICAL UPDATE . . Surveys show President Erap and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno leading the Mayor Lim-Lou Veloso team by a comfortable margin.

Reelectionist Congressmen Carlo Lopez (2nd district), Zenaida Angping (3rd district), Trisha Bonoan David (4th district), Amado Bagatsing (5th district) are leading by comfortable margins. Sandy Ocampo and Benny Abante will slug it out in the 6th district.

The Magtanggol Gunigundo‑Shalani Soledad Romulo fight in Valenzuela’s 2nd district is a close one.

Tanauan Mayor Sonia Torres is running for Congress in the 3rd district of Batangas against Cong. Sonny Collantes and ex-Cong. Vicky Reyes.

Rep. Tom Apacible is favored to win against comebacking Eileen Ermita in the 1st district of Batangas.

Rep. Toby Tiangco is unopposed in Navotas. Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian is also unopposed in Valenzuela’s 1st district.

Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino is leading challenger Mayor Nani Braganza. Congresswomen Rachel Arenas (3rd district) and Gina de Venecia (4th district) are unopposed.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Rep. Rudy Fariñas (1st dist.) are unopposed. Cris Ablan, Roquito’s son, is running for Vice Mayor of Laoag.

Diego “Nonoy” Ty, grandson of the late Gov. Diego Ty Deling is running for Mayor of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental.

TIDBITS . . . President Aquino and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. have killed the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. It died in the committee. It will have to be reintroduced in the next Congress.

Congratulations to Gen. Alan Purisima on his designation as the next PNP Director General.

President Aquino released a CAAP investigation report blaming pilot error as the main cause of the crash of Jesse Robredo’s plane.

Evelyn Tan, her mother Teresa Tan, 60, and her housemaid were massacred by a lone akyat-bahay robber who climbed a tree at the back of the victims’ house to gain entry.

Julie Ann Rodelas was gang-raped by the suspects before she was killed. Josephine Maranan jumped to her death from the roof deck of Prestige Tower in Pasig. Jonah Ortiz, UST Biology student, died from a fall from the 4th floor of a UST building.

Atty. Sulpicio Landicho was shot dead by 2 men riding in tandem in Tanauan, Batangas.

Happy birthday greetings to former Comelec Chairman Harriett Demetriou (Nov. 19), former Pasay Congresswoman Connie Dy (Nov. 18), Dr. Roger Pascual (Nov. 18), Dr. Boy Palacios (Nov. 20), Dr. Ramon Pastor (Nov. 23).