P49 million trip

President Aquino’s trip to Switzerland included a party of 63. Malacañang announced the cost of the trip is P49 million.

Recall that in President Noynoy’s earlier trips, a lean delegation of 10 accompanied him. Why the big entourage of 63 on a trip where no meetings with investors was scheduled? He is now travelling as often as President Gloria Arroyo did.

The big debate in the Senate is about the distribution of P30 million in savings. That’s much less than the P49 million spent for the Davos trip.

BINAY AND ENRILE IN LAGUNA. . . The 2nd and 3rd highest officials of tha land, Vice President Jojo Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile visited 4 towns in Laguna, namely: Sta. Cruz, Calauan, Rizal and Famy. The powerful duo were accompanied by UNA senatorial bets Sen. Gringo Honasan, Sen. Migz Zubiri, Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Gov. Tingting Cojuangco and your columnist.

The group was warmly welcomed by Governor E.R. Ejercito, his wife, Mayor Maita Ejercito of Pagsanjan, Mayor George Berris of Calauan, Mayor Antonio Aurelio of Rizal, Mayor Renonia B. Muramatsu of Famy and Mayor Ariel Magcalas of Sta. Cruz, Board Member Angelica Jones, Board Member candidates Jherome Ejercito and Gerald Ejercito.

A big media delegation covered the day long affair with news reporters still asking Enrile on his continuing conflict with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Enrile ruled out any reconciliation with Cayetano.      

ALL LOSERS. . . Senator Ping Lacson is correct. He said the fracas in the Senate between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senators Antonio Trillanes, Miriam D. Santiago and Alan Peter Cayetano has resulted in all senators being losers as public reaction has been very negative. In fact, there is a move against voting for all incumbent senators.

Add to that the CBCP move not to vote for those who supported the RH bill. That’s a lot of negative votes.

The latest on the Senate budget debate. . . Senate President Enrile has agreed to an audit by an independent private auditing firm.

MINIMAL FINE. . . The Philippine Coast Guard has determined that so far 1,000 square meters of coral reefs has been damaged by the USS Guardian.

The initial assessment is for a fine of P26 million based on a fine of $615 per square meter.

But the actual damage can only be determined after the ship is removed from the area. Sec. Edwin Lacierda said it is the DFA that will discuss the damage payments with US officials.

Salvage efforts are expected to last until the end of February.

As an ally, the US government should be generous in paying damages.

BIG BUCKS. . . The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee confirmed a COA finding that the use of P3.9 billion of Malampaya funds is tainted with graft. Sen. T.G. Guingona, Blue Ribbon chairman, revealed that no documents covering the release of funds were produced by the provincial government.

This is big time graft. The Ombudsman must come in to investigate the matter. There’s a clear case of plunder here. Previous Secretaries of Energy have some responsibility to have allowed the corruption to happen.

Whistleblower Dr. Gerry Ortega was the first to expose the anomalies. He was shot dead.

TOO MUCH . . . It has now been reported that senators received as much as P44 million for their office expenses in 2012. That’s too much. Senator Cayetano said in his privilege speech that P426 million has been allocated for the budget of oversight committees. Again, that’s too much.

It is also surprising that the total Senate budget is now about P3 billion compared to P500 million 10 years ago.

And the travel budget for senators is also big. Every break or recess, almost all senators go on trips paid for by the Senate.

There has to be a reduction of the Senate and the House budgets.

POLITICAL UPDATE. . . The UNA senatorial proclamation rally will be held in Cebu City on Feb. 12. The LP rally is planned for Manila on the same date.

Mayor George Berris is returning to his old seat as Mayor of Calauan, Laguna. Mayor Ariel Magcalas is also on the comeback trail as Mayor of Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Broadcaster Sol Aragones is ahead of Rep. Ivy Arago in the race for Congress for the 3rd district of Laguna.

Two brothers of Gov. E.R. Ejercito are running for Board Members of Laguna. They are Gerald and Jherome Ejercito.

Rep. Jack Enrile announced he is not withdrawing from the Senate race.

President Erap and son, Rep. J.V. Ejercito distributed P2 million worth of relief goods at Mati, Davao Oriental for the victims of Typhoon Pablo.

TIDBITS. . . The political contest between Atty. Nelly Favis Villafuerte and Atty. Leni Robredo for Representative of Camarines Sur 3rd district was featured by ABS-CBN news.

The whole province of Abra is without electricity. The cut-off is expected to last 1 to 2 weeks.

Jollibee has added 300 outlets bringing its total stores to 2,300.

PO2 Rodolfo Madronero was shot dead by 5 men in Malabon.

The Department of Tourism reported a total of 4.2 million visitors to the country in 2012. It is short of the target of 4.6 million set by DOT Sec. Ramon Jimenez. Koreans make up the biggest number of visitors.

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Greetings to: Jane & Tony Abacan, George & Lulu Ty, Celia Quion, Marilou & John Bautista, Malou Noble, Cecille Razon, Cora Rosales, Maui Aglipay, Cristy Galang, Alma Ebdane, Judy Gutierrez, Winnie Tolentino & Lulu Boon. Also to Sahlee Manzanares Ortega, Rizaldo Bernardino, Simonette Aguirre, Rizalinda Balasabes Maceda, Tanny Loyola, Don Seth Vishwanath, Alexander Corpus, Jun Bandilla Yambao and Gary Obias.