Coordinate only

Senator Chiz Escudero, chairman of the Senate finance committee said in a Headstart interview that Senator Ping Lacson as a rehabilitation czar can only coordinate the jobs of the different departments.

Escudero said Lacson cannot release any funds, which most only go to line departments. Neither can he sign contracts or conduct any public bidding. This translates to more red tape. It will be a frustrating situation for Ping Lacson.

Meanwhile, Secretaries Mar Roxas, Dinky Soliman, and Voltaire Gazmin continued to visit typhoon-damaged areas. They have visited Coron, Palawan, Aklan, and Estancia, giving the impression they are still in charge.

Why is the executive order creating the Rehabilitation Task Force not yet signed? Better yet, Congress should formally create a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-type agency, and give Ping Lacson a formal authority as rehab czar.

Death toll at 5,786

NDRRMC Executive Director Eduardo Del Rosario denied that they are not releasing the true figures of casualties.

NDRRMC Chairman Voltaire Gazmin said the same thing. What we wonder about is why the daily number of recovered bodies not immediately added to the total casualty list. Two congressmen from Leyte and Samar told us they estimated the death toll to be well over 10,000.

The present death toll is 5,786; 1,779 missing; 26,233 wounded; and the damage is set at P35 billion.

Another example of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) inefficiency — they cannot count the dead accurately.

In order

Congressman Magtanggol Gunigundo has filed a bill granting a tax exemption to Congressman Manny Pacquiao. Some congressmen from the Minority Bloc supported the bill, and grant tax exemption also to other deserving athletes.

The Philippine Azkals and Smart Gilas FIBA runner-up have been recipient of bonuses. Manuel V. Pangilinan also gives bonuses to medal winners in the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games.

They should be given tax exemption too. The bill should be approved, but Malacañang opposes the bill.

Strike it out

Senators Sergio Osmeña III and Francis Escudero have announced they will move to strike out from the record the privilege speeches of Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Johnny Ponce Enrile, for being unparliamentary and violated all rules of parliamentary courtesy. Yes, this should have been done immediately after delivery. Senate President Frank Drilon should have immediately called the attention of the misbehaving senator.

Senate President Drilon has called for a Christmas truce between his two colleagues. Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Mayor Joseph Estrada also announced they will try to reconcile the two senators.

The parliamentary war between Miriam and Johnny has further damaged the reputation of the Senate as an institution of senior, mature statesmen.

Davao delay

One year has passed since Typhoon “Pablo” ravaged Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley provinces. But up to now the rehabilitation phase has not been finished, with thousands still without homes, and thousand farmers still not assisted by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Several thousand died during Typhoon Pablo. Barangay Andap in New Bataan, Compostela Valley was wiped out, with 439 dead.

The same is true of Zamboanga City where thousands of homes were destroyed during the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) siege.

No rehab program has been programmed for Aurora and Nueva Ecija provinces. Up to now, the long-pending proposal to build permanent evacuation centers has not been implemented.

Senator Nancy Binay is correct to ask for an investigation into the government’s slow response to Yolanda. Up to now, the Leyte towns of Capoocan, Palompon, Kananga, Isabel, and Merida are still crying for relief.

17 Captives held

The escape of Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani after 18 months also highlights the incompetency of the government in running after kidnapping in Mindanao.

Reports say ransom was paid. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officials admits that the Abu Sayyaf still holds 17 captives, including two women filmmakers Linda and Nadova Bansil and Swiss, Dutch, and Japanese nationals.

Baker Atyani has been flown to Zamboanga en route Manila.

Stop the increases

The general public is up in arms over the proposed big increases in Meralco rates. Simultaneously, the gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and LPG prices have zoomed up.

The proposed increase in LRT/MRT fares is due anytime soon. Prices of basic commodities are up, with pork at P180/kilo and chicken at P140/kilo. Vegetables have also increased, with eggplant and ampalaya at 100/kilo. Even at my physical therapy clinic the price has increased from P600 to P777.

What is regrettable is that Secretary Sonny Coloma came out to justify the Meralco increases as reasonable, even if the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) still has to hear the petition for increase.

Rotten

The 45,000 metric tons of Vietnam rice confiscated at Subic were found rotting and unfit for human consumption. This is the responsibility of Ex-BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, who delayed the auction of the same.

This is not the first time the seized goods have been found rotting at Customs. In other cases, seized goods were sold at give away prizes.

Impeach threat

Rep. Reynaldo Umali (LP, Oriental Mindoro) is planning to file an impeachment case against Supreme Court justices.

Rep. Toby Tiangco warned that the impeachment threat is meant to blackmail the Supreme Court, to rule in favor of the government on the Disbursement Allocation Fund (DAP) case.

DBM Secretary Butch Abad refuses to release the list of recipients of the DAP, including dozens of mayors who received the same. Why the secrecy?

TIDBITS: The chief of the Marawi police station has been kidnapped by 40 men. He has been released.

Sixteen PNP officials have been charged for murder of Ozamis robbery gang leaders Ricky Cadavero and Wilfredo Panogalinga. This comes after 13 cops were also charged for murder in the Atimonan incident.

Ex-Batangas Governor Tony Leviste has been granted parole.

Seven Filipinos, including doctors and nurses were killed in a car bombing in Yemen.

A barangay chairman of Santa, Ilocos Sur has been shot dead.

Vice President Binay assured Ping Lacson of his full cooperation. He is distributing relief to Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique.

Juan Ponce Enrile won a civil suit for libel against the Philippine Daily Inquirer, for an article published in 2004 on the Coconut levy.

A bus was held up in Sariaya, Quezon. Two people died in the incident.

The City of Manila donated P16 million to Tacloban, Guiuan, and Javier, Leyte.

The world mourns the death of Nelson Mandela, 95, who died at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa.