P-Noy is being judged by the worsened unemployment, poverty, hunger, food shortages and price spikes, and slow disaster rehab that his counter-reformation has wrought.
The issues have joined. Organizers of today’s rallies at the Luneta in Manila and other key cities will not be protesting the pork barrel only. They will denounce as well the related evils of political dynasties and election fraud. Together those evils corrupt officialdom and impoverish the people.
Sadly for him, demonstrators’ scorn will rain on President Noynoy Aquino. It’s his fault. Hope of reform that he planted at the start of his term – with “daang matuwid (straight path),” “kayo ang boss ko (the people are my boss),” and “wala nang wang-wang (no more power abusers)” – he himself has uprooted. This he did by declaring a desire for prolonged tenure. His dominant Liberal Party is assembling a vote in Congress to lift his and their constitutional term limits. They also will clip the power of the Supreme Court to check Executive and Legislative misdeeds. All are in retaliation to the SC’s illegalizing of the congressional pork barrel (Priority Development Assistance Fund, PDAF), and the presidential version (Disbursement Acceleration Program, DAP). Fanning the flames of discord is the public hinting by the presidential spokesman of a no-presidential-election scenario in 2016.
Yet the dissenters have a counter-demand from P-Noy: account for his P177-billion DAP in 2011-2013, and prosecute all (not just three) legislators in the P10-billion PDAF plunder of 2007-2009. Such accounting shall be viewed in light of the worsening economy. Joblessness is now at 26 percent, from latest polls; poverty incidence at 27 percent, by official stats; and self-rated hunger at 16 percent. P-Noy is being judged by the crises that sprang in the second half of his term: rice fruit, and onion price spikes; shortages of vegetables, garlic, ginger, and chicken; Manila port congestion; slow government rehab for four million people struck by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan); and a nationwide crime wave. Nationwide power shortage looms in early 2015; and water scarcity the following year.
Through all this, P-Noy’s LP mates are enriching themselves from crooked multibillion-peso deals in agriculture, natural resources, hospital land, and transportation. Obviously they are preparing to buy votes anew – if elections push through in 2016 – to maintain their political dynasties. Even the election chief is joining in; although scheduled to retire by Feb., six months away, he is angling to purchase this Nov. new untried balloting machines for P18 billion. That same poll chief reportedly is set to trash the six million voters’ signatures that today’s protest organizers will begin to muster, for a people-initiated law forbidding pork barrels and all its twin evils forever.
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READERS’ REACTIONS. On President Noynoy Aquino’s Disbursement Acceleration Program, which the Supreme Court illegalized:
Wilson Y. Lee, @gmail.com: “P-Noy’s debacle arises from character flaws that he ignores. Remember the expensive sports car he bought himself at the start of his term in July 2010? When publicly criticized, he at first was defensive, till he realized that as President he wouldn’t have time to play with his toy. He did not inherit his dad Ninoy’s trait of serving the country even at a young age; P-Noy just wants to play even in his late age. I don’t know how to pass this on to him without offending him. But pointing it out to him, could help him correct himself. His underlings don’t have the guts to do it.”
On the PCOS fraud:
Rey Sandico, @gmail.com: “Can the system be changed into manual counting, but with automated reporting? That’s so political party watchers can make sure the votes are counted properly. The central audit can then be compared with the precinct counts. Other countries have reverted from automated to manual counting. In the Philippines, the Comelec not only insists on using the PCOS but even discarded the balloting safeguards required by the Automated Election System Law.”
On developing Sangley Naval Base as an international seaport, while San Miguel Corp. builds a new Manila International Airport:
Tom de Vera, @emcs.com.ph: “Brilliant idea! This would greatly ease the current congestion at nearby Port of Manila, and the Philippine Navy can still use some facilities. Yet the present MIA general manager wants an airport there, on the pretext that Sangley’s distance complies with the international standard of being less than 45 minutes from the major city. Has he not heard of the traffic jams in Noveleta town going to Sangley? Get real!”
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The Sigma Kappa Pi fraternity is celebrating its 46th foundation day on Saturday, Aug. 30. A sports fest, national congress and elections, and fellowship ball are to be held at the Intramuros, Manila, with the theme, “Expand the Brotherhood, Bolster the Commitment to Nationalism and Service.” All EKITs are enjoined to attend the events to be hosted by the U.P.-Manila residents’ and alumni chapters. For details, call: Danny Co, (0917) 3591957; Bing Villarta, (0915) 8716762, (0949) 7752011; Jojo Salas, (0915) 3257181, (0918) 9016551; or Mike Mabutol, (0920) 9380118.
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Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ, (882-AM).
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E-mail: jariusbondoc@gmail.com