SONA: Shallow and Dry yet, Straight to the point like hitting Bullets

President Benigno S. C. Aquino

Admittedly I say, my expectations were more than what I actually heard yesterday, when President Benigno S.C. Aquino, gave his 1st State of the Nation Address before the members of the 15th Congress of the Philippines. On the other hand, let me remind myself and everyone who gets to read this, that no one, including the president himself,  who has only been in office for less than 4 weeks, will be able to incorporate everything that one, would want to do while in office, in a single speech of 40 minutes.

P-Noy delivering his first SONA

I believe, more than most concerns, P-Noy should have given more teeth,  on what this nation needs the most at this point in time, which is cleansing and rehabilitation, from the remnants of the past administration. The Filipino people should be freed from their sufferings brought about by the result of the previous administration’s failure to provide genuine service to the people. More than anything else, we rely on the leadership of President Noynoy Aquino, to bring about the change that this country desperately needs today, and his strong and straight forward assurance is mostly required.  For only, when we see people who have done wrong, get imprisoned, for what they have done during their incumbency, then we can say, we have justice, and so we can move on.

P-Noy with Mom Cory

Also, the President’s remarks on the supposed public-private partnership and the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) schemes that he said he wants to implement seems questionable. Its an old trick that all started during the time of President Fidel Ramos. Its a very sensitive issue because this is often subjected to the threat of having abusive and profit oriented investors running the partnership worse, it goes to the hands of the wrong people,whose sole objective is to enrich themselves at the expense of the general public.

Also, he missed to mention the plight of our Overseas Filipino Workers, and his less emphasis on Health and Education.

It also is a worry, for the President to say, many investors, both local and International have approached him and are willing to do business in the Philippnes. As a president, you should not deal regarding business investments. This is often misinterpreted and will surely subject you to criticism. The fear of “Lagay”, becomes an open threat.

P-Noy's Dad, Ninoy

Nevertheless, I salute him for covering the most major issues, concerning his government, like the prosecution of the extralegal killings, the creation of the Truth Commission, Peace process in Mindanao, job creation through industrialization, DTI to shorten requirements for registering businesses. For uncovering the nation’s real situation from the hands of the previous Adminidtration (Budget Deficit, MWSS greediness, 480M Infra, NAPOCOR, MRT, NFA, etc.), and the steps he is taking to solve them. And also, his legislative agenda like, the Fiscal Responsibilty Law, Procurement Law, Anti Trust Law, National Land Use Law, National Defense Act, and the WhistleBlower’s Act, among others.

In general, I found P-Noy’s SONA to be shallow, and kinda dry. Not very inspiring and less visionary, but boy, he spoke so much like his Dad. Very clear, fast and straight to the point, like hitting bullets. Anyway, I will still bet a kidney for Noy. Good luck P-Noy. I still trust you.

Pangilinan backs out of senate presidency

The Philippine Senate Building

Contrary to Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s previous statement, that he will fulfill what he promised the Filipino people, which is to run for the Senate Presidency, win or lost, he withdrew his bid, a day before the Senate elects its president. Following speculations that he did not muster his 13 votes, Pangilinan’s withdrawal meant, the race is down between Enrile and Villar. However, Villar and his camp, to this date, have not made any public pronuncements on this, paving the possiblity that Manong Johnny may win unopposed, today.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan

 There are some reports that Villar met with Enrile in the latter’s house last Thursday. But while Enrile insists that there was nothing political or anything that have something to do with the race to the senate presidency was discussed, the two talked about Villar’s concern on the possibility that his C5 Road controversy will be revived in the 15th Congress. I bet Villar was so pleased to hear Enrile’s response, to wit;  

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile

“I told him that as far as I’m concerned that since this ethics case [did not prosper in the last Congress], I think we cannot take that up in the next Congress. Some of the people who heard it are gone,”. Since there may be some senators who are still interested in knowing the facts about the ethics case, Enrile said he suggested “it’s better for us to archive it”.

Senators Tito Sotto and Gringo Honasan

But whatever transpired in that meeting, it resulted to Villar camp’s another meeting, guested by Sotto and Honasan, which allegedly came up with a consensus to support Enrile. It seems to me, that Villar is more concerned about his C5 controversy, rather than becomig a senate president, but that’s beside the point.

Senators Villar and Enrile

The big question now, given this is correct, who will compose the majority in the Senate? Im afraid, aside from the independent senators, and LP members who will vote for Enrile, also the group of Villar’s Nacionalista party.

But as to who would comprise the new minority group? It is still a puzzle. A person who ran and lost for the Senate presidency race automatically becomes the minority leader along with those who supported him or her.

The Battle for Senate Presidency: Is it going to be Pangilinan? Villar? . . . or Enrile?

As July 26 draws near, the country’s politicians in the Upper Chamber become more and more restless, on how they cradle their race towards the Senate Presidency. 

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan

New developments arise daily as our Senators change their minds, like they change their clothes. Surprisingly, aside from contenders Kiko Pangilinan and Manny Villar, come the name of Johnny Enrile, who, given the scenario is true, will most likely, to retain his position. By law,  thirteen votes are needed in order to win the Senate’s highest ranking position.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile

According to Enrile, supporters of Pangilinan, whom he refused to name, met with him last Tuesday and expressed their intention to support him since Pangilinan is unlikely to get his 13 votes in order to snatch the top post. I don’t know who among Drilon, Recto, Guingona, Osmena, Escudero and Trillanes (in prison), were he referring to, and reportedly assured him that they could muster the 13 votes for him.

Sen. Manny Villar

Also, there was late indication that the seven-member independent bloc of Senator Angara is now sympathetic to Enrile. They are composed of Zubiri, Revilla, Lapid, Honasan, Sotto, Legarda and Angara himself. Although I have doubts with Senator Legarda to vote for Enrile, because of her “pinagsamahan”, with Manny Villar, during the last election, of which they both lost, I am certain of Senators Sotto, Revilla, Honasan and to include, Estrada and mostly likely Senators Arroyo and Marcos, to vote for Enrile, plus Enrile himself. That makes the vote count up to 11, in favor of JPE. Now, the big question is, who among Pangilinan and Villar’s allies, will complete the missing 2 votes? Will the race end up in favor of the reluctant 86 year old Senator, who said, the job is tiring and time consuming? Or Pangilinan will make his way to win? Or Villar? Who among them, will rise to become the third, in line of succession for the presidency, behind the Vice President and in front of the Speaker of the House of Representatives? We will all find out, come Monday.

Where is Lakas-Kampi-CMD now?

 

                                                                                                          

For many years in the past two decades, we have seen Lakas NUCD, along wth its alliances with other parties, ruled the Philippine politics, taking most of the major positions in the government. I still believe, its height came during the leadership of its founders, the then President Fidel V. Ramos and former House Speaker Jose de Venecia. Why? Because corruption issues against it member politicians were not as bad as it is now, however, whether or not, they were good leaders, its none of my concern at this time, in this topic.

                                                                            

With the rise in power of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom at the beginning, everyone, includng myself, thought was the Philippine’s saving angel from the hands, of who we thought was the evil, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, due to his issues of corruption which later resulted to his conviction of plunder, only to realize after not too long, that the saving angel that we thought, is later, to be called an “evil”, by her own ally, with the expose of Jun Losada. Whether or not it is true, again, its none of my concern, at this time, in this topic.

We saw, how the ruling party rose into power, it was never imagined that time will come it will struggle to survive,  and the possibility of it, gaining the most important position in the House of Representatives, is almost impossible. Next week, we will witness, who, will be declared the next House Speaker, after solons will elect from among themselves, their next leader. However, Lakas’ candidate, long time congressman Edsel Lagman of Bicol, according to the latest update, has only have about 40 votes, and he needs about 100 more, to get the Speakership against his most likely only opponent LP’s Sonny Belmonte, who have expressed optimism to win, many weeks ago.

Rep. Edsel Lagman

With Lakas, disintegrating into three factions now, namely the Andaya group headed by former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, who is a former LP member and thus, is likely to rejoin his former party; the Puno bloc identified with former DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, composed of congressmen who were original members of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, had declared support for Belmonte but has opted to remain members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD. And lastly, the loyal Arroyo lawmakers, who are mostly original members of the Lakas-CMD. Given the scenario, there is really a sure uncertainty, in lakas, winning the House Leadership, next week when the chamber elects it leader for the 15th Congress. Even, the rumor that there are at least a dozen Lakas-Kampi-CMD solons who have previously identified themselves as supporters of Liberal Party (LP) speakership bet, Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Quezon City, have changed their minds after failing to get the committee assignments they prefer, is not a guarantee for Lagman to win.

Rep. Feliciano Belmonte

Lagman’s newly launched program called “Balik Lakas”, for party members who have expressed support for Belmonte, but opted to remain with Lakas-Kampi-CMD is hopeful to win back support. In my own language, this program is designed to counter act the “Balimbing” and the “Sipsip” politicians, who are trying to do their most desperate moves to either sell their votes, or uphold their personal interests.

Meanwhile, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is the incumbent Chairperson of the party,  in her bid to win back Lakas-Kampi-CMD partymates in the Lower House, has sent invitations for a team building seminar this weekend at Stotsenberg Hotel at Clark Airbase in Angeles City.

Party Chairman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Will she be able to succeed in reuniting the organization before it crumbles down for good? What is the deal at the guise of the Team Building Seminar? How effective will her art of politics be, after all that happend? These are the questions that we need answers after the new Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 15th Congress is elected next week.