Phil Star: Profligate leadership by example

The Philippine Star's editorial today is worth reading... and sharing. Below is a copy. For the source, click here.

Profligate leadership by example

While other countries have slipped into recession, President Arroyo appears determined to show to the world how healthy the Philippine economy is: by traipsing around the globe. Her latest eight-day jaunt across Europe, the Middle East and North America cost taxpayers a whopping P123 million — and that’s the amount that Malacañang was willing to acknowledge.

What did Filipino taxpayers get in return? Few people remember exactly why the President went to Davos, Switzerland, or to Italy. If she went to the World Economic Forum to brag about the Philippine example, the international community seemed unimpressed.

Malacañang cited benefits from the entire trip amounting to an even more whopping $2 billion. Where did that fantastic figure come from? Palace officials said the President received pledges of aid from Saudi Arabia totaling $500 million and, from Bahrain, an investment commitment of $350 million for a hotel project in Makati City. In the United States, where her quest for a coveted photograph with new President Barack Obama ended in humiliation, there is a possibility that the Philippines can export $1.2 billion worth of textiles.

Decisions regarding foreign aid or major investments are not made as quickly as the President decides to fly to Washington for a photo op. The groundwork for decision-making is laid over several months, and the final commitment does not need the presence of the head of the recipient country. The original reason cited for the President’s Middle Eastern trip was to act as job-hunter for overseas Filipino workers. But the region has been hit by the precipitous plunge in world demand for crude oil. Projects and major investments in the Middle East are on hold, foreign workers are being sent home, and it’s doubtful that recovery will be quick.

Textile exports to the US? The Philippine textile industry has been devastated by competition from China and India. And if there is textile to speak of for exports, are Americans buying at this time? As for that unfortunate pilgrimage to Washington, where the President did not merit even a nod or word of acknowledgment from her US counterpart, the embarrassment should be enough to keep her home at least for the duration of the global slump. But then that would be too much to expect of this President. If members of Congress and even police officers are inveterate junketeers at taxpayers’ expense, it is because they are simply following their leader’s example.

Another Euro-General to Set to Retire

From GMANews.TV:

MANILA, Philippines – One of the “euro generals" implicated in the P6.9-million Moscow scandal is set to retire Wednesday.

Philippine National Police regional director Director Jaime Caringal, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao.

The turn-over ceremony will take place at Camp Colonel Romeo Abendan in Zamboanga City in western Mindanao at 10 a.m. Wednesday, PO3 Ella Mae Llanes oi the Region 9 police told GMANews.TV in a phone interview.

Caringal was among several officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) delegation who came under fire for incurring “cash advances" of 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) when they attended the 77th Interpol Assembly in St. Petersburg on October 7-10.

The irregular practice was exposed when customs officials at the Moscow airport detained former PNP comptroller Eliseo dela Paz, who had already retired from the service, for not declaring the huge amount of money in his possession.

Dela Paz was subsequently released after the PNP certified the purpose of the money. But Dela Paz is under investigation by the Senate.

Dela Paz, Caringal and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa are all members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976. (Source here)

Dapat pala si Tikboy ay nag-police na lang at magpa-promote maging general para kung sakali, pag malapit ng mag-retire, me travel na sa Russia, kasama pa ang asawa. Kung sabagay, si Ping Lacson nga napabalita minsan na may bank accounts sa ibang bansa. Ibig sabihin, nagtravel din siya tulad ng mga Euro Generals. After which, naging senador pa.

Teka, puwede pa bang mag-shift ng propesyon?

Veterans Bill... Do we need to beg?

I made a strong case for why the Philippine war veterans deserve equity, and I asked for the understanding and support of the leaders of America.
-- Gloria Arroyo

I wonder what really is the purpose of sitting president Gloria Arroyo in the US. Free leisure trip in the guise of official business? Or to showcase her stupidity in history and foreign relations?

While Tikboy is not against the veterans receiving some remuneration or award or payment for heroism, a president of a sovereign nation doing the personal lobby to the legislators of her host country is a big no no. The congressmen are not her counterparts. It's the US president. Bakit di na lang niya sinabihan si George Bush na yun pala ang kailangan niya? Can't she talk directly with Uncle Georgie, and in English?

Kung sabagay. The only words she spoke during the meeting with Uncle Georgie are: "thank you", "yes" and then "Mr. President, with your permission, I'd like to address our countrymen in my own native language." (Need evidence? Click here for the transcript from the White House.)

If she forgot to tell that, dapat ang mga sabit sa kanya na lang ang gumawa. Dinig ni Tikboy me lagpas 50 na kongresista na nag-junket kasama ni Gloria? So why not give them the task? In the first place, it's the taxpayers money that's used for their travel. Ba't di na lang sila ang nagtrabaho... say, nakipag-usap sa mga counterparts nilang congressmen sa US? Or Gloria just
treated them for a shopping spree as a payment for something that they did in the Philippines?

Hmmmnnn.... :-?

Second, asking US to pass the equity bill is a gross ignorance of history. Why should the Philippine sitting-President personally lobby and beg for the passage of the veterans equity bill? Hindi lang naman ata ang mga Kano ang nakinabang sa ginawa ng mga magigiting nating war veterans. It's the Philippines and the later generation of the Filipinos.

Third, why ask the US to give our veterans some benefits eh ang Philippine Government nga headed by sitting president Gloria is doing nothing to recognize the verteran's efforts? Di ba dapat as primary beneficiaries, ang Philippine Government muna dapat ang magkusa na magbigay ng benefits? Kapal naman....

Walang pera? The Philippine Government will reason out that it lacks money? Eh ano ang ginasta sa junket nila sa US? Kung di na lang sila nagtravel at ipinamudmud na yun ginastos nila sa mga beterano, mas magiging masaya pa ang mga war heroes natin.

Kung sabagay, ganyan naman talaga si GMA... makapal ang mukha. Sa Japan, bumagsak lang ng konti ang satisfaction rating sa mga matataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, either nagre-resign sila or naghaharakiri. Sa US, bumagsak lang ng konti ang satisfactory ratings, worried na ang mga advisers. When George Bush ratings dropped from 52% to 47%, marami na agad ang ginagawa ng mga spinmeisters niya para ayusin ang mga bagay-bagay at bumango ulit ang presidente. Si Gloria, negative na nga ang rating, todo pa rin.