Increased rotational presence of the US
By REY O. ARCILLA
Malaya
(Once concluded, Noynoy is duty-bound to let his bosses know the terms and conditions of the agreement and what we are getting in return for it.)
The case of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia
has been hogging the headlines for the past week. Cudia, No. 2 in the
2014 PMA graduating class, has been dismissed from the Academy for
reportedly violating the PMA Honor Code.
The Code states: “We, cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do so.”
A good code imbued upon the future military officers and leaders of the nation’s armed forces. But now, people are wondering… how come many PMA alumni seem to have forgotten or discarded the Code when they reached positions of responsibility in the armed forces, not the least of which were those who became AFP chiefs of staff and have allegedly availed of the “pasalubong” and “pabaon” system whereby an incoming AFP chief automatically gets a certain amount and given another sum when he retires. And how can one forget the infamous Gen. Carlos Garcia, former AFP Comptroller?
While on the subject, I believe it is time the government heeded the advice of retired Lt. Gen. Antonio Sotelo to establish separate academies for the air force, navy and the coast guard. At least, the national police now has its own academy from where future officers of the police force, including its chief, will be drawn. The force has always been headed by PMA graduates.
There is no check and balance in the armed forces, Sotelo says. PMAers control the military through a “mistah system”. “We have officers who want to preserve the elitism of the PMA”, he adds.
Gen. Sotelo, whom I have the privilege of knowing personally, is a genuine hero of EDSA I People Power revolt against the Marcos regime. He was the commanding general of the Philippine Air Force when he retired.
******
President Noynoy Aquino is going on a state visit to Malaysia this week but will not take up the question of Sabah with the Malaysian leader.
Bakit naman? Can he not at least ask about the hundreds of Filipinos whose human rights have been reportedly violated by Malaysian authorities before being deported from Sabah, a territory that belongs to us? They are also his bosses, entitled to government assistance and protection.
******
Noynoy said the talks between the Philippines and the US on the Increased Rotational Presence (IRP) of American military forces in the Philippines is very close to completion. Once concluded, Noynoy is duty-bound to let his bosses know the terms and conditions of the agreement and what we are getting in return for it.
In this regard, a ranking member of the Philippine negotiating panel, DFA Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Carlos Sorreta, was suddenly removed from the panel. He was moved to the Foreign Service Institute as director. When I asked him why, he said his transfer was just part of “normal rotation”.
“In the middle of the negotiations?”, I asked. He merely reiterated his reply rather feebly.
I knew better, of course. And I fully understand why he wouldn’t talk. Some DFA sources say that Sorreta could not stomach the pro-US stance of Foreign Secretary Albert “Amboy” del Rosario and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia.
If that is the case, then I would like to applaud Sorreta, a career professional, for standing up to his superiors in his desire to uphold the national interest.
Other DFA sources, however, say that Sorreta was suspected of telegraphing to the US the Philippine position. If this is the case, then he ought to have been suspended instead and placed under investigation. If found guilty, he should be summarily dismissed from the service and prosecuted for committing what is tantamount to a treasonous act.
The question is, has Del Rosario apprised Noynoy of Sorreta’s removal from the panel and why? If not, then I believe Noynoy should ask Del Rosario. It may well be he hasn’t been getting the correct feedback on the matter to the possible detriment of the national interest.
******
I cringe every time I read reports of US officials, the latest being Secretary of State John Kerry in Jakarta, saying that the territorial disputes in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, need to be settled in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The US has not yet acceded to UNCLOS. Shouldn’t she ratify the convention first before urging signatories to adhere to it? It’s like urging someone to do something that you yourself won’t do.
*******
Presidential mouthpiece Edwin Lacierda confirmed that each senator who voted to convict former chief justice Renato Corona received huge amounts from a “stimulus” fund created by the administration called Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as “incentive”.
Earlier, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad denied the additional funding was a “bribe”.
For the information of the two, “incentive” is simply a euphemism for “bribe”.
“Euphemism” is defined by the dictionary as “a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing”.
So there… bribe, incentive, the same.
Question: What does that make of the senators who received the bribe?
******
Readers have asked why I keep publishing the Reminders portion below.
Well, the reason is pretty simple. The public has a short memory and the government even shorter when it comes to scandals in government. And, in general, the media, being in the business such as it is, cannot sustain follow-up stories indefinitely, especially when other newsworthy events take place.
For this, I thank my publisher and executive editor for their tacit approval of what I’m doing.
No doubt, the concerned authorities and those individuals, including Noynoy, who are in the crosshairs of these reminders think that ignoring the questions raised is the best way to deal with them. That may be so, but sooner or later, they will have to account for their misdeeds. And the public would remember!
Reminders (for Noynoy):
1) Filing of charges against officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documentary evidence to prove the venalities in the past in that agency.
In an attempt to jar his memory and spur him to action, quoted hereunder is what Noynoy said about the anomaly in his first State of the Nation Address on 26 July 2010:
“Let us now move on to the funds of the National Food Authority (NFA).
In 2004: 117,000 metric tons (of rice) was the shortage in the supply of the Philippines. What they (the government) bought were 900,000 metric tons. Even if you multiply for more than seven times the amount of shortage, they still bought more than what was needed.
“In 2007: 589,000 metric tons was the shortage in the supply of the Philippines. What they bought were 1.827 million metric tons. Even if you multiply for more than three times the amount of shortage, they again bought more than what was needed.
“What hurts is, because they keep purchasing more than what they need year after year, the excess rice that had to be stored in warehouses ended up rotting, just like what happened in 2008.
“Is this not a crime, letting rice rot, despite the fact that there are 4 million Filipinos who do not eat three times a day?
“The result is NFA’s current debt of 177 billion pesos. (The Inquirer recently quoted former NFA Administrator Angelito Banayo, a Noynoy appointee, as saying that (the present) government importation of rice is causing billions of pesos in losses. “We are going to be deep in debt,” Banayo said in his statement. The Inquirer further reported: “He (Banayo) said that by the time President Aquino steps down in 2016, the government could be in debt to the tune of at least P190 billion because of rice importation without private sector participation.”)
“This money that was wasted could have funded the following:
- The budget of the entire judiciary, which is at 12.7 billion pesos this year.
- The Conditional Cash Transfers for the following year, which cost 29.6 billion pesos.
- All the classrooms that our country needs, which cost 130 billion pesos.
“This way of doing things is revolting. Money was there only to be wasted.”
So, how come, Mr. President, you have not done anything about this in the last three and a half years?! And to make things worse, the corruption in the NFA today appears to be even worse than during the Arroyo regime. Your bosses want to know!
2) Investigation of reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia and ordering his successor, Robert “Pretty Boy” Vergara, to file the proper charges, if warranted, against the former.
Noynoy should also order Vergara to report to him on COA’s findings that:
(a) He received the obscenely excessive compensation of P16.36 million in 2012 making him the highest paid government servant then (how much did he get in 2013?) and;
(b) That, as of seven or eight months ago, at least P4.13 billion in contributions and loan payments made by 12 government offices to the GSIS had not been credited to the offices as of Dec. 31, 2011.
COA also said at the time that the amount of unrecorded remittances could go much higher because only 36 agencies have so far responded out of the 186 that were sent confirmation requests by government auditors. Of the 36, 27 confirmed “discrepancies” in their premium and loan payments ledgers when compared with those of the GSIS.
There are three questions being raised when remittances, or parts thereof, of government agencies are not recorded by the GSIS on time: a) Where are these huge sums “parked” in the meantime?; b) Do they earn interest?; and c) To where (whom?) does the interest, if any, go?
Pray tell, Mr. Vergara, what is the present status of these funds, including those that may have been remitted since and not yet recorded by the GSIS?
3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant corruption in the military and police establishments.
4) Resort to his immense presidential powers to expedite the resolution of the Ampatuan massacre case that is now on its fourth year.
*****
Today is the 282nd day of the seventh year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance
The Justice Department has dismissed the charges against several of those accused in Jonas’ disappearance. Cleared were former AFP chiefs of staff Hermogenes Esperon and Alexander Yano, ex-PNP chief Avelino Razon, retired Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Brig. Gen. Eduardo Ano and Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano. Only Maj. Harry Baliaga will be (has been?) charged for arbitrary detention, murder and obstruction of justice on the disappearance of Jonas.
Ano was even recently promoted to major general and confirmed as head of the Intelligence Service of the AFP.
“Pwedeng kasuhan ang kamay ng krimen pero ang utak ay hindi?” rued Lorena Santos, daughter of a desaparecido like Jonas.
Mr. President, is this what you meant when you called for a “focused, dedicated and exhaustive” probe of what really happened to Jonas?
******
From an internet friend:
During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, “How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in an old age home?”
“Well,” he said, “we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the person to empty the bathtub.”
“Oh, I understand,” I said. “A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”
“No” he said. “A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”
******
roacrosshairs@outlook.com 25 February 2014
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reynaldo.arcilla.9847
Malaya
(Once concluded, Noynoy is duty-bound to let his bosses know the terms and conditions of the agreement and what we are getting in return for it.)
(File Photo)
The Code states: “We, cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do so.”
A good code imbued upon the future military officers and leaders of the nation’s armed forces. But now, people are wondering… how come many PMA alumni seem to have forgotten or discarded the Code when they reached positions of responsibility in the armed forces, not the least of which were those who became AFP chiefs of staff and have allegedly availed of the “pasalubong” and “pabaon” system whereby an incoming AFP chief automatically gets a certain amount and given another sum when he retires. And how can one forget the infamous Gen. Carlos Garcia, former AFP Comptroller?
While on the subject, I believe it is time the government heeded the advice of retired Lt. Gen. Antonio Sotelo to establish separate academies for the air force, navy and the coast guard. At least, the national police now has its own academy from where future officers of the police force, including its chief, will be drawn. The force has always been headed by PMA graduates.
There is no check and balance in the armed forces, Sotelo says. PMAers control the military through a “mistah system”. “We have officers who want to preserve the elitism of the PMA”, he adds.
Gen. Sotelo, whom I have the privilege of knowing personally, is a genuine hero of EDSA I People Power revolt against the Marcos regime. He was the commanding general of the Philippine Air Force when he retired.
******
President Noynoy Aquino is going on a state visit to Malaysia this week but will not take up the question of Sabah with the Malaysian leader.
Bakit naman? Can he not at least ask about the hundreds of Filipinos whose human rights have been reportedly violated by Malaysian authorities before being deported from Sabah, a territory that belongs to us? They are also his bosses, entitled to government assistance and protection.
******
Noynoy said the talks between the Philippines and the US on the Increased Rotational Presence (IRP) of American military forces in the Philippines is very close to completion. Once concluded, Noynoy is duty-bound to let his bosses know the terms and conditions of the agreement and what we are getting in return for it.
In this regard, a ranking member of the Philippine negotiating panel, DFA Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Carlos Sorreta, was suddenly removed from the panel. He was moved to the Foreign Service Institute as director. When I asked him why, he said his transfer was just part of “normal rotation”.
“In the middle of the negotiations?”, I asked. He merely reiterated his reply rather feebly.
I knew better, of course. And I fully understand why he wouldn’t talk. Some DFA sources say that Sorreta could not stomach the pro-US stance of Foreign Secretary Albert “Amboy” del Rosario and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia.
If that is the case, then I would like to applaud Sorreta, a career professional, for standing up to his superiors in his desire to uphold the national interest.
Other DFA sources, however, say that Sorreta was suspected of telegraphing to the US the Philippine position. If this is the case, then he ought to have been suspended instead and placed under investigation. If found guilty, he should be summarily dismissed from the service and prosecuted for committing what is tantamount to a treasonous act.
The question is, has Del Rosario apprised Noynoy of Sorreta’s removal from the panel and why? If not, then I believe Noynoy should ask Del Rosario. It may well be he hasn’t been getting the correct feedback on the matter to the possible detriment of the national interest.
******
I cringe every time I read reports of US officials, the latest being Secretary of State John Kerry in Jakarta, saying that the territorial disputes in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, need to be settled in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The US has not yet acceded to UNCLOS. Shouldn’t she ratify the convention first before urging signatories to adhere to it? It’s like urging someone to do something that you yourself won’t do.
*******
Presidential mouthpiece Edwin Lacierda confirmed that each senator who voted to convict former chief justice Renato Corona received huge amounts from a “stimulus” fund created by the administration called Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as “incentive”.
Earlier, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad denied the additional funding was a “bribe”.
For the information of the two, “incentive” is simply a euphemism for “bribe”.
“Euphemism” is defined by the dictionary as “a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing”.
So there… bribe, incentive, the same.
Question: What does that make of the senators who received the bribe?
******
Readers have asked why I keep publishing the Reminders portion below.
Well, the reason is pretty simple. The public has a short memory and the government even shorter when it comes to scandals in government. And, in general, the media, being in the business such as it is, cannot sustain follow-up stories indefinitely, especially when other newsworthy events take place.
For this, I thank my publisher and executive editor for their tacit approval of what I’m doing.
No doubt, the concerned authorities and those individuals, including Noynoy, who are in the crosshairs of these reminders think that ignoring the questions raised is the best way to deal with them. That may be so, but sooner or later, they will have to account for their misdeeds. And the public would remember!
Reminders (for Noynoy):
1) Filing of charges against officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documentary evidence to prove the venalities in the past in that agency.
In an attempt to jar his memory and spur him to action, quoted hereunder is what Noynoy said about the anomaly in his first State of the Nation Address on 26 July 2010:
“Let us now move on to the funds of the National Food Authority (NFA).
In 2004: 117,000 metric tons (of rice) was the shortage in the supply of the Philippines. What they (the government) bought were 900,000 metric tons. Even if you multiply for more than seven times the amount of shortage, they still bought more than what was needed.
“In 2007: 589,000 metric tons was the shortage in the supply of the Philippines. What they bought were 1.827 million metric tons. Even if you multiply for more than three times the amount of shortage, they again bought more than what was needed.
“What hurts is, because they keep purchasing more than what they need year after year, the excess rice that had to be stored in warehouses ended up rotting, just like what happened in 2008.
“Is this not a crime, letting rice rot, despite the fact that there are 4 million Filipinos who do not eat three times a day?
“The result is NFA’s current debt of 177 billion pesos. (The Inquirer recently quoted former NFA Administrator Angelito Banayo, a Noynoy appointee, as saying that (the present) government importation of rice is causing billions of pesos in losses. “We are going to be deep in debt,” Banayo said in his statement. The Inquirer further reported: “He (Banayo) said that by the time President Aquino steps down in 2016, the government could be in debt to the tune of at least P190 billion because of rice importation without private sector participation.”)
“This money that was wasted could have funded the following:
- The budget of the entire judiciary, which is at 12.7 billion pesos this year.
- The Conditional Cash Transfers for the following year, which cost 29.6 billion pesos.
- All the classrooms that our country needs, which cost 130 billion pesos.
“This way of doing things is revolting. Money was there only to be wasted.”
So, how come, Mr. President, you have not done anything about this in the last three and a half years?! And to make things worse, the corruption in the NFA today appears to be even worse than during the Arroyo regime. Your bosses want to know!
2) Investigation of reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia and ordering his successor, Robert “Pretty Boy” Vergara, to file the proper charges, if warranted, against the former.
Noynoy should also order Vergara to report to him on COA’s findings that:
(a) He received the obscenely excessive compensation of P16.36 million in 2012 making him the highest paid government servant then (how much did he get in 2013?) and;
(b) That, as of seven or eight months ago, at least P4.13 billion in contributions and loan payments made by 12 government offices to the GSIS had not been credited to the offices as of Dec. 31, 2011.
COA also said at the time that the amount of unrecorded remittances could go much higher because only 36 agencies have so far responded out of the 186 that were sent confirmation requests by government auditors. Of the 36, 27 confirmed “discrepancies” in their premium and loan payments ledgers when compared with those of the GSIS.
There are three questions being raised when remittances, or parts thereof, of government agencies are not recorded by the GSIS on time: a) Where are these huge sums “parked” in the meantime?; b) Do they earn interest?; and c) To where (whom?) does the interest, if any, go?
Pray tell, Mr. Vergara, what is the present status of these funds, including those that may have been remitted since and not yet recorded by the GSIS?
3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant corruption in the military and police establishments.
4) Resort to his immense presidential powers to expedite the resolution of the Ampatuan massacre case that is now on its fourth year.
*****
Today is the 282nd day of the seventh year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance
The Justice Department has dismissed the charges against several of those accused in Jonas’ disappearance. Cleared were former AFP chiefs of staff Hermogenes Esperon and Alexander Yano, ex-PNP chief Avelino Razon, retired Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Brig. Gen. Eduardo Ano and Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano. Only Maj. Harry Baliaga will be (has been?) charged for arbitrary detention, murder and obstruction of justice on the disappearance of Jonas.
Ano was even recently promoted to major general and confirmed as head of the Intelligence Service of the AFP.
“Pwedeng kasuhan ang kamay ng krimen pero ang utak ay hindi?” rued Lorena Santos, daughter of a desaparecido like Jonas.
Mr. President, is this what you meant when you called for a “focused, dedicated and exhaustive” probe of what really happened to Jonas?
******
From an internet friend:
During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, “How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in an old age home?”
“Well,” he said, “we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the person to empty the bathtub.”
“Oh, I understand,” I said. “A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”
“No” he said. “A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”
******
roacrosshairs@outlook.com 25 February 2014
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reynaldo.arcilla.9847
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