Showing posts with label Pres. Gloria Arroyo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pres. Gloria Arroyo. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Transparency for RP, but not for GMA’s unexplained wealth?

8/13/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


After splurging in lavish dinners with her entourage abroad that had price tags close to $15,000 to $20,000(P750,000-1,000,000,) Pres. Gloria Arroyo’s assets an liabilities have been under close scrutiny.

The Philippine Center of Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) say since her assumption of office, the president has accumulated properties 2000x than their original value. In spite of the over-hyped call for honesty and transparency by the administration, the lawyers of GMA and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, don’t see the need to explain how the couple amassed such wealth. But obviously, the people want to know.

Corruption is the centerpiece of why the Philippines is mired in poverty, but even the president fails to follow the leads to know the extent government corruption! The public sees a collusion by the leadership to keep the status quo of defrauding the country. The “scratch my back, and I’ll scratch your back culture” is at work here----so almost no one gets caught; the few who are proven thieves are pardoned.

“A report by the PCIJ said Mrs. Arroyo’s declared net worth more than doubled from P66.8 million in 2001 to P143.54 million in 2008. The increase of P76.74 million represents a growth rate of 114 percent. If her SALNs were plotted from the time she was still senator 17 years ago, the rise in her wealth would have been 2,000 percent, according to PCIJ.”-----Philstar (08/13/09)

This questionable rise in assets of a politician in power is not uncommon. The accusations of theft, corruption, fraud, and abuse in government are pervasive even if there are laws that can be used to get into the bottom of the truth. It dates back since Marcos time whose descendants are inching for a come-back, hiding under the rug the outrageous graft and corruption of their parents.

In spite of calls for President Arroyo to comply on the Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees which when violated is punishable by imprisonment, fines, dismissal or suspension, just like any slicky politician, GMA allows the foul odor in her record to pester. It’s a common reaction of corrupt politicians to pretend nothing odiously bad is going on.

Arroyo’s discordant lifestyle and wealth are incompatible to her salary as president. She receives a measly Php 60,000.00 (about USD 1,333.33 at Php 45.00 to 1 USD exchange rate) monthly. The US president’s salary at about $400,000/year is about 3,000% higher. Therefore, there is always a good reason to compute and recompute how GMA came up with her assets in so short a time. Obviously, this goes true with other politicians who dodge showing the money trail of their wealth.

GMA's business interests, if laid bare are not hard audit. If there is any, let investigators see where the conflict of interest lies, which transactions she did in accord with the law or where fraud occurre which may explain why she and her friends have become so rich.

The stonewalling by the president and her husband to conceal the truth has caused despair and loss of credibility; it makes her a pariah of the people. At the waning days of her presidency come along, her job approval is poor---among the lowest a president ever received in tenure.

The furor resulting from her extravagance abroad and clever machinations is deplorable and very much compatible with corruption. It's contemptible. There is obvious failure of the checks and balances in the system. It’s time that Arroyo comes clean from the disgusting accusations which plague her leadership. (Photo Credit: sunnexfo) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon GMA comes to Cory Aquino's wake

8/05/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


There was the necessity and perhaps the obligation. She needed to come for the wake of Pres. Cory Aquino. Against the discomfort of raised eyebrows and snide remarks, maybe, that's what Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo felt. After she arrived with her entourage on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 from her trip in the United States, she hastily went to Manila Cathedral at about 3:30 early morning to view Cory’s remains and condoled with the bereaved family. Days before, to honor the dead ex-president, she declared a 10-day national mourning.

The visit was politically charged. Accusing her of rigging the election, Arroyo was asked by Cory Aquino to resign at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal. As far as the public can tell, it was a wound in both women's back which needed repair.

Despite irritations, GMA was politely welcomed by Cory’s son Noynoy Aquino and briefly, she stayed after a quick prayer in front of the bier. She only stayed for about 7 minutes.

Reports said, the president’s short visit interrupted public the viewing of Cory's huge adoring crowd. With other unspecified reasons, Arroyo's decision to come and leave early was more to give time for people in long lines to see Cory’s remains as the interment drew near.(Photo Credit: justgivemepeace) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Arroyo-Obama meeting: beholding the face of "god" & the desire to have a photo-op

8/01/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




There is unexplained elation in Gloria M. Arroyo’s “successful” meeting with Pres. Barack Obama. The president and her supporters show palpable delight, as if something big has been achieved after seeing the face of “god.” Whatever the achievement, the Filipinos are still scrambling to know.

If there is something uniquely surprising about the Filipino's expectation on the gains of meeting Pres. Obama, ask Sen. Lito Lapid. He said he would do anything to have a photograph with the most powerful man in the world---"I hope I’d be lucky enough to be chosen among the five that would be allowed to accompany the President when she meets Obama.” Such slobbering from a senator is odd.

Obama who is extremely popular in the Philippines sees that the county as the chief ally of America in Asia. In blurry terms, his statement that country will serve a “coordinating link” to the ASEAN countries is flattering. His conversation with GMA on regional security, the economy, foreign aid, and mutual cooperation may have pushed through, but the question is: how do their words become success for the country? What do their pronouncements mean? At best, if Arroyo achieved anything, not so many Filipinos understand.

That’s why in USA and in the Philippines there are murmurs of dissent. Fil-Am activists staged rallies in Washington and California to protest Arroyo’s corruption and human rights records. In Manila, Bayan members lambasted the president for a trip that they think won’t benefit the people. Many who disapprove of GMA took to the streets in a new wave of condemnation. There are those who are bitter to be reminded that the Philippines is still a “colony” and serves as an “errand” boy of America. (Photo Credit: Reuters/Jim Young; Reuters/ Romeo Ranoco) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon GMA meets with Barack Obama

7/31/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


The meeting of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo which is drummed up in the Philippines as "historic" occured Friday, July 31, 2009. In spite of high hopes of Filipinos that something big will happen to such a meeting, it barely made a stir in the US media.

Arroyo's and her coterie of 20 congressmen beheld the face of the US president and defended their travel with familiar justifications of advancing the diplomatic relationship of the Philippines with the US, an old time ally. Philippine authorities speak of a 45-minute talk on the economy, security, the Mindanao conflict and regional cooperation among Asian nations---something glowing that makes the trip look essential. Few disagree except fot the money to spend.

Yet, it is hard to quantify what benefits ordinary Filipinos will get from this recent US travel. In the fading days of her presidency, GMA is beset with poor popularity, charges of corruption, human rights violations, and a weak economy. With some gains, many look at the White House visit as another political move which combines government business with pleasure.

As before, many legislators and administration supporters scramble to join the travel wagon to be part of an official trip underwritten by taxpayer's money. Many of them include in their travel side trips to Las Vegas, tourist attractions, and shopping malls in various cities of America. It is unclear what this group of GMA companions will do after the Washington DC meeting with Obama. =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Pres Arroyo slashes price of 5 common drugs

7/29/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


On July 27, 2009, Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo signed Executive Order (EO) 821 to reduce the price of 5 common medicines which manufacturers resisted to put down. The essential drugs include anti-cholesterol drug atorvastatin, anti-hypertensive amiodipine, antibiotic/antibacterial drug azith-romycin, anti-neoplastics/anticancer drugs cytarabine and doxorubicin.

“Last week, pharmaceutical companies acceded to government pressure to cut in half the prices of the 16 other essential medicines which the health department found to be exorbitant.

These are medicines for hypertension, diabetes, common bacterial infections, amoebiasis (a leading cause of diarrhea) and cancers (such as leukemia, the top killer pediatric cancer). But the drug companies refused to give in to the appeal of the Department of Health (DoH) for a 50-percent price cut for the five other medicines on the list."---Inquirer (07/27/09, Pazzibugan, D; Esguerra, CV.)

A welcome respite to the poor and supported by the Department of Health (DOH,) the implementation of Arroyo's drug plan starts on August 15, 2009. However, it remains to be seen if this rule will be followed. High cost of drugs are among the reasons why Filipinos are unable to maintain their medicatons leading to longer patient morbidities and premature deaths.

The maximum retail price (MRP) of drugs has been a source of contention between the manufacturers and the consumers. The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), composed of drug companies promised they will support the new price regulation but believes it would have been better if free market---competition dictates the price of the medicines.. (Photo Credit: Techfever) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Government calls for MILF ceasefire before GMA’s SONA

7/23/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


In a waxing and waning way of handling the Mindanao separatist movement, the Philippine government again suspended its military offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF,) about 5 days before Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo delivers her state of the nation address (SONA) on July 27, 2009.

Spokesmen from the administration are ecstatic over the ceasefire which they believe will allow about 300,000 civilians to return home to their farms.

But the heavily unpopular president with a poor approval rating was quickly criticized for using the ceasefire to prop up her image---- that her handling of the decades-old Mindanao rebellion had significant gains and in the right direction.

To air their grievances, a 15,000-strong protest-rally are being readied by oppositionists from Manila and other provinces to complain against President Arroyo's final State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“It’s all media-hype. I’m sure her decision will not change the situation in Mindanao. Undoubtedly, she is creating a situation that is favorable to her SONA," Political analyst Ramon Casiple, executive director of the non-government Institute for Political and Electoral Reform. GMANews.TV (07/23/09)

Many observers in the protracted peace process are cynical about the outcome of the conflict. The question of sincerity hangs. They see the same pattern of political maneuvers and hollow claims of peace gains that aren’t far from why the Israel-Palestinian problem has not been resolved for many decades. (Photo Credit: Manolet Santiago/ Malaya) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Pres. Gloria Arroyo still suffers from negative public approval

7/16/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


In a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) report covering June 2009, Pres. Gloria Arroyo scored dismally with a net of negative rating of (-)30 (26% satisfied and 56% dissatisfied.) This shows no improvement from her rating 4 months ago with (-)33% (26% satisfied and 59% dissatisfied.)

According to SWS, the recommended way of interpreting these numbers are as follows: +50 and above as "very good," +30 to + 49 as "good," +10 to +29 as "moderate," +9 to -9 as "neutral," -10 to -29 as "poor," -30 to -49 as "bad," and -50 and lower as "very bad." The picture on the president at this time is considered “bad.”

The drop in her popularity came in December last year when she was rated poor, but Malacanang Palace spokesmen attributed her performance to “perception.” Doubted by others, it had been said by her supporters that GMA would be better off being “unpopular” than not "excellent" in her job.

On its waning days, the administration thinks the president has been an “achiever.” It blames persistent malicious gossip and black propaganda as reasons for her unpopularity. (Photo Credit: AP) =0=

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