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I have forwarded the questions to Francis Dee, Sen. Noy’s nephew and this is his response on behalf of his uncle:

1) Other than the “leadership by example” how exactly can he address corruption which we all know is systemic and ingrained in the bureaucracy. Shouldn’t he address the value systems of pinoys, patronage politics, etc.

Just to stress how important leadership by example is, I’ll share a quote from Batman Begins from then Lieutenant Gordon. “Like there’s anyone left to rat to.” There’s a reason why leadership by example works; it’s not just imitation from followers who are in awe of you. It is, as you said, systemic: if the top is dirty, there will be no one to check on the bottom, hence, an overall corrupt government; if the top is clean, on the other hand, there will be a check on the bottom, meaning there will be a higher authority to deal with corruption to which those below will be accountable to, hence, a less corrupt government.

Corruption is difficult to eradicate as you said, and while that is the end, it is unrealistic to say that it can be achieved in one term. However, a lot of difference can be made if we simply shift the paradigm of tolerating corruption to one of non-tolerance of it.
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Bribery and corruption would mark the administration of Nacionalista bet Manuel Villar should he win the May 10 national elections, Liberal Party Director General Chito Gascon today warned the public.

Villarroyo had also been accused of facilitating the illegal conversion of prime rice lands in an Iloilo town to build the Savannah Subdivision. Villarroyo had allegedly made possible the construction of a road along Jibao-an in Pavia town, which will pass in front of Savannah subdivision in Brgy. Polo Maestra Vita in Oton town.

Gascon said the latest proof to the NP’s penchant for illegal maneuverings was its submission of its fake coalition with the Nationalist People’s Coalition, an attempt to circumvent guidelines laid down by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the accreditation of political parties as the dominant minority party in this year’s elections.

He added: “Kung ngayon pa lang ay inaabuso na niya ang kanyang posisyon, ano pa kaya kung siya na ang pangulo ng ating bansa? Higit na magiging talamak ang korapsyon sa gobyerno sa ilalim ni Villarroyo (Now that he’s already abusing his position, what more if he becomes president of our country? Corruption will be more rampant under a Villaroyo government).”

Full script

The PGH Director controversy exemplifies what is wrong in our country. What should have been a simple matter of respecting the results of an election has been turned into political travesty once again. I’d like to think UP President Emerlinda Roman and CHED Chairman Angeles mean well but should they be reminded that they are answerable to the Filipino people and not to whoever appointed them?

Before the Board of Regents voted for the next PGH Director last December 18, 2009, a vote was taken to determine whether the Student Regent was qualified to participate. She was deemed qualified and the result favored Dr Jose Gonzales. Regent Abraham Sarmiento subsequently lodged a protest.

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UP-PGH is currently on a crisis on its leadership. Also, the students of the  University of the Philippines are in danger of being unrepresented in the Board of Regents, the highest policy-making body in UP because the legality of Charisse Banez as Student Regent is questioned. Here are the events that lead to these issues:

Dr. Carmelo Alfiler, was on his second-three- year term as PGH Director, ending Dec. 31, 2009. Normally, PGH Directors should have a maximum of two terms, unless with exemplary or extraordinary performance.

Search process for new director started sometime in August, with initially just two candidates:

• 1) the incumbent director: Dr. Carmelo Alfiler
• 2) former Chairman of the Dept. of Surgery: Dr. Jose Gonzales

A third candidate eventually emerged:

Incumbent Deputy Director for admin (only for last 2 years): Dr. Eric Domingo

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by Bong Austero

Liberal Party presidential candidate Senator Benigno Aquino III recently expressed exasperation that the issues discussed in the series of presidential forums have become repetitive and tended to focus too much on populist shtick rather than on the more substantive issues hounding the nation.

He then challenged Senator Manny Villar, the candidate who is widely seen as his closest rival for the presidency, to a one-on-one debate; a challenge Villar immediately accepted. Villar shot back: Name the place and the venue. A sidelight to that verbal scuffle was Brother Eddie Villanueva’s attempt to insert himself into the picture saying that if Aquino and Villar were going to debate mano a mano, then he also should be there even if only to serve as a referee.

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ProPinoy.com

ProPinoy was able to reach Alfredo Laurente, the president of CATLU (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) and former Barangay Captain of Bgy Central. His statement is below, transcribed from a quick phone conversation. Disclaimer: Propinoy does not endorse any presidential candidate. We are just sharing what Mr Laurente said.

“Ako po ang pangkasalukuyang presidente ng CATLU, lahat ng ganyan [press releases, statements, etc], dadaan sa akin. Wala kaming alam diyan.

“Hindi iyan totoo. Tutulungan namin si Sen Aquino, 100% suportado kami sa kanya. Kaya bakit namin sasabihin iyan [na suportado nila si Sen Villar, ayon kay Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casino].

“Sino ba si Casino? Hindi iyan tiga-2nd district ng Tarlac [kung nasaan ang Hacienda Luisita]. Ano ang alam niya? Dito kami napanganak at lumaki. Malaki ang utang ng loob namin sa mga Cojuangco, at sa mga Aquino, mabuting pamilya iyan. Kung may kilala sa kanila, kami iyon. Pulitika lang iyan, sira-siraan. Dito sa Hacienda, hindi naman nakikialam [ang mga Aquino].

“Kawawa naman ang mga Aquino at Cojuangco. Madalas silang dyinadyaryo, eh hindi naman totoo. Mabuti talaga silang pamilya. Kami ang may kilala sa kanila, kami dapat ang ipasalita.

“Wala pong katotohanan ang press release na iyan. Baka may nagsasalita diyan, pero hindi kami iyan. Personal opinyon siguro iyan, pero huwag namang sasabihin na iyan ang kagustuhan namin, o kagustuhan ng madla. Ang majority sa amin suportado kay Sen Noynoy 100%, kaya hinding hindi namin sasabihin iyan. Wala kaming ibinibintang sa pamilya nila.

“Bakit kami lilipat sa hindi namin kilala [Sen Villar, ayon sa "press release"], na walang ginawa para sa amin? Sana ikinumpirma muna naman nila kung iyon talaga ang sinasabi namin.”

By:  Buraot – Barrio Siete

I was a fan of Dick Gordon, the man who they called The Flash. He was full of idealism and a natural leader. I would love to be seated next to him. I would love to catch the same breath of air that passes through his sense of national pride.

I first saw him on TV after the tragic 1990 major Luzon earthquake. He was there saving lives in the cities of Baguio and Cabanatuan. Those cities were the hardest hit with several collapsed buildings and hotels. He was then armed with his advanced SBMA units doing search and rescue operations. His efforts are rarely seen from politicians and public servants anywhere in the country.  And to think that Olongapo is actually hours away from these cities makes it even more heroic.

Gordon, gadgetry, flash, hero. Who wouldn’t fancy any young guy’s idealism and imagination?

Then I saw him again during the US Bases debates. I personally advocated for the restoration of our national sovereignty and thus against the presence of the US bases in Subic and Clark. While he was on the other side, he got a compelling argument.
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