PRESIDENT Duterte must realize that he is no longer the mayor of Davao City but the President of the Republic and the leader of no less than 101 million Filipinos. His words and actions affect the entire nation. People expect a leader they can believe in, someone who is able to deliver change that other presidents have failed to do.
Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, for instance, no doubt enjoys the nation’s support. In the process, however, he must see to it that human rights and the rule of law are observed.
That’s the reason there have been negative reactions here and abroad against extra-judicial killings amid the President’s determined efforts to end the illegal drug menace.
In his effort to rid the country of criminality, illegal drugs and corruption, President Duterte must be told that he cannot go on threatening people that he would kill them. The police who go after alleged druglords and drug pushers have his full backing and protection. This has spawned multifarious problems like summary and vigilante killings and the proliferation of loose firearms.
The President also committed to launch a campaign against corruption. Still, he must be circumspect that those he deems as “oligarchs embedded in government” do not become collateral damage as he destroys them. Recall how he singled out businessman Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin when in fact, around Duterte, there are other members of the oligarchy.
For instance, you have Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez. She is an heiress of the politically powerful Lopez clan who once owned Meralco, the former Chronicle, and now ABS-CBN.
There’s also the Villar political clan with its patriarch Manny Villar who used to be Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. His wife Cynthia is a senator. And now the son, Mark, is secretary of public works and highways. This is a clear example of conflict of interest. No doubt the Villars would need roads in their property development ventures.
I respect and admire Duterte as a leader. He walks his talk. He has an unwavering determination to put closure to the burial of the Marcos remains. This, despite the loud protests of the anti-Marcos groups. That’s leadership for you.
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But why not go after illegal gambling—jueteng in Luzon, masiao in the Visayas and last two in Mindanao? Mr. President, why not also go after the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s small-town lottery system? Some of the members of the PCSO board and its personnel commit graft and corruption because of this.
At one time, the President described PCSO as corrupt. Why not go after its directors and personnel? There are even reports that STL, which is supposed to replace jueteng, is now under the control of a Chinese gambling lord, who has become untouchable. We don’t want Duterte’s campaign against illegal activities to be selective, do we?
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If Duterte can take an unsolicited advice, he should ask his legal counsel Salvador Panelo to keep his trap shut. Everytime Panelo talks, the more he gets the President into trouble.
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In my over 66 years as a journalist, I have never seen a President, whenever he appears on television, uttering curses. Sure, these may create a few laughs from the audience, but they are not presidential. It’s in the culture of Cebuanos, they may say. But, my gulay, he must know he is now the President!
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Last April 26, 2016, a few weeks before the May polls, the Department of Public Works and Highways Region III bid out a multi-million peso contract for the annual operation and maintenance of traffic signal facilities for 56 intersections along Manila North Road, Bulacan to Tarlac section and along Jose Abad Santos Guagua and Lubao Pampanga section.
I have written about this earlier, saying this must be investigated by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar.
First, it violated Rule 1, Section 3 of the Revised Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184 that emphasizes competitiveness as one of the principles of government procurement.
The bidding was advertised in PhilGEPs under the bidding category of “Civil Works/Infrastructure” but was eventually bid out as as “Goods and Services.” This was clearly a ploy to have just a handful of bidders. The less the participants, the less the competition.
Advertising was done to intentionally mislead and to prevent qualified bidders from joining. As a result, there were only two bidders: Traffic Supplies and Construction Corp. and KTV Marketing.
Next, the bidding category in the Terms of Reference was changed from “Civil Works” to “Goods.” This was done to suit the qualification of KTV Marketing. It was not qualified to bid for civil works at that particular time because it did not have a Philippine Contractor Board license. After being advertised as pertaining to “Civil Works,” the TOR was tweaked to “Goods” in favor of KTV Marketing.
The second violation of the Government Procurement Act was committed when the DPWH Form 8 clearly indicated the brand names of goods/equipment to be used in the TOR. “…Reference to brand names shall not be allowed.” The two brand names to be used in the contract, Swarco and Aldrige, are associated with KTV Marketing, the exclusive distributor of Aldridge.
I have been told that Secretary Villar has not lifted a finger to look into this anomaly at his department. My sources also say that this is just one of the many midnight contracts that were signed when former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson was winding up his term of office.
My sources at the department say that there are many more cases that deserve a second look. Why is Villar not doing anything about them?
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Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo and the organizers of the Miss Universe pageant should rethink their plan to hold the beauty contest here.
According to the Senate, the emergency powers of President Duterte to resolve the traffic crisis can only be passed by December 2016 at the earliest. With the Miss Universe set for January 30, 2017, how can the horrendous traffic crisis in Manila be resolved? The congestion at the airport? Are tourism sites ready?
