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PNoy’s buddies: ‘they are different from you and me’

Update: Puno resigns. http://www.interaksyon.com/article/42864/dilg-usec-puno-resigns

Pnoy inducts his shooting buddy.
After days of deafening silence on the issue of his favorite undersecretary,Rico Puno,in-charge of police matters at the Department of Interior and Local Government,attempting to get hold of the documents in the possession of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, President Aquino finally spoke and revealed that it was upon his orders that Puno did it.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Vladivostok, Russia, Aquino disclosed: “Sometime in the early evening (Aug. 18), tumawag sa atin si Secretary Leila de Lima at pinaalalang may mga confidential folders si Secretary Robredo that needed to be secured. I instructed him (Puno) to seal the office of Secretary Robredo to ensure that ‘yung all of these records will be left intact. And that is the extent of the instructions that I gave to him.”

Transcript of the Vladivostok press briefing:
http://www.gov.ph/2012/09/10/for-the-record-interview-with-president-aquino-on-usec-puno-in-vladivostok-russia-on-september-8-2012/


He said his instructions did not include the condo unit of Robredo but he sees nothing wrong with Puno going there with some police officers. “He probably thought there were papers there to secure as well.”

Media has come out with some of the documents on the investigations being conducted by the office of Robredo and one of them was on the planned purchase of assault rifles for the Philippine National Police Special Action Force in the amount of almost P400 million.

Results of the investigation submitted to Robredo ten days before the plane crash showed some questionable practices including overpricing. There was also a comment regarding conflict of interest when Puno traveled to Israel together with retired Police Director Leocadio Santiago, former director of the SAF; Ramiro Lopez III, observer in the Bids and Award Committee of the PNP, National headquarters; and Reynaldo Espenelli, president of R. Espenelli and Co, a proponent in the bidding representing the Israeli Military Industries.

Puno and company’s trip to Israel via Dubai was sponsored by the Israeli arms supplier.

Iba na ang classmate.
Puno, actually is not the first person in Aquino’s favored circle known to have accepted favors from businessmen with proposed projects with the government, which is a violation of the Republic Act 6713, Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees.

Early this year, Aquino’s classmate, Cristino “Bong” Naguiat Jr., chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, was reported to have been a recipient of the generosity of Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada, whose company has recently acquired a license to operate a gambling complex in the Philippines.

PAGCOR regulates casinos in the country.

Naguiat,members of his family including their nanny and other Pagcor officials were treated by Okada in Macau to a luxurious visit with all the perks: free accommodation in Wynn Resorts luxury suite, $1,673 dinner, $20,000 cash gifts, $1,878I Chanel bag for Naguiat’s wife, which he said he returned.

Naguiat was never sanctioned for that. He continues to enjoy Aquino’s trust and confidence.

(Kris Aquino last week jokingly announced in her TV show that Okada, whom she has not yet met, is the person she will marry.)

Since the purpose of the sealing the Robredo’s office was to secure the documents on the probes he was conducting, why would Puno, who was a subject of the investigation, be the one to secure it?

Aquino said there are two DILG undersecretaries. One, Austere Panadero, is in-charge of local governments and Puno, who takes charge of the PNP. ““It was logical that Puno handle it since …was in charge of police matters,” he said.

The logic is mindboggling in its simplicity.

Saxnviolins, a regular participant in my blog, remarked: “Agreed. In the same way that it is logical to ask the investigated to guard the investigation papers.”

Pushing the President’s logic further, Saxnviolins suggested:”Might as well ask a suspected pedophile to guard the kindergarten. Let us ask China to guard Scarborough Shoal para wala nang away.

Aquino’s trust and confidence on Puno has not wavered, invoking the “ innocent until proven guilty” principle.

We can’t help but compare his leniency with Puno and Naguiat with his hard-heartedness in the cases of Prisco Nilo , the former administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services, and former National Bureau of Investigation Magtanggol Gatdula, both of whom he shamed in public.

Borrowing F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous line, “Let me tell you about Pnoy and his buddies. They are different from you and me.”

Published inLocal governmentMalayaPhilippine National Police

229 Comments

  1. Mike Mike

    How PNoy will handle the cases of his buddies involved in irregularities & corruption will be a litmus test. It will really show if he is really for the “matuwid na daan.”

  2. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    May sagot na. A better spinmeister has stepped in.

    The President knew about the overpriced rifles. Ginoogle daw niya.

    The process was under investigation, not Puno.

    newsinfo.inquirer.net/267138/overpriced-m4-rifles-uncovered-but-puno-not-being-probed-aquino

    rappler.com/nation/12088-robredo-investigation-not-about-puno,-malaca%C3%B1ang-says

    That seems to be a direct reply to your article Ellen.

    The President even quotes statements he allegedly made to Robredo. Now that is a master stroke. How can we verify, when the recipient of the instructions is dead?

  3. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Puno traveled to Israel upon the invitation of the Israeli supplier. Did he pay for his travel? Or was it courtesy of the supplier?

    Section 3. Corrupt practices of public officers. In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:

    Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit, for himself or for any other person, in connection with any contract or transaction between the Government and any other part, wherein the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene under the law.

    Aling Conching. Pang impeachment ka lang ba? Or more to the point, pang Renato Corona ka lang ba?

    What happened to the motu propio powers?

  4. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Looks like this spinmeister did his/her homework. He read the report of the blanked signatory to Robredo.

    “I wanted to ask the technical (bidding) group a simple question: Why didn’t anyone check the Internet? If you can buy one piece at that price, I’m sure you will get discount if you buy a hundred or a thousand pieces. That was something that Secretary Robredo was also checking up on and basically, I didn’t like the answers because it only raised more questions,” he added.

    Last page of the report (Items “a”,”b” and “c”) indicate that Robredo insructed the bid committee to cancel the pre-bid conference, and to hold bidding in abeyance pending his instructions to check the price, because the price on the internet is only $1,000 to $1,200 (item “b”).

    And the rifle itself (AK Type) was not what they (Special Action Force) told me they wanted,” he said.

    From page 2, item “a”, third paragraph.

    So the personnel told the President?

    Credit grabbing pa itong presidenteng ito. He instructed Robredo daw. I wonder if the blanked signatory will affirm this credit grabbing.

  5. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    The President said:

    “How many rifles were involved? It’s not that big. If ever, it will only total a few millions. Would you ruin your reputation for a few millions that you will only spend for a lawyer if you are charged? It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

    newsinfo.inquirer.net/267256/puno-out-bartolome-in

    Can somebody do the math for the President? The price, according to the President’s own internet search, is $1,000 per rifle, or about 40,000 pesos. The price quoted was 118,800 pesos (page 1 of report to Robredo), or an overprice of 78,800 pesos. Multiply that by 1,500 rifles and you get

    118.2 Million pesos.

    Barya nga. Hindi papatulan yan ni Rico.

  6. dan1067 dan1067

    “Kabarilan” o shooting buddy” ni pnoy ang tawag kay Rico Puno. Sharp shooter siguro ang mama kaya may tiwala si Noynoy kaso sumablay sa Luneta bus hostage crisis. Sana ginawa na lang siyang head ng PSG.

  7. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Did the overprice have the blessing of the DBM? Or were the Abad boys and girls just lazy to do a google search?

    If you look at page 1 of the report to Robredo, the DBM price is 139,800 pesos. That is an overprice of almost 100,000 (99,800) on the internet price of $1,000 (40,000 pesos).

    Baka naman gawa-gawa lang yung report to Robredo? Maybe it does not exist. Gawa-gawa lang yan ng hacker. Photoshopped ang pirma ni Robredo, at ipinatong sa isang report kuno.

    That report is bogus.

    Oops. We cannot use that line anymore. The President said siya ang nag-utos kay Robredo na mag-imbestiga.

  8. srcitizen2000 srcitizen2000

    Mukhang steel cabinet ang hawak ni Puno ke PNoy kaya kelangang magsinungaling ng Pangulo ng tuwid na daan na 19 Aug oa lang inutos na niya ke Puno na isecure ang opisina ni Robredo gayong ang unang mga balita, abal siya sa pagasikaso sa paghanap ke Sec. dahil baka buhay pa ito. Di ba kaya lang niya inutos na isecure ang opisina ay dahil pinaalala ni de Lima na kelangang gawin ito? alin ba ang totoo. bago tumawag si Atty Leni me preemptive act na ang executive? di ba masyadong maagang gumawa ng aksyon ng 19 Aug dahil lahat liban ke Puno ay umaasang buhay pa si Sec?

    Ano ba ang totoo kuya? tuwid na daan o matibay na puno?

  9. The other side of the issue:

    From Billie Esposo’s column in Philipine Star:

    There was no proof whatsoever that Robredo was investigating Puno. There was no proof whatsoever that there was an attempted break in. On the contrary, the DILG team had duly registered with the building security desk — something only an idiot would do if he had plans to break in and steal sensitive documents. On its first installment, the seed of suspicion on the motives and character of Rico Puno were planted….

    My Palace sources revealed last Friday that they’re aware of investigations that Jesse Robredo was doing but not of any irregularity involving Usec Puno. It also stands to reason that President Noy Aquino (P-Noy) would not have entrusted to Puno the task of securing the sensitive papers if Puno was one of those being probed for irregularity.

    The question emerges — who has been feeding ABS-CBN with the gist of these stories that have aired lately? Vice President Jojo Binay might have a suspect in mind so it would be good to ask him. VP Jojo just very recently protested a very nasty remark that was thrown his way.

    The feeding frenzy has escalated and the usual suspects, the P-Noy haters, have joined the lynch mob and are spreading the even wilder speculation that P-Noy allows Puno to do the alleged anomalies. Nothing corrodes DAANG MATUWID (straight path) more than such insinuations of the president protecting crooked cronies. They haven’t even presented prima facie evidence against Puno, and now they’re going for P-Noy’s head.

    http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=846842&publicationSubCategoryId=64

  10. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Okay. And here is the wife’s side:

    According to Leni, when she went over the contents of the box, what caught her attention was a brown envelope addressed to her with a listing of his bank accounts and insurance policies. The envelope was sealed with packing tape, over which he signed. There were no instructions in the event of his death, she said.

    In a television interview, Leni said that her husband would discuss certain cases he was investigating with her, but on that piece of paper, there was no mention of them.

    “Parang handa siya (it was as if he was prepared to die),” she said.

    philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=847185&publicationSubCategoryId=63

    Seems the good secretary knew he stepped on big toes.

    The report speaks for itself. It was couched in polite terms, because the reporter knew the political heft of the protagonists. But there is no denying the fact that it politely mentioned the conflict of interest (as was put mildly), of the rich tree (rico puno).

    No prima facie evidence against Puno? The trip to Jerusalem (no pun intended) and the fact that the Israeli supplier was the only bidder is not prima facie enough?

    The tailor-fitting of specs to suit one bidder is not prima facie enough?

  11. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Kung si Pidal ang gumawa niyan, people would be screaming bloody murder.

    Si Benigno Sr., makapili daw. Si Benigno III, makapuno.

  12. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Fearless forecast Ellen.

    Somebody will stall Mar’s confirmation to give Rico time.

    It ain’t over till it’s over.

  13. Gabriela Gabriela

    “The logic is mindboggling in its simplicity.” – Ellen

    Awesome!

  14. parasabayan parasabayan

    May sariling “circle” nga talaga si Pnoy. Pwede ring nagpapakagat lang si Pnoy at hindi pa binubuking si Puno but he may already have all the iinvestigations going. If someone you trust betrays you, mas masakit yun.

  15. MPRivera MPRivera

    ang dumi ng trabaho sa gobyerno AY hindi lamang ‘yung nababasa sa mga spy stories. ITO ay isang nagdudumilat na katotohanan!

    walang sinuman na humahawak ng sensitibong posisyon ANG hindi nadudumihan ang kamay o nakakaamoy ng baho ng mga nakapaligid sa kanya.

    maaaring ang yumaong kalihim ng DILG AY isa nga sa mga malilinis SUBALIT narooon pa rin ang kanyang pagkadamay dahil sa HINDI niya nalinis ang dapat niyang linisin bunga ng pagsansala ng haligi ng bahay.

  16. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Ellen,

    re Billy Esposo’s piece.

    He may be technically right on all counts but I see a violation of ethics when Puno accepted to visit Israeli plant purportedly with all expenses paid for by Israeli proponents (and even if the expenses were paid for by local Pinoy agent/broker, that would still be unethical of Puno to accept such largesse; if the trip was for evaluation purposes of the supplier and their goods, their plant, the right thing to have done was for DILG to shoulder ALL THE TRAVEL EXPENSES. Anything else should be considered suspect.

  17. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Besides, why should the secretary or under-secretary of Interior and Local Govt do the evaluating???

    The police who are the end users should have — and certainly does have, proficient technical evaluators and should be doing the evaluating, NOT the high level ministry official. Purchase of police handguns or even rifles does not have to be done on a government to government level so does not require intervention of a high-level minister.

  18. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Hand guns or rifles are not exactly protected military technology in the same way that missiles or military hardware are protected by the national governments under which manufacturers operate so I doubt there was a government to government deal here that required top level government/ministerial intervention, i.e., Puno.

  19. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Incidentally, Israel is a signatory to OECD so in theory should not participate in the game of “bribing” officials of any govt they wish to sell their goods to.

    The Israelis might not even be selling direct to PNP and will certainly have have local agents who, most likely, will act as the importers. Espinelli could be the importing entity who will then RE-SELL to PNP with the mark up that will ultimately bloat the price.

  20. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Just to be clear, there should be nothing wrong with topping up the “retail” price offered by local importers to a govt agency especially if the bidding was done in a transparent way, i.e., legit manner, and has respected all the BAC procedures.

  21. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Saxnv,

    “Rico Puno was not evaluating. He was shepherding the supplier to an approval. Note, it was the only bidder. And the end users preferred the Bushmaster, not the Galil.”

    Ganoon ba? Ayayayay…Nothing has changed!!!

  22. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Saxnv,

    I will try to be as objective as I can.

    I just read the pdf doc/Robredo report in another thread in this blog; to me, two things stood out:

    (1) Espenelli and co who led the Puno party to Israel had already been disqualified

    (2) Clearly, bidding rules and regulations were changed/modified to accomodate bidding capability of Espenelli (sounds like a suspicious undertaking to me.)

    Hence, the “awarding” of the contract to Espinelli, if official awarding took place, would or should be considered highly irregular.

    Furthermore, Mr Puno has no business flying to Israel to meet with foreign manufacturers suppliers given the circumstances in which the bid had been ‘awarded’ to agent Espinelli; if ever, DILG should have asked foreign proponents to send technical team, corporate team, all sort of teams to make presentation to Manila again.

    If Mr Puno’s trip to Israel was to enter into a negotiated bid with Israeli manufacturers, then that would be fine (acceptable) but under the law, he could do that if the contract IS CLEARLY ADVANTAGEOUS TO GOVERNMENT. But the contract as I see it is NOWHERE ADVANTAGEOUS to govt.

  23. vic vic

    Godaammit, the PNP could have gone for the Ruger Mini 14 (based on M1 and M14 tech and vastly improved while minimizing cost) Military and Police specs, selective fire, it even got a 3 round burst mode and can be had for less than $1000 per unit and is being used by many us military and police agencies and the price can not be hidden as it is already been around for quite a while and Mr. T and the team been using them including Charles Bronson in his famous movies…and it has seen a lot of upgrades since its introduction in l974…Why…the PNP do not even bother? No mullah in there…Ruger is not in monkey business as Bill Ruger would not allow it even in his grave.

  24. vic vic

    my own suspicion here is that during the bidding process for the short arm or sidearms for the PNP which was won by the same supplier, something had been “considered” in winning that bid, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to haste and lack of necessary documentation…now somebody and something has to compensate for whatever consideration took place in that previous booobboo…and Puno had the misfortune to had been caught in doing soo…what a waste of fortune or time in jail…

  25. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Saxnv,

    Just read the manila standard piece by Kit Tatad.

    He seems to be spot on on the technical aspects, eg., stripped of weapons and key electronic systems.

    As to cost, “That would bring up the total cost to P17 billion.”, says article.

    What is that in real money? Tama ba arithmetic ko, i.e., 283 million euros (divided by 60 pesos to a euro kasi, eh.) for both to render it combat capable for the next few years.

    The 30-year old hull in itself with old current engine should cost at most 15-20 million euros apiece (and I am not exactly being generous here because we don’t know the condition of the hull, i.e., if properly maintained by Italian navy)so the rest of the money is for the upgrade, re-fitting (arming, etc), training, etc.

    Is it a good purchase at that price? Difficult to answer until we have all the elements they want to plant on board.

    But as ever, this is a band-aid solution. As we all know, maintaining an old machine, eg., a 30 year old frigate, will tend to be costlier proportionally speaking or in terms of buying a new one.

    NB: The Italian Navy (or the State) is the owner of these ships. Fiancanteri Navali beibg the builders are acting as brokers (salesmen) hence will have included their brokers/consultants fees in the selling price by at least 15% (will not be shown in the offer pero included yan diyan).

    DIYAN DAPAT makipag-haggle ang gobyerno. After all, if govt really is intent on buying these ships, Fincantieri Navali will make a killing on the follow-on jobs of supplying, re-fitting, refurbishing and maintaining frigates.

  26. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Ooops, will make a killing on the follow-on jobs of supplying WEAPONS…

  27. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    What about this statement from Tatad?

    The other option is to acquire brand-new vessels from Korea, with anti-submarine helicopters, at P5.8 million per copy. These would be smaller vessels but of comparable capability, according to the same sources.

  28. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Saxnv

    To be perfectly honest, I was surprised by Tatad’s Korea vessels but did not pay attention — thought price was a typo. Not sure either what kind of vessels he was alluding to, i.e., with ASW helicopter to boot.

    Corvettes or light frigates can take on anti-sub helicopters so he must be referring at the very least to a corvette type. Was not sure he got the price correctly. IMPOSSIBLE at 5.8 million a copy unless the Koreans were giving them away to Pinas gratis et amore and merely charging them for paper work/documentary stamps of sorts.

  29. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    But if that is really the price, I SAY GRAB THOSE VESSELS… pero careful, baka naman made of bamboo yan or Heinz beans tin

  30. Aurore de Breizh Aurore de Breizh

    Sounds like President intends to replace Puno (based on vid)

  31. Mike Mike

    #34

    Anna, yes PNoy I think replaced Puno with PNP chief Bartolome. But he’s offering him another govt post. His (Puno) choice pa yata. How lucky can one get.

  32. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    The deeds do not mirror the words.

    PRESIDENT AQUINO: Teka, wala pa sa akin ‘yung mga resignation letter ha. They will be submitting this, hindi ko tangan.

    Q: Kasi merong report din po na nag-resign na po si Usec. Puno.

    PRESIDENT AQUINO: But I don’t have it. ‘Yung, again – teka muna, hindi pwedeng mag-assume si Secretary Roxas. Secretary Roxas can put in his team. There are only two undersecretaries sa DILG. The secretary cannot assume yet, the two undersecretaries will resign, who takes over amongst the five Asecs? Or the Asecs might also say, “co-terminus kami e kailangan na rin kaming mag-courtesy resignation.” So sinong bureau chief ang tatangan ng DILG? So bago umalis kabilang siguraduhin may replacement that can assume.

    Why wait for the resignation when you can fire the person?

    Panadero is there. He can take over.

    At gaano katagal ba ang confirmation ni Mar? Will it take long, that the portfolio cannot be left in the temporary care of Panadero or even some asec?

    It ain’t over till it’s over. Talagang makapuno yang Pangulong yan.

    Now watch the confirmation of Mar. The slamdunk will suffer a glitch.

  33. florry florry

    “It also stands to reason that President Noy Aquino (P-Noy) would not have entrusted to Puno the task of securing the sensitive papers if Puno was one of those being probed for irregularity”. – Esposo

    Esposo deliberately forgets that Puno is one of the closest KKK of Noynoy who even boasted before that he is the only one who can “tame” him, whatever that means.

    We all know that Noynoy is always there to protect his KKKs. That being said, there can never be any reason to stand on the way of Noynoy to go the extra mile to brazenly protect them.

    We have seen it before and we are seeing it now. So what else is new?

  34. dan1067 dan1067

    To wipe out confusions among pnoy’s bosses, eliminate his incompetent “sacred cows”! We are not fools!

  35. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Israel Military Industries banned in India.

    dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2130719/Antony-cracks-whip-punishing-murky-arms-dealers.html

    The IMI was among the six firms banned by the defence ministry recently after CBI alleged it was involved in paying illegal gratification to Sudipta Ghosh, former director general of ordnance factories.

    Ano kaya yang illegal gratification? Russian super models? Or maybe Israeli models like Bar Refaeli.

  36. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Ito mas malinaw. From the Israeli newspaper Haaretz:

    haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/india-blacklists-israeli-defense-firm-amid-corruption-charges-1.416799

    The decision followed an investigation in 2009 by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (the Indian equivalent of the American FBI(, which found that the companies had allegedly won past contracts through improper means, including bribing senior officials.

  37. Excuse me, but I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your prayers in remembrance of the 19 Filipinos who perished in the 911 incident which included a good friend from high school, Rufino “Roy” Santos. He was a computer consultant for Andersen/Accenture on the 94th floor of the North which was a directly hit by the first plane. His body was never recovered.

  38. baycas2 baycas2

    tongue,

    granted.

    thanks for the reminder.

  39. Rudolfo Rudolfo

    Ano ang dapat gawin kung sa isang “Matuwid na Landas”, ay may Isang Puno na naka-harang ?..at ang mga “roots” , gapang-na-gapang, at maraming galamay, na katulad sa “galamay” ng malaking Octupos sa Karagatan..na kung, sumipa, tiyak mabubulag ang sino mang, gustung maghanap, dahil sa buga ng “ga-putik” na dugo ?…ito ang kahalintulad ng misteryusong, napakalaking puno, na sagabal sa kaunlaran, at sa pagbabago ng Bansa ?..a comment for a change..

  40. The only logical thing to do. What’s the pun sax? The Tree Leaves?

    Instead of dragging Noynoy into his mess making up stories for him because he has his back, resigning should save his friend (and himself) from further embarrassment. Imagine if Miriam pushes for that Senate investigation.

    But again, WTF is Santiago, the police general, doing in that Galil deal? Isn’t the used chopper scam flag red enough?

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