Category: Local government

If PNoy believes Puno’s Israel trip story, pity the Filipino people

Published by Ellen on September 16, 2012

Puno at Sept 14 Senate hearing. Thanks to Inquirer for photo. — Thanks to Inquirer for photo.

I wish President Aquino would stop talking about “tuwid na daan” anymore.

It’s adding insult to injury with the way he protected Rico Puno, his shooting buddy whom he appointed undersecretary in the Department of Interior and Local Government. He accepted Puno’s resignation last Sept. 11.

Santiago Sept 14 hearing — “You are testing my level of belief ..”

The House of Representatives spared the public another farce by dropping the planned investigation on the alleged overpriced purchase of firearms for the Philippine National Police and the conflicting versions of Puno’s role in securing the documents on the deal, which included a report questioning his trip to Israel to visit the manufacturing plant of one of the bidders, the Israeli Military Industries.

If Puno was able to get away with stonewalling Sen. Miriam Santiago, chair of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Laws, who conducted hearing, the congressmen are not expected to fare better when it comes to ferreting out the truth. They won’t dare antagonize Malacañang.

Puno resigned Aug.31, 2012

Published by Ellen on September 11, 2012

Despite denials from Malacanang that DILG Undersecretary Rico E. Puno resigned when Mar Roxas was appointed to replace the late Jesse Robredo, Puno indeed submitted his resignation Aug. 31.

Here’s his letter of resignation:

President Aquino accepts Puno’s resignation

Published by Ellen on September 11, 2012

From Official Gazette:

Puno at Senate hearing. Thanks to Yahoo for photo. — Thanks to Yahoo for photo.

Statement of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on the resignation of Undersecretary Rico E. Puno:

Last Friday, former DILG Undersecretary Rico E. Puno submitted his letter of resignation to the President, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. The President has accepted Mr. Puno’s resignation effective immediately.

Statement of Undersecretary Puno on his resignation, September 11, 2012

As Undersecretary for Peace and Order in the DILG, I am entrusted with duties and responsibilities that involve strict confidence, security and protocol. Violating the confidential nature of my duties may expose people to danger or jeopardize critical operations. Hence, I am duty-bound to act with restraint and circumspection, even when subjected to personal attacks in the mass media. This is why I have opted not to react to the speculative accusations that have been hurled against me by some media organizations.

This is the chronology of events that transpired on August 18 and 19, 2012 as I followed the orders of the President:

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

Published by Ellen on September 9, 2012

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

PNoy inducts Rico Puno — 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/

Robredo probing Puno on arms deal before crash

Published by Ellen on September 7, 2012

Update: PNoy saves Rico Puno again. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/08/12/pnoy-ordered-robredos-office-lockdown

By Anthony Taberna, ABS-CBN News

Prior to his fatal plane crash last August 18, Jesse Robredo was investigating the procurement of high-powered rifles which involved Interior and Local Government Secretary Rico Puno.

ABS-CBN News was able to secure a copy of the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) report on the planned purchase of assault rifles by the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force that involved two procurements of nearly P178 million and P213 million.

The documents show that Robredo received the report on August 8, less than two weeks before the fatal plane crash off Masbate.

ABS-CBN News sources said this report is among the sensitive documents that were in Robredo’s condominium unit at the time of his death.

This is the same condo unit that Puno and some police officials allegedly tried to access on August 19,a day after the plane crash.

Click here for the documents on the arms deal:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/1VpCrVjCGhrXrYGtgiAuSS3ABaPtCEB4W3IeWL8qgKjxWznDwEb4H21sOl2ez/edit

Robredo’s condo

DILG is make or break for Roxas’ presidential dream

Published by Ellen on September 2, 2012

Mar Roxas2 — As LP head, he is entitled to be DILG head to further his presidential ambition

Now that he has taken the helm at the Department of Interior and Local Government, it’s a make or break for Mar Roxas in his bid for the presidency in 2016.

The position will allow him to be high profile, conduct headline- grabbing operations that will change his image from a lackluster, elitist politician to a swashbuckling crime buster. If he succeeds, he would be gliding easily to Malacanang four years from now.

It would be the realization of his long-planned campaign for the presidency, which was shelved in 2010 when he slid to the vice-presidential race (in favor of Aquino) which he lost for a variety of reasons including complacency.

If the DILG position catapults Roxas to the presidency, President Aquino could then consider to have duly repaid the former the huge favor extended to him. In the Philippine culture of debt and gratitude, we say,“Quits na”

Roxas’ appointment at the DILG has nothing to do with good governance. It’s all about Roxas’ presidential plans and the Liberal Party extending its hold on power beyond 2016.

Mar Roxas is new DILG chief

Published by Ellen on August 31, 2012

ABS-CBNnews.com

President Aquino on Friday appointed Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas as the new chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Roxas, 55, an economist and president of the Liberal Party (LP), will take over the position vacated by the late DILG chief Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash last August 18.

Speaking to reporters, Aquino said Roxas was on top of a short list of candidates as Robredo’s replacement even before they had confirmed that he had died in the crash.

“When Secretary Robredo was missing, we had to entertain the possibility [of a replacement]. I told Mar that he was first on my shortlist in case we had to replace Jesse,” the President said.

“Hindi naman pwedeng patagalin ang pagtakbo ng gobyerno. Kailangan siguraduhin natin yung functions na hindi nagawa ng naitalaga ay ipasa na kaagad sa isang tao na magpapatuloy sa magandang naumpisahan ni Jesse,” he added.

Robredo: matino, mahusay, mapagkatiwalaan

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2012

Robredo in a crowd — Thanks to Malou Tiquia for this photo.

Ang halaga ng buhay ay hindi nasusukat sa haba kungdi kung paano mo ginamit ang bawat minuto o oras na biyaya ng Panginoon.

Masasabi natin na walang nasayang na oras sa sobra 54 taong ibinigay ng Panginoon sa nasawing secretary ng Department of Interior and Local Government na si Jesse Robredo.

We join all those who grieve for the passing of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. We will always remember him to be a decent and competent government official.

We also echo the call of Solar News’ Pia Hontiveros “Leave no one behind. Not the pilots. Not the rescuers. Not the divers. Let’s take care of everyone.”

Contrary to earlier reports when Robredo’s body was retrieved from the ill-fated Piper Seneca’s fuselage yesterday, the bodies of the aircraft owner, Capt. Jessup Bahinting and co-pilot Sri Lankan Kshitiz Chand, have not yet been recovered.

Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas said the bodies of the two pilots were seen slumped in the cockpit. Retrieval operations will resume today.

We pray that the families Robredo, Bahinting and Kshitis be blessed with strength to sustain them in this hour of sorrow. We also pray for the complete healing of Robredo’s aide, who survived the plane crash, Chief Insp. Jun Abrasado.

Robredo, pilots missing after plane crashes off Masbate

Published by Ellen on August 18, 2012

robredo aug 23 2 — Robredo during the Rizal Park hostage taking crisis

ABS-CBNnews.com

A Cessna aircraft carrying Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo crashed in the sea off Masbate City Saturday afternoon, according to a Masbate official.

Masbate Vice Governor Vince Revil said the plane carrying Robredo and several others crashed 150 meters away from the Masbate airport.

“Nag-emergency call that they are going to have an emergency landing sa Masbate City Airport pero nag-crash ang plane about 150 meters away from the airport , nag-crash sa dagat,” Revil told “TV Patrol: Weekend.”

Former Abra municipal officer takes on the powerful Luna family

Published by Ellen on September 17, 2011

One brave soul has mustered the courage to bring the powerful Luna family to court.

Bernadine S. Joson, concurrent secretary to the Sangguniang Bayan of Lagayan, Abra

and until recently municipal planning and development coordinator, filed before the Ombudsman charges of plunder, graft and corruption, technical malversation, unethical conduct, and violation of the government procurement reform act against former mayor and congresswoman Cecilia Seares-Luna and her eldest son Jendricks, who is president of the Lagayan Association of Barangay Captains.

Also charged were Mayor Purificacion Blaza Paingan, aunt of Cecilia; Vice Mayor Lara Haya Seares Luna; Marissa G. Donato, relative of the Lunas who is the municipal treasurer; Meno C. Dickenson,municipal accountant and Osborne P. Dolaoen, municipal engineer.

In the complaint, filed with counsels Harry Roque and Romel Bagares of Center Law Philippines, Joson said: “The plunder committed by mother and son take together from the years 2003 to 2010 amounts to total of at least Php133,907,142.”