MikeLigalig.com

MR. EXPOSE
Amb. Ernesto Maceda

02/04/2009

Neda Secretary Ralph Recto has confirmed that P50 billion of the proposed stimulus package will be sourced from government financial institutions (GFIs), principally SSS and GSIS.

The misuse of trust funds of GFIs has occurred only under GMA. Recall that GSIS lent P1 billion to construct the anomalously expensive Diosdado Macapagal boulevard. Has it been repaid?

Sen. Nene Pimentel warns SSS president Romulo Neri that he could be charged criminally with malversation of SSS trust funds if he continues with the plan to release P12.5 billion of SSS funds for GMA�s economic stimulus program. The government is due to record a P200 billion deficit and is therefore, a bad debtor.

If the GSIS, SSS and other GFIs want to help stimulate the economy, the proper thing to do is to increase that loan ceilings dividend and the pensions of its members.

When Romulo Neri was suddenly appointed president of SSS, SSS employees expressed alarm that SSS funds might be misused. Those fears have now been justified.

It is right for GSIS and SSS employees and members to demand more transparency in the use of their funds. The same is true for other GFIs and government owned and controlled corporations. One top executive of a GFI spends P1 million a month in representation and miscellaneous expenses. Unbelievable but true.

Inutile. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile called the SEC inutile. Legacy owner, Celso de los Angeles charged that BSP officials were harassing him. He admitted selling double your money bank paper. He confirmed that Speaker Prospero Nograles invested a whopping P20 million in Legacy. He admitted he was appointed the National Home Mortgage Corp. as chairman upon recommendation of Housing Czar, Vice President Noli de Castro.

De los Angeles also confirmed that the reserve fund of Legacy Consolidated Plans is only at 33 percent, part of it in a Mastercard franchise.

The BSP now says there is enough basis to charge De los Angeles for violation of banking laws. Yes, he will be charged but with his connections to the No. 2 and No. 4 men in government, he will probably escape prison.

In the meantime, 50,000 Legacy plan holders will join 300,000 plan holders of CAP and Pacific Plans in losing their money.

Senate President Johnny Ponce Enrile is correct. The SEC is inutile. Add to that, the BSP, the DoF and the GMA administration are inutile.

Well respected before appointment as SEC Chairman, Fe Barin should make an honorable exit by resigning when she admitted to the Senate that 400 SEC employees cannot supervise 60 pre-need companies. She�s inutile.

Meanwhile, GMA is enjoying herself in Switzerland, Italy, Bahrain and now is on her way to Washington. Insensitive.

Bad move. The decision to relieve Assistant Secretary Alberto Suansing as LTO head and replace him with Gen. Arturo Lomibao (ret.) is definitely not a good move.

Bert Suansing has been doing a good job in reducing corruption at LTO. Why is he being eased out? Is it because he has stepped on some powerful toes? Suansing doesn�t need a government job. He should get out of the government as a matter of self respect. Reject the LTFRB position, Bert. It�s a no win situation.

The other aspect of this musical chair is the kick up of LTFRB chairman, Tom Lantion to be undersecretary of DoTC. There has been a lot of talk of corruption at LTFRB which started during the time of Undersecretary Elena Bautista who was also kicked up. But truth to tell, LTFRB has been a center of corruption for the last 50 years. It is clear now that appointing a retired general to money making agency does not assure cleanup and reform. On the contrary, it is the other way around.

The Lantion case is another one in a long time of GMA actions to kick up erring generals instead of firing them outright. That�s one big reason our country has been named the most corrupt country in Asia.

Angry people. Mico Esquivel, son of MMDA executive Roberto Esquivel, suffered five gunshot wounds in an ambush in San Pedro, Laguna but he is still alive. It is his driver, Johnny Abgay, who was killed. An urban liquidation squad named Partisano claimed responsibility for the ambush, even saying Bobby Esquivel has committed crimes against the people for which he should be executed. At a time when thousands of people are losing jobs and impoverished, turning to be street vendors is the only alternative. There should be a relaxation of strict regulation against street vendors. MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim should pull back on their �remove the vendors policy.� After all, they also pay license fees to the nearby market masters. Even in New York and Hong Kong you see vendors in the streets.

One big sin of Bayani Fernando and Roberto Esquivel is the unnecessary confiscation of the bilaos and carts of vendors. That�s tantamount to stealing because MMDA employees appropriated the goods for themselves. The vendors are very angry because of these confiscations.

In these times of extreme economic crisis, live and let live and do not drive the hungry Filipino to desperation and a desire to kill.

Not here. Tom Daschle, a former Senate Majority leader, now up for confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary is being questioned for the use of a car and driver lent by a friend for three years without declaring it as part of his income and paying taxes. In our Commission on Appointments, no one has been seriously questioned on his tax returns. GMA�s Cabinet members, GFI executives and generals should release their tax returns and Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Many of them have been gifted with expensive cars from businessmen. Cement, steel bars, narra wood and furniture for their new houses are also donated to them. Ask Ramon Ang of Northern Cement.

Tidbits. Neda Secretary Ralph Recto projects a job loss of 800,000 jobs, almost triple the 300,000 projected by DoLE Secretary Marianito Roque... Fake anti-diabetes drugs have caused deaths in China... The Chief of Police of Bansalan, Davao del Sur, Insp. Emelex Mabalor, PO3 Ruel Sales and PO3 Bernie Luis Homal, were killed in an NPA ambush in Barangay Managa... The NPAs also killed SPO2 Nelson Encinares in an ambush in Irosin, Sorsogon... NPA rebels killed PFC Hobert Pareja and wounded 2 other soldiers in an ambush in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija... The NPAs burned a passenger bus in Calabanga, Camarines Sur for failure to pay �revolutionary tax...� Yes, the NPAs are attacking all over the country...


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