The new U.S. envoy likes thrills

Once again, Gringo Honasan is leading his pursuers in a merry chase. Latest news last night, relayed, I think, by the head of the Philippine National Police, Arturo Lomibao, was that the mischievous former military colonel and later senator, is (was?) in the Visayas. But he also said that Gringo is very mobile and could be in any other province by this time. He must have very loyal protectors who cannot be tempted to betray him, even for the sum of P5 million that Malacañang is offering as bounty.

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What advice would I give Gringo Honasan if I knew him? I'd probably tell him to get a really trusted friend or relative to turn him in, get the P5 million reward money and use it for his defense. Anyway, what is detention to him? He's been there, you know. And since Holy Week is coming, maybe he could manage a repeat of his Black Saturday Act before when he and his friends disappeared from the Navy boat where they were supposed to be held. I think being in jail would be better, and safer, than being on the run because some stupid pursuer might be thinking that the order for him is shoot-to-kill.

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There is always the chance of encountering hunters with the mentality of the cops who arrested former Social Welfare secretary Dinky Soliman, you see. I listened to an interview with one of those policemen who nabbed Dinky and company and when the interviewer told him that the group did not have banners, placards, microphones or any of the usual paraphernalia of rallyists and protectors, and that there were not so many of them, the police officer said they arrested them because they had the intention to hold a rally. Now it looks as if such cops can read minds already.

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Of course I don't buy that "going for a stroll" claim, either, but can anyone be arrested even if the allegedly intended crime is not yet fait accompli? And the mischievous Dinky is saying she is planning to go strolling at Baywalk again soon. Maybe her next encounter will be with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza who will not like the idea of having his famous promenade disturbed by regular commotions. Dinky et al should think of another caper that will not give the cops or any mayor an excuse to haul them away. Cory Aquino may not be available to join her each time, you know.

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Another former official who might cause the top dispensation to lose their patience is former President Fidel Ramos. He, who had been the staunch defender of GMA during the very dark days following the Hello Garci affair, is now saying things that she may not want to hear. Like his saying - to the media at that - that the so-called stability that the president is touting is only "artificial" and "temporary" and that it "will not withstand extraordinary pressure." I think there may be danger of that happening only if you totally abandon her, sir.

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Meanwhile, the new American ambassador to the Philippines, Kristie Ann Kenney, has arrived in Manila and, from her appearance and statements, seems to be a friendly person with a sunny disposition. First thing she reportedly said upon arrival was "I am absolutely thrilled to be here!" Ah, there will be thrills galore, Ma'am, but whether they will be absolute for you, time will tell. By the way, what did ole Francis Ricciardone, the one with the sunken eyes, tell you about his stint in RP?

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It looks as if the problem about the country's pilots being lured away by foreign airlines is getting the attention it needs already. Well, who can blame the pilots? The airline people themselves have revealed that local companies can only pay them $4,000 to $7,000 a month. On the other hand the competition abroad are dangling some $8,000 to $14,000, also per month. That's double what they are getting, and, if offered to one, would be very hard to refuse. It may even include other perks like housing, transportation, and more benefits, too. I hope we don't get to a point when we will be seeing most of our aircrafts roosting in the airports.

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Who's in, who's out? Only a few weeks ago, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza triumphantly announced that he and his group, obviously with the blessings of Malacañang, had ousted Senate President Frank Drilon as Liberal Party president. Saturday, the news said that Drilon and company had ousted Atienza from the LP. A famous quotation once was "Politics is addition". Now it is "Politics is division, as well as subtraction."*

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