Kabayan becoming fragrant?

Still the flavor of the month, as far as national attention is concerned is the ongoing probe into the scandalous NBN-ZTE deal with China that has come to involve more and more people, the latest of whom are high-ranking police officials. Yesterday, the influential Makati Business Club got into the picture by condemning the deal, and even got to calling for the resignation of Secretary Lito Atienza and Chairman Romy Neri of the Commission on Higher Education.

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But, if you were to ask the newly retired head of the Civil Service Commission, she would have told you that the two officials should really give up those posts, not for any scandalous deals, but for the fact that they are not qualified for their present positions. Atienza, a former mayor and, I understand, a lawyer, is head of the Environment and Natural Resources Department. Neri, an economist, is chairman of the Commission on Higher Education. Does he have any college units in Education at all? And, with his involvement in this ongoing mess, what shining example does he present to the students?

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It looks, however, as if Vice President Noli de Castro, who had previously been considered the main reason why the President could not be impeached or prodded into resigning, has suddenly become “mabango (sweet-smelling)” to some groups. The Makati Business Club, for instance, has announced, through its executive director Albert Lim (not our Albert Lim here), that they are ready to help the Kabayan become a good president. Lim, speaking on TV, said the huge amount supposed to go into the commissions in the ZTE deal would have to be paid by our children and grandchildren for years and years. Careful, careful, Mr. Lim. Somebody in Malacañang might call for your deportation as a “Makatenyong Intsik!”

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And it is not helping Neri's situation that there is also another issue being raised over CHED, which is the setting up of a P500 million call center project. Over the report of the Commission on Audit that the project is also grossly overpriced, CHED officials continue to defend it and insist that it is now a done deal. Does that mean there is no more chance of its being cancelled, like the infamous NBN-ZTE affair? But there are claims that millions of dollars have already been advanced on the transaction, and if that is proven, that is where the charges will focus on later.

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What is this report that the National Bureau of Investigation will investigate the NBN-ZTE affair? This is probably because those involved do not believe the Senate can do an objective investigation. But what about the members of the Senate, especially the Blue Ribbon Committee? Will they accept the findings of the NBI, knowing it is under the office of the Justice Secretary who is perceived to be very protective of the President, and vice versa? Oh, and is there truth to reports that envoys from the Chinese embassy have been visiting the Justice Department and being met behind closed doors?

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A report from Iloilo said that a boy who was operated on by a member of a U.A. medical Mission member on January 30 died during the surgery of hypoxic encephalopathy, or lack of oxygen to the brain, secondary to cardia arrest. This took place at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town. One can only sympathize with the American surgeon who must have come to the country with the best intentions. I understand the boy was harelipped, and the doctor was a plastic surgeon.

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There is good sense in the proposal of a congressman from Baguio to lower the age of criminal liability to the age of 10 years old? Rep. Mauricio Domogan has introduced House Bill No. 3370 that would amend Republic Act No. 9344. The latter is the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act which removes liability for criminal acts from minors. Now we are seeing a lot of crimes committed by minors and there is nothing that can be done to correct or punish them because they are protected by this law, now seen as very unfair and dangerous. Hardened criminal have no qualms about recruiting minors because they can get away with the most serious offenses. Let us see what Congress will do about the Domogan bill.*

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