Cheers! Officials are responding

Cheers to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Because of pressure from the public, she suspended the 11 foreign aided projects.

Cheers also to Mayor Bing Leonardia for ordering an investigation of a purchase of 10 units of dump trucks costing some P895,000 each. And pending investigation the award was recalled.

This is now the result of public clamor against alleged irregularities in the procurement process by government.

I ask our Bishop Vicente Navarra who is very well respected, please put on the pressure. Don't give it a let-up. People easily forget.

I also ask my fellow media people, let's put on the pressure also. Let us not stop the pressure on the President. What CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said will be remembered in the history books. He said something like the leader installed by Edsa Dos is corrupt.

Edsa Dos was People Power to drive then President Joseph Estrada out of office because of corruption. And he is replaced by one who is perceived to be more corrupt. How can GMA reverse that?

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The 11 projects financed by the Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans run to many billions of pesos. Imagine, if the commission or kickback in these 11 projects is in the magnitude at the rate of the NBN deal as revealed in the Senate investigation, you can just imagine the money stolen from us.

But even if the rate of commission or kickback is only what they called “normal” at 20 percent, it is still big.

Here are the big ones: Cyber Education project at P103.48 billion; the P5.98 billion north extension of the Light Rail Transit; the P27.32 billion LRT line extension to Baco-or, the P10.33 billion LRT line to Masinag, Antipolo….

There are many more. But I only limit myself to the billions. The P2.64 billion communications, navigation, and air traffic management system; the P1.32 billion for the extension of the health program and many more…

In the Transparency Procurement Group set up by the President, all multi-lateral lending agencies should sit down and come up with a uniform basic framework.

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The President is on the right track. But who will check them? The group is called the Procurement Transparency Group but how transparent is it?

Can we be sure there's no monkey business there?

People cannot help being suspicious because of what have happened. The common question, can we trust them? The answer is in the hands of the President.

That is why there must be no let-up. Let's put on the pressure, Bishop Navarra calls on the public for a rally on Monday. Join it and be counted.

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The problem is not just in Manila . We are happy in Bacolod , we are blessed by the political rivalry between the Congressman and the Mayor. Each is watching each other. Sorry for places where there is only one political kingpin and no opposition. Nobody blows the whistle.

Every step of the Mayor at City Hall is being watched. And every route of the Congressman is also trailed. The problem is the courts. The Ombudsman is slow.

The 2010 election will see exposes of alleged anomalies. This is good.

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I met yesterday at Plaza Mart the legendary Nap Cordova, 81. As usual Nap was in his jovial self, greeting you with Happy Birthday, Happy Valentine… I told a friend Andy Verzosa, Nap is an exemplary public official. He has been councilor ever since I can remember. He always won, never for once did he lose.

And more important, never for once was his name involved in a shady transaction. His only weakness, Andy said, is chicks. Which Nap readily admitted. He has a good heart.

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Our friend Edmund Aspero told me yesterday, he was sent many threatening texts on his life. I told him these might be just friends playing a joke on him. Envious media friends?

But when he sent me the texts, I said he should be congratulated. That means he is effective. He is listened to. Threats are a part of a media man's life.

I don't think they will strike at Edmund. Or they make a hero out of him. He is fair. They are just testing his mettle. And to me, Edmund Aspero is fair.

I forgot to tell Edmund to get an insurance. See, my friend, Monet Kilayko because I will meet him today. Not for my insurance because no insurance will accept me any more.

Sleep well, Edmund. Nothing to worry.*

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