And now comes Gina

Thank God the texted warnings of an earthquake was a hoax, and that it was exposed fast enough. Although everybody was relieved at the official statements from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology that eased our concern quickly, there is something that it should do, and that is to track down the source of the initial text message, and charge the person involved in court. Can the government not get the help of the National Bureau of Investigation as well as the Department of Transportation and Communication to do this?

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When it was getting very obvious that the health of the late beloved Pope John Paul II was failing, text messages also came out several times announcing that the Holy Father had already died. The messages also turned out to be hoaxes, but the culprits were never located. Surely the DOTC, with the facilities of the NBI, can do this? Let us not allow the texting capacity of cellphones to be used in creating panic. Meanwhile, it was truly a false alarm that the earthquake texters had bandied around, but the national weather bureau, Pagasa, has actually announced that we can expect no less than 20 typhoons this year. So we still have to be on alert.

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But the worst quakes and storms seem to be battering only Malacañang these days, especially with the “revival” of the NBN-ZTE scam. The issue that we thought had been laid to rest already, has suddenly been resurrected with the claims of former Iloilo Congressman Rex Suplico that he has a new witness who will reveal that both the President and her spouse had gone to China on a very, very secret trip five months before the contract for the broadband affair was signed. To the sneers of some solons that his “witness” could be another, well, hoax, Suplico promptly trotted out pictures supposedly taken on the greens of Shenzhen, the place where the ZTE compound is located.

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The story became more intriguing because Malacañang spokespersons initially denied that such trip had taken place. How could it, without their knowledge? But they had to backtrack later when it seemed to be undeniable, there were other pictures presented supposedly taken at the same time, and the same place. Of course the burden of proving that these photos were “doctored” will be on Malacañang, but the public is already beginning to doubt, when admission came. Yes, the President did go to Shenzhen, yes, she was there with the first gentleman, but nobody should put malice into the trip, because it was only a social visit, to play golf and have dinner, you know.

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But the fat now appears to be in the fire with the disclosure of Gina de Venecia, the wife of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia. Questioned by the media, Madam de Venecia promptly admitted that, yes, she knew about the secret trip to China because she and her husband were in Hongkong, she said, when the President called him and invited him over – to Shenzhen, that is. She also said, they hesitated to go since the then Speaker had no Chinese visa, but former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos who, she said was arranging matters, was able to help them go through the very stringent entry requirements. But Mde. de Venecia said she was not allowed into the dinner party, not having been cleared, unlike her husband. So the plot thickens. Whose story is more credible? Abangan ang next version at the Senate.

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In the meantime, the President is not wasting her time on such matters, she is busy mending or setting up the fences that will protect her. Among these are the announcement of 10 percent increases in the salaries of government workers, the increase in the amount of tax exemption for low-income earners, the hints about removing the EVAT on oil products, and, best of all, the signing of a memorandum of agreement that will ensure friendship and amity among the branches of government, the highly beneficial JELAC, or Judiciary Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council. Those look like Bible-inspired moves, remember the steward who cancelled or reduced the accounts of his mater’s debtors when he was about to be fired?

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Meanwhile, one headline yesterday said: “Gov’t to borrow $500 M more in overseas float” while another said: “Gov’t debt P377 T in Feb.” That’s in TRILLIONs and the figures are from February this year.*

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