The Daily Tribune <<< Without Fear or Favor >>>

»HEADLINES

»NATION

All of the above

MR. EXPOSE

Amb. Ernesto Maceda

02/12/2009

What do you call a government that cannot breakup a rice cartel of seven “sisters?” A government that buys P150 fertilizer at P1,500 per bottle? A government that cannot prevent a cartel of three big oil companies creating an LPG shortage? A government that allows and encourages a cartel of contractors to rig biddings for DPWH projects? A government that fails to register 1,300,000 vehicles now running on our roads? A government that cannot protect 500,000 pre-need plan buyers from being divested of hard-earned money? A government that allows 6 million Filipinos to be drug users?

Incompetent? Corrupt? Negligent? Insensitive? Shameful? Syndicated? Shadowy? All of the above!

Happy birthday. The popular Ricardo Cardinal Vidal celebrated his 78th birthday with a mass and lunch at the residence of Lino Hebron, 685 Notre Dame, Wack Wack Subdivision. Among the guests were President GMA, President Erap, Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Sen. Edgardo Angara, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, lawyer Estelito Mendoza, Justice Erlinda Uy of the Court of Tax Appeals, former Secretary Titoy Pardo, former Secretary Vicente Rivera Jr., Donald Dee, Francis Chua and Dr. James Dy.

When GMA arrived from Angeles and Pasay, Erap had left.

It looks like the Vatican is not ready to name Cardinal Vidal’s replacement so he continues as Archbishop of Cebu.

Getting away with high crimes. In the US, banker Bernard Madoff was immediately arrested by FBI for defrauding his investors. Here, banker Celso de los Angeles has not been arrested and has not even been charged by the BSP. In the House of Representatives, he was even defended by several congressmen. And he has the distinction of being the friend of the No. 2 (Vice President De Castro) and No. 4 (Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles) most powerful men in the country.

Former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos has escaped charges in connection with the scandalous Mega Pacific and ZTE deals and is playing golf to his heart’s content. Everyone knows he’s very close to GMA and FG.

That’s the sad reality in this country. No punishment for powerful friends of powerful people.

Big time tax evaders. The Bureau of Customs (BoC) has accused Pilipinas Shell of defrauding the government of P21 billion in excise and VAT taxes and duties by misdeclaring its imports as catalyte crack gas (CCG) its shipments of unleaded gas.

The big three oil companies have previously been charged of illegally using tax credits to pay taxes.

The three oil companies record profits of as much as P12 billion a year. Now it appears they are not paying taxes properly. Is the government so inutile it cannot go after the three big oil companies? They must be paying powerful protectors.

Tidbits. A prominent surgeon told us FG has a thoracic aneurism that is inoperable. He also has a stomach aneurism... Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is back in St. Luke’s after developing an infection after a bariatric (or weight loss) operation on his gastro intestinal tract... Businessman Pepito Alvarez is preparing to run for governor of Palawan... Rep. Neneng Nicolas’ lawyer-daughter Dimples is running for her mother’s 4th district of Bulacan post. Stiff competition will be provided by Linabelle Ruth Villarica, wife of Henry Villarica, owners of the Villarica pawnshop chain... Four dolphins died near the beaches of Pilar and Orion, Bataan. Even our seas are not safe for living animals... Former DoTC Secretary Vicente Rivera Jr. said that the B-747 trip of GMA from Bahrain to Washington, a 15-hour trip, would have cost not P3 million but P8 million... UP Science Prof. Amado Arjeta was accused of hitting a woman QC Hall employee in a road rage incident inside the UP Diliman campus. No chivalry among UP professors?... The NFA admits a shortfall of 340,000 MT of corn for the 1st half of 2009. More importation, more kickbacks... Congratulations to Ayala Land president Jaime Ayala for reporting a 10 percent increase in profit despite the economic meltdown... A woman dried fish vendor at Quiapo, Manila has moved to C-10 Caloocan City. Why? Because Manila City Hall collectors demand a P60 tong daily from her. Petty graft at all levels... Rep. Trisha Bonoan David (Kampi), Manila, 4th district) voted against Cha-cha in the committee hearing... Convicted rapist Daniel Smith has been ordered by the Supreme Court transferred out of the US Embassy to a place under Philippine custody... One of the best universities outside of Metro Manila is the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation in Lucena City, now headed by former Rep. Willie Enverga. President Enverga has expanded its scholarship programs, allocated more funds for faculty development and community extension services. It has an enrollment of 6,000 students... Advance happy birthday greetings to Senate President Johnny Ponce Enrile and Kris Aquino who are celebrating their natal day on Feb. 14...