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P resident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) continues to believe in the press releases issued by her Rasputins that all is well, fine and dandy with the Philippines. The Arroyo Dispensation touts the Philippines has having one of the “best-performing economies in Asia,” when the truth of the matter is that the Philippine government is bankrupt not only financially but also intellectually. Without the remittances of the Overseas Filipinos, the Philippine ship of state would have sunk a long time ago because of the corruption, the human-rights violations and social cancers that the present national leaders – from Mrs. Arroyo to almost all of the contenders to replace her in the 2010 presidential elections – have failed to address and solve or even minimize. The Philippines actually is governed by moral midgets and delirious dwarfs (pun not intended).
Yes, PGMA, her Cabinet members and her Rasputins – and even almost all of the political opposition (if there is really an opposition) – continue to hallucinate that the Filipino homeland is still the make-believe Pearl of the Orient, that the Filipino people are happy and contented with their leaders, the political system, etceteras, etc. President Arroyo keeps on doing her farce, if not the ultimate travesty, of a government. The Philippines continues with the Moro-moro charades, the Comedia of a Congress, the Czarzuela, starring also the President’s Rasputins, and what not.
* Editor’s Note: Please read again these reports:
The Arroyo “Czarzuela” Is Actually a De-facto Military Junta
The Latest Coup Attempt Was Another Comedia, If Not Part II of a Moro-Moro
The “Moro-Moro” (AKA EDSA-type of a Revolt) Again Is the National Pastime of the Philippines
J ust look at some of the press releases issued today, March 27, 2009, by the Office of the Press Secretary:
* “RP is recognized as one of the best performing economies in Asia”
* “PGMA closely monitoring ICRC hostage crisis, says Secretary Remonde”
* “NPA has its share of killings, human rights violations, says CRS 6 chief”
If Mrs. Arroyo and Company were running a business, they would have long sought the protection of the bankruptcy court or the business would have folded a long time ago. The truth is that the Arroyo Dispensation is that inept not only in economic performance but also it has shown gross incompetence in not being able to prevent visiting Red Cross officials – and businessmen and even social workers – from being kidnapped. And after the kidnapping, the Philippine military-and-police forces – under her command and those of her Rasputins – cannot rescue the hostages. Then instead of practicing zero-tolerance of human-rights abuses, the Arroyo Dispensation justifies its paltry civil-rights record by pointing out that the communist rebels are committing too their own killings and human-rights violations.
* Here are the charades AKA press releases:
"RP is recognized as one of the best performing economies in Asia" (sic)
P ress Secretary Cerge Remonde this morning said that the Philippines is now recognized as one of the best performing economies of Asia, thanks to President Arroyo's economic and fiscal policies.
In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Secretary Remonde cited Business World's report, stating "The peso has outperformed most of the emerging market currencies so far this year and is likely to prove a strong value in 2009 as the Philippine economy is least vulnerable to the factors of hammering markets elsewhere."
Secretary Remonde added that "The Philippines will likely be the only nation in Southeast Asia to post a sharp pick-up on its balance of payment surplus in 2009, partly, the result of loans and privatized proceeds. It's only right that the people know that our country is being recognized as the best performing economy in Southeast Asia despite the global crisis."
Reports said the U.S. is now showing signs of improvement and recovery from the crisis, which Remonde said will augur well for the Philippines and the rest of the world. "There is a saying that goes, 'When America is sick the rest of the world catches a cold.' It is precisely that reason when several of the U.S.'s financial houses collapsed, the entire world faced an economic crisis.
"Thanks to the vision and determination of our president, we are not as badly affected as the rest of the world," Mr. Remonde said.
Under President Arroyo, the Philippines diversified its export market. "The percentage of the country's trade with the United States has already gone down a bit compared to the previous years. We've become less dependent on the U.S. for trade, though they still remain as our major trading partner and a world political and economic leader."
The Press Secretary stressed that President Arroyo has her plate full, focusing mainly on her economic programs, jobs creation and addressing concerns on poverty and hunger. "She has no time to deal with political issues such as charter change," Secretary Remonde said.
He adds that by continuing investment in hunger mitigation programs, the President seems to have succeeded in this area as borne by the Social Weather Station's February survey, showing hunger incidence dipping to only 15.5 percent.
"The President said in her speech yesterday that the government will continue to invest in programs like food for work, food for school as well as in livelihood programs, and will expand to forming partnerships with the church and other faith-based organizations for more similar projects."
Finally, he said that the Department of Public Works and Highways is finishing its construction of a major road project that will link Surigao with Davao. This biggest road project for Mindanao was discussed in the Cabinet meeting in Misamis Oriental, where the President tasked DPWH to work 24/7 to ensure its completion.
He added that the President will inaugurate today the P218 million provincial government complex in Maguindanao, which will house the provincial Capitol, sports and social centers and other government offices. Of the P215 million, P25 million came from the President's Social Fund. She will lead the ribbon cutting to be assisted by ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, the Maguindanao Governor, and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development of ARMM, Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, and other top local officials.
* Editor’s Note: Contrast the Arroyo Dispensation’s economic optimism with the following articles:
An Overseas-Filipino Political Party’s Rx for the "Great Economic Depression" in the Philippines
The Arroyo Dispensation Continues with Its “Irrational Exuberance,” as It Keeps Borrowing More
The Filipino Version of the “Irrational Exuberance”?
Jobs Cannot Be Created by Press Releases Alone
* PGMA closely monitoring ICRC hostage crisis, says Secretary Remonde
P resident Arroyo is closely monitoring the hostage crisis involving three workers of the International Committee on the Red Cross, who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said, "The President is very concerned about the welfare of the hostages."
"Likewise, we are still implementing our policy that the Local Crisis Management Committee should be in charge because they know more about the situation, being local leaders themselves and they know the people in the area," Remonde emphasized.
He adds that Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces will only take the cue from the Local Crisis Management Committee, who will continue to negotiate for the safe release of the hostages. "Foremost is that the LCMC is guided by our policy of ensuring the safety of the hostages," Remonde disclosed.
* NPA has its share of killings, human rights violations, says CRS 6 chief
I loilo City -- Civil Relations chief Lowen Gil Marquez said the New People's Army (NPA) in Region 6 has its own share of killings and human rights violations for which they should be conscious of, as they celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Marquez said the NPAs have been into political killings, extortion, salvaging, forced abduction, as well as killings in their own ranks.
For the period from 2002 to date, CRS records showed that a total of 42 persons have been killed by the NPA, coming from the ranks of AFP, PNP, civilians and their own ranks.
Marquez said that in celebrating their anniversary, they should ask for guidance to the right path instead of following orders of conducting extortion, salvaging, political killings and forced abductions.
The CRS chief also said that the NPA should realize that the real enemy of the people is the Communist Party of the Philippines that is the main brain of human rights violations in the country. # # #
T he above-press releases were issued by
The Philippine Consulate General
3600 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 500Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel. (213) 639-0980/Fax (213)639-0990
Website – www.philippineconsulatela.org
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The Financial Analyst of World Bank would like to inform each and everyone of you that the present currency exchange rate of US Dollar to Peso is actually $1 = 52 pesos.. Your (Arroyo) government is manipulating the exchange rate for some years now. It is very much improbable and impossible that the Philippine Peso is appreciating compare to Euro, British Pound, Rials, and any other foreign currency. Even your ASEAN neighboring countries are suffering from the Global Crisis. Singapore , a developed country is affected by depreciation of their currency what more of your country?
We admire you for your hard work but we also pity you for having such a very corrupt government that is taking advantage of your hard earned money. The ARROYO ADMINISTRATION is blatantly milking each and every OFWs all over the world of billions of pesos for its own greedy, selfish ends. Investigations reveal that this milked money from OFWs will be spent to BRIBE not only PGMA's pet CROCODILES in CONGRESS but some in the SENATE as well for her to PERPETUATE IN POWER BEYOND 2010.. The rest would be deposited to the family's SECRET ACCOUNT in Switzerland.
Another money-making scheme is the LOTTERY DRAWS. Filipinos should be aware that all LOTTO DRAWS are orchestrated, and big money goes to the two sons of the lady president. Recent example is the SUPER LOTTO 6/49 draw, where supposedly two individuals from Luzon won. Do you know WHO these individuals are? It's Mikey and Datu, who else? One might ask how could the draw be rigged when it is being televised in front of millions of viewers. The answer is simple. As you all know, all bet combinations are being entered into PCSO's main data base as it is on-line, therefore, it is easy to determine which combinations were NOT betted upon. If they want to raise big money, no winners will be declared until the JACKPOT reaches sky-high because they could dictate the outcome at will. When it's "HARVEST TIME", voila, there would be "winner or winners" and the process repeats all over again. One might ask how this is being done. One insider told our investigators that actually the "DRAWN BALLS", six balls to be exact, are the only set which could fit into the transparent tube which sucks the balls up. All others are slightly bigger than the diameter of the tube which could not be distinguished by the viewers, therefore, there's no way they could be drawn!
You Filipinos are being skinned alive, fried in your own fat and lard by your own government. Do you ever wonder why president-elect BARACK OBAMA, avoids your President like a stinking leper?
(As circulated online in many e-groups)
Office of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.
Senate, Pasay City
Press Release
Date: March 28, 2009 Ref: Omeng /(02) 5526733
http://www.nenepimentel.org
Pimentel slams ‘brazen’ Taguig kidnapping
Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. yesterday slammed local government and police officials of Taguig City over the “brazen” March 19 kidnapping of two boys in broad daylight at a checkpoint on C-5 road.
“This is very disturbing and it doesn’t speak well of the law and order prevailing in the city,” said Pimentel, who stressed the Senate may call an investigation into the incident.
“How can people feel safe in Taguig when, as it turned out, you can be kidnapped there by people dressed as police officers. The brazenness of the kidnapping undertaken at 7 o’clock in the morning on a busy highway is matched only by the ineptness of officials charged to foil or go after them.”
Senator Pimentel said that the incident makes a mockery of the well-publicized anti-crime efforts of Taguig City Mayor Sigfredo Tinga, which include the installation of closed circuit cameras in the city.
He stressed that Tinga cannot sell the city to investors as a center of business and commerce if its local government and police officials are seen as helpless in fighting criminality.
Pimentel noted reports that Taguig is also grappling with a very serious drug problem.
“Reports reaching my office tended to show that the police was practically caught napping, so much so that details about the abduction were not known to its operatives.”
“The use of police uniforms and checkpoint by the abductors was a slap in the face of law enforcers and Taguig City officials,” he said.
While mayors may not have operational control over the police in their respective cities or municipalities, Pimentel said that they are ultimately responsible for everything that happens in their jurisdiction.
The vehicle of the two boys residing in Alabang was flagged down by the kidnappers at the checkpoint, after which it was commandeered by the abductors.
The boys were released after payment of a P1.5 million ransom, according to a police source. Their vehicle was recovered intact in Quezon City.
The kidnap victims were traumatized, said their father on collecting the vehicle from the Quezon City police.
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