Chiz gets better with age

The last time I wrote about Chiz Escudero was in the 2010 election season, his first attempt in getting a Presidential bid off the ground which never got past Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, chieftain of his party the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

While I branded his efforts then as “stinky”, a play with words with his lactose-inspired nickname, it seems like the Senator from Bicol has mellowed with age, just like good wine and cheese.

 

A more mellow Chiz? Seems so.

It seems that the arrogance of youth that caused so much discord between Chiz and the party has left, and a more circumspect and politically sensitive Senator has developed in these past five years.

Move over #aldub, Pnoy going gaga over #marlen

If I were to go all conspiracy theory over recent political events, I’d definitely believe that Pnoy coldheartedly engineered events that led to Jesse Robredo’s 2012 plane crash to make room for Mar Roxas’ own presidential bid in 2016.

But that would be too nasty even for this little tiyanak.

So let’s just say Pnoy was calculating enough to seize the opportunity presented to him by the circumstance of Jesse’s untimely demise.

Philippines’ corruption riddled property sector

The deals are just too big – from the hundreds of millions to billions of pesos – that the major players cannot help but have a full measure of control over the ventures. And why not? It makes good business sense to make sure all bases are covered. But in almost all these property development megadeals some questions have been raised over extraordinary steps taken to ensure success.

And since they involve such high-caliber brands like Ayala, SM, Megaworld, Filinvest, Rockwell, DMCI and Vista, they are frequently talked about everywhere: in coffee shop guffaws and cocktail whispers of polite society; in election campaign mudslinging and Senate investigations; in online petitions and social media campaigns; in mainstream media and anonymous blogs.

So much property to choose from... chances are, it's already taken. (Photo from propertyfinder.ph)

Yet through the years nothing has gone to court, nobody has gone to jail. All these talks of corruption in big time property development fall in the realm of “know but cannot prove.”

The confluence of interests: Malou Tiquia’s agenda

Is it conflict or confluence of interests? This is the question that pops up when you encounter Malou Tiquia.

Her latest role is host of the television talk show “Agenda” on CNN Philippines. Here she tackles issues and topics on her area of expertise which is politics. And we guess she’s just right for the job because of her extensive exposure to that world, hobnobbing with various congressmen, senators, government officials, advocates, businessmen and anybody else who has had anything to do with engaging the country’s political system.

Tiquia on TV: always an expert

Through all this Tiquia uses her political know-it-all to pontificate about the morality and propriety of politicians’ practices and politically motivated activities, like the final arbiter of what should and shouldn’t be in this politics and showbiz enamored citizenry.

Elections incoming! Launch the racketship!

Time was when “racket” in election season meant lots of noise with TV and radio ads, candidate shows and speeches, parades, motorcades and events with dancing girls and loud music. And that all started with the official start of the campaign period, usually 90 or 60 days before election day depending on the position.

But nowadays, not just months but years before elections the racket starts… not just with noise but rackets with a more nefarious reason: filling up the war chest with much needed finds and beyond – win or lose, they come out on top of piles of moolah.

Sure, there’s putting the squeeze on potential campaign funders, usually a nervous Taipan or two. But as late as last elections – in 2013 – we saw something really nasty: the use of government agencies and contracts to get fat commissions for their campaign kitties.

Somebody in SMC giving Ramon Ang a bad name.

I pity Ramon S. Ang, head honcho of San Miguel Corporation (SMC). He has brought the company to the heights and diversity it’s in today, but it seems some people under him are undermining his successes that they are doing things that are giving RSA a bad name.

Take this whole brouhaha over the EPASS and RFID at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). While it has been made very clear from its moves and statements, SMC is serious in ensuring its toll road projects become real jewels in its infrastructure portfolio. But someone in RSA’s employ keeps screwing around with the business that it just keeps moving them one step forward and two steps back. The worst thing about it? This person isn’t even organic in the organization but a mere consultant for the toll roads project.

We’re talking about Alec Cruz, sibling to Eldon Cruz who is married to Ballsy Aquino Cruz, sister of President Benigno S. Aquino III. Recall that Eldon and Ballsy recently were implicated in a major scandal with Inekon, that Turkish company that was being shaken down for the supply contract of MRT coaches. Well, nothing has been done about the MRT – they’re now running with less trains – and the complaint was lodged by no less than the Turkish Ambassador. But that’s another story.

BSP, MONETARY BOARD RUSHING THE PRINTING OF NEW CURRENCY

 What many of us -- in the media and the private sector -- have been warning about is furtively coming to pass.

Despite the many calls for full disclosure and transparency in their “New Generation Currency Program”, the BSP and the Monetary board are proceeding and rushing the Implementation of the program, with grave consequences with respect to costs and to national sovereignty and secufrity in the printing of the the nation’s money.