BIAZON'S SIDE, MY TAKE

In the interest of fair play, here is Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon’s side on the rampant smuggling of rice and oil, from a story in the manilastandardtoday.com website:

In a press conference, Biazon said if reports that P32 billion worth of agricultural and P30 billion worth of petroleum products were smuggled into the country in 2012 alone were true, “then the World Customs Organization (WCO) would not have invited me to speak (in Panama where he had come from).

My take:  Of course, he will be invited since he is the Customs chief. The WCO is NOT STUPID to invite the Finance secretary, Biazon’s boss, or the secretary of any other department like Justice, to speak on Customs matters.

Biazon questioned the P32-billion computation of Abono chairman and Swine Development Council Director Rosendo So, BASED ON CUSTOMS RECORDS,”  on the rice, chicken, onions and other agricultural produce which were illegally brought into the country, describing the issue as “not that simple.”

My take: Biazon DID NOT CITE ANY BASIS, like formulas or more accurate Customs records, for his doubt on So’s figures. Neither did he give his own estimate of the amount involved.

Biazon said the WCO recognized the Philippines’ efforts to fight smuggling.

My take: He DID NOT PRESENT any written recognition, nor revealed exactly what iit purportedly said.

Biazon said “we’re exerting all efforts to fight smuggling.”

My take:  He DID NT SPECIFY the supposed efforts. He did not give any idea what’s it all about, when was it started, who conceived it and what’s the success rate, if any.

Biazon said measures were being undertaken to curb oil smuggling.

My take: What exactly are these measures? When were these started? More importantly, how come oil smuggling is at a staggering P40 billion a year if there are indeed measures to fight it?

Biazon said Customs was in close coordination with the Finance Department on how to limit the importation of petroleum to specific ports for easier tracking.

My take: Biazon has been Customs commissioner for more than two years. And yet,, HE’S STILL IN THE COORDINATION PHASE for a new strategy to control oil smuggling.

WHAT THE HELL then has he been doing about it since he took office? Has he ever done anything? If yes what? If no, why not?

Biazon said unnamed groups, with an alias Mr. G as the brains, was working to oust him. But he did not give details.

My take: LUMANG GIMMICK  na iyan.

Mga kababayan, kayo na ang humatol! 30

BULAG ANG GOBYERNO SA BIG-TIME SMUGGLING!

The DESPICABLE, STOMACH-TURNING reality about the P32 billion worth of rice, onions, meat and poultry products and P30 billion worth of petroleum products which have so far been smuggled into the country is not just the illegality of the act or the amounts of the contraband.

Ang nakakakilabot na KATOTOHANAN ay HINDI ITO PINANSIN ng Gobyernong Aquino. NAGBULAG-BULAGAN ang pamahal;aan sa ganito KALAKING KAWALANGHIYAAN.

Citing records from no less than the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Abono chairman and Swine Development Council Director Rosendo So was quoted in news reports as saying:

“In 2012 alone, the total volume of smuggled agricultural products amounted to P32 billion. As much as 600,000 metric tons of rice worth P10 billion, smuggled chicken and pork products reached P8 billion, fish and aquatic products at P3.8 billion, sugar at P4.8 billion, and onion and other vegetables at P3.5 billion.”

Ibig sabihin, alam ito ng  BOC.

Before I wrote this piece, I browsed the websites of various media outfits and the BOC has yet to deny So’s figures. And take note, people, So’s figures were only for last year.  We’re now into the fourth month of the current year.

Ngayon, isipin ninyo ito, mga kababayan:

Has PNoy, or Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, ever RELIEVED or SUSPENDED anybody over smuggling? Has any big-time smuggler been arrested and charged?  Even one?

Ako, walang alam. Kung meron man, pahingi ng detalye at ilalabas ko agad.

So said local farmers submitted a manifesto to President Aquino’s more than a month ago to ask for immediate measures to curb rice smuggling. But the UNLAWFUL ENTRY of rice continues.

Hindi na PAGBUBULAG-BULAGAN lang ito. PAGBIBINGI-BINGIHAN PA!

Similarly, on oil smuggling:

Have you ever heard of even one measure which was being undertaken to minimize, if not solve the problem?

Has the Aquino Government investigated even one oil company, or any of its officials? Any government official assigned to the oil industry? Or even one shipping firm, oil trader or any other related entity or personality?

Have you ever heard PNoy, or any Malacanang official, call for or propose a congressional inquiry into oil smuggling?

Again, ako walang alam.

At kung sasabihin ng Malacanang, o ng BOC, na wala silang impormasyon mula’t sapul tungkol sa lahat ng ito, PINAKAMAKAPAL na ang PAGMUMUKHA nila sa LAHAT NG TAO SA BUONG MUNDO.

Kung may kokontra, sigurihin lang na may detalye at ilalabas ko. Verifiable details lang ang puwede. 30

LOVE SPA SAMPLE BLOG

Another sample  blog and comments from readers of my e-book, LOVE SPA, a compilation of 51  blogs on various topics on love which I had written more than a year ago. It's P50 per download for locals and US$2 for those abroad, payable with your credit card, pay pal or through western union.  please go to the LOVE Spa logo in my website, boyetantoniojr.com thanks, guys.

ANJA BASCO of Quezon City

Madaling intindihin, nakaka-relate ako. Very informative. 

TONY ESGUERRA, of San Francisco, California, USA, former circulation manager of the Journal Group of Publications:

A very timely reading material from a knowledgeable source. It is not only enjoyable but also informative..

11 SIGNS YOUR BOYFRIEND REALLY LOVES YOU

Hey girls, here’s how you can tell if your boyfriend really loves you. Guys, you can pass this on to your daughters, sisters, relatives and friends.

He continues to be as caring and concerned as the day he started courting you.

If he wants a date but you have to finish something for the office or for school, he won’t insist and will instead volunteer to help in any way he could.

Even if the two of you haven’t gone out for quite a while.

Whenever you have a problem, at home or at the office, HE DOESN’T DISAPPEAR and is with you ALL THE WAY until it is solved.

He is as worried as you are if there is a sick or problematic member of your family. Not just verbally but through action, like accompanying you and the sick to the doctor or in helping you think of and find solutions to the problem.

Unless he’ll be tied down to work or other circumstances beyond his control, he sees to it that he brings you home nightly, especially if the weather’s terrible or you’ll finish late at school or at work.

He is as sweet as ever with you.

He still opens doors for you, pulls your chair whenever you dine out, goes out of the car or the cab first and takes your hand as you follow and patiently waits for you and doesn’t eat ahead if you arrive late.

He calls or gets in touch with you as often as usual if he's on an out-of-town assignment.

He speaks his mind out when he thinks you’re wrong, not just about your relationship but with anything else. This means he really loves you because he wants you to be a better person.

And he never humiliates you in front of anybody whenever you’re at fault.

Most of all, as the message of an old song goes, he loves you for what you are, not for what he intends or hopes you to be. 30

MAY POLLS' CREDIBILITY HIGHLY DOUBTFUL

The CREDIBILITY of the May elections has just been PLACED IN VERY SERIOUS DOUBT by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

And for that matter, the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

A story in tribune.net.ph quoted Vakte as saying that “we have already been told, we were given advance information, that the Comelec does concur with the position of the  Office of the President  that (the appointment of two Comelec commissioners) is not covered by the March 29 appointments ban.” .

But Valte DID NOT CITE any law as their basis.

If the Comelec gave an advancer to Malacanang, we HAVE NO GUARANTEE that it will not transmit any other sensitive information to PNoy which can be helpful to PNoy’s candidates in the May polls.

Sensitive data like technical details and secrets of the PCOS machines, location plans or technical descriptions of voting precincts in selected areas (if not nationwide) and the poll body’s feedback from the field on the true sentiments of the people.

For all we know, these data may have already been transmittedto Malacanang.

If the Comelec will help or support PNoy this early, we have no assurance that it will not help Team PNoy senatorial bets and local lLP candidates come Election Day.

Sariling tao na nila ang ihahabol sa Comelec, may advanced information pa. What CLEAN and IMPARTIAL POLLS can we expect now?

May mas KAKAPAL PA BANG MGA PAGMUMUKHA, mga kababayan?

Sa mga kokontra na hindi pa rin PAKAPALAN  NG MUKHA ang gusto ni PNoy, isipin ninyo ito:

When he was running for president in 2010, PNoy repeated like a broken CD that the appointment of then Supreme Court Associate Justice Renato Corona as Chief Justice by then President Gloria Arroyo was unconstitutional since the election ban was in effect.

When he won, PNoy still refused to recognize Corona as Chief Justice despite a Supreme Court decision that the appointment was legal and valid.

Pag kalaban niya, BAWAL. Pero PAG GUSTO NIYA, DAPAT PUWEDE.

WATCH OUT on Election Day, people. And from now on, keep your eyes WIDE OPEN  to EVERYTHING related to the polls.

***

From our readers:

DON’T BE FOOLED BY SWS, PULSE ASIA, AGAIN

AMOR DELA TORRE 

It's about time na ibasura na ang mapanlinlang na grupong dilaw na Ito. Bayaran ang mga survey kuno na yan!

YVES UY 

Sinungaling Walang Survey! -SWS

CATHERINE ORTIZ LIMPO 

Kasi dito sa Pinas,  laging April Fools’  Day!  

LUIS JOEL CALAUSTRO 

False Asia

NONET S. SORIANO 

A very good insight. Let's just treat these surveys as one of those corny jokes of BS for April Fools Day.

MAJEED AL-HAKIM 

Tanong ninyo lang din sa mga sarili ninyo kung nakasalubong na ba kayo ng mga taong nasurvey. Kasi, hanggang ngayon, wala pa akong nakilala sa personal, sa FB o sa kung ano mang social networking site na nasurvey na.

TEDDY DIAZ LACSON 

False Asia.....

REDYI M KAHUKOM 

Yes, it is up to us. (That is) if not many of us have been already influenced by these surveys and they have the control over the PCOS machines. So what is the use of voting? Isnt it just a waste of time and effort?

ALEX ANDERSON 

Sobrang Walang Kwentang Survery at False Asia ba naman nagsama. Huwag panalunin ang Team PNoy!

BENJAMIN SARIGUMBA 

False Asia dapat to, hindii Pulse Asia

VICTOR EMMANUEL SEVILLA 

Desperate.

ALEX RODIL 

Very well said. Hope all Pinoys are listening !

REUBEN J. GULLE 

Amen.

HENRY JAMES MALLARI GALVIZO 

Talagang mauuna yan, daming pera/gimmicks.

NO GUARANTEE OF PINOYS' SAFETY IN SOUTH KOREA

DON’T REST ASSURED of the safety of our kababayans in South Korea even if  the PNoy Government  says contingency plans for  any eventuality are ready. 

I  browsed the news websites before I wrote this piece and all that the government has bared up to now are exit points for our countrymen should their evacuation be necessary.

Take note, guys:

The government  CAN’T GUARANTEE that there are ENOUGH VEHICLES and escape routes for our countrymen, which is estimated at 40,000 to 50,000  plus.

Isipin ninyo,mga kabaayan: ILANG DAANG SASAKYAN  ang kailangan para MABILIS NA MAILIKAS  ang ganong karaming kababayan  natin? Walang sinabi  ang gobyerno na mayroon nang pagkukunan ng mga ito, at mayroon nang pondo para dito.

Alangan namang MAGLAKAD O TUMAKBO lang ang mga kababayan natin papunta sa exit points habang nagkakaputukan na.

Once they reach the exit points, are there ready shelters for our countrymen to keep them safe from gunfire or explosions and other deadly features in the battlefield? If there are, how many? ‘

If none, why and when does the government intend to have some?

North Korea has threatened to use nuclear weapons against South Korea in the event of hostilities. Malacanang claimed in news stories that the government is ready evenfor a nuclear fallout. Really now?

HOW MUCH ANTI-RADIATION medicines are on standby, both in the Philippine Embassy in South Korea and here at home?

How much anti-radiation protective gear are available? Are there nuclear shelters ready? If yes, where and how many? If the government will say “NONE,’ WHAT READINESS  are they talking about?’

Kayo na ang sumagot,mga kababayan: MAPAPANATAG BA KAYO sa mga kababayan natin sa South Korea sa salita lamang ng  gobyerno ni PNoy? 30

PROBE PNOY, DOE OFFICIALS FOR MIINDANAO POWER CRISIS

A story in manilastandardtoday.com said no less than the Mindanao Legislators’ Committee (MLC) has revealed that eight-hour blackouts were continuing daily in Mindanao despite power conservation efforts by residents.

This calls for NOTHING LESS than a no-holds barred probe of PNOY HIMSELF, despite his being Chief Executive, and ALL of his power or energy officials.

PNoy had better have a ROCK-SOLID justification as to why the Mindanao power crisis is worsening instead of improving after almost three years of being President.

Malacanang had better have proof that PNoy is, and has always been,  on top of the Mindanao power crisis.

There had better be WRITTEN ORDERS, DIRECTIVES or ACTIONS taken by PNoy on how to address the problem, the moment he became president and not just  now that the crisis is worsening.

Any problem or crisis WOULD NOT WORSEN if it would be attended to immediately. So PNoy and his boys owe the people, especially Mindanaons, an explanation of the following:

HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE to even ease the power crisis in Mindanao since Pnoy assumed the presidency? What, if any, when  and how long did it take to do it?  Was the work period reasonable or too long?

The MLC said Mindanao has a power shortage of 294 megawatts. Meaning, national and local government facilities are NOT PRODUCING enough electricity.

WHAT EXACTLY is the problems (s)? Are solutions being implemented? If yes, what? If no, why not? What’s’ the reason (s) behind the huge shortage, and who should be held responsible?

Earlier reports had said that the government is planning to build diesel or bunker fuel fired plants to augment the power supply in Mindanao.

HALOS TATLONG TAON nang presiIdente si PNoy, PLANO pa rin hanggang ngayon?  HANGGANG KAILAN manantiling plano ito, 2016” Kung makakatulong ito, BAKIT HINDI naipatupad? Nasimulan man lang ba ang balak na ito?

Let’s see now who among our senators and congressmen are truly PRO-PEOPLE and will immediately call for a thorough probe of the Mindanao power crisis, whether or not they’re  candidates in the May polls.

Sa mga kapatid natin sa Mindanao: ANG HINDI KUMIBO, WALANG KARAPATN sa boto ninyo sa eleksiyon.

At ngayon pa lamang, magtabi na kayo ng LAHAT NG FLASHLIGHTS, KANDILA at iba pang makapagbibigay ng liwanag para sa araw ng halalan, lalo pa sa BILANGAN ng mga  boto.30

AGAIN, DON'T BE FOOLED BY SWS, PULSE ASIA

More than ever, DON’T BE FOOLED by surveys saying Team PNoy candidates are way ahead of UNA bets in the senatorial race.

And let me say outright, I DON’T WORK for UNA or any of its candidates senatorial or local. Anybody can verify this anytime, anywhere and with anybody.  I work for myself, and against the MIND-CONDITIONING efforts of surveys meant to DECEIVE the undecided or the gullible.

Just more than a onth before the May elections, NOT A SINGLE, BIG group or sector has OPENLY/PUBLICLY expressed all-out support for all, or most of, the Team PNoy candidates.

Not the Church, both Catholic and non-Catholic.

None from the labor, youth or business sector, our kababayans overseas,  urban and rural, civil society, professionals, none. Up to now, NOBODY has given even a drop credibility or semblance of truth to surveys showing Team PNoy bets are leading by as much as 8-4.

Not even the Black and White Movement, of which Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda is a ranking member on-leave.

Anybody correct me if I’m wrong.

It’s only Pulse Asia and SWS, along with Malacanang and Team PNoy  officials and handlers who consistently claim that Team PNoy is way ahead of the senatorial race.

As we have all been seeing, the supposed surveys of Team PNoy’s lead are ENTIRELY GENERIC. Nothing specific – the provinces or cities or towns covered, the sectors wherein the respondents belong to or even a sampling of the names and locations of the respondents.

Kaya’t ang tanong: SAAN KINUHA NG PULSE ASIA o SWS ang resulta ng survey kuno nag nagpapakitang lamang na lamang ang Team PNoy senatorial candidates?

KAHIT AKO, O SINUMAN SA ATIN, ay puwedeng gumawa ng sariling press release ng survey kuno na ginawa natin at naglalaman ng anumang numerong maisipan natin bilang resulta.

To convince yourself that these self-serving surveys are nothIng but BRAINWASHING, try this:

Form a group with your friends and CONDUCT YOUR OWN SURVEY.  The more, the better.

Ask your family members, friends and relatives, or even business associates and mere acquaintances, whom they will vote for senators. If you have the means or can afford it, shoot videos of your respondents as proof of authenticity.

Then, combine your results and judge for yourselves.

Hindi porke sinabi ng SWS o Pulse Asia ay iyun na ang pambansang katotohanan. Hindi rin ibig sabihin na kung sinuman ang sabihin nilang lamang, iyun ang dapat nating iboto.

It’s US WHO WILL, AND MUST DICTATE, our political future after the May elections. NOT, AND SHOULD NEVER BE, SWS or Pulse Asia. 30

PATI DIYOS, GINAGAMIT NA NI PNOY PUMOGI LANG

A story in abs-cbnnews.com quoted PNoy as saying like the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the country is starting to rise. 

PATI DIYOS, GINAGAMIT na ni PNoy MAKAPAGYABANG at MAGMUKHANG ‘POGI O MAGALING ‘ lang sa Sambayanan. Anong klaseng konsiensiya meron ang taong ito?

PNoy said: "Batid ng sinumang may malinaw na kaisipan na tulad ng pagbangon ni Hesukristo, bumabangon na rin ang ating bayan. Nagawa nating buhatin sa landas ng kaunlaran ang ating bansa.”

Kayo na ang sumagot, mga kababayan: BUMABA na ba, at patuloy bang bumababa, ang halaga  ng pagkain, gasoline, kuryente at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan?

Mas marami ba kayong nabibili ngayon sa inyong kinikita kung ikukumpara noong bago maging presidente si PNoy?”

Has your salary increased? Has it ever been increased since PNoy became president? Is it continuously being raised because of the supposed economic progress PNoy is BOASTING OF?

Is it easier now to find a job than before? To buy a car or your own home, or secure credit or financing for it?

Ilan, kung mayroon man, ang alam ninyong BAGONG KALSADA, PIER, AIRPORT, o iba pang kahalintulad  na  proyekto na nasimulan o natapos nasa ilalim ng administrasyon ni PNoy. At hindi nasimulan noong nakaraang administrasyon, o mas maaga pa?

Mga proyektong PERA NG BAYAN, MGA BUWIS NATIN, ang ginamiit ha, hindi PAUTANG ng  ibang bansa?

Kung ang sagot ninyo sa mga tanong na ito ay HINDI o wala, anong kaunlaran ang sinasabi ni PNoy? Anong magandang bhay ang dapat nating asahan sa ilalim ng gobyerno niya?

Pnoy said before, Filipinos had to go overseas to work but now, “nagsisibalikan na sila dito dahil ramdam nila ang pagdagsa ng pagkakataon at ang kakaibang kumpyansa sa ating ekonomiya."

With more than two million of our countrymen JOBLESS  as latest reports show, NABABALIW ang sinumang OFW na babalik para dito na magtrabaho.

If PNoy is not LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH, let him or his boys present statistics – numbers, names, countries from where they came from –of supposed OFWs who have returned home to work.

Kapag wala silang maipapakitang detalye, bukod sa SINUNGALING ay WALA NA SILANG KONSIYENSIYA para sabihin man lang ito.

PNoy said: "…ngayon, tinutulungan natin ang mahigit 3,800,000 kabahayang benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (or conditional cash transfer or CCT).”

It is an INDISPUTABLE FACT that the CCT was an IDEA of, and STARTED by, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. NOT PNOY, or any of his people. That simply means the CCT ALREADY HAD BENEFICIARIES when he became president.

Kung ilan man ang inabutan niyang beneficiary, NADAGDAGAN NA LAMANG niya. HINDI LAHAT nung sinasabi niyang 3,800,000 (na hanggang ngayon ay WALA ni isang dokumento na makapagpapatunay na tutoo ito) ay sa administrasyon na lamang niya natulungan.  

PNoy said:  ”…ngayon inaasahan ng mabura ang 66,800 backlog sa silid aralan bago matapos ang 2013."

But HE DID NOT CITE how many classrooms have indeed been built, or are being built. And since he said before 2013 ends, that can be up to Dec. 31 or God knows when. 

Kaya WALA pa ring katiyakan kung kalian matatapos ang pagdurusa ng mga batang estudyante.

DELIKADO NA TAYO, MGA KABABAYAN. 30