PNoy puts himself
into a corner

President Benigno Aquino may have put himself into a corner when he announced that DILG undersecretary Rico Puno will vacate his position, which would be given to PNP Chief Nicanor Bartolome.

But he also put himself in a corner when he also stressed that he still trusts Puno, his former shooting buddy, despite the series of suspicious activities the latter is involved in insofar as the procurement of arms and bullets for the PNP.

How can you relieve somebody from office but also express confidence in that person? A strange modus operandi.

Anyway, I suppose the proposed investigation by Sen. Miriam Santiago into Puno’s actuations plus his role as supervisor of the PNP under the DILG set-up may uncover a lot more about him and his role in the suspected anomalies and his extraordinary hold over the president.

Anyway, the best thing we can do is watch for the fireworks from the Santiago Senate probe.

***

Any compromise solution to the problem on the selection of the United Negros Coalition candidate for governor depends primarily on the two protagonists – Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez. But since neither of the two are willing to settle for a compromise bet – La Carlota Mayor Juliet Ferrer – that means the proposed solution is kaput even before it had been brought officially to the attention of either of the contestants for the gubernatorial nomination.

In short, Marañon said he is determined to run for governor while Alvarez insists he is the choice of Nationalist People’s Coalition for the same position.

The congressmen who had attended Thursday’s meeting with the proposal of the mayors of the province are expected to relay their move for a common candidate to former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco.

And, of course, to both Marañon and Alvarez, according to E.B. Magalona Mayor David Albert Lacson, whom the mayors also endorsed as a possible vice gubernatorial bet. But if their proposal is unacceptable, Lacson said, there is nothing more they can do. They had tried their best to prevent a split in the coalition.

Former Gov. Isidro Zayco, now Kabankalan City mayor, also attended the meeting of mayors. He was also offered to run for governor as a common candidate. But Zayco rejected it, pointing out that he had already made up his mind to run for reelection as Kabankalan mayor.

Another suggested name was that of Rep. Alejandro Mirasol (5th District). He also demurred. But Mayor Ferrer accepted the draft with Lacson as her possible running mate.

Since both sides in the contest appear to have drawn up their respective lists of candidates for other positions, it seems that neither is now willing to call for a ceasefire. Instead, it is all systems go.

***

Mike Hinojales, the famed sugar man, disclosed yesterday that he had shown his study on the disparity between the price of crystalline sugar and ethanol-based sugar.

It showed that producers can earn more ethanol. This will be priced at P2,700 as against P2,100.

But why the resistance? we asked Hinojales. He attributed this to the planters’ mindset – they are focused on the prices of LkG for their raw sugar. And they just can’t imagine how they actually would be earning more if they shift to ethanol.

***

If as Atty. Vicente Petierre III said that the new tax code of Bacolod City is in accordance with the 1992 guidelines of the Local Government Code, local business people should not have questioned it before the Department of Justice and the courts.

In short, there is no reason for the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the NDDB to have filed their complaints against the city.*

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