To the credit of GSIS chief Winston Garcia and his staff, many of the complaints raised in this space have been addressed and resolved. But what about those thousands of others with similar problems who are unable to reach me for lack of awareness or means? Will they have to wait till Kingdom Come for their problems to be addressed by GSIS?

I suggest that instead of wasting time and money filing, and threatening to file, libel charges against journalists, Garcia concentrate on resolving the multifarious problems of the pension fund members who are paying his huge salary and allowances.

***

I received a press release from the office of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on a subject that is of vital importance to our citizens as it directly affects their lives.

Enrile is seeking a Senate investigation of oil prices that oil companies have been inflicting on the people with impunity. I hope his colleagues in that chamber will support him.

Enrile noted that "the prices of oil and other energy products in the Philippines have not kept pace with the drop in prices of those products in the world market."

"It is my opinion that the proper management of the price of oil is the one key to our economic well-being. If this problem is left unresolved, it may mean more belt-tightening – something that our people may no longer be able to bear," Enrile told the Senate.

He said that last July, when oil prices were at its peak, oil companies purchased crude oil at P6,244 per barrel which, based on foreign exchange rate of P44.60 to $1, was equal to $140. Now, it sells at P2,657 per barrel which, based on foreign exchange rate of P48.30 to $1, is equal to $54.51.

He cited Singapore where diesel and regular fuel oil prices have dropped by 56 percent and 63 percent, respectively, whereas here, prices dropped by a mere 31 percent and 26 percent.

"What prevents the big oil companies from implementing significant cuts in the prices of their fuel and petroleum products and achieve price levels that are more reasonably in accordance with the drop in the global fuel price reductions?" Enrile asked.

Enrile pointed out that from its peak in July, Dubai crude went down by 61 percent or at US$55 per barrel by the end of October. During the first 10 days of this month, it was US$57 per barrel. Although local prices went down, it did not go down fast enough nor did it go down as low as one would expect.

"The sectors most affected by these unexplained discrepancies and the public in general deserve no less than transparency from the oil companies and our government agencies, policy makers and implementers. More than that, they need to see solutions and it is our duty as their representatives to help clarify these issues and work together to provide the solutions," Enrile stressed.

***

Zilch. Nada. Nothing. That’s what the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee came up with after grilling Jocelyn "Joke-Joke" Bolante for nine hours.

Putting him on the dock once again, even with former agriculture secretary Cito Lorenzo and two other former under-secretaries, one of whom is now secretary Arthur Yap, would be a sheer waste of time. They all will protect their benefactor, Ms. Gloria Arroyo, to the hilt.

I say give the congressmen who have scheduled a hearing of their own a chance to incriminate themselves. After all, quite a number of them were reportedly recipients of the largesse from the fertilizer scam allegedly engineered by Bolante.

***

Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna, AFP vice chief of staff and concurrent commander of the Joint Task Force Mindanao, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can beat the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf without US help, although it will take a bit longer.

That’s good to hear, especially as it comes from the second highest ranking officer of the AFP. That it will take a little longer to do so is a small price to pay compared to the unfettered presence of foreign troops in Mindanao. If the United States truly wants to help in fighting terrorists, they need not station troops in our midst. All that they need to do is to provide the AFP with the necessary wherewithal to carry out the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf.

***

Peace process adviser Hermo-genes Esperon Jr. has asked, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Brunei, Japan, Libya and Malaysia to extend for at least another three months the stay of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao. The IMT’s term will expire on November 30.

What for? The IMT has outlived its raison d’etre. When certain MILF commanders went on a rampage after the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to create the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity was aborted, the cease-fire agreement between the Government and the MILF that the IMT was supposed to monitor effectively ceased to exist.

Moreover, since the MILF leadership seems unable or unwilling to stop its fighters from engaging government forces, I do not see how the handful of men comprising the IMT can possibly enforce the cease-fire, as in fact it has not.

Allowing the term of the IMT to expire will give us the opportunity to negotiate with the rebels without the intervention of third parties, that is, if and when the peace process gets back on track, which doesn’t seem likely in the foreseeable future. The MILF says it will never go back to the negotiating table unless the Government signs the MOA. Arroyo, on the other hand, says the MOA will no longer be taken into account in any future negotiation after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional.

***

Out of the blue, Ms. Arroyo issued a statement to the effect that US President-elect Barrack Obama has assured her of US support. She was apparently referring to a letter reportedly sent to her earlier this year by Obama. At that time, she tried but failed to see him after he won the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

This time, Arroyo called Obama twice to congratulate him on his victory in the US presidential election. He never returned her calls. But she did manage to project the image of a fawning vassal desperately wanting to pay obeisance to a feudal lord. In the process, she sacrificed national pride and dignity. That’s not the way of a good leader.

I wouldn’t be surprised if our ambassador to the US and her other connections, official or otherwise, are now hard at work trying to wangle an invitation to the inauguration of Obama in January next year. I hope they do not succeed. She has been traveling way too much at the expense of poor Juan de la Cruz.

The other matter that bugs everyone is why Arroyo is so keen to portray herself as someone who has the ear of whoever sits or will sit in the Oval Office of the White House.

If she doesn’t know it yet, US policy is not dictated or influenced by how her president regards other leaders. Foreign policy is crafted solely on the basis, and for the purpose, of promoting national interest. The US is no exception.

If the incoming Obama administration believes it will be in the interest of the US to maintain its present state of relationship with the Philippines, as I believe it will, that is what’s going to happen. The only thing that may change is the present policy of Washington of not paying much attention to the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances during the watch of Arroyo. A Democratic government in Washington almost always places great emphasis on human rights in its relations with other countries.

***

A thought just occurred to me – isn’t it ironic that after getting rid of a Hussein in Iraq, the United States will soon be getting a Hussein in the White House? (President-elect Obama’s middle name is Hussein.)

No, I do not attach any particular significance to the coincidence. I think it is just that – a coincidence. But ironic.

***

Today is the 216th day of the second year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

I urge my readers to join Jonas’ family in praying for a resolution of his case in the near future.