Didn’t former NEDA head, now SSS chief Romulo Neri once reportedly describe Arroyo as evil in front of several witnesses?

How does one demonize evil? Isn’t "demon" evil personified? Just asking.

***

Favila also explained his department’s support for constitutional change. Some of the issues he raised are well-taken. They would make for our being more competitive in attracting foreign direct investments, provided they are faithfully implemented.

But I think Favila will agree that the major reason for our inability to attract more foreign investments at this time is not so much the absence of the constitutional provisions that he prescribes, but because of the prevailing investment climate in the country. First and foremost is the overwhelming climate of graft and corruption. Everything else is almost secondary.

In the "Doing Business 2009" report of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, the Philippines slid from 133rd place last year to 140th out of 181 countries. It slipped behind even Cambodia which ranked 135th. In East Asia, we came out ahead only of Laos (165th) and East Timor (170th). We are way behind Thailand (13th), Malaysia (20th), Brunei (88th), Vietnam (92nd) and Indonesia (129th). We trailed even Rwanda (139th).

Singapore is considered as the easiest place in the world to do business. It takes only four days to start a business there compared to 52 in the Philippines . Singapore is also consistently high in international surveys on transparency and good governance.

Ease in hiring workers, registering property, obtaining credit, securing construction permits, enforcement of contracts, protection of investors, payment of taxes and trade across borders were among the other factors considered in the study.

One other thing that Favila fails to consider is the fact that any proposal for constitutional change at this time will no longer fly. His boss, Ms. Arroyo herself, has seen to that. Her desire to hang on to power beyond 2010 is so manifest in her actions. She would be well-advised not to stretch to the limit the people’s sufferance, especially considering that her trust rating among them is minus 45 percent.

***

The Malaysian prime minister and earlier, that country’s ambassador to the Philippines, gave the assurance that Malaysia will continue to support the Mindanao peace process.

In line with my proposal to "de-internationalize" the MILF problem, I would thank the Malaysians for their past "services" and thereafter politely decline their renewed offer. Their facilitation efforts have not worked. What guarantee is there they will work in the future? On the contrary, they nearly led to the dismemberment of the Republic – thanks in large measure, of course, to Arroyo and her treasonous cohorts.

But the real reason for this proposal is, as many others believe, the simple truth that Malaysia , for all intents and purposes, cannot be considered an "honest broker" because of the Sabah issue.

As for the other members of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), and the OIC itself, we should delimit their "contributions" to investing in the future of Mindanao and our Muslim brethren through mutually-beneficial economic and financial ventures in the area as proposed, I believe, by House Speaker Prospero Nograles. Other countries like the United States , Australia , Japan , and et. al., may do the same, if they so wish. Otherwise, their aid programs may continue but with no strings attached.

***

NABIGKIS, a very large group of teachers and other government employees, both retired and active, has launched a "Run After (GSIS’) Winston Gracia" marathon.

Last Sunday, they staged a marathon from the Baywalk across Rajah Sulayman Plaza towards the CCP complex. Yesterday, they had a press briefing of the "victims of the sins of commission and omission of Winston Garcia" and a filing of their issues/demands before the GSIS Board of Trustees. Today, they will hold a "Freedom Wall and Palarong Pinoy" in front of the GSIS gate. Tomorrow, the group will go to the Senate in the morning to sing their own version of Christmas carols. In the afternoon, a holy mass will be celebrated, followed by candle lighting and a torch parade.

***

A reader told me last week that GSIS pensioner Carmencita Ritualo of Vallejo , California (no email address given but GSIS surely must have her record) went on Filipino Channel Balitang America seeking help on how to get her pension.

It turned out that Ritualo is an eCard Plus holder who went to the Philippine consulate general in San Francisco to withdraw money from her account only to be told that GSIS had already shut down its eCard kiosk.

Evidently, when GSIS decided to close its kiosks in the US, it failed to notify those who already have eCards. Most likely, it has also not yet notified or reached some 700 of its pensioners in the US about the use of the website www.skype.com for their enrollment in the eCard system.

As I pointed out in a previous column, these 700 pensioners have not been paid their pension for more than two years. Given an average of P300,000 uncollected pension per person, GSIS owes these people P210,000,000. So I ask again, where is that money? And is it earning interest? If so, where or to whom does the interest go? I know it doesn’t go to the pensioners as attested to by the few who have been paid their accrued pension.

***

The facetious remarks of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita that American troops coming in and going out of this country "all look alike so it’s as if they never leave" were definitely uncalled for. We are talking about serious matters like national sovereignty and the rule of law here.

He was either playing dumb or he just doesn’t get it. Or worse, "gina-gago ang mga tao" as he and his ilk are wont to do.

"They are replaced every now and then. They leave, contrary to the critics’ impression that they have not left," he said.

We are not talking about individual troopers. We are talking about the permanent presence of US military forces in the country which is against the Constitution. Get it? Ay naku!

***

Malacañang has announced that Ms. Arroyo is no longer going through with her planned trip to New York this month for the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Later, it was also announced that she had opted not to attend this month’s meeting in Geneva on the review of the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development. (Why should she? It’s a mere ministerial-level meeting. Executive Secretary Ermita went instead.)

Both announcements were obviously intended to gain "pogi" points for Arroyo. But what was not mentioned is that she has plans to attend the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing next month, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Lima, Peru in November and the Asean Summit in Bangkok in December.

Let us hope there will be no more suspicious deals to be signed in Beijing if she does go. As for the trip to Lima, well, it may be the last chance she will get to visit South America at people’s expense before June 2010.

Admittedly, some of the trips she has undertaken will likely undertake require the presence of heads of state/government. What is not palatable is when she brings with her a whole caboodle of unnecessary members of her retinue, politicians and hangers-on, all at the expense of poor Juan de la Cruz.

***

I came across a news item last week quoting Romulo Neri as saying that the SSS has no intentions of buying more Meralco shares.

Rumor had it that his predecessor was forced to quit because she refused to do exactly that – buy more Meralco shares allegedly in aid of the regime’s suspected drive to gain control of the electric company.

Has Neri turned a new leaf? I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt – for now. Are you?

***

Jose Porfirio of No. Dartmouth, MA, USA , wrote:

"I read your Malaya column online whenever possible. I thank you for bringing up the subject of race issue during the political conventions here in the US. I agree with you. I am a non-white American (of Nicaraguan-Filipino descent) and I can attest that USA is still racist in many ways. One thing more, believe it or not, there are many Filipinos (Philippine born) who are Republicans and think that they are better than the (illegal) Mexicans!" "Rottie Harmon" (rottieh@yahoo.com) wrote:

"Kindly forward this to all Philippine ambassadors, particularly the political ones, some of whom think they are becoming demigods once they are bestowed the title of ambassador extraordinary (and) plenipotentiary.

"Some of these political ambassadors, naturally many are overstaying, think that their people at the embassies are their natural domestic helpers.

"Some of them, who are developing senility-related insomnia, do not observe office hours under our civil service regulations, disturbing their people in their private time and sleep for things that are not even urgent just because of their whims and caprices.

"These aging and incompetent ambassadors are the perfect answer to the question of why Philippine foreign policy is such a mess. I hope that this little article will make them more human and make them realize who they are."

***

Today is the 141st day of the second year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

It also happens to be the birthday of Jonas’ mother, Edita.

In a message to me, Edita poignantly recalled that her father’s only two siblings were freed on this day by the Kempeitai, the military police arm of the Japanese Imperial Army that occupied the Philippines during World War II. I could sense that Edita is wishing Jonas would, by some miracle, suddenly appear on this, her birthday. So do I.