Making POOR excuses for the President... Why President Benigno S Aquino III didn't get HK Chief Exec. Tsang's phone call

This comes from Raisa Roble's blog:

Ricky Carandang, who heads the Presidential Communications Group, said Aquino was not aware of the first call because he was in a meeting and because the call came in through the palace’s main phone line with no prior notice. Carandang said the caller was an aide of Tsang, and an aide of Aquino answered the phone. He said Aquino’s aide knew who Tsang was, but was unsure it was really from his office.

The palace contacted the Foreign Affairs Department to set up a phone call through Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, in what would be diplomatic protocol. Presidential spokesman Ed Lacierda said he phoned Romulo’s spokesman Ed Malaya to convey the request to arrange a conversation between Tsang and Aquino. No word came back, so Lacierda tried to phone Malaya again three times but could not reach him. The department declined to tell the Post why no one returned Tsang’s calls that night.

Baloney!

In a crisis situation, the usual diplomatic protocols have to be weighed against the necessity of informing the Hongkong leader and the relatives of those held hostage of what the Philippine government was doing.

In fact, it wouldn't be completely WRONG for President Benigno Simeon Cojuanco Aquino III to have taken the initiative to call up Hongkong Chief Executive Donald Tsang or IMMEDIATELY SET UP OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE Hongkong Representatives here as well as the RELATIVES OF THE HONGKONG NATIONALS WHO WERE BEING HELD HOSTAGE.

Oh Conrad! Oh Conrad's bro! There's the RUB!

Conrado De Quiros' brother has been appointed President of the Philippine Social Security System...

Ayala bank exec named to head SSS

BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR

PRESIDENT Aquino named banker Emilio de Quiros Jr. as president of the Social Security System and sugarcane plantation owner and farmer advocate Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin as administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

De Quiros replaced Romulo Neri while Bautista-Martin succeeded Rafael Coscolluela.

De Quiros, brother of columnist Conrado de Quiros, has been executive vice president of the Bank of Philippine Islands since 2004.

A banker for 30 years, De Quiros was head of the BPI Asset Management and Trust Group, and treasurer and chief technology officer of the former Far East Bank and Trust Co.

He was director of National Reinsurance Corp. of the Philippines from June 2006 until June 2009.

De Quiros, an AB Economics graduate from Ateneo de Naga, has a masteral degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines.

And I was wondering, how could one of the brainiest columnists I follow on Philippine Daily Inquirer fall for the emotionally ridden drivel that was P-Noy's campaign.

Of course, Conrado's brother is well qualified.

Of course, Conrado's brother is not going to pillage the SSS.

Of course, whatever Conrado wrote was completely unbiased just as perhaps Ricky Carandang and Manuel Quezon III was not biased.

Here's a definition of altruism...

Altruism (pronounced /ˈæltruːɪzəm/) is selfless concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Sikhism, and many others. Altruism is the opposite of selfishness.

Altruism can be distinguished from feelings of loyalty and duty. Altruism focuses on a motivation to help others or a want to do good without reward, while duty focuses on a moral obligation towards a specific individual (for example, God, a king), a specific organization (for example, a government), or an abstract concept (for example, patriotism etc.). Some individuals may feel both altruism and duty, while others may not. Pure altruism is giving without regard to reward or the benefits of recognition and need.

The term "altruism" may also refer to an ethical doctrine that claims that individuals are morally obliged to benefit others. Used in this sense, it is the opposite of egoism.

Here's what the Philippine Journalist Code of Ethics say:

I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties; nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature which may cast doubt on my professional integrity.

Here's what the KBP code says:

Article 8. POLITICAL PROPAGANDA

Sec.4. When a person employed or engaged in anycapacity in a station becomes a candidate or is employed or retained in any capacity by a candidate or political party, he shall go on leave for the duration of the election period or his employment may be terminated by the station. (G)

To the Aquino Commsgroup: "Truth Commission told to take no prisoners" WTF?

Mr. Carandang, Mr. Quezon, and Mr. Coloma,

I am very upset because I read something in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that caused me to blow very expensive coffee out my nose this morning.

Here is the offending article:

I guess you guys are some of the better communicators this country has and I think the irony of the title of this article won't escape you.

The phrase "Take no prisoners" is quite appropriate in situations of conflict, where the protagonist is rallied to kill all enemies.

But in a situation where the government creates an agency to ferret out and convict alleged plunderers, telling them to "take no prisoners" actually goes against what they are supposed to do -- which is to JAIL or IMPRISON CROOKS.

Yours Truly,

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