A measure of Aquino’s leadership

Today’s (Tuesday) rally by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) at Rizal Park will be one of the biggest gatherings to be held at the park, according to an INC insider.

Members from Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon and Bulacan have been required to attend the “evangelical meeting.”

Employees who are INC members will be absent from work today and store owners will close their establishments just so they can attend the gathering.

INC members from other parts of Central Luzon will hold a separate rally in Tarlac, President Noy’s home province.

How P-Noy, the object of the rally, is going to take it will be a measure of his leadership.

There were earlier reports that the gathering was a political event aimed at drumming up support for Chief Justice Renato Corona and the reinstatement of dismissed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula.

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“You don’t know Noynoy (the President’s nickname), he’s not easily daunted by anybody,” said P-Noy’s relative with whom I had a dinner meeting last week.

During our conversation, we talked about the INC rally today.

“If he’s hard-headed with us, how much more with other people?” said P-Noy’s kin.

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I have criticized Cristino “Bong” Naguiat, chair and chief executive officer of the government-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., on several issues, chief of which is his going hammer and tongs against his predecessor, Efraim Genuino.

But I find nothing wrong with Naguiat enjoying the perks and privileges given by a casino operator in Macau on his visit there in September 2010.

Pagcor would have done the same thing for the Macau casino operator and his family had they visited Manila.

It’s an industry practice. It’s reciprocal courtesy.

It would have been different if Naguiat accepted the Chanel bag given by the casino operator for his wife but he promptly returned it.

As to the claim that he and Genuino had received $110,000 in bribes since 2008, c’mon guys, if you believe that then you’re very naïve!

That amount would be equivalent only to P5.5 million if we multiplied it by 50, which is peanuts.

It would make Naguiat and Genuino look like pikers.

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The Navy’s silence over the refiling of murder charges against some of its officers and enlisted men in the death of Ensign Philip Pestaño is deafening.

Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, Navy flag officer in command, seems to have forgotten that he was defending the beleaguered officers and men

15 years ago and bringing them to media offices to have their side aired.

Now, he has adopted a hands-off stance toward the case.

Pestaño was found dead in his cabin aboard the BRP Bacolod City on Sept. 27, 1995, with a gunshot wound in his head.

Three police agencies—Western Police District, Criminal Investigation and

Detection Group and National Bureau of Investigation—ruled it a suicide.

A private forensic pathologist, Dr. Raquel del Rosario-Fortun, hired by Pestaño’s parents, also said the young man killed himself.

Two officers linked to Pestaño’s alleged murder have very promising future but are now dishonored: Cmdr. Rey Lopez, topnotcher of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1992, and Cmdr. Luidegar Casis, US Coast Guard Academy Class 1992.

You think these two brilliant officers would take part in a conspiracy to murder a fellow officer?