HK apology: Why Estrada and not Aquino?

Why did it have to be Manila Mayor Erap Estrada apologizing in Hong Kong  to the  families of the victims of the August 2010 Rizal Park massacre instead of President Noy?

The comical manner of the hostage rescue witnessed all over the world, was the work of the Philippine National Police.

Since the President is the commander in chief of the PNP, as well as the Armed Forces, he should have taken the rap for the bungled rescue attempt and apologized.

But P-Noy, apparently following the counsel of his advisers, did not and so prolonged the problem with Hong Kong.

And since the President is too proud to make the apology, he sent Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and PNP chief Alan Purisima to go with Mayor Erap to Hong Kong.

By the way, Almendras and Purisima were not yet in their respective positions during that bungled rescue attempt.

Why is it so hard for the President to tell the families of the victims, “I take full responsibility for the fault of my men. I am so sorry. I am new in my job but I promise a similar incident will not happen again in the future.”

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From a reliable source: Jose Angel Honrado, general manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), is confined at St. Luke’s Hospital at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

He is being readied for a quadruple heart bypass, if he hasn’t been put under the knife yet.

Running a complex organization like the Naia is very stressful and Honrado apparently is not up to the pressure.

Let’s wish Honrado well, but he should be replaced by a younger and more competent manager.

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The SM Cares Foundation has set aside P1 billion for building houses for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Bogo town, Cebu province and Tacloban City, Palo and Ormoc City in Leyte province.

Each house, with a floor area of 20.25 square meters, will cost P200,000.

It can withstand winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour.

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Why does Henry Sy, who owns SM malls all over the country and is one of world’s richest men, acquire more money every day?

And why do other mega wealthy individuals like Ramon Ang, Lucio Tan, Manny Pangilinan, Enrique Razon, George Ty and Lucio Co become even richer?

The answer lies in their philanthropy, their generosity towards the needy.

By their act of giving away vast sums of money to charity, they tell the Universe they have more than enough to spare.

In return, the Universe plows back to them the money they have given away, many times over.

In contrast, the poor constantly complain of a lack,  and so the Universe gives them more reason to complain.

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Why was Assistant Prosecutor Elpidio Quejada of Maasin City, Southern Leyte province so interested in having the rape case against Julie Antolihao (Julie is a man) dismissed that he reportedly asked the 15-year-old victim to drop the case?

Quejada allegedly made the minor sign the affidavit of desistance without the presence of  her parents.

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