Why Aquino’s love life is highlighted

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Joker Arroyo is right:

Mar Roxas’s position as chief of staff is redundant and will just cause friction in the Palace.

Arroyo, who was executive secretary during the time of President Cory, P-Noy’s mom, said Mar would have basically the same functions as Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa.

To avoid a clash between Ochoa and Roxas, which the President can ill afford, one of them should be appointed to a Cabinet office outside Malacañang.

Since P-Noy is grooming Roxas to replace him five years from now, he should be given a post that will give him direct access to the people.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which Vice President Jojo Binay wanted before he was named housing czar, would be the best position for a future president.

After the Executive Secretary, the DILG Secretary is the most powerful Cabinet member.

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Palace drumbeaters ask columnists to be fair in making commentaries about the President.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said a columnist wrote that flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) are put on hold for 30 minutes whenever the President goes on overseas trips.
But Lacierda quoted Naia General Manager Jose Angel Honrado as saying that flights are held up from five to 15 minutes only to give way for the President’s plane to take off.

I can attest to the unnamed columnist’s allegation.

I have been a passenger on planes that had to circle over Metro Manila and neighboring provinces for hours, or had to wait a long time at the runway for instructions to take off because the presidential plane had not taken off yet.

Why did it take hours for other flights to land or take off while the presidential plane was about to take off?

Because it’s customary for the President to be given planeside honors before he boards the plane; that takes time.

So, Mr. Lacierda, that columnist was not unfair when he said that other planes were not allowed to land or take off while the presidential plane was still on the runway.

In other words, by and large, columnists are fair in their commentary about the President, especially on his manner of governance.

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The media would have glossed over P-Noy’s “loves” and night life if they found him working hard and getting the desired results.

But the media, the citizenry’s chronicler, couldn’t match the President’s promises during the election campaign and his performance.

So what is highlighted are the President’s nocturnal activities.

President Ramos had his quota of intrigues on affairs of the heart, but these were not given much attention by media because he was hardworking and got results.

Under the Ramos administration, the country became a “tiger economy.”