Quick Lines

In an obvious bid to hang on to an appointed position without the blessings of the President, Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar said in an interview that his term will expire 2015. And Malacañang clarified that his appointment paper stated it clearly that it ends on 2 February 2011. One nature of sticky lizards is: They want to stick into a position to the death. You will know the family when you see one. [A person who recognizes and respects the appointing office of the president will not think twice to step down for delicadeza . The position is appointive in the first place, with or without papers from the previous president.] (Photo courtesy of Malaya )

Queensland, Australia-resident Ric Marino told ANC of a cyclone category 5. He said: "Once people hear there's a categor 5 cycle, they shop excessively. When we go to the shopping centeres, there are many empty shelves. A retailer worth his mettle will have to ask Marino this question: "Is there a way Australia can manufacture Cyclone Category 5 and send it to the Philippines at least once a month?"

ANC 24/7 reported that political satirist Mae Paner, known as "Juana Change," is venting her ire in Twitter on PNoy's recent purchase of a second-hand Porsche using his personal money. Had she tried to outbid PNoy on the Porsche but missed it? Or, she simply took herself very seriously this time.

A news report in the Manila Standard Today on 28 January 2011 goes: "Despite Wild, Wild West image, tourism up 17%." The Koreans topped the list, followed by the Americans, then the Japanese and fourthly China. The doomsayers in tourism simply forget that the Koreans and the Americans alone love Clint Eastwood movies.

Supporting the opposition that wood processors and foresters made against moves in Malacañang and the Senate to impose total log ban in the Philippines, former president of the Society of Filipino Foresters Inc., Ricardo Umali issued a statement that "a total logging ban will not necessarily stop nor even minimize flooding, mud flows and landslides altogether." Is he saying that more logging will?

Allies of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in particular Albay representative Edcel Lagman and Zambales congresswoman Mitos Magsaysay, raised a hell of noise after an improvised bomb left inside a bus exploded in Makati and killed 5 people and hurt 13. Should they have shouted much louder when criminality ran amock with 502,665 in 2009 under the Arroyo administration (in 2010 it dropped to 296,059 cases)? Hell of a noise! Or is simply, it is noisy in Hell.

Former COA Chairman Guillermo Carague denied having known former COA auditor Heide Mendoza who assisted in the Ombudsman probe against former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia. He said he simply sent people when then Ombudsman Chief Marcelo called him to send people to help in the investigation. He even sent Garcia lawyer a letter stating he did not permit Mendoza to conduct an investigation. "I don't even know that happened," he said in an ABS-CBN News report . Of all he forgot, Carague could have said: "COA Chief? Who? Me?"