SISTERS DEFEND PARTYING PRESIDENT
MANILA, DECEMBER
22, 2011 (STAR)
By Pia Lee-Brago - More foreign aid for flood victims was committed
yesterday, with the latest coming from the Australian government, which promised
to provide P55 million.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, meanwhile, expressed sadness over the
disaster, while Japan and the United Kingdom also relayed their condolences to
the victims of tropical storm "Sendong."
Australian Ambassador Rod Smith said, "I extend my condolences to the
families of those killed in this tragedy and for the significant destruction
caused by Sendong."
"The scale of destruction has taken everyone by surprise. Australia stands
ready to help Filipino families affected by this disaster get back on their
feet," Smith declared in a statement.
Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba sent a message to Foreign Secretary
Albert del Rosario expressing his deepest condolences to the bereaved and his
best wishes for the speedy alleviation of the suffering of the affected people
as well as for the full rehabilitation of areas damaged by the calamity.
Gemba said Japan will do its share in helping the victims and the affected
areas.
UK Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne said the loss of life caused by
flooding in the Philippines is tragic.
"I visited the Philippines earlier this month and know how keenly this loss
will be felt by all its people," Browne said.
The Chinese embassy in Manila earlier donated P440,000 for the disaster
relief efforts of the Philippine government.
AusAID has a strong partnership with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
Australia funds kits of non-food items such as sleeping mats, mosquito nets,
hygiene kits and cooking items that are pre-positioned with the PRC in strategic
locations around the country. Up to 5,000 kits valued at P12.6 million are now
being distributed to displaced families.
"These pre-positioned kits enable the Philippine Red Cross to immediately
respond to the needs of families affected by natural disasters. These kits are
being distributed to families in evacuation centers, particularly around Cagayan
de Oro and Iligan cities" Smith said.
Australia is also providing an additional P42 million to help the Philippine
government procure essential medicine to treat the injured, provide temporary
shelter for the displaced, and extend livelihood support to families who have
lost their incomes.
"Australia strives to be responsive to our friends in the aftermath of
disasters. We have a strong focus on Mindanao and the worst affected provinces
(Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Agusan del
Sur) are all key partners of the Australian aid program," Smith said.
"We have built strong relationships with the people of these provinces in
recent years. This support highlights our commitment to these provincial
partnerships," Smith said.
Australia is the top grant donor to the Philippines, providing P5.5 billion
in aid in 2011-2012.
FROM THE MANILA STANDARD
Malacañang, Aquino sisters defend partying President
by Joyce Pangco Pañares and Maricel Cruz
[PHOTO - THE AQUINO SISTERS]
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III came under heavy fire Monday for partying Sunday
night while the nation was reeling from the damage wrought by tropical storm
Sendong, which left more than 650 people dead in Mindanao over the weekend.
"It smacks of utter insensitivity on the part of the President to [be
merrymaking] while hundreds have been killed and thousands struggle to survive
in the wake of ... Sendong," said Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino in a
post on the Twitter social network.
Palatino's post came as word spread that Mr. Aquino was enjoying a party for
the Presidential Security Group Sunday night while other government officials
were working to bring relief to the storm victims in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and
other coastal cities in Mindanao.
"President Aquino, being the head of state, should have made it his priority
to be hands-on in alleviating the situation in Mindanao instead of attending a
Christmas party in Malacañang," Palatino said.
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said the reports on the party made Mr. Aquino
appear insensitive.
"At a time when the people are looking to Malacañang for reassurance and
leadership in the wake of the terrible tragedy, President Aquino has
disappointed many by his silence," Tinio said.
Word on the Palace party spread online after actress Valerie Concepcion, one
of the performers invited to perform during the occasion, posted this tweet:
"Done w/ work.. Tnx for having me.. :) It was nice to see Pres. P-Noy laughing
at my jokes & enjoying my performance..ü #Malacañang #PSGNight."
Concepcion deleted the tweet after it drew scathing comments such as this
one: "While our kababayan [countrymen] in CDO [Cagayan de Oro] are dying, our
good President was laughing at Valerie Concepcion's jokes!"
The Palace on Monday sought to control the damage, with spokesmen offering
differing accounts of how long the President stayed at the party and Mr.
Aquino's sisters defending his actions.
"He just listened to two or three songs ... it was maybe just an hour or two
of his time," Presidential Communications Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
told a breakfast forum at the Diamond Hotel.
"He did not sing," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
"He just sat and watched the party for a few minutes and then he left
immediately."
PSG commander Col. Ramon Dizon said Mr. Aquino stayed for a little over half
an hour.
"He did not even go up the stage," he said.
"There was no speech, and definitely no singing or dancing for the
President."
The President's sister, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz (photo), defended her
brother's actions, saying life must go on even if hundreds have died and
hundreds more remain missing in Mindanao.
"The party was scheduled long before the disaster," she said in Tagalog in a
TV interview.
"Of course, we are saddened by the tragedy but then, life should go on. We
cannot stop living and just sulk."
Another sister, Pinky Aquino-Abellada, defended Mr. Aquino's decision not to
rush to Cagayan de Oro to lead the relief efforts, saying he did not want to
disrupt the rescue operations with his presence.
Mr. Aquino's show-business sister, TV host Kris Aquino, said the public
should give her brother a break.
"Of course, he is the President of the Philippines and he loves his
countrymen and will do everything for them," she said in Tagalog.
"We shouldn't be so quick in criticizing him. It's just that a President is
not like you or me. We can hop on a plane and go there [but he can't] because
there are a lot of national concerns."
In his own defense, the President said in a statement it would have been
unfair to skip the party because the families of his security group flew from
the provinces just to celebrate the holidays with him.
"The PSG, by the nature of their job, is on alert 365 days of the year," said
his statement read by Lacierda.
"Christmas Day is not an exception. Separation from their loved ones is part
and parcel of the job, and holidays are not exceptions.
"The Christmas celebration is meant most especially for the younger members
of their families who refer to this one day where the importance of the family
is emphasized. It would be most unfair to deprive them of this singular familial
activity."
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also tried to defend the President,
saying he was probably unaware of the extent or gravity of the storm's damage.
"If you don't know what's happening somewhere, you might not know," Belmonte
told House reporters.
Actress Concepcion (photo) said she did not see anything wrong with
the President's attendance at the party.
"I do not see anything wrong with that since it's his obligation and
responsibility being the head of Malacañang to be present and show his support
for his hardworking employees and their respective families," she said in a
tweet.
On Monday, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the government had released
at least P1.297 billion in calamity response funds to help the victims of
tropical storm Sendong.
"With the calamity fund, the government is generously equipped to mobilize
and support disaster relief efforts in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and other
Sendong-affected areas," he said.
"We are ensuring the quick release of these funds so that victims will
receive swift and proper assistance."
Abad made the statement as Palatino criticized the President for vetoing a
P5-billion fund for disaster preparation in the 2011 budget.
Lacierda called on Palatino not to politicize the issue, saying the
government had enough funds to help the residents affected by Sendong. With Macon Ramos-Araneta
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved
PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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