By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
Political kibitzers enjoyed Friday’s bit of news when Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista appointed a career official in Manuel Boholano as OIC-General Manager of the Philippine Ports Authority.
Not that they distinguished Boholano as the most senior port manager of the agency, but because President Marcos Jr. seemed to have backtracked from his earlier announcement that businessman Christopher Pastrana was to be the PPA’s next GM-designate.
Reading down the PPA’s Twitter comments, most critics believe it has become unbearable to hide that Pastrana had loads of “conflict of interest” in accepting the top PPA post.
Social media has feasted on exposed documents that several companies Pastrana and his family members were associated with allegedly have recorded violations and unpaid penalties due to the PPA.
What’s foul in the air over Malacanang is that Pastrana is an in-law of Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, the man supposed to be the President’s gatekeeper. So how could he have missed those damning details for which Marcos Jr.’s decision-making would be abruptly judged?
For now, the management savvy of Bautista has shone through for the young administration. I’m just unsure how long that would hold, given that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Special Order No. 2022-129 he issued designates Boholano as PPA OIC-GM only until the end of this month.
In fact, the PPA even tweeted that Boholano would be performing the functions and responsibilities of an OIC-GM only “until a permanent GM has been appointed or designated,” even if that comes first.
I asked a couple of long-time PPA insiders about this and they told Firing Line, that port managers are actually still preparing for Pastrana’s assumption to the top PPA post. “It won’t be anyone else,” one said.
The other source spills this unverified info – that Pastrana is not riding on ES Rodriguez’s back but is “rekta kay BBM,” meaning the President directly favors him to head the PPA, or so that disputable rumor goes.
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John Chiong, chairman and President of Task Force Kasanag, asked Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials to explain the alleged corruption in the agency’s multi-billion project during President Duterte’s term.
Guess who won’t be using his legislative privilege in the Senate to spill the beans about that. Has anybody heard from Mark lately?
Si Mark, tahimik lang.
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Negros Oriental Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. wants the Ninoy Aquino International Airport renamed to Ferdinand E. Marcos International Airport.
I thought he was into martial arts? Now, sucker, too? You know, that game where you kick the ball into the goal, so everyone on the team pats you in the back?
Rep. Teves might as well file a bill to rename BF Homes to his surname so that his son could get a free pass to the village. That way, his son and their bodyguards won’t have to beat down a guard again.
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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View. Read current and past issues of this column at http://www.thephilbiznews.com
