Tribune Online, Written by Paul Atienza
Thursday, 22 August 2013 08:00
The guessing game on what kept President Aquino busy during the critical period from Sunday to last Tuesday when practically the whole of Metro Manila was under water, enough for him to disappear from public view went unresolved yesterday even as he claimed he was coordinating with government officials during the entire period of the calamity situation.
At the height of the torrential rains that had caused flooding in practically the entire Metro Manila, only Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II had been making the rounds briefing media primarily at the headquarters of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City while President Aquino went “invisible” like in previous emergency situations.
Aquino’s disappearing act gained prominence during the hostage crisis in August, 2010 when a group of Hong Kong tourists were held captive by a disgruntled police officer. The incident went on for nearly a full day and ended tragically with the death of eight hostages after a botched police rescue attempt.
During the entire day that the hostage crisis was ongoing, Aquino did not appear in media and was only seen after the incident supposedly inspecting the scene of the tragic incident.
President Aquino told reporters what amounted to excuses for his absence at the height of the storm Maring and torrential rains causing floods in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
“Well, the Cabinet members are here that I had been calling since Sunday (Aug. 18),” he said.
Aquino related that last Sunday when the deadly downpour started, he was attending the birthday of his sister whom he did not name, last Aug. 18.
“On my way home, I saw the heavy rainfall. I saw the floods in Osmeña (highway),” Aquino said. Malacañang since Saturday said that Aquino was recovering from a flu.
“I remembered Secretary (Dinky) Soliman who was about to be back from Bicol. So we met in Quezon and I asked her if we are ready (on typhoon) as I’ve read the red warning by Pagasa about the volume of rain,” Aquino claimed.
“I called up Secretary (Rogelio) Singson, then I called up after, Undersecretary (Francis) Tolentino (MMDA) because I was asking of what we could do to contain the flooding. That was a Sunday,” he said.
“We had also asked Mayor Del de Guzman of Marikina so that at the start they have already warnings. As you know, they have three warnings to sound off,” he said.
“At the end of the day, maybe, the proof is in the pudding,” he said.
“If the government neglects (its job), I will be put to blame, left and right but if the actions of the government turns good, can I be included (in) that,” Aquino said.
Aquino claimed he was also busy doing his “coordination” Tuesday using his mobile phone. His calls, however, were not “live” during the press breifing.
Aquino made his rounds Wednesday in a covered court in Landayan, San Pedro, Laguna and at the Dela Paz Elementary School in Binan, Laguna followed at at the Mandaluyong Elementary School on Wednesday, to look for himself the situation in different evacuation centers.
“We do coordinations with the different Cabinet secretaries and we also have been calling the (local government units) LGUs,” Aquino said.
Aquino added that he remembered an instance where some individuals who had made stones and pieces of scraps to block waterways in Mandaluyong area which he claimed to have made a follow up with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima if charges were already filed.
“For instance, last night (Tuesday), I met up with Secretary Leila (de Lima) (on the) status of cases, those who impede our waterway. Specifically, those establishments that have capability (to block waterways),” Aquino said.
Aquino said he would not yet identify the names of the establishment pending the filing of charges by the Justice Department before the courts.
“Those establishments I will not yet mention the names of the two companies because civil suits will be filed then followed by criminal suits,” Aquino said.
Aquino said the only intention of his administration on the possible filing of charges against the establishments would be to demolish structures blocking the floodway system along the main roads in Metro Manila.
“The end point [of this is] being able to demolish these illegal structures and for the flood water to flow,” Aquino said.
On Oct. 2, 2011, as typhoon Quiel attacked the north Luzon areas, Aquino had not been seen as the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Pangasinan remained submerged in floodwaters.
Residents became enraged over the slow response of officials in charge of relief and rescue operations
Those severely affected residents were outraged by the slow response from the government in carrying out rescue and relief operations despite the absence of rain and after being under the scorching heat all day.
They turned to lawmakers and the media for help.
The floodwaters were caused by the opening of the gates of Angat, Ipo, Ambuklao, Binga, and Magat dams to prevent the structures from bursting due to the breaching of the spill level, authorities said.
The gates remained open in anticipation of the massive rainfall of typhoon Quiel.#
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