ANOTHER 'UNTOUCHABLE' PNOY SHOOTING BUDDY!

So, we have another UNTOUCHABLE among President Aquino’s shooting buddies -- Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres.

A report by the Philippine Star says a major reason for the resignation of outgoing DOTC Sec. Ping de Jesus is Pnoy’s snub of his recommendation to Torres.

The LTO is under the DOTC. Now, think about this, boys and girls:

In a memo to Pnoy, a copy of which was obtained by the Star, De Jesus SPECIFIED at least two of Torres’ insubordinate acts: refusal to pay LTO’s outstanding balance to information technology provider Stradcom Corp. and failure to come up with a new and cheaper private emission testing system for motorists.

Stradcom filed a complaint against Torres, forcing her to go on a 60-day leave last April. A Department of Justice (DOJ) fact-finding committee found merit in the Stradcom case and recommended the filing of administrative charges against Torres.

But up to now, the administrative raps HAVE NOT YET BEEN FILED and Torres’ leave will already end on June 19.

In other words, Torres REMAINS UNTOUCHED.

This despite added reports that she had also allegedly helped a group of businessmen, in a failed ILLEGAL TAKEOVBR of the operations center in the LTO head office in Quezon City last December.

Pnoy’s defenders will say that Torres is entitled to due process.

I say due process HAS ALREADY BEEN EXTENDED through the DOJ fact-finding committee. It continues to be extended via the charges recommended by the committee, in which Torres can prove her innocence.

If they will point to Torres’ leave as proof she’s not untouchable, the leave was voluntary and not ordered by Pnoy. I’ll gladly stand corrected if I have to.

But bear this in mind, boys and girls:

Torres is the SECOND shooting buddy of Pnoy who has remained untouched despite VERY ALARMING ACCUSATIONS of wrongdoing.

Several months ago, DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno was accused of receiving jueteng bribes by anti-jueteng advocate retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

But Pnoy readily cleared Puno and DID NOT ORDER A PROBE. He didn’t even ask Puno to go on leave.

Is this Pnoy’s ‘tuwid na daan?’

You can look at all the dictionaries in the world and NOT ONE will show that insubordination, gross neglect of duty and illegal takeover is a ‘tuwid na daan’ or straight and RIGHTEOUS PATH.

If Torres, and Puno, can’t be touched, what will stop Pnoy’s other shooting buddies and ‘kabarkadas’ now, whether in government or in the private sector, from being arrogant, if not abusive?

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Thirteen f our friends on “May God be with Michael Ray Aquino”:

KELLY LIM of Manila

Yes, justice will (finally) prevail. Hope so.

KHALIFA CHARLYN DE JESUS of Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Bless him and may he be vindicated.

TERESITA WOODARD of Gapan, Nueva Ecija

Mahihirapan siya sa jail dito sa Pilipinas. Sa Manila (City) Jail daw didiretso. Buti sa America, may sarili sila bathroom doon, complete food, medicines, etc. May Bible study sila doon, at hindi sobrang dami ng inmates.

ELPIDIO QUE of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Or the devil if he lies.

YUKO TAKEI

Lies upon lies ang mangyayari diyan. Kawawang bansa. Pity the guy for allowing himself to be a ploy. May God protect him, and give him courage to tell the truth now before it is too late. Dapat sinasabihan ng mga pari nila iyan that sins not repented cannot be forgiven now and forever, especially when it involves another person's life.

WILLY CAYETANO

Baka bigyan din sya ng 1-gun salute like Ninoy.

AILEEN OCTAVIANO

Ano ang akala niya, hero din siya? No way!

HANSEL ALCARAZ of Pasay City

The best thing he can do is tell the truth.

BING SALVADOR

Let us hope that nobody will intervene. Only Michael Ray Aquino should once and for all tell the truth to put an end to this case. Lots of people have suffered, are in anguish and have been involved already.

VIRGINIA ADUCA of Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Magiging sensational na naman iyan. Lalangggamin na naman iyan ng katakuttakot na questions.

DOC C. ELEDA PERA of Riyadh, Saudi Aravia

Ang tagal na niyang si MIchael Ray Aquino ah. Ewan ko lang… hanggang pa-media na naman iyan, at I’m sure, matutulog na naman sa Supreme Court ang kaso.

SERAFIN TABAN

Michael Ray Aquino's forthcoming arrival is another political melodrama for the local media to feast on. The question is: what lesson(s), if any, could we chew and digest out of it? Who will be the interested parties? Perhaps, Lacson, Estrada, the victims, local media kuro-kuro and politics.

ESTHER UY-OCO of Oceanside, California, USA

We will see what will happen. We will all pray that the truth will prevail. 30