DOT Secretary: Starting on the right foot

While the story of ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno is quietly fading into history, however the last chapter in this historic quo warranto fiasco has yet to surface because in that historic SC decision penned on May 11, the SC issued a show cause order against Ma. Lourdes Sereno on her alleged violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Code of Judicial Conduct for transgressing the sub judice rule - a prohibition on public discussion of an ongoing case.

Yes, Sereno has to explain to the High Tribunal why she should not be sanctioned for the numerous times she held speeches while her case was pending before the Supreme Court, where she even chastised her fellow justices for their being biased. She was doing it while she was officially on leave and therefore, she should have shown some kind of respect for her peers. But apparently, she didn't show any respect to the bench at all.

Indeed, the SC ordered her to explain why she should not be sanctioned for "casting aspersions and ill motives to the Members of the Supreme Court." So on May 21st, we expect another bunch of fireworks thrown against Sereno, who might even lose her license as a lawyer. I expect this to be a cliffhanger so we will just wait until May 21 comes and the SC would render judgment on Sereno. The SC may institute a disbarment case motu propio or on its own discretion. Abangan!

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Newly installed Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat is starting her job on the right foot when she asked for the courtesy resignations of all her undersecretaries and assistant secretaries so she could literally "clean the slate." This should be the attitude of newly appointed secretaries before they take over their respective positions. I understand from news reports that she also want to speak with Tourism Promotions Board COO Cesar Montano and hear his side on issues he is facing.

Montano has to explain what was reported by certain pundits that he rushed through a speech at a speaking engagement in NewYork City so he could watch Broadway musical "Hamilton." Cesar Montano was supposed to showcase Philippine tourism and fashion at the Philippine Tourism Presentation and Dinner Reception in New York last May 9. The Star also reported that Montano issued three checks amounting to P80 million in favor of the organizer of that event. Hmmm me thinks Montano has a lot of explaining to do to the new DOT chief.

Then there is the issue that we already wrote about … the Madrid Fusion, which cost the DOT P43 million this year. But it is supposed to be a three-year contract. This is another DOT issue that has to be explained because we are instead promoting Madrid's culinary delights rather than our Filipino cuisine? Clearly something is terribly wrong with the way the DOT promotes our country.

While she is in an investigating mode, I would like to ask the newly installed tourism secretary to also look at my favorite tourism related issue, which happened in the mid-90s. I'm referring to the Kang-Irag Golf Course, which used to be under the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and now renamed as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). Yes Virginia, before the Alta Vista Golf Course was constructed, Cebu already had a playable golf course up in the Kang-Irag Hills.

But this was taken over by the Gotesco Group for development and I still recall that their plans was to build a 36hole golf course over the present 18-hole golf course, which I said was already playable. The only thing missing in the Kang-Irag Golf Course was a proper clubhouse. The one we had was nothing but a nipa hut. I still have photos of our game with then Senator Serge Osmeña with the members of the Kang-Irag Golf Club.

We pleaded with Mr. Jose Go not to totally destroy the 18hole golf course, or at least keep 9-holes intact. But he didn't listen and proceeded to bulldozer the Black Knight-designed golf course. Black Knight is the company of South African golfing great Gary Player. Then the PTA filed a case against Gotesco … but like all land cases in our courts, it has taken forever. So I would like DOT Sec. Puyat to give us some kind of information as to what happened to the Kang-Irag Golf Course.