Press Release
July 16, 2009

STATEMENT OF SENATOR AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR.

On RP as least competitive Asian country, according to World Competitiveness Ranking

The country is the 'least competitive' among other Asian countries because of a variety of reasons, among which are: 1. corruption is massive 2. law and order in shambles and 3. active rebellion in Muslim Mindanao.

Fraudulent deals like the NBN-ZTE and the North Rail contracts, and awarding huge contracts like the Laiban dam project and the recent purchase of l.5 million metric tons of rice from Vietnam without public, transparent and clean public bidding discourage investments from coming in and cause some of those already in to get out of the country.

On Arroyo's meeting with President Obama at White House

While Obama's invitation to GMA to visit him in the White House on July 28 is good for her publicity-wise, it won't change her self-serving style of governance. I think that not even St. Peter's invitation for her to visit the Pearly Gates would save her from the dissatisfaction and disgust that the people feel for her.

Let the 100 or so members of Congress go with her on this visit to the White House. Then they will realize that the country would be better off without them.

On amnesty for Abu Sayyaf

The Abu Sayyaf is a bunch of extremists who are shunned even by their co-religionists because of their patently unIslamic ways that bank on kidnapping, mayhem and violence to intimidate, harass and kill those who stand on their way.

If only we can rely on their word that they would 'turn over a new leaf', that would go a long way to establish law and order in the areas where they operate.

Unfortunately, even the governor of Sulu had said that only an 'all- out war' against the Abu Sayyaf would cause them to mend their ways.

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