Lim’s resignation puts Mark Lapid issue in PNoy’s court

Now that Bertie Lim will soon be out of the Department of Tourism, the issue about Mark Lapid rests squarely with President Aquino. People in the DOT are keenly watching the case of Lapid because it would prove that the President’s pledge to lead the people through the “matuwid na daan” is more than just sloganeering. I would like to make it clear here that the case of Lapid is a separate issue from Lim’s lackluster performance as tourism chief. I think that quitting the DOT was a good decision for Lim. His one year stint with the DOT showed that he is not cut for that job which requires more than sincerity, honesty and dedication. Anyway, sometime in May, Lim reported to Aquino about his problem with Lapid, chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), formerly Philippine Tourism Authority. The report allegedly involved deals with suppliers. Lapid, who has the rank of undersecretary, is the son of Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid. He was formerly governor of Pampanga. He was once romantically linked to Kris Aquino, sister of the President. It is worth recalling that Lapid’s position in TIEZA was one of those included among the controversial midnight appointments of Gloria Arroyo – appointments made during the ban which was 45 days before the May 10, 2010 elections. Lapid then argued that his TIEZA post could not be considered a midnight appointment because it was merely a nominal change from his old post as PTA general manager. There were reports then that Sen. Francis Pangilinan was helping convince Malacanang to allow Mark to keep his post in exchange for the support of Lito Lapid for his senate presidency bid. Neither Pangilinan nor any one aligned with the Aquino administration got the Senate presidency. It went to Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile of Partido ng Masang Pilipino of former president Joseph Estrada. Back to Lim and his report to Aquino about Lapid’s alleged disturbing activities. A highly reliable source said Aquino asked Lim to wait because Malacañang needed the vote of Lito Lapid for the postponement of the election in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao that they were pushing. Indeed, one of the 13 senators who voted for Senate Bill 2756 deferring the scheduled Aug 8, 2011 elections to the first Monday of May 2013 was Lapid. That was on June 6, 2011. The source said Lim expected Aquino to act on his recommendation after the Senate vote on the postponement of the ARMM elections. A Malacañang source, however, said they were getting irritated that Lim didn’t want to let go of the Lapid issue. More than two weeks after, during the anniversary celebration of the Department of Public Works and Highways, while praising DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson and two others, Aquino said, “Sa totoo lang, meron akong na-obserbahan na mga miyembro ng gabinete, mga dalawa o tatlo – kada makita ko agad iniisip ko, ano kayang bad news ang dala-dala nito (In truth, I have observed Cabinet members, about two or three – each time I see them I wonder what bad news they bring.)” One newspaper later named Lim as one of those three secretaries who were messengers of bad news to Aquino. The source said Lim felt all the more the lack of Malacañang’s support when DOT was not mentioned in the President’s second state-of-the nation address last July 25. In a statement about Lim’s resignation, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda lauded the former president of the Makati Business Club for being “the chief advocate of the Pocket Open Skies Policy, the landmark breakthrough from the protectionist policies of the past.” Lacierda also said during Lim’s one year stint as tourism secretary international visitors increased to an unprecedented level: over 3.7 million arrivals between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. Those were culled from the report submitted by Lim for the SONA. I perfectly understand why the President didn’t feel like bragging about those tourist arrivals. That’s nothing compared to the tourist arrivals in neighboring Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The resignation of Lim gives Aquino another chance to look for someone who could re-energize the country’s sluggish tourism industry. Meanwhile, what does he do with government officials like Mark Lapid?