FINALLY, A RESPONSE FROM GSIS. BUT WAIT, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS WINSTON GARCIA?

Tim Ramos, one of our blog correspondents, has received a response from one of Winston Garcia's subalterns. Sorta. The response acknowledges that there are problems with the eCard, but it touches only on the fiasco that occurred last March 9 at the Philippine Consulate General in New York.

It remains silent on what the GSIS intends to do to pensioners in terms of renumerating them for the gross injustice that the agency has done to them: namely, witholding their pension for months on end, and in some cases in the Philippines starving those people who depend solely on their pension to survive in their old age.

The letter to Tim Ramos, sent by the VP for operations of the GSIS, does not address the fundamental issue of the disaster-prone eCard system --- which is to say that Garcia must be held accountable for this ill-conceived program that has collectively punished pensioners as he pursues his fantasy of "catapulting" the Philippines on top of the IT totem pole.

It must be noted that throughout this entire ugly episode, Garcia himself has remained silent, as though he is above and beyond the despicable situation that he himself has created.

Courtesy dictates that he should himself answer the valid issues raised against his leadership. But it seems to us that he looks down on these complaints with disdain, as though serving his constituency is beneath him.

Tim Ramos, writing to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, which prompted the GSIS response, has this to say:

"Thank you for following up on my complaints. While I appreciate your efforts, I am totally disappointed with Mr. Winston Garcia who remains silent throughout this episode and has chosen to use his subalterns to respond to the valid complaints against his incompetent leadership.

"His continued stint in office despite the many complaints against his failure of leadership only deepens the suspicion that the Philippines rewards incompetence. The eCard, despite what the GSIS says, is not doing the pensioners any good.

"Mr. Garcia is the number one reason why the Philippines' image is so bruised before the eyes of pensioners in the United States and those of their friends and relatives. With Garcia around and doing damage to your efforts to project a good image for the country, you might as well kiss goodbye to WOW Philippines."