Slander cannot destroy an honest man—when the flood recedes the rock is there.—Chinese proverb

Pulse Asia just released its latest nationwide survey on the top choices for president.  Noynoy Aquino is at 44 percent while Manuel Villar, Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Joseph Estrada are at 19, 13 and 11 percent, respectively. That makes the 2009 election a race for second place.

But that’s only true if honesty and an unblemished reputation remains the horse to ride.

A projected Fort Bonifacio development intended to benefit the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the Bases Conversion and  Development Authority (BCDA) is now in limbo due to the refusal of the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) to vacate the property.

What snagged the development of the Fort Boni property, a 7.1-hectare lot that is the subject of a joint-venture agreement between the BSDA and Megaworld Corp., is the touch-and-go decision of PPSC president Ms. Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco on the school’s proposed relocation site. This was the subject of a letter that Interior Undersecretary Marius Corpus wrote the socialite. The PPSC is under the office of Corpus.

She came, she saw, she got a freebie.

Hillary Clinton got a rousing Filipino fiesta welcome last week, courtesy of a university and a local television station.

Kristie Kenney must be delirious with joy. She and her resident PR officer at the US Embassy should be up for promotion soon. Or at least their HR files back at State Department in Washington should have new entries of commendation from their immediate boss, Clinton, for a job well done during her visit.