Thanks again for publishing that article. Because the case came out in the media, Nileema Noble’s small but powerful group of supporters initiated a petition “to support the Resident Coordinator/Resident Rep” and managed to wangle the signature of some of the staff of UNDP and UNDP-administered agencies. They intend to counteract the negative, but well-founded, messages circulating around — via a sledgehammer. Many staff members have since been calling me, complaining that they are being forced to sign through subtle and not-so-subtle means. Some were informed that the evaluation of their performance would be imperiled should they refuse; others’ contracts were held hostage. What’s frightening is that I’m slowly losing the ability to be shocked by these machinations.

The petition exercise is nothing but a vote of confidence secured by coercion — for who would dare not sign if their job is on the line? It is also plain crackdown, a way to pinpoint the dissenters (those who refuse to sign) who might face possible retribution. Some relented to the pressure, others stood their ground. The latter have just sent a formal letter of complaint to the UN Headquarters.

Nileema’s minions are now doing serious groundwork to reduce this to a numbers game, which in fact skirts the issue. If you kill one person and give cake to a hundred others with the promise you won’t kill them — who thereupon thank you for it — does that make you any less of a murderer? One harrassed person is one too many. And as far as the UN here is concerned, it is far, far more than one. Most are effectively silenced, but some are now fighting back.

What worries us more is that Nileema shows all indications of the delusion characteristic of tyrants we’ve seen in history. Archetypically, she is unable or refuses to see that when people tell her something, they don’t necessarily mean it. Usually they’re just too intimidated or terrorized to speak otherwise. They just go around second-guessing what she wants to hear.

A culture of complete subjugation is happening now within the UN in the Philippines, and we should all be alarmed.

The devil’s not wearing Prada this time, but something more assaulting it blinds. About time people speak the naked truth.

Robert Francis Garcia
Former Coordination Specialist
UN Resident Coordinator’s Office

dred, just get in touch with me. will email you in private re contact details.there is so much you can do to help the center.

Take care!

Joy in Croatia

Just going around google when I typed your name and this address appeared. With barely 30mins of sleep since Press Time for the magazine am currently handling begun, I suddenly felt a different feeling of a need to be connected with Lolo Blas again.(Btw, I am Mildred Ople, iskolar ni Amang Blas, from San Agustin, Hagonoy, Bulacan mula po sa clan ng mga Ople sa Hulo)

Unexplainable feeling.
But I must say, I found my inner self again by going around your blogsite. I missed Lolo Blas writings, his greatest life lessons shared to me when he’s still around, his generosity of supporting my studies in my first 2 years in college, his kind words, his integrity and character lookep up to by his colleagues in the senate.

I am his big fan.
I support his advocacies.
I shared with his dream–greatest good for the greatest number of people especially those in the labor sector.

And I want to pay it forward.
I want to be actively involve in the Blas Ople Policy Center.

Sorry my comment just a bit-off topic.
Overwhelmed with my feelings.
Hope to hear from you, tita?..Thanks.

-Dred