Romulo L. Neri: Can golf, realpolitik work at SSS?

OUR latest report is a “Public Eye” profile on the man of the hour: Romulo L. Neri, who was designated by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Friday as new administrator of the Social Security System.

This new posting for Neri — erstwhile director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, and chairman of the Commission on Higher Education — has met with a mix of surprise, criticism and revulsion.

Neri had consistently invoked “executive privilege” as an excuse for his dismal silence on the role of Mrs. Arroyo in the controversial $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corporation.

NBN star witness Rodolfo Noel ‘Jun’ Lozada Jr. says that apart from being an avid golfer, Neri has a good grasp of both the functions and dysfunctions of the political system. NEDA personnel say Neri is a master, too, of realpolitik, and on occasion, politicking.

The report reviews Neri’s performance record as NEDA chief, from the perspective of his deputies, staff personnel and other informed sources, as well as inquires into the credentials that Neri brings to his new job as manager of the P248-billion pension funds of 27 million SSS members.

Read on at pcij.org.