Napoles Surrenders to Pnoy

Sensing that her world had quickly shrunk with Ten Million Pesos (P10M) bounty on her head, Napoles decides it’s game over for hiding, and time to face the music. That was the smartest thing she had done since the pork barrel scandal broke out. In fact, she might have just given up right in the nick of time.

I surmise that when Pnoy put a price tag of P10Mon her head, her Subjects in her red book, would have run their own “Get Napoles to Me” campaign for P15M or more. An hour late in her decision would have spelled the difference.

Now, the public is happy she is in custody, safe, at least for now. Why? She has her back against the wall. Her only chance at life is to bare it all. If she sticks to her “I did nothing wrong” tune she will be left by herself in a cell where she could be penetrated and assassinated. If she is made, and if she agrees to be, a state witness, she will be placed under the Witness Protection Program, and her chance of surviving this will become fairer.

Already speculations of all sorts as to what happens to her have flooded the internet. She’ll finally spill the beans on this elaborate 10-year scam; Administration will strike a deal with her to spare the administration porky personalities in exchange for leniency on her; She will be made State witness in exchange for immunity from prosecution?

The administration should deal with this carefully. It could find itself walking on thin ice, if it hasn’t already. The public will not be as forgiving as to allow Napoles immunity from prosecution in exchange for her testimony. After all, the government is not facing a blank wall in its investigation. There are Benhur Luy and company; ten of them now who corroborate one another on many points of their individual testimony to Napoles’ scheme of siphoning pork barrel funds in collusion with Lawmakers.

First, she must be stripped, wringed, and dispossessed of all properties she stole from public coffers. All of it. She should be brought to justice and accorded due process like other accused. If she offers testimony, take it without offering anything in exchange. She only has her soul to save for so doing. That should be enough motivation for her.

If she’s offered any leniency by the State, believe me every outcome will be seen as impartial: opposition lawmakers will lace her testimony and a few if any from the administration counterparts. Then we’re robbed of the truth again.

I say let justice take its course. Let her hire her defense. With all the money she stole, I am sure she could get more than what she needs.

Lawmakers, Preporkcupied

Custom Raises Ghost

When you’re used to getting 70M pesos to 200M pesos –no sweat– a year, you have so internalized the routine that you breathe life into what otherwise was nothing more than an imagined entitlement. You so feel its life form you have convinced yourself it existed.

I am talking about lawmakers’ unwitting talking points betraying their rueful sentiment against Pork Barrel’s imminent demise. They just reek of a heap of regret over the fund’s saying sayonara to them. Haven’t you noticed? Even the lawyers among them keep on harping on their alleged constitutional mandate to directly participate in pinpointing projects and funneling funds therefor. One even boorishly equates the prospect of them being prevented access to the funds with being worthy of abolishing Congress. He was seeing red, why?

Yet a reading and countless re-reading of our 1987 Constitution would reveal no such provision charging them of the duty to identify projects, much less have a hand in directing funds therefor. Their mandate is to enact laws, to legislate, that’s why they are called legislators (who can’t even come up with responsive laws). I know legislation covers deliberating on the national budget under the General Appropriations Act, but their role is to determine the wisdom of the proposed budgetary allocations for certain departments of government, whether those justify their programmed undertakings. They seem to have re-written the constitution in their minds to accommodate the pork.

Others are insinuating, perhaps in hopes of harassing Pnoy to make a turnaround on his pronouncement of abolishing the pork, that Pnoy risks impeachment because he had cut off lawmakers’ access to funds. What? I don’t see how righting a wrong or plugging a loophole that led to abuse could be impeachable.

What is wrong with our lawmakers? What with continued preporkcupation? Couldn’t they understand that it’s over, kaput for the pork barrel? Give it up and go back to what you have been elected to do.  

 

 

Lawmakers' Calls to Abolish Pork Barrel: a Red Herring.

You listen to Lawmakers voice their consensus to the abolition of the reviled Pork Barrel, and you hear almost a teeny little voice that wished it did not have to come out. It’s hokey! I say deep inside, here’s what they say “Fuck whoever that idiot who blew this up!”

The truth is they’re losing hair and sanity over this debacle they don’t know who to freakin’ lay blame on. If Napoles is to blame for real, or if they decide that Napoles’carelessness led to all these, I won’t be surprised if she and her brother will never be found. We’re talking of hundreds of fuming powers-that-be, thrown into this deep hole they find very difficult to climb out of and are forced to face humiliating public investigation over the scandal which could permanently destroy their political future, who might be interested in silencing the two for good.

Now the two must be confused over who they’re supposed to run away from: The NBI or the erstwhile friendswho now are being scalded in hot water, and raring to end them?

 

Million People March

I am Reggie, I am a lawyer and an ordinary worker. I work long and crazy hours every day, including Sundays, to provide for my family. Believe me, the most that I can say I have achieved is bring food to the table. I know many are in direr circumstances than I am, and I feel strongly for them. But whether one makes one hundred or one hundred thousand, we all aspire to one goal: A fair chance at success in life. I could have brought more to the family: a bit more comfort, better school for my children, more vacations, if only I did not have to give up some 30% of what I toil and sweat for, lose sleep over, and get sick doing, in taxes to pay the price for the so-called civilized society.

I say private citizens who sacrifice so much in taxes would be happy if they knew that the money is used to better the circumstances of the weaker brethren among us, those who did not have the privilege of sufficient education regardless of underlying circumstances: all those against whom the playing field is grossly tilted, if only we could say we are bringing the playing field to level down one step at a time so that it is in their children’s time.

Sadly, the truth is far uglier. While ordinary taxpayers forgo a good part of their needs and some more for taxes, the leaders who call themselves servants spend taxpayers’ money obscenely.

While we struggle to bring food to the table, they dine in fancy restaurants. While we settle for divisoria garments, they lavish themselves with signature clothing. While we hardly keep up with rent, they are ensconced in million-dollar flats here and abroad.

We have been fooled, we have been blindsided, we have been hoodwinked, but no more.

No more to government shenanigans!

I have lost faith in the government and the incorrigibly corrupt people who run it. I have decided to take upon myself the task of determining my own fate, and I exhort you to do the same. It starts with retaking my country back from the thieves who mask themselves as servants.

Today we take to the streets to demand accountability, destroy the evils of corruption, and restore humanity.

I am Reggie, and I am ready!

 

Incorrigibly Corrupt!

How many times has corruption been brought to the spotlight? Countless. How many times has it died a slow and natural death? Every time!

Crooks have learned how to overshadow events of corruption with other public-sensitive events like heinous crimes: massacres, bombing and other acts of terrorism, murders. Once staged, public outrage is diverted. They have mastered this diversionary tactic.

Already, news of diversionary plans mentioned above, have leaked, and the public must meet them with caution. Take heed! Better be safe than sorry. Truly, personalities who are involved in the Pork Barrel scandal have their backs against the wall. Desperate moments call for desperate measures!

On the other side of the coin is public unrest, which finds the Philippines, once again, standing on a powder keg that could explode anytime. Which one eventually materializes or comes first, remains to be seen. Neither would be a palatable event for the country, but one may be necessary, regardless of danger.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the current corruption scandal concerning Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), more popular and derisively called Pork Barrel, is the biggest so far in terms of both amount and number of politicians (lawmakers mostly) and executive officials involved. By any standard, this is unprecedented. Remember we are talking not only about the Napoles scam (PDAF allegedly funnelled to Janet Lim-Napoles’ bogus NGOs), but PDAF misuse during the time of GMA, which doubled the amount at over 23B or so.

Why did I always suspect that after all the stones had been turned we’ll Arroyo’s hands? Now, as we turn each page of what is becoming the most debased and defiled chapter of post-martial rule Philippine politics, we continue to see more and more of political names who until exposed had kept mum, pensive, and even deploring of the issue. Names we thought hardly would be involved.

If God intervenes and purge our politics of moral misfits, He would also have to call snap elections on all posts.

Lame Revolutions, Lame Results

We have had a few EDSA Revolutions (so-called), but none seemed to have left lasting effects. Every administration that followed showed off, and eventually snapped back to its disgraceful norm. All these people power events, touted around the world as Filipino’s unique version of revolt, had one thing in common: they were peaceful and bloodless. They brought the same result: FAILURE.

Anything of the same kind, or its derivative is doomed for failure. Ever wonder why Egypt after ousting Mubarak in an EDSA-inspired Arab Spring to this time continues to wage, with dying vigor, their Arab (weakening) Spring revolution after Mohamed Morsi, who was installed through what was heralded as first Democratic elections in decades, was dismissed and sent packing by the Military responding to public clamor for his ouster on accusations of installing laws that are pro-Muslim (he is a Muslim for Christ’s sakes)?

Revolution, in its political concept, which means the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed (Merriam-Webster.com), to leave a mark in the Subjects’ (actual and potential) minds must be resolute and uncompromising in its purpose: to not only supplant a new government, but more importantly, to bring to justice those who are responsible, those who have blood on their hands, those who have brought pain and suffering upon the people.

That is to ensure that future Subjects would not venture into the same sins that called forth the revolution, lest they meet the same fate

Anything less is just an escape. It is just like complaining about a problem without offering real solutions.

Given the magnitude of the scandal, the Filipino is being called upon again to take to the streets, not by some partisan maneuvers, but by their own indignation, anger, outrage, and betrayed passion.

Will history repeat itself? It may, but when it does I hope it adds some missing ingredients that failed the ones that came before it: The Filipino should not be lame revolutionists, let us be resolute. Let the axe fall where it may!

Robbed Before Hit by Typhoon Maring

In the wake of typhoon Maring, thousands of farmers (and family), devastated, with their projected harvest wiped out, go hungry as I write, and look to a bleaker future. But before that, they have already been robbed of some Php40,000.00 that could have gone to each farmer’s farmland and ushered in bounty harvest if only the Malampaya Fund amounting to Nine Hundred Million Pesos (Php900,000.00) released for the purpose found its to their rightful beneficiaries, according to reports.

That’s like snatching food on the table inside a farmer’s home while they pray with eyes closed! Where did it go?! Damn! They are our servants! Isn’t that what they pitched to you when they wooed you for your vote? Now you see their true color.

That’s how painful it is, not only for the farmers, but for all who sacrifice some of their needs to contribute in taxes, withheld and without the courtesy of being asked, like myself, to pay the price for the so-called civilized society.

Now, the truth rears its ugliest head. What civilized society when the leaders, styling themselves as servants (the gall!), who legislate these laws, including the General Appropriations Act –the law providing for the government budget, and yes you’re right, where these Pork Barrel (of swill) on which the Pigs (you know who they are) feed, come from– are (almost all of them) now caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Red-handed! In flagrante delicto.

And as always, like in the past, when exposed and in their efforts to save face, they all instantly portray themselves immaculate by calling for the abolition of the Pork Barrel. Ah, how the actors and actresses in Congress!

Regardless of where the Pork ends up, those responsible must be pursed with the full force of the law. If found guilty, sent to jail. If the president exercises his power of Pardon, then Juan must go for the president with similar swift action, in real revolution. It is time we learned the lessons from history.

Successful Revolutions are Painted in Blood

Many successful revolutions known the world over that graced the annals of history had been laced with blood, fueled by violent passion, and punctuated by exaction of deaths on the ousted oppressors, as their hallmark. Targeted Carnage seemed to be the operative catapult to effective revolution.

Should we call for the same? We have tried to avoid them, but so far we have not achieved the same results.

Okay we’re not screaming for blood. But scolding these pachyderm politicians just doesn’t cut it. Shame them and their families, jail all of them who may be found in conspiracy with the sitting clan member/s. They must feel the teeth and claws of the law cutting into their flesh. No more Mr. Nice Juan!

Better yet, let’s restore the death penalty, exclusive for public officials who commit crimes of graft and corruption. I can forgive a murderer, but I say death for the thief!

And no lethal injection, electric chair, or firing squad, those are too civil for these suckers. Let’s go old-fashioned like impalement, disembowelment, breaking wheel, flaying or skinning alive, or death by boiling. A little costly, more hassle, or messy, but sure sends a loud message.

 

 

Thank Goodness Some Senators are Finally Talking Sense

I laud Sentor Santiago’s dismissive disfavor of a Senate inquiry into the 10 Billion-Peso Philippine Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam allegedly perpetrated by Janet Lim-Napoles, and implicating lawmakers from whose pork barrels (proving to be, now more than ever, an apt epithet for PDAF) funds were drawn and funneled to bogus Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) allegedly created by Napoles.

Senator Peter Cayetano also aired his reservation saying he preferred an investigation by the Department of Justice.

With two no-nonsense senators doubting its own (senate’s) effectiveness in conducting investigations, especially on issues where its otherwise prominent members are accused of wrongdoing, which quite often end up like premature campaigns/grandstanding and all, I hope the Senate has finally spoken some sense into this issue.

Senator Escudero must back down, and instead join the two senators in indorsing either the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice (DOJ) or joint, considering the limited human resource at the Ombudsman office, for the conduct of thorough investigation on the issue.

As of this writing former Justice and now Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima must be psyched up of the prospect of this war-like coalesced endeavor considering the public outrage and indignation the issue has spawned.

Let us not forget and sidestep our Accounting stalwart Heidi Mendoza, now a Commissioner at the Commission on Audit (COA), who is definitely a fit to this gargantuan task.

The people are worn out by, and dead tired of, all these anomalous scandals involving often, if not always, politicians and appointive officials, so-called public servants.

It is high time we demanded as a people that those involved be brought to justice and if proven guilty in the courts of law, sent to jail without exception, fear or favour.

We’ve been called “boss” all too often, let’s flex our boss muscles now: wring the truth into the open, and wheel the perpetrators to penitentiaries where they belong. That’s a much better use of taxpayers’ money.