The Three Stooges

Talk of rebellion charges against several personalities had been floating for several weeks. As expected, the authorities (as in authors of fictional circumstances) has filed rebellion raps against fifty persons. This is in connection with the attempt to kick the impostor in Malacanang out of her beloved office. Supported by affidavits from the three stooges, Lts. San Juan, Bumidang and Sandava, rebellion charges were levelled against a wide array of persons.

From the rich and famous to virtual unknowns, all were implicated by the increasingly paranoid administration. For sure, evidences will once again be fabricated, inconsistent witnesses will surface to corroborate the statements of the three "vital" witnesses. Though specifics have yet to be presented by the DoJ, we can plainly see why some of the personalities were even forcebly included in the list. And they want their version of the Anti-Terrorism Bill approved?

Clearly some were charged for convenience, to once and for all silence them. With the Cha-Cha virtually dead, the administration is forced to "kill" the opposition and render it inutile for the upcoming elections. Faced with a possible hostile congress, the pretender cannot take any chances. From the political to the civil opposition, the administration intends to just stop its critics in one swoop and leave a chilling effect on those who continue to criticize the current dispensation.

The charges on the Batasan 5 failed miserably to take off as those accused were present in congress which weakened the affidavit of their witness. I am not sure how they intend to connect the dots this time. Most probably they will use Nellie Simbayan's controversial report. As election time nears, expect more absurdity from a panic-stricken administration. They will continue to harass the opposition. Should the lower house fail in its bid for Con-Ass, the administration will be in very deep shit.

The bombings in the south is the signal we must all be wary of. It is being used by the administration to shore up support for its version of the Anti-Terrorism Bill. While a senate version is more rights friendly, the administration's is so broad that even legitimate dissent can be grounds for arrest. GMA's hands are tied with declaring Martial Law, so her best option is the approval of their version of the Anti-Terrorism Bill. With that in place, she need not ask congress's approval to declare Martial Law.

The road for us will even get bumpier as the election nears. The crackdown on the opposition coupled with the continuing extra-judicial killings will become more vicious. Let's hope the opposition will hold up to the onslaught. Our vigilance and awareness of the events now going on is a must. To blink could mean the end of democracy.

==> READ MORE

A Joke or a Tactless Remark

The COMELEC and the Department of Defense had signed and agreement limiting the military's role in the ypcoming elections. I suppose this is to convince the people that the 2007 elections will be credible, really?

We all know how the well-oiled machinery of cheaters are still lurking in COMELEC's midst. To say that there will be no "Hello Garci" controversy as Garcillano is no longer a part of the institution is a big joke. Abalos may have unwittingly confirmed that indeed Garcillano was able to pull a fast one on the electorate during the last elections.

So what if Garci is longer there, we all know his henchmen are still around and assigned to even juicier positions. Couple that with '04 generals who have been promoted while those who blew the whistle are facing court martial. Abalos and Esperon give themsleves too much credit. We know who pulls the strings and who has the appointing power. We all know that the administration never plays by the rules. If the rules suit them, its accepted but if it goes against them, they will cut corners and interpret it some other way.

If Abalos made the comment in jest, it certainly isn't funny. Up to now, the unanswered questions behind the '04 elections still leaves a bad taste in the mouth. It has plunged the country into more crisis and instability. The administration's frantic response to quell the tide of dissent had been full of unnconstitutional acts.

Esperon has no credibility either. His continued disservice and disloyalty to the people and constitution had made him into the personal bodyguard of the impostor in the palace. No MOA or pronouncement of indenpendence from this two will convince the people of their impartiality. Its obvious that they serve at their master's every whim. So who do they think they are fooling this time around?

The fact remains that with the cloud of doubt hanging over the COMELEC's head, no election will be credible with Abalos at the helm. The COMELEC's honest employees will forever be associated with the "Hello Garci" even if they had been doing an honest job. The rotten eggs couldn't care less as they have been already rewarded for their "services".

The AFP as an institution is also a casualty in all this. But the top brass doesn't care. As long as the pretender "pays" them handsomely, the generals will continue to serve her. The poor foot soldier will be abused time and again by the very officers who command them. With the doctrine of chain of command instilled in them, obedience to this code will forever tie their hands.

The "Garci Tapes" is no joke, the current commissioners in the COMELEC will never regain their credibility. The electorate will always be suspicious of the elections as long as the same people are in the COMELEC. As for me, wary as I may be of the integrity of the elections, I will still vote and be more vigilant this time around. All democratic means to express my sentiments had been mocked by this administration. I will make them pay come election time.

==> READ MORE

All Roads Lead to the Palace

Centralizing power is what this administration wants. Their bid for Cha-Cha through whatever means is all about consolidating the power to one person. As events drag on, everything becomes clearer, Malacanang is the instigator of all these scandals. Now that the cat is out of the bag with Bunye's admission that SnB's funding comes from Malacanang, I wonder what other surprises they have in store for us? Speculations about the cancellation of elections next year abound. The lower house is frantically exploring all avenues to finally convert itself to a constituent assembly. But with an anti Cha-Cha senate in its path, their dreams of grabbing power would not materialize anytime soon.

No wonder the pretender is hellbent in preventing her officials from attending congressional hearings. She's so scared that her minions might open up a can of worms when they face these congressional probes. With the recent bombings in Mindanao, could this be another ploy by the government to railroad the Anti-terrorism Bill?

Questions, just too many unanswered questions. Since GMA took office, scandals have been flying left and right. No sooner that one is unearthed, another comes along. With the government's policy of exporting our work force, one would suspect that the recent nursing exam leakage scandal can also be attributed to Malacanang. With the growing global need for nurses, the government is pressing the industry to churn out more nursing graduates. We all know that its this administration's practice to cut corners to get what it wants. A "leak" will definitely achieve the results they want. Any accusation against her office must be answered by her.

Even the school-feeding program did not escape being tainted. The budget hearings exposed an anomaly regarding the procurement of the rice being distributed to students in the public schools. The NFA had spent P1 billion for last year's program. As we all know, we are an agrigultural country whose prime crop is rice. It seems that the program will be buying its rice from abroad. This deprives our farmers of much needed earnings. The amount NFA wants is P4 billion. Somebody must be really reaping in a lot of money. We all know who that is.

The DepEd had awarded most of the printing contracts for textbooks to only one publishing company. How can this be, when the winning bidder was disqualified by the Bids and Awards Committee? No wonder our educators are so demoralized. Their bosses have been bending the rules to enrich themselves. Our poor teachers have endured so much. Low pay and long hours, add the cramped classrooms and the huge student numbers they have to deal with every single day.

This administration has time and again taken advantage of our patience. Cheating, lying and stealing has been widely accepted by this regime. Corruption still lords over our institutions. While mostly low-ranking officials have been charged with graft, those obviously close to the pretender have yet to face the music. I must admit that despite my belief in a peaceful and lawful solution to the plague that hangs over our country, a violent formulation could be a better option. When all is said and done, GMA and her minions might wake up to a bloodthirsty mob at their doorstep.

==> READ MORE

DoJ: Department of Joke

Time and again, we see the senile secretary of DoJ make pre-judgement on cases. I don't really know what on earth this incoherent, word-chewing old man is doing in government. He is more of a jester than a justice secretary.

This lastest stunt the DoJ pulled on the alleged rape victim Nicole is a great example of how the Filipino is treated in his own country. After berating and lambasting Nicole, the state prosecutors (with the exception of Hazel Valdez) had the temerity to still handle the case. Any person with "delicadeza" would have resigned outright when accused of compromising the case.

Atty. Ursua and Fiscal Valdez should have been allowed to handle the case instead of Emilie delos Santos. Delos Santos obviously does not follow the ethical standards of being a lawyer. If your client has lost faith in you, you should have stayed away from the case. Gonzalez if indeed is the guardian of justice should have replaced those he assigned on the case. Their insistence to still handle the case reeks of a sell-out, a perception that many Filipinos I quite sure share with me. But now the jester wants to make amends and asked the government prosecutors to resigh should Nicole lose her case. Now he tries to save his neck after all is said and done.

Poor Nicole, a victim many times over even by her own countrymen. It pains me that the Filipinos are made political pawns in GMA's diplomatic games. GMA needs the America's support, its the only thing keeping her in office. This is the reason why she's been trying her best to "please" them. But at who's expense? After "raping" the country blind, she now wants to sell us out. Nicole's case should open our eyes to the injustice being done to our country. We are not whimps nor pushovers. Its GMA who's in "hot water" not us. We should never allow ourselves to be used for her own personal survival.

==> READ MORE

The Lady's Got Balls

I caught the Ombudsman's press conference this afternoon. I must admit I am somehow impressed by her demeanor. I saw her toughness and no nonsense stance. Coming out after the controversial resolution clearing the COMELEC of any liability in the botched Automated Counting Machine Project, she gainly aswered all questions and never showed any sign of being irritated.

With a straight face she responded to the media's queries and from time to time broke into a smile. She said that she will take full reponsibility for the resolution. Her panel also pointed out that the compainant never showed up during the clarificatory hearings which their office conducted. Had there been any additional evidence presented during these hearings, their resolution "might" be different. It seems Gus Lagman never was interested in the case.

She also stressed that she should not be onion-skinned when being battered by criticisms for she is a public figure and this is part of her job. She also will not file any charges against those who criticize her. She said that her time will be better spent going after grafters than attending libel hearings in court.

Maybe, the Arroyos should take notice of how Merciditas Gutierrez conducts herself. Thia is one gutsy lady that has bigger balls than Mike Arroyo. To simply shrug off criticisms is hard, at least she knows it comes with the territory. Retaliation is not in this lady's vocabulary. A titled "gentleman should have more humility, if not then he definitely does not deserve the title.

After all is said and done, Gutierrez gets my thumbs up. Regardless of rumors that Malacanang had a hand in this, her character shows her strength. Unlike most officials in government today, she's the only one I've seen who's willing to take the heat and not dish it back. She is has no air of arrogance or vindictiveness in her. She simply smiles off her detractors. She's also willing to be impeached to clear her name. The pretender in the palace should take lessons from her on how to be a good leader. Gutierrez knows her place in the sun and that deserves a round of applause.

==> READ MORE

Gangland

What do you do if the country you live in is not a country but a gangland? Such is the case with the Republic of the Philippines. Headed by a select "few" who runs the government Mafia style, they control the country with an iron fist. Any opposition is quickly dealt with. This syndicate-like operation has run this country to the ground. Total disregard for law had been the norm and they can do anything with impunity.

From illegal gambling to smuggling to protection rackets to corruption of every democratic institution, this syndicate's power grows each day. With the money in their pockets, the police and military quickly becomes their "enforcers and hitmen".
Their best business yet is human trafficking. They simply go around the world offering the Filipinos to every country in need of slaves. These "workers" are then enticed by the government to fill in these job orders. The syndicate just waits for the slaves' remittances and quietly siphon off these funds. They couldn't care less if the families they leave behind go astray.

Doing business here is easy if you have the right connections. Just cozy up to someone close to the "family" and you are quickly given your space to operate provided of course that you pay the required "goodwill". Your business will be protected by the mob if you know how to play their game. Even your tax evasion case can be conveniently swept under the rug. Even as scam after scam had been exposed, nothing has come of it as their members in the lower house made sure it doesn't reach the doors of the senate. They replace career officials with their "buddies" and slowly take control of the entire government.

Their new "project" is to keep the power to themselves with their twisted People's Initiative. With funding from the "mob", the legion fraudulently gathered more than six million signatures to permanently sit the "queen" in the halls of Malacanang. Want to know how the wicked queen has managed to survive? She simply made sure that the populace is occupied with surviving the day to day life. She made life so hard and miserable that nobody will have the time to join the rallies against her. The few who dared to join these actions were simply hosed down by her goons in the PNP. They employ tactics of repression only the master of hell can think of.

Those who are more vocal are slapped with libel suits and "fake" cases. But these are nothing compared to the hundreds who have been "eradicated" by the enforcers of the mob. To clean up their mess, they created a commission to whitewash their despicable deeds. Secretaries are turned into bagmen and architects of embezzling public funds, courts are made into tools of harassment and into legitimizing their illegal acts.

This country is not a safe place anymore. Its become a haven for a new breed of criminals with power in their hands and the country's wealth at their disposal. So corrupt is this breed that they had reduced this once proud nation into their own "turf". Its up to us now to once and for all cleanse this country of this infestation.

==> READ MORE

Monopoly of the Rich

Even before tropical storm Milenyo hit Manila, my house and seven others were plunged into darkness, that was Wednesday night. A secondary cable of Meralco snapped which caused us to lose power. Metro Manila, fell prey to te fury of the storm early Thursday morning. With more wind than rain, Metro Manila's structures were no match to the unrelenting Milenyo.

I had reported the outage in my area a few minutes after it occurred and was told that I would serviced immediately. A few hours turned into eight days of darkness. I was told by Meralco that I was in the priority list and complaints will be serviced as they come in. A day after, power was restored in my street except for my place and seven other houses. When the power came back, an apartment row on my street broke into flames. The occupants forgot to turn off their breakers. I had to rush to Camp Karingal to get help. Phone lines were dead, celphones were unreliable and the PNP's radios were the only means to get word out. After what seemed like hours, help came and the fire was extiguished. I have been following up my request every hour. I went to Meralco's call center in Ortigas to follow-up my complaint personally. As I had expected, I was given the runaround and went home frustrated.

My nights were spent fanning my kids to sleep and make sure no mosquitos got to them. Being a father has added obligations you know. My wife's stock of poultry and meat all rotted. My baker was unable to bake pandesal but was able to prepare other kinds of bread. I still have to make an accounting of how much business we lost. But still, I can be thankful that what I lost was incomparable to what most impoverished families had lost during the storm. While the rich were being served with haste, ordinary folks like me had to wait in line.

Meralco's service sucks. I hope the government does something about this monopoly. With the high cost they charge us, good service should be given in return. I saw dozens of PLDT service personnel checking/repairing their lines, while Meralco's were quietly tucked in posh subdivisions in Makati and Pasig. My brother who lives in Las Pinas had to fetch Meralco's trucks to avert a catastrophe when three of their posts almost fell on some houses in their subdivision.

It pays to be rich in the Philippines. This mirrors the disparity in our society. To be poor will the least of anybody's concern. You will always be at the end of the line while the rich will always be at the head of the pack. I saw residents of Forbes and Dasmarinas vilage complain about how they couldn't charge their celphones while the rest of Manila's poor had to wait for whatever service will be rendered to them. A society of indifference still survives in the Philippines.

"Blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the earth", a thought that the rich should always bear in mind.

*After eight days, Meralco had finally restored power in my area. My neighbors and I had to shell out P1,500 and feed the linemen just to be served. We were not in their job schedule for the day. We had to practically beg and bribe them to connect that short piece of cable.

==> READ MORE