Birthday Greetings

My 'sister' in activism, Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement is celebrating her birthday today. The lovely lass with an enchanting voice left the entertainment limelight to lend her voice in our people's fight for democracy. Tireless and more beautiful than ever, Leah is another voice in the wilderness who inspires us to stand up for our rights and secure a brighter future for our youth.

Sis, a toast to you and may your tribe increase. I am proud to be your 'brother'. I hope that the Lord will shower you with more blessings and give you strength to continue your advocacies. A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, and may you have more birthdays to come.

==> READ MORE

A Tale Of Two Justices

Former justices Artemio Panganiban and Hilario Davide have one thing in common, they are both responsible for putting Gloria Arroyo in the seat of power. But this is where their similarity ends. Davide went on and was named by GMA as our permanent ambassador to the United Nations. Panagniban retired and is now a private citizen. Davide played a major role during Erap's impeachment and Gloria's ascension to power which gave him an edge over Panganiban.

After the Gloria's Supreme Court ruled in favor of Neri, both former justices came out to give their views on the decision. Davide naturally sided with Team GMA saying that we should all respect the SC's decision. Panganiban went the other way. Short of calling the SC as GMA's Supreme Court, he points out that the SC made a grave mistake in favoring Neri. He explicitly gave weight on transparency and accountability. He pointed out how presidential abuse is now legitimized. Panganiban, untainted by Gloria's Midas touch is an outsider looking in which gave him an objective view of the situation.

Davide once rode high and was respected by the people. He now lies in the gutter with his benefactor, GMA. He clearly lost his objectivity and sense of justice. He could have kept his credibility if only he stayed away from the grasps of Gloria's corrupting clutches. He seems to now have a clouded mind which has led to his misinterpretation of the limits of executive privilege. He has sided with the criminals who continue to cover up Gloria's crimes.

Justice Panganiban is a true justice. He clearly knows his constitution. He knows what limits the legislative and the executive have. He is a man of honor and integrity. Keeping his independence, how I wish that the Supreme Court had more like him. He may have been one of those who legitimized GMA's power grab, he more than made up for it by pointing out the great injustice the nine justices brought upon the nation.

Now that a motion for reconsideration has been filed by the senate, I hope the SC would agree with the views of Panganiban. I hope they do, or not only would history judge them unkindly, they may suffer a worst fate in the hands of the people.

==> READ MORE

When The Shit Hits The Fan

Gloria may have thought that she is invincible. Thanks to her corrupt practices, she has managed to stave off her ouster and perch precariously on the mantle of power. She may have survived the Garci scandal by effectively buying the loyalties of AFP officials. She may have survived impeachments through the "graces" of her corrupt representa-THIEVES. She may have blocked the probes of the senate on her kickbacks and corruption scandals. But one cannot go on dodging the inevitable. Her crimes had caught up to her.

With the food crisis rearing its ugly head, Gloria may have reached the end of the line. Her corrupt practices is the cause of the looming crisis. Because GMA was too busy defending her illegitimate presidency, she forgot to back up her claim to the throne with concrete programs that could have "legitimized" her reign. Personal gain and ambition clouded her view and she must now answer the people.

The nation may turn a blind eye on her scandals, but when the "stomach" rambles, it would very hard for the people to simply forget. Now she is faced with a scenario that could turn very ugly for her. I have blogged about the people's apathy before due mainly to surviving the daily grind. I don't think that faced with high costs of living and a looming food crisis, the people would still remain apathetic. The ineptness of GMA has finally reached the people's doorstep and I don't think they will take this lightly.

This time around, the fight has become personal as it affects the poorest of the poor and the middle class as well. The elite may stay neutral but could be overwhelmed by the rising tide. With social services nonexistent and wages unable to match up with the rising prices, Gloria will be facing an opponent larger and more powerful than her purse. She may have bought off congress, the judiciary, the military and the executive, but I don't think that a few centavos here and there could quell the anger of a hungry people.

The shit has finally hit the fan and it showered the nation. She cannot hide behind technicalities nor executive orders, she must now fight the battle herself. Despite attempts to temper the simmering cauldron, I don't think she can squirm her way out of this one. Something has got to give. Gloria forgot that we are an agricultural country. She forgot that our people are mostly farmers, livestock raisers and fishermen. She forgot that importation cannot supply our every need. What she should have focused on is strengthening the foundations of progress before dreaming of turning the Philippines into a first-world country.

She should have focused on food security and education first before embarking on her corruption binge. With a happy tummy, the people could "overlook" her shenanigans. But it's too late for that now, she had decided her fate. Hunger did her in. Where the opposition failed, Gloria managed do it herself. She has only herself to blame her for this.

I'll leave you with this: Ending her speech before the AIC in Hong Kong, she said that when she steps down in 2010, corruption will end. One of her economic advisers said that the food crisis will stay on until 2010. Is this the sign of things to come? Are they trying to tell us who to blame for the mess the Philippines is in? I suppose you can decide for yourself with the situation our country is in.

==> READ MORE

What About The Corruption In Your Administration?

Gloria Arroyo has moved her Enchanted Kingdom to Fantasy Land. Speaking before businessmen at the 11th Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong, our illegitimate queen said, "As an economist, I know that first and foremost, a strong economy is an economy that is transparent and free from corruption. We are freeing ourselves of the shackles of corruption evidenced by our growing economy which is increasingly free of corruption and inefficiency," Yowww, my ears hurt!

The torture continues. She adds that she had poured billions in the fight against corruption. She claims to have asked congress to pass a comprehensive anti-corruption law. Reminiscent of Erap's "Walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamaganak" speech, she said, "We will hold officials accountable if they are found to be corrupt. For our part, any allegations of wrongdoing go straight to the independent Ombudsman," She adds, "We will let the chips fall where they may as investigations are concluded and friend and foe alike are brought to account for their actions."

I don't know what else she can concoct, but based on recent surveys, Filipinos say their lives have worsened. Of all economists, she sure has the worst track record. As for her vaunted anti-corruption campaign, maybe the rank and file corruption has been minimized. Of course we all know that corruption now belongs exclusively to the higher ups. What her PAGC and Ombudsman have caught/convicted are the small fries. Maybe she had forgotten Jocjoc Bolante (whose extradition she now dangles to divert the attention of the people away from the ZTE scandal)or Nani Perez whom the Swiss found to have a questionable account.

Even patrimonies which were given to the Filipino people as war reparations of Japan did not escape the eagle eyes of GMA. She wants them sold without the consent of the entire Filipino nation through a referendum. The trickle down effect of her economic programs seems to have thickened that only the minute sector of the people actually claim they have become richer. I suppose these are the people around her who has benefited tremendously on her program of systemic corruption. I really don't care what her advisers say about our economic growth. All I know is that my earnings continue to drop. Thanks to her successful corruption-free economy, my sales have dropped 63% in the past two years.

My family has been living frugally and yet we feel the pinch. What more the people whose fixed income cannot even cope with the rising cost of living? She calls for transparency and yet getting information from her administration is virtually nil. What growth can you expect when an investor has to shell out a going rate of 22% in grease money? She dreams of industrialization while forgetting that agriculture is the bread and butter of our nation. Farmers are being forced to sell their land to developers because of nonexistent aid from the government, while our neighbors export their's because their governments know which sectors to prioritize.

Thanks to GMA's medical tourism, Filipinos can now readily sell their organs for a few measly dollars. Aside from trafficking our loved ones to employers abroad, our out-of-school youth are being urged to seek employment instead. How can our country flourish when the youth are being forced to work instead of learning to increase their chances of progress? What our people need are concrete solutions to plaguing problems. A few dole outs every now and then does not address the real problems our people face.

One thing is clear, the unabated corruption in the very halls of the highest office of the land has led to desperation. Gloria can claim progress all she wants. She's been eating her words more often than not. How many times have she lied only to be slapped in the face with the truth? But as the old saying goes, what are we in power for? She can do or say anything she wants and get away with it. Unless we finally get fed up and lose our patience, she and her cabal will rule with impunity. Can you still wait until 2010 and see what happens?

==> READ MORE

Public Sinners Raise A Howl

Bishop Oscar Cruz steps up a notch. The feisty bishop declared that he will not be giving communion to public sinners. Yehey! The bishop finally nails the corrupt. Instead of communing with God, certain public officials would rather dance with the likes of Mike Velarde than with God. It's a slap on the faces of those who rob the country blind for six days a week and has the temerity to hear mass on Sunday. And these officials even receive communion.

The good bishop is right. That is why we have the sacrament of confession, we atone for our sins and welcome God in our hearts. But it seems that some of our leaders are so thick-faced that they would even openly receive communion. There is no such thing as benefit of the doubt in the eyes of the Lord. There simply is right and wrong. You cannot tell God that He should present His evidence to the courts as He surely knows the good or bad things we do.

Palace loudspeaker, Anthony Golez is also wrong in saying that God gives salvation to everybody. Those who repent and offers himself to be saved will be saved, those who continue to sin will never be saved and will forever be condemned. Communion is sacred. The host is considered as the body of Christ. You do not feed it to dogs and pigs. In the eyes of the Lord, there is no such thing as perception. His court is greater than Gloria's Supreme Court, her Ombudsman or her Dept. of (in)Justice. God cannot be bought with a thick envelope nor be blinded by juicy government posts. One cannot hide behind the laws of men as He will judge you by your acts.

Twenty-eight TONGressmen from southern Luzon raised a howl. Calling the bishop's statement the "height of ecclesiastical arrogance", they are calling on the CBCP to reprimand Bishop Cruz. If they do not get a favorable action from the CBCP, they threatened to elevate their call to the Vatican. Southern Luzon Alliance head Rep. Danilo Suarez of Quezon also said that Cruz violated the provision in the constitution on the separation of the church and state by mixing religion and politics. When morality and values are involved, separation is nonexistent. Nice try but I doubt if this move will get anywhere. (Maybe the jueteng lords will hear them out.)

The CBCP replied that they should give a specific crime that the bishop committed. Bishop Cruz said that it would be scandalous for a priest to give communion to a known sinner. When asked what he thought of Gloria Arroyo, he replied that he cannot consider her as a saint. GMA had been accused of lying, cheating and stealing. The bishop also said that he was misquoted and he never specifically called GMA a public sinner. I saw only portions of the said press conference and I really cannot say if Bishop Cruz called Gloria a public sinner. The TONGressmen said that Cruz is guilty of lying and that being a man of the cloth, he should not hastily condemn anyone.

I am glad Bishop Cruz has made this statement. It sends a strong signal to all corrupt officials. Confess and repent or maybe they should establish a church of their own. Laws of men are different from the laws of the church. Though both may contain the same "sins", church laws are not hindered by "technicalities" which our corrupt leaders use to get away with their crimes. The palace can cry foul all they want. Only the guilty raise hell when faced with sanctions from the Church.

The truth really hurts and that when faced with such statements, the GUILTY quickly react. I expected the bishop to be swarmed with criticisms from the allies of GMA. I was not surprised to see her paid hacks launch an attack on the bishop. The morally bereft representaTHIEVES should avoid going to Cruz's archdiocese and risk being denied the Sacrament of Communion or worst, turned away. Every bishop is autonomous and does not have to prove beyond reasonable doubt, the guilt of a sinner.

These officials should reexamine themselves and contemplate. If they can shield Gloria from impeachment, they cannot shield her from outright excommunication.

==> READ MORE

Sumilao Update: At Long Last And Then Some

After a 60-day, 1,700km trek from Bukidnon to Manila, three months of waiting, the Sumilao farmers and San Miguel Foods, Inc. has finally reached a settlement. I received a text message early this morning informing me that a Memorandum of Agreement is to be signed by the two parties. SMFI will give 50 hectares of the disputed land and will acquire another 94 hectares to complete the contested 144 hectares being claimed by the Sumilao farmers. All cases pending on the issue will also be dropped.

After ten long years, the Higaonon farmers will finally realize their dream. They will have their lands back. After the land is awarded, the farmers intend to form a cooperative together with other farmer groups. Groups like taskforce MAPLAD and SALFA will be included in the new cooperative. It will be a good start and a happy ending for the farmers. The DAR had been ordered by GMA to expedite the process of determining the beneficiaries of the land.

I am glad that all is well in the end. The farmers can now determine their own future with this development. But as the last page of the Sumilao saga closes, another fight looms in the horizon. Another group of farmers whose land was awarded to them back in 1990 is about to have it taken away from them. Farmers from Calatagan will be marching their way to Manila starting April 17. Their land is to be converted to a mining area. Asturias Industries, a mining corporation is now going through loopholes in the legal process to convert the land.

So the fight for social justice and equity continues in the Enchanted Kingdom. I am sure that more farmer groups will come. Inspired by the Sumilao farmers, I hope that they too will win their fights. As a food crisis threatens the country, I just wonder why conversion of farmlands continue? I suppose the government would rather have the people go hungry first before they realize the impact of their misdirected programs. Oh well, what else is new? Industrialization will never be realized if the people are straving. Productivity? When the government would rather have 15yr. old kids work than go to school, it tells you where the country is headed.

==> READ MORE

SC's Team Gloria Delivers

As I had expected, the Supreme Court's Team Gloria delivered. Voting 9-6, the SC favored Romulo Neri. The SC also clipped the senate's wings on the issue of contempt and issuance of warrants of arrest. The senate can however call on Neri to testify but must refrain from asking the three most controversial questions. 1. did GMA follow up the NBN deal, 2. did GMA tell Neri to prioritize the NBN deal, and 3. did GMA tell Neri to go ahead with the project despite being notified of a bribe attempt. All these questions to me are all answerable by a simple YES or NO. These questions also do not fall under the restrictions of executive privilege.

To my view, these questions do not involve national security nor diplomatic relations. What these questions really concern is Gloria's security and her corruption through diplomacy. This is how they voted: The Taliban, team captain: Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, members of the special action force are: Associate Justices Leonardo Quisumbing, Renato Corona, Dante Tinga, Minita Chico-Nazario, Presbiterio Velasco, Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Ruben Reyes and Arturo Brion. The counter terrorists: Chief Justice Reynato Puno and Associate Justices Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, Conchita Carpio-Morales, Adolfo Azcuna and Antonio Carpio. Of the nine, eight are GMA appointees while one is FVR's.

It is now clear that all institutions are controlled by Gloria. The Filipinos have no one to turn to. The SC considered by all to be the last bastion of truth could might well be the last straw that holds at bay, the smoldering cauldron. The SC may have sealed Gloria's fate. With the Ombudsman and the DOJ clearly her mercenaries, the people might as well throw caution to the wind and kick them all to kingdom come. We have no other option now as even justice now wears Prada. Justice did not die when Erap was pardoned, it died with the SC's decision.

The SC in essence inoculated the entire executive branch from any investigation on its criminal acts. When even the courts cannot be relied on, the entire system breaks down. Clearly, the SC did not even bother to dig deeper into Neri's case. It did what the palace wanted all along. This was evident when the SC tried to broker a compromise deal. The decision will have a huge impact on every investigation the congress conducts. Corruption can now be legalized through executive agreements.

There is no balance of power now. Equality of the branches of government is nonexistent. The senate is on its own. The advocacy of CJ Puno has been thrown in the trash. The SC has shown its true color. Gloria's appointees have paid their political debt to Gloria. When the going got tough, these appointees delivered for her. Has justice been served? No it was not. Justice chose to uphold criminality in the executive. We now have to seek truth somewhere else as the courts will have none of it. The people will now have to look for justice elsewhere. When all legal remedies have been exhausted to no avail, the rule of the mob is the last resort. It would be ugly, very ugly. But it may just get the job done.

==> READ MORE