Of Brilliance And Miscalculation

As the prosecution rests its case, the burden of proof now falls on the defense. With the Supreme Court's TRO, the prosecution's hands were tied. To rest their case now was a brilliant move. Corona and the defense have their backs against the wall. It is not surprising why Miriam Santiago exhibited such an unparliamentary behavior. She knows the consequences of such a move. Remember how the senators questioned the long list of witnesses and evidences of the prosecution? Now that the prosecution had shortened the proceedings, they again question it.

The move also puts the impeachment court in a very uncomfortable spot. Even if they decide not to admit the evidences on Art. 2, the fact remains that the public now knows the vast unexplained wealth of Corona. The TRO was supposed to protect Corona, it in fact did more harm than good. Corona is the only competent witness the defense has to refute all the evidences. He may have to take the witness stand. This will expose him to questioning from all sides. The SC miscalculated the prosecution's moves

Was the move intentional or did the prosecution unwittingly boxed everybody in? The defense will move heaven and earth to have all evidences declared inadmissible. But then there's the fact that bank records have already been testified on. Even if these were stricken out, the public knows how huge the undeclared wealth of Corona is. At the back of their minds, the senators will have to consider this. They cannot simply discount these information. The senate, after hearing the rationale behind withdrawing the other articles which all evidences are hinged on SC records and witnesses, will have tp use their common sense and see the true motive of the SC in issuing different TROs.

Even if Miriam lectures the public on procedures and technicalities, the public will not swallow them hook, line and sinker. The defense and senate is between a rock and a hard place. Only a conviction will be an acceptable result. Senators cannot claim (if they acquit Corona) that they echo the voice of the people. They cannot claim that our votes do not count. They will have to assert their power as an impeachment court this time around. The defense has reiterated that they will once again go to the SC to defend their client. Cuevas thinks this is useless. He also would like very much not to allow Corona to testify. People will now be watching more closely. We are tired of being played around with. Perhaps the senators will once again try to condition the public's mind that they cannot convict Corona due to technicalities we the people know goes against the intent of the law. We of course will not take this lightly. Public sentiment must take the front seat this time.

I would love to see what's in the senators' minds. I would love to see how much common sense they actually have. To overlook what's staring them in their faces is illogical even to the simplest of minds. Will they disappoint us again? Will we see logic and common sense employed by supposedly intelligent(?) senators? I salute the Prosecutors both public and private. I pity the senate for lacking resolve. I grin at the defense for they miscalculated the ability of the prosecution. Now I can smile, no laugh at Miriam. Her antics did not escape the public's eye and ire. I have only one advice for Corona, karma comes quickly for the wicked and evil. You may still avoid humiliation. You can always resign. We don't really want you there in the first place. We would rather have a chief justice who is appointed constitutionally. We do not like midnight appointees regardless of who the appointing president is.

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Hoodlums In Robes

Claiming judicial privilege, the Supreme Court denied to allow even administrative employees from testifying in Corona's impeachment trial. The SC claims that they have their own internal rules. There is jurisprudence that executive privilege cannot be used in the commission of a crime. It is public knowledge that Corona extended "preferential" treatment to the Arroyos when he and his co-conspirators issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) watch list order. It is also public knowledge based on Justice Sereno's dissenting opinion that Corona tried to hide the truth from the public. It is my humble opinion that the SC is obstructing justice. One cannot invoke the bill of rights to coverup a crime.

With the senate's decision to avoid butting heads with the SC, any future impeachment case filed against any justice will be an exercise in futility. Clearly the SC is abusing its powers. The SC is telling us that they are untouchables. The last bastion of justice has just been turned into a mafia den. Because of these developments, it is useless to continue the impeachment proceedings if even public documents which would not violate the "sacred" judicial privilege is disallowed by the gods of Padre Faura to be subpoenaed by the impeachment court. I would have liked to see the senate assert its power as an impeachment court and go head to head with the SC. If a constitutional crisis would be the only way for the people to see how abusive the SC is, than so be it.

Shameless and devoid of any moral value is how I see the SC now. That is how I see "all" the justices. I say all because not even one of the justices has come forward to go against the scalawags of the SC. I do not understand why Carpio and Sereno has not volunteered their testimonies if only to shed light on the obvious injustice and abuse their colleagues have committed. The SC cannot punish them, it is only by way of impeachment that they can be punished, so what are they afraid of?

So, is there true justice in our country? I shudder at the thought that there is none. Lady justice here is controlled by a bunch of hoodlums in robes that will twist the constitution if only to serve their means.

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Betrayal Of Public Trust

"Public office is a public trust", this the reason why government employees whether appointed, or elected must ensure that they maintain their integrity and honesty. The Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) is a sworn document. It's not a simple list of things you own. Every entry is presumed to be accurate and true. A discrepancy of a few thousand can be deemed honest mistakes or even lapses of memory. Discrepancies of several millions and more than half a dozen properties cannot be considered honest mistakes. If one is so forgetful as to overlook these is not fit to be chief justice.

We are taught as kids to never lie. Honesty, as we are all told, is the best policy. Was Corona absent when his teachers taught this in school? Was he sleeping when his parents discussed honesty in their home? The SALN is to ensure that all government employees do not enrich themselves during their stint in office. Being honest is to me the most important virtue every government employee must possess (loyalty to an appointing power is not included). I remember my mother who even lists the number of blouses she owns in her SAL/N.

The office Corona sits in is one of the highest offices in the land. Anyone who occupies it should not only be honest but extremely honest. Anyone who is appointed there was put there because the public trusts him. If one cannot execute his SALN truthfully, it is tantamount to betrayal of public trust. The senate should not take this lightly. Lying may not be a high crime but is the beginning and the end of all crimes. The constitution may not have a very clear definition of "Betrayal of Public Trust", but even a 7-year old can tell you what honesty means.

So what do you think of my argument? Is it safe to say that undervaluing your net worth constitutes lying? As being members of the "public", we should not be confused by technicalities. There are no gray areas when it comes to honesty, integrity and credibility.

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Atat Na Atat

Renato Corona's first brush with the scandalous midnight appointment came during the Ramos administration. FVR wanted to appoint him as associate justice. But as fate would have it and an impartial Supreme Court during that time, shot down his appointment. The reason was his appointment came during an election ban. Former CJ Narvasa followed what the constitution said. His ambition became a reality when GMA appointed his as an associate justice during her term. Fast forward to 2010. Once again, Corona would face his old nemesis, midnight appointment. This time however, he has the numbers to make something illegal, legal.

The Supreme Court was full of Arroyo appointees. So they came up with a migraine-inducing resolution that upheld Corona's appointment. I guess they thought that Filipinos are dumb and stupid and that we all slept through our Constitution subject in college. Based on his statements, loyalty is what guides him. True enough, his decisions show how loyal he is. Unfortunately for the hapless Filipino, his colleagues live by the same creed. Never mind what is lawful, he an his cohorts will bend what is straight to protect their benefactor.

Under attack, Corona decided to throw in a monkey wrench to muddle the issue. He is now asserting that his impeachment is connected to the SC's decision on Hacienda Luisita. It was clearly a diversionary tactic to confuse the public who are increasingly disgusted with a very biased Supreme Court. Clearly, GMA is still pulling the strings. Is Corona collateral damage in making GMA accountable for he sins? No he is definitely not. He is a co-conspirator in destroying the judiciary so that GMA would not be brought to justice.

Corona's ambition took several years to materialize. He persisted and persevered and GMA rewarded him handsomely. So who is "Atat na Atat"? Not content with his power and influence, he is trying to drag the entire judiciary down with him. Corona is not the Supreme Court. I will follow this impeachment. I will list down the senators who will acquit him and make them pay come 2013.

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Hate To The Chief

The judiciary has finally exhibited its arrogance. Despite the delays in justice, its employees (workers and judges) closed shop to hear CJ Corona call PNoy a dictator. As the final arbiter of the laws of the land, the Supreme Court can dictate what is legal or not. One perfect example of the SC's power is how they legitimized the obvious illegal appointment of Corona. I a blatant disregard for what is lawful, they upheld Corona's right to accept his otherwise midnight appointment. The SC said that Gloria Arroyo can appoint. Yes she can, dummies, as long as it is not within the prohibited period during elections. Any appointment within that period is unlawful. But hey, we are mere mortals who must swallow whatever the SC says. We cannot tangle with gods. They can jail us mortals if they wish to.

How then do we make them accountable? I support PNoy's move to impeach those we all know have and continue to abuse their power. I want them (the justices) to know what fear is. To hell with constitutional crisis. We can live with the justices who are left. What we cannot live with are demigods who obviously are not loyal to the constitution and the people they are supposed to serve. We cannot live with justices who are too loyal or grateful to the one who appointed them. Corona will fight tooth and nail and bring the judiciary down with him. For the first time, someone is serious about weeding out the termites in the judiciary.

I am happy that Corona is finally impeached, although I would have wanted his midnight appointment included in the articles of impeachment. Everyone in government must be accountable, even those who are supposed to be the experts on laws.

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Conspiracy

The brouhaha at the Dept. of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has not died down. Intrigues and speculations add more to the confusion that has muddled the issues. Personally, I feel that opposing interest groups are jockeying for position. Sadly, former DOTC Sec. Ping De Jesus is in the midst of this brewing war. I take the Virginia Torres out of the equation. Her case is a totally different issue. I can only feel how frustrated Sec. De Jesus must be. I would also throw in the towel and let these crocs finish each other off. While this infighting continues, the safety of our flying public is at risk. Even the media hungry for anything they can sensationalize become willing or unwitting victims to rumormongers at the DOTC.

Another issue has been floated. To the common man, it would seem that an another anomaly has been unearthed. To those in the know and are not corrupt, the radar system issue can be explained. If you're not familiar with how air traffic management works, it would seem that there is duplication. Before I comment on the matter, I did some of my own research and asked a friend who is familiar with how the entire system works. I am sure that you would agree with me that redundancy is imperative when safety is concerned. Are the claims of some about the two radar systems true or a ploy to destroy Sec. De Jesus? I would like to remind you that different "syndicates" are fighting for control of lucrative projects.

There are currently two simultaneous projects in place within the CAAP regarding radar and communication. Both projects are DOTC projects not CAAP projects. This means that DOTC provided the funds and conducted the bidding on behalf of CAAP. The projects are Communications Navigation Surveillance-Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM) project and the new Manila Air Control Center (MACC) project.

The MACC project is envisioned to upgrade the air traffic radar system used by the air traffic controllers in Manila, servicing only Terminal 1, Centennial Terminal, Terminal 3 and the old domestic terminal which share the same runway. Whereas the CNS-ATM project is to provide satellite, radar facilities, communications, surveillance and air traffic management to all airports in the Philippines. The CNS-ATM is envisioned to be a "holistic" approach in improving the air navigation system of the Philippines.

It is true that the radar component of both projects is the same. The MACC radar system can fulfill the role of the CNS-ATM radar system and vice versa. This now becomes the crux of the "in-fighting" among the different groups within the DOTC and CAAP. I do not know if those people are aware that both systems are actually needed. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for air traffic management and the National Transportation and Safety Bureau (NTSB) is responsible for investigation. Both agencies (key word here is AGENCY) are independent of each other and have their own equipment and systems. Other countries have similar structure in place. The Philippines on the other hand, have both departments (in the Philippines both are only DEPARTMENTS) working under one organization, the CAAP. Having the operations and investigative departments under one organization using the same equipment pose a lot of concerns. It can even be construed as collusion, incestuous even, since one is not independent of the other. How can the public expect a non-partisan investigation on air traffic mishaps if both the operations and investigative department report to the same person?

Now people with their own agendas are positioning themselves in order to take out the "competition" because there are similar components/overlaps in the projects. Government projects can not have any duplication because in can be construed as waste of government funds. But for safety concerns there is a need for independent redundancy. The new MACC project is obviously a subset of the CNS-ATM project hence the MACC project in only a fraction of the cost of the later.

Rumors about corruption, obsolescence, ineligibility and duplication are rampant. The fact of the matter is both systems can be used complementing each other as long as one system is designated as to be the primary source and the latter as the investigative/audit source should any air traffic mishaps occur.

I am a firm believer of oversight and regulation. This is the only way we can stop corruption. The greed of some people are just insatiable. I do not think our institutions are capable of policing its ranks. We need an independent agency that would oversee the different government agencies. It should not be attached to any other and should operate on its own. Institutions that investigate themselves always clear themselves of any wrongdoing. How I wish that those in the DOTC who are true professionals would come out and expose these mafia groups in their office. I hope the DOTC has a Heidi Mendoza in its ranks.

There will always be people who would conspire to rid their departments of those who try to introduce change. PNoy I think, should look into these matters himself. I hope that Sec. Mar Roxas's entry to the DOTC, the agency would be cleansed of its undesirables.

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The Crying Lady

Who is this? A lady official cried and knelt before a leader of a sect. She begged for mercy and asked to be given another chance. Allegations of corruptions are hounding this lady. Her ploy worked. It was not simply a case of being friends with her boss. Her antics touched the heart of the sect's leader.

She'll soon go back to work despite the allegations. She has not been investigated yet. Her supervisor along with other officials of the agency she works under have resigned. Poor supervisor, hindi ikaw ang boss. Got back to your "private" life. At least that's what the prepared statement given to you said. As for your boss, his backup man couldn't be too happy. If things go as planned, your boss would be out of office by next year. His backup man could be siting behind the desk the people gave him

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