GRABE!
This administration of PGMA is really something!
The legal actions being taken against the NBN-ZTE whistle blower Jun Lozada may be viewed as non-partisan if you look at it myopically. However, a lot of questions beg for answers.
1. Why is it that up to now, no similar actions have been done to Former COMELEC Chairman Ben Abalos including everybody in COMELEC who were involved in that billion peso computer scam that was declared as patently illegal by the Supreme court?
2. Why is it that up to now, Joc-joc Bolante is scott-free after all the details that were exposed in the 728 million peso fertilizer scam?
3. Why is it that there had been no action on the reported billion peso Centennial Expo scam in Clark?
4. Why is it that there is still no action on the billion pesos Mega-dike scam?
5. Why is it that there is still no action on the billion peso Manila Bay Reclamation project scam?
6. Why is it that there is no action yet on the plunder case filed by governor Panlilio against alleged Jueteng Lord Bong Pineda at the Ombudsman? In relation to this, why is it that up to now, illegal numbers game continue to proliferate in our country?
7. Why are military officers involved in the 2004 presidential election scam being rewarded by PGMA with important posts in the government after their retirement?
Even a high school student will know the answers to these questions.
While we respect the view of a few that Jun Lozada should also go to jail for being part of corrupt practices before when he was in the government service, we disagree with this.
Jun Lozada has admitted his mistakes in the past. He may still be holding out a few items in declaring his past actions, but this should not be the focus when we look at his case.
The focus must absolutely be on the fact that Lozada chose to expose the NBN-ZTE scam. He could have chosen the easy part of just going along and be part of the greedy in government. He could have chosen to just shut his mouth so his family, specially his children, can continue living their "normal lives." This act of courage and heroism of Lozada saved our country about ten billion pesos that would have gone to the personal pockets of the greedy in government led by the conjugal pretenders in Malcanang.
Yet Lozada chose the narrow and righteous path.
WE NEED MORE JUN LOZADA FROM THE GOVERNMENT!
Let us support Jun Lozada and all the others who expose the greediness and other devilish actions by everybody in government.
LUID KA!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Reprinted from the April 28, 2009 issue of The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Viewpoint
Lethal silences
By Juan Mercado
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:44:00 04/28/
King’s caution anchors former President Corazon Aquino’s call over the weekend. “Speak up,” she urged citizens, against orchestrated attempts to clobber Rodolfo Lozada who blew the lid off the ZTE broadband fraud.
Aquino’s summons came after the President’s former chief of staff, Michael Defensor, got a judge to reverse the dismissal of perjury charges against Lozada. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has offered to take Lozada under his wing. But the court spurned that.
Defensor is a 24/7 Malacañang eunuch. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave him all-stops-pulled support in the 2007 senatorial elections. He was soundly thrashed. To safeguard his Palace patrons, Defensor tried, but failed, to get Lozada to skip Senate hearings on the ZTE stink.
Agents shanghaied Lozada on a 27-hour tour to Cavite and Laguna. They dumped him in Greenhills where De La Salle brothers gave him and his family refuge. He went on to testify that cost overruns (“bukol”) padded a $132-million broadband project into a $329-million scam.
That came after the President and First Gentleman teed off with ZTE officials in a hush-hush golf game, former Speaker Jose de Venecia claimed. JDV has credibility problems, but the uproar forced Ms Arroyo to scrub the project.
The First Gentleman denied skimming the deal. He was not like Pakistan’s former first gentleman, the sleaze-tainted Asif Ali Zardari, husband of assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. “I’m just an ordinary lawyer,” he insisted.
Since then Lozada has been fired. Administration figures have lodged 16 charges against him—from dishonesty to theft and perjury. Now, he has been sued by Defensor who earlier slobbered on TV that he bled for Lozada and family.
“Face the music,” chortled Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. He turns a blind eye to the impunity that insulates those who cooked up this scam.
“This arrest order is a brazen abuse of power by this administration,” countered the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.
Lozada’s fault was that he had “courage to tell people the truth about state-sponsored corrupt practices,” AMRSP said. “We deplore the use of courts and law agencies in continuing harassment.” The arrest warns other potential whistle-blowers to shut up or else.
“Of course, it’s a threat,” observed the Bohol Chronicle. “But who is threatening? The voice is that of Jacob,” the blind Isaac said. “But the hands are those of Esau.”
The track record can be instructive. Land Bank’s Acsa Ramirez exposed a P203-million tax diversion scam. National Bureau of Investigation agents shoved her instead into a police lineup as photo op for President Arroyo. The President never apologized.
Udong Mahusay recanted allegations on corruption in the First Gentleman’s office. “There were summary execution threats,” notes the study by Dr. Gabriela Quimson.
Bodyguards were pulled out from the jobless double-agent Mary “Rosebud” Ong. She had linked Sen. Panfilo Lacson to Hong Kong drug triads, PNP generals with jueteng, money laundering, etc. Her live-in partner John Campos was shot in the back. She is “totally isolated,” notes the Quimson study.
Public Estates Authority’s Sulficio Tagud denounced “unsanctioned P600-million price escalations” in the construction of the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard. He got death threats. As in the collusion of rigged bids for World Bank road projects, nobody has been jailed.
Yet, the good that denouncers do is patent. By derailing the ZTE deal, Lozada saved Filipino taxpayers no less than $97 million from scrubbed “bukol.” Banker Clarissa Ocampo testified that President Joseph Estrada signed as the notorious “Jose Velarde.” The court sheriff, this week, recovered P101 million in cash from the “Jose Velarde” account. Antonio Calipjo Go documented flawed textbooks. This compelled the education department to take corrective measures.
“In this country, those who horsewhip money changers out of the temple often end up excoriated,” Sun Star noted. “The ultimate perversion is to beatify the crooks and crucify the whistle-blowers.”
Lack of safeguards makes the personal cost of whistle-blowing very high, an Asian Institute of Management study points out. “It can sometimes be a matter of life and death.” Thus, whistle-blowers are in “short supply.”
“Those who can adopt reforms are often the very people who need denouncing,” Visayan Daily Star points out. “That’s the glitch … A culture of impunity buttresses their inaction. Thieves are not ostracized in this country. Their cash, in fact, buys them first places at table.”
Don’t blame the President or the First Gentleman for a system that “beatifies crooks and crucifies whistle-blowers.” They did not invent it. But this administration’s corruption is massive. It embedded a perverted system in depths that even the Marcos kleptocracy never plumbed.
“Every failure to recover proceeds of corruption feeds its growth,” warned the 9th International Anti-Corruption Conference in Durham, South Africa. “Governments must create an environment that encourages, instead of penalizes, citizens who denounce venality.”
Viewpoint
Lethal silences
By Juan Mercado
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:44:00 04/28/
“A man’s life begins to end the day he becomes silent about things that matter,” Martin Luther King once warned.
King’s caution anchors former President Corazon Aquino’s call over the weekend. “Speak up,” she urged citizens, against orchestrated attempts to clobber Rodolfo Lozada who blew the lid off the ZTE broadband fraud.
Aquino’s summons came after the President’s former chief of staff, Michael Defensor, got a judge to reverse the dismissal of perjury charges against Lozada. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has offered to take Lozada under his wing. But the court spurned that.
Defensor is a 24/7 Malacañang eunuch. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave him all-stops-pulled support in the 2007 senatorial elections. He was soundly thrashed. To safeguard his Palace patrons, Defensor tried, but failed, to get Lozada to skip Senate hearings on the ZTE stink.
Agents shanghaied Lozada on a 27-hour tour to Cavite and Laguna. They dumped him in Greenhills where De La Salle brothers gave him and his family refuge. He went on to testify that cost overruns (“bukol”) padded a $132-million broadband project into a $329-million scam.
That came after the President and First Gentleman teed off with ZTE officials in a hush-hush golf game, former Speaker Jose de Venecia claimed. JDV has credibility problems, but the uproar forced Ms Arroyo to scrub the project.
The First Gentleman denied skimming the deal. He was not like Pakistan’s former first gentleman, the sleaze-tainted Asif Ali Zardari, husband of assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. “I’m just an ordinary lawyer,” he insisted.
Since then Lozada has been fired. Administration figures have lodged 16 charges against him—from dishonesty to theft and perjury. Now, he has been sued by Defensor who earlier slobbered on TV that he bled for Lozada and family.
“Face the music,” chortled Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. He turns a blind eye to the impunity that insulates those who cooked up this scam.
“This arrest order is a brazen abuse of power by this administration,” countered the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.
Lozada’s fault was that he had “courage to tell people the truth about state-sponsored corrupt practices,” AMRSP said. “We deplore the use of courts and law agencies in continuing harassment.” The arrest warns other potential whistle-blowers to shut up or else.
“Of course, it’s a threat,” observed the Bohol Chronicle. “But who is threatening? The voice is that of Jacob,” the blind Isaac said. “But the hands are those of Esau.”
The track record can be instructive. Land Bank’s Acsa Ramirez exposed a P203-million tax diversion scam. National Bureau of Investigation agents shoved her instead into a police lineup as photo op for President Arroyo. The President never apologized.
Udong Mahusay recanted allegations on corruption in the First Gentleman’s office. “There were summary execution threats,” notes the study by Dr. Gabriela Quimson.
Bodyguards were pulled out from the jobless double-agent Mary “Rosebud” Ong. She had linked Sen. Panfilo Lacson to Hong Kong drug triads, PNP generals with jueteng, money laundering, etc. Her live-in partner John Campos was shot in the back. She is “totally isolated,” notes the Quimson study.
Public Estates Authority’s Sulficio Tagud denounced “unsanctioned P600-million price escalations” in the construction of the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard. He got death threats. As in the collusion of rigged bids for World Bank road projects, nobody has been jailed.
Yet, the good that denouncers do is patent. By derailing the ZTE deal, Lozada saved Filipino taxpayers no less than $97 million from scrubbed “bukol.” Banker Clarissa Ocampo testified that President Joseph Estrada signed as the notorious “Jose Velarde.” The court sheriff, this week, recovered P101 million in cash from the “Jose Velarde” account. Antonio Calipjo Go documented flawed textbooks. This compelled the education department to take corrective measures.
“In this country, those who horsewhip money changers out of the temple often end up excoriated,” Sun Star noted. “The ultimate perversion is to beatify the crooks and crucify the whistle-blowers.”
Lack of safeguards makes the personal cost of whistle-blowing very high, an Asian Institute of Management study points out. “It can sometimes be a matter of life and death.” Thus, whistle-blowers are in “short supply.”
“Those who can adopt reforms are often the very people who need denouncing,” Visayan Daily Star points out. “That’s the glitch … A culture of impunity buttresses their inaction. Thieves are not ostracized in this country. Their cash, in fact, buys them first places at table.”
Don’t blame the President or the First Gentleman for a system that “beatifies crooks and crucifies whistle-blowers.” They did not invent it. But this administration’s corruption is massive. It embedded a perverted system in depths that even the Marcos kleptocracy never plumbed.
“Every failure to recover proceeds of corruption feeds its growth,” warned the 9th International Anti-Corruption Conference in Durham, South Africa. “Governments must create an environment that encourages, instead of penalizes, citizens who denounce venality.”
The choreographed stomping on Lozada shows the Durham statement falls on deaf ears here. Hence, former President Aquino has asked citizens to shred this omerta-like silence.
Her timely plea should be heeded. Otherwise, another of Martin Luther King’s caution will haunt us: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Her timely plea should be heeded. Otherwise, another of Martin Luther King’s caution will haunt us: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano
IS HE READY?
A lot of us doubt very much if Governor "Among Ed" Panlilio is ready for the national stage.
Of course his detractors in Pampanga all choruses that he is not ready. They have tried everything to discredit the governor. They have consistently peddled half-truths and lies.
Let us talk about facts.
About two weeks ago, there were a few senior citizens in Magalang who posted banners in front of the Magalang municipal hall demanding that the Gov and the Vice Gov forget politics and work together so the Balitucan District Hospital can be improved and they can get better medical services. Immediately the following day at the Talakayan radio program of DWRW, the host Perry Pangan interviewed the Vice Gov over the phone regarding this incident. Pangan's questions were very leading and he was obviously very fond of the vice gov and was not even objective about the gov. The two of them practically put all the blame on the gov without even getting his side or at least the hospital director! TALK ABOUT BALANCE AND UNBIASED JOURNALISM!
The fact is that the Balitucan District Hospital was repaired and renovated at a cost of about 3.9 Million pesos last year! This is just phase one. The project has three phases which can be completed by 2010! There were also additional and new medical equipment that were delivered to the district hospital. Purchases for medicines were normanlized and the budget for such were also increased compared against the budgets provided during the terms of previous governors.
Not only that. The Roman Pangan District Hospital in Floridablanca was repaired and renovated at a cost of about 11.8 million pesos. A 2-storey building was additionally constructed for the same District Hospital costing about 2.9 million pesos. Improvement and renovation works costing about 2.7 million pesos were implemented at the R. Rodriguez District Hospital at the Bulaon Resettlement, CSF. The Mabalacat District hospital was also repaired at a cost of 4.6 million pesos. Additional transformers were also provided at the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital at a cost of about 770,000 pesos.
In additon to all of these repairs and renovations, the provincial government procured and received (donations with the freight costs covererd by the provincial government) additonal equipment, supplies, medicines, and tools that it distributed to all the eleven district hospitals of the province.
NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR PROVINCE THAT SUCH MASSIVE SUPPORT WAS EXTENDED TO THE DISTRICT HOSPITALS BY ANY GOVERNOR!
The PAMISAUPAN Caravan is another thing. Critics of Among Ed allege that medical missions are regular activities of past governors of the province.
This allegation is not true. No governor of Pampanga has ever made it institutional to provide regular every 3-weeks medical missions to far-flung barangays of the province.
The PAMISAUPAN Caravan of Among Ed is not just for medical missions. This caravan includes other medical services like dental, blood typing, papsmear, de-worming, immunizations, circumsitions, family planning seminars, etc. In addition to these the caravan also includes supplemental feedings, vitamin supplementations, sports clinics, job assistances, household pet vaccinations, distribution of relief goods, entrepreneurship seminars, consultations, and a lot more depending on the prevailing requirements of the barangays.
Among Ed has empowered everybody during his term as Pampanga Governor. He has convened the Provicncial Development Council which decides what infrastructure projects should be undertaken using the 20% development fund of the province. THIS WAS NEVER DONE BY ANY OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNORS OF PAMPANGA!
In addition to the convening of the PDC, the governor has also convened 22 other provincial councils. This is more than enough proof that the governor believes and trusts the local leaders of the province including those from the private sector.
What about concrete proofs of the governor's fight against graft and corruption?
The governor constructed one covered court each at Duquit Elementary School in Mabalacat, Sta. Cruz and Pulung Santol both in Porac each costing about 1.54 million pesos. A congressman in Pampanga has been building covered courts all over with each costing from 4.5 to 5 million pesos each! PER HIS OWN STATEMENT IN A LOCAL TV PROGRAM, EACH COVERED COURT HE BUILDS NOW COSTS 5.5 MILLION PESOS AS HE HAS ADDED COMFORT ROOMS TO THE STRUCTURES. This clearly shows that the gov does not receives any SOIPs from contractors which usually leads to bloated contract costs.
The disparity is so obvious and yet we do not hear any complaints from other people. Not even a whimper from all of the noisy personalities in Pampanga like Fr. Resty Lumanlan of KCI (may tao ba talaga kayo o kayo-kayo lang talaga?), Mrs. Lolita Hizon , Mr. Rene Romero ( may tao ka ba pwera sa mga empleyado mo?), Rosve Henson of KAMBILAN (bakit kay among ed ka lang nag-recall kahit sinasabi mong may corruption sa quarry noon pa at kumita ka ba sa RECALL petition?), and the talkative mayors like Jerry Pelayo of Candaba and Mayor Guerrero of Floridablanca.
The governor also constructed a 200 lm road in Sto. Nino, San Luis town at a cost of 472,000 pesos. When the road was measured after the project completion, it actually exceeded 200lm. Then another politician was going to do another road project in the same town, The local politician advised the local leaders in the barangay that they should not compare and expect the same from the new project as its "administration" is different. They were practically told that they could not expect the same quality and or output on a peso per peso basis.
Obviously based from the above few examples of Among Ed's governance, HE IS READY TO GO NATIONAL!
The bigger question is; ARE FILIPINOS, ESPECIALLY POLITICIANS AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES READY FOR AMONG ED?
LUID KA!
A lot of us doubt very much if Governor "Among Ed" Panlilio is ready for the national stage.
Of course his detractors in Pampanga all choruses that he is not ready. They have tried everything to discredit the governor. They have consistently peddled half-truths and lies.
Let us talk about facts.
About two weeks ago, there were a few senior citizens in Magalang who posted banners in front of the Magalang municipal hall demanding that the Gov and the Vice Gov forget politics and work together so the Balitucan District Hospital can be improved and they can get better medical services. Immediately the following day at the Talakayan radio program of DWRW, the host Perry Pangan interviewed the Vice Gov over the phone regarding this incident. Pangan's questions were very leading and he was obviously very fond of the vice gov and was not even objective about the gov. The two of them practically put all the blame on the gov without even getting his side or at least the hospital director! TALK ABOUT BALANCE AND UNBIASED JOURNALISM!
The fact is that the Balitucan District Hospital was repaired and renovated at a cost of about 3.9 Million pesos last year! This is just phase one. The project has three phases which can be completed by 2010! There were also additional and new medical equipment that were delivered to the district hospital. Purchases for medicines were normanlized and the budget for such were also increased compared against the budgets provided during the terms of previous governors.
Not only that. The Roman Pangan District Hospital in Floridablanca was repaired and renovated at a cost of about 11.8 million pesos. A 2-storey building was additionally constructed for the same District Hospital costing about 2.9 million pesos. Improvement and renovation works costing about 2.7 million pesos were implemented at the R. Rodriguez District Hospital at the Bulaon Resettlement, CSF. The Mabalacat District hospital was also repaired at a cost of 4.6 million pesos. Additional transformers were also provided at the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital at a cost of about 770,000 pesos.
In additon to all of these repairs and renovations, the provincial government procured and received (donations with the freight costs covererd by the provincial government) additonal equipment, supplies, medicines, and tools that it distributed to all the eleven district hospitals of the province.
NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR PROVINCE THAT SUCH MASSIVE SUPPORT WAS EXTENDED TO THE DISTRICT HOSPITALS BY ANY GOVERNOR!
The PAMISAUPAN Caravan is another thing. Critics of Among Ed allege that medical missions are regular activities of past governors of the province.
This allegation is not true. No governor of Pampanga has ever made it institutional to provide regular every 3-weeks medical missions to far-flung barangays of the province.
The PAMISAUPAN Caravan of Among Ed is not just for medical missions. This caravan includes other medical services like dental, blood typing, papsmear, de-worming, immunizations, circumsitions, family planning seminars, etc. In addition to these the caravan also includes supplemental feedings, vitamin supplementations, sports clinics, job assistances, household pet vaccinations, distribution of relief goods, entrepreneurship seminars, consultations, and a lot more depending on the prevailing requirements of the barangays.
Among Ed has empowered everybody during his term as Pampanga Governor. He has convened the Provicncial Development Council which decides what infrastructure projects should be undertaken using the 20% development fund of the province. THIS WAS NEVER DONE BY ANY OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNORS OF PAMPANGA!
In addition to the convening of the PDC, the governor has also convened 22 other provincial councils. This is more than enough proof that the governor believes and trusts the local leaders of the province including those from the private sector.
What about concrete proofs of the governor's fight against graft and corruption?
The governor constructed one covered court each at Duquit Elementary School in Mabalacat, Sta. Cruz and Pulung Santol both in Porac each costing about 1.54 million pesos. A congressman in Pampanga has been building covered courts all over with each costing from 4.5 to 5 million pesos each! PER HIS OWN STATEMENT IN A LOCAL TV PROGRAM, EACH COVERED COURT HE BUILDS NOW COSTS 5.5 MILLION PESOS AS HE HAS ADDED COMFORT ROOMS TO THE STRUCTURES. This clearly shows that the gov does not receives any SOIPs from contractors which usually leads to bloated contract costs.
The disparity is so obvious and yet we do not hear any complaints from other people. Not even a whimper from all of the noisy personalities in Pampanga like Fr. Resty Lumanlan of KCI (may tao ba talaga kayo o kayo-kayo lang talaga?), Mrs. Lolita Hizon , Mr. Rene Romero ( may tao ka ba pwera sa mga empleyado mo?), Rosve Henson of KAMBILAN (bakit kay among ed ka lang nag-recall kahit sinasabi mong may corruption sa quarry noon pa at kumita ka ba sa RECALL petition?), and the talkative mayors like Jerry Pelayo of Candaba and Mayor Guerrero of Floridablanca.
The governor also constructed a 200 lm road in Sto. Nino, San Luis town at a cost of 472,000 pesos. When the road was measured after the project completion, it actually exceeded 200lm. Then another politician was going to do another road project in the same town, The local politician advised the local leaders in the barangay that they should not compare and expect the same from the new project as its "administration" is different. They were practically told that they could not expect the same quality and or output on a peso per peso basis.
Obviously based from the above few examples of Among Ed's governance, HE IS READY TO GO NATIONAL!
The bigger question is; ARE FILIPINOS, ESPECIALLY POLITICIANS AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES READY FOR AMONG ED?
LUID KA!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Reprinted from the Philippine Daily Inquirer issue of April 20, 2009
As I See It
Police action on Failon case a warning to media
By Neal Cruz
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 03:41:00 04/20/
It seems the police can never do anything right. It got another black eye in its rough handling of the Failon case. Everybody who saw the television footage of the arrest and manhandling of the Failon house help and the siblings of Trina Etong, wife of broadcaster Ted Failon, were shocked, surprised and angered by the police “overkill.” People from all walks of life—drivers, nurses, doctors, vendors, government employees, salesgirls, even some policemen themselves—who learned I am a journalist expressed disgust and dismay at the excessive force used to arrest them. As I see it objectively, the arresting policemen really over-reacted.
The police said the house help and relatives refused to cooperate with the police and go with them quietly, so they had to use force. What crime did they commit? Obstruction of justice, said the police. They claimed the driver and three helpers cleaned the bathroom where Trina was found bleeding with a head wound, and the Pajero that took Trina to the New Era General Hospital. They corrupted the scene of the crime, police said.
But the police should have been more understanding. These are house help; their reflex action is to clean the house. Their employers get angry when the house is not spic and span. They are not lawyers and policemen who know that you are not supposed to touch anything in the scene of the crime until the police has finished its scene-of-the-crime investigation. Drivers, too, are supposed to keep the vehicle always clean. Although they most likely watch television, they do not watch “CSI,” “NYPD Blue” and the other police serials where these things are often shown. They watch the telenovelas and the game shows. And they already told police that they cleaned the bathroom and the Pajero because they did not want Failon’s younger daughter, 12-year-old Karishna, to see the blood of her mother. The police should have understood that. Instead, they immediately suspected that they were trying to hide a crime.
The scene at the hospital was even more outrageous. Trina’s two sisters and brother were there to be beside the dying Trina. Police wanted to take Pamela because she was interviewed on television and she said she was sure her sister committed suicide because she was in the house when it all happened. She did not want to go; she wanted to be with her dying sister, so the police started to wrestle her to the police car. The other sister and the brother tried to intervene but the police also manhandled them, handcuffed the brother, forced them to the car and took them all to Camp Karingal. They were there when the news came that Trina had died, but the police still refused to let them go, until later, so they could be with their dead sister.
But why did they not call the police? investigators said. That’s obstruction of justice, they said.
But hey, when you have a member of the family dying, the only thing in your mind is to take her to a hospital. Calling the police would be the last thing on your mind. And in the first place, nobody thought at that time that a crime had been committed. They were convinced the victim had shot herself. But not the police. They suspect that Trina may have been shot during a quarrel, either by her husband or any of the house help, and that they cleaned the bathroom and the SUV to hide the crime.
It is understandable for the police to be suspicious. But that is not the issue. The issue is why were they in such a hurry? Could they not have waited until the family had adjusted itself to the tragedy and things had settled down and then invite them courteously for interviews at police headquarters? Why were they in such a hurry to take the house help and sister Pamela to Camp Karingal? So they can be made to sign affidavits implicating Ted?
And why were they so eager to pin something on Ted Failon? Ted himself said it was to get back at him for his biting radio commentaries against the police, which the police of course denied.
“Ted Failon is not being given special attention,” said Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales, the Metro Manila police chief. “There is nothing like that …This is being treated like any other case. We are giving those involved fair treatment.” He added that even if the person to be questioned were a “taong grasa” (a dirty bum), the procedure would be the same.
If that is really the procedure, then the police procedure is wrong. Suspects, and especially witnesses, should be treated with respect. They are not gangsters and hardened criminals who have to be threatened and terrorized to tell the truth. On the contrary, they are the employers of the police. They pay with their taxes the salaries of the policemen and their bosses. They are the people the police are paid to protect, not to harass and persecute.
Why doesn’t the police show the same eagerness in going after the killers of two administration undersecretaries and the scores of journalists assassinated on the streets? Why not have the same zeal in going after the Davao death squads who have already killed hundreds? Why not the same passion to prosecute in the case of Joc-joc Bolante and Celso de los Angeles? Why the sudden eagerness in going after lowly housemaids and drivers? If the police would only show the same eagerness in arresting the drivers habitually violating traffic rules and the squatters flouting the law to benefit themselves, this country would be a better place to live in.
No, I don’t think that is the standard police procedure. That was a special police procedure not only to get back at Ted Failon but to send a warning—both to ABS-CBN, which took and showed TV footage of the alleged “shootout” with carnappers off EDSA in Quezon City, and to the whole media industry. The message? “Don’t cross us, or else this is what’s in store for you.”
As I See It
Police action on Failon case a warning to media
By Neal Cruz
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 03:41:00 04/20/
It seems the police can never do anything right. It got another black eye in its rough handling of the Failon case. Everybody who saw the television footage of the arrest and manhandling of the Failon house help and the siblings of Trina Etong, wife of broadcaster Ted Failon, were shocked, surprised and angered by the police “overkill.” People from all walks of life—drivers, nurses, doctors, vendors, government employees, salesgirls, even some policemen themselves—who learned I am a journalist expressed disgust and dismay at the excessive force used to arrest them. As I see it objectively, the arresting policemen really over-reacted.
The police said the house help and relatives refused to cooperate with the police and go with them quietly, so they had to use force. What crime did they commit? Obstruction of justice, said the police. They claimed the driver and three helpers cleaned the bathroom where Trina was found bleeding with a head wound, and the Pajero that took Trina to the New Era General Hospital. They corrupted the scene of the crime, police said.
But the police should have been more understanding. These are house help; their reflex action is to clean the house. Their employers get angry when the house is not spic and span. They are not lawyers and policemen who know that you are not supposed to touch anything in the scene of the crime until the police has finished its scene-of-the-crime investigation. Drivers, too, are supposed to keep the vehicle always clean. Although they most likely watch television, they do not watch “CSI,” “NYPD Blue” and the other police serials where these things are often shown. They watch the telenovelas and the game shows. And they already told police that they cleaned the bathroom and the Pajero because they did not want Failon’s younger daughter, 12-year-old Karishna, to see the blood of her mother. The police should have understood that. Instead, they immediately suspected that they were trying to hide a crime.
The scene at the hospital was even more outrageous. Trina’s two sisters and brother were there to be beside the dying Trina. Police wanted to take Pamela because she was interviewed on television and she said she was sure her sister committed suicide because she was in the house when it all happened. She did not want to go; she wanted to be with her dying sister, so the police started to wrestle her to the police car. The other sister and the brother tried to intervene but the police also manhandled them, handcuffed the brother, forced them to the car and took them all to Camp Karingal. They were there when the news came that Trina had died, but the police still refused to let them go, until later, so they could be with their dead sister.
But why did they not call the police? investigators said. That’s obstruction of justice, they said.
But hey, when you have a member of the family dying, the only thing in your mind is to take her to a hospital. Calling the police would be the last thing on your mind. And in the first place, nobody thought at that time that a crime had been committed. They were convinced the victim had shot herself. But not the police. They suspect that Trina may have been shot during a quarrel, either by her husband or any of the house help, and that they cleaned the bathroom and the SUV to hide the crime.
It is understandable for the police to be suspicious. But that is not the issue. The issue is why were they in such a hurry? Could they not have waited until the family had adjusted itself to the tragedy and things had settled down and then invite them courteously for interviews at police headquarters? Why were they in such a hurry to take the house help and sister Pamela to Camp Karingal? So they can be made to sign affidavits implicating Ted?
And why were they so eager to pin something on Ted Failon? Ted himself said it was to get back at him for his biting radio commentaries against the police, which the police of course denied.
“Ted Failon is not being given special attention,” said Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales, the Metro Manila police chief. “There is nothing like that …This is being treated like any other case. We are giving those involved fair treatment.” He added that even if the person to be questioned were a “taong grasa” (a dirty bum), the procedure would be the same.
If that is really the procedure, then the police procedure is wrong. Suspects, and especially witnesses, should be treated with respect. They are not gangsters and hardened criminals who have to be threatened and terrorized to tell the truth. On the contrary, they are the employers of the police. They pay with their taxes the salaries of the policemen and their bosses. They are the people the police are paid to protect, not to harass and persecute.
Why doesn’t the police show the same eagerness in going after the killers of two administration undersecretaries and the scores of journalists assassinated on the streets? Why not have the same zeal in going after the Davao death squads who have already killed hundreds? Why not the same passion to prosecute in the case of Joc-joc Bolante and Celso de los Angeles? Why the sudden eagerness in going after lowly housemaids and drivers? If the police would only show the same eagerness in arresting the drivers habitually violating traffic rules and the squatters flouting the law to benefit themselves, this country would be a better place to live in.
No, I don’t think that is the standard police procedure. That was a special police procedure not only to get back at Ted Failon but to send a warning—both to ABS-CBN, which took and showed TV footage of the alleged “shootout” with carnappers off EDSA in Quezon City, and to the whole media industry. The message? “Don’t cross us, or else this is what’s in store for you.”
Reprinted from The Philippine Star issue of April 20, 2009
Classmates & the wa-class
CTALK By Cito Beltran
Updated April 20, 2009 12:00 AM
The talk of the town over the weekend was certainly all about “Police brutality” and abuse of power in the Ted Failon case. The overwhelming sentiment in most gatherings was contempt and dislike for the Philippine National Police.
So after a couple of years earnestly trying to renew the image of the police through the “Mamang Pulis” campaign and the recent “Moral recovery” program under PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa, our beloved cops are worse off than ever before.
The situation can no longer be treated as public relations disaster.
The open display of power and authority, the total disregard for police procedure such as presenting a warrant of arrest and reading of the “Miranda rights” and the utter lack of civility and compassion on the part of the QCPD officers reveals yet again that many of our police officers are unfit and unworthy to wear the uniform of the PNP. It shows that the Police do not fully understand their purpose, their role and who they serve.
Coming from a series of bloody and abusive incidents such as the EDSA shootout where carnappers were gunned down as a video camera rolled, the multiple deaths of innocent civilians when cops tried to stop a gang of bank robbers in Paranaque, The arrest and harassment of media people during the Manila Peninsula siege among a few, all show that the PNP has a recurring professional and attitudinal defect that reveals incompetence, poor leadership and accountability.
In relieving four police officers because of their participation in the arrest of Failon’s in-law and helpers, the NCRPO leadership showed lack of integrity and collusion by exempting the QCPD-CIDU chief Franklin Mabanag from being relieved of duty. Was it because he was someone’s classmate?
Almost every radio program we monitored raised the same question: “why did Boysie Rosales protect Franklin Mabanag?” “Why was Mabanag not relieved or suspended?” “Why punish the team but not the leader?” So far Rosales has remained silent on this major error.
* * *
Why are our Police officials acting with such lack of respect, lack of self-control, and lack of personal discipline?
Watching the many replays of how the Police officers arrested the maids, driver and in-law of Ted Failon, it became clear to me that our policemen treats everyone they invite or arrest as GUILTY. Unless you are an official of the Arroyo administration, you are treated as a “COMMON CRIMINAL”. If you watched the videos, the cops acted as if they were hauling “demonstrators” or sidewalk vendors. The question is “WHY?”
Is it because the police have gotten so used to arresting anti-Arroyo demonstrators or critics based on warrantless arrests? Is it because the Police have been the private army of the Arroyo administration for almost ten years so they now believe they can arrest anybody in any manner they choose to do so?
The repeated sins of the PNP are not a simple matter of abuse of power. The sins and weakness of the PNP is what happens when a civilian organization is corrupted by two doctrines: the doctrine of the PMAers and the doctrine of a “civilian” police. The leaders of the PNP are trained for the military where leadership is about obedience to rank. So they do not believe in the doctrine of servant leadership, they believe that leaders should be served, feared and followed.
The PNP needs to review their academic program, they need to review their attitudinal frame of mind, and they must reflect on the long- term impact of their problems immediately. Otherwise, they may ultimately find themselves fighting off masses of people they swore to protect, in the streets or in the courts.
* * *
Whenever Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez starts mouthing off his views and opinions, reporters have a picnic quoting the guy, no matter how baseless, reckless, or incendiary his claims may be. Even some of Gonzalez’s enemies enjoy his existence because he is to them the personification or the flesh and blood that represents everything that is hated about the Arroyo administration.
When Broadcaster Ted Failon became the center of controversy in the suicide of his wife, the DOJ Secretary reportedly ordered that Failon be placed on the Immigration watch list, ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation and berated the chief of the Public Attorney’s Office for extending assistance to Ted. Gonzalez must really love Ted Failon so much.
Persida Acosta never showed animosity or contempt for Gonzalez who acted like the Roman Centurion who gave vinegar instead of water to the crucified Christ. Acosta should be praised for being a Good Samaritan and being a dedicated lawyer doing her job.
Maybe the reason Acosta chose not to get angry was because Raul Gonzalez may have unwittingly placed Acosta in the limelight as a dedicated and competent public servant worthy of becoming the next Secretary of Justice!
Justice Secretary Persida Acosta 2010-…… sounds good to me.
Classmates & the wa-class
CTALK By Cito Beltran
Updated April 20, 2009 12:00 AM
The talk of the town over the weekend was certainly all about “Police brutality” and abuse of power in the Ted Failon case. The overwhelming sentiment in most gatherings was contempt and dislike for the Philippine National Police.
So after a couple of years earnestly trying to renew the image of the police through the “Mamang Pulis” campaign and the recent “Moral recovery” program under PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa, our beloved cops are worse off than ever before.
The situation can no longer be treated as public relations disaster.
The open display of power and authority, the total disregard for police procedure such as presenting a warrant of arrest and reading of the “Miranda rights” and the utter lack of civility and compassion on the part of the QCPD officers reveals yet again that many of our police officers are unfit and unworthy to wear the uniform of the PNP. It shows that the Police do not fully understand their purpose, their role and who they serve.
Coming from a series of bloody and abusive incidents such as the EDSA shootout where carnappers were gunned down as a video camera rolled, the multiple deaths of innocent civilians when cops tried to stop a gang of bank robbers in Paranaque, The arrest and harassment of media people during the Manila Peninsula siege among a few, all show that the PNP has a recurring professional and attitudinal defect that reveals incompetence, poor leadership and accountability.
In relieving four police officers because of their participation in the arrest of Failon’s in-law and helpers, the NCRPO leadership showed lack of integrity and collusion by exempting the QCPD-CIDU chief Franklin Mabanag from being relieved of duty. Was it because he was someone’s classmate?
Almost every radio program we monitored raised the same question: “why did Boysie Rosales protect Franklin Mabanag?” “Why was Mabanag not relieved or suspended?” “Why punish the team but not the leader?” So far Rosales has remained silent on this major error.
* * *
Why are our Police officials acting with such lack of respect, lack of self-control, and lack of personal discipline?
Watching the many replays of how the Police officers arrested the maids, driver and in-law of Ted Failon, it became clear to me that our policemen treats everyone they invite or arrest as GUILTY. Unless you are an official of the Arroyo administration, you are treated as a “COMMON CRIMINAL”. If you watched the videos, the cops acted as if they were hauling “demonstrators” or sidewalk vendors. The question is “WHY?”
Is it because the police have gotten so used to arresting anti-Arroyo demonstrators or critics based on warrantless arrests? Is it because the Police have been the private army of the Arroyo administration for almost ten years so they now believe they can arrest anybody in any manner they choose to do so?
The repeated sins of the PNP are not a simple matter of abuse of power. The sins and weakness of the PNP is what happens when a civilian organization is corrupted by two doctrines: the doctrine of the PMAers and the doctrine of a “civilian” police. The leaders of the PNP are trained for the military where leadership is about obedience to rank. So they do not believe in the doctrine of servant leadership, they believe that leaders should be served, feared and followed.
The PNP needs to review their academic program, they need to review their attitudinal frame of mind, and they must reflect on the long- term impact of their problems immediately. Otherwise, they may ultimately find themselves fighting off masses of people they swore to protect, in the streets or in the courts.
* * *
Whenever Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez starts mouthing off his views and opinions, reporters have a picnic quoting the guy, no matter how baseless, reckless, or incendiary his claims may be. Even some of Gonzalez’s enemies enjoy his existence because he is to them the personification or the flesh and blood that represents everything that is hated about the Arroyo administration.
When Broadcaster Ted Failon became the center of controversy in the suicide of his wife, the DOJ Secretary reportedly ordered that Failon be placed on the Immigration watch list, ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation and berated the chief of the Public Attorney’s Office for extending assistance to Ted. Gonzalez must really love Ted Failon so much.
Persida Acosta never showed animosity or contempt for Gonzalez who acted like the Roman Centurion who gave vinegar instead of water to the crucified Christ. Acosta should be praised for being a Good Samaritan and being a dedicated lawyer doing her job.
Maybe the reason Acosta chose not to get angry was because Raul Gonzalez may have unwittingly placed Acosta in the limelight as a dedicated and competent public servant worthy of becoming the next Secretary of Justice!
Justice Secretary Persida Acosta 2010-…… sounds good to me.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano
Today's issue is special.
This writer was requested to acknowledge the hardworking and dedicated people that comprise the KASAUP leadership.
First I would like to tell you a few things about them.
KASAUP leaders are a mix lot. They represent a broad spectrum of people from all walks of life. The Chairman is a dentist. The Vice Chairman is a civil engineer. The Corporate Secretary is a Masters Degree holder from UP and a licensed engineer at the same time. The Treasurer is a retired private company professional. The President is an architect. The Vice President is retired military man. We have a professional entertainer who is also a music teacher. We have business people. We have church lay leaders. We have passionate ordinary individuals who can put to shame the works of a lot of social workers.
There is an unspoken mantra for all of the KASAUP leadership. The willingness to sacrifice everything for their love of the province and country. They are guided in this by their absolute love and trust in the Lord.
What is wonderful about these KASAUP Leaders is the fact that they take good care of each other. When somebody commits mistakes, they are told so and are helped correct these mistakes. When one falters, dozens of KASAUP hands rush to help this someone get up.
THEY GOT EACH OTHERS BACK.
When anyone of them is unjustly treated, everybody will rush to his side for defense. They do not let anybody from their ranks get trampled on by somebody else. Thier love and trust for another is the strongest rope that binds them together.
ALL OF THESE IS BECAUSE OF THEIR RESOLUTE UNITED BELIEF IN THEIR ADVOCACIES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP!
To all of you ladies and gentlemen of KASAUP, our hats off!
Johny Balingit of SIWALA-Masantol, Nena David of Kayantabe-Porac, Norman Ocampo of Kayantabe-Mexico, Caloy Diokno of ASLAGG-San Simon, Boy Pangan of Kayantabe-Magalang, Eddie Ayen of Sulong Floridablanca, Adonis Simpao of Kayantabe - Sta. Rita, Pastor Joel Cruz for Lubao, Esther Alfonzo of Kayantabe-Bacolor, Joe Sandiko of CSF, Arnel Manliclic of AMONG-KKB- San Luis, Pastor Dan Amurao of ASKE - Candaba (who replaced the venerable Tang Vic Martin), Melvin Calalang of KAYAPTAS -Sto Tomas, Red Reyes of SUMLAG-Minalin, Paolo Sarmiento of Buklud Kabalen - Apalit, Tatang Boy of Kayantabe - Macabebe.
LUID KAYU!
This writer was requested to acknowledge the hardworking and dedicated people that comprise the KASAUP leadership.
First I would like to tell you a few things about them.
KASAUP leaders are a mix lot. They represent a broad spectrum of people from all walks of life. The Chairman is a dentist. The Vice Chairman is a civil engineer. The Corporate Secretary is a Masters Degree holder from UP and a licensed engineer at the same time. The Treasurer is a retired private company professional. The President is an architect. The Vice President is retired military man. We have a professional entertainer who is also a music teacher. We have business people. We have church lay leaders. We have passionate ordinary individuals who can put to shame the works of a lot of social workers.
There is an unspoken mantra for all of the KASAUP leadership. The willingness to sacrifice everything for their love of the province and country. They are guided in this by their absolute love and trust in the Lord.
What is wonderful about these KASAUP Leaders is the fact that they take good care of each other. When somebody commits mistakes, they are told so and are helped correct these mistakes. When one falters, dozens of KASAUP hands rush to help this someone get up.
THEY GOT EACH OTHERS BACK.
When anyone of them is unjustly treated, everybody will rush to his side for defense. They do not let anybody from their ranks get trampled on by somebody else. Thier love and trust for another is the strongest rope that binds them together.
ALL OF THESE IS BECAUSE OF THEIR RESOLUTE UNITED BELIEF IN THEIR ADVOCACIES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP!
To all of you ladies and gentlemen of KASAUP, our hats off!
Johny Balingit of SIWALA-Masantol, Nena David of Kayantabe-Porac, Norman Ocampo of Kayantabe-Mexico, Caloy Diokno of ASLAGG-San Simon, Boy Pangan of Kayantabe-Magalang, Eddie Ayen of Sulong Floridablanca, Adonis Simpao of Kayantabe - Sta. Rita, Pastor Joel Cruz for Lubao, Esther Alfonzo of Kayantabe-Bacolor, Joe Sandiko of CSF, Arnel Manliclic of AMONG-KKB- San Luis, Pastor Dan Amurao of ASKE - Candaba (who replaced the venerable Tang Vic Martin), Melvin Calalang of KAYAPTAS -Sto Tomas, Red Reyes of SUMLAG-Minalin, Paolo Sarmiento of Buklud Kabalen - Apalit, Tatang Boy of Kayantabe - Macabebe.
LUID KAYU!
Monday, April 6, 2009
MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano
Et Tu KASAUP?
2007 was a monumental election year for Pampanga. The miracle of the neophyte "political" priest made sure it was monumental.
A lot of Kapampangans were swept by the euphoria of the miracle win by the priest "on leave."
Unfortunately, a lot of these Kabalens did not sustain this enthusiasm. A lot of them just faded away after the election. A good number, however, saw this as an opportunity to effect continuous changes in the political landscape. A few "civil society" groups prospered.
Sadly, the remaining very few groups today are top heavy. They really do not have the mass base that is required to make the groups really meaningful to the majority of our Kabalens.
This is also a continuing challenge for KASAUP.
It is, admittedly, very difficult to maintain cohesive people's organizations. This is the very reason why KASAUP has been working hard to ensure that the voices of its members from the purok and barangay levels as represented by their municipal coordinators are clearly heard. KASAUP may not have the very noisy, publicity hungry big personalities of Pampanga, but its core are loyal to their advocacies and they really have the numbers.
The bigger challenge however is to maintain its posture in regard to good governance. KASAUP is finding it very difficult to influence local politicians to its advocacy. We may hear these politicians publicly echoing the advocacies of KASAUP, yet most of the times, these are all just but rethorics on their part. It is what their leaders and backers say that matters, not the what the people really must have in accordance to good governance. Traditional politicians are really the tragedy of our times.
This is not to say that KASAUP is getting what it sees fit from the provincial government. Kasaup have been very supportive of Among Ed and the latter have reciprocated the efforts of the former in terms of advocacy congruence. However, this reciprocity is limited only to the governor. This reciprocity is not observed by others in Among Ed's capitol team.
Let us make this clear. KASAUP officers and members have been working on its advocacies without any personal motives behind it. KASAUP has been consistent in offering their time, effort, expertise, and even personal resources in working with Among Ed espouse the advocacy of good governance. KASAUP does not expect anything personal in return.
KASAUP expect the best services by the capitol to our Kabalens. KASAUP is doing its part. KASAUP is hoping that Among Ed and his whole capitol team does the same.
LUID KA!
Reprinted from the April 7, 2009 issue of the Philippine Star
EDITORIAL - One small candle
Today the apathy has returned. Though there is no lack of exposés on official wrongdoing, those implicated mostly go unpunished while whistle-blowers find their lives ruined. Congressional investigations lead nowhere. People power fatigue has set in, and the attitude when faced with corruption is, if you can’t lick ’em, join ’em.
It’s a nation that has stopped caring, or has it? There are groups that continue to put their faith in the goodness of the Filipino and his capacity for positive change. A so-called moral force movement has been mobilized, with another chapter formally launched yesterday. The man behind the movement, Chief Justice Reynato Puno, urged Filipinos to unite in fighting corruption, saying the nation had turned into a “moral pariah” in the eyes of the world.
The fight cannot be won overnight. Corruption has become firmly entrenched in Philippine society, and the battle must be waged all the way down to the grassroots. It will require a sea change in the people’s attitude toward politics, governance and the way public funds are utilized.
This battle does not necessarily mean taking to the streets and bringing down the government, or exposing something that will warrant a congressional investigation. It could take the simplest form: saying no to a bribe, or turning down cash from candidates in elections. In the darkness, one small candle can cast a bright light.
EDITORIAL - One small candle
Updated April 07, 2009 12:00 AM
In the dark days of martial law, the few brave souls who dared take on the all-powerful police state were inspired by the thought that even one lighted candle could pierce the darkness. It took several years and an assassination to rouse Filipinos and end their tolerance of state abuse.
In the dark days of martial law, the few brave souls who dared take on the all-powerful police state were inspired by the thought that even one lighted candle could pierce the darkness. It took several years and an assassination to rouse Filipinos and end their tolerance of state abuse.
But when it finally happened, a dictator found it impossible to make the people go back to their state of blissful apathy.
Today the apathy has returned. Though there is no lack of exposés on official wrongdoing, those implicated mostly go unpunished while whistle-blowers find their lives ruined. Congressional investigations lead nowhere. People power fatigue has set in, and the attitude when faced with corruption is, if you can’t lick ’em, join ’em.
It’s a nation that has stopped caring, or has it? There are groups that continue to put their faith in the goodness of the Filipino and his capacity for positive change. A so-called moral force movement has been mobilized, with another chapter formally launched yesterday. The man behind the movement, Chief Justice Reynato Puno, urged Filipinos to unite in fighting corruption, saying the nation had turned into a “moral pariah” in the eyes of the world.
The fight cannot be won overnight. Corruption has become firmly entrenched in Philippine society, and the battle must be waged all the way down to the grassroots. It will require a sea change in the people’s attitude toward politics, governance and the way public funds are utilized.
Corruption puts into the pockets of a handful of individuals funds that should be used for poverty alleviation and national development. It rewards mediocrity and prevents the development of a society where individual progress is based on merit and where the rule of law prevails.
This battle does not necessarily mean taking to the streets and bringing down the government, or exposing something that will warrant a congressional investigation. It could take the simplest form: saying no to a bribe, or turning down cash from candidates in elections. In the darkness, one small candle can cast a bright light.
Reprinted from the April 7, 2009 issue of the Philippine Star
Supreme Court chief to Filipinos: Fight government corruption
By Edu Punay Updated April 07, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines – As the nation enters the Holy Week, Chief Justice Reynato Puno yesterday reiterated his call for a moral force and asked Filipinos to work together to combat widespread corruption in government.
Some Supreme Court justices who support Puno in this initiative are expected to name before Thursday members of an advisory council that would push for the movement toward moral transformation in government.
Speaking at the launching of the moral force movement of the Manila Episcopal Area (MEA) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the Philippines of which he is a member, Puno lamented how the country is now perceived in the world as a “moral pariah.”
He said Filipinos have witnessed moral decadence and leprosy, referring to corruption in government that he likened to the corruption in England at the time when John Wesley founded their church in the 1700s.
“We are cast as a moral pariah. What a tragic social landscape for the only Christian country in Southeast Asia,” he said.
“Corruption in the country has been deforming all its institutions, undermining our stability and security and preventing our socio-economic development. We can arrest this social decadence through a moral force,” said Puno.
Other religious groups, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, the Philippine Bible Society and the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, expressed solidarity with the Methodist Church in Manila at its launch.
“They are part of the moral force movement,” Puno said of the Catholic hierarchy, adding that there were CBCP representatives during the launch.
“However, I expect the CBCP will have its own brand of moral force movement,” he added, referring to a similar activity at which Catholic leaders would launch their own moral force initiative.
Bishop Lito Cabacungan Tangonan led UMC Manila Episcopal Area’s launch of the moral force at the Central United Methodist Church in Manila.
“We see the moral force as prophets of our time – people who feel the urge to expose and denounce the debilitating ills in our society, especially those generated by the structural system that promotes, breeds and spawns corruption,” read the UMC-MEA’s handout on its area-wide moral force movement.
Puno said yesterday’s activity in Manila wasn’t the first launch of a moral force movement.
The Chief Justice earlier called for a moral force movement nationwide to arrest corruption in the country while maintaining an apolitical stance, saying a council should be formed to spearhead the campaign.
Members of the moral force council would include credible leaders from “business, church groups, youth and the media.”
The core group would “set parameters for the moral force movement with the purpose of making the people aware of what’s been happening and to do something about it.”
Puno earlier vowed that the movement would not be anti-administration or pro-opposition but rather “a positive-neutral constructive” force.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Kabataang Pilipino, Bayani ka sa 2010
Ang simoy ng Eleksyon sa 2010 ay ramdam na sa ating bansa sa ngayon pa lamang kahit malayo pa ito. Sa kadahilanang marami na ang nagnanais ng reporma sa ating bayan at marami rin ang gustong magsilbi at magbigay ng bagong pag-asa. Karamihan sa mga kababayan natin ay hindi nadama and kasagaan kundi marami ang lalong nalugmok sa kahirapan.
Ayon sa oposisyon, sino mang hindi maka administrasyon ay kanilang susuportahan sa pagkapangulo upang mapalitan ang lider na puro pahirap lamang ang hinain sa ating mga kababayan ngunit sa kabilang banda naman, nais nilang iupo ang kanilang pambato sa administrasyon para maipagpatuloy nito ang mga programang naumpisahan ng ating pangulo at lalong mapaasenso ang bayang ito.
Sino nga ba ang nagsasabi ng katotohanan? Maaring parehong nangangarap lamang ang magkabilang panig. Dahil kahit gaano kabaho ang nais nilang mahalal ay pilit pa rin nila itong papabanguhin. Ito ang mga tinatawag nating Tradisyunal na Politiko, sila ay galing sa mga pamilyang nakakaangat sa buhay, pamilyang politiko, panakip butas para matakpan ang kaso ng nauna sa kanya, mga programang puro pangako at estilo ng pangangampanya ay dinadaan sa pakapalan ng bulsa.
Kilalanin natin ang ating mga naghahangad maging lider ng ating bansa. Sino ba sila? Ano na ang mga kanilang napagtagumpayan? Siya ba ay marangal at malinis? Nais ba nitong manalo dahil sa kanyang kagustuhang manilbihan sa bayan o nais nya lamang magkaposisyon at lalong magpaka yaman? Sino ang nagtutulak sa kanila para humabol? Maayos ba ang kanyang relasyon sa pamilya? Siya ba ay may takot sa Diyos?
Ayon sa nakaraang survey, 2 pangalan ang nangingibabaw sa lahat ng naghahangad na maging pangulo ng Pilipinas. Ito ay sina Bise Presidente Noli De Castro at Senador Manny Villar na pareho nating alam na nagsilbi naman sa bayan at walang bahid ng korapsyon sa panunungkulan. Meron pang bagong naglahad ng kanilang plano tulad ni Bro. Eddie Villanueva na tunay namang makadiyos at kahit hindi politiko ay nagsisilbi na sa ating mga kababayan at eto pa si Among Ed na paring naging Gobernador sa Pampanga at itinutulak na humabol sa pagka presidente sa 2010.
Tunay na sa ngayon pa lamang ay napakainit na ng mga usapin sa mga kanto kanto tungkol sa parating na eleksyon sa ating bansa. Ito ay isang magandang pangitain na maraming Pilipino sa ngayon ang interesado na sa kapakanan ng ating bayan at hindi tulad ng dati na bahala na lamang.
Ayon sa kay Dr. Jose Rizal "ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan" at ayon naman kay Chiz Escudero "ang kabataan ay kailangan na ng bayan". Bakit napakahalaga ng kabataang Pilipino pagdating sa eleksyon sa ating bansa? Dahil sila ang higit na nakakarami sa bilang ng mga botante at sila rin ang karamihan sa mabusisi at nag-iisip kung sino ang karapat dapat na ihalal. Iniisip nila ang magiging kapakanan nila sa kinabukasan at ang kanilang magiging mga pamilya.
Ang mga Kabataang Pilipino ang mga tunay na bayani sa 2010 dahil mula sa kanila ay mapipili ang tunay na mamumuno sa ating pakamamahal na bayan. Kaya kailangan po natin silang gabayan na magparehistro sa pinaka malapit na opisina ng COMELEC upang maipahayag nila ang kanilang karapatan bilang Pilipino at pagnanais ng magandang kinabukasan.
Ayon sa oposisyon, sino mang hindi maka administrasyon ay kanilang susuportahan sa pagkapangulo upang mapalitan ang lider na puro pahirap lamang ang hinain sa ating mga kababayan ngunit sa kabilang banda naman, nais nilang iupo ang kanilang pambato sa administrasyon para maipagpatuloy nito ang mga programang naumpisahan ng ating pangulo at lalong mapaasenso ang bayang ito.
Sino nga ba ang nagsasabi ng katotohanan? Maaring parehong nangangarap lamang ang magkabilang panig. Dahil kahit gaano kabaho ang nais nilang mahalal ay pilit pa rin nila itong papabanguhin. Ito ang mga tinatawag nating Tradisyunal na Politiko, sila ay galing sa mga pamilyang nakakaangat sa buhay, pamilyang politiko, panakip butas para matakpan ang kaso ng nauna sa kanya, mga programang puro pangako at estilo ng pangangampanya ay dinadaan sa pakapalan ng bulsa.
Kilalanin natin ang ating mga naghahangad maging lider ng ating bansa. Sino ba sila? Ano na ang mga kanilang napagtagumpayan? Siya ba ay marangal at malinis? Nais ba nitong manalo dahil sa kanyang kagustuhang manilbihan sa bayan o nais nya lamang magkaposisyon at lalong magpaka yaman? Sino ang nagtutulak sa kanila para humabol? Maayos ba ang kanyang relasyon sa pamilya? Siya ba ay may takot sa Diyos?
Ayon sa nakaraang survey, 2 pangalan ang nangingibabaw sa lahat ng naghahangad na maging pangulo ng Pilipinas. Ito ay sina Bise Presidente Noli De Castro at Senador Manny Villar na pareho nating alam na nagsilbi naman sa bayan at walang bahid ng korapsyon sa panunungkulan. Meron pang bagong naglahad ng kanilang plano tulad ni Bro. Eddie Villanueva na tunay namang makadiyos at kahit hindi politiko ay nagsisilbi na sa ating mga kababayan at eto pa si Among Ed na paring naging Gobernador sa Pampanga at itinutulak na humabol sa pagka presidente sa 2010.
Tunay na sa ngayon pa lamang ay napakainit na ng mga usapin sa mga kanto kanto tungkol sa parating na eleksyon sa ating bansa. Ito ay isang magandang pangitain na maraming Pilipino sa ngayon ang interesado na sa kapakanan ng ating bayan at hindi tulad ng dati na bahala na lamang.
Ayon sa kay Dr. Jose Rizal "ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan" at ayon naman kay Chiz Escudero "ang kabataan ay kailangan na ng bayan". Bakit napakahalaga ng kabataang Pilipino pagdating sa eleksyon sa ating bansa? Dahil sila ang higit na nakakarami sa bilang ng mga botante at sila rin ang karamihan sa mabusisi at nag-iisip kung sino ang karapat dapat na ihalal. Iniisip nila ang magiging kapakanan nila sa kinabukasan at ang kanilang magiging mga pamilya.
Ang mga Kabataang Pilipino ang mga tunay na bayani sa 2010 dahil mula sa kanila ay mapipili ang tunay na mamumuno sa ating pakamamahal na bayan. Kaya kailangan po natin silang gabayan na magparehistro sa pinaka malapit na opisina ng COMELEC upang maipahayag nila ang kanilang karapatan bilang Pilipino at pagnanais ng magandang kinabukasan.
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