RedBlueThoughts

Twenty one years after the first EDSA, we now see Lucio Tan being “betrayed” by his benefactors, the Marcoses. The Marcoses are now back in power, claiming every company they would like their filthy hands on. They first targetted GMA, claiming to own majority shares of stock in the Bob Steward-founded company. They then trained their eyes on seven more companies, again, claiming to own stocks there. Two decades ago, the government were running after the Marcoses. Now, the Marcoses are running after the government for failing to even convict them or seize billions of pesos allegedly stolen by this Ilokano family from the public coffers.

Two decades ago, the Philippine Marines and the entire soldiery united with the people to oust the dictator. Both in high spirits, these forces are like one sweeping force. They were united under one theme, that is, regain our hiya as a people. The People likened the Marines as modern-day Caesars, strong and united. The Marines were of high morale. And there were talks of its invincibility.

Now, if you read the column below of Mon Tulfo of the Inquirer, the Marines are totally fragmented. They are only shadows of their former selves.

Politics has reared its ugly head in the creme of the creme of this highly-respected institution. If this scourge has affected the Marines, definitely, politics has also permeated into the entire AFP institution.

Two decades ago, we see a united opposition, led by a widow, a victim of human rights. Now, we see a disunited opposition, its members totally engulfed with presidential lust. Now, there is no legitimate opposition. And since they are also illegitimate, they cannot legitimately oust an illegitimate leader.

Two decades ago, a group of idealistic soldiers bonded together and formed a fraternity. This fraternity aims to salvage the image and reputation of the Filipino. They were first motivated to restore the values of Integrity, Honor and Honesty into the very institution they swore to protect and uphold.

Now, where are these soldiers? They have co-opted with the system, occupying sensitive posts never minding what is happening in their beloved country. Some, like General Miranda and General Lim are incarcerated, along with Col. Querubin. If this is the late 80s, they should have been freed by their comrades. Now, they languish in their jails, waiting for a miracle.

Where are you, my beloved soldier? Have fear corrupted your hearts? Why do you continue to support an illegitimate leader? And why did you allowed your fellow soldiers to fall prey by your enemies?

Have you no respect? Have you corrupted yourselves beyond recognition?

Rise up, you, true soldier of the Filipino People! Rise up from your stupor! Seize the day! United you will never fail! United with the people, you will never experience defeat.

_____________

Has Marine Corps deteriorated?
By Ramon Tulfo
Inquirer
Last updated 03:17am (Mla time) 07/31/2007
Today, Tuesday, is the expiration of the ultimatum the government gave the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to surrender its members who mutilated 10 Marines whom they ambushed in Basilan.

About 5,000 soldiers, spearheaded by Marines, are poised to attack the MILF stronghold in the island province.

If the government delays D-Day for the nth time, it might have a rebellion in its hands.
The comrades of the dead Marines want to exact revenge.

The soldiers want action, not cheap talk at the negotiating table.

* * *

Who was that Marine officer who allegedly ordered planes and helicopters sent to reinforce the beleaguered Marines back to base?

My sources said politics within the Marines was the alleged reason for the withdrawal of air support.
The Marine officer allegedly wanted to put down a fellow officer.

This Marine officer is also reportedly a friend of former Basilan Gov. and now Rep. Wahab Akbar whose men reportedly took part in the ambush.

At the time of the ambush, Lt. Gen. Eugene Cedo, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), who has the sole authority to order air support for beleaguered troops, was in Cagayan de Oro City purportedly attending a conference.

Cedo reportedly delegated the authority to the Marine officer.

If the report that was given to me is true, the Philippine Marines have deteriorated into a lousy unit whose leaders fight among themselves for personal gain!

* * *

Up to now, the government has not reacted to my column items about the reported involvement of Akbar’s men in the ambush and mutilation of the Marines.

In fact, if my sources are to be believed, Akbar’s men alone were responsible for the beheading and mutilation.

Why is the government afraid of confronting Akbar?

* * *

Former President Fidel V. Ramos says the economy can grow again and continue to grow if Filipinos can only unite.

FVR knows whereof he speaks.

During his watch, the country became a tiger economy and suffered the least among its neighbors at the height of the Asian financial crisis.

Why? Because Mr. Ramos has the “can do” mentality of a soldier, unlike his successors.

His favorite expression was “Kaya natin ito (We will prevail)” as opposed to Erap’s “Patay na tayo (We’re finished)” and GMA’s “Hello Garci!”

Success is a matter of attitude.

* * *

There goes the Senate with its Old Boys Club mentality.

The majority of the senators filed a resolution asking the courts to allow one of their own, Antonio Trillanes IV, to attend sessions while in detention on coup d’etat charges.

They want VIP treatment for Trillanes. Why?
Maybe because he’s an important person like them and they think the neophyte senator should be given special privileges due him.

These senators forget that Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, a lawmaker like them—unless they consider members of the House lower in category—was not allowed to attend sessions while his rape conviction was being reviewed.

* * *

My source at the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) says the agency has found that all products manufactured by Candyman are negative for formalin.

Formalin, a chemical used for embalming, was found in White Rabbit candy made in China.
The chemical reportedly prolongs the shelf life of some products.

Candyman is among the importers of White Rabbit made in China.

But the local White Rabbit made by Candyman is negative for formalin, according to my BFAD source.

Inquirer reported that graft is on the rise. Why? Because government officials lost all hiya. Since, there is no one to check their excesses and no legitimate opposition to even fight them, they will just plunder our coffers with impunity.

Where is the Magdalo? Where is the ABB? Where are the sparrows? Where are the NPA’s? I thought you guys are the self-appointed and annointed saviours of the People.

Start mowing these grafters down. Start sharpening your bolos.

CALLING ALL MAGDALOS, IF THERE ARE ONE. CALLING ALL BAGONG KATIPUNEROS, IF THERE ARE STILL SOME. ARE WE ALL JUST PROPAGANDISTS? WHEN WILL BE THE TIME WHEN WE WILL PUT WHERE OUR MOUTHS ARE.

TIME TO BE GREAT, MY FRIENDS!

‘Big-time graft on the rise’
Watchdog blames gov’t air of secrecy

By Kristine L. Alave
Inquirer
Last updated 02:01am (Mla time) 08/01/2007
MANILA, Philippines — The shroud of secrecy surrounding high-level government contracts has led to the rise of “grander” and more lucrative corrupt practices in the Arroyo administration, anticorruption crusaders said Tuesday.

But red tape and petty corruption, such as bribery, have decreased because of the anti-red tape executive order issued by Malacañang last year, Vincent Lazatin, executive director of Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), said.

The executive order reduced transaction fees and trimmed bureaucratic dealings in several frontline agencies.

“Bribery is going down. But the grand or bigger types of corruption are on the rise,” said Segundo Romero, a senior fellow at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), which presented Tuesday corruption prevention studies under its Corruption Prevention Action Project.

The observation tends to support foreign businessmen’s perception of corruption in the country’s public sector.

Asked early this year by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) to assess the corruption problem in the public sector, the businessmen gave an average score of nine. In the PERC grading system, zero is the best possible score and 10 the worst.

A survey conducted by Social Weather Stations from March 4 to May 11 also found that the scale of corruption in the government remained high.

Lazatin said it was becoming more difficult for watchdog groups to get information and gain access to documents in the Arroyo administration.

“It’s much, much harder. I think there is a decrease in transparency and good governance,” Lazatin said in an interview at the DAP presentation.

Departments in the Arroyo administration have been stingy about releasing documents and information of public interest, he said.

Contracts with Japan, China

Lazatin cited the government’s refusal to disclose the documents and papers on the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement and the more recent $330-million broadband contract between the Philippine government and the Chinese telecommunication firm, ZTE Corp.

It’s also harder to obtain statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of government officials and politicians, and some agencies have resorted to dilatory tactics, Lazatin said.

Lazatin’s group has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to release the SALN of Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. but the agency still has not acted on the request despite several calls, he said.

Lazatin and Romero said the atmosphere of confidentiality was breeding bigger types of corruption, such as kleptocracy, plunder and cronyism.

All the secrecy gives high-level government officials more chances to funnel wealth from the public coffers and undermines efforts at the bureaucratic level to eradicate corruption, Lazatin said.

‘Mother of all corruption’

Romero noted that the May elections also contributed to the rise of the more lucrative corruption practices.

“Elections are the mother of all corruption. You have guns, goons and gold. And ‘Hello Garci,”’ Romero said, the last referring to the taped conversations between Ms Arroyo and former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano supposedly to rig the 2004 presidential election.

The studies presented in the first batch of the DAP anticorruption course focused on the “glitches” in the system.

These problems may be small and “undramatic,” but if accumulated over time, these little things translate to tremendous losses for the government, officials said.

Romero said the 12 studies on various flaws made by the students — all career officials at several agencies — would be implemented in their respective departments.

In a study by Eden Caluya, it was revealed that the Department of Public Works and Highways was losing millions of pesos on car rentals for foreign-funded infrastructure projects.

High-end vehicles

Because foreign-funded works are exempt from the cap set by the Department of Budget and Management and there is no clear departmental guideline on car rentals, it has become a practice in the DPWH to rent high-end vehicles instead of the cheaper and more appropriate pickup trucks for construction projects, Caluya said.

“Elimination of corruption vulnerabilities even in the smallest activities should be addressed and not taken for granted because these small areas, with their rate of recurrence, can make a big difference and/or create a great impact,” Caluya said.

Bureau of Customs

Another study at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) demanded changes in the control procedures and inventory of accountable forms.

Marinel Nario, the BOC employee who made the study, noted that such forms were overlooked and that there were “significant weaknesses” in the requisition, issuance, reporting and monitoring of the forms, which are collected for the BOC’s financial statements.

As a result, there is “wastage and inefficient use of government funds.”

The lack of controls can also lead to the unauthorized use of the forms, Nario said.

Read the survey below. It shows that 77% of Filipinos perceive themselves as poor. 46 percent of Pinoys said their situation is worse. Only 6 percent of Pinoy said their livelihood was better than last year.

Obviously, this is a far cry from the Philippines the President pictured during her last SONA. What Arroyo told the patronizing crowd in Congress was a country pushing forward with democracy and economic growth.

It seems that most of us consider her speech as bull.

But, if we are to be objective about it, the economy is indeed, stable and growing. Compared to previous years, our economy right now is really on the rise. Foreign companies are entering the country in droves. They see a lot of potential in our economy. They are investing heavily. Thousands of Foreigners are arriving in the Philippines to see its splendour.

What surprises me is that Pinoys themselves don’t see the potential of their own country. They still see themselves oppressed, destitute and poor. Why?

I think this survey shows one thing—there’s a communicative disjunct between what is really happening in the macro level with that of the micro level. Truly, our macro economic fundamentals are definitely strong, stronger than other ASEAN countries. And contrary to what detractors say, the economic windfall is trickling down to the lower economy. That is pretty obvious. But, why do Filipinos still consider themselves as poor?

The answer lies in Filipino aspirational values. For Filipinos, being poor means just having three square meals a day and not having the extra money to buy the aspirational things like jewelry, new clothes, etc. For us, this is the definition of being poor. In other countries, being poor means not having the means to even eat 3 square meals a day. That is poor. Here, being poor means not having the means to buy the things others have, like cars, new clothes, etc.

So, this survey does not really reflect the true economic status of Filipinos. It is a perception survey. Its different when people perceive themselves as poor when in reality, they are really not poor.

Solving the communicative disjunct

Admit it, the reason why we think ourselves as poor because we are disillusioned. We have low morale and low self-esteem. Why? We see government officials in their flashy cars and sparkling gems and we compare our lot and immediately say we are poor. Why? Because unlike these wealthy people, most of us do not have the means to “keep up with them”. This is a race. And in this race, these people have the advantage because they are in power and politics and they can ascend the social ladder easily compared with a lowly private employee.

And since we can’t keep ourselves in the race, we see our poverty.

We must have a social revolution. A revolution that would once again put the embers of self-respect in our hearts. We must be once again, be proud of ourselves as Pinoys. The first EDSA did it for us. That event gave us the chance to be proud as Filipinos. What makes us proud? Because we were able to retrieve our “hiya”. We, as a people, are honest people. We like to live in an equitable society. A society of meritocracy and promoting fair play. Pre-EDSA situation was not like that. That’s why when we revolted and successfully ousted a strongman, we regained our hiya. That gave us reason to be proud of ourselves, because we were able to rise up to the moral challenge.

Now that we are living in a government under an illegitimate ruler, we again lost our hiya. We think ourselves as poor because we are helpless and powerless against this illegitimate leader. We know she cheated. We know her minions rob us of our hard-earned taxes, and because we are unable to fight them and oust them from power, we feel as if we are poor.

We will only regain our self-respect and our hiya when we again rise up as one nation and oust this proud pretender from her seat of power. When that time comes, we will think ourselves as a rich people.

__________________

IBON: Majority of Pinoys say they are poor

Majority of Filipinos see themselves as poor despite government claims of significant improvement in the country’s economy, independent think tank IBON Foundation said Wednesday.

According to the July 2-13 IBON quarterly survey, 76.8 percent of Filipinos see themselves as poor, up from 69.3 percent in the same period last year. The survey was conducted nationwide with 1,488 respondents, the foundation said.

A total of 64.4 percent of respondents said their income was enough for their needs while 34 percent said it was not enough, IBON said. Only 46.8 percent of respondents said their livelihood was the same compared to a year ago while 46 percent said it was worse.

Only 5.5 percent said their livelihood was better than last year.

The IBON survey showed that 44.4 percent of respondents said there were livelihood opportunities in their area, but these were not enough, while 32.7 percent said there were none.

A total of 72.45 percent of respondents said they had trouble paying for their electricity and/or water bills; 71.2 percent said they could not meet the costs of medicine and medical treatments; 67.7 percent said they experienced difficulty paying for their children’s schooling; 67 percent said they had trouble meeting food prices; and 65.3 percent said they could not meet transportation costs.

The foundation said it conducted the survey to determine the people’s perception of the economy, their livelihood and income, government performance, and issues relevant to the country’s economic growth.

Rosario Bella Guzman, IBON executive editor, said the result was not surprising “considering that there are still insufficient livelihood opportunities in the country.”

The result downplays President Arroyo’s claim in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the government, through the business services sector, has generated 400,000 jobs.

“The business services sector has become the fastest growing in the economy providing 400,000 jobs compared to 8,000 in 2000. By 2010 the forecast is one million jobs earning $12 billion, the same amount remitted by our overseas Filipinos today,” Mrs. Arroyo said in his speech during the opening of the 14th Congress last month.

Mrs. Arroyo also claimed that the government was able to strengthen the economy due to fiscal reforms adopted by her administration, which she admitted were the reasons for her low public approval. “But I would rather be right than popular,” she said.

Read the survey below. It shows that 77% of Filipinos perceive themselves as poor. 46 percent of Pinoys said their situation is worse. Only 6 percent of Pinoy said their livelihood was better than last year.

Obviously, this is a far cry from the Philippines the President pictured during her last SONA. What Arroyo told the patronizing crowd in Congress was a country pushing forward with democracy and economic growth.

It seems that most of us consider her speech as bull.

But, if we are to be objective about it, the economy is indeed, stable and growing. Compared to previous years, our economy right now is really on the rise. Foreign companies are entering the country in droves. They see a lot of potential in our economy. They are investing heavily. Thousands of Foreigners are arriving in the Philippines to see its splendour.

What surprises me is that Pinoys themselves don’t see the potential of their own country. They still see themselves oppressed, destitute and poor. Why?

I think this survey shows one thing—there’s a communicative disjunct between what is really happening in the macro level with that of the micro level. Truly, our macro economic fundamentals are definitely strong, stronger than other ASEAN countries. And contrary to what detractors say, the economic windfall is trickling down to the lower economy. That is pretty obvious. But, why do Filipinos still consider themselves as poor?

The answer lies in Filipino aspirational values. For Filipinos, being poor means just having three square meals a day and not having the extra money to buy the aspirational things like jewelry, new clothes, etc. For us, this is the definition of being poor. In other countries, being poor means not having the means to even eat 3 square meals a day. That is poor. Here, being poor means not having the means to buy the things others have, like cars, new clothes, etc.

So, this survey does not really reflect the true economic status of Filipinos. It is a perception survey. Its different when people perceive themselves as poor when in reality, they are really not poor.

Solving the communicative disjunct

Admit it, the reason why we think ourselves as poor because we are disillusioned. We have low morale and low self-esteem. Why? We see government officials in their flashy cars and sparkling gems and we compare our lot and immediately say we are poor. Why? Because unlike these wealthy people, most of us do not have the means to “keep up with them”. This is a race. And in this race, these people have the advantage because they are in power and politics and they can ascend the social ladder easily compared with a lowly private employee.

And since we can’t keep ourselves in the race, we see our poverty.

We must have a social revolution. A revolution that would once again put the embers of self-respect in our hearts. We must be once again, be proud of ourselves as Pinoys. The first EDSA did it for us. That event gave us the chance to be proud as Filipinos. What makes us proud? Because we were able to retrieve our “hiya”. We, as a people, are honest people. We like to live in an equitable society. A society of meritocracy and promoting fair play. Pre-EDSA situation was not like that. That’s why when we revolted and successfully ousted a strongman, we regained our hiya. That gave us reason to be proud of ourselves, because we were able to rise up to the moral challenge.

Now that we are living in a government under an illegitimate ruler, we again lost our hiya. We think ourselves as poor because we are helpless and powerless against this illegitimate leader. We know she cheated. We know her minions rob us of our hard-earned taxes, and because we are unable to fight them and oust them from power, we feel as if we are poor.

We will only regain our self-respect and our hiya when we again rise up as one nation and oust this proud pretender from her seat of power. When that time comes, we will think ourselves as a rich people.

__________________

IBON: Majority of Pinoys say they are poor

Majority of Filipinos see themselves as poor despite government claims of significant improvement in the country’s economy, independent think tank IBON Foundation said Wednesday.

According to the July 2-13 IBON quarterly survey, 76.8 percent of Filipinos see themselves as poor, up from 69.3 percent in the same period last year. The survey was conducted nationwide with 1,488 respondents, the foundation said.

A total of 64.4 percent of respondents said their income was enough for their needs while 34 percent said it was not enough, IBON said. Only 46.8 percent of respondents said their livelihood was the same compared to a year ago while 46 percent said it was worse.

Only 5.5 percent said their livelihood was better than last year.

The IBON survey showed that 44.4 percent of respondents said there were livelihood opportunities in their area, but these were not enough, while 32.7 percent said there were none.

A total of 72.45 percent of respondents said they had trouble paying for their electricity and/or water bills; 71.2 percent said they could not meet the costs of medicine and medical treatments; 67.7 percent said they experienced difficulty paying for their children’s schooling; 67 percent said they had trouble meeting food prices; and 65.3 percent said they could not meet transportation costs.

The foundation said it conducted the survey to determine the people’s perception of the economy, their livelihood and income, government performance, and issues relevant to the country’s economic growth.

Rosario Bella Guzman, IBON executive editor, said the result was not surprising “considering that there are still insufficient livelihood opportunities in the country.”

The result downplays President Arroyo’s claim in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the government, through the business services sector, has generated 400,000 jobs.

“The business services sector has become the fastest growing in the economy providing 400,000 jobs compared to 8,000 in 2000. By 2010 the forecast is one million jobs earning $12 billion, the same amount remitted by our overseas Filipinos today,” Mrs. Arroyo said in his speech during the opening of the 14th Congress last month.

Mrs. Arroyo also claimed that the government was able to strengthen the economy due to fiscal reforms adopted by her administration, which she admitted were the reasons for her low public approval. “But I would rather be right than popular,” she said.