The Philippines: anger rising
Anti-Binay protest rally.
I prowl the articles, commentaries and discussion threads of the Inquirer, Rappler and a host of blogs to keep an ear to the . . . well, not ground . . . but to the social patter. The dialogue threads.
One thing I’ve observed is that one can often learn more from the discussion threads, especially at places like top blogger Raissa Robles’ site, than one can from news reports. News reports tend to be shallow quick hitters.
Before many of you were born, news outlets had teletype machines, automatic typewriters attached to a news feed that rattled off the news. Those of us in the radio news reporting business would do “rip and read” reporting. We’d rip the Associated Press article out of the machine and read it on the air, un-edited. Simple, inexpensive, and largely empty of content.
That’s mainstream news here, in the Philippines, today, 2014.
Rip and read. All headlined sizzle with no steak in the write-up.
Anger rising
Another thing I’ve noticed is that there is a great deal of anger rising among the socially connected class. The primary source of the anger is Vice President Jejomar Binay. A second source is Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban city. Filipinos largely “get it”, that they are being gamed by cheaters, thieves and manipulators.
Those two are just the headlined problems.
Socially aware Filipinos recognize they are surrounded by a huge cast of thugs and self-dealers: the three plundering senators, Vice President Binay, the Romualdezes and their darling Imelda, Airhead in Chief Nancy Binay, VP Binay’s large team of lying spokespeople, sycophant sister city mayors, Representative Paquiao, another legislative airhead . . . and there are lingering pockets of inept or crooked leaders in the Aquino Administration: DOTC, DENR, DOE, PNP, Agriculture, Army and others. All these people have “credentials”. They are among the entitled who are empowered to make people’s lives miserable while shrugging off any accountability for the well-being of Filipinos.
The system of justice is designed NOT to bring people to account. DOJ lacks sharp investigative talents and prosecution attack dogs. There are long judicial delays and lots of legalistic loopholes, not to mention judges of questionable integrity. The Ombudsman is so swamped with cases – because there are so many crooks in government and legalistic hurdles to overcome – that she can’t get anything profound accomplished in less than three years.
The organizations that pretend to represent “the people” are leftist whackos who can’t themselves get any traction going because they are still spouting Chairman Mao and reciting nonsense about imperialists and capitalist pigs. As if the Philippines would thrive as a nation of communes run by military committee.
There are no organizations that represent the good people, the people of conscience and trust who expect their government to take care of business. So even with anger rising, the protests for decency resemble that empty park in the photo above. There are none. People just hold to their trust, their expectation that good will overcome bad.
. . . and the anger builds.
Binay recognizes error, develops new tactic
The Tacloban Mayor has successfully tricked his city’s people into believing that the National Government is responsible for all storm preparation and repair and the LGU is just where people live. Laws say just the reverse. The LGU is responsible. People in Manila see things differently. They see Mayor Romualdez as a huge conniving scoundrel who does little for Tacloban but talk. And they are angry at his dirty dealing.
Until now, the methods of operation by Binay and Romualdez have been strikingly similar. They are defensive leaders on the attack against responsible citizens. It is the most amazing communications strategy I have ever seen where both parties believe attacking good people with lies and deceits will accomplish something. And perhaps the Binay camp at least has recognized that its “lay waste” strategy has backfired.
The Vice President has been trying to convince his constituency that he is the victim, and that he really did not steal taxpayers blind or build a lavish estate on a hill in Batangas. His team of attack dogs have tried to lay waste to anyone who has the audacity to investigate the Vice President’s dealings: former Vice Mayor Mercado, for sure senators Trillanes and Cayetano, but also COA Commissioner Mendoza, Justice Secretary De Lima, and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas. Any lie or exaggeration works for the Binay propaganda team. I won’t list them. You know them by now.
Well, perhaps there is a method to the madness. Perhaps both defensive leaders are trying to cleave the Philippines into two camps:
- The poor and disadvantaged.
- The comparatively well-off.
They want to create an “us” versus “them” divide.
The biggest share of voters, of course, are in the former, whereas the hope of the Philippines rests largely with the middle class, or the comparatively well off.
But now Vice President Binay’s attack dogs appear to have toned down their rhetoric. They do continue to focus on Senators Trillanes and Cayetano as political inquisitors. And they continue to spin their web of deceits: “the worst is behind us”. But they have stopped attacking people of importance who are taking up investigations. Their objective is possibly to let the social media calm down. To let a lack of leadership and natural apathy emerge. They do not want anger to continue to build. It might overflow and reach the poor.
Vice President Binay and his mercenaries are working the field from the other side of the divide, among the poor, to stoke anger there. To stoke trust in Binay and mistrust in current government leaders. Gifts, medical clinics, the humble man honoring them with a visit. All aimed at building his base among the poor.
He peddles snake oil to the helpless.
I don’t think the strategy will work. Sorry. It’s a new ball game.
The anger rising is the partner to the great passion for a decent Philippines that pushed Mr. Aquino into office. It is not a thing easily manipulated by deceits from spokespeople.
It will not be quieted.
The blind, the deaf, the mute
There is a real possibility that this anger could lead to street protests. Massive protests. Indeed, we can read the rumblings across the social media. A desire for physical protests is building. Perhaps all that is missing is a detonation incident. It was discussed on Riassa Robles’ fine blog that impeachment of the Vice President could end the Vice President’s presidential ambitions no matter what the outcome of impeachment trial:
- Guilty: Binay can’t be president.
- Acquittal: Detonation event; millions rise up, overthrow government, and put in place a REAL straight path leadership.
A popular protest would likely be much bigger and more aggressive than the Hong Kong protests in terms of anger and act. It would probably be something less violent than the storming of the Bastille and the execution by guillotine of every French aristocrat in the land. But it would be profound.
It is astounding that powerful people in the Philippines seem unwilling or unable to step in to stop this track toward madness. There are three silent enabling groups:
- Those with power and influence: legislators such as Poe, presidential sisters, military leaders who jog with the Vice President.
- The oligarchs who would lose a lot (or all) in a protest-inspired economic melt-down; the Ayalas and Tans and other wealthy.
- Sister city mayors and provincial governors whose reign could end in a huge national uprising and restructuring of government.
Their passive compliance with the Binays presents them with clear – and rapidly increasing – risks.
All it takes is one detonation event.
Election of Jejomar Binay as President would most assuredly be such an event.
One wonders if the influential will ever summon up the will to stop this relentless trek toward madness.
Why the disadvantaged are also deaf
It is hard for social media to get a “long term” message across to the poor, who are willing to trade a vote for a bag of rice, here, now, today, even if it means sacrificing their future.
The disadvantaged can’t see a future. They’ve never had one.
It is hard to promise them one in a tangible way. The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program has evidently had some success. But that is not really a future. A good job is a future.
The winning presidential candidate in 2016 will be the candidate who can articulate a realistic BETTER LIFE to the disadvantaged. A life with opportunities that they can understand and almost touch.
Right now, Jejomar Binay is finding success at dividing the Philippines because he is unopposed. He is using his government position to run for president in 2016. He is handing out goodies and sponsoring medical clinics. He is speaking humbly and sincerely, “just one of us”. Tangible proof of his better treatment of the poor.
If that is straight path, I am a monkey’s uncle.
As for anger . . . hmmmm . . .
Perhaps it is good. It is the offsetting virtue to the scourge of silence by the influential.
It is good that the Blue Ribbon Subcommittee will extend its work and keep the fires burning. The three senators need to turn in some more blockbuster revelations. Headline makers. This week’s meeting once again did that, with non-political valuation of the High School at less than P600 million, versus a construction cost of P1.3 billion. It also saw former Vice Mayor Mercado naming dummies holding Binay apartment units in Makati.
Anger may also motivate the socially connected class to get off the dime and start communicating with their friends and family members across the land. The messages is simple.
Don’t trust crooks and liars.
Don’t sell your kids’ future for some medicine or five kilos of rice.
Perhaps soon we might expect the poor to receive their gift from the Vice President – because they need the help – then turn and shudder at the thought they were just humiliated by someone who is using them because they are poor. The poor, too, will feel anger rising . . .
And vow to vote for anybody but Binay . . .
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
Erratum: P1.3 billion, not million.
Ach! My arithmetic has never been the same since Bill Gates took my slide rule away . . . (thanks)
In the sixties, local activists belonging to the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist line had a section called “agit-prop” for agitation-propaganda purposes – writing incendiary speeches, manifestos, speaking in rallies, creating placards, etc. It didn’t leave much room for thought, just slap on the slogans and keep repeating ad nauseaum.
These days we are so lucky. I see social media as the new field for activism, but since no one monopolizes it, the dominant ideas prevail. Reason and argument get their chance.
When people get mad these days, and it is mostly vs corruption, it is done in social media.
It is a new medium of protest. I suppose it can generate a bloodless coup if people respond to the complaints that are out there, and it becomes irrelevant words in the wind if all the online anger reaches no one. That is, if the influential just shrug.
How do you expect the leftist groups to inform the poor about Binay’s corrupt ways when they themselves are in Binay’s payroll?
Good article. Wish we had more bloggers like you. Let’s start influencing everybody not to vote for Binay, or any UNA hotshot for that matter. I wish that the leftist grow up, use their brains and start a real Social Democratic Party of importance here.
The sad thing is nothing much will come of it. We will be back again in our comfortable cocoons of complacency, it’s like watching other kids play a game of musical chairs. It will always be those group of kids who will play the game with a few new faces dancing on a different tune… over and over and over again.
Can we uproot an old tree using an old, dull kitchen knife? Yes, it’s possible but how long will it take? The odds are against us, look at Occupy Wall Street.
I don’t know. I sort of think it is like washing a really dirty old shirt. You have to put it through the suds several times, and each time it gets a little cleaner. First wash was Cory. Second was President Aquino. Maybe it needs a third . . .
Wash, dry, wait, repeat. Makes sense but isn’t it like taking a pain killer to cure a toothache; instead of having it extracted or filled by a dentist, changing the diet by avoiding too much sugar and having proper dental hygiene? Anybody but Binay, but what if it’s Erap, Ping Lacson or Lord forbid Manny Pacquiao?… Mar Roxas, Poe?
Any other option that bites, more like a long term solution? Mariano made a very good point in being strict to SALN declarations.
Well, there is the smallest of asterisks attached to such (ridiculous) positions, and if you read down on the smallest of fine print, which I may inadvertently omitted from the blog, it says “*presuming all of the other candidates are of fundamentally good capability.” I cite the slogan to make a point of how horrible Binay is, and translate it into a voting act.
As for extracting the tooth, that is difficult when the illness is a cancer in every organ of the body, as is this “amoral interdependence” that is everywhere. Maybe the better analogy is going in for our chemo every 10 or 15 years to try to get rid of the AI cancer.
Yes, presuming. We can only guess what will happen until the presidentiables submitted their certificates of candidacy. What now? We ought to be glad to see the Binays in a pickle. Maybe it’s too early to be angry. So far here’s a list of the big fish catch under PNoy’s watch:
1.Corona, what’s the update, is there a case filed? What happened to his supposed unexplained wealth?
2. Gloria under hospital arrest. What’s the update on her case?
3. Enrile, Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada. Is it true that there is a possibility that the case against Jinggoy can be dismissed because of technicality?
4. They still have to reel in Binay.
Drillon dodged a bullet, maybe a big fish from PNoy’s pond?
Why so glum a prognosis doc?
Oh, I’m not glum. I’m just reporting on the anger that is obviously out there, and the rumblings of protests, and putting it into a context. The context is that the silent influential had best not remain silent. As for the track record of incarcerations, I wish the PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism) would do a matrix that shows each case, and each charge under each case, and tracks exactly where it is in the judicial timeline. It is absurd to me that Gloria Arroyo is held for years, ostensibly as a political prisoner, because the justice/judicial/ombudsman efforts are so legalistically convoluted.
I don’t think Drilon is out of the woods yet. Osmena wants to continue the investigation, and he is a sly political player. I think maybe his commercial interests compete with Megaworld, the company that is in effect sponsoring the convention center by giving the land and mandating the design. When he was asking questions, everyone in the room got a little nervous.
The timing is important, too early we might not be able to sustain the momentum and fizzle out to just a deep collective sigh in the end; too late we might not get the result that we’re hoping to get… I may have forgotten to include Justice Ong in the big fish catch… too bad Edgar’s not here to point this out… he’s probably busy downloading porn.
😉 🙂 😉
This Binay fetish is the stuff that makes a presidential aspirants’ wet dream. They’ll probably make sure that Binay is out of the picture by 2016.
1. Corona is fighting forfeiture of his assets
2. Hearings continue at the Sandigan
3. Jinggoy is trying to get it dismissed on a technicality
4. Yes
5. Maybe there are no big fishes in PNoy’s pond?
Thank you for the update. I heard Bong Revilla has an entry for this coming Manila Film Fest- Panday: Ang Simula starring Jolo Revilla… if not Drillon, Purisima or how about the current customs chief?
“I wish the leftists grow up . . .” That makes me wonder, are leftist parties just “people” instead of principle, too? Like UNA and LP? That is they spout meaningless rhetoric and don’t line up a platform that sells (it would have to be moderate, not whacko), or proposed deeds that people actually agree with? Waldon Bello is a very sharp guy. Why can’t he build a platform that works? Hmmmm . . . Now you have me thinking. Dangerous business . . .
Is there a chance for a mature political left? Filipinos hold a very simplified view of whites and the USA to serve their own agenda. Those who don’t just stay quiet and keep their views to themselves to avoid to be bullied. That is my experience here in New York. Filipinos are the silent race hustlers. Many of them blame the ongoing legacy of colonialism and imperialism and the white supremacist status quo.
See my comment to Pinoyputi . . . it is a very good question. A MATURE political left. One that lets go of its historical basis for being and works on doing something for the people . . . I feel a blog coming on . . . Go Knicks. 🙂
Neo-colonialism, imperialism, and white supremacists are alive and well. And they do make life more difficult for everybody. But blame does not solve anything.
White supremacists are alive? Now days you don’t even have to get a Filipino drunk and they will express their anti white agenda. They now joined the black “demokrats” releasing their venom and anger and joyride ride on the back of the popular anti white agenda, thanks to the Obama legacy. The Philippines thrives on a culture of forever painting themselves as victims of whites. What does it matter if their own countrymen commit crimes when sins of a few whites far outweigh the sins of many of their own kind? This is the ugly reality that Filipinos are among the most racially intolerant people in the world.
http://www.newsgra.ph/1221/filipinos-among-most-racists-world-says-study/
Where are the white supremacist? The US government is racially mixed so is the crew of the Navy. Are you talking about the white sex tourist or the whites like myself who married a Filipina? Where are the white supremacist that affect the life of the Filipino peope and the Philippines? Explain to me.
There are no white supremacists in America? Or are you saying there are white supremacists but Filipinos are exempted from it?
I live in New York and I’m an active member of the Filipino community here in New York for years. I see Filipinos having nice comfortable homes and good jobs and they don’t seem to suffer from any kind of oppression from white supremacists. Outside of Manhattan you will not even see whites anymore. You may be able to see a few whites in Queens here and there, but the fact is whites are the minority and their numbers are rapidly decreasing. Many of the over stayers “undocumented Filipinos” have good jobs. This blaming and hating the whites game by some Filipinos is truly disgusting. It seems that too many Filipinos are race hustlers to serve their victim agenda. One time I heard the Filipino priest saying that the white men can not be trusted! I can tell you many examples of how racist Filipinos can be. They forget that I’m white since I’m not American and married a Filipina and helping the community with my wife. This is the ugly reality. Sad, very sad.
The attitude here has become much more accepting of the American presence, what with China camped on Philippine rocks. Even in the transgender murder case, we no longer see the senseless anti-American rants that we saw for the Nicole case. Well, we see some, artfully stoked by the radicals like Harry Roque. But most people have a calmer, more mature view of things. Pragmatic, if you will. I think the social media chatter, over time, will contribute to more wholesome and contemplative views about race and history . . .
Well, there are racist attitudes. Those can be individual or shared by a group. And then there are racist laws, policies, etc. Those are systemic.
Name those racist laws, policies, etc that are the result of white supremacy. Since we are talking about the Philippines and it’s people give me examples that are directly or indirectly influencing the life of the Filipino peope and the country.
I also see a coup-de-t’at if Binay is acquitted. It is not the fault of the military. It is not the fault of the people. It is the fault of Trillanes, Cayetano and their mouthpiece the U.P.-trained Philippine Press handing out their guilty judgement of Binay and all the accused. Drilon is another victim.
What is lacking in the Filipinos are highly analytical talking heads like those of O.J. What they can spew from their fingers are thirst for blood not the inherent evidenciary gathering process which they call in the U.S. “discovery phase” before it goes to trial. (I may be wrong on this because I’m educated by the American Media and my law professor is John Grisham)
Currently, Filipinos are in revolution against the corrupt by hook or by crook the means to an end.
The beauty about the Senate Hearing Filipino-style is: The accused is guilty until proven guilty. No need to elaborate. Binay is already guilty
One Filipino-style that is so original is, THE ACCUSED HAS TO PROVE THEMSELVES GUILTY! Nice & Easy. Quick & Dirty. Totally Awesome. The accused has to gather evidences against themselves. Tiu has to prove himself guilty. He has to admit that he is a dummy to Binay. Tiu has to show the Title is in his name. (Trillanes cannot get the Title himself from Register of Deeds in Tiu’s name) Trillanes was fuming mad. He huffed, and he puffed, and he blew, and he snort and ate little Tiu when Tiu cannot present a Title made-for-Trillanes the way Trillanes wanted it because Trillanes knew Tiu is Guilty and he is a Dummy of Binay.
Trillanes admonished Tiu he was not doing enough to gather evidence against himself, oh, by the way, there is no such thing pleading under the 5th in the Philippines. Enducement to commit crime is also legal called Entrapment.
Would this case have prospered if this were in the U.S.? Definitely NO!
If New York Times reported this news the way it is reported in the Philippines all other news outlet and Stephen Colbert would tack them against the wall and throw darts at them.
If U.S. bureaucrats, lawyers and others “leaked” their investigation to the press, they’d be pounding the streets in next mid-term election.
But this is the Philippines … this is not the U.S. … but Philippine Law textbooks are authored by Americans! Definitely we did not teach them that the accused gather evidences against themselves so the accused can prove themselves guilty. Or, maybe, they Trillanes and Cayetano are just bunch of normal lazy Filipinos that cannot do their own legwork.
The Filipinos may get rid of Binay. The Filipinos may have Benigno that sided with Binay but in the end the victims will always be the Filipinos.
What comes around goes around in Filipinos neck and eventually they’ll scream, “THIS IS NOT THE JUSTICE WE INTENDED TO BE” Because will be the victim in the future.
What I am proud of is Benigno have listened to me. He wanted the senate to wrap this up if they cannot show evidence …
deLima also listened to me. She told Garin to “shut up” and face deLima instead of going to the media. deLima was not totally listening to me because she went to the media to tell Garin to “shut up” violating her own “shut up”. But it is a goot sign. They are learning. Little by Little.
Henares also listened to me. Never heard of her attacking the great living Philippine Hero, Manny Pacquiao.
Manny Pacquiao also listened to me.
So far, I only have educated 4 people out of 100,000,000 Filipinos. Well, better than nothing.
DISCLAIMER: I am not pro-Binay nor pro-UNA. I am pro-Justice.
“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” – FREDERICK DOUGLAS
Filipinos will never be safe in this illusion of Justice.
Mariano, I can understand your point in being the sole voice of discord in trying to put a semblance of balance in these discussions… yes, why gang up on Binay and why not discuss other topics that are equally important like the SC’s ruling on cyber libel etc.?… and yes, seems like the public already gave a guilty verdict on Binay. This reminds me when Saguisag defended Erap and before that when Saguisag defended Mayor Sanches. At first I was aghast, then I realized that in the end only the courts of law can have the final say; not that I put too much faith in them… Gutsy stand.
May I ask where did you stand during the height of Corona’s impeachment proceedings? Comparing the evidences against Corona then and the evidences against Binay now is like comparing a cub scout to Chuck Norris.
I also beg to differ, Manny Pacquiao the great living Philippine “boxing” Hero.
Where I stood at the height of Corona? I stood where I stand right now: Justice! Fair Justice! Protection of Banking Secrecy Law. Incanceration of little lady in red riding hood that photocopied Corona’s dollar account in violation of Banking Secrecy Law. Corona was impeached because Benigno thought he was biased in his TRO decisions and being a midnight appointee. Since Aquinistas cannot prove otherwise, they use prosecution of last resort: SALN. They were successful.
Where I stood at the height of Arroyo? I stood where I stand right now: Evidence over witness account. They ask people around what they thought of Arroyo and Mike’s helicopter instead of doing the leg work to gather evidences. The last time I hear, Arroyo was acquitted on 3 counts. Others still pending until witness accounts appear.
Where I stood at the height of Napoles? I stood where I stand right now: Evidence over paid witness accounts. Gigi Reyes and her partner are paid with Witness Protection Program. Meaning, they get to keep the commission and go home free to kiss their grandchildren goodnight just to write affidavits and sing prosecutions song. If the government has had evidence they would not be needing Witness Protection Program. Your government would have sent these two ladies to jail and retrieve the money, too.
Where I stood at the height of ZTE? I stood where I stand right now: Evidence over whining witness losing the contract, de Venecia. deVenecia was in the lion’s lair instead he ran to the media not carting off evidence or taping them.
Where I stood at the height of EDSA Revolution? I stood where I stand right now: It wasn’t a revolution because they did not revolt. They were there to witness the squabbles of Tanda, Ramos and Gringo against Marcos.
As you can see in the examples of the above, I do not stand against Benigno’s enemies. I stood for justice. I never stood for Binay. I never stood for Arroyo. Nor hated ZTE nor EDSA. I stood for what is right IN MY VIEW.
Where do I stand on Mt. Makiling? I stood where I stand right now. Binay is the only one investigated not the Exec Com of Boys Scout of the Philippines. When it is the ExecCom that approves the transfer of Mt Makiling not Binay alone. Benigno Aquino happen to be part of ExecCom and he is the Chief Scout of BSP
Please, just because I stood for justice do not accuse me of Pro-Binay. Your slip is showing, you are implying “Justice makes Binay go Free”, therefore, you are insinuating Binay does not deserve JUSTICE. Binay deserves INJUSTICE.
But we are all entitled to our opinion no matter how unpopular that is. Do you think that if Binay were tried in the U.S. do you think it would prosper? I doubt. Even Swiss Banks did not believe witnessses and affidavits of Philippine Government on Marcos wealth. Either Swiss Banks are Pro-Marcos and anti-Filipinos because Swiss Banks did not release the “hidden” wealth.
OMG! Why do I always go for unpopular issues? One guy at Inquirer told me that I just wanted attention. Huh? Whatever.
It is sensible to take the path of least resistance and join the bandwagon, but you’ve chosen the opposite, so kudos.
*******
Mariano,
You keep using the term “witness accounts” to discredit evidence.
I would agree with you that “eyewitness accounts” are unreliable or even notoriously unreliable.
But the evidence given in the senate hearings are NOT “eyewitness accounts.” They are “personal testimonies” given under oath and supported by documentary evidence. The documentary evidence consist not only of affidavits but also of official legal documents (and also nonlegal documents).
Personal testimonies are accepted as evidence.
Section 1 of the Rules of Court defines evidence as “Evidence is the means, sanctioned by these rules, of ascertaining in a judicial proceeding the truth respecting a matter of fact.”
And Section 36 says: “Testimony generally confined to personal knowledge; hearsay excluded. — A witness can testify only to those facts which he knows of his personal knowledge; that is, which are derived from his own perception, except as otherwise provided in these rules.”
You seem to have a blinkered idea of evidence conditioned perhaps by too much “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” viewing.
Your idea of justice also seems to be blinkered: you condemn whistle-blowers, who admittedly have participated in crime, but not the crooks that commit the greater wrong.
Contrary to your claim, Swiss banks have surrendered Marcos’ wealth to the government.
Try to understand why you are being challenged on the Internet. Try to see where your critics are coming from. Try to see where you are possibly wrong.
Challenge: Try to prove, logically and rationally, that personal testimonies — and not witness accounts — are not evidence. I will hear you out.
If you are not able to prove this, then be aware that you stand on sand.
*****
Ahahahahaha! Best blog comment of the CENTURY! Keep up the good work!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Benigno must have been dozing off during the hearings. There are mountains of evidence that back up the allegations of Mercado, that show Tiu is fronting for Binay, that Binay lied about his bank accounts. In addition certain coincidences like the interlinked directorships of certain companies and the location of certain Batangas properties in the name of Binay’s closest allies point to something strange going on. Watch the hearings, I think they are on YouTube. Share your popcorn with Benigno.
This epistle takes about three reads to get all the good lessons out.
Best is our indignant attitude because Tiu did not march in and declare himself guilty. (And that we expect Binay to do the same.) “Trillanes admonished Tiu he was not doing enough to gather evidence against himself . . .” ahahaha
I’m not sure I agree this would not sell to the NY Times. American legislative panels are notoriously political. People resign after facing them . . . The Times eats it up . . .
Re your closing sense of hopeless going in circles, see my “shirt-washing” analogy elsewhere.
Tiu has no title to the property. All he has is an undated, unnotarized memorandum of agreement with Laureano Gregorio. That’s why Tiu cannot present title. But Tiu insists he owns the property. That’s what angered Trillanes.
Trillanes was not asking Tiu to gather eveidence against himself. Trillanes asked Tiu to present documents that would support his allegations about ownership of the Batangas property.
“Would this case have prospered if this were in the U.S.? Definitely NO!”
Ever heard of the US congressional investigation of Benghazi?
“If U.S. bureaucrats, lawyers and others “leaked” their investigation to the press, they’d be pounding the streets in next mid-term election.”
Really? Where were you when Ken Starr was leaking his investigation on Clinton? By the way, Starr ended up with a pretty comfortable job at a California university.
He peddles snake oil to the helpless.
I don’t think the strategy will work. Sorry. It’s a new ball game.
The anger rising is the partner to the great passion for a decent Philippines that pushed Mr. Aquino into office. It is not a thing easily manipulated by deceits from spokespeople.
You cut to the core, eh?
Smokespeople is what my brother calls Binay’s spokesmen
Had to giggle at your Lone Ranger (anti-Binay protester) depiction.
It is refreshing to read what netizens think about the corrupt government officials now-a-days. It gives me hope that PI is on the verge of its rebirth into an honest, accountable nation with a progressive mindset . I even read about someone organizing people, asking them to bring anti-Binay placards during the Pope’s visit at Rizal Park. I hope people will. I know I’ll be in thick of it if I am there.
I am also hoping that the masses will take Binay’s handouts but will vote against him in 2016, if he beats the allegations leveled at him.
I need to figure out how to do sound plug-ins. The William Tell Overture can be the theme song for the social movement to rid the nation’s political scene of a villain in a black hat.
Joe,
What do you think about using parts of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5?
i7sharp
Ach, my internet connection won’t let me play the link. Is that the one with the cannons? I chose the William Tell Overture because it was the theme song for the Lone Ranger television series when I was a kid. Cannons would work if we are shooting for a different image . . .
Joe,
Symphony No. 5 (well, the first bars actually) came to mind because they can catch one’s attention almost right away – for they “knock on your door.” If I may put it that way.
x-
Beethoven’s 5th Symphony in C minor, op. 67 is rightly considered a natural continuation of Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”, because it approaches the same themes and it expresses the relationship between particular and general. The name under which it sometimes circulated, “The Symphony of Destiny”, is linked to the words of Anton Felix Schindler, his biographer, who, invoking an explanation given by the composer referring to the first bars in Part I of the fifth symphony, stated: “So pocht das Schicksal an die Pforte!” (That’s how destiny knocks on your door).
-x
Source: http://www.all-about-beethoven.com/symphony5.html
Perhaps you might want to start with its first bars, and then
segue – or go galloping – with William Tell,
and then, in expectation of success, perhaps finish with …
“Ode to Joy.”
Not that I know or read music; I just get helplessly carried away by it.
i7sharp
OMG, you are exposing a huge gap in my educational experience. Sounds like a path to ecstasy. On a horse! ahahahaha!!
This may be the first time I actively campaign against someone.
Anybody but . . .
Nice post. If every individual can just do his share in posting and sharing this article then it will create a continuing mass information campaign to every filipino reader in any part of this world.
Thank you, Tony. Indeed, it will help form a collective of “one mind” if this and similar blogs start to represent an ideological weight of some significance.
Uncle Joe, right now the anger and the indignation is just simmering. What can we do to make it boil? Filipinos, will just forget after the Senate hearing wrapped up yesterday. We need to be vigilant and be prepared for 2016. I still believe he can win the presidential elections, since he started campaigning on Day 1 of his Vice Presidency. Right now, he is going town to town under the guise of “feeling the pulse of the people.”
We want a million people march, we want to show him how rotten he is rotten to the core. But, we are still here, typing and discussing our indignation, what else can we do to make Grace Poe say anything about Binay’s corruption, or make Juana Change walk the streets in her gown shouting her frustration about Pnoy’s indifference to Binay.
Lastly, I don’t mind being a monkey if I have an Uncle as brilliant as you. I hope you keep on writing.
P.S. It is a letdown knowing you are a Knicks fan, tell me it’s not true.
Ahahahaha, I’m a rabid Laker fan, riding through the lows, but Attila is from New York, so I was just giving him a sports fist bump. Plus LA’s favorite coach is now in New York. He deserves a fist bump, too.
Right now, I think simmering is good. We should use the heat to encourage a large “shout out” from the influential that, plainly, Jejomar Binay will wreck this country, either through corruption or domestic strife. They need to start elbowing him aside. There must be a FEW courageous people who are willing to stand up and say, “Enough Jejomar. End your political aspirations for the well-being of the nation.”
If there are not enough courageous influential people, then there will eventually be an incendiary event. Guaranteed.
So my Uncle’s advice is to be patient, but remain angry . . .
The Binay issue has definitely stirred the emotions of a lot of Filipinos and former Filipinos to the extreme. The PDI’s and Rappler’s comment section attest to how most people discuss, argue and bash one another – ala Jerry Springer Show. However, netizens don’t face one another, so silly remarks on both sides are just that… silly! I believe that netizens don’t have the machinery to organize a rally, as Joe said, there has to be somebody who is influential to start the uprising so the netizens will pour in. But, until then, people will just have to patiently wait but remain angry – take it from the wisdom of Joe.
I have to admit, I was also angry about the Binay issues and his eventual seat at the palace. But it occurred to me for sometime now that I just have to wait patiently for the news because I have a fuzzy feeling that Binay will not make it on time for the election. I sense (or predict, if you will) that he will die (either literally or figuratively) before the election. The stress of his everyday travel and campaign along with his anticipation of future damning evidences and how he will keep other whistle blowers shut will slowly take their toll. I guess his greatest fear right now is “failure” to be the next president. He will trade his alleged ill-gotten wealth for his enormous ego.
. . . his greatest fear right now is ‘failure’ to be the next president . . .” Yes, he will have to come to terms with himself. He has not yet done so. In that sense, he is out of touch with reality. Rather than being popular, he is becoming very disliked. And his ego can’t stop that from happening. They weep that the grandkids are being affected and have no sense of them (the older Binays) being the reason. Not the newspapers. Or the critics. Or the investigators. Detached from reality . . .
Joe,
Off topic, but important:
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/99381/cocktales–prieto-romualdez-partnership-now-has-his-hers-newspapers
Since we monitor these things anyway…
Most interesting. Inquirer = wife (Prieto). Standard = husband (Romualdez). If the Inquirer is avidly pro-Aquino, I don’t see it. That may have been prior to Yolanda. Interesting that Imelda Marcos believes the Inquirer will eventually come over “to our side”. I wonder how Madam Prieto (the matriarch of the family) and Imelda get along.
If I had both papers, I’d use the Standard as the political rag and the Inquirer as the mainstream, journalistically bent publication. If both go onto the Marcos political side, that, itself, will become a huge story. I suppose that could happen after the matriarch leaves the scene.
Thanks for bringing that to our attention.
The Philippine Press needs to be regulated
Or, if it fails, Philippine Press is to be outsourced
Or, open up Philippine Press to foreign investors
Like we wanted political dynasty made illegal.
Whom the people vote depends on the information printed by the Philippine Press. People vote what they read in the papers.
The Philippine Press needs to be regulated, controlled, outsourced and open to foreign investors. We should not allow this kindergartners play with our lives.
Anger is rising and something should happen, for the better I hope. Changing for the better is called improving. In the improvement business two contradictory schools exist. One promoting small, easy, fast steps, as in washing your very dirty shirt again and again until clean. Others promote break-trough improvements, as trough away that old shirt and buy a new one, it is so much more effective and maybe cheaper too.
Is convicting Binay and electing a third little-improvements minded president enough? Or do we have to realize breakthrough changes as Mariano is promoting? Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of either approach.
A lot of small changes can have a big impact too. But just one good president every now and then, isn’t that too slow? Small changes easily slide back to the old situation and the “project” is done, the implementers gone. Small changes are affordable, little investment but might entail little support of the big guys. Trial and error is acceptable with small changes, one does not need all the scientific justification.
Big breakthrough changes require big investments, financial, emotional or hard work. Major changes are all or nothing, you don’t get a second chance. Breakthroughs are on the edge, needing exceptional courage and/or exceptional innovation. Big changes need fundamental changes in processes. They need strong backing at the top and detailed implementation plans.
What is better for the Philippines? What is feasible? My heart is at a major “cultural” change, changing the political culture, eliminating the forces that hold back. Forces as mentioned by Mariano again and again. Intellectual laziness, exaggerated reliance on “affidavits” or bureaucratic tools, mendicancy, blind acceptance of authority… More has to be done than just elect the right president.
There is anger in the air. I am being bullied and challenged in the internet to a fistfight by the very Filipino who faked-and-forged their immigration papers to come, surrender and apply for recolonization to my country. A country that stops all traffic in the freeway, line up policemen shoulder-to-shoulder to look for shell casings instead of witnesses. And these very same Filipinos knows why but cannot seem to apply the same principle in the Philippines.
The American-wannabes Filipinos can understand why prisoners have to be freed because of biased, racist and faulty witnesses after 20 years languishing in jail but cannot seem to get it why I am against witnesses on Remullas, Tius, Binays, Arroyos, Marcoses and all the crooks that graduated from University of the Philippines, which I believe, produced the most crooks, snitches and rats than any other Philippine universities.
I am wishing the anger is harnessed to goot use. Let us get over this dribs-and-drabs, brick-a-brat, point-point justice. I ONLY HAVE ONE SOLUTION TO GET THIS OVER WITH (who said I only attack not offer any solution?) ….
WILL SOMEBODY WHIP OUT BINAY’s SALN like what they did to Renato to get this entertainment over once and for all. Let us have a Merry Christmas. THANK YOU.
Let us move on … Dribs-and-Drabs on Drilon is next. The accused has already admitted he did not have evidence. Let us just go straight to SALN and get rid of this dregs of the earth.
Yes, I’m with you. Stop making it complicated. Cut to the chase. Stop beating around the bush. Get to the point. SALN and out!
*******
Joseph,
Ah, you are a revolutionary after my own heart.
We seem to agree that the current paradigms of culture are at the root of our malaise, and that a major cultural change – paradigm shift – is necessary for us to begin the healing.
We also seem to agree that there are many viable solutions (political, economic, social, etc.) available and that identification and selection of solutions, detailed planning of these solutions, concerted political will to implement them, and education to sustain them are the way to go.
I also agree that more has to be done than electing the right president. (Again, this is dependence and not self-reliance.)
We agree… but I despair.
*****
Joe,
Off topic. You might find the oral arguments on EDCA informative. Insights into the thinking of the oppositors. But you may want to take it in small bites. It’s 4 hours long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLZ-JkLTqKU#t=37
CJ Sereno, rips them a new one….in the last hour of the tape.
Thank you very much for that link, MB. I am VERY interested. The news reports suggest that the justices think Harry Roque’s arguments are . . . well, a little loopy. The State attorney next week can just say “I agree with your wise points made last week, Honorable Ones” and rest his case.
“Only Ayalas didn’t give Binay Condos” = MERCADO
Trillanes, Cayetano and his ilk should subpoena Mr. Ayala. I bet Trillanes, Cayetano and his ilk would never ever dare powerful descendants of former colonists to appear before the honorable Senate floor. Never. Ever. But I want them to. So I can know who is lying: Mercado? Binay? or, Ayala?
Now that Ayalas name is dragged by Mercado, this would be very very interesting. If ever they wanted to politely “inquire” Ayala to get a clearer picture of Binay’s scheme in aid-of-prosecution, YOU PEOPLE WILL NEVER EVER HEAR OF IT. That is another bet again.
Wanna Bet? Browned skin Filipinos only oppress their own kind.
Mercado did not drag in the Ayalas. Mercado said the Ayalas never gave condos to Binay.
@mb
how true! MRP’s logic is to quote edgar “blinkered”. why did he call on Trillanes et al., to invite Ayala to the senate when he (Ayala) was not implicated in the first place
In cadence with your article, Buddy Gomez III wrote a very sharp analysis of the current situation on the ground:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/blogs/opinions/11/19/14/laffaire-binay-death-thousand-cuts-or-coup-de-grace
My favorite paragraphs in it, are:
“But, on the other hand, the D’s and the E’s of the electorate are no longer impervious to moral values and the value of truth as they may have been in the past prior to the advent of social media and the awakened activism of a truly enraged A, B and C, spurred to reach out to their less endowed brethren and elevate their appreciation of the importance of their political responsibilities.
A pipe dream? When else do the aggrieved populace take a leap of faith for idealism’s sake?”
My favorite quotable quote from Gomez article, “the President is simply being humane and kind, feeling that “dribs and drabs” is really torture”. Meaning, The President was not humane on Renato Corona. He snubbed Renato in official public function. He asked Renato to resign. He called Renato by name. The President of the Philippines was inhumane in his treatment to Renato worthy of International Human Rights charges.
Well, everybody was against Renato so everybody was OK with inhumane treatment. In Binay’s case, Inhumane President Aquino came to the rescue of Binay. The Filipinos were stunned. They felt betrayed. But inhumane President Aquino is their President so, the pro-Benigno felt that “the President is simply behing humane and kind …” to Binay. Nice.
Truly the Filipinos cannot know where they stand. They go where the wind blows.
Are there any redeeming qualities the Filipinos have according to the gospel of Mariano? Is the President doing anything at all that YOU can construe as something positive and constructive?
As much as I appreciate your passionate banters, I would like to to get off your NEGATIVE soapbox every now and then. I think that you are SO Filipino when you are very critical so if you want to divorce yourself from your countrymen, you need a new stylistic persona. You cry about justice but where is justice in you belittling those whose philosophy you do not agree with?
It is also funny that you seem to see injustice in the treatment of the not-so-GOOT people: Binay, Corona, Arroyo to name a few. How can Filipinos be GOOT if people like you choose to dwell on the injustice being dished to not-so-goot personalities? How about seeing the injustice in the plight of poor starving Filipino children? the manipulation of the poor by those who have the upper hand? the lack of medical assistance for those who need it most? I can go on and on…
It comes down to which comes first “the chicken or the egg”? In this instance, which comes first, or, what causes poverty? “Injustice or poverty”? I believe that if there is justice, poverty would be mitigated.
Juana, before you checked in I was at California Innocence Project reading about “Prosecutorial Misconduct”.
I find this paragraph intriguing and INapplicable in the Philippines: “Prosecutors are entrusted with determining who will be held accountable when a crime occurs. They hold a great deal of power. THEY WORK WITH THE POLICE AS THEY GATHER EVIDENCE AND BUILD A CASE AGAINST A SUSPECT and then they take that case to court and are charged with convincing a jury of the guilt of the suspect. First a foremost, it is the prosecutor’s job to seek justice and present the judge and jury with facts and legal arguments that result is the conviction of the guilty defendant.”
In Binay’s case, the Prosecutors, Cayetano&Trillanes, are gathering witnesses and affidavits while SUSPECT TIU is charged with GATHERING EVIDENCE AND BUILDING A CASE AGAINST HIM to convince the People of the Philippines that he is guilty.
My! My! My! This will go into the anals of not only in the Philippine history but in the world.
“If there is poverty, there must be injustice” – MARIANO RENATO PACIFICO. It is as close to “If there is fire, there must be smoke first”
Sorry to burst your bubble, Mariano, but others have formulated that thought before. Poverty is an economic injustice but there is more to it than meets the eye. It is a compendia of factors that the poor have lined up against them. Poverty alleviation is a complex undertaking and it is not just the government’s job, it will also take a village to raise its neighbors’ quality of life.
“Too often, the public and policy-makers alike think of poverty as simply a lack of income. In reality, it is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing a chronic lack of resources, capabilities, choices, security and power, all building on each other in a feedback loop of disadvantage. Therefore, eradicating extreme poverty requires tackling all these aspects, as well as improving access to basic goods such as housing, food, education, health services and water and sanitation. Access to justice plays a crucial role in all parts of this equation, as a fundamental human right in itself and also an essential tool for the protection and promotion of all other civil, cultural, economic political and social rights. If people living in poverty do not have access to a remedy when their rights have been violated, or cannot proactively claim their rights and entitlements, then their exclusion, powerlessness and deprivation become entrenched.”
https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/kate-donald/vicious-circle-of-poverty-and-injustice
*******
I would add, from my viewpoint, that poverty is more of a spiritual problem than an economic one.
*****
I’d argue it is an intellectual one, as in the failure to recognize that raising 10 kids is hard on the cash box.
*******
That’s true. From my viewpoint, which admittedly is broad, that would be the first movement under spiritual. Self-reliance is a spiritual (moral) virtue.
The recognition that one knows that one cannot rely on self to support any number of dependents is an intellectual perception.
But we know that perception alone does not influence behavior. The behavior of not spawning 10 kids (and the ecstasy (;-) and the agony 😦 arising therefrom) that stems from the intellectual perception is a spiritual (moral) act. Intellectual perception, the first movement, is rational cognition (perceptual). Spiritual doing, the second movement, is ethical cognition (behaviorial).
We often do things (behavior) that we know are not good (perception). Integrity, and I might qualify that as spiritual integrity, is the consonance — the harmony — of perception and behavior.
P.S. I know I am conflating spirituality (divine) and morality (human). But to me, spirituality, as well as morality, is in the here and now.
*****
Yeah right, after being busy downloading porn yesterday.
@ Edgar. All this requires a well-functioning brain. One third of the Filipino kids are stunted due to too little and or improper food in the womb and/or the first 2 years, meaning that also their brain development is below their potential. The main reason that poverty runs over generations, (apart from being smaller and having lesser education.)
When even funds for calamity stricken areas end up in Napoles’ pockets, one knows that justice will have to play an important role in making government programs work. (One third of the national budget disappears, more than halve the taxes are never collected or disappear too, who are profiting? Where are the investigators, the prosecutors, the judges, the extra prison cells? And ethically for all of us, 1000$ for an extra option in our SUV or 1000$ to feed 1000 children a few days?)
So, that didn’t turned out right. Thought it’ll be funny to start a running joke that fell flat on its face. Perfect example: poverty of good sense. Q.E.D.
I apologize.
*******
Not to worry. Truth to tell, my first response was. “Ahahaha!” Then my better self (?) intervened and said, “Wait a minute… let’s stand on our dignity… considering we are talking about spirituality.” I even asked myself, “Can porn be spiritual?” I know that sex — tantric or otherwise — is, or can be, spiritual. Hallelujah!
I’ve googled, “Has anyone gained enlightenment through porn?” The answer seems to be no. A certain control, a certain ascetism, is required for enlightenment it seems. Although a surfeit of, and from, hedonism can turn one to spirituality. (St. Agustine: “Lord, grant me chastity and continence but not yet.”) JoeAm might have a clue.
*****
Hey, I have no clue . . . and keep me the hell out of this particular debate. 🙂
Edgar, you lost me at “poverty is more of a spiritual problem” 🙂
I thought I hurt your feelings Ed… so, is this your version of cerebral foreplay? Are we discussing poverty, porn or the poverty of porn… isn’t this way off topic? I’ll probably get nosebleed again from your replies.
Sonny we don’t have to look far nor dig deep, look at Binay. Why would he need so much power, wealth and recognition for? Because his problem is more of spiritual poverty… oh, I think I got it mixed up… if poverty is more of a spiritual problem, then the spiritual is more of a poverty problem. But the problem is the more poverty there is, the more spiritual the problem becomes and that could be the problem.
*******
Joseph,
As you rightly point out, poverty is a circular problem isn’t it? The poor begetting children, who are stunted in their physical and intellectual growth… and and yet go on to beget children of their own,
The poor in possessions are also usually the poor in spirit. (Which is why I say that poverty is a spiritual problem.)
(1. I concede poverty can be a result of misfortune, such as a wife with children losing her husband.
2. I concede further that there are people who are poor in possessions but who are rich in spirit, who do not believe, think, or act that they are poor and do not act in a mendicant way.
3. And I will further concede that there are the poor in spirit who are rich in possessions.)
Charity and government programs like CCT will alleviate the lives of these poor. I like the CCT program because it is not a pure handout in its conditionality of encouraging efforts towards self-reliance. But I frown on charity that does not have that element of positive encouragement and instead negatively encourages the poor towards partial or total mendicancy and dependency.
Part of the solution from a government perspective is to afford equality of opportunity via free education in public schools from elementary to high school, apprenticeships and scholarships. The government should also be able to support equality of outcomes via CCT and other forms of positive welfare. These two equalities, of opportunity and outcomes, are the components of social justice.
But to me poverty can never be wiped out until there is a change in thinking and in attitudes. Even revolutionary cultural change will not do it (which is why I said I despair). Jesus’ saying that “the poor will always be with us” is not prophecy, but it is taken as such. It is this mentality that must be banished. It is the virtue of self-reliance that must be promoted. And where it is necessary — and I think it is always necessary — that virtue must go hand-in-hand with the virtue of kindness.
*****
Here goes… get your box of tissues ready.
*******
Cornball,
There, there, Baby, it wasn’t that hard, was it? No isms this time, just virtues and kindness. Use the tissues to wipe your copious tears of heart-felt gladness. 🙂
*****
Thank you for making it relatively easy to read, but I still have to google some of the words you used while trying to elevate my chin to stop a minor nosebleeding. Seriously, that was a good read.
As you have pointed out, poverty can be just a state of mind, a way of looking at things which is the opposite of what Lao Tzu said that “To know that you have enough is to be rich.”… which should be the new slogan of Makati.
*******
Cornball,
After a moment’s reflection, you must have realized that Lao Tzu and I are in consonance.
The Laozi quote of “To know that you have enough is to be rich” confirms that poverty is a state-of-mind. It parallels what I wrote in item 2 that “…there there are people who are poor in possessions but who are rich in spirit, who do not believe, think, or act that they are poor and do not act in a mendicant way.”
I agree the Laozi quote would be fitting for Makati and, indeed, for all politicians in the country. We do not know when enough is enough.
*****
“To know that we can’t get enough is to be filthy rich.” Binay family motto to be inscribed at the gates of their mansions, resthouses, farms and condo units etc… yeah, sounds like a Rolling Stones song…
Mang Renato Pacifico Falafay,
Masakit po sa ulo basahin ang mga inconsistencies at contradictions ng mga comments ninyo. You’ve been making a lot of posts in this thread but until now I have no idea where you’re coming from.
Ano po ba talaga ang gusto nyong manyayari kuya?
@ Micha
I think MRP wishes for a venue of American jurisprudence to argue for/against penal culpability, viz vetting testimony based on forensic evidence, not just by affidavits or hearsay.
Thanks sonny.
But Mang Renato seems to forget that the senate probe into the Binay affair is not a criminal trial.
Sabi nga ng paborito kong senadora na si Madame Mirriam, if many Filipinos at this point are convinced that Binay is guilty of malfeasance or at least hiding something because of his continued refusal to attend the hearing, he does not stand to lose his life or go to jail because of this inquiry. Applying the strict adherence to evidence gathering could come in later, if necessary, in a judicial court for criminal proceedings.
Even then, because of the nature of charges against Binay, affidavits and witnesses’ accounts are not, in itself, valueless.
There is a difference between Jejomar Binay and Renato Corona. The first was elected, the second was not. He was appointed by GMA at a time when it was illegal to do so. The fact that his appointment was legalized by an SC also appointed by GMA made that decision dubious.
Ah, very good. Buddy has an excellent way with words.
What happened to the second batch of senators and congressmen involved in the PDAF scam? It supposedly includes Lito Lapid, Copy Paste Sotto, Loren Legarda, Bong Bong Marcos and a handful of congressmen? Did the administration deliberately put this on hold to focus on Binay? If I remember it right, there’s even a third batch in the pipes.
The situation is this: The Ombudsman simply does not have enough prosecutors to handle all those cases simultaneously. Worse even is many of the current prosecutors are holdovers from the previous Ombudsman. They have shown that they cannot be trusted. Unfortunately, they cannot be fired summarily because there is such a thing called due process. So the Ombudsman is doing the best she can with what she has.
Why not hire new personnel, request additional funding? Easier said than done?
Easier said than done.
Memo to R next time I see him: Did you anticipate this logjam when you wrote this into the Constitution? 🙂
Excellent article. I suggest you change your name to Joe Pinoy lest the leftists and the disadvantaged start calling you names and the elite clamoring for your ouster because you are a truthmonger!
Thanks, Sarsi. Welcome to the Society. Yes, a horrid offense, eh? Truthmongering. Not a bad idea, that name change . . . 🙂
The debate will surely help but vp binay will use the reason I’m sick in the hospital and can’t be in the debate he will find a stupid answer just to avoid being in the debate with the help of tiangco and idiot jv bautista