A warrior comes clean in last battle for honor « Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

The final words of Angelo T. Reyes
A warrior comes clean in last battle for honor « Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Can the police eat 21 million pesos worth of hamburgers?

The new PAGCOR leadership thinks the previous administration's large food orders for the Philippine National Police (PNP) is irregular. The food orders were purportedly for policemen securing rallies and demonstrations for eight dates between January and June.

McDonald's quickly said the food orders were legitimate. It noted that dates indicated in the official receipts reflect the date of payment and not necessarily the date of the food delivery.

Over the radio, a police general belabored the excuse that policemen securing rallies were provided meals for the whole duration of the rally. But can we remember long rallies in the first half of the year? And even assuming that the dates do not reflect the rally dates, it is safe to assume that the rallies were held before those dates. Which means that the rallies were held before the elections. Could they possibly be campaign rallies? For which candidate or political party then? Who controlled PAGCOR during that time?

The 21 million peso bill translates to P2.625 million pesos per rally. Again assuming that they spent 500 pesos per policeman, a princely sum for a day's meal, that means more than 5000 policemen per rally day were fed. Can we remember a big rally that required one third of the police force to secure?

Can the police eat 21 million pesos worth of hamburgers? PNoy said "kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap". Conversely, PAGCOR-rupt, hindi mahirap.

Hindi Ako Papayag

Even the fruits, yes the fruits, unite against the Con-Ass. The fruits formed a coalition called Fruits Against Con-Ass, United (FAC-U). To show their indignation against the shameless railroading of 1109 in the House, the fruits labored to video tape their objection to the asses conning us. Here is the fruit of their labor.


Cheap that I am, I didn't want to buy all those fruits, tape them and take videos. Instead I planned to take videos at a fruit stand. I couldn't get myself to ask permission from the vendor, afraid he'd say "Hindi Ako Papayag".

For those where Youtube is blocked, here is the same video from another video server:

A bad practice

"Setting criminals free, long before they have fully served their sentences, sends a chilling message to all law-abiding citizens of this country – that THE STATE CANNOT DISPENSE JUSTICE PROPERLY. It emboldens criminals to commit heinous crimes knowing they can always get executive clemency if they know people in the Board of Pardons and Parole or Malacañang," - Fraternity “brods" of murdered victims Ernesto “Cochise" Bernabe II and his girlfriend Ana Lourdes “Beebom" Castaños in a statement placed in Metro Manila-based newspapers.

The victims, their relatives and friends must be seething at this administration for the spate of pardons and clemencies given by this cute administration to convicted criminals at the earliest possible opportunity. Some quarters say that money matters, citing the case of the dirt-poor rapist who was executed vis-a-vis the filthy-rich congressman rapist who was paroled. Conspiracy theorists point to the coming elections and the resources required to keep this administration in power.

I think there is a reason far deeper than humanitarian for these clemencies. The reason is also much deeper than the conspiratorial and revenue making aspect. In addition to the spite hurdled against Cory for taking a stand against GMA, the release of the foot-soldiers in the Aquino-Galman double murder case prove that compliance to the omerta code pays, whistleblowing does not. The wholesale release of convicts, at this time when there seems to be wholesale commission of graft, embolden the corrupt. This is this administration's way of assuring the crooks and underlings that in the slim chance of conviction, they will be pardoned anyway, if they just follow the code of silence.

Change they did, (loose) change we have

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.- US President Barack Obama in his inaugural speech - 2009

Who could be in the new president's mind when he said this? These words are not enough to scare off the corrupt, deceivers,and silencers of dissent. I expect the taray queen to continue to bully her way with the Cha-Cha train.

As in any new administration, there is abundance of hope amid the pressing reality. Hope that he has what it takes to undo the mess they're are in. Hope that they have realized what unfettered greed can do. Hope that they can lead the world in other roles than being the bumbling policeman. Hope that his people know that change does not stop at changing the president. They have a long way to go.

Filipinos also have a long way to go. We can also proclaim 'Change We Need'. But we also must know that it does not stop at changing the president. It starts with it.

Arroyo apologist refuses to see rot in GMA government

Belinda Olivares-Cunanan finds it bothersome that Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr. engaged in irregularities while he was an official of a government corporation, and she questions his credibility. (“Whistle-blower’s own sins,” Inquirer, 2/12/08) She’s alarmed that the religious groups backing Lozada play blind to the double standard. She says “No wonder people are so confused.”

No, Ms Cunanan, we are not confused. We are fully aware of the rampant corruption in government. The Church, for its part, doesn’t play blind. It sees the corruption as borne out in the investigation.

What’s more bothersome and alarming is the refusal of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s apologists (including a Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist) to see the corruption and the continuing efforts of this government to cover it up. The apologists are the ones guilty of double standard. The Chavit Singson exposé was not that different from Joey de Venecia’s. Lozada’s part may not be equal to that of Clarissa Ocampo’s, but it also exposes corruption at the highest level.

I hope Commission on Higher Education Chair Romulo Neri does his part and does a Clarissa. And I hope the press will also relentlessly expose corruption and not cast doubts on the ones who expose them.

appears in:
Phil. Daily Inquirer-March 20, 2008
PDI Special Features - NBN Deal