Showing posts with label plunder. Show all posts

September 21

…the day democracy died in the Philippines

By Apolinario Villalobos

Indeed, September 21 gained prominence in the history of the Philippines as the day democracy died because of the Martial Law declared by the late Ferdinand Marcos. Among the reasons cited for signing the declaration were insurgency, Communism, corruption in the government…all of which were deterrent to the advancement of the country’s economy. After the declaration, the Marcos government became a beehive of activities founded on “Bagong Lipunan” or New Society.

Slogans and songs were composed, projects were implemented, infrastructures to support various industries, particularly tourism, mushroomed. In addition to those, permits for logging and mining were issued to hasten the exploit of the natural resources, purportedly to give additional support to the quest of the dictator to put the country ahead of the rest of the Southeast Asian nations. Marcos succeeded as he gained prominence and looked up to with awe and admiration by the rest of ASEAN nations. He inspired Lee Kwan Yew to transform Singapore into what it is today.

Along with the so-called progress, military and police abuse also gained prominence resulting to the incessant rallies. The notoriety of “METROCOM” was the talk of the town, as well as, the disappearance of prominent student leaders. Political personages who belonged to the opposition were dragged out of session halls and their homes to be locked up, including Benigno S. Aquino.

What has the country gained? Obviously, Manila became the cultural center of Asia, what with the springing up of the Cultural Center Complex along Roxas Boulevard that included, The Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, the former Philippine Plaza Hotel (today, Sofitel), the cluster of squat buildings for agro-industrial exhibit and shows. Marcos became the new “tiger of Asia”. The Philippines soared as the new leader of Southeast Asian nations. Thankfully, there was no suppression of religion. The illegal drug “industry” was somewhat controlled with the execution of a Chinese drug lord in Rizal Park.

On the other hand, the Marcos take-over and control of various corporations was overwhelming. The act was decently dubbed “sequestration” to give it a legal impression….nothing personal. But the book written by Jovito R. Salonga, “Presidential Plunder…The Quest for the Marcos Ill-Gotten Wealth”, tells all about the staggering number of sequestered corporations controlled by the family and their allies. The book also tells how money is transferred from Manila to the banks in America for spending during their trips, as well as, the acquired properties in the land of Uncle Sam. The author was the first Commissioner of the Philippine Commission on Good Government, a misnomer, as the agency was supposed to concentrate on the ill-gotten wealth and not the issues on good governance.

During the time of their prominence, Imelda was quoted, “WE PRACTICALLY OWN EVERYTHING IN THE PHILIPPINES, FROM ELECTRICITY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AIRLINE, BANKING, BEER AND TOBACCO, NEWSPAPER PUBLISHING, TELEVISION STATIONS, SHIPPING, OIL AND MINING, HOTELS AND BEACH RESORTS, DOWN TO COCONUT MILLING, SMALL FARMS, REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE”. This is the caption in the photo showing Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos in the same aforementioned book written by Salonga.

But the big question now is…HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE MARCOSES, WOULD THERE BE CULTURAL CENTER COMPLEX, PHILIPPINE HEART CENTER, PHILIPPINE KIDNEY CENTER, THE BETTER LRT (COMPARED TO THE NEW ONE), EXPANSION OF THE PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL, ETC, AT THE RATE PLUNDERING IN THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING?

TODAY, EVEN A FEW KILOMETERS OF HIGHWAYS ARE SHODDILY CONSTRUCTED, BRIDGES ARE BUILT OF INFERIOR MATERIALS, PROJECTS ARE LEFT UNFINISHED, EVEN THE SHELTERS FOR THE DISASTER VICTIMS ARE BUILT OF INFERIOR MATERIALS. AFTER MARCOS, ILLEGAL DRUGS HAD AND ARE STILL HAVING A HEYDAY…ALTHOUGH, DUTERTE IS DOING HIS BEST TO CONTROL IT.

Finally, my advice as a mere “chirp in the wilderness” to President Duterte, is to tone down his praises to the Marcoses as the more praises he utter, the more supporters he losses. It is enough that he has let the whole world know that his family owes a lot to the Marcoses…with such pronouncement, he has already shown his gratitude more than enough.

Questionable and Self-serving Accomplishments of the Binays

…and the desperate quest of Vice-President Jejomar Binay to become President

By Apolinario Villalobos

The picture is clear now that Vice-President Jejomar Binay really had a grand plan ever since, to become president of the Philippines. His humble beginnings could have played a vital role for this quest, as Filipinos have the penchant to favor underdogs, however, he committed the grave mistake of going beyond the limits of tolerable abuse that the Filipinos can take.

From being a humble husband of a struggling doctora, he became Vice-Mayor and worked his way up to become Mayor of the then, fast-developing commercial hub of Metro Manila – Makati. Physically, observers say that he does not have the factor that can make a man standout in the crowd – not good looking, dark-skinned and short. But this handicap was overshadowed by shrewdness which shaken up constituents in Makati used to believe was an inherent benevolence of a man who, long ago was poor, and who derived extra income from a backyard piggery. They thought he was generous at heart with all the projects that were supposed to benefit the poor of Makati. Unfortunately, cases filed against him, are alleging that those projects were concocted for fat commissions.

The people of Makati clearly tolerated him despite floating stories about commissions derived from projects. From cakes given to senior citizens during their birthdays and hospital equipment, commissionable ventures soon grew into infra-structures. The Binays tried to maintain their clout on Makati, as after the father, the wife took over, and lately, the son. Ongoing cases are still being heard on these.

But when the elder Binay became Vice-President and shamelessly floated the idea of his running as President of the country while only barely a year in his position, eyebrows began to rise. It was again a mistake on his part, perhaps due to uncontrolled enthusiasm. In all honesty, he seems to believe, that he should be credited for the development of Makati into what it is now. Unfortunately, his basis for his “success” is the bustling business district of Ayala only. He did not throw a glance at the other nooks of Makati where squatters still thrive along river banks, street corners dumped with uncollected garbage, streets pockmarked with holes, etc. He thought that only the Ayala district is Makati City. He forgot that the real “developers” of the Ayala district are the Ayalas, themselves, and their trusted industrial buddies. He was a salaried mayor and expected to work for Makati to the best of his ability. But what he did, according to investigators of his graft cases, was “milked” Makati for his own selfish motives, which as of late have been exposed, with presidency of the country as the centerpiece!

He has been going around the country as far as Mindanao and Visayas. In the guise of doing his job as housing czar of the administration, he visits cities and municipalities that lately have been exposed as “sister municipalities or cities” of Makati. The number of Makati’s sister LGUs has unbelievably soared with unprecedented pace during his incumbency as mayor. A simple analysis would show that, that early on, he had been tying friendly knots with prospective supporters that he would need when the time comes for him to run for president of the country….and that is a year from now – 2016. What a grand and genius plan, indeed! It has been found out that officials of the sister LGUs who visit Makati are accommodated in condo units which saw better days as low-cost BLISS housing complex for Pag-ibig members. It has been alleged that the purchase and renovation of the building were strapped with fat commission. The free-of-charge accommodation comes with free meals, too.

Binay keeps on flaunting the benefits of Makati constituents, despite the fact that all of these are based on national policies which any municipality or city can adopt. When the latest survey on who the Filipinos thought is the most appropriate president, and the name of senator Grace Poe tailed behind him by just a very insignificant difference, Binay immediately issued a statement that the President should have enough experience as a government official, particularly in heading a political unit, which of course points to him, being a “successful” mayor of Makati and now Vice-President of the country!

Since the quest of Vice-President Binay affects the whole country, Filipinos who cannot be as tolerant as the constituents of Makati are now apprehensive, especially, with his uncalled for remark when interviewed by a radio station in Samar, during which he insinuated his pro-Chinese leaning. A joke is circulating about his plan to convert the whole country into a vast business empire using the investment of the Chinese, if he becomes the president of the country!...but whose business empire, is the question.

Sa Kalituhan, Nahilo si Binay

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Nakakahilo ang mga problema. Ito ang nangyayari ngayon kay Binay na dahil sa kalituhan, pati ang gabinete na kanyang kinabibilangan ay inupakan sa kanyang talumpati kamakailan bilang panauhing pandangal ng Lions’ Club International. Dahil sa ginawa niya, hindi na nakatiis ang Pangulo kaya nagparunggit na maaari siyang mag-resign sa gabinete kung hind siya makakaagapay sa mga ginagawa ng administrasyon. Tama lang ang ginawa ng Pangulo, dahil sa halip na magbigay ng payo ang Bise Presidente, tinitira pa ang kanyang mga kasama sa gabinete ng pailalim – patraidor, maiangat lang ang sariling bangko. Pinapalabas niya na talagang siya ang karapat-dapat na maging susunod na pangulo.

Kahit narinig na ni Binay ang sinabi ng Pangulo ay nagdeklara pa rin siya ng tiwala dito.  Ang problema, siya ay may tiwala sa Pangulo, pero ito ay wala namang tiwala sa kanya. Kaya kung may delikadesa si Binay, dapat lang siyang tumiwalag na sa administrasyon. Dapat gawin ito Binay upang makapag-concentrate na lang sa pagkampanya. Pero, takot siya dahil wala na siyang dahilang lumapit sa mga tao – ang pamimigay ng mga dokumento sa pabahay, bilang housing czar. Talagang tuso at manggagamit dahil pati ang kanyang obligasyon sa mga tao, ay gusto pang maging utang na loob sa kanya ng taong bayan!

Ito ang mga istratehiya ni Binay, bilang wa-is na pulitiko:   ginamit niya ang mga Aquino upang ipaalam sa mga tao na kaisa siya sa mga adhikain ng pamilya na labanan ang korapsyon upang makuha ang tiwala ng mga nakadilaw, kaya nanalo siya bilang Bise Presidente; nakipag-alyado din siya sa mga partido na dating kalaban ng kanyang partido; nang mabisto ang katiwalian niya sa Makati noong mayor pa siya ay nagsimulang “magbenta” ng mga ari-arian at pumili ng isang tao na magsisilbi niyang kalasag bilang dummy si Tiu; at, bigla siyang nagpakita sa mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng walang humpay na paglibot sa buong bansa at namudmod ng mg papeles na may kinalaman sa pabahay – isang aksiyon na may tatlong layunin…mangampanya, magpaliwanag na wala siyang kasalanan sa harap ng mga imbestigasyon, at batikusin ang administrasyon dahil sa mga palpak na mga proyekto, upang ipahapyaw na siya “pala” ang kailangan ng bansa upang magkaroon ng kaunlaran. Sa ginawa niyang paglilibot, ginamit niya ang pera ng taong bayan!

Akala ni Binay ay  nakatuntong na siya sa kalabaw habang itinataas ang sariling bangko. Sa pagmamadali niyang iangat ang sarili, pinagsabay ang dalawang nabanggit upang lokohin taong bayan. Ang kaso, umalma ang kalabaw na maaari niyang ikahulog, at ang masakit, madadaganan pa siya ng bangko niya na narra at antigo (mahilig siya sa ganitong muwebles) – mabigat…kaya siguradong lasug-lasog ang kanyang mga buto sa paglagapak niya sa lupa!

Malamang maluha-luha si Binay sa panghihinayang sa pagkawala ng isang kapamilyang relasyon sa mga Aquino, habang tinitinghan ang larawan nila ni Pnoy na nagbobomba ng tubig sa grupo ni Tolentino sa harap ng Manila Hotel…noong inilipad si Ferdinand Marcos sa Hawaii.