Bizarro World
Why is it so hard to do the right thing in this country?
In the ZTE story, Jun Lozada and Romy Neri tried to play ball with the powers-that-be and as long as they did they were fine. But when they began to talk about the corruption in the ZTE National Broadband deal, security forces surrounded their homes, shadowed them, harasssed them and basically made their lives a living hell. Neri succumbed just in time to stop short of implicating Gloria and Mike Arroyo. Once it was clear that he wouldn’t spill the beans, the harassment stopped. Lozada took a more difficult path. He went before the senate and testified to what he knew. What did he get for his effort? He was apparently kidnapped by security forces and was almost liquidated had his family not made such a public stink. Now he’s facing the full force of the law. Charges for perjury, allegations of corruption (which he doesn’t deny; but what’s a few thousand goats compared to $200 million?). Lozada may very well go to jail for testifying before the senate while those he has accused of pocketing billions of pesos remain uninvestigated and unpunished.
Ed Panlilio was elected governor of Pampanga on a wave of public disgust over Mark Lapid and Lilia Pineda. He promptly stopped the graft from at province’s quarrying operations and raised an exponentially higher amount of Pampanga’s revenues from quarrying by simply not stealing anything. What was his reward? An uprising by corrupt traditional politicians deprived of their graft. Panlilio is now in serious danger of being removed from office by the champions of the old order.
Members of the Makati Business Club who called for the resignations of Lito Atienza and Romy Neri now face the prospect of the BIR auditing their businesses, while the biggest tax evaders in the country operate with impunity and bend regulation at will.
The ethical and logical contortions that the mind has to undertake in order to justify the persecution of Lozada and Panlilio and at the same time completely disregard the alleged wrongdoing that they stood against is way beyond my intellectual capabilities. It seems that the punishments that other societies reserve for wrongdoers is being exclusively applied to those who would dare to do the right thing.
When I was a kid, I used to read a lot of comic books. I remember in one of those comics, Superman travelled to Bizarro World, where everything was the opposite of what it was supposed to be. Wrongdoing was cheered, while ethical behavior was punished. Is Gloria Arroyo’s Philippines the real life Bizarro World?
February 14th, 2008 23:07
YES!
February 14th, 2008 23:28
Yes!
February 15th, 2008 00:04
Hmm…you read all the DC Adventure Comics?
We may as well call our country Senippilihp. GMA the BIZARRO Cory Aquino and FG the BIZARRO Imelda Marcos! Oh and we do have a BIZARRO Joker Arroyo at the senate.
What’s happening now is really crazy. Our country needs a reboot.
February 15th, 2008 00:37
It’s high time we show our disgust against graft & corruption. We have come to the fork of the road. There is no room for “undecided”; there is no excuse for not taking a stand anymore. The writing is on the wall.
It’s either you support graft & corruption, or you don’t.
February 15th, 2008 04:29
sobra na talaga ang gobiernong ito!!!
tama na ang kawalanghiyaan na ginagawa nila!!!
let’s all put our acts together to attain our ultimate goal. dapat tayo maging SUPERMEN!!!
FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH, IT IS ENOUGH THAT GOOD MEN DO NOTHING…………….. laging sinasabi ni Lady Miriam ito but apparently hindi naman ata niya kayang gawin.
KUNG BAD KA LAGOT KA………………. made famous by Joker Arroyo but I think he is only joking.
Mga tao talaga puro salita……….kulang or wala sa gawa!!!
Ricky, you hit the nail right on the head.
Keep on Ricky.
Before,it (our cry for TRUTH about corruption)was just a whisper but now it became a R
OAR!
Kailangan mabingi sila sa lakas ng panawagan natin na umalis na sila sa pwesto because they don’t deserve to be there any minute longer
A PUBLIC OFFICE IS PUBLIC TRUST!!!
Wala ng trust ang mga tao sa kanila!
February 15th, 2008 06:03
“Why is it so hard to do the right thing in this country?”? Simple, Mr.Carandang. It’s because we allow ourselves to be stopped from doing the right thing.
February 15th, 2008 07:26
Hi Ricky! Galing ng Big Picture mo last night!
February 15th, 2008 07:28
Laban ni Jun, laban nating lahat!!!
February 15th, 2008 08:28
Bizarro indeed. And we have ostriches as bishops.
February 15th, 2008 08:32
We get the government that we deserve. Whoever said that the power of the state emanates from the people never studied Philippine Politics.
February 15th, 2008 09:00
Plots to assasinate gloria?? GUNI-GUNI NG MGA TAO NYA!!
February 15th, 2008 09:09
yes. Bizarro World. Though this country being Apokolips is also apt. For Trekkers, think Mirror Universe. In Star Wars speak, think Sith. Treachery and greed and lust for power, name of the game, for this country, sad it is.
February 15th, 2008 09:36
I’ll write more later, but in short, one of the reasons we keep getting stuck in the same rut is that, whenever people finally get fed up and march in the streets, they only demand “regime change”. We cut off the head and replace it with a new one, but the same corrupt body lives on.
Those people marching in the streets and protesting should not focus on “so and so resign”. While she certainly should be kicked out of office and haled before the courts, the true answer is to demand procedural change. We have to demand that government do things differently. In concrete, visible ways.
Look at Ed Panlilio (again). Besides just hiring honest people and paying them well, he implemented several measures that make cheating difficult. The procedures are so simple. I don’t understand why there is not a clamor to adopt some of those measures around the country.
By simply cutting out the stealing, you can at least double the amount of money available for government services.
February 15th, 2008 09:46
Mike,
I think there is a clamor for procedural change and not merely regime change. I think that the reason its taken thoughtful people so long to get to this point is precisely because they don’t want to take extraordinary action to simply restore a semblance of the status quo.
February 15th, 2008 09:57
Hi Ricky,
It’s me again. I believe, even in the Bible it is written that the path to righteousness is very narrow but the path to the devil is very wide. I don’t remember if it was Jesus Christ who said that.
Graft and corruption in our country has been going on for years, even before martial law. Our government officials have been promising to stamp out this cancer in our society but almost always, they fail or they choose to fail.
We had a very good chance of stamping it out or even just minimizing it in “moderation”, so to speak during the revolutionary government of Cory, who was very popular at the time, but she blew it.
Like you, perhaps a great majority of the Filipinos are frustated with what is happening now. But let’s look at the bright side. At least, now, we know what is happening. If we know the problem, we would have a chance to solve it.
Solution? We should look at the right path. Not “The path that seems straight but the end of it is the path of death” (I believe, this came from Proverbs).
Let’s look at our courts, our current justice system. From the barangay to the supreme court.
Let us not look at our politicians. None of them is capable of solving this problem. Para sa kanila “weather weather lang yan”.
I maybe wrong but that is my hope now. A RELEVANT JUSTICE SYSTEM IN OUR COUNTRY.
Dan Pena
February 15th, 2008 10:07
BIZARRO world indeed!!
February 15th, 2008 10:19
For those who can’t go to Makati this afternoon, like me, blogswarm na lang tayo ng:
GLORIA RESIGN!
February 15th, 2008 10:27
Filipinos are so good at asking other people to change.
But the thing is, the Filipino should CHANGE HIMSELF first before expecting other people to change.
And changing himself is not happening…..
Who was it that said - “Change should come from the top.”
I believe in the opposite school of thought - “Change should come from below”.
In short, the citizens should change first, then the government will.
February 15th, 2008 10:28
sana tama ka abi, guni-guni lang nila. biro mo, kasama daw sa mga nagbabanta sa buhay niya ang ji, npa at milf. huwag naman sana nilang gawin. magkakautang na loob pa ako sa kanila. i think gma should live long enough to face the consequences of what she’s doing.
February 15th, 2008 10:33
Resign Gloria talaga!
February 15th, 2008 10:34
Gloria sobra ka na!
February 15th, 2008 10:45
our country is a nation of mischiefs. square pegs in a round hole.
February 15th, 2008 11:37
Ok, if Gloria resigns or is removed, does that stop you from bribing the policeman who stops you at the intersection from beating the red light?
Really now!
February 15th, 2008 11:43
Gloria always says there are TWO Philippines.
Her parallel world includes corrupt generals, Comelec, the congressmen who go with her on junkets)the governors who received money bags, Esperon, Abalos,Ronnie Puno ,Gonzalez,Big boy).
The real world are the suffering Filipino people,the independent media,the Supreme court and The Senate.
February 15th, 2008 12:00
Guys para kay JUN LOZADA:
http://www.blacknwhite-movement.com/jlo/index.php
Lets support!
February 15th, 2008 13:13
Sino ba naman ang hindi mawawalan ng gana? Bulok talaga ang sistema. The three branches of our government are supposed to keep everything in order but it’s not happening.
Case in point: The people vs Erap! The senate (legislative) couldn’t get to the bottom of it because Erap had allies in the senate. And so we were forced to take it to EDSA and demand for truth and justice. We won and Erap stepped down. Then came his trial for plunder and perjury. The court (judiciary) found him guilty of plunder and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Everyone hailed the court’s ruling and people rejoiced in the verdict. But it was a premature celebration. In fact, there was nothing to celebrate, after all. Because even before Erap could begin his sentence, Pres Arroyo (executive) pardoned him. And to put an icing on Erap’s cake, the Sandiganbayan said that Erap can keep his assets. Wow!
Where’s the check-and-balance that’s meant to be happening among the three banches of our democratic government?
Nakakawalang-gana talaga! Kaya tuloy ang mga tao, ayaw nang sumali sa namumuong people power laban kay Pangulong Arroyo. Nakikita na nila kung anong mangyayari sa bandang huli. Abswelto, tapos parang walang nangyari!
Lord, tulungan niyo po kami. Give us the strength to stand for what is right. Give us the courage to say, “This is unacceptable! At kung kinakailangang humantong uli sa isa pang People Power, your will be done, O Lord!”
Salamat,
Lester
http://www.lestercavestany.com
February 15th, 2008 14:03
Ricky, i believe that this ‘Bizzaro’ situation is being preserved by those who promote ostensibly good ideas towards bad ends. For example, who would normally argue against ‘change from below’? The thing is, this message in the present context just serves as a delaying tactic to preserve an unjust status quo.
February 15th, 2008 14:15
cvj, the internet brigade lives on.
February 15th, 2008 14:56
ang kapal ng mukaha nilang lahat n nsa pulitika..(im sorry for the word)…
pero totoo kita m nman familia Marcos..masaya,mayaman..Familia Estrada..mayabang!stars..
puro magananakw lahat yan di ba..
kawawa ang pinoy tlga..tagabayad lang nila ng tax..
what do you think ..pano malilinis ang graft and corruption..its a tradition..
paano..paano..paano..
February 15th, 2008 15:16
Yes, it does seem apparent that this government has the uncanny habit of making legal transactions illegal and illegal transactions legal, and this has cascaded to the lowest rungs of the bureaucracy. We’re an importer and once had a container due for clearance and somebody from Customs actually threatened to inspect our container unless we coughed up a nice sum to spare us the “inconvenience” of such an inspection. We are legitimate business people. To be caught between the proverbial devil and deep blue sea in this particular instance was quite flabbergasting. On yet another occasion, somebody from a government agency — which I really thought did not tolerate such (mal)practices — introduced us to a person who could actually arrange for the clearance of a container van for a fixed amount. “Everybody does this anyway,” he said matter-of-factly. “If you don’t follow suit, you won’t be able to compete.” We could not do it. And so it’s been a continuing struggle for us to keep our humble, little company afloat (and our employees’ families fed), while the sharks, crocodiles and vultures gorge on the spoils as if there were no tomorrow. Bizarro World, indeed. (As if you didn’t know, ‘no?)
P.S. Ricky, to you and your other valiant colleagues in media who risk life and limb to let us in on what REALLY is happening, thank you very much.
February 15th, 2008 17:35
Ricky,
These are signs we are a seriously sick society. If you should find analogy in a sick man, it’s the cells causing the disease trouncing the good cells and our immune/defense system itself aiding the bad cells.
When the moral guardians looked away because they believed GMAs cheating was justified and all subsequent wrong-but-justified acts were allowed to reinforce her legitimacy, they have inadvertently accomplished something truly ruinous: an open endorsement of a set of values that could be violated at will, such as, well, lying and cheating. Now, who among our moral guardians could say when these acts are wrong and justified or plainly wrong. If the highest official of the land could do that, heck, why couldn’t the rest do the same and find succor in the original rationalization, or find justification on their own. “Let’s Move On!” is a disease, Ricky.
February 15th, 2008 18:13
Ricky
The vast majority of people of this country want an end to this Administration and its corrupt practices. But we have no legal avenue for redress, because every path is blocked. Those of us who live in the provinces have no voice.
In a real democracy, we would write to our government representative to demand change. But in our province both the congressman and the governor are staunch supporters of GMA, as are most of the mayors. They are part of what Mr. Neri describes as the “Philippine Oligarchy”. They will never abandon GMA because she provides their “pork” and therefore their political survival.
It is obvious from congressman Villafuerte’s comments that any attempt to impeach the President this year is already “dead in the water”, six months before any case could even
be filed. They don’t even want to hear the evidence. The people are therefore denied their constitutional rights.
This illustrates just how powerful we have allowed this ‘oligarchy’ to become.
The Church is the only agency that is not part of the corrupted system of government. If the Church is not prepared to lead the Moral Revolution, we are doomed.
I humbly suggest that the Church should canvass the views of the Philippine people to ascertain, by way of an independent referendum (signature campaign) in every church throughout the land, how many people want the present government removed.
February 15th, 2008 20:54
According to news reports, about 9,000 people showed up at the Makati rally, far fewer than the past several rallies.
Are the people loudly and strongly telling us to wait for 2010?
February 15th, 2008 21:45
[...] Ricky Carandang recently wrote the following as he contemplates on whether or not The Philippines has become Bizarro World, Lozada took a more difficult path. He went before the senate and testified to what he knew. What did he get for his effort? He was apparently kidnapped by security forces and was almost liquidated had his family not made such a public stink. Now he’s facing the full force of the law. Charges for perjury, allegations of corruption (which he doesn’t deny; but what’s a few thousand goats compared to $200 million?). Lozada may very well go to jail for testifying before the senate while those he has accused of pocketing billions of pesos remain uninvestigated and unpunished. [...]
February 15th, 2008 22:06
Alicia,
Do not be fooled. Arroyo is one step ahead of you. She has already co-opted segments of the Church.
February 15th, 2008 22:43
Rick,
The media seems to be the last defense the country has against complete lawlessness. Good to see you at the head of the pack.
Really makes me wish I could do more than read about it from so far away.
You no am real super-hero. Me no am proud of you!
February 16th, 2008 00:49
Just watched the news, is it true that Lozada splurged on expensive stuff while in HK? Staying in Shangri-La, shopping left and right. Don’t tell me he’s gonna reveal that he was told to do such! My goodness, for someone who was supposedly in fear for his life with all the death threats, nakaya pa niyang mag shopping? Hindi ba siya natakot na those threatening him can find him in HK? I’m finding it harder and harder to believe he was really kidnapped.
Haay, am starting to wonder if the admin. is kinda stupid. From the NBI inquiries into Lozada’s anomalies to the assassination threat against Gloria, didn’t they think that it would seem na they’re trying to divert the attention?!!
Just saw Joey de Venecia speaking on stage during the Makati rally. Haay… I have a bad feeling he’s gonna be running for office in 2010… tsk tsk tsk…
Sigh, am getting sick and tired of going back and forth between these 2 groups (admin and opposition) and deciding who is the lesser evil.
As much as I want to join the people’s call for an end to corruption, for an immediate change right now, I am more afraid of giving the government to people who in the end will just do the same.
What if instead of having all these rallies to urge the people to join them by arguing the demand for truth and justice and showcasing only GMAs anomalies, why not discuss what we expect to happen next if she does step down. It’s what we call in the medical field an INFORMED CONSENT. It is when the doctor informs the patient all there is to know about the disease or a treatment for a disease (the risks, the benefits and both the expected and unexpected results). It prepares the patient on what might happen next and it safeguards the doctor for any liability (by this am not concluding that GMA and all of the corrupt officials are the hook, will explain later) if something goes wrong because in the end, it is only the patient who decides what to do.
Para walang sisihan because as LOSTOPINION has implied, our government is the way it is because of us, the people. Hey, it is us who put GMA there and all the rest of the corrupt politicians so I think it’s but fair that we too blame ourselves. And I think it’s just right that we, as a people and as ALBERTO has commented, should change first before we go on demanding change from others.
That is why I believe that it is better to plan on how we can achieve a total change of government in 2010 (what type of gov’t, I don’t know, am not a politician). A government that will make it harder for graft and corruption to occur (if that is possible). A government that we can trust.
GMA and all those in the government, both admin and opposition, who have incurred anomalies one way or the other should pay. We should not allow another ERAP whose crimes went unpunished. Please naman, let us learn from our mistakes.
I will be praying for our people to make informed decisions. In the meantime am going back to my studying (only 3 weeks left til my exam). I’ve had it with politics but it was fun, learned a lot actually so thanks Ricky and to everyone here
February 16th, 2008 05:43
Lord, maawa ka sa amin.
Buwaya ang mga namumuno sa amin.
Lalamunin na kami na buhay.
Iligtas mo kami!!!
Please Lord! Amen
February 16th, 2008 06:49
Hi Ricky,
Have you read Solita Monsod’s article today “Truth”? If not, maybe it is a good idea to read it.
Ms. Monsod is one of the few columnists that, I believe, has the ability to separate facts from fantasy.
Dan Pena
February 16th, 2008 07:50
Dan and Marie,
I hope I’m not misunderstanding you but when you say that Winnie Monsod suggests that Lozada isn’t telling the whole truth or that he availed himself of the palace’s largesse while he was in Hong Kong, that he is somehow not as clesn as he projetcs himself to be. Ergo, we should not beleive what he says. Ergo, lets just move on.
I think as time goes on, you will see more unsavory revelations about Lozada. I don’t think people should rush to put him on a pedestal. He has already said that he is not without sin.
But I think to subtly suggest that he has no credibility because he is flawed is an old ploy of the regime’s apologists. Only he who is without sin has the right to accuse the palace of wrongdoing. And since we are all guilty of some kind of sin,no one has the right to be beleived when they talk against the palace.
But Lozada’s testimony provides detail and corroborates what Neri and Joey De Venecia said. His account of being kidnapped is corroborated by his family, airport employees, the La Salle brothers and nuns.
At the same time, the inconsistencies of the statements of Razon, Atienza, and the others has been established and in the case of Razon acknowledged.
February 16th, 2008 08:17
Hi Ricky,
You raise an impt point with, “I think there is a clamor for procedural change and not merely regime change. I think that the reason its taken thoughtful people so long to get to this point is precisely because they don’t want to take extraordinary action to simply restore a semblance of the status quo.”
Nicely put, Wordsmith!
But may I add that it is not so much a “change” as an establishment of the institutions and processes that are in the Constitution.
If there is any change to be done, it is the way we look upon this document. I’ve become confirmed in an old belief that this is a Social Contract that contains not only wisdom of Filipinos but of free men everywhere.
Our own SC however treats it as a Bible, interpreting it on a case to case basis.
At bottom this is a casuistic moralism that subverts the built in checks and balances among the institutions that are part of the basic “engineering design” of democracy. “Regime change” by any means reflects this personalist ic moralism that believes if only saints ruled the sinners would all become prosperous.
To get to an “institution building” strategy that SLOWLY but SURELY plants the Rule Law right into the “cake of custom”, and does not rely on the sainthood of individual regimes, we must uphold a hierarchy of rights, duties and powers among government and nongovernment institutions alike.
It is not enough for anyone to be “good” or even “right”. It is more important, in a society of more than two people, that we be “fair” and “just”.
that is the difference between wanting procedure over upheaval, order over chaos, the Rule of Law over Mob Rule.
February 16th, 2008 08:56
Hi Ricky,
My point when I mentioned today’s Ms. Monsod’s article is, if one testifies on the truth it should be the whole truth. Don’t embellish it. The people will be the ones to judge. He/she should not implicate others, falsely.
I watched Lozada’s interview, when he claimed that that the Arroyos invited him to their home, etc. He said it with a straight face. When he was being interrogated by Joker in the senate, he answered Joker as if he alone should be believed. Not Joker, not the admin people, not anyone.
For me, Ricky, however credible one’s word is, once he/she implicates other people falsely, his/her credility goes down to the gutter.
It’s as simple as that.
Dan Pena
February 16th, 2008 09:02
Joker’s credibility went to the gutter as well. He is hiding something.
JOKER BAD KA!!
February 16th, 2008 09:13
So whose credibility isn’t in the gutter so far?
February 16th, 2008 09:28
And when they resume the Senate Hearing on Monday, are we gonna be treated to a circus of people without credibilities that are talking to each other as if they possess the highest of credibilities?
Kaya I am not really surprised by the huge numbers of people tuning out of this soap opera.
Can you say, moro-moro to the max?
February 16th, 2008 09:31
Maybe in retrospect, Lozada should have been more specific about the details regarding his visit to Fely Arroyo. Because when you get both sides, you begin to see the whole picture. I think what Winnie Lozada was trying to say in her column was the importance of being forthright.
While I think Lozada is a credible witness, I just wonder why he kept on going to Wack Wack in spite of Abalos’s threat not to show his face there. Unless the receipts in Wack Wack which Lozada signed are fabricated but I don’t think so.
As to Lozada going on a shopping spree while he was in HK, I don’t know if there is any truth to that. It could just be black propaganda from the Administration as he could have just been buying pasalubongs for his family!
Has anyone seen the footage of Valeroso carrying the belongings of Lozada when he got out of the airplane. It seemed to me he was struggling to carry the 2 bags of Lozada (a lap top and a handcarry). He didn’t look like much of a kidnapper more like a bumbling porter. Although I just find it odd that they are keeping Valeroso in a safe house.
February 16th, 2008 10:43
Go Jun Lozada!
February 16th, 2008 11:41
Dan Pena, Monsod would have been credible if she had a good track record. However, she had been biased in a few issues before. One is her support for the killers/rapists of the Chiong sisters.
February 16th, 2008 15:11
“And when they resume the Senate Hearing on Monday, are we gonna be treated to a circus of people without credibilities that are talking to each other as if they possess the highest of credibilities?”
Alberto Pempengco, the top bosses of ZTE themselves described the Senate investigation as a circus. And if it is true, as alleged by JDV III, Lozada and Ping Lacson, that money had changed hands during negotiations for the NBN deal, only ZTE can confirm that. But ZTE doesn’t even want to be a party to what you and they call a “circus”. So everything remains hearsay. No evidence whatsoever.
Now, on Ricky’s frustrations because he cannot seem to make events unfold they way HE would like them to unfold, he cannot just shrug the Filipino people off as bizarre. If they don’t act or think the way he and others in media want them to, it may be that Filipinos are more perceptive and less emotional. They could also be biding their time for more credible alternatives.
And, clearly, the Filipino people still do not think that a critical point has been reached. Based on what the evening news said last night, only about 9,000 people showed up at that much-hyped rally in Makati. And by 7:30 p.m., Julius Babao of ABS-CBN said that a good number of rallyists had already begun dispersing. Were people bored perhaps? Hmmmmmm. Is Lozada’s 15 minutes of fame almost up?
February 16th, 2008 16:48
1. why do you think the ZTE people don’t want to go to the Senate to testify what they know?
Pag humarap kasi sila mahihirapan sila magsinungaling.
2. kaya naman hindi naituloy ni Jun Lozada ang account niya sa bahay ni Arroyo kasi he was cut short by Bad Arroyo. Nabuko na kasi si Joker e.
3. Jun Lozada is super credible, period, period, period.
4. Kami ay mga maliliit lamang na Pilipino at nagsasabing pagod na kami sa kasinungalingan ng gobyernong ito. Galit na galit na galit na kami.Darating din ang tamang oras na babagsak ang Gloria na yan.
5. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!!!!!!!!
February 16th, 2008 17:42
I also read the “Truth” article of Monsod today and like Ricky, I have a feeling that more unsavory revelations about Lozada might be forthcoming. In fairness, he did say that he is no saint. So I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and wish him well in his effort to redeem himself.
What struck me most in Monsod’s article is the manner Fely Arroyo treated Lozada’s revelation as just another “consulta” considering that she is supposed to be married to an “honorable” senator who is in a position to be concerned in the implications of the revelation to the people he was elected to serve. (I meant the Fiipino people since it seems Joker is now serving a different master). But I guess this sentiment is just another manifestation of my diminishing desire to hold on to the pedestal I put Joker Arroyo on, once upon a time.
February 16th, 2008 19:04
ZTE GLOBAL SCANDALS:
1)GERMANY:Chinese Face Spy Scandal Fallout
A report suggesting that the Chinese military has hacked into German government computers could have a negative impact on the prospects in Western markets of Chinese equipment vendors Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and ZTE Corp. (Shenzhen: 000063 - message board; Hong Kong: 0763), believes an analyst at Dresdner Kleinwort .
2)INDIA: ZTE Security Risk
State-controlled telco BSNL rejected bids by ZTE, China’s second-largest telecom equipment makers, and Motorola (which was planning on using equipment made by Huawei, China’s biggest) for a big cellular contract. The worry among some Indian officials was that relying on Chinese-made equipment presented a security risk.(Business Week)
3)Sudan:ZTE cellphone quality scandal in Sudan
Because of quality problem, Sudan Telecom is considering claim on huge amount compensation to ZTE, the ambitous Chinese communication equipment manufacture. State press reported today.
It was said CEO of Sudan Telecom was very angry toward ZTE, and asked to stop all contract negotiating with ZTE now.
February 16th, 2008 21:04
Papa Ricky,
Good Luck sa show niyo ni MaMa Korina later. Well watch it. Imagine, ang reyna ng abscbn at ang prinsipe ng ANC ay pinagsama para sa boxing ng taon. faceoff ni lozada and abalos. Itodo nyo na… Hataw yan sa ratings i’m sure. Hula ko naka Red suit ang lola Koring natin at naka dark blue naman ang Papa Ricky Ko. Todo Na to!!! Grabeeeee……Ang tanong, will PGMA do an ERAP and call the show and accuse Lozada of lying on national television? Abangan!!!
February 17th, 2008 00:29
ricky,
i’m shocked naman sa mga statements ni abalos sa tv:
1.) hindi ako naglalakad ng na ka brief sa bahay!
2.) Hindi retroactive ang semilya ko! (kaloka ito, hindi lang corruption, lies, may sex involved na rin)
3.) Masarap berger (burger) sa Wack wack.
I love Abalos!!! He’s Such a character!!!
February 17th, 2008 02:13
Filipina,
You’re not the only one who felt that way. Sister may said so on the air during the show.
Let me explain.
Up until the last minute, we weren’t sure if Abalos would show up. He confirmed and backed out several times during the week and we had to have contingencies in place in case he didn’t show up. So we invited some other government people so in case Abalos didn’t show up it wouldn’t be just one side presented.
As it turned out, all the government people showed up, and so the decision was made to put them all on the air. We kept Lozada on the whole time so he’d have a chance to respond to whatever accusations were thrown at him. We felt that was better than letting Razon and Formoso and Golez on without giving Jun a chance to respond. It did tire him out but if its any consolation, 92% of the text voters were in favor of Lozada and 8% were for Abalos.
February 17th, 2008 02:25
I watched Harapan, & I, too, wondered what was going on - it seemed that Mr Lozada was all alone against The Mob. However tired he looked, he stood firm with his answers on The Mob’s accusations. Sadly, this is the consequence of revealing the truth. Witnessing one man versus The Mob was a sign of courage. I commend Mr Lozada.
With the ending results of the poll showing that 92% believed in Lozada while the remaining 8% of the voters did not, goes to show Gloria & The Mob have lost the battle of of the hearts & minds; they have lost the people’s trust.
February 17th, 2008 05:35
Harapan is 1 to 10 in favor of Lozada. Sa dami ng narinig nating katotohonan, tila mahirap ng lumakad paatras, ang simbahan, sangay ng negosyo, student body ay handa ng umusad. Sumama tayo, makilahok, iparinig ang ating pagtutol sa maling palakad ng gobyerno. Ituloy natin ang sinumulan Ninoy sa EDSA noong 1986.
February 17th, 2008 05:36
Ricky,
I watched parts of the show this evening and it seems biased. The plug was one on one not 4 on 1. The show mislead people who thought its really between lozada and abalos.
Although through out the show lozada held his ground, I was quite appalled when lozada and razon said that they thought they will be just one on one. But this is quite redundant already.
You could had justified and rectified it by adding Joey De Venecia though. Now it seems the show had set up Lozada to be eaten alive. Im seriously disappointed about it.
Dont take offense ricky, It is just my view about the matter and it is about the show as a whole and not you as just the host.
No wonder why a lot of personalities really hated the news department of abs cbn for this kind of crap they are pulling.
February 17th, 2008 05:37
repost hope this wont be moderated.
Ricky,
I watched parts of the show this evening and it seems biased. The plug was one on one not 4 on 1. The show mislead people who thought its really between lozada and abalos.
Although through out the show lozada held his ground, I was quite appalled when lozada and razon said that they thought they will be just one on one. But this is quite redundant already.
You could had justified and rectified it by adding Joey De Venecia though. Now it seems the show had set up Lozada to be eaten alive. Im seriously disappointed about it.
Dont take offense ricky, It is just my view about the matter and it is about the show as a whole and not you as just the host.
No wonder why a lot of personalities really hated the news department of abs cbn for this kind of stuff they are pulling.
February 17th, 2008 06:38
Kamote,
No offense taken. Please see my explanation above to Filipina.
I hope ABS-CBN’s efforts to break this story and cover it from the beginning despite all the pressure and criticism from the government and its allies will allow you to accept my explanation at face value.
February 17th, 2008 08:20
Kagabi nanood ako ng inyong programa, “Tapatan, Lozada vs Abalos”. Medyo hindi yata nasunod yong program title. Bakit nyo ginawa na instead One on One as advertised and based on the title itself, naging LOZADA vs Malacanang Boys. Unfair yon di ba. Ang media dapat maging patas naman at maging vigilant sa kahihinatnan ng isang taong nagsasabi ng totoo sa mga bagay-bagay ma maaring makasira sa credibility nito. Paano nya (Lozada) sasagutin isa-isa kung limitado lamang ang oras upang pabulaanan ang sinasabi ng bawat isa. One on One should be one on one, with the same time to repute each other allegations. Kung susumahin po Ricky and Maam Korina, mas mahabang oras ang nagamit Malacanang Boys upang sirain ang krebilidad ng Jun Lozada.
To Jun Lozada, bawasan nyo na po ang pakikipag-usap sa media. Sa dami ng inyong nababanggit na pangalan baka dumating ang panahon masayang lamang ang inyong ginawaga.
Mabuhay ang Pilipino.
February 17th, 2008 08:30
Ang programa ito (HARAPAN pala hindi TAPATAN) rin ay naging daan ng “ham bor ger” ads ni Ginoong Abalos. Masarap kaya yon?
…correction po….”nagamit ‘ng’ Malacanang”… “krebilidad ‘ni” Jun Lozada.
February 17th, 2008 09:09
Wow! 92% believe in Lozada and 8% believe otherwise!
Eh bakit sumemplang pa rin ‘yung Makati rally?
February 17th, 2008 10:18
I hope the national media would follow and monitor closely what is really happening in Pampanga because the local media there (however they would deny it)is still part of that “old order.” Reason why Panlilio is constantly being painted as an ineffective government official. Local officials in Pampanga are complaining about Panlilio’s quarry collection of what used to be one pan de sal a month to 5 truck loads now. Bizarro indeed.
February 17th, 2008 10:53
pls tell sister na nagalit sa inyo ricky na hindi lang si lozada ang may karapatan!
May karapatan din ang malacananang group to defend themselves in public, on national television. kung lumabas man na parang many against lozada last night, ay dahil idinawit niya yun grupo. So pls. giving them all a chance to say their piece last night was the right thing to do.
February 17th, 2008 12:01
“Eh bakit sumemplang pa rin ‘yung Makati rally?”
Alberto, Filipinos are probably discerning enough to distinguish between political noise and the issues more immediate to them. Even assuming that 92% believe in Lozada, that is not a matter that is urgent to their well-being. They may also want to learn more from what unfolds.
The truth is, rallies by themselves are ineffective in making an impression on any administration. Based on recent history, two factors are vital in leading to regime change:
One factor is the economic condition prevailing. At the moment, economic circumstances are favorable and most people can live with the situation. It is unlike the 1980’s when there was great hardship and the Philippine Peso depreciated from P10-$1 to P25-$1. In an instant, half the purchasing power of the nation was slashed, by itself a tremendous burden on the people. To protect the Peso from depreciating further, the Central Bank raised interest rates to 50%, which crushed businesses and created a severe recession that lasted for several years. That created an atmosphere of discontent and pessimism that eventually led to EDSA.
The present economic conditions are also unlike the late ‘90’s, when the Asian financial crisis erupted and caused the Peso to drop from P25-$1 to P50-$1. Interest rates also shot up to 40% or more and the economic malaise lasted well into 2001 and 2002, establishing fertile ground for EDSA II.
The second factor is the armed element, which would normally mean the Armed Forces or components thereof. EDSA was triggered by the defection of Enrile and Ramos and their corresponding armed units. EDSA II was settled only when the AFP withdrew allegiance from Erap. No amount of rallies would have convinced either Marcos or Erap to vacate if it were not for the armed component tilting the balance of power.
Economic conditions are still favorable at the moment, although this cannot be taken for granted. The U.S. subprime crisis threatens to engulf the world in recession. For months to come, it isn’t clear how much Asia and the Philippines will suffer from this.
There will be “optimists”, those who will be hoping for a benign effect from this crisis, and there will be “pessimists”, those who think that the country will be severely affected. It wouldn’t be surprising that rabid oppositionists will be among the harshest “pessimists”. In fact they will be praying for a very serious economic downturn, just so that they will be accompanied in their misery by those reluctant to join their ranks.
February 17th, 2008 12:29
TO: upelina, kamote, uriknon,
PWE! Pwede ba masyado kayong mga hipokrita!!! A bunch of hypocrites!! Does it matter if Malacanang Boys were given airtime last night?
Dahlings THEY TOO HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS!!! Hindi Lang si Lozada ang may monopoly ng truth!!! Even Formoso, Razon, Etcetera have the right to be heard. LOZADA HAS NO MONOPOLY OF THE TRUTH!!! Malacanang boys may be lying but let them defend themselves!!! pleassssssssseeeeeeeee!!!
You’re kind is what’s keeping Arroyo in Power.. The Silent MAjority is appaled by the hypocrisy of Kamote, etal who feels righteous!!! Yuck!!!
February 17th, 2008 13:36
walang logic yung sabihin na “pinagtulungan si Lozada “last night!
Hindi lang si abalos ang idinawit ni lozada pero kung sino sino pa. Ngayon, magreklamo si Lozada kung idinawit nya lang ay si Abalos pero ang daming nakikisawsaw at kumuyig sa kanya. PERO NO, LAHAT NG NASA STUDIO AY MGA NAMES NA IDINAWIT NIYA SO MAY RIGHT sila to defend themselves ng HARAPAN!!!
Pwede ba, yung ibang posters dito are clearly NOT THINKING!!!
IN FACT WE SHOULD PRAISE ABS FOR giving good airtime in 3 mediums last night!!! That was unprecedented. Sumugal ang News and Current Affairs kay Lozada considering he do not have any documentary evidence being presented. ABS in the spirit of finding the truth gave proper airtime to both parties and I THINK THAT WAS FAIR!!! so pleasssssssssseeee stop complaining.!!! it’s nakakasuka!!!
February 17th, 2008 17:01
The DEAFENING SILENCE of ATENEANS
“Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.”
St.Ignatius
I just read “Living and Dying” In Memory of 11 Ateneo de Manila Martial Law Activists by Cristina Jayme Montiel.
Did Ateneans die for activism? Aside from Rizal,Aquino, Colayco and Evelio Javier, were there other students and alumni who sacrificed their comfortable lives to fight for a cause?
I got my questions answered with this book.
Dr. Montiel celebrates and honors activism with the highest degree in writing the lives of the 11 Ateneans who fought for justice in the dictatorship. Some of these Blue Eagles were banned by the administration because they were ‘disrupting classes’.
But I ask the question now:Why is there a deafening silence among Ateneans about the Lozada expose?Where are the “Men For Others”?
Is is it because of sheer embarrassment that some of the major players in the Lozada Expose are Ateneo alumni?
*Mike Arroyo
*Ronnie Puno
*Romy Neri
*Ignacio Bunye
*The Arroyo Kids
*Nograles
It is personally so painful to accept the fact that most Ateneans are now so APATHETIC!!!
In contrast, tne LA SALLIAN community has shown COURAGE in providing refuge to Lozada.
February 17th, 2008 17:12
Ricky sounds like a kid when he speaks tagalog..
February 17th, 2008 17:15
Alberto D. Pempengco,
“Eh bakit sumemplang pa rin ‘yung Makati rally?”
Dandoon po ako sa rally & I actually thought that the crowd was pretty good for starters. It wasn’t the usual rent-a-crowd. Marami po sa amin na nagtratraho po sa Ayala Avenue na bumaba & listened to the speakers.
February 17th, 2008 17:46
Ricky(Uncle)
I cringe when you read your Tagalog script.It gives me a headache!
We all know you grew up in the States.Be yourself.
We don’t need another Jun Babao in ANC.As far as I am concerned,you are the best!
The Equalizer
February 17th, 2008 18:16
Keep up the good work Ricky!!!
It seems that the Luli internet brigade members are desperately trying to make a presence here. Very pathetic!!
February 17th, 2008 18:55
Gang,
I’m happy to see you and your group get more directly involved in political issues. You have the power to influence your peers. Use it wiselyand don’t be deterred by those who would discourage you.
February 17th, 2008 22:27
Formoso: Tinuruan ako ng mga magulang ko na magdamit ng tama
Lozada: Tinuruan ako ng mga magulang ko na magsabi ng KATOTOHANAN!!!
Newly opened: Zey-Tee-Ee Hamboorcher managed by Jose Di-Veyneysia.
February 17th, 2008 23:57
I watched Harapan for the second time, and I have noticed when Ricky was talking to Jun Lozada, old film clip was playing from the background, showing Lozada’s arrival in the airport without any interruption. I think film clip like this is irrelevant to the occasion. Some people might think Lozada’s was not forced by anyone.
February 18th, 2008 00:14
If Jun Lozada’s participation in the ZTE deal is not really that big, the Malacanang gang should have not bothered at all from day 1. But then, with the current turn out of things, he knows a lot! Kaya naman yung mga pa-pogi boys ng Malacanang todo remedyo pero they’re not good scriptwriters.
If Malacanang was really concerned about curtailing corruption, when this ZTE deal came out and Abalos had been dragged in the scandal, why didn’t they order an outright investigation on it to include Abalos possible connection? It was decided to scrap the deal na lang. Why? para matahimik na ang issue? Bakit gannon kalakas si Abalos sa Malacanang? Di kaya kasi it has some connections to way back the 2004 elections? Ika nga bayad utang ng mga Arroyo kay Abalos? Buti pa si Esperon, nabayaran kasi naging AFP Chief eh si Abalos, kawawa naman, hindi niya na-kubra yun 130mm niya!
February 18th, 2008 00:23
sad but oh so true.
i think we have become a selfish nation.
February 18th, 2008 00:30
Ricky may sound like a kid when he speaks tagalog but kudos to him because he still speaks the languaqe despite having been raised in the States. Unlike Formoso who kept on apologizing dahil di daw siya makapag-tagalog because Ilocano daw siya pero marunong mag-ingles ha? Parang ang layo ng Ilocos region sa Metro Manila……
February 18th, 2008 02:40
I’m a DC fan and thought of the same comparisons as well… haha! I’m also among the millions who clamor for procedural change, rather than just calling for the resignation of one person… but where/how to start? It’s rotten everywhere I look…
I saw the replay of the Harapan… so many names are involved already. I didn’t think it was unfair… and just to clarify with Abalos thanking Lozada saying he wasn’t the ZTE broker for China… I think what Lozada meant was that he was the one who asked the help of FG for the loan to be approved because he was friens with ZTE… That’s kind of what I understood… uhmm clarifications would be appreciated… thanks!
February 18th, 2008 03:10
“Is Gloria Arroyo’s Philippines the real life Bizarro World?”
Me Bizarro am happy over comparison and compliment, will not visit Philippines and not look for thin husband of President for bad suggestions on how to be honest. Am hope you not understand un-Ricky.
February 18th, 2008 08:03
Ricky maganda ang tandem nyo ni Korina! Pinagsama ang pinakamagaling sa ABS at ANC.
February 18th, 2008 08:10
Ricky and Korina, the excellent tandem to watch for. I like you both.
Great show kahit halatang nagsisinungaling si Abalos, Razon, Formoso, etc. Sayang lang yung airtime sa mga sinungaling!
Abalos needs to enroll in an ENGLISH SPEECH CLASS! Berger ka dyan!!
February 18th, 2008 08:13
RICKY, d BEST KA!
February 18th, 2008 08:17
Hi Ricky!
I watched “HARAPAN” and congrats! Great job! They are right you and Korina look good together as hosts.. Perfect!! Jun Lozada is consistent with his revelations and I admire him.
February 18th, 2008 08:24
Oh Ricky your talalog is okay!! Thumbs up!!
February 18th, 2008 08:47
I like the idea na 1 versus the MOB, kasi kayang-kaya naman ni JUN LOZADA! I think its just fair to have some of the cabinet officials there kasi dawit naman sila and they have to air their side too. Pero, it’s obvious that they are all lying.
February 18th, 2008 09:31
Jais,
You’re right.
Jun said that Abalos did not directly intevene with the Chinese government to make the loan facility available. Abalos had no direct authority to do that, which is why he called FG.
What Jun didn’t say is this: FG has no offical government function, and like Abalos, had no legal personality to ask the Chinese government to make the loan facility available. But he has direct unfettered access to one government official who could take such action so quickly: HIS WIFE.
February 18th, 2008 09:44
Hi, Ricky,
It’s already been said in the other comments but I wanted to say that I’m mildly disappointed with the format and handling of Harapan. The numbers were stacked heavily against Mr. Lozada. Even if he were outnumbered, you could have done a much better job of, er, moderating Messrs. Abalos and Razon, who tend to go around in circles. And did Mr. Abalos’ lawyer really have to come in the program?
February 18th, 2008 10:25
Ricky, your show with Korina Sanchez was very enlightening. You guys can make a good tandem. Your guests from the government side obviously a bunch of liars and hypocrites!
February 18th, 2008 10:37
…and then when the project is approved, Abalos gets his cut… and will probably share some with FG since they’re both in it together… oh did I just say FG alone? Prolly the entire family… hehe…
And speaking of THE WIFE, everybody’s scared of her. Even Neri is prepared to sacrifice his integrity so as not to piss her off. I don’t know, I can just sense how scared her boys are of her.
February 18th, 2008 10:43
Today’s Inquirer carries this article:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080218-119549/US-think-tank-doesnt-see-Arroyo-ouster
Simply a sober assessment of the facts and the situation. Nothing personal.
February 18th, 2008 11:11
Dominique.
I’ll try to do better next time.
February 18th, 2008 11:29
Ricky, I sent texts in your SMS questions during the airing of Harapan and sent it via 2366 but unfornately my messages weren’t flashed. Did you guys screened the messages??
February 18th, 2008 12:41
Who was it who said: “Things are now as they should not be.” It was used to describe the surreality of Stalin’s USSR.
El Bucho
February 18th, 2008 13:19
[...] Is A Virus Ricky Carandang laments: Why is it so hard to do the right thing in this country? and in exasperation likens the Philippines to Bizarro World. When I was a kid, I used to read a lot [...]
February 18th, 2008 14:18
Watching Harapan made me feel all the more for Manong Jun.
I wanted so bad to throw my slippers at that Abalos.
February 18th, 2008 14:27
Abalos is a born liar that he would even pass a lie detector test.
February 18th, 2008 19:28
stepahnie pelaez:
how are you related to the kabit of erap name joelle pelaez?
February 18th, 2008 21:03
Through it all — the alleged Lying, Cheating, Stealing and till most recently, KIDNAPPING….
There are still people with very low bordering on NO self-esteem who finds GMA — an option?
SIMPLY UNBELIEVABLE!
February 18th, 2008 21:47
[...] Ricky Carandang says we live in a “Bizarro World.” Indeed, I believe, as my column for today puts it, [...]
February 18th, 2008 22:19
What is it with Mr. Romulo Neri??? How come he’s so bent on (consistently) lying, being evasive and keeping the truth to himself? It’s so annoying! I hope and pray that (soon) the pressure will get the better of him and THINK WELL and PRAY HARD what is good for him and ultimately for our country by way of “cooperating” with the senate or wherever the legal venue is for him to disclose what he knows about what really transpired in the NBN deal. If he would only corroborate the statements given by the witnesses. He just gave the bait of being (partly) the whistleblower when he disclosed about the P200M supposedly ‘balato’ or bribe from Mr. Abalos out of the now defunct ZTENBN deal. After that, what now Mr. Neri? Just hangin’ loose? And this poor little rich boy Abalos, THEY opted to drop him off, really like a hot potato, in favor of Mr. Neri. Good thing he has his ‘ber-jer’ business to while away his time!
And to Mr. Jun Lozada, I hope you wont spread yourself too thin (both literally and figuratively). I’m not so sure if it’s any better but hopefully you’ll limit your media interviews and exposures. Talk to media only of the things which you’ve disclosed during senate hearings. And reserve those undisclosed yet only to the next hearings… you’re very much exposing yourself. But other than that, we greatly appreciate you for what you’ve done for all of us…. for going for the TRUTH! … someday it shall set you free, if not now since you said more threats are still on your way.
May God bless us all.
nevertheless, let us all just continue praying… for wisdom, discernment and more love for our country.
February 18th, 2008 22:55
ricky, could you please investigate with this so called “patriotic fund”.
February 18th, 2008 23:11
by the way Ricky, when is the next senate hearing? thanks!
February 19th, 2008 03:43
If lozada has a solid evidence, then the best path is to substantiate his confessions in the court.
the corruption of our country is systemic and lozada’s confession does not actually surprised the senators as they themselves enjoyed this scheme. Lozada himself has his own corruption which is tantamount to the scandal of ZTE-NBN scandal based on his classy lifestyle and anomalous practices.
This, however, does not discredit his confession. But the only way to verify the truthfulness of his confession is for him to undergo the legal process where there are clear rules on evidence.
February 19th, 2008 03:53
Ricky your article is positional and no wonder it also reflects some of your comments and summations with regards to the Lozada confessions.
I wonder if you were actively involved in the format of the HARAPAN, because it was indeed a set-up. Although Korina was quick to belie it, but she did not rationalize the set-up. It was plain and simple unfair, to both sides.
February 19th, 2008 09:46
EVIL pala si maam!
February 19th, 2008 10:22
Ricky, who do you think are behind the “Patriotic Fund”?
I wonder if Jun Lozada has already received his “Patriotic Fund”.
Neri said that he was told by Jun Lozada last year that there was a “Patriotic Fund” waiting for him if he quit the Government.
Looking deeper, I think that the “Patriotic Fund” would only be released to Neri if he quit the Government AND BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT through a follow-up of his Abalos expose.
It is quite plain to see that the shadowy figures behind this “Patriotic Fund” are moneyed, and are connected to anti-GMA politicians.
February 19th, 2008 11:09
Crystal
(February 18th, 2008 22:19 102) “What is it with Mr. Romulo Neri??? How come he’s so bent on (consistently) lying, being evasive and keeping the truth to himself? It’s so annoying!”
Could it be that someone is holding his b*lls & preventing him from talking ? Maybe Tomy Esaguirre ?
February 19th, 2008 11:41
Maybe because the PATRIOTIC FUND that Jamby Madrigal or Ping Lacson dangled in front of him isn’t big enough?
February 19th, 2008 11:51
You know, I’m getting really sick and tired of these people refusing to name names. The latest, from Neri, on the patriotic fund. He says “I’d rather not say where it came from.”
The Makati Business Club claims that “a certain cabinet official” threatened to unleash the BIR against any who opposed Gloria. But once again “I’d rather not say where it came from.”
Saying “I know about a crime, but I’d rather not say who is involved” doesn’t make you an honest person. It just makes you a co-conspirator to the offense.
And another thing. I think that a couple of telephone bills could straighten this whole thing out. The Senate should subpoena Abalos’ cell phone bill from the day he supposedly called Mike Arroyo. The call will either be there or it won’t. And If I remember correctly, Mike supposedly called Abalos back a few minutes later. You can get that information from Mike’s phone bill, but you could also get it from Abalos’ phone records. I’ve done it before when trying to trace who stole and later used my own cellphone. The information is all on record. It won’t tell you what they talked about, but it will certainly prove that they called each other at a certain time and date.
We could, and should, have done the same thing during the “Hello, Garci” situation. The call would either be there or it wouldn’t.
I guarantee that Mr. Abalos lets the government pay his phone bill. That would make the bills a matter of public record. Mike probably does too.
February 19th, 2008 13:14
Bar-Jer Abalos delivers: 2004 Garci election caper; Megapacific deal (government money was never recovered), 2007 Moro-Moro elections in Maguindanao, atbp. They need the billions to make Mikey Arroyo succeed as president in 2010…deep selection daw to be engineered by Luis Villafuerte.
February 19th, 2008 13:33
Tindihan,
“how are you related to the kabit of erap name joelle pelaez?”
Huh? Who is she? I’m not related to her.
February 19th, 2008 15:35
Tony Abaya tries to explain Romulo Neri’s misgivings. Click here to read Tony Abaya’s column.
The situation is much more muddled than what it seems. I saw Dick Gordon’s impassioned speech about our dysfunctional society. Gordon spoke very well.
However, fixing this dysfunction presents a serious dilemma. How can politicians fix it if they themselves bear the greatest responsibility for breaking down our society? In this chaotic country, where so many vested interests compete with one another and where so many discordant voices try to drown out each other, it would be impossible to effect deep-seated reforms.
We had a very much ballyhooed land reform program and it has only become a farce that wasted much time and resources. If we cannot even accomplish simple modifications such as legislating comprehensive taxes on sin products, uprooting systemic corruption would be impossible under the present liberal democratic system.
So the dilemma is that it is impossible to fix the system without breaking it. Only a self-appointed savior (or saviors) with a messianic complex will be audacious enough to attempt that. Neri probably doesn’t see a Messiah in our midst. At least not yet.
February 19th, 2008 16:50
Well, the politicians work for you, the voters. I realize that it’s like having a bunch of meat-eating tigers on a leash, but we have to find ways to control them. We have to demand accountability at every turn. They like to use words like “honorable”, and they claim that their word is good enough. But it’s not. When you give your maids money to go run errands for you, most of them come back with a list showing how they spent your money. That’s exactly what I expect from my congressman. And that’s what we should demand. Constant accountability.
But we don’t demand that. We all seem to accept that pocketing government money is a perk of office. They don’t have a right to any of that money. But they will keep taking it as long as we allow it.
Jude, I agree with you. But I think the only savior who will ever save the country is us.
February 19th, 2008 17:40
Politicians as man-eaters is apt. And it is correct to say that simple househelp are much more honorable than any politician. But after years and years of being chipped away, I have serious doubts whether our institutions can be restored. I also think we have a misplaced notion about democracy. Most people only think about what’s in it for them, not what they can do for others. They demand for their rights, but nobody talks about their obligations.
We once had a chance to right most of the wrongs in our society. EDSA 1 was our biggest opportunity, and we blew it big time.
Rhetoric sounds good, but reality is another matter. Unfortunately, I don’t believe anymore that a democratic system that allows too much latitude is good for us at this stage. Only a strong government with strong political determination can tame the discordant factions that threaten to rip our society apart.
It has happened in many places, in the past and in recent times. Sometimes it can be beneficial, sometimes it can lead a country further into ruin. It can be a Josip Broz Tito or a Vladimir Putin. Or it can be a Kim Il Sung or a Mugabe. Or it could be somewhere in between, such as a Fidel Castro, a Hugo Chavez or an Evo Morales.
It will be a big gamble, that’s for sure. But, sooner or later, if we continue our merry way, that will be our fate.
February 19th, 2008 17:52
It’s strange that we blame ‘democracy’ at a time when the person in Malacanang has not been legitimately elected.
February 19th, 2008 19:21
[...] Ricky Carandang wonders what has the Philippines come to, where whistleblowers are punished while evidoers aren’t. [...]
February 19th, 2008 21:11
We can’t do much but we can show we care for and support Jun Lozada by wearing a green ribbon and placing green ribbons in our car antennas.
Green is the color of HOPE.
Green is for the environment.Jun Lozada cared for the environment in his job in Philippine Forest.
Green is also the color of the sanctuary of the Lozada family.
Note:I am not a La Sallian.
Backgrounder:
The green ribbon has been used as a symbol for many campaigns, including environmental justice, caring through prayer,and HOPE.
Environmental initiatives, such as Environment Week in the UK and in Canada, often use green ribbons to represent support for sustainable development and environmental initiatives.
In the US in 1998, Margaret Bruce sought a way to support farm families and came up with the idea of a green ribbon and a card that read “We care through prayer.” Around the same time, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) began receiving emergency calls from farm families in stress and saw that the situation was getting worse across the country. In November 1998, NCRLC launched the Green Ribbon Campaign at their 75th anniversary meeting. They developed and began to disseminate rural crisis packets to help parishes deal with the growing rural crisis.
When Margaret Bruce began wearing a green ribbon for farm families, she said at the time: “I can’t do much, but I can wear a green ribbon to let families know that I care through prayer.” Her “can’t do much” example has turned into an international campaign that brings support and hope to thousands. Her life is an example of how ordinary people doing ordinary things have extraordinary results. Margaret was the Pastoral Associate at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Grafton, North Dakota. She died of an aneurysm in Grand Forks, ND, on Jan. 27, 2001.
Following the July 2005 London bombings, British police in Nottinghamshire distributed green ribbons as part of a Good Faith campaign .
The green ribbon is used to show support for finding missing persons particularly children in Canada.
February 19th, 2008 21:22
During the “kidnapping”, it seemed Jun Lozada had been communicating all the time with Secretary Lito Atienza while secretly coordinating with the master-puppeteer —> Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Kudos to Senator Lacson, he has regularly been taking the country to the brink of chaos since 2004 starting with the Vicky Toh expose, the Garci tapes, Ador Mawanay, Udong Mahusay, and Sandra Cam.
Of course, he will most likely continue these production numbers what with his henchmen in the United States - Aragoncillo and Michael Ray Aquino - now languishing in jail.
Will Lacson succeed with his new boy, Jun Lozada? Abangan!
February 19th, 2008 22:53
Just one question, Mr. Alberto D. Pempengco… Was it Senator Lacson who called up Commissioner Garcillano at the height of the 2004 presidential election? Please reconcile your answer with the favorite buzz phrase of GMA and her minions, “the rule of law” which they can utter with straight faces, probably out of practice…
February 19th, 2008 23:33
Commissioner Garcillano received calls from many politicians, opposition and administration alike.
But Senator Panfilo Lacson made sure to edit all the wiretapped conversations provided to him by Vidal Doble to make sure that only the administration people looked bad.
February 20th, 2008 01:16
Ricky,
I just watched your report on The Correspondents. Sadly, it does makes sense. How sad that the administration sold us to China. They not only earned loan interests but the Spratly’s as well.
February 20th, 2008 08:07
My dear friends…
Take a break from all the frustrating events around us.
Come to Ben’s Diner for the best burjer in the world.
Salamat po!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jq4q1S7SjQ
February 20th, 2008 08:08
My dear friends…
Take a break. Break away from all the frustrating events around us.
Come to Ben’s Diner for the best burjer in the world.
Salamat po!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jq4q1S7SjQ
February 20th, 2008 08:08
My dear friends…
Take a break.
Come to Ben’s Diner for the best burjer in the world.
Salamat po!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jq4q1S7SjQ
February 20th, 2008 10:51
As Dick Gordon pointed out, it’s not only government that is dysfunctional. It’s Philippine society itself. Even our customs and traditions are bastardized for political ends. And democracy, as we practice it, is so bastardized that anything goes.
February 20th, 2008 12:38
Law is still the best way to control corrupt government officials, but only if the laws are crafted without loopholes. What we need are laws that require specific actions, with specific consequences for noncompliance.
While the Senate is taking a much-needed look into our national soul, we should use the opportunity to demand that they use their discoveries to craft strong, effective laws. Laws that force accountability in the election process, the use of pork barrel funds, and the expenditure of funds in general. After all, legislation is the real purpose of these hearings.
In most corporations, employees (and managers) are required to sign for the supplies and equipment that they need, all the way down to a box of ballpoint pens. They are also required to account for their tiniest expenditures, and to liquidate those expenditures within no more than a few days. Cash advances are rare and very difficult to get. And if you do get one, you are required to liquidate it immediately. There is no such thing as “millions in unliquidated cash advances”.
Why do you think political families are willing to kill to stay in office? Not because of power, and certainly not because of love of country. It is because there is free-flowing money, free for the taking. And it is free for the taking because we do not demand accountability.
We have the power to demand such accountability from our elected officials. After all, it is our money. They are only our representatives. We can control them, but not if we don’t demand accountability. And demand consequences for non-accountability. The consequences must be clear and loophole-free. You WILL be transparent. You WILL account for every peso. You WILL submit a complete and current SALN — on time. If not, you must leave office (and face charges).
We have to demand that kind of accountability. They have proven that their word alone is not good enough.
February 20th, 2008 13:03
Rather than focus on those who legitimately exercise their democratic rights, we should focus on those who try to subvert it, most specially the perpetrators of Hello Garci. They’re the ones who are bastardizing our system. I’m glad i didn’t make the mistake of voting for Gordon who seems to be passing the buck to the people.
February 20th, 2008 14:27
So, whatever happened to the supposed “Assasination Plot”??? … Was it only good for February 15??? Did it just die a natural death? We don’t hear any more news about it … yeah right! the happenings now (and am afraid in the days to come) are so amazingly “coincidental”!
February 20th, 2008 14:33
It’s indeed a bizarro world. We have government officials, highly intelligent at that, makes stupid
February 20th, 2008 16:14
I like you. sigh!
February 20th, 2008 16:15
Toooooo bad you’re taken na. sigh again.
February 20th, 2008 17:00
Hi Ricky! You should be a regular correspondent! We watch correspondents if you’re the reporter. If it’s not you, we don’t. Yung iba kasi dragging magreport.
February 20th, 2008 18:18
ricky, to effect the change we want in our country i think we should start on our knees.
February 20th, 2008 21:48
Rule of Law?
How about rule of lawlessness in the top-to-bottom and state-of-the-art “criminal” enterprises?
It’s just so unbelievable there are still people in the “lethargic” mode!
February 20th, 2008 22:41
This is in responed to Ricky Carandang program last tuesday at the-correspondents,Feb.19,2008.
To Ricky Carandang I’d like to inform you Sa CSPAN USA TV Program may political analyse na nag inform how China do their loan specially in africa.You’ll be amazed,and now shock with your program last night. I’m not surprised althought shock over spratly island.China is sucking most of natural resources in other country with their promises to develop which they promise to africa, but then get their natural resources cheaper. Kaya mura ang mga produkto nila.So i guess right now it’s happening sa Pilipinas.Point out kulang sila JDV his Son, J.Losada They’re not hero nag kurap din sila yung anak nong isa hindi lang natuloy ang loan ganoon din siya naunahan lang kaya nagalit. Tapos si Losada tumanggap ng pera hindi yun puwede na isauli niya involve then siya. So Dapat wala silang lusot.And if we do make him that walang silbi din ang malinis na hangarin.Hindi naman siya planted. And Dapat hindi puwede sa imbistigasyun ang mga senado, congressman, anybody na may bahid ng paper trail.It should be malinis ang profile ng tao.
February 21st, 2008 00:46
Mr. Carandang, you’ve got balls. It’s official, I cras you.
February 21st, 2008 09:16
I will always remain apathetic about this issue and will not be persuaded to join the call for civil disobedience. Everyone in the government is evil, GMA was way too unlucky that all of her evilness are being revealed. I bet all those senators who grills the government are more evil and power hungry. so its better to have GMA.
February 21st, 2008 09:55
JM, huli ka na sa balita. Sabi nga ni Joey Salceda, one lucky female dog daw.
February 21st, 2008 15:13
Dante wrote that the “hottest place in Hell is reserved for those, who in time of crisis, remain neutral.”
February 21st, 2008 16:57
JM it is unfair to say that ALL in government are evil. That is not true. There are lots of God fearing public servants out there.You do not know what you are talking about.
February 21st, 2008 18:18
“Respect the institution of the presidency”
That’s the latest request from the palace.
How Bizarro. The one who seems to be showing the most disrespect to the office is the one sitting in the office.
February 21st, 2008 18:30
Lozada’s passport has appeared. Without any entry stamps.
And it was surrendured by Rodolfo Valeroso’s attorney. Doesn’t that also make Valeroso et al guilty of violating immigration laws? Crystal clear proof that they smuggled Lozada (willingly or unwillingly) through this country’s immigration control points.
Ricky, if you get a chance, maybe you should ask Immigration Commissioner Libanan if he would be interested in investigating. It seems like the law is clear on this one. Unless of course, we don’t really operate under the rule of law.
February 21st, 2008 19:26
of course they will not stamp the passport. had they stamped it while in their custody, the senate would be looking for the disembarkation card.
February 21st, 2008 20:12
With the release of the JDV3 and Lozada tapes on YouTube, now we can see that the ZTE Broadband deal brouhaha is nothing but a battle of kickbacks between the Abalos-ZTE Group and the De Venecia - Lozada Amsterdam Holdings Group.
Ika nga ni Manang Miriam - “Nag-aagawan lamang kayo sa mga kickbacks ninyo.”
So you think Lozada is still a hero?
February 21st, 2008 21:32
Hmmm…nadinig niyo ba magmura si Jun Lozada? Ang lutong-lutong!!!
Ito ba ang pinoprotektahan ng mga pari at madre?
February 21st, 2008 21:40
Alberto,
I guess the logic of your argument goes like this. Jun Lozada is not totally clean so therefore he has no right testify against the Arroyo regime. If We follow the logical extension of that argument then no one can express anything critical of the government because after all, we all have some skeletons in our closet.
But wasn’t it Chavit Singson who testified against Joseph Estrada and helped to bring your beloved president into power? How pure was he?
You should tell your scriptwriters to fix that.
February 21st, 2008 22:48
Ricky, why do you insist on lumping people who are leery about Lozada as PGMA lovers?
This is a large block of people who could sway the game either to PGMA’s block…or to your block.
And you’re not helping your anti-GMA cause Ricky by alienating this big block.
February 21st, 2008 23:04
Alberto, you’re skirting the issue.
February 21st, 2008 23:49
When I saw the youtube video, I admired Mr. Lozada all the more. The way he spoke showed me how regular he was. He is the first person to tell us not to consider him a hero. Telling the truth according to him is such a lame reason to be called a hero. He’s as rough like most of us are. Yet, he is capable of great courage. He models to all of us what we are all capable of doing inspite and despite our shady past.
February 21st, 2008 23:52
“Respect the institution of the presidency”
Well the institution of the presidency can be honored if we remove the president that obviously DO NOT respect it. The presidency IS NOT the president!
February 22nd, 2008 00:03
Nah! I guess many of us are just so allergic of pots calling the kettle black!
We’ve seen too many of these people the past few years. And Lozada is just the latest in a long line of people who are like this.
February 22nd, 2008 00:06
I saw former senator Paterno in your show this evening. I too have been eyeing these congressmen since the Garci controversy. I am thinking people powering these corrupt people instead of Gloria. Simultaneous and continuous efforts per district to force these ingrates to represent us, their constituents, for once! If we can remove Gloria’s base from beneath her, she cannot help but crumble down.
February 22nd, 2008 04:35
Lozada is far from being a hero. Still, you have to give him credit for what he did.
February 22nd, 2008 09:30
Alberto let me present an analogy to simplify the situation:
A group of men rob a convenience store. As they are making off with the loot, the shopkeeper calls the police. Then police come in and beat the shit out of the shopkeeper because they find that he has some unpaid parking tickets.
Now here you come, Alberto, into the store. Ignoring the robbers, you are outrgaed about the parking tickets and spit on the shopkeeper.
Meanwhile, the robbers make off with their loot (which includes some very juicy burjers).
February 22nd, 2008 09:34
Hmm that burjer must be something…
February 22nd, 2008 10:41
Alberto,
I have a question for you. Please answer it directly:
Do you believe that, in the interest of “moving on” we should ignore all allegations of wrongdoing?
The argument that “all of this political bickering is interfering with progress” is absolutely true. But the truth is, it’s the dishonest behavior of certain government officials that is actually hindering progress.
This country has so much potential, but it is killing itself.
February 22nd, 2008 15:43
We have to get to the bottom of things.
But the thing is, had the JDVIII-Jun Lozada consortium won the NBN deal, it would’ve been Abalos who will be crying to high heavens that JDV’s influence won for his son the deal.
And Cory and the La Salle brothers will be offering prayers and sanctuary to Abalos. And people will be contributing money to Abalos for “being a hero of truth”!
February 22nd, 2008 15:45
Here’s the alleged transcript of the conversation between Joey De Venecia and Jun Lozada posted in YouTube:
Joey (allegedly, Joey de Venecia): Hey Jun.
Jun (allegedly, Jun Lozada): Hey Joey.
Joey: Jun, can you hear me?
Jun: Yeah. Go ahead.
Joey: Yeah, where are you to put Chair (Abalos)?
Jun: Ang formula ko doon is kuha ako ng points dun sa 130.
Joey: Uh-huh…
Jun: Di ba? Kasi saan ko pa kukunin di ba? (laughs) Itong mga :)…
Joey: Kaya lang pare, we need to get some… at least from… something from them, di ba?
Jun: Yeah.. from both sides. P*tangina…
Joey: Pare.. start from the thing.. Because he’s the gatekeeper of the votes. P*ta. I can understand, but not that amount.
Jun: Oh yeah. that’s too big, right. That’s too big.
Joey: Pare, let’s develop a plan to talk to him.
Jun: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So…
Joey: And you know what he told me, between you and I. When we were in Hong Kong… in Shenzen. Don’t quote me ha. Sabi niya kasi, marami akong… Tinanong ko bakit ba ang laki-laki? Singkwenta.. Sabi niya marami ako kelangan bigyan. Pati yung NEDA. He said the word NEDA ha. P*tangina. For your information pare.
Jun: Information? I would understand that… He’d like to look at…
Joey: Maybe, wait, you can quote me and say, sabi ni Joey meron daw… sabi mo sa kanya may NEDA dun. (laughs) Di ba? He told me pare. (laughs)
Jun: Sige, sige…
Joey: P*tangina, baka magwala na naman yung… (laughs)
Jun: For some reason, I have this chemistry with him. Sabi ko Chair… In fact, sabi niya, Jun, ikaw na mag-referee bukas ha. Sabi niya, I want you to be there. Ikaw na mag-referee, ikaw na magsabi kung papaano. Sige po Sir, ako na ang mag-aano sa ano… (laughs)
Joey: Well anyway, so that’s where I’m looking at right now. .. ought to get you.. And then, uh, think of a strategy for Ben (Abalos?), and if you need me to back you up, I’ll be there.
Jun: Hey Joey, regarding this Chinese embassy thing. I think I struck a motherload no? I’ll put them in Roxas Boulevard. P*tangina, di ba?
Joey: In the Reformation? (Reclamation)
Jun: No, p*tangina, that’s not prime. We’ll put them in the CCP complex.
Joey: Yup, got it.
Jun: P*tangina. Yeah, that’s, wala.. I can ??? that ??? agreement. (I can swing that gddam deal pare)
Joey: You mean, owned by the Central Bank?
Jun: Yeah! Can you imagine? P*tangina, same stature as the American embassy, better pa, di ba? The Japanese Embassy is in Roxas Boulevard. The American embassy is there. So p*ta, I just arrived that we put the Chinese embassy right in the midst of it all, di ba? Joey: Yes, yes, of course. That’s ??? to hear. That’s foresight. (That’s perfect)
Jun: … don’t mention my name. I think he knows me well.
Joey: Gaano kalaki, pare?
Jun: P*tangina, as much as 15 hectares. (laughs)
Joey: P*tangina. Tapos siguro kumuha rin tayo dun. Pero we need 10 finances. (10 financers)
Jun: No, no, no, no. P*tangina. I cannot just tell you all the things that I’ve been asked to do. But that one I think, I can ??? for ourselves.
Joey: I’ll talk to the…
Jun: Talk to him right away.
February 22nd, 2008 16:04
Alberto,
Ricky was right: you are skirting the issue. My question was “should we ignore the allegations?”
You are absolutely right when you say that we would not have heard a word about this crooked deal if Joey had won the contract. But that is actually irrelevant to the question: “should we ignore the allegations?”
And if you say that we should not ignore them, then how should we handle them?
Everyone (especially those who are accused) likes to say “let’s handle this in the proper forum”.
Well, what is the proper forum? The government does have an institution, called the Ombudsman, who is supposed to investigate this kind of thing. But she only seems to act when it becomes necessary to draw attention away from the truth. So, what do you say Alberto? Should we all just move on, and pretend the (alleged) crimes never happened?
February 22nd, 2008 21:33
money is the root of all evil.. kahit ata sino at saan umupo, lagi me corruption.. pity us…
February 25th, 2008 20:29
I guess this one fits into the “Bizarro World” category. Did anyone catch Ermita’s comment today, after the rope on the flagpole broke:
He said, “You know Murphy’s Law?: If things are about to happen, they are bound to happen.”
Huh? Boy, that’s a Melanie Marquez moment if ever I saw one.
February 27th, 2008 08:34
[...] the press isn’t buying the smear campaign: As correspondent Ricky Carandaran points out: Now he’s facing the full force of the law. Charges for perjury, allegations of [...]
February 27th, 2008 15:15
@Michael: LOL! Oo nga. Melanie Marquez XD
February 27th, 2008 17:38
What you are telling us us is that Lozada sounds and looks credible, so we can ignore his person and accept what he is telling us. Yes, it is the message not the messenger is what you are telling us.His character and backgound will not affect the truth or falsity of what he is dishing out. Please remember he admitted he was not able ‘to do his part of the bargain’ that is why he is returning the .5mil.
What does that tell you?
February 27th, 2008 18:57
You know, you guys sometimes latch onto a single quoted statement and then you try to assign a very literal interpretation to it.
When someone says “I was not able to do my part of the bargain”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there was a “bargain” in the first place, in the sense that 2 people agreed to do something. It’s an idiom, an expression, a figure of speech. Among other possibilities, it could mean “I had an idea of what they wanted when they gave me the money, but since nothing was said directly I just accepted it without another word. But then my conscience got the better of me and I wasn’t able to do what they wanted me to do”.
When someone says “Maybe 65 million might be acceptable”, he doesn’t necessarily mean that he would find it acceptable himself. He might mean that, in this society, which despite its protestations really does seem to accept an amazing level of corruption from its public officials, 120 million is just way too much, even by our standards.
I am not sure if there is a single non-corrupt elected official in this government, but every one of them is now ranting and raving about how disgusted they are at the corruption they are only now “uncovering”. Talk about a bunch of hypocrites. But the real bottom line will be revealed when it comes time to pass new anti-corruption laws as a result of this investigation.
Why do I get the feeling that that simply won’t happen?
March 11th, 2008 15:04
For the last several days I have been seeing full page ads in all the major dailies, from various local government units proclaiming their support for the president.
You know, I understand the idea of loyalty, and I even recognize the possibility that some (some!) of these local elected officials really do believe that the whole scandal is really just another propaganda blitz by the opposition. But when I read them say, as I read in the Philippine Star yesterday, that “the ZTE deal has already been cancelled, and therefore the whole inquiry is nonsense”, I just have to ask “What school of government did these people attend?”
When a plot to commit a crime has been uncovered, and then the conspirators decide not to follow through with the crime specifically because it was uncovered, should we just pretend that the whole thing never happened? If we take that approach, then why do we continue to investigate suspected terrorists after the police foil one of their planned attacks? In many cases, the “foiling” part is really nothing more than receiving intel about the plan. No different than what has been happening with the ZTE deal. The only difference is that it’s the media doing the foiling, rather than the government agencies who are supposed to do it.
Those mayors and governors who make statements like the “this is all nonsense” statement above, those are the guys you elected to manage your country. Hopefully, when the next election rolls around, you, the voters, will remember those goofballs, and vote them out of office! Are they really the people you want running your affairs for you?
And by the way, I wonder how much it costs to publish full page ads like that in 2 or 3 major newspapers every day? A few hundred thousand? More? Boy, that money could sure be put to a better use.
March 13th, 2008 14:34
i observe, people ordinarily do not want to be inconvenienced. people tend to want to have things easy.
few dare to have faith and believe in the good in themselves–for that matter, dare to be brave and exercise “be”-ing themselves… dare to do what is innately right and true (or try to) . . . yes, somehow dare to be someone like you.
. . . is the philippines GMA’s bizzaro world? maybe so… but it’s good to know there are worthy present day (super-)heroes out there to save the day ;).
March 13th, 2008 19:48
Newsbreak has answered my question (comment 168). The various groups that have been posting “we support GMA” ads in newspapers have spent over P5 million in the last 3 weeks.
I say again, wow, how many better ways could we have spent that money?
March 23rd, 2008 23:39
Where are all those heroes gone?those who were committed to protect and serve the common johnnies?63 yrs today,same old story..greediness and even worst,gluttony of our present heroes kuno is like a cancer.everybody wants media mileage to become popular and bingo run to public office..there and then another corrupt tentacles evolve.our people become tired of political maneuver,thus, the spirit of people power can be found nowhere..as long as our suppose to be heroes are afraid of taking risk that even cost a few lives to show sincerity,our people will never unite.NINOY was one of a kind.BTW, we, OFWs are doing our part..can we expect the same from our leaders?if not,maybe we can hire leaders from Canada or Australia..
March 24th, 2008 15:35
I’m not really a pro-Gloria but I recognize her hard work. In the ZTE project, I also want to know the truth and to let the justice prevail but not in the light of flashing cameras, not in the reportings of opinionated reporters who are only suppose to tell the facts, and most especially not in the presence of entertaining cum idiot politicians. I want to see it happen in the proper forum with people respecting the insitutions, and people observing the law that governs us all. Honestly, the first time Lozada went out and told his story, he has my sympathy. But his face all over the news and campuses calling for GMA’s resignation titling it Search for truth Caravan disgust me and marked him to my mind as an opportunist who is sour-graping over a share that did not satisfy his own greed. I don’t see his effort as search for truth because he has his own biases already. He could have earned my respect if he just remained true to what he claimed he knew in ZTE rather than engage in political drama that obviously tries to win the sympathy of people. He could have earned my respect if he simply walked to the church and prayed rather than talk like a politician. I prayed to heavens that in 2010, he would come back to his senses and not run for any political office. THough, it would not surprise me at all if I see him in campaign jacket with Erap, whom these “uprights” seemed to forgot is convicted of plunder. A crime that was proven guilty in court. And whom Lozada willingly shares a stage in his rally. How on earth can you really convince me that by throwing off Gloria, we can have a very good life? I see those senators turned NBI agents as hungry and restless benefactors of these troubles. How can they not ride the issue? It’s a golden opportunity to have as many publicity as possible to get ahead of 2010 ambition?
November 21st, 2008 01:56
Jun, ingat ka lang sa pag-alyansa sa mga national democrats. Your waltzing with the devil by the pale moonlight!!!! alam naman nating may agenda ang mga iyan at ang kanilang taktika ay pagpapakita na humihina na ang kanilang hanay. Front ang BAYAN MUNA, GABRIELA at KMU, etc. Lipas na ang pakikibaka ng kasamang Joma at ating gunitain ang plaza miranda na pakana ni Joma. Ingat lang kaibigan.
May 21st, 2010 11:43
Fidel Castro would always be an icon of history evethough he is against the U.S.*-’
May 21st, 2010 15:11
Ricky, in this country, when you do right-you become wronged.