Perish the current brouhaha over cha-cha for a moment. Amid the noise of the ongoing People's Initiative to support or to quote La femme petite terrible, use a freight train to shove charter change down our throats, a story that mirrors the elitist nature of political power manifests itself in the Dasmarinas Homeowner's fight againt Transco.
Well okay let's put cha-cha in the equation. Cha-cha at it's very core they say is a deceitful plot to keep political power out of the grungy reaches of the masses. At least that's the thought supposedly swirling through the daydreams of our congressmen. The equation, even for the arithmetically challenged administration honorables is simple. Cha-cha equals a free term past next year's election. A vote for it equals a commensurate gift hewed from tax-payers money. Although I can't prove it, one has only to review the Fertilizer scam coverage to appreciate where I'm coming from. Like I said the equation is simple. Even a child can discern the lollipops given to the President's good boys and girls.
The Dasma Homeowners in their tree-lined urban haven may not be great fans of the little girl at the palace. They may even support her enemies. Yet it is undeniable they come from the same social class. But their pedigree and social class is not the only thing they have in common.
The supreme court decision favoring the case of the dasmarines (nice term...kinda has a coupista feel to it) is an example of the political clout wielded by the elite. When they petitioned Transco to remove the EMF (electromagnetic frequency) emitting power lines in the late 1990's it was sweetened with a 10 million peso offer to offset the relocation costs. Like Gloria they pack a mean political punch.
But Napoccor being that wonderful and efficient agency that it is declined for some reason, read: Napoccor does'nt give a shit then...why should it give a shit now?
But Napoccor didn't forsee the potential problems from an increasingly paranoid elite. Maybe the former Napocor President's didn't really give a shit about the future, being poltical appointees and all.
So there we have it. The Supreme Court recently favored the Homeowners petition. Despite studies debunking the powerline-cancer correlation in the United States, our less enlightened but powerful ninongs and ninangs at Dasmarinas are hell bent on their cause. Stripped of all the righteousness and colorful language, it's the peace of mind of a handful of rich people versus the power needs of a sizable portion of Metro Manila's population.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
PMA graduates future coupistas?
The PMA Mandala Class of 2006 had an auspicious start to their military careers. Amid efforts to recruit them to the cause of the Oakwood Mutineers, they were apparently also subject to brainwashing from the government side.
President Arroyo herself resorted to doublespeak in her speech before the graduating cadets. She lauded the cadet's efforts to resist the recruitment and reminded them (along with the top brass of the AFP present) that the military should never engage in partisan politics. But in the same breath she asked for their support in the ongoing campaign to change the charter.
That the Mandala boys and girls' predicament reflects the bigger identity crisis of the military is not surprising. After the series of Edsas, the soldiers are confused about the very essence of their existence. While it is true that the real and traditional enemies wear red or bandy about in the hinterlands and beaches of the Muslim south, there is confusion when political foes are simply branded enemies of the state.
Contrary to popular opinion, our fledgling soldiers have access to the news and the internet. At least that's the official line of the PMA officials who run the academy in Baguio City. Well aware of the political crisis at hand, they have also galvanized their opinion like any other citizen in thei country.
But understandably, no one (at least not at the start of their careers) would dare speak ill of the president. The class baron 2nd lt. Obias said he would keep his opinions to himself. Which ofcourse is not to say he has undying devotion to the president but nevertheless indicates an effort to toe the official pro-government line.
The son of former AFP Chief Ernesto Carolina, was more courageous and told me his loyalties lie with the constitution and not in one person alone. Which is likewise just as vague but hints at the possibilities of ditching the president through constitutional means. And then there were a cacophony of voices saying they would only follow legal orders.
Not surprisingly many of the cadets say they support the Oakwood cause and the recent hiccup at the Philippine Marines. One cadet confessed that at this stage, you either have sympathy for the rebel soldiers or you dont. He says most of them do.
President Arroyo herself resorted to doublespeak in her speech before the graduating cadets. She lauded the cadet's efforts to resist the recruitment and reminded them (along with the top brass of the AFP present) that the military should never engage in partisan politics. But in the same breath she asked for their support in the ongoing campaign to change the charter.
That the Mandala boys and girls' predicament reflects the bigger identity crisis of the military is not surprising. After the series of Edsas, the soldiers are confused about the very essence of their existence. While it is true that the real and traditional enemies wear red or bandy about in the hinterlands and beaches of the Muslim south, there is confusion when political foes are simply branded enemies of the state.
Contrary to popular opinion, our fledgling soldiers have access to the news and the internet. At least that's the official line of the PMA officials who run the academy in Baguio City. Well aware of the political crisis at hand, they have also galvanized their opinion like any other citizen in thei country.
But understandably, no one (at least not at the start of their careers) would dare speak ill of the president. The class baron 2nd lt. Obias said he would keep his opinions to himself. Which ofcourse is not to say he has undying devotion to the president but nevertheless indicates an effort to toe the official pro-government line.
The son of former AFP Chief Ernesto Carolina, was more courageous and told me his loyalties lie with the constitution and not in one person alone. Which is likewise just as vague but hints at the possibilities of ditching the president through constitutional means. And then there were a cacophony of voices saying they would only follow legal orders.
Not surprisingly many of the cadets say they support the Oakwood cause and the recent hiccup at the Philippine Marines. One cadet confessed that at this stage, you either have sympathy for the rebel soldiers or you dont. He says most of them do.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Mercy mercy me
Today I got to talk to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the one-time deputy secretary of justice and now reluctant prosecutor to the estimated 8000 cases of graft and corruption pending at the office of the ombudsman. Is it any surprise that such a large backlog exists? In fairness to the good woman as well as her predecessor Simeon Marcelo, most of these cases were racked up over the years. Shades of Aniano Desierto and all.
Anyway in light of insinuations of her lack of backbone to investigate the First Family, Gutierrez has vowed to go against the prevailing sentiment. Gloria Inc. will indeed be investigated should her name, or any member of the first family, crop up in the mountain of cases towering over the good office.
Only time will tell if Gutierrez is up to the task. A personal friend of mine working at the Sandiganbayan tells of how rotten and parochial these government truly is. In one such case, the Sandiganbayan ruled against two congressmen in a graft case filed against them. When the speaker of the house got wind of it, he allegedly refused to issue the suspension order to the two pro-administration congressmen. My friend tells me that a suspension should have been in order pending their appeal to the higher courts. With this kind of fraternal corruption, it is easy why Gutierrez reluctantly accepted her post.
Anyway in light of insinuations of her lack of backbone to investigate the First Family, Gutierrez has vowed to go against the prevailing sentiment. Gloria Inc. will indeed be investigated should her name, or any member of the first family, crop up in the mountain of cases towering over the good office.
Only time will tell if Gutierrez is up to the task. A personal friend of mine working at the Sandiganbayan tells of how rotten and parochial these government truly is. In one such case, the Sandiganbayan ruled against two congressmen in a graft case filed against them. When the speaker of the house got wind of it, he allegedly refused to issue the suspension order to the two pro-administration congressmen. My friend tells me that a suspension should have been in order pending their appeal to the higher courts. With this kind of fraternal corruption, it is easy why Gutierrez reluctantly accepted her post.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Hazards of the trade
A certain col. pangilinan of the counter-intelligence unit of the ISAFP has been going around threatening journalist of certain death. He singled me out for purportedly running a story on his counter-intelligence briefing about the coup conspiracy last friday. Among the things he mentioned were the participation of some multi-national companies in the destablization move. According to the good colonel, these firms gave money either to the NPA or some other political entity as "Insurance" should the power grab succeed. One of the names that cropped up was Nestle Phils Inc., a giant food and beverage company that used to have Juan Santos of the Hyatt 10 fame as it's president a few years back.
Insurance policy aside, it is a sad fact that my story on the conspiracy was killed by some higher ups in our station. Equally chilling is the fact that no one save the producer and writers knew the contents of my script. So how the hell did the military learn about something that did not air in the first place?
And you should see this middle-aged creature swagger his mojo around the press working area. A veritable Napoleon Bonaparte in every aspect of the word. He even had the gall last week to single ABC-5 out and demand for the Ariel Querubin-Danilo Lim tape documenting their "alleged" withdrawal from the government. If the smart guys at ISAFP can say they saw the tape's contents and identify who were present during that meeting, why the hell do you need a copy of tape from us? Provided there is indeed a tape of that sort.
Ping Lacson's word ring true particularly in this time of intimidation and pseudo-martial rule: Huwag Matakot. Indeed. Last time I checked, this wondorously convoluted, frustrating, imperiled and chaotic soup of humanity I call my country....was still free.
Insurance policy aside, it is a sad fact that my story on the conspiracy was killed by some higher ups in our station. Equally chilling is the fact that no one save the producer and writers knew the contents of my script. So how the hell did the military learn about something that did not air in the first place?
And you should see this middle-aged creature swagger his mojo around the press working area. A veritable Napoleon Bonaparte in every aspect of the word. He even had the gall last week to single ABC-5 out and demand for the Ariel Querubin-Danilo Lim tape documenting their "alleged" withdrawal from the government. If the smart guys at ISAFP can say they saw the tape's contents and identify who were present during that meeting, why the hell do you need a copy of tape from us? Provided there is indeed a tape of that sort.
Ping Lacson's word ring true particularly in this time of intimidation and pseudo-martial rule: Huwag Matakot. Indeed. Last time I checked, this wondorously convoluted, frustrating, imperiled and chaotic soup of humanity I call my country....was still free.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
The mundane world of business
Well its another day in that wonderful world of the business reporter.
Aside from the torrent of PR requests trumpeting everything from toothpaste to virgin coconut oil, one also has to sort through the maze of figures and equally frustrating double-speak of analysts and would be economists jockeying, no begging, for a chance to say their piece.
First stop: The Newsbreak office. Apparently there's a not so subtle attempt to intimidate media organizations to "toe the line". But that's been harped upon resoundly over the past weeks since 1017 hit the fan. Editor in Chief Maritess Vitug says government may not really be serious in getting their hands wet with the proverbial blood of the free press. But then there's no reason not to try their hand at scaring us. I asked her if it's simply a case of media creating its own monster in the closet. She told me in the chilling aftermath of the Tribune raid, journalist's brains were going into virtual overload from paranoia.
But amid all the indignation over 1017 and the PNP instigated raid on the Tribune office, there hasn't really been a far-reaching attempt to muzzle the free press. Yeah...yeah, the National Telecommunication Comission may have rattled its saber against the broadcasting denizens but its basically all bark. Wire-tapped phones aside, nothing's really changed in the working conditions.
Not to sound too optimistic, but I feel we can still crucify anybody we want. But then again maybe I'm just naive and time and Gloria may still prove me wrong.
By the way, in another chapter of the anti-gloria conspiracy story, we received a counter-intelligence briefing in camp Aguinaldo by a certain colonel from ISAFP who menacingly made it clear he didn't want to be put on camera. But he gave the briefing anyway and we listened. The AFP has apparently cracked the entire conspiracy against president arroyo.
You can read the entire story in Newsbreaks latest issue. But not included in the Newsbreak story were the names of Danding Cojuangco, Ping Lacson, Peping Cojuangco and some multi-national companies who contributed directly or indirectly to the plan to oust GMA. The multi-national companies, in the spirit of paying revolutionary taxes to the communist insurgency, apparently paid insurance money to the coupistas (that's a new word coined) so that their billion pesos operations would remain untouched during the transition period (read: during the mini-civil war that will erupt).
The good Colonel or whatever his rank was since he didn't wear a uniform, admitted the money trail would be difficult to prove in court. Hence probably the spirit and very essence of 1017 and its menacing residual effect...if the government can't catch the coupistas...then maybe government can scare them to death..
Aside from the torrent of PR requests trumpeting everything from toothpaste to virgin coconut oil, one also has to sort through the maze of figures and equally frustrating double-speak of analysts and would be economists jockeying, no begging, for a chance to say their piece.
First stop: The Newsbreak office. Apparently there's a not so subtle attempt to intimidate media organizations to "toe the line". But that's been harped upon resoundly over the past weeks since 1017 hit the fan. Editor in Chief Maritess Vitug says government may not really be serious in getting their hands wet with the proverbial blood of the free press. But then there's no reason not to try their hand at scaring us. I asked her if it's simply a case of media creating its own monster in the closet. She told me in the chilling aftermath of the Tribune raid, journalist's brains were going into virtual overload from paranoia.
But amid all the indignation over 1017 and the PNP instigated raid on the Tribune office, there hasn't really been a far-reaching attempt to muzzle the free press. Yeah...yeah, the National Telecommunication Comission may have rattled its saber against the broadcasting denizens but its basically all bark. Wire-tapped phones aside, nothing's really changed in the working conditions.
Not to sound too optimistic, but I feel we can still crucify anybody we want. But then again maybe I'm just naive and time and Gloria may still prove me wrong.
By the way, in another chapter of the anti-gloria conspiracy story, we received a counter-intelligence briefing in camp Aguinaldo by a certain colonel from ISAFP who menacingly made it clear he didn't want to be put on camera. But he gave the briefing anyway and we listened. The AFP has apparently cracked the entire conspiracy against president arroyo.
You can read the entire story in Newsbreaks latest issue. But not included in the Newsbreak story were the names of Danding Cojuangco, Ping Lacson, Peping Cojuangco and some multi-national companies who contributed directly or indirectly to the plan to oust GMA. The multi-national companies, in the spirit of paying revolutionary taxes to the communist insurgency, apparently paid insurance money to the coupistas (that's a new word coined) so that their billion pesos operations would remain untouched during the transition period (read: during the mini-civil war that will erupt).
The good Colonel or whatever his rank was since he didn't wear a uniform, admitted the money trail would be difficult to prove in court. Hence probably the spirit and very essence of 1017 and its menacing residual effect...if the government can't catch the coupistas...then maybe government can scare them to death..
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