GENERAL ESPERON AND PRESIDENT ARROYO'S LEGACY

In a recent issue of the Wall Street Journal, John Hopkins University Professor Brett Decker said that "The Philippine military's second crisis concerns endemic corruption in its upper echelons. Unlike in the United States and many countries where military officers are among the most respectful elites in society, the Philippines' senior officer corps has long been regarded as one of the most corrupt classes in a very corrupt social system. There are many examples of officers taking bribes to let rebels escape, and of military equipment being sold to insurgents who use the weapons against the soldiers for whom they were intended. In its country report released recently, the US State Department listed very low morale, corruption and lack of inter-agency cooperation as institutional factors that undermine anti-terror efforts in the Philippines." This report certainly corroborates with the opinion of Transparency International (TI) when it ranked the Philippines as the 8th most corrupt country in the world, as Malacanang as usual disputed the findings calling it "unfair" saying it is addressing the problem of corruption squarely. How can it when the very heart of corruption has been squatting in Malacanang for several years now? Two more years in office and we could very well be the #1 in its list.

(Image form http://pia.gov.ph)

ESTRELLA ELAMPARO'S ERROR

GSIS chief legal counsel Estrella Elamparo was wrong to say that Winston Garcia's family in Cebu are in no way involved in the operations of Visayan Electric Co. (VECO), the Cebuano version of Meralco. She went public recently in an attempt to fool consumers that Winston Garcia has no hidden agenda whatsoever. The Garcia's are indeed interlinked with the Aboitiz family (VECO owners on record), in the management of RP's second largest franchise of electricity. Again, my GSIS mole tells me that VECO is owned by the Aboitiz family and has for itself a lawyer in the person of Jess Anthony Garcia from the Neri-Garcia clan. He is Winston Garcia's nephew and the eldest son of Alvin Garcia, former Cebu City mayor and younger brother of Jesus "Sonny" Garcia, FVR's former transportation secretary. Alvin and Sonny are Winston's first cousin. Sonny Garcia sits in the board of Vivant Corp., the holding firm of the Aboitizes' VECO. Sonny Garcia has been lawyering for the Aboitizes shipping business in particular. Elamparo failed to do her homework. A costly blunder such as this could backfire on her boss, especially if the Lopezes take on this error hook, line and sinker.

(Image from http://abs-cbnnews.con/)

FUWA

The cuddly 'Beijing 2008 Olympics' mascots known as "Fuwa" could be toxic and dangerous to one's health. Chinese police have seized close to 30,000 counterfeit versions of the fluffy stuffed mascots, some made with toxic materials, in what appears to be one of the largest haul of fakes to date, the state-run Beijing News said recently. This is a warning to consumers to take care when purchasing the dolls to avoid any health risks. Over here, another health risk threatens the lives of Filipinos each day - a counterfeit president and a counterfeit administration, so toxic that people who work closely with her immediately develop a digestive illness called "daya-rhea."

(Image from http://xinhuanet.com/)

SI RAUL O SI GONZALEZ?

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez was recently sucking on the barrel of his gun when he accused CHR Chairman Leila de Lima of undue haste and unfairness to some cops in concluding the Tanauan, Batangas killings by Task Force RCBC elements was a rubout or simply a summary execution. Gonzalez likewise was suffering from an acute verbal diarrhea when he said that the bank robbers-murderers should be subject to a "shoot to kill" order. Undue haste? But four people are dead! The PNP record of summary executions and the practice of using 'fall guys' is not a secret. Chairman de Lima was doing what was just right. So, why should Sec. Gonzalez be disappointed about de Lima's swift action? It is be Gonzalez who is guilty as hell for undue haste in clearing Proclamation 1017, in permitting CPR and E.O. 464, in orchestrating the raid on the editorial offices of Tribune, in filing charges against several opposition leaders, including the late Rep. Crispin Beltran. Chairman de Lima simply has set a good example of prompt action by a government agency, in contrary to Gonzalez' canine partisanship.

(Image from http://www.gmanews.tv/)

DID GSIS AWARD COMPUTERIZATION CONTRACT TO AN INTERNET CAFE?

My GSIS mole tells me that the GSIS may have awarded a contract to computerize its records to an internet cafe based in Cagayan de Oro. Now, if true, how is it that a multi-billion government financial institution, the fiduciary of millions of civil servants' hard-earned and forced savings, could possibly deal with a penny-ante company is once again an entry for the Guinness' Book of World Records, and possibly for Ripley's too! Well, it turns out that the controlling stockbroker of this internet cafe disguising as a software developer, is surnamed Fiel. Winston Garcia's middle name is Fiel. Coincidence?? Your guess is as good as mine. So, if the botched-up computerization deal has messed up the lives of hundreds of thousands of GSIS members, blame it on Fiel and Fiel-Garcia. Apparently, the former pretends to be an expert on computer systems, and the latter wants us to believe that he is God's gift to the science of management.

(Image from http://pia.gov.ph)

GLORIA AND DUBYA: TWIN SCOUNDRELS

Let's take a closer look at Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and George Walker Bush.

- Both are children of past presidents.
- Their first term presidencies were decided by a Supreme Court.
- Their second terms were marked with fraud. (Gloria in Mindanao, Dubya in Ohio)
- Both are extremely unpopular and hated by their fellowmen, as evidenced by poor approval and trust ratings.
- Both are war freaks but preach peace as they send soldiers to the battlefields.
- Both run their respective governments through propaganda, deceit and cover-ups at the expense of morality and truth.
- Both have paid 'wind-up dolls' in disguise as spokespersons lying through their teeth.

(Image from http://www.whitehouse.gov/)

MYANMAR'S GENERALS ARE DEAF AND DUMB

One month after Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar and claimed thousands of Burmese lives, its leadership under heartless General Than Shwe (and his fellow generals) still closes its country's doors to international aid. Over a million of its citizens to this day have not yet received any form of aid, while US ships wait nearby for any breakthrough in its internal policies. The US State Department claims it has made more than fifteen (15) official attempts to convince Myanmar's leaders to allow aid to be given to its starving and dying citizens. Had its leaders allowed international relief goods into its shores and airports, more Burmese people would surely be alive now. But their cruelty and sheer disregard for innocent lives continue to this day, and their corruption within their ranks make them one of the most corrupt military-state in the world, occupying similar rankings with our very own AFP. I just wonder, did Major-General Jovito 'The Butcher' Palparan Jr. learn soldiery under Burmese military schools?

(Image from http://mensa-barbie.com)