Thumbs down for Mrs. Arroyo
A protester kicks a poster of Mrs.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo showing the contempt the Filipino people has for its bogus president
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Transcript of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's statement on the issue of the tape recordings
(from www.ops.gov.ph), June 27, 2005)
Mga Minamahal kong Kababayan,
For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation; from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.
As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted.
I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel.
That said, let me tell you how I personally feel, I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I'm sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.
Nagagambala ako. Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono.//pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos.// Pinana'gutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa at humuhingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala.
I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anti-corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history.
Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anti-corruption and lifestyle checks.
That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing.
I ask each and every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge One Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and where everyone has the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life.
Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability.
God Bless the Philippines.
(from www.ops.gov.ph), June 27, 2005)
Mga Minamahal kong Kababayan,
For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation; from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.
As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted.
I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel.
That said, let me tell you how I personally feel, I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I'm sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.
Nagagambala ako. Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono.//pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos.// Pinana'gutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa at humuhingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala.
I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anti-corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history.
Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anti-corruption and lifestyle checks.
That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing.
I ask each and every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge One Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and where everyone has the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life.
Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability.
God Bless the Philippines.
Monday, June 27, 2005
"Surviving GMA"
Unbelievable!!!
Looks like Madam Gloria might, MIGHT, survive the series of crisis that is hounding her administration.
The opposition and cause-oriented groups has already struck three times and she is still standing. Unfuckingbelievable!
Jueteng, came and gone, but still breathing . . .
Atty. Ong and San Carlos Seminary, a footnote to history . . .
Independence Day protests, fizzled like day old coke . . .
Last week's mega march, not Welcome in Manila . . .
Abat's planned march to Malacanang, Abat who? oh the "atras-abante" retired general . . . BADINGARZEE . . .
Sheesh, looks like the old adage stands true. "Matagal mamatay ang masamang damo"
But then again, I think it is high time to end this rigamorole and concentrate on what really is important.
Unbelievable!!!
Looks like Madam Gloria might, MIGHT, survive the series of crisis that is hounding her administration.
The opposition and cause-oriented groups has already struck three times and she is still standing. Unfuckingbelievable!
Jueteng, came and gone, but still breathing . . .
Atty. Ong and San Carlos Seminary, a footnote to history . . .
Independence Day protests, fizzled like day old coke . . .
Last week's mega march, not Welcome in Manila . . .
Abat's planned march to Malacanang, Abat who? oh the "atras-abante" retired general . . . BADINGARZEE . . .
Sheesh, looks like the old adage stands true. "Matagal mamatay ang masamang damo"
But then again, I think it is high time to end this rigamorole and concentrate on what really is important.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Legacy of Sin
Catholic devotees sign the guestbook at Jaime Cardinal Sin's wake held at the Manila Cathedral
Early Tuesday morning a dearly loved Philippine icon passed away. Jaime Cardinal Sin, 76, succumbed to a long time kidney ailment and suffered sepsis shock much like the one which claimed the life of his dear friend Pope John Paul II.
When Cardinal Sin spoke presidents, listened. When he summoned, people flocked. He was crucial to the Filipino's freedom and was central to the toppling of two presidents.
The Philippine political scene would not be the same without the firebrand known as Sin . . . .
Catholic devotees sign the guestbook at Jaime Cardinal Sin's wake held at the Manila Cathedral
Early Tuesday morning a dearly loved Philippine icon passed away. Jaime Cardinal Sin, 76, succumbed to a long time kidney ailment and suffered sepsis shock much like the one which claimed the life of his dear friend Pope John Paul II.
When Cardinal Sin spoke presidents, listened. When he summoned, people flocked. He was crucial to the Filipino's freedom and was central to the toppling of two presidents.
The Philippine political scene would not be the same without the firebrand known as Sin . . . .
Saturday, June 18, 2005
"For the one who led me from darkness . . . "
my light
All I Want is You
by U2
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want your story to remain untold.
All the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.
You say you'll give me a highway with no-one on it
Treasure, just to look upon it
All the riches in the night.
You say you'll give me eyes in the moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest.
All the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave
When all I need is you.
You say you want your love to work out right
To last with me through the night.
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold.
All the promises we break, from the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.
my light
All I Want is You
by U2
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want your story to remain untold.
All the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.
You say you'll give me a highway with no-one on it
Treasure, just to look upon it
All the riches in the night.
You say you'll give me eyes in the moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest.
All the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave
When all I need is you.
You say you want your love to work out right
To last with me through the night.
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold.
All the promises we break, from the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.
Friday, June 17, 2005
"Hello Garci . . ."
GMA "Liar and Cheat"
All over the metro, protests are mounting as Mrs. Arroyo kept her silence regarding the alleged wiretapped conversation between her and Comelec commissioner Virgilo Garcilliano to rig the 2004 elections.
It seems that Mrs. Arroyo is trapped in a damn if you, damn if you don't situation. If she admits that she was the person in the tapes then her presidency is a farce since it was begat by fraudulent means. If she denies that she was in the taped conversation, the masses won't believe her and most probably will mount more protests against her.
What to do, what to do? . . . .
GMA "Liar and Cheat"
All over the metro, protests are mounting as Mrs. Arroyo kept her silence regarding the alleged wiretapped conversation between her and Comelec commissioner Virgilo Garcilliano to rig the 2004 elections.
It seems that Mrs. Arroyo is trapped in a damn if you, damn if you don't situation. If she admits that she was the person in the tapes then her presidency is a farce since it was begat by fraudulent means. If she denies that she was in the taped conversation, the masses won't believe her and most probably will mount more protests against her.
What to do, what to do? . . . .
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
"Stalemate"
Malacanang may have been given a breather over the long weekend since the Samuel Ong affair has not generated the kind of people power response that followed the decision of the Senate not to open the second envelope during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada.
No throngs flocked to San Carlos Seminary where Ong sought refuge nor was there strong support from opposition figurehead Susan Roces whose husband was the direct victim of the alleged election fraud. At best, Roces was lukewarm to the whole affair and for that many Filipinos were grateful. Roces has in her power to appeal to the masses and inflame them to another popular uprising. At least one figure chose to remain level headed thru this sordid affair.
But as many well know, we are just in the opening moves of a very elaborate chess game with the future of the Republic of the Philippines as the stake.
At present the political situation is at a stalemate, with both sides waiting for the next big move.
Many expected Mrs. Arroyo to make a stand on the wiretapping issue during Independence Day but instead, she called for an end to "dirty politics".
Mrs. Arroyo should realize that the more that she evades the issue, the more she fans suspicions that it was she indeed in the tapes presented by Ong.
Already, two independent foreign voice analyzing companies have confirmed not only the authenticity of the tape, in that the conversations have not been edited or altered in any way, but also that the voices have been identified as belonging to Mrs. Arroyo and COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
Garcillano’s continued disappearance adds to speculations that Malacañang does not want the conversation confirmed because that would further pin down Arroyo. Attempts to arrest Ong bolster his claim that Malacañang wants to silence him because he has more explosive evidence incriminating Arroyo.
Mrs. Arroyo has to handle the volatile issue very carefully lest it blows up in her face and she incurs the wrath of the people. As it is, the Philippines is quite near the boiling point.
The scandal over the so-called "Mother of all tapes" will continue to hound her unless she comes forward and honestly answers it. She owes it to the people who voted her into office, first and foremost, to explain about it.
At the end of the day, the political battle between the opposition and the administration would likely result with one side winning, and another side living to fight another day.
If Malacanang plays their cards right, Mrs. Arroyo might survive this latest assault to her presidency but the confidence of the people and perhaps the world community would be seriously compromised.
The losses in the local currency and the stock market would be difficult to recover and the confidence of the international investment community would again be nearly impossible to regain.
A strong republic is what Mrs. Arroyo wanted, but a stong republic requires an equally strong leader which sadly she is proving to be wanting.
Malacanang may have been given a breather over the long weekend since the Samuel Ong affair has not generated the kind of people power response that followed the decision of the Senate not to open the second envelope during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada.
No throngs flocked to San Carlos Seminary where Ong sought refuge nor was there strong support from opposition figurehead Susan Roces whose husband was the direct victim of the alleged election fraud. At best, Roces was lukewarm to the whole affair and for that many Filipinos were grateful. Roces has in her power to appeal to the masses and inflame them to another popular uprising. At least one figure chose to remain level headed thru this sordid affair.
But as many well know, we are just in the opening moves of a very elaborate chess game with the future of the Republic of the Philippines as the stake.
At present the political situation is at a stalemate, with both sides waiting for the next big move.
Many expected Mrs. Arroyo to make a stand on the wiretapping issue during Independence Day but instead, she called for an end to "dirty politics".
Mrs. Arroyo should realize that the more that she evades the issue, the more she fans suspicions that it was she indeed in the tapes presented by Ong.
Already, two independent foreign voice analyzing companies have confirmed not only the authenticity of the tape, in that the conversations have not been edited or altered in any way, but also that the voices have been identified as belonging to Mrs. Arroyo and COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
Garcillano’s continued disappearance adds to speculations that Malacañang does not want the conversation confirmed because that would further pin down Arroyo. Attempts to arrest Ong bolster his claim that Malacañang wants to silence him because he has more explosive evidence incriminating Arroyo.
Mrs. Arroyo has to handle the volatile issue very carefully lest it blows up in her face and she incurs the wrath of the people. As it is, the Philippines is quite near the boiling point.
The scandal over the so-called "Mother of all tapes" will continue to hound her unless she comes forward and honestly answers it. She owes it to the people who voted her into office, first and foremost, to explain about it.
At the end of the day, the political battle between the opposition and the administration would likely result with one side winning, and another side living to fight another day.
If Malacanang plays their cards right, Mrs. Arroyo might survive this latest assault to her presidency but the confidence of the people and perhaps the world community would be seriously compromised.
The losses in the local currency and the stock market would be difficult to recover and the confidence of the international investment community would again be nearly impossible to regain.
A strong republic is what Mrs. Arroyo wanted, but a stong republic requires an equally strong leader which sadly she is proving to be wanting.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Huli ka na!
"Buking"
Buking ka na Gloria kaya baba na.
A caricature of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo depicts her alleged wiretapped phone call to COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano implicating them in election fraud last May. Opposition members, militant groups and the clergy staged a prayer rally on Saturday at Liwasang Bonifacio to signinify a "national day of mourning" due to massive corruption in the government and the alleged vote padding that happened last elections.
Tsk, tsk, seems GMA is hanging by her very fingernails in this latest controversy.
One saving grace she has right now is that no identifiable figure has emerged which the people can rally behind.
Noli de Castro. . . he does not have the confidence of the people much more the politicians and in any case I don't think anybody would want the country ruled by ABS-CBN.
FPJ . . . he's dead, dipshit.
Susan Roces . . . hmm, nah, don't think she has the force of will to rally the politicians behind her. darling of the people, yes at the moment, untested definitely.
Erap . . . kill me now why don't you.
Senate President Franklin Drilon . . . only logical choice as of the moment, but he must concede the position by calling a snap election as soon as possible lest he incur the wrath of the people.
So there "Gloria-gate" is just entering its first phase and definitely more will break in the following weeks.
Interesting, these times are . . .
"Buking"
Buking ka na Gloria kaya baba na.
A caricature of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo depicts her alleged wiretapped phone call to COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano implicating them in election fraud last May. Opposition members, militant groups and the clergy staged a prayer rally on Saturday at Liwasang Bonifacio to signinify a "national day of mourning" due to massive corruption in the government and the alleged vote padding that happened last elections.
Tsk, tsk, seems GMA is hanging by her very fingernails in this latest controversy.
One saving grace she has right now is that no identifiable figure has emerged which the people can rally behind.
Noli de Castro. . . he does not have the confidence of the people much more the politicians and in any case I don't think anybody would want the country ruled by ABS-CBN.
FPJ . . . he's dead, dipshit.
Susan Roces . . . hmm, nah, don't think she has the force of will to rally the politicians behind her. darling of the people, yes at the moment, untested definitely.
Erap . . . kill me now why don't you.
Senate President Franklin Drilon . . . only logical choice as of the moment, but he must concede the position by calling a snap election as soon as possible lest he incur the wrath of the people.
So there "Gloria-gate" is just entering its first phase and definitely more will break in the following weeks.
Interesting, these times are . . .
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
"Jueteng"-gate
Self-confessed jueteng operators Wilfredo “Boy Bicol” Mayor, Richard “RJ” Garcia, and Demosthenes “Abe” Riva dropped a veritable time bomb when they testified in a joint hearing by two Senate committees looking into the illegal numbers game.
They implicated legislators, top police officials, Manila and provincial based journalists and some members of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s family.
High on the list was her son Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, whom they called the “Lion King”. Also mentioned were First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his brother Representative Iggy “Jose Pidal” Arroyo. They said that jueteng operators need the “attorney from Malacañang’s” blessing.
As expected, the personalities named by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz’s witness strongly denied the accusations. So, what else is new?
Of course they will deny ever dipping their hands in illegal gambling, but the word is out and here in the Philippines rumors and scandals do spread very fast.
The witnesses admitted that they did not see the big fishes themselves receive the money. They said it was their bagmen that they dealt with. Legally speaking,
their statements are pure hearsay...for now.
And seemingly to get the people’s mind off the jueteng controversy, a new bombshell has been released by Malacañang.
Malacañang says that it has intercepted an alleged tape of a telephone conversation or series of conversations between President Arroyo and her husband, on one end, and an election operative named Gary on the other. The conversations are said to
broadly hint at the massaging of the election returns from areas where Fernando Poe Jr. gave Gloria a drubbing.
Malacañang said the tape was faked and even provided copies to the media. It added the spliced tape signals the shift to high gear of the opposition campaign to
drive President Arroyo out of office. Strangely, opposition leaders said they had never heard about the tape until Malacañang itself announced its existence.
President Arroyo’s administration is indeed in very rocky grounds as evidenced by the recent opinion poll on which she received a -33% rating, the lowest a president has received since 1986. And we all know what happened during that year.
The people will always believe the worst about President Arroyo. And it’s not that the accusations of cheating are something new or the fact that her immediate family has been implicated in juicy scandals before.
It is ironic that jueteng toppled the Erap administration and put President Arroyo into power and now it seems that jueteng has come back in a big way to haunt her.
The Philippines and perhaps the world community now wait with bated breath the next sordid tale of our President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s telenovela.
Self-confessed jueteng operators Wilfredo “Boy Bicol” Mayor, Richard “RJ” Garcia, and Demosthenes “Abe” Riva dropped a veritable time bomb when they testified in a joint hearing by two Senate committees looking into the illegal numbers game.
They implicated legislators, top police officials, Manila and provincial based journalists and some members of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s family.
High on the list was her son Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, whom they called the “Lion King”. Also mentioned were First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his brother Representative Iggy “Jose Pidal” Arroyo. They said that jueteng operators need the “attorney from Malacañang’s” blessing.
As expected, the personalities named by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz’s witness strongly denied the accusations. So, what else is new?
Of course they will deny ever dipping their hands in illegal gambling, but the word is out and here in the Philippines rumors and scandals do spread very fast.
The witnesses admitted that they did not see the big fishes themselves receive the money. They said it was their bagmen that they dealt with. Legally speaking,
their statements are pure hearsay...for now.
And seemingly to get the people’s mind off the jueteng controversy, a new bombshell has been released by Malacañang.
Malacañang says that it has intercepted an alleged tape of a telephone conversation or series of conversations between President Arroyo and her husband, on one end, and an election operative named Gary on the other. The conversations are said to
broadly hint at the massaging of the election returns from areas where Fernando Poe Jr. gave Gloria a drubbing.
Malacañang said the tape was faked and even provided copies to the media. It added the spliced tape signals the shift to high gear of the opposition campaign to
drive President Arroyo out of office. Strangely, opposition leaders said they had never heard about the tape until Malacañang itself announced its existence.
President Arroyo’s administration is indeed in very rocky grounds as evidenced by the recent opinion poll on which she received a -33% rating, the lowest a president has received since 1986. And we all know what happened during that year.
The people will always believe the worst about President Arroyo. And it’s not that the accusations of cheating are something new or the fact that her immediate family has been implicated in juicy scandals before.
It is ironic that jueteng toppled the Erap administration and put President Arroyo into power and now it seems that jueteng has come back in a big way to haunt her.
The Philippines and perhaps the world community now wait with bated breath the next sordid tale of our President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s telenovela.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
What’s so bad about “jueteng” anyway?
“Jueteng” for the uninformed is a grassroots numbers game being played almost all over the Philippines. The bank pays out 80 centavos for every peso that is bet. Pagcor's roulette, which is also stacked against the player with its zero and double zero, offers better odds, but only a tad better.
“Jueteng” gained infamy when it toppled the Estrada administration. “Jueteng” payola is once again in the limelight, dragging with it the names of members of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s family.
Some say that it is a boon for the Filipino poor while others say that it is a social evil, the root of corruption in the Philippines.
For the poor a peso can buy dreams of winning Php800 which can go a long way to supplement a family’s meager income. Critics, however, condemn “jueteng” as nothing but a criminal racket that victimizes the poor, co-opts police, bribes officials, perverts elections and threatens or kills those who oppose it.
Plunking a peso or two certainly won't rend the moral fabric of a bettor, after all for many “jueteng” is just a diversion, a means to easy money. But it is the web of corruption that the illegal numbers game spawns that is the problem. And we are seeing it now.
The police are corrupted. Local officials are corrupted. Even national officials, if we are to believe Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, are on the take. Come to think of it, even the Catholic church admits to receiving donations from any source, even “jueteng” lords.
The Philippines has been a buzz with the constant rumors that the President’s family are on the take from the illegal gambling racket and that Pres. Arroyo herself received campaign contributions from known big time “jueteng” operators.
From a different viewpoint, it is quite easy for the government to stop “jueteng,” after all the big time operators are well known and one even resides in Arroyo’s hometown in Pampanga. But it is the big and relatively easy money that is earned from illegal gambling that is too hard to resist. “Jueteng” payolas are much larger than a civil servants pitiful salary and all they have to do is turn a blind eye to the illegal gambling racket. So the better approach should be obvious: remove the corrupting aspect of "jueteng" and the problem will solve itself.
There had been many attempts to legalize the numbers game in the past but all ultimately failed, probably due to the fact that the payolas would certainly be cut. But it can be done and legalization can be a means to an end to stem corruption.
Moral pundits say that gambling is a sin. So be it. It remains a sin whether it's legal or illegal. It's the corruption spawned by illegal gambling that worries us. After all Lotto and the sweepstakes are legal and it is a form of gambling, so why not “jueteng?”
“Jueteng” for the uninformed is a grassroots numbers game being played almost all over the Philippines. The bank pays out 80 centavos for every peso that is bet. Pagcor's roulette, which is also stacked against the player with its zero and double zero, offers better odds, but only a tad better.
“Jueteng” gained infamy when it toppled the Estrada administration. “Jueteng” payola is once again in the limelight, dragging with it the names of members of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s family.
Some say that it is a boon for the Filipino poor while others say that it is a social evil, the root of corruption in the Philippines.
For the poor a peso can buy dreams of winning Php800 which can go a long way to supplement a family’s meager income. Critics, however, condemn “jueteng” as nothing but a criminal racket that victimizes the poor, co-opts police, bribes officials, perverts elections and threatens or kills those who oppose it.
Plunking a peso or two certainly won't rend the moral fabric of a bettor, after all for many “jueteng” is just a diversion, a means to easy money. But it is the web of corruption that the illegal numbers game spawns that is the problem. And we are seeing it now.
The police are corrupted. Local officials are corrupted. Even national officials, if we are to believe Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, are on the take. Come to think of it, even the Catholic church admits to receiving donations from any source, even “jueteng” lords.
The Philippines has been a buzz with the constant rumors that the President’s family are on the take from the illegal gambling racket and that Pres. Arroyo herself received campaign contributions from known big time “jueteng” operators.
From a different viewpoint, it is quite easy for the government to stop “jueteng,” after all the big time operators are well known and one even resides in Arroyo’s hometown in Pampanga. But it is the big and relatively easy money that is earned from illegal gambling that is too hard to resist. “Jueteng” payolas are much larger than a civil servants pitiful salary and all they have to do is turn a blind eye to the illegal gambling racket. So the better approach should be obvious: remove the corrupting aspect of "jueteng" and the problem will solve itself.
There had been many attempts to legalize the numbers game in the past but all ultimately failed, probably due to the fact that the payolas would certainly be cut. But it can be done and legalization can be a means to an end to stem corruption.
Moral pundits say that gambling is a sin. So be it. It remains a sin whether it's legal or illegal. It's the corruption spawned by illegal gambling that worries us. After all Lotto and the sweepstakes are legal and it is a form of gambling, so why not “jueteng?”
Friday, June 03, 2005
Pres. Arroyo's ratings plunges to record low
Lowest ratings ever? Keber!
Amid allegations of massive goverment corruption, rising prices, high taxes, and ties linking her immediate family to "jueteng," Arroyo's ratings have plunged to a record low.
According to a recent SWS opinion poll, Pres. Arroyo's ratings have plunged to a record low of -33%. The lowest ever since 1986 . . and we all know what happened durng that year.
And take this, GMA wants to hold a constitutional convention by next year in order to put into motion the change to a parliamentary government. Afraid, this one is . . .
Yup, keep it up GMA. Interesting times are surely ahead.
Lowest ratings ever? Keber!
Amid allegations of massive goverment corruption, rising prices, high taxes, and ties linking her immediate family to "jueteng," Arroyo's ratings have plunged to a record low.
According to a recent SWS opinion poll, Pres. Arroyo's ratings have plunged to a record low of -33%. The lowest ever since 1986 . . and we all know what happened durng that year.
And take this, GMA wants to hold a constitutional convention by next year in order to put into motion the change to a parliamentary government. Afraid, this one is . . .
Yup, keep it up GMA. Interesting times are surely ahead.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
WAGE HIKE?!?
A P25.00 (US$0.50) wage hike? Get real Pres. Arroyo!
I don't know who Pres. Arroyo is kidding, but a P25 wage hike is just insulting. I mean what would P25 buy at present prices. It's barely enough for transport fare for most workers.
No wonder the cream of our talents are contemplating on migrating or at least working in another country.
Sigh . . . . .
A P25.00 (US$0.50) wage hike? Get real Pres. Arroyo!
I don't know who Pres. Arroyo is kidding, but a P25 wage hike is just insulting. I mean what would P25 buy at present prices. It's barely enough for transport fare for most workers.
No wonder the cream of our talents are contemplating on migrating or at least working in another country.
Sigh . . . . .
WOL-PUWIT!
Kiss our collective butts, World Bank!
Dumb, dumber, dumbest is the best way to describe US Pres. George Bush's decisions.
Take for instance the recent appointment of Dr. Paul Wolfowitz as the president of the world's most influential financial institution, the World Bank.
For those not in the know, Wolfwowitz was one of the primary planners for the US led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wolfowitz also served as the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and was crucial to the escape of Pres. Marcos during the 1986.
As it stands, Wolfowitz is very close to the family of Bushy-bushbush.
I mean, the guy is primarily a military planner and not a financial person. Giving the reigns of the World Bank would only give Bush a means to wage another kind of warfare on those he deems are against him. Financialy breaking a nation is deemed more disastrous then physically destroying it.
Gives whole new meaning to Papa Bush's "If you are not with me, then you are against me."
Sheesh . .
Kiss our collective butts, World Bank!
Dumb, dumber, dumbest is the best way to describe US Pres. George Bush's decisions.
Take for instance the recent appointment of Dr. Paul Wolfowitz as the president of the world's most influential financial institution, the World Bank.
For those not in the know, Wolfwowitz was one of the primary planners for the US led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wolfowitz also served as the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and was crucial to the escape of Pres. Marcos during the 1986.
As it stands, Wolfowitz is very close to the family of Bushy-bushbush.
I mean, the guy is primarily a military planner and not a financial person. Giving the reigns of the World Bank would only give Bush a means to wage another kind of warfare on those he deems are against him. Financialy breaking a nation is deemed more disastrous then physically destroying it.
Gives whole new meaning to Papa Bush's "If you are not with me, then you are against me."
Sheesh . .
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