YES, CORRUPTION CAUSES HUNGER
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:03:00 02/06/2009
European Union Ambassador Alistair MacDonald affirmed, during a forum, that corruption is a manifestation of poor governance as well as of the lack of transparent, accountable management and control systems. These symptoms are very visible in the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
MacDonald also said, "Corruption helps to promote hunger and fear and is a direct assault on human rights." [Read story]
A tourist need not stroll along Ayala Avenue, he can go near the Baclaran church and watch Badjao children with their "tambol" [drums] singing, "Ilabas niyo ang wallet n'yo, Ate, Kuya, kahit magkano basta galing sa puso n'yo." [Brother, sister, bring out your wallets, any amount will do as long as it comes from your heart.) Will Ms Arroyo's heart melt if she hears this plaintive song, begging for a few pesos more for food?
And what about the endless killings of media people, the countless enforced disappearances like the one that victimized the son of the late publisher-turned-farmer Joe Burgos, leaders of the Bayan Muna party-list group, and suspected operatives of the New People's Army?
And what about the billions of pesos stashed in the bank accounts of Arroyo cronies and allies? Thirty percent of the national budget of more than a trillion pesos for 2009 will go to their pockets. Think about it, this 30 percent in kickbacks can be spent instead for Badjao scholarships, relocation sites for displaced squatters, livelihood programs for laid-off overseas Filipino workers, and loans for small farmers so they can buy farm inputs and cushion the effect of the economic crisis.
I hope MacDonald's technical people will tell us Filipinos that we need a law punishing the corrupt with "death by firing squad."
MacDonald also said, "Corruption helps to promote hunger and fear and is a direct assault on human rights." [Read story]
A tourist need not stroll along Ayala Avenue, he can go near the Baclaran church and watch Badjao children with their "tambol" [drums] singing, "Ilabas niyo ang wallet n'yo, Ate, Kuya, kahit magkano basta galing sa puso n'yo." [Brother, sister, bring out your wallets, any amount will do as long as it comes from your heart.) Will Ms Arroyo's heart melt if she hears this plaintive song, begging for a few pesos more for food?
And what about the endless killings of media people, the countless enforced disappearances like the one that victimized the son of the late publisher-turned-farmer Joe Burgos, leaders of the Bayan Muna party-list group, and suspected operatives of the New People's Army?
And what about the billions of pesos stashed in the bank accounts of Arroyo cronies and allies? Thirty percent of the national budget of more than a trillion pesos for 2009 will go to their pockets. Think about it, this 30 percent in kickbacks can be spent instead for Badjao scholarships, relocation sites for displaced squatters, livelihood programs for laid-off overseas Filipino workers, and loans for small farmers so they can buy farm inputs and cushion the effect of the economic crisis.
I hope MacDonald's technical people will tell us Filipinos that we need a law punishing the corrupt with "death by firing squad."
ISIDRO C. VALENCIA,
Building 33, Room 022,
Bagong Lipunan Condominium,
Taguig City
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
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