In the latest mind-numbing sequel to this train wreck of an “anti-corruption campaign, Aquino applies the tricks picked up from the media training. Thus, instead of asking the Ombudsman to resign, Aquino’s idiot squad is making the rounds rallying more idiots make the call for the Ombudsman’s resignation on their behalf.
Trial by Publicity Makes a Mockery of the Laws of the Philippines
If Aquino and his idiots have a beef with the Ombudsman, then bring it to an impeachment trial. Aquino’s idiots should establish a prima facie evidence, convict, and impeach Mercedita Gutierrez based on the Constitution.
ARTICLE XI – ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS
Section 2. The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.
First Things First – Build An Air-Tight Case
This trial by publicity on Mercedita Gutierrez shows plain immaturity and lack of investigative skills of Aquino’s investigators. If you have an air-tight case, even the Ombudsman will have no recourse to follow suit.
The investigators can also build a case against the Ombudsman if they believe the Ombudsman is in collusion with former President Arroyo. Let the chips fall where it may.
Let justice take its course. Let the evidence be shown to the public under the principles of due process – not under the sway of an infantile pandering Philippine media that has become Aquino’s doormat.
Note that for all of Aquino’s concern about the Ombudsman – it is just one piece of the puzzle because the Ombudsman’s decisions are subject to review of the Court of Appeals – and can be overturned by the court.
It follows then that the Court of Appeals decision can still be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
So, Aquino’s fiddling about the Ombudsman is plain BS. His legal team’s strategy for winning is to make the Ombudsman resign instead of building air-tight cases – what a bunch of morons.
Media ought to provide clarity on the issues – not muddle it
The media hype involving all these “investigations” is no longer credible. Today’s Philippine media has become a smokescreen of misinformation – a decoy for the public to snap up while the real deal is being cooked elsewhere. Heck, for all we know, playing up the anti-Arroyo rhetoric is a good cover to drown the calls about the Hacienda Luisita Massacre.
Instead of coming up with conspiracy theories – media should single out what specifically were the facts that showed Arroyo committed violations.
It is one thing to say Arroyo is corrupt, it is another thing to show facts: – when, where, how much, who were involved, what mechanisms were involved. Without these facts, media and the Aquino administration are violating the fundamental tenets of the Philippine justice system – “innocent, until proven guilty”.
Unless of course, the Philippines has turned French – where the norm is “guilty, until proven innocent”.
Aquino should be role model for following the rule of law – not circumventing it
How can people have respect for the rule of law when Aquino and his men are trampling the very constitution they consider “sacred”? That doesn’t make them any different from Arroyo at all.
Aquino and his idiots trampled on it – first with the position of CJ Corona – and, now, the position of the Ombudsman. They need to learn to distinguish between the person holding the position and the institution that the position represents. Is this how we are going to govern – govern by publicity? Aquino’s governance is so retarded.
The 1987 Constitution has prescribed processes – follow it. You can’t just follow one part – and reject another. If it were so, that sure tells you a lot about the Constitution – it is an effin piece of paper that needs to be shred and a new one created.
McCarthyism is alive in the Philippines this time under the banner of “anti-corruption” – by the very people who come from a landlord class that has corruption written into their genes. This is a comedy of hypocrisy of epic proportions.
Approach to Ombudsman and Anti-corruption shows Aquino Administration’s Propensity for Ineffectiveness and Selective Amnesia
Starting off with the botched memo, to the Boy Abunda thingie, to CJ Corona, to Gen Bangit, and now the Ombudsman – the Aquino administration is a train wreck – and the wreck will just get larger in the next six years.
That’s the problem with electing an incompetent administration. These people are learning their job – at taxpayer’s expense. They don’t know how to handle the media – so they take media training at taxpayer’s expense. So when will these guys actually learn how to govern? After they have taken all the seminars?
Meanwhile, we have more pressing issues to take care of – for one developing the economy – we now have the reputation of being one of the worst places for foreign investors ; we also need the passing a stronger Freedom of Information Act.
And speaking of priorities – we are off to another investigation when we haven’t even gotten to the bottom of the following:
1- Who really killed Ninoy
2- Who ordered the killing of Ninoy
3- Why isn’t the mastermind in jail, yet?
4- What really happened during the Hacienda Luisita Massacre?
5- Why haven’t the victims of the massacre been given justice yet?
Where’s the Truth? Selective amnesia anyone?
Expanded Accountability Rules Will Help in the Anti-Corruption Campaign
Which brings another point – amending the constitution to allow recall of congressmen and senators. These senators and congressmen have been getting a free ride for too long and are among the least accountable of all public officials.
Our Congressmen and Senators virtually don’t pass laws at all – they should be held accountable if they are not able to do their job – via recall. The constitutional provision that “All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment” is a cop-out and gives Congressmen and Senators a free pass to not show up to pass laws, to “fiscalize” without coming up with quantifiable results of what was “fiscalized”.
Epilogue
Just when you think it couldn’t get worse – it does.
The Philippines is SNAFU – Situation Normal, All F’cked up.
His advocacies include education and and the environment. BongV is a founding trustee of READ Philippines, Inc - a tax-exempt, non-profit organization registered in the State of Florida and recognized as a charitable organication under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code -. He is also a trustee of the Kinasang'an Foundation (KSFI). KSFI is the community service arm of the family-owned Shimric Beach Farm a best environmental practices World Wildlife Fund-Philippines awardee.
His initial entry into politics started in high school, after an Arrest Search and Seizure Order (ASSO) was slapped against his father who at that time was undergoing training in reconstructive surgery in San Francisco's Bothin Burns Center. He was in the frontlines in the 80s as Chairman of LFS-AdDU, and subsequently LFS-Davao City Secretary General. His militant views underwent a transformation after working as an investment promotions officer (later on Division Chief of the Investment Generation and Project Development Division of the Davao Investment Promotion Center) - a project of the Davao City LGU, USAID, and the Phil Exporters Confederation-XI- with the goal of achieving an economic turnaround for Davao City based on the growth of investments, trade, and services.
He opted out of medical school, after finishing BS Biology from the Ateneo de Davao University. Instead he dove into IT consulting/freelancing as a system integrator and developer. BongV is a certified Professional Logistics Specialist and is a member of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics. He is currently working on his advanced certification in supply chain management at the University of North Florida
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The Filipino was worth dying for. Even if they are not going to avenge you.
http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1020/Justice_Is_Not_Only_Blind_Its_Lame_
[Reply]
Hyden Toro Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
“The Filipinos are worth dying for.” ; a sure way to fulfill your Mesiahnic complex. How about the tenants who were massacred, demonstrating against the Hacienda Luisita? They also died for the majority of Filipinos; who are suffering peasants. Did they die for a worthy cause ? Just trying to own a parcel of land,owned by Noynoy Aquino; and live with dignity as human beings. They were killed for this cause.
I remember to had read in the History of our country; during the time of Pres. Quezon. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, was then the Chief of the Pilippine Commonwealth Armed Forces. There was a serious “HUK” Rebellion. Gen. MacArthur refused to send the Philippine Army against the “HUKs.” Citing and stating to Pres. Quezon directly: ” If I would had been a Filipino Peasant. I would be a HUK also.”
[Reply]
ulong pare Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
… daaang
… “FLIPS ARE WORTH DYING FOR”…
… come here, i’ll help you reach your goal… i’ll make sure y’all are dead…
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It sure helps in an anti-corruption platform to show that you’re above the law made by the people of your own mother.
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the new DILG guy from Naga is cut from the same cloth with his “…
guilty until proven innocent” pronouncement.
DILG to small town lottery operators: Prove legality of activities
By Cet Dematera (The Philippine Star) July 12, 2010 LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Newly appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday called on operators of small town lottery (STL) and other state-sponsored gambling schemes in the country to prove that their operations are legal.
Robredo’s order came as the DILG prepared for a renewed campaign against illegal gambling, particularly jueteng.
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Pinapaikot lang ni Noynoy and mga utak ng mamayan. Where did that wangWang item come from anyway?!
There are many items more important than wangWang. Like better books and better school buildings. Noynoy campaigned on education being an important piece of his platform, but he got people all excited about wangWang while he says zero about constructing more school buildings or addressing the issue of better books.
Noynoy just does that media-trick of making a small issue important so the citizens forget about a bigger issue. So now, people are getting excited again about jueteng. Good deflection so people don’t ask what Noynoy will do about media-killings.
[Reply]
ulong pare Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
… daaang
… dante r naman naman namannn…
… what are you talking about “UTAK NG MAMAYAN”?
… flips do not posses UTAK…
… test: look at flip’s left/right ear, you can see a light coming thru it…
… shake a flip head, it’s hollow… my buko has more meat…
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This is the problem of people who gained power by: (1) Mob EDSA mentality. (2) Demonizing their opponents.(3) Using the fellow Oligarch’s Media to promote their political agendas. and (4) Deluding people with the many impossible promises.
We are a Nation of Laws, not of mobs. We have to go to Courts to prove our cases. See, if the cases will stand under the due process of law. Even if, our Judicial system is twisted. They have to go to the process of Impeachment, if they have a good case against the Ombudsman Justice. Because, they cannot fire her, like Gen. Bangit. They resort to Demonizing her and Pres. Arroyo.
Meanwhile, our economy is in nose dive. Our population and slums are growing like mushrooms, by leaps and bound. And this President is not even concerned? He is there trying to remove all who are deemed against him. Put his own people. He cannot even work, with his Vice President Binay. This President has difficulty working with people. This is what you get, when you elect an incompetent President.
Where is his promise to create jobs? Just a lip service to the jobless Filipinos? If he will not watch out, people will do a reverse EDSA . To oust him. He will then taste the douse of his own medicine. What an imbecile man!
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Noynoy seems to be going about consolidating power the classical Machiavellian way — eliminating all his enemies. Problem is he is too limp-d1cked to do it in the same way real tyrants did and too bratty to do it through the system.
His weapons of choice are (1) snubbing — like what he did to CJ Corona, and (2) people power “ocho-ocho” movements such as what he is now trying to incite against Gutierrez.
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I’m surprised that you are surprised with President Aquino’s methodology. Intimidation is the rule of the road for anyone with power, in this culture. The act of getting the Ombudsman out is consistent with the pre-election focus on corruption, and if the American tried and true method of “jawboning” accelerates the Man’s activities in this regard, who cares?
I rather think those with axes to grind wield them a little wildly at times.
If the justice process worked, follow the legal process. Certainly the rule of law ought to hold. But here it is a mockery. If it takes 5 years to get a case resolved, short-cut the real idiocy by intimidation. Okay by me if it gets the real idiot, the Ombudsman, out of office on her ear or any other piece of the anatomy that bounces well.
Meanwhile, get the courts up to speed. Double Judiciary’s budget.
[Reply]
Joe America Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
And getting any kind of removal done through a Congress stacked with carnival clowns is likely fruitless. I’m referring to wives of dictators, former Presidents, boxers and a bunch of people who know the right people but could never define Public Trust . . .
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
If it takes five years to get a law resolved – then Congress ought to impeach the Supreme Court Justice – but it has no balls – same as Noynoy’s men – selective amnesia – until the settle Hacienda Luisita equitably – Aquino’s talk of anti-corruption is plain BULL SH I T.
[Reply]
miriam quiamco Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I agree, Hacienda Luisita is a far bigger corruption case than GMA, not only that involves billions of pesos in value, it is obviously stolen from the real owners, but the oligarchs were able to circumvent the law, there is obvious manipulation of the judiciary here, this has to be investigated if we want our courts to start functioning for the common good. Hacienda Luisita is a symbolic disease of our underdevelopment, and why we are the only agricultural country in Asia that is a rice improter. The workers on the sugar hacienda estates are kept on the cycle of poverty.
Joe, you ought to be outraged by this glaring symbol of social injustice in the country that is tolerated by the powers that be. If they really are into correcting corruption, they ought to strengthen the office of the ombudsman, but first of all not using the current head a pawn in their bankrutp agenda of revenge, but changing the rules and getting the head appointed not by the president but by a group with broader accountability.
Aquino’s way is counter-productive to say the least.
[Reply]
Mike H Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Ombudsman Gutierrez is calling Noynoy’s yackety-yackety bluff, reminding Malacanang that …” Like many constitutional officials, the Ombudsman has a fixed term and can be removed only by impeachment,” Gutierrez said in a nationally televised press conference in her office. “The Constitution enumerates the specific grounds for impeachment. Alleged closeness to the appointing authority is not one of them,” she said.
Noynoy may have to do an EDSA
surge-the-gates against the Ombudsman, but first, he should do his surge-the-gates against Justice Corona.
[Reply]
miriam quiamco Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 1:07 am
Mike H. I suggest the yellow diehards over at FV should lead the surge at the gates of Ombudsman and the Supreme Court, since the surge at Malacanang gates did not happen. . .
[Reply]
As I prepare to mosey on down the road, which is muddy today for all the rain, thanks to that dastardly intertropical conversion zone that has been hanging about and giving us some much-needed water that will be allowed to run off into the ocean instead of stored for the next dry season, I reflect that it is possible for brilliant minds to argue any point well.
For example, one could certainly choose between who is the greater idiot, President Aquino or the Ombudsman. Which has done more for the Philippines? Which has done her utmost to do the least?
The choice to continue the unending rant against President Aquino strikes me as intellectually weak.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Aquino’s solution is weak. He is unable to build a case beyond reasonable doubt. They ought to take a lesson from the capture of Al Capone – slllllllllooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww deserves a WWWWHHHACCCCKKKKKKK!!!!
[Reply]
miriam quiamco Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Joe, AP is providing balance to FV’s undending cowardice and genuflection before the altar of the Aquinos, don’t tell me you are getting swayed by your wife’s opinions which are obviously uninformed.
[Reply]
Before I cast the argument, here is a thought you should bear in mind.
I think BongV is representative of that type of talent that the Philippines needs in charge of its government agencies. Bright, pragmatic, well organized, amazingly productive, decisive, and holds little patience for incompetence. He could take any Philippine government agency and turn it into a model of value-creation and modern-day achievement. It would take at least a year or two, I would guess, to root out all the rot without having the building collapse in the process. And I would certainly grant him the latitude to do what he needed to do, in whatever way he chose, to get it done.
So I can’t comprehend why this fine talent is busy spitting into the wind for distance. When Ms. Arroyo was in charge, a rant. When President Aquino is in charge, a rant.
Oh, I understand this AP premise that Filipinos are fundamentally flawed when it comes to getting anything done right, so it is perfectly consistent to rag on any Filipino any where, any time. And these old-school oligarchs and family icons are big fat targets. I’ve been known to do some ragging myself.
But when does goal of bringing down the President become, well, just like what the the President is being blamed for? Intimidation and words that spin from an axe being ground?
Who is the greater villain? The Ombudsman, the head of the government agency in charge of stopping government corruption under the extraordinarily corrupt Arroyo regime, or the new President who has been on his job less than a month? A President who, like Obama, is indeed learning on the job, for there is absolutely nowhere to train for the relentless demands of the only desk in the Philippines were all the bucks, or pesos, stop.
For the life of me, I can’t grasp what is to be gained by choosing, with intent, to bring down the President. And to overlook the real villains in the doing.
The Ombudsman is a joke, a caricature of the pompous and incompetent old-school Filipinos who got into power by trading favors. Get rid of her any way as quickly as possible. And praise whoever can get it done; ridding government agencies of people who LIVE the trading of favors that underpins corruption is a proper top priority. Who gives a rat’s ass about the method, if it is not illegal?
I understand the burr under the saddle, the Hacienda. Set it aside and write about this ombudsman issue on its own merits. Then return to to the Hacienda with a set of recommended actions for President Aquino.
They are separate issues and the one ought not be allowed to bleed into the other. And the President ought not be judged by any single issue, or pre-judged by history, but by the sum of all his actions at the end of a reasonable period of time in office.
Anything else smacks of grinding axes, not problem-solving.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
These are not two separate issues. Hacienda Luisita and land reform is the litmus test of Aquino’s regime. How can you be talkingabout social justice for all when you cannot even clean your own effin backyard – Credibility Joe… Credibility. Just like his performance in the Senate – NOTHING.
His mother failed before. He has the opportunity to set things right – now that he is President. It could have been Gordon or Perlas but that’s moot and academic. Noynoy is in-charge – therefore the buck stops with Noynoy. You, Joe, as an American should know that. As a soldier you understand the chain of command – it ends with the commander-in-chief – Noynoy.
As for moi – I have done my time, paid my dues with the Davao LGU, – been there done that $1B in three years, ghost writer for the entire LGU – from mayor to councilor to ensure the message of Davao was on point – and what did we get – our office was shut down- NO THANKS TO AN UNGRATEFUL CITIZENRY. Fu*cking politicians.
I sit on the directorship of a non-profit and a cooperative that undertakes community development projects in Mindanao – as well as a contractor for ODA because government agencies cant be trusted to implement the program. Not to mention I raise funds for at least 10,000 students since the past three years. Since we are having a pissing contest – let’s get right to it.
So Joe, here’s a hanky – you have not only spit at the wind – you pissed on it – and guess what. it hit you right back in the face.
Cheers, thank you for flying AP
Having said that – new faces same old scripts – AP shouldn’t criticize the old script because the faces are new? C’mon Joe..
[Reply]
miriam quiamco Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Joe, that is very kind of you to compare Aquino to Obama, their track records are completely different. Obama was a community organizer working to champion the rights of the downtrodden in his local community, Aquino was the dependent son of Cory and Ninoy, two democracy icons whose social and political stature made it certain all members of the family are automatically entitled to positions of privilege and power. And that is why N/A need not strive for anything either in his personal life or in his political career, he benefited a lot from being the son of the two revered Filipinos. Obama fought tooth and nail to advance the well-being of the blacks and the poor in general, he would certainly be offended by such an exploitative hacienda system and would work hard to get it resolved, if it were his family that is the culprit, he would be passively taking profits from such an outrageous symbol of exploitation. Aquino is nothing compared to Obama, he doesn’t have the strong convictions to defend the rights of the socially exploited which Obama is all about. Every time this comparison is brought up, I can’t help feeling goosebumps on my skin.
Aquino is learning to promote the agenda of revenge of LP, he does not have strong personal convictions on what is right or ethical, this country is going to focus on solving corruption by sacking the members of the Ombudsman, they might as well sack all the members of the judiciary who have been complicit in favoring the interests of the oligarchs, now, that is the proper thing to do. Aquino is bent on personalizing the corruption issue by making sure GMA gets convicted, well, tough luck, GMA can afford to hire the best lawyers, and the government is simply wasting resources better spent on looking at alternative sources of energy, how much money did PCGG waste and corrupted in all its years of retrieving the billions of dollars stolen by the Marcoses? Now, Aquino wants the convenient Nuclear power option to solve our energy needs when major countries are veering away from this, how has Thailand been able to meet its growing energy needs without shortages and resorting to nuclear energy source? He is obviously focusing on the wrong issues, revenge will not get this country anywhere. The Bush administration was far worse than Arroyo’s, and Obama has not wasted a single second going after the shenanigans of Bush/Cheney administration and instead put all the resources of the presidency into passing the universal health care bill which eventually got passed. This presidency is pursuing the wrong goals in solving corruption, giving orders to the DILG chielf to eliminate jueteng without understanding the socio-political structures behind jueteng will not get us anywhere.
[Reply]
typo: Obama would not take profits from such an exploitative system, the hacienda system.
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These people are learning their job – at taxpayer’s expense. They don’t know how to handle the media – so they take media training at taxpayer’s expense. So when will these guys actually learn how to govern? After they have taken all the seminars?
Well, he did say that “tayo ang boss nya”. Which he meant literally in corporate terms. Like a typical heavily accented call center newbie agent, the company that employed him is shouldering his training expenses. In this case, the company is named the Philippines.