Tell me something new. Corruption in the AFP? C’mon now it’s not a secret. What’s more circumspect is the timing – scraping the bottom of the barrel in pursuit of Arroyo. As if Arroyo is the only President who had to deal with these phenomenon. Unfortunately, we can’t drag Cory Aquino out of the grave to join Arroyo, Ramos, and Estrada answer the same allegations about these “traditions”. Frankly, this is old hat. The details may differ – but the it’s the same modus operandi – not just in the time of GMA, but dating all the way back to include earlier Philippine presidents, even Cory Aquino. It’s not only the AFP which is into this “tradition” in fact – it’s all the agencies of the government. Replace the “Chief of Staff” with “Cabinet Secretary”, generals with under secretaries, colonels with regional directors, majors with assistant regional directors, captains with provincial directors, lieutenants with bureau chiefs, soldiers with rank and file. The same thing can be said about LGUs – replace mayor/governor with “AFP Chief of Staff”, department heads and councilors with “generals”, barangay captains as “colonels”. The same thing can be said about Congress – replace Speaker of the House with “AFP Chief of Staff”, “Committee heads with “generals”, congressional/senate chiefs of staff as”colonels”. The same thing can be said about the PNP – replace Chief PNP with “AFP Chief of Staff”.. and you know the drill – just like jueteng lords and their PNP moles do. There’s enough headlines about all government agencies in the Philippines – national, local, congress, executive, legislative tilting the rules in their favor – tales of corruption that can be investigated till kingdom come – and without any results but another ratings-garnering story that favors the advertisers of ABS-CBN. Root Causes Why is it that newly minted idealistic young professionals turn into rabid thieves and ass lickers after being assimilated into the Philippine government’s apparatus? Plain and simple – 1) follow the leaders; and 2) if you can’t beat em, join them. How can officials who are supposed to protect the interests of the Republic are the very officials who are working against the citizenry? Why follow the leaders? Obviously if you don’t follow, you are out of a job. Why do leaders issue such self-serving demands? Because these leaders have to satisfy their constituents demand for patronage – or the leaders don’t get to play ball the second time around. A “leader” knows that if he does not donate to an envelope for Misis Philippines, or Miss Gay Philippines, or Mister Macho Philippines, or does not donate a “lechon” to an employees party – he is out of the running in the next elections. And we, citizens, expect “leaders’ to provide for items and commodities they can’t very well afford with their existing payscale. So where exactly are going to get the money? The tax coffers – where else, hello. That means – to provide for us, the “leaders” steal from us. Why then do we have to go to these leaders when we can provide for these ourselves or at least refrain from making such demands? Perhaps the citizenry needs to ask itself – what the hell were the citizens thinking when they elected officials of this nefarious caliber? If our intention was so that we can get more concessions at other citizens expense from government, we have to take a fair share of the blame. WE FILIPINOS, CHOSE THESE OFFICIALS, and at the end of the day – the buck stops with us – a principle which today still eludes us – even as we live with the consequences of our choices every day. Would the eight hostages from HK still be alive today if Aquino weren’t president? Would Mislang have caused a diplomatic incident if Aquino weren’t president? We elect thieves and expect them not to steal? We elect idiots and expect idiots not to be moronic? It’s just another day in a country that keep foreign investors out – then lines up for the nearest embassy to get a job overseas. The Irony of Ironies Why should the AFP comptroller be treated any differently when the Philippine constitution itself is rigged by vested interests that connect the boardrooms of Ayala, Pangilinan, and Lopez into the meeting rooms of Congress and the various public Departments that promulgate policy on utilities, energy, telecom? Complain about Garcia’s 350 million stash? That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the BILLIONS if not TRILLIONS of seemingly legitimate revenues that landed the Philippine oligarchy into the Forbes 500 – its “legal” – it’s the “law” – but is it right to have such a law? There’s a term for that – systemic corruption. As previously reported in a study on corruption by Johnston – and presented in my blog post – Aquino Wrong on Corruption All of these point to a root cause – poverty, the lack of choices, the lack of options. A solution therefore involves deploying an array of poverty reduction prescriptions. Thus, far the Aquino administration has opted to work within a box called the 1987 Constitution. Is this box delivering good results? Solutions FOIA – A strong Freedom of Information Act would have provided a strong framework for identifying and reducing waste. Such a framework will empower citizens. It’s non-passage and the silence on the FOIA is so loud. Not an easy task when the very people we want to convict might actually be all the congressmen who have to approve the rules that mean the end of their raiding days on tax coffers. Which still brings the issue back to us voters – why aren’t we voting for honest and competent officials who can get the legislation done instead of these inutile “probes in aid of legislation”. Constitutional Reform – Pareto-wise – removing the 60/40 provisions will increase inflow of jobs, trade, and investment that will reduce the pressures of poverty – and its minimize the touch points that encourage corruption. Bill Esposo wrote that we need more Pangilinans – yeah, like we need more SLEX toll hikes. Esposo further stated that we don’t need Donald Trumps but we need more Ayalas. Bill – Ayala can’t do the job of building this country alone, and we want more choices other than Ayala like Grameen Banking-centric real estate development. Cultural/Behavioral Change – All the systems and policies in place are only as strong as the weakest link in the chain – the people who are responsible for making the decisions – that’s YOU and me, all of us. Removing the 60/40 is akin to taking a horse to a gusher of clean drinking water – if the horse does not drink, it will remain thirsty; if the horse drinks then the thirst is quenched. The thing is that Pinoys are the kind of horses who when taken to the water will have all alibis for not drinking even if they are thirsty – and that’s going to be the biggest challenge – changing our attitudes and behaviors so we are inclined towards success instead of failure. Filipinos have the last word on Corruption I presume that to a Filipino – when we eat a lot of dust, as our neighbors liberalize their economies, is a “good” result because we “protected” our “traditions” against the world. OMG – even the meaning of the word “good” has been corrupted in the Philippines. BongV has written 213 stories on this site. BongV is a supply chain analyst and designer, IT micro-preneur (for now), advocate of globalization and education, and who volunteers his free time raising funds to support poor schools in the Philippines. He is a formerly Division Chief of the Investment Generation and Projects Development Division of the "Invest in Davao"/Davao Investment Promotion Center in 1994-97.
About the Author
62 Comments on “Culture of Corruption in AFP: A Testament to Filipinos Culture of Corruption”
So much focus on economic and political culture of the Philippines. BongV how about you talk about Philippine arts?
If corruption, idiocy, and ignorance is so ingrained in our culture then can you please explain the historical, beautiful, artistic works of many Filipino artists? Do you know that Philippine comics had a glorious history only now it has become extinct? Do you know Gerry Alanguilan, Arnold Arre, Alfredo Alcala, Francisco CoChing, etc.? Do you know that Filipinos are said to be masters of short stories? Did you know that a Filipino writer won a contest in Animax which led to the film Lamb? Can you see the violence of the kulintang? Do you know that we have a rich mythology?
I’d say i’m getting tired of this same thing. Why don’t AP tackle on Philippine arts? (Comics, Literature, Indie movies not the rotten mainstream, etc.) There are lots of issues defying the desires, ambitions, and inspirations for our talented artists. It would be fresh to talk about this rather than the same ol dirty politics and messy economy.
[Reply]
Philippine arts – if the oligarchy had its way – is all about Wowowee.
If you wanna escape into something else – try the art pages.
[Reply]
So that’s just your reply? You really have no idea about Philippine arts and mythology, don’t you? And what does Wowowee have to do with Philippine arts? It’s a freaking entertainment TV show for crying out loud. *facepalm* No wonder you can only see the bad side of the Filipino culture.
[Reply]
i agree with you lorenz that there is much good in philippine arts.
pls write about how great it is. everyone can benefit.
Lorenz:
go to an art website – or maybe Filipinovoices or propinoy.net – talk with the “artists” …ROTFLMAO
escapist fare pala ang arts and culture… gotcha.
its just strange that you have a society\lifestyle section.
maybe thats escapist too.
GabbyD:
C-O-N-T-E-X-T.
If you wanna focus your energies on painting, singing, and dancing while there are more pressing economic and social needs, by all means knock yourself out.
Pinoys vote for smart leaders? What the hell are you talking about? Please stop putting politics. I am talking about arts alone which is part of “Culture” the thing you are attacking on the basis of political and economic perspective alone.
Now you’re showing your true colors. You’re just a person who can’t appreciate and thus understand arts. You only see it as escapist fare. I pity people like you. You are not exposed to Filipino arts anyway. At least the good ones.
Again, i ask. Do you read fiction literature? Probably not. If so, have you read Salamanca by Dean Francis Alfar? Do you read comics? Probably not. If so, have you read the recent comics such as Trese, Mythology Class, Elmer, The Neil Gaiman presents Philippine Fiction/Graphic Novel Award Comics Anthology? Do you look at paintings? Probably not. Do you listen to orchestral music? Maybe not.
Because if you do, you’ll know how talented and artistic Filipinos are just like other races/nationalities. This talent, beauty, and artistry doesn’t portray the corruption, idiocy, and ignorance that you so claim 100% on Filipino culture.
DIGRESSIONS by DJ Cy
@Lorenz: correct! AP should try to tackle Philippine arts more. Problem is, maybe the AP writers write about politics better. I guess, Lorenz, the best way to start is to explain (or for AP to theorize, based on their conception of Filipino culture and cognition) why Filipinos don’t read much.
However, you should extrapolate instead. In any work of art, don’t complain that something which is not there should be there. Replace your complaints with extrapolations instead. Follow GabbyD’s advice. hehe! Peace.
@BongV: correct! Philippine arts, and I mean the highbrow Philippine arts, are much better in explaining the Filipino landscape, consciousness, and social troubles than our news networks or newspapers. While news deals with the immediate, the glass of water, arts deal with the transcendental, the deep spring of eternal issues. But it’s true, the Filipino appetite for the immediate is more prevalent; indeed, to paraphrase F. SIonil Jose , the masses, when offered art, take it, but begrudgingly (“reluctant customers”).
What is the plight of the artist here in the midst of the common tao? According to V. S. Almario, “The people can’t understand his own insistence on the humanity of man, because that’s not what is taught them by religion, television, their favorite commentator, or by the textbook they read in elementary school.” Here: http://rioalma.com/2009/09/why-literature-is-literature/ Peace. And also, in reading Rio Alma’s piece, there is also an explanation why highbrow art is detested by the upper classes, the capitalists, the politicos, and the oligarchy. (See last paragraph.)
@GabbyD: It will be very long. Philippine arts covers literature, sculpture, painting, and much much more. Go to National Bookstore (or to Solidaridad Bookshop in Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila) instead and buy a book on the specific field of Philippine arts you are interested in. And, oh, ang dami kong natutunan sa iyo. GInagamit ko sa mga kaklase ko – effective. “Evidence, please?” Nakikita nila kung gaano kababaw ang mga views nila. Thanks. Peace.
Or, as an alternative, go research about the Palanca Awards.
Cy:
ang masasabi ko lang, Pinoys would rather read Tik-tik comics than read Lam-ang or the Darangen of the Maranaos.
they’d rather watch wowowee than read dekada sitenta.
pinoys would rather watch ang Panday than watch a play by PETA.
much like – they’d rather watch father jejemon than discuss the realities which hit their wallets.
heck, they’d rather make posters of gambling boozing dogs than say a manansala.
***
though of course, stuff as that can be covered by foreign publishers – unfortunately – the constitution does not allow foreign publishers to own 100% – so you art lovers can just shove your skanky tiktik comics right up your arses.
@GabbyD: I think BongV’s lashing at those who use arts to escape the bleak realities of life, not at art as escapism. And there is good art which also explains what BongV calls “hard relaities” at least in their time: “A Modest Proposal” (Jonathan Swift), “Brave New World” (Aldous Huxley), “1984″ (George Orwell), and of course, Noli and Fili. Well, ang dami e. The only problem (not a problem, but really a property) with good art is that it is very deeply metaphorical, and its message cannot be easily grasped by the masses. Therefore the masses run to, let’s say, romance novels – which they hail as art but which they actually use to escape the pressing issues of the moment – and it is these people which I condemn and which, I think, BongV condemns.
@Lorenz: “This talent, beauty, and artistry doesn’t portray the corruption, idiocy, and ignorance that you so claim 100% on Filipino culture.” – Well, because how many artists, the ones who focus on the good, true and the beautiful as opposed to those who focus on the attractive, the persuasive and the seductive, are here in the Philippines.
Peace.
@BongV: More Philippine arts will NOT make FIlipinos vote for smart leaders. Only native elite intelligence and reasoning can make a FIlipino vote for smart leaders, and also appreciate art. I bet those who cannot vote for a smart leader will not also be astute enough to appreciate art. Peace.
@BongV: OO NGA ANO! YO! PEACE! Ang galing nun! What will happen if we start having Macmillan, Random House, Grove Press, Scribner’s, Penguin in the Philippines…. Hindi na ako aalis! Let the mammoths come! Peace. But that – for another topic. (NAsasabik ako, hihi….)
@Lorenz: I assure you, di ka magsasawa sa kababasa ng AP, mapa-economic or political man, mapa-paulit-ulit man or bago, marahil nga kailangang ulit-ulitin ang mensahe para marinig naman ng mga taong kasali sa mga isyung ganito. Yo! Peace.
Lorenz – arts is not the topic of the thread. any more topics outside of this thread which is irrelevant to the thread will be DELETED.
feel free to check out the other art sites.
[Reply]
Like mine. ;P
Okay, so graphics and photography are petty. But I did try to design an electric tricycle replacement that recharged at solar-powered terminals. It lost to a bus designed specifically for the handicapped, which is also a good idea because handicapped infrastructure is woefully nonexistent outside of MRT station elevators which is hogged by the non-handicapped anyway. Big minds, ideas, etc.
I don’t know about the other vocational courses in TESDA, but I was told that if I want to learn animation well, never EVER learn from TESDA. Though that was a 2 years back. I am not sure if the quality has improved. It somehow took a long while for animators to escape the batobot era. THen again, the arts shown by media is just a miniscule part of the real capabilities of pinoy artists
[Reply]
if you want to learn animation don’t learn from TESDA – get yourself a darn good book, a PC and hack it out.
[Reply]
[Reply]
The brainwashed Filipinos who are the majority i think are beyond saving. The talented Filipino artists (musicians, artists, animators, writers, etc.) who have little opportunities and are being ignored should be the ones deserved of attention. Oh, the talented athletes too. I love the arts and sports you see and i’m not much into politics because it’s dirty and tiring.
The arts which is part of the culture transcends borders. That is why Japan is very influential in the whole world. You could say Japan has invaded USA and Europe more powerful than the Japanese Empire from WWII can ever achieve.
[Reply]
@Lorenz
The arts world is HIGHLY subjective. As you’ve seen even in the glitz and glam of Pinoy, they will easy make mountains out of molehills. Here is my 2 cents however. Take it however you want but you may have gone to pinoychan to talk about this before they got cited for obvious reasons.
I am aware of TOEI Philippines and their contributions. Hell, we shouldn’t complain as they MAKE IT ON THE CREDITS! The whole opening up the whole economy also gives foreign countries to take advantage of our potential resource of artisans. In fact, there was a discussion in Pinoychan /a/ about the possibility of Japanese animation/comic industry heads coming in and assessing on creating a licensing branch for Pinoy talent. Apparently the Japanese realize that Korea is far ahead in propagating western style talent, hence the whole Hallyu movement. The Philippines are also in an interesting situation of having been influence by both sides and are looking for any potential creators to outsource their works back home. The benefit of this is giving opportunity for hungry pinoy artists and creators to sell their concocted ideas for profit overseas, something they can’t do at home anyway as its also heavily saturated by oligarchs media industry OR dead.
YES, KOMIKS industry is dead and rightfully so. The handful of guys you mention like alanguilan are talented, but they have their niche and place already. Their talent, much like Leinil Yu’s is already observed, hence demanded in the already saturated western comics industry where a good word goes farther than talent. Instead of trying to revive something by creating a fanbase that doesn’t exist, why not reach out to the world and prove your worth there? The world is a big place and even all those accolades don’t mean crap as long as you have that knack for creativity. Look at how many comic works have won eisners or been nominated for it. Yet Gaiman, Warren Ellis and Alan Moore have penned wonderful and unforgettable stories in the competitive industry they are in.
Sorry if this is off topic, but just to address Lorenz. Once pinoychan comes back, take us on there as we are lively and more than capable at sniffing out BS.
[Reply]
Lorenz, art is also supported and funded by industries. You can’t publish comics or have paintings and other arts stuff without funding. You can’t distribute good music without a company to do it. You can’t just be at artist per se; either you have a day job to fund your art or have a grant from an institution. That’s why removing foreign ownership restrictions and inviting foreign investment could help our arts, because the foreign entities can fund the local artists.
And besides, how can local artists have a free environment to work in when the corruption from the military, government and others puts them down. A local artist may suddenly be suspected of being an NPA, so biglang dadampotin. These are all interconnected.
[Reply]
I was also thinking, for example, for comic artists, instead of Portacio, Alanguilan and other people going abroad to get job and support, Marvel, DC and other comic companies could set up offices here, with studios. This could provide jobs for many people and more artists could be discovered. They don’t have to take day jobs like call centers and then just do their art on the side; they can already make the art pursuits their job. Also, if Bantam DoubleDay, Penguin and Harper Collins could set up offices there, a lot of our own writers could be hired – again they can use their talent for a living. This would be facilitated if the economy were opened.
Economics is very related to the development of the arts. That’s just a tenet of common sense; the arts needs money. Historically, you’ll realize that the Renaissance was set in a period of prosperity. People could afford to be artists. The arts flourish more when there is prosperity.
Even today, this is true. I remember those numerous local bands that exploded in the mid-1990s. They were probably well-to-do kids whose parents could probably afford their rock star lives (parang palamunin, no?). Or they didn’t need to work that much just to feed their needs while having enough time for a band. When the Asian Crisis hit, it all changed. The musicians needed to work. They can’t all use their talent for a living, so they had to hang up their guitars or mics, and they trooped to the call centers and other offices just to have something to live on every day. Thus, so many bands disappeared from the scene in the late 1990s. They had to work because of the problematic economy.
That arts needs money is seen in the Fine Arts course, one of the most expensive college courses ever, and what I originally wanted. How I realize why I was denied the chance to FA; it would also save me from the expense. My friend who was a Fine Arts graduate told me that aside from the tuition fee, his father had to spend P2,000 a week for arts supplies, because they were that expensive. Note, this was in the mid-1990s. So this shows you that the arts needs money. You still need to buy the instruments, paints, and other materials. How can you afford these if the economy is bad.
Same with people who want to indulge in traditional local music. The kulintang is great; but it’s not something that’s just given to you. You have to buy it. How can you? Either you work, or someone else funds you to do it. You could go to a music center that has a kulintang so you can practice playing, but even they need money to buy the instruments and maintain them. All this shows that economics is important to the arts too.
[Reply]
@ChinoF
Alanguilan, Leinil Yu and the handful band of professionals still work in the Philippines. Basically they cut the costs down by going digital and scanning works high res and sending it back and forth. They don’t fly their international talents unless maybe for foreign convention appearances or what not. Thing is, there are a few who propagate a mindset of supporting the arts to sustain by the FILIPINOS FOR the FILIPINOS. At this point I don’t believe that considering you have to take anything you can get and reach out any outlet you can. There is a reason why Bayan Knights is such a flop except for its creators who believe their work to be some noble, nationalistic cause and trying to make it so for the public. Open it up and its pretty much a hackneyed attempt at 90′sEXTREME style IMAGE COMICSwith no depth in the story. Why attempt to try create a buzz within a community that isn’t going anywhere when you can actually try put it out on the internet, get a cult following and have a strong overseas publisher put it out for you? Marvel has been doing digital comics, more so with the rise of the APPS. And in America, niche markets in arts can survive and create a profit, more or less Japan, the land of thriving subcultures.
I went to a local con about 2 years ago and heard a great cover band that did power metal. Yet as much as I can bank on their potential and talent, no one would give them a shot as their kind of music doesn’t sell in the country. Get a foreigner who has capital, connections and give them the ability to set up in the country and they will help create a business for them, and thus competition. There is a reason why APL, charice and pineda can also thank the west because they have a demand for their kind of talent that they can put out and market. Nothing that Oligarch’s archaic marketing schemes can do.
On APL, Charice and Pineda, exactly what I wrote about.
BTW, “Bayan Knights” is not just hackneyed in being 90s Image Comics-style. Just the name “Bayan Knights” already shows a cliched over-patriotism, using nationalistic overtones which are just too passe. Why can’t they do with something like “Berdugos,” “Astig na Askals” or “Kami ang Batas”? Or do away with skimpy bikini costumes or superman-like tights with the brief worn over the trousers? Why not some Kamen-Rider or Shaider-type heroes? Do we have enough Philippine-made manga? Or, following the original theme of this post, a military unit that is fighting corruption? Indeed, so many creative ideas are being suppressed by our bad economy, which could benefit from foreign publishing companies opening offices here.
[Reply]
[Reply]
Tama ka jan. Except number 3, ung iba madaling ma-attain. But you really have to be the best of the best to enter PMA. The best intellectually and physically. And you have to survive 4 years of grueling ordeal. Imagine earning a Bachelors degree inside a campus where your free time is spent on being massacred by your upperclassmen (senseless beating, electrocution, and more senseless beatings..etc)
Not all Military officers are rich. Same game still applies, only those Militarymen who are good at politics gets the juicy positions and can wield powers of corruption.
[Reply]
PMA are for poor Filipinos who has nowhere else to go for free education and gets paid while in school. They are used to pain. They are used to toiling the land from sunup to sunset. They are used to eating maize with salt and nothing else. PMA to them is not grueling. PMA is dance in the sun. ONCE THE MAKE IT … THEY HARVEST … AND HARVEST IS GOOT YEAR ROUND. They get to speakengese goot englischtzes not with rolling thunder but with rolling “Rrrrrrs”
[Reply]
In the Philippines, Honesty is NOT the Best Policy. Philippines makes “GOOD GUYS FINISH LAST” soooo true!!!!! Imagine it takes a President to order an investigation for the people to get results. HAAAAAY NAKU !!!!!!! Ang hirap
[Reply]
It’s just a show…have you seen anybody investigated by the Senate, that was Jailed? The Investigators are Actors-Politicians; Politicians trying to Act like Actors. If we have a good Filipino Movie Drama Award…this will earn the Top Award…
[Reply]
Its same here in India..recently, a 30 storey building was developed worth millions of dollars in the name of war widows housing to get quick clearance and then 90% of the flats were pocketed by military generals and politicians. The people were so enraged by the whole corruption that the chief minister of that state had to resign and the whole building was demolished.
Just a few days ago, when a good journalist tried to expose mining mafia in PH he was shot dead…at the same time in India…an official tried to expose the oil mafia in India and he was dozed with kerosene and burned alive.
Folks, Nationalism is a curse on humanity, we are all facing the same issue be it in PH or India or Egypt…The problem is not filipino or Indian…Its a global problem ….If you read similar blogs as AP from other countries..you will find similar problems all over the world…we are living under physic dictatorship….
Good guys finish last not only in PH but also in India or Egypt or China or US or pretty much anywhere in the world…In India… mafia family rule as is in 100′s of other countries in the name of democracy…
[Reply]
at the end of the day the masses want wowowee and it suits the establishment to serve them bread and circuses to keep them quiet and ill informed.
blogs challenge and educate albeit slowly and do not pander to the brainwashing of a restricted media and press.
[Reply]
Question: in this govt system, the congress can investigate AFP, who can investigate congress?
[Reply]
It’s supposed to be the people. Just as our employers evaluate us, then we evaluate them… Problem is, You-Know-What. Peace.
[Reply]
I mean “we evaluate them” = “Filipinos investigate Congress”… Peace.
[Reply]
Same thing applies to media. If the media can criticize other people, who the heck can criticize the media?
[Reply]
WHAT? I am investigating the idiot peryodistas ….. AntiPinoys are investigating idiot peryodistas …. DO NOT TELL US WE DO NOT EXIST !!!! Peace
[Reply]
we need a website specifically for the performance and contributions of politicians.
it all goes back to lack of accountability and transparency.
[Reply]
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION? Freedom of Information? Yo kiddiin’ me? Lookit, Philippines information is leaking like a sieve. Everyone is national security risk …..
[Reply]
another spot on commentary BongV. cheers!
i was reading at “enraged” comments on my fb network over this matter and i was thinking, either they are hypocrites or downright naive for even thinking that this was only happening during that time and only in the afp. i didn’t even bother to comment on them. if it makes them feel better…or justified…then i just let them be.
and very true: we brought this on ourselves.
[Reply]
Corruption? My late dad was still in the Constabulary then (1980s to early 1990s), and already he had been talking about the corruption. Generals were already getting pajeros and luxury cars. My dad decided not to join that, because even if he’d become rich, he’d be tainted. I am proud of my father for that. So this corruption in the military thing is not new. It’s been around since then.
[Reply]
Then there’s still hope; maybe let us remember God, who declared not to destroy Sodom if ten good people can be found there. Anybody second the notion, or is ten good people insufficient anymore? Peace.
[Reply]
All I can say is this is going to be another media circus. For one, these are generals so you wont find any paper trail similar to Jose Pidal or Jose Velarde. Its like the other GMA media circuses, all grandstanding but with no solid evidence that will hold strongly in court, therefore, no convictions.
Its not gonna prosper and yes, “it’ll come to pass.” Another “Trial by media” and nothing more. But yeah, FLIPinos will get to enjoy the tabloid style coverage of the media. Kung yung Anakanampatuan Massacre nga wala pang nangyayari, one year na. They have evidences, eyewitnesses and pressures from vigilant society. Ito pa kayang AFP generals pointing at each other.
Its basically his word against mine. Walang evidence, walang paper trail. Pure media circus.
[Reply]
[Reply]
Pasensya. No hope. I bet no more than 1,000 good people exist.
@Renato Pacifico: Why do we revere dead people and disrespect the living?
[Reply]
To me, a very serious sign of Pilipinas culture-problem is this — 20-years statute of limitation on murder. Cocoy has mentioned it in one of his recent comments — “This, too, shall pass.” That’s what cocoy said about the Buendia-avenue bombing… Yup, this, too shall happen again.
And “this, too, shall pass” becomes a challenge (actually an invitation) because 20-years-statute allows one to get away with murder. Palampasin ng mga Pilipino, ang halaga ng buhay ng isang Pinoy — maski na siya si Ninoy Aquino — ay hanggang ganoon na lang. Twenty-years magtago ka, then SCOT FREE!!!! A Ninoy-Aquino murder conspirator keeps his identity unknown (namely govt-republic-Pilipinas does not charge this conspirator in court) for twenty-years and one day and — SCOT-FREE.
[Reply]
This 20-year rule is certainly one of the bad laws we have to change.
[Reply]
[Reply]
This country is indeed hopeless. An embedded culture of systemic corruption will prevent any legal efforts of a few good men and women in our society. The “solutions” part at the bottom is something to think about but very impossible. (These will never, never, never happen.) I do like it when BongV says, “Filipinos have the last word on corruption.” But that all depends on NOT what Filipinos say, but on what Filipinos will DO about it.
The Egyptians are doing something about their problems of “corruptions.” Extreme problems require extreme solutions. That’s why in the Philippines, if intelligent and REALLY concerned Filipinos want to make a dent and eventually beat the crap out of corruption, the people will have to do one of the following: 1. Go out in the streets and do what the Egyptians are doing.
2. Or, do a peaceful one where everybody stays in their houses for a month to shut down the corrupt economy until our so-called “elite” and leaders get their acts together. (Everytime a Filipino leaves their home, they participate in the country’s corrupt practices.)
3. Last one is violent and extreme but probably effective…Kidnap every known corrupt leader/official and let’s pray to God nothing bad happens to them
Dear God, I am sick of having leaders who steal and kill the good Filipinos. I pray someday that you will give us a good leader who doesn’t steal and who will not hesitate to kill the bad Filipinos.
There BongV, I was reading the commenting guideline. I think what I wrote is within the rules
And what’s up with that commentator who inserted ART into this post? What Filipino art? As long as we have a corrupt society and a lagging economy, the world will not pay attention to Filipino art. Filipino art is all about copying. Nothing original. In case you haven’t noticed, Manila does not exactly look like Paris. When it comes to art, Filipinos are all about being ma-ARTe.
[Reply]
[Reply]
[Reply]
[Reply]
[Reply]
Why is everybody complaining about the system of paying tribute to our leaders. We are still deeply steeped in the culture of MamSir.
Millions of Pinoys owe their economic survival to MamSir.
How many government positions did Noynoy have to fill? I am sure for many of these guys it was like winning the sweepstakes.
Power with accountability is impossible in this neo-feudal culture.
[Reply]
In AMerica there is no ma’m and sirs. They are called by their first names. In America faulty englsichtzes is not a bar for their employment, in the PHilippines it is.
[Reply]
Exactly, it is like winning the sweepstakes but on a monthly basis.
[Reply]
Corruption here corruption there. I can only wonder how much they paid Col. Rabusa to talk. Its probably by the millions since he went against PMA Omerta.
If were gonna talk about stealing in the government, my only response as an ordinary tax-paying citizen is “UNAHIN MUNA UNG HACIENDA LUISITA”.
This is clearly a smokescreen to divert attention from the AYALA BUS BOMBING. President Benigno Aquino III was warned by UK,US,Australia, France and Japan about the impending terrorist attack, but he shrugged it off on national TV.
And now, we have more ABS CBN, GM7 AIRTIME and INQUIRER NEWS PRINT of this AFP corruption circus instead of the more IMPORTANT ISSUE….TERROR ATTACK.
I am so disgusted.
Pilipinas Kay Ganda ng Porsche sa Daang Matuwid na May Exit Toll sa Hacienda Luisita. Daang Matuwid riddled with mangled wrecked of Public Utility Buses…Bomb blasts, Bullet holes, or simply fallen into a ravine.
[Reply]
[Reply]
lOOKIT, General Aguinaldo was boughted by Spaniards in the Pact of Broken Stone (sounds like an Indian chief, eh?) for 500,000 mexican pesos and one way ticket to Hong-Kong. Lozada who went pagarparings was also boughted 100,000 pesos to live in Hong-Kong forever. Idiot peryodistas with all their political analyst heavyweights couldn’t even figure that one cannot live on 100,000 bribe forever in Hong-Kong. Anyone receiving that much bribe has to wash dishes on the side to live forever. FILIPINOS IDIOCY IS BOTTOMLESS. It is beyond comprehension’
[Reply]
If this was the GMA Administration, todays headline would read: “GMA WAS AWARE OF TERROR ATTACK”…
Yeah, General Aguinaldo had a good life. Most heroes died around the dates of the Philippine Revolution. But Aguinaldo was even appointed a Council Member by President Quirino in the 50s. Naabutan pa nga nya ung Beatles eh. Dang.
someone said what filipino art? i think there is a myriad, unfortunately its all eclipsed by the art of corruption, philippines inc.
[Reply]