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  • hopeless_race : Lets not just focus sa mga malversation of funds, sa mga overpricing..ating pagtuunan ng atensyon ang diskarte ng mga politiko na umuutang ng bilyon bilyon sa gobyerno."Small time" ang ibang pamamaraan ng pangungurakot kumpara sa pag-utang sa gobyerno ng bilyon na tunay ngang masasabing "pinaka big-time" at wala pang sabit.
  • hopeless_race : Mukhang tikom ang bibig ng lahat pagdating sa diskarte ng mga politiko sa pagutang ng mga bilyon bilyon sa gobyerno na tinatakbuhan. Itong pamamaraan na ito ang tunay na kumakain ng malaking porsyento ng ating national budget batay na din sa sinasabi ng world bank.
  • hopeless_race : Pakisilip naman po ang mga utang ni Villar sa BSP, ang mga utang nila RAMON JACINTO, RONNIE ZAMORA, JOE DE VENECIA at madami pang ibang mga pulitiko. Iilan lamang yan sa mga nababanggit sa balita na may mga malalaking utang sa gobyerno.
  • hopeless_race : Nagmimistulang "small time" lamang ang malversation of funds kumpara sa laki ng kinakamal ng mga umuutang sa gobyerno. At ito ay malinaw na natatakbuhan dahil hindi nga naman pwede makulong ang may-ari ng kumpanya sa pagkaka-utang lamang. Tunay na mga tuso at magagaling sa batas itong mga politiko natin. Masasabi ko na malamang lahat ng mga politiko ganito ang diskarte...wala pang kulong.
  • hopeless_race : PCIJ pkitingnan naman po ang mga gaya ni Villar na my malaking utang sa Gobyerno pero tinatakbuhan. Magtatayo ng kumpanya at uutang ng bilyon bilyon sa gobyerno ng walang balak bayaran. Tunay ngang walang nakukulong sa utang...ito ang prinsipyo ginagamit ng mga politiko ntin kaya nakakapagtaka kung san napupunta ang daang bilyong pera ng gobyerno.
  • hopeless_race : Sana itreat naman po ng media ang hacienda luisita at mendiola massacre na parang MAGUINADANAO MASSACRE. Ipublicized ang mga katotohanan at ipakita sa tao ang karumaldumal na pinaggagawa sa mga farmers dun. Untouchable po ba sila cory at danding at hindi magawang batikusin ng media about these two massacres?
  • hopeless_race : Kapag napaguusapan ang mendiola at hacienda luisita massacre ay parang walang nangyari at parang hindi big deal. Anu po ba ang pinagkaiba ng dalawang nabanggit na massacre sa maguindanao massacre?
  • hopeless_race : Its sad that we pinoys are blind to the fact of what had happened in mendiola and hacienda luisita. Ang tanong..bakit ang media ay hindi manlang matackle ang ganitong usapin? Takot ba sila kay cory at danding?
  • hopeless_race : Wilkins" brand, for P1.4 billion.-1999 Sugarland Multi-Food Corp. for P2.9 billion 2001- Purefoods Corp P7 billion P60 billion Coca-Cola ... See More 2002- Cosmos Bottling Corp. from RFM Corp. for P14.1 billion October 2008- GSIS' shares in Meralco worth PHP30 Billion. December 2008- country's biggest oil refiner, Petron Corporation. international company shopping spree: Australian boutique brewer J. Boag and Son for A$96 million in 2000. $97 million for Thai Amarit Brewery Ltd $35.5 mi
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  • sevens21 : Gawa naman po kayo ng article about SSS. Pangit ng site nila dali ma blocked ng account
  • guest_899 : we must check the background of each potential candidates to avoid having another big mistake like GMA
  • guest_899 : congratulations to PCIJ, more power and God Bless !
  • jazzymuver : how did Arroyo swallow that kind of things!! how come that she just spend the money our countrymen for her own sake!!
  • guest_3664 : i would be glad if u can include the investigation of the manner public officials announce infra projects as per COA regulation. It is frustrating to see their faces on the tarpaulin instead of the prescribed information like name of project, date of implementation,amount of contract, source/s of fund, among other things. This is very rampant here in Marikina. Thanks and more power on your noble endeavors. We need people like you to have make our country great again.
  • jhanz_08 : im making research on R.A 9136...with rgards to the privatization of NPC..could someone out there can let me understand more bout this matter?why was monopoly dismantled?email me..jhanycem@yahoo.com...thanks much
  • erika marie : P.S.:) my paper is due next week and i do hope someone could provide me these reports coming from reliable resources :) thank you ulit. :)
  • erika marie : P.S. :)
  • guest_4275 : i am currently doing a study regarding political killings in the philippines. could someone out there please send me human rights reports under Aquino and Ramos administration. you could send it at my email: erikamariet@yahoo.com your response would surely be very much appreciated. thank you everyone. god bless.
  • guest_4275 : i am currently doing a study for my paper regarding political killings in the philippines. i noted that there are no human rights reports during the Aquino and Ramos administration. could someone out there please send me reports regarding these matter? i do hope these reports came from reliable resources :) you could send it in my email; erikamariet@yahoo.comyour response would surely be appreciated. thanks everyone. god bless.
  • jayson bourne : gusto ko po maging member ng PCIJ, panu po ba? may application po ba? sana mapadalhan nyo ako ng info sa email ko... www.jboxpenshoppe@yahoo.com
  • jayson bourne : cory is OK, but kris & Noynoy sensationalize masyado...
  • guest_9891 : LABAN pa rin!
  • meow : boycotts worked during marcos years. how about doing it now against the businesses of the con-ass congressmen?
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Gloria and her ‘mafia’

Posted by: Isa Lorenzo | February 22, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Filed under: Civil Society, Governance, In the News

IF ousted President Joseph Estrada had his “Midnight Cabinet,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the cappo di tutti capi, the boss of bosses, who operates the government like a mafia. This was the assessment of a coalition that is calling for her resignation and for massive reforms in government.

“We have weighed the evidence, and reached moral certainty about these ultimate facts: That grand scale corruption attended the NBN-ZTE deal, and that it went all the way up to Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” the groups said in a statement.

The coalition includes Action for Economic Reforms, Focus on the Global South, Likhaan, People and Advocacy, faculty members from Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines, and concerned businessmen, professionals and individuals.

The administration’s actions on the NBN-ZTE deal prompted the mafia moniker. The coalition said that it was President Arroyo who issued the special authority designating and authorizing transportation secretary Leandro Mendoza to sign the $329-million supply contract, despite the fact that it was “overpriced;” that she had earlier stated her preference for a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract; and that there was a proposal for such a contract.

After the deal was signed, the executive tried to cover up the direct link between the President and the anomalous deal, according to the coalition, by firing the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission investigator that disclosed the results of the investigation on the contract; claiming that the contract was stolen; invoking executive privilege on testimony and revealing records; and abducting Rodolfo Noel ‘Jun’ Lozada Jr. to prevent him from testifying before the Senate.

Enforcing for her is her “underboss” who controls the “capos” or the captains of corruption crews of loyal soldiers. In a mafia, instructions are handed down through a chain of command, thus protecting the higher ranks form incrimination,” the group added.

It said state capture has been perpetrated by a Filipino mafia headed by the President. The coalition pointed out that the $130-million overprice is bigger than the budget of the entire University of the Philippines system. If these funds were used to help the Department of Education, it could buy 1,390 classrooms, 524,237 school seats, 2,733 teachers, 44,234,813 books, and instructional materials worth P4.3 billion.

Read the full statement.

The group said the country is not lacking in laws or institutions against corruption, but nonetheless ranked 131st among 180 countries in Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index.

“In the complexity of the anti-corruption analysis and measures, what we wish to add is the simplest answer to the problem: Corruption is a question of leadership,” the coalition said. Under the leadership of a non-corrupt president, anti-corruption programs and institutions will be effective, it added. But under a corrupt presidency, “the same programs and institutions only become a protective veil for corruption itself.”

The group is calling for the President to step down, and for the following reforms:

  • Set in motion criminal justice initiatives that can pave the way for more cases to be filed against corrupt leaders to send the signal that society will no longer tolerate plunder and mafiosi operations
  • Reform the electoral and appointments system to include cleaning up the Commission on Elections (Comelec), monitoring the appointment processes and subjecting them to accountability checks, ensuring the accurate and speedy counting of votes, and passing anti-turncoatism and anti-dynasty laws.
  • Immediately pass a progressive right to information law to fully implement our Constitutional guarantee
  • Get involved in building a progressive reform party that links the middle classes with the basic sectors, which will eventually have the capacity to demand accountability form leaders, and present alternative leaders.

“We call on the organized and unorganized, who have come to the moral conviction that enough is enough, to act in concert,” said the coalition. “It is time to judge ourselves, our leaders, and our institutions from the viewpoint of establishing honest and democratic systems of governance. We take our first step by putting an end to the regime of the Godmother and her mafia.”



4 people have left comments

if these reforms which are outlined by the coalition will come true…this will be the beginning of raising the level of consciousness of the people.

ge-em-ei wrote on February 23, 2008 - 2:57 pm | Visit Link

the allegory, that those running our government fits the characterization of an organized crime group, is fitting and not without basis.

but unlike the real mafiosis who do real hard-work to maintain a certain lifestyle and thus contribute, even if peculiarly, to the advancement of work-based ethics, Philippine government-based mafia unmake and destroys completely beyond recognition even those little of what is encouraging work left done by its predecessors.

and the vilest part; the citizens, the taxpayers of the Republic shoulder these gangsters perks and salaries.

what could be more sordid than that?

freewheel wrote on February 23, 2008 - 8:10 pm | Visit Link

The fact that the Mafia was extrajudicially installed makes it more sordid.

jack wrote on February 24, 2008 - 4:06 pm | Visit Link

JDV expose vs GMA kinasasabikan PDF Print
Friday, 02 November 2007

Ngayon pa lamang ay nag-aabang na ang kampo ng oposisyon sa kahihinatnan ng banggaan sa pagitan nina Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. kung saan nanganganib ang liderato ng huli sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso subalit posibleng maging mitsa ng tuluyang pagbagsak ng administrasyon.

Bagama’t ayaw pa umanong makialam ng oposisyon sa awayan sa loob ng administrasyon, sinabi ni CIBAC party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva na inaabangan nila ang mga ibubunyag ni De Venecia na mga sekreto ni Arroyo na tanging ang House Speaker at mga loyal allies ng Pangulo ang nakakaalam.

“We will not participate dito sa majority fiasco na ito. Pero ibang usapan if the Speaker will talk about the so-called secret deals and the details of GMA meddling with the legislative affairs of this government,” ani Villanueva.

Naniniwala si Villanueva na kapag nagwala na si De Venecia ay ibubuko na nito ang mga sekreto ni Arroyo na posibleng maging dahilan para mag-impake na ang Pangulo.

Ayon sa kongresista, matagal na magkaalyado sina De Venecia at Arroyo kaya inaasahan na maraming alam ang House Speaker na mga “lihim” ni Arroyo simula noong 2004 presidential election.

“Tiyak marami siyang alam na hindi pa natin alam. Baka ‘yun ang inaantay natin na susi,” pahayag ni Villanueva na ang tinutukoy ay ang posibleng pagbagsak ng tuluyan ni Arroyo.

Umaasa si Villanueva na magsasalita na si De Venecia lalo na kapag tuluyan na itong pinatalsik bilang Speaker ng Kamara sa pagbabalik trabaho ng Kongreso sa Nobyembre 5, 2007.

IMPEACH GLORIA, NILALARO NI JDV

Samantala, pinagdududahan naman ng ilang kongresista na posibleng may kinalaman si De Venecia sa impeachment complaint na ihahain ng United Opposition sa Lunes.

Kapalit ng impormasyong ito, sinabi ng isang kongresistang hindi na nagpabanggit ng pangalan na maugong sa kanilang hanay na may papel na ginagampanan si De Venecia sa ikalawang impeachment complaint laban kay Arroyo.

“Hindi maiiwasan na magduda talaga ang marami sa amin sa Congress na baka laro din iyan ni Speaker (De Venecia) dahil naiipit na siya sa away nila ni Presidente Arroyo,” anang impormante ng TONITE.

Ayon sa impormante, alam ni De Venecia na mahina ang naunang impeachment complaint na isinampa ni Atty. Roel Pulido na kanyang iniwasang iendorso at dahil naipit umano ay ipinasa na lamang nito ang kanyang constitutional duty kay House Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar.Dahil napilitang iendorso sa House committee on rules bago nagbakasyon ang Kongreso noong Oktubre 12,2007, nawalan umano si De Venecia ng bala kay Arroyo.

Upang magkaroon umano ng panibagong bala si De Venecia, kailangang mayroong makapaghain ng panibagong reklamo at ang ihahain ng UNO ang makapagbigay ng bagong laman sa Speaker.

“Bigla kasi nagdesisyon ang UNO na mag-file ng kanilang reklamo eh alam naman nila na minsan lang sa isang taon puwedeng kasuhan si Presidente,” pahayag ng impormante.

Dahil dito, duda ang mga kongresista na posibleng payagan na ni De Venecia na amyendahan ang impeachment rules pagbalik ng mga ito sa Nobyembre 5 upang maisama sa Pulido complaint ang ihahaing reklamo ng UNO.

JDV OUT NA BAGO, MATAPOS ANG TAON?

Samantala, para kay Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra, kung mayroon man pagkilos upang patalsikin si De Venecia ito’y imposible aniyang mangyari sa pagbabalik sesyon ng Kongreso sa Lunes subalit maaaring bago umano matapos ang kasalukuyang taon.

“I don’t think there will be something on Monday. Kung meron man, mag-uumpisa pa lang ‘yung mga kwento-kwento dyan. Maybe it’s not the right time yet. Magpa-Pasko na kasi pero baka bago matapos ang taon, baka wala na siya (JDV),” ayon pa kay Mitra.

Hindi binanggit ni Mitra kung ano ang basehan niya sa kanyang prediksyon sa halip sinabi lamang na may mga miyembro ng koalisyon ang dismayado kay De Venecia bunga na rin ng naging expose ng anak nito kung saan idinawit ang First Couple sa broadband scandal.

Source: Abante Tonite by Bernard Taguinod with Eralyn Corvera Prado

jemasan1 wrote on February 26, 2008 - 11:41 am | Visit Link

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