Manny Villar and his wealth: The story is not if he's poor

There were reports and columns written questioning the real socio-economic status of Nacionalista party standard-bearer Manny Villar. I read some and really, I don't see the point of Villar's political opponents beating a dead horse just to hit him.

For one, who among us really care whether he was born poor or he was a member of the middle class? The fact that he became a billionaire without hurting himself or others is something every one should emulate. The story is not about his roots--the real story is how he amassed that great wealth.

Did Villar stole money from the public coffers just to be the wealthiest legislator of the land? Did Villar sold sub-standard or poorly constructed housing projects that frustrate the dreams of those who bought them?

And did he used his position to help his various companies grow in wealth?

These are the more substantial issues rather than telling people that he lied about his Tondo roots. Give Villar the benefit of the doubt. If he really grew up poor like us, then, so be it. If he grew up in a middle class family, well and good. The point really is how Villar amassed great wealth. That's the story.

I think this thing attacking Villar's proletarian roots will backfire simply because he is exploiting it for his advantage. Villar is now going around town, picturing himself as the underdog.

And you know what? It worked for him before. When he was being attacked personally and he went around town telling people that he was being persecuted by the elite, Villar was able to get a very high survey ratings. The formula is simple--have yourself attacked, become an underdog and the people will sympathize with you.

The Liberals should not do such a thing simply because it will only allow Villar to hug the headlines and recover lost territories.

The greatest loss for Villar came from the middle class, with 16 percentage point drop. The Liberals should concentrate on graft and corruption issues against Villar and his being perceived as an Arroyo stooge. Then, that would definitely affect him.

Lacson: Dismissal of rebellion case, first of many to exculpate the Ampatuans from complicity in the Ampatuan massacre

As what this writer wrote several posts ago, the Maguindanao massacre case will be dismissed before the Holy week and attempts at formally closing the case will happen after this period, or on the second week of April. Now, it happened. Though Malacanang wants to lead efforts to appeal for reconsideration, just to appease rising public anger, the palace ruse fell by the wayside. Evidently, the dismissal of the case was actually brought by Arroyo herself when she declared martial law and charged the Ampatuans with rebellion.

The question remains--what happens then to the other case, that of multiple murder?

Atty. Alex Lacson is the first to articulate the question that lingers in the minds of many--since the rebellion case was dismissed, what happens now to the pieces of evidence recovered by the military? Will the prosecution still use them as additional evidence in the multiple murder case? Or will the court then just dump these pieces of evidence?

Lacson believes that this dismissal is just the first of many attempts by this administration to assist their strongest political ally in Mindanao. As we know, the Ampatuans know of many secrets about the Arroyos particularly that so-called Hello Garci operations.

Why Newbies are still behind the trapos in Senatorial rankings

Why is it that despite the popular perception that people are desirous to elect new faces in Philippine politics, no political neophyte has ever landed in the Magic 12 of both SWS and Pulse Asia surveys?


Nine re-electionists dominate the surveys, with familiar household names the likes of Estrada, Revilla, Ponce-Enrile, Defensor-Santiago and Cayetano all battling for the top senatorial posts. This seems to be a reflection of the opposite perception that the masses are favoring new faces in the Senate. It’s either these surveys show a contrari perception or they really show voters' true preferences.


In the top twelve posts in the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys, I saw only one name emerge, actually a new face--that of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Bongbong was once defeated when he ran and lost in the 1995 senatorial race. His comeback now is stronger than before not just because he is a Marcos, but due to his sterling record as a Governor of Ilocos Norte.

Bongbong is hovering between the eighth and ninth places, which, if you ask analysts, are one of the safest places any senatorial aspirant would wish for. There is, however, a caveat---Ralph Recto was similarly placed in the same spot only to be dislodged in the actual voting. Recto was in the eighth or ninth spot when suddenly he got "displaced." Bongbong is still not a shoo-in as far as politics is concerned. Politics here shifts and changes like the desert sands. You're on top last month only to find yourself at near death in the next.


Election campaigns really depend on three factors, namely: higher visibility than your opponents' through your campaign machinery, higher trust and voter conversion through your wide and expansive sectoral organization and vote-guarding through your legal team. Without one of these pillars, you are sure to lose the game. Recto and Atty. Coco Pimentel knew that too late. Same goes to Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano who are both popular but lost in the senatorial race.


Gomez and Montano have a very high visibility or awareness, but lack the proper machinery to actually push people to vote for them. They also hired weak legal counsels as their election lawyers.


Recto had high visibility and awareness, of course owing to association with his popular wife, Vilma Santos but lost the elections because he lost a stable grassroots organization and was weak in guarding his votes from dag-dag bawas operators.


Senator Richard Gordon's senatorial campaign way back 2004 was a classic example of how an election is to be won. Gordon had capitalized on his record (SBMA administrator and Olongapo Mayor), and got very high awareness and approval ratings. Gordon, however, did not stop there. He developed a very big grassroots organization composed of various sectoral groups. A close confidante of Gordon told me that this network is composed of more than 30,000 individuals, scattered in different parts of the archipelago. That organization became the cornerstone of the campaign, as these individuals went around their communities, and drummed up popular support for Gordon. With an army of para-legals and the backing of his Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity brothers, Gordon had legal support.


From a ranking of 24th or 27th, Gordon surged ahead of the game, eventually landing in the winning circle at the time of canvassing.


The Gordon formula was adopted by Senator Antonio Trillianes IV when he ran for the senatorial elections. Trillianes IV had a very high awareness rating because of Oakwood. He then developed the Magdalo which recruited thousands of people, mostly also belonging to the Guardians Brotherhood which was then a solid and stable grassroots fraternal organization.


Trillianes IV was fortunate because he had impeccable timing. He studied the political landscape and correctly concluded that the times were ripe for a virtual political neophyte. What others fail to see is the formula which Trillianes used to win the senatorial race--he had a high awareness ratings, took care of an expansive organization and safeguarded his votes though an army of para-legals and sympathetic election lawyers.


Study the contrasts--Trillianes used up a fraction of what Prospero Pichay spent, yet Pichay lost and he won. Both had a high 90 plus awareness rating, but Pichay's trust and preference ratings were incredibly low. Meaning, it does not necessarily follow that if you're popular, people will vote for you. People might know you, but have a very negative perception of you. In this case, Trillianes had both high awareness and high conversion rates simply because people trust him more than Pichay.


The Trillianes case must be studied from the vantage point of timing.


Now, going back, why is there no political neophyte that stands to replicate the Trillianes formula? Simple. These political newbies are suffering because of what happened to Trillianes.


Reports showing Trillianes having the highest expenses in travel, and not reporting at the Senate is being perceived by the people as a waste of vote for newbies. The people felt that they fought for Trillianes only to be disappointed in the end. The people who elected him expected something radically different, only to find him squander the mandate given to him.

This apprehension has affected the chances of newbies, particularly the likes of Joey de Venecia III, Sonia Roco, Alex Lacson, Danilo Lim and Col. Ariel Querubin. There is a popular perception right now that it is meaningless, even useless to elect neophytes since, like Trillianes, they will just squander their mandates. This explains why Lim and Querubin’s ratings are hovering between 18 to 25th places. Critical that we examine the March SWS survey ratings since by this time, sectoral support has kicked in for both Lim and Querubin.


Likewise, these newbies have no established brand names to speak of. Alex Lacson has his, backing on the equity of his relative, Senator Ping Lacson. Ping Lacson affects Atty. Alex Lacson’s chances based on what is happening to him. Lacson’s chances vacillate between positive and negative. What is very good at this point is the fact that Alex Lacson maintained his high conversion rate despite negative stories about Ping Lacson. This means that Alex Lacson, as a candidate, stands a better chance of winning compared with other established and more popular names for the Senate.


Roco’s case is similar with that of Lacson’s. The likes of Lim and Querubin, however, remain problematic since both share the same constituency and both will eventually clash come election time.


De Venecia III is probably the neophyte with the greater chance of clinching a Senate seat. His chances, however, fell and were shattered when Gina de Venecia publicly announced that the De Venecias have already repaired their ties with the Arroyos. People everywhere perceived this as a betrayal of trust. The public pronouncement stuck in the public consciousness and that’s why his preference ratings have plateau-ed. Analysts say it will continue on the downward trend probably due to a lack of sectoral support. Sectoral groups are supposed to elucidate and protect Joey de Venecia from negative perception but since he lacks ground support, and only rely on the PMP-UNO PDP-Laban machinery, the lingering negative perception will surely stick and affect his chances. 

Villar loses ground battle to Erap

The latest SWS survey just came out. Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party is still ahead of Nacionalista standard bearer Manny Villar despite being outclassed in the ads and air war. Aquino's lead is widening, while Villar's numbers are on the downside, probably affected by the latest campaigns by former president Joseph Estrada who continues to garner percentage points. Estrada is now third, narrowing the gap between him and Villar's. Villar's ranking fell by six points while Estrada gained four percentage points, an indication that Villar is the one losing territories with the renewed Estrada campaign.

Like what I wrote here previously, Estrada's campaign is hurting and will hurt Villar's in the coming weeks. Estrada is regaining his lost territories which were "hijacked" by the Nacionalista. Now, will it help that Villar is gaining allies from the administration party? Will this improve his standing notwithstanding? Let's just see in the next survey because these April surveys will show if really local executive support impacts on the way people perceive national candidates.

And it seems that the trend is following a very distinct pattern:

While Estrada regains his old territories hijacked by the Nacionalista, Villar loses considerable areas of support. However, while some areas covered by Estrada went back to him, most areas shift to Noynoy. Hence, the more Estrada campaigns, the more Noynoy benefits and Villar suffers. If this trend continues, Villar will be at the losing end of the game. In the end game however, it will be a very close fight among Noynoy Aquino, Villar and Estrada. The likelihood of a candidate gaining just 5-7% lead over his closest rival exists.

The ABC class is a revelation---Villar lost 16 percentage points which Aquino actually benefitted by gaining 15%. This means that the ABC class has now shifted their loyalties. It is in this class where support for Villar is weakening.

And what is highly significant is the fact that Estrada is gaining NEW territories, a fact which must not escape notice from the Liberal party. Aquino's base of support seemed to be at a standstill--between 35% to 40%--good, but not entirely. It just shows that Aquino's support base is not eating up those of Villar's and even of Estrada's.

There is about 5-6 million people who remains undecided. Critical for Aquino, Villar and Estrada to gain a slice of this huge number. Whoever exploits this will gain a slight advantage in the end. Villar lost considerable support in the "D" Class, about six percentage points, which benefitted Estrada who gained four and Richard Gordon who got two percentage points. In the "E" class, Villar lost four percentage points, while Aquino and Eddie Villanueva got two percentage points each, an indication that the masses are shifting their loyalties.

Kundiman for Filipinos everywhere

I fell in love once more. And it was not a different lady. I fell in love with our kundiman. Let me share one for you, my dear readers.

New Pinoy

This is a love offering for those who want change in our country. This is for Atty. Alex Lacson, Colonel Ariel Querubin and General Danny Lim. May you all be blessed by GOD and anointed by our people as the New Senators of our country.

Alex Lacson--New Pinoy that will do good as a Senator

Atty. Alex Lacson is not your ordinary guy, contrary to what he always tell people. I know him personally. I've seen him in action and I read his speeches. Academically, he's not just fit to become Senator--he's the ideal one. Apart from his law degree which he got from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and post-graduate studies from Harvard, Alex Lacson did it through sheer hard work.

After his graduation, Lacson excelled in his legal profession by defending the poor and the oppressed. He's also active in socio-civic activities, such as World Vision and Gawad Kalinga.

Why do we need another Lacson in the Senate? Three things: First, Lacson bears a surname with a strong and solid legacy in public service. Second, if you compare his credentials with other candidates, Alex Lacson's is better than theirs. And third, we need fresh, new blood that will infuse new ideas and new concepts in governance.

Pinoy

Is there hope for us, Filipino?

For as long as there are still some good men among us, hope still flutters.

Is it asking too much?

What is in store for all of us these coming weeks? Our leaders are not helping us silence these apprehensions, these fears, that we are heading towards unchartered waters in this elections. Are we safe from our government? Are we safe from those predators lurking in our midsts? Are we truly safe with our government?

Governments are supposed to be agents or instrumentality of the collective Will. They were built to reflect the collective sentiment. The Filipino only yearns for a more improved and a better quality of life. Not everybody aspires for a creation of an ideologically strong government. Not everybody desires for a more democratic one. 

The only yearning of the Filipino is simply allow him to enjoy his life, live his life the way others do and enjoy the blessings of democracy. To be able to work, get a salary, eat thrice a day and probably eventually buy his own house and die in peace. 

Such are the most basic of all Filipino sentiments that it is but unfortunate that no government has succeeded in giving him these simple things. 

I yearn for a government that is just and equitable. I yearn for a government that respects each and every individual's rights. I yearn for a government that would respect every centavo given by its people. I longed for a government that will truly embody the Filipino Soul.

Is that asking too much? That as a Filipino, I deserve better surroundings, better food, better prices of gasoline, better treatment of public officials and the assurance that my money is not being spent by some corrupt government official or private citizen?

Is it asking too much for our leaders to toe the democratic line and act morally and honestly when in government? 

Is it asking too much from our military not to allow themselves to be used for selfish, vested interests by a few whose thirst for power is unsatiable?

Is it asking too much that our courts render judicious decisions and our Supreme Court respect itself by being consistent?

And is it really asking too much for Mrs. Arroyo and her ilk to abandon all thoughts of extending themselves in office?

PUP's First Quarter Storm On!

Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) students have now set barricades inside their campus to protest the impending 2,000 percent tuition hike increase. The PUP regents are now meeting today and are set to impose a very inequitable decision that would cause the frustration of thousands of students.

Education has become a dream of the poorest of the poor in this country. Fact is, education is not included in the things which Filipinos plan to have due to very limited financial resources.

Now that the PUP regents board want to increase the per unit costs from 12 pesos to something as surreal as 300 pesos is, for me, a very real reason to militate against the government.

How callous this government is! How they wasted billions of pesos allotted for fertilizers and how the DEPed has wasted billions more for illicit activities, when the very future of this country, the young students' lives are being gambled.

Let the students show their disgusts and campaign for the protection of their rights.

BY the way, it will not only be the students of the PUP that will be militating against the dastardly plan of the government to increase tuition fees.

Members of the UP Regent will also be meeting today to discuss the increase of tuition fees in the premier university of the land.

Some student leaders of the University of the Philippines have consulted me and I urged them to fight for their rights to education. Education is a right, not a priviledge. 

Let the Second Quarter Storm rage now!!

Poll-related violence on the rise: Pagbilao Vice Mayor Ambushed in Lucena

The spate of poll-related violence has reached alarming proportions. And we are just two months in the campaign.

Last night, armed men ambushed Liberal party mayoral candidate Apolinario "Apo" Martinez while the victim was driving along the diversion road in Lucena City. The 52 year old vice mayor of Pagbilao town sustained gunshot wounds in the back and was able to drive himself to the nearest police station. The gunmen escaped after the shooting.

Ironically, the incident happened some 500 meters away from the PNP-COMELEC checkpoint in Lucena. Martinez was the latest victim in a series of violent incidents related to the May 10, 2010 polls.

Sources in Quezon province told me that prior to the ambush, Martinez got numerous death threats from unknown enemies asking him to back out of the mayoral race in Pagbilao. A three time vice mayor, Martinez is set to fight Romar Fortez, a three time mayor of Pagbilao town. According to sources, the Fortez family has dominated Pagbilao politics ever since and the town administration has just changed hands between Romar and his wife, Venus Fortez.

Martinez is the latest victim of violence related to the elections. Most victims are Liberal party candidates. The PNP has reported ninety cases already, with more than a hundred killed and scores injured.

Liberal party senatorial candidate Atty. Alex Lacson has called on the Philippine National Police to conduct a thorough probe and launch hot pursuit operations against the perpetuators of this dastardly crime. Moreover, Lacson said the police should also arrest the principals and masterminds of the ambush and bring them to the bar of justice.

Ampatuan not responsible for massacre

What will trigger the unrest which will lead to a finalization of the plan called OAM?

A highly credible source told this writer of a plan by Malacanang to release a legal opinion exonerating Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. from complicity in the Maguindanao massacre which left 60 or so people killed. The source says a palace lawyer was assigned to write the opinion and is expected to be released on the second week of April, shortly after the Holy week.

This is expected to cause public outrage and justify a government action. The palace, however, is sure that this legal opinion will escape the attention of the public since that would be released at the height of the election period.

Are you going to kill somebody because of a blog post?

Will you kill someone for a blog post?

A few years ago, I knew of a group of Muslims who vowed to kill a best-selling author for writing a novel, which they said was "blasphemous." The formerly unknown author became a best-selling one after that. He went on and wrote some more, but the only one that people really went crazy was his first one.

Blog posts are like that--a hit today, a goner tomorrow. Many people have written many things about blogging, about online marketing, even bragged of being a 'New Media' or an Online media specialist when they have'nt even sold just one item online. They have'nt even convinced hundreds or even a handful of their friends to buy something from them. And they claim to be "experts in online marketing." Wow.

Honestly, they are all frauds. No one really knows the real impact of blogs and blog posts. I must say that those who claim to be "specialists" in New Media are the very ones who do not really know what it is.

They think of new media as something of the traditional. If you can invite two or three or five bloggers to an event, then, you're an online media specialist. Many political publicists are being defrauded by these people.

But, really, blogs are nothing but insights--and these insights I say, will only make an impact if people believe in it. If it does not get virality, it's nothing, nothing but ramblings of someone who has a lot of time in his hands.

For example, if somebody writes about a conspiracy, its interesting topic. Yet, if it does not land in the public consciousness, what is it but a product of someone's fertile imagination?

And even publicists are being fooled by "New Media specialists" who are just recruiters or people who invite other bloggers, that's it. There's nothing "new" about "New Media" or something very "special" about these "specialists."

These "specialists" are more of media relations officers than publicists. How can they be publicists when they can't even say that thousands read them every day? Their sites even suck.

I know of someone who claims that his site is the number one political commentary site in the country, when all he writes are a shitload of elephantine crap, spiced with gay lingo. Better to read something funny and creative like this site which Ellen Tordesillas praised than get pissed off by a stupid post by this site. A person who writes the way he thinks or says something crass has something terribly wrong with his brain. And those who see something different in that also has something wrong with their minds.

Going back, are you going to kill somebody just because somebody wrote something against you?

I was once victimized and tagged as a homophobic by someone who does not know me, who even spread that crap that I was not the one I said I was. Good that he is now getting the stiff end of the bargain. In this world, when a blasphemer continues blaspheming somebody, for sure, that pitiful fella will get it someway and somehow.

Yet, what I cannot understand is for someone to even wish somebody harm just because of something as simple, and as harmless as a blog post.

My good friend, Trixie was threatened by someone with harm. I don't know the exact reason but it even went to the extent of that person wishing that Trixie's daughter be killed or raped. Is that something which a sane mind would say to a fair lady as Trixie?

Good that Trixie is not the type who will engage herself with these kinds of stupid, idiotic, and brutish people. Good that Trixie maintained her cool.

I know of someone who got whacked by somebody online. His photo, together with his wife and kid was posted in a site. And the one who posted it even went to the extent of writing damning things about his online activities. Whoa, is that something to complain about?

If that person wrote something about the other's philandering activities or what-have-you, that would probably be something worth reading by the wife. But, ass-holing online? Is that something sexual?

Again, let me ask you a question---are you going to kill somebody for a blog post?

For sure, these people with infantile minds would probably do it. They are what I described the new apostates of blogging. They are the new terrorists, the new media extremists, willing to even harm other people just because someone wrote something nasty about them.

The web, to be very frank, is someone's mirror. The only rule here is the Golden one. The other, for me, is de gustibus non disputandum est (for likes and dislikes, there should be no disputing, live and let live).

Loren Legarda has a credibility problem

Last night’s HARAPAN featured vice presidential candidates: Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party, Loren Legarda of the Nacionalista, Jejomar Binay of PMP-UNO/LABAN, Jay Sonza of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Bayani Fernando of Bagumbayan and Atty. Perfecto Yasay of Bangon Pilipinas.



The format was better than the presidential since it was really fashioned like the debates of old, where they pitted candidates against each other.


What was good about this was it afforded us the chance to really know and compare who was better. And based on online and text reactions from the viewers, Mar Roxas got a 55% trust rating.


Jay Sonza was a revelation though. He has the widest understanding among the vice presidentiables. True, he is really well prepared.


Mar Roxas appeared very confident and very prepared as well. Roxas was attacked by Loren Legarda a couple of times, but all attacks fell by the wayside.


Curiously though, Loren’s trust rating fell between 6-8%, the same as Sonza’s. Binay got even higher trust ratings than Loren’s, with about 15-18%.


Loren has a credibility problem. Every response that she gets appeared fractured. Every time that she uttered a word, ratings hover between a higher trust or a lower trust. Meaning, she does not have a solid base of support.


I really doubt now if Loren will really clinch the vice-presidential post, what with Mar Roxas there. Loren's media team should work double time but I really doubt if she can really overwhelm the public with her statement than Roxas'.

Loren was really affected by her political actions. The perception that she's a political butterfly really stuck. And that Villarroyo tag really affected the chances not just of Loren, but the rest of the Nacionalista party slate.

Loren Legarda should review her campaign and fix this problem. I doubt though if there are still time to do it.

Joey de Venecia III, ZTE-NBN and the Continuing Fight for the Truth

It was nearly three years ago, when businessman Joey de Venecia III went out of his comfort zone and exposed one of Mrs. Arroyo's greatest scams--the ZTE-NBN scandal. That scandal nearly toppled the government.

Despite admonitions "not to rock the boat", Joey de Venecia III exposed the attempted bribery of US$ 10 million pesos by Arroyo's closest adviser former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos. De Venecia III, if you remember, told us that the project ballooned to about US$265 million because Abalos and the local partners of ZTE wanted kickbacks worth US$200 million plus.

A good and honest businessman, Joey wanted nothing out of it. Let's recap what happened lest we forget that some men are still good and deserves our admiration for standing their ground against corruption.  



Joey's fight continues as he tirelessly went around town, convincing people to still go with him to the Senate.

Joey remains one of the strongest contenders for a senate seat.

Saludo ako kay Danny Lim TVC

This is one of the great political ads that I've seen for years. No bullshitting. Just plain and simple yet very, very strong appeal.

Sir, I and the rest of the country salute you sir!

Erap is Enemy of Islam, says Ulama Council

The highly influential Bangsamoro Supreme Council of the Ulamas, chaired by no less than Imam Yahyah has issued a fatwah enjoining fellow Muslims throughout the Philippines not to vote for former president Joseph Estrada, Mar Roxas and Franklin Drilon as senator.

The fatwa was issued at the time when Estrada and the entire PMP-UNO entourage visited Mindanao, especially North Cotabato.

The Council scored Estrada for his disastrous war policy which left hundreds dead and thousands of families displaced in what was described as a "war of attrition" in 2000. A year after, Estrada was ousted in a popular revolt.

Meanwhile, the Council commented against Roxas for his incendiary statements related to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Ancestral Domain. The Council remembered how Roxas and Drilon blocked the implementation of the MOA which could have ended the decades-old war in the region.

The Muslim population in the Philippines stands at 5 million, a very crucial one in a tightly contested presidential race. Balik Islam, or reverts, stand at 1.8 million. Together, the entire Muslim vote account for about 7 million votes.

And mind you, the Muslims in the Philippines are not solely based in Mindanao. Many are living in Central Visayas and Northern Philippines.

The only thing which I personally commend the present administration is its respect for Muslims. Muslims enjoy a more peaceful existence now than before. Muslim communities jot the Philippine landscape. And Muslim traders have easier and freer access to commercial establishments than before. 

This was not the situation during Estrada's time.

Executive Secertary Leandro Mendoza will head new govt come May 11

Contrary to what Malacanang through deputy palace spokesperson Charito Planas said, that in a failure of election scenario, the military takes over, there are still non-Constitutional safeguards in place to protect democratic institutions, and prevent the prospect of a non-functioning government.

One of these is the possibility of Arroyo's appointive officials acting as a "care-taker" government (different from a "hold-over" Cabinet which means a revolutionary government). Since most of the positions will actually be vacant come May 10, the Cabinet can act as the interim government.

Meaning, Executive secretary Leandro Mendoza will surely be the next "president", acting in a "care-taker" capacity for, probably sixty days.

Mendoza, a former police general, served Mrs. Arroyo as DOTC head before being appointed as Executive secretary, replacing Eduardo Ermita.

If you'll notice, this Cabinet is now occupied by the top and highly trusted men of the president. Arroyo's defense chief is Norberto Gonzales, the ideologue of the administration. The DILG is still Ronnie Puno, while most, if not all sensitive posts are being occupied by former generals of Arroyo, among them Energy secretary Angelo Reyes.

Now, what is appalling is the possibility of these Cabinet officials suddenly declaring a self-coup and transform themselves into a junta, which, according to some sources, is not a far-fetched idea.

Bangit, if you remember, was with Gonzales early last year talking with some religious and civil leaders on the possibility of creating a Council-type of government.

Jose Rizal is Filipino, not Anti-Pinoy

Many people commented on Blackshama's piece entitled "My Anti-Pinoy Hero: Jose Rizal" over at Filipino Voices (I am inclined to write about it as FV's anniversary nears). Blackshama says, and I quote:

Jose Rizal is the quintessential AntiPinoy. He is my hero and probably yours too. His two novels are considered by Leonie Guerrero (himself a translator of the novels and prizewinning biographer of the Hero) as the “Gospels of its [Filipinos] nationalism” While we may think that the two novels are anti-friar, it is also anti-Pinoy. Part of the basis of our national identity is being AntiPinoy!

Though I agree on some of the points raised by Blackshame in his article, it is largely inaccurate.

First, in Rizal's time, there is no such term as "Pinoy". There is, however, a term "Filipino" which was a reference to half-bloods. These half-bloods were sired by Castillians married to indigenous elites.

Second, the term "Pinoy" is of recent origins. It probably became popular during the 60's or 70's when the Second Enlightenment or "Propaganda Movement" occurred. Pinoy is street lingo, which many mean "Filipino".

What Blackshama tried to do is make a philosophical distinction between these two terms, and spark a debate similar to the ones which Rizal and other Ilustrados did in their time. 

The debate I am referring to was the one which somewhat divided the nation back then--the debate between the half-bloods and the pure blooded.

The half-bloods and "nationalist" pure blood described themselves as "Filipinos", or Spaniards living in a place considered as part of the Spanish regime. They were proud to be called "Filipinos" because the term glorifies the name of one of Spain's most beloved and most powerful monarch--King Philip. 

Those not of noble birth or do not enjoy property rights back then were called "indios", a term which Rizal and his bunch of moneyed intellectuals disdain. "Indio" was a derisive term not for the indigenous folk who do not care less if they were called such, but for those who thought of themselves as educated and moneyed enough to be considered "Filipino". People back then were satisfied to be called "Pampangos", "Ilokanos" or Cebuanos.

Like Blackshama and those who consider themselves now as superior over most Filipinos (especially those spending time writing polemics or political pieces over the Net) wanted to say that they are anti-Pinoy, as if it really means much, or is really substantive enough to be discussed online.

Rizal was an accidental hero. He became one not because he suffered at the hands of those cruel or brutal Spanish soldiers but because he wanted to become Filipino. Like others in his time, Rizal was desirous to be one of those pure-blooded weak-minded Spaniards solely because being a Filipino was a "status". The term was not invented to describe a nation--it was used first as a classification. It classified people based on the nobility of their birth or what we now describe as a colonial caste system. If you're born poor, you're an Indio. If you're born in Spain and lived in a colony, you're a peninsular. If you were a half-blood bastard (or not), then you're insulares.

Rizal was neither--he was not born a Spaniard nor was he a son of a pure-blooded Spaniard. He was a Chinese born in the Philippines. His parents were second or third generation Chinese who elected to live in the Philippines, who embraced Christianity and the Western-inspired life.

That was Rizal's problem--he was seeped in Christian and Western philosophies and was so good at that that he agonized over the very fact that in the colonial caste system, his very own person do not count for anything. In his milieu, status was everything.

Rizal was undoubtedly superior over his Spanish classmates but lacked one thing---status. He cannot claim to be an insulares though his maternal grandmother Regina Ochoa was described as "Spanish-Chinese", because to be called one means being born from a union between a pure-blooded Spaniard and an indigenous elite.

Rizal suffered an identity problem, unlike his other Ilustrado buddies such as Antonio Luna and others who were pure insulares.

Insulares such as Luna considered themselves of a different stock. They, themselves, invented the term Filipino, derived from its etymological source "Las Islas de Filipinas". Those born in the Philippines, of half-blood, were described as "Filipinos".

It is inaccurate though to describe Rizal as the "quintessential" Anti-Pinoy because, for the record, Rizal's struggle was exactly one that was directed at owning the very category of being "Filipino." He wanted everybody to be called "Filipino" and not "indio" to spur a sense of nationalism and for everybody to unite and form a "nasyon" or nation. That way, his status was made certain and concrete and his place in society secured.

Now, if Blackshama is trying to distinguish the terms "Pinoy" and "Filipino" differently, ascribing a derisive meaning for the term "Pinoy", cutting it from its original etymological umbilical cord, his attempt falls flat on the floor.

If Blackshama wanted to say that being "Pinoy" is being of an ill-natured brute, uneducated, immoral, un-cultured and wanted the term to serve an anti-thetical purpose, wittingly (or unwittingly) Blackshama is creating a sociological divide that has no rational basis.

If Blackshama wanted to say that being "Pinoy" is equivalent to an "Indio" of Rizal's time, then, his postulate is historically inaccurate.

BY saying that Rizal criticized the "Pinoy" (in Blackshama's world, the term is equivalent to the "Indio" of Rizal's time), Blackshama was actually telling us that Rizal exhibited the same racism as that of the Spanish colonists. That Rizal was a pseudo-hero, even an anti-hero, was something irreverent for Blackshama or by anybody for that matter.

Rizal loved the indios much as he loved the Ilustrados because he desired for everyone to be called "Filipinos." Fact is, the struggle was for the Ilustrados and the insulares to destroy the colonial caste system so that everyone enjoys equal rights and for what? To protect the interests of the moneyed, the intellectual and the propertied classes not of pure Spanish birth from illicit or illegal seizure of property and from cruelty. Had the Spaniards studied sociology back then and did not build a colonial caste system, probably, we would still be a Spanish colony.

Now, if Blackshama wanted to describe those who criticized the attitudes or mindsets of ordinary Filipinos as “Anti-Pinoy” and likened them to Rizal, Blackshama, for all his posturings, is mistaken. These so-called “Anti-Pinoys” are different from Rizal. Fact is, they are not Filipinos.

They are half-bloods who wanted to impose their so-called “intellectual superiority” over ordinary Pinoys. Or, if they are not bastards or sons or daughters of a foreigner with a Pinay wife, or a Filipino married to a foreigner, and just had the chance to live abroad courtesy of their education or were given a job offers, or were granted immigrant status and think of themselves as superior, then, they are not “anti-Pinoys”. They are derisively bastards of their own race.

Whoever rejects the very ethos of the People living in this revered land, whoever says that Western or Eastern ways are superior than us, or whoever says that the Pinoys are the epitome of crassness or that the problems of this Nation stems from the negative attributes of the People are stupid, idiots and racists. They don't know what they are saying and they are only glorifying a term which means absolutely nothing.

The Pinoy is an intelligent one. He is a hard-worker, a follower of the law and a lover of justice. It is the elite of this country that creates these problems, with their brutish natures, a lover of anything easy, a corrupter of morals and a veritable dictator.

It is the Pinoy elite that is the cause of this country's problems. It is they who exploit the resources of this country, it is they who impoverish the people with their anti-people policies, and it is they who think of themselves as messiahs when all they are are false prophets.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Pinoy. Yet, there is something terribly wrong with the elite. And for us to really move forward, let us destroy the elites of this country and build a government that will create an equitable and just society.

Lest I be misinterpreted, I love being called Pinoy and for every blemish that these people see, for every non-civilized manner, for every so-called "crass-ness" of the Pinoy, being called such is still a badge of honor.

Beginning this day, it is better to be called an Anti-Elite, instead of an anti-Pinoy.





  

Plan Ass or Shooting one's mouth off as State Policy

That's the problem with appointing non-Communication experts as palace deputy spokespersons--they have a tendency to shoot their mouths off. Clearly, no one knows that every utterance they give becomes policy. They are not there to embellish the impossible--simply to function as conveyors of messages. And probably, palace deputy spokesperson Charito Planas does not really know the implications of her actions.

Her "alarmist" statement yesterday shows how callous this administration is on the effects of statements it makes in public. Imagine, the palace itself tried to fuel these speculations and fears on an Arroyo-instigated martial rule. Planas told a stunned audience that should the elections fail, the military is poised to take over. I don't really know what's on the mind of Planas when she said that, but for me, it was utterly irresponsible.

And it is unacceptable if Planas will try to defend herself by saying that she was asked. Clearly, the issue is speculative and what-ifs are not commonly answered by authorities.

Now, if that Planas' statement is declarative, then, probably that's the real motive behind all these actions--appointments of Bangit and members of PMA Class 1978 and this recent Arroyo instigated SC decision. Even the snub suffered by the PMA leadership after the head of the local police declared that he will not support an extension of his boss' term.

Or, probably, Planas was deceived by her own colleagues inside that snake pit called OPS and was made to believe the yarn that Arroyo was motivated to manipulate even the Supreme Court and the Armed Forces because of her concern for a post-Arroyo military take-over.

Mrs. Arroyo's only concern is simply self-preservation. Arroyo is so afraid to suffer the same fate as that of Erap's that she will do everything in her power to prevent this possibility.

She knows that she stole billions from the public coffers. She knows that her husband did enter into shady deals with syndicates and criminals. She knows that she harmed a lot of people during her administration, and she will not escape liability.

Mrs. Arroyo and her ilk have mastered the Art of Survival, even probably perfected it into a science. They are skillful in manipulating discord and destabilization. Fact is, this administration has thrived with destabilization. And why is that?

We are being mis-directed so that we will not know how government is spending 10 billion pesos worth of calamity funds. The palace is feeding our conspirational minds so that we will forget how they are spending these enormous funds, not for generator sets but for vote buying.

Atty. Alex Lacson has just visited Mindanao and convened with some local government officials there. Many of them are Liberal party candidates and they told Lacson that administration backed candidates are spending their calamity funds to buy sacks of rice, food stuffs, even appliances.

Anyway, Planas should be advised not to give any more statements about the future.

Bangit-Verzosa Meeting and why the animosity between PMA Classes

For the first time in Philippine history, the Chief of this country's Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) made a "courtesy visit" with his counterpart in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The visit happened today at Camp Crame, shortly after General Delfin Bangit's induction as the fortieth AFP Chief of Staff.

Sources told this writer that the meeting was "cordial" and "serious." Bangit came with all his service commanders, all his mistahs, which many at the PNP directorate viewed as a "show of force."

The meeting between Bangit and PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa lasted for about thirty minutes, with both men sparse in their words.

Verzosa (PMA Class 1976) was appointed by Mrs. Arroyo to succeed General Sonny Razon. He is set to retire by December of this year. However, sources within the PNP says he will soon be replaced by Roberto Rosales, the PNP NCR director, who happens to be the mistah of AFP Chief of Staff Bangit. Bangit and Rosales are members of PMA Class 1978, the favorite class of Mrs. Arroyo who adopted her while she was still a senator.

A week ago, Versoza vowed to protect the Filipino People from forces anti-thetical with democracy. Verzosa said the entire police force will not allow itself to be used for political purposes.

The source said that Bangit criticized Verzosa for uttering such words to which the PNP Chief acted strongly. Verzosa, the source said, advised Bangit to "just do your job."

An AFP source however say that the meeting was not adversarial, although it was really unclear why Bangit went on a visit with his entire entourage in tow. It was the wishes of the higher-ups, says the source, that both men talk things out.

A call, allegedly made by Executive secretary Leandro Mendoza, was received by Verzosa who happens to be very close to the former PNP chief. It was Mendoza who thought of arranging the meeting between Bangit and Verzosa, upon the instigation of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, the source said (although this is unconfirmed).

The meeting, sources say, did not go well as intended. Both men were tip-lipped though, especially Bangit who did not entertain media inquiries about the courtesy visit. 

Sources say the hatred between men, both belonging to different PMA classes, is historic. According to deep sources, it was allegedly some members of PMA Class 1978 who instigated that Russia fund scam which hit the headlines shortly after Verzosa's appointment as PNP chief.

The role played by some members of PMA Class 1978 in that scandal has been blown. Verzosa, sources say, knew that the plan was for him to become another Bobby Lastimoso, who was immediately replaced after figuring into a scandal.

Rosales, a member of PMA Class 1978, was supposed to replace Verzosa. The PNP chief's closeness with the First Gentleman however saved his neck from being completely severed by the Arroyo administration.

The plot failed. It fizzled out after members of Verzosa's directorate submitted themselves to a Senate inquiry.

After the plot failed, Verzosa, sources say, became his own man. Verzosa reportedly minded his own business and distanced himself from the First Gentleman. He, however, preserved his friendship with former PNP Chief Leandro Mendoza who continues to serve Mrs. Arroyo.

That is why this meeting was cold or in fact, lukewarm. Verzosa, sources say, did not forget what Bangit's mistahs did last year. 

The New Pinoy Soldier

There is no doubt about it---the Filipino soldier is a professional one. Despite the numerous scandals within the military establishment, and these are very serious ones linked to fund misuse and lack of uniforms and resources, the soldier remains loyal to the Constitution and the Filipino People.

The question that always come to mind is this--will the Filipino soldier still remain loyal to the chain of command despite very clear signs that the very authority that he is expected to follow is the very same one sabotaging the very democracy he is supposed to protect?

The loyalty of the Filipino soldier rest on the true power of this Nation--the Filipino People. This rings loud and clear in the Constitution, the truest expression of the People's Will. When civilian authority bamboozle this revered document, mock it and destroy it just to suit personal whims and political caprices, will the soldier be a gentleman and fight those who mock, destroy and despise the very Constitution that he has sworn to protect?

Yes. The Pinoy soldier is bound by his obedience to institutions, not personages. He is duty-bound to protect the institutions of democracy, not those who run it.

The Pinoy soldier is responsible for the protection of the pillars of democracy by which everything stands firm. The Pinoy soldier is a creature of democracy, the very reason he exists is simply to protect the institutions of governance from being destroyed by those elected or appointed as custodians of public service.

When civilian elites fight among themselves, the Pinoy soldier is expected to stay by the Constitution and the institutions it has created. When the very same Constitution is being slowly corrupted by those responsible for its custody, the Pinoy soldier is responsible for keeping the peace.

When democracy is threatened by the intense in-fighting between and among civilian elites, the Pinoy soldier is expected to preserve democracy by governing the institutions by which democracy stands firm.

Golf Putsch

A handful of active military generals and some businessmen have revived their Camp Aguinaldo golfing sessions. Not that they don't have anything to do. Fact is, these people are so rich, they have time to waste for some nice rounds in the fairways of this military camp.

And they are not talking about those hot and sizzling billboards of Angel Locsin along C-5 and that in Balintawak. They are talking about the future of this country.

A source, one of those privy to these golf sessions, revealed to this writer that these generals are planning to install a military government. Yes, a quasi-dictatorship. They already have their plans laid out but the question that remains to them is very, very simple---when and how to counter-act the expected public outrage that this action of theirs will result to.

These men are fond of the Lady by the murky waters of the Pasig. She serves as a willing bimbo, a foil, to mask their acts.  They have benefitted immensely through their friendship with the Lady. They owe their stars to Madame. And they're extremely confident of success since they have an ideologue backing them up.

This ideologue commands a vast army of intellectuals who are convinced that the next government should strictly be a Council of hand-picked civilians and military men. They cannot accept the fact that their poster girl will now retire in a barrio called Lubao. Without their poster girl, the real powers and shakers will be revealed. They will lose their foil. Plus of course, her husband seemed content in his role as a backroom operator of willing puppets hungry for power and of course, money.

And why are they interested of running this country of 90 million Filipinos? Simple. This administration has laid out so many projects, costing billions of dollars. This is the pot. This is what they are after. And with the prospects of a vast field of oil in Sulu and Palawan, they cannot allow others to benefit from this huge booty. Plus, of course, the prospect of billions worth of dollars more coming from foreign investors.

This country has a huge economic prospect but a very weak government. The weakness of this government is being exploited by the uber rich down to the janitor. There is no strong hegemon that keeps the peace. They see themselves as that Power.

What will they do in the next couple of weeks?

First, they will intensify the war in Mindanao. Yesterday, the AFP already said that within 60 days they will do all they can to annihilate the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). While the war simmers in Sulu and Basilan, these will effectively hide the REAL ACTION IN MINDANAO, which is the government spending spree amounting to 10 BILLION PESOS. Obviously, media will shift their attention. Instead of talking about this anomaly, they will cover war.

Second, bombings and assassinations will also intensify in various parts of the country. And lastly, they will then pay some media professionals to counter-act their enemies.

Net---we have an intra-elite war in the offing. Brace yourselves my friends,this is quite messy, and possibly, bloody.

Philippine Supreme Court reverses itself...again!

Yesterday's Supreme Court decision allowing Mrs. Arroyo full powers to appoint the next Chief Justice is a direct blow to Philippine democracy. First, it shows that the Executive has a tight grip on a co-equal branch of government which effectively destroyed the principle of check and balance, and second, it reflects how this administration has, time and again, shown its wanton disregard in the rule of law.

The rule of law is the only thing that keeps this democracy alive and by destroying it or even casting aside traditional or customary law, puts our democracy in extreme danger. How would we explain this ruling to future students of the law? That our Highest Court has the tendency to mock itself and has repeatedly contradicted itself to suit political whims?

What are the effects of this ruling to us, ordinary citizens of this damned Republic?

First, the ruling shows us that this Court is most favorable to Mrs. Arroyo. Nine justices granted her the powers, while only one dissented. Two close allies of Mrs. Arroyo said the issue is premature while three abstained from voting. 

This shows you what will happen when an issue goes to court questioning the legality of an act made by Mrs. Arroyo. Surely, as what Makati Business Club Executive director Bertie Lim said, this court will legalize even a Martial law declaration.

Former strongman Ferdinand Marcos was the only one who effectively controlled all branches of government under Martial rule. Mrs. Arroyo is now second, yet even without declaring herself the ultimate diva.

Second, a court bound by its strong ties with the Executive loses its effectiveness, integrity and independence. How would outsiders view this Court now, as a rump one? The Supreme Court acts as a leveller in a democracy. How then will this Court pass judgment without courting public suspicion?

Third, a Court acting as arbiter in a presidential race could entirely throw the entire electoral process to the dogs. In a close fight, will the public accept the verdict of this Court acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal? Obviously, no.

Lastly, it is evident that the real plan of this administration is institute an extra-constitutional exit for Mrs. Arroyo and pave the way for a quasi-dictatorship.

The ideologues of this administration is destroying every pillar of democracy to create a new one.

The dire warning given by Vice presidential candidate Mar Roxas is not without basis. Roxas warned that this ruling is the last in a series of acts by this administration to further its life and could very well be the last action pre-empting this elections.

Revolutionary Situation: Under the Table Democracy in Place

The last hope of decent Filipinos that this administration will heed popular clamor for Mrs. Arroyo not to exercise her powers of appointing the next Chief Justice will definitely end today.

Sources say that most of the justices favor Mrs. Arroyo appointing the next Chief Justice even before the retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, even during the prohibited period of appointments. Puno is set to retire by May 17.

Under the law, government is barred from appointing anybody to any government office during the election period. This has been the practice since Day One of this Republic.

Mrs. Arroyo has intimated her desire to exercise her powers of appointing the next Chief Justice, even without the list submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. Traditionally, the Judicial and Bar Council is the one responsible for submission of names to be considered by the President as candidates for the Highest Tribunal.

Based on jurisprudence, government is barred from exercising midnight appointments. Under the law, Mrs. Arroyo is barred from appointing any candidate ninety days before the expected date of elections.

This issue, if the Supreme Court decides in favor of Mrs. Arroyo's appointing power, is a question of equality under the Law and Justice.

Mrs. Arroyo has already appointed the new Armed Forces Chief of Staff despite public protestations against him and even appointed a New Chief of the Army, violating the very concept of respecting the chain of command.

How then will we explain these events to our children?

National Historical Institute is out of tune

I don't really see the point being made by the National Historical Institute (NHI). As a historiographer myself, I think it is stupid for the NHI to monitor every single artist or citizen out there while they're singing the National anthem.

Instead of correcting the errors in history books and probably engaging people in more relevant pursuits, like reminding them of the important events in our history, people over there at NHI are acting like voice coaches or music teachers.

Why file a case against Arnel Pineda or Martin Nievera just because they sang the national anthem in a higher pitch or tune than the others. Are we really fooling ourselves?

Who, really knows how to sing Felipe's masterpiece? Who, except the composer and the lyricists who are both dead, know the exact tune or pitch or cadence of our national song.

One's love for the country is not to be measured by the pitch or the tune that one gives out whenever he sings the anthem. We live in a democracy and we can sing it in whatever manner we want for as long as we don't change the lyrics.

Net--its not the tune stupid. It's the lyrics that matter.

I will be the first one to militate against those who will change the lyrics of our national anthem. That is a totally different matter altogether.

The NHI is acting like Hitler's SS when, again, they want Pinoy international artist Arnel Pineda charged for singing the national anthem higher in pitch and tune than what the composer intended. Lest the NHI forget--we are in a democracy and something as trivial as a higher tune is excusable.

It would disparage the memory of our heroes and patriots if the NHI continues to behave like old hags with a stick in hand, ready to strike someone's butt for singing in tune, but in a higher pitch. This is not the way to educate the people about our heritage and history. Fact is--this is the most insolent and the most stupid way to illuminate us of the finer points of our history.

And Arnel Pineda should not apologize. Fact is, Pineda should even give the NHI a piece of his creative mind.

Joey de Venecia III and his Fight

Joey de Venecia III is one of 50 or so people aspiring for a Senate post. And for Filipinos voting as absentee voters starting April 10, Joey de Venecia III comes to mind as the main whistleblower in the anomalous ZTE-NBN scandal.

A few people think that Joey de Venecia III does not deserve a senate seat because he belonged to a traditional political family. Most though laud and admire him for what he did--he rose up to put a stop to anomalies in government transactions. Had he not come out from his comfort zone, we would not have known these illicit deals.

Joey de Venecia III will be judged in history as the man who rose up and stood for what is Right, Just and Honest.

If he wins this May 10, 2010 elections, Joey de Venecia III will be the first citizen to ever be elected straight to the Senate. And it looks like he will hack it.

Surveys show Joey de Venecia III landing in the Magic 12 of preferred senatoriables. And asking the masses of the people also gives us a more than bigger chance of him successfully winning in this elections.

The question that everybody is asking is this---will he continue the fight for honest and good governance in the halls of the Senate?

The most expensive and the Most Violent elections in Phil History

Two things mark this May 10, 2010---the most expensive and the most violent. Inspite of the financial and economic crisis that we are suffering, most candidates are spending more than 1 billion pesos already, of course, being led by who else but the country's real estate magnate, Senator Manny Villar of the Nacionalista party. Records show he already spent 2 billion at least, two months ahead of the elections.

Okey with me if most of these went to feed the hungry, clothe the oppressed with justice and warmed the bodies of the widows. But no. These monies went to advertising, media placement and media networks. So, who did Manny Villar helped but those already awash with cash.

Imagine, where will he get the money to regain 2 billion pesos? Probably, he'll tell us that he has business partners who share the costs with him. Okey, so who are these partners? May we know so that we'll know who will probably benefit under a Villar administration?

And this is, by far, the most violent elections ever in Philippine history. The Philippine National Police has reported ninety five people killed, the most was that gruesome massacre in Maguindanao.

Both issues, if you'll analyze them very closely, is a problem of supervision. In overspending, the Comelec and the BIR are responsible for monitoring them, but sadly, they don't have the muscle nor the personnel to actually implement the law.

These politically-motivated killings are also part of the problem of supervision. The 140,000 strong police force are still insufficient to counter more than 10,000 armed groups, since most of these cops are being utilized to fight criminal syndicates (and some being used as security guards of the rich and famous).

The real problem actually lies in what people think of their respective roles in Philippine society. If, for example, people, especially candidates for elective posts, exercise self-regulation, overspending will not be a problem at all, since most will expect others to follow the same rules of the game.

If people respect the very sanctity and importance of life, he will not kill nor even think of killing another in the name of Sanctus Politio.

Hence, the very problem lies in the frames of mind of people. If people have the proper frames of reference, then, there is no need for stricter monitoring nor supervising things.

Herbert Bautista and the mystery of feeding 2,500

Let me just point out ONE THING, especially to a man named Badong who commented about my earlier post on Quezon City vice mayor Herbert Bautista.

Badong, I AM NOT WORKING FOR MIKE DEFENSOR. Review my earlier posts and I have written many disparaging articles against him in the past. I am not even a member of "a group of bloggers working for Mike Defensor", no.

Yes, I know Mike personally, having been his classmate in some classes over at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Yet, if you look at my posts, I have written so many negative things about him especially his closeness with Mrs. Arroyo that I could have been accused of being a Herbert Bautista man myself.

It is the likes of you that will further increase the public's distrust of your boss, Herbert Bautista. I wrote the article based on what he said during the press conference. Will I write bullshit here? Obviously, no.

Will I accept that flawed mathematics that he pursues with utmost vigor and trepidation? No. I am not as foolish as some to accept that mathematics that 2,500 people eats ten times per meal because "there's 10 programs", no.

I am obviously a voter of Quezon City and I am deeply concerned where my money went, the same concern I shared with my readers on the shit that Mike Defensor created when he was still with Madame Gloria Arroyo.

A misdemeanor, or a flawed logic is a misdemeanor and flawed. I will never bend what was said in a presscon. That is my duty and responsibility with my readers.

If you want to exonerate your boss from this mysterious feeding program, then, try to explain the following:

1. What is his interpretation of an emergency procurement?
2. Why is it that the "emergency" lasted for a year?
3. What happened to the rest of the allocated funds for this "emergency"?
4. Where are the pieces of evidence which show that these "emergency" purchases did, indeed happened?

Instead of accusing people of partiality or wrongfully accusing people of being "Mike Defensor's group of bloggers", explain first these mysterious feeding of the 2,500 and share it with my readers here. If his explanation is logical and it accounted for the missing funds or it corrected the flawed mathematics, then, I'll be the first to praise him for feeding and caring 2,500 people.

Herbert Bautista and his Mathematics

I had a chance, along with other bloggers, to interview Quezon city vice mayor Herbert Bautista last night. He was gracious enough to accommodate us to his home at Capitol Homes. We shared supper with him.

Afterwards, we went down to business---how the hell did the Quezon city government incurred 270 million pesos worth of food expenses just feeding 2,500 people in 10 projects called Halamanan at Bakuran and a program for drug dependents?

This was on everybody's mind when we met Herbert in his modest house in Capitol Homes and what he said stumped everybody, including me. Let's do the math.

Herbert Bautista said that there were three types of procurement in government, one of them, emergency procurement. Emergency procurement, he says, does not need bidding. And it's quite understandable, since as the name implies, the procurement was a necessity, given the emergency nature of a particular situation.

During this "emergency procurement", Bautista, as vice mayor, convinced the Quezon City council to feed 2,500 people for a certain period of time, which, to my mind, is quite understandable.

However, what baffled me was the decision of the entire Council to feed this people for a year, which was not the intention of the procurement, since an emergency procurement is allowed by law only to cover the period where there is an emergency.

Don't tell me Mr. Bautista that the entire period of emergency was one year? The law states that if a particular program extends the time of the emergency, then, the procurement should be regular procurement, not emergency procurement, which will necessitate a bidding.

Anyway, granting that this procurement had the authority given by the Council, let's hear what Vice mayor Herbert Bautista has to say about the amount of money spent for feeding 2,500 people.

Bautista says that they fed 2,500 and based on records, every meal cost 40 (some as high as 150 pesos per). So, 2,500 x 40= 100,000 for each meal. If they fed them thrice, that's 300,000 pesos per day.

Okey. So, for a month which includes weekends, that would only be 9 million pesos. So, for a year, that would cost the Quezon City government, 108 million pesos. The question that everybody wants to know is--why did the government spent 270 million pesos, for a feeding program which only amounted to 108 million? Where did the rest of the money go?

Herbert Bautista was evidently stumped when we asked him about it. He lamely defended himself by saying that since a case was filed already before the Ombusman, any and all discussions about this will be treated as illegal.

Mr. Bautista, the case is just at the preliminary investigation, and not in court. Besides, any citizen can very well talk about this since it is our money that was spent here, not yours nor the Council.

Anyway, Karen Davila of ANC interviewed Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and this was all he could say about this very controversial case now becoming a very big scandal over the net.

General Delfin Bangit and where his loyalty lies

Former generals Jose Almonte and Ramon Montano articulated the sentiments of some segments of the military in yesterday's interview with the media. Almonte said the appointment of Lt. General Delfin Bangit as the new AFP chief of staff is "alarming" due to his perceived closeness with Mrs. Gloria Arroyo who is set to leave office by June 2010. Almonte opined that the appointment will cast aspersion to the entire poll exercise because Arroyo has this penchant of using the military institution for her personal gains, one of which was the highly controversial "Hello Garci", which involved thousands of troops and a few generals. Such a scenario is likely, given the personal loyalty of Bangit to his appointing power.

The same fears were expressed by former general Montano who says that some idealistic officers and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have expressed alarm and fears that the military institution will again be used to influence the elections. More than this though is the prospect of this administration serving in a hold-over capacity once a failure of elections happen. Montano believes that the military and the people will not allow this to happen and the outbreak of violence will eventually be bloody if Bangit and his mistahs at PMA Class 1978 allow themselves to be used by the political elite in conserving power.

NCR director Roberto Rosales, a great gentleman and an officer, tried to squelch these speculations by reiterating that most members of their class deserve their promotions. Rosales say they will never allow their class to be manipulated by anybody. Same goes to Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., the AFP spokesperson, who said that the new C-S will "abide by the Constitution and protect the rights of the people". Even the palace through Executive secretary Leandro Mendoza says that Bangit is a "professional soldier, completely loyal to the Constitution and to the Filipino People."

I sincerely do not doubt the loyalty of Bangit, whom I know to be that of a tireless soldier, someone who knows his place under the sun and is intelligent enough to discern what is truly right and what is entirely wrong.

However, I cannot but erase from memory the role he played in the 2004 elections. He was privy to that entire rigging exercise and by keeping silent, Bangit was also complicit in that illicit affair.

It is of course, ideal for Bangit to really remain "apolitical" and think of the interest of the entire institution rather than of his own. However, the situation right now is unfortunately very explosive that one false move from him will inevitably spark something serious.

The question really is--is Bangit willing to exorcise his past for the sake of the institution he loves? Will he disassociate himself from Arroyo at a crucial moment? Will he disallow an order from the palace to use members of the military in election operations?

The other question is---will Arroyo sacrifice the future of this country just for her personal survival? I think yes. She did it before and she will do it again. Such is her unquenchable thirst for power that she will use all of her power to survive.