Chinese invasion of RP

Palace factotums are quick to say that the ZTE scandal is a small matter. Why? Because the palace already killed it before it would even affect us. The DBM Secretary was quick to point out during the senate hearings last year that the project does not have any allocations in the budget and therefore, he says, can't be deemed to be detrimental to all of us.

Sure. The ZTE is technically, not in effect yet, therefore, there's no harm done. Yeah.

The secretary is telling us a half-truth. There's already harm done. First, hours of meetings spent by government officials talking with the ZTE and Chinese officials were all paid for by public money, including of course, that infamous trip by Arroyo to Boao. Second, a strained diplomatic relations with China could cost us millions of dollars' worth of lost investments. Third, the effects in the business community. How on earth would we now turn this despicable episode into a positive promotions for us when the palace itself is leading the corruption of our entire society?

Remember that the palace has just declared this project suspended, not entirely scrapped. At this point, government is still pursuing the NBN project under a new name and a new guise--the NGN project. ZTE's hands are still evident since these local telcos would still use ZTE equipment in running this project. Remember that telcos has admitted that they use ZTE telecommunications equipment in their operations. The reason why ZTE remains silent now is because they know that, when the dust settles, they will still gain from all of these. Government will still pay them multi-million dollars' worth for the technical equipment they will be supplying to the Philippine government.

Why is it that Filipinos should oppose ZTE's role in the NGN project

Like what Senator Honasan pointed out, why would this administration allow an enemy like China to control the levers of our government? Have DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza realize the security implications of this? Imagine, China knowing the access codes of our governmental system! What if the Spratlys issue suddenly thrust the Philippines into a war with China? How would government function effectively when all of its computer networks are controlled by Chinese, much less, members of the People's Liberation Army (PLA)? Sources say, the ZTE people are legitimate members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

I am, admittedly a Maoist. But my Maoism ends when my nationalism begins. I cannot, in my entire soul, hand over the security of this country to another foreign power, especially China whom I consider as a competitor in the global market. Yes, the old China provided us with the ideological direction years ago. But, this is NOT enough for us to agree that we hand over our sovereignty to them since China is also a claimant in the Spratlys.

The ZTE deal is just a front of China to finally and slowly conquer the Philippines. Why is the Philippines so strategic for the Chinese? One, our natural resources. We have an inexhaustible supply of coal and natural gas which China needs to satisfy its power requirements. Two, our market. We have at least 90 million consumers of cheap Chinese products. And three, our real estate. We have enormous tracts of land which the Chinese needs to expand its operations beyond its borders.

The Chinese can't do it in Malaysia nor Indonesia nor Singapore. For China, it needs another country which is susceptible enough like ours to expand its neo-capitalist operations.

Esperon's fate--DOTC Chief

Its confirmed. GMA will NOT, I say, WILL NOT EXTEND ESPERON'S TERM. This was confirmed by one of my sources at the palace. There's a twist however. Esperon is said to be replacing former PNP chief and now DOTC Secretary Mendoza. Yes, some of the palace hawks are giving the gauntlet to Mendo. The loyal DOTC secretary who has done a good job cleaning house, is said to be on his way out.

Yano is the new AFP Chief of Staff, one of Arroyo's closest advisers said. Arroyo reportedly gave Esperon a verbal dressing down just recently. Esperon reportedly shouted at Arroyo for not extending his term. The incident happened last Friday when Arroyo called Esperon to her office at the palace. Esperon allegedly threatened the president that he'll side with the anti-Arroyo groups. Arroyo was unfazed, knowing fully well that no group will ever get Esperon in their side.

So, its final--Esperon out, Yano in.

Abalos and Formoso--sacrificial lambs

Joey de Venecia was a picture of frustration at today's Senate hearings. After Mendoza admitted meeting Mr. Arroyo and Comelec chairman Abalos, Joey sensed something wrong. Mendoza told Senators that he did meet the First Gentleman and Chairman Abalos at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, but there was nothing anomalous about it. It was a simple chat, that's all and it has nothing to do with the ZTE deal.

Bull.

Don't tell me that the First Gentleman did not "pressure" Mendoza to agree about the deal. Don't tell me that Chair Abalos did'nt caddy for the Chinese. Abalos already admitted knowing the ZTE officials and they have discussed the ZTE deal at length prior to the April 21 signing of the agreement in China. Mendoza is simply lying for saying that he knows nothing rotten about the deal. What's more, Mendoza simply allowed an underling to defend the contract, deftly distancing himself from the issue. Is this the kind of secretary we deserve? Someone who heads the department but does'nt know or simply feign innocence whenever something like this happens?

I do believe, however, that Mendoza did not earn a single cent from this deal. I believe that Mendoza is clean. I can't say about the First Gentleman and Abalos. Maybe this deal was just to accommodate the wishes of the "old man" who's set to retire four months from now. Its quite possible that Abalos was expecting this deal to be his swan song. I do believe Joey's revelation though about Abalos. It seems that Joey was really pressured by Abalos to back off because this project was a project of the First Gentleman and Abalos.

I do emphathize with Mendoza though. He owes the First Gentleman his position. And generals like him are admired most for their capacity to keep secrets. It seems that Mendoza was just doing his job, while Abalos appears to be the one who wants a quick buck. It could be that this deal was the First Gentleman's gift to Abalos.

Obviously, in this political vaudeville (as described by GMA), the die has already been cast. Sacrifice Abalos and Formoso. Abalos is retiring from government service anyway while Formoso, well, he's dispensible. From the looks of it, GMA and her gang has decided to let Abalos go. The question though is, is this a wise decision?

The cabbie sings

Abalos knows a lot of secrets. He knows the real score especially on the 2004 elections. If he sings....that's another "fresh" destabilization plot. Abalos said that he'll attend the Senate hearings on Wednesday to clear his name. Sadly, this might be a foregone conclusion. The reputation of Abalos has been destroyed by Joey's pronouncements that it would be very hard for Abalos to cleanse his name.

A warning though to the good Chairman---the Chinese intelligence service is closely observing what's happening here. The Chinese Communist Party, obviously, would not let this issue sitting down. Abalos could face a very dangerous situation here.

If Abalos is let go, what's the possibility of him singing like a canary? There's a chance that he will.

Postscript

A "sick" First Gentleman left for Germany in the eve of the Senate hearings. What prompted him to leave? Could it be because of the Senate hearings? I think not.

I think the First Gentleman needs to check on his deposits in Switzerland. He went there with his banker. What would prod a sick man to leave in haste if it not for money? The only possibility is one of his banks need his signature. For what, you may ask? There are three possibilities: (1) FG needs to sign a bank transfer (2) He needs to withdraw a huge sum of money which he cannot do online and (3) it could be he's preparing the country of exile?

These things don't happen without a purpose. I stand by my observation that negotiations between GMA's camp and the counter-elite has reached an impasse. There could be another stab at ousting the president and the palace probably knows that the counter-elite has a stronger force than theirs. Are we seeing a repeat of EDSA very soon? I think yes. But, it may not happen this month or the next. It could probably happen either by January or February of next year. I think the nation is expecting yet another scandal which could precipitate a power grab.