Politicians led by former Manila mayor Lito Atienza just filed a case against Lady Gaga. The charge? Well, she supposedly promotes kalaswaan or indecency. Lady Gaga is supposed to have a concert at the newly built SM Mall of Asia arena, the very first artist to do a concert there.
Atienza etal wants Lady Gaga barred from performing at the Arena.
I don't know about you, but indecency for me does not include semi-nudity nor explicit lyrics. It includes graft and corruption. It includes getting someone else money and justifying it as a project.
It involves allowing people to cut trees and mine in areas that are supposed to be protected natural area. Lying is an indecent thing, so does supporting a regime that has wrecked havoc to democratic institutions of this country.
I remember Christ when he was alive. Christ told the Pharisees and the Sadducees in his time what decency and Godliness are all about. It's about genuine concern to a fellow human being. It has nothing to do with human tradition. It is about human nature.
Instead of Lady Gaga being barred from expressing her artistry, maybe it's time for the people to file cases of indecency to those who tries to be decent, but are definitely far from it. By showing themselves as divine, these people have shown how indecent they are.
Showing posts with label lito atienza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lito atienza. Show all posts
Friday, May 18, 2012
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Of Lito Atienza and Caesar's act
Today, he wrote something about how Environmental secretary Lito Atienza is most responsible for the Ondoy flooding. Atienza, during yesterday's Senate hearing, put the blame squarely on the shoulders of Metro mayors who continually violate established environmental laws. He wants those mayors jailed.
What Atienza forgot is, he's not there bearing witness as a Manila mayoral candidate; he is there representing the national government as Environmental secretary. When he blamed those mayors, he is actually pointing a finger directly back to him. RedHotWriter is correct---Atienza responsible for ensuring compliance. Atienza knows that those laws are being violated---why did he not jail them even before?
Conscience dictates that men of such "notable" character should entirely be honest in themselves. What Atienza did is a Caesar's act. He washes his hands clean of all filth and dirt and blood stains caused by the typhoon.
I think the Senate or an independent body should seriously look at this issue more closely since it appears that it is not the unusually big volume of rains that caused those floods but the obstructions especially shanties and big factories.
Strong executive action should be implemented immediately.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Lozada's story
This is what we have gleaned from the senate investigations so far:
1. Jun Lozada or "J-lo" as what some sectors refer to him, was tasked by his bosom buddy NEDA Secretary Neri to mediate in the NBN deal. Lozada was tapped since he is an IT engineer.
2. Lozada entered the picture during the time that NEDA was reviewing the project. The DOTC needs the NEDA recommendation since it is the procedure dictated by law.
3. Lozada met both parties--the ZTE people who won the bid and Amsterdam Holdings. ZTE people wants a government loan while Amsterdam Holdings want to build NGN through a BOT (Build and Operate Transfer). Both groups have very strong backers--Amsterdam Holdings have Joey de Venecia, the son and namesake of the Speaker of the House--and ZTE has Abalos, who was then COMELEC chairman.
4. Between these two titans is Lozada. Lozada was the middle man so to speak. He was the mediator whom Neri tasked to "moderate their greed". For Neri, moderating means about 20-30% of the contract price.
5. Chairman Abalos, the person who orchestrated the anomalous win of Arroyo in the 2004 elections, felt powerful. He holds an ace against the president since he knows how government operators acted during the 2004 elections. Since he is also very close to the First Gentleman, being his "padrino" behind his appointment to the Comelec is near retirement. He wants something. He needs some money for his retirement.
6. Chairman Abalos brokered a deal with the ZTE. He also told FG that he'll have at least 70 million dollars from this deal. There are others who will "earn" from the expected 130million dollars commission which Abalos wants from this deal.
7. Lozada, meanwhile, reported to Neri. Neri told Lozada to moderate the greed of Abalos. When Lozada told Abalos about this, he then called FG. FG called back and assured Abalos that the palace will do everything possible for the deal to continue.
8. Neri then came to Arroyo. Neri told Arroyo of what Abalos is doing, even offering him bribe money amounting to 200 million pesos. Arroyo reportedly told him not to accept the money but approve the project anyway. Neri did what was asked of him and approved the ZTE deal, under the guise that it should be done under the BOT scheme, not a government loan. This is also the recommendation of Lozada.
9. Upon knowing this, Abalos went ballistic and called Lozada. He threatened Lozada with death and cursed him. Lozada became fearful for his life since that time.
10. When Arroyo went to Boao and signed the agreement, the deal suddenly turned from BOT to government loan. Before Arroyo planed to China, a press conference was held by the losing bidder, protesting about the project.
11. JDV's friend and columnist Jarius Bondoc then wrote the ZTE deal in his columns. The Inquirer also wrote a special report about the ZTE deal. Slowly, media learned about the deal and some TV shows did some reports. ZTE people became frantic yet they were so confident that the deal will be honored by the government, since, using their words, "this is a government to government transaction covered by an executive agreement."
12. By this time, Lozada has been receiving numerous death threats thru texting. Lozada presumed that these texts were emanating from Abalos group, since in one of their conversations, Abalos boasted that he's so influential with the military. Lozada confided this to his friend, Neri.
13. Then came Joey de Venecia opening the lid so to speak, against the deal. Media caught up with him including civil society. His father tried to dissuade him from testifying since he was receiving numerous death threats himself. One friend, former PNP Supt. Jaime delos santos further fanned the flames by going to JDV and reporting that these threats were real. The Speaker, fearful of his son's life, tried to talk Joey out of this. Joey refused. In his statement, Joey said that it was his responsibility as a citizen to report this anomalous deal.
14. The DOTC officials then went on an offensive, criticizing Joey publicly. The First Family also did their own smear campaign, portrating Joey to be a drug addict and a perjured witness. This issue would have been settled there since I believe, the palace succeeded in neutralizing Joey. The Senate Blue Ribbon then decided to suspend the hearings. Joey went on a vacation, first to Japan and then to the US. Sources say, the reason why he went to the US was to consult with his financier, George Soros and a big-time filipino businessman.
15. Christmas came and went. Relations between the Speaker and the palace soured which led to the ouster of the Speaker. Speaker went ballistic, and threatened to expose the anomalies of the palace during his valedictory. But since the palace assessed that he's now a spent force, they let him be. Ramos threatened the palace lightly, obviously desirous to still salvage the relationship of Arroyo and JDV.
16. The tipping point came when the camp of JDV leaked an information about Lozada's role in the ZTE mess. Learning of this, Lozada confessed to his boss, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza. Atienza then cautioned Lozada in testifying to the Senate.
17. Lozada, being a still small-time operator, panicked. The Senate, learning of this, issued a subpoena for him to appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon.
18. To avoid the Senate, Lozada then consulted with Deputy Executive Secretary Gaite. Gaite, in his testimony, advised Lozada to cool off. Gaite did this upon the instigation of Atienza who called him about the case of Lozada. The palace factotums then arranged all travel arrangements for Lozada, ostensibly to avoid the Senate hearings.
19. Atienza then ordered Lozada to go to Hongkong. Lozada obliged. In Hongkong, Lozada called Neri and Atienza.
20. Since Lozada was fast losing money to support himself there, Lozada asked Atienza that he return to the Philippines. He also was worried about leaving his family here. Meanwhile, members of civil society were actively persuading Lozada to testify against the palace.
21. Lozada then planed in on February 5th. Atienza, knowing Lozada's itinerary, called up PNP Chief Razon. Razon immediately ordered a team to fetch Lozada. The PSPO team then went to the airport and coordinated with the airport officials. What the public does not know is that Atienza and Gaite also called up Cusi to arrange for Lozada's "safekeeping".
22. Lozada arrived. At the airport, he was frisked away by a team of "military men", as what Lozada described them. He tried to tell his family, specifically his brother of what happened to him. The team kidnapped Lozada. They went to Calamba, then to Los Banos and back. When his captors already know that he's deathly afraid of them, they then went to Outback. There, Lozada was made to sign a security request upon the prodding of one Atty Bautista. Bautista was tapped by Gaite to prepare the affidavits.
23. Afraid for his life, Lozada signed the affidavits and requested that he be returned to his family. The team then went to La Salle Greenhills where his sister, Carmen and others were waiting. The team then requested to Carmen that she sign a security request. Desirous to end her brother's ordeal, she signed the document. At this juncture, the team relaxed their hold of Lozada.
24. With this, nuns and priests entered into the picture. They secured Lozada. The team panicked and asked for backup. It was then that the palace fair haired boy, Mike Defensor entered the picture. Defensor went to La Salle and talked with Lozada. This is the time when the palace wants to regain control of Lozada. After talking with him, Defensor asked Lozada that he deny everything about his abduction. Lozada told Defensor that he think about it.
25. After confering with the priests and nuns, Lozada decided to surrender his fate to God.
1. Jun Lozada or "J-lo" as what some sectors refer to him, was tasked by his bosom buddy NEDA Secretary Neri to mediate in the NBN deal. Lozada was tapped since he is an IT engineer.
2. Lozada entered the picture during the time that NEDA was reviewing the project. The DOTC needs the NEDA recommendation since it is the procedure dictated by law.
3. Lozada met both parties--the ZTE people who won the bid and Amsterdam Holdings. ZTE people wants a government loan while Amsterdam Holdings want to build NGN through a BOT (Build and Operate Transfer). Both groups have very strong backers--Amsterdam Holdings have Joey de Venecia, the son and namesake of the Speaker of the House--and ZTE has Abalos, who was then COMELEC chairman.
4. Between these two titans is Lozada. Lozada was the middle man so to speak. He was the mediator whom Neri tasked to "moderate their greed". For Neri, moderating means about 20-30% of the contract price.
5. Chairman Abalos, the person who orchestrated the anomalous win of Arroyo in the 2004 elections, felt powerful. He holds an ace against the president since he knows how government operators acted during the 2004 elections. Since he is also very close to the First Gentleman, being his "padrino" behind his appointment to the Comelec is near retirement. He wants something. He needs some money for his retirement.
6. Chairman Abalos brokered a deal with the ZTE. He also told FG that he'll have at least 70 million dollars from this deal. There are others who will "earn" from the expected 130million dollars commission which Abalos wants from this deal.
7. Lozada, meanwhile, reported to Neri. Neri told Lozada to moderate the greed of Abalos. When Lozada told Abalos about this, he then called FG. FG called back and assured Abalos that the palace will do everything possible for the deal to continue.
8. Neri then came to Arroyo. Neri told Arroyo of what Abalos is doing, even offering him bribe money amounting to 200 million pesos. Arroyo reportedly told him not to accept the money but approve the project anyway. Neri did what was asked of him and approved the ZTE deal, under the guise that it should be done under the BOT scheme, not a government loan. This is also the recommendation of Lozada.
9. Upon knowing this, Abalos went ballistic and called Lozada. He threatened Lozada with death and cursed him. Lozada became fearful for his life since that time.
10. When Arroyo went to Boao and signed the agreement, the deal suddenly turned from BOT to government loan. Before Arroyo planed to China, a press conference was held by the losing bidder, protesting about the project.
11. JDV's friend and columnist Jarius Bondoc then wrote the ZTE deal in his columns. The Inquirer also wrote a special report about the ZTE deal. Slowly, media learned about the deal and some TV shows did some reports. ZTE people became frantic yet they were so confident that the deal will be honored by the government, since, using their words, "this is a government to government transaction covered by an executive agreement."
12. By this time, Lozada has been receiving numerous death threats thru texting. Lozada presumed that these texts were emanating from Abalos group, since in one of their conversations, Abalos boasted that he's so influential with the military. Lozada confided this to his friend, Neri.
13. Then came Joey de Venecia opening the lid so to speak, against the deal. Media caught up with him including civil society. His father tried to dissuade him from testifying since he was receiving numerous death threats himself. One friend, former PNP Supt. Jaime delos santos further fanned the flames by going to JDV and reporting that these threats were real. The Speaker, fearful of his son's life, tried to talk Joey out of this. Joey refused. In his statement, Joey said that it was his responsibility as a citizen to report this anomalous deal.
14. The DOTC officials then went on an offensive, criticizing Joey publicly. The First Family also did their own smear campaign, portrating Joey to be a drug addict and a perjured witness. This issue would have been settled there since I believe, the palace succeeded in neutralizing Joey. The Senate Blue Ribbon then decided to suspend the hearings. Joey went on a vacation, first to Japan and then to the US. Sources say, the reason why he went to the US was to consult with his financier, George Soros and a big-time filipino businessman.
15. Christmas came and went. Relations between the Speaker and the palace soured which led to the ouster of the Speaker. Speaker went ballistic, and threatened to expose the anomalies of the palace during his valedictory. But since the palace assessed that he's now a spent force, they let him be. Ramos threatened the palace lightly, obviously desirous to still salvage the relationship of Arroyo and JDV.
16. The tipping point came when the camp of JDV leaked an information about Lozada's role in the ZTE mess. Learning of this, Lozada confessed to his boss, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza. Atienza then cautioned Lozada in testifying to the Senate.
17. Lozada, being a still small-time operator, panicked. The Senate, learning of this, issued a subpoena for him to appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon.
18. To avoid the Senate, Lozada then consulted with Deputy Executive Secretary Gaite. Gaite, in his testimony, advised Lozada to cool off. Gaite did this upon the instigation of Atienza who called him about the case of Lozada. The palace factotums then arranged all travel arrangements for Lozada, ostensibly to avoid the Senate hearings.
19. Atienza then ordered Lozada to go to Hongkong. Lozada obliged. In Hongkong, Lozada called Neri and Atienza.
20. Since Lozada was fast losing money to support himself there, Lozada asked Atienza that he return to the Philippines. He also was worried about leaving his family here. Meanwhile, members of civil society were actively persuading Lozada to testify against the palace.
21. Lozada then planed in on February 5th. Atienza, knowing Lozada's itinerary, called up PNP Chief Razon. Razon immediately ordered a team to fetch Lozada. The PSPO team then went to the airport and coordinated with the airport officials. What the public does not know is that Atienza and Gaite also called up Cusi to arrange for Lozada's "safekeeping".
22. Lozada arrived. At the airport, he was frisked away by a team of "military men", as what Lozada described them. He tried to tell his family, specifically his brother of what happened to him. The team kidnapped Lozada. They went to Calamba, then to Los Banos and back. When his captors already know that he's deathly afraid of them, they then went to Outback. There, Lozada was made to sign a security request upon the prodding of one Atty Bautista. Bautista was tapped by Gaite to prepare the affidavits.
23. Afraid for his life, Lozada signed the affidavits and requested that he be returned to his family. The team then went to La Salle Greenhills where his sister, Carmen and others were waiting. The team then requested to Carmen that she sign a security request. Desirous to end her brother's ordeal, she signed the document. At this juncture, the team relaxed their hold of Lozada.
24. With this, nuns and priests entered into the picture. They secured Lozada. The team panicked and asked for backup. It was then that the palace fair haired boy, Mike Defensor entered the picture. Defensor went to La Salle and talked with Lozada. This is the time when the palace wants to regain control of Lozada. After talking with him, Defensor asked Lozada that he deny everything about his abduction. Lozada told Defensor that he think about it.
25. After confering with the priests and nuns, Lozada decided to surrender his fate to God.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
New Configurations in Congress
Congress is in for war. Two camps, De Venecia's and Nograles' are gearing for a major battle possibly in the first week of February. Both camps have been saber-rattling. Both claim to have the support of Gloria Arroyo.
Reports claim that Mrs. Arroyo has given the signal for De Venecia's ouster. However, reports are connecting this order with the revival of the ZTE probe. I don't believe that Arroyo's order is directly connected with this probe. Even prior to the ZTE controversy, the camps of Arroyo and De Venecia have already been feuding. It started with Kampi raiding the ranks of Lakas in the 2007 elections and spilling over post-election period. Quarters are really after De Venecia's head because some grew tired of his "user-friendly" style of administration while others simply hate how he uses the speakership to corner juicy deals in government.
People, especially from civil society, are not massing behind JDV. There's no public outrage against these ouster moves. In fact, most welcome the possible change in the speakership post since it would give Mindanaoans (if they succeed in ousting JDV and replace him with his buddy. Rep. Nograles) a chance to prop up their voice in Congress.
The ZTE probe has nothing to do with JDV's possible ouster. Certain quarters in media close to JDV use this issue just to play up the emotions of the people and possibly get public support behind JDV. However, they are failing to mass up since people are already tired of JDV. I mean, the guy has been given five times to make his mark for Philippine development. He has failed five times.
Ominous times ahead for political parties
Arroyo allies are raiding and wrecking rival political parties way ahead of the 2010 polls. Lito Atienza, a known Arroyo lapdog, has succeeded in splitting the Liberal Party, which I believe, has the potential to be the strongest party in 2010. Reports that Sen. Kiko Pangilinan rejected calls for him to head the party further fuel talks that the party of presidentiable Mar Roxas is weakening. These reports are very bad for the party since it will discourage big-time campaign funders from giving campaign distributions to LP. If this happens, then, LP will find it very hard to launch a decent presidential campaign in 2010. No amount of palengke tours of Roxas will mask this weakening of LP.
Talks of Legarda's possible transfer to Lakas via the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) are getting louder by the minute. This shows that talks between a possible Roxas-Legarda tandem have failed. NPC is gearing for a coalition with Lakas since the FVR party has lost considerable strength with raidings from Kampi and these ouster moves against Lakas party stalwart JDV. Lakas needs all the support it could get from other parties. It has already aligned with Atienza's LP faction. However, it is planning for NPC's numbers to prop its base support.
What these means is this--political rivals of Kampi are slowly being raided and destroyed from within. Why? Because people behind Arroyo are preparing for cha-cha. I know this sounds disjointed but hear me out. Cha-cha is not yet dead. It will be revived after the ouster of JDV this February. When that happens, nothing can stop Gloria's camp from campaigning for her as prime minister.
Reports claim that Mrs. Arroyo has given the signal for De Venecia's ouster. However, reports are connecting this order with the revival of the ZTE probe. I don't believe that Arroyo's order is directly connected with this probe. Even prior to the ZTE controversy, the camps of Arroyo and De Venecia have already been feuding. It started with Kampi raiding the ranks of Lakas in the 2007 elections and spilling over post-election period. Quarters are really after De Venecia's head because some grew tired of his "user-friendly" style of administration while others simply hate how he uses the speakership to corner juicy deals in government.
People, especially from civil society, are not massing behind JDV. There's no public outrage against these ouster moves. In fact, most welcome the possible change in the speakership post since it would give Mindanaoans (if they succeed in ousting JDV and replace him with his buddy. Rep. Nograles) a chance to prop up their voice in Congress.
The ZTE probe has nothing to do with JDV's possible ouster. Certain quarters in media close to JDV use this issue just to play up the emotions of the people and possibly get public support behind JDV. However, they are failing to mass up since people are already tired of JDV. I mean, the guy has been given five times to make his mark for Philippine development. He has failed five times.
Ominous times ahead for political parties
Arroyo allies are raiding and wrecking rival political parties way ahead of the 2010 polls. Lito Atienza, a known Arroyo lapdog, has succeeded in splitting the Liberal Party, which I believe, has the potential to be the strongest party in 2010. Reports that Sen. Kiko Pangilinan rejected calls for him to head the party further fuel talks that the party of presidentiable Mar Roxas is weakening. These reports are very bad for the party since it will discourage big-time campaign funders from giving campaign distributions to LP. If this happens, then, LP will find it very hard to launch a decent presidential campaign in 2010. No amount of palengke tours of Roxas will mask this weakening of LP.
Talks of Legarda's possible transfer to Lakas via the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) are getting louder by the minute. This shows that talks between a possible Roxas-Legarda tandem have failed. NPC is gearing for a coalition with Lakas since the FVR party has lost considerable strength with raidings from Kampi and these ouster moves against Lakas party stalwart JDV. Lakas needs all the support it could get from other parties. It has already aligned with Atienza's LP faction. However, it is planning for NPC's numbers to prop its base support.
What these means is this--political rivals of Kampi are slowly being raided and destroyed from within. Why? Because people behind Arroyo are preparing for cha-cha. I know this sounds disjointed but hear me out. Cha-cha is not yet dead. It will be revived after the ouster of JDV this February. When that happens, nothing can stop Gloria's camp from campaigning for her as prime minister.
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