Jun Lozada transferred Manila City Jail

Where’s former COMELEC Chairman Ben Abalos? Last reports indicate that he is seen golfing with his buddies over at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. How about Joc-Joc Bolante? He’s now at the Alabang house where he last reported himself to the Senate. And former COMELEC official Garcillano? He’s reportedly tending his farm over at his province. And how about the DOTC officials implicated in the ballyhooed ZTE scandal? DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza is still in the cabinet while the undersecretaries involved are all accounted for.

And Jun Lozada, the whistleblower who created a maelstrom which nearly toppled this administration, where is he?

Lozada has been locked in with other common criminals over at the Manila City jail, shortly after the City courts failed to issue a commitment order for him. He has been in jail for some days now. This recent transfer has caused quite a stir since Lozada has just been charged with perjury, a petty crime which has a one month to six month jail term.

Lozada is being punished not for perjuring himself or others—he’s really being punished for squealing his former associates involved in the ZTE deal. One of his former associates, Mike Defensor, just wanted him to “re-imagine” his role in the ZTE deal. Defensor just wanted Lozada to tell the whole world that he did’nt ask him to deny that he was kidnapped.

Simply put, Defensor wants Lozada to totally “re-imagine” what had happened during those critical moments last February 2008. Defensor wants Lozada to deny that he purposely told him to “back off” with his plan of telling the public about what had happened.

This is the only place where whistleblowers get either killed or incarcerated while the real grafters and perpetuators go scot-free.

It felt good

Jose de Venecia Jr. stood tall today. Inspite of what palace operators said, that all of his narrations are "rehash" and "plain old sour-graping", the fact is, they can't dispute what happened. JDV was invited, along with Gloria, her husband and their close associate, Ben Abalos. In an interview over at DZBB, Abalos admitted that the meeting really took place. But, is'nt weird that Abalos, the First Gentleman and their cohorts in bastardizing this country of ours really found nothing wrong with them and the president being there at the very turf of one of the proclaimed bidders in a government project?

What's so shocking about that, says Abalos who now spends more of his time teeing off at Wack-Wack? What's wrong with the president of the Republic playing golf with ZTE officials? There's nothing wrong except that the president represents the entire Filipino People. Is he saying that the very representative of the Filipino is plain and simple without decency and morals? I mean, are they really serious that there really is nothing wrong with that?

There's also nothing wrong for this government to award more than US$ 2 billion worth of gold mines in Mount Diwalwal. After losing the ZTE telecommunications deal, this government sold Diwalwal instead. Imagine, 90% of mined gold ore will be shipped to China, while only 10% will be enjoyed by the government of the Philippines. Talk about a sellout, this is the most onerous deal I have ever read in my entire life! And Gloria, her husband, and their cohort Mike Defensor found nothing wrong with this.

JDV stood tall today. And Joey de Venecia III is even prouder. Interviewed by my good friends Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja, the elder De Venecia said he "felt good" when he finally told the Filipino People about what happened in Shenzshen. He has been fooling himself for the longest time, that Gloria will eventually repent and correct the grievous mistakes of her administration, especially in graft and corruption. He waited, says JDV and nothing happened.

Now is the time for reckoning, says JDV. It's the beginning for the baddest nightmares for Mike A, Mike D and Mikey A.

Pathological Traps

Palace PR operators are at it again. They are heightening the Neri testimony to diffuse the situation. They are allowing the media to highlight the former NEDA chief's testimony as if it matters now. The SC has said that Neri could not disclose his conversation with Arroyo. What value or use will his testimony be, since that conversation is the kernel of the truth behind ZTE?

It seems that Arroyo's handlers is propping up the situation in anticipation of a major announcement from their principal. I guess Arroyo will be announcing some major changes in the Cabinet, including the "lateral transfer" of DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza from the DOTC to the newly formed Aviation Authority. Its a "demotion" which way you look at it and we don't know how Mendo would accept such an offer from the president. Surely though, it would not diminish Mendo's influence at the DOTC, since he has been there since this administration started. Some say it was a reward since Arroyo added more responsibilities to Mendo. However, by the looks of it, it seems that the ground is being prepared for his eventual transfer...

It would be very interesting how Arroyo would dislodge DENR secretary Lito Atienza from his post. Or how about PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. whom civil society members also want to be "retired" or "resigned"? How would Arroyo handle them?

In the past, Arroyo is known to sacrifice her lieutenants and knights just to survive. Surely, Arroyo will not touch Razon. She might "relocate" not totally remove Atienza from his post. Probably Atienza would be transferred to an ambassadorial post? In Guinea I suppose? Or probably the head of the Luneta Park? Or a government corporation? Or since Atienza is fond of abducting witnesses and ordering them to make the rounds of Cavite-Laguna-Batangas, maybe he's fit to be assigned at the Calabarzon area? Arroyo's very creative, this survivor is, she'll find some inventive ways of solving a problem like Atienza. This early, I believe Atienza is a done deal. He's a goner.

Funny thing

A Pulse Asia survey showed that some of the senators who took part in the ZTE deal hearings suffered from a drop in approval ratings, most especially Joker Arroyo. Everybody's ratings dropped, including those of presidentiables Manny Villar and Mar Roxas. Perplexing, is'nt? Probably people hate Arroyo so much that this hatred is beginning to affect her allies at the Senate. Pulse Asia should probably conduct another poll to see why people reacted that way. This survey may or may not influence the Senate, especially Cayetano who also suffered a drop, to continue with the ZTE probe.

Finally, Big Mike admitted the Wack-Wack meeting

After this controversy, I bet that every influence peddler would (1) learn how to play golf and (2) would visit Wack-Wack more often. Look at Abalos, he chairs the golf club and won for himself a nice trip to the US. Wow, that's something. Maybe i'll play some rounds at WackWack and win myself a trip to the US.

By the way, Big Mike, whom Senator Madrigal referred to as "First Goon", "First Grafter" or what have you (I refer to him as "First Golfer" since, despite his reported illness, continues to play that game of the elites), admitted meeting Joey de Venecia that fateful morning at Wack Wack. Though he never admitted telling Joey to "back off", Big Mike admitted warning Joey though of dipping his hands at government contracts, being a son of the Speaker. However, if you closely examine what transpired, I believe Joey more than Big Mike. If Mike admitted admonishing Joey for having himself involved in a government deal, would it be logical to conclude that, indeed, he said that word "back off"?

On hindsight, what's so bad about Big Mike telling Joey to "back off" from the deal? Nothing. In the context of the meeting, it's not bad for the First Gentleman to tell Joey to back off since, as he said, Joey's the son of the Speaker, right? In fact, if FG admitted saying that, it could have been good for him since that shows you how "protective" he was of the national welfare, right? I think this is worth considering by his publicists.

Let's wait and see, shall we? We only have until March 14. Afterwards, if nothing happens at that time, then, we can all junk all of these things and let bygones be bygones. Anyway, 2010 is just around the corner. Pardon Arroyo again for her infraction and just junk her or charge her in court after 2010. However, I don't think people will just do this at this point. People are tired of the corruption and the hardships this administration has been doing since Day One. I think they will flood UST of warm bodies. If not, then, kalimutan na lang lahat ito and just suffer in silence, okey?