Shake up in Senate leadership; Gatchalian as new SP, short lived Cayetano leadership

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Just what is going to happen?

Which bloc is truthful?   Who is telling the truth? What if APC is telling the truth, and the new majority is leading us to .....?  Or its the other way around?

Will the minority ranks (and even majority bloc) be decimated with crimes?   How come we elected a Senate whose members have numerous cases?   God bless the PHL

Who will end the widespread corruption?  The people?    Who is going to abdicate the responsibility      

Rebranding corruption; corruption by other names (flood control, insertions, allocables)

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In the beginning it was Pork (Barrel)

Then  PDAF

Now its flood control  (allocables, insertions)

How can they be so bold?  Sagad sagad ang kawalang hiyaan, at kasamaan?  Will they even enter hell?

Its shameful for us to wash our laundry in this post.    May the Lord forgive them

Reps Barzaga and Leviste will soon sit up straight; the big ones will whip them with sticks to make them behave

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The two very famous opposition reps may soon quiet down -  Rep Barzaga because of the P100 million cyber libel suit filed by mogul Enrique Razon and  Rep Leviste because of the P24 billion fine from DOE.

Their adversaries who are apparently hurt by their noise will use the arsenal at their disposal to make them stay quiet.    What will happen next?  Will they continue to be brave and fight on?

Sokor stops aid/soft loans to Phl over alleged corruption

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SK through its President has ordered a stop to SK funding of PHL projects over alleged corruption.  Japan was reported to have taken the same stance (although there is nothing specific about  their action)   Surely foreign aid even for the two major typhoons we had and earthquake emergencies will stop if there are alleged corruption.  (I have seen as a reservist how foreign aid was pilfered at warehouses of operating centers during the Pinatubo eruptions)

When will we as Christian nation have this problem stopped.  Is it because of the leadership (Its not the son sin if the father sinned.    We have to redo the statements   Guavas will always bear guavas.  Scorpions will always bite because they were made that way)

The worse thing is about the perception that foreign nations will have about our people and governance.  We may fail to reach our GDP target and dream of being an economic powerhouse.     Foreign investors will likewise avoid our country like it is plague ridden.

Autopsy ng corruption na nagaganap

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Analysis:

1.  How did we get into this?   The leader should know the head leads the tails.

2.  The cousin was involved and was tolerated And there are indications that a very close relative is also involved. 

3.  It all started with the UA, amounting to more than P500 billion, that were taken out from other GOCCs:   Philhealth that went into UA and the insertions.    It came from the GA that was signed by the President

4.   The good department did the MO  (looked for contractors licenses did the ghost substandard projects) and the manipulation and even the connotational body supposed to do the oversight, apparently blinded the % did not see the ghost projects, substandard etc.  Probably may parte sa %.    It was a massive systemic graft and corruption

Mga terms mga opportunity for corruption

1.  Insertion

2.  "Parking"

3.  "Sagasa"

4.    Moro moro bidding;

5.  Highest bidder sa bigayan

Rental of the license:    I was invited by the CB of PN to rent out our license for 5%  I did not agree because this does not even cover VAT.  

Lahat be involved.    The new cancer of the govt. 

Grabe ang modus.

Many people forgot the event, and even elected the relative to most powerful position; now many regret this action

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The masses, as many politicians observed, have such a short memory.  So many forgot who was ousted at the 1986 people power.   And even reelected him.  His promises were forgotten and they seemed to be back to old system and even more.

    1.  Their estate tax was not paid;

    2.  Many of their cases were dropped.

    3.  Billions

    4.  The questionable 2025 GAA has been disbursed 60%

Do we regret that we elected him?  He lost the VP race then vs Robredo, and would not have won with a little  (or big help) from their former friends from Davao.   

And now the govt seem to be in shambles -  more corruption, being  a substance dependent?   What is happening?        

Massive US fraud under past admin; to say corruption is prevalent in PHL is an understatement; PHL politicians aping the West?

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#FilosofoTasyo, #critique, #corruption, #Trump, #Musk

There are reports here in the video indicating a massive $250 B fraud in the US.  That is huge.  This and other miscounduct at its USAID would be a revelation of waste and corruption in the US.   Hooray to Trump and Musk for the DOGE efforts and results.

Did USAID misuse of funds lead to increase in crocodile population in the Philippines

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USAID office has been closed and funding for foreign aid has been frozen by its President.

Lo and behold, some of the disbursement of the said agency has been discovered to include:

      1.   Financing gasoline station in Afghanistan

      2.   Tfransgender concert

      3.   Conserving crocodile population in the Philippines

      4.   DEI initiatives in foreign countries.

and many more.  If these were not published, these allegations could be laughed off.

Is there a corruption at USAID?   Are Filipinos looking up to Americans as a model iin corruption?  So Western countries are also corrupt

Most corrupt budget in history? -- Fmr DOF Usec Magno

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Former Department of Finance Usec Magno called out in a post that the 2025 budget which the Bicam approved (railroaded ?  not having been thoroughly reveiwed by some Senators) to be the most corrupt.   This post guess that:   1.  The dagdag to Ayuda,  and DPWH   2.  Reduction in education and health (embodied in the constitution to be the priority)

Increased DPWH budget and AKAP are ripe for corruption and AKAP will be the kitty for 2025 for election by Senators (P200 million each) and  Congressmen (P80 million each)  Thats a lot of pork.  Whoever thought of this and those who framed this budget must not be reelected and/or the ones impeached.   A wholesale plunder!.   As the good former Usec has called out

Thought time for a change.  A better life.   The family known for the corrupt practices then, the brother and sister have been true to their DNA.   

Open letter by retired officers for MTR a cause for great concern?!

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An open letter addressed to speaker MTR doing the rounds. It was allegedly signed by retired officials of the military:   retired generals and PMAyers.    It calls for resignation of MTR of HOR to resign amidst observatin of massive corruption.  

This is a casue for concern if the military meddles in civilian affairs.    A coup detat in the offing.  Reminiscent of Trillanes and Honasan?

Will the said person pay heed.

Flood control projects - corruption prone?

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Excesses of Rome Emperor Caligula

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Caligula engaged in extravagant and excessive spending.    Using public funds in unproductive and fruitless projects even if people struggled to make ends meet.

Sounds familiar.

Extravagance of Emperor Caligula

Trillion dollar notes at Zimbabwe which is virtually worthless

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A former classmate boasted in a reunion because he is a millionaire.  He worked in an African country

and earned in their currency millions

Of note is Zimbabwe whose currency is in trillions.  Because of fiscal mismanagement, there is a a 23 million %  hyper inflation. and solid currencies are beginning to be used.  Use of dollar pound has resulted in 0 inflation and even deflation.   

A trillion currency is worth $0.40.  

Can  you believe?  Worthless currency at Zimbabwe

Cause of Zimbabwe's hyperinflation.

History of economic collapse of Zimbabwe

The cause of Zimbabwe's hyperinflation was attributed to numerous economic shocks. The national government increased the money supply in response to rising national debt, there were significant declines in economic output and exports, and political corruption was coupled with a fundamentally weak economy.Dec 7, 2022

Is corruption in the Duterte govt? Duterte strongly denies, Money Pack says there is

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One  of the reasons behind the split behind the Mindanao politicians is the issue of corruption.   While Pres. Duterte made corruption as one of the linchpin of his campaign one doubts his sincerity.  He has lawyered for Pharmaly in the Senate and one wonders why.  He has strongly denied the existence of corruption in the current govt.   

But in my conversation with somebody who deals with the govt agency with the highest budget, it was alleged:

.    1.  The heads get as much as 30% cut off the project; the  suppliers, get only 60% on their cost;

     2.   This Christmas season, their loot bag can amount to as much as __millions per department head;

     3.   One  wonders their costs after analyzing their lowest bid price for slope protection

Just to think that the poor taxpayer has to shoulder the padded cost or the substandard construction.

Of course  the businessman from the mainland are used to such a system,, and  we have to tolerate this from the  imperial governemtn from Davao

Corruption perception index in the Philippines

Are there so many prosti, ie authorities give approvals only when paid?

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Last week, we forked out 30% of a P5.7 million payola to a hatchet man for a document needed in developing a project.in Southern Tagalog (Region IV)   There is no need to go through an SB presentation, first reading etc, public hearing. by coming across.  Otherwise it would take endless meetings and hearings.    We thought this to be a convenient mode, and we can get the permit at once.  Tomorrow, we go to a R I city  and pay more than half a million payola to distinguished gentlemen of local govt., in exchange for a resolution and a permit.

They say the big telcos made them get used to this type of thing, forking between P300t to P500t to have a tower cleared and erected for no delay at all.

But why should we pay extra for things that can be given due course.  All problems and conflicts are dilemmas are posed along the way to up the value of the payola.

At the end of the day it is all about money as Julia Roberts discussed with Richard Gere while in bed.  She said, it may be shameful to be a prosti, ie to do something only in exchange for money.  Richard Gere, he too may be a prosti because he only works for money.

The men we meet and talked with for this projects in public looked so statemanly and leader like, great.   But at the end of the day, they will grant approval only in exchange for money.   And in a way, they have demeaned themselves, and like Julia Roberts and Richard  Gere, in the process lowered their stature/value by being prosti.

                                              Are you kidding?  Eh bakit ganito pa rin
                                              Walang takot, magaling magtago;
                                               Kaya tingnan lifestyle ng LGU officials

Pinakamarami kaso ng korupsyon sa mga LGU

Death squads will continue without the passage of Death Penalty, and Justice Reforms

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Rizal Philippines
October 31, 2017

When I was an activist, all that was taught us was ibagsak, ibagsak destroy the system that promotes injustice and corruption.

While many Presidents and Congress have come and gone nothing has improved in those two areas:   injustice (and slow wheels of justice) and corruption will continue to be around.

For injustice, NPA had kangaroo  courts and death/assassin squads to carry out quick justice and retribution.  While Congress continue to debate on the  merits of such penalty death squads will continue to mete our quick justice too under the legal govt to do away with expensive and slow justice system, sometimes with the real perpetrators going scott free.  Our current legal practice/system is long expensive and painstaking.   Lawyers and judges make.... and hay... While the oppressed suffer.   Without the death penalty, many will take law into their hands and employ hired assassins instead.  Quicker and cheaper.

As for corruption, even if we have cabinets headed by men with integrity and guts, if the system is really corrupt (well entrenched  with old employees and allowed by CS rules -   ie the law on security of tenure and due process), and if there is a perception that there is selective anti corruption drive (eg.  if the family is perceived to be engaged in corruption, or influence peddling) then nothing much will change.  It is still trapo with just another name and slogan

Can we eliminate corruption at the LGUs?

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Rizal Philippines
October 8, 2017

The good President want to end corruption in the country.  But can he really do it?  Especially at the LGUs.  He cant do it at BOC right in the heart of MM, very near Malacanang. How about corruption in 1,500 cities and municipalities scattered across the country.

Examples:

In the past:

1.  In Region 1V, our under the table arrangement to get SB resolution involved:

     a.  For a 4 hectare  project in island province -  P1 million.  It was surprising  that the hatchet man
          was a graduate of MPA from a Jesuit run school of good govt.

    b.  For a 7 hectare project, we gave out P3,000,000 to SB and the mayor.  The Barangay Council and chairman took a P300,000 grease money

    c.  For a 3 hectare project near MM, we gave P1 m to the mayor, donation of 100 units apartment which he used to strengthen his hold on the urban poor, plus P300,000 worth of filling materials for a road project (which was not funded)

2.  For now:

   a.  An alteration of plans payola that was being charged us was P40.00/sm of a 16 hectare project or P6.4 million

  b. A five hectare project in NL (Region 1) would involve cheap  arrangement P500,000 only

How did we escape other grease money arrangement in other areas:   we had the chief  of the LGU be one of our stockholders (properly dummied of course)

How can you stop this?   No we cant.   I my books I do not like this form of dishonesty.   But if you dont, it will take you years before you get your permits and resolution.  Years back, my uncle who was with DAR told me not to come across people in his office who ask for P15.00 /sm facilitation money for conversion.  I did I followed him and our conversion came out 8 years later.

 You simply book this as CGS and you can wait for your permit. Considering the high cost of political patronage and of the election campaign, one may view this as a win win situation.  Walang sumbungan.

Telcos routinely cough up P300,000 for locational clearance of towers.

How about foreign business who allege to be Mr. Clean (eh  corrupt din sa ibang bansa:  USA, Japan, Europe etc)  Dapat on the level tayo.

Can we remove corruption at the LGU?

 SOP at the LGUs by Maganes

So we think as some solons think, we ought to abolish BOC to remove corruption. Ano abolish na rin LGUs?
Any Pres in his right mind will not antogonize LGUs now, the grass roots, or else, they will not win.

Fmr Senator Aquilino Pimentel, the author the LG code, ano po say nila?

LGUs tops list of corruption cases filed at Ombudsman

Can Pres Duterte eliminate corruption in the govt?

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Rizal Philippines
December 14, 2016

                                                                     Dyahe!


I have often heard from my wife and children that DU30 and cohorts ay naisahan tayo, promising a better Philippines but it is turning it is not.  One of his promises is that there will be no corruption. But what do we see in the policemen whom he is siding now?  Corruption.

What do we see sa BI na kabrod sa na lawyers sa frat?   Di daw corrupt.  My plot daw to catch the bribers? Bakit di alam ng superiors at bakit nablackmail ng militar?

I hope we can still give the Pres the support he needs.  But the system we have the admin code, etc, the CSC code supports tenure and protection and the due process coddles corrupt people.  Dapat parang sa droga din yan.  Tokhang. Double barrel din.

I heard from a friend, classmate contractor of DPWH.  it is even worse that before at PNoys time.  He can not get a project.  CIA talaga (cash in advance)  Eh walang nang gustong magpa utang sa kanya.  Madami ng sabit.

Di na magtatapos ang corruption.  All words.  All DU... No Do

Even greater challenge than fighting illegal drugs - fighting corruption

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Rizal Philippines
November 22, 2016

From inquirer - Du30 govt to fight corruption

ERC officials defy Duterte = will not resign

It appears that Pres. Duterte even faces the greater and more daunting challenge, far greater than illegal drugs that is fighting corruption.  All ready we signs of such challenges.  For the illegal drugs, at least we know who the enemies are and the boundaries (although the supporters of the drug trade could have infiltrated the govt within as is the case for narco politics.  However for corruption is from within and the laws, the due process, the security of tenure protect many of the culprits.

1.  The deputy customs commissioner investigating corruption in customs, Lachica was shot dead.

2.  There are alleged grumbling protests at DOJ wanting Sec Aguirre to be replaced because he is waging campaign vs corruption

3.  An RDO officer was gunned down, and he had with him P300,000 in cash (what a cash settlement for taxes in arrears?)

All ready we have passed the 100 days and we do not see much change in terms of eradication of corruption.  The syndicates are still there, the old connection are still there, many govt offices are still ineffficient.   At the barangay level, high level corruption continues.  Elected and appointive govt officials lord it over and still continue their old corrupt ways.  Not much has improved in the fight vs corruption.

As in the case, of  ERC when the Pres asked for resignation of the commissioners many did not comply and so the Pres. threatened to remove their budget.This stemmed from the suicide note of the chair of bids system Villa, who alleged in his suicide note that he was pressured to approve contracts without bidding?  Who has the greater will - the dewfenses of the corrupt ways and defenses or the fight for the right?

There were allegations in the past about rigging of price settings by energy companies

High level officials, whether they like it or not, are sucked in to corruption, sooner or later

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Rizal Philippines
September 10, 2016

I was talking to a former high level former govt official.  He used to head a govt bank, an authority, could have been a BiR Commissioner. and was close to former President.

He confided to me the realities of power.  And indeed power corrupts, and it corrupts absolutely. This was said by a very young lawyer who graduated from a Jesuit school in USA, who became a congressman from Eastern Visayas.  He said that corruption is sucking him in, and may be very soon he could be corrupt too.

He said food, gifts, offers from suppliers from people wanting to do business with the govt. never stops.  Even the best of saints cant resist the offer, the senior govt official has been said.

Can Duterte and his staff, resist temptation.

Or is it Oscar Wilde reality " I can resist all kinds of temptation except temptation itself"