Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The Trojan Horse has Arrived...

I was watching the testimony of Leo San Miguel, the "surprise witness" for the latest installment of the ZTE-NBN hearings, and I can only summarize his "performance" in two words: Trojan Horse.

Tama, hindi si Dante Madriaga ang "Trojan Horse". Si Leo San Miguel ang "Trojan Horse" na matagal nang pinaghahanap. Pakawala, sa madaling salita.

Why did I come to that conclusion? Well, based from what I saw on TV, almost half of his replies were "I don't know" or "I don't remember". He was not able to remember his flights to Hong Kong a few months back, yet he can remember that he met Gen. Quirino Dela Torre 30 years ago, and they had a business 15 years ago. Selective amnesia? I don't know.

Another thing, he admitted that the e-mail address used in sending the "Tongpats" spreadsheet to Dante Madriaga was his. But he would not admit that he knows something about the payoffs. What the heck was that? Is he trying to say that somebody else used his email and sent that file? If that's the case, then he sucks for a "technical guy".

He also continues to deny that he is not a part of the "Greedy Group", but all three witnesses (Madriaga, Joey DV and Jun Lozada) put him on one way or the other with Ben Abalos and Co. Sinasabi ba niyang pinagtutulungan siya?

That is why I consider him as the planted witness of Malacanang to scuttle the ongoing probe. He is in too deep to be let go. However, for that same reason, I also believe that he could still be coaxed to spill the beans.

It's up to the Senate to make him sing the correct tunes.

Friday, March 7, 2008

"Jun Ban" Lifted, But With Conditions

Yesterday, I also wrote about the DepEd directive to ban Jun Lozada and Ben "Borjer" Abalos from their respective school tours (Ben-borjer is still on the planning stage, J-Lozada is like the real J-Lo, having his tours all raging hits). Today, DepEd secretary Jesli Lapus has lifted the ban, but with conditions for Lozada. (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83722/DepEd-chief-says-Lozada-may-now-speak-at-schools-but-)

He said that "pwede sa graduation, kung di siya mag-incite or mag-create ng controversy. Alam natin pakay niya mag-incite ng ano. Ang paghahanap ng katotohanan di tayo nakakasiguro sino totoo sino hindi."

What?

How can Secretary Lapus be sure that Jun Lozada wants to incite something and create controversy? Does something like seeking and fighting for the truth need incitement? Is seeking and fighting for the truth a cause for controversy? For heaven's sakes, that is something that we should be doing naturally as citizens of this country. It does not need incitement. It should not be a source of controversy, instead it should be a source of pride and honor.

In a nation governed by lies and deceit, the truth is a revolutionary idea that is a cause for controversy.

MC 108 Gets The Boot Too, But...

I woke up this morning and I learned through DZMM that Memorandum Circular 108 has also been repealed through the issuance of Memorandum Circular 151. I confirmed this through the ABS-CBN website too (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=111416). MC 151 states that "Executive officials and employees are advised to follow and abide by the constitution, existing laws and jurisprudence including, among others, 'Senate v Ermita, GR no 169777, April 20, 2006,' when they are invited to legislative inquiries in aid of legislation,". In effect, government officials who are being summoned by Congress can no longer invoke them to skip hearings.

Seems like that I should thank GMA, right? After all, I posted just yesterday that MC 108 should be abolished too if ever they want the truth to come out. Okay, for whatever it's worth, thank you, GMA.

However, everyone has seen the previous hearings and everyone will agree with me that these government officials will risk looking like clowns (see Angel Atutubo, Rodolfo Cusi, Paul Mascarinas and Avelino Razon, among others) just to hide something. Besides, who could tell that they will not use a wide range of excuses (like slipping on the bathroom, having a dead fingernail, etc.) just to evade the Senate?

EO 464 and MC 108 might be dead, but we will still be watching.

The evil witch might just summon something again to muzzle the truth.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

EO 464 Gets Lifted? So What?

So GMA has lifted Executive Order 464, in order for government officials to be able to attend legislative hearings. This was done after consultations with religious leaders and her officials.

I don't give a rat's ass about that.

They still have Memorandum Circular 108 (http://www.ops.gov.ph/records/mc_108.htm), which says that all heads of departments must obtain the consent of the President to appear before the House or the Senate. It also states that it covers "conversations and correspondence between the President and other persons on matters of privilege".

If they are really for the truth, then they must also repeal MC 108.

"Jun Ban"

It was all over the news yesterday. The Department of Education, headed by Secretary Jesli Lapus, reportedly released a directive banning ZTE scandal whistleblower Jun Lozada and former COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos from conducting symposia or fora on public schools. This directive was issued to "insulate" students from politics.

What?

This move just smacks of the growing desperation of the Arroyo administration to fend off the rising movement to force GMA into leaving (her illegally acquired) office. By this directive, they hoped to stem the tide of student participation in mass actions against them. But this is just like plugging a dam's leak with their finger.

This is also the latest move of an increasingly authoritarian regime pretending to be a democratic one. From the "state of rebellion" to EO 464 and MC 108, from Proclamation 1017 to the curfew imposed during the Manila Pen incident and the "no-fly zone" imposed on Makati last February 29, from the one week "gun ban" imposed last week to this latest DepEd directive, it shows that we are slowly being subjected to an "undeclared Martial Law".

Should we wait any further?

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Thank God for the Senate

The Senate junked the so-called "compromise agreement" that was ironed out by the Supreme Court yesterday in order for CHED Chairman Romulo Neri to appear before Senate hearings on the NBN-ZTE deal. The senators reasoned out that the agreement will curtail their power to conduct investigations in aid of legislation.

Oo nga naman.

What kind of a deal was that, anyway? You let Chicke-Neri to appear, but he cannot answer some of the most important questions? I think that was more of a "cover-up agreement". The search for truth is uncensored. It does not compromise nor leave anything untouched.

Good thing that the senators did not bite, buttressing their rising credibility. Meanwhile, the House of Representa-thieves, save for the minority congressmen, are continuing to defend the indefensible.

Thank God for the Senate, and damn the House of Representa-thieves to hell.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Post-Interfaith Rally Report

I went to the Interfaith Rally last Friday with a fellow member in Ms. Ellen Tordesillas' blog, Kuya Jack Serrano, and we were surprised at the sheer number of people who participated. It clearly dwarfed the one last February 15th. The throng of people reached up to the front of Rustan's on the Ayala Ave. side. Every sector was represented; students, workers, the religious, professionals, the civil society, and ordinary citizens like me. We met Ms. Ellen Tordesillas, who was backstage, but after negotiating a long way around (we were in the side of Ninoy Aquino's monument) due to the huge crowd. Whoever gave the PNP the 15,000 people estimate was either stupid or lying.

We saw a lot of personalities on that rally. Aside from former Presidents Cory Aquino and Joseph Estrada, we also saw Senators Noynoy Aquino and Koko Pimentel (yes, I just called him Senator), Congressmen Crispin Beltran, Satur Ocampo and Roilo Golez, former Vice President Tito Guingona, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, Bro. Armin Luistro, Bishops Oscar Cruz and Ted Bacani, Frs. Robert Reyes and Joe Dizon, as well as Manay Gina de Venecia, Jun Lozada, Joey de Venecia, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Pen Medina and Gina Alajar.

While we were there, we received a report that Makati has been declared a no-fly zone. I did not see any Stinger missiles or anti-aircraft guns on the rally site, so what was that for? The only thing that was launched to the skies that day were the green balloons. Was that the "threat" they were talking about? Jeez.

The rally ended peacefully at around 8:30 pm. The event, especially when everybody sang "Bayan Ko" with clenched fists in the air, gave me goosebumps.