GMA, harapin mo na ang patayan

SAPOL Ni Jarius Bondoc, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Monday, December 3, 2007

LIPAS na ang araw ng pagtatakip sa isyu: Pinasya na ng United Nations na hindi kapani-paniwala ang palusot ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas na kesyo internal purge ng New People’s Army ang sanhi ng daan-daang patayan at kidnapping. Oras na para tuparin ng gobyerno ang tungkulin: Tugisin ang mga salarin, at ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng mamamayan na magsalita, magtipon at dumaing.

Mula pa 2001, nang maupo si Gloria Arroyo, isinigaw na ng human rights activists ang kalagiman. Dinadampot ng militar ang mga repormista at peryodista; kung matagpuan pa sila ay patay na. Hindi sila pinansin ng gobyerno. Ang resulta: Mas malalang lagim nang dumami pa ang mga pinatay at kinidnap dahil wala namang sinasakdal.

Bumisita sa Pilipinas si U.N. rapporteur Philip Alston para mag-imbestiga. Aba’y mahigit 800 na pala ang biktima, nadiskubre niya. Pero wala ni isang na-convict sa mga nambusabos sa mga repormista, at anim lang sa 55 pinatay na mamamahayag ang may sinampang kaso. Sa talaan ng pulis noon, halos 200 lang ang kaso, one-fourth ng alam ni Alston.

Nagpalusot ang gobyerno na kesyo hindi nito kinu­kunsinti kundi kinasusuklaman ang mga krimen. Pero tumataginting ang 800 insidente na walang hustisya at dumadami pa. Ibinida rin ng gobyerno ang pagtatag ng special courts para litisin ang human rights abuses, ang pagbuo ng Melo Commission (itinago naman ng Malaca­ñang ang report), at ang pagbuo ng PNP Task Force Usig na nakalutas ng dalawang dosenang kaso. Magaling lahat ‘yan, ani Alston. Pero napansin niya na takot ang pulis umakto sa kaso kung sundalo ang sangkot. At may maling paniniwala ang pulis na okey lang pumatay at kumidnap ang militar. At masyadong malapit ang mga opisyales ng pulis at militar dahil magkasama sa military academy o counter-insurgency operations.

Dahil sa pagpatay at pagkidnap sa mga lider ng mamamayan, nawalan ng taga-analisa ng isyu at taga-organisa ng pagkilos. Napadali ang pagnanakaw ng mga lokal at pambansang opisyales.

Disenchantment was in the air

GOTCHA, Published in The Philippine Star, Friday, November 30, 2007

Rejection of “a morally bankrupt government” by dozens of sectoral leaders presaged yesterday’s insurgence in Makati. It came in the form of a full-page ad in broadsheets Wednesday by, among others, Catholic, Born-Again and Protestant bishops. Jailed soldier-senator Antonio Trillanes, who with Gen. Danny Lim led the call for President Gloria Arroyo’s ouster, was himself a signatory. So were Bishops Antonio Tobias and Julio Labayen, who rushed the Peninsula Hotel to support the mutineers.

Some of the rest: Sen. Jamby Madrigal, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, United Methodist Church Bishop Solito Toquero, United Church of Christ Bishop Eliezer Pascua, Most Rev. Godofredo David of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Bishop Dan Balais of the Philippines for Jesus Movement, and Rev. Job Santiago of the Philippine Baptist Churches.

They recalled Arroyo’s promise upon taking office in 2001 to usher in good governance by example of honest leadership. Seven years hence, the nation “instead reaped pain and ruin.” Political killings and kidnappings “have heightened (although) the pattern of abuse was brought to the attention of the President.” Billions of pesos are “shamelessly diverted to serve personal political interests”, namely: fertilizer scam, ZTE scam, and Malacañang bribery of legislators and governors. Although declared illegal by the Supreme Court, the government “bludgeons” protesters against such abuses. (The United Nations confirmed in a report also on Wednesday that Arroyo’s administration has done little to stop the human rights violations.)

Also presaging the standoff at the Peninsula Hotel was a statement of the second largest congregation of Catholic nuns against immoral rule. The Religious of the Good Shepherd, in national convention, declared no more succor for the Arroyo administration.

Likewise presaging the face-off was a declaration by major business groups of disgust with the Malacañang bribery. The Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute, Bishop-Businessmen’s Conference, Foundation for Economic Freedom, and Action for Economic Reform urged an independent probe. The chambers of commerce of Cebu, Northern Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Bicol joined in. Earlier, the same groups deplored a growing culture of impunity among Arroyo officials. The ZTE anomaly and other irregularities displayed this, they said.

In short the most influential segments of civil society have expressed disenchantment with the administration. Sadly, the latter apparently has chosen to ignore them.

The initial official retort to exposés of contract rigging for ZTE was to taunt the complainants as sour grapes and intimidate the press. When the story grew just the same and Arroyo was forced to cancel the stinky deal, the new line was that Senate investigators were beating a dead horse.

Anticipating a tough impeachment case against Arroyo from the ZTE scam, allies filed a sham complaint as yearlong preemption. Arroyo’s party offered P2 million each to six opposition congressmen to lend credence to the farce. Speaker Jose de Venecia dared Arroyo to lead a moral overhaul, then promptly forgot it. Malacañang invited 190 congressmen to breakfast and tens of local officials to lunch, specifically to give them P500,000 apiece. And then Arroyo’s party again claimed responsibility for it as cover-up. To Senate summons of Palace subalterns to shed light on the string of scandals, the response was a collective snub on the grounds of executive privilege. There were also Malacañang pretensions of separate probes by the pliable Presidential Anti-Graft Commission and the Ombudsman.

Things were coming to a boil. Something just had to give — and so the clash yesterday at Makati. But it was over in a flash. Since solders were reluctant to hurt fellow-soldiers, police were ordered to subdue Trillanes and Lim with tanks, bazookas and machineguns. Interior Sec. Ronaldo Puno, as field marshal of yesterday’s police suppressors, has endeared himself more than ever to Arroyo.

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Four national artists lead top cultural performers in a tribute tonight to novelist-journalist-unionist Ka Amado V. Hernandez at the CCP, Manila. In the concert “Amado Minamahal...”, Bienvenido Lumbera, Ben Cabrera, Salvador Bernal and Napoleon Abueva will also honor with elegies Andres Bonifacio, whose 144th birthday the nation celebrates. The works of the two patriots will be presented, along with those of the late national artists Lucio San Pedro and Felipe de Leon, 8 p.m. at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.

Also top-billed are music, dance and poetry by Bituin Escalante, Robert Seña, Bobby Balingit, Ana Feleo, Nanding Josef, Ramon Acoymo, Tribu, Brown-man Revival, Madrigal Singers, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, and Ballet Philippines Kids.

Organizing the affair is the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center, which promotes the causes and works of the national artist.

Sundan ang iyong bituin (prinsipyo)

SAPOL Ni Jarius Bondoc, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Friday, November 30, 2007

ANI Karl Marx, hindi tatagal ang anumang bansa na walang pulutong ng mga makabayan na hindi nabibili ng salapi. Sila’y mga taong maprinsipyo, hindi nasisilaw sa yaman, at matatag humarap sa tukso.

Sa librong “Making a Difference” ni Whitney Seymour, isinalaysay ni Colonel Arthur McArthur sa anak na (naging General) Douglas McArthur ang tungkol sa isang hindi nabibiling patriot. American Civil War noon, at inatasan ng Union ang isang heneral na bantayan ang occupied territory sa New Orleans. Kinukulit siya ng mga pangi­noong maylupa na payagan sila maghakot ng cotton sa piyer para ipadala sa England. Kontrolado ng heneral lahat ng kabayo’t kariton, at malinaw ang utos ng White House sa kanya na walang papahintulutang bumiyahe pa-Uropa.

Nagkataong bumibisita si Colonel McArthur sa heneral nang may dumating na dalawang babaing taga-Confe-derate South. Nang harapin sila ng mga opisyal, hindi nagpaliguy-ligoy ang mas matandang babae: “Mabilis maidadala naming mga may plantasyon ang cotton sa piyer, at mabilis ding aalis ang mga barko; walang maka­kapansin. Kaibigan naman ng Union ang England, kaya dapat walang patid ang kalakal ng dalawang bansa miski may giyera-sibil.” Matindi ang sales talk ng babae.

Bilang pagtanaw ng “utang na loob”, inabutan ng babae ang heneral ng gold certificates na $250,000 — malaking halaga noon o ngayon. Dagdag pa niya: “Kung nais mo pa, iiwanan ko siya sa iyo.” Sabay itinuro niya ang napakagandang dilag na kasama at isinulat ang address.

Agad inutos ng heneral kay McArthur na i-telegrama ang liham sa Washington: “Sa Presidente ng Estados Unidos: Inaalok ako ng $250,000 at isang diwata para wasakin ang aking katapatan. Isinusuko ko ang papeles sa pamahalaan. At nakikiusap ako na palitan agad ako rito. Malapit na nila maabot ang presyo ko.”

Ang mahina-hinang nilalang ay malamang na magpadala sa tukso. Pero ang tao na tumatanaw sa sariling bituin — sa matayog na prinsipyo — ay ginagabayan ng katatagan. Kuntento sila sa buhay at tunay na payapa.

Palace vs de Venecia: Moving in for the kill

GOTCHA, Published in The Philippine Star, Wednesday, November 28, 2007

An affront from Johnny Enrile is something Joe de Venecia perhaps can comprehend; after all, they never were friends. Sniping by his own pals in the House may not upset him; he knows only too well the petty ambition that drives them. But de Venecia must have been deeply hurt when PCGG chair Camilo Sabio, joined in the Speaker-bashing. Sabio, as most politicos know, is his former minion, so he surely was tempted to ask, like Julius Caesar in fatal ambush, “You too?”

De Venecia was in Iran speaking at the Asia Parliamentary Assembly when Sabio launched the verbal assault. It was a surprise that Sabio talked at all. He’s not known to relish press interviews. Only weeks ago he refused to answer in public a subordinate’s exposé of his huge but illicit allowances from sequestered firms; he simply fired the man. Before that he also evaded the Senate’s televised probe of his agency’s activities, and had to be arrested to face inquisitors. Now Sabio not only is yakking, but is even on the same side with erstwhile foe Enrile in pushing de Venecia to the corner. “He couldn’t have done that without orders from on high,” a congressman close to de Venecia said about Sabio’s sneak attack.

Sabio claimed that de Venecia’s defunct Land Oil Corp. had reneged on $120 million in obligations to the government. The amount supposedly represents a behest loan that the company and its subsidiaries obtained through strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Citing an agreement with the PCGG signed 1988 by a Land Oil officer, Sabio said the group had agreed to repay or else face indictment — which is what he allegedly is doing to de Venecia.

The Speaker’s lawyer Raul Lambino doesn’t “know where this Sabio is coming from.” De Venecia had resigned from Land Oil as far back as 1985. In 1986 right after the People Power Revolt, the company came clean and admitted to having Marcos shares. Still, it was then the biggest Filipino overseas construction and manning operation. Surrendering 45 percent to the PCGG, Land Oil also ceded receivables of $160 million from the Libyan and Kuwaiti governments for huge infrastructure works. Another $50 million in construction and factory equipment were thrown in, though pending recovery from Iraq where these were trapped in the war with Iran (up to 1989) and then the Gulf War (1991-1992). Summing up, Lambino points the PCGG to the UN Claims Commission in Geneva, where Land Oil won a suit for war damages.

The last time the Land Oil issue was brought up was in 1998, when de Venecia was about to run for President. Back then he proved that three PCGG chairmen, the Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court already had cleared him of responsibility for Land Oil’s debts. Why it is being brought up again is traced by both administration and opposition men to Malacañang.

Palace allies are livid that de Venecia’s son Joey III had implicated the First Couple to the infamous ZTE scam. Suspecting that the son did it with the father’s assent, they are plotting to get even with them. Enrile, during Senate hearings, turned the tables on whistleblower Joey and accused the de Venecias of attempting to wrest the telecoms deal from the Chinese firm. He also raked up the Northrail deal that the Senate already had probed in 2005. Rep. Neptali Gonzales Jr. in turn moved at the House to prevent de Venecia from opening pork barrel projects to public scrutiny as a challenge to Gloria Arroyo to lead a moral cleansing. With other congressmen, he threatened de Venecia with ouster should Joey continue to talk bad about the President. And since Joey is unstoppable, the operation is on to topple the five-term Speaker. Sabio’s attack was but a slowpoke contribution to the effort.

Opposition men eagerly anticipate ripening of the oust-de Venecia move. Some of them are enticing him to move over to their side. Others simply want to see the Arroyo-de Venecia partnership crumble.

They’re all in for a surprise. De Venecia is not likely to put up a fight. If he will, he would already have counterattacked Malacañang by now. Already sensing de Venecia’s downfall, advisers whom he had helped put in executive sinecures are abandoning him.

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If you haven’t watched “Wanders” do so before it ends on Dec. 29 — or you’ll miss a once in a lifetime treat. One hundred minutes of circus and song, Pagcor’s extravaganza is rated the best in Asia. Renowned Filipino musicians swell up the thrill as other Asians perform stunning, enchanting stunts you never thought possible. Acrobats leap from pole to pole clinging with only their legs; contortionists climb nimbly one on top of the other then touch their toes on their foreheads. You’d ask yourself where gravity or their spinal columns went.

With “Wanders”, Pagcor goes the way of Las Vegas in offering entertainment more than gaming. As young as three-year-olds may watch it Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays, 8 p.m., at the Pagcor airport complex in Parañaque City. Tickets available at all TicketWorld outlets and Pagcor casinos in Metro Manila.

“Wanders” will surely be a holiday delight for tourists, balikbayans, and thrill seekers or tired souls. There’s talk of extending till Valentine’s, but Macao casinos are avidly bidding to import the production.