PGMA & THE LOZADA CHAOS

Disclaimer: This blog expresses the views and opinion of the author and have both statements for- and-against the government & Lozada et al.


Aren’t you tired of all the news going around for the past month of the alleged corruption in relation to the NBN-ZTE Deal that turned sour?

Aren’t you tired of how the picture is being painted by the government, media, key personalities in the opposition and the church?

There’s a lot to be said about all these and I’ve been an active listener and sifter of news from all mediums. Never insinuating that I’d like to join-in the noise, I’d like to share my two cents worth in all these.

THE START OF CHAOS

It all started with whistleblower, Joey De Venecia, who claimed anomalies in the $329M NBN-ZTE deal that was scrapped. This whistleblower is the son of the former speaker of the lower house of congress, whose participation in a government bidding to begin with, was questionable. This was something we overlooked and instead called him another hero.

Like all allegations, the effective PR team of the President was able to die-down the issue; until it was revived on the alleged abduction of former CEO and Chairman of the government-run Philippine Forest Corporation, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada.

The alleged abduction, claimed by Lozada’s camp, was purportedly about his yet to be made statements (then) regarding the roles of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and former chief of COMELEC, Benjamin Abalos Sr, again, on the failed NBN-ZTE deal.

To the lay man, this may insinuate a cover-up of some-sort by the government from a statement which was yet to be proven by Lozada’s camp. The alleged ‘abduction’ led to a media frenzy after relatives of Lozada filed the writ of habeas corpus and writ of amparo before the Supreme Court for the PNP to find then missing Lozada.

PANDY’S BOX, OPENED

The Senate, together with its aspiring 2010 Presidential candidates, are on its course again with their theatrics and unending useless investigation. I say useless because questions are slanted towards personal opinions, party affiliations, and not fundamentally an investigation for legislation’s sake (after all, senate investigations are for that purpose). We see the usual grandstanding of senators who want a media sound byte in the day’s primetime news. This is another proof of how immature our democracy is and how frustratingly passé our legislator’s minds are.

We also see the proclaimed “HERO” of the nation, Jun Lozada with his statements. I currently don’t know whether his statements are true or not because their neither proven through mediums admissible in court, nor are they corroborated with other witnesses.

Who is handling his PR? I see him now off to schools and rallies with a lot of motherhood and piercing statements which doesn’t help the nation at all. For me, his alleged ‘truth’ has now been smeared by propaganda from other personalities and his willingness to dance the tune with these opportunistic people has likewise smeared his credibility. He wants to be someone who inspires and ultimately catalyze the people into movement against the government. We see a lot of rallies, but I foresee a diminishing interest because ultimately, what we hold with Lozada are statements which has yet to be proven.

This is not tantamount to say that GMA is a Saint. What I do want is proof and cases filed in the institutions we’ve instated. Proof is what we need to convict criminals. Conviction/Sentence is what this country needs for reformation. Someone needs to be accountable, and it’s so frustrating as a tax payer to continue in limbo because statements need to be powerful enough to convict offenders of the people.

THE MEDIA

On top of this, the media isn’t any different (of course never intending to generalize).

We see slanted and baseless reporting with secret sources that doesn’t help the country. We see foreign media covering the chain of events, and is humiliating as a Filipino. The media has a certain level of responsibility to be objective and provide people the freedom to decide their paths. They have the responsibility to probe, but to do so in accordance to the ethics of journalism. Now rather, some modify the agreed code of ethics, just to fit/solve challenges in journalism; or to simply have a juicy story for tonight’s primetime viewers – another form of corruption.

Do you actually think it helps the country? What this country needs is justice and accountability from those who have robbed this country’s wealth from its people and not a hype of a scandal which echoes to the international community!

THE CHURCH

Now, even when you attend Eucharistic celebrations, you’ll hear pastoral letters from the Church which I think sends various messages. Pardon my ignorance, but I’ve observed that the CBCP is on a gray state at this point. They are calling for a communal change – a very vague call-to-action which, from a marketing point of view, is failing due to lack of action.

I agree that the Church, to a certain extent, has the moral ascendancy to guide the state. Currently, CBCP is not calling for the resignation of PGMA, but is asking for a communal change from within. I perceive this as a gray position which has disappointed a lot of people. Never insinuating that I’d like a pro or con position from the Church, I’d rather they give a firm ‘guidance’ for the people; otherwise, they’re just adding with all the noise which media picks-up.

MOVING FORWARD

I actually voted for PGMA. I still believe in some of her political and socio-economic positions, but I also have some disagreements with some of her policies and the way this government has transformed with her.

Transformed in the sense that corruption (however not explicitly proven) has become a form of day-to-day business. Transactions that are very open, yet simultaneously hidden, where society, most especially children, absorb every drop of the system and grow up the same way.

Sure, it didn’t start from her; but I hoped her stint would neither aggravate the situation. Was I too naïve to think that, or was it a valid expectation from my leader?

I believe we need to convict leaders that cross the line. We shouldn’t have forgiven ERAP regardless if it was for reconciliatory purposes. Accountability and Justice are two things that we shouldn’t bend because it’s the last prevailing arm people need to respect themselves.

ERAP’s ‘pardon’ sends out a message that we’re not serious in reforming and is tantamount to say that some personalities can be above the law. I’m not against Gloria, nor am I against Lozada. Should there be proofs of PGMA’s corruption, I’d prefer “heroes” to file their cases before the proper forum and stop all these ineffective noise.
File strong cases that, regardless of partisan politics, will win because it’s is obviously irrefutable.

Imagine a country where multinational companies open their regional offices, and provide high-paying jobs to our people. Imagine a country where its people and government are hardworking to the point that we can competitively bid to host international events like the Olympics and the Grand Prix which boosts our Tourism (as one example). We’d have more money than what we have today; the government would have more budget to spend – it’s a win-win situation. We’d have more infrastructure to leverage against companies to open their ASIAN hub in our great city.

I agree with moderating our greed to the point that the fundamental goal is the country’s development because everything else follows.

At this point, I’m striving hard to do well in my own industry because that’s my only option. I cannot depend on my government to provide me the life that I want or even dream; and I choose to solely depend on myself and my loved ones for this.

We should just stop all this bullshit and move forward - move forward with Justice & Accountability that is. If not as a nation, move forward as individuals and we’ll slowly have a universal goal – self ethical development – that I hope would lead to a collective development.

But to reiterate, someone has to pay the price and pay it good.

I have been, and will continue to be a person who will try his best to not migrate to another country to survive. Then again, people can only take so much.
This is the first and the last blog about this issue, because after this, it isn’t worth my time.