Tuesday, February 12, 2008
THE PRO-ADMINISTRATION CONTINGENT
Arroyo men, Lozada clash - Philipine Daily Inquirer
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:02 AM
24 Comments:
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Unknown said... Corruption and bribery are so systemic that government officials such as Lito Atienza had the gall to say that it is part of the normal process. Key officials who are involved in the NBN/ZTE scandal even use executive privelege to cover up instead of using it for the common good.
I'm not very hopeful that the truth will come out from the Senate investigation. Baka cash gifts lang katapat n'yan!-
said... The circus is in town again!
Seeing a lot of brilliant minds conspiring with each other to confuse us really really makes me sad.
And look at these women. Your camera has captured their facial expressions that seem to tell me they do not know the real reason why they are there.-
Sidney said...
Wow, you cover it all! Once again I have to congratulate you for your professional coverage of almost all major events in Manila.
Seems easy but I know it is not !
I am still not sure if I will cover the upcoming anti-government manifestations next Friday. If I do I will text you to see if you are around.
All this grandstanding will lead us to nowhere. Lots of talk again. Till the next scandal. In the meantime the Philippines is again in the (inter)national news with a bad record.
It is so sad!-
Señor Enrique said...
The amount of money involved as potential commission in this matter, Luna, is so mind-boggling that it makes me wonder, how many similar procurement contracts had actually slipped through without notice. Fantastic, indeed!
You might be right, this whole affair will eventually fade away and forgotten.-
Señor Enrique said...
I can only imagine Bugsy that everyone of those who came as part of the pro-administration contingent has nothing but hopes of good for his/her lot yet, somehow they must be burdened with the reality that massive corruption in the government can strip off whatever glimmer there is in the hope they nurture.
May God bless us all.-
Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Sidney. I also read about the planned rally this Friday in Makati; however, I find the late afternoon/early evening start as daunting because of low natural light.
This current fiasco is yet another dark period in our history as a nation.-
said...
I'm home and this Lozada epic is the talk of the town. I have to ask someone what it's all about.
I would like to scream just like the rest of your readers. Is someone listening I wonder?
Paolo-
Señor Enrique said...
If still living in NYC, I'd probably opt to remain oblivious to this Lozada episode, Paolo, as much as I had ignored many Americans making fun of Erap back then ... hehehe.
However, this ZTE scandal, as compared to the Garci Tape scandal, interestingly enough, does not seem to inspire tons of jokes. A great majority of Filipinos seems stupefied by this mind-boggling controversy.
Nonetheless, hope this does not put a cloud over your vacation, Paolo.
By the way, there is an NCCA dance presentation at Rajah Soliman Plaza (Roxas Boulevard next to Aristocrat) this coming Sunday.-
said...
Thanks for helping me out on things to do for my vacation. Actually, I am having full days everyday since I arrived, not to mention the bargains, prescription eyeglasses and food. Yes! great food.
Too bad, I will miss the dance competition as I leave tomorrow.
Talk to you again when I get home. BTW, your website is a favorite as you can obviously tell.
paolo-
said...
Hmm.. did these people ran off from work to protest and make their sentiments known ? They look to me as if they're just having plain fun hehehe :)
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nutart said...
My husband and I have gone with television as our source of info but because of our very good Internet server we are able to tune in to the various media net, You Tube and our favorite bloggers. So, in a way, I have also joined the many Pinoys in getting a view of the star witness Lozada. He strikes me as telling the Truth...as simple as that. No amount of sophistication or level of learning or wealth can top that very rare virtue. Lozada's narrative of the guava tree and the Dumagat as to the materialistic attitude of those in the Manila government is to me the most profound story/parable of his testimony. Other than that, any other bureaucrat can confess all but leave you less reflective.
Your pictures, Eric, is universal. What the heart feels may surely move mountains than what money or status quo would want. That elderly man with a placard addressed to "Bayan" might be interesting to read :-). Thanks for sharing your photographer's eyes!-
Señor Enrique said...
Whoa! You'd be here no more than a week, Paolo?
Nonetheless, glad to know that you've been enjoying your vacation.
Have a safe journey back home. Take care!-
Señor Enrique said...
While some may appear on a leisurely outing, BW, the others seemed uncertain as to the true reason why they've come to begin with. But more interestingly, even with their close proximity to the militant rallyists, no one taunted them about their presence and stance in supporting the administration.
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Señor Enrique said...
On this particular day, Elizabeth, there was a UP Culture Week opening going on, but somehow, I felt more compelled to cover this rally.
I didn't get a chance to hear Lozada's narrative of the guava tree, but I am one of those who admire his courage and conviction to speak of the truth as he had witnessed it.
Now, this issue may eventually fade away and nothing may come out of it as some critics are predicting, but I am hopeful that Lozada will have inspired our youth to never be afraid to speak and uphold the truth.
I think Conrado de Quiros' summed it up best in his column, "Vindication" in today's PDI:
quote
And all the efforts to rattle him (LOzada), to confuse him, to confound him led only to his detractors being rattled, confused and confounded. All of which confirmed something the ordinary person has always known but which seems to have been lost on this country's lawyers: There is only one weapon you can wield to fight off the siege the armies of the night will lay upon you when you take the witness stand, that will leave you standing when the smoke clears, proud and victorious:
The Truth.
unquote-
reyd said...
Indeed, this is another dark side in our politics. On the lighter side, This senate investigation gave me some chills, laughter and lots more laugh. Nakikain ako sa sister ko and they were watching TFC during Lozada and Defensor's inquiry. Natawa ako kay defensor when after all the paligoy ligoy na sagot niya, nabuko siya na sinabihan niya talaga si Lozada to exclude the higher ups in the administration.
Kahit na this deal did not go thru, it is a good thing that this one was busted but the people are still busy spending their dollars from abroad and not minding this event. Really, this is the best time to really grill and burn the public officials involved on this scandal kahit na walang mangyari sa senate inquiry na ito(most likely), lumabas ang mga pagkatao ng lahat na kasali sa pamahalaan.
It is up to the people to believe and have their own opinion.
Kung Japan ito, marami nang nag hara-kiri or sa Korea or Taiwan baka nagsunog na ng sarili, sa America, malamang nag-resign na at magpakulong. Sa Pinas, they go shopping in HK or have a nice trip to the US. LOL !-
Señor Enrique said...
Sadly, Reyd, there may be other similar anomalous procurement deals that may have slipped through and gone unnoticed. But nonetheless, this ZTE national broadband network contract was exposed and it should somehow make many corrupt officials unsettled, because many other Lozadas might suddenly come out and speak out.
All I can say is that every personality on either side of this issue represents the image of a Filipino. It is up to each and every one of us to pick out which particular personality we'll encourage our youths to emulate, and hopefully it will be a personality that we can be proud of as a race. Because the saddest part of it all, we may be in America or Europe or Africa, but the bottom line is, we will remain of the Filipino race, including our children and their children.-
-= dave =- said...
I believe most have stayed neutral. They won't support Arroyo, but they won't support the opposition. For the details: I'd have to plug my latest entry again, hehe. But again, I'd prefer you read the latter part about student politics.
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Señor Enrique said...
Just read your new entry, Dave. Intriguing, indeed. Had no idea that certain students of such an admirable learning institution could be embroiled in political scandal. Even more astonishing is the discovery of the elected president as not even being an enrolled student for that particular term.
As for the latest national political fiasco, can't really blame many folks for staying neutral. Perhaps, it's due to exasperation. But who knows? Perhaps, a change for the better for all concerned is in the offing.-
reyd said...
The more I watch the senate hearing on TFC and youtube, the more I'm getting emotional... awatin niyo ako! hahaha!
Call me a biased person, and since Lozada is a Tsinoy and a Bikolano like me, I seem to feel his anxiety and fear for himself and his family during the hearings. Most likely he is telling the truth on all the events that happened to him. He is a marked man by both the administration and the opposition. I'm just amazed by the numbers of tuta ng administration to clear up their names and clean the image of those in the higher position and try to assasinate Lozada's character which has been a carbon copy of themselves. If ever Lozada is doing a "hugas kamay", this is his best time to do so and bring down the entire flotilla of rotten ships. I'd say, the Filipinos should give some credit to Mr. Lozada for this expose.
(I'm not gonna say "Mabuhay Ka Jun", because the last time I said that to a person, that person was shot at the tarmac after stepping down from the same airline as what Lozada has taken from HK.)-
Amadeo said...
Only in the Philippines?
Where a serious business like protesting against certain government officials or actions, actually appears like people are witnessing a festival or something, if pictures are any gauge.
Oh, well. We Filipinos definitely have a very high threshold for patience, suffering, and all the other difficult virtues other peoples have very low tolerance for.-
Señor Enrique said...
The major rally scheduled for tomorrow in Makati, Reyd, basically demonstrates how much Lozada's testimony is believed by many people.
And if only those government officials who are now engaged in Lozada's character assassination apply equal zeal and sincerity to weed out and expose their fellow government officials who engage in graft and corruption, then we're definitely on our way for a much better and wiser government.
I can only wish that Lozada is only one of the many who will eventually step forward and speak of the "truth."-
Señor Enrique said...
Ironically, Amadeo, the images you pointed out were those of the contingent that represented the pro-government stance. And while some were in a festive mood, some looked as if bewildered and unsure of their presence in that rally ... hehehe.
And yes, only in the Philippines ... that I've heard of pro-administration rallyists being paid P500. From what I understand, this practice was common during the Erap administration.-
nutart said...
That's another business in the Philippines called "delihensiya." Paid to cry in funerals, paid to say novenas for those who can pay, paid to beg in the streets...then of course, those paid to pose as rallyist. Our former gardener here in the province when during elections would only go to the polling place at the earliest time (or the latest time before closing) because that is when he can make "delihensiya." I was shocked but then I quipped "how much is the going price...?" I should not have done that but seeing that our gardener was earnest to go "voting" I just told him that we'll talk later. After which, we talked politics. I grew in wisdom after that.
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Señor Enrique said...
Talk about independent contractors who offer their service for hire, Elizabeth ... hehehe.
Amazing, but hey, I'm sure this sort of thing also happens in other parts of the world.
I always tell the folks around here during elections to accept the money but for the candidate of your choice anyway ... lol!
