by Atty. Ernesto B. Francisco, Jr.
This latest move of the Office of the Ombudsman to spare First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and other individuals prominently mentioned in the World Bank reports from preliminary investigation and from the risk – no matter how remote – of being charged before the Sandiganbayan, coupled with the ploy of passing on its job of investigating them to the National Bureau of Investigation (“NBI”), is totally disgusting and sickening. This is too much. This also proves that the Ombudsman really takes 80 million Filipinos for fools.
The Ombudsman just announced that preliminary investigation would be conducted against 17 ranking Department of Public Works and Highways (“DPWH”) officials for charges of graft, grave misconduct, dishonesty, neglect of duty, among others, in connection with the collusive bid-rigging of World Bank-assisted road projects. In a newspaper report,[2] the Ombudsman was quoted as saying that “it uncovered an ‘indication of collusion’ between officials and private contractors.” It was further reported that Malacañang Palace “welcomed the Ombudsman’s recommendation to file charges against the DPWH officials.”
But the questions that right away struck the readers were: how about First Gentleman Mike Arroyo? Why wasn’t he included in the preliminary investigation? How about contractor Eduardo De Luna and the alleged arrangers Boy Belleza and Augusto “Tito” Miranda? Weren’t they all mentioned in the World Bank reports which were the basis for the Ombudsman investigation?
In another newspaper report,[3] an Ombudsman official was quoted as saying that “they also found ‘patterns of behavior that appear to show collusion among private contractors;’” that they do not have jurisdiction over private individuals; that “they would coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the private contractors;” that the Ombudsman and the NBI “will jointly probe the alleged collusion between private contractors and government officials;” that “First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was implicated in the World Bank report based on alleged interviews with unnamed witnesses and that he “can only be probed based on the testimonies of private contractors in the Senate hearings since the witnesses were never named, and the report was confidential.”
First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Eduardo De Luna, Boy Belleza and Augusto “Tito” Miranda and some of the DPWH officials charged were among those accused of collusive bid-rigging of World Bank-assisted road projects. Their names were mentioned in the World Bank reports which were used by the Ombudsman in its investigation and in coming out with its findings. There is no reason to separate them and make a distinction between the DPWH officials, on the one hand, and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Eduardo De Luna, Boy Belleza and Augusto “Tito” Miranda, on the other. Of course, this ploy is consistent with the strategy of going after the small fries to cover up or hide the sparing of the big fishes.
Worse, the Ombudsman, in a clear abdication of its constitutional duty, passed on the job of investigating the said individuals to the NBI, an agency which is under one of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s staunchest defenders, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez. In this regard, it is relevant to note that based on the World Bank reports, not only that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo was implicated, it appears that no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself knew the personalities involved and that in some instances, she was in their company when collusive transactions were taking place.
The Ombudsman does not need the NBI to do its job of investigating and prosecuting all those involved – public officials and private individuals alike. Under the Philippine Constitution and R.A. No. 6770, the Ombudsman is a very powerful agency. It has the power to conduct fact-finding investigation and preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. It may investigate and prosecute on its own or upon complaint by any person any illegal, unjust or improper act of a public official. It may direct government agencies and officials to perform acts or duties required by law or to stop, prevent or correct abuses or improprieties in the performance of such duties. It may direct government officials to provide it with copies of documents or information. It may request government agencies for assistance and information. It may subpoena witnesses and documents and punish for contempt. It may investigate and initiate action for the recovery of ill-gotten wealth.
Besides, the Ombudsman was supposed to have been investigating this mess for more than a year now. Why didn’t it conduct fact-finding? With all the powers and the resources at its disposal, the Ombudsman could have conducted an honest-to-goodness fact-finding investigation and could have produced real results given its lead time of more than a year. Truth to tell, what has happened is symptomatic of a sickness that has long afflicted the Ombudsman – its consistent, if not deliberate, failure or omission to conduct a real fact-finding investigation of the complaints filed before it. Now, when the World Bank mess became public, the Ombudsman had to do a delicate balancing act between responding to the public clamor for results and pleasing the Malacañang Palace by sparing the First Gentleman.
The excuse of the Ombudsman that it has no jurisdiction over private individuals and thus it has to pass on the job of investigating to the NBI, is a lie. Under Section 22 of Republic Act No. 6770, otherwise known as “The Ombudsman Act of 1989,” “(i)n all cases of conspiracy between an officer or employee of the government and a private person, the Ombudsman and his deputies shall have jurisdiction to include such private person in the investigation and proceed against such private person as the evidence may warrant. The officer or employee and the private person shall be tried jointly and shall be subject to the same penalties and liabilities.”
Also, the Ombudsman’s claim that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo was implicated based on interviews conducted by the World Bank with “unnamed witnesses,” is another lie. Lest we, too, go the way of the Ombudsman and conveniently forget, let us review what some of the witnesses who met with the World Bank’s anti-corruption unit, the Department of Institutional Integrity (INT), said about First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Eduardo De Luna, Tito Miranda, Boy Belleza, among others, as reported by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (“PCIJ”) in an article entitled “What the Witnesses Said” which was serialized in the Philippine Star, to wit:
“Date of Interview – 3 August, 2005
Interviewee – Shingo Nakamura, vice president, Yoshida Construction Co.
Interviewers – Tim Carrodus / David Hawkes / Michael Kramer
Nakamura filed a complaint against Eduardo C. de Luna and Augusto Miranda, alleging that the two defrauded Yoshida by falsely representing E.C. De Luna as having been already awarded the contract when in fact it had not. Nakamura said he paid de Luna and Miranda P2 million (about $40,000) in exchange for a P592-million subcontract on a World Bank-financed project (NRIMP-1, CW-RU 1.6) in 2003.
The business environment in the Philippines, he said, is “very dirty,” “as Japan had been 20 to 30 years ago.” All contract awards require “undertables” or corrupt payments. A “syndicate” organized by de Luna with Miranda, local politicians, and other bidders selects the winning bidder or the “champion.” The champion then pays the losing bidders one to three percent of the contract price.
Contract prices are inflated 25 to 35 percent to cover the cost of bribes that must be paid to various parties, including First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, certain politicians, DPWH officials and others. As a result, contractors must cut back on quality and safety in the construction of roads.
Nakamura first met Eduardo De Luna and Tito Miranda in 2002 through Yoshida’s agent, “Trix” Lim. Yoshida signed a P592-million subcontract with De Luna in Feb. 2003, and paid the $40,000 in cash in local currency in April 2003 to Miranda. Miranda was always asking for contributions to the DPWH Secretary and Mike Arroyo.
Yoshida paid a total of about P10 million to a variety of people: P100,000 for Sen. Barbers, P200,000 during Christmas, etc.
E.C. de Luna was Mike Arroyo’s man. He traveled with Mr. Arroyo, the President, and Tito Miranda to Japan. E.C. de Luna organized a syndicate to control the award of contracts. Miranda is involved as an intermediary for Sen. Barbers. All the companies that participated in the preliminary qualification process had to be a part of the syndicate, especially the Chinese and Korean. Members of the syndicate – bidders, politicians, DPWH officials, Lim, De Luna, and Miranda – would congregate at the Diamond Hotel every three days to discuss the contract awards.
Contract prices were inflated 25- to 35- percent over the actual costs to generate funds for necessary payments which included the following:
1 percent to the Malacañang Presidential Palace (Nakamura said this meant the “Cabinet”)
5 percent to Senators (including Sen. Barbers and Sen Rebeira (Revilla?) and his son)
5 percent to Mike Arroyo
1 percent to DPWH personnel
1 percent to DPWH director
3 percent to other local officials, mayors, etc.
Contractors also had to make payments of P100 to P300 to government pay clerks. Inspectors were also paid relatively small amounts. Some of the bribe funds came from the 15-percent mobilization payment to contractors at the outset of the contract.
Nakamura introduced Mr. Suzuka of Suzuka Construction Co. to the Philippines after Suzuka heard that it was easy to get contracts because of the syndicate arrangement. Mr. Washo of EIWA Construction was also introduced.
Date of Interview – 5 August, 2005
Interviewee – Tomatu Suzuka -president, Suzuka Construction Co. Ltd.
– Masaki Suzuka – manager
Interviewers – Tim Carrodus, David Hawkes and Michael Kramer
Suzuka’s Philippine office ceased to have business involvement in the Philippines after it had “various issues” three years before the interview. Tomatu Suzuka cited the foreign exchange issues and damage to reputation among the issues his firm withdrew from the Philippines in November 2002.
He said he met with Senator Barbers and Mike Arroyo and “first discussed bribes” but had a “rough approach.” He said he “learned that money was important to do business in the Philippines, which was a “fundamental difference in the way of thinking.”
A certain Mr. Lim, Suzuka’s agent, said Suzuka would have to pay to get a contract, and that dollars would settle problems with the World Bank. He mentioned 2–3% to obtain credit or financial support.
Suzuka said he met Lim four years ago (2001) at Diamond hotel. There were policemen and government officials present when they discussed payments. A certain Tito Miranda was also with Lim’s group. Suzuka said he met Sen. Barbers separately. He said he thought Tito was a secretary of Barbers. Tito asked Suzuka to pay for Barbers’ trip to Japan, but that he refused. He said local contacts introduced him to Barbers.
He identified one Trix Lim as the person he was dealing with in the Philippines.
Suzuka even recalled a meeting with Barbers on an island in the Philippines while President Arroyo was delivering a speech and welcomed the Japanese companies. He said he had no contact with President Arroyo.
Suzuka said it was made clear to him that there would be no business in the Philippines without paying money. Money would have to be paid as high up as the president, senior government officials and politicians in order to do any further business in the country. To win a contract, it would also be necessary to pay the head of the bureau (PMO?) and politicians several million yen.
Suzuka said he knew that the President’s husband handles her business, as what he had heard from local companies and the consultant who prepared the documents for the bidding. However, he said he had no specific information or any direct evidence of any money being paid to somebody specifically.
When shown the bid documents for the contract, Suzuka said his signatures were forged.
Date of Interview – 8 November, 2006 and 15 November, 2006
Interviewee – Noelito D. Policarpio, R.D. Policarpio & Co., Inc. [Philippines]
Interviewers – Terry Matthews, Tim Carrodus, and Tom McCarthy (11/08/06)
– Tim Carrodus, Tom McCarthy, and Edil Dushenaliyev (11/15/06)
R.D. Policarpio & Co., Inc. (Policarpio Co.) participated in the NRIMP project in the following packages: 1.4A, 1.4C and 1.4B (third round).
• The ABC’s of the Collusive Bidding Scheme
The bid collusion involves an entire plutocracy, according to Policarpio. “We will talk to each other, and decide who will get the contract. Sometimes will (agree to) have a small contractor get pre-qualified for strategic reasons.”
Policarpio knows that Tito Miranda and Boy Belleza both actively work to manipulate bidding. He said that Eduardo de Luna is “behind” Tito Miranda and “Mr. A” is “behind” de Luna. Mr. A is Mr. Mike Arroyo, Policarpio said.
Policarpio said that de Luna takes an active role in arranging collusive bid schemes in behalf of contractors and politicians. The late Senator Barbers used to be active in using his influence to participate in collusive bid schemes. These activities are now continued by the Barbers sons. Senator Barbers initially used Tito Miranda to arrange his schemes, but later on used de Luna.
Miranda realized that de Luna is very close to Mr. Arroyo, and has now formed a partnership with de Luna in making arrangements on collusive schemes in behalf of the Barbers sons.
Mr. Arroyo is very powerful and places officials in positions, and these officials do what he wants. Policarpio also said he does not believe that Mr. Arroyo’s wife is aware of his corrupt actions.
In large government projects, Policarpio said that the process is completely fixed. Prices and winners and losers are determined before the bidding even takes place.
Foreign contractors approach politicians and outbid the Philippine companies. Policarpio explained that before, contractors would meet among themselves but now, the decision regarding who will win the contract is made not by contractors but by politicians through the results of the “influence action” system.
Losing bidders are paid off by the winning bidder. Politicians would then receive their S.O.P. monies from the contractor’s advance payment, in accordance with the percentage that they have previously negotiated on. Two politicians are usually involved: the politician whose area is hosting or affected by the contract and the politician who controls the implementing agency.
For the collusive schemes to work, Policarpio said that the implementing agency must work with the scheme. The DPWH Secretary exercises a very large influence on the schemes and plays a significant role in their success.
All payments are paid in cash.
Meetings take place at the Diamond Hotel and at a hotel near the U.S. Embassy in Manila. The last meeting Policarpio attended was two weeks ago (check date of interview) at the Diamond Hotel to fix the bidding for a JBIC-funded project.
INT asked Policarpio how he accounted for the S.O.P. payments in his company books. He said he does not worry about accounting for the payments because the company books are all “faked” anyway to avoid taxes.
INT also asked Policarpio what would happen if he refused to participate in the collusive bid schemes. Policarpio said if he does participate, “they” would try to do something to eliminate his company from bidding in future contracts.
Policarpio Co. prepares two bids when tending for a contract: one that conforms with the collusive scheme and one that is a legitimate, ‘commercial’ bid to be submitted in case the collusive scheme falls apart prior to bid submission. Policarpio said he would make the decision as to which bid to actually submit the day before the bid submission deadline.
The joint bid submitted by Policarpio/Pancho/Sebastian joint venture in Package 1.4B on August 8, 2006, was part of a collusive bidding scheme, said Policarpio.
Prior to the preparation of the bid, he had a telephone conversation with Clemente Pancho, vice-president for Business Development of the Pancho Co. Pancho informed him that he had received the fixing price from the ‘arrangers’ and that he would prepare the bid to reach the predetermined price.
Consequently, Policarpio understood that the bid was not going to win and that it was not prepared to win.
In a follow-up interview on Nov. 15, 2006, INT asked Policarpio if he was aware if there was a collusive bidding arrangement in the first round of bidding of Package 1.6, where the JV prequalified but withdrew from bidding process. ‘All bids are fixed,’ said Policarpio, noting that the JV in which he was bidding was a designated loser in the scheme.
INT asked him why the JV withdrew from bidding. Policarpio said that many times participants in the schemes would decide that they do not have – or unwilling to devote – the resources and time necessary to prepare the bid package since they know that they are going to lose anyway. The JV withdrew because the companies did not have the time to put together a bid at that time which they knew would be unsuccessful.
Policarpio also informed INT that he did not understand why the DPWH did not use the ABC formulated by the consultants and used instead the ABC formulated by its staff. He believes that the ABC’s used in these projects are routinely unrealistic.
Heunghwa submitted to be pre-qualified in a joint venture with EC de Luna but was not prequalified for packages 1.4C, 1.4B(1st) and 1.6 (1st); and for 1.4B (2nd) and 1.6 (2nd).
He said the contractors must have connections to government officials, and to agents, or messengers of the government officials. He said there are arrangements made between top government officials and contractors to win contracts. He suggested that INT investigate the winning bidders and talk to the losers ‘because they always have something to say.’
Kang said he had heard of Tito Miranda and Boy Belleza as agents or messengers for top government officials in arranging bidding on contracts. He confirmed that contractors meet with agents and messengers of government officials before the bidding in order to fix the contract tendering process. Kang said he was told that to get contracts, he has to form a relationship with Eduardo de Luna who was supposedly very close to a top government official. He described de Luna as president of a construction company who is very active in making arrangements between government officials and contractors on contracts. He said de Luna wins contracts with Chinese contractors.
Kang identified the government official that de Luna was connected to as Mike Arroyo, through de Luna’s father-in-law. He admitted that he never participated in any of these dealings and that his knowledge were based on what Kim, his predecessor, had told him and on rumors.
Date of Interview – 23 November, 2006
Interviewee – Manolito Madrasto – chief operating officer, permanent secretariat, International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Association
Interviewers – Tim Carrodus and Edil Dushenaliyev
He said corruption in the Philippines starts with locally-funded projects and has expanded to internationally-funded projects. He noted that at the local level, the local politician decides who wins. If an international contractor wins, there will be local subcontractors suggested by the local politician. He said he is fully aware of the collusive and corrupt system in the Philippines.
According to him, some contractors were threatened physically during the third round of bidding for the packages CW-RU-1.4B , 1.6A and 1.6B where everybody knew who was going to win.
Madrasto estimates that 40 percent is added to the cost of a contract to facilitate payments to the politicians.
He said EC de Luna and J.D. Legaspi are connected to the ‘first gentleman’ and they brag about this relationship; RII Builders and 310 Construction are connected to former president Fidel Ramos while J.M. Luciano Construction is connected to a congressman.
In closing, as I have stated in my Sworn Request for Investigation, this incident is another national embarrassment which we, as a people, have to correct if we do not want ourselves and our nation relegated to the odious position of being one of the most corrupt in the world. It is not too late for us to prove to the entire world that we, Filipinos, are not fools. Let us prove the Ombudsman wrong!
On 16 February 2009, the author filed a Sworn Request for Investigation before the Office of the Ombudsman to request for the formal investigation of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, Eduardo de Luna, Boy Belleza, Augusto “Tito” Miranda and other government officials implicated in the alleged bid-rigging of World Bank-assisted road projects.
The Multi-Sectoral Anti-Corruption Council (MSACC) called on Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to stand firm amid calls for her to step down.
In “A Call to Action,” the MSACC asked Gutierrez to continue leading the fight against corruption by “being a paragon of independence and objectivity, standing up for the rule of law, and most importantly, being on the side of right.”
“More than a thousand people coming from the youth, business, civil society and the government services participated in a rally as part of a comprehensive multi-sectoral campaign against graft and corruption.The participants were led by members of the Multi-Sectoral Anti-Corruption Council (MSACC) led by no-less-than its chairman Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.”PIA press release.
Merciless Gutierrez was placed at Ombudsman precisely to protect FG Mike Pidal. Why be surprised?
what seems to be the problem why Arroyo cannot be included and the other big fish?
here’s republic act 6774. Sec. 4. Appointment.
Therefore, the Ombudsman Office is a TOOTHLESS tiger. It has become the watchdog and baby sitter of Mike Arroyo and corrupt public officials. poor pinoys talaga
Asian D – when will it ever dawn in you that ALL these RA’s you diligently dug up are inconsequential to these thieving politicians. They know it’s there gathering cobwebs but who’s going to implement or enforce them? No one! People’s Revolt is what the motherland needs soonest.
truBlue,
people’s revolt may no longer be a good strategy. It can be very backward. the bloodline will continue regardless if the people will decrease their numbers.
how can the people revolt if they don’t know what’s going on. You mean to say you will sacrifice the ” fooliest among the 80 million fools” or the stupid to change the country?
what’s reasonable must be considered by those who may have little ones that will be left behind.
this country requires a good leader that can influence the whole team to function better in behalf of the people. Maybe in a hundred years? 🙂
Perhaps not only fools,but fools among the fools,due to ceratain traits among ourselves,we’ve been carried away from the sweet words among those started of revolution of EDSA2,like the the most famous “sinner” of SIN,which dragged us to an endless mess,2004 &2007 electing and installations of corrupted “MEMBER of the ORCHESTRA” always playing the tune of MAMBO(bola), and the steps are “CHA-CHA”,we just picked up an sledge hammer to hit our head and moans what we had done.We are just like “MASTER”,that hired a public servant with the bullwhip to beat us and robbed our national treasury,rape our honor and dignities,dragged to international shames,exported our kababayan to another country to be “SLAVES”,just to saves the virtual boosting economy of the country.
Spam attack?
Good thing Mercenary Gutierrez always exposes her true skin, her true color. Even people with no knowledge of what is happening around easily identifies her among the foolest of fools surrounding the crooks housed inside malakanyang.
The only problem about the woman are her eyes and cramped neck. Wherever the fatso is, his woman of mercy trains her sight the other way. Looking for small fries for prey.
sabi ko nga we need another edsa,then tapos na.
>how can the people revolt if they don’t know what’s going on> – Asian D.
Majority barely feed themselves three times a day and god knows how many are going six feet under daily; unemployment and layoffs are quite common, and you have the gall to say they don’t know what’s going on? Gov Crist took the stimulus money to feed the people of Florida and you, to jump start your state’s economy – otherwise, you’ll be one of those millions protesting or maybe revolting due to hunger.
Ellen, you are right but we must all remember that the reason Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her cohorts managed to continue doing so because we the Filipino people are not doing enough.
Ang swerte naman ni FVR, one of the most corrupt presidents probably next to Gloria but got away with all his loot! Bakit ang dalas niya sa Zurich, Switzerland kaya? Your guess is as good as mine.
FVR never got the respect of the people even if he is a former President because we know too well his character. Remember PEA-AMARI, sale of National Steel Corporation, a vital industry, Petron, Centennial Expo Multi-Billion Scam, and Fort Bonifacio Land sale.
Do you think we have forgotten these crimes???
After Gloria, FVR is definitely the most corrupt President!
Did someone say Filipinos are not doing enough to kick out the corrupt and criminal in office? Doing enough of what, may I ask. I guess it is more of not doing enough of the right thing. What would be a right thing? It may be voting into office the right people.
“the Ombudsman really takes 80 million Filipinos for fools.” So, what’s the 80 million Filipinos are doing about it? Fact of the matter is, the 80 million Filipinos doesn’t care, they would rather be on the sideline which is why whore Gloria’s corrupted government lasted all these years. Philippines is nothing but a Titanic just waiting to go under, and whore Gloria is doing a great job of making sure of it. Whore Gloria couldn’t careless, she already got a built in life preserver when the moment come, just like the Marcoses, then Filipinos will start all over again until another Arroyos or Marcoses comes along. It’s now the moment to jump ship, waiting is no longer an option unless you’re part of the whore Gloria’s corrupt gov’t.
“this incident is another national embarrassment..” Do you think the Ombudsman or whore Gloria cares? Of course not, they’re shameless people, without honor nor integrity as human being. All they’ve care about are lying and stealing from the people. Sadly, the people couldn’t careless either, and they don’t want to be bothered. As I said before, nobody is to blame but the people itself for letting whore Gloria and her pigs gets away, lie and steal from them.
Perhaps I was little generous to call whore Gloria and her pigs as human being. How about animals?
Way before this chedeng came up with the list of the corrupt contractors, we already know, the list would only have the names of the small fishes. The big ones continue to swim through and gobble up everything along their path.
Let us face it, the evil bitch has outsmarted the Filipinos again and again and the Filipinos are just “playing dead” for the most part. So really, we get what we deserve.
Wasn’t the tabako the man behind the Edsa ? Since the bitch is more corrupt than the tabako, siyempre magtatakipan yang mga yan. Now, these two will have to find another more corrupt leader to take over so both of them will be “safe” the rest of their lives to be able to enjoy their loot! In a few more years, their children will be running for top positions too. Filipinos easily forget, don’t we? This is why we are always taken for a ride.
The report now is that 12 Senators are willing to sign for the approval of Cha-Cha in exchange for P1 Billion gift each from Malacanang.
If 12 Senators are willing to sign it, then cha cha is a done deal.
Who can stop it? Binay cannot do it alone with his Makati rally. Erap does not lead any rally at all since he was freed.
Remember that about two years ago, pidal mafia did a staged bombing at Batasang Pambansa. So, if people will rally around Batasang Pambansa, the more this pidal mafia will be willing to detonate a bomb there which might pave the way for martial law.
I think, it will be better for us to have this illegitimate dwarf to declare martial law than to get her cha cha.
I think, the pidal mafia feels more secure to get their cha cha than to declare their martial law.
By getting their cha cha, it creates a constitutional legitimacy on her stolen power. If she declares martial law, even though the pidal mafia are well prepared years ago, nothing is guaranteed that everything will go as plan.
President Arroyo’s term of office ends exactly at noontime on June 30, 2010. She need to post bail for all her crimes to Filipino people.These people are not going without a fight and they fight very,very dirty. Her lapdogs and bunch of neocons are turning every stones and working overtime to ammend the country’s 1987 Constitution. If this plan don’t work,there is a greater chance that Arroyo will simply cancel the elections this time around.Gloria Arroyo doesn’t have the luxury of stealing the election; her name will not be on the ballot. The Filipinos is caught in the circular logic by which the Congress/right wing justifies a panoply of atrocities. Having left the nation no peaceful means by which it might express the popular will, Arroyo will cite ‘violence’ as justification for even more extreme measures. This is the death cycle of Democracy.
Arroyo will need a ‘riot’ in order to declare martial law and will require martial law to justify her crackdowns on dissent and ‘civil disturbance’. The right wing’s relationship to dissent mirrors that of Arroyo’’s relationship to ‘terrorism’. Arroyo, in fact, is nothing without terrorism and her policies can be shown to be the cause of it. Thus –she will and does manufacture it!
Cocoy,
I agree with you 100%! Arroyo and her minions will do everything to extend their hold on to power because of survival! They know too well what their crimes are against the Filipino people which is the reason they do not want to let go of power, because they do not want to face the music! They have raped this nation for 8 long years with the help of corrupt police and military officials and some rogue members of the media like the PDI who seem to cover her scandals.
The Filipino people should not let her get away this time the way FVR has gotten away with his loot.
Firing squad or lethal injection??? Which is your choice for these corrupt people?
Cocoy, before the Evil Bitch could post bail she must be charged. Before being charged, there must be complainant or complainants. That’s why it’s imperative that the next leadership is from the genuine opposition.
What should be done is what happened to the Illiescus of Romania. The Nikolai Illiescu has ruled Romania and plundered the country for a very long time. When the people got tired, they revolted, stormed the palace and stoned the whole Illiescu family to death. Gloria will just use her money to get away from persecution and who knows, she might bribe again her corrupt police and military officials to overthrow the present government at that time, and be back in power again!!!
Stoning to death or firing squad outright should be the only options for the crook family of the Arroyos!
Let me ask this question – Who is/are going to file criminal charges against GMA and cohorts once they are out of office (by June 30, 2010?). Is there or are there lawyers and people documenting and preparing the legal charges to file? All I hear and see are just assumptions that once the GMA gang is out of office charges will be filed. Is there a group or entity doing the legal legwork to ready the charges? Baka paglayas nila GMA eh wala naman magfa-file ng nararapat na kaso.
Can we not delete and stop this Viagra ad? I don’t need it !