This is from the Tribune. Another article on the same issue is in Malaya.
To many corruption and Arroyo and spouse have long been associated but this is a new confirmation from the World Bank.
Big league criminals
EDITORIAL
C
02/06/2009
Excerpts of what appears to be an investigation paper that is highly likely the World Bank (WB) report on the bid rigging on a road project involving local and Chinese firms, had the name of First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo all over it as the principal proponent of the corrupt practice.
What was new in the documents were the tentacles of the collusion in the rigging of bids that involved legislators aside from the expected officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
If indeed the papers were part of the WB report, then the syndicate that the financial institution referred to in its decision in blacklisting three local construction firms, contractor Eduardo de Luna, and four giant Chinese firms for collusive practices was that which was led by Mike Arroyo.
What was also apparent in the report was that the syndicate is a fixture in any big road project -- and not just the WB road projects.
But the National Road Improvement and Management Program was a major catch for the syndicate since the overall cost of the project, which was originally planned to run from 2000 to 2009, all under Gloria, was a staggering $2 billion in which the WB and other international financial institutions contribute to the funding.
It would be interesting to find out whether the project was designed specifically for Gloria and if so, it would tend to prove the foresight of Gloria and her cabal that was set for a nine-year administration way before the “Hello Garci” tape episode.
It is to be remembered that Gloria had admitted in February 2001, that as early as January 2000, she and her coup conspirators had already been plotting the ouster of then sitting President Joseph Estrada. The timing was such that she would be able to run for the same office in 2004, which would give her nine years in the presidential saddle.
The existence of the Big Mike syndicate was also obviously the reason behind the Department of Finance (DoF) and the Office of the Ombudsman’s reluctance to touch the report that the WB said it had provided both offices since late 2007.
During the Senate inquiry in the bid rigging scandal, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said her office was still in the preliminary investigation stage on the documents furnished by the WB.
Gutierrez who had dragged her feet on all cases that involve her Palace masters such as that of the fertilizer fund scam and many others, would, without doubt, exonerate one and all in the syndicate once she finds an argument to throw out the WB findings.
It would be hard to surmise that the WB report on the collusive practices lacked details for the two government agencies, aside from the DPWH, not to act on it until now.
If the report that landed in the senators’ hands is the same as that which the WB had furnished the DoF and the Ombudsman, which is all of 400 or more pages detailing the way the Big Mike syndicate operates, Gutierrez would have a hard time in her job to dispute the allegations.
The fact that a foreign entity always figures in allegations of large-scale corruption involving Gloria and her cabal does not prove the lack of vigilance of those in the local front; it only takes more effort for the cabal to cover up and dispute the allegations coming from overseas.
All the same, the imprint of corruption on the country under Gloria becomes more pronounced with the WB findings on corrupt practices involving Big Mike’s syndicate.
The syndicate is, however, not limited to road projects as it proved time and again that it has a stranglehold on the whole government structure, the reason it thrives in its corrupt ways without fear. The whole Arroyo administration may even be the syndicate itself.
It does not seem to be a coincidence that Gloria fired up her Charter change engines just as the WB scandal is slowly unfolding.
With all the clear proof of corrupt practices piling up on Gloria and Big Mike, a different president next year would be hard-pressed not to give in to public clamor that the plundering couple face charges in court.
That fateful day is less than 15 months away.
Showing posts with label Corruption in the Philippines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corruption in the Philippines. Show all posts
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Philippines: Moscow junket gone wrong.
This is from the Manila Tribune.
This is just a small sample of rather suspect goings on involving the Philippine police. I recall reading a survey a long while back in which Filipinos ranked organisations according to how corrupt they were. The top two were the National Police and the Armed Forces followed closely by politicians. The Roman Catholic Church was among the least corrupt according to the survey.
I imagine in the US that politicians would probably be ranked more corrupt than the armed forces or police! When I was in the Philippines I didn't experience any corruption, have any trouble with the police, armed forces, or bureaucrats!
It is a bit ironic that the police should get into trouble at a police conference. The 6.9 million pesos is just over 143 thousand US dollars quite a nice bit of pocket money for the 8 policemen. However this seems a lot less flagrant than the case of Carlos Garcia of the AFP as described in the article.
Moscow junket gone wrong
EDITORIAL
10/19/2008
Nobody, it seems, is ready to give up on the belief that nothing underhand was behind the detention of Philippine National Police (PNP) officials and their wives, including a retired officer and his wife carrying euros equivalent to P6.9 million in Moscow.
The incident has created another sorry addition to the corrupt image of the country despite the assertions of the government that there was nothing irregular in it.
It is hard to justify P6.9 million as expenses and pocket money for eight PNP officials. That would mean an equivalent of a little less than P1 million for each of the policemen who are supposedly attending the 77th Interpol General Assembly in Moscow.
With the perennial complaint about the local police lacking funds to purchase essential equipment, the allocation of such a huge amount for just one overseas trip or junket is seen as highly anomalous by most.
A cover up, some say, is very evident in the way PNP officials and the Palace had responded to the shameful Moscow incident.
The PNP had insisted that the money was a contingent fund for the delegates in the Moscow police convention while retired PNP comptroller Director Eliseo dela Paz who was held by Russian customs officials for carrying 105,000 euros said that some of the money was meant for the purchase of goods ordered by some family friends.
The incident again reminded many of a similar incident involving Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia, who was removed from the service after being charged with plunder.
Garcia’s two children were detained in a United States airport in 2003 after being caught with $100,000 in cash by US authorities in San Francisco without the necessary Customs declaration.
In April 2004, their mother and Garcia’s wife Clarita, signed a sworn statement before US authorities admitting much more money was brought to the United States but only that the money previously brought into the country was all declared by her.
It was later found that the Garcias owned properties in the US, including a $765,000 condominium on 502 Park Avenue; a $750,000 apartment at 222 East 34th Street, both in New York; and a house and lot in Westerville, Ohio.
While the similarity does not necessarily insinuate that comptrollers, whether in the PNP or the AFP, are all corrupt, the two incidents showed that Garcia and Dela Paz do not go around traipsing in foreign countries with loose change.
The fact that Garcia got away with merely a removal from service, caring none for the paltry P37,000 a month salary he had as comptroller, and now the defense from the Palace that Dela Paz was not carrying the P6.9 million illegally, gives a glimpse on the high tolerance of mischief in government under the Arroyo administration.
Dela Paz, who was under the custody of Russian authorities despite the government vouching for what was found in his possession, he and his wife are back at the hotel, but cannot leave Moscow, and that the Philippine Embassy will make sure of his presence when needed by Russian authorities. As of the latest report, Moscow authorities have cleared the documents sent by the Philippine government and Dela Paz and his wife are free to return home.
To consider that the event happened in the country where an Interpol meeting was being held and the ones apprehended were the country’s police officials again gives the country a huge blackeye.
The solution put forward by the PNP to address the problem was also more for show than anything else.
PNP chief, Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa said all foreign travels of police personnel are being suspended pending a review of existing policies on travels. The very next day, the PNP said that a handful of police officials were going to the United States for training.
The PNP also said it will hold seminars for its personnel to acclimatize them on rules and procedures in traveling to other countries.
The Moscow incident was not a situation involving an unintended violation of a rule on the carrying of currencies that is particular to Russia. A police officer should know this, even a retired one.
If indeed nothing is at fault in that incident, still it remains an indictment on the quality of the country’s police force.
This is just a small sample of rather suspect goings on involving the Philippine police. I recall reading a survey a long while back in which Filipinos ranked organisations according to how corrupt they were. The top two were the National Police and the Armed Forces followed closely by politicians. The Roman Catholic Church was among the least corrupt according to the survey.
I imagine in the US that politicians would probably be ranked more corrupt than the armed forces or police! When I was in the Philippines I didn't experience any corruption, have any trouble with the police, armed forces, or bureaucrats!
It is a bit ironic that the police should get into trouble at a police conference. The 6.9 million pesos is just over 143 thousand US dollars quite a nice bit of pocket money for the 8 policemen. However this seems a lot less flagrant than the case of Carlos Garcia of the AFP as described in the article.
Moscow junket gone wrong
EDITORIAL
10/19/2008
Nobody, it seems, is ready to give up on the belief that nothing underhand was behind the detention of Philippine National Police (PNP) officials and their wives, including a retired officer and his wife carrying euros equivalent to P6.9 million in Moscow.
The incident has created another sorry addition to the corrupt image of the country despite the assertions of the government that there was nothing irregular in it.
It is hard to justify P6.9 million as expenses and pocket money for eight PNP officials. That would mean an equivalent of a little less than P1 million for each of the policemen who are supposedly attending the 77th Interpol General Assembly in Moscow.
With the perennial complaint about the local police lacking funds to purchase essential equipment, the allocation of such a huge amount for just one overseas trip or junket is seen as highly anomalous by most.
A cover up, some say, is very evident in the way PNP officials and the Palace had responded to the shameful Moscow incident.
The PNP had insisted that the money was a contingent fund for the delegates in the Moscow police convention while retired PNP comptroller Director Eliseo dela Paz who was held by Russian customs officials for carrying 105,000 euros said that some of the money was meant for the purchase of goods ordered by some family friends.
The incident again reminded many of a similar incident involving Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia, who was removed from the service after being charged with plunder.
Garcia’s two children were detained in a United States airport in 2003 after being caught with $100,000 in cash by US authorities in San Francisco without the necessary Customs declaration.
In April 2004, their mother and Garcia’s wife Clarita, signed a sworn statement before US authorities admitting much more money was brought to the United States but only that the money previously brought into the country was all declared by her.
It was later found that the Garcias owned properties in the US, including a $765,000 condominium on 502 Park Avenue; a $750,000 apartment at 222 East 34th Street, both in New York; and a house and lot in Westerville, Ohio.
While the similarity does not necessarily insinuate that comptrollers, whether in the PNP or the AFP, are all corrupt, the two incidents showed that Garcia and Dela Paz do not go around traipsing in foreign countries with loose change.
The fact that Garcia got away with merely a removal from service, caring none for the paltry P37,000 a month salary he had as comptroller, and now the defense from the Palace that Dela Paz was not carrying the P6.9 million illegally, gives a glimpse on the high tolerance of mischief in government under the Arroyo administration.
Dela Paz, who was under the custody of Russian authorities despite the government vouching for what was found in his possession, he and his wife are back at the hotel, but cannot leave Moscow, and that the Philippine Embassy will make sure of his presence when needed by Russian authorities. As of the latest report, Moscow authorities have cleared the documents sent by the Philippine government and Dela Paz and his wife are free to return home.
To consider that the event happened in the country where an Interpol meeting was being held and the ones apprehended were the country’s police officials again gives the country a huge blackeye.
The solution put forward by the PNP to address the problem was also more for show than anything else.
PNP chief, Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa said all foreign travels of police personnel are being suspended pending a review of existing policies on travels. The very next day, the PNP said that a handful of police officials were going to the United States for training.
The PNP also said it will hold seminars for its personnel to acclimatize them on rules and procedures in traveling to other countries.
The Moscow incident was not a situation involving an unintended violation of a rule on the carrying of currencies that is particular to Russia. A police officer should know this, even a retired one.
If indeed nothing is at fault in that incident, still it remains an indictment on the quality of the country’s police force.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Opposition sees no end to corruption under Arroyo
This is from the Philippine newspaper Malaya.
The anti-corruption campaign is very selective. It is important that the wrong people not be charged and the right people be charged.
UNO sees no endto graft under Gloria
THE United Opposition (UNO) yesterday said it does not expect any improvement in the Philippines’ ranking in the Corruption Perception index (CPI) as long as the Arroyo administration is regularly linked to irregularities, ignores corruption charges against its allies and uses the anti-corruption drive selectively to persecute political opponents.
Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay, UNO president, said the administration has been selective in its anti-corruption drive, citing the long-stalled case against former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante who is accused of funneling P728 million in agriculture funds to administration allies during the 2004 presidential elections.
"We are not surprised at all by the latest result of the CPI. The Arroyo administration uses a double standard in its so-called campaign against corruption. If the case involves allies and personalities close to the First Family, the administration either ignores the charges and even comes to the defense of those accused," he said.
On Tuesday, the Germany-based TI reported that the Philippines scored only 2.3 out of a possible 10 points in its corruption index for 180 countries. Last year the country earned 2.5 points.
On the other hand, Binay said flimsy and even manufactured allegations are raised against political opponents and critics. "If the allegation involves a critic of Mrs. Arroyo, the administration talks tough and even goes to the extent of imposing sanctions that are later overturned by the courts," he said.
The opposition leader said as long as the administration itself is linked to acts of corruption, coddles allies, and persecutes critics, the Philippines will continue to slip in the corruption rankings.
Citing recent reports of irregularities in the disbursement of funds from the Department of Agriculture’s Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program, Binay said corruption takes away food and income from farmers, rural workers and the poor.
"When Mrs. Arroyo and her supporters grabbed power in 2001, they claimed they will end corruption and restore morality in governance. Seven years of Mrs. Arroyo and corruption has worsened, and the trail of corruption in several cases led all the way to Malacañang," he said.
The Palace said the lower Transparency International rating should serve as a wake up call for everyone, not just government, to do better in the campaign against graft and corruption.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said perception of worsening corruption would negatively impact on the economy.
He said corruption is not tolerated and the government has a continuing campaign against the practice.
He said an educational campaign on how to prevent corruption should be mounted to complement efforts to prosecute offenders.
The anti-corruption campaign is very selective. It is important that the wrong people not be charged and the right people be charged.
UNO sees no endto graft under Gloria
THE United Opposition (UNO) yesterday said it does not expect any improvement in the Philippines’ ranking in the Corruption Perception index (CPI) as long as the Arroyo administration is regularly linked to irregularities, ignores corruption charges against its allies and uses the anti-corruption drive selectively to persecute political opponents.
Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay, UNO president, said the administration has been selective in its anti-corruption drive, citing the long-stalled case against former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante who is accused of funneling P728 million in agriculture funds to administration allies during the 2004 presidential elections.
"We are not surprised at all by the latest result of the CPI. The Arroyo administration uses a double standard in its so-called campaign against corruption. If the case involves allies and personalities close to the First Family, the administration either ignores the charges and even comes to the defense of those accused," he said.
On Tuesday, the Germany-based TI reported that the Philippines scored only 2.3 out of a possible 10 points in its corruption index for 180 countries. Last year the country earned 2.5 points.
On the other hand, Binay said flimsy and even manufactured allegations are raised against political opponents and critics. "If the allegation involves a critic of Mrs. Arroyo, the administration talks tough and even goes to the extent of imposing sanctions that are later overturned by the courts," he said.
The opposition leader said as long as the administration itself is linked to acts of corruption, coddles allies, and persecutes critics, the Philippines will continue to slip in the corruption rankings.
Citing recent reports of irregularities in the disbursement of funds from the Department of Agriculture’s Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program, Binay said corruption takes away food and income from farmers, rural workers and the poor.
"When Mrs. Arroyo and her supporters grabbed power in 2001, they claimed they will end corruption and restore morality in governance. Seven years of Mrs. Arroyo and corruption has worsened, and the trail of corruption in several cases led all the way to Malacañang," he said.
The Palace said the lower Transparency International rating should serve as a wake up call for everyone, not just government, to do better in the campaign against graft and corruption.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said perception of worsening corruption would negatively impact on the economy.
He said corruption is not tolerated and the government has a continuing campaign against the practice.
He said an educational campaign on how to prevent corruption should be mounted to complement efforts to prosecute offenders.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Real Political Soap Opera Philippine Style
Maybe some enterprising U.S. TV station could start covering corruption stories in the Philippines. It would take a while to build up public interest in the characters but after while these corruption soap operas might attract more viewers than those stations that cover every smile or frown of Obama and McCain and might even rate up there with UK soap operas. This is from the Tribune.
Maybe the Philippines should have a contest for the best corruption story on one of their big TV stations. By the way Malacanang, the castle, is like the White House in U.S. journalism. Arroyo and her husband have property in the U.S. Some day they may need it if the government changes and corruption charges against them, especially Mike, threaten retirement in the Philippines!
Ping threatens to spill beans on Pidal II
08/14/2008
Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson is threatening to drop a bombshell on the presidential couple amid reports of a lifestyle check probe on him by the Ombudsman which he insists is Malacañang-initiated.
He said his exposé will prove to be far worse than his exposé on the Jose Pidal case where he pointed the finger at presidential spouse Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo as the brains, adding a privilege speech will be delivered by him if Malacañang does not back off from “harassing” him.
An obviously peeved Lacson yesterday warned Malacañang that he will strike back if Palace minions will continue harassing and intimidating him, the latest form taken being the not-so-discreet lifestyle check being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman as well as the reported efforts of Malacañang and its loyal generals in reviving the Dacer-Corbito double murder case implicating him.
Earlier, it was claimed by Lacson that former Presidential Security Group chief and top security aide of President Arroyo, now chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) Brig. Romeo Prestoza, was wooing former police officer Cesar Mancao who is now in Miami, Florida, to be a witness against his former boss in the now defunct Presidential Anti-
Organized Crime Task Force. In exchange for his testimony, Mancao was reportedly offered by Prestoza safety for him and his family in Singapore, along with all their needs to be shouldered by the Arroyo government.
Moncao, in a radio interview last Tuesday, stated that it was the Isafp chief himself who called him to do the dirty on Lacson.
Yesterday, Lacson threatened Malacañang occupants, saying: “When I hit back back, they (the presidential couple) will really get hit,” Lacson stressed, adding that “the last time I remember was in 2001. They hit me with a fishing expedition by (then Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Victor) Corpus. I found out
that everything came from FG (Mr. Arroyo), including the identification of my supposed residence in America and my so-called (secret) bank accounts.
A few weeks back, a former Arroyo ally who testified against Lacson on this secret bank accounts confessed that she was hired by the presidential spouse to fabricate a case of money laundering against Lacson.
Blanquita Pelaez, a convict with an existing arrest warrant for the crime of estafa (fraud), claimed she was shortchanged by Malacañang and double crossed, as she had not been paid the fees that she was hired for the dirty job.
Lacson reminded Malacañang that he can play the same tit for tat game, if it doesn’t ease up on him.
“So I hit back with the Pidal expose. Now that they are starting again the vilification campaign using their minions including some military officers. Maybe if I hit back again, it will be another Pidal style, but with a bigger magnitude.”
He added: “You know, we never sleep (in cases like this). We always obtain information and it is not necessarily clean. So what anomaly they have committed, they should now scramble to cover this early because the moment I go to the Senate floor to deliver my privilege speech, they wouldn’t know what hit them,” Lacson said in an interview.
The senator indicated that he will not be silenced by these efforts to malign him, much more just allow Palace officials continue their tactics to smear his name before the public.
“I won’t take this sitting down though. I will strike back,” he said.
Lacson, however, would not provide even a hint as to the latest scandal he will expose soon.
Indications, as gleaned from his statements, hint at Lacson not delivering his “bombshell” of a Pidal ll if Malacañang drops the lifestyle check on him.
The senator said the moves against him are supposedly connected to the issue of the botched national broadband network (NBN) deal.
“The harassment against me started when I delivered my privilege speech on the NBN-ZTE which resulted in a full Senate investigation, and Malacañang knew that I would not back off because they (the presidential couple) can’t buy my silence.
Angie M. Rosales
Maybe the Philippines should have a contest for the best corruption story on one of their big TV stations. By the way Malacanang, the castle, is like the White House in U.S. journalism. Arroyo and her husband have property in the U.S. Some day they may need it if the government changes and corruption charges against them, especially Mike, threaten retirement in the Philippines!
Ping threatens to spill beans on Pidal II
08/14/2008
Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson is threatening to drop a bombshell on the presidential couple amid reports of a lifestyle check probe on him by the Ombudsman which he insists is Malacañang-initiated.
He said his exposé will prove to be far worse than his exposé on the Jose Pidal case where he pointed the finger at presidential spouse Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo as the brains, adding a privilege speech will be delivered by him if Malacañang does not back off from “harassing” him.
An obviously peeved Lacson yesterday warned Malacañang that he will strike back if Palace minions will continue harassing and intimidating him, the latest form taken being the not-so-discreet lifestyle check being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman as well as the reported efforts of Malacañang and its loyal generals in reviving the Dacer-Corbito double murder case implicating him.
Earlier, it was claimed by Lacson that former Presidential Security Group chief and top security aide of President Arroyo, now chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) Brig. Romeo Prestoza, was wooing former police officer Cesar Mancao who is now in Miami, Florida, to be a witness against his former boss in the now defunct Presidential Anti-
Organized Crime Task Force. In exchange for his testimony, Mancao was reportedly offered by Prestoza safety for him and his family in Singapore, along with all their needs to be shouldered by the Arroyo government.
Moncao, in a radio interview last Tuesday, stated that it was the Isafp chief himself who called him to do the dirty on Lacson.
Yesterday, Lacson threatened Malacañang occupants, saying: “When I hit back back, they (the presidential couple) will really get hit,” Lacson stressed, adding that “the last time I remember was in 2001. They hit me with a fishing expedition by (then Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Victor) Corpus. I found out
that everything came from FG (Mr. Arroyo), including the identification of my supposed residence in America and my so-called (secret) bank accounts.
A few weeks back, a former Arroyo ally who testified against Lacson on this secret bank accounts confessed that she was hired by the presidential spouse to fabricate a case of money laundering against Lacson.
Blanquita Pelaez, a convict with an existing arrest warrant for the crime of estafa (fraud), claimed she was shortchanged by Malacañang and double crossed, as she had not been paid the fees that she was hired for the dirty job.
Lacson reminded Malacañang that he can play the same tit for tat game, if it doesn’t ease up on him.
“So I hit back with the Pidal expose. Now that they are starting again the vilification campaign using their minions including some military officers. Maybe if I hit back again, it will be another Pidal style, but with a bigger magnitude.”
He added: “You know, we never sleep (in cases like this). We always obtain information and it is not necessarily clean. So what anomaly they have committed, they should now scramble to cover this early because the moment I go to the Senate floor to deliver my privilege speech, they wouldn’t know what hit them,” Lacson said in an interview.
The senator indicated that he will not be silenced by these efforts to malign him, much more just allow Palace officials continue their tactics to smear his name before the public.
“I won’t take this sitting down though. I will strike back,” he said.
Lacson, however, would not provide even a hint as to the latest scandal he will expose soon.
Indications, as gleaned from his statements, hint at Lacson not delivering his “bombshell” of a Pidal ll if Malacañang drops the lifestyle check on him.
The senator said the moves against him are supposedly connected to the issue of the botched national broadband network (NBN) deal.
“The harassment against me started when I delivered my privilege speech on the NBN-ZTE which resulted in a full Senate investigation, and Malacañang knew that I would not back off because they (the presidential couple) can’t buy my silence.
Angie M. Rosales
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
World Bank lists sources of corruption in the Philippines
This is from the Inquirer. Special Purpose Funds?
Isn't that a euphemism for vote-buying funds? A good example is the fertilizer fund some of which was distributed to urban areas!
I guess the success of drive against tax evasion doomed it since many of the evaders were probably Arroyo supporters!
As for those accused of corruption being punished. It is rare. Even Estrada who was found guilty has been pardoned. He is not supposed to run again for president though. He might win!
SPECIAL REPORT : World Bank lists sources of corruption in Philippines
By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: April 01, 2008
(First of two parts)
Summary and Lessons for Philippine Corruption Cases
Citing lessons from a number of large-scale corruption cases from the mothballed nuclear power plant in Bataan province to the national broadband network (NBN) scandal, the World Bank has called for tough reforms in the budget system to plug governance loopholes in the Philippines.
A country report prepared for the Philippine Development Forum (PDF) proposes abolishing “poorly controlled” special purpose funds, reforming the civil service system amid perceived vulnerability to political patronage and low compensation, and deepening of reforms on state procurement either during the sale of public assets or awarding contracts, among others.
The World Bank also laments in the report a “dramatic” slowdown in the government’s crackdown on big tax evaders in the last quarter of 2007 as opposed to 2006, when tax revenues were at an all-time high as the strategy of filing tax evasion cases under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) drive led to an unprecedented increase in personal and corporate income taxes.
The World Bank report, titled “Accelerating Inclusive Growth and Deepening Fiscal Stability,” a copy of which was obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, lists various grand corruption cases in the Philippines in which no senior government official or private-sector perpetrator had been convicted. (See table on this page.)
“While proving a corruption charge is technically difficult and may take time even in a successful case, there is a perception of impunity in the Philippines, in spite of the recent conviction of former President [Joseph Estrada] on a plunder charge,” the report says.
Without credible enforcement, corruption will continue to be encouraged in the Philippines, the World Bank warns.
“The issue of governance in the Philippines presents an interesting paradox,” it says. “In spite of a strong civil society presence, an open media, and highly capable individuals working in public administration, most governance indicators in the Philippines have fallen substantially over the last decade and are also lower than the average for middle income East Asian economies.”
Special purpose funds
The World Bank presents in the report arguments why the government must stop the proliferation of poorly controlled Special Purpose Funds (SPFs):
• There is no clear legal basis for the creation of some SPFs, or for their inclusion in the general budget. Some are created by legislation, others by executive order. Initially the SPFs were meant to highlight some key expenditure priority items for Congress, control some expenditure items in the budget and allow for contingencies, but over the years this clarity has been eroded. The fluid way with which some of these funds are created weakens the ability of the government to have a simple unified and transparent budget.
• SPFs are not broken down by programs/activities/projects, making them difficult to trace and account for. They offer tempting opportunities to officials to use their discretion in misusing these resources.
• Extensive reallocations of the approved budget between line agencies and SPFs during the year add to the difficulty of matching budget allocations with budget execution.
• SPFs aggravate the problem of deviations from the budget. Deviations between expenditure outcomes and approved spending in SPFs occasionally reach a variance of more than 20 percent.
“The elimination of SPFs will improve the credibility of the budget, improve transparency in budgeting and ensure that there is stability and predictability in the policymaking process,” the report says.
Such a reform, the bank stresses, would have a considerable impact on the perception of transparency in budgeting.
Public procurement
Public procurement is cited in the report as a big business in the Philippines (accounting for more than 16 percent of government expenditure and about 2.8 percent of domestic output), but likewise is considered as the government activity most vulnerable to corruption.
Many Filipinos believe that a significant portion of grand corruption and political corruption occurs during procurement, either during the sale of public assets or simply the process of awarding contracts, the report says.
Grand corruption involves theft of large sums by top politicians or other officials, while political corruption, also called “clientelism” or “state capture,” is defined as the misuse of state power by officials to shape the rules of the game for their own benefit and the benefit of those who pay them.
(To be continued)
Edited by INQUIRER.net
^ Back to top
©Copyright 2001-2008 INQUIRER.net, An Inquirer Company
Isn't that a euphemism for vote-buying funds? A good example is the fertilizer fund some of which was distributed to urban areas!
I guess the success of drive against tax evasion doomed it since many of the evaders were probably Arroyo supporters!
As for those accused of corruption being punished. It is rare. Even Estrada who was found guilty has been pardoned. He is not supposed to run again for president though. He might win!
SPECIAL REPORT : World Bank lists sources of corruption in Philippines
By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: April 01, 2008
(First of two parts)
Summary and Lessons for Philippine Corruption Cases
Citing lessons from a number of large-scale corruption cases from the mothballed nuclear power plant in Bataan province to the national broadband network (NBN) scandal, the World Bank has called for tough reforms in the budget system to plug governance loopholes in the Philippines.
A country report prepared for the Philippine Development Forum (PDF) proposes abolishing “poorly controlled” special purpose funds, reforming the civil service system amid perceived vulnerability to political patronage and low compensation, and deepening of reforms on state procurement either during the sale of public assets or awarding contracts, among others.
The World Bank also laments in the report a “dramatic” slowdown in the government’s crackdown on big tax evaders in the last quarter of 2007 as opposed to 2006, when tax revenues were at an all-time high as the strategy of filing tax evasion cases under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) drive led to an unprecedented increase in personal and corporate income taxes.
The World Bank report, titled “Accelerating Inclusive Growth and Deepening Fiscal Stability,” a copy of which was obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, lists various grand corruption cases in the Philippines in which no senior government official or private-sector perpetrator had been convicted. (See table on this page.)
“While proving a corruption charge is technically difficult and may take time even in a successful case, there is a perception of impunity in the Philippines, in spite of the recent conviction of former President [Joseph Estrada] on a plunder charge,” the report says.
Without credible enforcement, corruption will continue to be encouraged in the Philippines, the World Bank warns.
“The issue of governance in the Philippines presents an interesting paradox,” it says. “In spite of a strong civil society presence, an open media, and highly capable individuals working in public administration, most governance indicators in the Philippines have fallen substantially over the last decade and are also lower than the average for middle income East Asian economies.”
Special purpose funds
The World Bank presents in the report arguments why the government must stop the proliferation of poorly controlled Special Purpose Funds (SPFs):
• There is no clear legal basis for the creation of some SPFs, or for their inclusion in the general budget. Some are created by legislation, others by executive order. Initially the SPFs were meant to highlight some key expenditure priority items for Congress, control some expenditure items in the budget and allow for contingencies, but over the years this clarity has been eroded. The fluid way with which some of these funds are created weakens the ability of the government to have a simple unified and transparent budget.
• SPFs are not broken down by programs/activities/projects, making them difficult to trace and account for. They offer tempting opportunities to officials to use their discretion in misusing these resources.
• Extensive reallocations of the approved budget between line agencies and SPFs during the year add to the difficulty of matching budget allocations with budget execution.
• SPFs aggravate the problem of deviations from the budget. Deviations between expenditure outcomes and approved spending in SPFs occasionally reach a variance of more than 20 percent.
“The elimination of SPFs will improve the credibility of the budget, improve transparency in budgeting and ensure that there is stability and predictability in the policymaking process,” the report says.
Such a reform, the bank stresses, would have a considerable impact on the perception of transparency in budgeting.
Public procurement
Public procurement is cited in the report as a big business in the Philippines (accounting for more than 16 percent of government expenditure and about 2.8 percent of domestic output), but likewise is considered as the government activity most vulnerable to corruption.
Many Filipinos believe that a significant portion of grand corruption and political corruption occurs during procurement, either during the sale of public assets or simply the process of awarding contracts, the report says.
Grand corruption involves theft of large sums by top politicians or other officials, while political corruption, also called “clientelism” or “state capture,” is defined as the misuse of state power by officials to shape the rules of the game for their own benefit and the benefit of those who pay them.
(To be continued)
Edited by INQUIRER.net
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Sunday, March 23, 2008
Philippines 'most corrupt' in Asia: Poll
This is from the Inquirer. Not too many of the rankings are listed so it is hard to know how the Philippines compared to other corrupt countries. The article is rather strange in that it suggests that the Philippines is a 'sad case' because corruption is politicised and openly discussed in the media unlike authoritarian countries such as Vietnam and China. Huh? I suppose being just part of the accepted mode of operation and uncriticised is a plus! Having opposition parties and media criticise corruption is bad and sad! I would think that it is the other way around unless you support corruption as a normal and acceptable cost of doing business.
Philippines ‘most corrupt’ in Asia
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:08:00 03/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and China are among the most corrupt Asian economies, according to results of a regional poll of expatriate businessmen released March 10.
Singapore and Hong Kong retained their rankings as the cleanest economies, the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) said.
The annual survey covers only 13 economies in Asia and excludes other countries notorious for corruption, such as Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Some 1,400 expatriates were polled in January and February this year, PERC said.
Corruption remains a problem in the region despite huge economic progress made over the years, with governments generally lacking the political will to tackle the problem, the Hong Kong-based PERC said.
“The Philippines is a sad case when it comes to corruption,” the consultancy said in a summary report made available to AFP.
The Philippine situation is “probably no worse than in places like Indonesia and Thailand” but corruption has become politicized and is openly discussed in the media, unlike in authoritarian countries like China and Vietnam, it said.
The Philippines scored 9.0 out of a possible 10 points under a grading system used by PERC under which zero is the best score and 10 the worst
Philippines ‘most corrupt’ in Asia
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:08:00 03/23/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and China are among the most corrupt Asian economies, according to results of a regional poll of expatriate businessmen released March 10.
Singapore and Hong Kong retained their rankings as the cleanest economies, the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) said.
The annual survey covers only 13 economies in Asia and excludes other countries notorious for corruption, such as Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Some 1,400 expatriates were polled in January and February this year, PERC said.
Corruption remains a problem in the region despite huge economic progress made over the years, with governments generally lacking the political will to tackle the problem, the Hong Kong-based PERC said.
“The Philippines is a sad case when it comes to corruption,” the consultancy said in a summary report made available to AFP.
The Philippine situation is “probably no worse than in places like Indonesia and Thailand” but corruption has become politicized and is openly discussed in the media, unlike in authoritarian countries like China and Vietnam, it said.
The Philippines scored 9.0 out of a possible 10 points under a grading system used by PERC under which zero is the best score and 10 the worst
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thousands Protest against Arroyo
This is from the Boston Globe. The Roman Catholic clergy and the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines are regular fixtures along with many different activists at Philippine rallies. Although the groups certainly differ in their views it doesn't prevent their joining together to protest against Arroyo.
As if on demand, when one of these rallies is about to happen all of a sudden reports of assassination plots against Arroyo surface to deflect attention from the corruption issue.
Thousands protest against Philippines' Arroyo
By Manny Mogato
February 15, 2008
MANILA (Reuters) - Thousands of people rallied in Manila on Friday calling for the resignation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over a corruption scandal.
more stories like this
Police said around 10,000 people, including left-wing activists, students, religious groups and lawyers, had taken to the streets.
The protests, sparked by a Senate inquiry into government kickbacks in a telecom deal, were the biggest since tens of thousands of people demonstrated against Arroyo in 2005 amid allegations she cheated in elections the previous year.
"We are outraged by the reports of corruption and greed in government," said Maita Gomez, an activist who said she was wearing red because it was the color of anger.
Nuns, priests, artists and office workers danced as a local group belted out tunes, including Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand up" from a makeshift stage. People waved flags and posters with the words "Out Gloria," one large banner read "Gangster Regime."
"This is a good starting point for future mass actions. By that time, the numbers would have grown significantly," said Renato Reyes, the secretary general of Bayan, a left-wing group.
But analysts said it would be difficult to get more people to join the protests because after three impeachment bids and at least three coup plots against Arroyo, the electorate craves stability and the opposition lacks unity.
"She's still on the safe side," said Earl Parreno, an analyst at the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms.
"It's a challenge to the political opposition to fan the emotions, I have not seen the spontaneity as in past popular uprisings."
In an interview with Reuters earlier this week, Arroyo said she would complete her final term and in a briefing with investors on Friday, she assured them that the latest allegations were part of the typical political rough-and-tumble.
"These types of charges have regularly emerged even in previous administrations, as part of our less than impressive political culture," said the former economist, whose final term runs out in 2010.
The Senate inquiry has heard renewed allegations that the country's former election chief demanded $130 million to broker a $329 million deal with China's ZTE to build a broadband network for government agencies.
The election official denied the charge, but the deal was scrapped last year.
MERRY-GO-ROUND
But political analysts say the president's position appears safe due to support from the military and the lower house of Congress and the apathy of many Filipinos, who are sick of the political merry-go-round in Manila.
Arroyo herself took over after former President Joseph Estrada was ousted following street protests seven years ago. He was later convicted of plunder, but Arroyo granted him a pardon last year.
The latest scandal has, however, unsettled some investors. The Philippine stock index bucked the regional uptrend on Thursday and continued to fall on Friday, finishing down 0.9 percent.
The Philippines is currently on an economic roll, with growth at a 31-year high and the budget deficit at a 10-year low, and Arroyo said the momentum would be sustained despite a slowdown in the United States through accelerated infrastructure spending.
(Writing by Carmel Crimmins; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Sanjeev Miglani)
As if on demand, when one of these rallies is about to happen all of a sudden reports of assassination plots against Arroyo surface to deflect attention from the corruption issue.
Thousands protest against Philippines' Arroyo
By Manny Mogato
February 15, 2008
MANILA (Reuters) - Thousands of people rallied in Manila on Friday calling for the resignation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over a corruption scandal.
more stories like this
Police said around 10,000 people, including left-wing activists, students, religious groups and lawyers, had taken to the streets.
The protests, sparked by a Senate inquiry into government kickbacks in a telecom deal, were the biggest since tens of thousands of people demonstrated against Arroyo in 2005 amid allegations she cheated in elections the previous year.
"We are outraged by the reports of corruption and greed in government," said Maita Gomez, an activist who said she was wearing red because it was the color of anger.
Nuns, priests, artists and office workers danced as a local group belted out tunes, including Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand up" from a makeshift stage. People waved flags and posters with the words "Out Gloria," one large banner read "Gangster Regime."
"This is a good starting point for future mass actions. By that time, the numbers would have grown significantly," said Renato Reyes, the secretary general of Bayan, a left-wing group.
But analysts said it would be difficult to get more people to join the protests because after three impeachment bids and at least three coup plots against Arroyo, the electorate craves stability and the opposition lacks unity.
"She's still on the safe side," said Earl Parreno, an analyst at the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms.
"It's a challenge to the political opposition to fan the emotions, I have not seen the spontaneity as in past popular uprisings."
In an interview with Reuters earlier this week, Arroyo said she would complete her final term and in a briefing with investors on Friday, she assured them that the latest allegations were part of the typical political rough-and-tumble.
"These types of charges have regularly emerged even in previous administrations, as part of our less than impressive political culture," said the former economist, whose final term runs out in 2010.
The Senate inquiry has heard renewed allegations that the country's former election chief demanded $130 million to broker a $329 million deal with China's ZTE to build a broadband network for government agencies.
The election official denied the charge, but the deal was scrapped last year.
MERRY-GO-ROUND
But political analysts say the president's position appears safe due to support from the military and the lower house of Congress and the apathy of many Filipinos, who are sick of the political merry-go-round in Manila.
Arroyo herself took over after former President Joseph Estrada was ousted following street protests seven years ago. He was later convicted of plunder, but Arroyo granted him a pardon last year.
The latest scandal has, however, unsettled some investors. The Philippine stock index bucked the regional uptrend on Thursday and continued to fall on Friday, finishing down 0.9 percent.
The Philippines is currently on an economic roll, with growth at a 31-year high and the budget deficit at a 10-year low, and Arroyo said the momentum would be sustained despite a slowdown in the United States through accelerated infrastructure spending.
(Writing by Carmel Crimmins; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Sanjeev Miglani)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Philippine bishops endorse "communal action" against government corruption.
This from Catholic News. Actually the Church certainly has helped unmake Philippine governments before--and also helped prop them up. The bishops seem to be speaking out more lately perhaps due to the level of disgust among the populace. No doubt the Church is weighing the dangers to its credibility if it says nothing and the wrath of Arroyo and perhaps the displeasure of the Papacy that doesn't look kindly on political activism any more except on their favorite moral issues such as abortion.
Philippines bishops endorse “communal action” against government corruption
Manila, Feb 12, 2008 / 05:01 am (CNA).- Recent exposure of government corruption in the Philippines has prompted the country’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCP) to call for non-violent “communal action” to spur political reform.
A former environmental official, Rodolfo Lozada, has in recent testimony before the country’s senate exposed alleged corruption at the highest levels of government. Jose de Venecia, Jr., an ousted House speaker, has also added his testimony to the public inquiry into corruption.
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the CBCP said Lozado’s and de Venecia’s actions could save people from being “hostage to scandalous and shady government deals.” While noting they somehow had involvement in the corruption they were exposing, he said their exposure of the matter may yet be called “courageous.”
Though their testimony could affect their political careers, Archbishop Lagdameo affirmed the virtue of their actions. “Truth hurts. But the truth must be served. The truth will set our country free,” he stressed.
“We have to confess that corruption is in truth our greatest shame as a people,” said Archbishop Lagdameo.Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan said the call for communal action was “open-ended” and directed to all people seeking genuine governmental reform.
“One thing is clear, it will be an act against the present administration but as to how and who will answer to it it’s up to the people,” Archbishop Cruz said.
The archbishop said the bishops would support legitimate, non-violent actions of the majority of the people.“As long as there will be no bloodshed and it remains constitutional, we will support it,” he said.
Responding to those who challenged the CBCP to call for the resignation of Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, Archbishop Cruz said the bishops’ conference “is not the sovereign Filipino people.”
He added, “It would be a big mistake to expect the Church to make or unmake a government.”
Philippines bishops endorse “communal action” against government corruption
Manila, Feb 12, 2008 / 05:01 am (CNA).- Recent exposure of government corruption in the Philippines has prompted the country’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCP) to call for non-violent “communal action” to spur political reform.
A former environmental official, Rodolfo Lozada, has in recent testimony before the country’s senate exposed alleged corruption at the highest levels of government. Jose de Venecia, Jr., an ousted House speaker, has also added his testimony to the public inquiry into corruption.
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the CBCP said Lozado’s and de Venecia’s actions could save people from being “hostage to scandalous and shady government deals.” While noting they somehow had involvement in the corruption they were exposing, he said their exposure of the matter may yet be called “courageous.”
Though their testimony could affect their political careers, Archbishop Lagdameo affirmed the virtue of their actions. “Truth hurts. But the truth must be served. The truth will set our country free,” he stressed.
“We have to confess that corruption is in truth our greatest shame as a people,” said Archbishop Lagdameo.Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan said the call for communal action was “open-ended” and directed to all people seeking genuine governmental reform.
“One thing is clear, it will be an act against the present administration but as to how and who will answer to it it’s up to the people,” Archbishop Cruz said.
The archbishop said the bishops would support legitimate, non-violent actions of the majority of the people.“As long as there will be no bloodshed and it remains constitutional, we will support it,” he said.
Responding to those who challenged the CBCP to call for the resignation of Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, Archbishop Cruz said the bishops’ conference “is not the sovereign Filipino people.”
He added, “It would be a big mistake to expect the Church to make or unmake a government.”
Monday, February 11, 2008
Philippines: Catholic bishops back officials who exposed alleged corruption
Catholic bishops back two officials who exposed alleged Philippine corruption. This is from IHT.
The Catholic bishops regularly issue pronouncements on moral and political issues even though the Vatican has frowned on political involvement of late. There is a long tradition of political activism within the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The Daily Tribune had been egging the bishops on to stand up and say something. The Church was active in the earlier people movements and also clergy often participate in demonstrations. However, it seems as if most corruption charges against Arroyo seem to fizzle out eventually. Hopefully, this doesn't mean that God is on Arroyo's side!
The Associated Press
Published: February 10, 2008
MANILA, Philippines: Influential Roman Catholic bishops voiced support Sunday for two officials who exposed allegations of large-scale corruption in the Philippine government, urging Filipinos to back efforts to uncover the truth.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines praised former House Speaker Jose de Venecia and a government consultant, Rodolfo Lozada Jr., for bringing to public attention a bribery scandal that implicated President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's husband and a resigned election official.
The Philippines is predominantly Roman Catholic, and the church played key roles in the nonviolent revolts that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and President Joseph Estrada in 2001 over allegations of massive corruption and misrule.
In the latest instance the bishops, led by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, called de Venecia and Lozada "courageous" for exposing "the high level of graft and corruption."
"Their public confession may be considered a providential event that may yet save our country from being hostage to scandalous and shady government deals," Lagdameo said in a statement posted on the Web site of the bishops' group.
"Our country has too long been captive to the corruption of people in governance," he said. "We have to confess that corruption is, in truth, our greatest shame as a people."
Lagdameo urged the Philippines to back religious groups' efforts to uncover the truth behind the alleged corruption and to join protest prayers.
"This truth challenges us now to communal action," he said.
De Venecia, 71, was the longest-serving speaker of the powerful House of Representatives. Arroyo's dominant allies removed him from the post in a Feb. 5 vote.
Arroyo's alliance with de Venecia frayed last year when his son, Jose "Joey" de Venecia III — a losing bidder in a government broadband contract — told a Senate inquiry that Arroyo's husband had been promised a US$70 million kickback from the deal. Her husband, Jose "Mike" Miguel Arroyo, denied the allegation.
De Venecia stood by his son's allegations, and claims he has knowledge of cheating in the 2004 presidential elections that Arroyo won.
Lozada, a government consultant for the US$330 million broadband contract, told a Senate inquiry last week that Benjamin Abalos, a former elections chief, allegedly acted as a broker for the deal and threatened to kill him if he did not obtain a kickback of about US$130 million for him from the deal. Abalos denied the charge and threatened to sue Lozada for libel.
Lozada and his family alleged he was forcibly taken by authorities as he arrived from a foreign trip last week, to prevent him from testifying about the scandal. Police denied his claim.
Lozada has been under the protection of the Senate, an opposition bastion that plans to resume an investigation of the alleged abduction and bribery scandal on Monday.
___
The Catholic bishops regularly issue pronouncements on moral and political issues even though the Vatican has frowned on political involvement of late. There is a long tradition of political activism within the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The Daily Tribune had been egging the bishops on to stand up and say something. The Church was active in the earlier people movements and also clergy often participate in demonstrations. However, it seems as if most corruption charges against Arroyo seem to fizzle out eventually. Hopefully, this doesn't mean that God is on Arroyo's side!
The Associated Press
Published: February 10, 2008
MANILA, Philippines: Influential Roman Catholic bishops voiced support Sunday for two officials who exposed allegations of large-scale corruption in the Philippine government, urging Filipinos to back efforts to uncover the truth.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines praised former House Speaker Jose de Venecia and a government consultant, Rodolfo Lozada Jr., for bringing to public attention a bribery scandal that implicated President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's husband and a resigned election official.
The Philippines is predominantly Roman Catholic, and the church played key roles in the nonviolent revolts that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and President Joseph Estrada in 2001 over allegations of massive corruption and misrule.
In the latest instance the bishops, led by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, called de Venecia and Lozada "courageous" for exposing "the high level of graft and corruption."
"Their public confession may be considered a providential event that may yet save our country from being hostage to scandalous and shady government deals," Lagdameo said in a statement posted on the Web site of the bishops' group.
"Our country has too long been captive to the corruption of people in governance," he said. "We have to confess that corruption is, in truth, our greatest shame as a people."
Lagdameo urged the Philippines to back religious groups' efforts to uncover the truth behind the alleged corruption and to join protest prayers.
"This truth challenges us now to communal action," he said.
De Venecia, 71, was the longest-serving speaker of the powerful House of Representatives. Arroyo's dominant allies removed him from the post in a Feb. 5 vote.
Arroyo's alliance with de Venecia frayed last year when his son, Jose "Joey" de Venecia III — a losing bidder in a government broadband contract — told a Senate inquiry that Arroyo's husband had been promised a US$70 million kickback from the deal. Her husband, Jose "Mike" Miguel Arroyo, denied the allegation.
De Venecia stood by his son's allegations, and claims he has knowledge of cheating in the 2004 presidential elections that Arroyo won.
Lozada, a government consultant for the US$330 million broadband contract, told a Senate inquiry last week that Benjamin Abalos, a former elections chief, allegedly acted as a broker for the deal and threatened to kill him if he did not obtain a kickback of about US$130 million for him from the deal. Abalos denied the charge and threatened to sue Lozada for libel.
Lozada and his family alleged he was forcibly taken by authorities as he arrived from a foreign trip last week, to prevent him from testifying about the scandal. Police denied his claim.
Lozada has been under the protection of the Senate, an opposition bastion that plans to resume an investigation of the alleged abduction and bribery scandal on Monday.
___
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Philippines: Arroyo most corrupt president: Poll
This is from the Tribune. Being most corrupt doesn't seem to effect her staying power. It seems the administration is always blowing off steam about the opposition. Maybe they need a new public relations firm probably a US one paid for by foreign aid!
Ally wants GMA ‘most corrupt’ poll probed
By Angie M. Rosales
12/13/2007
In a bid to kill the messenger for coming up with a survey message showing President Arroyo as the “most corrupt president” in Philippine history, her staunchest ally, Sen. Miriam Santiago, yesterday vowed to unmask the alleged “culprit” behind the latest Pulse Asia survey that dared to make public the unfavorable results of its poll on who among the Philippine presidents earned the tag as the most corrupt.
She also reportedly threatened to have survey firms probed, as the senator claimed that they never conduct surveys unless they are paid for and financed by certain personalities.
Santiago said she is bent on filing a resolution today to investigate not only the particular survey firm but all major survey firms that have their results published in the media.
The woman senator pointed to a known member of the opposition, a former senator whom she did not name, but who she said was behind the Pulse Asia survey.
While she mentioned no names, it was already out in the
news Tuesday that former Sen. Sergio Osmena had commissioned that particular survey question.
Sources in the opposition said it was a rider question.
Santiago, in an interview with reporters, bared her plans of calling for a probe on this specific issue as soon as possible.
But Santiago’s colleagues, including the Senate leadership, are cold to her proposal, saying such results cannot be helped since this is the perception of the public of Mrs. Arroyo.
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. twitted Santiago on her position, saying there was nothing wrong with the opposition commissioning the survey on corruption issues.
Mrs. Arroyo’s staunch ally said she wants to know who paid for these surveys, as she does not buy the claim that these polls are not commissioned and insists on knowing just who funded these surveys.
She also stated that she does not believe that the Pulse Asia survey results tagging Mrs. Arroyo as the “Most Corrupt President” in history are accurate.”
“Apart from the usual criticisms of accuracy of surveys, I don’t think that any right-minded scientific professional survey firm will conduct a one-sided survey. There will always be a positive part of the survey. For example, it may ask: ‘Who is the most corrupt president?’ but it should ask also ‘Who do you think is the most successful economically among the presidents we have had’?” Santiago stressed.
“My unconfirmed report is that a member of the opposition commissioned the survey and was able to convince a major daily to use it as a banner headline. This is not a coincidence,” she said, and claimed she was outraged at these survey results and their publication.
Condemning Pulse Asia, Santiago claimed: “This survey firm has always been associated with a former president. I would not say that there is a direct connection between that former president and this firm. I do know however that there is an opposition figure who commissioned the survey and paid the firm. He is very slippery. It (the survey) does serve the purpose of the opposition to put President Arroyo down,” she noted.
Villar disputed the assessment of Santiago as he hinted that it would be unlikely for the matter to be even taken up by them, saying it would be better for the President to address this current perception of the public on her.
“She (Mrs. Arroyo) should just accept this (opinion of the Filipinos of her),” he stressed.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, opposition member, joined Villar in chiding Malacañang and the chief executive on their response to the issue of Mrs. Arroyo as most corrupt president, tossing the blame on the series of scandals that continue to rock the administration.
“In other societies, such widespread indictment would be enough to make a leader resign. In Mrs. Arroyo’s case, it further fuels her motivation to work for the extension of her term via Charter change. Only in the Philippines,” Lacson said.
The same call was issued by another member of the opposition, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who strongly advised Mrs. Arroyo the following: To issue the release of the Neda-ICC documents on the broadband project so that the public can see how the government approved this project; order the return home of former controversial Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante to face the music in the proper venues and make sure that the fertilizer fund scam will finally be resolved; cancel all foreign loans that are associated with questionable big-ticket projects including the P25 billion Cyber-Ed project; and go after the big-time smugglers and tax evaders, sparing no political sacred cows in the process.
“I humbly put forward these areas where the administration can start walking the talk and hardening its resolve against corruption.”
For former President Estrada, he said that “if the surveys and majority of the Filipinos believe that Mrs. Arroyo is corrupt, then perhaps she indeed is (the most corrupt).”
Estrada was reacting to the “Most Corrupt President” tag, earned by Mrs. Arroyo, topping former strongman Ferdinand Marcos in corruption, as measured by Pulse Asia.
“If that is what the survey shows then it is true. I am a believer of surveys. Even when I first ran for Mayor of San Juan I was given 50-50 chance from that time, I won. I am a true believer of surveys as a mayor, as a senator, and as President, even at the height of my popularity,” Estrada said.
He stated that he is willing to help the Arroyo regime provided it shows sincerity in its treatment of the Filipino people the Arroyo government claims to be helping. “They (government) must decide for the good of the greatest number which is the poor,” he said.
Asked if he has already seen or felt the sincerity by the government Estrada shrugged and said: “No.”
The survey, conducted last October showed Mrs. Arroyo being widely viewed by the Filipino people as the most corrupt ever, topping the most corrupt list with a 42 percent rating nationwide.
Marcos came in second, with a 35 percent rating. Estrada came in as a far third, with a mere 16 percent of the respondents rating him in the same corrupt listing.
He came in second, however, in the same survey as the “least corrupt president” or not corrupt president after Corazon Aquino.
The findings on Estrada validate past surveys where the majority of the people saw him as not having enriched himself while in office, as against the great majority of the respondents also saying that Mrs. Arroyo definitely enriched herself while in the presidential office.
For its part, Malacañang yesterday branded as “unfair” and “baseless” the latest Pulse survey findings.
Both Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Secretary Cerge Remonde claimed to be in disbelief over the survey results, claiming that the poll does not represent the sentiments of the majority of the 84 million Filipinos, and only a handful, or 1,200 who were polled expressed these sentiments.
“How can you compare 1,200 respondents to the majority of the 84 million Filipinos? We have to check the line of questioning used. Were the questions leading? We have to consider also the kind of respondents chosen. All these must be considered before making any judgment,” Bunye said.
When asked to comment if the survey has no credibility, Bunye said “ Let us just say, we don’t agree with the characterization (of Mrs. Arroyo as the most corrupt president ever).”
Remonde, for his part, said the survey is baseless because it does not look at the positive developments done by the Arroyo administration but merely relied of perceptions.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermtia, however, expressed belief that the opposition is behind the survey and that this is part of yet another plot to destabilize the government.
“Just like in boxing, they try to do body punching on the President because they cannot give her a straight cut. It’s fortunate that we have a strong contender (Mrs. Arroyo) ,” Ermita said, adding that the people behind the survey are known to be “unfriendly” toward Mrs. Arroyo but stressed that he is not referring to the political opposition.
“Some elements from the opposition, not really the political groups, might be behind this (survey) so they can continue to criticize the President,” Ermita said.
Ermita also urged the media to be more positive in reporting so the good deeds done by Mrs. Arroyo can be made known to the public, citing as example the effort of the chief executive in saving Overseas Filipino Worker Marilou Ranario from her death sentence in Kuwait.
The Palace official also observed that some media men “glorified” opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV despite his wrong deeds in leading the standoff at the Manila Peninsula last Nov. 29.
With Sherwin C. Olaes and Tesa Gaila Medina
Ally wants GMA ‘most corrupt’ poll probed
By Angie M. Rosales
12/13/2007
In a bid to kill the messenger for coming up with a survey message showing President Arroyo as the “most corrupt president” in Philippine history, her staunchest ally, Sen. Miriam Santiago, yesterday vowed to unmask the alleged “culprit” behind the latest Pulse Asia survey that dared to make public the unfavorable results of its poll on who among the Philippine presidents earned the tag as the most corrupt.
She also reportedly threatened to have survey firms probed, as the senator claimed that they never conduct surveys unless they are paid for and financed by certain personalities.
Santiago said she is bent on filing a resolution today to investigate not only the particular survey firm but all major survey firms that have their results published in the media.
The woman senator pointed to a known member of the opposition, a former senator whom she did not name, but who she said was behind the Pulse Asia survey.
While she mentioned no names, it was already out in the
news Tuesday that former Sen. Sergio Osmena had commissioned that particular survey question.
Sources in the opposition said it was a rider question.
Santiago, in an interview with reporters, bared her plans of calling for a probe on this specific issue as soon as possible.
But Santiago’s colleagues, including the Senate leadership, are cold to her proposal, saying such results cannot be helped since this is the perception of the public of Mrs. Arroyo.
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. twitted Santiago on her position, saying there was nothing wrong with the opposition commissioning the survey on corruption issues.
Mrs. Arroyo’s staunch ally said she wants to know who paid for these surveys, as she does not buy the claim that these polls are not commissioned and insists on knowing just who funded these surveys.
She also stated that she does not believe that the Pulse Asia survey results tagging Mrs. Arroyo as the “Most Corrupt President” in history are accurate.”
“Apart from the usual criticisms of accuracy of surveys, I don’t think that any right-minded scientific professional survey firm will conduct a one-sided survey. There will always be a positive part of the survey. For example, it may ask: ‘Who is the most corrupt president?’ but it should ask also ‘Who do you think is the most successful economically among the presidents we have had’?” Santiago stressed.
“My unconfirmed report is that a member of the opposition commissioned the survey and was able to convince a major daily to use it as a banner headline. This is not a coincidence,” she said, and claimed she was outraged at these survey results and their publication.
Condemning Pulse Asia, Santiago claimed: “This survey firm has always been associated with a former president. I would not say that there is a direct connection between that former president and this firm. I do know however that there is an opposition figure who commissioned the survey and paid the firm. He is very slippery. It (the survey) does serve the purpose of the opposition to put President Arroyo down,” she noted.
Villar disputed the assessment of Santiago as he hinted that it would be unlikely for the matter to be even taken up by them, saying it would be better for the President to address this current perception of the public on her.
“She (Mrs. Arroyo) should just accept this (opinion of the Filipinos of her),” he stressed.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, opposition member, joined Villar in chiding Malacañang and the chief executive on their response to the issue of Mrs. Arroyo as most corrupt president, tossing the blame on the series of scandals that continue to rock the administration.
“In other societies, such widespread indictment would be enough to make a leader resign. In Mrs. Arroyo’s case, it further fuels her motivation to work for the extension of her term via Charter change. Only in the Philippines,” Lacson said.
The same call was issued by another member of the opposition, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who strongly advised Mrs. Arroyo the following: To issue the release of the Neda-ICC documents on the broadband project so that the public can see how the government approved this project; order the return home of former controversial Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante to face the music in the proper venues and make sure that the fertilizer fund scam will finally be resolved; cancel all foreign loans that are associated with questionable big-ticket projects including the P25 billion Cyber-Ed project; and go after the big-time smugglers and tax evaders, sparing no political sacred cows in the process.
“I humbly put forward these areas where the administration can start walking the talk and hardening its resolve against corruption.”
For former President Estrada, he said that “if the surveys and majority of the Filipinos believe that Mrs. Arroyo is corrupt, then perhaps she indeed is (the most corrupt).”
Estrada was reacting to the “Most Corrupt President” tag, earned by Mrs. Arroyo, topping former strongman Ferdinand Marcos in corruption, as measured by Pulse Asia.
“If that is what the survey shows then it is true. I am a believer of surveys. Even when I first ran for Mayor of San Juan I was given 50-50 chance from that time, I won. I am a true believer of surveys as a mayor, as a senator, and as President, even at the height of my popularity,” Estrada said.
He stated that he is willing to help the Arroyo regime provided it shows sincerity in its treatment of the Filipino people the Arroyo government claims to be helping. “They (government) must decide for the good of the greatest number which is the poor,” he said.
Asked if he has already seen or felt the sincerity by the government Estrada shrugged and said: “No.”
The survey, conducted last October showed Mrs. Arroyo being widely viewed by the Filipino people as the most corrupt ever, topping the most corrupt list with a 42 percent rating nationwide.
Marcos came in second, with a 35 percent rating. Estrada came in as a far third, with a mere 16 percent of the respondents rating him in the same corrupt listing.
He came in second, however, in the same survey as the “least corrupt president” or not corrupt president after Corazon Aquino.
The findings on Estrada validate past surveys where the majority of the people saw him as not having enriched himself while in office, as against the great majority of the respondents also saying that Mrs. Arroyo definitely enriched herself while in the presidential office.
For its part, Malacañang yesterday branded as “unfair” and “baseless” the latest Pulse survey findings.
Both Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Secretary Cerge Remonde claimed to be in disbelief over the survey results, claiming that the poll does not represent the sentiments of the majority of the 84 million Filipinos, and only a handful, or 1,200 who were polled expressed these sentiments.
“How can you compare 1,200 respondents to the majority of the 84 million Filipinos? We have to check the line of questioning used. Were the questions leading? We have to consider also the kind of respondents chosen. All these must be considered before making any judgment,” Bunye said.
When asked to comment if the survey has no credibility, Bunye said “ Let us just say, we don’t agree with the characterization (of Mrs. Arroyo as the most corrupt president ever).”
Remonde, for his part, said the survey is baseless because it does not look at the positive developments done by the Arroyo administration but merely relied of perceptions.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermtia, however, expressed belief that the opposition is behind the survey and that this is part of yet another plot to destabilize the government.
“Just like in boxing, they try to do body punching on the President because they cannot give her a straight cut. It’s fortunate that we have a strong contender (Mrs. Arroyo) ,” Ermita said, adding that the people behind the survey are known to be “unfriendly” toward Mrs. Arroyo but stressed that he is not referring to the political opposition.
“Some elements from the opposition, not really the political groups, might be behind this (survey) so they can continue to criticize the President,” Ermita said.
Ermita also urged the media to be more positive in reporting so the good deeds done by Mrs. Arroyo can be made known to the public, citing as example the effort of the chief executive in saving Overseas Filipino Worker Marilou Ranario from her death sentence in Kuwait.
The Palace official also observed that some media men “glorified” opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV despite his wrong deeds in leading the standoff at the Manila Peninsula last Nov. 29.
With Sherwin C. Olaes and Tesa Gaila Medina
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