Rodolfo ‘Jun’ Lozada, Jr., the Bicolano who came in ‘from the cold’ was, indeed, a sight to behold (on National T.V.), with Pride! His nonchalance seemed to belie the fact that he was a virtual ‘David’ forced by circumstances to try to crack the walls of Malacanang like a battering ram in the hands of Opposition Stalwarts. Of course, the fact that the Opposition stands to gain a lot from his revelations is beside the point. Sooner or later somebody else would’ve had the same guts and integrity to come out and denounce the ‘Institutionalized Corruption’ in Government. Unfortunately for the Arroyo Government it just had to happen SOONER and it just had to be a gutsy and ‘peppery’ Bicolano from Ligao, Albay!

        A 20+% Project ‘overprice’ has, ever since, been the rule, rather than the exception, in Government. The Conjugal Dictators simply ‘formalized’ its inclusion in almost all Government Projects awarded to Private Contractors who usually enter into a transaction with just the needed ‘connections’, outstanding ‘political debts’, some signed pieces of paper (contracts, Programs of Work, etc.), and come out with a lot of Money which they never even had before! This crazy mixed-up situation has really ‘INTRIGUED’ me a lot! Some ‘favored’ private contractors and political ‘dummies’ enter into BIDDINGS for these Government Contracts, promising to be able to complete a Project within a specified time frame and at THE LEAST EXPENSE to the Government. Upon ‘winning’ these contracts these ‘enterprising’ guys are given advances FROM THE GOVERNMENT BUDGET (or the Community Development Fund of the Politicians concerned) at a staggered rate according to an approved Program of Work. What escapes public scrutiny, however, is the tacit approval of that controversial 20-25% ‘under-the-table’ CUT which goes to the Politician who ‘awarded’ the Contract, even before the Project has started! Now, that 20% cut, which has now been conveniently ‘cosmeticized’ into ‘S.O.P.’ or (Standard Operating Procedure), has long since been ‘cleverly’ incorporated into the contract thru that really stinking Project OVERPRICE! ‘Sosmaryosep’! Can you believe that? Making Corruption a Standard Operating Procedure in Government! ‘Por Dios y Por Santo!’ No wonder we are one of the POOREST Countries in Asia! We keep on electing money hungry sucking LEECHES into Public Office who keep on ‘giving’ us roads and ‘Visual Progress’ in exchange for PILFERING 20-25% of OUR MONEY; and they have the gall to erect Project Signboards declaring: “This is where your taxes are being spent” THRU THE EFFORTS OF: Politician So and So! ‘Sosmaryosep’! After stealing our money they expect us to still be GRATE

        FUL to them! For crying out loud! Indeed, I would like to repeat then Vice-Pres. Emmanuel Pelaez’s question to then Bicolano Gen. Karingal almost 3 decades ago: “General, where is this country going to?” or words to that effect. Is it any wonder then that we always get the rotten end of the stick when it comes to these roads and Infrastructure Projects? Despite the fact that these contracts are intentionally BLOATED just to accommodate these rotten ‘S.O.P.s’, these Contracting ‘Rats’ still try to maximize their ‘take’ by using substandard materials and not following Project Specifications! Consequently, we, the taxpaying Public have to endure all the cracks and potholes that have been, perhaps, included in an ‘extra-contractual agreement’ (if there’s such a thing), in order that, these Projects will have a sort of ‘PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE’, so that in maybe 2 or 3 years another Project Repair/Renovation will again be up for grabs! ‘Sosmaryosep’!

        That $130M S.O.P., ‘commission’ or whatever, which Jun Lozada alleged was the asking ‘share’ of former Comelec Chief, Ben Abalos, was, not only grossly exorbitant, but it reeked of something close to Economic Sabotage! How else can you, in conscience, justify putting P5.2 BILLION (based on the present exchange of P40 to the Dollar) into your pocket, instead of spending it on school buildings, hospitals, medicines, or putting up Countryside Micro-Financing mobile agencies which will go a long way in helping our growing Poor Majority survive the worsening Economic Crunch caused by the ever-increasing Global Demand for OIL and the receding rate of the ERSTWHILE Almighty Dollar?!

        ‘Sosmaryosep’! IF the Opposition’s favorite ‘punching bag’, ‘BIG BOY’ (a.k.a. Mike Arroyo?) is, indeed, ALLEGEDLY, involved in this recent Big Time ‘CAPER’, for goodness sakes, hasn’t he had enough? Are the alleged BILLIONS stacked up safely somewhere ‘around the World’ not enough? Must he still dip his fingers in Government Projects simply because it has become a sort of ‘kleptomania’, and just to keep up with the hackneyed “what are we in Power for?” Some fellow Blue Eagles (except Billy ‘As I Wreck This Chair’ Esposo) have, since then, been defending good old Mike by telling me that the Arroyos are members of the OLD RICH who have been lording it over the Country going back to the days of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, and that Big Mike was already THAT RICH ever since their Ateneo days! Well, of course, Mike Arroyo must’ve been really rich then, otherwise, how could he have possibly been able to dance in Malacanang and have the President’s Daughter for a Girl Friend, and ultimately, a WIFE?

        The unfolding reality T.V. Blockbuster Drama starring Jun Lozada and the 23 Senators has the potential for, not only blowing-up the T.V. Ratings sky-high, but for also scattering the seeds of Rebellion and, ultimately, ANARCHY, in the not so distant future! Coupled with the C.B.C.P.’s (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) vague call for ‘COMMUNAL ACTION’, another Economically Destabilizing MASS ACTION just might explode in our faces anytime! This virtual Trial by Publicity which just might be redirected towards ‘Big Boy’ and his wife, if dilatory tactics (like forcing everyone to concentrate on the ‘Kidnapping’ issue) don’t succeed, can, indeed, lead to Rallies and ultimate bloody chaos if cooler heads don’t intervene!

        As I see it, such ‘veiled’ ‘Communal Action’ or any ‘Mass Action’ for that matter, can only be JUSTIFIED if absolute and undeniable DOCUMENTED FACTS are presented to prove, once and for all, that embattled Ben Abalos really asked for that fantastic and controversial $130 M ‘commission’ and that ‘Big Mike’ was even remotely connected to this ‘yucky’ stinking transaction, instead of all the HEARSAY evidence and INUENDOS which have only served to enrage and demoralize the viewing Public. Besides, even IF such a DIVISIVE and Bloody ‘Mass Action’ succeeds, WHO or WHAT can the Senators, the C.B.C.P., and the Opposition present to the Majority as a VIABLE and Legal Alternative to Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo? Since it has been acknowledged by Jun Lozada, during Sen. Joker Arroyo’s interpolation, that he has been communicating with Sen. Ping Lacson, “SINCE DECEMBER”, then we MIGHT as well conclude that Sen. Lacson, will, by virtue of his ‘hard work’, be the MOST INTERESTED ‘contender’ to P.G.M.A.’s ‘Throne’! Now, if Sen. Ping, is a more viable alternative to Pres. Arroyo and ‘Big Mike’ then so be it!

        But before going into this Leadership Change let’s try to get down to brass tacks and remedy this really endemic Graft and Corruption in Government by asking Congress to legislate laws and regulations strictly OUTLAWING this 20-25% S.O.P. Since the C.B.C.P. is so determined in ridding our Government of all that pathetic and obscene Corruption, I guess requesting them to head a quasi-Government Oversight Committee composed of Clergy and Private Sector members, would be a good start. ALL Government Projects and Biddings, up to the City Levels, will have to pass thru and be scrutinized and supervised by them. The ‘Pampanga Phenomenon’ led by Catholic Priest and Provincial Governor Ed Panlilio opened up the very enlightened possibility of really cleaning up the Government with the sincere help of the concerned and Religious Clergy!

        Whether Jun Lozada physically survives his present struggle with the Powers that be is now solely in the hands of our Almighty God. Whether ‘Big Mike’ and his wife also weather this present Political Storm is not only in the hands of God but also in the hands of the ‘Little Gods’ and Pretenders to the Throne who seem to be rocking the boat so hard in their concerted effort to get rid of P.G.M.A. The only problem is that the FORCE which they are now employing just might be so strong and hard that it might not only throw P.G.M.A. off, but also everybody else, in the process!

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        “In England, if you commit a crime, the police don’t have a gun and you don’t have a gun. If you commit a crime, the police will say, ‘Stop, or I’ll say stop again!”

- Robin Williams

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        “The worst-tempered people I have ever met were those who knew that they were wrong”.

- David Letterman