A note with the article submitted by Mr. Wenceslao says: “Davide and I agreed we don’t want anyone to go to jail. What we hope for is anyone with illicit gains from graft and corruption, tax evasion since no income tax is paid on ill-gotten wealth and other illegal enterprises such as jueteng, smuggling, etc. steps forward and return the amount cheated from the people.”  Well, I hope that they’ll recover all the loot that Gloria Arroyo allegedly stole from the people.  But shouldn’t Gloria go to jail if she is found guilty of plunder? — Perry Diaz 

The “Truth Commission”

by Frank Wenceslao*

It’s a lucky coincidence I saw former Chief Justice and Mrs. Hilario Davide Jr. at Luneta’s inaugural ceremonies of President Benigno S. Aquino III. I congratulated the couple for his accepting to head the “truth commission.”
 
Simply said, the country and the President need people like Davide at this point of the nation’s history when our democratic institutions and economic viability are in grave peril. I therefore asked to see and walk him back to the efforts of overseas Filipinos especially US-Pinoys to address the Philippines’ biggest problem of graft and corruption (G&C) with the debilitating effects of poverty and horrifying byproducts, e.g. election frauds, violence and irregularities; political dynasties and cannibalism; tayo-tayo system of government appointments; waste of nation’s resources and serious brain drain to lose the best human capabilities and other adversities that can only lead to national disaster.
 
Davide gave me his home address and phone. I sent him a memo how the Philippine Anticorruption Movement USA, Inc. (Pamusa) can help the commission by mobilizing U.S. and international assistance to fight G&C outside the Philippine justice system and lay the basis for the success of Aquino’s campaign slogan, “Kung walang corrupt walang mahirap” and, of course, his administration.
 
After he read the memo I was invited to have breakfast with him ... 

by Cito Lorenzo

(Speech delivered during the GK Builders Night on July 7, 2010, Rockwell Tent, Makati City)

This is probably my biggest challenge, because it will be the first time I will be speaking to family and genuine friends, more than the curious, in one venue, committed to building our nation through the Gawad Kalinga movement. Tonight, I wanted to make sure, that what I will share will have take home value from our time together, that we plant seeds in our hearts for those who are new, or nurture those already planted who have been with GK for some time.

I would like to thank you all for coming tonight, for you chose to be here instead of attending to many other priorities that keep us busy. This means the world to me. Like many of you who have been at the pinnacle of power and tasted its prestige and privilege, who realize that when the titles have gone and the dust settles, true wealth is measured not in the number of zeros added to our bank accounts, the honors we have received when wearing the titles, nor the material things one collects; but the number of sincere and genuine friends one makes. You are all my friends…in this regard, I feel grateful.

Let me start by telling you that I have come to realize that keeping a low profile while doing good is gratifying because its authentic and sincere, so once again, being thrust into the limelight this evening is a different kind of challenge because the purpose is not to call attention to myself but rather as your friend, to share the insights I have gained in my interior journey towards self-realization.

Once again, our paths intersect. I lived in North America these past five years shortly after leaving government. This self exile was done for personal and professional reasons brought about by a confluence of people and events.

Bereft of the trappings of power, the humility I underwent and the relative simplicity I chose to live my life while travelling the United States in the service of GK and other noble causes, often being chased off stages ...

Read the full story >>  WHY I CAME HOME

The second was the murder of Fernando Baldomero in front of his son. He was about to drive his 12-year-old to school when he was shot. Can you imagine the effect of that on a boy that age? To see your father shot to death, his blood and brains spattering all over you, being unable to do anything, being unable to believe anything, being unable to wake up from the nightmare? And to have all that happen while you’re on your way to school, books in tow, dreading the surprise quiz, looking forward to seeing the pretty classmate there.

That boy has been murdered, too, inside, in his mind, in his soul, even if he doesn’t have the slugs to show it. That is a sensation P-Noy should be able to relate to, however the murder of his own father took place beyond his sight. Do you think Baldomero’s 12-year-old son will be able to look at school the same way again? Do you think he will be able to sleep without the thing happening again and again in slow motion in his dreams? Do you think ...

FIRST OFF, TWO THINGS.

One, the stories that came out on TV saying Cito Lorenzo spoke at length with P-Noy on the night of July 3 are wrong. Two, the stories that said the event was a “Noy-bi” victory celebration are just wrong. I was there.

It was a party—you know, the truly liberal kind where people eat and drink and laugh their heads off? The occasion was Boy Montelibano’s birthday. I myself didn’t know P-Noy and V-Nay would be there. All Maria, Boy’s husband, told me was that they were throwing him a surprise party. When I got to the University of Makati, I was surprised to see a slew of security men. I didn’t know Boy had become that important. He hadn’t, but two other people had, and they were going to be there.

The place was crowded. How in God’s name ...

Read the full story >>  Man of the hour 

The first impeachment petition against Gutierrez in March 2009 failed because it was alleged the Gloria bribed most of those who signed the impeachment petition to withdraw their signatures. As a result only 30 congressmen’s signatures remained on the petition which was not enough to meet the one-third minimum requirement for an impeachment complaint to progress.

Gloria’s “power of patronage” — or in some instances, “power of bribery” — became the trademark of her presidency. And Gutierrez, an intimate friend of Gloria’s husband Mike Arroyo during ...

Read the full story >>  Should the Ombudsman Resign?

Read the full story >>  The truth shall set them free

Frankly, I don’t know why Gonzales did not reprimand her for being three hours late and give her to understand that not being able to use a wangwang or escorted by cops in motorcycles and black SUVs with impenetrable windows was not an excuse to be late. Or since that is expecting the un-expectable (Gonzales was formerly Lakas-Kampi before moving on, like everybody else, to the Liberal Party), I don’t know why the early birds did not remonstrate with her for demanding special treatment.

Those early birds included Imelda Marcos, who could have excused tardiness by saying she could not make up her mind which pair to pick from 2,000 pairs of shoes, Manny Pacquiao who could have said he could not ...

Read the full story >>   The fall

THE LATE Speaker Ramon Mitra once said he would not shave his beard so long as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) “did not know how to count.”

Theres The Rub
by Conrado de Quiros
from Philippine Daily Inquirer
 
EDCEL Lagman complains. In a “counter-Sona” he delivered in Congress, he slammed P-Noy’s Sona thus: “Instead of being a blueprint for development and policy direction, the Sona was generally a partisan press release, a complaint sheet, a compendium of motherhood statements and a continuation of campaign rhetoric.” Where he expected P-Noy to move the country forward, he saw him only move it backward.

Hunted and Haunted

Read the full story >>  Hunted and Haunted

ON DISTANT SHORE
by Val G. Abelgas

"The Philippines has won a total of nine Olympic medals – seven bronze, including two by Yldefonso, and two silvers. The Philippines, according to Wikipedia, is the country with the most Olympic medals without a gold."


IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT STOOD OUT in Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s first privilege speech, it was his humility and his sincerity to serve the best way he can. The ever-humble Pacquiao immediately earned the respect of his colleagues in the House of Representatives when he admitted at the outset that he was awed by the fact that he is in the midst of this group of brilliant minds, of these “Honorable Sirs and M’ams,” as he put it.

Instead, the members of the House were awed by this neophyte gentleman from Saranggani, certainly one of the greatest boxers of all time and one of the wealthiest athletes in the world who humbly bowed before them, and politely but firmly declared that he hoped to learn from them and that he was there to serve not only his constituents in Saranggani, but the entire Filipino people as well.

And yet, Pacquiao failed to realize that he was probably one of the very few in that disreputable chamber who had the sincerity and mindset to serve the people. Many of those honorable sirs and madams can learn a thing or two from him in terms of sincerity, dedication and determination to succeed in his goals [...]

Read the full story >>  Eyeing the gold in London

LAST FRIDAY, Aug. 6, Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV marked his 39th birthday. His last seven years have been spent in prison on charges that the average citizen would find difficult to understand and appreciate, considering that his co-conspirators in rebellion or mutiny cases have already been pardoned or released on bail. He continues to stand by his “not guilty” plea. Other Oakwood colleagues who also did not change their pleas from “not guilty” to “guilty,” have been allowed bail and temporary freedom. Trillanes is the only one left in prison.

One reason for the harsh “no bail” stance is that Trillanes is facing charges of a non-bailable nature. But only last Thursday, the Inquirer featured the case of Surigao del Norte Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. His case involving parricide is non-bailable, but for “humanitarian reasons” he has been allowed to participate at rock concerts and attend congressional sessions.

Nur Misuari led two of the bloodiest revolts against the government in 1974 and 2001. Misuari was facing charges for rebellion, a non-bailable offense. Yet he was allowed to post bail for his conditional release, and later placed under house arrest. Where is he now? [...]