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The great escape

February 7, 2008 by mlq3  
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DSC00026.JPG This photo was taken in the vicinity of the Senate flagpole last night as a candle-lighting was held last night, to pray that Jun Lozada would surface and be released safely. The man in the red shirt is one of the brothers of Jun Lozada. Earlier that day, Lozada brother seeks amparo writ from SC. The candle-lighting was in support of that effort. The gentleman beside Lozada’s brother is Black & White Movement Convenor Vicente Romano III. You can read Affidavit A vs Affidavit B: ZTE witness preparing new story, says Ermita for a background on Jun Lozada’s odyssey as a potential witness and the Palace counter-effort to get Lozada to change his testimony.

Who is Jun Lozada? You can begin with an entry last week in Ricky Carandang’s blog, The Lozada Factor, posted when Lozada, due to testify before the Senate, was suddenly sent out of the country by the Palace:

Lozada has first hand knowledge of many of the events that led to the deal being signed. When the senate’s investigation zeroed in on him, he started getting “anonymous” death threats, followed by summons to meet with Palace officials. Earlier this week, he was ordered to cool his heels in Hong Kong so he couldn’t testify. But he can’t stay there forever and no one really knows what he’ll do when he comes back. He may succumb to the pressure, or he may–despite the great personal risk to him and his family– rise to the occasion and tell the truth about what he knows. And that’s giving someone in the Palace sleepless nights.

Additional material on Lozada and why he matters can be found in Newsbreak’s Senate Key Witness to Corroborate Neri.

The sleepless nights, as Carandang puts it, must have intensified when it became known Lozada was coming home. He was supposed to be met at the airport by concerned citizens and the Senate Sergeant-at-arms. Instead, he was abducted, in one of the crudest and most bumbling kidnappings in our political history. First, Gov’t grabbed witness in NBN deal–sources:Lozada met by airport men, whisked off via tarmac. See also, Lozada arrives from HK, but vanishes at airport. An account also in notes of marichu c. lambino.

Bumbling all around. Razon first claimed there was a letter from Lozada asking for security, then claimed the Police got a request from the family: PNP chief insists Lozada, sibling sought PNP protection. Then, today, he claims Lozada then wrote a letter asking for government security on the spot, when he arrived, after the PNP was tipped off by one of Lozada’s sisters. See: Atutubo: Lozada not missing, was picked up by cop then Airport exec says presidential guards fetched Lozada and then MIAA exec says Lozada went out of NAIA with cop, driver and Lozada illegally held by PNP, wife says; Razon denies claim; then, No Lozada in police custody, Senate told then PNP clueless on Lozada but says cops guarding exec.

The brothers and wife went to Court to secure Lozada yet the government kept insisting it had been asked to secure Lozada, which of course ignores the question of why government intervened to spirit him away from the Senate sergeant-at-arms (see Brother disputes PNP, says no Lozada asked for protection Brother disputes PNP, says no Lozada asked for protection). Can you say obstruction of justice? But wait, no, it’s justice if government does it but it isn’t obstruction if it’s uncomplimentary to the government. As it turns out, Lozada now says he was whisked away from the airport by men sent by Sec. Lito Atienza (his boss) and released when he’d signed affidavits contradicting his earlier ones.

The great escape was more of a government blunder worse than a crime (for them). The papers missed out on it today because the story broke at 2 a.m.see the stories: Lozada finally surfaces, links Abalos, Big Mike to ZTE mess. Also Lozada: Abalos insisted on $130-M kickback on NBN deal and, Lozada unmasks FG, Abalos in aborted NBN deal and the Senate takes custody of Lozada.

It’s been a nerve-wracking few days!

thumbs up.jpg Meanwhile, back at the ranch… The post-mortems on Jose de Venecia Jr.’s stint as Speaker of the House ranged from the Inquirer editorial The assassination of De Venecia and The Business Mirror editorial ‘Night of the Long Knives’ to the PCIJ story Chronicle of an ouster foretold (see also How lawmakers voted in vacating Speaker’s seat). Manuel Buencamino’s column Naked runner inspired my column for today, Live from the Bastusang Pambansa.

So what happens now to the ruling coalition? Journal of the Jester-in-Exile has three entries in a row by way of analysis: Let the Numbers Speak, Part I: Anatomy of a Lynching and Let the Numbers Speak, Part 2: Opening Salvos and Let the Numbers Speak, Part 3: Death by Co-Option.

Then Ramos: De Venecia to remain president in Lakas-Kampi merger. An offer the Palace has to refuse? Not really -more of a face-saving merger, but with a last-ditch effort to give FVR some wiggle room, too. The Lakas old guard in the Palace want JDV sacrificed to maintain closeness to the President; Ramos is trying to gain time to either convince JDV to pipe down or to hang himself, so that the party can salvage a little dignity before it turns into a fully-owned subsidiary of Kampi, Inc.

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140 Comments on "The great escape"

  1. Liam Tinio on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 10:39 am 

    this is the first blunder, so far, yet the worst that they have done..

    unless.. they are willing to let go of abalos..

  2. Kabayan on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 10:46 am 

    Malacanang will continue to present a thick face and use the Cover-Up E.O. 464 trump to prevent government officials mentioned and involved by Lozada from properly testifying in Senate.

    As for the Supreme Court to eventually get involved and try those corrupt men and women in the ZTE deal, I wouldn’t keep my hopes up. The issue (if filed) will probably drag in court while Malacanang maneuvers for setting the stage for an extended stay even beyond 2010; unless concerned people are vigilant, react correctly and resist Malacanang’s moves effectively.

  3. Liam Tinio on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 11:02 am 

    I’m not surprised that Lozada is not dead. This administration, is not so keen in killing people. Its either they stuff their mouths with sooo much money that they can’t sing or scare them to death (I dont condemn it though)

    With Lozada surfacing, I’m seeing a fall guy here named Abalos. With the ZTE deal and the COMELEC mess, he is so despised as himself alone, that the administration can afford to let him go. even if he talks, no one will rally around him anyway, well the Estradas will of course, but not in a way that would give him a direct link with GMA, AS LONG AS THEY KEEP FG FROM TALKING OR DOING SOMETHING, since, Abalos has been catering to both ends of the spectrum. And the middle class as well as the religious groups are so enamored with ‘moral ascendancy’ that they will never bring Abalos into their folds. Chavit was the first and only one.

    wow! abalos the disposable diaper. just like JDV is.

    what a lesson in power politics this would be if this comes true.

    My take is.. if it is not DIRECTLY connected with GMA herself.. it will never succeed.. her husband is just the straw man.. thay have to hit GMA directly..

  4. Kabayan on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 11:57 am 

    An interesting development primarily regarding discussions for a Lakas and KAMPI merger. It seems they are preparing, but preparing for what? Is it a simple alliance or preparation for a grander scheme? FVR seems intent to cover his bases and by the looks of it, he also see something fishy. Is the merger actually geared as some sort of “insurance”? The old codger may have some tricks up his sleeve but as for the true motive, that is another question.

  5. balatucan on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 12:21 pm 

    The Lakas-Kampi merger may be a ploy to calm things down within the ruling coalition. This is done to prevent further escalation either with the possible exodus of Lakas members to Kampi or an open war betweeen the parties that could be messy.

  6. balatucan on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 12:23 pm 

    Abalos was further pinned down with the testimony of Jun Lozada. The question is how much stress Abalos can take with all these exposes pointing at him.

    If Abalos breaks down with these barrage of scandals and apparent abandonment by the people whom he covered some bases, he might as well go down fighting, spilling all the beans. Labo labo na.

  7. hawaiianguy on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 12:32 pm 

    Good thing that Lozada finally surfaced. Sounds fishy to me that Malacanan is already in the defense mode.

    Surely, Abalos will be pinned down even more by the Lozada expose. But Gloria? Unless Neri speaks up and spill more beans. Seems that he is not about to do that, already content in demolishing a small fry that his boss had already marked for liquidation.

    What’s next for the Senate? Abangan!

  8. Kabayan on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 12:36 pm 

    Yes, I think Malacanang would continue its policy, to sacrifice Abalos. He should consider telling it all, at this point Abalos’ secrets is a threat to his life. The Praetorian guard showed how easy it is to pick up people and disappear if they want to, even personalities.

    The Praetorian Guard is trying to extend its powers of abductions without accountability, with Lozada they seem to have bit off more than they can chew. Poor students who got abducted, they did not have enough clout and media coverage unlike Lozada, that is why they are still “desaparacidos”.

    Give these guys an inch and they think they’re rulers.

  9. Kabayan on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 1:06 pm 

    balatucan,

    Lakas should consider a split with Kampi and rid themselves of their member’s insatiable need for Pork Barrel. If Lakas would wish to have better credibility with the people, for whatever credibility is left, it’s time to split off with their a** licking mentality with Malacanang.

    They can deadlock the Executive anytime to pressure getting their Pork Barrel anyway, that is if most of them start becoming the check and balance that they are originally designed for. All they have to do is to muster some moral backbone and be united against this Malacanang designed system of “Hostaging and dangling the Pork Barrel” ploy to make undignified lapdogs out of them.

  10. Jowana Balana Bueser on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 1:40 pm 

    Lakas is now powerless. Love the irony!

    Powerless, insignificant, and disenfranchised. What will be the next move of FVR? Abangan…

  11. benign0 on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 2:04 pm 

    What’s the point of all this partisan speculation?

    At the most fundamental level, they are all the same, and the issues (or non-issues) are no different from what they were 20 years ago.

    Same sh1t, different names.

    Small minds discuss people.
    Mediocre minds discuss events.
    Great minds discuss ideas.

  12. fisball on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 2:38 pm 

    What’s the point of this comment from Benigno?

    Same shit, same person.

  13. tonio on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 2:47 pm 

    philippine politics is the soap opera du jour.

    i tried calling it a game once but gave up. how can it possibly be a game when only one side has the real rule book… and this book is written in eraseable ink.

  14. alas ka dora on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 3:04 pm 

    I forgot the name of the fat man who surfaced at the height of the “GArci tape” controversy, presenting himself as the one who has the first hand story about the cheating in 2004. Where is he now? last time i heard this man is holding a gov’t. post.

    I hope jun lozada is sincere and will not go the way that forgettable fat man has gone.

  15. Rob' Ramos on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 3:43 pm 

    But, Tonio, it IS still a game: The Game of Thrones ^_^

    (Sorry, George R.R. Martin fan)

  16. cvj on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 3:45 pm 

    Kudos to Jun Lozada. From his press conference, you can see that he was really scared. So what he did took courage.

  17. Jowana Balana Bueser on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 3:46 pm 

    alas ka dora,

    You must be referring to Attorney Samuel Ong.

  18. alas ka dora on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 4:11 pm 

    the name doesn’t sound like the one you mentioned, Jowana. He was the one who had revealed damaging stories about the cheating and recanted his testimony afterwards. He was a fat and, shall I say, not so handsome guy with a name that suits his appearance.

  19. The Equalizer on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 4:33 pm 

    A fascinating, unfortunately true book about massive greed and corruption.”Monitor the greed”…

    The “Pidal Dynasty” reveals the unbelievable greed and corruption among most members of the Pidal family and many of their associates.

    The first few chapters in the book focus upon the incredible rise to wealth and influence of Jose Pidal, the founder of the “Pidal dynasty.” Unelected,but so powerful by virtue of having married a very ambitious,transactional politician.

    Jose Pidal and his wife were preoccupied with power and hardly imaginable greed. The author shows how certain very greedy members of the Pidal family embezzled hundreds of millions from the public coffers and shady government deals.

    Future historians will surely consider the Pidal Dynasty” one of the great tragedies in the modern history of this country.

    The people will feel the very negative effects of the unbelievable greed of Jose Pidal and wife and their whole clan for a long,long time.

    (sorry,book not for sale in the Philippines for obvious reasons…)

  20. bambinawrites on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 4:35 pm 

    Manolo, your column had me in stitches!

  21. Geo on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 4:37 pm 

    I’m still trying to sort out the facts (the hard facts, not the speculative or partisan pronouncements coming from different sectors) about this “abduction” scenario.

    It seemed that the PNP produced the right documents today, while Lozada didn’t himself claim that he was being detained against his will.

    On the other hand, Lozada made some ambiguous remarks and said that his affadavit wasn’t exactly correct. He also talked about miscommunications.

    Interestingly, Ricky Carandang came on (as a “guest”) on ANC this afternoon and started saying that the stories of the PNP and of Lozada regarding pre- and post-arrival events closely matched.

    Then — while in mid-sentence — ANC cut away to a very long, live speech by a Nobel Laureate visiting the Philippines.

    They never came back to Ricky; they never again referred to any of his comments. That seemed odd, as Ricky was supposedly following this story on the spot and for an extended period (he was sleep-deprived, he commented).

    So I still don’t get it: Was Lozada truly abducted? I’m not sure. It makes a difference, one way or the other…seems pretty important that this is clarified by Lozada, his kin and his clergy handlers.

    Why isn’t the media nailing this issue down?

  22. Metrocom ini on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 4:46 pm 

    “The word Filipino is not about a family. The word Filipino is about a country. …And sometimes it worth taking a risk for our country.” — Lozada.

    A spark of hope.

  23. Geo on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 4:59 pm 

    I haven’t heard anything Lozada has said that’s anything but hearsay. More words vs Abalos, but the FG link is weak. He is Neri-lite. Still nothing solid; more of the “he said/she said” BS.

    I think the real issue is what happened with the “abduction”/”protection” event. Being taken against his will is a major no-no and will outrage many…if not all.

  24. tess on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 5:16 pm 

    - what’s with puno begging the nuns to tell the truth? it’s logical to think that if PNP indeed dropped him off in la salle and stayed to protect him that puno should know. and if indeed he knew this from the start, why did he not come out and said so?
    - spin doctors, back to the bat cave. reconcile your stories and make it believable.

  25. nash on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 5:19 pm 

    @Liam

    “I’m not surprised that Lozada is not dead. This administration, is not so keen in killing people. Its either they stuff their mouths with sooo much money that they can’t sing or scare them to death (I dont condemn it though)”

    Eh? You don’t condemn what? What don’t you condemn?

  26. cvj on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 5:26 pm 

    Nash, my wild guess is that Liam meant to say “I don’t condone it though”. Liam, if i’m wrong, apologies in advance.

  27. Mita on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 5:37 pm 

    I couldn’t sleep last night and actually caught ANC’s breaking news report on Lozada before 3 am. He said a couple of times he didn’t want to be part of partisan politics surounding him and specifically asked media not to politicize his statements. He also said he surfaced because of all the misunderstanding and media reports regarding his “abduction”.

    According to him, he wasn’t abducted. If there were conflicting statements from his family, it was because he has 13 siblings – of varying temperaments.

    He also said he really doesn’t want to be grilled at the Senate and expressed this to the government. The government accommodated his hesitance by sending him to Hongkong before the hearing. He was also worried about his arrival and was particularly afraid of being in the Senate’s custody. The government then provided security for him upon his arrival at the airport. Unfortunately, the misunderstanding happened because these men met him at the tube whereas he was instructed to proceed to the immigration desk.

    He also said he was whisked away to Laguna but was asked to surface by the men with him because of all the conflicting reports in media about his disappearance. They were especially concerned about his wife and so took him to see her. This eventually led to his request to be taken to La Salle where his family sought refuge.

    He noted early in his recollection of events regarding the NBN deal that transactions in government such as these are subject to this systematic process of corruption…or words to that effect.

    I was on a sugar high that kept me awake and alert so most everything he said. I was hoping media would report about the systemic corruption and Lozada’s request not to politicize this event…or maybe I just missed it…

  28. Geo on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 5:37 pm 

    tess,

    That’s what I’m talking about — why hasn’t the media talked with the nuns? They can verify or disprove the PNP’s story.

    Yesterday, the media was screaming “kidnapping”. Today, after hearing the PNP’s story, they haven’t (seemingly) tried to dig deeper. Interviewing the nuns, for ex, seems like an easy first step.

    I don’t understand the lack of a follow-through.

  29. tess on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 5:47 pm 

    i’m watching lozada’s presscon from this morning. from what he said, correct me if i understood wrong, he was taken to la salle tues night. puno said that nilamok yung mga pulis na nagbantay sa kanya. granting that all of this are true, why were we lead to a cat and mouse chase? razon, must have known where he was too, but he did not say anything to shed light on what was happening, pinagulo nga nya eh… were they waiting for more instructions from someone up there before they talk, wala pang script kasi?

  30. Mita on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 5:50 pm 

    oh also…he said his hesitance to be grilled at the Senate was due to his inability to lie. he was asked to just stick to the technical points of the deal for the senate hearing.

    this is conflcting…the affidavit from the OP doesn’t sound like it was signed under full duress. according to him, there were points he didn’t agree with and said so, he was asked to sign it and he did anyway…labo.

    he did look terribly scared and cried. he called himself just a “probinsyanong intsik” and just a professional trying to do his job.

    it really dawned on me that even good men with good intentions can be part and parcel of corruption in government. unwittingly or not, his silence in the past about the system of corruption made him an accessory.

    just my take, if our country is going anywhere…we really ought to do our share of exposing corruption, every single time we are faced with it – on the streets, at work – wherever it happens. let’s not be a part of it anymore by turning away from it because it’s convenient. if we don’t, we could find ourselves in Lozada’s shoes someday…or worse, our children and grandchildren will.

  31. Mike on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 5:51 pm 

    I just got a message from a friend who says Lozada will testify at the Senate tomorrow 10 a.m. and is asking for moral support and presence so that the truth can be told. Meet at the Senate at 8 a.m. daw. I hope we can all go and support Lozada. Manolo, will B/W be there?

  32. Fanny Barnham-Smythe on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:04 pm 

    Oh dear GLOR what have gone and got yourself into dear ,it was just the other night she was on the blower to me ,full of booze she was, sigh,(gulps gin,rings bell for refill)I said to her ,I said Dear dont get involved with those in the east ,she told me it was her husband ,a tawdry creature at best,.Marias upset ,bless her ignorant soul! In other news Helen was caught wandering astray from the beehive swigging wine from a bottle ! and abusing passersby and on waitangi day of all days!

  33. Mike on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:07 pm 

    Guys, things seem to be happening fast. These headlines just in the last few hours:

    1:06 p.m. “Lozada expose may mark end of Arroyo rule–MBC exec”

    1:07 p.m. “Palace rejects resign, snap polls calls”

    2:39 p.m. “De Venecia: Arroyo family ‘used public funds’ in ouster”

    3:12 p.m. “SC issues writ of amparo vs gov’t on Lozada case”

    4:57 p.m. “Arroyo orders DoJ to find culprits in NBN deal”

    This last item smacks of hasty damage control. Is the Palace getting nervous?

  34. balatucan on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:11 pm 

    @tess,

    Maybe Puno was trying to divert public attention from the real issue of the day which is Lozada’s explosive testimony.

    Ahemm, I told someone here yesterday not to conclude right away that JDV is a goner. Lozada’s expose came in a right time. The Palace is once again at a crisis mode after just “celebrating” the ouster of JDV 2 nights ago.

  35. balatucan on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:12 pm 

    Headlines: Arroyo orders DoJ to find culprits in NBN deal!

    Nothing will happen to this. Its all for show.

  36. Mike on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:18 pm 

    “Arroyo orders DoJ to find culprits in NBN deal”

    To quote Puno’s recent question to JdV: WHY ONLY NOW?

  37. Mike on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:19 pm 

    “Arroyo orders DoJ to find culprits in NBN deal”

    Maybe it should be

    “Arroyo orders DoJ to find fall guys for NBN deal” :D

  38. alas ka dora on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:21 pm 

    “Arroyo orders DOJ to find culprits in NBN deal”-who could just be right under her nose. Arroyo thinks she can fool all people all the time. Nagpasangil ra, pero wa na gyud vertud.

  39. Danielle on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:26 pm 

    To a certain extent this travesty on Lozada is somewhat comical. I understand that his “abductors” were driving him around Metro Manila for hours and hours not knowing where to take him. I mean who was managing all this? And how can Bunye and Atienza now say he signed several affadavits to show he was not kidnapped. Lozada had no choice but to sign those papers. It is really very sad.

  40. tess on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:39 pm 

    if they were really out to protect him, you would expect a plan. they figured the how, take him from the tube. he told those who picked him, he wanted to show himself so as not to cause alarm, he was told it’s been taken cared of.

  41. Maria on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:47 pm 

    Ay madam Fanny, Ets onli da pepol ho het GMA ho mek ol dis estori. Ay tink GMA istil da best! Don you beliv eevriting peciali Pilipin news! Ol lise en conpusion! Ok you wan more gin?

  42. the jester-in-exile on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 6:49 pm 

    ermita begging the la salle brothers to “tell the truth” about how there was no abduction.

    heh. yet another illustration about the administration’s utter lack of credibility.

  43. nash on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 7:23 pm 

    if this lozada is to be believed, then kasama pala si neri sa profit-sharing. i thought he merely didn’t have cojones the last time.

    bakit pag kickback ang galing magbilang ni abalos, but ask him to count zubiri’s votes and he can’t properly…

  44. alas ka dora on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 7:25 pm 

    Neri said that Lozada did not give him formal report, everything was verbal. As NEDA Chief why did he not order Lozada to put eveything in writing if indeed Lozadas expertise was the reason he asked him to look into the project.

  45. nash on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 7:27 pm 

    OMG. I’m so stupid!

    Of course when Abalos counts cash, it’s not in singles denominations. So it goes $100, $200, …….$20,000, $20,100….. .$1,000,000

    Kaya naman nung binilang niya votes for Zubiri it went, 10, 20, 30, 40, ……

  46. Carl on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 7:38 pm 

    Remember, the head of the La Salle brothers is quite partisan as well. Remember pictures of the Gloria resign movement after the Hello Garci scandal, the guy in white robe marching along Ayala, he’s the university president.

  47. alas ka dora on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 7:41 pm 

    According to Neri, he asked Lozada to attend ZTE-related meeting only once. It would be ubderstable for Lozada to retort this by saying- all the rest of ZTE-related meetings he attended was upon verbal instruction of Neri.

  48. nash on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 7:42 pm 

    Sus, ganun rin naman ka-partisan si Cardinal Sin. The la salle brothers are just following his example.

  49. DevilsAdvc8 on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 7:43 pm 

    natawa ako kanina dun sa interview ni abalos habang nasa loob sya ng kotse. panay sya ng sabi na di sya pwedeng mag komento ng buo dahil di nya pa naririnig statement ni lozada.

    tapos nung tinanong don sa $130 M commission, walang kurap-matang nai convert agad sa pesos, amf! galing nya pala sa math. siguro kung ako nun, natigilan pa ako at kumuha ng calculator para mag convert.

    kasama siguro sa training ng comelec ang magconvert ng milyong dolyares into pesos.

    syanga pala, may nag check na ba kung tama yung conversion ni abalos? lol.

  50. Geo on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 8:03 pm 

    So far…

    The La Salle brothers were “providing sanctuary” for Lozada’s family when he was in HK.

    Lozada was taken there Tuesday night and the brothers are saying they “sheltered” him until Thurs morn.

    However…

    While he was there, the family said they didn’t know where he was, they filed amparo papers with the SC and the “kidnapping” charges raged over the airwaves.

    Something doesn’t fit, but the brothers aren’t saying much and the media isn’t asking much. I guess we’ll have to wait to hear more tomorrow…..

  51. Danielle on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 8:07 pm 

    Yes, I noticed that too. Abalos was so quick to convert the 130 million dollars to 6.5 billion pesos.

  52. nash on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 8:18 pm 

    Oo nga. Thanks for pointing that out.

    Kaya naman nung tina-tally na rin yung votes ni Zubiri, nakalimutan ni Abalos na hindi pera yun kaya kinonvert niya. Kaya yung 12,640 na votes, agad agad niyan ti-nayms 50….force of habit kasi.

  53. DevilsAdvc8 on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 8:20 pm 

    at ang conversion nya pa ay yung exchange rate at that time. para bang.. na convert nya na tong amt na to noon pa man. kasi natural na reaction ng tao ay mag-convert sa current exchange rate…

    pero alam kaagd ni abalos na ang $130 M noong panahon na iyon ay P6.5 B

    naisip ko tuloy yung sa minority report. nahuli si tanda dahil sinabi nya na namatay sa drowning yung babae. samantalang tanging killer lang ang nakaka alam nun.

  54. DevilsAdvc8 on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 8:29 pm 

    @Rob, gee. first time kong makakilala ng isa ring Martin fan. i have all books of the ASoIaF series. have you read his book Windhaven, co-written w/Lisa Tuttle?

    did you know HBO has acquired the rights to turn Fire and Ice into a TV series?

  55. Jon Mariano on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 9:19 pm 

    Dora, you’re looking for Michaelangelo Zuce. I believe he’s Garcillano’s nephew.

    This recent development (i.e. Lozada) is very interesting.

  56. The Equalizer on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 9:27 pm 

    President Arroyo on Thursday ordered the Department of Justice to conduct a preliminary investigation on public officials who may be liable for violation of procurement and anti-graft laws in connection with the canceled $329-million national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp.

    EQUALIZER’s Suggested SIX (6) Questions for DOJ inquiry:

    1)Why was it changed from BOT scheme (“build ,operate and transfer”)to a loan?
    2)Why was the overpricing of the $329 million contact allowed? (The Huawei deal proposed to build the same broadband network for $240 million, while Arescom’s offer was reportedly $135 million.)
    3)Why the UNDUE HASTE in signing the contact in Boao,China in April 2007 witnessed by no less than Gloria Arroyo?
    4)What was the role of COMELEC (Commission on Elections)Chairman Abalos in the deal?
    5)What was the role of The First Gentleman Mike Arroyo in the deal?
    6)What did the President really know before the signing of the contract?

    Secretary Raul Gonzalez:Can you objectively investigate this scandal and answer these SIX important questions?

  57. zhazam2003 on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 9:40 pm 

    Just this morning, Razon was saying that it was Lito Atienza who called him and asked for Jun’s protection. However, when Lito Atienza was interviewed also early this morning, he was saying that he is concern about Jun’s safety but he never asked the police for protection. He said it was Jun… Bwa ha ha ,this plan stinks, haste makes waste !!!

  58. Mike on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 9:40 pm 

    Equalizer:

    Do you want straight, honest answers to your questions…or do you want Raul Gonzalez to answer them? ;)

  59. zhazam2003 on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 9:43 pm 

    between Lozada and Razon,puno et al , I definetely thinks that Jun has a higher credibility…WAKASAN NA ANG MGA SINUNGALING, FROM THE MONEY GIVEN TO THE CONGRESSMEN AND GARCI SCANDAL, NAGKAKAPILIPIT PILIPIT DILA SA PNALOLOKO SA PILIPINO !

  60. The Equalizer on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 9:52 pm 

    CATCH US IF YOU CAN
    The PIDAL COUPLE

    Narrator:Pinoys are a people with short memories.They easily forget Scandals!Headline stories last only for several weeks.Then our people will forgive and Forget.

    Here they come again, mmmm-mm-mm
    Catch us if you can, mmmm-mm-mm
    Time to get a move on, mmmm-mm-mm
    We will yell with all of our might

    Catch us if you can
    Catch us if you can
    Catch us if you can

  61. nash on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 10:24 pm 

    “Pinoys are a people with short memories.”

    No longer. With the internet, we can ensure that all these events are recorded for all eternity.

    Poetic justice will be when we do get a state-owned broadband network that will allow for faster downloads of the hello garci tapes, the dancing oreta video, the abalos human conversion calculator interview, the miriam speeches, the ‘i will not run for re-election’ gma video.

    You can even go to wikipedia and edit all those profiles of senators and tongressmen (written by their staff of course).

    And with the advent of email, one can write senators and congressmen – praises of they are good, vitriol if they are bad. To comment on a blog post is one thing, but to directly tell off those congressmen is better.

  62. Bert on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 11:37 pm 

    “Arroyo orders DoJ to find culprits in NBN deal”

    Maybe it should be

    “Arroyo orders DoJ to find fall guys for NBN deal”

    Or maybe this

    “Arroyo orders DoJ to find FG not the culprit in NBN deal”

  63. hvrds on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 11:41 pm 

    This whole sordid caper is once again proof postive on why press freedom must be protected at all costs.

    The Philippine press which is more mercenary and entrepreneurial than straight is the only institution right now that is serving up as the guardian of the people.

    It is also not surprising that so called technocrats like Neri and Lozada continued to serve their masters even after clearly probable criminal activity at the highest levels of the executive department.

    They participated in discussions at the outset with the operators then they seemed to get cold feet. No wonder Abalos threatened the nerd. Did Lozada not wonder and question on why Abalos was involved at all.

    Is the lure of the prestige and the power of a high profile position in government make these guys forget what they are there for? Even if the overprice was Php 1M they were discussing raiding the treasury. Abalos wanted an atrocious figure. Joey salced has often said in public that state expenditures on supplies and public goods have embedded overprice’s of up to 30%

    Neri and this guy Lozada seemed to be on a power trip. These events happened a year ago. Both are still working for the same government. (Lozada just resigned yesterday after events forced him to.)

    There is little doubt today that the police and military are being used sometimes wittingly and unwittingly as enforcers to capos or caporegimes of a criminal syndicate. What is truly frightening is the probability that the Office of the President is the center and braintrust of this criminal syndicate.

    This ‘malkas or palakasan’ syndrome in the Philippine scene is the curse of Philippine history.

    The rich most often will be fixated on the past and the poor have no time to think of anything else except the daily struggle for bread and it is the middle class that will strive for the future. It is they who are most affected and thus become the most progressive. However their numbers in the Philippines remain to be limited and it is they who are leaving. A lot of them see no future for their children. It is they who bear the brunt of taxes.
    In an abstract way the scene is pornographic in the Philippines.

    It is obscene that the people who have left to seek greener pastures and the indentured labor are the ones that are propping up the consumption based economy and this government. For all the spin about government export policies our formal trade contributes in net values only 1-1.5% our total GNP.

    There is very little doubt that our economist President is incompetent and clearly now most probably a crook.

  64. Bert on Thu, 7th Feb 2008 11:47 pm 

    “…vitriol if they are bad. To comment on a blog post is one thing, but to directly tell off those congressmen is better.”

    It won’t work, nash. The faces are thick-skins, the pay-offs even thicker.

  65. vic on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:00 am 

    The plot was so brilliant if not for the expose..imagine using Abalos who has nothing to do with the NBN as the go-between; he just gotten so greedy for asking too much, according to the allegations, maybe if he just settled for slightly lesser amount, everything will be fine and dandy and he still will be Chairman Abalos, instead of a Disgraced Old Man and maybe soon a convicted like Erap..along with some???

  66. The Equalizer on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:02 am 

    Catch us if you can:The Pidals

  67. ay_naku on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:13 am 

    bakit pag kickback ang galing magbilang ni abalos, but ask him to count zubiri’s votes and he can’t properly… -nash

    Hehehe! Nice one nash, made me laugh out loud.

    As for some of the comments here, of course Lozada was abducted and made to sign documents under duress. Sana naman wala ng magtanga-tangahan.

    I hope this is the beginning of the end of the ruthless, ultra-corrupt, highly-deceitful GMA administration.

  68. Nick on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:29 am 

    Nerve racking indeed. I just kept watching and watching the reports, reading and reading the reports. And Razon just kept lying and lying through his teeth. As I’ve said before, maybe Gloria should have all of her cohorts attend a Logic seminar in order for them to lie better.

    By the way guys and gals. New word for the year,

    Razon, n. A contradiction meant to cover up a lie

    Sounds “Razon”able right?

  69. nash on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:32 am 

    @bert

    “It won’t work, nash. The faces are thick-skins, the pay-offs even thicker.”

    I don’t care if they are thick skinned, that’s a given. At least I voiced my opinion clearly to them. Kung hanggang blog/blog comments lang, hindi naman nagbabasa ng mga blogs yang politiko na yan so you should, as a taxpayer, contact them directly.

    I don’t seem to get much replies from my emails though even if I send a series. I sent Mike Defensor a couple and he won’t even acknowledge. :D Baguio Congressman Domogan is at least civil. You can disagree with him openly, at least hinid ka niya ipapapatay. :D Yes, don’t send emails to Abalos dahil violent na mama yan.

    Buti pa MPs here, even if I’m not a citizen, they reply to my emails. :D

  70. UP n student on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:47 am 

    <blockquote: NASH SAID:
    And with the advent of email, one can write senators and congressmen – praises of they are good, vitriol if they are bad. To comment on a blog post is one thing, but to directly tell off those congressmen is better.

    There is the catharsis aspect nash mentions. The congressman may not read it but his assistant does and, if the assistant is good, will let congressman know if out-of-the-ordinary e-mail volume is happening.

    If a lot of people send enough at the same time, you can fill up their folders and shut down the individual e-mail account, or shut down the server completely.

  71. UP n student on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:49 am 

    NASH SAID:
    And with the advent of email, one can write senators and congressmen – praises of they are good, vitriol if they are bad. To comment on a blog post is one thing, but to directly tell off those congressmen is better.

    If a lot of people send enough at the same time, you can fill up their folders and shut down the individual e-mail account, or shut down the server completely.

  72. nash on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 1:08 am 

    @UP n

    but you don’t want that because it’s counterproductive, you want your email to be read…

  73. hawaiianguy on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 1:11 am 

    Goooood! Hurray Lozada! Keep telling what you know.

    This NBN-ZTE deal is just a window to the series of mega-corruption projects under the Arroyo regime. Next, the CyberEd project, Northrail, and others.

    For Abalos? Sorry na lang siya. Better do a Chavit so he can spare his ass, while it is still early.

  74. Bencard on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 2:13 am 

    the media’s headlines “Lozada unmasks FG, Abalos in aborted NBN deal” and “Lozada finally surfaces, links Abalos, Big Mike to ZTE mess” are obvious attempts at overreaching, at its worst, to yet condemn and malign the president’s husband by unfair publicity through vague innuendoes. while lozada’s statements are directly damaging to abalos (corroborating neri’s and joeydv’s senate testimonies) nothing whatsoever implicates mr. arroyo, either criminally or civilly that can stand up in any forum. his claim that abalos name-dropped mike and had phone conversation with someone he called “pare” is purely conjectural to link arroyo to the deal. his claim of a meeting at the country club where he saw abalos talked to arroyo telling the latter that “ayos na sila ni joey”, doesn’t cut it either.

    if anything, lozada’s much-ballyhoed testimony reinforces neri’s insistence that, per explicit instruction from the president, the deal could only be carried out through b.o.t. and not through loan financing. i don’t see anything wrong with that.

    i believe this whole thing is driven by “gotcha” partisan politics, and stubborn, never-say-die obsession to oust “gloria” before 2010. this anti-gma forces are impervious to humiliations, and will keep going unbowed by layers of rotten eggs on their faces.

  75. Bencard on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 2:15 am 

    my comment is awaiting moderation. did i hit a sensitive chord?

  76. cvj on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 2:18 am 

    Bencard, maybe the spam filter is following Neri’s instructions to moderate… :-P

  77. UP n student on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 2:24 am 

    So does THIEVERY IN HIGH PLACES PAY?

    He’s not as filthy rich as he was many years ago, but siguro, ramdan ni Erap ang 7.3% GDP grasya hi GMA.

    —————————–
    JANUARY 30, 2008
    MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan will no longer seize personal assets of former president Joseph Estrada after the anti-graft court located enough funds to cover the more than P700 million it ordered confiscated, its spokesman said Wednesday.

    Lawyer Renato Bocar, spokesman of the Sandiganbayan Special Division, said so far some P215 million from a bank account under the foundation has been seized.

    Investigations also discovered a P1.1 billion investment management account under Velarde’s name deposited at the Banco de Oro, Bocar said.

    Estrada has repeatedly denied he owned the funds, subsequently waiving his right to the investment management account. His business associates are claiming the funds as theirs.

    “It is already enough to fill up the rest of the more than P700 million ordered confiscated by the court,” Bocar said.
    ….

    “There is no more need to go after the property of president Estrada,” he said.

  78. The Ca t on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 2:33 am 

    Another teleserye in the Senate.

    Will it end the same way the previous teleseryes ended. The whistle blowers lost their whistles? So much tears flowed from the witnesses. Much of them were crocodile tears anyway.

    My crystal ball says, nothing is going to happen. My CSI brain says even testimonial evidences do not necessarily reflect the truth.

    Too early for celebrations and speculations.

  79. hawaiianguy on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 2:46 am 

    Nash, UPnS,

    Since you’re good at computing, could you figure out how much be the $130 million Abalos commission relative to the 1 million votes Gloria got over FPJ?

    Vic,

    “The plot was so brilliant if not for the expose..imagine using Abalos who has nothing to do with the NBN as the go-between”

    Are you surprised? That’s PAYBACK to the “hello Garci,” what else? Part of the political culture expressed in “utang na loob.”

  80. BrianB on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 2:50 am 

    “my comment is awaiting moderation. did i hit a sensitive chord?”

    Did you use words like “incest” or “anal”?

  81. cvj on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 2:56 am 

    Are you surprised? That’s PAYBACK to the “hello Garci,” what else? Part of the political culture expressed in “utang na loob.” – hawaiianguy

    Hawaiianguy, thanks for pointing that out. The connection of ZTE-NBN to Gloria’s illegitimate rule couldn’t have been more direct than what has been revealed. This shows why election cheating is in the nature of a continuing crime and not something we can ‘move on‘ from.

  82. Bert on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 3:26 am 

    “I sent Mike Defensor a couple and he won’t even acknowledge.”

    “Kung hanggang blog/blog comments lang, hindi naman nagbabasa ng mga blogs yang politiko na yan so you should, as a taxpayer, contact them directly.”

    If you told Mike Defensor in your email he’s a lousy mouthpiece of GMA, hindi nga maga-acknowledge iyon dahil totoo. In the same manner, if I email Nograles telling him he’s a worse clone of JDV in terms of pocketed pork(I was tempted to write rapaciousness, heheh), and UPn said only the assistant read it but not Nogi, so, wala rin. I told you it won’t work. Still, I think I’m going to heed your advice, kasi kinonsensya mo ako. I’m not sure though I can have the courage to praise any of them for being good kasi nasa isip ko, paglabas nila galing sa loob ng Malacanang may bitbit silang glossy paper bag. Baka pagtawanan lang nila ang papuri ko sa kanila. ‘Di ba, nash?

  83. UP n student on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 3:28 am 

    @nash, who said “NO” to e-mail flooding … “…but you don’t want that because it’s counterproductive, you want your email to be read……”

    Not for you to worry… ten times the people on this blogsite sending within an hour of each other will NOT shut down an e-mail-ID much less a folder… but surely the e-mail flood will get the attention of the e-mail recipient. [It takes automation - several bots -- to shut down a server.]

  84. UP n student on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 3:39 am 

    Here are 3 “complaint” outlines.

    NOT INCLUDED: The name-calling you-are-all-from-the-same-evil-tree method.
    —————-
    Protest, Appeal or Call to Action
    ..Something is wrong. State what it is.
    ..Why is this wrong? Who is to blame? What harm is done?
    ..How can this wrong be corrected? Make definite recommendations for changing things for the better.
    ..What should XYZ do? Tell your audience exactly what you want them to do, think, or feel.

    AIDA Outline
    A – Win the audience’s Attention
    I – Arouse their Interest
    D – Create a Desire
    A – Stimulate Action or Agreement

    Problem/Cause/Solution Outline
    ..The problem is Ã…
    ..The problem is caused by Ã…
    ..Some solutions are Ã…
    ..The best solution is Ã…

  85. nash on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 3:46 am 

    @bert

    You don’t have to be negative. For example a letter to Zubiri can begin: “Would the kind senator look into the alleged cheating in Maguindanao during the last elections? Would he investigate and assure that all concerned are brought to justice…”

    Or to Defensor during his tint at DENR “Sir, I have heard from employees within your organisation that your household maid is drawing a salary from the DENR. Would the secretary send assurances to the contrary….”

    Of course, the dakilang alalay wearing rose tinted glasses that makes his boss look like mother theresa won’t probably pass it on but at least you tried.

    In the UK, MPs are given a maximum amount of time to reply to letters from constituents. These letters are filed as well as a copy of the response.

    I do understand that letter-writing is not advisable for known violent dynasties (like the Singsons, the Dys….the Cavite-Laguna…etc) …

  86. supremo on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 4:47 am 

    What happened to the postcards sent by B&W a few months back? Any replies?

  87. Vger on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 5:18 am 

    Small minds discuss people.
    Mediocre minds discuss events.
    Great minds discuss ideas.

    ————

    Small minds discuss the need to discuss ideas
    Mediocre minds criticize ideas that are not theirs
    Great minds DO SOMETHING!

  88. TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 6:16 am 

    “cvj :
    Are you surprised? That’s PAYBACK to the “hello Garci,” what else? Part of the political culture expressed in “utang na loob.” – hawaiianguy

    Hawaiianguy, thanks for pointing that out. The connection of ZTE-NBN to Gloria’s illegitimate rule couldn’t have been more direct than what has been revealed. This shows why election cheating is in the nature of a continuing crime and not something we can ‘move on‘ from.”

    cvj, hawaiianguy, vic,

    I’ll go back a little further – Comelec’s Automatic Counting Machines! The overly huge kickback Abalos had hoped to make in NBN will give him enough cash to split with the mafia, at the same time, reimburse the Treasury with the P1Billion plus making it look like the supplier and Comelec had complied with the Supreme Court order. They can get rid of the physical evidences (ACMs) rotting in some warehouse that future administrations may make a monument of, as living proofs that this regime never really respected anyone, including the Supreme Court. One big thorn in Gloria’s backside she may have wanted Abalos to remove.

    That automation project, with its intended large-scale microwave wireless transmission of COC’s, made Abalos familiar with ZTE, I even said in my blog Abalos may have already committed that unawarded portion to ZTE at that early date. Of course the commissions may have also been advanced and similarly, the microwave equipment have been manufactured already the Chinese are getting impatient that they need to convert these items to cash.

    Presto! There’s the Plan A: the NBN Backbone – same specs, same quantity, same configuration. Or Plan B: Cyber-Ed!

    Who could have “mastered” Microwave-for-NBN application better than Abalos and his old gang from ACM, right? That is the reason Gloria allowed him in the NBN deal in the first place. To clear the old ACM tracks, and make new money to fund her candidates last May.

    That’s why Razon, who funded Lakas’ campaign, has his imprints all over the NBN deals. It was also so crucial, she even had to sign the contracts in the Chinese airport.

    I would appreciate hearing better reasons why Abalos was lording it over the NBN deals but until then, I stick with my theory.

  89. hawaiianguy on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 6:21 am 

    cvj:

    “This shows why election cheating is in the nature of a continuing crime and not something we can ‘move on‘ from.”

    Absolutely!

    Any govt shrouded with questions of illegitimacy would be followed by an avalanche of actions that cross the line of legitimacy, one way or the other. That’s because legitimacy is central to the relationship between the ruler and governed in any democracy. Once it is lost, or contested widely, people lose trust on the leadership.

    Then, the leadership will try everything at its disposal to legitimize its position and survive. Even to the point of wrecking the democratic institutions, institutionalizing nepotism/cronyism and bastardizing the civil service, mocking the rule of law, liquidating dissent, muzzling the press, etc.

    That’s the long and short of all these troubles hounding Gloria’s regime. They all lead to her “illegal” occupancy of Malacanan.

  90. nash on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:11 am 

    Out of curiosity, why does Abalos need so much money given that he is old?

    I’m reminded of Gen. Garcia’s children who were seemingly oblivious to the source of their money, given that their father was a mere general (compared to a successful businessman).

  91. benign0 on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:22 am 

    “Then, the leadership will try everything at its disposal to legitimize its position and survive. Even to the point of wrecking the democratic institutions, institutionalizing nepotism/cronyism and bastardizing the civil service, mocking the rule of law, liquidating dissent, muzzling the press, etc.” – hawaiianguy

    This is no different from dimwits who are apt to mass on Manila’s streets hoping for the next “extra-constitutional” change of administration — considering that the bozos that they say have betrayed them (say, in failing to “impeach” the President) were actually the same bozos they elected into office.

    Pinoy nga naman talaga.

  92. baycas on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:30 am 

    I would appreciate hearing better reasons why Abalos was lording it over the NBN deals but until then, I stick with my theory. – Tongue I.A.

    That huge sum of money? What for?

    How about paying off the likes of the Garci Generals, politicians, would-be witnesses, etc. (even GMA apologists here). To dismiss them with final payment eases the burden of “utang na loob.”

  93. nash on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:41 am 

    benign-zero,

    I visited your blog where you claim we have a bad command of the English language and yet you say this “Reducing the proportion of output generated directly by labour by increasing the component generated by capital increases output per person and raises incomes.”

    Contradicting yourself, much?

  94. hawaiianguy on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:44 am 

    Benigno:

    “This is no different from dimwits who are apt to mass on Manila’s streets hoping for the next “extra-constitutional” change of administration — considering that the bozos that they say have betrayed them (say, in failing to “impeach” the President) were actually the same bozos they elected into office.”

    What’s wrong with people power per se? If you’re talking of the “failed” (or even Edsa 2) marches, you’re probably right. But I still hold the first one in high esteem as an expression of people’s sovereignty, with its own weakness as Manila-centered.

    You assume that everyone is stupid and dimwit but you, an unthinking homo sapiens of the Philippine variety. You denigrate the pinoy, even his culture, conveniently taking out the “I” from that despised category.

    No, I won’t join any such marches (aka “people power”) if led by those opportunistic trapos who quickly divide the largesse among themselves, as if it were war booties.

    How about you?

  95. benign0 on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:50 am 

    “benign-zero,

    I visited your blog where you claim we have a bad command of the English language and yet you say this “Reducing the proportion of output generated directly by labour by increasing the component generated by capital increases output per person and raises incomes.”

    Contradicting yourself, much?” — Nash

    What part of the above statement is self-contradicting?

    Looks quite logically consistent to me. ;)

  96. benign0 on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:59 am 

    “What’s wrong with people power per se? If you’re talking of the “failed” (or even Edsa 2) marches, you’re probably right. But I still hold the first one in high esteem as an expression of people’s sovereignty, with its own weakness as Manila-centered.

    You assume that everyone is stupid and dimwit but you, an unthinking homo sapiens of the Philippine variety. You denigrate the pinoy, even his culture, conveniently taking out the “I” from that despised category.

    No, I won’t join any such marches (aka “people power”) if led by those opportunistic trapos who quickly divide the largesse among themselves, as if it were war booties.

    How about you?” — hawaiianguy

    I hold the first one in high esteem only as far as it achieved by sheer luck the desired outcome. But holding it up as a paragon of Pinoy achievement is wishful thinking at best as it does not represent any kind of significantly insightful effort much less one that was actually organised, orchestrated, or engineered (notice the last three words describe skills that Pinoys are famously collectively DEFICIENT in).

    In that respect Edsa “revolutions” are consistent with the Pinoy character in that they are mostly random, fiesta-driven, and chaotic by nature and their outcomes merely hoped for (or prayed for) rather than planned or engineered.

    Typical indeed.

    And though I call Pinoys collectively dimwitted, I don’t think there is any convincing argument out there (certainly no one has come up with one) that can point to the contrary as we have no impressive collective achievement to speak of other than these random spectacles we are wont to exhibit everytime some bozo we elected in the first place needs to be removed.

  97. nash on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:07 am 

    Er,…if you say so.

    (this is better than a monty python sketch. must resist urge to laugh hysterically)

  98. benign0 on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:15 am 

    “Er,…if you say so.”

    Yes I say so. Too bad YOU can’t. :D

  99. inodoro ni emilie on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:16 am 

    I visited your blog where you claim we have a bad command of the English language and yet you say this “Reducing the proportion of output generated directly by labour by increasing the component generated by capital increases output per person and raises incomes.”

    Contradicting yourself, much?” — Nash

    no nash, it only proves his point.

  100. Mita on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:23 am 

    bencard, this is more than just gotcha partisan politics although I’m sure there will be people out there who will make it such. Miriam was closer to the truth when she said this was a fight between two thieves over their kickback.

    looks like joey de venecia was supposed to be the lead on a BOT deal with abalos and zte as mere suppliers. but when abalos insisted he gets his kickback, joey was incensed because he couldn’t come up with the money. according to lozada, this is where the first gentleman comes in…abalos supposedly called him and the succeeding events turned the whole deal upside down, with joey de venecia out and the deal with only zte working it with a Chinese government loan…

    also, according to lozada, he only saw mike arroyo once – in Makati Shangri-la and not in wack-wack…. no mention at all of the “back off!” statement joey de venecia alleged in the senate.

    =================
    i don’t understand why the la salle brothers have to explain anything. lozada was clear in his statement that he asked to be brought to la salle because his family was there. he probably didn’t tell the “men” who secured him that his intention was to seek refuge but that’s a given.

    he was also clear when he said he asked his boss Sec.Lito Atienza for assistance on his return precisely because he was afraid to be in the Senate’s custody…

    ========
    truth is, the whole process of deal-making with government is riddled with corruption. we’ve all heard this before…yet the system remains…you can change all the players and we’ll still have the same results…

  101. inodoro ni emilie on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:30 am 

    truth is, the whole process of deal-making with government is riddled with corruption. we’ve all heard this before…yet the system remains…you can change all the players and we’ll still have the same results…

    and what’s the point? let’s move on?

  102. hawaiianguy on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:30 am 

    Benigno: “I hold the first one in high esteem only as far as it achieved by sheer luck the desired outcome.”

    You mean, People Power 1 did not even meet a standard of rationality? that there was no purposive planning but an outburst of emotions, fiesta celebration? So that’s pinoy character, huh?

    Are you talking here of some kind of a rational choice theory in this example?

  103. TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:34 am 

    “That huge sum of money? What for?

    How about paying off the likes of the Garci Generals, politicians, would-be witnesses, etc. (even GMA apologists here). To dismiss them with final payment eases the burden of “utang na loob.” -baycas

    My friend! Long time!

    Well, but you forgot the Garci-Generals’ expense were paid by the jueteng connections. Those who didn’t promptly get theirs are paid via promotions and post-retirement appointments. They collect ther due in this mode. No rush for upfront payments.

    Politicians, before May last year were all looking to get their funds from Razon’s kitty, but the shrewd crony won’t put up enough from his pocket, FG can’t freely move his money around after the Hypovereins incident, too. Too many people watching and feeding money movements info to the opposition. They made it look like FG couldn’t help them because he was sick.

    Abalos’ Broadband project was the solution. (Why not Joey? JDV will be looking after Lakas only. Gloria has Kampi in addition.) With Gloria’s signature, Abalos got $46M in advance, according to a source.

  104. Mita on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:41 am 

    inidoro, i didn’t say that…

    my intention was to emphasize that our country’s problems are bigger than mere personalities or individuals. i guess i didn’t get through to you….

  105. nash on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 8:53 am 

    @inidoro,

    tama ka :D

    I should have said that one sentence about the output ek-ek was at first tautological, then contradictory, then just plain rubbish.

    However those two sentences about the English and the output ek-ek taken together reinforce each other.

    hay, siguro, antok lang ako.

  106. TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 9:06 am 

    “looks like joey de venecia was supposed to be the lead on a BOT deal with abalos and zte as mere suppliers. but when abalos insisted he gets his kickback, joey was incensed because he couldn’t come up with the money. according to lozada, this is where the first gentleman comes in…abalos supposedly called him and the succeeding events turned the whole deal upside down, with joey de venecia out and the deal with only zte working it with a Chinese government loan…” – Mita

    A fairly acceptable assessment based on what’s out so far. But things will get worse once the next witness comes out. This time via the other route – Arescom’s.

    The details known about this so far is that this will link with Joey’s, Neri’s, and Lozada’s testimonies and converge to produce a clearer true picture.

    Wait muna ang lahat. Patience, y’all.

  107. DevilsAdvc8 on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 9:26 am 

    considering that the bozos that they say have betrayed them (say, in failing to “impeach” the President) were actually the same bozos they elected into office.

    but that’s the problem benigs, we NEVER DID VOTE for those bozos!

    GMA – beneficiary of EDSA II, cheated in 2004 (the people voted for FPJ, not her)
    Abalos – appointed
    Esperon – appointed
    Avelino Razon – appointed
    Neri – appointed
    Lozada – hired
    Mike, Mikey, Dato Arroyo – self-appointed

  108. DevilsAdvc8 on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 9:35 am 

    can anyone still even believe that GMA wants reforms?

    the mere fact that she keeps appointing scalawags in govt PROVES w/o A DOUBT her intentions. all her press releases are just that – LIP SERVICE.

    have i belabored it often enough? that the power of the president to effect reforms lie in its power to appoint.

    this discretionary power if abused, results in what we have today. but if used wisely, would make a big turnaround for the country.

    you have any complaints about the many govt branches we have? you can trace it all back to the president. bec she’s the one who calls the shots in the bureaucracy.

  109. Geo on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 9:41 am 

    Here we go again.

    Facts, folks…facts.

    Once again, solid facts are lacking that support the allegations.

    The last time I came in here was after the Glorietta blast. I asked for calm and for patience; for the need to gather facts before jumping to conclusions. As it turned out, the overwhelming evidence revealed that it was an accident, not a bomb planted by the admin for so many reasons.

    Now we have more factless accusations being thrown about.

    And what facts DO exist are ignored.

    Does anyone, for example, know the difference between BOT and BOO? JDV3’s proposal was BOO — They were going to charge fees to the gov to use the backbone…at the kind of rates that the telcos are now charging (which is one of the major reasons for the gov to build the backbone in the first place!).

    Too many hot words so far…and too few cold facts. This continues to trouble me; emotional frenzy is the opposite of rational thought, no?

  110. TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 9:49 am 

    “As it turned out, the overwhelming evidence revealed that it was an accident, not a bomb planted by the admin for so many reasons.” – Geo

    Overwhelming evidence? Where? Where’s the Australians’ report? The FBI’s? The Israeli’s?

    What came out was a Bomb Data Center report that RDX was found. Dr. Etheridge’s. The Malaysian expert’s. The US lab’s.

    Overwhelming evidence were provided by the other side that disproved the methane-diesel theory. Yes, overwhelmingly!

  111. Kabayan on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 9:53 am 

    GEO,

    You like solid facts on what the administration is up to GEO? Be part of the inner sanctum of Gloria’s Cabinet and council of Advisers. It should be as cold as facts can get.

    Unable to do it? You could do a CSI. Of course you must remember that Malacanang’s Praetors hold the high leadership of the NBI, the PNP, and the AFP.

    There could also be a Congressional investigation (***canned laughter***.) Or a DOJ investigation (***hilarious canned laughter***)

    Another option would be to gauge their motives depending on their actions, or gauge their actions depending on their motives. An inexact science but you could more or less see if what they do is right or wrong, democratic or repressive, Machiavellian or honest.

  112. Liam Tinio on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 9:53 am 

    @nash

    it was really ‘condemn’
    im machiavellian remember?

  113. TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:07 am 

    “can anyone still even believe that GMA wants reforms?” – DevilsAdv8

    Arroyos’ rapacious greed knows no limits. With all the kickbacks already made, she still wants the constitution changed. Insatiable appetite, unbelievable ambition!

  114. Geo on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:08 am 

    TongueTwist,

    You haven’t studied the Glorietta facts closely. No blast crater, no IED, no burned, mangled bodies. These facts trump the claim of a small trace of RDX being “found”. The US and Aussie govs back the gov’s claims, btw.

    In this ZTE case, there was a huge stink made about getting all the documents. Now that the documents are gathered, no one wants to analyze them? Why is that? Where is the media on this? Again, no one even talks about what JDV3’s offer truly was…which was disadvantageous.

  115. Kabayan on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:15 am 

    DevilsAdvc8 said:
    “can anyone still even believe that GMA wants reforms?”

    —-

    Yes Gloria wants reforms … she wants to reform society to suit her and her allies hunger for absolute power.

  116. Geo on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:19 am 

    Here’s a fact — Only Sen Peter Cayetano has been proven to be a liar in all of this run-around the country has experienced. Let’s now hear him cite the Bible. Sheesh.

    A big drama with liars and cheats everywhere. Welcome to politics…the same politics we see in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, the US…..

    Selectively believing one side vs another by choosing which factless stories to swallow is not analysis…it is partisanship.

    Personally, I wish the media here was much more into cutting through the BS and discerning what the facts are. But it usually doesn’t happen; both sides (all sides) have their mercenary press. Objective truth is lacking; spun “truth” is rampant. This is my major complaint.

  117. benign0 on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:30 am 

    “but that’s the problem benigs, we NEVER DID VOTE for those bozos!

    GMA – beneficiary of EDSA II, cheated in 2004 (the people voted for FPJ, not her)
    Abalos – appointed
    Esperon – appointed
    Avelino Razon – appointed
    Neri – appointed
    Lozada – hired
    Mike, Mikey, Dato Arroyo – self-appointed” — DevilsAdvc8

    Dude, I was talking about Congress.

    And even if Gloria hadn’t allegedly “cheated” in 2004, then that would make FPJ our president today. In case I hadn’t calibrated my Bozo Detector lately, I’d say it’d still be buzzing like crazy even under that scenario.

  118. Bencard on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:30 am 

    yes, geo and mita. another much-ado-about-nothing so far vis a vis the president and her husband. abalos’ case is a different matter. i think with the testimonies of jdv3, neri and lozada, based on personal knowledge, corroborating each other, a prosecution for attempted bribery (at least) could be pursued. until conviction by a court of law, sweeping conclusions are premature and counter-productive.

  119. TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:34 am 

    Geo: You said there was no this, there was no that. Proving the absence of some things does not prove their theory, however indirectly incongruent, is correct. Basic logic. I cannot prove that God exists, but I can’t say therefore, you were created by the devil.

    Not studied the Glorietta bombing? Read my blog. I have personal technical knowledge of these things way before terrorists became fashionable. For example, I could ignite LPG using innocent-looking but static-charged water from your regular Starbucks cup. And not one molecule of evidence can be traced.

    Sorry, but I’m tired of hearing the same arguments. Visit the nearest library if you suspect Googled websites are not convincing enough.

  120. Geo on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:41 am 

    TongueTwist,

    Sorry, but I’ll take the word of dozens of professional experts who were on the spot, rather than yours. Hope you don’t mind.

    I realize that the three goverments COULD be forcing all of its’ experts to lie at the same time…but that kind of conspiracy is quite tough to pull off.

  121. Kabayan on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 10:47 am 

    Live in Senate: According to Lozada, while with his PNP “escorts”, they were told that Lozada be returned as the Media has become “hot” on his disappearance (mainit na ang media.)

    Media’s active vigilance have had a hand in Lozada’s early return and may even have saved his life.

    That is why one of the objectives of Gloria’s administration is to neuter the media as they have the capability to foil their nefarious schemes.

  122. UP n student on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 11:11 am 

    @TonGuE-tWisTeD: not being facetious here, but when you ignite LPG using innocent-looking but static-charged water from your regular Starbucks cup, do you the igniter die, or can you do it remotely? If remotely… still no evidence?

  123. Bencard on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 11:15 am 

    tongue-twisted, just one question about your “basic logic”. how can you not prove God’s existence and yet assume that the devil exists? you haven’t seen either of the two, have you?

  124. alas ka dora on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:01 pm 

    Yes, mr. John Mariano, it was Mr. Michealangelo Zuce, the man presented to be with so much to say about the Gloriagate scandal but went pffft because he ate everything that he spewed. I hope this Lozano will not turn out to be another Zuce.

  125. The Ca t on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:31 pm 

    Unable to do it? You could do a CSI. Of course you must remember that Malacanang’s Praetors hold the high leadership of the NBI, the PNP, and the AFP.

    Even the CSI would tell you that the testimony of Lozada regarding the phone call of Abalos to the FG is a very weak evidence. He did not even hear the voice at the other end. Sus naman. Granting that Mike Arroyo was really talking to Abalos, how would he prove that ?

  126. The Ca t on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:34 pm 

    The testimonies of Lozada confirmed the statement of Atienza that he sought his protection.

    SO there was no abduction. Masyadong madrama ang media. Sumali pa ang mga kapatid eh nagtago lang pala sa Hong Kong. Sus.

    Inis sa photo na napapapligiran siya ng madre. INIS ako sa photo ng mga lalaking nagtatago sa saya ng mga babae.

  127. Kabayan on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 12:43 pm 

    The Cat,

    Would you rather na di siya tatago sa saya ng mga babae at i-salvage si Lozada?

  128. Mita on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 1:47 pm 

    CaT, Lozada’s emotions are getting in the way kasi. I caught his press conference as it happened. There were times it sounded like he was exonerating and pointing a finger at the government – at the same time. Since these people were all his colleagues and some good friends, that is understandable.

    However, it did make a few things confusing and muddled which I’m afraid could really hurt his testimony.

    I agree with Geo, there’s very little respect for hard FACTS as far as media is concerned. I don’t entirely blame media since they are in the business of “selling” the news. It’s easier to sell controversial opinions/conclusions based on sound bites picked from hours-long events. It comes to a point where the truth is buried in all the mess until it’s only opinions and conclusions that the naive public remembers. No one to blame but us consumers…

    Tongue, yes, let’s wait and be patient…and not jump to conclusions.

  129. ricelander on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 5:33 pm 

    DOTC says it stands by the uprightness of the contract. The Asec or was it Undersec claims the documents would speak for themselves. Now, assuming the Senators are just using the scandal to grandstand and the press just after sleaziness, why can’t this government fight back as it should: gather all the pertinent documents, create a lineup of experts to defend the project gather all those involved then challenge everyone criticizing the contract in an honest-to-goodness debate? When you go out of your way to impress on people you would rather have everyone with the knowledge about the project be elsewhere except within reach, or invoking right of whatever kind basta hindi lang magsasalita, what the hell should anyone expect?

    About the so-called kidnapping angle: e hindi pala pina-kidnap, what should those ‘wrongfully accused’ personalities do? Keep quiet, become inaccessible all of a sudden, celfones turned off when they should be raging in anger for being unjustly accused of such a misdeed?! Then show up hours later with stories that would not fit with one another? You have the entire power of the government machinery to hunt down people making you look like a criminal but the reaction we get is nothing near that of “a raging lion” wronged which we expect of an innocent one, but silence of a powerless and hapless and brainless…

  130. hindi ako botante on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 6:25 pm 

    Ricelander,

    Sinong expert ang tangang tetestigo at papagamit sa mga politiko for their grandstanding. Masisira lang ang pangalan at dignidad nila at baka matigok pa sila. Kita mo na lang gano katakot mag testigo si Lozada, dahil either way gagamitin siya…

  131. nash on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:10 pm 

    @Liam

    “it was really ‘condemn’
    im machiavellian remember?”

    No. It makes you a rather sad and evil person. Funny you mention Machiavelli from the good ol days of the scheming Medicis and you claim it will take us 500 years to learn democracy. As it turns out, you contribute to this.

    Are you really a member of Singles for Christ (ie Pangit Kasi?). I find this non-Christ-like :D

  132. phil on Fri, 8th Feb 2008 7:27 pm 

    i think enough is enough. To All Jedis may the force be with you

  133. TonGuE-tWisTeD on Sat, 9th Feb 2008 5:48 am 

    Geo,
    Understood and accepted. There isn’t conspiracy at all. Yet. The reports were hidden still they use the same reports to justify their findings. I prefer people making their judgement based on established scientific knowledge than twisted logic employed by the Zero-credibility Pulis Ni Pidal.

    ——–
    Bencard,
    I have not visited Malacañang lately so, no, I have not seen the devil in the flesh.

    Seriously, the PNP logic, as quoted by Geo goes like this: It is not red or green, it does not taste like an apple, it does not look like an apple. Therefore, it is an orange.

    ——-
    UP n student,
    One could be creative and looking at the endless possibilities of triggering an explosion using electrostatic discharge, combining it with natural forces say, gravity, it is possible. In the subject area, you could replicate Ben Franklin’s lightning kite and key experiment by attaching a piece of thread to the aircon duct’s insulation where ESD is generated once the airconditioning is switched on you can place the key near the gas source and presto, no IED. Even if they had done a 100% sweep!

    Again the possibilities are endless but PNP’s convenient way out is the negligence angle to cover for the sloppy, lame, unscientific procedures they did and for those they failed to do.

    The only way to settle it, I guess, is to reconstruct the whole basement or a full size model and prove their theories there.

  134. hawaiianguy on Sat, 9th Feb 2008 6:02 am 

    Tongue: “The only way to settle it, I guess, is to reconstruct the whole basement or a full size model and prove their theories there.”

    But they have already concluded on their theory. They will look more foolish than what they already are, if they find contrary evidence. Kahiyaan na ito, di na pwede ulitin ang investigation.

  135. TonGuE-tWisTeD on Sat, 9th Feb 2008 8:44 am 

    hg,
    Ayala has the resources to do it especially if the case goes to court. If it does, I’m lending Ayala some of my knowledge amd experience. For free. The APMC guys know me personally from past transactions.

  136. Bert on Sat, 9th Feb 2008 5:38 pm 

    One thing that puzzles me is the silence of the senate on Lozada’s revelation that he could hear the senator’s conversations from the radios of the abductors while he was being given the merry-go-round. The senators are bugged, been informed about it, and not a whimper from any of them. We are indeed a hopeless case.

  137. mlq3 on Sat, 9th Feb 2008 5:47 pm 

    ert, there was repeated quizzing on the bugging thing. also, one thing the senators raised but buried by the other questions but which they will hopefully return to, is that on the night neri went into executive session the palace was prepared to take him out of the senate, by force if necessary, which would have meant an armed invasion of the senate premises. manny villar confirmed this to me personally as did some members of the senate security staff i talked to.

  138. Kabayan on Sat, 9th Feb 2008 6:04 pm 

    mlq3,

    Armed invasion of the Senate premises? A grave situation indeed. If that happens the offices of the AFP and PNP HQs would probably empty with a sign hanging on the doorknob “Out for official business, Gloria’s Praetors at work”

    One can only imagine the repercussions if that happened. Would have been a grand blunder worse than what they did to Lozada, only if it pushed through, they would have taken the rest of the Filipinos in flames down with them(i.e. By this inept and corrupt administration). I would not be surprised if that kind of shit hits the fan, many would first and foremost hunt for that Siraulo in the DOI and then give him a brain transplant.

  139. Bert on Sat, 9th Feb 2008 8:10 pm 

    mlq3 said: “ert, there was repeated quizzing on the bugging thing. also, one thing the senators raised but buried by the other questions but which they will hopefully return to, is that on the night neri went into executive session the palace was prepared to take him out of the senate, by force if necessary, which would have meant an armed invasion of the senate premises. manny villar confirmed this to me personally as did some members of the senate security staff i talked to.”

    Those are not the point, I mean, the senate, a co-equal branch of the government, here being violated, bugged, their right to privacy as an institution trampled with impunity by an armed forces ordained by law to protect the national interest, and letting itself be violated by not doing anything except ‘repeatedly quizzing’ a witness? The citizenry wants to help, by all means…it’s a matter of national survival. But, if the senate, the last bastion of our democratic institutions, don’t want to help itself, are we all now prepared to roll down into the abyss?

  140. fanny barnham smythe on Sun, 15th Feb 2009 7:47 am 

    hello pinoys! Fanny barnham -smythe here i am looking for a driver dears! hold on whilst i refill my gin and tonic…….maria dear!! rings bell ,oh where is that silly incompetent ,so hard to get good domestics these days dear ,..i need a driver to dislodge me at various watering holes in Manila ,all interested young men may apply

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