An Open Letter To Candidate Gilbert Teodoro
January 25th, 2010 by Ding G. Gagelonia
Dear Mr. former Defense Secretary, 
Press reports these past several days are quoting you as saying:
• I may not yet be the winning candidate but certainly a “winnable” one.
• What the Philippines needs right now is a little bit of political understanding.
And we can’t have that if some people are stonewalled against others. I think that’s the most important thing that I can do. [Provide] some basis for an achievable working arrangement even between disparate political forces.
• I can give a lot of balance to things. I can look at things in perspective. I know the long-term structural and institutional requirements of the country. And perhaps because of my experience being in both the opposition and the administration, I have the quality of making people work together. I have credibility with a lot of people of diverse political persuasions.
There is no danger whatsoever of the threat groups winning against the government. But to contain them, the military has to be adequately staffed and funded.
• I am her candidate. I don’t have any reason to doubt that, and if, assuming for the sake of argument, I am not, still I am the standard-bearer [of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD] and if I lose I will only have myself to blame. I am here, I am the standard-bearer, I should make the most of it. If I don’t win, that is my problem.
• My relationship with the President is professional.
Whether there is distance, whether there is closeness, at the end of the day, it’s my decision that counts. .
• (On reports that the President’s husband was supporting rival Sen. Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party) I don’t care. That’s beyond me.
Given both your academic credentials and your experience in the legislative and legislative branches of government, I feel, almost, that you are the best pick for the presidency.
Never mind your cellar level ratings.
But one major fact erodes if not destroys your credibility, and many think, your fitness to be President:
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Your support for her and inability to see her sins destroy any whit of credibility you aspire for. Sure you’ve uttered the line that you wo’t stand in the way of charge that will hopund her after she steps down from poffice, if she does at all.
Where were you when YOUR government was arming the Ampatuans?
Where were yuou when the 57 innocents were murdered in Maguindanao?
Where was your voice when your President brazenly attempted the Mindanao sell-of via the MoA-AD?
Where were you when the mother of all scams, the NBN-ZTE deal was attempted?
Where were you when the Abu Sayyaf was on its kidnapping and killing sprees and while the MILF continues to hold our country at gunpoint?
Your solution, like your patron, is to simply throw more public money at the insurgency problem (all the while failing to say how a peaceful political settlement will be achieved) .
There quite other issues.
But just let me add a final point:
You say your relationship with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is just “professional”.
So pera-pera lang. Di bale na ang Bayan.
Thanks but no thanks po. 2010 is not simply about Filipinos looking for competent leadership,
IT’S ABOUT GMA AND THE INJUSTICE AND CORRUPTION DRIVEN MIS-GOVERNANCE SHE HAS VISITED UPON OUR LAND.
Consider this scenario:
You win and your boss, Gloria, takes the post of House Speaker. Hell she even wants to appoint her own Chief-Justice-In-Waiting.
What will you have Filipinos do?
Postcript:
The Philippine Dasily Inquirer now quotes Mr. Teodoro as telling a Davao Del Norte gathering:
What’s important is I will win the elections.
The speculations that many administration legislators are forsaking the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD for other parties whose candidates are seen to have a better chance of winning in the May elections are just rumors.
I will be included in the top 3 in the surveys (once the campaign period kicks off next month).
Of course winning the election is what’s important.
I hope you’re not saying Sir ‘Gibo’ that your operators will do that at all costs.
Pray tell Filipinos, only 5% of whom give you a thumbs up, how that’ll happen cleanly.
Sige nga po?
January 25, 2010 at 6:38 am
Bravo, Ding: well-said. Had he gone independent, I might have considered him too. He certainly is the most qualified of them all. But u r absolutely right: it boils down to a credibility issue at this point, and he has absolutely none in my book anymore. Many thanks.
January 25, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Ding and Lila,
Setting aside his association with President Arroyo, I must disagree
on the groundthat he is the most qualified of the lot. On the surface he seems to be the most qualified. Yet, when you look at his recent performance with the DND, it doesn’t inspire confidence.Maybe he was just unlucky?
Gibo Teodoro was at DND for more than 20 months prior to ondoy. He didn’t have time to review his department’s capability? He couldn’t cover his behind? He couldn’t have approached the President and say, Ma’am we need funds for rescue and relief. Couldn’t he have gone to congress on record prior to Ondoy and say, this is what we need because of Climate Change, because of Katrina? We can’t hold him accountable for more than 3 decades of mismanagement but we can surely hold him accountable for not doing what any good department head does: find out where its weaknesses are.
Is Gibo Teodoro Ready to Lead?”
you tell me.
January 25, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Are we having double standards here, or what? How unforgiving we are on less-than-two-year secretary and yet we’re very much willing, able, and ready to accept the marginal output of a three-term Congressman? That’s a total of nine years, buddy.
FYI, the main portfolio of the Secretary of Defense is national security in the traditional sense, i.e. war, insurgency, etc. He chairs the NDCCC ex-oficio; or when there is a disaster. Teodoro was probably looking at his troops’ requirements when Ondoy et al. struck.
January 25, 2010 at 8:50 pm
You asked, “couldn’t he have approached the President and say, Ma’am we need funds for rescue and relief?” It seems you are not too aware of how things work in government. Let’s break it down.
Where would the funds come from? Do we have any existing laws that allot a budget for climate change? Are you aware that our country is operating on a deficit, and there are many other needs that are not getting enough funding? Are you aware that the national budget is set based on a fixed schedule and it is the Legislature that vets it, not the secretary of national defense? Are you aware that Ondoy was a natural calamity whose effects were exacerbated by decades of poor urban planning in Metro Manila that and urban planning is not within the scope of the secretary of national defense? Are you aware that according to the law the primary responders in a natural disaster are the local governments, not the national government? Are you aware that the secretary of national defense has no authority over the resources of local governments?
I think you need to understand operational procedures before you make sweeping judgments. It seems you think things in government move in a snap without any processes that need to be followed.
January 26, 2010 at 9:42 am
Phil,
i can perfectly understand where he is coming from, is all i’m saying. i understand his excuse. looking after the troops. because he argued that putting rubber boats in the dnd’s budget mean, less bullets.
fair enough, right? that’s reasonable. he’s dnd chief but he is also NDCC chair.
my argument is this: this guy is branded to be really smart. he’s the “expert” you guys keep saying. All i’m saying is that, if he’s such an expert, why wasn’t he smart enough to Recommend to the President, ma’am we need more funds for rubber boats. Why didn’t he fight tooth and nail in congress to argue that the NDCC is ill equip to handle katrina-like threats. he had 20 months to say, hey we’re doing this in mindanao, but you know what, i looked at our capability and we are ill equip to handle a katrina.
so let’s face it, he’s smart. he knows the threats we face. Each year, you, me, and every Filipino knows how many typhoons slam into our country. Each year we know how much flood metro manila gets.
If he is really taking responsibility, he should have resigned then and there. This guy, and gma and the present regime, by gibo’s own words, by not doing anything at all, not even to raise a ruckus in congress— cost taxpayers 280B to rebuild after ondoy.
Tell me, why can’t we hold our so called, “Experts” accountable?
is that an unfair assessment to lay down 280b on this guy’s head. yeah it is. he isn’t responsible for more than 3 decades of mismanagement. all i’m saying in his 20 months in office prior to ondoy, he wasn’t proactive enough. that’s his “crime”. am i holding him to a higher standard? by his own admission, by his supporters’s own admission, he is supposed to be smart and intelligent and very capable.
i say, he isn’t that smart and capable.
i will say it in filipino: sayang ang galing at talino.
January 26, 2010 at 11:09 am
Coy,
Answer me this:
Utang na loob o kapakanan ng nakararaming Pilipino?
Ready to lead? Where to?
January 26, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Don’t forget, Phil, that Gibo, aside from his 2-year luckluster stint at DND, has also some marginal performance in his number of years as a congressman. Not something to crow about, plus GMA’s records on his shoulder which he vowed to continue would surely deserves him the same negative, repeat negative, approval and trust ratings from the people should he become president.
January 29, 2010 at 11:46 am
Marginal? Why don’t you make your own research on Gibo’s accomplishment also as a 3-term Congressman?
January 29, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Pa-pogi. That’s all there is to it…
January 29, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Cocoy, you are holding Gibo accountable for the 280 billion peso-rehabilitation bill from the flooding caused by Ondoy and Pepeng! Even with adequate supply of rubber boats, the damage would not have been lessened, the consequence of the government inadequate response to the disaster was the civic consciousness awakened by the disaster among the residents of Metro Manila, that was heartening to watch. Governments are always hard put to respond to disasters even countries with adequate resources, think of how Katrina exposed the poverty and misery of people living in the south and the below-par response of a government that is rich in resource and boasts of efficient government, think of how inadequate the response of the Japanese government to Kobe earthquake, and mind you, Japan has had tremendous preparations for earthquakes, being an earthquake prone country, and yet, over 5,000 people died and government presence did not materialize in the affected area right away, and Kobe is only a fraction of the size of Metro Manila. I guess, what I am saying is that, you cannot lay all the blame on Teodoro for the inadequacy of the government effort during the disaster, these natural calamities always expose government inefficiency in addressing disaster-relief operation needs, it is because these calamities are not an everyday occurrence and it is hard to be completely prepared for them. Resources are scarce and they need to be spent on areas with higher priority.
January 25, 2010 at 7:19 am
Thanks, Lila. Such feedback coming from you means a lot. Be well.
January 25, 2010 at 8:51 am
I don’t see the qualifications. A diploma is not a qualification. Being in charge of protecting the nation from disasters is no small deal, yet the country has no global warming initiative to protect its coastal cities, much less the food and water supply. That is defense, right? The military, as far as I can tell, is a bunch of generals jockeying for position. Pirates rule the seas and there is no navy to escort them. The army is supplying private armies, and being jerked six ways from Sunday on Mindanao. The air force is . . . um, grounded. Ondoy was a disaster two ways, mother nature and poor response. Ms. Arroyo had little to do with his job performance, I think.
How hard is it to organize a panel of scientists and engineers to recommend an approach to global warming? How hard is it to lead an initiative among international allies to escort ships past Somalia? How hard is it to make sure storm drains don’t get plugged with trash?
If you will recall, way back, I liked the guy for his credentials. I just don’t see the firm hand of leadership. I see him working the system, working within the system, a pal to everyone, getting little of importance done.
Joe
January 25, 2010 at 10:25 am
did you ask you candidate about you concern about Global warming? What did they do then?
January 25, 2010 at 6:09 pm
rego,
I have not, but I would be interested in what Mr. Gordon thinks ought to be done. My point here is that this is within Mr. Teodoro’s realm of responsibility, and he has not done much. The global warming plan for Philippines is to reduce greenhouse gases, which contributes about as much as a gnat’s fart to the global problem. However, in terms of vulnerability to rising seas, changing microclimates, and more intense storms, few countries are more vulnerable than the Philippines. But the action plan appears to be to react . . . after the fact . . . which will be interesting with rice already at risk.
Joe
January 25, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Seriously, JoeAm, now you are hyperventilating. Just think about about the lack of money and the various communities/organizations need when you say :
How hard is it to organize a panel of scientists and engineers to recommend an approach to global warming? How hard is it to lead an initiative among international allies to escort ships past Somalia? How hard is it to make sure storm drains don’t get plugged with trash?
You mention CAFGU’s and “the government is supplying private armies”. That, to me, is plain-vanilla outsourcing. No money to pay retirement benefits to for more soldiers, the chosen policy became outsourcing and going for CAFGU’s.
If you fault Teodoro for CAFGU’s, it is because he was not able to put in place the command-and-control over the CAFGU’s. The decision to outsource to CAFGU’s makes sense. The failure is in Teodoro failing to ensure Pinoys do a good job with outsourcing. Teodoro’s fault over CAFGU’s is in failure to put the command-and-control for a better disciplined better monitored personnel created from OUTSOURCING. Somewhere in there, the words “.. eh kapos ho ang budget, eh” would fit.
USA has a huge tax base which is why Barack Obama does not outsource USA’s armed forces and security functions. Oh, wait, Triple Canopy, Dyncorp, Wackenhut, many others including the group formerly-known-as-Blackwater. USA does outsource. USA, though, has a much better command-and-control platform (oh, yeah, Blackwater now blacklisted to operate in Iraq).
January 25, 2010 at 10:24 pm
How hard is it to make sure storm drains don’t get plugged with trash? In Paris or London? apparently not hard. In Bangkok or Beijing? Apparently not hard. In metro-Manila? Demonstrably very hard.
USAID (with partners) now working on a project for water-sanitation facility for Santa Ana market and baranggays in the vicinity. The project includes reinforcing to citizenry washing of hands plus what benign0 has pointed to often — pissing on walls.
Metro-Manila in particular and Pilipinas in general is hopeful for more USAID and foreign funds to do similar projects in many other needy sites in metro-Manila.
Pilipinas is very poor, JoeAm.
January 26, 2010 at 9:27 am
UP n,
Right, I was a little worked up on that rant. Breathing in brown paper bag now. I still don’t see achievement, so if you wish to fill in my educational gap, I’d be happy to know what Mr. Teodoro has accomplished.
The Ampatuans and their arsenals are a CAFGU?
I know the Philippines is poor, which is why global warming should be tackled now, in small, incremental, steps. So that when the seas are beating down the breakwater walls at Tacloban Airport, or seawater is running down the streets of low-lying San Antonio, the Philippines does not have to run begging to it’s neighbors for reconstruction aid. Sea-walls can be raised incrementally. Or perhaps relocation is preferable to raising sea-walls. That’s what the scientists and engineers can provide guidance on. It does not have to start with a NASA-size budget, just an identification of critical vulnerabilities, and a plan to address them. Or a mandate that every city develop a plan based on an outline of subjects to address. It certainly does not take a big budget to zone for non-construction in vulnerable areas. It does not require a big budget to mandate that cities think ahead.
But, speaking of budget. Which is the better investment, the President jetting the globe with a large entourage hounding Barak Obama, or a panel of scientists and engineers setting out to catalog vulnerabilities? Which is a better investment, concrete “Farm to Market” roads that will be underwater in 50 years, or zoning and incentives that encourage farming and development away from troublesome areas (say, Clark vs. Manila).
It is precisely because the Philippines is poor that it needs preventative measures like trash control. It does not have the funds to forever re-build its cities, and it should not simply aspire to become Asia’s premier beggar nation.
I see nothing in your arguments that counter my sense that Mr. Teodoro really is not a “doer”. It seems to me he goes with the flow, for instance, aligned with Ms. Arroyo to the end. Judging from Ondoy, he is reactive, which is a massive Philippine cultural handicap that needs to be done away with.
Damn, where’d I put that brown paper bag . . .
Joe
January 26, 2010 at 2:29 pm
JoeAm: You look to the many months of Gibo performance and you see many serious disasters that you believed he could have done better with — yes, you being angry at him makes sense.
February 6, 2010 at 9:55 am
JoeAm, you make a lot of sense, and when these ideas you are proposing become standard government policy, then, perhaps, there will be concerted and guided efforts to pursue these very progressive policies. As I said, Teodoro is not a revolutionary, you are right, he goes with the flow and tries to inject his reformist ideas while being in the flow. At times, there is wisdom in going with the flow, and then influencing the status quo to go a different direction. A radical government service employee is sometimes ineffective, in that he tries to rack the boat too much. What you are suggesting, small, incremental steps towards solving global warming are possible and I am sure, there are already scientific studies done on this, Teodoro seemed to hint that the problem of evicting people from areas identified to carry geo-hazards is something very difficult to do, but there is recognition now that something has to be done after the two storms that sank Manila. Apparently, there is now a bill in the senate and congress to address these needs. Political scientists though are now arguing whether the debate on climate change should take precedence over the debate to combat poverty and underdevelopment. Even countries that can afford to curb the damaging effects of climate change are not in agreement on how to go about it, without compromising economic growth. Certainly, your ideas bring focus to what all governments should do now to avoid expensive reconstruction projects in the future. It is the same focus that others are saying that it makes sense to build electricity-generating facilities now rather than wait when they become too costly in the future and especially with shrinking economic growth, the same focus on the argument that it is sensible now to build a seamless infrastructure system rather than wait in the future when it becomes more costly. Teodoro was only in the executive branch for 2 years, and not being a revolutionary, he proved himself effective in installing a management system to lessen corruption in the DND, got a corrupt general in jail and systematized the issuance of weapons to the commanders in the field. These achievements seem small, but they are concrete achievements nonetheless in the fight against corruption and with the management system in place in the issuance of weapons, the erring commanders could be punished, a small, incremental step in solving corruption in a bureaucracy that has been corrupted by years of impunity and abuse of power, since Marcos time. I still think that among the presidentiables, it is only Gibo who is the most competent, because his ideas are informed by insights from his experience working in the DND and that he has the political will to implement these ideas.
January 25, 2010 at 10:29 am
“You say your relationship with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is just “professional”….”
Will you just listen to yourselves?
Indeed, history is repeating itself. After EDSA, the new administration then purged every official and policy, good or bad, associated with Marcos, to remove vestiges of the dictator.
So what now, are we gonna do the same? Let me just say that we needed somebody to hold the center before things really fall apart (my apologies to William Yeats).
Call it Gibo’s pragmatic engagement.
January 25, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I don’t know if your reasons to like Gibo match the reasons I like Gibo, but I like Gibo.
January 26, 2010 at 11:11 am
I’ll grant you that? Did you register as a voter? I’ll presume you still pay taxes as a Filipino.
January 26, 2010 at 1:37 pm
You getting ticked off, DingG? Just watch the blood pressure.
January 25, 2010 at 10:35 pm
side-topic : Merchandise for sale — Cory commemorative Watches.
http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7447&Itemid=88889151
January 25, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Is he really the most qualified?
http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3473&Itemid=88889067
I really wonder…
January 25, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Gilbert Teodoro,
I dont believe that you can do good to steer this country from the deep shit it is having. Neither do I have in the rest of other aspirants.
But if winning is important to you, I’ll give you the winning formula (or at least make yourself get into the thick of it)
Here: Reject Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Make a sincere public announcement. But make sure, the party still support you. Make Gloria appear the Devil and people will love you for that. If you fight like what you are doing now, forget your chances unless you are preparing a massive cheating.
The voting masses are easy to fool. Do something that will give them goose bump. Give them hope, do something that will make you appear that you are fighting for them. That is what Roxas-Aquino did when they turn to Aquino-Roxas. We think Aquino is better since he is son of Cory and Roxas, “sacrificed” – a hallmark of a public servant (aside from marrying Corina).
That is how Joseph Erap fooled the voters. He is the hope, para sa mahirap, against the rich, walang kama-kamaganak. Siga ang dating, bugbog ang mga Paquito Diaz of the world.
Consider this suggestion – and make your chance brighter than it is now.
January 25, 2010 at 6:57 pm
reject gloria but stay in the party? eh di pareho rin.
January 25, 2010 at 11:32 pm
correct. how he do it is an issue to be discuss among themselves. Gibo has to present a circus that the masses should be interested and appalled.
if winning is so important to him, then he has to innovate and be creative.
January 25, 2010 at 10:32 pm
good points you both raise.
January 29, 2010 at 9:07 am
Gibo’s message of change will be delivered by his party machinery, that is why he is going to win, most candidates for local posts are with his party. And Gibo is a worthy candidate, he is not corrupt, he is a dedicated public servant, the One Visayas endorsement of Gibo as their candidate will resonate all over the country and that is why he is going to win. We will be have to conquer the politics of hate and desperation and help point the direction to politics of reason.
January 29, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Good luck, Mirriam.
January 30, 2010 at 1:59 am
I will drink my piss if Gibo wins.
January 30, 2010 at 9:55 am
It is not fatal to drink one’s piss as that boxer who fought Mayweather, Marquez has demonstrated!
January 30, 2010 at 12:51 pm
what he meant is that he will drink mirriam piss, direct from source, if gibo wins.
January 25, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Considering your credential as a journalist for 30 years, am a so surprised that you have interpreted “professional” as “pera-pera” lang?
As to the questions you posed to Gibo, I should posed it to the Senator-candidate who seemed to have burned his chair as lawmaker and now has the gall to mouth his handlers piece as if his, before the Makati Business Club?
January 26, 2010 at 8:19 am
Hi Ramgarra,
You misunderstand the context.
January 25, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Where were you when YOUR government was arming the Ampatuans?
“Okay that’s a question which I have really pondered on. Probably have some insights. But firstly, lest I get into a debate once again with other leaders of different armed factions against the government, I’m not advocating a solely military solution. Although it is a very important portion of that solution. You know several distinguished figures in the rebel side, in the separatist side, they have been saying that I’m a militarist. Far from it. However, I will askyou, do you have a solution to the whole of Mindanao? Probably maybe in your area, yes. But the conditions in Basilan, Mayor Furiga is there, the conditions in Maguindanao, the conditions in Compostela Valley are different. But there is one commonality. There is one commonality. That there are armed groups operating. May baril. At pag may baril, may gulo. At pag may baril, hindi tayo makakakuha ng solution sa problema. Because then the atmosphere for democratic discourse and debate is gone. There is no freedom in the atmosphere anymore. And that’s where the central government should come in. There really should be an honest to goodness disarmament effort on all armed groups…non-governmental armed groups. Now secondly, why have we had periods of relative peace and this is not continued? Why? Because of the fact that we have the ability to clear certain areas but we do not have the ability to hold certain areas. To stay there to be a deterrent to all those who may want to resume their old ways or to all those who cannot cope with the burdens of freedom. I mean, freedom has burdens, like earning a livelihood.”
And let’s look at the numbers, we have only 120,000 soldiers for 90 million Filipinos for 7,107 islands; 130,000 policemen only. Our neighbors, Malaysia for example, have no internal security conflict. It is not an archipelago. For the 26 million Malaysians, there are 128,000 soldiers. Thailand, which has a sole problem in the Southern border area with a population of 80 million, has 300,000 soldiers. The numbers speak for themselves. How can we maintain an atmosphere of effective deterrence if we have the kind of force structure that we have…police-wise and military-wise? All right, development should come in. Dialogues should come in. But these can only be done if we can guarantee that in case there is a democratic process or discourse, people will not end up shooting each other. I mean, there are very, very deep emotions. There are different aspects to a Mindanao solution because of its multi-faceted nature. Land disputes, religious conflict, the spectre of terrorism and the like. I will not pretend to have a Mindanao solution. Nobody can. I challenge anybody who can say I have the solution to Mindanao. No. But what I know is that if people remain to be armed and there is no presence of the state to deter armed aggression, no solution will come. So let us not be overly ambitious. The first step is genuine peace – physical peace, which can only be enforced by the national government and the local governments in their communities.”
-Gilberto Teodoro
Before you disarm private armies or additional force structure deployed, you need to find probable cause to conduct search warrants or even warrants of arrest. Now, E.O 546 was created to pump up the police power in areas where insurgents have wrought crimes, since there is a large discrepancy of the number of available policemen, before the deployment, to that of the number of insurgents, considering the topographic characteristics of our country. Now, in order for us to retract this EO through the recommendation of then Sec. Teodoro, there had to be conclusive intelligence and prima facie evidence showing a collective abuse, and NOT isolated abuse of this additional force power in the area of Maguindanao. Unless there is enough collation of intelligence reports, these cases will remain to be defined as isolated, and does not constitute probable cause towards lifting of the E.O. We cannot act on the basis of hearsay, since military people and a lawyer by profession does not work on that premise. Now, what needs to be clarified to is that there have been efforts on the part of Malacanang to talk with the Mangandadatus and the Ampatuans, and the talks were firm that the Government is going to enforce the full teeth of the law, if anyone commits a heinous crime heading into the elections. The simple act of Atty Teodoro, considering he was no longer a government official by virtue of his resignation and considering he’s now an ordinary citizen just like us, of removing the Ampatuans from the party is already a sign of non-tolerance, on the part of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, that any act of inhumanity or tinge of doubt on such is strictly against party principles. That was the best he could’ve done considering the nature of his role at present.
Constituting the efforts of Sec. Teodoro, he has been in favor of disarming LAWLESS elements because when there is armed conflict, the cycle of war will continuously pour on.
His first order once he was seated was the disarming of lawless elements, by which the DETER, FIND, FIX strategy…
DETER- prevent outside forces (countries who have been known to be supportive of terrorist networks) from supplying insurgents/private armies with high caliber guns by sustainably operating in protecting and guarding our territorial borders. This prevented insurgents/private armies from acquiring high powered guns OUTSIDE of the country through our TERRITORIAL borders. Of course you would have to take on the alternative forms of engagement these lawless groups maybe engaging into, but you cut down on the major cause of increased arms. This is also to prevent entry of new intensive technological firearms
FIND- Since you are able to cut down on the supply of arms, you can now readily identify which supplies which, so you are now able to perform stringent military operations within the areas, given that you were able to cut down the entry of new firearms.
FIX- By operation, several insurgents have been disarmed, though a lot of them are still afloat. ONE DEFENSE administration cannot solve the problem of armed conflict. It takes years, decades to solve this, but the FUNDAMENTAL STEPS have already been done and identified.
However, you still need to have visible police power to take over areas which have been taken over by the government from the insurgents. That is needed so that rehabilitation can take place, and social integration programs can be introduced in the area. E.O 546 was a short term fix to that problem, while the institutional changes to increase our soldiers and police men are being undertaken. He has continuously pursued Peace Negotiations, since he feels that the only way we can solve this crisis is through a non-armed process. In fact, his defense administration has achieved two milestones, in terms of peace talks. One is to establish an international contact database, who will act as guarantors of the peace agreement, since for many years, the MILF has not trusted the Philippine Government in living up to its end of the bargain. Second, is the inclusion of a civilian protection component which allows IDP (Internally displaced persons) an opportunity to rehabilitate their livelihood through social integration programs focused on basic education, healthcare, food security and shelter. This also includes the capacity of inter-agency networks to re-introduce newly converted insurgents into the normal flow of society. There have been developments, but ONE Defense administration cannot guarantee an entire disarming of a whole island, considering we lack the force structure to do so.
January 25, 2010 at 8:41 pm
You say your relationship with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is just “professional”.
So pera-pera lang. Di bale na ang Bayan.
—————->His choice of PARTY does not only stem from the machinery of the party, but also stems from the CENTRIST DEMOCRACY stance of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD Party. It focuses on the human as the focal point of democracy, and that we must dignify the institutions which govern man so that there would be an efficiency in the delivery of public goods to be distributed amongst all of them. MACHINERY, whether we like it or not, is important. No ONE in Philippine History or even with the Barrack Obama campaign, would have been capable to win the elections without this. Now, if you were to qualify, at present, what is a QUALITY party or not, I guess the recent action of Sec. Teodoro on removing the Ampatuans from the party should be an indication of a strong sense of political will to carry out party reform from the man. Also, the outflux of personalities from the party is only indicative that the NEW Lakas-Kampi-CMD Party leadership, under Sec. Teodoro, Migz Dominguez and Francis Manglapuz, is keen in effecting change from within before the country. Lakas can now brag of quality membership in its regional bases. I don’t know how did you define traditional politics, but it is clear that Sec. Teodoro is anti-politician, and a clear manifestation of that came when HE, as NDCC Chair, could have used the exposure to advance his political ambitions. HE did NOT USE Ondoy as a vehicle for that, compared to others who tried to do such at a time when a nation was suffering.
Issue on loyalty for PGMA
• From a Sec. Gibo Teodoro standpoint, I don’t see why there is a need to bash PGMA. Sec. Teodoro is right, that it is indeed the height of ingratitude to leave the President who gave you the break to be the youngest National Defense Secretary in history. It is right to say as well that the PGMA administration has proven its worth in improving our economy, given the infrastructural milestones, and unprecedented economic growth it has posted the past few years. But more than any other argument that Gibo may speak in defending the President, it is a strong sense of political justice that all of us need to be reminded of.
Political justice, at the height of an increasing unpopularity, because institutions must work equally, and must inspire the growing democracy. Many argue that there are many people in the house who are allies of the administration, that is why the PGMA administration gets away with those cases of corruption, but let us not forget that the House is REPRESENTATIVE of a segment, through districts, of our population. If we true really are against a PGMA continuity in Governance, why did we allow her allies to have seats in congress through votes in the elections? Again, we argue cheating machinery was used. But then again, our citizens are responsible not only for voting but also for watching out for votes. The State encourages and promotes active citizen participation, through watchdogs and citizen arms in elections. If we do not utilize these constitutional rights and obligations, then we are partly deserving to also be at the center of controversy, whether we like or not. Even if it’s hard to accept the fact that there are far many congressmen allied with the administration, this is how we practice our democracy, through proper representation. Now, if we want true change, let us start influencing our candidates to talk about institutions. Political justice can ONLY be rightfully served by institutions, above people and media who influence a constituency and facade themselves as true representation of the masses. True representation, by institution, is through our congress. It is true that our right to assemble must be continuously pursued, BUT, by INSTITUTION, our VOTES are more constitutionally mandated to be more accepted representation of our common aspirations, than our RALLIES, because we are PROVIDED GREATER ACCESS by ELECTIONS to go for candidates who represent our cause.
Social justice is a term abused, and often, is used towards influencing people to fight for a cause without thinking of the ramifications or even the benefit the action may pose to our future. We have to let our institutions WORK, and we MUST be vigilant in processes that were installed to fundamentally service our needs as Filipino’s. If WE always resort to People Power as our means to express our disgust, then our Political Maturity is still 1986, and not 2009.
January 25, 2010 at 8:59 pm
ding, what’s the media doing on vote buying. candidates are competing for price as the buyers and the people are also competing for price as the sellers.
And Why are banks lending money to a mayor’s project when election are coming? Same corruption strategy is done by congressmen and senators.
where did this money come from? who is responsible for regulating cash in this country?
January 26, 2010 at 8:25 am
Hi, leytenian.
My apologies for this belated reply.
The news media, if it does its work right, should properly be holding up a mirror for the various political players to see themselves, warts and all, much like the emperor who realized he had no clothes when he saw his reflection, minus his illusions of grandeur.
January 25, 2010 at 11:19 pm
I would also like to hear the answers all of your questions from Gibo. Even if everyone who support him says that he is intelligent, his credibility just shatters his suitability as president. I mean, GMA is intelligent isn’t she? And she squandered it all on self-preservation.
For his track record he was basically just a puppet of GMA. Unquestioning, subservient. The presidency will be just a job for him just like how he did on his term as DND.
January 29, 2010 at 10:42 am
Unquestioning, subservient as a public servant? The presidency will just be a job for him? Gibo is a doer rather than a star in grandstanding, he put cleaned up the procurement process in the DND, “unquestioning”? What about his leadership in the impeachment attempt against Davide? What about the many bills he passed as a congressman? Subservient? If you are a public servant under any administration, you have a job to do, you are not going to conduct investigations on corruption allegations, that is not your job, besides, he was only a public servant for two short years and he accomplished quite a lot. He opted to work in the defense department cause of his interest in military affairs, he is an intelligent fellow, he cannot be used by any one political party or any group to further their interest, he is an independent thinking public servant and is very dedicated to performing his job professionally.
January 25, 2010 at 11:20 pm
How nice that you are a writer too, Mr. Ding, but alas “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”
Unfortunately too, that most of the source of your information is the unreliable mainstream media, who sensationalize their news for ratings/readership/viewership. Now before elections, two major media outlets have been suspected of favoring a candidate. The points you raised against Gilbert are also the same points that his rivals have put on him. It’s really difficult to sift the truth from propaganda.
If you would like to know more about the candidates, I have a reading/viewing list to recommend. I have been studying them too very diligently, and all those questions
Extensive interview with Gibo on many issues:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3919952
Answers many issues too: http://www.probetv.com/index.php?option=com_probetv&view=video&layout=program&vi=1434&Itemid=8
On his response to the disasters http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/239093/cause-alarm
and his heart for people http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20091124-237993/Game-na
This may also help, A non-partisan guide for voters. http://74.54.176.226/~ateneo/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=136:how-to-choose-a-president-in-2010-what-should-we-look-for-in-a-future-leader&catid=14:blog-archives&Itemid=26
But of course, if your purpose of posting this is just to be a rabble rouser and not in pursuit of the truth, you will just ignore all of this. Hopefully it is not. Let me know what happens and if you need any more help.
January 25, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Let all candidates speak for themselves. We dont want Public Relation
people selling them to us like packaged “lumpias”. They must all look
us in the eye. Then speak with their hearts. We who can see thru their
MASKS can discern better. If they are sincere of what they are offering
to us or not. NO GIMMICKS, NO SHOW BIZ TACTICS, NO USELESS SLOGANS,
NO IMPOSSIBLE HOPES, etc… JUST SPEAK TO US FROM YOUR HEARTS!
January 26, 2010 at 12:20 am
Exactly. No false hopes. That’s one of the pluses of Gilbert Teodoro. And observers have noticed that.
He said, “We will have a budget deficit till 2014.” and he said he doesn’t have the solution to Mindanao. The solution will come from the people through consultations and participative methods. Otherwise what a few people in Malacanang propose as a solution to millions of Mindanaoans will not work for the long term.
While other candidates are lauding land reform, GK housing, and charity work for streetchildren, his plan is for these programs to be only temporary means for the long term vision of empowering the people economically so that there will be no need for this. Twelve steps ahead of others in his vision.
Also please listen to him and not the propagandists of the opposition. They are manipulating the emotions of the people by making them angry so that you will choose them to lead. And then what? Another group of the new opposition will do the same. Let’s not be manipulated. Let’s stop this cycle of agitating the people for a party’s self-interest. Gilbert does not criticize other candidates as he wants everybody to work together so the Philippines can move forward. Such a revolutionary campaign strategy!
Mariano, good idea. I am not a PR of any candidate. I am just sharing what I know from what I’ve studied. Listen to him in especially in the blogwatch interview. http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3919952. The sound gets better after around 15 minutes.
January 26, 2010 at 12:24 pm
No solution to Mindanao? Didn’t he say that he wanted more military presence there?
Still not buying it. Magaling lang siya magsalita.
http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3473&Itemid=88889067
January 27, 2010 at 12:29 am
It will be my position not to endorse any candidate. I will
only guide voters to look for the true candidate who can serve
our country. If you dont agree with me. It is your choice. I
dont make choices for anybody.
January 29, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Teodoro says the people in Mindanao themselves will have to find solution to their problems and that will start when finally armed groups are not used to promote the political opinion of one group. He says we need to professionalize the military and give the members of the military more incentives to promote the interests of the state through incentives. Further, Teodoro thinks we need to increase the number of our professional police force for deterrence, cause even if the military has pacified an area, if government law enforcement agencies are not going to be around pacified areas, trouble could return. I wholeheartedly agree with him that deterrence works. In Japan where crime rate is very low, there is police visibility everyone trying to enforce laws, even laws as insignificant as keeping your bicycle light on while riding at night. Deterrence works to discourage criminals from being active.
January 26, 2010 at 1:10 am
the same questions can be applied to all candidates. The role of every public servant is to assist and to work together to uphold the law. Where was Noynoy on AbuSayaff and Manny as president of the Senate? what was the result of their verbal actions or inactions? Actually all of them have failed the people.
a good president alone cannot move this country forward. The rest of the house, the exectutives, the justice court and the senate are just as liable to the people. They are all conspiring directly or indirectly- all are contributory to the fact on what is going to this one hell nation.
Obviously, the filipino people cannot comprehend teamwork and coordinated ACTs to get positive results.
Have you noticed your mayor’s job discrepancies? Just look at the basura and how it is managed poorly along the streets and the children begging for money, selling roses in Ayala at 3 AM? Look at all those young women marrying the beasts? look at those wowowee girls. these crimes are no less than the abu sayaff, the ZTE and all those BS. employment, education and national security may move a country forward but first… look around within your vicinity, your congressmen and mayors are buying the people’s vote. The practice is embarassing but perfect for a world hoping for the guava fruit to fall…
so are we isolating events and crimes of high places because of one’s preference? how lovely and vacuous you all? where’s benigno? lol
great questions ding .. lov yah..
January 26, 2010 at 1:35 am
No one has asked the candidates about vote buying? where did that money come from? let the candidates answer these questions with a solution to stop …
great talent to manage the people comes from an honest election. If politics start from dishonesty, then the result is a dishonest society. it has become a habit and to those who may understand, only have two unfavorable options- 1. apathetic ( accepting the fact prematurely) 2. frustrated ( becoming an activist , a political blogger/commenter or an anti-pinoy)
Both results to poverty and unhappy society. Now ask your presidential candidates how to manage these group of society…
January 26, 2010 at 5:45 am
Have you heard of the Science of Memetic? That is the reason
most Filipino Politicians are crooks…
January 29, 2010 at 10:44 am
It is the system that makes Filipinos crooks, and mind you, this is not uniquely Filipino, open your eyes, our problem of a dysfunctional government is not unique to our country, it is shared by many underdeveloped nations, we are hostage to the worse part of our culture. We are not uniquely corrupt, the U.S. is more corrupt because of corporate greed, think of Madoff and his ilk who caused enormous suffering to millions of people over there and all over the world. You are oversimplifying things, I’m sorry.
January 29, 2010 at 11:19 am
yes it’s not uniquely filipinos but primarily to the filipinos who are responsible for the system to work- The filipinos who have a higher degree of duty. Those filipinos whose job description are solely for public service.
What’s Madoff and the other countries have to do with what the Philippines has become. Where’s Madoff now? Madoff is not a public servant. The Philippines has many Madoff like filipinos but they dont go to jail because they are the law. hope you get the difference between a country with a strong rule of law and a weak one.
And what’s your opinion that the Philippines is Asia’s most corrupt in 2008? and The Philippines now is the most dangerous place for journalists in 2009. these are unique characteristics of a poorly govern nation.
Yes it is shared by many UNDERDEVELOPED nations.
keyword: underdeveloped… thank you.
January 29, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Leytenian, well-said, the public servants in other countries are not corrupt, well, as you said they have rule of law, but what can you say of republican administration’s track record of corruption, the lies they fed to the people about Iraq, the contracts that amount to billions of dollars awarded to the company partly owned by Cheney, the vice president, Madoff and others got away with corporate greed precisely because of the tolerance accorded to them by the republican administration, when the system tolerates it, then, you have people who will practise corruption and it doesn’t even matter if there is rule of law. Sure, rule of law is the consequence of good governance of a bureaucracy that is able to function because of professionalism and adequate funding. This is a consequence of a well-developed economy, the rule of law costs a lot, you need to up the budget for police and law enforcement agencies to be able to gather intelligence so that the wheels of justice could be made to work. I beg to disagree with those surveys that brand our country the most corrupt, I live abroad, and I have seen how corruption works in countries where there is rule of law and are developed, in terms of monetary value of corruption, certainly, we are not the most corrupt, the problem with our system is that, we are struggling to develop our institutions because of wrong public policies and lack of political will, and for the first time, I see hope in one candidate and that is Gilbert Teodoro. Yeah, the killing of journalists in our country should wake us up to the truth of private armies, the state is getting weaker and weaker and private armies are used to silence the media practitioners who criticize local officials, I come from Davao and I know this is a problem everywhere, even in progressive Davao, extra-judicial killings are horrible. Again, all this points to a weak state, Gibo’s solution of increasing the number of police force and other law enforcement agencies which means increasing our defense budget makes sense, we need to strengthen the position of the state vis-a-vis other informal power brokers. We need the vision of Gibo for effective governance!
January 30, 2010 at 10:34 am
miriam,
i concur with you 100% on GIBO’s policy for national security. It’s one of the best way to attract investors, local and foreign, not to mention tourism. Mindanao will surely prosper. Yes I am with you. The Philippines is probably the most marketable country in ASIA but has failed many times not because of the absence of natural and human resources but simply of POOR governance.
In addition, I am hoping that the current candidates must strengthen our educational policies. To my mind, development is also about giving hope to ordinary people that their children will live in a society that has caught up with the rest of the world. Take that hope away and the smart people will use their energies not to develop their society but to escape from it.
Employment can be generated when there’s a sense of national security.
January 31, 2010 at 4:27 pm
leytenian,
I completely agree with you, I am hoping Gibo is reading this and that if he wins, he will keep in mind to pay more attention to the issues you brought up here. Isn’t internet a glorious invention of the modern civilization, now at least, we can have a direct link to govt. officials to get our views heard, we the common tao of the land.
February 1, 2010 at 9:54 am
You know leytenian, you make a very good point that it is pointless to compare our nation and others when it comes to corruption issues. But I think, it is useful to see how other countries have dealt with problems of corruption, so that we, as a nation could learn how others have grappled with the same problems. In Japan for example, the media have analyzed factional politics and the very expensive electoral process to which those seeking political office have to submit themselves to. Therefore, the government had to reform their electoral laws, do you know that it is illegal for candidates to campaign on TV as this is very costly and so the government pays for TV commercials of candidates and the message candidates can deliver is restricted and approved by the govt. No single politician can promote himself/herself on TV, the head of the party usually reads the manifesto of his party to get elected. I can write more examples, but I think it is about time, that we seriously discuss concrete policies to curb corruption in our political life. The media should educate the people about the root of corruption in our country and then, we can debate about the most cogent policies to solve it. Why not study Teodoro’s success of curbing corruption in the DND and convicting a general for plunder. What management system did he put in place in the department that worked and that could perhaps, be duplicated in other departments. The media should train their lights on concrete policy issues and solutions, so that they can serve better the needs of a democratic nation.
Having said this, as a Filipino, I must admit I get piqued when foreigners point fingers at us as the most corrupt nation on earth. Then, I remind them of their more costly forms of corruption and their hypocrisy in perching on a high moral ground, considering their historical sins in imperialistic times!
February 1, 2010 at 11:32 am
Miriam,
True , Japan’s rule of law is intensely implemented, while in the Philippines , methods and rules are not successfully developed , not even applied nor amended except automation without considering the many old problems from the previous elections. Vote buying was rampant and I am certain, it will take place once again. In the past, Wife and relatives of a barangay kapitan were reported distributing goods and P500 or had allegedly hired jeepneys to ferry voters to and from their polling precincts, while the candidates’ leaders also distributed sample ballots, bread and juices in the different schools. Other provinces have power outages, flying voters were herded, some towns had roadblocks, many towns had missing names and inclusion of the dead, watchers ousted and some are abducted.
The people can be managed and can be disciplined but there must be a taskmaster next to every level of government. In my view , Comelec is not practicing the standard and honest procedure for the country to benefit true democracy.
Its function is not only limited to accepting applications of candidates but in the management of, and providing direction to all candidates including education/seminar about the legal consequence of vote buying, its penalties and how directly it undermines democracy..
Sorry to say, Good governance still lacking in this country. Rule of law is very weak. And you are right, GIBO makes a lot of sense. My view connects to his.
January 26, 2010 at 8:33 am
Mwah you back. :)
January 26, 2010 at 8:34 am
The mwah as for leytenian. :)
January 26, 2010 at 3:50 pm
i almost think that’s for mariano.
January 30, 2010 at 10:09 am
Miriam,
the branding of Philippines as the most corrupt is a fact that requires a solution. We have to accept it instead of comparing ourselves to another country. In my view, Governance in every government level including public employees lack the skills, training and experience to manage a corrupt and disorganized society. In Philippines, the public is the servant. There’s no such thing as public servant. The result reflects the BRAND and still UNDERDEVELOPED.
But I am 50% GIBO.
February 3, 2010 at 10:28 am
You spelled out clearly the deficiencies in our system of government leytenin, hope these institutional reforms get to be the order of the day when the next president is elected and I am sincerely hoping it will be Gibo Teodoro! When bright people are attracted to public service, these ideas will surely be part of what every government agency should do.
January 26, 2010 at 1:33 pm
off topic,
hey UPn. was trying to register in Anti Pinoy but failed. How do you do it? I just wanted to post more ofeten there. Can you help me.
January 26, 2010 at 3:52 pm
He failed? He can’t help you.
January 26, 2010 at 1:50 pm
to rego: go to the ntipinoy site. At the top of the page, click on “Login”. A new page opens. Scroll a few lines down, you are offered the mechanisms to “Register” or if having problems with passwords.
Click on “Register”. A new page opens; the rest should be self-explanatory.
Wishing you a a busily-exciting 2010!! Take good care!
January 26, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Getting ticked off, nah. Just yanking your shain bro. So answer the humble query. :)
January 26, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Glad to hear that, Ding, ‘cuz blood pressure quick to rise is unwise especially since good news, bad news, blahhh-news, surprises, disappointments, good stuff — all to be expected for next many more months. Take good care.
January 26, 2010 at 3:55 pm
UP n, don’t teach rego a failed procedure!
January 26, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Bert,
It’s not a failing system, it opens your mind to. “Anti Pinoy” theory!
January 28, 2010 at 1:01 am
Ding,
Where was Gilbert?
He was beside Gloria Arroyo.
Dean
January 28, 2010 at 5:01 am
Korek!
January 28, 2010 at 11:01 am
BF’s footbridges that used to be colored blue and pink are now brushed green with a huge horizontal tarpaulin hanged over it with the words:
‘SALAMAT PO. PANGULONG GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO SA FOOTBRIDGE NA ITO”
Why green? It represents the color favorite of Gibo to be his official color streak.
Funny but a total waste of paint since the old blue and pink has a shell life of 3 years. Public monies are being spent rather unjudiciously to do tricks in political partisanship.
That smells like government spending without a reason.
January 29, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Standard practice naman ito kahit sinong politician and political party, this is not to say that it is justifiable, in Davao, there is one stretch of road from our barrio to town, the same thing, there is a placard that says, “this is the project of so and so congressman”, they just want to get political mileage from this, and this politician is not even from Lakas Kampi-CMD!
January 28, 2010 at 11:16 am
I am a solid Gibo supporter and I am learning a lot here from people’s views, doubting his leadership skills based on his two-year stint in the DND. For me, this is unfair, since Teodoro’s leadership should be scrutinized more during his term as a congressman; it lasted 9 years after all. What did he do in congress? He was the leader of an impeachment attempt against Davide and this was based on solid evidence of graft and corruption. He was able to pass laws converting rural roads to national highways, certainly, where I come from, in some barrio in Davao City, this was a welcome development for us, rural folks. The fact that he proposed bills and saw their through passage into eventual part of the law speaks volumes of the kind of leadership he can provide to this country. It is true, Teodoro is for institution-building, in strengthening our weak governmental institutions, and in the two-year stint in the dnd, he proved he could put in place a management system to clean up a government agency that is saddled with corrupt practices. He was able to put a general in jail on conviction of plunder. Isn’t that a concrete track record on fighting corruption? It is true, Gibo Teodoro is not a revolutionary leader, he wants to correct our dysfunctional system of government, so that once and for all, the government could be made to work to respond to any problems that will beset it. He does not advocate band-aid solutions to problems of corruption for example like slogans “lead by example”, he wants to put in place a system that will make our government institutions resistant to corrupt practices. As one who has studied Japanese Politics, I am with Teodoro on his vision of governance. The Japanese politicians and in particular, the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) are just as corrupt if not more corrupt than the present administration. Japanese bureaucracy however, performs its functions of delivering public goods efficiently and professionally. This is the secret of Japan’s success, plus the fact that one party has ruled the country since World Ward II till the 1990s, there was continuity of governance and governmental policies. I see the wisdom of Teodoro’s stance on continuing policies in the current administration that have brought our sustained economic growth, Goldman Sachs, no less, has included the Philippines among the next 11. Now, where were we economically before this administration? It would be an act of folly not to continue some programs of the administration which have put us on an economic map along with our progressive neighbors, out of malice against the current government. The Japanese people understand that corruption is inevitable in politics and they tolerate it so long as the government delivers economic growth and mind you, most Japanese are very familiar with the term GNP. However, when the LDP, the ruling party for decades in Japan stopped delivering economic growth, the people started to reject them, but when a charismatic leader vowed to transform the party, Junichiro Koizumi, (Teodoro to Laksa Kampai), the people once again voted for the LDP, a party that is responsible for postwar Japanese prosperity. Gibo Teodoro has the right vision of governance for our country. Don’t tell me that poverty statistics should devalue the economic performance of this administration, poverty in 1998 at the end of the much admired Ramos regime was at 39%, and this administration has 33% poverty rating, poverty statistics are horrible in China, and even in the U.S. If you are for free-enterprise economy, the poverty statistics we have now is inevitable, but with sustained economic growth, more investments in pro-poor programs could be attended to, and thus, we will be able to reduce poverty eventually. We are not a socialist state, our goal is to grow the economy and sustain the growth with corresponding public investments in eduction, health care and the environment. The NDCC is not even an independent government agency, it is an ad-hoc agency attached to the Dept. of Defence, Teodoro was head of the department for two years, he has concrete achievements in lessening corruption there, and with minimal defense budget and a government beset by insurgency on many fronts, there was only so much Teodoro could do, yes, he is a doer, and yes, he is not corrupt, and yes, he is intelligent. Not a single government is prepared to deal with the belligerence of climate change and even in Japan where the government is rich and efficient, the Kobe earthquake registered over 5,000 casualties and was criticized for its inadequate response to the disaster, the U.S. with enormous resources in military and disaster-response proved to be even more pathetic than our response to the two unforeseen storms. It is easy to say erect higher barriers and build more infrastructure where geo-hazards have been identified, in hindsight, but with a government crunched with funding and with priorities placed on economic growth, Arroyo’s trips abroad make more sense than building these expensive infrastructure to combat climate change. It is always easy to be a spectator to government public servants trying to make decisions on the country’s well-being, with limited funds, you have to think which is more important, growing the economy or put more funds on projects combating climate change. Gibo Teodoro does not have all the solutions to our problems, but he certainly has the right vision of institutional reform to make our government more responsive to our national problems. Now, that is a clear policy of change I can believe in! And thanks to all your insightful comments here, have been joining forums where people are only good at throwing invectives at others who have opposite opinions.
January 29, 2010 at 1:57 am
“It is true, Gibo Teodoro is not a revolutionary leader, he wants to correct our dysfunctional system of government,…”-Mirriam
Mirriam,
Really? He wants to correct our dysfunctional system of government? But he is part of this present dysfunctional government, he’s so impressed with GMA’s 9 year-governance he vowed to continue GMA’s policies, maybe including the misdeeds else why the silence, if he become president. I hope you can give us a more credible reason why you are a solid Gibo supporter though I know it’s going to be hard.
January 29, 2010 at 9:00 am
No, actually, it is not going to be hard, as I already said, the reason for the misdeeds so to speak of the current president is because of a corrupt bureaucracy. If you look at the corruption allegations against this president, most of them involved corrupt heads of different ministries, aside from the fact, that the husband too has been implicated. Now, tell me, does the record of Gibo in the DND as an executive who stopped a 3 million dollar helicopter deal because of irregularities in the bidding process bespeak of an executive who will tolerate corruption? Perhaps, you ought to study how he cleaned up the procurement process in the DND that resulted in the reduction of corruption and landed a corrupt general in jail. In addition, does his record of taking leadership in the impeachment of a corrupt chief justice bespeak of something who will continue the “misdeeds” of the current administration? Don’t you agree with me that yes, he is a public servant under a hated administration, but he has not been involved in any corruption allegation, just like his father who was an upright public servant during the Marcos-era. The father resisted attempts of Imelda to use SSS-funds, that was well recorded and even now, the stability of the SSS fund is attributed to that upright public servant. What about economic policies that have worked to give us “sustained economic growth”? You don’t want to continue them just because they were conceived by a hated administration, which had among others an economic adviser in the person of Recto who is now riding the yellow propaganda of hate? Teodoro understands that no matter how morally upright the leader is, if the bureaucracy is corrupt, it will be the same story over and over again. Do you remember Cory Aquino’s time and the “kamag-anak inc.” and many other anomalies? Do you remember the “naia 2″ corruption scandal under Ramos? Come on, our system is so corrupt, it doesn’t matter who the president, it will be the same story, why not go for Gibo’s vision of cleaning up our bureaucracy and continuing the economic and social policies that worked and repudiate those that have been damaging to the nation, re: less funding for the upgrade of teachers and the quality of public education. If you compare the educational policies of different administrations, this administration is no different from those, except perhaps in the 1960s when our funding for education was quite high compared to other items in the budget. But then again, 1960s was not a time of a huge insurgency problem, or did it have other problems, the point I am making is that Gibo is a dedicated public servant who has the energy, the intelligence, the competence and track record of providing leadership for sound policies of change, and this is not something you can say about the other presidentiables.
January 29, 2010 at 1:59 pm
That’s ok, Mirriam, who is me to deny you your personal opinion of your candidate. My point is that he is part of this corrupt system, this present government, the impunities, he condones them therefore he does not want to correct them. This you can’t deny.
January 30, 2010 at 10:09 am
Miriam, I can no longer find your original post on Gibo, so I will address u here. I find it interesting that u refer to the Ramos administration as having been admirable here, while suggesting that he was corrupt (Marcos: FVR, Enrile, Ver — all in one basket, as if there were no distinctions) in your own blog. That fact is not in itself interesting since these types of assertions r thrown about all the time in reference to political leaders. So why do I then find it to be interesting? Because your candidate would be delighted with an FVR endorsement. I wonder what FVR would think if he heard about how a Gibo spokesperson just depicted him. And if that’s how u regard him, why seek his endorsement at all?
February 3, 2010 at 10:39 am
Lila, I should qualify what I said about the Japanese people tolerating corruption. The Japanese people are shrewd and understand human nature, the LDP (very corrupt political party)was in power since 1955 up till early 90s when the economy started to slow down. LDP returned to power in 2001 under Koizumi a charismatic leader and was voted out again last year. You see, how the Japanese do not dismiss a political party on the basis of one corrupt administration, they are quite shrewd as a people. This is not to say that Japan does not have serious problems of its own, it is now in a very serious trouble. Ah, you are a democrat, great to hear that, and what is happening with Obama’s performance ratings, you know after teaching Japanese Politics for years, I have come to sympathize with the job of politicians, it is not easy. . . I share your disappointment with the fate of the RH bill, Teodoro and others have rendered its passage close to impossible. The Catholic church is the bane of our existence as a people, it has too much power and influence, politicians have to bow down to this monster. I am a Catholic, but I am very disappointed with the church’s antiquated stand on reproduction. It does not matter how much the government tries to grow the economy and improve public services, it is common sense to slow population growth or all these efforts will come to nil. I wonder if Teodoro will reverse his stand and push for its passage once he is elected president…
January 31, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Miss Shahani, I did not in anyway insinuate that Ramos was corrupt, what I said in my original post was that, corruption is endemic in our country and that even during the so-called presidents with untarnished reputation as Ramos and Cory, corruption allegations did exist. You see, even now, an FVR endorsement is sought after by presidential candidates precisely because he had and does still have an intact reputation as a president. It is common knowledge though that even under his administration, there was some controversies involving corrupt governmental transactions, this is not to say that there was any substance to them, perhaps, corruption was not so pervasive during his administration, though still present, due to an economic growth that was not as brisk as the current one. With an upsurge of economic activities, more corruption opportunities are created. This is just my theory as to why corruption seems to be all too pervasive in our country during GMA’s term. I repeat, I am not at all accusing Ramos of being corrupt. Regarding Ramos as AFP chief of staff during Marcos, it is a fact that he did work under Marcos, and by that mere fact alone, he could not be branded as corrupt. I was drawing parallelism with Gibo’s candidacy who also worked under GMA administration for two years, and how come people are bent on lumping him with corrupt GMA, when in fact his track record as a public servant is the exact opposite.
February 1, 2010 at 8:33 am
Hi, Miriam — please just call me Lila. I must say it’s nice to have a little estrogen around here.
As for “With an upsurge of economic activities, more corruption opportunities are created. This is just my theory as to why corruption seems to be all too pervasive in our country during GMA’s term,” I always thought the opposite was true. Transparency International and Fareed Zakaria in “The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad” argue that greater economic growth can also lead to less corruption and better human rights. The qualitative point, of course, is whether or not that growth remains in the hands of a select few or is distributed more evenly by encouraging the rise of a middle class and other opportunities for the less privileged. So greater economic activity in and of itself does not necessarily have to lead to the type of elite corruption we observe (ZTE, etc) during GMA’s term.
Yes, Ramos did work for Marcos, as did Ver. People tend to know the distinctions, of course. But I’m glad u qualified. As I said above, I respect Gibo’s qualifications (I know it’s no walk in the park to be a bar top-notcher or go to Harvard), altho I acknowledge, like Joe and Cocoy, that there r questions about his actual achievements. My own questions have to do with the burgeoning of private armies and illegal arms caches under his watch at the DND: the Ampatuans r only one set of warlords in our country, regrettably enough. So, for me at least, it is not enough to go against one family when an entire system of patronage as a whole needs to be put under scrutiny.
More importantly, one not altogether minor distinction between FVR and Gibo: when Marcos’ crimes had become so egregious and when the people clearly no longer wanted him in office, FVR went against Marcos. Again, Gibo might have even been my candidate had he gone independent and moved away from the ruling party and GMA, since he’s certainly no moron. We all have utang na loob to our bosses (I know I do to those who have been good to me) but, in the end, what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong. As Ding says, it’s the Filipino people who really matter most.
I’m not saying u have to agree with me here (and I respect your right to your opinion) but am just sharing my own personal take.
Thanks.
February 1, 2010 at 10:25 am
Hi Lila, you are a very good writer and you make your point very clear with elegant style. I happen to be based abroad and I guess, this sense of utang na loob that many Filipinos are afraid Gibo will be beholden to, should he get elected and that he will risk his untainted reputation as a public servant to cover GMA’s crimes if at all these are proven true in court, is something I find difficult to understand. As I see a man of integrity in Gibo, one whose intelligence and dedication to public service are unquestioned, how could a man like that ever be beholden to anyone who is corrupt? I already mentioned his father’s exemplary service as an SSS administrator under Marcos and how he was able to save the fund from the thieving hands of Imelda, had he decided to run for the presidency and that if he had won, would he have covered Marcos’ crimes? I doubt it. . .
You are again quite right in saying that the increase of economic activities should lead to the creation of the middle class and that it could potentially lead to a decrease in corruption. This theory stems from the fact that the middle class is an informed class with access to information and will help build institutions to ensure stability and non-disruption in the system, as the middle class has a rather precarious stake in any economic system. If things go wrong, it is precisely the middle class that has a lot to lose and so it has vested interests in keeping a system stable and corruption-free. However, reality is not as neat as theory, in a free-enterprise economy, especially when the economy is only starting to take off, the social and economic disparities are tremendous, as demonstrated by the high-speed growth of the Chinese economy, massive displacement of people, a few people getting very, very filthy rich and many more confined to bare and desperate level of existence. In this heated and highly charged high-speed economic growth, corruption flourishes, think of how the Chinese government has resorted to executing corrupt government ministers for corruption and yet, it remains to be seen if these highly publicized executions could solve corruption over there. Building a stable and sizable middle-class such as the one in Japan has a lot of social costs. The Japanese have tolerated corruption so long as the government delivered high-speed economic growth and so long as corresponding public investments in education, health care and infrastructure have accompanied this growth. Lila, corruption exists even now that Japan is a highly developed country, it is however their success in policy-making that has made the LDP the dominant political party in Japan, supported by the Japanese for decades! I see this clarity in policy vision only in the platform of governance of Gibo Teodoro, and that is why I am going all out to promote his candidacy. I believe he has what it takes to lay the foundation of good governance in our country, it is not going to happen completely during his term, but at least the foundation could start to be built. He has focused leadership ability which I don’t see in the other presidential candidates. But then again, having lived abroad for years, I am immune from the daily dose of sensationalized news in our country. So, I don’t blame you for being sincerely skeptical of Gibo as a presidential candidate.
I think you are a very intelligent person and I admire your very enlightening postings on this forum. And yes, it is good that women like leytenian, is she a woman are posting here too.
Keep it up!!!
February 1, 2010 at 10:58 am
Lila, I got caught up in your elegant writing style, I missed to answer your point of Ramos and Enrile disengaging themselves from the Marcos regime when as you said, “it got so egregious”, well you are right, there, and how long did it take? Marcos was in power for 20 some years, and by the time the rigged election happened in 1986 and the military rebellion happened under the leadership of Ramos and Enrile and the RAM, we were already in deep economic crisis, minus 10 economic growth and a burgeoning public debt. It was the economic crisis that did Marcos in, life got intolerable along with thousands of activists killed. And again, I am not a blind hater of the GMA regime, and it is also very hard for me to understand media-driven hatred directed against Gloria, so I researched a bit more about this increase in wealth of Gloria, and you know, this internet technology is great, facts could easily be verified. With facts and a discerning intelligence, one can really share an unemotional opinion about what is going on. Gloria has not even accumulated all that much wealth compared to Marcos, billions of dollars in secret Swiss accounts, Gloria’s wealth has not even reached 1 million dollar mark, and I then recalled a friend’s statement to me once, that she is richer than Gloria. This friend and her husband are Filipino scientists who did research in Japanese research institutes for years and because of investments in stocks all over the place, they have been able to grow their assets and they have been able to build a 20-door apartment building in Tsukuba Japan, along with a purchase of a residential house. Recently though, they moved to New Zealand where the husband has found a tenured-track position in a university there. Gloria, being an economist should have been able to grow her wealth even more if she took advantage of wise investment opportunities. But, my God, Marcos, was truly corrupt!!!
February 1, 2010 at 2:07 pm
That’s very kind of u, Miriam. R u in Japan now? Interesting stuff on the Japanese tolerating corruption…
Btw, I actually live in NY, so I too don’t get sensationalized news, thank goodness.
I guess what I was also trying to say is that that each candidate needs to think about not only economic growth but also how wealth will be distributed throughout the country. I don’t mean that in a Marxist sense, however, because I am firmly wedded to the notion of growth. I’m referring to the fact that, in the US, I’m more of a Democrat than a Republican because I think there are certain things (like health care) that should be accessible to everybody. Most of my economics profs were Republicans, so growth-growth-growth kept being drummed into our heads when we were in school. But even (2004) then I was worried about a lack of checks and balances in Wall St, for example, and we see what has happened since, even with excessive leveraging alone… Ideally, the imbalances could be partially addressed through taxation, but it seems that Pinoys really hate paying taxes (at least that’s what everyone keeps telling me). Many argue that, as long as u r able to get the tax-evading elite to pay, then the system would significantly improve. Not sure I agree… In a global sense, I suppose u could say my favorite model is the Scandinavian one (socialist democracy, proportional taxation, advanced welfare systems, free enterprise), although I realize we need to adjust to culture and population size as well.
I also firmly believe in the RH bill (for all its imperfections) because I’m convinced that one of the biggest sources of poverty is a high growth rate. It’s really about marginal productivity, u know? So that would be another reason I would part ways with Gibo. I also think people, women in particular, should be able to have choices when it comes to their own bodies.
I had no idea leytenian was a woman too. Like u, Ilda is also a pleasure to engage with.
Thanks again!
January 29, 2010 at 2:20 pm
How may I ask has Teodoro condoned the corrupt system of the current administration. Was it his decision to serve the public under this administration? I think he condones the sound economic policies that have generated growth, but by landing a corrupt general in jail, he has already spoken out loud that he does not condone corruption. Well, Ramos and Enrile were part of a corrupt Marcos regime and it was only when Ver had an upper hand in the military that the two decided to revolt against Marcos. Why was Ramos elected president? Teodoro tried to work within the system and tried to change the system from within by implementing anti-corruption measures within his department, that is why I said, he is not a revolutionary, he is a professional who sees solutions where there are problems. And despite all the hate directed to this administration, it does have concrete accomplishments, sure, you can criticize this government to the hilt, but please do not be blind to what this government has accomplished too, and as I said, we in the rural areas have felt it. One farm worker in Davao who I spoke to, even said, “you know, life is not easy, but at least we have a job in the plantation, we can buy rice everyday”, I actually expected him to bitch about life, but, instead he was quite appreciative of the situation in the barrio, now, I reflect about that upbeat and very honest opinion, and I realize, that the economic policies of the administration must have trickled down, somehow to the poorest of the poor in our barrio.
January 29, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Mirriam, you’re painting a rosy picture of your candidate and this administration he represents. Heheh, not too bad. But you have to keep in mind that the Filipino people has rendered a verdict already, and quite consistent too, and the people can’t be wrong even if some followers like you can: Negative 138%, repeat NEGATIVE, approval and popularity ratings to your favorite administration, compared to the approval of your one farmer in Davao.
January 29, 2010 at 8:09 pm
“How may I ask has Teodoro condoned the corrupt system of the current administration. Was it his decision to serve the public under this administration?”
To the 2nd question, the answer is yes. Unless you have a personal knowledge that he is being forced by the President to serve the public against his will.
As to the first question, Gibo, being a part of this administration, and not a whimper or complaint from him against those things happening that made this administration a hated admnistration has made him an accomplice therefore condoning them.
January 30, 2010 at 9:10 am
I am not an apologist for the current government, what I am saying is that not all public servants under the hated administration are corrupt and should be hated. Would you hate Romulo who has openly given support to the other candidate just because he is serving the current administration? Yeah, I know that the fever of hate has dominated the political climate in the Philippines and you know I don’t buy that. Popularity ratings are not to be trusted in gauging a president’s performance. Where did you get the 138%, I only read 70%, it simply means that the media have successfully demonized the current administration. Please do not say that the single farmer’s opinion I spoke to is alone in saying that life under the current administration is not all that bad, compared to the past. Most people in the countryside are not wired and so, their opinions are not represented in the media, our journalists are lazy in exploring issues and discussing policies, being familiar with media in Japan, I am now of the opinion that because of their well-funded public TV station, the Japanese people have option on what to watch and can get educated on issues and solutions to problems, something I have not seen with our media, at least with TV which is the source of quick news and info. of stressed out people in cities. Again, this administration is not perfect, but I think that instead of drumming up hate, the media should explore issues and solutions to problems our country faces. Think of corruption, it is the same music being played again and again over many administrations, have we as a people thought of how to solve corruption? No, this is the role of the media, to educate public opinion, to engage them into thinking of the best solution to curb corruption, rather than pandering to people’s satisfaction and lead them into the darkness of blind hatred! Gordon was right in admonishing Failon at the LaSalle forum, he is one journalist I lost complete respect for, Gordon said”stop pandering to popular opinion”, it is not constructive, what with Failon pressing Teodoro why he wouldn’t criticize Arroyo. Arroyo has not been tried and convicted in the court of law, the people can repeat all allegations of corruption, but we are trying to be a country with rule of law, these allegations will have to be proven in court when the right time comes. We are not into lynching anyone during election, there are bigger issues involving corruption, if we really care to solve corruption, Arroyo is part of it, but we don’t want to skin her alive and feed her to the alligators, or would that assuage people’s anger? Let me tell you about ratings, look at Obama, a president who has successfully passed a university health care bill on his first year in office, and already his so-called popularity rating is below 50% and yet the guy is a hard-working president who cares for the underclass more than the rich. What does this say about popularity rating? If presidents care about popularity ratings too much, they will not be able to do their job and carry out the demands of governance which is what politics is for. Okay, I have said enough. Let us be constructive in our criticism of the present administration and look at solutions rather than engage in blind hating! I am very disgusted with what I have perceived to be the propaganda of hate of the yellow party. . .
January 30, 2010 at 9:42 am
sorry for the typos, universal health care, pandering to people’s dissatisfaction instead of satisfaction.
January 30, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Mirriam, this is not a matter of me hating anyone, any candidate. I was responding to your assertion that Gibo wants to correct this disfunctional system of government. My reason for not believing your defense of the man is because he’s part of it, and he’s condoning it. You may have the last words on this.
January 30, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Let me just add one more thing, my last about this matter. I think it is grossly dishonest of Gibo to say something like this, “I am part of this gang, I have done nothing to complain or to correct its perceived crimes, I am impressed with its accomplishments, but, if you vote for me I am going to do what I failed to do.”
It’s all yours, Mirriam. Good luck. CHEERS!
January 30, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Bert, may I just say that I am deeply impressed with your way of disagreeing in an agreeable manner. It doesn’t matter what the topic is — you’re always respectful to everybody. Good for u!
January 30, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Thank you, Lila! Appreciate it, but I’m afraid you haven’t seen the other side of me yet :-).
January 31, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Bert, how could have Teodoro helped in solving the perceived crimes of this administration and still perform his mandate as the top executive of the DND? What about Romulo, would you also demand the same from him, if he ran for president?
January 30, 2010 at 1:44 am
Maid ‘M’ you say, “As one who has studied Japanese Politics, I am with Teodoro on his vision of governance. The Japanese politicians and in particular, the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) are just as corrupt if not more corrupt than the present administration. Japanese bureaucracy however, performs its functions of delivering public goods efficiently and professionally.”
I’m sure you know how the people of Japan have finally kicked the LDP from power right?
Further, Maid Mirriam, po.
Since you’re the announced ‘envoy’ of Mr. Teodoro, answer me these:
“Where were you when YOUR government was arming the Ampatuans?
Where were you when the 57 innocents were murdered in Maguindanao?
Where was your voice when your President brazenly attempted the Mindanao sell-of via the MoA-AD?
Where were you when the mother of all scams, the NBN-ZTE deal was attempted?
Where were you when the Abu Sayyaf was on its kidnapping and killing sprees and while the MILF continues to hold our country at gunpoint?”
GBU po.
January 30, 2010 at 9:38 am
Of course I know why the Japanese people voted the LDP out of office after their five decades of support for LDP. As I mentioned before, the LDP has grown corrupt over the years because to stay in power, it had had to forge sticky relationships with business and the bureaucracy, but it did deliver economic growth to the country and has created a big middle class, it has concrete achievements in public policies that worked despite its corruption. But in the 90s, Japan entered a serious economic recession and LDP has not been able to offer viable policies to get Japan out of recession, thus, they got voted out of power, but let me tell you that many of the members of the DPJ (Democratic party of Japan are former LDP politicians, Ozawa, Maehara, Hatoyama, etc.).
Is this a question for Gibo? Gibo was a minister of defense, the Ampatuans are local political warlords courted by many politicians for support during elections, the NP being the latest, before the massacre. I am not sure if it was government policy to arm the Ampatuans, but from what I heard Gibo explain, even before he got into the DND, the Ampatuans whose patriach was appointed as OIC by Cory have accummulated quite a political clout in that part of Mindanao. The under-funded defense agency has apparently been relying on private armies to pacify Mindanao, and this policy dates back to Cory’s time. Our country has the lowest budget for defense among countries in the region, think of Japan which is even prohibited by its constitution to have a military that could be used for aggression and a country that is peaceful and stable, it spends something like 1% of its 4 trillion dollar GNP for defense. Its police force is also well-funded, and in almost every street in Japan, there is a Koban (police box), there is police visibility everywhere in a country that has low crime rate, I think what Gibo says that visibility of law enforcement officers helps deter crime is supported by the case of Japan, and yet, we have a nagging insurgency problem. One problem is the leftist influence in policy making in the government, they don’t want to adequately fund our defense capabilities, and that is why we have been relying on private armies to pacify conflict-ridden areas along with our over-stressed troops.
Don’t blame Gibo for the arming of the Ampatuans, I think there is an ongoing investigation on the weapons and Gibo answered that during his stint in the DND during which he put in place the systematization of issuance of weapons, it could easily be traced who gave the weapons to the Ampatuans, apparently, only a few could be traced to the documented weapons in his office. Errant officers then could be punished, just like in the U.S., in the Iran-Contra scandal, a naval officer was convicted of passing weapons illegally to groups not sympathetic to the U.S. foreign policy goals and the defense dept. was clueless of this. What I am saying is that Gibo did not authorize issuance of weapons to anyone illegally, he worked within the bounds of the law. That is why he is daring the lawyer of the Ampatuans to sue him.
Okay, you want to lynch Gibo for all the government policy failures, and I will not even attempt to dignify this, Gibo who was only a public servant in the DND for two years, he was a congressman for 9 years with stellar record. I guess I will have to ask the same questions to the other presidentiables, especially to the most popular one in the bogus surveys, and how did he use his CDF? And why is he clinging to the most corrupt system in our country which is the hacienda system that is responsible for our rice shortage (google the reason for our rice importation despite being an agricultural country). Why is the whole country convinced that a do-nothing senator who is a 4% hacienda owner, the most corrupt system in the land and is keeping us the only rice importer in Asia, that he is the solution to all of our problems?
Why is the whole country that wants to lynch the current administration and its upright civil servants so enamored with a politician whose only claim to excellence is his success in promoting Nike in the Philippines in the 80s and his work on an hacienda that was clearly stolen from the people (acquired on govt. loans on condition that after 10 years, it would distributed to the farmers!!!) and that since its conversion to some form of estate, wherein farmers are stockholders in 1991, only once did the farmers get dividend payments. Why is the country calling a do-nothing senator moral, one who has not spent a sleepless night trying to stop this most evil socio-economic system in our country that is the root of our insurgency problem, the root of rural unrest and name me a progressive country with an hacienda system? Why is the country so blinded by hatred that they are ready to reject an upright public servant, with intelligence and integrity just because he chose to serve the people under this administration with dignity and honor!
January 30, 2010 at 10:52 am
Hmmm, who was it that said ‘let him without sin cast the first stone.’
The men behind the front-runner were with GMA, at one time or another: Mar Roxas, Frank Drilon, etc. And even Noynoy: he was Deputy Speaker for Luzon during the first impeachment case.
Ugh, political expediency masquerading as integrity. Priceless!
January 30, 2010 at 10:33 am
“Where were you when YOUR government was arming the Ampatuans?”
he answered this in the youth forum. he said basically, that didnt happen in his watch.
January 31, 2010 at 8:19 am
You are saying the arming of the Ampatuans happened before he was defense boss ans stopped when he assumed the defense portfolio?
Don’t kid yourself.
He trumpets ans share credit for achievements of the regime then washes his hands of the misdeeds?
January 31, 2010 at 8:29 am
hey, i’m only sharing what he said… i have no idea if its true or not.
January 31, 2010 at 4:59 pm
In all of Gibo’s answers in public forums, I have yet to notice his “trumpeting of the administration’s achievements”, what he emphasizes is the continuance of social and economic policies that have worked. DSWD for example, the agency in charge of implementation of social welfare policies has gotten quite a high rating in its performance of delivering public goods to the needy. Gibo said he would like to continue these programs that have worked and the economic policies that have been proven effective. What is the need to enumerate policy failures and say he is sorry for them, when obviously, he is only interested in the continuation of public policies that have worked. Why should he be held accountable for the misdeeds of this administration that has been in power for 9 years and he, being a part of it only for two years!
January 31, 2010 at 5:17 pm
@marian
whats the difference between:
“trumpeting of the administration’s achievements”,
and
“emphasizes is the continuance of social and economic policies that have worked.”
January 31, 2010 at 9:41 pm
It is necessary for Gibo to mention these achievements because first of all, he is privy to the process of arriving at these policies and that they are part of what he intends to do if he gets elected, he is not bragging or anything like that, he mentions the importance of continuing policies that have worked!
January 30, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Thanks and Kudos to you Miriam Quiamco.. i am enlightened by your opinion. Hope it answered the queries of the journalist here among others.
February 2, 2010 at 11:59 am
Ramgarra-san, you have no idea how this posting makes me happy, I am a solid Guibo supporter and have started blogging in late December last year. As you know, the politics of hate is selling like hotcakes these days and even among the intelligentsia which truly surprises me. And there is this blogger from Riyadh who kept saying, there are no Gibo supporters in Riyadh. But, here you are, a fellow Gibo supporter. This makes me very happy. I will go home in March and will campaign for Gibo, our country has been a mess for lack of reasoned debate on issues and solutions. I am truly disgusted with the platform of the yellow candidate: he wants gloria’s head to be offered in the altar of hate and that seems to be all that matters. After this, the country should be okay, and all problems will disappear!
January 31, 2010 at 8:27 am
Maid Mirriam,
I will take your responses as Mr. Teodoro’s.
BTW I am not supporting any presidential bet but am closely studying their words as matched/unmatched by actions.
I do not share your enthusiasm and support for Mr. Teodoro. But I respect you being enamored with someone who values utang na loob.
When the time comes I pray he’ll put value on utang sa taumbayan more.
He may have been appointed by GMA but the Filipino people paid his salaries…
January 31, 2010 at 4:13 pm
This is simplistic and a very malicious way of twisting the meaning of Gibo Teodoro’s words when he says, he values utang na loob as a Filipino, meaning, he will forever be thankful to gloria for the opportunity she gave him to serve in an executive position, that is such an honorable sentiment, but he further said that he will not do anything to taint his reputation of being an anti-corruption public servant just to defend Gloria if she is found guilty. Gordon is right, there is no need to editorialize Gibo’s honorable way of answering a question, he was sincere when he said this, but he is also an incorruptible public servant and his record speaks loudly on this. He is right that the task of the presidency is not to intervene in the cases for any wrongdoing of this administration, we have bigger problems than this, the judiciary is an independent agency that should be tasked to do this, the legislature could initiate and launch an investigation or any other govt. agency and then it will be the task of the judiciary to establish guilt or innocence, this is not an urgent task for the presidency, Gordon is right in only giving it one year perhaps and then we should move on. Wonder why it was not even an issue with Obama to prosecute the Bush administration with even bigger corruption case, its because legislation to push progress in the country is more pressing than vengeance!
January 31, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Your view is yours.
Ascribing malice to fair comment given your candidate’s fulsome loyalty to his boss is his choice, and his to defend.
I’d hate to think someone acts as his Nanny. Malaki na siya.
I’ll wait what the Filipino electorate says.
January 31, 2010 at 9:43 pm
yeah, you are right, your comment is quite fair, I’m sorry to have read more than what you intended in the first place.
January 31, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I missed this one, are you calling me a Maid Mirriam? What does this mean? Maid as in housemaid?
January 31, 2010 at 5:06 pm
its probably a reference to robin hood.
January 31, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Certainly not. But Maid as an honorific in the Arthurian sense.
January 31, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Okay Ding, I got you. . .
January 31, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Oh, Maid Marian, I see, thanks for the lead.
February 1, 2010 at 11:44 am
Ms. Miriam,
I’ve noticed your positive comments on Gibo Teodoro. Could you organize the various points you’ve raised into one piece and post it here at Filipinos Voices?
Thanks.
February 2, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Hi, Thanks for your interest in my blogs about Gibo who I think is the only candidate with clear policy proposal on how to solve problems confronting the nation. I would also go for Gordon, except that I find him heavy on rhetoric and light on specific policy recommendations. Gibo Teodoro has the clear vision of governance that I think will be a good beginning in starting to tackle deep-seated problems of governance in our country. Let’s look at his vision on how to solve corruption in our country. He understands clearly that unless we have a working bureaucracy that discourages the culture of corruption, it doesn’t matter who the leader is, it will be the same story over and over again. Our institutions are corrupt because our public servants are not given adequate pay and benefits commensurate to what is demanded of them, a professional delivery of services. In Japan, government civil servants even on a local level are given competitive pay, if not better than the private sector. All civil servants are guaranteed job security, high pay with guaranteed benefits. University graduates from elite universities therefore are attracted to work for the government rather than the private sector. The quality of people who opt to go work for the public sector is reflected in the professional delivery of services even on the local level, more so, on the local level, the government makes sure that government policies are implemented by competent public servants who are the forefront of policy implementation. This vision of governance is articulated clearly by Gibo Teodoro, he sees a two-pronged policy of reward and punishment in discouraging corruption in government. More than this, he understands clearly that there is a need to professionalize our government workers, down to the local level to ensure effective delivery of public goods. This is clearly the secret of success of Japan as a nation, while their politicians are corrupt, the members of government bureaucracy are more or less incorruptible due to how they are treated fairly by the government. Think of how our police force, underfunded, understaffed and stressed to the limits has to resort to corruption in order to support their families. The public school teachers are the same, they cannot concentrate on carrying out their duties because they have to use part of their time in schools to make extra money to support their families, the members of the armed forces, etc., etc., what results therefore, is a very corrupt bureaucracy, when the culture of corruption is encouraged in the government due to neglect in the basic needs of our public servants, then, public service is only for the mediocre on the lowest level and only for the crooks on the highest level, due to the pervasive culture of corruption. Laws exist in our land to make government functional, but implementation is compromised due to government service on the cheap. Gibo sees clearly that our underdevelopment is tied with the failure of our defense capabilities to deal with lawlessness especially in Mindanao. Consider that Mindanao is very rich in natural resources, but the top ten poor provinces in the country are in this region, all because of problems of lawlessness and the government’s inadequate military force is dependent on cooperation with private armies. When you have a government such as ours that is beset by insurgency and terrorist elements, with a defense budget that is the lowest in the region, the Ampatuan massacre type of abuse of power is bound to happen. Gibo offers the right vision of professionalizing our law enforcement agencies by increasing our defense budget, with a professionalized law enforcement, we are then able to have deterrence against crime and a force to deal with criminals in our archipelagic country. No other candidate has articulated clear policy proposal on how to clear up the mess in our country, only Gibo offers this vision of reform which is very specific and with his track record of fighting corruption wherever he found it,like in congress, he led the impeachment case against a corrupt chief justice and in the DND, by jailing a corrupt general, I put a lot of faith in Gibo’s determination to put his policy vision into practice when he gets elected president.
Gibo in his 9 years in congress has submitted many bills to try to make our country a better place to live in for Filipinos. He was able to pass into law 9 bills which included the conversion of rural roads into national highways, a sound economic policy that helped rural development. His leadership in the impeachment of a corrupt chief justice demonstrates the leadership skills he will bring to the presidency. Gibo Teodoro is a doer and a visionary. However, it is his honorable way of dealing with GMA as an issue created by the opposition, for lack of a clear vision of reform, that he is being castigated for. The people are angry and are convinced of GMA’s crimes and so they are afraid that under Teodoro’s administration, he will work to acquit GMA of these imagined crimes due to “utang na loob”. I think that all Teodoro has to do is be very emphatic that he will not prevent those who want to skin GMA alive and offer her to the gators for her crimes. He has nothing to do with this, his record is clean, but he is a gentleman and a statesman, he knows the bounds of decency in public conduct demand that he does not ride on the propaganda of hate of the opposition. This is the biggest obstacle that he needs to conquer, he should be very clear on this, that his record on public service bespeaks of his incorruptible stand in governance. And I am not sure the culture of hate that is eating us all up, to the disregard of discussing solutions to the problems confronting the nation, of which GMA is only a small part of or a representation of, can be tempered before election day. People need to hear what the candidates plan to do on the urgent problems of governance and not focus on GMA obsessively. Bush was a far worse president than GMA I think because his destructive policies were based on lies and manipulation, the effects are still felt by many not just in the U.S. but the whole world. However, during the elections in the U.S., Obama was not questioned with a yes/no answer at respectable public forums as to whether he will deliver the head of Bush at all costs to the angry members of the democratic party. I was appalled at the level of questioning at a public forum presided by Failon, a confirmation of the decadence of the media and its failure to lead debate on issues that matter to the country in the upcoming elections. All candidates should put forward clear and workable policies and then people should debate these policies rather than focus on personalities of the candidates. If we persist on this track of conducting election campaigns, then, I do not expect to get our nagging problems of governance solved in the near or distant future. We need to transform our political culture and Gibo’s campaign is already a contribution to this form of transformation.
February 3, 2010 at 11:05 am
Again, thanks for your quick response.
I’ve learned that people (myself included) who get to listen to Mr. Gilbert Teodoro e.g. in that AIM forum, school campus fora, internet, etc. are quite impressed with his demeanor at ‘may dating’. And not only does the guy give intelligible and intelligent statements, his explanations in Tagalog and Ilocano are on the mark.
Trouble is, like my other favored candidate Gordon, Gibo is not improving in the survey ratings.
Hmmm, alam mo na ang mga kababayan natin…
February 3, 2010 at 7:14 pm
As a Gibo supporter, I will not give up until election day, I will continue to speak my mind anywhere and everywhere why I am going to vote for Gibo Teodoro. The game is not over yet, there are still things we can to help his candidacy, when I go home in March, I will be in Davao promoting him.
February 3, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Attagirl, Mirriam, that’s the spirit!
January 31, 2010 at 5:26 pm
ahay, hik, hik, hik, I’m tickled pink. stop already, hehehe.
February 13, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I do think that Gibo would do well to win and lead the country… At the very least he could maintain the standing of the country rather than worsening it… I am in favor of his platforms regarding expanding the LGC of 1991… Autonomy is needed to regions that shows promise, its rise must not be hampered by red tape… I believe that our Military is ill funded, the weapons our Army uses are still M16A1 and M14’s a Vietnam war era weaponry… the M16A1 for one is very prone to cramming… Our light armored units are ill equipped against a Guerrilla army that is adequately armed with RPG’s.
How can we hope to defend our country against foreign invasion when we cant even defend it properly against insurgents. Our education system needs a revamp. our curriculum is sorely outdated and most of our graduates are ill equipped. Why teach Islam? When we can teach more math and english. Why make filipino the medium of instruction when we can use english.
I do hope that Gibo will win… He, I believe, is the best candidate to lead our country.
February 14, 2010 at 10:56 am
Kudos to you for putting it all very clearly. Gibo is the only qualified and winnable candidate among all the presidentiables. Gordon is inspiring but that is all, when you really sit down and think in concrete terms his policy vision, there is not much there for the mind to grasp and ponder. Go Gibo, I am campaigning for him all over the net. On youtube, I engage people there on real-time debate, this is better than debating anyone in private, at least there are others reading the exchanges between two people and issues can really get aired clearly. There is one youtube video though that is for Noynoy, it is called nonoy hindi ka nag-iisa, it has 175,000 hits, understandably popular due to the celebrities in the music video, censorship stifles free exchange of ideas there. The administrator only wants pro-noynoy sentiments posted there, eh, kahit pa, ang dami paring pro-Gibo doon, I think Gibo can win and his survey rating will rise in March. Let’s hope this will happen, he is the only one who can lead this country forward.
Good to meet a fellow Gibonian here, I am starting to feel this site has more yellow supporters.
February 14, 2010 at 11:43 am
@silimanian, miram
where did he say he’d like to expand the LGC.
thats an interesting proposal. details?
February 15, 2010 at 9:23 am
There is a website on the details of Gibo’s policy proposals on expanding LDCs, you should look it up, can’t remember the site offhand, but I do recall reading it on the web.
February 15, 2010 at 9:37 am
thats the problem miriam… there is nothing there:
look at gibo.ph
his opinion on IRA: “: Right now, I’m really amenable to more resources for the local government. But changing the sharing immediately, I may have to study that more. ” — he is in favor of status quo
if anything, he is against expanding autonomy quickly– i think this is wise, but its NOT expanding LGC:
“The Congress should determine how much autonomy they allow different regions. “So they have the power to realign internal revenue allotments to regions that can’t. But I oppose in giving autonomy to regions which are not prepared, because merely of a military conflict.”
so, where is this expanding LGC coming from?
February 19, 2010 at 7:03 pm
I see the thread is still alive :)
Guys, care to think about the scenario of a Gibo presidency and a GMA House Speakership?
Governance anchored on…..
February 22, 2010 at 12:53 am
Ding, I am so glad you brought this up.
I challenge all the pol. parties who fear this scenario: field a rival. The most basic way they could have put a stop to this scenario is by fielding a winnable candidate against GMA. Yan lang hindi pa ginawa. Instead the LP fielded an architect with no name nor track record nor experience. Gilbert has said many times he is not for a Parliamentary system. Yes those are just words, just as “Hindi ako magnanakaw” are just words.
“No candidate is perfect.” says Dean La Viña, in his non-partisan guide to choosing a leader. Let’s then compare Gibo vs Noynoy in terms of the issues being thrown at them and the defense.
Gibo’s alleged lackluster record in DND, Ondoy, Congress; PGMA connection. Defense:
-jailed a general in DND
-cleaned up the process of bidding
-500+ bills filed in Congress, 6 passed into law and several pending approvals
-U.N. representative Jacqueline Badcock said the government responded well to the calamity but was clearly overwhelmed. “The government has really tried its best,” she said. “When you get something that really is unprecedented and catastrophic like the Manila flood, the government is not able to cope.”
-United Nations Undersecretary General John Holmes said, “I admire the efforts of the Philippine government.”
-Puppet of PGMA is just a speculation. Where is the fact? Yes he said he will continue PGMA’s good programs. (don’t subvert truth when convenient) He has gone against PGMA in 2 cases and counting: kicking out the Ampatuans off the party and demanding that the military to present the Morong 43.
Noynoy’s Hacienda Luisita, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/181877/hacienda-luisitas-past-haunts-noynoys-future, SCTEX, being the biggest Senator spender among Pres’l candidates, 5 bills filed, 0 enacted.
-Hontiveros, who’s in the LP Senatorial slate, asked Noynoy to distribute the land
-Noynoy himself acknowledges that HL is a problem and that he has the power to do something about it by promising to distribute the land, albeit in 2014/15 (if elected?)
-The farmers who were killed in HL, the Bishop who sided with the farmers was stabbed 7x, and all the others whose deaths were associated with HL. This is NOT an opinion column but an investigative report.
-SCTEX still a hanging issue, not yet proven too
-Spending P17M for operating expenses and P250M on PDAF/CDF, which when asked about it, he gets “piqued.”
Other issues:
-Disrespecting the survey results as “nabibili sa Quiapo.” I witnessed that.
-Threatening the Supreme Court justices to fire them if they accept GMA’s appointment (called by many as arrogance). On paper!
-Saying he does not need to pass bills because there are too many bills. noynoy.ph Why then be a legislator? Top 6 spender at that!
-Misuse of his father’s words “The ball is now in your hands” (noynoy.ph) referred to his family, not the country. Isn’t this lying?
-His stand on PGMA shifted after an unsuccessful meeting between Cory and PGMA. Cory reportedly admitted to the mtg. see gma report
YOU BE THE JUDGE
I sent you Ding, many links so that you can evaluate the veracity of your assertions. Were you able to read any? I hope you are interested in the truth.
Thanks for allowing me to post my comment.