Senator Miriam Defensor has made up her mind, nay, judged the World Bank as a “squatter” with its controversial report on the bribery-attended rigging of road contract biddings shot full of double hearsay.
While some may not agree with her abrasive style, the good lady senator did make some valid points this past week.
But Santiago is not the Philippine Senate so Malacanang will have to give its sufferance to further hearings next week no matter how “negative” the media reporting may be.
Santiago can take comfort in the fulsome praise showered on her by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.
Not to make any unfair comparison but Sec. Remonde’s dig at “negativity” against the Arroyo regime brings to mind the immortal remark made by Nixon-era veep Spiro Agnew. (Agnew like his boss resigned in discrace and was even convicted of tax evasion charges.)
I have only admiration for Mr. Remonde and his credentials.
He is a credit to Pres. Arroyo.
But this writer thinks those in the administration should take a hard, hard look at the picture of “entrenched corruption” painted in the 230-page WB report before dismissing it simply as “chismis” and “political noise.”
They should,likewise, factor in what history’s verdict might be.
(Cross-posted @ At Midfield)
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Pichay was the first to dismiss the WB report as tsismis. FG followed suit calling it multiple hearsay. Came hamurabian Santiago to conclude – walang ebidensiya – in her signature candor.
For both House and Senate, the issue or the WB recommendation was killed on the table with that twist only a genius can do – turn the table on the people behind the WB report with practically all members of the Senate morphing into – accuser, judge, executioner – all rolled into one.
And there came Mangahas of the Philippine Center for (Re)Investigative Journalismto sort of retract from the original view calling the WB a mix of rumors and facts, whatever. And now the pro-GMA allies made this the very ammunition against those adherents of the WB report.
Does it mean that after all these rituals absolving FG in both Houses of Congress, the issue would have been validated as untrue, has no factual empirical basis, and the whole imbroglio one of tsismis, multiple hearsay, black propaganda?
Does it mean there are people, both nationals and foreigners, out to distract the president from focusing on her job as president who is just too busy with her governance than pay attention to all this so-called negative publicity.
Does the WB report carry no weight, has no international repercussion, no effect on international economic order where RP is part?
Does it mean that the WB report are mere scraps of paper that we can just burn or throw when they are not in accordance with our legal standards and processes?
Does it mean the WB has been faked, a work in fiction writing and written by a man or pack of writers who are crazy, insane, and perhaps, “lower life forms” as Santiago may want to say who posed herself as the ultimate legal luminary not just in this country but of the world?
WHAT IS THIS?
@karlpopper,
Everybody’s playing the political game (read as sucking up to the largesse giver) in preparation for May 2010. Hear ye budget secretary who wants to become senator.
Never mind what international institutions say. They can’t help in one’s campaign for the elections.
Better to be on the right side with-the-butter.
You mean, better be on the wrong side of history?
karlpopper,
Me thinks its like the regime telling Obama it won’t unclench its fists.
And now you have $198-M coming to Fil-Am USAFFE war vets tucked into the US eco stimulus packag e. You can bet Malacanang wiill claim credit for it.
In the Bizarro world of “Htrae” (”Earth” spelled backwards), society is ruled by the Bizarro Code which states “Us do opposite of all Earthly things! Us hate beauty! Us love ugliness! Is big crime to make anything perfect on Bizarro World!”.(Wikipedia)
In the Philippines,Senators allied with the Arroyo Administration, including Santiago and Enrile, turned the tables on the World Bank during the Senate hearing, accusing it of conducting a sloppy investigation into allegations of corruption surrounding Bank-funded road projects.
ding, with due respect, why do you keep repeating the same topic over and over again. this is about the 5th or 6th on this same subject. it seems to me that this is becoming a trend here. are you trying to inflate your output as a poster in this blog, or are you running out of material to write about?
To think that the World Bank would take time to
produce a Report for “tsismis” is Nonsense. These
people have better things to do.
You can see the preponderance of cases of corruption already being investigated. From stealing of the election, Garci tapes, bribing Robot Politicians, fertilizer scam, DOJ Bribery, now the World Bank corruption case… The worst
is yet to come…While opportunists defend the
corruption in the government.
To tell that there is nothing wrong is to live in
a World of Self Denial and Self Delusion. It is
like during the fall of the Roman Empire. People were interested in Chariot races and Gladiators. While the Barbarians were invading slowly their territories and destroying their Empire.
People in power are desensitized already of their
corruptions. They dont know the right and the wrong anymore.
They are now in the state where they say:
” Evil thou art my good”…
Remonde is a paid Spokesman. So, the fellow has
to earn his living.
Bizarro world. Miriam Defensor Santiago has flipped her wig. Again. Could she end up in SCoRP??
That would be a bona fide bangungot, a waking nightmare and a half!
Honestly folks, what have we done to deserve this?
I have no good and easy answers…
A blogger reports this statement about incorporation of USAFFE-benefits into USA-2009 “Stimulus Package”.
—
“Despite America’s economic challenges, the U.S. Congress voted to correct a historic wrong and incorporate the lump-sum benefit for our veterans,” Arroyo said in a statement.
“The passage of the bill in Congress culminates the many years of struggle that my administration and the previous administrations, notably former Presidents Aquino and President Marcos, have waged,” Arroyo said. “We look forward to the signing of the stimulus bill by President Barack Obama who has also been a strong supporter of the Filipino Veterans Bill.”
I cannot but agree with that observation from bencard.
Besides, putting more materials over a material is overloading that one would rather read the former than the latter.
That validates that perhaps indeed, ding just run out of material to write about, just loves to see his profile posted, and writes for its own sake.
I am just sharing bencard’s observation as crystal true.
Further, it just dawn on me why ding has to say “I have only admiration for Remonde and his credentials.” obviously in the context that this press secretary has showered lady Miriam with fulsome praise.
In effect, is ding admiring what Santiago did in that hearing? Oh my god, people are people.
to karlpopper: I don’t see paligoy-ligoy . . . . ding ex-journalist wants Remonde to know where Ding stands — “…have only admiration” blah-blah-blah to include Remonde “..a credit to Pres. Arroyo”.
Phil Manila said :
Not April Fool’s Day yet, so innuendos, yet…. bolahan, no. [... just one blogger's opinion...]
Gents,
You see, and perceive, what you choose to.
You apparently do not understand where my reference to Sec. Remonde comes from. You refuse, wearing your shades, to understand the parallel I drew in the post to Remonde’s dig at negativity in the reportage.
As to the derision you throw in my way, you are entitled to that, too, and you have both my respects and sympathies.
See you at Starbucks. Or say Cafe Varacco on West Ave.?
The invite is specially for you KP since you are apparently in town.
For the rest, feel free to reach me.
Incidentally, Cerge and I go way back and he understands where I am coming from in my reference to his credentials.
You misunderstand my position re Miriam and how she conducts public affairs.
upn,
Who you??????? Remove your mask and show me what you are made of.
By the way Atty. Ben,
What do your genuine American colleagues say about this WB brouhaha you assert you are tired about?
I have written about it several times yes, because there are those like you who insist on lawyering for regime whose time is running out. Don’t worry they might hire you as consultant.
These — from Murphy’s Laws Of Combat — seem relevant:
1. If the enemy is in range, so are you.
2. Don’t call attention to yourself — in the combat zone, you’ll draw fire.
3. Tracers work both ways.
4. Never assume your opponent is out of ammo.
5. If your attack is going really well, it’s an ambush.
Ding: Two weeks ago (and it may have even been earlier than that) there were comments that essentially reminded bloggers to be precise and clear with their words, phrases and sentences. A blogger may have to question if his writing style serves his purpose if he finds that 3 or more additional entries are needed to clarify what he intended to say the first time.
You fail to reply substantively: remove your mask and then if you are who you claim to bve, do enrich the FV collective and join FV as a regular contributor given your assertions of knowledge. Honor us.
You presume to judge or even lecture on messaging. Aral ka pa bata. One more tip: Read, read, read.
Thank you so much Ding for the invite over coffee in Starbucks or Cafe Varacco at West Avenue?
All too honestly, however, I maintain that the parallelism you gave between Spiro Agnew and Cerge Remonde is all the more unfair.
If we criticize, it does not reduce us to a nattering nobobs of negativism much less formed that so-called 4-H Club – “hopeless, hysterical, hypochondriacs of history” – do we?
Well indeed, we should not view things from our colored lenses, as much as we can nor even have to sound an apologist for like Remonde, who, for all intent and purpose, views things from his own colored lens.
KP,
I think we are coming close to really looking at the issue here: that matter of valid criticism of government action, or inaction.
You realize why I drew the parallelism in a manner that may appear excess: because at times those in power seem to forget the transient nature of their hold on the levers of power.
It is in this light that my post is really more directed at the spinmeisters of the Palace.
Let me share a personal detail: Cerge and this wtiter belong to the same 1991 IVP group which went the US as journalist-delegates at the height of the military bases controversy.
Cerge was then Cebu’s most respected radio commentator and his nationalism has not diminished.
This is why I continue to hold him in high esteem even though our political views don’t coincide at the moment.
I hope this is clear.
Let’s share coffee soon, kp. :)
“Cerge was then Cebu’s most respected radio commentator and his nationalism has not diminished.”-Ding G. Gagelonia
I would be doing Mr. Gagelonia a disservice if I say I won’t act the same to a friend, but to say “his nationalism has not diminished” is quite a bit overdoing it.
I am on the side of the fence with Mr. Gagelonia in as far as he is on the side of the great majority of the Filipino people who abhor and suffer the stench of this administration, but disagree with him as to his regard for his friend.
Cerge Remonde, by serving the interest of what’s causing us all these troubles, certainly has his nationalism tarnished if not totally lost.
Mr. Bert,
You may understand that note was directed to KP. Now re our separate ‘definitions’ of nationalism, Cerge will, of course, account for his current convictions, in his own time.
As I posted, I do not share his current views.
Who among us can profess to divine what is in our hearts, right?
This is why I hasten not to judge or pronounce anyone as irredeemable.
Ding,
I’ll take your word for that. Any friend of Ding, is a friend of mine, how about that as a topic for a coffee break?
Tara, Kuya. :) FYI, in the afternoons invariably I am at Starbucks Moraton or Varacco West Ave. :)