The name of Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo is in the minutes of yet another hearing at the Senate.
This time the name of Pres. Arroyo’s spouse was linked by Sen. Panfilo Lacson to one of the three Filipino construction firms blacklisted by the World Bank for allegedly colluding with one another to bag WB-funded road projects.
Senator Miriam Santiago was at her vitriolic best this morning at the just-concluding hearing into how three Filipino construction firms have been shamefully blacklisted by the World Bank for collusion in landing contracts for WB-funded projects.
Maid Miriam blasted the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Office of the Ombudsman “for sitting on the World Bank Findings even as practically all of us know that these corrupt activities have been exposed.”
Santiago, usually perceived as an ally of the administration, was obviously flabbergasted by the revelation of Sen. Lacson that contractor Eduardo C. De Luna had links with the First Gentleman.
Lacson cited at least 17 occasions when De Luna allegedly met with Mr. Arroyo, accompanied by a former journalist, Resty De Quiros (who sits in the board of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office).
Lacson detailed how De Luna himself allegedly hand-carried PhP-70-M in cash to the known office in Makati of Mr. Arroyo with the money accidentally spilling from its container as De Luna was goiing up the stairs of the LTA (Lourdes T. Arroyo) Building on Perea Street.
Senator Santiago was almost shouting at the top of her voice as she castigated DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane (a retired police general and one-time national security adviser) “for failing to take punitive action against the blacklisted Filipino firms.”
Ebdane told the hearing that while the firms were barred from participating in WB-funded prijects they remain qualified for other infrastructure projects funded with public money.
She angrily adjourned the hearing saying she already knew what punitive recommendations to make, not least of them leveling contempt charges against the Ombudsman and Finance officials who snubbed the proceedings.
We need to see just how far Santiago will push the envelope and if anything will really come out of this absolutely scandalous episode that has reached Malacanang’s doorstep yet again.
Author’s Note: Corrected earlier error re Sen. Lacson’s surname. Pardon the error. Thanks blackshama.
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edit. Lame.
Juwan, you are dead wrong. There is one such politician. Oscar Orbos.
Maybe you can also educate me how Mar Roxas is corrupt. Or even Ping Lacson.
We must do away with plain motherhood – everybody will become corrupt when placed in the highest seat of power.
We must do away with dogmatism – everybody will become corrupt when placed in the highest seat of power.
We must do away with reductionism – everybody will become corrupt when placed in the highest seat of power.
We must do away with hopelessness. What is evil, we should not tolerate. We should not think the way Juwan (un)thinks.
Whether we like it or not, we will force to choose from the choices we have.
Perhaps we are looking in the wrong place to start. The President is just one, though major is his role and influence, she has no direct contact with the people unlike the leaders in lower levels.
Problem is, corruption has become a culture from officials down to anyone who possess any form authority.
This time, with the crisis upon us, we must take the elections seriously.
How about starting from bottom up? An honest brgy chairman, responsive councilors, dedicated congressmen, mayors, senators and one very corrupt president.
If only we could at least balance the forces of good and evil, our country may take a step forward.
“alternative? Juwan_D is just another blogger like me. we do not determine the future of this country,”-jcc
I agree, jcc. But both of you (since you are agreeing with him) have this great idea that we should stand still because there is nothing out there. That farther search is futile. And yet both of you kept on denying GMA, at the same time wanting her to stay forever, by your reasoning. Isn’t that a classic example of doublespeak?
It’s like saying, “I hate Gloria, I want her to go away but there’s no one good enough to take her place, kaya huwag na lang siyang palitan.”
karlpopper…did I say Im hopeless? read and understand..thats the key bwehehehe. anyway, why dont you tell us the name of the clown you are supporting and convince us that this clown of yours can make things better…
bert…again..read and understand the context and the thought of what was written…and If you wanna contest or refute what I said..please do it in a wholistic way..refute the thought of what I wrote..(that is if you understood..or if you are capable of thinking out of the box) bwehehehe you are an obvious limited thinker.
it’s alright Juwan, nothing personal against you. I heard you and you have the right to say that.
Sabi nila iba raw ang standard ng WB sa standard ng Pilipinas. Ganoon ba? Ibig bang sabihin sa WB di pwede nakaw, pero sa atin, pwede?
I love Senator Miriam, kahit na maraming nanloloko grabe naman accomplishments niya: per Senate record, siya ang consistent no. 1 sa most number of bills and resolutions filed sa Senate-over to the max, sa mga investigation or senate hearings walang inaatrasan. Pano na lang ang Senate kung walang Miriam walang excitement. Di katulad sa Congress, nagmistulang mga abogado ng mga blacklisted na contractors ang mga mambabatas don. Malayo talaga sa Senate ang House of Reps.
Sinabi mo pa, para sa akin outstanding si Senator Miriam pag dating sa accomplishments as Senator, Mabuhay ka Madam MIRIAM…..!!!!