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With GMA out on bail, the 2013 elections just got more interesting

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Exclusive analysis

By Raïssa Robles

Politics in the Philippines is always like a teleserye: One moment you’re up, the next moment you’re down.

TV grab of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo walking out on bail from Veteran Memorial Hospital

Like the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Her bail today triggers immense possibilities for political mischief and could bring the 2013 polls to an early boil.

Arroyo has seemingly lost most of her powerful political allies like Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia of Cebu, the Zubiris of Mindanao and the Magsaysays of central Luzon, who have all joined forces with Vice-President Jejomar Binay’s UNA coalition. I use the word “seemingly” because what may be happening is that they may all continue to be her allies.

Arroyo has a lot riding on the elections next year. For starters, she intends to keep her seat in Congress and her Pampanga constituents may vote her on for sentimental and financial reasons. For her two congressman-sons, though, it will be their first time to wage political battle without the help of presidential pork. This will be interesting to watch.

Arroyo is not just fighting for her political life; she is fighting for her physical liberty. All she may really need to do is simply delay her plunder cases beyond the remaining four years of President Benigno Aquino’s term. That’s pretty much standard procedure in this country, so it shouldn’t be hard to do .

Aquino finishes his presidency in 2016 and by the following year, Arroyo will turn 70 years old. And voila! Even if she is convicted, her allies may petition the next president to grant her executive clemency because she is old and sick and a woman and a former head of state.

Arroyo can also look forward to the Imelda Marcos treatment. After over two decades of fending off criminal lawsuits, only one reached trial stage, for which Marcos was convicted. But when a new Philippine president came to power, the new government “lost” her case on appeal before the Supreme Court.

No senior politician above the level of congressman has ever served an actual jail sentence in a prison cell in this country. Those who did, like Romeo Jalosjos, turned out to have a special hut built inside the prison compound.

But we can assume that Arroyo would not want to get convicted at all. And that means using all the means at her disposal: calling in past favors, making her former B+ average student, Aquino, look bad, and other tricks we can only begin to guess at.

Any time now, though, a new warrant of arrest is bound to be served on Arroyo for her plunder case concerning the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). As well as for other cases still being investigated. Will she go quietly the second time around? Will she petition the Supreme Court to lift the hold departure order against her issued by the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on grounds of humanity and precarious health?

Or will the Sandiganbayan itself allow her to travel abroad as it allowed ex-President Joseph Estrada while on trial?

All I know is that in Philippine politics, there’s no such thing as “impossible.” And that’s why I posted this afternoon on the social networking site Twitter when I heard that Arroyo was granted bail – It’s more fun being a journo in the Philippines.

Comments

  1. My uncle had the same sickness as GMA. I am surprised at how fast and how well she is recovering. My Uncle lived for many years after, but he could barely walk, sort of shuffled. He had to hold his hands up and never regained full normal use of his fingers.

    I wonder if a doctor could really clearly give a public statement on the exact health of Arroyo because she seems completely mobile, can walk, sit, stand, has normal function of her arms and hands. Is the neck brace and back brace really needed, and how badly? How much is for show. These photo ops of her in a neck and back brace emit so much pity from people. You really need to separate truth from fiction and a clear Doctor’s statement on her need to use these has to be issued somehow.

    • @ Priscilla,

      Huwag ka nang magtaka dahil palusot lang nila iyang sakit sakit ni Pandak, Tingnan mo naman nakapag BAILBOND lang ay biglang gumaling at nakalimutan na mga iksinang pinaggagawa nito noon, Nakalimutan na ang wheelchair?

      Saka huwag kang magtanong sa mga dalubhasang DOCTORS ni GMA dahil mga TUTA at SINUNGALING ang mga ito. Kong naalala mo noon ang sabi ni dr.cervantez ay life treathening daw samantala ngayon ay daming lugar na napuntahan at nakalimutan na naman ang wheelchair? Tingnan mo ha GUESS kolang, kapag may arrest warrant na ilalabas laban kay Pandak ay siguradong gagamit nang wheelchair at hihingi nang hospital arrest para hindi mahirapan, Lantarang Panloloko at Palusot na naman ang kanilang gagawin. At napakasakit isipin na pati mga PARI at OBISPO ay tutulong pa kay GMA dahil napakalaki nang kanilang utang na loob dito pero ang totoo ay wala dahil pera nang taong bayan ang ginastos/binigay sa kanila lalo na ang Pambili nang mamahaling SUV na ginamit
      sa kapritso nilang OBISPO/PARI….

    • @ emong,

      Huwag kang magtaka emong, Sa dami nang PERA ni GMA ay hindi impossibling mabigyan nang T.R.O. nang sandigang bayan si Pandak. Kahit supreme court nga naglabas nang T.R.O. noon? Nakakhiya at Nakakadiri na ito. Tingnan mo ha nakapag BAIL BOND pa sa sala ni judge mupas si GMA gayon no bail recomended ang kasong kinasangkutan nitong si Pandak…Sana matingnan ang mga bank accnt. nang mga empleyado/judges/justices na involve dito dahil palagay ko lumaki bigla mga pera nila sa banko? Malamang nagka suholan/ nagkalagayan/ nagka Bentahan…

      “It’s not Fun in the Philippines anymore”, It’s so DISGUSTING and so FRUSTRATING? “Unbelievable”……… believe it or not? only in the philippines…….

  3. @Raissa,

    Please look at Comment 26 by @chokutingting , I think this may be the same person who thought his/her comment was deleted (as posted at Joe America’s blog),

    • You’re right.

      @chohalili – perhaps you did not recognize your post as coming from yourself because you posted as your OTHER personality.

      I believe there is a doctor on this site who can cure you of your malady.

      • Great!…the runaway “comment” found by an eagle eyes, thanks. I won’t go no further, no harm done no need for a doctor or concern of my state of mind…it could happen to anyone who mistake a weblog to a talipapa..:))) peace!

        • whew. And we thought we missed something important or intelligent. Hindi naman pala

        • @sir Alan ,…are you connected with the Chan/Robles online Bar Review center? Thnks

        • OhI sorry PO mam RAISSA , my friends in the province who are old enough and had taken/graduated LAW COURSEs wanted to enroll in the online review center of CHAN ROBLES . Akala PO namin ay review center din ni sir @ Alan Ito. Sorry PO uli ma’am. Thanks

  4. While discussing the merits of what is needed to prove a person guilty in a courtroom beyond reasonable shadow of doubt. ie. the ‘he said, she said’ type of evidence in the electoral sabotage case, the perhaps better, but still not good enough type of ‘hello Garci’ audio evidence, the hard copy ok’d by GMA fund release notes in the PCSO plunder case, let’s discuss the sale of used choppers to the Philippine government.

    During the course of the televised senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the sale of used choppers, a copy of a wire transfer in the amount of $US 500,000 was sent to Robinson Helicopters in California by LTA Inc, an Arroyo owned company ( not sure which Arroyo owns it though ).

    To my knowledge, and maybe I’ve missed something, but I believe that it was NEVER stated WHY this money was sent to Robinson, only that it was sent. Was it a form of payment? If so, specifically for what? New helicopter downpayment or perhaps rental payement.

    Seems to me that would be the baseline from which to build a case.

    Perhaps Ms.Robles can rustle up some Fil-Ams in California and have them make a diretso visit to Robinson and ask them to check their records as to why this payment was made.

    Maybe, Robinson will even cough up a few serial numbers of choppers that were either sold or leased as a consequence of this payment and that can be compared to what was sold to the government.

    I cannot believe that no one has done this yet and I am pretty sure that I just missed it in the newspapers. Does anyone know why the money was sent? conjecture, assumptions and plain old BS not permitted in the response

    LIFE is just more fun in the Philippines…. Cheers.

  5. These whiningz is really a broken record…I’m sick of it… the “obra maestro” of the century!…the piece torn into pieces, we Pinoy just love to repeat & repeat but nothing change 50 years ago same banana!

  6. so much news to swallow … all I can say.. God is my/our Witness HUDAS not pay hehehehe…

  7. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Now that GMA herself showed us that she does not need to be hospitalized, will a Sandiganbayan Arrest Warrant land her in a real jail, like QC Jail? Don’t you think she must!

    • Well, as much as I want to see her pay her alleged crime, the court of law has to prove her guilt or innocence. In my view, top political players in the Philippines rarely go to jail, you know it and I know it.

      Got to fix that gaping hole in the Judiciary. Her case is supposed to be unbailable and the huge tso tso train railroaded it alright. What a mess…..

      If the evidence is weak, then drop the case because bailing her is deservice justice and to the general public, as well.

    • @ bengo,

      Sana nga bengo dahil gusto ko siyang makita na makulong sa totoong kulungan biro mo tayong lahat pa ang nagbabayad sa ospital arrest ni GMA gayon puwede naman sa totoong kulungan na wala tayong gagastusin, Matagal na pala tayong niloloko nang fake president na ito kasama mga doctors,tagapagsalita etc. etc. etc. Maliwanag sa nakita natin at harap harapang pumupunta kong saan saan nang mabigyan nang temporary liberty (nakapagpiyansiya) itong si GMA… Sana mabigyan nang kaukulan pansin ang maling pagbibigay nang konsiderasyon sa nagkasala katulad ni GMA….Sana walang pabor maging sino man ang nagkasala…At sana lahat pantay pantay….

  8. Hello Raissa,

    Joe America rated you as the top blogger in the Philippines, and I have to agree. Your fair GMA article is good enough to follow you.

    With regards, to GMA’s two sons in congress, you are right that they will have a rough time getting re-elected without the pork and that Presidential influence in the process.

    In my mind, after two years of reforms the voters became a bit smarter, I suppose.

    What is your personal view why she domoted herself from Ex-president to a congresswoman?

      • @Raissa…Maybe next time we cha(p) cha(p) the Constitution, we see to it that “survival instinct” can never happen or be possible for corrupt public officials…!
        Remove all special privileges from arrests for lawmakers! And no BAIL shall forever be allowed until judgment day.

    • @Jack
      MIckey is not eligible to run for another term. Dato has still the money to bribe the people to vote for him. Is GMA running as Congresswoman again? No if she is convicted of plunder.

      • Thanks Jiro, assuming that I turned a smart voter lately, is it possible that Dato could bribe or buy my vote, but I still have the final say who to vote in the poll?

        • @Jack…by having the final say who to vote for, you just legally “enriched” yourself at his expense, No sweat! Go ahead take the money! But that’s the day you start “looking behind your shoulders” everyday of your life! hahaha…

        • @ leona,

          Tama ka leona, Habangbuhay mong pagsisihan kong tatanggap ka nang pera galing sa maling paraan. Gaya nang pagtutol ko sa PARI namin dito sa Bacolod sa sinabi nito na Tangapin ang PERA nang kandidato pero IBOTO ang nararapat na Kandidato…Mali pa rin diba? parang tinuturuan niya mga TAO na OK lang tumanggap nang PERA kahit mali at immoral? Konsintidor ang labas nang PARI/OBISPO diba? nasaan ang moral at spiritual values na dapat ipakita sa TAO? WALA diba? Katulad nang pagtanggap nang mga PARI at OBISPO nang SUV kahit alam nila na ito ay galing sa sugal (illegal ito at immoral ito) pero OKS lang dahil sa pansariling PAKINABANG…

    • Tol,

      Ensuring that the reform will stick, Mr Aquino has to make sure that there are manuals and instructions to follow how all the agencies should conduct daily operations. It is like their bible to follow religiously. Then, there is a fat chance that his efforts are not wasted.

      • Continuity and institutionalization of reforms and efficient procedures are the sticking point in Philippine political and economic development. There are too many vested interests to overcome. We can already see what’s on the horizon, in the next presidential elections. A mobilized and aroused citizenry, more important, an activist and vigilant public that doesn’t tire out, is one way to break out of this.

        • True. We should all be vigilant. We thank you, Ms. Raissa and all the CPMers, for kindling that fire in us.

        • @Alan…right on track. The STICKING POINTS on developments:

          Political –
          A need to revise our laws, Constituion and other laws on this issue but first when this is done, by “Congress” type…ART. XVII, enough people’s representatives equal in numbers of Congress should participate. Otherwise, Congress can just “railroad” many things again.

          Economic –
          On this, everything should remain OPEN…and not straightjacketed! So working for progress can always be tackled without difficulty.

          Until these things happen, we only dream of so many things that should be done but never done. Even our “Proposition” provision to make laws has not been heard by this present Congress, thus people cannot propose any law or laws. The framers forgot to put a mandatory “time table” for Congress to make one.

          BTW, it seems the JBC, because of VIPs pundits, have stopped the screening for candidates for CJ…saying a sitting CJ must be the presiding officer of the JBC! One senator said there is a flaw in our Constitution on this imporatnt matter. So, how do we make of that? There is no sitting CJ?

          Ask, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, for one!

          Ask ex-CJ Hilario Davide, Jr. , for two!

          Ask ex-justice Florenz Regalado, for three!

          Ask Teodoro C. Bacani, for four!

          Ask Vicente B. Foz, for fifth!

          Ask all the other 43 framers…still living.

    • @ tol,

      Tama ka tol at salamat,Huwag nating hayaan bumalik na naman mga mandarambong/ mandaraya/ sinungaling/ mapang-api at higit sa lahat sariling pakinabang ang iniintindi at sariling pagpapayaman ang hinahangad. Napakarami nila kaya magmatyag, magmasid, at huwag silang hayaan makabalik….

      Tapos na term limit nila? BAKIT pa BABALIK? dahil may nakalimutan pang NAKA_ _ _? guess the 3 letters? para maiba naman…..

  10. Yes it is disappointing that her bail has been approved because of WEAK EVIDENCE presented by the prosecutor against her that allows her to be temporarily free.
    In a way that is good, it means to say that Justice system in the Philippines is alive.
    I am waiting for the request of the Ombudsman office to the SANDIGAN BAYAN for her arrest to face the PLUNDER case against her.
    This time hopefully she goes straight to jail instead of Veterans Hospital. I just hope that she don’t skip out of the country. The government should watch every move they made to avoid getting out.
    We all know they have a lot of money to make it possible. I won’t be surprise in a week or 2 she will be fleeing Philippines and go somewhere in South America.
    Taong Bayan na ang dapat magbantay para hindi makawala ang mag asawang CORRUPT.

    • There is going to be a Chapter II again on this…DOJ De Lima defying another TRO from the SC …if she is not the CJ…make her CJ, therre will be no TRO for sure!

      She will be acting like “a mongoose” inside a room full of cobras!

      GMA will be like the “King of cobras!”

      Cobra di Cobra doon!

  11. Please help again our nation specially the voting populace in considering selecting new breed of leaders . . . and no longer the old trapos. Maraming salamat sa mga katulad mo Maam Raissa.

  12. A matter of justice
    By: Conrado de Quiros
    Philippine Daily Inquirer
    10:07 pm | Monday, July 23rd, 2012

    “The answer is simple: Justice is a social justice issue. Justice is a gut and gut-wrenching issue. Justice is a life-and-death issue. You forget justice and you might as well forget about ending poverty. You forget justice and you might as well forget about putting food on the table. You forget justice and you might as well forget about life.

    You forget Gloria, and she’ll be back.

    Fighting poverty is a matter of justice. And justice is the heart of the matter.”

    Above enclosed quotations were some parts taken from CDQ’s column. I just hope that the recent bail granted to Gloria will be the LAST for justice sake. Gloria has done a lot of damages in our country in terms of corruption, electoral sabotage etc….Let’s always be vigilant and DO NOT EVER FORGET GLORIA AND HER COHORTS . Let’s hope this time if ever the plunder case against her will prosper, the long denied justice will be finally given to us all Filipinos.

    • i am very dismayed with how GMA and her team are manipulating the people. When the tide is against them, GMA is very sick and cannot be moved to a detention cell where she rightly belong. But look what happened yesterday a release order not only releasing an accused but also the very sick patient named GMA. Biglang gumaling dahil sa bail? oh come on… they should have stayed for at least a few more days in the hospital because may sakit nga ano. grabeng pangloloko na ito…

        • @ angie,

          I think you are totally correct, Nakita mo sa picture kayang maglakad nang maayos si Gloria kasama pa yon apo.( dapat dito tinawag ni Glo si Baby Nebrida para maging madrama ang paglalakad ni Glo ). Tignan na lang natin kapag bumalik siya sa selda. Palagay ko ang photo op ay magiging ganito: naka wheel chair na siya at hindi makalakad.( dito kailangan niya ng TV director for drama effect )

        • Dapat si gloria ang mabigyan ng NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD as the most funniest person of the Philippines and not DOLPHY, Sa arte magaling, sa sakit grabe, sa katatawanan hahahhahahhahja,nattatatwa ako, santong kabayo, heheheheh, natatawa akp,,, asan na ang mga obispo na kakampi ni glorya? dapat e pray over nyo si glorya,

        • @ kontrapilo,

          I totally agree with you “Dapat si gloria ang mabigyan ng NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD”, isama mo ang OSCAR AWARD, FAMAS AWARD and MOST especially the KALABASA AWARD….kita mo, talo niya pa si Pidol sa awards….

        • @ angie,

          l like what you said angie, “Bail is a better medicine and a Judge is a better docto”….now l know that doctors is a better liar…kasi sabi nila noon life threatening ang condition ni GMA pero heto ngayon kong saan saan nakakapunta… BAKIT?
          Maliwanag na nagsinungaling at NAGPAPALUSOT…..

          NALUSUTAN NA NAMAN SI JUAN DELA CRUZ….

        • Kung yung mga obispo nga ay nabibili , doktor pa kaya, we are all living in a MATERIAL WORLD,, kaya lahat may bayad, lahat pwede bilhin ng pera,, tingnan nyo ang dami dami na kung ano ano na reliheyon ang lumilitaw, preaching Jesus as their God, kawawa na talaga si Hesus, masyadong pinangangalakal ang pangalan nya,,, at bakit marami nag naloloko ng mga bulaang propeta , may mga aral naman sila, why can’t they read the Bible , bakit hinahayaan nila na ibang tao ang bumasa at mag interpret ng bibliya.,PARA SA KANILA, look and analyze the teaching of the Catholics,ang daming taliwas sa nakasulat, maraming invento..

        • @ kontrapilo,

          TAMA KA KONTRAPILO, BIRO MO ANG PATAY NA TAO PINABABAYAD PA SA MISANG OBLIGASYON AT BOKASYON NILA BILANG PARI….PERA PERA NA ANG NAGPAPAGALAW AT NAGPAPATAKBO….HA HA HA HA…

          KONG WALANG PERA WALANG MISA HA HA HA HA….NEGOSYO TALAGA…. HA HA HA HA….PUWWEEEEEEE…..

  13. “The court believes that the prosecution failed to establish with the required quantum of proof, that conspiracy exists on the part of accused arroyo” Pasay City RTC Judge Jesus Mupas said in his Release Order.

    Many knew from the beginning that the electoral sabotage case was hurriedly filed to prevent gma from leaving the country, hence, it’s no surprise that gma was released on bail due to the weakness of the case filed against her.

    The pics shown in almost all the major newspapers show a healthy gma walking towards her customized van, although the familiar neck brace is still there. This will probably be used again when an arrest warrant is issued against her by the Sandiganbayan for the non-bailable PCSO plunder case filed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales – to justify her return to the VMMC and not to the city jail.

    Politically, gma is a goner and no sensible politicians will seek her assistance or endorsement lest they incur the collective ire of the people.

    Her “walk to freedom” should have been in a wheel chair to show her deteriorating health and justify another confinement to the VMMC.

  14. James Holmes, shooter in Colorado movie house was arrested and stands on trial three days after the shooting. A conviction will be handed down with in a week. Here, it’s been almost three years but the trial of thr Ampatuan Massacre are still at a stand still, witnesses had been silenced. No doubt Arroyo plunder cases wont see light during Aquino’s administration. It’s. Of fun to be in the Phil. It’s frustrating!

    • @RobertYoung Jr.

      You hit on something here. Im currently working on consolidating my thesis on why the search for justice and combatting corruption is very difficult to achieve in a Roman Catholic-dominated country. The countries that do better at this are non-Catholic.

      We often point to the people in charge (DOJ, Ombudsman, President, etc) but I think it’s deeper than that. There is something in our culture, specifically the impact of Roman Catholicism that impedes it.

      As a short summary:

      1.Catholicism emphasizes rituals and rites, not application of faith to daily life.

      2. Catholicism emphasizes forgive and forget so big fish easily get away with it.

      3. Catholicism often use the argument “don’t judge others as no one is perfect”, which renders the sense of right and wrong useless.

      I have a lot of evidence to support these arguments.

      Ill post it as soon as it’s ready.

      • I agree with your theories. I have found that if I make a genuine criticism based on verifiable facts to most Filipinos the first thing they do is think of a reason to justify the actions being criticized. Most frustrating.

      • @ andrew lim,

        Thanks in advance with your plan of posting some salient points or arguments in your thesis “Search for Justice and Combatting Corruption” . Is that the title of your thesis? I think this will open up our ( CPMers’ ) hearts and minds especially in getting rid of corruption in our country in the long run.

      • @andrew:
        when you complete your thesis, can you send a copy to CPCP and to Archb Cruz? Maybe to all dioceses…

      • @andrew lim

        In the interest of, as @erwin states, opening hearts and minds, I will go out on a limb and add to your points:

        1. The Roman Catholic Church is more about power rather than the salvation of men’s souls and the uplifting of mankind. Note their interference in political affairs and their stance on the RH Bill. It is said that one is born a Catholic but one becomes a Protestant or an evangelical Christian.

        2. The Church is about money. It is a business that does not pay taxes, that accepts tithes and donations, that charges fees for the performance of rites, that receives gambling money from the PCSO, that begs for Pajeros. It squirrels donations intended for typhoon and flood victims. It has enormous bank deposits. Perhaps it can be considered a money-laundering operation that channels funds offshore (to Rome).

        3. The Church is a temple of ill-repute. Paedophiles in robes groom and abuse children, and the Church continues to support their activities by shielding their sins and not bringing them to justice. The current pope is accused of involvement in this cover up. The Church has paid millions in hush money to broken victims.

        Rizal’s portrayal of Padre Damaso is prophetic. The Padre is the father of Maria Clara, the symbol of the motherland. As such, our beloved country is the misbegotten child of the Church. To a large degree, the historical roots of corruption can be traced to the Padre, to his lack of morality, to the “non-application of faith in daily life”.

        These statements are challenging but are easily supported by the documentation in the news media and on Google. Indeed, the amount of documentation is astonishing – and overwhelming. Again, the intention is not to question the Christian message, only to hold the mirror up to one messenger.

        • In short Catholicism is not Christianity but a business. Let us not forget that Rizal was not murdered by the Spanish but by the Friars that was the focus of Rizals Noli Mi Tangere and El Filibusterismo. It is sad how history has been perverted just to remove the guilt of the Catholic Church from being a murderer to an innocent land grabbing gold hungry Friars.

        • A catholic country and the author of Noli Mi Tangere and El Filibusterismo, the 2 most anti-catholic books I ever read becomes the national hero? In my country 50 years ago you would have been excommunicated for reading these books.

          But I think Rizal was correct in his analysis of the psyche of this country (and other ex-spanish colonies as mine), with his explanations I can understand GMA’s release.

        • I admire your courage exposing the ills and power of the church. I am with you and shall we bring back Dr. Rizal’s legacy back to school?

        • @ springwoodman,

          Tama ka, Ayaw nang simbahan sa RH Bill kasi mababawasan kita nila, kasi sa bawat ipinanganak na bata ay siguradong kita diyan, binyag/ first communion/ kasal/ comfirmation/ blessing etc. etc at ang pinakamasakit ay misa para sa namatay ay may BAYAD pa rin…at dapende pa yan kong SPECIAL or ORDINARY MASS, parang kumakain kalang tuloy nang batchoy (special at ordinary) Nakakasuka at Nakakadiri..at balang araw hindi na ako magtataka kong ang kumpisal ay may bayad na rin…. ha ha ha ha…

          Linisin sana nang simbahan ang kanilang dumi bago sila sumali sali sa gobyerno dahil bawal ito ayon sa batas at sa batas nang DIYOS….nakasulat ito….Amen….

      • Look first within yourself, look first within your own family, or your own circle of friends, then the office, the mall, the store, the street….before you go after people’s “Faith”.

        How is it that almost anyone can get away with anything…. high crimes, murder (dacer-corbito), plunder, jueteng, rape, …bigamy, siring kids here and there; dumb and unschooled and still get elected to the highest office ( the judiciary, “the latern of lies”….congress, senate, presidency). Remember, the Church does not administer justice.

        There is always a way out, a short-cut, under the table, or behind the scenes, coz my neighbor knows someone high….high on drugs. Where in the world will have the gall and the attitude at wanton disregard for authority and the consequences for your misdeeds? …Just like in Mexico, Irag, and Africa.

        But notice, Filipinos who elect to become tortured-OFW’s or just plain migrants to best and worst rat-holes around the world become law abiding people and live just like the “Romans” do. Only question is they hardly excel (which is another story). Nonetheless, there are more prominent and successful Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese and other Asians in higher office in the US, and other western countries than Pinoys, who rather excel in numbers and pride, than deeds…hope you get the drift here, no need to elaborate.

        In short, if you are now in your adult life, perhaps with kids, and still persevering and hoping the times will change, think again!

        Do you really want your kids and their kids have the same life and times you have lived, or are having now? If you are still not aspiring to live somewhere, still hoping against hope, just like our forefathers before us, then “that” rotten legacy lives on.

        It sure smells and looks hopeless, but it is not the religion or Catholicism, it may be the air we breathe and the water we drink in this God-forsaken land.

        Other developed countries in Europe, North and South America are devout Catholic countries. Sorry, you are barking on the wrong tree.

      • It’s an interesting topic. @ andrew lim and @jeff justice

        On the one hand I can see how it may be seen as cultural as Jeff seems to be pointing out. There are certain elements of our Filipino culture that seems to breed corruption like our sense of pakikisama and of utang na loob, among others.

        But then I can also see how certain catholic teachings such as the absolution of sins through confession in a way diminishes self responsibiilty in preventing wrongdoing which is one of Andrew’s points. One only needs to look at the recent scandals and cases of corruption in the Catholic Church to say that something is terribly rotten, and it’s not in the state of Denmark.

        Maybe in our case, it’s a little bit of both.

        Interesting to note however that in Transparency International’s top ten least corrupt countries in the world, not one of them is Catholic. Of the ten most corrupt countries, on the other hand, only one is predominantly Catholic (Venezuela). The Philippines is 129th by the way (1 being least corrupt).

        All the best on your thesis Andrew!

      • Right on Andrew, only in the Philippines. Where else can you see a high profile thief suddenly becomes a renewed person because he has been touched by “God”. Take the case of Gen. Garcia. He is now I think a lector or sorts in his prison ward because he has found the time reading the bible. No offense meant to those who have really found a renewed calling from God, but please, sorry to say this, it is always so convenient to turn to God when you are in trouble. Where was this belief when they were stealing public funds?. Worse, they are being showcased pa by the Catholic hierarchy as good examples so they should be emulated.

      • If I may further add…
        Religion in the east of scarborough, (Catholic, Protestant, Islam..etc) is a freedom. Its a choice that one can ignore or follow. Wicked and good people have it in bad times, and then hardly remembers in good times, then recycles. Human nature or culture?

        Now the law, even if it can be harsh, is the law, and everyone ought to live by it. Break it and pay the consequences.

        It is not being Catholic or practicing its teachings…. is the problem. (Again, it is NOT).
        Being Filipino (in the Philippines) is the problem.

        Notice, a Pinoy becomes a different (maybe better?) person when she/he takes on another country’s citizenship.

        Simply put, they follow the rules. Now, I cannot see the religious equation or connotation there.

      • onli in da pilipins,
        another blunder or another triumph?
        whatever. this occasion is another blow to our justice system.
        a sad milestone added to the plight of filipinos aspiring for a corrupt-free philippines. doubts abound.
        was the judge bribed?
        if the judge was correct, did the prosecution team erred?
        was the case erroneous? was the move a patch-solution to abort gma leaving the country?
        a lot of questions.
        no doubt gma is doing everything and exhausting all remedies for her freedom and evade any charge. she emerged victor!!!
        is our country doomed to experience all this kind of embarrassment in the eyes of the international community?
        if we are not anymore the sickman of asia, we remain the laughing stock in this part of the earth.
        the more we have to be vigilant. the more we have to learn. the more we have to be united. the more we have to corroborate. let us all join hands and resources and dedicate some of our precious time for this advocacy.
        the advocacy started here shall be our inspiration and strength…

    • Frustrating because we have “justice but no wheels !” Not even squares for that. It does not “grind” but is stucked up! most of the time if not all the time when VIPs are involved.

      Just like we have “Air Force” but no planes.

      A Navy but no boats! Admirals, dami!

      A Budget Department but no funds!

      A Supreme Court but no chief justice!

      What then do we have? Only “buts” !

  15. How come the pain is gone.The report was a need for another operation coz the bone was not healing.This is going to be the next move,seek treatment outside of RP.She probably does not need the cervical collar.Pakitang tao lang ang collar.Kung may pain.di kakaway na nakangiti pa..Lalakad na may akay akay na apo.

    • She’s moving in her congressional district like she doesn’t need that COLLAR!

      So? Collar SICK lang!

      It is now the most appropriate thing for VIPs…GET SICK when charged in the courts!

      Look at Mubarak of Egypt…he’s always lying down SICK everytime he gets to court to face trial.

      ‘Buti pa si Gng. Angelo R…he did not get fakery sick!

      • ‘Pati si Gng. Leandro Mendoza…also got fakery SICK when charged before the Sandiganbayan!

        Si Nat’l chief of Intelligence NISA ba yun…got “Napoleonic fake SICK” before going to the Senate for interrogation…with his hand over his left breast!

        Many of our gov’t officials suddenly get SICK, maybe they are really sick of charges in our courts!

        • The develop a sudden intense allergic reaction.

          Maybe they go into “anaphylactic shock” once they find themselves being made answerable for a serious crime.