[I would like to share this article which remains relevant today, although written over a year ago by Alan Robles. I would like to thank D+C, the monthly publication funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, for allowing me to publish this.]
The police’ official motto is “we serve and protect”. Filipinos might well ask – whom?
By Alan C. Robles
On 23 November 2009, 58 people were kidnapped and slaughtered in Maguindanao province, southern Philippines. Women in the group were raped, shot and mutilated. The bodies were buried by use of an earthmoving construction tractor. At least 34 of the victims were journalists. This was the worst media atrocity in the country’s history.
Not only did police fail to stop the well-organized massacre – they took part. Policemen, accompanied by hundreds of armed civilian “volunteers”, blocked the convoy the victims were in and directed it to the killing ground. Of the 196 people now being tried for the crime, 61 are from the Philippines National Police (PNP).
The Ampatuan Massacre, named after the warlord clan accused of perpetrating it, bloodily drove home the central problem of the PNP. It is institutionally weak and subservient to local politicians. A 2005 study of the 137,000-member PNP done by the UNDP points out that “the authority being exercised by local government units over the internal operations and decision-making of the PNP creates an environment extremely vulnerable to undue politicization of the police force.” Rather than enforce the law, policemen end up enforcing the will of a local leader.
Police on the wrong side of the law
According to Jesse Robredo, secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) “the problem, in varying degrees, has existed for a long time”. It’s a huge problem but far from being the only one. Beset with poor training, scant equipment and corruption, law enforcers have a dismal record. Far too often, they are on the wrong side of the law.
In late 2009, a video surfaced of a Manila police officer torturing a prisoner to death. A few months after, another policeman was charged with raping a female prisoner. Higher up the command chain, last year, the government filed corruption charges against a group of former and active PNP officers involved in a 2008 trip to Moscow where one of the officers was caught carrying € 105,000 in undeclared cash.
Even when the cops spring into action to do their jobs, they can be catastrophically inept. Last August, in Manila, a gunman – a sacked police officer – held a bus full of tourists from Hong Kong hostage. The PNP’s rescue attempt went disastrously wrong. A bumbling, slow-motion assault led to a shootout that killed eight of 25 hostages, as well as the kidnapper.
Organized crime, however, is hardly impressed by law enforcers in the Philippines. At the start of this year, the PNP proclaimed it would crack down on “car-nappers” – armed violent gangs who snatch vehicles by stopping them and forcing the owners out. Rather than duck their heads and go into hiding, the gangs responded by continuing to hijack cars the week after the announcement.
After a bomb explosion killed five aboard a passenger bus in Manila in late January, the Australian embassy issued a travel warning about “the high threat of terrorist attack and the high level of serious crime”. This was certainly not an endorsement of police capacities.
Statistics show that PNP capabilities are indeed limited. According to the UNDP study, over 20,000 PNP members did not have firearms in 2004. Those who did were issued only 28 rounds of ammunition for one year, with another 10 for marksmanship training. While it needed 25,000 handheld radios, the PNP only had 2,280. This January, a paper surfaced showing that in nine of the country’s 15 regions, nearly 80?% of police investigators have had no formal training.
In 2009, the research firm Pulse Asia conducted a poll. The results showed that respondents considered the PNP the country’s second most corrupt government agency, after the Department of Public Works and Highways. A 2006 survey by the Social Weather Stations, a research institute, showed that public confidence in the police was “very bad”. In 2007, the rating was “bad”, and in 2008 “poor”. Trying to put the best spin on the matter, the PNP spokesman in 2008 claimed the ratings at least were “improving” and the police was “slowly regaining the trust of the community”.
The question is: was there ever any trust to begin with? Philippine law enforcement’s traditions are rooted not so much in crime-fighting as in politics, repression and suppression of dissent – with no particular regard for due process or human rights. Centuries of colonial rule followed by decades of authoritarianism under a dictator have left their mark. Democratization in the late 1980s only changed one thing: The police no longer served national leaders, but became subordinate to local politicians (see box).
In a 1987 essay, political scientist Benedict Anderson famously described the Philippines as a “cacique democracy”, a political system based on competing oligarchs drawn from a few rich and powerful families. The clans legitimize their hold on power by dominating provincial and local elective offices. To win them they use methods summed up by another famous phrase: “Guns, goons and gold.” Local police and private armies – goons – play a key role in these elections, which can be bloody and murderous. The Ampatuan Massacre was actually one clan’s way of preventing another from registering its candidate. The scale of atrocity and brutality were staggering, but the barbarity was not new. In 2007, in a town near Manila, a police inspector and accomplices set fire to a school being used as a voting precinct, killing three people trapped inside.
Between elections, mafia-controlled police protect or even run unsavory activities such as drug dealing, kidnapping, car-napping and illegal gambling. This is possible because, as political analyst Miriam Coronel Ferrer writes, the Philippines is a “weak state”. She explains: “A state is weak when its capacity to exercise ‘social control’ is not only low but also fragmented. There is no rule of law. The national government cannot convincingly enforce order and exercise governance, especially in peripheral areas.”
As Ferrer explains, the Ampatuans enriched themselves, built a private army, suborned the police and terrorized Maguindanao. This was made possible through the assistance of then President Gloria Arroyo, who needed the clan’s support in Congress, plus the votes it could deliver in elections. “Local bosses are able to entrench themselves to become political dynasties by ‘holding the fort’ for the center. In turn, they are able to get a slice of the national state’s resources and powerful protection.” Under the Arroyo administration, “local governments were heavily encouraged to procure arms and organize militias to fight those opposed to the government.”
A new administration
The new administration under President Noynoy Aquino, who was elected last year, promises change. Interior Secretary Robredo says: “We will not allow the police to be used for partisan and political purposes.” He argues that reform is possible: “You need two things: an administration truly interested in reform, and a national government that doesn’t tolerate this kind of thing.”
Robredo notes that the National Police Commission (Napolcom) appoints local officers to supervise the police forces, and that it can withdraw such mandates: “If they abuse their authority over their police force, we’ll remove operational supervision and control of the police from their hands.” He said the department has already done this in two or three instances. “One was a mayor reported to be protecting illegal loggers.” Secretary Robredo insists, however, that it makes sense to put the police under the control of local governments. “The national government doesn’t have all the resources; a good local official, whose intentions are similar to those of the PNP, is really a good partner in maintaining peace and order.” He asserts that “by and large most of our local officials help the police and provide them logistical support”.
This year, the Aquino administration has budgeted two billion pesos (equivalent of € 33.2 million) for acquiring new equipment for the police. It is continuing implementation of the “Integrated PNP Transformation Programme”, which is based on the findings of the UNDP. The Department of Interior and Local Government has also undertaken a cleanup of the PNP. As of January, Robredo said, 175 policemen had been dismissed – more than half of them for involvement with illegal drugs.
Whether any of these efforts will change the performance of the police, or increase its standing in the eyes of the public remains an open question. The challenges are daunting – and political at heart. Political analyst Ferrer says: “We have to strengthen and insulate the state institutions from the machinations of the national leadership, transform the orientation of local governments and wean them away from presidential patronage; and put a stop to political violence through the rule of law.“
A history of suppressing people
Spain ruled the Philippine archipelago as a colony for slightly more than three centuries, and its police ensured the good behavior of the natives. The colony’s premier unit, formed in 1868, was the Guardia Civil, peacekeeping soldiers independent of the military.
According to Quennie Ann Palafox of the National Historical Institute, the Guardia Civil could “arrest men who were only under suspicion” as well as those “they deemed undesirables”. The Guardia was notorious for its abuses: Palafox notes that during the revolution against Spain, the unit “killed indiscriminately … they detained and tortured suspected rebels.”
When, in 1899, the United States grabbed the Philippines from Spain and beat down Filipino resistance in a savage war, the Americans set up what historian Alfred McCoy calls a “colonial security apparatus”. In 1901, they established the Philippine Constabulary (PC), which in McCoy’s words was“a long-arm mobile police with the dual mission of counterinsurgency and colonial intelligence”.
The PC, a paramilitary national police force, continued to exist after the US departed in 1946, becoming a branch of the Philippine armed forces. It continued its “pacification” role, this time against a communist insurgency that has not been entirely beaten even today.
In 1973, Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator-president, created a parallel force, the Integrated National Police (INP) to take charge of municipal policing. Under a single commander, both the PC and INP went on to attain heights of infamy. Marcos used the combined agency as an instrument of repression and wholesale abuse of human rights; police units rounded up dissidents, political opponents and suspects, torturing and killing with a free hand. It was under this regime that the word “salvaging” – murder by police – became notorious.
A few years after Marcos was chased out of the country in 1986, the PC-INP was disbanded and replaced by the PNP, which was placed under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The new arrangement asserted civilian authority and also gave local governments more say in law enforcement. But it also shifted the pattern of police abuse from a national to a local level. Policemen were coerced or enticed into joining the power apparatus of provincial warlords.(ar)
This article on the Philippine National Police was first published here.
Alizarin Viridia says
dagdag sa sinabi ni MARIA A.
Maaring tama ang mga Obispo, Hindi ang RH Bill o ang pagpigil sa panggigigil o condom ang SOLUSYON sa matinding problema ng KAHIRAPAN. Pero GDI (sa Tagalog: Isumpa ng Diyos), Ano ba ang matinding sanhi o dahilan ng kahirapan? Sa malalim ang isipan, ang gustong unang SUGPUIN ng RH Bill ay ang dahilan at sanhi ng kahirapan na wala iba kundi ang walang pigil na likas na libog ng sangkatauhan.
Sa mga doctor, ang kahirapan ay simptoma na puedeng mauwi sa mas malubhang sakit ng lipunan. Kaya ang mga praktikal na doctor sinusugpo agad ang mga dahilan ng simptoma bago mauwi sa malubhang sakit. Medio kapos yatang isipin na ang RH Bill ay solusyon DIRETSONG LUNAS sa kahirapan.
Sa mga makitid ang kokote o yun mga nag aral na hindi naging MAALAM (walang natutunan), o sa mga walang pakialam o kaya sa mga BINULAG ng maling kustombre at inosenteng tradisyon napakadaling sabihin:
“LAGNAT LAKI LANG YAN.” “Malayo sa bituka yan.”
“Hindi ka mamatay diyan.” NOONG BATA PA SI SABEL, NOONG KUNTI PA LANG ANG MGA OBISPO; WALA PANG TYLENOL O CONDOM.
leona says
GOOD NEWS!…corruption is down to 50% !….since Friday….up to now…not due our stinging pricks on the cops…but because of GENER ation’s RAINS…less bribe givers on the prowls…SORRY cops and bribe takers…the STREETS ARE WET! We’re taking home.
Maria A. says
Hello fellow CPM-ers! Sorry if this is off-topic Raissa but I hope everyone can show support for the RH Bill. I think that our country is at another crossroads. And the passage of the RH Bill will be (just like Corona’s removal from office), a positive step towards development. It appears that a historic vote will take place in the weeks to come and I urge everyone to show support for the bill.
The RH Bill is not merely about population control but the empowerment of our poor, giving them access to information and, as a result, the ability to make informed choices. Contrary to the vitriol spouted by the anti-RH group, RH will not force any one to use artificial contraception or abortion. I am appalled whenever I see ignorance/deception spread in broadcast and social media. Quite simply, the RH Bill, has for its goals poverty reduction, maternal and child health welfare, and the upliftment of the Filipino family. I hope that CPM, as true patriots, can lend its support for this cause.
Cha says
@Maria
I think you might like this:
Open letter to Senator Sotto from Margarita Holmes at Interaksyon http://www.interaksyon.com/article/39333/margie-holmes–senator-sottos-senatorial-sperm
Dear Senator Sotto,
Please forgive me for what may seem a bit presumptuous – writing you, an elected member of Congress, an open letter like this. But what the hell, presuming that you were one of the 24 elected by our nation because they believed you best represented our needs, then this open letter makes sense.
I don’t understand you kasi. I cannot understand how someone who is in a position to help our country by passing a bill still refuses to do so. Like you and the RH Bill.
Or, if not help by passing, then at least naman, by not postponing the vote on it, as you threatened to do: by availing of the turno en contra process when the bill is taken up for consideration again during legislative session.
Admittedly, your wife can afford contraception and needs no one’s help to get it. But what about the poor men and women who don’t have the same resources as she? It is for them, the majority of the people you purport to care for, that this Bill needs to be passed. Not for cosseted senators’ wives or those who purport to care for life and yet care nothing for the living.
The Filipino people need the help of Senators who can see beyond their own needs, care more for the people they purport to care about than they do about losing the so-called Catholic vote, and realize that although all this interpellating and old-boy chuckling may increase their popularity in the Senate,it does nothing for the real people of the Philippines.
Sayang ka talaga, Senator Sotto. You could’ve been a real hero to our people, rather than one who still tries to be the matinee idol he was eons ago.
By the way, I do not mean to insult your wife by saying she may still need contraception. In fact, the opposite is true. I mean it to be a compliment, because it means a woman is attractive enough that a man wants to have sex with her, and young enough to still get pregnant.
Or maybe she needs no “artificial” contraception, as your stand against the RH Bill implies.
How do you do it, Senator? I mean, you enjoy/enjoyed 25-plus years of fertility with your wife, and you have only four children? Your wife is a beauty titlist and multi-awarded actress and singer, but I have read no research that says singers’ eggs and/or fallopian tubes help to exempt them from pregnancy.
We normal folk, if we don’t use contraceptives, we get pregnant most of the time.
Or maybe it has more to do with your senatorial sperm, Senator Sotto? Is it just yours that are so special or is it every senator’s who will vote against the RH Bill?
I mean, do their sperm also behave like yours? Heat-seeking missiles targeting Ms. Gamboa’s eggs only when you wanted Romina, Diorella, Gian and Ciara? Ang suerte niyo namang mag-asawa: No unwanted children. No children born earlier than you wanted them.
Can you train the sperm of your countrymen – good, decent, God-fearing men who want to have children the way you do – all wanted, all spaced to ensure their and their mothers’ best health, and yet not take the contraceptives of your choice?
If, indeed, you can do that – make all Filipinos’ sperm as senatorial as yours so that each and every Filipino need not worry about another pregnancy when he makes love to his partner, then I will not begrudge your irrational stance against the RH Bill
raissa says
LOL.
Straight-talking Dr. Holmes.
andrew lim says
Raissa,
Can we have a separate post/discussion on RH? I realize it could be a wedge issue among us CPMers, so it’s OK if you dont feel putting up one. Tnx.
Maria A. says
Lol indeed! Thanks for posting this @Cha! Something new to share in my timeline.
jorge bernas says
Nagtataka ako kong bakit ayaw nang mga taga simbahan lalo na nang mga PAR/OBISPO sa R.H. Bill gayong maka bubuti ito sa taongbayan, malaking tulong ito para maitaguyod nang husto ang pangangailangan nang bawat isisilang na sanggol lalo na ang kinabukasan nila, tulad nang sapat na pagkain, sapat na gamot at serbisyo medical kong kinakailangan, pangangailangan makapagtapos nang pag aaral etc. etc. etc. Higit sa lahat tinuturuan/tinutulungan sila kong paano mapapabuti ang PAMILYA sa pamamagitan nang FAMILY PLANNING or Responsible Parenthood.
Bakit ayaw nila? Ayaw ba nilang maging maganda ang buhay nang bawat mamamayan, dahil mababawasan ang population, Bakit? Dahil mababawasan kita nang mga Pari/Obispo. Napakayaman na ninyo, Sana huwag na kayo sumali dahil tuwing sasali/makikialam kayong mga Pari/Obispo ay lalo kaming lumilihis sa tamang daan….Imbistigahan sana ninyo sariling dumi sa inyong bakuran mga OBISPO? Amen….
leona says
Last night my partner with two sisters and a friend-priest with the latter discussing RH bill. The priest was so eloquently discussing the Church’s objections to the approval of the RH bill. My partner commented to the priest “Why are so about-knowledgeable on RH bill when many of you do not have SEX EXPERIENCES?”
“When people population explodes, it is not the Church but the State and the people that have a big problem…HOW TO MAKE PEOPLE EAT!” LIVE! ”
“When many get SICK and HUNGRY it is the State that is so much CONCERNED TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS OF CURE AND FEEDING THEM!”
“Where is the SOUNDNESS of the Church stand against the RH bill?”
“Your bishop of Quezon Libayen even exhorted you priests to support Erap and the Alagad ni Maria which was so supportive under his administration!”
“Why do you priests NOT TELL THE PEOPLE NOT TO VOTE FOR CORRUPT POLITICIANS WHO BUY YOUR VOTES, AND NOT TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO SUPPORT! Stop ENGAGING IN SEX ALL DAYS & NIGHTS LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW, and IMPREGNATING YOUR PARTNERS SO OFTEN EVEN BEFORE THE LAST 9TH MONTH OF THE LAST BABY DELIVERY SHE HAD IS UP!”
“Why are you bishops and priests into the matter of laws and politics like you have something to do with them like political leaders!”
“Why ‘o Why do you MEDDLE AT ALL IN ALL THESE MATTERS while the State does not meddle into your spiritual affairs!”
“Is it because you people are not now GETTING MONEY AND SUV VANS LIKE THE TIME OF GMA era?”
“the more there are poor and hungry people the more there is COBRA DIA for the Church!”
I witnessed the friend-priest counter-arguing answers to all of the above like he was BRAINWASHED all the way, a MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE to slay the other side of the issues.
As MLQ exhorted us all “ran a government LIKE HELL!”
In HELL we are then even with our bishops and priests. FUN ‘n HELL is here.
Rallie Florencio says
Ecclesiastes 6:3 may tell us of what the religions failed to read and understand.
Even the word “subdue” in Genesis after God created man and said to multiply and fill the earth; it is not meant only to make use of the earth but merely to have control over everything that you do including having as many children that you cannot have control over.
Let this Obispos learn more of their only weapons that they use to deceive people.
Johnny lin says
Latest Philippine Inquirer News
“Women rescued from Cop assigned in government agency to control human trafficking”
Apparently this same cop was arrested in May for the same offense. Why is he still policeman is the question? Maybe someone could attach the link for everybody to read, calling our friend @baycas, mel. Where are you? thanks.
This is the common kind of example of policemen involved in crimes. They are the perpetrators in the same agencies they are assigned to, Cop drug dealers/smugglers assigned at PDEA, cop extortionists assigned at CIDG, cop kid/carnappers assigned at police precincts, etc.
Police who are supposed to protect the people are the same ones committing the crime. The problem with the new PNP charter is that a police charged with crime could not be discharged outright, must be placed on administrative leave and investigated. This provision tolerates evil deeds under the guise of innocence until proven guilty. It is a stinking provision because even those caught in the act are not spared. Unlike before, an erring police could be dismissed immediately. Think about it!
More fun in the Philippines!
This is the current culture of our policemen, they are the criminals. It is not an isolated case because it is rampant in police force. How are we going to change the culture?
andrew lim says
@ johnny lin
“How are we going to change the culture?”
How about changing one’s belief system?
Let me share with you an exchange I had on an online news forum:
After I pointed out to him that none of the top 10 countries in Transparency International’s Corruptions Index 2011 are Catholic dominated, he responded by saying that Catholicism does not produce robots, and unlike other religions, believers are not compelled to behave a certain way. Catholicism is just there to remind.
I replied: If all a religion can do is to remind, then we might as well use a bulletin board or a memo pad to remind us instead.
If words and actions do not match a religion’s beliefs, of what use its that religion? If its followers choose to act differently from its teachings, isn’t that a sign of that religion’s ineffectiveness?
springwoodman says
@andrew lim
Thank you for sharing your conversation with others and your thoughts about Catholicism.
Know that your doubts are healthy, your restraint and politeness admirable, and the logic in your conversations and writing impeccable.
Just a caution: questioning belief is a difficult thing to do. Your faith is not only the ground on which you stand in the world; it is the ground of others as well. It is the lens through which you see the world, and it is – or should be, as you point out – a guiding factor in your actions. So when you doubt and share your doubts, you threaten the world view – the cosmic eggs – of yourself and of others. You may have the strength to crack your egg and break through to a new world view, but others may not. The lost of a security blanket can be traumatic, if not devastating, and the consequences, for ill or good, cannot be foreseen.
In a previous post, I threw caution to the wind and expressed my thoughts about Catholicism. I just want to make sure that our intention is clear: we do not question the Christian message, we only question one messenger.
In your earlier post, I note your politeness in your distinction of correlation and causation. Your latest post, however, interchanges the specific term “Catholicism” with the generic term “religion”. I think we must continue to use the specific term. We must not let frustration get the better of us.
Going to your distinction. I think the use of the term correlation is statistical jargon, and is not necessarily a term used in logic. I find the proposition that there is no direct causal link between Catholicism and corruption specious. It is the argument used by the NRA that “Guns do not kill, people do”. But we know that when under threat, a man with a gun behaves differently from a man without a gun. In similar fashion when talking of morality, we can deduce, generally speaking, that a Christian who holds the Catholic faith behaves differently from one who is a Protestant or an evangelical Christian.
You have made the initial observation that Catholicism emphasizes rituals and rites rather than the application of faith in daily life. @Cha and yourself have expanded on that observation, citing that the sacrament of confession vitiates personal responsibility for wrongdoing because it offers instant absolution. @fredicule has posited that the sacrament of the Eucharist, even without confession, dispenses the same forgiveness.
If I may be permitted, I would like to add another sacrament to the list to explain the obvious disconnection between Catholic belief and morality. This is the sacrament of baptism. The Catholic practice is to baptize the infant to remove both the guilt and punishment from Original Sin. The rationale behind this is to ensure that the child becomes part of the Church and is saved from damnation should he return to the Maker prematurely.
Now, most Protestant denominations, but not all, practice adult baptism. This is significant. When an adult assents to baptism, usually with full immersion, he acknowledges and accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour. This assent, when made in full sincerity and in the full awareness of adulthood, commits the believer to a life of Christ. He must live the Christian truth and the life. He must walk with Jesus. He must walk the talk. This is the conversion of Saul to Paul, this is the good news.
Note that in Protestantism there are no intermediaries. No Mary, Mother of God, no saints. To them, there is no way except through Christ (John 14:6). All else is idolatry.
In Catholicism there is no such commitment. Thus, to paraphrase @fredicule, Corona can recite five prayers of Our Father and five Hail Mary in one moment, and in the very next moment proceed to plot how to gain the whole world. Corona strays even as he prays. His belief permits this; not to draw a fine line, his belief encourages and thus causes it.
More to the point, we have seen how the bishops – the very representatives of Christ – behave, employing power to force submission.
Catholicism is a religion of forms where the substance has been forgotten. It is a mass religion, not a personal one.
I note that there is frustration, despair and anger at the state of the nation. I firmly believe that what we are going through is birth pains into a better tomorrow. We should be thankful that there is rising awareness of where we are, and what glimpses of the promised land we have been afforded to see. We should be thankful that Raissa and Alan have created this platform where we can express our passion, voice our thoughts, and dream the dream. They have done this without censorship, we do not know at what personal cost.
Heretofore we were not heard. Now hear the increasing roar.
Tl;dr. The sacrament of baptism contributes to corruption.
andrew lim says
@springwoodman
Tnx for the comment.
With regards to adult baptism and other differences of Catholicism with other Christian denominations, I am not so comfortable discussing theological/philosophical topics as I find it comparable to walking on quicksand. Each argument, whether pro or against, feels like I am stepping on nothing definite. ( I once watched a TV debate between two local faiths and it turned me off. It was an endless argument on their respective interpretations of the Bible. I swore never to watch again.)
I prefer discussing religion only in the context of how it affects society at large – the sociological, political and economic implications. It’s the practical and secular impact I am more concerned about.
As for correlation vs causation, I have a background in economics kasi, and we were taught that in analyzing social behavior, it is best to identify the variables and measure their strengths in influencing each other. Human behavior is such a murky field and analyzing it even with mathematical models like multiple regression do not yield clear results.
It is not as straightforward as in the physical sciences, where conclusions are reached through observation and repetition in the laboratory, and physical laws hold.
Thanks again for the wonderful comment!
springwoodman says
Thank you for your clarification. If I have imputed deeper meaning to your questions than you intended, I apologize for making you uncomfortable.
Mel says
Hey máte (@Johnny l.), have you had any headway with Raïssa’s willingness for an iPad?
Here’s your link request.
Mel says
btw folks, fyi there’s another commenter using my handle.
andrew lim says
POSSIBLY, WHY CORRUPTION IS HARDER TO COMBAT IN CATHOLIC DOMINATED COUNTRIES
It’s anecdotal evidence, but it supports my theory once more that corruption in Catholic dominated countries is much harder to combat:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/241063/7-arroyo-allies-junk-rh-bill
The Catholic Church always cites corruption as the cause of poverty and not lack of family planning. And yet, they are only too willing to compromsie with one of the most corrupt ex-Presidents we have ever had!
Earlier, I had posed the intriguing observation that in Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index 2011, Catholic dominated countries lag behind, with none in the top 10. The Phil is no. 129 out of 184, putting it at the bottom half. Most Latin American countries are ranked alongside the Phils. Spain is no. 31, Italy at a low 69!
http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2011/results/
Correlate that data with this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_by_country
Intriguing, no? (Important note: Correlation is not causation, i.e. catholicism does not cause corruption, but it indicates a strong relationship between the two. Other factors must be considered.)
andrew lim says
As further explanation to my theory correlating Catholicism with corruption:
There are certain attitudes that the Catholic church promotes that aids corruption:
1. Forgive and forget – “Kalimutan na ang ginawa ni Gloria at ni Marcos! Concentrate na lang sa ekonomiya!” You hear this often among bishops who are pro-Gloria.
2. ” Dont judge others, because no one is perfect. “- This effectively shuts down one’s sense of right and wrong and the sense of justice.
I have difficulty coming up with hard data to support these theories as they are behavioral in nature and I dont know if someone has tried to measure how strong these are amongst Filipinos.
Victin Luz says
@Andrew …you’re right , bishop in our place condemned HUETING but CONSENTED on LOTTING and never mention DRUG related activities which were manned by the older BROTHER of our MAYOR in his sermons . Even MURDERS/HOMECIDES related to gambling and drugs are never touched by our parish priest when in fact it happens near their residence. What a CATHOLIC country we have.
andrew lim says
I add one more point to support my theory:
3. In one of the news online forums, one reply I got was this:
(this is in reaction to the unholy alliance of Arroyo and her allies with the Catholic hierarchy with regards to RH)
“Will you refuse a cash gift from Satan if you can use it for charity work in Tondo?”
Susmaryosep! This is like telling a drug lord to continue with his business, for as long as he gives some to charity, it’s OK. Incredible Catholic thinking! :)
leona says
My belief is in US if the Church’s “don’t judge others as no one is perfect” is applied there, the Americans will raise their eyebrows! And answers: what are they talking about? We have laws to follow!”
Here, many of our leaders are AFRAID of the Church! That is one factor our rule of law doesn’t exists completely!
rafael l. vidal says
As courageously criticized by Ping Lacson, the church is not transparent in the pulpits when they say that the RH bill promotes abortion when in fact – abortion remains illegal under the RH bill.
I always thought that the bishops in particular and the clerics in general, are supposed to be men of truth and not of lies. They have gone down to the level of politicians who would do everything to win votes.
AMEN…
jorge bernas says
@ rafael,
Tama ka at bilib ako sa ginawa ni sen. lacson acussing the catholic clergy of disimformation regarding RH Bill?
Ang tanong ko ngayon, Bakit ayaw nang mga PARI/OBISPO na gumanda ang buhay nang mga mamamayan PILIPINO. R.H. Bill ang sagot dito? dahil malaking bagay ang pag PLANO nang PAMILYA, Ang Kalusugan nang Pamilya, Ang maitaguyod nang maayos ang Pamilya. Ang maalagaan nang maayos ang Pamilya.
Ayaw nilang mga PARI/OBISPO na mag FAMILY PLANNING ang bawat Pamilya kasi mababawasan kita nila, kapag malaki population malaki kita nang mga PARI/OBISPO, bawat binyag bayad, bawat kasal bayad, comfirmation bayad, etc.etc.etc.kasama abuloy at bawat PATAY may bayad pa rin depende pa yon kong special o ordinary ang MISA basta may BAYAD.
Dapat doon sila tumutok sa PARI/OBISPO na tumanggap nang 250k kada buwan at tumanggap nang SUV galing sa P.C.S.O. na galing naman sa illegal na paraan at galing sa illegal/immoral na SUGAL? Imbestigahan sana at paalisin para hindi na pamarisan dahil nakakahiya at nakakadiri dahil lumalabas na pansariling pakinabang ang iniintindi at kahit hindi matulungan ang mga pumipilang kawawang mamamayan para makahingi nang kaunting tulong mula sa PCSO?kawawang juan dela cruz laging napag iiwanan dahil may mga ganib at sakim na mga paring DAMASO….
leona says
Maybe, just maybe it is correct to say that one who joins priesthood is so brainwashed to believe that God’s wish is always creation of human life and that no contraceptives, etc., should ever be allowed to stop that wish!
And the Church says the whole thing is found in the Bible.
Are they Machurian candidates therefore?
Since Jesus Christ stepped on this world physically, His disciplines and priests have really lorded over the people of this planet in their own ways and teachings against all gov’t policies to the contrary.
This is a clash of Church and secular cultures. Who is right and who is wrong? Both says they are right and the other wrong.
People therefore are confused. When will political leaders make a strong stand on their honest beliefs against obsolete doctrines of the Church and religious institutions?
‘This dispute will go on until one is eliminated and the other remains.
leona says
Yea, not only “not transparent in the pulpits” but always not transparent ever everywhere including in the Vatican walls! Imagine or believe it or not, the Vatican hid the looted treasures including money, etc. of the Nazi looters for decades…belonging to the victims of the holocaust! Only did Pope John Paul !! admitted this before his death that the Church hid the plundered wealth.
The Church is always and has been in POLITICS! If it is not, maybe it ceased to exists a long time ago.
And likewise, it it is transparent as you want it to be, it will cease also soon and not later.
It’s like playing POKER…you can never win if you always SHOW YOUR CARDS!
The name of the game is BLUFF…always play to bluff and maybe you have the chance of “win” or continue playing.
“Bishops and the clerics…men of truth and not lies” you say…C’mon, you maybe the son of Ecabod Crane, also sleeping for same 100 years! And just awakened!
Believe it or not, the intelligence network of the Vatican is much much better than the combined CIA Mossad and KGB (last one ceased & replaced with Rusian new Unit). They have a fortress or special ROOM for that…not my imagination! Thatis why the Church have continued to live for the last 2000+ years!
Bishops and priest also loves SUV vans just like us! By hook or by crook, they love MONEY too! Even if given by ROBIN HOOD!
So? What’s new or old? CORRUPTION.
You are very right…they have gone down so deep they beat our politicians as DIGGERS!
Alizarin Viridia says
ANALYSIS, ANALYSES, isn’t the RESULT OF CORRECT ANALYISES
JUST GRREEAATTTT !!!!.
Ancient Mariner says
You are correct. As a non-Filipino I can vouch for these traits among my in-laws. You forgot to mention the Lemming like way Filipinos follow the words and opinions of those they respect or those who provide them with funds. Among the unemployed and the lower working class “he who pays the piper calls the tune”. I have often had my most logical and verifiable arguments dismissed because Mayor ? (or Gloria) says different.
fredicule says
@Andrew Lim:
Ang sanhi ng corruption sa mga Catholic countries ay dahil sa sacrament of the eucharist. This is a powerful statement, I know, but this is the truth. When faced with temptation to commit sin, one thinks of committing the sin and then just take the eucharist that coming Sunday (even without going to confession first) and voila!, his sin will be forgiven. And then one keeps on repeating it again and again. O, hindi ba? Sino dito (at least) sa mga Catholic CPMERs ang hindi nag-isip ng ganito? That is the teaching and that is the belief. O kaya naman, you go to confession and you are just punished with reciting five prayers of Our Father and five Hail Mary, absuwelto ka na sa ginawa mo. So you think, until you find yourself deep into corruption.
leona says
Maybe, just maybe our country is or has dived into hell…as what our MLQ said …which I find very disgusting and horrible…
“I’d prefer a government run like hell by Pilipinos than a government run like
heaven by Americans!”
Not even Stalin nor Mao Tse Dong or even Hitler said words like that…to bring a country or government into hell! (although the acts of these three did)
So, with those weird words, we are maybe in hell via corruptions!
Are we in a curse on this or what?
Johnny lin says
Filipinos have schizophrenic philisophy/rationale
Quezon uttered that famous quote so the leftist, pseudo nationalist believed him, used it as propaganda against Americans/western world creating a constitution which is economically deficient leading to inability of foreigners owning lands in the country resulting to economic deprivation or progression. Who would invest in a country where they have to initially violate laws by putting dummies as owners and could not retrieve their investment if unsuccessful in their ventures? Most of these dummies are connected or relatives of government officials.
In this current world of economic globalization, Philippines is on the rear and what are we thinking now, cha-cha to correct that economic position of foreigners non entitlement to own piece of land.
The other side of schizophrenic Filipinos, they believe their Bishops and priests that going to hell is a sin so they prefer to be docile, compassionate, easy forgiving, forgetful so when their Bishops connived with politicians approving their corrupt policies(GMA and Pajero Bishops), when their officials plundered, amassed wealth or committed crimes while in the government(presidents and cabinet members), they forgave them, voted them back to power(Marcos, Estrada Arroyo, Enrile, Binay, Crisologo, Jalosjos, Assistio families to name a few).
Look at Corona after conviction, senators Jinggoy and Enrile clamored for him that he had suffered enough and should not anymore be subjected to crimes of tax evasion and corruption. What kind of mentality is that? Because, both of these men benefitted from that incomprehensible misplaced Filipino mentality of tolerance,compassion and forgiveness.
Misguided principles, non conforming with universe mainstream except in fashion and entertainment trends Filipinos are in the forefront
He he he
JeffJustice-born-and-raised-in-cebu says
Amen, Mam @L. Hard to believe those words were even said … its just so untrue.
Does MLQ mean it? Probably not, but it served as the most ostentatious model of Filipino “pomp and circumstance” of the day. Wittingly or unwittingly, this political grandstanding transformed into one the most successful career template in nationalism. Sadly, it may have provided the spirit behind the senate vote to end US Bases in 1991….(12 rotten senators did an MLQ).
Often compared to GW being the true first president, their names appear in books, state/prov, city, street, University, square, halls and rooms and even ships bear their names…befitting a national hero.
But GW fought/led his army in wartime, lived with the troops thru losses and victories.
MLQ had the chance to lead the country in wartime, but took the first boat out with McArthur who vowed revenge or a return bout with the Japanese. While Big Mac, stayed nearby to continue the fight, MLQ ended in NY… perhaps, did not find the food (or the blondes?) in Australia to his liking. I am one who will not take his sickness (TB) as an excuse. Bloodied and fighting to the end, is certainly a preferred ending for leaders and heroes.
Its not hard to imagine that given all the US treasury notes, and Philippine assets in his possession, NY would have been a preferred destination to cool off as the scenery and real estate in NY was a better investment. Even TJ Corona loves the dirt-cheap properties in the US.
To put all these in context, recently, the Italians are clamoring for the head of the Costa Concordia captain who lost a ship and few lives after jumping into the first working lifeboat he saw…..ahead of the rest, of course. Ironically, In this country, that same deed gets the stature of a hero.
Note: while we no longer live under America today, more and more Pinoys literally live under the bridge (if the bridge still exists), and under or around the garbage dump, if a space exists.
That is his legacy.
leona says
Yea, but those among us who love really this country couldn’t swallow ML\Q…abandong the “helll” many of us seek “the heaven – USA!”
MLQ couldn’t fool many of us. Many also go to other places as “their heaven- Middle East” to find it.
If MLQ having Spanish blood in hs veins, joined Gen. Aguinaldo as then his wartime military aide-de-camp, didnlt like the Spanish way of governance, probably learned “it was Hell,” why did MLQ then “tell” the Pilipino people to choose “Hell” to run a Pilipino government? Confusing, isn’t it?
We know MLQ stayed in the US during the duration of the WW II, as a non-voting member of the US Congress, with an Office as representative of the Philippine Commonwealth government. He breathed and live the US air and winds; ate their food; used their roofs and everything that was convenient for American life. Yet, he wanted “Hell” for us Pilipinos! Was it his TB disease that prompted him to say such a thing? Those words he said are never forgotten. In fact, many believe it to be sacred to, for and by us.
To use the words “run like Hell” is like “let us be doomed!” forever! I suggest that no Pilipino should ever from now quote those words even to show off for all to hear and listen. Whether MLQ meant it the other way or not, those words simply tell what the words means. IT IS MISLEADING AND HORRIBLE to go to HELL!
Like the Pharaoh ordering to erase the name of Moses all over the land of Egypt after illing an Egyptian, let us not quote MLQ’s words ever again! Erase it. Delete it. Forget it. Abandon it. DON’T REMEMBER IT at all!
It is utterly anti-PILIPINO!
marina sato cad says
off topic: @raissa @CPMers ang ating ibang kababayan ay kumikilos at nangangalap ng pondo para tulungan ang ating gobyerno na makabili ng kagamitan para ating sandatahang lakas. FYI click OFW GLOBAL FORCES at DEFENDING SCARBOROUGH DEFENDING THE PHILIPPNES! sang ayon ba kayo sa ikinikilos nila at kailangan suportahan natin?
emong says
Hi! Please check niyo muna yung background nung organization before sending money.. May nabasa kasi ako na yung iba daw eh scam.. Huwag sana tayong magpaloko.. Kung maganda ang adhikain,, syempre kailangang suportahan.. Pero kung ang nais ay manloko sa bayan, dapat dyan eh tuligsain.. :)
If they really want to support our cause sa teritorial defense, mas maganda ipadala na lang nila yung tulong para sa cause ng ating mga sundalo.. Adhikain tulad ng pabahay , scholarship sa mga anak, tulong sa mga naulila .. Makaka boost na kayo sa moral ng mga sundalo.. Yung matitipid na pondo ng government dahil sa naitulong nyo, yun na lang ang pambili ng armas for defense…kailangan po kasi ng study dyan…
leona says
The Philippine government must notify all Pilipinos about such ENTITY! Tama, 9 out of ten it could just be a SCAM! More corruptions then!
Check the organization, is it lawfully REGISTERED with what govt’ agency? Dami entities the addresses DON’T EXISTS!
BOGUS! Even recruiting agencies are also FAKES and BOGUS kaya dami are victimized! CHECK again!
INGAT LANG MGA KABABAYAN! WAG MAG MADALI…Check again!
Victin Luz says
@marina ……. Do you know mam that our contributions is a great help to our government but BY PAYING the RIGHTFUL AMOUNT of TRUTHFUL ASSESED TAXES in any TRANSACTION when QUANTIFIED is WORTH BILLIONS of PESOS , good ENOUGH in purchasing EQUIPTMENTS, MATERIALS, ARMS and etc.. for the DEFENSE of the entire PHILIPPINES not only Scarborough and SPRATLY’s .
If only TAIPANS like LUCIO TAN, HENRY SY, GOCONGKWEI and etc.. Will pay their rightful/correct taxes and the BIR and CUSTOM employees will not conive with them , we should have not encountering financial problems in the said agenda. Local and Government Officials who have businesses who doesn’t want to pay their correct taxes.. what do we expect to our ” KAPOLISAN “?
raissa says
True.
rafael l. vidal says
I’m willing to contribute part of my savings for a sort of “patriotic fund” exclusively for naval modernization program, provided it will be headed by a responsible persona known for integrity and patriotism.
This kind of contribution, if fully supported by all patriotic Filipinos including the chinese taipans, will shake the chinese’s resolve to undermine our sovereign rights to our western territories. Imagine bullying a weak country already galvanized into a concerted efforts to fight back through public contribution to buy naval armaments.
The chinese standing in the community of nations will be permanently tarnished.
Cheng '86 says
@ victin luz, In a country like south Korea all male at certain age are required to do a 2 year military service, no exception and need to undergo regular yearly training afterwards to keep them ready. In the Phil. the compulsary ROTC is removed from college curriculum because very few wanted to take it, whom do we expect to fight china in the event they decided to take scarborough shoal or attack us . . .the 120,000+ regular armed forces? We can have all the good weapons we want but it will be wothless if the our citizen are not willing to fight and sacrifice for their country. Small country like Vietnam can fight big country like the US and won because their citizen are willing to fight for their counrty.
Alizarin Viridia says
DEFENSE OF THE COUNTRY IS NOT REPEAT — IS NOT A CHARITY CASE.
IT IS THE DUTY OF THE STATE TO DEFEND ITSELF. THE CITIZENS DEFEND
THEIR COUNTRY WITH THEIR BLOOD NOT ALMS. SUCKERS AND SCOUNDRELS
ABOUND DURING PEACE TIME. Charlatans and carpetbaggers sprout during
and after the war.
As in tribal wars, allies from other tribes help win tribal fights, as in countries
during particular war; countries DO NOT ABUSE OR INSULT THEIR DEFENDERS,
WHICH THEY SUPPORT AND allow to take advantage of them during peace
time, a necessary investment.
No self-respecting ARMED FORCES will extend its arms OPEN its palm to
receive dole outs from its its citizens to defend the country.
leona says
Yes, many generals in the AFP only misspent money from our taxes…more than dole outs…without our knowing it!
Some even would sell arms and ammo to the enemies (rebels) and let other military unitis fight the rebels! We can ask Sen. Trillanes, maybe he knows a lot on this.
The “meaning” of corruption is not in the dictionaries but in the acts of many public officials! ACTS!
In the biblican paradise it started with the apple fruit….in ‘Pinas it started with the election ballots when we first had elections in this country! Daming ahas talaga!
blue4cor says
Gawing temporary status ang employment ng unang 2 taon ng pulis sa serbisyo. Ang 3rd year in service ay semi-permanent. 4th year under evaluation for permanent status. Ang mga benefits ay: life insurance for the immediate family at government sponsored college education para sa mga anak. Kapag hindi matapat sa paglilingkod, tanggal sa trabaho pati benipisyo sa pamilya.
Ipagbawal din sa kanila ang maging associated sa mga pulitiko, opisyales at court judges. Official function lang ang excemption.
Sa ganitong paraaan nakasalalay ang kapakanan ng kanilang pamilya para malaking challenge sa kanila.
Ilagay din sa under evaluation ang mga current permanent status ang may kwestiunableng record.
Opinyon lang po.
Alizarin Viridia says
TUNGKOL SA BATIKOS SA ABS-CBN at mga komentaryo
sa CP Miranda:
So said Michael Tan of PDI:
“Over the weekend I read that President Aquino spoke that same day at TV Patrol’s 25th anniversary and had also used the phrase “culture of negativism” to describe the show’s anchor Noli de Castro.
“For those who wondered, my answer is no, I didn’t plan for the column to come out the same day as the President’s speech and using that phrase. I timed my column to appear right before the weekend because ABS-CBN was airing a special documentary on TV Patrol on Sunday.
“I’ll be the last person to advocate a return to the deodorized press you find in authoritarian countries, and which we had during martial law, with the suppression of politically sensitive news accompanied by massive fabrication of news about national progress and peace and order and all that.
“What I do advocate is investigative journalism that is well-researched, that should appeal both to the mind and the heart, meaning not just making people angry about incompetence and corruption, but also making people think of alternatives.”
READ ON, IF YOU LIKE:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/33745/muckraking
Alizarin Viridia says
HEPS, here another opinion, from C de Quiros not so positive probably
on the ABS-CBN brouhaha.
read on if you like:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/33761/compelling-needs
ANALYSIS, ANALYSIS, we are reading but we don’t NOTICED.
Alizarin Viridia says
Two divergent commentators on the above CD Quiros link:
laguar —an OBJECTIVE ONE?
Can you believe that – somehow, while trying to be objective in his comment, CDQ finally ends it with a positive slant in favor of you know who. But isn’t a positive bias as much a bias as a negative one? The fact is, the president wouldn’t really mind slanting the news so long as the slant is in his favor. And that is not meant as a criticism because it is what anyone would want it for himself.
Edgar Lores —A BIASED ONE?
“There is method to PNoy’s incivility. He recognizes faults embedded in our national psyche. He started with the identification and analysis of the wang-wang mentality (fault: entitlement). He has gone on to present in-your-face criticisms of Corona (faults: partisanship and corruption) and de Castro (fault: negativism). What he is attempting to do is to change reality by changing perceptions. Our mindset is the stumbling block to progress. It is, if you like, the shell of an egg that encompasses our current reality. It must be cracked open for new life to emerge into a greater reality, We should be thankful that PNoy is using a spoon and not a sledgehammer to do the cracking.”
Sori po CPMers, hindi na mauulit ang posting na ganito.
jorge bernas says
@ Alizarin,,
Tama ka naman Alizarin, Napaka unfair naman kasi ni noli de castro dahil noon panahon siya ay bise presidente ay nagbulag bulagan naman ito para payamanin ang sarili at kahit lantaran kamalian mga ginagawa ni Pandak kasama mga alipores nito.
Saka dapat lang na punain siya ni Pnoy kasi ano nga naman ginawa niya noon kapanahunan nito? Wala nagpayaman lang. Nagpaka TUTA tulad ni convicted thief justice nato corona at iba pa….Nakakhiya ka noli at Nakakadiri….Huwag kang magmalinis dahil napaka dumi mo…
Alizarin Viridia says
Noong panahon na yun dalawang lang choice nang mga malapit
sa Presidente: cooperate and benefit or resign. Karamihan isang
lamng ang choice cooperate and benefit.
springwoodman says
@alizarin viridian
The cited comments of @laguar and @Edgar Lores are divergent only in that the first pertains to CDQ and the second to PNoy. But both comments share a common ground in that they are about perception and reality.
The first commentator states that CDQ attempts to be objective but in the end fails because of his positive bias. He goes on to say correctly that a bias is a bias, whether negative or positive. He concludes that the president would perhaps prefer objective reporting to be somewhat slanted in his favour. Summary: CDQ’s perception, while trying to be objective, is upturned by his positive bias towards PNoy; and de Castro’s upturns objective reporting of the new by his negative bias towards PNoy. In essence, in both cases, our perception of reality is clouded by our biases.
The second commentator gives the rationale behind PNoy’s incivility. He says that there is method to PNoy’s actuations and it is to alter our mindset. In essence, our perception of reality must change in order to change our reality. And, yes, you might say he exhibits a preference for, but not necessarily a bias towards, PNoy’s method.
Note: Bias is “a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation”.
springwoodman says
@alizarin viridian
The cited comments of @laguar and @Edgar Lores are divergent only in that the first pertains to CDQ and the second to PNoy. But both comments share a common ground in that they are about perception and reality.
The first commentator states that CDQ attempts to be objective but in the end fails because of his positive bias. He goes on to say correctly that a bias is a bias, whether negative or positive. He concludes that the president would perhaps prefer objective reporting to be somewhat slanted in his favour. Deductions: CDQ’s perception, while trying to be objective, is upturned by his positive bias towards PNoy; and de Castro’s objective reporting of the new is upturned by his negative bias towards PNoy. In essence, in both cases, the perception of objective reality is clouded by bias.
The second commentator gives the psychological rationale behind PNoy’s actuations. He states that PNoy has analysed some faults in our mindset and uses certain public forums to present his findings. He goes on to say that the president recognizes the intimate relation between perception and reality. That, in essence, our perception of reality must change in order to change objective reality. And, yes, the commentator exhibits a preference for, but not necessarily a bias towards, PNoy’s method of simply using laway as opposed, say, to GMA’s use of suhol.
Note: Bias is “A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation.”
Disclosure: I am related to the second commentator.
Alizarin Viridia says
GANDANG ELUCIDATION THANKS springwood
springwood is wood during the spring season?
or wood so malleable like a metal leaf spring?
or wood so pliant and strong as in a bow for an arrow?
springwoodman says
Haven’t really thought about it. Thanks, I will adopt all your 3 interpretations. Cheers.
leona says
Thanks. I like reading it specially all the COMMENTS too!
“Magandang Gabi Bayan!” newscast is for vicarious thrills…tama si Mr. Michael Tan.
Negativities of human lives are completed by watching TVs. MGB TV show by De Castro is on it!
Ordinary words on positivity cannot compete with the pictures showing negativity on TV shows with less words used. There are no vicarious thrills like the latter. This where one has to read publications like newspapers and books, as correctly said by Mr. Michael Tan.
As believed and accepted A PICTURE SPEAKS MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS!
Privately-owned Media can help a lot if and only if it cuts down the culture of negativism! The question is will it survive long if it does not earn or make money? It will become a major victim of negativity!
Alizarin Viridia says
(if necessary handang mag apologise kay Ms. Raissa, out of topic kasi)
UNSOLICITED ADVICE (from a non-lawyer) TO ALL SCHOOLS AND
COLLEGES OF LAWS IN THE PHILIPPINES:
Denny Crane, Denny Crane, Denny Crane, Denny Crane. Alan Shore
The Advice: BUY THE WHOLE DVD SET (All Seasons and Episodes) of BOSTON LEGAL to be used as Case Teaching Materials. No student should graduate without viewing and analyzing the entire BOSTON LEGAL series.
WHY? WHY? The series is FICTION about mostly Harvard graduates (fictionalized real persons?) as they humanly PRACTICE law in an advance society (city) like historic Boston where life is SEXY, funny, sick and CRAZY. Underneath each episode is life’s philosophy or lack of it. All characters NEVER stop analyzing, analyzing. ANALYZING. Which makes REASON LAW and LAW REASON.
CAVEAT (warning lang po): Except for honing, intensifying analytical skills, the series is TOTALLY LACKING IN CORRUPTION CASES, but that is where P Noy is trying to take us, a future where life even with only minimal corruption IS NEVER DULL or boring but sensually electric, funny, sick and crazy.
Hindi po komersyal ito, para lang sa future lawyers ito. Marami na rin po akong nasulat pero kahit isang kusing wala pa akong tinatanggap. Objective pa rin po.
Alizarin Viridia says
Yun kayang mga abogadong CPMers pinapanood ang Boston
Legal? Denny Crane, Denny Crane! Mga HARVARD yata yan,
pero yun iba YALE.
isellnuts says
What you had posted doesn’t apply here in our country.
Apples is to apples and oranges is to oranges.
Alizarin Viridia says
Ang layo naman po; batas po ang pinaguusapan hindi frutas.
Ang katas ng batas kahit lasang frutas hindi malayong magkaiba sa
buong mundo sa panlasa ng mga may antas. NAKAPANOOD BA KAYO
NG BOSTON LEGAL? CPMer abogado ba kayo?
Alizarin Viridia says
Ang layo naman po; batas po ang pinaguusapan hindi frutas. Ang katas ng batas kahit lasang frutas hindi malayong magkaiba sa buong mundo sa panlasa ng mga may antas. NAKAPANOOD BA KAYO NG BOSTON LEGAL?
Tinignan ko sa internet, itong mga ito, yung bata at malakas pa baka nakapanood ng Boston Legal, dahil matagal din silang tumigil sa Boston, MASS. Noong nagaaral pa sila sa Harvard:
Jovito Salonga, Gildbert Teodoro, Juan Ponc Enrile, Miririam Defensor-Santiago, Vicente Abad Santos, Adel Tamano, Andres D. Bautista, Cesar L. Villanueva; Meron kasing naiiwan sentimiento kung napatira ka sa ibang lugar.
Alizarin Viridia says
sori po naulit yata yung unang 2 talata.
duquemarino says
@CPMers
Since we are talking of peace and order and public safety, perhaps we can digest the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2011-24 dated February 17, 2011 and see how this can be effectively implemented.
Office of the Secretary
DILG
February 17, 2011
Memorandum Circular: No. 2011-24
TO: ALL PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS, CITY MAYORS, MUNICIPAL MAYORS, PRESIDING OFFICERS OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN, SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD AND SANGGUNIANG BAYAN, PUNONG BARANGAYS, REGIONAL GOVERNOR OF THE ARMM, DILG-ARMM REGIONAL SECRETARY AND DILG REGIONAL DIRECTORS
SUBJECT: DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL PEACE AND ORDER COUNCILS AND BARANGAY PEACE AND ORDER COMMITTEES
The establishment of a Peace and Order council in every province, city and municipality finds its legal authority in Section 116 of the Local Government code of 1991 and Executive Order No. 309, as amended.
In this regard, all Local chief Executives and Sanggunian Members at all levels are hereby reminded of the duties and functions of the Peace and Order council, inviting attention to its significant role in maintaining peace and order and public safety, in dealing with criminality and insurgency, and curb illegal gambling activities.
Duties and Functions of the Peace and Order Council
1. The Provincial, City or Municipal Peace and Order council (POC) shall:
a. Formulate the Provincial, City or Municipal Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan, which shall be incorporated in the Comprehensive Development Plan;
b. Provide for a forum for multi-sectoral dialogue and deliberation of major issues and problems affecting peace and order, including insurgency;
c. Recommend measures aimed at improving or enhancing peace and order and public safety, including anti-insurgency measures;
d. Recommend measures to converge and orchestrate internal security operations efforts of civil authorities and agencies, military and police;
e. Apply moral persuasion to and/or recommend sanctions against a local chief executive for providing material and political support to the communist rebels;
f. Monitor the provision of livelihood and infrastructure development programs and projects in remote rural and indigenous population areas to isolate them from the communist rebels’ ideological, political and organizational works;
g. Develop and monitor anti-illegal gambling activities, such as:
i. Development of a quick response mechanism (e.g. hotline, online services, etc.) where the public can report jueteng-related activities or concerns, for implementation in every LGU;
ii. Close coordination between LGUs and the Anti-Money Laundering council (AMLC) in the investigation and prosecution of jueteng-related money laundering cases and establish AML Desk in every LGU; and
iii. Conceptualization of alternative activities, among others;
h. Take decisive action in emergency situations, through the creation of Special Action Committee, composed of the regional, provincial, city or municipal officers or counterparts, if any, of the DILG, DND, DSWD, DOJ and the AFP; and
i. Perform such other functions as may be assigned by law, the President or the National Peace and Order Council.
2. The Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC) is the implementing arm of the City or Municipal POC and, such, shall:
a. Formulate the Barangay Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan, which shall be incorporated in the Barangay Development Plan, and recommend measures to improve or enhance peace and order and public safety in the community;
b. Monitor and coordinate the implementation of peace and order programs and projects at the barangay level, including anti-illegal gambling activities;
c. Serve as an information-gathering mechanism;
d. Establish and maintain profile of all residents in the barangay;
e. Monitor and check the nefarious activities or criminal elements;
f. Identify barangay constituents with strong deviant behavior for referral to appropriate authorities;
g. Maintain continuing dialogue, close coordination and rapport with the higher POC and law enforcement unit;
h. Monitor, coordinate and supervise the operation of all community-based anti-crime movements within the barangay;
i. Make periodic assessment of the prevailing peace and order situation in the barangay, and submit a report, to include as assessment and situation report on illegal gambling, with appropriate recommendations to the higher-level POC; and
j. Perform such other functions which may be assigned by the higher-level POC.
The Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan
Every Provincial, city and Municipal POC, and BPOC shall formulate a Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan. Below is the suggested outline:
I. Mission Statement
II. Objectives
III. Key Strategies
IV. Critical Activities and timelines
V. Funding Requirements
VI. Plan Monitoring and Evaluation
VII. Communicating Results to the Public,
briefly explained, or provided with examples.
All DILG Regional Directors, the ARMM Regional Governor, and the DILG-ARMM Regional Secretary are enjoined to cause the immediate and widest dissemination of the Memorandum Circular to all local government units within their regional jurisdictions.
For the guidance of all concerned
(SGD) JESSE M. ROBREDO
Secretary
Alizarin Viridia says
Without even reading to analyze the memo circular:
this is my prelim comment:
This is SHOT GUN burst from DILG. Or worst a “de cajon” memo BUT A
GOOD ONE, a yes to tackle mammoth problem. That’s more than a year
old. TIME TO EVALUATE extent of compliance or inadequacy of compliance.
DILG should hire (research project) any college (Ateneo, UP or whatever)
to establish compliance and need for take-off.
Any plan MUST BE REQUIRED TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. Which requires ACTION.
Any MEMO involves and ENTAILS expenditures of RESOURCES
(public funds). Without FUNDING any MEMO trying to do BIG THINGS
is a DEAD MEMO.
I think the Local Government Center of the UP NCPAG can do the action
research at the LOWEST COST.
romy nabas says
Maganda ang layunin ng MEMO na ito…. kaya lang Hindi kikita dito ang local government executive kaya di ito papansinin…. Ang kawawa ang mga taxpayers na umaasa sa good governance….Ang majority voters kc natin ay hindi mga taxpayers kaya wala silang pakialam kung ano situation sa ground…..Basta sila fund raising lang para pambili ng boto sa susunod na election..Anyway walang pakialam sa PEACE AND ORDER ANG MAJORITY VOTERS NILA.Tapos ang MEDIA NAMAN babatikosin ang PRESIDENTE ng PILIPINAS….
leona says
A long Memo which is just 1% but where is the 99% supervision / control expected for already 1 year ago (acc to @Alizarin! Kaya it is as if there WAS NO MEMO issued!
Also, a long Memo is tantamount to be disregarded when no 99% follow up is made.
No cop officials will be able to remember anything in that Memo! More so NO FOLLOW UPS!
Supervision / Control 99% ! Issuances only 1% !
Sadly, this cliche or whatnuts, came from the military but also NOT FOLLOWED!
Likewise in our civil gov’t!
Kaya puro karamihan palpak ang labas ng patakbo ng gobierno natin.
I really notice our character, we love to put things in kilometrics to make confusions and ineffectiveness as a result. Nothing is really short and BRIEF.!
Alizarin Viridia says
RE: Emong tungkol kay De Lima, reply kay #17 Johnny Lin
Involve nga ba ang Integrated Bar (IBP) dito sa pagpigil sa nominasyaon ni De Lima para maging CJ?
Sa tingin ko at ng iba ito ang estorya: Pinuna inilantad ni De Lima ang kamalian ni CJ Corona. Dahil Sagradong Baka (sacred cow) si Corona nagfile ng bisbarment si Sundiam. Kinasuhan din si De Lima dahil sa hindi pagsunod sa TRO ng Supreme Court para makatakas si Gloria. Sa totoo lang si Sec De Lima ibinunyag ang kakulangan ni Corona bilang CJ. At matapang na ipinaiiral ang batas para hindi makatakas si Gloria.
Kinakasuhan si De Lima kasi convicted tanggal si Corona? NAKULONG (nakapiyensa) at sangkatutak ang kaso ni Gloria? Di ba hindi lamang bulag kundi WALANG ULO pa ang KATARUNGAN sa Pilipinas.
Hindi estupido ang mga magnanakaw pero baka hindi nila alam kahit hindi CJ si De Lima pag tuloy ang ligaya nila, puede silang ipakulong ni De Lima.
Heto Sa Ingles neresaykel ko yung post sa kabilang thread:
July 30, 2012 at 9:20 pm FROM THE OTHER THREAD:
A JOKE OF LAW ON THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE
From ONLINE NEWS:
DE LIMA CAN KISS CJ POST GOOD BYE
“Under Rule 4, Section 5 of the JBC rules, those with pending criminal or regular administrative cases are disqualified from “appointment to any judicial post or as Ombudsman or Deputy Ombudsman.”
In a complaint by Atty. Agustin Sundiam, De Lima is accused of violating lawyers’ professional oath when she spoke out in public against then Chief Justice Renato Corona.
A separate disbarment case involves de Lima’s alleged refusal to obey a valid Supreme Court temporary restraining order on a travel ban against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
De Lima, during her JBC interview on July 24, claimed that the disbarment complaints filed against her have yet to become “administrative proceedings” that will result in her automatic disqualification from the chief justice selection process.”
Legal nincoompops don’t get it. Where is the joke? Where is Corona now? Where is Gloria now? Who distorted the truth, De Lima or Lawyer Sundiam?
WHO SHOULD BE DISBARRED? That’s the tragedy and misrule of law in the Philippines.
vander anievas says
@a.viridia,
oo nga, may puntos ka kaibigan…
kasama ba ito sa oath? “ang cj ng sc ay wagas. di maaring magkamali. at dapat na sundin ang anumang ilalabas na atas, utos, promulgasyon, desisyon, sa tama man o sa mali. ang sinumang sumuway ay ihahabla at hindi maaaring maging cj dahil sa pagsuway kahit pa kapakanan ng bansa ang nakataya”.
kung isa iyan sa kanilang sinusumpaan, aba ay magaling! bravo!
ang gumawa ba nang tama(sa akin pong palagay ay ginawa ni de lima ang tama) ang dapat ma-disbar?
isang malaking kalokohan ito.
ganyan ba ang pinag-aaralan sa Law?
o kanya-kanya silang pakulo?
leona says
I do not believe 100% our IBP. Why of all seasons this institution got so interested with the case of DOJ De Lima’s chances for CJ? Many incidents involves other corrupt lawyers but nothing was done to them by the IBP body. In California their lawyers’ Body, with or without any person complaning, always act moto propio or by itself, to conduct disbarment proceedings against lawyers. Every month a couple of lawyers are disbarred, whether private solo practicioners or officials in the gov’t, State or federal, as long as member of the California Bar Association.
That Body is always awake and on its toes for erring lawyers. But not here except when an issue is a sensational or high profile, etc. What’s the IBP’s motive really? We know and I know.
In short, you can expect what happens to Ms. De Lima’s future….she will remain a lawyer but maybe excluded as candidate for CJ. I hope I am or will be wrong on this.
emong says
I have limited understanding sa mga laws or rules ng government so talagang laking pasasalamat ko sa site na ito…
1.Ang tanong ko lang eh.. IBP is for lawyers.. but what if you were appointed as DOJ, wherein you are working for the interest of the people.. saklaw ka pa rin ba ng rules ng IBP? Kapag nagclash ulit ang SC and DOJ.. wherein may mga rules pala silang magclash.. considering na same body sila ng government, hindi ba unfair kung yung manghuhusga eh SC rin ? Eh what if SC ang nagkamali, like nung case ni Corona, may nag raise ba ng concern nito from IBP?
2. Dapat sigurong unang pansinin ng IBP eh kung papaano nila ma regulate yung pagamit ng sakit as legal remedy among lawyers.. Pasensya na po, pero wala na pong naniniwala dito.. Tingnan nyo naman po, biglang gumaling si Gloria ng magka bail..
emong says
Reposting..
I’ve read an article before wherein not all IBP members support this initiative.. Sabi nila,, ang nag pupush lang nito eh yung mga leaders… Please read this link that I saw while looking for that article.. If this article is accurate, then we can assume the reason kung bakit ganun na lang galit ng IBP kay de Lima…
http://archive.malaya.com.ph/2012/February/02242012/edducky.html
emong says
According to this link, connected ang mga tao na ito…
Gloria appointed Corona sa SC
Corona appointed Libarios sa IBP
Libarios galit kay de Lima kasi kinastigo nya si Gloria and Corona…Hmm, tama kaya ito?
leona says
Any lawyer here is under the rules of professional conduct where the IBP can make investigations and RECOMMENDATIONS to the SC for reprimand, suspension or disbarment.
There is of course a distinction on official functions like a DOJ Secretary, for an actual example, that of De Lima who (not necessarily) resorted to asking for a MR (motion for recon) on that SC TRO. That action of hers should not be considered a “defying” the TRO but as part of a legal litigation. Why the IBP is making investigation on that due to a complaint for disbarment by lawyer Sundiam is totally PREMATURE as the SC has not yet resolved the MR of De Lima. But as I believe, there must be an ulterior motive on the part of IBP on it.
Magulo! Nag uunahan ng trabaho! Suppose the SC, just in case, find the MR of De Lima as within the bounds of law and procedure, what will the IBP now do on the disbarment complaint? IBP if has prudence in law at all should wait for the proper time.
Lawyers have rules to follow on Professional Responsibility and Cannons (we call it) and so also judges. These applies always whether in gov’t service or not. Whether in actual practice of law or not. Every lawyer must be of irreproachable character at all times (except when dead of course!).
Why is the IBP not initiating ex-CJ Corona for disbarment for having been convicted for a constitutional offense? They should. And not Ms. De Lima.
Investigating Mr. Renato C. Corona for disbarment is RIPE and not premature!
You see the style of actions the IBP is doing: sa ibang bagay mali and yun iba mali pa rin!
Sila ay tao lamang…having personal motives or plans, etc., not according to what is right but mostly wrong. Politics may have influenced their moves against De Lima. That is wrong. No politics at, in and at IBP!
Alizarin Viridia says
Lahat ng makabagong institusyon, sa mundo o sa Asya
madaling subaybayan kung tinutupad ang layunin ng
kanilang pagsilang. ANG IBP ba ay para sa kapakanan
ng mga abogado, o para sa LIPUNAN O PARA SA
KATARUNGAN.
kITANG-KITA ang ginagawang kabutihan o kawalang hiyaan
kung pag aaralan ang kanilang ITINAKDANG ADHIKAIN (GOALS)
at LAYUNIN (OBJECTIVES). Puede rin pag aralan ng masusi
ang kanilang itinalang VISION (tinutungo) at MISSION (papano
mararating) at ang lanilang pangtaonang PROGRAMA at BADYET
kung meron. KUNG walang anwal programa at badyet anong klaseng
institusyon ang IBP.
rafael l. vidal says
As I have posted in a recent article of Raissa, crimes proliferate because the lawbreakers are not afraid of the law enforcers. Many a time, we read in newspapers that some members of the PNP as well as the NBI, were involved in kidnapping-for-ransom, bank robberies, drug syndicates, car napping, etc.
After a thorough cleansing of the bad elements in the PNP is done, they should be sufficiently armed to give them confidence in battling the firepowers of the lawbreakers. Their salary must be doubled, if possible, to avoid temptation since their take-home pay is mostly not enough to make both ends meet.
Many members of the PNP are dedicated, courageous and willing to risk their lives and limbs in protecting the citizenry, which they sworn to do.
The public must understand the pathetic state of their firearms, insufficient appropriations for fuel, travel expense in pursuit of suspects, meager pay. etc.
duquemarino says
@rafael l. vidal
The Secretary of the DILG came out with a Memorandum Circular No.2011-24 addressed to all LGU officials including barangay and ARMM officials detailing the duties and functions of the provincial, city and municipal peace and order councils and the barangay peace and order committees. It is just an enhancement of the EO 309, as amended and is provided for in the Local Government code of 1991.
If only this memorandum circular is implemented to the letter I see no reason why peace and order will greatly deteriorate.
leona says
Increasing salary as one way is not sure that the bad eggs will stop egging baho or bulok yolks!
To apply something “universal” for all public employees and officials on “salary” is to REDUCE THE PAYABLE TAXES based on their salary. Imagine, they are all taxed in the same bracket or system like a private businessman but public servants are NOT ENGAGED FOR PROFIT!
Is that FAIR? No. Their taxable salary should be different. The take-home pay will be bigger than what they get to bring home. Maybe a difference of 75%…tax them only on 25% of their taxable income compared to a private businessman, etc. Thus if one is taxable for P1,000.00 now, the tax due should only be P250.00. I use to pay tax for P11,000.00 each year based on this tax system that is discriminatory (I call it that) as a gov’t employee. In fact a private businessman can “avoid” by paying much more less tax like P1,000.00 only each year but not a gov’t employee!
So, on salary topic, differentiate the tax base for public employees!
Johnny lin says
On another front:
LATEST ABS CBN NEWS: VP Binay hits audit by COA Heidi Mendoza. Maybe someone could attach the link. Thanks.
“Binay thru his spokesman Salcedo hits Mendoza’s auditing of Binay projects when he was mayor. They claimed that the projects had already been cleared by Makati Audit office and questioning necessity of Mendoza to order an audit by her office. Binay made preemptive attack on the integrity of Mendoza by claiming she is biased against him. They are also claiming of an existing conspiracy against Binay”
When Corona was on trial he was questioning why Morales had to ask the help of Heidi Mendoza to audit the AMLA report. Why are the afraid of Heidi Mendoza?
If Binay’s projects in Makati were above board, what is he afraid of? As long as the projects are free of corruption, a thousand audits by different people would not make a difference.
Attacking the messenger is the tactic of corrupt people especially politicians and government officials when under investigation. Corona personally attacked Pres Aquino, calling him mentally disturbed and Ombudsman Morales, accusing her a liar.
We can now expect the usual suspects, Maceda, Tatad, Olivares and co with their mouthful of opinion columns about the persecution of Binay by certain sectors. The Goebels of Binay are already hard at work dispelling any unsavory findings on their prizefighter.
Fanning stinky smell before flatulence is stupid act. If Binay did not fart, nothing to smell.
The way Salcedo reacted to the proposed audit of Mendoza, Binay did not only fart, he must had diarrhea he he he.
emong says
Let’s support Heidi… I think COA is on the right track… Again, kung walang complain, hindi effective ang campaign.. Reaction, good or bad , is a good sign… Subaybayan natin ito.. Additionaly, Heidi already established her integrity, shown it several times on several investigations held by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.. Kung kay Binay lang, kay Heidi na ako.. :)
emong says
Sana suportahan natin yung mga taong gustong umunlad ang ating bansa.. And hindi ko maintindihan, kung sino pa ang may magandang adhikain sa bansa, sila pa bandang huli ang napapasama… Example na lang,, ang issue with De Lima and JBC… and ang issue sa pagpapalaya kay Gloria.. bakit kaya pagdating kay De Lima, ang daming reaction ng IBP.. bakit nung nakalaya si Gloria walang reaction ang IBP? double standard? Nung time ni Gloria, ang daming pangako, may nag question ba? except for a few? Ngayon namang panahon ni Pinoy, andyan na yung structure and plans,, nakikita natin nangyayari right before our eyes yung mga changes, ang daming gustong mag question? Additionaly, alin ba ang mas mahala sa ibang mediamen natin… controversial news or news na alam natin makakasama sa bansa natin? Ratings ba or pag unlad ng mamamayan? Nakakasuka na yung report regarding ratings, eh lagi naman walang natatalo dun… iba yung report nung isang network sa ibang network…
Kim says
Government official ka complaining on a job that another agency is supposed to do, you’re supposed to cooperate but you complain – tanggalin na ang mga yan!!
Jack says
This Binay for President campaign has heavy and dirty laundry to cover up and he is doing that well in good and well publicized public service. Clever eh?
He cant fool me, I dont dont know about the rest of you guys. Let us find one with intact integrity. Once a thief will always be a thief.
rafael l. vidal says
It’s heartening to know that Heidi has started post-auditing the transactions of the binays in Makati. I’m pretty sure a lot of skeletons would be discovered, appraised and file the necessary case in the Ombudsman.
This audit will largely answer the question of many on how vp binay has accumulated millions worth of real estate in Makati and a farm in Batangas, not to mention how he financed his vice-presidential campaign in 2010.
There’s still a pending case of over-pricing, etc. filed against his wife, the current mayor of Makati.
Sarah says
I fully support Heidi Mendoza. Ilabas na ang lahat ng baho ni Binay.
David says
@Johnny LIn, I believe this is the link you were referring to. Binay can not be too happy with this: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/31/12/vp-binay-hits-audit-led-heidi-mendoza
eestaana says
@ Johnny lin,.
“If Binay’s projects in Makati were above board, what is he afraid of? As long as the projects are free of corruption, a thousand audits by different people would not make a difference.”
You are totally correct in your assessment. Natatakot na si Binay kasi unti unti lumalabas na ang kanyang mga “baho”. May nagpost noon dito sa blog ni Raissa tungkol sa mga taong tinanggal ni Binay sa kanilang mga trabaho dahil lang sa pagsalungat sa kanyang mga policies o pamamaraan sa mga public projects sa Makati. Kung sinuman ang nagpost yon ay pakirepost lang for others to be reminded sa mga anomalies ni Binay.
Kim says
Perhaps, it’s time for Raissa to bring Binay to the light
Kim says
The title could be: “What has Binay got to hide? “
raissa says
Perhaps.
Victin Luz says
BINAY is still strong in the country side and I do believe as soon as possible people must know the truth about him. Worms hidden on his life should be exposed immediately.
leona says
A durable investigative journalist may find somewhere in Tagaytay area a 70 hec. private land with imported contents…find out who actually owns it…surprise it will be!
Cha says
I’m not sure what happened to my earlier post but this is a resend.
Suggestion:
The PNP (Phil. Natl Police) website http://pnp.gov.ph/main/ has an email facility for sending “reliable criminal activity information”. http://pnp.gov.ph/main/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=140
Maybe we can test how this is working. Those who have posted their experiences in this blog can email the information to the PNP and then share the outcome or response with Raissa and maybe she can write a story about these. (For consideration of Raissa, of course)
If the outcome is positive, then maybe that can encourage more people to report information to the police. If negative, then that should be a call for action on the PNP and DILG leadership.
For those like me who have no specific information to share with the police at the moment, we can write to DILG Secretary Robredo instead and express our concerns on the peace and order situation in the country.
As with the previous suggestion, we can also share with Raissa whatever response we get. I am suggesting sending to Raissa through email mainly to prevent it getting unwieldy when we start posting our experiences at different topic areas of the blog. (or maybe Raissa will tell us how best to do this)
At any rate I have just sent my email to Secretary Robredo. Let’s see what happens next.
Leona says
That is a good and very good idea. In fact, it is high time that all gov’t offices should have access by e-mails. This is to help the community. Transparency is achieved when thru this method some actions are made without delays.
E-mails or internet of course must be high-speed. They should allot funds for this. And 24-hour personnel must always be on hand to monitor all e-mails. Any complaint, etc., or reporting by citizens, whether under oath or not, must be given attention. Recording of all
this as confidential maybe maintained to protect those citizens who use this method.
This idea by @ Cha is good.
emong says
Oo nga,, good idea @ Cha :)
Cha says
Thanks Leona and Emong.
The email address of DILG Sec. Robredo is [email protected]
duquemarino says
@cha @leona
Perhaps public servants should be reminded and make good with the “no lunch break” policy of the government. This is not only for the police but for government frontline workers.
Under RA 9485, all heads of offices and agencies that render frontline services shall ensure that clients within the premises will be attended to “even during lunch break and after regular working hours.”
That law penalizes first and second offenders with suspension without pay, and third offenders with dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public office.
No less than the PNP Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome issued a directive to make the police cognizance of their obligation.
‘No lunch break please, policemen reminded’
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/216091/no-lunch-break-please-policemen-reminded
leona says
Lunch break eh!….kasama yun MAKE UP LIP STICKING POWDERING ATBPA of course TEXTING AND TALKING LONG ON THEIR CELLS PHONES while clients are smirking at them! Who is the boss enforcing those rules? The boss is nowhere in the building too! Weighlifting na siya…brandy or beer bottle!
those without SINS on this may DRINK THEIR LIQUORS now!
LUNCH & SUPPER ESCAPES most often and not that break!
If ever you see or find the BOSS at the OFFICE give a MEDAL!
Cha says
Dapat rin meron mga signage sa mga presinto saka sa mga I.D. ng pulis na ang sabi:
“Bawal ang magbigay o humingi ng lagay”
o sa ingles:
“Thou shalt not bribe or be bribed”
leona says
Their answer will be …”DONATION lang yun! Not a bribe.” hahaha.