• Home
  • About me
  • My Privacy Policy

Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Martial Law in brief – just kidding

February 24, 2013

Share:
Twitter0
Facebook0
LinkedIn0
Pinterest0

In celebration of the People Power anniversary, which many people seem to have swept aside because of the standoff in Sabah, my hubby Alan wrote the following humor column.

It’s nostalgic for him in a way because he began writing humor columns during the dark days of Martial Law, when laughing about the dictatorship was the only way to ease the pain –

A short history of Martial Law, version whatever
Hot Manila – by Alan C. Robles

Martial Law? What Martial Law? What Marcos dictatorship? Never happened! Go home.
Ha ha, just kidding. OF COURSE Martial Law happened. In fact, that’s what we’re here to talk about. You see it seems more and more Filipinos are beginning to forget about that period
To address this problem, we’ve put together this short summary using highly reliable sources such as Wikipedia, elementary school textbooks, FB sites and random kids walking around our neighborhood .

And, what do you know, it’s about that time of the year when we celebrate whatchamacallit, People Power. A good time to recall, uhm, what was that again? Oh yeah, Martial Law. Here goes:

To read the rest, please click on this link.

Tagged With: 1986 Edsa People Power anniversary, Hotmanila, Martial Law in the Philippines

Comments

  1. zamera says

    March 1, 2013 at 2:26 AM

    My siblings and I were born because of martial law. Our parents were held and had met each other in the detention camp. One of the few good things done by ML for the ordinary citizens, at least for the parents, and us children, hahaha! :)

    • Alan says

      March 1, 2013 at 6:06 AM

      that would make a great story. I think there should be a book, or at least a documentation center, that collects and compiles stories like this

      • Mel says

        March 1, 2013 at 11:22 AM

        Or perhaps, a simple guide for choosing and electing candidates during political elections.

        And why not a Call Center to ask candidates’ profiles for those voters too busy, or preoccupied to bother with dubious campaigning, false advertising or skewed marketing candidate’s platform. Less noise and hype.

        Another BOP service for Global Democracies.

        Troubleshooting Philippine democracy

        • Alan says

          March 1, 2013 at 7:44 PM

          thanks for posting Mel, I can tell you I’m half inclined to take your suggestion of such a Call Center seriously. I’m sure the CPM can conceptualize some kind of resource for voters

        • Mel says

          March 2, 2013 at 6:26 AM

          @Alan, it’s a good idea actually.

          When ‘stars align’, I’ll touch base with you someday.

          Ang mga kababayang Filipinos ay nasa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo.

          Citizens, residents or TNTs at their adopted countries, mayruong adhikain, karunungan at impluwensiya ding nina-nais sa kanilang napiling bansa, dag-dag o liban sa kanilang inang bayan.

        • Alan says

          March 2, 2013 at 2:23 PM

          Yes please, this forum is a good place for pooling ideas that will empower and enlighten frustrated citizens

      • moonie says

        March 1, 2013 at 1:53 PM

        why were the parents in detention center, what have they done?

    • zamera says

      March 1, 2013 at 9:06 PM

      @allan Thanks, there should be some compilations of these stories. There are sad and horrible stories during that time. However, some “benefited” too, and it’s not exactly monetary gains. The good stories, though probably much fewer than the bad, deserve to be heard as well.

      @moonie Father was an activist. Mother was not, but she was picked up because her companions, her fellow representatives from her high school during a journalism conference she attended were activists. They were both students that time. I don’t remember where exactly they were detained, they both did not talk much about those times. Except when I was maarte and mapili as a teenager, and I get lectured that I should be in a situation wherein 20 something people had to share 1 cup to use for drinking water.

  2. Martial Bonifacio says

    March 1, 2013 at 1:44 AM

    Dinky: ‘Agitators’ deceived typhoon victims
    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/28/13/dinky-agitators-deceived-typhoon-victims

    Out of 200k victims of pablo who patiently waits and follows the instruction to list their names. While 300 people ransacked the dswd instigated and encouraged by party list groups.

    Pinapatunayan lang na masmadami pa din ang Pilipinong marunong sumunod sa patakaran at naniniwalang hindi dahilan ang kalam ng sikmura upang gumawa ng masama tulad ng pagnanakaw.

  3. jeproks2002 says

    February 28, 2013 at 7:41 PM

    @alan, i look forward to reading your version of the EDSA revolution particularly the “untold” story of the RAMboys, Gringo and JPE. This version at http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/395034/untold-stories-1986-edsa-people-power-revolution#.US8_3HPvjgQ
    just seems off to me.
    It reeks of someone’s memoirs that change with time.

    Any CPMers care to share their versions of THE story?

    • raissa says

      March 1, 2013 at 5:57 PM

      me, me, me.

      • jeproks2002 says

        March 2, 2013 at 10:15 AM

        yes yes YOU!

    • Alan says

      March 1, 2013 at 7:42 PM

      I can tell you jeproks2002, EDSA I was the best time to be a journalist. I was running both on the adrenaline of a sensational, historic story unfolding, plus the electrifying realization it concerned my country

      • jeproks2002 says

        March 2, 2013 at 10:27 AM

        I just hope that in my lifetime the truth will be known. I hope we find out what JPE and his boys had really planned. Did they decide to seize power from Marcos out of love for the country and the people? Did they really intend to give power to a civilian leader if they had succeeded in their coup? Or were they fearful of Marcos’ evident fall from power as civil disobedience had been gaining momentum and they thus schemed to ensure their survival? Are they heroes or just rats scampering out of a sinking ship?

        • Alan says

          March 2, 2013 at 2:19 PM

          It’s easy enough to guess the answer to those questions: these lowlife plotters were torturers, murderers and looters under Martial Law who never expressed any remorse for what they did. Furthermore you can get a pretty good idea what their real motives were when you look at the series of bloody coup attempts they proceeded to mount against the Cory government. It is richly and hilariously ironic to contemplate that one coup attempt was probably thwarted because the group of colonels who had seized a tv station couldn’t stop themselves from posing in front of the camera, preening and trash talking. Government used the time they spent making papogi to rally troops and blast the rebels back

        • vander anievas says

          March 2, 2013 at 5:55 PM

          @jeproks2002,
          sa 7 o 8 coup attempts, kaylangan mo pa bang itanong yan”Did they decide to seize power from Marcos out of love for the country and the people?”?
          alam kong pareho lang ang sagot natin.
          hanggang ngayon, nasa pwesto pa rin sila. katulad ng anay. nakakain nila ang laman ng kahoy at naiiwan ang balat. ganyan ang Pnas. balat na lang pero ayaw pa nilang tantanan.
          pasalamat tayo kay pnoy, muling nagkakalaman. wag na tayong pumayag na patuloy nilang anaying ang laman ng kaban…

    • Yvonne says

      March 1, 2013 at 10:25 PM

      @jeproks2002, to find out the roles of the RAMboys. Gringo, JPE, Marcos, Jr. , etc during the EDSA I People’s Power revolution, please see my post @#12 below.

    • pinay710 says

      March 2, 2013 at 2:22 AM

      @jeproks2002, eto na naman ako. noong nangyayari ang revolution abala kami naghahanda para magtago dahil ang balibalita ay may magaganap na rebolusyon ng mga tao laban sa pamahalaan. ito ang tanong ko sa iyo. sa nangyari ngayon sa senado kay enrile ano ang nasa isipan at pagkilala ni honasan kay enrile? sangayon ba sya sa mga ginagwa ni enrile. wala kasing anuman reaction si honasan. marahil ay pinakamalaki ang bonus ni honasan kay enrile. kaya wala imik si honasan sa mga pinaggagawa ni enrile sa senado? paki liwanag nga.

      • bfdtranscriber says

        March 2, 2013 at 3:48 AM

        I run across this website Angela Stuart Santiago about the Edsa 1 Revolution – hour by hour account of what transpired during that time.

        If you want, please check it out…

        http://www.edsarevolution.com/

      • jeproks2002 says

        March 2, 2013 at 10:55 AM

        There is no doubt that JPE and Gringo are brilliant legal and military strategists. If they had planned to oust Marcos, was it for the people or for themselves? We may never know. But they do and it is now between them and their God. Despite their brilliance, they could not have anticipated the outcome of the People Power Revolution. Many years after their plans of a coup d’etat against Marcos had failed, the people have continued to give them the mandate to lead our country. They have been time and again given the opportunity to rectify the wrongs and ills of society. Must they wait until they are in their deathbeds before they do right?

        @pinay710, we have the same questions. I can only hope that they not waste again and again the opportunity and privilege to be in the Senate. The way things are going, our politicians do not waste this opportunity by “giving” it to their children or family.

        • pinay710 says

          March 2, 2013 at 1:36 PM

          @jeproks2002, parang yung kasabihan na SURVIVAL OF THE WEALTHIEST (FITTEST) ELIMINATION OF THE POOREST & WEAKEST (UNFIT). kaawa awa tayong mga maliliit na Pilipino.
          sa election ano ang ilalaban ng mga walang perang kandidato laban sa mga maraming nakurakot na magkakamaganak na politiko?
          sa saranggani wala naglakas loob na lumaban sa apelyedong PAQUIAO dahil alam ng mga gustong kumandidato na sa pera pa lang ng PAQUIAO wala na silang panalo. kaya halos buong maganak na PAQUIAO ay kandidato sa saranggani.
          ang buwis na pianghirapang ibayad ng pangkaraniwang emplyeado ipinamimigay lang ng kung paano sa mga senadores at gastahin nila kung paano nila gusto. samantalang ang karamihan ng mamamayan ay nakalamidad at nagugutom sa mga liblib na lugar. ITO BA ANG BAYAN KONG SINILANGAN? LUBLOB NA SA HIRAP NA LALO PANG PINAHIHIRAPAN NG MGA NANUNUNGKULAN?

        • Alan says

          March 2, 2013 at 2:21 PM

          As far as Gringo is concerned, people should never forget that the strutting macho colonel plotter was caught by govt forces hiding under the bed of a woman who was not his wife. His actual wife was not pleased

        • pinay710 says

          March 2, 2013 at 9:52 PM

          aha!! honasan UNDER THE BED while enrile OVER THE BED not their wives bed. hihihi iARTNERS IN CRIME talaga sila. no wonder!!!

  4. DannyG says

    February 28, 2013 at 6:09 PM

    A little appeal:
    Please , Sultan kiram III of Sulu, don’t denounce your Filipino citizenship and abandon the plan to rrealized a long lost dream of ours in having the Sabah back to the Philippines and give it to the Malaysian government, just because of the stupidity and absurdity on the part of some of our national leaders who seems to be don’t know how to comprehend the current Sabah situation. If you allow it, and we really honestly felt right now your sentiment, then, your supposed to be a lasting legacy to our Nation and its people will forever be lost. And we will also blew away our only hope, you and your claim amply documented, in pursuing our valid and just cause. Keep going on, a one step backward, two steps forward? Surely, somehow, a patriotic and brave leaders of our country will emerges and rekindles the fire that’s burning within us all. Nakalulungkot lang na ang solusyon ng pambansang pamunuan sa bawat problema at krisis na kinakaharap ng ating bansa ay puro paninisi at pag-amin ng kahinaan at katalunan. Dito sa ating bansa, kung alin pa yung mga state witness, whistle blower at real freedom fighter ay siya pang kinakawawa at napapahamak. Kailan ba tayo matuto at tatapang ?

    • Martial Bonifacio says

      February 28, 2013 at 11:21 PM

      Correct me if wrong but:

      1.Datu Punjungan Kiram – father of Jamalul Kiram III & Imail Kiram II (standoff)
      – Exiled himself to malaysia due to family dispute and was not confirmed to be the next sultan.
      – He was the younger brother of Sultan Esmail Kiram I
      – After learning that the Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram (son of Sultan Esmail Kiram I), will be recognized by the bichara (village elders), he came back to sulu to challenge it.

      Kaya ngayon mahirap malaman kung sino ang totoong Sultan of sulu its either the son of Sultan Moh —> Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram. or Jamalual Kiram III.

      Kaya tulad mo im waiting for Raissa kasi ang gulo gulo ng family tree nila dahil madaming claimant to be Sultanate of Sulu, hindi pa kasama diyan yung mga malaysians kasi may mga claimant din dun na anak daw lol :)

      • baycas says

        March 1, 2013 at 9:05 AM

        Relevant article and ICJ files on Sabah claim:

        http://alpha.propinoy.net/2013/02/27/its-about-self-determination-not-historic-title/

        http://www.mpil.de/ww/en/pub/research/details/publications/institute/wcd.cfm?fuseaction_wcd=aktdat&aktdat=201010200400.cfm

        http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/102/7712.pdf

        • baycas says

          March 1, 2013 at 9:09 AM

          Malaysian point of view prior to October 2001 ICJ Decision…

          http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/102/10809.pdf?PHPSESSID=5c19dbe8e80c861d3384398fb1043fca

        • raissa says

          March 1, 2013 at 5:57 PM

          Thanks, Baycas.

    • Martial Bonifacio says

      February 28, 2013 at 11:24 PM

      Eto yung info graphic from ABS-CBN:
      http://cdnimages.abs-cbnnews.com/topics/tvpatrol/2013february/LineofSuccessionoftheSultansofSuluoftheModernEra.jpg

      Tama lang din yung ginagawa ni Pnoy pagaralan muna kung sino ang totoong heir sa title na Sultan of Sulu kasi ang dami nilang claimant.

    • moonie says

      March 1, 2013 at 4:26 AM

      dapat idaan ito sa tamang proceso. there are paperworks to be done and sorted out, to be studied as well. the sultan ought to present documentations proving he truly is the legally designated sultan, not some fake ones. and if we are ignorant about sabah, the sultan whoever he is, ought to educate us about sabah, teach us about sabah, and not at a point of a gun with threats and innuendos.

      dont dangle the riches of sabah to us, we’re not that greedy. the people of sabah themselves are poor and needed all the help they can get. I hope the sultan denounce his filipino citenzenship soonest and be sabahan, and help the sabahans improve their lives, not plunder them. once the sultan become malaysian citizen, there’s no point for us to negotiate with malaysia then. if he’s that smart, and not as stupid and absurd as our national leaders who you say do not comprehend the situation, why cant the sultan negotiate the claim himself? it does not pay to insult the people whose help you want.

      • moonie says

        March 1, 2013 at 4:35 AM

        danny g, what lasting legacy you talking about? the sultan lost in the 2007 election, the people in mindanao dont want him, for a reason. he’s not popular with the sabahans too, and they dont want him there. he was told to leave.

        • moonie says

          March 1, 2013 at 5:52 AM

          how about DNA test be done on the sultan? see if he’s direct descendant, not an impostor or someone’s by-blow, his DNA conclusive and perfect match from the DNA taken from the sample of the previous sultan of sulu, dead or alive.

  5. leona says

    February 28, 2013 at 10:26 AM

    From this link at Inquirer –

    http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/366167/h-for-honasan-c-for-corona-other-team-pnoy-bloopers

    not a promising good one for LP line up. It appears there’s no solid attendance of their candidates. Some sick, some has to attend GMA interviews, some….?

    To each his/her own schedules? ! And to some questions by Camp.Manager Drillon…. the answers appears a sign of confusion from the crowd…the people! C – corona ? H – Honasan?

    Vote Wisely! No to anyone to political dynasty!

  6. Rene-Ipil says

    February 28, 2013 at 7:05 AM

    Philippine Daily Inquirer headline today:

    COA: 3 senator’s pork went to bogus NGO.

    JPE, Estrada, Revilla tied to P195-M scam.

    • curveball says

      February 28, 2013 at 7:32 AM

      http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/366117/coa-3-senators-pork-went-to-bogus-ngo

      ito ang buong story ng news ni @rene-ipil

      Nakakagalit talaga ang mga taong ito. Milyon milyon piso ibibigay sa “hindi alam” kung sino o ano klase kumpanya ang pagbibigyan?

      Sabi ay may isang Tongresista na kasama Velarde ang apelido, anak daw ni Mike Velarde, totoo kaya ito? Kung totoo, asan ang malinis, matapat at maka Diyos na “halimbawa” ng ama sa anak? Di natakot sa kunsensya nya?

      Imbestigahan daw nila…. sino? sarili nila?

      Ang maraming milyong tanong…. mababawi pa kaya ang pera?

      Mga magagaling na mandarambong!!! Pera namin mga nagbabayad ng buwis ang nilulustay nyo!!!!

      Kawawa na naman kami nito! SCAM ito

    • Rene-Ipil says

      February 28, 2013 at 7:42 AM

      Meaning that, if the report were true, most if not all of the 195M went to the pocket of the three senators because the beneficiary was bogus. If the intended project for the pork was real, the most that the same senators could get would be about 40%. The rest would go to the project itself and the pockets of other officials involved.

      The scam happened just before PNoy became president. Kaya pala nuong impeachment trial, kahit na tambak ang ebidensya laban kay Corona ay pilit pa rin na isinasalba ito. Sabi nga ng iba ay para kang humuhugot ng bayawak sa lungga sa pag”convict” kay Corona. Kundangan nga lang na nag-“suicide” si Corona.

      So, now I know why Jinggoy was vehement in destroying the prosecution during the impeachment trial. Jinggoy acted as the attack dog of JPE to insulate the latter. And JPE looked brilliant to many people including CPMERs. I tried to unmask JPE then in a number of my posts in our CPM because I never trusted him from day one.

      • Martial Bonifacio says

        February 28, 2013 at 8:01 AM

        No wonder they stall the confirmation of Heidi Mendoza. Hindi lang pala si binay ang may issue sa COA, pati mga senators na pabor sa kanya.

        3 years and still counting na ang confirmation……….

        • moonie says

          February 28, 2013 at 11:59 AM

          last I hear, many of PNoy’s appointees are not confirmed namely: heidi mendoza, doj’s leila de lima, election commissionner grace padaca, ramon paje, dinky soliman from dept of social work, etc. CA, commission on appointments, is determined to slow down PNoy’s good governance.

    • Martial Bonifacio says

      February 28, 2013 at 8:16 AM

      By the way Jinggoy is the head of Committee on Constitutional Commisssions and Offices. Mednoza’s appointment was deferred last december 2012 by the committee.

      Then 2013 we still wonder why she is not confirmed :)

      • curveball says

        February 28, 2013 at 8:34 AM

        Dahil alam nila na hindi sila hahayaan sa mga pandarambong nila at paglustay o pagbulsa ng pera nating pinaghirapan.

        Yan ang opposition na gusto nila. Hindi upang check and balance kundi upang harangan at pahirapan ang bawat steps o gawain na magbubunyag sa mga kabulastugan nila.

        Niloloko talaga tayo ng mga magagaling na mambubutas na ito!

      • leona says

        February 28, 2013 at 9:03 AM

        @Martial B….I, too, shit wonder Heide is not confirmed!

      • zamera says

        March 1, 2013 at 2:03 AM

        probably same reason too why the late dilg sec jesse was not confirmed!

    • JUAN ESTRADA REVILLA says

      February 28, 2013 at 9:05 AM

      Naku naman. Wala kaming kinalaman dyan. Hindi namin alam kung paano napunta ang pera sa bogus NGO na yan. Ang trabaho namin, maghanap lang ng projects. Pati ba naman sa mga projects na yan aabalahin pa kami? Busy kami sa paggawa ng butas…..este batas.

    • pelang says

      February 28, 2013 at 12:42 PM

      why don’t they abolish this pork barrel which is the root of all evils? kaninong administrasyon ba ito nag-umpisa? we should campaign for its abolition. umpisahan natin with people’s initiative movement thru 1 Million signatures or more. kaya itong mga artista nag-a-ambisyong maging senador o congressman kahit walang ibubuga dahil ito ang sandalan nila pag laos na sila. bakit ka nga ba magpapakahirap mag-artista e, every year meron kang 200 million kahit kalahati lang ang mapunta sa bulsa mo, e, buhay ka na habang ang karamihan ng mamamayan na walang chance mag-artista o maging senador, naghihrap.

    • Mel says

      February 28, 2013 at 7:20 PM

      Sen JPE’s attribution points to ‘as a Lost’ in a web of an old tune maze.

      “After all, Enrile said, he uses his PDAF “with utmost adherence to transparency and accountability.”

      The COA report, however, showed that his PDAF also known as “pork barrel” was among the sources of some P195 million that went to a questionable non-government organization, Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc. (PFI).

      The other sources were the PDAF of Enrile, Senate Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and former Buhay Representative Rene Velarde.
      Enrile confirmed that he allocated a total amount of P74.69 million for agricultural and livelihood projects from his PDAF in 2008 and 2009.
      The funds, he said, were released to the Department of Agriculture, which turned over the money to a GOCC called Zynac Rubber Estate Corporation (ZREC). It was the ZREC that released the funds to the PFI.
      But Enrile immediately denied any knowledge of or any link to PFI or its alleged president, Petronila Balmaceda.
      In fact, he said, the signatures of his staff in the liquidation documents sent to his office by COA had been allegedly forged.

      “When I checked with my office, the documents much earlier sent by COA supposedly for verification purposes contained “liquidation” reports and documents signed by a certain Petronila A. Balmaceda as president of PFI and at the bottom, the supposed signatures of my staff members were obviously either forged or super-imposed to indicate my conformé,” he said.

      “Above the signatures of my staff members, the papers said: ‘By authority of the Senate President.’”

      “For the record, none of my staff members have ever signed any so-called liquidation documents relating to the implementation of projects that I have identified as beneficiaries of my PDAF. It is not our role to liquidate these funds,” Enrile said.”

      SOURCE: newsinfo inquirer net/366563/enrile-urges-coa-not-to-allow-itself-to-be-used-for-political-black-propaganda

      Kudos to COA. You have a mandate, No-Holds-Barred. Make no mistake, it would always goes back to you should your tasks (commission) falls short by omission(s).

    • Mel says

      February 28, 2013 at 7:31 PM

      AND Estrada calls for probe into channelling of pork barrel funds to bogus NGO

      The audit report identified Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and then Buhay Rep. Rene Velarde as the sources of the P206 million in PDAF for the Department of Agriculture that was released in several batches in 2009 and 2010.

      Source: newsinfo inquirer net/366117/coa-3-senators-pork-went-to-bogus-ngo

      One tipping into an (black) avatar fund as obvious, but group dipping is a bamboozle.

      • Mel says

        February 28, 2013 at 7:38 PM

        Erratum
        —

        AND Estrada calls for probe into channelling of pork barrel funds to bogus NGO

        The audit report identified Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and then Buhay Rep. Rene Velarde as the sources of the P206 million in PDAF for the Department of Agriculture that was released in several batches in 2009 and 2010.

        Source: newsinfo inquirer net/366117/coa-3-senators-pork-went-to-bogus-ngo

        One tipping into an avatar fund (black) as obvious, but group dipping is a bamboozle.

        • Mel says

          March 1, 2013 at 6:58 PM

          Miriam: Syndicate offers senators pork kickbacks

          By Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News
          Posted at 03/01/2013 4:11 PM
          Updated as of 03/01/2013 4:35 PM

          MANILA – Sen. Miriam Santiago wants the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate a Commission on Audit (COA) report that said the pork barrel of 3 senators and a party-list congressman went to a bogus non-governmental organization.

          Santiago said that while Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla have already denounced links to the anomaly, the Senate “is still faced with the fact that their names clearly appeared in the COA document.”

          Santiago said even with the assumption that the signatures were forged, she still wants to know why these 3 senators were chosen out of the 23 senators.

          “Bakit sila ang napili?” she asked.

          Santiago said the NBI should be involved because if the signatures were forged, their technical expertise is needed.

          “The Senate has no capability of doing that. We cannot just trust the senator, saying: ‘Oh, that’s not my signature,'” she said.

          She also believes there is a syndicate that runs these “invisible NGOs.”

          “They operate and offer their services individually to the senators, I think that is what happens.”

          Santiago said she has never been approached personally but she explained that the syndicate goes from senator to senator.

          “They promise to take care of all details for a cut. They also specify what figure will go to the senator. They specify exactly how much in million of pesos,” she said.

          A report from the Commission on Audit (COA) showed that almost P206 million worth of pork barrel funds of 3 senators and a party-list lawmaker went to the bogus NGO Pangkabuhayan Foundation Incorporated (PFI) in 2009 and 2010.

          COA said the officials’ priority development assistance funds (PDAF) were released by the DA to ZREC (ZNAC Rubber Estate Corp), a government-owned and -controlled corporation, which then appropriated the funds to PFI.

          However, a COA investigation showed not one area in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) reported by PFI had a project.

          Estrada admitted nominating PFI after the Department of Agriculture (DA) assured him that it was a legitimate NGO.

          He added it is the job of the implementing agency — in that case the DA — and not the senator to scrutinize an NGO’s background.

        • Mel says

          March 2, 2013 at 7:59 AM

          Of slabs of pork and bogus NGOs

          IT’S A RACKET that has not been busted from 10 years ago, and lingers on to this day.

          A number of congressmen and senators have set up or hand-picked bogus and favored NGOs (nongovernment organizations) to serve as vassals of their pork barrel, or what has been dressed up with the fancy title Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
          In the last of a five-part PCIJ report titled “Pigging out on Pork a La Pinoy” published in July 2012, the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had revealed how pork has lined the bellies of many phantom and fly-by=night NGOs.
          As of June 2012, in fact, the DSWD said the total pork funds that had been given to these NGOs via the DSWD central office had reached a whopping P1.4 billion from 2003 up to Dec. 31, 2011.
          Of this amount, P388.9 million or nearly 28 percent remain unaccounted for as of June 2012.

          Across all the DSWD offices, however, the total amount of unaccounted PDAF releases to NGOs by DSWD within the last decade or so today stand at about P770 million.

          Eighty percent of that total, or P620 million, went to only 21 NGOs that were the most favored by congressmen and senators alike.
          Among other findings, the report revealed that:

          * Many NGOs had been purposely set up for only one purpose: “to get the money� or the pork. They would disappear as soon as their PDAF patrons have finished their term in Congress, and with them, the millions they had received from the pork barrel, according to DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman. In their unceremonious exit, they leave a trail of ghost projects.

          * For every peso of pork funds that legislators have awarded to NGOs from 2003 to 2011, up to 20 centavos involved fly-by-night or bogus NGOs. Most of the time, these are NGOs that had been created, born, and organized apparently for the purpose of just getting PDAF shares.

          * A handful of NGOs and foundations have apparent links to, and are precisely named after the spouses, parents or grandparents of the lawmakers who gave out the pork.

          * The DSWD and the Commission on Audit (COA) have laid down rules to control the awarding, monitoring, and accounting of pork releases to NGOs and foundations. But intense pressure and meddling by lawmakers in NGO selection and project implementation, along with loose monitoring and reporting mechanisms within the government, have nevertheless allowed millions of pesos in pork funds to be funneled into bogus NGOs across the country.

          Real and potential conflicts of interest and questionable arrangements between NGOs and their PDAF patrons have also gone unchecked.
          All these have resulted in a lot of leakage of public funds in organizations that are supposed to augment the gaps in the government’s delivery of much-needed social development projects.

          The DSWD figures cover PDAF transferred to NGOs from prior to 2003 until Dec. 31, 2011, or across four Congresses, from the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo up to the current administration of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.

          Read Part 5 of the PCIJ report,“Bogus, favored NGOs fail to account for P770-million pork.”

          Read the rest of the PCIJ report, Pigging Out on Pork a la P-Noy here:
          Part 1, PDAF racket rocks daang matuwid</a
          Part 2,
          Bailiwicks, not poor towns, grab slabs of House PDAF
          Part 3, Senators’ PDAF floods NCR, vote-rich provinces
          Part 4, Binay bags P200-M PDAF: Pork train to Malacanang?

          Sidebar, LGUs ride piggyback on pork

          SOURCE: The PCIJ BLOG, http://pcij.org/blog/2013/03/01/of-slabs-of-pork-and-bogus-ngos

    • jorge bernas says

      March 1, 2013 at 9:36 AM

      @ Rene,

      Ha ha ha ha , NAKAKAHIYA J.P.E.,Estrada @ Revilla Naloko nang tatlong bogus na N.G.O.? Paano nangyari yon? Kong sina Estrada @ Revilla lang ay maaring mangyari pero kay tatang JPE hindi ako naniniwala? Maaaring may sabwatang nangyari para makanakaw nang napakalaking PERA? Bakit sila nalusutan nang BOGUS na N.G.O.? wala ba silang tauhan na mag double check kong tama ang ginagawa nang milliones na ibinigay sa nasabing bogus na N.G.O.? UNBELIEVABLE???

      NGAYON DAPAT IPAKITA NI JPE ANG GALING NITONG HANAPIN ANG FAKE NGO NA ITO AT NANG HINDI MAKAULIT? IPAKALABOSO NA RIN?

  7. Martial Bonifacio says

    February 28, 2013 at 12:16 AM

    Enrile, Estrada used pork for dubious NGO – COA
    http://www.rappler.com/nation/22704-enrile-estrada-used-pork-for-bogus-group

    Sorry Raissa but i cant help in posting this news. I wonder if they will do a senate investigation regarding this COA’s report. :)

  8. Den says

    February 27, 2013 at 12:43 PM

    Raissa, I think you should already make a post about the 2013 elections. CPM’ers are all over the place writing about the election and the candidates. Putok na putok na ang usapan at di na mapigil ang pagsisiwalat ng mga opinyon. Kung saan-saan thread na tuloy isinisingit yung mga election-related post. :)

  9. Martial Bonifacio says

    February 27, 2013 at 11:30 AM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMGuShxD5ag&feature=player_embedded

    Listahan lang ng pangalan ang hinihingi ng DSWD ayaw pang ibigay or isulat. Papaano ma-a-audit ng tama nang COA ang DSWD kung walang list of beneficiaries?

    At ngayon may mga balita na hindi naman talaga taga compostella valley yung mga nag rally bagkus hinakot pa sila sa ibang kadahilanan.

    Mukhang may nag udyok na manggulo sa DSWD tignan nyo na lang yung mga bandila na kulay pula at mga nakasulat sa karatula.

    Malalaman mo kung sino sino grupo :)

  10. focusonmayelections says

    February 27, 2013 at 10:35 AM

    i wholeheartedly support and re-post an earlier comment:
    netty says:
    February 26, 2013 at 11:09 pm
    One of the easiest ways for the global pinoys to give back is to encourage their relatives and town-mates to elect political candidates wisely. Ba/-link-/Bayanihan Para sa Inang Bayan will make a huge change if one starts to make endorsements on their FB page, twitter, other social media links , pinoy overseas voters associations, to know your candidates. Say no to corrupt XMAS million peso senators candidates/re-electionist, say no to political dynasties, say no to actors and actresses, say no to those pogi points and concentrate on the magaling and credibility qualities.
    thank you netty.

    • focusonmayelections says

      February 27, 2013 at 11:16 AM

      however i believe that dynastiy candidates whose only qualification is their name and affinity to well known entity (nancy binay for example) are not the same as dynasty candidates who have accomplished a lot of positive things on their own and whose name or filial affinity should not be held against them. i wonder what others think on this issue.

      • focusonmayelections says

        February 27, 2013 at 11:22 AM

        unless the name or affinity is marcos. i do not know when my bias against marcos name/affinity would ever be erased..

  11. jorge bernas says

    February 27, 2013 at 9:20 AM

    CONGRATULATION to All THE PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE OFFICIALS & EMPLOYEES for being cited as the 3rd BEST PERFORMING MARKET IN THE WORLD…by (W.F.E.).. MORE POWER & GOD BLESS PHILIPPINES….

  12. Rene-Ipil says

    February 27, 2013 at 9:13 AM

    I wrote earlier that Roxas is my best bet for the 2016 presidential election. I also said that there are now others who appear in the horizon aside from Roxas including Abaya, Trillanes, Guingona, De Lima, Henares and A. Cayetano. But three years can make a lot of difference and it is entirely possible that anyone amongst the above named could be a presidential bet in 2016.

    PNoy was a non-performer in all those years before he became president while Roxas was already an achiever and a popular senator. In fact, Roxas topped the senatorial election once. And I believe that Roxas would perform better than PNoy if he would be elected president in 2016.

    I think, however, that the people would not vote for Roxas as their president. He could not even get himself elected as Vice President. The people voted for PNoy simply because he is the son of Ninoy and Cory. And only a handful of voters would base their selection of Roxas on his being the grandson of Manuel Roxas and the son of Gerardo Roxas and Judy Araneta-Roxas. But there is still enough time for Roxas to prove himself worthy of the people’s vote especially in his position now as DILG Secretary.

    Meanwhile, let us widen our horizon and start considering equally competent and honest people whom PNoy could endorse as president in 2016.

    • Martial Bonifacio says

      February 27, 2013 at 10:28 AM

      “Meanwhile, let us widen our horizon and start considering equally competent and honest people whom PNoy could endorse as president in 2016.” [email protected] said

      1. Except binay, he is already out in my list for 2016 presidentiables. Id rather vote for Sec. Jimenez of DOT or Sec. Purisima than the VP. I would even go as far as to say na mas credible pa si Kim Henares kesa kay binay kasi kahit mahigpit siya sa tax collection at least pantay pantay kahit si Manny Pacquiao or Renato Corona hindi niya inaatrasan.

      Kahit sinabihan pa siya ni Jinggoy at Enrile na wag ng habulin dahil na impeach na yung tao.

      2. Another reason why i dont like binay is because pinapalaki niya lahat ng small issues at pino-politicize. Tulad nung nabanggit yung katagang “black and white”. Pinalalaki pa yung issue thats its about his skin color daw. :(

    • jorge bernas says

      March 1, 2013 at 9:54 AM

      @ Rene,

      Tama ka Rene, Basta ako dahil sa napakagandang pamamalakad ni Pnoy sa Bansa natin ay susunod at pahalagahan kong sino man ang kanyang konteder na papalit sa kanya pagkatapos nang kanyang termino…

  13. Martial Bonifacio says

    February 27, 2013 at 6:50 AM

    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/26/13/pablo-victims-ransack-relief-goods

    “Yan bang sumugod na yan sa Davao City ay talagang biktima ng bagyong naiinip na sa relief goods” – Kabayan Noli De Castro

    Nagugutom na nga yung mga tao gagamitin pa natin. Kasi ang tanong ko pinky kung tunay na gutom at hindi na sila makakain, sino ang nagbayad sa kanila upang pumuna ng Davao City? -Sec. Soliman

    My Comment:
    The same question runs to my mind. Papaano malalaman ng DSWD kung totoong mga biktima ng bagyo itong mga nag barricade sa harap ng DSWD kung ayaw nilang pumirma o ibigay ang kanilang mga pangalan?

    Kung tutuusin simple lang naman ang hinihingi ni Sec. Soliman ilista lang yung pangalan upang malaman kung sino-sino ang makakakuha ng mga relief goods. This will prevent yung mga doble-doble at yung mga nandadaya or mga nagkukunwari na taga compostella valley or victims ng bagyo.

    Mahirap bang gawin iyon? Papaano pag nag audit ang COA at walang maibigay na pangalan o listahan ang DSWD edi sila naman ang mapagbibintangan ng corruption?

    Bagkus may nakikita pa akong mga placards ng mga party list groups tulad ng Barug Katawhan at Kabataan party list. Campaigning while insinuating public disorder?

    Nakakalungkot na binababoy at inaabuso ng mga bagong militante ang essence ng EDSA I. Proud tayong lahat sa tinaguriang “Peaceful Revolution”.

    The new militant groups insinuate and encourage violence na pati minor de-edad ay ginagamit upang gumawa ng violence at ngayon pagnanakaw.

    Kung naaalala ninyo few weeks ago yung pulis binugbog tapos ngayon naman DSWD ninakawan both caught on video.

    Iyan ba ang iboboto natin sa congress upang maging representante ng mga “kabataan”?Huwag naman po tayong abusado :(

  14. Martial Bonifacio says

    February 27, 2013 at 1:21 AM

    “TAPOS NA ANG USAPIN TUNGKOL SA R.H. BILL AT BATAS NA ITO ” [email protected] Bernas said at comment # 11.4

    My comment:
    Hindi pa po tapos ang usapin sa RH law kasi may pending na kaso pa sa SC. Not to mention that if we ELECT the wrong persons in both senate and congress this 2013 and 2016 the law that was passed by the aquino government can be repealed

    Thats why we need to support Pnoy and the people that he trust because if we elect people that will antagonize his reforms like (binay, enrile, erap, tiangco etc.) it will stall the progress of our country, worst case scenario mabalik tayo sa kangkungan :(

    • jorge bernas says

      February 27, 2013 at 9:10 AM

      @ Marcial,

      Tama ka Marcial, Dapat na patuloy tayong magmatyag, manindigan, at sumunod sa mga magandang progrAma ni Pnoy tungo sa TUWID na DAAN…at para masunod ito kailangan iboto/ihalal ang mga karapatdapat na kandidato na handang maglingkod nang TOTOO, NO TO DYNASTIES at higit sa lahat ay “HUWAG IBENTA ANG SAGRADONG BOTO”.

  15. Mel says

    February 26, 2013 at 7:15 PM

    For Filipinos overseas, it’s time to give back to the motherland

    by Maria Aleta Nieva-Nishimori,
    ABS-CBNnews.com
    Posted at 02/26/2013 6:47 PM
    Updated as of 02/26/2013 6:55 PM

    MANILA, Philippines – Around 500 people including Filipinos overseas, government and non-government organizations attended the 2nd Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora to share best practices and track progress of the past gatherings.

    “Definitely the turnout is much, much bigger than the first Global Summit,” said Secretary Imelda Nicolas, chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

    Nicolas said the first summit didn’t have a good turnout due to a typhoon, which prompted them to change the date from September to February.

    “We are happy that there are many people who came to the summit. Two thirds of the people here are overseas Filipinos. It’s a world wide representation,” she said.

    The summit’s theme “BalikBayanihan Para sa Inang Bayan,” highlights the overseas Filipinos’ desire to give back to the motherland.

    “They have the talent, the resources, the time, the skills. It’s now time for brain gain. It doesn’t have to be that they return physically. There’s so many ways of giving back,” Nicolas said.

    Based on figures from CFO, there are about 10.46 million Filipinos are residing in over 200 countries.

    Filipino-American businesswoman and philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis said this second Global Summit is very significant.

    “Because it’s the first time in history we have an association of Filipino Global Diaspora Council made up of Filipinos abroad who have come together, kapit bisig. We are now speaking with one voice so that we can better the lives of Filipinos here in the Philippines and also better the lives of the distressed kababayans abroad,” Lewis said.

    For Atty. Rodel Rodis, president of the US Pinoys for Good Governance, the CFO’s goal of getting more Filipinos overseas involved in the development of the Philippines is good.

    “But that’s only half point. The other issue is development to diaspora. What are we doing to help Filipinos in the diaspora?” Rodis said.

    SOURCE: www abs-cbnnews com/business/02/26/13/filipinos-overseas-its-time-give-back-motherland

    • netty says

      February 26, 2013 at 11:09 PM

      One of the easiest ways for the global pinoys to give back is to encourage their relatives and town-mates to elect political candidates wisely. Ba/-link-/Bayanihan Para sa Inang Bayan will make a huge change if one starts to make endorsements on their FB page, twitter, other social media links , pinoy overseas voters associations, to know your candidates. Say no to corrupt XMAS million peso senators candidates/re-electionist, say no to political dynasties, say no to actors and actresses, say no to those pogi points and concentrate on the magaling and credibility qualities. Make a list , cross out the bad list and motivate your loved ones to do the same. I am doing mine at least I did something educating them for their own sake. There is no use admiring the old famous names in politics if there is no change. Voting for them is like using the same stinky rug/ trapo to clean up your kitchen or washroom leaving the dirt and bacteria still active and wild. Please heed.

      • rallie florencio says

        February 27, 2013 at 1:04 AM

        Adding to your post, if I may recommend to really clean sweep the system inside our two houses, It may be a very huge task like to do and finding these days a really reliable leader is like looking for the needle in piles of haystacks.
        Almost all if not all have very good refutations and idealism which we may even say worth the ballot we will cast to anyone.
        However once seated, they become like spices and condiments being mixed within the cooking pot trying to have a taste of each as if wanting to be different from each other to a point where the taste becomes totally unpleasant and if ever it becomes tasty, the food is not that healthy.
        The question is why this becomes the normal? A person we often find clean and honest falls to the same allegation of corruption and dirty works later on? Is it really the system of government or the influences coming from some very controlling factors that make their actions and decisions questionable?

        • netty says

          February 27, 2013 at 2:10 AM

          Yes, it is OK to be uncertain and apprehensive when you put the fate of the country and the people in some people’s bad hands. No one has a crystal ball. I am not a citizen any more but living in another country opened up knowledge re political concerns and ache for a left behind birth country. We can just hope for the best and say to ourselves proudly at least I am more aware than before what’s happening and what these guys are doing.

          No one has… “The ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.” This awaits our next judgement for we will know them by their work after, right?
          Winston Churchill
          On qualifications desirable for prospective politician. (web)

« Older Comments
Newer Comments »
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist Then they came fof the Trade Unionists, and I did not out speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me— And there was no one left to speak for me. —Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

Subscribe to raissarobles.com

Please select all the ways you would like to hear from raissarobles.com:

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.

This blog uses MailChimp as a mass mailing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to MailChimp but only for processing. Learn more about MailChimp's privacy practices here.

Christopher “Bong” Go is a billionaire – Duterte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NmX1Px57cI

Find more of my articles by typing here:

My Stories (2009 – Present)

Cyber-Tambayan on Twitter:

Tweets by raissawriter

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT