Manny Villar thinks he can buy everyone with his money. In one instance, his lawyers and land experts produced titles to property that they would develop. The titles overlapped with an adjoining property owned by the family of the wife of a fellow congressman. It was property the wife and her brothers and sisters inherited from their father, a respected former cabinet member in a bygone day.

The congressman was a colleague when Manny Villar became Speaker of the House, by the grace of Erap and the grease of Villar’s money. The security guards of Villar’s real estate corporation barged into the property of the congressman’s wife, and only then did the real owners learn that their inheritance had been poached upon. The wife complained to her husband, who then approached his Speaker.

“Ah, sa misis mo pala ‘yun? Hindi ko alam…never mind, papa-ayos ko na lang”, intoned the Speaker, and days after, his real estate firms laid off the wife’s property. May ini-ilagan din pala. But wait till he becomes President.

* * *

When Juan Ponce Enrile was selected by a majority of his peers to become their Senate President, with a resolution nominating him signed by the requisite 13 in the chamber, Villar casually proposed a deal: he would just resign, and Enrile would take over. But, retain the status quo in the Senate committee chairmanships. Enrile was aghast at the effrontery of the man. Villar was virtually proposing that he turn his back on the thirteen who supported him. Enrile may be everything you want to paint him, but a double-dealer and a traitor he is not. It was no deal, and Enrile went on to become the Senate President, and from there, re-organized the Senate committees. But one thing was certain — Enrile’s regard for the man he replaced had been so diminished.

* * *

When Villar complained that he was being accused, prosecuted and tried by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which was chaired by Panfilo M. Lacson, the man who discovered the double appropriations for C-5, Lacson proposed on the floor to constitute the whole chamber as a Committee of the Whole. That caught Villar by surprise. He simply had to face the music. But he could not. His political advisers, mostly hard-boiled politicians, told him he had to present his defense before peers, but his corporate vice-presidents, who knew every sordid detail of his companies’ wheeling and dealing, transacting and abusing, advised him not to. Baka nga naman masiklat; mahirap na.

But when the hearings had begun, and the documentary evidence piled up, and a report that would inevitably show how he abused his powers and betrayed the public trust, along with profiting handsomely from C-5 was about to be completed, he sought a meeting with Enrile in a posh hotel’s Japanese restaurant.

Enrile brought along his chief of staff, a lady lawyer. Villar began by observing that Enrile would be running for re-election, and intimated that he would love to have him in his senatorial ticket. Then he segued to his ability to help. “Alam ko namang magastos rin ‘yan…” Enrile got the message. Whereupon he told his predecessor off. “I assure you I will be fair. Present your side before the Committee, and I will be fair,” Enrile averred, and then walked out.

To the chief of staff, Villar reiterated his willingness to “help”. Humihirit pa.

When finally Enrile came out with the report last January 18, signed by a majority of senators, Villar cried foul, and once again reiterated his mantra that he was being prosecuted and harassed politically, just because he would be the next president of the benighted republic. Enrile got mad, and called him a coward. Later, Enrile could no longer contain himself, and revealed the indecent proposal that Villar had made in exchange for whitewashing the investigation into his C-5 shenanigan.

* * *

Former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, Erap’s campaign manager has another story to tell. Villar had proposed that the former president withdraw from the presidential race and support his candidacy instead. In exchange, he would reimburse Erap’s expenses, plus some. Erap would have blown his top had Villar himself whispered the “deal” in his ear, so Villar, per Maceda, requested a “holy” man, Bro. Mike Velarde of the El Shaddai Movement, to whisper into Erap’s ears.

It will be recalled that the original C-5 route would pass Velarde’s property in San Dionisio, Paranaque, and for which President Estrada paid, after some haggling over the exorbitant price Velarde wanted for his road right of way compensation. The transaction cost the Republic close to 2 billion pesos. And then Villar proposed that the route be changed, the road re-aligned. The Republic spent more for the project, and Villar earned handsomely, apart from increasing the value of his properties many times over. Everything is charged to the people. The taxpayer pays, as always.

Erap refused the man who Villar thought Erap could not refuse. Velarde after all was Erap’s spiritual adviser. Villar of course denied. But Velarde was quiet. As a “holy” man, he could not lie.

* * *

Now comes Dick Gordon, who also got an indecent proposal on the first day of Febraury this year. I thought it was Villar himself who proposed, they being neighbors after all in the country’s swankiest condominium.

In exchange for Gordon voting to elect Villar Senate President once more, in lieu of Enrile, thus preventing the airing on the floor of the C-5 Committee Report, and withdrawing his presidential bid, he would generously “re-imburse”. I wrote about this incident last February, but did not have the full details. Until Dick himself blew the whole thing up last Tuesday in a DZBB interview.

The day after, in another interview, this time over DZMM, before a duo of commentators who have always tried their best to hide the dirt about Villar hidden from public notice, Gordon next talked about part of the huge provenance of Villar’s fabulous wealth, how funds of the SSS and GSIS and Pag-ibig were channelled to the NHMFC to comprise untold billions of Villar’s low-cost housing empire.

“Akala niya lahat mabibili niya…hindi mabibili ang presidency”, Dick virtually summarized. But Dick said it was an emissary of Villar who approached him. Who? Abangan daw, Dick said.

I know. Any one of two former cabinet officials of two succeeding presidents, the incumbent and the one she deposed. Wait till Dick identifies.

* * *

Villar is capable of paying every single commercial space in every single television station and every radio station in the land. Villar is capable of paying most reporters, most editors, most desk men, most writers, and depending on hefty “extras”, they would “kill” any legitimate story off the evening telecast or the following day’s front page. He can pay columnists and commentators to even print his press statement s and the spun-off propaganda prepared by his army of writers,

Ang problema: Noong 1998, pinalayas ng Crown Asia, ang mga residente ng Paradise Park, isang 5-hectare property na sekwestrado ng gobyerno, dahil ang lupa daw ay pagmamayari na ni Villar. Matagal pa bago sila pinalayas, sila ay nag apila na sa mga kinauukulan na sila’y bigyan ng prayoridad na mabili at madevelop ito.

Malaki ang kanilang pangamba na kung makapwesto si Villar lalo silang gipitin.. Ngunit handa silang makipaglaban sa kanya.

Ang sabi ng Crown Asia: Binili daw nila ang lupa sa isang nagngangalang Nunez.

Ang patunay ng mga dokumento ng gobyerno: Ang lupa ay sequestered ng PCGG. Bago ito nasequester ang nagmamayari ay ang dating Mayor Argana ng Muntinlupa.

Ang nangyari

From an improvement last year, the Philippines has once again slipped in the latest annual survey of corruption in the Asia-Pacific. In the poll, conducted by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, the Philippines was ranked as the fourth most corrupt among 16 major investment destinations in the region, worsening from sixth place in the previous year, although still an improvement from its worst country status in 2008.

In the latest poll, taken among 2,174 expatriate business executives in the region, the country fared only better than the worst, Indonesia, followed by Cambodia and Vietnam. As in many other surveys on corruption and transparency, Singapore was ranked as the cleanest investment destination.

Those behind previous surveys have noted that in some cases, the Philippines slid in its ranking not because the situation in the country had become worse but because others had done better in addressing the problem. That is bad news for a country that is trying to attract job-generating investments and working to keep those already here from moving elsewhere.

Investors, for their part, have also pointed out that as much as corruption, the inconsistency of government policies and the unpredictability of the business environment discouraged investments in this country. Last year the Philippines attracted only a fraction of the amount of foreign direct investments that went to two of the countries ranked among the worst in the latest PERC survey: Indonesia and Vietnam.

The next president will have to move quickly to restore investor confidence in the Philippines. Sweeping measures to reduce corruption, plus the successful prosecution of a big fish or two for plunder, could send a message powerful enough to persuade investors that the new government is determined to deal with this festering problem. The other problem will take longer to address; only time will tell if consistency and predictability in the business environment can be guaranteed in this country. In the race to clean up one’s act, the Philippines cannot afford to be left behind by its neighbors.

Filipinos tend to over-analyze simple, common sense issues. They romanticize problems that result in complacency and fear, if not stupidity. They are sensitive when their faults and weaknesses are pointed out by a foreigner, but when their fellow Filipinos steal from their country’s treasury, they become numb and lose their common sense.

Lack of common sense. This is the problem in the Philippines, not the intricate history of our country that many rely on in order to make sense of the state of our nation (which, by itself, validates the observation about a “government run like hell by Filipinos”).

Our government is run like hell because we allow the devils among us to control it. If we’re expecting the devils to improve things in our country, then we might as well expect hell to freeze. The devils steal our country’s milk and honey and their solution to the ever-worsening poverty is for everyone else to “be a hero and work abroad so that you can keep our hellish government afloat.”

No doubt the Philippines is being run like hell by its own people. But do not blame only the thieves in government. We should blame ourselves, too, for allowing the devils to steal.

Therein lies our lack of common sense. Our infernal government cannot possibly improve anything if we, the people, refuse to see our own faults and weaknesses, one of which is our failure to punish stealing. Until we find the courage to tap into our common sense, our country will not only end up like hell; it will become hell itself.

Think of the Philippines as your own house when you vote in May 2010. If you were to catch a thief inside your house, what would you do? Would you kick him out unpunished? Would you let him back in again? Would you pardon him instead? Would you trust him to be the steward or majordomo of your house?

What does common sense dictate to protect your house against thieves? If it demands punishment, then why don’t we Filipinos do it? It’s because we lack the common sense to overcome the fear that these thieves have sowed in our house and the control of the house they have wrested from us. We have become hostages in our own house. Only common sense will give us the courage to reclaim our house from these thieves. Every corrupt act that goes punished is a step away from what has eluded this former commonwealth—a government run like heaven by Filipinos.

The 2 % lead of Noynoy with a +/-2% margin of error should be interpreted this way: At best for Noynoy, he can have 36+2= 38% while Villar has 34-2= 32% for a lead of 6% over Villar.

On the other hand, at best for Villar he will get 34+2 = 36% versus Noynoy’s 36-2 = 34%.

Hence the range of possible outcome will be a win by Noynoy with a maximum of 7.5% lead. On the other extreme is a Villar win with a lead of 2.5%.

The true value can be anywhere between these two extremes (at a 95% confidence of being correct). So, the term statistical tie is used in the sense that both Villar and Noynoy have a chance of winning, albeit not with the same probability. Assuming a uniform distribution, it can be said that Villar has a 25% chance of winning compared to Noynoy’s 75% chance of winning. That is because in the possible range of values of the lead, between -2 and +6, Villar has 25% versus Noynoy’s 75%.

So even in a statistical tie, which simply means, both have the possibility of winning, their respective probabilities are not the same.

To make this clear, although Villar is happy to have a “statistical tie”, he will still prefer that he is the one who got the 36% and Noynoy, the 34%. In an absolute tie, you can toss a coin to choose which outcome you prefer.

Related story

Noong madaling araw ng Setyembre 23, 1972, dumating ang mga sundalo at dinakip ang aking ama.  Kami naman ay ginising ng aming ina, at  sinabi sa amin kung ano ang nangyari.

Labing- dalawang taong gulang lamang po ako noon. Kinulong ang aming ama kahit na siya ay walang sala. At doon nagsimula ang aming kalbaryo.

Marami ang naniniwala noon na siya ang magiging susunod na Pangulo. Ngunit sa araw na iyon, bigla siyang itinuring na pangunahing kaaway ng estado bagama’t wala siyang kasalanan.

Bumaliktad ang aming mundo. Itinakwil kami ng mga taong nangako na hindi kami iiwan.

Mula sa inaasahang magandang kinabukasan, nag-umpisa ang bangungot ng martial law.

Mula grade one hanggang grade six, ako po ay nasa top ten ng aking klase. Naghahanda para sa isang magandang kinabukasan. Ngunit ng dumating ang martial law, parang naging imposible ang magkaroon ng isang kinabukasan.

Dahil doon, mahirap magsumikap na mag-aral nang mabuti para sa isang kinabukasang walang taglay na pag-asa.

Ang aming nanay ang tumayong ama at ina ng aming pamilya.

Para makapiling ang aming ama, kailangan pa naming humingi ng permiso sa mga namamahala ng martial law.

Full transcript

Noynoy Aquino went to the Philippine Star on February 22. I arrived ten minutes after the interview began. I did not get to see how he came in to greet the staff and how he prepared himself before the interview. He was generally kind, courteous, soft-spoken and tranquil. I noticed however, that the chair he was sitting on was not comfortable but he made no fuss about it. He was talking at a maximum speed, non-stop, no flickering whatsoever. Oblivious to all that was going on and the people around him, he answered all the questions thrown at him. Contrary to the perceptions of many, Noynoy exuded a spirit of confidence especially when it came to affairs of the state (not of the heart, hehe). He knew exactly what to say and this is why I am quite puzzled when many people say that Noynoy “does not have a clue” of what he is saying. Let me tell you, he surely knows what he is saying and may catch you off guard with his amazing statements and actions at the most unpredictable time. He is not naïve!

Noynoy is the “pure statesman” in this presidential race. He knows the country inside out. He is like a walking encyclopedia, a nerd if you want to call it. He knows the law, the Constitution and even Republic Acts promulgated long, long time ago. It is as if he has studied and analyzed all possible issues and topics with careful scrutiny and examined them piece by piece. Amongst all the presidentiables, he seems to have mastered governance to a tee and knows that indeed, a revolutionary change is just what the world and the people need (although he did not say this directly). His outlook is so broad. People can easily be drawn to his aspirations, dreams and plans without force. He is open-minded but at the same time shows firmness. His liberalism has its boundaries as well. His vision has clearly put him way ahead of the rest.

Full article

CEBU CITY — Grandsons of former President Corazon Aquino visited Cebu to help their uncle, Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Noynoy Aquino, in his bid for the presidency.

Justin Benigno “Jiggy” Aquino Cruz, Jonty Aquino Cruz, and Miguel Aquino Abellada arrived Friday and joined the sorties of Noynoy-Mar (Noynoy Aquino and running mate Mar Roxas) local volunteers during the weekend.

Executive Director Edgar Comeros of Noynoy-Mar said the volunteers went with the three Aquino grandchildren to the first district of Cebu. He said the camp received a positive response from the locals.

Jiggy, meanwhile, said Noynoy’s rating drop in January was due to minimal advertisement spending compared to Senator Manny Villar, who is also running for president.

Jiggy said their camp “can’t give up,” adding they will continue visiting schools and youth groups to promote the platform of their uncle.

The three believe that Noynoy’s honesty, which they all say is evident, and the hope he gives to people, will win him the presidential seat.

Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and Mar Roxas will sign a covenant with the urban poor today, March 6, at the Del Pan Sports Complex, Tondo, Manila.

The covenant is the list of issues submitted to them by the urban poor and housing rights organizations, including Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity, Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise Foundation and UP-All (Urban Poor Alliance).

The covenant includes a post-Ondoy rehabilitation program. (Typhoon “Ondoy” was a cause of the government demolitions of informal settlers living along esteros, coasts and riversides.) The rehabilitation program identifies remedies that do not require demolition and eviction as it searches for new ways to extend land tenure security to the poor, so they can live and work in the cities.

Part of the covenant is the appointment of reform-minded persons to head shelter government agencies. The urban poor believe that if the appointed persons in HUDCC or NHA have really a heart for the poor the agencies will be more responsive, efficient and effective in delivering housing services to the poor families.

Full article

]]> http://noypi-ako.com/noynoy-aquino-on-upall-agenda/feed/ 0