This is a reaction to the column "The persuasive powers of the GSIS", written by acclaimed economist Solita Collas-Monsod. (Inquirer, 8-18-2007) I found it quite disturbing.
We saw again the blatant abuse of power by high officials of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). They filed administative and criminal charges against the members of the Special Audit Team (SAT) of the Commission on Audit not only to hit back but also to intimidate present and future investigators and prosecutors.
If President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sincerely feels for government workers, she should not only increase their salaries, she should also sack GSIS chief Winston Garcia.
Over the years, there have been numerous complaints from retired government workers about delayed pensions. Many of these retirees have written the Inquirer, as last recourse, after the GSIS didn't act on their complaints. Many of the problems they complained about persist to this day.
On the other hand, there are reports that while the retirees are having a hard time getting their well-deserved pensions, GSIS officials have favored themselves with incredible cash incentives and fat retirement packages.
Firing the GSIS chief will send a clear message that the President truly shares their needs and concerns.
But I may be expecting too much from an administration that rewards bullies and jails do-gooders in government.
(Taken from the Letters to the Editor, PDI August 25,2007)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Antiterror law opens opportunities for human rights abuses
I could only shake my head in disbelief after learning that the Arroyo administration still implemented the Human Security Act of 2007 despite the law's overwhelming rejection by the people who see it as a mechanism to "legitimize" more human rights abuses against government critics and the opposition. Fears about the HSA are not unfounded. Even before the HSA' implementation, we saw how the present dispensation could so wantonly violate the rights of the people.
We don't need the HSA (antiterror law) in our country. Yes, we still have the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army and the Abu Sayyaf, but our strong military alliance with the United States and the peace talks should be enough to deal with these problems. The antiterror law only unleashes the dogs of government abuse on the people.
The administration may say that under the Constitution, it is also the responsibility of the government to maintain peace and order. But it can do this by strengthening our police force and sincerely pursuing the AFP Modernization Program.
In implementing the HSA, the country's policymakers are missing the point. The priority concerns of Filipinos are education, health, jobs and food security.
Poverty is the worst form of terrorism. The government must address and solve this age-old problem once and for all. Curtailing the people's freedom to air their grievances is like rubbing salt on an already gangrenous wound.
It has been decades since we had a servant-leader in the person of Ramon Magsaysay. I hope the country will have a leader like Panama's Omar Torrijos who insisted on taking control of the Panama Canal on behalf of his people, or Ecuador's Jaime Roldos Aguilera who bravely defied the world's most powerful countries so that Ecuadorians would be the only ones benefiting from their natural resources.
President Macapagal-Arroyo is an economist. She must use her presidency and her brilliant ideas on economics for the benefit of the people. She must now choose between hanging on to power indefinitely or making good use of her God-given abilities by sincerely serving the people, especially the poor and downtrodden.
Sadly, after six and a half years in power, Ms. Arroyo and her minions have reduced the people into paupers and second-class citizens in their own country.
Filipinos have a great potential. Let us unite, act as one and aggressively pursue what is moral and just, and hold our past and present leaders accountable for their sins against the people. The nation has suffered so much.
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI July 24,2007 issue)
We don't need the HSA (antiterror law) in our country. Yes, we still have the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army and the Abu Sayyaf, but our strong military alliance with the United States and the peace talks should be enough to deal with these problems. The antiterror law only unleashes the dogs of government abuse on the people.
The administration may say that under the Constitution, it is also the responsibility of the government to maintain peace and order. But it can do this by strengthening our police force and sincerely pursuing the AFP Modernization Program.
In implementing the HSA, the country's policymakers are missing the point. The priority concerns of Filipinos are education, health, jobs and food security.
Poverty is the worst form of terrorism. The government must address and solve this age-old problem once and for all. Curtailing the people's freedom to air their grievances is like rubbing salt on an already gangrenous wound.
It has been decades since we had a servant-leader in the person of Ramon Magsaysay. I hope the country will have a leader like Panama's Omar Torrijos who insisted on taking control of the Panama Canal on behalf of his people, or Ecuador's Jaime Roldos Aguilera who bravely defied the world's most powerful countries so that Ecuadorians would be the only ones benefiting from their natural resources.
President Macapagal-Arroyo is an economist. She must use her presidency and her brilliant ideas on economics for the benefit of the people. She must now choose between hanging on to power indefinitely or making good use of her God-given abilities by sincerely serving the people, especially the poor and downtrodden.
Sadly, after six and a half years in power, Ms. Arroyo and her minions have reduced the people into paupers and second-class citizens in their own country.
Filipinos have a great potential. Let us unite, act as one and aggressively pursue what is moral and just, and hold our past and present leaders accountable for their sins against the people. The nation has suffered so much.
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI July 24,2007 issue)
Why the nation can't move on
Let me react to Conrado de Quiros' column "Rage against the dying of the light." (Inquirer, 5/23/07)
Frankly speaking, we Filipinos have no idea of what justice really means. No country, where too many injustices are committed and its people don't do something to stop them, has ever progressed. The reason for this is that, whenever an opportunity or a challenge presents itself to us to test our capabilities as a nation, we blink.
Our country's violent political landscape is comparable to that of Afghanistan and Iraq, whether during election time or normal times. Every day, we always hear news of a journalist, a leftist, a police officer, or even a public official being killed or gone missing.
The Philippines today can be compared to America at the time of Al Capone, whose goons were deeply embedded in every fabric of society. We can't trust the military because we can't get over the trauma of Marcos' martial law; we can't go to the police because some of them are themselves the crime suspects; and we can't get any help from the media because some of them have been bought by the powers-that-be.
Who wants help from the communists? Certainly not us who want a democratic, peaceful and just life. How about from our public servants? Most of them are hated by the people because they operate like Capone's mafia, buying government positions and killing people to get things done.
De Quiros is right. Cheating, lying, stealing and killing are all around us, staring us in the face even. The question is, do we Filipinos have the balls to fight these evils? The United States went after Capone and other high-profile criminals.
A good start for us is to jail those high officials guilty of cheating, lying, stealing and killing. That will be the only time Lady Justice and God will start looking at us kindly.
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI May 30,2007 issue)
Frankly speaking, we Filipinos have no idea of what justice really means. No country, where too many injustices are committed and its people don't do something to stop them, has ever progressed. The reason for this is that, whenever an opportunity or a challenge presents itself to us to test our capabilities as a nation, we blink.
Our country's violent political landscape is comparable to that of Afghanistan and Iraq, whether during election time or normal times. Every day, we always hear news of a journalist, a leftist, a police officer, or even a public official being killed or gone missing.
The Philippines today can be compared to America at the time of Al Capone, whose goons were deeply embedded in every fabric of society. We can't trust the military because we can't get over the trauma of Marcos' martial law; we can't go to the police because some of them are themselves the crime suspects; and we can't get any help from the media because some of them have been bought by the powers-that-be.
Who wants help from the communists? Certainly not us who want a democratic, peaceful and just life. How about from our public servants? Most of them are hated by the people because they operate like Capone's mafia, buying government positions and killing people to get things done.
De Quiros is right. Cheating, lying, stealing and killing are all around us, staring us in the face even. The question is, do we Filipinos have the balls to fight these evils? The United States went after Capone and other high-profile criminals.
A good start for us is to jail those high officials guilty of cheating, lying, stealing and killing. That will be the only time Lady Justice and God will start looking at us kindly.
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI May 30,2007 issue)
Overseas Filipinos can help our country
I was so pleased reading Conrado de Quiros' column "13 Signs." (Inquirer 4/10/07) But let me react on the seventh sign he cited.
De Quiros hit the nail right on the head when he said some of the Filipinos would rather go to countries where they treat slaves better.
I can't blame Filipinos who leave the Philippines to work temporarily in other countries or to stay there for good. Life abroad, especially in First World countries, is really good. When you ask an overseas Filipino why he or she left the country, his or her reply is usually this: "Because here in our adopted country, the government treats its citizens well, and there is a justice system that functions well, unlike back home. Dito ka na lang! Mas aasenso ka pa dito, sa Pilipinas wala nang pag-asa, eh! Sayang lang kung dyan ka lang mamamalagi (Just come over. You'll be successful here unlike back there in the Philippines, there's no more hope. You're just wasting your abilities if you stay there)."
When I ask them:"What is the braver thing to do? Leaving your country for good and not looking back even though you know your heart still beats for it? Or, after a few or many years abroad, after learning so much about justice, progress, freedom, discipline and sanity from your adopted country, you decide to come back to your land of birth, unite it and do something to improve the lives of your countrymen?
What is the most honorable and courageous thing that our so-called modern day heroes can do to save our morally torn and poverty-mired country?
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI April 28,2007 issue)
De Quiros hit the nail right on the head when he said some of the Filipinos would rather go to countries where they treat slaves better.
I can't blame Filipinos who leave the Philippines to work temporarily in other countries or to stay there for good. Life abroad, especially in First World countries, is really good. When you ask an overseas Filipino why he or she left the country, his or her reply is usually this: "Because here in our adopted country, the government treats its citizens well, and there is a justice system that functions well, unlike back home. Dito ka na lang! Mas aasenso ka pa dito, sa Pilipinas wala nang pag-asa, eh! Sayang lang kung dyan ka lang mamamalagi (Just come over. You'll be successful here unlike back there in the Philippines, there's no more hope. You're just wasting your abilities if you stay there)."
When I ask them:"What is the braver thing to do? Leaving your country for good and not looking back even though you know your heart still beats for it? Or, after a few or many years abroad, after learning so much about justice, progress, freedom, discipline and sanity from your adopted country, you decide to come back to your land of birth, unite it and do something to improve the lives of your countrymen?
What is the most honorable and courageous thing that our so-called modern day heroes can do to save our morally torn and poverty-mired country?
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI April 28,2007 issue)
US meddling in Smith case, extrajudiciial killings
This is a reaction to the headline story titled,"US raps GMA on killings." (Inquirer,3/16/07)
Instead of blaming an outsider for the perceived misdeeds of the Arroyo administration, Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Joker Arroyo should have just kept their mouths shut.
The problem with some of our public officials is that whenever the United Nations, European Union, the United States, or any other nation or international organization admonishes us for the offenses we commit on ourselves, they quickly denounce it as "meddling in our political affairs." They should just take it constructively.
Those entities can take the lead in stopping the extrajudicial killings. Besides, I haven't heard a good number of our legislators condemn the political killings happening since 2001.
And one more thing: I haven't heard a single senator condemning the transfer of convicted rapist Daniel Smith from the Makati City Jail to the US Embassy. They should've condemned this injustice, not the US condemnation of extrajudicial killings in our country, as "meddling in local affairs."
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI April 11,2007 issue)
Instead of blaming an outsider for the perceived misdeeds of the Arroyo administration, Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Joker Arroyo should have just kept their mouths shut.
The problem with some of our public officials is that whenever the United Nations, European Union, the United States, or any other nation or international organization admonishes us for the offenses we commit on ourselves, they quickly denounce it as "meddling in our political affairs." They should just take it constructively.
Those entities can take the lead in stopping the extrajudicial killings. Besides, I haven't heard a good number of our legislators condemn the political killings happening since 2001.
And one more thing: I haven't heard a single senator condemning the transfer of convicted rapist Daniel Smith from the Makati City Jail to the US Embassy. They should've condemned this injustice, not the US condemnation of extrajudicial killings in our country, as "meddling in local affairs."
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI April 11,2007 issue)
No apologies to an important friend and ally
This is in reaction to the news story titled "US military apologizes for S. Korea rape." (PDI 1-16-07).
I wonder why the US military can apologize to South Korea for a crime committed by one of its soldiers, but refuses to do the same to the Philippines for a similar crime.
Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith has been convicted of rape here in our country. The 23-year old US soldier in South Korea is still a suspect, but the US military has already issued an apology to the host country. "I deeply regret and personally apologize for this terrible incident that has resulted in grave injury to a Korean civilian. This vicious act is an affront to all soldiers," Maj. Gen. John Morgan, the acting US 8th Army commander, was quoted as saying.
On the other hand, instead of issuing an apology for the rape of Nicole by Smith, Gen. William Fallows, supreme commander of the US-Pacific forces, canceled the Balikatan exercises for this year (the exercises were rescheduled after Smith was given back to US custody) to show his government's displeasure with Smith's imprisonment at the Makati City Jail.
Is this the way to treat an important ally and "friend"? The US military already has its way with regard to the custody of Smith. The least it can do is to issue an apology to the Filipino people for the rape of Nicole.
Both the rape of a 67-year-old Korean woman by an American soldier and the rape of a 23-year-old Filipino woman by an American soldier fall into the category of a "vicious act (that) is an affront to all soldiers."
(taken from the Letters to the Editor, PDI January 23,2007 issue)
I wonder why the US military can apologize to South Korea for a crime committed by one of its soldiers, but refuses to do the same to the Philippines for a similar crime.
Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith has been convicted of rape here in our country. The 23-year old US soldier in South Korea is still a suspect, but the US military has already issued an apology to the host country. "I deeply regret and personally apologize for this terrible incident that has resulted in grave injury to a Korean civilian. This vicious act is an affront to all soldiers," Maj. Gen. John Morgan, the acting US 8th Army commander, was quoted as saying.
On the other hand, instead of issuing an apology for the rape of Nicole by Smith, Gen. William Fallows, supreme commander of the US-Pacific forces, canceled the Balikatan exercises for this year (the exercises were rescheduled after Smith was given back to US custody) to show his government's displeasure with Smith's imprisonment at the Makati City Jail.
Is this the way to treat an important ally and "friend"? The US military already has its way with regard to the custody of Smith. The least it can do is to issue an apology to the Filipino people for the rape of Nicole.
Both the rape of a 67-year-old Korean woman by an American soldier and the rape of a 23-year-old Filipino woman by an American soldier fall into the category of a "vicious act (that) is an affront to all soldiers."
(taken from the Letters to the Editor, PDI January 23,2007 issue)
De Quiros on GMA
This is in response to the critics of Conrado de Quiros who tell him to stop writing negatively about the Arroyo administration.
De Quiros is well aware of the sins of the government has committed against the people. He is also well aware of what is going on in our slowly dying nation. Most of all, he is aware that our country is a state at "war".
He knows that keeping silent will only aggravate the problems facing our nation. He offers ideas that could help us break the impasse our country is now in. But that is a task that will never be easy to accomplish. The problems have been with us for the past 500 years.
To build a strong nation requires genuine patriotism and nationalism and love of God, But first, let us look within ourselves and ask this question,"Am I willing to fight for my country?"
If we want our nation to be great, we have to kill the old, selfish and indifferent person in us. We have to bring out the selfless, patriotic person that has been sleeping within. Finding this new self will be the turning point for our country.
So, stop criticizing De Quiros, and start doing something for the country. We have a job to do and we have to do it for our nation and our sons and daughters.
(taken from the Letters to the Editor, PDI July 17, 2006 issue)
De Quiros is well aware of the sins of the government has committed against the people. He is also well aware of what is going on in our slowly dying nation. Most of all, he is aware that our country is a state at "war".
He knows that keeping silent will only aggravate the problems facing our nation. He offers ideas that could help us break the impasse our country is now in. But that is a task that will never be easy to accomplish. The problems have been with us for the past 500 years.
To build a strong nation requires genuine patriotism and nationalism and love of God, But first, let us look within ourselves and ask this question,"Am I willing to fight for my country?"
If we want our nation to be great, we have to kill the old, selfish and indifferent person in us. We have to bring out the selfless, patriotic person that has been sleeping within. Finding this new self will be the turning point for our country.
So, stop criticizing De Quiros, and start doing something for the country. We have a job to do and we have to do it for our nation and our sons and daughters.
(taken from the Letters to the Editor, PDI July 17, 2006 issue)
More Philippine history reminders for Filipinos
I nearly shed tears of joy while reading Ramon Farolan's column titled "Balangiga and Catubig." (PDI 10/15/06) For a brief moment, I felt so proud of my country.
The government should invest heavily not only in books on Math and Science but also on Social Sciences and Philippine History. Knowledge of our country's past will make most of our youth aware of the sacrifices that our heroes offered for our nation. It will also open the eyes of our people to the real value of nationhood.
I am not advocating that our people adopt a kind of extremist nationalism. What I want is for our government to make a deliberate effort to instill in Filipinos love of country. What really keeps our nation from moving forward is that almost all of us, leaders and ordinary citizens alike, have practically no love for our country. The government refuses to be accountable to its people, while the people don't care about what the government does. There is a yawning gap between the rich and the poor. There is a general sense of depression over the present state of our nation and most of the middle class want to get out of the country in search of greener pastures, leaving behind a country in dire need of their services. Take a look at our skilled workers and professionals.
Our enemy at present is not a foreign invader or colonizer, but our very own selves. We can have a hundred Edsa revolutions but still find ourselves stuck in this mess. Some of us may say,"You can't eat nationalism for breakfast!" But with love of country, coupled with honor, justice and respect, we may yet find ourselves doing something to uplift the quality of life of every Filipino. For us to move on, we must learn to put patriotism in practice. Only then will everything we aspire for as a people fall into place.
Maybe, sometime in the future, we may yet bring the Balangiga bells back home.
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI October 23,2006 issue)
The government should invest heavily not only in books on Math and Science but also on Social Sciences and Philippine History. Knowledge of our country's past will make most of our youth aware of the sacrifices that our heroes offered for our nation. It will also open the eyes of our people to the real value of nationhood.
I am not advocating that our people adopt a kind of extremist nationalism. What I want is for our government to make a deliberate effort to instill in Filipinos love of country. What really keeps our nation from moving forward is that almost all of us, leaders and ordinary citizens alike, have practically no love for our country. The government refuses to be accountable to its people, while the people don't care about what the government does. There is a yawning gap between the rich and the poor. There is a general sense of depression over the present state of our nation and most of the middle class want to get out of the country in search of greener pastures, leaving behind a country in dire need of their services. Take a look at our skilled workers and professionals.
Our enemy at present is not a foreign invader or colonizer, but our very own selves. We can have a hundred Edsa revolutions but still find ourselves stuck in this mess. Some of us may say,"You can't eat nationalism for breakfast!" But with love of country, coupled with honor, justice and respect, we may yet find ourselves doing something to uplift the quality of life of every Filipino. For us to move on, we must learn to put patriotism in practice. Only then will everything we aspire for as a people fall into place.
Maybe, sometime in the future, we may yet bring the Balangiga bells back home.
(taken from the Letters to the Editor PDI October 23,2006 issue)
The challenge to rage against injustice
i would like to thank the Inquirer for reporting the awful but genuine truth regarding the oil spill in Guimaras, the killing of journalists and activists, the leakage of test questions in the June 2006 nursing board exams and the bid to impeach the President. It is now up to us, Filipinos, how we will respond to the challenges faced by our nation today.
Will we keep our silence amid the unjust killings of Filipinos (because they happened to be on the other side of the political fence) until one of our own in the family has also been murdered? Shall we rise up to the challenge of bringing before the bar of justice those responsible for the massive oil spill in Guimaras, so that environmental disasters of such an unimaginable scale will never happen again in our country? What is our stand regarding the cheating issue in the last nursing exams? What does it say about our morals as a people and a nation?
And finally, do we really care about transparency in government, when what we see is the stubborn refusal of the Arroyo administration to submit itself to public accountability?
When will we get our senses back? When will we finally feel the rage inside our bodies, to finally act together as one nation and fight against the injustices being committed in our land?
(taken from PDI August 29,2006 issue in the Letters to the Editor)
Will we keep our silence amid the unjust killings of Filipinos (because they happened to be on the other side of the political fence) until one of our own in the family has also been murdered? Shall we rise up to the challenge of bringing before the bar of justice those responsible for the massive oil spill in Guimaras, so that environmental disasters of such an unimaginable scale will never happen again in our country? What is our stand regarding the cheating issue in the last nursing exams? What does it say about our morals as a people and a nation?
And finally, do we really care about transparency in government, when what we see is the stubborn refusal of the Arroyo administration to submit itself to public accountability?
When will we get our senses back? When will we finally feel the rage inside our bodies, to finally act together as one nation and fight against the injustices being committed in our land?
(taken from PDI August 29,2006 issue in the Letters to the Editor)
Lamentable majority, unbelievable minority
I lament the deafening silence of the majority of Filipino youth amid the grinding poverty, graft and corruption in government, moral decline, destruction of cultural treasures and the suppression of basic rights in our country. I can't believe that only a minority of our countrymen are appalled by the evils now stalking our land.
Someone should remind us that to be nationalistic is not only to be anti-imperialist. It also means being vigilant and being advocates of truth.
We call on all Filipino youth who are afraid to air what they feel about our country to stand up and fight the evils in the government! May our Lord God provide us with everything we need to destroy these evils and restore our nation.
(taken from PDI July 8,2006 issue in the Letters to the Editor)
Someone should remind us that to be nationalistic is not only to be anti-imperialist. It also means being vigilant and being advocates of truth.
We call on all Filipino youth who are afraid to air what they feel about our country to stand up and fight the evils in the government! May our Lord God provide us with everything we need to destroy these evils and restore our nation.
(taken from PDI July 8,2006 issue in the Letters to the Editor)
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