Glo and Blago

PerryScope
Perry Diaz

Glo and Blago

The lives of Philippine President Gloria “Glo” Arroyo and Illinois Governor Rod “Blago” Blagojevich have, in so many ways, ran parallel — but similar — courses in the way they governed the people whom they swore to serve. Today, the Philippines is the most corrupt country in Asia and Illinois is one of the most, if not the most, corrupt states in the United States.

The similarities between Glo and Blago are striking. Hey, they even coif their hair the same way. Both practice “pay to play” politics. Both are corrupt kleptocrats. Both have been called “liar, thief and cheat.” Both have illusions of grandeur: Glo wanted to be Prime Minister for life and Blago wanted to be US President in 2016. And both refused to step down from their positions. In 2004, Glo claimed, “The Lord put me here.” Last week, Blago defiantly said, “I will fight this thing every step of the way. I will fight, I will fight, I will fight, till I take my very last breath. I have done nothing wrong.”

Gloria Arroyo, her husband and a legion of government officials and business cronies have been implicated in at least 30 major corruption cases including the IMPSA deal, “Hello Garci” scandal, fertilizer scam, ZTE/NBN bribery scandal, North Rail and South Rail overpriced projects, Spratly sell-out to China, and Jose Pidal kickback accounts.

Rod Blagojevich has been accused of shaking down people and corporations for campaign contributions in return for government contracts or favors. In a wiretapped conversation, he said, “I want to make money,” as he demanded $50,000 campaign donation from an official at a children’s hospital and threatened to withhold $8 million for pediatric care if the official failed to donate.

When President-elect Barack Obama resigned his Senate seat upon his election, Blagojevich immediately put up a “For Sale” sign on the vacated Senate seat which he as governor has the sole authority to appoint. On another wiretapped conversation with a subordinate, he said, “I’ve got this thing, it’s [expletive] golden, and uh, uh, I’m just giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, I can always use it. I can parachute me there,” which means that he can appoint himself to the vacant Senate seat.

While Arroyo had survived four impeachment petitions in the last four years, Blagojevich might not survive an impeachment petition filed recently because even his fellow Democrats in the state legislature want him out. He has been known to use bully tactics to persuade legislators to support his pet bills. But in one bill — a $7 billion tax increase on business– which he actively lobbied for, he was repudiated when the bill lost 107 to 0.

Illinois and the Philippines have long histories of corruption. Corruption in the Philippines started during the more than three centuries of Spanish colonial rule which ended in 1899 with the arrival of the Americans. During the half-century of American administration which followed, corruption was at a minimum. But as soon as the Philippines gained its independence in 1946, corruption started to increase and reached its highest level during the Marcos dictatorship. The People Power revolution of 1986 ousted Marcos and brought in a relatively peaceful era in which corruption decreased for the next 15 years.

In 2001, when then Vice President Arroyo was catapulted to the presidency in another People Power revolution, corruption increased dramatically. Within four days of her takeover, the first corruption scandal erupted: the controversial IMPSA deal which Arroyo’s newly appointed Justice Secretary Hernando Perez signed. Six years later, Perez was indicted for allegedly extorting $2 million from former Congressman Mark Jimenez in relation to the IMPSA deal. However, the charges were dropped by the Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez when Jimenez executed an affidavit of desistance. It is interesting to note that Gutierrez was appointed by Arroyo to the job and was also a law school classmate of the First Gentleman, Mike Arroyo.

Last December 17, 2008, Gutierrez ordered the filing of graft, extortion and falsification charges against Perez, his wife, brother-in-law, and a business associate. However, it was immediately ridiculed by the opposition as a farcical show — “moro-moro” — to dispel allegations of “selective prosecution” by the Ombudsman.

Illinois has a notorious history of crime and corruption. Chicago was one of the bloodiest and corrupt cities during the Prohibition era when Al Capone’s criminal and bootlegging empire ruled. Politicians, judges, and police officers were in his “payroll.”

Corruption became the rule rather than the exception. During the 21-year reign of the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley which ended in 1976, he built a powerful political machine. Although he was never indicted of corruption, a lot of his underlings went to jail.

Since 1971, more than 1,000 people have been convicted for corruption in Illinois. From 1997 through 2006, the state had 524 federal corruption convictions. Since 1973, three governors have been imprisoned: George Ryan (Blago’s predecessor) convicted in 2006 for racketeering, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice; Daniel Walker in 1987 for savings and loan fraud; and Otto Kerner, Jr. in 1973 for bribery, conspiracy and perjury. If convicted, Blagojevich would be the fourth of the last eight governors to be jailed.

In the case of Arroyo, since she cannot be prosecuted while she’s still in office, she may eventually have to face the music when she steps down from the presidency in June 2010. Unless, she finds a way to extend her term of office beyond 2010, she could — like her predecessor Joseph Estrada — be charged with plunder. However, Gutierrez, whose appointment as Ombudsman is a fixed term of seven years, will still be around until December 1, 2012. The question is: Would she prosecute Arroyo at the end of Arroyo’s term of office? Debt of honor — “utang na loob” — goes a long way in the Philippines. However, should Gutierrez decide not to prosecute Arroyo, she’ll live out the rest of her life in ignominy.

At the end of the day, Glo and Blago would probably have to deal with their own conscience. And sometimes one’s own conscience could be very unforgiving and could be tormenting to one’s sanity.

(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)