A bribe is a bribe is a bribe

By Rey O. Arcilla
Malaya

‘The dictionary defines “bribe” thus: dishonestly persuade someone to act in one’s favor by a gift of money or other inducement; while “incentive” is defined as a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.’

‘The dictionary defines “bribe” thus: dishonestly persuade someone to act in one’s favor by a gift of money or other inducement; while “incentive” is defined as a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.’ – See more at: http://malaya.com.ph/business-news/opinion/bribe-bribe-bribe#sthash.wwScgIMD.dpuf

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada

FOR a change, there’s good news emanating from the United Nations. There appears to be a breakthrough in the two most contentious issues facing the world body.

The first is the Iranian nuclear issue. US President Barack Hussain Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had a telephone conversation, the first between the leaders of the two countries in 34 years. The last time was when Jimmy Carter talked on the telephone with Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi just before the latter was overthrown by the ayatollahs in 1979.

The breakthrough came about principally due to the election of moderate Rouhani as Iranian president. He declared that his government wants a quick resolution to the nuclear issue. The US and other Western countries believe that Iran’s nuclear program is designed to produce weapons. Iran, on the other hand, insists it is for purely peaceful purposes.

The Rouhani, Obama chat was preceded by a meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Both sides emerged from that meeting cautiously optimistic that the long, festering issue of Iran’s nuclear program now has a chance of being resolved.

***

The other significant development in the UN is the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution unanimously requiring Syria to give up its arsenal of chemical weapons.

The resolution virtually eliminates the possibility of the US bombing Syria after the Assad government used chemical weapons that killed about 1,400 of its people.

A US bombing would conceivably have resulted in death or injury to our OFWs still in Syria.

Thanks mainly to the initiative of Russia, the planned US bombing was averted. Russia made the proposal for Syria to put her chemical weapons under international control for subsequent destruction. The US and Syria accepted the proposal, with the latter also acceding to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Without a doubt, this development is of extreme significance if only for the fact that it prevented another Iraq, like conflagration which until now has been costing the lives of countless Iraqi citizens. The sectarian violence between the Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis is now manifested in the frequent bombings taking place in that country killing dozens of people at a time.

It is hoped that the Security Council, with the cooperation of all its five permanent members, will eventually find a solution acceptable to all the parties in the internecine conflict.

***

Senator Jinggoy Estrada said in a privilege speech that the members of the Senate were each given P50 million additional pork barrel after Renato Corona was impeached as chief justice of the Supreme Court. This was confirmed by Senate President Franklin Drilon himself.

Drilon said it wasn’t a bribe because it was released after the trial. Estrada said it may be called an incentive.

The dictionary defines “bribe” thus: dishonestly persuade someone to act in one’s favor by a gift of money or other inducement; while “incentive” is defined as a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something”.
I do not see any difference between the two. Do you?

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad released the names of the recipients of the additional pork barrel. They are:

Antonio Trillanes (October 2012/P50 million), Manuel Villar (October 2012/P50 million), Ramon Revilla (October 2012/P50 million), Francis Pangilinan (October 2012/P30 million), Loren Legarda (October 2012/P50 million), Lito Lapid (October 2012/P50 million), Jinggoy Estrada (October 2012/P50 million), Alan Cayetano (October 2012/P50 million), Edgardo Angara (October 2012/P50 million), Ralph Recto (October 2012/P23 million; December 2012/P27 million), Koko Pimentel (October 2012/P25.5 million; November 2012/P5 million; December 2012/P15 million), Vicente Sotto III (October 2012/P11 million; November 2012/P39 million), Teofisto Guingona (October 2012/P35 million; December 2012/P9 million), Serge Osmeña (December 2012/P50 million), Enrile (December 2012/P92 million), Drilon (December 2012/P100 million), Honasan (August 2012/P50 million), Escudero (August 2012/P99 million), Joker Arroyo (February 2013/P47 million) and Pia Cayetano (January 2013/P50 million).

Only senators Lacson, Marcos and Santiago did not get the additional bonanza. The latter two, together with Arroyo, voted to acquit Corona.

I asked a legal authority if a bribe is considered a bribe if given before or after the favor is done. He said both. So there. The senators were bribed to convict Corona. It doesn’t mean, of course, that Corona was not guilty. That is an altogether different proposition.

***

So, where are we now on the pork barrel scam? Nowhere, I’m afraid.

Unless and until the Ombudsman files a case against the alleged perpetrators before the Sandiganbayan, we cannot even prevent them from flying the coop. We can only do that after arrest warrants have been issued by the Sandiganbayan.

Much, therefore, depends on the Ombudsman to prevent anymore of them from leaving the country. Already, five have left.

One of them is Ms. Gigi Reyes, former chief of staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

When Enrile’s lawyer said that Reyes was never authorized by his client to sign documents pertaining to his pork barrel, she came out with a very stinging rebuke of the lawyer’s statement.

Immediately, Enrile issued a statement belying his lawyer’s claim, saying he would never do such a thing to his people.

Some observers, however, claim that Enrile is really capable of betraying people close to him. “Look at what he did to Marcos,” they say.

Perhaps, the old adage “hell hath no fury than a woman scorned” suddenly dawned on Enrile that he immediately corrected his lawyer.

***

I think it made a lot of sense… placing all 27 Customs collectors on floating status in the Customs Policy Research Office (CPRO) at the Department of Finance head office. Anything less could not possibly effect the needed revamp in the Bureau of Customs.

Among the district collectors covered by the DOF directive are the so, called “Three Kings”–Rogel Gatchalian of the Port of Manila, Ricardo Belmonte of Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Carlos So of the customs office at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Gatchalian is supposedly backed by Sen. Enrile and So by Iglesia ni Cristo. Belmonte, on the other hand, is the brother of House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Word is that it was Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima’s idea to put the 27 on “floating status”. Malacañang approved it. Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon merely signed the order. Reports now say he appears “out of sync”, frantic and confused with the order.

You’d think that Biazon, who was one of those alleged to have done “business” with Pork Barrel Queen Janet Lim, Napoles when he was still a congressman would have resigned (again) for the treatment he got, if he had any delicadeza at all, but…

Now, let’s watch what happens.

***

Reminders (for Noynoy’s action):

1) Filing of charges against officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documentary evidence to prove the venalities in the past in that agency.

2) Investigation of reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia and ordering his successor, Robert Vergara, to file the proper charges, if warranted, against the former.

Noynoy should also order Vergara to report to him on COA’s findings that:

(a) He received the obscenely excessive compensation of P16.36 million last year making him the highest paid government servant and;

(b) That at least P4.13 billion in contributions and loan payments made by 12 government offices to the GSIS had not been credited to the offices as of Dec. 31, 2011.

COA also said the amount of unrecorded remittances could go much higher because only 36 agencies have so far responded out of the 186 that were sent confirmation requests by government auditors. Of the 36, 27 confirmed “discrepancies” in their premium and loan payments ledgers when compared with those of the GSIS.

There are three questions being raised when remittances, or parts thereof, of government agencies are not recorded by the GSIS on time: a) Where are these huge sums “parked” in the meantime?; b) Do they earn interest?; and c) To where (whom?) does the interest, if any, go?

3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant corruption in the military and police establishments.

4) Expeditious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos.

5) Deciding the fate of kabarilan, friend, LTO head Virginia Torres, who was caught on video playing the slot machine in a casino.

***

Today is the 156th day of the seventh year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

The Justice Department has dismissed the charges against several of those accused in Jonas’ disappearance. Cleared were former AFP chiefs of staff Hermogenes Esperon and Alexander Yano, ex, PNP chief Avelino Razon, retired Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Brig. Gen. Eduardo Ano and Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano. Only Maj. Harry Baliaga will be charged for arbitrary detention, murder and obstruction of justice on the disappearance of Jonas.

“Pwedeng kasuhan ang kamay ng krimen pero ang utak ay hindi?” rued Lorena Santos, daughter of a desaparecido like Jonas.

Mr. President, is this what you meant when you called for a “focused, dedicated and exhaustive” probe of what really happened to Jonas?

***

From an internet friend:

A truck driver was driving along on the freeway. A sign comes up that reads “Low bridge ahead.” Before he knows it, the bridge is right ahead of him and he gets stuck under the bridge. Cars are backed up for miles.

Finally, a police car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks around to the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, “Got stuck huh?”

The truck driver says, “No, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of gas.”

***

Email: roacrosshairs@outlook.com

- See more at: http://malaya.com.ph/business-news/opinion/bribe-bribe-bribe#sthash.wwScgIMD.dpuf