INVESTIGATE THE PROSECUTORS

It’s time to INVESTIGATE the Ombudsman prosecutors behind the Carlos Garcia plea bargain deal.

It’s time to find out what made Garcia VERY, VERY SPECIAL to them that as early as February last year, they had already agreed to a plea bargain for him

So special in fact that the plea bargain was signed JUST A MONTH after Garcia’s bid for bail was denied by the Sandiganbayan on Jan. 7, the evidence against him being strong.

GANOON KABILIS KUMILOS ang mga prosecutors, mga kababayan. Pagkilos na PUMABOR KAY GARCIA, hindi para sa bansa na siyang kliyente nila

Of greater importance to find out is the basis for the Ombudsman prosecutors in allowing Garcia to keep almost half of his questionable wealth, and the formula used in arriving at the amount to be returned to the Government.

This despite the fact that Garcia’s wife, Clarita, had declared in writing that he had accepted gifts, monies and cash for travel expenses from companies that were awarded military contracts. The travel expenses included shopping money for her from $10,000 to $20,000.

Suddenly, I wonder if it’s really just P300 million plus which was amassed by Garcia. I have a feeling it’s a lot, lot more.

***

The plan of MMDA boss Francis Tolentino to build rotundas in various areas to ease traffic is good. But the problem is that will take time and a considerable portion of the drastically reduced MMDA budget.

You might want to consider the following, sir:

First, open up key intersections and turns which triggered massive traffic jams after they were closed by your predecessor.

Examples of these are the EDSA-Roosevelt Ave. intersection and the left turn to North Ave. in Quezon City, coming from EDSA, both in Quezon City and the left turn to Buendia coming from Taft Ave.

It would be best for you, sir, to observe these areas yourself. It won’t take you 10 minutes to grasp the situation.

Second, work for the immediate return of the 12 midnight to 6 a.m. only travel time for container or trailer trucks.

Third, immediately FIRE traffic enforcers who ignore traffic lights and instead give undue priority to vehicles going into or coming out from villages of the super-rich.

Good examples of this, Mr. Tolentino, are the approaches to the subdivisions of the rich along the Alabang-Zapote Road in Muntinlupa.

Please find time for my observations and suggestions, sir. I KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING. THANKS and God Bless!

***

Congratulations to the House of Representatives for adopting a code of conduct that stops ABUSES commonly committed by some congressmen since God knows when.

Not only is the code TIMELY, it is also comprehensive and SPECIFIC that the PASAWAY will find it difficult to go around its provisions to escape punishment in case they violate it.

Among the code’s vital provisions are:

Congressmen cannot receive compensation from private individuals.

Congressmen cannot accept a position in government or in a state-owned corporation , including those created by Congress during his term, and will lose his House seat if he does.

House members cannot appear as lawyers for or take any financial interest in a contract or franchise granted during his term.

And most of all, congressmen cannot intervene in any manner before any office of the government for personal benefit or where the member may be called upon to act on account of the member’s office.

This code will rekindle FAITH and HOPE for a truly IMPARTIAL Congress that will work for the people’s welfare, and not for the members’ own concerns or those of vested-interest groups

Hats off to Speaker Sonny Belmonte and the entire House. Please implement this code TO THE LETTER.

***

From our blogmates:

NENITA SALAO of Paranaque on all our blogs:

I have read them all. I’m just curious, how in the world did the concerned people not think about it? i suppose they are all educated enough to analyze everything and think of what they should be doing.

ROMY SOLINA of Makati on Jessica Alfaro:

Kung ako si Alfaro, bakit pa ako babalik? Tapos na ang ginawa ko. Sino ba ang mga SC na hindi naniwala sa akin, samantalang lahat ng nakarinig at nakakita sa akin ay naniwala. Gusto lang ng SC na humanap ng palusot.

FIL ELEFANTE of Quezon City on the Carlos Garcia case: I don’t agree with what happened with Garcia’s trial with the Sandiganbayan. Personally, I prefer to criticize a person's action but refrain from villifying his character or the institution he represents, in this case, the Sandiganbayan or the Ombudsman. Keep it up. It's an interesting read and I always welcome a differing opinion or view because that's one way to remind myself to keep an open mind. I don't have a monopoly on the truth. MARIBEL NIALA of Quezon City on the South Luzon Expressway toll increase: I agree that we should have more credible plans and visible infrastructure to justify the toll hike and all. In the end, we want results and not just lip service from the government. Unless the system changes, we cannot move on and be where we want our country to be. We should be vigilant and become good citizens to make all these happen. *** This is OUR CORNER. Not just mine, OURS. Your views and reactions will be most welcome everyday of the week. Just be sure to include your complete name and email address, and contact number if possible. I will be online starting at 6 a.m.