SPEND YOUR OWN MONEY FOR GARCI PROBE!

To Senators Francis Escudero and Allan Peter Cayetano, Malacanang and the rest of those calling for a probe of renewed allegations of poll fraud in 2004 and 2007, SPEND YOUR OWN MONEY for it if you really want to.

Not Senate or Malacanang funds to save our hard-earned taxes.

Sen. Escudero, co-sponsor a resolution for an investigation if you want to but be sure to specify that apart from your own monies, the probe will be CONDUCTED AFTER sessions and OUTSIDE the Senate.

So that the Senate will save on added power and food bills and the probe will NOT EAT UP the time for your MAIN JOB as senators, writing proposed laws to uplift the life of us ordinary mortals.

And personalities who will be summoned to the investigation can sue anyone of you for grave slander or other related charges if they think they will be demonized, maligned or dehumanized during the process.

SPECIFY who will JUDGE the truth or falsehood of the results of the probe and what the hell is the REAL MEANING OF TRUTH this time.

And most of all, honorable senators, prove your IMPARTIALITY first by intensely questioning and investigating the sources of these latest exposes before you even initiate an investigation.

Suspended ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan is a principal accused in the Maguindanao massacre. There is a standing warrant of arrest for former Maguinfanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol for poll fraud.

In other words, the two are of HIGHLY DUBIOUS and notorious reputations. Isn’t there a saying in law that if the source is polluted, so is the proof?

Both Bedol and Ampatuan are serializing their allegations of fraud ONLY IN MEDIA. They HAVE NOT yet given a written statement. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Sixto Brillantes himself said “we cannot rely on interviews.”

If you won’t question these two first, honorable senators, and would rather go directly to a probe, then that will be nothing less than another CHEAP POLITICAL GIMMICK for MEDIA MILEAGE.

Consider these also, boys and girls:

Brillantes himself categorically declared that it would be pointless to prove who really won in the 2004 elections despite the “Hello Garci” controversy.

Brillantes said the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cannot be nullified, adding that “we cannot nullify her actions for six years.”

MONTHS were spent on congressional hearings in the “Hello Garci” controversy, all the accusers were invited and given all the opportunities to prove their claims but no one came up with indisputable proof.

Bottom line: WHAT GOOD will a reopening of alleged poll fraud do? Will it help solve unemployment, hunger and other major problems we face day after day after day?

*** Eight of our friends on “Margie Juico’s turn to explain!”:

GRACE TAMAYO

Somebody signed in her behalf...and she doesnt know anything? Tell it to the marines. And what about the P80 million budget for medicines? Who won the bidding? The highest bidder? Ang galing galing mong gumalaw.

NESTOR PATNUGOT of Davao City

Aprub pa rin yan sa Itaas, I tell you. Isang sagot ng Palasyo diyan, "it's above board." Tapos, babanatan na naman nila si PGMA. Kawawa naman iyong tigatira na party-list kay GMA, daming nakikinabang sa kanya. .

CIELO TILAN of London, United Kingdom

Kaniya-kaniyang style ng paghahanda para sa pangungurakot. Kaniya- kaniyang style ng pagpapalusot. Aabangan ko iyan.

PRIMO CRISOSTOMO of Farmville, Virginia, USA

Sana, i-ROAST or GRILL din siya sa Senado. May maaasahan po ba kami, Sen. Guingona? Sabagay, kung walang justice, JUST-TIIS na lang. Yellow silang pareho. Ang ‘daang matuwid nga naman, sa BANGIN patungo.

APRIL KATHLENE PENUELA

Hope maexplain niya ng maayos.

AZUMI SHEOL NAKIRA of Hong Kong

She will explain…how and where she used all the money.

MARIA ALOHA of Angono, Rizal

Yup, isn’t it?

JOSIE PINGKIHAN of Hong Kong

Where is the accountability of gov't officials? Don't they understand what public service is? Who the public is? Why are gov't officials called public servants?

***

Four of our friends on “Current PCSO funds must also be probed”:

ALEX VERSOZA of Quezon City

Their squid tactics must be brought out to the open. They must stand up to their commitment of full transparency in all their affairs. The issue of using their funds for the promotion of personal interests of officials and not for the agency is very valid and of public interest.

LETTY ARCILLA

Sapul ninyo. Dapat ay mayroong audit kahit isang taon pa lang ang kanilang operation, dahil ang hilig nilang magbintang.

LUIS BAYUBAY of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Dapat lang talaga. Bantayan natin ang mga pondo sa bawat ahensya ng gobyerno para maiwasan at ma-kontrol na ang mga malawakang nakawan ng mga opisyales at mga tauhan sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno. Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kapwa Pilipino ninyo, at sa Diyos! Matakot naman sana kayo!!!!

ALFONSO PENA of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Distribution of the proceeds from the sales of lottery tickets are determined by law. Each lottery draw has a specific beneficiary. Long-term beneficiaries like the Philippine Tuberculosis Society and Boy Scouts of the Philippines will remain. It is those newly-created beneficiaries that certainly would raise an eyebrow. I think 10 percent of the proceeds goes to administrative costs like salaries of employees. This must have shrunk over the years because of more electronic devices and as ticket sales increase, more and more surplus funds are generated. You have to see the PCSO Charter if these funds are legally beyond public scrutiny. 39

MARGIE JUICO'S TURN TO EXPLAIN!

It’s now PCSO Chair Margie Juico’s turn to EXPLAIN.

A public relations firm has cornered a P500-million deal with the PCSO at her behest. That P500 million is almost 100 TIMES BIGGER than the P6 million plus worth of vehicle donations given to seven bishops during the Arroyo Administration.

VERY LITTLE is known as of now about that deal, especially the terms and conditions and the short and long-term advantages to the PCSO, if any.

But Juico RAISED HELL over the vehicle donations to the bishops, gamely and willingly feeding the details to the media and the names of the bishop-recipients. Even though the PCSO's basis, the Commission on Audit (COA) evaluation that the donation was unconstitutional, HAS NOT BEEN RULED ON by the Supreme Court.

The SOLE BODY which has the power to settle questions of constitutionality.

Even though there is no exact figure, I will dare say that the vehicles had benefitted thousands at the least of the bishops’ flock. So Juico must PROVE that P500 million for PR would benefit tens or hundreds of thousands of the poor and the needy.

More importantly, Juico must justify that the P500 million is COST-EFFECTIVE. She must have PROOF that the amount would yield a reasonable return to the PCSO.

And will not be spent SOLELY TO BOOST HER POPULARITY and IMAGE.

Second, Juico must justify why must the PCSO open account at a non-government bank when it is a government agency. Anybody correct me if I’m wrong but this is ILLEGAL. I admit, however, that I don’t know if there are exceptions.

Bottom line: What makes that private bank SO SPECIAL? What are the terms and conditions? Juico is a government executive so it goes without saying that she must patronize her own.

Lastly, what exactly is the ‘BLACK FUND’ for?

The name alone gives an immediate impression of dubious, if not notorious, intentions. Juico must reveal its purpose or LEGITIMACY, amount, legal basis and most of all SAFEGUARDS against MISAPPROPRIATION, QUALIFIED THEFT or PLUNDER!

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Teofisto Guingona is an ally of the Aquino Administration.

Let’s see how IMPARTIAL and RIGHTEOUS can he be! 30

CURRENT PCSO FUNDS MUST ALSO BE PROBED!

For total transparency, the funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) under its new management must also be probed.

If it’s the job of the incumbent officials to reveal what they perceive to be anomalies by their predecessors, the more they must COME CLEAN for their first year in office

I’m not a lawyer but I don’t think they’re IMMUNE from audit, even a PARTIAL AUDIT. Anybody correct me if I’m wrong.

If they have NOTHING TO HIDE, and their records are IN ORDER, then there should not be any problem for them to render even a partial accounting of the PCSO’s monies ANYTIME,

The current PCSO management has been in office for one year!

BILLIONS of pesos have passed through the agency, under their watch and discretion, since then.

But we, the people, DON’T HAVE ANY ASSURANCE YET that no malversation, illegal diversion, theft or any other kind of anomaly has been happening with the funds since they took over.

We don’t know if the millions of daily sales from lotto and sweepstakes are ALL IN and accounted for.

We have no proof that cash and logistical disbursements were ALL RECEIVED by the supposed beneficiaries of the agency’s various programs.

We don’t even know how much has been spent for supposed projects and programs of the agency, and if all the expenses have been LIQUIDATED.

We’re all in the dark as to where or for what has the PCSO been spending money for, how much and if all transactions so far are LEGAL

And without any OVERPRICING and disadvantage whatsoever to the government.

None of us can tell if all purchases of materials and equipment so far are in accordance with all rules and regulations. In short, NONE OF US can tell if the current PCSO iis 100 percent GRAFT-FREE!

I repeat, guys, we’re talking of BILLIONS OF PESOS here.

Since the current PCSO management has started revealing where the funds were supposedly spent by their predecessors, IT’S HIGH TIME we find out how have they been handling the monies.

They’re also accountable to us, not just the former officials.

***

Fifteen of our friends on “Juico should quit, or go on indefinite leave”:

ELISHA ATHENA of Lapu Lapu City, Cebu

Correct. I agree!

ED FINLAN

Why give her a choice? QUIT!

AGUSTIN ‘JUN’ PANTI of Majuro, Marshall Islands

She should, but the Catholic Church should purge its ranks of pedophiles and corrupt men in robes.

DELI FRANCE

Why Pajero, Montero, etc. when (if it’s) for the conduct of religious duties of priests in remote areas, motorcycle is (a) better option -- low acquisition cost and fuel consumption.

TERESITA WOODARD of Gapan, Nueva Ecja

Magandang ehemplo yang pag-amin ng mga pari. Tapos nag- apologize pa sila, Gainyan sana, di tulad ng mga politicians buking na buking na, humihirit pa.

NATHANIEL NG

Ang problema, pag pinagleave mo ng two months ay pababalikin lang ni Pnoy tulad ni Torres!

PRIMO CRISOSTOMO of Farmville, Virginia, USA

She should definitely QUIT. By all means. Iyon ay kung may malasakit sya sa kapakanan ng ating bansa.

JOJO ESTRADA of Quezon City

Ang PCSO, parang naging Ombudsman!

KA ERDI

The dioceses where the bishops were assigned are in the poorest provinces (of the country) where the roads are underdeveloped. Does anyone think an owner-type jeep could be useful and effective on that road? The bishops had to procure vehicles (which would be) useful on all types of road conditions. In the case of the bishop of Lagawe, what he asked for is a van intended for charity work in Ifugao province. Kaya nga Caritas Christi ang naka mark sa van. I have been to ifugao for verification. I found out that ambulances are so limited and mahirap pang maka request, especially kung wala kang padrinong pulitiko.

NOEMI MONTENEGRO

Why will the President apologize? And Juico resign?? Dahil sa nabuking yung mga request nilang mga cars at na-issue na millions for their needed cars? What a shame!! They apologized, returned the controversial vehicles and now they want the President and the PCSO chief to apologize dahil sa napahiya sila at nabuking? That's ridiculous!

AZUMI SHEOL NAKIRA of Hong Kong

Ang kapal ng mukha ng bruha..bangungutin sana.

FELIPE SANCHEZ

These religious people are reversing the issue .because it is in their pysche that they are infallible. They are the ones to say sorry and confess to the members of their flock. This is gross arrogance Iif they have a conscience, they should quit from being leaders of the church.

JAN VICTOR AYSON of Quezo City

Tama yan, magbitiw na si Juico. Kesyo, kung Pajero ang usapan, sinabi ni Juico na ang Inquirer, Star, Manila Times, GMA-7at ABS-CBN ang nagbanggit ng Pahero.

SHE AISHER of Sydney, Australia

I think she should quit!

BING SALVADOR

Ang yaman pala niya! Nakapagdonate ng P5M.

***

Seven of our friends on “PCSO is either stupid or lying, or both!” :

MANNIX FORTZ of Seattle, Washington, USA

PCSO could either be stupid or lying and exaggerated at the same time, and senators finally found out the truth. The bishops and priests who only received donations from the PCSO for their charity work are still receiving criticisms until now. Yet, they practice what they preach, to be humble and to ask for forgiveness for their lapses in judgment .

ENTENG NAVARRO of Malolos, Bulacan

At least may hiya. Pero kung di nabisto, tuloy ang ligaya. In fairness, may mga pari naman SIGURO na tapat naman na naglilingkod sa Diyos.

KEITH HARCOURT of Vienna, Austria

The term “mistake” implies an error in judgment—something done unintentionally because we got distracted or careless. But a sin is more than a mistake. It is a deliberate choice to do something you know is wrong. Unlike a mistake, we choose to sin. Therefore, we must accept responsibility for it—and the consequences that follow.

VHILLA VIL

Kawawa ang mga matitinong alagad ng simbahan nadadamay tuloy. Tama talaga ang kasabihan, kaslanan ng isa damay damay na..

BHABY SEE

Siguro sa 10 pari, dalawa ang devoted sa trabaho. Kadalasan may presyo kada isang Ama Namin, Aba Ginoong Maria at kapag winasiwas na ang kanilang kamay, mas mataas ang rate. Sorry po sa mga sagrado Katoliko. Katoliko rin po ako.

RICO REUTA

Kasi kahit sila (ma obispo) may sinumpaan, pumapasok pa rin yung sumpong. Iyun ang minsan mahirap paglabanan.

BORRON ROLI

Sa loob yata ng mga kaparian ay may pulitika rin. Kaya siguro yung ibang obispo sa PCSO na humingi. Bilyones pala ang pera nila at partly sa mining pa naka invest. 30

JUICO SHOULD QUIT, OR GO ON INDEFINITE LEAVE!

I support 1001 percent calls by Catholic bishops for the resignation of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairperson Margie Juico over the ‘Pajero bishops’ controversy.

If she does not have the decency to do so, she must, at the very least, go on INDEFINITE LEAVE and do the rounds of Catholic churches nationwide to admit her mistakes and apologize to the faithful.

The facts remain that:

Juico and PCSO officials MALICIOUSLY and CATEGORICALLY declared that the receipt of the bishops of the car donations was in violation of the Constitution, WITHOUT any supporting clarification from any legal authority.

Despite this, the reputation of the bishops, and for that matter the Catholic Church, was DELIBERATELY DESTROYED with almost daily press releases for a week or so by the PCSO.

Clearly, Juico DID NOT BOTHER, and DID NOT HAVE the BASIC FAIRNESS and CIVILITY, to clarify the issue first with the bishops or concerned government offices or to double-check ALL THE FACTS related to the issue before starting the character assassination of the bishops.

In case you don’t know yet, guys, acknowledged Constitution expert Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago has clearly pointed out that under the Charter, ONLY the Supreme Court has the power to settle questions of constitutionality.

Santiago has also emphasized that the power of the Commission on Audit (COA), whose assessment of the vehicle donations as unconstitutional was the basis for the PCSO’s media assault on the bishops, was LIMITED ONLY to auditing government funds.

But Juico would obviously HAVE NONE of this.

She’d rather not have PCSO lawyers review the Constitution, and the PCSO Charter first. Never mind if the unconstitutional assessment of the donations came from an UNAUTHORIZED SOURCE that was trhe COA.

She wants to attack, so she must attack. Period. Nothing can stop or stall her. Not even the repercussion on the Catholic Church and the faith of its millions of devotees.

This is nothing less than the height of MALICE, ARROGANCE and BLACK PROPAGANDA all rolled into one. A SHAMELESS EXAMPLE of what Juico wants, Juico gets, to hell with whatever happens.

Now, as Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda himself admitted to reporters yesterday, Juico now says there was nothing wrong in the use of the donated vehicles.

A DESPERATE move to save face, nothing less.

My skin crawls at the thought of thousands, if not tens or hundreds of thousands of my fellow Catholics, now look down on their parish priests with extreme doubt and suspicion on their integrity.

If Juico gets away with this dictatorial and atheist conduct, NO RELIGION WILL BE SAFE from her arrogance.

Justice and impartiality are now GASPING FOR BREATH!

***

Fifteen of our friends on “What’s the real purpose of attack vs bishops?”

BENITO MOLINO of Antipolo, Rizal

The bishops are not being attacked. It so happened that the bishops are the recipients and they admitted na may lapses. I salute the bishops for being humble to admit the lapses. At isinauli pa ang mga sasakyan. I hope government officials will follow the example set by the bishops.

CLAIRE ESTRELLA LAUS of Guiguinto, Bulacan

Ginamit lang ng admin ni Pnoy ang issue para pagtakpan ang kanyang kawalang ginagawa para sa kapakanan ng mamamayan. Lagi niya isinisisi sa iba ang kanyang kapalpakan.

LEE SORIANO of Balasan. Iloilo

I think it was a smokescreen to divert attention from a bigger anomaly in the PCSO.

WINSTON TIZON of New Manila, Quezon City

Malapit na SONA. Ano achievement ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas?

MOMORO SIMBULAN of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

Tagal na pala niyan, ngayon lang pinagusapan. Distorted pa"

RICKY BELGICA of Montreal, Quebec, Canada

GMA, RH Bill, the statement of Bishop Pueblos about PNoy and to divert the attention of the public from the real issues facing the country ( jobs, corruption in the present government, crime, drugs, etc.)

EMMANUEL CAMPOS of Manila

The SUVs are for a project that requires the church leaders to go to far-flung areas, meaning rough and muddy roads. The SUVs are four-wheel drive (4WD) types that can survive the road conditions better than non-4WD. If you think 4WD are luxury (cars), how come congressmen have 4WD escorts aside from their own limousines? Also, look at the service vehicles of most government agencies, mostly SUVs which they are not using for rough roads but in urban driving only.

RICHIE TIEN

What we could do is let them use or buy anything they want as long as the ownership of property is under anagency's name. Let's put up a private agency that will handle all luxuries of higher ups to be monitored by a private citizens group. That way, we can avoid or lessen graft and corruption.

JOE ALVARADO JR. of Makati City

They are creating a media blitz to cover up something big. What is a few millions compared to billions plundered secretly?

LETTY ARCILLA

Ang daming sisilipin at pupuntuhan dito sa pagatake sa mga bishops. Magaling ang kanilang spin doctor/PR men, para maipasa ang RH Bill. Si PGMA ang target nito.

REY MONASTERIAL of Manila

Diversionary tactic para sa non-performance ng gov't. Lapit na kasi ang SONA!

WILLY CAYETANO of Valenzuela City

Could have been a diversionary tactic. There are bigger issues...

VILLA VHIL

OK na rin. Kahit paano, unti unti ng nadi-discover ang mga katiwaliaan ng nakalipas na administration. Kung tutoo man ito, grabe.

MERIT SALUD of Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA

How could PCSO take back what they did not give illegally?

REX DUMUAN

Equality!

***

BONG LAYUMAS on “Where are Pnoy’s accomplishments?”

Although it’s now water under the bridge, mga tao din kasi. Alam nang WALANG naipasang bill sa Kongreso si dating congressman at dating senador Boynoy, ginawa pang presidente. Kala mo, twin brother sya ni Ninoy. The only consolation of his victory has is that stopped a convicted plunderer from becoming president again.

***

Two of our friends on “We’re not Idiots, Mr. President!”:

LITA SHIMADA of Soka-shi, Saitama, Japan

I couldn't agree more that P 1,500 monthly is not enough for a decent meal . But the gesture of the President is commendable. A subsidy is not to be expected as an amount that could meet the family’s entire needs. We have a similar program here in Japan, and the amount is somewhat similar, but nobody complains, because they don't expect the government to subsidize their expenses for a month. I am not pro-Aquino, I will be in the future... when the Aquinos and Cojuangcos let go of Hacienda Luisita.

APPOLINE ALDEA of Nobleton, Ontario, Canada

I am glad that we are becoming smarter, and we fight for what we stand for! Eemember, we are always in the eyes of God. The power of God’s words is our armor.

***

Eight of our friends on “PCSO is either stupid or lying, or both!” :

PERRY DIAZ

Boyet, with all these exposes about plunder and corruption, I feel like drowning in a lake of shit! I just hope that the incoming Ombudsman will send a few of them to prison. Or are all these part of a grand ‘moro-moro’ where the rich become richer and the poor would still be eating pagpag?

MUFFY MARIE TAN of Redwood City, California

Thanks for letting us know, Boyet!

BILL SAGUING of Rome, Italy

Both. Lying because they hide behind their dogma and stupid because they thought they can dupe the people all the time.

LIWAYWAY DIMAPURO of Quezon City

They are really STUPID and prof liars! Juico should resign now. She has no integrity anymore. How can we, the people, trust her!

EDUARDO TEODORO of Seattle, Washington, USA

No one can ever trust her anymore (Juico).

RONALD TUASON

Iyan ang ugali ng mga opisyales at pulitiko sa atin. Laging wrong info… .pa-grandstanding na sila nakatuklas. Pag napahiya, sasabihin sinabi lang sa kanila! Hearsay! Tsismis!

KRISTINE KUA

Both!

NIQUEKY LAU

i have nothing against Juico, media and the bishops. What is done cannot be undone. We have a lot to learn from this issue, especially if you are called to carry out like to shepherd the lost.’ 30