EDITORIAL

Perpetuating Crooks

The hidden agenda to perpetuate herself in government office is little by little automatically uncovering. On December 30, 2001 on Rizal’s Death Anniversary celebration in Baguio City, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pledged she will not seek the presidency in the May 2004 national election. But that is history.

Ms. Arroyo reversed herself, filed her application for candidacy for president, and won the election via the "Hello Garci?"

Her presidency for the last seven years is mixed with an annual impeach-ment complaints. These complaints did not succeed because of "number" and "lack of substance" even if it were according to form.

Her presidency is also mixed with huge but questionable government deals and transactions. Is the P1.4 billion Mega – Pacific election computer scam one irregular deal to ignore? There is the P728 million fertilizer scandal which deprived the Pilipino farmers that much money which could have improved rice, corn, and vegetable production had it not been stolen. That money could have minimized the huge rice importation if not stolen but used to modernize Philippine Agriculture.

There is the $328 million US dollar NBN-ZTE broadband deal which was stopped because of Jun Lozada’s revelation. This caused the instant resignation of Mr. Benjamin Abalos as Comelec chair and because of "Mr. Sec. may dalawang daan kayo dito".

In Cebu, there is the street lamp posts anomaly which until today, there is no sanction meted to the architects of the scam.

In Aklan, DepEd distributed 55 computer units costing P249,970 per unit two years ago. This brand of computer canvassed in computer shops in Kalibo, Aklan cost ranging P21,000 – 25,000 per unit only.

With these highly questionable deals, Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wishes to stay longer in Malacañang. Since the term of the president of the Philippines is limited to one term of six years without re-election, Malacañang and members of the House of Representatives has been working doubly hard to amend the 1987 constitution in order to extend their term of office.

Malacañang and its apostles in congress had been denying "there would be no term extension."

But there is revelation. Since Malacañang will probably fail in its quest to amend the constitution, Mrs. Arroyo has expressed her interest to be the congressman to represent the second district of Pampanga. This cong-ressional district is presently represented in congress by her son, Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo.

Miguel, based upon the report is ready to yield his congressional seat to his mother and be a candidate for provincial governor of Pampanga.

What is this? Is this genuine love of people? Is this greed? Unsatiable greed?

The Macapagals wish to occupy all high offices in the government. This is dynasty. This is greed of power. She is president, two sons are congressmen, one brother–in–law and a sister in law are members of congress.

Why perpetuate herself in power? At the end of her term in June 2010, Arroyo should have served as president of the Philippines for nine years. The nine (9) years presidency marred with scandals are too long time for the Pilipinos to suffer crooked government and so worst for the Philippines. Electing Mrs. Arroyo congresswoman may perpetuate crooks in the government. /MP