Better than the networks

Even if they tried, none of the television networks could come up with more riveting “shows” like the Senate does.

With no disrespect towards the Senate, I have to say that recent events or investigations conducted by the Senate have all been worthy of an Emmy in terms of drama, content, national significance, even comic stupidity from some of their guests.

From the PCSO, to the “Pajero Bishops” to the Manoling Chronicles, to the “Hilo-Cop-Ter mysteries and Senator Migs Zubiri’s daring stunt where he “jumped out of a burning building”, I really have to concede that no one does it better.

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The interesting thing about the Senate mini-series is that the longer they take, the more worms come out of the woodwork. While respondents “Archie” Po and Larry de Vera got busy sinking each other and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, kibitzers were throwing us their own material.

For instance, one guy who watched the Senate inquiry pointed out that the Senators were in such a hurry to nail Mike Arroyo that no one bothered to investigate the “failed biddings” and the possibility or the fact that the biddings were intentionally engineered to fail.

Our tipster told us that this “engineered failed biddings” are done by three or four companies by conspiring to have a failed or a rigged bidding, whichever serves their purpose. If the Senate is really serious about their investigation, why not call in the DOJ and the NBI to profile all the companies that consistently joined government biddings that resulted in failed biddings.

Considering how small the aviation industry is, there is a strong possibility that “the usual suspects” would pop up.

Another suggestion was for Senators and the BIR to look into the history of transactions done by middlemen such as Po and De Vera. No less than Senate President Enrile can pursue the matter since he himself stated that, “we used to operate a helicopter charter service”.

If I remember right, that company was “Airspan” which closed down prematurely because as rumors had it, the Enriles bought into a company and ended up with five used helicopters that were already at the last stretch of their flying time or required very expensive overhaul or retrofit.

Speaking of flying time, how tough are our laws concerning tampering with data entries and logbooks for aircraft? Are our Senators even asking about this considering the fact that tampered log books could result in deaths and accidents if an aircraft crashed.

If the PNP wanted brand new helicopters, why didn’t they solicit quotations directly from manufacturers instead of third party agents? Did they actually invite the top three manufacturers to conduct demonstrations just like other departments have done in the past?

Judging from the press releases and interviews of Senators, some of them are clearly salivating at the prospects of nailing Mike Arroyo to the wall. However, it would be best for them to be careful because Mike Arroyo did not become the mythical FG by being stupid.

It may be prudent to first make sure that the anomalous sale of the “Hilo-cop-ters” can be tracked back to Mike Arroyo. Being a suspicious fellow, I would ask if the helicopter scam was Arroyo’s deal where he showered money “For the boys”, or was the whole scam a project engineered “by the boys” at the airport and the PNP?

Because the Senators are too focused on Mike Arroyo, they may fail to realize that since time immemorial, the practice of “name-dropping” in the Philippines has almost become a culturally accepted marketing tool.

Practically every President’s name has been used or name-dropped by shameless businessmen to hood wink or intimidate government officials and personnel. Even we in the media have heard of several instances where people claim to be related or represent us in some project or social work.

The combination of audacity, gullibility and sheer stupidity has often led people to accuse or blame persons who have nothing to do with the scam or the crime. If the Senators fail to pin the tail on FG’s butt, the Senators and the Administration will ultimately end up looking like jackasses.

Mike Arroyo’s enemies are clearly “smelling blood” and want to go for the kill, but in their rush, some are showing lack of better judgment. One Senator has openly stated how by hook or by crook they plan to use every means to drag Mike Arroyo to the Senate.

Might I suggest that they first issue the invitation and wait for a response? Might I also suggest to the DOJ not to talk about hold departure orders until cases have been filed and a court has determined the risk of flight?

At the rate things are going, all these talk gives us the impression that the battle against crime and corruption in the Philippines has now become nothing more than an acoustic war. 

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In a country that has experienced several decades of drought in terms of individual and institutional integrity, it comes as no surprise to me that people would go to the extent of praising and honoring Senator Miguel Zubiri for resigning from public office.

I too congratulate Migs Zubiri for having enough brains to jump out of a “burning building”.

As clichés go, Migs Zubiri already saw the writing on the wall. Political control in the Senate has shifted with the arrival of a new administration. His allies were old, tired or waivered in their own battles. It would not take long before he too would be stripped of his powers and his title. It was not a matter of if but when.

If political and personal ambition drove Migs Zubiri to ride on the serpents’ back to get into office, today he displays the cold calculating pragmatism of a political survivor. Migs Zubiri has not surrendered; he has simply left, to fight another day.

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