Banana Republic

This country is going bananas! What’s worse is that we have way too many minions just following powerful leaders blindly. Sanamagan!

The members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo rallying in the streets remind me of minions. Many of them do not know why they are there just like some of Mayor Binay’s supporters in Makati a few months ago. Anyway, the INC issue also shows us the by-product of what our politicians have created. They have made INC council of elders big-headed, proud and arrogant. Aren’t they spiritual leaders? By asking for their help during election period the INC leadership seems to have developed a feeling of superiority over our race and worst above the law.

After DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima started investigations on the alleged forced detention of expelled church members, INC followers rallied to protect their “king.” Why don’t they just submit to the law of the land? Doesn’t this show a character unbecoming of a religious group, cult or sect? And why is the government particularly the PNP allowing this group to rally in EDSA when they very well know that we have a big traffic problem right now. Why is the President keeping mum about this?

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Pardon me for borrowing American writer, O. Henry’s coined term, “banana republic.” Yes, many people have used this in the past but I just find it fitting and timely to use again. Bananas are yellow and they look funny. Bananas remind me of this Administration and the people running it. They are a bunch of bananas so to speak. Imagine coming up with such large budgets to run the country and to this day we continue to suffer. Did they take care of spending our tax-money wisely? It turns out they allowed more corruption to take place.

The proposed budget for 2016 is P3.002 trillion. This has already been submitted to the House of Representatives and the Senate. In 2015, the budget was P2.606 trillion. In 2009, GMA had a budget of P1.415 trillion. So where did all the money go? Your guess is as good as mine.

I’m actually petrified with the allotment of P54.5 billion budget for ARMM. What is this money for? We haven’t even passed the BBL yet. What about the other regions that also need help in development?

The president remains steadfast in his view that the BBL is the only solution to a lasting peace in Mindanao, although many think otherwise. The ARMM budget was crafted based on the belief that prosperity gravitates to areas where peace and the rule of law reign. Do you really think this money will achieve lasting peace? Wouldn’t it even aggravate the problem with the different tribal or sub-groups fighting over the leadership?

Many people including our soldiers continue to die every day in this part of the archipelago. Fear still clouds the daily lives of ordinary people. I heard of stories showing the power that the gun-wielding MILF group have over our own men in uniform. Why is the government turning a blind eye to this reality? What is in it for the government? Why is the President so fixated?

The way P-Noy is pushing the BBL, giving a P54.5 billion budget for the ARMM with an additional P25.1 billion for government agencies to create socio-economic programs and projects is questionable. How will the government raise so much money from tax collection when not even half of the country’s citizens are paying tax? Susmariosep!

P-Noy has a few months left in office. Granting that this amount will be approved, I doubt that anything can be completed before his term ends. I’m pretty sure this money will be a source of more corruption in the region especially since the presidential election is just around the corner.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, who is quite close to the president acknowledged the huge budgetary increase the region will receive and in one breath promised that in gratitude, he and other local government officials vow support for the president’s preferred successor, outgoing DILG Sec. Mar Roxas. By the way, Hataman is a very strong force of the President in the south. The President listens to him. Don’t underestimate his power. Read more about this man.

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On Senator Enrile’s Case: We all know that Enrile was granted bail on humanitarian grounds by the Supreme Court. The fact is that “granting bail on humanitarian grounds to a person accused of an offence or offenses where bail is not available is not in the Constitution, but the high tribunal has the discretion to do it.” This means that there is no such provision in the fundamental law of the land, thus, giving more power to the SC to make decisions in cases of this nature.

I understand that other than humanitarian reasons, bail was granted to Enrile because the evidences on the plunder case filed against him are not strong enough. Many if not all are still allegations and of course he is not a flight risk.

What I find disturbing though is the fact that Enrile immediately went back to work the following day. Isn’t this a deliberate show of disrespect for the senate? Why was he allowed to do so knowing that he still has a plunder case against him? Remember that Enrile is just out on bail. He is not a free man yet. But then again that is how the legal system works in this country. It’s very confusing.

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Are we a banana republic? In some ways yes! We are a small nation with political instability, whose economy is largely dependent on exporting limited-resource products. We are poor, corruption is prevalent and the country is badly managed. Beyond this gloom, however, is a ray of hope from our people. Today is National Heroes Day. We can create a hero in ourselves by doing good and loving our country. More importantly, we must protect this beautiful land from those who want to exploit, abuse and destroy it.

In our daily commute we find ourselves pointing fingers to others but never looking at ourselves. Again, it is time to take hid of The 12 Little Things We Can Do For Our Country which Alex Lacson wrote several years ago: 1) Follow traffic rules. Follow the law; 2)Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt; 3) Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino or 50-50; 4) When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively about us and our country; 5) Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier; 6) Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve; 7) Support your church; 8) During elections, do your solemn duty; 9) Pay your employees well; 10) Pay your taxes. 11) Adopt a scholar or a poor child; 12) Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.