A Culture of Corruption and Death

The TV and newspapers these past few days have been reporting on the investigation being conducted by the Senate on the NBN deal. So many people are implicated in this anomalous scandal - the COMELEC commissioner Abalos, DOTC head Leandro Mendoza, the husband of the president (Mike Arroyo). I won't be suprised if Madame President Macapagal Arroyo will ultimately be implicated. In his testimony Neri revealed that Abalos tried to bribe him and he reported to the president who told him not to accept the bribe. And yet she still went to China to sign the agreement. It is no wonder that in the latest report, the Philippines is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Besides the corruption scandal, the media continue to report the case of Jonas Burgos - who has been reported missing and could be dead by now. The military is the primary suspect. This is just one of the cases of disaparacido and summary killings that are carried out with impunity.

Here in the Philippines, corruption and violence perpetrated by those in power have become part of our culture - it is way of life. This was our complaint agains the Marcos dictatorial regime. This continues under the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency.

The president is a hypocrite. She appears to be a pious lady who claims that her position is God's will. Yet so much corruption and death have characterized her administration. She is no better than Marcos and Joseph Estrada. Someday, she will share the same fate.