LETTERS

‘A web of lies’

A lie to cover up a previous lie. This is how Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang and his public relations boys react whenever their implausible claims are questioned. For instance, Nolcom claimed it dismantled seven guerilla fronts in 2007. Two of these fronts were allegedly in the Ilocos-Cordillera Region.

In a rebuttal statement, Martin Montana, spokesperson of the Chadli Molintas Command of the Ilocos-Cordillera NPA Operational Command, pointed out the incongruity that the two supposedly dismantled guerilla fronts covered only 15 barangays. He clarified that a guerilla front usually comprises five contiguous towns or the equivalent of a congressional district. This simple fact is clearly beyond the comprehension of Lt. Gen. Maclang and his public relations boys.

To cover up the embarrassment caused by their obvious blunder, Lt. Gen. Maclang and his PR boys again resorted to cooking up spurious data using the "dagdag-bawas" formula that has become the trademark of the corrupt Arroyo regime and all its lackeys and cronies. In a recent press release, Lt. Gen. Maclang and his parrots alleged that I made a statement published in national dailies claiming that guerilla fronts throughout the country increased from "100 to 230"! I never made such claim.

But as Comrade Martin Montana had stated earlier, Lt. Gen. Maclang most definitely learned his arithmetic from the Commission on Elections. Obviously, simple math is a daunting task for Lt. Gen. Maclang and his sycophantic psywar propagandists. Instead of wasting their time spinning a convoluted web of lies that will only embarrass them further, Lt. Gen. Maclang and his lackeys should ponder the current political crisis, rethink their loyalties and position, and follow the noble example of Jun Lozada by exposing the endemic corruption in the AFP.

They can start by looking into how their Commander-in-Chief diverted funds for the housing program of AFP and PNP personnel to fund the anomalous ZTE-NBN project. They can also look into the recent multi-billion peso helicopter procurement scam among many others. The officers, men and women of the AFP should do well to withdraw their support for Gloria Arroyo.

Or else, they can join the evil Gloria Arroyo on her pending trip to hell. Oplan Bantay Laya II, touted by Arroyo and her doggy generals as their "end-game strategy" against the revolutionary movement, will surely fail. It will be defeated by the well-disciplined and committed New People's Army, together with the entire Filipino people.

The AFP is demoralized, factionalized, wracked by never-ending corruption, and incompetently led by an isolated and fake Commander-in-Chief and her mercenary generals. If there is an end-game strategy here, it is this – the Arroyo gang will be battered by one crisis after another until it is brought down by the revolutionary forces and the people.

Simon "Ka Filiw" Naogsan
Spokesperson
Cordillera People’s Democratic Front


Reeking sickness

It’s a reeking sickness, the antidote of which seems to be out-of-reach. We hear and read it in the news again and again, get nauseated about, and see it in action. It gave birth to the phrase, “the rich get richer. The poor get poorer.” Diagnosed but with no prescription, corruption is the ailment of many of our politicians. Greedy, thick-faced, and scheming, they are those who wear fake smiles and pleading looks on campaign day, shake hands with you on election day, and ditch you after their victory.

Like magicians and even better than Harry Potter, they whisk away hard-earned cash from the tattered and patched pockets of the mass and let them smoothly fall into their already bulging designer wallets.

Before you can even say Abracadabra, it transforms into luxurious cars, flashy clothes, jaw-dropping mansions, grand vacations, and for some dirty old men, alluring mistresses. On the other side of the coin, wretched victims struggle with yawning poverty. Their stomachs groan, their sickness lays uncured because treatment does not come cheap, they live in the streets, their children do not go to school, and if worse gets worst, they die without even a decent funeral (coffins are dear there are also the mourners).

Then what’s for us to do? Loan our guns and shoot them, bang! Throw them into a deep ravine, or maybe mimic Robin Hood and steal their wealth? Definitely, the answer is a big no, they are criminals in their own way, and we should not follow their footsteps. Our bullets would be wasted on them anyway.

Right now, there are many ways on how our money is being corrupted. In fact, politicians are not the only ones who practice corruption. Any person dedicated to public service is a candidate for this appalling act. In the local government, it can manifest in the form of bribery, given in order to gain an unfair advantage or to bypass laws and regulations. Some also use extortion wherein threats or harm are inflicted to unjustly obtain something; blackmail included.

A politician can awfully use public funds to his advantage and get kickbacks from misappropriated funds through corrupt biddings. This can also be in the form of nepotism, wherein some officials give privileges and positions of authority based on relationships and regardless of their actual activities. Blah, blah, blah, there are so many ways wherein these corrupt do it under our noses.

Again, the question is what then should we do to stop these greedy people from dipping their hands into the public coffers, aside from us plotting evil deeds and making a mess out of things? How do we stop thee, let us count the ways.

First of all, don’t lose hope. The Lord up there in Heaven is looking after us and will never forsake us. While you’re reading this, He is smiling and is very much willing to help us. He knows if you are willing to help or not, and He wants you to help. But of course, the decision is in your hands.

Next step, be informed. Read the news and find out what is happening around you, especially those that concern the government. Learn about the allocated budget for the different departments this year and how will it be spent, the projects being implemented and being discussed about, about allegations of corruption and other government issues. Have a scrutinizing eye and as they say, have the hose for news. It may surprise you and may cause a minor headache (especially if you’re watching TV and the senators are screeching at each other) but it’s worth the effort.

Don’t forget to do your duties as a citizen. This includes indicating and paying your real Income Tax Return., among other things. You may say that it will be corrupted anyway, but then it is your responsibility to the country. Forget those scum, they shall pay for their sins soon, what is important is that you have done your duty. You can’t expect yourself to wage a fight against them if you are a law breaker yourself.

Disseminate information. Share articles to other people and educate them about this topic. The more people that you can convince, the better. It can be hard to do it, but summon your courage. Some people may slam their door at you because they don’t want to be involved but remember, it’s their loss, not yours. Ask pamphlets from government agencies and distribute it; many people in the government are still honest and they are willing to clean their ranks, too. Be creative, you can write your comments to the newspapers, send e-mails, text brigades, anything under the sun.

Here comes the most important part, do your responsibility on election day. Don’t get fooled by their big grins, by their incredible promises, their give-ways, their famous endorsers and their awe-inspiring speeches. Who cares if they promise to give you the moon, the sun, and the stars and if they shower you their goodwill?

Their platforms and their records are the most important thing you should know about. Never vote those politicians who give bribes. They will regain triple the money they spent after they are seated in public office. Remember, our right to vote is a very important power that we should use wisely.
Waging a fight against corruption is not easy, but is not impossible. It can’t be done in just a stroke of a magician’s hand, and it can also be very dangerous.

Those politicians may laugh out loud and continue to sit in comfort because they discern themselves as untouchables. But remember your history, even David was able to topple Goliath. Unity, shrewdness, and guts are our weapons. Not to mention, we have the ever powerful God as back-up.

If you’re still undecided, listen to this. Millions of money is shaved from the fund of the government due to corruption. That can build buildings and infrastructures, repair roads and bridges, improve health care and education, improve services, boost the economy and do a lot of things.

It can clothe and feed many malnourished and impoverished children especially those living and sleeping on the dangerous streets. It may sound like a fool’s dream and a thing out of sci-fi movie, but this reality we must fight with. Now, will you play safe or will you join in the clash against corruption?

Libnah Oakes
La Trinidad, Benguet