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Napoles PDAF/NGO Scandal: What is Ten or Fifteen Billion Pesos Really Worth?

or those who have been following the Janet Lim-Napoles PDAF/NGO* scandal these past months, it is easy to get caught up in all the rhetoric—the words and phrases repeated day after day.Janet Lim-Napoles accused mastermind in the PDAF/NGO scam that defrauded the country of tens of billion of pesos in collusion with Philippine senators and congressmen Words like "ten billion" or "fifteen billion" have turned into something akin to "gray" background noise.  Words devoid of any real meaning or significance. So let us try to put back some meaning into those trite and often-repeated phrases in order to better understand some of the far-reaching ramifications of Napoles' actions.

As the "mother of all scam artists" Napoles is believed to have defrauded the Philippine government of  between ten to fifteen billion pesos. The current minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR), which is the highest in the country, is P466 per day. So (using the low end of the amount plundered) P10 billion could have paid for a lifetime of work for 1,250 Filipinos. They would start working at the young age of 18, and continue working straight through till they retire at age 65—all their wages paid for with the P10 billion allegedly stolen by Napoles et al. Children usually do the dirty and ultimately deadly work of gathering burnt pieces of wood to sell as charcoalIf you use the higher P15 billion figure, you'd help 1,876 breadwinners for life.

As we mentioned in our previous editorial, the Philippines is not a rich country. We are a third-world country. A large number of Filipinos live in squalid, unsanitary conditions that an average person would find abhorrent. The country cannot afford to have ten or fifteen billion pesos diverted to individuals who neither deserve or need it. Again think of the number of poor Filipinos who are now deceased because they were unable to pay for medical procedures that could have saved their lives. How many students have been forced to drop out of school because their parents were unable to pay their tuition? How many street kids suffer from hunger pains because they have nothing to eat? When we look at it this way, we begin to realize the great evil that Napoles and her cohorts are accused to have done to the country.

Not to put too fine  a point on it but browse the internet and you can find heart-wrenching photos of Filipino children surrounded by squalor, Toddlers and young children have known no other life than this; surrounded by filth and rummaging through garbage just to make enough to eat for a dayforced to eke out a living in the most dismal of situations. In reality these are the precious youth of the fatherland rummaging through mountains of garbage and inhaling coal dust as they gather a few pieces of charcoal to sell. Their lungs severely compromised well before they reach adolescence. Young boys, even toddlers picking through trash for items that might earn them a centavo or two. They didn't choose that kind of life. They did nothing wrong. And they don't even know to complain, or who to complain to. But we do!

So how can we not stand up and shout, and bang our fists on the table and demand that all those involved in this scam be made to pay and pay dearly. They not only prostituted a well-intentioned law, they destroyed countless lives. Lives that can never be made whole again; and all for what? Greed, yabang, pogi-points, porma?

Everyone tainted with this scandal must spend the rest of their lives behind bars. And the Aquino administration had better move fast and see this process through to the end. Otherwise we will end up with a replay of what transpired after Martial Law, where evil was never totally defeated and to this day we are in many ways a divided people with a not-too-clear idea of what is right and what is wrong. Published 06/30/2014
*Priority Development Assistance Fund/Non-governmental Organization.
 

Archived Comments

Name: Jorge Villanueva
City/State/Country: Canada
IP Address: 47.54.130.3

Comments

The 10 or 15 billion represents how far reaching, callous or greedy the corrupt politicians have indulged themselves in the pursuit of corruption. They no longer care to steal in millions and leave some for the nation's welfare. They are insensitive to their responsibility of helping bridge the gap between the rich and the poor or help the country from its financial morass that has plagued it for years. In effect corruption has become an obsession and the Philippines has reached a " make or break" decision, in that, the success of the prosecution will open a new hope for the country as an emerging nation and a failure, more of the same problems.


Name: tulong7pj@yahoo.com
City/State/Country: Leesburg, Va. U.S.
IP Address: 209.0.138.44

Comments

Thank you for your editorial. You presented it in logical, touching, accurate article.. You are right -- you pinpointed the actual greediness has caused to needy kababayans. The guilty should be punished for life -- they have deprived thousands even with the barest needs -- they should be placed in jails, and the keys thrown out. I beg that punishment and retribution comes hand in hand; get back their loot and done quick before the next election. We all dread and afraid that, if we make the mistake of electing the wrong, dishonest President, he will pardon all these crooks. And all these brought to naught. Start with Napoles and the Senators -- jail them for life.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.39.188

Comments

Yes, it is true. That the Billions of pesos stolen by Napoles could have been used for so many, many worthy and pressing concerns. But we must not forget that the very people most affected by this horrific crime came from the C,D,& E class of PHL citizens. And these are the very people who mindlessly elected to power unqualified, delusional and larcenous Artistas, who showed their appreciation by stealing the money meant for those who voted for them. Even if the present plunderers are convicted this class of Filipinos will just elect similar types of politicians. These wretched poor are the ones unwittingly creating the monsters in PHL politics. The problem is how to educate them.


Name: Phil Researcher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

Re: The Filipinos in a recent survey..One of the questions asked was: Is there less corruption under the Pnoy Admin.. The answer was..No , in fact because of the exposure of this PDAF scam , the Filipinos believe that corruption has not abated. The problem is when it comes to election time, the voters keep on voting the "pogi". What kind of government knowledge does Bong Revilla & Jinggoy have? Nothing! pa-pogi lang. The bad thing is they are so arrogant. In other countries, when you are caught with that kind of crime the government officials usually keep quiet and refuse to answer for press interviews. The 2 senators who are already detained have not even apologized to the Filipino people especially the ones who voted for them. Sobrang yabang!


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

Bravo PNL! Finally this editorial put a face to the crime of these scumbags who stole the money intended for the welfare of the unfortunates. As I said in the previous entry, they should be pakuluan sa sarili nilang mantika para huwag pamarisan! Now that these scumbags are in the process of paying their debts, it's about time to prosecute these who made billions on the back of unpaid workers. Made them financially and with their freedom pay for their crime against the system that made them possible to make their billions but refuse to pay their fair to the system.


Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

Some of our politicians are preoccupied in nothing but cheating, lying, & stealing. If we have to do it right, then, it has to be eradicated once & for all. It's easy to say to attain these virtues of righteousness in deed & in thought but it's not happening yet. If we don't have people in govt who do not cheat, lie, or steal then perhaps we won't have these problems of massive thievery (P10 or P15 billion). It's an evasive quest. With s very slow justice system how can we finally find what's wrong? Here we are discussing in the last editorial ad nauseum the topic but up to now Sen. Enrile is still enjoying his freedom. We can go on & on but if no immediate actions are taken what can we expect? Zero. We need more action & less talk.


Name: Phil Researcher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

Re: Plunder Law: Section 5. When the Plunder case is already filed at the Sandiganbayan. The Ombudsman can ask the court to suspend the defendant Public officer from their government position..So. Bong Revilla & Jinggoy should now be suspended as senators. Sen. Jinggoy believes he should be given bail because the evidence is weak..How can the evidence be weak when there was already a direct testimony (Affidavit ) of Mrs. Ruby Tuason that she delivered bags And bags of money to Sen Jinggoy.. If you were not doing something illegal why did you do it behind the scenes.Because Sen. Jinggoy & Sen Bong Revilla you took money that was not intended for your personal use.. it was for "projects". Bakit tinago n'yo sa tao kung hind kayo nagnakaw?


Name: Hit&Run
City/State/Country: ONTHEROAD
IP Address: 98.91.4.35

Comments

15 billion pesos missing from the coffers of an impoverished 3rd world republic is worth more than anything in the country's crime history to secure a fiery place in hell for all those guilty thieves.


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

The pictures in the editorial and if there are more of these, should be entered as evidence as the results of plundering the fund intended to uplift the lives of the economically disadvantaged.


Name: Phil Researcher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

Re: DAP & PDAF--The case against the three senators, Jinggoy, Bong Revilla & JPE was filed because of the exchange of their allotment into cash money "bags & bags of money quoting from Mrs. Ruby Tuason.. on the other hand the DAP was a mechanism the PNOY used to distribute funds to many senators they are big amounts but there is no allegation that the senators who received DAP pocketed the money for their personal use. Can you see the difference. The DAP came from savings made by Govt. agencies which the PNOY as Chief executive deemed it best to give it to the senators for their projects.


Name: BT Salvador
City/State/Country: Brunei
IP Address: 107.167.99.116

Comments

Now is the time for the person who was chosen by the Filipino people, from the will of GOD to do his part for the sake of his countrymen and show the whole that everyone will get what they have to for their actions.


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

Until ipamumukha sa mga scambags na ito (Enrile, Revilla, Estrada, Napoles and others to be formally charged yet) the results of their crime, they think it is the choice of those wretched garbage mounts scavengers to be poor, unsanitary and dirty and no senatongs and tongressmen can do anything about it. That's why those pictures should be used as evidence that these are the results of stealing the funds intended to uplift their lives. Those garbage scavengers should be GIVEN A RINGSIDE SEATS IN COURT so they will understand why they are poor and are not participating in, whatever it is worth to them, prosperity Pinas is undergoing.


Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

Everybody involved must show accountability of the crime of technical malversation (DAP or PDAF or whatever Funds). If there are clear violations then they must pay for it. However, the missing link in all these is delicadeza which is the virtue or righteousness in deed & in thought. This virtue strengthens him/her against cheating, lying, or stealing. It determines a person's sensitivity to what's wrong, a sense of prudence & propriety is inherent in a person with 'delicadeza', a warning device in recognizing the traps of graft & corruption; whether in the guise of 'pagtanaw ng utang na loob', or an innocent gift, commission, fee, or special funds. Justice must prevail.


Name: Sam Juan
City/State/Country: Lupa ng Haka Haka
IP Address: 38.88.177.203

Comments

The Editorial of course is writing about something that is a given-- the dismal effect of the billion PHP scam and "what-could-have-been" if the money was not "misappropriated" (gentle way of saying STOLEN). The more significant message is --- "Everyone tainted with this scandal must spend the rest of their lives behind bars." To that I say AMEN! Hopefully it will happen within this administration's tenure---and not to be "palmed off" to the next president --thus escaping the ire of the political allies of the scammers!


Name: Clemente Agbayani
City/State/Country: Sta. Mesa
IP Address: 68.110.155.23

Comments

Tama na. Talagang tayong Pinoy ay utak Penoy. Hinde na tayo madala, kaya"t tayo ay mahihirap pa sa daga. Sina Jinggoy, Bong, Enrile at Janet ay ma-aabsuwelto rin gaya ng mga Marcos, Estrada, Arroyo, Ampatuan, Lacson etc, etc. Abangan ang resulta ng Hustisiyang Penoy (double standard). Hinde tayo Penoy o Pinoy, tayo ay Pilipino.


Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

Without prejudice. Instead of a well-presented & written editorial, why not add more pictures of our suffering masa? Examples: people eating pagpag, students travelling distances & crossing rivers to go to school, young juveniles diving in murky waters for plastics & other salable items, kids cutting bamboos in the mountains to sell at minimal prices, struggling children gathering scraps from fishing boats, even blind children forced to work just to help the family buy a ganta of rice & a package of Ramen for a family of 8 & endless horror stories happening in our country. A real great injustices amidst of the billion of pesos stolen by heartless, immoral, & greedy politicians. If you follow GMA, ABC, TV5 these are daily news & coverage. Let's not over-analize all these.


Name: Marie
City/State/Country: Batangas
IP Address: 46.220.114.172

Comments

Ang pinakamabigat na kalaban ng mga mahihirap at ng bansa ay ang mga mayayaman. Kapag mayaman, kayang bilhin ang lahat pwera langit. Ang mga pulis at lahat ng kinatatakutan ay kayang patinuin ng kanilang salapi. At ang mga mukhang salapi ay may desisyong bahala na kapag natapalan ng salapi... dahilan, di bale na mabubuhay na sa ilang milyong suhol kaysa magtrabaho ng marangal na mababa sahod. Kaya hindi nawawala ang swapang ng dahil sa mga makakwarta. Sila ang dapat masugpo.... ang mga suhulero at mga nakikisawsaw sa suhol. Kaya ang payo ko kay PNoy ay dagdagan na ang sweldo ng mabababa. Hindi na ang mataas. Makakatulong sa kanilang pag-angat sa buhay at hindi sila stagnant sa ganoong buhay na lang.


Name: Arch. Lito L. Mallonga
City/State/Country: Pinas Ating Mahal
IP Address: 24.85.104.215

Comments

Gayon na napatunayang unconstitutional ang DAP sabi ng SC ano gayon masasabi at paliwanag ni BIG BOY DRILON. Sino kaya ang maniniwala sa kanyang mga paliwanag. Well halos lahat naman sa ating alam natin na ito na kaban ng bayan ay inabuso nila pati na PORK BARREL. So it is no longer debatable on who is who. If only they would have used this funds including supporting our AFP specially the salaries of the Soldiers and Farmers. ONLY IN PH and NOTHING MORE.


Name: Marie
City/State/Country: Batangas
IP Address: 46.220.114.172

Comments

Ang mga kautusang makakabuti sa lahat ng mamamayan ang dapat laging iradyo at hindi yong puros na lang teleserye ang pinagkakaabalahan ng mga pilipino. Sasabihin bang mahirap na bansa tayo kung ang paguusapan ay mga kapritso ng mga kabataan? Noon bihira ang may tv at may radyo. Ngayon, sobra-sobra ang mga gadgets... bawat uso ng cp mayron. mga nasa squatters area may tv at kontento rin sa mga teleserye. Angat na. Ang kailangan na lang ay maging mabuting mamamayan at masigasig na magtrabaho. Alisin ang sobrang dami ng entertainments at teleserye na nakakawala ng oras ng magulang na maturuan ang mga anak sa lahat ng bagay... family bonding at hindi tv bonding!


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

As I have been posting, over the years the money stolen from PDAF is not just P10 or 15 Billions. Historically somebody's got take a peek on the disbursement made by the Dept. or is it commission of Budget for the PDAF (if might have been called other names before) of the Three Departments of the govt. Everybody should prepare for the shock. In fact this "discovered" pork scam covers only a few recent years.


Name: Jun Ancheta
City/State/Country: Westminster, CA USA
IP Address: 173.51.128.166

Comments

Elected official or Gov't workers think they have a privilege to steal money from the gov't or people. Easy money, easy goes. Karma is waiting to happen to those corrupt officials. Stay out of trouble and you will not be in trouble.


Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

Finally Sen. Enrile surrendered voluntarily. At last the oldest of the 3 amigos was booked, fingerprinted, had a medical check-up & whether he goes to a rat-infested detention or an hospital ward is secondary. This time, Enrile's advanced age was outweighed by the charges of plunder. It was fraud & conspiracy on all counts. The next thing to do is how best to expedite the case & if possible recover the millions he stole from our people to justify to the Filipino people or millions of honest citizens who regularly pay their taxes that crime does not pay. A guilty verdict is in order. It might take a while. Keep posted.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.39.188

Comments

WONDERFUL! There is Justice after all. Or at least a fleeting semblance of it. Enrile in detention. Wow! The media should be careful not to play into his hands. This Machiavelli will use sympathy if other tricks fail. It is good that he is being detained at the PNP, even if it's a hospital room and not a slammer where he really belongs. OK, folks. Now the issues are joined. The legal battle begins.


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

PDAF or CDF (Countrywide Development Fund as it was known in the 90's) is a reward for support of the " ruling party's priority agenda". Essentially it addresses the needs of political constituents more than the welfare of the greater number of people. If I were a congressman, I will use my pork to make the voters in the districts where I won remain loyal but to deny development or community projects in districts where I lost.Misuse of PDAF or DAP money could be reduced only if the mechanism of transparency and accountability is" put in place and appropriately implemented. Currently, these safeguards are non-existent. SC is quick to render judgment on its unconstitutionality instead of making them (DAP or PDAF) a true vehicle of community development.


Name: Sam Juan
City/State/Country: Lupa ng Haka Haka
IP Address: 38.88.177.203

Comments

According to [someone] -" don't know why we are so obsessed with PDAF when the amount of pork is but 1% of our national budget. "- Perhaps the amount was just the "Attention Getter" - but the real issue is the S-C-A-M perpetuated that leads all the way up to the office of the head honcho through his Chief Alalay Abad! So the amount being ONLY "1% of our national budget" is really not that material. For all we care it might be just 0.001%but still a scam. The issue is also how that "1%" was used in corrupting (bribing) the system to oust a political pariah of the present administration. It is called CORRUPTION coming from an administration that touts "Daang Matuwid" as a slogan and "walang Mahirap kung walang Kurap" battle cry!! In short-- HYPOCRISY!


Name: Phil Researcher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

RE: July 4, 2014 Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE)--All his motions to dismiss file by Estilito Mendoza were denied by the Sandiganbayan Court so A warrant for his arrest has been issued and he is on his way to the PNP dentention center. The Court also issued an order for the medical Doctor at the PNP Center to give a medical exam to JPE and if needed he will be detained at the PNP Hospital. His argument that there is no direct evidence linking him to the PDAF scam was therefore denied for lack of merit. As I wrote earlier the Sandiganbayan is looking at the same documents so the result is the same all are now detained without bail, Including Atty Gigi Reyes JPE's Chief of Staff.


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

Karim Abdul Habib: Where you've been all these years? (unless you've been posting under other "name(s). I believe I just came across the poster who really understand the evil done by member of tongress (senatongs & tongressmen- you know who I mean) to their PDAF (but cannot show a "finish products", which they should) and posted it in this forum in a few words. The COA is a toothless tiger when it comes to this (tongress) PDAF. Complicity of COA? Maybe, unless proven otherwise. I think we are in the same wavelength on this. But I may differ with you with the "discretionary fund" of the presidents (not only of Aquino). Constitutionally, the fund is not subject to audit. I wish it is. So don't look for a "finish products" from the current president.


Name: As I See It
City/State/Country: CebuCity/SanDiego,CA
IP Address: 107.217.12.124

Comments

[Someone] says, "Hopefully it will happen within this administration's tenure---and not to be "palmed off" to the next president --thus escaping the ire of the political allies of the scammers! My take: Sir, you can only hope against hope with your esteemed president PNoy's purported good faith & good intention. With a unanimous ruling by SC that DAP is unconstitutional your esteemed PNoy may even be prosecuted by your imagined next president as your esteemed president continues to keep Abad in his protective palm. Tsk tsk tsk.


Name: Butch Lara
City/State/Country: California, USA
IP Address: 107.206.202.6

Comments

Please bring back the death penalty.


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

To my understanding if the PDAF or DAP money could not be found, that would have been a case of simple malversation. However if the money is for some other purpose then that is tecnical malversation.


Name: ReyOfBatoCatPhil
City/State/Country: Reno
IP Address: 99.46.25.26

Comments

If these accused plunderers are responsible gov't officials they would adhere to the rules and regulations of the prison, not putting guards in jeopardy or in trouble. This is how bad animals they are, after all they are enjoying the privileges they are not entitled of. How much more if they are the president of the Philippines? Think about that guys-my opinion


Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

Now that we have the leading characters of this scandal in custody, many questions have yet to be answered...what we know, what we don't know, & what has changed? It's clear that those who are charged have lost their 'ethical compass' & faith of our people. These bad public servants who camouflaged the vast thievery our country have ever experience (P15 billion might be just the tip of the iceberg). Billions of pesos gone the wrong way & wrong pockets. They simply didn't care or respect for things won thru honest work. Instead they enriched themselves by stealing money big time & the big way. Hopefully, they might be convicted but that's by a long shot. It will take years for these cases to be resolved. Let's just wait & pray for now.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.39.188

Comments

KAWAWA NAMAN. Look at this. They wouldn't publish the booking pictures of Enrile but they allowed all kinds of sentimental goodbyes to be shown, from the wife to the apo. From Enrile's sad expression to his brave submission to the authorities. And co-incidentally Senators Nancy Binay and J.V. Ejercito started sounding off about Enrile's health and comfort. E PAANO YONG NINAKAW? There is nothing anyone can do about his age but he certainly can do something about the hundreds of millions he stole. He could return it.


Name: HMC
City/State/Country: Simi Valley, CA, USA
IP Address: 99.162.89.150

Comments

So the 3 highest beneficiaries of the PDAF had been arrested how about the other politicians who are of the same party with the President, will they be arrested also?


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

IN the news: "Crame Jailer A "Sacrificial Lamb". The warden a certain Malana(?) was relieved of his post because he allowed (or failed to control) overstaying of visitors of detainees ( in this case, Revilla). The relief was assailed by the detained Red chieftain. Poor warden, even he of higher position as agent of Dept. of Justice can not say "No!" to high profile detainees. Understandable because these people like this warden, are awed (in Pinoy parlance "hangang-hanga") by these people even though they are in custody because they are accused to have committed a heinous crime against the people and country. I can imagine if these guards are going to enforce the rules they would be apologetic to these scumbags.


Name: Jorge Villanueva
City/State/Country: Canada
IP Address: 142.134.180.219

Comments

We compare the country and the problem of corruption as akin to a house full of grime and stinking mess. The absolute necessity to have it washed, cleaned and sanitized is undertaken by a caretaker named Pnoy who has shown so much interest and a relentless effort to complete the job. Personally, he can clean where he deemed it easier to start and it matters not, whether he starts from the top. But somehow the incomprehensible part is for some Filipinos to disrupt the process and have him fired, leaving the job incomplete and the house still dirty and a few squabbling that he clean some parts of the house first before the other parts. The Filipinos lack of focus is certainly astonishing.


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

Enrile's been getting away with his crimes all these years. Pinoys who have grievances against should rejoice now that the "short" arm of the law of the Philippines caught up with him. But they might still regret that he is still enjoying the luxury of being detained in a hospital. When he had all abiding citizens rounded up just because they overstayed enjoying their freedom (because of the curfew); dumped them in Crame, have the camp clean by them as punishment without due process of the law and other trampling of people's right, this should pay back time and he should be languishing in the rats and roaches infested cell just like he did to thousands of Pinoys.


Name: Jorge Villanueva
City/State/Country: Canada
IP Address: 142.134.180.219

Comments

The incongruity of purpose and appalling disunity of the country is obvious. With the prosecution of corrupt officials in full swing with the top three politicians confined for their role in plunder, instead of getting unanimous accolade for his relentless effort Pnoy is receiving discordant voices, a few demanding his impeachment and others a change in prosecutorial direction. Quo vadis Philippines? Keep your eyes on the 8 ball.


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

The national budget of the Philippine government is 2.006 trillion. PDAF is 25 billion. If half was technically malversed that is 1/ 2 of 1 percent. Ano kba dong? Having a math problem? That is the problem with most if not all Pinoys. They make a mountain out of a molehill. Look at the remaining 99% of the national budget where there are more abuses and misuse of funds.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.39.188

Comments

TIDBIT. Gigi Reyes, the other woman in Enrile's life, allegedly cried when she found out that there would be no aircon or even an electric fan in a basement cell where she would be detained. Sounds like a dungeon than an ordinary jail. She may not know it but this is just the beginning of her long, long travail. While Enrile lives she may benefit from all the legal magic that Enrile may employ. But once Enrile dies there is a good possibility that her co-accused would start singing and point to her as the real perpetrator to improve their situation. If she is smart she could preempt them and start singing right now.


Name: Lea
City/State/Country: Perry, Kansas, USA
IP Address: 76.7.234.235

Comments

From now on, anyone who will steal from the government's coffers should return all the money they took plus double interest, and put them in a regular jail. No one should above the law, otherwise, we will be the laughingstock of the world. It is a shame that the Philippines is still a third world country because of the heartless greedy people in government.


Name: Jorge Villanueva
City/State/Country: Canada
IP Address: 142.134.106.63

Comments

Here's a great example of why in some countries corruption can never go beyond its initial stage. The latest discovery of the Veterans' scandal in U.S.A. is dealt with immediately. The officials are gone and rules are tightened. In Canada, three Senators got booted out on strong suspicion they have padded their expense accounts and the people involved were dismissed without much hullabaloo. The country continue its progressive way. In the Philippines we have politicians who are confined for plunder but are appearing jubilant, ridiculously positive in their outlook and appearing nonchalant of the charges. What's wrong with this picture or what's wrong with the country?


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.39.188

Comments

It's not the PDAF or DAP or Pork Barrel or whatever you might call it. It IS the PEOPLE handling it. No matter what you call it, no matter for what purpose you create it thieves will steal it. Why? Because they are THIEVES. That's their nature. Stealing is in their blood. This argument about abolishing the fund or keeping it or arguing about it is much ado about nothing. Before they talk of abolishing anything that has to do with money in the PHL they have to abolish the thieving politician first. In law it is called a "condition sine qua non".


Name: Paco Sa Cruz
City/State/Country: Vietnam
IP Address: 123.22.202.215

Comments

Our politicians are aware of the extreme poverty being endured by majority of the populace. In fact, they use this to catapult themselves in office with the never ending promise every election campaign of providing much better life for the poor. But then, after getting elected, these politicians enrich themselves and are overwhelmed by the ease of stealing public funds that they handover the reins to their family members. For the meantime, the poor becomes poorer and the election promise of a better life was for the politician and not for the people. This vicious cycle must be stopped and it is time to start by chopping the heads of POGI, SEXY, TANDA and the cohort NAPOLES.


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

I am not really sure if all of us here are familiar with the process how PDAF money got transferred to NGOs or implementing agencies. It all starts with the congress person making a request to release his/ her pork barrel allocation from a menu or project list that goes all the way to the speaker or senate president ( in case of senators) . The heads of both houses endorses it and goes to the DBM where a special allotment release order is issued signaling that the project could now proceed. However the congress people had already colluded with the implementing agency that the chosen NGO has it with a MOA. The money transfer had just been made. So you could see who is on the loop.


Name: Jun Ancheta
City/State/Country: Westminster, CA USA
IP Address: 173.51.128.166

Comments

Phil. Gov't infested, cancerous, no wonder we are in the 3rd world. Maawa naman kayo Iho, Iha. Paano tayo aasinso pag kayo nahawa bagsak din ang buhay ninyo at kasama ang pamilya. Gumising at magpakatino. Mahalin ang sariling bayan. Mahal na Mahal ng Diyos ang matinong Tao. Ginagabayan habang buhay. Tumingin sa paligid. Pagmasdan ang masama. Huwag gayahin. Peace Of God Will Be With You.


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

In the news: "Enrile Appeals For Hospital Arrest". When Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. during Martial Law authored and enforced by Enrile, the same Enrile who is begging now, was imprisoned he was jailed in Camp Crame. Although I saw the picture of his cell through the news report featuring him and his jailer (who happened to be my classmate in high school), I knew the cell is rat and roach infested. Well, everybody in this forum should have an idea how was Crame then compared to Crame now.


 

Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

Someone said that the 10 - 15 billion is just the tip of the iceberg. The size of the iceberg is only 100 billion (combined allocation for both PDAF & DAP). Roughly this is about 4- 5 % of the 2 trillion national budget. This occurred because of the lack of transparency and accountability on the part of government. The members of congress, their respective appropriations committees, the speaker, the senate president, DMB, the implementing agencies and COA were in collusion. Napoles was just a smart intermediary in the whole scam. All of us are now screaming after the anomaly was exposed by the media.


Name: Sam Juan
City/State/Country: Lupa ng Haka Haka
IP Address: 38.88.177.203

Comments

Someone posted a suggestion to Gigi Reyes- "If she is smart she could preempt them and start singing right now." Just about the most logical thing she should do indeed! If Sugar Daddy is not there anymore to protect her---she will be the proverbial target of the howling mob looking for revenge. Then she will have a very good reason to cry!!!


Name: Jorge Villanueva
City/State/Country: Canada
IP Address: 47.54.128.51

Comments

When the dust settles down and the vestiges of corruption, a mere ephemeral nightmare, then we need to examine how the Filipno brain works. Why did it embark on the disastrous journey on the first place? Why did it cast away all the moral attributes, learned or acquired from education within and without and the ever insistent preaching of the Christian way, to dwell on the basal instinct of depravity? Once answered we can have a sigh of relief for knowledge is power.


Name: Phil Researcher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

Re: Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada- He prefers to be under House arrest..instead of the detention at Camp Crame. Sen. Jinggoy it is best for you to be quiet now instead of telling reporters that you would ask for Cable TV. You are being accused of stealing money from the treasury of the Philippines. According to the information filed in the Sandiganbayan you got cash in the form of kickback in the total amount of P172,000 million.You are not a senator now you are a criminal defendant. You can't have more rights than the ordinary criminal in Bilibid.


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

The people were denied the bounty of government from the misuse and abuse with PDAF and DAP projects. HinolDAP ang kaban ng bayan! The latter was a stimulus package to spur economic growth but it stimulated only a few pockets? 100 million for Drillon and 99 million for Enrile makes everyone sick to their stomach! LORD HAVE MERCY! ALLAH AKHBAR


Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

For the first time in the history of the Phils & under the cultural corruption practiced today, those who are charged (first batch) are now detained. If our govt will get their priorities straight, they must go for more crooks who abused the system. They must all account for what they did & disclose all facts & totally be forthnight. Easier said than done. At least, those in detention now are finally realizing the ramifications of being held in custody. So. let the ones who will not eat jail food be. The important thing is they are incarcerated & will not go anywhere. Jail, detention, incarceration, or being held are all the same. They are behind bars.


Name: anthone
City/State/Country: Cavite,Philippines
IP Address: 49.145.178.247

Comments

Just wondering why so much security is needed for the "big fishes" currently at camp Crame. In the first place, they do not deserve to be in such a luxurious cell. Due to the gravity of their allege offenses (plunder,malversations etc...), they should be thrown in the dirtiest section of the bilibid prison where rats, roaches abound minus all the comforts of life. Yes, they deserved to have their day in court but we the people, directly and indirectly affected by their deeds found them guilty and they should suffer the highest penalties--if not death.


Name: john
City/State/Country: angeles
IP Address: 72.207.35.23

Comments

How much longer will these senators stay in the instant nice rooms? The longer it takes, they will find new reasons to stay in hospital arrest. Like Enrile, he was healthy always playing his tablet. When he got arrested, suddenly, his blood pressure went high. His eyes went bad. What is next? Probably start campaigning for 2016. We have seen people wining elections, sa PINAS, while in prison.


Name: Hit&Run
City/State/Country: ONTHEROAD
IP Address: 98.91.4.35

Comments

Everything has been mentioned repeatedly by everyone how corrupt government officials and their cronies are, including numerous punishment recommendations, yet, nothing can be more effective than the general masses getting organized, speaking for themselves, and acting in some united, purposeful and determined ways. Remove and vanish one of these undesirable personalities and a domino effect will surely take place.


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

We should not be condemning in unison both PDAF & DAP as evil because SC ruled on their unconstitutionality. Let us balance the good things they have done to promote economic growth and the evil actions some unscrupulous congress people and implementing agencies did to ruin the good intentions of government. If the funds could not be found, that is simple malversation. Whoever benefitted from those funds must return the money. They include congress people, the implementing agencies, and intermediaries. There should be no selective justice here for God's sake!


Name: tonyO
City/State/Country: pinas
IP Address: 114.108.222.151

Comments

[Someone] said “As I have been posting here, all these years PDAF is assumed to be legal and Constitutional. The allocated amounts to respective senatongs and tongressmen if spent partially or full, a follow up inquiry should have been done:… Adre, on the contrary it was unconstitutional from the beginning, thanks to Ex Prez Cory who resurrected this sanamagan sanamabuts corrupt system when she was installed to the presidency after EDSA REVOLUTION. WHY? Coz it’s a POST BUDGET appropriation by the lawmaker alone without the legislative processes via the entire legislature and approval of the President. The rule is public expenditures shall be upon the appropriation act of Congress.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.39.188

Comments

Even before she had been named in the Plunder complaint Gigi Reyes had emptied her bank accounts. Since her arrest she had been whining non-stop so much so that some people were actually feeling sorry for her and accusing the Aquino administration of being inhuman towards her. Ang kapal ng mukha nitong TATSING na 'to. Make no mistake about it. She is by now a hardened criminal. She had been associating body and soul with Enrile for so long now that whatever goodness or decency she possessed had long deserted her. She deserves every discomfort and pain she is getting.


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

[Someone]: Chiefs of staff of all indicted senators should be granted immunity and placed under the witness protection program.. They should be rewarded with cash and shipped elsewhere with new identities. That same privilege was awarded to cooperative witnesses when the FBI went after the MAFIA. This PDAF thing has the appearance of a MAFIA organization (Cosa Nostra) with Enrile, Estrada, and Revilla behaving as GODFATHERS.


Name: deo
City/State/Country: flour-flower city
IP Address: 66.66.203.16

Comments

[Someone].- As long as nobody challenges the legality and/or Constitutionality of laws, presidential proclamation, DAF, PDAF, and so on and so forth, the above will continue as such. As I posted earlier, even criminals says, their action is only criminal if they are caught.


Name: Marie
City/State/Country: Batangas
IP Address: 46.220.96.5

Comments

Ang main problem sa Pinas ay corruption. Ngayong mayroon ng king to stop corruption at nakikita at naririnig natin na may nakukulong naman, ano at kinakalaban pa rin nila? Galit sila noon kay Gloria. Ngayon galit pa rin kay Pnoy. OMG hindi pa pala pinanganganak ang gusto nila. Wala at walang peace na mangyayari. Siraan ng siraan ... parang mga kunduktor ng bulok na bus na sigaw ng sigaw at gustong sumakay ang mga tao sa bulok.


Name: Carlos
City/State/Country: Manila
IP Address: 72.197.247.221

Comments

Napoles should rot in jail, this greedy woman who loves stealing money from the government with no contentment should not be given any chance to get out of jail. Hope she returns all the money and be distributed to the poor people of our country to alleviate poverty. More funds in education, farmers and small business owners. PNoy and Abad should be with Napoles too.


Name: Nebur Malasakit
City/State/Country: Philippines
IP Address: 166.107.111.102

Comments

These corrupt individuals do not deserve to die in peace. Greediness is their character who took advantage of their position. Most of them parade themselves as honest politicians that did not steal from Juan De la Cruz even a single centavo, but ooonnly MILLIONS or BILLIONS of pesos! What a shame....they should all go to HELL!


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

SOMEONE: Marcos was never condemned for killing Nalundasan in cold blood. Marcos was never hailed as a hero for that crime but he was admired for his prowess in defending himself. His crime was against an individual (personal vendetta) but these senators and their accomplices in PDAF scam committed a crime against the PEOPLE. They were deprived the latter of the bounty from government.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.36.177

Comments

News Flash: Gigi Reyes suffers panic attacks. Had an elevated blood pressure and had to be rushed to a hospital. This is just the start of her long tribulation. How could she ever last months or even years of detention? Someone should suggest to her to return the money she stole for a better place of detention. She is the weak link in this saga. She is the one so used to the high, extravagant life that she is so terrified of people in the underbelly of society whom she would have to share living space with for a long time.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.36.177

Comments

NO MAS. The govt. prosecutors reportedly ate dust in the opening trial of Bong Revilla & Napoles. The simple task of extracting information from their own witness became an occasion for the Justices to give them a lecture on lawyering. Well, let's face it. People who work for the govt. are usually political appointees. They are mediocre at best, if they show up for work at all. It's just surprising that even the Ombudsman's office is plagued with this disease. Short explanation: These prosecutors are just No Match for the private defense lawyers. And it won't be long before No Match turns to No Mas. The Justices can only take so much bumbling and incompetence before they dismiss the case for lack of merit.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.36.177

Comments

Enrile complains of old age and a laundry list of illnesses. So he keeps petitioning the court to be allowed a hospital stay (just like the other thief Gloria Arroyo). Not to be outdone, La Gran Querida Gigi Reyes went into hysteria in prison and had to be hospitalized. It is not sure how long she will stay in the hospital. We can expect these 2 plunderers to show up in court sometime in the foreseeable future in wheelchairs. I am just wondering. How can these people be so bold and blatant in stealing all that money, e sa kulungan lang pala umi-iyak na. The PHL has been severely victimized by a bunch of COWARDS. Kawawang bayan ito.


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.36.177

Comments

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales should be alarmed that her Prosecutors are regularly getting lectured and embarrassed at the Plunder Trial. These Prosecutors seem weak, ineffective and no match for the lawyers of the accused. Why not hire a private prosecutor? Someone who is a trial warrior that could stand up to the best of them. Aquino should also look into this. This is not funny anymore. I've said once that the arrest of the accused Plunderers may be the as good as it gets for decent Filipinos. That the crooks will thereafter prevail for some reason, and walk away free and clear from any responsibility. And the people will be left standing in the cold with a bag filled with nothing but hot air. I sincerely hope I am WRONG.


Name: Phil Reseacher
City/State/Country: LA County, CA USA
IP Address: 98.112.130.24

Comments

Re: The Delusions of Bong Revilla Jr. Among his list of witnesses are GMA & The current President Aquino III, I don't believe there is any impediment for GMA to appear considering that he is no longer the Chief Executive, However the president of the Philippines is not available and has no time to appear for any second or minute as he is required to be president 100% of the time. It ain't gonna happen. Some Assistant in the legal department at Malacanang would probably file a Motion in the Sandiganbayan to exclude the Pnoy from any kind of trial be it in the Sandiganbayan or any court for that matter. Atty Bodegon knows that the President has no business in any Court of law as witness.They are after publicity? Atty Bodegon might be reprimanded agains by the Justices of the Sandiganbayan


Name: Karim Abdul Habib
City/State/Country: Jolo
IP Address: 121.54.92.138

Comments

You could bet your bottom dollar that the next batch of senators who would be indicted by Ombudsman are those who had received PDAF money from 100 to 150 million . The third batch would include those senators who had received 70 million to under 100.million of PDAF money. It is unlikely that many congressmen would be charged with plunder but graft. Remember that the threshold for plunder charge is 70 million for a congressman; That is the maximum pork a congressman could possibly have and allocate a year to his congressional district unless augmented by a stimulus package from the executive branch called DAP


Name: SOMEONE
City/State/Country: USA
IP Address: 74.77.39.188

Comments

NEWS: Revilla reportedly submitted a list of witnesses he would like to call to the stand. This list includes Aquino, Arroyo, and other high govt. officials. Revilla's strategy is clear. He would show that everyone is just as corrupt as he, including the President and the ex-President. He may be able to show this considering how corrupt a country the PHL is. But that does not absolve him from liability is his plunder case. The guilt of others, whoever they may be does not necessarily make him innocent. He will still have to overcome the evidence of guilt presented against him.


Name: JRH
City/State/Country: Montreal, Canada
IP Address: 70.83.179.172

Comments

The headlines of late for all the detainees haven't been particularly kind or sympathetic to them. Enrile's request for hospital detention is denied. All appeals for bail also denied. Hopefully & soon PNP will finally enforce strict rules regarding the never-ending party food fest that will soon be over. VIP treatment or special treatment, jail food is jail food. It's clear that it's just shameful defiance by spoiled Estrada & Revilla not to follow rules. Perhaps PNP must restrict it to just one day a week, say a Sunday. Filipinos are questioning why PNP is that weak in this matter. If Enrile can eat what is served, then, why can't these actors do the same. It does not make sense.


 

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