Category: Politics

Senate President Franklin Drilon proposes abolition of Congress!

August 27, 2013 benign0 31 Comments

Seems like even the honourable and learned senators of this fine land cannot grasp simple principles that underpin a growing public sentiment against discretionary public spending in the Philippines by the legislature — specifically that which comes in the form of “pork barrel” funds. Senate President Franklin Drilon, for one, cannot seem to understand that…

Crime, Government, Politics

Taxpayers’ money will continue to be wasted even if Pork is spent honestly

August 27, 2013August 27, 2013 benign0 17 Comments

There’s lot’s of argument surrounding the fate of the Priority Development Assistance or “Pork Barrel” Funds already flying about. Should legislators be allowed continued access to all those billions of pesos in taxpayers’ funds? The answer to that had already been settled under the really simple principle — that executives execute, and legislators legislate. Quite…

Crime, Development, Government, Politics

What next after the August 26 million people march to Luneta versus the pork barrel?

August 26, 2013August 26, 2013 benign0 22 Comments

In a previous article, I harped on the fantasy world where it could be possible to hope to see senators and congresspersons found guilty of abusing the vast sums of discretionary funds made available to them out of the national budget being marched out of their homes or offices handcuffed. “This is my definition of…

Crime, Government, Politics, Society

Executives execute, legislators legislate: Scrap the pork barrel

August 25, 2013September 8, 2013 benign0 39 Comments

Again, following an eleventh-hour announcement from President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III that he is espousing abolition of the Congressional pork barrel, people continue to debate the wisdom of this move. The same lame arguments come up — “Who gets control of where the monies will be spent? How does this affect the various projects…

Crime, Development, Featured, Government, Politics

Celebration of Ninoy Aquino’s Death Anniversary Continuously Baffles Me

August 24, 2013August 22, 2018 Gogs 73 Comments

“I have been fighting for the truth since Day 1 and thank God I am surviving… I am energized by the truth and truth is God… “ Imelda Marcos on Ninoy Aquino’s assassination. So we “celebrated “the 30th anniversary of the killing of Ninoy Aquino. Hindsight is 20/20 as the great…

Culture, Government, Politics, Society

Long-overdue: President Noynoy Aquino grudgingly jumps on the Abolish Pork Barrel bandwagon

August 23, 2013 benign0 30 Comments

Evidently, a wait-and-see position taken by both the president and members of Congress on how the brewing outrage over pork barrel thievery in the Philippine government may play out did not work. The issue did not go away and the outrage has snowballed in the lead up to what may be a massive protest rally…

Crime, Politics

Masbate Government Doesn’t Want You People All Up In Their Business

August 23, 2013August 23, 2013 BenK 17 Comments

About a week ago, I wrote a column for my regular Manila Times gig praising the efforts of a Facebook group called “Masbate Talks” for taking the ordinary social media group format a couple productive steps farther, and turning it into a model of public attentiveness and interaction with their local government that could easily…

Civics, Government, Politics

PNoy’s reason for keeping the PDAF is weak, pork barrel should be abolished

August 23, 2013August 23, 2013 Ilda 46 Comments

The number of Filipinos who are getting fed up with Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III is definitely growing. As Churchill would say, he has all the virtues they dislike and none of the vices they admire. Granted, there are still those who are in denial of the likelihood that BS Aquino personally benefits…

Crime, Government, Politics