A Biblical phrase that is often applied to a broad political milieu

“TO the victors belong the spoils.” A non-Filipino Catholic priest who officiated the anticipated mass my wife and I attended early Saturday evening last week made use of the above statement.

When the good padre delivered his sermon, one could easily discern he was either a Cambodian or a Vietnamese. And may have staying the country for quite a time for he has a fair knowledge of what was going on in political circles.

For instance, he mentioned the present squabble between two of the government’s top officials, without naming their names.

Without any doubt, he came to know about the verbal affray because it is an item that newspapers like to print on the front page, and TV stations love to splash on the TV screen come prime time news programs at early evening.

The reverend said it was not pleasant to know that the two top government officials are quarrelling and the source of their bickering is all about money.

Was the money of the government taken and spent wrongly by either of the two fighting personalities?

The priest almost implied that the altercation as “spoils of the victors” as the two parties are identified with the present administration.

The verbal exchanges occupying media space almost every day by the protagonists do not speak well of the government that vows to uplift the morale of the people, especially those serving in the government.

The unspeakable quarrel will lead foreign investors and tourists to ask, “What has brought the country to such a pass?”

And the next thing we know is that foreign visitors will start packing their bags and go elsewhere!

I am sure the reverend knows that the contentious issue here is about the 13.757-trillion 2019-2020 national budget of the government that is still being reviewed for final approval by Congress.

It appears that House leaders cried foul when the program had some appropriations that were not in the original document earlier submitted by Malacanang. They pointed an accusing finger at the budget secretary as the brains behind the insertions.

Further, among others, the congressmen said the budget contained some 1500 billion for flood control projects in the Bicol region that was not in the original format.

And worse, most of those flood control projects in the region were won by construction firms owned by the in-laws and “balaes” of the budget secretary.

The Palace official countered that “he has no relatives” when exercising his official duties.

The fired-up congressmen asked the President to fire the budget secretary. “No way, he has still the confidence of the Chief Executive,” chorused the Malacañang drumbeaters.

One defense volley coming from the Palace by the Pasig: “The Bicolano lawmaker is not without clean hands. He has some 97 graft cases to answer, allegedly committed two administrations ago.”

So, there. One does not have to look very far when searching for the “spoils among the victors.”