Please don’t blame the President

SEN. Richard “Dick”

Gordon is right: the public got screwed with the P500 million deal for the purchase of screws for car plates.

Why was there a separate deal for screws when they should have been included with the plates?

And the plates for cars and motorcycles, where are they?

The Land Transportation Office has awarded the contract to some suppliers.

What’s causing the delay in the delivery of the plates to car and motorcycle owners?

Crooks in government are ingenious at finding ways to fleece taxpayers of their hard-earned money.

Singer Freddie Aguilar, whose song “Tunay na Pagbabago? (Real Change)” is considered the theme of the Duterte administration, must be frustrated.

And so are many Filipinos. And so am I.

In the early days when that song was played over the loudspeakers during occasions attended by President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte, I would have goosebumps and feel like crying.

“Yehey, change is about to take place,” I thought to myself.

This was true especially when that song was played during Digong’s inaugural in Malacañang, which I attended on June 30, 2016.

But alas and alack, change has not come! It has become even more elusive.

Not that the President is indifferent toward change, but that he’s getting the wrong advice from his Cabinet and close friends.

These people are either protecting vested interests, or are scared to tell the President what’s happening in their respective spheres of influence.

Please don’t blame the President for the unabated corruption in government; blame his advisers.

From the rumor mill... What’s this I hear that the spouse and a business partner of a high government official are investing in a P1.8-billion project to build a township in Luzon?

The official’s spouse is also a government official, while the business partner is a contributor to a local newspaper (not the Manila Times).

The pair have reportedly cornered the project to build an economic zone somewhere in Luzon.

The proposed economic zone would have a yacht club, beach resort, retirement village, warehouses, condominiums and business hubs for Chinese-owned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

The firm owned by the official’s spouse and business partner plans to plunk in P178 million in cash into the project, including P20 million for the land, P100 million for improvements, and P50 million for buildings.

Where in heaven’s name did they get that huge amount?

Have they declared this amount in their statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN)?

Further, if this project isn’t a conflict of interest, I don’t know what is.

Here’s another blind item to whet your appetite for gossip.

The spouse of another high government official has reportedly cornered the insurance business of many companies and individuals.

There’s a wild rumor that the spouse is having an affair with an executive of a large insurance company.

The rumor would not have spread if the insurance executive had not become the favorite of the official’s spouse.

The government official is said to be personally involved in many shady transactions.

One of these days, this high government official’s shenanigans will eventually reach the President’s ears.