Daang matuwid and the people’s apathy!
Our Special Presentation on our talk show, Straight from the Sky, is the last in our series that we documented when we went to Rome for the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod. One of the top officers of the International Marketing Group (IMG), the parent company of My TV Channel 30, Mr. Bart Borja, whom we’ve already tried to invite into our show several times but was very hard to catch because he handles the European business of IMG, is our guest.
But since Bart Borja also doubled as our tour guide in Tuscany, I finally caught up with him in Florence and since I wanted this taping done outdoors, we chose to shot it at the Piazza Duomo in the heart of Florence with the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower) as the backdrop for my set. Of course, this was the first time in my 12-years doing this show that I did an interview in a busy piazza with people passing by and sounds of motorcycles or an occasional ambulance forcing us to cut the interview.
But we pulled this interview and now Bart Borja can tell you what the IMG is all about and more importantly why they have offices in Madrid, Dubai, Barcelona, Rome and Milan. So watch this very interesting interview on IMG with Bart Borja in Florence on SkyCable’s channel 61 and replays on MyTV Channel 30 on M-W-F.
* * * There is no doubt that the political kettle has boiled to the point that political oppositions no longer just snarl at each other, but use the Office of the Ombudsman to do the job of demolishing their political rivals for them. Yes, I’m referring to that case filed by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, gubernatorial candidate Hilario “JunJun” Davide, III and Board Member Arleigh Sitoy against Gov. Gwen F. Garcia for the development of the Balili Property. They are also seeking the suspension of the Governor because; clearly she is a stumbling block in their attempt to take over power in Cebu Province. Why can’t they wait until the 2013 elections are over huh?
Why do I believe that this politically motivated? Because the Office of the Ombudsman under Conchita Carpio-Morales is clearly a political tool of the Aquino government as she is obviously subservient to her appointing power, Pres. Benigno “PNoy” Aquino, III.
Our best proof is that, pundits already point out her questionable move against Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when they caught her when she forced the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to file plunder charges against the former President despite the absence of proof and probable cause. This case was already dismissed for lack of proof, yet the Ombudsman acting under orders of the President still continued the case.
But the Ombudsman does nothing against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) when its Chairman Sixto Brillantes admitted during a Senate investigation a couple of months ago to the purchase of luxurious beds amounting to P95,000 for a King sized bed and P85,000 for a Queen sized bed. This is a glaring abuse of authority by the Comelec to purchase luxurious items at a time when the majority of the Filipino people could ill afford even a simple bed. Yet Mrs. Conchita Carpio-Morales turns a blind eye against these corrupt practices by the Comelec. Because she would never do anything that would displease Pres. PNoy and filing a case against Brillantes would certainly displease the President.
In truth, I really don’t blame her or the Aquino Regime for doing all these shenanigans. I put the blame squarely on the Filipino people who have shown only apathy and have embraced the Aquino propaganda machinery, hook, line and sinker, especially when they proclaim themselves to be doing so great in the corruption front. But that’s sheer propaganda. You want more proof? I have more proof, but what’s the point in bringing them out when the Ombudsman doesn’t seem to care?
Just last week on Dec.5, there was that front page report that the Philippines was still perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, having bagged a score of 34 on a scale of 1 to 100 according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International. But the Aquino propaganda machinery quickly turned this around…saying that we beat our neighbors Indonesia, Bangladesh or Vietnam.
The Aquino Regime’s reply to such a report is almost like saying, “Sure we are corrupt, but Vietnam, Indonesia or Bangladesh is more corrupt.” This reminds me of the reply of then Mayor Alvin Garcia when then President Fidel V. Ramos told him that Cebu was dirty, to which the Mayor replied that Manila was dirtier than Cebu. While it was true, it was still a wrong answer. At this point we all know where Daang Matuwid is headed and someday, their propaganda would boomerang on the Aquino Regime.