Absurde
I got a text message from PCGG Commisioner Ric Abcede early yesterday morning. He was inviting me to a press conference that morning where he would talk about what he called a “universal settlement” with the Marcos family and their cronies, the latest on Imelda Marcos’ jewels, and, get this–his defense of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra. Yes, Agra the savior of Andal and Akmad Ampatuan. What that had to do with the the PCGG and the Marcos cases was beyond me. Then I got a second text message from Abcede saying that aside from me he had invited Jessica Soho and Boy Abunda. This was surreal. Maybe I had too much to drink last night and was still dreaming.
But in this country of ours, the surreal is– more often than not–real. Abcede did hold a press conference where he announced his intention to settle the Marcos cases.
Its been called a midnight deal, but its not. As far as I know, a settlement has been agreed upon in principle about two years ago and that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was just waiting for the right time to sign on the dotted line. With two months to go before she’s expected to step down and no assurance that she’ll be able to extend her term as planned, the Marcoses probably told her it was time to live up to her word. The deal–as I understand it– will leave the government with a portion of the identified Marcos assets. In exchange it will not exercise any claims on any other assets that will be identifed after the settlement is reached. If this is correct, watch how billions of dollars in Marcos assets will magically be discovered once the deal is signed. When former national security adviser Jose Almonte launched an operation in 1986 to recover Marcos assets in Swiss bank accounts, he identified over $2 billion sitting in bank accounts. But his efforts to retrieve the money were apparently stymied by then-PCGG Chairman Jovito Salonga and then- executive secretary Joker Arroyo. Almonte and his team recovered $200 million, which left about $1.8 billion in the accounts in 1986. Almonte believes there were billions of dollars more on top of that initial $2 billion. If the settlement is finalized, the Marcoses will probably get all of this free and clear. But right now the question that interests me more is this: what did Arroyo get in exchange?
Maybe I should have attended Abcede’s press conference. I’d ask Boy Abunda but I heard he didn’t show up either.
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19 Responses to “Absurde”
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Phil Cruz
May 1st, 2010 11:361Why the deal now? Because an Aquino presidency is imminent. It’s the Marcoses’ last plane out.
Maybe it’s a 50-50 deal. Wow. A hefty going away present for the Glorious One from the Imeldific One.
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susan
May 1st, 2010 13:492That’s why people of the Philippines. Wake up and be counted or else we gonna wake up one day that all the assets of the country is in the hand of privilege few. One thing that i am sadden about is that Pres. Gloria didn’t care why people are so concern of the cheating, demoralize of the military, and judiciary. Isn’t it all this is bec. of HER?
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marc1a
May 1st, 2010 16:253surprise! surprise-d!? haven’t we seen the likes of this for quite a while now (especially so lately) — gma’s own personal stamp. modus operandi.
a look at the string of threads in this website and local news headlines in the past decade sums up herstory.
wherever that girl in the ‘hood places her hands on is bound to smell fishy… and man, does she care?
at this juncture when she’s bound to do everything in her power to save herself post-admin, she must collect and collect to pay all those people who she might need to work in keeping her out of jail. ’til kingdom come. amen.
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Phil Cruz
May 1st, 2010 20:054Abcede! Absurde! Great title, Ricky.
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Phil Cruz
May 1st, 2010 20:075Did the guy get a facelift? He looks queerly absurde.
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john marzan
May 1st, 2010 20:086this should be an election issue.
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marc1a
May 1st, 2010 21:537. . . i wonder how people (govt officials at that) can ruin their hard-earned careers by playing hooky yes-men to the powers that be (soon “that’s been”-to be) and for what?
on second thought (… and nth thereafter) maybe the career wasn’t so hard-earned… and tsk!, tsk!… the so called career may just be as it appears: playing hooky
. as it seems, all the admin is just plain cover: fact is (or so the deadpan perfect picture gone awry so tell us), up in ivory towers, all there is is a not-so-sizeable pimp and her harem of prostitutes — ever so willing to sell their integrity and honor for the glory of the not-so-glorious so called gloria.
government is such big business, no wonder countless hoods are fighting to the dirt just to get a seat.
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Ricky Carandang
May 2nd, 2010 09:328Guys,
I’m actually open to exploring an out of court settlement with the Marcoses on the hidden wealth. But it should be made clear to the public what exactly the terms of the deal are. What do we gain? What do they keep? What other term are there?
Call me naive or biased but I don’t trust this government to make that deal on behalf of the country. -
JazzyJean
May 2nd, 2010 19:239Why only now this ridiculously no-brainer ploy is NOT a surprise to me. NOW is the apt time to slightly turn the tables around. A deviation from the course of imminent victory,like a Noynoy delving on this issue to distract him was planned beforehand . If he wins, and it seems very likely, this is another “pabaon”— just one of Ate Glo’s curses. It’s typical of Ate Glo to cast her plagues as the situation draws near.That is very her. Oh and by the way? She’s an excellent tactician when desperate.
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Michael
May 2nd, 2010 21:3310I don’t know the legalese, but maybe the agreement could include a condition. The Marcos’s would have to declare the exact amount of their assets. Any assets discovered after the agreement is consummated would automatically go to the government, and the Marcos’s waive any claim to it.
If the Marcos’s are honest in their declaration, they should have no reason to object to the condition.
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Dani
May 2nd, 2010 21:5511Don’t they look the same? – that man on the wheelchair (basta wheelchair sa tingin ko) and his boss? Nagpalagay ba siya ng nunal? Grabe naman sa sipsip!
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Hyden Toro
May 3rd, 2010 03:0812Anything can happen in politics. The unthinkable will happen in this election…
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Henry
May 3rd, 2010 08:2113This is just plain awful – Philippine politics at its dirtiest! Those billions belongs to the Filipino people and it should be returned! The Marcoses are living the elegant life c/o the Filipino people! You don’t make settlements with robbers/thieves – you get back what was stolen and file charges against them. It seems that is not the case for the Marcoses! PGMA and her cronies are making a sweet midnight deal here people and saying otherwise is naive and an insult to our intellect! Nothing is for free and with billions on the line – I’m sure PGMA will be walking out out with a more atrocious smile!
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Leonard
May 3rd, 2010 10:0614Ricky,
I know you have been following this story (and the money trail) for quite some time. Sad to say, it seems to me that all of it, each and every cent, will end up in the hands of the Executive Branch (and cronies). This administration doesn’t need to make any “midnight deals”. They can do it right out in the open and no one will care. Those who are in authority and protest will just be bought off and all will be forgotten. Remember, this lady stole an entire airport terminal.
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The EQualize rPost
May 3rd, 2010 11:4015Ricky:
Ric Abcede is as nuckin Futs as his dad,who ran as a candidate for president on the platform of the JAPWANCAP.
The JAPWANCAP (“JAPANESE WAR NOTES CLAIMANT
ASSOCIATION of the PHILIPPINES ” ) which initially had hoped that with the reparations from Japan that they could trade these
funds in for new money.
When this failed the association sued the
American Government for some hard currency in exchange for these JIM.
But as this too was not successful these special notes ended up in storage, with some small amount leaking out.The Fruit Does Not Fall Far From The Tree!
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bangungot
May 3rd, 2010 22:3516Out of court settlement is the most effective way in solving Marcos ill-gotten wealth. However the terms must be favorable to the government and not to the Marcoses.
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Erik
May 4th, 2010 12:3317Money of course.. I think Abcede had a botox treatment, and now its melting… hehehehe
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JR
June 15th, 2010 22:1818Although settlement agreements with the Marcoses are a necessary evil, the hundreds of cases filed against Imelda and the Marcos cronies should be prosecuted in earnest if we want to recover all the ill-gotten wealth. There can be no real justice if an ordinary criminal gets jailed for petty crimes and allow those who stole the country’s future to be free.
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BBS CONCERNED EMPLOYEES
August 14th, 2010 19:4119MANALILI AT CESPEDES NG BBS DAPAT KASUHAN NI SEC. COLOMA!
12 August 2010
Hon. HERMINIO “Sonny” COLOMA
Secretary
Communication GroupDear Sec. Coloma:
Many of BBS employees were glad when we read “Kalampag” articles issued in Hataw in July 28 and August 6, 2010 because for many years the issues, concerns and sentiments of employees in the bureau was not properly addressed and was not given utmost attention and prompt action by the past and current BBS management despite group of employees reported and put on record on illegal airing of commercial plugs (not officially typewritten in Broadcast Logs) and non-implementation of policies on using BBS airtime specifically permitting Blocktimers to air their radio programs without Broadcast Contracts or MOA.
The wide spread practiced of non-documentation was the root of doubtful collectivity, reliability of receivables and unaccounted income of the PBS as per COA 2006 up to 2009 Audit Observations.
If and only Dir. Manalili strictly implemented BBS Order No. 09, Series 2007 upon his assumption as Director of the Bureau, Station Managers especifically Edgardo M. Satira of DZRM will not be dauntless to practice “one-stop shop” policy to decide on his own to allow Blocktimers to use BBS airtime without MOA or Contract for Broadcasting. “One-stop-shop” refers to a PBS Station Managers dealing with Blocktimers who wants to have radio program in BBS “Mag-uusap. . Magkakasundo sa presyo…Bayad (ito ang “PAYOLA”) …Programa na!…”
A mere Memo of Supervising Secretary Limcauco dated October 31, 2008 cannot legalize verbal agreements in using airtime by Blocktimers which is rampantly practiced in BBS. He should reminded by Director Manalili and Deputy Director Monina Cespedes that in an OSG reply dated June 6, 2008 stated “Department zeal can never be permitted to outrun the authority conferred by statute”. Also, in OSG reply dated February 28, 2008 that corollary, the constitutional principle that a public office is a public trust, and public officers are mere creatures of the law and are bound to obey it. Otherwise we are putting ourselves in a situation that we can be penalized.
Proof of solicitation or “organized” collection of payments using of BBS airtime is when an NGO filed an Anonymous Complaint against DZRM Station Manager of PBS in Ombudsman in August 2007. The Supervising Secretary Conrado A. Limcauco Jr. got a copy of the Anonymous Complaint filed with Ombudsman and was brought to the attention of Director John S. Manalili and Deputy Director Monina Cespedes, but to our dismay these three (3) high ranking officials in the Bureau of Broadcast despite of their knowledge of vulgar illegal activities of Edgardo Satira (because he is one of their conspirators), they never took any administrative action to him nor to correct the network sales and policy guidelines, until the time that Anonymous Complainants came out in the open and the preventive suspension of Edgardo M. Satira was served.
They somehow slow down and delayed the case by having direct political connection with Ombudsman Gutierrez through a “probono” radio program entitled “Isumbong Mo Sa Ombudsman” in DZRB. The management’s intention is not just to defend Mr. Satira against the Complainants but to legalize their system of collecting payments from the use of airtime of individual or group of private program producers by not imposing the issuance of MOA or Contract for Broadcasting, while for commercial plugs of Broadcast Order. Moreso, no counter checking of Certificate of Performances of Blocktimers and signing of CP’s without officially typewritten in the Broadcast Logs.
More than worst, Dir. John S. Manalili and Deputy Director Monina Cespedes concealed the OSG reply of February 28, 2008 (To note that her Deputy had a personal conversation with OSG). In their letter-inquiry they tried to fool OSG people on using terms of “without imposing conditionality”, “verbal agreements”, and “no airtime commitment” but in fact the Proposed BBS Sales and Marketing Policy (is a verbal agreements itself and trying to conform it to OSG), is already been using this kind policy for decades by past and present BBS management.
The issuance of future Memorandum of Director Manalili and his cohort Deputy Director Monina Cespedes, to correct verbal agreements in the bureau is all going to naught and it’s a mere deception (to PBS employees, OSG, Ombudsman, Communication Group) for they are not strictly implementing until now the approved Memorandum Order No. 009 Series of 2007 BBS Airtime Sales Policies/Guidelines and Procedures. Their finding remedies of their illegal acts are clearly an ADMINISTRATIVE OFFENSE OF GRAVE DISHONESTY, GRAVE MISCONDUCT AND PREJUDICIAL TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE SERVICE, likewise for CRIMINAL OFFENSE IS FRAUD AGAINST PUBLIC TREASURY AND SIMILAR OFFENSES; and will not both save them and keep them retained in their current post but instead to better file a case against them.
Again BBS management headed by Director Manalili and Dep. Dir. Cespedes are doing the same on the issue of Rationalization of BBS employees. They prioritized their personal motives on making steps to legalize their illegal practices (verbal agreements) rather than expediting the implementation of almost six (6) years Rationalization Plan of PBS-BBS employees that causes demoralization of employees and resulted to resignation, sickness, even reached their retirement and worst death. They got no idea of the status or any clear communications from CMT-members headed by Engineering Chief Miguelito Pangilinan on BBS Rationalization Plan and the so-called BBS Employees Representative Benjie Ortiguero, which are lame-ducks and a drift wood on BBS Rationalization issue. These acts of the management are repeatedly an administrative offenses of GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF DUTY AND PREJUDICIAL TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE SERVICE.
It is Dir. John S. Manalili and Deputy Director Monina Cespedes should be blamed with all the mess or irregularities in the entire Bureau of Broadcast. DIR. JOHN S. MANALILI WHO SHOULD BE BOOT OUT TOGETHER WITH HIS DEPUTY DIRECTOR MONINA CESPEDES FOR INEFFICIENCY AND INCOMPETENCE of all the Station Managers in PBS. Demoralizing indeed to BBS employees who are straight forward and competent in their respective jobs. Corruption of only few officials in BBS, the entire bureau was now on the hot seat.
We, BBS employees came out not to destroy the integrity of Manalili and Cespedes (if they still have) but to tell the truth of the actual activities in the Bureau of Broadcast for Secretary Coloma, Chief of Media Operations, Communication Group to initiate or formulate better organizational structure, BBS Network & Sales Policies, improving Engineering Division and its facilities of the Bureau of Broadcast Services to serve as the channel of government agencies to disseminate their activities and projects for public knowledge and interest as it is the major mandate of the Bureau of Broadcast.
Moreso, we want DIR. JOHN S. MANALILI AND DEPUTY DIR. MONINA CESPEDES TO BOOT OUT FROM THEIR CURRENT POST. We likewise request the outgoing and incoming Resident Auditor of Commission on Audit who assigned in the Bureau of Broadcast to make an urgent legal action to BBS Management particularly Dir. John S. Manalili and Deputy Director Monina Cespedes for not complying the Audit Observation Recommendations since 2006 forward.
WE ARE NOW CALLING THE ATTENTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY BENIGNO SIMEON “NOYNOY” AQUINO III THRU HONORABLE SECRETARY HERMINIO “SONNY” COLOMA FOR THEIR URGENCY TO TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO KICK OUT DIR. JOHN S. MANALILI AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR MONINA CESPEDES IN THE BUREAU OF BROADCAST AND FILE A CASE AGAINST THEM IN THE PROPER COURT OR TRIBUNAL ADMINISTRATIVELY AND CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
Katulad ng laging binabanggit ng Pangulong Noynoy “puwede nang muling mangarap dahil sa mga pagbabagong gagawin, dahil kung walang korap walang mahirap.” Panahon na para ituwid na ang baluktut na pamamaraan sa Bureau of Broadcast Services. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas upang marating natin ang mas magandang kinabukasan na ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon.
Respectfully yours,
BBS CONCERNED EMPLOYEES