...Of Corruption and Current Events: Realizations After a Talk with Uncle Jun...

Not too glamorous now, are you?

The PDAF Probe started yesterday, with all eyes intently watching what will happen to Janet Napoles and company. It should infuriate you, who are reading this now, because chances are, you belong in the same class as I do, the middle class. On a scale of 1 to Bayola, we are the ones most fucked over by what Napoles and whoever she alleges to have spent on her non-existent NGO's. The taxes that are automatically deducted from our salaries are supposed to be spent on improved roads at the very freakin least. It should maybe contribute to the salaries and the air conditioned-rooms of the legislative department to make laws that benefit us, or at least amend laws that are non-relevant or useless now. People shouldn't get away from driving 100km/h on the wrong side of the Skyway for a measley 200 Pesos just because there are no laws penalizing a drunk (possibly stoned) driver in the middle of the day.

The farmers are always the beneficiaries of millions of Pesos in PDAF funds, and yet you don't see them thriving.Educated by comments to my Facebook status sometime last week, I no longer understand why these "Legislators" from our House of Representatives have access to such a huge amount of money when all they have to do is legislate. How the hell can they check if the farmers they supposedly gave money to actually received it, if they're staying in the metro most of their days except election time?!

I'm almost baffled as to why the senate is investigating this case and not the DOJ. I'm definitely confused why Napoles had a closed door meeting with the President to surrender rather than going directly to the NBI or the DOJ. And while most are confused as to why Uncle Jun is being interviewed again, I am not. 

Whistle Blowing and Corruption

Spot.ph's report on 10 controversial Filipino whistleblowers

Jun Lozada's name was brought to the public's attention at the height of the NBN-ZTE probe, one of the most controversial cases of bribery and corruption alleged to the government some years back. It was one of the issues our former president, Corazon Aquino prayed intently for before her health failed her. It was one of the rallying points of the Yellow Army to urge Noynoy Aquino to take the challenge of running for presidency back in 2010. The resolution of which, and the judgement of the guilty were a couple of Noynoy Aquino's main thrusts in his campaign of a "clean government".

And yet, years removed from his campaign, what are the results? Uncle Jun is holed up again somewhere, as somehow his "moderate greed" statement has become a reason  for this government to file cases of graft against him. And the whole NBN-ZTE case just died down, with GMA getting public sympathy wearing a neck brace. Funny how she could be perfectly healthy for 10 years in the office, and as soon as she steps down, she's suddenly fighting for her life with whatever disease. 

Anyway, Uncle Jun's being interviewed again, and some friends and some random people (yes I listen in on random people's discussions) are questioning what his role is here. Some in the media would like to make it seem that this is a "revenge" angle by Uncle Jun because Noynoy (I refuse to call him PNoy, because I refuse to believe that he reflects the Filipino people as a whole.) did not help him out of his graft case. 

Fact of the matter is, as one of the more popular whistleblowers in the country, he did inspire quite a number of people who believe in his cause. And given his state in life right now, people would rather just shut up than share the same fate as him; jobless, and not knowing who to really trust in the government. Not everyone may have the skills he has in public speaking or the knowledge he has in technology to get by and manage to still provide for his family. 

With the inspiration he sparked, people have stepped forward and shared what they knew to him. These are, after all, part of the corrupt system he was up against when he stepped forward some years back. 

Soul for the Country

I had a short talk with him the other night, and pointed out a couple of stuff. I understand that one of his most popular snapshots is the one where he was crying in the senate. As per Uncle Jun, when you know what he knows, and you have the heart and soul for this country as he does, you will be able to feel pain, and there is nothing else that you can do but cry in pain. 

Go-to image by the media when portraying Uncle Jun. May pinapalabas o wala nang makitang ibang picture?

He says that "when you feel pain, it means that you are still alive... When you're numb to the pain of the people, your body might still be alive, but your soul (for the country) is already dead."

How many of us still has a "soul" for this country? 

I think that our "soul" is killed off by the same people we should feel pain for. EDSA 1 happened because the people had enough of that pain. EDSA 2 happened because we felt pain again, not the same kind as in EDSA 1, but pain, nonetheless. But that was it. We couldn't possibly overthrow another president (GMA) through the same way we put her in power. EDSA would lose its essence as a bloodless revolution, with the operative word being a "revolution" if it became a habit for us. 

After winning our "democracy" at least twice through those EDSA revolutions (the first was to "win" it, the next to validate it), we expected that we become vigilant and use our power to help us help this country. Yet the same system prevails; actors with no qualifications are voted into office, the same names that did nothing but put their faces on everything (using your money, by the way) in your city are re-elected, and the same people who voted them to office are the same people who cry out that their government has done nothing for them.

How can one have a "soul" for this country if this country doesn't seem to want to help itself? 

Second Generation Politicians

Taking "Family Business" to a whole new level

Speaking of the same people being re-elected, we're probably one of the top countries that have the most political dynasties ruling the country. For some reason, we have come to believe that "genes" could be a great basis for choosing our leaders. 

In the same conversation I had with Uncle Jun, he pointed out that the past two years should teach us that "genes" fail us sometimes. Diosdado Macapagal was a respectable President. Corazon Aquino was an inspirational one. We voted their children to office thinking we'd get more of the same. Apparently, their children did not have the same "soul" for this country as they did. 

And now, here we are, screwed over by the Arroyo administration, was said "sorry" to on national TV in the most stoic way possible, then given hope by one Noynoy Aquino for "change" and "clean governance" and we learn now that more of the same is happening (talking about the negative things he was against during the Arroyo administration). 

How many more examples do we need? Because of familiarity, we settle for who we know, but who we know don't usually share a love for this country that drives him to public service. The government has become a family business rather than a venue for public service.

Presidential Budget

A statement that is still true, but really, has anything been done to actualize it?

The last point that Uncle Jun talked to me about was that the senate approving the Presidential Budget for 2014. Despite an increase from the 2013 budget (2.82 billion from 2.73 billion), it was approved in a record 10 minutes. 

Reading up on news articles the next day, I learned why it lasted a mere 10 minutes:

In an interview after the hearing, Escudero explained that there were “no issues” with the OP budget because the lump sum funds are not under the OP.

“The lump sums [critics are mentioning] are with the Special Purpose Fund, which the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) will defend. Even the Presidential Social Fund is not with the budget of the President,” said Escudero, an ally of President Benigno Aquino III.

He added, “The third reason is by tradition, even in the past, Congress usually [extends] courtesy to the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President with respect to their budget and if there are any issues with respect to the administration, it’s addressed to the department and not the office itself.”

 - Extracted from a report by Rappler's Ayee Macaraig, September 3, 2013

"Tradition" is what seemed to put Aquino in power, and it seems it is what has continually fucked us over throughout the years. The "nakasanayan" that we never got over; sila na yung nandyan, sila na lang ulit. We pay "bribes" to make our lives easier because policemen "traditionally" accept them. We shell out money to customs because "traditionally" the customs people are used to the practice of taking cuts from incoming goods either in form of money or in the goods itself. These are but some of the "traditional" shit going on in the country. 

What I don't understand about the 10-minute budget approval are the following 

1. If the lump sums are not under the budget of the president, why is it included in their proposal?

2. If the DBM will "defend" it anyway, what's the purpose of the senate approval?

3. If the senate will "extend courtesy" and will not scrutinize it, why did it have to go through that process in the first place?

In a time when the public is questioning how the government is spending our hard earned money, shouldn't this process take longer than 10 minutes to scrutinize at least, and not approved in the middle of the night?

The "Mythical Yellow Forces"

It was the people who urged him to run. Those people seem to mean nothing to him now.

Back in 2010 I had several healthy debates with friends who follow politics. We may not have changed each others' minds, but we did understand why we were standing by our candidates. It was the best possible way I enjoyed democracy; a clash of thoughts, a difference in ideals, but with a common cause. 

One of the main reasons why I campaigned for Noynoy was the fact that he had a whole nation rooting for him. He had a good family background that people could rally behind, and a clean enough reputation to make people believe that he has a genuine love for this country. He also was adamant in bringing the wrongs of the Arroyo administration to light, and punish the guilty. 

With everyone (or mostly everyone) rooting for him, I firmly believed that he was trustworthy enough to call for a constitutional change. FVR didn't have the trust of the public, as everyone thought he just wanted to stay longer in his office when he proposed constitutional change during his term. Erap didn't have that trust, nor was he ever in a position to propose it. GMA, well, she did do the country some good, but by the time she would propose the constitutional change, she no longer had the trust of the public. Aquino had that chance. However, little by little, my trust for him has dwindled. When you try to understand what this government is saying and doing, it almost seems that they are taking the public as fools. The Janet Napoles story is a prime example of it. 

As his parting words, Uncle Jun had this to say:

"It is painful to let of the sentimentality of the myth of the yellow forces" 

Is it not painful to let go of something you believed to be true? Hopefully, our vigilance toward the Napoles probe does not end with that Million People March.

...Kamusta na si Uncle Jun?...

Lately I have been asked this question by those who are aware that I am the nephew of Engr. Jun Lozada, a key figure in exposing the controversial NBN-ZTE scandal during the Arroyo administration. He's been making the news again recently, as cases against him have been highlighted by various media outlets. Frankly, I just know that he is safe with the religious groups who have been with him since day one.

Some years back, I took to my blog space to express a perspective from this point of view, not sugarcoated or filtered by media or editors. Those were painfully long reads, and I am grateful for everyone who had the patience to read through those. Now, I'll try another one, just to have you know what's going on with him, and at least I can point to somewhere if the question again arises.

I'd first like to clarify that they (him and his brother, who was with him in the Philippine Forest Corporation) are not running away from anything. The legal case filed against them can easily be dismissed as it is baseless and empty. They opted to be in hiding not because of the case, but because of the threat from unknown people. And besides, they have not been presented with actual legal documents calling for their arrests; the arrest warrant that the most articles over the net are saying couldn't be presented by the proper authorities when they met with Uncle Jun. It was eventually served to them though, and they posted bail for their temporary freedom until their arraignment on March 6. After that, I am not sure what's going to happen.

Here are some of my thoughts on his current predicament.


The Blind Eye

During the height of the NBN-ZTE scandal, former President Cory Aquino stood side by side with Uncle Jun whenever she was able. Even when she got sick, she constantly asked for updates and always reminded our family that we (especially Uncle Jun) were in her prayers, as she was in ours while she fought her own battle. She succumbed to hers, but through her pains, she always believed in what Uncle Jun fought for. Some time after her passing, our family stood in front of the Aquino residence to urge then Senator Noynoy to run for Presidency to continue his parents' legacy. It was our pitch, our taya, for the country. My dad remembers Noynoy saying that we're in this together, and he can't achieve change for the country alone; we needed to do our own part not just during the campaign, but even after the battle is won.

That battle was won, and yet now he stands again alone. Unaided by political friends, but always guided by the religious who we have already considered family.

This is not me begging for help for the administration or seeking unjust favors for those granted to them. If there is truth to the cases, let's have the court decide. But he knows and we know that the case is a bogus attempt to destroy Uncle Jun's credibility as witness for the NBN-ZTE case. What I don't understand is why we are even in this new battle anyway, after we put our own battle aside to help him win his battle for the hope of a more normal life for us ultimately.

Tuwid na daan? "Due process"? Am I alone in seeing the President's influence in impeaching constitutionally appointed officials in the Ombudsman and the Chief Justice? And yet here is Uncle Jun, years removed from the public eye and slowly having just gotten back to his feet, standing alone because this government seems afraid of being branded as "favoring" allies. Yes, the same government which appointed friends and dismissed political rivals is afraid of being seen as partisan. 

The Curious Armed Men

While we respect the "due process" of law, we do hope that it goes through properly. We were initially alarmed when armed men in casual clothes who claimed to be from the police tried to "arrest" Uncle Jun by looking for him at his house during the height of the "arrest warrant" issue mid last month. Later that week, when Uncle Jun sought refuge from the religious, we were informed that armed men in casual clothes again visited his house, and threatened to sue the housekeepers if they were not let in to search for him.

Armed men in casual clothes. My ninong (Uncle Jun and my dad's brother), Tito Nandy, died because of the same kind of people. He was "mistaken" for a ransom collector because of lack of information by the ISAFP; they never knew the plate number of the car, they just stopped the first one that matched the description. Armed men in casual clothes asked Tito Nandy to get down from the car he was driving, which had his daughter and his daughter's best friend in it. Naturally, they fled the scene, but because Tito Nandy was shot prior to him bolting out, they crashed at a corner, where the men exhausted their ammunition to shoot down three defenseless people who were just trying to find their way to a friend's debut. My cousin survived the incident, with Tito Nandy falling in the scene, and my cousin's best friend expiring after being in a comatose for a week. Those men were from the government. They got suspended for six months, and a slap on the wrist.

Armed men in casual clothes. If some guy in street clothes walked up to your car, told you he was a police officer and you should get down from your vehicle, would you go down? In the same light, would you go with armed men in street clothes if they say they are the police and they have an arrest warrant they can't show? What's scary is that this is happening during the administration of Noynoy. With everything that Uncle Jun knew, and with the effect he had on Gloria's ratings, of course we were afraid she might try something. We were always a bit paranoid on such little things. When Noynoy won, it felt like we have won as well. We knew his administration is at least the complete opposite of what Gloria's has been. But even during those times, his house wasn't violated as it was when men forced themselves in it. Are those Gloria's men? How could she even mobilize them if she's facing her own charges? Are those the government's men? Why can't they just present themselves officially? It's not like Uncle Jun is surrounded by bodyguards wherever he goes. Heck, he didn't even kill anyone to make him so dangerous that arresting officers should be armed with rifles.

The Irony of Sacrifice

The legal case filed against Uncle Jun, I learned, was by Erwin Santos, Uncle Jun's subordinate while he headed Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC), and is now the president of the said department. Nobody remembers, but a day after Uncle Jun was ridiculed and sympathized with after his emotional breakdown in the NBN-ZTE hearing, Erwin actually had an emotional interview with PTV 4 claiming "his conscience" pushed him to come out of the open and say that Uncle Jun is not who he says he is. He was the government's answer to Uncle Jun's emergence. However, his tears fell on the deaf ears of the millions and millions of viewers of the government-operated PTV 4.

Now, with the current administration's habit of purging government posts of Gloria's people, we found it curious that Erwin is still the president of the PFC. For the uninformed, the Philippine Forest Corporation is responsible for allocating idle lands to make it productive. It is different from the Department of Agrarian Reform, which re-allocates productive lands to people, as in the case of Hacienda Luisita. The land area of productive lands pales in comparison to that of idle lands in the Philippines. Hence, the PFC, though not as prominent, actually carries with it a huge responsibility.

Funny how things turned out; whistle blower and one of the main campaign supporters, Jun Lozada, is fighting off a bogus graft charge years after living in obscurity, while Gloria man Erwin Santos, who cried himself to anonymity, is securely making a living under the Gloria-hating administration by Noynoy.

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It just sucks that after recovering from his idle, non-earning self during the height of the NBN-ZTE saga by doing tech stuff and "modernizing" some schools by going the tablet route, he's back to seeking refuge again. My other Uncle has it bad as well, after finding something he'd love to do (selling properties as a broker; he placed 6th in the licensing exam to be a broker), his name is again dragged to this mess.

Ok lang sana kung nagkapabayaan na lang; ni hindi na hiningan ng pabor si Noynoy pagkatapos nya manalo, hindi hinanapan ng pwesto sa gobyerno nya o kaya maibalik man lang yung dating pwesto. Ang pagkapanalo noon ay ang pwede nang mabuhay ng normal dahil wala na ang takot na kumilos ang mga tao ni Gloria laban kay Uncle Jun. Pero nanahimik na nga sila, pati si Gloria hindi na nga gumagawa ng kalokohan para mapag-usapan nanaman sa balita, tapos eto nanaman? Bakit ngayon pa? Bakit di to natapos noon pa? Kung meron talagang kailangang panagutan, bakit kinailangan pa ang tatlong taon para dinggin ang kaso?

I am not ignorant of what the media says about my uncle. I have read articles, I have seen how he was painted, I have seen positive and negative comments, and those are people's opinions I respect. I post this as an opinionated nephew who blogs as a hobby, and wishes only to voice out his own opinions. I am not paid to do this, nor was I forced to write by any of my family members. While it is natural for a family member to defend him, I am not trying to defend him without cause. Heck, if he is guilty of the charges against him, we'd all just be flying around the country to our vast hectares of land. I am but fueled by the desire to have another one of those family outings where we're free to do these:

Photo taken some years back from his daughter's album

We've had some nice days over the past couple of years that he was away from the public eye. Hopefully, this predicament ends soon.