It’s more fun in the Philippines, for Aquino’s KKK

We’ve seen time and time again members of President Aquino’s KKK (kabarkada, kabarilan at kaklase, or chums, gun buddies and classmates) get the free pass or the ever-so-helpful coverup by Malacañang. In fact, Mr. Aquino even provides bail money, if needed, as in the cases filed against Grace Padaca and Nereus Acosta.

Mr. Aquino shows up in Davos and at the international conference against corruption and proceeds to speak on corruption and what needs to be done to end it. But what he says is not backed up by his actions. Members of his Cabinet get caught with illegal firearms and are seen purchasing pirated DVDs but they get away with it with nary a reprimand. I wonder if they even receive a slap on the wrist.

His every talk on corruption would not be complete without the mention of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. But when one of Mr. Aquino’s own faces a corruption case, he or she immediately gets a vote of confidence from the President and is even provided with bail money. In the case of Padaca, she even was rewarded with no less than a commissioner’s position in the Commission on Elections. On the other hand, when it is former President Arroyo who is the accused, even when the case is deemed “weak” by a judge or is not supported by sufficient evidence, Mr. Aquino freely speaks as if she were already convicted. None of these is an example of what the term “daang  matuwid” should be.

Seeing how the Aquino administration works and all the turmoil in the government and the Philippines, when I hear the spin “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” I truly wonder if it refers only to President Aquino and his KKK.
—MAX PASCUAL,
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