A Guide to Understanding a Corrupt Government

1. First Gentleman
Mike Arroyo enjoys this distinction but beware, that is the last thing this loser can be. Using his status as a "private individual", this guy harrasses every media critic of his president-wife with libel. In fact, he's been filing libel cases in tremendous numbers that I believe he lost count already. His influence in the president's cabinet choices are undeniable: you can always connect every cabinet member to him the same way you can connect every actor to Kevin Bacon. The only difference is you dont have to go to six degrees with Mike. One or two degrees are enough.

2. The Two Gonzales
This refers to National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, the devil's apprentices. Norberto Gonzales is the idiot who worked out the government deal with a US lobby group that will work on getting US funds to finance the Charter Change drive. This guy is the reincarnate of US Senator McCarthy; he blames the Red for almost everything, even the traffic in EDSA. Raul Gonzales on the other hand is the foul-mouthed geriatric that is the focus of my last blog post. He gives a new low to government service with his biased attitude toward current issues like political killings. He is a vengeful person, manipulating other government officials in the pursuit of his selfish ends. You can see his fingerprints all over the failed attempt to physically oust the legitimate mayor of Ilo-ilo City which happens to be his arch enemy.

3. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
Don't be fooled by its name; this is basically the Arroyo government's piggybank, hers to squander to ensure enough money is available to buy votes. Even right now, GSIS's vault is so dry the Gobi desert cannot even come close to it. Teachers who are supposed to retire this year are moving heaven and earth to clung to their jobs fearing stories from those who recently retired who still have to receive their pensions.

4. Ombudsman
The government's chief graft buster but with the Arroyo government, this word had a new meaning: the government's chief bully. The current Ombudsman Mercedita Guiterrez (which can be easily connected to Mike Arroyo in two steps, try it) is the enforcer of suspension ("harassment") orders to local government officials not sympathetic to the president. Examples of her recent adventures are the suspensions of very popular (but anti-administration) mayors Binay of Makati, Robredo of Naga and Trenas of Ilo-ilo. She is so blatant in her adventures that she even had the gall to suspend Binay during election period even if the law prohibits such suspensions. Whatever the protestations of this bitch, no one would believe that no one influenced her in calling for Binay's suspension two weeks before the election.

5. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
The defender of the islands and all its people...supposedly. The AFP has been turned into one big mean killing machine, systematically abducting, killing and disposing militant citizens and activists in their pursuit of peace and democracy. GMA is supposedly its commander-in-chief on paper but it is controlled by one devious individual named Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, one of the "Hello Garci" generals who helped GMA rig the 2004 presidential election. Its pathetic to watch Malacanang officials lost in their words on how to justify repressive actions made by the AFP in the media even though its clear they were not informed by the generals themselves. Thinking that Arroyo herself is indebted to them for crushing the coup d' etat two years ago, they are now on a murderous rampage to stamp on the communists rebels in this country. Unfortunately, like Norberto Gonzales, the AFP seems to have a worst case of the "red", seeing everything in red even legal actions of activists pushing for genuine reforms in this country's stinking political system.

6. Office of the External Affairs (OEA)
An office created by GMA's Executive Order no. 367, it's duties are basically to act as liaison with constituency groups and to build grassroot supportfor the administration's agenda and legislation. Unfortunately, with the approach of the election year, OEA metamorphed into a shadowy office that handles the government's plan to undermine popular leftwing parties in the coming party-list elections by organizing and financing organizations that will pose as legitimately representing the marginalized sector (believe me when I say the only marginalized sector of the society they represent are the dead and decomposing bodies in the cemeteries and morgues). Its head, Marcelo Farinas, was a signatory to an alleged Palace confidential memorandum to fund pro-administration party-list groups and discredit anti-administration party-lists in an attempt to thwart another impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo. The worst part is, he is a nominee of one of these fake party-list groups.

7. Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
An independent commission tasked to oversee clean and honest elections. Bad news is this office is far from being independent. Its director is Benjamin Abalos, a former mayor of the city of Mandaluyong and a close ally of GMA, hence he is a politico, deep down into the bones and has no place in such an important office. Who orchestrated his ascension into this office is of no concern right now; its what he can do on that position is the one that gives me the creeps. With the memories of the "Hello Garci" controversy still fresh in the citizens minds, the COMELEC is at its work again, shamelessly approving dubious Malacanang-funded groups like Agbiag, Babae Ka, etc. as legitimate organizations that can participate in this year's party-list elections. The worst part is, they have a standing memorandum of agreement with AFP to "protect" ( similar to "rig") the ballots for the upcoming elections.