Punish the alleged bribe giver!

The Supreme Court yesterday punished members of the Court of Appeals who reportedly took part in the GSIS vs. Meralco case bribery scandal. CA Justice Vicente Roxas was fired for violating the Canons of Judicial Ethics while his colleague, Jose Sabio, was suspended for 3 months. Other members of the committee who handled the GSIS vs. Meralco case such as Justice Myrna Vidal and Justice Vazquez were merely reprimanded and admonished. Meanwhile, alleged bribe giver businessman De Veyra is to be charged with a crime by the DOJ. 

So all participants were meted just punishment? I think not.

The Supreme Court did not answer the basic question of the People–did Meralco really gave bribe money to these justices? How many justices got bribed? And why did they not punished Meralco if it did, indeed, allegedly gave bribe money to influence the justices that led to that favorable decision?

How much bribe money changed hands when this case was being heard? And with this tainted decision, should it be proper for the Supreme Court to overturn the favorable decision? There should be a review of the GSIS vs. Meralco case.

The SC decision stopped short in identifying the conduit but never really probed deep enough to really identify who among the Meralco organization coordinated with De Veyra in the alleged crime. I don’t believe that this businessman acted alone. It is quite improbable for somebody like him to fork out 30 million pesos just because “he has personal interest” in the case? Surely, being a big-time operator, De Veyra reports to a principal, which, has not been identified properly by the SC. 

Government should order the Department of Justice, particularly the NBI, to probe deeper into this scandal and identify the shadowy figures involved in this mess. These people should be punished.

Why we need to rage?

Here in my small nook, I write things which I find and observe to be true. In my lofty tower, I feel the sense of helplessness, looking at my 5-month baby and thinking what future lies ahead for him. With prices soaring to the high heavens and systems breaking down all around, I’m really afraid that somehow, something will happen and will affect my family.

I mean, look. One needs at least 15,000 pesos to survive. You have five mouths to feed. You have a kilo of rice at 40-45 pesos and you need at least 2 kilos per day, right? You have viands to buy, gasoline to keep your car running and occasional expenses for clothing and entertainment. I know some people who continues to survive at 6,000 pesos, but boy, look at them. They’re emasciated as if they’re ghosts!

On top of this, you have thousands of pesos worth of electricity and water bills that you need to pay. 

Sometimes I think that our lack of rage against these things lead to our continued poverty. I mean, we have the right to demand better living standards but hey, government and these big companies are continuing to fool us and rob us of our hard-earned money and leaving us with nothing!

There should be a time to stop all of these. And what better time to do it but now. Because if we don’t act soon, we might find ourselves digging our graves deeper.

RAGE AGAINST MERALCO’S PRICE HIKE NOW!

Meralco is doing it again, raising their generation and distribution charges. As if it’s not enough that the Philippines has the highest electricity rates in Asia, this Lopez-controlled firm wants to hike its prices again by as much as 5 pesos. 

We the People should stop this charade. Months ago, they justified their exorbitant prices with two reasons: first, the global oil price hike and second, its summer, hence, there’s really a higher demand for electricity. Now, global oil prices are falling and its colder now but I see no difference in my electric bill.

Worst, Meralco has this cruel practice of demanding immediate payment of their charges. 

These Lopezes should be stopped by the government at all costs! I don’t care if Winston Garcia gets Meralco. I don’t care if another devil in the likes of Garcia does it, but somebody has to do it. 

It’s not enough that government is trying to pry open Meralco’s books. For sure, the Lopezes will just bribe government auditors sent there in their offices. 

Sumusobra na ang dambuhalang Meralco. Meralco should be cracked open, and denied their franchise. The franchise should be divided and sold to other people who’ll manage the utility firm better than the Lopezes.