Who Is The Most Corrupt?

Walang Ku-corrupt!!!

Pulse Asia's recent Ulat ng Bayan (February 2009) survey presents the people's view on who they think is the most/least corrupt government agency. And the top rankers are:

For the Most Corrupt Government Agency: Department of Public Works and Highways (32%)

For the Least Corrupt Government Agency: Department of Education (20%)

(What makes the survey interesting, though, is that 20% identified DepEd as the least corrupt, while 15% also identified it as the most corrupt agency).

The nationwide survey has a sample of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above). For every question, each respondent is allowed to name a maximum of five (5) government agencies.

To get a comprehensive result of the survey, click >>>>>here.

Pulse Asia's Survey on the 2010 Elections

Pulse Asia releases its February 2009 Ulat ng Bayan survey for the 2010 elections.

To summarize, the survey states that if the elections were done on February, the following Presidentiables will make it to the top:

"Kabayan" Noli De Castro (19%)
"Chiz" Senator Francis Escudero (17%)
"Erap" Former President Joseph Estrada (16%)
"Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga" Senator Manny Villar (15%)

For the Senatoriables, the survey's top 5 are:

Jinggoy Estrada
Pia Cayetano
Mar Roxas
Miriam Santiago
Frank Drilon

While those who belong to the top 5 are old-timers in the senate, the survey also include "newcomers" in the list of can-be-senatoriables, including Edu Manzano, Korina Sanchez, Joe De Venecia, and Willie Revillame (yes, you've read it right. Willie is on rank 17-23).

Relative to this survey, I have previously posted a blog to give emphasis on the importance of funds, in other words, money, for the upcoming 2010 elections. As pointed out, since the Presidential Race seems tight and we don't expect a runaway winner, money and machinery will definitely play a big role for the winner.

Columnist Manolo Quezon, in his blog entry, In This Corner, provides a comprehensive analysis on this Pulse Asia February 2009 Survey. Manolo points out that while the Administration candidates are doing badly in the survey, the local allies will still play a big role in the final stretch. Which is true! So the Opposition could not yet stage a sound of victory at this moment. They have got to take care of their local allies.

To conclude, I would like to copy on The Professional Heckler's take on the Pulse Asia Survey:


"Vice President Noli De Castro topped the latest Pulse Asia survey with a 19 percent preference rating. He was followed by Sen. Francis Escudero, 17 percent, Joseph Estrada, 16 percent, Sen. Manuel Villar, 15 percent, Sen. Loren Legarda, 12 percent, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, 7 percent, and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, 6 percent. Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay got 2 percent while MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando got only one percent. The First Gentleman was luckier. He got five percent."


Heckler, you rock!

Pera At Pulitika

Napag-usapan na rin lang ang pera, umani ng batikos si Senator (and aspiring 2010 Presidential candidate) Manny Villar sa isang komento na binanggit niya sa isang interview. Sabi ni Villar:

"If you can't raise P1 billion, why even run?"

Reaksiyon naman ng ibang pulitiko (at aspiring presidentiables din):

Mar Roxas: people would elect the next president for the candidate’s platform of government and track record.

Chiz Escudero: it’s the people, and not money, that will elect a president.

Dick Gordon: "arrogant" statement.

In reality, tao pa rin ang pipili ng kanilang iboboto subalit kung iisipin, totoo namang malaking factor ang pera sa kandidatura. Sa nakaraang BARANGAY elections (emphasis sa salitang BARANGAY), may kilala akong nanalong kapitan na balitang gumastos ng humigit sa P500,000 para manalo. Kung sa isang maliit na yunit ng pamahalaan ay may mga taong handang gumastos ng ganoon kalaking halaga, hindi malayong kakailanganin nga talaga ng P1 bilyong piso para sa isang National campaign. In fact, sa airing time pa lang ng political campaign sa TV, gagastos ka na panigurado ng daang libong piso.

Ayon sa isang editoryal ng BusinessMirror,

While Villar’s remark may sound controversial, the reality is that finances will determine in large measure the outcome of next year’s election. In fact, Villar’s figure is the minimum amount required for a decent nationwide campaign, which is P2 billion to P3 billion, per Reuters’ estimate.

Those billions would go to building a nationwide political machinery up to the barangay level. Then the candidates would have to cover all the regions once the official campaign period starts next year. Campaign paraphernalia, such as streamers and handbills, as well as the all-important TV and radio ads, will substantially jack up the cost of running for the highest public office even more. And we’re not even talking of the money involved in surreptitious dagdag-bawas operations à la “Hello, Garci,” which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) swear will be a thing of the past—a situation fervently hoped for, but not necessarily believed.

Sa pinakahuling survey report na inilabas ng Pulse Asia, lumalabas na dikitan ang magiging labanan ng Presidential elections sa darating na 2010. Nangunguna sa survey si Noli De Castro (19%) at pumapangalawa naman si Chiz Escudero (17%). Muling lumitaw ang pangalan ni Erap Estrada (16%) sa pangatlong spot, habang pumang-apat naman si Manny Villar (15%). Kasunod naman sina Loren Legarda, Mar Roxas, Panfilo Lacson, Jejomar Binay at Bayani Fernando.

At dahil nga dikitan ang labanan, sinabi ng ilang political analysts na pinakamalaking magiging factor ang pera at ang pagkakaroon ng "wide and loyal" network.

Sa karanasan ng pulitikang pinoy, malayo pa ang lalakarin bago natin makita ang isang mas malinaw na scenario sa gaganaping halalan sa 2010. Marami pang pangalan ang magsusulputan, paniguradong mayroon pang magba back-out at tatakbo na lamang ng bise presidente o senador, magkakaroon pa ng lipatan portion/balimbingan portion sa mga partido, at makakakita pa tayo ng iba't ibang drama tungkol sa ating mga pulitiko.

Hindi maikakaila na malaki ang papel na gagampanan ng pera sa kandidatura ng mga pulitiko. Ngunit sa huli, ang boto pa rin ng taumbayan ang dapat na manaig. Sa gabay ng Panginoon, nawa ay mapili na nga natin ang tamang lider ng bansa.

News Tidbits 2009

(Medyo) Tahimik ang Pilipinas ngayon. Walang masyadong ingay, maliban sa Right of Reply Bill ni Senator Nene Pimentel (na hindi ko masyadong naiintindihan at hindi ko na rin pinagtiyagaang intindihin) at sa pagkapasa ng Automation Budget para sa 2010 elections (na patuloy pa ring pag-aawayan dahil kabi-kabila ang siguradong magsasabing may dayaang mangyayari. Tingnan natin, kung magagamit na ang automation sa 2010 elections, panigurado na yung matatalong kandidato eh magsasabing "nadaya ako!").

Sikat si Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Aba'y big-time siya! Kung dati-rati eh Pangulo lang ng Pilipinas ang gustong i-impeach, ngayon, naka-file na ang impeachment complaint niya sa Kamara. Ang problema lang, katulad din ng complaints laban kay GMA, may pag-asa ba namang umusad ang kaso? Kilalang kaalyado ng First Couple si Gutierrez, dahil classmate siya ni FG Mike Arroyo sa Ateneo De Manila College of Law. In fact, hindi pa nga napag-aaralan ang kaso eh nagsabi na si Mikey Arroyo na hindi siya tututulan niya ang Impeachment. Pati si DOJ Secretary Raul Gonsalez eh nagpahiwatig na mahirap lumusot ang kaso.

Other than the above news, wala nang masyadong matunog. Magtataka ka na lang, ano na ang nangyari doon sa mga naunang issues, katulad nang Alabang Boys Drug Case, WB Corruption Charges, Euro Generals (sabi sa news, hindi na raw kakasuhan si General Dela Paz kasi ibabalik na daw yung kinuhang pera-pwede pala yun?), Fertilizer Scam, etc.

Para tuloy gusto kong sabihin sa sarili ko: "Hindi ka pa ba nasanay?".

Kung nasusulusyonan lang ang mga nakikitang iregularidad. Kung napaparusahan lang sana ang mga dapat maparusahan. Kung kahit paano sana ay nagkakaroon ng pagbabago at kaunti mang pag-unlad ng bansa. Siguro ay tataas kahit paano ang Trust Rating ng Pangulo. Subalit dahil dito, patuloy na hindi maganda ang resulta ng surveys. Ayon sa pinakahuling tala ng Pulse Asia, halos kalahati ng mga Pinoy ang walang tiwala kay Pangulong Arroyo.

Kung wala na talagang pag-asang magbago ang patakbo ng gobyerno, sana naman ay magkaroon ng pagbabago sa susunod na mga lider ng bansa.