Bonfire of institutions

Because it is easier to imagine it, corruption has taken center stage in the public’s appreciation of the current national crisis.  Against the backdrop of mass poverty, the quantities are truly mind-boggling: $130 million in kickbacks for a government project worth $329 million, a bribe offer of P200 million for a single signature, cash gifts … Read more

Should bishops lead political actions?

Yesterday’s Inquirer editorial, titled “Checkmated bishops”, sharply rebukes the Catholic bishops for refusing to take up the activist role that the late Cardinal Sin had played in past political crises: i.e., “to make clear to the populace what should be done,” and “to lead the people.” The editorial echoes a popular, if dangerous, view. I … Read more

Greed in a changing landscape

“You moderate their greed.” This was the instruction of Neda Director-General Romulo Neri to Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr. at one point in the latter’s work as technical consultant on the NBN-ZTE project. The reference is to the scandalous “commission” that the main brokers for the project, then Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos and … Read more

Thoughts on new politics

AKBAYAN, one of the first left-leaning groups to take up the challenge of electoral politics through the party-list mechanism, held a forum last week to mark the tenth year of its founding.  I was one of the invited speakers.  A restrained and reflective mood pervaded the occasion. On its very first electoral bid, the group … Read more