The Missing Link/s in President Aquino’s Epic Fight Against Corruption

First, we believe lasting success can't be through some knockouts. So we believe are the best methods in drastically curbing severe corruption in the Philippines to ensure lasting success and that substantial benefits reach the millions of the poor families.

But winning in broad fronts. Even slowly perhaps, but consistently. Before we go to the topic of what we think are the missing links in President Aquino’s battle against monstrous corruption, let us first give you an overview of the Philippine context. And rare are public officials even allies of the President who can do or accomplish any more than what they already did that can give even more impetus to sustaining or even improving the already successful (at least at strategic level) fight of the President and his top men against monstrous corruption in the country.

Sad FACTS - Severe Corruption in the Philippines

Please keep in mind that this blog is ran by 2 mere bastards and nobodies in the country. They intend to subscribe only to their standards in terms of quality of English writing. As we type from memory almost all of the time, in between noisy, rowdy young gamers oftentimes and during extremely challenging personal circumstances that we are in right now - we can’t be strictly adhering to academic or court standards in terms of writing our thoughts, ideas and activities here. However, we are aware of not a few policy-makers who are to read what we write about in this blog. So we impose some standards on ourselves nevertheless. And we are ready and confident that the plausibility, validity or sense of our ideas can withstand the harshest of criticisms from objective academic persons even at Ivy League universities in the US.

World' Worst Disparity Between Top 100 Tycoons & Millions of Poor Families

We don’t have a small segment of the population vastly influencing or controlling our government, a fact in many major third world countries like Thailand and Mexico, and controlling a disproportionate percentage of our national wealth. We do have only less than 100 supertycoon-families controlling, say, more than 20% of our national wealth and vastly influencing our government – including its mechanisms for counterchecks and balances. More than 5 million families live on $2 a day, in this country of roughly 100 million hostages-people.

A problem of astronomical proportion: Organized crime lords easily flourish in this kind of environment where a few very powerful tycoons, public officials dictate upon or manipulate government policies to favor them, with dearth of exceptions.

Monstrous Corruption Conducive to Extortion and Robberies of Police Officials

The very high level of corruption here is inviting or conducive to organized extortion activities of the law enforcement officials of the Philippine National Police for example. Indeed extortion and robberies are common methods of enrichment among many police officials. About this they can’t easily challenge me on. Those who victimized us recently, who ordered our murder, who prompted us to launch the crusades we are now initiating, are of the kind.

Relatively Very Low FDI Due to Severe Corruption 

The lower, relatively very low foreign direct investments here VS Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia even Vietnam can be in major part be attributed to very high level of corruption in this country, and the traditionally attending variables that come with it. Well, would you invest in a local city or major town where almost every major business operation is controlled by local political family-dynasty and cronies?

Weak Institutions and Mostly Complicit Leaders of the Civil Society 

Our weak institutions exacerbate the fact that the amount available for theft, for misuse, for wholesale theft (please type PDAF in Google,) is growing what with our fast-growing economy, the increasing national budget and the growing overall amount of resources under the direct/indirect control of or under disposal of local government officials, for example. And keep in mind the benefits of our fast-growth mostly go to the supertycoons and only breadcrumbs reach the poor – that the Aquino government is hard at work to begin to correct.

The weak civil society is from apathetic to downright complicit to the culture of corruption that help them perpetuate their perceived privileges and advantages over less-capable fellow Filipinos - a kind of small-minded thinking (among these persons who are rather elitist and who project elite demeanor) given that the very corruption that limit the growth and development of the country limits the growth and profitability of their businesses too, or at least the quality of lives they live. Reason why mostly want their children to live good lives in the North America, Europe or Australia.

Progressive Groups Progressed in Economic Status or Privileges - Not the Masses

Progressive groups or personalities here lost much of their credibility among the elites and the masses partly due to many of them becoming the very wealthy or privileged corrupt top officials they once abhorred and fought against

Opposition Within the Circles of Allies of the President 

In its fight to curb corruption, the Aquino government is seriously hampered by the very strong opposition of many top regional and local officials who hate and oppose the idea of toeing the line of good governance the national government is imposing on them.

We have a very corrupt local media, with few exceptions. What seem to outside observers as a liberal and free atmosphere for media, is misled by the fact that it appears like that but the organized methods of extortion by many groups in the establishment is matured here, and very unforgiving. They’ll hit or defend public officials with ferocity but turn around and subtly reverse themselves upon receipt of payments public officials routinely pay or get solicited with. We know it - first hand observations and experiences. So what is left of us to sustain or strengthen the fight against corruption? The missing link/s... Soon to unveil...

Perplexing or What?
We are the only major Christian (mostly Catholic population) nation (East Timor is far smaller in many measures maybe except corruption and income disparities) in Asia, and one of the most corrupt in the region and the world. And the highest income disparity between the top 5% and the lowest 50% in all of Southeast Asia.

A Political Family Keeping the People of the Congressional District Mostly Poor?
More than a billion pesos ($roughly 25 million) in total pork barrel allocations for family members who took turns in the Lower Congress, perhaps more than $100 million in controlled budget with the local posts held by family members and relatives over so many years. More than 2 billion pesos and the district lagged in terms of development even compared to other districts within the region.

A political dynasty so loved by the people? No, the people live in fear and can't be vocal in their frustrations about the family. There are no viable alternative candidates during elections. The voting population are rather cynical but they want change, but that no perceived viable candidates - who can overcome the hundreds of millions of vote-buying cash hoardings the family has amassed - can excite the voters. Most local candidates who picked the theme "Change" - as inspired by President Obama's smash success in 2 elections - failed. We warned, or even compelled many to change themes as they don't personify or their profiles don't represent the concept of change.

We are the only "outsider" group who ventured in the place, much more conduct ground research in a place not so very conducive to objective interviews in many places (as also validated to us by a top retired military/police general)