PLUNDER FINANCED BY DEBT
Question: Are we incurring national debt to finance plunder?
The
purpose of the Marcos burial was to broadcast the message loud and clear that
Marcos made no mistake in promulgating dictatorial rule and that Duterte
intended to recapitulate it.
“Marcos
is a hero,” Duterte said, in effect. “His dictatorship is the regime I
want to emulate.”
“The
Philippines—a Fascist Society,” January 1, 2018:
The
killing fields of the so-called “Drug War,” followed upon by political assassinations and state-manufactured blacklists, was
intended to spread fear among the populace, the poor and the elite, in order to
press ahead with dictatorial rule.
“The
Killing Fields of the Philippines,” November 29, 2018:
“The
Mafia State of the Philippines,” May 30, 2018:
Besides the murder victims themselves, the principal casualty of the cavalier disregard
of human life was the rule of law.
“The
Misrule of Law in the Philippines,” February 25, 2018:
In
so many ways and on so many fronts, with almost wanton contempt for democratic norms, Duterte ramrod the dictator’s playbook, challenging anyone and everyone, from the most
important political leaders to the populace in general, to stop him:
“Creeping
Fascism,” March 24, 2018:
“Duterte’s
Agenda—Degrade Democratic Institutions, Increase Authoritarian Control,” April
29, 2018:
“Advancing
Duterte’s Fascist Agenda in the Philippines,” December 10, 2018:
“Weakening
the Rule of Law in the Philippines,” June 22, 2019:
“Duterte’s
Authoritarian Toolbox,” June 22, 2019:
In
this context of seriously weakened rule
of law and strongman intimidation, itself lawless, Duterte gleefully displayed his scorn of good governance norms of
transparency, accountability, and integrity. Massive corruption on his part and that of his cohorts paraded about with impunity.
“President
Pinocchio,” May 30, 2018:
In
the above post, consider in particular the following links:
Duterte SALN in violation of
Philippine law massively understates assets
Duterte “anak ng mahirap”…joke only
Duterte manufactures mutant
narratives about family wealth
See
also “Massive Corruption and Bad Governance under Duterte,” April 29, 2019:
Besides,
Duterte publicly boasted of his own
personal corruption. See:
“Bad
Governance under Duterte: Massive Corruption, Gross Fiscal and Economic
Mismanagement,” December 30, 2018:
Not
surprisingly, many in the government followed his example. Massive corruption thrives under Duterte.
“Marcos
Regime Type Corruption Thrives in Duterte’s Philippines,” May 14, 2018:
https://oddsandendsgonzalinhodacosta.blogspot.com/2018/05/marcos-regime-type-corruption-thrives.html
“Bad
Governance, Massive Corruption,” August 23, 2018:
“Massive
Corruption and Bad Governance under the Duterte Administration - 8th in Series,”
March 27, 2020:
“Massive
Corruption and Bad Governance under the Duterte Administration - 9th in Series,”
March 28, 2020:
The
climate of worsening corruption has been accompanied by worrisome signs of seriously degraded economic performance.
“Bad
Governance under Duterte: Massive Corruption, Gross Fiscal and Economic
Mismanagement (more),” January 24, 2019:
“Massive
Corruption, Gross Fiscal and Economic Mismanagement under Duterte,” February
25, 2020:
Purportedly
to cope with the economic fallout of the Covid-19 crisis and to finance the public
healthcare measures undertaken in response, the Duterte
administration has taken on mammoth public debt.
DUTERTE’S
LOANS FOR CORONAVIRUS AND WHY PH MIGHT NEED MORE By Ralf Rivas
Rappler.com,
July 21, 2020
…The
question now lies in whether or not the loan proceeds will indeed reach the
sectors that need them most, and not get funneled to the pockets of corrupt
political elites.
TIGHT
BALANCING ACT
Philippine
Daily Inquirer / 04:08 AM June 29, 2020
…While
the government can borrow more to help the country recover from this crisis,
fiscal prudence is also important so as not to create much bigger problems
going forward, or for the next administration to have to resolve.
In
the current climate of bad governance and massive corruption, we have good
reason indeed to worry about taking on considerable debt that succeeding
generations will have to pay according to a nightmarish recapitulation of the national
impoverishment inflicted by the kleptocratic Marcos regime.
Question:
Are we incurring national debt to finance plunder?
Already
there are signs the borrowed money cannot be accounted for, sucked away into
some troglodyte underworld.
HALF
OF DOH BUDGET FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE UNACCOUNTED FOR — THINK TANK
Philstar.com
- July 16, 2020 - 7:29pm
…As
the country on Thursday logs another daily tally of over 2,000 new COVID-19
infections, the health department is facing more scrutiny for an alleged lack
of support for hospitals and medical frontliners.
Non-profit
policy think tank Institute for Leadership, Empowerment and Democracy (iLEAD)
on July 8 called on the Department of Health to account for the budget alloted
for the country's COVID-19 response.
At
this point, can we reasonably expect the Duterte administration to account for
the massive debt incurred by the government to deal with the Covid-19 crisis?
Does money grow on trees?
Let us now pass on to the consideration of the third great gate of hell by which so large a portion of the damned enter; I mean THEFT. Some, so to speak, adore money as their God, and look upon it as the object of all their desires. The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold (Ps. ciii. 12). …It is true that theft is not the most enormous of sins, but St. Antoninus says that it very much endangers salvation.
ReplyDeleteThe reason is because for the remission of other sins true repentance only is required; but repentance is not enough for the remission of theft: there must be restitution, and this is made with difficulty.
…My brethren, see that you take not the property of your neighbor, and if during the past you have ever failed in this respect, make restitution as soon as possible. If you cannot at once make full restitution, do it by degrees. Know that the property of another in your possession will not only be the means of bringing you to hell, but will make you miserable even in this life.
…Some persons take the property of their neighbor, and then are fain to quiet their consciences by alms-deeds. Christ, says St. John Chrysostom, will not be fed with the plunder of others. …These are descriptions of theft which require perfect restitution, and a restitution most difficult of all to make, and most likely to be the cause of one's damnation.
—Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), The Four Principal Gates of Hell
Gonzalinho
DUTERTE, SARA, PAOLO MARK BIG SPIKES IN WEALTH, CASH WHILE IN PUBLIC OFFICE
ReplyDeletePhilippine Center for Investigative Journalism
April 4, 2019
How and why their fortunes are rising remain a mystery; the numbers do not seem to add up, reports PCIJ
See: https://rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/pcij-report-rodrigo-sara-paolo-duterte-big-spikes-wealth-cash-public-office
Gonzalinho
Public domain image
ReplyDeleteImage link:
https://pixabay.com/vectors/bed-bedroom-chambre-a-coucher-child-1293442/
Gonzalinho
SEVEN SENATORS URGE COA TO AUDIT ADMINISTRATION SPENDING ON COVID-19
ReplyDeleteBy: Marlon Ramos - Reporter / @MRamosINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:30 AM July 30, 2020
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros and six other senators are asking the Commission of Audit (COA) to scrutinize the Duterte administration’s spending on its COVID-19 response, including the purchase of allegedly overpriced medical supplies.
“The COVID-19 crisis should not be used to line one’s pocket,” Hontiveros said on Wednesday after filing Senate Resolution No. 479, which sought a special audit of government expenses, loans and donations made under Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.
The law granted government officials comprehensive powers to realign and allocate billions of taxpayer money to respond to the global pandemic.
Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1314195/coa-urged-to-audit-state-spending-on-covid-19#ixzz6nvnfsl50
“The government that lacks transparency evades accountability and in all probability has something to hide.”
Link: https://poetryofgonzalinhodacosta.blogspot.com/2018/07/politics.html
Gonzalinho