Crude
(In)justice secretary Raul Gonzalez’ unending string of gaffes have been written about to death already. But a remark defending his P10,000.00 bribe to each of the 180 Iloilo City barangay captains who will deliver a 12-0 sweep in favor of Team (Dis)unity senatorial bets screams at me and I can’t help but comment again.
Gonzalez said that a one-time harvest at his wife’s poultry farm can easily pay for the P1.8 million bribe. Asked also why he made the “offer”, he arrogantly quipped, “Marami akong pera e.”
A few months ago, at the height of gloria’s minions’ cha-cha drive at the House of Reptiles, este, Representatives, Quezon City Rep. Annie Rosa Susano committed a similar blunder. She said the Roman Catholic Church can not express displeasure over her support of the cha-cha because she just gave them millions a few days earlier.
Still another administration ally, senatorial candidate Chavit Singson said he should not be charged with violation of the Omnibus Election Code because the money he gave to some local political leaders was “not much” even though it was worth tens of thousands of pesos.
Back to Gonzalez. I will not comment on how his remark violated the election code because everybody already knows it did. Rather, I am wondering how much Mrs. Gonzalez’ poultry farm workers are being paid for taking care of the chicken and cleaning their shit while proceeds from their sale are promised to village chiefs who are willing to break the law. At least P10,000.00 a month for their dirty and backbreaking work? I don’t think so.
But the more important point, I believe, is this: how easily and guiltless the few rich flaunt their wealth in the face of the people’s grinding poverty. Their thick skulls and unfeeling heart remain unaffected by the sad fact that 15 million Filipinos live on less than P47 pesos a day while they go around offering bribes to the bribeable.
Another important point is, these three are gloria’s trusted lieutenants.
If persons are judged by the friends they keep, are leaders judged by allies they maintain? If gloria’s lieutenants are this crude, what does that tell us of her?
