THEY used to display a smirk or a smile that doesn’t reach the eyes plus a bonus of a raised eyebrow every time somebody comments about their new branded bags, jewelry, shoes or new SUVs.
As in asking, unsay inyong pagtuo, poor, di ka-afford?
And the ostentatious display of wealth and routine travels continue with impunity, as in who the hell cares, like, “if you have it, flaunt it.”
That was before the flood control and ghost projects scandal.
Now, they are starting to panic.
* * *
For one, the hearing in the Senate is very, very different than the ones conducted by the House. In House hearings, klarex kaayo ang pang-hulga, tomatik dayon ang contempt citation, perte ka hawod ang mga tongressmen, bisan motubag ang witness pero wa sila moangay sa tinubagan, contempt dayon, especially kadtong mga promdi nga magka-bali-bali intawon ang tagalog.
For another, the one leading the investigation is the smart, straight and very influential senator, Senator Rodante Marcoleta. To recall, he was the lone House member who shattered the wind beneath the wings of that teacher-congresswoman Kimbot-something who was asked if the Committee has already departed from the long-observed tradition of the House doing hands-off when it comes to the budget of the President and Vice President.
And for another, the senators are aware of the growing interest and even growing concern of majority of the Pinoys over the issue of massive corruption. They know that the more they diligently dig deeper, the more that the people would appreciate their efforts.
Lupig pa ang impeachment trial unta sa ka thrilling aning maong investigation.
* * *
And talking of impeachment, kon nadayon pa ang impeachment ni VP Inday Sara, do you think duna pay time ang senate nga mo-tackle sa flood control and ghost projects?
I really don’t think so.
And that is probably the reason why they are grasping at straws just to make possible the impeachment trial.
Yawat malingaw ang mga tawo sa laing issue.
* * *
One DPWH official told me last Thursday “lie low sa mi ron kay perte inita kaayo ang isyo. Mao sab ang mga contractor, labi na tong dagko ug daghan og mga projects kay basin madamay mi tanan.”
Well, he might be right in his observation – nga basin madamay silang tanan.
The way I see it, the probe will continue and will extend beyond the 15 billionaire-contractors. I even think that this probe will continue for some time and the issue will be one of the hottest issues in the 2028 presidential elections.
Pasabot sa 2028, “luoy” tong maapil, hayahay tong mo-kontra.
* * *
One former big-time contractor in Cebu told me he was asked one time if he was interested to bid big-time projects ranging from 350 to 500 million.
Unsa may terms, his question.
And the answer was – kon mo bid ka, sure na na nga ma-imo kay sinabotan na na daan didtos taas but money down daan.
Pila man, his follow-up.
Gamay ra, 120M ra, was the answer.
He immediately declined.
And he told me – tiaw bay mopagawas na ka daan og 120M pero magdagan pa ang mga papeles, di pa ka kabalo kanus-a mogawas ang notice to proceed.
And he mentioned several names nga maoy mastermind sa maong bidding – one name, a she, is usually associated to some shady deals in the government.
Duha na sila nga nagpasiugda ana, he added, apil nang tambok nga gamhanan nga kongresista.
* * *
What happened to that flood control project in Garcia Hernandez nga nabanlas sa baha unya migawas ang tina-i sa sulod, nipis kaayo nga masa hasta ang mga kawayan nga maoy gigamit imbes kabilya?
Duna bay mi-reklamo adto? Nganong naka-pasar man tos inspection? Kinsay responsible adto beh?
Tug-an!
