“Swertres” – - Good, Bad And Ugly
ATTY. TIM P. CABATOS
Congressmen receive P70 million per year in “pork barrel”. Those of them who completed 3 terms, or 9 years, they received each a total of P630 million.
The 64-dollar question: Where did this gargantuan amount go? Whose pockets swelled with it?
No wonder, congressional candidates are ready to go to “war” during the election campaign, as they are emboldened by the glimpse of the pork barrel bounty, along with other fleshy emoluments that come with the congressman’s seat.
Kudos to Drs. Emma Dominguez, Arlene Galo, Laurjena Nagulda and Jon Mark Verga – all of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, Tagbilaran City! They have been cleared of the charge for “trafficking in persons” under Republic Act. No. 9208, files against them by spouses Cresencio Lamoste and Adelyn Gonzales with the City Prosecutor’s Office.
The case arose from the autopsy on the cadaver of the complainant’s 2-month-old child who died in said hospital, and the removal of portions of certain organs and the entire heart, for scientific purposes. The doctors were in search for possible “anomalies” in these organs, which may have caused the child’s death.
In his Resolution, investigating prosecutor Romeo M. Chatto, concurred in and approved by the City Prosecutor Adriano Montes, ruled that the autopsy conducted on the body of the deceased child does not constitute any of the acts defines and penalized as “trafficking in persons” under R.A. 9208.
This writer assisted Drs. Dominguez, Galo and Nagulada, while Atty. Gregorio Austral handled the defense for Dr. Verga.
In the projected first phase of the Panglao International Airport project, P100-M grease money is reportedly involved. If true, there would be no surprise. It is part of the “normal abnormality” in our corrupt governance.
By the way, we are now thrilled with the great possibility of guessing right about the fate of the Panglao Airport project. Convinced by the “signs”, that the project is intended only to fill the pockets of certain officials involved, we guessed from the start that there would be no Panglao Airport in the end.
Initially, Gov. Aumentado promised that this airport would be completed before the end of GMA’s term as “President” and his term as Governor. Later, he amended his earlier statement and said the project would get started before the end of their terms of office. Now, that some four (4) months are left of their term, we smell the prospect that the project would not get started after all.
We are not surprise though. Trapos have sweet tongues, but bitter saliva’.
Illegal “Swertres” numbers game has been stamped out in Loboc town, allegedly upon orders of Mayor Leon Calipusan.
Good, that is if the Mayor really hates gambling in all forms and at all times, and that he would also take steps to stop all the numbers game in Lotto outlets, including Swertres.
Bad, if the Mayor’s action to stop Swertres outside Lotto outlets is designed to step up the gambling business in said Lotto playing outlets sponsored by government. There is one such outlet in his town.
Worse, if the halt in “illegal” swertres is only temporary, pending finalization of the “deal” between financiers and town officials on the sharing of the financiers’ take.
Worst, if the halt is designed and calculated to give way for a new financier, with links to the Mayor, who does not allow competition by the existing financiers. This is the ugly side of the story.
We have to emphasize this: We do not believe that government officials are really against gambling. What government officials is in all forms of “legal” gambling. What government categorizes as “illegal” gambling, and should be stopped, are those forms of gambling which do not fill the pockets of “powerful” officials of government. Money makes legal?
Tags: Swertres
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