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Philippines, 25 Apr 2024 |
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PACMAN IS SHAPED FOR BOXING, NOT POLITICS By Reni M. Valenzuela PhilBoxing.com Sat, 10 Aug 2013  Manny Pacquiao made waves recently by announcing his intention to run for president of the Philippines. But why does he, as a congressman, support the ?pork barrel? system when pork barrel is bane to every Filipino?s dream of a decent life and the people overwhelmingly favor its abolition? Pork barrel is supposedly for development. Alas, it has only got to do with corruption and nothing but corruption. For whatever modest progress the Noynoy Aquino?s administration has so far achieved for the country, the pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) being allocated yearly to legislators in both houses of Congress has for certain no connection with it. Questions: Is it a puzzle why the vast majority of congressmen and senators are ?lukewarm? to scrap the pork barrel? If so, does it mean the same vast majority of them are crooks? But what about the good ones, what are they doing? Are we too feeble or invalid as a people that under such political horror we perpetually allow ourselves to be held captive to the devise and silent conspiracy of ghosts and banner ?heroes?? The PDAF or pork barrel is never a source of hope, but a source of graft and politicking, with few ?caravans? being assisted, used and benefited in the process. Elected officials know this full well. Some ?angels? just close their eyes. The latest P10 billion pork barrel scam along with the multimillion anti-dengue and IT equipment scandals and other bogus projects/purchases by politicians as recently exposed, but probably years ago uncovered, by the Commission on Audit (COA) are merely the latest that were ?brought to light? among the numerous that remain to be as white as snow in shaded vaults. Is Rep. Pacquiao any different? But why can?t he see anything wrong about the pork barrel and why has he been tied and mum about the many important national issues? What else as a congressman can Pacquiao be so vocal about aside from his political positioning and plans in the future? Are there not concerns in the mind and soul of politicians other than politics? Pacquiao?s penchant for politics is revealing. It now goes beyond good intentions and he may not even be aware of it. Though, a good intention may turn out to be a nightmare if a person becomes someone he is not meant to be. Recall Michael Jordan when he first retired from playing in the NBA only to be mediocre, if not miserable, in baseball. But Jordan soon came to himself and went back to his mold being an ?air-man? in basketball, securing and strengthening further his legacy as the greatest NBA player of all time. Destiny is always bound to happen. It is firm, sure and set to come in its time. Every person is predestined to having a good life. Nothing can move and alter destiny except that which moves and alters one?s traverse of the right path due to stubborn, disobedient heart. How can we define politics when politicians have burning passion for it as they are wrapped up in themselves? Self-interest seems to be the common factor for them and amassing wealth appears to be their all-consuming urge for as long as they hold positions of power and prestige and while they enjoy the ?worship? and ?prayers? of the people. Pity our nation for having been a playground and puppet in a long, long time to serve the interests and whims of political ?gods? and self-seeking ?dreamers.? Clowns used to defend pork barrel by jesting and suggesting that pork barrel is a great ?neutralizer,? effective and ideal to level the playing field in the matter of stealing from the nation?s coffer. Hence the same guiding principle is apparent in the notoriously corrupt agencies of the government. What an ingenious joke and justification to decorate Hades for personal enrichment and electioneering purposes. No wonder, roads are being repaired where there is none to repair during election time to show the constituents their political ?leaders? are active and working for the sole purpose of luring ?innocent? votes while gaining ?cuts.? No marvel why street diggings which cause heavy traffic abound during campaign season throughout places and busy streets where no Yamashita gold is hidden. Why can?t Malacanang Palace and Congress simply create a ?Pork Barrel? Commission that will handle and dispense the fund to modernize the country?s irrigation system, build infrastructures, create jobs and assist the poor in education, housing and health care? Imagine the whopping P27 billion allotted by the government to private pockets in the guise of PDAF just for the year 2014. Unconscionable, imagine what that staggering amount can do to improve basic services to the people in one year and to a lot other important priorities to alleviate our plight as a poor country. Aside from pork barrel, what else wasted people?s money that would have to be put to proper use and the same wasted people?s money that could have gone a long way to address poverty in the land? The PDAF is the same controversial pork barrel they used to call CDF or Countrywide Development Fund. The matter had been discussed, ?deliberated? and ?debated? to its utter exhaustion since time immemorial. I was one of those who clamored for the abolition of pork barrel from the day I began writing about it as a young ?indio? in 1992 until I realized mine was just a tiny voice in the wilderness, or in the colony of the deaf and mute. Though, I stay true and loyal to this day to my advocacy and belief about the ?barrel? with equal zeal. I just refuse to delve deeper on the subject lest I fill an entire website or newspaper from cover to cover with proofs and arguments pointing to the fact that pork barrel is devilish. To our dear President, senators and congressmen: One thing is clear and needful ? abolish pork barrel or we remain a corrupt nation. And to Pacman: Transcendent of what you may have to tell the Filipino people about pork barrel and other issues, you need to realize that you are called and fashioned to knock out your opponents in the ring as a boxing phenomenon, and not be knocked out cold in the same ring by reason of your straying in a political jungle. Need I be plain about the one solid step in politics or ?politics? you ought to take when it is suffice to say what have already been said and admonished? Several observers, not just Floyd Mayweather Jr., are saying that you are washed up as a boxer. Try reminiscing the past while seated in your office in Congress, looking through the window and ask: But when did it all start? Wake up. renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com Click here to view a list of other articles written by Reni M. Valenzuela.  |
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