Gov't repeating what caused two People Power revolts

Corruption and injustice sparked two People Power revolts.

- JARIUS BONDOC

Ninoy Aquino's assassination and Marcos kleptocracy incited the first in February 1986. Soldiers and priests rallied millions to protest at EDSA and elsewhere till the Marcoses stepped down.

Senators' suppression of bribery evidence against impeached president Estrada triggered EDSA Dos in January 2001. Civil society and professionals led the outcry. Erap fell when the AFP withdrew support.

Plunder and abuse worsened in the past and present admins.

A general was murdered in July 2020 for cleaning up the charity sweepstakes.

A police colonel who denies being a presidential mistress masterminded it, two hitmen confessed Friday.

Amid 7,000 drug killings, POGOS thrived under Chinese presidential adviser Michael Yang and narco trafficker Allan Lim. Malacañang appointees bought from them P7.5-billion fake, substandard pandemic supplies.

Upon ascending, the present admin's vanity Maharlika Fund took P25 billion from DBP and P50 billion each from Landbank and BSP. It granted sugar import exclusivity to what Sen. Risa Hontiveros called a "government-sponsored cartel." Military men now grumble against Malacañang's diversion of their and 119 million Filipinos' P90 billion from PhilHealth. Congress covets the money for pork barrels.

Politicos have been extracting 40-percent kickbacks under two presidencies, Baguio mayor Benjie Magalong exposes.

Insatiable, they act as contractors and suppliers to pocket 30 percent more. Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto and Jagna, Bohol mayor Joseph Rañola confirm the sleaze.

Yet the ombudsman hasn't checked politicos' lifestyles. It even hides culprits' asset statements.

Politicos' favorite rackets are flood works, asphalt overlays, rock nettings and cat's eyes. Easiest to overprice sixfold. But Congress shuns probes of its members.