Tricks and trends

CTALK

- CITO BELTRAN

Do you know the latest tricks and trends of the suspects and suspected in the public works scandals? For instance, where or what is the latest go-to dining location for politicians, government officials, brokers and contractors and the deal makers? No, it's no longer some high-end restaurant or club in the ritziest five-star hotels. Nowadays, they all go Chinese.

Last week, a friend of mine casually mentioned that he saw a former politician/businessman and contractors at a new mall just off Roxas Boulevard. Off the cuff, I assumed they were just a bunch of old fogies or golf buddies having brunch or lunch.

As it turns out, my friend was reluctant to give the full details because he and his friends were low-level employees in said business district. But after reading and watching the Senate investigation and all the corruption going on, my friend decided to tell me the full details.

The real story was that a couple of ex-politicians actually shared a meal with a bunch of contractors at a very posh and expensive Chinese restaurant somewhere in a business district, just a few blocks off Roxas Boulevard.

He suspects that the meeting was a reviewer for the ongoing Senate investigation or just to share intel and give a heads-up on the latest developments regarding public works projects and political blowback from the scandal.

I don't know if it was the scallops, lobster or prawns or perhaps their culture of impunity, but "the suspects and the suspected" carelessly conversed within earshot of my friends in low places.