This is what we long for... JAPANESE WOMAN CABINET MINISTER RESIGNS OVER POLITICAL FUNDS MISUSE By Manny Pinol Japan and South Korea are Asian countries just like the Philippines but the Japanese and the South Koreans are so unlike Filipinos when it comes to public accountability and government service. Recently, two woman cabinet ministers of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes government resigned over mere allegations of misuse of political funds. Shortly after they resigned, Abe apologized to the Japanese people and took full responsibility saying it was he who appointed the disgraced officials to positions in the cabinet. Earlier, a safety official in South Korea was reported to have committed suicide following the death of a dozen K-Pop concert attendees when the stage in the concert area collapsed. In stark contrast, in the Philippines, the chief of the Philippine National Police refuses to resign even after proofs of possession of properties beyond his means have been established and even after it was proven that he received donations in the form of a multi-million White Mansion serving as his official residence, an act which is clearly against the law. Worse, the second highest official of the Philippines, Vice President Jejomar Binay himself has vowed to fight off charges of corruption and promised never to submit himself to a Senate investigation looking into alleged irregularities in the City of Makati when he was mayor. Dismissing the charges are politically motivated, Vice President Binay and his camp have continued to keep away from the public a key figure in the alleged irregularities, Gerry Limlingan who is identified as the bagman and main dummy of the second highest official in his business undertakings. The Binay camp has also ignored proofs that he lied about his ownership of a property in Rosario, Batangas which he earlier said was just leased but which he, in a 2010 recorded interview with South China Morning Post reporter Raissa Robles, admitted was bought for P30 per square meter. What makes the Philippine situation even more scandalous is the fact that even some members of the Philippine media are covering up the whole scandal and defending the embattled Vice President. In a subtle display of how corrupt the Philippine society has become, known journalists and major newspapers, radio and TV networks have allowed themselves to be used in a propaganda campaign for political interests. Instead of playing their role as the mirror of society and the conscience of the nation, several mediamen and media outlets are participating in a sinister scheme to condition the minds of the Filipino people into accepting things the way they are. When will this end? Perhaps, it will end when we have elected a President who understands the meaning of delicadeza, public accountability and honor.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:32:32 +0000
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