Walis Tingting

Too bad for actor-comedian Joey Marquez. Sa dami ba naman ng nakawan sa pamahalaan tila siya lang ang nasapol ng, sabi nga'y, "strong arm of the law". Maybe Joey thought this practice (of overpricing, payroll padding, ghosts projects, etc.) is common place in government. From the president down to the barangay chairman, and, would believe, even the SK (sangguniang kabataan), corruption has become a way of life.

For instance, a simple barangay boundary marker consisting of 35 pieces of hollowblocks, 2 bags of cement, and some pieces of steel bars, would cost the government something like Php.25,000.00!

Yes, and this is usually facilitated by municipal COA auditors. They are the very ones who even teach this "young" public officials how to go around their very own auditing rules. If you are lucky enough, COA auditors will even recommend you to their "suki" establishments who could give you blank official receipts to expedite your liquidation. Whew! Talagang institutionalized na ang corruption sa Pilipinas. Malas ka lang Joey ikaw ang ginawang exhibit "A" para sa "big fish" na kailangang-kailangan ipakita ng gobyerno na nahuli na nila.

Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa ZTE broadband scandal na kinasasangkutan nina COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos at DOTC Sec. Leandro Mendoza? Joey Marquez' scam is truly "walis tingting" lang kung ihahambing sa bagong kawatan na ito. We'll see.