The Lioness deceived or deceiving?

The latest news from the office of the Ombudsman is that a thorough investigation is on the way concerning reports that emission testing centers are not really testing vehicles.

HELLO?!!! That Ms. Ombudsman is not news. But if you’re going to investigate these so-called independent centers, would you also like to investigate who really owns them? And while you’re at it, will you please check the drug tests, the medical test, the eye test and find out who owns them?

Why? Because I, among millions of Pinoys would really like to know how true it is that a bunch of MISTAHS or retired PMAers actually own these testing centers or that several former PNP generals are under retainer by these companies.

It would also help restore our faith in government if you disprove that some if not many of these centers are actually RACKETS, if not scams perpetuated by local governments who collect the fees but don’t really perform the required work.

Stretch things a little further and maybe we can also find out which son or daughter of which Mayor owns these testing centers, the same way they own parking franchises, advertising franchises, or outlets and dealership for duty free, or pier services.

Madame Ombudsman you might even want to submit for legislation the proposal banning even family members of LGU officials to the second degree from soliciting business such as dealerships or outlets of companies based in their area.

We even pointed out to Health Secretary Duque that these testing centers have the gall to highlight the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH name in their receipts for services never rendered.

A high fashion lady I know was so disgusted by the latrine pretending to be a toilet that she simply filled the specimen container with tap water. She still tested positive . . . Chlorine positive! Joke only but story true.

The Ombudsman might even want to include investigating why the LTO is prevented from increasing their fees so they can build their own offices in local government land rather than continue renting private properties that run into the millions.

And please whatever you do, don’t dump the blame on the LTO. This time try to go a little higher, like the Department of Transportation and Communication as well as the Department of Trade.

If you research well enough, there were a lot of howls regarding the implementing order of those testing centers. Just the mechanical aspect of the order was questioned but some Ma-Lakas people got their way.

You might even do us "old car buffs" a favor and ask why no exemptions were made for cars built without emissions equipment. If the United States and European countries provide exemptions why not us.

Or how on earth do you standardize the testing if it all depends on how hard the "technician" presses down on the gas pedal?

Do these guys have standard tachometers that register the RPM or Revolutions Per Minute? Is there a set standard for a 1300, a 1500, a 1600, an 1800, a 2-liter engine etc.? At what gears? Sorry Lady as far as the eye has seen . . . the answer is Zip!!!

So how can you begin to investigate anomalies if the law and the system is pure anomaly?

Where does the DOH come in as far as the drug and medical tests, go? Sorry but as far as ordinary citizens know, the DOH in this case is literally ONLY IN PAPER!

Because of the Local Government code, the DOH decentralized. So the competence and state of equipment of LGUs are dependent on the health awareness and concern of local officials.

So if it’s a no contest affair, what’s behind the interest in emission testing anomalies? I really don’t know. Instead I would caution the Ombudsman and suggest she keeps in mind my story of "The Lioness deceived".

Once there was a good and mighty lioness who always believed in hard work. She always led the hunt, provided the kill, and keenly searched out the next prey. She made no exceptions, everybody was fair game.

So she led her pack of lionesses on daily raids which were always successful. She was feared by farmers, by villagers and most specially by the smaller animals.

But one day, a very smart landlord beat her at her own game. Rather than hunt the hunter, the man decided to provide the lioness her prey. Everyday the lioness would find their prey in the exact same spot. Day in day out the landlord gave her the target. She didn’t have to look for one, they would just come and eat it. Same time, same place.

Little did the lioness realize, that the landlord had fattened her up, made her weak, made her old, and stole her soul. She lost her strength, lost her courage, and finally she lost her leadership. No one feared the toothless lioness . . .

So far the Lioness has yet to bring down a really BIG GAME. While the pack may support the ombudsman, chicken feed and small fry do not justify the expenses much less the hope and prayers we all lift up for her success.

Do the LTO if you must, but please clear up once and for all, the suspicions surrounding the claimed $2 million pay-off to approve a power plant, the $2 million alleged pay-off for the PIATCO or NAIA 3. What really happened in the Clark Centennial Expo that so hurt Vice President Doy Laurel when he became the scapegoat? Has anyone gone to jail for the PEA-Amari scam?

Have we collected on any of the tax evasion cases against Taipans or Typhoons for that matter?

If these are too big for the Office of the Ombudsman . . . what about just sending a few PNP officials for using sirens, blinkers, and the inappropriate number of motorcycle and SUV escorts just to convey false power and stature.

Have you suspended or publicly rebuked any government official for using sirens, blinkers?

Maybe investigate the expenses for streetlights that are monuments to the initials of mayors?

Or investigate who owns, collects, and pockets money from fines and towing in cities and municipalities?

Please don’t wait for Probe, Imbestigador, or Correspondents to do it for you. Why not do it with them?!