A big fish or a large bait?

In the scale of catching a big fish a former senator and former secretary of Justice pale in comparison to a sitting president of the republic.

Hernando Nani Perez may have been someone then, but in current terms he’s really not even as sensational as a General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Not even the innuendos of the opposition that "a couple" or "A bigger pig" is involved in the $14 million IMPSA bribery case should tickle the Filipino’s addiction for intrigue.

The case of Nani Perez is no longer just a domestic issue. It now raises critical questions such as who else received the bribe and how much? Who in IMPSA if any were aware and involved in the Bribery? Did this action involve any representative of a foreign country or its officials? Were the financial institutions involved in the transactions aware or even suspicious of such large amounts?

Did any part or portion of the amount paid off to Perez et al come from funding provided by an international lending institution? Where does IMPSA draw its funding for such illegal transactions?

Lest people forget, the whole payoff would not have been traced if the little chocolate state of Switzerland did not undertake to determine if in fact such deposits were made by certain people named Perez and Escaler.

While Mark Jimenez may be gloating in glee at Nani Perez, reality tells us that in Philippine society the case could have been swept under the rug, delayed to death or simply dismissed as political hog wash.

The reason the case finally moved is because of international agreements that could initially affect cooperation, later it could affect the economy, and ultimately the administration and credibility of the President.

Many people have overlooked the international agreements related to our own version of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. If you recall all sort of threats were raised at Congress if it failed to produce a legitimate Anti-Money Laundering Act. This law and all the related commitments are taken seriously worldwide.

The Anti-Money Laundering network works to counter the flow of money to terrorists, drug cartels, economic saboteurs . . . And governments that lends itself, its territory to such entities in exchange for wealth or to permanently stay in power.

As a consequence the network also catches corrupt money launderers as well as corporations who actively engage in bribery to maintain a monopoly or gain undue advantage.

If you as a bank depositor wonder why banks now require a million documents, signatures, and questions unusually large withdrawals or transfers, that’s because the Anti-Money Laundering network is serving you well. It’s also catching the crooks who have been robbing you blind.

If you’re one of the millions of Filipinos wondering why the case of the NAIA 3 has not been finished, that’s because the whole deal is just as rotten as the IMPSA deal. The parties concerned each has a cannon aimed at the other in terms of their version of extortion, bribery, commission, or consultancy fee.

If the corruptors squeal like the pigs they are, they most certainly face court cases and jail terms abroad as well as collapse of their corporations. Is it any wonder why the foreign partners in the NAIA 3 were more than willing to sell out at bargain prices?! Guilty or not guilty, the sheer stupidity of their situation was already their end.

The only reason why the NAIA scam has not caught fire like the IMPSA deal is because of its definite potential to be a continuing business interest for the remaining parties involved. Unlike IMPSA which was a one shot deal and had no contending parties for its operation, the NAIA 3 is like a goose that can lay golden eggs for whoever ends up being "owner".

With the Germans neutered in the sidelines, it’s now a fight between the governments past and present, a couple of Chinese businessmen, and the guys who have made the most out of it all . . . the lawyers.

No one really wants to rock the boat and dig up dirt about government officials who got bribed, businessmen who continue to pay-off directly or indirectly because no one wants the goose to fly away or die of a political heart attack and end up like the GSIS bldg. on Roxas boulevard or the AMARI deal.

In the IMPSA matter, Mark Jimenez ought to be prepared and capable of dealing with the bizarre . . . as in becoming the accused. All this talk about making Nani Perez turn state witness does not necessarily mean witness against the Arroyo administration.

It maybe preparatory to actually spinning off the case into a People of the Philippines vs Mark Jimenez, a case of bribing a government official. Being a convicted fellow who served time certainly sets him up. When he chooses to MJ is capable of keeping quiet. Now would be a prudent time to shut up. Don’t give your enemies enough rope to hang you with. Wait till it’s in court.

Assuming the allegations are true, which administration would have more casualties? Will this drag President Ramos and his advisers into the pig sty? If Erap’s boys stirred clear, who else in the Arroyo administration had the power, responsibility to effect such a contract?

Between the Department of Justice, the Department of Energy, the Office of the Executive Secretary, who knew and participated in the deal? This question begs to be asked in as much as the allegation is Nani Perez went to Mark Jimenez with a demand. If it necessitated a bribe to get one signature, how many signatures ultimately had to be bought?

Mark Jimenez once told me that he could never forgive Nani Perez for cursing him and threatening him in front of his family. But in the same breath Mark Jimenez must remember, to expose one sin and cover the rest makes it vengeance, not justice.

Having served time in jail and now walking as a free man Mark Jimenez more than anyone must appreciate the truth, the consequence of once actions, and the purity of justice. He has faced his demons, fought them, and won. He must now help slay the demons he helped create, demons that have hurt other families, just like his own.

For Nani, Mark, and all the men out there, here’s a piece that might help restore your focus:

A Man’s Ideal By Edgar A. Guest

To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man,
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honour still;
To do my best and let that stand,
The record of my brain and hand,
And then should failure come to me,
Still work and hope for victory.
To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame and sin;
To be the same when I’m alone,
As when every deed is known,
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham,
Exactly what men think I am.