M.I.B. – Masa in Black

Before starting on a column, I always say a short prayer. Some say I’m being religious, but in truth I think it is better to ask my “Boss,” God Almighty, for guidance than risk misrepresenting him.

As a result, I sometimes end up writing about things that were not on my mind, such as a passage from the Book of Revelation, chapter 18 entitled “The Fall of Babylon:”

“Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit. A haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.”

After watching parts of the Senate and congressional investigations on flood control projects, most readers would agree that our modern-day Babylon is none other than the Philippines.

Have you ever seen, with your own eyes, boxes upon boxes filled with cash, amounting to 50 – 100 – 250 MILLION pesos allegedly intended as bribes for government officials and congressmen? Too bad, the senators failed to ask which bank released such a huge amount of cash without flagging the AMLC.

Have you ever gambled 10-20 MILLION pesos in a night at a casino? What caught me off guard was the claim that the detailed information came from the casino itself and confirmed that casinos are used for money laundering by our government officials.

I was shocked to hear how DPWH insiders illegally used contractors’ licenses, government personnel and government equipment to build projects and pocket all the profit without cost or, even worse, ghost projects assembled on office tables on paper but paid by government!

Just as sickening is the confirmation that many businesses willingly or are “forced” to enter into anomalous transactions, deal with corrupt “brokers” or fixers or suffer exclusion, obstruction, harassment or delays. The temptation is “Go Big or Go Broke.”

Meanwhile,12 million Filipinos reportedly no longer eat three meals a day regularly. If anything will piss off God, 12 million under-fed poor Filipinos will surely get God’s attention.

So, what’s in store for us? I would speculate that the current socio-political disaster is only the beginning. The real fall might only be “Coming Soon.” More shaking of “the powers that be” will take place.

The devil and his minions will not give up territory and gains without a fight. Keep in mind that the amount of money stolen by the cabal amounts to billions of pesos accumulated over a decade. That gives them sufficient funds to bribe, twist the stories and narrative, pay off fall guys.

What is frightening is the probability that the Big Fish among them will align with other beleaguered groups or other Big Fish accused or suspected of other crimes. The alliance from hell could organize and wage a PR war, acts of character assassination, political destabilization or hire an army to stage actual coups d’etat.

There will be more political casualties, not just in the Senate or Congress. While the wildfire burns, certain individuals in the Executive department and inside Malacañang could be dragged over the pig sty.

One insider claims that a certain individual has hinted that he will implicate a member of the First Family before he allows himself to be thrown under the bus!

Could this be the reason why PBBM is (seemingly) cautioning the public regarding accusing anybody and everybody? Or is this just for appearance and appeasement’s sake while the President watches the raging bonfire against the “mga walang hiya.”

This week, Filipinos learned that projects with foreign counterpart funding were removed from the budget by Congress and replaced with congressional pet projects. This was followed by an alleged FB post of the South Korean president cancelling a P28.7-billion loan to the Philippines because of risks.

The DOF issued a denial, stating that there is no such loan. But the damage is already done and will now be felt by Philippine companies and businesses currently applying for loans as well as those seeking partners and investors abroad!

The conflict between Congress and Malacañang over the NEP has been exposed concerning budget insertions done by a small group behind closed doors without legal justification or accountability.

We hear about public works projects finished years ago but being “recycled” or funded through insertions in the NEP or National Expenditure Program. This also includes the never-ending road reblocking of the DPWH.

Congressmen are now shying away from budgeting for “Repair and Maintenance” and shifting funds and insertions to NEW constructions to protect their “interests.”

Meanwhile, some congressional senior staff members are scrubbing their digital and physical tracks that show they are project “consultants” or “coordinators” between DPWH contractors and congressional offices.

Yesterday, I was told that a big fish even had a history of listing his college barkadas as “ghost employees” in Congress.

More public anger will be expressed, such as the Black Friday protest scheduled for today. Might I suggest that instead of protest marches, let’s make Black the color of the month and let’s all wear black for at least a week everywhere.

The color they say is slimming, a fashionable protest statement and in keeping with the nature of peaceful People Power that will certainly get the attention of the world and prevent anarchy and destruction.

For now, let’s all bring out our Bibles, read 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14, hoping God would turn our country around. You can also join the M.I.B. – Masa In Black!

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