plunder | The Adobo Chronicles

Quezon City, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The government may never recover the Ten Billion pesos that disappeared into phony projects and pockets of politicians in the pork barrel scam in the Philippines. This, despite recent indictments that have led to the arrest of top senators, businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and others implicated in the case.

So now, the government is focusing its energy into recovering up to 24 Billion pesos from piggy banks, drawers and closets of ordinary citizens. House Bill 4411 which passed on third reading makes it illegal to be in possession of excess coins. Coin possession will lead to eight years in prison and/or a fine of up to 300 Thousand pesos.

The proposed bill has encouraged politicians and citizens involved or intending to involve in the much more serious crimes of plunder, graft and corruption. The reason? The penalty for these greater crimes range from hospital arrest to detention in bungalow-type jails, and eventually, pardon.

A true testament to the Department of Tourism’s promotional meme of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines!”

Manila, Philippines – It’s like a story out of Hollywood. Like “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” starring Brad Pitt. Only more serious. And more complicated.

The cast of characters: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former president of the Philippines and currently a member of the House of Representatives, accused of plunder and election fraud; and Janet Lim-Napoles, businesswoman, accused of masterminding the pork barrel scam that siphoned 10 Billion pesos of taxpayer money into fake nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the pockets of politicians. Both had petitioned for bail and both were denied.

Arroyo is under hospital arrest in a government hospital in Manila while Napoles is detained in a high-security bungalow in Santa Rosa, Laguna, just south of Manila.

Jealousy ensues. Arroyo complains that she has been denied furlough for her birthday to be at her home in Pampanga while Napoles is living with special treatment in a bungalow. Napoles envies Arroyo because the latter is in a hospital. Napoles’s previous request to be in a hospital has been denied.

Enter Miriam Defensor-Santiago, feisty member of the Philippine Senate. She demands that Napoles be billed 150,000 pesos per month as reimbursement of taxpayer money being spent for her bungalow arrest and double security measures.

Enter the lawyers for Arroyo who demand that the government pay not only for her stay and food at the hospital but also all of her medical and treatment expenses.

Finally, enter Senator Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto who proposes that both women become roommates at the bungalow in Santa Rosa. “Equal treatment for equal evil deeds,” Sotto says.

And who’s footing the bill? Sotto says that both crimes the women are charged with involve misuse and, presumably hoarding of stacks and stacks of money. Arroyo and Napoles should have no problem paying for their detention, even if it means for life.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of this curious case indeed.