Tag Archives: Pork Barrel

International, Law Enforcement, Politics, The Media

TOTAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

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Malacañang Palace, the Philippines' White House
Malacañang Palace, the Philippines’ White House

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – A government shutdown is not that uncommon. It has happened in the U.S. when legislators failed to pass a budget, and it has happened in other countries when citizens declared a no-confidence in their duly-elected government.

But a looming total government shutdown in the Philippines has nothing to do with the budget or a no-confidence citizenry vote. It’s all about the pork barrel scandal involving the siphoning of 10 Billion pesos of taxpayer money into ghost projects and into the pockets of politicians and private citizens.

Recent investigation and revelations have confirmed that:

  • More than half of sitting senators are involved in the scam
  • More than 150 current and past members of the House of Representatives are linked to the scam
  • Top officials of the Aquino government have been implicated in the scam
  • Prominent members of the media have benefited from the scam

Political analysts have concluded that the one last resort to dealing with this scandal is for President Aquino to declare a total government shutdown and appoint a caretaker government to fully revamp the government.

The U.S. government, which recently signed an agreement with the Philippines to increase American military presence in this ally country, has volunteered to facilitate a speedy recovery should the total government shutdown occur. The U.S. fell short of saying that it will work towards making the Philippines its 51st state.

 

Business, Festivals, Film and TV, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Technology, The Media

MERYL STREEP TO PLAY LEILA DE LIMA IN NEW HOLLYWOOD FILM, ‘THE DE LIMA LIST’

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imageHollywood, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Hollywood Productions announced today that it has begun filming its latest blockbuster movie, ‘The De Lima List,’ based on the true story of Philippine Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima, considered the country’s ‘Iron Lady.’

De Lima is known to be holding a signed affidavit from suspected pork barrel scandal mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, containing a list of Philippine senators and other high-ranking politicians who have participated in the ten billion-peso scheme to divert taxpayer money to ghost projects and unsuspecting nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Allegedly, the funds eventually went into the pockets of the politicians.  To this day, de Lima has refused to make the list public and many suspect that more than half of the sitting senators are on that list.

The Hollywood film is directed by Steven Spielberg, the same Academy Award winning director responsible for the 1993 film ‘The Schindler’s List.’ Multi Oscar Award winner Meryl Streep, best known for her role as Margaret Thatcher in ‘Iron Lady,’ will play de Lima.

Streep, Spielberg and the production crew arrived in Manila Sunday.

International, Law Enforcement, Politics, The Media

LACK OF QUORUM IN PHILIPPINE SENATE MAY LEAD TO CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

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Philippine Senator Nancy Binay
Philippine Senator Nancy Binay

Manila, Philippines  (The Adobo Chronicles) – Article VI, Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the Senate shall be composed of 24 senators who shall be elected at-large by the qualified voters of the Philippines. This makes junior Senator Nancy Binay extremely worried in light of the ongoing investigation of the pork barrel scam that siphoned 10 Billion pesos in taxpayer money into bogus nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)  and ghost pet projects of elected officials.

Disclosures by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Presidential Assistant Panfilo Lacson indicate that Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam, has written affidavits implicating more than a dozen senators.

“So what happens if more than half of the senators are charged and indicted as a result of the investigation? The Senate will not have a quorum and not be able to function according to its constitutional mandate,” Binay said in fluent Tagalog.

In order to avert this potential constitutional crisis, Binay proposed that all 24 senators – implicated in the scam or not –  execute a power of attorney designating either their spouse, partner , sibling or child as their proxy. “This way, Binay said, the Senate can continue to function and take care of the many problems facing our country.”

From all indications, Binay is not among the senators implicated in the pork barrel scam.

Constitutuonal crisis averted!