By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
That is another version of the meaning of KKK.
Riding a cab going to court today, Friday, the cabbie said during our conversation that corruption in this country has already took root in the deepest of our systems, mental or physical.
So he was not at all surprised at the rampant vote buying during this latest election. He said, as high as P10K per vote in some areas of the provinces like in some parts of Abra.
He allegedly got about P1,000.00 of diesel fuel from one candidate.
Another cabbie a few days ago said that he received money twice in their barangay, just around 20 minutes ride from the business district of Baguio. The first time was P1,000.00. the second time was P1,500.00 . The proof of verification asked of him was only his voter’ ID showing that indeed he was a voter at their barangay.
With all the money disbursed by politicians then, it was not surprising how inflation immediately sky rocketed. While a big cause of that was the shocking high prices of petroleum products, the big money that was infused in the economy last election equally shares the blame. This happens after every after election. Yet we never learn. We take the money to buy our votes as ‘gracia.’
The good thing about our economic difficulties is, people might finally wake up to the reality that our President BBM is not god who will make our problems easily disappear just by waving his proverbial magic wand.
As an elderly couple said, “Maski mamatay na kami aasenso naman and Pilipinas kasi si BBM na ang presidente.”
I don’t know where they got that. Am sure that if they were asked for a rational reason on why they thought that way, there answer would not be far from the reason from die hard campaigners of BBM. Why? “Basta!”
We cannot eat the word “basta!”
After some time, when it would be evident there would be no prosperity as they deceived themselves, they would come out with justifications blaming BBM’s enemies. They would consider those pointing out mistakes of the administration like corruption as the root cause of the problem.
It would be nice to watch such people when our difficulties continue. Will they swallow their pride and admit to their mistakes?
No. They will come up again with justifications that can make you cry due to their stupidity.
Then I recalled the reason of a college graduate client on why he was for BBM. He said that BBM would bring back to the country the vaunted Marcos wealth and almost all Filipinos will become millionaires. Well?
But let us commiserate with BBM. People do not anymore trust the government and its officials. Not just them. Even government officials and employees themselves. In fact, they are the ones who witness what they call corruption from the top to the bottom of the bureaucracy.
A number have even retired early due to demoralization. “Anya ganas mo nga agtatrabaho kasta. Pirmi corrupt dagidiay da boss.”
So how can BBM make things better? Perhaps we just have to wait and see.**
