No More Hell Run By Filipinos

There is a phrase which was uttered nearly a century ago by Manuel Quezon: I'd rather live in a hell run by Filipinos than in a heaven run by the Americans. That slogan has become even more real than he could imagine. The Philippines is a living hell run by Filipinos. Everywhere one looks the signs are there. Some are hidden while others are out in the open. 

I propose a new occasional series titled "No More Hell Run By Filipinos." In this series I will examine news items documenting how inefficient and outright corrupt the government is. This will be very different from my weekly series "Retards in the Government" which is all about government officials being charged, arrested, or assassinated.

Let's start with this story from President Marcos. If you are not aware, Bongbong Marcos is a convicted criminal who owes the government billions in back taxes plus interest. His family owes billions in compensation to martial law victims. Bongbong also continues to defend the crimes committed by his  parents, Marcos Sr. and Imelda, during martial law. His entire campaign was built around whitewashing those dark years by claiming it was a Golden Age. To top it off Marcos, before the entire world in Davos at the World Economic Forum, claimed he ran for the presidency to clear his family's name. There is no world in which President Marcos is a good guy looking out for the interests of the Philippines. But apparently neither is anyone in the bureaucracy with which he has surrounded himself. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2071124/marcos-reveals-getting-false-accomplishment-reports-of-govt-projects

Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not spared from receiving false information—in this case, in the form of accomplishment reports on government projects.

This was what he revealed in Part 1 of the BBM Podcast: Episode 2, which aired on Monday.

In the podcast, journalist Cheryl Cosim asked Marcos if his visits to public areas such as markets, train stations, and provinces are part of his administration’s strategy to help better understand the struggles of ordinary Filipinos.

“At any level of government, it’s very different to receive a report saying, `We completed the project, this is how much we spent,’ along with a nice photo. But when you actually visit the site, it’s different—really different. You realize the report was true, the project was well done. And you know that the person who gave you the report wasn’t lying to you,” Marcos responded in Filipino.

However, there is another side to the story.

“The other side of it is—these fools are taking me for a ride. That’s when you realize, these people aren’t reliable, so we need to find someone else. That’s why it’s still important to go and see things for yourself.,” he said.

Marcos also said he had already removed several public servants since he took office three years ago but refused to name names.

“There have been many. A lot, actually. We just don’t announce it. For me, this is work. If you’re not helping, get out of the way. If you’re not going to support us, then just step aside. Do whatever you want, but let us do our job. That’s always been my attitude,” he said.

“So whatever ‘get out of the way’ means—whether you’re fired, put on floating status, or transferred to another part of the government—whatever it is, just get out of the way so I can do my job,” the President further said.

In the podcast, Marcos reiterated that his governance is “not about friendship or our love for each other, but about public service,” referring to officials with whom he has a close personal relationship but who fail to perform their duties.

“We have to be very, very strict. Look, even if you’re my friend, even if I care about you, if you’re not doing your job, that’s a problem. This isn’t about our friendship or how much we care about each other—this is about serving the people,” he said.

Last May 22, Marcos made an unprecedented order for all cabinet members to tender their courtesy resignations.

This paved the way for Marcos to review each department’s performance and decide on which one will remain in their post or not.

What we have here is the very essence of "No More Hell Run by Filipinos." The president is a criminal and his lackies are unscrupulous men, fools taking him for a ride. Marcos' response is to tell them to "get out of the way." That does not necessarily mean being fired but could also mean being "transferred to another part of the government." Why shuffle them around? Where is the accountability? 

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro offered some clarification on the matter. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2071448/fwd-malacanang-on-false-accomplishment-reports

Malacañang on Tuesday warned of possible sanctions against government officials who fail to explain discrepancies in their project accomplishment reports.

This stern message stemmed from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s revelation on Monday that he sometimes receives accomplishment reports on government projects that do not reflect their actual status.

At a briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stressed that the administration would not let such wrongdoing slide.

“The President said that there are agencies that submit reports, but when you look at them, they are inaccurate. So, if these inaccuracies are intentional, it will not bode well for the official involved,” she said.

“We won’t name names but if the official fails to properly explain why the report does not match the truth, then perhaps he or she may be shown the exit,” added Castro.

That's rather clear. If a false report is submitted by an official and it cannot be properly explained "then perhaps he or she may be shown the exit." That means no accountability. Got it. 

If these men are unscrupulous liars taking the president for a ride why not report them to the Ombudsman, have them removed from office, and prevent them from ever serving again? That's the rub and that kind of passing the buck and letting incompetence slide is exactly why this country is a hell run by Filipinos. It's exactly the kind of nonsense that needs to stop.