GREED THAT STAGGERS

"As a service to the people, dapat magbigti na lang kaming lahat." 
                                                                                Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago

The Evolution of a Filipino Politician

It has always been a given that most Filipino politicians are dirty and that  corruption in this country is endemic. Only 1 out of 10 politicians are probably honest and hardworking and are out to serve his countrymen.

Ahmm, okay, I’m being very generous with that ratio.

Only 1 out of 25 are honest and trustworthy.

Most of these politicians, who like to prefix their names with terms like 'honorable' and 'distinguished,' are thieves, liars , con men and far from being truly honorable.

We see them (the crooked ones) everyday in TV and in newspapers in their shiny cars, in their mansions and expensive suits and dresses even though we know that they can’t afford such lifestyle with their salaries. We see how they party and how they constantly travel. How much does a congressman make? A senator?  They make around fifty thousand pesos a  month. A mayor? A mayor’s salary is in the vicinity of thirty thousand pesos, and yet, we see them strutting around in posh places and in casinos gambling the way only a multi-millionaire with no care for money can and we only shrug, surrendered to the fact that they can do it because they’re stealing the people’s money.

And yet, when the gang of Benhur Luy appeared and we were finally confronted with the truth, with incontrovertible proof,  that these crooks are really stealing from the people—we still are staggered.

By the sheer magnitude of voracity.

How can these people be so greedy? How can they be so godless? How can these people be so unscrupulous? Everyday, while they dine in fancy restaurants, a lot of Filipinos are dying from hunger—those who are still alive, look for food to eat in the trash cans.  Everyday, while they think of what unnecessary cosmetic surgery to undergo with, a lot of Filipinos are dying in the hospital because they can’t afford their medicines. Everyday, while they sleep in their gold-plated four-poster beds, a lot of Filipinos sleep in the sidewalks. Everyday, while they squander money at the casinos,  a lot of Filipinos beg for alms.

And what’s more cruel, these same wicked politicians, a few years from now will go to our homes, perfumed, scrubbed and wearing Rolex and fake smiles and faker affection and will ask for our votes –and most of us will welcome them and embrace them—and vote for them.

Staggering.

Footnote:  Benhur Luy, the prime whistleblower, most likely, got his name from Judah Ben-Hur, the main character from Lew Wallace’s book, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. In the book, Ben-Hur and his family (all innocents) are persecuted by the Romans.  Ben-Hur is enslaved but he survives and seeks revenge against his corrupt enemies.

In the book, Ben-Hur’s tale is told parallel to the story of Jesus Christ.

This dude is praying, can you believe that?