Christmas Gifts
We all know the story by now: 190 congressmen were allegedly given Php 200T after a breakfast “Christmas Exchange Gift” meeting last October 11, 2007 with the president. Vice Governor Suplico of Iloilo claimed it was some sort of bribe attempt to push for a weak impeachment case against President Arroyo. In a massive dose of amnesia, everyone claimed they never got the brownie take-home bag after the party. Then came along Rep. Cuenco (Cebu) who claimed he got Php 200T and was quoted live in a local radio show that it was the usual Christmas Gift from the Palace. Hours later, and perhaps furious phone calls from his colleagues, he went back on air and claimed it was all a joke.
In the first place, Rep. Cuenco is not known to have an exceptional sense of humor nor is he known to indulge in light banter. Second, his tone during the interview was that of irritation because the interviewer was asking pointed questions about the other congressmen receiving money. Third, his comment that it was all a joke heightened the already tense speculation around this “bribe” attempt. Fourth, I didn’t realize that the government considers it as “normal” practice to distribute big amount dole-outs and gifts to administration politicos.
If I wanted a joker in congress or senate I would have voted for Tito Sotto.
In a separate incident, Gov. Panlilio (Pampanga) confirmed that he received Php 500T in a meeting that followed the breakfast “Christmas Party” and tagged the Bulacan Governor as the one who allegedly handed the money to his aide. He never claimed it to be a bribe but as Palace funds to help out in the affairs of local government. It would have made perfect sense, except the Palace is denying they gave the money. I suggest that Gov. Panlilio write out the receipt to “God” and offer thanks and prayers that a miracle happened. Except that I don’t believe God maintains a printing press of Philippine Peso currency in thousands of pesos.
The biggest irony is that someone is making a liar out of a man of God. That, or the man of God is lying through his teeth. It would be futile for me to remind anyone that the Devil tempted the Lord Jesus Christ of worldly bribes to submit God to the devil’s will. At this point, I don’t think it would even faze these people that eternal damnation and the fiery oven of hell is definitely on their one way ticket – us humans tend to believe in our own press release that we perceive our lies to be gospel truths. At the end of the day, someone is lying and may God have NO mercy on these people.
In the first place, Rep. Cuenco is not known to have an exceptional sense of humor nor is he known to indulge in light banter. Second, his tone during the interview was that of irritation because the interviewer was asking pointed questions about the other congressmen receiving money. Third, his comment that it was all a joke heightened the already tense speculation around this “bribe” attempt. Fourth, I didn’t realize that the government considers it as “normal” practice to distribute big amount dole-outs and gifts to administration politicos.
If I wanted a joker in congress or senate I would have voted for Tito Sotto.
In a separate incident, Gov. Panlilio (Pampanga) confirmed that he received Php 500T in a meeting that followed the breakfast “Christmas Party” and tagged the Bulacan Governor as the one who allegedly handed the money to his aide. He never claimed it to be a bribe but as Palace funds to help out in the affairs of local government. It would have made perfect sense, except the Palace is denying they gave the money. I suggest that Gov. Panlilio write out the receipt to “God” and offer thanks and prayers that a miracle happened. Except that I don’t believe God maintains a printing press of Philippine Peso currency in thousands of pesos.
The biggest irony is that someone is making a liar out of a man of God. That, or the man of God is lying through his teeth. It would be futile for me to remind anyone that the Devil tempted the Lord Jesus Christ of worldly bribes to submit God to the devil’s will. At this point, I don’t think it would even faze these people that eternal damnation and the fiery oven of hell is definitely on their one way ticket – us humans tend to believe in our own press release that we perceive our lies to be gospel truths. At the end of the day, someone is lying and may God have NO mercy on these people.
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