Global Pinoy for Better Philippines

I’ve seen on TV how Archbishop Cruz refused to grant Holy Communion to President Gloria. Was the Bishop God? Did he know the President’s sins even without saying confession to him? Was he sure of the President’s sins more than his own?

This Bishop has no place at the Catholic Church. He has been acting as if he is the god of pure souls. If he has knowledge of Gloria’s sins for him to refuse granting her communion, then why don’t  he present evidences? Why don’t he present proof to the CBCP so that they will all be enlightened?

This Bishop is such a despecable member of the Church! He should renounce his vocation because he is not worth to be called  leader of the Catholic Church!.

 The last time I wrote about NBN-ZTE was in October of last year. It’s been five months and the issue is far from over. Many personalities have been dragged to the issue but the investigation is leading everyone nowhere.

After listening to all statements, accusations and denials, I still believe that the project is good. It is Joey and his recently ousted Speaker of the House-father that messed up the whole thing to serve their personal purposes. In my own personal analysis, the de Venecias have been dipping their fingers to many government projects many years back. The father corners the project and the son works on the background. The father was in power for 12 long years and  still refuses to let go to the point of backstabbing his good friend/kumare Gloria. The son concealed his identity when he applied AHI to the NBN project but later freely announced his ownership despite the fact that his name did not appear on its registration documents. Both actions suggested there’s something fishy under the table. And yet they’re both very articulate in accusing Gloria of corruption. Well, if ever Gloria is, so are they!

Back to NBN-ZTE, I have a feeling that  Lozada and the deVenecias have  convinced Neri to back their NBN-BOT scheme before the end of 2006. Neri on his part was also able to convince the President to support their scheme that’s why the President has announced during the NEDA Board meeting in November 2006 that she wanted the project run by the private sector with no expense from the government. Early 2007 , however, Neri changed his mind and endorsed the NBN-ZTE and there seems to be a missing link between Neri’s change of position which is really mind boggling and has drawn many speculations and in fact, accusations against the President. This has become the main reason why the Senate investigation has not been concluded up to now. I can only guess that the missing link is the offer of China to corner the deal and the counter offer by the government which was well on its way where it not for the  cancellation of the deal as a result of Joey and Lozada’s crying foul  in public.

Based on what has been presented to the Senate by both parties, I am more inclined to believe the side of ZTE. Their proposed $329M will cover the entire country down to all barangays while Joey’s  AHI-BOT will only cover 80% which would exclude 5th and 6th class municipalities. ZTE’s offer was partly grant and partly social loan at 3% interest per annum payable in 30 years while Joey’s BOT would be privately funded but likewise operated and later transfered to the government. If I were the project analyst, I would readily go for the ZTE’s offer first because of the coverage it offers, 2nd because of the technical assistance package (grant), 3rd because of the very easy terms of payment, and lastly because it will be managed outright by the government. Communications and transportation facilities are basic public services that should be ran or regulated by the government especially that internet has no barriers. It would be very risky for the government to allow private sector to run a public service that have no boundaries. And this aside from the fact that Joey seems to be backed up by another Chinese company he has long been in association with. For one, Joey’s AHI has no sufficient capital back-up for the project. This is again very risky because we are not aware of their secret deals unlike with the ZTE which is now an open book. But the de Venecia’s have succeeded in nipping the project in the bud. Their apparent and obvious association with the opposition who has a grind to axe against the President is really a well planned strategy and they seem to have gained momentum. But really, the good side of the President seem to be weighing more. Despite all the combined efforts of those that openly despise the President, still they do not succeed. The Lozada popularity was such a lofty and fleeting status. If the Senate is really honest in their intention to guard the reins of the government and the welfare of the people what they could probably do is to seek independent budget estimates for the NBN project in order to assess whether there is really an overprice. We need not go far and risk the credibility of the country by broadcasting to the senate for all the world to know, all the ills of this government. We can do it without necessarily burning our house down.