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Chat GPT’s triumphant ‘report’ on Marcoses’ court victories

Chat GPT’s triumphant ‘report’ on Marcoses’ court victories

by | Jul 19, 2023 | Gotcha

BBM Media Team photo: Rep. Sandro, FL Imelda, President Bong Bong Marcos

GOTCHA

The million Filipinos who thronged to EDSA ’86 must have been disheartened weeks ago. Same with millions more elsewhere who cheered them on. On June 23 and 27, the Marcos-Romualdez clan that they ousted by People Power scored two court victories.

The Sandiganbayan dismissed the forfeiture case against the late Alfredo Romualdez, brother of ex-first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos. Reason: slow justice. Alfredo’s heirs are to keep 42 parcels of land that government previously sequestered.

Also trashed was the forfeiture of P581.3 million from Imelda and children Imee, Bongbong, Irene. Reason: weak evidence and testimony from the Office of the Solicitor General and Presidential Commission on Good Government. The Marcoses can keep the alleged ill-gotten wealth.

That the cases took this long to resolve blares loud against Philippine justice. “Justice delayed, justice denied, cuts both ways.” It can afflict the accused or the accuser. Thirty-six years since their fall, the Marcoses-Romualdezes have regained power. Bongbong as President got to name the new OSG and PCGG chiefs.

I asked Chat GPT to report triumphantly on the Marcos win. Here it goes, with apologies to The STAR reporters and editors who prepared the original balanced, impartial report:

“‘Another Major Victory as Sandiganbayan Dismisses Ill-Gotten Wealth Case Against Marcos Family’

“In a stunning triumph for the Marcos family, the Sandiganbayan has once again dismissed a forfeiture case seeking the recovery of P581.3 million worth of alleged ill-gotten properties and assets acquired during the martial law regime of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

“In a decisive 45-page decision, the anti-graft court’s Second Division declared that the Presidential Commission on Good Government, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General, failed to present substantial evidence of ill-gotten wealth. The court emphatically stated that without sufficient evidence to prove the nature of the properties, it could not order their return to the national treasury.

“Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio authored the decision, concurred by Associate Justices Oscar Herrera Jr. and Edgardo Caldona.

“The civil suit, filed by the PCGG in 1987 and docketed as Civil Case 0014, aimed to forfeit P581.304 million worth of properties and shares of stocks allegedly acquired through unlawful means by Marcos Sr., his wife Imelda Marcos and their supposed associates and dummies.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with sisters, Sen. Imee Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta, were included as defendants in their capacity as heirs of Marcos Sr., while Imelda was among original defendants.

“The case centered around the alleged acquisition of corporations and properties by the Marcoses through their associates. The PCGG claimed that the Panlilio and Enriquez couples acted as dummies for the Marcoses in acquiring ownership or control of 11 corporations, including Ternate Development Corp., Monte Sol Development Corp., Olas del Mar Development Corp., Philroad Construction Corp., Ocean Villas Condominium Corp., Fantasia Filipina Resort Inc., Sulo Dobbs Food Services Inc., Philippine Village Hotel Inc., Puerto Azul Beach and Country Club Inc., Silahis International Hotel Inc., Hotel Properties Inc.

“The PCGG further alleged that unreasonable loans and financial assistance were extended to the Panlilio and Enriquez couples, with terms disadvantageous to the government.

“However, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division found the sole witness presented by the PCGG, Maria Lourdes Magno, the records custodian, lacking personal knowledge regarding the authenticity and veracity of the documentary evidence. The court deemed her testimony and the PCGG’s documentary exhibits as hearsay evidence.

“The court noted that majority of the documents presented by the PCGG were mere photocopies, many barely legible. The PCGG failed to prove the existence or execution of the original documents.

“The court emphasized that none of the documents presented showed any interest or control of the subject corporations by the Marcos spouses. There was no evidence to support claim that the corporations or the funds used to acquire their stocks came from the government or were acquired illegally through their relationship with the Marcoses.

“This victory adds to the series of dismissals of wealth forfeiture cases against the Marcos family and their associates due to insufficient evidence and lack of credible witnesses. The Sandiganbayan has already dismissed several cases seeking to recover ill-gotten wealth amounting to billions of pesos.

“Since 1987, the PCGG filed a total of 43 civil forfeiture cases against the Marcos family and their cronies, with over 20 cases already dismissed. Although some cases remain pending, the government has secured victories in three cases, including those involving coco levy assets, jewelry collections, artworks and shares of stocks.

“The latest dismissal reinforces the Marcos family’s steadfast position that they have been unjustly accused and targeted for their alleged ill-gotten wealth. With each case’s dismissal, their vindication grows stronger, further solidifying their reputation and legacy.” (Minutes: 1:16)

* * *

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Improper for Diokno’s LBP to gobble up DBP

Improper for Diokno’s LBP to gobble up DBP

by | Jul 14, 2023 | Gotcha

GOTCHA

All it’ll take is an executive order, Finance Sec. Ben Diokno brags. Having drafted it, he’ll make President Bongbong Marcos sign. Instantly Land Bank of the Philippines will subsume Development Bank of the Philippines.

Multiple conflicts of interest taint Diokno’s plan. DBP chairman Dante Tinga, former law dean, congressman, Supreme Court justice, sums them up:

One, Diokno rejected in September 2016 such LBP-DBP merger. It’ll muddle the two state banks’ objectives, he said. LBP is to develop agriculture; DBP, industry.

Two, Diokno was then two months as budget secretary, plucked by president Rody Duterte from 15-year retirement. Duterte disliked predecessor Noynoy Aquino’s February 2016 merger EO to the Governance Commission for GOCCs. The five-man GCG, with ex-officio members Diokno and finance chief Sonny Dominguez, promptly nixed the merger.

Three, still ex-officio today, Diokno says GCG can merge GOCCs. But it’s self-serving for him to define GCG’s powers.

Four, legal bodies like the Office of the Solicitor General and Office of the Government Corporate Counsel should instead be asked to interpret GCG’s coverage. The Constitution and Administrative Code denote such OSG and OGCC authority.

Five, Malacañang recently reiterated OGCC’s ascendancy over GCG. It was after GCG’s meeting with Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin, once Chief Justice, and Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile. A memo enjoins OGCC to no longer require its prior approval of GOCC contracts. But it must still scrutinize those “that the Office of the ES, GOCCs, and other government agencies shall refer.”

Six, Congress chartered LBP and DBP. Only it can thus abolish or merge them. Not GCG, another Congress creation. Not Diokno whom Congress’ Commission on Appointments merely confirmed. OGCC head Rogelio Quevedo, Court of Appeals ex-justice, has so stated.

Seven, GCG scrapped the merger in 2019 via formal resolution. It’ll take another resolution, not Diokno’s press release, to revive it.

Eight, GCG chief Alex Quiroz, Sandigan ex-justice, announced that they have yet to re-study the basis for new resolution. Whereupon, Diokno rustled up his own study and EO.

Nine, Diokno as concurrent LBP chairman stands to benefit from merger. LBP will be the surviving entity; DBP, abolished.

Ten, in his 2019 State of the Nation, Duterte declared LBP a failure for focusing on commercial, not agricultural, lending. Could Diokno, by then four months as Bangko Sentral governor and Monetary Board chairman, have fed Duterte derogatory info on LBP?

Eleven, as finance secretary, Diokno had chaired LBP eight months when he sprang the merger surprise in March 2023. He couldn’t have turned around LBP in such short time from decades of “failure”.

Twelve, Diokno boasts that LBP’s board favors merger. But of course; he chairs it.

Thirteen, when presented the merger plan, Marcos suggested in-depth studies with Congress on legalities and economic impact. Impatient Diokno announced that the President will sign his EO by April. That didn’t happen; Diokno said it’ll be by May. Now he says November: “What are we waiting for?”

Diokno prematurely details his moves. He’ll retain LBP’s 752 branches and 22 of DBP’s 147 “for wider network.” But 752 + 22 = 774, a mere three percent bleb from LBP’s present reach.

He’ll displace 3,650 DBP employees, 2,700 of them rank-and-file. He’ll also shuffle LBP staff. Both banks’ labor unions are up in arms.

Upon gobbling up DBP, LBP’s assets will become P4 trillion, making it the Philippines’ largest. “A best regional practice,” Diokno claims. Only Singapore has a state bank as biggest. ASEAN neighbors prefer various state lenders for agriculture, exports, small businesses, etc. Malaysia has seven; Thailand, six; Indonesia and Vietnam, four each.

After merger Diokno will be more conflicted:

Fourteen, LBP and DBP granted behest loans to a Duterte admin crony, uncollateralized P18 billion and P8 billion, respectively. How did that get past BSP and Monetary Board? Now the combined P26 billion will look miniscule, merely 0.65 percent of P4 trillion – easy to write off.

Is Diokno used to such conflicts? His daughter became Asian Development Bank alternate director starting last year. Annual salary: $221,728. Plus housing and educational subsidy; worldwide medical, life and disability insurance; pension and home leave.

The ADB Board of Governors, of which Diokno is vice chairman, picks the directors and alternates. As finance secretary he is governor for the Philippines. ADB directorship is not a government post; the daughter holds a PhD degree. Still the President nominates candidates for director on endorsement of the finance secretary.

* * *

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Has corruption become the norm? – Magalong

Has corruption become the norm? – Magalong

by | Jul 12, 2023 | Gotcha

GOTCHA

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong worries about the P14.1- trillion national debt. Did the borrowings benefit us Filipinos, he asks, since we, even newborns, are now each in hock for P113,000?

It’s unclear where the Marcos Jr. admin spent P1.3-trillion new debt in just one year. That’s on top of the Duterte admin’s P6.9 trillion, 2016-2022. Of that latter amount, P42 billion was wasted on pricey but faulty pandemic supplies. P12.5 billion went to Pharmally of Chinese national Michael Yang, Duterte special adviser.

Before them the country’s debt was P5.9 trillion under 11 presidents: Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos Sr., C. Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Macapagal-Arroyo, B.S. Aquino, 1946-2016.

Today’s P14.1-trillion debt has breached the threshold of 60 percent of GDP, Magalong warns. Can Filipinos still repay?

Leakages, money lost to corruption and incompetence, worsen the burden. Experts say it’s P1 trillion a year, one-fifth the national budget.

Effects of non-payment are dire. Two-thirds of today’s population were yet unborn when it happened twice before:

• Lenders shut the fund faucet on unearthing in 1984 the Central Bank’s bloating of dollar reserves and understating of losses.

Records reveal why. The CB was hiding Marcos Sr.’s kickbacks from loaned projects like the Westinghouse nuclear plant and behest loans to cronies by PNB, DBP, GSIS, Veteran’s Bank. Also the first lady’s shopping sprees and the children’s extravagance abroad.

Philippine credit standing melted. To keep power plants and transport going, officials paid suitcases of cash to petroleum producers. Buses, jitneys, cars lined up for expensive gas rations. The economy shrank, businesses collapsed, workers lost jobs.

• C. Aquino honored but couldn’t repay Marcos Sr.’s dirty debts. Lenders like the International Monetary Fund imposed austerity.

Government couldn’t expand electric facilities. Blackouts halted industries and employment. Civil unrest persisted.

Graduating from PMA in 1982, Magalong was then a young Constabulary officer. Like Lieutenants Fidel Ramos and Jose Almonte three decades prior, he must have asked himself and “mistahs” the roots of communist insurgency and Moro separatism that they were fighting.

The present admin threatens fiscal collapse. Ballooning veteran retirement pensions, P56 billion for 138,000 this year, supposedly have become untenable. Supermajority lawmakers will thus slash pensions and even deduct from salaries of active-duty soldiers, policemen, coastguards, jail guards.

“We’re willing to sacrifice,” Magalong says of fellow MUPs, military and other uniformed personnel. “We’re used to sacrificing life and limb.”

But then he wonders why no legislator – with multibillion-peso pork barrels – has offered to sacrifice as well. DPWH engineers confide to him the rackets. Lawmakers not only take 40-percent cuts from public works, but also act as contractors-suppliers.

Congress enacts yearly flood controls, unmeasured dredging of rivers and lakes. Ex-senator and PNP chief Panfilo Lacson said dredgers run only for photo-ops. Lawmakers divvy up the fund, P183 billion this 2023, more than triple the P56 billion for MUP pensions.

Whenever Magalong shares experiences, mayors are all agog. When he shifts to good governance and anti-graft, they zone out and stare at mobiles.

“Is corruption now the norm in government?” Magalong asks. “Shouldn’t Filipinos demand accountability from their officials?”

But how, when those officials – political dynasts all – shut them out of the Executive and Legislature, national and local positions? Members of the political elite protect only each other’s interests:

• For pork allotments, legislators grant the Executive, even the politician-education secretary, multibillion, no-audit confidential/intelligence funds.

• They ignore cries against government-sponsored cartels in sugar, transport, utilities.

• In the wake of the “Love the Philippines” fiasco, 62 lawmakers and related local officials purported that the politician-tourism secretary was sabotaged.

European teens are rioting against cruel, opportunistic officials, mostly social/liberal democrats who have moved to the conservative right. The Philippine opposition has joined Congress’ supermajority; only 16 of 312 congressmen and two of 24 senators remain minority.

Instead of rioting, disgruntled Filipino youths emigrate. Left-behinds can get impatient with slow change.

Best to heed Magalong’s alerts. Proven in depth and integrity, he headed the investigation of the 2015 Mamasapano massacre of 44 police commandos. He was pandemic contact-tracing chief, and review panelist of 954 PNP generals and colonels.

Baguio wisely elected Benjamin Bañez Magalong, the good BBM.

Read also: https://tinyurl.com/plunders-vs-soldiers-pensions

* * *

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Frasco courts more trouble in retaining ‘Love the Phl’

Frasco courts more trouble in retaining ‘Love the Phl’

by | Jul 7, 2023 | Gotcha

PCOO photo of President Marcos Jr., Frasco and another official, at DOT’s 50th anniversary fete

GOTCHA

Only Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco knows if it’s faith or face-saving. But her retention of “Love the Philippines” as slogan, despite the international scandal its video brought, presents three complications.

First, effectiveness. Will the slogan still entice foreign tourists? Second, disrepute. Can Philippine tourism afford a fourth complaint of plagiarized promos? Third, legal-financial. How can the Department of Tourism terminate without pay the ad agency that created the slogan and controversial video?

The tourism forum that Frasco graced Wednesday, July 5, featured the “Love the Philippines” logo onscreen. Asked if she’ll keep the slogan, she pointed to the stage, saying, “it’s evident.”

The video that launched “Love the Philippines” intended to promote local attractions but used foreign stock footages: Indonesian rice terraces, a Thai fisherman, Dubai sand dunes, Brazil beaches and a Lufthansa jet landing in Zurich.

It keynoted DOT’s 50th anniversary fete last June 27. By weekend world media reported the inappropriate scenes. Netizens and travelogues scoffed at it.

Perplexed, for one, was Indonesia’s tourism minister on viewing the 105-second video. The Philippine affiliate of multinational ad agency Doyle, Dane & Bernbach apologized Sunday, July 2. Next day DOT announced DDB’s termination and forfeiture of performance bond.

Before the fiasco, DDB’s slogan “enjoyed a positive sentiment of 77 percent on social media,” PRWeek quoted media analyst Charles Cheung of Carma. “As a result of the incident, the brand sentiment has become 34.7 percent negative and only 3.7 percent positive.” PRWeek is a global journal of the public relations industry; Carma is a top media-intelligence provider.

Insisting on the slogan makes it doubly difficult for Frasco to sell the Philippines. Despite Filipinos’ vaunted hospitality and the country’s attractions, infrastructure and accessibility pale in comparison to Southeast Asian neighbors. A tainted trademark will further pull down the Philippines’ tourism standing.

Besides, DOT seems confused about its target audience. “Love the Philippines” supposedly is to promote the country abroad. Thus, the shortlisting of DDB and one other global agency in the consultancy contract bidding. But Frasco also directed the slogan to local tourists.

She enthused: “‘Love the Philippines’ is not a mere branding campaign, but a call to action to every Filipino citizen to remember the beauty of our country, to honor our past and to look forward to the future armed with the virtues, values of being a Filipino.”

But “Love the Philippines” is criticized as a copy of two recent promos, “Love Cyprus” and “Love Barbados.” PRWeek recounted three other “plagiarized” Philippine brands.

The logo of “Pilipinas Kay Ganda,” 2010, allegedly aped that of Poland’s. “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” 2012, rehashed the 1951 “It’s more fun in Switzerland.” “Experience the Philippines,” 2017, mimicked aspects of the 2016 “Meet South Africa” featuring blind travelers.

Incidentally, a former Dinagat Island provincial information officer tweeted Tuesday about the unattributed use of her photo in a localized version of “Love the Philippines.” The Dinagat Island’s tourism office quickly apologized and took down the sunset picture at San Jose town.

In 2012-2019 DOT attracted 33.4 million travelers with “It’s More Fun,” compounded annual growth rate of 8.6 percent. “Wow Philippines,” 2002-2010, drew in 20.84 million, 5.8 percent.

Experts attribute the slight increases not so much to the slogans than the slow upgrade of facilities and transport. Bad airports and sanitation, and too few rides, rest stops and emergency clinics continue to turn off tourists.

Frasco has yet to clarify money matters. DDB and DOT claim that no public money was spent for the awkward video. But she said June 27 that the “Love the Philippines” rebranding cost P49 million.

Three components comprise the campaign, DOT’s website shows: branding, P50 million; production of five video ads, P250 million; overseas media placements, P250 million.

DDB’s cancelled contract and forfeited performance security was apparently what Frasco valued at P49 million. As of June 9 it was shortlisted for the two bigger deals.

In apologizing, DDB said it produced on its own “a mood video to excite internal stakeholders.” Impliedly, not for public viewing. Whoever authorized its unveiling last June 27 and posting on DOT’s website has remained unidentified. The ad agency can contest its abrupt firing without remuneration and what DOT calls “any other engagement.”

* * *

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‘Mahal ang Phl’: wasteful obsession with slogans

‘Mahal ang Phl’: wasteful obsession with slogans

by | Jul 5, 2023 | Gotcha

Marcos Jr. vetoed Congress’ budget condition for DOT to retain the old brand

GOTCHA

P250 million, P49 million, or free? How much did that “Love the Philippines” rebranding, with fake videos of local tourism scenes, cost?

People are asking in outrage over the use of stock footages of Indonesia’s rice terraces, a Thai casting a fishnet, Dubai sand dunes, Brazil beaches, a jumbo jet landing in Switzerland and frolicking dolphins in an indeterminate location.

Apologizing Sunday, July 2, ad agency Doyle, Dane & Bernbach Philippines said it produced the video “at own expense; no public funds were or would be released.” The Department of Tourism concurred.

Yet five days earlier, June 27, Tourism Sec. Christina Garcia Frasco told CNN Philippines the rebranding cost P49 million. The video may be free, but the “Love the Philippines” slogan, allegedly copied from Cyprus and Barbados tourism promos, cost much.

Was that all? DOT said it will terminate DDB’s contract and forfeit the performance bond. Did DOT make a down payment?

Last June 9, DOT posted on the PhilGEPS website a “Notice of Eligibility and Shortlisting to Judd Balayan, Group COO/CFO-DDB Philippines, and Vilma Rosalia Sto. Domingo, Business Unit Head-IPG Mediabrands Philippines.

“(1) DOT has received financing from 2023 General Appropriations Act [for] Procurement of Consulting Services for Integrated Marketing Campaign for Rebranding of Philippine Tourism. DOT intends to apply a portion of the funds in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Million Pesos.

“(2) DOT invites bids [for] Consulting Services: to develop a strategic plan and implement an effective IMC that caters to local/international audiences. This will promote DOT’s products, programs and regional destinations.”

Everyone involved in the fiasco should come clean. Better for gory details to come from them than dug up by mainstream and social media. Blogger Sass Rogando Sasot exposed the use of foreign stock images and Agence France Presse fact-checked the sites.

Was the video presented prematurely last June 27, DOT’s 50th anniversary? DDB called it a “mood video to excite internal stakeholders.” Was it not meant for public release but only for the contract bidding? The PhilGEPS June 9 posting reveals:

“(6) Bidding Documents may be acquired at … DOT Bldg. … from June 9-June 28 (8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) and June 29 (until 9:00 a.m.) … in the amount of P50,000.00 to the DOT cashier. Payments must be made/deposited before deadline of submission of bids, June 29, 2023.”

Bidding was still ongoing last June 27. So why was the bidder’s mood video for internal stakeholders, “Love the Philippines,” unveiled as the new tourism brand?

All this happened due to officials’ obsession with slogans. As if slogans – not accessibility, convenience, experience – bring in tourists.

Upon appointment Frasco announced to scrap the 10-year-old “It’s More Fun In The Philippines.” Supposedly that slogan, copied from Switzerland’s 1951 promo, was ineffective so Philippine tourism trailed behind Thailand and Indonesia. No mention of insufficient flights, poor facilities, decrepit sites.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. obliged Frasco. In passing the 2023 GAA, Congress allotted P1,270,014,000 for ”Branding Campaign Program,” but stressed that “in no case shall the appropriations be utilized to change the tourism campaign slogan.” Marcos Jr. crossed it out in “direct veto.”

Indonesia’s rice terraces was videoed because ours in Banawe can’t be viewed from Lagawe, Ifugao’s capital, where there are hotels/hostels. Souvenir shops block the roadside. There’s no view deck. Even if there was, the best terraces in Barangay Battad are rundown.

The Thai fisherman was used because plastics litter Philippine seasides. Dubai and Brazil sands were featured because oil slicks blacken Philippine public beaches. The Swiss airport was preferred over Manila’s congested runway.

Tourists endure delayed flights to Manila, then long queues in airport toilets and at Immigration. No highway rest stops, only stinky outhouses without flush, seats, sinks – just dippers to buhos-buhos. Flies infest diners.

Tourism experts are ignored. Like The STAR columnist Cito Beltran, who built and operated a Palawan island resort, and Manuel Gonzalez, who owns Cebu’s world-famous Plantation Bay. They’ve been shouting their voices hoarse, to no avail.

The P49 million, Cito says, could’ve been used for more benches, women’s toilets, WiFi at the Manila airport terminals; directional signs; online portals for transport routes and alternatives; hotlines for passengers suffering flight overbooking, delays and cancellations.

Manong Manuel decries DOT power-trip of star-rating hotels and resorts, which online travelogues already do. Also the contentment with Intramuros’ grimy walls of officials who likely haven’t been to Siem Reap. Plus, DOT’s forcible slashing of hotel/resort rates supposedly to entice foreigners.

Why does Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano have his own slogan: “We Give The World Our Best. The Philippines.”? On King Charles’ coronation week it was posted on London double-deckers with a photo of a Filipino nurse holding a syringe. Nanay ko po.

That’s not all. Last June 27, columnist Boo Chanco reports, DOT announced prizes for those who bring in tourists in a contest, “Bisita Be My (BBM) guest.” Sipsip.

* * *

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Are additional sugar imports for consumers or cartelists?

Are additional sugar imports for consumers or cartelists?

by | Jun 30, 2023 | Gotcha

Department of Agriculture photo

GOTCHA

Will government’s importation of more sugar finally make it affordable for consumers? Or will it enrich trade cartelists like before?

The 150,000 tons additional sugar is supposedly for buffer – standby for emergency, shortage, price spikes. We’ve heard that before.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration already imported such buffer stock for 2023. Still retail prices are spiking to P100-P140 a kilo.

SRA Sugar Order No. 6, Feb. 15, 2023 states: “Section 4. Volume and Type of Sugar:

“4.1 Two hundred thousand metric tons (200,000 MT) shall be allocated to Consumers.

“4.2 Two hundred forty thousand metric tons (240,000 MT) shall be allocated as buffer stock, for release to consumers upon the approval of the SRA board.”

So what’s the new buffer for? Did SRA botch its data gathering?

There’s only one sugarcane planting-harvest-milling season per year, October-May. Producers vary only by a few weeks in Cagayan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Batangas, Camarines, Ormoc, Iloilo, Capiz, Negros, Bukidnon, Davao and Cotabato. SRA must research supply to determine if the country will export or import.

But favoritism marred Sugar Order No. 6. Agriculture Senior USec. Domingo Panganiban admitted choosing a month prior only three traders, from a three-page list of 120, to import 440,000 tons. Those three had met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang, a photo of which went viral. Panganiban told senators that Marcos Jr. ordered him to limit the selection.

SRA usually holds open bidding, then allocates import volumes to one or two dozen traders. Panganiban preempted the process. That resulted in what Sen. Risa Hontiveros denounced as “government-sponsored cartel.”

The favored trio landed Thai sugar at only P25,000 per ton then sold at P70,000. Profiteering P45,000 per ton, they raked in P19.8 billion from all 440,000 tons. Just like that, Hontiveros exposed.

Consumers suffered. Procuring from the trio at P70 a kilo, wholesalers distributed at P85-upwards. Adding transport, other costs and margin, retailers sold at P100-P140. Same as during last Christmas’ shortage, but higher than P70-P80 in September 2022. In early 2022 before the Marcos Jr. admin, it was only P35-P50.

Malacañang and SRA not only let the trio set the minimum price but also kept it at P70,000 a ton, or P70 a kilo.

Efforts of anti-smugglers were wasted. DA ASec. for Enforcement James Layug and Customs had seized 9,827,000 kilos of contraband sugar in November 2022-February 2023. Government had not invested any capital in it. Valuating smuggled sugar at P100 per kilo, government’s only loss was the five-percent import duty of P5 a kilo.

Government could thus have sold the stuff only that cheap.

Still, Malacañang and SRA retailed it in Kadiwa rolling stores in poor communities at the trio’s price of P70 a kilo.

Same with the 6,500 tons “smuggled” in Batangas by one of the trio before Sugar Order No. 6 came into effect. Panganiban made Customs return it to the trader, who sold at P70,000 a ton, or P70 a kilo.

Panganiban barred industrial users from importing their own sugar, but instead buy only from the trio, Hontiveros bared. Result: prices of biscuits, juices and other sugared foods inflated.

Will SRA set things right with the forthcoming 150,000 tons? Will consumers ever enjoy P35-P50-a-kilo sugar like only 15 months ago?

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Marcos Jr. is said to have won the presidency on his promise of P20-a-kilo rice. One year hence Malacañang says that price was only aspirational, as in “wish ko lang.” Rice retailed this week in urban centers at P36-P60 a kilo.

Grit can make wishes come true. As concurrent agriculture secretary, Marcos Jr. has a Usec. for rice productivity. Thousands of experts have pointed out what need to be done. All await implementing:

Right seedlings for upland, lowland, irrigated and rainfed fields. Cheaper solar, windmill, gravity irrigation. Cheaper fertilizers and pesticides, preferably sourced locally. Support for mechanization in harrowing, harvesting, threshing. Cheaper electricity for drying, storage, milling. Remove “delihensya” in land and sea transport.

A president can work on all those simultaneously while fixing problems that crop up.

Like, ASec. Kristine Evangelista attributes present rice prices to higher palay farmgate rate: P20-P23 a kilo. At such rates, farmers merely recover costs and earn a little but do not become rich. Recovery rate of drying then milling palay to rice is only 50-60 percent. Too low, compared to 68-76 percent in Thailand and Vietnam. Marcos Jr. can call in the problem-solvers.

* * *

Catch “Sapol” radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM)

            “Gotcha: An Exposé on the Philippine Government” is available as e-book and paperback. Get a free copy of “Chapter 1: Beijing’s Bullying and Duplicity”. Simply subscribe to my newsletter HERE. Book orders also accepted there.

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However, we do have some terms and conditions which you can find below. By continuing to use or to read from this site, that means you understand and agree to comply with the terms and conditions.

I. PRIVACY POLICY

This privacy policy (“policy”) will help you understand how jariusbondoc.com uses and protects the data you provide to us when you visit and use https://jariusbondoc.com/ (“website”, “service”).

We reserve the right to change this policy at any given time. If you want to make sure that you are up to date with the latest changes, we advise you to frequently visit this page.

 

What User Data We Collect

When you visit the website, we may collect the following data:

  • Your IP address
  • Your contact information and email address
  • Other information such as interests and preferences
  • Data profile regarding your online behavior on our website

 

Why We Collect Your Data

We are collecting your data for several reasons:

  • To better understand your needs
  • To improve our services and products
  • To send you promotional emails containing the information we think you will find interesting
  • To contact you to fill out surveys and participate in other types of market research
  • To customize our website according to your online behavior and personal preferences

 

Safeguarding and Securing the Data

jariusbondoc.com is committed to securing your data and keeping it confidential. jariusbondoc.com has done all in its power to prevent data theft, unauthorized access, and disclosure by implementing the latest technologies and software, which help us safeguard all the information we collect online.

 

Our Cookie Policy

Once you agree to allow our website to use cookies, you also agree to use the data it collects regarding your online behavior (analyze web traffic, web pages you spend the most time on, and websites you visit).

The data we collect by using cookies is used to customize our website to your needs. After we use the data for statistical analysis, the data is completely removed from our systems.

Please note that cookies don’t allow us to gain control of your computer in any way. They are strictly used to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not so that we can provide a better experience for you.

If you want to disable cookies, you can do it by accessing the settings of your internet browser.

 

Links to Other Websites

Our website contains links that lead to other websites. If you click on these links jariusbondoc.com is not held responsible for your data and privacy protection. Visiting those websites is not governed by this privacy policy agreement. Make sure to read the privacy policy documentation of the website you go to from our website.

 

Restricting the Collection of your Personal Data

At some point, you might wish to restrict the use and collection of your personal data. You can achieve this by doing the following:

 

  • When you are filling the forms on the website, make sure to check if there is a box which you can leave unchecked, if you don’t want to disclose your personal information.
  • If you have already agreed to share your information with us, feel free to contact us via email and we will be more than happy to change this for you.

 

jariusbondoc.com will not lease, sell or distribute your personal information to any third parties, unless we have your permission. We might do so if the law forces us. Your personal information will be used when we need to send you promotional materials if you agree to this privacy policy.

 

II. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All materials contained on this site are protected by the Republic of the Phlippines copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of jariusbondoc.com or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.

However, you may download material from jariusbondoc.com on the Web (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal, noncommercial use only.

If you wish to use jariusbondoc.com content for commercial purposes, such as for content syndication etc., please contact us at jariusbondoconline@gmail.com.

Links to Websites other than those owned by jariusbondoc.com are offered as a service to readers. The editorial staff of jariusbondoc.com was not involved in their production and is not responsible for their content.

 

III. TERMS OF SERVICE

 

  1. GENERAL RULES AND DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 If you choose to use the jariusbondoc.com service (the “Service”), you will be agreeing to abide by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement between you and jariusbondoc.com (“jariusbondoc.com “).

 

1.2 jariusbondoc.com may change, add or remove portions of this Agreement at any time, but if it does so, it will post such changes on the Service, or send them to you via e-mail. It is your responsibility to review this Agreement prior to each use of the Site and by continuing to use this Site, you agree to any changes.

 

1.3 If any of these rules or any future changes are unacceptable to you, you may cancel your membership by sending e-mail to jariusbondoconline.com (see section 10.1 regarding termination of service). Your continued use of the service now, or following the posting of notice of any changes in these operating rules, will indicate acceptance by you of such rules, changes, or modifications.

 

1.4 jariusbondoc.com may change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the Service at any time, including the availability of any Service feature, database, or content. jariusbondoc.com may also impose limits on certain features and services or restrict your access to parts or all of the Service without notice or liability.

 

  1. JARIUSBONDOC.COM CONTENT AND MEMBER SUBMISSIONS

 

2.1 The contents of the jariusbondoc.com are intended for your personal, noncommercial use. All materials published on jariusbondoc.com (including, but not limited to news articles, photographs, images, illustrations, audio clips and video clips, also known as the “Content”) are protected by copyright, and owned or controlled by jariusbondoc.com or the party credited as the provider of the Content. You shall abide by all additional copyright notices, information, or restrictions contained in any Content accessed through the Service.

 

2.2 The Service and its Contents are protected by copyright pursuant to the Republic of the Philippines and international copyright laws. You may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, reproduce (except as provided in Section 2.3 of this Agreement), create new works from, distribute, perform, display, or in any way exploit, any of the Content or the Service (including software) in whole or in part.

 

2.3 You may download or copy the Content and other downloadable items displayed on the Service for personal use only, provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein. Copying or storing of any Content for other than personal use is expressly prohibited without prior written permission from jariusbondoc.com or the copyright holder identified in the copyright notice contained in the Content.

 

  1. FORUMS, DISCUSSIONS AND USER GENERATED CONTENT

 

3.1 You shall not upload to, or distribute or otherwise publish on the message boards (the “Feedback Section”) any libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, abusive, or otherwise illegal material.

 

3.2 (a)Be courteous. You agree that you will not threaten or verbally abuse jariusbondoc.com columnists and other jariusbondoc.com community Members, use defamatory language, or deliberately disrupt discussions with repetitive messages, meaningless messages or “spam.”

 

3.2 (b) Use respectful language. Like any community, the Feedback Sections will flourish only when our Members feel welcome and safe. You agree not to use language that abuses or discriminates on the basis of race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual preference, age, region, disability, etc. Hate speech of any kind is grounds for immediate and permanent suspension of access to all or part of the Service.

 

3.2 (c) Debate, but don’t attack. In a community full of opinions and preferences, people always disagree. jariusbondoc.com encourages active discussions and welcomes heated debate in our Feedback Sections. But personal attacks are a direct violation of this Agreement and are grounds for immediate and permanent suspension of access to all or part of the Service.

 

3.3 The Feedback Sections shall be used only in a noncommercial manner. You shall not, without the express approval of jariusbondoc.com, distribute or otherwise publish any material containing any solicitation of funds, advertising or solicitation for goods or services.

 

3.4 You are solely responsible for the content of your messages. However, while jariusbondoc.com does not and cannot review every message posted by you on the Forums and is not responsible for the content of these messages, jariusbondoc.com reserves the right to delete, move, or edit messages that it, in its sole discretion, deems abusive, defamatory, obscene, in violation of copyright or trademark laws, or otherwise unacceptable.

 

3.5 You acknowledge that any submissions you make to the Service (i.e., user-generated content including but not limited to: text, video, audio and photographs) (each, a “Submission”) may be edited, removed, modified, published, transmitted, and displayed by jariusbondoc.com and you waive any moral rights you may have in having the material altered or changed in a manner not agreeable to you. You grant jariusbondoc.com a perpetual, nonexclusive, world-wide, royalty free, sub-licensable license to the Submissions, which includes without limitation the right for jariusbondoc.com or any third party it designates, to use, copy, transmit, excerpt, publish, distribute, publicly display, publicly perform, create derivative works of, host, index, cache, tag, encode, modify and adapt (including without limitation the right to adapt to streaming, downloading, broadcast, mobile, digital, thumbnail, scanning or other technologies) in any form or media now known or hereinafter developed, any Submission posted by you on or to jariusbondoc.com or any other website owned by it, including any Submission posted on jariusbondoc.com through a third party.

 

3.6 By submitting an entry to jariusbondoc.com’s Readers’ Corner, you are consenting to its display on the site and for related online and offline promotional uses.

 

  1. ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE AND LINKS

 

4.1 jariusbondoc.com contains links to other related World Wide Web Internet sites, resources, and sponsors of jariusbondoc.com. Since jariusbondoc.com is not responsible for the availability of these outside resources, or their contents, you should direct any concerns regarding any external link to the site administrator or Webmaster of such site.

 

  1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

5.1 You represent, warrant and covenant (a) that no materials of any kind submitted through your account will (i) violate, plagiarize, or infringe upon the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy or other personal or proprietary rights; or (ii) contain libelous or otherwise unlawful material; and (b) that you are at least thirteen years old. You hereby indemnify, defend and hold harmless jariusbondoc.com, and all officers, directors, owners, agents, information providers, affiliates, licensors and licensees (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all liability and costs, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection with any claim arising out of any breach by you or any user of your account of this Agreement or the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants. You shall cooperate as fully as reasonably required in the defense of any such claim. jariusbondoc.com reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you.

 

5.2 jariusbondoc.com does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement, or other information displayed, uploaded, or distributed through the Service by any user, information provider or any other person or entity. You acknowledge that any reliance upon any such opinion, advice, statement, memorandum, or information shall be at your sole risk. THE SERVICE AND ALL DOWNLOADABLE SOFTWARE ARE DISTRIBUTED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. YOU HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT USE OF THE SERVICE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

 

  1. COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN JARIUSBONDOC.COM AND MEMBERS

 

6.1 If you indicate on your registration form that you want to receive such information, jariusbondoc.com, its owners and assigns, will allow certain third party vendors to provide you with information about products and services.

 

6.2 jariusbondoc.com reserves the right to send electronic mail to you for the purpose of informing you of changes or additions to the Service.

 

6.3 jariusbondoc.com reserves the right to disclose information about your usage and demographics, provided that it will not reveal your personal identity in connection with the disclosure of such information. Advertisers and/or Licensees on our Web site may collect and share information about you only if you indicate your acceptance. For more information please read the Privacy Policy of jariusbondoc.com.

 

6.4 jariusbondoc.com may contact you via e-mail regarding your participation in user surveys, asking for feedback on the Website and existing or prospective products and services. This information will be used to improve our Website and better understand our users, and any information we obtain in such surveys will not be shared with third parties, except in aggregate form.

 

  1. TERMINATION

 

 

7.1 jariusbondoc.com may, in its sole discretion, terminate or suspend your access to all or part of the Service for any reason, including, without limitation, breach or assignment of this Agreement.

 

  1. MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1 This Agreement has been made in and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the Republic of the Philippines law. Any action to enforce this agreement shall be brought in the courts located in Manila, Philippines.

 

8.2 Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Terms of Service will serve to preempt the promises made in jariusbondoc.com Privacy Policy.

 

8.3 Correspondence should be sent to jariusbondoconline.com.

 

8.4 You agree to report any copyright violations of the Terms of Service to jariusbondoc.com as soon as you become aware of them. In the event you have a claim of copyright infringement with respect to material that is contained in the jariusbondoc.com service, please notify jariusbondoconline.com. This Terms of Service was last updated on November 7, 2020.