Cash gifts are “tainted meat”; Labor center calls for deeper probe

“However you like at it, the 'cash gifts' given to politicians during their visit to Malacañang is illegal and those who are involved must be made accountable. Whether it will be used for public projects or for personal gains is not the issue. Even if you boil or fry tainted meat (a.k.a. double dead meat) so many times, it is still tainted meat. How millions of money got inside those paper bags straight to the hands of the allies of Arroyo and who bankrolled the pay-off should be the focus of the investigation.”

According to news report, cash gifts for politicians is deemed illegal under Presidential Decree 46, Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Republic Act 3019 also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. “Various officials have admitted being party to illegal cash giving in Malacañang, including Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza and Governor Joel Reyes of Palawan and Governor Ben Evardone of Samar, who both admitted it was them who was responsible for the pay-off, while Sec. Atienza called cash giving normal in the Palace. These three are all guilty of violating the above mentioned laws and should be immediately suspended and prosecuted,” said Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center.

Workers picket Senate NBN scam investigation

Workers under the KMU joined other concerned groups in holding a picket in front of the Senate grounds as senators resume probe on the National Broadband Network (NBN) scam today. KMU members carried placards bearing slogans “Mike and Gloria Arroyo, King and Queen of corruption” and “Gloria Resign” and demanded those involved in the multi-billion peso scam be jailed.

“It seems the legacy of the Marcos family with regards to corruption has been overshadowed by a more greedy family now residing in Malacañang. The voracious appetite of Mike and Gloria Arroyo for money puts to shame a pack of hyenas who consumes their prey alive. They seem to be overflowing with Ghrelin while lacking in Leptin,” opined Labog.

Ghrelin, also called the “hunger hormone,” stimulates appetite while the Leptin hormone send signals to our brain that the body has had enough to eat.