STL or Small Town Lottery has been the reason for the deaths of several innocent people. I have been watching the ongoing congressional hearings of the Quadcomm, and believe me when I say that this has given me bouts of upset stomach.
Especially when watching former PCSO GM Col. Royina Garma and Napolcom Commissioner Col. Edilberto Leonardo lie through their teeth on the murder of former PCSO board secretary Gen. Wesley Barayuga, as admitted before the committee by Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza.
And that smirk from Col. Vilela who, according to Capt. Anuba, was the recipient of more than PhP50 million pesos straight from the office of Garma, his former wife. And then comes Sgt. Junjun Ubales, a first cousin of Garma who, according to my PNP mole, allegedly drives a Lamborghini, hence his alias “Boy Lambo.”
His wife heads the STL secretariat which determines who would be favored by the powers that be in the PCSO under Garma. And if that wasn’t enough, she is rumored to be Digong’s girlfriend. We are grateful to the chairmen of the Quadcomm for exposing what was kept secret for some time now.
These gentlemen in the House, though at tums display corny behavior and utter sill words, deserve a commendation from the Filipino people. May I propose that some of the members of of VP Sara Duterte’s oversupply of security detail be given to them from hereon?
This, since no less than Rep. Johnny Pimentel has moved for the filing of murder charges in their committee report to Col. Royina Garma and Col. Edilberto Leonardo.
The STL has been a major cause of EJKs in the country in the guise as a war on drugs. From the PCSO website, it says that former President Gloria Arroyo tasked the PCSO to spearhead in the campaign to stamp out jueteng and to democratize charity at the national level and local levels by introducing an alternative which is the Small Town Lottery or STL.
From here, the PCSO board approved a resolution calling for a test run of the STL on December 28, 2005. Resolution 464 effected the approval of the rules and regulations governing the conduct of STL in selected pilot areas in Luzon. Implementing the STL has allowed PCSO to provide immediate and localized funding assistance for health and developmental projects in many communities in the country.
This has also attracted the powers that be like the military and police and LGU officials to be involved in the selection of those who would operate STL in their area. With this comes the lure of sudden wealth and money politics. So lucrative were the operations that crooked PNP officials would now dip their filthy fingers in the STL jar.
And those who would not toe the line – like Gen. Wesley Barayuga, would be snuffed out. Yes, while STL helps many poor folks, it has also become the breeding ground for police scalawags and crooks in uniform. So it’s best if STL, just like POGOs, would be banned from the country for good and haul these criminals to their prison cells.
Imeecollusion
It is only fair to say that I cannot just yet endorse and support candidates I have never met and have spent time with even thru a conversation. It means honoring sacred choices and not just taking it lightly as to go with the tide of public opinion.
I am a natural skeptic, therefore I need to taste the sauce first before pouring it over the pasta right before a banquet or during a simple family dinner.
And out of the twelve administration bets, I can safely say that I only know Sen. Imee Marcos. Sad to say, she has opted to bolt the slate and run as an independent. Has she really? Imee, to the consternation and displeasure of the Marcos loyalists, still would not junk the Dutertes be that as political allies or convenient crutches.
This position of hers has turned off many die-hard red shirts and have decided to vote for another. Poor Imee, she would rather rub elbows with a family known for their thuggery, than stick it out with a sibling known for his unity messages.
I have yet to think things over very carefully. Here’s hoping she finally gives a reverberating statement that she supports impeachment plans in the House against the embattled vice-president.
So in answer to questions why Imee does what she does, well, she would like to portray herself as a candidate who can stand on her own while bringing with her the values of her late father President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
As for her ongoing contretemps with First Lady Lisa Marcos, that is a private matter that even Cathy Binag with all her slimy squirm would not know.
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Random Memorandum: Ferdinand Marcos served as technical assistant to Manuel Roxas from the years 1946-1947. Benigno Aquino Jr. had a similar aide when he was in the Senate. His name was Roberto Santos aka “Commander Felman,” a top NPA officer.
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Factoid: While Spain legalized divorce in 1981, her legacy continues to live on in PH. It is the only state, other than the Vatican, where divorce remains outlawed. The Philippines today is the 3rd largest Roman Catholic-dominated country in the world, after Mexico and Brazil.
(Leslie Bocobo is a former Special Assistant to the Secretary at the Office of the Press Secretary, Malacañang, and a former Public Affairs Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources)
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