Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I rise today on a matter of personal and collective privilege.
More than half a century ago, our forefathers established the Third Philippine Republic from the ruins of the last Pacific war. A few years later, the nation was embroiled in various scandals involving graft and corruption. Right after the war, government officials were involved in the surplus war materials scandal. When then President Elpidio Quirino ordered the prosecution of the Chairman of the Surplus Commission, his Liberal Party stalwarts warned him, and out of the mouth of no less than a former President of the Senate, came the infamous words-“What are we in power for?”
It is now the 21st century. While those words are no longer spoken, a very powerful man – Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo a.k.a. Jose Pidal wields that power like no other. Even the integrity of institutions tasked to assist law enforcement agencies with scientific and expert analysis has not been spared. I will prove my point later, Mr. President.
Continue reading ““Mr. Jose Pidal, Alam ba ni Mrs. Itoh” … The Incredible Hulk (Chapter Two)”