Even if I wish it were not so, I am at a loss on how and what word or words best describe how corruption appears to be, inherently, our national government identity.

I have enough years to recall what occurred during the presidential campaign of Elpidio Quirino, who was seeking reelection against the popular “man of the masses” Ramon Magsaysay. Quirino was said to have a golden toilet bowl in Malacañang and this cost him the 10 November 1953 election, they say. It was sad because the golden toilet bowl turned out to be fake news.

While having a gold toilet bowl was not necessarily a corrupt practice, it was seen as an extravagant luxury at a time when Filipinos were mired in poverty. Realistically, it’s the norm today, especially with legislators flaunting their limousines, expensive cars and SUVs.

With the usual vehicle sightings on the streets, at the Batasan and Senate premises, Juan and Procopia dela Cruz are throwing up, seeing how their taxes are being gobbled up with impunity. As if the funds to buy the expensive vehicles came from the lawmakers’ own pockets. They did not.

Recall that I mentioned last week that one-fifth of the P6.532-trillion 2025 national budget will go to the senators and congressmen. That’s over P2 trillion to be squandered, at will, by the honorable representathieves.

By the way, before I miss the important issues at hand, let me first cite some tidbits about the current situation due to their obvious importance.

One is newly appointed PCO chief Jay Ruiz. Various reputable media entities reported his alleged involvement in the contract between Digital 8 and PCSO in the amount of P178 million to air over IBC-13 the lottery draws conducted by the charity agency.

Take note that I am not insinuating anything smelling of corruption at PCSO but, most likely, the high officials were used by Puod and Company. Amazingly, the authorized capital of Digital 8, whose brains are known at PTV as “live in” partners, is peanuts — only P130,000. The duo are former PTV GM Ana Puod and one Rommel Miranda. The man was accused of the murder of a Chinese woman whose remains were found in a septic tank. Witnesses pointed to him as the mastermind.

Most government bid requisites incorporated by BACs (the same thing done by the Philippine Ports Authority in a bidding done last year worth hundreds of millions too) have a stipulation that the participating bidder must have accomplished a project equal or no less than the subject amount of the bidding. One may review the procurement law or RA 9184.

Okay, with a peanut capitalization put up in 2012, is Digital 8 qualified to bid in the first place for a P180-million project? Furthermore, a possible enmity between the former GM Puod and whoever replaced her seems the likely reason for the contract going to IBC-13 vice PTV which for many long years had been airing the lotto draws for PCSO.

I have personal knowledge of who Secretary Ruiz is. Hopefully, I can get to see and talk to him if he is game. Now, whether Ruiz, who identified himself as a “representative” of Digital 8 is an owner or not, isn’t the question.

I’d rather focus, in the meantime, on the financial capability and competence of Digital 8 to enter into a contract with a government agency for that huge amount.

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