scope of a highschool student

ZTE breaks silence, decries ‘political circus’

Introduction:

            Political corruption exists when government officials use their governmental powers for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, like repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption.

ZTE raised the project cost to $189 million, with $109 million in kickbacks split evenly between the Chinese firm and the Filipino group.  We call it a kickback because its about official’s sharing of misappropriated funds allocated from his or her organization to an organization involved in corrupt bidding.

Synopsis:

            Calling the cancellation of the National Broadband Network (NBN) contract a sacrifice on the “altar of political intrigue” in the Philippines, Chinese telecommunications supplier ZTE Corp. on Thursday said the political noise resulting from the Senate probe of the deal was straining bilateral relations and turning away investors.

            ZTE said its officials would not attend Senate hearings on the $329-million NBN deal, which was awarded to ZTE but was cancelled following allegations of bribery, overprice and death threats against the whistle-blower.

            It said the political noise could affect future investments not only from China but also other countries.

Critique:

            Jun Lozada has not produced any evidence in what he is claiming as truth. It is obvious that he is just another pawn in a large plan hatched by a master mind to undermind President Arroyo and sew discord against the government.

            As a typical fourth year student, my analysis in this was, if our current president was so fraudulent, then why peso and GDP was getting its highest in 31 years if our democratic system is very illegitimate?

The bottom line is, Malacanang is not the one that needs to change. Who ever is in Malacanang is the reflection of the kind and mentality of the society we have. A corrupt society produces a corrupt government.

Miscellany:

            This issue is everybody’s concern, as our President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was linked over the national broadband network project. 

In my final analysis, I suppose the only solution in this outranging problem is by anchoring our government competent, sensible and honest leaders. The solution is in our hands, we must be selective in electing our officials.  

Lawmakers seek Senate, House probes on Spratlys deal

Introduction:

In 2004 an agreement between the Philippines and China—or to be precise, between two state-owned corporations—to undertake a seismic exploration of disputed areas in the South China Sea was signed.

Back in 1990, Franklin Drilon, as justice secretary then, issued a memorandum saying that seismic exploration and a Memorandum of Understanding for that purpose, were constitutionally sound. He should be asked by the Senate whether an MOU is the same thing as a formal contract signed by two state-owned companies. 

Synopsis:

Philippines is poised to give up the active exploitation of whatever resources may be discovered in the Spratlys, in exchange for cash and loans from the Chinese government.

Critique:

I think, the president as the head of state and government, has the responsibility of conducting foreign policy. The president is bound by the national policy of full public disclosure of all government transactions involving public interest.

Also, I suppose, China had their own ulterior motives giving us such loans and aids for our country – to get Spratly.  

Miscellany:

The generosity of the Chinese, the whole region knows, is premised on cash being a means to increase Chinese influence. Yet in final analysis, the profusion of Chinese loans and aid, however, has become corrupted by our greedy politicians.