YES, FLOODWATERS were rising all over the country, destroying homes and sweeping away people’s belongings.
Last weekend’s coffee talk left many coffee drinkers seething over what their fellow Pinoys had to endure.
“Pity at that,” one said, as the group turned the café in the City of Love into a forum of frustration.
***
“We cannot stop the waters from flowing across towns and cities — it will always seek its own level. But what really irritates us is the greed of so many politicians who lust for power and money at the expense of poor Filipinos,” began a businessman, pausing to sip his coffee.
“Pare ko, I hate it so much that the President now acts as if he is furious (kunu) over contractors being remiss in those flood control projects,” the teacher chimed in.
***
“The leader of this country must crack down on politicians who pretend to be architects and engineers, but whose real intent is siphoning millions and billions into their own accounts. For a hundred-million project, I feel only about thirty million actually goes to implementation. The rest is slashed off by politicians, agency insiders, even the audit group, they say. Oh my God!” the teacher exclaimed.
***
“Our country is indeed a joker. Legislators are supposed to make laws, but their real priority is how to bleed billions from infrastructure projects. Why do they decide which roads to repair and bridges to build when their job is legislation? Why the hell has the Philippines become such a joke? Take away those ‘crocodile funds’ and no one would bother to run as tongressman,” the realtor angrily butted in.
“They’re only meant to pass laws, so why give them the privilege to play with taxpayers’ money and pocket most of it?” he added.
***
“Infrastructure should be left to elected executive officials like governors and mayors. They know best what and where to build. These so-called representatives have no business pretending to be engineers, foremen, or architects. Leave that to the executive,” the businessman said.
***
“This country’s president isn’t really mad. He’s focusing on contractors, yes. But ask his first cousin Toto Martin — he seems to be the one disbursing taxpayer money to feed the crocodiles of this country. The House of Representathieves is just plain inutile. They do not represent their constituents. No, no,” said the teacher.
***
“It’s the elected officials themselves who are the main culprits. Some even borrow contractors’ licenses. Truly, these politicians are the thieves of this country, as we see it. Who can deny it?” the teacher added.
***
“Hay naku, may God hang them and punish them for their greed. May karma catch up with them soon.”
With that, the teacher closed their talk./PN
