Those crazy rich Filipino politicians

Politics in the Philippines, just like anywhere else, is a big business. Make no mistake about it. Anyone who doesn’t believe this is kidding himself or is plain stupid. Think about it. Politicians would not dare gamble their lives, honor, and peace and quiet of their family, if not for the big money in politics. They join the risky, turbulent, and dark world of politics not really for the glory, the prestige, or for a place in history. Such consequences are what you might call collateral benefits. The truth is that politicians are just there principally and mainly for the money, bundles and bundles of money. Those who refuse to take my word on this are just plain and simple Don Quixotes who refuse to see the facts, or incurable romantics, incorrigible idealists, or congenital non-conformists.

From the lowest barangays posts to the highest offices, the political animals are out there to make money, protect big businesses, or make sure their syndicates are going to operate unmolested by the police, BIR, Customs, or NBI. In the barangays, the drug syndicates fund the perpetuation of political dynasties whose declared roles are to serve the people and render public service. But their true and actual mission is really to give aid and comfort to the drug lords, conduct raids and arrest rival gangs and syndicates, and confiscate illegal drugs only to repack and resell them. Don't raise your eyebrows at me. No less than the president has intelligence information on the extent of narco politics in our rural and urban barangays.

In the municipal and provincial levels, most of our mayors and governors allegedly receive monthly or even weekly payments from big businesses whose permits are perennially under threat because of the pollution they cause or because their unsafe buildings poses danger to their employees and the public. These payments are in addition to the regular bags and attaché cases of money from contractors and suppliers who supply the local governments with substandard equipment, tools, supplies, and services. Even security agencies and janitorial, messengerial, maintenance, and repair contractors are rich sources of kickbacks and protection moolah.

Some senators and congressmen are rumored to still maintain their silent partnerships with big and influential law firms. Of course, they use their influence to ensure their clients, the powerful and wealthy taipans, are not taxed enough, and their legislative measures should not in any way be anti-business. Or else their giant clients would transfer to competing law firms. These legislators control court appointments through their roles in the Judicial and Bar Council. They put their fraternity and sorority brothers and sisters or their law partners in the courts so their law practice is protected. This is all about money. Justice and law have nothing to do with it.

Of course, the standard political shenanigans are not the monopoly of Filipinos. This is endemic in a secular world of materialism and greed. Corruption is global in a borderless world where the most corrupt survive and those who choose to follow the law perish from the face of the earth. If you don't believe this, you must have been born yesterday, or a plain simpleton who is blind, deaf, and comatose.