“Count the Pinocchios: A weekly review of what’s true, false or in-between in politics.” (The Post’s famous fact-checking team)
Invading social media posts of late is an infomercial of Bongbong Marcos claiming “distinction” for initiating the Windfarm Project in Bangui, Ilocos Norte.
This assertion is, of course, a lie. The Bangui Windfarm was built, and is owned, by the the Ayala Energy Corp.
Except for the fact that the Windfarm is located in Ilocos Norte where Bongbong traces his political roots, there is no connection nor relationship whatsoever between the two.
This infomercial illustrates Bongbong and his handler’s propensity to twist the truth, manipulate facts, and outright tell a lie!
Another assertion by Bongbong himself is that he earned a degree from Oxford University, another bold-faced lie.
In a statement released by Oxford University, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not graduate from Oxford. He merely sat in a seminar in Political Science which gave him a ‘diploma’, the equivalent of a certificate in our Philippine academic system.
An account of why Bongbong failed to graduate with at least a four-year degree was that he hardly attended any of his courses, instead was merely enjoying the life of a bohemian while in England.
Since their re-emergence in Philippine politics, the Marcoses have relentlessly undermined the truth of Martial Law by rewriting its narrative to project a rosy version, highlighting the infrastructure achievements to cover up for the sordid details of human rights abuses.
The re-imaging gets worse by the persistent lying about the economic realities of the Marcos era. The Filipinos never had it better, so their storyline goes.
In fact, a study of the UP Department of Economics reveals that the poverty level when Marcos was dictator was at its highest in our history, and the Philippine debt ballooned to $10 billion!
For those of us who lived through Martial Law, with Silliman University closed down by the military, and a number of our friends herded off to the barricades, there can be no rosy version of Martial Law.
The truth of its hardships and suffering by the Filipinos can never be rewritten, no matter how hard the Marcoses try, and how much investment they put in the effort.
This lie, which intrudes into our current history, exceeds four Pinocchios!
Partner to Bongbong’s lying about Martial Law is the matter of the ill-gotten wealth which the conjugal dictatorship amassed during their long reign in the Philippines.
Notwithstanding Court rulings abroad, and decisions of our Supreme Court, Bongbong continues to live in denial, his luxurious enjoyment of its fruits notwithstanding!
To sanitize him from the stigma of his parents’ sins, Bongbong’s camp plays out the line that he cannot be made to answer for the acts of his parents.
And yet, while this ill-gotten wealth was being accumulated, while the Marcoses raped the budget for the poor, Bongbong — then of age, and surely with a consciousness for right and wrong — willingly partook of the affluent lifestyle which the spoils of his parents‘ thievery bought!
He may not have been a principal by direct participation, but he was surely an aider and abettor by benefitting from the fruits of the crime!
Finally, Bongbong is embroiled in his cancellation and disqualification cases pending at the Comelec.
The whole thing is a farce. Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferrolino, a Duterte appointee from Davao City, deliberately delayed the release of the First Division’s disposition of the disqualification case against Bongbong.
As a consequence, the much-publicized vote and opinion of fellow Sillimanian, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, was left of no consequence after her retirement on Feb. 2.
All these dramatics are just to entertain the voting public.
But we have to see what the great Puppeteer, Digong Gepetto has been doing to ensure the outcome of the May 9 polls.
Aside from having the last four Comelec Commissioners under the shadow of Digong’s influence, the majority of those sitting in the Supreme Court are his appointees.
In an ideal world, Constitutional officials are supposed to wear the mantle of fairness, integrity and credibility.
So far, Davaoweño Commissioner Ferrolino has been a major disappointment!
I hope the rest will live up to their Constitutional oaths as heroes and patriots! They need to remember that their loyalty is to the Filipino people, and to no one else, not even their appointing patron.
So Digong took care of the human side of the elections, gambling on the tendency of his pre-selected pawns to move as predicted.
On Oct. 29, Comelec Chairperson Sheriff Abas, and Efren Uy, president of F2 Logistics, agreed on the deployment of election equipment, peripherals, forms supplies, and paraphernalia with provision of warehousing services in Eleksyon 2022.
F2 Logistics is owned by Dennis Uy, a Duterte crony who started as a millionaire in 2016, and turned billionaire during Digong ‘s tenure.
Who said crime… oops! I mean… politics doesn’t pay?
As Digong prepares to sing his swan song, it seems more like he’s ready to make a grand entrance on a larger political stage!
All the speculation about Bongbong’s future is completely dependent on Digong Gepetto. In the end, we may be addressing Her Excellency ________!
I pray the good in us will prevail over our evil intentions.
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God… for the Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:12,17/1-23)
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