A few gold bars

Netnet Camomot

PRESIDENT Rody Duterte said that the former dictator’s family has offered to return “a few gold bars.” Kind of, konti lang, not much.

No, it’s not an admission of guilt — the former dictator’s family is not saying they did steal from the national treasury, thus, the need to return. It’s more like…

Well, let’s listen to President Duterte, as quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (“Duterte: Marcos family willing to open, return ‘wealth in question’” by Nestor Corrales, newsinfoinquirer.net, Aug. 29, 2017): “Just a few pero isauli nila. Para walang… and the only reason sabi nila, their father was protecting the economy for the eventual, kung maalis siya. But he was thought of regaining the Malacañang and that is why ganito ang lumabas parang naitago.”

Oh. So, it may look like they’re hiding the “wealth in question” and “a few gold bars,” when the truth is they’re reserving that for future use.

The English translation for “isauli” is “return.” Say, when you borrow something, you return it. And when you borrow, you ask for permission from the owner. Did they ask for the madlang pehpohl’s permission then, when they borrowed the “wealth in question” and “a few gold bars”?

Marcos’ fans have been saying that he’s the best president this country has ever had. I guess they were not around yet when he was the country’s dictator for 20 years, with nine years of that –1972 to 1981 — under martial law.

I gotta feeling Marcos’ fans are hoping this quote—“History is written by the victors”—will work for him after his family has finally returned the “wealth in question” and “a few gold bars.”

The People Power Revolution in 1986 will always be remembered as the yellow party’s contribution to history. They were the victors then, credited for bringing back democracy to Pinas.

But then, another quote took over: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

The grapevine once said that Marcos wanted to have it all, thus, corruption was minimal during his years in power since he was the only one allegedly stealing from the national treasury. Post-People Power, the grapevine had new revelations on how the yellows wanted to have it all, too, and this time, everyone in power and even those with not much power, like the fly on top of the carabao, had their greedy hands swimming in the national treasury.

Pinoys love gossip especially after lunch and siesta as they look forward to the end of their nine-to-five working hours. So, beware of these whispers.

With the proliferation of illegal drugs that has resulted to Tokhang, extrajudicial killings, the Senate inquiry on the P6.4-billion shabu, Ozamiz drug raids, and Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido’s new assignment in Iloilo, you may have to ask the gossipers on what they’re whispering to each other now. And that’s while having merienda of maruya, banana cue, and boiled bananas dipped in sauteed ginamos. After the Three O’clock Prayer.

Both Espenido and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog are religious. Not Catholics, but it’s not the religion; it’s faith that saves us from ourselves. They both mention God in their TV interviews.

Espenido said that whatever happens, it will be “God’s will.” Imagine this: Iloilo’s yummy batchoy quivering with fear. Like that glass of rippling water in “Jurassic Park” to warn us of the T-Rex’s arrival. Brrrrr.

The National Bureau of Investigation inspected—er, visited?—Mabilog’s house on Thursday last week as part of President Duterte’s order for a lifestyle check on the mayor who happened to be in Japan then. Flight is sign of guilt? Hmmm. Speculate pa more.

Mabilog went to Japan for a CityNet forum. The ever reliable—hehe—Wikipedia says CityNet is “a regional network of over 130 cities and organizations specializing in sustainable urban development. CityNet programs focus on the fields of climate change, disaster risk reduction and infrastructure development through city-to-city cooperation.”

There has been much speculation about the drug industry in Iloilo. Senator Franklin Drilon, who’s from Iloilo, commented that Espenido’s transfer to the city was a “cause of concern.” A light bulb immediately appeared above the skeptical and cynical head of a Pinoy: Aha! With no hesitation whatsoever: Aha!

Past administrations may have to answer the question on why illegal drugs have been allowed to proliferate. The proliferation could have been stopped years ago before these drugs could enter Pinas. No visa, no entry, right? But money talks—and it talks a lot. It gossips, too, and contributes delish chika to the grapevine care of wag-the-dog conspiracy theories.

There’s this shocking revelation—and it’s not from the grapevine—that the Marcos family has 7,000 tons of gold. And this info came from no less than the former First Lady and now Leyte, er, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos. That’s according to former Manila Mayor and now Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza.

If you have at least one gold bar in your vault, you can probably relate with this revelation. But to those of us whose miniature gold jewelry needs to be appraised first for authenticity, imagining one gold bar is so out of this world, like searching for a new galaxy in the universe.

The former dictator’s favorite number was 7. Thus, the 7,000 tons of gold? If, say, his family keeps their promise to return “a few gold bars,” will that be 700 tons? 70? 7? Oh. Please define “few.”