The Pharisees in our Modern Time!

      By Vic Odarve

Like in biblical days when Jesus justly condemned the hypocritical Pharisees, we also often see these people in our society today. Only, they are cleverer than before! They are very religious people, but a conduit to a prominent politician and sometimes a bagman for corrupt government officials. Others are holding an important government position but serve as an instrument for an oligarch that owned several corporations to pay less tax. Pious outside, but rotten inside! They are the Pharisees in our modern time!

They are, indeed, very religious. Carefully observe the church during Sunday masses! They traditionally occupy the front seats; do bible reading, and active in religious organizations. They donate money and even do some charitable works and finance some religious activities. They loved to be instantly recognized and greeted everywhere, even in the churches and the private marketplaces. But on the other side, they are the conduits of siphoning billions of moneys in connivance with the corrupt government officials.

Such traditionally was the case of ABS-CBN, the crown jewel of the Lopez group of private corporations that sets them apart from the other oligarchs. They have been undoubtedly influencing traditional politicians to do their bidding; perverting information, and news to protect their family politico-economic interests. Investigation discloses a lot of violations that include ownership issues, citizenship, tax avoidance mechanisms and labor claims. DBP loans granted to the Lopezes that were written off in 2006 amounted to P1.667 billions. Per calculation, the company should have paid P3.3 trillion to the government for taxes,etc. As came out, some senators and congressmen who are very religious in the eager eyes of their constituents are all part of a script in an age-old game of corruption that has destroyed the moral fiber of the Philippines.

On ethical PhilHealth issues, the considerable bulk of corruptions typically happens in the regional level. When the high-profile cases are filed in the Ombudsman’s office, the agency's national office whitewashes the official complaints filed against regional officials. That is another way how corruption persists at PhilHealth. A Senate hearing also revealed that the PhilHealth President had approved the agency's questionable information technology budget and also promoted officials already charged for alleged corrupt practices.

As always in social history from the time of Christ to the present, the picture repeats itself. But as technology advances the Pharisees are more pious outside and rotten inside. Their footprints in the bible persistently refuse to die in the conscious minds of the local people! Watch out. These modern Pharisees are coming in great numbers!

 Here are some poems written in Bol-anon dialect at my you tube channel Balak Bol-anon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5kFbYndPWG5-PrjCZF4SRA

Thanks for watching.