When untouchables clash with the corrupt and the inept

"F*ck you, B*tch!" This is allegedly what one of the agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said while beating up Richard Brodett, one of the Alabang Boys.

This is in the latest episode of the exciting saga: The Alabang Boys. The story involves rich kids (who initially denied that they are really rich) who were allegedly caught in an alleged buy-bust operation for allegedly selling ecstasy. I want to complete the background story but it will all be filled with allegedly given the clashing statements of the parties involved.

Who are involved:
Alabang Boys (Brodett with Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson)
Relatives of Alabang Boys
Lawyers of Alabang Boys
Government Prosecutors
Department of Justice Secretary
PDEA Agents
PDEA Administration
House of Representatives
The Anti-Drug Czar aka the President of the Philippines
extras (IBP, Anti-Money laundering Council, Special Government Panel, etc)

What makes the story interesting o frustrating (depending upon your perspective) is that it highlights how we should NOT treat the government as one entity. The story involves all branches of the government (Judicial, Executive and Legislative). Within the executive, there is a clash between the PDEA, the prosecutors and Dept. of Justice Secretary.

The story also has all the elements of a telenovela: drugs, youth, family conflict, surprise witnesses, unusual twists, a lot of sub plots (the opening of bank accounts for money laundering, the disbarment of the Alabang Boys lawyers for drafting a release order using official DOJ stationary), police brutality, inept government officials, and a lot more.

It has comedy (is 3M a pizza, 3 manok or 3 million pesos), drama (Brodett vs Brodett), action (buy bust operation leads to a car chase) and a love story (none so far, but I am sure it will come up).

This early, I am sure that all the parties are at fault. Everybody are doing what they thought they should be doing and thought that there was nothing wrong with what they were doing. The rich thinking that they are untouchables. The prosecutors that dismiss cases when the price is right. The PDEA who needs big fishes to push the career of a former senator hoping for a comeback. And then suddenly by some twist of fate, their careers and lives crashed, highlighting how big in a mess, the Philippines is.

With all the lies and the  cover ups, we now hear stupid and incredulous comments from all the people involved. Here is one of the examples:

“At 25 years old, to be a supplier? It’s hard to believe they’re hardened criminals. It’s impossible for their age,” said Jacqueline Verano, one of the lawyers of the Alabang Boys.

“Is it possible that at these ages, they would already have a network of buyers and be able to influence the drug market? Highly unlikely,” Verano said in an e-mail.

Note: There are young entrepreneurs who can develop a wide network for a successful business. If they can use their skills for productive endeavours, sadly, they can also use it to sell drugs.

My favorite is the quote above. Brodett mentioned that during his testimony at the House of Representatives. After listening to Christina Bale and ex-Illinois Governmbor Rod Blagojevich, I am now familiar on how this curse words are used. But it is a bit far fetched that our own PDEA agents will be using the same curse words.

In his testimony, Brodett said that other curse words were used such as P*t*ng In* Mo!, G*go, and T*rantado. But F*ck You, B*tch... he must be high that time!

Slumdog Piracy

There is Honor among Thieves.


On the Back Cover of a pirated dvd of Slumdog Millionaire.

Only in Quiapo. Only in the Philippines.

What a Slumdog Millionaire can buy?

A one bed-room condo unit!

If Jamal Malik, the lead protagonist in "Slumdog Millionaire" will use all the  20 million rupee grand prize to buy a flat in Mumbai, then he can only buy around 45 square meters, good enough for a one-bed room condominium unit.

Residential apartment prices in Mumbai range from INR400,000 to INR630,000 per sq. m. Using today's exchange range, that is about PhP386,222 - PhP608,300 or US$8,170 - US$12,870. That is very expensive. Imagine this, converted to peso Jamal's prize is around 19.3 million Philippine pesos, with that money you can definitely afford a 3BR luxury unit in Rockwell, Makati or Fort Bonifacio.

Mumbai's formal residential market is so expensive, it is among the top ten most expensive real estate markets in the world. The other cities in the top 10 are glitzy, economic and financial centers such as Monaco, Moscow, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York, London, Paris, Singapore and Rome.

Mumbai is probably the only country in the world where your multi-million dollar condominium is right next a slum area. Dharavi, the slum in 'Slumdog' where Jamil grew and lives, is home to more than one million people. It is one of the biggest urban slums in the world. The ridiculously expensive properties in Mumbai are due to several factors including archaic laws, inefficient land registration systems, lack of planning, lack of infrastructure, bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption, overpopulation and very rapid urbanization.

Slumdog Millionaire portrays India and Mumbai at a very bad light. Aside from showing elements of extreme poverty and inequality, it also shows hero worship of celebrities, child labor, child abuse, child exploitation, religious conflict, petty crime, grand crime, gangsterism, beggar syndicates, police brutality, torture, human rights abuse, corruption, prostitution, and discrimination based on work (and caste). It shows the triumph of the human spirit (and love) over  these challenges. (There is also Bollywood dancing during credits.)

This movie will also make you think again before visiting India... Incredible India as their tourism campaign claims. It shows tourists victimized, robbed and swindled. People visiting Taj Mahal may likely think twice before leaving their shoes or slippers outside the temple.

Anyway, the move is great and is highly recommended. It is a documentary masquerading as a love story. It also explains why game shows are very popular in the Philippines and other developing countries.

Most Filipinos can probably relate to it. I can actually imagine a Filipino version of it... how about...  Ang Haciendero ng Payatas.