The problem that is Lito Alvarez

BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus…” (Galatians 3:28, the Holy Bible).

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THE PROBLEM THAT IS LITO ALVAREZ: If you try to read between the lines, it would seem that Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez is being replaced because he has become really effective in pursuing his campaign against smugglers, both in and out of the Bureau of Customs, what with the cases he has filed against businessmen and customs officials.

It would seem that the last straw that caused his ouster is his investigation of the Bureau of Customs’ grant of transshipment permits to some 3,844 containers from January to December last year, where he was able to establish that from these containers, only P3.7 million in taxes were paid, making smugglers and corrupt customs officials reap billions in unpaid tariffs.

Indeed, it is a pity that as Alvarez is starting to uncover more anomalies in the bureau, he is taken out and replaced by another. Your guess is as good as mine, whether his ouster is a step to prevent more anomalies from being uncovered. Perhaps, that is the best way to solve a problem like Alvarez.

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FILIPINOS HAVE BECOME BIG-TIME THIEVES? I am starting to be nauseated by unending reports about anomalies being uncovered in the different agencies of government, compelling me to believe that every Filipino that is given a position will somehow, somewhere resort to stealing and plundering government money.

Look at the headlines: “COA unearths P2.6 billion `ghost deals’ in ARMM”; “PNP probes ghost repair of armored vehicles by Napolcom”; “BOC chief bares big port scam in last hurrah”.

Why has the Filipino become a thief---and a big time thief stealing and plundering billions at that? The answer is simple. Many Filipinos have stopped having fear and love of God in their hearts, entertaining grandiose thoughts that it is because of their own power and intellect that they have succeeded, enabling them to do as they wish.

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WARNING VS. FORGETTING GOD: And that is a dangerous thought, one that leads to hell and eternal torment in the form of endless worms and fires, not only for the thief but even for his children to the fourth generation. 

Here is a warning from the Bible, in its Deuteronomy 8:10-11, 19-20: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 

“If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God…”


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Lito Alvarez, problema ng mga tiwali



INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “…Walang Hudyo o Hentil, walang alipin o malaya, o lalake at babae man, sapagkat iisa kayong lahat kay Kristo Jesus…” (Galacia 3:28, Bibliya).

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LITO ALVAREZ, SULIRANIN NG MGA TIWALI: Kung pag-aaralan ninyong mabuti, lumilitaw na tila pinapalitan itong si Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez dahil nagiging epektibo at mahusay na siya sa kanyang kampanya laban sa mga smugglers, sa loob at labas ng Bureau of Customs (BOC), katulad ng ipinapakita ng mga kasong naisampa na niya laban sa mga tiwaling negosyante at mga opisyales ng kawanihan.

Lumilitaw na ang pinakahuling dahilan upang tuluyan na siyang paalisin ay ang kanyang imbestigasyon sa pagkakabigay ng BOC ng transshipment permits sa 3,844 containers mula Enero hanggang Disyembre noong nakaraang taon, kung saan naipakita din niya na sa mga containers na ito, tanging P3.7 milyon lamang ang nabayarang buwis, dahilan upang kumita ng bilyones ang mga kawatan.

Tunay nga, kalunos-lunos isipin na ngayong nahuhukay na ni Alvarez ang mas maraming mga anomalya sa BOC, inalis naman siya at pinalitan ng iba. Marahil, pareho tayo ng iniisip: ang pagpapatalsik ba sa kanya ay may layuning pigilan siya sa paghuhukay ng mga anomalya? Marahil, ito ang mabisang paraan upang lutasin ang suliraning gaya ni Alvarez.

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MGA PILIPINO, NAGING MANDARAMBONG NA? Nasusuka na talaga ako sa mga di-matapos-tapos na mga ulat ng iba’t ibang katiwalian sa maraming sangay ng pamahalaan, dahilan upang mapaniwala na akong ang bawat Pilipinong nabibigyan ng posision ay matututo at matututong magnakaw at mandambong sa pondo ng gobyerno.

Tingnan ninyo ang mga headlines sa ngayon: “COA, nakatuklas ng `ghost deals’ sa halagang P2.6 bilyon sa ARMM”; “PNP, nag-iimbestiga sa ghost repairs ng mga armored vehicles ng Napolcom”; “BOC chief nakatuklas ng malaking anomalya sa daungan”.

Bakit naging magnanakaw na ang Pilipino---at isang malakihang magnanakaw pa mandin na tumitira ng bilyon-bilyong piso? Ang sagot ay simple. Maraming Pilipino ang wala ng takot at pagmamahal sa Diyos, at nag-iisip na dahil sa kanilang galing at kapangyarihan kaya sila nagtagumpay, at maaaring gawin ang anumang kanilang naisin.

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BABALA LABAN SA NAKAKALIMOT SA DIYOS: Ito ay isang delikadong pananaw, kasi patungo ito sa impiyerno kung saan ang kaparusahan ay walang hanggan, sa anyo ng walang kamatayang mga uod at walang katapusang apoy, di lamang sa mandarambong, kundi pati na sa kanyang mga anak hanggang sa ika-apat na salinglahi.

Naririto ang isang babala mula sa Bibliya, sa kanyang Deuteronomio 8:10-11, 19-20: “Kung ikaw ay nakakain na at nasiyahan, purihin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos sa kabutihang bigay niya sa iyo. Maging maingat ka upang di mo makalimutan ang Diyos, at ang pagsunod sa Kanyang mga utos.

“Kung makakalimutan mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos at sasamba ka sa mga diyus-diyosan, sinasabi ko sa inyo ngayon na kayo ay malilipol. Gaya ng mga bansang nilipol ng Diyos, kayo man ay wawasakin din dahil sa di ninyo pagsunod sa Panginoong Diyos…”