Quoted below are excerpts from Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, statement on the passing of veteran journalist Teodoro “Teddy†Benigno. Casiño is a former BusinessWorld columnist and former president of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.
My family and my party join the nation in mourning press freedom fighter Teddy Benigno. The people mourn because a torch-bearer of truth has retired amid the gloom and doom that is the Arroyo regime.
The people will always remember how Teddy Benigno formed Focap as a foil to the US-backed Marcos dictatorship’s muzzling of the press and thereby opened an opportunity for truthful reportage of the people’s militant anti-dictatorship struggle.
For his role in the victorious anti-Marcos struggle, Teddy Benigno’s place in history is already secured.
I agree with Rep. Teddy. History will definitely be kind to Benigno, who proved that idealism doesn’t have to fade as one grows old.
2 replies on “Rep. Teddy on Teddyman”
January 20, 2006
FOR: YOU new generation / Oakwood Mutineers / Demoralized PMAers / Media / PGMA / Businessmen / Political Parties / Leftist Groups / Religious Groups / Political Parties / US Embassy
RE: MORE THAN SKIN DEEP—LEGACY
I have high regard, respect, and expectation from the PMAers. You people were the best there is when you were accepted in the corps. The screening committee of the academy sees to it that they only admit the smartest and the brightest and the healthiest individuals there is who can withstand the rigid (mental and physical) training that the academy will teach to the fit ones.
You were housed in a nice dorm in Baguio, fed three square meals a day and given nice uniforms to look dignified. Some of you will probably say it did not come in a silver platter. I bet some of you have been put to your limits but hey your training to be a soldier and much more—to lead the people who also want to serve this country but doesn’t have the mental capabilities like you do but have the same or probably more courage than some of you have shown.
Now what is my point in writing this? I am just hoping that you being smart and passing all that training that’s supposed to make you equip to protect the weak that cannot protect themselves should follow the rule of law and not let other people with vested interest manipulate your emotions. Otherwise, you should not have entered the academy and just join the leftist groups of the likes of Sison, Rosal, and JI.
You’re educated that is why you can think of legal ways to run after the scalawags in your ranks. If you believe that there are anomalies you should gather evidences prove your case and not resort to violence or anarchy and saying so and so is guilty of wrongdoings. You’re a soldier and a law enforcer at that. Don’t make it look that it is your word against the suspect’s word. You should know better for in fact that is what you have studied. That’s what separate you from the leftist—you see to it that the rule of law is observe no matter how frustrating the system works at times and even it is use by criminals to get away with their inequities; otherwise we’ll leave in a chaotic environment if we will let those people who portray themselves as if they are the only ones who have concerns with our country when in fact even within them they cannot come into terms because of their respective vested interest. DON’T LET THESE GUYS MANIPULAE YOU / THE IMPOVERISH WHO ARE RELYING ON YOU.
If for example in the case that was recently brought up to the public- supposed anomaly in the airforce. You should not only limit yourselves with the nature of the transactions or whether it was approved and probably covered by purchase order or delivery receipt. You can also check whether it is the best conversion that could have been made—imagine close to 10 million worth of rubber shoes, there is also the million worth of shorts and sandos. If the quantities, price, bidding process and propriety of the recepient are valid then we should question the aptness of the conversion because a lot of soldiers seem to be in need of monetary benefits.
Thus, I appeal to you to use what you have learned and make your family and country proud/stronger. Help us prosecute the criminals by gathering sufficient evidence used in orchestrating their illegal activities; it is probably frustrating to see some persons get away with it; but let this serve as a challenge to you guys to do better in implementing the laws and ultimately convicting criminals within or outside your ranks.
Let me also take this opportunity to appeal to the four mutineers that escape to surrender. You are putting yourself at a greater risk and much more this country. Because you can be used, executed, to trigger more sympathy from your comrades and manipulated countrymen take part in mounting social unrest and for what—for the interest of this people who want to be in power at all cost. You are now in same position as Garci, before he decided to offer himself at the mercy of the oppositions like Escudero, Cayetano, Villanueva, Zamora, Paras (whose so eager to place Garci in contempt and said that senate blink that’s why the former was not successful when it had its contempt decision; but eventually want to team-up with senate in grilling Garci—why? because he can’t shake the guy; that’s really pathetic).
Opposition’s passion is too compelling that their judgments are being place in jeopardy. Like what I have said to our passionate soldiers, I strongly suggest that you plan your action and gather all the evidence and documents that will support your claim. This also goes with Abat and the active Hyatt 10 (Santos, Teves, Soliman). Stop that trial by publicity and trying to get media mileage and hopefully stir people’s emotions to support your illegal action. Don’t think that you’re going to get it from the personalities your implicating especially if the circumstance doesn’t really permit your accusations from happening. Imagine how many legislators that grilled Garci. Allan you can do better than that—the way you interrogate Garci. Villanueva don’t use such a sloopy approach you’re in congress for crying out loud.
If you are really concern and sincere in uplifting the lives of your countrymen especially the poor you said you’re so concern about then you should enact laws that will plug those loopholes in the system that you think hinder the victory of your case and stop acting like a candy was taken from you and start whining. You’re UP graduates and bankable legislators—learn to accept your defeat and try it again. You’ve already tried to prove your case in the streets and you failed—move on because the poor you’re insinuating are the one getting the repercussion of your actions. You know how I see you guys, you are like KMU’s that infiltrate labor unions and ask hem to stage a strike and then when the company close down you recruit them to join you in your supposed unselfish concern for them; now that they’re jobless and with an empty stomach it will be easy to manipulate them because a hungry individual will have great difficulty in discerning facts—its just survival.
You are economic sabotores—you want the poor to believe that you are an ally and that they should team-up with you in toppling this government because it’s making their lives miserable. But what they don’t know is that you are using them to destabilize our country because you cannot get what you want. But in reality you are actually the one inflicting those miseries to these poor people by swaying investors away, increasing the cost of capital (because where your country is unstable the risk is higher thus local investor pay more interest resulting to contraction of the economy). And this is the easiest way to let people join you in the streets by restricting their opportunities. Less investment, less jobs; high interest rates, high unemployment rate.
Now you’ll say—and who doesn’t what to be in power? PGMA is doing everything in its power to stay in power. That is right and the worse thing is by being part of this Constitutional Change. I hope our Congressmen will really contemplate in changing our constitution. I believe that they already have so much that its time to go beyond the material things and power—LEGACY. I believe it is not going to be easy because once you have experience spending so much and having that so much attention/power in you it will be hard to let go. But what good will it bring if you (greedy opposition & administration personalities) conquered the whole world and losses your soul.
It is probably time to give it back to those in dire need of your financial/legal assistance (e.g. scholarships, make ethics mandatory in the curriculum and trainings, establishing cooperatives in the rural areas, reviving green revolution & Masagana 99, conducting self-reliance trainings, spearheading the development of sustainable energy, sponsoring agri/medical/ techno/scientific research, and improvements—roads, bridges without the 555 commissions 5% for bgy. capt. 5% for mayor 5% for congressman;) and say that I have been there and fortunate to experience all those luxuries/amenities/privileges. And now doing good deeds to the unfortunate/under privilege populace will somehow make you feel better that as a public servants you will be leaving a legacy that will not only make your descendants proud of having you as their kin but also feel comfortable roaming around because there will be people around that will hopefully recognize and appreciate what you have done and be willing to return the favor and protect you just in case a lunatic try to harm you or the ones dear to you.
It may also be worthy to say that we will be better off if the constitution will remain as presidential rather than parliamentary. However, the term of the president should be reduced to four years with one re-election. In that way, we can immediately replace a mediocre president; and at the same time give enough latitude to pursue effective and efficient programs of president that is doing well during the first term. For the other civil servants, I guess maximum of two re-elections is enough to improve the life of their constituents. This will likewise reduce the dynasty and minimize the possible temptation to stay in power to do something illegal. Also this will ensure that the less fortunate provinces that were bless with less natural resources and opportunities will not be put at the mercy of those affluent provinces, should the constitution be changed to parliamentary, which can lead to more chaos as right towards this places will rise whether for prestige and/or power due to greediness for bigger territory thus creating more harm than good by disuniting rather than uniting the country.
Why can’t we go back instead like in the old days? Were the country has only two major political party. I believe that it will be a lot simple compare to multi party system that we have right now. This will then address the issue about gridlock in the passing of laws or in implementing reforms. It will also reduce politicking as it will be based on the platform of governance of the respective political parties rather than the personal views of a few; who were lucky to have been blessed with a skillful art of salesmanship that manage to even convince the most shrewd politician there is or still gain sympathy from some misled armed forces. I believe that the Liberal Party is making headway within their group. I hope that the Nationalista Party will also make their move so that the country will eventually reach that long overdue political maturity and minimize if not eliminate self-serving actions.
Political consolidations will not only play an important role in advancing our country by crafting doable economic and political reforms with the people’s interest as their primary concern; but also help the parties protect better the integrity of the election since their resources will not be spread thinly. Thus, any attempt to manipulate an election will be brought immediately and purposely to the attention of the concern regulatory body/person in the area. I believe that computerizing the election is not the answer to the problem. Thus, the contract executed to purchase billion of pesos worth of computer should be investigated to see if there are anomalies on this transaction.
Eta Rosales, Liza Masa, Satur Ocampo, and Teddy Casino stop being a bunch of hypocrites. A word of advice, life is and will never be fair—even the fingers in our hands are not equal. Moreover in your respective groups you have your own foot soldiers and admit it or not you have perks that only you enjoy—so you better stop messing and exploiting the feelings of the poor. You are now part of the system and somehow manage to get to Congress and had your share of pork barrel. Stop thinking like communist; instead of inculcating in the minds of your followers and people in the countryside how neglected they are or how pathetic their situations are why don’t you use your power and resources to put up projects that will uplift the status of our less fortunate followers you claim you’re protecting. In this way we can have voters with full stomach that can discern during election time which individual/s will be most likely be there to protect their interest and strong enough to go against the flow if he believes that something is not right.
Asked yourselves what you can do for our country rather than what your country can do for you. Rosales you were a guest in this television shows discussing about family planning. And from the sound of your reasoning I can sense that you’re putting the blame on the government for these families who manage to have so many children and yet they are just squatters and consequently don’t have regular income to support a family. Do you think that by condoning their irresponsible actions and winning their sympathy/vote will solve the problem of malnutrition, unemployment, poverty and corruption? Definitely not; what you’re doing is a self-serving move and in effect making them feel helpless and that the government is the sole culprit for being destitute—when in fact they were the ones who enjoyed during their procreation.
How about you Satur? How does it feel when you went to the people marching in front of Cory’s house and told them that you’re going to talk or has talked to their leader and that they should already go home? You were before in their side and now you’re on the other side of the fence. I guess you now learn or somehow learned to do politicking. It is not really easy. I am not sure if this is the reason of Filon not running for re-election. But it is part of the system and that should not allow the public servants to loose its sight on what they stand for or believe in.
What about the VFA issue and the subic rape case? The leftist groups are using the rape case as a hinge to cut our ties with the Americans. Let us not confuse one argument to another. Like what I have said in my letter to Accra Law office, regarding the subic rape case, the victim has a strong case against the dependant. I also mention that they should write a letter, detailing the ordeal of the victim, to the people who can help them obtain justice for this inhumane action by their people. Further the prosecutor will probably doing the US Marine Corps a favor in prosecuting the dependants for not conducting themselves like an officer and a gentleman; who swore to protect the people who cannot protect themselves.
The prosecutor should narrate how one of the dependant, as stated in Smith’s statement with the investigation of JAG, of having sex inside the van while the other guys watch them is absurd and do not give them the right to be a member of the marine corps. Then after doing such animalistic action left the girl in a roadside with her pants down. What the dependant is claiming is that there is consent for his action. A consent given by a drunken girl(?); saying that she was drug is probably something that’s difficult to prove. They should have helped regain her normal condition rather than engaged in a sexual exhibition with a girl whose drunk and absolutely not I her right frame of mind. What they have done is they took advantage of the helpless girl and made a mockery out her shabby condition.
Some people will probably argue that the girl should not have been there in the first place. You are absolutely right—that is why her family is suffering all this humiliation that is more than the physical hurt that she suffered with the 4 dependants. But I believe that she was just looking for a better opportunity by being friendly with these people hoping that they can help her obtain better opportunity. However, it does not give them the right to treat a girl, that’s going out of her way to improve her life, like a trash.
Now my message to the US government is this: Based on their statement to the JAG investigation I believe that these guys should be at least dishonorably discharge from the service because they are lunatics and they are a disgrace to the US Marine Corps. And they are not worthy to jeopardize the good relationship of our country and in having a strategic location in the far east. I believe that bringing them to justice will communicate a strong message to your personnel that the US government will not tolerate such abuse of authority to the detriment of helpless individuals that they have sworn to protect.
Using this case to cut the ties with one of the powerful nations is out of the question. This is again the work of a communist ideology so that they can continue spreading havoc and turmoil in the country. If you really want to do away, but minimize is more realistic, with outside intervention, you should work on empowering the poor people in the countryside. But you cannot do this by criticizing the government, marching on the streets and spearheading mass actions or strikes. If you believe that you have a better way that what a company or an official is doing in uplifting the lives of its employees or constituents—do it yourselves show them the right way to do it. The problem with you leftist is that you have a lot of good things in your mind but you cannot put it to action. And because you cannot sell your idea to the majority you harass those people in the countryside so that they will sympathize with your unrealistic ideology until they offer their lives to you—for what?
I dare the leftists out there to run for mayor or put up their own company/cooperative and put their vision into practice. You cannot help the impoverished by asking them to go to the streets and oust whoever is in power because they are not doing what you think they should be doing. Get real—the truth is that you are living in a dream world that you yourselves are not capable of making into a reality.
I would like to appeal to the media people and to the stations they belong to be more discerning to their reporting. You have a very powerful tool that should be maximized. I hope you will continue to expose the illicit activities of selfish individuals thru 1)lifestyle checks. There is this custom official that cried foul because he is said that being a government official does not mean that they cannot have the right to be rich—this I say to you—you have the right to have so much wealth in your possession as long as you can explain that such was not obtain at the time you occupy your position in the government and that whatever means that wealth was generated multiplied in logical way; if your wealth quadrupled or more in 2 or 3 years time during your term then you tell me if it is logical for you to stay as public servant when you have found a money machine) 2)surveillance or undercover scoops.
I would like to commend the following programs/segments that go out of their way to expose various irregularities: the shows of Ben & Mon Tulfo, citizen patrol, and imbestigador. I hope that you guys will set an example to other journalist in building-up/documenting your report and bringing it to the attention of the people that will lead to the resolution of the problem and not be satisfied in just reporting the problem. I wish that when you report a news it will not be a speculative one but a report supported by facts and recommendations/courses of actions—words are cheap! Further, let us be result- and people-oriented individuals. Also the various charitable programs, like wish ko lang and the foundations of abs and gma7 who are sensitive to the needs of our less fortunate citizens, deserve the similar recognition. More power to the charity programs for addressing the immediate needs of the indigent Filipino people and in the course of their assistance tried not only to feed them but also taught them how to fish for themselves thus in the end feeding them for life.
Media personalities should continue making constructive criticism and thinking the greater good of the majority. They should maximize their exposure by mending the differences of various political factions instead of insinuating words or comments to flare the guest to deliver a statement that will further the misunderstanding of this political figures. Thinking that by doing so their viewers are getting hype and therefore being like by their viewers. Probably so but such mindset is dangerous and you are creating possible confrontation that can harm you or eventually your love ones without you knowing it. Don’t think of it as a game that can be taken back. Use the resources entrusted to you wisely.
Finally, I hope that the people who have the means to keep this country together will come to terms and put their personal interest aside. Let us work together so that each of us will co-exist. There is no point of having more than what we actually needs while other people perish because they have nothing. Let us not wait for the thin cows to eat the fat ones. Likewise I trust that media personnel will have the enthusiasm in featuring the good opportunities that’s being extended to the poor and in exposing the needs of our left-out citizens. Let us not play-up the destabilizing statements of greedy and self-centered individuals.
All the best to our beloved country—Philippines!
Dear Tita Cory, Senators, Congressmen, Businessmen, Media people,
Leftists, and all Bleeding Hearts Out There:
I am angry. And I know that there are many out there who are angrier than I am for the same reason. And that reason is simple. I am sick and tired of all you guys claiming to speak for me and many Filipinos. I feel like screaming every time you mouth words about fighting for my freedom and my rights, when you obviously are just thinking about yours. You tell me that the essence of democracy is providing every citizen the right to speak his or her mind and make his or her own informed judgments, but you yourselves do not respect my silence and the choices I and many others have made.
In other words, your concept of democracy is limited to having your rights and your freedoms respected, at the expense of ours. I am utterly flabbergasted that you still do not get it: we already responded to your calls, and our response has been very clear – we chose not to heed your calls to go to EDSA or to Fort Bonifacio not because we do not love our country or our freedoms or our rights, but precisely because we love our country even more. Because quite frankly, we are prepared to lose our freedoms and our rights just to move this country forward. You may counter with your ideological propaganda and give me all the dire warnings about the evils of Martial Law, authoritarian rule, suppression of freedom, etc., but quite frankly all we see is your pathetic efforts to defend your right to continue fulminating, filibustering, and sabotaging this country until you wrestle power for yourselves. You tell me that you are simply protecting my freedoms and my rights, but who told you to do that? I assure you that when I feel that my rights and my freedoms are at a peril, I will stand up and fight for them myself. I have done that in the past, and I will do it again when I SEE THE NEED FOR IT, not when you tell me to do it.
You tell us that GMA is not the right person to lead this country because she has done immoral acts. As someone who sees immorality being committed wantonly in many ways every day and by everyone (yes, including the ones you do), I may have become jaded. I may have lowered my standards about what a leader should be. Guess what, Tita Cory, you lowered it yourself. When I accepted your incompetence and fought for you during the many attempts against your government, I already lowered the standards to ridiculous levels. Guess what, Senators and Congressmen, you lowered it yourselves when you ran for office and won and now make fools of yourselves in the august halls of congress.
But the simple truth that you try to obfuscate is this: you have not been able to offer me any viable alternative! On the other hand, GMA has bent over backwards many times to accommodate you while continuing to work hard despite all the obstacles and the brickbats you have thrown her way.
From where I sit, she is the one who has been working really hard to move this country forward while all of you have been so busy with one and only one thing: to make sure she does not succeed. So forgive me if I do not want to join you in your moral pissing contest. Forgive me if I have chosen to see things from another perspective. You say she is the problem. I say, we are – all of us is the problem; more to the point, I think you are a bigger problem than she is. Taking her out may solve part of the problem, but that leaves us with a bigger problem: you. That is right, YOU!
While I felt outraged that she called a Comelec official during the elections and that she may have rigged the elections, I have since then taken the higher moral ground and forgiven her. Yes my dear bishops, I have done what you have told me to do since I was a child, which you say is the Christian and moral thing to do: forgive. Especially since she has asked for forgiveness and has tried to make amends for it. Erap certainly has not apologized and continues to be defiant, continuing to insult us everyday with his protestations – and he is part of your cause now! Cory has not apologized for her incompetence but we have forgiven her just the same because like GMA, she has worked hard after all.
I know you do not think that GMA’s apology was not enough, or that she was insincere, or that that apology should not be the end of it, but please spare me the hypocrisy of telling me that you do so for the sake of protecting the moral fibre of society. The real reason is because you smell blood and wants to go for the kill.
Well, I have news for you. I do not like her too. I did not even vote for her. I voted for Raul Roco. But as much as I do not like her, I do not like you even more. I may not trust her, but you know what, I do not trust you even more. You know why I do not trust you? Because all you do is whine and sabotage this country. You belittle every little progress we make, conveniently forgetting that it is not just GMA who has been working so hard to achieve them. Every single day, we keep the faith burning in our hearts that this country will finally pull itself out of the mess and we work so hard to do that. Every little progress is the result of our collective effort, we who toil hard everyday in our jobs.
Yet, you persist in one and only thing: making GMA look bad in the eyes of the world and making sure that this country continues to suffer to prove your sorry point. In the process, you continue to destroy what we painstakinly try to build. So please do not be surprised that I do not share your cause. Do not be surprised that we have become contemptuous of your antics. You have moved heaven and earth to destroy her credibility, you have convened all kinds of fora and hearings and all you have done is test our patience to the core. For all your efforts, you have only succeeded in dragging us further down. I say enough.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not asking that we take immorality lying down, or that we let the President get away with anything illegal. But you have tried to prove your accusations all these time and you have not succeeded, so it is time to let things be. Besides, you are doing something immoral as well if not utterly unforgivable. The Magdalo soldiers are consorting with the communists – the same people who have been trying to kill democracy for years. Cory has been consorting with Erap and the Marcoses.
So please wake up and take a reality check. In the absence of true and genuine moral leadership, many of us have decided to cast our lot with the President, even if we do not like her. A flawed leader is better than scheming power hungry fools who can not even stand up for their convictions in the face of an impending arrest.
Your coup attempts and the denials that you have consequently made only underscore what we think is true: you are spineless and unreliable people who only want power but not the consequences and the sacrifices that go with the quest. Your one and only defense is to cry suppression when your ruse does not work. You are nothing but BULLIES who taunt and provoke, but cry oppression when taken to task for your cruelty. You call for the rule of law and respect for authority, but so brazenly display your defiance and disrespect for the same things you claim to be fighting for.
I would have respected you if you took the consequences of your actions like real heroes: calmly and responsibly instead of kicking and screaming and making all kinds of lame excuses. You say you are willing to die for us, that you do all these things for the country and the Filipino, but you are not even willing to go to jail for us.
Come on, you really think we believe that you did not want to bring down the government when THAT IS THE ONE AND ONLY ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DESPERATELY TRYING TO DO in the last many months?
We love this country and we want peace and progress. Many among us do not give a f*&k who sits at Malacanang because we will work hard and do our share to make things work. We the people will and can make it work, if only you get out of the way and let us do it. If you only do your jobs, the ones you are supposed to be doing, things would be a lot simpler and easier for all of us.
The events during the weekend only proved one thing. You are more dangerous and a serious threat to this country than GMA is. We have seen what you are capable of doing – you are ready to burn this country and reduce everything to ashes just to prove your point. If there is something that we need protection from, IT IS PROTECTION FROM YOU.
S. C. Austero
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Additional comments:
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From Avelina Gil:
What ordinary people like Mayyang & her palengke friends say about all these is:
“Why is Cory a pakialamera in running the gobyerno?. In the States, former presidents do not go telling the president what to do. Cory could not do anything about her husband when she was president. Why does she not attend to her anak Kris who is behaving like a japayuki?”
But of course, Cory can’t do anything about her headstrong Kris–while she, Cory, thinks she can do something about keeping her hacienda.
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From Linda Casper:
Thanks for the info. But self-promotion has replaced humility, so what is there to believe? Called this morning. No one thinks EDSA III likely, not because there are no grievances, but because there are no alternatives to current officials.