By Erwin Tulfo | The Manila Times | July 26, 2015

We have long been saying that the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) is a microcosm of Noynoy Aquino’s administration, which is one hell of a terminal case.

 The train line is struggling and agonizing through its last days, experiencing repeated breakdowns to the detriment and endangerment of the riding public.

Pupugak-pugak, naghihingalo sa matuwid na daan.

That is why I was not surprised that various groups representing disgruntled Filipinos, whom Noynoy fondly calls his “bosses,” have chosen the malfunctioning MRT 3 as the symbol of a decrepit government, the focus of their protest rallies today.

We will be treated to a litany of lies during the lavish television production of the President’s final State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa.

We expect to hear Noynoy tout his anti-graft and corruption program and the economic gains that only made the rich much wealthier and the massive number of poor people direly poorer.

He would likely congratulate his allies for crushing Vice President Jojo Binay’s popularity with the Senate’s version of kangaroo court.

Noynoy will ask his bosses to support his yet to be named administration standard-bearer, who will continue the so-called “reforms.”

But the bosses are particularly displeased with widespread corruption in the government, as shown in a recent Church survey.

Nearly half or 48 percent of the nation believe that Noynoy has failed in delivering on his promise to reduce or eliminate corruption.

Only a little over 10 percent of the people think otherwise. The remaining 42 percent of the people are unsure about what the administration is really doing.

Noynoy’s matuwid na daan (straight path) centerpiece program of good governance has done very little to rid the government of corruption, according to the perception of most Filipinos.

It has not lived up to its promise of “Wala nang wang-wang!”

I’m not surprised that Wang Bo, the fugitive Chinese gambling lord, is still in the country amid allegations of bribery payoffs to Noynoy’s Liberal Party.

Matuwid na daan turned out to be tuwad na daan, which means everyone who bends over for Noynoy is considered as his ally or crony and is spared of serious repercussions for his wrongdoing.

This “selective justice” system has exempted Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Bagman Abad, the shrewd architect of the hideous Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), has escaped prosecution so far.

The President’s bosom buddy Alan Purisima is facing charges for his starring role in the horrifying Mamasapano Massacre but the former policeman is widely expected to be cleared in the weak case that the Ombudsman has built against him.

Notably, Noynoy’s heir-apparent Roxas and Noynoy’s protégé Abaya have been exempted from the multibillion-dollar rip-off in the government maintenance contract on MRT 3.

Noynoy’s other wonder boy and erstwhile MRT 3 general manager, Al Vitangcol, has served as the fall guy for Roxas and Abaya in the train mess.

Abaya himself has been inutile in alleviating Metro Manila’s mass transportation problems, aggravating traffic.

The regional traffic gridlock similarly represents how this government had accorded us public service in the last five years.

Wouldn’t getting caught in traffic while hearing SONA make one’s day?

I can’t blame those who plan to spend the day listening to some great music rather than hear Noynoy’s recycled bull crap.