MR. CLEAN: When New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer -- who had built a “Mr. Clean” image and won on a reform platform -- was caught on a wiretap spending tens of thousands on high-priced call girls, it sounded to many Pinoys like a routine, although juicy, story.

Now the Democrat governor, a 48-year-old married man with three teenage daughters, is being asked by his Republican detractors to resign or face impeachment -- a line that also rings familiar to the Manila crowd drowning in scandals.

Son of a wealthy Manhattan real estate developer, Spitzer declared a $1.9-million income in 2006. Maybe he can afford pricey prostitutes. One time, he reportedly paid $4,300 for VIP call-girl service that included a night with a prosti named Kristen.

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E-SLEUTHS: In another tryst on the night before Valentine's Day, he reportedly booked two hotel rooms, one for himself, the other for Kristen. At around 10 p.m., Spitzer sneaked from his security detail to join her. A Pinoy politico need not do that, his sekyu will usher him to the girl's bedroom.

It was a routine story, but the details of how the case started caught my attention.

The banks noticed frequent cash transfers from several accounts and filed suspicious-activity reports with the Internal Revenue Service. The transactions were traced to the sanctimonious governor, and public corruption investigators went to work.

The banks and the IRS do that in the US of A? In Manila, some friendly bankers even cover up for valued clients. As for evidence, a truckload of incriminating papers may prove insufficient to pin down big-time crooks in government.

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VAN SIGHTINGS: Remember the idiot who, I said in last Tuesday's Postscript, was rushing in his tinted white van through the tight traffic on EDSA while two security cars hogged two lanes to clear the way for him?

It turned out it was not only me and it was not only that day that the same van, with license plate No. RAP 407, was spotted zipping through traffic with armed escorts bullying motorists with their sirens blaring and flashers blinking.

A reader, identifying himself only as “kayod kalabaw,” says in a feedback (shortened a bit):

“I first saw that vehicle with the said plate swerving on EDSA with two motorcycle escorts in front cutting motorists and two AUV escorts with heavily armed men. It was the day after typhoon Milenyo and I had to walk from Makati to Ortigas because the MRT was down and buses were packed.

“Near the Boni station, I heard sirens and saw the escorts zigzagging arrogantly. I recorded its plate number in my cell phone, because I wanted to report this over-privileged individual.

“The day after, I saw the group again on Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City in a diamond formation. The van was in the middle with two motorcycle escorts at the front, two AUVs at the side and one at the back. The road hogs were doing the usual 'wang-wang.' Papaluin pa nun motorcyle police ang car mo pag di ka gumilid.

“On my way home, I saw the van parking on a lot at Tandang Sora with lights and blinkers on. I asked a jeepney driver who that was. He said the land is owned by Iglesia's Manalo.”

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EDSA TEST: President Gloria Arroyo, I also said, should resign if she cannot stop Executive officials from flaunting bloated status on EDSA and bullying their way through traffic with armed escorts. I called that the “EDSA Test” for the President.

A reader signing in as “okayka” says: EDSA Test is not for GMA but for (MMDA chair) Bayani Fernando. Mr. Bayani, alam ko you can stop these arrogant officials na akala mo anak sila ng hari at itataboy sa tabi ang mga naunang motorista sa kanila. Aba eh, pare, pareho lang naman tayong kailangan makarating sa paroroonan natin kaya dapat irespeto naman nila ang mga nauna sa kanila. Perceived na nga kayong mga corrupt pati sa kalye corrupt sa paggalang sa iba.

Reader “papelito” says: We have to be realistic here. If you are an ordinary policeman, or even if you are a ranking policeman or an MMDA traffic enforcer, will you stand up all by yourself against these people? The way is to humiliate these people by publishing their names. Create a Violators Board where the names of these abusive people will be posted and ridicule them everyday in the media. The LTO must then apprehend and suspend the licenses of the drivers.

“4daTRUTH” says: If MMDA traffic enforcers and their chairman, who are under people's payroll, cannot stop VIP vehicles and their VIP passengers who act as if they owned the streets, they should all resign. It appears they are good only against simple motorists but inept against VIPs who clearly violate traffic laws.

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JOAQUIN MEMOIRS: Because of rumors of a big rally planned to be held in Makati on March 14 , the book launching of Sarah K. Joaquin's “Of Laughter and Tears” has been moved to March 18, 6-9 p.m., at the Filipinas Heritage Library on Makati Ave.

“Of Laughter and Tears” narrates Joaquin's education at the Central Escolar and the University of the Philippines, her career, marriage to jazz pianist and band leader Ping Joaquin, and her retirement in Virginia, US. She finished writing her memoirs shortly before she died in 2002.

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