tongpats
tongpáts with stress marks
overpricing for bribes
Usage Note
Tongpats is a colloquial term for the practice of inflating the price of a government project or procurement to hide kickbacks. It is a compound of 'tong' (bribe share) and 'pats' (slang for partner/buddy). Widely used in media coverage of corruption scandals in the Philippines.
Examples
" May tongpats sa kontrata. "
Natural Translation
There is overpricing for bribes in the contract.
Literal Translation
Has overpricing-for-bribes in-the contract.
" May tongpats ang proyekto ng gobyerno. "
Natural Translation
The government project has overpricing for bribes.
Literal Translation
Has overpricing for bribes the project of government.
" Natuklasan ng mga imbestigador ang malaking tongpats sa pagbili ng mga gamot na ibinenta sa presyong doble ng tunay na halaga. "
Natural Translation
The investigators discovered massive overpricing for kickbacks in the purchase of medicines sold at double their real value.
Literal Translation
Discovered by-the investigators the big overpricing-for-bribes in-the buying of-the medicines that sold at price double of-the true value.
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