Mayor Benjie Lim, the publisher

By Ermin F. Garcia Jr.

Finally, the Senate has terminated its investigation on the P728 million fertilizer scam at the Department of Agriculture. In brief, the Senate recommended that criminal and administrative charges be filed against former officials of the department, led by Sec. Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo and Undersec. Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, and other department key officials.  

 

It was interesting to note how hundreds of people fidgeted as they nervously watched and waited for the outcome of the proceedings. There were the governors, congressmen and mayors who prayed that their names would not be mentioned as having received millions through their   dummy foundations. (In the province, House Speaker Joe de Venecia and Gov. Vic Agbayani, whose names were listed as among the recipients of the millions doled out during the 2004 election campaign, vehemently denied that they received the millions listed under their names).

 

But whether or not the officials will eventually be made to account to the people for misappropriating for themselves millions of people’s money, remains to be seen.

 

What remains to be seen as well is how the Filipino Rotarians finally respond to the fact that one of its “distinguished officials” is a key character in the scam.

 

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Pangasinan Rotarians and Joc-Joc

 

Joc-joc Bolante is a close friend of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and thanks to Rotary, their friendship grew into what it is today.

 

Joc-joc is no ordinary Rotarian. He was a past president, a district governor and today the treasurer of Rotary International. If I’m not mistaken, he is only the third Filipino to be elected to the international board.

 

In other words, here is the man who said he lived and breather Rotary’s Four Way Test like no other Filipino did.

 

His fellow Rotarians toasted him and made him an enigma of sorts for being the classy and energetic Rotarian that his peers can only think of emulating.

 

But unknown to the Rotarians in the provinces that Rotarian Joc-joc figured in the scam actually didn’t surprise many of his peers in Manila since Mrs. Gloria Arroyo became president. After all, the First Gentleman (who became widely known as “Jose Pidal”) was his fellow Rotarian and best friend. Where FG Mike could be found, Joc-joc was never far behind.

 

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But now that Joc-joc, the distinguished Rotarian who represents the Filipino Rotarians in the world body, is found culpable in the multi-million scam, the silence of Rotarians in the country is deafening.

 

Closer to home, the silence of hundreds of Pangasinan Rotarians is madly deafening.

 

Only the Rotary Club of Makati West has officially condemned the flight of Rotarian Joc-joc, while another Rotarian Harvey Keh of the Rotary Club of Loyola Heights questioned the seeming apathy of the country’s Rotary Clubs.

 

I have read the position of the Makati West Rotary and was unequivocal in its criticism of Rotarian Joc-joc, while Rotarian Harvey, for his part had this to say:

 

“I am a firm believer of the 4-Way Test. However, in cases such as these wherein one member is asked to let the Truth come out, will the Rotary community just sit down and do nothing? Will the Rotary International community just allow Mr. Bolante to usurp the Truth from the Filipino People? Finally, will the Rotary do nothing knowing that the fertilizer funds could have been used towards the betterment of the situation of the more than 30 million Filipinos who live with less than $ 2.00 a day? This is the challenge I throw at us Rotarians, if we are really for the Truth and indeed we believe in Service Above Self then we will all work together as one community towards really making the Truth come out and building a more Fair and Just Society for us and for our Children’s Future.”

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Rotarians in Pangasinan cannot pretend another day that the fertilizer scam did not happen or that the flight of Rotarian Joc-joc is not a direct assault to everything that Rotary International stands for.

 

The fact is, the country is in turmoil today partly because Rotarians like Mike Arroyo and Joc-joc Bolante failed to uphold the Four Way Test. Worse, they deliberately used it as a cover for their criminal intents on the country.

 

But through it all, our Rotarians in Pangasinan have been dumbfoundingly silent. Not a pipsqueak from them, nay, not even a murmur to protest Rotarian Joc-joc’s continued affiliation.

 

Rotarian Joc-joc, in his capacity as treasurer of Rotary International, continues to evade and avoid being brought to justice. He has been taunting all Rotarians to do their best as he does his worst to embarrass all.

 

Gentlemen and ladies of Rotary in Pangasinan, here is an opportunity for you to give your club the distinction of being one among the few that finally and readily stood up to stop a fellow Rotarian from misusing the ideals of  Rotary. Be one with the Makati West Rotary Club and Rotarian Harvey in condemning the continued criminal use of Rotary by Rotarian Joc-joc to escape criminal prosecution.

 

Write to Rotary International, to your district governors and other clubs to make known your official disenchantment and regret as you denounce his continued flight for purposes of evasion.

 

Tell   the world that your club you stood up to be counted because your club  embraces the Four Way Test in every way and adheres to the principle of  “Service above self, he profits most who serves best.”

 

I believe Rotarian Joc-joc can only be made to return by his fellow Rotarians.

 

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3 cheers for Bangus City Journal

 

I just got a copy of the latest issue of the Bangus City Journal, official publication of the city government.

 

I must commend Mayor Benjie Lim and his PR guys for the good work they have done on the new “Bangus City Journal”. It makes for interesting reading and it’s certainly an effective way of communicating governance to the city government’s constituents.

 

The only thing I find lacking is there is no attempt at transparency, meaning explaining how the city’s funds were spent and/or about to be spent. With that added section, I think Mayor Benjie can be that newspaper publisher who can give all of us in the business of newspapering a run for our money, should he decide to hang his political hat. 

 

So, take a bow Bangus Journal editors for delivering the good news!

 

Meanwhile, I guess you guys can leave it to the PUNCH to take care of the bad news, exposing the scandalous shenanigans in the city hall which I pray will be fewer between now and 2007 elections, for the Dagupeños sake! 

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