Accountability finally

THE recommendation of the current auditor of Dagupan City to file civil and criminal charges against former Mayor Benjamin S. Lim and Jose Mariano Cuña over the fraudulent transaction entered into by the city government over the 30-hectare land in San Jacinto and the discovery of more irregular land deals, are refreshing as these indicate that finally public servants are being called to account for their official acts.

The exercise to pinpoint accountability should not end with the filing of the cases against Messrs. Lim and Cuña over the land in San Jacinto. The city councilors, who blindly voted for the payment of the land, should also be made to account. The city administrator, city treasurer, and city auditor who served under Mr. Lim’s administration should also be made to account for complicity in the cover-up of the evident irregularities that marked the Awai deal.

For P16 million to be paid even before any due diligence on the transaction could be done can only mean there was conspiracy to defraud the city government.

We dare say let the chips where they may. That is the way to true accountability and transparency in good governance.

We doff our hat to Mayor Belen Fernandez for doing what was thought unimaginable for a politician to do. For acting on the recommendation of the city auditor, she manifested her support for the principle of accountability, that she is squarely making herself accountable as well.

Significant shake-up

THE Magic 12 absorbed a significant shake-up in the Pulse Asia survey during the Dec.14 to 21 period, with Bato dela Rosa clinching the 12th and final spot, edging Mar Roxas who fell to 13th.  Grace Poe led the derby anew, with Cynthia Villar second, Sonny Angara third, Pia Cayetano fourth and Lito Lapid fifth.  Koko Pimental was sixth, Nancy Binay seventh, Serge Osmena eighth, Bong Revilla ninth, Imee Marcos 10th and Jinggoy Estrada 11th. 

The biggest gainer was Bong Go, the President’s former Special Assistant, who hit the Magic 16 from the Top 25 in the September survey.  Go’s big jump was attributed to his consistent sorties in the countryside for his “Malasakit”  program of providing medical and financial assistance to our less fortunate brethren. More movements of note among our 70 senatorial bets are expected as the mid-term election is still a good four months away. Keep posted. 

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