School of corruption

 

AMIDST the hullaballoo in the continuing saga of the corrupted pork barrel, it was refreshing news that the congressional bicameral committee approved last week a measure postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan election set on October 28 alongside the barangay election. It was a good and timely move to finally nip the bud of the worsening level of corruption among the young who are elected as supposed leaders of the youth in the communities. The postponement is intended to give Congress time, between October 28 and February 23, 2014, to review the structure of the SK and pass amendments for its reform or even its abolition. The approved measure also prohibits all incumbent SK officials from hold-over capacity, meaning they will have to step down upon the expiration of their term in November while the youngest among the newly-elected barangay leaders will temporarily serve as the community’s youth representative. Since the first SK election in 1992, the structure of this youth council, which has come to be dubbed as the “school of corruption”, has already gone through several changes precisely because lawmakers – as do the public – recognize that there is something seriously wrong with how many of these young leaders are taking advantage of monetary gain where opportunities for it are provided by the law. The modifications have proven ineffective in curbing the dishonesty and exploitation. In the coming review, our lawmakers must not brush off the option that getting rid of the SK could be the right formula.

The youth leaders of the past thrived on volunteerism and a sincere sense of service to their sector and their community, using their creative minds and energy to raise funds on their own for projects that they really feel passionate about. Nowadays, hundreds of thousands are easily made available for the SK leaders to spend without the need for auditing. The present law and the very political system teach them to be corrupt because there is no provision for accountability. The SK has become an avenue where the young learn early of the nasty pork business. Christopher Arcinue, head of the provincial Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation, opined that while he agrees with an election postponement, officials like him should be allowed to stay on because “taxation without representation is a crime to our democracy”. We tell the young man, representation without accountability is the crime against the people.

So up until perhaps the country finally sees structural changes in the political system and the kind of politicians that we generally have, closing the school of corruption is most welcome.

 

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It stinks

 

WHAT did Jinggoy Estrada hope to achieve with his privilege speech at the Senate last week? Nothing of significance, except to try to divert the people’s attention away from the plunder charges he and his fellow senators Bong Revilla and Juan Ponce Enrile are facing today before the Ombudsman.

Did he succeed? We believe not. The public will always be glued to the plunder cases for as long as the Napoles teleserye aka alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam involving the three senators continues to rent the air.

But in fairness, Jinggoy had a point when he ranted at the fact why it was only he, Bong and Manong Johnny who were “singled out” as alleged conspirators in the pork barrel scam.  Also, why the need for the Palace to give P50-million each to the senators who voted to impeach Chief Justice Renato Corona last year?  Jinggoy, who refused the money, said that was “a bribe”.  Senate President Franklin Drilon, the moneyman, countered that was “an incentive”. Call it by any name, it stinks.

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