Punchline
Ombudsman is showing the way
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
I realize that this is already hardly the time of the season to continue talking about corruption, for we are supposed to be celebrating with everyone, from the naïve and clueless, to the wily and corrupt.
But before I finally throw myself fully into the holiday mood beginning next week, here’s a quick take of efforts to curb corruption so far.
From the top, we have reason to believe that Daang Matuwid is working for the country, no thanks to Malacanang that constantly finds ways to cover up for its favorites’ anomalies, and fortunately with little success.
It is working because we finally have an Ombudsman that’s out to make Daang Matuwid mean something, and not merely paying lip service to it like most everyone in PNoyland. Imagine, just when everyone thought PNP Chief Alan Purisima is untouchable, seeing him constantly hiding behind the skirts of PNoy and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas, we wake up to see him packing his bags for a six-month furlough (translation: preventive suspension) without pay!
Mr. Purisima’s suspension may perhaps be perceived by cynics as a compromise instead of kicking his ass soundly, but whatever, the Ombudsman has made it clear that no one is untouchable while Justice Conchita Morales is at the helm. Like they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, well, in this case, Mr. Purisima was not only made to eat pudding but humble pie as well.
But Ok, to the credit of PNoy, he didn’t question the decision or the result of the Ombudsman’s investigation unlike his reaction to the Supreme Court decision that ruled the PDAF and Development Assistance Fund as illegal.
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TRACK RECORD. If Mr. Purisima’s suspension still does not send shivers up the spine of the corrupt still in our midst, below is the track of the Ombudsman in the past six months alone:
1). Ombudsman indicts mayor, 2 others for delayed GSIS premiums. 2). Ombudsman dismisses DPWH-CAR official;
3). Ombudsman dismisses Cagayan State University Prexy. 4). Ombudsman suspends Ricketts, 3 other OMB officials. 5). Ombudsman indicts Ifugao officials for fertilizer fund scam;
6). Party-list Rep indicted with plunder for PDAF scam. 7). Ombudsman indicts LWUA officials for graft. 8). Ombudsman indicts judge for malversation, graft;
9). Ombudsman employee sacked for solicitation. 10). Ombudsman files petition to forfeit Nani Perez’s ill-gotten wealth. 11). MTC judge convicted of bribery;
12). Ex-PCGG Chair indicted for influence peddling. 13). Leyte mayor, 3 others convicted for graft. 14). Davao Oriental mayor convicted of graft;
15). NEDA official guilty of sexual harassment. 16). Hospital officials indicted for bidding violations. 17). Ombudsman indicts labor arbiter.
I am told, more heads will roll in 2015! The formal investigation of Vice President Binay’s follies will begin early next year.
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LEGACY FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION. In Dagupan City, there is no doubt that Mayor Belen Fernandez’s Balon Dagupan has made great strides with a lot of success to improve the lot of the city’s children and seniors, getting the economy up and running, improving facilities for education, and making city hall efficient. For these and other initiatives, she deserves the community’s applause.
However, her Balon Dagupan still has a lot to prove for its touted anti-corruption platform besides streamlining operations. In fact, I don’t recall anyone being made to account for his or her misdeeds in conspiracy with the Lim administration in the past. Mayor Belen continues to score zero in this department.
I find this ironic, if not utterly disappointing because I thought she earned her spurs in politics as a no-nonsense advocate for good governance, a hardnosed opposition leader who fought the bad guys with such zeal never seen in anyone at anytime in the past. She stood in the way of the corrupt, and that meant a lot for the city.
Alas, more than a year has passed, with all the power and resources at her disposal, she refused to give the baddies what she said was due them – to be charged in court. She had threatened to do this so often as she plowed through thick mud to ferret the truth. Those who shook and trembled when she won the election are now back in their elements, confident in the belief that her threats are never to be taken seriously from hereon. And, they have a track record to show.
So guess who will try to pull a fast one over Mayor Belen, after seeing the illegal fish pen owners get off the hook with millions in their pockets. She is nearly losing the battle for MC Adore because she failed to act decisively when it was called for. AMB ALC Holdings, has resorted to using every legal trick in the book to exploit her perceived tendency to procrastinate, waiting for things to play out when pushed to the wall.
Unless she acts to redeem her tough image next year, she can expect a lot of dirty tricks in 2015 to fully discredit her in the 2016 elections.
But Mayor Belen can view 2015 as an opportunity to leave another legacy in the city – Winning the fight vs. corruption!
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ISSUES THAT NEED CLOSURE. Here’s a list of what I hope she will act on decisively in 2015 to impress upon the crooks lurking inside the city hall that she has what it takes to stop scheming crooks in their tracks:
- Make Mr. Jose Mariano Cuña account for the P16 million paid to him yet failed to deliver the title to the city.
- Heads should be made to roll for the illegal sale of beachfronts to businessmen and affluent families by the Lim administration. If she recalls, her attempt to get the NBI to investigate the racket was blocked by the city hall after claims of forgeries were invoked.
- Hold former City Administrator Vlad Mata, as chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee, accountable for the illegal and anomalous purchases for the city.
- Make the remaining fish pen owners accountable and charged before the court for violating the city’s ordinance.
- Make the Market Administrator accountable for missing collections.
- Make former City Auditor Ofelia Celi accountable for receiving financial assistance from the city government.
All she really needs to do is to file the charges, and let the judicial system operate.
Whether the cases are won or lost are not as important as the attempt to make persons accountable for their misdeeds.
She can start with these, bring these to a closure before 2016, and I am certain
she can easily sail to an easy victory for her first reelection. But failing that, I’m afraid her tough-talking stance will never be taken seriously throughout her administration.
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Happy shopping and merry thoughts for the holidays!
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