Government Is Bankrupt: Its Coffers Are Empty - ROSES AND THORNS by Alejandro R. Roces

Just two days ago, ousted President Joseph Estrada admitted that he and his wife had a $3-million account at the Citibank Virramall Branch in Greenhills, San Juan. That is only in one bank. The people will have to wait and see how big his other accounts are in many other banks.

In direct contrast, Estrada’s administration left a totally empty treasury. The budget deficit last year was about P140 billion! So newly-installed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s first big problem is where to get money to pay the regular salaries of government employees. The government cannot continue operating on a deficit. In fact, it should be making up for the deficit. The first to suffer will be the delivery of basic public services.

This is a problem that the people must know and understand. Everyone should prepare for a difficult transition period. We should not only be prepared for the bad times to come, but those who are better financed should be ready to help the under-served and the under-privileged.

As President of the Philippines, Joseph Estrada could not be sued in court. He had to be impeached. Now, that he is no longer president, the very same cases that were filed against him in the impeachment court can now be pursued in our courts. This may provide billions to help our recovery. And if things are well-planned and executed, all the cronies that made fabulous fortunes through graft and corruption should also be charged in court. In this way, our people will be willing to make the necessary sacrifices that will lead to our recovery, but not if they see that the very people who caused the crisis are unpunished. That is exactly what happened after People’s Power I. Those who enriched themselves during Marcos’ corrupt regime all got away scot-free. This must not happen again.

A change of government is not enough. Those who depleted the government treasury should be charged and prosecuted. If there is a lesson that should not be lost by our experience in People’s Power I, it is that it is not enough to topple a government. Equally important is to hold the officials to account after they have been toppled. The truth about People Power I is that the Marcos regime was toppled, but all the dishonest officials who benefited from its corrupt regime retained their illegal wealth. It was a mockery of justice. This must not happen again. Justice must not only be done. It should be obvious that it was done.