A dirty word in mind

When I wrote about the planned sale of Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo, I treated the entire thing above board and with no presumption of guilt.

However while reviewing the feedback from readers, I read an email that raised the dirty word in people’s minds. That dirty word as far as selling government assets is concerned, is the word: “Kickback”.

The last time that dirty word was a much talked about topic, was when the Senate was investigating Jun Lozada, Joey De Venecia, Romy Neri and Ben Abalos regarding the infamous P200 million cut or “kickback”. Because of the intense media coverage, even my daughter and her classmates started asking what “kickback” meant?

While I was suspicious of political payback or accommodation as the reason for selling government assets under the P-Noy administration, it never occurred to me that the same process could also create an environment where “kickbacks” could happen.

Given the nature and history of politics and politicians in the Philippines, I am now confronted by the truth that just because the new administration mouths “Integrity” as their commitment, there is no present proof or guarantee that it will be so.

Far from practicing what they preach, the present administration has shown that all it takes to become a government official, an ambassador or head of a bureau is for you to be a former classmate in Ateneo, a campaign contributor, a campaign leader or a BFF.

If this administration cannot abide by the most basic point of “integrity” in its choice or selection of government appointees and practices the principle of: “to the victor goes the spoils”, should we simply presume that they will have integrity in matters that may provide substantial financial rewards?

Given the rush and the rash pronouncements to dispose government assets, it may be wise for all of us to demand details and plans before giving public approval to our government officials who are behaving more like real estate brokers than government officials.

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Now that opposition has been raised to the possible sale of Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo, everybody has come up with his or her idea on what could be done with the property.

Senator Ralph Recto has suggested that the properties should simply be leased out to private developers, thereby insuring a revenue stream as well as continued possession of the all-important assets.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on the other hand has history on his side when he cited the long held notion that the camps, particularly Camp Crame was donated by the Ortigas family solely for military use and that the camps would revert to the heirs if government no longer has the original use for the donated properties.

So before we even argue what would be the best solution concerning these particular assets, it may be wise to first determine, if there was or is such an arrangement between the government and the Ortigas family.

Perhaps the Ortigas Group of Companies could do the public a service by confirming or denying if the so-called conditional donation is fact or urban legend.

On the other hand, it would certainly be in bad taste if Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo were sold to other real estate developers other than the Ortigas group. If anyone should benefit from the sale it should be the very company or family that owned, and were patriotic and charitable enough to donate it to the state. 

This of course would place the government in the awkward position of “selling ice to an Eskimo”. How do you sell property to its very original owner?  

So in the end, as far as Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo are concerned, only a joint venture would really work and that comes with a big “IF”.

If the government stops using the camps for military purposes, it would be tantamount to relinquishing ownership to Ortigas. So the only way the government gets something is IF the Ortigas group decides to be charitable a second time around.

So IF what Senator Enrile said is true, then the government is stuck with Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo. Then the best thing to do is develop these camps for the purpose that Secretary Purisima originally suggested: to benefit all military and PNP personnel by dedicating the entire facility for housing, education and medical services for personnel and their dependents!

Now that would be a real achievement that will go into the history books, as well as a real blessing for every policeman and soldier in the Philippines. Imagine: the Aquino administration being the first to build real communities that honor our men in uniform.

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The news of the accidental firing of a shotgun belonging to a security guard at the LRT, is just one minor part of a series of safety concerns regarding the LRT.

There are particular worries about the maintenance standards for the trains and facilities of the LRT as shared to us by a former official which he believes will lead to more serious disruptions of operations and could even endanger lives.

According to our source, contract provisions are no longer being observed as far as security services and maintenance services are concerned. Short cuts are being done in equipment maintenance and there are even reports of equipment cannibalization just to keep other trains running.

The source also claims that the number of security guards deployed at the LRT is probably bloated by 50 percent. Another question our source raised is why all maintenance contracts were given to just one person or company?

With seven people hurt in one incident, the DOTC and the LRT management should quickly step in and investigate.