Napoles & lawmakers: Profitable partnership

Today, as the Napoles’ mess dominates the airwaves and the broadsheets, the call for transparency and accountability heightened.  Consequently, the general public is irresistibly screaming for the abolition of the “pork barrel”.  While we may variedly take positions in all these developments, the fact remains that this is a country where the culture of corruption is deeply imbedded.  For one, in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) surveys, the country has always been a constant cellar-dweller.  In the 2012 CPI survey (which included 176 countries), for instance, our country ranked 105th. Though we are twenty four (24) rungs higher than 2011’s 129th, we are still among the top 50% corrupt nations.   This ranking is inarguably factual and not difficult to understand. 

To recall, since early 2008 we have had sensational cases involving billions of pesos.  For one, who will ever forget Joey de Venecia’s allegations of rigged bidding of the ZTE’s broadband deal?  With the reinforcement of Rodolfo “J-Lo” Lozada’s testimonies on the NBN and Southrail projects’ kickbacks, such claims should have been credible.  To the country’s dismay, the senate investigation led us nowhere.  Then, as the 2010 election neared, some senators cried over Villar’s manipulation of the C-5 deal.  While he lost in his presidential bid, the allegations never went a step farther.  Then, in 2010, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) took the center-stage of yet another broiling controversy. 

In all these controversies, the senators were at the helm and at their usual grandstanding mode.  Today, however, they are in a silent mode.  This is not surprising though.  To recollect, in the height of the ZTE broadband fiasco, a report on the result of the examination of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the senate’s financial statements for 2006 was released and revealed huge discrepancies.  Among others, COA reported that “Cash advances in the total amount of P2,032,032.46 were not liquidated/settled within the reglementary period as prescribed under laws, rules and regulations”. 

Actually, whether in private or government institutions, same rules apply.  Cash advances should be liquidated as soon as the purpose for which it was given has been served or fulfilled and all documents supporting disbursements and any amount unspent must be submitted/returned to the institution’s designated officers.  More often, however, advances are not liquidated when some amounts are used personally and no receipts can be presented.  As a “truth-seeking” body, its officials should have been aware that peoples’ money is not intended for their personal use.   

Moreover, COA’s report further stated that “Accuracy of Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE) accounts could not be ascertained due to an unreconciled difference of P74.192 million between the Physical Inventory Report prepared by the Legislative Property and Procurement Services and controlling accounts of Legislative Accounting Service”.  In summary, the properties per physical count are lesser than the recorded amount.   Therefore, in layman’s jargon, these items are missing.  Worst, this report was released in late 2007 yet, and, we never heard if the senate leadership had seriously resolved these concerns.

This legislative body that, in the past, has portrayed itself as faultless and sincere advocate of transparency and good governance is, by COA’s report, isn’t spotless at all.  Thus, their involvement in this P10 billion scam can’t be discounted.  Just like before though, so far, we only heard them making a lot of noise for other’s lapses (like the “sex for flight” fiasco arguing on the meaning of the words “salungki” and “salungso”) purportedly to help conceal their own. 

Lest we forget, there are two parties to a transaction.  Therefore, there are two players in an anomalous deal.  Either the unscrupulous provider demands a sum to give his nod to the project or the recipient offers a bribe to get it. When one refuses, a deal isn’t made.  Obviously, therefore, every anomalous deal is not a marriage of two strange bedfellows but a union or partnership of human beings of the same breed and immoral upbringing. 

Indeed, if still left unattended, we can just surmise that our lawmakers will only shout their hearts out if they are not part of the deal.  If they are, expect either an eternal denial or a grave-like eerie silence. 

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