By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
IT’S QUITE interesting that Bacolod City’s Mayor Albee Benitez will pursue the “Truth Commission” aimed at searching “spending flaws” in the previous Leonardia administration.
In a press conference on June 28, Albee’s throng of lawyers and executive assistants presented a three-page document listing expenses to be “probed” by the commission.
And the total amount: A whooping P1.5 billion!
Atty. Bong Dilag, acting as spokesman of the new mayor, said documents of these transactions were culled from the Commission on Audit (COA).
With that, he said, Albee tapped former state auditor Marilou Reyes to be the “resource person” of the truth commission.
But stressed by Atty. Bong, the creation of a truth commission is anchored on the premise that the new administration wants to ensure a clean and transparent government.
But replied Bing: “Witch-hunting!”
“We followed what’s required by law,” added the ex-mayor.
Intoned by Dr. Chris Sorongon, spokesman of Bing, “The truth commission ain’t a neutral or objective body; it is comprised of partisan people.”
Quite lamentable that, until now, the Bing-Albee strife continues to bug Bacolodnons.
People thought Albee will focus on bringing “change” in Bacolod, and that change is on the positive note.
‘EJERCICIO EN FUTILIDAD’
Let’s be candid.
This truth commission will never have an overnight job.
Finding “flaws and supplementations” ain’t an easy task, but “cheerless” indeed.
Hope all won’t end up to the usual “PR (public relations) calisthenics”. Else, everything will be a waste of time, resources and efforts.
Undeniably, Bacolodnons were already “suffocated” with lots of legal intramurals in the past – all aimed at pursuing truth and transparent dealings in the city government.
Before, it was as if Bacolodnons were “feasting” on various political and legal brouhahas. Now, just a tip, the new administration should be keen on what interests most the Bacolodnons amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
Anyways, let’s refresh our minds with several issues in Bacolod in several past administrations. These included alleged “tampered receipts”; the “textbook scam”; “computer scam”; “engine scam”; and the “furniture and fixtures scam” within Bing’s administration.
All these ended up in the trash bins as competent courts in the country – Ombudsman, Sandigangbayan, and even the Supreme Court (previously and just recently) junked all of them.
So, none was put in jail.
Lesson learned here: Never make any move which is “far from real” else it’ll just be another ejercicio en futilidad (exercise in futility).
‘NONENTITY’
Nonetheless, Albee took an ex-COA member as “resource person” for this truth commission.
Reyes’ inclusion sounds inspired to some. But internalizing it, such a move “is of no good.”
Correct me if I am wrong, but Reyes’ annexation in the truth commission will only “taint” COA’s credibility and integrity.
Yes, she’s retired, and so considered a “nonentity”. Guidance-wise, it’s okay. But image and integrity-wise, it’ll connote a negative perception against COA per se.
As far as I know, COA people (active or retired) always stick to their Core Values that include integrity.
In this value of integrity, they pledge to discharge their mandate in adherence to moral and ethical principles and the highest degree of honesty, INDEPENDENCE, objectivity and professionalism.
And it is the word “independence” that gives them the latitude not to be “cowed” by anyone.
COA’s independence is superb and well-respected. Thus, its audit reports are (always) considered “sacred” in government dealings.
And it’s through an Audit Observation Report (AOR) that you could find COA’s “pennyworth” on any questionable matter.
‘SPENDING BEDLAM’
Hence, let’s be retold that in any transaction involving government funds, only COA can make/issue legitimate attestation.
Sans COA’s official findings, any allegation of malversation leading to corruption is “vague” both in essence and substance. It short, such will end up as mere publicity stunt. It’s (only) through AOR that one can spot any “spending bedlam”.
After AOR, then, comes the recommendation(s).
If COA recommends the filing of charges in court, then let it be.
If not, don’t force, else, it’ll be a “disaster”.
So, in the case now of Bing and the truth commission, let COA speak first.
Moving ahead from COA’s reports or recommendation(s) is tantamount to “putting a cart before the horse.”
Likewise, please refer to the jurisprudence: Taisei Shimizu Joint Venture (Petitioner) vs. Commission on Audit and the Department of Transportation (Respondents) on June 02, 2020)
Such involved the controversial construction of the New Iloilo Airport sometime in 2004.
In this case, the High Tribunal categorically defined COA’s specific rules and power in any (legal) dispute related to government spending.
Meanwhile, Bacolodnons are really, really expecting that “ultimate change is coming” their way.
With Albee as the new mayor of Bacolod, they’re in “high hopes” to have a better life ahead.
But starting with a chasing game, it is as if that the new administration has commenced like in a “helter-skelter” way.
Bacolodnons believe, like President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., that Albee, too, has “100 million reasons” to start… and to succeed later by not being spiteful./PN
